More details have emerged on WWE’s cancellation of an upcoming SmackDown taping, including the reason behind the move and what it means for the company’s early-September schedule.
As previously reported, the September 4 SmackDown that had been scheduled for the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati will no longer take place. The cancellation was surfaced by Ticketmaster, and WWE’s ticketing page no longer lists the September 4 date.
Per Dave Meltzer in Friday’s Wrestling Observer Daily Update, there were “logistical issues and production-related issues” surrounding the show. Importantly, there will reportedly still be an episode of SmackDown that airs on September 4. Meltzer noted that the episode would likely be taped either the Friday before in Cleveland or the following Monday’s Raw, though he clarified that the decision has not been finalized. Canceling the live Cincinnati show also gives the talent the Friday ahead of Labor Day weekend off.
The cancellation comes amid a busy stretch on WWE’s calendar. A Saturday Night’s Main Event special is set for September 6 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and on Labor Day itself, September 7, Raw will take place from the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
The scheduling picture was also reshaped by a recent change to Money in the Bank. The premium live event, which had been set for September 6, was moved to Saturday, October 10 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. WWE announced the date change on June 8, with reports noting it was due to a scheduling matter with broadcast partners.
Had Money in the Bank remained on September 6, the September 4 SmackDown would have served as the go-home show for the event. With Money in the Bank now more than a month later, that SmackDown is no longer a go-home episode, which makes pre-taping it a more sensible option if there were indeed logistical issues with running it live. Other shows can now help shoulder the build toward October 10.
