Will WWE SmackDown revert back to two-hour format next month?

The Blue brand moved to the three-hour format in January!

The first episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown in 2025 aired live from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The first show of 2025 was three hours long, marking the transition of the Blue brand from a two-hour show.

Later reports revealed that the shift was temporary and that the Blue brand will revert to the original two-hour format in summer after May 30th, according to some reports. WWE CCO Triple H also revealed during an appearance on the Pat McAfee show that the three-hour format was temporary.

However, according to a new report from WrestleVotes, SmackDown will continue as a three-hour broadcast on the USA Network for now. The report also notes that WWE and USA Network had originally agreed to reduce the show to two hours starting June 6th. Those plans were ultimately scrapped after the network expressed ongoing satisfaction with the show’s performance in its extended format.

WrestleVotes also mentioned that SmackDown’s runtime is still being actively discussed, and a shift back to a two-hour format could potentially happen as soon as this fall.

“USA Network was steadfast on keeping it that length, Sources say USA has been happy overall with the performance of the show, numbers-wise, with the extra third hour.”

For now, fans can enjoy the extra hour of programming from the Blue brand as it continues to build towards the upcoming Money in the Bank 2025.

John Cena & Cody Rhodes will return tonight on SmackDown

Tonight’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown will serve as the fallout show from the May 24 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event. The fallout show is set to air live from Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The show will witness the return of Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena and Cody Rhodes on the Blue brand. Rhodes returned at SNME and is set to team up with World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso to battle the team of Cena and Logan Paul in a tag team match at Money in the Bank 2025.

The show will also feature the return of Bianca Belair, along with two Money in the Bank qualifying matches to decide the fifth spot in the men’s and women’s MITB ladder match.

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