WWE Might Move SmackDown Off Fridays

WWE has aired SmackDown on several nights of the week. Newer fans might only know Friday Night SmackDown, but the show has been on pretty much every other weeknight at this point, except Mondays. With television talks currently ongoing, it appears that WWE isn’t going to hold their blue brand to a Friday time slot.

While speaking at the MoffettNathanson’s Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference on May18th, WWE CEO Nick Khan provided insight into the company’s thinking for the media negotiations. He was asked a few interesting questions, especially concerning WWE’s current television rights deals.

Nick Khan made an assertion that SmackDown can be scheduled for “any night of the week.” This creates an interesting option for any network seeking content to fill a timeslot in their lineup. It seems that those potential broadcast partners aren’t held to Fridays.

NBCU and FOX no longer have exclusive negotiating rights, because their window closed for those talks. Only time will tell what kind of deal they end up getting this time around, but it’s very likely that they will strike an agreement somewhere.

WWE SmackDown debuted on UPN in 1999, airing on Thursday nights, before transitioning to Friday nights in September 2005. In 2015, it returned to Thursdays and then switched to Tuesday nights in 2016. Then, their agreement with FOX led to a shift back to Fridays on network television.

This is an interesting situation, and a lot of fans are going to be very interested in this story. After all, WWE fans have conditioned themselves to block off two hours every Friday for the blue brand. Only time will tell if these new television rights talks changes everything.

What’s your take on WWE SmackDown moving off Fridays? Do you think to see that happen? Sound off in the comments!