With just a few days away from one of the biggest nights in the history of WWE as Monday Nights Raw debuts on Netflix on Jan. 6th, 2025 — WWE kicked off the year with WWE SmackDown from Footprint Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Now with 2024 in the rearview mirror, WWE is ready to blow the minds of all the fans starting with the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE. Also, from this episode of WWE SmackDown and onwards the show will be three hours.
The show began with a highlight from last week when Nick Aldis warned Kevin Owens to give back the WWE Winged Eagle Championship or he would face severe consequences. Later that night, Owens was confronted by Cody Rhodes who challenged him to a ladder match at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE. The show ended with Owens attacking Rhodes.
Cody Rhodes kicks off the 2025 for WWE
Ahead of his ladder match against Kevin Owens at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE, Rhodes kicked off the show to talk with the fans about the ongoing changes in the industry. Rhodes discussed his own ongoing health issues saying that he is not properly cleared to step foot in the ring. Just as Rhodes was talking about his upcoming ladder match, Drew McIntyre interrupted the champ.
McIntyre who is set to go one-on-one against Jey Uso at WWE Raw debut on Netflix, came out face-to-face with Rhodes. There is one interesting fact that is common between Owens and McIntyre is that they are both angry about the fact that Rhodes teamed with Roman Reigns at the WWE BadBlood 2024 PLE. McIntyre came down the ring face-to-face with Rhodes, and the guy hugged him. Man, I wasn’t expecting that at all.
McIntyre offered Rhodes a hand for friendship saying that he is not here to hurt him but to just help him. He also mentioned that this current era of WWE is way bigger than any previous era in WWE in terms of talent and called Rhodes the quarterback of all this. McIntyre also laid out the ground reality to Rhodes and trash-talked the audience while taking the champ in confidence. McIntyre compared Owens with the fans present in the arena, saying that he’s like one of these idiots carrying a championship replica — pretending to be a world champion.
Rhodes then compared McIntyre to himself saying that they both had very similar paths in their careers. He mentioned that both of them had to leave this place and go back to reinvent themself.
Rhodes also makes things clear with McIntyre saying that he knows he can’t trust him, and asking if wants a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship as well. McIntyre left the ring saying to Rhodes that he should watch his back. And then at that very moment, Owens attacked Rhodes from the back. Rhodes then tried to fight back Owens all the backstage officials came out to separate them.
Ratings: 7 /10
Did you know:
- Michael Cole on the commentary mentioned the neck injury that Rhodes is dealing with due to the constant attacks by Owens.
Backstage arrivals on WWE SmackDown
WWE SmackDown then went backstage showing the arrival of The New Bloodline of Solo Sikoa, Naomi, and Bianca Belair, along with the WWE Womens Champion Nia Jax. Andrade also arrived on the WWE SmackDown ahead of his match against Shinsuke Nakamura.
Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE SmackDown then featured a singles match between Nakamura and Andrade. Nakamura began the match strong as he took the fight to Andrade who immediately equaled the scene as he delivered an outside Moonsault to Nakamura from the top turnbuckle.
Nakamura, once again took the fight to Andrade as delivered a knee to his face from the top turnbuckle. Nakamura then decided to expose the top turnbuckle as he successfully removed the padded cover. But, that immediately got backfired for the champion as Andrade sent him neck first into the exposed steel.
During the ending moment of the match, when both Nakamura and Andrade were teeing off on the top turnbuckle, Nakamura managed to hit Andrade with a DDT. Andrade went face-first onto the top of the ring post.
Nakamura ended the match after delivering a Kinshasa.
Just when the match ended, the former champion LA Knight came out and attacked Shinsuke Nakamura but he managed to escape. I honestly had no big expectations for this match but I had my eyes on Andrade. The match was great, I really hope that we could we Andrade getting a push in the near future.
Result: Nakamura def Andrade
Ratings: 7.5 /10
Backstage segment featuring Pretty Deadly, Apollo Crews, Legado Del Fantasma, and DIY
WWE SmackDown then went backstage where Apollo Crews told Pretty Deadly that everyone already knew that we were lying about the attack on the Street Profits. Legado Del Fantasma then appeared on the scene and attacked Pretty Deadly.
Nick Aldis cleared the scene and invited Pretty Deadly for a chat. Aldis then asked Pretty Deadly that they had told him that it was Los Garza who attacked Street Profits. But Apollo Crews has been saying that he saw it all with his eyes and that it was DIY. Just as this was all going on Gargano and Ciampa arrived on the scene. Aldis warned all four of them about whatever they were trying to do.
Gargano and Ciampa then offered Pretty Deadly that if they make out of the show as the champs, they might be the next line.
Michin battles Piper Niven on WWE SmackDown
After losing to Chelsea Green in the finals of the WWE Women’s United States Championship Tournament, Michin was set to go face-to-face with Piper Niven in a singles match. After failing to hit her finisher, Eat Defeat twice. Michin managed to hit Niven with Eat Defeat on the third attempt. Even Green at ringside was not able to provide any assistance to Niven.
The show then featured video footage of Paul Heyman walking into the arena. Michael Cole on the commentary desk raised his voice as the Wiseman decided not to go through the metal detector.
Result: Michin def Piper Niven
Ratings: 7 /10
The Wiseman lays out the field for the Tribal Combat
Paul Heyman came out to the ring one last time to address the Tribal Combat match between Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa. Heyman told the WWE Universe that he along with Roman Reigns thought everything that Solo needed to learn to become the next Tribal Chief. He said they prepared him and taught him everything he needed to know to become the next Tribal Chief. But in the future.
The Wiseman told everyone what happened at WrestleMania XL when Reigns decided to take his 10-year-long revenge of betrayal on Seth Rollins which allowed Cody Rhodes to win the match. Wiseman then said that Sikoa took that opportunity to steal the Ula Fala from Roman Reigns’s bag.
The Wiseman set the record straight saying: “That twisted son of a b**** did not earned that Ula Fala. He stole it from Roman Reigns.”
Wiseman also said that the only reason Sikoa attacked him and Jimmy was because he knew that we were never gonna acknowledge him. Wiseman also said that, come this Monday when WWE debuts on Netflix, there will be a clear winner and a loser.
Just when Paul Heyman decided to exit the ring, Solo Sikoa arrived on the scene.
Sikoa asked Heyman to hold the Ula Fala during the Tribal Combat on WWE Raw. He also said that if Reigns is able to beat him, Heyman would put the Ula Fala around his neck, and Solo Sikoa would acknowledge him. But if Roman Reigns loses, Heyman would put the Ula Fala around his neck.
Sikoa also said that he he wins, Paul Heyman will become his Wiseman and Roman Reigns will acknowledge him.
Man, this promo segment had everything. WWE once again found a way to deliver a promising promo ahead of the Tribal Combat on WWE Raw on Netflix.
Ratings: 9 /10
DIY vs. Motor City Machine Guns – WWE Tag Team Championships
Before both teams made their way out to the ring, WWE SmackDown featured a cinematic promo where MCMG told Ciampa and Gargano that it would take them just one match to get their WWE Tag Team Championships back.
Motor City Machine Guns delivered double suicide dives outside the ring, which were incredible to see.
MCMG had the match in their hands but Pretty Deadly, who had a conversation with DIY earlier, came out and distracted both Shelley & Sabin. But the undying resilience of Shelley somehow helped to kickout. Los Garza, who had their own problems with the Pretty Deadly decided to come out after them.
MCMG had the DIY locked in a double submission with a Motor City Stretch on Gargano by Shelley and an STF applied on Ciampa by Sabin in the middle of the ring. Just when the Motor City Machine Guns were about to become the champions, Pretty Deadly and Los Garza crashed into the ring while fighting with each other. This caused a double disqualification and allowed DIY to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.
Result: The match ended in a double disqualification, DIY retailed the championship
Ratings: 7 /10
Naomi vs. Nia Jax – WWE Women’s Championship
WWE SmackDown then featured a locker room segment between Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. Jax instructed LeRae to keep her eyes on Bianca Belair so she doesn’t get into her match tonight. A few other things also happened when The Usos ran into Kevin Owens backstage, where Owens asked Jey to watch his back.
WWE SmackDown GM Nick Aldis also met Cody Rhodes asking to not engage in any fights till the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE. Rhodes told Aldis that if he saw anyone who even looked like Kevin Owens, he would drop him on sight.
WWE SmackDown then went to the ringside where Jia Jax made her way to the ring along with Candice LeRae while Tiffany Stratton was nowhere to be seen. Jax had a lot of control over the challenger during the match but Naomi was all prepared to take the champion and win the gold. Naomi delivered a Samoan drop on Jax out of nowhere in the middle of the match which had everyone thinking, that’s it.
Naomi then went on to deliver some incredible offense on Jax, but nothing seemed to be good enough to keep the Jax down. Naomi had Jax locked into the submission hold when LeRae tried to interfere but Belair stopped her. Jax then went outside the ring and took out Belair. Jax then tried to slam Naomi from the second rope but she countered.
Right at that very moment, Women’s 2024 Money in the Bank winner Tiffany Stratton came out along with an official. Stratton then attacked Naomi with her briefcase allowing Jax to retain her WWE Women’s Championship.
Result: Nia Jax def Naomi to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
Ratings: 8 /10
Did you know:
- Corey Graves on the commentary mentioned that Jax seems to be a bit overconfident.
Tiffany Stratton cashes in to become the new WWE Women’s Championship
Tiffany Stratton asked Jax to attack Belair before she attacked both Jax and LeRae. Belair then got up and delivered a K.O.D. to Jax, before she got attacked by Tiffany Stratton.
Stratton then officially cashed in her Money in the Bank contract to become the new WWE Women’s Champion.
Result: Tiffany Stratton becomes the WWE Women’s Championship
Ratings: 8 /10
Did you know:
- Michael Cole on the commentary mentioned that Tiffany Stratton has become the 5th woman to win her first main roaster major championship via Money in the Bank cash-in.
- This was the 7th overall successful cash in the Women’s division, and Tiffany Stratton was the 7th woman to win the Money in the Bank contract — which means the success rate in the Women’s division remains at 100%.
Backstage Segment featuring LA Knight on WWE SmackDown
WWE SmackDown then featured a backstage interview segment where LA Knight unveiled that he was sick and tired of the blindside attacks by Nakamura. Knight then unveiled that he has talked to Nick Aldis and now he will be facing Nakamura next week for the WWE United States Championship.
The New Bloodline of Solo Sikoa vs. The OG Bloodline of Roman Reigns – Six-man tag match
WWE SmackDown then featured a six-man tag match with Sami Zayn and The Usos taking on Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga. Solo, who is set to face Roman Reigns on WWE Raw debut on Netflix, was set to face the OG Bloodline of Reigns.
Although it was the last match of the night of a 3 hours WWE SmackDown, the crowd was all alive and loving it. All six men began to fight before the match even officially started. The match finally started when Jey began the fight with Tama Tonga. Sikoa and Zayn exchanged a few blows in the match before Sikoa hit him with a Spinning Solo.
The savage Tama Tonga then took the fight to Zayn who was lying down with no place to go. Zayn finally found an opening when he delivered a Blue Thunder Bomb to Sikoa. Jey Uso then took the fight to the New Bloodline, as he corned Tama Tonga and tagged in Jimmy Uso.
Jimmy tagged in Jey back in the match, who continued the match with Tonga. Chaos continued both inside and outside the ring, where Sikoa drove Zayn into the ring post and Tonga delivered a DDT to Jey Uso for a close count. The OG Bloodline then used the triple-team offense as they took out Jacob Fatu inside the ring. Both Zayn Jey delivered a double suicide dive on Solo Sikoa and Tama Tongs outside the ring. This allowed Jimmy to deliver a Uso Slash on Jacob Fatu — who kicked out on two. Fatu then fit Jimmy with a super kick and delivered a splash of his own along with a moonsault.
The Usos then took a double-team fight to Fatu, who was still not going down. Just as the match was going on, Drew McIntyre made his way out to the ringside. Jey Uso, who is set to face McIntyre on the WWE Raw debut on Netflix made his way out to the ringside. Jey took out McIntyre with a suicide dive.
Meanwhile, inside the ring, Fatu delivered a Samoan drop to Jey Uso. But he kicked out on the cover.
The crowd began to chant: OTC, OTC, OTC.
Sikoa then tagged in while Jey hit Fatu with the spear, not knowing that Sikoa was not the legal man. Jey then hit Fatu with a Uso splash and went for the cover. Sikoa, who was now the legal man in the match for his team hit Jey with the Samoan Spike to win the match.
Result: The New Bloodline defeated The OG Bloodline
Ratings: 10 /10
WWE SmackDown, Dec. 3: Results Highlights
Singles Match:
Nakamura def Andrade
Singles Match:
Michin def Piper Niven
WWE Tag Team Championships:
The match ended in a double disqualification, and DIY retailed the championship against Motor City Machine Guns.
WWE Women’s Championship:
Nia Jax def Naomi to retain her championship
Tiffany Stratton’s cash-in for the WWE Women’s Championship:
Tiffany Stratton def Nia Jax becomes the WWE Women’s Championship
Six-man tag match:
The New Bloodline def The OG Bloodline
My thoughts on this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown
On the first show of 2025, WWE delivered a very promising show for WWE SmackDown. The show was filled with so many epic and crazy moments. WWE has a ton of time to develop the storyline between Rhodes and Owens ahead of their match at WWE Royal Rumble 2025. And they are certainly using all the time to create more depth in the story which think is really. The rivalry is going to be good and given all this time, I think that it can become something really incredible by the time we reach the show.
WWE also trying to add McIntyre to the mix, I have no clue what are they think. But could also expect to see an encounter between Rhodes and McIntyre during the Road to WrestleMania 41.
WWE SmackDown featured some really incredible matches throughout the night. I really liked the WWE Tag Team Championship match between DIY and Motor City Machine Guns. WWE used the match really incredibly, I think we might be heading toward a future match that could involve both DIY and Motor City Machine Guns along with Pretty Deadly and Los Garza. I would really love to see a Ladder Match or a Tag Team Turmoil Match, or maybe we could involve a few more teams like The New Day and get a tag team Elimination Chamber match. I think considering the stacked talent in the tag team division we might be at a point where we can experience something really great.
Well, my favorite moment and the key highlight from the show was definitely the cash-in by Tiffany Stratton. I think she is a great talent and would turn out to be a great move for WWE.
The new 3-hour show style was in full effect during the main event of the show. The OG Bloodline and the New Bloodline, man I would say that they tore the house down with an absolute banger.
Let me know, what you guys think about the week’s edition of WWE SmackDown and I will catch you guys soon.
Ratings: 9 /10
