Three-hour SmackDown format to run through the first half of 2025
Summary
– SmackDown expanded to three hours starting January 3, 2025
– Triple H confirmed the shift back to two hours later this year
– June 2025 is the anticipated date for the format change
WWE SmackDown began 2025 with a major shake-up, extending its runtime to three hours starting with the January 3 episode. While the longer format allows for more matches and story development, it won’t be a permanent fixture.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Triple H confirmed the current three-hour SmackDown schedule is temporary. He stated, “Yes, for right now, it is three hours, and then it switches back to two.”
Reports from WrestleVotes and Wrestlenomics suggest that WWE will revert to the two-hour format by June 2025. The extended runtime is viewed as a test phase, providing additional opportunities to showcase talent and expand stories.
Fans have been divided on the change, with some praising the extra time for matches and promos, while others feel it stretches the program unnecessarily. Regardless, the June timeline for SmackDown’s two-hour return is set in motion, signaling a balanced approach as WWE adapts its programming.
