It’s Friday night, and that means it’s time for another instalment of Friday Night SmackDown. This week’s episode, live from Salt Lake City, will see the final two entrants in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match decided, two more names added to the Women’s lineup, and the highly anticipated return of Roman Reigns and the newly-heel Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, with the pair likely having a lot to get off their chest after last Thursday’s WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Show.
The Rock Arrives
SmackDown kicks off with Hollywood megastar The Rock’s arrival, ZOA Energy in hand. ‘The People’s Champion’ is set to join Roman Reigns later tonight to address this past week’s events.
Kevin Owens defeats Dominik Mysterio
Dom attempts to cut a pre-match promo hyping up The Judgement Day only to be met with the usual deafening response from the WWE Universe. Owens quickly takes charge of this one once we get underway, with Mysterio’s cockiness and inexperience costing him any sort of control. Mysterio is able to head into the first commercial break on top, although the credit there goes to R Truth, who inadvertently distracts Owens, allowing Dominik to launch him into the steel steps. The two trade their signature offence as the action resumes until, following a far from perfectly executed 619, Mysterio asks Truth to grab him a chair. After a moment of hesitation, Truth decides to simply take a seat, and KO capitalises, delivering a Pop Up Powerbomb to secure his spot in the Elimination Chamber in Perth.
Drew Mclntyre Backstage Interview
Mclntyre believes the Elimination Chamber is his opportunity to right all the wrongs that have been piling up against him lately, although he’s quickly interrupted by LA Knight (Yeah!). Drew claims he can see through Knight’s bravado and that the WWE Universe will turn on him if he doesn’t pick up results soon. Knight responds to mentions of McIntyre’s résumé by pointing out his lack of victories since he’s been around before claiming there’s still room for one name on the tombstone pictured on Drew’s new merch. The pair are pulled apart before things get physical,
Roman Reigns Reunites With The Bloodline
Roman Reigns is seen arriving backstage, embracing Jimmy Uso alongside Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa. Reigns claims they’re going to “fix everything,” with more to come later in the show.
Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate Backstage Interview
Dunne claims that all that’s left for the pair to do is capture the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship in Perth. Bate responds by proposing ‘New Catch Republic’ as their new tag team name. Dunne seems interested, but the pair are then interrupted by Dominik Mysterio, who claims the pair can’t beat any two members of The Judgement Day, which prompts the Brits to challenge Mysterio and R Truth, with Dom yet again denying that Truth is a member of the group.
Tiffany Stratton defeats Zelina Vega
It’s Tiffy Time next as the former NXT Women’s Champion looks to book her place in the Elimination Chamber in a qualification match against the LWO’s Zelina Vega. The pair trade offence to kick this off, however we head into commercial break with Vega spotting Legado del Fantasma at ringside. As we return, the LWO have emerged to even the odds, although that doesn’t prevent Vega from getting distracted by their presence, leading to her dragging Elektra Lopez over the barricade. Stratton takes advantage of this distraction and lands the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to pick up with win to book her spot in what will be her first ever Elimination Chamber match.
AJ Styles and The OC Are Backstage
After the match we cut backstage to The OC, with the tension continuing to build between the unit as Karl Anderson claims Styles has forgotten where he came from, leading to ‘The Phenomenal One’ slapping his stablemate. Anderson states Styles is lucky he isn’t anyone else, although it’s fair to say things are far from over between these two.
Damage CTRL Vignette
Next up is a backstage pre-tape of Damage CTRL addressing Bayley’s decision to choose to face IYO SKY at WrestleMania 40, along with Dakota Kai seemingly siding with Bayley over them.
Authors of Pain defeat Beau Morris & Javier Bernal
Super Collider. Neckbreaker-Powerbomb combo. Statement made.
Logan Paul Backstage Interview
The WWE United States Champion insults the Salt Lake City crowd ahead of his first ever match on SmackDown against The Miz, with the pair both looking to secure the final spot in next Saturday’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia.
Logan Paul defeats The Miz
Paul’s inexperience is evident here in the early stages with some rough looking moments, but the pair’s chemistry allows them to get back on track. Logan attempts to retrieve his trusty brass knuckles from the outside, only for Miz to catch him in the act. After a misunderstanding from the referee, Paul is able to capitalise and pick up the victory, and thus, he joins Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, and Kevin Owens in next week’s Elimination Chamber match to determine Seth Rollins’ challenger for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40.
Nick Aldis Meets With Jade Cargill & Bron Breakker
Tiffany Stratton claims to not know how the Elimination Chamber match works, questioning whether to pin Bianca Belair or Liv Morgan first. In doing so, she disrupts Jade Cargill and Bron Breakker’s business meeting with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, with the pair seemingly being courted as the blue brand’s potential new signees.
Paul Heyman Meets With Grayson Waller
Grayson Waller is seen backstage speaking to Paul Heyman, although we’re unable to hear the nature of this discussion.
Naomi defeats Alba Fyre
The last of tonight’s Elimination Chamber qualifiers now as Naomi makes her SmackDown in-ring return against Alba Fyre, who’s joined at ringside by her tag team partner Isla Dawn. Fyre’s brief moments of control often stem from interference from Dawn here, and so it was no surprise to see Naomi pick up the submission victory in a strong return to WWE TV. Just one spot remains vacant in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Dakota Kai Seeks Help From Bayley
Following Damage CTRL’s statement of intent earlier in the night, Dakota Kai pleads with Bayley to help her deal with their former allies, although whilst Bayley says she appreciates Kai’s actions last week, she also reveals she’s unsure as to who she can trust right now.
Bron Breakker Signs With SmackDown
The newest member of the SmackDown roster is revealed to be former NXT Champion Bron Breakker, as Nick Aldis picks up another major addition. His in-ring debut is set for next week!
Roman Reigns & The Rock Address WrestleMania 40
The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion hits the ring flanked by Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa. Reigns demands that Salt Lake City acknowledge him before expressing his desire to be honest about the level of intelligence in the Utah crowd. After stating that tonight will be a night to fix everything, Reigns states that tonight is the night he can finally say The Rock is a member of The Bloodline.
Cue ‘Electrifying’ and out comes the man himself, looking much like the ‘Hollywood Rock’ many fans had anticipated seeing tonight. The Rock announces he has some good news to share, stating that an all-time attendance record has been set: the all-time record for the largest gathering of trailer park trash The Rock has ever seen.
The Rock claims the WWE Universe cost themselves the chance to see the biggest WrestleMania main event of all time and shoots down Cody Rhodes’ story. He then claims that he’ll do everything in power to ensure that Cody doesn’t finish his story and caps off the segment with an interesting twist on his iconic line:
If you smeelllllllll… what The Bloodline is cooking.
