Smackdown arrives early today in North America since it is being broadcast from Berlin, Germany. That’s the home of ONE of my World Cup teams. Canadian, with German and English background so I have the pick of the litter. Cannot wait until this spring then it’s…Auf geht’s Deutschland!
Our show starts off with Drew McIntyre arriving at the Uber Arena. He seems VERY happy for someone who is in the Three Stages of Hell match later tonight. Cody, the champion, enters next. For some reason. Drew is cheered and Cody is booed. Go figure. Carmelo Hayes is carrying the United States Championship and Giulia has her Women’s United States Championship. Alex Bliss is drinking coffee and texting someone.
I hear voices in my head
They counsel me
They understand
They talk to me
Randy Orton heads to the ring in his street clothes. His shirt announces: RKO Everybody. This dumbass has a few immature simpletons in mind, Randy, if you are politely offering. You can start with the restaurant who charged me for a food order, let me submit an online food order…when they were closed. Thanks. Happy New Year to you too.
Trick Williams comes out interrupting The Viper before he can say much of anything. Orton stands there with his arms crossed, sneering. The crowd boos Trick trying to drown him out with…
“RKO!” “RKO!”
“A new star has arrived and his name is Trick Williams!” says Willy reminding Randy it is not 2006 but 2026.
“The only thing that matters is 14 because that is the number of world titles I have won,” Randy fires back complimenting Trick calling him a star in the making. Randy questions Trick’s intelligence though for interrupting him.
Trick is just “brushing up” against greatness. “It isn’t the year of The Viper! It is the year of Trick Williams!” says Trick slapping the microphone out of Randy’s hand. Randy gives Trick two shots to the face, a draping DDT…then The Miz attacks Randy from behind. Trick rolls out of the ring.
Randy breaks out of the Skull Crushing Finale to RKO Miz. Man, Miz is just a clown now giving Art and Pennywise a run for their money.
Animo plays and out comes Rey Fenix. Randy claps him on the back as they pass each other.
Rey Fenix versus Trick Williams
Williams disrespects Fenix pulling on his mask, slapping him in the back of the head. Fenix almost pins Williams with a roll-up. Even Williams applauds him. Williams starts exerting his will with his strength. Fenix walks the ropes, nails Williams with a springboard missile drop kick off the ropes. Williams blasts Fenix with his spin kick and a two.
Let’s go, Fenix! Let’s go, Fenix!
Williams throws Fenix into the steel ring steps and does so again on the other side of the ring. Fenix makes a come back with his kicks and strikes. A pop-up uppercut puts a stop to that though. Fenix though bounces off the second rope, the top rope then fires Williams off the top rope with a hurricanrana. Williams puts up his knees as Fenix goes for the splash. Fenix kicks out of spinning 360 kick and a Bookend. Williams kicks out a reverse tornado DDT. Fenix screws up the Adios Amigo kick. Williams catches Fenix as he leaps off the ropes. Williams and Fenix trade roll-ups. Williams holding Fenix’s tights gives him the win.
Winner: Trick Williams
Byron Saxton chats with Giulia and Kiana James. Giulia says the Women’s United States Championship is back where it belongs. She says she is going to make an example of Alexa Bliss tonight then she shouts a lot in Japanese.
We see a replay of what went down during the Ambulance match last week between Damian Priest and Aleister Black. Saxton asks Priest what 2026 holds for him. He claims to have won the war against Black. Priest is eyeing Cody and his title. Drew wanders into the frame. Priest would love to go one more round with Drew.
Oh! Drew McIntyre! Oh! Drew McIntyre!
Priest leaves. Drew thinks he has Cody defeated…emotionally. He holds up a gold watch he claims Dusty had to pawn when he “blew the family fortune to pay for Cody’s future”. Drew predicts that Cody will be DQ’d in the first phase of their match and then Drew will take the next fall.
“Drew McIntyre will FINALLY be WWE champion!” says The Scottish Warrior.
Alexa is on the phone with a sick Charlotte. Alexa claims she didn’t know about the match against Giulia until today. Lash Legend and Nia Jax pull up. Lash thinks it is funny that Charlotte isn’t around when Alexa gets a solo opportunity. Alexa advises Lash to drop Nia “before she lets you down”.
Giulia (c) versus Alexa Bliss – Women’s United States Championship Match
Kiana James accompanies Giulia to the ring. Giulia pushes and shoves Alexa.
Alexa! Alexa!
Alexa shoves back. They each dodge each other’s kicks and punches until Giulia grabs Alexa’s hair suplexing her. Giulia gets a two count with a missile drop kick before tossing her around the ring. Alexa is supposed to low-bridge Giulia out of the ring but Giulia has her timing all off. It looks sloppy. Alexa cannonballs onto Giulia from the apron and that looks awful too. As Giulia distracts the official, James punches Alexa in the face for the third time. Alexa drives Giulia back with forearm smashes and clotheslines. Alexa has Giulia set up for Sister Abigail. James distracts the official. Alexa DDTs Giulia instead. Alexa punches James. She falls into the ring. The official tries to get her out. Alexa climbs to the top rope for Twist Bliss. Lash Legend pushes her off the top rope. Giulia pins Bliss with her Northern Lights Bomb.
Lash Legend and Nia Jax give Alexas a beatdown. Legend knocks her silly with a haymaker. Nia squashes her with the Annihilator.
Winner: …and still Women’s United States Champion…Giulia.
GM Nick Aldis officially welcomes Jordynne Grace to Smackdown after she signs her contract. Chelsea Green butts in. She wants a rematch against Giulia. Chelsea doesn’t care about Grace’s signing. It isn’t important to her. Grace says she won’t be a diva like Chelsea. Alba Fyre demands Grace watch her tone, gets in her face. Aldis declares Grace’s first opponent on Smackdown will be…Surprise. Surprise…Alba Fyre.
Before Nick can escape to the confines of his office Kit Wilson expresses his frustration with Smackdown’s toxic environment. especially Matt Cardona. Aldis tells Kit to hold his thought as he slams his office door. Kit calls Aldis “toxic”.
It just so happens that Cardona is being interviewed by Byron Saxton. He is glad to be back in WWE. Cody shakes his hand. They hug. The crowd boos Cody again. Cardona warns Cody that he is back for that title. Cody tells him they will talk later.
Oh! Drew McIntyre! Oh! Drew McIntyre!
The MFT versus The Wyatt Sicks
Best part of the match is Rowan and Talla Tonga squaring off with punches, haymakers and clotheslines. Dexter Lumis gets chokeslammed. Talla and Rowan clothesline each other. Uncle Howdy counters Solo’s Spike with a Bookend. Tama gets Bookended too. Howdy punches Loa off the apron and pulls JC over the top rope into the ring. Howdy puts JC in the Mandible Claw. Meanwhile on the floor, Solo has the Wyatt lantern in his hands. Howdy gets distracted. Talla kicks him in the face. Tama pins Wyatt with his cut-throat finisher. The MFT leave with the lantern as The Wyatts look on and do nothing.
Winners: The MFT
The Miz and Carmelo Hayes run into each other backstage. The Miz warns Hayes that he is coming for the United States Championship.
“I have an open challenge right now so I will see you out there,” says Hayes who is about to walk away until The Miz stops him. The Miz says he was attacked by Orton and cannot compete tonight. Melo tricks The Miz into thinking Randy is behind him by calling out his name. Hayes welcomes Mix’s challenge next week.
Tiny balls! Tiny balls!
Ilja Dragunov is the next to bump into Hayes. Hayes wants Dragunov to accept the open challenge. Actually, Dragunov is off to talk to Aldis about…something different.
Alba Fyre versus Jordynne Grace
I’m a hot mess (Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
I’m a hot mess (Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh)
Chelsea Green walks with Alba to the ring.
We see another promo for Oba Femi before heading back to the ring.
Grace clotheslines Fyre over and over into the next week. Alba mounts some offense with a kick to the face and a tornado DDT. The crowd begins clapping for Grace. Spinebuster by Grace and a package powerbomb…then Green jumps on the apron. Not sure why Green wasn’t looking but Grace drags Fyre across the ring throwing her into Green knocking her off the apron. Grace pins Fyre with Beast Mode.
Winner: Jordynne Grace
WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill confronts Grace as they walk the aisle. Cargill circles Grace.
“You think you did something? You think you are special? Well, now, you are on MY show and I’m THAT bitch!” says Cargill dropping the microphone and walking away.
Byron Saxton now has Sami Zayn cornered. Nobody can escape him tonight. There is a small part of Sami that wants Drew to win. He is one of the few people he hasn’t beaten. Sami though is pulling for Cody as he is his friend. “My money is on Cody,” says Sami warning both men that he is waiting on the other side for them.
Drew is sitting alone staring into the distance. Dude looks lonely. Someone give him a puppy.
Axiom and Nathan Frazer are backstage. Frazer wants to know why Axiom doesn’t have his gear on. He wants to race him out to the ring to accept the open challenge. Axiom attacks Frazer. It is Johnny Gargano under the mask! The real Axiom arrives ready to wrestle but he stops to check on Frazer.
Carmelo Hayes (c) Versus ? – United States Championship Open Challenge
Cus I’m the greatest, ain’t no hatin’ I’m the best here!
You want your shot, well I guess you wait till next year
“Come on! Bring him out!” declares Melo from inside the ring.
Shinsuke Nakamura’s music plays. The crowd immediately starts singing along.
Melo is excited to face Shinsuke, welcomes him to the ring. Shinsuke attempts to wrestle Melo. Melo counters him again and again. Melo’s drop kick has Shinsuke bailing out to the floor. When Melo attempts a dive outside Shinsuke stops him cold with a kick to the head. Melo turns things around with a stunner off the second rope and a clothesline. Shinsuke drop kicks Melo’s leg out from under him. Shinsuke catches Melo’s kick from the apron giving him a Dragon Screw Leg Whip in the ropes. Melo falls off the apron to the floor. Shinsuke stomps and kicks at the injured knee.
When he steps back into the ring, Shinsuke hits another and another. Next is a half Boston Crab. When Melo climbs to the top rope he is isn’t solid. He dives off for a frog splash. Shinsuke isn’t there though. Shinsuke puts a knee bar on Melo. Melo reaches the ropes. Melo reverses what looks like a backbreaker or a neckbreaker into a stunner on Shinsuke. Shinsuke looks like a winner with a Kinshasa off the ropes but Hayes foils another with a First 48. Shinsuke stands frozen like a statue until Hayes pins him with Nothing But Net. Hayes and Shinsuke shake hands after the match.
Winner: …and still WWE United States Champion, Carmelo Hayes.
Byron has finally trapped Cody for an interview. He Cody tells Byron he is a doing a great job. Cody feels that Drew introducing his father and family into the feud is just lazy on his part. After he is done with Drew, Cody’s eyes are on the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania.
GM Nick has an announcement to make. Next week in Wembley Arena, there will be four qualifying matches and the winners of those matches will face off in a Fatal Four-Way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The winner of that match face the WWE Champion at the Royal Rumble.
Next week’s qualifying matches are:
The Miz versus Randy Orton
Matt Cardona versus Trick Williams
Damian Priest versus Solo Sikoa
Sami Zayn versus Ilya Dragunov
Cody Rhodes (c) versus Drew McIntyre – Three Stages of Hell – WWE Championship Match
Bagpipes play as Drew wears Dusty’s watch to the ring.
Oh! Drew McIntyre! Oh! Drew McIntyre!
Lots of boos for Cody. Interesting that.
Stage One of Hell: Normal Wrestling Match
Cody backs Drew into a corner right away with kick after kick. Cody clotheslines Drew over the top rope. Cody dives onto Drew on the floor. Drew’s head is smashed off the announce table. Drew grabs a chair and lays it at Cody’s feet daring him to use it and get disqualified. He even holds his hands behind his back saying: “Do it! Do it!”.
Cody kicks him instead. Disaster kick off the ropes, Dusty punches and then a Bionic Elbow with a two finger salute for Drew. Some cheer. Some boo.
Cody chokes Drew on the announce table. Drew reverses things. Cody is thrown into the ring steps. A springboard Cody Cutter off the top rope gets Cody a two count. Drew begs off. Cody comes in with punches and chokes Drew with his boot over the rope.
As Drew is being pulled out of a corner he brings the turnbuckle with it. As the official fixes the buckle Drew kicks Cody in the “lower abdomen” and creams him with a Claymore for a three count.
First Stage Winner: Drew McIntyre
Stage Two of Hell: Falls Count Anywhere Match
Drew powerbombs Cody through a table for a two count. They brawl down an aisleway.
Oh! Drew McIntyre! Oh! Drew McIntyre!
Cody reverses a suplex on the floor. He rams Drew’s head into the steel ring steps.
Cody! Cody! Cody Rhodes!
Cody heaves Drew over the barricade and into the crowd. They brawl through the fans. Drew’s head is bounced off a metal railing Cody takes a selfie as he bites Drew. They fight into the backstage area. Drew is whipped into a retractable garage door. Cody shoves a banana into Drew’s mouth??!!? They fight back into the arena.
Drew is about to powerbomb Cody through a table again. Cody grabs onto a railing and starts climbing up to escape Drew. Cody slams Drew’s head back and forth into metal fencing and rails. Cody lays Drew on a table. Cody climbs the steps up to the level above then leaps onto a prone Drew putting him through the table…for a two count.
Cody! Cody! Cody Rhodes!
Cody takes Drew back to the ringside area. Drew hits Cody with a steel chair in the stomach and across his back. Cody blocks a Claymore. Cody beats his chest before giving Drew a Cross Rhodes through the announce table.
Second Stage Winner: Cody Rhodes
Stage Three of Hell: Steel Cage Match
Cody drags Drew back into the ring as the cage is lowered. Drew can barely stand. Cody bounces Drew off the cage over and over. Drew reverses things. He runs for the door but Cody catches him in time pulling him back into the cage for a suplex and a two count.
Cody attempts to flip over Drew. Drew kicks him for a two count. Drew starts climbing the cage. Cody gives chase. They sit on the top of the cage trading blows. Drew stands on the top rope suplexing Cody back into the ring…for a two count.
Cody kicks out of a Future Shock DDT. Cody seems to be bleeding from the back of his head.
Let’s go Cody! Cody sucks! Let’s go Cody! Cody sucks!
Drew catches Cody off the ropes but Cody turns that into a Cross Rhodes for a two count. Cody hits two more Cross Rhodes. As he goes for a third, Drew rakes his eyes. Cody charges into a corner but there is nobody home, just an exposed turnbuckle. Drew hits a Claymore for a two count.
Drew decides to climb the cage. Cody follows grabbing and biting Drew’s leg. A slugfest at the top of the steel cage has Cody smashing Drew’s head into the top of the cage. Cody kicks him off. Cody flies off the top of the cage with a Cody Cutter and…Drew STILL kicks out?!?!?!
Cody is back to his feet first. He scales the cage. Drew follows. They ram each other’s heads into the cage. Both men crotch themselves on the top rope as they fall back into the cage.
Drew reaches for the cage door as he crawls. The official opens the door for him. A hooded man shoves the official before staring Drew in the face and removing his mask and hood. It is a returning Jacob Fatu! Drew heads for the opposite site of the cage and starts climbing for his dear life. Fatu pulls him down stomping the crap out of Drew. Fatu turns on Cody too tackling him in a corner. As he does so, Drew falls to the floor and wins.
Cody Rhodes attacks Fatu from behind slamming him into the steel cage.
Winner: …and new Undisputed WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre.
