As noted before, WWE SmackDown has been expected to be moving back as a weekly three-hour show starting with the January 2, 2026 show in Buffalo, New York.
During Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Wilke-Barre, Pennsylvania, SmackDown commentator Michael Cole officially confirmed that SmackDown will be returning as a weekly three-hour show starting with the first show next year on January 2, 2026.
WWE confirms that SmackDown will return to three hours, starting Jan 2nd.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/SLccExZwao
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) December 13, 2025
Breaking: SmackDown will be 3 hours once again starting 1/2! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/wUQsg6GIht
— USA Network (@USANetwork) December 13, 2025
SmackDown previously ran as a weekly three-hour show from this past January to this past June before switching back to its regular two-hour runtime format for shows afterwards.
WWE: Vince McMahon Makes Brief Video Appearance at 12/13 WWE SNME Show, CM Punk Appearance and Logan Paul vs. Rey Mysterio Set for 12/15 WWE RAW Show, Andrade El Idolo on If Divorce from Charlotte Flair Led to His WWE Exit
Masked Bad Bunny Attended 12/9 CMLL Event
WWE Advertising Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater vs. AJ Styles & Dragon Lee for WWE World Tag Titles at 12/13 WWE SNME Show
