The January 30 episode of Friday Night SmackDown is expected to be an exciting show because it is the final episode before the Royal Rumble. That’s why WWE has booked a solid lineup to ensure fans have a great time throughout the night. Tonight’s WWE SmackDown promises to deliver high drama and storylines that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. With appearances from Drew McIntyre and more, it’s bound to be a show you won’t want to miss. WWE SmackDown will air from the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, starting at 8 PM ET.

Sami Zayn became the #1 contender to Drew McIntyre’s Undisputed WWE Championship after winning a four-way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event last week. He is now set to have a face-to-face with McIntyre ahead of their title match at the Royal Rumble. So we’ll have to see who will have the edge heading into the Royal Rumble. The intense match between Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event did not have a conclusion, as both men engaged in an all-out brawl. This week’s SmackDown could very well begin with both of them picking up where they left off ahead of their participation in the 2026 Royal Rumble match. Standing in his way is McIntyre, a champion Zayn has never defeated. With personal barbs already exchanged and tensions boiling over, this final confrontation in Riyadh promises intensity, mind games, and potentially chaos before the bell rings at the Royal Rumble. Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace have been crossing paths for weeks on Friday Night SmackDown. The Juggernaut has made it clear that she wants the WWE Women’s title held by Cargill, and tonight’s show in Riyadh could be her opportunity to go one-on-one against The Storm in a championship match. After Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky retained their WWE Women’s Tag Team titles at Saturday Night’s Main Event, they could make an appearance on tonight’s SmackDown. However, they could be confronted by the new No.1 contenders, Giulia and Kiana James, who won their shot last week and could set the tone for a future title match in the coming weeks. The intense match between Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event did not have a conclusion, as both men engaged in an all-out brawl. The “Underdog of the Underground” did not take the easy way out, winning a Fatal 4-Way Match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event against the likes of Randy Orton, Trick Williams, and the man he pinned after a Helluva Kick, Damian Priest. It’s well-documented that Zayn has never once beaten Drew McIntyre before; now that the “Scottish Psychopath” is the world champion, McIntyre might be more dangerous than ever. McIntyre got in the head of Zayn last week when he said that all Zayn does is disappoint the people he loves, especially his young son. Clearly, Zayn took that as fuel, blasting his way to become the number one contender in his home country of Montreal, Canada. This Friday, these two meet one last time before their epic showdown at the following night’s Royal Rumble.