WWE SmackDown Live Coverage 1/10 - Tiffany Stratton Celebration, Both US Champs In Action

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE SmackDown" on January 3, 2025, coming to you live from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon!

It's the blue brand's second-ever three-hour offering, and thus far it's set to be a night full of gold, with two champions defending their titles and one new champion celebrating her ascent. Last week, Tiffany Stratton finally cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase to claim the WWE Women's Championship from Nia Jax. Now, Stratton is set to celebrate her huge victory. What will she have to say, and will Jax — or anyone else — make an appearance? Meanwhile, in wrestling action, men's United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura is set to take on the man he took the belt from, LA Knight, while women's US champ Chelsea Green will have a rematch with the woman she beat to become the first champion, "Michin" Mia Yim. Will there be one or more new champions crowned?

It's Friday night again, and we are live!

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett welcome us in, as they are your new "SmackDown" announce team. Tiffany Stratton and Shinsuke Nakamura are seen arriving, and Paul Heyman is shown backstage as a video package airs recapping "WWE Raw's" Netflix debut on Monday, which saw Roman Reigns defeat Solo Sikoa to reclaim the ula fala and the title of "Tribal Chief."

Paul Heyman says his name, then says there are times when you just can't wait to walk down to the ring and address the entire Island of Relevancy. Tonight is one of those nights. It's amongst the greatest honors of his career to announce that there is only one reigning, defending, Undisputed Tribal Chief, and that is Roman Reigns. He's authorized Heyman to tell everyone what he intends to accomplish next. And he's not just going to share it with everyone in Portland and everyone watching at home, but with one person in particular who deserves to hear this news face to face, and that man is the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes. Heyman asks Rhodes to come down to the ring, and his music hits.

Rhodes comes down to a huge reaction, which Heyman says he deserves. He's done something very few men in this business have ever done: He's earned the respect of Roman Reigns. Heyman respects him, the fans respect him, and what a champion he's been. He's a credit to all of WWE. Because he's such a great champion, Reigns has asked Heyman to tell Rhodes that, now that he's won back the ula fala, Reigns now wants his title back. And so there are no surprises, Reigns wants Cody to know how he's getting it back. This is not a prediction, this is a spoiler: Roman Reigns declares he's entering the 2025 men's Royal Rumble, which he will win, and go on to Mania to fight Rhodes for the title once again. With that in mind, Heyman asks Cody "what do you want to talk about?"

Before Rhodes can speak, Kevin Owens' voice says he actually wants to talk about how just when he thought Cody couldn't get worse, it actually does. Because on "Raw," he shook hands with The Rock. Now he shakes hands with Paul Heyman, and 30 seconds after that he says Reigns wants his title back. Kevin says Cody did that to himself, because he should have let The Bloodline rip Roman Reigns to shreds, but he helped him, and is hurting the entire company. Cody leaves the ring and runs up to where Kevin is coming down through the crowd, and they brawl.

Back in the ring, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga are suddenly here with a defenseless Heyman. They back him into the corner, but Jimmy Uso's music hits and he runs down and hits superkicks on Fatu and Tonga. Jimmy hits hip attacks on both as well, then goes out to ringside and grabs a chair. Jimmy nails Tonga and then Fatu with the chair, but Fatu seems unaffected and clotheslines Jimmy. Fatu and Tonga double team Jimmy now and drop him into the corner, pressing a chair into his face. Referees are trying to stop them but Fatu superkicks the only one who gets in the ring.

Cody is coming back down, and now he's back to defend Heyman. Cody and Fatu face off now. Cody ducks a Fatu clothesline, hits some punches, ducks another clothesline, then sends Fatu out of the ring with a clothesline of his own. Referees and producers now hold Fatu and Tonga back on the outside while Cody holds the ring, and his music plays.

Back from break, The New Bloodline are still brawling with staff backstage. Jacob Fatu says there's no way in hell they're taking him out of there, but LA Knight drives him out.

Michin is in the ring and awaits the arrival of the champion. As usual Piper Niven accompanies Chelsea Green to the ring. Mia Yim goes for Eat Defeat immediately but Green escapes and rolls out of the ring. Michin with chops, then a spin kick, then comes off the ropes for a dropkick which gets her a two count. Green goes to the ropes but Michin drags her away. Green is able to drive Michin's head into the turnbuckle, but Michin counters her into a Tarantula. The ref breaks the count and Michin comes off the ropes, but Green blocks her and sends her to the outside, where she throws Michin into the ringside barrier. Green celebrates with Piper then gets back into the ring, hoping for a count-out win. Michin gets back in the ring and the match continues as we go to commercial.

Back from break again, and Green is on top and jawing with the crowd. Now she has Michin in a rear choke, but Michin fights to her feet. Green grabs Michin's hair and gets her back in the choke hold. Michin escapes with an arm drag, Chelsea grabs her in a side headlock. Michin fights on with punches and tries to come off the ropes, Green headlocks her again but Michin gets her up for a back suplex. Green eats a back elbow and a boot, and Michin hits a pair of ranas. Michin with a running dropkick, sending Green into the corner. Michin twerks, then his a cannonball. She drags Green out of the corner for a cover but only gets two.

Green counters a Michin clothesline attempt into a flatliner but only gets two. She covers again and gets two again. Green going to the top now. Michin moves out of the way and hits a spin kick, then a Pele kick, then a running knee. Michin drags Green to the center of the ring. Niven tries to attack her on the apron but Michin delivers a kick, then a front flip senton off the apron. Michin goes to the top rope and hits a crossbody, but Green rolls through into a pin, grabbing the tights for the three and the win!

Winner and still women's United States Champion, Chelsea Green.

Piper Niven now executing a post-match attack on Michin, dropping her with a running senton. She and Green retreat up the ramp, victorious.

A package airs recapping the MCMG vs. DIY tag match last week. Now it's earlier today backstage with several teams and Nick Aldis. A-Town Down Under come in and berate the others, threatening to go to "Raw." Aldis makes a match between Pretty Deadly and Los Garza, then another one between MCMG and A-Town Down Under.

Los Garza got their entrance before commercial and now Pretty Deadly are in the ring after the break. Los Garza attack immediately with fast-paced action and a dive to the outside. Berto dodges a Kit Wilson kick and hits a standing moonsault before tagging in Angel. Wilson begs for his life while Los Garza mock him. He tries to jump over them and make the tag, but they catch him and deliver a double superkick. Angel goes for the cover but Wilson kicks out at two.

Angel muscles Wilson onto the apron, then comes off the ropes with a running knee. Berto rolls Wilson into the ring where Angel gets two again. Wilso tries to get some offense but Berto is hitting him with dropkicks and generally outfighting him. Elton Prince makes a sneaky tag, however, and drops Berto with a reverse neckbreaker across the top rope as we go to break.

Back from commercial, Prince has Berto in a headlock but Berto fights to his feet with punches. Berto tries to make a tag, Prince won't let him, Berto levels him with a punch but Prince again prevents the tag. Wilson tags in but Berto counters him and makes the tag. Angel comes in and drops Wilson with a succession of movies, including a crossbody off the top rope for a two count. Angel with a rana on Wilson, who is now screaming and asking where DIY are. Angel hits a big superkick, but Wilson kicks out. Wilson steps on Angel's foot and tries for a Whip, but Angel kicks him in the face. Prince again gets a sneaky hit on Angel from the apron and makes the tag, but Elektra Lopez distracts the ref while Santos Escobar drops Prince onto the top turnbuckle with his legs wide. Los Garza then hit Prince with a big double team move and get the three count.

Winners: Los Garza

A package recap airs for Tiffany Stratton's title win last wee, but that's happening later, because now LA Knight is making his way to the ring!

Nakamura comes out with his very spooky new entrance. The bell rings and they circle each other before locking up. Knight shoves Nak's arms away, they circle again, they lock up again, he does it again. Now they circle but Knight dodges a kick and gets a side headlock. Nak shoves him into the ropes and they meet in the middle with neither man going down. They lock up again and get into the corner, where the ref separates them. Knight throwing punches, Nak tosses him into the ropes but Knight drops him and stomps him in the corner. Knight comes running in but Nak moves and goes to the apron. Knight drags him up but Nakamura hits a kick, then drapes Knight over the apron and delivers a running knee to the head on the outside. Back in the ring, Nak is kicking a prone Knight, who gets up and stumbles to the corner. Nak with chops, Knight fights back but Nak kicks his leg and hits some more strikes. Nak gets Knight onto the top turnbuckle, lays him over it horizontally and hits a running knee to the gut.

Knight goed to the outside but Nak knees him when he tries to come in. Knight clotheslines Nak from the apron and drops him to the floor, then hits a running baseball slide that sends Nak into the announce desk, which Knight proceeds to bounce his head off while the crowd chants" Yeah!" each time. Knight rolls Nak back in the ring and waits for him to get up, then clotheslines him right back out of the ring. Knight poses for a minute, then goes to the outside. Knight lifts up Nak and tries to run him into the ring post, but Nak reverses and slams Knight into the post instead. The crowd boos as we go to commercial.

Back from break, Nak and Knight are both getting to their feet. Nak delivers a forearm, now they're exchanging shots. Knight ducks a punch and hits a clothesline, then mounts Nak with punches. Knight sends Nak off the ropes and drops him with a big slam, then does his taunt and drops the elbow, but only gets two. Knight drags Nak to his feet and gets him on his shoulders, but Nak escapes. Knight with punches, but Nak ducks the last one. Knight with a standing switch into a O'Connor roll, but Nak kicks out and Knight nearly hits an exposed turnbuckle. Nak is driven to the outside and Knight hits another basement dropkick. Nak back on the apron, catches a Knight punch and his a kick. He gets to the top rope, but Knight leaps to the top rope and hits a huge superplex. He makes the cover, but Nakamura kicks out at two.

Knight drags Nak up again, blocks a kick, then rolls him over into a full reverse Boston Crab. Nak gets to the ropes and Knight has to break the hold. Knight drags Nak to the center of the ring and goes for the reverse crab again, but Nakamura counters into an armbar. Knight counters that into a pinfall for two, but Nak delivers a spin kick. Nak goes for the Kinshasa, Knight dodges into a roll up which Nak also dodges, Knight goes for the BFT, but Nak escapes. Nakamura hits the Kinshasa flush, but Knight gets his foot on the ropes before the three count!

Nak places Knight's face against the exposed turnbuckle and goes for a running knee, but Knight dodges and Nak runs his knee into the exposed steel. He hits the BFT but can't make the cover just yet, and before he can, Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu mob him in retaliation for his actions earlier.

Winner (by disqualification): LA Knight

After the match, Fatu hits two hip attacks on Knight, driving his head into the botton turnbuckle, then hits. a huge moonsault. Now Cody Rhdoes and Jimmy Uso are here, and they're hitting big kicks on Fatu. Commentary emphasizes that Solo Sikoa is nowhere to be found. Nick Aldis tries to eject the New Bloodline from the arena again, but Cody gets on the mic and suggests a tag match TONIGHT! Aldis agrees and makes the match.

Another video package recapping Tiffany Stratton's cash-in before MCMG and A-Town Down Under make their way to the ring.

Alex Shelley starts with Grayson Waller and immediately gets him in wristlock. Waller punches him and taunts, but Shelley sends him to the outside. Waller tags out and sweeps Chris Sabin's legs out on the apron, and now it's Austin Theory in the ring with Shelley, whipping him chest-first into the corner for a one-count.

Theory bounces Shelley's head off the turnbuckle, then whips him across the ring to the other corner. Theory comes in with strikes but Shelley counters, tags out to Sabin and hits a double team move with him. Theory however gets the better of Sabin and drives him into the heel corner, where Waller tags in. Waller with a headlock and an "Aussie Aussie Aussie!" taunt. Waller and Sabin bounce off the ropes a few times before Waller nails a right hand. Shelley is able to tag in blindly and he and Sabin hit a double kick to the chest, then double clothesline him out of the ring. They get ready to do a high-flying double team move, but Theory grabs Sabin's foot and drags him out of the ring, and Waller hits a rolling flatliner on Shelley as we go to commercial.

Back from break, A-Town Down Under are in control and delivering double strikes to Shelley, who's legal alongside Theory. Theory puts a knee in the back of Shelley, then pushes him off the ropes and delivers a back elbow. Waller tags in, Theory gets Shelley up for a move while Waller goes to the top, but Shelley counters and pushes Theory into Shelley, and he manages to tag Sabin! Sabin lights up Waller, then dropkicks Theory on the outside and a missile dropkick for Waller as well. Sabin goes to the apron and delivers a knee to Theory on the outside, then drops Waller in the ring. Shelley tags in and they hit stereo basement dropkicks. Now Shelly is holding the ropes apart so Sabin can hit a suicide dive through Shelley's legs, the move they were going for earlier. Shelley has Waller back in the ring and Sabin comes of the top from a dropkick/flatliner combination that gets a two-count.

Shelley applies a wristlock and tags Sabin. They whip Waller into the ropes but Theory tags in. Sabin with a superkick to Waller on the outside and he goes for a dive, but Theory cuts him off with an elbow and tags Waller. They hit a pop-up double strike and get two. Waller drag Sabin to his feet, but Sabin hits a jawbreaker. He goes for the tag but there's nobody there Theory goes for a fireman's carry but Sabin escapes and now all four men are in the ring hitting a qucik succession of moves. Sabin and Shelley get the better of things with their fluid teamwork, hitting a series of rapid maneuvers. They hit a double kick on Theory and then nail Skull & Bones for the victory.

Winner: Motor City Machine Guns

DIY are shown watching the match backstage as MCMG celebrate. Pretty Deadly find them and ask why DIY didn't help them earlier. Gargano says they have a lot of heat on them right now. Kit Wilson says the heat is what makes the Pretty Deadly lava lamp glow. Ciampa is increasingly aggravated but Gargano is buttering them up even though he can't remember their names. He says they're eventually getting that tag title match, then DIY walk away. Apollo Crews arrives and says they shouldn't believe what DIY tell them.

Elsewhere backstage, Nia Jax is with Candice LeRae, who says Tiffany Stratton is heading toward the ring. Jax wonders what she'll say, then says she should go congratulate Stratton herself.

Tiffany Stratton enters and she is here for her celebration. But for some reason she has to talk to Byron Saxton first, who congratulates her.

Stratton thanks him and says "It's Tiffy Time!!!!!" Stratton says last week was a "tiffy-turn" of events. She points out that she made her "SmackDown" debut less than a year ago and says she's better than all your favorites even though she's only 25. Saxton asks about Stratton and Jax. Stratton says Nia didn't bully her. Stratton says she befriended Nia and got her to trust her. Who's the stupid one now? Jax thought Tiffany was just a dumb blonde, but Stratton only let her think that. And because of that, Stratton stole her prized possession. And now, she's at the Tiffy-top of her game, and without further ado, put some respect on her name and tell her what time it is!

Nia's music hits and she walks out slowly. Jax calls Stratton an "ungrateful little s***." Jax says she could kill Stratton right now. She's standing there saying she's at the Tiffy-top? She would be nothing without Jax, Jax made her. Congrats on rubbing two brain cells together, it took her long enough. Now Tiffany is having her moment. Jax mockingly says it's Tiffy time, then says "time's up." Jax tells Stratton to give her back the title, or she's gonna take it. However, Bayley's music hits. Bayley suggests Nia shut the hell up. She tells Stratton that if that was the plan all along, she certainly got Bayley, because Bayley definitely thought she was stupid. But she knows Nia's stupid, because Stratton out-smarted her. Bayley says she knows this is Stratton's moment of glory, but Bayley hasn't forgotten that Stratton helped Jax take the title from Bayley, and Nia only kept Stratton around for that reason. So it's only fitting that Bayley takes the title from Stratton.

Now Naomi's music hits and she comes out with Bianca Belair. Naomi says we all know she had Jax beat last week, and would be holding two titles if not for Stratton. So if anybody wants to fight Stratton for the title, they have to go through Naomi. Jax says nobody cares about Naomi, and they get into it, as does Belair and Bayley. The three faces and teaming up on Jax and they're all brawling in the middle of the ring. Stratton then hits the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on all four of them, says it's Tiffy time again, and backs up the ramp holding her title

Nick Aldis interrupts, however. He says Bayley, Jax, Naomi, and Belair will compete in a fatal four-way match to determine the No. 1 Contender, and that match is happening right now!

The bell rings as we come back from break, and they're all attacking each other. Jax throws Bayley of the ring and lines up Naomi and Belair, but they dodge and try to get her up for a double vertical suplex. Jax counters and lifts them both up into a vertical suplex herself. Bayley attacking Jax now with punches, driving her into the corner. Jax shoves her away. Belair whips Naomi into a splash on Jax and Naomi whips Belair into a corner spear. Jax shoves all three away, then leaves the ring in frustration.

The babyfaces now decide to all fight, but Jax drags Belair out of the ring. Bayley and Naomi with a double dropkick on Jax. They lock up in the ring, Naomi throws Bayley into the ropes but Bayley knocks her down. They exchanged more sequences of whips and counters until Naomi hits Bayley with a drop toe hold and rolls her up for a two count. Bayley hits Naomi with a knee, but Jax pulls her out of the ring and attacks Naomi. Naomi with a jawbreaker, then runs the ropes and goes for a rana, but Jax counters into a powerbomb. She covers but Belair breaks it up.

Belair tries to get Jax on her shoulders for the KOD but can't do it. Belair is able to moonsault over Jax before hitting a dropkick, then climbs the second rope to punch Nia in the corner. Jax counters that into a powerbomb and makes the cover, but Bayley breaks it up by kneeing Jax in the face. Bayley grabs Jax and delivers forearms, tries to whip her, ducks a Jax clothesline and hits a suplex for two. Bayley to the top rope, but Jax hits a punch and a headbutt. Jax climbs to the top and is trying to get Bayley up for something, but Bayley fights out. Jax tries again and gets her up this time, but the tag champs grab Jax and hit a double powerbomb out of the turnbuckle, while Bayley takes a Samoan Drop from Jax at the same time. All four women are down as we go to commercial.

Back from break, Jax has Naomi down and his dragging her up, but Naomi hits a jawbreaker and a kick. Jax catches Naomi and hits her with a Black Hole Slam, but Bayley and Belair break up the cover. Bayley and Belair working together now, punching Jax from both sides. They come off the ropes and drive her out of the ring with shoulder tackles, then face each other. They exchange forearms, come off the ropes, Bayley counters a suplex attempt into a roll-up for two. Belair goes for the KOD, Bayley escapes. Jax is back and takes down both of them. Now Naomi is back and hits a Russian leg sweep. Naomi hits the Split-Legged Moonsault on Jax, but Jax barely kicks out at two. Now Bayley comes off the top rope with a flying elbow drop on Jax, but Naomi pulls her out of the cover. Belair hits a 450 Splash on Jax, but Bayley pulls her off the cover. The babyfaces arguing now, and now Candice LeRae is at ringside. In the ring, the tag champs hit a double Russian Leg Sweep and double elbow drop on Bayley. Now Naomi and Belair face off, but before they can fight, Belair hits a crossbody on Bayley while Naomi goes for a suicide dive on Jax, who catches her and drives her into the ring apron. Jax gets Belair up, but Belair escapes and hits a spear. She makes the cover but Bayley breaks it up, then hits the Bayley-to-Belly on Belair, but Naomi breaks up the cover. Naomi hits Rear View on Bayley but Jax breaks up that cover. Jax hits a Samoan Drop on Naomi, but Belair breaks up that cover. The crowd is on their feet as all four women try to get to theirs.

Jax is first to her feet and she faces off with Belair, driving her shoulder first into the ring post. Naomi hits a dropkick on Jax, but then Bayley hits Naomi with a knee. Belair with a spinebuster and a handspring moonsault on Bayley, who kicks out at two. Belair grabs Bayely and gets her up for the KOD, but LeRae grabs her braid. Belair is trying to pull it out of her hands and ends up accidentally hitting Naomi with the braid. Jax drags Belair out of the ring, but Belair tackles her over the announce table. But back in the ring, Bayley is able to hit the Rose Plant on Naomi and gets three!

Winner, and new No. 1 contender to the WWE Women's Championship: Bayley

Cody Rhodes is backstage and Jimmy Uso approaches. Cody tells Jimmy that he knew Roman's challenge was coming, but that's for another night. Cody leaves, and now Carmelo Hayes is here and he's threatening Jimmy, saying he could end up like Braun Strowman. Jimmy asks what Hayes catchphrase is again, and Hayes says "Melo don't miss." Jimmy says that with all those bricks, you could build a house, then yeets and walks off.

After a break, Bayley is walking backstage and Saxton is here to congratulate her, he says the match will take place next week. Bayley says her whole career has been about taking advantage of opportunities. She says she's grown up in this business, has known people like Stratton her whole career, and she's wrestled Stratton all year long, and you know what? Stratton has never beaten her. She walks off. Its announced that Solo Sikoa will return next week, as well, and Los Garza will face MCMG.

Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu are walking backstage toward the ring. Fatu says the difference between their Bloodlines is that Jimmy's Bloodline left him on the front line, and Cody Rhodes should wake up, because his nightmare is here. Inexplicably does not yell "I love you, Solo!"

The Bloodline — although actually they might not technically be that anymore — come down first before commercial, and then after commercial, Jimmy Uso and Cody Rhodes make their entrances. The bell rings, and it's Cody and Tama Tonga to start things out. They go for a lock up but Rhodes switches and gets his back. They grapple for a moment before Rhodes hits a delayed vertical suplex. Cody with a wristlock and tags in Uso, who comes off the top rope over Tonga's arm. Tonga manages to hit a series of strikes, driving Uso into the corner and tagging in Fatu, who drives into into the opposite corner. Uso with a chop and goes for a whip but Fatu reverses. Jimmy fights off Tonga on the apron, which allows Fatu to hit a Samoan Drop. He mugs at the camera as we go to break once again.