By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,384)
Louisville, Kentucky, at KFC Yum! Center
Simulcast live February 27, 2026, on USA Network and internationally on Netflix
[Hour One] Smackdown opened with a chaotic shot of Jey Uso being loaded into an ambulance while Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis, Cody Rhodes, and additional wrestlers and security guards stood by. Jacob Fatu accompanied Jey in the ambulance. Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams were shown amongst the wrestlers and they ended up jawing at one another.
“Four letters, one word, Drew,” WWE Champion Drew McIntyre said while walking down the stairs past fans inside the arena. McIntyre said he had nothing to do with what happened to Jey. McIntyre hopped the barricade and entered the ring while he spoke of checking out the competition in the Elimination Chamber.
Aldis walked out with security. Aldis recalled telling McIntyre not to get involved. Aldis told McIntyre to go to his office because there were 20 wrestlers backstage who wanted to tear him apart.
Cody Rhodes made his entrance while McIntyre left the ring and hopped the barricade. Cody wanted to fight. McIntyre teased fighting him, then asked why he should. He said Aldis told him to leave, so he was going to leave.
Cody said McIntyre’s entire title reign has been spent running like a little bitch. Cody recalled McIntyre saying there would be no rematches. Cody started to talk about winning the Elimination Chamber match and getting his title shot, but he was interrupted by music.
Randy Orton made his entrance and said what happened to Jey Uso sucked, and he felt bad for him, but his only concern was winning the Elimination Chamber match and beating McIntyre for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Orton entered the ring and started to address Cody, but he was cut off by music.
Trick Williams made his entrance and stood in the entrance aisle. He said Bruno Mars shouted him out on his new album. Trick said he could bring something new to the menu, but he was interrupted.
Je-Von Evans came out, and then he and Trick entered the ring. Evans said he was there to win the Chamber and beat Orton’s record for being the youngest world champion.
LA Knight came out wearing Trick’s white coat before he tossed it aside. Knight entered the ring and said he heard a lot of big talk. Knight spoke of winning the Elimination Chamber and the WWE Championship. “Because everybody’s saying,” Knight said before Williams added, “Whoop that Trick.”
Knight confirmed what Trick said and then punched him. Trick and Knight fought to the back. In the ring, Orton dropped Evans with an RKO. Orton stood up, and then he and Cody looked at one another before Orton made his exit…
Wade Barrett checked in on commentary and sent things backstage to Cathy Kelley, who said Jey Uso’s spot in the Elimination Chamber match was in question.
Tiffany Stratton, who was interviewed by Kelley, said what happened to Jey sucked. She started to talk about winning the Elimination Chamber match when Asuka and Kairi Sane interrupted her. Asuka and Stratton exchanged words…
Joe Tessitore checked in from the broadcast table with Wade Barrett. Tessitore spoke while backstage/arrival shots aired of WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, their challengers Nia Jax and Lash Legend, Oba Femi, and his opponent The Miz…
Solo Sikoa made his entrance with Uncle Howdy’s lantern… [C]
Powell’s POV: An attention-grabbing opening segment. Writing Jey Uso out of the match makes sense. He was only in the match because Bronson Reed got hurt in their qualifying match, and the company had to call an audible. And while Jey would have been fine in the match, the only heel would have been Trick Williams, who is more popular than some of the babyfaces. It will be interesting to see how they determine a replacement for Jey. On a side note, two hours before showtime, WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 10,673 with 10,266 tickets distributed. The listed capacity is 22,090.
Highlights aired of Uncle Howdy’s video from last week in which he said he would come to the ring alone, and questioned whether Solo would do the same… Uncle Howdy made his entrance…
1. Uncle Howdy vs. Solo Sikoa. Both wrestlers started the match without anyone in their respective corners. The lantern was on the ringside podium where title belts are usually placed. A few minutes into the match, Solo ran Howdy aggressively into the middle turnbuckle pad before a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Solo hit a top rope splash for a near fall. Solo expressed surprise over not getting the pin. A “Let’s go, Howdy” chant broke out. Solo set up for Sister Abigail and kissed Howdy’s head, but Howdy put him in the Mandible Claw. Solo broke the hold by hitting the Samoan Spike, which left Howdy down in the corner. Solo hit two hip attacks. He went for a third, but Howdy cut him off and hit Sister Abigail for the win.
Uncle Howdy beat Solo Sikoa in 10:15.
After the match, Howdy went to ringside and grabbed the lantern. Talla Tonga, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and JC Mateo emerged from the timekeeper’s area. Talla booted Howdy and took the lantern. Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan, and Nikki Cross ran out to check on Howdy…
Backstage, Nick Aldis told Drew McIntyre that his opponent would be set after the Elimination Chamber. Aldis told him to stay home and stay out of trouble. McIntyre spoke of his long-time relationship with Aldis and said they are on the same page.
Paul Heyman, Logan Paul, and Austin Theory showed up while McIntyre was leaving. Heyman suggested to Aldis that Logan Paul take Jey Uso’s place in the Elimination Chamber match. Logan flexed his bicep in Aldis’s face and told him to kiss it, while adding, “You have my consent.” Logan said it was Aldis’s loss after he declined.
Aldis mentioned the interesting timing of The Vision showing up just moments after Jey Uso was hauled off in an ambulance. Theory got in Aldis’s face, but Heyman calmed him down. Aldis said adding Logan to the match was an interesting proposition, but he had to make some calls… [C]
Well, they didn’t waste any time writing Jey back out of the Chamber.