WWE SmackDown outcomes, highlights (Jan. 9): Drew McIntyre dethrones…

January 9, 2026

WWE SmackDown outcomes, highlights (Jan. 9): Drew McIntyre dethrones…

WWE is again in Europe and delivered back-to-back big three-hour episodes of “SmackDown” to start 2026. Similar to this past Monday’s “Raw,” the Friday program in Berlin, Germany, also featured three title matches, culminating in the big three-stages-of-hell main event between the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre.

Hell of an evening

Among all the methods WWE may have completed the proper factor, I never anticipated it to unfold like this, however McIntyre has dethroned Rhodes to develop into the new Undisputed WWE Champion.

The rivals’ three-stages-of-hell match was about as WWE formulaic because it will get, beginning with the singles match. Minimal time was given to that portion of that match, and it considerably hilariously ended after McIntyre obtained the pin off a low blow missed by the ref, adopted by a Claymore Kick. What’s humorous is how resilient we have seen Rhodes throughout his profession, particularly in current matches. The man has survived far worse. That combo was just an excessive amount of after all the emotional turmoil.

WWE instantly made that fall all the sillier by having McIntyre Powerbomb Rhodes by a desk to start the Falls Count Anywhere stage. Of course, Rhodes kicked out, they usually labored their manner backstage, which led to Rhodes utilizing inventive assaults, like a banana suffocation and guard rail splash by a desk. The now-former champion basically beat the hell out of McIntyre for this whole stage, scoring the pin with a Cross Rhodes on the announce desk.

The metal cage stage continued to highlight how goofy it’s to have a door escape as a technique of victory. However, that performed completely into the end, when a returning Jacob Fatu halted McIntyre’s exit.

I audibly groaned at the interference, no matter it being Fatu. But then the swerve occurred instantly, seeing Fatu assault Rhodes, too, playing into his lonewolf character. He wasn’t taking sides; he was leaving an impression, as meanwhile, McIntyre still snuck his manner out of the cage to win the title.

McIntyre and Rhodes delivered arguably the best sequences and spots of the match in stage three, however the simple fact that McIntyre received — which it felt more and more like he needed to because it went on — was the biggest proper name shock in current reminiscence. Even if the reign only lasts for per week, the man needed to win and deserved to.

Now, let’s just hope there’s some minor respiration room between McIntyre and Rhodes after an general ultra-rare wonderful “WWE SmackDown” main event.

Uncrowned Gem of the Night

WWE has utterly nailed the rapid introduction of Trick Williams on the main roster. This man cannot really feel like several more of the new big star on the horizon, and placing him in the paths of the likes of Sami Zayn and now Randy Orton is unbelievable, good reserving.

The former NXT Champion confidently wasted no time in shortly interrupting Orton’s opening promo. Confidence is the key phrase because Williams has all of it, which, for a modern-day WWE heel, feels extraordinarily uncommon. At least in the manner he delivers it. Sure, wrestlers like Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker have loads of confident character traits, however it just feels completely pure with Williams.

Things finally dissolved between Orton and Williams, and Orton obtained the better of the newcomer, which I did not significantly love. But it is not like Williams was embarrassed, and the door was left open for more between them.

It all bled into Williams’ debut match against Rey Fenix, which was unsurprisingly good and successfully a showcase. Thankfully, Fenix regarded strong sufficient to not really feel like a whole jobber at this point — particularly contemplating Williams received with a unclean pin.

Debut of the Night

Like Williams, Jordynne Grace is formally on “SmackDown.” We noticed the tease last week, and it is nice to see WWE wasted no time with any of these NXT call-ups. Grace is perhaps the most pivotal of all of them, contemplating the dire state of the women’s world title scenes.

Grace was basically given a straightforward showcase squash match to dominate against Alba Fyre. She scored the win comparatively shortly before she was confronted by Jade Cargill. Good. Get Grace immediately right into a feud with the Women’s WWE Champion, because it is not like she’s some inexperienced rookie. We’re speaking about a longtime former TNA Champion that arguably never even ought to have hung out in NXT.

Meat of the Night

Is the MFT vs. Wyatt Sicks feud resolved? No, however there isn’t any real purpose to care. The Wyatts, while technically the faces in this complete factor, merely aren’t. All traits are of a heel nature, and although it could sometimes work — see Gunther vs. Solo Sikoa — this just does not.

However, it lastly delivered on the only factor all of us needed to see: Big meaty males slapping man meat.

Erick Rowan and Talla Tonga tagging in to go at it was the highlight of the tag team match, and obtained the crowd off their collective ft. It was enjoyable and felt like a throwback to days past of WWE. Sure, it wasn’t nice all the time, however there just aren’t that many big dudes in wrestling typically anymore — at the very least not that big and athletic.

MFT received the match, because of Sikoa stealing the lantern to distract Uncle Howdy. WWE just likes to make its most inventive characters look the dumbest.

Performance of the Night

Carmelo Hayes has match proper into the U.S. Champion position. In this “SmackDown’s” open challenge, he met former champion Shinsuke Nakamura to placed on an absolute banger. This match dominated, however more so, Hayes bought like he was dying.

There was one loopy Nakamura Dragon Screw, specifically, that landed with Hayes atop the ropes, springing him to the outdoors. The man handled it like his whole knee exploded into bits. Nakamura continued to work it over, finally culminating in the end, with an incredible First 48 counter and Nothing But Net.

FRIDAY NIGHT FIRE

1. Matt Cardona obtained his first interview since formally rejoining WWE. It was nothing more than a second to get him on display screen, however then he bumped into his good good friend, Rhodes, and acknowledged he is coming for the world title. Though it is tough to think about WWE truly inserting Cardona into that image, it could be fascinating to see how it could be approached.

To start, WWE announced a Fatal-4-Way match to find out the next world championship contender will happen — however not without qualifying matches, including Cardona vs. Williams. That all sounds nice to me.

2. One of the other three Fatal-4-Way qualifier matches announced was a Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov rematch. You would assume there will not be any interference there, however I’m curious to see the path WWE goes, contemplating Zayn’s persistence on successful a world title, while Dragunov undeniably deserves to be concerned, too.

IT HAPPENED

1. Damian Priest minimize a promo backstage, stating that he needs to get again into the world title image. That’s advantageous since it could be barely refreshing. Priest just is not that fascinating at the second and will use one thing very new — in contrast to another McIntyre feud, which was teased to end it.

Before that, Priest will look to qualify for the Fatal-4-Way contender match by getting by Sikoa next week.

2. Giulia efficiently defended her U.S. title against Alexa Bliss. The matchup was very random, however recent and welcome. They paired together fairly properly. Ultimately, this seemed to be a step in the proper path with the U.S. title — until Lash Legend interfered to assist Giulia win. That was completely pointless, adopted by Legend and Nia Jax attacking Bliss, who was without Charlotte Flair. Again, it is another feud that attracts next to no curiosity.

DOWN & OUT

1. The Miz attacked Orton to shut the opening phase. It ended with Miz taking another RKO, however this just felt utterly pointless other than for another low cost pop like last week. No one needs to see Miz as Orton’s first program of this current run.

Luckily, it seems to be prefer it may not last, as Miz vs. Orton will probably be a part of the Fatal-4-Way qualifier matches. Well, congrats on the win, Randy.

2026 is admittedly off to a depraved scorching start for “SmackDown.” Here’s to hoping it continues. I give this present a Crown score of: 9/10.

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