WWE SmackDown live results: Nick Aldis addresses Kevin Owens

The final WWE SmackDown episode of 2024 takes place live tonight from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

A six-woman tag match has been announced for the show with WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax set to team with Tiffany Stratton & Candice LeRae against Bianca Belair, Naomi & Bayley. Naomi recently replaced Jade Cargill as Belair’s Women’s Tag Team Championship partner after Cargill was forced out of action following a mystery attack.

Also set for tonight, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis will address Kevin Owens’ assault on Cody Rhodes that took place after their match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Rhodes has yet to appear on WWE television since that attack. We’ll see if that changes tonight.

Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green will hold a celebration on SmackDown. Green won the title after beating Michin in the finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural champ.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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– Video of Cody calling out Kevin Owens from last month opened the show. From there, the video extended to the high points of their ongoing feud.

– Nick Aldis spoke backstage. Aldis said Owens is not a champion, but Owens is in possession of the Winged Eagle Belt. Aldis said the belt represents greatness and Owens has no claim to the belt. Aldis said Owens has until the end of the night to relinquish the belt or he will face severe consequences that will effect his future in WWE.

– Cathy Kelley was shown in guerrilla interviewing Naomi and Bianca Belair. Naomi said she was grateful to hold the tag titles with Belair. Belair said they won’t forget about what happened to Cargill. Bayley stepped in and asked Belair if they were good. Belair said they were and then her music hit. The three walked out for the first match.

– Nia Jax made her entrance with a microphone and reiterated that they didn’t mess with Cargill. Jax half made fun of Stratton and called out Belair for doing fine without Cargill. Jax said she thinks Belair is trying to avoid suspicion on Belair. Jax said Belair couldn’t stand the share the spotlight with Cargill because Cargill is better than Belair. Jax said Belair snapped. Jax told Belair to own up to what she did or Jax will make Belair own up to it.

Naomi, Bianca Belair & Bayley defeated Tiffany Stratton, Nia Jax & Candice LeRae [16:10]

A fine six-woman television tag match. We’ve officially reached The Point Beyond when it comes to Stratton teasing cashing in her MITB briefcase because this is far past old these days. It’s to the point where you almost think it will be one of those cash ins that are called ahead of time and it turns into a regular planned match and that’s never fun. We’ll see. As for the match, there were some fun spots and I can’t say Jax didn’t say the things a lot of us are thinking about Belair as we watch the fallout of the Cargill attack unfold. Again, we’ll see.

Stratton and Belair started the match. Belair had control early. With the heels outside of the ring, Belair, Bayley and Naomi all took them out with various mistimed splashes. The show then went to a quick commercial break. The show returned and Jax was taking punches from Belair inside the ring. Naomi gave Jax a stink face after tagging in. Jax came right back and planted Jax and got a two-count out of it. LeRae tagged in and kept control for the heels. Naomi made a brief comeback and Belair tagged in to hit a pair of splashes on LeRae.

Belair pounded on LeRae until Stratton distracted Belair and Jax tagged in. From there, Jax hit a leg drop on Belair and earned a two-count. LeRae tagged in and then Stratton hit a splash from the top rope after a blind tag. Stratton yelled at LeRae about not being tagged in enough and it ultimately leg to Belair tagging in Bayley. LeRae tagged in and was the recipient of a back suplex. Bayley went for a dropkick through the turnbuckles onto LeRae, but LeRae ran Bayley’s head into a ring post. LeRae planted Bayley face-first on the ring apron and the show went to another commercial break.

The show returned and Bayley and LeRae were down in the ring. Stratton tagged in and Naomi tagged in, too. Naomi kicked Stratton in the head and followed it up with a Mule Kick and a Bulldog for a near-fall. Things broke down and everyone traded power moves. Jax found herself on the second rope and Naomi pulled her off with her legs before hitting a split-legged moonsault, but Stratton broke a pin attempt up. With Jax down, Stratton teased cashing in her briefcase, but LeRae pulled the briefcase away from Stratton. LeRae tagged herself into the match and fit a full-nelson slam on LeRae for the win.

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– Grayson Waller and Austin Theory were talking to Aldis backstage and Sami Zayn walked in. Zayn told Aldis they should talk. The show then went to a commercial.

– Back from that break, Zayn was still talking to Aldis and said he thinks it’s only fair he gets his crack at The Bloodline. Carmelo Hayes walked into the room with Christmas cards to hand out and Zayn told Melo to wait his turn. Zayn crumpled up a card and threw it in Melo’s face. Melo told Zayn to stay off Melo’s show. Zayn told Aldis that The Bloodline stuff could wait and instead, he wanted to face Melo later. Aldis said, “Consider it done.”

Braun Strowman defeated Austin Theory [7:26]

A result that was never in doubt. In fact, this was probably a little more competitive than it should have been. That said, I also understand they needed this to fill a space that included a commercial break, so as always, television rules all. Still, I wonder if Theory was actually supposed to land his finisher on Strowman near the end and the two stumbled, of if what we got was what the plan was supposed to be. Either way, this amounted to nothing more than a long squash that cements Strowman in the middle of the card, which is a bit of a shame, but that’s a conversation for another day.

Strowman face-palmed Theory out of the ring to start. Strowman followed that up with a series of strikes and eventually, after Strowman threw Theory, Theory rolled out of the ring. The show went to a commercial break after that. The show returned and Theory hit a DDT on Strowman. Theory chop-blocked Strowman and punched Strowman for a one-count. Strowman dropkicked Theory and Theory rolled to the outside. Strowman pulled Theory up to the apron and eventually threw Theory onto Waller on the outside.

Strowman clotheslined Theory on the outside of the ring and threw Theory back into the ring. Strowman then went to the top rope, but Waller stalled Storwman and Theory went for an A-Town Down, but Strowman stumbled out of it and landed a running powerslam on Theory for the win.

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– Owens cut a car promo and said he heard what Aldis said. Owens said he deserves to have the winged eagle belt because he is the true WWE Champion. Owens said he think he and Aldis need to have a discussion and he’ll come into the arena on only his terms – no security guards or office people, with just Aldis and Owens. In that case, they can talk.

The Chelsea Green Celebration

Meh. I was hoping this would be better, but a lot of this felt forced. It just wasn’t as witty or as funny as you could tell the people who wrote it thought it would be and the crowd didn’t help matters. Even so, it was entertaining enough. I have so much hope that Michin and Green can get their program over – especially with a brand new title involved – but we’ll see. It should be interesting to see how things shake out as WWE gets a mild reset with the Netflix premiere and a new calendar year on the horizon.

Piper Niven stood in the ring behind a podium that looked like it could be used for an American president. Niven introduced Green. The crowd cheered when Green’s music hit and Green walked out dressed as the Statue Of Liberty. Green stepped to the podium and thanked the crowd. Green said she wanted to address the people of the WWE universe and said they have officially turned the blue brand into the green house. Green called herself the most glamorous, most … you get it … Women’s United States Champion. Green walked over to Niven and teased giving Niven credit, but instead gave herself the credit for helping herself.

Green spoke to Michin and said she had two words for her: Good riddance. Green said she’d say Michin could be a champion, but she doesn’t want to say that because she doesn’t lie. Green challenged the crowd to ask themselves not what Chelsea Green could do for them, but what they could do for Chelsea Green. She said 2025 will be the year of Red, White and Green. Michin’s music hit and Michin walked out with a kendo stick. Michin said she’d introduce Green to her little friend – her kendo stick – and walked to the ring. Michin hit Niven a bunch with the kendo stick. Michin entered the ring and went after Green, but Green got out of it. The segment ended with Niven carrying Green to the back.

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– #DIY and The Street Profits were shown talking to Aldis backstage and Aldis asked #DIY who attacked The Profits a couple weeks ago. Pretty Deadly walked in and it turns out, they were witnesses to the attack. Pretty Deadly tried to bribe everyone and nobody bit. They said it was Garza who attacked the Profits and the Profits went looking for Garza and Berto. They found them and brawled. Aldis then made a match for the teams after the break.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) defeated Los Garza (Berto & Angel) [11:04]

Another weirdly overly competitive match for acts that just aren’t on the same level, speaking in terms of the booking these teams have received in the recent past. In some ways, good for Berto and Angel because they have been throwaway characters for so long; on another level … yeah, if I’m Montez Ford, I’m probably a little fed up with the irrelevant booking his team has been receiving for a long time now. As such, the match was pretty good and I like the edge that the Profits continue to show. In fact, I’d like to see more of it, going forward, but seeing is believing.

The match was joined in progress and the four wrestlers fought in and out of the ring. Ford and Berto ended up alone in the ring and Ford clotheslined Berto. Dawkins tagged in and the two hit a double flapjack on Berto. Angel tagged in and the two worked over Dawkins. Angel pummeled Dawkins and tagged in Berto. Dawkins fired up and took Berto down. Ford tagged in and things broke down between the four wrestlers. They brawled outside of the ring and the show went to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Angel had control over Ford, complete with a spinebuster. Berto tagged in and kept the momentum up. Angel tagged in and before long, Ford hit a DDT to even things out. Ultimately, Dawkins received the hot tag and Dawkins came in to take out both heels. Ford tagged in and Berto was on Dawkins’s shoulders, but Angel broke things up. Berto and Angel threw Ford off the top and Berto landed a moonsault on Ford for a nice near-fall.

Angel tagged in to become the legal man, but it wasn’t long before Dawkins tagged in to take care of the heels. With Berto and Angel on the outside, Ford landed a splash and then the Profits set up for their finisher and this time they hit it for the win.

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– An Andrade vignette aired during which Andrade was taking aim at Nakamura. Next week, Naomi will face Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship and Andrade will take on Nakamura for the U.S. title.

– Pretty Deadly were shown walking backstage and ran into #DIY. Pretty Deadly said they scratched #DIY’s backs, so they hope they can scratch theirs. The Profits walked in and B-Fab told Pretty Deadly they were thankful they told them the truth. The Profits started walking and ran into Motor City Machine Guns, who said they deserve a title shot. Apollo Crews walked in and told the Profits that it was #DIY who attacked the Profits. Crews then walked away as everyone looked confused.

Sami Zayn defeated Carmelo Hayes via DQ [11:34]

A good match and a worthy main event, match-wise. The smoz finish was expected, but it’d be nice to see Zayn get a clean win sometime soon, considering how many loses he’s been taking from Drew McIntyre. The Strowman wrinkle was fun and I hope we see more of that moving forward (as referenced above). Kevin Owens appearing to get involved in Sami Zayn business – even if it’s just his music hitting after an unrelated angle is show – is always a nice way to get people to wonder about what might happen next, so kudos to the cleverness of those involved.

The two locked up to begin things and “Sami Uso!” chants broke out in the crowd. Zayn chopped the hell out of Melo until Melo came back with a dropkick for a one-count. Melo found himself on the outside of the ring and Melo dragged Zayn to the outside. Ultimately, Zayn landed a moonsault off the crowd barricade onto Melo and then the show went to a break.

The show returned and Melo had control. Melo landed a springboard splash onto Zayn and worked a ground and pound. Zayn fired up and hit a clothesline to reset the match. Zayn went to the second rope and hit a double axe-handle. Zayn hit his Blue Thunder Bomb for a good near-fall. Zayn went to the top and missed a splash, which turned into a First 48 from Melo for a very good near-fall. Melo landed a springboard DDT on Zayn and went to the top, but he leapt into a clothesline from Zayn, who then fired up.

Zayn landed an Exploder on Melo into the corner. Zayn set up for the Helluva Kick, but Melo rolled to the outside and started to walk to the back, but Strowman appeared and Melo ran to the back. Out of nowhere, The Bloodline appeared and attacked Zayn, so Zayn got the DQ win. Strowman was shown bringing Melo back to the ring and saw what was happening and threw Melo down to walk to the ring and battle Solo Sikoa. Strowman shoulder-blocked Sikoa to the ground and Jacob Fatu stared down Strowman. The crowd went wild. Tama Tonga cho–blocked Strowman before anything could happen and Sikoa hit a Samoan Spike on Strowman. Zayn came back into the fold, but the Bloodline took Zayn out all over again.

Kevin Owens’s music hit and Owens walked out with the winged-eagle belt. He walked slowly, so his entrance didn’t really have much to do with the carnage in the ring.

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The Nick Aldis/Kevin Owens segment

A good segment to end the show. Cody showed great fire and Owens keeps trying to get heat as a heel, but these crowds are slowly but surely rallying behind him and it will be very fun to see how this all shakes out by the time the Rumble comes around. At some point, we should pay attention and give credit to the fact that Owens and Cody have managed to work a program that keeps people interested all these months into it. The ladder match should be very good, but it’s going to have to be the end of the road for these two … maybe? … Hopefully?

Aldis told Owens to do the right thing and hand over the winged eagle belt. Owens told Aldis to explain why he’d give the belt back because it’s the only bargaining chip he has. Owens said he’d give the belt back if he can get a rematch with Cody. Owens said he had Cody beat and everyone knows it. Aldis noted how he said it’s not a negotiation and because of that, Owens needed to hand the belt over or Owens would never step in a WWE again. Cody’s music hit to a huge pop. Cody walked out with a microphone and Aldis told Cody to turn around and let Aldis handle it.

Cody said he wasn’t going to walk away and he didn’t want Owens to be a martyr. Cody brought up how Owens claims Cody teamed with Reigns and that’s why Cody is a bad person. But, Cody argued, Owens attacked Cody at SNME like Reigns would have. Cody listed off all the people for whom he does what he does. Cody said it’s his responsibility to take the winged eagle back. Cody said he wanted a match with Owens and entered the ring. Cody challenged Owens to a ladder match and to put the winged eagle up there with the Undisputed Championship. Aldis announced that at the Royal Rumble, it will be Cody vs. Owens for the Undisputed WWE Championship in a ladder match. Owens stuck out his hand and said he’d see Cody there. Cody didn’t shake it and Owens attacked Aldis before attacking Cody. Owens eventually walked away and yelled that he was the true champion. The show ended with Owens holding up the winged eagle and walking to the back.