By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,375)
Taped December 19, 2025, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at Van Andel Arena
Simulcast December 26, 2025, on USA Network (Netflix internationally)
[Hour One] WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was shown walking backstage when he was approached by Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis. Cody asked if Drew McIntyre had arrived. Aldis said he had not. He reminded Cody that no physicality would be allowed once McIntyre signed the contract for their match.
The Miz showed up after Cody walked away. “Where is he?” Miz asked. Aldis played dumb because he knew Miz didn’t want to say Joe Hendry’s name. Eventually, Aldis mentioned Hendry’s name, and he was shown in the ring with women and Otis dressed in Santa attire, someone in an Easter Bunny costume, and Akira Tozawa as Elf on the Shelf. Hendry sang his own version of Jingle Bells with lyrics about Miz having tiny balls.
“No, no, no,” Miz yelled as he walked toward the ring. Hendry said Miz was upset because they started singing without him. Hendry sang “Miz has tiny balls, he’d rather be in Hollywood, but they won’t return his calls.” Miz entered the ring and demanded that they clear the ring so he could start his match with Hendry.
Nick Aldis came out and announced that the Miz vs. Hendry match would be a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. They went to a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: I’m watching the international feed of the show because Netflix dropped the full 70-minute episode all at once, just as they did for Raw and last week’s Smackdown. So keep in mind if you’re watching on USA Network that I will end up ahead of you, so just don’t read any further than what you’ve seen on TV, and you won’t have anything spoiled.
Michael Cole and Corey Graves checked in from their broadcast table…
1. Joe Hendry vs. The Miz in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. Otis, Tozawa, and someone in the Easter Bunny outfit were still at ringside. Miz threw a fit and dropped elbows on a gift box heading into a break. [C]
Hendry worked over Miz with a candycane kendo stick at ringside before rolling him back inside the ring. Tozawa placed two trays of cookies in the ring. Otis, Tozawa, and the Easter Bunny all entered the ring while Miz begged off.
Hendry performed a fallaway slam on Miz. Otis started the worm, stopped to eat a cookie, and then finished the move. Tozawa hit Miz with a top rope senton. The Easter Bunny removed his costume head and revealed himself to be R-Truth. He did a Five Knuckle Shuffle while Graves said he was having flashbacks to the Rosebuds. Hendry hit Miz with a guitar and then performed a Standing Ovation that put Miz through a table in the corner, and then pinned him.
Joe Hendry defeated The Miz in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight.
After the match, Hendry danced with Otis, Tozawa, and Truth. Cole wondered if Miz would go home and tell his kids that he got beaten up by Santa, an elf, and the Easter Bunny…
Powell’s POV: In the history of pro wrestling, has any wrestler’s balls received more attention than Miz’s? Anyway, the holiday sports entertainment silliness isn’t my jam, but this was a harmless version of it. I’m not timing the matches tonight because of the absence of commercials on the international feed.
Backstage, Carmelo Hayes was talking with Axiom and Nathan Frazer. U.S. Champion Ilja Dragunov showed up and asked for a moment with Hayes, which Axiom and Frazer gave him. Dragunov said the way their U.S. Title match went down bothers him. Hayes conceded the same. Dragunov said the open challenge was closed because he would defend his title against Hayes later in the show. They shook hands and then got more intense…
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were shown wearing bad Christmas sweaters while passing naughty and nice signs back and forth. Lash Lash Legend and Nia Jax were shown elsewhere in the building…
Cathy Kelley caught up with Drew McIntyre and asked if he would talk about the stipulation he selected or his match with Cody. McIntyre said he would, but not right away. He said everyone would have the answers they are looking for by the end of the night…
Aleister Black and Zelina were featured in a promo video. Zelina said they stripped Damian Priest down for six months and made him unpredictable and violent. Black said that Priest answers to him and Zelina. Black said win or lose, he and Zelina have already changed Priest. “It gets ended,” Black said before standing up and walking away…
Byron Saxton stood backstage and spoke about Black and Priest trying to settle things on next week’s Smackdown. Saxton introduced WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill, who talked about Michin being afraid. Jade said she doesn’t need a weapon because she is the weapon. Jade told Michin to bring her kendo stick because she would need it…
B-Fab was shown watching Jade’s promo on a backstage monitor. Michin showed up and spoke about how Jade needs to be humbled…
Powell’s POV: For those who didn’t watch Jade in AEW, she had a group of female associates that she called Baddies. I suspect that B-Fab is going to end up playing that role for Jade in WWE.
Lash Legend made her entrance with Nia Jax before a commercial break… [C] Charlotte Flair came out with Alexa Bliss while ring announcer Mark Nash introduced her. Pyro shot off on the stage, which was covered in Christmas trees and gift boxes…
2. Charlotte Flair (w/Alexa Bliss) vs. Lash Legend (w/Nia Jax). Cole said it was a first-time matchup. Legend got the better of Flair early. Flair fired back with a kick. Flair ran toward Legend, who powerbombed her. The broadcast team said Legend should have covered Flair. [C]
Legend held Flair in front of her and then put Flair’s head in between the ropes before she pulled her up so that her head collided with the top rope several times. Flair came back with a big boot and then followed up with a top rope crossbody block.
“Come on, big girl, let’s go,” Flair said before hitting Legend with several chops. Legend came back with a pump kick and covered Flair for two. Graves pointed out that Legend got overzealous and pulled Flair’s shoulder off the mat while trying to pin her.
Flair put Legend down with a DDT. Flair walked over Legend and then went up top and executed a moonsault that led to a near fall. Graves said Flair got cute with her cover by using an unorthodox hook of the leg, which allowed Legend to kick out.
Flair set up for a Figure Eight. Jax climbed on the apron to distract Flair, who was booted by Legend into a corner of the ring. Jax dropped to the floor. Bliss climbed on Jax’s back. A distracted Legend approached Flair, who used a sunset flip to get the pin.
Charlotte Flair defeated Lash Legend.
Powell’s POV: Graves brought a nice sports-like feel to the match by first covering for the awkward moment when Flair’s shoulder wasn’t down while Legend was going for a pin, and then by calling out Flair for hooking the leg awkwardly. Both announcers put over Legend even though she took the loss in what was just an ordinary TV match…
Nick Aldis stood in his office and told someone off-screen that he said make themselves at home, but this wasn’t what he had in mind. The camera pulled back to show Trick Williams sitting in a chair with his feet on Aldis’s desk. Trick laughed and told Aldis that Raw brought bank. Trick asked if Aldis was going to match the offer.
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes entered the room and asked to speak with Aldis. “Okay, champ,” Trick said before walking away. Cody asked if Drew McIntyre had paid his fine and apologized to referee Dan Engler. Aldis said he had not yet. Cody got worked up. Aldis told him to control his emotions and reminded him that he would strip him of the title if he put a finger on McIntyre.
Trick Williams returned and told Cody that he is the hottest free agent in the game. Trick told Cody that if Aldis makes the right decision, Cody better hold on to his title belt real tight. “Okay, Trick, okay,” Cody said before leaving the room. Cole said on commentary that there were a lot of free agents floating around…
Ilja Dragunov made his entrance for the U.S. Title match… [C]
[Hour Two] Cole ran through the WWE podcast schedule…
A promo video aired with Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and JC Mateo. Solo spoke about Uncle Howdy preaching about family when he doesn’t even have one. Solo said he created his own family. Solo said the fireflies faded away, and his lantern was running low. Solo sang “He’s got the whole world in his hands”…
Carmelo Hayes made his entrance…
3. Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes for the U.S. Championship. Dragunov powered up Hayes and absorbed some elbow strikes before tossing him to the mat. Dragunov caught Hayes with a big boot that sent him to the floor. [C]
Dragunov went for a top rope senton, but Hayes rolled out of the way. Hayes performed a nice facebuster for a near fall. Dragunov came back and set up for the H-Bomb, but Hayes cut him off with an enzuigiri kick. Hayes performed a springboard into a DDT for a nice near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Dragunov rallied and hit a top rope senton for a near fall. [C]
Dragunov set up for a superplex, but Hayes transitioned into a cutter on the way down and got a good near fall. “How the hell did he kick out?” Cole yelled. Both wrestlers ended up on the apron and traded strikes.
Dragunov hoisted up Hayes and dumped him on the apron with a Death Valley Driver. Hayes rolled inside the ring. Dragunov went up top and jumped into the First 48 (Codebreaker). Hayes climbed to the top rope and hit Nothing But Net and scored the clean pin.
Carmelo Hayes defeated Ilja Dragunov to win the U.S. Championship.
After the match, Dragunov took the title belt from the referee and then strapped it around the waist of Hayes. Dragunov raised Hayes’s arm and enthusiastically pointed at him before leaving the ring. Hayes went to the middle rope, and then pyro shot off on the stage…
Powell’s POV: A strong match with a satisfying title change. It’s good that the Grand Rapids fans who paid to see two taped holiday shows ended up getting a title change. Hayes’s main roster push has left a lot to be desired, so it’s encouraging to see him win his first title on the main roster.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were shown talking backstage when they were approached by Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. Ripley spoke about how she and Sky have a tag team title match coming up. Lash Legend and Nia Jax showed up, and then WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka and Kairi Sane also arrived. Nick Aldis arrived and stopped the four teams from bickering. Aldis booked an eight-woman tag team match for next week’s Smackdown…
U.S. Women’s Champion Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre made their entrance for a tag team match… [C]
Backstage, Cathy Kelley congratulated new U.S. Champion Carmelo Hayes, who said he was delayed, but he was not denied. He thanked Ilja Dragunov for reminding him of who he is. Johnny Gargano hit Hayes from behind. Candice LeRae pulled her husband back while he yelled about taking everything away from Hayes…
Giulia and Kiana James made their entrance…
4. U.S. Women’s Champion Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre vs. Giulia and Kiana James. Late in the match, Giulia hit Green with a missile dropkick. Giulia kicked Fyre and cleared her from the ring. Giulia put Green down with a Northern Lights Bomb and pinned her clean.
Giulia and Kiana James beat U.S. Women’s Champion Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre.
Powell’s POV: I hoped that the idea behind Green taking the title back from Giulia was to give Giulia’s character a reboot, but nothing has changed. While Giulia is very talented, she has not connected with the audience. That was on display here as the fans were as quiet as they’d been all show when Giulia got the pin to win this match.
Backstage, Kit Wilson spoke with Nick Aldis while referee Dan Engler stood by. Wilson spoke about getting rid of toxic masculinity on Smackdown being his New Year’s resolution. He asked for an opportunity. “You know what, Kip? There will be an opportunity for something new on next week’s Smackdown,” Aldis told Wilson, who left the room.
Cody Rhodes showed up and asked Engler if Drew McIntyre had apologized to him, and then asked Aldis if McIntyre had paid his fine yet. McIntyre’s entrance was shown on the television inside Aldis’s office. Aldis told Cody to keep his emotions in check and said he would handle this. Aldis and Engler left the room while Cody watched the television.
McIntyre entered the ring while Cole wondered if he would apologize and pay the fine, and if he did, what the stipulation for his match with Cody would be… [C]
A video package spotlighted NXT Champion Oba Femi…
The broadcast team spoke at their desk. Cole mentioned Smackdown becoming a three-hour show starting next week. They listed the following matches for next week’s show: Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka, Kairi Sane, Lash Legend, and Nia Jax in an eight-woman tag match, WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill vs. Michin in a non-title match, and. Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black…
Nick Aldis was in the ring with Drew McIntyre and referee Dan Engler. Aldis told McIntyre he could apologize to Engler and get on with his title match. McIntyre said he’s a man of his word. He handed Aldis a check to pay off his fine. McIntyre told Engler that he was sorry for Claymore Kicking him in the face, and asked him to accept his humblest apology.
Aldis said the apology couldn’t have been easy for McIntyre, who said it wasn’t. McIntyre said he also apologized because it was obviously Engler’s dream to be a wrestler, but he wasn’t good enough, so he had to be a referee. McIntyre apologized to Engler’s wife, Melissa, for wishing she had a husband like him. McIntyre apologized to Engler’s kids for having a corporate stooge of a father. McIntyre encouraged Engler to hit him to get his revenge.
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes’ entrance theme played. McIntyre smiled as Cody headed to the ring. McIntyre dared Cody to hit him. He said he wished Cody’s wife, Brandi, could see what a real man looks like. Aldis tried to get Cody to stay calm.
McIntyre said they weren’t going to have their match in the United States because Cody had screwed him three times there. McIntyre said they were taking it to Berlin, Germany. McIntyre said they will meet for the WWE Championship in a Three Stages of Hell match.
McIntyre said there was one more thing. He said that when he sends Cody straight to hell, he wants Cody to say hello to his dad for him. Aldis stepped in and put his arms around Cody to keep him calm, but Cody elbowed Aldis into a corner of the ring. McIntyre dropped Cody with a Claymore Kick.
McIntyre grabbed the WWE Championship belt off the apron and looked at it before holding it up while standing over Cody. Cole said McIntyre knew what he was doing, as Cody couldn’t lay a finger on him for two weeks. Cole said it will be Cody vs. McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell match on Smackdown from Berlin, Germany, in two weeks…
Powell’s POV: This segment breathed some life into the Cody vs. McIntyre feud. I really enjoy the work of both men, but Cody beating McIntyre clean in their last two meetings didn’t leave me anxious to see them run it back. McIntyre got good heat for trying to goad Cody into hitting him, and the Three Stages of Hell feels like a strong TV main event. It will be interesting to see if Cody elbowing Aldis changes the dynamic between their characters.
Overall, this was good for a holiday week episode once they got the sports entertainment silliness out of the way during the opening match. The U.S. Title change was a pleasant surprise, and the closing angle was strong. I will have more to say when I return later tonight with my weekly same-night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Smackdown by grading it below.
Hayes v Dragunov – match of the year candidate! That was a fantastic fight!