Upcoming AEW Dynamite, WWE SmackDown Broadcasts May Be Compromised By Sports

Episodes of AEW Dynamite and WWE SmackDown taking place later in December face possible scheduling disruptions, due to major American sporting events taking place.

The status of the December 23 episode of Dynamite is "up in the air" according to Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio.

Home network TNT is broadcasting an NBA season-opening game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics that evening in Dynamite's time slot. Generally, TNT only broadcasts the NBA on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but are doing a rare Wednesday broadcast to open the forthcoming season.

Meltzer reports that AEW "does not know anything for sure" yet regarding how they'll be broadcasting that week, and are still awaiting word from TNT officials. They could either run Dynamite at the conclusion of the Bucks/Celtics game, or air another night.

As for the December 18 episode of SmackDown, nothing's official, but Meltzer reports that the program could be moved to cable channel FS1 for the night.

The Pac-12 College Football championship game (to which FOX holds broadcast rights) is slated for that weekend, though it's unclear if it'll be held on Friday or Saturday night. If it's Saturday, then SmackDown should air in its normal Friday night slot as intended.