Did you know WWE SmackDown is the US’s most viewed TV show on Friday nights? I’m not surprised, since it’s been a staple for many pro wrestling fans since childhood (including myself)! Now that it airs on USA Network, streaming with a service like Fubo or Sling TV is the easiest and cheapest way to watch.

In a hurry? These are the better streaming services I recommend to fellow wrestling fans wanting to watch WWE SmackDown:

Fubo: The best streaming service for international sports also provides 150+ well-selected channels. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
DIRECTV STREAM: Get a great channel lineup with the best selection of RSNs in the industry. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
Sling TV: This low-cost service allows you to select just the channel lineup you want. Save 50% on Sling TV now.

If you can’t watch your favorite sports because of your location, get ExpressVPN to access the content you deserve.

Why You Need a VPN Today

However, first you need a VPN to unblock US streaming services from . Our favourite is ExpressVPN. It’s definitely not the cheapest option at $4.99/month, but it just works – and across all your devices.

They have servers in 25+ US cities/states and 105 countries, which unblock access to premium streaming platforms available only in the US, as well as free “on demand” TV services worldwide.

You’ll have access to local platforms as if you were in the country, meaning you can watch BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK, CBC Gem as if you were in Canada, plus hundreds more worldwide.

Hotdog users get three months free at ExpressVPN, so it’s a “no-brainer” for us. Decide for yourself with their 30 day money-back guarantee.

IMPORTANT: Once you’ve installed your VPN and connected to a US server, you’ll still need to subscribe separately to access premium streaming services.

Table Of Contents

1 Where to Watch SmackDown Live
2 How to Stream WWE SmackDown Live
3 How to Stream SmackDown On-Demand
4 Our Choice
5 What Is WWE SmackDown?
6 FAQs

Where to Watch SmackDown Live

SmackDown is live on USA every Friday at 8:00 pm (ET). You can get USA on live streaming services, with other platforms providing replays of the show on-demand.

Some live specials air on Peacock and NBC throughout the year. As a local channel, NBC can be accessed with an antenna or streaming service that provides the network in your area.

Watch WWE SmackDown live and on-demand with FuboTV.

How to Stream WWE SmackDown Live

Since all you need to watch SmackDown is USA, you can subscribe to one of the many streaming services that provide the network. I’ve had success watching WWE SmackDown with all of the following:

These options all come with DVRs so you can record shows and allow you to stream on multiple devices simultaneously. They work on almost every device, including smart TVs (eg, Samsung), iPhone and Android devices, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, web browsers, and some gaming consoles (eg, Xbox and PlayStation).

Once you’ve signed up, download the app, sign in, and select USA when SmackDown is on.

How to Stream SmackDown On-Demand

WWE SmackDown shows aren’t aired live in real-time, so you don’t lose anything by watching episodes later on-demand — and I’ve found it’s cheaper to do it this way.

Peacock provides every WWE episode from 1999, enough to keep any wrestling fan going for a while! Peacock costs $7.99/month for its on-demand library, but it also has a premium tier for $13.99/month that includes a live NBC stream as well. If you think you’ll use Peacock year-round, you can buy an annual subscription to either plan for the price of ten months.

The only downside is having to wait 30 days after a show’s initial airdate for the new episode to become available on Peacock. But if you don’t mind waiting, this is definitely better value.

Our Choice

I suggest Sling TV for wrestling fans, as it’s the cheapest way to get USA to watch WWE SmackDown. Sling Blue also provides NBC (if available in your area), for any special episodes throughout the year, plus TBS and TNT which air other top wrestling shows such as AEW Dynamite, Saturday Night Collision, and Friday Night Rampage.

Save 50% on your first month of Sling TV.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

What Is WWE SmackDown?

Android phone showing WWE SmackDown options on Sling TV.

First airing on April 26, 1999, SmackDown was a standalone special produced by the American company World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). In August of that year, the show was given a permanent weekly time slot on UPN.

Over the past 22 years, the show has featured a variety of stars such as Eddie Guerrero, Brock Lesnar, and the New Day. In 2016, WWE decided to make SmackDown its own brand complete with its own roster, championship, and storylines.

This show is currently headlined by Roman Reigns, who is the brand’s top champion. However, SmackDown was originally used to showcase The Rock, as he was one of the company’s top stars at the turn of the 21st century. The name of the show was taken from one of the many catchphrases he would use to insult, belittle, and taunt his opponents.

Attending the show live provides a unique perspective into what happens in the ring, because you won’t be subject to camera tricks or other tactics designed to prevent television viewers from seeing any mistakes made during a match.

You’ll also be able to watch untelevised matches before and after the broadcasted show and get the chance to buy your favorite wrestler’s merchandise (or even get an autograph).

Other Pro Wrestling Shows

WWE Friday Night SmackDown distinguishes itself from WWE Monday Night Raw and NXT with a blue color scheme, and you’ll often hear the show described as the blue brand by wrestlers, commentators, and fans.

SmackDown and AEW Rampage differ because they are owned by two separate entities: WWE by Vince McMahon and AEW by Tony Khan (who is related to Shad Khan, the owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars).

FAQs

How soon are SmackDown episodes available on Hulu?

As of October 2024, SmackDown returned to the USA Network after moving to Fox in 2019; as part of this deal, on-demand episodes were removed from Hulu and moved to Peacock. New episodes are available on Peacock 30 days after their original air date.

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.