As a gamer who has been following WWE since the Attitude Era, I must admit that the recent changes in the brand landscape have left me in awe. The shift of SmackDown from FOX to USA Network feels like a trip down memory lane, taking me back to the days when the blue brand first graced our screens.
The brand known as “WWE SmackDown” has moved to a new home. This month, WWE officially relocated “WWE SmackDown” from FOX to the USA Network, marking its return to the channel it was on from 2016 to 2019. The move of “WWE SmackDown” is the first in a series of three significant changes for WWE over the next few months. “WWE NXT” is scheduled to leave USA Network for The CW in October, and “WWE Monday Night Raw” will also depart from USA for Netflix in January. During this transition period, on-screen storylines have continued as normal, but WWE has made a special effort to give “WWE SmackDown” a complete makeover when it moved.
Sometimes when you’re deeply involved in something, you might not fully appreciate the events happening around you,” said WWE SmackDown star Carmelo Hayes to ComicBook. “This realization makes me understand that I didn’t truly grasp the significance of what was unfolding at the time. It was quite fascinating and as for SmackDown, it seems like we’re stepping into a fresh chapter. Being a part of this new era is incredibly unique and special indeed.
Carmelo Hayes was one of the initial picks for WWE SmackDown from this year’s WWE Draft. After building an impressive career in WWE NXT, he made his way to the main roster with great excitement. During his time in NXT, he headlined several premium live events and even held the NXT Championship.
Carmelo remarked that the shift of WWE SmackDown to a new network reminded him of when WWE NXT was rebranded three years ago. He described it as if they were about to do something fresh and extraordinary, just like the atmosphere back then when we transitioned to 2.0 and unveiled the new set. That’s the closest he feels he’s experienced to that feeling.
Over time, Carmelo has solidified his reputation as one of the most dependable television performers on WWE SmackDown. He began his tenure on the blue brand by going head-to-head with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and left audiences awestruck in recent weeks with a string of matches against Andrade.
In reference to his match against Andrade during the WWE SmackDown premiere on USA Network on September 13th, Carmelo stated, “The only instruction I received was ‘don’t be timid.’ Given the fierce ambition of both performers, this translates into a fiery display. When you encourage two individuals who are eager to establish themselves in their careers with such a statement, they will undoubtedly deliver. In this case, trust and acceptance were crucial for me, as I am relatively new to the main roster. It can be challenging to find my place among established stars like Romans, Codys, KOs, Randys, and LA Knights. I’m grateful that I was able to showcase what I could do with Andrade.
Regarding the top-tier performers, Carmelo expressed that simply being around the giants of WWE SmackDown helps him grow and develop.
As a fan immersed in this vast sea of knowledge, I can’t help but feel invigorated and eager to advance. Being part of the main roster is like discovering new levels within a game, and just when you think you’ve reached the next one, another appears before you. It seems even the great Cody shares this sentiment, confessing that he too is still learning. In the company of these top-tier individuals, it’s reassuring to know we’re all on a journey together.
Among the leading figures, it’s Roman Reigns who stands out. He made his comeback to the WWE scene this past August at SummerSlam, following a four-month break, and has gradually become more prominent in the weekly WWE SmackDown episodes.
Carmelo commented that when Reigns appears on WWE SmackDown, the energy level increases slightly. However, everyone still gives their best performance, with or without Reigns present. The importance and expectation for a great show remain unchanged.
That “put on a good show” mentality is not just a heat-of-the-moment mindset. While significant spotlight will shift to WWE NXT and WWE Monday Night Raw when they make their moves to The CW and Netflix, respectively, Carmelo plans to remain locked in on making WWE SmackDown the best it can be.
In simpler terms, Carmelo stated, “I’m primarily concerned with excelling in my role within the brand, regardless of where I am. There used to be a lot of talk about rivalries between brands and such, but it’s really all about making the most of the situation at hand. That’s always been my approach, even during my time in NXT. Shawn would often advise me to stop fretting about the main roster and focus on what’s immediately in front of me. I’ve carried that mindset with me ever since. Now that I’m part of the main roster, I’m focusing on my work on SmackDown. I’m not dwelling on hypotheticals like ‘What if I were to go to Raw?’ Instead, I’m concentrating on week-to-week improvements.
I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for NXT shifting to The CW! The first episode seems incredibly promising, and even the St. Louis card looks jam-packed. I’m equally eager about the Netflix deal. This will benefit everyone as we’ll all be accessible on Netflix at that time. It broadens the reach of our product significantly, allowing many more people who haven’t been following wrestling to catch up on replays of SmackDown, NXT, and even live episodes of Raw.
WWE SmackDown airs live on USA Network every Friday at 8 PM ET.
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2024-09-21 00:09