WWE and Hulu are teaming up for a Texas-sized crossover as King of the Hill invades Friday Night SmackDown on August 15 in Boston — part of a massive Disney campaign to relaunch the iconic animated series on Hulu.
According to Variety, the SmackDown arena will feature a custom wrestling mat decked out with King of the Hill signage, along with digital creative throughout the venue. WWE Superstars are also getting in on the action.
Sheamus and Johnny Gargano will recreate iconic King of the Hill moments in a series of videos to be shared on their own social media platforms and WWE’s official channels. Expect plenty of Hank Hill-inspired hilarity — with a suplex or two.
This WWE x King of the Hill collaboration is just one piece of a much larger marketing blitz to reintroduce the show to both longtime fans and new viewers. Shannon Ryan, president of Marketing at Disney Entertainment Television, explained the mission behind it.
“It’s been 28 years since ‘King of the Hill’ premiered, so our team set out to build a bespoke campaign celebrating the show’s legacy and targeting viewers of the original series, while also making it feel fresh and modern for a whole new generation of fans.”
Ryan also revealed that the strategy goes far beyond the wrestling ring, including major partnerships with NASCAR, Whataburger, and Fortnite.
“Our goal was to create a cultural moment as iconic as Hank Hill himself — with every touchpoint thoughtfully crafted to reflect the DNA of this beloved series. We wanted to go as big as Texas, so we focused on clever executions and bold partnerships that we felt would resonate and connect with fans of all ages.”
The King of the Hill revival is already streaming on Hulu, but this SmackDown crossover promises to bring the propane-powered fun directly to WWE’s massive global audience.
Are you excited to see King of the Hill collide with the WWE Universe? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
