WWE starts hyping SmackDown 1000, a show which probably won’t live up to the hype

If RAW 25 taught us anything, it’s probably to not get our hopes up too high for WWE’s big anniversary episodes.

There’s a chance, of course, that SmackDown 1000 will be the exception which proves the rule. At a leaner two hour run time, the blue brand is saved from some of the bloat and time-killers which plague its longer running Monday night counterpart. And the company has plenty of incentive to keep buzz and fan goodwill associated with SmackDown as it gets ready to become their traditional broadcast network anchor next fall on Fox.

Episode 1000 falls at an interesting place on the event calendar, too. When it emantates from Washington, D.C on Oct. 16, it’ll serve as a mid-point between Super Show-Down and Evolution, which might help to focus it on current storylines amidst the celebrity appearances, Legend returns and what not.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, and WWE’s official announcement has all the details, so we can start speculating about what to expect when Vince McMahon and company throw themselves a party to celebrate “the second-longest running weekly episodic cable television show in U.S. primetime history”:

“The historic 1,000th episode of WWE SmackDown LIVE will take place from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, and air live on USA Network at 8/7 C. Tickets will be available starting this Friday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m. ET at the Capital One Arena box office, via Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

“One thousand episodes is a tremendous milestone reinforcing the longevity and popularity of WWE,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “But it’s only the beginning, and the best is yet to come for SmackDown.”

On the air since 1999, SmackDown LIVE is the second-longest running weekly episodic cable television show in U.S. primetime history, only behind Monday Night Raw. SmackDown LIVE is currently among the most watched regularly scheduled programs on primetime cable and delivers more viewers in primetime than any cable network in the U.S. (2.9 million average viewers). SmackDown LIVE has aired more original episodes than some of the most popular television series of all time, including The Simpsons, Gunsmoke, Lassie and Monday Night Football.

SmackDown LIVE has also helped launch the careers of pop-culture icons including Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, John Cena, The Undertaker, Triple H, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and The Bella Twins.”