Smackdown Review – 12.19.25

Time to catch up on all things WWE: SNME | Raw | NXT | Evolve | Impact

Smackdown comes to the airwaves this evening from The GIANT Arena in Hershey, PA. The television presenters of the show are Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett on match calls and analysis, Alicia Taylor on ring introductions, and Jackie Redmond and Byron Saxton on backstage interviews and breaking news segments. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Then, Now, Forever….TOGETHER

Highlights of SNME are shown. It’s interesting how much dialogue around the Cena-GUNTHER match has happened this week in various threads on this site and elsewhere. Tessitore and Barrett say the focus has now shifted to Cody Rhodes and his HOME INVASION of Drew McIntyre. Cody Rhodes is coming into the building, as are Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s.

Here’s Damien Priest heading to the ring for a chat to open the show. Priest mentions John Cena’s career ending and puts Cena over as the Greatest of all Time, and thanks Cena to a big chant from the crowd. Priest says that Zelina and Aleister Black got dropped last week by the Terror Twins. Here’s Zelina to call Priest a hypocrite who needed his Mami to fight his battles for him and Priest can’t stand the fact that Aleister Black broke Priest. Here’s Aleister Black to attack Priest from behind. They start throwing hands and Priest eats a big knee from Black. Priest catches Black and hits the South of Heaven chokeslam on Black on the apron. Priest yanks out a table over Zelina’s protestations and then gets waffled by Black with a steel chair. Priest fights that off briefly before getting run into a ring post. Black hits a spinning back elbow and then waffles Priest with a Meteora that sends Priest through the table.

Byron Saxton is backstage with the festively dressed duo of Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Saxton calls Legend’s victory over Alexa Bliss an “upset” which Jax immediately corrects. Jax says they’re coming for the Kabuki Warriors and want the titles. Saxton points out that Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky have the next shot, and Jax and Legend immediately rebut to say IT DOESN’T MATTER who the champs are because they are coming for them.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors make their way to the ring as we go to commercials.

Damien Priest is surrounded by a bunch of suits as he gingerly makes his way backstage. Aleister Black attacks again and runs Priest into a pile of equipment before picking up a snow shovel and walloping Priest with it. Black hits a Black Mass and Priest slumps into a garage door.

The Kabuki Warriors vs Lash Legend and Nia Jax

This is non-title, which kind of telegraphs the finish, but here we are. Sane and Legend start. Sane goes behind and climbs on Legend’s back but Legend shakes that off by running Sane into a corner. Legend misses a charge and Sane ascends. Legend catches Sane coming off the top rope but Sane slips off and tries to sunset flip Legend. Legend yanks Sane up but she twists that into a rana. Legend shakes that off and smashes Sane with a huge Euro uppercut. Jax tags in and she and Legend hit standing splashes on Legend in their corner. Jax misses an elbow drop and Asuka tags in. The Kabukis kick Jax down and Asuka covers for two. Asuka tries some kicks but Jax shakes it off by dropping Asuka back-first on the mat. Sane tags in and she and Asuka dropkick Jax to the floor before Asuka hits a butt-drop to send a charging Legend out to the floor as well. Sane hits an Insane Elbow on both Jax and Legend on the floor as we go to commercials.

Jax has her boot over Sane’s throat when the show returns. Legend tags in and starts throwing forearm bombs at Sane. Legend works a rear chinlock as Asuka tries to fire up the crowd. Jax tags in and smashes Asuka off the apron before she and Legend wander into a double DDT by Sane. Sane tags in Asuka who ascends and hits a double missile dropkick before waffling both Jax and Legend with kicks. Asuka hits some strikes and rolls Jax over into an armbar. Jax rises and misses a butt-drop. Asuka hits a running knee and Legend breaks the count up at two. Sane charges in and wallops Legend with a kick, but Legend recovers with a big right to Sane’s jaw. Asuka sends a charging Jax into a ring post. Legend cuts off Asuka’s momentum and powerbombs Jax out of the corner. Legend yanks Asuka out and sends her into the ring steps. Sane recovers and ascends but Jax catches her with a big chokeslam. Jax hits the Annihilator on Sane and covers her for three.

Yeah, when this was announced as non-title I knew immediately that Jax and Legend were winning, which makes sense storyline-wise. They used their power game to the utmost effects here and that will give the Warriors problems moving forward given the size and power advantage Legend and Jax have. It wasn’t a masterpiece but it definitely had it’s moments. It’s interesting that Asuka basically worked an underdog babyface formula here but overall this was basically what you would expect from a match like this. The post-match sets up some stuff as well. 2.5*

Winners – Lash Legend and Nia Jax (Annihilator on Sane)

Post-match sees Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss charge down to attack Legend and Jax. Bliss gets the better of Legend before Flair and Bliss send Jax to the floor. Jax yanks Legend out of the ring before any further destruction can happen. Charlotte and Alexa pose with the Warriors belts as Jax and Legend retreat.

Jackie Redmond is with Kiana James and Giulia. James allows Redmond to speak with Giulia who is resigned to having to take out Alba Fyre tonight so she can finally get to Chelsea Green for an actual defense of the Women’s US title. We go to commercials.

Tessitore and Barrett show the full Cody Rhodes home invasion angle that occurred at Drew McIntyre’s palatial estate. “Merry Christmas, asshole!” will never not be funny. Here’s Smackdown GM Nick Aldis with Byron Saxton, and Aldis is upset with Rhodes but because it occurred outside of WWE’s purview there’s not much he can do except talking to everyone. The Miz charges in to demand a match with He Who Shall Not Be Named, which Aldis grants for next week. R-Truth walks in to sing “I believe in Joe Pesci” at Miz who leaves in a huff.

Giulia and Kiana James make their way to the ring as we go to commercials.

Giulia vs Alba Fyre

WWE Women’s US Champion Chelsea Green seconds Fyre. Giulia charges and Fyre shakes her off only to run into a dropkick. Giulia starts clubbering in a corner and Fyre responds with a big slap to the chest. Giulia shrugs that off and goes back to work on Fyre in the corner while barking at Green. Giulia hits a back suplex and covers Fyre for two. Giulia goes to scream at Green and Fyre takes advantage from behind. Fyre hits a tornado DDT and covers Giulia for two. Giulia awkwardly dumps Fyre over a couple of times before missing a charge. Giulia slaps on an abdominal stretch before dropping some elbows. They reverse pin attempts before Giulia gets a quick two. Fyre fires up with a superkick and covers Giulia for two. Giulia hits a backslide for two before walloping Fyre with the Arrivederci knee. Giulia hits the Northern Lights Driver and covers Fyre for three.

Well, that was fairly emphatic. I’m not sure who was responsible for the botch in the middle but it looked like Fyre was expecting Giulia to have a bit more power through the hip toss. Anyway, this was a nothing-burger unless you really want to see what a quick squash looks like. 1.5*

Winner – Giulia (Northern Lights Driver)

Post-match sees Giulia threaten Green who stumbles back and falls over. James and Giulia look on amusedly. WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes is on his way to the ring as we go to commercials.

Uncle Howdy has some words for Solo Sikoa. Howdy says the truth lies beneath the surface and they’re about to enter a world filled with adversity and abandonment. Howdy says they will surrender to the Wyatts.

“Kingdom” hits to an immense pop and here’s Cody Rhodes coming down to the ring for some “top of the second hour” yap. Cody asks himself a bunch of questions about the Drew McIntyre attack all of which can be answered with “yes”. Cody mocks McIntyre’s “unsafe working environment” comments and asks if Staples might be safer for McIntyre. Here’s Nick Aldis to interrupt but also agree with Cody that the “unsafe” claim is a load of crap, but he’s also steamed at Rhodes for making him look like a liar by showing up at McIntyre’s house unannounced. Aldis says he can’t help Rhodes with actual law enforcement. Aldis also points out that if McIntyre lives up to his end of the deal Rhodes can’t touch him and if he does, Aldis will strip Rhodes of the title. Rhodes guarantees he won’t touch McIntyre but he’s got a question for Aldis about knowing who Rhodes actually is.. Rhodes runs down his history since returning to WWE and calls himself “QB1” as I cringe. Rhodes says as long as he has the title, he is the law. Rhodes says as long as he has the title he doesn’t work for Aldis, he works for the WWE UNIVERSE, while Aldis works for him. Rhodes exits and celebrates with the crowd.

Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes meet up backstage, and Dragunov thanks Hayes for assisting him last week. They are tagging tonight against DIY, and here’s FrAxiom to cheer them on. FrAxiom also want DIY and say that Hayes and Dragunov have jumped the line. They agree that they’ll have Hayes and Dragunov’s back, and Dragunov says that Ciampa is no longer just a jackass, he’s now Dragunov’s prey.

DIY with Candice LeRae make their way to the ring as we go to commercials.

WWE Men’s US Champion Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes vs DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa)

There’s a four-way scrum to start and Hayes and Dragunov get the better of it. Dragunov and Ciampa start in earnest and Dragunov works some chops in a corner. Ciampa shoots the half but Dragunov is able to tag in Hayes. Hayes hits Ciampa with a back elbow and a legdrop before covering and getting one. Dragunov tags in and he hits a tilt-a-whirl back suplex before ascending. LeRae springs up to distract the ref as Gargano pulls Dragunov to the apron. Ciampa hits a big running knee that sends Dragunov into the announce desk. DIY pose with LeRae as we go to commercials.

Back live with Ciampa and Dragunov slugging it out mid-ring. Dragunov wallops a charging Gargano with a Constantin Special before getting a tag to Hayes. Hayes runs wild on Gargano and hits La Mistica before covering Gargano for two. Hayes leaps out at Ciampa before a freshly tagged in Dragunov smashes Gargano with a senton that gets two. Hayes tags back in and DIY stop his momentum before Ciampa tags back in to hit Project Ciampa on Hayes. Dragunov breaks up the cover at two. Gargano runs Dragunov into a ring post on the floor as Ciampa runs into a Hayes superkick. LeRae yanks down Hayes and Ciampa waffles Hayes with a running knee. DIY hit the Fairytale Ending on Hayes and Gargano covers for two. Dragunov charges in to break up DIY’s double team knees and Hayes hits the First 48 on Ciampa before Dragunov follows with an H-Bomb. Hayes hits Nothing But Net on Ciampa and covers him for three.

It got chaotic at the end. There’s a lot of “activity” happening around this title and I’m guessing we’ll get another Open Challenge for next week’s show. Hayes and Dragunov looked good and cohesive for a one-off pairing, while Ciampa and Gargano do what they always do. This was fine, but nothing you need to go out of your way to see. 2.75*

Winners – Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes (Nothing But Net on Ciampa)

Jackie Redmond wants a word with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Bliss says the message they were trying to send was that Legend and Jax are in their way to getting back to their tag titles. WWE Women’s Undisputed Champion Jade Cargill wanders in as Flair and Bliss leave, and Redmond asks for comments about Cargill’s attack on Michin last week. Cargill says she was shocked to see Michin get back up after Cargill put her down last week. Cargill says she’ll give Michin some shine before putting her down for good next time. Michin flies in with her kendo stick to wallop Cargill in the arm before being chased off by Security and some suits. We go to commercials.

Tessitore and Barrett remind us that Smackdown moves to three hours in January as I die a little inside. They run down next week’s card highlighted by Joe Hendry vs The Miz and Drew McIntyre’s return.

Solo Sikoa says when it comes to his family he doesn’t play any games. Sikoa says the fireflies are here and they’re going to watch the MFT’s take the tag titles because he’s got the whole world in his hands. They make their way to ringside as we go to commercials.

WWE Men’s World Tag Team Championship: The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) (C) vs The MFT’s (JC Mateo and Tonga Loa)

The entire Wyatt clan are seconding Gacy and Lumis, while the rest of the MFT’s and Sikoa second Mateo and Loa. Luis starts with Loa and Lumis gains the advantage with a couple of rights. Lumis hits a side suplex and a legdrop before covering Loa for one. Gacy tags in and Loa drives him to the MFT corner where Mateo tags in. Mateo stomps away on Gacy and then wallops him with a right. Gacy hits a dropkick and Lumis tags in. They hit a double team clothesline on Mateo before Lumis hits a running senton for two. Mateo bails and Gacy tags in. Gacy waffles Loa off the apron and then heads out where he gets walloped by Loa with a clothesline. Mateo runs Lumis back-first into a ring post as we go to commercials.

Loa is working over Lumis and he hits a legdrop before covering Lumis for two. Loa puts Lumis in the MFT’s corner and starts smashing him with rights and forearms. Mateo tags in and he smashes Lumis with a rolling powerslam that gets two. Loa tags in as Nikki Cross charges to ringside. Loa yanks Lumis up and smashes him with a running powerslam that gets two. Loa eats a Lumis superkick and Mateo charges in to prevent the tag. Lumis superkicks Mateo and finally makes the tag to Gacy. Gacy runs wild on Mateo before smashing Loa off the apron. Gacy hits a Saito suplex and covers Mateo for two. Gacy misses a springboard move and Mateo yanks him up for a twisting back suplex that gets two. Gacy comes off the ropes with a huge lariat on Mateo then hits the same move on a charging Loa. Gacy hits a tope con hilo as Loa catches his boots full in the face. Lumis tags in and they hit their double team powerbomb on Mateo. Lumis ascends and hits a big splash but Loa breaks up the cover at two. Talla Tonga smashes Gacy down with a big boot and Erick Rowan charges in to start fighting Tonga. A Pier Six breaks out and the ref calls for the bell.

A whole lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. Somehow Joe Gacy was pretty over with the clearly burnt-out Hershey crowd, which was something. I actually have enjoyed Gacy and Lumis as a team, but the choice of Tonga Loa as one of the reps for the MFT’s left me puzzled. At any rate, yet another match you do not have to go out of your way to find unless you like no contest finishes with big goofy brawls afterwards. 2.5*

No contest – no winner

Post-match sees the fight continue and it ends with the MFT’s holding Gacy and Lumis as Talla Tonga comes off the top rope with a cross-body. Rowan sends Tonga to the floor with a lariat before Nikki Cross begs to be powerbombed by Rowan onto Tonga. Sikoa flies in to hit a Samoan Spike on Rowan, and then Uncle Howdy’s Sister Abigail attempt on Sikoa is broken up. The credits roll as the battle continues and we’re out.

When this show goes to three hours they are going to have a LOT of work to do to fill it out. I would assume the men’s tag division will get restarted fully at some point beyond this MFT’s-Wyatts feud, and clearly the women’s tag division will come into play as well. The singles titles need some freshening up beyond Dragunov’s endless open challenge matches. Tonight was really skippable, as it’s late December content leading up to whatever is coming during the start of Royal Rumble season. Thumbs leaning down tonight for a taped show with almost no crowd heat and somewhat pointless matches.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Y’all be cool.