Get ready for a night of high-stakes action that could shake up the WWE landscape! The road to the Undisputed WWE Championship just got a whole lot more intense, with a series of Number One Contender’s Qualifying Matches announced for the upcoming SmackDown on January 6th. But here's where it gets controversial—with wrestling legends and rising stars clashing, who deserves the shot at the title? And this is the part most people miss: these matches aren’t just about skill; they’re about strategy, alliances, and sometimes, sheer luck.
Next week’s SmackDown is stacking up to be a must-watch event, featuring none other than Randy Orton, Matt Cardona, Trick Williams, and a host of other wrestling powerhouses. Fresh off the heels of the January 9th edition, where Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre battled in an epic Three Stages of Hell match, the stakes are higher than ever. Before that main event, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis dropped a bombshell: a fatal four-way match for Saturday Night’s Main Event, with the winner earning a title shot at the Royal Rumble. If you missed it, you can catch up on all the details here.
But Aldis didn’t stop there. He also unveiled several qualifying matches for next Friday’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, setting the stage for a weekend of non-stop wrestling action. Here’s the lineup you won’t want to miss:
WWE SmackDown (1/6)
- Randy Orton vs. The Miz: A clash of titans that promises to be nothing short of explosive.
- Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams: Youth meets experience in this high-energy showdown.
- Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa: Two powerhouse performers ready to prove their worth.
- Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov: A battle of technical prowess and raw intensity.
Each of these matches is a #1 Contender’s Qualifying Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship, meaning the winners take one step closer to wrestling’s ultimate prize. But here’s the controversial question: Who do you think deserves the shot? And more importantly, who do you think will emerge victorious?
For those who can’t wait, Fightful will provide live coverage of SmackDown here (https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-smackdown-spoilers-results-1-9-2025-three-stages-of-hell-mft-vs-wyatt-sicks-more/), followed by a post-show review and highlights on YouTube here (https://youtu.be/_4mIRh85TAA). Don’t miss out on the action, and let us know in the comments who you’re rooting for—this is one discussion you won’t want to sit out!
