WWE’s experiment with a three-hour SmackDown is officially coming to an end.
According to a new report from PWInsider, the blue brand will return to its traditional two-hour runtime starting July 4th, 2025. This marks a major shift for WWE programming, which had extended the show to three hours on a weekly basis beginning January 3rd, 2025.
While there have been conflicting reports about the show’s length potentially being changed, this latest update confirms the return to the shorter format — a move that had been widely speculated for months.
Back in February, WrestleVotes Radio noted that people within WWE “strongly disliked the three-hour SmackDown format,” with pacing and creative flow often cited as major concerns. Talent and staff reportedly found the extended runtime to be burdensome, especially on a weekly basis.
Further fueling speculation was the announcement that USA Network had picked up a new legal drama, The Rainmaker, which will premiere Fridays at 10 PM ET/PT beginning August 15th. The series, based on the John Grisham novel, stars Milo Callaghan, John Slattery, Lana Parrilla, and P.J. Byrne.
With The Rainmaker occupying the 10 PM timeslot, WWE SmackDown is now expected to consistently end at 9:59 PM ET — solidifying the return to a two-hour format.
The change is likely to be welcomed by both viewers and creative alike, especially heading into key events like SummerSlam and Evolution 2, where a more focused weekly product may elevate storytelling and match quality.
