Five spoilers for WWE SmackDown tonight (December 26, 2025): Carmelo Hayes captures US title; Drew McIntyre flatlines Cody Rhodes & more

This article contains SPOILERS for tonight’s show.

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown (December 26, 2025) promises to be a news-packed finale for the year as WWE heads into 2026. The episode was pre-taped last week, so spoilers have already surfaced.

WWE pre-taped the December 26 episode on December 19 at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, due to the Christmas holiday season. 

Ahead of tonight’s show, here are the five spoilers that will transpire during the December 26, 2025, episode of Friday Night SmackDown.

8-woman tag team match

On tonight’s WWE SmackDown, viewers will witness a backstage segment between Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss that quickly will escalate into a heated shouting match, spilling over into a full-blown women’s tag team brawl. During the chaos, an eight-woman tag team match will be announced for the first SmackDown in January to determine the #1 contenders.

The teams involved in the segment are Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Lash Legend & Nia Jax, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky, and Asuka & Kairi Sane.

Charlotte Flair vs Lash Legend

After her tag partner Alexa Bliss suffered a defeat at the hands of Lash Legend, a rising threat from NXT who, alongside Nia Jax, has been steamrolling anyone in their path, Charlotte Flair will step up to face Legend in a singles match tonight. Flair will secure the victory, pinning Lash Legend to win the bout.

Joe Hendry defeats The Miz

SmackDown tonight will kick off with a Joe Hendry concert, featuring a holiday-themed remix in which he’ll mock The Miz during a parody of “Jingle Bells.”

Following the performance, a Miracle on 34th Street Fight between The Miz and Joe Hendry will made official. Before the match, The Miz will cut a promo boasting about himself. Alpha Academy accompanied the bout at ringside, with Otis dressed as Santa Claus, Tozawa as an elf, and R-Truth wearing a rabbit costume. Hendry will pick up the win against The Miz in the Miracle on 34th Street Fight.

Carmelo Hayes captures the US title

Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes will appear in a backstage promo to build anticipation for their US title match later in the show.

Later on tonight’s WWE SmackDown, Carmelo will face Ilja for the United States Championship. After the match, Dragunov will put the title belt around Hayes’ waist after the match. This will be Ilja’s first loss in 2025, since his return, where he defeated Sami Zayn to win the US title.

Drew McIntyre returns to take out Cody Rhodes

The show will also mark the return of Drew McIntyre after a lengthy suspension, as he was reinstated last week by GM Nick Aldis. McIntyre, in his return, will deliver a backstage promo, stating that all the answers would be revealed by the end of the night, teasing that everyone would have to wait until later in the episode.

In the closing moments of the show, Drew will launch a scathing rant against the referee. A matchup will then be made official: Drew McIntyre will face Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell Match in Berlin on the January 9th episode of SmackDown.

The segment is set to conclude with Drew turning to Cody Rhodes and warning, “When I bury you deep in hell, say hi to your dad for me,” before delivering a flatliner to Rhodes to close out the show.

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