It’s being reported that Shane McMahon will most likely lose to Kevin Owens in their ladder match on SmackDown’s debut episode on FOX on October 4 so WWE can create a plausible scenario where they can write Shane McMahon off TV, at least as an authority figure, for a while. WWE would like to do this to create a more realistic atmosphere on SmackDown that makes viewers feel as though they are watching a weekly sports show.
This may mean acts more on the entertainment side will need to be moved to Raw in the draft. In order to foster this new culture, WWE intends to orchestrate “more conclusive finishes” and “fever interferences from non-wrestlers.”
FOX is doing an excellent job of promoting this new type of presentation, which has been Triple H’s vision for years, by having people like Colin Cowherd advertise the premiere of SmackDown during his daily sports radio show or having Troy Aikman advertise it during Thursday Night Football games.