It’s almost time to bid adieu to 2023 and welcome in 2024, but WWE is already done with this year when it comes to live broadcasts.
That’s not to say that the wrestlers and staff aren’t back at work. There have been untelevised live events (known as house shows to longtime wrestling fans) this week, including one at Madison Square Garden the day after Christmas that featured the WWE in-ring return of CM Punk.
There are live events tonight too, but as it turns out, they are in lieu of the usual Friday night broadcast on FOX. WWE SmackDown is not new tonight, Dec. 29.
Instead, WWE will be showing a “very best of 2023” edition of SmackDown at the usual time of 8 p.m. ET on FOX — similar to what it did with Raw earlier this week ¯ highlighting the most memorable moments from the blue brand this year. Expect to see plenty of The Bloodline, as well as things like the continued rise of LA Knight.
Normal programming will return next week, and in pretty strong fashion with a Day 1 episode of Raw this coming Monday, Jan. 1 — you may remember the company ran a premium live event with that name in 2022, when Jan. 1 fell on a weekend. It’s very close to a PLE-caliber show as advertised, with both the World Heavyweight Championship and Women’s World Championship on the line, as well as Becky Lynch facing Nia Jax for the first time.
That certainly gives fans something to look forward to even though SmackDown isn’t new tonight. On behalf of the entire Wrestling Junkie staff, we hope you have a safe and happy New Year.