Tiffany Stratton’s MITB Double Bluff Leads to WWE Women’s Title Win

Tiffany Stratton has won WWE Women’s Championship at SmackDown January 3, 2025 episode.

WWE presented the first 3-hour SmackDown episode this Friday night. The new change warranted something special. While there were other specials also on the show like Cody Rhodes’ promo with Drew McIntyre to open the show and The Bloodline Trios match in the main event, the most incredible segment came near the start of the third hour.

Nia Jax was defending WWE Women’s title against Noami with Candice LeRae in Nia’s corner and Bianca Belair in Naomi’s corner. Both women had battered each other and hit several big moves. Both women were down after Naomi connected a roundhouse kick on Nia when Tiffany Stratton ran out with a referee and her Money in the Bank briefcase.

Tiffany’s Double Bluff

Tiffany teased cashing in the MITB contract but instead hit Naomi with the briefcase while Candice kept the referee distracted in an argument. This led to Nia hitting the A-Nia-Lator to Naomi and win the match to retain her title. Tiffany also celebrated the win with Nia and Candice. When Bianca came to attack them, Nia sent her into the corner. Nia was looking for the A-Nia-Lator on Bianca when Tiffany’s betrayal came.

Tiffany first hit Nia with the MITB briefcase when Nia was on the second rope. This was followed by Tiffany taking out Candice. Bianca hit Nia with KOD after picking her up from the second rope while Tiffany stood at the ringside. Tiffany then pulled Bianca out of the ring and threw her over the announce table before finally cashing in the MITB contract on a fallen Nia. Tiffany then hit Prittiest Moonsault Ever(triple jump moonsault) to get the pinfall and win WWE Women’s Championship.

This is the second time that Nia Jax has lost a title after MITB cash-in against her. Alexa Bliss also did the same at Money in the Bank 2018 event when she cashed in the contract during Nia’s title defense against Ronda Rousey.

Tiffany & Nia’s Storyline Long in Making

The storyline had about Tiffany’s cash-in against Nia has been in development since the summer. They became an unexpected duo as Nia started protecting Tiffany sometime in May 2024. While Nia went on to win Queen of the Ring tournament and followed it by beating Bayley at SummerSlam 2024 to win Women’s title, Tiffany won women’s MITB at Money in the Bank in between.

While Tiffany’s MITB cash in was teased several times, the relationship only started turning sour last month when Nia grew close to Candice LeRae, and Tiffany started playing third fiddle. Tiffany has now hit back in her own style and chose an very opportune moment to cash in her MITB contract.

This is Tiffany Stratton’s first reign as WWE Women’s Champion. She had earlier held NXT Women’s Championship in 2023.