WWE has unveiled an exciting new match for the upcoming WWE SmackDown show scheduled for January 16th at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, England. The match will feature Carmelo Hayes, the current WWE United States Champion, in an Open Challenge against a yet-to-be-announced mystery opponent. This live event will air at 3PM EST on Netflix for international fans, adding to the anticipation surrounding the card.
The match line-up for the event also includes several Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender Tournament Qualifying matches. Participants in these matches include Randy Orton facing off against The Miz, Matt Cardona competing against Trick Williams, Damian Priest going up against Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn battling Ilja Dragunov. Additionally, fans can look forward to an appearance from WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.
In related WWE news, insider sources indicate that CM Punk will be the focal point of this year’s WWE 2K26 video game, aimed for a March release. The game’s Showcase mode will include a blend of Punk’s most notable matches, imaginative “what if?” scenarios of matches he could have had but did not, and dream matches never realized due to various circumstances.
Further enhancing the narrative of perseverance in wrestling, Drew McIntyre shared insights during a recent BBC Scotland interview about his journey to becoming the Undisputed WWE Champion. Reflecting on his childhood dreams, McIntyre expressed his aspirations to either play football for the Rangers or to wrestle for WWE, highlighting his determination despite initial skepticism from others. He reminisced about the humble beginnings of the Scottish wrestling scene and his gratitude for achieving his childhood dreams, emphasizing that he remains grounded and appreciative of his journey, particularly as he prepares for a significant match back home in Scotland.
This confluence of exciting match announcements, the launch of a new video game focusing on CM Punk, and McIntyre’s inspiring story paints a vibrant picture for WWE fans as they look ahead to these events.