The “Road to Royal Rumble” tour stops in London, England, tonight as WWE SmackDown emanates from the OVO Arena Wembley. The show will feature the return of the only British WWE Champion in history, Drew McIntyre, who reclaimed the company’s top prize last Friday. McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes in a “Three Stages of Hell” match to become a three-time champion. While the “Scottish Warrior” is expected to receive a hero’s welcome, questions remain regarding potential interruptions from “The American Nightmare” or Jacob Fatu.
McIntyre will not have to wait long to find out who his first challenger will be. A tournament to crown a new number one contender begins tonight with four high-profile singles matches. The winners will advance to a Fatal 4-Way Match on January 24 at Saturday Night’s Main Event to determine who will face McIntyre for the title.
Tournament Qualifiers And Match Card
The qualifying matches feature a mix of established veterans and rising stars. Randy Orton will face The Miz in a battle of former WWE Champions. The Miz, who cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Orton in 2010 to win his first world title, has recently proclaimed himself the locker room leader following John Cena’s retirement. Orton is looking to secure a shot at his 15th World Championship.
Damian Priest will take on Solo Sikoa in another qualifying bout. Priest recently ended his rivalry with Aleister Black in an Ambulance Match and is looking to climb back into the title picture. Sikoa and his MFTs continue their mission to control all the gold on the blue brand. Meanwhile, Matt Cardona looks to continue his ascent as he faces Trick Williams. Cardona is aiming for Grand Slam glory, while Williams, a two-time NXT Champion and former TNA World Heavyweight Champion, looks to make a statement on the main roster.
The final qualifier sees Sami Zayn face Ilja Dragunov. This is a rematch from Dragunov’s surprise return, where he answered Zayn’s open challenge and won the United States Championship. Zayn is looking for redemption and a path to his first WWE Championship.
United States Title Open Challenge
Carmelo Hayes will defend the Men’s United States Championship in an open challenge tonight. After successful defenses against Johnny Gargano and Shinsuke Nakamura, Hayes has called for the best in the UK to step up. Rumors suggest that TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater, who was pulled from this week’s TNA iMPACT debut on AMC, may be in London to answer the call.
WWE SmackDown Lineup
- Drew McIntyre celebrates his WWE Championship victory
- WWE Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match Qualifier: Randy Orton vs. The Miz
- WWE Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match Qualifier: Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa
- WWE Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match Qualifier: Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams
- WWE Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match Qualifier: Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov
- Men’s United States Championship: Carmelo Hayes vs. TBD (Open Challenge)
How To Watch WWE SmackDown
- TV Channel: USA Network
- Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV, Hulu+ Live TV, Sling TV
- Time: 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST)
- Location: OVO Arena Wembley in London, England
