Here are the WWE Smackdown results for Friday, February 7th at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee
Jey Uso promo
The Royal Rumble winner enters through the crowd to kick off Smackdown. Again, the crowd is hyped and yeeting for Jey, contrary to what the internet will tell you. The crowd even chant for an encore. He says he has had a hell of a week. He has confronted Gunther, it is only fair he confronts the WWE champion too. Jey introduces his friend, the champ, Cody Rhodes. Jey speaks to Cody and says he has 2 choices to make. It would mean a lot to face Cody in the main event for the title. He would also like to stand alongside him, both of them as champion. Cody talks about the medical diagnosis from his doctor, a lot of issues but that won’t deter him. Rhodes is proud of Jey for winning the Rumble. He recounts the good times they’ve had. Cody says if Jey chooses him, then tonight will be the last time they have fun because he has to win to continue his story.
Out comes Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga. Fatu says last year Cody took the title from his family, but now his family needs that title back. Fatu says if anyone could bring the title back to the title, it won’t be Jey’s bum ass. The 4 men have a brawl.
Analysis
B Grade – A solid promo from these top charismatic faces to kick off Smackdown. They’re teasing it, but I doubt we’ll see Jey vs Rhodes. The brawl is to set up tonight’s big tag main event.
Piper Niven w/Chelsea Green vs Women’s Tag Champion Bianca Belair w/Naomi, Elimination Chamber Qualifier
The opening match for Smackdown is a match to enter the Chamber. They haven’t said what is on the line in the match, I assume before then we will find out who the Royal Rumble winners are choosing. Bianca tackles Niven in the corner, the Scotswoman uses a hair pull to take advantage. Belair knocks Niven out of the ring but Niven rams her into side of the ring. A crossbody and a senton gives Niven control.
Back from break, a top rope crossbody by Belair gets a 2 count. Niven counters the KOD with a headbutt and the Bossman Slam for a 2. A spear by Bianca. Niven kicks Bianca off the pin and into the corner, the spot looked ridiculously comical, a weak spot by the EST. A uranage by Niven. She hits the Vader bomb for a 2. Bianca kicks Niven headfirst into the ring post. She shows off impressive strength hitting the KOD on Piper Niven and wins the match.
Analysis
C+ Grade – A perfectly solid women’s match even with that silly spot. Bianca joins Liv Morgan in the Elimination Chamber
-Carmelo Hayes interrupts Nick Aldis and new Smackdown signees Katana Chance and Kayden Carter. Aldis wants him in a match tonight, Hayes initially says no but when it is revealed to be Akira Tozawa he accepts. Tozawa wants revenge for being attacked by Melo and missing out on the Royal Rumble match.
WWE Tag Champions DIY Promo
Johnny Gargano demands the Smackdown fans give them praise for beating the Motor City Machine Guns. They are the best tag team in the world officially. Ciampa says the chances of the MCMG hold these titles again are dead. 11 years ago they were their favourite tag team. Ciampa asks everyone to stand up, bow their heads in silence in memory of the MCMGs. They’re interrupted by Pretty Deadly.
They call it a lovely moment. Ciampa is enraged at their interruption. They remind DIY of all the help they have given. Ciampa demands respect for the moment of silence. Smackdown GM Nick Aldis comes out and says Pretty Deadly don’t deserve a title match, but maybe they could. Aldis books them both into a tag match right now and if Pretty Deadly win, they have themselves a tag title match. DIY complain about being in street clothes.
Analysis
C Grade – A simple but effective set up promo for the following match. I like both these teams so I’m happy.
DIY vs Pretty Deadly
DIY are beating up Pretty Deadly after the break, Prince gets a tag to Kit Wilson who takes out both Ciampa and Gargano. Sit-Out Uranage to Gargano. Recoil Clothesline to Ciampa. Prince springboards Wilson off of his back into a codebreaker on Gargano. That looked awesome. Ciampa throws Wilson into the ring post then exchanges punches with Prince. He beats him down but Prince shows his strength and stays on his feet. Ciampa uses the ropes for a pinfall but Wilson boots him. Prince rolls through and uses the ropes himself for the pinfall and get the win! They have a future championship match.
Analysis
C Grade – I cannot grade this too high because it was so short, but what we got to see was fun. Pretty Deadly pick up a cheap win, I doubt they will be as successful in their title match.
-The Miz praises Andrade as a wrestler and says that he could teach Andrade a lot. He brushes him off. The Miz sees Cody and complains about the younger crop of talent. He tells Cody he will always have his back. Rhodes says he doesn’t need him. The Miz understands, this time last year it was his story. Now, it is Jey’s story. The WWE puts strain on friendships. The Miz questions if their friendship can survive if they face off at Wrestlemania.
Drew McIntyre promo
Drew is the newest member of the Smackdown brand. It’ll be good for him to have some new opponents. He grabs the mic and says screw Raw. Drew admits being angry after the Rumble, he slept full of rage but he had an epiphany. He realised why he was so angry. Raw is a toxic environment. Drew is the good guy and when he got the call to join Smackdown he was happy to take it because he gets to be his 100% self. He calls out Cody Rhodes because he is coming for what he deserves, the WWE championship. He is interrupted by Jimmy Uso.
Jimmy says Drew is living in the past and sounds like an ex-girlfriend. Tonight, Drew has to get through Uso and Knight. Drew says a couple of weeks ago he would have been angry but he is cool now. He calls him Jey, he has never been able to tell them apart. McIntyre says they’re both so talented but Jimmy may be where he is right now if he said Yeet first. Jimmy reminds him who he is. He is big brother Jimmy. Jey got his, but where is Drew’s? Jimmy is ready to kick Drew’s ass. He says he is going to Wrestlemania. Here comes LA Knight.
LA Knight has no love for Jimmy Uso costing him his WWE title match a little over a year ago. He says he wants to make good change in his life. He tells the camera directly that expressing your emotions is beneficial for your mental health. However, sometimes you can cry too much. 3 guarantees. Death, Taxes and Drew McIntyre will cry like a bitch. He calls him Drew McIn-Crier. Knight says both of their Wrestlemania hopes are being dashed tonight by LA Knight, YEAH!
Analysis
B+ Grade – A very good, straight to the point promo from Smackdown newcomer Drew McIntyre. Jimmy Uso cut a good promo too though I still do not believe he will win this match. LA Knight cut an excellent promo as usual. I was wondering why he had such a heartfelt message, but transitioning that into a diss on McIntyre was brilliant. We’ll see if McIn-crier takes off. It sounds better than it reads.
Drew McIntyre vs LA Knight vs Jimmy Uso, Elimination Chamber Qualifier
The match has begun already back from break, Knight and Jimmy are stomping Drew in the corner but they fight over beating him up. Knight and McIntyre have a very intense scrap, which I am sure will fuel the dirtsheets more on the rumoured backstage animosity. All 3 men take turns attacking each other. Jimmy hits a Samoan drop on McIntyre, Knight breaks up the pin. Knight hits Jimmy with a tilt-a-whirl powerslam. He goes for the megastar elbow, McIntyre hits a Glasgow Kiss to stop him. Drew throws both opponents around with big suplexes. Jimmy hits Drew with a suicide dive, out follows Knight taking Jimmy out with a dropkick.
Back from break, McIntyre is put in the tree of woe. Knight jumps up to go for his signature superplex, McIntyre rises up to hit the German suplex sending both men off the top rope! Great spot. McIntyre exchange blows, Knight counters the Future Shock and hits a DDT of his own. Diving elbow drop for a near fall. Jimmy pushes Knight into a Spinebuster, Knight kicks out though it looks a little late. Jimmy counters the Claymore with a Superkick. Uso hits superkicks and an enziguiri to Knight. He hits the Uso Splash for a near fall but Drew pulls the referee out of the ring!
Jimmy superkicks Drew onto the announce table. He goes for the splash on Knight, LA rolls him up for the 1-2-no! Knight goes for the BFT, Claymore by McIntyre mid-move taking both men out. He pins Knight and wins the match.
Analysis
A Grade – Awesome match. These three men wrestled a classic triple threat match. Drew McIntyre joins CM Punk and John Cena in the Elimination Chamber match. Drew makes an immediate impact on Smackdown.
-Damian Priest says he looks forward to the Elimination Chamber and he will eliminate Drew like he did in the Rumble. Braun Strowman reminds Priest that he is in the ring with a wild man and a monster. Priest vs Strowman vs Fatu next week? Oh hell yeah!
Kevin Owens promo
We recap Owens’ vile attack on his best friend Sami Zayn on Raw. Owens recorded video on his twitter. He talks about the physical trauma he is experiencing that will never go away, but he has to live with that. He blames Sami for standing their and watching whilst Cody tried to end his career. Zayn did nothing, but in the Rumble he rushes into the ring to save Roman. He calls Sami a horrible friend, a disgusting human being and he will never forgive him. He says Sami will definitely pay for his actions.
Analysis
A++++ Grade – Short, emotional, intense, perfect. Kevin Owens’ delivery was so good that I even started to sympathise for him. Maybe Owens was justified for what he did. I dunno. I told people that I had zero desire to see Owens vs Zayn again, but that has changed.
Akira Tozawa vs Carmelo Hayes
Melo calls Tozawa an air ball, as if Cody Rhodes got left in the air fryer too long. That is funny. Tozawa attacks him before Melo enters the ring. Melo cuts him off with an elbow as the bell rings. Diving hurricanrana by Tozawa then a crossbody to the outside.
Back from break, Melo is in firm control. Tozawa ranas Melo head first into the bottom turnbuckle. Akira pops-up with a DDT for a near fall. Melo hits the First 48 for a 2 count. Tozawa with a strike combo. Melo meets him on the top rope, Akira with a sunset powerbomb for a near fall. Both men exchange pinfalls, Melo drops him with a stiff clothesline. A springboard DDT by Melo sets up Nothing But Net and he wins.
Analysis
C+ Grade – Hey we all knew who was going to win but this was a fun little match. I am glad they gave Tozawa plenty of opportunity to show that he is an incredible wrestler.
-Smackdown’s lead announcer Joe Tessitore inform us that they have tried to get an update on Roman Reigns but still no news. Backstage, R-Truth helps out Akira Tozawa and praises his spirit, before immediately dropping him to the floor when he sees Jey Uso. He runs over and congratulates him on winning King of the Ring. Jey tells him to check on his boy. Truth says Tozawa has yeeted on himself. (Truth is a national treasure.) Cody Rhodes is here. Jey still hasn’t figured out his path yet. Cody seems a bit frustrated with that.
Charlotte Flair promo
The Queen returns to Smackdown! I gotta say, Flair is dressed like a woman trying to recapture their 20s. She is dressed how I’d imagine Jan from The US Office dressed in Hawaii. Flair asks them if they love her or if they hate her. When Flair hears boos, she hears money. She lives rent free in wrestling fans minds. They’re obsessed with her looks, her championships, everything about her. (I guess I proved her point) Flair says it is not just her last name that makes her better than everyone. She became the first 2-time women’s rumble winner and talks about meeting Rhea Ripley and Giulia. She now wants to see if Tiffany Stratton inspires her. Out comes the WWE Women’s Champion.
Stratton congratulates her for her win and says no one is a bigger fan of her than she. She said Flair got injured and everyone cared…for like a day! Tiffany came along, WWE got hotter than ever and she is at the Tiffy top. Flair tells her to speak when she tells her to speak. Tiffany says she has been compared to Flair constantly since being in WWE. Tiffy wants Flair to pick her for Wrestlemania to end the talk of her being the next Charlotte Flair. She will be the one and only Tiffany Stratton. Flair sees a child in front of her begging her to be chosen. Flair tells her to get on her knees and beg for the match.
Nia Jax and Candice LeRae interrupt. Nia says this talk is premature because she has got herself a title match with Tiffany Stratton next week. She tells Flair she will have to defeat her at Wrestlemania. Flair is interesting by all of this and she will be sticking around next week to see what happens.
Analysis
B+ Grade – Damn I forgot how great Flair can be on the mic. Her and Stratton had a great exchange, this feels like the money match for Wrestlemania for sure. I’m glad Nia is getting her title match, I do hope that they properly end her storyline with Stratton before Wrestlemania comes around.
(Hey are you after some more results outside of WWE? We also cover AEW. Here is the most recent results from AEW Dynamite.)
Alexa Bliss vs Candice LeRae, Elimination Chamber Qualifier
Bliss in her first singles match in over 2 years. She hits a crossbody for a 1 count. Flair hits an STO then her Insult To Injury. She teases going for Sister Abigail! LeRae counters and beats her down. Snapmare by Candice gets a 2. She wears down Bliss, but Alexa trips Candice into the turnbuckle. Candice drops Bliss with a flatliner on the apron.
Back from break, Bliss fights out of a surfboard stretch. LeRae hits a codebreaker for a 2. Bliss powers up after hearing the trash talk and she hits her comeback. A big dropkick and a blockbuster for a 2. Candice drops Bliss with a stunner on the ropes, followed by a missile dropkick for a 2. We get some glitches, are those Wyatt Sicks’ doing?! I think it was. They exchange pinfalls. Bliss hits the Abigail DDT for the win.
Analysis
C Grade – A fine match, there is some clear signs of ring rust as you would expect so I am not going to criticise that. LeRae is a good opponent to return and face.
-Chelsea Green says she will beat Naomi next week on Smackdown then she will be the double champion at Wrestlemania. Mia Yim and B-Fab tell her to stop stalling and we all know the inevitable. Zelina Vega also walks by and wants herself a title match. Green calls them all nasty and demands Niven finds more security for her.
-Street Profits say that DIYs time as champion are numbered. They are pissed off and they’re sick of all of these tag teams betraying each other and reuniting. They say their violence will be televised and they want the smoke. (This is the most intense I’ve seen these 2. I’m hyped). The Motor City Machine Guns are pissed too and they call out Street Profits. Los Garza mock them. MCMG are mad about Garza bailing on them last week and they want a match. Santos Escobar accepts it on their behalf.
Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso vs Tama Tonga & Jacob Fatu
The main event of Smackdown is here. Rhodes and Tonga start, Cody gets a hot start but when Fatu gets in he immediately takes down the champion. After the break, Cody is still being beaten down as he is nursing the injuries from the Royal Rumble. Cody escapes and manages a tag to Jey who Yeets all over his opponents. He hits the running hip attack on Tonga for a 2. Jey with a back suplex neckbreaker but Fatu attacks him. Tonga with a clothesline for a 2. Fatu and Tonga double team Jey and isolate him from Cody. A double clothesline, Fatu and Rhodes both tag in and brawl. Cody hits his comeback followed with the Disaster Kick. Cody Cutter only gets a 1 count on Fatu!
Tama hits a flash flatliner for a near fall. Fatu pushes Rhodes off the top rope, Tonga hits the jumping DDT for a near fall. Fatu goes to punish Cody some more but Jey takes out Fatu. Huge suicide dive by Jey! Cody hits the Cross Rhodes on Tonga for the win. Cody’s celebration is cut off by the returning Solo Sikoa! He hits the champion with a Samoan Spike. he stand over Cody to close Smackdown.
Analysis
B- Grade – A standard but enjoyable main event tag match. Jacob Fatu looks great whilst Tonga takes the pin once again. Solo makes his return, it will be interesting to see what his dynamic with Jacob Fatu is like since his brief respite.
Final Thoughts
B Overall Grade – A variety of quality on this Smackdown but nothing bad as usual under the HHH regime. I think they should have just had Cody & Jey vs Fatu & Tonga open the show but I understand why it main evented. Knight vs McIntyre vs Uso was the rightful main event, best match on the card easily. A lot of good promos and storyline development, we’re only 3 weeks away from Elimination Chamber and 10 weeks away from Wrestlemania so I think the pace is going only increase from here. I am very excited at what we could be in store for.