The March 26th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Here are 4 takeaways from this week’s show:
Vince McMahon Announced Another Gauntlet Match
New Day kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown. Xavier Woods said that the past few months has been an emotional rollercoaster. Big E added that they have been together for almost five years and it has been an incredible journey. Big E brought up the countless obstacles placed in Kofi’s way and that the trio has considered walking away.
Woods said that it has been hard to watch how poorly Kingston has been treated for the past 11-years. Xavier then asked Mr. McMahon to come down to the ring and address them face-to-face. Woods added that they have no problem waiting in the middle of the ring until Vince comes down.
McMahon strutted down to the ring to a chorus of boos from the Uncasville crowd. WWE Champion Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan immediately interrupted and told Vince not to waste another breath and suggested that he let New Day quit.
Bryan joked that they could call up three people from NXT and just call them Fresh Afternoon. They could throw waffles into the crowd and would be more popular than New Day. Bryan referred to Kingston as a B+ player and stated that Vince has been right about Kofi the entire time.
Woods accused Bryan of being scared to fight Kingston one on one. Vince shouted for everyone to shut up and mocked New Day for saying that they were going to quit. McMahon called Kingston a B+ player and questioned if Woods and Big E were a B+ team. Vince announced that they will compete in a Tag Team Gauntlet Match tonight and if they win, Kinston will get a title shot at WrestleMania.
Charlotte Flair Is The New SmackDown Women’s Champion
Becky Lynch called Charlotte a third wheel in a backstage interview and Flair’s music interrupted. Charlotte came down to the entrance ramp and said that she is about to show Becky how deserving she is to be in the main event of WrestleMania 35.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka then defended her title against Charlotte. Asuka controlled the match early and booted Charlotte out of the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Flair went to work on Asuka’s left knee in the middle of the ring.
Asuka battled back and connected with the Hip Attack and then a German Suplex. Asuka followed it up with a kick to the face for a near fall. Charlotte went for a Moonsault but Asuka countered into an Asuka Lock. Charlotte broke free as SmackDown went to another break.
Asuka made her way to the top rope but Charlotte caught her with a punch to the face. Charlotte connected with a Spanish Fly off the top rope and went for the cover but Asuka kicked out at two.
Flair elbowed Asuka in the face several times while yelling “give up!”. Asuka locked in a Triangle submission but Flair countered into a Powerbomb for a near fall. Charlotte locked in the Figure Eight in the middle of the ring and Asuka tapped out. Charlotte is the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.
The only way this makes any sense is if WWE is unifying the women’s titles at WrestleMania. I have no idea why WWE continues to bury Asuka, but it is what it is at this point. I was excited when Asuka won the title off of Lynch at Royal Rumble and hoped that she was going to have a great title reign. Ultimately, WWE had no plans for her and she was just a pawn in the RAW Women’s Championship storyline.
Shane Vs. The Miz Will Be Falls Count Anywhere At WrestleMania
The Miz came down to the ring to chants of “Miz is awesome!” from the crowd. Miz cut a promo on Shane and said that he made things personal when he put his hands on his father at Fastlane. The Miz added that he wants to destroy Shane McMahon at WrestleMania and suggested that it be a Falls Count Anywhere.
Miz vowed to beat the hell out of Shane all over that stadium. Shane McMahon interrupted and was accompanied by a security team. The Colons and SAnitY were also a part of Shane’s security team and stood on the entrance ramp.
Shane danced on the entrance ramp and demanded that Greg Hamilton announce him as the best in the world. Shane claimed that security was out here to protect The Miz from him. Shane joked that The Miz was as dumb as his father looks. He added that he watches his attack at Fastlane over and over again and that it makes him feel great.
Shane accepted The Miz’s stipulation and added that his only regret was not punishing Miz’s father for his biggest mistake, impregnating The Miz’s mother. The Miz flipped out and tried to get to Shane but the security was in the way.
The Miz beat them down and then battled with Epico, Primo, and Shelton Benjamin. SAnitY then attacked The Miz and beat him down. The action spilled into the crowd and The Miz wound up standing tall. The Miz hopped back over the barricade and walked up the entrance ramp as Shane retreated.
Kofi Kingston Will Face Daniel Bryan At WrestleMania
Big E and Xavier Woods defeated Gallows & Anderson in under a minute. They then defeated Nakamura and Rusev after hitting the UpUpDownDown. The Bar made their way to the ring next as Kofi was shown watching backstage.
The Bar isolated Big E in the ring for several minutes but finally he was able to tag in Woods. Xavier booted Sheamus in the face and followed it up with a DDT. Woods then flipped onto The Bar outside the ring and rolled Cesaro back inside. Woods connected with a Leg Drop off the top rope and went for the cover but Sheamus broke it up at two. Big E knocked Cesaro out of the ring and Woods rolled up Sheamus for the victory.
The Bar then attacked Woods and Big E after the match and grabbed a table from under the ring. Sheamus and Cesaro then slammed Big E through the table as The Usos made their way down to the ring. Jimmy and Jey grabbed a couple of microphones and stated that Kofi deserves to fight for the WWE Championship. They added that he has already earned their respect and announced that they forfeit. Daniel Bryan was shown backstage throwing a tantrum and Erick Rowan joined in by launching chairs around the room.
Daniel Bryan and Rowan then marched tot he ring and attacked Big E and Woods. Rowan slammed Woods’ head off of the ring apron as Bryan wrapped Big E’s leg around the ring post. Bryan then locked in a Half Crab on Big E in the middle of the ring. Woods broke it up and then flipped onto Rowan outside the ring.
Bryan went for the Running Knee but Big E caught him and slammed Daniel to the canvas. Big E connected with the Big Ending on Bryan but Rowan broke it up. Rowan launched Woods into the barricade and then tagged in. Rowan slammed Big E to the mat for a near fall.
Rowan cleared off the announce table as Woods planted Bryan with a DDT outside the ring. Big E Clotheslined Rowan over the announce table and then flipped the desk onto him. Big E and Woods got into the ring as the referee started counting. Rowan and Bryan were counted out and it was announced that Kofi was going to WrestleMania.
Kingston sprinted down to the ring and celebrated with Big E and Woods. Vince McMahon was interviewed backstage and said that Kingson was going to WrestleMania. Vince wondered if a B+ could beat Daniel Bryan and got into his limo. The SmackDown locker room then surrounded the ring and applauded Kingston.
Overall, this week’s episode of SmackDown was entertaining and much better than last night’s horrific episode of RAW. Hopefully, both shows are great next week and the build towards WrestleMania ends on a high note.
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