Terrible news for WWE fans ahead of SmackDown

WWE SmackDown returns tonight for the festive pre-record of their final show of 2025, which means that when the crew returns to SmackDown next week for the first event of 2026, it will be a three-hour show.

WWE fans have been busy with the festivities of the holiday season, and many may have forgotten that tonight is the final episode of SmackDown with the current format.

This means that many fans who tune in around the world will be forced to stay up an hour later, which was an unpopular decision the first time SmackDown was pushed to three hours.

WWE has been underfire for their storylines and lack of creativity under Triple H, with the CCO being the name in the headlines more often than not. Many fans believe that adding an extra hour to SmackDown is a bad idea, since the blue brand has been struggling to contend with RAW for a long time, and an extra hour to fill makes it harder.

RAW appears to have found a solid format with their two and a half hour show on Netflix, but SmackDown on the USA Network means that there are more restraints.

Will this change affect WWE programming?

Many European wrestling fans will be upset about the decision, taking away an hour of sleep, but at present, there could be use for the extra hour, since The Royal Rumble and Road to WrestleMania are right around the corner.

The event is set to take place in Saudi Arabia for the first time as a dress rehearsal ahead of WrestleMania 43. The company will be part of a European Tour heading into The Royal Rumble, which means that January 2nd is the only show running on American time in the next month, with January 9th's SmackDown set to take place in Germany.

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Edited by Phillipa Marie