WWE SmackDown Live Results, Highlights, and Grades for March 26, 2019
The penultimate WWE SmackDown Live before WrestleMania 35 comes to the Mohegan Sun Arena tonight, and we’ve got a true dream match on the agenda. With only 12 days until WrestleMania, we’re also sure to find out what’s next for Kofi Kingston and #KofiMania.
WWE SmackDown Live will come to Uncasville, Connecticut tonight, just a few hours down the road from WWE Headquarters in Stamford, CT. It’s a fitting location, because perhaps the biggest focus of the night will be on Kofi Kingston and what has been done to him by WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. Last week we saw Kofi Kingston run the gauntlet and defeat five men in 55 minutes to punch his ticket to WrestleMania only for Mr. McMahon to snatch that away at the last second.
Kofi Kingston has jumped every hurdle on his way to a shot at the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35, and Mr. McMahon keeps finding ways to screw him out of that opportunity. After last week’s actions, The New Day has been somber and even hinted at quitting WWE if this imposed ceiling by Mr. McMahon will remain in their way. Tonight may be Kofi’s last chance to make that match happen, and we can expect all of The New Day to do everything in their power to do so.
We’ve also got two huge matches confirmed for the night. The first is a dream match made reality as AJ Styles will square off with Kurt Angle in what has been billed as Angle’s final match on WWE SmackDown. While these two in-ring masters have squared off before, this will be the first and only collision in WWE. The Kurt Angle Farewell Tour has given us some truly great matches, and tonight’s is sure to do the same.
More from SmackDown
- Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline
- Potential Challengers for Roman Reigns before WrestleMania
- WWE SmackDown Predictions: AJ Styles Will Help Randy Orton
- WWE SmackDown Predictions: Street Profits Will Dethrone Judgment Day
- SmackDown reminded us of how pointless the brand split is
The second announced match of the night will spotlight WWE SmackDown’s women’s division to decide who gets the honor of facing Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in 12 days at WrestleMania 35. Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Carmella, and Naomi will square off with the winner heading to WrestleMania. All four women are sure to bring everything they have, and it will be interesting to see if the past friendship between Rose and Deville creates a temporary alliance in this match.
We may also hear from the two women who will main event WrestleMania to challenge Ronda Rousey for the Raw Women’s Championship. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch competed in a Beat the Clock Challenge last night along with Rousey which saw Lynch victorious, but there’s no telling what will happen between these two tonight.
In the women’s tag team division, WWE confirmed yesterday that Sasha Banks and Bayley will defend the title against Nia Jax and Tamina, The Divas of Doom, and The IIconics in a Fatal 4-Way. With The IIconics being the only SmackDown team in that match, we can definitely expect to hear from them tonight about that opportunity.
Finally, we look to the United States Champion Samoa Joe. We already know that Joe will defend his title at WrestleMania against Rey Mysterio, but Joe has been more and more uncontrollable as of late. He’s spiraled into a rabid dog since losing to Rey Mysterio and Kofi Kingston, and looked furious about his loss to Kurt Angle last night on Raw. If anyone walks in Samoa Joe’s path tonight, they could be receiving a devastating beating.
WWE SmackDown Live Announced Card
- AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle
- Fatal 4-Way Match (Winner Faces Asuka at WrestleMania): Carmella vs. Naomi vs. Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville
WWE SmackDown Live airs tonight on the USA Network at 8p.m. ET. Check back here for live results, highlights, and grades as the show airs.