Eric Bischoff Warns WWE’s Three-Hour SmackDown Will “Bore the Audience to Death”

As WWE expands SmackDown to a three-hour format in 2026, one wrestling veteran isn’t holding back his concerns.

On the latest episode of his podcast, Eric Bischoff—who ran WCW during its own three-hour Nitro era—criticized WWE’s decision to extend the Friday night show, warning that the extra time may end up doing more harm than good.

“I tell you what’s not going to be fun is three hours… Long-term, you don’t want to bore your audience to death,” Bischoff said, making it clear he believes the extra hour could hurt the product creatively. Eric Bischoff Warns WWE’s Three-Hour SmackDown Will “Bore the Audience to Death”

Bischoff acknowledged the business logic behind the move, noting that networks often push for longer programming blocks to drive more advertising revenue. But he stressed that stretching a show just to fill time isn’t sustainable—especially when it compromises pacing and storytelling.

“Not a long-term strategy I would sign off on,” he added. “Creatively it kills you.”

The reaction from fans so far has been mixed, with some welcoming more exposure for underutilized talent, while others worry it will lead to filler segments and fatigue—echoing the same concerns that surround Monday Night Raw’s three-hour format since 2012.

With SmackDown now matching Raw’s runtime, WWE has more screen time than ever—but Bischoff’s warning suggests that more isn’t always better.

Do you think a three-hour SmackDown can succeed creatively? Or is WWE repeating the same mistakes? Sound off in the comments.