WWE Friday Night SmackDown in London, England, UK, Live on the USA Network | January 16th, 2026 — The Episode Preview:

The January 16th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Episode Rundown:

• The new WWE Undisputed Champion, Drew McIntyre, will be live on SmackDown and will celebrate his title win in front of the London Crowd tonight.

• The rematch we all been waiting for, Ilja Dragunov will take on Sami Zayn in a WWE Title Number One Contender Qualifying Match, as there will be four in total to determine the wrestlers for the WWE Saturday Night Main Event Fatal-Four Way Match. But can Sami Zayn take down the man who dethroned him many months back? Or can Ilja Dragunov get another one on Sami Zayn?

• Randy Orton’s first match in the year of 2026 as he takes on his long-time rival, The Miz, in a Qualifying Match. The Miz has been getting the end of an RKO as Randy Orton has hit one on The Miz the past two weeks. He's looking to make it three as he looks to punch his ticket into the Fatal-Four Way Match at WWE Saturday Night Main Event.

• Mr. Woo Woo Woo is back, and after having a successful return match, he is looking to take on the biggest rising star in the industry, Trick Williams. Matt Cardona is looking to humble the young star and try to get into the Fatal-Four Way Match, but Trick Williams is looking to continue his rise and enter the match and get the win to join the other three in the Number One Contenders Match at WWE Saturday Night Main Event.

• Damian Priest is now done with Aleister Black and can focus on bigger things, and that's the WWE Title, but before he can reach for the title, he has to go toe-to-toe with Solo Sikoa, the Leader of the MFT, in a Qualifying Match. Damian Priest, the former World Champion, is looking to reenter the title picture tonight.

• Carmelo Hayes is continuing his WWE US Title Open Challenge as we are in London, England, where, in the back, someone will step toe-to-toe with H1M and try to take away his WWE United States Title?

The Matches Announced for the January 16th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:

1. Ilja Dragunov vs. Sami Zayn in an Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contendership Qualifying Match.

2. Randy Orton vs. The Miz in an Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contendership Qualifying Match.

3. Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams in an Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contendership Qualifying Match.

4. Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa in an Undisputed WWE Title #1 Contendership Qualifying Match.

5. Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. ??? in a WWE United States Title Match.

   
   

The Appearances & Segments Announced for the January 16th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:

1. WWE Undisputed Champion Drew McIntyre will celebrate his title victory tonight.