WWE Drops Major Plan For SmackDown

A proposed plan for WWE SmackDown has been dropped.

With Raw moving to Netflix, WWE made the decision to make SmackDown a three-hour show starting with the January 3, 2025, edition. For its entire run on Fox from 2019 to late 2024, SmackDown had been a two-hour show, giving wrestling fans one more hour of content to keep up with every week in a very saturated market.

But it was reported that the switch would only be temporary, with SmackDown moving back to being two hours on June 6.

However, it seems that this will no longer be the case. According to a new report via Wrestle Votes Radio on SportsKeeda’s Backstage Pass Patreon, SmackDown will remain a three-hour show.

“According to sources, the plans for SmackDown show length on USA Network changed back in January. WWE and USA agreed that the May 30 show would be the final three-hour presentation, with the show reverting back to two hours on the June 6 edition.

We are told the show will remain three hours for the foreseeable future, as 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.”

WWE To Pre-Tape SmackDown

Meanwhile, it’s been announced that the July 4 edition of SmackDown will be taped in advance. The show will instead be taped on June 30, following Monday Night Raw at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Stars such as Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Tiffany Stratton, and more are currently being advertised for the show.

H/t to WrestlingNews.Co