The TV Zone

It does appear that MyNetworkTV will finally have a program that will actually get some sort of rating: The WWE and the Ch.9-based web just announced that "Smackdown" will launch as a weekly two-hour show this fall.

Here's the spin from the press release: “WWE SmackDown” will feature a star-studded cast of WWE Superstars, including Edge®, Rey Mysterio®, Batista®, MVP™, Kane® and Undertaker®, as well as present all the action, excitement, drama and great athleticism that have made it for nine years one of the most popular programs among males on broadcast television, and one of the top ten English language prime time programs among Hispanic households."

Don't you just love it that people like Rey Mysterio have actually trademarked their names? I mean, who's gonna infringe on "Undertaker...?"

But I digress: You'll notice that WWE did not mention the CW in their press release, and my hunch is that they'd like to pretend their longtime TV partner doesn't exist. The CW dropped the WWE recently (like Batista dropped MVP...or whatever.) Too much money apparently (reportedly $700,000 per "Smackdown" telecast.)

You'll also notice that WWE/My didn't mention a night: I'd expect something other than Friday, and probably midweek. But that's a wild guess.

(Above: Rey Mysterio and WWE about to land at MyNetworkTV.)