Due to the return of Mixed Match Challenge (airing at 10 pm eastern after Smackdown Live), WWE has decided to tape 205 Live before Smackdown Live.
As you can see below, aside from the hard camera side, most of the seats were filled. The lack of crowd enthusiasm and empty seats has been an issue for the brand. There’s no word on if this will be permanent but the move to Wednesday nights at 7 pm eastern is temporary and, at least at this point, is expected to return to Tuesday nights after season 2 of Mixed Match Challenge ends..
The feeling in WWE is that it would be too much for fans to sit through 205 Live after 2 hours of Smackdown and 30 minutes (10 minutes longer than last season) of Mixed Match Challenge so that is why they’ve made these changes. Mixed Match Challenge is seen as a bigger priority because of the money being paid by Facebook Watch.
This is what it looks like when they tape #205Live beofre #SDLive but don't tell anyone that is happening. pic.twitter.com/8Ayi6DIlZs
— Sean Thurmond (@seanthurmond) September 18, 2018
