WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: The Rock lures Cody Rhodes with gifts, promises pre Elimination Chamber

Rhodes must give The Rock an answer at The Elimination Chamber event on Saturday

The Rock wants to know if Cody Rhodes' soul is for sale. Last week, "The Final Boss" promised to take Rhodes' career to the next level if Rhodes would serve as his champion. On this week's WWE SmackDown, The Rock showed a glimpse of what he had to offer.

Rhodes must inform The Rock of his decision at the Elimination Chamber on Saturday. Throughout the night, various superstars weighed in on what Rhodes should do. Drew McIntyre told Rhodes to accept The Rock's offer because he sold his soul long ago. Punk told Rhodes that Rock should shove the offer where the sun doesn't shine.

SmackDown also featured a series of matches to crown a top contender for Shinsuke Nakamura's United States championship. Three singles matches determined the triple threat finals, which also took place later in the evening. Jacob Fatu and LA Knight were among the high-profile names vying for a title shot.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The Rock tries to lure Rhodes

Michael Cole interviewed Rhodes in SmackDown's closing segment. Cole pitched The Rock's offer as a life-changing opportunity. A reduced schedule and the ability to see his family whenever he wanted. The segment was interrupted by The Rock's gift to Rhodes, a custom "American Nightmare" red raptor truck. The Rock called in remotely before boarding his private jet to the Elimination Chamber. The Rock claimed he and Rhodes had been texting all week. The Rock was confident that Rhodes would "do the right thing" by agreeing to be The Rock's champion. 

The Rock evoked the name of Rhodes' late father, Dusty Rhodes, to sway him. The Rock also attempted to manipulate Rhodes by claiming he could make Rhodes' wife and daughters' dreams come true. "I love you brother" were the Rock's last words before boarding his jet to Toronto. Rhodes looked pensively as SmackDown went off the air.

The soul stuff is still a little odd, but I'll often give a chance to storylines that deviate from the norm and try to build intrigue. This week's development felt more like a holdover to Elimination Chamber. It wasn't gripping but at least fans won't have to wait long for an answer. Hopefully, the parties involved have a longer vision for this feud considering how abruptly it came together. Grade: B+

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Tiffany Stratton def. Chelsea Green via disqualification after Nia Jax and Candice LeRae attacked Stratton. Trish Stratus helped Statton run them off post-match.
  
• Jacob Fatu def. Andrade via pinfall with a double jump moonsault. Fatu advanced in the United States championship No. 1 contender's tournament.
  
• #DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Street Profits and Los Garza brawled, scrapping a planned match between the latter two teams.
• CM Punk, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul and Seth Rollins traded barbs ahead of their Elimination Chamber match.
• LA Knight def. Santos Escobar via pinfall with a BFT. Knight advanced in the U.S. championship No. 1 contender's tournament.
• Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, from separate locations, had a tense conversation ahead of their unsanctioned match at Elimination Chamber.
• Carmelo Hayes def. Braun Strowman via disqualification after the referee caught him holding a steel chair while Hayes played dead. Solo Sikoa had previously attacked Strowman with the chair but Strowman shrugged it off.
• Roxanne Perez, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez def. Bayley, Bianca Belair and Naomi via pinfall after Perez hit Bayley with the Pop Rox. Post-match, Alexa Bliss emerged and laid out Perez with an Abigail DDT.
• LA Knight def. Carmelo Hayes and Jacob Fatu via pinfall by pulling Fatu out of the ring and stealing the pin. Knight is now No. 1 contender for the U.S. title.