SmackDown’s Return to Two Hours Confirmed — WWE Clarifies Timeline Starting July 4
After months of backstage speculation and fan frustration, WWE is officially scaling Friday Night SmackDown back to a two-hour show. While previous reports hinted at an August adjustment, the company is kicking off the leaner format sooner than expected—on July 4, 2025.
On the June 19 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that the July 4 SmackDown episode, pre-taped on June 30 in Pittsburgh, will clock in at two hours. This early shift comes ahead of the August 15 reset, which will permanently drop SmackDown’s third hour to make room for the new “The Rainmaker” show airing at 10 PM.
“The July 4th SmackDown… that we’re being told is a two-hour show,” Meltzer said. He also noted that WWE will tape both RAW and SmackDown on the same day, with RAW running from 6 to 8:30 PM (ET), followed by SmackDown taping from 8:45 to around 10:15 PM.
The July 4 edition will serve as a sneak peek of the new streamlined format. The episode will eliminate unnecessary backstage segments and tighten pacing—something longtime fans have been craving for months.
As for the weeks between July 11 and August 8, Meltzer says the format remains unclear:
“Those four shows, I have not gotten anything clear. I just haven’t gotten an answer on that. I asked.”
Regardless, WWE’s pullback from the three-hour SmackDown experiment signals a major shift in how the brand is structured. Whether it’s to enhance focus, cater to Netflix-style pacing, or boost live energy, it’s clear the company is trying to rebalance fan experience on Fridays.
🗓 Key Takeaways:
- ✅ SmackDown returns to two hours officially on August 15
- 🧨 Special two-hour preview drops July 4 (taped June 30)
- 🎥 RAW and SmackDown will be taped back-to-back that day
- ❓ Format between July 11–August 8 still uncertain