I attended an interview at Center Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for the January 23 issue covering WWE’s Friday Night SmackDown. This episode served as a build-up to both Saturday Night’s Main Event and the 2026 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. Key highlights included a WWE Tag Team Championship match where Damian Priest and Trick Williams competed to become the top contenders for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, alongside a rematch between Wyatt Six and the MFTs.
TheSportster provided ratings based on storytelling, technical skill, character work, and crowd reactions for the night’s matches. The Wyatt Six vs. MFT WWE Tag Team Championship match received an overall score of 4.5/10, reflecting a lackluster crowd response and a confusing storyline involving lantern-related antics that failed to engage fans.
Jade Cargill defeated Chelsea Green thanks to a distraction by Jordynne Grace, maintaining dominance throughout with a powerful victory in just over three minutes, earning a 5.75 rating. Damien Priest versus Trick Williams, the main event, earned a 6.25/10 for its physical and aggressive exchanges but ended abruptly in a no-contest due to Sami Zayn’s interference, leaving the crowd frustrated.
A triple threat match for the number one contenders featured Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Giulia, Kiana James, Rush Legend, and Nia Jax, with Kiana James securing the victory using a lash extension. The match scored a solid 6.5/10, highlighted by Flair’s impressive babyface performance amidst the chaotic bout.
Johnny Gargano and Nathan Frazier delivered a fast-paced and technically excellent match with a twist ending involving Axiom’s mask distraction, giving Frazier the win. This match was also rated 6.5/10.
The top-rated match of the night was Carmelo Hayes versus Ilya Dragunov for the United States Championship, boasting intense back-and-forth action and strong crowd engagement. Despite interference from The Miz leading to Hayes’ victory, the match scored 8/10 for its storytelling, technical execution, and character depth.
Fan Take: This SmackDown episode was critical in setting the stage for upcoming major WWE events, showcasing both emerging talent and established stars in high-stakes matches. The evolving storylines and intense rivalries underscore WWE’s continual push to blend athleticism with dramatic storytelling, which keeps fans eagerly anticipating what’s next for the sport.
