Key Highlights
- Corey Graves fills in for Wade Barrett on Friday’s WWE SmackDown show.
- Cody Rhodes officially declares himself for the Men’s Royal Rumble match at Royal Rumble 2026.
- Randy Orton, Trick Williams, Damian Priest, and Sami Zayn advance to the Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender Four-way match.
- New match announced between Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu for January 24th SNME show.
- Leon Slater makes a surprise appearance on Friday’s WWE SmackDown show.
Corey Graves Steps In for Wade Barrett
Fans of WWE’s SmackDown brand got to see a familiar face step into the spotlight during this week’s episode. Corey Graves, known for his roles on the RAW brand and in various storylines, filled in as part of the ary team for the show at the OVO Arena Wembly in London, England.
Cody Rhodes Eyes Royal Rumble Glory
In a move that has fans buzzing, Cody Rhodes officially declared himself for this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. The event is set to take place on January 31st at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During his promo, Rhodes referenced Drew McIntyre winning the Undisputed WWE Championship in a Three Stages of Hell match last week and highlighted the fact that only one man has pulled off a three-peat in Royal Rumble history.
New Match Announced for January 24th SNME Show
Adding excitement to next Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME) show on January 24th, a singles match between Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu was announced. This new match stems from a controversial situation where Fatu accidentally cost Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Championship in their recent Three Stages of Hell match.
Leon Slater Surprises SmackDown
The card for the January 24th SNME show also received an unexpected twist with Leon Slater making his surprise appearance. During the episode, Slater took on Carmelo Hayes’ WWE United States Championship Open Challenge match, adding a new dynamic to the night’s proceedings.
For those looking ahead to next week’s January 23rd SmackDown show in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the card currently features several intriguing matches including the WWE Tag Team Championship title defense and an exciting Women’s Tag Team Championship #1 Contender Triple Threat match.
The world of professional wrestling continues to keep fans on their toes with surprise appearances, declarations for major events, and new matches being set. As the calendar ticks closer to key dates like Royal Rumble 2026, fans can expect even more drama and anticipation from the WWE Universe.
