SmackDown Delivers Chaos Ahead of Royal Rumble 2026

WWE SmackDown took place on Friday, January 30, 2026, in Saudi Arabia, one night before the Royal Rumble. The show packed matches and fights that ramped up storylines for the big event, drawing a loud crowd ready for action.

Background

SmackDown served as the final stop before the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Wrestlers used the night to settle scores and make statements. The event came from Saudi Arabia, where fans filled the arena for live wrestling. Matches built on ongoing rivalries, like fights over titles and spots in the Rumble. Carmelo Hayes defended his United States Championship in an open challenge. Teams formed to clash over bigger prizes. Backstage talks turned into real brawls, showing high stakes ahead.

Earlier weeks saw tensions rise. Hayes held the US title through tough defenses. Ilja Dragunov chased wins to climb ranks. Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair teamed up against rising stars. Axiom battled Johnny Gargano over a personal mask issue. The main event pitted faces against heels in an eight-man tag. All this fed into Royal Rumble plans, where 30 men and 30 women enter for title shots.

Key Details

The night kicked off with Carmelo Hayes defending the US Championship against Rey Fenix. Fenix flew high with springboard moves and a moonsault. He hit a double stomp and rolling DDTs for close pins. Hayes stayed calm, trading blows and dodging big risks. Both men knocked each other out once, but Hayes caught Fenix with First 48 and Nothing but Net for the win. Hayes kept his title.

Tag Team Action and Surprises

Next, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair faced Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez. The match saw quick tags and hard hits. Morgan choked Bliss to keep her away from Flair. Bliss fought back with punches. Flair entered hot, hitting crossbodies and chops to cheers. She walked on opponents before a moonsault try. Perez and Rodriguez jumped in, but Stephanie Vaquer helped. Bliss finished with Sister Abigail for the win. Bliss and Flair celebrated as Vaquer watched.

Ilja Dragunov took on The Miz in a gritty fight. Miz targeted Dragunov's back with boots and chinlocks. Dragunov powered up, hitting clotheslines, German suplexes, and slams. Miz countered with a DDT for a near fall. Dragunov hit Torpedo and H-Bomb to win by pinfall. He raised his arms as the crowd roared.

Axiom faced Johnny Gargano with a twist: win the match, get his old mask back. Candice LeRae stayed banned from ringside. Axiom chopped hard and hit a Spanish Fly. Gargano fought dirty, dropping Axiom outside. In the end, Axiom slipped on his old mask, dodged a kick, and nailed Golden Ratio for the victory.

Backstage, Jordynne Grace spoke about entering the Royal Rumble. She wanted to prove herself. Jade Cargill attacked her, slamming her into a crate. The two brawled until officials pulled them apart.

Main Event Mayhem

The eight-man tag saw Randy Orton, Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes, and Sami Zayn against Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and members of The Vision. Action spilled outside early. Frequent tags kept it fast. Reed hit a senton on Rhodes. Breakker speared and clotheslined. Orton waited for a tag. Drew McIntyre pulled Zayn out for an attack, causing a disqualification. The win went to Orton’s team by DQ.

Chaos followed. McIntyre kept beating Zayn. Jacob Fatu ran in to fight McIntyre. Zayn hit a Helluva Kick on McIntyre. Rhodes eyed the WWE Championship left in the ring. Bron Breakker speared both Rhodes and Zayn to end the show standing tall.

"The fireflies will light up Solo's insecurities tomorrow." – Bo Dallas

Wyatt Sicks and MFTs traded words too. Solo Sikoa held their lantern and vowed to bring championships home. Bo Dallas promised to take back tag titles and the lantern.

What This Means

Hayes holding the US title sets him up strong for Royal Rumble challenges. Fenix pushed him hard, hinting at future rematches. Dragunov’s win boosts his momentum toward bigger spots. Axiom getting his mask back ends one chapter but starts questions about Gargano and LeRae.

Bliss and Flair’s team win shows they gel well, maybe eyeing tag gold. The Cargill-Grace brawl means bad blood enters the women’s Rumble. Expect them to target each other early.

The main event DQ win for Orton’s side keeps their alliance alive but highlights cracks. McIntyre’s attack on Zayn builds their personal feud. Fatu’s involvement stirs Bloodline drama. Breakker ending strong positions him as a top threat. He could surprise in the men’s Rumble.

Rivalries like Wyatt Sicks vs. MFTs add layers to tag divisions. Sikoa’s words point to island pride in his Rumble run. Dallas’s firefly talk rallies fans. Overall, SmackDown left fans buzzing for Saturday’s Royal Rumble, where these stories explode into battle royals and grudge matches.