WWE SmackDown will return to a two-hour format starting July 4

Yesterday, USA Network, the channel that airs WWE SmackDown every Friday, announced that the series ‘The Rainmaker’ will premiere on August 15 at 10:00 p.m. (ET), coinciding with the start of SmackDown's third hour. This suggested that the blue brand shows would return to their two-hour format, and it has now been confirmed that the change will happen sooner than expected.

According to a report from PWInsider, WWE SmackDown will return to its original two-hour duration starting Friday, July 4. This means there are only two remaining SmackDown episodes with the current three-hour format (June 20 and 27).

SmackDown, historically a two-hour show, extended its duration in 2024 following a special agreement with USA Network aimed at boosting Friday night viewership. However, maintaining three hours of live weekly content has proven to be a logistical and creative challenge for WWE.

Many WWE fans had expressed dissatisfaction on social media about the three-hour SmackDown format and how the brand’s product quality has significantly declined since the change. On July 4, the show will return to its two-hour format, and we’ll see how the structure evolves after half a year.