SMACKDOWN (Where Plans Are Made to Be Rewritten) – The first-ever three-hour episode of WWE SmackDown delivered high drama on-screen and even more behind the scenes, with new details emerging about the night’s explosive opening segment and Tiffany Stratton’s perfectly-executed cash-in victory.
Cody, Drew, and KO: A Chaotic Kickoff
The show began with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes delivering a promo that quickly spiraled into chaos thanks to interruptions by Drew McIntyre and later Kevin Owens, Cody’s opponent at the upcoming Royal Rumble. But according to PWInsider, the original plan was for Owens to open the show, with McIntyre and Rhodes entering later. WWE reportedly went back and forth on the structure of the segment, with discussions even including a possible cameo by Jey Uso. In the end, McIntyre’s storyline with Uso was saved for the main event, and the opening became the Rhodes-centered showdown that aired.
While the final product was a dramatic start, it seems the creative process was as chaotic as the in-ring action—a fitting prelude to the rest of the night’s unpredictability.
Stratton’s Cash-In: Secretly Savvy and Savage
Later in the show, Naomi, standing in as Women’s Tag Team Champion, challenged Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship. What fans didn’t know was that the match was merely the prologue to Tiffany Stratton’s coronation.
The meticulously planned cash-in, kept under wraps even backstage, saw Stratton storm to the ring wielding her Money in the Bank briefcase like Thor’s hammer. After nailing Naomi with the case and allowing Jax to retain her title, Stratton lured Jax into a celebratory beatdown on Naomi—only to strike Jax from behind, cash in her contract, and claim her first WWE Women’s Championship.
The move was as shocking as it was strategic, cementing Stratton as a top player in the Women’s Division. PWInsider notes that the cash-in had been in the works for weeks, kept as a tightly guarded secret to preserve its impact.
As the dust settles, fans are left wondering: with Owens gunning for Rhodes, McIntyre’s simmering tensions with Uso, and Stratton’s rise to the top, how can SmackDown possibly top itself next week?