• Men’s tag title match ended in chaotic no-contest, leaving the feud unresolved.
  • Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes defeated DIY, giving Hayes momentum on SmackDown.
  • Nia Jax and Lash Legend scored a notable win over the Kabuki Warriors.
  • Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black and a Rhodes–McIntyre angle hint at future pay-per-view matches.

Tag title finish falls flat despite big brawl

Friday’s SmackDown closed with the men’s tag team championship on the line as the MFT defended against the Wyatt Sicks. The match dissolved into a 10‑man brawl with members of both teams fighting around ringside until the referee called for the bell. The visual chaos looked intense, but the no-contest result left fans without closure.

Why the ending disappointed

When a title is at stake, viewers usually expect a decisive finish or a strong storyline pivot. Instead, the bell ending after an all-out brawl felt like a creative cop-out. A clear title change or an unexpected decisive twist would have given the segment stakes; as presented, it likely delays the feud rather than advancing it.

Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov pick up momentum

Earlier on SmackDown, Ilja Dragunov teamed with Carmelo Hayes to defeat DIY. Hayes, frequently mentioned among rising stars, benefited from the victory — a tidy win that can be used to build his credibility heading into next month’s bigger shows.

Hayes’ role on SmackDown

Carmelo Hayes’ tag pairing with Ilja Dragunov was efficient and showed off his in-ring polish. The win doesn’t solve the tag picture, but it gives Hayes an immediate talking point. Expect WWE to use this momentum to place Hayes in higher-profile singles or tag opportunities in the coming weeks.

Other key takeaways

Nia Jax and Lash Legend defeated the Kabuki Warriors, signaling a potential push for the women’s tag division. The victory positions Jax and Legend as players to watch if WWE plans to refresh those titles.

Damian Priest and Aleister Black brawled backstage and in the ring, suggesting their rivalry isn’t over. The physical exchanges point toward a likely singles rematch on a future show or possibly Royal Rumble involvement.

The Miz teased a match with Joe Hendry next week, a matchup that could serve as a good introduction for Hendry’s official WWE run. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes delivered a heated promo aimed at SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis and drew attention to his ongoing storyline with Drew McIntyre.

Look ahead

With the holiday season slowing momentum for some weeks, WWE will need to add twists to the MFT–Wyatt Sicks feud to justify a long-term program. Carmelo Hayes’ win gives WWE a useful asset to feature while the tag picture sorts itself out.

Overall, SmackDown offered moments of interest but left its main tag storyline in limbo — setting up rematches and new angles rather than providing a satisfying resolution.

Image Referance: https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/47363840/wwe-smackdown-takeaways-tag-team-title-match-leaves-desired