WWE SmackDown’s Runtime Still Uncertain Amid Conflicting Reports – As WWE heads into a busy summer schedule, the weekly runtime for SmackDown during the month of July remains in flux. Although WWE has confirmed that the show will return to its standard two-hour format starting Friday, August 15, plans for the preceding weeks have reportedly not been finalized — with conflicting reports adding to the confusion.
On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed the uncertainty surrounding the July schedule. They addressed reports suggesting that the July 4 episode of SmackDown, which will be taped on Monday, June 30 in Pittsburgh, will run three hours — contradicting earlier indications that the show would already be back to a two-hour runtime by then.
“[The July 4 episode] is apparently going to be a three-hour SmackDown,” Alvarez said.
Meltzer added, “Yeah, I’ve asked about that. I still haven’t gotten… I’ve asked so many times about what they’re doing. It’s very clear to me that it’s… I mean, we know on August 15, they’re going two hours. We hear different stories every day about what’s going to happen in July.”
Alvarez concluded, “I don’t think they know.”
The uncertainty stems from WWE’s ongoing scheduling transition, as the USA Network prepares to launch a new original drama series, The Rainmaker, which will occupy the 10 PM Eastern time slot beginning August 15. That change will formally push SmackDown back to two hours weekly.
In the meantime, WWE is taping the July 4 episode immediately following the June 30 edition of RAW, which will start earlier than usual at 6 PM ET to accommodate the additional taping. Whether that taping includes two or three hours of SmackDown content should clarify at least part of WWE’s short-term plans.
WWE SmackDown’s Runtime Still Uncertain Amid Conflicting Reports
