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Championship Match, Factions Collide, LA Knight Main Event: SmackDown Preview and Predictions 01/26

Published 01/26/2024, 3:30 PM EST

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As WWE SmackDown gears up for the final build to the Royal Rumble, a thrilling lineup awaits fans on this week’s episode. With intensely personal grudge matches, a title showdown between formidable teams, and more, this Friday night promises excitement ahead of the Royal Rumble extravaganza.

Just one day away from the Royal Rumble, WWE Friday Night SmackDown is set to deliver a premium live event caliber on Fox. The SmackDown episode will take place on the 26th of January. Without further ado, here’s a preview of what to expect in this action-packed episode.

Check out the WWE SmackDown match card

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The upcoming January 26th, 2024 episode of Friday Night SmackDown will continue the momentum from last week’s exciting show. Anticipate further developments as the episode builds excitement for the Royal Rumble scheduled for January 27th. Tonight, Friday Night SmackDown comes to you live from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, airing at 8 pm Eastern on FOX.

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The WWE SmackDown lineup features exciting matchups:

LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa

Carlito vs. Santos Escobar

Carmelo Hayes vs. Austin Theory

Katana Chance & Kayden Carter (c) vs. Kabuki Warriors – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits engage in a face-to-face with The Final Testament.

LA Knight is among three Superstars challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Championship. Additionally, to build anticipation for the upcoming match, Knight will face Solo Sikoa on SmackDown.

Damage CTRL has expressed its goal of having every member hold championships. On the January 19th SmackDown, Asuka and Kairi Sane confronted Women’s Tag Team Champions Kayden Carter and Katana Chance, setting the stage for their title shot on SmackDown.

Following injury concerns that halted the match on January 12th, Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes, both cleared to compete, will finally face off on SmackDown. Prepare for an epic showdown between “The Final Testament” and the formidable duo “The Pride.” 

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A captivating video package on WWE Friday Night SmackDown showcased Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits, grabbing the attention of fans.

Predictions for the upcoming WWE SmackDown match

1. LA Knight confidently heads into his Royal Rumble match by winning. 

Prior to his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship bout against The Tribal Chief, he is set to face The Tribal Heir the day before. Speculations suggest that Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso may attempt to hinder Knight’s appearance in the championship match.

Nevertheless, with the timely intervention of Randy Orton and AJ Styles, Knight overcomes the distraction and secures a victory against Solo.

2. An exciting showdown between LWO and Santos’ group might erupt into a major brawl. 

In the latest SmackDown episode, the Latino World Order clashed with Legado Del Fantasma in a tag team match, featuring Escobar on commentary. The match took a surprising turn when Carlito intervened and attacked Escobar, leading to a scheduled match this week. Speculations suggest that it could also be a “No contest” if a brawl occurs, involving just a brawl or a distraction finish.

3. Exciting developments are underway in the Women’s tag team division as new champions may emerge. 

Following a successful defense by Kayden Carter and Katana Chance against Unholy Union on SmackDown last week, Asuka and Kairi Sane stepped up to challenge for the titles.

The anticipation heightened as The Kabuki Warriors made a surprise appearance on Raw, attacking the reigning champions after their match. Speculations are rife that a new team might clinch the Championships in the upcoming showdown.

4. Hayes has a strong chance of emerging as a winner. 

Two weeks ago, Theory and Hayes engaged in a fierce in-ring battle that was halted by the referee as they sought to inflict career-threatening damage on each other. Following this, Hayes issued a challenge for a rematch backstage, which Waller accepted on Theory’s behalf.

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This week’s anticipated rematch promises to be an exciting and competitive encounter, with speculations leaning towards Hayes as the potential winner.

5. Bobby Lashley’s formidable group, The Pride, asserts dominance over The Final Testament. 

In a recent exchange, Lashley challenged Karrion Kross and AOP to a match. Furthermore, Kross responded that they would meet face-to-face next week, unveiling the potential venue for the showdown. Speculations suggest that The Pride will triumph over The Final Testament, possibly setting the stage for a major announcement on SmackDown next week.

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Are you excited about these matches? Who do you think will win in the WWE SmackDown matches? Let us know your winners list in the comment section below. 

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Written by:

Sheron Singh

878Articles

One take at a time

Oh, let me tell you about myself, I'm Sheron Singh, the WWE aficionado and person behind many of trending WWE stories at EssentiallySports. My journey into the world of suplexes and powerbombs began at the age of 6, thanks to my father and I've been hooked ever since. With a postgraduate degree in clinical psychology, I have the superpower to dissect the emotions both in and outside that squared circle at ES.
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Edited by:

Anuj Jacob