WWE SmackDown: 10 Things You Might Have Missed (Aug 9)

by Jamie Kennedy

1. WWE Squeezing A Network Plug In

AJ Styles Shane McMahon Kevin Owens
WWE.com

WWE revealed during their own Q2 earnings report that numbers for the WWE Network have dropped from 1.94 million to 1.63 million since WrestleMania. This is partly due to casual fans losing interest once 'Mania season was over, but it's also something the company would rather avoid; it'd be much better to see sustained interest in the Network.

This week's SmackDown featured a sneaky plug for the subscription service, and it came from a heel. Kevin Owens said it's amazing what you can find on the Network and then footage aired of Shane McMahon screwing over Steve Austin at the 1998 Survivor Series. There was even a flashy Network logo to remind people where the clip came from.

Fans in Toronto popped for the Network being mentioned by KO and the segment came off well. Well played, WWE. Not only did you manage to stick a Network plug smack bang in the middle of the show, you also made it fit in with the ongoing feud between Owens and AJ Styles.

What other little gems did you spot on this week's SmackDown? Let us know down in the comments section below!

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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.