5 reasons why SmackDown going to 3 hours would be a bad idea

#5 The show is too formulaic

SmackDown moving to 3 hours would exacerbate already existing issues

In its current format, turning SmackDown into a 3 hour show would not be a good idea. For quite some time now, the show has been too formulaic and script driven. Generally, this has made the show predictable and generic. Having 3 hours of this would not be particularly conducive to great television.

There could be a good argument for SmackDown going to an extra hour if the show was more chaotic and unpredictable. If it were less script-driven and more spontaneous, with stories told throughout the night, rather than constantly building to the next pay-per-view, then the shows would be much more worthy of the 3 hour time slot.

If WWE can hook the audience for a full show, then 3 hours is not too long. But all too often the shows are more driven towards building for the next pay-per-view, instead of trying to make each show memorable.

Even 2 hours can seem too much when shows use the same tried and tested formula, and so a move to 3 hours may be particularly challenging for spectators to sit through. If SmackDown were to become less structured and have a bit more continuity throughout the show, then there could be a good argument put forward for moving to 3 hours. But under the current formula, SmackDown could suffer from the increase in TV time and lose viewers.