Smackdown Review – 12.26.25

Let’s catch up on WWE, shall we: Raw | NXT | Impact

Smackdown comes to the airwaves this evening after being recorded on 19 December from The Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI. The television presenters of the show are Michael Cole and Corey Graves on match calls and analysis, Mark Nash on ring introductions, and Cathy Kelley and Byron Saxton on backstage interviews and breaking news segments. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Then, Now, Forever…TOGETHER

Here’s a look at the Cody Rhodes-Drew McIntyre feud as it stands leading up to this show. Here’s WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes being reminded by Smackdown GM Nick Aldis that McIntyre has signed the contract, and once he shows up and apologizes, Rhodes cannot touch him. Here’s The Miz to confront Aldis after Rhodes leaves. Miz doesn’t want Aldis to play a certain someone’s music, so Aldis dons a Santa hat and name-drops Joe Hendry who immediately appears in the ring with his guitar and a bunch of Santas as backups, including Tozawa, Otis, and someone dressed as The Easter Bunny. Hendry sings a song to the tune of “Jingle Bells” describing the size of Miz’s balls. Here’s Miz to interrupt, but Hendry says that he knows the reason Miz is upset is because they started without him. We get another chorus of “Miz has tiny balls” and Miz puts his hand up to indicate that he wants silence. Miz says he’s spent 20 years outliving legends, and now that John Cena is gone, Miz has earned the right to be the “locker room leader” while taking WWE into the future. Miz wants Hendry right now, and here’s Aldis to say the match will be a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. We go to commercials.

Miracle on 34th Street Fight: The Miz vs Joe Hendry

Hendry slips some leg scissors but Miz starts clubbering away before getting trucked by Hendry. Hendry hits a vertical suplex after holding Miz up for ten seconds or so, and Miz bails to the floor. Hendry grabs a present at ringside and it contains a guitar, while Miz finds a ukulele and a set of very tiny ornaments. Hendry hip-tosses Miz into a Christmas tree at ringside, and then goes under the ring to find a SLIM JIM table. Hendry sets up the table in the ring and Miz sneaks in for a quick roll up that gets two. Hendry pulls the top rope down and Miz tumbles to the floor. Hendry goes outside and hangs out with the motley crew assembled there while an irate Miz drops elbows on a present. We go to commercials.

Hendry pops Miz with some rights and smashes him with a lariat. Otis and Tozawa hand Hendry a Christmas tree which he uses as a battering ram on Miz. Hendry hits a fall-away slam and nips up, and then fires the tree at the Miz in a fall-away slam type throw. Hendry tosses Miz to the floor again and Miz kicks Tozawa’s cookie sheet and Tozawa in a fit of pique. Hendry comes out and manages to crotch Miz with a giant candy cane. Hendry tosses Miz back in and is followed by Otis, the Easter Bunny, and Tozawa. They surround Miz and Hendry hits Miz with another fall-away slam. Otis does the worm, eats a cookie, and smashes Miz with a splash. Tozawa hits a senton, and the Easter Bunny is of course R-Truth. Truth hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle and Hendry smashes Miz with the guitar. Hendry hits the Standing Ovation chokeslam on Miz through the table, and covers for three.

I’m not rating this, so please file your complaints with anyone you think might care about that. I love Hendry, don’t get me wrong, but this was a comedy sketch designed as a wrestling match. The crowd predictably ate it up because CONTENT IS KING but if this is the future for Tozawa, Otis, and Truth, I feel kind of bad for them to be honest. Hopefully Hendry will be less comedic and more intense in the future, because hey, he has it in him.

Winner – Joe Hendry (Standing Ovation through a table)

Post-match sees Hendry, Truth, Tozawa, and Otis celebrate with the crowd as Cole gushes over Hendry. Also, I think this means Miz went the entirety of 2025 without winning a singles match on television. That’s how you know a guy is over, because he still gets the nostalgia pops of being Someone The Crowd Knows.

Backstage here’s Carmelo Hayes chatting with FrAxiom. WWE Men’s US Champion Ilja Dragunov approaches and asks Frazer and Axiom if he can have a word with Hayes, so they leave. Dragunov loved tagging with Hayes, but he’s still bothered by the way the US title match they had went down with Tommaso Ciampa’s interference. Dragunov has turned off the Open Challenge for tonight and wants Hayes tonight for the title. Hayes tells Dragunov he won’t miss, and Dragunov tells him to get ready.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss are shown in the back deciding which of them is naughty and which is nice. Lash Legend and Nia Jax arrive wearing festive antlers, as Legend will take on Flair tonight. Here’s Drew McIntyre arriving and he’s confronted by Cathy Kelley. Kelley asks for any insight on what stipulation McIntyre might choose, and he promises by the end of the night he’ll give everyone the answers they want. McIntyre wants a quick nap for now, though. We go to commercials.

Here’s Aleister Black to chat about Damien Priest, who he calls a “talented man”. Black says Priest got to the pinnacle of the industry and then gave it all away. Zelina says all the people that Priest put his time into have taken from him and never given back. They talk about stripping Priest down over six months and now Priest answers to them. Black says it ends when he says so and there will be no second chances. Byron Saxton is backstage and announces that Black and Priest will once again face off on Smackdown next week. Saxton introduces WWE Women’s Undisputed Champion Jade Cargill and she says she’s going to stomp a hole in Michin’s chest to end it. Cargill says she doesn’t need a weapon because she is the weapon. Michin and B-Fab have a quick chat and Michin says Cargill thinking that they’re scared of her gives them an advantage. Michin says Cargill needs to get humbled and class will be in session next week.

Lash Legend and Nia Jax make their entrance as we go to commercials.

Lash Legend vs Charlotte Flair

Flair is seconded by Alexa Bliss. They exchange wrist-locks to start and Legend lifts a knee to gain control. Legend hits a body slam and then rams a knee into Flair’s gut. Legend waffles Flair with a lariat and then starts running her into top turnbuckles face-first. Legend trucks Flair with an uppercut and covers for one. Flair slips a charge and hits a high kick to Legend’s head. Flair runs into a Legend pop-up powerbomb as we go to commercials.

Legend smashes Flair’s head between the second and top ropes as Jax applauds in approval. Legend covers and gets two. Legend works an inverted rear chin-lock and Flair fires up with some forearms to escape. Flair goes to the apron and hits a big boot before ascending. Flair hits a cross-body and starts chopping away once Legend rises back to her feet. Legend smashes Flair down with a big boot and Flair kicks out at two after Legend covers. Flair gets a sunset flip and covers Legend for two. Legend smashes Flair down again and then puts Flair into the Lash Extension position. Flair counters into a DDT and then ascends again. Flair hits a moonsault and covers for two. Flair drops a knee on Legend’s knee and Jax climbs up to distract. Bliss comes flying over to land on Jax’s back as Flair hits a quick sunset flip to get the three count.

This was just okay, as Legend worked stiffly and slowly, while Flair bumped around for her. I figured the Flair-Bliss team were due for a win after Legend waffled Bliss a few weeks back, and this was it. Anyway, nothing major you have to seek out here. 2.25*

Winner – Charlotte Flair (sunset flip roll-up)

Nick Aldis is backstage with Trick Williams who wants to talk business. Williams says Raw is throwing a big bag at him, and wants to know if Aldis will match it. Cody Rhodes comes in and Williams leaves. Rhodes wants to know if McIntyre has made his apology yet, and Aldis tells Rhodes to control his emotions. Trick comes back into frame and tells Rhodes to hold on to that title after running down his list of accomplishments.

Ilja Dragunov makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

Here’s Solo Sikoa with the MFT’s to chat about Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks. Sikoa says he created a family and Howdy knows nothing about that. Sikoa says the fireflies are fading away and the lantern is burning low. Sikoa says it’s not Howdy’s world anymore.

WWE Men’s US Championship: Ilja Dragunov (C) vs Carmelo Hayes

They start slugging it out to start and Dragunov bullies Hayes in a corner. Hayes returns the favor but runs into a chop and some Dragunov knee lifts. Dragunov hits an enziguri and a couple of Germans. Dragunov grabs a waist-lock and then starts dropping elbows. Dragunov hits a half-and-half suplex and then goes to smash Hayes with a big boot that sends Hayes to the floor. We go to commercials.

Dragunov is working Hayes over in a corner with chops and head kicks. Hayes prevents a kick and goes to his own set of chops and slaps. Dragunov and Hayes crash into each other and Hayes hits a facebreaker off of his knee and follows with a lariat. Hayes hits a springboard clothesline but Dragunov dumps him out of a tilt-a-whirl move and waffles Hayes with a running knee. Dragunov’s cover gets two. Dragunov ascends and misses a senton. Hayes hits a helicopter face-buster and covers Dragunov for two. Hayes puts the boot to Dragunov and then starts chopping away. Hayes fires off some forearms and Dragunov fires up with some chops and a high boot. Dragunov runs into a Hayes flying roundhouse kick and Hayes follows with a springboard DDT that gets a long two. Hayes gets caught after ascending and Dragunov wallops him with the Constantin Special. Dragunov hits a senton and Hayes kicks out at two to Dragunov’s utter shock. We go to commercials.

They’re slugging it out when the show returns, and Dragunov fires up while exposing his knee. They smash each other with fists and kicks. Hayes wants the First 48 but Dragunov catches him and mounts Hayes on a top turnbuckle. Hayes waffles Dragunov with a headbutt but when he launches off the top Dragunov nails him with an enziguri in mid-air. Both guys are down as we reset. Hayes ends up on the apron and Dragunov hits a superplex. Dragunov misses an H-Bomb but follows with a stomp to Hayes face. Dragunov hits a side slam and covers Hayes for two. Dragunov chops away in a corner and Hayes turns the superplex attempt into a cutter. Hayes covers and gets two. Dragunov comes up bleeding as he did hit face-first on the cutter. They go to the apron and Hayes elbows his way out of being hoisted. They start slugging it out and Dragunov manages to hoist Hayes for a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Dragunov ascends and Hayes hits him with the First 48. Hayes ascends and hits Nothing But Net and covers Dragunov for three!

Damn. I’ve seen some really great matches this week and this ranks right up there with the best of them. These two have incredible chemistry and it showed through once again with this match. Hayes finally showed the kind of resiliency that I’d seen him have during his NXT run, and this is his first main roster title win. Dragunov has had a really good third and fourth quarter of 2025 and I don’t think this loss diminishes that at all. It will be interesting to see where these two go from here but this was a HELL of a battle. 4.25*

Winner AND NEW WWE Men’s US Champion – Carmelo Hayes (Nothing But Net)

Post-match sees Dragunov present the belt to Hayes and then raise his hand. Hayes gets a hell of a pop from the crowd as he poses with the belt in a corner. The pyro goes off as Hayes hugs the title.

Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair are chatting backstage and here’s Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky to remind them that they have the next shot at the Kabuki Warriors. Here’s Nia Jax and Lash Legend to yell about things, and then the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors show up to yell. Aldis makes an eight person tag for next week’s Smackdown so they can work out all of this agression.

WWE Women’s US Champion Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre make their entrance as we go to commercials.

Cathy Kelley is backstage with Carmelo Hayes who thanks Dragunov for elevating the championship and reminding Hayes who he is. Here’s Johnny Gargano running in to smash Hayes while promising to take the title.

Kiana James and Giulia vs WWE Women’s US Champion Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre

Green and James start and Green slaps James and rolls her up for two. James responds with her own roll up that gets two. James grabs a wristlock and tags in Giulia, so Green sprints away and tags in Fyre. Giulia only wants Green so she tags James back in. Fyre hits an elbow but James shakes it off and runs Fyre into a corner. James eats a Fyre superkick and a tornado DDT before Fyre covers and gets two. Green tags in and smashes James face-first into the mat before covering and getting two. Green works a rear chinlock but James fights out of it with a knee lift. Green sends James to the floor and salutes the crowd. Giulia tags in and tosses Green down by her hair before smashing Fyre off the apron with a right. Giulia hits a running knee and a snap suplex on Green before ascending. Giulia hits a missile dropkick and then dumps a charging Fyre to the floor. Giulia hits the Northern Lights Bomb and covers Green for three.

Just a quick sprint to get Giulia in the frame for another title defense from Green. Everyone worked hard but it was over very quickly. 1.5*

Winners – Giulia and Kiana James (Giulia Northern Lights Bomb on Green)

Kit Wilson is in Nick Aldis’s office complaining about toxic masculinity. Aldis says he’ll have something for Wilson on next week’s show. Wilson leaves and Cody Rhodes comes in to ask Dan Engler if he’s been apologized to yet. Drew McIntyre’s music hits and Aldis tells Rhodes to control his emotions because Aldis will handle things. McIntyre goes to the ring as we go to commercials.

Here’s a quick look at NXT Men’s Champion Oba Femi who Graves says will be a game-changer in WWE. Cole runs down the THREE HOUR Smackdown card for next week as it stands.

Nick Aldis is in the ring with ref Dan Engler and Drew McIntyre. Aldis says McIntyre and Rhodes have both been out of line, but says the whole thing went off the rails when McIntyre waffled Engler with a Claymore. McIntyre hands Aldis a check and says he’s genuinely sorry that he Claymore’d Engler in the face, and wants him to accept his humblest apology. Engler nods at Aldis. McIntyre says he knows Engler wanted to be a wrestler but he wasn’t good enough, and then mentions Engler’s wife Melissa who’d rather have a husband like McIntyre who can get it done in the ring. McIntyre mentions Engler’s children and calls him a corporate stooge and dares him to take a swing. Here’s Cody Rhodes stomping down to the ring and McIntyre immediately dares him to hit him. Rhodes takes off his suit jacket and McIntyre tells Rhodes he’s good at crying too, so maybe he should do that. McIntyre says he knows Rhodes is upset because he attacked Rhodes on his bus, and says he wishes his family had been there when he did it. McIntyre says he wishes Brandi was there so she could see “what a real daddy looks like”. McIntyre says they’re taking the match to Berlin, and it will be THREE STAGES OF HELL. Rhodes agrees verbally, and McIntyre says there’s one more thing. McIntyre says once he’s sent Cody to hell he should say hi to his dad for McIntyre. McIntyre hits a Claymore on Rhodes and grabs the title belt. McIntyre poses over Rhodes with the title and then dumps it on him as the credits roll and we’re out.

If you ever wanted to see what a one-match show looks like, you’ve got yourself a BINGO with this one. The Street Fight was pure wrestling nonsense, Legend-Flair was fine but kind of slow and plodding, and the women’s tag was a sprint to get Giulia firmly planted as a contender for Green’s US title. Dragunov-Hayes was the whole show in terms of entertainment, and that’s fine because it was VERY good. The show-closing angle was fine but since this show’s taping happened a week ago the news has been out for awhile about what the title match will be in Berlin. I hope a whole bunch of this stuff ends and ends soon because we’ve been treading water with Black-Priest and Green-Giulia and the women’s tag scene for a WHILE now and I’m over it. We go to three hours next week which is why you’re seeing Joe Hendry, Trick Williams, and graphics for Oba Femi. This show needs re-enforcements in a big way moving into the new year, and I guess they’re finally getting some. Anyway, thumbs in the middle because this show was saved in a big way by Hayes-Dragunov.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Enjoy your weekends and stay safe out there.