The time for pointing is over, now it's all about that action — the WrestleMania action, that is.

Friday's episode of "WWE SmackDown" promised visits from both Royal Rumble winners, Jey Uso and Charlotte Flair, as they prepare to make their picks for their WrestleMania 41 championship matches. There were also three qualifying contests for March's Elimination Chamber matches (one men's, two women's) that will ultimately determine two other major showdowns for Las Vegas in April.

Here's how everything unfolded in Memphis, Tennessee.

Queenmaker

It's the week after the Royal Rumble, so we're doing the whole song and dance that surrounds who the winners will select to face at WrestleMania 41. Flair — the first two-time winner of the women's Royal Rumble — completed her rounds on Friday night.

What viewers and fans were treated to was the best version of Flair. She exuded confidence as she cut a heel promo, asking to be "inspired" by one of WWE's women's champions. Tiffany Stratton's music predictably hit and we were off to the races.

THIS is the WrestleMania 41 match.

Not only did Flair look strong, Stratton delivered her best promo since she became WWE Women's Champion. Fans were fully behind her and the energy was there — that's the impact of being in proximity to arguably the greatest women's competitor in WWE history. As much as fans love to complain about Flair and her dominance, there's an incredible opportunity in Las Vegas for WWE to cement the next big women's star by having Stratton go over.

Somewhat frustratingly, Nia Jax and Candice LeRae interrupted the segment before Flair could make her pick official, and Jax will get a title shot against Stratton next week, which feels like an unnecessary detour on the Road to WrestleMania.

Main Event mayhem

Naturally, the show opened with 2025 Royal Rumble winner Uso cutting a promo and inviting Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to the ring. We have more than two months to build before the Showcase of the Immortals, but Uso-Rhodes in a babyface battle doesn't feel like the big money main event match for WrestleMania 41. If this segment and what transpired later in the show — albeit just six days after Uso stunned the wrestling world — is any indication, Uso vs. Gunther is far more intriguing to me.

As Rhodes and Uso traded friendly banter, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga interrupted and caused their own form of chaos, setting up Friday's "WWE SmackDown" main event — a tag match. The main event contest itself was thoroughly entertaining, if inconsequential. For the second week in a row, Tonga ate the pinfall, which ultimately doesn't impact much.

The true needle-moving moment came after the bell, as Solo Sikoa emerged and hit a Samoan spike on Rhodes. We still have three weeks before Elimination Chamber so I fully expect Sikoa to get into the fray there and potentially win to set up a showdown with Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.

👑 Uncrowned Gem of the Night 👑

My colleague Drake Riggs must be smiling tonight because we got a PLE-level triple-threat match on "SmackDown" between Drew McIntyre, Jimmy Uso and LA Knight.

Everything about this was amazing. We got all three men on the microphone before the match and I was all set to give that segment our UGotN considering the degree to which the star trio absolutely cooked before the bell rang. Then, the bell rang and things rose to an entirely different level.

McIntyre, Uso and Knight each had their moments to shine and there were some truly unique spots involving all three at once — McIntyre German suplexing Knight into a Superplex on Uso will live rent-free in my head until, at least, Elimination Chamber.

Speaking of which, McIntyre qualified for March's match in Toronto after delivering a Claymore kick to Knight (who was midway through a BFT on Uso) and picking up the win.

Don't get it twisted [Bliss]

Alexa Bliss' return at the Royal Rumble was arguably the biggest non-Jey Uso moment of the night. She's a multi-time former champion and fan favorite. She qualified for the Elimination Chamber with a win on Friday over Candice LeRae, but the match had several planned tech glitches, potentially signaling involvement of the Wyatt Sicks.

Obviously, Bliss has a connection to the late Bray Wyatt and it's not a huge jump to have her get involved with them in some way, shape or form. Considering how everything has gone downhill since the debut of the Uncle Howdy-led faction, I'm hoping it magically clicks or ends quickly.

Car crash of next week

Riggs might be moonlighting as a WWE writer. We're getting Damian Priest, Braun Strowman and Fatu next week in a triple-threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match.

Considering the size and speed of all men involved, this is going to to be VIOLENT.

Smack Talk

1. We got an impromptu match between Pretty Deadly and DIY, with the stipulation being if Pretty Deadly won they'd get a title shot against Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. After Street Profits cost MCMG the match at Royal Rumble, we should be moving those feuds forward at the highest level, not having Elton Prince and Kit Wilson cheat to jump the line and MCMG going against Legado del Fantasma. I'm not sure if it's fair to call it bizarre booking as much as it's simply chaotic right now in the tag division.

2. Carmelo Hayes and Akira Tozawa had a perfectly fine TV match after their interaction at the Royal Rumble. It made sense from a storyline perspective, had solid action and the right man (Hayes) won. Here's the thing: Three-hour weekly TV shows are asking a lot from your audience and fans in general. We need something more substantial to justify it.

Friday night 🔥

1. R-Truth continues to delight and make the most of his TV time. This week's cameo congratulated Uso on being the King of the Ring.

2. Bianca Belair defeated Piper Niven in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match. Belair should perpetually be around the main event picture on the women's side, but we may have gotten a sneak peek at her and Naomi's next tag title feud as Kaiden Carter and Katana Chance were seen talking with Nick Aldis.

3. I've had my issues with how Chelsea Green's Women's United States Championship reign has unfolded, but it's undeniable that it feels like a much bigger deal than the Women's Intercontinental Championship does right now.

A few hiccups, but otherwise a very solid show that flowed particularly nicely coming out of the Royal Rumble. 👑 7.5/10. 👑