WWE presented the go-home SmackDown show for the Elimination Chamber from Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The show aired on February 23, just hours before the Elimination Chamber premium live event. We saw a big main event between Drew McIntyre and LA Knight. The Final Testament went against Bobby Lashley, Street Profits, and more. Let’s review everything that happened on Friday Night SmackDown.
Singles Match
Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton
The show kicked off with a singles match between Liv Morgan and Tiffany Stratton, with Bianca Belair at ringside.
All these women will be a part of the Elimination Chamber match. Tiffany tried to walk away initially, but Liv caught her at ringside and threw her into a barricade and steel steps.
Morgan countered a slam into a backstabber for a two-count in the ring. Stratton replied with a big boot to the face and a splash in the corner. Liv wisely attempted the crucifix pin, but Stratton survived.
Liv delivered double knees from the middle rope for a near fall. Tiffany came back with a spinebuster for a two-count.
Liv escaped the moonsault but met with an Alabama Slam. Stratton went to the second rope, but Liv caught her and landed a powerbomb for a near fall.
Tiffany slapped Bianca at ringside. Belairwas on the apron, and the referee was distracted. Morgan accidentally laid out Belair.
This moment gave Tiffany an advantage, and she rolled Liv for the pin and the win.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a decent bout to kick off the show. Tiffany got a major win on Morgan. The future looks bright for the former NXT Women’s Champion.
Backstage: Drew McIntyre cut a promo backstage and said he needs the title, and the title needs him. McIntyre said that if he loses here, his career will be useless, like the return of CM Punk. Lashley interrupted and reminded Drew of WrestleMania 37, where Bobby defeated McIntyre.
Singles Match
Bron Breakker vs. Dante Chen
It was Bron’s debut match on SmackDown. Breakker leveled Dante with a shoulder tackle and a clothesline. He slammed Chen, followed by a Spear for quick victory.
Winner: Bron Breakker
Grades: C-
Analysis: It was a squash match for Bron to begin his journey on Friday Nights. His WrestleMania plans will be interesting.
Backstage: Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro from LWO were attacked backstage by Legado Del Fantasma. It looks like Rey Mysterio’s return is near.
Tag Team Match
Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate vs. Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh
Before Dunne and Bate challenged Finn Balor and Damian Priest for the Undisputed Tag Team titles at the Elimination Chamber, they had to go through Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh.
Tyler started against McDonagh and delivered a monkey flip. Dunne and Bate double-teamed on JD and delivered a double backdrop. Bate landed a splash on JD for a two-count.
Dominik tried some offense but met with clotheslines and uppercuts from the number one contenders. Pete twisted Dominik’s fingers, and Tyler stomped on his arm.
Back from the break, Mysterio went for Three Amigos on Bate, but he countered it with a suplex of his own. Dom saved JD from a double suplex but got caught in Tyler Bate’s swing.
McDonagh delivered an impressive standing Spanish Fly on Dunne for a near fall. Dom landed a 619 on Dunne. Bate sent Mysterio outside. Dunne and Bate won with a double-team powerbomb on McDonagh.
Winners: Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate
Analysis: Both teams had a great outing. Dunne and Bate got a necessary win before challenging Judgement Day for the titles. It will surely boost their momentum.
Tag Team Match
Authors of Pain vs. The Street Profits
The rest of the Final Testament backed AOP while Lashley and B-Fab were in the Street Profits’ corner.
Early in the match, both teams exchanged turns to dominate each other. A big moment came when Dawkins flew over the top rope and landed a sentonon Akam and Rezar.
Back in the ring, AOP dominated Montez Ford. Dawkins got the tag, and he blasted a spinning elbow on Akam. Dawkins delivered a splash and a swinging neckbreakerfor a near fall.
Rezar got a tag and ran through Dawkins with a vicious clothesline. Rezar covered it, but Montez saved the match.
Ford and Dawkins delivered a Super Block Buster on Akam, but Rezar broke the pin. Scarlett distracted the referee as Ford went for the splash, and Karrion Kross pushed Ford off the top rope.
Kross and Lashley fought at ringside. Kross landed a chair shot on Lashley’s arm. In the ring, Akam and Rezar delivered a Powerbomb on Ford for the win.
Winners: Authors of Pain
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a solid tag team match. Outside interferences were expected. The rivalry is far from over, and we might see a showdown at WrestleMania.
Backstage: Dakota Kai was in pain backstage with Adam Pearce and WWE’s medical team. Bayley came there. Dakota told Bayley that Damage CTRL attacked her.
We saw Paul Heyman bringing Grayson Waller to Roman Reigns. The Tribal Chief told Waller something in his ears.
Singles Match
Drew McIntyre vs. LA Knight
The night’s main event was a clash between two Elimination Chamber participants, Drew McIntyre and LA Knight. The US Champion, Logan Paul, joined the commentary team before the match.
Drew tried to gather momentum early on, but Knight delivered a swinging neckbreaker. Drew replied with a Glasgow Kiss. Knight delivered a back body drop at ringside, followed by a clothesline.
The Scottish Warrior came back with a belly-to-belly suplex on the apron. Kevin Owens walked through the crowd with a chair and sat beside Corey Graves on the commentary desk.
In the ring, Knight delivered an atomic drop. He went to land a clothesline and a DDT. McIntyre escaped the BFT and delivered a headbutt.
As Drew climbed the top rope, Knight ran down and delivered a massive superplex for a near fall. McIntyre bounced back with a Future Shock DDT for a two-count.
An all-out brawl broke out at ringside with Logan Paul and Kevin Owens involved. It ended the match in Drew’s favor.
All four men battled in the ring. Knight delivered a BFT on McIntyre. Lashley joined in and delivered a spear to Knight. KO landed a Stunner on Logan Paul.
Lashley speared Owens but suffered a Claymore at the hands of McIntyre. Randy entered from nowhere and delivered RKO to McIntyre to close the show.
Winner: Drew McIntyre via DQ.
Grades: B+
Analysis: The match was fine, but the post-match angle stole the show. It was a finisher fest in the end for the Elimination Chamber participants. The moment increased excitement in the Elimination Chamber match.
It was a great show to get fans hyped for the Elimination Chamber premium live event. The show was taped last week as superstars had to travel to Australia.
