Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for February 7, 2025

"Main Event" Jey Uso heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Jey admits that he had a hell of a week and that he got a lot of love from family, friends and fans, then says he is here to pick a champion for WrestleMania. He says it only makes sense to meet with "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes after meeting with Gunther earlier this week, and introduces Cody to the ring. Cody makes his way to the ring, and Jey says he has a choice to make: stand across from Cody for the WWE Championship or stand next to him as World Heavyweight Champion. Cody talks about how his doctor told him that he has fluid in his elbow that needs to be drained and a hurt back among other things, then says that the WrestleMania sign is Jey's to point to. He mentions the memories that they have had regarding WrestleMania, and while Jey has a choice, he has to win, and if Jey is to pick him, they might as well have some fun, for it will be the last time. As Jey and Cody shake hands, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga show up. Jacob says Cody took the WWE Championship from his family last year, but as of now, his family needs the title back. Jacob also addresses Jey, saying that if there was anybody who could bring the title back to the family, it would not be him. Jey superkicks Tama, Jacob superkicks Jey, and Jacob overpowers Cody. Jey and Cody get the upper hand as Jacob goes for the hip attack in the corner, then clothesline him out of the ring.

Bianca Belair beats Piper Niven in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match to advance to the women's Elimination Chamber match.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis meets with Kayden Carter and Katana Chance when Carmelo Hayes shows up. Carmelo finds out that he is facing a Raw Superstar - Akira Tozawa - tonight, and Carmelo considers Akira "a lay-up." When Carmelo leaves, Tozawa makes fun of him by shooting an "air ball," and Carmelo returns to tell Tozawa he will show him an air ball.

#DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) head to the ring. Gargano brags about retaining the WWE Tag Team Championships at Royal Rumble and state that they are the best tag team in the world, and Gargano says the chances of The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) holding the titles again are "dead." Ciampa says that the Machine Guns were their favorite tag teams, and asks the fans to give the Machine Guns a moment of silence before Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) show up. General Manager Nick Aldis also shows up as #DIY get angry at Pretty Deadly, Aldis makes a non-title match where Pretty Deadly get a title shot if they win, and the match starts right now, despite #DIY still being in street clothes.

Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) beat #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) to earn a shot at the WWE Tag Team Championships after Johnny Gargano goes for a schoolkid pin on Kit Wilson while grabbing the tights only for Kit Wilson to roll Gargano up while holding onto the top rope for leverage.

Backstage, The Miz meets with Andrade, saying he was impressed with him and that Andrade could learn so much from her. Andrade says he learned how to beat Miz, then leaves. The Miz then meets "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, saying that the new generation of Superstars does not get them because they are "old school" and that he has his back. When Cody says he does not need Miz to have his back, Miz says that Cody still wants to be "Main Event" Jey Uso's friend, but asks what will happen if Jey faces him, saying it would be "one hell of a story."

Before the next match, Drew McIntyre says that he is officially back on SmackDown, then says that after he was eliminated from the Royal Rumble, he went back home and had an epiphany and realized Raw is a toxic workplace where everyone stabs each other in the back. He says that he needed a solution and that is when General Manager Nick Aldis called him and gave him the chance to be himself on SmackDown, then says he is here for "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and the Undisputed WWE Championship. Jimmy Uso shows up and says Drew McIntyre is fixated on the past and sounds like an ex-girlfriend, then says he lost the WWE Championship and that he has to earn his shot much like he does. McIntyre says he would be mad about this, but he is cool, then calls Jimmy "Jey" and says Jimmy would have been bigger if he said "Yeet" first. Jimmy says he will get his tonight, and that McIntyre will have to go through him. LA Knight shows up and says Jimmy is the reason he was not WWE Champion over a year ago, then says that in his career, he wants to affect some good change before he dies and says that if something arises in your life and you have to cry, then cry. He then says that there are three guarantees: death, taxes, and "Drew McIntyre crying like a damn baby," even saying that somebody called McIntyre "Drew McInCryer," before stating he will dash both of their WrestleMania dreams.

Drew McIntyre beats LA Knight and Jimmy Uso in a Triple Threat Elimination Chamber qualifier to advance to the men's Elimination Chamber match after hitting Knight with a Claymore Kick as he goes for the BFT on Jimmy Uso.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Damian Priest. As Priest says that Drew McIntyre is in the Elimination Chamber match and that he will eliminate him like McIntyre eliminated him from the Royal Rumble, Braun Strowman shows up and says he is putting the carriage before the horse and that he has to qualify for the match first. Priest says that he will beat him and Jacob Fatu to become champion, but Strowman warns him he is in the ring with a wild animal and a monster next week. Priest tells Strowman that he is not overlooking anything.

We hear from Kevin Owens, who says that he has been through a lot over the years and that nothing compares to what happened at Royal Rumble. He mentions the scars on his face and the trauma to his neck and spine from his match with "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. He blames this on Sami Zayn, as he just stood there and watched as Cody tried to end his career, then mentions Sami coming to Roman Reigns' aid in the Royal Rumble. He calls Sami a horrible friend and a disgusting human being, and while he will never forgive him, he will make him pay.

It is announced that Sami Zayn has suffered spinal compression and extreme nerve damage from the package piledriver that he received from Kevin Owens.

Before the next match, Carmelo Hayes says Akira Tozawa looks like "["The American Nightmare"] Cody Rhodes left in the dryer too long," and says that he does not miss and that they call him "Ja Morant" in Memphis, Tennessee. He then says that if there was an All-Star team, he would be selected.

Carmelo Hayes beats Akira Tozawa.

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler is seen in the crowd.

Backstage, R-Truth helps out Akira Tozawa only to drop him when he sees "Main Event" Jey Uso, who thinks Jey is "King of the Ring." R-Truth leaves, then "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes shows up. Jey says he would love to face Cody, but he has beef with Gunther and wants to face him, and he is undecided.

Charlotte Flair heads to the ring. Charlotte asks if the fans love or hate her, yet says that she sees money when she hears boos. She says she lives rent-free in everybody's minds because she is wrestling's obsession, as people are obsessed about everything about her. She says she is better than everyone not just because of her last name, and says that she knew she would come back and make history by entering a Royal Rumble with "29 unserious women" and become a two-time winner. Charlotte talks about her meetings with Rhea Ripley on Raw and Giulia on NXT, and now she wants to know if Tiffany Stratton can inspire her. Tiffany Stratton shows up and heads to the ring, then congratulates Charlotte on her Royal Rumble win and her return, and states that nobody is a bigger Charlotte fan than her. She thought that WWE could not survive without Charlotte, and that everyone cared for a day before she showed up and made ticket sales go up and made WWE hotter than it has ever been. Charlotte asks "Did you say something?" and tells her to speak only when she tells her to, and tells her to get in line if she thinks there are no other women better than her. Tiffany says she has been in line since she has showed up as "The next Charlotte Flair," and tells Charlotte to pick her so she can be here and overcome that name. Charlotte says she sees a child wanting to make a name for herself at WrestleMania, and tells her to get on her hands and knees and beg her to choose her before Nia Jax and Candice LeRae show up. Nia says this all sounds a bit immature, and Candice says it is because Nia will become champion. She then says she only has to face one woman next week to become champion and that she will beat Tiffany for the title she stole from her. She then says that Tiffany will have to go through her to stay champion. Charlotte says she will stick around and watch next week to see what happens, then Alexa Bliss shows up for the next match.

Alexa Bliss beats Candice LeRae in an Elimination Chamber qualifier to advance to the women's Elimination Chamber match.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. Chelsea says she will beat Naomi and win the Elimination Chamber match to become a double champion when "Michin" Mia Yim and B-Fab show up. B-Fab says she has not forgotten Chelsea eliminating her from the Royal Rumble, and Michin says she will beat Chelsea for the Women's United States Championship. Zelina Vega then shows up and says it is time she gets a shot at the Women's United States title.

We hear from The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford). Angelo Dawkins says they would not be in their position if The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) gave their title shot away, and says that when they get their shot at the titles, somebody always shows up, and makes it clear that they are sick of it. Montez says he can feel the passion and announces that they are pissed off, and that they do not like all these teams calling their shots whenever they want. He says that they will stay together and that this violence will be televised.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley). Shelley dares The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) to face them, and Sabin says they had #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) right where they wanted them. Los Garza (Angel and Berto) show up and tell them to stop complaining, because they lost, and to let new teams step up. This leads to both teams arguing, and Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez show up, with Santos blaming this whole mess on the Machine Guns before telling them they have a fight next week.

We see a video package for Damian Priest vs. Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu in next week's Triple Threat Elimination Chamber qualifier.

"Main Event" Jey Uso and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beat Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu. After the match, Cody Rhodes is laid out with a Samoan Spike by a hooded Solo Sikoa.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!