WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - January 9th, 2026
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Cody Rhodes battles Drew McIntyre in Three Stages of Hell Match
Cody Rhodes is going to war against Drew McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship, a showdown that will include three parts: a traditional singles match, a Falls Count Anywhere Match and a Steel Cage Match. The bitter rivalry has included numerous attacks from both Superstars, including McIntyre ambushing Rhodes on his bus as well as The American Nightmare launching a counter-assault at McIntyre's home. After reaching an agreement with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis that Rhodes would forfeit the title if he touched McIntyre before the match, The Scottish Psychopath used despicable tactics, even burning a personal photo of the titleholder and his late father Dusty Rhodes.
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— Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore greet audiences at home as Randy Orton makes his way to the ring.
Orton welcomes Berlin to "SmackDown", but before he can say anything else, Trick Williams' music hits and he makes his way out.
Williams says another star comes out every week to say it's their year. He says a new star has arrived and his name is Trick Williams, then says he doesn't know about Germany but every other country in the world loves him. He questions how people can't love him as a 6'5" and 250 pound man, then tells Orton to do the math and says it's 2026 and not 2006 anymore.
Orton says he's 6'5" and 270 pounds with five kids and "one smoking hot wife", then says the only number that matters is 14 because it's how many titles he's won in his career. He admits to seeing a star in Williams, but there's one thing he's not sure about Williams and that's his decision to interrupt him.
Williams says he agrees with Orton being one of the greatest of all time and says he appreciates Orton's kind words about him, then draws the line with Orton saying he has no brains and puts Orton on notice. He says it's not the year of "The Viper", but the year of whoppin' that around the world.
Orton reminds Williams not to turn his back on him and tells him not to let it happen again unless Williams wants a beatdown. Williams slaps the microphone out of Orton's hand, but Orton lands a pair of right hands on Williams and delivers a hanging DDT on him.
The Miz slides into the ring and blindsides Orton from behind. He fires off stomps on him, then sets up for a Skull Crushing Finale on Orton. Orton escapes and surprises The Miz with an RKO, then poses on the ropes and throws Williams' chain to him on the outside.
— Rey Fenix then makes his way to the ring. Trick Williams is waiting, having gotten back in the ring after his encounter with Orton moments ago.
Trick Williams vs. Rey Fenix
The bell rings and the two lock up. Fenix charges at Williams, but Williams catches him with a shoulder block and whips Fenix into the mat. Williams rolls up Fenix, but Fenix kicks out and rolls up Williams. Williams kicks out and levels Fenix with a shoulder tackle, then whips him into the corner spine first and fires off chops on his chest.
Fenix dropkicks Williams on the ring off the top rope, but Williams levels Fenix with a leg lariat and goes for a pin. Fenix kicks out, but Williams lands a stomp on his midsection and delivers a bodyslam to him. He follows it up with a Falcon Arrow and pins Fenix, but Fenix kicks out. Williams catches Fenix with a Michinoku Driver and sends him crashing into the ring steps, then slaps him.
Back from the break, Williams connects with a pop-up uppercut on Fenix. He gets Fenix up on his shoulders, but Fenix escapes and lands a step-up knee on Williams. Fenix then looks to land a moonsault on Williams, but Williams gets his feet up and levels Fenix with a boot. He goes for a pin, but Fenix kicks out.
Williams delivers a uranage to Fenix and pins him once again, but Fenix kicks out.
Williams looks to land a splash on Fenix. Fenix moves out of the way and sends Williams crashing into the mat spine first, then ascends to the top rope and takes flight. Williams sees Fenix coming, but Fenix still manages to roll up Williams. Williams reverses into a pinfall of his own with a handful of Fenix's tights for the win.
Winner: Trick Williams
— We head backstage, where Byron Saxton catches up with Damian Priest. Priest gets into a verbal exchange with Drew McIntyre and heads off before McIntyre speaks with Saxton and reveals he has Cody Rhodes' watch.
— We then head over to Alexa Bliss on the phone with Charlotte Flair, telling her to rest up and recover. Nia Jax and Lash Legend approach Bliss, and a brief verbal confrontation ensues.
— Back at ringside, Giulia and Kiana James makes their way out. Bliss follows.
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WWE Women's United States Championship Match: Giulia (w/ Kiana James) (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
The bell rings and Giulia shoves Bliss. Bliss responds with a shove of her own, but Giulia shoves Bliss once again. Bliss responds with a knee to Giulia's midsection, but Giulia grabs Bliss' hair and delivers a suplex to her. She lands an elbow on Bliss in the corner, then ascends to the middle rope and lands a dropkick on Bliss. She goes for a pin, but Bliss kicks out. Giulia then throws Bliss across the ring, but Bliss low bridges Giulia out of the ring and delivers a cannonball to her off the ring apron.
Back from the break, Bliss rolls up Giulia. Giulia kicks out and jams her knee into Bliss' throat in the corner, then uses the bottom rope to go after Bliss' throat. James then takes a cheap shot at Bliss from the outside as Giulia distracts the referee, and Giulia lands a boot on the back of Bliss' head. Bliss catches Giulia with a back elbow and fires off forearms on her, then runs over Giulia with a pair of shoulder tackles and a shotgun dropkick on her.
Bliss delivers a Blockbuster to Giulia and goes for a pin, but Giulia kicks out and Bliss looks to land a senton on her. Giulia rolls up Bliss, but Bliss kicks out and Giulia rocks her with a running knee strike.
Bliss sets up for Sister Abigail on Giulia, but James hops up on the apron to distract her and the referee. Bliss still manages to land a DDT on Giulia, but James distracts her once again. Bliss clocks James and ascends to the top rope, but Lash Legend pushes Bliss off the top rope while the referee checks on James. This opens the door for Giulia to land the Northern Lights Bomb on Bliss for the win.
Winner WWE Women's United States Champion: Giulia
— After the match, Jax joins Legend in the ring and tosses Bliss over to her for Legend to take her out with a forearm. Jax follows it up with an An-Nia-Lator to Bliss and gloats in the ring with Legend.
— GM Nick Aldis is with Jordynne Grace to officially sign her to the brand when Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre interrupt. Green is harping on her rematch but Grace says she isn't going to be a diva like some of the other women on the brand. Fyre steps up and goes face-to-face with Grace and so Aldis announces the two will wrestle each other tonight.
— Kit Wilson pops in after the ladies leave. He complains about not leaving who his opponent was last week and about chipping his tooth. Aldis doesn't waste too much time with him and goes into his office.
— Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Matt Cardona about returning to WWE. Cardona says it's been almost six years and it's great to be back. He said he busted his ass to get back to WWE and could have return as Zack Ryder but he wants to build the Matt Cardona name. When he turns and looks over, Cody Rhodes is sitting there and they embrace. Cardona wishes him luck and then says he's not just back for the sake of it, he is here for the belt. Rhodes says once he's done with Drew, let's talk.
— MFT make their way to the ring. The Wyatt Sicks follow.
Eight Man Tag Team Match: MFT (w/ JC Mateo) vs. The Wyatt Sicks (w/ Nikki Cross)
Dexter Lumis and Tonga Loa begin the action. The bell rings and Loa rains down right hands on Lumis. He runs over Lumis with a shoulder tackle, but Lumis kips up and levels Loa with a dropkick. Joe Gacy tags in, and Lumis holds Loa in place as Gacy levels him with a clothesline. Lumis then hits a running senton on Loa, and Gacy follows it up with a running elbow drop on him. Tama tries to interfere, but Gacy and Lumis double team on him. Gacy levels Tama with a big boot, then takes flight to level him on the outside as Lumis does the same to level Loa. MFT and The Wyatt Sicks then stare one another down on the outside.
Back from the break, Solo Sikoa rains down right hands on Gacy in the corner. He follows it up with a Hip Attack on him, then knocks Uncle Howdy and Lumis off the apron. Tama then tags in and fires off double ax handles on Gacy. He stares down Erick Rowan on the ring apron, but Gacy fires off right hands on Tama.
Gacy connects with the Upside Down on Tama, then tags in Rowan as Loa tags in on his side. Rowan runs over Loa with a clothesline and levels Tama and Talla Tonga with clotheslines of their own, then lands clotheslines on Tama and Loa in opposite corners and levels Loa with a dropkick. Tama goes after Rowan, but Rowan fights him off and delivers a crossbody to him.
Talla tags in and stares down Rowan, then exchanges right hands with him. Talla delivers a headbutt to Rowan, but Rowan runs over Talla with a clothesline and gets him up on his shoulders, but Talla runs over Rowan with a clothesline and levels Gacy with a big boot. He connects with a chokeslam on Lumis, but Rowan takes out Talla with a clothesline.
Howdy and Sikoa tag in and stare one another down, but Howdy levels Sikoa with a right hand and a clothesline. He takes out Tama, but Sikoa rocks Howdy with a superkick and sets up for a Samoan Spike on him. Howdy avoids it and delivers a uranage to Sikoa, then sets up for Sister Abigail on Sikoa. Sikoa avoids it, but Tama makes the blind tag in. Howdy dumps Sikoa out of the ring and delivers a uranage to Tama, then drags Mateo into the ring and cinches in the Mandible Claw on Mateo.
Sikoa grabs Howdy's lantern as Howdy sets up for a Sister Abigail on Tama. Talla takes advantage of a distracted Howdy and runs him over with a boot, then level Rowan on the apron with a right hand. This opens the door for Tama to deliver The Cutthroat to Howdy for the win.
Winner: MFT
— After the match, Sikoa keeps the lantern in his hand and takes it with him as MFT head to the back.
— Backstage, we see Miz emerging from Nick Aldis' office saying he was talking about a title match. Carmelo Hayes meets him and Miz says he will be looking to become the US champion. Hayes says tonight is a good time but Miz makes excuses that the attack by Randy Orton left with a hurt neck. Hayes says maybe in two weeks then. He then meets up with Ilja Dragunov and wonders if the two could wrestle tonight; Ilja says they will have their rematch in due time but tonight, he is going to talk to Aldis about something else.
— A video package for Oba Femi is shown.
— Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre then make their way to the ring. Jordynne Grace follows.
Jordynne Grace vs. Abla Fyre (w/ Chelsea Green)
The bell rings and Fyre looks to land a right hand on Grace out of the gate. Grace ducks out of the way and fires off forearms and chops on Fyre, then sends her crashing into the top turnbuckle repeatedly face first and levels her with a pair of clotheslines. She follows it up with a modified cutter to Fyre and slaps her, but Fyre connects with a kick on Grace's midsection and follows it up with a Tornado DDT.
Fyre pins Grace, but Grace kicks out and Fyre rains down right hands on her. She sends Grace crashing into the top turnbuckle face first, then looks to land an Exploder on her in the corner. Grace blocks Fyre and lands a back elbow on her, then follows it up with a spinebuster and a package sit-out powerbomb. Green hops up on the apron to distract Grace, but Grace sends Fyre crashing into Green and connects with a Torture Rack Spinning Sit-Out Powerbomb on Fyre for the win.
Winner: Jordynne Grace
— After the match, Jade Cargill's music hits and she makes her way out with her WWE Women's Championship in hand. Cargill circles Grace and tells Grace while she thinks she did something and is special, Grace is on her show and she's that bitch.
— Backstage, Byron Saxton is with Sami Zayn whose next goal is to become WWE Champion. Saxton asks him who he thinks will win the title match tonight. Zayn says it's difficult for him to admit this but a part of him wants Drew McIntyre to win so he can face him and beat him for the first time. However, obviously he's rooting for Cody, who is one of the best champions in recent years. But who he thinks will actually win? Zayn gives it some thought and says his money is on Cody. But no matter who walks out as champ, he will be waiting on the other side.
— We see Drew McIntyre in deep thought preparing for his upcoming Three Stages Of Hell match.
— Backstage, Nathan Frazer and Axiom are in the back talking about the open challenge, but it isn't Axiom. It turns out it is Johnny Gargano under the mask, who attacks Frazer. The real Axiom then shows up.
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WWE United States Title Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
The bell rings and the two lock up. They take turns wearing one another down with submissions, but Hayes levels Nakamura with a dropkick and looks to fly out of the ring. Nakamura catches Hayes with a kick to his head, but Hayes responds with a springboard clothesline to Nakamura.
Nakamura fires off a few right hands on Hayes in the corner and delivers a knee to his midsection, but Hayes looks to fly off the ropes. Nakamura sees Hayes coming and delivers a kick to Hayes' hamstring, then trips him off the ropes and sends him crashing onto the floor.
Nakamura dumps Hayes back in the ring, then drapes him across the top rope and delivers a scissors kick to his spine. He goes for a pin, but Hayes kicks out before Nakamura delivers a Dragon Screw to him using the middle rope as a means of wearing down Hayes' hamstring. Nakamura then cinches in a Half Boston Crab on Hayes, but Hayes grabs Nakamura's leg and fires off kicks on his face to escape.
Nakamura catches Hayes with a knee to his midsection and delivers a kick to him, then does his signature c'mon taunt. He looks to land a kick on Hayes, but Hayes catches it and fires off a few strikes on Nakamura. He rocks Nakamura with a superkick and spikes him with a DDT, then goes for a pin but Nakamura kicks out. Nakamura fires off back elbows on Hayes, then sits him on the top rope. Hayes connects with The First 48 on him off the ropes.
During the break, Hayes and Nakamura teeter on the ropes. Nakamura trips Hayes and drapes him off the top by his knees, then charges at Hayes looking to land a dropkick on his chest. Hayes sits up to get out of the way, sending Nakamura's leg crashing into the ring post.
Hayes flies off the top rope to level Nakamura on the outside, then dumps him back in the ring and ascends to the top rope. He looks to land a splash, but Nakamura moves out of the way and wears down Hayes' hamstring with an Ankle Lock on the mat. Hayes crawls over to the bottom rope to escape, then rolls up Nakamura.
Nakamura kicks out and gets Hayes up on his shoulders, but Hayes counters into a Stunner to escape. Nakamura runs over Hayes with a kick and gets him back up on his shoulders, then delivers a Michinoku Driver to Hayes and goes for a pin. Nakamura kicks out.
Back from the break, Nakamura sets up for the Kinshasa on Hayes. Hayes catches Nakamura with a kick, then delivers a springboard DDT on Nakamura. He ascends to the top rope, but Nakamura catches Hayes with an enzuigiri and delivers a running knee to his midsection as Hayes is draped across the top turnbuckle. Nakamura then connects with a running knee on Hayes, but Hayes responds with The First 48 on Nakamura and follows it up with Nothing But Net for the win.
Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Carmelo Hayes
— After the match, Hayes extends his hand and the two shake hands and celebrate together.
— Backstage, Cody Rhodes is preparing when Byron Saxton approaches him to get his final thoughts. Rhodes says he saw that Drew McIntyre has Dusty's watch. He talks about how McIntyre has to drag his father in but that's lazy as Dusty doesn't make the comeback, Cody does. Rhodes says his eyes are on the Royal Rumble and then WrestleMania.
— WWE Smackdown GM Nick Aldis announces that there will be four qualifying matches to determine the next challenger for the WWE Title. The finals will take place at Saturday Night's Main Event and then the winner of that match faces the champion at the Royal Rumble.
— Next week, Randy Orton faces the Miz in a qualifying match while Matt Cardona faces Trick Williams in another Match. Damian Priest will take on Solo Sikoa in the third qualifier and finally, Sami Zayn faces Ilja Dragunov in the last.
— Drew McIntyre then makes his way to the ring. Cody Rhodes follows.
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Three Stages Of Hell Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Stage One – Regular Match
The bell rings and Rhodes goes straight after Rhodes. He fires off right hands and stomps on him in the corner, then lands a knee on McIntyre's midsection and clotheslines him out of the ring over the top rope. He connects with a suicide dive on McIntyre through the middle rope, then sends McIntyre's face bouncing off the announce desk. McIntyre grabs a chair and hands it over to Rhodes, then dares Rhodes to use it as a means of trying to get a victory via disqualification.
Rhodes almost immediately drops the chair and delivers a boot to McIntyre's midsection, then dumps him back in the ring and connects with a Disaster Kick on him. He follows it up with the Bionic Elbow on McIntyre as he flips McIntyre off.
Rhodes fires off a couple of right hands on McIntyre when the action spills back out of the ring, but McIntyre whips Rhodes into the ring steps shoulder first and gets him back in the ring. Rhodes catches McIntyre with a Cody Cutter and pins him, but McIntyre kicks out. Rhodes fires off right hands and stomps on McIntyre in the corner, then delivers a German suplex to him and looks to land a second one on him. McIntyre hangs onto the top rope to prevent Rhodes from landing the move on him, ripping off the top turnbuckle in the process. While the referee fixes the turnbuckle, McIntyre low blows Rhodes and follows it up with a Claymore Kick on him to him for the win
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Stage Two – Falls Count Anywhere Match
McIntyre goes under the ring and grabs a table. He sets it up and powerbombs Rhodes through it, then goes for a pin but Rhodes kicks out. McIntyre rocks Rhodes with a right hand as the pair brawl up the entrance ramp, but Rhodes connects with a suplex on McIntyre and pins him. McIntyre kicks out, but Rhodes sends his face bouncing off the ring steps and dumps him into the crowd, then flies off the barricade with a double ax handle to level McIntyre as the pair begin brawling through the crowd.
Rhodes fires off right hands on McIntyre up the stairs and through the crowd, then takes a selfie with McIntyre using a fan's phone as he bites McIntyre's head. Rhodes then fires off more right hands on McIntyre back down the stairs, then continues delivering more of them through an entrance tunnel into an exit area. Rhodes looks to send McIntyre's head bouncing off a table, but McIntyre stops Rhodes and sends him crashing into a cage. Rhodes responds by sending McIntyre crashing into a garage door, then jams a banana into McIntyre's head and sends him crashing into the garage door once again.
Rhodes and McIntyre brawl back out into the crowd, but McIntyre delivers a Russian Leg Sweep that sends Rhodes crashing into the side of the entrance tunnel. He drags a table into the entrance tunnel area, then gets Rhodes up in a powerbomb position. Rhodes hangs onto the railing of the stairs, then sends McIntyre crashing into the railing and the side of the entrance tunnel. He lays McIntyre on top of the table and ascends to the top of the entrance tunnel where the railing is, then delivers a Frog Splash to McIntyre off it and pins him.
McIntyre kicks out, but Rhodes drags him through the crowd and back into the ringside area. He grabs a chair and cracks it across Rhodes' spine, but Rhodes catches McIntyre with a kick to his face and clears the announce desk. He lays McIntyre on top of it and joins him up there, then connects with a Cross-Rhodes on McIntyre that sends them both crashing through the table before pinning McIntyre for the win.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Stage Three – Steel Cage Match
Rhodes drags McIntyre into the ring, and the steel cage lowers. Rhodes smiles evilly as he stands over McIntyre, then sends him crashing into two opposite sides of the cage. McIntyre then sends Rhodes crashing into one side of the cage and looks to escape through the door, but Rhodes catches McIntyre before he can and lands a vertical suplex on him. Rhodes looks to fly off the ropes, but McIntyre catches him with a pair of double knees on his midsection and looks to climb over the cage to the outside. Rhodes intercepts McIntyre at the top of the cage, but McIntyre fires off right hands on him and delivers a suplex to him off the top rope. He goes for a pin, but Rhodes kicks out.
McIntyre fires off right hands and a chop on Rhodes, but Rhodes responds with right hands of his own and sends Rhodes crashing into the mat. He fires off more right hands on Rhodes, but Rhodes delivers a boot to McIntyre's midsection and lands his signature slap on him. He charges at McIntyre in the corner, but McIntyre moves out of the way and Rhodes is sent crashing into the ring post. McIntyre then lands the Future Shock DDT on Rhodes and pins him, but Rhodes kicks out.
McIntyre rains down more right hands on Rhodes, then delivers a stomp to him and fires off another right hand on Rhodes. Rhodes catches McIntyre with a Cross-Rhodes and pins him, but McIntyre kicks out. Rhodes and McIntyre then continue exchanging more right hands with one another, but Rhodes delivers a scoop powerslam to McIntyre and goes for a pin.
McIntyre kicks out, but Rhodes catches him with a Cody Cutter off the ropes and goes for another pin. McIntyre kicks out, but Rhodes delivers two more Cross-Rhodes to McIntyre and looks to land a third one. McIntyre rakes Rhodes' eyes to escape, but Rhodes charges at McIntyre in the corner. McIntyre moves out of the way to send Rhodes crashing into the top turnbuckle, then connects with a Claymore Kick on Rhodes and pins him. Rhodes kicks out.
McIntyre looks to escape the cage and climbs to the top, but Rhodes meets him up there. The two men exchange right hands with one another, but Rhodes sends McIntyre crashing off it and delivers a Cody Cutter to him. He pins McIntyre once again, but McIntyre kicks out and Rhodes looks to escape the cage himself. McIntyre quickly intercepts Rhodes, but Rhodes fights him off and continues his climb up. McIntyre meets Rhodes on the top rope, and the pair send one another crashing into the side of the cage face first before they both fall into the top rope groin first.
McIntyre looks to crawl through the door, but a hooded figure appears and shoves the referee. They stare down McIntyre as they reveal themselves to be...Jacob Fatu!
In a panic, McIntyre looks to quickly climb the cage and escape. Fatu gets in the cage through the door and pulls McIntyre off the top rope, then fires off stomps on him. Rhodes looks to pull Fatu off McIntyre, but Fatu turns around and fires off shoulders on Rhodes' midsection in the corner. As he does so, McIntyre crawls through the door of the cage and hits the floor to escape and win the match.
Winner and NEW Undisputed WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre
— As McIntyre slithers away with his new belt, Rhodes attacks Fatu and wonders what just happened as we go to credits.
