Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for January 10, 2025

Paul Heyman heads to the ring to start tonight's show. He says that it is among the greatest honors of his career to announce that there is one undisputed Tribal Chief and that this Tribal Chief is Roman Reigns. Heyman announces that Roman Reigns has authorized him to reveal what Roman is going to do next not just with the fans, but with one man in particular: "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Cody shows up and heads to the ring and shakes hands with Heyman, who says that Cody has earned Roman's respect. Heyman himself admits that he has respect Cody for a long time and that Cody has proven himself to be the champion that he is supposed to be, and for that, Roman has asked him to tell Cody that he wants his title back. Heyman also reveals that Roman has declared that he is entering the 2025 men's Royal Rumble with full intention of winning and heading to WrestleMania to face Cody for the Undisputed WWE Championship once again. Before Cody can respond, Kevin Owens suddenly shows up in the crowd, saying that the only thing worse than Cody teaming up with Roman was Cody shaking hands with The Rock and Paul Heyman. He says that Cody should have let Roman Reigns' Bloodline be ripped to shreds, but he ended up hurting the whole company. Cody jumps the barricade and fights Owens in the crowd. Meanwhile, Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu sneak up on Paul Heyman in the ring, and as Heyman is cornered, Jimmy Uso shows up and takes the fight to Tama and Jacob. Tama ends up receiving a shot to the back with a metal folding chair, as does Jacob, who absorbs the blow and hits Jimmy with a running forearm tackle before the numbers game takes over. A referee (who has never been seen before) runs into the ring only to get superkicked by Jacob, then Cody Rhodes returns as Jacob keeps officials at bay. Cody throws Tama out of the ring, then confronts Jacob. Cody ends up clotheslining Jacob out of the ring, and Tama and Jacob are held back.

Backstage, Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu are escorted out of the building, and as Jacob threatens security, he is forced out by LA Knight.

Chelsea Green retains the WWE Women's United States Championship against "Michin" Mia Yim after Michin takes out Piper Niven and goes for a top rope cross body only for Chelsea to roll through and grab the tights on the pinfall attempt. After the match, Michin gets her hands on Chelsea, but she gets attacked by Piper Niven.

In backstage footage from earlier today, General Manager Nick Aldis deals with Los Garza (Angel and Berto), Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince), The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) and A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory) by putting Los Garza and Pretty Deadly in one match and the Machine Guns and A-Town Down Under in another.

Los Garza (Angel and Berto) beat Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) following shenanigans behind the referee's back from both teams.

LA Knight vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE United States Championship ends with Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu coming out of the crowd to attack Knight. Shinsuke Nakamura retains the WWE United States Championship. Cody Rhodes and Jimmy Uso soon run to the ring to brawl with Tama and Jacob, and force them to retreat. As officials shows up, Cody demands a tag team match from General Manager Nick Aldis tonight with him and Jimmy taking on Tama and Jacob. Aldis makes it official.

The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) beat A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory).

Backstage, #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) are irritated with The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) winning when Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) show up wondering where #DIY were during their match. Ciampa is not happy, and Gargano says that Pretty Deadly has a lot of heat right now before ensuring that Pretty Deadly will get their title shot. #DIY leaves, then Apollo Crews shows up and tells them that they are not getting their title shot like they think they are.

Backstage, Candice LeRae tells Nia Jax that Tiffany Stratton is heading to the ring. Nia Jax wonders what Tiffany will have to say before deciding to thank Tiffany herself.

Byron Saxton interviews Tiffany Stratton in the ring. Tiffany proclaims that it is Tiffy Time before talking about her last year on SmackDown and declares herself better than everyone's favorites at just 25 years old after having won the WWE Women's Championship. She says that Nia did not bully her, and that she befriended Nia and got Nia to trust her, and that Nia thought she was a dumb blonde because she let her, which caused Nia to let her guard down so she could take the WWE Women's Championship. Tiffany then states that she is at the top and demands that respect be put on her name before Nia Jax shows up and calls Tiffany an "ungrateful little shit." She says she could kill Tiffany, then says Tiffany is only at the top because she made her. Nia congratulates Tiffany for rubbing two brain cells together to get her moment, then tells her that time is up and demands that Tiffany give the championship back before she takes it. Suddenly, Bayley shows up and tells Nia to shut the hell up before admitting Tiffany had her fooled, then says Nia is pretty stupid for having Tiffany outsmart her. Bayley then says that if it were not for her, Tiffany would not be WWE Women's Champion, and demands a title shot. Suddenly, Naomi and Bianca Belair show up, and Naomi says that she would have had Nia Jax beat if it were not for Tiffany. Naomi then demands a shot at Tiffany. Nia tells Naomi that nobody cares about her, and when Naomi confronts Nia for that, Nia takes out both Naomi and Bianca, starting a brawl that ends with Tiffany taking everyone out with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Suddenly, General Manager Nick Aldis shows up and makes a Fatal 4-Way Match between Nia, Naomi, Bianca and Bayley to decide a #1 contender for the WWE Women's Championship that starts right now.

Bayley beats Naomi, Bianca Belair and Nia Jax in a Fatal 4-Way Match to become #1 contender for the WWE Women's Championship after Candice LeRae grabs at Bianca's hair, causing Bianca to inadvertently take out Naomi and knock Nia Jax over the announce table before Bayley hits Naomi with the Rose Plant for the win.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso meets with "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Cody says he saw Roman Reigns coming for the WWE Championship, then says he will see Jimmy in the ring. Cody leaves, then Carmelo Hayes shows up and tells Jimmy that he is cool with Solo Sikoa and that he will put him down if he takes him on again, but Jimmy tells Carmelo that with all the bricks he has been shooting, he can build a house.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Bayley. Bayley says her career has been nothing but taking chances, then says that she has wrestled Tiffany Stratton all year long and that Tiffany has yet to beat her.

Before the next match, Jacob Fatu tells Jimmy Uso the difference between their Bloodlines before telling "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes that his nightmare is here.

Solo Sikoa's Bloodline (Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu) beat "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Jimmy Uso after Kevin Owens shows up and distracts Cody, causing the two of them to brawl their way to the back. After the match, Cody and Owens brawl their way to the technical area, and Cody pushes Owens off some road crates and through two tables.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!