WWE kicks off 2026 with their first blue brand show of the New Year, as WWE SmackDown is live this evening at 8/7c on the USA Network (North America) and Netflix (international) from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The show marks the first episode to return to the new weekly three-hour format.
On tap for tonight’s show is Jade Cargill vs. Michin in non-title action, Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre will reveal stipulations for their Three Stages of Hell title tilt, Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black in an Ambulance match, Chelsea Green vs. Giulia for the Women’s U.S. title, as well as Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane), Nia Jax & Lash Legend.
Featured below are complete WWE SmackDown results from Friday, January 2, 2026. The report was written by PWMania.com reporter Matt Boone (@MattBoone0709) as the show aired from 8-11pm EST. on the USA Network.
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS – JANUARY 2, 2026
“WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together.” kicks things off as always, and then we shoot inside the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, where Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcome us to the show and wish us a Happy New Year of 2026.
Randy Orton Returns, Lays Out The Miz
After a video package airs recapping the ongoing Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre rivalry, we shoot inside the arena live, where Cole and Graves look to continue opening the show, only to be interrupted by The Miz. The Miz is at ringside and grabs a microphone, while demanding the camera turn and show him.
He steps inside the squared circle with the mic-in-hand, and he’s not happy. He says he’s sick of hearing everyone saying “Happy New Year.” He wants to focus on the year of 2025. He’s got some grievances he wants to air. He begins ranting about not getting an opportunity for closure with John Cena during “The Last Time Is Now” tour.
The second thing is he did something rare in this business, he offered his guidance to all the young, up and coming superstars. But they were ungrateful and entitled. He says respect is not requested, it’s expected. Not just from the rookies but from everyone. Miz says he was passed over on a movie.
The fourth thing is not only did he who shall not be named and his good time buddies ruin his SmackDown, he brought back a nick name. A very untrue nick name. The fans chant tiny balls. He says this will not become a thing again, there is a silver lining. We are in 2026 and John Cena is gone.
Miz says there is a new face of WWE and unlike the city, he actually wins Championships. He says he is the most decorated WWE superstar and that means he is the face of WWE, he is the gateway for the company, he is the locker room leader and he is the adult in the room filled with spoiled little brats. Randy Orton’s music hits.
“The Viper” comes to the ring and Miz is smiling. The fans chant Randy and Miz tells the fans that Orton is back and to let him hear it. The fans chant RKO and Miz says not him. He tells Orton that it’s good to have him back and they fist bump. Miz says as he was saying, they are the adults in the room, they are the locker room leaders.
He says they are the gateways to the company and they could be Miz KO. Orton looks at Miz and the fans. Orton hits Miz with an RKO and he points his finger. Orton gets Miz up, tells him happy new year and hits him with an RKO. He climbs the top rope and his music hits. The entertaining opening segment wraps up there.
Backstage With Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes & Nick Aldis
We shoot backstage, where we see Randy Orton walking and approaching “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. Orton says out of respect, now that he is back, once Cody beats Drew McIntyre, he is coming for the title. Orton walks away and in comes Nick Aldis.
He tells Cody that Drew is there tonight and they both know that Drew will try to get under his skin but he cannot let that happen. If Cody touches him before their match in Berlin, he will forfeit the title. Cody tells him he doesn’t have to worry, that won’t happen.
Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax & Lash Legend
From there, we shoot backstage where we see The Kabuki Warriors duo of Asuka and Kairi Sane, when in comes Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Nia and Lash tell them that they will help them win tonight and after that, they can give them a title match.
Asuka says they will be happy to owe them a beating. On Monday, they will keep the titles and after that, they can face them anytime. Asuka walks away and Kairi Sane tells them they should be ready for the Kabuki Warriors and she walks away.
On that note, we return inside the arena where we see the ring entrances begin for the first team in our opening eight-woman tag-team contest. With that said, the team of Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss begin to make their way out to the ring.
The show heads into a quick pre-match commercial break on that note. When the show returns, we see the opposing four-woman team of The Kabuki Warriors, Jax and Legend make their respective ring walks. The eight women collide before the bell, and when the smoke clears, Asuka and Ripley kick things off for their respective teams.
After a couple of minutes of back-and-forth early action, the show shifts gears and settles into a mid-match commercial break as the action in our first match of the evening continues. When the show returns, we see Jax and Legend taking turns controlling and punishing Bliss, who is being isolated on their side of the ring.
From there, we see Alexa with a tornado DDT onto Nia. Flair is tagged in and she climbs the top rope. Flair with a cross body onto Nia and Lash Legend. Flair with chops to the chest onto both Nia and Lash. Flair with a kick to the face onto Nia followed by the Natural Selection. She climbs the top rope and she lands the moon sault.
She goes for the cover but Nia kicks out. Flair hits Asuka with a big boot. Flair grabs Nia but Nia throws her into the corner and Flair flips onto the ring apron. Flair with a big boot. She goes for a spear through the ropes but Flair falls onto the mat and Nia with a leg drop. She goes for the cover but Flair kicks out.
Asuka is tagged in and she goes for a right hand but Flair ducks. Flair goes for the cover but Asuka kicks out. Flair goes for the Figure Four but Sane climbs the top rope and she lands the Insane Elbow. Alexa gets in the ring but Sane throws her to the outside. IYO is tagged in and she snaps Sane’s arm onto the top rope.
IYO climbs the top rope and lands a drop kick onto Sane and Asuka. IYO goes to tag Rhea but Nia pulls Rhea to the outside and throws her into the barricade. Asuka with a kick onto IYO. Lash is tagged in. IYO gets on the ring apron and jumps towards Asuka but she ducks and Lash with a big boot. She goes for the cover but IYO kicks out.
On that note, we shift gears and head into another mid-match commercial break as the action continues. This time when the show returns, we see Asuka and IYO are n the ring. Asuka tags Sane into the ring and they double team IYO. Sane goes for an elbow but IYO moves and Sane elbows Asuka.
IYO goes for the tag, Asuka grabs IYO by the legs but IYO kicks her away. Rhea is tagged in and she hits Asuka and Sane with right hands. Rhea goes for the RipTide but in comes Nia who hits her with a big boot. All eight women get in the ring.
Sane jumps off the top rope but Rhea grabs her and she headbuts Sane. Rhea with the RipTide. IYO is tagged in and she climbs the top rope. IYO with the crowd-pleasing, picture-perfect moonsault. From there, she follows in with the cover and the 1-2-3 for the victory.
Winners: Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
Backstage With Nick Aldis & Jordynne Grace
Now we shoot backstage, where we see SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis with NXT’s Jordynne Grace. He tells her he wants her on SmackDown. In comes Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. She tells him that it’s too cold for her to go to the ring. Aldis tells her that she is interrupting.
Grace tells Aldis that her decision will be easy. Chelsea tells Aldis that emotionally, she cannot go to the ring and asks him if he has seen the ending of Stranger Things. Aldis tells her that she can be a fighting Champion or he can impeach her and strip her of the title. Chelsea storms out.
Matt Cardona vs. Kit Wilson
Inside the KeyBank Center we return, where we see Kit Wilson walk down to the ring. He says he is redefining masculinity. And he is in Buffalo, home of the most toxic sports fans in all of America. Zack Ryder’s music hits and out comes Matt Cardona. The crowd goes wild as a fired-up Cardona makes his way to the ring.
Once inside the squared circle and finished soaking up the crowd atmosphere in his WWE comeback appearance, the bell sounds to get this match officially off-and-running. Wilson with a running back elbow. Michael Cole says that Nick Aldis told him in his earpiece that Matt Cardona is now on SmackDown.
Wilson with right hands but Cardona with right hands followed by a flap jack. He clotheslines Wilson to the outside of the ring. He throws Wilson back into the ring and in the corner. Cardona climbs the second rope and hits Wilson with right hands but Wilson slides under him and trips him up. Wilson with elbow drops.
He goes for the cover but Cardona kicks out. Wilson places Cardona on the top rope but Cardona pushes him away. Cardona with a drop kick followed by a clothesline. Cardona with right hands and he gets Wilson in the corner. Cardona with a running kick to the face. Cardona with a double under-hook suplex.
He goes for the cover but Wilson kicks out. Cardona grabs Wilson but Wilson kicks him away. Wilson with the Turn-A-Kit. He goes for the cover but Cardona kicks out. Wilson runs towards Cardona but Cardona kicks him away. Cardona with the Rough Ryder for the 1-2-3.
Winner: Matt Cardona
Backstage With Damian Priest
Once again we shoot backstage, where we see Cathy Kelley with Damian Priest. He tells her that he has been going to war with Aleister for six months. He says enough is enough and one way or another, this ends tonight. He tells Black that for half a year, Black tried to change him and break him.
He is not his creator. The only thing Black has done is wake something up that even his crazy mind wouldn’t understand. He says he will stuff him in an ambulance and send him to the ER because tonight, Black is going to fade to black. That wraps up the brief backstage segment.
The Latest From The Wyatt Sicks
A video segment airs featuring the latest from The Wyatt Sicks. Uncle Howdy says that Solo mocks what he does not understand. He says his family is not made up of just them.
Their family is filled with fireflies around the world that will always remember. He tells Solo that it’s time for them to chop down their family tree at the root. He says when the dust settles, they will be the one’s.
Trick Williams Confronts Sami Zayn
Inside the arena we return, where we hear the upbeat familiar sounds of Sami Zayn’s catchy-ass entrance theme song.
Out he comes to the ring. He says he hasn’t been around the last couple of weeks, it feels good to be back. He says he got to do something recently that was pretty profound, he got to sit and enjoy the show like everyone.
He got to sit in the front row and watch John Cena’s last match with his son. Zayn says it hit him in a way that he didn’t expect. Zayn says they introduced Cena, the match starts and his son turns to him and asked him why they call Cena the last seen 17.
Zayn explains that it’s because Cena won the title 17 times and his son asks him how many times he won it. Zayn had to tell him zero and his son asked him why. Zayn says he didn’t really have an answer and he understands why it would be confusing for his son.
He says his son has watched him in the ring every week with Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, John Cena. They all have Championships. Zayn says he has brought Championships but his son does not understand why the Championship is missing. Zayn says he is not here to talk about it, he is here to do it.
He says 2026 is here and he is coming for the WWE Championship. Out comes Trick Williams. The fans chant Whoop that Trick. He introduces himself and says he has finally arrived. He says they have not been formally introduced. Some call him Tricky Two Times, some call him Whoop that but Zayn can call him Trick Willy.
He is what happens when you get Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson in the ring at the same time. He says Aldis called him and said he needs him on SmackDown. Aldis told him he wants someone that is tall, dark and handsome. Zayn begins to talk but Trick tells him he is not done talking.
Trick says he can take off his coat, his shades, his lemon pepper steppers and he is still 6 foot 5, 250 pounds and in other words, Trick Williams is a grown ass man. And that is what Aldis is trying to say. They need someone who can challenge for the Champion.
Trick tells him they are nothing alike, it won’t take him 20 years to get an opportunity. He is not someone that will almost get the job done like Zayn. They look at each other and Trick says he is done talking. Zayn says all this is right.
The problem is Trick has yet to be humbled. He asks Trick if he is the first guy to look good, be good, go through the ropes and say they will skip the line and be Champion. He is not the first person to get in his face. Zayn says he has no problem teaching Trick a lesson and teaching him a thing or two about what it means to be humbled.
Backstage With Carmelo Hayes, Ilja Dragunov & The Miz
Carmelo Hayes is backstage and in comes Ilja Dragunov. He wishes him a happy new year. Ilja says last week, he wanted to fight the best and the best version of the best. He says Hayes gave him that and while the outcome is not what he expected.
There are worst things in life than losing to him. But it wasn’t a last time. Ilja asks him if he plans on continuing the open challenge and Hayes tells him he will keep it going. And when they plan to run it back, he will keep the lights on for him.
Ilja walks away and Hayes sees Miz. He asks Miz what’s up. Hayes tells him that this would not have been possible without him and he thanks Miz for it. Miz says he has come to his senses. Hayes thanks him for finally leaving him alone because he has been better ever since.
Backstage With Rey Fenix, Trick Williams & Nick Aldis
From there, the show heads into another commercial break. When we return, we see Nick Aldis is backstage with Rey Fenix. In comes Trick Williams who tells Aldis that Zayn disrespected him.
Fenix says Trick needs to learn respect. Trick tells him that he is twice his size and Aldis breaks it up. Aldis makes a match for next week, Rey Fenix against Trick Williams.
WWE United States Championship (Open Challenge)
Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Johnny Gargano
Inside the arena we return, where Mr. Don’t Miss-himself makes his way out and heads to the ring for his first defense of his newly won WWE United States Championship in his first open challenge against Johnny Gargano, who has Candice LeRae at ringside with him.
As Hayes is getting in the ring, Gargano goes for a right hand but Hayes with a right hand and he throws Gargano to the outside of the ring. Gargano gets back in the ring and the bell rings, we are under way. Hayes with right hands and he slams Gargano into the corner.
Gargano with a right hand followed by a leg drop. Hayes runs towards Gargano but Gargano with a kick to the face. Gargano with chops to the chest. Gargano runs towards Hayes but Hayes slams him down and hits him with a knee. Gargano rolls to the outside and Hayes runs to the ropes but Gargano puts Candice in front of him.
Hayes stops, Gargano gets on the ring apron and he spears Hayes who falls to the outside of the ring. Gargano with a splash over the top rope. Per usual, we see this again in super slow-motion as the show shifts gears and heads into a mid-match commercial break as this title tilt continues.
