WWE SmackDown
on USA Network
2026 — Everything You Need to Know
SmackDown has a new home. The Blue Brand moved from Fox to USA Network — here is what changed, what stayed the same, how to watch, and why it matters.
SmackDown on USA Network — Key Facts
Why SmackDown Moved from Fox to USA Network
The story behind WWE's biggest rights deal shift in years
The Fox Deal — 2019 to 2024
WWE signed a landmark $1 billion, five-year deal with Fox in 2019 to bring SmackDown to broadcast television. It was a significant upgrade from USA Network — Fox's reach of 90M+ households dwarfed cable alternatives.
SmackDown on Fox averaged 2.3M viewers at its peak in 2019, declining to around 1.8–2.0M by 2023 as cord-cutting accelerated across all of television.
The USA Network Return — 2025 Onwards
When the Fox deal expired, WWE signed a new agreement with NBCUniversal — placing SmackDown back on USA Network while Raw moved to Netflix. The deal is reported to be worth significantly more per episode than the Fox arrangement.
USA Network is also home to Raw replays and WWE NXT, making it a unified WWE cable home for cord-retaining fans.
The Raw to Netflix Move
Raw moved to Netflix in January 2025 — part of the same WWE-NBCUniversal package deal. Netflix handles the flagship Monday show for the global streaming audience.
Together: Raw on Netflix + SmackDown on USA Network = WWE covered on both streaming and cable simultaneously for the first time.
Raw on Netflix Guide →Rating Comparison
*Estimates based on industry tracking. Total multiplatform viewership is significantly higher.
How to Watch WWE SmackDown in 2026
Cable, streaming, international — all your options in one place
Cable & Satellite
- ● Comcast/Xfinity — USA Network included in most packages (channel varies by region)
- ● DirecTV — Channel 242
- ● Spectrum — USA Network available on standard cable
- ● Dish Network — Channel 105
- ● Cox, Optimum, Mediacom — Check local channel listings
Streaming (USA)
- ⭐ Peacock — Live SmackDown + full replay on-demand. WWE Peacock subscription required for PPVs.
- ● Sling TV Blue — USA Network included. Good cord-cutter option from ~$40/month
- ● FuboTV — USA Network in most tiers
- ● Hulu + Live TV — USA Network included
- ● DirecTV Stream — USA Network on Choice plan and above
International Fans
- ● UK: TNT Sports / discovery+ — SmackDown available live
- ● Australia: Foxtel / Kayo Sports
- ● India: Sony LIV and Sony Ten 1
- ● Germany & Europe: WWE Network / local sports channels
- ● Middle East: OSN Sport
Check wwe.com for the latest international broadcast partner in your country
Best value option for cord-cutters:
Peacock subscription (~$7.99/month) gives you live SmackDown via USA Network, plus all WWE Premium Live Events, and the full WWE content library. For SmackDown alone it is the cheapest legal streaming option.
Full Peacock & WWE Streaming Guide →SmackDown's Best Moments on USA Network (2025–2026)
The Blue Brand hitting the ground running on its new home
The Blue Brand's First Night Home
The premiere episode of SmackDown on USA Network drew the show's strongest overnight ratings in 18 months. The Blue Brand opened with a title match and a blockbuster return, signalling WWE's intent to treat USA as a premium destination rather than a demotion from Fox.
WrestleMania 41 Go-Home Episode
The final SmackDown before WrestleMania 41 delivered one of 2026's most-watched cable wrestling broadcasts. Multiple WM41 feuds reached their boiling point in the same night, giving viewers unforgettable moments in a two-hour sprint.
Cena's SmackDown Farewell
SmackDown — the show where Cena first made his name — hosted a dedicated farewell episode as part of his 2026 retirement tour. The emotional crowd reaction was one of the most memorable moments in USA Network SmackDown history.
WWE Draft 2026 — SmackDown Picks
The annual WWE Draft reshaped the Blue Brand's roster for the post-WrestleMania era. SmackDown secured several top-tier talents that fans had been requesting for the show, freshening up the card heading into the summer season.
SmackDown Roster 2026
The current stars headlining the Blue Brand on USA Network
Men's Division — Key Names
Women's Division — Key Names
*Roster subject to change following WWE Draft and storyline developments. Updated March 2026.
SmackDown vs Raw — Which Show Is Better in 2026?
A balanced look at the two flagship shows in the new era
SmackDown — The Case For
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+
Two-hour format — tighter pacing, less filler, more matches per hour compared to Raw's three-hour run time
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+
WWE Championship — SmackDown carries the main WWE title, making it home to the top storyline most weeks
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Cable accessibility — USA Network is on every major cable/satellite plan, making SmackDown easier to find for casual fans
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Friday night slot — sports entertainment fans watching live TV are most engaged on Friday evenings than any weeknight
Raw on Netflix — The Case For
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Global Netflix reach — available in 190+ countries simultaneously, giving Raw the widest international audience WWE has ever had
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+
CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn — Raw carries several of WWE's most critically acclaimed performers in 2026
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+
Bigger moments history — Raw has 30+ years of history and is still where most major returns and surprises tend to happen
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No ads on Netflix — paid tier subscribers get Raw without commercial interruption for the first time in the show's history
The verdict?
Both shows are worth watching in 2026. SmackDown wins on consistency and pacing; Raw wins on unpredictability and global reach. If you only have time for one, SmackDown's two-hour format makes it the more watchable weekly commitment.