Why WWE Promoted Terence Crawford Fight on 7/19 SmackDown Despite SummerSlam Overlap

WWE has once again demonstrated its business acumen by promoting the upcoming boxing match featuring Terence Crawford, despite it coinciding with their major event, SummerSlam, on August 3rd. This intriguing move was highlighted during the July 19 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, where Cody Rhodes was interrupted by Austin Theory and Grayson Waller, leading to an unexpected involvement of Terence Crawford, who was in attendance.

Crawford, set to face Israil Madrimov at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, handed Rhodes a steel chair during the altercation, blurring the lines between boxing and wrestling entertainment. This crossover incident was not just a mere occurrence but part of a broader promotional strategy.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio shed light on WWE’s approach, indicating that the repeated plugs for Crawford’s fight were part of a paid advertising deal.

“They had a deal—obviously, there’s an advertisement deal because they were plugging his fight multiple times on SmackDown, and the fight is on August 3 on pay-per-view, which is head-to-head with their own SummerSlam,” Meltzer explained.

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He further elaborated that the promotion wasn’t just a favor but a well-strategized advertising partnership, likely involving significant financial implications.

“It’s probably just a paid advertising deal because they were out there, they had the graphics, multiple times, even at the end of the show when they were promoting next week’s show, they were talking about the fight again,” Meltzer noted.

The fight, while taking place in Los Angeles, is promoted by Saudi Arabia, adding another layer of international business relations to the mix. Meltzer remarked on the oddity and the apparent business savvy behind such a move,

“It’s an interesting advertisement or whatever it is—it’s not just doing a favor, it was very clearly an ad thing where the Saudis are buying or working through WWE to advertise this boxing match.”

As WWE continues to expand its revenue streams through various partnerships and cross-promotional opportunities, the decision to promote Crawford’s fight illustrates their pragmatic approach to business, focusing on profitability and global brand expansion. The world of professional wrestling and boxing may have more in common than meets the eye, both thriving on high stakes and dramatic storytelling.

How do you feel about WWE’s strategy to promote Terence Crawford’s boxing match during their SmackDown episode, especially given that it coincides with SummerSlam? Do you think these kinds of cross-promotional efforts are beneficial for WWE’s brand, or could they potentially distract from their own major events? Share your thoughts in the comments below!