Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for February 20, 2026

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Before he can say much, however, Jacob Fatu makes his way to the ring. Jacob says Cody would not even be out here talking about the Elimination Chamber if it were not for Drew McIntyre, and that he had Cody and Sami beaten and that they both know it. He then says his concern right now is not with Cody, but with McIntyre, who he then calls out so he can dog walk all over Fort Lauderdale, Florida. General Manager Nick Aldis shows up and announces that he gave McIntyre the night off as he saw this coming, and that he cannot take any unnecessary risk given what is happening on the road to WrestleMania. Aldis tells Jacob to come to his office so they can discuss Jacob getting his hands on McIntyre, who is unexpectedly in the luxury box. McIntyre appreciates the night off, but tells Aldis that he is the champion, he does what he wants and that he bought the entire luxury box to watch tonight's show because he loves SmackDown so much. He then tells Jacob Fatu what he is going to do about it, and Jacob Fatu almost jumps the barricade only for Aldis to stop him and remove him from the building. McIntyre says that the whole world is against him, and that everyone is jealous and wants to be him because he is the champion. Cody disagrees, saying McIntyre is an asshole.

Backstage, Ilja Dragunov meets with Carmelo Hayes and says that Carmelo is not only the United States Champion and that he does not miss when he shoots, but he will qualify for and win the Elimination Chamber Match and go on to WrestleMania. Carmelo tells Dragunov he does not need him to tell him that, but Dragunov does mention that there is still a fight open for the United States Championship. He then tells him that he has some business to take care of with Tama Tonga.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis tells Jacob Fatu to be patient and wait, as he will give him Drew McIntyre, but Jacob Fatu says he will not wait much longer before he leaves the building.

Tama Tonga beats Ilja Dragunov following the distraction by Tama Tonga. After the match, Solo Sikoa says that he is not playing, then Dragunov attacks Solo from behind only to be manhandled by The MFT's. Matt Cardona runs to the ring, but he is also overpowered. Apollo Crews runs to the ring and is also decimated by Talla Tonga, then the lights go out and Uncle Howdy appears on the TitanTron. He tells Solo that he uses his family as a crutch and that it is time hat he proves he can stand on his own. Uncle Howdy says that the next time he is in the ring, he will be alone and he will expose all of Solo's securities to the Fireflies, then asks if Solo will show up.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis confronts Drew McIntyre and dares McIntyre to keep testing him.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Randy Orton. Orton says the competition for the Elimination Chamber is on edge, then Zelina Vega shows up and says there is only road left. Aleister Black says there was a time when the locker room would not be able to get close to Orton as they would wake up with a headache from the punt. Aleister wants to know where the old Orton is and wants to get in his head a bit, and Orton tells Aleister that he will see him in the ring. Aleister says that Orton may consider the old him buried, but he will dig it back up.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Nia says this is the busiest time of the year for the busiest Superstars, and that she plans on qualifying for the Elimination Chamber. Lash Legend says that they are coming for it all, and any doubt that anyone has against them will be wiped out at WrestleMania.

Jade Cargill heads to the ring. Cargill says that she defends her title on her time, and says that Jordynne Grace's best was not good enough. He says that everyone runs their mouth, but when they step up, they fold. She addresses Liv Morgan's WrestleMania decision and says she wants to hear it face-to-face, then says that regardless of whoever comes out of the Elimination Chamber, she is walking out of WrestleMania as champion. Charlotte Flair heads to the ring for the next match as Cargill is on her way to the back, and Cargill gets in her face. A referee has to show up to get Cargill away from Charlotte.

Kiana James beats Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax in a women's Elimination Chamber qualifier after getting under Charlotte as she has Nia in the Figure Eight and pins her shoulders to the mat.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. Rhea is impressed that Kiana James has qualified for the Elimination Chamber, then Iyo Sky says Giulia will not be so lucky. Rhea says they are both focused on the Elimination Chamber, but they are tag team champions for a reason. Iyo Sky says The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) do not stand a chance.

Oba Femi beats Kit Wilson. During the match, Kit Wilson tries to reason with Oba Femi by reading him a poem where he tries to compliment him. He then says he sees a teddy bear instead of a brute, and Oba grabs Kit Wilson and demands that he read another poem. Kit Wilson then reads a poem called "Nine Things I Hate About Men," then gets thrown back in the ring as soon as he mentions Oba Femi again. One Fall From Grace later, Oba Femi wins.

Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis is met by R-Truth, who thinks that "an Elimination Chamber award" is in the giant crate. Aldis thinks that R-Truth has it confused with a Slammy award (which R-Truth states he has never head of), then has the crate taken back to Raw before Damian Priest shows up. R-Truth tells Damian Priest that only one of them is heading to WrestleMania, but Aldis tells him that only Priest has an Elimination Chamber qualifier. R-Truth says that Aldis got the balls mixed up and that he wants "the bald Nick Aldis" back before he leaves.

Clash in Italy has been announced for Sunday, May 31st.

Tiffany Stratton beats Alba Fyre despite the distraction by Chelsea Green.

Backstage, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes meets with Sami Zayn. Cody tells Sami he has nothing to be ashamed of regarding their Elimination Chamber qualifier, but Sami says that Cody should be ashamed of himself after he hit him with a Cross Rhodes. Rhodes says it was an opportunity and that opportunities have to be taken advantage of, which is why Sami is not WWE Champion. Sami says that is easy for Cody to say as he has finished his story, but he has tried to do the right thing and it has never worked. Cody says he has been in that situation and it cost him everything, then tells Sami that the only thing in his way is himself. Cody leaves, Sami gets angry, and Trick Williams shows up and says he will get the job done, unlike Sami. Trick leaves, then Sami catches up with Cody and apologizes before telling him he is right. He says that Cody will be WWE Champion again, and to remember that he had a little help along the way.

Trick Williams beats Damian Priest and Carmelo Hayes in a men's Elimination Chamber qualifier after hitting Damian Priest with two Trick Shots as Priest goes for the Razor's Edge on Carmelo.

Backstage, the tag team division are near the giant crate. General Manager Nick Aldis and Candice LeRae show up, and Johnny Gargano is sulking and lying on the top of the crate. Jordynne Grace shows up, and Candice tells Jordyne to wait her turn as she talks to Aldis. Jordynne takes exception to this, and Aldis makes a match between Jordynne and Candice for next week.

Backstage, Jade Cargill runs into B-Fab after a photo shoot. Michin shows up with a shinai and confronts Cargill for injuring her months ago before threatening to take Cargill's title.

Rhea Ripley beats Giulia by disqualificaton after being booted in the face by Lash Legend as she knocks Nia Jax off the apron. After the match, Nia and Lash gang up on Rhea, but Iyo Sky shows up and makes the save so that Rhea can clean house.

Backstage, Oba Femi is met by The Miz, who congratulates him on tonight's win and says that he is a WrestleMania main event waiting to happen. He says that he wants to fill John Cena's spot as locker room leader by getting the next generation ready and showing them the ropes, and Oba takes this as a challenge. Oba says he will talk to General Manager Nick Aldis and get a match set up for next week. It is only after Oba Femi leaves that The Miz realizes what he has gotten himself into.

Backstage, Charlotte Flair is met by Alexa Bliss. Charlotte says she knows she lost and that Alexa will be okay, and that she is not upset. Kiana James and Giulia show up to mock the two of them, and Kiana claims she and Giulia are the most powerful duo on the roster. Alexa tells Kiana to prove it, and Giulia screams at Alexa until Kiana pulls her out of the room.

Backstage, The MFT's (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo) are leaving the building. Solo Sikoa congratulates Tama Tonga on the big win tonight, and says that he has never betrayed him and that he will be United States Champion one day. He says that for now, they must focus on The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross), for without the lantern, they are nothing. Solo leaves, then Shinsuke Nakamura shows up and tells Tama Tonga that Solo Sikoa has been led into a war where he is nothing but a soldier and he is being held back from being his own man. Nakamura then wants to see what Tama Tonga is truly capable of.

Aleister Black beats Randy Orton after Drew McIntyre blasts Orton with the WWE Championship on the outside before being chased out through the crowd by "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, which allows Aleister to hit Black Mass for the win. After the match, Cody Rhodes checks on Randy Orton, then notices Drew McIntyre in the crowd.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

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