MyNetwork gets a grip on WWE

By CRISTINA KINON
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, February 27th 2008, 4:00 AM

Rey Mysterio is a legend of the fall on WWE's 'Smackdown.'

The WWE will be putting "SmackDown" into the MyNetworkTV lineup this fall.

The network and World Wrestling Entertainment said Tuesday that the two-hour weekly show will be moving over from the CW network this fall.

"We were incredibly excited" to grab the rights to 'Smackdown,' " said MyNetworkTV president Greg Meidel yesterday. "It's a major programming franchise and a tremendous asset," said Meidel. "It's a guaranteed win. ... Anytime you can take a night that has been established, that has a huge brand attached to it and is big and as bold and as bright as the WWE and 'SmackDown' is, it was an opportunity we could not afford to lose."

Locally, the move puts the WWE back on WWOR/Ch. 9, formerly a UPN station, where the program aired before that network merged with the WB. After the merger in 2006, "SmackDown" was on CW, but the negotiating window to continue that contract expired Jan. 31.

Despite the WWE coming under scrutiny in recent years after steroid accusations against some of its most famous participants, Meidel said the franchise is as strong as ever.

"Every sport goes through the ebb and flow of life," said Meidel. "We've witnessed that in baseball and football this past year with certain incidents, and they've weathered the storm and will be bigger and better because of that. This is a very proud organization and the McMahons have done a phenomenal job in the past several decades of building it from the ground up."

"SmackDown" is tentatively planned to run on Thursdays or Fridays.

The acquisition comes at a time when MyNetworkTV is having a growth spurt. The network has recently added several original shows to the lineup, including "Jail," "Decision House" and "Celebrity Exposé," which have pulled significant ratings in key audiences. The network also just announced a new comedy starring Flavor Flav entitled "Under One Roof."

As to whether MyNetworkTV will change anything about "SmackDown" when it arrives, Meidel said he is only planning to let the show and its creators do their thing.

"We're going to continue to let the creative brains behind the WWE - the McMahon family, both Vince and Linda - do what they do best," Meidel said. "Their enthusiasm and their excitement today is equal and probably more than what it was years ago. They are so pumped up."