WWE SmackDown has early live UK start time tonight on Netflix

WWE fans will have to get used to some timeslot changes starting with tonight’s episode of SmackDown.

From tonight, all Raw and SmackDown broadcasts – plus next week’s Clash In Paris premium live event – will be starting earlier for everyone watching the live stream on Netflix.

With the sports entertainment giant typically based in the US on a weekly basis, viewers usually have to wait until the wee hours to get their wrestling fix.

However, that changes tonight with a stacked SmackDown airing from a new city for the first time.

From John Cena and R-Truth to Charlotte Flair and the Motor City Machine Guns, fans are in for a treat later this evening.

Here’s everything you need to now before tonight’s show.

What time is WWE SmackDown on tonight in the UK?

Tonight, WWE SmackDown starts at 8pm for fans in the UK.

Raw and SmackDown typically air in the early hours for those of us on these shores, but we’re in for a treat as the live Netflix stream kicks off at a much more sociable time of evening.

Where is WWE SmackDown tonight?

Tonight, SmackDown is airing live from Dublin, Ireland for the first time ever.

WWE is kicking off it’s European run tonight with the Road to Clash In Paris Tour ahead of the premium live event in the City of Love on August 31.

There’s more to come too, with Monday’s episode of Raw coming from Birmingham, SmackDown next week in Lyon, and both Clash In Paris and the following night’s Raw hail from the French capital.

WWE SmackDown preview: match card and announcements for August 22, 2025 episode

• John Cena will appear
• Melo Don’t Miz vs. Motor City Machine Guns
• Aleister Black vs. R-Truth
• Piper Niven vs. Charlotte Flair
• Street Profits vs. The MFTs

Why is WWE SmackDown starting early tonight?

Like WWE’s European dates earlier this year, the broadcasts on the Road to Clash In Paris all benefit from the Netflix arrangement.

In the past, whenever WWE travelled internationally for TV shows, they’d generally be broadcast on a delay to fit with the US transmission times, which were still in the early hours for the UK.

That’s all changed as the streaming giant has the WWE rights for most of the world outside the United States, and international crowds have really raised the bar for wrestling over the past few years.

SmackDown, which is part of the Netflix subscription in the UK but is still broadcast on the USA Network for fans in the States, will air live for us.

Lovely!

WWE SmackDown roster and champions

Although a lot of focus was put on Raw after its worldwide move to Netflix, WWE has steadily built a rock solid SmackDown roster buoyed by an excellent tag team division.

Hollywood star John Cena, who approaching the emotional end of his farewell retirement tour, recently lost the WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes, while Tiffany Stratton is leading the way as WWE Women’s Champion.

The men’s and women’s United States Championships are held by Soli Sikoa and Guilia respectively, while the sinister Wyatt Sicks have a tight grip around the tag titles.

The men’s side of the roster is highlighted by the likes of Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, Aleister Black, Carmelo Hayes, JC Mateo, Solo Sikoa, Randy Orton and Rey Fenix, while Kevin Owens remains out of action after a neck injury.

However, his longtime friend Sami Zayn recently made the jump to the blue brand, with LA Knight going the other way to Raw.

For the women, the division is stacked with Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Naomi, Chelsea Green, Giulia, Nia Jax, and more.

When it comes to tag teams, the blue brand is in good hands too, with top duos including Los Garza, Motor City Machine Guns, the Street Profits and #DIY.

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