WWE SmackDown Recap: The Road to Elimination Chamber Hits a Speed Bump in Dallas

It’s that time of year, folks. We are firmly on the Road to WrestleMania, and usually, that means the intensity ramps up, the stakes get higher, and the storytelling gets tighter. But this week’s Friday Night SmackDown in Dallas felt a bit like the creative team was spinning its wheels, waiting for the Elimination Chamber event to actually arrive.

We got some answers regarding who is booking a ticket to the Chamber, but we also got a fair share of head-scratching moments. From a chaotic main event involving the “Codelander” himself to a chicken nugget date at ringside (yes, really), here is what went down on the Blue Brand this week.

The American Nightmare Punches His Ticket

Let’s start with the headline act. The main event featured a high-stakes triple threat between Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, and the Samoan Werewolf, Jacob Fatu. On paper, this is a pay-per-view caliber match. In execution? It was a vehicle to further the psychological warfare between Drew McIntyre and… well, everyone.

The match itself was solid. You have three guys who know how to work a crowd. But the ending was pure sports entertainment chaos. Drew McIntyre interfered, not to attack Sami Zayn, but to help him. In a twisted bit of logic, McIntyre took out Fatu and Rhodes, practically gift-wrapping the win for Zayn. Why? because in Drew’s warped mind, Sami is the “easy” opponent.

But Sami, being the moral compass of WWE, hesitated. That hesitation cost him. Cody recovered, hit the Cross Rhodes, and pinned Zayn to secure his spot in the Elimination Chamber. It’s the right call booking-wise—Cody is the guy—but you have to feel for Sami being used as a pawn in the McIntyre/Rhodes feud.

The Women’s Tag Title Mess On SmackDown

If the main event was chaotic by design, the opening contest was chaotic by mistake. We kicked off the show with Tiffany Stratton—who is undeniably a star—getting interrupted by Nia Jax and Lash Legend. This bled into a tag team title match against the champs, Rhiyo (Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky).

Here is the problem: I legitimately don’t know why this match ended. It was a no-contest. The referee seemingly got tired of the brawling on the outside and just waved the whole thing off. No count out, no disqualification, just… “eh, let’s go home.”

For a show that needs to build momentum, having your champions involved in a non-finish opener is a tough sell. Rhea Ripley looked great, showcasing some new offense, but when the bell rings with no winner, it leaves the crowd sitting on their hands.

Alexa Bliss Survives the Triple Threat

It’s been a minute, but Alexa Bliss is looking like a contender again. She faced off against Giulia and Zelina Vega in another qualifier. This match was fun, mostly because the outcome actually felt unpredictable. Any of these three could have taken it.

Ultimately, Bliss hit Sister Abigail on Zelina for the win on Smackdown. The bigger story here isn’t necessarily Bliss winning, but the shadow of Charlotte Flair looming at ringside. We are slowly inching toward a Flair vs. Bliss showdown, potentially inside the Chamber. It’s subtle, but the seeds are being planted.

Jade Cargill Retains (With a Side of Nuggets)

Jade Cargill defended her Women’s Championship against Jordynne Grace in a match that highlighted both women’s power on Smackdown. Grace looked fantastic here, masking some of Cargill’s greenness in the ring and making the champ look vulnerable. Cargill eventually hit Jaded for the win, which was the right call, but Grace deserves flowers for that performance.

However, the match was almost upstaged by the ringside antics of Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio, who were having a romantic Valentine’s date complete with chicken nuggets. It’s silly, it’s campy, and the crowd ate it up (pun intended). Sometimes wrestling doesn’t need to be Shakespeare; sometimes it just needs dipping sauce.

Trick Williams Shines

A quick shoutout to Trick Williams, who pulled out a win against Rey Fenix. Fenix is one of the best high-flyers in the world and on Smackdown, but he’s currently occupying that “veteran gatekeeper” role. Williams looked like a star, hitting the Trick Shot out of nowhere to seal the deal. It was a clean, effective match that elevated a rising talent. Simple booking done right on Smackdown.

The Bottom Line Of SmackDown

This wasn’t an all-time classic episode of SmackDown. It was a bridge episode—necessary to get us from Point A to Point B, but not exactly a thrill ride. The main event advanced the McIntyre story nicely, and we filled out the Elimination Chamber card, but the non-finishes and repetitive booking (Nia and Tiffany interacting again?) dragged it down.

We are inching closer to the Chamber, and hopefully, the intensity picks up next week on Smackdown. For now, we’ll take the chicken nuggets and move on.