6 Changes To WWE SmackDown With Move To Two Hours

To start 2026, it was announced that WWE Friday Night SmackDown was going back to a three hour format.

Giving more stars some time to grow on-screen, this led to varying levels of quality for the blue brand, but that is set to change in the next couple of months.

After the report that SmackDown is expected to go back to a two-hour format this Summer, this will lead to some changes that will certainly alter the dynamic of Friday nights moving forward.

Here are six potential changes to WWE SmackDown with the move to two hours.

6. Less Of The Roster Being Featured Week-To-Week

When Friday Night SmackDown went back to three hours, it gave WWE the chance to add some new stars to the roster.

From Trick Williams to Jordynne Grace, these former NXT stars made an immediate impact on the blue brand.

While the new talent got a chance to shine, underutilized stars like Carmelo Hayes were able to have more focus through his United States Championship Open Challenge.

With the show set to go back to two hours, it means less of the roster will be featured weekly on SmackDown unfortunately and may fall by the wayside.

5. Show Pacing & Reduction Of Filler Content

Three hour SmackDown episodes have a different flow and pace to them than when the show is two hours long.

Things can develop at a more deliberate pace and allows more time for the in-ring action as well.

Talent like Sami Zayn, Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, Ilja Dragunov and The MFTs are also given a chance to enhance their characters through backstage segments and more promo time.

Unfortunately with this move to two hours, it means that the pacing and filler content that has benefitted certain stars will not be there moving forward, making it difficult to further progress stories in the same way.

4. NXT Call-Ups & Other New Talent Getting The Spotlight

Following WrestleMania 42, there were several talents from the NXT brand who got called up to the main roster.

While Ethan Page, Sol Ruca and Joe Hendry have made their way to Monday Night Raw, their peers from NXT have been making their presence known on Friday Night SmackDown.

On the April 24 WWE SmackDown After WrestleMania 42, Fatal Influence made their main roster debut, while Ricky Saints and Blake Monroe were announced as other callups.

Besides those NXT stars, Royce Keys and Danhausen are other newer names that have made their mark on SmackDown that will continue to get the spotlight despite the move to two hours.

3. Fatal Influence Takeover Of Women’s Division Gets More Of The Focus

Speaking of these NXT callups, the trio that might have gotten the best start on the main roster between Raw and SmackDown is Fatal Influence.

Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid introduced themselves to the blue brand by attacking Paige, Brie Bella, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.

Then to further make a name for themselves, this group stepped up to the new WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley.

After Jayne went toe-to-toe with “Mami,” Fatal Influence attacked and laid out Ripley, which has firmly shown the SmackDown women’s division that their takeover is real and will become a major story on Friday nights for the foreseeable future.

2. Trick Williams Emerges As A New Top Star

Since the start of 2026, it has become clear that Trick Williams has become a consistently featured star on SmackDown.

Whether it be setting his sights on the Undisputed WWE Championship or his rivalry with Sami Zayn, Williams has made it clear that he will garner the spotlight no matter what.

At WrestleMania 42 Night Two, Trick defeated Zayn to win the United States Championship, which marked his first title win on the WWE main roster.

With Lil Yachty by his side, Williams will further emerge as a new top star and remain a focus despite SmackDown’s move to a two-hour format.

1. CM Punk Jumps From WWE Raw To SmackDown

At WWE WrestleMania 42 Night Two, Roman Reigns defeated CM Punk to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

Then on the April 20 WWE Raw After Mania, Punk shared the ring with his friend and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, teasing a future title match between the two.

For that to happen, Punk may need to make the move from Monday Night Raw to Friday Night SmackDown.

Wanting to make sure the star power is still at a high level with the format changing back to two hours, it makes sense for a talent on the legendary status of Punk becomes part of the SmackDown roster moving forward.

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