WWE Planning Changes To SmackDown Following Fan Backlash

WWE is ready to make big changes to SmackDown as Triple H’s honeymoon at the top of the company is well and truly over.

The rating for the most recent edition of SmackDown might have been the final straw for WWE. The show dropped to a total viewership of 1.03 million, down from the previous week’s 1.238 million and received plenty of criticism online for what was on the show.

Bodyslam.net has now reported that changes are on the way to the blue brand. The report noted that WWE is trying to improve its Friday night show, but Road Dogg will continue in his position as lead writer. There will be additions to the backstage team to try and lift SmackDown out of its current state and improve viewership and the quality of the show. Road Dogg was named co-lead writer of SmackDown in February 2025, with many fans pointing to the difference in quality of the show after that point.

There is no word if the #FireTripleH hashtag that trended on social media for 24 hours after the show had anything to do with WWE’s apparent changes.

What Happened On WWE SmackDown?

The 3rd of October edition of SmackDown was headlined by The Vision’s Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker defeating Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton in a tag team bout. After the match, Seth Rollins floored Rhodes ahead of their Crown Jewel Championship match at Crown Jewel.

The show also saw Sami Zayn successfully defend his US Title against Aleister Black, with Damian Priest then taking out Black. Sol Ruca and Zaria defeated The Green Regime’s Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre, with their third member Piper Niven still out of action due to serious injury.

NXT’s Je’Von Evans featured again on the show as he teamed with Rey Fenix to defeat Los Garza.