The 02/05/19 edition of SmackDown Live, out of the Angel of the Winds Arena in
Who Will Face Ronda Rousey?
Make way for THE MAN!
— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2019
The suspended @BeckyLynchWWE has CRASHED #SDLive!!! pic.twitter.com/OCdIGAw6O7
Charlotte Flair opened the show by teasing the possibility of taking Becky Lynch’s spot at WrestleMania. A supposed-to-be-suspended Becky Lynch interrupted Flair’s self-promo, coming to the ring through the crowd. Several officials immediately surrounded the women, ensuring that no physicality
A rather angry Triple H made his way to the ring and immediately told Becky to go home. Charlotte taunted Becky from behind him, so he demanded she leave the ring as well. Flair obeyed, but Lynch refused to go, staring Triple H down as he reiterated what his wife said last night on Raw: she is more than welcome to come back – as soon as she is cleared by the medical staff.
Triple H was halfway out of the ring when Becky reminded him of her attack on his wife. This angered The Game even further, and he came back to tell Becky he thought she was full of hot air. She wasn’t the man, she wasn’t at all who she said she was, she probably wasn’t even injured, she was just using the fake injury as an excuse to avoid Ronda Rousey.
This was enough to prompt Becky Lynch to hit him in the face, and when Triple H did nothing but furiously stare at her, mere millimeters from her face, The Man turned around and left the way she came.
The Good Brothers vs. Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura
FLYING GOOD BROTHER! #SDLive @KarlAndersonWWE @LukeGallowsWWE @ShinsukeN @RusevBUL pic.twitter.com/Vnlx6sLpgY
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 6, 2019
Gallows and Anderson started off strong, but it wasn’t long before Rusev and Nakamura took the reigns, double teaming Anderson, preventing Gallows from entering the match.
When Gallows finally got the tag, he went to work on Rusev, and he and Anderson nearly snagged the victory with a Magic Killer, but Nakamura interfered. This allowed Rusev to win with a Machka Kick.
Winner: Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura
Randy Orton vs. Mustafa Ali
100% ❤️.#SDLive @MustafaAliWWE @RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/QvzpxrvlMG
— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2019
Before the match, Mustafa Ali cut a promo backstage, ensuring the audience that he stood just as much of a chance of winning the Elimination Chamber match as anyone else – the same logic applied to his match against The Viper.
Unsurprisingly, Randy Orton did his worst to Mustafa Ali (we were just relieved Ali doesn’t have gauges). Orton decimated Ali for much of the match, and though Ali got very little offense, he refused to give up, visibly astonishing The Viper.
With one of his eyes swelling shut thanks to Orton, Ali gave him much more of a fight in the second half of the match. Ali appeared to be close to victory with
The bell had just rung when Samoa Joe appeared, attacking both Orton and Ali before leaving with a smirk on his face. On his way up the ramp, he was faced with Daniel Bryan and Rowan making their entrance.
Samoa Joe seemed to momentarily consider taking them both on at once, but decided against it.
Winner: Randy Orton
Daniel Bryan is Being Abused
“The planet NEEDS The New @WWEDanielBryan as @WWE Champion!”
— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2019
The #PlanetsChampion has spoken. #SDLive @ERICKROWAN pic.twitter.com/y7yKgfQHUt
Washington’s Favorite Son, Daniel Bryan, and his new comrade, Rowan, came to the ring to talk about the sins of the majority. For the first time, Rowan added his own dialogue, comparing himself and Bryan to the persecuted philosophers of old.
Bryan then declared that it was unfair of the powers that be to place him in such a grueling match as Elimination Chamber, that they were simply trying to punish him for having a voice.
Fabulous Glow (Naomi & Carmella) vs. The IIconics vs. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville
Women’s Tag Team Championship Elimination Chamber Qualifier Match
Trying to stop @NaomiWWE? You WILL get kicked! #SDLive @SonyaDevilleWWE @WWE_MandyRose pic.twitter.com/PfE7l9Rm3W
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 6, 2019
Despite having no experience as a team, Fabulous Glow was able to control much of the match. Mandy Rose came back with a last-minute victory, however, reversing the Rear View to take the win and their place in the upcoming Elimination Chamber match for the new Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Winner: Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville
Daniel Bryan vs. Jeff Hardy
The #CharismaticEnigma is AIRBORNE! #SDLive @JEFFHARDYBRAND @WWEDanielBryan pic.twitter.com/weBpxvZdYc
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 6, 2019
Daniel Bryan tore Jeff Hardy apart in this pre-elimination chamber matchup. Bryan was determined to go into the chamber at 100%, knocking Hardy down every time he appeared to be gaining steam.
Jeff Hardy eventually caught Bryan and came close to a victory with a Swanton Bomb, but Rowan wasn’t going to allow his leader to take a fall and caused a disqualification by attacking Hardy.
No sooner was the bout over than the other 4 members of the elimination chamber match were in the ring. Samoa Joe came down first, ambushing both Bryan and Rowan. Mustafa Ali, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton joined them and the five men brawled while Bryan and Rowan made their quiet exit, avoiding confrontation.
AJ Styles stood tall at the end, locking eyes with Bryan before the Planet’s Champion disappeared into the backstage area.
Once backstage, Daniel Bryan angrily yelled about the other competitors “interfering” in his match, completely disregarding the fact that his partner, Rowan, was the one who did the actual interfering. He went on to claim that he would still be the champ after Elimination Chamber – because he would be the champ forever.
Winner: Jeff Hardy (via disqualification)
What letter grade would you give tonight's show? #SDLive
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) February 6, 2019
