WWE Saturday Night's Main Event Results, Winners, Live Grades, Highlights From Montreal

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event returned to Peacock with a loaded card, live from the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, headlined by a Fatal 4-Way Match to determine the new No. 1 contender to Drew McIntyre's Undisputed WWE Championship.

Also featuring a grudge match between Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu, the latest title defense from women's tag team champions Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, and the final battle in the legendary rivalry between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, the show kicked off the week-long road to the Royal Rumble.

Who emerged victoriously, what did it mean for them as they prepare for the first premium live event of 2026, and how did each match grade out? Find out in this recap of the January 24 broadcast.

Match Card

Craig Melvin/WWE

Announced in advance of the show were:

Fatal 4-Way No. 1 Contender's Match: Sami Zayn vs. Damian Priest vs. Randy Orton vs. Trick Williams

Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu

AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Women's World Tag Team Championship Match: Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky (c) vs. Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez

Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu

Rich Wade/WWE

Last Time in Action: Cody Rhodes lost a 3 Stages of Hell Match to Drew McIntyre (SmackDown, January 9); Jacob Fatu, Sami Zayn, and Jimmy Uso defeated the MFTs (SmackDown, August 15)

In a match that turned intensely personal following a face-to-face Friday night on SmackDown, Cody Rhodes squared off with Jacob Fatu to kick off Saturday's show.

The Samoan Werewolf attacked The American Nightmare during his entrance, knocking him off the ropes and firing off a flurry of strikes. When referee Charles Robinson was knocked down, his fellow officials, producers, and security hit the ring to break up the brawl.

Fatu laid out anyone in his path, dove from the ropes and wiped them out again, and continued to brawl with Rhodes. The fight returned to the ringside area, where Rhodes delivered a tope suicida and sent Fatu over the commentary table.

The brawl spilled into the stands and saw Fatu slam Rhodes on the concrete floor before they fought up the steps and into the arena concourse. A security guard was thrown through a table by Fatu and Nick Aldis arrived just in time for the battle to return back down the stands and toward the ring.

The entire ordeal ended with Drew McIntyre interjecting himself into the fray, sending Fatu through a table, and powerbombing Rhodes through another before standing tall amid chants of "holy s**t!"

Result

No contest

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Michael Cole mentioned Mad Dog Vachon on commentary, paying homage to one of Montreal's greatest, toughest, and most badass wrestlers.

This was the best, most effective way to deliver a fight between Rhodes and Fatu without ever having the match get to the ring and risking an unnecessary loss for either guy. The intensity was excellent, the crowd was red-hot, and the McIntyre appearance was a nice surprise that signifies a Triple Threat Match is not out of the question.

Women's Tag Team Title Match: Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky vs. Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez

Craig Melvin/WWE

Last Time in Action: Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky defeated The Kabuki Warriors (Raw, January 5); Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez defeated Bayley and Lyra Valkyria and The Kabuki Warriors (Raw, January 20)

Liv Morgan attempted to get one over on longtime rival Rhea Ripley again, teaming with Roxanne Perez to battle The Eradicator and Iyo Sky for the Women's Tag Team Championship.

The heels slowed down, grounded, and isolated Sky early on, working her over on their side of the ring. When The Genius of the Sky created separation and made the hot tag to Ripley, the babyface commenced.

Mami tore the competition up until Morgan and Perez highlighted some of their excellent double-team offense and chemistry, halting the bigger, stronger competitor's momentum.

Down the stretch, Sky tried for the Over the Moonsault but Perez got her feet up, stunning the former women's world champion. She delivered Pop Rox moments later but Ripley just barely broke up the pin in a mistimed spot.

Ripley delivered the Riptide to Perez, Sky added her finisher, and appeared to have the win in the bag until Raquel Rodriguez interfered, downing the referee. Women's world champion Stephanie Vaquer hit the ring, sans the walking boot she has worn on her injured ankle of late, and brawl with Rodriguez into the crowd.

Back in the ring, Morgan delivered ObLIVion to Sky but Ripley was the legal participant and delivered Riptide to the unsuspecting heel for the win.

Result

Ripley and Sky defeated Morgan and Perez

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

Morgan continues to get megastar reactions, lending credence to the idea that she should win the Royal Rumble and challenge for one of the women's titles, or at the very least, be in contention.

Perez does a lot of little things extremely well for someone still so young in her career. Her presence, including facial expressions, body language and character work, are superb.

The match was excellent as a whole. There were some disjointed spots right before the Rodriguez interference, but everything else leading up to it, and after, was quite good and befitting a division that has been the hottest in WWE over the last six weeks. Giving the women time and let them tear the house down is typically a winning formula.

AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Rich Wade/WWE

Last Time in Action: AJ Styles lost to Gunther (Raw, January 12); Shinsuke Nakamura lost to Carmelo Hayes (SmackDown, January 9)

With his career on the line next Saturday night at the Royal Rumble in a rematch with Gunther, AJ Styles squared off with one of his greatest rivals, Shinsuke Nakamura, in singles competition.

The longtime opponents sprinkled Easter eggs and throwback spots into the opening moments of the contest while Wade Barrett questioned whether Styles was too tense to win the match.

Later, The Phenomenal One tied The Artist up in a Calf Crusher, only for Nakamura to escape and apply an arm bar of his own. Styles countered into a Styles Clash attempt but his opponent escaped. He did not dodge a big knee to the jaw, though, as Nakamura was rocked.

A trade of blows led to a Pele Kick from Styles and a rebound Kinshasa from Nakamura.

A long, grueling match featuring back-and-forth action and no sustained advantage. Late in the match, Styles took advantage of his opponent's injured left knee, hanging it up on the top rope. From there, he delivered a Phenomenal Forearm and Styles Clash to secure the win.

Result

Styles pinned Nakamura

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Styles wore a mask to the squared circle, reminiscent of the one he wore to the ring against Nakamura in 2016 in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Cole told the story of Styles and Nakamura's rivalry, including references to the Bullet Club and CHAOS, their respective NJPW factions.

This was a fantastic match that put over the rivalry of the combatants, highlighted Styles ahead of Royal Rumble, featured some snug action, great selling from Nakamura, and a show of respect from rivals and friends to close it out.

Fatal 4-Way Match: Sami Zayn vs. Damian Priest vs. Randy Orton vs. Trick Williams

Craig Melvin/WWE

Last Time in Action: Damian Priest and Trick Williams fought to a no contest (SmackDown, January 23); Randy Orton defeated The Miz (SmackDown, January 16); Sami Zayn defeated Ilja Dragunov (SmackDown, SmackDown 16)

A date with Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship awaited the winner of this blockbuster main event.

Sami Zayn entered to a hero's welcome but it was Damian Priest who asserted his dominance early, wiping out all three of his opponents. An old-school poke to the eye by Orton halted his early momentum and set up a momentary one-on-one showdown between The Viper and The Underdog from the Underground.

Nonstop action defined this one, with Williams delivering a uranage to Priest onto the timekeeper's guardrail at one point, and Zayn dropping Orton with a side suplex on the announce table. The Viper recovered and returned the favor to Zayn, then Williams, then Priest as the future Hall of Famer rolled.

Priest recovered and delivered South of Heaven to Orton, only to eat a kick from Williams. Zayn delivered an Northern Lights suplex to the former NXT champion, into the corner, but could not follow up.

He did moments later, delivering a Helluva Kick to Priest for the win and the trip to the Royal Rumble.

Result

Zayn defeated Priest, Orton, and Williams

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

Absolutely deafening ovation for Zayn, as expected, from his hometown crowd in Montreal.

Sign of a seasoned vet: Zayn slipped while trying to walk the ropes and instead of falling apart, he adjusted and delivered a tornado DDT for a near-fall. He cleaned it up, adjusted on the fly, and pulled off the spot anyway.

This was a party match, a collection of great spots, nonstop action, some dramatic near-falls, and a great finish that popped the crowd and gave them exactly what they wanted: their hometown hero advancing to a big title match at Royal Rumble. A fantastic cap to a strong show.

Overall Grade

Chloe Baujean/WWE

This was by far the best Saturday Night's Main Event of this current run, with great in-ring action, strong angles, and a fan-service finish that set up a big Royal Rumble title bout.

This year's Rumble features new of the weaker builds in recent memory, but as a show judged on its own merit, this was a fantastic one that highlighted the women, hinted at what's next for Rhodes and Fatu, gave Styles and Nakamura one last chance to showcase their rivalry, and ended with an action-packed main event.

You cannot ask for more out of these primetime specials.

Grade: A