Friday Night SmackDown will be returning to its traditional two-hour format in the coming weeks, according to Bodyslam, with the decision coming from USA Network rather than WWE.
An exact date for the change has not been confirmed. The May 1 and May 8 episodes of SmackDown are still listed as three-hour broadcasts on USA Network’s TV schedule, suggesting the switch will come sometime after that.
The network’s motivation is rooted in its upcoming programming slate. USA Network has shows scheduled to air at 10 p.m. Eastern later this year, including the return of Everything on the Menu, starring Braun Strowman, which is set to return for its second season in early summer.
SmackDown has primarily been a two-hour show since its premiere in 1999. The show moved to three hours for the first half of 2025 before reverting, then returned to three hours again from January 2, 2026. The three-hour format was described as unpopular among fans and within WWE during its previous run.
The impending return to two hours reportedly influenced WWE’s decision to release following WrestleMania 42. Bodyslam reported that 14 main roster wrestlers who primarily performed on SmackDown were among the 25 total released on April 24.
