After nine years on Friday nights, it appears as if WWE's Smackdown program may be headed back to Thursday nights. WWE production trucks, which have recently been repainted, have been spotted at this week's television tapings with a Smackdown logo present, as well as "Thursdays 8/7c" planted above. The updated WWE logo, currently being used on WWE Network related projects is also featured. Smackdown originally aired on Thursday nights from 1999 to 2005, when it was inexplicably moved to Fridays. Since the move, the program has experienced a significant dip in ratings, whereas on Thursdays, Smackdown beat out Raw numerous times throughout the early 2000's. At one point, WWE dangled the possibility of running Smackdown live on Tuesday nights as motivation for a rights fee increase from NBC Universal, but it appears that NBCU balked at that idea. However, if the company wants to maximize Smackdown's ratings potential, a move to Thursdays is their best bet. It's worth noting that as opposed to the last time WWE aired Smackdown on Thursdays, the program will air on the cable channel SyFy, as opposed to UPN or CW, which was network programming. It remains to be seen if TNA Impact, which also airs on Thursdays will find a home. Just last week, news broke that Spike TV wasn't interested in renewing the program.
Sean Ross Sapp, 28, is a convergent media major at Morehead State University, and a news/feature writer for RantSports and WhatCulture. Before taking a managerial role for the Kraken Fight Team, Sapp was a two-time submission wrestling medalist in the region. He is also a contributor to Bill Apter's 1Wrestling.com, and an editor for Cage Passion Sports. He has also published over 300 articles for Fansided. You can contact Sean Ross Sapp for news tips and radio appearances at SeanRossSapp@gmail.com
