This week’s WWE SmackDown featured a WWE Women’s Championship match between Bayley and Tiffany Stratton. Also on the card, Kevin Owens faced Rey Mysterio, Carmelo Hayes met Jimmy Uso, MCMG battled Los Garza, Solo Siko returned after losing to Roman Reigns, and more.
Here are your winners and losers for SmackDown, January 17, 2025:
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Winner: Rey Mysterio competes in the Royal Rumble
Kevin Owens goes delusional
Rey Mysterio received a warm reception when announcing his entrance into the 2025 Royal Rumble. He looked back on his run to the title in 2006, but his memories were interrupted by Kevin Owens, who said he respected Rey and hoped that if he won the Rumble, he would challenge him for the Winged Eagle Championship. Rey reminded Owens that he was not the champion, which made Owens angry. Owens tried to attack Rey when the latter called him delusional. Mysterio pushed him away and Owens ran away.
Backstage, Rey asked Nick Aldis to agree to a match later that night.
This was a solid segment to start things off. Owens won the gold as a fake champion who acts as if he is recognized as a legitimate title holder.
Winner: Naomi and Belair defeat Jax and LeRae
Sometimes sloppy, but a decent match
In the opening match of the evening, Naomi and Bianca Belair took on Nia Jax and Candice LeRae in a non-title tag team bout. There were times in this competition where the pace was slow and a few pauses in commentary that made things feel strange. Still, it was a competitive back-and-forth match. Fans showed their respect with a “That’s awesome!” singing.
Naomi gets the pin on LeRae here after making a blind tag. Maybe that doesn’t mean anything. Then again, when Naomi was MIA at the start of the match and then tagged in to get the pin, those were typical WWE warning signs.
Winner/Loser: Jey Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes
New bloodline and solo attacks
Jimmy Uso faced Carmelo Hayes in a singles match that started strong but was kicked out after interference from the New Bloodline. This was a solid match, but WWE focused more on the return of Solo Sikoa and an in-ring promo for Jacob Fatu.
When Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga ambushed Jimmy, they also turned on Hayes. Solo Sikoa joined them in the ring but the crowd wouldn’t let him speak after Fatu told the crowd to shut up. This was probably intended to encourage the crowd to boo so Sikoa could walk out without saying a word. Fatu then cut his first in-ring promo, promising that his recent destruction would only be the beginning.
LA Knight jumped into the ring and attacked Tonga and Fatu. He was outnumbered until Braun Strowman arrived. Everyone cleared out, leaving Strowman and Fatu face to face.
Winner: MCMC vs. Los Garza
Excellent team action
This was a fun match with great technical wrestling and entertaining action. Both of these teams could go at it, and their teamwork and chemistry was on full display. There was back and forth throughout most of the competition and on several occasions the official was in danger of losing control. The crowd loved it.
MCMG was putting together Skull and Bones when Pretty Deadly came along. The interference didn’t work and the Machine Guns hit their finishing move and still got the victory. Whatever the plan was to help Los Garza, it didn’t work.
Loser: Piper Niven drops out of B-Fab
B-Fab can’t back up tough talk
After a backstage segment, B-Fab challenged Piper Niven, but failed to follow through on her threat to eliminate Niven. Piper had a little help, but B-Fab was a quick fix for the more proven and bigger WWE Superstar. Michin showed up with a kendo stick to make sure Niven and Chelsea Green didn’t take advantage of B-Fab’s loss.
Winner: Rey Mysterio vs. Kevin Owens
First match between these two
For the first time (which is amazing), Kevin Owens faced Rey Mysterio in a singles match. These two didn’t go to warp speed, but they made it count. Owens and Mysterio put on a show, with Owens getting the win with a Powerbomb after “inadvertently” knocking the official into the ropes and sending Mysterio off the top rope.
Owens pretended to show good sportsmanship after the match, starting to bow to the man he said he respected the most, but kicked him and attempted to hit a piledriver package. Cody Rhodes ran to the ring and started fighting.
Backstage, Nick Aldis criticized Cody for not following his instructions not to get involved. He specified that both titles would be suspended above the ring, and this Saturday, Shawn Michaels would be on hand to ensure that the two stars signed their addendum.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton vs. Bayley
Main Event Women’s Title Match
Tiffany Stratton started strong and showed off a little too much. She was surprised at the first break. The match took on a slower, more methodical pace during commercial. Things improved when Stratton took control. Bayley hit a Bayley to Belly suplex on the outside as WWE took its final commercial.
It was a long match and by the end of the show the action really picked up. The two women fought outside as Stratton was thrown onto the announce desk and then thrown to the ground. Bayley found himself facing Roxanne Perez at ringside. Bayley went to the top and hit the big elbow. Stratton was ejected.
Stratton hit a spinebuster, but Bayley hit another Bayley to Belly suplex. Both women were deported. Stratton’s prettiest moonsault was blocked and Bayley tried to put the champion away. Stratton blocked an Alabama Slam, hit the prettiest Moonsault ever and got the win.
It appears the match lasted just a few seconds, so it will be intriguing to see if this affected the viewership on network television.
