WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Randy Orton is a step ahead of his Elimination Chamber opponents
The men’s Elimination Chamber participants need eyes in the back of their heads, particularly with “The Viper” lurking. Randy Orton patiently waited in the shadows and struck at the perfect moment on WWE SmackDown.
Drew McIntyre and LA Knight headlined Friday’s show but all six men in Saturday’s Elimination Chamber match were prominently featured. Friday’s episode also featured the SmackDown in-ring debut of Bron Breakker, plus the continuation of storylines involving The Bloodline and Damage CTRL.
The Viper strikes ahead of the Elimination Chamber
McIntyre said it felt like his whole career had been building to one moment at the Elimination Chamber. He took another jab at CM Punk’s injury before being interrupted by Bobby Lashley, one of his opponents at Elimination Chamber. Lashley said McIntyre’s memes about Punk were hilarious, almost as hilarious as when Lashley beat McIntyre at WrestleMania 37. Lashley walked off as McIntyre stared daggers at him.
Drew McIntyre def. LA Knight via disqualification after Kevin Owens attacked McIntyre. Knight and McIntyre fought tooth and nail but there were lots of antics going on ringside. United States champion Logan Paul joined the commentators before Kevin Owens pulled up a chair mid-match. The bickering between Paul and Owens was entertaining but distracting. Big moves dominated the closing stretch of the match. Knight tossed McIntyre overhead from the top rope. McIntyre swung the pendulum with a Future Shock DDT. The action spilled outside. Knight got in Paul’s face and Owens struck McIntyre to draw the finish.
A brawl broke out between the four men post-match. Knight laid out McIntyre with a BFT. Lashley entered the fray and speared Knight. Owens dropped Paul with a stunner before Lashley took out Owens with a spear. Lashley’s music hit as he stood proudly over the fray. It was a clever production ruse, however, as McIntyre clocked Lashley with a Claymore Kick. McIntyre’s music hit and it appeared the show was over before Randy Orton showed up and stung McIntyre with an RKO.
This week’s episode was pre-taped to accommodate the superstars traveling to Perth for Elimination Chamber. The pre-taped shows are generally a level below the live television shows but they’ve improved in recent years. Pre-taped shows used to be complete throwaways but the Triple H-led creative team has made efforts to move stories along. The men’s
