Kicking off 2026 with a bang, the January 2 edition of WWE SmackDown is set to see the show return to a three-hour format.
After having run at two hours in length since the summer, as WrestleMania season begins to get underway — the SmackDown runtime has gained an hour, leading to all new possibilities.
Here are six changes to WWE SmackDown for the upcoming move to three hours.
6. Commentary Shake-Up
Starting with the January 5 edition of WWE Raw, the Netflix broadcast will be set to feature Corey Graves and Michael Cole on the call together.
This flips over the current duo of Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore over to the SmackDown broadcast as the new year is set to kick off.
With SmackDown now running three-hours in length, there could be even more opportunity to see Barrett or Tessitore get involved in storylines.
Since history certainly exists between Wade Barrett and Drew McIntyre, it will be fascinating to see what 2026 brings.
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5. Return Of Randy Orton
In the new year, it seems highly likely that WWE fans will finally see the return of Randy Orton.
While fans could expect that Orton’s return might be saved for the Royal Rumble 2026 later this month, there could always be a chance that he appears on SmackDown this week to kick off the new year.
With Buffalo’s Key Bank Center kicking up internet speculation with a contest featuring three uniquely designed WWE shirts, fans took note that one was in homage to Randy Orton. But with the other two designs featuring Cody Rhodes and John Cena — it doesn’t seem to be such a big clue after all.
Potentially popping up to interfere in Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes’ upcoming Three Stages of Hell match on the January 9 edition of SmackDown — an RKO could definitely come from out of nowhere.
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4. Call Ups From NXT
With the increase in run time for the show, there is presumably room to introduce a number of brand new characters.
Potentially hosting a number of call-ups from NXT, there are some top prospects that could be making their way to the blue brand soon.
From Trick Williams or Oba Femi — a pair who have already impressed in their appearances on the main roster, there could be some big call-ups too.
Sol Ruca, Lola Vice or the entirety of Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reed) could also be solid choices for the SmackDown women’s division.
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3. Revitalize Midcard Women’s Division
Not only able to utilize new stars that are called up from the NXT, there could be opportunities for swaps from WWE Raw as well.
With Chelsea Green in need of a solid feud on the main roster, an invading babyface like Maxxine Dupri, Bayley or IYO SKY could make for a great expansion of attention to the United States Championship.
Currently lacking the numbers on the roster to create more compelling stories, there needs to be some infusion of new talent to the SmackDown women’s division as a whole.
Whether by way of call-ups or potentially even crossover feuds with TNA Knockouts division, there could be room for some new stories to take off on SmackDown with an additional hour on-air.
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2. More Focus On Tag Team Division
With a stacked tag team division on SmackDown, there could definitely be some more feuds added to the show in order to fill in the three hour runtime.
Giving way for new storylines for the Street Profits, Fraxiom, #DIY and more, there could be an interesting new spin on a classic NXT tournament.
If SmackDown were to play host to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament (which was last held in 2024), there could be teams from NXT appearing on the show as well as unexpected pairings.
Without disrupting the on-going feud between the Wyatt Sicks and the MFTs, it could end up that the tournament’s winners will get a high profile future title shot.
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1. Home Of WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
While the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship technically floats between all of the brands, it could end up finding a permanent home on SmackDown in 2026.
Since the SmackDown team of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss held the titles across the latter half of 2025, they have the opportunity to get them back.
With Bliss and Flair joining forces again to take on the Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, there is another fierce team involved as well.
Facing off in a triple-threat against IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley as well, it could end up that the women’s tag titles come back to SmackDown sooner rather than later.
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