The end of the 2007-2008 wrestling season coincides with another ending: CW’s “Friday Night Smackdown” has been dropped off by the network.

In separate statements issued by CW and the World Wrestling Entertainment, it has been announced that a mutual agreement put to an end their partnership, its success over the years being recognized by both sides.

The motif that triggered CW’s decision hasn’t been disclosed and there are just a very few hints that allow us to take any guesses. “Smackdown,” the two-hour series cast every week, has been the second best rated program of the network, averaging 4.8 million viewers this season, a record outstripped only by “America’s Next Top Model.”

The image of WWE has been overshadowed by the questionable death of former champion wrestler Chris Benoit the last June. Some claim it was murder, others state that he committed suicide, what’s almost certain is that WWE lost a long-term partner.

On January 31 the period in which CW could have negotiated the renewal of the contract exclusively expired. WWE announced that it proceeded negotiations with other networks to start airing the show again. The favorites are the USA Network, which is WWE-linked with “Raw” and MyNetworkTV.

“Smackdown” debuted on UPN in 1999 and went on to be part of CW after UPN and CB merged. CW didn’t proved to be an appropriate home for the show as it seems, CW focusing to attract the female audience more.