6 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (17 Jan - Results & Review)

2. Stratton Ticks Off Her First Title Defence

Not many tuned into SmackDown thinking they were going to see a title change. This was Tiffany Stratton's first title defence since cashing in Money In The Bank to win the strap, and it's obvious it'll be 'Tiffy Time' for a good while. Stratton is a real breakout star, not to mention a success for WWE's signing policy. She's the future of the women's game, not Bayley.

Their main event was a well-paced and well-worked match from start to finish. It didn't bother trying to cram every spot or move both could think of into the runtime, but instead played out as a scrappy veteran looking to regain her edge whilst being met head on by someone who is full of confidence without even being the best version of herself quite yet.

You've got to love the way Roxanne Perez was shown around ringside without getting physically involved. That would've been far too easy, and it means more to the simmering NXT feud that Bayley lost clean. Now, Perez has some more ammunition to blast at her babyface foe, and Bayley has another mental hurdle to overcome.

The headliner was yet another example of Triple H giving major matches room to breathe. This and Kevin Owens vs. Rey Mysterio could be classed as borderline PLE quality. That's how good they were. Plus, seeing Tiffany swiftly move on from Nia Jax and Candice LeRae then beat a credible ex-champ? Yeah, that's the best use of her.

Onto Charlotte Flair. That's who's in Stratton's crosshairs next. Here's hoping WWE don't get cold feet and put the belt on Charlotte just for the sake of it. Tiff should dominate 2025.