WWE fans in the UK might have to get creative to watch SmackDown live this week.
Over the next few days, all of the sports entertainment giant’s broadcasts on Netflix will start at a totally different time of day, and it’ll take some getting used to.
Usually, we’ve got to wait till the early hours to get our wrestling fix, with the occasional respite of an evening first bell for shows around Europe.
It’s an entirely different beast this weekend though, starting with Friday’s episode of SmackDown, which will be the go-home show before Crown Jewel on Saturday night.
As well as United States Champion Sami Zayn’s open challenge, fans will see the likes of Wyatt Sicks, Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton in action, as well as a huge Last Man Standing Match.
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Here’s everything you need to now before tomorrow’s show.
What time is WWE SmackDown on this week in the UK?
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On Friday, WWE SmackDown starts at 1pm for fans in the UK.
Raw and SmackDown typically air in the early hours for those of us on these shores, but this time the show kicks off at lunchtime.
You best hope you’re on your lunchbreak or work from home, otherwise you’ll have to be taking sneaky glances at Netflix on your phone.
Where is WWE SmackDown this week?
On Friday, SmackDown is airing live from Perth, Australia, which explains the show starting 12 hours earlier than usual.
That’s not all, with Saturday’s Crown Jewel premium live event and Monday’s episode of Raw starting at the same time.
WWE SmackDown preview: match card for October 10, 2025 episode
- US Title Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. ???
- WWE Tag Team Titles: Wyatt Sicks (c) vs. The Street Profits
- Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Giulia and Kiana James
- Last Man Standing: Aleister Black vs. Damien Priest
Why is WWE SmackDown starting early this week?
Just like we saw with WWE’s various European dates this year, the Netflix deal has made things much more convenient for fans in the UK.
Whenever WWE used to travel internationally for live TV or PLEs, the rest of the world used to have to fit in with US broadcast times, meaning a show taped in Manchester or London at 6pm wouldn’t air for Brits until 1am.
Thankfully, with Netflix holding the WWE rights for most of the world outside the US, things have changed – while we also have to give a nod to the way international crowds have really raised the bar in recent years.
SmackDown is still broadcast on the USA Network for fans in the States, but it’ll be airing live for us on Netflix.
WWE SmackDown roster and champions
WWE has built a rock solid SmackDown roster over the last few months, with a blend of big names and rising stars.
Cody Rhodes captured the WWE Championship from John Cena at SummerSlam back in August, while Tiffany Stratton is still on top as WWE Women’s Champion.
The women’s United States Championship is round the waist of Guilia now, while the men’s US Title is being defended every week by Sami Zayn in an open challenge.
The sinister Wyatt Sicks have a tight grip around the tag titles, which could change on Friday’s show, with Street profits challenging – while Motor City Machine Guns and Los Garza are all sniffing around.
Santos Escobar sensationally re-signed with WWE this week after his contract expired at the end of play on Tuesday, while the men’s side of the SmackDown roster is also highlighted by the likes of Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, Aleister Black and Randy Orton.
On the women’s side, the division is stacked with Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, plus Chelsea Green, Jade Cargill, Nia Jax and more.
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