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Off The Script w/JDfromNY

SmackDown Creative IS LIFELESS Heading Into The Royal Rumble | WWE SmackDown Review 1/23/26)

Off The Script w/JDfromNY

JDfromNY

Sports, Wrestling, Leisure, Hobbies, News, Tv Reviews, Performing Arts, Arts, Tv & Film, After Shows, Video Games

4.6964 Ratings

🗓️ 24 January 2026

⏱️ 122 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

WWE SmackDown comes to Montreal as the final stop before Saturday Night’s Main Event, but instead of urgency, the show delivers a surprisingly lifeless build. On this SmackDown post show, I break down a night that should have felt important and instead raised serious questions about WWE’s creative direction heading into a major weekend.


AJ Styles returns following his shocking announcement, confronting SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis just days before putting his career on the line against GUNTHER. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes sits down to address Jacob Fatu as rumors surrounding Roman Reigns continue to swirl. With stakes this high, SmackDown needed energy — and largely failed to deliver it.


On this episode:

AJ Styles’ return and the fallout ahead of his career-threatening match

WWE’s lack of urgency heading into Saturday Night’s Main Event

Cody Rhodes’ interview and what it signals moving forward

Carmelo Hayes’ United States Championship open challenge

The Wyatt Sicks defending the WWE Tag Team Championships

Women’s division contender chaos and direction issues

Why SmackDown feels disconnected at a critical moment


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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

What is going on, guys? Thank you so very much for joining me right here on Off the Script.

0:04.1

This is your Friday Night Smackdown Post Show for January 23rd, 2026.

0:10.0

I'm your host, JD, from New York.

0:11.8

As always, coming to you live from the OTS venue inside my mother's basements.

0:17.9

Thank you guys so very much for joining me on this Friday evening, wherever you may be.

0:23.5

Tonight we are powered by Turtle Beach. Turtlebeach.com slash script.

0:31.0

Use that promo code script to get 10% off your first purchase.

0:40.3

You know, man, I...

0:43.3

A lot of misconceptions out there about how...

0:47.3

I'm a rage baiter and I'm a click baiter and I'm all this other nonsense.

0:56.0

Meanwhile, most of these people in the community are masturbators

0:59.6

towards my content.

1:07.1

I love pro wrestling,

1:09.3

and all I ever want is to see it better.

1:14.2

Genuinely.

1:15.6

Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

1:19.1

But the thing is, there are so many people that want to cozy up to the talent and cozy up to these billionaires and these suits

1:33.6

and these ties and these corporations and everybody wants to be in a position to get a free

1:43.1

handout.

1:47.2

I don't know how you look at a show like tonight.

1:51.3

Or Wednesday or Friday, Monday.

1:57.9

I don't know how you look at any of these shows.

...

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