![We got a big night on WWE SmackDown with an unexpected title change and some great matches! [Image credits: WWE.com, Screenshots of WWE SmackDown on Sony Liv]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/d3892-17359619217745-1920.jpg)
![We got a big night on WWE SmackDown with an unexpected title change and some great matches! [Image credits: WWE.com, Screenshots of WWE SmackDown on Sony Liv]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%205.2333333333333'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Cody Rhodes kicked off the first WWE SmackDown of 2025 and said that it was the beginning of a new era in WWE. Cody wanted to be more involved in the show tonight but was not cleared to compete thanks to Kevin Owens.
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Drew McIntyre made his return to SmackDown thanks to the transfer window and said that he was there to help the Undisputed WWE Champion. The latter said that he didn't believe Drew. McIntyre kept insisting that he wasn't there to hurt Cody and said that he needed to watch his back as he walked out of the ring.
A former WWE writer just went after JBL for his comments HERE
Just as Drew was walking out, Kevin Owens attacked Cody from behind and a brawl broke out. Officials rushed in to separate them and managed to pry them apart before Owens retreated backstage.
WWE SmackDown Results (January 3, 2025):
- Shinsuke Nakamura def. Andrade
- Michin def. Piper Niven
- DIY vs. Motor City Machine Guns ended in No-Contest
- Nia Jax def. Naomi to retain the WWE Women's Championship
- Tiffany Stratton def. Nia Jax to become the new WWE Women's Champion
WWE SmackDown Results: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Andrade
Nakamura was sent outside early on and Andrade hit a big moonsault to the floor before we headed for a break. Back on SmackDown, Nakamura got some a spinning kick before getting a German Suplex and a diving knee for a near fall.
Nakamura undid the turnbuckle cover but Andrade pushed him into it before getting a near fall off the double knee in the corner. Andrade got another moonsault for a near fall before Nakamura got a big takedown and hit the Kinshasa for the win.
Result: Shinsuke Nakamura def. Andrade
LA Knight rushed the ring after the match and hit Nakamura with a clothesline before unloading on him. Nakamura managed to dodge the BFT before running off. Knight got on the mic and said that he would not rest until he got the United States Title back.
Grade: B
Legado del Fantasma attacked Pretty Deadly backstage for snitching to The Street Profits last week. Nick Aldis showed up and broke it up before telling Pretty Deadly that he wanted to talk to them about something.
Aldis was speaking to Pretty Deadly about last week's situation and DIY showed up before Nick decided that the two teams were planning something together. After Aldis left, DIY made a deal with Pretty Deadly to have them potentially help in the upcoming tag title match.
WWE SmackDown Results: Piper Niven vs. Michin
Niven had the early advantage and sent Michin into the corner before the latter sent her outside with a hurricanrana off the apron. Niven came back with a sidewalk slam on the floor before we headed for another break on SmackDown.
Back to the match, Niven countered Eat Defeat before hitting the Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Michin managed to come back with some big moves and hit Eat Defeat before picking up the win.
Result: Michin def. Piper Niven
Grade: B-
Paul Heyman was out next and said that on Monday, we would find out who the real tribal chief is. Heyman added that he and Roman Reigns had been training Solo Sikoa to be the next tribal chief but in the future. Solo stole the Ula Fala and got rid of Paul and the Usos before putting together his own Bloodline.
Paul said that on Monday, Roman would be proven to be the only Tribal Chief before he was interrupted by Solo Sikoa. Heyman recalled the time when Solo had him put through the announce table before Sikoa said that he needed someone to hold the Ula Fala during his match on Monday.
Solo added that if Roman wins the match, he will acknowledge the OTC. However, Solo knows that he is going to win and once he does, he will 'own' Paul, and Roman will finally have to acknowledge him. Heyman silently walked out before SmackDown moved on.
WWE SmackDown Results: DIY (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns - WWE Tag Team Championship Match
Ciampa and Sabin kicked off the match and the tag champ was isolated by the challengers. The champs were sent outside and Sabin hit a big dive. Back in the ring, Sabin hit a big boot and Ciampa got an uppercut before Gargano came in and took a neckbreaker for a near fall.
We got a sequence of superkicks before Ciampa broke up a pin attempt. The Pretty Deadly showed up and saved Gargano from the Skull and Bones before Los Garza came out and attacked them. Los Garza and the Deadly fought their way into the ring as Sabin hit Ciampa with the STF and the match was called off.
Result: D.N.F
Grade: B
Carmelo Hayes walked up to Sami Zayn backstage on SmackDown and threatened him and Braun Strowman before The Usos showed up and shooshed him away. The Usos were walking backstage when they ran into Kevin Owens who asked them to watch their backs.
Nick Aldis asked Cody if he was okay and told him to be careful before his match at Royal Rumble. Cody said that Nick was a good boss and knew he was looking out for the champ, but if Rhodes saw Owens in the wild, he would not hesitate to drop him.
WWE SmackDown Results: Nia Jax (c) vs. Naomi - WWE Women's Championship match
Jax was in control early on but was dropped in the corner before Naomi got some big kicks. Nia sent Naomi to the floor before hitting a big powerslam in the ring for a near fall. Naomi was caught in a rear chin lock before Jax sent her into the corner and got a hip attack.
Naomi countered the Annihilator and got double stomps and a leg drop for a near fall. Naomi dodged a spear into the corner and Jax fell outside before taking a big dive to the floor. Back in the ring, Naomi got a Samoan Drop on Jax for another near fall. Jax came back with a takedown and hit a leg drop for a near fall of her own.
Naomi countered the Annihilator once more and got a Tornado DDT on Jax before hitting a blockbuster. Jax was caught in a hold and Candice LeRae tried to interfere before Bianca Belair took her out. Nia left the ring to help LeRae and tossed Bianca into steel steps before Naomi countered a top rope powerslam and hit a DDT.
Tiffany Stratton ran in with the Money in the Bank briefcase and pretended to cash it in but hit Naomi with it instead. Nia got back up and hit the Annihilator on Naomi for the win.
Result: Nia Jax def. Naomi to retain the WWE Women's Championship
After the match, Nia tried to attack Bianca but Stratton took Jax and LeRae out with the briefcase. Belair hit the KOD on Jax before Stratton cashed in her contract!
Grade: B+
WWE SmackDown Results: Nia Jax (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton - WWE Women's Championship match
Stratton cashed in her Money in the Bank contract right after Jax took the KOD from Bianca Belair in the ring. Stratton headed into the ring and tossed Bianca outside before hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax for the win!
Result: Tiffany Stratton def. Nia Jax to become the new WWE Women's Champion
Grade: C
LA Knight was backstage and said he will face Nakamura for the United States Championship next week.
WWE SmackDown Results: The Bloodline vs. The Usos & Sami Zayn
The match started with a big brawl and the Bloodline were ejected from the ring right off the bat. Back after a break on SmackDown, Jimmy took a cheap shot from Solo on the apron before he was isolated by the Bloodline. Sami tagged in and traded strikes with Solo before taking him down with a clothesline.
Sami got the Blue Thunder Bomb and tagged Jey in who got a big neckbreaker on Tama Tonga for a near fall. Solo and Fatu started a brawl at ringside with Sami and Jimmy before Tonga hit a DDT in the ring for a near fall of his own. Fatu tagged in and took a superkick before the Uso and Sami hit triple hip attacks on him in the corner.
Sami and Jey took Tama and Solo out with dives to the floor before Jimmy hit the splash on Fatu in the ring. Fatu came back with a superkick and got the splash and the moonsault before Zayn broke up the pin. Drew McIntyre showed up and Jey hit him with a dive before he could interrupt.
Jey headed back inside and took a Samoan Drop from Fatu before coming back with a spear. Fatu took the splash but Solo came in and hit Jey with the Samoan Spike before picking up the win.
Result: The Bloodline def. The Usos & Sami Zayn
Grade: B
The commentary team hyped the Netflix Premiere of RAW while the Bloodline celebrated in the ring before SmacKDown went off the air.
