| Advertisement |
STAMFORD, Conn., May 25 (UPI) -- Change is coming to WWE's weekly block of programming with Smackdown to begin airing live on the USA Network starting in July. "Beginning July 19, the second longest-running weekly episodic program in television history, SmackDown, will move from Thursday to Tuesday nights and air LIVE each and every week — for the first time ever — at 8/7 C on USA Network," the company said in a statement Wednesday.
Advertisement
The move, WWE explains, will bring back the company's once established brand split between Raw and Smackdown in which both shows acted as separate entities with their own unique roster and set of champions.
A yearly draft was also formerly instituted in which general mangers from both show's would draft WWE Superstars one after another to join their respective program.
"WWE's flagship programs will both leverage the incredible depth of our talent roster, distinct storylines and the unpredictable nature of live TV," says WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. "This move will undoubtedly build more excitement and deepen engagement with our fans around the world."
In an announcement video featuring current Raw co-general managers Stephanie and Shane McMahon discussing Smackdown moving to a live format, the siblings argued over who should take over managing duties on the program, hinting that they will take over separate shows staring in July.
The first brand split and draft was first introduced in 2002 after WWE acquired rival promotions WCW and ECW leading to an influx of talent. The last draft took place in 2011 when the brand split was eliminated shortly afterwards.
There is no word yet on how this may affect the WWE World Heavyweight Championship or other titles which may be split or duplicated in some way across the two brands.
