While #KofiMania makes it to the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania, we learn that no one was ready for Asuka's fall possibly off the WrestleMania card.
SmackDown Thoughts (3/26/19)
- The New Day come out first. The announcers put over their professionalism despite being screwed last week. (I wish they weren't throwing pancakes on their entrance to keep some seriousness.) The New Day cut a serious promo about their journey in the last 5 years. They discuss leaving WWE over what happened last week. The New Day want answers before they make a decision. They ask Vince McMahon to come out to address the situation face to face. Xavier says they'll wait all night if they need to.
Mr. McMahon comes out smiling and strutting to the ring. McMahon goes to talk, but he's interrupted by Daniel Bryan and Rowan. Bryan says McMahon should let The New Day quit as they are nothing more than a stale novelty act. Bryan says that McMahon should call up three NXT wrestlers, call them Great Afternoon, and have them throw waffles into the crowd. Kofi is a B+ player only. Kofi keeps losing. The fans are parasites. Don't listen to them. McMahon's instincts are correct: Kofi is a B+ Player. Xavier cuts a promo about Bryan turning into a hypocrite. McMahon tells Bryan to shut up. McMahon calls The New Day's bluff about quitting. Vince calls Kofi a B+ Player. Vince calls Xavier and Big E a B+ Tag Team. Can they put Kofi Kingston in the main event at WrestleMania? Xavier and Big E have to win a Tag Team Gauntlet Match tonight. If they win, Kofi gets his opportunity.
(So, how is the rug going to be pulled out from underneath The New Day tonight? Then, the question becomes "What will The New Day do if that happens?" I wish WWE would just make the announcement and get it over with. It's not as if WrestleMania is 12 days away. Oh right. It is!)
- Becky Lynch is interviewed backstage. Becky Lynch asks what Charlotte Flair brings to the match. All of a sudden, Charlotte's music plays. And the "undeserving third wheel" comes out. She promises to show everyone how deserving she is. (Commercial Break)
Charlotte is facing Asuka next, and it's for the SmackDown Women's Championship. (You have to imagine that the title is changing hands tonight. Asuka has NOTHING going on for WrestleMania.) Charlotte takes advantage early on, but Asuka gets a kick to Charlotte during a headstand to take us to our Split-Screen Commercial Break.
Charlotte gets back in the ring and eventually goes on the attack on Asuka's knee. Asuka goes after Charlotte's leg a moment later with an ankle lock, but Charlotte powers out and hits a Deadlift Wheelbarrow Suplex. Charlotte goes after the leg again, but Asuka catches her on the floor and hits a running kick from the apron. Charlotte knocks down Asuka as she re-enters the ring, and we're back to full screen.
Asuka pulls back on the arm of Charlotte in the Octopus Lock. Charlotte again goes after the knee of Asuka. But Asuka is able to get a Codebreaker type move on Charlotte. Asuka starts mounting an offense against Charlotte. Charlotte boots Asuka in the side of the face. 2 count only. Counters by both women. Asuka kicks Charlotte in the nose for a 2 count. (ANOTHER commercial break, this time a full screen one.)
We return to see Charlotte and Asuka continuing to go to war. Asuka continues to kick off Charlotte from the Figure 8. Charlotte gets sent into the turnbuckle and kicked in the face. 2 count only. Charlotte catches Asuka on the top rope. SPANISH FLY BY CHARLOTTE ON ASUKA OFF THE TOP ROPE! 2 count only!!!! Charlotte grabs at Asuka and starts elbowing Asuka on the mat. Asuka gets a Triangle Lock on Charlotte. Charlotte powers up Asuka and sits down on a Powerbomb. 2 count. Charlotte and Asuka keep avoiding each other's submissions. Figure 8 by Charlotte! Asuka taps out yet again. Charlotte Flair is now the first ever 8x Women's Champion. Charlotte acknowledges Asuka as she celebrates with her newly won championship.
(I can't say I'm surprised by this development. I think this means we are getting a Title vs. Title Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania with all the titles on the line. A very good match in the ring as Asuka and Charlotte continue to have great chemistry. I just hate what this does for Asuka as she drops off the card into a likely Women's Battle Royal spot, if they even have that this year. Asuka deserves so much more, and it continues to be a shame how WWE treats her even when they are "pushing" her. But I can't deny that the main event of WrestleMania just became more interesting in the process.)
- Kurt Angle comes out next for his match vs. AJ Styles. AJ is interviewed backstage in Gorilla Position. AJ puts over Kurt Angle and the honor that he has wrestling Kurt on SmackDown Live. AJ says this is not an exhibition match. Kurt's wrestling AJ in The House That AJ Styles Built. Angle starts immediately with a German Suplex. Calf Crusher on Angle. Styles pulls back with every bit of energy that he has. Angle reverses into the Ankle Lock! It's in deep. Styles sends Angle into the turnbuckle. RKO OUTTA NOWHERE ON STYLES! Orton stomps on Styles, but he gets an Angle Slam for his trouble. He helps AJ up.
(That's the best Kurt Angle has looked in months. There's a reason for that: he only wrestled 2 minutes. This is what it needed to be. It worked for Lesnar and Goldberg. It works for Angle at this stage of his career. This just furthered the Angle Retirement Tour and the Styles vs. Orton feud. I can't hate on this too much, and I'm giving it a thumbs up for what it accomplished rather than what it didn't.)
- Rey Mysterio and Dominic are interviewed backstage earlier tonight. Mysterio promises to become new United States Champion at WrestleMania.
- Miz cuts a promo next. He says he wants Shane to suffer like he did. He wants the whole world to see what he does to Shane. So, he wants a Falls Count Anywhere Match at WrestleMania.
Shane McMahon's music plays next. Security guards block the entrance way. A bunch of enhancement wrestlers (The Colons, Sanity, Shelton Benjamin) come out to help protect Shane as well. (That says a whole LOT about where Sanity is at.) Shane tells the Ring Announcer to do the introduction for him correctly. Shane says that Miz is as dumb as Miz's father looks. A picture of Shane grabbing Miz's father is shown on the screen. Shane has multiple angles of what he did to Miz and his father. And he likes it more and more every time he watches it. Shane gloats about paralyzing Miz's father with fear. Shane promises to beat up Miz all over the arena at WrestleMania. Shane regrets not making his father pay for his biggest "MIZ"-take: Impregnating The Miz's mother. Miz storms the security guards and beats them down. Miz starts going at it with the wrestlers, with Sanity beating down Miz at ringside. Miz throws Dain and Wolfe over the barricade. Miz dives off the barricade on Wolfe and Dain. Miz fights off the former NXT Tag Team Champions singlehandedly.
(Well, that happened. Miz vs. Shane in a Falls Count Anywhere match is good on paper. You obviously have to expect hardcore stipulations from a Shane McMahon singles match at WrestleMania. This will allow other wrestlers to interfere on Shane's behalf as well.)
- We get a recap of A Moment of Bliss from Raw last night with the SNL comedians being added to the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. (I'm sorry. I know this is for the showbiz and mainstream media, but this is absolute garbage. And I cannot defend it in any way. If you think this pops a rating past WrestleMania, let alone FOR WrestleMania, you are wrong. Bottom line. This isn't Mike Tyson, Pete Rose, or Floyd Mayweather here. More like Snooki-level involvement at WrestleMania.)
- The IIconics cut a selfie promo screaming about getting their Tag Team Title opportunity at WrestleMania.
- The Main Event is next as we get YET ANOTHER Gauntlet Match on SmackDown. This time, Xavier Woods and Big E must run the gauntlet as a team to earn a WWE Championship Match for Kofi Kingston at WrestleMania (unless that crazy old Mr. McMahon throws another swerve in their way).
Opponent #1: The Good Brothers (Anderson and Gallows)
(Aren't these guys in Jacksonville by now? Tokyo? An Honorable Ring? Wherever MLW can set up a ring?)
Xavier Woods jumps Anderson as soon as the bell rings. Anderson attacks Woods in the corner. It is literally 1 minute later, and Up Up Down Down puts Gallows and Anderson away.
Gallows and Anderson are eliminated.
Oppponent #2: Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura
(Is the WWE Doghouse being emptied in this match? Also, Shinsuke, Asuka, and Sanity on TV at the same time?! Is this NXT in 2016?)
Woods and Nakamura are going at it. Running knee into the corner by Nakamura on Xavier. Rusev gets tagged in and continues the beatdown.
SPLIT SCREEN COMMERCIAL TIME!
Xavier is out on the floor selling the offense. Nakamura rolls Xavier onto the apron and hits another running knee. Rusev and Nakamura just continue beating down on Xavier. (Lana even gets a slap in for the heck of it.) We return to full screen as BAD VIBRATIONS are executed by Nakamura. Reverse Exploder by Nakamura backfires as Xavier gets the tag to Big E. Big E mows over Nakamura and gets the running splash in. Rusev gets tagged in, but Big E sends Rusev into steel steps on the floor. Nakamura and Rusev double-team Big E, but Xavier breaks up the pin attempt. Rusev is dumped to the floor, and Xavier dropkicks him through the ropes. Kinshasa avoided by Big E. Nakamura puts himself into the ring post. Up Up Down Down ends Nakamura and Rusev.
Nakamura and Rusev are eliminated.
(I still hold on to the idea that these guys will be future endeavored by the end of 2019. I don't want it. But I'm predicting it.)
Opponent #3: The Bar
We return from break to see Sheamus and Cesaro working over Big E in the ring. We see Kofi and the locker room (Becky Lynch, R-Truth, and Rey Mysterio among others) watching on the TV backstage. Big E fights off Sheamus, but he gets The Big Swing from Cesaro. Sharpshooter by The Swiss Superman. Big E kicks Cesaro to the floor, but Cesaro blocks the tag. Sheamus is back in the match and continues to beat down on Big E. Big E fights off The Bar in the corner. Tag to Xavier. (They show the locker room exploding for the tag with Kofi cheering on wildly.) Xavier does a Somersault Dive over the ropes onto The Bar on the floor. A leg drop off the top by Xavier Woods only gets a 2 count. Another commercial break.
We return to see Big E again attacked by The Bar in the ring. Sheamus gets caught in a Powerbomb by Big E. Xavier gets tagged back in as does Cesaro. Uppercut in mid-air by Cesaro. 2 count. Woods gets beaten down by both Sheamus and Cesaro. Woods rolls up Sheamus after help by Big E breaking up a double-team move. 1-2-3.
The Bar is eliminated.
After the fall, Sheamus and Cesaro beat down both Big E and Xavier. Cesaro pulls out a table, and The Bar sets it up in the ring. Big E gets driven through the table by The Bar.
Opponent #4- THE USOS
(I forgot that they were SmackDown Tag Team Champions. That just says everything, doesn't it?)
The table is pulled out of the ring as Big E is still laying on the mat. The Usos get on the mic. They put over the fact that Kofi Kingston deserves to fight for the WWE Championship. He's earned respect from everyone in the locker room and in the WWE Universe. The Usos FORFEIT THE MATCH! WOW! The crowd cheers wildly for The Usos.
The Usos are eliminated.
Daniel Bryan and Rowan are livid backstage and throw chairs all around the locker room.
After the break, it is announced that Big E and Xavier Woods have to face one last team.
Opponent #5: Rowan and Daniel Bryan
Rowan and Bryan come in and immediately start beating down on Big E and Xavier Woods. Woods gets sent face first into the ring frame as Big E gets his knee wrapped around the ring post several times. Big E is alone in the ring as Bryan and Rowan take turns beating down on him. Xavier Woods hits a missile dropkick on Bryan to break up a deep Half Crab on Big E. Woods does a Somersault Dive on Rowan on the floor. Big E catches Bryan running into the corner and drives him down with a Rock Bottom. BIG ENDING! 1-Broken up by Rowan. Woods is sent off the apron into the barricade by Rowan. Rowan gets tagged in. Rowan hits a Rock Bottom on Big E. 2 count only. Bryan calls for Rowan to clear off the table at ringside and put Big E through it. However, Rowan gets sent into the ring post and over the announce table. Big E rolls the announce table on top of Rowan. The 10 count is on! ROWAN AND BRYAN ARE COUNTED OUT! KOFI IS GOING TO WRESTLEMANIA!
WINNERS: THE NEW DAY
Kofi Kingston runs out to the ring to celebrate with his New Day brothers. "Kofi" chants from the crowd.
(A decent Gauntlet Match. I didn't like it nearly as much as the other Gauntlet Matches that SmackDown has had over the last few weeks. It is a bit deflating to have Kofi basically backdoor his way into a championship match with his partners winning the opportunity for him. They should have not done the angle last week and just had Kofi outright win the opportunity last week. We didn't need yet ANOTHER Gauntlet Match. )
Mr. McMahon is interviewed backstage. Kofi is going to WrestleMania. "Can a B+ player beat Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship?" Meanwhile, the SmackDown locker room empties and surrounds the ring. They pound on the ring apron for Kofi.
What I Liked
- Asuka vs. Charlotte
- Continued push for the Women's Main Event at WrestleMania
- The short Angle vs. Styles Match
- The New Day going into serious mode for their promo (despite the pancake entrance).
- Shane vs. Miz getting a stipulation
- Talent used on TV. (Gallows and Anderson, Nakamura and Rusev, The Colons? Wow. So many people still employed and not enough TV time until you need someone to take a 3 count on the mat. But I'm just glad to see some of these people on something other than a Missing poster. )
- Kofi FINALLY getting the opportunity at WrestleMania.
What I Didn't Like
- Asuka losing a WrestleMania match.
- Overusing the Gauntlet Match gimmick. - We didn't need another Gauntlet Match on SmackDown. This makes 3 Gauntlet Matches in the past 2 months.
- Kofi being given a title shot instead of just having the one he earned last week.
Overall, this was a very noteworthy episode of SmackDown. The SmackDown Women's Championship Match delivered another great match between Asuka and Charlotte, despite the fact that Asuka may have been irrevocably damaged in the process. Let's be real: the finish is too similar to what happened at WrestleMania 34. We did get some more promotion for several matches on this show with the other segments on this show. And finally, finally, finally, we get the Kofi Kingston-Daniel Bryan match made official for WrestleMania. I'm happy for Kofi. I just wish that we could have avoided the need for another Gauntlet Match.
#KofiMania will run wild at WrestleMania while #Asuka gets sent further down or off the Mania card.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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