Damian Priest Advances to Elimination Chamber Amid High-Stakes SmackDown Action

TORONTO, Canada — Damian Priest earned his spot in the Elimination Chamber match after a chaotic main event at WWE SmackDown on February 14, 2025. Priest triumphed over Jacob Fatu and Braun Strowman in a thrilling triple threat match, with key assistance from Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes, who intervened to thwart interference from Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga.

The contest began with a fierce exchange between Priest and Fatu, who initially teamed up against Strowman. However, as the match escalated, Strowman showcased his dominance by powerbombing Fatu and sending Priest out of the ring. The impacts resonated through the arena as Strowman executed a chokeslam on Fatu onto the announce desk.

Fatu quickly retaliated with hip attacks, attempting to capitalize when Strowman became vulnerable. He even tried to use a chair, but Strowman countered by placing the chair around Fatu’s head, only for Sikoa to inject himself into the bout. Sikoa’s accidental attack on Tonga with a Samoan Spike added to the disorder, enabling Priest to make a decisive comeback.

Cody Rhodes made his entrance just as chaos erupted outside the ring, providing critical support to Priest. As Fatu focused on Sikoa, Priest seized the opportunity and executed a South of Heaven on Strowman, securing the pinfall victory.

With his win, Priest now prepares to face a formidable lineup at the Elimination Chamber, including Drew McIntyre, John Cena, CM Punk, Logan Paul, and one yet-to-be-determined competitor. The stakes are high, with the winner earning a chance to challenge Rhodes for the championship at WrestleMania 41.

The anticipation builds for the upcoming February 21 episode of SmackDown, where Nick Aldis announced that the Bloodline team of Tama Tonga, Solo Sikoa, and Jacob Fatu will square off against Braun Strowman, Damian Priest, and Cody Rhodes in another explosive six-man tag match. Liv Morgan is also set to face Naomi.

This stakes of the upcoming showdown were amplified after a chaotic week in WWE. Last Friday’s events saw Sikoa inadvertently cost Fatu his chance at the Elimination Chamber, creating internal tensions within the Bloodline.

Wrestling analysts celebrated the successful storytelling woven into the matches, noting that the chaos outside the ring heightened the drama of the main event. “It was a blend of action and storytelling, with each character’s motivations clear, and the matches flowed seamlessly,” noted wrestling expert Jamie from Fightful.

As the rivalry intensifies, WWE fans eagerly await how the narrative unfolds at SmackDown this Friday, which remains a central part of the WWE’s programming strategy heading into WrestleMania season.