• Why SmackDown Is Moving To 3 Hours Next Month
WWE SmackDown is scheduled to return to a three-hour format starting with the first show of 2026, according to WrestleVotes.
The Wrestling Observer reports that this decision was taken because USA Network requires SmackDown to run three hours to boost the network’s average weekly ratings. The previous shift to two hours was intended to help the new series The Rainmaker by using SmackDown as a lead-in during its debut season.
The format will stay this way as long as the network wants it.
While the longer runtime could impact SmackDown’s ratings, the show is expected to benefit from reduced competition once football season concludes.
Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer previously reported that there’s a sense within WWE that the three-hour schedule might only be temporary, similar to this year, with the possibility of reverting to two hours later in 2026.
WWE has not officially confirmed the return to a three-hour format yet.
• Update On Bron Breakker After Scary Landing At Survivor Series
Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 closed with a chaotic main event as Team Vision picked up a major victory over Team CM Punk. The finish came when a masked attacker blindsided CM Punk, allowing Bron Breakker to score the pinfall on the World Heavyweight Champion.
Breakker had a rough moment earlier in the match when he took a Doomsday Device from Punk and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The former Intercontinental Champion came down awkwardly on his neck, immediately worrying fans and even prompting Wade Barrett on commentary to speculate that he may have seriously damaged it.
— WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) November 30, 2025
Despite the impact, Breakker was able to continue and finish the match. According to Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer, WWE’s medical team examined Breakker backstage after Survivor Series, and he was ultimately cleared by company doctors.
It is rumored that Bron Breakker will challenge CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 42 after pinning him at Survivor Series.
• Backstage WWE Reaction To Paul Heyman Shoving A Kid At Survivor Series
Paul Heyman accompanied Brock Lesnar to the ring at Survivor Series: WarGames this past Saturday. His Team Vision got the victory over Team CM Punk with some help from a masked attacker.
After the Premium Live Event went off air, Heyman was heading backstage alongside Logan Paul. As they were walking, a young fan rushed towards Heyman and made physical contact with him, which led to the WWE Hall of Famer shoving the fan away.
— WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) November 30, 2025
According to Fightful Select, there was no internal backlash towards Heyman for the shove. WWE saw the situation as a security failure rather than a personnel issue.
The report notes that the only heat coming out of the incident was directed at security staff, who were criticized for allowing a fan to get close enough to make contact with Heyman in the first place.
• Reason Behind WWE Changing Austin Theory’s Role At Survivor Series
WWE originally had a very different plan for Austin Theory heading into Survivor Series: WarGames this year. The idea within the company was for the former United States Champion to align with The Vision ahead of the event, after which the faction would join forces with Brock Lesnar to take on CM Punk, Jacob Fatu, Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso/ LA Knight.
After Seth Rollins’ injury, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed teamed up with Logan Paul, Brock Lesnar and Drew McIntyre to take on CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns and The Usos.
This led to Theory appearing as the masked attacker who entered the cage, superkicked Punk and hit a Curb Stomp, setting up Breakker’s match-winning Spear.
According to the F4WOnline Daily Update, the original plans fell apart when Jacob Fatu was taken off television due to a dental procedure. That change caused WWE to move Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed Title from Survivor Series to the November 1st edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event.
With both Rhodes and McIntyre being available for Survivor Series, WWE felt McIntyre fit better in the match than Theory.
• AEW Has Become A “Retirement Spot” For Wrestlers, Says WWE Personality
All Elite Wrestling has drawn its share of criticism since launching in 2019, and Booker T has remained one of the loudest voices questioning the company’s direction. For years, the 2-time WWE Hall of Famer has expressed concerns about AEW’s presentation and overall approach to building its roster.
Over time, AEW has brought in a mix of young talent and well-established names from WWE. Several veterans, including Adam Copeland (Edge), Christian Cage, “The Big Show” Paul Wight and Mark Henry made the jump from WWE to Tony Khan’s promotion.
Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, current WWE NXT commentator Booker T said that AEW has become the ideal landing spot for older stars who want to wind down their careers while still collecting a paycheck.
“I wish they had AEW around when I was doing this thing. I’d have camped out. I’d have just camped out, made me a little tent. I wouldn’t have been going nowhere, man, because I’m serious, they pay you not to work in AEW.
Ric Flair’s still under contract from what I’ve been hearing. What has he done? What has Ric Flair done for AEW? It’s a safe haven. It’s definitely a retirement spot if you’re looking to wrap this thing up the right way. I get it, man. I get it. Seriously.”
Also Read: Chris Jericho Offered Retirement Storyline By WWE, Expected Return Timeline Revealed
