By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,376)
Buffalo, New York, at KeyBank Center
Simulcast live January 2, 2026, on USA Network (Netflix internationally)
[Hour One] Michael Cole opened the show on commentary while a shot aired of the host venue… A video package recapped the recent developments in the Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre feud…
Cole narrated arrival/backstage shots of Cody Rhodes, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, Nia Jax and Lash Legend, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka and Kairi Sane, Damian Priest, and Aleister Black and Zelina…
Cole pointed out the ambulance on the stage for the Ambulance Match and then introduced Corey Graves as his broadcast partner. Graves was talking about getting 2026 started, but he was interrupted.
The Miz showed up at ringside and entered the ring for an airing of his grievances. Miz complained about not being John Cena’s final opponent, Carmelo Hayes not showing him enough respect, being passed over for a movie, and a nickname that bothers him returning. Miz said that, unlike Buffalo, he actually wins championships, which drew a strong reaction. Miz said he’s a locker room leader in a room filled with spoiled little brats.
Randy Orton’s entrance theme played, and he walked out sporting a Buffalo Sabres t-shirt. Once in the ring, Orton played to the fans while Miz acted like he was happy to see him. There were loud “Randy” chants once his music stopped playing. Miz fired them up and told the fans to let Orton hear it. An “RKO” chant followed.
Miz told Orton that it was good to have him back on Smackdown. Miz started to talk about how “we” run the locker room and are the faces of WWE. Miz said they could team up as “Miz-KO.” Orton acted interested and then in a shocking development, he dropped Miz with an RKO out of nowhere. Orton played to the crowd and picked up Miz and said, “Happy New Year, Miz,” before hitting him with another RKO…
Powell’s POV: You had to know they had something in the works when they opened the first show of the new year with a Miz promo. You also had to know exactly what was going to happen the moment that Orton’s music hit, and yet it worked like a charm. The fans love Orton and the RKO. On a side note, WrestleTix lists the venue as being set up for 9,746 with 8,852 tickets distributed roughly an hour before the show. The listed capacity for KeyBank Center is 19,200.
Backstage, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane were talking when Nia Jax and Lash Legend showed up. Jax and Legend recalled beating Asuka and Sane recently, and said they would help them in the eight-woman tag match, and then they would owe them. Asuka laughed and said that she and Sane will retain their titles on Monday, and then would face Jax and Legend anytime. Sane stuck around and spoke to Jax and Legend until Asuka yelled for her…
Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley made their entrances for the eight-woman tag team match before the first commercial break… [C]
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was standing backstage when Randy Orton approached him. They shook hands. Orton respectfully told Cody that once Cody finishes with Drew McIntyre in Berlin, he’s coming for the WWE Championship.
Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis showed up after Orton walked away. Aldis said McIntyre will try to get to Cody, and then reminded Cody that he would be stripped of his title if he puts a finger on McIntyre before their match next week…
The Kabuki Warriors’ entrance was televised…
1. Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka, Kairi Sane, Lash Legend, and Nia Jax in an eight-woman tag match. The heels attacked the babyfaces before the opening bell. Ripley tagged in before they went to break roughly 90 seconds into the match. [C]
Sky tagged in and worked over Asuka and Sane, which included a missile dropkick on both of them. Sky wanted to tag out, but Jax pulled Ripley off the apron and ran her into the barricade. Legend made a blind tag. Sky went for a springboard move meant for Asuka, but Legend blasted Sky with a big boot in midair. [C]
Ripley tagged in and put Sane down with a Riptide. Ripley tagged Sky, who hit Over The Moonsault on Sane before pinning her. The broadcast team played up the idea that there would be new tag team champions if it plays out this way on Monday. There was some tension between the two babyface teams, but they all raised their hands together…
Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka, Kairi Sane, Lash Legend, and Nia Jax in 14:30 in an eight-woman tag match.
Backstage, Nick Aldis told Jordynne Grace that he has big plans for Smackdown in 2026 and wants her to be a part of them. Grace said Aldis gave her a lot to consider. Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted.
Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre stormed into the room. Aldis introduced Green to Grace. Green said she knows who Grace is, blew off her handshake offer, and then dismissed her. Grace told Aldis that some people were going to make her decision a lot easier.
Green told “Nicholas” that she couldn’t possibly go to the ring because she was mentally unwell because of the emotional ending of Stranger Things. Aldis asked if it would feel better if she were a fighting champion. Green said she’d been fighting for her life on the internet. Aldis said he could “impeach” Green and strip her of the title. “I don’t want to do it,” Green whined as she and Fyre stormed away…
Kit Wilson made his entrance… [C]
Powell’s POV: That’s another notable name moving on from NXT. I’m sure it’s a little stressful for the creative forces, but that means there will be plenty of opportunities for NXT wrestlers to move up the card, and for some Evolve wrestlers to move up to NXT.
Cole spoke about being in Buffalo while some local imagery was shown. Members of the Buffalo Bills were shown in the front row. Cole said he wanted the Bills to beat the New York Jets this week so that the Jets would get a higher draft pick…
Kit Wilson stood in the ring and accused the Bills Mafia (the nickname for Bills fans) and the players in attendance of being toxic. Matt Cardona made his entrance…
2. Matt Cardona vs. Kit Wilson. Cole said Nick Aldis just informed him that Aldis was now an official member of the Smackdown roster. Wilson had offensive control when he started barking about someone being toxic. Cardona went on the offensive. Wilson rallied briefly, but Cardina cut him off with a Rough Ryder and got the pin. Graves asked if they still call it that. “What else should I call it?” Cole asked. He mentioned the Car Rider as a potential name…
Matt Cardona beat Kit Wilson in 4:20.
Powell’s POV: Yes, they called him Matt Cardona, not Zack Ryder. Good for him for making it back to WWE and getting to use his real name, which is the name he’s used outside WWE. Am I wrong for wanting to see Cardona feud with Ethan Page over Chelsea Green?
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Damian Priest, who said his feud with Aleister Black had been going on for six months. He said it would end tonight. Priest said he would put Black in the ambulance, and then Black’s career would fade to black…
Cole said it would be the first ambulance match on Smackdown, and just the seventh in the history of WWE… [C]
[Hour Two] Cole and Graves spoke about Monday’s Raw while a shot aired of the Barclays Center. The match graphics had a Stranger Things theme…
A Wyatt Sicks promo video aired with Bo Dallas talking while Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, Nikki Cross, and Erick Rowan stood by. Dallas spoke about chopping down Solo Sikoa’s MFT family tree. “After the dust settles, we will be the ones,” Dallas said…
Sami Zayn made his entrance in non-wrestling attire. Zayn spoke about watching John Cena’s final match from the crowd with his son. Zayn said his son asked him about the “the never seen 17” slogan. Zayn said he explained that Cena won 17 world titles.
Zayn said his son asked him how many times he won the world championship. “I had to tell him zero,” Zayn said. He said his son asked him why. Zayn said he didn’t have an answer for him. He said it was confusing for his son, who has watched him in the ring with various world champions, and his son has seen him come home with other title belts.
Zayn said he spoke a lot about becoming a world champion last year to the point that it made him sick. Zayn said he’s done talking about it. He said 2026 is the year that he is going to do it.
Trick Williams’ entrance theme played. Trick headed to the ring dressed in all white. Trick ran through some of his nicknames for Zayn, then told Zayn that he could call him Trick Willy. Trick said he’s what happens when you get Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, and Mike Tyson at the same place and at the same time.
Trick said Aldis called him and said they need him on Smackdown. He said Aldis was trying to say they need someone who can challenge for the world championship. Trick told Zayn that he was there to be the world champion. Trick said he and Zayn aren’t alike. He said it won’t take him twenty years to get opportunities. He said he’s not the guy who can almost get the job done like Zayn.
Is it my imagination or are the commercials comig more frequently tonight?
Gotta love Trick coming out there looking like Rick James got infected by gamma radiation.