7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (20 Feb - Results & Review)

WWE powered towards next week's Elimination Chamber PLE with an action-packed 3 hour episode of SmackDown that provided plenty of in-ring highlights. The sheer depth on this roster is wild, and it means Triple H can put pretty much any combo out there safe in the knowledge that they'll rarely drop below solid.

There were negative takeaways from Friday's show though. The main event might be an olive branch to Aleister Black at best, the ongoing drama (if you can call it that) involving The Wyatt Sicks and MFTs is flat out dull, and Jade Cargill just reignited one of 2025's worst mini feuds for no reason at all. Seriously, who knows what WWE's creative team are thinking here?

Back on the positive side, there was top work in both Triple Threats offering Elimination Chamber qualification. A pair of fresh faces got the star rub in those, which is great to see. This really was a night dedicated to pushing the future of SmackDown and WWE as a whole, and you've got to respect it - that's especially true during WrestleMania season, because the company once ignored newbies around this time of year.

Something interesting is brewing between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn too. Both are keen to vent frustrations, but either man could turn heel either before or after 'Mania. If it's Cody, then it'll likely come after, but at least there's an air of mystery about what his characters motivations are nowadays.

Here's all the yay and nay from a busy broadcast that had definite dips but was never less than watchable.