5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (26 Dec - Results & Review)

The final SmackDown of 2025 is in the bag, and now Triple H/WWE's creative team will be looking to make a splash with 3 hour-long shows early in the new year. Anyone who has tuned into Smackers since summer will know things need to change a little around here. Far too many blue brand episodes have come and gone without much to shout about. They're rarely outright terrible, but there's a reason why many are side-eying friends at the prospect of an extra hour from January onwards.

At least 2025 went out with a bang.

Drew McIntyre lined up a lesser-spotted stipulation bout for his apparent blow off with Cody Rhodes, and that'll take place in Berlin, Germany a few weeks from now. WWE also switched the United States Title, gave the floor to Joe Hendry so the charismatic Scot could show off his singing and brawling skills, and there was even room for another NXT star to lay down a marker for things to come in 2026.

SmackDown's biggest problems are on the women's division side. Honestly, Trips has to sit down and have a proper think about what he's doing with names like Jade Cargill, Giulia, Chelsea Green and others. They're all too talented to be mixing it in uninspiring (and that's being kind!) storylines/feuds.

Here's all the good and bad from Friday's pre-taped episode. Big announcements, title changes, a quasi-'Superstar Shakeup' and more - SmackDown did have a lot to offer, but some parts sagged badly.