Major WWE Change Has Been Delayed: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Recent information suggests that WWE Friday Night SmackDown might keep its three-hour show time on the USA Network. This potential extension could run into the first part of June 2025.
This news is quite interesting for WWE fans and regular viewers of the popular blue brand. The original plan for the show's length this summer was reportedly different, with a shorter format expected soon.
When SmackDown first moved its broadcast home to the USA Network and grew from two to three hours earlier this year, 2025, it was widely thought that this change would only be temporary. The main expectation within the wrestling community and among WWE fans was that the show would go back to its usual two-hour slot by about June 6th.
However, a new report from PWInsider.com has now brought up some questions regarding this previously understood plan. The report says that internal schedules currently being used at the USA Network still list Friday Night SmackDown as a three-hour program for those early weeks in the month of June.
It is certainly possible that these internal network listings are simply old information. They might not have been updated yet to show the planned change back to a two-hour show, which can sometimes happen with television schedules planned far ahead.
Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Naomi, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, Tiffany Stratton, and Rhea Ripley all think they will win the Royal Rumble during SmackDown at Moody Center on January 24, 202,5 in Austin,...
Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Naomi, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, Tiffany Stratton, and Rhea Ripley all think they will win the Royal Rumble during SmackDown at Moody Center on January 24, 202,5 in Austin, Texas.But this current situation also makes it seem possible that WWE and its broadcast partner, the USA Network, are now thinking about keeping SmackDown as a three-hour show for a longer time than first announced. This would be a clear change from what many people, including WWE fans, were originally led to expect for the summer schedule.
If Friday Night SmackDown does indeed stay as a three-hour show each week, it would mean more wrestling action for viewers. It would also allow for more story development for the various WWE Superstars.
This extended time could also give more television exposure to the many talented performers on the Raw and SmackDown rosters. On the other hand, a longer weekly show can sometimes feel a bit stretched out to some viewers or might be a bigger time commitment for people watching at home.
WWE fans have had different opinions about the three-hour format for SmackDown since it first started on the USA Network. Some viewers have said they enjoy the extra content and the possibility of longer matches that a three-hour show can offer.
Other fans have mentioned that they prefer the usually faster pace and tighter storytelling that often comes with a two-hour wrestling broadcast. The final decision to keep SmackDown at three hours or to return it to its traditional two-hour length will likely depend on many different factors.
More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
This could include things like television ratings for the longer show, what the USA Network prefers for its Friday night schedule, and WWE's own creative plans for how they want to present SmackDown going forward. These elements will all play a part in the final outcome.
For now, the exact length of Friday Night SmackDown on the USA Network in early June remains a bit of a question mark for everyone. WWE or the USA Network will likely give an official word on the schedule as those June dates get closer.
This official confirmation will then let WWE fans know for sure what they can expect from their Friday night wrestling viewing experience. Until that time, the wrestling world will keep an eye out for any further updates or news on this particular scheduling situation for the popular show.
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