WWE SmackDown: Wyatt Sicks vs MFTs for Tag titles; Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss in tag action; SNME build & more set for next week (January 23, 2026)
(Courtesy : WWE)
Jacob Fatu and Cody Rhodes brawled to set up a clash for SNME!
In the aftermath of last week’s SmackDown that saw the coronation of a new Champion in Drew McIntyre, WWE tonight delivered the January 16 episode of the Blue brand from The OVO Arena Wembley in London, England.
Drew McIntyre celebrated his title win until he was interrupted by Randy Orton, followed by Jacob Fatu, who attacked the new Champion. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes announced his entry into the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble and later got into a brawl with Jacob Fatu. This confrontation led to a match being announced for Saturday Night’s Main Event.
In the four qualifying matches for the fatal four-way at SNME, Randy Orton defeated The Miz, Trick Williams pinned Matt Cardona, Damian Priest triumphed over Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn secured the final spot by defeating Ilja Dragunov.
Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair defeated Giulia and Kiana James in a tag team match. Meanwhile, Jordynne Grace pinned Chelsea Green before having a tense confrontation with Jade Cargill. In the U.S. Title Open Challenge, Carmelo Hayes (c) successfully pinned Leon Slater to retain his championship.
The go-home show of SNME 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 show will return to its original time slot for international fans until the next episode from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
WWE has announced multiple matches for the show next week. 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.
On the other hand, WWE Tag Team Champions, Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis), are set to defend the titles after being unable to counter Solo Sikoa and his MFT. The two factions battling for control will collide in a tag team match, with the tag titles on the line.
As announced by Damian Priest, he will face Trick Williams next week, just one night before their encounter in the Fatal Four-Way match for the #1 Contender spot for the Undisputed Championship.
Also confirmed for the show is a match between Nathan Frazer and Johnny Gargano. Frazer and Axiom are determined to teach Gargano a lesson and get Axiom’s mask back.
Announced matches for WWE SmackDown next week (January 23, 2026)
- 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
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 a special 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.
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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.