FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN KICKOFF SHOW Begins at 7:30 PM ET/PT

WWE BACKSTAGE Host Renee Young & Analyst Booker T Anchor Desk

FOX Sports’ Charissa Thompson Covers Blue Carpet Arrivals, WWE’s Kayla Braxton Provides Behind-the-Scenes Access

Los Angeles – The stars align for the debut of FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN on FOX, and they’re coming down the “blue carpet” outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN KICKOFF SHOW on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 PM ET/PT.

To usher in the new era of WWE on FOX, Friday’s kickoff show features a bevy of celebrities, athletes, WWE Superstars and Legends walking the blue carpet ahead of the 20th anniversary of SmackDown.

FOX NFL KICKOFF host and red carpet regular Charissa Thompson is on hand for arrivals and interviews outside the Staples Center, while WWE reporter Kayla Braxton provides exclusive backstage access to Superstars just moments before all the action.

Inside the arena, WWE BACKSTAGE host Renee Young and studio analyst Booker T anchor the desk, welcoming special guests and offering insight and analysis on the upcoming matchups. The duo also exclusively reveals the new set for FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN on FOX.

FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN on FOX begins at 8:00 PM ET/PT.

– FOX SPORTS –

About FOX Sports

FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing Fox Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports arm of the FOX Network as well as FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform, Caffeine, jointly own Caffeine Studios which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.