WWE Booked The O2 On The Same Night As An England World Cup Game — And The Sales Tell The Story
WWE SmackDown go-home show tonight from Jacksonville features Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Fatal Influence, Tiffany Stratton's first Women's US title defense, and more.
WWE SmackDown’s June 23 taping at the O2 Arena in London is tracking at 4,483 tickets distributed, per WrestleTix, with the show going up against England’s FIFA World Cup group game against Ghana — a direct competition that is clearly affecting sales.
The current cheapest ticket is £71.80. The show is set up for 8,683 seats, which is barely half the 16,276 tickets distributed when WWE last ran the building for the March 31, 2025 Raw.
The taping is expected to run approximately 7-9:30 PM BST, with England’s kickoff against Ghana at 9 PM — meaning fans could feasibly attend both, but it remains a significant deterrent. The group game is England’s second of the tournament, making it a crucial fixture regardless of the result against Croatia in the opener.
Andrew Ravens is a reporter for WrestlingNews.co, where he covers the latest happenings in the world of professional wrestling. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his main focus is reporting on day-to-day wrestling news, with a special emphasis on covering WWE and AEW. Having covered the industry since 2013, Andrew has developed an extensive knowledge of pro wrestling. His work involves more than just standard news updates; he also serves as a beat writer, providing in-depth and ongoing coverage of wrestling companies and its storylines. His skill set includes providing detailed play-by-play coverage for major events, ensuring fans who can't watch live still get a feel for the action. He also handles transcription, accurately converting interviews and media scrums for readers. As a dedicated reporter, Andrew frequently attends major wrestling events to cover them live, including WWE's Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, as well as AEW Dynamite. You can get in touch with Andrew for news tips or correspondence by emailing him at ravenstarmedia21@gmail.com.
