Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion to go on a hiatus after next week's SmackDown? Explaining why it's possible

Friday Night SmackDown is set to kick off its three-hour format starting from January 2 in Brooklyn, New York. WWE will officially usher in the new year and fans can expect major surprises and shockers on the brand. While it will be an ebullient atmosphere for superstars and fans, 2026 might not begin on a good note for a former World Heavyweight Champion.

Damian Priest may suffer a brutal fate next week, following which he could be sidelined from television. The Archer of Infamy is set to battle Aleister Black on the first SmackDown of 2026. This rivalry has been going on for the past six months and has reached its apogee. However, WWE might finally put an end to it next week as the two men go head-to-head.

There is a good possibility that Black will have the last laugh. The 40-year-old may not only win the match but also make a thunderous statement. He could annihilate Damian Priest and put him on the shelf. WWE could showcase a storyline injury to write The Punisher off television. A major reason why this is possible is that it will help WWE officially mark an end to this rivalry.

The company often takes superstars off television to conclude a feud dramatically, providing closure to it. It also allows the character to take a temporary hiatus before transitioning to a new storyline. Hence, WWE is likely to write off Damian Priest from SmackDown if Aleister Black defeats him in their match next week. This will cap off their six-month-long rivalry.

Moreover, if Black becomes the reason for the former World Heavyweight Champion's hiatus, it will showcase him as a major threat. This will give him the momentum and push that he very much needs from this feud. Hence, there is a good possibility that Triple H and the creative team could showcase such an angle on the first SmackDown of 2026.

Damian Priest to be moved from SmackDown to RAW in 2026?

Ever since Damian Priest moved to SmackDown, his popularity and hype have tremendously fallen. The former World Heavyweight Champion also lost the credibility he once had on Monday Night RAW. Priest has been buried beneath layers of indifference, poor booking and narrative neglect.

WWE has a great opportunity to move The Punisher back to RAW after the end of his feud with Aleister Black. This will help the company revive Damian Priest and re-establish him on the pedestal. However, the chances of it happening seem very low. It looks like the 43-year-old has had his glory days and those aren't coming back.

Triple H's recent booking suggests that he may have given up on Priest. The company seemingly doesn't consider him a top-tier star anymore. Hence, The Archer of Infamy is expected to remain on Friday Night SmackDown. He could remain trapped in the mid-card division.

WWE could however push Damian Priest for the United States Championship at some point. It will be interesting to see how things shape up in the coming weeks as the company heads into the new year.

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Edited by Subhasish Deb