WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - January 16th, 2026
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New Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre returns to SmackDown
After his controversial win against Cody Rhodes in the Three Stages of Hell Match, Drew McIntyre returns to SmackDown as the new Undisputed WWE Champion.
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— We kick off this edition of SmackDown with clips of Randy Orton, The Miz, Damian Priest, Solo Sikoa & The MFTs (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo & Talla Tonga), Matt Cardona, Trick Williams, Ilja Dragunov, and Sami Zayn all arriving to SmackDown.
— Corey Graves and Joe Tessitore greet audiences at home before throwing it to a video recapping the Undisputed WWE Championship Three Stages of Hell Match between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes last Friday.
— Drew McIntyre makes his way to the ring in grand fashion, being played out by bagpipe performers.
McIntyre says he prayed to be Undisputed WWE Champion and it happened. He says he knows it's been a rough few years in the United Kingdom, but if anyone can bring together the United Kingdom, it's him. He tells everyone from Europe who's messaged him about his win "screw you", then questions where they were when he was fired from WWE. He says he would like to thank the only person who ever really believed he could become World Champion once again, and that's himself.
McIntyre says he needs to address one person: Cody Rhodes. He says he knows it cuts Rhodes like a knife every time he calls Rhodes former Undisputed WWE Champion, then says he knows Rhodes' team is trying to figure out a way to get a rematch. He reveals he had a clause added to their Undisputed WWE Championship Three Stages of Hell Match, and that's Rhodes being unable to challenge him for the title in a rematch.
Randy Orton's music hits, and he makes his way to the ring. McIntyre asks Orton if he's here to congratulate him, and Orton says McIntyre and the fans know that they don't like each other. He says he's not in the ring to congratulate McIntyre, then reminds McIntyre he's beaten him and will do so again. He tells Orton that he's here to RKO him.
Jacob Fatu's music hits and he makes his way out. Fatu lands a right hand on McIntyre and sends him crashing into the announce desk, but McIntyre sends Fatu crashing into the ring post face first. Fatu then chases McIntyre through the crowd. The Miz then sneaks up behind Orton and delivers a Skull Crushing Finale to him.
Saturday Night's Main Event Four-Way Qualifying Match: Randy Orton vs. The Miz
Back from the break, the bell has rung and The Miz lands a right hand on Orton's spine. He sends Orton crashing into the announce desk spine first, then dumps Orton back in the ring and delivers a stomp on him.
Orton fires off right hands on Miz, then runs him over with a clothesline and follows it up with a scoop powerslam. Orton then sends Miz crashing on top of the announce desk spine first three times and dumps him back in the ring before delivering a hanging DDT to Orton. The Miz intercepts Orton with a Skull Crushing Finale and pins him, but Orton kicks out and The Miz rolls him up. Orton kicks out and connects with an RKO on The Miz for the win.
Winner: Randy Orton
— We see Drew McIntyre running out of the arena. Ilja Dragunov stops him and tells him after he's beaten Sami Zayn tonight he's coming for McIntyre's belt. McIntyre says he doesn't care and tells Dragunov that if he is to win, he'll knock his teeth out if and when they face off.
— A video promo for The Wyatt Sicks plays. They talk about their lantern being stolen by Solo Sikoa and how powerful the lantern actually is.
— Backstage, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair talk. Bliss asks Flair if she was actually sick last because she was left on her own. Flair talks about Bliss having a title match without her. They talk about having each other's backs. Bliss leaves, Nia Jax and Lash Legend come in and tell Flair not to trust Bliss. Flair tells them she doesn't want unsolicited advice and leaves.
— Back at ringside, Giulia and Kiana James make their way to the ring. Bliss and Flair follow.
Giulia & Kiana James vs. Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair
Bliss and James begin the action. The bell rings and James delivers a suplex to Bliss. Flair tags in and wears down James, but Giulia and Bliss tag in and Giulia whips Bliss across the ring using her hair. She fires off stomps on her and jams her boot into Bliss' throat, then tags James back in.
James delivers an elbow to the back of Bliss' head, then whips her into the corner spine first and tags Giulia back in.
Back from the break, Flair tags in and runs over James with a pair of shoulder tackles. She fires off chops on both Giulia and James' chests, then ascends to the top rope and delivers a crossbody to James. James responds with a spinebuster to Flair, but Giulia tags in and pins Flair. Bliss breaks the fall, but Giulia rocks Flair with a forearm and lands a boot on her. Bliss tags back in and lands a Sister Abigail on James for the win.
Winners: Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair
— After the match, Nia Jax and Lash Legend appear and sends Flair crashing into the ring post shoulder first. Giulia stares down Jax, but James advises Giulia to back down and holds her back.
— Solo Sikoa and The MFTs reply back to the Wyatt Sicks via video promo.
— Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.
Rhodes says the energy between him and crowd feels a little different now that he doesn't have the Undisputed WWE Championship belt anymore, then addresses Drew McIntyre and says the reason he always started his promos by asking the fans "what do you want to talk about" because he thought of the fans as his teammates. He says he didn't see all the ways he could lose his Undisputed WWE Championship, then says Shawn Michaels, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and Hulk Hogan have in common winning two back-to-back Royal Rumbles like he has.
Rhodes says that in WWE, sometimes the best superpower one can have is believing in themselves. He says there was no better time to come out than a city that deserves a WrestleMania, then says while McIntyre had a no rematch clause in their Undisputed WWE Championship Three Stages of Hell Match, he's doing things the old fashioned way and declaring himself as the first entrant in the 2026 Men's Royal Rumble.
Rhodes brings up Jacob Fatu, then recalls watching Fatu come up in the professional wrestling business as a young veteran. He says Fatu knows what the word 'receipt' means, then says Fatu knows what 'receipt' means and puts Fatu on notice.
— Cathy Kelley talks to Matt Cardona backstage. Cardona says he goes way back with Drew McIntyre and that he's back to be at the top and to be the new WWE Champion.
— Trick Williams makes his way to the ring. Matt Cardona follows.
Trick Williams vs. Matt Cardona
The bell rings and Cardona sends Williams crashing into the corner of the ring spine first. He fires off right hands on Williams, but Williams catches Cardona with a bodyslam. Cardona responds with a dropkick and a flatliner to Williams, then lands a dropkick on him through the middle rope and flies off the apron with a dropkick to level him.
Back from the break, Williams levels Cardona with a leg lariat and goes for a pin. Cardona kicks out, but Williams rains down elbows on him and connects with a kick on his head. Cardona responds with a back suplex to Williams, then fires off a few elbows on him in the corner and lands a running knee on him.
Cardona sends Williams crashing into the mat with Rough Ryder and goes for a pin, but Williams kicks out and Cardona charges at him in the corner.
Williams moves out of the way and slips out of the ring, but Cardona dumps him back in the ring and looks to fly into the ring from the apron. Williams trips him using the top rope, but Cardona spikes Williams on the mat before Williams runs him over with a shoulder pounce. He follows it up with Trick Shot for the win.
Winner: Trick Williams
— Kit Wilson then makes his way to the ring, staring down Williams and Cardona on his way down. He blindsides Cardona from behind and celebrates with his hometown English crowd. Wilson then grabs a microphone and begins running his mouth about the insecure men in the crowd, but unbeknownst to him, Jacob Fatu has snuck up behind him and levels him with a superkick. He follows it up with a running senton and a moonsault off the top rope. Fatu then grabs a microphone and calls Cody Rhodes to the ring.
— Cathy Kelley talks to Damian Priest about his match tonight. Priest says the only issue is if this match isn't one on one because of The MFTs. He says he can take them all on and he needs to get to Drew McIntyre and tonight it's whatever it takes.
— We come back from a commercial break and Kit Wilson is still in the ring. He says he is the solution to the problem and we all need him. Jacob Fatu enters the ring behind him as he gyrates. Wilson turns around and gets superkicked. Fatu sentons onto Wilson and then moonsaults onto him. Wilson rolls out of the ring and Fatu gets on the mic. Fatu calls out Cody Rhodes and tells him to bring his punk ass out right now. Rhodes' comes out to the ring and he and Fatu start fighting. Officials run out to separate the two. Nick Aldis is in the ring two trying to keep them separate and we cut to a break.
— Back from the break, MFT makes their way to the ring, with Solo Sikoa bringing The Wyatt Sicks' lantern down with him. Damian Priest follows.
Saturday Night's Main Event Four-Way Qualifying Match: Solo Sikoa (w/The MFTs) vs. Damian Priest
The bell rings and the two lock up. Priest levels Sikoa and looks to attack him on the outside, but MFT blocks his path and the pair get back inside the ring.
Back from the break, Sikoa delivers a Hip Attack to Priest. Priest levels Sikoa with a leg lariat, and the two men exchange right hands with one another before Priest connects with a Mongolian Chop on Sikoa. He follows it up with a pair of roundhouse kicks to Sikoa's head, then lands an elbow on Sikoa in the corner and follows it up with an elevated flatliner. He goes for a pin, but Sikoa kicks out.
Priest ascends to the top rope, but Talla Tonga trips him. The referee catches Talla and ejects him from ringside, but Tama Tonga distracts the referee. Tonga Loa hops up on the apron and clocks Priest, opening the door for Sikoa to deliver Spinning Solo to him and follow it up with a Frog Splash.
Sikoa pins Priest, but Priest kicks out. Sikoa then calls for the Samoan Spike, but the lights go out and when they come back on, The Wyatt Sicks are standing behind MFT in the ringside area. The Wyatt Sicks then begin brawling with MFT through the crowd, with Uncle Howdy looking to take back his lantern. Sikoa runs over Howdy from behind and takes the lantern, opening the door for Priest to deliver South of Heaven to Sikoa for the win.
Winner: Damian Priest
— After the match, Howdy slides into the ring and grabs his lantern. Talla Tonga runs over him with a boot, then picks up the lantern himself and hands it over to Sikoa as he helps Sikoa out of the ring.
— Drew McIntyre approaches Sami Zayn backstage and reminds Zayn that he said he didn't McIntyre to be champion. Zayn says he's now happy McIntyre won because he'll face McIntyre at Royal Rumble. McIntyre reminds Zayn he's beaten him eleven times so if Zayn makes it to the Rumble to face him it'll be no different.
— Back at ringside, Carmelo Hayes makes his way out. TNA Wrestling star Leon Slater follows, answering the call for Hayes' US Open Challenge.
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United States Open Challenge for the United States Championship: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Leon Slater
The bell rings and the two lock up. Hayes whips Slater into the corner and rolls him up, but Slater reverses the fall and lands a crossbody on Hayes off the top rope. The two men then stare one another down.
Back from the break, Hayes delivers a springboard Spanish Fly to Slater. He sets up for a Codebreaker on Slater, but Slater avoids it and looks to cinch in a Boston Crab on Hayes. Hayes avoids it, but Slater gets Hayes up on his shoulders. Hayes escapes and rolls up Slater, but Slater reverses the fall and the pair take turns pinning one another.
Slater flies over the top rope and the ring post to take out Hayes on the outside, then ascends to the top and looks to land a Swanton Bomb-450 Splash combination on Hayes. Hayes rolls out of the way and delivers a codebreaker to Slater, then delivers a twisting cutter to Slater off the top rope for the win.
Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Carmelo Hayes
— Backstage, Shinsuke Nakamura watches the match from the back. Tama Tonga comes up to him and tells him he had his chance and that the US Championship is his. He tells Nakamura to stay out of his way. Nakamura responds in Japanese and Tonga looks stressed.
— Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano walk backstage with Axiom's mask. Axiom asks for his mask back, LeRae runs away with the mask. Nathan Frazer runs in wearing another mask and beats up Gargano and tells him they have a match next week.
— Back at ringside, Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre make their way to the ring. Jordynne Grace follows, and Jade Cargill joins the announce desk.
Jordynne Grace vs. Chelsea Green (w/ Alba Fyre)
The bell rings and Grace sends Green crashing into the mat. Green delivers a pair of open palm strikes to Grace, but Grace responds with a delayed vertical suplex to Green and goes for a pin. Green kicks out, then sends Grace crashing into the top turnbuckle face first.
Fyre takes a cheap shot at Grace from the outside, and Green takes advantage by pinning Grace. Grace quickly kicks out, then sends Green repeatedly crashing into the top turnbuckle face first and levels her with a pair of clotheslines. She follows it up with a Death Valley Driver to Green for the win.
Winner: Jordynne Grace
— After the match, Grace grabs a microphone and addresses Jade Cargill. She says if Cargill is done babysitting her WWE Women's Championship, she should step into the ring with her right now. Cargill hops up on the apron, but Green looks to blindside Grace. Green accidentally hits Cargill when Grace moves out of the way, and Grace ends up standing tall holding up the WWE Women's Championship belt.
— Backstage, Cathy Kelley talks to Trick Williams. Williams says he's putting all of SmackDown on notice and says he's that dog. Williams gives a shout out to Randy Orton and Damian Priest for advancing. Damian Priest comes by and tells Williams to shut up. Priest suggests they battle the night before Saturday Night's Main Event.
— Ilja Dragunov makes his way to the ring. Sami Zayn follows.
Saturday Night's Main Event Four-Way Qualifying Match: Ilja Dragunov vs. Sami Zayn
The bell rings and the two men exchange right hands with one another. Dragunov levels Zayn with a jumping knee, then lands a second knee on him off the middle rope. Zayn fires off chops on Dragunov's chest, but Dragunov responds with a series of German suplexes to Zayn. Zayn responds with a superplex to Dragunov off the top rope, but Dragunov rains down Hammer and Anvil elbows on Zayn.
Zayn fires off stomps on Dragunov's face, then rains down right hands on him and ascends to the top rope. Dragunov meets Zayn on the ropes, but Zayn delivers a Sunset Flip to Dragunov. Dragunov responds with a Constantine Special to Zayn and ascends to the top rope, then lands a dropkick on Zayn and pins him once again. Zayn kicks out.
Dragunov lands a powerbomb on Zayn, then looks to land a senton on Zayn off the top rope. Zayn moves out of the way and delivers a Helluva Kick to Dragunov for the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn
— After the match, Trick Williams appears and blindsides Zayn from behind. He lands the Trick Shot knee on Zayn and stands tall over him as the show goes off the air.
