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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
FEBRUARY 20, 2026
SUNRISE, FLA. AT AMERANT BANK ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON SYFY
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
Attendance: WrestleTix reports as of show time, 10,895 tickets had been distributed. The arena has a capacity of 23,000 spectators when configured for concerts. Previous time in the arena, on Aug. 19, 2024 for Raw, it drew 13,000.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by ProWrestling.net’s Jake Barnett to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Joe Tessitore introduced the show as they showed an aerial view of South Florida and then the exterior of the arena, home of the Florida Panthers. They cut backstage to Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky as Tessitore plugged Ripley vs. Giulia. Then they showed Giulia with Kiana James, Charlotte Flair with Liv Morgan, and Kiana James with Nia Jax. Then they showed Damien Priest with R-Truth, Carmelo Hayes, and Trick Williams.
-A vignette aired on the Sami Zayn vs. Jacob Fatu vs. Cody Rhodes match on Smackdown last week ending with Drew McIntyre interfering leading to Cody’s win.
-Cody then made his ring entrance. Barrett said he’s one win away from headlining WrestleMania once again. Fans chanted “Cody! Cody!” Then they sang “Cody, Cody Rhodes!” Cody asked what the fans wanted to talk about. Jacob Fatu’s music then interrupted. Fatu walked to the ring.
Fatu opened: “Let’s keep it 100.” He said Cody wouldn’t even be out there talking about Elimination Chamber if it weren’t for Drew. He said he had both Cody and Sami beat last week. He said his concern isn’t Cody right now. He said his concern is now about Drew and he called for Drew to come out. G.M. Nick Aldis came out instead.
Aldis said Fatu has every right to be upset, but he anticipated this so he gave Drew the night off. He said he doesn’t like to leave the champion off his show, but he felt it was best. He asked Fatu to let Cody continue to speak and he invited Fatu to his office to speak. Drew interrupted from a luxury suite.
Drew said they can’t leave his name out of their mouths. Drew said he appreciated the night off, but he’s the champion and he does what he wants. He said he loves Smackdown so much, he bought himself an entire suite to watch the show. He said he heard Fatu running his mouth. “All gas, no breaks?” he said. “More like all bark, no bite.” Fatu snapped and charged to ringside. Security tried to stop him. He threw them around. Aldis came to ringside and pleaded with him to listen. He asked him if he wants to get suspended. Aldis said they’re going to take Drew out of the arena and then he still wanted to talk with him. Fatu told Aldis, “I need him and I need that.” Aldis sounded sympathetic and said he understood.
Drew said the whole damn world is against him because he is the champ. He said everyone is jealous and everyone wants to be him because he is the champ. Cody told Drew the whole world is after him not because he’s the champ, but because he’s an asshole.
(Keller’s Analysis: It seems Aldis wants to talk to Fatu about giving him another chance to get into the Chamber given the circumstances last week. Overall, everyone came across well in terms of their character’s reactions to circumstances.)
-Ilja Dragunov told Carmelo Hayes not to miss tonight. He was very intense, then laughed and said he might’ve been too intense there. Hayes said he doesn’t need him telling him how to be him, but he said he should direct that enthusiasm to his match. A calmer Dragunov said he believes in Hayes. He said that he, not Hayes, will walk into WrestleMania as U.S. Champion. Dragunov then headed to the ring. [c]
-Aldis asked Fatu how long he had to wait to get here. He said he will get him Drew, but he needed him to wait. Fatu said he isn’t going to wait much longer. He then left the arena into the parking lot.
(1) ILJA DRAGUNOV vs. TAMA TONGA (w/Solo Sikoa, Tala Tonga, J.C. Mateo)
Barrett said Tama is a man on the rise with a win over Shinsuke Nakamura two weeks ago and the win for his team in a tag match last week. The bell rang 25 minutes into the hour. They cut to a very early break after Dragunov rallied with a series of moves including a back suplex and a running boot to send Tama to ringside. [c/db]
Back from the break, after a neckbreaker by Tama, he scored a two count. At 8:00, Dragunov landed a uranage, but was slow to get up. He fended off Tama with headbutts and climbed to the top rope. He landed a senton. Mateo stood on the ring apron, so Dragunov paused to knock him off the ring apron. Tama stood and rolled up Dragunov for a two count. Loa then stood on the ring apron, distracting Dragunov and giving Tama an opening to strike with his Cut Throat. Barrett said three distractions by the MFTs ultimately sealed Dragunov’s fate.
WINNER: Tama Tonga in 10:00.
-Afterward, Solo said if they thought he was playing, they were wrong. “This is my family tree, this is my show, and this is what’s going to happen from now on.” Dragunov jumped Solo from behind. The MFTs teamed up against Dragunov. Talla fended off Matt Cardona who ran to ringside for the save. Apollo Crews then ran out, but he ended up down on his back. The lights went dark and then the Wyatt Sicks appeared on the big screen. Uncle Howdy said it’s clear that Solo uses his family as a crutch. He said if he’s the shining light, then it’s time show everyone that he can stand on his own. He said the next time he comes to the ring, he will stand alone and expose all the insecurities he has hidden from the Fireflies. “The only question is: Will you show up?” He then laughed as the lights flickered.
-Aldis approached Drew and angrily asked what he was going to do next. Drew said he was just having fun. Aldis said he’s not having fun. He said he gave him the night off. He said “points for originality” in buying a luxury suit, “but keep testing me, and I’ll show you what I can really do.” Drew told Aldis to relax and he’d do him a favor and leave.
(Keller’s Analysis: They’re certainly pointing toward Aldis adding more than one wrestler to Drew’s match at WrestleMania.)
-Byron Saxton interviewed Randy Orton about the competition he’ll face in the Chamber. Orton said everyone is on edge. He was about to speak about being in the ring with Cody, when in walked Zelina Vega. She laughed and said it’s almost as if they predicted him and Cody going to battle. She said there’s only one road to left. Aleister Black walked in and said at one time the locker room feared nothing more than an RKO, but he asked what happened to Orton. Orton said he knows what he’s trying to do. Orton challenged him to a match later. Fans cheered. Black said, “You might think it’s buried, but consider me the shovel that will dig it back up.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Things seem to be pointing toward Drew vs. Cody vs. Fatu vs. Orton as a distinct possibility for WrestleMania that they’re planting seed for.)
-The showed Jade Cargill backstage.
-A WWE Shop commercial aired for A.J. Styles merch. [c]
-Saxton interviewed Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Jax said she’ll win tonight and then team with Lash next week in a tag title match. Lash expressed confidence.
-Jade Cargill made her ring entrance. A clip aired of last week’s Cargill win over Tiffany Stratton followed by a face-to-face moment at ringside with Liv Morgan. Tessitore said Liv has said she’ll announce her decision on Monday night. Jade said she defends her title on her time. She said whoever comes out of the Chamber, be it Charlotte, Alexa Bliss, Iyo Sky, Tiffany Stratton, Nia Jax, or Rhea Ripley, “at the end of the day,” she’ll leave WrestleMania as the champ “because I’m still that bitch.” She dropped the mic and left.
As she made her way to the stage, Charlotte’s music played and she walked up to Jade, paused, eyed her belt and then looked at her face, then kept walking. Jade caught up to her and got in her face. Charlotte let out a “wooo!” A ref ran out and separated them. Charlotte continued to head to the ring.
(Keller’s Analysis: Segments like that, kept short, allow her to exude her star power and arrogance without belaboring the point and risking diminishing her mystique. They continue to tease Jade vs. Charlotte more than any other match for Jade for WrestleMania.) [c]
-Barrett announced that Aldis made Orton vs. Black official for tonight.
(2) CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs. NIA JAX vs. KIANA JAMES – Elimination Chamber qualifier
The bell rang 58 minutes into the hour. Charlotte took James down with an elbow. She ducked Jax and then threw James into Jax. Jax lifted Charlotte, but Charlotte slipped free. Jax knocked Charlotte down. James indicated to Jax they should work together. Jax grabbed her throat. Charlotte clipped Jax’s legs. Barrett disagreed with Jax’s strategy of not agreeing to work with James against Charlotte, but he said she doesn’t play that way. Jax knocked both James and Charlotte in opposite corners and hit hip attacks. She rubbed her butt in James’s face. Charlotte avoided a charging Jax, who went shoulder-first into the ringpost. They cut to a break at 2:00.
[HOUR TWO]
[c]
Charlotte rallied after the break. Jax set up James for a Samoan drop a minute later. Charlotte kicked them down and then leaped off the top rope with a moonsault and landed on both. She covered Jax for a two count at 7:00. A graphic advertised a tribute to A.J. Styles on Monday. Jax and Charlotte looked up at the WrestleMania sign. Jax gave Charlotte a Samoan Drop and she landed on her head pretty hard, which the announcers noted. James recovered and surprised Jax with a Samoan Drop for a two count. James climbed to the top rope. Charlotte kicked her and then met her at the top and delivered a Spanish Fly for a two count at 9:00.
James avoided a charging Jax at ringside; Jax crashed into the ringside steps. Charlotte then put James in a figure-four in the ring seconds later. Jax returned and legdropped Charlotte to break up the hold. Jax dragged James to the corner and she landed an Annihilator. Charlotte broke up the cover with a dropkick to Jax’s back. All three were down and slow to get up at 11:00. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”
Jax and Charlotte stood and slapped each other. Jax set up a top rope Samoan Drop, but Charlotte shifted and sunset-bombed Jax. She applied a quick Figure-Eight. James slid under Charlotte and leveraged her shoulders down for a three count.
WINNER: James in 12:00 to qualify for the Chamber.
(Keller’s Analysis: There’s a surprise finish. The crowd was into the action, which was non-stop.)
-Saxton interviewed Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley backstage. Ripley congratulated Kiana and said it was “quite an upset.” She said she’s going to wipe the floor with Giulia later and that Sky will win her qualifying match on Monday. Saxton asked if all this might be taking their focus off of their tag title defense next week. Ripley said they’re tag champs for a reason. Iyo said if they are both in the Chamber, “may the best woman win.” They both smiled.
(Keller’s Analysis: Their friendship is portrayed as so intense and fun-loving, it seems to be setting up a potential misunderstanding or even outright turn in the Chamber leading to a singles match between them at WrestleMania.) [c]
-Tessitore plugged Stephanie McMahon’s interview with Royce Keys.
-Kit Wilson made his ring entrance. Tessitore asked if this where he gets admonished for being toxic. Barrett gushed about detoxing with Wilson. Oba then made his way to the ring. Wilson said since the last time they met, it seems Oba has done a lot of work and grown, “so from feminist to feminist, I want to read you a poem.” He said he had written an Ode to Oba Femi. The jist of it was Oba impressed him and seems born to reign. Fans chanted “Oba!” He said he thought Oba was a brute, but now he sees a little teddy bear in his eyes. Oba smiled and laughed. Oba took the mic and said that was quite nice. He asked the fans what they thought. They yelled “Yeah!” He told Wilson to read another.
Kit looked worried and said he only prepared one. Oba insisted. Wilson opened his book and said it’s old material. “Nine things I hate about men,” he said. He said he thinks men think they’re never wrong and that’s toxic, and how they act with no shame or regrets and always comparing their sizes and that’s toxic, and how they strut like a self-made king. Wilson paused. Oba insisted he finish. Wilson said he hates his brand of masculinity and said he hates “The Ruler” Oba’s toxicity.
(3) OBA FEMI vs. KIT WILSON
Oba yanked him into the ring and went on the attack. He chopped his chest and then landed three running uppercuts in the corner. Oba tossed him half way across the ring and then landed Fall from Grace for the win.
WINNER: Oba Femi in under 1:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: It seemed Wilson broke character and laughed a bit during his reading of the old poem because of the way Oba was looking at him. Technically, a bell never rang, but the action lasted about 20 seconds. Wilson is entertaining and I get people laughing at the general broad strokes of his delivery and mannerisms, but I still don’t get what they’re going for with the gimmick. If it’s to mock people who are critical of the manosphere trend of narrowly defining what it means to be a man, such as never crying, never admitting you’re wrong, and being in charge of women in your lives, I just think WWE fans are not going to be on board with this. Wilson and WWE have created a character who is meant to be laughed at for being effeminate and ridiculous as a way of undermining criticism of the ridiculous manosphere culture that spawned the term “toxic masculinity.” So being critical of the narrow definition of masculinity makes you a “sissy” or something? This just feels like something Vince McMahon would have thought was hilarious 20 years ago.)
-Aldis asked a guy backstage if he knew what was in the big crate. R-Truth walked in and said it’s a huge award for him. Aldis told the guy to send it back to Raw and let Adam Pearce deal with it. Priest walked up to Aldis. Aldis asked if he was ready for his big match. Truth and Priest both said yes. Aldis told Truth thta Priest is in the qualifier, not him. Truth was bummed out. He said he got the balls mixed up and said he like him better when he was bald. Priest said he appreciates the opportunity.
-Tiffany Stratton made her entrance. [c]
-Tessitore plugged Clash in Italy scheduled for May 31, with tickets on sale Mar. 11 and 13 (pre-sale and regular).
(4) TIFFANY STRATTON vs. ALBA FYRE (w/Chelsea Green)
The bell rang 34 minutes into the hour. They fought back and forth early. Fyre raked Tiffany’s eyes and landed a DDT. They cut to a break at 3:00 with Green applauding from her wheelchair at ringside. [c]
Fyre knocked Tiffany off the top rope at 8:00. Fyre leaped through the ropes, but Tiffany hit her. Green stood up, but fell back into her chair when Tiffany moved toward her. Fyre then dove through the ropes and tackled Tiffany. Back in the ring, she went for a Swanton, but Tiffany lifted her knees. Tiffany went for a handspring elbow, but Fyre lifted her knees. Fyre went for a tornado DDT, but Tiffany blocked it. She then landed a Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the win. As Tiffany flexed her biceps, Barrett wished Green to get well soon.
WINNER: Stratton in 10:00.
-Backstage, Cody was shown and then he turned to Sami near him. He told Sami has nothing to be ashamed of. Sami said if anyone should be ashamed of themselves, it’s Cody. Cody was taken aback.
Sami said he tried to help him and then he paid him back with a Cross Rhodes and punched his ticket to the Chamber. “You put a knife in my back,” Sami said. Cody said that is his perspective. He said he took an advantage of an opportunity, and you have to take advantage of them when they come. “And that’s why you haven’t become WWE Champion,” Cody said. Fans went “Ohhh!”
Sami said, “There it is. That’s real easy for you say when you’re the golden boy – QB1.” He said everything comes up aces for him. He said Cody was chosen, but no one has chosen him. He said he’s been trying to finish his story for ten years. He said Cody doesn’t know what it’s like to do the right thing and have it blow up. He asked where he was when he was in Germany and he did the right thing and it cost him everything. Cody said: “It’s not me, it’s not the system. The only thing in your way is you.” Cody left. Sami swatted some plastic water bottles.
Trick Williams walked in after Cody left. He said with friends like Cody, who need enemies. He told Sami tonight he’s going to do something Sami can’t, which is get the job done. Sami ran over to Cody and said he was sorry. Fans booed; they didn’t want him apologizing to Cody. Sami said he was right about everything he said. Sami said everyone knows he’ll be champion again, and when it happens, remember he had a little help along the way.
-Hayes made his entrance. [c]
(5) DAMIEN PRIEST vs. CARMELO HAYES vs. TRICK WILLIAMS – Elimination Chamber qualifier
Trick’s entrance aired. Then Priest’s. The bell rang 57 minutes into the hour. Barrett said Hayes and Trick ran together years ago in NXT and they had a big falling out. Hayes rejected Trick’s overture to work together. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00.
[HOUR THREE]
[c]
Fans were chanting for Trick during the match. Priest threw Hayes through the announce desk. Trick then threw Priest onto the desk. Back in the ring, Trick hoisted Hayes onto his shoulders. Hayes slipped free, but Trick landed a tornado kick for a two count at 9:00. Priest re-entered the ring and they all battled. Trick and Hayes stereo kicked Priest and the battled over who would cover Priest. Priest rolled to ringside. Trick and Hayes took turns scoring leverage near falls on each other.
Hayes hit Trick with a First 48 and then climbed to the top rope. Priest knocked him out of mid-air and set up a Razor’s Edge. Trick kneed Priest and then gave Priest a Trick Shot for the win. Fans chanted, “Whoop that Trick!”
Tessitore noted Orton, L.A. Knight, Cody, Trick, and Je’Von Evans were five of the six in the Chamber.
WINNER: Trick in 12:00 to advance to the Chamber.
-Backstage, tag teams were gathered around the mystery crate. Johnny Gargano was lying on top, looking out of it. Candice LeRae and Aldis bickered. Jordynne Grace walked up to her. Aldis said they have frustrations with each other, so they can get them out of their systems next week. LeRae told Gargano to get down so they can go home.
-Giulia made her ring entrance. [c]
-Jade was doing a photo shoot backstage. She noticed B-Fab and asked if she wants a shot at her. Michin walked up with a kendo stick in hand and said she injured her and she wasn’t going to let it go. She made Jade flinch and said she could take her title so she wouldn’t have to worry about WrestleMania.
(6) RHEA RIPLEY vs. GIULIA (w/Kiana James)
The bell rang 20 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break with Giulia in control. [c]
Ripley set up a Rip Tide at 9:00. Giulia landed a signature knee strike for a two count instead. She set up a Northern Lights Bomb, but Ripley blocked it and headbutted her. Jax entered the ring. Ripley charged at her. Lash Legend jumped Ripley for the DQ.
WINNER: Ripley via DQ in 10:00.
-Sky ran out for the save as Jax and Lash attacked Ripley. Sky and Ripley cleared the ring of the heel duo, whom they face next week in a tag title match.
-Miz told Oba backstage that he’s had his eye on him and he sees him as a future WrestleMania main eventer. He said with John Cena gone, it’s his job to prepare the next WrestleMania main eventer. He said he could show him the ropes. Oba said he should show him next week and he’d talk to Aldis about it. Miz said, “Awesome!” Oba left and then it struck Miz he was talking about a match. “Not a match!” Miz yelled, suddenly panicked. [c]
-Charlotte and Bliss were chatting backstage. Charlotte told Bliss she’d be okay. Bliss said it’s okay to be upset. Charlotte said she will be just fine since her bestie at leastis in the Chamber. Kiana and Giulia walked in and agitated them. James said Charlotte and Bliss might be best friends, but they’re the most powerful duo on the roster. Bliss laughed and told her to prove it. Giulia raged with guttural noises. James dragged her away. Charlotte then went back to insisting to Bliss that she is fine.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. They said they’d be back on USA Network next week. They advertised Ripley & Sky vs. Jax & Lash and Solo vs. Uncle Howdy.
-They went backstage to Solo and the MFTs. He held up the Wyatt Sicks’ lantern. He told Tonga that they need to focus on the Wyatts to make sure they never get the lantern back because without it, they’re nothing. He told him to trust him. He left. Then in walked Shinsuke Nakamura. Tonga asked what he wanted. Nakamura spoke in Japanese and then talked about him always being in Solo’s shadow. He said he’s being held back from becoming his own man. He told him to prove he’s wrong.
-Black made his entrance with Zelina. [c]
(7) RANDY ORTON vs. ALEISTER BLACK (w/Zelina Vega)
Orton made his ring entrance. The bell rang 47 minutes into the hour. After an early exchange, Black sat cross-legged and Orton dropped down into position to signal for an early RKO. They both stood and reengaged. Orton got the better of Black and they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
They fought at ringside during the break. Orton set up a draping DDT at 8:00. Black blocked it and kicked Orton. They battled at ringside a minute later. Orton blocked a Pelé kick and sent Black onto the desk. He hit a draping DDT and then threw him into the ring. Drew then rammed Orton with the title belt in the face. Cody ran out and chased Drew into the crowd.
Orton pulled himself to his feet. Black hit Black Mass and covered Orton for the three count.
WINNER: Black in 13:00.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by ProWrestling.net’s Jake Barnett to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpostshow@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).
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