WWE SmackDown delivered an action-packed, drama-filled episode on December 19, 2025, shaking up the blue brand with wild brawls, tag team chaos, and a home invasion that’s got everyone talking. The episode, which was taped several days earlier at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, aired on the USA Network and, for the first time in a while, didn’t broadcast live on Netflix for most international fans. But that didn’t stop the show from bringing the heat, both inside and outside the squared circle.
The night kicked off with Damian Priest, the former world heavyweight champion, hitting the ring for a promo. Priest, still riding high after a recent victory with Rhea Ripley, paid tribute to the recently retired John Cena and was just about to turn his attention to his goals for 2026. But before he could get too comfortable, Aleister Black and Zelina Vega stormed onto the scene. Black, never one to mince words, called out Priest as a hypocrite, setting the stage for a physical confrontation that escalated quickly. Black attacked Priest from behind, and the two battled fiercely until Priest tried to take things up a notch by introducing a table. Unfortunately for Priest, the tables turned—literally—when Black delivered a Meteora, driving Priest through the wood. If that wasn’t enough, Black continued the assault backstage with a brutal steel chair attack. Fans were left buzzing, with Black and Vega making it crystal clear: their vendetta against Priest is far from over.
Backstage, the women’s tag team division was heating up. Nia Jax and Lash Legend, a powerhouse duo with their eyes on gold, laid out their intentions to challenge for the Women’s World Tag Team Championship. Their first step? A non-title showdown against the reigning champions, The Kabuki Warriors—Asuka and Kairi Sane. The match was a showcase of power, with Jax and Legend using their strength to dominate much of the action. Still, The Kabuki Warriors showed their resilience, with Sane soaring through the air and Asuka rallying the fans. But the momentum swung back after Jax hit Sane with the Annihilator, sealing the pinfall victory for her team. Just as Jax and Legend were celebrating, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss stormed the ring, attacking the victors and sending them scrambling. The tag division, it seems, is on the verge of a full-blown turf war.
The night’s most jaw-dropping moment came in a pre-taped vignette that’s already gone viral among WWE fans. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis visited Drew McIntyre at his home in Florida, hoping to negotiate the Scottish Warrior’s reinstatement. The terms? A championship match against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, a public apology to referee Dan Engler, and a hefty fine to be paid out of his WarGames earnings. McIntyre, never one to back down, demanded written assurance that Rhodes couldn’t touch him before their title bout—otherwise, The American Nightmare would be stripped of his championship.
What happened next was pure WWE mayhem. McIntyre received a security alert just as Aldis was about to leave. Who was at the door? None other than Cody Rhodes himself. The two brawled on McIntyre’s front lawn until police officers intervened. “Merry Christmas, a*****e!” Rhodes shouted as the chaos ended. Later, Rhodes addressed Aldis and the WWE Universe in a fiery promo, accepting the stipulations for his future match with McIntyre but reminding the GM, “Don’t forget who I am. I’m QB1, the guy who changed the industry and the Superstar who dethroned the Tribal Chief. As long as I’m champion, I work for the people. And you work for me.” The tension between Rhodes and McIntyre is reaching a boiling point, and fans can’t wait to see what happens next.
The women’s singles division also saw a spotlight match, as Giulia—still seeking redemption after recent setbacks—took on Alba Fyre. With Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green watching from ringside, Giulia unleashed a flurry of offense, punishing Fyre with her signature Arrivederci knee strike before finishing things off with a devastating Northern Lights Bomb. The victory was decisive, and Giulia’s post-match stare-down with Green left the champ rattled, even causing her to trip while exiting the scene. According to Bleacher Report, "Dangerously serious, and seriously dangerous, is exactly what we need to see out of Giulia at this stage of her main roster run." There’s no doubt Giulia is making her presence felt, and the women’s division is on notice.
Tag team action continued with a high-energy encounter between the newly formed duo of Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov and the established team of DIY—Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. DIY’s chemistry was on full display, dominating much of the match, but Hayes and Dragunov showed why they’re considered two of the most resilient singles stars in NXT history. The tide turned late, with Dragunov blasting Ciampa with the H-Bomb and Hayes sealing the win with his Nothing But Net finisher. The victory was a statement, and the crowd responded with thunderous applause. As ProWrestling.net reported, Hayes and Dragunov "defeated DIY by pinfall," solidifying themselves as a tag team force to be reckoned with.
The main event saw the WWE Tag Team Championships up for grabs as The Wyatt Sicks—Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis—defended against The MFTs, JC Mateo and Tanga Loa. The challengers isolated Lumis early, working him over and keeping him from his partner. But when Gacy entered the fray, the champions mounted a rally—only for chaos to erupt. Talla Tonga interfered at ringside, prompting Erick Rowan to get involved as well. The resulting melee spilled in and out of the ring, and the referee had no choice but to call for a double disqualification. No winner was declared, and the show ended with both teams brawling, leaving the tag team title picture more chaotic than ever.
Throughout the night, the SmackDown brand demonstrated a clear sense of direction, with feuds intensifying and new alliances forming. The episode, despite being pre-taped, earned high marks from critics and fans alike. Bleacher Report gave the show an overall grade of B+, noting its "clear direction for some of the top feuds, including Rhodes vs. McIntyre, Priest vs. Black, and both sets of tag team titles."
With the blue brand on the cusp of a potential three-hour expansion in the new year, WWE SmackDown is firing on all cylinders. The action is relentless, the storylines are compelling, and the Superstars are leaving it all in the ring—and sometimes, even on each other’s front lawns. As the road to the new year continues, fans can expect more surprises, more rivalries, and more unforgettable moments from Friday nights.