WWE SmackDown 1/23 Results: MFTs win tag titles, Reigns declares for Rumble

January 23, 2026 John Kleinchester NEWS, RECOMMENDED, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

January 23, 2026
Bell Centre – Montreal, QC

By: John Kleinchester

WWE SmackDown Results

  • United States Championship: Carmelo Hayes over Ilja Dragunov via First 48 in 16:32 
  • Jade Cargill over Chelsea Green via Jaded in 3:14
  • Tag Team Championship: MFTs over Wyatt Sicks via Cut Throat in 9:38
  • Nathan Frazer over Johnny Gargano via Roll-Up in 10:07
  • #1 Contender’s Match: Giulia & Kiana James over Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax & Lash Legend via Lash Extension in 10:55
  • Trick Williams over Damian Priest via DQ in 13:37

 

Hometown Hero

WWE SmackDown from Montreal kicked off with Sami Zayn cutting an in-ring promo talking about how he had all the momentum going into Saturday Night’s Main Event tomorrow. He was swiftly interrupted by Trick Williams. 

Williams pointed out that Zayn can never get the job done, especially in his hometown. Zayn retorted that Trick would be lucky to be half as good as he is in five to ten years and challenged Trick to do something about it. Williams declined and said they would take care of business tomorrow. This brought out Williams’ opponent for later tonight, Damian Priest, and the two exchanged words. Williams then hit Zayn with the microphone, and all three started brawling, including Priest and Zayn, who were not on the same page. 

Backstage, Randy Orton was shown watching the first segment and said he would beat Zayn, Priest, and Williams, then go on to beat Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship. 

Footage from earlier in the day showed Carmelo Hayes speaking with Ilja Dragunov, offering another United States open challenge for tonight, which Dragunov accepted. The Miz appeared and antagonized Hayes, but Hayes told him that Miz never gave him any opportunities. 

United States Open Challenge

The first match of the night was Carmelo Hayes defending his title against former champion Ilja Dragunov. The match went back and forth through two commercial breaks, and upon return, Dragunov hit a deadlift second-rope suplex on Hayes.

The Miz then appeared at ringside and knocked Dragunov off the top rope behind the referee’s back, and Hayes hit the First 48 for the win. 

Footage from earlier in the day showed Michael Cole sitting down with Cody Rhodes. Jacob Fatu interrupted and said he had been to jail twice, had seven kids, and one mattress. Rhodes blamed Fatu for losing the WWE Championship, but Fatu said he wasn’t like the other Samoans Cody had faced, and that he was fully in control. Afterwards, Michael Cole noted that Nick Aldis ensured Cody and Fatu left the building following their confrontation.

Backstage, Chelsea Green approached Jordynne Grace and offered her a spot in the Secret Hervice. Grace seemed disinterested until Green mentioned she was facing Jade Cargill tonight, and Grace agreed. 

A video aired, with text stating that Roman Reigns had officially entered the Royal Rumble. 

Chelsea Green vs. Jade Cargill

Jade Cargill squared off with Jordynne Grace as she got to the ring for this match, which allowed for Chelsea Green to hit a dive to catch Jade off guard as the match began. Cargill won in just over three minutes, telling Grace to watch as she hit Jaded for the pinfall. Grace got on the mic and revealed that she was in the Rumble and would be seeing her soon. 

Backstage, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss discussed last year’s Royal Rumble, but agreed that tonight was about their team.

 

Tag Team Championship

Next was The Wyatt Sicks defending their tag team titles against The MFTs. Both teams went back and forth through a commercial break, and then things broke down as the faction members not in the match began brawling on the outside around the possession of the lantern. Solo Sikoa used the lantern on Dexter Lumis behind the referee’s back, and Tama Tonga followed that up with the Cut Throat for the win. 

R-Truth approached Nick Aldis and “put his balls on the line” when AJ Styles entered. Aldis asked Styles if he was sure about putting his career on the line against Gunther at Royal Rumble. Nakamura appeared and asked Styles to prove he was still phenomenal before facing off with Gunther, and Styles agreed. Aldis made the match official for Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Frazer vs. Gargano

Next up was Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano, with Candice LeRae carrying the mask they had stolen from Axiom the week prior. As the match began, Wade Barrett said that Axiom was actually Chad Gable, and Michael Cole nearly had a fit with that claim. Barrett followed up by saying Twitter was calling for Michael Cole to wear a muzzle, and Cole responded, “I wonder who fed that into your headset.” LeRae made her presence known, attacking Frazer behind the referee’s back early in the match. Axiom got his mask back and put it on Candice, who accidentally hit Gargano, allowing Frazer to pick up the win. After the match, LeRae grabbed the mask back and ran off through the crowd. 

Nia Jax and Lash Legend were interviewed and said they would work together in the Rumble until they were the only two remaining. 

 

McIntyre Speaks, Briefly

Drew McIntyre cut an in-ring promo running down the participants in the #1 Contenders Fatal 4-Way. 

Backstage, Rey Fenix approached Trick Williams, and Williams said he would give Fenix a title shot once he wins the title. Fenix said Williams would remember his name. 

Kit Wilson was interviewed backstage, and he said that Matt Cardona and Jacob Fatu were toxic. Cardona interrupted and challenged Wilson to a match. 

Women’s Triple Threat #1 Contender’s Tag Match

Next was a triple threat match between Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax & Lash Legend, and Giulia & Kiana James. Everything built to a hot tag to Alexa Bliss, with all six women hitting their finishers. Lash Legend hit the Lash Extension on Alexa Bliss,s and Charlotte Flair speared Legend, allowing Kiana James to steal the pinfall. 

Backstage, Sami Zayn told Damian Priest he didn’t have a problem with him, and Priest told him to stay out of it. Zayn asked him, “Or what?” and said Priest didn’t get to tell him what to do. Zayn then approached Drew McIntyre and slapped him in the face before walking off. 

Cody Rhodes approached AJ Styles and wished him good luck against Gunther. Rhodes went into his bus and found a signed McIntyre photo made out to “The Real American Dream”. 

Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest

The main event of the night saw Trick Williams facing off against Damian Priest. Early in the match, Sami Zayn walked down and made his presence known at ringside. After a commercial break, Williams threw Priest into Sami Zayn, taking him out. Sami recovered and attacked Williams, resulting in a disqualification.

Zayn and Priest then exchanged blows as well. Randy Orton then appeared, hitting Williams with the RKO. Orton hit Sami Zayn with an RKO to end the show. 

This show was bad. Usually, a Montreal crowd can really make a WWE show, but they gave them next to nothing to be excited about. 

 

About John Kleinchester 291 Articles
John Kleinchester is a New Jersey–based wrestling reporter, primarily covering WWE and AEW. He can be reached at [email protected].
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