WWE SmackDown confirms return to two-hour format starting July 3
Cageside Seats • 2 min read • Latest: Jun 27, 2026, 2:08 AM
Last updated Jun 27, 2026

WWE SmackDown will revert to a two-hour format beginning July 3, as confirmed by commentator Michael Cole during a recent episode. This change comes after speculation regarding the show's length and aims to reduce filler matches that have been extended to accommodate a three-hour run time. SmackDown's current television agreement mandates a three-hour show in the first half of the year, resetting to two hours in the latter half. Fans can expect the three-hour format to return in January.
- •SmackDown will air for two hours each week starting July 3.
- •Michael Cole announced the change on a recent episode.
- •The current TV deal allows for alternating show lengths.
- •A three-hour format is expected to return in January.
- 2:08 AMCageside Seats — WWE confirms the great news about a major change to SmackDown
"The pro wrestling rumor mill has suggested for a while that WWE SmackDown will be dropping its third hour soon, with the latest report indicating the change will begin in July. On tonight’s episode, commentator Michael Cole confirmed that SmackDown is indeed going back to two hours next week (July 3). At the very least, that means some of the less important matches that have been stretched through multiple commercial breaks just to fill out the three hour runtime can now cut out the fluff. WWE’s current TV deal for SmackDown on the USA network seems to make it a three hour show in the first half of the year and a two hour show in the second half of the year, so fans of the extra hour will likely get it back in about six months. Do you think SmackDown will be a better show at two hours instead of three? What are the most glaring positives and negatives that come along with the change? Let me know in the comments below, Cagesiders.
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