A major shakeup is happening behind the scenes at WWE, and it's all about the creative team! As the blue brand gears up for an expanded schedule, there's a new power dynamic emerging. Paul Levesque, the man at the helm, continues to steer the ship, making all the crucial decisions for what you see on TV. But here's where it gets controversial...
While Bruce Prichard and Ed Koskey have a say in the creative process, they also handle the distribution of information across the entire company. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Ryan Ward is now the go-between, pitching all the creative ideas to Levesque and taking on a bigger role in SmackDown's recent success.
This reported restructuring follows some issues with SmackDown's creative, which are said to have improved. It's a minor adjustment, but it's had an impact: Ryan Ward gets a boost, while John Swikata and Bryan Road Dogg James take a slight step back. Jonathan Baeckstrom and Alexandra Williams remain the co-lead writers for Raw, with William Regal and Michael Hayes also in the mix.
Meltzer sums it up, highlighting that while there have been some changes, the core remains the same. Levesque is still the driving force, with Prichard and Koskey offering their creative input and managing information flow. Ward is the key liaison, and the recent issues with SmackDown's creative have been addressed.
This creative shift coincides with a significant change to WWE SmackDown's runtime on the USA Network. Starting with the January 2, 2026, episode from Buffalo, New York, the show is back to its three-hour format. This mirrors the pattern set in 2025, when the show ran as a three-hour program for the first half of the year.
Current plans suggest that SmackDown will continue this three-hour format for approximately half of the year.
And this is the part most people miss: the impact of these changes on the show's quality and viewer experience. With an expanded schedule, the creative team has a bigger challenge to keep the content fresh and engaging. Will they succeed? Only time will tell.
What are your thoughts on these behind-the-scenes changes? Do you think they'll impact the show positively or negatively? Let us know in the comments!
