Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for January 16, 2026

Drew McIntyre is played to the ring by a troupe of bagpipers as he heads to the ring to start tonight's show. McIntyre says that he prayed for this and it happened, and says that while it has been a rough few years in the UK, if anyone can bring the UK together, it is him. He says that the support over the past week has been incredible, then tells the fans "screw you," saying that this is not "a bad guy wrestler bit" and that the fans are jumping on a bandwagon and were not there when things got tough. McIntyre says that there is only one person to thank - himself - saying he was the only person who believed in himself, then addresses "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, saying there will be no rematch due to a close in the contract for their last match. He proclaims that Cody's era ends now and that his era ends tonight before Randy Orton makes his way to the ring. Orton says he is not here to congratulate McIntyre; instead, he is here to remind him that since he didn't punt him in the head months ago, he will not hesitate. Orton then says that when he wins the WWE Championship again, it will be with an RKO. Suddenly, Jacob Fatu shows up and brawls with McIntyre, and McIntyre finds out the hard way that sending Jacob head-first into the ring first does nothing to Jacob. As Jacob chases McIntyre through the crowd, Orton receives a Skull Crushing Finale from behind from The Miz.

Randy Orton beats The Miz in an Undisputed WWE Championship #1 contender's Fatal Four-Way qualifier.

Backstage, Drew McIntyre runs into Ilja Dragunov, who says he will beat Sami Zayn tonight and get one step closer to the Undisputed WWE Championship. McIntyre says he will see him at Royal Rumble if he wins.

We hear from Bo Dallas, who says that Solo Sikoa stole their light only to inherit the weight of what it really means. He says it is not a weapon and that they carry it in the dark so the dark does not carry The Wyatt Sicks (Bo Dallas, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross). He says that taking the light is more powerful than its true purpose and that the light will come back to them. He states that like a moth to a flame, they will not stop until they take it back.

Backstage, Alexa Bliss is met by Charlotte Flair. Alexa says last week sucked and wants to know if Charlotte was really sick. Charlotte says she was really sick, and Alexa tells Charlotte she has her back before she leaves. Nia Jax and Lash Legend show up after Alexa leaves to try a drive a wedge between Alexa and Charlotte, but Charlotte is not having any of it.

UFC Middleweight fighter Michael "Venom" Page is seen in the front row.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss beat Giulia and Kiana James. fter the match, Nia Jax and Lash Legend show up and go on the attack, ganging up on Charlotte after laying out Alexa. Giulia shows up and confronts Nia, and Kiana has to hold Giulia back.

We hear from Solo Sikoa, who sees more than the lantern and that he can see all the fireflies in the world who are now in his possession. He states that if Bo Dallas wants the lantern back, The Wyatt Sicks (Bo Dallas, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross) must put the WWE Tag Team Championships on the line. He says his family will take back all the gold, but until then, he will take care of the lantern, and "he" is going to be with him when he takes out Damian Priest and wins the Undisputed WWE Championship.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. Cody says that he was not just WWE's champion, but the fans' champion, and he wanted the fans to be teammates and not just spectators. He admits that either he became complacent, or Drew McIntyre was just that good last week. He also talks about winning back-to-back Royal Rumbles, then says only one person has one three and that he loves a gamble. He states that with no rematch clause, he will do this "the old way," and declares for the men's Royal Rumble. Cody also addresses Jacob Fatu, saying he has known Jacob throughout his career, and says that he knows what "receipt" means. He says that Jacob has a receipt coming, and he can either come and take it, or he can come to Jacob and beat the brakes off his ass.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Matt Cardona. Cardona says it is a shame how Cody Rhodes lost the Undisputed WWE Championship, then says he and Drew McIntyre also go way back. He says he reinvented himself while he was gone, and he plans to become WWE Champion.

Trick Williams beats Matt Cardona in an Undisputed WWE Championship #1 contender's Fatal Four-Way qualifier. After the match, Kit Wilson heads towards the ring, calls Trick Williams "toxic," then attacks Matt Cardona as soon as Cardona turns his back before calling him toxic.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Damian Priest. Priest says he could talk all day about Drew McIntyre, but tonight is about Solo Sikoa, and his match may not be one-on-one. He says he did "one versus all" to win Money in the Bank, and he will do it again to get to McIntyre.

Kit Wilson is still in the ring as he says the fans need reassurance, leadership, and most of all, him. As Kit Wilson states that he is the solution to toxic masculinity, Jacob Fatu shows up from behind and superkicks him when he turns around. Jacob then hits Kit Wilson with a senton followed by a top rope moonsault, then tells "The Americna Nightmare" Cody Rhodes that if he has something to say about or to him, then he can get in the ring right now. Cody shows up and heads to the ring to brawl with Jacob, and referees and security show up to separate both men. General Manager Nick Aldis shows up just before the brawl starts again and the scene fades to black.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu is official for Saturday Night's Main Event on January 24th.

Damian Priest beats Solo Sikoa in an Undisputed WWE Championship #1 contender's Fatal Four-Way qualifier after The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross) show up and chase The MFT's (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo) - minus Talla Tonga, who is ejected for tripping Priest off the top rope despite the referee not seeing it - and Solo Sikoa keeps Uncle Howdy from taking the lantern back. After the match, Uncle Howdy reclaims his lantern, but he is soon taken out by a returning Talla Tonga, who reclaims the lantern for Solo before helping Solo to the back.

Backstage, Sami Zayn is met by Drew McIntyre. Sami says he is happy that McIntyre won last week, then says that he will beat Ilja Dragunov, win the #1 contender's match and see McIntyre again. McIntyre says he has beaten Sami eleven times while Sami has never beaten him, and that nothing will change. Sami says "We'll see."

Carmelo Hayes' open challenge opponent is revealed to be Leon Slater.

Carmelo Hayes retains the WWE United States Championship against Leon Slater after countering a Superplex attempt with an avalanche cutter.

Backstage, Shinsuke Nakamura is confronted by Tama Tonga, saying that he had his chance and blew it. Tama Tonga then tells Nakamura to stay out of his way. Nakamura replies to Tama Tonga in Japanese, then walks away.

Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae laugh about beating up Nathan Frazer when Axiom shows up and tells them to give the mask back to save them a beating. Gargano hands the mask to Candice, then he is suddenly jumped by Nathan Frazer in an Axiom mask. Frazer tells Gargano that they have a match next week, and that after he beats respect into him, Axiom will do the same and take his mask back.

We see a vignette for Oba Femi.

Jade Cargill watches the next match from ringside.

Jordynne Grace beats Chelsea Green. After the match, Jordynne addresses Jade Cargill, stating that it is extremely important for Cargill to know what exactly is coming for her and that if she is tired of babysitting the WWE Women's Championship, she can get in the ring, right here, right now. Chelsea charges at Jordynne only for Jordynne to dodge so that Chelsea runs into Cargill instead. Jordynne looks at the WWE Women's Championship, then passes it to Cargill.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Trick Williams. Trick Williams puts all of SmackDown, saying that he is money before telling Randy Orton and Damian Priest have a match with the future of the business and that he is going to whoop that ass. Priest shows up and says that while Trick likes to do a lot of talking, he does not, and says that since the both of them are free next Friday, he is free to whoop that trick.

Sami Zayn beats Ilja Dragunov in an Undisputed WWE Championship #1 contender's Fatal Four-Way qualifier. After the match, Sami is attacked from behind by Trick Williams, who then hits Sami with the Trick Knee to end the show.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

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