WWE SmackDown set to follow Raw's footsteps as it soon moves to three-hour format

WWE SmackDown is currently being broadcast for two hours

WWE has officially announced that SmackDown will expand to a three-hour format beginning with its January 3, 2025 episode. The show will continue to air on Friday evenings, live from the USA Network, with the first extended episode set to broadcast from Phoenix, Arizona.

This marks a major shift for the blue brand, which has been a two-hour program since its debut on April 29, 1999. The move follows in the footsteps of WWE Monday Night Raw, which initially expanded to three hours in 2012 for its 1,000th episode.

While Raw later returned to a two-hour format in 2023, rumors are swirling that it might also return to three hours when it moves to Netflix on January 6, 2025.

WWE reported, “SmackDown continues to air on USA Network every Friday night at 8/7 C in the U.S. At the start of 2025, SmackDown will expand to three hours starting with the Jan. 3 episode from Phoenix, Arizona.”

WWE has officially announced that beginning with the January 3rd 2025 episode, #SmackDown will be moving to 3 hours. pic.twitter.com/GlANzQKFzp

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) December 20, 2024

Over the years, the Blue brand has seen changes in scheduling and networks but has remained a consistent two-hour show. It’s aired on Fridays since moving to Fox in 2019 before transitioning to USA Network in September 2024.

The upcoming change to three hours aligns with the heightened excitement of the Road to WrestleMania XLI, which kicks off in January at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 19-20.

WWE programming continues to evolve, with Saturday Night’s Main Event recently making a triumphant return after a 15-year hiatus. The historic event featured Cody Rhodes successfully defending his Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens in an electrifying main event.

As WWE ushers in this new era for SmackDown, fans are eager to see how the extended runtime will impact storytelling, matches, and overall pacing. With WrestleMania season around the corner, it’s shaping up to be an exciting time for the blue brand.

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