The January 2 edition of WWE SmackDown will serve as the first episode of the year and will be the first to be three-hours long since the summer of 2025.
With the huge show to feature some notable matches and moments, there should be some surprises on the program to kick off 2026 on the right note for the blue brand.
From returning stars to new alliances forming, these possible surprises should be quite significant and help shape SmackDown for the rest of the year.
Here are six potential surprises at the first WWE SmackDown of 2026.
6. Jacob Fatu makes his return to go after mystery attacker
Back in October 2025, Jacob Fatu was scheduled to face Drew McIntyre to determine the number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
However, the Samoan Werewolf was attacked from behind by a mystery assailant that has led to him being sidelined for the past few months.
Recent reports have indicated that Fatu could be on his way back in the new year and should find himself in a prominent spot upon his return.
Fatu returning on the January 2 SmackDown should see him immediately set his sights on the mystery attacker whether he knows who it was or not.
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5. Tiffany Stratton returns & wants the WWE Women’s Championship back
At the November 1 edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Jade Cargill defeated Tiffany Stratton to win the WWE Women’s Championship.
Ever since this loss, Stratton has remained absent from WWE television with no signs of her return.
Meanwhile, Cargill has been embroiled in a feud with Michin that was scheduled to culminate with a title bout on the January 2 episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
With Michin going down with a serious shoulder injury during a live event, this leaves the door open for Stratton to make her return and step up to fill her spot against Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship on this Friday’s SmackDown.
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4. New ally helps Aleister Black defeat Damian Priest in an Ambulance Match
Dating back to this past summer, Aleister Black and Damian Priest have been at each other’s throats in a personal rivalry.
This led to Black aligning with his wife Zelina Vega and getting her help to beat Damian Priest in a Last Man Standing Match in October.
However, this feud has only continued to get more bitter, leading to an Ambulance Match being announced for the January 2 edition of SmackDown.
A new ally emerging to join forces with Black and Zelina could lead to Priest being put in the back of an ambulance and setting up a new faction on Friday nights in the new year.
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3. Trick Williams chooses SmackDown over Raw
On the December 26 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Trick Williams appeared in a backstage segment with GM Nick Aldis and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
Also appearing on the December 29 WWE Raw, Williams presented himself as a highly sought-after free agent from the NXT brand.
The two-time NXT Champion has showcased a great deal of charisma that makes him a bonafide superstar and should make for a seamless transition to the WWE main roster.
Trick Williams choosing SmackDown could see him emerge as a new breakout star for the blue brand and thrust himself into a high profile spot moving forward.
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2. Randy Orton returns & turns on Cody Rhodes
Randy Orton remains one of WWE’s biggest stars on the roster today despite debuting 23 years ago.
Over the past few months, The Legend Killer has been absent from WWE television with many fans wondering when he will make his return.
In the past two years, Orton has been teasing a future rivalry with his friend, former protege and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
One week before his Three Stages of Hell match with Drew McIntyre in Berlin, Rhodes could find himself with another major challenger in the form of Orton returning and betraying him with an attack on the first SmackDown of 2026.
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1. Oba Femi officially arrives on SmackDown
Over the past few weeks, fans have seen vignettes airing on both WWE Raw and SmackDown hyping the main roster arrival for Oba Femi.
The reigning NXT Champion has been one of the most dominant forces to ever step foot in the brand and should make him someone who could become an instant hit on the main roster.
After his recent match against Cody Rhodes at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, it should only be a matter of time before The Ruler makes Raw or SmackDown his new home.
Despite still holding the top prize on NXT, the January 2 SmackDown could announce Femi’s official debut as part of the blue brand’s roster.
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