SmackDown introduced again its three-hour format on the USA Community this previous Friday, however followers shouldn’t get too used to the prolonged runtime.
In keeping with Bryan Alvarez of The Bryan and Vinny Present, the present format might solely stick round for the primary half of the yr—identical to it did in 2025. Alvarez defined that the transfer seems to be a part of a repeat programming technique by the community. Final yr, SmackDown aired as a three-hour present for a number of months earlier than reverting to 2 hours. It appears to be like like that playbook is getting used once more in 2026.
“This was the primary three-hour SmackDown, they usually had a touch upon the present—and I didn’t write it down—however the best way they mentioned it made me suppose that that is an annual momentary factor,” Alvarez mentioned. “Final yr, in fact, SmackDown was three hours for in regards to the first half of the yr, after which it went again to 2 hours.”
Alvarez went on to clarify that sources had tipped him off in regards to the plan even earlier than SmackDown returned to a few hours this January.
“I used to be informed, when the announcement was made that they have been going again to a few hours in January, that it most likely was going to be the identical factor this yr—the place it might be a three-hour present for the primary half or no matter.”
The longer format appears to be a part of a broader community effort to check robust lead-ins for different programming. Alvarez added that the second half of 2026 might introduce a brand new present focusing on the wrestling viewers.
“After which they needed to search out another program, just like the Braun Strowman program, that plenty of wrestling followers would watch, and that will observe SmackDown beginning within the latter half of the yr. So I assume we’ll discover out.”
Regardless of his perception that “three hours is just too lengthy for any wrestling present,” Alvarez admitted that the primary episode of 2026 labored higher than anticipated—because of the introduction of a number of contemporary faces from NXT and the unbiased scene. Trick Williams, Jordynne Grace, Je’Von Evans, and Matt Cardona all made appearances, giving WWE a much-needed injection of recent vitality and justifying the expanded runtime—for now.
Nonetheless, the clock might already be ticking on the third hour. If the community pulls the set off on its rumored post-SmackDown venture, followers may see the blue model trimmed again down by summer time.
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