Reason Behind WWE Taping Survivor Series Go-Home Edition of SmackDown Early

WWE is making waves this holiday season with a surprising decision to give their talent a break. For the first time, WWE will not run a live taping for SmackDown on November 29th, the day after Thanksgiving. Instead, the episode will be pre-taped on November 22nd in Salt Lake City, letting talent and staff enjoy a well-deserved holiday with their families.

Dave Meltzer spilled the details on Wrestling Observer Radio, saying, “The November 22 SmackDown, which is Salt Lake City, they’re going to be taping two shows… because the 29th, which is the day after Thanksgiving, this would be, I think, the first time they’ve ever done this. They are not going to run a taping that night, so all the talent can spend Thanksgiving night with their families.”

Why the shift? Meltzer explained, “If they have a Friday taping, it’s in Salt Lake City, you got to fly out the day before… if it’s not in the vicinity of the northeast or the southeast, because most of the talent lives in Florida. But the point of this all is they’re letting people spend all Thanksgiving with their family, and they’re going to get Friday off.”

Meltzer went on to highlight the change from WWE’s previous practices under old management, saying, “The old ownership… they hadn’t had people work Thanksgiving, but they did have people having to fly on Thanksgiving, you know, to get to the Friday tapings. That’s happened for years. So they’re not doing that this year.”

This move is being seen as a refreshing shift for the company, giving their superstars and staff the opportunity to relax and enjoy the holiday without worrying about travel and tapings. It’s a nod to improving work-life balance in an industry known for its relentless schedule.

What do you think of WWE’s decision to let their talent take Thanksgiving off? Could this be a sign of more family-friendly policies in the future? Share your thoughts and join the conversation below!