REPORT: WWE SmackDown NOT Moving Back To Two Hours In June... (WWE News)
WWE may be sticking with three-hour SmackDowns for a little longer.
While it was previously believed that WWE SmackDown would be reverting to a two-hour broadcast in June, that may not actually be the case.
Earlier this month, the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer noted how SmackDown was pencilled in to switch back to the two-hour format with the 6 June episode. Now, though, we have a potentially conflicting report from PWInsider Elite.
This latest report notes how internal schedules at USA Network - the US broadcast home of SmackDown - still have WWE's Friday night offering listed as a three-hour show in early June. It may simply be a case of these schedules being outdated, or fans might have to brace themselves for more three-hour Smackers episodes for a little while longer.
We'll have to wait and see how things play out in the coming weeks where it pertains to SmackDown's runtime, with many eager for the show to switch back to two hours sooner rather than later. And if that change does take place - especially if that 6 June date comes to fruition - one has to imagine WWE will be putting out an official statement on the matter imminently.
Fans Prefer SmackDown At Two Hours
For the majority of wrestling fans, they find SmackDown to be far more palatable as a two-hour show rather than clocking in at three hours.
As for the three-hour approach, that came into play with the 3 January 2025 episode as SmackDown moved from Fox to USA Network. Three hours was always intended to be a temporary format for WWE's blue brand, largely to stick with the same approach USA had seen from Raw previously, and also to give WWE more TV time in the build to WrestleMania 41.
With 'Mania now in the rearview mirror, it's no exaggeration to say that SmackDown has at times felt like a bit of a slog. While there is some great in-ring action and plenty of entertaining segments, there are moments when SmackDown feels padded out as WWE's creative team finds itself with an extra hour of TV time to drag out. Given the sheer number of talented names on the SmackDown roster, you could make the argument that an extra hour of programming should afford more wrestlers a chance in the spotlight, but regardless, the end result has often been a three-hour SmackDown that has certain frustrating, stagnant segments dotted across its runtime.
On the other hand, Raw on Netflix has the luxury of having no set broadcast length. For the most part, Raw tends to clock in around the two-and-a-half-hour mark, but there is leeway to produce a longer or even shorter episode if WWE so chooses.