Tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown will be a bit different than you're used to. On Thursday, WWE had an event in Saudi Arabia--Crown Jewel--and after it was over, most of those who appeared at the show ended up stuck at the airport, unable to make it back the the US on time for the live broadcast on Fox.
In an official statement from WWE, 175 WWE talent and crew boarded a charter flight in Saudi Arabia, preparing to fly to Buffalo for tonight's episode of Smackdown, that had mechanical problems and never took off. Everyone on the plane was stuck inside for more than six hours during this time.
Other WWE superstars booked a separate charter in order to make it to tonight's Smackdown in Buffalo, New York, but they will not land until after the live broadcast. WWE exclaimed that tonight's show will feature Daniel Brian, Miz, Carmella, Nikki Cross, Dana Brook, and additional surprises. The wrestlers stuck in Saudi Arabia will leave later tonight.
This may be a good week to watch Smackdown, believe it or not, as fans should get a chance to see more midcard talent that gets lost in the shuffle at times. Additionally, we may even see talent from NXT or Raw show up, depending on the deal between WWE and USA and Fox networks.
Original story below...
According to multiple reports from Dave Meltzer and PWInsider, a flight for WWE talent leaving Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--after its annual Crown Jewel event--and headed to Buffalo, New York has been delayed and everyone has been sitting on the plane for hours due to a mechanical issue. As talent has already gone through Saudi customs, they can't leave the plane, unless they want to go through customs again.
Reportedly, these stuck wrestlers are trying to find another way home, but the problem is that it's already a 13 hour flight, minimum, and many of the flights leaving the country make stops in Germany or England before flying to the states, making the trip a day long. Smackdown starts at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT, so there is no way these wrestlers stuck in Saudi will make it back in time.
According to PWInsider, Brock Lesnar left on his own private plane. WWE does have other talent who did not go to Crown Jewel like Sami Zayn, The Miz, Daniel Bryan, and the vast majority of the women's roster, among others.
Guess tomorrow's 'Miz TV' just got a little bit more interesting...@mikethemiz hosts the NEEEW @WWE Universal Champion @WWEBrayWyatt tomorrow night on FOX. pic.twitter.com/ipk3Bnobur
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 31, 2019
There have been a few matches and events being promoted for tonight's Smackdown, which probably won't happen. While Miz didn't go to Saudi Arabia, Bray Wyatt did, and there is a decent chance that he didn't get out of the country in time to make it to the show, so we may not see the new Universal Champion on Smackdown tonight. Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin was also being promoted, and considering both men were at Crown Jewel, you can count this one out.
The only match that will for sure happen is the women's tag match: Bayley (c), Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. Nikki Cross, Carmella, & Dana Brooke. Regardless, WWE has a deep enough roster to make the show work, even with a dozen members of its roster missing.
Smackdown airs on Fox on Fridays at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT.