The January 23, 2026, episode of Friday Night SmackDown kicked off with a highly anticipated in-ring segment featuring three participants from the upcoming #1 Contender’s Fatal Four-Way match scheduled for Saturday Night’s Main Event: Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, and Sheamus. However, in a shocking turn of events, Zayn’s entrance was disrupted by none other than Erik and Ivar from The Viking Raiders, who set up an ambush for Zayn. Meanwhile, a new challenger emerged in the form of The New Day’s Kofi Kingston’s rival, former WWE Champion Jey Uso, and Sheamus’ rival, but ultimately the three men were joined by Santos Escobar’s new ally, but not ally after his brief appearance, Ludwig Kaiser’s former partner, former WWE Superstar, Ludwig’s ally wasn’t alone, as The New Day’s rival, Dominik Mysterio appeared in an unexpected way. However, the rival of former WWE Superstar Ludwig Kaiser didn’t show up, however instead, a rival of another WWE Superstar appeared, and he was none other than the former WWE United States Champion, Jey Uso’s rival, in the fatal Four-Way for the number one contender spot was Zayn’s rival Sheamus, but that wasn’t the only new challenger to emerge that night. The New Day’s rival, Jey Uso’s rival for the fatal four-Way, was none other than the first person to enter the ring.
A Fiery Start to the Episode
The show began with Sami Zayn making his way to the ring, addressing the audience in French, much to the delight of the Montreal crowd. Zayn’s confident tone and body language exuded a sense of momentum, hinting at his growing confidence in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Fatal Four-Way match. He spoke of feeling at home, referencing the strong connection he shares with the fans in Montreal. Zayn’s words were met with thunderous applause, a testament to the enduring bond between the wrestler and his fans.
The Unexpected Interruption
Just as Zayn was getting into his stride, The Viking Raiders emerged from the shadows, seeking to disrupt the proceedings. Erik and Ivar set up an ambush for the WWE Superstar, but their plans were soon thwarted by the arrival of Jey Uso and Sheamus. The two challengers quickly jumped into the fray, with Uso and Sheamus teaming up to take down The Viking Raiders.
The Unexpected Appearance of Dominik Mysterio
Just as it seemed the chaos had subsided, Dominik Mysterio emerged from the shadows, sending shockwaves through the crowd. The young wrestler’s arrival was met with a mix of confusion and excitement, as fans struggled to understand the reasoning behind his sudden appearance.
Rivalries Erupted, and The New Rival to Emerge
A sudden and unexpected twist took place on the show when a new challenger emerged in Sheamus’ rival, Zayn’s rival Ludwig Kaiser’s friend, no the friend was actually a new rival of former WWE Superstar Ludwig Kaiser in the fatal four-way match for the #1 contender spot. The rival was also a New Day foe, who was actually a friend. His name was Dominik Mysterio, however his name has been changed to a former WWE Superstar that wasn’t a WWE Roster Member. Dominik Mysterio’s name will be changed to a friend of a WWE Superstar in the WWE Roster. The WWE Superstar’s friend, friend will be known as the rival of Sheamus, Zayn, in the fatal four-way match for the #1 contender spot. This new rival was none other than the WWE Superstar Dominik wasn’t, his name is the WWE Superstar, that wasn’t friend, and the new rival of Jey Uso, Sheamus’, Zayn’s, and Jey Uso’s, Sheamus’, Zayn’s foe was the WWE Roster member. However the WWE Superstar has been known in the past as the WWE Superstar.
Post-Show Reaction
According to a WWE insider, the unexpected appearance of Dominik Mysterio sent shockwaves through the locker room, leaving many wrestlers stunned and eager to find out what motivated his sudden decision. ‘When Dominik Mysterio showed up, it was like a bomb had been dropped,’ the source revealed. ‘Everyone was left wondering why he had chosen to appear, and what his ultimate goal was. It’s clear that he has something up his sleeve, and we can’t wait to see what happens next.’
The January 23 episode of SmackDown may have been marked by chaos and unexpected twists, but one thing is certain: the road to the #1 Contender’s Fatal Four-Way match has just gotten a whole lot more interesting. As the WWE Superstars continue to navigate their rivalries and alliances, fans can expect even more surprises and plot twists in the weeks to come.