WWE SmackDown Recap: February 7, 2025 – Elimination Chamber Qualifiers and Royal Rumble Fallout

Following the excitement of the Royal Rumble, the night was marked by several thrilling developments, including the return of Jey Uso and Charlotte Flair, both fresh off their respective Rumble victories. Before heading to WrestleMania, WWE had to lay the groundwork for the upcoming Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event. This week’s episode featured two crucial qualifying matches for the Chamber, with Alexa Bliss facing Candice LeRae and Bianca Belair battling Piper Niven for spots in the massive cage.

Let’s break down all the action from this week’s SmackDown.

Opening Segment: Jey Uso Celebrates His Royal Rumble Victory

The show kicked off with a celebratory Jey Uso walking through the crowd, soaking in the excitement after his Royal Rumble victory. His enthusiasm was evident as he even requested for his entrance music to play again, allowing him to continue celebrating with the fans. Uso took a moment to address the crowd, acknowledging his win before calling out Cody Rhodes to join him in the ring.

The two shared a warm embrace as Rhodes congratulated Jey for his impressive Rumble victory. Uso, feeling the momentum, teased the possibility of challenging either Roman Reigns for the world title or joining Rhodes in a dual championship pursuit at WrestleMania. Rhodes focused on his own title aspirations and made it clear he intended to walk out of ‘Mania as the reigning champion, regardless of the outcome.

The tension heightened when Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga made their entrance, launching into a verbal exchange with Rhodes and Uso. This quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, with Fatu laying waste to Rhodes until Jey Uso retaliated with a superkick, and Rhodes followed up with a Cody Cutter. Together, they cleared the ring of their challengers, ending the segment on a high note, and setting up a tag match later in the night.

Notable Observations:

• It’s a pleasure to see Jey Uso, once known primarily as part of a tag team, receiving such a strong solo push. His hard work over the years is clearly paying off.
• Tonga’s comedic approach to his role, especially his over-the-top antics, continues to entertain the crowd.

Piper Niven vs. Bianca Belair: Elimination Chamber Qualifier

Next up, Bianca Belair and Piper Niven squared off in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match, offering a great opportunity for one of these competitors to secure a spot inside the infamous cage. The match got off to a fast start with Belair attempting to hit her signature KOD finisher early on, but Niven’s impressive strength allowed her to resist the move. Belair then worked her way through some shoulder thrusts and mounted punches in the corner before Niven took control, slamming Belair into the apron and landing a crossbody against the LED wall.

After the break, Belair was seen struggling to land the KOD, but Niven capitalized with a spinning slam. Eventually, Belair was able to hit the KOD to secure the win. While these two have clashed before, this particular match felt like it lacked the intensity and chemistry that made their previous encounters memorable. Still, the ending sequence picked up pace, even if the match as a whole didn’t quite live up to expectations.

Result: Belair defeated Niven

Notable Observations:

• It’s clear that WWE is trying to rebrand Niven’s offense, as we saw a reference to the Black Hole Slam under the new name of Bossman Slam.
• Belair’s consistent “fail twice before hitting the finisher on the third try” setup remains a notable part of her storytelling in the ring.

Pretty Deadly vs. DIY: Tag Team Action

After the break, DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) came to the ring, boasting about their victory over the Motor City Machine Guns at the Royal Rumble to retain their tag team titles. However, Pretty Deadly interrupted their celebration, and Nick Aldis quickly made his appearance to announce that the team would face Pretty Deadly in a non-title match. This came as a surprise to DIY, who were still dressed in their street clothes at the time.

The match began with DIY initially showing their dominance, but Pretty Deadly, who have been working to garner some fan support, soon gained momentum. Wilson and Prince of Pretty Deadly seemed to adopt more of a babyface role, engaging the crowd with their antics. In the end, Pretty Deadly stole the victory after Wilson countered a dirty pin from DIY into one of their own, officially earning a future title shot.

Result: Pretty Deadly defeated DIY

Notable Observations:

• Ciampa’s mic work continues to surprise, with his natural charisma and humor coming through even in a tag team setting.
• Pretty Deadly’s fan interactions, especially the chant of “Yes Boy,” might be enough to propel them into a more prominent position with the crowd.

Triple Threat Match: McIntyre vs. Knight vs. Uso

Next, the night delivered a triple threat match featuring Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, and Jimmy Uso, all vying for a spot in the Elimination Chamber. McIntyre began with a promo about being happy to return to SmackDown, and the interaction between him and Knight helped build the anticipation. After a break, the match officially kicked off, with each competitor taking turns battling one-on-one.

The match was relatively predictable, with each man getting an opportunity to shine. McIntyre, however, secured the victory after hitting a Claymore on Knight at the same time that Knight landed a BFT on Uso. This was a solid match, though it followed the typical formula of a triple-threat bout. McIntyre’s win was logical, and he’s clearly being positioned as a key player in the lead-up to the Chamber.

Result: McIntyre defeated Uso and Knight

Notable Observations:

• Knight’s playful jab at McIntyre regarding the Royal Rumble exit added a layer of humor to the match.
• McIntyre’s physicality and dominance in the ring remain a sight to behold, especially when he’s throwing his opponents around.

Akira Tozawa vs. Carmelo Hayes

Akira Tozawa and Carmelo Hayes faced off in a brief but energetic match. Before the match, Hayes cut a backstage promo, boasting about his easy victory, but Tozawa quickly proved him wrong by taking control early on. Despite a commercial break in the middle of the match, the action resumed with Hayes eventually gaining the upper hand. Tozawa had his moments, including a hurricanrana that sent Hayes into the turnbuckle. However, Hayes countered and hit a flying leg drop to secure the pinfall win. While the match had potential, it never fully clicked due to a lack of chemistry between the two competitors.

Result: Hayes defeated Tozawa

Notable Observations:

• Hayes’s springboard DDT looked especially impressive, with Tozawa selling it well.
• The brief spot where Hayes accidentally hit the referee showcased his attention to detail, as he immediately apologized and made sure the referee was okay.

Alexa Bliss vs. Candice LeRae

Alexa Bliss made her return to singles action after a two-year hiatus, taking on Candice LeRae in a qualifying match for the Elimination Chamber. Before the match, Charlotte Flair celebrated her own Royal Rumble victory and mocked her fellow competitors. Bliss then faced off against LeRae, and although the match had some solid moments, the crowd was largely unresponsive throughout the early portion. Bliss almost hit her signature Sister Abigail early on, but LeRae took control and gained a near-fall.

After a commercial break, the pace picked up, but the crowd’s lack of energy continued to hinder the match’s presentation. Bliss eventually hit Sister Abigail, securing her first singles victory in two years. While it was decent, the lack of crowd engagement made it feel less impactful.

Result: Bliss defeated LeRae

Notable Observations:

• It would have been beneficial for Bliss to receive some microphone time after her long absence to build her character further.
• The crowd’s indifference made it difficult to fully appreciate the match, even if the in-ring action was fine.

Jey Uso & Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga: Main Event

The main event of the night saw Jey Uso team up with Cody Rhodes to face Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga. The match began with Rhodes and Tonga, but Fatu quickly tagged in to take on the champion. The action continued through a picture-in-picture segment, with Jey Uso eventually tagging in to pick up the pace.

The match followed a predictable formula, with Rhodes and Jey securing the win after a brief but solid exchange. However, the real drama unfolded after the match, as Solo Sikoa made his return and attacked Rhodes to end the show.

Result: Rhodes and Uso defeated Fatu and Tonga

Notable Observations:

• The use of Rhodes’s taped-up arm was a clever way to sell his injury and add drama to the match.
• A post-match segment with Jey and Roman Reigns discussing the Royal Rumble could be an interesting direction for the coming weeks.

The Final Word: A Night of Mixed Action

This week’s SmackDown effectively addressed the aftermath of the Royal Rumble while progressing several storylines toward the Elimination Chamber. However, the in-ring action didn’t fully deliver as expected. While the matches were solid, none stood out as must-see television. If you missed the episode, the WWE YouTube recap provides a great summary of all the major moments.

If you’re looking for the best match of the night, McIntyre, Knight, and Uso’s triple-threat bout was undoubtedly the highlight. However, news of WWE releases circulating on social media left some fans feeling let down during the show.