WWE SmackDown results, highlights (Feb. 28): The Rock puts the pressure on Cody Rhodes
Friday's "WWE SmackDown" go-home show before Elimination Chamber was all about the United States Championship. Throughout the night, we saw three matches that led the winners to a triple threat to determine Shinsuke Nakamura's next challenger. All the while, everyone and their mother were concerned about the company's premier face, walking around like a little kid who'd lost his balloon.
Wrestlers like R-Truth, The Miz and CM Punk confronted Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes about The Rock's dilemma throughout the night. Their interactions were comical for different reasons, and they essentially all made fun of the soul thing.
Everything about this seems insane to me. Michael Cole even stepped in to warn Rhodes before The Rock delivered Rhodes a new "American Nightmare" truck. This was the final butter-up after giving the Undisputed WWE Champion a fancy locker room for the night.
We see what you did there, @CMPunk 😅#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/LeyuJoFWWj
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
"Maybe you should think about it" R-Truth doesn't see the harm in selling your soul for perks like this! 😂#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/P0MyIaqgJU
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
After gifting @CodyRhodes a car, @TheRock had a special message ahead of #WWEChamber#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/bwlkgbJRc0
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
What will @CodyRhodes' decide TOMORROW at #WWEChamber? 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/id1viy2Roo
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
If this isn't just an elaborate ploy for The Rock to make a match with Rhodes, then it's all weird.
It looked like the U.S. Champion Shinsuke Nakamura was headed for an LA Knight rematch after last week's "WWE SmackDown." Instead, several storylines were integrated into a big one-night contender tournament — including The Bloodline and what's been happening with Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa.
The boys had a bit of a quibble backstage, apologizing for the recent accidents and explaining that they're now turning their attention to the U.S. title. It feels random for them, but it's an easy way to give us some unique matches. Fatu vs. Andrade, in particular, was a straight-up slapper.
.@AndradeElIdolo is taking control of this match! 🔥#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/S1gaF978gl
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
After the show started, we really needed this match. Andrade always reminds the world how great he is when put in spots like this. Fatu can't do much wrong right now, and they made for one hell of a combo. Every move was 100 miles per hour, and Fatu got the W with that massive moonsault of his.
The next match for this one-night extravaganza was LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar. Knight winning was a no-brainer. (YEAH!)
Knight really does feel like a modern-day Stone Cold Steve Austin, which makes his failure to go beyond the mid-card all the more upsetting. To continue the beauty of this tournament, Knight won with a mid-air BFT. Oddly, Escobar no-sold it by rolling out of the ring after the pin and walking out of the arena. We'll have to see if there was anything to that.
LA Knight picks up the win against Escobar and advances to the triple threat U.S title #1 Contender match!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/xpOwFY6ixH
— WWE Rumours and Updates (@WWEUpdates1504) March 1, 2025
The last U.S. title contender singles match between Braun Strowman and Carmelo Hayes was immediate shenanigans. Tama Tonga and Solo Sikoa tried to interfere and take out Strowman. It ended up not even being a match, as Hayes paid homage to Eddie Guerrero, winning the match with the fake no-look chair shot spot.
We've seen enough of Strowman vs. Hayes, so I guess it wasn't the worst thing. And keeping Strowman involved with The Bloodline is fun, as is Hayes in that triple-threat match with Fatu and Knight. Let's party.
United States Title No. 1 Contender Qualifying Match: Carmelo Hayes defeats Braun Strowman after he pulls an Eddy Guerrero! Braun Strowman is not having it | #WWE #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/pexW4Jg11M pic.twitter.com/zqup3Oz8WL
— Ringside News: WWE & AEW Wrestling News (@ringsidenews_) March 1, 2025
WWE is doing a great job keeping me in their good graces with all these triple-threat matches lately. There has been some serious spoiling, and the pairing of Fatu, Knight and Hayes wasn't on my 2025 bingo card.
Ideas like this with the U.S. title are so damn fun. The tournament story felt shaped around The Bloodline, which made Knight stealing the win off Fatu's moonsault to Hayes was somewhat surprising — mainly because it came without any involvement of Sikoa or Tanga. As much of a Knight guy as I am, this win is more to keep him occupied with something to do — something he's already done in a program with Nakamura. It feels like a bit of a miss to not play with Nakamura and Fatu with the whole Bloodline saga, but I'm intrigued, and that's a good thing.
.@RealLAKnight sent @Carmelo_WWE FLYING! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/p3cJTbARat
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
To cap the fun off, I had to wait to give out our...
It was Andrade tonight. Any of the winners of the singles matches could have gotten the nod, but Andrade vs. Fatu was the match of the night, and he's so good. The man deserves more, but he's unfortunately stuck in a perpetual no man's land. But I see you, Andrade. Don't worry.
The best thing for him might be to swap over to "WWE Raw." He can wrestle with anyone on the planet. It's just about finding a direction.
This year's Elimination Chamber really is highlighting the personalities involved. It started with Drew McIntyre cutting off a John Cena video package, which was a brilliant idea. The guy's mic work on his own is arguably better than going back and forth with someone because it escalated against him as soon as Priest interrupted.
.@CMPunk has one thing on his mind and that's #WrestleMania!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/5lKA11iI8S
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
It became a predictable segment with Priest reminding McIntyre of all the CM Punk drama leading to his downfalls. McIntyre nearly went at Priest in the ring, which prompted Rollins to appear with the most insane outfit on. It made for some brilliant jabs from Punk, who came out next.
It must be mandatory in Canada because as Punk was just verbally decapitating everyone, Logan Paul pulled a fast one, coming out with John Cena's entrance. This always happens to poor Canada, and it gets funnier every time.
.@loganpaul had us in the first half ngl#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/fFbCRtKkFr
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
This was your classic multi-man promo battle. It ran a bit long, and Paul got too much time, but it was entertaining and had a creative start that teased a full circle moment.
Chelsea Green saved the start of this show by disrupting Trish Status and Tiffany Stratton's segment. However, it quickly escalated back into the burial of the new women's mid-card champions. It was champion vs. champion as an impromptu Green vs. Stratton match was made, and obviously, there wasn't a chance Green was going to win.
.@RealNickAldis definitely thinks that's a good idea!We're getting @tiffstrattonwwe vs. @ImChelseaGreen right now!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/wVwOuIzQX3
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
Green's character is that stereotypical coward heel, but screaming not to have a match while being a champion is just a rough look regardless. This was all used to generate "hype" for the Nia Jax and Candice LeRae match at Elimination Chamber because they attacked Stratton to give her the DQ win. This booking couldn't have been lazier, and all at the expense of Green for no good reason. Her spot could have been reserved for any heel.
WWE is lucky that Charlotte Flair and Stratton will deliver a classic without a storyline. You know, because remember, they're going against each other at WrestleMania 41. We Flair was found later only to deliver the quickest promo ever on Stratton. It was almost like she had just shown up as the show neared its end.
1. Sami Zayn invited Kevin Owens to chat in the ring before their big unsanctioned match at Elimination Chamber. Owens instead appeared on the titantron screen, showing him at Rogers Center. Owens spoke into a mic despite being in an empty arena. (I notice these things, OK?)
The former best friends kept things pretty brief — brief but personal. Owens told Zayn everything that had happened to him was all his fault, so he wouldn't help his family after what he had done to Zayn. This was some pretty nasty work, and they didn't need to go long. We all know their history. This was good.
"I am prepared to end YOU."We haven't seen this side of @SamiZayn before...😳#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/uY58nLZa1n
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
2. Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez defeated Bianca Belair, Naomi and Bayley off the Perez Pop Rocks finish pin of Bayley.
Bayley just dove all over the place at the match's start. I don't care about any of this anymore — not until Jade Cargill returns. At this point, I don't have high expectations for that, though. Regardless, the match was very good.
.@itsBayleyWWE is unstoppable!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/CFapSl4x0d
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
To surprise us, especially Perez, Alexa Bliss appeared and took her out post-match, which knocked this to a thumbs up. Either of them is the correct choice to win the women's Elimination Chamber match.
1. Los Garza and The Street Profits were supposed to have a match. That was until DIY hilariously attacked the Profits with their titles on. Then it just dissolved into chaos between every tag team. So, there was no match. OK, I guess.
1. Cody Rhodes and some security guards that welcomed him into the building had the most poorly acted interaction ever.
2. Trish Stratus opened the show with absolutely no pop from the Canadian crowd. She's from Toronto and they didn't give a damn. It was painfully silent in there. Big yikes, man.
Her whole segment with Tiffany Stratton was pretty cringe-worthy overall — if it wasn't already obvious that their Elimination Chamber program was forced.
It's Tiffy & Trishy Time ✨@tiffstrattonwwe & @trishstratuscom are in sync!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/7wB6qITg2O
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
👑The United States title carried this "WWE SmackDown" without even being on it. I give this show a Crown score of: 7/10👑
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WWE SmackDown results, highlights (June 13): CM Punk, John Cena switch roles; Cody Rhodes advances in King of the Ring
The first episode of "WWE SmackDown" after Money in the Bank took place at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The show kicked the build to June 28's Night of Champions into high gear with four King and Queen of the Ring first-round matchups and continued building toward a massive clash between CM Punk and John Cena. Let's get right into it! Main-event math isn't adding up Cena opening the show laying out his grand, calculated plan that has played out over the past 25 years was a solid promo. He even spit hot fire when he listed his wrestling Mount Rushmore — just don't ask him who the five greatest rappers of all time are (these are "Chappelle's Show" references, for the younger generation reading this). Advertisement Cena was then interrupted by Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and LA Knight, who each cut a promo on the 17-time champ explaining why they were going to dethrone him. Rhodes has a natural case since he never got his rematch against Cena after WrestleMania 41 and just pinned him at Money in the Bank last weekend. Orton also has a legitimate claim since his match at Backlash was spoiled by R-Truth. LA Knight, on the other hand, doesn't really fit in here, especially since he continues to come up short on big stages. The truth is that none of these REALLY make sense right now though, because Cena is facing CM Punk in a Undisputed WWE Championship match at Night of Champions in two weeks, and therein lies the problem. The talent involved aside, this main-event picture has too much going on and quite frankly, it's hard to buy into any of these challengers as Cena's SummerSlam feud because we have the Punk hurdle to get over first. This segment somewhat undermines a potentially epic feud and works infinitely better three weeks from now, at the very least. Advertisement Essentially, this open served as a way to get Knight and Orton into the ring for their King of the Ring first-round match and for Truth/Ron Killings to attack Cena as he made his exit and set up a brilliant segment later on in the night that earned our... 👑 Uncrowned Gem of the Night 👑 If math was the theme of the "SmackDown" open, hypocrisy was the theme of the way Hour Three of the show kicked off and I'm taking part in it. Cena, furious after being attacked by Killings, went to the ring to call out the veteran but was instead greeted by Punk. My Uncrowned colleague Drake Riggs alluded to the nonsensical nature of this somewhat thrown together feud once it started on Monday, but I'm ok contradicting him four days later because when these two are in the ring together, it's magic, plain and simple. Advertisement During his extended promo, Punk pointed out exactly what makes this hopefully not abbreviated feud so special — essentially he and Cena have flipped spots from where they were over a decade ago. We got a tease of how special this can be in 2025 during the Elimination Chamber, Friday added to that hype and this should be given plenty of time to shine, not muddied up with Rhodes, Orton, Knight and even Truth right now. Kings and Queens The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continued on Friday night, with two more first-round, fatal four-way matches taking place. The opening contest was an absolute banger between Knight, Orton, Aleister Black and Carmelo Hayes. Orton emerged victorious, pinning Knight after interference from Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed — continuing the feud between the Megastar and the Rollins crew. Orton also pulled off an impressive, mid-frog splash RKO on Hayes, further illustrating why it's on the short list of the best finishers in wrestling today. The main event of the night was the other men's first-round matchup, pitting Rhodes against Damian Priest, Shinsuke Nakamura and Andrade. Much like the first match, this was a very entertaining matchup involving four stars with contrasting styles. Naturally, Rhodes pulled out the victory and will face the winner of the final "Raw" first-round matchup. With the American Nightmare and Orton on seperate sides of the bracket, a showdown between them would be a really awesome cap to the tournament. On the women's side, Jade Cargill advanced over Michin, Jax and Piper Niven. A Cargill win in this tournament is precisely where WWE should be going, lining her up to face Tiffany Stratton and then get cashed in on mid-match or post-win by Naomi. Cargill takes on "Raw's" Roxanne Perez in the semifinals. 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