Smackdown Review – 02.27.26

Before Elimination Chamber, let’s catch up with everything: AAA | Raw | NXT | Evolve | Impact

Tonight’s Smackdown is the go-home show for Elimination Chamber and comes to the airwaves from the KFC Yum! Arena in Louisville, KY. The announcing team for the show consists of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett on match calls and analysis, Mark Nash on ring introductions, and Cathy Kelley on backstage interviews and breaking news segments. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Then, Now, Forever….TOGETHER

There’s a huge gathering backstage and it appears Jey Uso is being loaded into an ambulance. Jacob Fatu screams from the ambulance doorway at Smackdown GM Nick Aldis that he better find out who did this. Cody Rhodes asks Aldis what is happening and Aldis apparently has no idea. Trick Williams slides into scene and says “Better him than me, one man down, four to go.” Je’von Evans enters with some words for Trick, who tells him immediately to mind his business while grown folks are talking. Everyone stops for a second as the dulcet tones of WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Drew McIntyre come over the PA as he enters the arena saying “Four letters, one word, ah-ha, Drew!”. McIntyre assures the crowd he had nothing to do with the attack on Uso and says he’s always “guilty til proven innocent”. McIntyre says he’s an outlaw champion and just wants to enjoy Elimination Chamber. Aldis comes down the aisle with a bunch of Security goofs and tells McIntyre to go to his office because there’s 20 guys in the back who want to rip him apart. Here’s Cody Rhodes out to order McIntyre to fight right here, right now. McIntyre jumps the barrier and says no because how would that benefit him right now? Rhodes says that McIntyre’s entire reign has seen him running like a little bitch. “Voices” hits and here’s Randall Keith Orton out to a huge pop. Orton says that what happened to Jey Uso was bad, but his only concern is going to the Chamber and winning so he can become the 15 time world champ. Here’s Trick Williams out next as the crowd does the sing-along to his excellent entrance music. Trick says he’s the hottest thing in the business and mentions that Bruno Mars shouted him out on his latest record. Trick says since they’re in KFC Center…and here’s Je’von Evans out to say that he’s out to win at the Chamber and start on his way to beating Randy Orton’s record. Here’s Los Angeles Knight out to a big pop. Knight asks if they’re done talking yet and says that everyone in the ring belongs to the Megastar. Trick steals the spotlight from Knight’s “With everybody sayin….” catchphrase and Knight seems miffed. Knight belts Trick and they start battling on the floor. They fight up the aisleway and then backstage. Orton sneaks in an RKO on Evans and then stares down Cody. Orton slowly takes his leave as “Voices” hits again. Orton looks back at Cody as Barrett throws it to Cathy Kelley.

Kelley mentions that she doesn’t have any further information on Uso, but here’s Tiffany Stratton for a few words. Stratton says she’s ready to go into the Chamber…and here’s Asuka and Kairi Sane to interrupt. Asuka says Tiffy Time is over and no one is ready for Asuka. Stratton challenges Asuka for tonight, and she grins and leaves. Asuka bellows for Sane and she leaves as well.

Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky are taking some selfies, and Nia Jax and Lash Legend are walking a hallway ahead of their women’s tag title match. Oba Femi is headed into the arena looking grim, and here’s The Miz walking in as well.

Solo Sikoa is holding THE LANTERN as he makes his entrance. We go to commercials.

(If the sheets were to be believed, Jey Uso was not going to be in the Chamber anyway as that spot was going to go to Bronson Reed. If this is writing him out of the match, it’s a shame for him and I’m sure Rikishi will have some words, but I guess another “who attacked X” angle is never too far from Hunter’s reach. We still don’t officially know who attacked Jacob Fatu, for example. Anyway, the opening segment was hot, didn’t drag too much, and gave a good preview of the heat for the men’s Chamber match.)

Solo Sikoa vs Uncle Howdy

I maintain that “Shatter” is the best current entrance theme in the WWE. Both guys are out alone, so we’ll see if it ends up that way. Howdy ducks a clothesline and hits the Bray Wyatt upside-down pose in a corner. Sikoa grabs a side headlock but Howdy breaks out of it and they crash together. They start slugging it out and Sikoa hits a kick and a headbutt to break up the flurry. Howdy responds with a running back elbow and wants Sister Abigail, but Sikoa bails to the floor. Sikoa pops Howdy with an uppercut but then misses a Spike attempt while smashing his arm into the post. Howdy crushes Sikoa’s arm into the post a few times and then runs him into the barrier. Howdy clotheslines Sikoa into the timekeeper’s area and then stares down at THE LANTERN. Howdy smashes Sikoa’s hand into the announce table and then runs him into the ring. Howdy rams Sikoa into a corner turnbuckle but Sikoa fires up and rams Howdy into a turnbuckle in the opposite corner as we go to commercials.

Howdy breaks out of a hold with some rights but runs right into a Samoan Drop as Sikoa covers and gets two. Sikoa works a shoulder nerve hold and Howdy breaks out of it by twisting Sikoa’s thumb. Sikoa responds with a headbutt and they start slugging it out again. Howdy smashes Sikoa in a corner with lariats but then runs into a spinning uranage from Sikoa. Sikoa ascends and hits a splash that gets two. Sikoa yanks Howdy up and pulls him into the Sister Abigail pose but Howdy goes into the Mandible Claw. Sikoa uses the Spike and then hits a couple of Hip Attacks. Howdy catches the third attempt and hits Sister Abigail. Howdy covers and gets three.

Huh. I wouldn’t have guessed a clean win for Howdy here but there you go. The story of the match was Sikoa’s damaged thumb, but he used it anyway when the match called for it. Sikoa just got caught at the wrong time wanting to put some stink on his third Hip Attack and lost clean as a sheet. I don’t think this result will really move the needle that much for either guy but I guess we’ll see how the MFT crew reacts to this. An okay opener. 2.5*

Winner – Uncle Howdy (Sister Abigail DDT)

Post-match sees Howdy crawl over and grab THE LANTERN but he’s immediately hit by a big boot from Talla Tonga. Tonga steals THE LANTERN back as the Wyatt Sicks fly out to tend to Howdy. Tonga and Sikoa leave with THE LANTERN once again secured which clearly means this feud must continue.

Nick Aldis is chatting with Drew McIntyre backstage. Aldis tells McIntyre to just stay home tomorrow as McIntyre walks past Paul Heyman, Logan Paul and Austin Theory. Heyman says the Uso injury is on Aldis’s watch and he offers that someone must be a replacement for Uso. Heyman offers up Logan Paul as Uso’s replacement and Paul promises he will win as he shows Aldis his bicep. Aldis says it’s very convenient that Uso was attacked and then moments later The Vision shows up. Theory and Paul take exception to this and Heyman says they’re just trying to help. Aldis says it’s an interesting proposition and he’ll make some calls. Heyman asks Paul if he’s sure he can win the Chamber and Paul assures him he can and will. Heyman tells Theory to watch his temper and we go to commercials.

THE PROGRESSIVE SPOTLIGHT is on the rivalry between The Irresistible Forces and RHIYO. Cathy Kelley is with RHIYO and Kelley mentions the match tonight and Ripley’s place in the women’s Chamber match tomorrow. Ripley says her full focus is on the defense tonight and Sky says Ripley will win the Chamber and then win the title at WM. A newly shorn WWE Women’s Undisputed Champion Jade Cargill slides into scene and tells Ripley she should only be focusing on the Chamber. Cargill says hopefully Ripley doesn’t hurt herself tonight.

Jacob Fatu doesn’t have an update on Jey Uso but he’s very angry about Drew McIntyre as all signs are pointing at McIntyre being the perpetrator. Fatu wants in the Chamber and says if Aldis puts him in the match he’ll win it and then deal with the McIntyre problem.

Tiffany Stratton makes her entrance as we go to commercials.

NXT Origins is the same segment they showed on Tuesday night and it covers Damian Priest and his time there. Stand & Deliver will be in St. Louis this year.

A wheelchair-bound Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre head down to the announce table to join that group, and here’s Jelly Roll in the crowd just behind Tessitore.

Asuka says she’s going to rest before the Chamber, so Stratton will be facing Kairi Sane instead.

Tiffany Stratton vs Kairi Sane

Sane jumps Stratton at the bell and goes to ground and pound. Stratton bails to the floor and ducks a baseball slide. Stratton hits a springboard double knee and covers Sane for two. Stratton slips a couple of charges and hits some acrobatics. Sane tries a rana but Stratton lands on her feet. A frustrated Sane gets tripped onto the ropes and Stratton hits a Hip Attack that sends Sane to the floor. Stratton botches an over the top rope dive but Sane sells it anyway. Stratton runs Sane back in but Asuka distracts Stratton so Sane can wallop her with a backfist. Sane runs Stratton into a ring post and her and Asuka celebrate together as we go to commercials.

Stratton and Sane are slugging it out and Stratton hits a back handspring elbow and an Alabama Slam when the show returns. Stratton’s cover gets two. Stratton hoists Sane up for a rolling senton and ascends but Sane meets her there and stops it with a right. Sane pounds on Stratton and drops her into position for Sane’s double stomp from the top rope. Sane covers and gets two. Sane hits a running elbow and then ascends again. Sane misses her dive from the top rope and Stratton smashes Sane with a pop-up shotgun dropkick. Stratton covers and gets two. Stratton and Sane end up on the apron and Stratton ends up getting smashed face-first into the apron by a Sane DDT. Sane runs Stratton back in and ascends. Sane hits a big right from the top rope and covers for two. Sane pounds on Stratton in frustration and then sets her up again while ascending. Stratton pushes Sane off the top turnbuckle into Alba Fyre before starting to bark at Chelsea Green. Green rises and Stratton ducks out of the way as Sane hits a giant knee on Green. Stratton runs Sane back in and hits her rolling senton before walloping Sane with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Stratton covers and gets three.

This was kind of a mess from the get-go but the outcome was never really in doubt. Stratton, who many expect to win the women’s Chamber tomorrow, was never jobbing the night before. It’s kind of wild to think that Kairi Sane and the former Kay Lee Ray are sidekick goobers at this point but here we are. Stratton looked clunky as always and I think she’s still working off some ring rust from her long absence. That’s a nice way of saying she might end up on Maffew’s compilations at some point. This was fine, I guess, but fairly overbooked and clunky at times. 2.5*

Winner – Tiffany Stratton (Prettiest Moonsault Ever)

The Vision are in Nick Aldis’s office and Aldis says he’s appreciative of them being there. Aldis says he’s had a conversation with Adam Pearce about Logan Paul and Paul will get his shot in the Chamber if he beats Jacob Fatu tonight. Heyman starts to object but Paul calmly says he’s Logan Paul and the winner of this year’s Chamber. Aldis wishes him good luck and that match appears to be on.

The Miz makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

The Miz vs Oba Femi

Miz bails immediately and wants a microphone. Femi steps on Miz’s hand and takes the microphone. Miz grabs another mic and says no one wants to see this match because it’s just a misunderstanding. Miz wants to use this as a teaching moment and mentions that he was in OVW 20 years ago just down the road from this arena. Miz says he didn’t make the mistake of going after the locker room leaders at that point in his career. Miz says he wants to be the type of locker room leader who’s a mentor to young guys like Femi like the Undertaker was. Femi says that Miz bears no resemblance to Undertaker but he definitely looks like a dead man walking. Miz says he’s got connections and he can have fans around the world chanting Femi’s name. Femi says he doesn’t need Miz to get the crowd chanting and then asks Louisville if he should join forces with the Miz – the crowd seems down on this. Femi then says “Mike” is dying tonight. Miz says he’s going to teach the lesson about being the bigger man and walking away, but Femi yanks him back and shakes off Miz’s right hand. Femi wallops Miz with a lariat. Miz yanks Femi’s neck down over the top rope but then eats a big slap when he comes off the top rope. Femi trucks Miz with uppercuts and Miz sneaks out to try a Skull Crushing Finale. Femi has none of that and smashes Miz down with a toss. Femi hits Fall From Grace and covers Miz for three.

The question at this point is will Miz ever win another televised singles match in his career. Femi is going to win a LOT of them, I can guarantee you that. There was more yap than match here, but Miz always does the yap part well and came off like the weaselly veteran he’s been for the last few years. Femi has a huge future ahead of him and hopefully things will start moving for him above and beyond guys like Kit Wilson and Miz soon. They’re taking their time with him and that’s fine, give him some easy television wins and then we’ll get to a feud with an actual player on the roster. I’m fine with it so far. 1.75*

Winner – Oba Femi (Fall From Grace)

Here’s WWE Men’s US Champion Carmelo Hayes running into (OF COURSE) Ilja Dragunov backstage. Dragunov is not in his gear and says he can’t fight tonight because he hasn’t been too successful lately and doesn’t feel it’s the right time. Dragunov says Hayes needs to go win tonight, and Hayes says Dragunov needs to give himself the pep talk and not him. Dragunov considers this as Hayes leaves to make his entrance. We go to commercials.

WWE Men’s US Championship Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes (C) vs Matt Cardona

The crowd seems less than enthused to see Cardona. There’s a handshake to start and Cardona grabs a quick roll up for one. Hayes grabs a crucifix for one. Cardona trucks Hayes down and then eats a Hayes kick. Cardona fires up with a dropkick and covers Hayes for two. Cardona works a side headlock and Hayes slips it to hit a dropkick. Cardona shakes it off and kicks Hayes down before yanking Hayes up for a neckbreaker that gets two. Cardona gets dumped to the apron but fires off a right and drags Hayes out with him. Hayes eats a big boot but then elbows Cardona off the apron. Hayes misses a dive and ends up on the announce table as we go to commercials.

Cardona is working Hayes over in a corner when the show returns. Cardona hits a big boot and then yanks Hayes throat-first over the second rope. Cardona’s cover and gets two. Cardona drapes Hayes over the top rope and knees him in the face as Hayes goes to the floor. Cardona hits a baseball slide dropkick and goes to the floor as well. Cardona runs Hayes back in and Hayes fires up with a kick and a springboard legdrop as Cardona was coming through the ropes. Hayes nips up and they slug it out a bit before Hayes catches Cardona with a springboard lariat. Cardona boots Hayes in the face and then runs into La Mistica from Hayes. Hayes covers and gets two. Cardona grabs a double underhook powerbomb and covers Hayes for two. Cardona misses a charge and eats a backdrop from Hayes. Hayes ascends and Cardona fires up with some slaps. Cardona hits a top rope rana but misses a Ruff Ryder as Hayes grabs a quick roll up for two. Hayes hits a superkick and gets two. Hayes ascends slowly and misses from the top before running into a right and the Ruff Ryder. Cardona covers and gets two. Hayes and Cardona exchange roll ups and suddenly Hayes hits a First 48. Hayes covers and gets three.

What an abrupt finish that was. The match itself was technically fine if a bit boring, but the finish came right OUTTA NOWHERE. Hayes retains in another content match, Cardona gets another loss that no one will care about in the morning, and this sad slog of US Title Open Challenges will more than likely continue unabated. I’m not a fan, quite frankly. Heatless BANGERS are not my thing, and this one never approached banger status. 2*

Winner AND STILL WWE Men’s US Champion – Carmelo Hayes (First 48)

Hayes and Cardona shake on it after the match and Hayes holds his title aloft.

THE CRATE is backstage and there’s a bunch of folks including R-Truth to remind everyone if they want to find out who’s in it they need to watch ESPN UNLIMITED tomorrow. Truth tells Dragon Lee that he seems like a guy who’s already got the plan and gives instructions on how to activate it. Here’s a sad John Wrestling laying on top of a crate to everyone’s general amusement as Candice LeRae screams she doesn’t have time for this as she’s got a match. Kit Wilson slides in to yell about everyone being TOXIC as we just got a bunch of people on the show for no apparent reason other than to pump up ESPN. Candice LeRae and Sad John Wrestling make their entrance as we go to commercials. (Barrett calls him “Johnny Depresso” here and I die a little.)

Candice LeRae vs Jordynne Grace

Gargano is laying on the front of the announce table as LeRae tries to attend to him. LeRae runs into a spinebuster just after the bell, and Grace smashes her with short-arm lariats before covering and getting two. Grace runs into an elbow and a short roundhouse kick. LeRae hits a short splash and covers Grace for two. LeRae slaps on a sleeper but Grace fires up. They exchange roll ups and then Grace gets hit with a one-legged Codebreaker. LeRae hits a shoulder and then Grace smashes her with a backfist when LeRae ascends. Grace hits a superplex and then yanks LeRae up for a bodyslam. Grace covers and gets two. LeRae hits some elbows and then smashes Grace with a high boot. Gargano sits up and LeRae takes notice, but he’s actually just leaving and LeRae eats a back elbow and a pumphandle German suplex when she turns. Grace covers and gets three.

The crowd was pretty quiet for most of this as they were throughout the Hayes-Cardona match, and I wonder if the lack of major star power in the middle of this show was the best plan. It’s just…quiet. This was a short sprint and I have very little clue where any of this is going in terms of Sad Johnny, and honestly I don’t give a shit. Get to the fireworks factory already. The poor tag geeks having to be in an extended ESPN commercial backstage is kind of sad, too. Regardless, this was kind of a huge waste of time and I actually really like Jordynne Grace. 1.5*

Winner – Jordynne Grace (Pumphandle German suplex)

Cathy Kelley is backstage with Raquel Rodriguez and Rodriguez mentions that if she can win the title Judgement Day will run WWE. Jade Cargill comes into frame to mention that she’ll embarrass Rodriguez if she wins the Chamber. Here’s B-Fab and Michin to say Cargill might not even be champion come Wrestlemania, and Cargill dares Michin to actually do something. We go to commercials.

Highlights are shown of the retirement ceremony held for AJ Styles on Raw this past Monday (Go read Kat’s excellent recap for further details!). AJ hears THE GONG and the Undertaker follows to mention that Styles will be in the 2026 HOF class. Occasionally this company actually does something cool and meaningful! I’m not completely cynical, I swear.

Here’s Jacob Fatu warming up when Cody Rhodes comes into scene. Rhodes tells Fatu he hope he wins tonight, and here’s Sami Zayn to slap hands with Rhodes as he leaves. Zayn wants to know how Jey’s doing and Fatu says that it’s not looking too good. Zayn says he didn’t attack Jey, but he can’t say the same about Fatu. Zayn says it looked pretty convenient that Fatu was right there when Jey was attacked and the first thing Fatu did was go right to Aldis to try to get a shot in the Chamber. Fatu tells Zayn to be careful what he says next, and Zayn says “or what, I’ll end up in the hospital like Jey?”. Fatu fires up and says that it looked like McIntyre looked like he was trying to help Zayn win the qualifier and if anyone should be watched, it should be Zayn. Zayn says his head hasn’t been right for awhile and tells Fatu to go win for Jey. Zayn dumps a table in frustration after Fatu leaves and it appears he’s really going through some stuff.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky (C) vs The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend)

Jax and Legend are in matching black and gold tonight and look swank. Sky and Legend start and Sky smashes Legend with a pump kick. Ripley tags in and she and Sky hit a double team slam on Legend before Ripley covers and gets two. Ripley gets whaled with a right and Jax tags in. Jax misses a charge and Ripley smashes her with an elbow before tagging in Sky. Sky and Ripley team up to send Jax to the floor. Legend charges in and Ripley hits her with a dropkick that sends Legend out. Ripley and Sky hit simultaneous baseball slide kicks and want ranas, but Legend and Jax catch them and smash them both into the barricade repeatedly. We go to commercials.

Sky is bashing Legend around when the show returns. Legend cuts it off with a massive high boot and covers Sky for two. Legend works Sky over along the ropes and then distracts the ref so Jax can continue the assault. Legend drags Sky in and covers again for two. Sky smashes Jax with an elbow and then wallops Legend with a roundhouse kick. Sky crawls over and tags Ripley as Jax gets the tag from Legend. Ripley gets hoisted by Jax but she slips off to start smashing Jax with chops. Ripley hits a rana on Jax and then wallops a charging Legend with a roundhouse of her own. Ripley kicks Jax away and ascends for a missile dropkick that gets two. Legend yanks Sky off the apron but Sky runs her into the steps in response. Jax uses the distraction to yank Ripley up for a Samoan Drop. Ripley springs up to prevent an Annihilator and then yanks Jax over for a powerbomb. Ripley’s cover gets two. Ripley hits a Shining Wizard that sends Jax to the floor. Ripley then wallops Jax with a rolling tackle as we go to commercials.

Ripley gets smashed by a Jax headbutt as the show returns. Jax dumps Ripley to the floor and tags in Legend. Legend runs Ripley into a ring post and then sends her into a Jax Samoan Drop on the announce desk. Jax sends Ripley back in and Legend dumps her down for a big splash that gets two. Legend hits Ripley with a chokeslam and tags in Jax. Jax ascends and hits a second rope leg drop but her cover is broken up at two by a charging Sky. Legend and Sky tumble to the floor as Jax misses a charge. Legend tags in as does Sky. Sky hits a double stomp on Legend and hits Jax with a dropkick. Legend tosses Sky into Jax and I’m not really sure what it was supposed to be but Jax bails to the floor anyway. Sky goes to the apron and hits Legend with a kaman giri before ascending. Sky hits a missile dropkick and fires up to hit Jax with a tope suicida. Sky flies into Legend with a meteora and then ascends for the Over The Moonsault. Jax breaks up Sky’s cover at two by smashing Sky in the back. Sky gets dragged to a corner and Jax ascends for the Annihilator. Legend gets dragged off of her cover at two by Ripley, and then Ripley crushes Legend with a thrust kick. Ripley sends a charging Jax to the floor and then gets a tag from Sky. Ripley hits Legend with a dropkick and waffles Jax with a headbutt. Ripley yanks Jax up for Riptide but Legend charges in to hit the Lash Extension on Ripley. Legend covers Ripley and gets three! We have new women’s tag team champions!

I wouldn’t call this epic or anything but it got darn good over the second and third acts. Legend in particular looked very good for someone so new to the main roster. I’ve watched Lash for a long time now and I’m really pleased with how she’s come along and how she’s being booked right now with Nia. They are a solid power team and they work very well together, which is not something you usually see with someone who’s new to the main and an established vet like Jax. Regardless, this is a huge win for them and I expect we’ll see a bunch of teams come for them in the run up to Vegas. Match of the night thus far. 4*

Winners AND NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions – The Irresistible Forces (Legend Lash Extension on Ripley)

Here’s Charlotte Flair looking despondent while eating ice cream as Alexa Bliss comes in to assure her that things are fine even with the tag title change and Bliss being in the Chamber. Kiana James and WWE Women’s US Champion Giulia come into the scene and James puts the badmouth on Bliss for pretending everything is fine. Flair says that James can’t have any of her ice cream, and here’s Jade Cargill coming in to wish Bliss and James good luck. Maybe Flair and Johnny Gargano should team up for therapy?

Here’s Solo Sikoa with the MFT’s to question what Nick Aldis is doing. Aldis reminds Sikoa that he lost clean, and he doesn’t think that the tag titles are being defended enough. We’ll have a number one contender’s match next week to figure out their next challengers. The main event is up next as we go to commercials.

Cathy Kelley is with Nia Jax and Lash Legend backstage and Legend says there’s going to be a celebration next week on Smackdown. Jax says Kelley is NOT invited, and they leave. Tessitore and Barrett run down the Chamber card before throwing to a highlights package of CM Punk and his history with Chicago and the Elimination Chamber.

Randy Orton wanders around backstage and runs into Aleister Black and Zelina. Orton tells Black that the voices in his head are getting louder after Black questions whether or not the Black Mass woke something up inside him. Orton promises to find Black after the Chamber and leaves, and Black mentions that that’s what he planned all along.

Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Paul Heyman make their entrance as we go to commercials.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Jacob Fatu vs Logan Paul

Paul uses Theory distraction to start smashing Fatu just after the bell. Paul lines up Fatu in a corner and smashes him with a running forearm. Paul does the same spot in a different corner and then wallops Fatu with a kick. Fatu shakes it off and lariats Paul down before womping him with a running senton. Fatu mounts Paul in a corner and drops a bunch of headbutts on him. Fatu hits a big elbow off an irish whip and then chops Paul along the ropes. Fatu hits some uppercut chops and then runs Paul head-first into a top turnbuckle. Fatu smashes Paul with a running splash and then dumps him to the floor with a clothesline. Fatu hits a tope suicida and since both guys are on the floor, it’s obviously time for commercials.

Paul hits Fatu with a side suplex when the show returns. Paul’s cover gets two. Fatu fires up with some rights but Paul cuts it off with a kick. Fatu misses a charge and goes head first into the ring post and Paul comes from behind to drop him to the mat. Paul’s cover gets two, and then he ascends. Paul misses a frog splash and wanders into a Fatu superkick. Fatu hits a rolling backsplash that gets two. Fatu ascends but Paul cuts it off with a forearm. Paul ascends and can’t muscle Fatu over. Fatu hits a headbutt that sends Paul to the mat, but Fatu meets Paul’s knees on his swanton attempt. Paul springs up and nails Fatu with a springboard moonsault that gets two. (Paul overshot this by a bunch but Fatu sold it anyway. Good man for doing so.) Paul yanks up Fatu and runs into a Fatu superkick. Fatu hits a Hip Attack and Theory jumps up on the apron to get a superkick from Fatu. Heyman jumps up on the apron to distract the ref, so Paul flies in and hits a big low-blow on Fatu. Paul ascends and hits his frog splash for two as Paul and Heyman cannot believe Fatu kicked out. The Masked Man runs in and drops Theory with s superkick, but Paul flies out and drops The Masked Man with a superkick of his own. Paul yanks the dude’s mask off and it’s….just some regular-ass guy? Sure. Security gathers this goof up and pulls him up the aisle as Paul runs into a pop-up Samoan Drop from Fatu. Fatu goes to ascend and he gets waffled by a Drew McIntyre title belt shot. McIntyre hides by the ring steps as Paul grabs a quick roll up for three.

In the world of WWE 2026, none of this surprises me, but a heel world champion choosing to go this far to keep someone out of a SIX WAY match to determine his next challenger seems kind of lame. The match itself was pretty good even with the minimal outside interference but man oh man did the finish go right into the Overbooking Hall of Fame. It’s fine, it is what it is and the video packages they’ll have for whatever this McIntyre defense turns out to be will include all of this surely. It’s content and talking points and youtube reactions and tweets at this point in terms of what they actually want from and deliver to their fanbase. Regardless, I like both of these performers for varying reasons and this was solid right up until the finish. 3.5*

Winner – Logan Paul (Roll Up after McIntyre interference)

Post match sees Drew McIntyre holding his belt aloft while Paul, Theory, and Heyman celebrate in the aisle. The credits roll as Paul flexes and promises to win the Chamber.

A mixed bag tonight. Things started out hot with the Jey Uso angle and the subsequent gathering in the ring. The second hour had the crowd in a slumber with the Cardona-Hayes and LeRae-Grace matches, but they woke up for the Women’s tag title switch and the main event that had some major star-power in them. We’re on to the Chamber tomorrow and some things happened around that, obviously, and some things happened for next week’s show as well. With three hours to fill, not everything is going to be a masterpiece but this one gets thumbs leaning up despite the dire second hour.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Enjoy the Chamber tomorrow, and have a good weekend.