The road to the Royal Rumble runs through Saturday Night’s Main Event.
On the January 9 edition of SmackDown, General Manager Nick Aldis announced a high-stakes Fatal Four-Way match for the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event special, which is scheduled to air next Friday. The winner of that bout will receive a championship match at the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.
To fill the spots in that four-way, Aldis has booked four massive qualifying matches for next week’s SmackDown. The lineup features a mix of veterans and newcomers hungry for a golden opportunity.
Randy Orton will go one-on-one with The Miz in a battle of multi-time world champions. Matt Cardona, fresh off his return to WWE, will face the charismatic Trick Williams, who recently moved up to the main roster. In a clash of powerhouses, Damian Priest will take on Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline. Finally, Sami Zayn will test his technical skills against the intense “Mad Dragon,” Ilja Dragunov.
These matches follow a chaotic SmackDown in Berlin that saw Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre tear each other apart in a “Three Stages of Hell” match. With the World Title picture settling, the rest of the roster is scrambling for position. The winners of these qualifiers will move one step closer to a guaranteed title shot at one of the biggest events of the year.
SmackDown Lineup (Next Week):
SNME Qualifier: Randy Orton vs. The Miz
SNME Qualifier: Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams
SNME Qualifier: Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa
SNME Qualifier: Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov
