WWE SmackDown Results: Triple H Addresses The Rock Slapping Cody Rhodes
MMA Knockout has you covered with live WWE SmackDown results tonight.
Wrestling fans have been buzzing since last night's special WrestleMania 40 Kickoff media event. WWE vowed to address the controversy following last week's episode of SmackDown when Cody Rhodes allowed The Rock to take the WrestleMania 40 spotlight against Roman Reigns.
Cody's fans were elated when "The American Nightmare" interrupted The Rock and Roman Reigns, letting them both know that he has changed his mind and will be facing "The Tribal Chief" in a WrestleMania rematch. After Reigns took a shot at Cody's late father Dusty Rhodes, the back-to-back Royal Rumble winner said if the ancestors of Dwayne Johnson and Roman Reigns were here, they'd be disgusted with Roman's behavior.
This led to The Rock delivering the people's slap to Cody Rhodes.
Fans inside the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC will get to witness Paul "Triple H" Levesque issue a statement regarding The Rock's actions during the Las Vegas press event. Could "The Game" be forced to penalize Cody against his will? With Johnson now a member of WWE's Board of Directors, one can't rule out the possibility.
Over on the women's side, fans will be greeted by the 2024 Royal Rumble winner Bayley. Last week, Bayley was officially out of Damage CTRL after declaring that she will be challenging IYO SKY for the WWE Women's Championship. She will be addressing her split from the group.
That's not all, as we have a tag team match with championship implications. The team of Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate will take on Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, with the winning team receiving a shot at Damien Priest and Finn Balor for the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
Keep refreshing this page for live WWE SmackDown results beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
WWE SmackDown Results (February 9, 2024)
SmackDown this week opens up with a look at Triple H entering the Spectrum Center. The show then cut to a recap of the WrestleMania XL Kickoff presser. Once the video package ended, Triple H made his way to the ring. He was joined in the ring by Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce.
Levesque said he wanted to clear up one thing. He was interrupted by chants of "Rocky Sucks." He then took a little jab at The Rock for not knowing his role. He made it clear that he's the real boss of WWE and it will be Roman Reigns putting his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40.
Nick Aldis then announced that Seth Rollins' next challenger for the World Heavyweight Championship will be determined at Elimination Chamber. Adam Pearce announced that Randy Orton, Bronson Reed, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, The Miz, Bobby Lashley, Ivar, Dominik Mysterio, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Logan Paul, and LA Knight will be fighting in a series of matches for a spot in the men's Elimination Chamber match.
McIntyre made his entrance and took credit for Cody Rhodes choosing Roman Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent. Drew also took another opportunity to fire shots at CM Punk. He was interrupted by AJ Styles, kicking off the first qualifying match.
Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles
Before the match began, LA Knight made his way out and joined the commentary team. Early on, McIntyre caught Styles midair off a springboard, and turned it into a suplex. Styles got caught in a twist-a-whirl backbreaker, and kicked out at two. Styles delivered a chop block to Drew. The action spilled outside and McIntyre tossed Styles over the barricade into the timekeeper's area going into a commercial break.
Styles chopped down McIntyre with strikes. AJ went for a Styles Clash, but McIntyre used his power to drive his opponent against the turnbuckle. Drew went for White Noise off the top rope, but Styles reversed into a sitdown powerbomb for a near fall.
Drew hit a Future Shock DDT and kipped up, selling the effects of AJ's kicks in the process. Styles ducked under a Claymore. He then locked in a the Calf Crusher, but McIntyre reached the bottom rope. Drew tossed AJ over the announce table near LA Knight, and Knight was then knocked down in the chaos.
Styles had a cradle pin on Drew, but LA Knight distracted the referee trying to get retaliation on AJ. McIntyre then hit the Claymore on Styles to move on to the men's Elimination Chamber match.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviewed Sami Zayn ahead of his qualifying match with Randy Orton. Zayn admitted his WrestleMania 40 window is closing, but now is not the time to feel sorry for himself. He admitted it won't be an easy path, but it's a path nonetheless and he'll take it.
A vignette aired for Pretty Deadly. The team said it's their time during WrestleMania season. They also "cursed" Pete Dunne.
A recap of Bayley's exit from Damage CTRL aired.
Bianca Belair vs. Michin - Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Bianca immediately went for KOD, but Michin got out of it. Michin kicked the "EST" of WWE in the chest outside the ring entering a commercial break. Michin had a barrage of offense, hitting a lariat, a dropkick, and a neckbreaker.
Belair was able to muscle her opponent up and slammed her to the mat. Michin landed a superplex on Belair, but only got a two-count. Another KOD was avoided, and Michin nailed her with Eat Defeat, but Bianca went out the ring. When the action returned to the squared circle, Belair hit KOD for the win.
Winner: Bianca Belair
Bayley is coming up next after the ad break.
Backstage, Bron Breakker asked Levesque for some advice on whether to sign with Raw or SmackDown. Paul Heyman interrupted the conversation and said he would return next week with Roman Reigns and The Rock. Triple H said he's looking forward to it.
Bayley made her way out to the ring. She praised the WWE Universe for sticking with her throughout the years. She said Damage CTRL meant everything to her, and treated her like family. She said all they did in return was take from her.
Bayley was interrupted by Dakota Kai. Dakota said she had no idea that the Damage CTRL situation was getting bad. Bayley didn't believe her. Kai claimed she always believed in the faction and IYO did. She blamed Kairi and Asuka for getting inside SKY's head.
IYO, Kairi, and Asuka then made their way out and surrounded the ring. Dakota grabbed a steel chair and scared off the rest of Damage CTRL to defend Bayley.
Randy Orton was then interviewed backstage and said he expects to defeat Sami Zayn tonight and move on to the Elimination Chamber. Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate vs. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa is up next.
Backstage, Bobby Lashley, The Street Profits, and B-Fab discussed their future plans. Lashley vs. Bronson Reed was announced for Monday's WWE Raw.
Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Johnny Gargano & Tommasso Ciampa - number one contender for Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Gargano and Bate had a technical pin exchange to the delight of the fans in attendance. Dunne was tagged in. He tried landing a moonsault from the apron onto Ciampa, but Tommaso countered. Gargano then hit a suicide dive on Bate, while Ciampa kicked Dunne in the head before the commercial break.
Bate gave a swing to Gargano in the ring. Ciampa landed a huge backbreaker on Bate for a near fall. Dunne snapped Ciampa's fingers. Bate was able to get Ciampa out of the ring. Dunne made the tag and nailed Gargano with the Bitter End for the finish.
Winners: Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate
Dominik Mysterio cut a promo backstage, which was interrupted by Kevin Owens. KO informed Dominik that they are fighting in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match.
WWE United States Champion Logan Paul complained to Nick Aldis about being in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match in Utah on free TV. Somehow, Paul decided to go through with it anyway, to the confusion of Adam Pearce, who was also with Aldis. Paul vs. The Miz will be a qualifying match.
Randy Orton vs. Sami Zayn - Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Orton had Zayn in the corner and started the 10 punches, but the two kept countering each other for punches. Orton got the better of the exchange and capped it off with a European uppercut. Zayn landed a moonsault from the barricade on the outside. Zayn landed a backdrop on Orton onto the announce table going into a commercial break.
Zayn landed a tornado DDT for a two-count. He went up to the top rope, but Orton cut him off. Orton landed a sky high superplex. Orton connected with a snap powerslam, but his famous DDT was blocked by Sami, who nailed him with a suicide dive. Orton then slammed Zayn onto the announce table.
This time, the draping DDT landed for "The Viper." He went for an RKO, but Zayn rolled him up for a near fall. Sami then landed a Blue Thunder Bomb for a close two. Orton landed an RKO after Zayn did a reverse leap frog and got the pin.
Winner: Randy Orton
At the end of the show, Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton had a staredown.
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