G. Mudalige, Jadetimes Staff
G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation
The latest episode of WWE SmackDown delivered an action-packed night filled with shocking moments, high-stakes matches, and intense confrontations as the road to Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania heats up. The most significant moment of the night came when The Rock made an appearance to entice Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes into accepting his offer at Elimination Chamber, adding further intrigue to the ongoing rivalry.
In a thrilling women's division clash, WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus, in front of her hometown crowd in Toronto, played a crucial role in instigating an impromptu match between WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green. However, chaos erupted when Nia Jax and Candice LeRae interfered, leading to a disqualification. Despite the disruption, Trish Stratus and Stratton managed to fight back, sending a strong message to their upcoming Elimination Chamber opponents.
Jacob Fatu secured a hard-fought victory over Andrade, using his devastating Double Bounce Moonsault to qualify for the No. 1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match for the United States Championship. Meanwhile, a highly anticipated tag team bout between The Street Profits and Los Garza ended in a no-contest after multiple teams, including WWE Tag Team Champions, Motor City Machine Guns, and Pretty Deadly, stormed the ring and triggered an all-out brawl.
The night also featured a heated verbal exchange between Elimination Chamber competitors Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, CM Punk, and Logan Paul, all vying for a shot at Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania. McIntyre, in particular, issued a bold statement, vowing to eliminate John Cena inside the Chamber.
LA Knight punched his ticket to the No. 1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match for the United States Championship by defeating Santos Escobar with a BFT in a high-energy encounter. Meanwhile, tensions escalated as Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens engaged in an intense war of words ahead of their highly personal Unsanctioned Match at Elimination Chamber.
In a controversial finish, Carmelo Hayes secured a victory over Braun Strowman via disqualification after Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga interfered, introducing a steel chair into the mix. Hayes cleverly capitalized on the situation by using Eddie Guerrero’s infamous "Lie, Cheat, and Steal" tactics, tricking the referee into believing Strowman used the weapon. With the win, Hayes advanced to the No. 1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match.
Later in the night, LA Knight emerged victorious in the Triple Threat Match against Jacob Fatu and Carmelo Hayes, earning the right to challenge Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship. Knight seized the opportunity after Fatu delivered a Double Bounce Moonsault to Hayes, only for Knight to pull Fatu out of the ring and steal the pinfall victory.
The women’s division delivered another high-octane battle as Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez secured a victory over Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Bayley. However, the celebration was short-lived, as Alexa Bliss struck with a surprise Sister Abigail on Roxanne Perez, making a bold statement before Elimination Chamber.
The biggest moment of the night came when The Rock confronted Cody Rhodes, attempting to entice the champion into accepting his offer at Elimination Chamber. With WrestleMania looming, the tension between The Rock and Cody Rhodes continues to build, setting the stage for an explosive showdown in the coming weeks.
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