RAW and SmackDown set for major change following historical Netflix move - Reports
WWE is just two months away from entering the Netflix era with its RAW brand. SmackDown is just under two months into its second USA Network era, and NXT is almost six weeks into its CW Network era. All three of WWE's brands are moving forward with significant momentum, but now sources have revealed even bigger happenings planned for the near future, on the three weekly TV shows.
World Wrestling Entertainment's Monday night show went to three hours in July 2012, but it was cut back to two hours in early October, and the plan seemingly is to return to three hours when RAW hits Netflix on January 6. There have been various rumors of SmackDown's runtime potentially increasing to three hours also, but there has been no official announcement from the company.
Sources now report that WWE officials have locked in plans for both RAW and SmackDown to air as three-hour episodes each week, according to PWInsider. The changes are set to be implemented in January, and will also have a major impact on NXT.
The RAW on January 6 will serve as the Netflix premiere. SmackDown is rumored to begin its three-hour journey during the first week of the year as well, perhaps on January 3, which means the blue brand could air a three-hour format before the red brand was able to return to it.
Officials are set to beef up WWE's main roster lineups to have a fresh slate for the new year and to help fill three hours. There's talk of making call-ups from NXT, and other roster changes, which could begin before the end of this year. Amid rumors and speculation on WWE potentially mixing the brands altogether, there's also talk of making a significant number of call-ups.
WWE SmackDown updated lineup for tonight
WWE will return to the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY for tonight's live SmackDown episode. The show will feature fallout from Crown Jewel, and the first build to Survivor Series.
Tonight's edition of the blue brand will feature a segment with Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, and The Usos trying to squash any potential issues so they can move forward against Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline. A major spoiler was revealed earlier today.
WWE has also announced The Grayson Waller Effect for tonight. Waller and Austin Theory will interview WWE Tag Team Champions the Motor City Machine Guns, likely to set up a match between the two teams.
Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes has been confirmed to appear on tonight's show as well. The following superstars are advertised to appear: WWE Women's Champion Nia Jax, United States Champion LA Knight, Women's Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair, Bayley, and Solo Sikoa.