By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,378)
London, England, at OVO Arena Wembley
Simulcast live January 16, 2026, on Netflix internationally, on delay on USA Network
NOTE: This review was written as the episode streamed live on Friday afternoon. For those following along at the usual time on USA Network, don’t scroll past what’s aired on television if you want to avoid spoilers.
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore opened the show on commentary while a shot of London was shown. Tessitore narrated backstage/arrival shots of Randy Orton, The Miz, Damian Priest, The MFTs, Matt Cardona, Trick Williams, Ilja Dragunov, and Sami Zayn…
Tessitore said the show was sold out. Corey Graves checked in with Tessitore at their broadcast table… A video package recapped Drew McIntyre beating Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell match to win the WWE Championship when Jacob Fatu interfered…
Bagpipe players performed on the stage and then lined up in the entrance aisle while new WWE Champion Drew McIntyre made his entrance. Ring announcer Mark Nash introduced McIntyre, who was cheered by the London crowd.
“I prayed for this, and it happened,” McIntyre said. A “you deserve it” chant followed. McIntyre said he knew it had been a rough few years, but if anyone could bring everyone together, it was him as the first British WWE Champion. The fans sang his name.
“I just want to say to each and every one of you, screw you,” he said. “This isn’t me doing the bad guy wrestler bit. No, seriously, screw you. When I got fired, where were you? You want to jump on the bandwagon right now, 99 percent of you weren’t there for me.”
McIntyre said there was no uprising when The Bloodline screwed him over. He said the fans cheered CM Punk and did the “stupid Yeet” with Jey Uso. He said the fans did nothing when Cody Rhodes and his referees screwed him. McIntyre thanked himself.
McIntyre said he wanted to address the former champion. He said he knows it cuts like a knife every time he says “former champion Cody Rhodes.” Some fans sang Cody’s name.
McIntyre said he had Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis add a stipulation, which he said he would explain since 90 percent of Americans can’t read. McIntyre said there would be no rematch. “The vanilla QB1 era is over, and the dangerous, unpredictable Drew McIntyre era begins tonight.”
Randy Orton made his entrance and stopped to fist-bump a young fan who made a sign with his name on it. Orton entered the ring and told McIntyre that he wasn’t there to congratulate him. Orton recalled McIntyre had a chance to kick his head through the broadcast table, but he declined. Orton said that when he gets the opportunity to return the favor, he won’t hesitate. He said he’s beaten McIntyre for the title before, and he’ll do it again with an RKO.
Jacob Fatu made his entrance and attacked McIntyre once he entered the ring. Fatu took the fight to the floor, where he slammed McIntyre’s head on the broadcast table. McIntyre ran Fatu’s head into the ring post, and then ran away through the crowd.
The Miz showed up inside the ring and put Orton down with a Skull Crushing Finale. The broadcast team said the Orton vs. Miz match was up next after a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: The McIntyre celebration was fun, and I enjoyed the way he played to the cheering fans only to turn them against him.
1. Randy Orton vs. The Miz in a qualifying match for a four-way to earn a shot at the WWE Championship. The match was joined in progress. At ringside, Orton dumped Miz on top of the broadcast table twice. Orton got Miz back on the apron and then performed a Draping DDT.
Orton struck the Viper’s Pose, but Miz countered with a Skull Crushing Finale for a near fall. Orton went for an RKO, but Miz stuffed it and rolled him up for a two count. When they stood up, Orton hit the RKO and then pinned Miz…
Randy Orton defeated The Miz in roughly 4:30 of on-air time to qualify for the four-way match to earn a shot at the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
Powell’s POV: There was no mystery regarding the outcome, but Miz did get a nice near fall, and the match didn’t overstay its welcome.
Drew McIntyre clutched his title belt while nervously rushing through the backstage area. Ilja Dragunov stopped him and spoke about how he won a championship on his first night back. McIntyre said he didn’t have time and said that if Dragunov wins the four-way, he’d see him at the Royal Rumble…
Tessitore touted a look back at last week’s Wyatt Sicks vs. MFTs match… [C] A sponsored recap was shown of the Wyatts vs. MFTs…
An Uncle Howdy video aired. He was joined by Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross. He said Solo Sikoa stole their light. He said the lantern doesn’t belong in the hands of someone who believes it is more powerful than its true purpose. Howdy said the lantern will come back to them, and they won’t rest until it’s home…
Graves said he doesn’t think Solo and his crew understand the power they are playing with… Highlights aired of Giulia beating Alexa Bliss to retain the Women’s U.S. Championship when Lash Legend interfered…
Alexa Bliss was standing outside the venue by the production trucks when Charlotte Flair showed up. Bliss questioned just how sick Flair was last week. Flair said she was truly sick and spoke about the singles opportunities she’s put off for the benefit of their team. Flair apologized for being sick.
Nia Jax and Lash Legend showed up after Bliss left. Jax told Flair that it was classic Bliss, in that she makes people feel guilty and walks away. Flair blew off Jax’s comments and walked away…
Women’s U.S. Champion Giulia and Kiana James made their entrance for a tag team match against Flair and Bliss… [C] UFC fighter Michael “Venom” Page was shown in the crowd… Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss made their entrances…
2. Women’s U.S. Champion Giulia and Kiana James vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Bliss slapped James and then ducked when James tried to return the favor, and then slapped her two more times. Giulia tagged in and had Bliss down going into a break. [C]
Flair took a hot tag and then worked over her opponents. Flair went up top and performed a crossbody block on James for a two count. A short time later, Bliss made a blind tag. James ran toward Flair, but Bliss cut her off and hit Sister Abigail for the win.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss defeated Giulia and Kiana James in 8:30.
After the match, Nia Jax and Lash Legend went through the heels to get to Flair and Bliss. Giulia returned to the ring after Jax and Legend had roughed up Flair and Bliss. James pulled Giulia back to stop her from going after Jax and Legend…
Powell’s POV: A predictable television match in terms of James being the one to take the loss. By the way, WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 10,514, with just 240 tickets remaining.
Tessitore questioned what was next for Cody Rhodes… [C]
[Hour Two] A MFT promo video aired. Solo Sikoa looked into the lantern while Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, and JC Mateo stood behind him. Solo spoke about how he could see all of the fireflies when he looked into the lantern. He said that if the Wyatt Sicks want the lantern back, they better put the WWE Tag Team Titles on the line…
Cody Rhodes made his entrance. Some fans sang his name once he was inside the ring while others booed. Cody said the reaction was different. He said what he was doing became episodic. He said he wanted the fans to be teammates. Cody questioned whether he saw all of the ways he could possibly lose the Three Stages of Hell or whether Drew McIntyre is just that good.
Cody asked what he had in common with Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, and Steve Austin. He said they are the only ones who ever won back-to-back Royal Rumbles. He said only one of them won three times in a row. Cody said he loves a gamble. He put over some of his history in London while adding that the city deserves a WrestleMania, which drew loud cheers.
Cody declared himself the first entrant in the men’s Royal Rumble match. He asked the fans what they wanted to talk about. He said they should talk about Jacob Fatu. Cody said Fatu is a young veteran, and he knows what the word receipt means. Cody said Fatu has the biggest receipt he’s ever given coming. He told Fatu he could come to the ring or he could find him and beat his ass…
Powell’s POV: Finally, someone talks about the Royal Rumble. The show is only 15 days away, yet Cody is the first person to declare for either of the Rumble matches. I can’t say that Cody winning a third Rumble match does anything for me, but it’s definitely an interesting hook for the men’s match.
Cathy Kelley interviewed Matt Cardona in a backstage area. Cardona said it was a shame that Cody lost the title because he was looking forward to challenging him for the title. He said he’d have to face Drew McIntyre, and recalled being McIntyre’s first opponent in WWE.
Cardona said that, like Cody and McIntyre, he had to leave WWE to find and reinvent himself. He said they’ve both been champions. He said he’s back to be the WWE Champion…
Trick Williams made his entrance… [C] Tessitore listed the WWE podcast schedule… Matt Cardona made his entrance…
3. Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams in a qualifying match for a four-way to earn a shot at the WWE Championship. Cardona sent Trick to the floor and then kicked him through the ropes. Cardona hit a missile dropkick from the apron. [C]
Late in the match, Cardona went for a Rough Ryder, but Trick pushed him over his head. Trick dodged Cardona, leaping from the middle rope, and then hit him with a Pounce-style move. Trick followed up with a Trick Shot and scored the clean pin…
Trick Williams beat Matt Cardona in 8:50 to qualify for the four-way match to earn a shot at the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
After the match, Kit Wilson made his entrance and stopped when he crossed paths with Trick in the entrance aisle. Trick looked him up and down, and then Wilson headed to ringside, where he encountered Cardona. Wilson waited until he was past Cardona and then turned around and attacked him. Wilson ran Cardona into the ring steps and yelled something about Cardona being toxic…
Powell’s POV: A nice win for Trick, who is already going to be in a match with the big boys now that he’s joined Randy Orton in qualifying for the four-way at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Damian Priest about his qualifying match with Solo Sikoa. Priest recalled winning Money in the Bank in London. He said it was one versus all, and if he’d do that again tonight if the MFTs get involved. Priest said he needs to get to McIntyre no matter what it takes tonight… [C]
Kit Wilson was still in the ring coming out of the break. He told the fans they all know he’s right. He said they know there’s a problem, and he is the solution. He said the fans need reassurance and leadership. “You all need me,” Wilson said.
Jacob Fatu entered the ring behind Wilson and waited for him to turn around before superkicking him. The fans booed. Fatu performed a running senton and then performed his moonsault. Fatu took the mic and told Cody Rhodes that if he had something to say about or to him, he should “bring your punk ass out here right now.”
Cody Rhodes’ entrance theme played, and he headed to the ring. Cody entered the ring and traded punches with Fatu. Security ran out to pull them apart while the fans booed.
Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis entered the ring. Cody broke free and got to Fatu. “Oh, this is awesome,” Tessitore said just before they went to a break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Can you imagine the reaction if a fight were to break out in one of the NFL playoff games this weekend, and one of the announcers yells excitedly, just as the network abruptly cuts to commercial? Only in pro wrestling.
Tessitore announced Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu for next weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event… Solo Sikoa made his entrance with the MFTs. Damian Priest’s entrance followed…
4. Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo) in a qualifying match for a four-way to earn a shot at the WWE Championship. Solo booted Priest off the apron to the floor. As the referee scolded Fatu, Loa hit Priest from behind, and then Tama jumped off the ring steps and struck Priest. [C]
Late in the match, Priest went to the ropes, but Talla crotched him while the referee was focused on Solo. The referee questioned whether Talla did something to Priest and then ejected him from ringside.
Solo joined Priest on the ropes, but Priest slipped away and performed a Razor’s Edge for a near fall. Priest lowered the straps on his gear and signaled for his finisher. Tama climbed on the apron, which drew the referee’s attention. Loa climbed onto the apron
Solo performed a Spinning Solo Slam and then followed up with a top rope splash for a near fall. Some Wyatt Sicks imagery was shown, and then the lights went out. When the lights turned on, Uncle Howdy, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross were standing on the broadcast table behind Solo’s extras.
The Wyatt Sicks quickly got the better of the MFTs. Howdy ran Mateo into the ring post and then tossed him into the timekeeper’s area. Howdy approached the lantern that was on the floor, but Solo ran him into the broadcast table. Solo grabbed the lantern and returned to the ring. Solo placed the lantern on the mat and then turned around. Priest put him down with a South of Heaven chokeslam and then pinned him…
Damian Priest defeated Solo Sikoa in 10:10 to qualify for the four-way match to earn a shot at the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
After the match, Howdy picked up the lantern and laughed. Talla Tonga returned and stood behind Howdy. When Howdy turned around, Talla dropped him with a big boot. He picked up the lantern and handed it to a woozy Solo at ringside…
Powell’s POV: Watching grown men feud over a magical electric lantern feels like something out of 1992 storylines.
Sami Zayn was walking backstage when Drew McIntyre stopped him. McIntyre recalled Zayn saying that he wanted him to beat Cody, yet predicted that Cody would beat him. Zayn said a part of him did want McIntyre to win. He said he would win his qualifying match and the four-way, and then challenge McIntyre at the Rumble.
McIntyre said his record is 11-0 in their past matches. He said nothing would change if they met again. “We’ll see,” Zayn said before walking away…
U.S. Champion Carmelo Hayes made his entrance for his open challenge…
[Hour Three] [C] An ad for Raw touted the two previously advertised title matches, and listed the early start time of 2CT/3ET…
TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater made his entrance as Hayes’s challenger. Graves noted that AJ Styles was the first X Division Champion…
5. Carmelo Hayes vs. TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater for the U.S. Championship. Hayes hit an early springboard clothesline that put Slater down. Slater came back with a big chop that drew gasps from the crowd. Slater shook his hand to sell that it hurt. Slater hit a top rope crossbody block for a two count. [C]
Hayes sold his left knee after a leapfrog. The London fans sang a song that Slater encouraged by nodding along. Slater dropkicked Hayes in the corner and covered him for a two count. A short time later, Slater went up top, but Hayes rolled under the ropes, which drew some boos.
Moments later, the wrestlers traded pin attempts. Slater performed a huracanrana and picked up a near fall. Hayes ended up at ringside. Slater dove over the ring post and hit Hayes on the floor. Slater rolled Hayes back inside the ring and went for the 450 Swanton, but Hayes moved. Hayes hit the First 48 for a near fall.
Hayes went to the ropes. Slater shot up and grabbed his foot before joining him on the ropes. Both jumped from the top rope, and Hayes hit him with a cutter on the way down, which led to the three count.
Carmelo Hayes defeated TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater in 11:00 to retain the U.S. Championship.
Powell’s POV: That was really fun. Slater missed TNA’s premiere on AMC to work some live events and this show. While I feel for any fans who paid to see him last night in Dallas, I think it’s actually the right call for TNA to let him do it. The more exposure Slater gets, the bigger the star he will be during the rest of his TNA run.
Shinsuke Nakamura was shown watching the match on a backstage monitor. Tama Tonga told Nakamura that he had his chance, and he blew it. Tama said that once the MFTs take the WWE Tag Team Titles, the U.S. Championship will be his. Tama said because he and Nakamura go way back, he was giving him one warning only to stay out of his way. Nakamura spoke in Japanese and then smiled before walking away, leaving Tama with his head down…
Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae were walking backstage when Axiom stopped them. Axiom told Gargano to give his mask back. Gargano said he didn’t have it and then handed it to LeRae, who exited the scene. Gargano turned around, and another masked man was waiting for him. The second masked man punched him and then revealed himself to be Nathan Frazer, and said they would meet in a singles match next week…
Chelsea Green made her entrance with Alba Fyre. Graves said they named an entire football club after Green in England… [C] An Oba Femi video aired… Jordynne Grace made her entrance and received a tame crowd reaction. The broadcast team worked in a quick plug for Saturday’s AAA show on YouTube…
6. Jordynne Grace vs. Chelsea Green (w/Alba Fyre). WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill sat in a chair on the floor while watching the match. In the end, Grace hit the Direct Effect (cartwheel driver) and scored the pin.
Jordynne Grace defeated Chelsea Green in 2:35.
The announcers noted that Jade gave Grace a golf clap. Grace got a mic and told Jade that it’s extremely important that she knows exactly what’s coming for her. Grace told Jade that if she’s tired of babysitting the title, she should step in the ring.
Jade stood up and walked up the ring steps. Jade stood on the apron while holding up her title belt. Green stood up and charged Grace, who moved, causing Green to knock Jade off the apron. Grace picked up Jade’s title belt and then tossed it in front of her on the floor…
Powell’s POV: Ouch. It didn’t help to work with a popular heel and to have a match this late in a three-hour show, but the crowd’s reaction to Grace was very mellow.
Cathy Kelley interviewed Trick Williams, who put Smackdown on notice. Trick said he’s that dawg. He said he looks and feels like money, because he is money. Trick congratulated Randy Orton and Damian Priest for having a match with the future.
Damian Priest approached Trick and said that Trick likes to do a lot of talking, whereas he does not. Priest said he knows Trick is free next Friday, and he will also be free to whoop that Trick…
Ilja Dragunov made his entrance for the main event… [C]
The broadcast team listed the following matches for next week’s Smackdown in Montreal: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax and Lash Legend vs. Giulia and Kiana James in a Triple Threat for a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, The Wyatt Sicks vs. The MFTs for the WWE Tag Team Titles, and Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest…
Sami Zayn made his entrance to a strong reaction…
7. Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov in a qualifying match for a four-way to earn a shot at the WWE Championship. Tessitore noted that Graves will join Michael Cole in Belfast for Monday’s Raw. After some back-and-forth action, Zayn superplexed Dragunov, leaving both men down. [C] Dragunov went for the H-Bomb, but Zayn put his boot up. Dragunov came right back with an enzuigiri. He followed up with a pair of running clotheslines in the corner. Dragunov ran to the opposite corner again, but this time Zayn followed. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick, but Dragunov avoided it.
Both wrestlers ended up on the apron, where Dragunov hit Torpedo Moscow, causing both men to fall to the floor. Dragunov returned to the ring, and Zayn beat the referee’s count at the last moment. Dragunov went for a top rope senton splash, but Zayn put his knee up. Zayn performed an exploder suplex and then followed up with a Helluva Kick and scored the clean pin.
Sami Zayn defeated Ilja Dragunov in 12:30 to qualify for the four-way match to earn a shot at the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
A graphic listed Randy Orton vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest vs. Sami Zayn in a four-way for Saturday Night’s Main Event with the winner earning a shot at the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
Trick Williams entered the ring and hit Zayn from behind. Trick followed up with a Trick Shot. Trick stood over Zayn and jawed at him while the executive producer credits were shown to end the episode…
Powell’s POV: The first half of the match was slow, yet built nicely to the strong action down the stretch. Zayn going over was no surprise, given how much they seem to be teasing that he will face McIntyre. The post-match attack capped off a good episode for Trick.
Overall, this was another good three-hour show. They had the Three Stages of Hell match last week and the four qualifiers this week. They can’t do those types of things weekly, but they are off to a nice start with the latest three-hour run. Meanwhile, lack of hype for the Royal Rumble event and the two Rumble matches is bizarre.
I will be back shortly with my weekly same-night audio review of Smackdown, which will be available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below. Have a great weekend.
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