SmackDown’s main event scene is heating up. Randy Orton, Damian Priest, Sami Zayn and Trick Williams were all present as they prepared to punch their ticket to an undisputed WWE title match against Drew McIntyre.

The quartet meets in a fatal four-way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The winner will challenge McIntyre for the world title at the Royal Rumble. On Friday, the potential title challengers exchanged barbs and blows.

SmackDown also featured two title matches, one of which crowned new champions. Former undisputed champion Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu also mingled ahead of their match on Saturday.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Centre Bell in Montreal.

Orton stalks and strikes on SmackDown

Zayn opened the show with a raucous ovation from his home province. Williams interrupted him, reminding Zayn that he couldn’t get the job done the last time he got a title shot at home. Williams was referring to Zayn’s failed attempt to wrestle the undisputed WWE universal title from Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber in 2023. Zayn shared Williams’ sentiment that the latter is a future world champion, but right now. Zayn believes he’s levels ahead of the young upstart. 

Priest, who wrestled Williams later that evening, grew tired of Williams’ jaw jacking. Things turned physical shortly after Priest’s arrival. Williams struck Zayn in the head with a microphone before brawling with Priest. Zayn recovered and joined the fray, forcing Williams to retreat. Meanwhile, Orton watched from backstage. The four men compete in a fatal four-way at Saturday Night’s Main Event to determine undisputed WWE champion McIntyre’s next challenger.

Later in the evening, McIntyre issued a stern warning to the four men circling an undisputed WWE title match at the Royal Rumble.

Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams ends in a no-contest after Zayn attacked Williams. The match didn’t last very long, with the biggest move being a suplex. Zayn’s intervention sparked an argument with Priest, provoking the Canadian to drop him. A three-man brawl exploded with Williams standing tall — at least until Orton struck Williams with an RKO.

I could’ve done with a longer match, even though Priest and Williams will have a major presence at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The segments involving the four contenders and McIntyre were largely an advertisement for tomorrow’s special. It lacked substance, but it’s still nice to see SmackDown’s main event expand beyond two men. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?United States Championship — Carmelo Hayes (c) def. Ilja Dragunov via pinfall with a codebreaker to retain the title. Dragunov was Hayes’ mystery opponent in an open challenge.Rhodes and Fatu exchanged words ahead of their match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.Jade Cargill def. Chelsea Green via pinfall after hitting Jaded.WWE Tag Team Championships — The MFTs (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) def. Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) via pinfall to win the titles. Lumis took a lantern shot to the head while the referee was distracted.AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura agreed to a match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.Nathan Frazer def. Johnny Gargano via pinfall with a folding press. Post-match, Candice LeRae stole Axiom’s mask.Giulia & Kiana James def. Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair, and Lash Legend & Nia Jax via pinfall after James scored a lateral press on Bliss. Giulia and James become No. 1 contenders for the WWE women’s tag team championships.