WWE Smackdown: Tiffany Stratton Reminds Everyone That It’s ‘Tiffy Time’

Tonight, however, in the opening segment of SmackDown, it was Solo Sikoa on the mic as he led both Fatu and the newly debuted Jeff Cobb, who signed with the company nearly four months ago but was only brought in now, after this group was hit hard with the injury bug. Solo began by blaming Roman Reigns for all his troubles and that of their intertwined families, but as he ranted about his Money in the Bank intentions, he was cut off by Fatu midway through Solo repeating the ‘Samoan Werewolf’s’ tagline: “All gas, no breaks.”

Fatu grabbed the mic and took issue with Solo’s need to take credit for the successes of other members. He reminded the crowd, and Solo, that he did what he said he would do—retain the U.S. title and bring it ‘back to the family.’ Solo did not press the issue, but Cobb (referred to as J.C. by Solo on the mic) started puffing up his chest.

The crowd popped for Fatu’s defiance, and there were so many more Fatu signs and merch spread out through the crowd. It is clear that Fatu is outgrowing the faction that brought him in, but Solo is still attempting to build this faction around him in an effort to project the leadership and strength characteristics of a (small “t”) ‘tribal chief.’

We have seen this group grow apart for months, but WWE is anything but quick to break up groups and teams these days, so if this faction is headed for a split, then it is possible that Fatu will have to ‘run the gauntlet.’ Instead of a singles feud between Fatu and Solo, we are likely to get a ‘final boss’ (for lack of a better term) storyline where the champ will have to go through lower bosses—starting with Cobb would be the best guess—until pitting Solo and the champ, thus completing Fatu’s ‘face turn.’

Money In The Bank Qualifiers

Solo Sikoa vs. Rey Fenix vs. Jimmy Uso

Results: Solo Advances

Solo was able to come away with the victory even though Fenix and Jimmy were primarily responsible for the best action. The match would have been better as a singles match, but Solo’s win was used to book Jeff Cobb’s debut match against LA Knight.

LA Knight vs. Jeff Cobb

Cobb, who is now going by J.C. Mateo in WWE, was dressed in all black street clothes from the beginning of the night, so there was no reason to expect him in action tonight. After all, most of the guys brought in with Solo compete in mostly tag matches at first. It was a big surprise when Aldis booked the match, and it would have been awesome to see the singlet-wearing minitruck that ran roughshod in NJPW.

However, what we got instead was a clearly out of shape, and not quite ready for ‘shirtless action,’ J.C. Mateo (and not really the ‘Jeff Cobb’ we know). He wrestled LA Knight and displayed his brute power style, which he’s known for, but the match script barely resembled anything we have seen from Mateo.

J.C. was allowed to ‘run his own play’ with Solo and Fatu watching on, but Knight eventually poked the bear by leaping from the top rope onto both men outside the ring. That self-inflicted distraction would cost Knight the match as Mateo picked up the win off his “Tour of the Islands” finisher.

Mateo may have lost his name, but at least he won his debut.

Women’s MITB Qualifiers

Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green vs. Michin

Results: Alexa Bliss Advances

The first qualifier of 2025 came in the form of a triple threat with the former U.S. champion, Green, taking on Michin and Bliss, who returned at the Royal Rumble and has been in creative limbo ever since. Rumors that she was going to join the Wyatt Sycks until an injury to Bo Dallas derailed those plans.

Bliss looked great in the ring and was able to keep pace with both Michin and Green, but she eventually turned it on and was able to show levels between her and her in-ring competition. She hit a ‘Twisted Bliss’ and picked up the first ‘golden ticket’ for a chance to win a ‘golden briefcase.’

You’ll remember that Bliss was also used in this year’s Elimination Chamber—a match in which Bliss entered as a heavy fan favorite despite being given zero story heading into the PLE. Bliss encountered Charlotte Flair later in the evening after her backstage impromptu interview with Byron Saxton.

Bliss said she wants to be the first woman to win it twice, but then was seen going up to Flair with some sort of proposal from earlier. Bliss asked Flair if she’d given any thoughts to what they’d spoken about before Flair admitted they were never really friends. Flair was cold in her memory, but then Giulia exited GM Aldis’s office, where he introduced both vets to “SmackDown’s newest rostered” superstar.

The R-Truth, The Whole R-Truth, And Nothing But The R-Truth

R-Truth spoke for the first time about what occurred between him and his idol John Cena at this weekend’s BackLash (sort of). Since his turn at Elimination Chamber, Cena has tried to be a heel by ‘not trying.’ From his basic entrance video to his slow methodical walks to the ring, Cena has decided ‘phoning in’ his final run is as dastardly as it gets—it’s smart. But we saw Cena get physical and violent in a way we had not seen since the famed February PLE in Canada.

In a sit-down interview with Wade Barret, Truth did not appear to have taken Cena’s attack too personally, and certainly not as personal as Wade and the rest of us took it. It was announced that Cena and Truth would face each other at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but Truth seems to believe in Cena as much today as he ever has.

Truth refused to acknowledge his hand in Cena retaining the title and instead tried to convince Wade that the champ retained it on ‘his own.’ Truth then said that the Cena at the press conference was not Cena at all before claiming that we do not know Cena the way he does—swearing they are still friends. He said the John he knows would not even talk about ruining wrestling, and if Truth has to be the one that ‘beats senses back into him’ a week from Saturday night.

Main Event: Tiffany Stratton(c) vs. Nia Jax—WWE Women’s World Title

Before the match that was booked last week began, we had a backstage confrontation between the champ Tiffany Straton and the white-hot baby face Jade Cargill. The crowd popped just seeing the two on screen, and Jade vowed to win the MITB briefcase and successfully cash-in ‘just like Stratton did’ following her MITB win last year.

As the two women continued talking smack, Naomi could be seen in the background with box lights shining bright on her (likely in the middle of promo pics). It could be argued that the match’s preface was hotter than the main event, considering Jax and Stratton’s story has been told and revisited before even last week.

However, these two delivered in a huge way (that’s right, Nia delivered, along with Tiffy, BIG TIME). The match started slowly, and the crowd was not overly hot during the entrances, but the ‘big title fight’ spotlight and the announcer helped to hype the crowd, right where they wanted them.

The contest had near-falls and such–all the ingredients for a great match in 2025– but the closing sequence added a couple of stars to the overall grade of this match. Nia was going up for the Bonzi Drop, but then Tiffy got up and attempted a power bomb. But Nia somehow landed the Bonzi Drop by reversing the powerbomb midway.

Tiffany was able to beat the count, barely, and that led to the finale. Nia, upset that Tiffy escaped the 3-count, tried to walk away with the belt. Yet, it was all a rouse to get the ref focused on the belt to utilize a steel chair Nia introduced earlier. That is when Tiffany landed a drop kick that flung the chair into Nia’s head, producing a huge ‘hard way’ cut that spewed blood.

Stratton hit “The Prettiest Moonsault” for the win and the title retention, but Nia earned the respect of the live crowd, the at-home viewers, and the commentating crew that went absolutely berserk for the match’s final sequences.

Other Tidbits/In-Ring Action

Next Friday’s MITB Qualifier was announced as another triple threat featuring: Charlotte Flair vs. Zelina Vega VS Guilia

• Axiom vs. DIY: Axiom Wins On Road To Titles?

The SD tag team division has been allowed to really showcase skill and depth over the past several months, and tonight was no different as both teams with deep NXT roots went toe-to-toe against each other. We got high spots, of course, but the quality teamwork and creative offense garnered a “this is awesome” chant from the crowd. Axiom is getting that ‘Triple H’ push in a big way, and the team picked up the victory over the former tag team champs in DIY.

However, DIY put a post-match beating on AXIOM before Motor City Machineguns came to the rescue while simultaneously paying back DIY for their own aggressions. The SD tag team division has been on fire while the RAW tag division has been on life support. Something needs to change to even out the action between shows, but if WWE could figure out a way of organizing an ‘undisputed tag team championship’, then WWE would become the premier tag team division overnight.

• Axiom Earns Title Shot

The Street Profits confronted Axiom after the champs learned that Nic Aldis made them the number one contender. The match between Profits and Axiom will take place next week on SmackDown, and regardless of how long Axiom has officially been on the main roster, their momentum makes them 50/50 in that match.

• Aleister Black VS Carmelo “Melo” Hayes

This match certainly added to the overall quality on a show that featured terrific in-ring action. Despite his initial trepidation, Melo is now fully on board with this Miz partnership, and The Miz did his best to assist Melo with the win. Unfortunately, The Miz interfered and caused the DQ, but hopefully these two get to run it back.

• Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest will meet at Saturday Night’s Main Event in a steel cage match. Drew got an in-ring promo while Priest delivered his in a pre-recorded video. Drew said, ‘this feud has to end,’ and he is right.