WWE Smackdown 2/28/2025

WWE Smackdown 2/28/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/wwe-smackdown-2212025.html

We are in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are on commentary.

Cody is walking in the back. He is told his locker room is this way, courtesy of The Rock.

Trish Stratus comes out to talk. She says wrestling has a generational impact and says the father of a girl in the front row maybe had a poster of her at a young age. She says this will be the first time her kids see her wrestle live. She says it feels great to be with the next generation of talent. She brings out Tiffany Stratton.

Tiff and Trish are wearing Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys. They say it's Trishy Time and Tiffy Time. They then show their names on the jerseys. They then throw the jerseys out in the crowd.

Chelsea Green comes out with Piper Niven, dressed as a mountie. Green calls them dumb and dumber. She says like Austin Matthews she's the best thing to step foot in this arena tonight, but she actually wins. Green says the people are better in America. Tiff says Green doesn't represent her. Green says she doesn't represent losers. Tiff ends up challenging her to a match tonight. Green says she has plans and can't make it. Trish says her and the crowd thinks it's a good idea and says Nick Aldis should bring out a ref. A ref then comes out.

Chelsea Green vs Tiffany Stratton

We join this in progress. Tiff cradles her for 2. Green step up enzugiri's her and hits a bad low flatliner for 2. Green chinlocks her. Tiff backdrops her. Tiff hits forearms and lariats. Tiff handspring backflip back elbows her. Tiff spinebusters her for 2.

Green hits a bad leg lariat on Tiff for 2. Tiff finlay rolls her then double stomps her. Piper pulls Green out to save her. Trish bangs Piper's head off the apron. Tiff hits a top rope swanton on Green and Piper.

Candice LeRae and Nia Jax come out. They beat up on Trish then pulls out Tiff for the DQ. Tiff is thrown onto a table.

Thoughts: This was joined in progress. We saw little of it and it ended on a DQ. This wasn't much.

Trish gets her head banged off the mat. Nia headbutts Tiff over. Trish hits shots on Nia. Tiff lifts Trish for a double boot on Nia. 

We see a video from Nick Aldis earlier in the day. He says there's a dispute over who is the #1 contender to the US Title. He says he will give 6 men a chance tonight. We will have Escobar vs Knight, Melo vs Braun and Andrade vs Solo Sikoa. Nick says the winners face each other in a triple threat and will be the #1 contender to the Us Title. He says this goes down tonight.

The Bloodline talk in the back. Fatu tells Solo what happened last night was an accident. Solo says he's sure it was an accident. Fatu asks what's up with him and says he heard he had a shot at the US Title. Solo says the family needs to make a mistake and the statement starts with taking the US Title. He says he wants Fatu to run the play tonight and bring home the US Title. Solo says everything he's doing is to show him how much he loves him.

Thoughts: They teased more tension here with Solo and Fatu.

We see clips of WWE LFG.

Cody Rhodes is given a bunch of food and champagne courtesy of The Rock. R-Truth is in the dressing room. Truth asks how he got this spread. Cody says you have to consider selling your soul to The Rock. Truth says Rock is the Soul Man and used to team with Tony Atlas. Cody tells Truth to help himself to the food and Truth asks him to ask Rock to get them some jellyrolls for next time.

US Title #1 Contenders Tournament 1st Round - Andrade vs Jacob Fatu

Fatu shoulders over Andrade. He misses a corner charge and Andrade chops him. Andrade top rope crossbodies him. Fatu is pulled over the top and Andrade hits a diving headscissors on him outside. Andrade then top rope moonsaults over the post on Fatu.

We go to PiP break and return. Andrade double boots him out of the corner. Fatu puts him on his shoulders and Andrade poisonrana's him. Andrade hits lariats then flying forearms Fatu. Fatu flying back elbows him.

Fatu misses a corner hip attack then Andrade does a corner meteora on him. Andrade does a top rope moonsault into a standing moonsault for 2. Fatu butt drops him then hits 2 corner hip attacks. Fatu impaler ddt's him. Fatu then double springboard moonsaults him and wins.

Thoughts: It was an athletic match as expected. The crowd got into Fatu as a face here and even cheered Andrade on some. This worked out well and helped out both guys. I liked this.

We see The Street Profits and Nick Aldis talk earlier in the day. Ford says they were on the shelf for 3 months and still didn't get the title shot they wanted. Legado del Fantasma walks in. Escobar says they are finally ready to apologize to his family for falsely accusing them of taking them out. Dawkins says they won't apologize and Santos says he will beat it out of them. Aldis says it's The Street Profits vs Los Garza tonight with tag title implications.

Los Garza (Berto and Angel) vs The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins)

The Profits get nailed by DIY before they get in the ring. Ciampa stomps on Dawkins and JG pounds on Ford. Los Garza then stupidly go after DIY. Angel superkicks CIampa. The Profits end up stomping on DIY. Pretty Deadly then come out and attack The Profits. Kit is thrown into a codebreaker then DIY fight Pretty Deadly. The Motor City Machine Guns then come down and join the fight. They beat up DIY and JG takes a double kick. Everyone except DIY fights in the ring. Berto tope con hilos outside while Angel top rope moonsaults outside.

The Guns beat up The Profits then get hit by DIY from behind. Security and the refs just watch the fight then try to separate it.

We then cut away to Drew McIntyre in the back. He goes up to Cody Rhodes. He says Cody has a lot of decisions to make and he won't get involved. Drew says he wouldn't know what to do in his position. He said they were both low on the card a decade ago and would have done anything. Drew says he doesn't know what The Rock will do when Cody says yes and Rock finds out he sold his soul a long time ago.

They show a John Cena video. Drew McIntyre comes out and says to shut it off. Drew tells John you either die a hero or see yourself become the hypocrite. Drew gets on the commentary table. He says he's gonna say stuff about John Cena. He says he can't help but wonder why old John Cena would say about present day Cena. He said he tear himself apart for leaving for Hollywood and only coming back for ego trips. He says he'd also rip apart the bald spot that has its own area code. Drew says he was scared of him politically when he was a kid. Drew says he's not a scared kid, he's a monster. He says he will bury John. 

Damian Priest comes out. DP says all Drew does is complain and cry every week. DP says the fans see through Drew's delusional thoughts. Drew says he's not delusional and says he tells the truth. DP says R-Truth makes more sense than him.

Drew says he got screwed over the last year and DP talks about the year he had. DP says he cashed in on Drew due to Drew's obsession with Punk. He says he then pinned him with the obsession over Punk. Drew says he's not obsessed with Punk. DP says he will take pride in pinning him tomorrow. DP says he dropped Drew due to his obsession with Punk. He says if he needs a reminder, step through the ropes and he will do it again.

Seth Rollins comes out. Seth says it's the three amigos here at the scene of the crime. Seth says Drew had the worst MITB cash-in of all time and said he would have beaten him for the title if it wasn't for DP.

Seth says he's here to talk about the future though. Seth says it's not the same Seth who hobbled into Mania last year. He says they don't stand a chance against him. CM Punk comes out.

Punk says he sees a couple of people he has personal issues with. Punk says Seth says he feels like how he looks. Punk says he looks like an oven mitt and he will cook him in The Chamber. He says he has no issues with DP but he will be collateral damage if they meet in the cage.

Punk says he's obsessed with his Mania moment and will beat all of them in the chamber to do it if he has to. He says we have people buying souls. He says Drew doesn't have one to sell as he snatched his at HIAC in October. He says they are dealing with HIAC Punk tomorrow. He says if they don't feel like not showing up, he understands. 

Seth says Punk won't main event Mania over his dead body. Drew says it's been 6 months and Punk is due to an injury. He says he will give him one tomorrow. DP says Drew will just complain on the internet when The Chamber is over. Seth says Punk's chants die tomorrow with his Mania dreams.

John Cena's music hits and Logan Paul comes out. Logan says Cena doesn't care about the fans. He says you can't see him, but you can see Logan. Logan says us full-timers are putting in the work while Cena can't even show up.

Logan says Seth wear curtains to work and dresses like he lost a bet. He says he looks like if Lady Gaga threw up on a coat hander. He says Drew is right at home - he can't win a championship these days and neither can the Toronto Maple Leafs. He says he barely knows anything about DP but says he heard he used to be a champ. He says it shows you can have a priest standing in the ring and Logan remains the answer to WWE's prayers.

He says he wants to smack the stupid expression off of Punk's face and says he wants to see it. Punk says he will show him and Logan runs.

Thoughts: This was a fun segment to get some hype going for The Chamber.

We see clips from The Elimination Chamber Kick Off earlier in the day. Liv gets nailed from behind by Bianca and Naomi then a big fight broke out. 

US Title #1 Contenders Tournament 1st Round - LA Knight vs Santos Escobar

This one feels like a neverending series at this point. LA backs him up in the corner and Santos shoves him. Santos side headlock takeovers him. Santos flips out of a headscissors. They each hit punches in the corner.

Santos shoulders him over then LA knees him in the gut. Santos corner dropkicks him. LA stun guns him and hits a swinging side slam. LA takes a jumping kick off a missed dive. LA's throat is pulled down over the top.

Santos is thrown out. LA is whipped into the steps. We go to break and return. They trade chops. LA hits punches and is kicked in the leg. Santos is thrown chest first into the buckles then takes a neckbreaker. Santos armlocks him. LA lariats Santos then pop-up slams him. LA elbow drops him.

Santos misses a corner splash and LA corner stomps on him. LA is tripped into the corner. They fight on the buckles and Santos top rope hurricanrana's him for 2. Santos hits a corner spear. Santos slingshot swantons him. Santos jumps off the top and is caught with a cutter on his way down. LA pins him and wins.

Thoughts: It was the usual so-so match with these two. It just wasn't that great and had a hard time keeping momentum throughout. LA won as expected here though I'm not complaining.

Sami Zayn comes out to talk. He says him and KO have been through a lot together. He says KO has been doing a lot of running and hiding. He says he knows KO is here. He invites him to come out here and to say his final peace. He says there will be nothing left to say after tomorrow.

KO appears at the empty Rogers Center. KO Says they have had a lot of fights but tomorrow is as big as it gets. He says Sami is trying to convince people KO is the bad guy. KO says everything that happens, Sami fully deserves. He says he won't do anything for Sami's family when he puts in Sami in a wheelchair because this is all Sami's fault.

Sami says he's nervous...about what he will do to KO. He says he's worried about his family not being able to forgive him. Sami says he's prepared to end KO. KO says he will see him tomorrow night.

The Miz talks to Carmelo Hayes in the back. He says they are 1-0 and it's better than awesome, it's awes-him. Melo says he will do it on his own tonight and tells Miz not to come out with him.

Cody Rhodes comes in. Miz asks what will Cody will do. Miz says there's more than being the 4th judge at a show. He says if Cody doesn't take Rock's offer, maybe someone else will.

US Title #1 Contenders Tournament 1st Round - Braun Strowman vs Carmelo Hayes

BS forearms him in the corner then hits a hard corner lariat. BS throws him then shoulders him over outside. Tama Tonga runs down. Solo Sikoa then chairs BS from behind. BS chairs Solo. Tama jumps off the apron on BS then BS throws him over the commentary table. Melo hands BS the chair while the ref isn't looking and makes it look like BS chaired him. Melo then wins by DQ.

Thoughts: This wasn't much prior to the finish with Melo getting a cheap one over Braun.

Braun throws Tama into the post after. BS then powerbombs him.

Naomi, Bayley and Bianca Belair talk in the back. Bayley says she doesn't have to wait until tomorrow to get her hands on Roxanne. Bayley says they all know Liv and Raquel attacked Jade. Bianca says may the best woman win if it comes down to the 3 of them tomorrow.

Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodiguez and Roxanne Perez vs Bayley, Naomi and Bianca Belair

RR = Raquel Rodriguez, RP = Roxanne Perez, BB = Bianca Belair

Naomi and Liv pound on each other and Naomi dropkicks her. Naomi corner dropkicks her. The 6 girls get in the ring and fight. Liv kicks Naomi then Naomi high kicks her. Bay topes Liv outside then topes RP outside. Bay then topes RR.

We go to PiP break and return. Bay uses the buckles to bulldog RR. BB top rope crossbodies RR then dropkicks her. BB hits corner spears. BB flips over her then suplexes him. BB handspring moonaults her for 2. BB hits corner punches on RR.

BB tilt-a-whirl gutbusters Liv. Naomi piledrivers RR over the middle rope onto the apron. Naomi is dropped throat first on the top rope. Naomi kicks RP off the buckles.  then does a bulldog on her. Bay top rope elbow drops RP for 2.

RR is hurricanrana'd over the top by Naomi. RP spin kicks Bay in the gut. Bay jumping knees her. RP clips her then hits a code red for the win.

Thoughts: It needed more time and did end kind of early but it was an okay and brief match. They pushed the feuds well here to hype up Elimination Chamber.

Alexa Bliss shows up behind RP and then hits a sister abigail on her.

Byron Saxton interviews Charlotte Flair. She says Tiffy and Trish are a cute team. She says once that is settled, Tiff has a bigger problem in Flair. She says she will remind Tiffy that time is rapidly slipping away. She says she will see her at Mania.

Triple H does a video tweet saying he will see Travis Scott at Elimination Chamber.

We get a Shinsuke Nakamura video. He says a dog is sataisfied with the scrapsfrom the table. He says he will allow the fools a chance to fight for a shot at his title. He says whoever comes out of this will be an example of. He says to pray that you lose otherwise nothing but hell awaits.

The Bloodline talk in the back. Solo says he took care of Braun and Fatu needs to finish the job. Fatu tells LA and Melo to come with it. He says he's America's Most Wanted and a menace to society. He says he will dog walk whoever gets in his way. 

US Title #1 Contenders Tournament Finals - Jacob Fatu vs Carmelo Hayes vs LA Knight

LA hits shots on fatu then Melo hits shots on LA. Fatu stomps on LA in the corner. LA knocks Fatu into Melo. Fatu headbutts LA. LA boots him out of the corner and 2nd rope diving headbutts him. Fatu is pulled over the top by LA. Melo backrolls LA.

LA pop-up slams Melo then double jump elbow drops him off the buckles. Fatu headbutts him. LA hits shots on Fatu outside. Fatu headbutts him. Melo pounds on Fatu and tries to headbutt him but hurts himself. Fatu uppercuts Melo.

LA hits knees to the gut of Fatu and sends him into the rails. LA is sent into the rails then Melo is sent into LA. Fatu tries to crossbody both but goes over the rail. 

We go to PiP break and return. Fatu chokes LA in the corner. Fatu throws Melo then corner hip attacks him. Fatu headbutts LA then throws Melo. LA is dropped gut first on the top rope. Fatu flying back elbows LA. Melo blind springboard ddt's Fatu. Fatu pop-up samoan drops Melo.

LA neckbreakers Fatu for 2. Melo hits a double jumping codebreaker for 2. Melo goes up top and is thrown onto Fatu outside. LA 2nd rope springboard twisting crossbodies Fatu. Melo hits a top rope nothing but net on LA. Fatu then top rope swantons the two when Melo goes for the pin. Fatu corner hip attacks Melo then hits a high angle impaler ddt. Fatu double jump moonsauls Melo.

LA pulls Fatu out on the pin attempt and pins Melo.

Thoughts: It was a solid three way here with some nice spots and a decent pace. They were able to work well together and to make this flow.

Cody Rhodes and CM Punk talk in the back. Punk asks what Rock is about. Punk says what could Rock offer Cody? Punk asks what young Cody would have done? Punk says young Punk would have taken it. He says he's happy that offer never came to him. Punk says he has no love for Dwayne but wants to see him take the offer, shine it up real good, turn it side and shove it up his part-time Hollywood candy @ss. Punk says he will see Cody in the main event of Mania.

Michael Cole interviews Cody Rhodes in the ring and asks him about The Rock's offer. Cole talks about the good things about Rock's offer and tries to sell him on it. He then tells Cody there's a special gift for Cody. A pick-up truck with Cody's logo on it then rolls in.

We then see a pick-up truck on an airplane tarmac on the tron. The Rock appears in that video. He says he's coming to Elimination Chamber and says it will be a big night. He says Cody will make the decision of a lifetime. Rock says they have been talking all week and he knows Cody has been doing the right hing. Rock says to enjoy the truck as he knows Cody loves driving like he does. He says Cody loves driving on the dangerous, the beautiful and the dusty roads.

Rock says he's been talking to Dusty all week and says he was told Cody has been talking to Dusty too. Rock says he's got everything to make Cody's dreams come true and says everyone will be waiting all night to see Rock. Rock says Cody will embrace him as his brother and Rock will embrace him as champ. He says Cody will give him his soul. Rock says all the dreams Cody doesn't even know he has will come true with one decision.

Rock says he has a gift for Cody and it's a belt with "Cody's Soul June 11th, 2015" written on it. He says the date is the day Dusty died. He said it broke his heart as Dusty was his hero. Rock says he loves Cody and calls him brother. Rock then goes in a jet as Cody looks shocked.

Thoughts: They tried here. The angle is coming together better but it needs more time than it got and it needed more explanation which will we will not get. We don't know why Rock wants this or what he gets out of it, just what Cody would get out of it.

Overall thoughts: It was an okay show. We got some decent in-ring action. We didn't get too many new storyline developments though due to the PLE being tomorrow, which they tried to hype up here. There was nothing that great or must see here though. I'd say the segment with the men's Elimination Chamber competitors was my favorite part of the night. I'd give it a 6 out of 10 but wouldn't recommend it.