WWE SmackDown Results: Randy Orton Proves He’s Eternal While Drew McIntyre Has a Night to Forget

The Road to WrestleMania is usually paved with good intentions, but if Friday night’s SmackDown in Charlotte was any indication, this year it’s being paved with RKOs, betrayals, and a whole lot of bad blood. We are deep in the trenches of the season now. The Royal Rumble hangover has cleared, and everyone is scrambling for a spot in the Elimination Chamber.

If you missed SmackDown, don’t worry. I sat through the chaos, the commercial breaks, and the beatdowns so you didn’t have to. Here is what went down on the blue brand as we inch closer to the Chamber.

The Apex Predator Punches His Ticket

Is it really an Elimination Chamber match if Randy Orton isn’t lurking in one of the pods? The main event on SmackDown saw “The Viper” square off against Solo Sikoa and Aleister Black in a triple threat qualifier, and it delivered exactly the kind of psychology we love to see.

For a moment, it looked like the numbers game was going to catch up to the veteran. Orton took a beating early on, selling the wear and tear like the master he is. But the ending was pure poetry. Just as Black was trying to recover, Sikoa looked ready to end things with a “Samoan Spike.” But you know the rule: never turn your back on Orton. One RKO out of nowhere later, and Orton secured his spot in his 10th Elimination Chamber match.

It feels right. Orton stabilizes that match, giving it a sense of gravity that few other superstars can provide.

It’s Officially Tiffy Time In the Chamber

On the women’s side, Tiffany Stratton reminded everyone why she is the future of this division. Her qualifier against Chelsea Green and Lash Legend was, frankly, a beautiful mess of interference and ego. We had Nia Jax and Alba Fyre getting involved at ringside, turning the bout into a demolition derby.

But Stratton thrives in chaos. She hit the “Prettiest Moonsault Ever” on Chelsea Green to book her ticket to the Chamber. Stratton has been gone for a minute, but she didn’t miss a beat. If I were a betting man, I’d say she’s walking into that Chamber with a massive chip on her shoulder.

Drew McIntyre’s Very Bad, No Good, Rotten Friday

If anyone needs an ice bath and a stiff drink after this show, it’s the Undisputed WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Psychopath usually does the hunting, but on SmackDown, he was the prey.

First, Cody Rhodes came out looking for blood. This wasn’t the smiling, suit-wearing Rhodes we see on posters; this was a man scorned after Drew cost him the Rumble. Rhodes blindsided the champ and cut a scathing promo, promising that McIntyre wouldn’t even make it to WrestleMania.

But the night didn’t end there for the champ. He later got jumped by Jacob Fatu in a separate attack. And just to sprinkle some salt in the wound, Trick Williams got in his face, too. When you have the title, you have a target on your back, but Drew has an entire army gunning for him right now on SmackDown. It makes for compelling TV, seeing the dominant champ besieged on all sides.

Tag Team Turmoil and Midcard Muscle

We also saw the “super team” of Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY (RHIYO) successfully defend their Women’s Tag Team titles against Giulia and Kiana James. This match was stiff. Giulia is going to be a massive star in the States, and seeing her mix it up with Rhea was a treat. The champs retained, but the chemistry in that ring was electric.

Elsewhere, Oba Femi continued his reign of terror. Kit Wilson made the mistake of grabbing a microphone and complaining about the Royal Rumble, issuing an open challenge. Femi answered it and proceeded to toss Wilson around like a sack of potatoes. It was quick, brutal, and exactly how you build a monster.

Meanwhile, Carmelo Hayes kept his US Title run alive by putting away The Miz. It was a solid match that served its purpose: keeping Melo hot while letting Miz do what he does best—make the new generation look like gold.

The Women’s Title Picture Explodes

SmackDown also featured a tag match born of pure friction. Liv Morgan (your Rumble winner) and Raquel Rodriguez teamed up to beat Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace, but the result was secondary to the drama.

It was a classic case of “can they coexist?” Spoiler alert: No, they cannot. Miscommunication plagued the champions’ team, leading to Grace accidentally rolling up Raquel for the win after Jade was knocked out of the ring. The tension between Jade and Jordynne is palpable, setting up a massive title fight for next week.

All in all, SmackDown did its job. It moved the pieces across the board, established the stakes for the Elimination Chamber, and left us with enough cliffhangers to make next week must-see TV.