WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Ratings, and Highlights From Jan. 24

Just one night away from WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVIII, WWE SmackDown went to Moody Center in Austin, TX. The show kicked off with various WWE Superstars heading into the arena. This week’s edition of WWE SmackDown was focused on adding final layers to Saturday Night’s Main Event show as well as building the storylines for the upcoming 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE which will be taking place on Feb 1st, 2025, at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Announced in advance of Friday’s show:

• LA Knight collides with Tama Tonga in a singles match
• Motor City Machine Guns faces Pretty Deadly in a tag team match

Cody Rhodes kicks off WWE Smackdown

WWE Smackdown then went into the arena where Joe Tessitore called the WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes to the ring for an interview ahead of his contract signing at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVIII for the ladder match against Kevin Owens at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE. Tessitore mentioned what happened last time when Rhodes and Owens met in the same ring on WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVII — where Owens hit Rhodes with a package piledriver after the match ended.

Rhodes mentioned why he picked the ladder match against Owens saying that no one would be able to stop us from what happens during the match and we’ll have a clear winner at the end of the match.

Did you know:

• The contract signing between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens will be moderated by the WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels.

A backstage segment featuring DIY and Pretty Deadly

Pretty Deadly appeared in a backstage segment with DIY, where they asked about the game plan for their tag team match tonight. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa left Prince and Wilson hanging, saying they can do whatever they want to do.

Pretty Deadly then faced Legado Del Fantasma backstage after they cost them their tag team match against Motor City Machine Guns (MCMG) last week here on WWE SmackDown, but no exchange of words or hands happened.

Motor City Machine Guns (MCMG) vs. Pretty Deadly – Tag Team match

Meanwhile inside the ring Motor City Machine Guns (MCMG) faced Pretty Deadly in a tag team match. After defeating Los Garzas last week here on WWE SmackDown, MCMG faced Pretty Deadly who tried to cost them the match.

Both teams delivered some really good double-team offense during the match, and shout out to Pretty Deadly who fought a really good match. But Sabin and Shelley who are determined to win back their WWE Tag Team Championship, won the match.

Result: Motor City Machine Guns (MCMG) defeated Pretty Deadly
Ratings: 7 /10

A backstage segment featuring Nick Aldis and The Miz

The Miz then appeared in a backstage promo with Nick Aldis, who told him that he is now a member of WWE SmackDown due to the transfer window being opened. Miz who is trying to get away from the Wyatt Sicks lately, found himself once again on the same show with them.

Kevin Ownes arrives on WWE SmackDown

Ownes then appeared on WWE SmackDown standing on the commentary table asking Joe Tessitore about where is his interview segment. He stood on top of the commentary desk saying that he would prove it at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE that he is the true WWE Champion. Jimmy Uso then appeared on the show, attacked Owens, and delivered a superkick to him.

Jimmy then challenged Owens to a singles match later on the show.

B-fab and Michin vs. “WWE Womens US Champion” Chelsea Green and Piper Niven – Tag Team match

After Piper Niven defeated B-fab last week here on WWE SmackDown in a singles match, Chelsea Green joined Niven as they attacked B-fab after the match. Michin came to rescue her friend as she cooked out both Green and Niven with a kendo stick.

Now, in the second tag team match of the night, all four women collided inside the ring as they all looked to settle their score. Both teams were fine, but B-fab and Michin found a way to defeat Green and Niven in the end. The match was short and quick, but I really liked the character work of both Green and Niven.

Result: B-Fab and Michin def Green and Niven
Ratings: 6 /10

Did you know:

• Chelsea Green defeated Michin to become the inaugural WWE Women’s United States Champion at the WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVII.
• Joe Tessitore on the commentary compared B-fan with Stacy Keibler.

Backstage segment featuring Carmelo Hayes and Nick Aldis

Carmelo Hayes then appeared in Aldis’s room saying that it was supposed to be him facing Jimmy Uso tonight. Aldis told Hayes that he would give him the match next, and he would be facing Damian Priest.

I loved the segment.

“The Queen” Charlotte Flair is coming back at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble

WWE SmackDown then featured a video package, following up with last week’s Jan. 17th WWE SmackDown video package as “The Queen” Charlotte Flair announced her return at 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE.

Chaos between the WWE Women’s division

After defeating Bayley to retain her WWE Women’s Championship last week here on WWE SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton came down to the ring to talk about the 2025 Womens Royal Rumble match which will eventually be impacting her road to WrestleMania 41 as well. WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley then arrived on the show talking about her match against Nia Jax at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, who decided to join the party as well.

Jax laid out some of her plans saying that will beat Ripley at the WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event and then win the 2025 WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match as well. Bianca Belair and Naomi also joined the party declaring their participation in the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble match as well. Liv Morgan then arrived on the scene as well saying that she would be the one winning the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble match before she got attacked by Ripley as all the womens began fighting with each other.

Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, and Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley, Naomi and Bianca Belair – 6-women tag team match

WWE SmackDown GM Nick Aldis then arrived on the show making a 6-women tag team match, which began immediately on WWE SmackDown. Naomi was in deep trouble since the match started as she was struck in the opposite corner meanwhile the WWE Universe chanted Rhea Ripley.

Ripley took the fight to LeRae and Morgan before she got outnumbered by Jax, LeRae, and Raquel Rodriguez. The course of the match finally changed when Ripley made the tag to Belair. Among all the chaos inside the ring, Ripley took out both Jax and Morgan. Belair then took out LeRae from the match after she attacked Ripley, allowing Morgan to take advantage and pin Belair in a roll-up to win the match for her team.

Result: Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, and Liv Morgan def Rhea Ripley, Naomi, and Bianca Belair
Ratings: 7 /10

A backstage segment featuring B-fab, Michin, Chelsea Green, and Piper Niven

WWE SmackDown then went backstage where Michin told Chelsea Green that she had talked to Nick Aldis and that she would be facing her for the WWE Women’s US Championship next week here on WWE SmackDown.

Apollo Crews vs. Johnny Gargano

After attacking Apollo Crews last week here on WWE SmackDown, Johnny Gargano met Crews in a singles match. Crews have been trying to expose #DIY for quite some time and now he finally met Johnny Gargano one-on-one. Ciampa on the ringside was clearly an advantage for Gargano during the match before Motor City Machine Guns (MCMG) appeared on the scene which allowed Crews to pin Gargano in a rollup and win the match.

Result: Apollo Crews def Johnny Gargano
Ratings: 7 /10

Tama Tonga vs. LA Knight

After Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga attacked LA Knight during his United States Championship match on the Jan. 10th edition of WWE SmackDown, Knight attacked Fatu and Tonga on last week’s edition of WWE SmackDown — before he got outnumbered and received help from Braun Strowman, leading to this match on WWE SmackDown.

Knight seemed to be in a lot of trouble as he continued to fight against Tonga, who attacked every single body part of the megastar. Fighting two-on-one, Knight found a way to hit Tonga with the BFT after he took out Jacob Fatu at ringside and won the match. 

An angry Fatu attacked Knight after the match before his opponent from WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVIII, Braun Strowman arrived to help Knight. Stowman then gave Fatu a little preview of their match as he took him out of the ring.

Result: LA Knight def Tama Tonga
Ratings: 7 /10

A-Town Down Under is heading to WWE Monday Night RAW on Netflix

WWE SmackDown went backstage where The Miz told A-Town Down Under that together they would blow up the box office before WWE SmackDown GM Nick Aldis came and told Austin Theory and Grayson Waller that they were going to WWE Monday Night Raw.

Shinsuke Nakamura is heading to 2025 WWE Mens Royal Rumble match

WWE SmackDown then featured a cinematic promo segment where Shinsuke Nakamura declared his participation in this year’s Mens Royal Rumble match.

Damian Priest vs. Carmelo Hayes

After crossing paths earlier today in Nick Aldis’s office, the new acquisition of WWE SmackDown Damian Priest met Carmelo Hayes in a singles match. Priest who has been dealing with the Judgment Day for the last few months on WWE Monday Night Raw, finally got an opportunity to begin a fresh start for himself ahead of Road to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.

After an incredible back-and-forth action between the two, Priest got the win after he hit Hayes with South of Heaven Chokeslam.

Result: Damian Priest def Carmelo Hayes
Ratings: 7.5 /10

WWE Tag Team Championship will be on the line at 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE

WWE SmackDown then went backstage where Motor City Machine Guns (MCMG) told DIY that they would be facing them in a Two out of three falls match for the WWE Tag Team Championship at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble.

While this segment was going on, Rhea Ripley was seen talking to Piper Niven in the background, I wonder what are they two cooking.

Cody Rhodes welcomes Damian Priest to WWE SmackDown

After his match with Carmelo Hayes, Damian Priest met Cody Rhodes backstage who welcomed him to the blue brand.

A backstage segment featuring Andrade and The Miz on WWE SmackDown

The Miz told Andrade about how much of a great talent he is, and that if he joins him he would become the superstar he really deserves to be. Andrade left him saying alright before Jimmy Uso arrived at the scene and met Carmelo Hayes.

Jimmy Uso played a little fun game with Hayes as walked down towards the ring, while Hayes was still kind of following him. Hayes then attacked Jimmy from the back as was walking down to the ring, before officials came out and separated the two men.

Kevin Owens battles Jimmy Uso in the main event of WWE SmackDown

The mind games were on from the get-go as Kevin Owens came down to the ring wearing a Naomi t-shirt — who is married to Jimmy Uso in real life. Owens unleashed his set offense against Jimmy who seemed to be in trouble against the prizefighter, as he continued to mock him wearing a shirt from her wife’s merchandise.

Owens took the fight to Jimmy, who finally got the match in control after he got his knees up during the Swanton bomb. Jimmy began to rally against Owens, but could not keep him down for the three count. Owens continued to target the left shoulder of Jimmy and delivered a pop-up powerbomb to win the match.

Owens tried to hit Jimmy with the Package piledriver on the new announce table before Cody Rhodes arrived to help Jimmy as both Ownes and Rhodes started fighting with each other in the middle of the ring.

Result: Kevin Owens def Jimmy Uso 
Ratings: 9 /10

WWE SmackDown, Jan. 24: Results Highlights

Tag Team match:
Motor City Machine Guns defeated Pretty Deadly

Tag Team match:
B-Fab and Michin defeated Green and Niven

6-Women Tag team match:
Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, and Liv Morgan defeated Rhea Ripley, Naomi, and Bianca Belair

Singles Match:
Apollo Crews defeated Johnny Gargano

Singles Match:
LA Knight defeated Tama Tonga

Singles Match:
Damian Priest defeated Carmelo Hayes

Singles Match:
Kevin Owens def Jimmy Uso

My thoughts on this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown

Just a night away from WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVIII, WWE delivered an action-packed episode of WWE SmackDown. This week’s edition of WWE SmackDown was focused on finalizing the storylines of both Saturday Night’s Main Event and the upcoming 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE.

The 3-hour show was filled with 3 tag teams and 3 singles matches which were quite good but nothing really which would blow up the fans. As I mentioned previously, WWE could be keeping things a little tight till the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE. Because after that, we’ll certainly find out what the picture at WrestleMania in Las Vegas could look like.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below, I will catch you soon with more new content from WWE.

My Ratings for the show: 6 /10