WWE SmackDown electrified the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, on January 9, 2026, captivating fans with high-stakes clashes and headline-grabbing moments. The night featured a notable Rey Fenix WWE SmackDown match as Fenix faced Trick Williams in a thrilling contest, while the event‘s main stage set the platform for a major title change and dramatic returns.
Major Stars Set the Tone from the Start
As snow blanketed Berlin, anticipation buzzed through the arena with 10,674 seats filled, according to Wrestletix. WWE’s global reach was on display as prominent figures like Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, Carmelo Hayes, Giulia, Kiana James, and Alexa Bliss arrived amid fanfare. Alicia Taylor took her place as ring announcer, and Joe Tessitore welcomed viewers, setting the stage for a packed night of spectacle and rivalry.
Randy Orton kicked off the action, drawing a raucous response as fans outside the U.S. sang along to his iconic entrance. Trick Williams made his way to the ring in his debut on the main roster, sparking a verbal showdown with Orton. Their exchange crescendoed when Trick boldly claimed this was his year, not Orton’s, only for Orton to warn against disrespect. The confrontation soon erupted physically, leading to Orton delivering a signature draping DDT before The Miz entered the fray, only to be thwarted with an RKO. As Orton exited, Rey Fenix entered, setting up the highly anticipated opening match.
Rey Fenix vs. Trick Williams Ignites the Crowd
The Rey Fenix WWE SmackDown match marked Trick Williams’ main roster debut against the athletic high-flyer Fenix. Williams possessed a clear size advantage, but Fenix’s agile offense kept the match brisk and unpredictable. Early on, the competitors traded hip toss reversals, pin attempts, and dynamic strikes. Fenix landed a powerful springboard dropkick, sending Trick to the outside, only for Trick to respond with a spinning kick that scored a two-count.
Trick Williams stayed on the attack, executing a falcon arrow and throwing Fenix into the ring steps as the match headed to a commercial. Upon return, Williams hit a pop-up uppercut for a nearfall, while chants of
“let’s go Fenix, whoop that Trick”
echoed throughout the crowd, rallying both competitors. Fenix sparked a comeback with a springboard hurricanrana and a tornado reverse DDT, each drawing tense nearfalls. Despite a late rally that included Fenix’s Adios Amigo kick and a top rope splash attempt, Trick reversed a pin and grabbed the tights for a questionable victory in an 11-minute contest.
Trick Williams’ victory, earned by bending the rules, capped off a physical and entertaining match that showcased his superstar potential while cementing Rey Fenix’s crowd-pleasing resilience.
Championship Fallout and Emerging Rivalries in Women’s Division
An interview segment with Byron Saxton brought Women’s United States Champion Giulia and her associate Kiana James to the spotlight. Giulia expressed satisfaction at reclaiming the title, promising to make an example of Alexa Bliss in her first defense, while Kiana James asserted Giulia’s dominance over the division. The locker room’s air of tension heightened, foreshadowing the coming contest.
With former soccer star Sidney Friede in the front row holding a WWE title belt, anticipation mounted for the Women’s United States Championship bout. Alexa Bliss, entering alone, faced skepticism about Charlotte Flair’s absence due to illness. The match was hard-fought, as Giulia suplexed and dropkicked Bliss, with momentum swinging frequently. Bliss managed a somersault attack and unleashed her signature double knees, but persistent interference from James and a surprise attack by Lash Legend turned the tide. Giulia capitalized by hitting a delayed northern lights, pinning Bliss to retain the championship.
The aftermath saw Lash Legend and Nia Jax join forces in an assault on Bliss, signaling shifting alliances and unresolved hostility within the women’s ranks.
New Arrivals and Intensifying Title Chases
SmackDown GM Nick Aldis introduced Jordynne Grace as the latest main roster signing, immediately drawing ire from Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. Aldis set up a match between Grace and Fyre, stoking new competitive fires. Meanwhile, Matt Cardona returned after six years, expressing his WWE Championship ambitions in a cordial exchange with current champ Cody Rhodes.
The night featured a video history of the brutal “Three Stages of Hell” match and a recap of the Wyatt Sicks’ feud with the MFTs, setting up their team battle. The MFTs (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga) squared off against the Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy) in a chaotic battle. The contest saw momentum shifts with power displays from Rowan and Talla, and mind games by Uncle Howdy. In the climax, Tama Tonga pinned Howdy, delivering a hard-earned win for the MFTs, who exited triumphantly with Wyatt’s lantern, as Solo Sikoa declared possession of
“the whole world in his hands.”
U.S. Championship Open Challenge Raises Intensity
Carmelo Hayes continued making waves as United States Champion, taking on Shinsuke Nakamura in an open challenge. Their match was a showcase of technical expertise, with Nakamura targeting Hayes’s leg through relentless submissions and strikes. Hayes, however, delivered a determined performance, landing superkicks and DDTs, and even surviving Nakamura’s knee bar. The crowd witnessed dramatic momentum swings and a flurry of nearfalls. In a climactic sequence, Hayes countered Nakamura’s Kinshasha, landed the First 48 codebreaker, and finished the match with a signature legdrop, pinning Nakamura after 18 grueling minutes. Nakamura showed respect afterwards, hugging Hayes and raising his arm in front of the Berlin faithful.
Debuts & High-Stakes Confrontations
Jordynne Grace’s main roster debut against Alba Fyre was decisive, as Grace showcased her raw power and overcame Fyre’s resistance with ease. Afterward, Jade Cargill made her presence felt, confronting Grace and asserting dominance over the newest arrival, planting the seeds for a future showdown.
Elsewhere, Axiom appeared to turn on Nathan Frazer, unmasking as Johnny Gargano in a move that will reverberate through the tag team division. In heated backstage interviews, Sami Zayn set his sights on the WWE Championship, expressing admiration for friend Cody Rhodes yet aspiring to dethrone either him or McIntyre.
Main Event Brings Chaos and Title Change
The centerpiece of the night was the Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes defending against Drew McIntyre in a brutal Three Stages of Hell contest. The match’s stages—regular bout, falls count anywhere, and a climactic steel cage finale—tested both men physically and mentally. Early, McIntyre exploited a distraction to claim the first pin. Cody rebounded in the second stage, battling through the arena and earning a hard-fought pinfall after a high-flying leap through a table.
The final stage unfolded inside the steel cage, with both men battered and bloodied. Momentum swung violently, as each survivor through nearfalls, powerful slams, and a war of attrition atop the cage. In the closing moments, chaos erupted when a masked Jacob Fatu stormed the ring, targeting both participants. Amid the interference, McIntyre managed to escape the cage and was declared the new Undisputed WWE Champion, much to the shock of everyone—including Fatu, who realized his actions inadvertently handed McIntyre the title.
The atmosphere was tense and emotional, layered with unresolved grievances and the specter of future retribution.
SmackDown’s Championship Picture Evolving Rapidly
The night closed with a rundown of the upcoming qualifying matches for the No. 1 Contender’s Fatal Four-Way, offering new opportunities for Randy Orton, The Miz, Matt Cardona, Trick Williams, Damian Priest, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn, and Ilja Dragunov. The jam-packed event highlighted WWE SmackDown’s dynamic blend of star power, storyline drama, and in-ring innovation.
With Rey Fenix’s standout performance, new faces arriving, and Drew McIntyre’s victory in Berlin, the WWE landscape continues to shift, setting the stage for intense rivalries and the Road to the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. Fans and superstars alike are left eagerly anticipating the next developments on SmackDown’s ever-chaotic stage.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
Fri • Jun 13, 2025 • 7:30 PM
Rupp Arena, Lexington, KYAvailable Tickets: 1,387
Current Setup: 12,447
Tickets Distributed: 11,060📈 +1,316 since the last update (10 days ago)
📅 Days until show: 3
📊 YTD Smackdown Avg: 11,397
🔢 Total # of seats on… pic.twitter.com/r95x4Y5kxl— WrestleTix (@WrestleTix) June 10, 2025
