Being on network television is clearly a big boon. The difference between it and cable is massive, as has been demonstrated by SmackDown moving to Fox Sports 1, as tiny as that station might be. Still, I don’t think you can take away from SmackDown’s consistency on there, even if network is a different beast.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens to Raw when the USA deal comes up. Do they try and move it to FOX or NBC? Or do they accept giant money to stay on USA and being the gem in its crown? Or is there some sort of streaming move where ratings become even more irrelevant? Or is there even some kind of split? It’s a way different game than the dirt sheets make out.
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