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 31, 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.

CM Punk Addresses Kevin Owens

A Shocking Moment As Punk And Owens Come Face-To-Face

CM Punk and Kevin Owens WWE SmackDown Jan 31

Every once in a while, somebody's music hits and the arena's noise is less about joy and more about embracing the level of conflict that is about to occur. CM Punk interrupting Kevin Owens went off like a bomb, with the two having a well-documented dislike of one another and few interactions so far. Their sole encounter since Punk's return came when Punk asked Owens if he knew where Nick Aldis's office was on his first SmackDown back. Owens had a one-word answer for him, and it wasn't a "yes".

Something that feels important in Owens's hostility towards the Second City Saint came when Kevin told Punk there was 29 other people who he disliked more than him in the Royal Rumble. If Sami Zayn doesn't help KO there will be hell to pay at the Rumble, but the question will change when the men's Royal Rumble occurs. Does that number change from 29 men that he likes more than Punk to 28?

Charlotte Flair's Vignettes Ooze Significance

The Woman Comes Back Around This Weekend

On a show that included WWE Champion Tiffany Stratton and former champions Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, and Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair's vignettes continue to put everyone on notice. The power in the words chosen to convey her declarations, listing her incomparable achievements, and cutting a promo that echoed her father's famous "limousine riding, jet flying" promo was show-stealing. Charlotte's high society, unobtainable lifestyle in tandem with her wrestling accomplishments is a hell of a way to announce her arrival before she's set foot in a ring.

The wrestling press circulating the news that Charlotte is expected to win a WWE Championship sooner rather than later is ominous news for the women's locker room. The division may have improved, but Charlotte's standing as the division's standard-bearer is unlikely to change when she returns at the Rumble. Even embracing The Woman as her nickname feels important because Charlotte Flair's return is going to feel like a hostile takeover more than a comeback.

LA Knight And Damian Priest Feels Fresh

New Friendships On SmackDown Offer A Different Flavor

Damian Priest LA Knight R-Truth WWE Smackdown 2024

Taking time to declare for this weekend's Royal Rumble on the eve of it, Damian Priest felt important on his SmackDown debut. There was a time in Vince McMahon's dark ages when being a former World Champion might not mean that much in the grand scheme of things. This era uses World Championship reigns to elevate talent, and Damian Priest's increased standing is a testament to that.

As LA Knight continues his non-stop vendetta against all things The Bloodline, a cool callback to the Attitude Era came into play here. One of the fun things about the way that roster was booked was watching impromptu tag teams be thrust together and put something fun together for one night only. Priest and Knight were an odd couple, but just having fresh dynamics (including a superb comedic performance with them from R-Truth) is just one of the many ways WWE produces better television in 2025.

Despite a shocking opening with CM Punk interrupting Kevin Owens, this was a relatively low-key show before the Royal Rumblekicks 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.