Join 411’s Live WWE Smackdown Coverage

Keep Refreshing For The Latest Results

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and I wish you a productive Boxing Day today. Today is also Friday so we’ve got another episode of WWE Smackdown. This was taped last week so if you’d rather just read spoilers you can find them HERE. Tonight we’re getting Joe Hendry taking on Miz, Charlotte Flair vs. Lash Legend, and Ilja Dragunov defending the US title in some capacity. Ilja has been the backbone of actual wrestling on this weekly wrestling show, and bless him for it. WWE champion Cody Rhodes showed a bit of edge to his character last week, and this week Drew McIntyre will be back to reveal the stipulation he’ll choose for his title match. Also I assume we’ll get the date for that, it seems unlikely they’ll continue this feud until the Royal Rumble at this point. WWE women’s champion Jade Cargill is still having issues with Michin and B-Fab, which is just sad. Giulia and Kiana James are still running down Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre over Green’s recapturing of the women’s US title. Solo’s goof troupe might show up but hopefully not, the women’s tag team scene is still enjoyable chaos, Aleister Black and Damian Priest are still going at it as well. Next week the show will be live again. . . and it will be going back to 3 hours. Until they fix the writing/creative more time isn’t going to help the show. But for the last time in 2025, let’s end the preamble and get to the action.

Up first we get a recap of the Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes stuff from last week, Cody’s promo is highlighted and it was still a good one from him.

Cody walks in the back and finds Nick Aldis. Aldis says Drew is on the way and if Drew pays his fine and make his apology then Cody can’t touch him. Cody just wants to know when Drew gets here. Miz finds Aldis next, Miz asks where “he” is and stops Aldis from saying Joe Hendry’s name. Miz whines a bit more and Aldis says there will be no music for Joe Hendry, and of course Joe is in the ring already and his music plays. There’s some workers in holiday outfits, Otis and Akira Tozawa are here. Joe has a song for us, it’s a “Jingle Bells” parody about how small Miz’s testicles are. I guess we’re just rehashing that line, his stuff about Miz not getting movie gigs or deserving to be excluded from the locker room for half his career is better. Miz interrupts and Joe says they can keep singing now that Miz is here to sing with them. Some more singing from Joe and the fans. Miz again interrupts and asks if we know what this means. Miz says he wont be turned into a joke by a song then puts himself over and says without John Cena here then he’s the locker room leader. Aldis comes out to say this is a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. Miz yells about hating the holidays as we go to break.

Match #1 – Miracle on 34th Street Fight: Joe Hendry vs. Miz

The paraphernalia has been set up during the break. A little back and forth early before Joe hits a stalling suplex and they head out of the ring. Joe finds a guitar, Miz gets a ukelele then small blue ornaments. Kick from Miz then he and Joe tease getting sent into a tree, eventually Miz takes a hip toss into one then Joe tosses an empty present into his head. Joe goes under the ring and finds a Slim Jim table which he puts into the ring and sets up. Miz from behind with a School Boy for 2 then Joe with an arm drag out of a Skull Crushing Finale, Miz then avoids a Standing Ovation and winds up low bridged. Some more evasion from Joe then Miz gets a present and elbow drops it as we go to break again.

We come back to both men being down. They stand and Joe starts laying in punches then a clothesline. Joe wants a tree, Otis and Tozawa provide and he whacks Miz with it a few times then hits a fall away slam. Joe then throws the three fall away style into Miz and he toes the turn. Miz avoids a Standing Ovation but gets sent out of the ring and Tozawa offers cookies but Miz boots him. The Easter Bunny who’s here takes a kendo stick shot, then Otis breaks the kendo stick. Man, remember when Otis was over like rover? Joe shows up for kendo stick blows to Miz then all four men get into the ring. Miz tries to wave the attack off but takes another fall away slam from Joe then Otis with a Caterpillar and a cookie assist. Tozawa follows with the big senton. The Bunny reveals himself as R-Truth, Truth wishes us Happy Easter then hits a 5 Knuckle Shuffle in honor of his childhood hero. Guitar shot from Joe, Standing Ovation through the table and Joe wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Joe Hendry won in 11:36

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: This didn’t quite land for me, I’m not sure what was missing but something wasn’t quite here. They did the usual fun spots but it just felt hollow this time around instead of celebratory.

In the back Carmelo Hayes talks with Fraxiom. Ilja Dragunov walks up and asks to talk with Hayes alone. Ilja says what they did last week was beautiful, but he’s still annoyed about how their US title match went down. Hayes agrees, and Ilja says he’s giving Hayes a rematch for the title tonight. Hayes accepts and they trade catchphrases.

We see more wrestlers arrive, including Drew and Drew finds Cathy. She asks about the stipulation, Drew says he’ll talk about that later and we’ll know all the answers by the end of the night. That sends us to break.

Aleister Black video, he says there used to be a talented man who accomplished more than his wildest dreams including the pinnacle of this industry. But he then gave all of himself away. Zelina shows up and talks about all the people who have taken time from Damian Priest and ruined him. They’re not here to save or guide Priest, but to remind him of what he’s buried. People don’t descend to violence, they return to it. They’ve made Priest hateful and violent, and honest but he still doesn’t get it. This will end when Black says it ends, they’ve already changed Priest and reminded him of what he really is. If Priest wont fulfil his purpose he’ll be ended.

Byron talks with Jade Cargill about the stuff with Michin, Jade says she’s going to stomp a hole in Michin and Michin is scared of her. Jade doesn’t need a weapon, she is one.

Elsewhere Michin and B-Fab respond, B-Fab says being cautious isn’t dumb. Michin says they’re not scared of Jade, they don’t respect her. She needs to get humbled and next week she’ll do it.

Back to the ring here’s Lash Legend along with Nia Jax. Seriously that music is bad needs to be replaced. Anyway Lash will take on Charlotte Flair after this break.

Post break here comes Charlotte Flair, she’s got Alexa Bliss with her.

Match #2: Lash Legend w/ Nia Jax vs. Charlotte Flair w/ Alexa Bliss

20 minutes between matches. They just stare for a bit and slowly circle then tie up, Lash is stronger then they trade arm wringers looking for an advantage then Lash lands a knee to the body. Scoop slam from Lash. Charlotte fights back with a chop but Lash clotheslines her down. Some corner work from Lash, then Charlotte hits the ropes then has to stop her momentum so Lash can line up an uppercut which connects. Back elbow from Lash but Charlotte lands an enziguri only to then get hit with a pop up powerbomb and we head to break.

We come back to Lash holding Charlotte between the ropes and bouncing her up and down between them then hitting a scoop slam. Bad looking cravat from Lash, Charlotte fights free and starts throwing elbows. Charlotte to the apron then Lash runs into a boot, Charlotte up top and hits a cross body. Chops from Charlotte then her walk over is intercepted with a pump kick for a 2 count. Charlotte avoids a powerbomb with a Sunset Flip for 2 then boots Lash out of the corner. Running elbow from Lash then she tries the Lash Extension but Charlotte counters with a DDT. Charlotte then goes up for a moonsault, it connects but only a 2 count. Next Charlotte attacks the knee of Lash, Jax then gets on the apron and allows Lash to kick Charlotte. Bliss runs over to jump on Jax’s back for a bit. Charlotte with a Sunset Flip out of the corner and that gets the 3 count.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Charlotte Flair won in 10:52

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: A bit overlong, Lash still doesn’t have good psychology or connective tissue to her work but she’s still developing a bit so I’m not trying to kill her over it. Charlotte getting the win tracks in a lot of ways, it’s not a bad first loss for Lash to take and continues to put over the parity in the relevant tag teams. Because nothing gets people over like parity.

In the back Aldis talks with trick Williams, Trick asks if Aldis will make him an offer. Cody comes over and asks to talk with Aldis, then he asks if Drew has met his contractual obligations to prevent violence. Aldis tells Cody to control his emotions. Trick comes back over and runs down his career thus far and says he might come after Cody’s title. Cody seems unbothered.

Ilja Dragunov heads to the ring for our next match, he’ll defend the US title against Carmelo Hayes after this break.

We come back to a Solo video. He says Uncle Howdy doesn’t scare them, Howdy doesn’t have a family just dudes in masks. Solo’s got men in face paint, totally different thing. He says the firefly’s are fading, the lantern is burning low and those broken souls will start to question him. A little “he’s got the whole world” from Solo. That was the best take they could get?

Back to the ring and here comes Carmelo Hayes.

Match #3 – US Title Match: (c) Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes

Both men start hockey fighting right away then they trade hard chops. Ilja with corner chops to Hayes, but Hayes keeps fighting back with strikes of his own. Knees from Ilja to drop Hayes then a leaping enziguri. German suplex from Ilja, I really like how he does that, he keeps the hands locked so he could hit another one. Hayes with some elbows to try and break the grip, Ilja chops him then grabs another rear waist lock, but this time he switches to hammer and anvil elbows into an overhead throw. Another chop from Ilja then knee in the corner and a running boot that sends Hayes to the floor and sends us to break.

We come back to Ilja landing a chop and boot in the corner. Again Ilja with a chop then boot, Hayes blocks a third attempt though and chops away at Ilja then they trade boots. Hayes with a clothesline out of the corner then a facebuster to the knee and a clothesline. Springboard clothesline from Hayes then Ilja counters La Mistica and hits a running knee for 2. Ilja pulls himself to the top rope but Hayes avoids the senton. Hayes hits La Mistica facebuster for a 2 count. Some kicks from Hayes, but Ilja catches one and he calls for more chops from Hayes. Chops from Hayes then Ilja blocks one and hits a rolling chop series then boot to the face. Ilja tries an H-Bomb but Hayes intercepts with an enziguri then a springboard fadeaway DDT for a near fall. Hayes heads up top now but Ilja counters Nothing But Net and hits a Konstantin Special to turn Hayes inside out. Ilja up top again and hits a Senton for his own near fall. That sends us to break again.

Both men are down as we come back and they trade blows from their knees. Ilja is up first and he kicks at Hayes then Hayes stands and they start trading strikes again. Superkick from Hayes, then Ilja blocks First 48 and puts Hayes on the top rope then slaps the crap out of him. Ilja up top with Hayes, Hayes slaps away at Ilja then headbutts him down. Hayes tries Nothing But Net but flies into a gamen giri from Ilja. Ilja pulls himself up first and hauls Hayes up, he shoves Hayes to the apron the drags him to the top rope again. Superplex from Ilja then an H-Bomb but Hayes blocks it and Ilja then has to stomp him and hit an Ore Ga Taue for a near fall. Ilja with Kobashi chops in the corner then he puts Hayes up top again. Hayes tries to fight free, and he winds up countering a superplex into an avalanche Black Crush for a near fall. Ilja pulls himself to the apron, Hayes then tries a leaping DDT to the apron but Ilja catches him and gets him on his shoulders but Hayes slips free so they trade chops. Headbutts from Ilja then he hits an apron Death Valley Driver. Ilja up top and leaps at Hayes but into the First 48, Hayes follows with Nothing But Net and wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Carmelo Hayes won the title in 20:52

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: I’m sure the full match was 4, these two work incredibly well together and this was no exception. Ilja had taken his title run about as far as he was going to and Hayes finally getting main roster gold is happening about the right time. Really good stuff from both men here.

Post match Ilja puts the blet on Hayes and raises his hand before leaving the ring to let Hayes celebrate.

In the back Charlotte and Bliss walk and talk, they find Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky and all of them bicker a bit about who’s going to get the tag team titles next. Nia Jax and Lash Legend come over to make things louder and worse, then Asuka and Kairi Sane storm in to also make things loud. Aldis gets control of things and says next week we’ll get an 8 woman tag team match between the sets of teams.

Back to the ring and here comes Chelsea Green along with Alba Fyre, they’ll be in tag team action after this break.

In the back Hayes talks with Cathy, he says he was delayed but not denied then thanks Ilja for elevating the title and himself. Johnny Gargano then attacks Hayes and yells at him for ruining everything. OK then.

Back to the ring and here’s Giulia and Kiana James.

Match #4 – Tag Team Match: Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre vs. Giulia and Kiana James

James and Green start, they tie up and trade hair pulls for a bit before breaking. Shoves go back and forth then Green with a slap before they trade roll ups for 2 counts. Arm work from James then Giulia tags in and Green runs away to tag in Fyre. Fyre misses an elbow and Giulia tags out, she only cares about Green. Fyre with an elbow to James then tries a DDT but James counters and shoves her into a corner. Corner work from James. Fyre lands a superkick then hits a tornado DDT for a 2 count. Green tags in and hits a sliding Flatliner for a 2 count. James fights out of a chin lock and tags in Giulia. Giulia grabs Green and throws her around by the hair then clocks Fyre for good measure. Corner knee from Giulia then a snap suplex. Giulia up top and hits a dropkick. Boot for Fyre then Fyre gets tossed out of the ring. Northern Lights Bomb to Green and that’ll do it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Giulia and Kiana James won in 4:18

Rating: Cushaw Squash
Thoughts: Boy does elements of the booking feel backwards here, Green is playing heel but the crowd care about her more than Giulia so the reactions are all backwards. It’s a shame that Giulia isn’t in a better spot, the woman gets over because of her wrestling but she spent months not doing that.

In the back Kit Wilson whines to Aldis about getting an opportunity. Aldis says he’ll have something for him next week. Cody comes over and complains about things as we hear Drew head to the ring. Aldis heads down with the ref that Drew has to apologize to while Cody watches on a monitor. Drew reaches the ring and we’ll hear from him after this break.

Post break we get an Oba Femi video. Then we get a reminder that Smackdown is 3 hours next week. I didn’t need the reminder guys, I don’t think anyone is looking forward to this move apart from suits looking to sell more ad space. Next week we’ll get that 8 woman match, Jade vs. Michin, and Priest vs. Black again.

Back to the ring where Aldis has a mic, the ref is here as well and Drew’s chilling. Aldis says both Drew and Cody are to blame for ending up here, but Drew assaulted this ref and Drew needs to apologize to him and Drew can focus on his title match. Drew hands a over the fine to Aldis then turns to the ref. He says he’s sorry he Clamore’d the ref in the face, no matter what happened he shouldn’t have attacked him and he apologizes. Drew says that wasn’t easy for him, but this will be and he insults the ref for not being able to wrestle and now he’s stuck being a ref. He apologizes to the refs family for seeing what happened and his wife now wishing her husband was like Drew. Drew insists the ref screwed him to save Cody, then he tries to get the ref to attack him but Cody’s music interrupts that. Cody stomps to the ring, Drew tries to get him to hit him. The crowd want to see a fight, if Cody works for the people then he should do what the people want and punch Drew in the face. Cody doesn’t take the bait though. Drew wishes he could attack Cody where his kids to see what happens to him, or that Cody’s wife could see what a real man looks like. Aldis is holding Cody back at this point. Drew says the stipulation for their match, they’ll be in Berlin, Germany in two weeks and in a 3 Stages of Hell match. Cody’s fine with that. Drew says after he buries Cody deep in the depths of hell then Cody can say hi to his dad for him. Drew then Claymore’s Cody and laughs and poses with the WWE title.

3 Stages of Hell is interesting, the last one of those in WWE was in NXT between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. Frankly the less said about their feud by that point the better. But if you want to find the last one on the main roster you have to go all the way back to 2013 and a match between, of all people, John Cena and Ryback. Anyway that ends the episode.