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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JANUARY 16, 2026
LONDON, ENGLAND AT OVO ARENA
AIRED ON DELAY ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Corey Graves
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of today 9,644 tickets were distributed so far. The arena has a capacity of 12,500 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Christopher Maitland review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a beautiful aerial view of London, England and then the exterior of the arena as fans were entering the arena earlier a Joe Tessitore introduced the show. They showed the arrivals or Randy Orton, Miz, Damien Priest, Solo Sikoa with his crew, Matt Cardona, Trick Williams, Ilja Dragunov, and Sami Zayn.
(Keller’s Analysis: These scenes are more interesting with different backgrounds with the wrestlers arriving to the arena with London in the background in a number of them. This served the purpose well of previewing four the qualifying matches for the Fatal Four-way next week on Saturday Night’s Main Event.)
-They went to ringside where Tessitore said they were changing things up at the desk this week and shook hands with Corey Graves.
-A video package aired on last week’s Three Stages of Hell match between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre.
-Drew McIntyre made his ring entrance with a row of bagpipe players on either side of the aisle as he walked out. Drew wore his newly won WWE Title belt around his waist. He leaned into the barricade as fans surrounded him and he smiled. He entered the ring and smiled as fans sang to him. They are 12 minutes into the show at this point.
“I prayed for this and it happened,” Drew said. A loud “You deserve it!” chant rang out. He said he knows it’s been a rough few years in the U.K., but if anyone can bring them together, it’s the first and only British WWE Champion. “Oh, Drew McIntyre!” sang the crowd. He said the love he’s been shown the past week has been incredible and getting cheered all across Europe has been amazing to experience. He said, “I want to say to each and everyone one of you out there, screw you,” he said. “This isn’t the bad guy wrestler bit.” He asked where they were when he was fired. He said when Roman Reigns and The Bloodline were screwing him over, there wasn’t an uprising. He said fans were doing the stupid “Yeet!” with Jey Uso and cheering C.M. Punk.
He said there was never a hashtag for him. He said the only person deserving of thanks and the only person who believed in him “is me.” He said they should chant, “Thank you, Drew!” Some fans did.
He said he needs to address the former champion, Cody Rhodes. He said it feels great to say “former.” He repeated it while leaning into the camera. Fans sang “Cody, Cody Rhodes!” Drew said he knows Cody and his team are trying to figure out when he’ll get a rematch. He said he had a clause added to the contract before their match which says there would be no rematch. He said he has to start at the bottom and work his way back up. “The Vanilla QB1 Era is over and the Dangerous, Unpredictable Drew McIntyre Era starts tonight.” Orton’s music interrupted him.
Orton walked to the ring as fans sang his entrance theme with enthusiasm. He said everyone knows they don’t like each other and he’s not there to congratulate him. He said he is there to remind him that a few months ago he had a chance to kick his head through the announce desk, but he declined, so he wanted to tell him that when he gets the opportunity, he won’t hesitate. He said he has defeated him before and he will again, courtesy of the three most dangerous letters in all of (pro wrestling), R-K-O!” (I don’t get why Orton still voluntarily uses that abhorrent Vince McMahon euphemism in his catch phase.)
Jacob Fatu then marched to the ring to his music. He attacked Drew. Drew fought back and managed to escape through the crowd. Orton watched him run, but then The Miz gave Orton a Skull Crushing Finale from behind. [c]
(1) THE MIZ vs. RANDY ORTON – Qualifying Match for Four-Way at SNME
Back from the break 26 minutes into the hour, Miz was beating on Orton at ringside. Graves said if Miz wins this, he’s one step closer to righting all the wrongs that come from people disrespecting him for years. Orton fought back, so Miz bailed out to ringside. Orton threw Miz back onto the ring apron and then landed a draping DDT. Orton set up an RKO, but Miz avoided it and landed a a Skull Crushing Finale for a two count. Orton fired back with an RKO seconds later for the win.
WINNER: Orton in around 6:00 to advance.
-The camera caught up to Drew who was clutching his title belt and seemed out of sorts. Ilja Dragunov approached him and said he will beat Sami Zayn tonight and be one step closer to getting the WWE Title. He said he doesn’t fight like a sane man. Drew said he didn’t care, but assured him he knocked out Jacob’s teeth and he’ll knock out his. [c]
-A video package showed highlight of the Solo & MFTs vs. Wyatt Sicks last week.
-A vignette aired where Bo Dallas said they think they stole a light, but they actually inherited the weight of what the lantern really means. He said it was never used as a weapon. “We carry it in the dark so the dark doesn’t carry us,” he said. He said taking it is more powerful than it’s true purpose and it will come back to them “like a moth to a flame.” He said they won’t rest until it’s home.
-They went to Graves and Tessitore at ringside who reacted to Bo’s words. Then they shifted to the Women’s Tag Team Division.
-Backstage, Alexa Bliss asked Charlotte in the parking garage if she was actually sick last week. Charlotte said she was throwing up. Charlotte said she turned down title opportunities because she put the team first. Bliss asked her to name two examples. Charlotte said, “That’s besides the point.” She told Alexa she is her person and she is sorry she was sick. Bliss walked away. In walked, Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Jax said Bliss made her feel guilty and then walked away like a victim. Charlotte said the next they give her unsolicited advice, they won’t like her response. She told Lash that she’s changed. She left. Jax told Lash she was just trying to be kind.
-Giulia and Kiana James made their ring entrance. [c]
-They showed Michael “Venom” Page at ringside.
(2) GIULIA & KIANA JAMES vs. ALEXA BLISS & CHARLOTTE FLAIR
Bliss and Charlotte made their entrance. The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. Less than 2 minutes into the match, they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Charlotte got in some offense after the break. She took James down with a boot to the face. She walked to the corner to set up a move, but Giulia interfered. James then landed a spinebuster. Giulia then tagged in and went on the attack. Bliss interrupted the cover. Bliss tagged in and gave James a Sister Abigail for a three count.
WINNER: Charlotte & Bliss in 8:00.
-After the match, Jax and Legend attacked Bliss and Charlotte. After clear the ring, Giulia confronted Jax. James pulled her back.
(Keller’s Analysis: As usual, fans had little or no reaction to Giulia confronting Jax like that. They’re two heels, and both had been fighting a popular duo in Bliss and Charlotte in that segment, so fans were left trying to rationalize which heel duo they’d side with, which seems needless at best and counter-productive as worst. Why not just have them go their separate ways?) [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-A vignette aired with Solo who stared at the lantern and said he’d going to take good care of it. He said if the Wyatts want the random back, put the tag titles on the line. He said the lantern will be with him when he takes out Damien Priest and then takes the WWE Undisputed Title to the family again. He blew out the lantern.
-Cody Rhodes made his ring entrance. He looked like he had a lot on his mind. Graves said he’s disappointed and perhaps embarrassed because he so proudly held the WWE Title, so it feels almost unnatural and uncomfortable to see him with the gold around his waist and that ear-to-ear grin.
Cody entered the ring and managed a smile as fans sang, “Cody, Cody Rhodes.” He said it sounds a bit different, “but that’s okay.” Fans began booing. He said if anything, it was becoming a bit episodic. He described his typical ring entrance routine. He said they’d discuss Drew. He said he never broke down why the name of his podcast is “What do you want to talk about?” He said it wasn’t because he was the company’s champion, it was because he was the people’s champion.
He said he didn’t want the fans to be spectators, but rather teammates. He said somewhere along the lines, he might have gotten “comfortable with episodic.” He said he lost sight of all the ways he could lose, “or is Drew McIntyre just that good.” Mixed reaction from the crowd. They sang “Oh, Drew McIntyre.”
Cody said asked what Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, and Hulk Hogan have in common with him. He said they are the only ones who won back-to-back Royal Rumbles. He said only one did it a third time. He said he likes long-shots and sometimes the best superpower to have is believing in yourself.
He got worked up as he kept talking. He touted London as a city he traveled to to sharpen his skills and said they deserve a WrestleMania. Fans erupted in cheers. He said he is making it official. He said Drew said there is no rematch clause, so he’ll take a different path. He declared himself the first participant in the Rumble.
He then asked London, “So, what do you want to talk about?” He suggested they talk about Fatu. He said he knows Fatu is a thoroughbred. He said he is a young veteran in their industry, and he is aware that he knows what the word “receipt” means. He said he has the biggest mistake he’s ever handed out coming to him. He said he can drive his “all gas car” to the ring and get it or he can find him and “beat the brakes off your ass.” He threw down the mic.
(Keller’s Analysis: The crowd is all over the place, but Cody seemed to win them back with a WrestleMania wish for London and that fired up crescendo. It’s such a mess, though, as fans in general really like Fatu, so everyone is torn on how to feel about all three in this mix.)
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Matt Cardona backstage about his qualifying match. Cardona said it’s a shame how Cody lost the title last week. He said he and Drew go way back. He said his first match in WWE was against him. He said just like Cody, he had to leave WWE to reinvent himself, but he’s back now. He said he’s not a former WWE Champion yet. He said he’s back to get to the top.
(Keller’s Analysis: You might as well sell the idea you believe you can be World Champion if you’re one of eight vying for a spot in a four-way to earn a singles title match at the Rumble. He’s showing a serious grow-up personality that is markedly less gimmicky and goofy than when he was Zack Ryder with the catch phrases and silly grin. I’m not sure, though, that’s what fans want to see in him. Sometimes when you strip away what fans liked about you, you become a generic wrestler that fans disengage from. It’s a tough pattern to break from.)
-Trick Williams made his entrance. [c]
(3) TRICK WILLIAMS vs. MATT CARDONA – Qualifying Match for Four-Way at SNME
Graves said Cardona was let go from WWE and was forced to reinvent himself. He said it’s not easy when you leave the WWE bubble. He said the question now is what does he do with the opportunity he has been given. Fans did Trick’s chant as the bell rang 21 minutes into the hour. Graves said Cardona has to add something new to rise higher whereas Trick just has to stick to what brought him. Cardona kicked Trick off the ring apron at 2:00 and they cut to a break. [c]
Trick took Cardona down right after the break with a kick. He mounted Cardona and punched away at him. Cardona made a comeback and landed a Zig Zag for a near fall at 7:00. Trick rolled to ringside to regroup seconds later. Caronda kicked him through the ropes and then threw him back into the ring. Trick yanked Cardona over the top rope and took over. Cardona went for a Rough Ryder, but Trick ducked. Trick rallied and played to the crowd, which cheered. He then landed a Trick Shot for the win. Fans chanted for him like he was a babyface.
WINNER: Trick in 9:00 to advance.
-As Trick was heading to the back, Kit Wilson walked out to his music. He eyed Trick as he passed him. Wilson eyed Cardona when he got to ringside, then attacked him. He threw him into the ringside steps, then went back to strutting to his music. They showed fans dancing and smiling to his act.
(Keller’s Analysis: Even accounting for this being London and the fans being on a different wavelength, WWE is so bad at keeping fans siding with babyfaces and against heels. There’s a level of incompetence rather than some sophisticated design that’s forward-leaning and modern. They seem to have no idea what fans want to cheer and what they want to boo, and then their directing choices of how to shoot their angles just exacerbates the issue.)
-Kelley interviewed Priest who said he’ll take on the whole Solo family if he has to. Kelley smiled and wished him luck. [c]
-Wilson was in the ring telling fans they need his leadership. Jacob Fatu entered from behind and superkicked him as soon as he turned around. Fans booed. Fatu landed a moonsault off the top rope. He then demanded a mic. He told Cody if he had something to say about him or to him, then bring his “punk ass out here right now.” He got a mixed response. Cody’s music played. “Is this happening?!” exclaimed Tessitore. Cody charged out and they exchanged wild swings.
Security came out and pulled them apart. Nick Aldis stepped between them and yelled for them to stop. Fatu and Cody broke free and went at it again. Tessitore yelled, “This is awesome!” [c]
-They replayed clips of the angle before the break with Fatu and Cody. The Tessitore announced Cody vs. Fatu on SNME next week.
(4) SOLO SIKOA (w/Tala Tonga, J.C. Mateo, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa) vs. DAMIEN PRIEST – Qualifying Match for Four-Way at SNME
Solo and his crew made their entrance first. Then Priest. The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. They cut to a very early break. [c]
They exchanged wild swings mid-ring after the break. Priest landed a faceplant and scored a two count at 7:00. Priest climbed to the top rope, but Tala knocked him off balance. The ref didn’t see it, but suspected it. He booted Tala from ringside. Graves the damage was already done. Solo set up a move, but Priest slipped free and landed a Razor’s Edge out of the corner for a near fall. Priest signaled for a chokeslam, but Tama distracted the ref as Loa distracted Priest. Solo landed a Spinning Solo and then a top rope splash for a believable near fall. “What heart, what will!” said Tessitore.
The lights then went dark and Wyatt glitches sounded. Then four of them showed up behind Solo’s crew at ringside standing on the announce desk. They fought at ringside as Nikki Cross cheered them on. Graves said they want their lantern back. Uncle Howdy approached the lantern and laughed, but Solo threw him into the announce desk. Solo brought the lantern into the ring and kissed it. When he turned back to Priest, Priest grabbed his throat and delivered South of Heaven for the win.
WINNER: Priest in 10:00.
-Howdy picked up the lantern and laughed. Tala kicked him and the lantern fell hard to the mat, but didn’t break. He took the lantern back.
(Keller’s Analysis: Not a classic wrestling match, but it served a purpose of moving Priest ahead to the four-way and advancing the Solo vs. Wyatt feud. They did a solid job adding some real value to the lantern with Bo’s explanation earlier of what it represents for them.)
[HOUR THREE]
-Backstage, Drew approached Sami Zayn. He noted that Sami predicted Cody would win last week. He said if he was a betting man, he’d have lost “as usual.” Sami added that he said he hoped Drew won so he could face him and beat him for his title at the Rumble. Drew said he’s defeated Sami 11 times and Sami has beat him zero. He said if he beats him at the Rumble, nothing will be different. “We’ll see,” said Sami, leaning into Drew’s face with a confident smile.
-Tessitore plugged that the main event was coming up with Sami vs. Dragunov.
-Carmelo Hayes made his entrance for his U.S. Title Open Challenge. [c]
(5) CARMELO HAYES vs. LEON SLATER – U.S. Title Open Challenge match
Slater made his entrance. Tessitore said he’s the TNA X-Division Champion and said he’s from Bradford, England. Graves said the sky isn’t the limit for Slater “and the dude is from outer space with his abilities.” He noted that Slater hold the same belt A.J. Styles did.
The bell rang 12 minutes into the hour. Graves said Slater has become a household name in TNA. Tessitore talked about his recent match against Oba Femi for the NXT Title. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Slater scored a near fall on a roll-up at 9:00. Hayes leaped at Slater, but favored his left leg that Shinsuke Nakamura did some damage on. Slater then landed a running flip dive onto Hayes at ringside over a ringpost. Fans cheered as he leaped off the top rope with a 450 splash on Hayes. Hayes moved and then landed a First 48 for a believable near fall.
They battled on the top rope. Slater got the better of Hayes, but Hayes turned it into a cutter mid-air for a three count.
WINNER: Hayes in 12:00 too retain the U.S. Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: The U.S. Title Open Challenge series continues to be one of the weekly highlights in pro wrestling for months now. They did a nice job really building up Slater so that when Hayes beat him, it seemed to really mean something.)
-They showed Shinsuke Nakamura watching the monitor backstage. Tonga walked up to him and told him he had his chance “but you blew it.” He said once the MFTs take the tag titles, he’ll take the U.S. Title. He said they go way back and this is his one and only warning. “Stay out of my way,” he said. Nakamura said something back in Japanese and smiled.
-Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were shown talking when Axiom asked for the mask. Gargano handed it to LeRae who ran away. Axiom said, “Oh, grow up.” Then another man in an Axiom masked showed up and hit Gargano. He then revealed he was Nathan Fraser. He said Aldis booked a match for him against Gargano next week and he’ll take the stolen mask back. Fraser and Axiom laughed at Gargano.
-Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre made their entrance. Graves said they named an entire football team after Green. [c]
-An Oba Femi vignette aired.
(6) CHELSEA GREEN (w/Alba Fyre) vs. JORDYNNE GRACE
They showed Jade Cargill at ringside, looking smug with her belt over her shoulder. Tessitore noted it’s the second match for her on Smackdown and called her “a dynamic free agent signing.” The bell rang 34 minutes into the hour. Grace absorbed Green’s slaps and powered her to the mat in the opening seconds. She followed with a delay-drop vertical suplex for a two count. Green yanked on Grace’s hair and shoved her into the top turnbuckle. Fyre interfered from ringside, but Green only scored a one count. Grace rammed Green’s head into the top turnbuckle with a butterfly grip. Grace then gave Green a cartwheel driver, The Direct Effect, for the win.
WINNER: Grace in 3:00.
-Afterward, Grace looked down at Jade and said she’s glad she came out to watch her so she knows what’s coming for her. She said if he’s finally tired of babysitting her title, she should step into the ring “right here, right now.” Jade got up and walked into the ring. Green charged at Grace, but Grace moved and then she knocked Jade off the ring apron to the floor. Jade held up the WWE Title belt and smiled, then tossed it to Jade at ringside. Jade sat up and nodded.
-Kelley interviewed Trick backstage. She congratulated him for his earlier win. She asked for his thoughts on the early opportunity to win a four-way and get a title match at the Rumble. He said the boot-lickers are realizing he is that dog. He said he is money and gave a shout-out to Orton and Priest. He said they officially have a match with the future of the business, “so let’s talk about it.” Priest interrupted and said Trick likes to talk a lot, but he prefer to talk in the ring. He challenged him to a match next Friday on Smackdown.
-Dragunov’s ring entrance took place. [c]
-Back from the break, they showed the exterior of the Belle Center in Montreal, home of next week’s Smackdown. They hyped the Women’s Tag Team Title match with Bliss & Charlotte vs. Jax & Lash vs. Giulia & Carter for no. 1 contendership, The Wyatt Sicks vs. The MFTs for the tag titles, and Priest vs. Trick.
(7) SAMI ZAYN vs. ILYA DRAGUNOV – U.S. Title Open Challenge match
Sami’s ring entrance took place. The bell rang 48 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break after 4 minutes of rapid back-and-forth action. [c/db]
Back from the break, Sami climbed to the top rope as a bloodied Dragunov was on the mat. Graves said Dragunov got cut from a straight right from Sami that connected. Dragunov battled Sami for leverage on the top rope. Sami sunset bombed Dragunov for a two count. Dragunov took Sami down with a missile dropkick off the top rope for a near fall.
Dragunov then went for an H-Bomb, but Sami upkicked him. Sami set up an exploder suplex, cut Dragunov blocked it and landed a kick to the head. He followed by charging with a hard clothesline into the corner. And another. Dragunov and Sami battled on the ring apron. Dragunov lifted Sami on the ring apron, but Sami flipped free. Dragunov landed a Torpedo Moscow, knocking Sami to the floor. Dragunov landed at ringside, too. Dragunov and Sami beat the count, Sami barely. Dragunov leaped off the top rope with a senton, but Sami lifted his knees. He then gave Dragunov an exploder. He followed with a Helluva Kick for the win.
WINNER: Sami in 13:00.
-Trick Williams entered the ring and hit Sami from behind. He then landed a Trick Shot and trash-talked Sami 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 Christopher Maitland 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 wadekellerpostshow@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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