WWE SmackDown Notes: 3-Hour Weekly Show Return, Randy Orton Returns, Jordynne Grace Appears, Matt Cardona & Trick Williams Joins SmackDown Brand, Drew McIntyre Reveals Stips for Three Stages of Hell Match, Giulia Wins WWE Women’s US Title, 1/9 Show Card

WWE
Jan 2, 2026

SmackDown’s Return as 3-Hour Weekly Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York featured SmackDown’s official return as a weekly three-hour show on USA Network in the United States and on Netflix internationally.

Besides the return of the SmackDown as a weekly three-hour show, Michael Cole and Corey Graves also made their returns as the official commentary team for WWE’s SmackDown brand going forward.

This was SmackDown’s first three-hour show since this past June.

Randy Orton Makes Surprise Return

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Randy Orton making his surprise return.

At the start of the show, Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcomed everyone to the first SmackDown show of the new year. This quickly led to The Miz showing up at ringside to interrupt and hijacked the show stating it will not go on until after he airs his grievances. The Miz proceeded to rant about his issues including not getting a match with John Cena for his retirement tour and his bad blood with Joe Hendry.

This led to Orton’s music playing to interrupt and he came out to the ring.

After Orton made his lengthy entrance routine, The Miz interrupted and started talking about how it is good to have him back and gave a fist bump to Orton. Miz then continued with his speech stating that “we” are the adults in the room, “we” are the locker room leaders, and “we” are the gateways to the company. The Miz then offered a tag team partnership with Orton saying they could be called MizKO. Orton responded with an RKO to lay out The Miz and went up to The Miz and shook his hand saying “Happy New Year.” Orton then grabbed The Miz up to his feet and laid him out again with another RKO and gave more season greetings to Miz.

In a follow-up segment, Orton and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes were seen backstage. Orton told Rhodes that once he beats Drew McIntyre, he is coming for that title.

Jordynne Grace Makes Surprise Appearance

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured NXT talent Jordynne Grace making a surprise appearance.

During the show, Grace was seen with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis in his office backstage. Aldis stated that he wants her on SmackDown revealing her current free agent status for the main roster. This led to Alba Fyre and WWE Women United States Champion Chelsea Green showing up to interrupt and Green gave some excuses for why she can’t compete tonight. This led to Aldis responding back telling Green that she can be a fighting Champion or he can impeach her and strip her of the title. This led to an upset reaction by Green who stormed out of the office.

Matt Cardona Makes Surprise Return & Officially Joins SmackDown Brand

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured TNA and indies talent Matt Cardona making a surprise return to WWE.

During the show, Kit Wilson came out to the ring for his match against a mystery challenger. After some words by Wilson insulting Buffalo and Buffalo Bills fans for being the most toxic sports place, Cardona’s music played and he came out to the ring revealing himself as Wilson’s mystery opponent.

Michael Cole announced on commentary that he was informed that Cardona is the newest official signing by Aldis for the SmackDown brand.

This was Cardona’s first appearance in WWE since this past November for the Last Time Is Now Tournament.

Cardona previously worked for WWE from 2005 to 2020.

Trick Williams Officially Joins SmackDown Brand

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured NXT talent Trick Williams revealing that he officially joined the SmackDown brand.

During the show, Sami Zayn came out to the rign and talked about how he sat in the front row crowd with his son for John Cena’s retirement match. Zayn talked about how his son asked him why they call Cena the “Never Seen 17” and Zayn stated that he told his son it is due to Cena being a 17 time World Champion. Zayn continued stating that his son asked him how many World titles he has won which led to Zayn giving a pause and talked about how he has yet to win a World title in WWE. Zayn then declared that 2026 is here and his goal is to win the World title.

This led to Williams’ music playing to interrupt and him coming out to the ring.

Williams introduced himself and stated that he has finally arrived. Williams talked about how Nick Aldis called him back and stated that he needs him on SmackDown and revealed that he has officially joined the SmackDown brand. After some more boasting about himself and insults directed at Zayn, Williams stated that SmackDown needs someone who can challenge for the championship and how they are nothing alike since it won’t take him 20 years to get an opportunity.

Zayn responded back telling Trick that he has yet to be humbled how Trick is not the first person to get in his face and he has no problem teaching Trick a lesson and teaching him a thing or two about what it means to be humbled. Zayn then dropped the microphone and left the ring.

Drew McIntyre Reveals Stips for Three Stages of Hell Match at 1/9 Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Drew McIntyre officially revealing the stipulations for his Three Stages of Hell match against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at next week’s show on January 9th in Berlin, Germany.

During the show, Rhodes came out to the ring and talked about what separate him from others when it comes to becoming a champion and the mentality and secret he has that others don’t. Rhodes then talked about how McIntyre reeks of envy over him and how he has been playing dumb to his adversaries. Rhodes stated “you can call yourself the Final Boss, the Tribal Chief, the Game, the Greatest of All Time but he is the one who calls himself the champ. And that does not change in Berlin.”

This led to McIntyre showing up on the big video screen standing outside in the parking lot. After some insults directed at Rhodes, McIntyre revealed that the first fall will be held as a straight wrestling match, the second fall will be held under Falls Count Anywhere, and the third fall will be held inside a steel cage.

McIntyre then brought up the stipulation of Rhodes being stripped of his title if he dares to lay a finger on him before their match and proceeded to rile up Rhodes talking about how he was in Rhodes’ bus. After some words about the things he did inside Rhodes’ bus, McIntyre pulled out a framed photo of Rhodes and his late father Dusty saying it was the most prized possession Rhodes had in the bus. After some more words, McIntyre slammed the frame on the ground shattering it leading an angry Rhodes storming off to the back to find McIntyre as WWE officials tried to hold him back.

This led to McIntyre showing up in the ring with a trash can besides him teasing he was going to toss the photo into the trash. This then led to Rhodes storming right back to the ringside area as WWE officials continued trying to keep Rhodes from attacking McIntyre. McIntyre proceeded to pull a lighter out of his pants and lit the photo on fire that took a while for the flames to spread due to it being a lamented photo. McIntyre then tossed the flaming photo in the trash can and mocked Rhodes as a furious Rhodes was being held back by WWE officials.

Giulia Wins WWE Women’s United States Title

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Giulia defeating Chelsea Green to become the new WWE Women’s United States Champion.

This was Giulia’s second WWE Women’s United States title victory in her WWE career.

Current Card for Next Week’s Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured two new matches announced for the card of next week’s show on January 9th show at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.

The new matches announced were:

  • Eight-Man Tag Team match – Wyatt Sicks (Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, & Uncle Howdy) vs. MFTs (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, & JC Mateo)
  • Rey Fenix vs. Trick Williams

Current card for January 9, 2026 WWE SmackDown show:

  • Undisputed WWE Championship Three Stages of Hell match – Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes (c)
  • Eight-Man Tag Team match – Wyatt Sicks (Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, & Uncle Howdy) vs. MFTs (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, & JC Mateo)
  • Rey Fenix vs. Trick Williams

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