Likely Timeline For Big WWE SmackDown Twist Revealed

WWE SmackDown will see a major change during the second half of 2026, according to a report.

WWE SmackDown airs on Fridays on the USA Network in the United States and on Netflix in other major parts of the world.

The show is currently three hours long, and this format began in January 2026, when WWE made a deal with the USA Network that the blue brand show would be three hours long for the first half of the year.

However, it’s being reported by Wrestling Observer Radio that the deal with USA Network for the second half of the year, from June or July, is for the show to go back to a two-hour format.

WWE is expected to return SmackDown to 2 hours in either the last week of June or the first week of July. WWE’s current deal with the USA Network is for SmackDown to be 3 hours for the first 6 months of the year, and 2 hours for the final 6 months. (Source: Wrestling Observer Radio)

WWE is expected to return SmackDown to 2 hours in either the last week of June or the first week of July.

WWE's current deal with the USA Network is for SmackDown to be 3 hours for the first 6 months of the year, and 2 hours for the final 6 months.

(Source: Wrestling Observer… pic.twitter.com/6XZKdA7ozq

— Cultaholic Wrestling (@Cultaholic) April 30, 2026

WWE SmackDown’s Runtime Has Been Debated For A While

The debate has been ongoing about the show’s runtime, which some former wrestling legends like Booker T felt was good for the talent as many more of them would get screen time, and other former talents, like Bully Ray, were against the idea, opining that three hours is too long for a pro-wrestling show.

Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, apart from revealing the nature of SmackDown’s deal with USA Network, said that the company may cut match time and certain matches to adjust the show to the two-hour format.

SmackDown houses some of the biggest names in the company. Its roster consists of WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton, Men’s United States Champion Trick Williams, and multiple other stars looking for screentime.

SmackDown has also lost a fair share of stars recently, with WWE conducting its yearly talent cuts after WrestleMania. This year, they released Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, the entire Wyatt Sicks faction, and many others, from the SmackDown brand.

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