Chelsea Green and Giulia headline expanded January 2 broadcast
Summary
– SmackDown officially returns to a three-hour format on January 2, 2026
– Chelsea Green defends the Women’s United States Championship against Giulia
– Drew McIntyre reveals stipulations for his upcoming title match with Cody Rhodes
WWE SmackDown begins a new chapter tonight as the blue brand officially expands back to a three-hour format. The live broadcast takes place from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, marking the first extended episode under the updated structure.
Hours before the show, WWE confirmed a key addition to the card. Chelsea Green will defend the Women’s United States Championship against Giulia, renewing a rivalry that has remained unresolved since November. Green captured the title under controversial circumstances, using the ropes for leverage after a distraction shifted the momentum.
Giulia now enters the match looking for redemption on a night designed to showcase deeper storytelling and longer matches. Both competitors remain central figures in the short history of the Women’s U.S. Championship, with only a select few having held the title since its introduction in late 2024.
The show will also feature Drew McIntyre appearing live to reveal the stipulations for his upcoming Three Stages of Hell match against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. That championship bout is scheduled for the January 9 episode of SmackDown, but tonight’s announcement will determine how the match unfolds.
Additional action includes an Ambulance Match between Damian Priest and Aleister Black, continuing their long-running feud. An eight-woman tag team match will also bring together several of WWE’s top female stars, adding further depth to the expanded runtime.
With the return to three hours, SmackDown is positioned to deliver more in-ring action and character development. Tonight’s lineup reflects WWE’s intent to fully capitalize on the format shift from the very first episode.
