WWE’s SmackDown on Aug. 22 will not be broadcast live in the United States, even though it will air at its usual 8 p.m. ET time on USA Network. The show serves as the opening stop on WWE’s latest Europe tour, a UK/Ireland/Europe swing that culminates with the Clash in Paris premium live event on Aug. 31. This is the first time WWE has televised from Dublin’s 3Arena, marking a milestone as the promotion brings its Friday night program to the Irish capital.
In Europe, SmackDown will air live at 3 p.m. ET, and it will be available in places where SmackDown is distributed on Netflix as part of its streaming availability. That setup means spoilers are likely to circulate for viewers who want to follow along ahead of the broadcast.
Advertised for the Dublin episode are several marquee confrontations and appearances, including the return of John Cena, a Charlotte Flair vs. Piper Niven showdown, R-Truth stepping “into the darkness” in his latest clash with Aleister Black, and multiple tag-team matchups. Fans can also expect Motor City Machine Guns vs. Melo Don’t Miz and Street Profits taking on two MFTs, among other planned segments.
We’ll keep this post updated with results from Dublin as they come in.
Additional context and value:
– This UK/Ireland/Europe tour signals WWE’s continued emphasis on expanding live events and television distribution across Europe, with Clash in Paris serving as a major climax for the run.
– The Dublin broadcast being labeled as a live European telecast underscores WWE’s strategy of aggregating live audiences outside the U.S. while providing taped or delayed feeds for the U.S. market.
– For fans following spoilers, the Dublin show is likely to generate substantial buzz given Cena’s return and the high-profile matchups advertised.
Summary: WWE kicks off a Europe tour with SmackDown live from Dublin’s 3Arena, the promotion’s first televised appearance from the Irish capital. The U.S. broadcast remains at 8 p.m. ET, with the European feed airing live at 3 p.m. ET, ahead of the tour’s climactic Clash in Paris on Aug. 31.