Tonight on SmackDown, two WWE Elimination Chamber Qualifying Matches... Trick Williams, Carmelo Hayes & Damian Priest go at it and on the women's side Kiana James, Nia Jax & Charlotte Flair battle it out, Oba Femi takes on Kit Wilson, Tama Tonga faces Ilja Dragunov, Rhea Ripley replaces Iyo Sky in a bout against Giulia, Cody Rhodes kicks off the show and more!
Check back for live results!
Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky, Giulia & Kiana James, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax & Lash Legend, R-Truth & Damian Priest, Carmelo Hayes, and Trick Williams are all shown arriving to SmackDown.
Clips from last week's SmackDown are shown and then at ringside, Cody Rhodes makes his way out to open the show. Before Rhodes can talk about anything, Jacob Fatu's music hits and he comes down to the ring. Fatu wants to keep it 100 and tells Rhodes he wouldn't be out here if it wasn't for Drew McIntyre. Fatu says he had Rhodes and Sami Zayn beat last week and everyone knows it. Fatu says his concern isn't that but it's Drew McIntyre and Fatu calls out McIntyre. Nick Aldis comes out instead and says he gave McIntyre the night off. Aldis says there is too much on the line with Elimination Chamber right around the corner and asks Fatu to come to his office to discuss McIntyre and leave Rhodes in the ring to cut his promo. McIntyre is up in the stands and says while he appreciates having the night off but he does what he wants. He calls out Fatu and Fatu runs out of the ring to get his hands on McIntyre. Security runs down and Fatu takes all the security out. Aldis approaches Fatu and tells him to calm down or he'll be suspended. A pissed Fatu is forced to leave ringside. McIntyre says everyone is after him because he is the champ. Rhodes says the world is after him because he's an asshole and Rhodes drops his mic and McIntyre poses in the stands with his title.
Carmelo Hayes warms up backstage. Ilja Dragunov tells Hayes that he'll win the qualifier match and then go straight to WrestleMania. Hayes says he doesn't need Dragunov to tell him how to be HIM and that Dragunov should focus on his match. Dragunov says he's still coming for the United States Championship.
Jacob Fatu and Nick Aldis talk backstage. Aldis tells Fatu to have patience and asks Fatu to wait a little longer and he'll get his hands on Drew McIntyre. Fatu says he won't be waiting much longer.
Match 1: Ilja Dragunov -vs- Tama Tonga w/MFT (Solo Sikoa, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo & Talla Tonga)
Dragunov kicks Tonga off the bell and chops him in the corner. Tonga knocks Dragunov to the mat and starts punching out Dragunov. Dragunov is choked in the corner and the ref breaks it up. Dragunov knees Tonga and then they trade punches in the ring. Dragunov is thrown into the turnbuckle. Dragunov kicks and boots Tonga to the mat and slams into him in the corner. Tonga is suplexed down and then kicked out of the ring and we cut to a commercial.
Back to Smacky, Tonga punches Dragunov in the middle of the ring and then elbows Dragunov on the back of his head. Dragunov is swung into the corner and Dragunov buckles to the mat. Dragunov chops Tonga and Tonga smacks Dragunov across the face. Tonga gets caught by Dragunov and Dragunov runs into him and slams him down. Dragunov hits a knee and covers Tonga for a two count. Dragunov is slammed off the middle rope and Tonga hits a spinning facebuster and covers Dragunov for a near fall. Dragunov and Tonga trade punches and strikes before clotheslining each other at the same time. Dragunov slams down Tonga and hits a German Suplex. Dragunov hits another German Suplex and drops Tonga on his head. Dragunov goes for another but hits the Constantine Special and covers Tonga for a near fall. Tonga hits a DDT and covers Dragunov for a two count. Dragunov slams down Tonga and climbs the ropes and comes down hitting Tonga with a Senton. Mateo gets on the apron and distracts Dragunov, Tonga rolls up Dragunov and Dragunov kicks out at two. Dragunov knocks down Tonga and Loa gets on the apron and distracts Dragunov. Tonga hits Cutthroat and gets the win.
Winner: Tama Tonga
Solo Sikoa gets in the ring and asks if everyone thought he was playing and starts talking about what he and MFTs are going to do. Dragunov attacks Sikoa and he gets beaten down. Matt Cardona comes out to save Dragunov and he gets beaten up. Apollo Crews comes out and he gets beaten up. The lights then go out and Uncle Howdy shows up on the screen. Howdy has the rest of The Wyatt Sicks behind him. Howdy tells Sikoa he needs to learn to stand on his own. The next time Howdy will be in the ring, he'll be alone and asks if Sikoa will as well.
Drew McIntyre talks on the phone backstage. Nick Aldis comes up to him and yells at him for being at the venue. Aldis tells McIntyre to keep testing him and he'll show McIntyre what he's capable of. McIntyre tells him to relax and says he'll leave.
Byron Saxton talks to Randy Orton backstage. Orton talks about the Elimination Chamber and facing Cody Rhodes in the Chamber. Zelina comes up to Orton and tells him there is only one road for Orton to go down. Aleister Black follows Zelina and Black brings up how Orton was feared and wants to know where that version of Orton is. Orton says they should have a match because the only version of him that's needed to beat up Black is the one that's in front of him.
Jade Cargill walks backstage and we will be hearing from her.
Byron Saxton talks to Lash Legend and Nia Jax. Jax says they don't have time for his interview. Jax says after she qualifies, Legend and her will go for the Tag Team Titles. Legend says they'll prove they run the women's division.
At ringside, Jade Cargill makes her way out to the ring. Cargill gets on the mic and says she is the champ and will defend her title when she wants. She calls out Liv Morgan and says she'll be at RAW for Morgan's decision. Cargill rattles off the names of the top women's stars and says regardless of who she'll face she'll leave WrestleMania the WWE Women's Champion because she's still that bitch. As Cargill is leaving, Charlotte Flair's music hits and she comes out to the ring for her match. Cargill gets in Flair's face and Flair ignores her. Cargill follows her and they get in each other's faces again and a ref breaks it up and sends Cargill to the back.
Match 2 - WWE Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Charlotte Flair -vs- Kiana James -vs- Nia Jax
Flair and Jax talk smack and James tries to get involved and Flair smokes her. Flair takes down James and Jax knocks Flair down. James is happy Jax knocked down Flair and suggests a partnership. Jax attacks James and Flair attacks Jax. Flair now beats James in the corner and Jax hits a headbutt on Flair and James. Jax hits a hip attack on James and Flair on opposite ends of the ring. Flair kicks Jax and Jax goes shoulder first into the ringpost and we cut to a break.
Back to the match, Flair and James trade punches and James knocks Flair down with an elbow. Jax runs in and Flair and James kick her and Jax bounces off the ropes and hits a double clothesline. Jax tries for a double suplex but gets suplexed herself by Flair and James. James rolls up Flair who kicks out at two. Flair climbs the ropes and hits a cross body on James. Flair chops Jax and James. Flair kicks Jax and hits her walkover clothesline on James. Flair tosses James over the ropes and chops Jax. Flair gets on the apron and James kicks her. Back in the ring, Jax gets James on her shoulders for a Samoan Drop and Flair kicks Jax and James gets Samoan Dropped. Flair climbs the ropes and hits a double Moonsault and covers Jax who kicks out at two. Flair hits a headscissors on Jax and Jax hits a Samoan Drop on Flair. James comes out of nowhere and hits a Samoan Drop on Jax. James covers Jax and Jax kicks out at two. Jax rolls out of the ring and Flair and James battle on the ropes. James and Flair are on the top rope. Flair hits a Spanish Fly from the top rope and James is covered for a near fall. Flair goes for Natural Selection but Jax trips her and throws her into the ringpost. James kicks Jax outside the ring and Jax slams into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Flair powerbombs James and sets her in the Figure 8 and Jax breaks the hold with a leg drop. Jax hits Annihilator on James and Flair breaks the pin. Jax and Flair trade punches in the middle of the ring and Flair gets knocked onto the apron. Flair stuns Jax and then climbs the ropes. Flair gets punched by Jax and Jax climbs the ropes and Charlotte powerbombs Jax off the turnbuckles and then locks in the Figure 8 on Jax. James sneaks in and rolls up Flair for the win.
Winner: Kiana James
Byron Saxton talks to Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley about Kiana James winning tonight. Ripley says it sucks that Nia Jax didn't qualify so she can't beat her up. Sky says James' partner Giulia won't be that lucky cuz Ripley will beat her. They then talk about being the Tag Champs and say Lash Legend and Jax don't stand a chance.
Oba Femi warms up backstage before his match.
Match 3: Kit Wilson -vs- Oba Femi
The bell rings and Wilson gets on the mic and tells Femi that he thinks Femi has grown and as a feminist to a new feminist he has poem to read. Wilson reads the poem from the apron and Femi seems to enjoy the poem and Wilson says Femi isn't a brute but a teddy bear. Femi says that was nice and asks Wilson to read another. Wilson says he only has one, and Femi demands Wilson reads another one. Wilson reads his older material and reads a poem about 9 things he hates about men. This poem doesn't sit well with Femi because the last line trashes Femi. Femi gets pissed and tosses Wilson into the ring and hits two running uppercuts. Wilson tries to kick Femi but Femi picks him up and launches him across the ring. Femi hits Fall from Grace and gets the win.
Winner: Oba Femi
Byron Saxton talks to Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley about Kiana James winning tonight. Ripley says it sucks that Nia Jax didn't qualify so she can't beat her up. Sky says James' partner Giulia won't be that lucky cuz Ripley will beat her. They then talk about being the Tag Champs and say Lash Legend and Jax don't stand a chance.
Oba Femi warms up backstage before his match.
Match 3: Kit Wilson -vs- Oba Femi
The bell rings and Wilson gets on the mic and tells Femi that he thinks Femi has grown and as a feminist to a new feminist he has poem to read. Wilson reads the poem from the apron and Femi seems to enjoy the poem and Wilson says Femi isn't a brute but a teddy bear. Femi says that was nice and asks Wilson to read another. Wilson says he only has one, and Femi demands Wilson reads another one. Wilson reads his older material and reads a poem about 9 things he hates about men. This poem doesn't sit well with Femi because the last line trashes Femi. Femi gets pissed and tosses Wilson into the ring and hits two running uppercuts. Wilson tries to kick Femi but Femi picks him up and launches him across the ring. Femi hits Fall from Grace and gets the win.
Winner: Oba Femi
Nick Aldis stands by the wooden crate that was at RAW. R-Truth approaches Aldis and says he thinks there is an award in it. Aldis asks for the crate back to RAW. Damian Priest comes up to them and Truth thinks he's going to replace Priest in the qualifier. Aldis breaks Truth's heart and Truth leaves. Priest and Aldis talk and Priest says he appreciates the opportunity.
Match 4: Tiffany Stratton -vs- Alba Fyre w/Chelsea Green
They lock up at the bell and Fyre knocks Stratton to the mat. Stratton gets Fyre in a headlock and Stratton slams down Fyre with a springboard snapmare. Stratton flips around the ring and trips Fyre into the ropes. Stratton hits as double dropkick and covers Fyre for a near fall. Stratton trips Fyre and hits a springboard Senton and covers Fyre and Fyre kicks out. Stratton rolls up Fyre a couple times and Fyre kicks out each time. Fyre rakes Stratton's eyes and hits a DDT on Stratton and we cut to a break.
We return from a commercial break, Stratton elbows Fyre and takes down Fyre with a couple clotheslines and then hits a handspring elbow. Fyre goes for a roll up and Stratton kicks out. Fyre slaps Stratton and chops her in the corner. Fyre climbs the ropes and Stratton climbs up with her and Stratton hits a superplex and then a backstabber slam and covers Fyre for a near fall. Stratton goes for an Alabama Slam and Fyre counters and hits a Gory Neckbreaker and covers Stratton who kicks out at two. Stratton slams down Fyre with an Alabama Slam. Stratton goes for The Prettiest Moonsault Ever and Fyre knocks her off the ropes to the outside. Fyre goes for a baseball slide and Stratton punches Fyre. Green distracts Stratton allowing Fyre to hit a suicide dive on Stratton. Back in the ring, Fyre goes for a Swanton and Stratton gets her knees up. Stratton slams down Fyre and hits her Moonsault and gets the win.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn talk backstage. Zayn is moping around and Rhodes tells him he has nothing to be ashamed of. Zayn says Rhodes should be ashamed of himself. Zayn says he tried to help Rhodes during the match and Rhodes pays him back by hitting his finisher on him and getting the win. Rhodes says Zayn has to learn to take advantage of opportunities. Rhodes says this is why Zayn isn't a champ. Zayn says Rhodes is where he is because he's the chosen one. Rhodes tells Zayn to not lecture him and tells Zayn the only thing in his way is him. Rhodes leaves and Trick Williams shows up and laughs at Zayn and tells Zayn he will do what Zayn can't, which is get the job done. Williams leaves and Zayn runs after Cody Rhodes and apologizes and tells Rhodes to remember he's had help along the way to get to where he is. Rhodes says he'll never forget and leaves.
Match 5 - WWE Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Trick Williams -vs- Carmelo Hayes -vs- Damian Priest
We get the bell and Williams tries to get Hayes to team up with him. Priest clotheslines them both down and attacks Hayes. Hayes kicks Priest and dropkicks him. Priest slams down Hayes and Williams gets back in the ring and chops Priest. Priest chops back and Hayes gets involved. Priest slams into both Williams and Hayes in the corner and slams both Hayes and Williams. Priest throws Hayes onto Williams and then DDT's Hayes and covers him for a near fall. Priest goes to chokeslam Williams and Williams backflips out of it. Hayes takes down Williams and Priest slams down Hayes and covers him for near fall and we cut to a break.
We're back, Hayes is thrown out of the ring and in the ring, Priest smacks Williams around. Williams slams down Priest with a jumping neckbreaker. Hayes comes in and starts chopping Williams and punches him out against the turnbuckles. Hayes DDT's Priest and Williams throws Hayes out of the ring. Williams and Priest punch each other. Hayes hits a double springboard inverted bulldog and then comes out over the ropes and takes out Priest and kicks Williams into the timekeepers area. Back in the ring, Hayes hits a crossbody and covers Priest for a near fall. Williams kicks down Hayes and then hits an uranagi and covers Hayes and Hayes kicks out at two. Williams chops Hayes and Hayes chops Williams a few times. Williams knocks Hayes out of the ring and Priest slams Hayes onto the announce desk. Williams slams Priest into the announce desk. Back in the ring, Williams hits the Trick Kick and covers Hayes who kicks out at two. Williams sits Hayes on the top rope and climbs up with him. Priest comes in and grabs Williams and hits The Razor's Edge and covers Williams for a near fall. Hayes comes off the top rope and hits Nothing but Net and Williams breaks the pin. Hayes and Williams trade punches in the center of the ring. Priest kicks both Hayes and Williams and runs into a double kick by Williams and Hayes. Hayes and Williams both want to cover Priest and break each other's pins. Hayes gets Williams down with a kick and covers him, Williams kicks out. Williams tries to roll up Hayes and Hayes kicks out. Hayes hits 1st48 and then climbs the rope. Hayes jumps and Priest smokes him. Williams hits the Trick Shot on Priest and gets the win.
Winner: Trick Williams
Angel & Berto, Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley, Nathan Frazer & Axiom all stand around the crate discussing what it is. Candice LeRae complains to Nick Aldis and complains about how Johnny Gargano is laid out on the crate all depressed. Jordynne Grace comes by and needs to talk to Aldis. LeRae and Grace argue and Aldis suggests they battle it out next week. LeRae doesn't like this and tells Gargano to get off the crate and go home with her.
Jade Cargill is photoshooting backstage. She sees B-Fab and asks her if B-Fab wants to get her ass kicked again. B-Fab says she's third in line and Michin comes in with a Kendo stick and tells Cargill she's going to get her back for injuring B-Fab and Michin.
Match 6: Giulia -vs- Rhea Ripley
Giulia and Ripley lock up and Ripley gets Giulia to the corner. Giulia pushes Ripley and they lock up again. Giulia slaps Ripley and then slaps Ripley in a submission hold and Ripley carries Giulia to the corner and breaks the hold. Giulia goes for a jumping Tornado DDT and Ripley catches her and hits a stalled suplex and covers Giulia for a near fall. Ripley goes for RipTide and Giulia counters and knocks Ripley down. Giulia slams into Ripley in the corner and then hits a missile dropkick from the middle rope. Giulia boots Ripley in the corner and Ripley is able to counter and smack Giulia a few times in the corner. Ripley goes for a spear and Giulia moves out of the way and Ripley goes shoulder first into the ringpost. Outside the ring, Giulia sends Ripley into the steel steps and we cut to a break.
Back to SmackDown, Giulia has Ripley on the mat and kicks Ripley a bunch of times. Ripley catches a kick and Ripley blocks it and clobbers Giulia to the mat. Giulia and Ripley punch and chop each other. Ripley clotheslines Giulia to the mat and Ripley kicks Giulia and slams her down to the mat. Ripley with a basement dropkick, knocks Giulia flat on the mat. Ripley climbs the ropes and Giulia joins her on the top rope. Ripley slides under Giulia and kicks her in the face. Ripley slams Giulia face first to the mat and covers Giulia for a near fall. Ripley goes for RipTide and Giulia counters and slams down Ripley. Giulia hits Arrivederci and covers Ripley who kicks out. Ripley sets up for RipTide and Lash Legend and Nia Jax come out and attack Ripley.
Winner by Disqualification: Rhea Ripley
After the match, Iyo Sky runs out to save Ripley. Ripley and Sky beat up Legend and Jax and send them out of the ring.
The Miz stops Oba Femi backstage. The Miz says he's been watching Femi and it's his responsibility to make sure the new talent is successful. The Miz tells Femi he'll show him the ropes and Femi says he'll go talk to Aldis and get that official. The Miz seems happy at first and as Femi leaves The Miz realizes Femi is going to Aldis for a match.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss talk backstage. Flair tells Bliss that she knows Bliss is upset that Flair didn't qualify for the Elimination Chamber. Kiana James and Giulia come by and James tells Bliss that she should be worried that Flair isn't there to help her in the Chamber. James and Giulia try to get in Flair and Bliss' heads.
MFT is backstage. Solo Sikoa tells Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga and JC Mateo they should book it. The three leave and Sikoa tells Tama Tonga that he's proud of his win tonight but that Tonga should be focused on the lantern they stole from The Wyatt Sicks. Sikoa leaves and Shinsuke Nakamura comes in and asks Tonga why he's Sikoa's lackey and that Tonga should leave the family tree in the forest.
Match 7: Randy Orton -vs- Aleister Black w/Zelina
Black and Orton circle each other at the bell and then lock up. Orton gets Black in a chinlock and then knocks him down with a shoulder check. Black and Orton both stare each other down after trying to get in each other's heads with their taunts. Orton punches Black in the corner and then clotheslines Black out to the floor and we cut to a commercial.
Back to our Main Event, Orton slams Black onto the announce desk and then sends him back in the ring and covers Black for a two count. Black rolls out of the ring and Orton tries to slam his head into the barricades but Black counters and kicks Orton several times. Orton grabs Black and slams him onto the barricade. Back into the ring, Orton goes for the pin but Black kicks out. Orton stomps on Black several times. Zelina gets on the apron and distracts Orton. Black is able to knee Orton who ends up outside the ring. Black kicks Orton in the face and sends him back in the ring. Black hits a running knee and covers Orton for a near fall. Black gets Orton in a sleeperhold and Orton does his best to fight out of it. Orton fights out of it and tries for a suplex and Black knees him while he's upside down and then kicks down Orton. Black connects with a forearm and covers Orton who kicks out at two. Black gets Orton in a headlock and Orton powers back up to his feet and breaks the hold. Orton uppercuts Black who falls out to the apron and then sets up Black for the draping DDT and Black counters and guillotines Orton on the ropes. Black kicks Orton and then forearms him and covers Orton for a two count. Black stomps on Orton and puts him in another headlock. Orton gets on his feet and breaks the hold and slams down Black with a back suplex. Orton clotheslines Black and then gets Black on the mat with his scooping snap powerslam. Orton sets up for the draping DDT and drives Black's head into the mat. Orton sets up for RKO and black counters out of it and gets out of the ring. Orton comes out to get Black and Black kicks Orton in the face and then pokes Orton's eyes. Orton tries to slam Black onto the apron but Black reverses it and stands on the desk. Orton trips Black and Zelina gets Orton's attention and starts telling him off. Orton is distracted for a second and goes back to Black and slams Black down to the pads outside the ring with a draping DDT off the announce desk. The ref checks on Black and Drew McIntyre comes out of nowhere and smacks Orton with his title. Cody Rhodes runs out and chases McIntyre away. Back in the ring, Black hits Black Mass and gets the win.
Winner: Aleister Black
After the match, Rhodes checks on Orton as McIntyre stands in the crowds and kisses his championship belt. Zelina and Black celebrate as they leave the ring and we fade to black.
