Is Smackdown going to be cancelled?

[snakeboss]

I heard that UPN is not renewing Smackdown, and it's being moved to Fridays by September. But once the contract with Smackdown is up, what happens then? Is Smackdown finished? If so, what will happen to the wrestlers? Can anyone fill me in on what's gonna happen?

[Disturbed316]

Yeah, it's going to be cancelled and all those who weren't drafted to Raw will either be fired or sent to OVW.

[Nervous Ferret]

no they are going to sell it to that Japan league, and it is going to be broadcasted in Japanese.

[Xero]

I hear that they're going to put the show on local public access channels across the US. They figure that if it worked for ECW, it'll work for them. :shifty:

[Shadow]

It's going to be cancelled because you touch yourself at night.

[Nervous Ferret]

*dives back to wrestling*

[Lamuella]

It was cancelled 5 years ago. You've been having very detailed hallucinations.

Tyler doesn't live here any more. Tyler went away. Tyler's gone.

[darkpower]

Ahem...now for a SERIOUS answer.

We actually don't know yet. UPN has said that they will not renew the contract beyond the 2005-6 season, but the end of that season is still a bit off, and they could change their minds. UPN is moving SD to Friday so they can get orignal programming on the ever-so-compeditive Thursday nights now that NBC is showing huge weaknesses there. The main reason why people believe SD is nearing the end of its run by moving the Fridays are because it's historically the second least watched night of the week (THE least being Saturday). However, Saturday Night Main Event did decent back in the 80s on the said night, so there is a chance still that SmackDown can survive on Fridays. They also saw Enterprise be killed on Fridays, but that was on the bubble ever since 2002. SmackDown is still pulling some of UPN's best numbers, and has been sort of a vehicle for UPN to advertise their other shows.

The fact of the matter is that they could cancel SmackDown after the contract goes dry, but imagine what it could do with the company. We would be baack to when the Invasion angle ended in 2001. With such a crowded roster that people who should be in the main event are actually put on Heat. Half of the roster wouldn't even be seen. Plus, if you think the locker room confrontations are bad NOW, imagine how they could be if they combine the rosters again. Simpily put, they can't afford to end the brand extension now, especially after they put so much money into it.

So I would see either one of these things happening:

- They move to another network and get more freedom there, like on USA, where RAW is going, making it a cable-only show.
- They do good enough to make UPN want to renew their contract for beyond 2006.

Don't look for Vince to let go of the brand extension thing anytime soon.

[Loose Cannon]

*dives back to wrestling*

LOL

[Kris P Lettus]

I heard it's moving to USA Network..

:-\