WWE's 'SmackDown Live' Gets New Name From Fox, First Promo (Video)

WWE’s “SmackDown Live” is not only changing networks, it’s getting a new name when it debuts on Fox on Friday, Oct. 4.

The wrestling franchise is dropping the “live” from its name and will be called “Friday Night SmackDown.” Fox also unveiled its first promo, which you can watch in the video above.

The promo will air Friday night on Fox Sports 1 during its college football preview show, “Big Noon Kickoff” at 6:30 p.m. ET. The promo, part of Fox’s “We Are All Superstars” campaign, sees everyday people (and a few celebs) mimic some of their favorite moves though “If Ya Smell What Gordan Ramsay Is Cooking” just doesn’t have the same ring to it. The spot also features of Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair.

Also Read: Fox Chief Charlie Collier Compares WWE Ratings Risk to Network's NFL Deal in the '90s

TheWrap broke the news last May that “SmackDown” would be moving from USA to Fox’s broadcast network — and from Tuesdays to Fridays — for the 2019-20 television season (and beyond). We also exclusively reported that it would remain live. The two-hour series runs until 10 o’clock, which is when Fox’s national primetime programming ends.

The wrestling program’s move to Fox, and to Fridays, pushed Tim Allen’s “Last Man Standing,” previously a Friday night comedy, to midseason. Fox is also in the second year of its five-year deal to air the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” franchise, meaning that Fox will have live sports on two nights most weeks during the fall.

11 WWE Superstars With Their Own TV Shows (Photos)

These days, WWE Superstars don't just make their TV money through in-ring performances on "Raw," "SmackDown Live" and WWE Network pay-per-views -- there's an entire universe of opportunity for popular pro wrestlers to earn big bucks on the small screen.

In our gallery are 11 WWE wrestlers with their own television shows. We've included a few select series from recent years to help paint a picture of the non-canvas landscape. A few: "Straight Up Steve Austin," "Fight Like a Girl" and "The Big Show Show" have yet to premiere.

For the purposes of this story, we only counted the three people who appeared in all 111 episodes of "Total Divas" -- Nikki Bella, Brie Bella and Natalya -- as it being *their* show, but we included the names of everyone who showed up in seven or more episodes of that one.

Also Read: WWE’s ‘Raw Reunion’ Is Highest-Rated Episode Since 2018 Superstar Shakeup
Wrestler(s): "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Show(s): "Straight Up Steve Austin," "Broken Skull Challenge," "Redneck Island"
Network(s): USA, CMT, Country Music Television

Also Read: WWE’s Mandy Rose Is Building a Brand, and Being ‘God’s Greatest Creation’ Is Just the Start
CMT
Wrestler(s): Nikki Bella, Brie Bella
Show(s): "Total Bellas," "Total Divas"
Network(s): E!

Also Read: WWE United States Champion AJ Styles Says Finn Balor ‘Will Always Have an Invitation’ to The Club
E!
Wrestler(s): The Miz, Maryse
Show(s): "Miz & Mrs"
Network(s): USA

Also Read: The Miz Has Some Potentially Great News for Fellow WWE ‘Raw’ Superstar Baron Corbin
USA Network
Wrestler(s): Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Show(s): "Ballers"
Network(s): HBO

Also Read: WWE Champion Kofi Kingston on Wrestling in Sneakers, and if You Should Eat Those Pancakes
HBO
Wrestler(s): John Cena
Show(s): "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"; "American Grit"
Network(s): Fox; Nickelodeon

Also Read: WWE’s Sonya Deville Knows She and Mandy Rose Will Break Up – But Hopefully Not ‘Anytime Soon’
Nickelodeon
Wrestler(s): The Big Show
Show(s): "The Big Show Show"
Network(s): Netflix

Also Read: Seth Rollins Says It Was ‘a Little Presumptuous’ for Dean Ambrose to ‘Talk Down’ About WWE (Audio)
Netflix
Wrestler(s): Christian
Show(s): "Knight Fight"
Network(s): History

Also Read: How ‘Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase Convinced Shawn Michaels to Take Non-Christian Acting Roles
Tim O'Connell for History channel
Wrestler(s): Stephanie McMahon, various female WWE Superstars
Show(s): "Fight Like a Girl"
Network(s): Quibi

Also Read: ‘The Wrestlers’ Host Damian Abraham Would ‘Absolutely’ Like to Do an AEW Episode in Season 2
WWE.com
Wrestler(s): Brie Bellas, Nikki Bella, Natalya, Naomi, Eva Marie, Paige, Cameron, Alicia Fox, Lana, Maryse, Renee Young, Rosa Mendes, Summer Rae, Nia Jax, Jo Jo, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Mandy Rose, Emma, various others
Show(s): "Total Divas"

Also Read: Jon Moxley – Formerly Dean Ambrose – Says ‘WWE’s Creative Process Sucks’ and Vince McMahon ‘Is the Problem’ (Audio)

Network(s): E!
E!

1 of 10

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s new USA Network series premieres on Aug. 12

These days, WWE Superstars don't just make their TV money through in-ring performances on "Raw," "SmackDown Live" and WWE Network pay-per-views -- there's an entire universe of opportunity for popular pro wrestlers to earn big bucks on the small screen.

In our gallery are 11 WWE wrestlers with their own television shows. We've included a few select series from recent years to help paint a picture of the non-canvas landscape. A few: "Straight Up Steve Austin," "Fight Like a Girl" and "The Big Show Show" have yet to premiere.

For the purposes of this story, we only counted the three people who appeared in all 111 episodes of "Total Divas" -- Nikki Bella, Brie Bella and Natalya -- as it being *their* show, but we included the names of everyone who showed up in seven or more episodes of that one.

Also Read: WWE’s ‘Raw Reunion’ Is Highest-Rated Episode Since 2018 Superstar Shakeup

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