On September 13, 2024, WWE SmackDown moved back to the USA Network for the first time since 2019 in a two-hour Friday night slot.
Following its USA Network debut, reports emerged that WWE SmackDown would be moving to a three-hour show in January 2025.
Later reporting would state that the extra hour would be an arrangement for six months from January 3, 2025.
Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed the increased length of WWE SmackDown on Wrestling Observer Radio with the subject of the USA Network deal being brought up.
As we await confirmation of WWE SmackDown’s move to three hours, Meltzer, provided an update on the negotiations between WWE and USA Network in regards to the change:
“It’s not 100% but it’s certainly in negotiations. I would say better than 50% it’s going to happen.”
Alvarez would seek clarification on the negotiations from Meltzer, asking:
“So by negotiations do you mean they’re attempting to get more money?”
Meltzer would confirm that he did indeed me “more money” based on the longer show, saying:
“Yeah. The original deal was definitely a two-hour show but now they’re discussing a three-hour show.”
With WWE Raw also on the USA Network, it was recently announced that the Monday night show would be a two-hour show.
That change would last until the end of its run on December 30, moving back to three hours for its Netflix premiere.
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