WWE Was Ready To Make Huge Change For SmackDown – Canceled At The Last Moment

WWE almost made a huge change to SmackDown. A report has emerged about it.

WWE SmackDown was almost changed

During negotiations about the timing of the WNBA game, the company was ready to cooperate and move SmackDown. Ultimately, the move didn’t happen, but Ramona Shelburne of ESPN opened up about it.

“Fun little aside: During the frantic negotiations over the weekend, an unlikely ally emerged– the @WWE. At one point, sources told ESPN that Steve Koonin Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena CEO reached out to WW E President Nick Khan and asked if he’d be willing to move the telecast of this week’s Smackdown to accommodate Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Friday night.”

The report went on to say that while SmackDown usually aired at 8 PM on USA Network, if Game 6 was played between 7-9 PM, then WWE would have to move it to an hour later. Nick Khan told the President of TBS that they would be fine with the move.

“SmackDown usually airs at 8 p.m. on Friday nights on USA Network, which is the broadcast network for this game. If Game 6 were to be played from 7-9 pm at State Farm Arena, the WWE would have to move an hour later. Koonin, the former President of TBS, had known Khan for decades. Khan told him they’d be fine with the later broadcast window if that’s what was needed to help the WNBA Finals play in a more appropriate arena.”

However, plans changed, and the game didn’t take place at that time.

“After that sign off however, new concerns were raised by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about playing a potential Game 7 on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Night. So that plan fell apart and the league moved back on to the idea of playing at 12:30 pm on Thursday. SmackDown will remain at its regularly scheduled time. The Dream announced earlier Wednesday that Thursday’s Game 6 is sold out.”

SmackDown is still scheduled for Friday.

Edited by Anirban Banerjee