WWE Friday Night SmackDown in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, on the SYFY Network | February 20th, 2026 — The Episode Recap:

Aleister Black, in his 2nd run with WWE, picked up his biggest win to date, with help from the Undisputed WWE Champion, and came away with the win against Randy Orton in the Main Event of Friday Night SmackDown. (Image Courtesy of WWE)

The February 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Match Results:

The Opening Match: Tama Tonga (with JC Mateo, Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga & Tonga Loa) defeated Ilja Dragunov in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:41)

The 2nd Match: Kiana James defeated Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax in a Women’s Elimination Chamber Triple Threat Qualifying Match | via Pin-Fall — (12:34)

The 3rd Match: Oba Femi defeated Kit Wilson in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (03:50)

The 4th Match: Tiffany Stratton defeated Alba Fyre (with Chelsea Green) in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (09:47)

The 5th Match: Trick Williams defeated Carmelo Hayes and Damian Priest in a Men’s Elimination Chamber Triple Threat Qualifying Match | via Pin-Fall — (12:38)

The 6th Match: Rhea Ripley defeated Giulia in a Singles Match | via DQ — (09:19)

The Main Event Match: Aleister Black (with Zelina) defeated Randy Orton in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall — (13:11)

My Thoughts on the February 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown:

My Thoughts: This was a very well-written episode of SmackDown. It felt like the majority of the SmackDown roster was featured in some way tonight. The matches on the show were decent, not up to par where I would wanna see it, but it's treading its way upward. But this was solid. If you had told me SmackDown would be better than RAW last year, I would've laughed. But with the younger talent shining, and solid matches mixed in with some great segments like the Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn bit. You can deliver quality television as they did. Trick Williams is super over, and I'm glad Kiana James got her moment. Overall solid episode. Now we head into next week for the go-home show in Louisville, Kentucky, as he hits the final stop before WWE Elimination Chamber in Chicago.

The February 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Match Ratings:

The Opening Match: Tama Tonga (with JC Mateo, Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga & Tonga Loa) vs. Ilja Dragunov in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: ***.25 — A very hard-hitting match. I thought Ilja Dragunov was going to end this Tama Tonga run, but no, Tama Tonga is continuing strong as he was fighting back, matching Ilja Dragunov's intensity levels. But Tama Tonga got the win after Tonga Loa gave him some help. Three straight weeks where Tama Tonga gets the pin, which includes the win. I don’t know where they’re going with this. Even when Tama Tonga was in New Japan, he wasn’t like this in the Singles Division in the Tag Diviison that’s a different story, but this whole thing is confusing. Ilja Dragunov tried to attack Soilo Sikoa but got jumped in a 5-on-1 attack by the MFTs. Apollo Crews and Matt Cardona came out to aid Ilja Dragunov, but this got plumppted. The match was fun buit this whole Tama Tonga push is very confusing to me.

The 2nd Match: Kiana James vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax in a Women’s Elimination Chamber Triple Threat Qualifying Match | The Match Rating: **.75 — This match was very average to me. I did come into this match thinking Charlotte Flair will be in the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match as rumors been floating of her facing Jade Cargill at WrestleMania but that doesn’t seem to be the case as that was debunked during this match as we had a shocking upset as the dark horse of this match Kiana James stole one as she entered the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match she has had a good start to the 2026 year as she been showing herself off she has developed a lot and seem to be in good space as she seem to have a bright future in WWE. But I felt like WWE made the smart choice in having a young talent qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match. I am very happy for Kiana James.

The 3rd Match: Oba Femi vs. Kit Wilson in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: N/A — Another squash match for Oba Femi. But there was a twist. Kit Wilson started reading some poems to get out of this match. Now it didn’t work, as Oba Femi dominated, in which Kit Wilson didn’t even take his jacket off or perform a single move of offense. But what I like is the dominance of Oba Femi; he has been made out to be such a threat. I do hope he gets signed to a brand soon because I wonder what his first official feud for the Main Roster is.

The 4th Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Alba Fyre (with Chelsea Green) in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: **.50 — Now, what I can say is I’m actually glad Alba Fyre got some offense in this match. I was scared this was going to be a squash. I’m actually a fan of Alba Fyre, even since her NXT UK days, but the way she’s treated on the Main Roster is unfortunate. But this was an okay match, I can’t really complain. I knew Tiffanty Stratton wasn’t losing because one, she’s in the Women’s Elimination Chamber, and two, she needs to rebuild her stock up as she did return recenntly so she needs some wins before the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match.

The 5th Match: Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Damian Priest in a Men’s Elimination Chamber Triple Threat Qualifying Match | The Match Rating: **** — Whoop That What? Yeah, this was a very fun match. Great to see the lore between Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams being told, as they have a long-standing history of dating one another. Damian Priest, who has been a pin-eating guy in almost all the big matches he’s been enlisted in 2026, was there to be the disruptor, but he didn’t disrupt much. Carmelo Hayes was doing Carmelo Hayes things, wowing everybody, doing his thing inside the ring. The ending of the match was cool as Trick Williams hit two Trick Shots to Damian Priest as Carmelo Hayes fell to the outside protected, as Trick Williams punched his ticket to Chicago as he’s the 5th Person to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match. Trick Williams has had one of the best bookings I’ve seen for a call-up in quite sometime I hope he and Je’Von Evans have a fabulous showing in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match.

The 6th Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Giulia in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: N/A — What annoys me is the fact that a match can be trending in a good direction, but we know Triple H’s playbook; he does the DQ Finishes to protect wrestlers. What’s the point of having these two elite talents wrestle, then have it end on that? That’s what irritates me, it’s like you matchmake these amazing matches but want no winner. It does nothing for me or the viewers watching it. But the match ended as Lash Legend and Nia Jax came into the ring, attacking Rhea Ripley, which prompted IYO SKY to come out to make the save. As we know, next week, RHIYO will defend their WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles against Lash Legend and Nia Jax, next week but Triple H, please stop with these DQ’s. Not every wrestler needs to be protected. Giulia deserves to win a major match eventually.

The Main Event Match: Aleister Black (with Zelina) vs. Randy Orton in a Singles Match | The Match Rating: — This was very funny because Aleister Black who by the way lost a feud to a guy who is a pin-eater now for big matches is in the Main Event against Randy Orton, probably going to conitune the feud into WrestleMania is in another big-time feud. That’s why his losing to Damian Priest made zero sense, as Aleister Black had more to gain from it in the end. But now onto the match, it wasn’t anything spectacular or to hit home about, but Aleister Black seemingly entered into a fresh feud against Randy Orton. I think this feud, Aleister Black is going to try to pick at Randy Orton to be his vicious, demented self again. But I knew when this match was announced, it was another loss for Aleister Black, so I thought, as during the closing moments, help from Drew McIntyre, who blasted the WWE Title onto Randy Orton’s face, he helped Aleister Black catch his biggest win to date in WWE as he hit a Black Mass to close out the show on top. Very happy about that decision, but now capitalize on the momentum Aleister Black has with this win.

The February 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Match of the Night: Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Damian Priest in a Men’s Elimination Chamber Triple Threat Qualifying Match | The Match Rating: **** — Trick Williams has been money, he’s one of the most over acts in wrestling today. He once again shone as he punched his ticket, defeating Carmelo Hayes and Damian Priest as he’s now entering his first-ever Men’s Elimination Chamber Match. Carmelo Hayes was flying all over the place in this match. With Damian Priest, he was the guy who had to eat the pin, but Trick Williams pinned a former World Champion. Trick Williams great start to the year continues.

The February 20th Episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown — The Episode Grade: 7.50/10 (B) — This was a very well-written episode of SmackDown, with most of the roster featured in some capacity. The matches were decent, though not perfect, showing improvement overall. If someone had told me last year that SmackDown would surpass RAW, I would’ve laughed. However, with the younger talent shining and a mix of solid matches and great segments like the Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn bit, the show delivered quality entertainment. Trick Williams is very popular, and I’m glad Kiana James had her moment. Overall, a solid episode. Next week's go-home show in Louisville, Kentucky, will set the stage for WWE Elimination Chamber in Chicago.

Next Week WWE Friday Night SmackDown February 27th Episode in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Live on the USA Network — The Announced Matches & Segments:

1. RHIYO (IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley) (c) vs. The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) in a WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match.

2. Solo Sikoa vs. Uncle Howdy in a Singles Match.

3. The Miz vs. Oba Femi in a Singles Match.

4. Candice LeRae vs. Jordynne Grace in a Singles Match.