After several months of airing as a three-hour program, WWE Friday Night SmackDown will officially revert to its traditional two-hour format beginning July 4—and this time, the change is permanent.
According to a new report from PWInsider, WWE’s blue brand will resume its two-hour runtime on the USA Network starting with the Independence Day episode, which will be pre-taped this Monday following Monday Night Raw. The episode will air as scheduled on Thursday, July 4, marking the official end of the three-hour SmackDown experiment.
The third hour was introduced earlier this year when SmackDown returned to the USA Network in January 2025. Initially believed to be a short-term decision, the extended runtime was reportedly retained due to strong viewership numbers. However, WWE and USA have now agreed to return the program to its more traditional two-hour structure—a format the show has followed for the vast majority of its run since launching in 1999.
The final three-hour edition of SmackDown will air live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday, June 27, serving as the go-home show for the WWE Night of Champions premium live event. The broadcast is expected to be a major night of action, including the finals of the 2025 King and Queen of the Ring tournaments.
SmackDown’s return to two hours brings the brand back in line with its core presentation and aligns more closely with long-time fan expectations. It remains to be seen how WWE will adjust its pacing and storytelling with the third hour removed—but for many fans, the return to a leaner, tighter format is a welcome shift.
