First Three-Hour WWE SmackDown Marked by Last-Minute Changes – WWE’s first three-hour SmackDown on January 3rd is officially in the books, and it delivered a mix of surprises and fresh presentation. However, behind-the-scenes, the historic broadcast was marked by last-minute changes and creative adjustments.
The opening segment went through several revisions before airing. Originally, Kevin Owens was slated to kick off the show with a promo involving Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes. After considerable creative debate, the finalized version was approved, offering a different dynamic than initially planned. Shawn Daivari was credited with producing the segment that ultimately made it to television.
One of the night’s biggest moments came when Tiffany Stratton cashed in her Money in the Bank contract to dethrone Nia Jax and capture the WWE Women’s Championship. Sources indicate this title change had been meticulously planned for weeks, with WWE keeping it tightly guarded to maximize impact. The timing was strategic, designed to create a major moment for both SmackDown’s expanded format and the USA Network. The victory also marks a career milestone for Stratton.
As noted, SmackDown debuted a new blue ring mat, a departure from its previous design. During production, a black mat with several sponsor logos was tested, including Fortnite replacing the usual Prime logo. The corners displayed “Riyadh Season” and “Real American Beer,” while additional logos for Cricket, Netflix, and Snickers adorned the mat. It remains unclear if this branding will be used on RAW, but signs point to the possibility of a similar design shift.
The expanded three-hour format delivered fresh content, a major title change, and a bold new look as WWE continues evolving its product for a global audience.
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First Three-Hour WWE SmackDown Marked by Last-Minute Changes
