WWE will reportedly pre-tape the Fourth of July weekend episode of WWE SmackDown as part of a newly announced set of summer television dates.

WWE officially revealed 16 new RAW and SmackDown events running from late June through early September, including a special combined RAW and SmackDown taping in Atlantic City.

WWE SmackDown taping plans revealed

According to WWE’s announcement, Atlantic City’s Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall will host a combined RAW and SmackDown event on Monday, June 29.

RAW will air live that night, while SmackDown is expected to be taped in advance for its regular Friday broadcast slot on July 3 during Fourth of July weekend.

The event marks the first televised WWE show held in Atlantic City since 2008.

WWE is partnering with Visit Atlantic City, the Atlantic City Sports Commission, and Oak View Group for the event.

This year’s Independence Day celebration also carries added significance, as 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Another pre-taped SmackDown episode is also scheduled for June.

WWE previously announced that London will host a SmackDown taping on Tuesday, June 23. That episode will serve as the go-home show for WWE Night of Champions 2026 in Saudi Arabia.

WWE’s newly announced domestic television schedule includes:

• June 29 — Atlantic City, New Jersey: RAW/SmackDown
• July 6 — Chicago, Illinois: RAW
• July 10 — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: SmackDown
• July 13 — Dallas, Texas: RAW
• July 17 — Albany, New York: SmackDown
• July 20 — Detroit, Michigan: RAW
• July 24 — Oakland, California: SmackDown
• July 27 — Inglewood, California: RAW
• July 31 — Green Bay, Wisconsin: SmackDown
• August 3 — Des Moines, Iowa: RAW
• August 10 — Norfolk, Virginia: RAW
• August 17 — Buffalo, New York: RAW
• August 28 — Cleveland, Ohio: SmackDown
• August 31 — Charlotte, North Carolina: RAW
• September 4 — Cincinnati, Ohio: SmackDown
• September 7 — Birmingham, Alabama: RAW

WWE confirmed that tickets for all announced events will go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 15 at 10 a.m. local time.

The expanded touring schedule comes during a busy period for WWE as the company continues building toward Night of Champions and its summer premium live event calendar.

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WWE NXT has reportedly finalized a timeframe for this year’s NXT Great American Bash.

According to Bodyslam.net, WWE is planning to hold Great American Bash during the final week of July at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

WWE NXT Great American Bash plans

The reported timeline comes shortly after WWE officially announced a new partnership between NXT and The CW Network that will see the network exclusively air NXT premium live events moving forward.

Great American Bash is reportedly expected to become the first event under that new agreement.

WWE has not yet officially confirmed an exact date for the show, but preparations for the summer event appear to already be underway internally.

The NXT roster has undergone significant changes in recent weeks following the post-WrestleMania season.

Several names were called up to WWE RAW and SmackDown after WrestleMania 42, including Sol Ruca, Ethan Page, Fatal Influence, Joe Hendry, Ricky Saints, and Blake Monroe.

At the same time, WWE has continued replenishing the NXT roster with new additions.

Recent arrivals to the developmental brand include Naraku, Mason Rook, Lizzy Rain, Tate Wilder, Tristen Angels, and Kam Hendrix.

Great American Bash has become one of NXT’s recurring signature events in recent years and traditionally takes place during the summer as part of WWE’s premium live event schedule.

With the new CW arrangement beginning and fresh talent entering the brand, this year’s edition is expected to play a major role in shaping the next phase of NXT programming.

NXT Great American Bash Timeline Reportedly Revealed

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Shawn Michaels recently spoke about the difficulties involved in developing WWE talent through WWE NXT and preparing performers for the transition to the company’s main roster.

Speaking on What’s Your Story with Stephanie McMahon, Michaels reflected on his move from being an in-ring performer to helping guide WWE’s next generation of talent behind the scenes.

Shawn Michaels discusses WWE NXT development

Michaels explained that coaching talent at NXT involves far more than simply teaching wrestling fundamentals.

“Well, so it was obviously it’s you’ve got the teaching of the business and wrestling and coaching and you know, again, from basics to intermediate to advanced, you know, very structured from a coaching teaching aspect.”

He also noted that one of the biggest things that motivated him in his coaching role was creating a different learning environment than the one many wrestlers experienced in previous generations.

“But the biggest, the part that moved me the most, is the idea that it doesn’t have to be the over the top kind of tough love that we all got.”

Michaels acknowledged that many wrestlers from older eras came up through much harsher systems but suggested the current developmental process does not need to rely on that same approach.

Later in the interview, Michaels discussed one of the major challenges facing WWE developmental — getting inexperienced athletes prepared for the demands of the main roster within a limited timeframe.

“It’s very challenging and look, and that’s one of the things I can remember being asked like ‘how long do you think it takes to get one of these athletes that doesn’t know anything to get them totally ready for the main roster?’”

Michaels admitted he believes properly preparing talent takes significantly longer than many people may expect.

“And I said honestly, to get them ready to what I think is adequate to be ready for a main roster guy,” Michaels said.

He continued by explaining that modern developmental talent simply do not have the same volume of in-ring experience previous generations received before reaching major promotions.

“We have people that, you know, I was, in the hundreds of matches in probably three months.”

Michaels has served as WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative for NXT since becoming heavily involved behind the scenes in 2021.

Under his leadership, NXT has produced numerous wrestlers who later moved to WWE RAW and SmackDown, including several performers currently featured prominently on the main roster.

Shawn Michaels Discusses Challenges Preparing NXT Talent For WWE Main Roster

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