WWE SmackDown Preview (Jan. 23, 2026): Start Time And Match Card In Montreal

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Kind Ko

WWE Fans in for a Wild Ride as AJ Styles Prepares to Face Gunther in Career-Defining Match.

In what promises to be one of the most unpredictable matches of the year, WWE superstar AJ Styles is set to face off against formidable opponent Gunther on SmackDown this Friday. The stakes are high, with Styles' very career hanging in the balance. According to sources close to the matter, AJ Styles will put his 10-year anniversary at WWE on the line, which was marked at Royal Rumble 2016.

The match has all the makings of a classic - AJ Styles' unbridled athleticism and charisma against Gunther's formidable size and strength. Fans will be on the edge of their seats as both men battle it out for what could very well be the last time in AJ Styles' WWE career.

But that's not all, folks! SmackDown also boasts an exciting lineup of matches, including a Fatal 4-Way contest for the No. 1 Contender spot at the upcoming Saturday Night's Main Event, which pits Sami Zayn against Trick Williams, Damian Priest, and Randy Orton. The hometown hero from Montreal will undoubtedly receive a rousing reception from the crowd as he seeks to take down his opponents.

Other highlights on the card include a thrilling bout between Jade Cargill and Chelsea Green, who has come under fire for her recent inaction as WWE Women's Champion, and a title match between Carmelo Hayes and an open challenge. Don't miss SmackDown this Friday at 5:00 pm PST (8:00 pm EST) on USA Network, or catch the action live at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Key points from this week's preview include:

* AJ Styles appears live ahead of his high-stakes match against Gunther.
* Sami Zayn addresses the crowd before competing in a Fatal 4-Way to become No. 1 Contender for the WWE Championship.
* The Wyatt Sicks put the WWE Tag Team Championships on the line against the MFTs.
* Jade Cargill returns to in-ring competition in a match against Chelsea Green.

Match card:

* Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Giulia, and Kiana James (No. 1 Contender Match)
* Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams
* Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green
* Carmelo Hayes United States Championship Open Challenge

Ratings and viewership for the past few SmackDowns have been strong, with recent totals of:

* January 16, 2026: Total Viewership Unavailable, 0.21 18-49
* January 9, 2026: 990,000
* January 2, 2026: 1.175 million
* December 26, 2025: 1.138 million
* December 19, 2025: 995,000

Don't miss the action this Friday at 5:00 pm PST (8:00 pm EST) on USA Network!
 
SmackDown is like that one aunt who just won't let you forget about her anniversary - all hyped up and ready to bring some drama. AJ Styles vs Gunther, huh? Like we didn't see this coming... 10 years at WWE? Time flies when you're having fun (and also being awesome). The real question is, will AJ be able to take down the behemoth that's Gunther or will it be a career-ending loss 🤔. And please, more than one of these matches can't happen in one episode... SmackDown's getting like WWE's version of a bad Tinder date - too much, not enough 😂
 
🤕 Just saw a report that Gunther's size and strength are causing concerns among WWE medical staff. Apparently, there's been an increase in concussions suffered by opponents who've faced him in the ring. AJ Styles' career could be putting his health at risk... 🤕😬
 
I had the craziest dream last night... I was flying over a beautiful island and suddenly found myself in a giant pizza oven 🍕😂. Anyway, back to WWE... I've been thinking about how much I love the new ring gear AJ Styles has been rocking lately 👟🔥. So sleek and stylish! Reminds me of my favorite video game character, Master Chief from Halo 🎮. Do you guys think he'd make a good wrestler? 😉

And can we talk about Gunther for a sec? What's with all the hype around him being this formidable opponent? I mean, I know he's got size and strength, but so does Brock Lesnar 😬. Can't wait to see what this match has in store!
 
🤯 AJ Styles is literally putting his entire career on the line against Gunther. Like, what's next? Putting a life insurance policy on himself? 😂 This whole thing just feels like a big setup for a huge pay-per-view event down the line. I'm calling it now: this match will be the main event at WrestleMania 2026 and AJ Styles will come out on top... or he'll walk away with his dignity intact. Either way, it's gonna be a wild ride 💥
 
Ugh, gotta say, WWE's gonna have some major issues with AJ Styles vs Gunther... think Styles is gonna get completely destroyed. Like, what's the point of having a match that basically determines their entire career? Just setting up for more drama later down the line, if you ask me 🤦‍♂️. And don't even get me started on SmackDown's lineup - all these matches are so predictable... Zayn vs Trick Williams is gonna be one-sided, Cargill vs Chelsea Green won't exactly thrill anyone, and who knows what'll happen with Carmelo Hayes' title match? Just another way to milk some drama out of it 🤑. And the ratings aren't even that great considering how big a deal WWE makes about these matches... 990k viewers on January 9th is just laughable for a major show like SmackDown 💔
 
Man, think about it - a match that could be AJ Styles' last one in WWE is basically like a retirement plan for him. I mean, you gotta ask yourself, what's the point of even having a career-defining match if it's just gonna be his swan song? It's like how politicians say they're gonna leave office, but we all know what really goes down.

And have you seen the lineup for SmackDown this week? It's like they're trying to set up some kind of narrative. Sami Zayn vs Trick Williams is like a whole different story - it's about underdog vs establishment, and that's what America loves. But let's be real, the real question here is what does WWE see as its future? Are we gonna keep going with the old guard or shake things up? And what does it say about AJ Styles' career that he needs a match to prove himself? It's like how politicians need a controversy to get attention.

And ratings-wise, WWE's been on fire lately. But let's not get too excited - it's not like they're innovating or anything. They're just recycling the same old formula and hoping people don't notice. I mean, have you seen the number of times we've seen that Fatal 4-Way match? It's like WWE's stuck in a time loop.
 
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