WWE SmackDown Reportedly Moving Back To Two-Hour Runtime

WWE are moving Friday Night SmackDown back to a two-hour format.

Friday Night SmackDown officially returned to a three-hour format on January 2, 2026, marking the second time the show has expanded to a three-hour runtime following a temporary run in early 2025.

However, the second three-hour era of Friday Night SmackDown looks set to come to an end, as BodySlam are now reporting that the show will soon return to its original two-hour runtime.

“Sources indicate to Bodyslam that SmackDown will be leaving the 3 hour format and going back to 2 hours in a few weeks.”

-BodySlam

The initial reaction to the report from fans online appears largely positive, with members of the WWE Universe having long been critical of a perceived decline in writing, as the show has struggled to maintain consistent quality as a weekly three-hour broadcast.

WWE shifting Friday Night SmackDown back to a two-hour format also follows the company’s latest wave of talent releases on April 24, which saw a number of stars from the blue brand depart, including The Wyatt Sicks and Aleister Black, among others. You can find the full list of the recent WWE departures here.

As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on WWE SmackDown moving back to a two-hour runtime as soon as we hear more.