WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix for international fans, from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Leon Slater has found himself at the center of a lot of buzz this week, and while his surprise appearance on WWE SmackDown turned heads, there’s now more clarity on why the TNA X-Division Champion has been pulled from multiple scheduled matches.
WWE had interest in featuring Slater during its ongoing European tour, which included SmackDown emanating from Wembley Stadium. Slater answered Carmelo Hayes’ open challenge for the United States Championship, giving the British standout a high-profile moment on WWE television. Although Slater didn’t walk away with the title, his performance reportedly left a strong impression backstage.
At the same time, fans noticed Slater’s sudden removal from upcoming TNA programming. He was initially advertised to defend the X-Division Championship against Myron Reed on the AMC debut of Thursday Night iMPACT, but that match was quietly scrapped. Shortly after, Reed and The Rascalz were announced as new signings with AEW, further fueling speculation.
Slater was also pulled from a major title defense at TNA Genesis on January 17, where he was set to face Cedric Alexander and Moose. That bout has since been changed, with Alexander and Moose now challenging Joe Hendry instead.
Given Slater’s crossover appearance on SmackDown, rumors quickly surfaced suggesting a working arrangement between WWE and TNA—possibly with Slater’s appearance being traded for AJ Styles showing up on iMPACT. However, according to Fightful Select, the situation is far less political and more logistical.
The report notes that Slater is one of several TNA talents currently dealing with visa issues. Because he was already back home in the UK, TNA opted to allow WWE to use him during their European tour rather than keep him sidelined entirely. During iMPACT, TNA officially addressed the situation in a backstage segment, announcing that Slater would miss Genesis due to those visa complications.
Before Friday’s SmackDown, Slater’s most recent WWE appearance came at NXT New Year’s Evil, where he suffered a loss to Oba Femi. Despite the crossover exposure, Slater remains under contract with TNA through the end of 2026.
While visa issues may have temporarily disrupted his TNA run, Slater’s recent WWE appearances have only elevated his profile. Once those matters are resolved, it’ll be interesting to see how TNA positions its X-Division Champion after gaining valuable experience on one of WWE’s biggest stages.
WWE SmackDown airs tonight (Jan. 16) with a show (live on Netflix in certain international markets, taped version airing in its normal time slot in the USA) from OVO Arena Wembley in London, England
Friday night’s WWE SmackDown from Berlin delivered one of the most chaotic main events of the year, as Drew McIntyre walked out as the new Undisputed WWE Champion after surviving Cody Rhodes in a brutal Three Stages of Hell Match — with a shocking assist from a returning Jacob Fatu.
The match was built to test endurance and brutality, and McIntyre and Rhodes wasted no time living up to that promise. The opening stage was a traditional singles match, and McIntyre immediately showed a more ruthless edge. While brawling spilled outside the ring early, the decisive moment came when McIntyre distracted the referee by exposing a turnbuckle. With the official turned away, McIntyre delivered a low blow to Rhodes and followed it with a Claymore to steal the first fall.
The second stage shifted into Falls Count Anywhere, and the intensity ramped up quickly. McIntyre introduced a table at ringside and drove Rhodes through it, but the champion somehow powered out at two. The fight spilled into the crowd and backstage area before Rhodes managed to regain control. In a highlight-worthy moment, Rhodes climbed into the stands and launched himself off the railing, crashing through McIntyre and a table below.
Rhodes wasn’t done there. After dragging McIntyre back toward the ring, he cleared off the commentary desk and delivered a Cross Rhodes that sent both men crashing through it. The impact was enough to even the score at one fall apiece, forcing the match into its final and most dangerous stage.
With the steel cage lowering around the ring, both men fought with urgency, knowing escape would mean victory. McIntyre repeatedly tried to flee through the door and over the top, while Rhodes answered with relentless offense. Despite eating multiple Cross Rhodes and a Cody Cutter, McIntyre refused to stay down. Even a Claymore couldn’t put Rhodes away for good, as the champion continued to dig deep.
The turning point came when McIntyre attempted another escape through the cage door — and ran directly into a returning Jacob Fatu. Believing McIntyre was the mystery attacker who sidelined him months ago, “The Samoan Werewolf” unleashed a brutal assault. Rhodes stepped in to confront Fatu, only to get caught up in the chaos himself.
As Fatu and Rhodes brawled inside the cage, McIntyre seized the moment. He crawled through the door and escaped to the floor, officially ending the match and capturing the Undisputed WWE Championship. Inside the ring, Fatu looked on in disbelief as McIntyre celebrated, leaving more questions than answers about what comes next.
McIntyre’s reign begins amid controversy and unfinished business, while Fatu’s return instantly shakes up the title picture. One thing is certain: SmackDown’s main event scene just became far more unpredictable.
WWE SmackDown tonight 8/7C on USA Network taped at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.
Fans waiting for “Tiffy Time” to kick off 2026 are going to have to hang tight a little longer. Tiffany Stratton has been noticeably missing from WWE television in recent weeks, and new reports indicate her absence isn’t storyline-related after all.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Stratton is currently sidelined with a legitimate injury. While specifics about the nature or severity of the injury haven’t been made public, her most recent televised match featured a knee injury angle against Jade Cargill. That storyline is now believed to be rooted in real-life issues, suggesting WWE creatively leaned into an existing problem rather than inventing one.
Earlier speculation had pointed in a different direction. A previous report from PWMania claimed Stratton’s time off could have been a deliberate creative move. Paul “Triple H” Levesque has been known to temporarily pull talent from TV to allow fan demand to build, often leading to louder reactions and renewed momentum upon their return. It’s a tactic that has worked well for several top stars over the years.
However, the confirmation of an actual injury reframes that narrative. Stratton had been heavily featured throughout 2025 and was one of the most consistently protected names on the women’s roster. At just 25 years old, she’s already held championship gold and delivered multiple standout performances, firmly establishing herself as a centerpiece of WWE’s women’s division.
There’s currently no word on when Stratton might be cleared to return, but expectations are that her comeback will be met with a strong crowd response whenever it happens. WWE often uses time away to reset characters or adjust creative plans, and Stratton could easily benefit from either approach once she’s healthy.
For now, fans will have to wait — but when Tiffany Stratton does make her return, it’s likely to be a big moment.
Tommaso Ciampa’s run with WWE appears to be nearing its end, as a new report has added important context to his current contract situation.
As previously noted over the weekend, Ciampa’s WWE deal is expected to expire soon and is not believed to be renewed. While initial reports were light on details, the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio has clarified that the decision was likely Ciampa’s to make.
According to the report, Ciampa informed WWE roughly five weeks ago that he would not be renewing his contract. At this time, there’s no indication that WWE pushed him out, with the choice said to have come from Ciampa himself. The specific reasons behind his decision have not been made public.
In recent weeks, WWE programming has subtly reflected Ciampa’s absence. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae have continued appearing on SmackDown without him, including during last week’s episode, signaling a possible creative shift ahead of his reported departure.
Ciampa has yet to comment publicly on the situation, and there is no information regarding where he may land next. If this does mark the end of his WWE tenure, it would close the book on an accomplished run. Ciampa is a former two-time NXT World Champion, a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and a former NXT Tag Team Champion, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures of the black-and-gold NXT era.
His most recent WWE appearance came on the December 19 episode of SmackDown. As Ciampa’s contract situation continues to develop, fans will be watching closely to see what the next chapter holds for “The Blackheart.”
Matt Cardona made a surprise in-ring return to WWE SmackDown on Friday night, competing in a New Year’s-themed episode and picking up his first win on WWE television in more than six years. The former Zack Ryder squared off against Kit Wilson in a singles bout, marking another notable chapter in Cardona’s ongoing reintroduction to WWE audiences.
Wilson came out aggressively at the opening bell, using a Corkscrew Elbow to seize early control. Cardona weathered the storm and fired back with a clothesline to swing momentum briefly in his favor, but Wilson’s ring awareness allowed him to regain the upper hand by knocking Cardona off the ropes and keeping him grounded. The match remained competitive throughout, with both men trading advantages as the pace picked up.
Cardona came close to sealing the deal with a Double Underhook Powerbomb that nearly earned him the three-count. Wilson answered back by attempting his Tourniquet finisher, but Cardona managed to survive. The turning point came when Wilson missed a strike in the corner, opening the door for Cardona to capitalize. Moments later, Cardona connected with the Rough Ryder to score the pinfall victory.
Following the match, commentary from Michael Cole confirmed that Cardona is officially part of the SmackDown roster. The appearance continues a recent run that has included a match on NXT against Josh Briggs and involvement in the “Last Time Is Now” tournament. Prior to this stretch, Cardona had not competed in a WWE ring since 2020.
Since leaving WWE, Cardona has built a high-profile run across multiple promotions, including AEW, IMPACT/TNA, GCW, and Ring of Honor, reinventing himself as one of the most prominent independent stars in the industry. Interestingly, while he was introduced as Matt Cardona on SmackDown, his entrance video briefly displayed the Zack Ryder name, and his finishing move was called the Rough Ryder rather than its independent-era name, Radio Silence.
Those details leave some unanswered questions about Cardona’s presentation going forward. Whether WWE fully embraces his post-WWE persona, returns him to the Zack Ryder identity, or blends elements of both remains to be seen as his SmackDown run continues.
WWE SmackDown airs tonight on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix internationally, live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
WWE SmackDown moves back to 3 Hours starting tonight.
WWE SmackDown airs tonight on the USA Network in the US and Netflix internationally, taped from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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