Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for December 19, 2025

Damian Priest heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Priest says the last few days have not been easy due to John Cena's retirement, as Cena has inspired so many and has become the greatest of all time, to which he says "Thank you, Cena." He then addresses how he and Rhea Ripley dropped Aleister Black and Zelina Vega, saying that business has been handled. As he looks to 2026, Zelina's laughter is heard. Zelina calls Priest a hypocrite and says that getting Rhea Ripley to fight his battles does not make him a real man, especially when he did not get the pin, and states that Priest cannot stand the fact that Aleister broke him. She says that Priest made his decision and now he will have to live with Aleister's. Priest is attacked from behind by Aleister, which starts a brawl. Priest hits South of Heaven on the ring apron on the outside, then pulls a table out from under the ring. Aleister strikes back with a metal folding chair after Priest sets the table up, then counters a potential South of Heaven into the table by shoving Priest into the ring post and kicking him. Priest goes for another South of Heaven after landing on the table, but Aleister escapes it and puts Priest through the table with a running Meteora off the knee apron.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Nia says that Lash beat Alexa Bliss handily, and Lash says Alexa stood no chance against her. She then says they are moving on from Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, and Nia says that when they beat The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane), they will slide into the women's tag title match and become the new champions. Nia says that they will be the champs regardless of who holds them, as does Lash. Nia says that they will be the champs regardless of who holds them, as does Lash.

Backstage, Damian Priest is being helped to medical when he is attacked from behind by Aleister Black again. Aleister soon smacks Priest with a snow shovel before hitting Black Mass.

Nia Jax and Lash Legend beat The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). After the match, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss run into the ring and brawl with Nia and Lash. Charlotte and Alexa overpower them, and Lash pulls Nia out of the ring to save her from Twisted Bliss.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond is interrupted by Kiana James and Giulia. Kiana reminds Jackie that she has to go through her first to interview Giulia, who says that she will take out Alba Fyre before telling Chelsea Green that time is running out.

We see footage of General Manager Nick Aldis - with police - meeting with Drew McIntyre at the latter's home. Aldis offers McIntyre a WWE Championship match, but asks for a public apology to referee Dan Engler. He also mentions that McIntyre's payday from Survivor Series will cover his fine. McIntyre declines, saying this is what "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Nick Aldis wants and that he will be screwed again and that SmackDown has unsafe working conditions. He wants to pick the stipulation for the WWE title match, and wants no physicality before the match from cody or else Cody is stripped of the WWE title. Aldis tells McIntyre he has a deal, then McIntyre finds out that Cody Rhodes is at his home and thinks Aldis has set him up. Aldis deals with it, but when McIntyre arrives, Cody rushes at McIntyre, starting a brawl that police have to stop.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews General Manager Nick Aldis, who says that everything has gotten out of hand between "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. He says that Cody was out of line, but it is up to local authorities and not him. The Miz suddenly shows up, wanting a match with Joe Hendry, refusing to name him and does not want Aldis to name him either. Aldis says he can make that happen, then Miz turns around and sees R-Truth turn around and say "I believe in Joe Pesci" before clapping.

Giulia beats Alba Fyre.

We hear from The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross). Uncle Howdy says that Solo Sikoa's greed for status power has led him down a dark path. He says the truth lies beneath the surface and that the image Solo portrays will launch his family into a whole new world full of adversity and abandonment, and there will be nowhere for him to run. He states that what will happen will force Solo and his family to surrender.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. He admits to what he did at Drew McIntyre's home, then mentions McIntyre's comments of SmackDown being an unsafe working environment and asks if Staples would be a safe environment for him. Cody says that brawl at McIntyre's home was a tenth of what would happen in the ring, then General Manager Nick Aldis shows up and says that while McIntyre is full of crap, Cody made McIntyre's point for him and got the both of them in a lot of trouble. He says that he had to make a bad deal with McIntyre and reminds Cody is not above the law, and that he cannot help him with that, then tells Cody cannot lay a finger on McIntyre or else he will be stripped of the WWE Championship. Cody guarantees that he will not touch McIntyre, but in the spirit of all these demands, he says that Aldis has forgotten who he is talking to and that as long as he has the WWE title, he is the law. He says that he works for the fans, not for Aldis, and that Aldis works for him before leaving.

Backstage, Ilja Dragunov meets with Carmelo Hayes and thanks him for last week. Tama Tonga is watching from the background as Carmelo says there was nothing to it. As Dragunov says that they will both put #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) down, Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) show up and wish them luck, then ask them to leave #DIY for them after stealing Axiom's mask. Dragunov says that #DIY asked for this battle and that Ciampa is no longer a jackass; he is now his prey.

Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes beat #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa).

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interview Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Alexa says that Nia Jax and Lash Legend are not next in line like Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky are, and Charlotte says they are in the way. Jade Cargill shows up, and Charlotte and Alexa walk past before Jackie tries to interviews Cargill. Cargill says she was shocked to see "Michin" Mia Yim get up after she knocked her down, then says she will give Michin the spotlight before knocking her lights out. Michin shows up from behind and whacks Jade with a shinai, and has to be held back by officials.

We hear from Solo Sikoa, who says that Uncle Howdy talked a bunch of nonsense that means nothing, then says they have a problem when he threatens his family. He says he does not play games when it comes to his family, and that he will embarrass him in front of the whole world. He says the fireflies are here and that they will watch The MFTs (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo) take the tag team titles, as he has the whole world in his hands.

The MFTs (Tonga Loa and JC Mateo) vs. The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) for the WWE Tag Team Championships ends with everyone in The MFTs (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo) and The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis) brawling on the outside after Talla Tonga hits a big boot on Joe Gacy. The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) retain the WWE Tag Team Championships. Erick Rowan clotheslines Talla Tonga out of the ring after Talla hits just about everyone with a top rope cross body, then Solo Sikoa hits Rowan with a Samoan Spike. Uncle Howdy goes for Sister Abigail on Solo, but Tama Tonga puts a stop to that, and everyone keeps brawling as the show fades to black.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!