Keller’s report on Royal Rumble fallout, Lash vs. Chelsea vs. Stratton, Orton vs. Solo vs. Black in Chamber qualifiers

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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
FEBRUARY 6, 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. AT SPECTRUM CENTER
AIRED ON DELAY ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR

Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Corey Graves

Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of showtime 9,632 tickets were distributed. The arena was set up for 9,874. The arena has a capacity of 20,200 spectators when configured for pro wrestling. Last time in the arena for Raw on 2/17/25, they drew 14,616, so a drop off of almost 5,000 from previous visit 1 year ago.

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[HOUR ONE]

-Joe Tessitore introduced the show as they showed the exterior of the arena.

-A video package highlighted the top happenings at the Royal Rumble.

-The screen showed Randy Orton, Solo Sikoa, and Aleister Black on a divided screen to hype their Elimination Chamber qualifier match.

-Drew McIntyre made his way through the backstage area, Gorilla, and onto the stage as a camera followed. Drew strutted out with his belt around his waist looking smugly satisfied with himself. As he was being introduced, Cody Rhodes attacked him. Wade Barrett pointed out that Drew cost him his chance to win the Royal Rumble by interfering. Producers and referees ran out to try to separate them. Drew fled through the crowd as fans chanted, “Cody! Cody!”

Cody entered the ring and yanked off his jacket. He told Drew that if he thinks things are going to be the same, he’s wrong. He said he eliminated him from the Rumble, a match he wasn’t even in. He said it’s a self-fulfilling prophesy. He said he cannot in good conscience point at the WrestleMania sign for the first time. He said on Monday, Roman Reigns and C.M. Punk declared they’d be facing each other. He said as a WWE fan, he was excited. He asked why his name was the first one to come out of people’s mouths when the segment was over. He said that’s because people know what WrestleMania means to him and what he means to WrestleMania. He said he hadn’t heard was going to be a “you-know-what measuring context.” He said they are both glad he’s not in it. He then said, “Charlotte, North Carolina, what do you want to talk about!?”

He said he was born just down the street. He said Arn Anderson and Manny Fernandez were fighting in the waiting room. He said imagine his shame and discomfort when he returned to the city where the first page of his story was written empty-handed. Fans sang, “Cody, Cody Rhodes!” Cody paused for a few seconds.

Cody said Drew wasn’t mad that he wasn’t WWE Champion, he was mad that he was. He said his shame becomes Drew’s downfall. He told him not to worry about a thing because he won’t make it to WrestleMania. Fans sang Cody’s song.

(Keller’s Analysis: That’s as much passion as Cody has shown in a promo. He was fired up. I liked him asserting that this era’s WrestleManias are about him and not ceding that ground despite the stellar Roman Reigns-C.M. Punk segment on Raw.)

-Tessitore and Barrett reacted to the segment. Barrett said you can tell it’s WrestleMania season.

-Cathy Kelley interviewed Giulia and Kiana James backstage. James said the Rumble was just a blip. She said they’ll win the tag titles and Giulia will win the Chamber and then go on to wrestle for the title at WrestleMania.

-Iyo Sky made her entrance to her music. Then Rhea Ripley came out to her music. [c]

-They showed an aerial view of the arena as Tessitore said it’s the 14th time Smackdown has been in Charlotte.

-Barrett and Tessitore commented on a clip of the Cody-Drew brawl.

-G.M. Nick Aldis told Cody that his path to WrestleMania is next week’s qualifying match. He said he needs him to control his emotions. He said if he can’t, he’ll have to rethink including Cody next week. Cody said he’d control his emotions and leave, but he’d see him in Dallas. He said as he walked away, “Drew started it.”

-Barrett said it appears Cody’s WrestleMania dream is still alive.

(1) IYO SKY & RHEA RIPLEY vs. GIULIA & KIANA JAMES – WWE Women’s Tag Team Title match

The bell rang 21 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 3:00 with the heels in control. [c/db]

At 9:00 Sky dove through the ropes at Giulia and overshot her. Ripley then face-planted James in the ring and scored a two count. James grabbed Sky on the top rope and powerbombed her onto Ripley. Giulia then hit Sky with a knee to the head and made the cover. Ripley broke up the cover.

Giulia went after Sky mid-ring. Sky slipped out of a Northern Lights bomb. Ripley tagged in and headbutted Giulia. She delivered a Rip Ride. Sky landed an Over The Moonsault. Ripley made the cover and scored a three count.

WINNERS: Sky & Ripley in 11:00 to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles

-Ilja Dragunov confronted Miz backstage and told him to stay out of his way. Dragnunov pointed out he beat Miz last week. Miz said he went to Aldis and filled this week’s Open Challenge. Carmelo Hayes walked in and said he calls the shots. He told Dragunov that he earned a title shot with a win last week. He told Miz that he is not getting a title shot, but he’ll get an ass whopping in the 704. Miz asked if he’s really making the rules. Hayes said he is.

-Miz headed to the ring to his music. [c]

(2) CARMELO HAYES vs. THE MIZ

The bell rang 40 minutes into the hour. The announcers talked about the Miz-Hayes relationship last week. Barrett said when Hayes walked away with Miz, that’s when he started having the most success he ever had. Tessitore mistakenly said it was Hayes’s sixth defense, then paused and corrected that it was a non-title match. They cut to an early break. [c/db]

Hayes flipped out of Miz’s grip, but Miz countered with a Skull Crushing Finale attempt, but Hayes countered that with a somersault into a First 48 for the win.

WINNER: Hayes in 9:00.

-Kelley interviewed Tiffany Stratton backstage. She asked how she can refocus and work her way back to a title shot. Tiffany said she had a WrestleMania match in her first year at Smackdown and she won’t let one night set her back from another WrestleMania Moment. She said she’ll let everyone know that Smackdown runs on Tiffy Time. In walked Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. Green said the only headline should be that she was robbed of her WrestleMania Moment after Royal Rumble elimination. Tiffany told her not to worry about the headline because she should be looking at the obituaries because that’s where her WrestleMania dreams are.

-Lash Legend made her entrance with Nia Jax. [c]

-A promo vignette aired with Uncle Howdy. He said fear doesn’t show up when everyone is together, it shows up when you’re all alone. He laughed.

[HOUR TWO]

(3) LASH LEGEND (w/Nia Jax) vs. TIFFANY STRATTON vs. CHELSEA GREEN (w/Alba Fyre) – Elimination Chamber Qualifier match

The bell rang 1 minute into the second hour. Tiffany leaped through the ropes and tackled Lash and Jax on the floor. Tiffany landed a standing moonsault on Lash in the ring. Chelsea broke up the cover. Tiffany and Chelsea yelled at each other. Lash intervened, but Tiffany and Chelsea clotheslined her over the top rope. Chelsea tried to sneak a quick schoolboy on Tiffany for a two count. Chelsea knocked Tiffany to the floor, then leaped off the top rope onto Jax and Tiffany at ringside. Green stood at ringside and pointed at the WrestleMania sign. Lash kicked her and pointed at the sign. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]

Green set up an Unprettier on Tiffany after the break. Tiffany avoided it. Green charged at Tiffany in the corner, but Tiffany lifted her boot. Green climbed to the top rope, but Tiffany met her up there and superplexed her. Chelsea landed a Coast to Coast on Lash and Tiffany in a corner. She then covered Lash for a near fall. Jax yanked Chelsea off of the cover. Fyre got in Jax’s face. Jax shoved her down hard. Everyone fought at ringside. Chelsea rammed Tiffany into the ringpost and then threw her into the ring. She set up an Unprettier, but Tiffany countered and then landed a top rope Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the win.

WINNER: Stratton in 10:00 to earn a spot in the Elimination Chamber.

-Kelley interviewed Orton about getting another chance in the qualifying match. Orton said he’s not happy about the outcome of the Rumble, but he did face daunting odds. He said once he qualifies tonight, he’ll enter the Chamber for the tenth time, making him more experienced than anyone in that match. Aleister Black walked in and said they just said good bye to two of the greatest wrestlers ever, but they’re blessed to still have him. “At least one part of you,” he said. Randy didn’t seem to understand what he was getting at. [c]

-Royal Rumble highlights aired.

-They showed three NASCAR drivers at ringside.

-Kit Wilson made his entrance. As Wilson came out, Barrett said it’s time to detoxify. Tessitore lamented his incessant complaining to get rid of so-called toxic masculinity. “I’m Kit Wilson and yeah, I’m the topic,” he said. He said what he saw in the Rumble disgusted him. He said the ring was full of egos and meatheads and it was toxic. Fans yelled “Toxic!” He said the sweating and grunting was toxic. Fans yelled, “Toxic!” He said all of the men battling to see who was the biggest alpha didn’t want him in the match because he is the true real man who has confidence in his emotions, a man who moisturizes, a man who listens. “Try it,” he told the fans. He pointed at fans and said they can’t handle a man who moves his hips like he does. He hip-swiveled. He said they are all toxic, but it’s not about them. He challenged anyone who was in the Rumble to come out there and take on the man who is redefining masculinity.

(Keller’s Analysis: Wilson pulls off this gimmick entertainingly, but the inspiration for it seems like a snowflake defensiveness over the “threat” to men who want all men to act one certain way out of 1950 stereotypes. Trying to condition their fanbase to think men who go against or challenge old school gender norms should be laughed at and beaten up is shameful and, frankly, revealing. The Oxford Dictionary defines “toxic masculinity” as: “a set of attitudes and ways of behaving stereotypically associated with or expected of men, regarded as having a negative impact on men and on society as a whole.”)

(4) OBA FEMI vs. KIT WILSON

Femi squashed Wilson. “That’s just a red-blooded ruler,” exclaimed Tessitore.

WINNER: Femi in 1:00.

-Backstage, R-Truth was dancing to Femi’s music. He told Damien Priest that Oba stands for “Oh My Goodness!” He told Priest that Femi was smashing and eating people. McIntyre then bumped into Truth. Truth yelled, “Excuse me?!” Priest stepped up to Drew and said, “You and I have done this enough.” He told Drew that Drew has enough problems and he doesn’t need another one.

-Drew made his ring entrance. Jacob Fatu attacked Drew when he entered the ring. He landed a hip attack and a clothesline, sending Drew to ringside. He then leaped over the ropes onto Drew at ringside. He pounded on him and then fended off security guys who dared to do their jobs trying to restore order. He then threw the lid off the announce desk. Fatu continued to tossed aside security before going after Drew in the time keeper’s area. [c]

-Tessitore plugged Backlash tickets.

-Aldis told Fatu backstage that he’ll tell him what he told Cody earlier, and that is he can earn a match against Drew next week. Fatu said to line them up because “I’ll dog walk their ass.” He then marched out.

(5) SHINSUKE NAKAMURA vs. TAMA TONGA (w/J.C. Mateo, Tonga Loa)

Nakamura’s full ring entrance aired. Then Tonga made his entrance with his cohorts. The bell rang 39 minutes into the hour. Tama took over with help from his cohorts and leaped onto Nakamura on the announce desk. They cut to an early double-box break. [c/db]

Nakamura made comeback. Tama eventully took over and landed a Stinger splash in the corner followed by a double-underhook faceplant for a two count. Mateo dragged Tama to ringside when Nakamura made a comeback. Tama hit Nakamura with a leaping DDT next. Nakamura landed a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Nakamura set up a Kinshasa. Loa grabbed Nakamura’s boot. Tama landed a Cut Throat in the corner and another in center ring for the win.

WINNER: Tama Tonga in 10:00.

-Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Axiom, and Nathan Fraser were filmed chatting when Candice LeRae pointed out that Johnny Gargano was lying facedown on a crate. “You don’t know what that mask meant to him.” Fraser said whatever state Gargano is in, it’s clearly his own doing. Sabin told LeRae that he deceived them and lied to them and cost them a tag title shot, so they’re not helping. LeRae pleaded with Shelley. He said no. She tried to get Gargano to stand.

Kelley interviewed Ripley and Sky. Ripley said they’re not letting their tag titles go anytime soon. Kelley asked about her qualifying match on Raw on Monday. Ripley said she wouldn’t mind adding a little more gold. Jax said a spot in the EC would be wasted on her. She said it should go to Lash, but she was screwed. Ripley said they sound like whiny little… at which point Jax interrupted. Jax said they’ve been ducking them long enough so it’s time to talk to Aldis.

-Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan walked past Ripley and Sky.

-A commercial noted that Smackdown will be on SyFy the next two weeks. [c]

-Wilson told Matt Cardona that toxic masculinity was on its way out until he showed up. He said he looks like a protein bar with chiseled abs. He said he’s not finished with him yet. Cardona said he’s ready for him. Apollo Crews and Cardona laughed at Wilson after he walked away.

-Aldis stood mid-ring and introduced Liv Morgan, the winner of the Rumble. Liv walked out with Raquel.

[HOUR THREE]

-Liv bragged about her charisma and success. She said with great power comes great responsibility. Liv told Raquel there is a huge elephant in the room. Raquel took the mic and said she wanted to address the elephant. She was interrupted by Jade Cargill.

Jade told Liv that if she chooses her, she’ll beat her ass at WrestleMania. She turned to Raquel and said, “What the hell are you looking at?” Liv told Jade to watch out what she says, because she could easily choose Stephanie Vaquer and then let Raquel end her reign at WrestleMania. “Then we can both be champions!” she said, high-fiving Raquel.

Jordynne Grace walked out and said it might be her she faces in Vegas. Liv laughed in her face and condescended her. She said she is the greatest Royal Rumble winner. Jade and Grace said in unison, “Shut up, bitch!” Aldis said he’s always happy to welcome Liv to Smackdown, but his rule is if you’re available to talk, you’re available to fight. He booked them in a tag match.

(6) LIV MORGAN & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ vs. JADE CARGILL & JORDYNNE GRACE

The bell rang 4 minutes into the hour. Barrett protested. They cut to a break seconds after the hasty start to the match. [c]

Grace countered a Liv suplex attempt and then rammed her chest into the corner several times followed by power lariats. A minute later, Jade misfired and kicked her partner, Grace. (What’re the odds?!) Raquel laughed. Jade avoided her as she charged and Raquel kicked Liv. Barrett questioned if it was a miscue since Liv tossed Raquel out of the Rumble. Raquel and Jade circled each other. Fans chanted, “Let’s go, Jade!” Grace shoved Raquel into Jade, then rolled up Raquel for the three count.

WINNERS: Grace & Jade in 9:00.

-Barrett and Tessitore threw to a video package on Drew beating Sami Zayn at the Royal Rumble.

-They cut backstage to a forlorn Sami walking as people told him to keep his head up. Rey Fenix told Sami that he lost at the Rumble, but he is an inspiration for so many. Trick Williams laughed and said it’s Mr. Can’t Get The Job Done. He said Sami is Charles Barkley and he’s Michael Jordan. He said it’s not about being a pillar or a role model, it’s about getting the job done. He said he knows how to get the job done, “so let’s talk about it.” Fenix told Trick he has a big mouth and he wants to knock his teeth out. Trick said, “Anytime, anywhere.” Sami just stared down the whole time.

-Tessitore noted that “a keystone for WrestleMania is locked in place” and they’d look at it. [c]

-They went to Barrett and Tessitore who talked about the need for existing champions to stay champion before WrestleMania. He said Jade may not get there.

-A video package of highlights aired of the Reigns and Punk segment on Raw.

-Drew stood in the ring and said he has something to say. He said Cody and Fatu should be banned from the EC qualifier for attacking him like cowards. He said Sami thought he was going to win the big one, but he crushed him and broke his dreams. He said that will happen to anyone who steps in the ring with him. He said he wanted to talk about Punk and Reigns.

He said he heard what they had to say “and quite frankly, I was disappointed.” Fans chanted, “OTC!” He said they came across as very insecure. He said one would take a dig at him, then the other would defend him with the truth. He said what bothered him is them framing his title as second-rate. He said if the man makes the title, “this man has been through hell to get this title.” He said he would never go part time, he was there when the world shut down, he ate banquets of crap, and he earned the title. He listed past top title holders from Bruno Sammartino to Steve Austin. He said it’s the no. 1 title.

He said he gets why Reigns picked Punk. He said he chose between him, a 280 pound Scottish war machine, and the tattooed sociopath “Fragile Phil” who is “always one fall away from his career being over.” He told Reigns that without his Samoan Army, he’d have destroyed him. He said he made the best choice for himself. “So good luck at WrestleMania,” he said. “When you two are out there acting like a couple of little boys and aura farming, I’ve got the entire roster climbing over each other” to have a chance to face the number one champion in the main event of WrestleMania.

(Keller’s Analysis: I figured Drew would fire back at a top level, and he did. “Aura Farming.” “Fragile Phil.” Good stuff.)

As Drew was about to leave, Trick walked out and addressed Drew and said he thought he’d come out and watch the qualifying match. He said he heard Drew showing he’s worried about all the wrong things. He said he should be worried about “the future of the business.” He said he is the man who is going to take the title from him at WrestleMania.

Drew said Trick stepped up, but he should walk before he runs. He said if he interrupts the champ again, he’ll stick his boots where the sun don’t shine. He walked away.)

(Keller’s Analysis: I’m not a fan of Drew cutting a strong heel promo and then having fans have to choose between him and Trick unless they’re turning Drew babyface,)

-Barrett listed next week’s matches: Trick vs. Fenix, Jade vs. Grace for the WWE Women’s Title, Iyo & Ripley vs. Jax & Lash, Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia vs. Zelina, and Cody vs. Sami vs. Fatu.

-Solo was yelling backstage, trying to find his family. He told Kelley he is winning the Chamber. Solo made his entrance, then Black, then Orton.

(7) RANDY ORTON vs. SOLO SIKOA vs. ALEISTER BLACK – Elimination Chamber qualifier

They showed Trick watching at ringside. The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early break. [c]

Late in the match, Orton stalked Black and went for an RKO, but Black slipped free and rolled up Orton for a near fall. Black went for a Black Mass, but Orton ducked and hit an RKO. Black rolled to ringside to avoid getting pinned. Barrett called it “a momentum bounce.” Solo then set up a Solo Spike, but Orton hit him with an RKO instead.

WINNER: Orton in 17:00 to earn a spot in the Elimination Chamber.