Below are some top news stories of the day, featuring SmackDown, Elias, and Kevin Owens.
• WrestleVotes reported the following about tonight’s SmackDown:
“Both Men’s & Women’s Elimination Chamber qualifying matches will take place on SmackDown, with tonight’s main event scheduled to be a triple threat:
Drew McIntyre vs LA Knight vs Jimmy Uso.”
According to PWInsider, the news of McIntyre being transferred to SmackDown could be made official on tonight’s show.
Speaking of SmackDown, 2025 Royal Rumble winners Jey Uso and Charlotte Flair will appear on tonight’s show to address Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton respectively.
• According to the Wrestling Observer, former WWE Superstar Elias, now known as Elijah, has signed with AEW-ROH:
“Elijah (formerly Elias, real name Jeff Sciullo, 37) has signed here. A video was posted showing him as the new member of The Righteous group with Dutch & Vincent on ROH. He teamed with them on the Jericho Cruise this week.
The fact they are still signing new people for ROH would indicate Tony Khan hasn’t given up on fortifying for a media rights deal.”
Chris Jericho is the current World Champion in Ring of Honor.
• Kevin Owens has made history in WWE — but not the kind he wanted. His loss to Cody Rhodes at Royal Rumble 2025 in a Ladder Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship officially places him in one of the company’s most frustrating records.
Owens has now joined an unfortunate club — he is one of only three wrestlers in history to challenge for the WWE Championship at least 10 times without ever winning it. The other two names on this list are Don Muraco and Dolph Ziggler.
Owens, a former Universal Champion, has come close before, with recent opportunities at Bash in Berlin and Saturday Night’s Main Event in 2024, but each time, the title has slipped through his fingers.
