WWE SmackDown London: McIntyre's First Title Appearance, Qualifier Matches

WWE Brings Friday Night SmackDown to London with Championship Fallout

WWE's European tour keeps rolling this week with an action-packed edition of Friday Night SmackDown. The show takes place at The OVO Arena Wembley in London, England. This January 16 episode delivers immediate fallout from last week's dramatic events.

The WWE landscape changed completely last week with the crowning of a new WWE Champion. Now, the focus shifts to determining the next challenger for that prestigious title.

Four Qualifying Matches Set for Title Contention

General Manager Nick Aldis announced four qualifying matches during last week's SmackDown. The winners of these matches will battle each other at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event. That ultimate victor becomes the next number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

The lineup features some thrilling matchups:

Randy Orton squares off against The Miz, who recently joined SmackDown
Trick Williams battles returning veteran Matt Cardona
Sami Zayn faces Ilja Dragunov in what promises to be an epic clash
Solo Sikoa takes on Damian Priest in singles action

These matches guarantee high-stakes wrestling as superstars compete for a championship opportunity.

Drew McIntyre's First Appearance as Champion

WWE confirmed through their official website that Drew McIntyre will make his first appearance as the new Undisputed WWE Champion. The Scottish Warrior captured the title by defeating Cody Rhodes in a brutal Three Stages of Hell match.

That championship bout saw interference from returning superstar Jacob Fatu. Now, McIntyre stands atop the WWE mountain once again. Fans eagerly await his address to the London audience as he begins his championship reign.