WWE SmackDown kicks off 2025 with a bang in Phoenix, Arizona, as the Blue brand officially goes to three hours. An extra hour of SmackDown means an extra hour of tense action and the top-notch professional wrestling and sports entertainment WWE is revered for.
Last week’s show masterfully set up this latest episode and the upcoming “Big 4” PLE, the Royal Rumble. The first 2025 iteration of the Friday night show looks to up the ante once again with matches that are set to amaze the WWE Universe, kicking off the new year with an absolute bang.
Now that you know what to expect, let’s get right into it. Here’s a full preview of WWE SmackDown for January 3rd, 2025. Let’s run it down.
Full WWE SmackDown Card – 1/3/25:
- Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
- WWE Women’s Championship Match: Nia Jax (c) vs. Naomi
Inevitable
.@AndradeElIdolo is looking for payback against @ShinsukeN 😤 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/R1u77kGAS8
— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2024
On this week’s WWE Friday Night SmackDown, Andrade looks for revenge against Shinsuke Nakamura. It’s no surprise that Andrade has not forgotten what Nakamura did to him in the latter’s comeback match in late November 2024.
To pick up the victory, the “Wayward Samurai” would utilize the exposed turnbuckle to pick up the win over the former NXT Champion. Surely enough, Andrade has not forgotten about that nefarious encounter.
On top of that, Andrade has been on the hunt for the U.S. Title over the last couple of months, and this match will be killing two birds with one stone and may lead him one step closer to a shot at the belt.
It’s not going to be easy for Andrade, though, considering how more lethal Shinsuke Nakamura is now more than ever. Regardless, Andrade will show up for a fight and try to get retribution.
How will this play out? Will Shinsuke Nakamura notch another win, or will Andrade make his case as the rightful number-one contender?
Championship Aspirations
Naomi picked up a huge victory for her team on last week’s SmackDown over Nia Jax’s band of friends. That win acts as a statement that Naomi is not satisfied with just being one-half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, he wants more gold around her waist and shoulder.
Unfortunately, it will be easier said than done. Nia Jax has been absolutely dominant since wrestling away the WWE Women’s Championship from Bayley at the 2024 installment of SummerSlam.
Thus far, in addition to countless non-title matches, Jax has successfully defended the strap on three different occasions, one of which involved Nia defeating Naomi. Will history repeat itself, or is Naomi poised to be a double champion?
Find out this Friday night as WWE SmackDown goes three hours for 2025, which you can watch only on the USA Network!
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