WWE Sources Unhappy With Three-Hour SmackDowns, Believe Quality Has Dropped (WWE News)

WWE SmackDown, will not remain a three-hour show for much longer, and per voices within the company, this can't come a moment too soon.

According to WrestleVotes Radio on Sportskeeda’s Backstage Pass Patreon, there is growing dissatisfaction within WWE over the current three-hour format. Multiple sources inside the company reportedly believe that SmackDown’s overall quality has declined since the shift, with concerns that the extra hour has led to weaker pacing and diluted storytelling rather than an improved product.

Per the report, “We are told several within the company strongly dislike the three-hour SmackDown format, as those sources feel like the quality of the show has dipped in the last two months...Prior to the expansion, there was optimism and belief that some underutilised talent would be able to shine, considering the extra hour. However, that has not come to fruition as of yet.”

This change follows years of debate about WWE’s show lengths, particularly regarding Raw, which has remained a three-hour program since 2012. While some fans initially welcomed the extra SmackDown hour, many have since criticised the move, echoing internal frustrations about the show’s flow and structure.

After expanding to three hours on the USA Network beginning with the January 3rd episode, the blue brand is set to return to its traditional two-hour runtime in June. Triple H confirmed the change on The Pat McAfee Show, following an initial report from WrestleVotes that the decision to scale back had already been made. The extended format was originally seen as an opportunity to provide underutilised talent with more screen time, but it appears that the change has not had the desired effect.

With the return to two hours set for June, seemingly fans and company insiders alike will be hoping for a stronger and more engaging SmackDown product moving forward.