WWE SmackDown Live Results, Highlights, and Grades for March 26, 2019

The New Day has one team left!

Big E was clearly feeling the pain of the gauntlet, but was defiant and ready to fight. Bryan and Rowan immediately went to work, with the WWE Champion targeting Big E with submissions to hopefully finish him off early. Bryan had a single leg boston crab locked on, but was suddenly hit by a springboard dropkick from Xavier Woods.

Rowan went for Woods, but Xavier pulled down the ropes and sent him tumbling to the outside. Back in the ring, Big E went for a running knee but was caught in mid-air by Big E who planted him with a uranage. Big E followed it with The Big Ending, the same move he used to capture singles titles in the past.

Bryan still kicked out, and tagged in Rowan moments later. After Rowan sent E crashing into the mat, Bryan started directing traffic and told Rowan to clear off the announce table. As Rowan was doing so, Xavier Woods caught Bryan with a huge DDT. Suddenly, the tide began to turn.

Rowan’s clearing of the table turned on him as both Woods and Big E sent him crashing into the turnbuckle post multiple times. Big E then tossed him over the table before lifting the table and flipping it onto Rowan. Big E rolled into the ring, and since Rowan was the legal man, the referee began the count of ten. The excitement built with every count, and it finally happened.

The referee counted ten, and the ring announcer exclaimed “Kofi Kingston is going to WrestleMania!” Kingston rushed the ring to celebrate with his friends. We saw Mr. McMahon approached by his limosine before he left the arena, and he was asked if this really did mean Kofi Kingston was going to WrestleMania.

After a seemingly endless pause, McMahon explained that yes, Kofi Kingston is going to WrestleMania. He left after asking if a “B-Plus Player” can defeat Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship. The rest of the SmackDown Live locker room rushed the ring, hitting it and celebrating with Kofi Kingston.

Grade: A++, This was really spectacular. As convoluted as it has been at times, this build to Kofi Kingston’s moment at WrestleMania has been truly enthralling. Seeing Big E and Woods fight for him, then The Usos do the right thing and forfeit, and finally the countout victory, was so powerful. Kofi Kingston is going to WrestleMania!

WWE SmackDown Live Gut Reactions

• The New Day’s excellent mic work has been even more next level as of late, and tonight was no exception.
• Daniel Bryan’s “Fresh Afternoon” line was really freaking hilarious.
• ASUKA VS. CHARLOTTE FLAIR FOR THE TITLE! WHAT IS HAAAAPPPPENNNING?!
• Charlotte hit a Spanish Fly on Asuka while Charlotte was on the top rope and Asuka was on the second rope and it was a thing of beauty.
• I have so many questions about what Charlotte’s win means, and I’m trying to keep from blowing a gasket over Asuka becoming an afterthought and the rest of SmackDown’s women’s division being brushed under the rug. It’s not working.
• AJ Styles and Kurt Angle deserved better, but it was nice to see another Angle Slam on Orton.
• The IIconics are amazing.
• Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson deserved better, but I can’t be mad. Kofi Kingston is going to WrestleMania!
• KofiMania babyyyyyyyy!

WWE SmackDown Quick Segment Recap

• The New Day calls out Mr. McMahon, but they’re all interrupted by Daniel Bryan. After some shouting, McMahon announces a tag team gauntlet for Big E and Woods to earn Kofi his title shot at ‘Mania.
• Becky Lynch’s backstage interview was interrupted by Charlotte Flair, who headed to the ring and said she would prove how deserving she was. It was then revealed Charlotte would challenge Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Title.
• The Miz demanded a Falls Count Anywhere Match against Shane McMahon at WrestleMania, and Shane accepted the stipulation.
• The IIconics had a brief backstage segment being excited about the Fatal 4-Way for the Women’s Tag Titles at WrestleMania 35.

WWE SmackDown Match Results

• Charlotte Flair def. Asuka to become the new SmackDown Women’s Champion
• AJ Styles def. Kurt Angle via disqualification
• Fatal 4-Way Match (Winner Faces Asuka at WrestleMania): Carmella vs. Naomi vs. Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville Just kidding, apparently all of these women are useless and didn’t even deserve to be mentioned during the entire two-hour broadcast. Thanks, WWE.
• The New Day def. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, Rusev & Shinsuke Nakamura, The Bar, The Usos, and Daniel Bryan & Rowan to earn Kofi Kingston’s shot at WrestleMania

Thank you for joining us for live coverage of SmackDown! Join us again next week for coverage of the final WWE Raw and SmackDown Live before WrestleMania 35!