WWE delivered a seismic edition of Friday Night SmackDown on January 9th, 2026, broadcasting live from the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany. Airing internationally on Netflix at 2 p.m. EST, the show served as a critical checkpoint on the Road to Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal — while simultaneously accelerating WWE toward a historic Royal Rumble on Saturday, January 31st, emanating from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the first time ever.

With WrestleMania season looming, championships in flux, and global stakes rising, SmackDown from Berlin was not a routine international stop. It was a night where the power structure of WWE shifted dramatically. Drew McIntyre dethroned Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, a result that immediately redefined both the Montreal main event picture and the looming Royal Rumble hierarchy. Elsewhere, Giulia and Carmelo Hayes continued to cement themselves as cornerstones of their divisions, Trick Williams debuted in-ring on SmackDown, and WWE officially welcomed Jordynne Grace to the blue brand.

This was a SmackDown designed not just to advance storylines — but to destabilize expectations heading into WWE’s most important stretch of the year.

Here are the full results

Trick Williams vs Rey Fenix

Trick Williams defeated Rey Fenix via pinfall

Giulia (c) vs Alexa Bliss (Women’s United States Championship)

Giulia defeated Alexa Bliss to retain the Women’s United States Championship

The MFTs vs The Wyatt Sicks

The MFTs defeated The Wyatt Sicks

Jordynne Grace vs Alba Fyre

Jordynne Grace defeated Alba Fyre

Carmelo Hayes (c) vs Shinsuke Nakamura (United States Championship)

Carmelo Hayes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the United States Championship

Cody Rhodes (c) vs Drew McIntyre (Undisputed WWE Championship – Three Stages of Hell)

Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes to win the Undisputed WWE Championship

SmackDown Breakdown and Analysis

Trick Williams Makes His First SmackDown Statement

SmackDown opened with a high-energy showcase that immediately set the tone for Berlin. Trick Williams’ official SmackDown in-ring debut against Rey Fenix was more than a simple introduction — it was WWE signaling that Williams is no longer a midcard prospect but a contender with both athleticism and strategy.

From the opening bell, Williams imposed his physical dominance, using measured strikes and methodical pacing to slow Fenix’s frenetic offense. His timing and positioning were precise, demonstrating a ring IQ beyond his tenure on television. Fenix relied on speed, agility, and aerial offense, but Williams consistently neutralized attempts to gain momentum, capitalizing with controlled offense that emphasized power over flash.

The victory establishes Williams as a credible competitor as the Royal Rumble in Riyadh approaches. WWE is building the Rumble card beyond familiar faces, and Williams’ debut positions him as a potential spoiler in the midcard or even as a surprise participant with title implications. This is a clear example of long-term booking: debuting new talent while immediately tying them into high-stakes storylines.

Giulia Survives, But the Target Grows Larger

Giulia’s defense of the Women’s United States Championship against Alexa Bliss highlighted her growing versatility and ruthlessness as a champion. Bliss forced her into unpredictable situations, testing her composure and adaptability. Giulia responded not just with brute force, but with calculated pacing, countering Bliss’s signature attacks and exploiting openings for decisive strikes.

This defense signals that Giulia is more than a transitional champion; she is being positioned as a long-term figurehead for the women’s division leading into both Montreal and the Royal Rumble. The audience was reminded that a successful defense doesn’t merely protect a title — it reshapes the division, influences future matchups, and sets the stage for high-profile encounters.

As the Rumble approaches, Giulia’s win also reinforces her as a target. Wrestlers like Jade, who had a tense confrontation with Grace on the ramp, could soon pivot toward her, creating layered storylines that intersect with multiple divisions simultaneously.

Faction Warfare Intensifies Heading Into Rumble Season

The clash between The MFTs and The Wyatt Sicks illustrated the ongoing importance of alliances as WWE approaches a chaotic period leading to Montreal and Riyadh. This match emphasized both individual skill and strategic positioning, with the MFTs exploiting group dynamics to gain a decisive advantage.

Faction warfare carries higher stakes than simple victories. By holding the upper hand heading into the Royal Rumble, The MFTs not only assert dominance over their rivals but also ensure narrative relevance during a season that thrives on unpredictability. Each win or loss here is a chess move toward controlling airtime and influencing Royal Rumble storylines, where temporary alliances can make or break opportunities for key competitors.

Jordynne Grace Officially Arrives on SmackDown

Jordynne Grace’s match against Alba Fyre was more than just a win — it was her official SmackDown in-ring debut, punctuated earlier in the night by WWE confirming her exclusive signing to the blue brand.

Grace looked dominant, explosive, and unapologetically physical. The win established her immediately as a presence, not a project — a statement amplified by what followed.

As Grace made her way up the entrance ramp, she came face-to-face with Jade in a tense, wordless confrontation. The moment was brief, deliberate, and unmistakably intentional. No physicality. No dialogue. Just two powerhouses occupying the same space as the camera lingered.

With the Royal Rumble rapidly approaching, the visual alone did heavy lifting. SmackDown didn’t announce a match — it planted a seed. And in January, seeds like that rarely stay dormant.

Carmelo Hayes Reinforces His Position

Carmelo Hayes’ successful defense of the United States Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura demonstrated his ability to thrive against a veteran competitor with a storied career. Hayes blended technical proficiency with opportunistic offense, maintaining control while responding to Nakamura’s unpredictability.

This match reinforced Hayes as a versatile champion who can thrive both in high-profile defenses and as a participant in multi-competitor scenarios leading into Montreal and the Royal Rumble. In a crowded midcard, Hayes’ victory ensures his presence in the title picture remains relevant while subtly positioning him as a potential disruptor in the Rumble environment.

Main Event: A Masked Man, McIntyre’s Championship, and Jacob Fatu’s Return

The Three Stages of Hell main event between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre was both a technical spectacle and a narrative earthquake. Rhodes entered as champion and favorite, while McIntyre was desperate to reclaim glory, creating a dynamic of calculated aggression versus structured resilience.

Stage one saw McIntyre exploit aggression and opportunism, gaining an early edge. Stage two allowed Rhodes to recover, showcasing his ring intelligence and ability to adapt under extreme pressure. The final stage, a steel cage, became the narrative apex: a masked man attacked both competitors, creating chaos and leaving audiences speculating whether McIntyre orchestrated the interference.

The masked man was revealed as Jacob Fatu, returning dramatically and immediately altering the main event’s stakes. McIntyre escaped the cage to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, but the involvement of Fatu adds layers of intrigue. Was this intervention independent or strategic? The ambiguity fuels speculation for both Montreal and the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, emphasizing WWE’s skill at blending immediate payoff with long-term storytelling.

This match perfectly exemplifies the delicate balance WWE maintains: delivering high-stakes action while seeding future storylines, simultaneously elevating both new and returning talent.

Next Week’s Friday Night SmackDown Card

Randy Orton vs The Miz

Matt Cardona vs Trick Williams

Damian Priest vs Solo Sikoa

Sami Zayn vs Ilja Dragunov

All four matches are Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender Tournament qualifiers, with the winners advancing toward a Fatal Four-Way at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal to determine the challenger heading into the Royal Rumble in Riyadh.

What This Means Moving Forward

Between Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 23rd in Montreal and the Royal Rumble on January 31st in Riyadh, WWE is entering one of the most volatile stretches of its calendar year.

Drew McIntyre is champion — but under a cloud of suspicion. Cody Rhodes is no longer the stable centerpiece. Jacob Fatu is back. And the Royal Rumble now looms as both an opportunity and a threat to everyone involved.

SmackDown didn’t resolve chaos. It institutionalized it.

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