Opening segment
- New Day come out and they seem happy. They thank fans for the journey they've been on.
- Big E says that after what's happened to Kofi Kingston in recent weeks, they've discussed walking away.
- They call out Vince McMahon to give them answers. He joins them.
- Bryan says that New Day is a novelty act that could be replaced by 3 NXT names and be called FRESH AFTERNOON.
- Xavier and Bryan argue until Vince McMahon shuts them up. Vince trolls New Day about quitting.
- Bryan cheerleads everything Vince says. Vince is not a strong performer anymore.
- Vince says Kofi's fate is in New Day's hands. They'll be in a gauntlet match tonight to get him into WrestleMania.
Smackdown Women's Championship
Charlotte Flair defeated Asuka (c) to become Smackdown Women's Champion
7.5/10
- Becky Lynch is very jovial when being interviewed backstage. She's interrupted by Charlotte, who is on the ramp.
- Charlotte Flair says she's going to prove she belongs. There was a commercial right here.
- The commentary team sells the surprise of this match happening and it being for a title really well.
- There are a lot of counters to start this one out. We go to the first break where the action picks up.
- Asuka locks in an Octopus, hits a German suplex, and a couple of great kicks.
- Asuka misses her flying ass smash and gets booted.
- Charlotte misses a moonsault, gets Asuka Locked and tries to roll through a pin.
- Asuka kicks Charlotte into the turnbuckle instead of shoving her, for some reason. However, Asuka's strikes are on point.
- Charlotte Flair just did a goddamn Spanish Fly and it ruled.
- A great series of reversals leads to a Figure Eight and Charlotte Flair is the Smackdown Women's Champion.
- This match ruled. Asuka brought it and so did Charlotte Flair.
Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles
- Angle meets Charlotte on the ramp and trolls her a little. AJ has a few words before the match.
- Angle German suplex is right into a Calf Crusher from Styles.
- Angle sells this INCREDIBLY. I thought he was going to tap. He turns it into an ankle lock.
- Randy Orton shows up to hit Styles with an RKO, but eats an Olympic Slam.
- That Styles/Angle match was really promising at the start.
MIZ AND SHANE
- The Miz is out, and says he wants Shane McMahon in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
- Shane McMahon comes out with security. Shelton Benjamin, Sanity, and others are out to pootect Shane.
- Shane accepts the challenge and talks trash about Miz's dad.
- Miz beats the hell out of security. This is some good babyface fire.
- Epico couldn't even get on TV to get beaten up. Miz gets through all of them though.
Backstage Crappenings
- We see Dominic with his little ass dad talking about Samoa Joe.
- IIconics are backstage and put over their upcoming WrestleMania title match.
If New Day Wins, Kofi Kingston Gets WrestleMania Title Shot
Gauntlet Match
New Day Win
7/10
- I think I've had my fill of gauntlet matches.
- New Day vs. The Good Brothers start off and Xavier cracks Anderson hard. Midnight Ride. Win. Squash
The Good Brothers are eliminated.
- Becky Lynch, Kofi Kingston and Rey Mysterio are looking on with the Hardy Boyz. Kofi is barred from ringside.
- Rusev & Nakamura are next. Nakamura works the lion's share of this one.
- Xavier lands on his feet out of the reverse Exploder and Big E destroys Shinsuke with a bunch of suplexes.
- Nakamura drops Big E across the rope, setting up a Rusev kick. They do an awesome assisted suplex, but Xavier breaks up the pin.
- Chioda reffing gauntlet matches back-to-back weeks has to be a rib.
- I guess Midnight Ride is now named the UpUpDownDown. It puts away Nakamura.
Rusev & Nakamura (w/ Lana) are eliminated
- Nikki Cross, Ali, Naomi, Miz, R-Truth join the viewing party.
- The Bar are next, but a commercial follows.
- They work over Big E, and we see the backstage explode when he hot tags Xavier.
- Xavier and Sheamus were ON THE SAME PAGE with that tornado DDT. There's also an awesome tope con hilo and a diving leg drop, but Xavier's pin is broken up.
- Cesaro gets pulled off the apron and takes an insane fall to the floor.
- Xavier gets the pin!!
- The Bar attack after the match and put Big E through a table with a freefall bomb.
The Bar are eliminated
- Usos are next, chomping at the bit.
- They take the mic and say that Kofi Kingston deserves this spot, so they forfeit.
The Usos are eliminated.
- Daniel Bryan is tearing apart the locker room, livid. Erick Rowan joins in, but it looks like he was like "YEAH! TEAR STUFF UP! ME TOO!"
- Rowan and Bryan are out and mop the floor with New Day.
- The comeback happens! Xavier tope con hilos Rowan, Big E flattens Bryan with a uranage.
- Rowan breaks up the pin after a Big Ending.
- Rowan hits a Rock Bottom and Bryan has him clear the tables, but New Day tip it over on Rowan.
- New Day wins via countout! The whole crowd counted along with this.
- That was a damn creative finish.
Rowan and Bryan are eliminated
- Vince McMahon confirms Kofi Kingston is going to WrestleMania.
- The Smackdown locker room empties
Rating guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5.The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!
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