WWE’s programming rights for Raw, NXT, and SmackDown will expire next year as Raw and NXT have deals with the USA Network, while SmackDown airs on FOX. Thus far, WWE has announced two out of three television deals for the programs as WWE will be leaving FOX and has signed a five-year agreement to bring SmackDown back to the USA Network while they inked a deal with The CW Network for NXT, also a five-year deal.
As previously reported, because SmackDown is returning to USA, the network isn’t expected to renew the rights to Raw, although that doesn’t completely rule them out.
The belief earlier this week was that the favorites to land Raw were FX, USA Network, and Warner Bros. Discovery. While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted the latest talk is Raw could be headed to FX.
“There’s a good chance they’re [USA Network] losing Raw. Most of the talk is that Raw is going to go to FX,” Meltzer stated.
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