WWE apparently isn’t changing a damn thing just because AEW decided to run Dynamite on New Year’s Day. Even with AEW New Year’s Smash airing on Friday, January 1, 2027, WWE plans to stick with its original SmackDown taping schedule.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, a WWE source indicated that the company has no plans to reshape its schedule so SmackDown can go live head-to-head with AEW. Instead, the January 1 episode will still be taped several days in advance.
WWE is planning a double taping on Monday, December 28 in Tampa, Florida. The decision was made so talent wouldn’t have to work on New Year’s Day, and WWE apparently isn’t interested in changing that plan regardless of AEW scheduling a live Dynamite opposite SmackDown.
“With the announcement that AEW is going to air Dynamite: New Year’s Smash on Friday, January 1st, 2027, a WWE source indicated to WrestleVotes on Fightful Select that the company has no plans to reshape its taping schedule to go head-to-head live with the competition.
“The 1/1/27 SmackDown will be taped in advance, and there will be a double taping scheduled for Monday, December 28th in Tampa, Florida. We’re told the decision to tape both shows that night was made to allow talent to avoid working New Year’s Day, and per a source, WWE intends to stick with that plan, regardless of what AEW has scheduled.”
WWE also apparently isn’t expecting huge numbers from the holiday episode in the first place. There’s an internal expectation that the taped New Year’s Day SmackDown could draw a lower rating than a normal live episode, whether AEW is running against it or not.
“There is an expectation internally that the ratings for the holiday edition of SmackDown could draw a lower number than the usual live broadcast, regardless of AEW airing a live episode against it.”
The situation came together after AEW announced that New Year’s Smash will return with two nights of wrestling in Atlanta. Dynamite New Year’s Smash is scheduled for Friday, January 1 at Gateway Arena, followed by Collision New Year’s Smash at the same venue on Saturday, January 2.
That Friday date puts Dynamite directly opposite SmackDown, creating a rare head-to-head night between the two companies. However, WWE isn’t treating it as enough of a reason to make talent work the holiday or rearrange a taping schedule that was already locked in.
So while viewers will get AEW Dynamite and WWE SmackDown going against each other on New Year’s Day, only one side is currently expected to be live. WWE seems perfectly comfortable sticking with its taped show and letting the numbers fall where they may.
Which show do you think will benefit more from the unusual New Year’s Day head-to-head between WWE and AEW? Let us know what you think in the comments.
