WWE SmackDown Notes: Final Two-Hour SD Show, Kevin Owens vs. Cody Rhodes Ladder Match for Undisputed WWE Title Set for Royal Rumble 2025, Apollo Crews Reveals DIY Were Street Profits Mystery Attackers, Card for Jan. 3, 2025 Show

Dec 27, 2024

Final Two-Hour Era SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Tampa, Florida featured the final two-hour SmackDown show in series history.

Starting with next week’s show on January 3, 2025, SmackDown will be officially expanding as a weekly three-hour show on USA Network.

Kevin Owens vs. Cody Rhodes Ladder Match for Undisputed WWE Title Announced for Royal Rumble 2025

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured the first official match announced for WWE’s Royal Rumble 2025 event, which takes place on February 1, 2025 at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This new match announced was an Undisputed WWE Championship Ladder match of Kevin Owens vs. Cody Rhodes (c).

During the show, Aldis was seen backstage and talked about Owens’ recent attack on Rhodes and him taking possession of Rhodes’ Winged Eagle WWE Championship to the sound of ominous music in the background. Aldis then issued an ultimatum to Owens stating that he has until the end of tonight’s show to relinquish the Winged Eagle title or else he will face severe consequences that will affect his future in WWE.

.@RealNickAldis means business…

Will @FightOwensFight surrender the title tonight? 👀
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/4qrMCz2bph
— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2024

In a follow-up, Owens was seen in his car and responded to Aldis’ comments about him not being the real WWE Champion and his ultimatum. Owens proceeded to show the Winged Eagle title and stated that he has it and he deserves to have it since he is the true, rightful WWE Champion. Owens then stated that he needs to talk with Aldis and he will go to the arena but on his terms. Owens also stated that he only wants him and Aldis in the ring alone and after that they can talk.

"We need to have a little discussion." @FightOwensFight WILL talk to @RealNickAldis but only on his terms.
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Q6jvvprx9n
— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2024

In another follow-up segment, Owens came out to the ring to talk with Aldis following Aldis already being in the ring to break up The Bloodline’s brawl with Sami Zayn and Braun Strowman. Aldis asked for Owens to hand over the Winged Eagle title, which Owens refused to do and after some words, Owens demanded a rematch against Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE title. After some angry words by Aldis threatening to make sure Owens never sets his foot in a WWE ring again, Rhodes music played to interrupt. This led to Rhodes growing increasingly angry at Owens as he spoke over their bad blood issues and accepted Owens’ demands for a rematch but as a Ladder match with both his Undisputed WWE title and Owens’ Winged Eagle title hanging up in the air. Aldis responded making the match official for Royal Rumble 2025. As Owens was walking away, he shoved Aldis into Rhodes and proceeded to attack Rhodes before leaving with his Winged Eagle title.

IT'S OFFICIAL!@CodyRhodes will face @FightOwensFight at Royal Rumble! 🔥👊#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/aR3GruKM4F
— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2024

Apollo Crews Reveals DIY Were Street Profits Mystery Attackers

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Apollo Crews revealing that DIY were the mystery attackers who took out the Street Profits to cost them a shot at the WWE Tag Team titles several weeks ago.

During the show, DIY’s Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano were seen walking backstage and were stopped by Nick Aldis who was with the Street Profits. Aldis asked DIY if there was something they wanted to tell him about who had attacked the Street Profits a few weeks ago. DIY responded back stating that they feel bad about it but didn’t know anything about it. This led to Aldis responding stating that there are two eye witnesses who saw it, which led to Pretty Deadly’s Elton Prince & Kit Wilson showing up. Pretty Deadly stated that they would remember better if there was some funding for a musical, which led to Aldis responding back stating they would have all the time in the world for their musical if they were unemployed. After some hesitation, Pretty Deadly responded back claiming it was the Los Garzas. This led to the Street Profits searching for Los Garzas backstage and a brawl breaking out when they did that was quickly broken up by Aldis.

Pretty Deadly will say ANYTHING to save their musical 😬
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/KH8dUhZ8te
— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2024

In a follow-up segment, Pretty Deadly and DIY were seen backstage and Pretty Deadly told them that they scratched their back leading to Ciampa responding back stating that they will look out for each other before DIY walked away. Pretty Deadly then walked away only to be stopped by the Street Profits & B-Fab who gave their thanks for earlier about exposing Los Garzas as their attackers. The Street Profits then walked away only to be stopped by the Motor City Machine Gunes who told them that they will get a WWE Tag titles shot and for them to go back to the end of the line. This led to Crews showing up and revealed that it was DIY who had attacked them and not Los Garzas since he “saw” it and proceeded to walk away leaving everyone else confused over what just happened.