SmackDown Fallout: Titles, Tension, and the Road Ahead

The final SmackDown of 2025 didn't whisper its way into the offseason. It kicked the door open. Championships changed hands, rivalries sharpened their knives, and the future of WWE felt very loud, very intentional.

Carmelo Hayes Cashes In on the Moment

Carmelo Hayes closed the year the same way stars are made: by seizing opportunity. Hayes defeated Ilja Dragunov to win the United States Championship, adding another milestone to what's already been a breakout year. From winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania to now holding gold, Hayes continues to validate what the HHWShow Podcast has been saying all along: this is the future of WWE.

But in true WWE fashion, the celebration was short-lived. A backstage attack by Johnny Gargano put an exclamation point on the moment, not of triumph, but of warning. Hayes may have the title, but the target on his back just got bigger.

Drew McIntyre Raises the Stakes

Drew McIntyre returned with purpose and zero patience, announcing that his WWE Championship clash with Cody Rhodes will be contested under Three Stages of Hell. This isn't just a match stipulation. It's a statement. McIntyre isn't looking to win narrowly. He's looking to break the champion in layers.

Jade Cargill Rules for Now… But the Clock Is Ticking

Jade Cargill currently sits at the top of the SmackDown women's locker room, projecting dominance and inevitability. But wrestling history doesn't pause for anyone.

The looming return of Bianca Belair changes everything.

The question isn't if Bianca returns. It's how.

Does she shock the world during the WWE Netflix 2026 debut?
Or does she take the longer, more dangerous road: winning the Royal Rumble and choosing Jade Cargill as her championship target?

Either scenario sets up a collision that feels less like a match and more like a statement about the future of the women's division.

Final Take

This episode of SmackDown wasn't about endings. It was about positioning.

Carmelo Hayes is no longer "next up". He's here.
Jade Cargill stands tall, but not unchallenged.
Drew McIntyre is dragging the champion into deep water.

As WWE turns the page into 2026, one thing is clear: momentum isn't being handed out. It's being taken. And SmackDown just reminded everyone who's bold enough to grab it.