WWE SmackDown Preview: 2026 Kicks Off With Ambulances, Alliances, and a Three-Hour Marathon
The calendar has flipped to 2026, and if you thought the WWE was going to ease into the new year with a gentle handshake and a warm cup of cocoa, you clearly haven’t been paying attention. We are diving headfirst into the deep end tonight, folks.
Friday Night SmackDown is back at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, and it’s bringing a heavy bag of tricks. The big headline? We are officially back to the three-hour format. That’s right—more drama, more commercials, and hopefully, more wrestling. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so hydration is key for everyone involved, including those of us on the couch.
But the runtime isn’t the only thing expanding. The stakes are higher than a Bills fan’s blood pressure during the playoffs. We’ve got a rivalry that needs to end in the back of an emergency vehicle, a women’s division showcase that reads like a fantasy booking fever dream, and a champion looking to dodge a potential injury replacement.
Here’s everything you need to know before the blue brand takes over your Friday night.
Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black: The Final Ride (Literally)
Damian Priest and Aleister Black have been trying to dismantle each other for months now. It has gone beyond professional competition; it’s personal, it’s violent, and frankly, it’s a little concerning. We’ve seen fireballs (thanks, Zelina), backstage assaults involving shovels, and enough broodiness to fuel a goth nightclub for a decade.
Tonight on SmackDown, they settle it in an Ambulance match on SmackDown.
This isn’t about a three-count. It’s about incapacitating your opponent to the point where medical professionals have to legally intervene and drive them away. Black won their Last Man Standing match back in October, but Priest got his revenge against the Black/Vega duo recently. Tonight on SmackDown feels final.
One of these men is leaving KeyBank Center with flashing lights and a siren as their exit music. My gut says Priest needs this win to re-establish his dominance, but Black has a way of rising from the ashes—or in this case, the stretcher.
The Women’s Division Explodes In 8-Woman Tag Action
If you blink during this match, you might miss a finisher. We have a massive eight-woman tag team match that essentially empties the locker room of its top-tier talent.
On one side, you have the Avengers of the division: Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss. Just look at that lineup. That’s enough gold and legacy to fill a museum. On the other side? A terrifying alliance of Asuka, Kairi Sane, Lash Legend, and the immovable object, Nia Jax.
This isn’t just an exhibition; there are serious tag title implications here. The Kabuki Warriors are holding the gold, and every woman on the opposing apron wants a shot. Expect chaos. Expect bodies flying everywhere. And honestly, expect Charlotte Flair to remind everyone why she’s the Queen, even if she has to moonsault off the top rope to do it.
Jade Cargill’s Open Challenge (With a Twist?)
WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill is set to face Michin in a non-title match on SmackDown. The stipulation is simple: If Michin wins, she gets a future title shot. It’s a classic wrestling trope, the “prove yourself” match.
However, the rumor mill is spinning faster than a hurricane. Word on the street is that Michin might be banged up from the Holiday Tour. If she can’t go, who steps in? The whispers suggest Tiffany Stratton might be ready to make a grand return. If “Tiffy Time” interrupts Cargill’s night, we aren’t just looking at a match; we’re looking at the ignition of a feud that could carry us all the way to WrestleMania. Cargill has looked unstoppable, but everyone has a weakness. We might find hers tonight on Samckdown.
The Road to Berlin: Rhodes vs. McIntyre
We can’t ignore the elephant, or rather, the Scottish Psychopath, in the room. Last week, Drew McIntyre didn’t just cross the line; he sprinted past it, told Cody Rhodes to say hello to his father in hell, and then nearly took his head off with a Claymore.
Tonight is the fallout. Next week in Berlin, these two go to war in a Three Stages of Hell match for the WWE Championship. Tonight isn’t about wrestling for them; it’s about psychological warfare. Rhodes accidentally clocked GM Nick Aldis last week in a blind rage, so the American Nightmare is fighting battles on two fronts. Expect McIntyre to be smug, Rhodes to be fiery, and security to earn their paychecks trying to keep them apart.
A New Voice For Friday Night SmackDown
Finally, pour one out for Cole and Graves. We are welcoming a new era in the booth. Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are taking the headsets tonight on SmackDown. It’s a fresh dynamic. Tessitore brings that big-fight feel from his college football days, and Barrett has evolved into one of the sharpest color commentators in the game. It’ll be interesting to see how their chemistry holds up over a three-hour broadcast.
