Tag: smackdown

WOR: WrestleMania concerns and changes, weekend TV and news!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including a bunch of injury updates, why WWE is concerned about WrestleMania and what changes they’re making, ratings notes on Dynamite, legal updates on Gail Kim and Janel Grant, Arena Mexico, Collision and Smackdown reviews and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Injury updates on Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Typhoon
2:07: WrestleMania plans are still up in the air, WWE unhappy with advance
9:18: TNA/Gail Kim, Janel Grant lawsuit updates
13:27: Ratings
19:06: Arena Mexico notes
29:23: WWE SmackDown recap
45:03: AEW Collision recap

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WOL: Cody’s manhood measuring contest, do The IInspiration fit in AEW?

Posted on by Jim Valley

Image: WWE

It’s time for the Saturday Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.

On Friday’s WWE SmackDown, many fans were puzzled by Cody Rhodes bragging about what he has below his belt, rather focusing on winning the WWE belt.

Also, we had Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu, Jade Cargill, Jordynne Grace, Oba Feminists, and lemon pepper steppers on another three-hour show.

Also: The IInspiration coming to AEW seems like an odd potential signing, and why AEW’s successful media week can help explain why and where it fits in the larger wrestling war.

Check it out.

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Title match, Elimination Chamber qualifiers set for WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The road to Elimination Chamber officially kicks off on tonight’s post-Royal Rumble edition of WWE SmackDown.

WWE has announced that the first Elimination Chamber qualifying matches in both the men’s and women’s divisions will take place on SmackDown tonight. Both are triple threat matches. The women’s bout features Lash Legend, Tiffany Stratton, and Chelsea Green, while Randy Orton, Aleister Black, and Solo Sikoa will face off on the men’s side.

Elimination Chamber is being held in Chicago on February 28 and will decide WrestleMania opponents for the remaining World Champions that are not challenged by the Royal Rumble winners. With World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns already locked in for WrestleMania, the men’s Chamber winner will be challenging WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.

Women’s Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan has yet to reveal whether she’ll be challenging Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer or WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill at Mania. Tonight, Morgan appears on SmackDown as she contemplates her decision.

Along with these matches, WWE has announced that Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY will defend their Women’s Tag Team titles against Giulia & Kiana James tonight. The show is taking place from in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Spectrum Center.

WWE SmackDown (Friday, February 6) —

  • Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Lash Legend vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Chelsea Green
  • Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Randy Orton vs. Aleister Black vs. Solo Sikoa
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY defend against Giulia & Kiana James
  • Women’s Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan appears
  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tama Tonga

Liv Morgan to appear on next WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

Liv Morgan, the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, has a decision to make. And she’s going to announce that decision this Friday on SmackDown. 

Morgan had a busy night on Monday Night Raw, joining her boyfriend Dominik Mysterio in the ring after his big return. She then announced she did not want to rush into a decision and pick her Mania opponent too quickly. Therefore, she would go to SmackDown to scout the competition and assess her options before making a choice. 

The Royal Rumble winner was then confronted by her Judgment Day stablemate Raquel Rodriguez, who demanded to know why Morgan had eliminated her from the Rumble. Morgan talked her way out of the situation by explaining that they both had title shots, with Rodriguez about to challenge Vaquer in a street fight. 

Vaquer went on to defeat Rodriguez in that match, only to be laid out by Morgan, who ended up standing tall with Vaquer’s belt in her hands. Prior to her title opportunity, Rodriguez had requested Morgan not to interfere in the match.

Morgan made her main roster WWE debut in 2017. She is a two-time WWE Women’s World Champion, and she and Rodgriguez have won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship four times. 

WOL: Royal Rumble, a so so WWE SmackDown & wrestling pet peeves

Posted on by Jim Valley

It’s Wrestling Observer Live on a Royal Rumble Saturday.

For a go home show for one of the biggest PLEs of the year, Friday’s SmackDown was very much by the numbers. Does that bode well for Saturday’s Rumble card (ongoing as I type this)?

With WWE’s ‘less is more’ philosophy, it could be amazing or just three hours of disposable entertainment.

Plus, Tommaso Ciampa challenges Mark Briscoe on tonight’s AEW Collision, Ashley Massaro, and pet peeves that shouldn’t bother me but really do.

It’s a fun show so check it out.

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WOR: Royal Rumble, RAW, Arena Mexico, tons more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including updates on EVIL and WWE, AEW and Triller, Arena Mexico, best wishes to Kemonito and Mick Foley, ratings notes, Smackdown, Collision and RAW recaps, the Royal Rumble, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Best wishes to Mick Foley, EVIL leaving New Japan for WWE, AEW & Triller update

9:28: UFC numbers, other ratings

19:23: Kemonito update, Rey Mysterio injured, Andre the Giant anniversary

25:27: Arena Mexico notes

30:22: Dave’s thoughts on WWE SmackDown and AEW Collision, AAA on FOX show, Billy Gunn

43:37: WWE Raw recap, lineups for the coming week

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WOL: Smackdown, SNME and the Rumble, tons of news!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including Tom’s upcoming trip to MLW for the BATTLE RIOT, tons of discussion of Smackdown, Saturday Night’s Main Event, the Royal Rumble, and more, plus all the news! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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FREE B&V! Smackdown, great Saturday Night’s Main Event, Collision!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with a FREE EPISODE talking three big shows this weekend, Smackdown on Friday with a tag title change, probably the best Saturday Night’s Main Event of the modern era with four really good matches (well, one match-length brawl), and Collision with a CMLL title defense in the main event. Best of all it’s FREE, so if you love it make sure to sign up today on whatever service you’re listening on, because it is WrestleMania season, always the hottest time of the year for pro-wrestling, and you can follow along multiple times a day with 84 podcasts every month and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOL: Jade is Jade, WWE in transition, SNME preview

Posted on by Jim Valley

On location from Portland, Oregon, it’s Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.

With new talent like Trick Williams, Lash Legend and others being put in positions to learn from veterans and vets like AJ Styles preparing to exit, 2026 (maybe ’27, too) looks to be a year of transition in WWE.

It’s time to accept that Jade Cargill is who she is as an athlete. She’s been wrestling for nearly seven years.

We saw new Tag Team champions crowned and the build for Saturday Night’s Main Event on Smackdown.

The people who are criticizing Powerhouse Hobbs’s new WWE name lack creativity and vision. Toni Storm, Mina Shirakawa, Collision and more. Check it out.

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Giulia & Kiana James named top contenders to WWE Women’s Tag titles

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky, the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, have new challengers following a number one contender’s match on SmackDown. 

Kiana James & Giulia won a triple threat match on Friday night in Montreal, defeating the teams of Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax & Lash Legend. 

The finish came after Legend hoisted Bliss into crucifix position, then swung her around and dropped her onto her face. Before she could make a cover, however, Flair knocked her out of position with a spear. James quickly hit the ring and splashed Bliss to pin her. 

James & Giulia had just lost to Bliss & Flair on last week’s SmackDown. They did get a win over Alba Fyre & Chelsea Green in their last televised match as a team back in December. 

The WWE has not announced when James & Giulia will get their title shot, but it won’t be this weekend—Ripley & Sky are scheduled to defend against Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez tomorrow night on Saturday Night’s Main Event. 

MFTs win WWE Tag Team titles on SmackDown

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New WWE Tag Team Champions have been crowned.

The MFTs (Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga) won the titles on Friday’s SmackDown, defeating The Wyatt Sicks’ Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy. The finish of the match had Uncle Howdy at ringside attempting to take out Talla Tonga, who was in possession of Bray Wyatt’s lantern. Sikoa came in and took out Howdy with the Samoan spike as Tonga jumped Lumis from behind. He then connected with the cutthroat (running elbow) to pin Lumis for the titles.

The Wyatt Sicks had held the titles since the July 11 edition of SmackDown, where they defeated The Street Profits. By the end of the year, they had found themselves feuding with the likes of Solo Sikoa’s group. The MFTs have made the situation more personal in recent weeks by taking possession of the lantern that Wyatt once held.

On last week’s SmackDown, Howdy attempted to regain the lantern but Sikoa jumped him to prevent it from happening. But the distraction allowed Priest to give Sikoa the south of heaven, giving him the win to advance to the four-way number one contender’s match for the WWE title at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

WWE SmackDown below one million viewers for second straight week

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Last Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown averaged 968,000 viewers on the USA Network, down 2.2% from the previous week. It’s the second lowest audience the show has done since moving back to the network in 2024.

SmackDown averaged a 0.21 rating in the 18-49 demo. The show finished second on the cable charts, trailing an NBA game on ESPN that averaged a 0.35 rating. They were also head to head with a college basketball game on FOX that averaged a 0.72 rating.

They were down 19.2% from the prior week and it was the lowest rating for the show in that category since Halloween night last year.

As compared to the same week in 2025, when Nielsen was still using their previous ratings reporting method, the overall viewership was down 31% while the 18-49 rating was down 50%.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for WWE SmackDown on the USA Network as well as the 10 week average in both categories. This week’ s show was down 14% in overall viewers and 19.2% in 18-49 as compared to recent averages.

Date18-49Total viewers
11/7/20250.261,141,000
11/14/20250.271,158,000
11/21/20250.291,210,000
11/28/20250.281,142,000
12/5/20250.241,063,000
12/12/20250.261,240,000
12/19/20250.21995,000
12/26/20250.271,138,000
1/2/20260.281,175,000
1/9/20260.26990,000
1/16/20260.21968,000
10 week average0.261,125,200

Cody Rhodes interview, two matches added to WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The lineup for tonight’s WWE SmackDown has a few new additions.

Ahead of tonight’s SmackDown, WWE announced that Cody Rhodes will have a sit-down interview on the show. He’ll address his upcoming match against Jacob Fatu at Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend, which was made after the returning Fatu cost Rhodes the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre two weeks ago. A brawl between Rhodes and Fatu then took place last Friday before being broken up by security.

Two new matches have also been confirmed for tonight. WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill faces off with Chelsea Green in a non-title match, while Carmelo Hayes defends his United States Championship in another open challenge. Hayes has retained over Johnny Gargano, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Leon Slater in his reign so far.

Montreal, Quebec Canada is hosting SmackDown tonight and Saturday Night’s Main Event tomorrow. Here is the updated SmackDown lineup:

WWE SmackDown (Friday, January 23) —

  • WWE Tag Team Champions The Wyatt Sicks defend against The MFTs
  • Women’s Tag Team title number one contender’s match: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Giulia & Kiana James vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend
  • Cody Rhodes sit-down interview
  • Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams
  • Non-title match: WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green
  • Carmelo Hayes United States Championship open challenge
  • Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano
  • AJ Styles appears for a chat with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis

Nick Aldis invites AJ Styles to appear on WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

AJ Styles has now officially accepted Nick Aldis’ invitation for Friday’s show:

**********

An appearance by AJ Styles is in the works for WWE SmackDown this Friday night.

On Monday’s Raw episode, it was announced that Styles would be putting his career on the line when he faces off against Gunther at the Royal Rumble. WWE has now followed up on that by posting a video with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis inviting Styles to Friday’s show. Aldis said he is looking forward to chatting with an old friend.

“Before he puts his career on the line at the Royal Rumble, I’d like to take this chance to formally invite the Phenomenal AJ Styles to SmackDown this week,” Aldis said. “I would love to have a chat with an old friend. After all, SmackDown is the house that AJ Styles built. My door is always open, AJ. Think about it.”

Styles is legitimately set to retire at some point in 2026 — and WWE has worked that into his feud with Gunther. They faced off on the January 12 edition of Raw with Gunther getting the win. He tricked Styles by tapping out behind the referee’s back, then used a low blow when Styles thought the match was over. Styles wanted a rematch, but Gunther would only agree to face him again if Styles put his career on the line.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada is hosting SmackDown on Friday and WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event the following night. The Royal Rumble will then be held in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, January 31.

WWE SmackDown (Friday, January 23) —

  • WWE Tag Team Champions The Wyatt Sicks defend against The MFTs
  • Women’s Tag Team title number one contender’s match: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Giulia & Kiana James vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend
  • Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano
  • Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams
  • AJ Styles invited to appear

WWE SmackDown moving networks for two weeks in February

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE SmackDown is shifting networks for a couple of episodes next month.

Because of the Winter Olympics, SmackDown will not be airing on USA Network on either Friday, February 13 or February 20. Post Wrestling reports that the show will instead air on Syfy those nights, with a spokesperson from USA Network confirming the change. Both USA Network and Syfy are owned by NBC Universal, so Syfy is where WWE programming has been moved to whenever there is a conflict with sporting events like this.

SmackDown moved back to a three-hour format at the start of 2026 and will continue to be a three-hour show for at least the next several months. The Syfy episodes will be three hours as well, airing in SmackDown’s regular 8-11 p.m. Eastern time slot. The respective episodes are taking place from Dallas, Texas and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Outside of the United States, these shows will air live on Netflix as usual.

SmackDown then returns to USA Network on February 27 for the final episode before Elimination Chamber.

The Winter Olympics begin on February 6 and run through February 22, serving as significant competition for the wrestling shows airing during that stretch.