MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has announced that one of its flagship properties SmackDown! will be renamed Friday Night SmackDown! The series moves to Friday nights on US cable network UPN next month. In India WWE action airs on ten Sports.

WWE states that SmackDown! is riding high with Batista as World Heavyweight Champion, and has also crowned a new US Champion.

Chris Benoit recently defeated Orlando Jordan to win the US Championship for a third time. Benoit now faces the difficult challenge of defending the US title over the coming months.