WWE SmackDown Faces Major Streaming Glitch

In an unexpected twist for fans tuning in to the live international stream of "WWE SmackDown" from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, many were left frustrated when about 30 minutes of technical difficulties hit right at the beginning of the show. This mishap occurred during the show’s premiere on Netflix, ahead of its regular slot on the USA Network in the United States.

Inside Scoop: Power Outage to Blame

According to insider reports from Fightful Select, the chaos was triggered by a power outage affecting the control room and gorilla position at the Kingdom Arena. This glitch caused the streaming feed to drop, leaving fans in limbo as they anticipated thrilling wrestling action.

WWE's Quick Recovery and Resilience

Despite the setback, "SmackDown" aired as scheduled in the U.S. at 8 PM EST. WWE swiftly addressed the situation by re-filming the interrupted segment featuring a highly-anticipated clash of words between King of the Ring finalists Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. The hiccup occurred just as the wrestlers entered the ring for their promo.

Wrestlers Interact with Fans During Outage

Aware of the streaming struggles, the talent took it in stride. After the interrupted segment, Randy Orton, displaying his showmanship, took to interacting with the audience as his theme song "Voices" played, effectively keeping fans engaged amidst the uncertainty. After about 25 minutes, Cody Rhodes returned to the ring, much to the audience's delight, along with Carmelo Hayes, whom Rhodes temporarily dealt with in the ring.

Streaming Problems Resolved

Fortunately, the Kingdom Arena's internal screens flickered back to life, restoring the Netflix broadcast shortly thereafter. While the incident was a hiccup in an otherwise electrifying show, it showcased WWE's resilience and the dedication of its superstars to keep the crowd entertained, even when technology falters.