Friday night at the Amerant Bank Arena in Fort Lauderdale got wild, fast. On the road to Elimination Chamber 2026, things spun way out of control. The main event? Nobody saw that coming. Randy Orton, “The Apex Predator” himself, lost to Aleister Black. And honestly, you could feel Drew McIntyre’s shadow all over that match.
The Undisputed WWE Champion didn’t even bother coming ringside as he just kicked back in a private suite, taking shots at everyone below, stirring up the tension. But while McIntyre played puppet master from above, the future of SmackDown was taking shape right in the ring.
Trick Williams and Kiana James both pulled off huge wins in their qualifying matches. They’re headed to Chicago, ready to step into the “Steel Asylum.” So now, the next chapter’s set—old legends, new blood, and a whole lot of chaos waiting inside the Chamber.
Come on! 😡@DMcIntyreWWE just had to cost @RandyOrton the win… pic.twitter.com/BWyLANvkgc
— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2026
How Aleister Black Upset Randy Orton Following Drew McIntyre’s Brutal Interference
Originally, the main event consisted of just a tactical masterclass between Randy Orton and Aleister Black. Both competitors were about to put on a great show for the fans before Drew McIntyre made his presence felt. After Orton hit a vintage back, drop driver on the announce table, he seemed almost ready to pick up his momentum for the Chamber.
.@Aleister_Blxck was one step ahead 👀 pic.twitter.com/vbn8mDutvy
— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2026
However, the referee was momentarily distracted when Drew McIntyre’s character was coming out strongly, as he had been antagonising the arena all night. Taking advantage of the confusion around him, McIntyre hit Orton with the WWE Championship belt, allowing Aleister Black to put in a very powerful Black Mass & win the match with a pinfall.
This “big loss” of Orton indirectly raises the position of Black, and on top of that, it’s a clear warning from McIntyre: no one is safe from the “Scottish Psychopath” even when he is apparently having a “night off” in a VIP box.
Trick Williams and Kiana James Secure Massive Wins In Fort Lauderdale
While the main event was a veterans’ showdown, two high-intensity qualifiers helped in further shaping the Elimination Chamber lineup. In a frenzied Triple Threat match against his ex, partner Carmelo Hayes and Damian Priest, Trick Williams took the win. To clinch the victory, Williams dropped two powerful Trick Shots on Priest, thus demonstrating that he is indeed the “X factor” of the men’s Chamber match.
On the women’s side, Kiana James was the one to produce the biggest shock of the night by outwitting two former champions. When Charlotte Flair had Nia Jax caught in her Figure 8, James, as if channeling her veteran instincts, rolled up Flair for the pin while the latter was still focused on Jax.
.@_trickwilliams did exactly what he set out to do! 💪 pic.twitter.com/ABRANvllFI
— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2026
These beatings have earned Williams and James a spot in the Chamber along with Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley, which means the stage will be set for a night of career-defining moments on February 28.
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