>>13728670WWE’s SmackDown faced a significant shift when FOX decided cancel its contract for the show beyond 2024. This decision was influenced by several factors, including the show’s booking, match flow, and ratings from both
cagematch.net and Dave Meltzer.
The booking of SmackDown has been a point of contention among fans. Instances of poor booking decisions, such as mishandling of tag team champions and questionable storyline choices, have led to fan dissatisfaction. The flow of matches on SmackDown also contributed to the decision, as its matches are widely criticized for their pacing and structure, affecting the overall viewer experience. This is clearly reflected on
Cagematch.net, a wrestling database, which provides an unbiased audience’s perception of the quality of the wrestling content. Dave Meltzer's low star ratings also indicate that Smackdown's matches did not meet the high standards expected by fans.
Ultimately these factors led FOX to pass on renewing SmackDown, resulting in the show moving to the USA Network. The USA Network offered a significant but significantly less lucrative deal, which WWE accepted, marking a new chapter for SmackDown’s broadcast journey. In contrast, AEW’s renewal and future lucrative TV deals can be attributed to its strong performance in several areas, including creative booking, engaging match flow, high cagematch ratings, positive Meltzer star ratings, and inclusive LGBTQ storylines. These factors have collectively enhanced the viewing experience, leading to AEW's continued success.
