WWE SmackDown to Add Extra Hour on USA Network After RAW Netflix Move

The announcement that Monday Night RAW will be moving to Netflix has generated significant excitement, as this shift could bring major changes to WWE’s programming.

The deal, reportedly worth over $5 billion for a ten-year duration, is set to begin in January 2025. Additionally, WWE SmackDown will be extended by an extra hour on the USA Network following RAW’s move to the streaming giant.

This shift marks a new chapter for WWE, as Friday Night SmackDown recently returned to USA Network as part of a separate five-year deal. The September 13th debut episode on USA was packed with action, and it’s clear WWE has even bigger plans in store.

According to WrestleVotes Radio, WWE is looking to build on SmackDown’s success by adding an extra hour to the show once RAW transitions to Netflix. “SmackDown will be given an extra hour on USA Network when RAW moves to Netflix in January 2025,” the report stated, which fans see as a major step forward for the blue brand.

“Before we move off of SmackDown, our first real WrestleVotes tidbit here, as we get going on this backstage pass regarding SmackDown, is that we have learned that starting on the January 3 show 2025, Smackdown will indeed shift to three hours. The other big news here is there are rumors that once the show ends, it will be available on Netflix, which we haven’t heard elsewhere. Those are the internal talkings right now is that probably the day after Smackdown will be available on Netflix. But the real nugget here is that starting January 3, that show will be three hours.”

First premiering in 1999, SmackDown initially aired on UPN before moving to The CW in 2006. In 2008, the show transitioned to MyNetworkTV, where it aired for two years before finding a new home on Syfy in 2010. After five years on Syfy, SmackDown made the jump to the USA Network in 2016. In 2019, the show transitioned to FOX as part of a billion-dollar deal, and now in 2024, it’s come full circle, returning to USA Network as part of a new five-year agreement.

With RAW heading to a streaming platform and SmackDown gaining more airtime, WWE is preparing for what could be a transformative year for the company.

What are your thoughts on WWE RAW moving to Netflix and SmackDown getting an extra hour? Do you think these changes will benefit WWE and its fans? Share your thoughts in the comments below!