There may be smoke to the fire when it comes to FOX potentially becoming the home of WWE Raw and SmackDown Live.
While the USA Network has been the home of WWE Raw for over a decade, that relationship isn’t guaranteed to last. The WWE’s contract with USA Network and NBCUniversal expires in 2019. Facebook, Amazon, and FOX have been considered the lead candidates to engage in a bidding war with NBCUniversal.
Now there is fuel to the fire regarding FOX speculation. Reporter Richard Deitsch noted on Twitter that top FOX Sports executives and a high-level on-air talent attended WWE SmackDown Live last night:
In the front row last night at the WWE Smackdown show in L.A.: Fox Sports president Eric Shanks, Fox Sports talent producer Jacob Ullman and Fox Sports talker Colin Cowherd.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) February 28, 2018
Colin Cowherd’s attendance is particularly interesting. Cowherd’s disrespect for pro wrestling is well documented. Back in 2005, ESPN had to apologize for Cowherd’s comments on Eddie Guerrero. “Latino Heat” had just passed away and Cowherd questioned who cares about Eddie’s death.
First ever Smackdown @WWE pic.twitter.com/MuMwJfhlVF
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) February 28, 2018
FOX currently has a deal in place with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), but it’s also set to expire next year. There has been talks that FOX isn’t willing to give the UFC their desired $450 million deal due to tanking ratings on their major network. A saving grace in that relationship could be the strong FOX Sports 1 shows.