WWE has announced a significant change to its usual Thanksgiving week programming, opting to pre-tape the November 29 episode of Friday Night SmackDown rather than air it live. This marks a rare occasion where WWE talent and production crews receive an additional day off around the holiday, reflecting WWE’s efforts to provide a break during a traditionally hectic live broadcast period. According to multiple sources, including WrestleVotes Radio and Fightful, the entire November 29 SmackDown episode was taped on November 22 in Salt Lake City, Utah[1][2][3].

The move comes as WWE aims to balance the demanding live TV schedule with talent welfare, especially with Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 approaching on the same night, Saturday, November 29, at the outdoor Petco Park in San Diego, California. This Survivor Series event will be the first in an outdoor stadium setting and the fourth annual show themed around the WarGames match concept[4]. WWE’s decision to tape SmackDown early allows creative flexibility and reduces burnout ahead of one of the company’s largest pay-per-view events.

Double Taping Conducted in Salt Lake City

On November 22, WWE held a double taping session at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, which included the live SmackDown episode for that night along with the pre-taped content for November 29. This logistical move was designed explicitly to grant the WWE roster and crew an extra day off on Thanksgiving week, which is traditionally a very busy period with back-to-back live shows from Monday Night Raw, NXT, and Friday Night SmackDown.

The November 29 taped show featured several high-profile matches and storyline developments important for building momentum into Survivor Series: WarGames:

• Cody Rhodes defeated Carmelo Hayes in a significant matchup, continuing his celebrated run[1][2].

• Shinsuke Nakamura bested Andrade, defending his momentum ahead of upcoming PPV clashes. A post-match attack attempt by LA Knight on Nakamura was foiled by Nakamura’s timely black mist counterattack[1].

• The Women’s United States Championship tournament advanced as Michin defeated Piper Niven and Lash Legend (who replaced the injured Jade Cargill). During this match, Chelsea Green attacked Michin, prompting B-Fab to intervene and neutralize Green’s assault[1][3].

• A WarGames advantage match saw Jacob Fatu defeat Jey Uso, granting The Bloodline the upper hand going into the Survivor Series WarGames encounter[1][3].

Tag teams and female factions also engaged in tense confrontations on the taped show, hyping the stakes for the Survivor Series teams, including Bayley replacing Jade Cargill on Rhea Ripley’s WarGames squad due to Cargill’s injury sustained during the November 22 episode[1][3].

Insider Insights on WWE’s Holiday Scheduling

According to a WWE insider speaking with Fightful, the decision to tape the November 29 SmackDown was “part of WWE’s evolving approach to talent wellness, especially around holidays where family time is important but often sacrificed due to travel and live broadcast commitments.” The insider noted the company “wanted to alleviate some fatigue by giving wrestlers and crew a full day off while still maintaining storyline continuity ahead of Survivor Series.” This marks a departure from WWE’s traditional live taping format for Fridays, illustrating increasing prioritization of performer health and morale within WWE’s demanding schedule.

Impact on Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 Build

As WWE’s Survivor Series: WarGames event on November 29 is a major production featuring both Raw and SmackDown superstars, the taped SmackDown episode serves as the critical go-home show. Despite being pre-taped, the episode maintained high stakes and storyline advancement, ensuring viewers would still receive fresh and impactful content heading into the PPV.

The event promises to be historic as the first Survivor Series held outdoors in a stadium setting, at Petco Park, and will showcase the popular WarGames format where two teams battle it out inside a steel cage spanning two rings[4]. Matches like Jacob Fatu vs. Jey Uso, and the developments in the Women’s US Championship tournament highlight how the taped show seamlessly integrated Survivor Series storylines while accommodating the altered taping schedule.

What This Means for WWE Fans and Production

While some fans initially express reservations about taped episodes due to spoilers potentially leaking before airing, WWE has retained audience interest by crafting compelling narratives that lead directly into the high-profile Survivor Series PPV. Fightful and WrestleTalk have provided spoiler coverage lately, confirming the outcomes in advance but also emphasizing WWE’s strong storytelling throughout the taped SmackDown episode[1][2].

This scheduling shift is a reminder of WWE’s ongoing efforts to innovate production logistics and prioritize talent needs without compromising content quality or live event excitement during crucial periods on the wrestling calendar.

Looking Forward: Possible Future Scheduling Changes

Sources close to WWE have hinted that if this taped SmackDown experiment during a major holiday week proves successful—in terms of talent satisfaction and viewer engagement—the company may continue to utilize pre-taping for select episodes in other holiday or travel-intensive weeks. The balancing act between live programming energy and performer well-being appears to be a growing priority.

Fans anticipating Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 can expect an action-packed weekend with fresh storylines delivered on the pre-taped SmackDown and culminations planned for the Saturday PPV. WWE continues to adapt its scheduling strategy to foster sustainability within its demanding live television production model.

In summary, WWE’s change to tape the Black Friday SmackDown on November 29 ahead of Thanksgiving represents a thoughtful adjustment to the company’s holiday week schedule. By granting talent and crew an additional day off and streamlining production, WWE aims to improve performer wellness while still delivering strong storyline progression toward a landmark Survivor Series: WarGames event. This development, confirmed by multiple wrestling news outlets and insiders, could indicate broader shifts in WWE’s handling of live broadcast logistics during major holidays going forward.