Details on major change to WWE SmackDown - Reports
WWE SmackDown has been an important show for the Stamford-based company for several reasons. The rumor mills have been churning about a major change coming to the show, and Dave Meltzer recently commented on it.
It was earlier reported that Friday night's show could move to a three-hour format, especially with RAW switching to two hours on the USA Network for the final three months of 2024. There is still no word on the approximate runtime of the show on Netflix once RAW switches to the streaming service in January 2025.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Radio stated that the idea to switch the blue brand to the three-hour format made sense.
"[A three-hour 'SmackDown' is] a scary thought there. It's one of those things ... it does make sense. If you're USA Network, of course you want the third hour. I thought [the deal] was two hours," Dave Meltzer said. [H/T WrestlingINC]
The USA Network has hosted RAW for three hours during its current deal. The network could request for SmackDown to be changed to a three-hour format to keep things going. However, Dave reported that the USA Network had only signed a two-hour format deal.
"The idea of SmackDown at $279 million for a third hour is not an increase, noting that it's around what Fox was paying for the program. They were trying to tout this as a 40 percent increase and it's not if they're going three hours," Dave Meltzer said. [H/T WrestlingINC]
He further reported that he had been unable to get any clarification regarding the third-hour change on the brand with WWE sources.
Triple H's management will likely decide on the big moves soon. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda Wrestling to get the latest on the blue brand's future.
WWE SmackDown has some of the top stars in the company
WWE SmackDown currently hosts some of the biggest names in the wrestling industry. Roman Reigns is arguably the biggest name tearing it up on the blue brand.
Alongside The Original Tribal Chief, Cody Rhodes, Bayley, Kevin Owens, and LA Knight are doing a phenomenal job with other superstars. Their collective work has kept the blue brand on top and has added a lot more value to WWE's product.
A shift in 2025 could give more superstars on the brand a chance to shine and prove themselves. A three-hour format could give some underutilized stars a chance to get featured on television.