By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown (Episode 1,330)
Washington, D.C. at Capital One Arena
Aired live February 14, 2025 on USA Network
[Hour One] Wade Barrett welcomed viewers to the show while a shot aired of the host city. Arrival shots featured Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Braun Strowman, Damian Priest, and Jacob Fatu with Tama Tonga…
Barrett was joined at the broadcast table by Vic Joseph, who was filling in for Joe Tessitore as the play-by-play voice… A video package recapped last week’s segments involving Fatu, Tonga, Cody Rhodes, and Jey Uso…
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his entrance to the usual strong crowd reaction. Cody noted that Jey Uso made the call to challenge Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship, meaning he will defend his WWE Championship against the winner of the Elimination Chamber match.
Cody listed the names of some of the candidates. Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre were booed, while CM Punk and John Cena were cheered. Cody said it would not be Solo Sikoa because he’s not in a qualifying match. Cody said he doesn’t believe the Samoan Spike that Solo hit him with was for him.
Drew McIntyre’s entrance theme interrupted Cody and then McIntyre headed to the ring. McIntyre ran through some of his accolades and then recalled hugging Cody. McIntyre said he was worried about Cody because he was going to a dark place and then Cody tried to fight him. McIntyre said Cody also attacked him while he was finishing his business with Sami Zayn.
McIntyre said he didn’t want it to be personal, but Cody made it that way. Cody said he can count on one hand the number of men who have beaten him since he returned to WWE. Cody said McIntyre is one of those men and then added that he has not forgotten.
Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga made their entrance. The crowd chanted “Fatu” once they entered the ring. Fatu went face-to-face with McIntyre. Fatu said McIntyre already has his spot in the chamber. Fatu said he would be all gas and no brakes tonight and plans to dog walk Braun Strowman and Damian Priest to earn his way into the Elimination Chamber. Fatu said he will bring home the WWE Championship to his family and said it never should have left.
McIntyre played up the fans wanting to see him and Fatu fight. “But it’s not going to happen because I have my spot in the Chamber already,” McIntyre said. “Cody, I think he wants to talk to you,” McIntyre exited the ring, leaving Cody alone with Fatu and Tonga.
Fatu walked around Cody and then eyed up his title belt. Cody said that if Fatu beats everyone in the Chamber, then the two of them can fight over his championship. Cody and Fatu were distracted by a shot on the big screen a vehicle arriving.
Solo Sikoa was shown exiting the vehicle. Fatu told Cody that if anyone will speak to Solo, it will be him first on some family business. Cody told Fatu he could have the first word, but he would sure as hell get the last. Fatu and Tonga left the ring and walked intently to the back…
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Naomi were shown backstage while Joseph hyped Naomi’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match against Chelsea Green heading into a break [C]…
Powell’s POV: The Fatu chants were actually louder than the crowd’s reaction to Cody mentioning John Cena and CM Punk as potential WrestleMania challengers.
Backstage, Tama Tonga asked a crew member where Solo Sikoa was. The man pointed Tonga toward Sikoa. Jacob Fatu showed up and knocked the crew member down…
Naomi and Belair were in the ring. Barrett interviewed Trish Stratus, who was in the crowd, and asked if she would make an appearance at the Chamber event since it’s in her hometown. Stratus confirmed that she would be there and said she had to decide whether she would be watching from the seats or a suite…
Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green made her entrance with Piper Niven and was introduced by ring announcer Lilian Garcia…
1. Chelsea Green (w/Piper Niven) vs. Naomi (w/Bianca Belair) in an Elimination Chamber qualifier. Naomi hit an early meteora for a two count. Green rolled to the floor. Naomi went for a sliding dropkick, but Niven shoved Green out of the way. Green put Naomi down with a big boot before a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Naomi had a run of offense that ended when Green avoided a split-legged moonsault. Green hit Naomi with a leg lariat for a near fall. Naomi came back with a kick and a facebuster, and then hit a split-legged moonsault that led to a three count…
Naomi defeated Chelsea Green in 8:30 to qualify for the women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Powell’s POV: I’m less annoyed by Green taking a loss than I was when Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria lost on Raw. Green is positioned as a somewhat flukey champion, so losing a non-title match to Naomi won’t hurt her or damage the title.
The broadcast team recapped footage of Kevin Owens taking out Sami Zayn with a package piledriver…
A Sami Zayn video aired from social media. He said that his neck isn’t doing well. He said he has nerve damage and has been seeing specialists. He said it’s been tough to come to terms with what’s happened between him and Kevin Owens.
Zayn said their turns on one another have become a joke, but this one is different because Owens tried to end his career with a package piledriver. Zayn said he doesn’t know when he’ll be cleared, but he and Owens will go at it again once he is. Zayn said it won’t be fun and said he’d see Owens soon…
The Motor City Machine Guns made their entrance… [C] Footage aired from ESPN of Triple H informing Michelle McCool that she will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame… Footage aired of McCool on WWE LFG, which premieres Sunday on A&E… The second half of Los Garza’s entrance with Santos Escobar was shown…
2. “Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin vs. “Los Garza” Angel and Berto. Santos Escobar did not stick around for the match. Angel and Berto were on the offensive when heading into a break a minute into the match. [C]
Angel performed a moonsault onto Shelley at ringside. Berto went for an in-ring moonsault on Sabin, who put his feet up. Sabin dove through Shelley’s legs and hit a suicide dive on both opponents. The Guns followed up with Skull and Bones on Berto, and then Shelley pinned him…
“Motor City Machine Guns” Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin beat “Los Garza” Angel and Berto in 7:30.
Powell’s POV: A decent television match even though a portion of it was missed due to the commercial break. The Guns gave Los Garza a good amount of offense before going over clean.
A Damian Priest promo video package aired… Joseph hyped Priest’s involvement in the Elimination Chamber qualifying match for later in the show… [C]
[Hour Two] A WrestleMania video aired. We are 64 days away from the two-night event…
Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga stormed through the backstage area and entered a locker room where Solo Sikoa was seated and dressed in white with black gloves. Fatu demanded to know what was happening. Sikoa said he needed time away after losing the Ula Fala because he had not been himself. Sikoa said he let the family down.
Solo said he’s okay now and is ready to take over the business, just as they did before. Solo said it starts with Fatu winning the Chamber match and bringing the title back. Fatu turned to walk away, but Solo grabbed his arm. “Jacob, I love you,” Sikoa said. Fatu walked out calmly and then Tonga looked at Sikoa and followed Fatu…
U.S. Champion Shinsuke Nakamura made his entrance. Nakamura said he’s waited and watched from the shadows for weeks while praying for a challenge and a warrior to test him. Some fans gave Nakamura the “what?” treatment.
LA Knight made his entrance and spoke from the stage area. He accused Nakamura of playing two lies and a truth. Knight said Nakamura was truthful when he said he was hiding in the shadows, but he was lying when he said he prayed for a challenge and a warrior to test him.
Knight walked toward the ring while recalling that Nakamura cheated to beat him the last time they met. Knight entered the ring and said he’s the test that Nakamura is looking for and he’s already failed it.
The Miz’s entrance theme interrupted Knight from delivering his catchphrase. Miz asked the fans if they were still going for Knight’s schtick. He said he was wrong when he said a year ago that Knight was a fad, but the WWE Universe is still eating out of the palm of his hand.
Miz said this proved that the fans are not educated. Miz said the fans are not smart, they are basic. Miz asked the fans if they know who is worthy. Knight cut him off, assumed that Miz would declare himself worthy, and then ran through the list of things that Miz usually boasts about. Knight said Miz has been saying those things for ten years. Knight said it’s been that long since Miz was relevant.
Knight suggested that Miz take a page out of John Cena’s book and start a farewell tour because everyone is ready for him to go away. Miz asked like he was sobbing when he asked the fans if they all wanted him to go away. Miz said he can’t believe he was crying on national television, but he recalled Knight saying last week that it’s okay for men to cry. Knight confirmed that he thinks it is okay in the right situation, but Miz is at the top of the list of crybaby bitches.
Miz said at least he’d been to the top. Miz said Knight isn’t on his radar. Miz said that if Cena can call his shot, so he can, and he wants a shot at the U.S. Championship. Miz looked down at Nakamura, who was standing at ringside. Knight laughed at Miz for saying he’s not on his radar and yet recalling something that he said on television last week. Knight thanked Miz for watching.
Knight spoke about how the title needs him and he’ll make it shine. Knight said Miz sucks and called him the most impotent dork. Miz charged Knight, who set him up for a BFT, but Miz slipped away. When Knight turned his focus toward Nakamura, Miz returned to the apron, but Knight saw him coming.
Smackdown general manager Nick Aldis cameo out and said that Knight and Miz were looking for a fight, and Nakamura is looking for a challenger. Aldis booked Knight vs. Miz in an immediate match… [C]
Powell’s POV: It wasn’t specified whether Knight vs. Miz was officially for a shot at the U.S. Title. On a side note, a pair of AEW ads have been shown tonight during the commercial breaks. One was for tomorrow night’s AEW Grand Slam Australia edition of Collision, and another was a local ad for Dynamite coming to town next month.
3. LA Knight vs. The Miz. The match was joined in progress. Nakamura watched the match from ringside. Knight slammed Miz’s head on the broadcast table repeatedly. Nakamura approached Knight. Miz took advantage of the distraction and slammed Knight’s head on the broadcast table and then ran his back into the ring steps before a PIP break. [C]
Miz put Knight down with a DDT for a near fall. Miz set up for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Knight backed him into a corner of the ring. Knight hit the BFT and then went to the ropes and did a double jump elbow drop that got him the three count.
LA Knight defeated The Miz in 9:45 of television time.
After the match, Knight stood on the ropes and looked down at Nakamura, who then rolled inside the ring. Nakamura took his title belt off and held it up. Nakamura and Knight went face-to-face before Nakamura exited the ring…
Powell’s POV: So we’re right back to Knight challenging Nakamura for the U.S. Title again?
Backstage, Nia Jax was talking with Candice LeRae when Alexa Bliss showed up holding the Lilly doll. Bliss told Jax luck to have fun during her match and said hopefully she will fare better than LeRae did last week. Jax said she thinks she’ll be fine because she’s familiar with former friends betraying her. A Wyatt Sicks image flashed on the screen. Bliss said she was talking to Lilly about how fun it would be to have a WrestleMania rematch…
R-Truth sang his entrance theme for a match against Carmelo Hayes… [C]
Andrade confronted The Miz as he was walking backstage. Andrade told Miz that he could teach him something and then walked away. Carmelo Hayes showed up and told Miz that people like Andrade don’t respect people like them. Miz pitched the idea of teaming up with Hayes and then did his “Melo Don’t Miss” catchphrase and offered a fist bump. Hayes shook his head negatively and left Miz hanging…
Hayes made his entrance. Footage aired from earlier in the day of R-Truth not understanding Hayes referring to himself as Him….
4. Carmelo Hayes vs. R-Truth. The bell rang and then Hayes jumped Truth to start the match. Truth came back and hit some John Cena spots, but Hayes cut off his Five Knuckle Shuffle attempt. Hayes eventually hit Nothing But Net and scored the pin…
Carmelo Hayes beat R-Truth in 2:20.
Joseph hyped that Kevin Owens would speak after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: It’s good to see Hayes picking up a couple of wins, even if he’s beating comedy wrestlers.
Footage aired of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl parade along with shots of a couple of players wearing title belts…
A Street Profits video package aired. Angelo Dawkins said if anyone should be mad, it’s them. He listed other tag teams and said he and Montez Ford would put them in the dirt if they got in the way. Ford got fired up and said they will get the smoke…
Byron Saxton interviewed “Pretty Deadly” Elton Prince and Kit Wilson about earning a WWE Tag Team Title match on next week’s show. Wilson started to talk about how they are done being underestimated.
WWE Tag Team Champions “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa showed up. Gargano said he and Ciampa weren’t angry, they were disappointed. Ciampa said that whatever happens next week is on Prince and Wilson. Ciampa said their dreams of becoming tag team champions is dead and they will give their career a proper moment of silence…
A Kevin Owens promo aired. Owens was sitting in his car wearing a Bret Hart jacket. Owens recalled Zayn saying that he wasn’t doing good. Owens said he’s not doing well because he’s been stabbed in the back by three men that he would have taken a bullet for.
Owens said Zayn doesn’t know what real pain is, but he will show him. Owens said he and Zayn can go again and he can’t think of a better place than Canada. Owens said he doesn’t care if Zayn is cleared or not, he should come find him at the Elimination Chamber and then he’ll know pain…
Powell’s POV: This is just a shot in the dark, but with Owens saying he doesn’t care if Zayn is cleared or not, I wonder if the will have an unsanctioned brawl at the Elimination Chamber and save their actual match for WrestleMania.
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was shown walking through the backstage area…
Royal Rumble winner Charlotte Flair was shown taking a seat in the Gorilla Position area. Joseph said Flair would be very interested in the WWE Women’s Championship match that was coming up next… [C]
A shot aired of Washington D.C. while Joseph recalled Smackdown’s 1,000th episode being held there. He also hyped NXT Vengeance Day for D.C. on Saturday night and said limited tickets were still available…
A video package recapped the history between Stratton and Jax…
Tiffany Stratton made her entrance while Nia Jax and Candice LeRae were already inside the ring. Charlotte Flair was shown watching on a backstage television.
[Hour Three] Lilian Garcia delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match…
5. Tiffany Stratton vs. Nia Jax (w/Candice LeRae) for the WWE Championship. Jax popped up Stratton and hit her with a headbutt that led to an early two count. Stratton returned fire with a handspring elbow. Jax came right back with a Samoan Drop for a near fall.
Jax leg dropped Stratton and covered her for two. Jax had Stratton draped over the middle rope and then hip checked her head into the ring post casing. Joseph listed the attendance as 13,536. Jax dropped an elbow on Stratton and covered her for another two count. [C]
Powell’s POV: For whatever it’s worth, we had back-to-back local ads for WWE Raw on April 7, and AEW Dynamite on March 26.
Stratton hit a running double stomp and got a two count. Stratton with for another handspring elbow, but Jax caught her and slammed her to the mat. Jax used a leg drop to get another near fall.
Jax hoisted up Stratton on her shoulders and then climbed to the middle rope. Stratton slipped away and kicked Jax’s legs out from under her so that she was dangling over the middle rope. Stratton hit a top rope double stomp for a two count.
Stratton went up top and was cut off by Jax, who executed a Samoan Drop from the middle rope for a good near fall. Jax went to the middle rope and hit a leg drop for another good near fall. Jax expressed disbelief while a stone faced Charlotte was shown watching the backstage television. [C]
Stratton hit a top rope moonsault onto Jax at ringside. Stratton rolled Jax back inside the ring and hit a Swanton for a near fall. Stratton showed frustration. Stratton tried to power up Jax on her back, but she collapsed under Jax’s weight. Jax smiled.
Jax went to the ropes and was caught by Stratton. Jax shook free and then went for an Annihilator, but Stratton avoided it. Stratton put Jax down with a spinebuster. Stratton set up for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but LeRae attacked her for the DQ finish.
Tiffany Stratton defeated Nia Jax by DQ in 17:20 to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.
After the match, Jax hit the Annihilator on Stratton. LeRae grabbed a chair from ringside.
Trish Stratus showed up and took the chair away from LeRae and then shoved Jax off the ropes. Stratus worked over LeRae, who spun her into a corner of the ring just in time for Jax to hit her with a splash.
Producers and referees tried to talk Jax down, but she hit Stratton with a leg drop and then exited the ring with LeRae and headed toward the stage.
Charlotte Flair made her entrance and walked past Jax and LeRae without looking at them. Flair entered the ring and got a mic. Flair set up a chair next to Stratton, who was down on the mat.
“Tiffy, wake up,” Flair said. “Blink if you can hear me, Tiffy.” Flair said it was still Tiffy Time. Flair looked down at Stratton and said: “The Queen chooses you. I’ll see you at WrestleMania.” Flair dropped the mic…
Powell’s POV: A strong match with a DQ finish that creates the need for Stratton to get revenge in a rematch before WrestleMania. I would have loved a Flair vs. Rhea Ripley rubber match, but this was a no lose situation as far as I’m concerned, because I’m excited to see Flair vs. Stratton on the big stage.
Nick Aldis was on the phone in his office when Bianca Belair and Naomi entered the room. Aldis thanked them for coming and said they received anonymous tip and a cellphone video. Aldis played the footage that showed Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez walking in the distance while Jade Cargill was being loaded into an ambulance.
Naomi said she told Belair. Aldis said they didn’t know anything yet. He said he would call Adam Pearce to figure out the next step. Belair said he didn’t need to do that because she and Naomi were going to Raw to take care of Morgan and Rodriguez themselves…
Powell’s POV: I’m not really sure why Morgan and Rodriguez walking outside the building together makes them guilty, but babyfaces aren’t always the rational people.
Footage aired of Undertaker on the WWE LFG show that premieres Sunday night on A&E…
Damian Priest was shown walking through the backstage area while Joseph hyped the Triple Threat Elimination Chamber qualifier as coming up next… [C] The fan sign segment took place…
Tiffany Stratton was interviewed by Byron Saxton. Stratton said it was hard to focus on WrestleMania after what Nia Jax and Candice LeRae did to her. Trish Stratton showed up and made a pitch to team up at the Elimination Chamber. A giddy Stratton asked if Trish was saying that it will be Tiffy and Trishy Time in Toronto. Stratus conformed that’s what she was saying.
Joseph ran through the WrestleMania lineup…
Jimmy Uso applauded while watching the WrestleMania lineup while backstage television. Drew McIntyre approached him and taunted him about how poorly his career was going. McIntyre said that on the plus side, Jimmy married up. Jimmy superkicked McIntyre…
Braun Strowman spoke as he walked through the backstage area. He said he had his hands full, but people forget that he’s a former world champion. He spoke of winning the Chamber match and then told Cody Rhodes that he’s coming for him. Strowman made his entrance… [C]
The broadcast team listed the following matches for next week’s Smackdown in New Orleans: “DIY” Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa vs. “Pretty Deadly” Elton Prince and Kit Wilson for the WWE Tag Team Titles, and Jimmy Uso vs. Drew McIntyre…
Jacob Fatu made his entrance for the main event without Tama Tonga. Damian Priest’s entrance followed…
6. Damian Priest vs. Jacob Fatu vs. Braun Strowman in a Triple Threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match. Barrett called this a match that makes him happy to be “safely retired.” There were some “Fatu” chants, though not as loud as earlier in the show. Strowman was sent to ringside and then Priest and Fatu squared off.
Priest put Fatu down with a back elbow. Priest looked to the crowd for a moment. Fatu shot right up and clotheslined Priest in the corner and then knocked him down with an elbow. “Get your punk as up,” Fatu yelled. Strowman returned to the ring and ended up clearing both opponents to ringside heading into a PIP break. [C]
Fatu hit a Swanton on Priest while Strowman was down at ringside after being run into the ring steps. Fatu covered Priest, who kicked out at two. Moments later, Fatu set up for a superplex, but Strowman returned to the ring and slipped under him and executed a tower of doom spot. There were censored “holy shit” chants from the crowd.
At ringside, Priest hit Fatu with a Flatliner on the broadcast table. Strowman shoulder blocked Priest over the broadcast table. Strowman chokeslammed Fatu on the seemingly unbreakable new broadcast table. Strowman rolled Fatu back inside the ring and followed.
Fatu superkicked Strowman a couple times and got him down in a corner of the ring. Fatu hit several hip attacks while Barrett recalled Fatu doing the same thing to Strowman on Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Fatu went to ringside and grabbed a chair while Barrett said sometimes victory is secondary for Fatu once he gets a taste of blood. Fatu wrapped the chair around Strowman’s neck and then charged slowly and ran into a big boot. Strowman worked over Fatu and then put the chair around his neck and yelled about an eye for an eye.
Solo Sikoa showed up and hit Strowman with a Samoan Spike. Fatu hit a top rope moonsault.
Cody Rhodes ran out and ran Solo into the ring post. Tama Tonga ran out and went after Cody. Tama held Cody, who escaped just in time for Solo to accidentally hit Tama with a Samoan Spike.
Fatu went to ringside and spun Solo around. Fatu removed his short and looked like he was going to fight Solo, but Priest shoved Fatu into Solo and then sent Fatu into the timekeepers area. Cody took out Solo with CrossRhodes.
In the ring, Priest escaped Strowman’s powerslam attempt and ran him through the ropes and into the ring post casing. Priest hit South of Heaven and then pinned Strowman.
Damian Priest defeated Braun Strowman and Jacob Fatu in a Triple Threat in 16:20 to qualify for the men’s Elimination Chamber match.
After the match, Cody entered the ring with Priest and they both looked at the WrestleMania sign. Cody and Priest shook hands and looked back at the sign. The producer credits appeared on the screen. Priest raised his fist to the crowd to end the show…
Powell’s POV: A fun main event. Priest going over was the expected outcome, but I was second guessing that at one point when Fatu was dominating Strowman. Having Fatu in the match seemed to put a bit of a damper on the live crowd’s enthusiasm for Priest winning. Some fans counted along with the three count, but the reaction to Priest’s win felt a little subdued compared to what it normally is when he beats a heel.
Overall, this was a quality episode with a good WWE Women’s Championship match and the newsworthy developments of Charlotte Flair’s announcement and the Elimination Chamber qualifier results. I will have more to say about Smackdown during my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Smackdown by grading it below.
Join us for live coverage of NXT Vengeance Day and AEW Grand Slam Australia on Saturday night.
I wish Charlotte wasn’t so boring as a character. I think TIffy will come into her own. Will Trishy turn on Tiffy? Also, the “toodles” on the panties made me LOL but maybe it was the gingham just touching my Midwestern roots 🙂
All that said, I’m curious why Jax wasn’t upset about the DQ finish and not regaining the belt…