People in WWE Unhappy with SmackDown’s Three-Hour Format – WWE SmackDown will not remain a three-hour program indefinitely, as the company plans to revert the show to its traditional two-hour format in June 2025.
Earlier this year, WWE expanded SmackDown to three hours following its move to USA Network on January 3rd. However, the change has been met with mixed reactions from fans and internal personnel, with many feeling the show has suffered creatively.
During a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Triple H confirmed that the show would eventually return to two hours. This aligns with a WrestleVotes report, which first noted that WWE was planning to cut the additional hour by mid-year.
The latest episode of WrestleVotes Radio on SportsKeeda’s Backstage Pass Patreon revealed that several people within the company are unhappy with the current format. Sources indicated that the additional hour has not benefited underutilized talent as originally expected. Instead, there is a growing sentiment that the quality of the show has dipped over the last two months.
“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,” the report stated. “Prior to the expansion, there was optimism and belief that some underutilized talent would be able to shine, considering the extra hour. However, that has not come to fruition as of yet. SmackDown is still scheduled to return to two hours come this June.”
The decision to extend SmackDown to three hours was initially seen as an opportunity to feature more talent and develop longer storylines. However, with the format failing to meet expectations, WWE is adjusting course to ensure the show maintains its quality and pacing.
With SmackDown set to return to two hours in June, fans will be watching closely to see how WWE manages its programming moving forward.
People in WWE Unhappy with SmackDown’s Three-Hour Format
