WWE SmackDown airs live on FOX, and on six live TV streaming services.
You can watch WWE Smackdown without cable on:
WWE Friday Night SmackDown is available for free on FOX with a TV antenna because it is an over-the-air channel. The Spanish-simulcast airs live on FOX Deportes, and re-runs of Smackdown are on FS1 and FS2.
Recent episodes of Smackdown are available on-demand through Peacock.
This article explains how to watch Smackdown live on a Smart TV, Roku streaming devices, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV or Google Chromecast with Google TV.
How to Watch WWE Smackdown without cable
For years, pro wrestling fans needed a cable TV subscription to watch the Superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment go toe-to-toe.
The weekly two-hour showdown happens on Friday nights. It features well-known opponents such as Gunther and Sheamus. And there are long-running rivalries with tag team stables such as The Brawling Brutes and The New Day.
Live streaming services carry a variety of TV channels once exclusive to cable and satellite TV packages.
Cord-cutters and pro wrestling fans can watch local channels and popular cable channels such as USA Network, ESPN and A&E.
To get started, you just need an Internet connection or data plan.
A number of streaming services offer a free trial. Once you pick a service, download the app to your Smart TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast or Apple TV.
You can easily cancel a streaming service through your online account.
Here’s a quick look at each of these services.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) subscribers has local FOX stations, sports and entertainment channels.
The Entertainment package has more than 75 TV channels for $69.99 per month. Subscribers can watch TV on up to 20 screens at once.
You can sign up for a 5-day free trial.
ESPN, FS1 and TNT are included in the channel lineup. USA Network is included as well in case you want to watch Monday Night Raw Raw.
You get unlimited Cloud DVR for recording sports and TV shows. There are more than 40,000 on-demand movies and shows.
Subscribers can get three months of HBO Max, Showtime, STARZ, Cinemax and EPIX for free before the monthly rates kick in.
DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets
Subscriptions run month to month. You can cancel whenever you want.
You can look over the different channel lineups and promotions they are currently offering.
fubo TV
fuboTV lets you watch Smackdown on FOX when you subscribe to its entry-level Pro bundle.
The Pro bundle has about 146 TV channels and 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR storage.
ESPN, HGTV, AMC, USA Network, Big Ten Network and ACC Network are included in the Pro channel bundle.
fubo subscribers get local channels including ABC, CBS, and NBC in most areas of the U.S.
You can watch TV on three screens at once. A subscription costs $69.99 per month. fuboTV has a library of on-demand movies, and TV shows.
Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast with Google TV and Apple TV all have fubo apps. You can watch the fuboTV app on Xbox game consoles. Newer Smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Vizio and Hisense are supported.
You can get a free 7-day trial with fuboTV, or look over the channel lineup for your area.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV has coverage of local FOX stations across the U.S.
The Live TV plan with Hulu includes ESPN, ESPN2, CNN, FS1, TNT and USA Network. There are a number of other TV channels that you would find on a cable TV package as well.
You can stream TV on up to two screens at once. A subscription costs $69.99 per month, and now includes Disney+ and ESPN+.
Hulu with Live TV comes with unlimited Cloud DVR so you can record sports, news, movies or whatever else you want.
Hulu’s channel lineup has local NBC, ABC and CBS stations across the U.S. You can look over the channel lineup to see what locals and regional sports networks are available for your area.
Sling TV
Sling TV is an affordable way to live stream Friday Night Smackdown, but only in a number of TV markets.
Sling TV Blue has more than 43 channels, including local FOX stations within its channel lineup in 18 TV markets, or “Designated Market Areas.”
If you live in or around one of these cities, then you should be able to get FOX and watch Smackdown using Sling Blue:
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Chicago
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Detroit
- Gainesville
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis/St. Paul
- New York
- Orlando/Daytona/Melbourne
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa/St. Petersburg
- Washington, DC
Sling Blue includes AMC and NFL Network. The Sling on-demand library is included in each bundle.
The Sling Orange plan has ESPN, ESPN2, A&E, History and TNT for $35 per month. Sling Orange has about 31 channels total.
Subscribers get 50 hours of Cloud DVR. With Sling Orange, you can watch TV on one screen at a time.
Sling TV has apps for Roku, Fire TV, Xbox One and Apple TV. Use your membership to activate the ESPN app. There are no contracts or hidden fees when you sign up for Sling TV.
If you prepay for two months, you can get a free streaming device. There is no obligation to keep your subscription after that.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is another option for watching Friday Night Smackdown without a cable or satellite.
A subscription to the Base plan costs $64.99 per month, and carries local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations.
ESPN, NBA TV, NFL Network, USA Network, TBS and TNT are included in the base channel plan.
The YouTube Base plan lets you watch TV on three screens at once. YouTube TV has apps on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, and Chromecast with Google TV.
You can check out the latest offer YouTube TV is making to new and returning customers.
Vidgo
Vidgo supports watching Smackdown on FOX.
Vidgo has more than 110 channels in its TV lineup. ACC Network, ESPN, and PAC-12 Network are among some of Vidgo’s most popular channels.
Subscribers can stream on up to three screens at once. Vidgo has apps on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV devices such as Google Chromecast. A Vidgo subscription costs $59.95 per month. You can look over the channel lineup before deciding whether to sign up.
How to Watch The WWE Smackdown for Free
There are advantages to owning your own TV antenna, especially if you are a fan of Friday Night Smackdown.
FOX is a local broadcast channel that you can watch for free in most markets in the U.S. ABC, CBS, NBC, the CW, PBS and MeTV are some of the other local channels that may be available in your area.
Using a TV antenna will actually give you a better picture than a cable subscription. Broadcasts from local towers – like your local FOX broadcast – are transmitting signals that are far less compressed HD quality.
You will notice quite a difference in picture quality. Here are a few guides to get you started with using your own TV antenna:
- Review: The Best TV Antenna
- How to Connect Multiple TVs to One Antenna
- Review: The Best Indoor TV Antennas
- Review: The Best Outdoor TV Antennas
How to Watch WWE Smackdown without cable FAQs
These are common questions from pro wrestling fans who want to watch WWE Smackdown without a TV provider.
What channel is WWE Smackdown on?
You can watch Smackdown live on local FOX stations at 8 p.m. ET on Friday nights.
A Spanish-language simulcast is on FOX Deportes. You can stream recent episodes of WWE Smackdown on Peacock 30 days after the air date. Reruns of Friday Night Smackdown are carried on the cable TV channels FS1 and FS2.
Where can I watch WWE Smackdown?
You can watch WWE Smackdown live on FOX through six live TV streaming services. fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Vidgo and YouTube TV all carry local FOX stations.
But pricing and packages vary among these services.
What happened to the WWE Network?
NBCUniversal acquired rights to the WWE Network in January 2021. The standalone WWE Network streaming service went dark in the U.S. on April 4, 2021.
The entire WWE Network archive and newer events are now available on Peacock under the Premium plan. Peacock Premium costs $4.99 per month after a free 7-day trial.
Can you watch WWE Smackdown live on Peacock?
You cannot watch the latest WWE Smackdown episode on Peacock when it airs live on Friday nights. You can watch recent WWE Smackdown episodes on-demand through Peacock 30 days after the original air date. The same goes for WWE Raw.
Peacock is also the home to WrestleMania and the back catalog of the former WWE Network streaming service.
How to watch old WWE Smackdown episodes
Peacock currently has all seasons of WWE Smackdown available on-demand. New episodes are added 30 days after airing on TV.
You need to subscribe to the Peacock Premium plan to watch older WWE Smackdown episodes. A subscription costs $4.99 per month after a free 7-day trial.
How to watch WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown without cable
WWE Raw is on USA Network, and WWE Smackdown is on FOX. You can sign up for DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu Live TV, fuboTV or YouTube TV to get both channels.
How to watch WWE Smackdown on Firestick
Fire TV and Fire Stick owners can watch WWE Smackdown by subscribing to DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV and Vidgo. Channel lineups and pricing varies for each service.
How to watch WWE Smackdown on Smart TVs
You can watch WWE Smackdown using a TV streaming service. DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo and YouTube TV all carry local FOX stations. WWE Smackdown airs live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET on Friday nights.
What’s the best way to watch WWE Smackdown?
DIRECTV STREAM will be the best bet for most pro wrestling fans who want Friday Night Smackdown and USA Network for Monday Night Raw.
ESPN, TNT, USA Network and local FOX stations are included in the channel lineup.
Subscribers pay on a month-to-month basis. There are no long term commitments. DIRECTV STREAM has a free 5-day trial.
A subscription costs $69.99 per month and includes unlimited Cloud DVR storage for recordings. Take a look at the channel lineup to see if its a good fit.
fuboTV has more than 140 TV channels, including FOX and USA Network. Subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR storage for recordings and an on-demand library of movies and TV shows. A subscription costs $69.99 per month.
fuboTV works on Fire TV, Roku, Apple, on smartphones, tablets and PCs. You can sign up for a free 7-day trial.
For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.
