AJ Styles' appearance; Tag Team titles & other storylines to watch on WWE SmackDown tonight (January 23, 2026)
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Tonight’s episode of the Blue Brand will emanate from Montreal.
The SNME go-home show of WWE SmackDown is set to emanate live from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The same arena on Saturday will play host to the first edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event in 2026.
WWE has announced multiple matches for the show, including a #1 Contenders triple threat match for the Women’s Tag Team titles as well as a tag team showdown for the WWE Tag Team titles.
AJ Styles is also set to make an appearance, after GM Nick Aldis’ invitation. Let us now take a look at the five WWE storylines to watch out for on the January 23 episode of SmackDown.
4. AJ Styles’ appearance
Ahead of his high-stakes clash against Gunther, where he is set to put his career on the line, ‘The Phenomenal’ AJ Styles has been invited to the Blue brand by General Manager Nick Aldis. Styles has officially accepted the invitation and will be live this Friday, with the WWE Universe eager to hear what the former world champion has to say.
The appearance might also give Styles a chance to explore new feuds and storylines. It is unlikely that he retires at Rumble, which means he is likely going to beat Gunther, or WWE is going to throw some curveball, that said it would be an interesting watch.
Also Read: WWE SmackDown Updated Preview (January 23, 2026): Match card, news, timings & where to watch
3. Triple threat match for the Women’s Tag Team titles
The team of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, Giulia and Kiana James, and Nia Jax and Lash Legend will face off in a triple-threat #1 Contender’s match for the Women’s Tag Team Titles.
The winner will earn the opportunity to face the victors of this Saturday’s tag team title match at SNME, where reigning champions Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky are set to defend their titles against current number one contenders Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez.
2. WWE Tag Team titles
WWE Tag Team Champions, Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis), are set to defend the titles against Solo Sikoa‘s MFTs. The Wyatt Sicks have largely been unable to counter MFT’s offense, with Sikoa even stealing the iconic lantern, which has made things evenmore personal between the two factions.
WWE might decide to put the titles on the MFTs tonight; however, the feud needs some serious work from the promotion to make it more interesting for fans.
Also Read: All superstars confirmed for WWE SmackDown tonight (January 23, 2026)
1. First SNME of 2026
The January 24 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event is set to emanate live from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. As mentioned, tonight’s SmackDown will serve as the go-home show for the event. Notably, WWE has only announced three matches for the show, which means they’re likely announcing atleast one more match tonight.
The show will further hype up fans for the announced matches, with stars set to clash, likely engaging in promo battle or in Trick Williams and Damian Priest’s battling it out on SmackDown, before the show.
When and where will the January 23, 2026, episode of SmackDown take place?
The January 23 episode of SmackDown will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Will the show have an early start time for international fans?
No, the show will return to its original time slot for international fans until the next episode from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
When and where will the January 24 edition of SNME take place?
The January 24 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event is set to emanate live from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
What matches have been announced for the show?
• Giulia & Kiana James vs Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax & Lash Legend – #1 Contenders triple threat match for the Women’s Tag Team titles• The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) (c) vs The MFTs – WWE Tag Team titles• Trick Williams vs Damian Priest• Nathan Frazer vs Johnny Gargano
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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.