| Friday Night Smackdown | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Details | ||
| Format | Sports entertainment | |
| Created by | Vince McMahon | |
| Starring | WWE personnel | |
| Opening theme | "Are You Ready" by AC/DC | |
| Episode(s) | 662 (as of November 9, 2024) | |
| Production | ||
| Camera setup | Multicamera setup | |
| Running time | 3 hours and 5 minutes | |
WWE SmackDown (also advertised as WWE Friday Night SmackDown) is a professional wrestling television program that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States and originally debuted in August 2005.
From its launch in 1999, SmackDown broadcast on Thursday nights, but on September 9, 2005, the show moved to Friday nights; before moving to Saturday nights in 2013. The show originally debuted in the United States on the UPN television network on April 29, 1999, but after the merger of UPN and the WB, SmackDown began airing on The CW in 2006. The show remained on the CW network for two years until it was moved to MyNetworkTV in October 2008. SmackDown moved to Syfy on October 1, 2010 before moving to the USA Network in 2016. SmackDown would remain on the USA Network until 2019 before it was shut down. Upon the return of SmackDown in 2020, they would be picked up by the FOX Network. In October 2024, SmackDown would move back to the USA Network (that also currently airs Raw) ending their four year run on FOX.
Since its first episode, WWE SmackDown has been broadcast from over 162 different arenas, in over 147 cities and towns, in seven different nations (the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Iraq in 2006 and 2007 for specials Tribute to the Troops, Japan in 2005, Italy in 2007, and Mexico in 2011).
Due to time differences, SmackDown premieres a few hours earlier in Ireland and the UK and a day earlier in Australia, Singapore, and Philippines than the United States. WWE SmackDown also airs on a three week tape delay in South Africa on private broadcaster e.tv, on Wednesdays at 8:30pm.
Show history[]
2005–2010[]
Coming Soon
2010–2015[]
Coming Soon
2016–2019[]
Coming Soon
2020–present[]
Coming Soon
Production[]
From October 26, 2012, WWE SmackDown began using "Born 2 Run" by 7Lions as its theme song. Prior to that date, SmackDown opened with "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day while "Hangman" by Rev Theory served as the secondary theme song. Upon SmackDown's debut on Syfy it replaced the previous theme song "Let it Roll" by Divide the Day. In 2015, "Kickstart My Heart" by Motley Crue became the new theme song for Smackdown and it lasted for two years. Beginning in February 2017, "Take a Chance" by CFO$ became the new theme song for Smackdown. Upon the return of SmackDown in May 2020, "Are You Ready?" by AC/DC became the new theme song for SmackDown.
WWE airs SmackDown live on Friday evenings on FOX the same week. However, SmackDown has aired occasional live specials on Tuesday nights (which are then replayed in its usual Friday night time slot as well).
The show began broadcasting in HD beginning with the January 25, 2008 edition of SmackDown, where a new set (which became universal for all WWE weekly programming) debuted. Following the first broadcast in HD, the exclamation mark used since the show's inception disappeared from all references pertaining to "SmackDown", including the official logo, which resembles the 2001-08 logo but with a darker blue scheme. Beginning on August 4, 2016, Smackdown debuted a brand new logo. For their 2020 return, SmackDown debuted another new logo with a white and light blue logo, taking inspiration from the earlier SmackDown logo designs with the inclusion of the FOX logo. An alternate horizontal version of the logo was also created. Beginning in October 2024 and in conjunction with their move back to the USA Network, a new SmackDown logo was unveiled.
From September 21-October 26, 2012, WWE worked in conjunction with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to raise awareness for breast cancer by adorning the SmackDown set with pink ribbons and a special pink middle-rope in the ring.
On air personalities[]
The show features various on-air personalities including the wrestlers themselves, ring announcers, commentators and on-screen authority figures. Smackdown also has had various recurring on-air segments hosted by members of the roster.
Champions[]
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Heavyweight Championship | Carmelo Hayes | 1 | October 25, 2024 | 1+ | Salem, Massachusetts | Defeated Dominik Mysterio at Super SmackDown |
| SmackDown Women's Championship | Dakota Kai | 3 | August 25, 2024 | 86+ | Caribbean | Defeated Priscilla Kelly at SummerSlam at Sea |
| WWE United States Championship | LA Knight | 1 | August 25, 2024 | 86+ | Caribbean | Won a Fatal Four Way at SummerSlam at Sea |
| WWE Hardcore Championship | Eddie Kingston | 1 | November 17, 2024 | 1+ | Hartford, Connecticut | Defeated the Sandman at Survivor Series |
| WWE Tag Team Championship | Drew McIntyre & Tyler Bate | 1 | August 25, 2024 | 86+ | Caribbean | Won a Four Corner Tag Match at SummerSlam at Sea |
Authority figures[]
| Authority figures | Position | Date started | Date finished | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. McMahon | Owner, Chairman, CEO and General Manager | April 22, 2012 | Unknown | McMahon became General Manager of Smackdown after John Cena lost to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 29 returning the control over to Mr. McMahon from his daughter (and Cena's wife) Stephanie. |
| Kurt Angle | General Manager/Co-General Manager | May 2020 | November 2020 | Angle was named the new SmackDown General Manager on the premiere of SmackDown on FOX. Angle would later become co-General Manager after William Regal was moved over to SmackDown to help run it in June 2020. |
| William Regal | General Manager/Co-General Manager | October 7, 2012; June 2020 | Unknown; March 6th, 2022 | Regal took over the role of Assistant to the General Manager after John Laurinaitis was fired. After serving as Co-General Manager of Raw from 2019 to early 2020, Regal would move over to SmackDown and serve as co-General Manager alongside Kurt Angle in June 2020. |
| Trish Stratus | General Manager | March 18th, 2022 | Present | Stratus was announced as the new SmackDown General Manager on the March 18th 2022 episode of SmackDown. |
| Mick Foley | Smackdown Commissioner/General Manager | November 2013 | Unknown | After Regal was suspended, Mick Foley became the acting General Manager of Smackdown, thus becoming the Commissioner while the Board of Directors reviews Regal's performance. |
| Shane McMahon | General Manager | April 2, 2015 | Unknown | Shane McMahon was revealed as the mystery co-General Manager of Smackdown on the April 2nd, 2015 episode of Smackdown. In December 2015 McMahon would take a sabbatical from Smackdown after injuries suffered in a match with Tyler Chandler. |
| Stephanie Cena | General Manager | November 4, 2011 | April 25, 2012 | Cena was fired as General Manager of Smackdown on April 25, 2012 as per the match stipulations at Wrestlemania 28 where her husband, John Cena lost to the Undertaker. Giving control of the WWE and Smackdown back to her father. |
| So Cal Val | General Manager | February 25, 2011 | November 4, 2011 | |
| Vickie Guerrero | General Manager | January 21, 2011 | July 15, 2011 | |
| John Laurinaitis | Assistant to the General Manager | June 15, 2012 | October 7, 2012 | Laurinaitis was fired and replaced by William Regal on October 7, 2012. |
| Traci Brooks | Divas General Manager | October 21, 2011; July 20, 2013 | June 15, 2012; Unknown | Fired by Laurinaitis on the June 15, 2012 episode of Smackdown. Revealed to be pregnant and went on maternity leave. Re-hired on July 20, 2013 as Divas General Manager on orders of Mr. McMahon |