WWE SmackDown Preview (January 2, 2026): Match card, news, timings & where to watch

SmackDown will return to the three-hour format this week.

As the calendar flips to 2026, WWE looks to kick off the new year with momentum, mystery, and massive implications ahead of WrestleMania 42. The promotion will start the year with the January 2 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, which is set to emanate live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

The show will return to a three-hour format from this Friday, and multiple big names are being advertised for the show, including Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, Randy Orton, and Jade Cargill.

With championships, bad bloods, and statement wins all on the line, the blue brand is ready to start 2026 with a bang. Now, let’s dive into an in-depth preview of the January 2 episode of WWE SmackDown, featuring the full match card, start times, and complete broadcast and streaming details.

Announced for WWE SmackDown (2 January 2026)

• Cody Rhodes to appear
• 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

Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky vs The Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax & Lash Legend – Eight-Woman Tag Team match

In a backstage segment during last week’s show, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky were having some fun banter with Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, when Nia Jax and Lash Legend approached, and the three teams started bickering, which only intensified with the arrival of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane).

This led General Manager Nick Aldis to announce an eight-woman tag team match for the first show of 2026. The team of Flair, Bliss, Ripley, and Sky will battle the team of Jax, Legend, and the Kabuki Warriors.

Jade Cargill vs Michin

Jade Cargill and Michin have been booked to settle the 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, Michin has notably been removed from WWE’s Holiday Live Tour schedule. Fightful Select has confirmed that Michin has suffered a shoulder injury.

WWE has not disclosed the severity of the injury, but the company will likely either cancel the match altogether or replace Michin with B-Fab, emerging as the most probable substitute.

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Damian Priest vs Aleister Black: Ambulance match

Aleister Black and Damian Priest have endured a brutal rivalry, pushing each other to the brink in their quest to destroy one another. The 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 but ruthless: 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.

WWE SmackDown Timings & Telecast Details

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