SmackDown is back as a three hour show as of tonight. On tonight's card: Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley team up with Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss to take on Lash Legend & Nia Jax and The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane), Damian Priest battles Aleister Black in an Ambulance Match, Drew McIntyre fills us in on his stipulations for The Three Stages of Hell Match against Cody Rhodes, Chelsea Green defends her WWE Women's United States Championship against Giulia and more!
Check back for live results when the show airs!
The first WWE show of 2026 starts with a recap of the Cody Rhodes/Drew McIntyre drama.
We then cut to clips of Cody Rhodes, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky, Lash Legend & Nia Jax, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane), Damian Priest and Aleister Black & Zelina walking backstage and/or arriving to SmackDown.
At ringside, The Miz comes out and says we aren't moving on to 2026 until he airs all his grievances from 2025. He asked for one match for the closure of his and John Cena's story, instead The Miz is stuck here in Buffalo, while Cena rides away in the sunset. Grievance number two, The Miz shared his knowledge with the newcomers and it was met for ungratefulness. Grievance number 3 was him being passed over for film work. His fourth grievance is about Joe Hendry and how he ruined the last SmackDown for The Miz and brought back a very untrue nickname and the crowd starts to chant "Tiny Balls". The Miz says he is the new face of the WWE for 2026 and he wins championships unlike Buffalo. The Miz rattles off the championships and stuff that he's won and that's why he is the face of the WWE and he's the adult in the room filled with spoiled brats. Randy Orton's music hits and he makes his way out interrupting The Miz. Orton pretends to charge The Miz in the ring and The Miz gets scared. Orton tells The Miz he was just joking and gets on the turnbuckles and poses. The Miz acts all happy and stoked that Orton has joined him. The Miz talks about not being RKO'd tonight and welcomes Randy Orton back. The Miz says WE are the adults in the room and includes Orton in being the face of the WWE and suggests they come MizKO. Orton flattens The Miz with an RKO and the RKO's The Miz again.
The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) are backstage. Nia Jax and Lash Legend come by and tell them that teaming up together is hard for them. Jax and Legend ask for a title shot after they help them win tonight. Asuka says all they owe them is a beating and that they can face them anytime. Asuka leaves and Sane tells them they're not ready for The Kabuki Warriors. Asuka yells for Sane and she runs off to Asuka.
Randy Orton talks to Cody Rhodes backstage and tells Rhodes with all due respect that he's coming for Rhodes' title. Nick Aldis comes by and tells Rhodes that he cannot attack Drew McIntyre or he forfeits his title.
Match 1: Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss -vs- Lash Legend, Nia Jax & The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
Jax, Legend, Asuka and Sane attack Flair, Ripley, Sky and Bliss. Asuka and Ripley are left in the ring and Asuka kicks and brutalizes Ripley in the center of the ring. Asuka kicks Ripley to the mat and Ripley kicks Asuka out of the ring. Sane tries to get involved and gets kicked out of the ring. Bliss is tagged in and she somersaults onto Sane and Asuka outside the ring and we cut to a commercial break.
Back to SmackDown, Legend and Jax double team Bliss and Bliss is slammed down and Legend splashes onto Bliss and covers her for a two count. Legend gets Bliss in a headlock and then elbows Bliss. Legend gets Bliss in an arm bar and then hoists Bliss up in the air by her arm. Legend clotheslines Bliss and covers her for a near fall. Legend puts Bliss in more submission holds and Jax is tagged in. Jax knocks Sky off the apron and then she and Legend double team Bliss. Bliss hits a tornado DDT on Jax and then tags out to Flair. Flair comes off the top rope and cross body's onto Jax and Legend. Flair chops both Jax and Legend. Flair takes out Legend and hits Natural Selection on Jax and then climbs the ropes and goes for her moonsault. Flair connects with the moonsault and Jax kicks out at two. Flair kicks Legend on the apron and tries to roll up Jax but botches it. Jax leg drops onto Flair and covers for a two count. Asuka is tagged in, Flair rolls her up and Asuka kicks out at two. Flair goes for the Figure 8 but Asuka gets to the corner and Sane comes off the top rope and hits The Insane Elbow. Bliss and Sane fight and leave the ring. Flair tags in Sky and Sky takes down Asuka. Sane runs in and Sky takes her and Asuka out with a double missile dropkick. Sky goes to tag Ripley but Jax knocks Ripley off the apron. Legend is tagged in and she superkicks Sky and covers for a near fall and we cut to a commercial.
We come back to SmackDown, Sky is knocked down by Legend and Jax is tagged in. Sky is double teamed and then Jax covers and Sky kicks out at two. Jax tosses Sky in a stretch submission and then slams Sky's face into the mat. Asuka is tagged in and she kicks Sky in the corner. Asuka slams into Sky in the corner and then kicks her and forearms her. Sane is tagged in and Sky is double teamed. Sane and Asuka hit each other accidentally and Sky dumps Asuka to the mat and tags in Ripley. Ripley takes out Sane and Asuka. Ripley takes out Sane and goes for RipTide. The women then take turns taking each other out. Ripley catches Sane coming off the top rope. Ripley connects with RipTide and tags in Sky who hits Over the Moonsault and gets the win.
Winners: Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky
Nick Aldis talks to Jordynne Grace backstage and tells her he wants her to be on SmackDown in 2026. Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre come in - Green says she cannot go out there and defend her belt against Giulia. Aldis tells Green she should be a fighting champion and says since she cannot defend he will strip her of her title. Green gets pissed and leaves.
Before his match, Kit Wilson gets on the mic and says he's redefining masculinity. He calls Buffalo toxic sports fans and calls out some of the Bills players. Matt Cardona comes out interrupting him and he's facing Kit Wilson.
Match 2: Kit Wilson -vs- Matt Cardona
Wilson kicks Cardona off the bell and stomps at him in the corner. Wilson dropkicks Cardona and we are told Cardona is officially part on SmackDown. Cardona takes down Wilson and kicks him against the turnbuckles. Cardona connects with an elbow and a flapjack. Wilson is clotheslined over the ropes and Cardona hits a baseball slide kicks Wilson. Back in the ring, Cardona kicks Wilson and clotheslines him in the corner. Cardona gets knocked off the turnbuckles and Wilson drops some elbows on Cardona and covers for a near fall. Wilson kicks Cardona and then punches him several times. Wilson punches Cardona and sits him on the top rope. Cardona hits a missile drop kick and then elbows Wilson. Wilson is knocked down and Cardona slams Wilson down face first. Cardona punches Wilson in the corner and kicks him. Cardona hits a double underhook powerbomb and covers Wilson who kicks out at two. Wilson kicks Cardona and slams him into the corner. Wilson hits The Tourniquet and covers Cardona for two. Cardona hits The RoughRyder and gets the win.
Winner: Matt Cardona
Cathy Kelley talks to Damian Priest backstage. She asks him about his 2025 and being entangled with Aleister Black for most of it. Priest says enough is enough and it ends tonight.
A promo for The Wyatt Sicks play where they call out Solo Sikoa and The MFTs. Uncle Howdy says it's time for the to chop down Solo's Family Tree from the root.
Sami Zayn comes out to the ring as he has things to say. Zayn talks about not being around in the last couple weeks. He talks about how the last time he was on TV, he sat in the front row watching John Cena's last match. He says that moment hit him in the feels. He talks about how his son asked him about Cena's 17 time champion story and asked him how many times he's won. Zayn says he had to tell his kid that he's sitting at a fat goose egg. He talks about how this makes no sense to his kid and why Zayn has never won the main gold. Zayn says he's talked about being the champ lots but now he's here to do it. He says he's coming for the top spot in 2026. Trick Williams comes out to the ring, making his official debut on SmackDown. Williams says he has finally arrived and introduces himself to Zayn. Williams says he's a hybrid of Mike Tyson, Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan. He says he's here because Nick Aldis needed him to bring some flair to SmackDown. Williams says he's a grown ass man and Aldis wants someone who looks like a champion, and can carry SmackDown and he's here to do that. Williams says he's not the same as Zayn as he isn't the guy who almost gets the job done. Zayn says Williams is a hot talent but his problem is that Williams has yet to be humbled. Zayn says since Williams wants to interrupt him, he has no problem teaching Williams a lesson and he can teach Williams how to be humbled. Zayn drops the mic and leaves Williams in the ring.
Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov talk backstage. Dragunov says while losing the title wasn't what he wanted, he is happy he lost to the best Hayes could bring. Dragunov asks if Hayes if he's going to keep the Open Challenge. Hayes says he will. Hayes sees The Miz and thanks The Miz for leaving him alone because now he's thriving.
Nick Aldis talks to Rey Fenix backstage. Trick Williams comes in pissed off as to how Sami Zayn treated him. Williams and Fenix get in each other's faces. Aldis makes a match for next week against Rey Fenix.
Match 3 - WWE United States Championship Match: Carmelo Hayes(c) -vs- Johnny Gargano w/Candice LeRae
Hayes and Gargano go at it before the bell. Gargano is sent out of the ring and when he gets in the bell rings. Hayes beats Gargano around the ring and clobbers him in the corner. Hayes hits a leaping leg drop on Gargano. Gargano rolls under Hayes and kicks him in the face. Gargano chops Hayes in the corner, Hayes slams down Gargano and knees him. Gargano rolls out of the ring and Hayes goes to suicide dive onto Gargano but LeRae stands in the way allowing Gargano to take down Hayes off the distraction. Gargano takes out Hayes outside the ring and we cut to a break.
Gargano puts Hayes in a rear chin lock hold and Hayes tries to elbow out of it. Hayes punches out of the move and clobbers Gargano in the corner. Gargano comes off the ropes and hits a Tornado DDT and covers Hayes for a near fall. Gargano kicks Hayes in the face, Hayes catches the last kick and starts slapping and chopping Gargano. Hayes hits a second rope springboard lariat and then takes down Gargano and covers him and Gargano kicks out at two. Gargano counters a suplex but gets elbowed. Hayes hits a springboard reverse fadeaway leg drop and Gargano rolls out of the ring. Hayes flips over the ropes onto Gargano and then back in the ring, Hayes hits a Frog Splash and covers Gargano for a near fall. Hayes knocks Gargano down and climbs the ropes. Gargano gets to him and knocks him to seating position. Gargano chops Hayes and gets Hayes on his shoulders. Hayes counters and kicks Gargano and gets up with Gargano. Gargano slams Hayes down and covers him for a near fall and we get a break.
Back to Smacky, Gargano kicks Hayes and then throws Hayes face first into the middle turbuckle. Hayes is covered and he kicks out at two. Hayes and Gargano trade elbows and punches. Gargano connects with a step up enzuigiri and Hayes does the same and both men are laid out. Both men trade more punches and elbows. Gargano hits a spinning clothesline on Hayes and Gargano walks into a kick. Hayes now gets caught with a superkick and Hayes hits a cutter and covers Gargano for a near fall. Gargano is on the apron and Hayes punches him and Gargano gets RKO'd on the ropes and Hayes slams him down on the apron. Back in the ring, Hayes is DDT'd and Gargano covers him for a near fall. Hayes rolls to the outside and Gargano flies out onto him. Back in the ring, Hayes kicks Gargano and climbs the ropes. LeRae gets on the apron and distracts the ref. Gargano hits an Air-Raid Crash off the top rope and covers Hayes for a near fall. Hayes and Gargano trade roll ups and Hayes hits 1st48 and then hits Nothing but Net and gets the win.
Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Carmelo Hayes
Tama Tonga is backstage watching the match. Shinsuke Nakamura come in and speaks to Tonga in Japanese and Tonga replies back in Japanese. Solo Sikoa comes in and asks him if everything is ok, Tonga says it is and asks what is going on with The Wyatt Sicks. Sikoa tells him it's a four on four match next week.
A video promo with Aleister Black and Zelina plays. Black tells Damian Priest that nothing will change with him and the only thing that will change is him. Zelina says it's time for them to put the final nail in the coffin of his delusions.
Cathy Kelley talks to Jade Cargill. Cargill says she intentionally injured Michin at a live event. Jordynne Grace stops by and says she's here to check out her options and Cargill tells her to sign with RAW because she's the bitch and SmackDown is her show. Grace says Cargill is definitely a bitch.
Cody Rhodes walks backstage and sees Sami Zayn. He asks Zayn if Zayn has seen Drew McIntyre and then talks about Zayn's promo tonight. Zayn says he respects Rhodes but Rhodes has to understand his point of view. Nick Aldis swings by and Rhodes asks him if he's seen McIntyre. Aldis says no, and Rhodes says he's headed to the ring.
We come back from a commercial break to Cody Rhodes making his way out to the ring. Rhodes asks Buffalo what they want to talk about and starts talking about how to win the World Title. He says while he's not the youngest, strongest or fastest the one thing that separates him from everyone is his mentality when approaching whoever is standing opposite him in the ring. He says he gets to the venue early so "they" can see him see "them". He says Drew McIntyre is full of envy and he cannot wait to fight McIntyre. He has a secret for McIntyre - he says his superpower is playing dumb and everyone is playing Checkers when he's playing Chess. He says McIntyre is his lunch and in this era of the WWE he is the champ and that won't change in Berlin. McIntyre joins us on the tron and he's outside in the parking lot. McIntyre calls Rhodes vanilla and he says he's got his three stipulations. First stipulation for Three Stages in Hell is that it's a straight wrestling match. Number two, falls count anywhere. Number three, if it goes to three falls - the final fall will be in a Steel Cage Match. McIntyre is in front of Rhodes' tour bus and says he was in the bus earlier and saw items from his wife and kids. He says the one item that stuck out to him is a picture of Cody Rhodes and his dad Dusty Rhodes. McIntyre says Dusty must be ashamed of his son and he hopes Dusty has a coat in hell because it'll be chilly down there and breaks the picture of Rhodes and Dusty. Rhodes runs out to McIntyre and is stopped by Nick Aldis and officials. McIntyre is now in the ring and Rhodes runs back to the ring as officials Aldis chase after Rhodes. Rhodes gets stopped before getting in the ring and McIntyre lights the picture of Dusty and Cody on fire and then puts it in a garbage can. Rhodes rushes the ring again and is held back as McIntyre burns the pic. McIntyre taunts Rhodes from the ring and Rhodes is going ballistic.
Match 4 - WWE Women's United States Championship Match: Chelsea Green(c) w/Alba Fyre -vs- Giulia w/Kiana James
Giulia kicks Green at the bell and then kicks Green in the corner. Giulia throws Green across the ring twice and then kicks her out of the ring. Fyre talks to Green and Giulia comes out and kicks Green and slams her head onto the announce desk. Giulia sends Green back in the ring and gets in Fyre's face. Green flies through the ropes with a suicide dive taking out Giulia and we cut to a commercial break.
We're back! Giulia kicks and slaps Green in the middle of the ring and gets her in a submission hold and then slams Green's head down to the mat. Giulia gets Green in a chinlock and Green goes back first into the corner breaking the hold. Giulia then puts Green in a sleeperhold and Green breaks the hold and punches Giulia. They trade punches in the middle of the ring. Green takes down Giulia with two clotheslines and then kicks Giulia down to the mat. Green hits a meteora on Giulia on the ropes and then slams Giulia face first to the mat. Giulia is covered and she kicks out at two. Giulia headbutts Green and Green hits The Rough Ryder and covers Giulia. James distracts the ref missing the pin. Fyre takes out James and Giulia suplexes Green. Green rolls up Giulia for a near fall. Giulia is superkicked and Green climbs the ropes. Giulia punches Green and climbs up with her. Giulia hits a double underhook suplex from the top rope and then hits The Northern Lights Bomb and gets the win.
Winner and NEW WWE Women's United States Champion: Giulia
Cathy Kelley talks to Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky. Ripley says they've been wanting to get their hands on Asuka and Kairi Sane for a long time. Sky says they'll finally be champions together. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss come in and Ripley asks if they're here to say the partnership is off and they want to be champs. Bliss says they're here to actually wish them luck. Flair says that they're next in line, though.
Nathan Frazer and Axiom make fun of Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae backstage. They tell Gargano to grow up and move on. Axiom asks for his mask back and ask why he's standing behind his wife. Axiom says he'll find Nick Aldis and ask for a match and to get his mask back.
Nathan Frazer and Axiom make fun of Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae backstage. They tell Gargano to grow up and move on. Axiom asks for his mask back and ask why he's standing behind his wife. Axiom says he'll find Nick Aldis and ask for a match and to get his mask back.
Match 5 - Ambulance Match: Damian Priest -vs- Aleister Black w/Zelina
Black attacks Priest from behind and the bell rings. Black is sent outside the ring and Priest goes out after him. Black kicks Priest in the face and they fight towards the entrance where the ambulance is. Black opens the ambulance doors and Priest is kicked in the face again. Black tries to put Priest in the ambulance but Priest brings out a stretcher and slides it into Black. Black is then slammed onto the stretcher and we get a commercial.
Back to our Main Event, Black hits a meteora on Priest through a table on the outside. Black kicks Priest some more and sends Priest back in the ring. Priest is stomped on and they both trade blows in the middle of the ring. Black hits a jumping knee and then kicks Priest in the face. Black stomps on Priest some more and then they trade kicks in the middle of the ring. Black knees Priest in the face and continues to kick Priest around the ring. Black hits another jumping knee and goes for Fade to Black but Priest fires back with a clothesline knocking Black down. Priest slams into Black in the corner and Black rolls out of the ring. Priest collides with Black sending him crashing onto the announce desk. Black slams Priest against the turnbuckles and grabs a steel chair. Black slams the chair into Priest's ribs and then smacks him with the chair. Black puts Priest's face on the seat and punts the chair knocking Priest down. Priest is beaten with a chair some more and Priest gets back in the ring. Black pulls him back out and Priest grabs Black and chokeslams him onto the apron. Back in the ring, Black kicks Priest in the face and gets up on the ropes. Priest kicks Black and hits a top rope hurricanrana on Black and Black Black Mass on Priest and they're both laid out and we cut to a break.
We come back to the match, Black has Priest on the stretcher and he rolls him towards the ambulance. Priest fights back but Black strikes him down. Priest kicks Black and rolls off the stretcher. Black hits Priest with a backboard and then drives him into the wall with the backboard on Priest's neck. Black tells Zelina to open the ambulance doors and she does. Rhea Ripley is in the ambulance and she chases Zelina to the ring. Ripley hits RipTide on Zelina in the middle of the ring. Black gets distracted and watches this happen and Ripley waves at him from the ring. Black gets to Priest and tries to get him into the ambulance. Black kicks Priest and Priest punches Black back. Black gets Priest in the ambulance and shuts the first door and can't shut the second. Priest kicks the ambulance door open sending Black flying. Priest attacks Black with a crutch. Black hits Priest with a knee sending Priest into the ambulance. Priest kicks Black off of him and then takes him out with a fire extinguisher blinding Black. Black goes back to Priest and Priest sets Black's face on fire and Black falls to the ground and holds his face. Priest closes the ambulance doors and goes back to Black. Priest gets a conference table and tries to Razor's Edge Black through it but Black counters and kicks Priest down and slams him into the ambulance. Priest throws Black into the side of the ambulance and Black drives Priest through the barricade. Black punches and elbows Priest. Priest is kicked in the head by Black, and Black grabs an equipment container. Black elbows Priest who falls onto equipment case. Priest gets up and hits a Razor's Edge on Black into the windshield of the ambulance. Priest puts Black on his shoulders and climbs to the top of the ambulance. Priest chokeslams Black off the top of the ambulance through the conference table on the ground below. Priest climbs down and opens goes to open the ambulance doors but they're locked. Priest opens the side door of the ambulance and then drags Black to the door. Priest puts Black in the ambulance and closes all three doors at the back of the ambulance and gets the win.
Winner: Damian Priest
After the match, Priest celebrates and tells the ambulance to drive away as the show goes off the air.
