Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for January 2, 2026

The Miz suddenly hijacks the start of the show to air his 2025 grievances, saying that no one will move on to 2026 until he does. He takes exception to not facing John Cena one last time and not being the one to tap him out. He talks about how he offered his advice and expertise to younger talent, who he says should be chomping at the bit to learn him from him, only to be met with ungratefulness and entitlement. He says that respect is not demanded, it is expected. The Miz also mentions Joe Hendry and R-Truth ruining his last SmackDown of 2025 and bringing back the "tiny balls" nickname, then says there is a silver lining and that John Cena is gone in 2026, saying nobody wants to see Cena anymore. He declares himself the new face of WWE, saying that unlike Buffalo, New York, he actually wins championships. Miz lists his accomplishments as a double Grand Slam champion, and says he is the locker room leader and the adult in the room full of brats. Suddenly, Randy Orton shows up and bumps into The Miz, who is suddenly happy to see him back on SmackDown as he says that they are both the locker room leaders, the faces of WWE and the adults in the room. The Miz then proposes they could both be "Miz-K-O," but gets met with an RKO. Orton hen comically shakes Miz's hand and pats him on the chest before wishing him a happy new year and hitting him with another RKO.

Backstage, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) are met by Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Nia calls teaming up with them "a little difficult," but Lash says it will be worth it when they help them to a victory tonight on the way to the women's tag team titles. When Nia Jax says they want a shot at the women's tag team titles after Monday, Asuka says they will be glad to owe them a beating after they keep the women's tag team titles. Asuka leaves, then Kairi Sane tells Nia and Lash that they should be ready for them.

Backstage, Randy Orton runs into "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and tells him that once he beats Drew McIntyre, he is coming for the WWE Championship. Orton leaves, then General Manager Nick Aldis shows up to remind Cody about Drew McIntyre being in the building for the Three Stages of Hell stipulations and the "no physicality" clause. Cody says he will not put the WWE Championship in jeopardy.

Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss beat Nia Jax, Lash Legend and The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) in an eight-woman tag match.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis meets with Jordynne Grace when Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre show up. Chelsea Green does not want to wrestle tonight, but Aldis threatens to strip her of the United States Women's Champion if she does not.

Members of the Buffalo Bills NFL football team are seen in the front row.

Before the next match, Kit Wilson talks about how he is redefining masculinity and how Buffalo, New York has some of the most toxic sports fans in all of America. All of a sudden, Zack Ryder shows up, this time as Matt Cardona. It is finally recognized on commentary that Zack Ryder and Matt Cardona are the same person.

Matt Cardona beats Kit Wilson. During the match, it is announced that Matt Cardona is now part of the SmackDown roster.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Damian Priest. Priest says he has gone to war with Aleister Black for six months and that this ends tonight. He says Aleister tried to change and break him, but he is not his creator, and all he has done is wake something up that even Aleister will not understand. He hopes to stuff Aleister in an ambulance and send him to the ER, for he will be the one to fade to black.

We hear from The Wyatt Sicks (Bo Dallas, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross). Bo Dallas asks Solo Sikoa what the meaning of family is, as he has been searching for that since The Bloodline split up and has claimed that The Wyatt Sicks are not a family. He says that Solo has not taken the time to contemplate the force he is up against and mocks what he does not understand. He says that his family is not made up of who he sees, and that it is filled with millions of Fireflies around the world who will always remember. He says it is time to chop down Solo's family tree at the root, for when the dust settles, The Wyatt Sicks will be the ones.

Sami Zayn heads to the ring. Sami admits he feels good to be back after the last couple of weeks after watching John Cena's last match with his son in the front row, and admits that the match made him realize that while John Cena has won a world title seventeen times, he has not won one. He says that as long as his son has been able to watch wrestling, his son has been confused as to why he has never been world champion. Sami then says he is not here to talk about being world champion; he is here to do it. After Sami declares that he is coming for the WWE Championship, Trick Williams suddenly shows up and announces that he has finally arrived before introducing himself to Sami. Trick says he is here for one reason and one reason only: the WWE Championship. He says that they are not the same, and says that unlike Sami Zayn, he is not "the one that almost gets the job done." Sami says he has been watching and is impressed, but tells Trick that he has yet to be humbled, and since Trick has no problem interrupting him, he has no problem Sami a lesson and teaching Trick to be humbled.

Backstage, Carmelo Hayes is met by Ilja Dragunov, who says he wanted to fight the best version of the best last week and that Carmelo gave him exactly that. Dragunov hints that this may not be the last time, and when asked if he will continue the open challenge, Carmelo says yes. Carmelo Hayes suddenly runs into The Miz and thanks him for making this possible...by leaving him alone so he could be the greatest he has ever been.

General Manager Nick Aldis meets backstage with Rey Fenix when Trick Williams shows up fuming about Sami Zayn. Fenix tells Trick that he has a lot to learn, but Trick says Fenix needs to learn to keep his mouth shut when grown men are talking. Aldis puts Trick in his SmackDown debut match with Rey Fenix next week.

Carmelo Hayes retains the WWE United States Championship against Johnny Gargano.

Backstage, Tama Tonga is met by Shinsuke Nakamura. They both speak to each other in Japanese, and after Nakamura leaves, Solo asks if everything is okay. Tama says yes, then finds out that The MFT's (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo) will face The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross) in an eight-man tag match next week and soon take back the WWE Tag Team Championships.

We hear from Aleister Black and Zelina Vega. Aleister says that it does not matter what Damian Priest says at this point, and says that Priest can beat him as many times as he wants, as nothing will change. He says Priest is the only thing that has changed, and that after tonight, nothing will be the same ever again. Zelina says it is time to put the final nail in the coffin of Priest's own delusions.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Jade Cargill, who says that she injured "Michin" Mia Yim on purpose during the recent holiday tour and that injuries happen when pigeons do not know their place. Jordynne Grace shows up wanting to get a good look at the champion as she looks at all her options, and Cargill tells her to sign somewhere else. Jordynne is not impressed with Cargill's threats.

Backstage, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes runs into Sami Zayn, who has not seen Drew McIntyre. Cody says he has heard what Sami had to say and that everyone is being honest tonight, and while Sami says he thinks the world of Cody, Cody understands where he is coming from. General Manager Nick Aldis shows up, and after Aldis admits he has not seen McIntyre, Cody heads to the ring.

We see a video package for Oba Femi.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. Cody asks what makes one a WWE Champion, and Cody says it is his mentality when it comes to facing anyone in a WWE ring. He says he shows up with the WWE Championship early so that everybody can "see [him] seeing them," then says that while Drew McIntyre reeks of envy, he is grateful that McIntyre is a mountain to climb and cannot wait to have their fight. Cody then says that he sees McIntyre as lunch while he sees himself as the champion, and that this will not change in Berlin, Germany. McIntyre appears on the TitanTron and says Cody is so predictable because he is old-school and traditional and that Cody is "as vanilla as it gets," then says he has come up with the best way to hurt him. McIntyre finally names the Three Stages of Hell's stipulations. The first match will be a straight wrestling match, but in the second match, falls will count anywhere. He then says that if the match goes to a third fall, it will end in an old-fashioned steel cage where two men enter and one champion leaves. McIntyre says that is assuming Cody is still champion, then admits that he has been in Cody's tour bus and that one item inside stood out more than any other: a picture of Cody with his father Dusty Rhodes. McIntyre says that he wishes Dusty was still here today to see the man Cody has become, then says Dusty would be ashamed and hopes Dusty has a coat when Hell freezes over after he becomes champion before throwing the picture frame down and stomping it to pieces. McIntyre destroys the Cody then runs to the back to confront McIntyre, and General Manager Nick Aldis and a band of referees hold Cody back. All of a sudden, Drew McIntyre is in the ring with a trash can while carrying the photo in his hands. Cody is held back by the referees as McIntyre sets the photo on fire and throws it in the trash can. McIntyre taunts Cody as everyone keeps Cody back.

Giulia beats Chelsa Green to become the WWE United States Women's Champion for a second time after Kiana James distracts the referee as Chelsea has the match won with the Un-Pretty-Her.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. Rhea says that she and Iyo have been waiting a long time to get their hands on The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) and that the Women's Tag Team Champonship are finally coming back. Iyo says that the two of them will finally be champions together. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss show up, and Alexa wishes Rhea and Iyo good luck, stating that The Kabuki Warriors can be a little sneaky. After Charlotte says that they are next in line, Rhea says that this will soon become her and Iyo's pain as well as theirs.

Backstage, Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano are met by Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom). Nathan Frazer notes that Gargano is not doing well without Tommaso Ciampa. Axiom then demands his blue mask back, but Gargano considers the mask a gift for Candice. Axiom heads to General Manager Nick Aldis for a match to get the mask back.

Damian Priest beats Aleister Black in an ambulance match. During the match, Zelina Vega is the first to open the doors, and when she does, Rhea Ripley comes out and chases Zelina to the ring before hitting her with a Riptide. Aleister goes into the ambulance following a choke slam from the top of the ambulance to two tables brought into the match by Priest.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!