WWE SmackDown: Cody Rhodes vs Drew McIntyre; Jade Cargill vs Michin & more announced for new year shows

Drew McIntyre gets another shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship!

With the final episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown now over, a lot of matches have been announced for the new year’s first shows. Rivalries will reach a boiling point as we head into the road to Royal Rumble 2026.

WWE has officially stacked the first SmackDown of the new year, with the January 2 episode marking the blue brand’s return to a three-hour format.

The show promises blockbuster action, featuring top women’s stars in a major tag-team clash, high-profile singles bouts, and a must-see main event announcement for the following week in Berlin.

With championship stakes rising and rivalries intensifying, SmackDown is set to kick off 2026 in emphatic fashion, headlined by an Undisputed WWE Championship showdown between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre inside a brutal Three Stages of Hell match in Berlin.

Announced for 2 January SmackDown as the show returns to 3 hours next week

• Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky vs The Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax & Lash Legend
• Jade Cargill vs Michin
• Damian Priest vs Aleister Black

Announced for SmackDown on January 9th in Berlin

Cody Rhodes vs Drew McIntyre – Undisputed WWE Championship (Three Stages of Hell)

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