wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 1.30.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Hey there people, it’s Friday so it’s time for WWE Smackdown. Tonight we’ve got the go home show for the Royal Rumble, coming your way tomorrow morning/afternoon because they’re timing it for the Saudi’s. This event also already happened, so if you want spoilers they can be found HERE.Is it just me or is there almost no hype for the Rumble this year? I freely admit it might just be me but I just haven’t seen a lot of hype for it or feel a whole lot personally. Feel free to comment below. As for tonight, well Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu settled nothing with their wild brawl at SNME, mostly because WWE champion Drew McIntyre showed up to push them off of a moderately high location. Drew’s more immediate concern though is Sami Zayn, who won the right to challenge Drew for the WWE title tomorrow at the Rumble. I’m not a big believer in Sami’s chances tomorrow but if he wins it there I’d actually advocate for him to lose it at Elimination Chamber. That title has been borderline stagnant for a while, a little hot shotting from time to time might do it some good. AJ Styles might end his storied career tomorrow, so we’ll see if he gets one last match here in the house that AJ Styles built. Miz is still making things worse, now by poking his nose around Carmelo Hayes again and Hayes’ US title. Women’s champion Jade Cargill has yet to have a real title defense, or a match go over 5 minutes, since winning the belt but she and Jordynne Grace are circling each other. Kiana James and Giulia are technically the number one contenders for the women’s tag team belts, we’ll have to see if anything actually comes of that. Randy Orton, Damian Priest, Trick Williams, and others should be making their Rumble intentions clear tonight as well. Solo Sikoa’s Morbid Family Trauma won the tag team titles last week, and no one cared because the tag team scene is dead on Smackdown. Despite that I expect their feud with the Wyatt Sicks to ponderously move forward anyway. Anyway that’s more or less the lay of the land, so let’s get to the action.
We’re in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for this episode. We also get a lot of shots of wrestlers around the city. Positive reaction to Drew McIntyre being shown.
After that we get a recap of Saturday Night’s Main Event, in case you missed it. The Nakamura and AJ match was great, not quite as great as their Wrestle Kingdom bout but worlds better than their WrestleMania one. It once again made me wish WWE would do something interesting with Nakamura.
Cody Rhodes heads to the ring to get the show going after all the recaps. Cody gets a mic and plays with the crowd a bit, the crowd seems pretty alive at least. He brings up Drew holding the WWE title and how Cody wants to win the Rumble a third time. Mixed reaction for Cody and Drew again, but Cody mentions Sami might be champion by then and heck if he wins the Rumble he could challenge CM Punk for the World heavyweight title. Randy Orton interrupts this so the crowd can sing again and Cody winds up handing Randy a mic. The crowd are very pro Randy and he says everyone knows how he feels about Cody. He respects Cody and all he’s done, but at the Rumble he’s a dangerous man and will have no respect for Cody or anyone else who gets between him and a 15th world title. Randy also brings up that he’s won the Rumble more than once. For whatever reason that brings out Jey Uso. Jey gets to the ring then wants to encore his entrance. Well we’ve got 3 hours to kill so that tracks. Before Jey can actually speak out comes Sami Zayn to a pretty good pop. Gotta love revolving door promo segments. Sami with some Arabic for the fans then puts over the other three men in the ring, and decides to say his plan for the Rumble is to win the WWE title for the first time. The Vision interrupts this and Heyman says the people in the ring have talent but no vision. Heyman sees three men who will enter the Rumble and lose, tomorrow will be Bron Breakker’s night. OK then. Randy asks Heyman to shut up, he might not have a prediction or spoiler but he dares everyone up there to walk down the ramp for an ass kicking. Nick Aldis shows up to cool things down just a bit, he can see where this is going so just makes the 8 Man Tag Team Match, Vision taking on the four men in the ring. Everyone seems amenable to that.
After this break we’ll get the US open challenge.
Post break commentary hypes up our main event, which totally wont have a shmoz ending.
Carmelo Hayes heads to the ring for the open challenge. The challenger this week will be Rey Fenix, another guy who needs something interesting to do.
Match #1 – US Title Match: (c) Carmelo Hayes vs. Rey Fenix
36 minutes before the first match, I’ve got a lot more leniency with that stat but this one pushed it. Springboard arm drag from Fenix, then an Adios Amigo kick that sends Hayes out of the ring, Fenix follows with a corkscrew plancha and we head picture in picture.
Back in the ring Fenix with some corner work including a nice looking gamen giri. Uppercuts from Fenix but Hayes counters a suplex with an O’Connor Roll for 2, then Fenix hits a back elbow to retain control. Hayes takes over with some corner work of his own before Fenix hits a springboard headbutt just before we come back. Fenix tries a La Magistral Cradle and they wind up rolling for a bit but he can only find a 2 count then hits a handspring back elbow for a 2 count. Fenix with kicks to the arm and body of Hayes but Hanes is able to fight back with the springboard clothesline. Hayes with elbows and chops then a second rope leaping DDT for a 2 count. Fenix blocks a First 48 then they trade roll ups for a bit then Fenix lands a superkick and the leaping spin kick in the corner. They head up top, Fenix wants the Mexican Muscle Buster but Hayes counters into a Small Package for 2 then land a superkick. Tiger Feint Wheel kick from Fenix, then they trade head kicks and both men drop as we head to break.
We come back to Fenix and Hayes up top, Fenix hits the Fire Stomp then follows with a moonsault but he can’t get a pin on Hayes. Fenix with a kick but Hayes comes off the ropes with La Mistica for a 2 count. Hayes tries a Black Crush but Fenix counters, then Hayes winds up hitting a fade away DDT for a 2 count. Now Hayes goes up top but misses his flying nothing then Fenix hits a rolling DDT for a near fall. Hayes hits First 48 as Fenix was trying a rolling move, then Hayes with Nothing But Net to retain.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Carmelo Hayes retained the title in 14:41
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Fun athletic bout, it lacked narrative cohesion or a real story but they both brought good execution and athletic ability. I still really want Fenix to get something to do.
In the back Ilja Dragunov watches TV, Miz comes over and tries to blame Hayes for getting him to shove Ilja last match. Ilja doesn’t buy that, but he does introduce himself and they shake hands. Ilja squeezes his hand, they could have been cordial but Miz cost him his match. He doesn’t care if Hayes was involved with Miz’s choice, tonight he’s going to hurt Miz in their match. That sends us to break.
As we come back we get the announcement of Brock Lesnar entering the Royal Rumble.
In the back R-Truth is with Aldis and the Rumble hopper so Truth can make more balls jokes. Damian Priest comes over, he’s in the Rumble. Truth lets him pick, Truth then sees the number and no one seems happy with it. Priest says it’s just a number, and he’ll have plenty of time to throw people out of the ring.
In the back Cathy talks with WWE champion Drew McIntyre. Drew talks about the Rumble participants as well as Sami, he brings up that Sami has grown since going 0-11 against Drew. But Sami still makes stupid decisions, like putting himself in a match the night before his biggest match ever. Drew warns that he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his title, and asks if Sami will do whatever it takes to get it from him.
We then head back to break. OK then.
Post break Cathy talks with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, they both say they’ll be friends after the Rumble no matter what. Kiana James and Giulia come over, James says it’s cute but that’ll be their undoing. Giulia and Iyo trade barbs in Japanese then over come Nia Jax and Lash Legend. They all think they’ll win the Rumble then everyone starts shouting until officials separate everyone.
Back to the ring here come Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. The two are geared up but allegedly this is just promo time. Both women have mics and Charlotte claims she’ll win the Rumble and the only person she wants to have her back is Bliss. Bliss says that’s funny, she had the same plan but for herself. The crowd are more in favor Bliss. Charlotte asks how Bliss can win if Charlotte wins? They both bring up their respective resumes and they wind up bickering a bit about needing each others help to win, and Bliss has to tell Charlotte that not everything is about her. Charlotte asks if Bliss will eliminate her tomorrow, Bliss asks the same question. The crowd was in favor of Bliss throwing Charlotte. Anyway before that can go on out comes Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, and Raquel Rodriguez. Morgan says while those two are backstabbing each other one of the three of them will win. Bliss says having others on your side in the Rumble isn’t a plan. Charlotte offers a match, the women decline but Aldis is here to say it’s a good match and any two of them can face Charlotte and Bliss right now. That sends us to break.
Match #2 – Tag Team Match: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez w/ Raquel Rodriguez
Joined in progress, 25 minutes between matches. Charlotte and Perez trade some counters, Perez slaps Charlotte then scampers to tag out. Eventually a distraction allows Morgan to attack Charlotte from behind and take over. Perez tags back in but Charlotte hits a double suplex on them and Morgan and Perez roll out of the ring. Bliss tags in and hits a baseball slide to both women. Back in the ring Perez lands a bit of a cheap shot to get control. Some corner work from Perez then Morgan with a cheap shot before she tags in. Morgan with some corner work but a running knee only gets a 2 count. Bliss fights back with a flurry of kicks but Raquel trips her down behind the refs back so Morgan can hit a Glimmering Warlock. Morgan kicks Bliss out of the ring then tags Perez. Perez shoves Bliss back in the ring but Bliss counters a Sunset Flip with a dropkick and both women are down. Bliss tries to tag out but Perez blocks that then hits Bliss with an uppercut. Morgan tags in and stomps away at Bliss in the corner then follows up with a dropkick. That sends us picture in picture, odd use of it as this is pretty heatless.
Morgan with some suplexes then a cheap shot to Charlotte which sets up Bliss taking cheap shots behind the refs back. Bliss with kicks to Morgan but she misses a clothesline and Morgan kind of tackles her. Hanging choke from Morgan then a facebuster off the ropes. Perez tags back in and starts trying to work a cravat. Bliss is able to escape the rest hold but Morgan tags in and blocks Bliss tagging out. Morgan grabs a chin lock and keeps the rest hold going as we come back to broadcast. Bliss escapes and lands elbows to Morgan but Morgan grabs a Small Package and they trade positions rolling around for a bit with neither woman finding a pin and both very dizzy as they break. Bliss clocks Morgan and both women drop then Bliss finally tags out. Charlotte runs through her usual offense, most of which relies on her opponent being incredibly accommodating. Charlotte with the walk over clothesline to Morgan then a fall away slam to Perez. Both Perez and Morgan are down, Charlotte climbs up top for the double moonsault, it allegedly connects but her landing was incredibly safe and looks like it didn’t land at all but it results in a 2 count on Morgan. Morgan snaps Charlotte over the top rope then lands an enziguri. Bliss tags in, Charlotte with a kick then Bliss lands a walk over Blockbuster for 2. Perez breaks up that pin and tags in then she and Morgan hit the Codebreaker into Russian Legsweep and Charlotte has to break up the pin. Charlotte with a Natural Selection to Morgan, Raquel gets involved but here’s Stephanie Vaquer to superkick Raquel. That all sets up Bliss for a Sister Abigail’s DDT to Perez for the win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss won in 12:30
Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: A bit awkward in parts and the heat segment on Bliss went on too long, it wound up killing the momentum of the match. This was an 8 minute match stretched too long to fill time.
Earlier today Jordynne Grace talked with Cathy but got attacked by Jade Cargill and they brawled a bit before being separated.
Axiom heads to the ring, he’ll be taking on Johnny Gargano with his mask on the line after this break.
Post break Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae walk in the back, Aldis shows up and says Candice is barred from ringside and if Axiom wins tonight he gets the mask back. Johnny heads to the ring after that.
Match #3: Axiom w/ Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano
Circling to start, they tie up and Axiom with a quick arm throw takedown. Johnny counters into a side headlock but Axiom cartwheels over him and grabs his own side headlock. Axiom hits the ropes and snaps off a hurricanrana. Axiom with a backslide but Johnny escapes and lands a chop. Some strikes go back and forth then Axiom hits a dropkick. Chops from Axiom but Johnny trips him down and tries a few pins only for Axiom to leap to the top rope but Johnny crotches him. Axiom rolls to the floor and Johnny hits a suicide dive as we head to break.
Both men are trading elbows as we come back. Enziguri from Axiom then Johnny lands one of his own but Axiom with a running Spanish Fly, almost a bad landing for Johnny there. Half nelson suplex from Axiom sends Johnny out of the ring then Axiom with a no look moonsault to the floor. Back in the ring Axiom goes up top and hits a nice dropkick for a 2 count. Johnny superkicks Axiom then hits the leg grab Michinoku Driver for a 2 count. Axiom runs into a boot but hits a gamen giri as Johnny had climbed the ropes and Johnny hits an avalanche twisting suplex then follows with a Kryptonite Krunch for a near fall. Johnny up top but again Axiom kicks him then climbs up with him for a Spanish Fly. Axiom lines up a Golden Ratio but gets distracted by his mask so he winds up running into a superkick. Roll up from Johnny for 2, then he avoids a kick and unmasks Axiom again, but Axiom puts on the old mask then follows with a Golden Ratio to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Axiom won in 10:31
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Decent match but the crowd felt a little off for it. They had to basically redo this angle once Tommaso Ciampa left WWE and this was about as decent an ending as it was going to be.
In the back Ilja warms up, Hayes comes over and they talk a bit about Miz’s interference earlier. Ilja says he’ll deal with Miz tonight, then he’ll come for a fair match with Hayes which is exactly what he gave Hayes when their positions were reversed.
After this break we’ll get promo time with AJ Styles and Gunther.
Cathy talks with Trick Williams in the back and Trick cuts his usual promo, this time talking about how he’s going to win the Rumble. Trick’s got his general style down, which is good, but I’m unsure how well he can deviate from it. That’s just an observation, not a big critique.
To the ring and here comes the Phenomenal AJ Styles. AJ gets a mic and enjoys some chants before welcoming everyone to the house that AJ Styles built. He brings up his career threatening match tomorrow, then tells everyone not to worry about tomorrow because he’s not as he’s going to knock Gunther’s teeth down his throat. That will actually start the Phenomenal Farewell tour. Then he can get his one more time matches with Cody, or Randy, or CM Punk but here’s Gunther sans music to interrupt. Gunther stands on the announce table for this and gets some heat and a “you tapped out” chant before saying he appreciates AJ’s fantasy about his future. But none of that is going to happen, and deep down AJ knows he made a mistake so severe it’s going to cost him his career. Tomorrow Gunther will end AJ’s career the same way he ended John Cena’s career and make him tap out. AJ says Gunther is funny, because last time they wrestled it was Gunther that tapped out like a little bitch. Gunther gets pissed and charges the ring, but Gunther knows what it means to be a heel and stops on the apron then denies everyone the brawl then just heads back through the crowd. Fairly perfunctory promo from these two but not a bad one.
In the back Shinsuke Nakamura saw that, then runs into Tama Tonga. Tama saw Shinsuke lose last week while he won, Nakamura used to be the man but now maybe he should consider retiring too. Nakamura is amused and appreciates Tama finally finding his confidence, but he’s still a punk and bad boy Tama Tonga. Next week Nakamura will give him a gift, as a generous senior, they’ll wrestle. Nakamura heads out and Tama calls him a bastard in Japanese. Such a shame Nakamura will probably lose that, the man hasn’t won a match of consequence in years.
Back to the ring and here’s Miz, let’s see if Ilja can get an interesting match out of him after this break.
Post break here comes Ilja.
Match #4: Ilja Dragunov vs. Miz
They tie up, Miz tries an arm wringer but Ilja pretty handily outwrestles him with that respect. Miz pushes things to the corner and tries a chop, Ilja laughs and applauds him for then calls him of. Another tie up, Ilja with a top wrist lock then he pushes Miz to a corner and Miz avoids a chop. Miz hits the ropes and lands a shoulder block, Ilja then chops the crap out of a running Miz. Leaping boot from Ilja then corner knees and a running boot that sends Miz to the apron. Ilja then tries the deadlift superplex but Miz blocks and trips him down to the mat. Miz follows with a running boot that sends Ilja out of the ring and we head to break.
We come back to Miz working a chin lock. Ilja is able to ram Miz into a corner to break the hold, then he boots Miz and starts laying in elbows. Miz back body drops his way out of a powerbomb then hits a neckbreaker for a 2 count. Ilja fires up again and they start trading strikes. Rolling chops from Ilja, then a leaping enziguri to drop Miz. Ilja keeps up the pace with corner chops, Miz avoids one and chops Ilja but Ilja is happy with that and unloads Kobashi chops in the corner. Miz misses a clothesline then Ilja hits the Konstantin Special for a 2 count. Wicked German suplex from Ilja and he keeps his grip, then hits a second one. Miz stands again with Ilja still on his back, Ilja hits an Ore Ga Taue. Ilja tries an H-Bomb but Miz counters into a DDT for a 2 count. Miz tries a Skull Crushing Finale, Ilja fights free but Miz with kicks until Ilja catches one then both men avoid kicks and Miz hits the corner clothesline. Next Miz goes up top, Ilja slaps the heck out of him though and climbs up with him to try a superplex, they fight over that position but Miz rakes the eyes then shoves Ilja down and poses. The posing bites him as Miz jumps into a Torpedo Moscow then Ilja follows with an H-Bomb to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Ilja Dragunov won in 12:26
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Ilja is one of the more compelling workers WWE has right now, all his stuff just feels different from what others are doing but he also tailors it pretty well to anyone. Miz, my personal antipathy for him aside, is a moderately versatile worker and Ilja got a decent match out of him. Hopefully Ilja gets some more good stuff to do, he’s been one of the guys making Smackdown watchable.
We get a Solo video so he can have enough takes to make it work, he promised his family gold and he delivered. Now he’s got everything the Wyatts used to have, then he hands his tag team title to Tonga Loa. So, Freebird rule then? Solo says he’ll win the Rumble but gets interrupted by a Wyatt video. Bo Dallas says Solo hasn’t won, the lantern and the tag team titles will come back to them. The fireflies will illuminate Solo’s insecurities and they’ll make sure Solo’s greed is his downfall. OK then.
Commentary runs down the Rumble card.
Back to the ring and the Vision head down then we head to break.
We come back to Jey in the ring and the rest of the faces getting entrances. The Vision attack the babyfaces before Cody shows up, so Cody runs down to even the odds. Everyone brawls for a bit and the faces stand tall. Jey and Sami dive onto the pile of heels then the good guys stand tall again as we go picture in picture.
Match #5 – 8-Man Tag Team Match: The Vision (Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, Logan Paul, and Skinhead McGee, I mean Austin Theory) w/ Paul Heyman vs. Randy Orton, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, and Cody Rhodes
Eventually we settle on Theory and Sami starting things. Theory grabs a side headlock then hits the ropes, Sami with some rope running as well then he punches Theory down. Theory backs Sami into the heel corner then Reed tags in. Hey, remember when Reed pinned Kazuchika Okada and Roman Reigns? Shame nothing came of that in either case. Bron tags in and keeps abusing Sami, Sami fights back with a double ax handle then tags in Jey. Jey with a 10 punch in the corner and a right hand after Bron staggered out. That’s the scene as we come back to broadcast. Cody tags in and goes for the arm of Bron, then Sami tags back in to continue the arm work. Cody back in for an arm breaker then he tries to tag Randy but Bron fights back and runs over Cody with the high impact clothesline. Bron with some stomps then Reed tags in. Double shoulder block to Cody and Reed hits a senton then Bron follows with a standing moonsault. Theory tags in and he stomps away on Cody but Cody fights back with punches. Theory retains control through the ropes then he tags in Reed. Reed with strikes to Cody and Cody rolls out of the ring. Reed pulls Cody back into the ring. Bron tags in and hits a release suplex. Cody flips out of a back suplex and tries to tag but Bron stops that and Theory tags in. Cody fights back but Theory pulls him out of the ring and rams him into the barricade as we head to break again.
We come back to Reed tagging in Bron then using Bron to aid a splash. Sami and Jey move in to break up a pin. Logan tags in but misses a Stinger Splash. Bron tags in and takes a suplex from Coddy. Theory tags in and misses an elbow drop, Reed tags in and hits Sami and Jey but then misses a senton to Cody. Randy’s the last face on the apron and gets the hot tag. Randy runs wild on Theory, who I think also tagged in, and Randy goes through his usual offense. Draping DDT from Randy to Theory then he sets for the RKO but Logan attacks from behind to break that up. Sami attacks Logan, Bron attacks Sami, everyone goes through that sequence of getting thrown over the top rope because Rumble preview. Ultimately Theory and Randy are left alone, Randy hits an RKO but Logan breaks up the pin. Jey superkicks Logan, Bron with the Gibson Driver to Jey. Cody with a Cross Rhodes to Bron, Reed then runs over Cody but Sami avoids him and hits a Tornado DDT. Sami lines up a Helluva Kick but here’s Drew to cause the DQ.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Randy Orton, and Cody Rhodes won via DQ in 13:42
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Fairly standard house show style main event, they got the usual Rumble preview sequence of guys going over the top rope and then the non-finish. The Vision really feels like it’s fallen off recently, I’m not sure what exactly contributed to it but they just feel like another group right now.
Drew rams Sami into the ring post then sends him into the ring. In the ring Drew lines up a belt shot, but here’s the Samoan Werewolf Jacob Fatu. Fatu attacks Drew from behind and stomps the crap out of him then follows him out of the ring with a suicide dive. Cody hits Fatu with a suicide dive and rams him into the ring post, Fatu’s bump there was great. Drew posts Cody then lines up a Claymore in the ring only for Sami to hit Drew with a Helluva Kick. Sami and Cody both reach for the WWE title at the same time. They both lift it and stare across it, then Bron shows up to Spear both of them and that’ll end the episode.
