There is expected to be various changes to WWE when the FOX deal goes through in this fall as SmackDown Live starts to air on the broadcast network.
Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that stars working on the blue brand will have a completely new schedule. SmackDown Live events will run from Thursday through Sunday, which will be a change for the stars as they are currently running a schedule that goes Saturday through Tuesday.
The schedule won’t change for the RAW brand, which currently runs Friday through Monday as that schedule will be staying the same.
Smackdown will be officially moving over to FOX on Friday, October 4th, 2019. FOX is paying WWE $1 billion over five years for the rights to Smackdown Live after inking the contract last year with the sports entertainment company.
At the time of this news being made, there were reports that NBC Universal declined to agree to the deal that WWE proposed to keep SmackDown Live on the USA Network. The TV network wanted to keep WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night RAW and was willing to pay them big money in order for that to happen. The two sides have already announced a new contract.
WWE had talked with the USA Network, Disney, CBS, Amazon, and YouTube before signing with FOX.