WWE SmackDown Sets Earlier Move From Fox to USA Network — Find Out When

WWE SmackDown is headed back to basic cable sooner than expected.

Following a five-year stint at Fox, the Friday night show will return to USA Network on Sept. 13, earlier than its previously reported October 2024 date. As part of a newly struck deal with NBCUniversal, WWE will also produce four annual specials for NBC, marking the first time WWE content will air as part of NBC’s primetime slate.

“NBCUniversal has been a tremendous partner of WWE for decades,” WWE President Nick Khan said in a statement Thursday. “We are excited to extend this longstanding relationship by bringing SmackDown to USA Network on Friday nights and look forward to debuting multiple WWE special events annually on NBC.”

Added NBCUniversal Entertainment Chairman Frances Berwick: “It’s a privilege and thrill to continue NBCU’s decades-long partnership with WWE, which has helped cement USA Network’s consistent position as the top-rated cable entertainment network in live viewership. With Friday nights on USA, primetime specials on NBC, and the WWE hub on Peacock, we’ll continue to use the power of our portfolio to super- serve this passionate fanbase.”

USA Network is currently home to WWE Monday Night RAW, which will remain on the cabler through December before moving to Netflix in January 2025, and Tuesday night’s WWE NXT, which is moving to The CW in October. SmackDown has aired on several networks since its inception in 1999, including UPN (1999-2006), The CW (2006-2008), MyNetwork (2008-2010), Syfy (2010-2016), USA Network (2016-2019) and, most recently, Fox (2019—), where it will continue to be shown through September 2024.

Will you follow SmackDown back to USA Network? Sad to see it leave Fox? Drop your thoughts in a comment below.