
January 17, 2025
Pechanga Arena – San Diego, CA
WWE Smackdown Results
- Bianca Belair & Naomi over Nia Jax & via Bubba Bomb in 10:34
- Jimmy Uso over Carmelo Hayes via DQ in 11:52
- Motor City Machine Guns over Los Garza via Skull & Bones in 11:57
- Piper Niven over B-Fab via Pop-Up Driver in 2:18
- Kevin Owens over Rey Mysterio via Pop-Up Powerbomb in 15:34
- WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton over Bayley via Prettiest Moonsault Ever in 20:03 (Reccomended)
Son of a Security Systems Technician
Smackdown kicked off with Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett walking out through the backstage area into the arena introducing the show and running down the card for the night before introducing the “hometown Hall of Famer himself” Rey Mysterio who came out to a huge pop as the crowd chanted “619”. Mysterio soaked in the crowd’s adoration and quickly declared himself for the Royal Rumble. Mysterio noted that he entered the 2006 Rumble at number two, outlasting everyone to win, go on to the main event, and become world champion at WrestleMania XXII. Mysterio then reminded the crowd that he won in 2006 he did it for Eddie Guerrero. This brought out Kevin Owens whose shirt read “The Candarian Dream – Son of a Security Systems Technician”.
.@FightOwensFight just had to steal the moment 🤨 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ZEzQtyLsd2
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Owens said there was no one in their industry he respected more than Mysterio. Owens noted his accolades including main eventing with Stone Cold Steve Austin and now he stood as the true WWE Champion with his Winged Eagle Championship. Owens said that Mysterio can and will win the Royal Rumble and when he did, he wanted Rey to pick him as his opponent at WrestleMania. Mysterio said he loved challenges but Cody is the champion, not Owens. This set Owens off and he started screaming at Mysterio. Rey said that Kevin reminded him of Dominik and with that, Owens attempted to hit Rey with his title. Rey attempted the 619 but Owens evaded and escaped.
IT'S ON! @FightOwensFight just tried to take out @reymysterio 😳 pic.twitter.com/pDuVfGLPcN
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
After the break, Nick Aldis agreed to Rey Mysterio’s request to take on Kevin Owens later tonight. Cody Rhodes entered and said he was still trying to get cleared and Mysterio said he’d handle Owens tonight but would leave him something for the Rumble. Rhodes told Aldis that he was in fact fully cleared and Aldis presented an “addendum” to his and Owens’ match at Royal Rumble. Rhodes said he would sign it once Owens does.
.@RealNickAldis isn’t taking any more chances. @CodyRhodes and @FightOwensFight must sign the new contract before #RoyalRumble. #SmackDown#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/arAepJOnUL
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Belair & Naomi vs. Jax & LeRae
Bianca Belair and Naomi were backstage and they said they still had no leads on Jade Cargill’s attacker. They then turned their attention to Candice LeRae and Nia Jax. Naomi asked Belair to wrap up her hair so that they didn’t repeat their mistake of last week when Belair accidentally whipped Naomi with her braid.
What a relief 😮💨
No hard feelings between Naomi and @BiancaBelairWWE after last week's mishap 🙌 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/HkK5lX9wWw
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
This led directly into the match between these two teams that began with Nia Jax jumping the face team from behind and gaining an early advantage. After the commercial break, Belair went to use her braid despite Naomi’s earlier request leading to Jax accidentally hitting a leg drop on Candice LeRae. Naomi then hit the Bubba Bomb for the win. It was announced that they would head to NXT to defend their titles against Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson this coming Tuesday.
🚨🚨🚨 @BiancaBelairWWE & Naomi will defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles against @lashlegendwwe and @JakaraWWE on January 28th on #WWENXT!
📍ATLANTA
🎟️ https://t.co/w59uIAbTrP pic.twitter.com/aWobrYNhVg— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 18, 2025
Backstage with Bayley
A video from earlier in the day was shown with Byron Saxton asking Bayley what her title shot against Tiffany Stratton later tonight. Bayley brought up her big wins at the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania last year but noted she didn’t believe she fulfilled her potential after that. She also brought up losing her title to Nia Jax at SummerSlam with the help of Stratton.
TONIGHT'S WWE Women's Championship Match is personal for @itsBayleyWWE 😤 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/yq3PLw10Lf
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
B-Fab Challenges
Backstage, Michin was complaining to B-Fab about losing to Chelsea Green. Piper Niven interrupted checking the room a la a Secret Service agent. B-Fab said that if it wasn’t for Piper Niven, Green would never have become champion. B-Fab said she was going to Nick Aldis to request a match with Niven and after that, she was coming for Green’s title.
Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes
The next match on the card was Jimmy Uso taking on Carmelo Hayes which was set up with a brief interaction on last week’s Smackdown. Before the match, Hayes got on the mic noting that Roman’s going to the Rumble and Jey has a World Heavyweight title match but for some reason, Jimmy wants to take shots at him. As Hayes was attempting to enter the ring, Jimmy Uso dragged him in and the referee rang the bell. This lit a fire under Hayes who started a beatdown on Jimmy that gained him the advantage for the first half of the match.
Big Jim is wasting no time! 😎 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/TXAnjOPxD5
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Eventually, Jimmy started to recover leading to both men hitting a clothesline on the other, both men landing in a double cover, and (you guessed it), both men kicking out. Jimmy started mounting a comeback when Carmelo Hayes hit a First 48 as a counter to Uso coming off the top rope. Jimmy then hit a huge superkick on Hayes for a near fall. He then went for a splash off the top when Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga appeared knocking off and causing the DQ. Fatu and Tonga beat Jimmy down with Carmelo Hayes thanking them for their help. Fatu then took out Hayes as well and continued the assault on Jimmy.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1880437261461852377
This brought out the returning (and ulafala-less) Solo Sikoa. After a commercial break, the crowd was booing Sikoa vociferously, and eventually, he gave up, threw the mic down, and walked out through the crowd.
.@PechangaArenaSD isn’t having it!
Solo Sikoa can NOT get a word in 😤 pic.twitter.com/awuOn92gRh
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
This left Fatu and Tonga in the ring. Fatu got on the mic and said he was tired of the disrespect and hate but even on a bad day, no one can touch him. Fatu said everyone thought he was crazy but he’s just getting started.
"I'm just getting started!"
How much more chaos can Jacob Fatu cause?! 😳 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/e90NoMRKWp
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Then LA Knight’s music hit and he jumped them from behind. This didn’t last long as Fatu and Tonga overpowered Knight. This then brought Braun Strowman out who quickly dispatched Tonga and squared off with Fatu. Tama Tonga then pulled Jacob Fatu from the ring as the segment ended.
Braun Strowman is here and he means business 😤#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/RrZ9yvNxNV
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Los Garza vs. MCMG
Backstage, Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez gave a pep talk to Los Garza ahead of their match against Motor City Machine Guns. Escobar said no one was giving them respect and if they wanted it they had to take it. Things went back and forth early on until Los Garza took over going into an ad break. After the commercial, Los Garza was in control until MCMG mounted a comeback getting both Angel and Berto in dueling Figure Fours before they reached the ropes. Elektra Lopez then caused a distraction allowing for Berto to hit a big sit-out slam on Alex Shelley for a near fall. Pretty Deadly then appeared at ringside just as MCMG was going for Skull and Bones but Sabin & Shelley fought them off and still hit their finisher for the win.
Pretty Deadly 's plan backfired… 😬#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/wS3FGNr2FK
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Aldis’ Addendum
Backstage, Nick Aldis approached Kevin Owens to get him to sign the addendum for his match against Cody Rhodes but Owens refused until Cody signed. Again, Aldis was unclear what the addendum was.
Will @RealNickAldis be able to convince @CodyRhodes or @FightOwensFight to sign the contract tonight? 🤔#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/7xbEq1fHVu
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Piper Niven vs. B-Fab
Next up, Piper Niven defeated B-Fab in just over two minutes. B-Fab jumped out of the ring to take out Chelsea Green and ran into Niven’s Senton and Pop-Up Driver for the win. After the match, Niven & Green attacked B-Fab and Michin ran down with a Kendo stick to chase them off. Wade Barrett promised us this was not over.
Get yourself a friend like Michin! 💪#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/9n0Btr75ok
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
RIP Bob Uecker
A video was shown in commemoration of Bob Uecker, a famous baseball commentator who made several appearances on WWE television.
Stratton Responds to Bayley
Backstage, Byron Saxton caught up with Tiffany Stratton who said that while Bayley lives in the past, Tiffy Time is the present and future.
Tiffstory was made! ✨@tiffstrattonwwe has no worries ahead of tonight's WWE Women's Championship Match!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/bW59W1jQKN
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Rey Mysterio vs. Kevin Owens
The next match on the card was San Diego’s own Rey Mysterio taking on Kevin Owens. The crowd was hot for this one as Rey Mysterio took an early advantage with a baseball slide under the bottom rope onto Owens on the outside.
.@reymysterio is taking it to @FightOwensFight! 👊#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/RjW5iNpWyk
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
After the break, Owens had taken control until Mysterio mounted a comeback until Owens intercepted a 619 attempt with a superkick. Owens added insult to injury with a nod to Eddie Guerrero before hitting a big Frog Splash.
Oh, come on!
That was not cool, @FightOwensFight 😡#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/sOzrerW6tJ
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Mysterio continued to endure Owens’ offense including kicking out of a Stunner at two. Mysterio then countered a Swanton Bomb and followed it up with the 619. Rey went to the top rope and Owens ran into the referee who in turn hit into the ropes, knocking Rey down. Owens then hit the Pop-Up Powerbomb for the win. After the match, Owens feigned a handshake but instead went to hit the Package Piledriver on Mysterio but Cody Rhodes ran out and a brawl ensued with WWE Officials and referees attempting to separate the two men.
A PILEDRIVER AGAIN?! 😱
Looks like @FightOwensFight's "dream match" just turned into a nightmare 👀@CodyRhodes #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/sR5lef3Vwv
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
After the break, Nick Aldis and Cody Rhodes were arguing and Aldis announced that next week at Saturday Night’s Main Event both Rhodes and Owens would relinquish their respective championships and Shawn Michaels would moderate their contract signing (including whatever the addendum is).
NEXT WEEK 🚨@ShawnMichaels will be moderating @CodyRhodes and @FightOwensFight's contract signing at #SNME! 🙌#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/W4QUTFUpVW
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Upcoming Matches Announced
Saturday Night’s Main Event:
Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu
Smackdown Next Week:
LA Knight vs. Tama Tonga
MCMG vs. Pretty Deadly
Pretty Deadly and DIY
Backstage, DIY called Pretty Deadly a joke and told them to get their act together so they could beat Motor City Machine Guns next week. Apollo Crews appeared again and Pretty Deadly stormed off. Johnny Gargano returned and laid out Crews.
WHAT THE?!@JohnnyGargano is unhinged 😳#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Uirnr4vb8D
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Charlotte is Coming
A promo package aired showing Charlotte Flair but no return date or place was mentioned.
👀👀👀@MsCharlotteWWE #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Iuvu88NlP7
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
WWE Women’s Championship
The main event of Smackdown was the WWE Women’s Championship match between Bayley and new champion Tiffany Stratton. NXT’s Roxanne Perez was shown front row before the match. Tiffany Stratton controlled a large portion of the match early on, eventually trapping Bayley in the ring apron before Bayley was able to escape and hit the Bayley to Belly on Stratton on the outside.
.@itsBayleyWWE is giving it her all!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/jmgC5SPyZu
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
The announcers brought up how Bayley was on both Raw and NXT this past week so she might not be at 100%. Bayley suplexed Stratton on the floor and then got into Roxanne Perez’s face at ringside.
.@itsBayleyWWE shows @roxanne_wwe how it's done 😤#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/fxnMhX9e3N
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Bayley then hit the elbow drop from the top rope for a two-count and then got Stratton into a submission. Stratton then reversed a Bayley to Belly attempt and hit a spine buster for a near fall. Stratton then kicked out of another Bayley to Belly and Bayley interrupted a Pretiest Moonsault Ever attempt. Bayley then went for a Roseplant but it was reversed. Stratton then hit an Alabama Slam followed by a successful Prettiest Moonsault for the victory.
#SmackDown still runs on Tiffy Time! ✨@tiffstrattonwwe pic.twitter.com/8yxjzFnIpt
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2025
Final Thoughts
This was a marked improvement over last week’s snoozefest but still left a lot to be desired. It did move a lot better but still felt like the matches were long just to take up time. Nick Aldis continues to have nothing booked until Smackdown begins. Did he have a year-end review with the higher-ups? If so he should have scored pretty low. Also, similar to last week the crowd chanted “This is awesome” to a match that was clearly not that.
That said, Stratton/Bayley was good and it seems like they might be running with Jacob Fatu taking over The New Bloodline which would be a welcomed change.