WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN for January 2, 2026 is coming to you live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York! This page will fill you in on all the results for WWE SmackDown from today's episode with ongoing coverage of all highlights, noteworthy moments and winners of each of the matches.
Follow along throughout the show and keep refreshing for the most up-to-date results coverage. Tell us your reactions to this episode by chatting it up in the comments below!
Friday Night SmackDown coverage begins at 8pm ET once the program begins to air on the USA Network.
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS: January 2, 2026
- Promo: The Miz whined about a variety of things from 2025. Randy Orton returned, hit him with an RKO, then another.
- Backstage: Prep for the eight-woman tag. Nothing you need to watch.
- Backstage: Randy Orton warned Cody Rhodes that he's coming for the Undisputed WWE Championship after Rhodes is finished with Drew McIntyre. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis reminded Rhodes and the audience that Rhodes would forfeit the title if he goes after McIntyre later tonight during their segment.
- 8-Woman Tag Team Match: Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY defeated Nia Jax & Lash Legend and The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) by pinfall.
- Backstage: Nick Aldis was talking to Jordynne Grace about wanting to bring her onto SmackDown (which isn't official yet). Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre interrupted to complain that she cannot defend her title tonight as she's too upset over the Stranger Things finale, so Aldis tells her to do that or she'll be stripped of the title.
- Kit Wilson has a new theme and is redefining masculinity. Interrupting was Zack Ryder, with the screen changing to say Matt Cardona, which he's now going by in WWE. Cardona is officially part of the SmackDown roster. Matt Cardona defeated Kit Wilson by pinfall.
- Vignette Promo: Wyatt Sicks blah blah MFTs. Stalling.
- In-Ring Promo: Sami Zayn's kid was asking why he's never won a world title. Zayn is renewed in his vigor to go for those belts. Trick Williams interrupted to say he's now on SmackDown and that it won't take him as long to be fighting for a world title. Zayn has no problem humbling Williams and it appears those two are now in a feud going forward.
- Backstage: Ilja Dragunov congratulated Carmelo Hayes on beating him for the United States title and asked if he is going to continue the US Open Challenge. Hayes said yes, and that he and Dragunov will definitely fight again. Hayes then approached The Miz and thanked him for leaving him alone so that he could go on to win the title, which upset The Miz even more from earlier.
- Backstage: Trick Williams got into an argument with Rey Fenix. Nick Aldis booked Trick for next week against Fenix.
- WWE Men's United States Championship Match: Carmelo Hayes (c) defeated Johnny Gargano by pinfall.
- Backstage: Tama Tonga and Shinsuke Nakamura shared some words in Japanese, which Tonga told Solo Sikoa was an old chapter. Sikoa informed Tonga that the MFTs will face The Wyatt Sicks next week in an eight-man tag team match.
- Interview: Jade Cargill spoke to Cathy Kelley about the live event confrontation she had with Michin, wherein apparently Michin suffered an injury. Jordynne Grace interrupted to "get a good look at her options" It seems Jade Cargill vs. Michin isn't happening tonight.
- Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn had a moment backstage to reference how Zayn's coming for the WWE title, just like Orton's bit earlier. Rhodes then went to the ring for a promo about the 3 Stages of Hell match with Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior popped up on the TitanTron to pick his stipulations as a regular match (lame), a Falls Count Anywhere match (awesome) and a steel cage match (predictable). He then burned a picture of Dusty Rhodes in the ring, but security was able to hold back Rhodes to prevent him from being stripped of his title due to the stipulation Aldis had said before.
- Giulia won the Women's United States Championship from Chelsea Green by pinfall.
- Bliss and Flair had a moment backstage with Ripley and Sky about how if they win the tag titles, they want the next title shot.
- Axiom wants a match with Johnny Gargano to get back his mask.
- Ambulance Match: Damian Priest defeated Aleister Black to end the night with a little help from fellow Terror Twin Rhea Ripley who offset Zelina Vega. Black went through a table off the ambulance and was also given a Razor's Edge into the windshield.
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