Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include six-women tag action when Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, and Iyo Sky team up to face The Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax, and Lash Legend, WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill battling Michin, Damian Priest clashing with Aleister Black in an Ambulance Match, and Drew McIntyre reveals the stipulations for Three Stages of Hell Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship with Cody Rhodes. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Drew McIntyre Reveals stipulations for Three Stages of Hell Match with Cody Rhodes
- Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, and Iyo Sky vs. The Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax, and Lash Legend
- Jade Cargill vs. Michin
- Ambulance Match: Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black
WWE SmackDown Results:
As the show kicks off, The Miz grabs a mic and hijacks the opening.
The Miz has… Thoughts
Miz gets in the ring and says this show can’t go on until he airs his grievances. The crowd boos as Miz complains about not getting his last match with John Cena. The Miz goes on and on and notes that he tried to give the next generation the game, but they spat back in his face. Miz almost makes the mistake of saying Joe Hendry‘s name, but he stops himself and opts to refer to Hendry as “he who shall not be named.” The Miz notes that Hendry brought back an untrue nickname for Miz (tiny balls). Miz continues his rant by stating he is the only adult in the (locker) room in a sea of spoiled children.
Read More: Spoiler On Another NXT Star Set To Appear Tonight On WWE SmackDown
“Voices” blares through the PA system as the crowd loses its collective minds. The Viper, Randy Orton, saunters his way out on the stage and playfully accosts the Miz as he enters the ring. Miz hypes the crowd up and is ecstatic. Orton is back. Miz says they are the adults in the room, and they could be Miz-KO!. Orton drops Miz with an RKO. The crowd chants for Orton to do it again. Orton lifts Miz, tells him “happy new year,” and hits another RKO.
Grade: B
The Miz went a bit overboard here, but that’s what made this good. Miz is so, so hateable. This rant made it worse and turned an obvious RKO into a cathartic moment for everyone being tortured by Miz’s bloviation. Solid peace of business here, and hopefully it doesn’t lead to a feud here. Having Orton back on TV for this now three-hour mess called SmackDown, you can’t waste him in a feud with Miz. With respect.
Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, and IYO SKY vs. The Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax, and Lash Legend
Jax and Co. attack their opponents as soon as the bell rings. Ripley takes over. Bliss lands a dive off the apron. After the break, Flair takes over and lands a moonsault. Jax kicks out. Flair traps Asuka in the Figure Eight. Sane breaks it up with an InSANE Elbow. SKY gets the hot tag from Flair, and double missile dropkicks Sane and Asuka. After the next break, everyone lands a big move. Ripley plucks Sane out of the air and hits Riptide. SKY finishes Sane with the Over the Moonsault for the win.
Winners- Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, and Iyo Sky
Grade: C+
Solid TV match. This one was all over the place in the best way possible. The end of this match doesn’t bode well for Ripley and SKY on Monday Night. Standing tall before a title match usually means you are eating the pin when the match finally happens.
Kit Wilson vs….
Kit Wilson cuts a promo in the ring, cutting down the crowd. Wilson tells the crowd they are toxic. Wilson is interrupted by Zack Ryder’s music. The music switches, and it says Matt Cardona!
Kit Wilson vs. Matt Cardona
Wilson attacks Cardona as soon as the bell rings. In commentary, Michael Cole notes that Cardona is officially a part of SmackDown. Cardona gets the win after Radio Silence.
Winner- Matt Cardona
Grade: C+
Well, this was fun. This writer is weirdly a big fan of Pretty Deadly. Seeing Wilson in this role is interesting and could work. Zack Ryder err. Matt Cardona is officially back in WWE. It’s funny how everyone claims to have the inside scoop, but this wasn’t reported ANYWHERE. Whatever, this writer will just go back to his corner.
The Return of Sami Zayn!
Zayn talks about sitting and enjoying the show during John Cena’s final match with his son. Sami Zayn talks about his son asking him why he’s never been a world champion. Zayn declares that in 2026, he’s coming for the WWE Championship! Trick Williams‘ music hits, and the crowd chants, “Whoop that Trick!” in unison. My god. What a crowd response.
Trick Williams announces that he has finally arrived. Williams introduces himself to Zayn. Zayn looks annoyed as Williams explains that he’s Mike. Anyone, Tyson, Jordon, Jackson. Zayn tries to speak, but Williams cuts him off. Williams is here to be the world champion. It’s not going to take him 20 years to get the opportunities. Zayn says Williams’ problem is that he has yet to be humbled. He has no problem teaching Williams a lesson and what it means to be humbled. Zayn tosses his mic at Williams and walks away.
Grade: A
This was CINEMA. Williams looked and sounded like a billion dollars in there tonight. Mission accomplished.
Backstage, Trick Williams gets into an argument with Rey Fenix. GM Aldis books a match between the two for next week.
United States Championship Match: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Johnny Gargano w/Candice LeRae
Gargano tries a sneak attack, but Hayes fights him off. Both men trade big moves. Gargano manages an air raid crash off the top. Hayes won’t stay down. Gargano walks into a nasty first 48. Hayes blasts Gargano with Nothing but Net for the win.
Winner and STILL United States Champion, Carmelo Hayes!
Grade: B-
Good match. Not much to add here. Hayes has been on fire the past few weeks.
Cody Rhodes is tired of waiting and storms his way to the ring.
Impatience, in his Soul…
Rhodes asks the crowd what they want to talk about. Rhodes puts himself over as the champion. Drew McIntyre interrupts via the ‘Tron. McIntyre announces that the stipulations for the Three Stages of Hell match are:
- Standard wrestling match
- Falls count anywhere match
- Cage match
McIntyre tells Rhodes that he wanted to have this conversation in Rhodes’ bus, but Rhodes wasn’t there. Rhodes looks on with fire in his eyes. McIntyre says he looked through some of Rhodes’ personal items, gifts from Rhodes’ family. McIntyre holds up a photo of Rhodes and his father, Dusty. A laughing McIntyre makes a crack about Dusty “looking up” at his son and being dissapointed. They said it would be a cold day in hell before McIntyre was champion again. Well, someone tells Dusty he’s going to need a coat.
McIntyre tosses the photo and shatters it. Rhodes darts out of the ring after McIntyre backstage. Referees and security hold Rhodes back. McIntyre is in the ring with a trash can. Rhodes runs back to the ring, flanked by security. Security catches up with Rhodes and holds him back. McIntyre tells Rhodes Happy New Year and sets the photo of Rhodes and Dusty on fire. Rhodes is going nuts outside the ring.
Grade: B
Great segment. This writer had no idea how they could possibly up the interest on this one any further, but they found a way. McIntyre just has a way about him when it comes to making inanimate objects important in wrestling feuds.
Women’s United States Championship Match: Chelsea Green (c) w/Alba Fyre vs. Giulia w/Kiana James
Giulia is all over Green. Green is sent flying out of the ring after a running boot from Giulia. James tries to get involved, but Fyre cuts James off. Green goes up top. Giulia cuts Green off and hits a butterfly suplex off the top. Giulia rolls through and hits a Northern Lights Bomb for the win!
Winner and NEW Women’s United States Champion, Giulia!
Grade: B
Giulia looked like a killer out there tonight. More of this, please.
Ambulance Match: Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black
Black attacks Priest before the bell rings. Priest fires back and sends Black out of the ring. Black and Priest fight up the ramp. Priest hits Black with a stretcher. After the break, Priest and Black trade kicks. Priest avoids a Black Mass and lands a nasty lariat. Priest pounces Black over the commentary desk. Black sends Priest into the ring post. Black hits Priest with a chair. Black works over Priest. Priest chokeslams Black on the apron. After the break, Black tells Zelina to open the ambulance doors.
Zelina does, and Rhea Ripley pops out of the ambulance. Zelina runs away. Ripley crushes Zelina with a Riptide. Priest blinds Black with a fireball. The fight spills into the crowd. Priest sends Black into the ambulance’s windshield! Priest drags Black to the top of the ambulance. As the crowd cheers, Priest pushes Black off the ambulance through a few tables. Priest tosses Black into the ambulance and closes all the doors for the win.
Winner- Damian Priest
Grade: B-
If you like garbage matches, you’ll love this. Brutal isn’t the word to adequately describe this. This writer isn’t sure how the match wasn’t over after the fireball. That usually finishes matches. They did all the things in this match. The only thing it was missing was a ref bumb and a kendo stick.
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