Smackdown Surprise 😮, 3rd Elimination Chamber Qualifier 💥, Cedric Alexander Released 🚪

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Saturday, February 8th, 2025

📢 Announcement

Time to break kayfabe (again) – Morning Dirt Sheet is still a solo act, no tag partners or stables to help out. I’ll be away this weekend with limited wifi/service so I unfortunately won’t be able to send this email the next two days (Sunday and Monday).

Enjoy the weekend (and Super Bowl if you’re watching), and we’ll be back in full force on Tuesday, February 11th!

🗓️ On This Day - 2016

Daniel Bryan Announces His Retirement

9 years ago today, Daniel Bryan shocked the wrestling world by announcing his retirement via Twitter. The message sent fans into a frenzy, as one of WWE’s most beloved superstars revealed he was stepping away from the ring.

That night’s episode of Monday Night Raw opened with a video package honoring Bryan’s career, with segments throughout the show dedicated to his impact on WWE. The night ended with an emotional retirement speech from Bryan, in which he explained that multiple concussions had forced him to step away from in-ring competition. "It got to a point when you’re told that you can’t wrestle anymore," Bryan said, fighting back tears.

Then a few years later…

(Goosebumps)

❄️ Winter Madness 🏆

Welcome to Winter Madness, where we’re on a mission to crown the most popular WWE star across Morning Dirt Sheet! Every day, two legends step into the spotlight, but only one can advance.

Yesterday Iron Sheik got lost in Piper’s Pit and was no match for Rowdy Roddy Piper who took 10/12 votes. Today we have (3) Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs (13) Sgt. Slaughter!

See full bracket here

WWE Smackdown Results - February 7th, 2025

WWE SmackDown aired live from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, on USA Network, featuring continued fallout from the Royal Rumble and the road to Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania 41.

• Jey Uso Confronts Cody Rhodes; Chaos Ensues
  Jey Uso kicked off SmackDown, reflecting on his Royal Rumble win and weighing his decision for WrestleMania. Cody Rhodes praised Jey but made it clear that if Jey chose him, their partnership would end. Before Jey could decide, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga interrupted, declaring that the WWE Championship must return to their family. A brawl erupted, with Jey and Cody clearing the ring.

• Bianca Belair def. Piper Niven (Elimination Chamber Qualifier)
  Belair overcame Niven’s powerhouse offense, countering a Vader Bomb attempt and sealing the win with the KOD to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.

• Pretty Deadly def. #DIY (Earns Tag Team Title Shot)
  DIY celebrated their Royal Rumble victories over the Motor City Machine Guns but were interrupted by Pretty Deadly, who demanded recognition. Nick Aldis set up an immediate tag match, where Pretty Deadly secured a tainted win with an O’Connor roll and ropes-assisted pinfall.

• Drew McIntyre Declares for SmackDown; LA Knight & Jim Uso Confront Him
  McIntyre announced his return to SmackDown, blaming Raw’s environment for his frustrations. Jim Uso called him out for dwelling on the past, while LA Knight mocked him as "Drew McIncryer." The three squared off in a high-stakes match.

• Drew McIntyre def. LA Knight & Jim Uso (Elimination Chamber Qualifier)
  In a fast-paced triple threat, Uso had the match won, but McIntyre pulled the referee out of the ring. McIntyre capitalized, hitting Knight with a Claymore to secure his spot in the Elimination Chamber.

• Carmelo Hayes def. Akira Tozawa
  Tozawa took an early advantage, but Hayes recovered and sealed the win with Nothing But Net.

• Kevin Owens Sends a Message to Sami Zayn
  Owens, speaking from his car, blamed Zayn for his injuries at the Royal Rumble, calling him a "horrible friend" and vowing revenge.

• Charlotte Flair & Tiffany Stratton Face Off; Nia Jax Sets Up Title Match
  Flair returned to SmackDown and confronted Stratton, who claimed she had surpassed Flair’s legacy. Before a WrestleMania decision could be made, Nia Jax announced she would challenge Stratton for the WWE Women’s Championship next week.

• Alexa Bliss def. Candice LeRae (Elimination Chamber Qualifier)
  Bliss won after countering LeRae’s offense with a Square Hammer DDT, earning a spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.

• Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso def. Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga - SOLO RETURNS
  Rhodes and Uso fought off the challenge from Fatu and Tonga, with Cody securing the win after a Cross Rhodes on Tonga. Post-match, Solo Sikoa blindsided Rhodes with a Samoan Spike, leaving him down as SmackDown went off the air.

See full results here

WWE

💥 Third Man Qualifies for 2025 Men’s Elimination Chamber Match

Drew McIntyre secured his spot in the Elimination Chamber after a hard-hitting triple threat match. He clinched victory by nailing LA Knight with a Claymore Kick to the back of the head, just as Knight simultaneously drove Jimmy Uso headfirst into the mat with a BFT.

📺 Super Bowl Ad Featuring ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage Causing a Stir

A Super Bowl 2025 commercial featuring a look-a-like of the late Macho Man Randy Savage has sparked a strong reaction among fans.

🩺 Sami Zayn Injury Update: Spinal Compression & Extreme Nerve Damage

Sami Zayn’s recent injury is being reported as more severe than initially believed. Sources indicate he is suffering from spinal compression and extreme nerve damage following a piledriver from Kevin Owens. While WWE has not announced a timetable for his return, Zayn’s status heading into Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania is “uncertain” 😉.

🚪 AOP Released from WWE

The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) have been released from WWE. Their most recent run saw them working alongside Karrion Kross, Scarlett, & Paul Ellering in the Final Testament but they were never fully reintegrated onto the main roster.

🔥 WWE Highlights Jacob Fatu in "30 Minutes of Destruction"

WWE has released a playlist titled "30 Minutes of Destruction" featuring Jacob Fatu’s most dominant moments. The video highlights his explosive in-ring style, including moonsaults, brutal strikes, and trash-talking showdowns with Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns.

🤣 Just found this funny

AEW

❌ Tony Khan Fires AEW/ROH Star Following Arrest

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that Bear Boulder, real name Thomas Wansaw, of The Iron Savages has been let go from AEW/ROH after he was arrested on January 14 for battery by strangulation. AEW has not made an official statement, but Boulder’s profile has been removed from the AEW website.

📝 Update on AEW Contract Status of Former WWE Star Elias (Elijah)

Dave Meltzer reported in The Wrestling Observer that Elijah (formerly WWE’s Elias) has officially signed with AEW. "While The Righteous have appeared on AEW programming (most recently in a tag team Casino Gauntlet Match on 'AEW Dynamite' in September), they are primarily used as Ring of Honor talent, prompting Meltzer to add that Khan signing new people to ROH would indicate he hasn't given up hope for an ROH media rights deal."

Reddit

🍪 Kevin Owens on X- "If you guys help support my daughter’s Girl Scout troop by buying some cookies, I promise to keep wrestling for at least 4 years, 11 months and 22 days more. @BonJovi"

🤕 [WON] Roman Reigns' storyline injury at the Royal Rumble was reportedly done to keep him out of the Elimination Chamber.

🚪 Cedric Alexander released from WWE

🎤 RJ City on what's the best thing about working in AEW

👏 She deserves it!

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