WWE SmackDown Returning To 2 Hours Earlier Than Expected
WWE SmackDown will be back to being two hours in the coming months, which is before the expected date for the change, according to a new report.
After the immense success of Monday Night RAW in the 1990s, WWE launched SmackDown as its B show. The first ever episode aired back in 1999. The show’s runtime had been 2 hours before the big change last year, as it shifted to being three hours. However, after months of being in the new timeslot, SmackDown was back to being 2 hours before going back to 3 hours again earlier this year.
Many fans on the internet have expressed displeasure over SmackDown being 3 hours, as they complain that most of the show is just filler and commercials. It was recently reported that the show will be back to the 2-hour slot with the start of ‘Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman’ season 2, which will air on USA Network this year, as the third hour will be reserved for Strowman’s show. Meanwhile, there is a new update regarding the time change for the Friday Night show.
SmackDown will be back to being 2 hours sooner rather than later
In the recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that while SmackDown was expected to move to two hours in July, the change will take place in June, as the May 29th episode will be the final three-hour episode:
Smackdown will be moving back to two hours starting in June. We had previously been told July. The 5/29 show will be the final three hour show.”
Meltzer also added that the third hour on USA Network will be reserved for the ‘Everything on the Menu’ show featuring the former WWE star, Braun Strowman. Strowman’s show will also feature Alexa Bliss and Mark Henry:
The third hour will on 6/5 be for the second season of ‘Everything On The Menu,’ where Braun Strowman goes into restaurants in 12 cities. Mark Henry and Alexa Bliss will be in two episodes.”
Meltzer concluded the report, revealing that the current SmackDown deal with USA Network is six months for three hours and the other six months for two hours, so the show will be back to the three-hour slot later this year again:
After that, they’ll put another show in the third hour slot for about three more months. The current deal with USA is now six months per year at three hours and six months at two hours.”
SmackDown expected to shift between two and three hours as part of contract:
“WWE’s contact with USA stipulates three-hour shows from January through the end of June every year, so this will be an ongoing thing, and we have two more months of three-hour shows to survive. July… pic.twitter.com/CwYtjeiVFo
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) April 30, 2026
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