From WWE.com:

World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of Smackdown Superstar Umaga as of today, June 8, 2009. WWE wishes Umaga the best in all future endeavors.

Labels: umaga, WWE, wwe smackdown

Posted by Tymo55 at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

Its Official: WWE announced on its website today that Mick Foely has repalced Jonathan Coachman and will be calling the Smackdown matches alongside Michical Cole at Backlash tonight. The WWE.com article also impled that Foley will be the regular Smackdown announcer alongside Cole from now on. WWE.com's announcement is as follows.

"BALTIMORE – WWE.com has learned Mick Foely will debut on color commentary for SmackDown tonight at
Backlash. At the Pay-Per-View, the Hardcore Legend will call the World
Heavyweight Championship Match between titleholder Undertaker and Edge, as
well as the other Smackdown matches, alongside Michael
Cole.
Foley first took the microphone at One Night Stand 2005 when he
joined WWE.com's Joey Styles at
the announcers' table. The three-time WWE Champion brings in valuable in-ring and
out-of-the-squared circle experience to SmackDown's team.
Don't miss Foley's debut tonight on Backlash at 8/7 CT only on pay-per-view."

Labels: 2008 backlash, Jonathan Coachman, michael cole, mick foley, smackdown, wwe smackdown, wwe.com

Posted by Tymo55 at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Comments

By FRAZIER MOORE

NEW YORK (AP) — Pro wrestling is getting smacked down by the CW network.

The long-running "Friday Night Smackdown" won't be airing on the CW this fall, the network and World Wrestling Entertainment said late Thursday. In separate announcements, they stated that "after a successful decade of `Smackdown,'" they had agreed to conclude their partnership after the 2007-08 season.

No reasons were offered.

WWE added that it began talks with other networks after the CW's exclusive period to negotiate a renewal ended Jan. 31. Although no details were disclosed for a possible new home for the show, candidates might include NBC Universal, whose USA cable channel already carries "WWE Raw," and MyNetworkTV, where some affiliates aired "Smackdown" when they were UPN stations.

The two-hour "Smackdown" premiered on then-fledgling UPN in fall 1999 as strategic counterprogramming on Thursdays. "Smackdown" gave UPN a foothold on that night of bruising prime-time competition, but even as a ratings contender, it proved to be a sometimes uncomfortable fit with UPN's image.

When UPN, owned by CBS, merged with Warner Bros.' WB in 2006, "Smackdown" seemed no less out of place on the resulting CW network.

The CW is a joint venture between Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. unit and CBS Corp.

Labels: wwe smackdown

Posted by Matt Loede at 8:03 PM | Permalink | Comments

The WWE sent out the following press release today about SmackDown leaving the CW Network:

STAMFORD, Conn., February 7, 2008 - After a successful decade of "SmackDown" on both UPN and The CW, World Wrestling Entertainment and The CW have agreed to conclude our partnership. Since The CW's exclusive negotiation period ran out as of last Thursday, January 31, we have been contacted and have been in negotiations with other networks. "WWE SmackDown" will continue to air on The CW until the conclusion of the 2007-08 broadcast season. We are grateful to Les Moonves, Dawn Ostroff, and their entire organization for bringing "WWE SmackDown" to millions of viewers for so many years.

They will continue to be on CW till the end of September, but then have freedom to move wherever they want. Some sites are suggesting a move to a cable network like HBO or Showtime, but that's not likley to happen. They could move to USA, where RAW already resides. Wrestling Observer says to look for a move to MYNetwork TV, and for the show to move back to Thursday's which would be great and I think would push the ratings up a bit.

Labels: mytvnetwork, wwe smackdown

Posted by Matt Loede at 6:18 PM | Permalink | Comments

This Friday night, the returning Theodore Long will kick off SmackDown with what’s sure to be a blockbuster "State of SmackDown" address. What will Long have to say after his surprise reemergence last week, when he informed Edge, Undertaker and the World Heavyweight Champion Batista that they will face off in a Triple Threat Match at Armageddon for the gold? What kinds of reactions can we expect from the three Superstars, or any of SmackDown’s elite, as Long has seemingly filled the void left by the absence of Edge’s injured lover, General Manager Vickie Guerrero?

As for the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista will be in action Friday night when he takes on ECW’s Elijah Burke. After having his title contest with Edge interrupted by Undertaker last week, then receiving a chokeslam from the frustrated Phenom, The Animal has told WWE.com that he has other things on his mind than ECW’s Guiding Light. However, Burke’s star has been shining brightly since the recent partnership between SmackDown & ECW was formed. Can he find a way to neutralize Batista’s overpowering offense when the two face off? Is The Animal so focused on his Armageddon opponents that he may be caught off-guard by an Extreme challenge Friday night?

Speaking of ECW Superstars, the WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison & The Miz are making another appearance on SmackDown. This time, it's to face Jesse & Festus, who have been nothing but hot since stepping into the ring. What will happen when these two tag teams clash?

The United States Champion MVP will re-open his VIP Lounge Friday night, and he’ll welcome one of sports-entertainment’s all-time greats when Freebird Michael “P.S.” Hayes heads to SmackDown. With the DVD release of The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling this coming Tuesday, Hayes is sure to have a few things to say about his “Fabulous” ring career. But what does the Ballin’ Superstar have to say to one of the squared circle’s toughest competitors? Hayes has a reputation as one of the most respected men to ever step into the ring, but will MVP, a man to whom the only respect that matters is his own, spit in the face of tradition?

Find out on the next edition of SmackDown, Friday night at 8/7 CT on The CW Network.

Labels: wwe smackdown

Posted by Matt Loede at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

So Teddy Long is back and he does it in style with a triple threat match for the World Heavy weight title. Not surprising as it was very clear Edge, Batista and the Undertaker where going to meet at Armageddon. Tonight Batista showed why he is probably the hottest property in the WWE today. It was another great match against Edge and is really selling the upcoming match in 2 weeks in Pittsburgh. He still needs some work on his promos as once again he came across flat in the prematch interview, lacking any real emotion to sell it. Despite this he really makes up for it in the ring. Even Edge looked good for his first major match back. It should be a great match at Armageddon as all 3 competitors are looking solid in the ring and have great history together.

It's good to see the WWE is keeping up wit the talent share between brands also. This provided some interesting matches and entertaining programs in their run up to Survivor Series. This is continuing and it help the regular broadcasts by keeping them fresh. I really feel this is serving as a preview fro the WWE combining all 3 brands again. This would be great as I have posted before on this subject as it allows for multiple combinations of matches and helps keep things interesting during times of mass injury or suspension. I would not be surprised if we see this unification start to unfold after Mania.

Labels: teddy long, undertaker, wwe smackdown

Posted by JSX at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments

Batista’s World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line when he squares off against Edge this Friday night on SmackDown. And considering The Animal has never beaten the Rated-R Superstar any time they’ve battled over the gold, the stakes have seemingly never been higher.

Edge returned to SmackDown in controversial fashion last week, especially after revealing his “love connection” with General Manager Vickie Guerrero. But when Vickie granted the Rated-R Superstar a title opportunity for this week, her decision caught the ire of both The Animal and Undertaker, who displayed his disgust for the loving "partnership" by delivering a Tombstone to Guerrero during the “Cutting Edge” segment.

Before he steps into the ring to challenge Batista for the World Heavyweight Title, Edge will kick off SmackDown Friday night with an update on his lover. Will the Rated-R Superstar reveal any further details of the amorous relationship between himself and SmackDown’s General Manager? Does he show any remorse for not coming to the aid of the woman he loves last week?

Also on SmackDown, United States Champion MVP will team with ECW’s Big Daddy V to take on the team of Rey Mysterio & Kane. MVP defeated Rey last week on SmackDown, while at Tuesday’s ECW on Sci Fi, the Big Red Machine fell hard in an Extreme Rules defeat to The Dominating Force in WWE. Can Kane & the Master of the 619 overcome the odds together and find a way to win this Friday night?

As the partnership between SmackDown & ECW continues to be a monstrous success, ECW Champion CM Punk will once again see SmackDown action Friday night. Punk defeated Jamie Noble the last time he appeared on The CW Network, and he continues to impress with the ECW Title around his waist. Who will stand against him this week on SmackDown, and will they simply “Go To Sleep”?

As for Noble, the cruiserweight Superstar defeated Chuck Palumbo in what many consider to be a huge upset last week. This Friday, the two will square off again, and while Palumbo looks to bounce back from the loss, Noble hopes to prove that last week was no fluke. Who will have their hand raised when these two Superstars go one-on-one once more?

Find out the answers to these questions and more Friday night at 8/7 CT on The CW Network.

Labels: edge, vicki guerrero, wwe smackdown

Posted by Matt Loede at 6:06 AM | Permalink | Comments