Taped episode features championship shock and Berlin match announcement
Summary
– SmackDown taping included a United States Title change
– Drew McIntyre vs Cody Rhodes set for Three Stages of Hell
– Holiday themed matches and multiple rivalries advanced
WWE taped the December 26, 2025, episode of SmackDown on December 19 from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show delivered a mix of holiday themed chaos, storyline progression, and a major championship moment.
SmackDown opened with a Joe Hendry concert featuring a holiday parody performance aimed at The Miz. The segment quickly led to the announcement of a Miracle on 34th Street Fight between Hendry and The Miz. Alpha Academy appeared at ringside in festive costumes, with Otis dressed as Santa, Tozawa as an elf, and R Truth in a rabbit outfit. Hendry defeated The Miz in the holiday street fight.
Backstage promos helped set the tone for the rest of the night. Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes both addressed their upcoming clash, while Drew McIntyre teased that answers were coming later in the episode. Jade Cargill also delivered a promo calling out Michin, leading to a verbal exchange involving B Fab.
In in-ring action, Charlotte Flair defeated Lash Legend in a match that stood out due to Legend’s stiff offense. Trick Williams later confronted Cody Rhodes inside Nick Aldis’ office, further escalating ongoing tensions.
The United States Championship was on the line when Ilja Dragunov defended against Carmelo Hayes. Hayes emerged victorious to become the new United States Champion. In a show of respect, Dragunov placed the title around Hayes’ waist after the match.
The women’s division descended into chaos during a backstage segment involving Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. The confrontation turned into a large brawl, resulting in an eight woman tag team match being announced for the first SmackDown in January to determine new number one contenders.
Giulia and Kiana James defeated Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre, with Giulia scoring the pinfall. Additional backstage interactions included Kit Wilson crossing paths with Nick Aldis, which set up Cody Rhodes’ demand for an apology from Drew McIntyre.
The show closed with Drew McIntyre addressing the crowd and tearing into a referee on the microphone. The segment culminated with the announcement of Drew McIntyre versus Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell Match at WWE Bash in Berlin. McIntyre ended the night by laying out Rhodes and delivering a final verbal shot to close the taping.
