WWE ‘Smackdown Live’ may have a new television home in the very near future.

According to a report from the Hollywood Reporter, NBCUniversal — the owner of the USA Network — is making a significant offer to WWE to keep ‘Raw’ on their network but plan on letting ‘Smackdown Live’ go to another bidder.

NBCUniverse is expected to pay around three times what they are currently dishing out to WWE to keep Raw on the USA Network on Monday nights where it’s not only one of the longest running episodic show in television history but also still a ratings juggernaut from week to week on the network.

As of now, FOX appears to be leading the bidding war to land ‘Smackdown Live’ as the network has long coveted the WWE as a potential partner for the future. Just recently, FOX sold off the majority of their assets to Disney with the focus at the network then shifting to around 80-percent live programming.

FOX landed a deal NFL Thursday Night Football just recently and the addition of ‘Smackdown Live’ would give the network a potent one-two punch for live programming during the week.

‘Smackdown Live’ boasts the sixth biggest audience amongst cable originals and will likely fetch a high asking price of its own now that its expected to hit the open market with NBC bowing out of the bidding.

As for NBC, the network has also been interested in potentially obtaining the remaining television rights to the UFC after the mixed martial arts promotion just recently signed a $750 million deal with ESPN for 15 live cards a year to air on ESPN+. NBC nearly landed the UFC back in 2011 before FOX swooped in with an offer at the 11^th hour to become the exclusive home to the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion.

Whether or not NBC’s potential interest in the UFC had anything to do with only keeping one of the WWE properties rather than both is unknown at this time.

For now, ‘Smackdown Live’ will begin looking for suitors who are interested in teaming up with WWE with the deal reportedly kicking off in September.

Over the past week, several mainstream media outlets have been reporting on the sharp decline in WWE RAW viewership, including Fox News and the New York Post.

A rep from NBCUniversal issued a brief statement to the New York Post about the situation, showing support for the company they are paying so much to for original content:

“WWE programming delivers one of the most massive live audiences in cable on a weekly basis and is consistently a top performer for our networks,”

The Post article notes that some cannibalization of RAW’s viewership by the WWE Network was expected and WWE stock is up 40% this year.

– WWE will now be releasing new episodes of RAW and SmackDown on 30-day delays on the WWE Network. This likely has to do with their new contract with NBCUniversal.

– The following is the latest edition of WWE Inbox:

According to one source, there was said to be strong interest from at least one sports channel in signing WWE before the company announced their new deal with NBCUniversal last week.

As the story goes, when the channel heard what WWE wanted in return, they immediately lost interest. It’s being said that WWE greatly overplayed their hand in negotiations from the word “go,” resulting in a lack of legitimate bids from other networks.

The perception within the television industry is that WWE is basically cheap programming that will help a station with ratings.

As previously reported, WWE stock plummeted recently after news of the company’s new deal with NBCUniversal was announced.

Several mainstream media outlets have picked up the story, almost all of which are using the headline that Vince McMahon lost $350 million in one day.

You can check out some coverage of the story, which is trending worldwide on Facebook and Twitter today, at the following links:

– Forbes.com

– MSN.com

– Yahoo! News

– The Sacramento Bee

– ThePostGame.com

– NESN.com

– Vince McMahon ended up making the trip to London, England for WWE RAW tonight. As previously reported, McMahon — along with company executive George Barrios — held a conference call earlier today to react to the recent WWE stock decline following the announcement of the company’s new agreement with NBCUniversal. McMahon did the call from London, while Barrios was in Stamford, CT.

– WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross has recently listed the following stars as future guests on his “Ross Report” podcast, which airs every Tuesday night at PodcastOne.com: Michelle Beadle of ESPN, Eric Bischoff, Bill Goldberg, Ted DiBiase, MVP, Lance Storm, Kurt Angle, Bully Ray, Sting, AJ Styles and Tony Schiavone.

The following press release was recently issued:

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (“KSF”), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: WWE).

On May 16, 2014, WWE disclosed that it had reached a multiyear deal with US broadcaster NBCUniversal for its long-running Raw and SmackDown programs, stating that the annual value of its television distribution agreements would reach $200 million, well below what investors were expecting.

Daniel Moore, an analyst with CJS Securities, said in a research note that, “Given management’s more optimistic tone and the fact that other major sports franchises have garnered much higher increases, this outcome is likely to be viewed as disappointing by many investors.”

On this news, the value of WWE’s stock plummeted by over 43%.

KSF’s investigation is focusing on whether WWE and/or its officers and directors violated state or federal securities laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) or KSF Partner Melinda Nicholson (melinda.nicholson@ksfcounsel.com) toll free at 1-877-515-1850.

The following are highlights of a new blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:

On WWE’s new deal with NBCUniversal and the WWE stock decline: “Many financial outlets writing gloom and doom for WWE after the announcement of WWE’s new rights fees deal with NBC/Universal which essentially keeps WWE on USA and SyFy for the next few years. The new rights fee was less than expected/predicted but I can certainly see light at the end of the tunnel. The key driver is to earn more fans and develop regular consumers of their core product. How is that done?”

“No mystery…develop new, hot stars that are embroiled in reality based, personal issue storylines on a consistent that all fans can emotionally invest in while watching easy to follow TV broadcasts. That process takes time, the right talents, plausible creative, and keeping the process simple but stimulating.”

“For the long haul and as the stock continues to descend likely for the next few days, I’m thinking that for many investors that the WWE stock is a viable consideration to invest in and that’s if one is a long term investor. I’m no stock analyst but I do think that the stock will rebound in time without question.”

“I also assume that the entire WWE/NBC/Universal package and business deal is still under wraps and more news will be announced in the near future but let me stress this is merely my speculation and not based on any inside info whatsoever.”

“Personally I think that Smackdown is best aired live on Tuesday night which fits the WWE production model because live TV, to me, is a better watch than a taped program that is talked to death all week online and via various social media outlets.”

“I experienced, while with WWE, some trying times in the mid 90’s that were far more challenging than today’s marketplace for WWE so I’m more interested to see who rolls up their sleeves and works smarter and harder in making the brand better over the long haul.”

“As always, the key to the genre is talent and television. Recruiting and training great, young talents plus producing consistent, episodically viable, weekly TV will always be the key. ”

“The WWE Network is still a great value and an investment that I am happy that I made so I can get my wresting fix whenever I choose at an affordable price.”

On Legends House rumors and Tough Enough: “Because I have been asked this often, I’d like to address this matter one last time. I am not a candidate to be included in the WWE Legend’s House if they do a second season. I have not been asked by WWE nor do I have any interest in doing the 6 week or so project. I’m too busy with a variety of other projects to invest the time. I would be interested in being involved in Tough Enough as I love spending time with the young prospects who simply want to live their dreams just as I was able to do.”

Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.

Following the news of the new deal with NBCUniversal on Thursday, the WWE stock has continued to decline.

As of last check, the WWE stock was at $11.29 per share, which was a drop of 43 percent from where the stock was at closing time yesterday.

As previously reported, Stephanie McMahon recently did some sight-seeing in Rome, Italy, as she traveled overseas to be part of the current WWE European tour. McMahon actually worked an in-ring segment at the WWE live event in Rome earlier today, making a rare international live event appearance.

Meanwhile, back in the states, Triple H was in New York City, New York on Thursday to attend the NBCUniversal up-fronts and announce WWE’s new television deal.

Alicia Fox reportedly worked as a baby face in her match against Aksana at the WWE live event earlier today in Rome, Italy.

Speaking of Divas on the WWE European tour, The Bella Twins are scheduled to start appearing at the live events overseas, and are only arriving late because they were sent by WWE to attend the NBCUniversal up-fronts in New York City earlier today.