All superstars confirmed for WWE SmackDown (January 2, 2026): Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Damian Priest & more
(Courtesy : WWE via Getty)
The first SmackDown of 2026 will feature an Ambulance match.
The first Friday Night SmackDown of 2026 promises a new chapter, with rivalries carrying over from last year, and the road ahead of WrestleMania beginning to take shape. The show will return to three hour format from this Friday at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
Multiple big names are being advertised for the show inlcuding Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, Randy Orton, and Jade Cargill. The show will set the tone for the upcoming show in Berlin, where Cody Rhodes will defend the title against Drew McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell match.
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During a backstage segment on last week’s show, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky were interacting with Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair when they were confronted by Nia Jax and Lash Legend. What started as an argument quickly turned into a heated altercation once the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane), joined the scene.
The chaos prompted SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis to make a major announcement: an eight-woman tag team match set for the first SmackDown of 2026. Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, and Iyo Sky will team up to face Nia Jax, Lash Legend, and The Kabuki Warriors.
Jade Cargill and Michin will settle their score inside the ring in a non-title match, and winning over the WWE Women’s Champion will likely get Michin an instant shot at the title. However, the match will likely be pulled from the card, or Michin might be replaced, as she has suffered a shoulder injury during the Live tour.
Aleister Black and Damian Priest’s feud has been marked by back-and-forth victories, culminating in what was billed as their final encounter: a Last Man Standing Match. That clash ultimately ended with Aleister Black standing tall, aided by timely interference from his wife, Zelina Vega.
However, the two are set to go at it once again this Friday in an Ambulance Match. The rules are straightforward: incapacitate your opponent to the point they can’t continue, then load them into the ambulance to secure the victory. Both men look to get a decisive win, to conclude the feud on top.
Also Read: WWE SmackDown Preview (January 2, 2026): Match card, news, timings & where to watch
WWE Superstars confirmed for 01/02 SmackDown
- “Undisputed WWE Champion” Cody Rhodes
- “WWE Women’s Champion” Jade Cargill
- Drew McIntyre
- The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
- B-Fab & Michin
- Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Nikki Cross, Erick Rowan & “WWE Tag Team Champions” Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy)
- Giulia & Kiana James
- Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky
- “WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions” The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
- Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
- #DIY (Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae)
- Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
- Damian Priest
- Solo Sikoa & MFT (Talla Tonga, JC Mateo, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa)
- Nia Jax & Lash Legend
- R-Truth
- Alba Fyre
- “Women’s United States Champion” Chelsea Green
- “United States Champion” Carmelo Hayes
- The Miz
- Joe Hendry
- Kit Wilson
- Rey Fenix
- Ilja Dragunov
- Sami Zayn
- Los Garzas (Angel & Berto)
- Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer & Axiom)
- Zelina Vega
- Aleister Black
When and where will the January 2, 2026, episode of SmackDown take place?
The January 2 edition of Friday Night SmackDown is set to emanate live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
What matches have been announced for the show?
-Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky vs The Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax & Lash Legend – Eight-Woman Tag Team match
-Jade Cargill vs Michin
-Damian Priest vs Aleister Black: Ambulance match
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