It's Baaaack!

[Professor Berch]

A SmackDown shakeup is about to completely reshape all of WWE. Beginning July 19, the second longest-running weekly episodic program in television history, SmackDown, will move from Thursday to Tuesday nights and air LIVE each and every week — for the first time ever — at 8/7 C on USA Network, the exclusive cable home to WWE’s marquee properties.

This bold move will have major ramifications for all of WWE and exemplify the New Era, as both Raw and SmackDown will each feature their own unique rosters and rivalries following an imminent Superstar draft.

"WWE's flagship programs will both leverage the incredible depth of our talent roster, distinct storylines and the unpredictable nature of live TV," WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon said. “This move will undoubtedly build more excitement and deepen engagement with our fans around th­e world.”

With so many explosive competitors emerging from WWE NXT, and top Superstars like John Cena and Seth Rollins returning from injury, WWE’s star-powered roster has never been stronger. Its historic division and the monumental revelation of SmackDown’s shift to a live format each week reflect the excitement and unpredictability of WWE’s New Era.

What awaits SmackDown on its new night, starting this July? Which live shows will claim your favorite Superstars? What will this all mean for the future of sports-entertainment? Stay tuned as WWE prepares to get shaken up like never before.

WE GOT OURSELVES A BRAND SPLIT FOLKS!

[Dashing Olivia™]

YES! Oh my god I've been waiting years for this. I couldn't be happier!

[Deleted]

Shaken up like never before? ... Except it was shaken up like this before.


Despite that shot at the writer, I love this and have always been a supporter of live wrestling on tv. Hopefully the split will mean a slightly lighter load on the wrestlers, as well as more exposure to them.

[Deleted]

I'm sure we're hearing a lot of different things, but I'm not hearing much about the divas... My opinion? Put them on Monday nights, considering Raw is 3 hours, and perhaps they can get more time to do their thing. Keep the Women's Championship exclusively to Monday Night Raw.


World Title 1A on Raw
United States Championship on Raw
Women's Championship on Raw

World Title 1B on SmackDown
Intercontinental Title on SmackDown

And when it comes to the WWE Tag Team Championships, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to make it a dual branded title, or create a separate set of tag titles. Either way works for me

What does everyone else think, on how the titles should be split?

[---------]

When is the draft? I think I might tune into it sometime to see what happens even though I'm not really into wrestling.

[Deleted]

May 26, 2016 13:38:21 GMT -5 --------- said:

When is the draft? I think I might tune into it sometime to see what happens even though I'm not really into wrestling.

Apparently, it's going to be July 11th, and that's the date I'm hearing. I suppose nothing is official yet in terms of the time. I'm sure when it gets closer, we'll know officially by Michael Cole.

[Professor Berch]

May 26, 2016 16:24:05 GMT -5 @theironjaw said:

May 26, 2016 13:38:21 GMT -5 --------- said:

When is the draft? I think I might tune into it sometime to see what happens even though I'm not really into wrestling.

Apparently, it's going to be July 11th, and that's the date I'm hearing. I suppose nothing is official yet in terms of the time. I'm sure when it gets closer, we'll know officially by Michael Cole.

July 11th is an episode of Raw, which makes sense. Though I'd think it'd be great if they did the draft as a WWE Network Special on some other day (not Monday or Thursday)

[Deleted]

May 26, 2016 16:32:39 GMT -5 Professor Berch said:

May 26, 2016 16:24:05 GMT -5 @theironjaw said:

Apparently, it's going to be July 11th, and that's the date I'm hearing. I suppose nothing is official yet in terms of the time. I'm sure when it gets closer, we'll know officially by Michael Cole.

July 11th is an episode of Raw, which makes sense. Though I'd think it'd be great if they did the draft as a WWE Network Special on some other day (not Monday or Thursday)

Yeah. Originally when I heard they'd have the draft, I figure a Saturday night as a WWE Network Special would be great!! Do something separate like the NFL or NBA Draft does. There be a "green room" when a superstar's drafted, they come out on stage and get a Raw or SmackDown shirt. Then you have your panel that Renee Young would host, as they talk about the draft picks.

It'd be AMAZING to tune in on the WWE Network for!!