WWE and Fox have reached an agreement for the broadcast network to air “SmackDown” starting in the fall of 2019 according to various media outlets including The Wrap.
In addition to the “massive” deal, the show will reportedly move from Tuesday to Friday night and re-appear on broadcast television since it left MyNetworkTV for NBC Universal’s SyFy. It’s unclear at this point however if SmackDown will remain a live show or go back to being pre-tapped as they’ve done in the past.
More questions however linger about this move for the WWE’s second biggest television program.
First and foremost what does this deal mean for the band split? Will Fox require stars like Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey and Roman Reigns to appear on SmackDown programing despite them being part of the RAW roster? Likewise will SmackDown remain a two hour show or move to a three hour format like it’s sister program RAW?
As much as this is a good deal financially for the WWE who were able to capitalize off a huge effort from NBC to keep RAW and that massive bid from Fox for SmackDown you have to wonder what the impact will be if the company decides to merge the rosters once again? One of the big benefits to the separate rosters was the ability to establish and push new superstars instead of fans having to deal with the same and in some cases stale main eventers.
Fox and WWE officials haven’t commented.