SmackDown results, Jan. 2, 2026: Drew McIntyre sets picture of Dusty Rhodes on fire to provoke Cody Rhodes

The Miz hijacked SmackDown to list his grievances from 2025 and establish himself as the locker room leader of 2026. Randy Orton returned to destroy The Miz with two thunderous RKOs.
 

03:08

The Viper reemerges on SmackDown and immediately shuts down The A-Lister. Catch WWE action on the ESPN App, Peacock, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network and more.

Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax & Lash Legend.
 

03:00

Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY team with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss to defeat WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors along with Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Catch WWE action on the ESPN App, Peacock, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network and more.

When order broke down, Rhea Ripley caught Kairi Sane off the top rope and blasted her with a headbutt/Riptide combination. 

Moments later, IYO SKY hit Sane with Over the Moonsault to earn the win for herself and Rhea Ripley heading into their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match against The Kabuki Warriors this Monday on Raw.

Matt Cardona def. Kit Wilson
 

03:14

Matt Cardona returns to disrupt Kit Wilson’s crusade to clean up SmackDown’s toxic masculinity. Catch WWE action on the ESPN App, Peacock, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network and more.

Matt Cardona returned to SmackDown to disrupt Kit Wilson’s crusade to clean up SmackDown’s “toxic masculinity” and defeated the outspoken Superstar with the Rough Ryder.

Trick Williams interrupted Sami Zayn as Zayn was stating his intentions of becoming Undisputed WWE Champion. 
 

02:55

Sami Zayn roars into 2026 with the Undisputed WWE Championship in his sights. Catch WWE action on the ESPN App, Peacock, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network and more.

03:15

NXT’s Trick Williams boldly interrupts Sami Zayn in a tense exchange. Catch WWE action on the ESPN App, Peacock, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network and more.

United States Champion Carmelo Hayes def. Johnny Gargano
 

03:07

Newly-crowned United States Champion Carmelo Hayes defends the gold against Johnny Gargano. Catch WWE action on the ESPN App, Peacock, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network and more.

Newly-crowned United States Champion Carmelo Hayes used Nothing But Net to successfully defend the title in a hard-fought match against Johnny Gargano.  

After revealing the elements of the Three Stages of Hell Match as a traditional singles match, a Falls Count Anywhere Match, and a Steel Cage Match, Drew McIntyre attempted to get Cody Rhodes to attack him by burning a picture of The American Nightmare and his late father Dusty Rhodes. 
 

03:02

After revealing the elements of the Three Stages of Hell Match, Drew McIntyre attempts to get Cody Rhodes to attack him by destroying a personal picture. Catch WWE action on the ESPN App, Peacock, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network and more.

Giulia def. Chelsea Green to capture the Women’s United States Title
 

03:06

Giulia takes down Chelsea Green to reclaim the Women’s United States Championship. Catch WWE action on the ESPN App, Peacock, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network and more.

Moments after Kiana James distracted the official to prevent a pinfall attempt by Chelsea Green, Giulia took down the titleholder with a Butterfly Suplex/Northern Lights Bomb combination to reclaim the Women’s United States Championship. 

Damian Priest def. Aleister Black in an Ambulance Match
 

25:38

Damian Priest and Aleister Black take their volatile rivalry to a brutal new level when they collide in an Ambulance Match. Catch WWE action on the ESPN App, Peacock, Netflix, USA Network, CW Network and more.

SmackDown’s first-ever Ambulance Match pitted Damian Priest against Aleister Black in a brutal affair that incorporated dangerous weapons, including tables, steel chairs, a stretcher, the medical backboard. the announce table, a crutch, a fire extinguisher, a fireball and even Rhea Ripley emerging from the ambulance to neutralize Zelina. 

After hurling Black into the windshield with the Razor’s Edge in the final moments, Priest threw his ominous opponent off the top of the ambulance and through a table. He then put Black into the ambulance and slammed the door shut to claim the win.