Cody Rhodes is headed to WWE Elimination Chamber despite Drew McIntyre’s best efforts to stop him. On SmackDown, Rhodes came one step closer to WrestleMania 42 by overcoming Jacob Fatu, Sami Zayn and an interfering McIntyre.

Rhodes, Zayn and Fatu competed in a triple threat qualifier match for the men’s Elimination Chamber. Whoever emerges from the steel structure will challenge undisputed WWE champion McIntyre at WrestleMania. For Zayn and Fatu, their hopes to win their first world titles at Mania are over.

SmackDown also featured two title matches. Jade Cargill defended the WWE women’s title against Jordynne Grace. WWE women’s tag team champions Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, collectively called RHIYO, battled Nia Jax and Lash Legend.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Rhodes is headed to the Elimination Chamber

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match — Cody Rhodes def. Jacob Fatu and Sami Zayn via pinfall after hitting Zayn with Cross Rhodes. Fatu was a dominant force throughout the match. His combination of speed, power, and intensity was often too much for his opponents to handle. He flattened both superstars with a standing moonsault, pierced Rhodes with a suicide dive, and squished Zayn with a pop-up Samoan drop. Zayn and Rhodes realized they needed to remove Fatu from the equation to have a chance. Zayn nearly won the match twice. A Blue Thunder Bomb to Rhodes was his nearfall. Then, he rolled up Fatu off an attempted top rope splash. 

Fatu nearly stole the match in the closing moments. Fatu threw Rhodes out of the ring after a Cody Cutter before hitting Zayn with a moonsault. McIntyre intervened out of nowhere, breaking the pinfall with a Claymore kick. McIntyre ruined Fatu’s opportunity by putting him through the commentary table with a powerbomb. The undisputed WWE champ subsequently knocked down Rhodes with a Claymore kick. McIntyre dragged Zayn, whom he beat at the Royal Rumble, over Rhodes. “The American Nightmare” kicked out at two. An irate McIntyre returned to the ring, but Zayn intercepted him with a Helluva Kick. Rhodes took advantage of the chaos, hitting Zayn with Cross Rhodes for the three count.

This was the best main event SmackDown has produced in some time. The match quality was high, all three men were suitable candidates, and the finish was overbooked in a good way. McIntyre managed to further his issues with multiple superstars, particularly Fatu. Speaking of “The Samoan Werewolf,” Fatu looked tremendous. His aura is incredible and it’s a shame we won’t see it inside the Chamber. Grade: A

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship — RHIYO (Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky) (c) vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend ends in a no-contest after the referee lost control. Post-match, Sky put Jax through the commentary table with a suicide crossbody. Ripley and Legend went through the timekeeper’s barricade.The MFTs (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga, Tonga Loa & JC Mateo) def. Carmelo Hayes, Ilja Dragunov, Shinsuke Nakamura, Matt Cardona, and Apollo Crews via pinfall after Tama Tonga hit Hayes with a cutthroat. Post-match, the Wyatt Sicks appeared in the crowd.Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match — Alexa Bliss def. Giulia and Zelina Vega via pinfall after catching Vega with a Sister Abigail DDT.Trick Williams def. Rey Fenix via pinfall with a Trickshot.WWE Women’s Championship — Jade Cargill (c) def. Jordynne Grace via pinfall with Jaded. Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez watched from ringside.