WWE’s SmackDown Live won’t be moving to the FOX Network until next year, but changes are already underway.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that FOX will position the blue brand amongst their sports block, with NFL Football securing the Thursday and Sunday blocks and SmackDown taking Friday. In preparation for the move to take place, executives would like for the show to have a sports-centered feel.
Here’s more from the transcript of this week’s Observer, in which readers can subscribe for more details:
“Regarding FOX, because wrestling is being positioned as part of the sports block, a Thursday through Sunday thing FOX is looking at starting in 2019, especially during football season, FOX wants the Smackdown show to be less comedy and more in a sports direction. Vince [McMahon] is more into the comedy presentation with wrestling but they are looking at having their sports people on the different shows heavily promote it and thet want to give them something athletically-oriented to promote.”
