WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - January 24th, 2025

[Kemo]

LA Knight takes on Tama Tonga tonight on SmackDown

The Megastar will be in action when he takes on Tama Tonga after the latest attack from Solo Sikoa's crew on SmackDown. LA Knight was determined to get payback on SmackDown but the group jumped him, only for Braun Strowman to return and even the odds on behalf of The Megastar. Now, Knight and Tonga will go one-on-one to try and settle this once and for all.

Your announcers are Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore.


In Ring:
Joe Tessitore is in the ring to talk to Cody Rhodes.

Joe brings up that Austin is his father's home town. He mentions Cody having to turn over his title tomorrow in advance of the Ladder Match at the Royal Rumble.

Cody says Shawn Michaels is the perfect person to be there tomorrow. Shawn has won two Royal Rumbles and a few ladder matches. Shawn has the future of the company in his hands. He says he has no problem handing the title to Shawn. People will be talking about main eventing Wrestlemania and the best way to do it is to have this title.

Joe asks about the attack by Kevin Owens after the last Saturday Night's Main Event and he asks how will he be able to deal with this version of Kevin Owens.

Cody asks Austin what do they think about Kevin Owens and they boo. Cody says you can ask this in every locker room about Kevin and you will get a lot of opinions. He says Kevin will subert you expectations because of what he does. He says Kevin is a genius in the ring and a great athlete. When Kevin has to choose between the hard way and the easy road out, he will choose the easy way. In a ladder match, there will not be a referee missing a count or calling for a disqualification.

Joe brings up that Cody will be face to face with Kevin and he asks if he has a message for Kevin.

Cody says he would tell Kevin that maybe he smiles and shake hands and appears to be a good guy, but that doesn't mean when you press a button that this gnawing and pettiness ceases. He will remind Kevin that he beat the Ring General and the greatest champion in his generation. He might be the grandson of a plumber but he was a studen of Randy Orton. He says he has no problem punching Kevin in the face. He says he only has one thing to say to Kevin . . . Good luck.

Backstage:
Pretty Deadly are with Ciampa and Gargano and Pretty Deadly asks about the plan. Johnny says he has a match against Apollo Crews so he won't be there. Kit asks about the quid pro quo and Ciampa asks if they are questioning their integrity. Kit and Elton ask about Legado and The Machine Guns and Ciampa tells them to get it done. Kit and Elton walk up to Legado del Fantasma and they smile at Kit and Elton and then step aside to let them continue to walk.

We go to commercial.


Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) vs. Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Brand)

The bell rings and we are under way. Elton Prince and Chris Sabin start the match. Prince with a kick and he throws Sabin to the ropes but Alex Shelley tags himself in. He gets in the ring and they double team Prince. He tags Wilson in and Sabin is tagged back in. Motor City Machine Guns double team Wilson. Sabin goes for the cover but Wilson kicks out. Prince distracts Sabin and Wilson throws Sabin to the outside of the ring. Pretty Deadly throw Sabin over the barricade and we cut to commercial.

We go to commercial.

Back from commercial, Sabin with a kick to the side of the head of Wilson and both men are down. Shelley and Prince are tagged in. Shelley with a double DDT on Pretty Deadly. He goes for the cover but Prince kicks out. He throws them both to the outside of the ring and Sabin is tagged in. A suicide dive onto Pretty Deadly on the outside of the ring. Prince back in the ring and Shelley is tagged in. Prince pushes Shelley into Sabin and Wilson is tagged in. Wilson with a double knees onto Shelley and a DDT onto Sabin. Prince is tagged in and Wilson with a bulldog onto Shelley off the top rope. Prince goes for the cover but Shelley kicks out. Sabin with a dropkick off the top rope onto Prince. Sabin is tagged in and they double team Wilson. Shelley is tagged in and they land Skull and Bones. Shelley goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winners: Motor City Machine Guns


Backstage:
Nick Aldis in the back and in comes The Miz. He asks Nick Aldis if he asked him here for him to do Miz TV. Aldis tells Miz that he is on SmackDown now and Miz tells him he is joking. He tells Aldis that The Wyatts are on SmackDown. Aldis tells him he might need to go make some new friends and fast. Miz walks away and he is not happy.

We go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Back from commercial, Kevin Owens cuts the announce team as they are running through the card for Saturday Night’s Main Event. He asks Joe where his interview is and he makes him miss Michael Cole. Owens runs down the people who side with Cody Rhodes and he says at the Royal Rumble he will show everyone who is the WWE Champion.

Owens turns his attention to actor Matthew McConaughey who is at ringside. He asks Matthew McConaughey what he is looking at. He tells him at the Rumble he will beat Cody Rhodes the same way Ohio State beat his Texas Longhornes. Jimmy’s music hits and Owens asks them to cut the music. Owens and Jimmy are in the face and Owens asks him why he is here and Jimmy tells him that he talks too much. Jimmy with a right hand followed by a superkick onto Kevin Owens. Jimmy climbs the top rope but Owens rolls to the outside. Jimmy challenges Owens to a match tonight and Jimmy’s music hits.

We go to commercial.

Backstage:
We cut to Carmelo Hayes who is with Nick Aldis. Hayes tells him it was supposed to be him and Jimmy and Nick tells him that will be next week. He tells Hayes that he made a new acquisition on SmackDown and he has an opponent for Hayes and Hayes tells him he wants to see who it is. Aldis tells Hayes that he will be here soon and Hayes tells him he can’t wait to see him.


WWE Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green and Piper Niven vs. Michin and B-Fab

The bell rings and we are under way. Niven and Michin start the match. Michin with a head lock followed by a kick to the side of the head. Chelsea is tagged in but Michin throws her over the top rope and into the ring. Chelsea down in the corner but Niven gets on the ring apron and Michin knocks her down. Michin goes for the cannonball in the corner but Chelsea moves out of the way. Chelsea with a snap suplex. She goes for the cover but Michin kicks out. Chelea grabs Michin but Michin with a kick to the head. Chelsea tags Niven into the ring. Niven goes for an elbow but Michin moves out of the way and B-Fab is tagged in. Niven tags Chelsea in and B-Fab with a forearm to the face. A big boot by B-Fab followed by a DDT. She goes for the cover but Niven with an elbow onto B-Fab breaks it up. Niven throws B-Fab to the ropes and Michin tags herself in. Niven with a sidewalk slam onto B-Fab and Michin with a drop kick onto Niven. Chelsea is tagged in and Michin hits her with Eat Defeat. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winners: Michin and B-Fab


Backstage:
We cut to Carmelo Hayes and Nick Aldis. In comes Damian Priest and Nick Aldis welcomes him to SmackDown. Hayes tells him no and Aldis tells Priest that Hayes was wondering if he would have a match with him tonight. Priest tells him he is here to work and punish.

We go to commercial.

Video package:
A promo for Charlotte Flair airs.

In Ring:
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton’s music hits and she walks down to the ring. Tiffany says that once again, she is the center of everybody’s attention because next week at the Royal Rumble, 30 women will fight for a chance to face her at WrestleMania. Tiffany says last week, she beat last year’s Royal Rumble winner, Bayley and she is not worried. And next week, whoever wins is going to be running on Tiffy Time.

Rhea Ripley’s music hits and out comes the Women’s World Champion! Rhea gets in the ring and both women are in the ring. The fans chant “mammi” and Rhea tells Tiffany that she is still a little new but Rhea wanted her to know that she is Women’s champion too. And Champion to Champion, she wants to tell Tiffany that she respects what she did to Nia Jax but it’s not going to compare to what she is going to do to her at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Nia’s music hits and out she comes with Candice LeRae. Nia says she doesn’t know why she is catching straits from them both, that is rude. Nia tells them that this is a historic moment because she is out to officialy announce that she is entering and winning the Royal Rumble match. Nia turns to a fan and tells him that his mom sucks.

She tells Rhea that her reign will end at Saturday Night’s Main Event. And she will still enter the Royal Rumble match and take the title that is rightfuly hers.

Bianca’s music hits and out comes Bianca Belair and Naomi dancing. Naomi says they came out to say that they will be entering the Royal Rumble. Bianca says if she doesn’t win, Naomi will win. Naomi says if she doesn’t win, Bianca will win.

Liv Morgan’s music hits and out she comes with Raquel Rodriguez.

Liv says we have the girl who lost her man to a real woman and we have the Liv Morgan wanna be doppelganger, Tiffany. And we have a ring full of women declaring themselves for the Royal Rumble match but she doesn’t care. She says the headline news tonight is about her because she declares her entry into the Women’s Royal Rumble match. But not only that, she declares her victory for the Women’s Royal Rumble match and she is the only person in this company that can do that because Raquel Rodriguez is going to ensure her victory. As she is talking, Rhea headbuts her and they all begin to fight in the ring. Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and Naomi are the three women standing in the ring. Nick Aldis comes out.

We go to commercial.


Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and Naomi vs. Liv Morgan, Nia Jax and Candice LeRae

The bell rings and we are under way. Candice goes for a DDT but Rhea holds on to her and reverses it into a vertical suplex. Bianca and Naomi get in the ring and as does Nia. They double drop kick Nia and Liv is tagged in. Bianca is tagged in and they double team Liv. Bianca goes for the cover but Liv kicks out. Candice distracts Bianca and Nia is tagged in. Bianca dropkicks Liv and in comes Nia who knocks Bianca down. Nia bodyslams Bianca and she gets on the first rope but Bianca gets up and knocks Nia to the outside of the ring.

-Commercial Break-

Back from commercial, Candice with a snap mare take down onto Naomi. She goes for the cover but Naomi kicks out. Candice knocks Rhea off the ring apron and she lands a snap suplex onto Naomi. She throws Naomi into the corner but Naomi kicks Candice in the side of the head. Nia and Liv trip Rhea and Bianca off the ring apron. Naomi kicks with a face buster onto Candice and both women are down. Rhea is tagged in and as is Liv. Rhea with a kick followed by a kick to the face. She dropkicks Nia and Candice off the ring apron. Raquel gets on the ring apron and Rhea grabs her but Liv with the backstabber. Bianca is tagged in and she hits Liv with a spear. She goes for the cover but Nia breaks it up. In comes Naomi but Nia hits her with a headbutt. In comes Rhea who hits Nia with a headbutt. Liv jumps onto Rhea’s back and Rhea headbutts Nia and she hits the RipTide, throwing Liv onto Nia. LeRae with knees to the face onto Rhea. Bianca with the KOD onto Candice but Liv with a crucifix cover onto Bianca and she gets the pin.

Winners: Liv Morgan, Nia Jax and Candice LeRae


Backstage:
We cut to Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, B-Fab and Michin backstage. Michin says she spoke to Nick Aldis and he is giving her one final crack at Chelsea’s United States title next week.

We go to commercial.


Johnny Gargano (w/ Tommaso Ciampa) vs. Apollo Crews

The bell rings and we are under way. Crews with a vertical suplex and he throws Gargano to the ropes, landing a drop kick. Gargano rolls to the outside and Crews with a moon sault off the ring apron. He throws Gargano back into the ring and Crews climbs the top rope. He goes for a frog splash, Gargano moves, Crews lands on his feet and Gargano with a superkick. He goes for the cover but Crews kicks out. Gargano grabs Crews but Crews with a kick to the face. A gorilla press slam by Apollo followed by a standing moon sault. He goes for the cover but Gargano kicks out. He goes for a splash in the corner but Gargano moves out of the way. Gargano with a kick to the inner thigh followed by a back stabber. He goes for the cover but Crews kicks out. He throws Crews to the outside and Gargano distracts the referee. Ciampa with a running knee onto Crews and he throws Crews back into the ring.

Motor City Machine Guns begin walking to the ring and that distracts Gargano. Crews rolls him up and gets the pin.

Winner: Apollo Crews


Backstage:
We cut to the back and Jacob Fatu is with Tama Tonga. Fatu cuts a promo on Braun Strowman. Fatu says it’s not Godzilla against King Kong because he is both. He says he is all gas, no brakes. But first off it’s LA Knight and Tonga tells him “With everybody saying, ye, ye, ye, ye, ye, ye.”

We go to commercial.


Tama Tonga (w/ Jacob Fatu) vs. LA Knight

Before the match, LA Knight cuts a promo. He tells them they have hell to pay. He says last week was an ass kicking he was willing to take if it meant he got a small piece of them. The bell rings and we are under way. LA Knight with right hands onto Tama Tonga followed by a powerslam. He goes for the cover but Tonga kicks out. He kicks Tonga to the outside of the ring. He grabs Tonga but Tonga throws him into the barricade. Tonga jumps onto LA Knight but LA Knight catches him and throws him onto the barricade and clotheslines him into the crowd. He grabs Tonga but Tonga slams him face first onto the top of the barricade. He grabs LA Knight but LA Knight slams him face first onto the ring apron. LA Knight throws him into the ring and goes for the cover but Tonga kicks out. He clotheslines Tonga back to the outside of the ring. He grabs Tonga but Tonga throws him face first into the ring steps.

We go to commercial.

Back from commercial, Tonga goes for a suplex but LA Knight lands on his feet and lands a neck breaker. He goes for the cover but Tonga kicks out. He throws Tonga to the ropes but Tonga with a knee to the midsection. LA Knight to the ropes but a jumping clothesline onto Tonga. LA Knight with right hands followed by a jumping neck breaker and Tonga falls onto the ring apron. LA Knight knocks Tonga off the ring apron. He throws Tonga back into the ring but Tonga with a jumping DDT. He goes for the cover but LA Knight kicks out.

Tonga places LA Knight on the top rope and Tonga goes for a suplex but LA Knight throws him onto the mat. LA Knight with an elbow drop off the top rope. He goes for BFT but Fatu gets on the ring apron. LA Knight kicks him down, Tama goes for the cover but LA Knight kicks out. LA Knight with the BFT. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: LA Knight

After the match:
Jacob Fatu drags LA Knight to the outside of the ring and he lands the Samoan drop onto the announce table. Jacob headbuts LA Knight onto the announce table but Braun Strowman’s music hits and out he comes. Strowman gets in the ring and as Fatu is about to get in the ring, Toma Tanga holds him back. Fatu pushes him away and Jacob Fatu gets in the ring. Tama Tonga gets o nthe ring apron, Strowman pushes him down. Fatu goes for a big splash but Strowman moves out of the way and he throws Fatu to the outside of the ring. Strowman’s music hits as Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga setand on the outside of the ring.


Backstage:
We cut backstage to see The Miz standing with A-Town Down Under. Miz tries to get them on his side and in comes Nick Aldis. He tells A-Town Down Under to pack their bags, they’re going to Raw. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller are happy about it and celebrate as they walk away.

We go to commercial.

Video Package:
A video promo of Shinsuke Nakamura airs and he says that he will enter the Royal Rumble match.


Damian Priest vs. Carmelo Hayes

The bell rings and we are under way. Priest with a running right hand and he throws Hayes into the corner. Right hands and kicks by Priest. Priest twists Carmelo’s arm and he walks across the top rope, landing a cross body. He goes for the cover but Hayes kicks out and he rolls to the outside of the ring. Priest with a right hand and he goes for a kick but Hayes ducks and Hayes with a kick to the leg. Hayes pushes Priest into the ring post and he gets back into the ring.

We go to commercial.

Back from commercial, Hayes with a crossbody off the top rope. He goes for the cover but Priest kicks out. Hayes to the ropes but Priest with right hands and kicks. Priest with the broken arrow and he slams Hayes onto the mat. Priest goes for the cover but Hayes kicks out and rolls to the outside of the ring. Priest runs to the outside and pushes Hayes into the time keeper’s area. He throws Hayes back into the ring and Hayes with a superkick. Hayes with the First 48. He goes for the cover but Priest kicks out. Hayes climbs the top rope and goes for Nothing But Net but Priest moves out of the way. Hayes lands on his feet and Priest with a clothesline. Priest with the South of Heaven. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Damian Priest


Backstage:
We cut backstage and Motor City Machine Guns are with Nick Aldis and DIY. Motor City Machine Guns tell them that they already spoke Nick Aldis and they will face them at the Royal Rumble for the Tag Team Titles in a Best two out of three Falls match.

We go to commercial.

Backstage:
Damian Priest is walking backstage and in comes Cody Rhodes. He tells Priest he is glad to have him on SmackDown and walks away. Priest says “See you soon, Champ”.

Backstage:
We cut to The Miz and Andrade backstage. Miz says that Andrade just needs someone to help guide him and Andrade says he likes that idea and that he will go and find someone. In comes Jimmy Uso who laughs and walks towards the ring. He is stopped by Carmelo and he tells Jimmy that it will take more than four moves to beat Kevin Owens. Jimmy laughs and says next week he will beat him with only three moves.

Backstage:
Jimmy Uso comes out for his match but Carmelo Hayes attacks him from behind. Both men begin to fight but WWE officials run down and break it up.


Kevin Owens vs. Jimmy Uso

The bell rings and we are under way. Owens rolls to the outside of the ring and begins talking to Joe on commentary. Jimmy grabs him from behind and hits him with an uppercut. Jimmy throws him back into the ring but Owens with a headlock. He throws Jimmy to the ropes and Owens with a shoulder tackle. Owens slams Jimmy into the turnbuckle. A right hand by Owens followed by an elbow onto the back of the neck. He throws Jimmy into the turnbuckle but Jimmy comes back with a clothesline. Owens down in the corner, Jimmy goes for the hip attack but Owens rolls to the outside of the ring. Jimmy to the outside and he hits Owens with right hands. He throws Owens back into the ring and as Jimmy is on the ring apron getting back into the ring, Owens knocks him down to the outside. Owens with a frog splash off the ring apron onto Jimmy on the outside of the ring.

We go to commercial.

Back from commercial, Owens slams Jimmy’s left arm onto the mat. Owens climbs the top rope but Jimmy with a kick slows him down. Jimmy on the top rope and he goes for a suplex but Owens with right hands and Jimmy falls onto the mat. Owens goes for a swanton but Jimmy gets his knees up. Owens in the corner and Jimmy with a hip attack. Jimmy with a kick to the side of the head followed by a Samoan drop. He goes for the cover but Owens kicks out. Jimmy goes for a splash in the corner but Owens moves out of the way. Owens runs to the ropes but Jimmy hits him with a superkick. He goes for the cover but Owens kicks out.

Jimmy goes for an arm bar but Owens reverses it and slams Jimmy onto the mat. Owens goes for the Stunner but Jimmy blocks it and he hits Owens with a super kick. He goes for the cover but Owens kicks out. Jimmy climbs the top rope and he goes for the Uso Splash but Owens moves out of the way, Jimmy lands on his feet and Owens with a super kick. He goes for a pop up powerbomb but Jimmy lands on his feet and he hits Owens with a super kick. Jimmy goes for the cover but Owens kicks out. Jimmy sends Owens to the ropes and he hits him with the spear. Jimmy climbs the top rope but Owens gets on the ring apron and drags Jimmy down. He throws Jimmy shoulder first into the ring post, followed by a pop up power bomb. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Kevin Owens

After the match:
Owens clears the announce table. He drags Jimmy to the outside and throws him on the announce table but Cody’s music hits and out comes Cody Rhodes. Both men get in the ring and Cody with right hands. Cody throws Owens to the outside of the ring and he throws Owens into the ring steps. Cody throws Owens back into the ring and SmackDown goes off the air.

End of show.

[LionDen]

Good promo by Rhodes.

[LionDen]

Os, Miz officially to Smackdown.

[LionDen]

That was crazy with all those women in the ring lol

[LionDen]

A good show.

[LionDen]

Backstage

[LionDen]

[LionDen]

[LionDen]

Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) defeated Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Brand)

[LionDen]

Backstage