Smackdown – March 19, 2019: Your Wrestlemania Moment Is In Another Match
IMG Credit: WWE
Smackdown
Date: March 19, 2019
Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Commentators: Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips
It’s a Kofi Kingston night as he has to run a gauntlet match to get to the main event of Wrestlemania. In theory, with so few shows left to go before the pay per view, they’ll finally announce the match and let us have a few weeks to build. There’s a lot of other stuff to build on the way there too though and I’m not sure how much time everything else is going to get. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Here’s the Miz to open things up (Not the gauntlet match, which was announced as opening the show. It doesn’t mean anything, but why announce it if you’re just going to change it within a few days? How hard can it be to keep something that straight?). We see a video on Shane McMahon’s explanation from last week, including the announcement of his match with Miz at Wrestlemania.
Miz talks about being focused on the Road to Wrestlemania for his entire career and, other than his wife and daughter, he has sacrificed every relationship he has to make it there. Over the years he has worked to make his father proud of him and Shane McMahon helped make that happen. He had been told that Shane was a little different behind the scenes and then Shane turned on Miz and even attacked his father. Shane was born into the McMahon Family so he was born the Worst In The World.
Vince and Shane may own the company but they don’t own Miz and they don’t own Kofi. Miz wasn’t born into privilege and he was destined to flip burgers at his dad’s restaurant. Then he defied everyone and became WWE Champion on his own. You can boo him or cheer him but you can’t deny his work ethic. He’s a proven success story and it took him thirteen years but now he feels like he has earned that respect. The fans give him a YOU DESERVE IT chant and Miz agrees that he does.
It was a good face turn promo, though tying it into his month long friendship with Shane is about as tough of a sell as you’re going to go. Also, again, it’s really hard to buy the idea that Miz’s dad wasn’t proud of him for the World Title, the nine Intercontinental Titles or anything else, but a nothing tag team with Shane. The moral of this is that Miz’s dad is a pretty horrible parent and that’s not enough to turn Miz into a huge face.
Boss N Hug Connection vs. IIconics
Non-title. Before the match, the IIconics mock the champs for playing it safe, including going back to NXT to make themselves feel better. Bayley chases Peyton to the floor to start and it’s off to Sasha, with Bayley lifting her up for a dropkick. Billie comes in and gets taken down, allowing Sasha to mock the pose.
Hang on though as here’s Lacey Evans for a distraction and Billie gets in a discus lariat for two. Back from a break with Bayley and Billie hitting a faceplant for the double knockdown. Banks and Peyton come in off the double tag and it’s a Meteora for two on Royce. Kay boots Bayley in the face on the floor and helps Peyton roll Sasha up for the pin at 8:25.
Rating: D+. I’m so glad that we had the champs lose in one of their first matches together for the sake of setting up the title match. With Bayley and Banks saying that they’ll fight anyone, why not just have them fight everyone? Or let this be a singles loss or something like that? Or, for a change, just have some challengers win a few matches to get their shot? Crazy talk I guess.
Rey Mysterio is in the back and has an announcement. He brings in his son Dominic (of THE FOLLOWING LADDER MATCH IS FOR THE CUSTODY OF DOMINIC fame), who will be in the front row when Rey challenges Samoa Joe for the US Title at Wrestlemania.
Wrestlemania rundown, with nothing new added.
It’s time for the KO Show with Kevin Owens talking about how tonight is all about Kofi Kingston. He’ll be watching the gauntlet match closely, but for now we need to get to the guests. That would be Becky Lynch and Charlotte with Owens talking about how Becky is willing to fight Charlotte and Ronda Rousey at the same time.
As for Charlotte, Becky has said that she was shoehorned into the match and doesn’t belong. What Owens knows is that everyone is sick of hearing them talk and want to see the two of them fight. They stand up, Owens, leaves, and the fight is on. Security and referee get beaten up as well as the fans are very pleased with Becky.
AJ Styles talks about Randy Orton having some advantages. Yeah Orton is 6’4 and 250lbs. He’s a first round draft pick and AJ is a walk-on. That’s ok though, because at Wrestlemania, AJ is proving that this is his house. Oh and good luck to Kofi tonight.
Here are Daniel Bryan and Rowan to talk about how Kofi’s gauntlet match is an injustice. Daniel doesn’t buy this idea that Kofi is being held down because he was put in the gauntlet match and the Elimination Chamber. It was nothing he had earned because he was handed a spot. Both times, Kofi lost and he has earned nothing.
Kofi really is a B+ player but that’s ok with the fans because a B+ is good enough. Hey that could be a New Day shirt. No amount of chanting changes the fact that Kofi keeps losing. This brings out New Day because it’s time for the gauntlet match. That’s an interesting way to go with Kofi vs. Bryan and something that could have some legs in the promos.
Gauntlet Match
Of course Kofi starts and gets Sheamus first, with Big E. and Xavier Woods barred from ringside. Feeling out process to start with Kofi getting caught in a headlock on the mat. Sheamus gets armdragged into an armbar before Kofi sends him outside. That means a no hands dive but Sheamus pounds away with the ten forearms to the chest. Back in and Kofi stomps away until Cesaro gets in a cheap shot from the apron. The chinlock doesn’t last long and we take a break.
Back with Kofi hitting the Boom Drop and getting two off a spinning middle rope crossbody. Sheamus is right back with the Cloverleaf, which gets rolled up for two. A knee to the head rocks Kofi for two and we see the Usos joining the New Day watching in the back. The Brogue Kick is blocked and Trouble in Paradise gets rid of Sheamus at 13:41.
Mustafa Ali and the Hardys are watching as well as Cesaro jumps Kofi from behind with a gutwrench suplex getting two. Cesaro works on the leg and back but runs into a boot in the corner. A springboard is countered with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker as we take a break. Back again with R-Truth joining the locker room crowd and Cesaro swinging Kofi into the Cloverleaf. That’s broken up so it’s a half crab Liontamer for a bit before Kofi has to backdrop out of the Neutralizer. The SOS gives Kofi the pin at 21:31.
Rowan is in next and runs Kofi over with a knee, followed by shots in the corner. Another shoulder drops Kofi on the floor and Rowan whips him hard into the corner. Rowan goes with the long form plan by hitting Kofi in the back with a chair for the DQ at 23:13. A bearhug keeps Kofi in trouble and it’s the Iron Claw through the announcers’ table. Kofi is mostly dead as Samoa Joe is in next.
Back from another break with Joe cranking on the neck and saying Kofi will never go to Wrestlemania. Those are incorrect fighting words so Kofi strikes away, only to get caught with the enziguri in the corner. The neck crank goes on, followed by a heck of a clothesline for two. We hit another chinlock and the locker room viewing party has grown even more. The Koquina Clutch is countered with a jawbreaker but Joe gets the Rock Bottom out of the corner for another near fall. Joe loads up the Muscle Buster but Kofi rolls him up for the pin at 35:25. You couldn’t have Joe take the DQ instead of Rowan?
Post fall Joe chokes Kofi out and here’s Randy Orton as the last entrant. Back again with Orton in control and talking trash to Kofi. A whip into the steps gives Kofi a breather but he can’t follow up, allowing Orton to slap on the chinlock. Kofi fights up and throws a dropkick, which Orton slaps away with ease.
The RKO is countered though and Kofi hits Trouble In Paradise but Orton rolls outside as we take another break. Back again with Kofi in trouble but managing to hit a high crossbody. That’s rolled through for a near fall and there’s the hanging DDT to make it even worse. Orton takes his time loading up the RKO but Kofi rolls him up for the final pin at 53:43.
Rating: B. Hang on a second.
Post match Big E. and Woods come out to celebrate and here’s Vince McMahon to interrupt. Vince congratulates Kofi, who is going to Wrestlemania….if he can beat one more person. That would be Daniel Bryan, who kicks away in the corner to start. A knee to the ribs cuts off Kofi’s comeback and Bryan ties him in the Tree of Woe for more kicks to the ribs.
Bryan gets two off a top rope belly to back superplex and we hit the LeBell Lock. Kofi gets a foot on the rope for the break The YES Kicks are countered into the SOS for two and the fans gasp on the kickout. Some running corner dropkicks connect with Kofi reversing the third into another rollup. Bryan avoids a spinning high crossbody and stomps away at the head and it’s the running knee for the pin at 1:00:06 total.
Rating: B. It was long and exactly as advertised, but if this company EVER stopped moving the goalposts, I think my head would explode. It’s the same thing as the Becky Lynch story where the evil boss just feels like being evil and changes the match. I’m sure Kofi will get the title shot, but we’re long past the point of this being surprising. It’s just the move that WWE makes and that’s not a good thing.
The match itself was however a good thing with Kofi showing that he can hang in there for a long time at a high quality, which is exactly what he’s done for years. The fans want to see him, but you can only keep doing this “HAHA EVIL BOSS” stuff before it stops mattering. Considering that it’s happening in two big matches, it’s rather taxing and downright annoying.
New Day checks on Kofi to end the show.
Overall Rating: B-. This was almost a one match show and while that’s ok, they need to start adding some stuff to the pay per view. If that seventeen match card is going to be correct (and I don’t believe it’s going to be that high), they need to get on with it. They have eight official matches (Cruiserweight Title match is announced but an opponent is needed) and that leaves a lot of stuff to make official with two weeks to go. I know WWE likes to add in a bunch of twists but it would be nice if they could announce more stuff and let it build instead of saying “well maybe next week” every week.
Results
IIconics b. Boss N Hug Connection – Rollup to Banks
Daniel Bryan won a gauntlet match last eliminating Kofi Kingston
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The funny thing is I bet if Cesaro got this push people wouldn’t be complaining as much. Nakamura is probably more legit than half the roster and you see where he is, I say just let the feud play out and see what happens.
I have to agree that Kofi does not belong in this spot. He should have been fighting for world title after his feud with Randy Orton, not after years of throwing pancakes and jumping out of cardboard time machines. This should be Jeff Hardy vs. Daniel Bryan. He has worked hard and is talented but so is many of the roster that has been here for years and that doesn’t mean every one of those people should get a main event WrestleMania spot “because they work hard” or have multiple title reigns that in reality I can’t remember a single one other than the long tag reign. I can remember every single intercontinental champion’s reign before the Attitude Era but not one of Kofi’s.
Why doesn’t he? He works hard, has the accomplishments, the fans love him, the angle makes sense, And it will lead to a feel good moment.
What do you think KB, locker room walk-out or Occupy Smackdown to get Kofi the title shot at WM?
Walk out ala Rock vs. McMahon-Helmsley Era.
I do disagree with your assertion kb that it won’t be a 17 match card. They want to cram everyone onto this show. It’s already up to 10. 12 if you include kofi vs bryan and the women’s battle royal. I could see an ic title match being added, a cena and or taker match being added, Raw tag titles, smackdown tag title cluster. There’s 17 right there. Heck at the rate they are going this may have to be a 2 night show before long.
I know they want to but I think they’ll hold it back, at least by a bit.
Well i admire your faith. But if there is one thing this company hasn’t been good at in a while it’s showing restraint.
For the people who say WWE can’t tell good stories anymore i point them to this Kofi Kingston storyline.
Also i love some of the ones below saying this isn’t “believable” enough. Im sorry have any of you saying this ever watched Wrestling before? You are suppose to suspend disbelief.
Want to know how you know you have a hot storyline? When one of the main acts of said storyline is a worldwide trend on Twitter HOURS after the show ended.
Next week will be awesome!
Kofi story is totally unrealistic, KB. Mid card/low card guy would never beat top tier talent.
There is no way in the real world, and this is completely fictional now, that a low level MMA fighter for the UFC would enter a tournament with a bunch of other low level UFC fighters and even some that had been released. They take those guys and put them in a house and make them fight in a bracket where the winner faces the World Champion of lets say the Welterweight division. Sounds so dumb right?
So this one guy wins the tournament, probably from New York, and then he goes a knocks out the World Champion, we could say he’s French Canadian and always in a Rush, in the biggest upset in the history of MMA.
That would never happen so I find it extremely hard to believe that this Kofi angle is acceptable.
I got that one!
That Kofi story is the most pathetic thing I have ever seen in the history of Wrestlemania. He doesn’t have the credibility to beat stars like Joe and Orton after so many beatdowns, why sacrifice so many talented stars, more talented than Kofi for this mid carder for life joke. Why, just why? How can I take Orton seriously now against AJ at Mania when he loses to a beatean down Kofi, just how?
It is getting a little ridiculous. I love Kofi and want to see him win the belt, but does he really have to beat 5 wrestlers in a row?
Kofi has more than enough credibility to beat names like that. He’s beaten Orton multiple times before.
As for the pinning the bigger names, it’s a combination of Kofi being full of adrenaline and the falls not being big, dominant wins. Other than Sheamus, every fall was a rollup or cradle of some kind. It’s not like he’s hitting his finisher and getting a pin off of it.
he may have credibility. But after so many beatdowns? It doesn’t make sense and makes the other wrestlers look bad. Only internet fans try to justify that. Not everyone should be a world champion.
After everything he’s done over the years and the success that he’s had, Kofi does.
You all act like you have never seen a face overcome odds before. Bryan beat Triple H, got his shoulder caved in after the match and still beat Batista and Orton in the same night with them even double teaming him at times.
Wrestling isn’t meant to be overanalyzed like this. It’s basically a real life cartoon. When you were a kid you cheered for your favorite overcoming odds and didn’t think that’s not realistic. If you can suspend your disbelief when a man grabs another by the arm and throws him to ropes and said guy runs back to him in an irish whip then you can forgive someone beating five wrestlers in a row.
Internet fans? Where do you think you are right now?
the WWE title feels like a mid card championship.
Compared to the Universal Title, it is.
It’s not logic to defeat so many top stars. He hasn’t done shit in years. He only was a mid card transitional champ and a tag team wrestler, you are talking like he was on main event after main event. I am sorry but you are a fool.
Longest reigning Tag Team Champion. Tag Team Champion as recently as last October, held the Intercontinental Title four times and then played the biggest role in turning a goofy team into one of the hottest and successful groups in company history which is coming up on five years of success.
That’s a Hall of Fame career, yet I’m foolish for thinking he should get his first World Title reign.
I mean, no one who wore a light up jacket, came up with goofy nicknames for anyone he dealt with and carried around a list could ever be a serious star. Or someone who offered people a tall glass of shut up juice, threatened to anally violate anyone with anything he could think of, or talked about himself in the third person could ever be a multiple time World Champion.
But yeah. Kofi, with his fifteen titles over eleven years, long time following, multiple successful stages in his career and consistent performances are nothing and don’t deserve a run because he’s been a (very successful and popular) comedy guy for the last few years.
if you are a comedy act you should be world champion? that’s so stupid. Every IC or US title reign he had has forgetable and a transitional one. His record breaking reign with New Day was forced, they lost every non title match on Raw and sometimes retained their titles by losing by DQ. NOT EVERYONE SHOULD BE WORLD CHAMPION!
….I think I’m wasting my time here.
KB, you’re clearly unable to comprehend the issue here.
In a hypothetical world, it’s impossible for a smaller wrestler, opening act guy in a rival promotion during the 90s, to come to the WWE in a group with 3 others and proceed to work mid card angles for titles and be mainly a tag team guy for about three years. Probably gets fired at one point. Then, this smaller wrestler suddenly beats the WWE Champion for the belt! Never would happen, that would be a Radical idea.
But this Kofi angle though. Unheard of, I say!
But Kofi should and most likely will. I hope you can accept it git.
Wrestling is a lot of things logical is not one of them. I’ll remind you vince mcmahon himself has had this title. Why does this bother you so much? Wrestling has so few genuine feel good moments. This is building to one and the audience loves it. Must you ruin it for other people?
What is with this talk? It doesn’t mean anything.
Why doesn’t he? I mean he’s just done it.