WWE SmackDown Results 12/26 - Drew McIntyre Returns, US Open Challenge Continues, Joe Hendry Appears, And More!

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s coverage of the final "WWE SmackDown" of 2025, coming to you from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan this December 26 evening! Heat up your Christmas leftovers, put on your new pair of cozy pajamas, and get ready for an action-packed card to play this spectacular year out.

Drew McIntyre has had a less than jolly season after WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes invaded his home mere days before last week's December 19 episode of "SmackDown." While McIntyre was absent from WWE programming following the home break-in and subsequent brawl, "The Scottish Psychopath" is back with a vengeance. With the lines between in-ring competition and out-of-ring animosity now blurred beyond recognition, just what will McIntyre do in order to get his revenge against Rhodes in this rivalry-turned-blood feud?

Speaking of feuds, The Miz is out to reclaim his honor after receiving a Ten-Knuckle Shuffle at "Saturday Night's Main Event," courtesy of R-Truth and Joe Hendry! Grand Rapids will be chanting the name of the former TNA World Champion as he appears to take on the former WWE world titleholder in singles action. While this is looking to be a typical one-on-one affair, The Miz is notorious for bending the rules in order to come out with a win. Will the new-age Hendry be able to withstand the veteran Miz's underhanded tactics, or will Hendry's viral moments crumble under The Miz's tried-and-true tenacity?

In the vein of tried-and-true tenacity, United States Champion Ilja Dragunov is set to defend his title in yet another installation of his Open Challenge series. So far, he has defended his title against the likes of Tommaso Ciampa, J.D. McDonagh, both halves of Fraxiom, Carmelo Hayes, and others. Dragunov has mostly been able to steer clear of controversy and repeat challengers during his time as United States Champion, but recently defeated challengers Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Candace LeRae may not be done with him just yet. Who can Dragunov rely on to even the numbers, or will "The Mad Dragon" be faced with the impossible-to-win numbers game to end 2025?

And we are live! We meet Cody Rhodes and Nick Aldis in the backstage area, where Aldis reminds Rhodes of McIntyre's imminent arrival and the consequences that should befall Rhodes if he lays a hand on McIntyre. Rhodes leaves with little protest, and Aldis interacts with The Miz ahead of his match with Joe Hendry.

Joe Hendry begins the segment with a song, surrounded by Otis, Akira Tozawa, and several figures in Santa get-up (with a surprise appearance from the Easter Bunny). The Miz makes his appearance, and he is irate as Grand Rapids joins Hendry in a tiny balls parody of "Jingle Bells."

The Miz takes great offense to Hendry's disrespectful tune, and claims that, given that John Cena has retired, he reserves the right to be the locker room leader. Before he can say much else, Nick Aldis appears, and announces that Miz and Hendry's match will now be a "Miracle of 34th Street Fight."

The match begins with Tozawa, Otis, and the Easter Bunny at ringside as The Miz tries to overwhelm Hendry with a leglock on his neck. Hendry kips up and out of the lock before flashing his signature grin at the Miz. Hendry locks in a considerable amount of airtime on The Miz as he suspends him in a Stalling Suplex. Upon impact, The Miz rolls out of the ring, and Hendry follows.

The two men unsheathe presents, with Hendry finding a full-sized guitar while The Miz finds a ukelele, followed by two, small, suggestive blue ornaments. Undeterred, The Miz attempts to overwhelm Hendry, but the much larger Scot tosses The Miz into one of the ringside Christmas trees. Hendry's next gift is underneath the ring, where he finds a table with a holiday bow placed onto it. Hendry brings the table into the ring to set up.

The Miz follows Hendry in and attempts to get him with a roll-up, but Hendry kicks out. The Miz goes for a Skull-Crushing FInale through the table, but Hendry avoids that as well. The Miz gets tossed out of the ring, but before he can re-enter the squared circle, Hendry masterfully slides out of the ring to stand alongside Tozawa and Co. The Miz rages as the show cuts to commercial.

Back from commercial, and both Hendry and The Miz are back in the ring. Hendry lays The Miz out with a Lariat before commanding Otis and Tozawa to give him the ringside Christmas tree from earlier. Hendry lays The Miz out with it twice before slamming him into the center of the ring. Hendry's found his stride following a kip-up, and he suplexes the tree into The Miz for good measure. He riles the crowd up with his signature grin at the camera before conducting a stomp and clap sequence. The Miz attempts to get the jump on him, but Hendry banishes him to the outside.

Tozawa offers an irate Miz a tray of cookies, to which the former world titleholder knocks them out of his hands and levels him with a Big Boot. The Easter Bunny looks to exact revenge on Tozawa, but The Miz clocks him with a gift-wrapped kendo stick. The Miz tries to get one on Otis, but Otis intercepts him, and allows for Hendry to send the kendo stick straight into The Miz's private area.

The Miz gets back in the ring, where he is surrounded by Hendry, Otis, Tozawa, and the Easter Bunny. The Miz pleads for mercy before trying to go for Hendry, only to be met with another Fallaway Slam. It's Otis' turn, and he shakes the ring with an impressive Worm before flattening The Miz with a Clothesline. Tozawa goes for the Senton, and the Easter Bunny reveals himself to be...R-Truth! R-Truth clocks The Miz with the Five-Knuckle Shuffle before The Miz finds himself at the receiving end of a guitar strike from Hendry. From there, Hendry puts The Miz through the table with a Chokeslam for the 3-count.

Winner: Joe Hendry!

All four gentlemen wave their hands with Grand Rapids to end the segment.

Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Lash Legend, and Nia Jax are in the building ahead of Flair and Legend's clash later in the evening. Drew McIntyre enters the building, and promises Cathy Kelly that he will reveal his chosen stipulation for his match with WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes after a short nap. We cut to a video package featuring Aleister Black and Zelina Vega, where a match for next week's "SmackDown" seems to be brewing. 

Bryon Saxton interviews Jade Cargill in the back, where Cargill threatens to stomp a hole through WWE Women Championship contender Michin's chest. A backstage segment between BFab and Michin follows, where Michin expresses her desire to humble Cargill in their upcoming championship match.

Both women make their entrances!

The bell rings, and both women taunt each other for a bit before locking up. Legend looks to be putting on an impressive showcase against Flair's signature strength, and she overwhelms "The Queen" with a slam to open the match. Flair responds with a single, brutal chop, before Legend lays her out with a Clothesline. Legend sends Flair into multiple corners, and when Flair manages to escape the predicament, Legend comes back in full force with an Uppercut to ground the fourteen-time world champion once more.

Flair tries to gain a match advantage by using her long legs to strike Legend, but Legend lays Flair out with a Spinebuster in response. "The Bougee Bully" lives up to her moniker as she picks Flair up, puts her head and neck in between the ropes, and jostles her around carelessly. The following pinfall attempt is unsuccessful, but Flair looks rocked as Legend shakes her head at the minor inconvenience.

Legend continues to dominate with a headlock, and Flair is flailing as Bliss watches on. A punch to Legend's side is the momentum Flair needs to stage a comeback, and after a Big Boot from the apron, Flair lays Legend out with a top-rope Crossbody. Legend flails and hops as Flair lays out the family heirloom chops to her, and she looks to follow it up with a Cartwheel Clothesline...only to be plucked out of midair by a Big Boot from Legend. 

Legend looks to set Flair up for a Powerbomb, but Flair wrestles her way to reverse it into a pin cover instead. Legend kicks out, but looks to be bothered by her elbow as she fails to capitalize on a Lash Extension. Flair turns Legends' lights out with a DDT, and looks to head to the top rope! Her Moonsault connects, and it's one, two — and a kickout from Legend!

Flair hardly locks in the Figure Four leglock before Legend strikes her, and Flair's second attempt is even less successful as Nia Jax leaps onto the apron to distract Flair. Flair gets back to work as Bliss rushes over to put a sleeperhold onto Jax, which allows for Flair to dodge a corner Spear from Legend. The dodge allows for "The Queen" to score a roll-up victory onto "The Bougee Bully."

Winner: Charlotte Flair!

We cut to the back, where we see Trick Williams attempting to bargain with Nick Aldis for a lucrative "SmackDown" contract. Cody Rhodes ushers him out, and begins talking back to Aldis once more. Rhodes begins to get fired up, to which Aldis reminds him of the stipulation: should Rhodes lose his temper and lay his hands on McIntyre, he will be stripped of the title. Williams comes back to boast his accolades in front of Rhodes, to which Rhodes merely nods his head before leaving. 

Dragunov's next United States Championship competitor is revealed to be Carmelo Hayes! Dragunov makes his entrance first, and Hayes follows.

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