In a world where two-hour wrestling shows are just tolerable enough, WWE is flirting with the idea of stretching your attention span even further. “WWE Raw” and “SmackDown” could each be up for a runtime remix as WWE hammers out new broadcast deals. Here’s what we know:

WWE recently did the ol’ TV channel shuffle, with “SmackDown” swapping its spot on Fox for a shiny new place on the USA Network, while “Raw” is set to trade its USA digs for Netflix’s streaming turf come 2025. For now, each show holds the line at a lean two hours, but lean isn’t really WWE’s style, is it?

Industry tipster Dave Meltzer, who’s broken more wrestling news than The Undertaker has comeback attempts, says talks are underway for a format shake-up. Netflix, known for its all-you-can-binge buffet, might give “Raw” a flexible runtime. That’s right, imagine a WWE show that doesn’t even pretend to end on time! A power move if we’ve ever seen one.

Over on the USA Network, things are a bit more corporate—if the suits have anything to say about it, they’d like to stretch “SmackDown” to a robust three hours. Why? Well, USA is fresh off losing both “NXT” and soon “Raw,” meaning the network might be in desperate need of good ol’ wrestling eyeballs to keep their ratings from diving like a 450 splash gone wrong.

And while rumors of a longer “SmackDown” have been floating around for months, insiders say WWE still hasn’t decided if they’re willing to risk it. But come December, don’t be surprised if you find yourself watching Roman Reigns’ entrance with enough time to roast a turkey in the middle.

By Joseph Gallery

I like ice cream, taking a back seat, wondering who I am, and pretending kayfabe is real. May or may not be the Real Dark Brandon. For the LOLZ. MALARKEY!

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