WWE SmackDown Live Coverage 2/7 - Elimination Chamber Qualifiers, Royal Rumble Winners

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.

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.

Niven had Belair over her shoulder, but Belair got out and sent her to the corner. She drove her shoulder into Niven before raining down punches. Niven used her braid to pull her in for a lariat. Niven ran towards Beliar, but Belair pulled the ropes open. They brawled outside and Niven got in a crossbody and a senton.

After the break, Belair came off the top rope onto Niven. Niven responded with a headbutt and sidewalk slam. Niven missed with a senton and Belair speared her and rolled her up for two. Niven hit a cannonball and went up top, but Belair stopped her. Niven caught Belair and slammed her to the mat and followed with a splash.

Belair picked up Niven on her shoulders and carried her to the middle of the ring to hit the K.O.D. for the win. Green had a tantrum on the outside while Naomi got in the ring to celebrate.

Winner: Bianca Belair

Backstage, Carmelo Hayes interrupted Kayden Carter and Kaci Catanzaro talking to Nick Aldis said Adam Pearce sent a "RAW" Superstar to face him. Akira Tozawa entered the room as Aldis said Hayes cost him a spot in the Rumble match and he deserved to face Hayes one on one. Hayes thinks it'll be an easy win.

#D.I.Y. made their way to the ring. Johnny Gargano said they beat MCMG not once, but twice, thus making them the greatest tag team in the world. Tommaso Ciampa said that they'll never hold the titles again. The Guns were their favorite tag team 11 years ago. Ciampa requested the fans stand up, bow their heads, and stand in silence.

Pretty Deadly came out and said they were having fun when they heard #D.I.Y. and wanted to remind them of all the help they gave the champs. Ciampa requested one minute of silence. Aldis said that Pretty Deadly doesn't deserve a title shot, but they had to earn it. If they can beat the champs tonight, they get a title match. The match is happening now, although #D.I.Y. are in street clothes.

Following the break, the match had already started. Wilson went on the offense against Gargano before stomping Ciampa in the corner. Wilson took Ciampa down with a clothesline and tagged in Prince. They double teamed #DIY. Ciampa pulled Wilson out of the ring and exchanged blows with Prince. #DIY double team Prince and Ciampa tried to use the ropes, but Wilson broke it up. Prince rolled Ciampa up while holding the ropes. The ref missed it and Pretty Deadly earned a title shot.

Winner: Pretty Deadly

Backstage Miz is telling Andrade how great he is and he could learn a lot from him. Andrade said he learned what not to do. Rhodes walked up and said the new talent doesn't have any respect and he has Cody's back. Rhodes doesn't need his help. Miz said they know what titles do to friendships and if Uso chooses him, it's a hell of a story.

Tessitore said the transfer window was closed, but not before "SmackDown" got McIntyre as "The Scottish Warrior" made his way to the ring. McIntyre said, "screw "RAW", I'm back on Friday nights." He said "RAW" is a toxic work environment, Pearce doesn't know what he's doing, and that's why he was angry all the time. Aldis called him and said he could be unleashed. He declared that he's here for Cody. Just then, Jimmy's music hit.

Jimmy said every week, McIntyre lives in the past "and is sounding like an ex-girlfriend. No one stole anything, you lost." McIntyre said he would've been mad before and then called him Jey. He said Jimmy would be in Jey's spot "if you said 'yeet' first." Big Jim said he can say 'yeet or no yeet' and he has to get his so he can go to Vegas.

Knight said McIntyre is the reason he didn't become champion a year ago, but he wasn't going to hold it against him. He addressed the boys and men in the crowd and all around the world that if something hits them in the feels, it's okay to cry. He then called McIntyre a big baby.

The match started during the break and Knight was stomping McIntyre in the corner. McIntyre got him back before Knight stomped Jimmy. Jimmy laid in chops on Knight and got in an uppercut. McIntyre chopped Jimmy so hard he fell across the ropes. Jimmy ducked a lariat and hit a Samoan Drop.

Jimmy laid in chops on Knight before Knight slammed him down. McIntyre shoulder tackled Knight while he was pandering to the crowd. McIntyre suplexed Knight and then Jimmy. He stomped Jimmy's fingers and chopped him in the corner. He sent him across the ring before suplexing Knight. He turned his sights back to Jimmy, but Jimmy sent him outside and did a suicide dive. Knight followed and slammed McIntyre's face repeatedly into the announce desk. He did the same to Jimmy. He celebrated on top of the desk.

After the break, McIntyre laid in chops while Jimmy was on the turnbuckle. McIntyre went up top, but Jimmy put him in the Tree of Woe. Knight stomped McIntyre before jumping up top, but McIntyre pulled Jimmy to do a Superplex.

Knight and McIntyre exchange blows. Knight reversed a Future Shock and sent him crashing into the mat before doing an elbow drop, but Jimmy broke up the pin. Jimmy put Knight on his shoulder, but got out. Jimmy pushed him into McIntyre, who did a jacknife suplex. McIntyre did a cutter on Jimmy and then kipped up.

Jimmy superkicked McIntyre and sent him over the top rope. He kicked Knight, but Knight took him down. Jimmy with a Superkick and an elbow. McIntyre pulled the ref out of the ring. He punched Jimmy over the ropes and Jimmy sent into the desk. Jimmy went for a frogsplash, but Knight got his knees up and rolled up Jimmy, but Jimmy kicked out. McIntyre with a Claymore on Knight during a BFT attempt. He pinned Knight to advance to the Elimination Chamber match.

Winner: Drew McIntyre

Backstage Byron Saxton asked Damian Priest about McIntyre winning. He said he's going to the chamber. Braun Strowman interrupted and told him that he has to qualify first. Priest says he'll beat him and Fatu.

Following the main event of "RAW", Owens attacked Sami Zayn and put him in a package piledriver. Zayn had to be stretchered from the ring. From his car, Owens said he'll always have scars from his match with Rhodes. He's been in pain all week and it'll probably never completely go away. He blamed Zayn for standing there while Rhodes tried to end his career. Then during the Rumble match, Zayn helped Reigns. "But for me, you did nothing. You're a horrible friend. You're a disgusting human being." He declared that Zayn would pay. 

Tessitore said Zayn is out indefinitely with a spinal compression and extreme nerve damage.