This week’s episode of SmackDown was the blue brand’s first episode of 2026 and WWE pulled out all the stops for the show. Randy Orton, Matt Cardona and Sami Zayn all returned, and Trick Williams officially joined the SmackDown roster.
The show also featured two title matches, one of which saw Carmelo Hayes successfully defend his WWE United States Championship against Johnny Gargano. Chelsea Green defended her WWE Women’s United States Championship against Giulia in the second title match of the night, and it was Giulia who walked out with the gold.
Near the end of the match Chelsea Green hit the Rough Ryder on Giulia and it looked like she had it won, but the referee didn’t count the pin because Kiana James got up on the apron to distract him.
Shortly after Chelsea Green went to the top rope and Giulia knocked her down. Giulia hit Chelsea with a double underhook suplex off the top rope then she held on and rolled through as she connected with the Northern Lights Bomb to win the WWE Women’s United States Championship.
GIULIA DOES IT 😤@giulia0221g is once again the Women's United States Champion! pic.twitter.com/WoyAtX0zCQ
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2026