WWE Trials New "Speed" Concept Before Friday's SmackDown
Fans witnessed "WWE Speed" for the very first time before SmackDown went live.
Triple H experimented with a brand new concept called "WWE Speed" before Friday's episode of SmackDown went live on FOX.
Fans there in attendance for the double shot taping (the company filmed matches for next week's Christmas episode too) saw short, snappy bouts with an interesting twist. In short, "WWE Speed" sees workers compete in five-minute matches under a points system.
It'd be easy to picture this as some sort of quasi-five min 'Iron Man' match. Which, granted, sounds out there, but it seems winners are handed a point for each bout they win in succession (not per fall against the same wrestler before the clock expires).
PWInsider leaked details on those quirky rules, although it's worth saying this is still a trial run and things could change in the blink of an eye.
Later, Fightful Select reported that Bronson Reed defeated Nathan Frazer in one of the clashes - they're not quite sure who emerged victorious from the other dark match pitting Axiom vs. Cedric Alexander though.
A "WWE Speed" logo was on the ring apron, and it appears both matches were filmed for use later on. Stay tuned for more when it breaks.