Category: SmackDown

SmackDown Announcer Kevin Patrick Released By WWE

After nearly three years with the company, “WWE SmackDown” lead announcer Kevin Patrick has officially been released, according to PWInsider. Multiple sources only recently reported that Patrick would be removed from “SmackDown,” with the reasoning that it “just wasn’t working out.” Despite this, it originally seemed there could have been a future for him in the promotion after some restructuring, especially since he was liked backstage. 

A replacement for Patrick has not yet been announced.

It was also reported that Michael Cole was initially brought back to “SmackDown” to help Patrick gain his footing, but that Cole was removed from the team to determine whether Patrick could hold his own, with some believing he was not “the right person for the role”. Additionally, PWInsider says that Patrick was set to travel to attend “SmackDown” in Florida this Friday, making his release seem like a last-minute decision. Before his stint with WWE, Patrick worked as a broadcaster for Sirius XM, beIN SPORTS, CNN International, and multiple other companies. During this time, he even interviewed Liv Morgan, who he praised for her conduct during their chat.

Less than a year ago, Patrick recalled his journey to WWE during an appearance on the “Out Of Character” podcast. According to him, he received his audition call while he was shaving in preparation for an appearance on CNN International, since WWE was headhunting for broadcasters at the time. During the same interview, Patrick notably claimed that he had been trying to learn from as many industry veterans as possible.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 1/19/2024

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

  • Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles contract signing for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Fatal 4-Way Match at the Royal Rumble
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Kayden Carter and Katana Chance (c) vs. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
  • LWO’s Carlito, Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro vs. Legado World Order (Santos Escobar, Angel and Humberto)
  • Butch and Tyler Bate vs. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson)
  • WWE United States Champion Logan Paul to be a guest on The KO Show

WWE SmackDown Preview 1/12/2024

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX from the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.

  • Bayley vs Bianca Belair
  • LWO’s Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro vs Humberto and Garza
  • Cameron Grimes vs Grayson Waller

WWE SmackDown New Year’s Revolution Preview 1/5/2024

The first WWE SmackDown of 2024 will air live tonight on FOX from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.

  • Winner will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title a the Royal Rumble: Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight
  • WWE Women’s Championship Match: IYO SKY (c) defends against Michin
  • WWE United States Championship No. 1 Contender Tournament Finals: Kevin Owens vs. Santos Escobar
  • Butch and TBA vs. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson)
  • United States Champion Logan Paul to appear
  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns to appear

Corey Graves Open To One-Off In-Ring Return

WWE commentator Corey Graves hasn’t competed in years, but the former NXT Tag Team Champion isn’t opposed to a one-off return to the ring.

In a recent interview with “Steelers Takeaways“, Graves spoke about possibly returning to the ring after being medically cleared in 2020. He said,

“The transition in a weird way saved me from what could have been. Instead of grieving over the loss of my dream as an in-ring performer, it gave me something new to focus my energy on while staying in the business. I found a new mountain to climb. In hindsight it really helped me deal with that loss.

“I have a clean bill of health now, thanks. I actually got medically cleared a couple of years ago to perform in the ring again. I flirted with the idea and am waiting for a potential opportunity if it presents itself. More of a one-time ting like McAfee has done – not as a full-time in-ring performer.”

Graves currently calls the action on WWE SmackDown with Kevin Patrick and Michael Cole. His last official match for WWE took place at a March 2014 WWE NXT live event.

Source: eWn

WWE SmackDown Preview 12/22/2023

WWE SmackDown will air tonight on FOX taped last week from the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

  • WWE United States Championship No. 1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Santos Escobar vs. Bobby Lashley
  • WWE United States Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament Semifinals: Kevin Owens vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • NXT North American Championship Match: Dragon Lee defends against Butch
  • Holiday Havoc Match: Bianca Belair, Shotzi, Zelina Vega and Michin vs. Damage CTRL’s IYO SKY, Bayley, Asuka and Kairi Sane
  • AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa

Authors Of Pain Returning To WWE TV Soon

The Authors of Pain will return to WWE television soon.

Fightful Select reports that WWE plans to have the Authors of Pain return to live programming soon.

The current plan is to have Akam and Razer appear on SmackDown, though nothing is set in stone. WWE Hall Of Famer Paul Ellering has been expected to join the duo on TV.

Akam and Razer were released from their WWE contracts in September 2020.

The Authors of Pain had been re-signed with the WWE in 2022 before the return of Vince McMahon as chairman in January 2023 and they were on the internal travel list as of May 2023.

Source: eWn

WWE Announces Charlotte Flair Will Be Out 9 Months

Charlotte Flair appeared to suffer a knee injury during her match against Asuka on Friday Night SmackDown last week, as she was spotted yelling “my knee” at Charles Robinson who was tending to her after the match. We’ve been waiting for any kind of diagnosis in the meantime and the first bit of official news to come out is not good.

Indeed, WWE announced during this week’s show that Flair did indeed suffer a knee injury on a spot coming off the ropes and she will have to miss nine months of action.

According to a report from Pwinsider, Flair suffered a torn ACL, a torn MCL and a torn meniscus after falling from the top rope. Additionally, it is believed that she suffered a strain to her neck. While the surgery has not taken place just yet, it is expected to happen in the near future.

The timing of this couldn’t be worse, considering we’re just before the holidays and WWE is gearing up for its biggest time of the year, the Royal Rumble to WrestleMania 40 push. Flair was undoubtedly going to be a major part of both.

Source: SB Nation

AJ Styles Returns, Attacks Roman Reigns (But Also LA Knight) On WWE SmackDown

After LA Knight defied Randy Orton’s wishes, expressed near the beginning of Friday’s episode of “WWE SmackDown,” by coming down the ramp to thwart an attack from Solo Sikoa, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns took matters into his own hands, smashing Knight and hitting the ring to attack Orton.

AJ Styles Returns, Attacks Roman Reigns (But Also LA Knight) On WWE SmackDown
Christian Bertrand/Shutterstock
BY JON JORDAN/DEC. 15, 2023 10:41 PM EST
After LA Knight defied Randy Orton’s wishes, expressed near the beginning of Friday’s episode of “WWE SmackDown,” by coming down the ramp to thwart an attack from Solo Sikoa, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns took matters into his own hands, smashing Knight and hitting the ring to attack Orton.

And then AJ Styles’ music hit.

“The Phenomenal One” emerged through the WWE Universe, dressed all in black, and hit “The Tribal Chief” with a Phenomenal Forearm. But what looked to be a simple evening up of the numbers game — as well as Styles exacting revenge by association for Sikoa’s taking him out last we saw him — turned sideways when the leader of The OC turned his attention toward Knight, obliterating him with a clothesline. Styles then exited the ring and walked past the battered Bloodline, all of whom ogled him awkwardly as he went to the back without any further interaction.

Orton, who challenged Reigns earlier in the night for the Universal Championship, looked confused as most onlookers probably felt throughout these events and once Knight came to off the mat, he looked equal parts perplexed and livid while staring down the departing Styles. Though there’s no official answer as of yet to Orton’s challenge, it seems reasonable that an Orton/Reigns bout will take place at Royal Rumble and now possibly Knight and Styles as well.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 12/15/2023

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX from the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

  • Roman Reigns returns to handle tribal business
  • WWE United States Championship Tournament No. 1 First-Round Contenders Match: Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory
  • WWE United States Championship Tournament No. 1 First-Round Contenders Match: Grayson Waller vs. NXT Superstar Carmelo Hayes