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WWE SmackDown Results (1/24/25): Charlotte Flair Return Announced, Damian Priest Switches Brands

The Queen is back, Damian Priest is now on SmackDown and Cody Rhodes is ready to give Kevin Owens everything he has at the Royal Rumble.
Rick Ucchino|
Cody Rhodes tonight on SmackDown
Cody Rhodes tonight on SmackDown | WWE

The latest edition of Friday Night SmackDown was live from the Moody Center in Austin, TX Friday night.

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes had plenty to talk about during a show opening interview with Joe Tessitore. The American Nightmare is just eight days out from facing Kevin Owens in a Ladder Match at the Royal Rumble. Tomorrow night at Saturday Night's Main Event both men will have to sign an addendum to their match contract, with the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels there in San Antonio to make sure everything goes smoothly.

The Queen is back in WWE as Charlotte Flair declared for the Women's Royal Rumble Match and she isn't the only former Women's Champion with eyes on heading to WrestleMania 41.

Charlotte's return match was far from the only newsworthy story to come out of SmackDown this week as multiple Superstars have now switched to the Blue Brand via the WWE transfer window.

Here's everything you may have missed on Friday Night in Austin.

Full Match and Segment Results for SmackDown 1/24/25:

  • WWE Champion Cody Rhodes kicked-off the show in Dusty Rhodes country. He spoke to Joe Tessitore about potentially holding the WWE Championship for the last time tomorrow night at Saturday Night's Main Event when he has to hand it over to Shawn Michaels. The American Nightmare spoke about the importance of his ladder match with Kevin Owens, knowing that his ticket to the main of event of WrestleMania 41 is carrying that WWE Title down to the ring.
  • Rhodes said that there is no doubt that Kevin Owens is a genius and a once in a lifetime Superstar. But his downfall will always be his willingness to take the easy way out of difficult situations. That's what makes a Ladder Match the perfect stipulation for the Royal Rumble. There will be no excuses, no referee to miss a pinfall attempt. It's all about who has the grit, who has what it takes to climb the ladder and grab the Championship. He wishes KO all the best in Indianapolis.
  • Backstage Pretty Deadly runs into #DIY. Kit and Elton want to know if the WWE Tag Team Champions have their back tonight against the Motor City Machine Guns. Johnny Gargano says they won't be able to help, because he just found out he has a match with Apollo Crews later. Tommaso Ciampa tells Pretty Deadly to handle their business on their own. Kit and Elton run into Legado Del Fantasma on their way to the ring, but no words are exchanged.
  • Motor City Machine Guns defeated Pretty Deadly. This was a very fast-paced match-up that showed off what Kit Wilson and Elton Prince are capable of doing bell to bell. They gave MCMG a run for their money, but ultimately Sabin and Shelley hit Wilson with Skull and Bones for the victory.
  • The Miz is shown backstage taking to SmackDown GM Nick Aldis. He believes he's in Austin for a friendly visit, but Aldis informs him he is now a member of the Blue Brand via the transfer window. Miz is dumbfounded by the news and openly admitted he got the Wyatt Sicks moved to SmackDown to get them away from him. As he realizes that Karrion Kross likely had something to do with his own move to Friday nights, Aldis advices that Miz find some new friends.
  • The Miz joined Braun Strowman and the Wyatt Sicks as the newest members of SmackDown since the transfer window opened. Bayley recently made the move over to Monday Night Raw. This would not be the only move of the night.
  • WWE shows a video package for Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu at Saturday Night's Main Event. Commentary begins to discuss that match when Kevin Owens comes out of the crowd to interrupt the promotional segment.
  • Owens questions Joe Tessitore's journalist integrity for interviewing Cody Rhodes but not himself. He says Tessitore makes him miss Michael Cole, who is too busy kissing Pat McAfee's a-- to be on SmackDown. KO wants to know why Tessitore joined so many other in kissing Cody Rhodes a--. Owens is then interrupted by the sight of Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey sitting ringside. Owens tell him that he's going to beat Cody at the Rumble the same way Ohio State beat McConaughey's Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoffs.
  • Owens was interrupted by Jimmy Uso before things escalated any further with one of Hollywood's biggest names. Big Jim says KO talks too much and he knocked him down with a right hand. Uso challenged the 'rightful' WWE Champion to a match later tonight.
  • Carmelo Hayes marched into Nick Aldis' office as he was apparently supposed to face Jimmy Uso tonight. Aldis says he'll make that match for next week instead, because Owens and Big Jim will take place in Austin. The SmackDown GM then informed Carmelo that he has the perfect substitute opponent for Hayes tonight in a new Superstar that he's acquired via the transfer window. He asks Melo to stick around to find out who he'll be facing.
  • Michin & B-Fab defeated Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. This was a very quick match that saw Michin sneak a blind tag on B-Fab. She then ducked an Unprettier from Green, connected with Eat Defeat and pinned the Women's United States Champion!
  • Back in Nick Aldis' office we see former World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest! He's the newest member of Friday Night SmackDown and will face Carmelo Hayes later tonight.
  • Charlotte Flair speaks on the difference between confidence and arrogance in pre-recorded video segment. She says the GOAT never has to say that they are the Greatest of All Time. The Queen says no one has built a legacy like she has and after missing a year of action, she's back. Charlotte declares for the 2025 Women's Royal Rumble.
  • The Queen joined Nia Jax and Bayley as the only women to declare for this year's Royal Rumble Match.... at that point in time.
  • Nia Jax, Bianca Belair, Naomi and Liv Morgan all enter the Women's Royal Rumble. Jax had declared herself previously, but she interrupted an in-ring segment between WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton and Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley and said she still plans to win the Rumble after she defeats Ripley at Saturday Night's Main Event. She wants another chance at Tiffany Stratton and a shot at becoming a double champion at WrestleMania 41.
  • Liv Morgan, Nia Jax and Candice LeRae defeated Bianca Belair, Naomi and Rhea Ripley. The massive in-ring promo exchange quickly deteriorated into an all out melee, which prompted Nick Aldis to book a star-studded trios match. Belair appeared to have the match won after she hit the K.O.D on LeRae, but Liv Morgan snuck up with a crucifix pin on Bianca and stole the victory for her team.
  • Michin and B-Fab find Chelsea Green and Piper Niven in the locker room. Green is sporting a swollen lip as a result of the Eat Defeat she took earlier in the night. Michin informed Chelsea that she has another shot at the Women's United States Championship next week. Niven tells Chelsea they need a bigger security detail.
  • Apollo Crews defeated Johnny Gargano. Crews was dead to rights after Tommaso Ciampa caught him with a running knee on the outside, behind the referee's back. #DIY took their eyes off Crews however, as the Motor City Machine Guns walked toward the ring. Apollo then surprised Johnny with a roll up and got the three count. Much to amusement of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley.
  • LA Knight defeated Tama Tonga. The Megastar was able to overcome the numbers game, and just like he promised in a highly entertaining pre-match promo, he stomped out Tonga with a BFT for the win. Post match Jacob Fatu assaulted Knight and was on the verge on putting him through the announcer's desk when Braun Strowman came to the rescue. The Monster and the Werewolf had a brief altercation in the ring, but it was only a taste of what will happen Saturday night.
  • The Miz is shown backstage chatting with Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. He had visions of forming A-Listers Down Under and the former Tag Team Champions seemed to be buying into what The Miz was selling. BUT... Nick Aldis crashed the party by informing Theory and Waller that they have been moved to Monday Night Raw.
  • United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamara declares for the Royal Rumble. He says he will seize victory just as he did before. Nakamura says that 2025 will be the year of his conquest.
  • Damian Priest defeated Carmelo Hayes. The former NXT Champion scored a very close two count with a roll up on Priest, and a quick check with the ref on whether it should have been three ended up costing him. Melo would turn around into a big lariat from Priest, who then planted him with South of Heaven for the win.
  • SmackDown GM Nick Aldis informed #DIY that they will defend their WWE Tag Team Championships against the Motor City Machine Guns at the Royal Rumble, in a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match.
  • Damian Priest ran into Cody Rhodes backstage. The WWE Champion welcomed him to SmackDown, saying he's glad to see him on Friday nights. Priest gave him a smile and promised to see him soon.
  • The Miz is now shown having a conversation with Andrade. The former WWE Champion said that Andrade has all the tools to reach the next level, he just needs someone to guide him and help him reach his full potential (clearly talking about himself). Andrade loved the idea and told Miz he was going to go find someone.

Kevin Owens defeated Jimmy Uso in the main event. Owens was an absolute savage for wrestling this match in a Naomi t-shirt. Adding injury to insult, KO defeated her husband after he hit a game 'Big Jim' with a Pop Up Powerbomb. After the match he attempted to deliver a package piledriver onto the announcer's desk. Cody Rhodes would rush the ring to make the save as he and Owens brawled to close the show.

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Rick Ucchino
RICK UCCHINO

Rick Ucchino is the Assistant Editor & Content Coordinator for The Takedown on SI. He also works full-time for 700WLW Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio as a local news and sports anchor, in addition to his time covering the Cincinnati Bengals for Sirius XM. Rick has been on the professional wrestling beat since 2019, having provided coverage for a number of outlets, including Fightful, SB Nation’s Cageside Seats and the Bleav Podcast Network. With an educational background in theater, creative writing and journalism, Rick focuses primarily on the storytelling aspect of pro wrestling, but he’s no stranger to the squared circle himself. He had the privilege of training with former WWE & WCW cruiserweight Jimmy Wang Yang for nearly two years and retired early due to back issues with a perfect 1-0 record in singles competition. Rick is a married father of two incredibly adorable children, who are budding pro wrestling fans themselves. Much to the chagrin of their mother. You can reach Rick at rwucchino@gmail.com

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