WWE SmackDown goes back to the three-hour format tonight, and ahead of the show, there were a number of matches already announced.
Jade Cargill and Michin were set to go head-to-head after weeks of issues and attacks from both sides, but this doesn’t seem to be taking place anymore. Michin was forced to leave the Holiday Tour early this week after suffering a shoulder injury, and she is now expected to be pulled from SmackDown, which takes place later today.
Advertised for the first SmackDown of 2026 and the return of 3 hours tonight:
• Rhea, IYO, Alexa, Charlotte vs. Nia, Lash, Asuka, Kairi
• Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black – Ambulance Match
• *Jade Cargill originally scheduled to face a now injured Michin pic.twitter.com/1eVbUDC5z1— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) January 2, 2026
The company has a number of options for the match, which include adding B-Fab in her place or bringing back Tiffany Stratton. Stratton has been out of action since November, when she was defeated by Cargill, who took her WWE Women’s Championship. It will be interesting to see if she is a factor tonight.
WWE could cancel the match altogether
Since Cargill doesn’t technically have an opponent, and it’s likely she was going to have a squash match against Michin, it could be cancelled altogether, and another angle could take place instead.
WWE has a lot more airtime to fill tonight in what will be the final SmackDown on American soil for several weeks, so they will likely find a way around it and add someone in.
If B-Fab were to be part of the match, it would be the perfect way to bring back Tiffany Stratton to help mid-way through, or even allow Cargill to have an open challenge so that she can come out to surprise her.
SmackDown is expected to be a huge event, so it will be interesting to see what the plan is for the Women’s Championship, since Michin will need to be written out of the storyline if she is expected to be out for several weeks.
