Man, London was loud. The OVO Arena Wembley was absolutely vibrating on Friday night. You could feel the weight of the moment the second those bagpipes started wailing through the speakers.
Everyone was there for one person: Drew McIntyre. He finally did it. After what felt like a hundred "almost" moments and heartbreaks, the Scottish Warrior stood in the middle of that ring as the Undisputed WWE Champion. But if you think this was some heartwarming homecoming, you haven't been paying attention to Drew lately.
The Champion’s Homecoming Turned Sour
McIntyre didn't come to play nice. He started off soaking in the "You deserve it" chants, but then he flipped the switch. Honestly, it was kind of brilliant. He looked that London crowd right in the eyes and basically told them to screw off. He’s bitter. He remembers the years of the pandemic when he carried the company in empty warehouses. He remembers the fans moving on to the next big thing.
He didn't want their cheers now that he’s on top. He wanted them to acknowledge that he did it alone. Well, "alone" is a stretch since Jacob Fatu’s interference last week is the only reason Cody Rhodes isn't still the champ, but Drew isn't the type to let facts get in the way of a good grievance.
WWE SmackDown Results CBS: The Road to Saturday Night’s Main Event
The big story coming out of the WWE SmackDown results CBS fans are buzzing about is the No. 1 Contender’s tournament. Nick Aldis didn't waste any time. With Saturday Night’s Main Event looming on January 24, we needed a challenger for Drew.
Four qualifying matches went down, and the intensity was through the roof. Here is how the bracket shook out:
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Randy Orton vs. The Miz
The Miz tried to play it smart, attacking Orton before the bell even rang during the opening segment. It didn't matter. Orton is in that "Apex Predator" zone where he just doesn't miss. One RKO out of nowhere and Miz was looking at the lights. Orton is moving on.
Trick Williams vs. Matt Cardona
This was fascinating. Cardona—the guy formerly known as Zack Ryder—is back and he’s clearly looking to prove he’s more than just a "nostalgia" act. He almost had it, too. He hit a brutal DDT that nearly ended Trick's night. But Trick Williams is the future for a reason. He caught Cardona with a massive Trick Shot out of nowhere to punch his ticket to the Fatal 4-Way.
Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa
The Bloodline drama is never-ending. Solo had the advantage for most of the match, especially with the MFTs lurking at ringside. Then things got weird. The lights flickered, and the Wyatt Sicks appeared to neutralize Solo's backup. In the chaos, Priest hit a South of Heaven chokeslam that nearly broke the ring. Solo is out; Priest is in.
Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov
Match of the night. Easily. These two beat the absolute life out of each other for fifteen minutes. Dragunov is like a human car crash, but Sami’s resilience is legendary. One Helluva Kick later, and Sami joined the final four.
But it wasn't over for Sami. As he was celebrating, Trick Williams blindsided him with another Trick Shot. The message was loud and clear: the "nice guy" era is over.
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Cody Rhodes and the Samoan Werewolf
Where does Cody go from here? He lost the title in Berlin, and he’s not getting a rematch. At least not yet. Cody came out and made it official: he’s entering the Royal Rumble. He wants to join the elite club of three-time winners.
But he has a more immediate problem. Jacob Fatu.
Fatu is a wrecking ball. He showed up mid-show, laid out Kit Wilson (who was busy attacking Matt Cardona), and called Cody out. The ensuing brawl was total madness. Security couldn't hold them back. They fought through the crowd, over the barricades, and into the back.
Later in the night, it was made official for next week’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu. This isn't about titles anymore. This is about pure, unadulterated spite.
The Women’s Division and a Surprise Challenger
The mid-card is actually looking pretty healthy right now. Carmelo Hayes put out an open challenge for his United States Championship, and out came Leon Slater. The London crowd went nuts for the TNA X-Division standout.
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Hayes kept the belt after a wild Avalanche Cutter, but Slater looked like a million bucks.
On the women’s side, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss seem to be back on the same page, defeating Giulia and Kiana James. It’s a temporary peace, though. Nia Jax and Lash Legend made sure of that with a post-match beatdown. We’re getting a Triple Threat tag match next week to see who gets a shot at the titles.
Also, Jordynne Grace is still a force of nature. She dismantled Chelsea Green in minutes. The real story there was the face-off with Jade Cargill afterward. No words. Just two powerhouses staring each other down. That’s a "big money" match whenever they decide to pull the trigger.
Why These Results Matter Right Now
The landscape has shifted. We moved from the "Cody Era," which felt very polished and heroic, into something much darker. Drew McIntyre as a heel champion feels authentic because his anger feels real.
The inclusion of names like Trick Williams and Damian Priest in the title hunt shows that WWE is finally ready to rotate the tires on the main event scene. We have a Fatal 4-Way next week between Orton, Zayn, Priest, and Williams. That is a wild mix of styles.
Key Takeaways from London:
- Drew McIntyre is untouchable: He has the belt, the momentum, and a massive chip on his shoulder.
- The Bloodline is fractured: Solo Sikoa losing to Priest shows that without the numbers advantage, he's vulnerable.
- Trick Williams is the real deal: Taking out Sami Zayn after the match shows a mean streak we haven't seen from him on the main roster.
- Cody's path is the hard way: No rematch. He has to survive Fatu and then win the Rumble.
If you're following the WWE SmackDown results CBS feed, keep an eye on the injury reports this week. That London show was physical. Dragunov and Zayn specifically looked like they went through a meat grinder.
The next logical step is to clear your schedule for Saturday Night’s Main Event. Between the Fatal 4-Way and the Cody/Fatu war, the stakes haven't been this high in a long time. You'll want to watch the opening segment of next week's show closely to see how the Wyatt Sicks factor into the Bloodline's inevitable retaliation.