The partnership between WWE and the Big 12 just got a little bigger.
Back in May, reports suggested that WWE and the college athletic conference were planning to expand their partnership later this year, specifically by holding WWE SmackDown tapings in Big 12 markets on the eve of football games. Today, WWE confirmed this to be the case.
Per a press release, four episodes of WWE SmackDown will broadcast from Big 12 markets, the night before four conference football games in the 2025 season. WWE will kick off this expansion with the Friday, August 22 episode of the blue brand, which emanates from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The following day, the Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas State Wildcats will take on each other in a Week 0 matchup as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, centered in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
The full list of announced dates is as follows:
- Friday, August 22: SmackDown at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland (Iowa State vs. Kansas State on Saturday, August 23)
- Friday, October 3: SmackDown at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio (Iowa State at Cincinnati on Saturday, October 4)
- Friday, October 24: SmackDown at Mullet Arena in Tempe, Arizona (Houston at Arizona State on Saturday, October 25)
- Friday, October 31: SmackDown at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah (Cincinnati at Utah on Saturday, November 1)
WWE’s trip to Dublin also takes place nine days before the Clash in Paris premium live event, which will include a match between one champion and the WWE Evolution battle royal winner.
