WWE had a “Plan B” in their back pocket for last week’s post-Crown Jewel edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
In case their talent ended up stranded in Saudi Arabia, or unable to make it back to the location of the Friday Night SmackDown taping the following night in Wichita, Kansas, WWE had backup measures in place.
According to a report by Mike Johnson at PWInsider Elite, WWE flew in additional staff for the blue brand taping in Wichita, which included Mike Rome as a backup ring announcer for the show.
Additionally, the company had other producers, referees and talent there just in case, however when the regular SmackDown crew ended up arriving in time for the show as planned, the additional staff were allowed to travel back home.
In another quick note from the same aforementioned report, it was mentioned that the current plan going forward is for the Hit Row faction to be pushed as a babyface group on the blue brand.