Drew McIntyre and several other RAW stars backstage at WWE SmackDown - Reports

WWE is less than two hours from its first event of 2025, which will mark the SmackDown jump to a three-hour format, and less than one hundred hours from the RAW on Netflix premiere. Rumors on the WWE roster and potential changes have been swirling, and now Drew McIntyre is at SmackDown with a few of his locker room colleagues.

The Scottish Psychopath is currently backstage at the Footprint Center in Phoenix for tonight's SmackDown, according to Fightful. There are other RAW Superstars backstage as well, and word from sources is that current red brand roster members are expected to be on SmackDown episodes moving forward.

WWE officials are planning to have certain superstars make more of a permanent switch between RAW and SmackDown, but word is that both main roster brands will feature each other's talents, at least for a while in this new year. McIntyre is among those who have appeared on both shows in recent weeks.

World Wrestling Entertainment usually brings in RAW and SmackDown Superstars to work dark matches at tapings for the other brand. However, the change to a three-hour format for SmackDown will see a reduction in the number of dark matches filmed on Friday nights. It will be interesting to see how they handle SmackDown, Speed, and dark matches with tonight's tapings.

WWE has the following announced for the first SmackDown of 2025, airing tonight in the usual timeslot on the USA Network: United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Andrade in a non-title match, Nia Jax defending the Women's Championship against Naomi, plus The Usos and Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga in the main event.

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