WWE: Update on WWE’s Plans for RAW & SmackDown 3-Hour Show Runtimes in 2025, Carmella WWE Absence & Potential Return Plans Update, More News

WWE

Nov 29, 2024

Update on WWE’s Plans for 3-Hour RAW & SmackDown Shows in 2025

As noted before, WWE’s SmackDown show is currently expected to expand into becoming a three-hour weekly show on USA Network starting in January of 2025. SmackDown’s move to a three-hour show is also planned expected to remain in place until at least May of 2025. Besides SmackDown, WWE’s RAW show is also currently expected to return to its three-hour format when the show moves to Netflix.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources confirmed that WWE officials current plans for RAW’s runtime is still for the show to return to a three-hour format for its premiere show on Netflix on January 6, 2025.

In regards to SmackDown, Johnson reported that those spoken to also stated that SmackDown is currently expected to expand into being a weekly three-hour show on USA Network quickly after RAW’s premiere show on Netflix.

Carmella WWE Absence & Potential Return Plans Update

As noted before, Carmella has been out of action for WWE since early 2023 due to maternity reasons over the birth of her child this past November and foot-related injury issues.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that there has not been any talks within WWE regarding Carmella making a potential return to the company. Those spoken to stated that Carmella would be welcomed back in the company should she make a potential return in the future.

WWE News & Notes

WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart reportedly is currently scheduled to make an appearance at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event show on December 14th in Long Island, New York, according to PWInsider.

WrestleVotes reported that their sources stated that WWE officials are currently working on several potential plans and ideas for Big E’s appearance for New Day’s 10th Anniversary celebration at next week’s WWE RAW show on December 2nd in Everett, Washington.

Besides Big E, PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that several SmackDown brand talent are currently scheduled to attend next week’s WWE RAW show. Johnson reported that those currently scheduled to travel for the show includes Cody Rhodes, Solo Sikoa, and Jimmy Uso. Johnson also reported that it is currently not known if these SmackDown talents will be making an appearance during the live show.

As noted before, WWE had worked on plans in 2023 for the potential launch of a new NXT Europe brand that would replace their NXT UK brand, which went on a hiatus in August of 2022 and later shut down. Fightful Select reported that there has been no new updates regarding WWE’s potential plans for a new NXT Europe brand from their sources. It was reported that very little had happened for WWE’s plans for this new brand following Vince McMahon’s exit from the company and sale to Endeavor.

Current NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo, real name Joey Ariola, announced on Instagram that he got married to his fiance Isabella Borini this past Wednesday in Orlando, Florida.

WWE recently released two new videos to their WWE Vault channel on YouTube. The first new video was a 5-on-3 Survivor Series Elimination match of Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, & Tito Santana vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase & The Visionaries (Rick Martel, The Warlord, Hercules, & Paul Roma) from WWE Survivor Series 1990. The second new video was a “Hogan, Savage & Demolition give thanks in Survivor Series 1989 open.”

In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Paul Heyman gave his thoughts about his belief that CM Punk’s character has become far more compelling now than he was twelve years ago. Heyman stated “If you had told me that in 2012 that 12 years later CM Punk would be a far more fascinating character than he is now at the height of his rebellious status, I’d say that’s just not in the cards for him. And yet I look at what he did with [Drew] McIntyre and realize that he’s so much more interesting now. He has a deeper connection with the audience now, which I never imagined would have been possible. You realize that rebels age out and once they do, they can no longer be the embodiment of the disruption that progresses against the establishment. And yet he is now the older rebel with a little more wisdom behind him and a little more tact involved and he’s that much more compelling version of a character and persona — let alone his ability to portray it — than ever before.“

WWE recently announced one newly updated match for the card of Friday’s WWE SmackDown show, which was taped on November 22nd in Salt Lake City, Utah: