Tag: SmackDown

(Report) WWE RAW & SmackDown To Expand To 3 Hours In January 2025

According to a report from Pwinsider, the current plan is for both RAW and SmackDown to expand to three hours in January 2025.

RAW moved from 3 hours back to 2 last month for the rest of the year. The plan seemed to always be that RAW would then move back to 3 hours in January when the show makes the move to Netflix.

Now it appears that SmackDown on Friday night’s on the USA Network will also expand to 3 hours

While this is not confirmed just yet, there has been some talk of calling up talent from the NXT brand to help fill six hours of weekly television on the two main brands.

For years, the three-hour format has been a topic of debate among fans, with some embracing the extra content and others feeling it sometimes stretches thin. How WWE will balance the additional time without affecting pacing and viewership will be something to watch closely.

As January 2025 approaches, WWE fans can expect more announcements regarding this programming shift, as well as potential tweaks to the structure of RAW and SmackDown to maximize engagement and entertainment value in the new, extended format. For now, the prospect of a three-hour SmackDown is already stirring curiosity about how WWE will use the added time to shake up storylines and push its Superstars to new heights.

Original Bloodline Reunites On WWE SmackDown, Will Enter WarGames At Survivor Series

The Original Bloodline has fully reunited with Sami Zayn on last night’s WWE SmackDown.

After an opening segment that saw Reigns reject a reconciliation with his former “Honorary Uce” and subsequently appear to lose the trust of The Usos, Reigns came to the ring on his own during the main event segment to confront Solo Sikoa. Reigns challenged his cousin to a singles match, but Sikoa laughed in his face, challenging him instead to find four more others backstage ready to support him in a war. Reigns asked Sikoa if his intention was WarGames, saying Sikoa only had three men beside him; Sikoa then claimed Zayn had joined his side in the battle, prompting Zayn to emerge at the top of the ramp. Zayn stood and watched as Reigns was attacked by The Bloodline, with The Usos coming down to save their cousin. 

Sikoa called for Zayn to deliver the Helluva Kick to Reigns, but Zayn instead kicked Sikoa’s head, allowing for Reigns to hit a spear, and then The Original Bloodline fought the rest of the mutineers to clear the ring. Zayn and Reigns stared one another down as The Usos threw up the ones, the former raising his own finger and visibly asking Reigns “Are you in, or are you out?” Reigns finally raised a finger with the other three, signaling that at least for now, the band is back together.

As the segment closed, commentary stated clearly that Reigns, Zayn and The Usos would meet Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and the one-time Guerrillas of Destiny at Survivor Series in a WarGames match. It remains unclear whether a fifth man will be added to each side, but the reiteration of the five-on-five format WWE has used in main roster WarGames matches thus far suggests there are more participants to come.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown GM Nick Aldis Announced A NEW Women’s Title (WWE Women’s United States Championship)

In a major announcement that’s sure to shake up the WWE women’s division, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis last night unveiled a brand-new title: the WWE Women’s United States Championship. This groundbreaking addition introduces a fresh opportunity for the roster to vie for championship gold, and it aims to further showcase the depth of talent in WWE’s women’s division.

The creation of the Women’s United States Title signals WWE’s commitment to expanding opportunities for its female Superstars. Much like the iconic men’s United States Championship, this new belt is expected to elevate its holder, rewarding both in-ring prowess and fan support. The decision underscores WWE’s ongoing focus on giving the women’s division its own unique platforms, something the fans have been clamoring for as the roster’s talent continues to grow.

As the Women’s U.S. Title enters the picture, speculation is already swirling about who might become the inaugural champion. With so many rising and established stars in the SmackDown women’s division, the competition promises to be fierce. Fans can look forward to new rivalries, fresh storylines, and perhaps even some surprises along the way as WWE continues pushing the boundaries of its women’s division.

Stay tuned, as more details will likely emerge in the coming weeks, including a possible tournament or match to crown the first-ever WWE Women’s United States Champion. With the addition of this title, SmackDown’s women’s division just got even more exciting!

WWE SmackDown Preview 11/8/2024

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

  • Fallout from Crown Jewel
  • WWE Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns will be special guests on the Grayson Waller Effect
  • Jey Uso invites Sami Zayn to SmackDown to discuss what happened with Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel
  • Roman Reigns to appear
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to appear Champion Cody Rhodes?

WWE SmackDown Preview 11/1/2024

WWE SmackDown airs tonight on the USA Network from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.  It’s the go-home show for Saturday’s Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia

  • The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) vs. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson)
  • WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan and WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax go face-to-face
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton vs. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther and Ludvig Kaiser
  • IYO SKY vs. Bianca Belair, Lash Legend and Piper Niven
  • Naomi and Bayley vs. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell
  • Roman Reigns, Jimmy and Jey Uso to appear
  • Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/25/2024

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on the USA Network from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

  • WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Motor City Machine Guns vs. DIY
  • Series Finale (tied 3-3, special guest referee L.A. Knight): Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • Cody Rhodes goes face-to-face with Gunther
  • Roman Reigns to appear

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/18/2024

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on the USA Network from the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.

  • Andrade vs Carmelo Hayes: Part VII (Series is tied 3-3)
  • Los Garza (Angel and Berto) vs. A new tag team – Expected to the debut of the Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)
  • Roman Reigns to appear
  • Randy Orton to appear
  • The issues between Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton continues

AJ Styles Gives An Update On His Leg Injury

On the October 4th episode of WWE SmackDown, AJ Styles returned to face off against Carmelo Hayes in a singles match. The match wound up being stopped after Styles suffered a “mid-foot ligament sprain.”

On Monday, the Phenomenal One took to Twitter to respond to a fan who claimed that he wasn’t really hurt. In his reply, Styles confirmed the reports that he’s currently dealing with a Lisfranc injury.

https://twitter.com/AJStylesOrg/status/1846037869296537905
https://twitter.com/AJStylesOrg/status/1846038645066564069

As of this writing, there is no word on how long AJ Styles will be out of action.

Source: eWn

A Lisfranc injury is a foot injury that involves the Lisfranc joint complex, which is made up of the tarsometatarsal joint. It can range from mild to severe and can include a number of different types of injuries, such as sprains, subluxations, dislocations, and crush injuries.

Lisfranc injuries are uncommon and are often misdiagnosed or mismanaged. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are important for favorable outcomes. Treatment options include non-operative (cast immobilization) or surgery, depending on the severity of the injury.

Motor City Machine Guns To Debut On WWE SmackDown Next Week

“Coming soon” has turned into “next week,” as the Machine City Motor Guns are slated to make their first WWE appearance on the upcoming October 18 episode of “WWE SmackDown.”

Nick Aldis was the first to break the news on WWE programming, informing Legado del Fantasma leader Santos Escobar that he was bringing in “a new tag team” next week, and that the team would be facing Escobar’s stablemates, Los Garzas. Shortly following the segment, a vignette featuring the bright lights of Detroit and the purr of motor engines filled fans’ screens. The letters “M-C-M-G” even briefly flashed at the end of the package, all but confirming the identities of Aldis’ expected new tag team arrival — and likely confirming that they will at least be using the same collective name.

Notably, Fightful Select reported earlier on Friday that Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin were not slated to appear on the blue brand until the October 25 episode of “SmackDown,” though the report allowed that the debut date could be changed even as a result of the report itself. Fightful also claimed the Guns’ upcoming debut had nothing whatsoever to do with the situation surrounding The Lucha Brothers, whose WWE arrival has been delayed by AEW CEO Tony Khan invoking his contractual right to extend Rey Fenix’ deal due to injury.

Shelley and Sabin are no strangers to gold — the Motor City Machine Guns boast tag team title reigns across multiple promotions, including NJPW, Deadlock Pro Wrestling, IGWP, Ring of Honor, and most famously Impact/TNA. The Guns’ contracts with TNA expired in April 2024; by September 2024, reports of Shelley and Sabin’s deal with WWE hit the wrestling news cycle. The Guns were initially reported to be heading to “WWE NXT,” but will instead call the blue brand home.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/11/2024

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on the USA Network from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

  • Fallout from Bad Blood
  • WWE United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Bianca Belair and Jade Gargill (c) vs. NXT’s Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend
  • Roman Reigns will sound off following Bad Blood
  • There will probably be some more info on what happened after Bad Blood between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens