WWE SmackDown is scheduled to take place on January 23, 2026, live on the USA Network, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Alexa Bliss will finally betray Charlotte Flair on the road to WrestleMania. WWE is currently on the road to Royal Rumble 2026, where Rumble matches will take place for both the men’s and women’s divisions to determine who will main event Mania 42 for the world title matches.
This week on SmackDown, four matches have been officially scheduled: Wyatt Sicks (c) vs. MFTs for the Tag Titles, Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano in an Exhibition Match, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia & Kiana James vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend in a Tag Title #1C Match, and Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest in an Exhibition Match. Without further ado, here are the official SmackDown Predictions for Jan 23, 2026.
Wyatt Sicks (c) vs. MFTs [Tag Titles]
Wyatt Sicks and MFTs have been feuding for weeks. Solo Sikoa even said that he is going to take everything that Bray Wyatt bestowed onto Uncle Howdy. This feud could not get any darker, as wrestling tends to have more than one royal family. These families feel that the pro wrestling business is not big enough for both of them.
Wyatt Sicks have been pretty boring as champs, so it’s time for a change. The Bloodline is not necessarily the ideal choice to dethrone them, but WWE is definitely building up a compelling story for them to be the ones to do it. When MFTs win the titles, they should battle Usos in a “winner takes all” match to merge the divisions.
Prediction: MFTs
Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano [Exhibition Match]
Ever since Ciampa officially left WWE, Johnny Gargano has taken a new role with his wife, Candice LeRae, by trolling the other tag teams in the division in backstage segments. Gargano was trolling Frazer when he disguised himself as Frazer’s tag partner, Axiom, by putting on his mask and ambushing Frazer in the locker room.
Both Frazer and Gargano have the potential to be singles stars, as they do not have to relegated as hot tags. They had shown this potential ever since their NXT days. Since Fraxiom is still alive and DIY is essentially dead, Gargano needs the win here more and will nefariously do so with interference from his wife, Candice LeRae.
Prediction: Johnny Gargano
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia & Kiana James vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend [Tag Title #1C Match]
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss are two established singles stars and former world champions who are washed as a tag team after losing the tag titles. Since they already had their reign, it is time to shift things into high gear and have one of them turn heel so they can have a compelling long term feud on the road to Mania.
Giulia already has the U.S. Title, so it would be highly unlikely for her to also target the tag titles with Kiana James. Monopolizing the women’s titles would not be the best idea in this infinitesimal division. Nia Jax and Lash Legend actually pinned Kabuki Warriors when they were tag champs, so they are long overdue for a title shot.
Prediction: Nia Jax & Lash Legend
Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest [Exhibition Match]
Trick Williams and Damian Priest will be in the fatal four way with Randy Orton and Sami Zayn at Saturday Night Main Event this Saturday to determine who will battle Drew McIntyre for the WWE Title at the Rumble in Saudi Arabia. Both men need momentum for that match, so it comes down to who really needs it more.
Priest is the more established talent who can take a loss and not be hurt in defeat. Although losing to a recent NXT call up could put into question Priest’s credibility as a solidified main eventer, Williams is a heel who can nefariously find a way to make a statement win (i.e. pulling the tights) and still protect Priest in defeat.
Prediction: Trick Williams
Confirmed Match Card & Segments for 01/23 WWE SmackDown Episode:
- Chris Jericho Return?
- Wyatt Sicks (c) vs. MFTs for the Tag Titles
- Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano in an Exhibition Match
- Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia & Kiana James vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend in a Tag Title #1C Match
- Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest in an Exhibition Match
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Mark Justice is a Cornell University Graduate with a bachelor’s degree (B.S), double majoring in biological and environmental sciences, and a law degree (J.D.), specializing in environmental law and international law. His passion for pro wrestling stems from his very first time watching the WWE in 2009. As a decade-old pro wrestling fan, he continues to fulfill this passion by writing for Let Them Wrestle, where he will cover both WWE and AEW content. You can email Mark Justice at markjustice728@gmail.com, especially if you are a pro wrestling ‘mark’ like him. You can also subscribe to his brand new Youtube Channel at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/@markjustice1327