Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s live coverage for “WWE SmackDown” on February 7, 2025, coming to you live from the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee!
As the fallout from WWE Royal Rumble 2025 continues, some stars are already looking toward the next event. Three Elimination Chamber qualifiers were announced ahead of showtime on Friday. First, Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore revealed that Bianca Belair and Piper Niven will battle to determine who joins Liv Morgan in the women’s Chamber, while the recently-returned Alexa Bliss takes on Candice LeRae for another spot, her first singles match in two years. Then, “SmackDown” General Manager Nick Aldis officially signed Drew McIntyre to the blue brand, proclaiming as part of the signing that McIntyre would compete in a men’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match against Jimmy Uso and LA Knight.
Additionally, both 2025 men’s Royal Rumble winner Jey Uso and 2025 women’s Royal Rumble winner Charlotte Flair are set to appear, presumably as part of the process of deciding who they will challenge at WrestleMania 41. It’s unknown if WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes will put in an appearance after his brutal ladder match with Kevin Owens, but there’s no reason not to expect WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, who is reportedly Flair’s planned opponent for WrestleMania.
We hear from Jey Usp
Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore welcome us on commentary as Jey Uso makes his way through the audience. Uso said he’s had a great week and felt a lot of love. He had to pull up on “SmackDown” and on “my dawg, ‘The American Nightmare’, Cody Rhodes.”
Right on cue, “Kingdom” blared through the speakers and the champ, clad in a suit, made his way to the ring. Rhodes said he was pretty sure he knew what Uso wanted to talk about. Uso said he could either stand across from him or next to him as “New. World. Champion.”
Rhodes said his doctor said his elbow has fluid on it, his hip is out of alignment, and some stuff “about my lower back that I wasn’t really listening to.” Rhodes said he has to go to ‘Mania in the main event. Rhodes offered Uso his hand and asked, “do you feel me, sir?”
Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga made their way to the ring. Tama made indistinguishable Tasmanian Devil noises. Fatu said if anyone is “going to bring that title back to the family, it sure as hell wouldn’t be your ass.” Uso superkicked Tama, then Fatu superkicked Uso. Rhodes and Fatu went at it. Fatu went for a spear, but Uso interrupted with a kick and Rhodes put him in the CodyCutter. Both men sent Fatu over the top rope. Fatu and Tonga scurried away.
