‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Jan 9th 2026)
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!
Match #1: Trick Williams def. Rey Fenix
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Trick Williams competed in his first SmackDown match against Rey Fenix. Fenix proved a tough match for Williams, executing several stunning moves to try to ground the former two-time NXT Champion. Fenix hit a scintillating top-rope hurricanrana, but Williams landed a modified Book End. The two traded pinning combinations until Williams pinned Fenix with a handful of tights.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Women’s United States Championship – Giulia def. Alexa Bliss
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Women’s United States Champion Giulia defended her newly won title for the first time in her second reign against Alexa Bliss. Bliss had an uphill battle as she had to contend with The Beautiful Madness and interference from Giulia’s counsel Kiana James. Just as Bliss was about to level Giulia with Sister Abigail, James stepped to the top rope and prevented her from executing the move. Bliss dispatched James and looked for Twisted Bliss, but Nia Jax and Lash Legend shoved Bliss off the top rope. Giulia then took advantage by hitting Arrivederci to retain her title.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: The MFTs def. The Wyatt Sicks
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
In a battle of families, The Wyatt Sicks collided with The MFTs in an Eight-Man Tag Team Match. Once Rowan got the tag, he wrecked all of The MFTs as the Berlin crowd roared in approval. In an epic clash, Rowan and Talla Tonga clobbered each other. Solo Sikoa went for a Samoan Spike on Uncle Howdy, but Howdy evaded the move before Sikoa dodged a Sister Abigail from Uncle Howdy. As Howdy had the Mandible Claw sinched on JC Mateo, Sikoa stole the lantern outside the ring to distract Howdy. Tama Tonga then took advantage by nailing the Cutthroat and earning the win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Jordynne Grace def. Alba Fyre
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Competing in her first SmackDown match, Jordynne Grace hit a spinebuster and package powerbomb on Alba Fyre, but Green distracted Grace by jumping onto the apron. An unfazed Grace sent Fyre into Green before hitting the Torture Rack Bomb on Fyre to win. After the match, WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill confronted Grace in the entranceway and warned The Juggernaut that SmackDown is her show.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: United States Championship – Carmelo Hayes def. Shinsuke Nakamura
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Shinsuke Nakamura answered the Open Challenge from United States Champion Carmelo Hayes, sparking a first-time match between the two. Nakamura targeted the left leg of Hayes, using dragon screws and a single-leg Boston crab to inflict further damage. Nakamura went for another dragon screw, but Hayes spun out of the move before landing an enzuigiri. Nakamura hit an avalanche Kinshasa off the top rope, but as he readied for another Kinshasa, Hayes connected with the First 48 before nailing Nothing But Net to retain his title.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #6:Undisputed WWE Championship Three Stages of Hell Match – Drew McIntyre def. Cody Rhodes
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The first fall was a traditional wrestling match as Drew McIntyre tried to goad Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes into striking him with a chair to get Rhodes disqualified. McIntyre kicked Rhodes below the belt behind the referee’s back while the official was fixing the turnbuckle and nailed a Claymore Kick to win the first fall. The second stage commenced with a Falls Count Anywhere Match, as McIntyre hit a quick powerbomb through the table for a two-count. Rhodes and McIntyre brawled on the stairs of the crowd as Rhodes bit The Scottish Warrior while snapping a selfie, taking a page out of McIntyre’s playbook. The two continued their battle throughout the Uber Arena, as The American Nightmare hit an epic splash from the top of the railing onto McIntyre through a table below. McIntyre, however, kicked out. Moments later, Rhodes landed a huge Cross Rhodes through the announce table to get the second fall. Rhodes dragged McIntyre back into the ring to begin the third phase, a gruesome Steel Cage Match. As Rhodes tried to escape, McIntyre hit a huge superplex from the top of the cage, but The American Nightmare kept fighting. Rhodes connected with two Cross Rhodes, but McIntyre raked his eyes before Rhodes could deliver the third Cross Rhodes. McIntyre sent Rhodes into the exposed turnbuckle before hitting a Claymore, but once again Rhodes narrowly kicked out. Rhodes and McIntyre clobbered each other on the top of the cage before Rhodes shoved McIntyre and sent him crashing to the canvas. Rhodes followed with a huge Cody Cutter from the top of the cage, but McIntyre barely kicked out. Just as McIntyre was about to escape the cage, Jacob Fatu returned to attack The Scottish Warrior. Rhodes confronted the returning Fatu, but Fatu attacked Rhodes as well. As Rhodes and Fatu were brawling, The Scottish Warrior took his moment to drag himself out of the cage to finally capture the Undisputed WWE Championship.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This week’s Smackdown was, for the most part, a show that knew what it was doing. The pacing rarely sagged, segments flowed naturally, and nothing overstayed its welcome. Hayes and Nakamura delivered something enjoyable even if the outcome never really felt in doubt, Jordynne Grace was introduced exactly as she should have been, the road to the Rumble challenger was laid out clearly, and Trick Williams came out of his first outing looking strong thanks in no small part to Rey Fenix doing what Rey Fenix always does. Not everything landed quite as cleanly. The Wyatts/MFT angle hovered in the “fine but forgettable” zone, and while Giulia picked up a win, the company is still clearly in recovery mode after how her title reign played out. The main event, meanwhile, was shaping up to be excellent… right until the closing moments. That ending is impossible to ignore, and it undercuts what should have been a standout match. Taking Smackdown on the road gave this episode a real lift compared to the last few weeks. Between the extra care WWE clearly puts into international shows and the energy of the crowd itself, this felt like a genuinely strong outing. That said, fumbling the finish of the main event — even with an outcome that was very much welcome — still comes across as a misstep in the writing. It leaves the direction of the story feeling oddly muddled: Drew is champion, Fatu had Drew in his sights, then Cody forced his way in and dropped the title. At this point, it feels like a narrative course-correction might be looming – especially given Drew is waaaaay more over with European crowds than US ones!
