SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JANUARY 31, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. AT GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE
AIRED ON USA NETWORK
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Hosts: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia
Attendance: WrestleTix reported as of yesterday that 9,407 tickets had been distributed. The arena has a capacity of 19,000 spectators when configured for boxing.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Kurt Cadetto review Smackdown LIVE. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with an aerial view of Indianapolis, Ind. followed by clips of pairs of women arriving to the arena. Chelsea Green coming out of an elevator with Piper Niven acted startled and didn’t want to be seen with her nose taped.
-Michael Cole introduced the show from a podium as the camera panned the crowd, which he touted as a sellout. He introduced Pat McAfee and said he played football in that city and he was responsible for the Royal Rumble being there this weekend. McAfee made his entrance to his theme. He said they are a world class host city as they host big events all the time including Final Fours and Olympic trials. He said the people of Indianapolis are the greatest on Earth. He said the bars and restaurants are ready. Cole then threw to Joe Tessitore in the ring.
-Tessitore recapped the Kevin Owens berating him last week. He then introduced Owens who made his way to the ring, which had both the official WWE Title belt and the Winged Angel belt hanging above the ring. Tessitore said it’s been difficult to look past his recent threats and attempts to injure others. He said as he stood over him and fiercely made his argument last week, he gave it some thought to how they cover him, so he wanted him to be heard. “In your opinion, what are we missing, what’s being misrepresented or misunderstood here with you and Cody?” Tessitore asked.
Owens sneered at him. “So this is your way for making amends for last week, right?” Owens said, “This is your way to make it up to me.” He said all he saw was him caring about Cody only last week and acting like a Cody Fanboy. He said he had to listen to C.M. Punk and Seth Rollins last week debate who was going to wrestle Cody at WrestleMania, “glossing over” that he will be champion after last night.
Tessitore said he won’t apologize for doing his job of interviewing Cody Rhodes. He said he would apologize if they feel their coverage has fallen short of giving him that opportunity. “And that’s what this is for?” he said. Owens asked if he thinks he’s a tough guy. Tessitore said, “No, I think I’m a 53 year old TV broadcaster.” Owens said he doesn’t accept his apology. “In fact, you can shove it up your ass,” he said. Owens said he has nothing to apologize for. He said he’s there to take his winged-angel belt back. He said he’ll take the other one tomorrow night. He then was about to leave when Punk’s music played. Fans cheered.
Punk walked out. Fans chanted “C.M. Punk!” When Punk and KO stared at each other, fans chanted “Holy sh–!” Owens, after some silence, said, “Can I help you?” Punk said he doesn’t need his help. He apologized for interrupting him and said he knows how annoying it can be. He said this isn’t his show, but he heard his name invoked. He said he’s sorry if he thought he was looking past him. He said he knows he can beat Cody. He said if he makes it past “a very angry Cody Rhodes,” then the main event of WrestleMania this year could very well be KO defending against him. He said if he wins the title, congratulations, but he won’t last long as champion.
Owens said he is conflicted because there are some guys in the Rumble more than him. He clarified there are 29 guys who he like more, even though he doesn’t know everyone who will be in the Rumble. He told Punk the idea of beating Punk’s ass in the main event of WrestleMania appeals to him greatly. He said he knows what main eventing WrestleMania means to him. He said it’s a goal he’s had his whole career and a dream he’s had as a little kid. He said that’s why it broke his heart when he got hurt last year. He said when he left, he probably spent a lot of time regretting he’d never get to main event WrestleMania, but now it’s at his fingertips.
Owens said the idea of him never getting to main event WrestleMania is so appealing to him. He said he loves the idea of him never getting to realize that dream. He said it gives him a warm fuzzy feeling when years down the line when he’s alone, broken, and alone obsessing that he’s a multiple-time WM main eventer when Punk goes to his grave “a miserable failure” He stepped up to Punk’s face. “So you know what?” he said. “I hope you don’t win the Royal Rumble.”
As Owens began to leave, Punk asked where he was going. He said they are just getting the party started. He congratulated Owens for headlining WrestleMania twice. He said he’s accomplished a lot in his career. He said something he hasn’t done that someone else has done. He said he hasn’t lost five title matches at the Royal Rumble, like KO has. He said he has never lost to Logan Paul. Fans roared as KO hung his head and raised his eyebrows. He said he’s never tried to manipulate his best friend who he stabbed in the back multiple times to help him win a title because he doesn’t have enough confidence in his own abilities. “Win, lose, or draw, I do it by myself,” he said. “You don’t. You take shortcuts.”
Punk said for them to meet in the main event of WrestleMania, he has to survive 29 other wrestlers and Owens has to survive a very angry Cody. He said only one thing has to happen to have him get his ass kicked by Punk, and that is step back in the ring. He said he might never main event WrestleMania, but he should step into the ring and not be scared. Owens dropped the mic, then dropped to the floor and left. Fans booed. Punk’s music restarted. Wade Barrett called it a smart move by Owens because his priority has to be tomorrow night.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good segment. I really like addressing the possibility of Owens being champion at WrestleMania. They made fans want to see that match, and it’s clear from their reaction that they do. It’s highly unlikely for WrestleMania, though. Owens is so on his game right now. Punk was rock solid here, too. Tessitore, by the way, was tremendous here. He really has fit in well in this world and is hitting the right tone, which isn’t easy since pro wrestling is such a unique setting for an announcer. But the best way to play it is the way he is, as someone fair-minded, professional, and willing to stand up to wrestlers disrespecting him but not acting like a fanboy. He also doesn’t cower in their presence. He just strikes the right tone.)
-Miz told Nick Aldis that Andrade should be grateful just to “be in the same room with my starpower,” yet he rejected his offer to work with him. He said if he was standing right there, he’d punch him in the face. Aldis smirked. Miz turned around and there stood Andrade. Andrade asked if that was a challenge. Miz said he doesn’t have to prove anything to him, as his career speaks for itself, but he’ll teach him greatness anytime, anywhere. Aldis said the match will happen tonight.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good use of both Miz and Andrade.)
-Barrett hyped the eight-man tag match later. Tessitore hyped Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes.
-Jimmy cut a promo backstage about facing Hayes. He said if Hayes loses tonight, it’s ballgame. Jimmy made his ring entrance as the camera followed him to the stage and to the ring.
(1) CARMELO HAYES vs. JIMMY USO
Hayes made his entrance with a mic in hand. He told Jimmy he won’t miss “because my name isn’t Tyrese Haliburton.” He said he’s about to drop 50 on his head. Jimmy ran up to Hayes on the ring apron. Hayes snapped his neck over the top rope. The ref called for the bell (which was fair, since Jimmy initiated pre-match contact) 27 minutes into the show. Hayes chopped away at Jimmy in the corner. Jimmy made a comeback. They exchanged leverage two counts. Hayes landed a running flip over the top rope onto Jimmy at ringside. Hayes went over to Haliburton. They exchanged some words. When Hayes turned around, Jimmy leaped onto him and then slapped hands with Haliburton.
Back in the ring, Jimmy landed an enzuigiri and then a pop-up Samoan drop for a two count at 4:00. Jimmy suplexed Hayes off the top rope. Both were down and stayed down for a while from the impact. Fans chanted, “U-so!” Hayes surprised Jimmy with a First 48 for a near fall. Hayes tried to score a pin holding the middle rope for leverage, but Jimmy rolled through and scored a three count. Hayes looked shocked afterward. Barrett noted that Jimmy yanked on his tights to get the win. He said the veteran outplayed the rookie.
WINNER: Jimmy in 9:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: The finish works since Hayes tried to cheat first. It protects Hayes a little bit that he lost with a yank of the tights.)
-Tessitore and Barrett threw to a “Royal Rumble By the Numbers” video.
-Tessitore plugged the Rumble pre-show starting at4 ET followed by the early start of 6 ET for the Rumble event itself.
-Byron Saxton interviewed Chelsea Green and Niven backstage. Green said Michin tried to destroy her face last week, so she’s going to return the favor. She said she will win tonight and then win the Rumble and then she and her motorcade will parade to WrestleMania and win.
(2) CHELSEA GREEN (w/Piper Niven) vs. MICHIN (w/B-Fab) – U.S. Title match
Michin brought a kendo stick to the ring. The bell rang 45 minutes into the hour. Barrett said this could be now or never for Michin since Aldis is likely to send other challengers at Green after this if Green retains. Green bailed out to ringside early to regroup. A minute later, Green bumped into B-Fab at ringside. Michin then dove onto Green at ringside before tossing her back into the ring. She scored a two count right away back in the ring.
Green dumped Michin to the floor and then rammed her into the ring apron. Green yelled at fans to “pledge your allegiance, you idiots!” Green settled into a chinlock mid-ring. They cut to a wide shot of the arena as Tessitore touted a crowd of over 13,000.
They exchanged some leverage two counts. Michin landed Eat DaFeet. When Green rolled to ringside, Niven lifted her up. B-Fab fan over and kicked Niven and threw Green back into the ring. Green rolled out of the ring again, so Michin chased after her. Green hit Michin with a kendo stick, so the ref called for the DQ.
WINNER: Michin via DQ in 7:00.
-Green swung the stick at B-Fab afterward. Michin took the kendo stick and hit Green, who then rolled out of the ring.
-Saxton asked Bianca Belair and Naomi what happens if they cross paths in the Rumble. Belair said she’s tired of people asking them that. She said one of them will win, and they’ll still be partners and champs after. Saxton brought up Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez are eyeing their tag titles. Belair said they’re not going down without a fight.
-Tessitore plugged that the newest Smackdown roster member, Damien Priest, is heading to the ring next. [c]
-A vignette aired on Charlotte Flair. She said she is fortunate and blessed, but also history-making, ground-breaking, never-scared, always prepared, self-made, always paid, and the woman of WWE. She winked.
-They showed Stephanie McMahon at ringside with presumably one of her kids on her lap. Tessitore plugged “Stephanie’s Places” on ESPN+, giving people a personal look at Steve Austin, Roman Reigns, and Rhea Ripley.
-Priest made his ring entrance.
Advertised Matches & Appearances
- Motor City Machine Guns & Los Garza vs. DIY & Pretty Deadly
- Naomi vs. Liv Morgan
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.