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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JANUARY 23, 2026
MONTREAL, QUEBEC AT BELL CENTRE
AIRED ON DELAY ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Corey Graves
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 8,027 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 22,114 spectators when configured for basketball.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Michael Cole introduced the show as they showed an aerial view of the arena. Then they showed Cody Rhodes arriving as Cole plugged his sitdown interview with him. Then they showed Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, Lash Legend and Nia Jax, and Giulia and Kiana James arriving. Then they cut to Solo Sikoa and his MFTs getting out of an elevator. Finally, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre backstage.
-They cut to a wide shot of the arena as Sami Zayn’s music started and he made his way to the ring. Sami spoke some French and then said he feels like he has all the momentum in the world now. He said he has a chance tomorrow to become the no. 1 contender. Trick Williams’s music played. He walked out and told Sami that they aren’t on the same level. Trick said he knows how to get the job done and he’ll tell him to his face in his city that he’s there to become WWE Champion.
Sami said he can’t argue with some of Trick’s points, including that he previously lost a title match in his city. He said Trick looks like a future champion. He said they are not on the same level, though, the best he can aspire to is being half as good as him some day. He said he if he thinks he’s wrong, he can do something about it now. Trick said he has a main event against Damien Priest in the main event, but they can take care of business tomorrow. Priest’s music then played.
Priest walked out. He told Trick that he thinks if he says the wrong thing to him, he’ll drop him on his ass where he stands. He asked Trick if he’s afraid. He dared him to say something or do something. Trick told fans to mind their own business. He told Priest he’s not scared to pop off and he kept calling Damien with a snarky tone. He then turned and hit Sami in the head with the mic. Priest punched away at Trick. Sami pulled him away and punched away at Trick. Trick shoved Priest into Sami and then bailed out. Sami and priest exchanged heated words as Cole said that was three of the four wrestlers who will be in the Fatal Four-way tomorrow night on Saturday Night’s Main Event.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Orton backstage. She noted he chose to observe rather than get involved. Orton asked what in the hell kind of question is that. He said 2026 is the Year of the Viper and he expects to win his 15th world title. He got worked up and said he’s winning at SNME and then going on to the Royal Rumble to defeat Drew McIntyre with an RKO.
-They showed Cole and Wade Barrett a ringside discussing the show.
-A clip aired from earlier of Carmelo Hayes telling Ilya Dragunov to keep his head up after his loss last week. Hayes told him the challenge is open for him tonight if he wants it. Dragunov said he lost to Sami and now his chance is gone. He said he was beat up and can’t compete in his condition. Hayes said he should have thought about that. Dragunov revealed he wasn’t serious and he’d see him in the ring later. After Dragunov left, Miz walked in and asked whatever happened to the time when people hated each other. He asked what Dragunov ever gave to him. Hayes said he he gave him more of an opportunity than he ever did.
-Hayes made his ring entrance. [c]
(1) CARMELO HAYES vs. ILJA DRAGUNOV – U.S. Title match
Cole said it’s the seventh time these two have faced each other one on one, third time for the U.S Title. Barrett wondered if Dragunov’s body would hold up. The bell rang 25 minutes into the hour. They collided mid-ring at 2:00 and then they cut to a break. [c/db]
They battled back and forth for several minutes and then cut to another break after a two count by Dragunov at 9:00. [c]
Dragunov landed a dead-lift superplex. Cole called him “pound for pound” one of the strongest wrestlers in WWE. Dragunov gave Hayes a Death Valley Driver into the corner and scored a two count. He sprinted to the top rope. but Miz knocked him off the top rope. Hayes then hit a First 48, not knowing what Miz did, and scored a three count.
WINNER: Hayes in 16:00 to retain the U.S. Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good battle.)
-Cole threw to a video package on the Cody Rhodes-Jacob Fatu tensions. Cole the said his sit-down interview with Cody got intense and they’d air it next. [c]
-Cole asked Cody for his thoughts on losing the WWE Title. Cody said he didn’t want to talk about losing it, but his plans to regain it. Cole cut him off and said he takes on the man who cost him the title. Cody said he respects Cole having to ask him that and he probably already knows the answer. Fatu barged in. Nick Aldis and two refs followed behind. Cody asked Fatu to sitdown and say what he wanted to him. Fatu said his concern was Drew McIntyre because he kicked teeth down his throat. He said he was locked in. He said he then had to be the hero and put his hands on him. He said it had him thinking. Cody cut him off and said it looked more like acting, not thinking, and it cost him. He said he was acting, not thinking, which is what got him put in prison in the first place. Fatu stood and said nobody knows about him. He said he was locked down in ’16 and ’18 and had seven kids, no job. He said he almost got fired before he got hired. He said he isn’t complaining, and those choices made him a better man and now he’s standing in front of him.
Cody stood and said he’s not the WWE Champion and it his fault. Cody said their match should be for the title. Fatu said as he saw it, Drew was already out before he stepped in front of him. Cody said Fatu has never been in a title match, but he seems to have everything about his title match figured out. Fatu asked Cody if he think he’s like every other Samoan he has faced. He said they don’t make ’em like him anymore. He said people think he’s a loose cannon without control. He calmed down and said, “Naw, trust me, I’m very in control.” He told Cody to think about that.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m glad they got around to having those two express their perspectives to each other. Good intensity.)
-They went to Cole and Barrett. Cole said Aldis made sure both Cody and Fatu left the building.
-From earlier, Chelsea Green with Alba Fyre crossed paths with Jordynne Grace. Chelsea told Grace she is a star who deserve a platform to shine on. She offered her a position in her Secret Hervice. She said she could accompany her tonight against Jade Cargill. Graves agreed to it if it meant being in Jade’s vicinity.
-Green and Fyre made their ring entrance. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-Cole said Roman Reigns returns in two weekends at the Royal Rumble as an official entrant.
(2) JADE CARGILL vs. CHELSEA GREEN (w/Alba Fyre, Jordynne Grace)
As Jade jawed with Grace at ringside, Green leaped through the ropes and tackled Jade. The bell rang once they entered the ring and Jade quickly cut off Green’s advantage. Jade landed some powermoves. Fyre stood on the ring apron. Jade knocked her down and then gave Green a Jaded for a decisive clean win.
WINNER: Cargill in 3:00.
Advertised Matches & Appearances
- The Wyatt Sicks vs. The MFTs – WWE Tag Team Championship match
- Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend vs. Giulia & Kiana James – WWE Women’s Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender’s match
- Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams
- Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green
- Carmelo Hayes to issue United States Championship Open Challenge
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