WWE wrapped up the 2024 SmackDown with a huge show in Tampa, FL. Cody Rhodes is back and will face Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble in a ladder match. Kevin Owens maintained ownership of the Winged Eagle Belt, and Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline had the upper hand over Sami Zayn. This happened after Zayn defeated Carmelo Hayes in a huge match.
Chelsea Green addressed her adoring audience as United States Women's Champion, and Tiffany Stratton flirted profiting from Nia Jax as they and Candace LeRae were defeated by Bayley, Bianca Belair and Naomi. Braun Strowman defeated Austin Theory while also feuding with Carmelo Hayes and The Bloodline, and the tag team division is in chaos. Street Profits defeated Legado Del Fantasma, as Pretty Deadly, Motor City Machine Guns and DIY had something to say about a great end to 2024 on the Blue Brand.
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Nick Aldis declares that Kevin Owens must vacate the Winged Eagle Championship by the end of the night.
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Naomi, Bayley and Bianca Belair defeated Nia Jax, Candace LeRae and Tiffany Stratton
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Sami Zayn arrived on SmackDown to talk to Nick Aldis. Sami x Carmelo Hayes was made after a fight between them.
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Braun Strowman defeated the Austin Theory
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Michin interrupted Chelsea Green's US title celebration
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Street Profits defeated Legado Del Fantasma.
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Cody Rhodes is back
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Cody x Kevin Owens in a ladder match for the WWE Championship is official for the 2025 Royal Rumble.
1
Kevin Owens refuses to give up the winged eagle belt
Over the past 2 weeks, Kevin Owens has paraded around the WWE Universe, brandishing the classic and coveted Winged Eagle Championship and declaring himself WWE Champion. It may not be official, but it was really, really fun. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis told KO to give up the belt by the end of the night, as everyone in the audience and at home let out a collective “good luck with that.”
Arriving with the Winged Eagle Championship at the end of the show Kevin Owens was confronted by the return of Cody Rhodes carrying the official WWE Championship. Cody refuses to make a martyr of the KO, and Kevin Owens remains furious that a referee error cost him the title in Saturday Night's Main Event. Kevin Owens vs. Cody Rhodes in a WWE Championship match at Royal Rumble now it's official. It's a tantalizing prospect as a departure and a roaring start to WWE's 2025 PLE programming.
2
Nia puts a cat among the pigeons
One of SmackDown's biggest current storylines revolves around the mystery of who injured Jade Cargill. After being off-camera for a few weeks, Bianca Belair and Naomi seem like a legitimate Tag Team, but the WWE Women's Champion Nia Jax cut a pre-match promo accusing Bianca Belair of hurting Jade Cargill. She would be better off keeping an eye on her own doorstep as the gap between her and Mrs. Money In The Bank, Tiffany Stratton, continues to widen.
The women of SmackDown are doing a great job creating intriguing drama. Between Crown Jewel and WarGames, the entire women's division suffered a giant disruption in the momentum of their rivalries. As we move into Netflix, each of these women has character, a motive, and a purpose. This column suspects Naomi from the beginning when it comes to Jade's injury and let's not change our vote now.
3
The monster lives on SmackDown
Braun Strowman has had a very busy start to life on SmackDown in the first three weeks since leaving Raw. He defeated Carmelo Hayes on his first night at Blue Brand, and last week he destroyed the set of The Grayson Waller Effect after being a guest on the show. This week, Strowman got another W against Austin Theory in a very entertaining match, showcasing Braun's power and the underrated personality of A-Town Down Under. But he wasn't done tonight.
In a time when everyone is getting their chance, it's a great show of faith that Braun Strowman would later be involved in a huge segment with Bloodline and Sami Zayn. Braun Strowman is being considered a threat againand maybe it's because he's lost the cheesier, "Vince-friendly" side of his game, but this is a whole new monster.
4
A red, white and green celebration
As expected when she made history in WWE, Chelsea Green is gloriously insufferable as US champion. Her celebration, held dressed as the Statue of Liberty and quoting Fergie Ferg, was as unpleasant as you'd expect, but there's something special going on with Ms. Green. Not only is her star still in pain, but Chelsea Green is uplifting everyone who works with her. Piper Niven continues to improve as her long-suffering companion, Michin receives a hero's welcome to shut up, and Green stands out more and more with each passing week.
The most encouraging thing for everyone is that it seems there is a wealth of midfield talent that Chelsea can work with. This reign and championship are very promising, especially when there is an extra hour of television starting next week. Michin and Chelsea Green are rising to the challenge of making the U.S. Championship important. There's a lot more where that came from.
5
Tag team turmoil continues
After being prepped before the Tag Team Championship match a few weeks ago, the Street Profits are finally ready to make those who hurt them pay. The smart money remains on DIY, but Pretty Deadly has stepped in to suspiciously accuse Garza and Berto of Legado Del Fantasma. Despite his reluctance to believe them, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis booked a match for Street Profits to "get revenge".
Montez and Dawkins scored a victory in SmackDown's ultra-competitive Tag Team division and Apollo Crews suggested that Pretty Deadly were lying about who hurt them and DIY is to blame. All this and Motor City Machine Guns were also involved in getting their name on the title image. The tag division is having a real moment on SmackDown.
6
Melo is money and Sami is in trouble
Carmelo Hayes feels like he's going to explode onto the main roster in 2025. His outburst in Nick Aldis' office to Sami Zayn landed him in the ring with one of the best professional wrestlers of the last 15 years. Sami vs. Melo went as well as expected, only reinforcing the fact that Melo is ready for the next stage of his evolution. Melo threw away the Christmas cards that Braun Strowman presented on last week's show, angering the monster and escalating their rivalry.
It may be veering dangerously into Fantasy Booking territory, but it's easy to get behind the idea of Carmelo Hayes eliminating the Kaiju-sized Strauman at the Royal Rumble. He's had plenty of opportunities this year and, as his nickname suggests, Melo hasn't wasted them. This match went to a No Contest when The Bloodline arrived to destroy Sami Zayn in an incredible segment (with Braun Strowman in the mix as well), but Hayes got his share of the spotlight.
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SmackDown will run for 3 hours from next week's show.
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Grayson Waller is a star. Everything he does is pure gold. See him go in 2025.
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Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Nia Jax defending her championship against Naom are scheduled for next week's SmackDown.
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Austin Theory hasn't won a singles match since January 26th against Carmelo Hayes.
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If loving Pretty Deadly is wrong, we don't want to be right. Yes, boy.
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Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes' mic work in their feud was immaculate.
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Cody Rhodes' last WWE ladder match was as Stardust in a seven-man Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 32.