The John Report: WWE SmackDown 01/17/25 Review

This is WWE Smackdown featuring Tiffany Stratton facing Bayley for the WWE Women’s Title, plus Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens continue their rivalry.

Last week’s Smackdown episode ended with Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens fighting and both men going through a table. Cody lost a tag team match with Jey Uso against Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga in the main event. We are now into week three of three-hour SmackDown and the second week where I’m watching on Netflix here in Canada.

From the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, this is Smackdown for episode #1326. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport, friend me on Facebook, or chat with me on the Bluesky App as well. Let’s get to it.

The commentary team of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett were shown walking from the backstage area as they made their way out to ringside. They pushed the Tiffany Stratton-Bayley match while showing both women walking around earlier in the day. Plus, Jimmy Uso and Carmelo Hayes were shown walking separately since they’re in a match as well. They introduced the hometown hero Rey Mysterio to open the show.

Let’s Hear from Rey Mysterio

The WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio made his entrance in his hometown of San Diego and he got a big ovation. Rey was without his LWO buddies. Rey hugged his daughter Aaliyah at ringside. Joe noted we are just 92 days away from WrestleMania is Las Vegas.

Rey welcomed the fans to Smackdown where he reminded us this is the home of the 619. Rey said it feels great to be back home in front of his people, his city and his family with his daughter at ringside. Rey said he couldn’t think of a better place to officially declare his entry in the 2025 Royal Rumble. Rey reminded us that in 2006 he entered the Royal Rumble at #2, outlasted the other superstars and won the Rumble. Rey said he went on to become the World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania 22. Rey said that the competition is heavy this year with Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and John Cena. Rey said when he won in 2006 he did it for a friend that we all know very well, so that led to “Eddie” chants for the late, great Eddie Guerrero.

Kevin Owens interrupted the promo leading to boos from the fans. Owens had the Winged Eagle WWE Title with him. Owens was wearing a shirt that said “The Canadian Son of a Security Systems Technician” on it. That’s great. Owens apologized for interrupting, but he had to come out here. Owens said he heard Rey talking about how he was going to win the Royal Rumble. Owens said that there are very few people that he respects as much as he respects Rey. Owens said he’d say there’s nobody that he respects as much as he respects Rey. Owens said that he has accomplished a lot like main eventing WrestleMania with Steve Austin, main evented WrestleMania with his then best friend to win the Tag Team Titles, and now he gets to hold the WWE Championship that he grew up watching. Owens claimed he was the true, rightful WWE Champion. Owens said that there’s something more he wants to do and that’s have a singles match with Rey Mysterio. Owens got into the ring saying he is rooting for Rey with everything he has. Owens wanted Rey to promise him that he will pick him for a match at WrestleMania so Owens can have his dream match.

Rey said he loves competition. Rey told Owens he was not the champion and reminded Owens that Cody was the champion. Rey said if he wins the Royal Rumble and Owens wins then he would be glad to face him for the title. Owens yelled at Rey that he was the champion while claiming he earned it and deserved it. Owens yelled at Rey wondering what he was talking about. Rey said that Owens is acting so delusional and Rey said Owens reminds Rey of Dominik. Owens tried an attack, but Rey dropkicked the knee. Rey wanted a 619 by the ropes, but Owens bailed to the floor and left with the Winged Eagle WWE Title Rey’s music played to end it.

Analysis: It was a confident promo from Rey Mysterio declaring his spot in the Royal Rumble match. I don’t think Rey has a shot to win, but he’s still a big name since he’s an active WWE Hall of Famer and a former Rumble winner. Kevin Owens was respectful to Rey until Rey spoke the truth by saying Cody Rhodes was actually the WWE Champion and that set Owens off. Anyway, this should lead to a match later in the show, which is certainly with me. Good idea to put Rey out there first since the crowd was hot for him in his hometown.

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Naomi were backstage saying that there was no update on who attacked Jade Cargill. Belair apologized for hitting Naomi last week, Belair said that LeRae grabbed her hair and Naomi said she knows that. They made their way for a match with Naomi telling Belair to wrap her hair up, so Belair tied her hair up.

The team of Nia Jax and Candice LeRae entered for tag team action.

A commercial aired for WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. Individual tickets are on sale next Friday with a pre-sale next Wednesday, so get those tickets if you are going. I think I’ll be at home for it this year.

(Commercial)

Rey Mysterio was backstage talking to Smackdown GM Nick Aldis. Aldis told Rey he’ll get what he wants tonight – a match with Kevin Owens. Cody Rhodes walked out of a room with a suit saying they had him getting checked by doctors to make sure he is cleared. Rey told Cody to heal up so Cody is rested for the Royal Rumble. Rey left. Aldis asked Cody what the doctor said and Cody said that the doctor cleared him. Aldis wanted Cody and Kevin to sign an addendum for their Royal Rumble match because he can’t let what happened at Saturday Night’s Main Event to happen again. Cody said he’ll sign it after Kevin signs it. Cody left.

Analysis: The Rey-Owens match was obvious based on the opening segment. It made sense to have that backstage segment to make it official.

Naomi & Bianca Belair vs. Nia Jax & Candice LeRae

This is not for the Women’s Tag Team Titles held by Belair and Naomi.

Jax attacked Belair from behind when the bell rang. LeRae tagged in leading to Belair hitting two shoulder tackles and Belair hit a vertical suplex. Belair worked over LeRae with punches followed by a backflip over Jax and a dropkick by Belair. Belair pressed LeRae over her head and launched LeRae over the top onto Jax on the floor. It was still full screen action for me on Netflix while I believe it was picture-in-picture for fans on USA Network. LeRae and Jax took over as they worked over Belair. Jax taunted Belair, so Belair hit Jax with her braided hair because it was no longer tied above Belair’s head. Jax hit a forearm to knock Belair out of the ring to the floor. LeRae was back in for her team as she pulled back on Belair’s leg while putting a knee into the back. LeRae did some more checking as the action continued.

Belair tried to break free after knocking LeRae down, but LeRae pulled down Belair by the hair braid. Belair tried to tag out, but Jax walked over to Naomi and pulled Naomi off the apron. Jax sent Naomi into the barricade. Belair got a rollup on LeRae for two. Jax tagged in with a clothesline and Samoan Drop. LeRae grabbed Belair’s hair again, so Belair sent LeRae into the ring post. Belair fought back against Jax with a cross body block off the top rope. Naomi was back in there for her team, she knocked Jax down and hit a split-legged moonsault off the ropes, but LeRae was there to break up a pin attempt. Belair was back in leading to Jax knocking her down and Jax hit a Samoan Drop on Naomi. Belair stopped Jax with a Spear. Belair went for a handstand off the ropes, but LeRae was legal leading to a dropkick. LeRae and Jax each hit senton splashes on Belair leading to LeRae getting a two count. Some fans were chanting, “this is awesome” for them. Belair sent LeRae into the turnbuckle followed by a spinebuster. Belair did a handstand moonsault. Jax went for a leg drop, Belair moved and Jax hit the leg drop on LeRae. Belair knocked Jax off the apron with a clothesline. Naomi hit a Full Nelson Bomb aka Bubba Bomb that Joe called it. Naomi used her legs to pin down LeRae for the win. It went about 11 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Naomi & Bianca Belair

Analysis: *** The match was pretty good with the champions working well together to get the clean win. Any time Jax and LeRae are in a match you know that if the team is going to lose, it’s probably going to be LeRae taking the pin. Jax is always booked strong even when she’s the champion. Last week there was that spot where Belair accidentally hit Naomi, but there was nothing like that this week.

After the match, Joe said that Belair & Naomi will defend the Women’s Tag Team Titles against NXT’s Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson in Atlanta. Joe didn’t say the date, but it’s January 28th on NXT in Atlanta. They are doing Raw in Atlanta one night earlier.

(Commercial)

Bayley was shown talking to Byron Saxton earlier in the day when the arena was empty. Bayley was excited to be in the main event in her home state of California. Bayley talked about how last year at this time she was winning the Royal Rumble and became the WWE Women’s Champion. Bayley spoke about how she felt like her title was taken from her at SummerSlam due to Tiffany Stratton helping Nia Jax, so Bayley wants to take the title back. Bayley said that Stratton has reached the “Tiffy Top” and Bayley wants to get her title back, so tonight it’s personal.

Analysis: I like stuff like that because it’s only about two minutes, but it builds up the main event by talking to Bayley about how important the match is.

Michin was talking to B-Fab in the women’s locker room. Michin complained about Chelsea Green, so B-Fab tried to encourage her. Piper Niven walked in like she was a security guard leading to Women’s US Champion Chelsea Green trashing Michin for losing to her. B-Fab called Niven a mall cop, so Niven threatened her. B-Fab suggested they handle this problem tonight and B-Fab said after she’s done with Niven, Green better watch her back. B-Fab and Michin left while Green told Niven to neutralize her tonight.

Jimmy Uso was shown walking backstage talking about his match with Carmelo Hayes saying the goal was to make Carmelo stay missing. Jimmy said he was proud of the Yeet Man because his brother got his title match, so now he’s going to go get his. Jimmy said “Big Jim is him” to end it. Jimmy made his entrance with the fans cheering him. The fans like him, but he needs something like the “Yeet” gesture that Jey Uso has.

There was a commercial for WWE Shop merchandise.

(Commercial)

Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes

There was a promo from Carmelo Hayes trashing Jimmy Uso before the match by saying that Jimmy was living in the shadow of his brother Jey, who is living in the shadow of Roman Reigns.

They exchanged moves early on leading to Jimmy hitting a hiptoss into a neckbreaker. Jimmy went for a charging hip attack, Melo moved and then Jimmy punched Melo with an uppercut. Jimmy suplexed Melo on the apron. Jimmy hit a suicide dive onto Melo on the floor, so Melo went flying over the barricade to the floor. The graphic said that the match continues, but they showed it during the break here on Netflix. Jimmy sent Melo into the ring post. They went back into the ring where Melo did a stun gun into the top rope followed by a springboard clothesline. Melo hit a running hip attack on Jimmy against the turnbuckle. Melo remained in control with an elbow. Melo grabbed an armbar taking control of Jimmy on the mat.

The match continued with Melo in control with a forearm to the back. Melo set up Jimmy on the top rope. Jimmy elbowed Melo off the top rope, Jimmy went for a twisting attack off the top, but Melo moved out of the way. Melo hit a springboard DDT for two. The fans were chanting “Let’s go Jimmy” as they did a double clothesline spot for a two count. Melo hit a move where she spun around Jimmy’s upper body leading to a facebuster. Jimmy hit a Popup Samoan Drop for a two count. That was a good move that was executed perfectly. Jimmy jumped off the top, but Melo hit the First 48 double knee attack for a two count. The fans were chanting “this is awesome” after that nearfall. Melo jumped off the top, Jimmy avoided it and Jimmy hit a superkick for two. The fans bought that as a nearfall because it was a great looking superkick by Jimmy. Jimmy followed up with a running hip attack, but Melo hit a rollup for two. Melo went off the ropes, but Jimmy hit a Spear. Jimmy went up top and his cousin Jacob Fatu was on the apron, so Jimmy stopped himself. Tama Tonga shoved Jimmy off the top leading to the DQ finish. It went 11 minutes.

Winner by disqualification: Jimmy Uso

Analysis: ***1/4 They were on their way to having a very good match and then it ended abruptly due to the interference. It wasn’t a big surprise to see it end that way. I’d like to see Jimmy and Melo run it back in the future.

After the match, Tama Tonga beat up Jimmy with punches. Fatu hit a running hip attack on cousin Jimmy. Tama jumped up leading to a DDT on Jimmy as well. Melo tried to talk to Fatu and Tama, but then Fatu nailed Melo with a clothesline. Fatu hit another running hip attack on Jimmy, who rolled out of the ring to the floor.

Solo Sikoa made his entrance wearing a red jacket along with gloves. Joe said we’ll hear from Solo up next. Solo got into the ring as was shown here on Netflix’s version of Smackdown. Jacob Fatu told the fans to show respect for Solo. Fatu said they’ll leave like the Chargers left this city and told the fans to shut up to let Solo speak. The show returned from break after that.

Let’s Hear from Jacob Fatu Instead Of Solo Sikoa

Solo Sikoa was in the ring about to do a promo, but the fans kept booing. Solo dropped the microphone and walked away through the crowd. Fatu and Tama were left alone in the ring. Fatu said that’s what it comes to, huh? Fatu said he’s tired of the disrespect and the hate. Fatu said even on his bad day, you still can’t touch him. Fatu said he didn’t give a damn if you cheer them or boo them. Fatu told the fans to shut up. Fatu said he won’t let the fans act like he never got his. Fatu said that the crazy thing about this situation is that he is just getting started.

LA Knight’s music hit as LA Knight attacked Fatu and Tama with punches. Tama held Knight’s leg, so Fatu hit a running forearm smash. Braun Strowman made the save for Knight as Tama jumped onto Braun, so Braun threw Tama into the barricade. Braun faced off with Fatu in the ring, it looked like Fatu wanted to fight and then Tama pulled Fatu out of the ring. Braun and Knight stood together in the ring while Tama calmed Fatu down on the floor.

Analysis: It was nice to hear from Jacob Fatu like that. I’m excited about Fatu’s future as much as any wrestler in the company. His upside is enormous in WWE. It’s just a matter of time for him to get some big wins and break out as a main event star. I think this situation will probably lead to Fatu & Tama against Strowman & Knight. As for Solo being silent, I guess it’s one of those situations where he is sad about the loss to Roman Reigns and it will take a few weeks to see Solo back to his normal self.

Legado Del Fantasma was backstage with Santos Escobar encouraging Los Garza for their tag team match. Elektra Lopez was there too as they talked about Los Garza beating Pretty Deadly last week. Escobar said that there’s never a red carpet for them and nobody will hand them respect. Escobar told them to take respect from them. They put their hands together and said “familia” to end it.

The Motor City Machine Guns made their entrance for tag team action.

This Monday on Raw: Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre in a WrestleMania 40 rematch.

(Commercial)

The announcers talked about WWE’s partnership deal with TNA that was announced earlier in the week. Good time to mention that since Motor City Machine Guns are TNA legends.

Los Garza – Angel & Humberto (w/Elektra Lopez) vs. The Motor City Machine Guns – Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley

Shelley and Angel exchanged some moves leading to slap by Angel. Humberto tagged in for a splash onto Shelley’s back followed by a standing moonsault. Shelley worked over Humberto with punches, Sabin tagged in and they hit a double back body drop. Sabin hit the running dropkick to Angel while Shelley held Angel. Sabin did a headscissors on Humberto, but Angle made a blind tag leading to a dropkick on Sabin. Angel hit a running knee while Garza did a kick to the back. There was a break for some while the action continued here on Netflix. Angel worked over Sabin with forearms. Berto was in control of Sabin with some choking across the middle turnbuckle. Angel did a cheap shot on Sabin. There were quick tags from Berto and Angel as the show returned for all viewers.

The match continued with Berto hitting a neckbreaker off a Gory Bomb by his cousin. Sabin managed to hit an enziguri kick to break free. Shelley got the tag with punches along with a running forearm on Berto. Shelley did a flying headscissors. Sabin wrenched Berto’s right leg against the ropes leading to the Guns kicked both knees of Garza leading to Sabin getting a two count. Shelley was back in with a Figure Four Leglock on Garza while Sabin went into the ring for his own Figure Four Leglock on Angel at the same time. Berto managed to get his hands on the bottom rope to break free while Sabin let go of his move on Angel too. Berto kicked Shelley into the turnbuckle followed by a sitout Powerbomb for two. Angle was back in for a double team move that saw Berto hit a springboard kick while Angel hit a slam and that was good for a two count. That was an impressive double team move. The fans chanted “this is awesome” although it wasn’t a long chant. Sabin was back in with an incredible Tornado DDT to clear the ring. Sabin hit a suicide dive onto both heels on the floor. Shelley was back in with clothesline and Sabin tagged in. Pretty Deadly showed up, Wilson punched Shelley while Prince was distracting the referee and Berto got a rollup, but the referee was busy with PD. The Guns managed to hit their Skull N Bones double team Neckbreaker/Top Rope Splash combo move leading to Shelley getting the pin for his team. It went about 10 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Motor City Machine Guns

Analysis: *** That was a solid tag team match with the crowd getting into it by the end although they weren’t that loud most of the way. The teams are good workers, but character-wise they aren’t the types of team getting big reactions right now. The Guns won because Pretty Deadly screwed up, so Los Garza will have an issue with PD after this.

The Smackdown GM Nick Aldis was shown talking to Kevin Owens backstage. Aldis wanted Owens to sign the addendum. Aldis said Cody won’t sign it until Owens signed it, so Owens said he’d sign it after Cody did. Owens said he didn’t trust Nick, so he needed to read it first, but Owens had a match. Owens said he had a match to prepare, so he told Nick to stop distracting him. Owens left while Nick sarcastically said, “that went well” to end it.

Piper Niven and the Women’s US Champion Chelsea Green made their entrance.

(Commercial)

Piper Niven (w/Chelsea Green) vs. B-Fab

B-Fab is from Canton, Ohio, which is the city where my fake last name came from. B-Fab avoided a charging Piper and hit a spin kick. Piper missed a senton splash. B-Fab avoided a move leading to a DDT. B-Fab kicked Niven to the apron. B-Fab kicked Niven off the apron to the floor. B-Fab told Green to stand back, so Green yelled and B-Fab clotheslined Green on the floor. Back in the ring. Niven hit a senton splash to the back. Niven hit a Piper Driver for the pinfall win after about three minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Piper Niven

Analysis: *1/2 A short match to give Niven a win thanks to her friend Green being at ringside. The fans were not into it, so it was smart to keep it short.

After the match, Green and Niven beat up B-Fab with strikes. Michin ran down to the ring with a kendo stick. Niven got the kendo stick from Michin, so Michin hit a superkick on Niven to clear the ring.

Analysis: That probably set up a tag team match.

Rey Mysterio was shown walking backstage for his match up next.

There was a video tribute shown for baseball legend Bob Uecker, who died earlier this week. Bob is a WWE Hall of Famer who was part of multiple WrestleMania main events. Joe sent condolences to Bob’s family, friends and fans. Bob was 90 years old.

Analysis: That was nice of WWE to mention Bob Uecker. He was a great character and fit in with WWE so well. Rest in peace, Bob.

(Commercial)