CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A volatile night of WWE SmackDown at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on , saw the first qualifying matches for the upcoming Elimination Chamber event unfold, alongside a shocking confrontation between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre, and Carmelo Hayes successfully defending his United States Championship.
The evening opened with a fiery exchange between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. McIntyre, making his way to the ring, was immediately ambushed by Rhodes, who unleashed a brutal attack, slamming McIntyre’s head into the ring post and continuing the assault into the crowd. Rhodes, visibly enraged, addressed the audience, expressing his discontent over McIntyre’s elimination of him from the Royal Rumble – an event McIntyre wasn’t even officially part of. Rhodes, a Charlotte native, lamented the discomfort of returning to his hometown without a championship, vowing that McIntyre would not reach WrestleMania.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Giulia and Kiana James, who are slated to challenge Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. James confidently predicted a victory, framing it as a stepping stone for Giulia to become a triple champion.
In the ring, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky successfully defended their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against Giulia and Kiana James in a hard-fought contest. The match saw several momentum shifts, with both teams displaying resilience. Ripley secured the victory for her team with the Rip Tide, following a chaotic sequence involving IYO SKY’s Over the Moon sault.
Carmelo Hayes continued his reign as United States Champion, overcoming a determined challenge from The Miz in an open challenge match. The bout was characterized by Hayes’s high-flying offense and Miz’s veteran cunning. Hayes ultimately prevailed with his First 48 finisher after countering Miz’s attempt at the Skull Crushing Finale.
Tiffany Stratton earned her place in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, defeating Chelsea Green and Lash Legend in a triple threat qualifier. Stratton secured the win with her Prettiest Moonsault Ever, overcoming interference from both opponents and a chaotic sequence of near falls.
Tama Tonga advanced to the Elimination Chamber, defeating Shinsuke Nakamura in a physical and intense first-time singles match. The contest was marred by interference from Tonga’s faction, MFT, with Mateo distracting the referee and allowing Tonga to secure the victory with a Cutthroat maneuver.
The night also featured a segment with Liv Morgan, the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, who is yet to declare which champion she will challenge at WrestleMania. Her appearance added another layer of intrigue to the women’s division.
A bizarre and confrontational segment unfolded involving Kit Wilson, who delivered a scathing critique of the male wrestlers and proclaimed himself the “tonic to toxic masculinity.” His monologue was interrupted by Oba Femi, who quickly dispatched Wilson in a brief but decisive match.
The show concluded with another heated exchange between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu. Fatu attacked McIntyre before he could address the crowd, continuing their ongoing feud. Nick Aldis intervened, offering Fatu a chance to qualify for the Elimination Chamber next week, further escalating the tension.
SmackDown delivered a night of compelling action and escalating storylines, setting the stage for the Elimination Chamber event and the road to WrestleMania 42. The confrontations between Rhodes and McIntyre, and Fatu and McIntyre, promise further conflict in the weeks to come, while the qualifying matches have established the initial field for the Elimination Chamber matches.
