Stream WWE SmackDown Online: How to Watch on FOX Without Cable

WWE SmackDown is a Friday night tradition for pro wrestling fans. In the past, you had to have cable to catch the best WWE action. But that isn’t true at all anymore. In fact, you are generally better off live streaming.

In a hurry? Wrestling fans don’t need to think too hard about choosing a streaming service since the major events from WWE and AEW only air on a couple of channels that are widely available. Here are the best streaming services for WWE SmackDown fans:

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.

Sign Up for ExpressVPN

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.

On April 26, 1999, SmackDown aired live on UPN as a standalone WWE special episode. In August of that year, the show was given a permanent weekly time slot on that network.

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.

What Is WWE SmackDown?

This show is currently headlined by Roman Reigns, who is the brand’s top champion. However, SmackDown was originally used as a vehicle to showcase The Rock as he was one of the company’s top stars at the turn of the 21st century. In fact, 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 gives you a unique perspective as to what happens in the ring. This is 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.

What’s more, you’ll be able to watch matches that take place before and after the show that isn’t shown on television. Finally, attending a show live gives you the ability to buy your favorite wrestler’s merchandise or even get an autograph from a wrestler outside of the arena.

But obviously, going to the show isn’t normally an option.

Other Pro Wrestling Shows

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

SmackDown is also different from the other brands because it is broadcast on Fox whereas the other brands are largely featured on USA and Peacock.

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

Where to Watch SmackDown Live

SmackDown can be seen live on Fox every Friday at 8:00 pm local time. In addition to streaming services, you can watch Fox via an antenna in most locations. On some nights, the show is broadcast on Fox Sports One (FS1).

How to Stream WWE SmackDown Live

Since all you need to watch SmackDown is Fox, there are many streaming services to choose from.

FuboTV

FuboTV allows you to watch Fox and FS1 as part of its base tier of service that starts at $79.99/month. The platform recently released a Fox 4K channel, which will provide greater picture clarity while watching live events such as SmackDown.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

The problem with FuboTV is that it does not carry any of the Turner channels, which you need if you want to watch AWE Dynamite. But if you are fine with just the WWE shows, FuboTV is great — especially if you are a general sports fan.

For more details on FuboTV, check out our thorough review.

Sling TV

For $40.00/month, the Sling Blue plan gives you Fox, FS1, TBS, TNT, and USA.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

It’s a great plan for wrestling fans at an almost unbelievable price. You get a total of over 40 channels with many options to add to it. It even allows you to integrate channels you get from a local antenna.

For more details, see our Sling TV review and Sling Wrestling Guide.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV Now) offers all the pro wrestling channels you want in its base (Entertainment) plan for $86.99/month. It has a number of other plans that provide more channels.

This service is particularly good for large households as it allows you to stream on unlimited devices at one time.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

See the DIRECTV STREAM review for more information.

Hulu + Live TV

Fox and FS1 are part of the Hulu Live TV 85+ channel package. For $82.99/month, you’ll also get access to USA, TNT, and TBS, which will allow you to watch all the major professional wrestling shows. You also get Disney+ and ESPN+.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

In addition, this plan comes with the complete Hulu on-demand plan, which provides you access to their library of SmackDown, Raw, and NXT shows.

See our Hulu + Live TV review for more details.

Other Options

The Fox Sports app allows you to stream WWE SmackDown. You do need to have a TV provider (eg, streaming service) account to use it.

You can also subscribe to YouTube TV for $72.99/month to watch SmackDown. It is similar to the Hulu + Live TV plan with 85+ channels including all the ones you want for professional wrestling.

How to Stream SmackDown On-Demand

Since WWE SmackDown shows are not aired live in real-time, many fans are fine watching episodes later on-demand. It’s much cheaper to do it this way.

Hulu

Hulu without the live television feature is just $7.99/month with ads and $14.99/month without them. Most episodes of SmackDown are available the day after they air live.

Try Hulu for Free

Note that this is the last year of Hulu’s contract with the WWE. It’s possible Hulu won’t be as good a deal for wrestling fans next year.

Peacock

Peacock provides good access to WWE shows in general. But you must get one of its paid plans. It is $7.99/month with ads and $9.99 without. Alternatively, you can pay $49.99 or $99.99 a year for premium access to this platform.

Sign Up for Peacock Now!

In addition to SmackDown, you’ll be able to watch Raw, NXT, and other content uploaded to WWE Network. You can also watch pay-per-view (PPV) events through Peacock.

Note that shows do not become available on-demand for 30 days after they initially air.

TVs and Other Devices to Watch WWE SmackDown

The streaming services we’ve discussed support the majority of TVs and devices currently in use.

TVs and TV Devices

All the streaming services support Samsung smart TVs. The LG, Vizio, and Android TV-powered smart TVs are supported by FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV.

All the streaming services support the “stick” devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

Mobile Devices

Most smartphones and tablets are supported by Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad).

These devices can be used to cast to your TV via Chromecast (built-in or external).

Any device with a web browser can show pro wrestling with these streaming services. You can connect some of these devices to a TV via an HDMI cable.

Gaming Systems

Many people use their gaming systems to stream video. Fubo, Hulu, and Sling all support the Xbox One. Hulu supports PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. And Sling TV supports Oculus.

There are more supported devices. See the streaming service reviews for details.

Wrapping Up

For more than 20 years, WWE SmackDown has been entertaining audiences throughout the world. Whether you choose to attend the show live or watch it on television, you will surely have a good time seeing your favorite performers battle it out for supremacy.

This show is available through a variety of streaming platforms, which means that you will likely find a plan that fits your content needs and budget.

We recommend FuboTV for SmackDown fans. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

FAQs

How soon are SmackDown episodes available on Hulu?

New episodes of SmackDown are generally available a day after they air live. Therefore, an episode that is shown live on Friday will likely be available on Saturday. If you have Peacock, the most recent episode of this show is generally not available until 30 days after its original air date. It’s worth noting that WWE events may not air on Hulu in the future because of contractual issues.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Follow me

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.

Follow me

Latest posts by Frank Moraes (see all)

• How to Watch Pac-12 College Teams in 2024-25 - 08/06/2024
• States That Have Produced the Best Actors and Actresses - 09/06/2022
• US States With the Fastest Internet - 06/21/2022