This Week’s WWE SmackDown Ending Explained (Jan 31, 2025): Results & What It Means [SPOILERS]

Warning: The following copy has SPOILERS for WWE SmackDown (Jan 24, 2025)

This week’s SmackDown represents the final stop before the first PLE of the year, as WWE is gearing up for this weekend’s Royal Rumble. Damian Priest arrives on SmackDown for the first time as an official superstar, as The Bloodline will be hoping Solo Sikoa returns with LA Knight hoping to exact revenge for his recent beatings. Jimmy Uso goes one-on-one with Carmelo Hayes and The Miz will be hoping he has better luck finding a partner than on last week’s show, when he was shunned by Andrade and Apollo Crews.

Elsewhere, Kevin Owens will speak before his Royal Rumble Ladder Match with Cody Rhodes, and Chelsea Green defends her Women’s United States Championship against Michin. The Tag Team division remains red hot, as Motor City Machine Guns and DIY will look to avoid each other ahead of their upcoming Championship match, with the likes of Pretty Deadly and Los Garza also eyeing Tag Team gold.

WWE SmackDown Results – Jan 31, 2025

• Pat McAfee joins Michael Cole as a surprise guest on SmackDown to hype Indianapolis hosting this weekend’s Royal Rumble.
• Kevin Owens is interviewed by Joe Tessitore. Kevin Owens says he is done with the likes of Seth Rollins and CM Punk looking past him and takes his Winged Eagle championship back.
• CM Punk interrupts Kevin Owens. CM Punk apologizes for not addressing Kevin Owens, but tells him he’d beat him at WrestleMania too.
• Owens taunts Punk about never headlining WrestleMania, Punk returns fire towards Owens about losing 5 championship matches at the Royal Rumble, and losing to Logan Paul.
• The Miz tells Nick Aldis that he’s furious at Andrade for turning down his partnership. Andrade is stood behind him and a match is made between them.
• Jimmy Uso defeated Carmelo Hayes, with Big Jim hooking the tights after Melo had only just tried deceiving the referee.
• Chelsea Green got herself disqualified with a kendo stick in her United States Championship match with Michin, after Piper Niven saved her champion after Michin had landed Eat Defeat.
• A new Charlotte Flair vignette airs as she reminds everyone of her accomplishments.
• Damian Priest declares for the Royal Rumble and says he’s on SmackDown for championships, but he’s then interrupted by Jacob Fatu.
• Jacob Fatu points out they’re men from the streets, Priest agrees so asks him why they’re talking. Priest then drops Tama Tonga before being set on by The Bloodline.
• LA Knight arrives and cleans house with a chair, before demanding The Bloodline vs LA Knight and Damian Priest tonight.
• Motor City Machine Guns try to smooth things over with Legado Del Fantasmo, Santos Escobar lets them know their excuses are not wanted.
• Chris Sabin pinned Tomaso Ciampa to seal the win for Motor City Machine Guns and Los Garza in a chaotic 8-men tag team match with Pretty Deadly and DIY.
• This came after Ciampa accidentally kicked Elton Prince in the face, causing Pretty Deadly to walk out on DIY.
• Backstage, Pretty Deadly tell DIY that they are on their own at the Royal Rumble.
• Naomi defeated Liv Morgan with a shock roll up, but Raquel Ridriguez and Liv then issued a beating to Bianca Belair and Naomi ahead of the Royal Rumble.
• Andrade defeated The Miz via pinfall with a vicious spinning back elbow.
• Santos Escobar approaches Damian Priest and suggests he teams with LDF. R-Truth appears and welcomes Priest to Raw. LA Knight and Priest agree to team, but that deal is off at the Rumble. Truth thinks they should form a team.
• Tiffany Stratton is interviewed by Michael Cole before Candice LeRae interrupts her. Candice declares for the Royal Rumble and tells Tiffy she will regret stabbing them in the back.
• Nia Jax arrives and flattens Candice by accident, then Tiffany receives an Annihilator much more deliberately.
• LA Knight and Damian Priest defeated The Bloodline. Damian Priest pins Tama Tonga after hitting South Of Heaven, but Jacob Fatu hits Priest with a superkick and Samoan Drop as SmackDown goes off the air.

Despite a shocking opening with CM Punk interrupting Kevin Owens, this was a relatively low-key show before the Royal Rumble kicks off WrestleMania season this weekend. LA Knight and Damian Priest’s interaction was different and refreshing, and Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga continued to cut imposing figures in the absence of Solo Sikoa. Charlotte Flair’s extravagant vignettes continue to build anticipation ahead of her Royal Rumble return, and R-Truth’s comedic timing is one of WWE’s most prized assets, always finding new ways of getting belly laughs.