‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Jan 31st 2025)
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!
Match #1: Jimmy Uso def. Carmelo Hayes
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After weeks of verbal assaults and surprise attacks, Jimmy Uso and Carmelo Hayes looked to settle the score. Hayes showed out in front of NBA Superstar Tyrese Haliburton, but he could not put Uso away after some scintillating offense. Uso and Hayes traded superkicks and top-rope splashes, but the two athletes kept fighting. After Hayes tried using the ropes in a pinfall attempt, Uso countered and pinned Hayes after slyly hooking the tights.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Michin def. Chelsea Green (DQ)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
With a Kendo stick and ally B-Fab by her side, Michin tried to end the reign of Chelsea Green as Women’s United States Champion. Michin hit an Eat Defeat on the champion, but Piper Niven helped Green escape the ring, prolonging her reign as champion. Green kept running away until she grabbed the Kendo stick, which she used to attack to Michin and force the disqualification.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Motor City Machine Guns & Los Garza def. #DIY & Pretty Deadly
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
On the eve of their 2-out-of-3 Falls Match at Royal Rumble, #DIY and Motor City Machine Guns battled in an Eight-Man Tag Team Match while teaming, respectively, with Pretty Deadly and Los Garza. The two sides had an incredible match that was highlighted by top-rope moonsaults and more as they wowed the WWE Universe. After some miscommunication, Angel and Berto walked out on Motor City Machine Guns, leaving Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley to fight #DIY and Pretty Deadly by themselves. Despite being down two men, Motor City Machine Guns captured the victory following a miscue, as Tommaso Ciampa clobbered Elton Prince in the face. This led to Kit Wilson refusing to be tagged in by Ciampa, allowing Sabin to roll up Ciampa to win the match.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Naomi def. Liv Morgan
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
With both Superstars set to compete in the Royal Rumble, Naomi and Liv Morgan looked for a monumental win. Morgan had the upper hand for the majority of the match until Naomi hit the Rear View. This enraged Raquel Rodriguez, who tried to interfere to help Morgan win. Bianca Belair stopped Rodriguez, allowing Naomi to reverse a rollup from Morgan with a rollup of her own to win the match. After the bout, Rodriguez and Morgan beat down Belair and Naomi.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Andrade def. The Miz
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Competing in his first match back on SmackDown, The Miz took on Andrade. Andrade almost had the match won after a superb Spanish Fly from the top rope but could only get a two-count. Andrade followed by connecting with a match-clinching Spinning Back Elbow that knocked out The A-Lister.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: Damian Priest & LA Knight def. Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After running afoul of each other earlier in the evening, Damian Priest and LA Knight teamed up to take on Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga. Priest came in like a wrecking ball, taking out Tonga and Fatu and using the announce table and ringside area. After obliterating Fatu, Priest delivered an Old School-esque crossbody from the top rope, but he could only get a two-count. Tonga fought back and tried to hit a clothesline, but he was caught by Priest, who hit a South of Heaven to get the win. After the match, Fatu viciously brutalized Priest and stood tall one night before Royal Rumble.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Like the majority of the previous episode, this was a mundane, middle-of-the-road show with nothing much to get excited about or care about. And it’s a show that TOTALLY wasted good talent on bad matches. At least the show improved as it went along, it we got the same standard of matches as the first few in this episode then goddamn this would’ve been such a major disappointment. As it stands now it’s just minorly disappointing.