SmackDown's deal with FOX is coming to an end after five long years. It was the biggest broadcast deal in professional Wrestling history by a mile until the Netflix-RAW deal was announced. As the show is gearing up to return to USA Network, it seems like the blue brand has a new logo.
SmackDown is WWE's second-longest-running weekly television show after RAW. That status is likely going to remain for the foreseeable future following the announcement of the eye-watering 10-year, $5-billion deal. Still, the blue brand will continue to be a crucial source of broadcast revenue for the sports entertainment juggernaut on the USA Network.
Recently, Cultaholic Wrestling posted a new tweet on X (formerly Twitter) which revealed the new possible logo for WWE SmackDown on the USA Network.
What's Roman Reigns' status for the SmackDown season premiere on the USA Network?
When the blue brand moved back to Friday Nights for its FOX debut, it was a massive show that saw Brock Lesnar wrestle on free television for the first time in over 15 years. While that particular match only lasted for a matter of seconds, WWE normally goes all guns blazing for Network debuts/returns.
Roman Reigns was previously advertised for the September 13th episode in Seattle, Washington for the SmackDown on USA Network debut but was quickly removed.
This came as a bit of a surprise, but perhaps it shouldn't be. He was taken out by Jacob Fatu and The New Bloodline on the August 16th episode of the blue brand. After Cody Rhodes' successful defense of the Undisputed WWE Championship at Bash in Berlin, Michael Cole apparently confirmed that Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa 2 is next.
Assuming this is the direction, their rematch will likely happen at Bad Blood 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia, Cody's hometown. Perhaps the decision to hold back on Roman Reigns for the USA Network return episode was a calculated call as it might make more sense for him to appear at or after Bad Blood instead.