Friday Night SmackDown is reverting to its traditional two-hour format beginning with tonight’s episode, which was taped earlier this week following the live Monday Night RAW broadcast. This shift back to two hours responds to the growing dissatisfaction among fans regarding the recent three-hour format, which was always intended as a temporary measure.
Challenges with SmackDown’s Extended Three-Hour Format
The move to three hours was met with mixed reactions, as many viewers found the longer runtime difficult to maintain interest in, especially when the show struggled with pacing and filler content. Unlike Monday Night RAW, which has traditionally been <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE’s flagship program, SmackDown has often played second fiddle, a status that became even more apparent during its three-hour stretch on FOX.
With Monday Night RAW now airing on Netflix and generally lasting around two and a half hours, it no longer makes sense for SmackDown to exceed that length. Returning SmackDown to two hours helps restore a sensible balance between WWE’s main weekly shows.
Concerns Over Creative Momentum and Star Power on SmackDown
WWE’s creative momentum appeared strongest from August 2022 through late 2024, but recent months have seen a noticeable decline, particularly with SmackDown. While RAW’s quality remains consistently engaging, SmackDown has become weighed down by numerous filler matches and segments, lacking the charisma and star presence needed to keep audiences captivated.
Among the roster, only a handful of wrestlers—such as John Cena (part-time), Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Drew McIntyre—are true draws for the SmackDown brand. Roman Reigns’ status remains unclear, and most of the roster revolves around the Bloodline storyline featuring Samoan and Tongan wrestlers. This has left SmackDown without a strong mid-card and a noticeably weaker women’s division compared to RAW’s star-studded lineup, including names like Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley, Bayley, Iyo Sky, and Stephanie Vaquer.
Impact of Roster Imbalance and Viewing Habits on SmackDown’s Format
Stars who could attract viewers—such as CM Punk, Seth Rollins, LA Knight, and Sami Zayn—are largely associated with RAW, with LA Knight already moving exclusively to Monday night and Kevin Owens sidelined indefinitely. The lack of significant star power on Friday nights has made sustaining a three-hour show challenging for WWE, as intermittent appearances from top talent only mask the underlying issues instead of resolving them.
Additionally, three-hour television programs are rare outside professional wrestling, as both live sports and movies rarely exceed this length for regular broadcasts. In an age marked by dwindling attention spans and the constant presence of social media, maintaining viewers’ engagement over a full three hours every week is increasingly difficult.
Why Shorter Shows Are More Sustainable and Beneficial for WWE
With cable television viewership declining, the importance of consistent, high-quality programming has never been greater. A concentrated two-hour SmackDown show is more likely to retain an audience by offering a faster pace and minimizing filler content, similar to what Monday Night RAW achieves on Netflix. This change is expected to help reduce viewer fatigue, an important consideration given WWE’s broad content footprint that includes NXT, EVOLVE, LFG, documentaries, podcasts, and pay-per-view events.
The return to two-hour episodes should make SmackDown more compelling and manageable for fans, especially those who follow multiple WWE properties and storylines. It also aligns the show more closely with industry norms and likely makes the USA Network’s scheduling more predictable.
Mixed Opinions Persist on the Format Change and Its Future Effects
Despite the apparent advantages, some may question whether shortening SmackDown’s runtime will fully address the program’s challenges or if it might restrict opportunities for developing emerging talents and mid-card stories. Whether the benefits of this transition ultimately outweigh its disadvantages will become clearer over the coming weeks, as the quality and reception of the new two-hour format unfold.
For fans and the WWE company itself, tonight’s episode is the beginning of a critical adjustment that aims to restore balance and excitement to Friday Night SmackDown.
