New update on WWE SmackDown's move back to three-hour format
(Courtesy : WWE)
The Blue brand currently has a two-hour format.
As reported by PWMania.com, WWE SmackDown is set to shift back to a three-hour format beginning in January 2026. Earlier this year, the show did move to a three-hour format, but it later reverted back to its usual two-hour runtime.
WWE kicked off 2025 in style with the Raw Netflix debut, and as mentioned the promotion also transitioned the weekly Friday Night SmackDown into a three-hour show. The first show from the Blue brand of 2025 was three hours long, marking the transition from a two-hour show.
However, the change was temporary as the Blue brand reverted to its original two-hour format in June, and currently the program length is two hours every Friday. As the promotion gets ready for the updated time format, a new report from WOR has provided additional insight into the change.
The USA Network requires three-hour SmackDown to boost weekly ratings
According to the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the USA Network wants SmackDown expanded to three hours to help raise its overall weekly ratings.
The report states that the move is meant to keep SmackDown at three hours for as long as USA Network wants. The earlier switch back to two hours was done to boost the debut-season ratings of The Rainmaker by using SmackDown as a lead-in.
USA Network also launched Everything On The Menu with Braun Strowman, which performed fairly well, though not as strong as SmackDown’s numbers during its three-hour stretch.
Additionally, the report notes that although WWE SmackDown’s ratings could dip with the return to a longer runtime, the show should benefit from facing less competition once football season wraps up.
Is SmackDown moving to a three-hour format in 2026?
Yes, as per reports the Blue brand is heading back to a three-hour format beginning in early 2026.
Is the move to the three-hour format permanent?
No, as per Bryan Alvarez, many within the company expect the longer runtime to last only briefly next year before WWE quietly shifts SmackDown back to its two-hour format.
When will the change take place?
As per reports, WWE and USA Network have agreed to move to the three-hour format, beginning with the January 2, 2026, episode at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.
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