Very good news for WWE, as it has emerged that last week's SmackDown produced the highest-grossing gate in the show's history.The show last week, which took place at the iconic Madison Square Garden, featured several top names including John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Edge and Roman Reigns.It seems like loading the show with top names and big matches worked for WWE, as Ariel Helwani has noted that the show on Friday night was the highest-grossing show in SmackDown history. SmackDown has been on the air since August 1999, so it's a big accomplishment for last week's show to produce a higher gross than any other show from the blue brand over the last 22 years. 

It wasn't just a good show for WWE financially, but last week's SmackDown has been dubbed by fans as one of the best WWE TV events of 2021 thus far, with the Edge vs. Seth Rollins match being a particular highlight for many.

The event was so good that, according to Fightful Select, there was a feeling of optimism backstage at Madison Square Garden amongst WWE personnel.

The report notes that people within WWE feel as if the company has the ability to produce shows of this quality on a weekly basis:

WyWE sources in contact with Fightful seemed unanimously optimistic following the show, a stark contrast to some of the demeanors we usually experience in following up on the company's TV events. One WWE source near creative said that they fully believe the company is capable of putting on these kinds of shows regularly, it's just a matter of getting through to those of influence that this is the type of event that the audience wants to see regularly.

You can watch every single episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown live here in the UK on BT Sport.