The road to the Royal Rumble just got more intense! On the January 16, 2026 edition of WWE SmackDown from the OVO Arena Wembley in London, four high-stakes qualifying matches determined the participants for a Fatal Four-Way No. 1 Contender’s Match at Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME) XLIII on January 24 in Montreal. The winner will earn the right to challenge Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble on January 31 in Saudi Arabia.

Here are dramatic shots from the intense qualifiers and the post-match chaos on SmackDown:

Following McIntyre’s controversial victory over Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell match last week in Berlin (where he captured the title with a no-rematch clause in place), GM Nick Aldis wasted no time setting up the contenders. The four qualifiers advanced as follows:

• Randy Orton def. The Miz (clean RKO finish) – Orton looked dominant, avenging past issues and punching his ticket first.
• Trick Williams def. Matt Cardona (Trick Shot pinfall) – The NXT call-up continued his hot streak, showing star potential on the main roster.
• Damian Priest def. Solo Sikoa (overcoming interference from The MFTs) – Priest overcame the odds in a hard-hitting clash.
• Sami Zayn def. Ilja Dragunov (Helluva Kick) – Zayn earned redemption after Dragunov previously took the U.S. Title from him, capping the night with a thrilling main event.

Here are more action-packed images from the qualifying matches, highlighting the physicality and stakes:

Post-match, Trick Williams made a bold statement by blindsiding Zayn with a Trick Shot, adding fuel to the fire for the upcoming four-way. The Fatal Four-Way now stands as: Randy Orton vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest vs. Sami Zayn.

This sets up an explosive clash at SNME, with each man bringing unique styles: Orton’s veteran cunning, Williams’ rising star power, Priest’s powerhouse presence, and Zayn’s resilient underdog spirit. The winner faces McIntyre in what could be a defining moment heading into the Royal Rumble.

Fans are buzzing about the fresh matchups and potential surprises. The show also featured other highlights, including Carmelo Hayes’ latest U.S. Title Open Challenge (defended against TNA’s Leon Slater in a crossover moment) and build toward other storylines.

In summary, the WWE Title No. 1 Contendership Four-Way is locked in for SNME following the SmackDown qualifiers—Orton, Williams, Priest, and Zayn will battle for McIntyre’s championship shot at the Royal Rumble. For WWE Fatal Four-Way SNME, SmackDown qualifiers January 16 2026, Undisputed WWE Title contender, Randy Orton Trick Williams Priest Zayn, and Drew McIntyre Royal Rumble challenger, this is must-see action!