Tonight's episode of WWE SmackDown (January 16, 2026) emanates out of the OVO Arena Wembley in London, England and will air at 8 p.m. ET on the USA Network, but is actually airing internationally earlier in the day at 3 p.m. ET on Netflix.
This post here will be updated frequently throughout the night to reflect live coverage of Friday Night SmackDown, including all the match results, rundowns of the promos, and any other interesting or noteworthy things that take place. Keep refreshing for updates to find out all the winners and more!
Preview & Predictions for WWE SmackDown:
On tap for tonight's episode, we'll have four matches to find out who qualifies for a match at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event which will determine who faces Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
Given the lineups, it could really be almost anyone, but I think the ultimate winner has to be a babyface, so that narrows it down to Randy Orton, Damian Priest, Matt Cardona, Sami Zayn, and Ilja Dragunov. However, not all of them can win today, so I'm thinking Orton beats The Miz, Trick Williams beats Cardona, Priest beats Solo Sikoa, and Zayn beats Dragunov, with Zayn ultimately getting the title opportunity.
But what happens with Jacob Fatu and Cody Rhodes? Well, we'll get something of a follow-up, for sure, and I think that'll play out in some kind of "I want to fight" segment that leads to a match being announced for Saturday Night's Main Event between those two.
I'd expect we'll also get more in the rivalry between Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace, as well as Chelsea Green still trying to get back the Women's United States Championship, The Wyatt Sicks have to do something with the MFTs, and we're well past when Axiom should get his hands on Johnny Gargano to get back his mask, but none of that has been confirmed yet, so I'm just speculating on how they'll fill up the three hours beyond their incessant commercials and time-wasting video packages, of course.
All that and more will go down tonight, so keep checking and refreshing for the most up-to-date results!
Here are your results for WWE SmackDown - January 16, 2026:
- Drew McIntyre opened the show with a promo about how he is the new WWE champion. He had a clause added to the contract before their 3 Stages of Hell match that dictated Cody Rhodes cannot get an automatic rematch and will have to work his way back up from the bottom. McIntyre talked trash about the audience for supporting him now that he's champion, but not when he was struggling over various times over the years. Randy Orton then interrupted to say that he'd beat McIntyre for the title. Jacob Fatu then went after McIntyre. The Miz jumped Orton from behind to get an advantage for their qualifying match to come after the commercial break.
- Qualifying Match: Randy Orton defeated The Miz by pinfall.
- Backstage, McIntyre bumped into Ilja Dragunov for a confrontation about the potential of them facing off at Royal Rumble. McIntyre was scared of Fatu getting his hands on him.
- After the commercial break, Alexa Bliss asked Charlotte Flair if she was actually sick last week when she didn't have her back since she lost to Giulia due to Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Flair said she was throwing up and made a point of contention that Bliss had a singles title opportunity anyway, and that she's made sacrifices for the betterment of the team, but sidestepped answering "name two" and reiterated that Bliss is her bestie. Jax and Legend then approached after Bliss left and tried to say that Bliss was manipulating Flair, who wasn't buying into any of it.
- Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair defeated Giulia and Kiana James by pinfall. Jax and Legend went on the attack for Bliss and Flair after the match. Giulia was ready to confront them, but James pulled her away.
- Cody Rhodes declares himself for the Royal Rumble and spoke about losing the title, things being too episodic in his title reign, and how Jacob Fatu has a receipt coming his way.
- Matt Cardona was interviewed by Cathy Kelley about how he's back not just to be back, but to win the title.
- Qualifying Match: Trick Williams defeated Matt Cardona by pinfall. After the match, Kit Wilson attacked Cardona.
- Damian Priest was interviewed by Cathy Kelley about his match with Solo Sikoa (who earlier had showed off the lantern he stole from The Wyatt Sicks and said he'd beat Priest and take the title back to the family). Priest knows that it's not a one-on-one match, as the other MFTs will be there, but he's willing to do whatever it takes.
- Kit Wilson had a quick moment to say that he's trying to get rid of toxic masculinity, but was taken out by Jacob Fatu, who called out Cody Rhodes, who then came out for a fight.
- Qualifying Match: Damian Priest defeated Solo Sikoa by pinfall with a little help from The Wyatt Sicks offsetting the MFTs. Bo Dallas was able to get back the lantern after the match, only for Tama Tonga to steal it again.
- Backstage, Sami Zayn bumped into Drew McIntyre for their version of the "I'm going to beat you for the belt / no you won't" exchange.
- Open Challenge for WWE Men's United States Championship: Carmelo Hayes (c) defeated Leon Slater by pinfall.
- Tama Tonga warned Shinsuke Nakamura backstage to stay out of his way as he's coming for the US title. Nakamura replied with something in Japanese that wasn't bothered to be translated.
- Also backstage, Axiom asked Johnny Gargano again to give back his mask. When Gargano said no, Nathan Frazer (in an Axiom mask) punched him in the face and told him that he'll face Gargano in a match next week.
- Jordynne Grace defeated Chelsea Green by pinfall. After the match, Grace called out Jade Cargill. Green tried to strike Grace, but hit Cargill instead by accident.
- Backstage, Trick and Priest had a confrontation.
- Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn defeated Ilja Dragunov by pinfall and was then attacked by Trick.
What are your thoughts on tonight's episode of Friday Night SmackDown? Drop your reactions in the comments below and spark a discussion!