WWE Smackdown returned on January 2, 2026, to Buffalo’s KeyBank Center for an extended three-hour broadcast, promising an action-packed night that delivered both high-stakes drama and emotional confrontations. The WWE Smackdown January 2 Results showcased Damien Priest’s victory in an intense Ambulance Match and major developments across the roster, setting the tone for the year ahead.
Rowdy Start and Airing of Grievances in Buffalo
Kicking off the show, fans filled the arena, with 7,764 tickets distributed according to WrestleTix, well below its basketball capacity of 19,200 spectators. Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcomed viewers, underscoring the energy in Buffalo and teasing the night’s expanded format. The segment began with a recap of the ongoing Cody Rhodes–Drew McIntyre feud, followed by arrival clips featuring stars such as Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Asuka, Kairi Sane, Damien Priest, Aleister Black, and Zelina Vega.
The ring became the stage for a fiery Miz, who declared he would not let the year begin before airing out lingering frustrations from 2025. His wish for a match with John Cena on the latter’s retirement tour went unfulfilled, leading to Miz’s sharp remark,
“I should have been the one to tap John Cena out.”
– Miz, WWE Superstar. He expressed his disappointment over young wrestlers’ attitudes and criticized the audience and his colleagues, vowing that,
Image of: WWE Smackdown
“This will not become a thing again,”
– Miz, WWE Superstar. He also dismissed Cena’s absence with,
“We can’t see him and we don’t want to see him anymore,”
– Miz, WWE Superstar.
His self-aggrandizement was cut short as Randy Orton interrupted, electrifying the crowd in a local Buffalo Sabres shirt. Orton delivered a decisive RKO, sending Miz crashing to the mat. As he helped Miz up, Orton delivered a second RKO and declared,
“I’m going to bust my ass this year and get what’s coming to me.”
– Randy Orton, WWE Superstar.
Tag Team Turmoil: Eight-Woman Battle Ignites
Backstage alliances formed as Lash Legend and Nia Jax negotiated with Asuka and Kairi Sane (the Kabuki Warriors) for potential title matches, leading to the night’s first in-ring contest: The Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax, and Lash Legend versus Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss. The match exploded in chaos before the bell, with each team trading powerful moves. The contest featured an innovative sequence where Charlotte’s Figure-Eight submission on Asuka was broken up by Kairi’s top rope elbow. In the end, Rhea Ripley delivered a decisive Rip Tide on Kairi, and Iyo Sky’s Over the Moonsault scored the victory for their team in a hard-fought 14-minute clash, with all four winners celebrating in the ring.
Green’s Breakdowns and Debuts: More Fresh Faces Step Up
Backstage, Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis revealed to Jordynne Grace his ambition for her to play a major role in 2026. The scene quickly turned tense as Chelsea Green, accompanied by Alba Fyre, asserted her place and emotional state, referencing the emotional toll of recent television endings and responding to Aldis’s pressure with,
“I am fighting – fighting for my life on the Internet, Nick!”
– Chelsea Green, WWE Superstar. After a heated exchange, Green stormed off following Aldis’s threat to strip her of her championship.
The action continued as Kit Wilson introduced a new persona to the Buffalo crowd, calling the city the
“home of the most toxic sports fans in America.”
– Kit Wilson, WWE Superstar. He faced Matt Cardona, formerly known as Zack Ryder. Cardona, cheered on by fans, ended the encounter in four minutes with a leg lariat finisher.
Feuds and Stakes: Vows of Destruction and Title Aspirations
Damien Priest laid down a fierce warning in the lead-up to the evening’s main event, promising to end his year-long feud by force. He stated bluntly that he would punish his opponent across the arena, stuff him in an ambulance, and send him “straight to the E.R.”
Meanwhile, the Wyatt Sicks delivered a haunting message to Solo Sikoa, insisting that their family and millions of global fans were aligned against him and promising dominance. The segment added suspense to future tag team confrontations.
Sami Zayn’s Challenge and Trick Williams’ Bold Debut
Sami Zayn addressed the crowd, explaining that spending time as a spectator with his son at John Cena’s final match forced him to confront his own lack of a World Title win. He became visibly affected discussing his child’s questions about championship history and declared 2026 his year to break through. The moment was interrupted by the debut of Trick Williams, who called himself the fusion of Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Mike Tyson, stating he was called in by Aldis to bring excitement back to Smackdown and was poised to become World Champion.
Zayn and Williams bantered in the ring, with Zayn challenging Trick’s confidence and Williams asserting that he would achieve success faster than Zayn. The confrontation set up Trick Williams’ official Smackdown debut match for the following week against Rey Fenix, announced backstage by GM Nick Aldis.
Carmelo Hayes Retains: U.S. Title Match Showcases Athleticism
Backstage, Carmelo Hayes was congratulated by Ilja Dragunov for last week’s title win over Dragunov himself. Hayes confirmed that after facing Johnny Gargano, he would continue the U.S. Title Open Challenge. The subsequent championship match saw Hayes, accompanied briefly by Dragunov, defend against Gargano (who was joined by Candice LeRae).
The match was a display of athleticism and resilience, with both competitors trading suplexes, DDTs, and high-impact aerial moves. Hayes absorbed a tornado DDT and an Air Raid Crash, then fought through distractions before rallying with his signature First 48 and Nothing But Net for the victory after 16 minutes, successfully defending the U.S. Title as the Buffalo crowd cheered on the competitors’ efforts.
Personal Vendettas and Mind Games: Drew Provokes Cody Rhodes
As tensions continued between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes, Cody hit the ring to speak earnestly about his journey to becoming “The Champ” and the mentality required to hold the
“most sought-after belt in pro wrestling and sports entertainment.”
With the crowd chanting his name, Cody acknowledged the envy he faces and welcomed the challenge Drew presented. He issued a veiled warning to Drew, expressing his readiness for their bout in Berlin and promising his status as champion would remain unchanged:
“And that does not change in Berlin,”
– Cody Rhodes, WWE Champion.
Drew appeared via video from the parking garage, taunting Cody’s regularity and “vanilla” persona, before laying out a Three Stages of Hell stipulation: a wrestling match, a falls count anywhere match, and, if needed, a final old-school steel cage match. Drew mocked Cody by entering the “Cody Express” bus, examining personal family memorabilia, and shattering a framed photo of Cody and his late father Dusty Rhodes. In a cold dig, Drew declared,
“but I know he’s looking up right now, truly ashamed.”
– Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar.
Cody, emotionally rattled, sprinted to confront Drew, only to be blocked by security as Drew destroyed the heirloom photo and, in front of the live crowd, attempted to burn it. This escalated their rivalry to deeply personal territory heading into their upcoming clash.
The women’s division saw Chelsea Green (with Alba Fyre) defend her title against Giulia (flanked by Kiana James). The contest was competitive, with Giulia showing dominance early and Green battling back. The action spilled to the outside, involving both managers in heated exchanges. In a critical sequence, Giulia delivered a double-underhook suplex from the top rope, followed by a Northern Lights Bomb for the win and new championship gold after seven minutes. Cole summarized the event by noting Green’s “impeachment,” as Giulia celebrated her title victory in Buffalo.
Alliances, Rivalries, and Looming Showdowns
Backstage, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky discussed their growing momentum, with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss wishing them luck but making clear their own intentions to challenge for gold next, as Charlotte remarked,
“but seriously, we’re next in line.”
– Charlotte Flair, WWE Superstar. Ripley countered,
“it will be our play and your pain.”
– Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar. This laid the groundwork for a high-stakes match in a division brimming with ambitious contenders.
Elsewhere, Jade Cargill confirmed she intentionally injured Michin’s shoulder and dismissed anyone who doubted her dominance:
“It was, and who’s going to stop me? These women know what’s up. Michin messed around and found out and that’s on her. Injuries happen when these pigeons don’t know their place.”
– Jade Cargill, WWE Superstar. Jordan Grace countered Jade’s bravado with,
“I’m Jordan Grace and you’re definitely one of those.”
– Jordan Grace, WWE Superstar.
The Main Event: Ambulance Match Pushes Limits
The evening built toward its centerpiece: a rare Ambulance Match between Aleister Black (with Zelina Vega) and Damien Priest. The contest started with Black attacking before the bell, and quickly spilled into the aisles and onto the entrance stage. As Michael Cole described,
“This will not be a wrestling clinic, by any means.”
– Michael Cole, WWE Commentator. The brutality escalated with Priest slamming Black off the ring apron, crashing him onto the announce desk, and using a chair to devastating effect. The fight sprawled from the ring to the stage, with interference from Vega and Rhea Ripley igniting the crowd.
In a crucial moment, Priest employed flash paper against Black’s face, temporarily blinding him. The battle ramped up further as Priest delivered a Razor’s Edge onto the ambulance windshield, then chokeslammed Black through tables, before finally tossing Black into the ambulance and closing the doors to seal his win after 24 grueling minutes.
Implications and What Lies Ahead
The January 2 edition of WWE Smackdown left a fierce impression, with the WWE Smackdown January 2 Results highlighting major personal grudges, title changes, and signals of new rivalries. Priest’s hard-fought victory in the Ambulance Match sent a clear message to the roster. Giulia’s rise to champion status and Trick Williams’ arrival alongside ongoing hostilities between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre set up turbulent weeks ahead, as stars jostle for dominance and seek retribution. Fans’ expectations have been significantly raised as Buffalo’s night of high drama laid the foundation for a tumultuous 2026 in WWE.
Kevin Jewell is a journalist at CynicalTimes.org, covering the WWE SmackDown Men’s Division.
With two years of experience, he reports on headline matches, major rivalries, and superstar developments from WWE’s blue brand.
Kevin brings sharp analysis, accurate updates, and a deep passion for storytelling to his coverage.
His work highlights the key figures, championship pursuits, and weekly action that define the SmackDown men’s roster.
From rising talents to veteran icons, Kevin delivers content that keeps fans informed and engaged with every twist in the ring.
