It’s now official: WWE SmackDown will expand to a three-hour format starting in January. WWE made the announcement on Friday, revealing that the show will extend its runtime beginning with the January 3, 2025 episode, marking the first SmackDown of the new year.
The move to a three-hour format comes as part of WWE’s ongoing efforts to enhance its television programming and create more content for fans across its platforms. In a related article that outlines where to watch WWE programming, additional details were shared about the changes, including how this shift will affect the broadcast schedule and where fans can catch the extended show. The decision to lengthen SmackDown follows WWE’s recent trend of increasing show durations across its flagship brands, with the company aiming to keep fans engaged with more in-ring action, segments, and storylines.
SmackDown continues to air on USA Network every Friday night at 8/7 C in the U.S. At the start of 2025, SmackDown will expand to three hours starting with the Jan. 3 episode from Phoenix, Arizona.
