Report says the blue brand may drop its third hour within weeks
Summary
– WWE SmackDown is reportedly expected to leave the three-hour format soon
– A new report claims the show could return to two hours within the next few weeks
– Bryan Alvarez previously suggested the extended runtime was only meant to be temporary
WWE SmackDown may not remain a three-hour show for much longer as new reports suggest the blue brand could soon return to its traditional two-hour format.
According to Bodyslam.net, sources indicate that SmackDown is expected to drop the extra hour and move back to two hours within the next few weeks.
No official date has been confirmed, and additional details on when the change will occur have not been provided, but the report adds weight to the idea that the longer format was never meant to be permanent.
This follows earlier discussion by Bryan Alvarez, who spoke about the situation on The Bryan and Vinny Show and shared his belief that the three-hour schedule was another temporary adjustment.
Alvarez explained that when SmackDown first returned to three hours in 2026, the presentation on television made it seem as if the format was once again planned for only part of the year.
He pointed to a similar pattern from 2025, when SmackDown also ran as a three-hour show for roughly the first half of the year before eventually moving back to two hours.
According to Alvarez, he was also told that when WWE announced the January return to the extended runtime, the expectation was for the same type of schedule this year.
That would mean the three-hour version of SmackDown was likely designed as a short-term format rather than a full-year change.
Right now, SmackDown continues to air with the extra hour, but if the latest report proves accurate, fans may see the blue brand return to a faster-paced two-hour format very soon.
Many viewers have debated whether the third hour helps or hurts the show, and a return to two hours would likely bring strong reactions from both sides.
