Former NXT Champion Blake Monroe Set to Debut on SmackDown Taped in London

SmackDown’s taping at London’s O2 Arena is carrying some notable news with it: former NXT Champion Blake Monroe is set to make their SmackDown debut at the event.

The show is currently being taped in London and will air on a tape-delay basis this Friday night on the USA Network, meaning fans stateside will get their first look at Monroe on the main blue-brand roster when the episode broadcasts.

Debuting at an international taping carries its own kind of energy — a packed O2 Arena crowd gives WWE a natural, high-voltage backdrop for introducing a new face to the SmackDown audience, and a former NXT title holder arriving on the main roster is always a significant moment. NXT champions are expected to be ready for prime time when they make the jump, and a London debut adds an extra layer of spectacle to the occasion.

Friday’s SmackDown will confirm how Monroe is positioned and what role they’ll play going forward on the brand. With the show airing on tape delay, full spoiler details are circulating online for those who want them ahead of the USA Network broadcast — but for fans keeping it fresh, the debut will land on their screens this Friday night.