WWE News: My Network TV, Wrestlemania, Carlito and so much more!
World Wrestling Entertainment on MyNetworkTV will kick off a night early with a first ever
broadcast presentation of WrestleMania at 8 p.m. EST/PST Thursday, Oct. 2, said the
network’s president, Greg Meidel, in a release.
This special presentation featuring the best moments of WrestleMania XXIV in March from the
Citrus Bowl in Orlando including boxer Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show will be followed by the
premiere of WWE SmackDown! at 8 p.m. EST/PST Friday, Oct. 3.
WWE SmackDown! moved to MyNetworkTV from the CW Network, formerly UPN which housed
WWE SmackDown! from 1999-2006, after CW and WWE opted not to renew their
contract. MyNetworkTV, an offshoot of stations dropped when CW took some of UPN’s
affiliates, quickly snatched the television ratings’ grabber.
WWE SmackDown!’s prime-time wrestling show boasts 474 episodes and counting. It has been
one of the highest-rated shows on the networks, even drawing millions of viewers when it moved
from Thursday to Friday nights, television’s death wish.
Meidel said, “We’re thrilled to bring fans even more of their favorite WWE action on
MyNetworkTV. These side-by-side primetime events are sure to deliver two nights of edge-
of-your-seat, action-packed entertainment.”
WWE SmackDown! will be presented on MyNetworkTV weekly on Fridays and showcase a
star-studded cast of WWE stars including Triple H, Edge, Jeff Hardy, Chavo Guerrero,
Shelton Benjamin, Big Show, Carlito, Mr. Kennedy, Great Khali, Umaga, Undertaker, Michelle
McCool, Victoria, Natalya, Thee Brian Kendrick, Vladimir Kozlov and Miami’s own MVP.
It will feature the action, excitement, drama and athleticism that have made it for nine years
one of the most popular programs among males on broadcast television and one of the Top 10
English language prime-time programs among Hispanic households.
• WrestleMania is one of the biggest annual sports entertainment events. In addition to
the Mayweather/Big Show match, this year’s lineup featured the retirement of the legendary Ric
Flair following an emotional loss to Shawn Michaels, as well as the crowning of the Undertaker as
the new World champ and Kane as the new WWE/ECW champ.
Celebrity appearances included a performance of America the Beautiful by John Legend along
with special guest hostess Kim Kardashian and BunnyMania Lumberjack Match Master of
Ceremonies Snoop Dogg. Raven-Symon helped entertain 50 children honored by WWE in its
largest ever Make-A-Wish event.
WrestleMania XXIV was the highest grossing live event for WWE and the Citrus
Bowl.
• About MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a primetime general entertainment broadcast television network. Reaching more
than 97 percent of the country and targeted to Adults 18-49, MyNetworkTV provides its affiliates
12 hours of diverse programming Monday through Saturday. Visit mynetworktv.com.
• About World Wrestling Entertainment
WWE produces original weekly programming, 52 weeks per year, distributed domestically, internationally and via WWE.com. WWE programs reach more than 16 million total viewers
during the average week.
Its domestic cable and broadcast programs include Monday Night RAW and A.M. RAW on USA
Network and WWE’s ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling on the Sci Fi Channel. WWE’s
television programming can also be seen in more than 130 countries around the world on
broadcast partners including BSkyB in the UK and Foxtel in Australia.
~Thanks to My Local Newspaper The Miami Herald