WWE SmackDown moving to 3 hours is not a good move

WWE SmackDown moving to 3 hours is not a good move

As a long-time WWE enthusiast who’s been through the ups and downs of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown over the years, I must confess, this latest announcement about SmackDown expanding to three hours in 2025 has left me scratching my head more than a Randy Orton RKO maneuver.

2024 has been an intriguing year when it comes to the business dynamics of professional wrestling, particularly within the WWE sphere. From the transformation of certain Pay-Per-View events into two-night spectacles, the introduction of WWE ID, collaborations with Japanese promotions, and a host of other changes – there’s been plenty to discuss! One of the most buzzed-about stories has been the reduction of Monday Night Raw from three hours to two hours for approximately a quarter of the year. Conversely, SmackDown is set to expand to a three-hour show in 2025. This unexpected shift isn’t something that many fans were clamoring for, and I have my doubts about whether it will live up to the hype surrounding it.

SmackDown will keep broadcasting on USA Network every Friday evening at 8 PM or 7 PM Central Time within the U.S, as stated in a WWE press release. Beginning on January 3rd, 2025, from Phoenix, Arizona, SmackDown’s programming will be extended to three hours.

That was an announcement that no one saw coming. This is on the heels of there still not being an official announcement of whether Monday Night Raw will return to three hours once it premieres on Netflix on January 6. The shift back to two hours has been praised by some, while others have argued that it isn’t working. While there isn’t a quantifiable way to answer that debate, it is a discussion that is still worth having, especially as the Friday show is heading to three hours.

It’s clear that for the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the advantages are numerous. This is a chance to generate extra advertising income from extended shows. This factor played a role in Monday Night Raw being extended to two hours, and other wrestling companies aiming to extend their TV time as well. Since we can’t predict how Raw’s advertising value might alter with its move to Netflix, it’s possible that SmackDown extending to three hours could compensate for that lost revenue. In a capitalist world, WWE consistently meets all the key performance indicators.

Here’s a possible way of paraphrasing the text:

At one point, WWE SmackDown consistently offered some of the finest wrestling programming produced by WWE. However, as times evolve, each show has its share of great moments. As SmackDown extends to three hours, there are many aspects worth considering as we approach 2025.

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2024-12-23 22:15

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