WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network in the United States and on Netflix for international fans, from the Dignity Health Center in Bakersfield, California.
WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network and Netflix for international fans, beginning at 8:00 pm ET. from the Thompson–Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Despite earlier chatter about WWE SmackDown possibly trimming its runtime back to two hours this summer, it looks like the blue brand is sticking with its three-hour format for the time being.
According to a new report from WrestleVotes, the USA Network is reportedly happy with how the longer version of SmackDown has been performing in the ratings. That satisfaction seems to have put any plans for a June rollback on hold, at least for now.
The three-hour format, which had previously been exclusive to Monday Night Raw, has been a point of debate among fans since it was introduced for SmackDown. While some appreciate the expanded screen time for more in-ring action and storyline development, others feel it leads to pacing issues and viewer fatigue.
Still, if the numbers are strong, it’s hard to argue with the strategy from a business perspective. USA Network’s confidence in the extended format could be a sign that WWE is delivering the kind of content they’re looking for—and that fans are tuning in to see it.
With this latest update, it appears WWE is content to ride the momentum and keep SmackDown at three hours… at least until further notice. Whether fans will continue embracing the extended show remains to be seen, but for now, Friday nights are going long.
The eerie presence of The Wyatt Sicks returned to WWE in dramatic fashion during the closing moments of this week’s SmackDown, crashing the WWE Tag Team Championship main event between The Street Profits and Fraxiom—and leaving a path of destruction in their wake.
Just as Montez Ford was scaling the ropes for what looked to be the final flourish in a high-octane showdown, the arena plunged into darkness. Moments later, under a haunting spotlight, the full force of The Wyatt Sicks—Uncle Howdy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross, Erick Rowan, and Joe Gacy—stood in the ring.
Lumis wasted no time, yanking Ford from the top rope and kicking off a relentless beatdown. The chaos wasn’t limited to just the two teams competing—#DIY tried to intervene but were quickly overpowered, and even the Motor City Machine Guns, who raced out to back up Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, found themselves laid out. Candice LeRae, who had reunited with her husband and Ciampa earlier in the night, wasn’t spared either, as Nikki Cross zeroed in on her with feral intensity.
The segment closed with a chilling tribute: Uncle Howdy delivered a devastating Sister Abigail to Gargano before the group unveiled a birthday cake in the center of the ring—candles lit—to honor the late Bray Wyatt on what would have been his 38th birthday. It was a somber, surreal moment that blended storyline madness with real-world emotion, once again blurring the line between fiction and tribute in the most Wyatt-esque fashion possible.
This marks the faction’s first WWE appearance since a December 9 bout on Raw, where they suffered a loss to The Final Testament and The Miz. Although the group was drafted to SmackDown in January, their absence has been explained by behind-the-scenes reports of Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) being sidelined, effectively keeping the entire stable off TV—until now.
With their reemergence, The Wyatt Sicks have made it clear: they’re not just back—they’re looking to change the landscape of SmackDown in their own twisted image. What’s next for the enigmatic faction? One thing’s for sure: no one is safe.
WWE SmackDown live tonight on USA Network from the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia
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.
WWE SmackDown live tonight on USA Network and Netflix International, beginning at 8:00 pm ET. from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.
WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix for international fans from the Wright State University Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio.
WWE made a wave of cuts on Friday, May 2, 2025, parting ways with a mix of established main roster talent and several rising stars from NXT. The release list includes some surprising names, prompting plenty of speculation about what’s next for the wrestlers involved.
Among the main roster talent released are Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler, Dakota Kai, Kayden Carter, and Katana Chance. Over on the NXT side, the company has let go of Cora Jade, Jakara Jackson, Riley Osborne, Javier Bernal, Oro Mensah, Gigi Dolin, Eddy Thorpe, Dani Palmer and the faction Gallus. These cuts mark another significant roster shuffle for WWE, which seems to be refining its roster across all brands.
As is standard, the released main roster stars will be under 90-day non-compete clauses, while the NXT names are expected to serve 30-day non-compete periods. During that time, WWE will continue to pay the talent, giving them a window to evaluate their options and plan their next moves.
Fightful Select reports that Dakota Kai has already generated considerable interest from other promotions and talent agencies, and insiders expect her to have multiple opportunities ahead. Shayna Baszler’s departure, however, came as a shock to many within WWE. She had recently helped out at “NXT” and re-signed with the company in 2024, making her release one of the more unexpected moves in this round.
In NXT, some releases were more telegraphed. Jakara Jackson’s recent exit from the Meta-Four faction and separation from Lash Legend on this past Tuesday’s “NXT” all but signaled her impending departure. Oro Mensah may have fallen into a similar category.
Meanwhile, Cora Jade and Gigi Dolin wasted no time in re-establishing themselves on the independent scene. Both shared contact details on social media for upcoming bookings, and Jade has already reverted to her indie ring name, Elayna Black—a name she used during her early run on the independent circuit and brief AEW appearances back in 2019 and 2020.
WWE’s latest roster purge underscores the shifting priorities and evolving strategy of the company as it continues to shape its creative and business direction under the TKO banner. For many of these talented performers, this could be the start of a new chapter—whether in AEW, TNA, NJPW, or the growing indie scene.
WWE SmackDown live tonight on USA Network and Netflix International, beginning at 8:00 pm ET. from the Wells Fargo Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
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