Exactly one week following the Royal Rumble 2026 PLE, WWE took over the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for the January 24 episode of Saturday Night Main Event. This event marked a crucial moment as WWE moves closer to the Road to WrestleMania, set to kick off soon. The show delivered significant storytelling moments, key matches, and maintained a high level of excitement throughout, thanks in part to an electrifying crowd.
Fans appreciated multiple aspects of this month’s Saturday Night Main Event, including strong booking, the choice of match winners, and the overall quality of the bouts, with plenty of moments deserving recognition.
Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu Didn’t Have Their Match—but It Still Was a Thrilling Showdown
- Jacob Fatu launched an attack on Cody Rhodes before their scheduled match began.
- Their intense brawl was energizing and entertaining for the crowd.
- Drew McIntyre made a statement by intervening and overpowering both competitors.
Jacob Fatu wasted no time on Saturday night, attacking Cody Rhodes before the bell rang. The pair battled fiercely in front of an enthusiastic crowd eager to see an all-out war. Fatu even took out security, leapt off the top rope into a sea of bodies, fought through fans, and wrestled in the concourse before WWE Champion Drew McIntyre finally stopped the chaos. McIntyre pushed both men through tables, hinting at a potential WrestleMania 42 main event showdown.
This booking decision preserved both men’s status, which, while sometimes surprising when a promised match is canceled, was ultimately saved by the crowd’s passionate reaction. The brawl ramped up tension between the two SmackDown stars, ensuring neither looked weak—an entertaining alternative outcome that kept fan anticipation high.
Stéphanie Vaquer Returns in Full Force to Target Raquel Rodriguez
- Raquel Rodriguez attempted to interfere during the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship contest.
- Previously, Rodriguez tried to injure women’s world champion Stéphanie Vaquer.
- Vaquer is set to return on Saturday Night Main Event to continue their rivalry.
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match thrilled the crowd for 13 minutes, with Raquel Rodriguez trying to assist her Judgment Day partner by interfering. However, Women’s World Champion Stéphanie Vaquer rushed in to protect her teammates and fend Rodriguez off.
Rodriguez’s earlier attempts to take Vaquer down made Vaquer’s aggressive response a promising sign of the feud’s next chapter. Using the tag team title match to advance this storyline was a smart move. The match itself was a highlight, as Rhea Ripley and Iyo Skye successfully defended their titles against Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez.
AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura Deliver a WWE Classic
- Styles and Nakamura have a long history of standout WWE matches.
- This may be their final match against each other before Styles retires.
- Their bout was a featured highlight of Saturday Night Main Event.
When AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura joined WWE, fans eagerly awaited the rekindling of their famed New Japan Pro Wrestling rivalry. Their initial encounters, including WrestleMania matches, often ended in disappointment. Nearly a decade later, their appearance on Saturday Night Main Event finally produced a classic, overcoming creative constraints and familiar booking tropes like low blows.
With Styles possibly retiring soon, he delivered a masterful performance against Nakamura, showing renewed sharpness since his late 2025 return. The match was charged with emotion and intensity—a fitting send-off for Styles with at least one last signature victory.
Sami Zayn Earns a WWE Championship Match
- Sami Zayn triumphed in the main event of Saturday Night Main Event.
- The Drew McIntyre vs. Zayn storyline is currently the most compelling on SmackDown.
- Zayn has historically been very popular in Saudi Arabia.
While many fans hope Sami Zayn will claim the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42, that outcome always seemed unlikely. Instead, his standout performance at the Royal Rumble 2026 PLE in Saudi Arabia serves as a strong consolation. On Saturday night, Zayn won a solid fatal four-way involving Randy Orton, Trick Williams, and Damian Priest, earning a future title shot against his long-time rival Drew McIntyre.
Given the rising tension between Zayn and McIntyre recently, a WWE Championship clash between them makes perfect sense soon. While it’s tough to envision Zayn winning immediately, continued losses could build one of 2026’s most compelling underdog stories. Though WrestleMania may not be his moment, Zayn has months ahead to capture the audience’s support and eventually seize the title.
Fan Take: This episode of Saturday Night Main Event showcased WWE’s commitment to blending compelling storytelling with high-stakes matches as they approach WrestleMania season. From intense rivalries reigniting to emerging underdog narratives, these moments keep fans invested and hint at exciting developments that could shape WWE’s future.
