On January 3, WWE SmackDown started a new era moving from two hours to three to kick off 2025.
From new talent coming over to the blue brand in the transfer window, to shifts in storylines and characters, SmackDown will feature a number of adjustments over the next few weeks and months.
Here are seven potential changes to WWE SmackDown.
7. Move Back To Two hours
Starting with the January 3 episode, SmackDown moved to a three hour runtime that should allow for more television time for the talent on the roster.
Appearing on a recent edition of The Pat McAfee Show, Triple H confirmed recent reports that the move to three hours was only temporary and would go back to two hours “soon.”
While Triple H wouldn’t confirm when this change will be made, reports have suggested May or June will be the timeframe, giving WWE and its roster a need to make adjustments yet again.
The SmackDown roster was made for a two hour program and will be able to streamline stories to fit the runtime change moving forward, with the time spent in three hours allowing stars to prove they deserve the TV time when its cut back to two hours once again.
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6. Tiffany Stratton WWE Women’s Champion
On the January 3 episode of WWE SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton finally cashed in her Money In The Bank contract, dethroning Nia Jax to win the WWE Women’s Championship.
Claiming the gold that she has been hovering around for months, Stratton is now at the top of the SmackDown women’s division.
With Jax still looking for vengeance, fans have been favoring Stratton and giving her plenty of cheers at live events.
While Bayley will get the first crack at the WWE Women’s Championship, it would not surprise anyone to see Stratton eventually turn babyface and embrace the love from the fans as champion.
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5. Refocus On The Tag Team Division
As evident from the January 10 edition of WWE SmackDown, the tag team division has been getting some more focus with the show’s move to three hours.
DIY are currently holding the WWE Tag Team Championship, but they have duos such as The Motor City Machine Guns, Street Profits and Los Garza all chasing the gold.
This refocus on the division should allow some of these tag teams to get over with the audience and grow a connection.
Whether it be more match time or getting the opportunity to get their character over with promos, WWE rededicating time to push the tag team division was needed on SmackDown.
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4. The Wyatt Sicks Target The New Bloodline?
On the January 13 episode of WWE Raw, Karrion Kross informed The Miz that Adam Pearce had moved The Wyatt Sicks over to Friday Night SmackDown in the transfer window.
With Uncle Howdy and his stable making their way to the blue brand, it should open the door for some more storyline opportunities to explore with the roster of talent. For the past four years, SmackDown has been dominated by the family drama and inner turmoil surrounding The Bloodline.
Following Solo Sikoa’s loss to Roman Reigns in Tribal Combat on the WWE Raw on Netflix premiere, the New Bloodline should find themselves in a fresh feud, which is where The Wyatt Sicks would make an excellent option.
The Wyatt Sicks targeting Solo Sikoa and company for their past transgressions towards their family makes a lot of sense with their characters and could make for some entertaining television.
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3. Drew McIntyre Becomes A Top Star For SmackDown
Drew McIntyre has been a man on a mission since returning following his loss to CM Punk inside Hell In A Cell at Bad Blood.
Taking aim at the members of the OG Bloodline, McIntyre has attacked Sami Zayn and The Usos, while disparaging Roman Reigns’ attempts to get back to the top.
On the January 13 edition of WWE Raw on Netflix, McIntyre announced his intention to declare for the Men’s Royal Rumble Match and should lead to him changing brands in the leadup.
Moving to SmackDown would allow McIntyre to become a top star on the brand during a period where some of its top talent will be moved to Monday Night Raw.
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2. Charlotte Flair’s Return
As WWE prepares for this year’s Royal Rumble event, various absent stars have been teasing their returns to the company.
There might not be another return bigger than that of The Queen Charlotte Flair.
Suffering a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus in December 2023, Charlotte has stayed away from WWE TV for over a year now.
Flair’s presence and star power has been sorely missed and will greatly benefit the SmackDown women’s division where she has ready made feuds with the likes of Tiffany Stratton, Nia Jax and Bianca Belair.
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1. Roman Reigns Leaves For Raw On Netflix
The biggest name on the SmackDown roster over the past few years has unquestionably been Roman Reigns.
Holding WWE’s top prize for 1316 days, everything that transpired on SmackDown centered on Reigns and The Bloodline.
While Solo Sikoa and the New Bloodline will continue to be a focus on the blue brand, it is clear to many fans that Roman’s future lies on Monday Night Raw.
With the brand’s recent move to Netflix, WWE will look to bolster its roster as the company’s flagship show by adding their biggest star, which will be the biggest change to SmackDown in quite a few years.
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