SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 17: Ilja Dragunov and Sami Zayn in action during Friday Night Smackdown at the SAP Center on October 17, 2025 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images
HIGHLIGHTS
- A Fatal 4-Way will determine who challenges Drew McIntyre at Royal Rumble.
- A grudge match with serious WrestleMania implications has been added to the card.
- The updated lineup earns a strong grade heading into WWE’s busiest stretch of the year.
WWE action is in full effect. The promotion seems to be firing on all cylinders. The TNA, NXT, Raw and SmackDown brands are meshing well to produce some solid mega shows and we’re moving toward one of the biggest premium live events on WWE’s calendar.
The proverbial arrows are pointing up and the upcoming episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event is a major factor.
What’s the Confirmed Saturday Night’s Main Event Card for Jan. 24, 2026?
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XLIII takes place on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The event will stream at 8:00 p.m. ET on Peacock in the U.S.
The confirmed card as of Friday’s episode of SmackDown in London is as follows.
No. 1 Contender’s Fatal 4-Way – WWE Championship
Randy Orton vs. Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn
The winner faces Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at Royal Rumble 2026 in Riyadh. I love having such a huge stipulation added to an SNME match. It leaves no doubt, these shows matter in the grand scheme of things.
Grudge Match
Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu
This singles match is built off Fatu’s attack that cost Rhodes the title in his Three Stages of Hell match with McIntyre. It will be interesting to see if either man takes the L in this one. Fans will be happy if something story-related moves the needle. However, a battle with no winner and nothing special from a story standpoint will fall flat.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY (c) vs. Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez
This is the first title defense for Ripley and IYO SKY as newly crowned champions. I need more than just a simple title defense here. Again, what additional layer to the story are we going to see.
Power Rank the Confirmed Matches for Saturday Night’s Main Event
Based on stakes, storyline heat, and likely match quality, here’s my power ranking:
1 – No. 1 Contender’s Fatal 4-Way (Orton vs. Priest vs. Trick vs. Sami)
This match directly determines who challenges McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble, making it the most consequential match of the night. It features four stars at different points in their careers and all with very different potential paths to WrestleMania – a legend (Orton), a tough guy but likely throw-in (Priest), a rising star (Trick), and hometown hero (Sami). There’s a lot happening, but in my opinion, only two logical winners: Orton or Zayn. Anything else would be a shock because neither Trick nor Priest is likely to dethrone McIntyre at the Rumble.
2 – Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu
I like the high-stakes grudge match between two babyfaces. It has heel-turn potential and I think the who-attacked-Jacob-narrative is still hanging out there to be explained. WWE seems to love Fatu. We’ll find out how much on Saturday.
3 – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Rhea & IYO vs. Liv & Roxanne
This is the first title defense for Ripley and IYO SKY as newly crowned champions, with Morgan and Perez arriving off a Triple Threat No. 1 contender’s win. It’s important for the division, but it doesn’t alter Royal Rumble singles title programs in the same direct way as the Fatal 4-Way or Cody-Fatu. Also, the women’s tag-team division lacks some direction right now and it seems to be time for a splintering.
Grade the Saturday Night’s Main Event Card on a Scale From 1-10
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 16: Jacob Fatu is fired up against Kit Wilson during SmackDown at OVO Arena Wembley on January 16, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Andre Timms/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images
On paper, this version of Saturday Night’s Main Event grades out as a strong 7.5 out of 10 with the potential to rise to an 8 or 8.5 if something big happens with Cody-Jacob. Also, it is possible we see a fourth match added.
The absence of McIntyre in a televised match and no major singles defenses for CM Punk or the top women’s singles belts makes this feel slightly more like an elite “go-home” special than a full-scale PLE.
Still, it’s absolutely worth a live watch because it will decide Drew’s Rumble challenger and push Cody’s post-title story forward in a big way.
With SNME serving as the go-home show for Royal Rumble, WWE has created a period of time that could deliver rapid-fire major events that will have the professional wrestling world buzzing. And these events are major breadcrumbs on the Road to WrestleMania. I’m here for it all.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianmazique/2026/01/17/wwes-saturday-nights-main-event-card-just-got-a-lot-more-interesting/
