WWE Pays Tribute To Ted Turner During 5/8 SmackDown

The May 8 episode of WWE SmackDown was an important show as the go-home before Backlash. They also opened the show with a tribute to Ted Turner. Before SmackDown went on the air, they aired a graphic for Turner.

Ted Turner died May 6, 2026, at age 87. His official cause of death has not been released, but multiple reports note that he had been living with Lewy body dementia since publicly revealing the diagnosis in 2018.

Turner’s impact on pro wrestling was massive because he gave WCW the money, television platform, and patience it needed to challenge Vince McMahon. Without Turner’s cable empire, WCW probably never would have become a real national threat. This led WCW Nitro to beat WWE RAW for 83 weeks.

Ted Turner’s impact on pro wrestling cannot be ignored. It’s interesting that WWE paid tribute to him as they did, but it was also a well-deserved mention at the beginning of the show.

WWE was also promoting the funeral for the Gingerbread Man. This angle didn’t change at all, but they still opened the show paying tribute to the late media juggernaut.

What’s your take on WWE paying tribute to Ted Turner? Would Vince McMahon have done this? Let us know what you think in the comments section!