WWE SmackDown Staying at 3 Hours—Without Any Extra Payment from USA Network
WWE fans hoping for a return to the classic two-hour SmackDown format may be disappointed. According to Dave Meltzer on the June 16 episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE SmackDown will remain three hours long indefinitely—and even more surprisingly, USA Network isn’t paying WWE anything extra for the additional hour.
What Was Supposed to Be Temporary… Is Now Permanent?
Bryan Alvarez opened the segment by asking the burning question:
“Is the three-hour SmackDown permanent?”
Meltzer responded bluntly:
“Yeah. It’s three hours until they change it. There’s no set end date.”
He went on to explain that the third hour was originally meant to be temporary. USA Network had planned to fill the 10–11 PM slot with a different show, but ultimately decided SmackDown’s third hour was better for ratings.
“They realized that hour three is going to do triple anything else in that slot.”
WWE Isn’t Getting Paid More for the Extra Hour
When Alvarez pressed further—wondering if WWE renegotiated for more money—Meltzer dropped the bombshell:
“No. They’re not getting paid more.”
He added that had any new financial terms been involved, WWE would have disclosed them on investor calls or in reports to shareholders.
“If it was a new deal, it would’ve been announced. It would’ve shown in the numbers.”
The Contract Clause That Gave USA the Power
According to Meltzer, the original contract must have included a clause giving USA Network the option to expand SmackDown’s time slot without renegotiating the pay:
“They probably gave USA the option when the deal was first signed.”
So in essence, WWE is producing an extra hour of live content every week—for free—just to keep USA Network’s primetime slot filled with a ratings winner.
Fans Are Divided
While some fans enjoy more action-packed content, others argue that the extra hour dilutes the product, leading to filler segments and overexposure of top stars.
Is It Worth It?
With WWE receiving no financial benefit, the move raises serious questions:
- Is three hours sustainable for storytelling and pacing?
- Will it affect talent workloads and injuries?
- Should WWE push back for fair compensation?
What’s your take—does a longer SmackDown add value, or is it dragging the show down? Join the discussion below!