Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for January 17, 2025

Rey Mysterio heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Rey says it feels great to be back home in San Diego, California and that he could not think of a better place to reminisce and do the impossible once again when he declares for the 2025 Royal Rumble. He talks about he entered the 2006 Royal Rumble at #2 and won it all to main event WrestleMania to become World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania 22. Rey admits that competition is heavy this year with Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins, Roman Reigns, John Cena being in the match and says it will be tough, but when he won it in 2006, he did it for Eddie Guerrero. Suddenly, Kevin Owens shows up and apologizes for interrupting before telling Rey that there are a lot of people who he respects and few that he respects as much as Rey, and that there is nobody he respects more than him. Owens mentions his accolades before mentioning the Winged Eagle Championship on his shoulder and declaring himself "the true, rightful WWE Champion," then says all he has left in his career is to face Rey Mysterio in a match. He hopes that Rey wins the Royal Rumble, then asks Rey to promise him that he will be the champion that he picks. Rey says he loves challenges and competition, but says "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, not Owens, is the champion. Nevertheless, he says that if Owens were to win, he would be glad to face him for the title. Owens insists he is champion and accuses Rey of being brainwashed by Cody, and Rey says Owens is reminding him of his son Dominik Mysterio right now. This starts a brawl, and Owens has to slide out of the ring to avoid the 619.

Backstage, Naomi tells Bianca Belair that there is no update on Jade Cargill. Bianca says they have tonight's match, and Naomi says that they still have their gold and that they have Candice LeRae and Nia Jax tonight. Naomi then tells Bianca to wrap her up so as not to have a repeat of last week, which Bianca does.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis gives Rey Mysterio a one-on-one match with Kevin Owens when "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes shows up and apologizes for not being there due to being checked on medically. Rey tells Cody to heal up and that he will do something for him when he wins. Rey leaves, then Cody says he has a clean bill of health. Aldis says there is a lot of time between now and the Rumble, and mentions that he has an addendum to his match with Owens that both men have to sign. Cody says he will sign when Owens signs.

Bianca Belair and Naomi beat Nia Jax and Candice LeRae after Nia inadvertently hits Candice with a leg drop.

In backstage footage from earlier today, Byron Saxton interviews Bayley. Bayley says everyone dreams about being in the main event of SmackDown and feels like her last championship reign could have been better, and says Tiffany Stratton is willing to betray her friend to stay on top, which makes her to win that much more.

Backstage, "Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab talk about Chelsea Green when Piper Niven shows up pretending to be Chelsea's "Secret Her-vice" agent. Chelsea brags about bbeating Michin, and B-Fab says that if it were not for Piper, Chelsea would not be champion. Piper threatens to make B-Fab's next step her last, and that leads to B-Fab challenging Piper to a match tonight.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso says the goal is to make sure Carmelo stay missing, and while it is time to become a champion himself, "Big Jim is Him" when it comes to Carmelo Hayes.

Before the next match, Carmelo Hayes says Jimmy Uso is living in the brother of "Main Event" Jey Uso, who is living in the shadow of Roman Reigns, yet wants to take shots at him. He then asks how Jimmy will take shots while sitting at the bench, then tells him to lace his boots up, as he will show him why he doesn't miss. Jimmy ties his shoes, tosses Carmelo into the ring, puts on his sunglasses, then nearly superkicks him get the match started.

Jimmy Uso beats Carmelo Hayes by disqualification after Jacob Fatu distracts Jimmy so that Tama Tonga can shove Jimmy off the top rope. After the match, Tama and Jacob attack Jimmy. Carmelo gets up and tries to be chummy with them only for Jacob to clothesline him before he and Tama continue to beat up Jimmy. Solo Sikoa then heads to the ring. After the commercial break, Solo Sikoa attempts to speak, but drops the microphone and leaves through the crowd instead. Jacob takes the microphone and says he is tired of the disrespect, the hate and the envy, but even on a bad day, nobody can still touch him. He says he does not care if the crowd cheers or boos him and Tama, because he will not let others act like he never got his. Jacob then says that he is just getting started. Suddenly, LA Knight shows up from behind Tama and Jacob and goes on the warpath, and as he is overpowered, Braun Strowman arrives and throws Tama out of the air before confronting Jacob. Jacob teases taking on Strowman, but Tama pulls Jacob out of the ring.

Backstage, Santos Escobar praises Angel and Berto for beating Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince), and tells him that they will take the moment away from The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) in order to gain respect.

The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) beat Los Garza (Angel and Berto) after Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince)'s interference backfires.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis meets with Kevin Owens to get him to sign the contract for his match with "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes at Royal Rumble. Owens says he will not sign until Cody signs, and that he needs to read the contract. He also mentions that he has a match to prepare for.

Piper Niven beats B-Fab after B-Fab takes out Chelsea Green on the outside. After the match, Chelsea and Piper attack B-Fab until "Michin" Mia Yim runs into the ring with a shinai and strikes Piper while Chelsea retreats. Piper counters, but Michin regains the upper hand.

WWE acknowledges the recent passing of Bob Uecker. In memory of Bob Uecker, 1934 - 2025.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Tiffany Stratton. Tiffany admits Bayley had some big moments in the last year, but so has she, and she is now those moments. She says that Bayley's dream is going to die, because it is now "Tiffy Time."

Two-time WWE Women's Champion Victoria is seen in the crowd.

Kevin Owens beats Rey Mysterio after bumping into the referee, knocking him into the ropes and knocking Rey off the top turnbuckle, allowing Owens to hit the pop-up powerbomb for the win. After the match, Owens goes for a package piledriver on Rey, but Cody Rhodes runs into the ring and stops Owens. Officials have to run into the ring to restore order.

Backstage, Nick Aldis confronts "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and states that at Saturday Night's Main Event, both he and Owens will relinquish their respective titles and sign their match contract, and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels will moderate the contract signing.

Backstage, #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) confronts Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) for allowing The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) to win tonight. Ciampa says he hates people who are happy to be here, as they are jokes, and tells them to become men. Ciampa leaves, then Gargano tells Pretty Deadly to get their acts together and heads off. Apollo Crews shows up again and says he told them so, but Pretty Deadly refuse to listen to him. Gargano then returns and attacks Apollo.

Roxanne Perez is seen in the crowd.

We see a vignette for Charlotte Flair.

Tiffany Stratton retains the WWE Women's Championship against Bayley. At one point in the match, Bayley has a confrontation with Roxanne Perez at the front row.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

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