WWE SmackDown expected to return to three-hour format in January 2027
Wrestling Inc • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM
Last updated Aug 14, 2026
WWE SmackDown is slated to revert to a three-hour format starting January 8, 2027, after a recent switch to two hours in July 2026. Sources from USA Network indicate that this change could align with the network's new-year schedule. WWE's agreement with USA Network, which began in 2024, involves alternating between two- and three-hour shows throughout the five-year contract. This announcement precedes WWE's European tour set to launch on January 15, 2027, in Brussels, Belgium.
- •SmackDown switched to two hours in July 2026.
- •Return to three hours expected on January 8, 2027.
- •Change aligns with scheduling by USA Network.
- •The European tour begins January 15, 2027.
- •WWE's USA Network deal started in 2024.
- 2:00 PMWrestling Inc — Backstage News On When WWE SmackDown Is Expected To Go Back To Three Hours
"WWE SmackDown has switched from two to three hours over the last few years, and a recent report has revealed when it will go back to being a three-hour show.
Sources
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