Three reasons why Randy Orton should win fatal four-way at SNME to challenge Drew McIntyre at WWE Royal Rumble 2026
(Courtesy : WWE via Getty)
The Viper defeated Miz to secure the spot.
In the first match of the January 16 episode of WWE SmackDown, Randy Orton, despite being on the back foot for the majority of the match, managed to land the RKO to pin Miz and win the qualifying match. The win secured him a spot in the fatal four-way #1 Contenders match for the Undisputed title at Royal Rumble.
Later in the show, Trick Williams, Damian Priest, and Sami Zayn won their respective qualifying matches to secure their spots. The four men will now battle next week at the first Saturday Night’s Main Event of 2026.
The winner of the clash in Montreal next week will then battle Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE title at the Royal Rumble PLE. While the four men are eager to win and get a title shot, here are three reasons why Orton should win the fatal four-way.
3. Legacy
The Viper is one of the few active veterans still competing in the ring and remains a massive fan favorite. Orton is a 14-time WWE World Champion and has repeatedly expressed his desire to capture his 15th title.
WWE barely featured Orton after SummerSlam last year, and following his return on the first SmackDown of 2026, they have the chance to give him a proper push as he looks to move closer to Ric Flair’s 16 World title record.
2. Reignite the feud with Drew McIntyre
The rivalry between Randy Orton and current champion Drew McIntyre is well-known among fans. The two have faced off numerous times in singles matches, an Ambulance match, and even Hell in a Cell contests. WWE could reignite this feud ahead of a major Royal Rumble showdown, which would undoubtedly excite the fans.
Notably, McIntyre is 3-1 against Orton in title matches, and he could lean into this angle to make things more personal.
1. A more intriguing matchup for WrestleMania
While multiple reports have revealed that two possible WrestleMania 42 plans are under consideration, one of which will see Drew defend the title in a rematch against Cody Rhodes, and the other is a triple threat match involving Drew, Cody, and Jacob Fatu. While the addition of Fatu in the fold has intrigued fans, they have already seen Cody and Drew clash multiple times in the past six-months.
Orton possibly winning the fatal four-way and then his 15th World title would flip the script even more and pit Orton against his friend Cody Rhodes. WWE has been teasing Orton’s turn during Cody’s title reign for two years, and they might revisit the story with the title on Orton’s waist. This would be a long-demanded and a much needed fresh matchup for the ‘Grandest Stage.’
When and where will the fatal four-way match take place?
The #1 Contender fatal four-way match for the Undisputed title between Randy Orton, Trick Williams, Damian Priest, and Sami Zayn will take place at the January 24 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event.
When will the winner of the match challenge for the Undisputed title?
The winner of the fatal four-way match will get the chance to battle Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed title at the Royal Rumble.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.