The March 19th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. In addition to the takeaways below, it was announced that Samoa Joe will defend the US Title against Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 35. Rey’s son will be in the front row for the match.
Here are 4 takeaways: from this week’s SmackDown:
The Miz Responded To Shane McMahon
The Miz kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown and rolled footage of Shane McMahon’s promo from last week. Miz admitted that he has taken shortcuts throughout his career and that his friendship with Shane meant a lot to him.
Miz got choked up and said that he just wanted to make his father proud. He added that when he brought up the idea of teaming up with Shane to other people, they warned him.
The Miz brought up Shane attacking him in front of his father at Fastlane and how Shane put his hands on his father as well. Miz called Shane a disgusting human being and claimed that he was rotten to the core just like his father.
He shouted that Vince and Shane may own WWE but they don’t own Miz or Kofi. The crowd chanted “Kofi!” as Miz said that he wasn’t born with privilege and that he earned his way to WWE on his own.The Miz said that he was a proven success story and said it took him 13-years to earn the fans respect. The crowd chanted “you deserve it!” as Miz stood silently in the ring. Miz stated that Shane deserves an ass kicking from him at WrestleMania and then flipped the microphone out of the ring.
I’ve always been a fan of The Miz. He is not the most talented wrestler in the world but I don’t remember him being involved in many matches that I thought were terrible. The Miz is excellent with the microphone and I thought his promo tonight was great. In just a few minutes, The Miz was able to get me much more invested in this feud.
The IIconics Defeated The Tag Team Champions
Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks and Bayley battled The IIconics tonight on SmackDown. Banks and Bayley were in control of the match until Lacey Evans interrupted and strutted down the entrance ramp.
Billie Kay took out Bayley with a boot to the face outside the ring. Peyton Royce capitalized by rolling up Banks from behind. Billie Kay then held down Sasha while she was trying to kick out and the referee didn’t catch it.
I’m assuming that Nia Jax & Tamina and The IIconics will be added to the Women’s Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania. I couldn’t be more bored with whatever WWE is trying to do with Lacey Evans. I would have rather her just stay in NXT until they had something for her to do. I could say the same for Heavy Machinery, Nikki Cross, and EC3.
Charlotte & Becky Lynch Brawled
The Kevin Owens show returned with Becky Lynch and Charlotte as the guests. Owens said that nobody knows better than he does that a friendship can go wrong. Kevin brought out some cue-cards and announced some of the things Ronda Rousey has said about Charlotte and Becky.
Kevin stated that nobody wants to see them talk anymore and suggested that they fight. Becky and Charlotte got up and slowly started walking towards each other. Charlotte shouted that she would beat the hell out of Becky.
Lynch punched Charlotte in the face and then Flair tackled her over the desk in the ring. Charlotte slammed Becky into the barricade as WWE security rushed the ring. Charlotte and Becky then beat up some of WWE’s security and went after each other again. The two Superstars were finally separated to end the segment.
Kofi Kingston Was Screwed Over Again
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan claimed that Kofi Kingston was chosen to replace Mustafa Ali before the Elimination Chamber and that he never earned that opportunity. Bryan referred to Kingston as a B+ player and New Day interrupted.
Kofi Kingston came down to the ring and the Gauntlet Match started. Kingston battled Sheamus as it was announced on commentary that Big E and Xavier Woods were banned from ringside.
Sheamus controlled the match and geared up for the Brogue Kick. Kofi got out of the way and rolled up Sheamus for a two count. Kingston then connected with the Trouble in Paradise to eliminate Sheamus.
Cesaro was the second Superstar in the Gauntlet Match and quickly hit Kingston with an Uppercut for a near fall. Kingston went for a Crossbody but Cesaro caught him and connected with a Backbreaker for a two count.
Cesaro beat Kofi down and taunted him by shouting that he is never going to WrestleMania. Cesaro went for the Neutralizer but Kingston countered into a Back Body Drop. Kofi then hit the S.O.S. to eliminate Cesaro.
Rowan marched down to the ring and beat the hell out of Kingston in the corner of the ring. Rowan launched Kingston to the outside and then bashed Kingston with a steel chair and was disqualified. Rowan then slammed Kingston through the announce table as the crowd booed.
Samoa Joe was next up and continued to beat Kingston down. Joe perched Kofi up on the top rope and went for the Muscle Buster but Kingston escaped and rolled him. After Joe was eliminated, he snuck up behind Kingston and applied the Coquina Clutch.
Randy Orton was the final Superstar in the Gauntlet Match. Orton brought Kofi outside the ring and launched him into the barricade. Randy called Kingston “stupid” and Kofi responded by launched Orton into the steel steps.
Orton took back control and applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Randy went for the RKO but Kingston countered with Trouble in Paradise. Kingston crawled towards Orton for the cover but Randy was able to escape out of the ring.
Kingston and Orton then battled on the top rope. Kofi headbutted Orton and went for a Crossbody but Randy countered into a roll-up for a two count. Orton followed that up with a DDT while Kingston was caught up in the ropes. Orton went for the RKO but Kingston countered into a roll-up for the victory.
After the match, Vince McMahon came down to the entrance ramp and announced that Kofi had to defeat another opponent. Daniel Bryan then came down to the ring with a smile on his face. Bryan hit Kingston with several kicks in the corner of the ring.
Kingston battled out of the corner but Bryan knocked him to the canvas with a knee to the ribs. Bryan followed it up with a Belly to Back Superplex for a near fall. Daniel applied the LeBell Lock but Kingston was able to get to the bottom rope. Kofi then hit the S.O.S. but Bryan was able to kick out at two. Daniel then hit the Running Knee on Kingston for the victory.
I couldn’t help but feel like an hour of my life was just wasted watching this match. I figured something was going to happen after Kingston pinned Orton with like 7-minutes left in the show. There isn’t anything original about this and I’m just bored with it. Overall, there was nothing special about RAW or SmackDown this week, which is concerning because WrestleMania is 19 days away.
