Five major storylines to watch on WWE SmackDown tonight ahead of Royal Rumble 2026
(Courtesy : WWE via Getty)
A major shakeup could happen on the SmackDown before Royal Rumble 2026.
WWE is only a day away from hosting its first edition of the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The historic event will be preceded by the January 30 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, taking place in Riyadh, and could promise some exciting developments. Here are five major storylines for tonight’s SmackDown ahead of the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble PLE:
5. Women’s title match
Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace have been crossing paths for weeks on Friday Night SmackDown. The Juggernaut has made it clear that she wants the WWE Women’s title held by Cargill, and tonight’s show in Riyadh could be her opportunity to go one-on-one against The Storm in a championship match.
Also Read: WWE SmackDown Preview (January 30, 2026): Match card, start time & where to watch
4. Women’s tag team division
After Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky retained their WWE Women’s Tag Team titles at Saturday Night’s Main Event, they could make an appearance on tonight’s SmackDown. However, they could be confronted by the new No.1 contenders, Giulia and Kiana James, who won their shot last week and could set the tone for a future title match in the coming weeks.
3. Cody Rhodes & Jacob Fatu brawl
The intense match between Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event did not have a conclusion, as both men engaged in an all-out brawl. This week’s SmackDown could very well begin with both of them picking up where they left off ahead of their participation in the 2026 Royal Rumble match.
2. CM Punk’s surprise appearance
This week’s edition of SmackDown could see a possible appearance from RAW’s World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk. The Best in the World recently dropped a photo of his face-off with Cody Rhodes in the Royal Rumble and could plant seeds for a future storyline on the road to WrestleMania 42.
1. Sami Zayn & Drew McIntyre’s face-off
Sami Zayn won a Fatal 4-Way match to earn an Undisputed WWE title match against Drew McIntyre at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. One night before their match, the duo could have a heated face-off, which could end with both men trading punches ahead of their epic collision at the Royal Rumble 2026 PLE.
When and where will WWE SmackDown air tonight?
This week’s WWE SmackDown airs on Friday, January 30, 2026. International viewers can watch the show live on Netflix at 12:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. CT / 9:00 a.m. PT, while fans in the United States can catch the traditional broadcast on USA Network at 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT.
When and where will the Royal Rumble 2026 take place?
The 39th edition will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of Riyadh Season.
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Nik O Conner is a long-time fan of professional wrestling. After dropping his Engineering regular studies in 2020, he decided to pursue his passion and became a writer. Over the last few years, he has written for multiple webs bringing a lot of skills and creativity to the table.