Smackdown Review – 01.23.26

The week in WWE: Raw | NXT | Evolve | Impact

Smackdown sets the stage for a big weekend of action in Montreal, Quebec and tonight’s show comes from the Bell Centre. The television presenters for tonight’s show include Michael Cole and Wade Barrett on match calls and analysis, Mark Nash on ring announcements, and Cathy Kelley on backstage interviews and breaking news segments. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Then, Now, Forever…TOGETHER

Here’s Cody Rhodes entering the arena, followed by Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, Lash Legend and Nia Jax, and WWE Women’s US Champion Giulia and Kiana James. WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Drew McIntyre has arrived, and here’s Solo Sikoa flanked by the MFT’s.

Sami Zayn makes his entrance to an enormous pop from his hometown crowd. Zayn basks in the crowd singing along with his entrance theme and the subsequent chanting of his name, followed by the “Ole, Ole” chant. Zayn goes back and forth between French and English, but says he feels like he’s got all the momentum in the world right now. Zayn mentions the four way match on SNME tomorrow night and here’s Trick Williams to interrupt. Trick says that he and Zayn are not on the same level and starts insulting Zayn by saying he knows how to get the job done in the four way. Trick mentions Zayn losing to Roman Reigns in Montreal the last time he had a shot at the title and says he’s on Smackdown with the goal of being WWE Champion. Zayn says Trick is right about looking great and being a future champion, before agreeing that he and Trick are not on the same level. Zayn says Trick is dealing with the best of the best. Zayn says it might take Trick five, ten, or fifteen years to reach his full potential and if Trick thinks he’s wrong, he’s welcome to try something right now. Trick declines owing to being in the main event against Damien Priest, and says he can handle things with Sami on SNME. Damien Priest‘s music hits, and he joins the gathering in the ring. Priest says that Trick has stepped to everyone with his words, but he ducked out of insulting Priest last week leading Priest to think that Trick is afraid of him. Priest says if Trick doesn’t want to say anything he can always do something. Trick says he’s not scared and does know what to say. Trick turns and wallops Zayn with the microphone, and then starts throwing hands with Priest. Zayn fires up and everyone starts fighting before Trick makes an escape. (Fifteen minutes of yap to open the show. Fantastic way to start. Oh, and we’re not done!) Here’s Cathy Kelley with Randall Orton who’s been watching all this unfold on a monitor. Orton says 2026 is the Year of the Viper, and his quest for the title starts tomorrow night at SNME. Orton says he’ll whip everyone tomorrow night and then hop on a plane for the Kingdom to whip Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble. Cole and Barrett sum things up and then run down the card for tonight’s show.

EARLIER TODAY WWE Men’s US Champion Carmelo Hayes ran into Ilja Dragunov backstage and offered him the shot for the ongoing US Championship Open Challenge (DEAR GOD WHY?) that will be happening tonight. Dragunov says he’s in bad shape physically, but he’ll go for it. The Miz joins the scene to mock Hayes and Dragunov’s new-found respect for each other. Miz quotes Home Alone by saying that Hayes is what the French call “les incompetents”. Hayes says Dragunov gave him more of an opportunity than Miz ever did. Back live in the arena, Hayes makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

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

For the record, this is the FOURTH time these two have met in this format in the last few months. Dragunov eats a series of chops but responds to drop Hayes with a German. Hayes fires off some elbows but gets walloped by a Dragunov chop. Dragunov grabs a waist-lock. They rise and run the ropes with each missing signature moves before they crash together with simultaneous lariats. We go to commercials.

Hayes is favoring a knee when the show returns and they start slugging it out mid-ring. Hayes fires off another back elbow and Dragunov goes to a different place to start waffling Hayes with chops. Dragunov puts the boots to Hayes and Hayes responds with his helicopter bulldog. Hayes covers and gets two. Dragunov ties Hayes up and starts dropping elbows, so Hayes starts firing back elbows in response. Dragunov hits the Constantin Special and covers for two. Dragunov ascends and escapes Hayes’s First 48 attempt before snatching him up for a powerbomb. Dragunov covers and gets two. We go to commercials.

Dragunov wallops a mounted Hayes with a slap when the show returns. Hayes tries for a cutter but Dragunov cuts it off and smashes Hayes in the chest. Dragunov dead-lifts Hayes off the apron and over the top rope for a superplex. They start fighting it out on the apron and Dragunov eats a Hayes superkick. Hayes hits a spinning cutter that sends Dragunov face-first to the apron. Hayes ascends slowly and Dragunov rises to start duking it out with Hayes. Dragunov puts Hayes on his shoulders and hits a Death Valley Driver into the bottom turnbuckle before covering and getting two. Dragunov ascends and here’s The Miz to dump Dragunov throat-first on the top rope. Hayes, who didn’t see this, hits the First 48 and covers Dragunov for three.

Two commercial breaks for that finish? I can see this show is going to test me thoroughly this evening. This was easily the worst of the matches between these two as it took forever to get into gear, and by the time it did, the finish came and flushed any good will that I was gaining for it right down the crapper. What a useless exercise this was and now, because of that finish, we’re clearly going to get more of this match up because when Miz did the same thing to Hayes, Dragunov immediately offered up a rematch to Hayes. NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE A FOREVER FEUD HUNTER, SHEESH. 2.5*

Winner AND STILL WWE Men’s US Champion – Carmelo Hayes (First 48)

Post-match sees Hayes finding out what happened and being wildly upset with the Miz, who powders out immediately.

Here’s some highlights of the current goings-on between Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu. Rhodes promo from last week’s show is highlighted, as is Fatu’s from later in the same show. The subsequent brawl lead to Fatu-Rhodes being booked for SNME. Cole has conducted a sit-down interview with Rhodes and we’ll see what happened during that interview NEXT. We go to commercials.

EARLIER TODAY Cole sat down with Rhodes and asked him about losing the title, but Rhodes wants to talk about regaining the title after potentially winning the Royal Rumble next week. Cole cuts him off and asks about Jacob Fatu, and Rhodes is interrupted by Fatu who storms in flanked by Smackdown GM Nick Aldis and some security goobers. Fatu says his main concern was Drew McIntyre and gaining revenge for McIntyre busting his mouth up. Fatu doesn’t care how Rhodes feels about it and didn’t expect Rhodes to get involved. Rhodes says Fatu acted without thinking and that’s what got him locked up and put in prison in the first place. Fatu rises and says if Rhodes wants to go there, they can go there. Fatu talks about his life and says he’s not complaining about the things that got him there. Rhodes rises and says that their match should be for the WWE title, but it’s Fatu’s fault that it isn’t. Fatu says McIntyre was mostly out of the cage when he arrived and was going to win regardless. Fatu says Rhodes thinks he’s like every other Samoan he’s gone against, but he’s nowhere near them in terms of being ready. Fatu says he’s definitely in control, and wants Rhodes to think about that. (Fatu came off great here, Cody came off like a shithead, which was probably what they were going for.) Back at the desk Cole mentions that Aldis had both Rhodes and Fatu leave the building after the confrontation so as not to jeopardize their match at SNME.

Here’s Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre running into Jordynne Grace backstage. Green says that Grace is a star and she wants to offer Grace a position in the Secret Hervice. Green has a match with Jade Cargill tonight, so Grace agrees to help out. Green and Fyre make their entrance followed by Grace as we go to commercials.

Roman Reigns has declared for the Royal Rumble. (I assume this will lead to the program for whatever he’s doing at Wrestlemania, but who knows. Reigns-Punk could be a delightful bit of business.) Smackdown will be in Riyadh next week as part of Rumble weekend.

WWE Women’s Undisputed Champion Jade Cargill vs Chelsea Green

This is non-title. Cargill and Grace have words, and this allows Green to hit a tope suicida on Cargill prior to the bell. Cargill shakes it off and yanks Green up before dropping her in a corner and clubbering away. Cargill whips Green across the ring and does some push-ups to celebrate. Cargill hits a backbreaker and a fall-away slam before nipping up. Cargill hits another fall-away slam that sends Green to the floor. Cargill runs Green back in and then turns to bark at Grace. Green has ascended and crushes Cargill with a missile dropkick. Green hits a Meteora on Cargill from behind and covers for two. Cargill misses a charge and Green tries to use the ropes in her cover but can only get two. Cargill hits a powerbomb on Green and then sends Fyre to the floor with a big boot. Cargill tells Grace to “watch this” and wallops Green with Jaded. The subsequent cover gets three.

They don’t have anything creatively for Chelsea Green right now other than getting beaten up by higher profile talents. I feel like she’s fallen into the Baron Corbin Vortex where she’s happy to do whatever they ask with a smile on her face but she could be doing so much more. This show now has all the time in the world to mix things up but I feel like it’s still in a major funk creatively. I’m happy to hear arguments to the contrary though. Not much to this, so not many stars in response. 1.25*

Winner – Jade Cargill (Jaded)

Post-match sees Grace grab a mic to let Cargill know that she’s in the Royal Rumble and she’ll see Cargill on the other side. Grace says that since Cargill is already warmed up they could do it right now, but Cargill decides against that and leaves.

Alexa Bliss is joined by Charlotte Flair and Flair wants to make sure they’re stronger than ever. Flair points out that she won last year’s Rumble, but didn’t win at Wrestlemania. Bliss points out that if Flair had won at WM, their partnership would not have developed.

Solo Sikoa has THE LANTERN and he’s leading the MFT’s to the ring. Sikoa promises to win the Royal Rumble and says as long as he has THE LANTERN there’s nothing that we or “HE” (meaning the late Bray Wyatt) can do about it. The Wyatt Sicks make their entrance to “Shatter” as we go to commercials.

WWE Men’s Undisputed Tag Team Championship: The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) vs The MFT’s (Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga)

Talla Tonga is sent to the back with THE LANTERN prior to the match, and for some reason Tama Tonga is the only MFT with face paint tonight. I feel like these are vital things for you, dear reader, to be informed of. Gacy and Tonga start and Tonga takes the immediate advantage with a slam. Sikoa tags in and smashes Gacy around with elbows. Tonga tags in and Gacy has a short flurry before Lumis tags in. Lumis and Gacy hit some double team stuff before Tonga gets his footing. Lumis lands on his feet after a back body drop attempt and then goes into his all-fours pose. Tonga misses a charge and Lumis smashes him with a dropkick. Lumis hits a monkey flip and Sikoa charges in to get smashed around and to the floor. Lumis and Gacy take out Sikoa and Tonga on the floor as we go to commercials.

Sikoa is pounding away on Lumis when the show returns. Sikoa hits a hip attack but Lumis slips a second attempt at one. Lumis hits a Saito suplex and Gacy and Tonga get tagged in. Gacy fires away with rights and a big boot. Gacy hits a belly to back suplex on both Tonga and a charging Sikoa. Gacy hits a big clothesline on Tonga and tags in Lumis. Lumis and Gacy combine on a backdrop powerbomb and Lumis’s subsequent cover is broken up at two by Sikoa. Gacy dumps Sikoa but gets walloped with a right when he tries to follow up. Lumis hits a tope con hilo on Sikoa and then ascends. Mateo tries to interfere but Lumis kicks him away and hits a frog splash on Tonga that gets two. Erick Rowan charges over to start fighting with Mateo and Tonga Loa before mashing them with a double cross-body. Talla Tonga re-emerges with THE LANTERN and Rowan stalks over only to get dropped with a huge boot from Tonga. Tonga runs Rowan into the WWE UNIVERSE and then runs into a Mandible Claw from Uncle Howdy. Sikoa hits a Samoan Spike on Rowan and reclaims THE LANTERN. Sikoa smashes Lumis in the head with THE LANTERN as the ref was dealing with Tonga. Tonga hits the Cutthroat on Lumis and his cover gets three!

Another overbooked mess between these two teams, and who knows if this will be enough to end this interminable feud at this point? Like, for the love of GOD, you have MCMG, the Street Profits, and FrAxiom all doing basically nothing (other than this nonsense between John Wrestling and FrAxiom, which hey, is also not over and coming up later) but this is the hill these championships are dying on. No one gives two craps about THE LANTERN, I’m sorry. I like the MFT group in general but everyone really needs to move on and soon. I doubt it will happen, though. 2.5*

Winners AND NEW WWE Men’s Undisputed Tag Team Champions – The MFT’s (Tonga Cutthroat to Lumis)

Backstage Nick Aldis is greeted by R-Truth who wants in the Rumble. Here’s AJ Styles to interrupt and Aldis wants to know if Styles is sure about putting his career on the line at the Rumble. Styles says he’s not going to let GUNTHER decide when his time is up in WWE. Aldis brings in Shinsuke Nakamura who also questions Styles choice to face GUNTHER. Nakamura wants Styles to prove he’s still phenomenal by fighting him at SNME, and Aldis says there’s room on the card for it. I will call it right now that there will not be a finish in that match.

Nathan Frazer and Axiom make their entrance as we go to commercials.

Johnny Gargano vs Nathan Frazer

Gargano is seconded by Candice LeRae while Frazer is flanked by Axiom. I could attempt to explain how all of this has been going on for months now, but if I tell you that it started by Ilja Dragunov calling the departed Tommaso Ciampa a jackass and FrAxiom finding that hysterical, you’d have a good idea. At this point, Gargano has stolen one of Axiom’s masks so presumably he and Frazer will try to retrieve it this evening. I enjoy wrestling nonsense as much as the next person but this show drags everything out endlessly so they might still be fighting over this mask at Wrestlemania. Also, this match is probably going to go too fast for me to review everything so apologies in advance if I don’t catch every flippity dip that Frazer pulls off. Cole offers up thoughts to the family of Bobby Duncum Sr who passed away this week. Gargano grabs a wristlock and Frazer escapes and grabs an elbow lock. Gargano hits a back elbow and some rope running produces a Frazer dropkick that staggers Gargano. Frazer whips Gargano into a corner and then wallops him with an enziguri. Frazer ascends and Gargano catches him and drops him face-first onto the top turnbuckle. Gargano slams Frazer off the apron into the barricade as we go to commercials.

Frazer hits a springboard neckbreaker as the show returns. Frazer smashes Gargano with some rights and then hits a springboard sledge and some chops. Frazer hits a sling blade and ascends for a frog splash. Frazer’s cover gets two. Frazer hits a tope con hilo on Gargano and then rolls him back into the ring. Frazer ascends and misses a Phoenix Splash. They exchange kicks and Frazer eats it on a springboard attempt. Gargano hits a modified Fisherman’s Driver for two. Gargano ascends slowly and of course gets caught by Frazer who hits a superplex. Frazer hits a twisting neckbreaker and covers for two. Frazer positions Gargano and goes for another Phoenix Splash, but LeRae jumps up to distract. Gargano slips out of the way as Frazer eats it again. Axiom grabs his mask and puts it on LeRae, who blindly smashes Gargano with a right. Frazer pounces to roll up Gargano and get the three count.

We’re not exactly killing it with great finishes tonight, gang. This wasn’t as bouncy as I was expecting to be honest. Gargano is morphing into a comedy jobber right in front of our eyes, and I’m a little bummed about it. I guess it is his lot in life if he wants to stay on the roster, but he’s going to have to find something or someone moving forward because he’s slipping down the card rapidly with Ciampa now gone. Frazer never takes a breath or sells anything, so you get what you get with him. 2.75*

Winner – Nathan Frazer (roll up)

Post-match sees LeRae sneak in to reclaim the Axiom match before scampering away.

Backstage Cathy Kelley is with Lash Legend and Nia Jax, who don’t want to say what they think is going to happen tonight. Jax says that they’re going to win, go to the Rumble and eliminate everyone one by one. They hit some snaps in Kelley’s face and make an exit. Drew McIntyre is on his way to the ring as we go to commercials.

WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Drew McIntyre gets his full entrance and makes his way to the ring for a chat. McIntyre says “bonjour” to Montreal and says that’s the extent of his French. McIntyre gets some cheap heat on Les Habitants not winning the Stanley Cup in 30 years, but they can be proud of him. McIntyre mentions that he was NOT the one who kicked Jacob Fatu’s teeth out, but he’s very excited to watch them fight at SNME. McIntyre reminds Cody Rhodes that he’s got to go to the back of the line due to the no rematch clause in the Three Stages of Hell contract. McIntyre runs down the competitors in the four way number one contenders match tomorrow night and insults all of them as expected, saving “Canada’s own Sami Zayn” for last. McIntyre says he knows Zayn has a whole country behind him as the “Ole, Ole” chant starts up again. McIntyre says that Zayn always talks about winning the big one and disappointing his son since he hasn’t accomplished it yet, but McIntyre knows that the kid has been disappointed since birth. (ACTIVATE THE BURN UNIT!) McIntyre says it doesn’t matter who he faces at the Royal Rumble because they’ll need all the good luck they can find.

Trick Williams insults Rey Fenix and says he’s going to win the four way tomorrow night and then beat McIntyre at the Rumble, and then Fenix can get his title shot assuming Trick remembers his name. Fenix vows to make Trick remember his name. Highlights are shown of the aftermath of Trick defeating Matt Cardona last week, when Kit Wilson came down to confront Cardona only to get whooped by Jacob Fatu.

Cathy Kelley is with Kit Wilson who says that he’s there to clean up the toxic masculinity in the locker room. Matt Cardona wanders in and asks what Wilson’s problem is with him. Wilson puts over Cardona’s look but says he’s got no accountability and says he’s loaded with toxic masculinity. Cardona says let’s settle this in the ring and leaves, while Wilson continues to complain to a dumbfounded Kelley.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss make their entrance as we go to commercials.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Number One Contenders Match: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs WWE Women’s US Champion Giulia and Kiana James vs Lash Legend and Nia Jax

There was a three way women’s tag on NXT this week that drove me bonkers, so let’s see how I feel about this one. This match was set up on last week’s Smackdown in the aftermath of Bliss and Flair defeating Giulia and James followed by Jax and Legend attacking everyone. Flair and Bliss run wild at the start, and Flair ends up smashing Legend in a corner before shaking James off. Legend flies out to wallop Flair and then runs into James who drives Legend back into a corner. James hits a charge on Legend before getting smashed by Flair’s walkover lariat. Legend gets duped by Flair who then tags in Bliss. Bliss ascends and hits a cross-body on Legend, Jax, Giulia, and James as we go to commercials.

Jax is smashing Flair around before tagging in Legend when the show returns. Giulia is also legal and she gets dumped by Flair before eating a high boot. Legend wallops Flair with a right and a lariat. Flair goes to the apron and hits a high boot on a charging Legend. Flair ascends and hits a cross-body on Legend before covering and getting two as Giulia breaks it up with a dropkick. Giulia starts kicking away at Legend and Flair. Flair rises up and starts chopping Legend and a newly-tagged in James. James finally smashes Flair from behind. Legend and James hoist Flair up and Flair of course turns it into a double DDT. Flair goes to tag Bliss who gets yanked off the apron by Giulia. Flair wanders into a superkick from James who then turns into a lariat from Jax. Jax yanks up Flair and ascends but James flies over and powerbombs both of them before covering Flair for two. James bullies Flair around before getting trucked by Jax. Giulia and Bliss tag in and Bliss runs over Giulia before popping Jax with rights. Bliss gets a DDT on Jax and covers her for two. Giulia ascends and hits Jax with a missile dropkick. Legend flies in and pump kicks Bliss down. Legend’s cover is broken up by Giulia at two. Jax smashes Giulia down before James tags in. Legend flies in and hits the Lash Extension on Bliss but she gets smashed by a Flair spear before she can cover. James sneaks in and covers Bliss for three. Giulia and Kiana James are now the number one contenders for the women’s tag titles.

I would have guessed Legend and Jax winning here and clearly I was wrong. They can’t stop showcasing the Men’s US title but the Women’s one is a complete afterthought at this point. Anyway, this was a convoluted mess with only the barest attempts at keeping up with tag rules and zero psychology. Just spot after spot after spot especially in the second act. The competitors are all really good at what they do but I’m starting to tire of this division and these endless permutations of mini-feuds and super teams. I guess this would entertain some folks, I wasn’t one of them. 3*

Winners – Giulia/Kiana James (James sneaky pin on Bliss after a Lash Extension)

Here’s Sami Zayn running into Damien Priest backstage. Zayn says he has no problem with Priest despite the earlier confrontation. Priest doesn’t want Zayn to get involved in his match tonight and tells Zayn point blank to stay out of it. Zayn says “or what”, and Priest says “you know exactly what”. Zayn says Priest can’t tell him what to do, and then mentions he has something else to do. Zayn wanders further down the hall, and slaps the everloving shit out out a shocked Drew McIntyre. We go to commercials prior to the main event.

Cody Rhodes runs into AJ Styles backstage and tells him that he’s not there to question his decision to face GUNTHER, he just wants to wish him good luck. Rhodes trudges to his bus where there’s a picture of Drew McIntyre taped to the door window. Rhodes enters the bus without a word. Barrett and Cole run down the SNME card.

Cathy Kelley is with Giulia and Kiana James, and Giulia responds in Japanese when Kelley asks how they’re feeling. James says that they have a plan to make Giulia a triple champion when they win the tag titles and Giulia wins the Royal Rumble to go on and win a title at Wrestlemania. Sure.

Damien Priest makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

Trick Williams vs Damien Priest

They lock up to start and then push each other around on the break. Priest fights out of a headlock and puts on one of his own. Priest gets a roll up for one and then starts working Trick’s shoulder. Trick pops Priest with a right and then goes to work in a corner with more rights and chops. Priest fires up with some slaps but Trick cuts it off with a right. Trick hits a snap suplex and covers Priest for two. Trick hits a neckbreaker and gets two. Sami Zayn wanders out as Trick looks on. Priest takes command with some rights and then turns to yell at Zayn. Priest turns back to Trick and tries his rope walk but gets crotched by Trick and then sent to the floor. Trick slams Priest around and then turns to yell at Zayn as we go to commercials.

Both guys are down when the show returns. They start slugging it out after getting to their feet, and Priest takes control with some rights. Priest hits a facebreaker and then smashes Trick with a running elbow. Trick fires out of the corner with a leg lariat and covers Priest for two. Trick hoists Priest up but he slips off and runs into a Trick back elbow. Priest shakes it off and wallops Trick with some kicks and a right. Trick hits a high boot and then they waffle each other with simultaneous pump kicks. Priest runs into a uranage from Trick that gets two. Trick lowers his knee pad but misses his Trick Shot attempt. Priest hits reverse facebreaker that gets two. Trick bails to the floor and Priest goes out as well. Trick hoists a charging Priest onto the announce table and then runs him into Zayn. Trick slowly runs Priest back to ringside and starts clubbering away before running him back in. Zayn slides in and starts smashing Trick with rights and lefts and the ref calls for the bell.

What a terrible night for match finishes, my GOD. What the shit got into creative’s coffee this morning? This was going along fine until this crap ending, but I guess no one can eat a pin until SNME tomorrow night. We have to have a talk about how much Damien Priest has slipped at some point, but this paragraph is not going to be that place. Just know he’s not what he once was and I don’t know if it’s a combination of age and poor creative, but he’s not the guy AT ALL. Trick’s future is bright as of now, but he’s not winning tomorrow night and we’ll see where it goes from there. The finish just killed this match rating, sorry. 3*

No winner – match thrown out due to Zayn interference

Post-match sees Zayn and Priest going at it before Trick hits a Trick Shot on Priest. Trick’s music plays and he celebrates like he won, but here’s Randy Orton looming behind him to hit an RKO OUTTA NOWHERE. Orton ascends as “Voices” plays and he gets a huge ovation from the Montreal crowd. The match graphic for SNME comes up as Orton hits his pose. Orton has a quick chat with Zayn before dropping him with an RKO. The credits roll and we’re out.

Just a horrendous night creatively. The finishes were all terrible. The matches were just okay, and this show at this length has no excuse for “just okay”. You have time, you have talent, you can move pieces around and try new things. Instead of that, it’s Wyatts-MFT’s, it’s Gargano-FrAxiom, it’s this endless go-round with the women’s tag titles, and the circling Rhodes-Fatu-McIntyre thing in the background. It’s going to be a slog to WM on this show, I can just feel it. Thumbs leaning way down tonight, the finishes just ruined this whole show.

Thanks for reading and potentially commenting. Be safe if you’re in the path of this winter storm. I’ll be back with the SNME recap on Sunday morning.