• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, April 13, 2010

Wrestling's "Friday Night SmackDown," an anchor for MyNetworkTV for the past two seasons, is going cable. MyNet is expected to replace it with an off-net drama.

NBC Universal has picked up "SmackDown" for its Syfy network and will debut the two-hour show on Oct. 1. NBCU's USA network has used "WWE Monday Night Raw" -- also from World Wrestling Entertainment -- to provide a solid ratings base as its original programming's success goes up and down.

Syfy has been airing a WWE show on Tuesdays, which will disappear once "SmackDown" joins as part of a multi-year agreement. Original Syfy series such as "Warehouse 13" that have aired on Fridays will shift to Tuesdays.

A struggling MyNet picked up the WWE show after the female-targeted CW dropped it in the fall of 2008. It had been on UPN before moving to CW.

A MyNet representative declined to comment on scheduling changes for the fall.

News Corp.-owned MyNet will have to re-up some affiliation deals with stations this summer. Some stations may be unhappy with the loss of "SmackDown."

Still, re-airs of dramas such as "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "The Unit" have helped improve MyNet ratings over a mishmash of reality shows and specials.

News Corp. is also likely to save money without the license fees to WWE, while using MyNet to give a lift to some dramas produced by its Twentieth Television.

By one measure, among adults 18-to-34 -- WWE's target audience -- Syfy's prime ratings are up 1% this season.