WWE SmackDown: Shinsuke Nakamura vs Tama Tonga; Royal Rumble fallout & more set for next week (February 6, 2026)
(Courtesy : WWE)
Fans in Riyadh were treated to an incredible SmackDown before the Royal Rumble.
The Road to WrestleMania will officially begin at the Royal Rumble, but WWE SmackDown on January 30, 2026, carried major momentum following an explosive WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event last week in Canada.
The episode aired live from the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The go-home show of the Blue brand set the stage for the PLE as stars met for the final time. Carmelo Hayes defeated Rey Fenix to retain the U.S. title, while Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss defeated The Judgment Day (Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez) in an impromptu tag team match.
Axiom defeated Johnny Gargano, while AJ Styles and Gunther clashed on the mic in a promo ahead of their clash at the Rumble event. On the other hand, Ilja Dragunov defeated The Miz in singles action.
The main event clash between The Vision (Bron Breakker, Austin Theory, Logan Paul & Bronson Reed) vs Randy Orton, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso & Cody Rhodes ended in disqualification when Drew McIntyre attacked Sami, leading to a massive brawl where Jacob Fatu also joined in.
The fallout show of SmackDown will emanate from North Carolina
Following the Royal Rumble PLE, WWE will head back to the United States on the Road to WrestleMania as they gear up for the Elimination Chamber. The February 6 episode of SmackDown will serve as the fallout show from the first PLE of the year.
The Blue brand’s show back in the U.S. next week will take place at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Multiple big names, including Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, Randy Orton, and Jade Cargill, are currently being advertised for the show.
WWE has also announced a standout match for the show featuring two former NJPW stars. In a backstage segment during this week’s episode, Tama Tonga ran into Shinsuke Nakamura and couldn’t resist teasing his former NJPW colleague about his loss to Styles at SNME, joking that Nakamura should start his own retirement tour, dubbed the “Shinsuke Sayonara Tour.”
Nakamura simply shook his head, remarking that Tonga had grown confident, but that he was “still a young punk,” and added that he’d see him next week, setting the stage for their first singles clash in WWE.
Announced for WWE SmackDown next week (February 6, 2026)
- Shinsuke Nakamura vs Tama Tonga
- Royal Rumble aftermath
When and where will the February 6, 2026, episode of WWE SmackDown take place?
The next week’s SmackDown will take place at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Will the show have a special start time for international viewers?
No, WWE will head to the United States after the Royal Rumble, so the Blue brand’s show will have the usual start time of 8 PM ET worldwide.
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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.