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6 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (2/19)

Written by

Robert Lentini

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The February 19th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. It was the first episode of SmackDown following WWE Elimination Chamber 2019. Here are 6 takeaways from the show:

Shane & The Miz Will Get Another Shot At The SmackDown Tag Team Championships At WWE Fastlane

Shane McMahon and The Miz
Shane McMahon and The Miz. Photo Credit: WWE.com

SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown. Highlights of Kofi Kingston from Elimination Chamber was shown as Shane made his way down to the ring.

Shane hyped up the NXT Superstars that appeared last night on RAW and added that they will be here tonight on SmackDown. The Miz interrupted and claimed that he hasn’t slept in two days and has to get something off of his chest.

The Miz joined Shane in the ring and stated that he lost the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Miz told Shane that he took a chance on being his partner because he made a passionate plea. The Miz admitted that he used Shane because he knew he felt the same way about his father.

Miz thanked Shane for selflessly stepping in when he got injured and winning the Best in the World trophy. The Miz brought up Shane bringing his dad to SmackDown and that was the first time he ever heard his dad say that he was proud and that he loved him.

The Miz got choked up a bit and claimed that was the best moment of his career and that it was because of Shane McMahon. Miz apologized to Shane for letting him down at Elimination Chamber and asked Shane to make a rematch with The Usos.

The Usos joined the party and said that they will give Shane and Miz one more opportunity to call themselves the best team in the world. The Usos called The Miz a joke, a loser, a failure, a fraud, and a “wannabe A-lister with C-list skills”.

Jimmy and Jey told Shane to find another partner and McMahon told them not to disrespect his partner. Shane announced that the rematch is happening in The Miz’s hometown of Cleveland at WWE Fastlane. Later on SmackDown, The Miz informed Shane that his dad, Mr. Miz, will be ringside for the match at Fastlane.

It will be interesting to see what goes down at WWE Fastlane. I don’t expect Shane McMahon and The Miz to recapture the titles at the PPV next month. The Miz and Shane are likely going to face each other at WrestleMania and the only thing that is keeping me mildly interested in this storyline is how their friendship is going to fall apart.

Aleister Black Picked Up Another Impressive Win

Aleister Black battled Andrade on this week’s episode of SmackDown. Zelina Vega was ringside for the match. WWE ran a video package for Aleister Black before the match and showed some moments from his NXT career.

Andrade and Black went back and forth to start off the match. Andrade leveled Aleister with a chop to Black’s chest as Ciampa and Gargano were shown watching backstage. Andrade charged at Aleister in the corner but Black got out of the way and Andrade fell out of the ring. Black then flipped off the second rope and took a seat in the middle of the ring.

Black connected with Double Knees and followed it up with a German Suplex for a near fall. Andrade battled back and went for the Hammerlock DDT but Aleister escaped and hit Black Mass for the pinfall victory.

It would be awesome to see matchups like this on a weekly basis on the main roster. I just hope that WWE doesn’t try to change Aleister Black’s character and let him be who is. Aleister Black is/was one of the most interesting characters in NXT and it should remain that way on RAW or SmackDown.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1098032490323865600

DIY Broke The Bar

Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa were interviewed backstage. They were asked if they believe that they can live up to the hype and Ciampa stated that they have made careers out of defying the odds. Gargano added that they are going to show the world that this is the future.

The Bar interrupted and told them both to go back to NXT. Ciampa stated that they are here to take over. Gargano added that they aren’t here to set the bar, they are here to break The Bar.  Sheamus and Cesaro then laughed in their face and walked away.

Sheamus & Cesaro squared off against Ciampa & Gargano tonight on SmackDown. Sheamus and Tommaso started off the match. Ciampa booted Sheamus in the face a few times and Cesaro quickly tagged in. Cesaro took control and applied a Headlock to Ciampa.

Tommaso broke free and leaped off the second rope right into a giant uppercut from Cesaro. Sheamus tagged in and brought Ciampa up to the second rope. Ciampa countered into a Sunset Flip Powerbomb but it was botched and Sheamus landed directly on Tommaso’s knee.

Johnny tagged in and applied the Gargano Escape to Cesaro but Cesaro escaped with a Backbreaker. Sheamus tagged in and hit a Backbreaker on Gargano but Ciampa broke up the pinfall.

Sheamus taunted Gargano and Johnny responded with a Superkick for a two count. Cesaro tagged in and drove Gargano to the corner of the ring. Ciampa tagged in and leaped over the ropes and rolled up Cesaro for the pinfall victory.

I was relieved to see Ciampa get back into the match after the botched Powerbomb spot. That looked absolutely brutal for both Superstars and Ciampa has had a history of knee injuries. DIY pinned the RAW Tag Team Champions last night and defeated the former SmackDown Tag Team Champions tonight. That is a hell of a debut for Gargano and Ciampa.

Mandy Rose Pinned The SmackDown Women’s Champion

SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka finally returned to the show for an interview with Kayla Braxton. Kayla said that it seems like people are talking more about Becky Lynch, Charlotte, and Ronda Rousey and asked if Asuka felt lost in the shuffle.

Asuka said that she is ready for a new challenge and boasted about tapping out Becky Lynch at Royal Rumble. Asuka wanted to know who was next and Mandy Rose came down to the entrance ramp alongside Sonya Deville.

Mandy told Asuka to take some notes from God’s greatest creation. Rose claimed that she was ready for Asuka and got in the ring. Asuka controlled the match early but Lacey Evans interrupted. Evans classed up the joint by strutting down the entrance ramp before returning backstage. Rose tried to capitalize on the distraction with a Russian Leg Sweep for a two count.

Asuka battled back with a Shining Wizard for a near fall. Mandy Rose pretended to injure her eye and rolled up Asuka for the pinfall victory.

It is possible for WWE to build up Mandy Rose without making Asuka look like weak. Asuka won the SmackDown Women’s Championship, only to not be featured on SmackDown for two weeks and then lose in an embarrassing fashion when she returned. It doesn’t make any sense to me.

Ricochet Was Victorious In His SmackDown Debut

Ricochet faced Eric Young tonight on SmackDown. Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe of SAnitY were ringside for the match. Young controlled the match early as Dain and Wolfe kept getting involved.

Ricochet battled back and connected with a Shooting Star Press for a two count. Ricochet Dropkicked Young out of the ring and then flipped onto him. Back in the ring, Ricochet climbed to the top rope and hit the 630 Splash for the pinfall victory.

Well, at least SAnitY actually appeared on SmackDown this week. I guess that can be considered a step in the right direction for them. Ricochet once again showed off his amazing talent in this match. He is one of those rare talents that could work with any Superstar and make it entertaining.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1098046597521424387

Kofi Kingston Will Face Daniel Bryan For The WWE Championship At Fastlane

Photo Credit: Twitter

Kofi Kingston, Jeff Hardy, and AJ Styles faced Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, and Randy Orton in the main event of SmackDown. Before the match, Bryan cut a promo and claimed that his opponent will be none of the Superstars in this match because he defeated them all inside the Elimination Chamber.

Randy Orton slammed Kofi Kingston onto the announce table and then brought him back inside the ring. Orton applied a Headlock but Kofi escaped by launching him into the turnbuckle.

Styles and Bryan tagged in and AJ planted him with a Backbreaker. Styles followed it up with a Neckbreaker for a near fall. AJ went for the Styles Clash but Orton broke it up. AJ hit Orton with a Pele Kick and then locked in the Calf Crusher on Styles in the middle of the ring.

Samoa Joe broke it up but Hardy hit him with the Twist of Fate. Bryan applied the LeBell Lock but Styles quickly escaped and connected with a Pele Kick. Kofi tagged back in and Bryan sent him flying onto everyone outside the ring. Kofi quickly scaled the turnbuckle and hit Bryan with a Dropkick that sent Bryan out of the ring. Kingston launched himself onto Bryan and Rowan outside the ring.

Back in the ring, Kofi hit Bryan with the Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall victory. Shane McMahon then came down to the entrance ramp and announced that Daniel Bryan will defend his WWE Championship against Kofi Kingston at WWE Fastlane.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1098054644243316736

The crowd was behind Kingston at Elimination Chamber and they were behind him once again tonight on SmackDown. I’m already looking forward to this match at Fastlane. Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan are amazing wrestlers and they will likely steal the show at the PPV in a few weeks. I’d still be absolutely shocked if Kofi Kingston actually won the WWE Championship in a few weeks at WWE Fastlane but anything is possible. Overall, SmackDown was a decent show this week.

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