By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,381)
Charlotte, North Carolina, at Spectrum Center
Simulcast live February 6, 2026, on USA Network (Netflix internationally)
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore opened the show. There was an aerial shot of the host city, followed by the exterior of the host venue… A Royal Rumble recap video aired… Triple split-screen shots showed Tiffany Stratton, Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre, and Lash Legend and Nia Jax, followed by Randy Orton, Solo Siloa, and Aleister Black with Zelina… Wade Barrett joined Tessitore on commentary…
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre made his entrance. Cody Rhodes came out and attacked him in the entrance aisle. Security, referees, and producers came out to keep McIntyre and Rhodes apart. Cody rolled inside the ring and got a microphone.
Cody recalled McIntyre eliminating him from the Royal Rumble despite not even being an entrant. Cody said CM Punk and Roman Reigns declared their hatred and a championship match, which excited him as the biggest WWE fan. Cody questioned why he was the first name out of their mouths.
Cody said that some people suggested it would be a dick-measuring contest. Cody said they’re glad he’s not in it because he didn’t get the nickname Raheem for no reason. Cody told McIntyre not to worry about a thing because he won’t make it to WrestleMania…
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Giulia and Kiana James about challenging for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. They said it was another step toward Giulia becoming a triple champion. James said they would win the tag titles and then Giulia would win the Elimination Chamber and a world championship at WrestleMania…
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky made their entrance for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title match… [C]
Raheem’s POV: Fine, it’s more like Powell’s Overcompensating POV. Anyway, Cody attacking McIntyre was a logical way to open the show, given the way Cody was eliminated from the Royal Rumble. Cody showed good fire. I thought we might see Jacob Fatu get involved, but the night is young. Anyway, WrestleTix listed the host venue as being set up for 9,894 with 9,632 tickets distributed roughly an hour before showtime. The listed capacity for the venue is 17,500.
Backstage, Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis told Cody Rhodes, who was surrounded by security, that his only path to the title match at WrestleMania was in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match that he would put him in next week. Aldis told him to control his emotions, or he would have to rethink giving him a qualifying match. Cody said he would leave, control his emotions, and see Aldis in Dallas…
Giulia and Kiana James made their entrance…
1. Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky vs. Giulia and Kiana James for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. Ripley and Giulia started, but Giulia indicated that she wanted to face Sky, who tagged in. Giulia got the better of her and mocked the way Sky points at herself. Sky came back and put Giulia down with a dropkick.
A broadcast team graphic listed Mark Nash as the ring announcer, but he did not deliver in-ring introductions for the title match. James tagged in and held Sky on the floor before Giulia jumped from the apron and missile dropkicked Sky before the first commercial break. [C]
Ripley took a hot tag and then worked over both challengers. Sky performed a suicide dive and overshot Giulia on the floor, but she got right up and pointed at herself. A short time later, both partners tagged in. Giulia drilled Sky with the Arrivederci Knee and had her pinned, but Ripley broke it up. Ripley tagged in and caught Giulia with a headbutt. Ripley hit Riptide, and then Sky hit Over the Moonsault before Ripley pinned Giulia…
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky defeated Giulia and Kiana James in 11:05 to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: An entertaining tag title match with a mildly surprising finish, in that Giulia took the loss for her team rather than James.
Ilja Dragunov was walking backstage when he came across The Miz, who asked him where he was going. Dragunov said he was going to get his U.S. Title back and told Miz he better get out of his way. “Or what?” Miz asked. Miz boasted of using his head and going to Nick Aldis, and then informed Dragunov that the open challenge was closed.
U.S. Champion Carmelo Hayes showed up and said he calls the shots when it comes to his title. Hayes said Dragunov beat Miz last week and deserves the title shot, so it was his. Hayes told Miz that he wouldn’t get a title shot, but he would get an ass-whooping. Miz told him that he better not miss and then made his entrance… [C] Carmelo Hayes made his entrance after the break…
2. U.S. Champion Carmelo Hayes vs. The Miz in a non-title match. Miz took offensive control and then mocked Hayes by pretending to make a basketball shot. [C] Late in the match, Miz went for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Hayes rolled through and then hit the First 48 for the win…
U.S. Champion Carmelo Hayes beat The Miz in 9:30 in a non-title match.
Powell’s POV: The match was fine. I’m not sure why Hayes’s character gets to call the shots for the U.S. Championship rather than Aldis, but perhaps that will become a point of contention.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Tiffany Stratton, who said her sights are set on Elimination Chamber. Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre interrupted the interview. Green spoke of being newsworthy and then handed Stratton a piece of paper that was made out to look like a newspaper headline. Stratton said the Green should be checking the obituaries because that’s where her name would be after she wins the Triple Threat…
Lash Legend and Nia Jax made their way to the ring for the Triple Threat… [C]
A Wyatt Sicks video played with Bo Dallas seated in a rocking chair and told Solo Sikoa that fear doesn’t come up when he and his crew are all together, it comes when they are all alone…
Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre made their entrance. Fyre tossed “newspapers” into the crowd from a “Chelsea Chronicle” bag, and Green had newspaper-themed gear.
[Hour Two] Tiffany Stratton made the final entrance…
3. Lash Legend (w/Nia Jax) vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Chelsea Green (w/Alba Fyre) in a Triple Threat qualifier for the women’s Elimination Chamber match. Legend and Stratton quickly cleared Green from the ring. Stratton hit Legend with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Stratton performed a standing moonsault. Green pulled Stratton off of Legend and tried to steal the pin, but Stratton broke it up.
A graphic listed Smackdown as airing on Syfy the next two weeks (due to the Olympics). A short time later, Green jumped off the top rope onto Jax and Stratton on the floor. Green pointed at the WrestleMania sign, which drew cheers. Legend dropkicked Green. [C]
Stratton performed a superplex and then rolled through and performed another suplex on Green. Legend hit a Buckle Bomb on Stratton and then chokeslammed her before covering her for a near fall. Green went up top and hit a coast-to-coast dropkick on Legend, who crashed into Green.
Green covered Legend and her beat, but Jax pulled Green to the floor. Fyre confronted Jax. Legend joined them at ringside and ended up taking a double superkick from both opponents. Back inside the ring, Green went for an Unprettier, but Stratton stuffed it and then hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the win…
Tiffany Stratton beat Chelsea Green and Lash Legend in a Triple Threat in 10:30 to qualify for the women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Powell’s POV: This was a fun match that didn’t feel completely predictable. I assumed Green would be pinned, but I always hold out hope that the company will get behind her with a big upset win. Stratton is a former champion, but Legend is fresh off a monster push in the Royal Rumble match, so I couldn’t rule out that she would win the qualifier.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Randy Orton about his qualifying match. Orton said he wasn’t happy about his performance at the Royal Rumble, but he said the match had daunting odds. Orton said this will be his tenth Elimination Chamber match. He said that’s more than anyone and spoke of using his experience. Aleister Black and Zelina interrupted the interview. Black said they are so blessed to still have Orton… [C]
A “Did You Know?” graphic touted Lash Legend having five eliminations in the women’s Royal Rumble match… The video package that recapped the Rumble performances of NXT wrestlers, recent call-ups, and new signee Royce Keys (f/k/a Powerhouse Hobbs) was shown…
NASCAR drivers Ty Dillon, Zane Smith, and Todd Gilliland were shown in the front row. One of the drivers wore a Seth Rollins t-shirt…
Kit Wilson made his entrance and delivered an in-ring promo about redefining masculinity. He challenged anyone who was in the Royal Rumble to come out and face him in a match. Oba Femi made his entrance…
4. Oba Femi vs. Kit Wilson. The bell rang. Wilson scolded Oba, calling him toxic. Oba mauled Wilson and finished him off with a Fall From Grace…
Oba Femi defeated Kit Wilson in 0:50.
Powell’s POV: Kit nearly had him. He may not have performed a single offensive move, but we all know that Kit is always just one move away from destroying his toxic opponents. Give Oba credit. This was the equivalent going to prison and picking a fight with the toughest convict in the yard to send a message to the rest of the inmates.
Damian Priest and R-Truth were shown watching on a backstage monitor. Truth danced to Oba’s music. Truth raved about Oba, who eliminated Priest from the Rumble (scratch that, Royce Keys eliminated Priest). Truth said Oba got in the Rumble match without touching even one ball.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre walked by and bumped Truth with his shoulder just as Priest was bout to respond to Truth. Priest said McIntyre doesn’t need more problems. McIntyre shook his index finger at Priest and walked away.
McIntyre made his entrance. Once in the ring, he got a microphone. Jacob Fatu attacked McIntyre and hit him with a hip attack. Fatu clotheslined McIntyre over the top rope to the floor, and then hit him with a suicide dive. Security guards ran out and were beaten up by Fatu, who reached over the barricade to knock McIntyre down with a punch. McIntyre scurried into the crowd to escape. Fatu climbed on the broadcast table and yelled, which drew cheers… [C]
Tessitore hyped WWE Backlash for May 9 in Tampa, Florida…
Backstage, Nick Aldis told Jacob Fatu the same thing he told Cody about needing to win the Elimination Chamber match to get his hands on McIntyre. Aldis said Fatu would be in a qualifier next week. Aldis told Fatu to go home, or he could kiss the match goodbye. Fatu said he would “dogwalk” his opponents…
Powell’s POV: Does that mean Cody and Fatu will be in the same qualifying match, or will there be more than one men’s qualifier next week?
5. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tama Tonga (w/Tonga Loa, JC Mateo). Both entrances were televised. The action spilled over to ringside, and Tama dropped an elbow on Nakamura, who was draped over the broadcast table before a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Nakamura appeared to be setting up for his finisher when Mateo pulled Tama to the floor to save him. Moments later, Tama put Nakamura down with a jumping DDT. Nakamura came right back with a side suplex that left both wrestlers down briefly.
Nakamura got the better of Tama and set up for his finisher again. Mateo climbed on the apron to distract the referee while Loa grabbed Nakamura’s foot. Tama hit a pair of Cutthroats and scored the pin.
Tama Tonga defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in 10:25.
Backstage, “The Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin walked and talked with Nathan Frazer and Axiom. They encountered Candice LeRae, who said she hoped Axiom and Frazer were proud of themselves. Johnny Gargano was shown acting comatose while lying face down on top of a production crate.
Sabin said it wasn’t Gargano, it was a pile of dirty laundry, and LeRae wasn’t fooling anyone. Frazer said he and Axiom took back what Gargano stole. LeRae said they don’t know what the mask meant to Gargano. After Axiom and Frazer walked away, LeRae asked the Guns for help. Sabin said they’d known him a long time, but they haven’t forgotten that he deceived them and stole the tag team titles. LeRae babytalked Gargano, who didn’t flinch after both teams walked away…
Cathy Kelley interviewed Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky in a backstage area. Kelley asked Ripley about transitioning from their title defense to being in an Elimination Chamber qualifier on Raw. Ripley said the tag team titles are their priority. She said Sky wouldn’t mind adding more gold, which Sky agreed with.
Lash Legend and Nia Jax showed up. Jax said Ripley would be a waste in the Chamber. She said Legend should have been in the match, but she was screwed. After some bickering, Jax said Ripley and Sky have ducked them long enough, and she intended to speak to Nick Aldis. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez entered the picture after Jax and Legend left. After a brief staredown with Ripley and Sky, Morgan and Rodriguez walked away…
Kit Wilson was selling rib pain as he walked backstage. He came across Matt Cardona and Apollo Crews. Wilson said Cardona is toxic, and he’s not finished with him yet. Cardona said he’s always ready. Wilson said he needed a warm bath and then walked away…
Powell’s POV: Kit would have dropped Cardona and Crews where they stood, but he has bigger fish to fry.
Nick Aldis stood in the ring and introduced Liv Morgan as the women’s Royal Rumble winner. Morgan came out with Raquel Rodriguez. Morgan told the fans they were in the presence of the greatest Royal Rumble winner of all time. She said she’s also the hottest, smartest, funniest, and most charismatic, confident, and talented. Morgan said she’s the most iconic woman in WWE.
[Hour Three] Morgan played up having the option to challenge WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill or Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Morgan said there was an elephant in the room that she wanted to address first (presumably eliminating Rodriguez from the Rumble). Rodriguez cut her off and said she would address the elephant in the room.
Jade Cargill’s entrance music played, and she headed to the ring. Jade said she doesn’t care that Morgan won the Rumble or that she was on Smackdown. “If you choose me, I’m going to beat that ass at WrestleMania,” Cargill said. Morgan smiled. Jade asked Rodriguez what she was looking at. Morgan laughed and said Jade was funny. Morgan said Jade should watch what she says because she could easily choose to face Vaquer, and then Rodriguez would take Jade’s title.
Jordynne Grace’s entrance music played. Grace came out with a mic and spoke on her way to the ring. Once in the ring, Grace told Morgan that she might be facing her if she could get the champion to defend her title. Morgan mouthed off to Grace. Jade and Grace simultaneously said, “Shut up, bitch.”
Aldis recalled telling Morgan his rule that if you can talk, you can fight. He called for a referee to officiate a tag team match…
6. WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Jade and Grace were bickering, so the heels went after them once the bell rang. Jade and Grace cleared the ring quickly and went back to bickering. [C]
Jade threw a kick meant for Rodriguez, but she moved, and Grace took the blow. Rodriguez laughed and then went for a big boot that hit Morgan after Jade avoided it. Jade and Rodriguez bickered. Grace shoved Rodriguez into Jade and then rolled up Rodriguez for the win.
Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace beat Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in 8:20.
Jade was down at ringside and glared at Grace, who jawed at her. Jade smiled and nodded. In the ring, Morgan held her face to sell the kick while looking at Rodriguez…
A video package recapped Drew McIntyre beating Sami Zayn to retain the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble…
Sami Zayn was shown walking backstage when a couple of crew members walked by and shouted encouraging words to him. Rey Fenix approached Zayn and called him an inspiration.
Trick Williams showed up and said Zayn can’t get the job done. He said Zayn is the guy who gets to the playoffs, but he can’t get the ring. Trick said Zayn is Charles Barkley to his Michael Jordan. Trick said it’s not about being a role model, it’s about getting the job done. Fenix said Trick has a big mouth and threatened to knock his teeth out if he kept talking. Trick told him anytime, anywhere. Zayn remained stone-faced and never said a word… [C]
Backstage, Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace bickered until Nick Aldis showed up. He told Jade not to lock in her WrestleMania plans just yet, because she had to defend her title against Grace on next week’s Smackdown…
Tessitore and Barrett set up a video package that recapped the CM Punk and Roman Reigns confrontation from Raw. A graphic was shown for Punk vs. Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania…
Drew McIntyre stood on the broadcast table, causing Tessitore and Barrett to back away. McIntyre said Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu should be banned from Elimination Chamber qualifying matches for attacking him. He said people thought Sami Zayn was going to win the big one, but he crushed him and broke his dreams.
McIntyre addressed CM Punk and Roman Reigns. He said he was disappointed after hearing what they had to say. An OTC chant broke out. McIntyre said they both seemed very insecure. He said they could talk about him all day long, but what frustrated him was how they tried to make the Smackdown brand and the WWE Championship second-rate.
McIntyre told the Smackdown roster that if they didn’t see it as a declaration of war and if they didn’t wrestle every match like it was their last match, he would show them the door. McIntyre ran through a list of legendary WWE Champions (and said “not Dusty Rhodes”) and said that anyone who doesn’t say it’s the top title is a liar.
McIntyre said that while Punk and Reigns were acting like little boys, he had the entire Smackdown roster climbing over each other for the right to face him, the number one champion and real best in the world, at WrestleMania. McIntyre dropped down from the table and was about to make his exit.
Trick Williams’ entrance music played. Fans held up “Whoop That Trick” signs. Trick stood on the stage and said he was going to come out and watch the qualifying match, but then he heard McIntyre, who was worried about the wrong things. Trick said McIntyre needs to be worried about him as the future of the business and the most qualified man on Smackdown.
McIntyre approached Trick and advised him to walk before he runs. McIntyre said that if Trick interrupted the champ again, he’d stick the lemon pepper steppers where the sun doesn’t shine. Drew’s music played, and he headed to the back, leaving Trick upset in the entrance aisle…
An ad touted Elimination Chamber qualifiers for Monday’s Raw in Cleveland. The ad did not advertise any names for the qualifiers… [C] Oddly enough, a Puppy Bowl ad aired and did not list any puppies for the Puppy Bowl… Tessitore plugged the WWE podcast schedule…
The following matches were announced for next week’s Smackdown on Syfy in Dallas: Trick Williams vs. Rey Fenix, Jade Cargill vs. Jordynne Grace for the WWE Women’s Championship, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky vs. Nia Jax and Lash Legend for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia vs. Zelina in an Elimination Chamber qualifier, and Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu vs. Sami Zayn in an Elimination Chamber qualifier…
Powell’s POV: Wow, rather than phone it in while Smackdown airs on Syfy, they are actually advertising a better lineup than usual.
Backstage, Solo Sikoa was calling out for his family members when Cathy Kelley approached him for final comments before his match. Solo said he was going to the ring and his family better be out there. Solo grabbed the Wyatt Sicks’ lantern and made his entrance. Aleister Black and Zelina made their entrance. Randy Orton made the final entrance. The fans sang Orton’s theme song…
7. Randy Orton vs. Aleister Black (w/Zelina) vs. Solo Sikoa in a Triple Threat qualifier for the men’s Elimination Chamber match. Trick Williams sat in an office chair on the floor. The match spilled out to the floor during the opening minute. Black got the better of an exchange and sat on the apron with his arms up before an early break. [C]
It wasn’t long before they cut to a PIP break while Solo was in control. [C] The Miz and R-Truth in an ad promoting Smackdown airing on Syfy the next two weeks. Down the stretch, Orton hit both wrestlers with his usual slams on the broadcat table. Trick stood up to watch. Orton shot Trick a look before returning to the ring, where he hit a Draping DDT on Solo.
Orton struck the Viper’s Pose, but Black returned and caught him with a kick. Solo hit Black with a Spinning Solo for a near fall. Black ducked the Samoan Spike. Black threw a kick at Solo and then performed a German suplex into a bridge for a two count. Black followed up with a knee strike.
Orton returned and went for an RKO, but Black countered with a pin for a two count. Black hit Orton with a knee strike. Orton ducked the Black Mass kick and hit Black with an RKO. Black rolled out of the ring. Solo signaled for the Samoa Spike while waiting for Orton get back on his feet. Orton stood and then backed toward Solo before dropping him with an RKO. Orton covered Solo and got the three count.
Randy Orton defeated Solo Sikoa and Aleister Black in 16:35 to qualify for the men’s Elimination Chamber match.
After the match, Orton posed on the ropes while the executive producer credits aired. Tessitore closed the show by saying the Elimination Chamber is just three weeks away…
Powell’s POV: A good three-way with the expected outcome. Did they really hold off on Black’s return rather than include him in the Royal Rumble just to have him not factor into the finish of a Triple Threat? I’m surprised that Trick didn’t get involved in the match. I guess the idea is that the Wyatt Sicks took out Solo’s crew, but they never bothered to show up to take back the electric lantern. With that in mind, it was nice to see a straightforward match despite some hints of potential outside interference.
Overall, a good follow-up to the Royal Rumble, along with the quick pivot to the Elimination Chamber build. I will be back shortly with my weekly same-night audio review of Smackdown for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.