4. No Smackdown, No Fair
Upon the show's debut, UK fans had to wait a few months before Smackdown became a regular on TV listings. It's strange to imagine such a thing happening now - if WWE have a new show concept, they want it all over the world as soon as possible. With the WWE Network, this is not as much of a worry as it was previously, but the company still want their product seen by as many eyes, globally, as they can. Smackdown wasn't initially picked up by Sky Sports, or by Sky One, which meant UK fans had to look on enviously at their American counterparts, who got the show immediately. Of course, Vince McMahon would rectify this soon thereafter, delivering the blue brand to his loyal British fan base, but for a while fans had to miss out on what was happening on the second biggest wrestling show of the week.
Jamie Kennedy
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
See more from
Jamie