As WWE kicks off 2026, tonight’s Friday Night SmackDown promises a hard-hitting night of action, intrigue, and storyline progression as the blue brand sets the tone for the new year. The show will feature the dramatic ambulance match finale between Damian Priest and Aleister Black, a potentially reshaped matchup for Jade Cargill due to Michin’s recent shoulder injury, and an eight-woman tag match designed to build momentum for next week’s women’s tag title clash. Fans will also see further developments in the ongoing Undisputed WWE Championship feud between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre, which has intensified over the past months and is heading toward their Three Stages of Hell match for the gold next week in Berlin, Germany. With the Royal Rumble PLE in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia looming on January 31st, tonight’s show serves as a key launching point for storylines, rivalries, and championship pursuits that will define SmackDown and the blue brand in the opening month of 2026.

Here is everything advertised for tonight’s show

• Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black – Ambulance Match
• Jade Cargill vs. Michin (non-title, in jeopardy due to injury)
• 8-Woman Tag Team Match: Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Asuka & Kairi Sane
• Updates on the ongoing Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre feud ahead of their Three Stages of Hell match

Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black – Ambulance Match

This match is billed as the definitive conclusion to a six-month feud that has seen both men go to brutal extremes. The rivalry began last summer when Priest began targeting Black after a series of controversial losses and backstage confrontations, escalating to brawls in live events and interference in one another’s championship opportunities. Over the months, their storyline has balanced mind games, physical dominance, and high-stakes matches, culminating in tonight’s ambulance stipulation—a symbolic and literal “end” to their feud. WWE is emphasizing that this is a career-defining match for both, with the outcome likely shaping the main event scene heading into the Royal Rumble.

Jade Cargill vs. Michin – Match in Jeopardy

Jade Cargill’s scheduled non-title bout against Michin is now under question after reports surfaced of Michin suffering a shoulder injury during WWE’s recent Holiday Tour. While the match may proceed, WWE is using the situation to subtly build intrigue around Jade’s post-AEW “baddies” persona, which draws from her past Red Velvet/Keira Hogan alignment, teasing potential faction dynamics involving B-Fab possibly turning on Michin. Though fans have called for more title defenses from Jade—who has held the WWE Women’s Championship for two months without a match—this non-title matchup is being positioned as a storyline pivot, both protecting the champion and generating buzz around potential alliances and betrayals in the women’s division.

8-Woman Tag Team Match – Building Tag Momentum

The women’s tag team bout tonight is strategically designed to showcase the blue brand’s depth while building momentum toward next week’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match. Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY, who will challenge for the titles, are paired with Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair to face the current champions Asuka and Kairi Sane, along with Nia Jax and Lash Legend. This match gives the challengers a chance to demonstrate cohesion and resilience while keeping the champions in the spotlight, and signals WWE’s intent to revitalize the women’s tag division as the blue brand moves forward into 2026.

Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre – Setting Up the Three Stages of Hell

SmackDown will also provide updates and storyline progression in the ongoing feud between Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre, which has been intensifying since the fall. Their rivalry has featured high-impact promos, backstage confrontations, and escalating in-ring altercations, leading to the announcement of a Three Stages of Hell match for the championship next week in Berlin, Germany. Tonight, SmackDown will likely include confrontations, surprise attacks, or interference angles that heighten anticipation for the match’s three brutal stipulations and reinforce the international spotlight of WWE’s expanding PLE schedule. This feud, combined with the other marquee matches, positions SmackDown as the hub for championship-level storytelling heading into the first major pay-per-view events of 2026.

Setting the Tone for 2026

While only the Priest/Black feud reaches a definitive conclusion tonight, SmackDown will use these high-profile matches to establish the narrative direction for the blue brand in the first month of the year. With Royal Rumble PLE in Riyadh just weeks away, tonight’s outcomes will influence potential title opportunities, faction alignments, and contender hierarchies. WWE is balancing the need to wrap ongoing rivalries with the momentum necessary for long-term storytelling, using marquee matches, injury intrigue, and tag team developments to ensure fans remain invested in the road to one of the first major events of the year.

Conclusion

Tonight’s SmackDown promises to be a pivotal episode as WWE begins shaping the blue brand’s storylines for 2026. With the Priest vs. Black feud reaching its explosive finale, the uncertainty surrounding Jade Cargill’s match adding intrigue, the women’s tag division stepping into the spotlight ahead of next week’s title clash, and the ongoing Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre feud intensifying ahead of their Three Stages of Hell match, fans are in for a mix of high-stakes action, drama, and momentum-building. How these matches unfold will not only resolve key storylines but also set the stage for the Royal Rumble PLE in Riyadh, giving WWE the opportunity to launch fresh rivalries, alliances, and championship pursuits as the new year gets underway. SmackDown tonight promises to be the blueprint for the blue brand’s 2026 trajectory, making it a must-watch for every fan.

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