SmackDown to debut two new titles tonight
The WWE Draft left SmackDown with only two titles on the brand, but that will be changing tonight.
SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan tweeted on Tuesday afternoon: “It’s a #NewEra for #SDLive and a new era needs NEW Championships! Tonight @shanemcmahon & I will debut TWO new titles exclusive to #SDLive!”
Bryan previously said that his brand would introduce new titles when the time is right, and that time looks to be now as the build to SmackDown’s first brand-exclusive pay-per-view begins tonight. Backlash will be the first brand-specific PPV since the draft and will take place on September 11th.
Dean Ambrose’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship and The Miz’s Intercontinental Championship had been the only SmackDown-exclusive titles until this point.
It’s long been speculated that SmackDown would add titles for its women’s and tag team divisions, and Dave Meltzer confirmed that the brand would eventually be adding those titles on the August 2nd edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.