WWE Main Roster Expansion and Show Changes: Raw and SmackDown Set for Three-Hour Format

Big changes are on the horizon for WWE’s main roster in 2025, with both Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown reportedly set to expand to three-hour shows. As WWE prepares for this shift, fans can expect new talent from NXT to join Raw and SmackDown, adding depth to both rosters and aligning with WWE’s plan for longer programming on both shows.

WWE’s Move to Three-Hour Shows for Raw and SmackDown

Currently, Raw runs for three hours, while SmackDown airs for two. However, recent reports from PWInsider suggest that SmackDown will soon expand to three hours, creating an extended viewing experience similar to Raw. This change is expected to coincide with WWE’s streaming partnership with Netflix, set to launch in early 2025, and aims to capitalize on the platform’s extensive reach.

The three-hour format for both shows will allow for more in-depth storylines, longer matches, and the potential for showcasing additional talent each week. With an expanded time slot, WWE is in a strong position to feature more wrestlers and attract viewers interested in extended, high-quality wrestling content.

New NXT Call-Ups Expected to Bolster WWE’s Roster

To support this expansion, WWE is looking to add NXT talent to the main roster. Stars like Bron Breakker and Tiffany Stratton have already made successful transitions to Raw and SmackDown, with Breakker currently holding his second Intercontinental Championship and Stratton carrying the Money in the Bank briefcase. Additional NXT standouts, such as Ilja Dragunov and Blair Davenport, are rumored to be on the radar for main roster call-ups in early 2025.

The main roster expansion not only allows for an influx of new talent but also aligns with WWE’s recent focus on developing fresh faces through NXT, creating future stars and maintaining a dynamic mix of established and emerging performers on Raw and SmackDown.

WWE’s Commitment to Enhanced Viewer Experience

These changes reflect WWE’s continued efforts to evolve its content and engage fans by adapting to a longer format and embracing new talent. For WWE’s audience, the upcoming changes to Raw and SmackDown mean more opportunities to see fan favorites and rising stars alike. As WWE looks toward 2025, this expanded programming marks an exciting step forward in WWE’s ongoing growth and entertainment strategy.

Jake is an SEO-minded Football, Combat Sports, Gaming and Pro Wrestling writer and successful Editor in Chief. He has more than ten years of experience covering mixed martial arts, pro wrestling, football and gaming across a number of publications, starting at SEScoops in 2012 under the name Jake Jeremy. His work has also been featured on Sportskeeda, Pro Sports Extra, Wrestling Headlines, NoobFeed, Wrestlingnewsco and Keen Gamer, again under the name Jake Jeremy. Previously, he worked as the Editor in Chief of 24Wrestling, building the site profile with a view to selling the domain, which was accomplished in 2019. Jake was previously the Editor in Chief for Fight Fans, a combat sports and pro wrestling site that was launched in January 2021 and broke into millions of pageviews within the first two years. He previously worked for Snack Media and their GiveMeSport site, creating Evergreen and Trending content that would deliver pageviews via Google as the UFC and MMA SEO Lead. Jake managed to take an area of GiveMeSport that had zero traction on Organic and push it to audiences across the globe. Jake also has a record of long-term video and written interview content with the likes of the Professional Fighters League, ONE and Cage Warriors, working directly with the brands to promote bouts, fighters and special events. Jake also previously worked for the biggest independent wrestling company in the UK, PROGRESS Wrestling, as PR Head and Head of Media across the social channels of the company.

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