Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for January 24, 2025

Joe Tessitore interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes in the ring to start tonight's show. Cody considers Shawn Michaels the perfect person to moderate the contract signing for his and Owens' Ladder Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship and says he has no problem handing his championship to him. He then says that it is important how one walks into and main events WrestleMania, and that one should have the Undisputed WWE Championship. Cody admits that Kevin Owens elicits a mixed bag of emotions and is capable of more than people think, but when given the choice between the easy way out and the hard way, Owens usually chooses the easy way. He states that with a ladder match, there is no referee who can stop them, as it is all about who can climb the ladder and take the championship first. Cody admits that he appears to be a good guy, then lists off the people he has recently beaten as champion and reminds everyone that he can be as mean as he can get before wishing Kevin Owens good luck.

Backstage, Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) meet with #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa), and Johnny Gargano mentions that he has a match with Apollo Crews tonight. Ciampa tells Pretty Deadly to handle their business, and Gargano tells them to do what it takes to get the job done against The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley). #DIY leave, then Pretty Deadly run into Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Elektra Lopez, Angel, Berto) and have a brief staredown before they walk on.

The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) beat Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince).

Backstage, The Miz meets with General Manager Nick Aldis and finds out that he has been transferred to SmackDown. Miz realizes that Karrion Kross got him moved to the brand along with The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross), and Aldis advises Miz that he should make some new friends quickly.

We see a video package for Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu at Saturday Night's Main Event.

Kevin Owens suddenly shows up wanting to know where his interview is and says that Joe Tessitore is making him miss Michael Cole, who he says is kissing Pat McAfee's ass like everyone kisses "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes' ass. He then asks why everyone wants to be Cody's friend only to be used by Cody before stating that he will be the rightful WWE Champion after Saturday Night's Main Event. He then has an argument with Matthew McConaughey before Jimmy Uso shows up. Owens wants to know why Jimmy is here, and Jimmy says it is because Owens talks too much before smacking him and nearly hitting him with the Uso Splash. When Owens retreats, Jimmy challenges him to a match.

2024 PBR World Champions the Austin Gamblers are seen in the front row. Also, it is announced that Jimmy Uso vs. Kevin Owens is official for tonight's main event.

Backstage, Carmelo Hayes meets with General Manager Nick Aldis. He finds out his match with Jimmy Uso is next week and that he will be facing a debuting SmackDown transfer tonight. Carmelo wants to know who this new transfer is, and Aldis says he will find out if he sticks around.

"Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab beat Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.

Backstage, Carmelo Hayes finds out his opponent is Damian Priest. Priest says he is ready to work and ready to punish, much to Carmelo's chagrin.

We see another vignette for Charlotte Flair. She says that confidence is knowing that one is the greatest without having to say that they are. She says that she has created a legacy nobody can touch and that she is back, and says that she will remind everyone who owns the night when she returns at the Royal Rumble.

Tiffany Stratton heads to the ring. She says that once again, she is the center of attention when thirty women face each other in the Royal Rumble for a chance to face her at WrestleMania. She says she has beaten last year's winner and that she is not worried, and that her next challenger will be running on Tiffy Time. Suddenly, Rhea Ripley heads to the ring and reminds Tiffany that she is also a champion. Rhea admits she respects what Tiffany did to Nia Jax, but says it will be nothing compared to what she does to her at Saturday Night's Main Event. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae show up, and Nia declares herself for the Royal Rumble, which she proclaims that she will win. She also says she will enter after beating Rhea for her title before taking Tiffany's title back. Bianca Belair and Naomi soon show up, and Naomi declares for the Royal Rumble and states that she will win. Bianca also proclaims for the match and states that she will be the winner. They both agree that one of them will be the winner before Liv Morgan arrives. Liv Morgan shows up with Raquel Rodriguez and makes fun of everyone in the ring before declaring herself and her victory for the Royal Rumble. She also boasts that Raquel will ensure her victory before Rhea Ripley headbutts her. This starts a brawl between everyone in the ring, and General Manager Nick Aldis heads towards the ring before the commercial break.

The Mobley Family are the recipients of the Papa Johns Seat Upgrade.

Nia Jax, Candice LeRae and Liv Morgan beat Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and Naomi with a crucifix pin from Liv to Bianca.

Backstage, Chelsea Green and Piper Niven are met by "Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab, who say that the numbers were evened tonight before Michin tells Chelsea that they have a Women's United States title match next week.

Apollo Crews beats Johnny Gargano with a surprise roll-up as The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) head towards the ring.

Backstage, Jacob Fatu says he is both Godzilla and King Kong regarding his match with Braun Strowman on the way to the ring for the next match.

Actor and comedian Shane Gillman, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, and comedian and WWE fan Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias are seen in the crowd.

Before the next match, LA Knight says that Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu have hell to pay and that tonight, he will give Tama Tonga a BFT and kick Jacob Fatu so hard that there will be no way to stop the shakes, even if that means there is nothing left for Braun Strowman.

LA Knight beats Tama Tonga. After the match, Jacob Fatu attacks LA Knight and throws him at the announce table, then Braun Strowman shows up. Jacob gets in the ring, and Strowman somehow avoids the distraction by Tama Tonga to fend Jacob off.

Backstage, The Miz meets with A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory) and says that the three of them will run SmackDown. General Manager Nick Aldis then shows up and tells A-Town Down Under that they are going to Raw, much to A-Town Down Under's excitement and Miz's disappointment.

We hear from Shinsuke Nakamura, who warns everyone who challenges him for the United States title that their efforts will be fruitless and that they will get nothing but a crushed, hurt and shattered body while the title still stays in his hands. He then declares himself for the Royal Rumble and that declares that he will seize victory again, as 2025 will be the year of his conquest beginning with the Royal Rumble.

Damian Priest beats Carmelo Hayes.

Backstage, #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) finds out from General Manager Nick Aldis and The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) that they have a two-out-of-three falls match for the WWE Tag Team Championships against the Machine Guns at Royal Rumble. #DIY is furious.

WWE Legend Michelle McCool and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry are seen in the crowd.

Backstage, Damian Priest meets "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and shakes hands with him. Cody welcomes him aboard, and Priest tells Cody that he will see him soon.

Backstage, The Miz tries to start a partnership with Andrade, who leaves after he tells The Miz to let him find someone. Jimmy Uso then shows up on his way to the ring and runs into Carmelo Hayes, telling him that it will take only three moves to beat him. As Jimmy heads to the ring, Carmelo attacks him from behind before officials stop him.

Kevin Owens beats Jimmy Uso. After the match, Owens is about to put Jimmy through the announce table with the package piledriver before Cody Rhodes runs in and fights Owens. Both men continue to go at it as the show ends.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

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