WWE Confirms SmackDown Moving Back to Two-Hour Format

It’s official — the three-hour experiment for WWE SmackDown is done, and USA Network has already filled the old slot.

During tonight’s early broadcast of SmackDown, Michael Cole confirmed that starting July 4, SmackDown will permanently return to its two-hour format. The third hour’s timeslot isn’t staying empty either — USA Network will begin airing The Rainmaker, a brand-new series, in that hour.

The update comes after months of speculation and fan frustration with the longer SmackDown format. The company initially extended the show to three hours at the start of 2025, but it was always positioned as a temporary move to help boost Friday night viewership.

International viewers got the confirmation early due to tonight’s SmackDown airing ahead of schedule, live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ringside News first reported that the three-hour SmackDown run wasn’t sticking around long-term, despite other outlets suggesting otherwise. With the new USA Network series locked in and the announcement made on-air, there’s no going back now.

What do you think — are you glad SmackDown’s back to two hours, or did you actually enjoy the longer format? Let us know in the comments.