4 mistakes WWE should NOT make with the SmackDown premiere next week (September 13, 2024)
After almost five years on FOX, WWE SmackDown heads to the USA Network starting next Friday, September 13, 2024. The landmark episode promises some blockbuster action headlined by a Steel Cage Match between Solo Sikoa and Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Elsewhere, stars like Kevin Owens, Austin Theory, Carmelo Hayes, and Andrade will also be in action.
With the 2024/25 season premiere marking the beginning of a new TV deal, the blue brand will be looking to deliver an explosive start to a new era. This may require the creative team to make big decisions to deliver shocking moments, star power, and memorable results worthy of the occasion. As Triple H and Co. go out of their way to make the episode feel special, they must be careful not to end up making some unforced errors.
Here are four mistakes WWE must avoid making with the SmackDown season premiere on September 13, 2024:
#4. WWE must not repeat its past mistreatment of the women's division
So often in the history of special episodes of WWE's weekly episodic television, the company has gone all out to deliver spectacular shows. So often in their quest to do this, they have called on legends, part-time stars, and special attractions to draw ratings and generate buzz. So often, this has eaten up a lot of showtime, forcing the creative team to cut some segments.
More often than not, the segments scrapped have been the ones involving the women's division.
Triple H and Co. must break this pattern and ensure the division gets a big spotlight on one of the most important episodes of the year. With stars like Bianca Belair and Bayley having proven for years that they have as much in-ring prowess, promo ability, and star power as most men on the roster, there would be no excuse to sideline them.
#3. SmackDown's season premiere must not make WWE lose sight of its Road to Bad Blood
SmackDown's season premiere falls during WWE's Road to the Bad Blood PLE. The marquee event will take place on October 5, giving the creative team just four episodes to build up to the event. With such a limited window available for making the blue brand's representation in Atlanta count, the premiere episode must be set up to weave into ongoing stories instead of catering to one-off pops.
So, instead of bringing back legends just to pop a rating or, say, drafting a random RAW star to fill in as Kevin Owens' tag partner for one night, Nick Aldis could use current members of his roster to kickstart future storylines. Despite being a historic new beginning, SmackDown's return to USA Network must not feel disconnected from or affect the continuity of ongoing storylines.
If anything, any big moves made on the show should generate more excitement for the State Farm Arena event this October.
#2. SmackDown's season premiere must not feel like a normal episode in favor of long-term storytelling
One of the biggest shifts from Vince McMahon's to Triple H's regime as head of WWE Creative has been a greater focus on long-term storytelling. While this has been very popular with fans, it has had its disadvantages. One of the main pitfalls of this approach has been the reduction of sudden, shocking booking decisions, which was one of the few perks of McMahon's creative style.
While The Game and his creative team must not lose sight of their long-term direction in trying to spice up the season premiere of SmackDown, they must also realize that it's not just any normal episode. There must be some spectacle to make the occasion memorable and kick off the new era with a bang. The key to putting together the show will be finding a balance between continuity and excitement.
#1. WWE must not hotshot any title changes on SmackDown's USA Network premiere
Friday Night SmackDown's tenure on FOX had many iconic moments, dating right back to the first episode on October 4, 2019. However, that episode is also infamous for one of the most unpopular booking decisions of the modern era, which saw Brock Lesnar squash Kofi Kingston in eight seconds.
While it was definitely a buzzworthy moment, the booking that followed it showed that there was no concrete plan behind it. Lesnar's feud with Cain Velasquez achieved little, and Kingston never returned to the main event scene. The same mistake must not be repeated with Cody Rhodes and any other champions that may end up defending their titles next Friday.
It would be absolutely disastrous, for example, to have The American Nightmare drop the title courtesy of interference from The Rock or betrayal by Randy Orton just to 'create a moment.' Such a hotshot decision must be avoided at all costs.