Tonight, fans will witness a WWE SmackDown title match as the event returns to a three-hour format at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The evening’s highlight will see Chelsea Green defend her Women’s United States Championship against Giulia in a contest sure to influence future storylines.
Chelsea Green and Giulia Set for Championship Rematch
The SmackDown card is seeing notable developments with the addition of this high-profile title defense. Chelsea Green, currently holding the Women’s U.S. Championship, will face off against Giulia, the competitor she bested for the title last November. As two of only three women to hold this championship since its recent introduction, the rivalry between Green and Giulia forms much of the belt’s brief, yet intense, legacy.
Green, now in her second reign, reclaimed the championship under controversial circumstances, pinning Giulia while leveraging the ropes with assistance from a ringside distraction. Giulia, previously the titleholder, is eager to regain her position and restore her history with the championship.
Main Event Stipulation Announcement Features Top WWE Names
Beyond the marquee women’s title match, tonight’s SmackDown will feature appearances from Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and prominent superstar Drew McIntyre. McIntyre is scheduled to disclose the stipulations for their highly anticipated Three Stages of Hell bout, enhancing anticipation for their confrontation.
This intense showdown between Rhodes, often referred to as “The American Nightmare,” and McIntyre, known as “The Scottish Psychopath,” is set for the January 9 episode of SmackDown. The stakes will be high, with Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship at risk in their multi-stage contest.
Three-Hour Format and What’s Next for WWE SmackDown
With WWE SmackDown returning to a three-hour broadcast tonight, the company is promising more action, in-depth storytelling, and significant developments for fans both at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo and those tuning in across the United States. The outcomes of both the Women’s U.S. Championship match and the upcoming match stipulations could have lasting effects on the direction of the championship scenes.
As tonight’s results unfold, attention will turn to how these matches shape the future of WWE’s programming and potential rivalries leading into 2025 and major upcoming events like WrestleMania.
