Tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown will air in its regular time slot, but the broadcast will not be live. The episode was pre-taped this past Monday, immediately following the WWE RAW broadcast.
The decision to tape the show in advance was made in observance of July 4th, the Independence Day holiday in the United States. This scheduling move provides WWE’s talent and production crew with the day off, allowing them to celebrate the occasion with their families.
From a business standpoint, the move is also a practical one. Holding a live event on a major national holiday like Independence Day often carries the risk of lower ticket sales.
By pre-taping the content, WWE ensures that its programming schedule remains uninterrupted for viewers. The show will air at its customary 8/7c time on the USA Network for the domestic audience and will be available for streaming worldwide on Netflix at the same time.