Title Match Revealed for January 16 WWE SmackDown

Carmelo Hayes is heading to OVO Arena Wembley with championship gold and an open contract.

WWE has confirmed that the United States Champion will issue his third open challenge this Friday night on SmackDown, defending his title against a mystery opponent live from London. Hayes won the United States Championship in late 2025 by defeating Ilja Dragunov, and he’s already picked up big wins over Johnny Gargano and Shinsuke Nakamura during his reign. Now, the champ looks to keep the momentum alive with another defense in front of one of WWE’s most electric international crowds.

The open challenge tradition has become a mainstay of SmackDown since Sami Zayn’s title run began in 2025. Dragunov kept the formula going, and Hayes has embraced it completely, showcasing his work rate and star presence on the blue brand.

This marks Carmelo’s first title reign since joining the WWE main roster, and he’s not wasting time leaving a mark.

SmackDown is loaded this week, airing live on Netflix internationally, with a delayed USA Network broadcast in the usual time slot. Friday’s show will also feature major qualifying matches for the Saturday Night’s Main Event #1 contender bout, with Randy Orton, The Miz, Solo Sikoa, Damian Priest, Matt Cardona, Trick Williams, Sami Zayn, and Ilja Dragunov all competing for a shot at Drew McIntyre’s WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.

Do you think Hayes can survive another open challenge? And who do you want to see step up in London? Drop your predictions in the comments!