During Friday’s WWE SmackDown broadcast from London, Carmelo Hayes will defend his United States Championship for the third time. Hayes plans to issue an open challenge for the US Title, facing an opponent yet to be announced. Since winning the belt from Ilja Dragunov in late 2025, Hayes has successfully defended the championship against Johnny Gargano and Shinsuke Nakamura, establishing himself as a strong presence on the main roster.
History of the United States Championship Open Challenges on SmackDown
Open challenges for the United States Championship have become a regular part of WWE SmackDown since Sami Zayn captured the title in August 2025. This tradition continued through Ilja Dragunov’s reign, and now Carmelo Hayes has embraced it by issuing his own open challenges. This United States Title reign marks Hayes’ first major championship since his promotion to WWE’s main roster.
Event Details and Other Scheduled Matches for SmackDown
The SmackDown show will take place at OVO Arena Wembley, airing live worldwide on Netflix and later on the USA Network during the usual time slot. The event will feature several high-stakes matches as part of the build-up to Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME) on January 24, including qualifying bouts for the number one contender spot for Drew McIntyre’s WWE Championship.
- Randy Orton vs. The Miz – SNME number one contender qualifier
- Solo Sikoa vs. Damian Priest – SNME number one contender qualifier
- Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams – SNME number one contender qualifier
- Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov – SNME number one contender qualifier
- Carmelo Hayes’ United States Championship open challenge
Implications for WWE Championship Contendership and Royal Rumble Build-Up
Winners from these qualifying matches will compete in a four-way bout at Saturday Night’s Main Event to determine who will challenge McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. This progression underscores the importance of SmackDown in shaping the championship landscape heading into WWE’s major upcoming events, while Hayes’ open challenge adds unpredictability and excitement to the card.
