World Wrestling Entertainment has officially announced that WWE Friday Night SmackDown will become a three-hour show on the USA Network.
Rumors of this expansion first surfaced several weeks ago, courtesy of reporting from WrestleVotes, but WWE remained tight-lipped until today’s official confirmation. The decision to extend Raw to 3 hours several years ago came at the behest of the USA Network so this may mave also been a request from USA with Raw moving to Netflix on January 6.
This change not only alters the viewing experience for fans but also opens up significant opportunities for WWE’s roster. With an additional hour of programming, SmackDown can showcase a wider range of talent and potentially introduce new storylines and match formats. This move comes on the heels of the recent introduction of the Women’s United States Championship and the Intercontinental Championship, suggesting a concerted effort to elevate and expand the women’s division.
