WWE SmackDown Live Results, Highlights, and Grades for April 2, 2019

1-on-3 Handicap Match: The Miz vs. SAnitY

Before his scheduled handicap match, we heard from The Miz about his Falls Count Anywhere Match at WrestleMania. He explained that WrestleMania means different things for different people, but for him it’s about retribution. The Miz talked about his family, with a quick but sincere plug for tonight’s premiere of season two of Miz and Mrs, and emphasized that he will be fighting for his father’s honor this Sunday.

The Miz left a final impactful note by saying Shane McMahon also has a dad, which makes him “a son of a bitch.” SAnitY then made their way to the ring for the match. Before the bell rang, Shane McMahon came out on stage for a few final words, and an introduction as “The Best in the World,” before he ordered the match to start.

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/1113243004704153600

Once things got underway, The Miz fought hard despite the obvious numbers disadvantage. He kept trying to isolate Eric Young and keep Dain and Wolfe out of things, gaining a surprising upperhand and looking like victory was possible. However, Shane McMahon came back out to make another announcement that this handicap match would be Falls Count Anywhere, just like the match on Sunday.

Shane McMahon then put the image of him grabbing Mr. Miz up on the screen, providing a final distraction before The Miz was knocked to the outside by SAnitY. Things quickly spilled to the outside, and Killian Dain tried to drive The Miz through a barricade. Miz ducked out of the way, and the action moved into the crowd where Miz was able to send Alexander Wolfe through a table.

Things continued to the back and even into the parking lot, where The Miz guillotined Eric Young’s head between equipment boxes in a scary moment to pick up the win. It was very clear in that moment what The Miz is willing to go to in order to pick up the win this Sunday against Shane McMahon.

Grade: A-, I’m docking slightly because SAnitY as corporate puppets still makes no sense. Otherwise, this was all great. The Miz looked really great, and showed how much he would do, while Shane looked completely despicable. Can’t wait to see Shane get what’s coming to him on Sunday.