WWE SmackDown results, highlights (Dec. 19): Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre agree to stipulations

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Hershey, Pennsylvania, gets the honors of closing out WWE's year with a handful of shows, including "SmackDown." The end of the year could really be felt on this show, as an extra hour of programming looms large to start 2026.

True tag team turmoil

WWE has gone from having zero focus on its women's tag team division to completely overfocusing and booking it into obscurity. A good heel vs. heel match is always a fun time, but in the rare instance it was done with the Kabuki Warriors — the champions — against Lash Legend and Nia Jax, the latter won clean. This is only weeks before the Kabuki Warriors defend against "RhIyo" mind you. There was already little reason to expect a successful defense from the champions, but now, why even bother doing the match when they were belittled with this absurd outcome?

The Legend and Jax alliance better be short-lived because the world title scenes could desperately use her, which is the problem with the amount of star power thrown into the tag team division. After the match, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss also randomly rushed to the ring like Legend and Jax were continuing an assault. But they weren't. The attack from Bliss and Flair just made them look like heels because this was no save.

It's maddening how messy the entire WWE women's roster has become since essentially Evolution. They even have Giulia continuing to focus on the U.S. title. All these moves are in the wrong direction.

Home invasions are back!

The production value WWE has dedicated to the Drew McIntyre-Cody Rhodes feud must be studied. A home meeting-type video between "SmackDown" general manager Nick Aldis and McIntyre felt like it was out of a movie. Aside from the corny static effects on the screen, it was very well done. The problem is the fact that this feud and story are continuing for no good reason other than because Rhodes has become a psycho who wants to keep wrestling a man he's beaten multiple times — thus giving him more title shots.

There is only one way to salvage all of this: Rhodes has to lose. He looks insane right now, and kayfabe attacked McIntyre at his home. He has to. McIntyre has already become somewhat of a joke character. If he loses after being gifted another title shot, then I don't know what you reasonably do with the guy.

Inside the ring, Rhodes delivered a solid, short, confrontational promo with Aldis. I've lost faith in any further developments with Aldis and an in-ring return, so, unless that ends up happening, these types of moments feel relatively pointless other than to try and fill quick hype.

As a side swerve, don't be surprised if Oba Femi returns the favor and ruins the match for McIntyre. Admittedly, even though it would be interference nonsense, that would be the only way to justify a Rhodes win — if it led to a Femi program with either or both. Because in kayfabe, Rhodes' character should be upset if that were to happen.

👍 FRIDAY NIGHT FIRE 👍

1. Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes beat #DIY with an H-Bomb into the Nothing But Net. It was a fun match; the combo of Dragunov and Hayes was as awesome as you would expect, but it was overall pretty short. And I'm not sure what a #DIY loss was good for when Dragunov and Hayes likely won't continue to be a thing.

👎 DOWN & OUT 👎

1. Damian Priest opened "SmackDown" only to be interrupted by Zelina before he was attacked from behind by Aleister Black. It continued backstage, with Black getting the upper hand after he hit Priest with a shovel and Black Mass. I legitimately have no idea when this feud is going to end, but I stand by the Black-Zelina on-screen alliance as the moment it should have.

2. Giulia defeated Alba Fyre in what was effectively a squash match. That's the right outcome, and it was fine as a match. There wasn't any silly business. The problem is that Giulia remains wasted in the U.S. title picture, as well as a continued recycling of wrestlers in the scene itself.

3. Jade Cargill and Michin are continuing their mini-feud, which is insane — especially when right before Michin attacked Cargill, there was another Flair tease with Cargill. Honestly, just go straight to that, WWE. Why is there so much beating around the bush going on right now?

4. The Wyatt Sicks' title defense against MFT ended by DQ in the main event after Erick Rowan and Talla Tonga started attacking each other outside, leading to everyone else getting involved. This match was uninteresting to begin with and never hit any high point. Then it ended with a brawl. Entirely missable in every aspect.

👑 Are you ready for an extra hour of "SmackDown" in 2026? I give this show a Crown score of: 1.5/10. 👑