UPN and World Wrestling Entertainment recently worked out a quiet deal to keep WWE SmackDown! on the air for two more seasons, reports Variety.
This essentially clears up the talk that the UPN-WB merger put SmackDown! in jeopardy; between this news and the press release, UPN is clearly committed to bringing WWE SmackDown! to the new network.
When SmackDown! was first moved to Friday, a number of wrestling analysts suggested that the move was a sign of UPN planning to rid itself of the wrestling program. At the time, it was explained that said conclusion was without merit – it made more sense to put the established SmackDown! on Friday so that the new “Everybody Hates Chris” could be given the Thursday slot – and recent comments from UPN management have further indicated that wrestling will continue to be a part of the network’s schedule.
