SmackDown Three Hour Return Expected To Be Short Term – As noted, WWE is preparing to bring SmackDown back to a three-hour format in 2026, but the move may not last through the full year.
According to comments shared on Wrestling Observer Live, there is a growing internal belief that the extra hour is only planned for a limited run and not a permanent change. While WWE has not publicly confirmed anything, the feeling behind the scenes is that the show will expand early in the year before being shortened again later on once the scheduled stretch has served its purpose.
Alvarez explained that people within WWE expect a similar timeline to what happened in 2025. During that year, SmackDown made the switch to three hours at the beginning of January but was reduced back to the standard two-hour presentation by July. The suggestion is that 2026 could follow the same blueprint, with the extended length potentially lasting six or seven months before quietly returning to the familiar two-hour format that fans have known for years.
This approach would not be surprising. WWE programming changes often connect to network agreements, advertiser requests, or short-term revenue strategies. Adding a third hour creates more commercial inventory and can be framed as bonus content, especially during periods when WWE wants to feature tournaments, special guest talent, or major storyline events. At the same time, many viewers feel that three-hour weekly shows require more attention than they can commit, and the longer layout can create pacing issues if not managed carefully.
SmackDown has traditionally been the quicker show compared to RAW, which already sits at three hours (2,5 following Netfix moves) and has received long-standing criticism for feeling stretched. When SmackDown briefly followed that format in 2025, feedback from many fans included comments about fatigue, segment repetition, and less impactful pacing across the show. Returning to two hours later in the year restored a more efficient structure.
If the expectation within WWE holds true, the three-hour format could be treated as a temporary seasonal expansion rather than a full-year overhaul. Viewers may only have to adjust for part of the year before the blue brand returns to the shorter, faster weekly format that many feel fits best.
SmackDown Three Hour Return Expected To Be Short Term
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