This is one of those Tuesday editions that hits heavier than usual. MrTeshk comes in strong with Two Sense on why Drew McIntyre was always the answer, and why this reign is not a moment, it is a correction long overdue. On the other side, Darrion digs into the growing IWC conversation around Jade Cargill’s reign, and why a champion fans barely see has become one of the most talked-about booking issues heading into 2026. Two champions. Two very different situations. Both shaping SmackDown in real time.

On the review front, this is a packed slate. SmackDown from London with Drew’s celebration turning into chaos, Cody and Jacob Fatu pushing closer to collision, and a closing angle that underlines how fast the future is arriving. AAA’s FOX run continues with Rey Mysterio anchoring the presentation and Vikingo making his case as the in-ring standard. TNA Genesis rounds it out with a match-of-the-night triple threat and Mike Santana validating his championship reign in a violent, decisive main event.

And we are not done. Tomorrow we are back in your inbox with Best of the Week, plus the full Raw and NXT recaps, so you are locked in from every angle before the weekend momentum really starts.

P.S. Want to listen instead? Hit Listen Online at the top right of your email or browser!

Some title wins feel like moments. Others feel like corrections.
Drew McIntyre becoming WWE Champion again falls firmly into the second category.

This was not a surprise, and it was not charity. This was WWE finally aligning the championship with the man who has been carrying true face-of-the-company presence for years. The difference this time is simple. The booking finally caught up to the reality.

Anyone calling Drew a transitional champion is missing the entire point.

This is not a thank-you reign. This is not a placeholder run. This is the payoff for years of elite work, consistency, and credibility. Drew does not just wear the title. He makes it feel heavier. More important. More dangerous.

This win hits differently because it should have happened a long time ago. When the world shut down, WWE needed someone to stabilize the product without the energy of live crowds. Drew stepped into that role and carried it with professionalism, intensity, and reliability. He beat Brock Lesnar. He showed up every week. He made the championship feel real during the most uncertain stretch the business has ever faced.

What he never got was the moment. No crowd. No eruption. No true celebration.

This reign feels like WWE finally giving Drew what the pandemic era took from him. The timing may be different, but the emotion is the same. This is earned.

That naturally brings Cody Rhodes into the conversation, and it should. Cody remains one of WWE’s biggest stars, and his impact on the company is undeniable. This is not about diminishing his run. It is about acknowledging that it had started to loop. Too many safe finishes. Too many familiar beats. The title began to feel like it was waiting for something instead of driving the show forward.

Fans did not need less Cody. They needed more urgency.

Drew brings that immediately.

This version of Drew McIntyre is not the smiling hero from 2020. This is a sharper, more hardened champion. A man who understands how close he came to losing everything and is no longer interested in being polite about his spot. He feels dangerous again, and that matters.

The moment Drew won the title, SmackDown changed. The main event scene opened up. Fresh challengers mattered. Matches felt bigger. The show found its pulse.

That is why the transitional champion narrative falls apart instantly. Drew is not holding the belt until WWE figures out the plan. Drew is the plan. He is the anchor that forces the rest of the roster to rise. He does not just defend the championship. He defines the environment around it.

This was not just a title change.

It was WWE finally admitting something many fans have known for years.

Drew McIntyre is that guy.

This is not nostalgia. This is not a feel-good victory lap. This is WWE doing the right thing at the right time.

And that is my two sense.

There is a conversation building online that has quietly crossed the line from criticism into concern. Jade Cargill’s WWE run, specifically her championship reign, has become one of the most polarizing booking stories heading into 2026. The debate is no longer about her look, her presence, or her star aura. Everyone agrees on that part. The question now is what WWE is actually doing with it.

Since winning the Women’s Championship late in 2025, Jade’s reign has felt oddly distant. Weeks have passed without meaningful title defenses. Television appearances have come and gone with little movement around the belt. For many fans, the title feels more symbolic than functional. That is where the frustration starts to set in.

Online discourse reflects a growing sense of confusion. Some fans openly joke that they forget Jade is champion. Others are more direct, arguing that a champion who does not defend the title loses credibility no matter how dominant they appear. The belt exists to tell stories, not just to sit on a shoulder.

There is also a deeper theory circulating. Some believe WWE is hesitant to fully commit to Jade in extended, high stakes matches. The argument is that protecting her aura has come at the cost of developing her as a complete champion. Instead of letting her grow through conflict, wins, losses, and rivalries, the company appears to be freezing her in place.

That leads to another uncomfortable question. Was Jade pushed too quickly without a clear long term plan? Fans point out that she arrived with enormous hype, skipped large portions of traditional development, and was crowned champion before the division around her was clearly defined. Without established challengers or layered storytelling, her reign has struggled to find oxygen.

Not everyone sees this as a failure. Some fans believe WWE is intentionally slow playing her run, saving big defenses for major moments. Others argue injuries, roster imbalance, and creative reshuffling have limited what can be done right now. There is still belief that Jade can be positioned as a dominant centerpiece if the company commits to building around her.

That belief, however, comes with conditions. Fans want purpose. They want direction. They want to understand who Jade is beyond the catchphrases and presence. Dominance alone is not a story. Vulnerability, conflict, and progression are what make a champion feel real.

This conversation is bigger than Jade Cargill. It mirrors the broader frustration many fans feel about WWE’s current booking philosophy. Championships feel paused. Stories feel delayed. Momentum builds, then stalls. Jade’s reign has become the clearest example of that disconnect.

The Drop?
Jade Cargill has everything needed to be a defining champion. What she does not have right now is consistent storytelling that justifies the title around her waist. Fans are not rejecting Jade. They are rejecting inactivity. They are rejecting silence. They are rejecting the idea that looking important is enough.

If WWE uses this moment to introduce real challengers, meaningful defenses, and character depth, Jade’s reign can still flip the narrative. If not, this run risks being remembered as a moment where potential was protected so carefully that it never fully bloomed.

That is why the noise is growing. That is why the discourse matters. This is not about tearing someone down. This is about asking whether WWE is finally ready to turn star power into sustained greatness.

Friday, January 17, 2026
From OVO Arena Wembley — London, England

A loud, momentum-driven SmackDown that used a red-hot UK crowd to elevate its final hour and clarify the road to the Royal Rumble and Saturday Night’s Main Event.

London brought the energy immediately, and WWE smartly leaned into it with big entrances, confident pacing, and matches that were allowed to breathe. The episode peaked late with two standout bouts and a closing angle that reinforced SmackDown’s ongoing theme. The future is coming fast, and the present is starting to feel the pressure.

🎺 Drew McIntyre WWE Title Celebration + Orton, Fatu, and Miz Chaos

Drew McIntyre opened the night in full “earned it the hard way” mode, soaking in the celebration before turning the love into resentment. The heel turn continues to work because it feels grounded and bitter, not theatrical. Orton’s interruption immediately legitimized the title picture, and Jacob Fatu crashing the party kept the chaos feeling dangerous and unpredictable. Miz eating the cheap shot was a smart pivot that set up the night’s qualifier without derailing the main story.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This established Drew’s reign, layered multiple contenders at once, and set the tone for a night built on collision rather than ceremony.

🎯 Randy Orton vs. The Miz (WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Qualifier)

This match did not overstay its welcome, and that was the right call. Miz played the opportunist, Orton played the immovable object, and the crowd treated every slam like punctuation. Orton winning decisively keeps the title picture serious and prevents the qualifiers from feeling like filler.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A clean, efficient qualifier that reinforced Orton’s credibility without wasting time or overcomplicating the story.

🕯 Wyatt Sicks vs. MFTs (Lantern Fallout)

The atmosphere was there, but the emotional escalation still is not. The symbolism is strong, the promos are fine, but the rivalry continues to circle the same ideas without sharpening them. It feels more like prop-driven tension than a feud with personal urgency.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️½
Strong presentation, but the story continues to loop instead of climb.

👑 Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia and Kiana James

This was a solid television tag match that quietly did important work. Flair and Bliss felt rehabilitated after last week, while Giulia stayed positioned as a future threat. The brief Giulia and Flair exchanges were especially effective at teasing bigger matches without forcing them.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A quality tag that advanced multiple players even if the division still lacks true urgency.

🎙 Cody Rhodes Declares for the Royal Rumble and Calls Out Jacob Fatu

Cody leaned into frustration without slipping into melodrama, and by the end the crowd was fully with him. Declaring for the Royal Rumble mattered more than it should have this late in the season, and the call-out of Fatu added a needed edge to Cody’s current direction.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cody reclaimed momentum and made the Rumble feel like an actual destination again.

🎟 Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams (WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Qualifier)

This worked because both men wrestled with purpose. Cardona looked like someone still fighting for relevance, while Trick looked like someone who knows the spotlight is already his. The crowd energy helped, but the underlying issue remains whether WWE wants Trick as a heel or a tweener.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A solid qualifier that elevated Trick while keeping Cardona credible in defeat.

💥 Jacob Fatu Calls Out Cody Rhodes and Brawl

Fatu continues to be most effective when he says very little and lets violence do the talking. Cody charging out felt organic and necessary, but the camera cuts and production interference muted what should have been an explosive moment.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
The feud feels hot, but production choices kept it from fully landing.

⚔️ Solo Sikoa vs. Damian Priest (WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Qualifier)

The match itself was fine, but it leaned too heavily on outside chaos and atmosphere rather than intensity. Priest winning was the correct call for the current landscape, but the execution felt cluttered instead of dramatic.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The right result advanced, but the match never found a clean rhythm.

🇺🇸 Carmelo Hayes vs. Leon Slater (United States Championship)

This was the match that reminded everyone how effective SmackDown can be when it commits. Leon Slater looked like a future star immediately, and Carmelo wrestled like the standard bearer the title needs. Athletic, confident, and crowd-connected from start to finish.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A true open challenge success that elevated both the champion and the division.

💅 Jordynne Grace vs. Chelsea Green and Jade Cargill Face-Off

The match itself was quick and forgettable, but the aftermath mattered. Jade’s reign has felt stalled, and Grace finally presents a challenger with credibility and intensity. This is the most direction the women’s title has had in weeks.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️½
Basic execution, but the post-match finally gave the title picture weight.

🔥 Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov (WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Qualifier)

This was a war in every sense. Dragunov’s desperation and Sami’s resilience created genuine big-fight energy, and the physicality felt earned. The larger question is not the quality, but the choice. Sami winning feels safe, and WWE is walking a fine line between familiarity and stagnation.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
An outstanding match that delivered emotionally, even if the winner felt predictable.

👊 Trick Williams Lays Out Sami Zayn (Closing Angle)

This was exactly how the show needed to end. One strike, one statement, and suddenly the spotlight shifted from celebration to confrontation. Trick looked dangerous, and the future literally knocked the present off its feet.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
A sharp closing beat that injected freshness and raised stakes immediately.

⭐ Three Stars of the Night

🥇 Carmelo Hayes vs. Leon Slater
🥈 Sami Zayn
🥉 Ilja Dragunov

Final Thoughts

SmackDown benefited enormously from the London crowd and capitalized with a strong final stretch. Drew’s reign continues to take shape, Cody reintroduced urgency into the Rumble picture, and the U.S. Title match delivered at a high level. The lingering concern remains WWE’s reliance on familiar centerpiece names when the audience appears ready for fresher faces to define the era.

Final Score: 7.7 / 10

Friday, January 17, 2026
From Mexico City, Mexico

A confident broadcast debut that introduced AAA’s identity clearly, highlighted its stars, and ended with a main event angle that demanded a return visit.

AAA’s FOX premiere felt intentional. Big names anchored the show, stories were simple and easy to follow, and the pacing respected a new audience without watering down the product. It was not a blowaway wrestling card, but it was a smart, accessible launch that focused on clarity, momentum, and direction. For a first night on a major network, that matters more than match count.

🎤 Rey Mysterio Opens the Show and Frames the FOX Era

Rey Mysterio opening the broadcast instantly gave AAA credibility with casual viewers. His words felt rooted in history rather than branding, and positioning him as both ceremonial opener and ongoing commentary presence helped anchor the entire show with a globally trusted voice.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rey made the debut feel important immediately and provided a familiar emotional bridge for new FOX viewers.

🦎 Mr. Iguana, Niño Hamburguesa and La Parka vs. Abismo Negro Jr., Taurus and Histeria

This was pure AAA flavor designed for first impressions. Comedy, chaos, dives, and personality all packed into a short sprint that prioritized identity over precision. It was not polished, but it was effective as an introduction to the brand’s unique rhythm.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A fun, energetic showcase that quickly taught new viewers what AAA feels like without overstaying its welcome.

👑 Flammer vs. Lady Shani

A concise women’s division spotlight that established Flammer as a top act while using ringside chaos to quickly convey depth in the division. It did not need length to make its point.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A clean, efficient match that reinforced the women’s division as part of AAA’s core presentation.

🎭 Santos Escobar Appears and Attacks Dr. Wagner Jr.

This was a well-placed shock angle. Escobar’s presence brought instant recognition, the attack required no explanation, and Wagner’s reaction made the moment feel personal rather than random.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
A smart surprise that created a clear next-week hook and added urgency to the title scene.

📼 “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio Promo and the AI Belt Error

Dominik’s arrogant centerpiece positioning works, and the promo itself accomplished the necessary story beat. Unfortunately, the AI-style graphic flashing an AEW logo instead of AAA on a FOX debut is the kind of unforced error that distracts from everything else.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️½
The character work landed, but the production mistake undercut credibility on a night where presentation mattered most.

⚔️ El Grande Americano vs. El Hijo del Vikingo
AAA Mega Championship No. 1 Contender Match

This was the strongest in-ring segment of the night. The crowd was fully engaged, Americano felt like a legitimate challenger, and Vikingo wrestled with urgency and edge. Omos’ involvement was brief but effective, shifting the outcome without hijacking the match.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A strong main event that blended crowd heat, interference, and a clear contender result that made the title picture feel alive.

🪵 Post-Match Chaos: Rey Saves Americano, Omos and Company Stand Tall

The closing angle nailed the premiere cliffhanger. Americano was protected, Omos felt like an unsolved problem, and Rey’s involvement elevated the stakes without stealing focus from Vikingo’s momentum.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
A layered closing beat that heightened danger and ensured the episode ended with forward motion.

⭐ Three Stars of the Night

🥇 El Hijo del Vikingo
🥈 Rey Mysterio
🥉 El Grande Americano

Final Thoughts

AAA’s FOX debut succeeded because it understood its assignment. It introduced stars clearly, kept stories accessible, and closed with a direction that made next week feel necessary viewing. The AI production slip is a real blemish, especially on a premiere, but it does not erase the fact that this show felt confident, purposeful, and broadcast-ready. If AAA keeps the presentation tight and continues using FOX as a platform for simple, effective storytelling, this weekly slot has real growth potential.

Final Score: 7.4 / 10

Sunday, January 19, 2026
From Dallas, Texas

A momentum-based PPV where the strongest matches carried the night and the main event confirmed who TNA should be building around.

Genesis was a hit-rate show rather than a top-to-bottom classic. The undercard had clear dips, but the back half delivered real stakes, crowd investment, and a main event that felt worthy of a major TNA stage. When Genesis was good, it was very good. When it dragged, it was noticeable. Still, this was a step forward rather than a stall.

🧨 Preshow: Stacks retains the International Title (Four-Way) and Blanchard and Moore win

The four-way title defense gave the preshow immediate structure and energy, and Stacks continuing to look reliable in chaos was the right tone-setter. The women’s tag result functioned as a crowd warm-up and helped populate the card with familiar faces before the main show began.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A productive preshow that established competitiveness early and helped the event feel complete rather than top-heavy.

💪 AJ Francis vs. Rich Swann

This followed a familiar big-man-versus-flyer blueprint, and it worked in spurts. Swann’s comebacks were well-timed, Francis continues to improve in pacing, and the crowd stayed engaged through the middle portion.

The issue was escalation. Swann threw everything at Francis, and the finish arrived without the match evolving beyond its initial premise. It was solid, but it lingered past its most effective point.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A serviceable opener that held crowd attention but did not fully develop into something memorable.

🎸 Elijah vs. Mustafa Ali

The chemistry was there, and the early control sequences showed what this match could be with a cleaner structure. Ali’s work was sharp, Elijah’s rallies connected, and the audience stayed invested.

Interference and overbooking trimmed the ceiling, but the match still accomplished its purpose by keeping both men active and the rivalry alive without derailing the card.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Strong individual performances that kept momentum intact despite an overcomplicated finish.

🎭 JDC vs. Eddie Edwards (JDC’s Retirement Match)

This was framed correctly as a farewell rather than a showcase. The pacing, handshake, and post-match acknowledgment all reinforced the emotional intent, and the crowd understood the significance.

In-ring, it never found a higher gear and ran longer than necessary, but the respect shown prevented it from dragging the show down.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️½
Technically modest, but the retirement framing gave the match meaning and protected its place on the card.

😬 Ryan Nemeth vs. Mara Sade

This felt like a television match placed in the wrong spot. The crowd struggled to invest, and the rope-assisted finish generated frustration instead of heat.

At least it was short. But on a PPV that needed to build momentum toward the back half, this was the clearest misfire.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️
Brief and skippable, and it cooled the room at a point where the show needed to accelerate.

🏆 Knockouts Championship: Lei Ying Lee vs. Zaria

This was one of the show’s biggest successes. The physicality felt authentic, Zaria looked dangerous without overshadowing the champion, and Lee’s toughness anchored the match emotionally.

The post-match respect and forward-facing direction gave the Knockouts division clarity, which elevated the entire middle portion of the card.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hard-hitting and purposeful, stabilizing the show and giving the title scene real momentum.

🌀 TNA Tag Team Championship: The Hardys vs. The Righteous

The Hardys remain incredibly over, and the crowd responded to every familiar beat. The Righteous kept things grounded enough to avoid a nostalgia run-through, even if the outcome never felt truly in doubt.

The ending was awkward but not disastrous, and the champions retaining kept the crowd satisfied.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A crowd-pleasing title defense that worked live despite lacking suspense.

🌟 Triple Threat: Joe Hendry vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Moose

This was the match of the night. Hendry had the crowd, Cedric brought urgency and athleticism, and Moose’s early injury angle added structure instead of chaos.

The match leaned spot-heavy but never felt empty. Hendry winning was a smart, energizing choice that keeps future matchups unpredictable.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
The most complete match on the card, balancing crowd connection, athleticism, and narrative flow.

🩸 TNA World Championship Texas Death Match: Mike Santana vs. Frankie Kazarian
(Nic Nemeth as Special Guest Referee)

This delivered exactly what it promised. Violent but controlled, dramatic without excess, and anchored by a champion the crowd clearly believes in.

Nemeth’s involvement enhanced the story without hijacking it, and Santana shutting down the post-match threat cemented him as a champion who will not be undermined.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A strong main event that validated Santana’s reign and closed the show with authority.

⭐ Three Stars of the Night

🥇 Joe Hendry vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Moose
🥈 Lei Ying Lee
🥉 Mike Santana

Final Thoughts

Genesis was not flawless, but it had direction. The Knockouts Championship match, the triple threat, and the Texas Death Match formed a strong backbone that carried the event forward. TNA feels most confident when it commits to clear stakes, physical storytelling, and champions the crowd believes in. If Santana remains the centerpiece and the roster depth continues to shine in matches like that triple threat, this show will age as a foundation rather than a one-off.

Final Score: 7.6 / 10

Be Good People🤘
mr.teshk

P.S. not signed up yet?
SUBSCRIBE HERE for raw takes and no-filter wrestling talk multiple times a week.