WWE has secured a new media rights deal for Lucha Libre AAA.
It was announced today that, beginning in 2026, AAA will now be broadcast on Fox in Mexico, Central America, and South America (except Brazil). AAA content — including PLEs like Triplemania — will air across a variety of Fox platforms including the Fox channel on Tubi, the Fox pay TV channel, and the SVOD platform Fox One.
“Fox Corporation continues to strengthen its presence in Mexico with the addition of leading Mexican lucha libre promotion AAA to its portfolio of sports content,” a press release said. “With this new asset, Fox expands its offering and reaffirms its commitment to providing Mexican audiences with the best national and international sports programming.”
WWE acquired AAA earlier this year, putting one of the two biggest Mexican wrestling promotions under the WWE umbrella. There has been no word on a potential United States broadcast deal for AAA as of now. WWE has streamed select AAA events on YouTube over the past several months.
The press release announcing the Fox Mexico deal includes a quote from Rey Mysterio, who hyped that AAA’s future is now brighter than ever.
“AAA has been part of my roots since day one and to see it reach new audiences on Fox in Mexico fills me with pride and excitement,” Mysterio said. “Lucha Libre is part of our culture and bringing these stories to a broader audience is just the beginning — the future of AAA is brighter than ever.”
An exact start date for the deal has not been announced yet, nor have further details on which day of the week AAA will be airing.
Whether former WWE chairman Vince McMahon is planning a return to wrestling remains to be seen — but Fox has denied being involved with the rumored new promotion.
Rumors that McMahon could start a new wrestling company emerged over the past few days after being mentioned by Conrad Thompson and Eric Bischoff on their 83 Weeks podcast. Thompson said he’s heard rumblings that McMahon has had conversations with cameramen that are experienced in shooting pro wrestling, and Thompson said it’s rumored that Fox could be holding a spot to air the promotion.
Andrew Marchand — a sports media reporter for The Athletic — reported on the Fox aspect of the rumors today, tweeting that a Fox spokesperson has told him that they are not involved as a partner.
“There is a report that Vince McMahon might start a wrestling company with Fox as a partner. If McMahon is planning that or not, I don’t know, but the Fox part is not true, according to a network spokesman,” Marchand wrote.
Both Thompson and Bischoff expressed doubt that the rumors about McMahon starting a new promotion are true. They mentioned that one aspect fueling the rumors was that McMahon attended Super Bowl LIX earlier this month, which was broadcast on Fox.
McMahon is laying the groundwork to launch an “entertainment hub company” to fund, develop, and produce film and television projects, but it was reported last October that he is not planning to compete with WWE or produce wrestling content.
In January 2024, McMahon resigned from WWE and its parent company TKO Group after being accused of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking in a lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant. McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis are named as defendants in the still-ongoing suit.
Fox was the broadcast home of WWE SmackDown from 2019-2024, with the show moving back to USA Network last September. WWE’s new Evolve series is set to premiere on the Fox-owned streaming service Tubi on March 5.
In an interview on the QUEENZFLIP YouTube channel, Swerve said that with SmackDown leaving Fox recently, AEW would not only work with Warner Bros. Discovery but also Fox.
“We’re about to move,” he said. “We’re about to get on Fox. SmackDown is leaving Fox. And then we’re taking Fox…TNT, TBS, and Fox. We got all three of them things. Tony Khan lets me do whatever the f*** I want. He owns the Jacksonville Jaguars.”
AEW is nearing finishing its new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, with its previous deal expiring at the end of the year. They have also trademarked the term ‘AEW Shockwave’ recently, with speculation being it could be a new television show. Dave Meltzer earlier this month reported that while AEW and Fox are in talks, the potential new show may not be on the Fox Network, perhaps airing on a different Fox-owned channel such as FS1.
At the All Out media scrum earlier this month, Tony Khan said there was a 90% chance we could see AEW’s media rights deal with WBD become official in the next month.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave an update on where things stand with AEW’s impending new media rights deal.
Meltzer reports that AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery have reached an agreement for their new deal. It looks like the deal will include a pay-per-view component, though Meltzer doesn’t know the exact specifics regarding how PPVs will be handled.
“Everyone knows, but the WBD deal is a done deal,” Meltzer said. “There are going to be changes, from what I gather there is going to be a pay-per-view component in this deal. Exactly what it is, I don’t know. But if they’re doubling the number [of the past media rights deal] and WBD is getting the rights to the pay-per-views, that makes doubling the number make more sense in a lot of ways — if they get that. I don’t know exactly if it’s going to be how UFC does it, if it’s going to be how WWE does it. But there is going to be a deal with Max with the pay-per-views in some form, is what it looks like.”
Since AEW applied to trademark “AEW Shockwave” last week, there have been rumors that AEW is in discussions for an additional show that would air on a Fox network. Meltzer does not believe that a deal between AEW and Fox is done yet. If the new show does come to fruition, Meltzer suspects it would not be on the main Fox network, instead airing on a different Fox channel or streaming platform.
“The Fox deal is not done. I know a lot of people have been talking about the idea on the Fox network. I would strongly suspect — I do not know — but I would very strongly suspect it would not be on the Fox network,” Meltzer said. “It would probably be another station, whether it’s FS1, whether it’s a different station, whether it’s a streaming component, I don’t know. And I don’t believe it’s a done deal either. I think it’s something that they’re working on. Although as far as the Shockwave thing, they did trademark the name of Shockwave. So they have to be pretty darn close to a deal to actually go to the lengths of trademarking the name.”
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including WWE shifting and not shifting stories and fans’ reaction to that, Rock and Roman Reigns, NXT and AEW line-ups for this week, could AEW go to FOX?, RAW notes and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
In what promises to be a game-changer in the world of streaming rights, Warner Bros. Discovery, Fox and Disney will launch a sports-centric streaming venture in the United States that will combine each services’ various rights under one digital roof.
The unnamed service is expected to launch this fall with pricing yet unknown. It will be owned by a newly-formed company with its own leadership team.
According to Variety, each group will own a third of the service, licensing their sports content to it on a non-exclusive basis, meaning it would also air on their traditional home for non-subscribers.
From their report:
“Subscribers would get access to linear sports networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, Fox, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV and ESPN+, as well as hundreds of hours from the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL and many top college divisions. Pricing will be announced at a later date,”
CNBC reported subscribers will be able to bundle the new service with Hulu, Disney+ and/or Max. This will not affect ESPN’s continued plans to launch their full direct-to-consumer product either this year or next.
That will also affect MMA fans and pro wrestling fans as well.
Both the UFC and PFL have deals with ESPN with the former’s contract set to expire at the end of 2025 while the PFL signed a multi-year extension in November 2023.
UFC head Dana White said in January that parent company TKO expects to begin talks with ESPN in the next “three or four months.”
How this bundle plays into ESPN’s exclusive domestic PPV rights distribution deal with the UFC remains to be seen. Currently, one must subscribe to ESPN+ in order to be able to order UFC PPVs.
WBD has an existing deal with AEW that expires at the end of 2024. While their exclusive negotiating window isn’t public knowledge, WBD is considered the front-runner given Tony Khan’s publicly stated desire to remain loyal to his lone domestic TV partner.
AEW has yet to become part of WBD’s BR Sports tier on the Max streaming service despite being listed within TNT Sports. However, Dynamite, Collision and Rampage would be available via this new “skinny bundle” if they remain on the WBD networks.
The exclusive WWE TV rights negotiating windows for both Fox and NBCUniversal have closed and the company can now officially solicit interest from the rest of the broadcast & streaming world.
The news was first reported by the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand who also included an interesting note about AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery.
While he noted incumbents traditionally remain the favorites, sources have indicated that Disney has shown interest but for FX as opposed to ESPN as the latter can’t guarantee a specific night of the week due to their rotating slate of games.
Marchand also stated that “Amazon Prime Video will be in talks for WWE, and you can see how it fits in their strategy,” given their NFL deal for Thursday night games and bidding for college football’s Big Ten conference.
Marchand also noted that he considers both Apple and Warner Bros. Discovery as dark horses candidates due to their NBA pursuits, but “one nugget I was told that may interest wrestling fans is that Warner Bros. Discovery does not have to stay exclusive to AEW. It would be something if it got in on WWE. But I don’t see it yet.”
The five-year deals with both NBCUniversal ($265 million/year for Raw) and Fox ($205 million/ year for SmackDown) expire in October 2024. WWE CEO Nick Khan has remained confident in the company getting a rights increase that could be 1.5x of what their current deals are.
Fox says it has not engaged with WWE on a new media rights deal but are ready to do so “when they ask.”
Company CEO Lachlan Murdoch spoke at the Morgan Stanley Tech Media and Telecom conference on Thursday and was asked about Fox potentially renewing its television deal with WWE.
Murdoch said:
I think they’ve been great partners, they’ve been great partners throughout our partnership, our relationship. If they ultimately sell the business, I hope the acquirer… or I’m sure the acquirer will be as good a partner as they’ve been. I hope the management team stays intact because they’ve done a tremendous job.
From a rights point of view, we’re focused on their rights renewal. We haven’t engaged with them on the rights yet, we’re ready to engage with them when they ask, when they’re ready. But ultimately, our appetite for renewal depends on what happens with the rest of our sports portfolio.
Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch on possible rights renewal for $WWE Smackdown, at the Morgan Stanley TMT conference today. $FOXA
"We haven't engaged with them on the rights yet. We're ready to engage with them when they ask." pic.twitter.com/HRsHkhzyir
WWE signed a five-year deal with Fox for the rights to SmackDown in 2018 with the show moving to the network on October 4, 2019. The first episode saw Brock Lesnar win the WWE Championship by defeating Kofi Kingston in just seven seconds. WWE is believed to be making $205 million annually for the rights to the show. The agreement is set to expire in 2024.
WWE CEO Nick Khan stated in January that the company will not engage in talks on media rights deals until after a potential sale. He then noted in February that a sale could take place in as little as “three months.”
How the rules have changed and what did and didn’t work this year
The copies of War Games
Why WWE didn’t do War Games on the main roster, and why they started it on NXT
Business notes on how the show did, live, streaming, PPV
Crossover audience between War Games and Full Gear and Crown Jewel
Full show coverage with poll results
The story behind William Regal’s AEW departure
Why many questioned the MJF booking
Best of Seven notes
PPV number updates, as well as updates on the last four AEW PPV shows
Who bought Full Gear, Forbidden Door or All Out and patterns
Revenue, movie gate numbers and more
Notes behind the title changes
Match by match coverage and poll results on the show
Updates on the Royal rumble, ticket sales and more notes
New Japan and Stardom Historic X Over
The story behind Kairi winning the IWGP title and not Mayu Iwatani
The story behind Omega vs. Ospreay
Match by match coverage and poll results
C.M. Punk mocks the brawl, Young Bucks & Kenny Omega mock C.M. Punk, and more
TV ratings over the past two weeks, including where AEW faltered this week and did great the week earlier and it’s the same group, the huge drop during the show of Raw, what about Smackdown was the best of the year for the show, and where wrestling ranked in the sports charts and the entertainment charts the past two weeks
Wrestling legend gets honored by an international embassy
Cain Velasquez wrestling and the story behind it
Stardom PPV show coverage
Updates on all the traditional Japanese tournaments
Update on Kota Ibushi
Fantastica Mania news
Generational legends battle this past week
Ricky Steamboat comes out of retirement
Plan for a statue of iconic wrestler to be built in his home town
Battle of Los Angeles news
Mayor Glenn Jacobs in the middle of controversy
Injury changes the winner of a tournament
Major WWE legend coming out of retirement in December
One of the most well traveled wrestlers of all-time passes away
Former ECW and WWE star retiring
Thoughts on wrestlers whose contracts are coming due
New angle off television for recently signed AEW wrestler
International TV ratings
AEW & WWE streaming numbers
Lots of new UFC main events
Conor McGregor gets sued twice
UFC gaming controversy
MMA returns to CBS prime time
PFL season finale
Paul Levesque talks WWE future
Big stock rise for WWE and why
Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon talk WWE business, international, buying companies and more
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Sunday News Update
We have a show up from yesterday with Garrett Gonzales talking about all the business news from the last week in wrestling, William Regal, AEW booking, WWE pie in the sky winter and more. Bryan and I will be up tonight with more weekend news. We will likely have time for questions on the show as well, so if you are a video subscriber you can send questions during the show.
The Hall of Fame issue of the Wrestling Observer will be out on Thursday night. There are eight new entrants into the Observer Hall of Fame this year.
We have a new book out for the Christmas season, the Wrestling Observer 1995 yearbook, available here and here. The book covers the entire year of 1995 similar to other other yearbooks that have been put out in recent years.
Want to send our sympathies to Mickie James whose family had a tragedy a few days ago with her brother and her 16-year-old niece being killed in an auto accident. Her sister-in-law was also injured in the accident. Her sister-in-law is in serious condition. A friend of her niece who was 15 also passed away in the accident.
DirecTV and FOX came to a carriage agreement right at the wire for several more years so the idea FOX stations will be off DirecTV as had been talked about during the week isn’t happening. It really couldn’t happen as neither side could have afforded it with the big football games this weekend.
Dustin Rhodes was at a Great Lakes Championship Wrestling show last night and announced he will close out his career in 2023. Rhodes still works for AEW as a coach and trainer.
The Cincinnati Bengals tweeted this out today as Jon Moxley and Renee Paquette were part of their pre-show activities:
Results from last night’s AAA show in Tempe, AZ: Mascarita Sagrada & Willie Mack & La Perruska b Latigo & Demus & King Drago, Lady Maravilla & Chik Tormenta b Sexy Star & Lady Shani, Sanson & Forastero & Cuatrero b Dave the Clown & Arez & Komander, Cain Velasquez & Blue Demon Jr. & Pagano b Taurus & Sam Adonis & Gringo Loco, El Hijo del Vikingo & Pentagon Jr b Daga & Flip Gordon (thanks to Andy Nemmity and Thomas DeCenso)
They did live commentary over the speakers. The show got great reviews. That’s how AAA does it these days. Velasquez was over like crazy. Not one person booed him and he was treated like he was a conquering hero. I was told this was something to see live. The match was also said to be great. I was told he was better in the ring than before even with spending so much time out of the ring and in jail. He was flying around, although at times he was stiff moving. Sam Adonis did a great job with him, and Taurus is the most unheralded super worker around as far as the ability to make people look good The main event was said to have been the best match.
JBL will be doing a high stakes poker game skit on Raw tomorrow night from Washington, DC.
We’re looking for reports from the WWE weekend shows in Rochester, NY last night and Petersburg, VA tonight to [email protected]
At last night’s show, after Seth Rollins lost the main event to Austin Theory in a U.S. title match due to a low blow, Rollins curb stomped him after. He then talked about how Rochester is a special place to him because Mr. Brodie Lee/Luke Harper is from here and he was one of his best friends and said that was the first time since his death he’s wrestled in the city and said he wanted to tell everyone that he missed and loved Lee.
The only stuff regarding wrestling, MMA or boxing to make the Google Searches for the week was both yesterday. The UFC show, likely because it was back on ESPN, had 500,000 searches even though it wasn’t a PPV show. It was sixth place yesterday. That was well ahead of both Survivor Series and Full Gear. Tyson Fury’s challenge was No. 9 at 200,000.
The city of Stockton gave Nate Diaz the keys to the city yesterday. Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln presented them to him at a Stockton Kings (Sacramento Kings G-League team) game and Lincoln praised Diaz for his grit and determination every time he fought.
The New Japan tag team tournament continues with a 4:30 a.m. Eastern show Monday morning from Sasebo with the junior heavyweight tournament. The bouts are Kushida & Kevin Knight vs. champs TJP & Francesco Akira, Ryusuke Taguchi & Clark Connors vs. Yoh & Lio Rush, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Douki vs Sho & Dick Togo, Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles vs Titan & Bushi and Alex Zayne & Lindaman vs. Ace Austin & Chris Bey.
Drew McIntyre was announced as replacing Braun Strowman in the main event of the 12/26 show in Madison Square Garden. It’s McIntyre & Sheamus & Butch & Ridge Holland vs. Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa & The Usos, plus they announced Bray Wyatt would be on the show. (Thanks to Mike Omansky)
The retirement match of Mike “Nova” Bucci took place last night in Toms River, NJ Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards b JP & Tommy Grayson Tommy Dreamer b Warhorse, Miranda Alize b Christina Marie, Jerry Lawler (managed by former major league baseball star Todd Frazier) b Rik Ratchett, Dave McCall & Nate Carter b The SATs, Anthony Greene won over Alec Price, Ant Bennett, Dan Maff, LSG and Myles Hawkins to be Skywalker champion, Nick Aldis b Shawn Donovan to win the SAW title, Mike Bucci & Aron Stevens & Frankie Kazarian b Pat Buck & Matt Cardona & Brian Myers. Bucci gave a speech after the show, talking about being from Toms River, and talked about Frankie Edgar and Frazier working his retirement show.
NXT from last night in Gainesville, FL: Mandy Rose b Ivy Nile-DQ to retain the women’s title, Ivy Nile & Roxanne Perez & Tatum Paxley b Mandy Rose & Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Sol Ruca b Cora Jade & Kiana James, Scrypts b Ikemen Jiro, Carmelo Hayes b Andre Chase, Axiom & Oro Mensah b Charlie Dempsey & Taivon Heights, Alba Fyre b Isla Dawn-DQ, Wes Lee & Bron Breaker b Tony D’Angelo (back wrestling) & Channing Stacks Lorenzo (thanks to Matthew Ray)
Other Notes
TripleMania from Mexico City aired Friday night on television in Los Angeles. (thanks to Mike Lano)
Konosuke Takeshita was announced for the 1/21 Warrior Wrestling show in South Bend, IN.
Results from today’s Stardom PPV show at the Makuari Messe: AZM & Miyu Amasaki b Saki & Waka Tsukiyama, Mirai & Amy Sohrei b Hanan & Saya Iida, Hazuki & Koguma b Maika & Himeka, Nanae Takahashi & Yuu b Natsuko Tora & Ruaka, Syuri & Tomoka Inaba b Mai Sakurai & Lacy C, Mayu Iwatani & Momo Kohgo b Saki Kashima & Fukigen Death, Momo Watanabe & Starlight Kid b Giulia & Thekla, Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani b Tam Nakano & Natsupoi, Nanae Takahashi & Yuu b Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani to win the long tag team tournament, Kairi faces Hayashishita on the 12/29 show at Sumo Hall. It is a non-title match as the title mach for the IWGP belt will be on 1/4 at the Tokyo Dome against Tam Nakano. (thanks to Shannon Walsh, David Popper, David Hayter, and Tim Hunter)
Kirk White’s family presented Big Time Wrestling Friday night in Newark, CA: Truex b D-Rouge, Viva Van b Mylo, Dave Dutra b EOC, Eddie Cuervo b Ishmael Vaughn, The Freaks b Ballard Twins, Shane Kody & Patrick Fitzpatrick b The Honor Society, Aaron Solo b Bobby Fish. the next show is 1/20 featuring a Battle Royal for the famed Roy Shire Battle Royal trophy (thanks to Jim Davis)
The new Black Belt magazine has a tribute to Gene LeBell.
IWS from last night in Montreal before 650 fans: Dani Leo b Katrina Creed, Sway Archer b Leon aver, Sexxxy Beasts b Casanova Productions and Bay City Choir Boys in a three-way, Alex Maze & Sonny Solay b Nathan Yarymovitch & Steven Manzano, Lince Dorado & Fresh Air b TDT & Buxx Belmar, Green Phantom b LuFisto to keep the IWS Canadian title, Melanie Havok b Kristara to keep the women’s title, Benjamin Tull over FTM, Myung Jae Lee and Karl Jepson in a four-way, Jay White b Zak Patterson. They will be working with GCW on shows 3/11 in Montreal and 3/19 in Toronto (thanks to Pat Laprade)
Asuka, also known as Venny (not the WWE wrestler obviously or Lioness Asuka the 80s and 90s star) captured the Sendai Girls world title yesterday from Chihiro Hashimoto. As Venny, she was in an AEW women’s tournament for a title shot in the past.
Brie Bella will take part in a reality dancing competition on Fox.
Bella announced today on social media that she will be a cast member on the first season of The Real Dirty Dancing. Bella wrote:
“I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be competing in #TheRealDirtyDancing on @foxtv! This was an amazing group of people who became family. Follow us all along as we celebrate one of the most iconic movies of all time!”
I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be competing in #TheRealDirtyDancing on @FOXTV! This was an amazing group of people who became family. Follow us all along as we celebrate one of the most iconic movies of all time! ❤️ B pic.twitter.com/TfbMf920l6
Bella, Corbin Bleu, Tyler Cameron, Cat Cora, Howie Dorough, former NFL star Antonio Gates, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes and Loni Love will make up the cast of the show. The winners of the competition will be crowned “Baby” and “Johnny” after character names from the 1987 Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze film.
Bella will return to WWE in this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match next Saturday, January 29.
The Real Dirty Dancing will air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern time in February, going up against The Olympics on NBC and NBC Universal’s cable channels.
The past few weeks, I have been asked personally by multiple people within Fox and USA regarding current AEW roster member MJF as his program with CM Punk has brought in a new level of interest from non-pro wrestling followers at both networks.
I discussed this last night on We’re Live, Pal, on YouTube, and how since that Punk promo, I was asked if MJF’s contract with AEW is really up in 2024 as he had said previously (and reiterated as much Wednesday on Twitter).
An individual at one of those networks, who has been a very reliable source, told me, “I actually stopped what I was doing and listened to him. I don’t think I have done that with pro wrestling in a long time.”
As I said last night, WWE is very interested in him. When I reached out to a source within WWE, they mentioned that the same conversations the networks have had have happened within the company regarding MJF in the past.
“He has everything we would want. It really depends on if he could be that same person on WWE TV,” they said. “We want new stars to be the focus within the next few years. That’s the plan.”
A pro since 2015, MJF made his AEW debut in 2019. He will face Dante Martin for the Dynamite Diamond ring on Wednesday’s Winter Is Coming edition of Dynamite.
A replay of last night’s SmackDown is set to air on Fox tonight.
WWE has announced that an encore presentation of SmackDown will air on Fox at 8 p.m. Eastern time tonight. The two-hour broadcast will also feature a “special look” back at Thursday’s Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia:
Brock Lesnar may have been indefinitely suspended by WWE Official Adam Pearce, but you’ll get a second chance to witness The Beast’s rampage on Universal Champion Roman Reigns and The Bloodline when FOX airs an encore presentation of SmackDown with a special look at WWE Crown Jewel tonight at 8/7 C.
WWE Crown Jewel featured a brutal and controversial showdown between Reigns and Lesnar, as well as a shocking Hell in a Cell Match between Edge and Seth Rollins, and a historic Triple Threat Match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. It’s a special look at an event you don’t want to miss.
Watch the encore presentation of SmackDown with a special look at WWE Crown Jewel , tonight at 8/7 C on FOX.
Game seven of the MLB American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox was originally set to air on Fox in the 8 p.m. Eastern time slot tonight, but the series ended with the Astros winning in six games.
The encore presentation of SmackDown will go head-to-head with tonight’s Saturday edition of AEW Dynamite on TNT.
Next Friday’s SmackDown will air on FS1 due to the World Series being on Fox.
Due to a college football scheduling conflict, SmackDown is making a one-week shift to FS1 next Friday.
WWE announced tonight that the Friday, December 18 episode of SmackDown will air on FS1 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. That’s due to college football’s Pac-12 Championship Game being scheduled to air on Fox next Friday.
This will be the second SmackDown episode to premiere on FS1 this year and the third time the show has premiered on FS1 since moving to Fox. Both other times were due to scheduling conflicts with the World Series.
Earlier this year, the October 23 episode of SmackDown aired on FS1 due to game three of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays being on Fox. That SmackDown episode averaged 881,000 viewers on FS1. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.25. When SmackDown aired on FS1 due to the World Series the previous year, the episode averaged 888,000 viewers and drew a 0.27 rating in the 18-49 demo.
A special edition of Talking Smack also aired immediately on FS1 after that October 23 SmackDown episode earlier this year.
Next week’s SmackDown is the go-home show for WWE’s TLC pay-per-view.
For the first time ever, WWE’s Tribute to the Troops is coming to Fox.
It was announced today that this year’s Tribute to the Troops event will air on Fox on Sunday, December 6. It will air adjacent to Fox’s regional NFL broadcasts. For those with NFL games airing at 1 p.m. Eastern time, Tribute to the Troops will air at 4:30 p.m. Eastern. For those with NFL games airing at 4:05 p.m. Eastern, Tribute to the Troops will air at 3 p.m. Eastern.
Tribute to the Troops will take place at the WWE ThunderDome and will “include servicemen and women and their families from Marine Corps Air Station New River, US Army Post Fort Hood, U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Naval Air Station Fallon and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.”
“Supporting the United States military year-round is an essential part of FOX Sports’ mission, and partnering with WWE on their Tribute to the Troops is an incredible extension of this ongoing commitment,” Fox Sports Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer Eric Shanks said in a press release.
“This is a unique time and we look forward to providing our troops and their families with an interactive experience that only WWE can deliver as we celebrate our servicemen and women with millions of our fans watching at home on FOX,” WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon said.
WWE noted that they will “announce celebrity guests from the world of sports and entertainment that will take part in the Tribute to the Troops broadcast” in the coming weeks.
In addition to the Tribute to the Troops event, WWE will also be hosting virtual meet and greet sessions with WWE wrestlers and military members.
This will be WWE’s 18th annual Tribute to the Troops show. Tribute to the Troops took place at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina last year but didn’t air on television.
