WWE Smackdown 1/23/2026

WWE Smackdown 1/23/2026

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/wwe-smackdown-1162026.html

We are in Montreal, Canada. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are on commentary. 

We see various wrestlers arrive.

Sami Zayn comes out to talk. He talks in French. He says he has all the momentum in the world right now. Trick Williams interrupts.

Trick says they are not on the same level. He says he's Mr. 250 and Sami is Mr. Too Many Chances. He says Sami's Mr. Almost and he's Mr. Let's Toast as he knows how to get the job done. He says Sami didn't get the job done when he was in Montreal fighting for the WWE Title. Trick says he knows how to get the job done. He says he's here to be WWE champ.

Sami says he did lose the title here. He says Trick looks like a million bucks and might be a future champ. He says he's right that they are not on the same level. He says Trick is dealing with the best of the best. He says Trick will be lucky if he's half as good as he is in 10 years. He says he can do something about it right now if he thinks he's wrong. 

Trick says no and says he has a match tonight in the main event. He says they can take care of business tomorrow. Damian Priest comes out. 

DP says he said Trick is the guy who talks a lot. He says he steps to everyone and talks. He says Trick didn't say a word to him last week when he was in his face. He says he thinks Trick is afraid of him and thinks he will get dropped if he says the wrong thing to him. DP tells him to say something and do something if he won't say something. 

Trick tells him to watch this then he hits Sami in the head with the mic. Trick swings at DP and DP hits punches. Trick pushes Dp into Sami. Trick then leaves the ring.

Randy Orton watches in the back and is interviewed. He says 2026 is the year of The Viper. He says he will beat Sami, Priest and Trick then fly around the world and fight Drew for the title. He says he will beat him the only way he knows how with an RKO. 

We see Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes talk in the back. Ilja has a black eye. Melo says there was nothing to be ashamed of in his match. Melo offers him an open challenge title shot tonight. Ilja says he's beaten up and bruised and isn't stupid enough to compete in it. He says Melo knows him so well and he will see him later.

The Miz comes in and asks if they are boys. He asks what happened to when people hated each other. He calls him incompetent in French. He says to make a title prestigious, you don't just hand out shots. Miz asks what Ilja did for him. Melo says Ilja gave him more opportunities than he did.

WWE United States Title - Carmelo Hayes (c) vs Ilja Dragunov

This is an open challenge match. Drag takes him down and misses a stomp. Melo chops him. Drag germans him and headbutts him in the back of the head. Drag chops him down. Drag's eye brow is busted open. They double clothesline each other and we go to PiP break.

We return and they trade shots. Melo hits a hard back elbow. Drag hits chops and spinning chops him in the leg. Drag stomps him. Drag running facekicks him and enzugiri's him. Melo la mistica drops him for 2. 

Drag hits elbows to the neck and Melo elbows him back. Drag tiger feint lariats him for 2. Drag springboards, Melo goes for a first 48, is caught and powerbombed for 2. We go to break and return. 

They fight up top. Drag clubs himand deadlift superplexes him in. They chop each other on the apron. Melo hits lariat there and superkicks him. Melo hits his suplex lift cutter on the apron and Melo lands hard. Melo is up top and hit with headbutts and chops. Melo death valley drivers him into the buckles for 2.

The Miz comes out and pushes Drag off buckles into the ropes. Melo hits a first 48 and pins Drag.

Thoughts: The ending was disappointing as the two fought hard and then it just kind of ended. These two stiffed each other as usual. Drag got busted open again which is becoming a weekly theme. I'm getting concerned about it because you can't really get beaten up like that every week and not eventually pay for it. What we got was fine here but the finish didn't do it justice.

We get a Deonna Purrazzo ad for a college named SNHU. She talks about getting her degree online while wrestling.

We see a taped Michael Cole interview with Cody Rhodes. Cody doesn't want to talk about losing the WWE Title, he wants to talk about regaining it. Cole asks how he feels about Fatu. Jacob Fatu then interrupts as officials and Aldis try to stop him. Cody tells him to sit down if he has something to say. Fatu says his concern was Drew. He says he doesn't care how he feels then Cody has to be the hero and put his hands on him. Fatu said he had his mind rolling and was thinking. Cody says it didn't look like thinking. Cody says him acting and not thinking got him put in prison.

Fatu asks if he wants to go there. Fatu says it's nothing new. He says he didn't even know if he'd have food before he got there. He says his choices made him a better man and got him standing in front of him. Cody says he's not champ because of Fatu. Fatu says Drew was out before he stepped to him. Cody says Fatu had never been in a title match. 

Fatu asks if Cody thinks he's like every other Samoan he fought. He says they don't make them like him and never did. He says everyone thinks he's a loose cannon without control. Fatu says he's very in control and tells him to think about that.

Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre go up to Jordynne Grace. She says she's a star and she deserves a platform to shine on. She offers her a Secret Hervice position. She says she could start tonight when she faces Jade. Grace says she's convinced and she'll follow after her.

Roman Reigns has declared for the Royal Rumble.

Jade Cargill vs Chelsea Green

Jordynne Grace and Alba Fyre are with Green. 

Green dives on Jade before he she enters. Jade forearms her down, throws her in the corner and boots her there. Green is down and Jade does push-up's at her. Jade backbreakers her and fallaway slams her. 

Jade has words for Grace outside. Jade is distracted and Green top rope dropkicks her. Green meteora's her on the ropes and gets a 2 count. Jade misses a pump kick and Green gets a 2 count on her. Jader superkicks her then powerbombs her. Alba gets on the apron and Jade pump kicks her down. Jade hits a jade end on Green and pins her.

Thoughts: Jade won as expected. At least Green got a little in before going down. I can't say I love Green getting squashed like this though.

Jordynne Grace gets on the mic and asks what the point of this way. She says she's in the Royal Rumble and will see her on the other side when he wins it. She says they could also just do this right now. They stare down and Jade leaves.

Flair and Bliss take in the back. Bliss says she can focus on other things and their team. Bliss says the Rumble will be great but it'll be hard to top it. Flair says she won and Bliss returned. They agree that tonight is about the team.

Solo is with The MFT's. He has Howdy's lantern and says the fireflies are awake. He says he promised his partners gold and says it starts with him and Tama. He says when he wins The Rumble, he will bring the title back to where it belongs. He says there is nothing Howdy or he (Bray) can do about it.

WWE Tag Titles - The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy) vs The MFT's (Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga)

Both teams have their whole crews with them. Tama knees Joe in the gut and slams him. Solo hits headbutts on Joe and back elbows him. Joe hits punches on Tama. Tama takes an atomic drop into a lariat. Dex sentons Tama. Dax dropkicks Tama then rolls into a monkey flip on him. Dex dropkicks Solo out. Dex and Joe do flips off the apron onto the heels.

We go to PiP break and return. Solo pounds on Dex. Solo hits a corner hip attack. Solo misses one. Dex backdrops him. Joe and Tama get in. Joe hits punches. Joe pump kicks him and lariats him from behind. Joe backdrops him. Joe pump kicks and backdrops Solo.

Joe handspring lariats Tama. Tama takes a suplex + sit out powerbomb for 2. Solo is lariated over the top. Joe goes for a tope and is hit. Joe is sent into the rails. Dex tope con hilos Solo. Dex top rope splashes Tama for 2. Rowan fights with JC and Loa outside then crossbodies both together. Talla Tonga comes down with the lantern. Rowan is facekicked by him then thrown over the rail.

Howdy gets behind Talla then does the mandible claw to him. Solo samoan spikes Howdy. Solo grabs the latern then hits Dex with it on the ropes. Tama hidden blades Dex and pins him.

Thoughts: It was an okay bout with a lot of shenanigans as expected. The MFT's won and I guess had to win something of some sort, but it doesn't really matter. This feud will continue on. Dex did a pretty wild flip dive to the outside here.

Nick Aldis talks about having new tag champs on the phone R-Truth comes up to him. Truth says he's putting his balls on the line for The Rumble. AJ Styles comes in. Truth says he will sleep good tonight knowing his balls are in good hands. Nick says he saw AJ put his career on the line vs Gunther. He asks if he's sure he wants to do it. AJ says the disrespect towards Cena p!ssed him off and says Cena went down with his sword and shield. Nick says that wasn't the only reason he asked him to come here.

Shinsuke Nakamura comes in and asks AJ if he's willing to lose everything. AJ says he has already lost if he hasn't stepped up to Gunther. Nakamura challenges him for tomorrow night and tells him to prove he's still phenomenal. AJ asks if Nick has room on the card for it and Nick says he does.

Nathan Frazer vs Johnny Gargano

Tomasso Ciampa has officially left WWE and that doesn't bode well for JG. Axiom is with NF and Candice LeRae is with JG.  

NF bangs JG's arm off his shoulders. JG front facelocks him. They say RIP to Bobby Duncum Sr., who died this week. NF rolls and cartwheels out of a wristlock. He arm throws JG then armdrags him into an armlock. JG armdrags him but NF holds on and armdrags him. JG back elbows NF. Wade says Chad Gable is under Axiom's mask outside.

NF flips over JG off the top. NF running dropkicks JG. NF eats a boot out of the corner. NF enzugiri's him while he sits up top. JG drops him face first on the top buckle. JG then knocks him off the apron into the rails. We go to break and return. 

NF enzugiri's JG then asai moonsaults into a ddt on him. NF hits punches. NF hits a flying forearm. NF slingblades him. NF top rope frogsplashes him for 2. NF tope con hilos him outside. NF misses a phoenix splash. JG step up enzugiri's him. NF flying knees him and enzugiri's him. NF asai moonsaults and JG kicks him down in mid air. JG hits a ki krusher for 2.

JG is up top, NF runs up the buckles and superplexes him. NF twisting suplexes him for 2. LeRar distracts NF up top. NF misses a phoenix splash. Axiom puts a mask on LaRae backwards. She can't see and hits JG on accident. NF pins JG.

Thoughts: It was all flying without too much selling here. It was a fast paced juniors match and nothing too great. 

Ax grabs his mask back after. LeRae then takes it from him while he's not looking.

Lash Legend and Nia Jax are interviewed. Lash says they proved week after week that they are the most destructive duo in WWE and don't need to explain what will happen. Nia says they will become the #1 contenders tonight and eliminate everyone from the Royal Rumble as a team. Lash agrees and says they will eliminate everyone until one of them gets to Mania.

Drew McIntrye comes out to talk. He says it's been 30 years since the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup but now they have a champ they can be proud of in Drew. Drew says he never lies and can't wait to see Fatu and Cody rip each other limb for limb. He tells Cody there's no rematch if he wins and says he would have to win The Rumble. 

He says he will end Priest's career if he sees him at the Rumble. He says Orton can't get the job done when it counts. He says Sami has a whole country behind him. He says Sami worries about winning the big one and not disappointing his son. He says his son has been disappointed for a long time - since the moment he realized Sami was his father. He says he doesn't care who wins the 4-way as he will do whatever it takes to keep his title. He says good luck as you will need it.

Rey Fenix and Trick Williams talk in the back. Trick says Rey wanted to say thanks for him beating him down and making him famous, right? Rey says he didn't forget. Trick says after he beats down DP tonight and wins tomorrow, then Rey can get his title shot after if he remembers his name. Rey says he will remember him.

Kit Williams is interviewed. He says someone has to be the hero around here and clean up the toxic masculinity. Matt Cardona comes in and asks what his problem is. Kit bring sup how he looks. Matt thinks he's complimenting him. Kit says men like him don't have accountability and have toxic masculinity. He says the next time he wants to step up, let's do it in the ring. 

WWE Women's Tag Team Title #1 Contendership Triple Threat Match - Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Giulia & Kiana James vs. Lash Legend & Nia Jax

Nia and Bliss get dropkicked out to start. Flair shoulders Lash then high kicks her. Lash running back elbows Flair. KJ hits corner spears on Lash. Flair handspring cartwheels KJ then hurricanrana's Lash. Bliss jumps off the top onto multiple people outside. 

We go to break and return. FLair is double teamed. Flair boots Lash and sends Giulia to the apron for a facekick. Lash forearms Flair down then lariats her. Flair top rope crossbodies Lash for 2. Giulia boots both opponents. Flair high kicks Giulia then chops Lash and KJ. KJ hits Flair from behind.

Lash and KJ try a double suplex but end up taking a double ddt. KJ superkicks Flair and Nia lariats KJ. We get a tower of doom spot with Flair going down for 2. KJ hits forearms on FLair then Nia pounces her. Bliss comes in and shoulders then dropkicks Giulia. 

Bliss basement dropkicks Nia and spinning ddt's her for 2. Giulia top rope dropkicks Nia. Lash facekicks Bliss for 2. Nia pop up headbutts Giulia. KJ swinging flatliners Nia. Bliss' 2nd rope tornado ddt is caught and Lash back rack drops her. Flair spears Lash and KJ pins Bliss.

Thoughts: Kiana's team winning was a surprise. That's Kiana's biggest win so far. The girls tried but Flair was not moving well and it was just average.

Sami Zayn and Damian Priest talk in the back. Sami says he was frustrated earlier and has no problems with him. He says he has problems with Trick. He says he will watch his match and...Damian tells him not to get involved tonight. He tells him to stay out of it. Sami says, "or what?". DP says he knows exactly "or what?". Sami says DP doesn't get to tell him where to go this week or any week. Sami says he will see him when he sees him.

Sami goes up to Drew McIntyre. Drew smirks at him and Sami slaps him and walks off.

AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes talk in the back. AJ asks if he's gonna question his bout vs Gunther too. Cody says he just wants to tell him good luck. Cody finds an autographed Drew McIntyre photo on his bus door window. Cody ignores it and goes in.

Giulia and Kiana James are interviewed. Giulia talks in Japanese. KJ says they will win the tag titles and Giulia will become a triple champ at the Rumble.

We get an Oba Femi video. 

Trick Williams vs Damian Priest

They lock up and roll on the ropes. Trick side headlocks him. DP rolls him up then armdrags him. DP armlocks him. Trick hits punches and chops. DP chops him and is hit. Trick suplexes him for 2. 

Trick jumping neckbreakers DP for 2. Sami Zayn comes out. DP hits shots on Trick in the corner. DP rope walks but is crotched up top. Trick facekicks him down to the floor. DP is sent into the rails, steps and apron edge. Trick tells Sami this is his house now.

We go to PiP break and return. They trade shots.DP flying forearms him then flapjacks him. DP's mouth is busted open. DP flying back elbows him then Trick harlem side kicks him for 2. DP hits kicks to the body and leg. He spinning forearms him.

Trick up kicks him and pump kicks him. They try spinning facekicks at the same time and both go down. Trick bends over and DP kicks him. Trick uranages him for 2. DP lifting flatliners him for 2. Trick slides out. DP runs at him and is flatlinered on the commentary table. DP is sent into Sami. They go back in and Sami beats up Trick to cause a DQ.

Thoughts: It was an average match as expected. Neither of these two are that exciting in the ring and DP is even less exciting outside of it. The finish was pretty lame for a main event. Trick is naturally fitting into bigger roles on this show though and that's a win.

Sami boots and foot chokes Trick in the corner. Sami hits shots on DP and running facekicks Trick. DP superkicks Sami. Trick flying knees DP and sends him out. Trick stands tall.

Randy Orton then slides in. He RKO's Trick. Sami and Orton talk then Orton RKO's him.

Overall thoughts: It was a longer show at 3 hours and it wasn't that interesting. SNME is tomorrow and that's where something big might happen and the Royal Rumble is next week, where big things will absolutely happen so they were a little stuck here. The big stars weren't on the card here. Melo/Dragunov was the match of the night and I can't say this did a lot for me to hype up SNME, though it's not like it was awful. I'd give it a low 6 out of 10 as things made sense but it just wasn't the most exciting show.