Backstage Notes on WWE SmackDown Returning to Three Hours

As previously reported, WWE Friday Night SmackDown will return to the three-hour format in January 2026. This week’s edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter has more details on SmackDown moving back to three hours early next year.

According to the report, USA Network needs SmackDown at three hours to boost the network’s average rating for the week. The plan is reportedly keep WWE SmackDown at three hours as long as USA wants it to be three hours long.

The decision to reduce the broadcast to two hours was to help boost the ratings of the new series, The Rainmaker, using that show as a lead-in in its freshman season, and then put on Everything On The Menu with Braun Strowman, which did well, but reportedly not as well as SmackDown when it was three hours.

The Observer predicts that while SmackDown ratings will likely drop in increasing the broadcast back to three hours, SmackDown will reportedly be boosted in the other direction because football season will be over. As a result, the competition won’t be as tough during the shift.

WWE SmackDown previously reduced its length to two hours back in July 2025. The series had similarly started its three-hour run on the network earlier in January 2025.