Special O2 Arena taping added to WWE’s European tour
Summary
– WWE announced SmackDown will take place on Tuesday, June 23, at London’s O2 Arena
– The show is still being promoted as Friday Night SmackDown despite the Tuesday date
– WWE also added a June 24 live event at Utilita Arena Sheffield
WWE is making a rare scheduling move for SmackDown during its upcoming European tour.
The company announced that SmackDown will take place on Tuesday, June 23, at The O2 Arena in London, England. The show will take place one night after WWE Raw airs from the same venue on Monday, June 22.
WWE is still advertising the event as Friday Night SmackDown, even though it is scheduled for a Tuesday. That points toward the episode being taped in advance before airing later in the week.
The move stands out because WWE’s recent international SmackDown episodes from Europe have often aired live internationally and on tape delay in the United States. This London taping appears to be happening several days before the expected Friday broadcast.
WWE also added another stop to the tour with a live event at Utilita Arena Sheffield on June 24. Tickets for SmackDown in London and the Sheffield event will be available through an exclusive presale starting May 12 at 10 AM BST.
General ticket sales are scheduled to begin May 14 at 10 AM BST through WWE Events. The additions give WWE another major United Kingdom presence during a busy summer run across Europe.
The European tour already includes stops in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, and Portugal, as well as WWE’s first-ever Premium Live Event in Italy. The London SmackDown date adds another high-profile taping, but it could also lead to spoilers surfacing before the episode airs.
