5 Surprising things that could happen on a new "sports-centric" WWE SmackDown on Fox

October 4th is the big day - WWE programming will be appearing on a weekly basis on a major US broadcast network. SmackDown Live will be moving to the Fox network this fall - but not all the current elements of the show will be going with it. It appears some big changes are afoot for the blue brand.

Word has it that Fox would like to see SmackDown become more, for lack of a better word, "sports-centric" - to have it feel less like "sports entertainment" (like how SmackDown and Raw currently are) and something closer to resembling Fox's current sports programming. That's not too surprising, considering that their sports department is one of Fox's big revenue drivers. But, it also presents some challenges to WWE.

Vince McMahon has always seemed to be apprehensive about presenting his product in any way that resembles "normal" sports. The Raw and SmackDown pre and post shows originally presented when the WWE Network first launched are long gone, and you never hear much about wins, losses, or any other "stats", unless it's to further a storyline. Basically, if it's a format that McMahon and company didn't create (even a time tested one), they don't seem to really want to adhere to it.

There's something to be said for that, of course, but now it looks like McMahon is going to have to - oh geez, please forgive me for this pun - play ball if he wants to get that larger audience that Fox can provide. But, that doesn't mean that there can't be a compromise, as well. Plus, as we saw during the Attitude Era, WWE can certainly rise up and meet a challenge when they really need to.

So, armed with nothing but our intuition and other.... brain... things... here are five ways we think WWE will integrate with Fox's current sports programming

This guy may get mentioned, whether WWE likes it or not

5. Expect some mentions of former stars... and even other companies?

We'll kick things off, as I tend to do, with the least likely of our ideas - but one that isn't completely without merit.

Like any other broadcast network, Fox treats its sports programming along the same lines as it does its news department. Essentially, when they're broadcasting a sporting event (such as the Super Bowl, for example), they're treating it as if they're covering a live news event. Obviously, there are differences - I don't really remember Tom Brokaw ever yelling "Awesome, baby!" during a broadcast, though I can't say I've seen every news report he's ever done.

While there's a certain expectation that the new version of SmackDown will still retain the appropriate level of "kayfabe" (for example, don't expect anyone on the shoe to actually say "kayfabe"), there's a strong possibility that you may hear the commentators speak of a wrestler's former employer - or matches with another former employee that is currently working for another company. At least, more so than they do now, anyway.

We're not saying that you can expect SmackDown's announce team to mention Ring of Honor or All Elite Wrestling every show - that's kind of ridiculous. But, if a situation calls for it, don't be shocked to hear something along those lines, either. It would certainly be in a manner more cavalier than when CM Punk or Sami Zayn mentioned the competition (oh, yeah, CM Punk - I suppose he might come up once or twice - unless WWE considers that completely non-negotiable.)

It's all in keeping with a more "sports-like" presentation, and we're more than confident that both Fox and WWE can find a happy medium when it comes to this sort of thing.

Or, I could be completely wrong.

"Now, you see how he tilts his foot upward into the kick there, Cole...?"

4. Stat-keeping may become a thing

My friends and I used to have a little joke that Fantasy Sports (like basketball or NFL football or... they have Fantasy FIFA and IPL leagues, right? Let me know in the comments - I'm curious) leagues were kind of like "Dungeons and Dragons for jocks." Usually when we were hiding in our basements to keep from getting beaten up by the jocks. But it's true to a degree - both activities rely heavily on the comparison of stats and random results (for fantasy sports, it's a game's outcome and player performance, while D&D relies on player choice and random dice rolls).

I'm not predicting any SmackDown Fantasy Leagues - actually, now that I've said that, I think I kind of am - but I think we can certainly expect the new Fox show to put an emphasis on wins, losses, averages, and more, while also having more of an in-depth analysis on how moves are "performed" (all in kayfabe, of course).

Think of it like this: before the main event of the show - say Seth Rollins vs, I dunno, Finn Balor - they'll probably have a "Tale of the Tape", with all the usual stats like height, weight, win/loss record on SmackDown, arm reach, things like that. They may even have an "expert" come in and provide an analysis on "who performs the better 'Sling Blade' clothesline", complete with start and stop/slow-motion video - "Now, you see how he turns his body into the clothesline here, Bob? That's the secret."

Obviously, something like this would have to be done very carefully to avoid breaking the illusion of reality during the match, but it's certainly a very "sports-like" element that WWE and Fox can incorporate to get viewers more invested in a match.

The guy on the right? That Sean Mooney is pointing at? He's the guy who's been directing WWE TV for generations now.

3. A new directing style... even a new director?

Kevin Dunn has been in charge of WWE's television presentation for as long as we can remember - at least since Vince McMahon has been in charge, anyway. Don't quote us on that. Anyway, it explains the very distinctive style of each broadcast - a style that has set WWE television from that of its rivals for generations now. And, like it or not, you do have to admit it's really polished and professional (I mean, you don't have to admit that, I guess. I'm not the boss of you).

Fox, however, may want something that more closely resembles their current sports programming. That could mean a whole new director behind the scenes. It would be a wild change for WWE and could provide viewers with a WWE show that looks like nothing else that's come before it.

Our prediction? A new director for episodes of SmackDown, but with Kevin Dunn in a producer/advisory role to make the transition much smoother.

Or, again, I could be completely off base.

So... *this* could be a thing again...

3. The return of pre/post-"game" shows - maybe even "halftime"?

If there's one thing you get on typical sports programming - no matter the network and no matter the sports - it's lots and lots of analysis. Take - just from my own experience - a typical NFL football broadcast. It usually begins - much like before a PPV, actually - with a panel of journalists, experts and former competitors discussing the ins-and-outs of each game. Which players are in and which ones are out with an injury.

They'll cover the relevant news stories involved with each game - did any players get arrested that week? Are any players having personal issues with other players, or a coach? Did Odell Beckham, Jr. change his hair colour? Stuff like that.

During halftime, we'll return to the same panel, who will discuss how the game has played out thus far, and then once again after the game to wrap things up, and possibly lead into the day's next game.

You can probably expect this type of thing on SmackDown - especially if the rumours of another in-studio WWE show are true, which could possibly air before or after the live broadcast. It could even be a throwback to Talking Smack, a widely loved post-SmackDown interview show that fans nearly rioted over when it was cancelled.

We don't really know how much extra programming outside of SmackDown itself this new Fox deal includes, but there's a good chance it could include extra shows like this.

Then again.... so could this...

1. More appearances from celebrities and non-wrestling athletes on WWE shows - and visa versa.

Now, this is certainly something right up Vince McMahon's alley. With Fox's contract with the various sports organizations, it certainly wouldn't be too difficult to get an NFL star, for example, to come and sit in on one of those aforementioned discussion panels.

Are the Green Bay Packers playing the Cincinnati Bengals on Fox Sunday morning? Have Arron Rodgers, Rashan Gary, A.J. Green or Joe Mixon make an appearance on the SmackDown "pre-game" panel the previous Friday (or whenever the show ends up airing eventually).

On the other side of the coin there, you can certainly have WWE Superstars make an appearance on one of the similar panels for Fox Sports.

Since WWE has no "off-season", it can be used to help promote programming on Fox Sports all year 'round - and visa versa.

And it's not just limited to Fox Sports, either. Does the Fox Network have a new sitcom premiering that week? Get Kelsey Grammer or Gordon Ramsey or whoever to appear on the show. I don't know if Ramsey likes wrestling - in fact, I highly doubt it - but that would be awesome.

I'm certainly not suggesting that we get another Lawrence Taylor or Rob Gronkowski-like situation and have these athletes get involved in story lines or even perform in the ring - although, this is WWE, there's no way that's completely off the table

So, that's what we think. Are we way off on these, or do you see some of these happening? We've got a comments section, let's go use it.

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