WWE rolled into the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas for their latest episode of SmackDown on the road to WrestleMania.
Let’s get into the results:
Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY vs Nia Jax and Lash Legend – No contest
MFTs def. Carmelo Hayes, Ilja Dragunov, Matt Cardona, Apollo Crews and Shinsuke Nakamura
Trick Williams def. Rey Fenix
WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill def. Jordynne Grace
Elimination Chamber qualifier: Cody Rhodes def. Jacob Fatu and Sami Zayn
Notes:
Tiffany Stratton opens the show with a babyface promo talking about winning the world title back. Nia Jax and Lash Legend interupt with a series of threats. That brings out IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley (big pop as usual) and a tag match is made.
Apollo Crews appears again and actually has lines this time. He tells Carmelo Hayes he fancies a US title shot at some point, as does Matt Cardona. Hayes tells them the invitational is closed tonight as he owes Ilja Dragunov.
Alesiter Black has a backstage vignette alongside his wife Zelina Vega. Black sends a message to Randy Orton, Vega talks up the triple threat with Alexa Bliss and Giulia.
Carmelo Hayes he is going to attempt to qualify for the Elimination Chamber next week.
IYO SKY and Giulia have a brief tease backstage before Jade Cargill walks by and has a tease with SKY herself. Rhea Ripley just stood by for both.
Liv Morgan, Dirty Dom and Raquel Rodriguez watched the women’s title match from ringside in the form of a Valentines Day date.
Johnny Gargano is still depressed.
Drew McIntyre got involved in he main event to destroy Jacob Fatu and Cody Rhodes. After a Claymore, he put Sami Zayn on for the pin, but Rhodes kicked out. Zayn then Helluva kicked McIntyre and, of course, Rhodes nailed the CrossRhodes for the win.
Analysis:
Nia Jax’s climb to the top rope was perhaps the slowest thing to ever happen anywhere. Great chaos in the women’s opening tag though; tables smashed and barricades broken.
Tiffany Stratton appeared in a few segments tonight. Makes you think WWE are considering having her compete for the title at WrestleMania, especially because it’s quite hard to see what she’d do otherwise. At least the other women are in the tag picture.
When are WWE going to put Rey Fenix and Penta together? With The Usos needing dance partners at WrestleMania, that could be magic.
Cody Rhodes kicking out of McIntyre’s Claymore kick after a taxing half-an-hour triple threat main event… It stunk a little bit like Super Cena it has to be said. A true babyface win, yes. But I have to wonder if down the road we are getting a heel Cody Rhodes. McIntyre still maintains he did not attack Fatu and unless someone else enters the equation, Rhodes may well emerge down the road.
