WWE SmackDown Potentially Moving Nights Update

WWE

A new update has potentially revealed whether WWE plan to move SmackDown from Friday nights on the USA Network.

Beginning in October 2024, WWE’s brand new media rights deals kick-off.

SmackDown moves to the USA Network, NXT to CW Network and finally Monday Night Raw beginning a new era for WWE on Netflix in January 2025.

With WWE’s programming shifting towards the end of the year, one persistent question amongst fans is whether these networks will also decide to change when each show is broadcasted.

This is something that has been discussed openly by both WWE President Nick Khan and Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel in the past, with the sentiment being that no individual show is locked in to any particular night of the week.

Now, in a new update pertaining to SmackDown in particular, Dave Meltzer has shared some insight into the current thought process behind the blue brand’s future.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer revealed that as of now, the plan is for SmackDown to remain on its usual Friday night slot:

“The last time I talked with somebody with WWE on that discussion, they told me outright that nothing’s official. The stations are gonna have to all work this out whenever.

“But, the plan was, as of right now – ‘right now’ was I would say about a month ago – is that SmackDown would be Friday.

“I don’t know why you would do that. If you’re USA it feels utterly stupid to do SmackDown on Friday.

“But that was the plan as of a month ago, was for SmackDown to stay on Friday. And be called ‘Friday Night SmackDown’.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Unlike the new TV deals for SmackDown and NXT which both begin in October 2024, Raw’s move to Netflix doesn’t begin until January 2025 – leaving a three month gap where the flagship WWE show currently doesn’t have a network.

At the recent TKO Q4 Earnings Call, TKO CFO Andrew Schleimer addressed this issue and what the company’s plans are during this gap – to read full details on this click here.

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• usa network
• Smackdown
• wwe

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