WWE and Big 12 conference announce expansion of partnership
Ahead of college football season kicking off next month, WWE and the Big 12 conference have officially announced an expansion of their partnership.
The two sides have been partners since 2023 with the Big 12 looking to boost its brand and increase its influence by linking up with WWE. Today, it was announced that WWE will hold multiple episodes of SmackDown in Big 12 markets during the upcoming college football season. That includes an episode in Ireland next month on the eve of the special Iowa State vs. Kansas State season opener in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
There will also be SmackDown episodes in Cincinnati, Tempe, and Salt Lake City this October. The dates and locations for the shows can be seen below:
- 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)
The Dublin show is happening on WWE’s European tour in advance of Clash in Paris and will be the first time the company has ever held TV in Ireland.
College football writer Chris Vannini first reported back in May that WWE and the Big 12 were expanding their agreement.
As part of the partnership, Cody Rhodes was featured in a hype video for the Big 12 championship game last December and Jey Uso & Sami Zayn were in attendance at the game to present the winner with a custom championship belt. The Undertaker was among the WWE representatives who participated in the championship game festivities the prior year.