WWE SmackDown’s Three-Hour Era Will Linger Into June

What was supposed to be a temporary experiment is now stretching beyond its expected expiration date. WWE SmackDown will remain a three-hour broadcast into early June, according to a new report from PWInsider Elite — a move that flies in the face of previous reports indicating a return to the two-hour format by the end of May.

The blue brand extended its runtime at the start of 2025 after jumping back to the USA Network in September of last year. Since then, SmackDown has aired from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. EST on Friday nights, but the response from fans has been a mixed bag.

While some viewers welcomed the extra hour of action, others have grown increasingly frustrated, pointing to a noticeable dip in the show’s pacing and quality. Critics argue the third hour has often felt like filler, lacking the energy and star power that once made SmackDown must-see TV.

The numbers appear to back that up. Since the conclusion of WrestleMania 41, SmackDown has struggled to hold viewers. Last Friday’s episode hit a new low for 2025, drawing just 1.29 million viewers and scoring a 0.36 rating in the coveted 18–49 demo — the second-worst rating since the move back to USA. That kind of drop-off is raising eyebrows, especially considering the initial plan to scale the show back to its original runtime this month.

WWE has yet to officially comment on the extension, but if this trend continues, the company may need to make a tough call: trim the fat, or risk further alienating the fanbase.

For now, SmackDown fans should brace for more three-hour marathons, at least through the first part of June. Whether WWE can recapture the momentum it once had with the blue brand remains to be seen.