MyNetworkTV issued the following press release today:
"The Rock" Returns to WWE to Celebrate 10th Anniversary of SmackDown on MyNetworkTV
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
"Decade of SmackDown"
Featuring the Return of "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson to SmackDown
Plus a Mega-Eight-Man Tag Match with Top Superstars from Raw and Smackdown.
Friday, October 2nd 2009 8 PM ET/PT on MyNetworkTV
What: WWE’s Friday Night SmackDown will make history on October 2nd, 2009 by commemorating 10 years on air with a "Decade of SmackDown" themed episode. The episode features the return of "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson to SmackDown; plus an eight-man tag match featuring the top stars of SmackDown & Raw including John Cena, Undertaker, Sean Michaels and Triple H.
As a pop culture staple, Friday Night SmackDown has aired more than 520 episodes; surpassing The Simpsons, Married With Children, and Law & Order in total episodes. Over the years, SmackDown has featured such celebrities as Samuel L. Jackson, Ashton Kutcher, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jimmy Kimmel and Sherri Shepherd among many others in its storylines.
As an entertainment property, SmackDown has been watched more than 2.7 billion times by viewers in the U.S. since its inception and has been instrumental in the success of each of the networks that have aired the program. On October 3, 2008, Friday Night SmackDown moved to its current home, MyNetworkTV, where it holds the network record as most-watched telecast among households and total viewers. SmackDown is the number one show on broadcast television Friday nights among Males 50 and under and dominates the P18-49 demographic.
Friday Night SmackDown can be seen every Friday night at 8PM ET / PT on MyNetworkTV.
SmackDown Trivia
On July 20, 2007 Merriam-Webster announced it would induct the word "smackdown" as an official word in the dictionary, cementing WWE’s influence on the English vernacular.
SmackDown debut episode featured The Rock facing off against Triple H.
SmackDown is the fastest weekly episodic to air 500 episodes in United States primetime broadcast television history surpassing Lassie, Seinfeld, and Married with Children just to name a few.
SmackDown is the most watched broadcast television program on Friday nights among Males age 50 and younger.
On September 13, 2001, just two days after horrific acts of terrorism claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people, threatened the nation’s capital and destroyed New York City’s World Trade Center, SmackDown stepped up as one of the first shows to carry out its broadcast, not just to entertain, but to help heal a nation in crisis.
On December 25th 2003, "WWE Tribute To The Troops" on SmackDown aired, starting an annual holiday tradition of WWE visiting the troops in an active war zone during the holiday season.
On November 11, 1999, Arnold Schwarzeneggar was SmackDown’s first celebrity guest commentator. Over the last decade, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Kimmel, Sherri Shepherd, Ashton Kutcher, Busta Rhymes and many other pop culture icons have appeared on SmackDown.
Friday Night SmackDown aired its 500th episode on Friday, March 20, 2009.
