5 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (2 Jan - Results & Review)
Randy Orton returns; SmackDown signs fresh talent; Ambulance Match underwhelms.
The first SmackDown of 2026 was a 3 hour tour around the best and worst of Triple H-led booking. 'The Game' and his WWE creative squad penned title changes, comebacks, new additions to the blue brand roster and more on Friday night in Buffalo, but it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows amidst the new year celebrations.
Drew McIntyre announcing the stipulations for his upcoming '3 Stages Of Hell' whopper vs. Cody Rhodes could've gone better, and it was completely overshadowed by some personal business involving the memory of Cody's dad Dusty. WWE will always try to push those buttons when it comes to the Rhodes family, and perhaps rightly so, but the '3 Stages' thing? Yeah, could look a little tastier than it does after the reveal.
Elsewhere, the main event between Damian Priest and Aleister Black felt like a bit of a slog. Both borrowed from Hunter's old 'more is more' playbook in terms of the amount of time they had to work with, and that meant the first half was totally inconsequential. Being fair, that 'Ambulance Match' gimmick is tough sledding, but it might surprise a few to see it in the 'Downs' section regardless.
Back on more positive footing, both Trick Williams and Jordynne Grace look like they'll be impact players on SmackDown, and there's definitely something to Trick's simmering issues with Sami Zayn. Meanwhile, Grace could well save Jade Cargill from the purgatory imposed on her since winning the Women's Title.
WWE still have some ironing out to do with the 3 hour length too. Here's all the good and bad from Friday's effort!