Longtime WWE writer takes over as head of creative for SmackDown

[Chris]

Replacing Ryan Callahan who had been head writer for only a year

 

[R-Troop]

so a few notes:

1. He started off really strong. Great show Friday.
2. Never heard of this dude. Nor did I really know much of his predecessor.
3. #2 is something that kinda makes me wonder how much the head writer had to do with #1.

 

[Sky]

Am I the only one who misread this as John Swastika

 

[Chris]

so a few notes:

1. He started off really strong. Great show Friday.
2. Never heard of this dude. Nor did I really know much of his predecessor.
3. #2 is something that kinda makes me wonder how much the head writer had to do with #1.

I don't wanna put too much weight on one week but SmackDown was feeling extremely lame duck for a few months now until this week, Raw had def surpassed as the better show

 

[Shane]

I don't wanna put too much weight on one week but SmackDown was feeling extremely lame duck for a few months now until this week, Raw had def surpassed as the better show

Kinda a strange statement lol. This week was a good episode for sure but it was still just continuing previously established storylines. Yeah it had Jacob Fatu’s debut but not every episode can have a huge debut obviously

 

[Dale]

Fightful Select is reporting that longtime WWE creative team member John Swikata has been promoted to the position of lead writer for WWE SmackDown, replacing Ryan Callahan, who parted ways with WWE.

Not a lot is known about Swikata outside of the fact that he was listed as a senior writer for WWE. Outside of a post on X from fellow WWE executive Road Dogg Brian James back in 2014, there is almost no mentions of the new WWE SmackDown head writer in past media interviews or articles.

One particular WWE source noted that Swikata has already made a big impact in his new role as lead writer for SmackDown, as evidenced by the direction fans saw things headed on the June 21 show, which has been getting rave reviews.​