WWE SmackDown results, grades (Feb. 20): Trick Williams, Kiana James win Elimination Chamber qualifiers

“WWE SmackDown” stops through Amerant Bank Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday, Feb. 20. Two more Elimination Chamber qualifier matches occupy the spotlight, while a solid slate of additional pairings make up the night.

The night’s biggest stakes come in the form of the two qualifying matches, beginning with a triple-threat clash between Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams and Damian Priest. Hayes and Williams bring years of shared history into the bout, while Priest’s veteran edge and size advantage adds another element to a likely banger.

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The women’s division mirrors that urgency, as Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair and Kiana James collide in their own Chamber qualifier. Jax’s brute strength, Flair’s championship pedigree and James’ rising ambition create a stylistic clash that makes for an interesting combination — even if it couldn’t feel any more obvious that Flair will add her name to the final Chamber additions.

Beyond qualification stakes, tonight’s “SmackDown” also features several unique singles encounters. Oba Femi goes one-on-one with Kit Wilson in another surefire squash match, while Giulia faces Rhea Ripley in a pairing that promises to be a technically crisp and high-intensity battle between two of the brand’s most dynamic competitors.

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Rounding out the night, Tama Tonga squares off with Ilja Dragunov.

Check out the full “WWE SmackDown” lineup below, which starts at 8 p.m. ET on Syfy:

• Aleister Black def. Randy Orton

• Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Trick Williams def. Carmelo Hayes, Damian Priest

• Tiffany Stratton def. Alba Fyre

• Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Kiana James def. Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair

• Tama Tonga def. Ilja Dragunov

For complete coverage of “WWE SmackDown” on Syfy, follow along with Uncrowned’s live blog below:

Live coverage is over66 updates

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 8:02 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Then here comes McIntyre, connecting to Orton’s dome with a strike from his title before he’s run off by Rhodes. The referee missed the shot as Black and Orton rolled into the ring. Regaining his wits, Orton takes the Black Mass for the L. The interference really felt unnecessary there. Nonetheless, a much-needed win for Black.

  👑 Crown score: 3/5 👑

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 8:00 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Orton finds the snap scoop powerslam, leading Black to the ropes for the drape DDT. RKO time? RKO time. Orton locks on. Black sees it and pushes Orton away, falling to outside the ring. A head kick from Black stifles Orton near the announce table. Orton goes for another back Suplex and instead sweeps his leg for a faceplant. From the announce table, Orton lands the drape DDT again.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:58 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Zelina eventually makes her presence felt, as expected. She distracts Orton briefly, allowing Black to land some strikes and take control. A running knee from Black is followed by a rest-choke. The “Viper” breaks out and goes for a Suplex. Black lands a knee while upside down to escape.

  Black avoids the drape DDT and puts his opponent back in a rest-choke. Orton escapes with a back Suplex.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:54 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:53 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Black gets dumped onto the announce table when Orton goes for his patented back Suplex drops. It’s entirely the Orton show here. Black gets dropped over the barricade from a Suplex position before finally rolling back in the ring. He manages to kick out, despite the trouncing he’s enduring.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:50 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Orton starts the action with a good shoulder check and pose before a pose-off. Black misses a kick, sending him into the corner for some punches from Orton. A clothesline sends Black over the ropes and out of the ring.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:43 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Main event time. I can’t imagine there won’t be something notable at the end of this match, especially considering the rest of this show. Who knows? Maybe we’ll just get a solid, clean match between Black and Orton? It’s a random pairing, but I’m here for it.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:41 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  After a Solo Sikoa MFT hype-up, Tonga gets greeted by Nakamura, who tells him he used to be his own man. A clear seed is being planted here to have MFT — or at least Tonga — break apart.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:34 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Miz did his best to buddy up to Oba Femi backstage. He failed, promising to show Femi the ropes, which the “Ruler” took as a match invitation. Once Miz realized his error, it was too late. I guess WWE is going to take its time with putting Femi in a significant program.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:32 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  A nasty jumping side kick lands for Ripley to halt Giulia’s momentum. Ripley aims to take her offense up high, but is momentarily stifled. She turns it into a face-dropping Electric Chair Drop. Giulia fends off the Riptide to hit a Hurricanrana and Arivaderci Knee. Ripley kicks out. The Northern Lights Bomb gets countered with a headbutt. Ripley sets up the Riptide, and what do you know? Jax and Legend cause the DQ win for Ripley by attacking her.

  I just don’t get how WWE can do what they did on Monday with Nattie and Maxxine Dupri, then book a match like this. If you don’t want either to lose, then don’t book it at all. Another solid match ruined by its finish.

  👑 Crown score: 2.75/5 👑

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:24 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Giulia regains steam, kicking Ripley in the corner. That lasts briefly, as Ripley charges into Giulia with a shoulder check. The second attempt ends disastrously. Giulia evades, sending Ripley flying into the post before she’s dropkicked into the steel steps.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:23 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Giulia gets an early edge with a slap to Ripley before a tilt-a-whirl guillotine of sorts. Ripley takes her to the corner, when Giulia dives onto a Tornado DDT that’s thwarted back into a guillotine. Ripley counters it with a Suplex.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:19 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Why? Why is this still lingering? This is not a program that needs to be revisited after Michin’s injury. We’re glad that she’s healthy again, but get this all the way out of here, man. Seriously.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:16 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Alright, this one should be good, despite the odd, unexplained rebooking from Iyo Sky in Rhea Ripley’s spot. They’ve both already appeared on the show, so I don’t understand what the deal is here. Surely, there will be a dodgy finish, anyway. Perhaps WWE feels better about having Ripley take the pin off an interference than they do with Sky.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:14 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:14 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Johnny Gargano was the butt of a joke segment, featuring the Elimination Chamber mystery box. It was corny, but ultimately led to Candice Lerae getting booked against Jordynne Grace next week. Sure, why not?

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:11 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Williams and Hayes trade blows on their knees with Priest in the corner. A massive pair of jumping kicks lands for Priest. He follows both with spin kicks, and now Hayes and Williams get working together for a nice launching Cross Body from Hayes. They each try to go for the pin and get back to striking each other. A good Super Kick drops Williams, but he kicks out, nearly stealing a Crucifix pin. First 48 lands for Hayes! He goes up top! Nothing But Net is met by a Priest club. A Trick Shot to Priest gives Williams the win! That was tremendous.

  👑 Crown Score: 4.2/5 👑

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:08 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Williams seeks a Superplex on Hayes until Priest intervenes to drop him with a Razor’s Edge. Williams kicks out, opening a Nothing But Net from Hayes on to Priest! Williams breaks up the pin. This match is just beautiful.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:07 PM PST

  Drake Riggs

  Hayes hits a nice Frog Splash on Priest that’s kicked out of, but executed well. Williams halts the momentum with a back kick. They exchange moves until a Hayes springboard attempt is thwarted, Williams following and pushing him over the rope. Priest capitalizes, launching Hayes over the announce table. Williams follows to drop Priest on the table. A Trick Kick in the ring gets kicked out of by Hayes.

• Fri, February 20, 2026 at 7:03 PM PST

  Drake Riggs