SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
DECEMBER 26, 2025 (Taped 12/19)
GRAND RAPID, MICH. AT VAN ANDEL ARENA
AIRED ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Javier Machado review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
[HOUR ONE]
-A video package aired on the Cody Rhodes-Drew McIntyre saga at Drew’s house last week.
-G.M. Nick Aldis reminded Cody Rhodes backstage that he will have to strip him of the title if he touches Drew. The Miz then approached Aldis and asked for Aldis not to play Joe Hendry’s music.
-Hendry’s music played and he was already in the ring with Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxinne Dupri along with someone dressed in a bunny mascot outfit. Hendry sung a song with lyrics that said Miz has tiny balls and that he’d rather be in Hollywood but they never return his calls, plus noted he was kicked out of the locker room for half his career or whenever he’s in a tag match he always takes the falls. Miz interrupted and demanded he stop. Miz said when his hand goes up, their mouths go shut. Miz said he spent 20 years winning big matches, not singing. He said now that Cena is gone, he’s earned the right to be the locker room leader. He said the jokes stop now and it’s time to wrestle.
Aldi walked out and told Miz that his match is a “Miracle on 34th Street” fight. Graves said, “Alright, cancel Christmas.” Cole said Christmas already happened. [c]
(1) THE MIZ vs. JOE HENDRY – Miracle on 34th Street fight
The bell rang 13 minutes into the hour. Miz held up an ukulele to use as a weapon, which led to jokes about Miz having small thigs. Graves was emphatically defending Miz. Hendry avoided Miz and slid to the floor to hang out with his friends at ringside. Miz threw a fit. He dropped an elbow in a gift wrapped box as they cut to a break. They cut to a break at 3:30. [c]
Back from the break, Miz knocked a tray of cookies out of Tozawa’s hands. The Easter Bunny approached Miz. Miz hit him with a candy cane kendo stick. Otis broke it and yelled at Miz. Hendry then attacked Miz and yanked a broken kendo stick between his legs. The bunny entered the ring. Tozawa slid in more trays of cookies. Otis also entered. Hendry gave Miz a fallaway slam. Otiz did The Worm. Otis ate a cookie and then splashed Miz. Tozawa landed a top rope senton splash. The bunny removed his head and revealed he was R-Truth. Truth then did a You Can’t See Me routine on Miz. Hendry hit Miz with a guitar and then slammed him through a table and scored a three count. Cole said he believes in the magic of Christmas and Joe Hendry. He asked Graves what Miz will tell his kids when he gets home.
As Hendry celebrated, Cole said made a Tony Hinchcliffe reference.
WINNER: Hendy in 11:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Just a reminder, Hinchcliffe is the comedian who has been embraced by WWE after he landed on the national radar when he called Puerto Rico literally a floating island of trash when speaking on behalf of Donald Trump last year. He has refused to apologize for the the joke because it was based on his knowledge of a Federal grant for clean up of a landfill – a single site (a steel plant) in Puerto Rico, which was just one of over 100 sites across the United States that were funded for cleanup during President Biden’s presidency.)
-Backstage, Ilja Dragunov walked up to Carmelo Hayes as he was chatting with Fraxiom. Dragunov said he can’t be at peace the way his U.S. Title match with him went. Dragunov said whether Hayes likes it or not, he gets his rematch against him tonight. They shook hands and Hayes said, “I won’t miss.”
-They showed Charlotte and Alexa Bliss holding sheets of paper that said “Naughty” and “Nice” on them, switching who was holding them.
-They showed the arrival of Nia Jax and Lash Legends.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Drew McIntyre as he arrived. She somewhat desperately in a frazzled tone asked if he can reveal what his match stipulation will be for his match with Cody. He said by the end of the night, everyone will have all the answers.)
(Keller’s Analysis: Kelley’s demeanor was that of someone trying to find someone to fly a plane after the pilot had a had a heart attack mid-flight. Why can’t their interviewers just strike a believable normal tone?) [c]
-Cole hyped John Cena retirement action figures.
(Keller’s Analysis: Will his merchandising onslaught ever cease? Shouldn’t the term “retirement” mean WWE stops pushing his merch?)
-A vignette aired with Aleister Black. Black said, “Man doesn’t descend into violence; he returns to it.” Zelina Vega added to the message. she said Damien Priest wasn’t hiding from the truth, but rather he couldn’t carry it. She said it in a disgusting tone.
-Byron Saxton interviewed Jade Cargill about facing Michin next week. “I don’t need weapons, I am the weapon,” she said. “Bring your kendo stick, because I’m not going to need it.”
-Elsewhere, Michin approached B-Fab. B-Fab said this could get bad for her quickly. Michin said they’re not scared, they just don’t respect her because she’s got a bad attitude. She said she needs to get humbled and that’ll happen next week.
-Lash made her entrance, accompanied by Jax. [c]
(2) LASH LEGEND (w/Nia Jax) vs. CHARLOTTE FLAIR (w/Alexa Bliss)
Charlotte made her entrance, accompanied by Bliss and her doll. The bell rang 45 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Lash had Charlotte grounded after the break. Grave said Lash has kept it simple and dominated as a result. Charlotte made a comeback and landed a top rope crossbody press and then threw some chops to Lash’s chest. The crowd “wooo’d” along. Lash hit Charlotte with a big boot seconds later for a two count.
Charlotte made a comeback at 10:00 after blocking the Lash Extension and turning it into a DDT. Charlotte stepped on Lash’s chest as she walked to the corner and then she landed a top rope moonsault for a near fall. Charlotte set up a figure-four. Jax stood on the ring apron, which distracted Charlotte. Bliss jumped onto Jax’s back at ringside. Lash stood and charged at Charlotte. Charlotte countered with a sunset flip leverage three count.
WINNER: Charlotte in 11:00.
-Aldis told Trick Williams that when he told him to make himself at home, he didn’t mean kick his feet up on his desk. Trick stood and said Raw is ready to throw him the bank, so is he ready to match the offer. Cody entered the room and asked Trick to give him a minute with Aldis. Trish left. Cody said he doesn’t understand the diplomacy with drew. Aldis sarcastically said he knows he works for Cody, but indulge him. He told Cody to “control your damn emotions” or he will strip him of the title if he touches Drew. Trick came back in and said he’s a two-time NXT Champion and listed other accolades. He said Cody better hold onto his title belt tight if he gets signed by Aldis.
-Dragunov made his ring entrance.
[HOUR TWO]
[c]
-Cole plugged Cody Rhodes’s conversation with John Cena and called it “eye-opening.”
-A vignette aired with Solo Sikoa and the MFTs (Talla Tonga, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and J.C. Mateo) saying he created a family and told Uncle Howdy he doesn’t know about that. He said the fireflies are burning away. He said Howdy’s world is in his hands.
(3) ILJA DRAGUNOV vs. CARMELO HAYES – U.S. Title Open Challenge match
Hayes’s ring entrance took place. The bell rang 7 minutes into the hour. Graves said Hayes is at risk of being called a bust. They cut to a break at 3:00 after Dragunov domianted early. [c]
Graves compared Hayes to a college athlete who is highly touted but fails to live up to the hype, and Hayes is in danger of being seen that way. They fought back and forth and exchanged big moves and near falls. They cut to another break at 11:00. [c]
Dragunov superplexed Hayes, but Hayes blocked his H-Bomb. Dragunov went back on the attack, though, and scored a two count after a uranage at 18:00. Graves said he noticed doubt in Dragunov’s eyes. Hayes countered a superplex into a cutter. Hayes draped his arm over Dragunov and scored a near fall. They cut to fans reacting. A “This is awesome!” chant rang out. Dragunov landed a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron.
Hayes hit a First 48 and then Nothing But Net for the win. “Case closed! Case closed! Hayes is a champion!” said Cole. “How sweet it is!” As the ref was about to reward Hayes the belt, Dragunov yanked the belt away from him and then wrapped it around Hayes’s waist. He emphatically pointed at Hayes in congratulations, then let Hayes bask in the win as pyro blasted.
WINNER: Hayes in 21:00 to capture the U.S. Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Excellent match. The announcers pushed the whole angle that Hayes would be seen as a bust if he didn’t win, but that didn’t give away he’d win or win clean, as it could have been setting up him snapping if he were to have lost. It did make the win feel bigger when it happened.)
-Bliss and Charlotte were chatting when Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky walked in. Ripley said they have a tag title match coming up. Sky predicted victory. Jax and Legend walked in and they began yelling. Then Asuka and Kairi Sane joined the chaos. Aldis walked in and said next week he’s booking an eight-woman tag match so maybe they can get the intense dislike out of their system.
-Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre made their entrance. [c]
-Backstage, Kelley was all smiles as she interviewed Hayes and said she knew he imagined this moment his whole life. Hayes said he was delayed, but not denied. Johnny Gargano jumped him and said the title will be his. “You ruined everything!” he shouted as Candice LeRae pulled him away.
(4) CHELSEA GREEN & ALBA FYRE vs. GIULIA & KIANA JAMES
Guilia and James made their way to the ring after the break. The bell rang 40 minutes into the hour. James hit Green with a top rope dropkick. She then landed a Northern Lights Bomb for the three count.
WINNERS: Giulia & James in 4:00.
-Kit Wilson lobbied Aldis for an opportunity. Aldis said he will have a new opportunity next week on Smackdown. Wilson left and Cody walked in. He then heard Drew’s music and saw him on the big screen.
(Keller’s Analysis: This is just like every other segment in Aldis’s office where they have an isolated shot of the entrance stage on a giant TV just as a wrestler is about to walk out, which perfect triggers the wrestler Aldis was talking to.)
-Drew made his entrance. [c]
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside who hyped next week’s Smackdown, which returns to three hours, including the previously announced eight-woman tag match, Jade vs. Michin, and Black. vs. Priest.
-Aldis addressed Drew in the ring. Aldis said Cody is partially culpable for things getting out of hand, but when things went really off the rails was when he assaulted the referee standing between them. He said it was time for Drew to be a man of his word and apologize so he could shift his focus to his title match against Cody.
Drew handed Aldis a check to pay his fine. Then he looked at the ref and said, “Dan, I am genuinely sorry I Claymored you in the face.” He said it’s been keeping him up at night, “so please accept my humblest apology.” The ref nodded. Aldis said he appreciated it. Drew said it wasn’t easy for him. Drew then told the ref that it was obviously his dream to be a wrestler, but he wasn’t good enough, so he became a referee. He bent down to be at his level and brought up the ref’s wife, who must’ve wished she had a husband like Drew. He said he is sorry his children also had to see what a coward of a father they have. He asked Dan to hit him. Cody’s music interrupted and he marched out. Graves said Drew knows exactly what he is doing.
Cody entered the ring and Drew dared him to hit him. Drew asked the fans if they wanted to see Cody punch him in the face right now. Fans, not paying attention to the stip, cheered and yelled “Yes!” He taunted Cody. He said he knows Cody is upset that he attacked Cody on his tour bus, and he wishes Cody’s family were there at the time so their children could see a real man put the boots to him and his wife Brandi could see what a real name looks like.Aldis held Cody back.
Drew then revealed the stipulation. He said they’re going to wrestle in Berlin, Germany in a Three Stages of Hell match. Cody yelled, “Absolutely!” Drew said there is one more detail. He said when he tortures him in Berlin and sends him straight to hell, “say hi to your dad for me.” Cody elbowed Aldis in his attempt to break free. Drew then caught Cody with a Claymore. Cole said Cody cannot touch Drew for another two weeks. Cole said the title match will take place on the Jan. 9 Smackdown. Drew held up his title belt as the show ended.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Javier Machado review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
LINK TO BE A CALLER: https://streamyard.com/729s6jbj9e
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
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