Drew McIntyre's WrestleMania 42 opponent; Tiffany Stratton's return & other storylines to watch on WWE SmackDown (February 6, 2026)

Major shake-up is expected after the Royal Rumble on SmackDown.

This week’s WWE SmackDown will serve as the fallout show from the Royal Rumble PLE. Multiple big names, including Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, Randy Orton, and Jade Cargill, are currently being advertised for the show.

Emanating from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, this Friday’s SmackDown promises an action-packed night with major shakeups after the PLE that saw multiple returns. 2026 women’s Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan is set to make an appearance, as she looks at her options for WrestleMania.

Additionally, Shinsuke Nakamura and Tama Tonga will battle in a singles match for the first time ever in WWE and for the second time in their career. Let us now take a look at the five WWE storylines to watch out for this week’s show of the Blue brand.

4. Tiffany Stratton’s return

Former WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton has been absent from action since her title loss to Jade Cargill in November. This changed at the Rumble match, where she made her return, while Stratton was unable to win the match and confirm her WrestleMania spot; her return nevertheless makes things interesting for the Blue brand, which has been struggling with a hollow roster.

Stratton is one of the biggest names on the brand, and placing her in programs with rising talent from NXT, along with the possibility of a rematch against Jade Cargill, would help elevate fresh faces while keeping her positioned at the top of the division.

Also Read: WWE SmackDown Preview (February 6, 2026): Match card, start time & where to watch

3. Jade Cargill vs Jordynne Grace

The feud between WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace turned physical last week, when the two engaged in a brawl backstage. The two powerhouses have been battling on the microphone for a while, but the physical confrontation is sure to make things interesting.

In the build-up to the Elimination Chamber, the promotion might choose to book the two Juggernauts in a title showdown or, better yet, at the Chamber PLE on February 28 in Chicago.

2. Liv Morgan’s pick

After winning the 2026 women’s Royal Rumble match, Liv Morgan made an appearance on this week’s fallout show of Raw, stating that she is exploring her options and will make an appearance on this week’s Blue brand show before picking her opponent for WrestleMania 42.

While Morgan laid out Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer and posed with the title on Monday, she has not officially declared her choice.

There remains a chance she could switch gears this Friday and instead challenge WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill, a move that would further shake things up amid the ongoing feud between Cargill and Grace as well as the return of Tiffany Stratton.

1. Drew McIntyre’s attack

Undisputed Champion Drew McIntyre stayed in the arena after his successful title defense against Sami Zayn last Saturday in Riyadh. McIntyre then waited for the right moment to appear ringside and take out Cody Rhodes with a Claymore, eliminating him in the process.

The rivalry between McIntyre and Rhodes has been brewing for quite some time, and this latest attack is only expected to intensify it. Adding to the intrigue is Jacob Fatu’s involvement and the still-unanswered question surrounding who attacked him last October. With that angle yet to be revealed, the promotion may choose to peel back those layers in the aftermath of the PLE.

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