The Disturbing Truth Behind WWE SmackDown On Fox

The Rock Billy Gunn
WWE.com

Yes, Kofi Kingston, Becky Lynch and Daniel Bryan were also featured, but this was flagrant false advertising on WWE's part - those stars only turned up at the premiere, and not all of them, incredibly - which hardly helped WWE's chronic brand trust issues. The tagline proudly told us that 'We're all Superstars!'. You're a Superstar: yes, you, in the crowd! The Legends are Superstars! Mustafa Ali, Dolph Ziggler, King Corbin, Shorty G, Bayley, Braun Strowman, Carmella, Cesaro, Elias, the Usos, Lacey Evans, Mandy Rose, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sasha Banks, the Revival, The Miz...sorry. You aren't Superstars.

None of the acts that appear every week were promoted. WWE promised a star-loaded show and delivered the precise opposite of it. The man framed as a punchline in the very first segment is dominating the final segment every week. The 'STD' is infecting the quality and integrity of the programme. Put yourself in the mind of the lapsed fan, piqued by a rare appearance from the Rock they grew up enraptured by: to them, this era of SmackDown is what would have happened, had Billy Gunn emerged from his 1999 humiliation to make a run as the top heel.

SmackDown on Fox represented WWE's best opportunity to conquer the mainstream in forever. The network offered the company an exposure it hasn't enjoyed in decades.That it didn't is troubling, looking ahead to the long-term future of the company.

Fox tasked SmackDown with scoring a 1.0 in the target 18-49 demo. It is only barely accomplishing that objective. After initial success with the premiere, which drew 3.9 million viewers, total viewership has stabilised at around 2.5 million. The numbers are at best solid, but post-WrestleMania season, they are more likely to sag than rise. That is precedent, not cynicism.

CONT'D...(3 of 5)

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!