SmackDown Live comes to us tonight inside the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio!
Shane McMahon Explains His Actions at Fastlane
Shane McMahon kicked off SmackDown Live tonight. He was here to explain his actions last Sunday at WWE Fastlane. Shane has ring announcer, Greg Hamilton announce him as ‘The Best in the World’.
McMahon said he’s tired of everyone who’s ever been in his life. Everyone wants to have Shane help them get ahead in life. That stopped Sunday when he beat down The Miz. He’s not the best in the world because he won a trophy; he was born this way. Sunday set off a spark in him that will never go away.
Because Shane makes the matches, he booked himself against Miz at Wrestlemania. The beat down on Sunday left him wanting more and he will get just that at the grandest stage of them all.
I forgot Shane had a good heel promo! It’s been so long. Shane tends to show out at Wrestlemania in the last few years with the likes of AJ Styles among others. A solid promo that leaves you wondering what ridiculous dive he’ll perform this time.
The New Day Clean House
Big E, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston interfered in the middle of an 8-man tag team match, laying out all competitors in the process. The New Day, especially Kofi Kingston have a chip on their shoulder and made a statement tonight.
Vince McMahon had a Wrestlemania challenge for Kofi later in the night and this may cause him to lose his opportunity once again.
AJ Styles Challenges Randy Orton for ‘Mania Match
Orton has something to get off his chest. He said in 2002, AJ Styles wrestled in front of 12 people while he was making his WWE debut. In 2004, Styles was shaking hands (ROH) in the bingo halls while he was becoming the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history. Randy continued to compare their careers and said this house was built by Orton a long time before Styles was ever even in WWE.
Styles interrupted him and came down to the ring. AJ said for someone to hate the indies so much, he followed AJ’s career real well. AJ is proud to come from the indies and says Orton couldn’t make it in his world, especially with his knockoff diamond cutter (RKO).
Randy said AJ stole his gestures too. Orton is surrounded by indy guys who earned their way to WWE, not given a spot because of his name. The pair bicker back and forth for a bit. AJ challenged Randy to a match at Wrestlemania before Orton walks to the back. The challenge is issued and the match looks to be set.
This was a great, intense promo segment and i’m really looking forward to the rest of the build to this story leading up to ‘Mania as well as the bout itself!
Becky Lynch
The Man is finally off crutches and walking on her own two feet. She got back into the match to play Ronda Rousey like a fiddle. She got her so upset that she did her bidding for her on Sunday by costing Charlotte the match. At Wrestlemania, Lynch will take what is rightfully hers.
Charlotte Flair interupts Lynch. She said that it’s one thing to be hot for 6 months but it’s another to be hot for 4 years. She was chosen to get the job done. At ‘Mania she will make Rousey and Lynch relevant again.
Lynch pipes in and said that while Charlotte was on top for 4 years, Lynch came around and in 6 months launched the Woman’s division to the main event of Wrestlemania. We don’t need a Queen, we need a Man.
Wow! Both competitors with great lines and valid points. This promo hypes up this triple threat that much more! The bout is just around the corner and the big fight feel is already here!
Rey Mysterio Pins Samoa Joe
Tonight, Rey Mysterio & R Truth defeated United States Champion, Samoa Joe & Andrade. Mysterio got the roll up pins on Joe and it looks as though Joe & Rey will be wrestling at Wrestlemania for the US title!
Great to see the United States Championship and well as these two men in this position heading into the show of shows!
Vince McMahon Gives Kofi an Opportunity
Vince struts down to the ring to let everyone know what the future holds for Kofi Kingston. McMahon is here to give us and Kofi what he wants. He’s giving Kofi an opportunity at Wrestlemania to wrestle for the WWE championship.
The New Day cut off Vince and head to the ring. The New Day is fed up with how WWE and Vince treat him. Big E gets fired up and says Kofi deserves better.
Vince says no one deserves anything, not even him. Big E disagrees and says this is bigger than everything, even Vince’s ego. Vince denied this claim.
Kofi has defeated WWE champions and has never gotten his opportunity. The WWE Universe and New Day demand Kofi get this match. Vince says he’s known Kofi for a long time and if he deserved an opportunity, would have gotten it by now.
Kofi is an amazing representitive for WWE. Vince said that Kofi will go into the Hall of Fame but not by himself, but with the New Day. McMahon spoke with Daniel Bryan earlier and he said that Kofi is a B+ player.
Kofi gets on the mic and tells Vince that he’s not asking for a hand out or a title match at Wrestlemania. He get’s to do what he loves every night and at some point in the past 11 years, he has proven himself worthy. He doesn’t complain about anything while others Vince deems more worthy get opportunities ahead of him. Kofi wants Vince to tell him what he needs to do to make Vince believe.
Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, The Bar, and Rowan come out. Vince tells Kofi that if he defeats all 5 men next week in a gauntlet match, he will face Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania. The 5 storm the ring but New Day fend them off. Kofi stands tall as the show ends.
My guess is that Kofi shows out again next week and somehow he’ll pull out the victory to go to ‘Mania! This was a great segment.
Overall, this show was heavy on promo segments but it worked! Orton & Styles, Lynch & Flair as well as McMahon & the New Day had strong showings on the mic tonight. With another week of WWE TV in the books, we’re just one step closer to Wrestlemania 35!
Here’s to a great week of wrestling ahead!
