Big Update On WWE SmackDown's FOX Future

Vince McMahon will be happy with this update on WWE SmackDown's future.

by Jamie Kennedy
Vince McMahon WWE SmackDown
WWE

Good news has filtered in for Vince McMahon and WWE SmackDown.

The Friday night show has been confirmed for the same 8pm-10pm EST time slot on FOX - the network sent out a presser detailing their plans for the 2022-2023 season, and SmackDown is listed as "ongoing" as part of the weekly schedule.

There had been chatter about whether or not FOX execs were happy with ratings for the show, but it appears McMahon's product has done enough to secure the same valuable slot on Friday nights. Confirming this, FOX's release said SmackDown would stay put "throughout the season".

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WWE inked a lucrative deal with the broadcaster to begin airing SmackDown on FOX in October 2019. Since then, the show has had various ups and downs; it has also been moved to FS1 when colliding with major sporting events or other specials.

McMahon's next challenge will be to grow SmackDown's weekly audience. Then again, that's always something the WWE boss will be thinking about. Recently, the promotion has de-emphasised the roster split between Raw and SmackDown, so that could bring more star power to Fridays.

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Contributor

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.