WWE SmackDown Notes: Jordynne Grace Joins SmackDown, Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contender Tourn. Announced, Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contender 4-way Match Set for 1/24 SNME Show, Jacob Fatu Returns, Drew McIntyre Wins Undisputed WWE Title, 1/9 Show Card

Jan 9, 2026

Jordynne Grace Joins SmackDown Brand

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany featured NXT talent Jordynne Grace officially joining the SmackDown brand.

During the show, Grace was seen backstage in SmackDown GM Nick Aldis’ office. Aldis officially welcomed Grace to the SmackDown brand as his newest signing. This led to Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre showing up to interrupt and Green demanding Aldis give her re-re-rematch for the WWE Women’s United States Championship. Grace responded talking about not being a diva like some women in reference to Green’s antics. This led to Green and Alba getting angry and Aldis coming up with an idea and announced a match between Grace and Fyre for tonight’s show.

JORDYNNE GRACE IS OFFICIALLY ON THE SMACKDOWN ROSTER!!!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/OTNS7Cxf5C
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) January 9, 2026

Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contender Tournament Announced & Finals Announced for Jan. 24th WWE SNME Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured the announcement of a Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender tournament starting at next week’s show.

During the show, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis stated that an eight-man tournament will be held starting next week and the winners to advance to a Fatal Four-way Finals match at WWE’s next Saturday Night’s Main Event show on January 24th at the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Aldis also announced that the winner of this tournament will then face off against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at this month’s Royal Rumble 2026 event on January 31st in Saudi Arabia.

Full list of competitors for Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender tournament:

Randy Orton
The Miz
Matt Cardona
Trick Williams
Damian Priest
Solo Sikoa
Sami Zayn
Ilja Dragunov

🚨 JUST ANNOUNCED

Four qualifying matches next week where the winners meet in a Fatal Four Way Match at Saturday Night’s Main Event to determine the WWE Championship challenger for the Royal Rumble

• Randy Orton vs. The Miz
• Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams
• Damian Priest… pic.twitter.com/RUv7qUWHsf
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) January 9, 2026

Jacob Fatu Makes Surprise Return & Drew McIntyre Wins Undisputed WWE Title

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Drew McIntyre defeating Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell match to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion.

Near the end of the third stage of the match that was held inside a steel cage, McIntyre tried to crawl out of the cage through the door. This led to a mystery masked hoodie person showing up and took out the referee. This mystery person took off their hood and mask revealing himself to be Fatu.

JACOB FATU HAS RETURNED #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/6nL4a0ZUII
— Wrestlelamia.com (@wrestlelamia) January 9, 2026

Fatu proceeded to attack McIntyre and got into the cage to continue his attack. This led to Rhodes trying to get involved only for Fatu to start attacking him as well. As Fatu was busy attacking Rhodes in the corner, McIntyre started to crawl his way to the cage door and stumbled out to become the new champion. This led to Fatu realizing what just happened and gave a stare at McIntyre that was interrupted by Rhodes sending Fatu face first into the steel cage mesh. Rhodes then stared down McIntyre as the show went to a close.

DREW MCINTYRE HAS WON THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME 🔥🔥 HE'S DONE IT.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/THK4ddcCqy
— Wrestlelamia.com (@wrestlelamia) January 9, 2026

This was Fatu’s first appearance since this past December due to a dental procedure.

This was McIntyre’s third WWE Championship victory and his fourth World title victory in his WWE career.

Current Card for Next Week’s Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured four new matches announced for the card of next week’s show on January 16th at the OVO Arena Wembly in London, England.

Current card for January 16th WWE SmackDown show:

Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender Tournament Qualifying match – Randy Orton vs. The Miz
Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender Tournament Qualifying match – Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams
Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender Tournament Qualifying match – Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa
Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender Tournament Qualifying match – Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov