WWE headed to North Carolina for the first SmackDown since the Royal Rumble with many Elimination Chamber qualifying matches in store.
Let’s get into the results:
WWE Women’s Tag Team titles: Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY (c) def. Guilia and Kiana James
Carmelo Hayes def. The Miz
Elimination Chamber qualifier: Tiffany Stratton def. Lash Legend and Chelsea Green
Oba Femi def. Kit Wilson
Tama Tonga def. Shinsuke Nakamura
Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace def. Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan
Elimination Chamber qualifier: Randy Orton def. Solo Sikoa and Aleister Black
Notes:
Drew McIntyre attempts to open SmackDown, but Cody Rhodes attacks him. His best line refers to CM Punk and Roman Reigns having a d*** measuring contest and they’re glad he isn’t in it because there’s a reason he’s nicknames ‘Raheem’ – that’s a wild line if I’ve ever heard one!
He threatens that Drew will not make it to WrestleMania. His focus is squarely on the WWE Undisputed Heavyweight champion.
Nick Aldis asks Cody Rhodes to leave the building, threatening to pull him from next week’s Elimination Chamber qualifier if he doesn’t. He leaves.
Aleister Black interrupts Randy Orton’s backstage interview to tell him it’s great WWE still has him after two legends retired… “at least one part of you.”
Kit Wilson gave another stupidly entertaining promo before Oba Femit turned up to destroy him.
McIntyre tries to come out and talk again, this time Jacob Fatu appears and beats the brakes off of him.
Johnny Gargano was laid out depressed backstage. Axiom and Motor City Machine Guns had zero sympathy despite Candice LeRae’s please.
Nia Jax and Lash Legend interrupt Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY talking backstage and insist they are heading to see Nick Aldis to get their title match.
Rare Apollo Crews sighting! He’s standing with Matt Cardona as Kit Wilson gives him a frustrated dressing down backstage.
Raquel Rodriguez accidentally gives Liv Morgan the big boot during their tag team match…
Sami Zayn was meandering backstage looking depressed. Rey Fenix tried to cheer him up, but Trick Williams arrived to deliver some more slander. It did more for Fenix v Williams than anything else; Zayn said nothing.
Jordynne Grace vs Jade Cargill for the title next week is made.
Drew McIntyre finally does speak. He addresses the digs Reigns and Punk made against him Monday night on RAW. He also makes a compelling argument for why his world title has the most prestige. After a cracking promo, Trick Williams arrives as McIntyre is leaving and they exchange some words which ends with Drew firing a warning to the NXT export’s way.
Analysis:
Both of the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches went the way you’d think, but next week it’s Rhodes vs Fatu vs Zayn and that’s two title challengers that will have to suffer a setback somehow. One has to fear for Zayn’s direction in WrestleMania season now.
WWE has an adundance of options for the top matches right now. They have fresh options too, but it appears it’s going to be Cody Rhodes and McIntyre battling once more with potentially a third wheel added to the equation; likely Fatu.
Oba Femi and Trick Williams are right there with plenty of fan interest, but Rhodes is certainly WWE’s guy and it’s hard to argue against it.
Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan encountered yet more difficulties after their Royal Rumble fiasco and tense talks on Monday. Morgan is almost certainly facing Stephanie Vaquer at WM41, but it feels like they are going to find a way to put Raquel in there.
Personally, the Vaquer title reign has been underwhelming and some of that is not her fault. She hasn’t been given the tippy-top opponents that helps cement a new star.
Overall it’s a decent SmackDown that keeps us ticking along nicely to Elimination Chamber, although Cody Rhodes’ ‘Raheem’ reference might be the most noteworthy part of it!
