The 03/12/19 edition of WWE SmackDown Live, out of the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio, just wrapped up. We’ve got the match results, as well as our overall thoughts on the show, for you to check out below. Let us know what you thought about episode #1021 of SmackDown by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
Shane McMahon is Pleased with Himself
“I’m not the best in the world because I won the trophy…I’m the best in the world because I was BORN that way.” – @shanemcmahon #SDLive pic.twitter.com/cbifeMds7q
— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2019
Shane McMahon opened the show in a much more somber manner than usual; no jersey, no dancing, no smiling.
The WWE World Cup was waiting for him in the ring, but before addressing the trophy, he forced a ring announcer to join him and announce him as “the best in the world,” then forced the poor man to do it a few more times when he didn’t get it right the first time. When he received a satisfactory introduction, he said that he wasn’t the best in the world because of the trophy, he was simply born with the title.
Shane said he attacked Miz at Fastlane because he was tired of doing everything for everyone else. He was tired of people asking him what he could do for them. Shane loved every moment of beating Miz down in front of his own father, and couldn’t wait to inflict more pain at WrestleMania.
The Bar, Rusev, and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Hardy Boyz, Aleister Black, and Ricochet
All of their moves are like poems to us.#SDLive #PoetryInMotion @JEFFHARDYBRAND @MATTHARDYBRAND pic.twitter.com/obAAzaTELA
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) March 13, 2019
Matt and Jeff Hardy went up against The Bar to kick things off, showing that even in 2019, they were still The Hardy Boyz of old. Jeff Hardy was soon taken into the opposing team’s corner, where all four men worked together to wear him down.
A moment of offense against Rusev gave Jeff just enough time to tag out, giving Ricochet a chance against the Bulgarian Brute. Ricochet was thrown out of the ring, but when the bad guys tried to gang up on him, Aleister Black appeared at his side to make sure the other team reconsidered.
Back in the ring, Shinsuke, Rusev, and The Bar continued their double (quadruple?) team efforts, technically fair and square this time, on Ricochet until The One and Only was able to escape, tagging in Matt Hardy, who in turn tagged Jeff, and the brothers landed a Poetry in Motion together.
The action devolved into chaos from there, Jeff Hardy eventually getting a Swanton Bomb on Cesaro while everyone else was laid out, but Cesaro was saved by his teammates.
When the match again turned into an 8-man brawl, The New Day interfered, causing a disqualification. Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods focused their efforts on The Bar, Nakamura, and Rusev, Kingston putting an exclamation point on the ambush with a Trouble in Paradise, standing tall with his teammates.
Although they didn’t do any physical damage to Black, Ricochet, or the Hardys, all four men looked less than pleased with The New Day for costing them the match.
Winner: The Bar, Rusev, and Shinsuke Nakamura (via disqualification)
The Usos Are at the Top of the Division
Remember, #SDLive tag teams:
— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2019
This is STILL The @WWEUsos‘ penitentiary. pic.twitter.com/OYCTCYphA4
Backstage, The Usos acknowledged The New Day’s
The House that Randy Orton Built
*Strike a @RandyOrton pose* #SDLive@AJStylesOrg: pic.twitter.com/pxNPGmYEp0
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) March 13, 2019
Randy Orton came to the ring to continue the feud with his most recent target: AJ Styles. He said that when AJ Styles was working in bingo halls in front of no one, Orton was winning championships and rising through the ranks of WWE.
SmackDown Live was built long before Styles ever step foot in the company, and it was, therefore, the house that Randy Orton built.
Styles retorted, telling The Viper that he was a manufactured superstar. From his father to the members of Evolution, he had help every step of the way to ensure his success.
The two exchanged verbal jabs until Styles became tired of talking and challenged Orton to a WrestleMania match so they could settle things in the ring.
Asuka vs. Sonya Deville
Don’t get in @WWEAsuka‘s way, @WWE_MandyRose! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/hcFAUgXGQR
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) March 13, 2019
In an attempt to redeem herself for costing her partner, Mandy Rose, the match against Asuka at Fastlane, Sonya Deville did her best to embarrass The Empress.
Her attempts failed, however, as Asuka nearly got the victory after a knee to the face of Sonya. Luckily for Deville, she had Rose in her corner to assist, but when Asuka went after Sonya outside of the ring, she struck Mandy instead. Deville jumped back in only to be tapped out by the Asuka Lock.
The relationship between Mandy and Sonya continued to deteriorate as Mandy shot a disgusted look at her injured partner before walking up the ramp by herself.
Winner: Asuka
The IIconics Voice a Complaint
Is the future for @SashaBanksWWE & @itsBayleyWWE… IICONIC?#SDLive @BillieKayWWE @PeytonRoyceWWE pic.twitter.com/DgKxS7tILh
— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2019
Peyton Royce and Billie Kay continued their campaign to get The Boss ‘n’ Hug connection to SmackDown Live to face them for the Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Bayley and Sasha Banks have a home on Raw and have made an appearance on NXT, but have yet to show their faces on SmackDown Live. The IIconics have made it clear that they will continue to call on Sasha and Bayley until they are given the match they desire.
The Man is Ready for WrestleMania
“I don’t care who I have to beat anymore…At #WrestleMania, I am RECLAIMING everything they have tried to take from me to give to someone else!” – @BeckyLynchWWE #SDLive pic.twitter.com/cP6w1YKkSB
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) March 13, 2019
After a video package depicting the events of the last few weeks was shown, Becky Lynch explained them herself. She talked about how her WrestleMania moment was almost ruined when Vince McMahon’s added Charlotte Flair to the match, then tried to remove Becky completely.
She had to earn her opportunity twice: once by winning the Royal Rumble match, and a second time by manipulating Ronda Rousey into handing the spot in the match back to her.
Charlotte Flair came out to congratulate Becky on her handout, saying that she had never seen someone get so much by doing so little. But none of that would matter after WrestleMania when The Queen defeats both Becky and Ronda Rousey.
Becky Lynch said the division no longer needs a Queen, it needs The Man.
Rey Mysterio and R-Truth vs. Andrade and Samoa Joe
6️⃣1️⃣9️⃣✖️ 2️⃣#SDLive @reymysterio pic.twitter.com/zbagnHaikk
— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2019
Despite competing in a Fatal 4-Way for the United States Championship just days ago, these men put their differences aside to compete in a tag team match.
Andrade and R-Truth kicked things off, and after a fun sequence, each tagged in their partners. Joe began in dominant fashion, smashing into Rey Mysterio the moment he got in the ring.
In what is quickly becoming one of our favorite weekly SmackDown Live spots, R-Truth hit Andrade with a Five Knuckle Shuffle – but soon received a vicious kick from Joe.
Throwing both Joe and Andrade against the ropes, Rey Mysterio smashed into them with a 619, then went for a splash, but Joe rolled out of the way and it only caught Andrade.
With Andrade down for the count, Samoa Joe got a senton on Mysterio, but when he went to finish him off with a uranage, Rey reversed it into a rollup, getting the win for his team.
Enraged, Samoa Joe slammed both R-Truth and Andrade into the mat, staring angrily as Rey and Truth made their escape up the ramp.
Winner: Rey Mysterio and R-Truth
Kevin Owens and Mustafa Ali vs. Daniel Bryan and Rowan
Oh, @MustafaAliWWE…
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) March 13, 2019
Meet @ERICKROWAN. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/qvWMRX7yaZ
Earlier in the evening, Bryan and Rowan were spotted coming out of Vince McMahon’s office. When asked about the conversation, Bryan reluctantly revealed that he was giving his opinion on The New Day. In return, Vince McMahon gave him this match.
Rowan absolutely demolished Mustafa Ali and Kevin Owens for much of the match, wearing down his opponents thoroughly before tagging Bryan in.
Bryan went straight for Mustafa Ali, locking in a few submissions before moving on to more hard-hitting maneuvers. After throwing Ali from the top rope, Bryan trapped him in a LeBell Lock, but learned
Mustafa desperately reached for Kevin Owens, hitting Daniel Bryan with a backbreaker when he tried to stop him. A brawl broke out between Rowan and Owens, but Rowan got the blind tag, snatching Mustafa Ali out of the air with his Iron Claw slam, winning the match.
As Bryan and Rowan were walking back up the ramp, they were passed by Vince McMahon.
Winner: Daniel Bryan and Rowan
The New Day Confront Vince McMahon
#TheNewDay is speaking loud and clear…
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) March 13, 2019
They DESERVE, because they EARN! #SDLive @WWEBigE @TrueKofi @XavierWoodsPhD pic.twitter.com/1gZLBIriqJ
Mr. McMahon came out to make an announcement: he would be giving everyone what they wanted, including Kofi Kingston. However, he seemed to get further away with what the people wanted with every word.
After playing a video package depicting Kofi’s unfair treatment at Fastlane, Vince said that he did give Kofi an opportunity – and he failed (referring to the 2-on-1 handicap match against The Bar).
The New Day had heard enough, joining Mr. McMahon in the ring to say that they were done towing the line, they came to make their case and didn’t care what he had to say.
Vince said he wished Kofi Kingston deserved a championship match, but if he had earned it, he would have gotten it a long time ago. And he was Hall of Fame talent, but not on his own, only alongside The New Day.
The Chairman continued to run Kofi down with backhanded compliments and eventually said that he agreed with something Daniel Bryan had mentioned to him earlier, Kofi was a good B+ player.
Kofi Kingston then cut an incredible promo about all the work he’s done and sacrifices he’s made over the years for Vince and his company, and demanded to know what it was he needed to do to prove to Vince that he was worthy.
Mr. McMahon said it was simple. All Kofi had to do was beat Randy Orton…and Samoa Joe…and The Bar…and Rowan. In a gauntlet match to take place next week.
A brawl broke out between The New Day and the villain posse to close out the show, with Kofi Kingston coming out on top with a Trouble in Paradise.
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #SDLive
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) March 13, 2019
