SmackDown Live

The New Day comes out to the ring with microphones to kick off tonight’s show.

The New Day talk about how great of an experience it has been for them performing for the fans as The New Day. Big E say due to the countless obstacles put in Kofi’s way, they’re considering walking away. Woods says they can’t make that decision until they get some answers, and the only person with those answers is Mr. McMahon, so they ask Mr. McMahon to come out and talk to them face to face. Vince McMahon comes out to the ring and starts to address Kofi, but then Daniel Bryan immediately interrupts. Bryan steps out on the stage with Rowan and tells McMahon to let The New Day quit if they want, because they’re a stale novelty act. Bryan says Vince created The New Day, and he can create a new group by pulling up three guys from NXT and having them throw waffles into the crowd. Bryan again calls Kofi nothing but a B+ player, and says Vince’s instincts about Kofi not being Championship material are correct.

Woods and Bryan start exchanging words, and Vince tells everyone to shut up. Vince gets in the New Day’s faces and tells them there’s not a bone in their body telling them to quit. Vince says Kofi is still in his view a B+ player, and his only question is if Big E and Woods are a B+ tag team. Vince asks if Big E and Xavier think they can put Kofi in the WrestleMania main event. Vince tells Kofi he’s done having opportunities, but if Big E and Xavier can win a Tag Team Gauntlet match tonight, then Kofi is in at WrestleMania. Bryan on the stage does not look happy with this news.

Asuka (c) vs. Charlotte Flair for the SDLive Women’s Title 

Charlotte Flair won and becomes the new SDLive Women’s Champion. 

Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles 

Randy Orton appears out of nowhere to hit Styles with an RKO to cause a DQ. Kurt hits Orton with an Angle Slam before checking on AJ.

The Miz is in the ring after the break to talk about Shane McMahon. He talks about how Shane has awakened an anger in him he didn't know he had. He says he wants everyone to see what he is going to do to Shane at WrestleMania in a Falls Count Anywhere match.

Shane comes out with a team of security guards along with Sanity, Shelton Benjamin and The Colons as his backup. He 

says they are there to protect The Miz, not Shane. He shows some pictures from Fastlane and says he wishes he had done more to hurt Miz's dad. Miz runs through the security 

guards trying to get to Shane. He takes them out before the 

Superstars attack him. Miz takes out Shelton and Epico before Sanity takes him down.

The Miz is actually able to get the upper hand and takes out all of his attackers. Shane is gone by the time he recovers.

Tag Team Gauntlet Match - If New Day wins Kofi will get a chance at the WWE Title at WrestleMania

The New Day vs. Gallows and Anderson

The New Day won

The New Day vs. Rusev and Nakamura

The New Day won

The New Day vs. The Bar

The New Day won

The Bar attack The New Day after the match.

The New Day vs. The Usos

Woods checks on Big E as The Usos grab a mic. They say they know Kofi Kingston deserves a WWE title match more than anyone after the wars they have had with The New Day. The Usos forfeit the match and walk away as a show of respect for The New Day.

The New Day vs. Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan

The ref counts out Rowan to give New Day another win. 

Kingston runs down to celebrate with his teammates.

Vince confirms backstage that Kofi is indeed going to WrestleMania

The locker room empties as the Superstars come out to congratulate Kofi on earning a title shot.

The show ends with Kofi celebrating with Woods and Big E and the superstars surrounding the ring.

Rating 80/80:

What a moment for Kofi. It’s about time. 

Still confused with the whole women’s title but the show had some great matches as we get closer to WrestleMania

RAW

Raw opens with the announce team talking about Rousey, Lynch and Charlotte headlining WrestleMania. Ronda's music hits and she marches her way to the ring.

Rousey talks about how women will main event WrestleMania for the first time.
She takes credit for the news and promises to make Flair and Lynch tap out at the same time.

Beat the Clock Challenge:

Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Logan

Ronda Rousey wins and
sets the time to beat at 1:25

Charlotte vs. Ruby Riott

Charlotte locks in the Figure Eight but Riott holds on until the clock runs out.

Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan

Becky Lynch wins and Beats the Clock Challenge with 7 seconds left.

Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley and Jinder Mahal in a 2 on 1 Handicap Match

Finn Balor won and earned his ICTitle Match at WrestleMania.

 

Aleister Black and Ricochet vs. The Revival

Aleister Black and Ricochet won

Drew McIntyre is out after the break to get an answer from Roman Reigns about his challenge from last week. He plays some clips of his match against Reigns from two weeks ago. 

Reigns eventually comes out to interrupt. They come face to face and Reigns
accepts his challenge. He warns Drew to never mention his family again and
starts beating on McIntyre. He throws Drew into the ring post and the barricade. McIntyre hits a low blow followed by a Claymore Kick.

McIntyre runs into Ambrose backstage and they agree to have another match, but this one will be Last Man Standing.

Sasha Banks vs. Natalya

Jax and Tamina end up causing a DQ when they interfere. Phoenix fights them
both off at the same time. She hits her old finisher on Tamina.

Alexa Bliss is in the ring for another episode of her talk show. She talks about being the host of WrestleMania and takes credit for the women's division being in the main event. She brings out Braun Strowman as her guest.

Bliss also has Michael Che and Colin Jost live via satellite. Jost tries to apologize to Braun before putting on a Yankees hat to piss off the Boston crowd. He keeps saying things to intentionally upset Strowman.

Braun Strowman wants Colin Jost to enter the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania. And, then Michael says if he is in then so will Michael Che Alexa Bliss makes it official that both Colin and Michael will be in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal at WrestleMania.

Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews

Baron Corbin won

Corbin takes out Crews after the match.

Seth Rollins is out after the break to talk about his Mania match with Brock Lesnar and how he will slay the beast.

Paul Heyman comes out to do his job as an advocate for his client. He says Rollins needs love from the crowd, but Lesnar doesn't. He mocks the WWE Universe for being weak. Seth goes after Heyman on the stage but doesn't attack him. He says he and the WWE Universe will take the universal title back together.

Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe

Kurt Angle won

Triple H makes his way out to the ring to talk about his match against Batista.
Triple H jokes about the crowd giving him a standing ovation throughout the commercial break. He congratulates Rousey, Lynch and Flair on earning the main event spot at WrestleMania. He moves on to Batista and pulls out a letter from Batista's lawyer saying Batista won't compete at WrestleMania unless Triple H agrees to one more stipulation.

Triple H says Batista quit because he couldn't beat John Cena. He reads part of the letter and makes a Spice Girls joke. Batista wants Triple H to put his career on the line and Triple H agrees.

Dean Ambrose vs. Drew McIntyre in a Last Man Standing Match

Drew McIntryre won

RAW ends with Drew McIntrye celebrating his win and stands on the rope to point toward the WrestleMania sign

Rating 80/80: 

I feel it could've been batter seeing as were so close to WrestleMania but there was some good matches and segments to make us excited for Mania.

SmackDown Live

SmackDown opens with The Miz coming out. He looks less happy than usual but he still poses for the crowd on the stage. Miz plays a video showing what Shane did at Fastlane and said on SmackDown the following week. The A-Lister says he has always been focused on the Road to WrestleMania and it has cost him. He admits he has used everyone he has ever known to get ahead because this business means the world to him, and so did his friendship with Shane.

Miz says people tried to warn him about Shane and he didn't listen. He does a good job selling the emotion he is feeling as he talks about how it felt for his dad to have to watch his son get beaten up. He says the McMahons don't own him or Kofi. He talks about having to earn the respect of everyone for the past 13 years and the crowd chants his name.

Miz ends his promo by promising to beat Shane at WrestleMania. After he leaves, Sasha and Bayley head to the ring to address The IIconics.

Billie Kay and Peyton Royce come out and mock Bayley and Banks. They even make a joke about the college admissions scandal going on. The Boss and The Hugger don't look impressed.

The IIconics vs. Boss N Hug Connection

The IIconics won 
Kevin Owens is back to host the new and improved Kevin Owens show. He says it's usually KOMania, but this year is all about Kofi Kingston and Becky Lynch. He brings out The Man as his first guest. Owens also brings out Charlotte and talks about how friendships can sour in this business. He makes some jokes before suggesting Becky and Charlotte have a match tonight. Things get heated and Becky slaps Charlotte. The Queen tackles her over the table as they brawl around the ring.

Daniel Bryan is in the ring to talk about Kingston's upcoming Gauntlet match. He calls it an injustice because Kofi does not deserve the chance to fight for the title

Kofi Kingston's Gauntlet Match

Kofi Kingston won and is going to WrestleMania to face Bryan for the WWE Championship
Woods and Big E run to the ring to congratulate their teammate.

Vince comes out and says Kofi has one last opponent to go through before he earns his spot at WrestleMania. His final opponent is Daniel Bryan. The bell rings and Bryan immediately starts laying into Kingston with kicks to the body. Kofi is put in the tree of woe and hit with several kicks before Bryan sits him on the top turnbuckle. He hits a belly to back superplex for a two count. Bryan puts Kofi in the Labell Lock but he reaches the bottom rope. Bryan hits the Yes Kicks but Kofi ducks the last one and hits the SOS for a near fall. Bryan hits a couple of running dropkicks in the corner. Kofi rolls him up for another unsuccessful pin. Kingston misses a crossbody and Bryan stomps his head into the mat. He sets up for the running knee and hits it for the pin and the win.

The show ends with Woods and Big E running down to check on their friend and Bryan calling Kofi a B+ player.

I guess that whole opportunity was literally for nothing?



Rating 60/60:

I would rate it more but I am disappointed in this storyline or build up (if you well because it just looks dumb when you know they'll probably do this match at Mania in the end). It had some decent matches leading to Mania though.

RAW

RAW opens with Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman heading to the ring.

Heyman does his usual intro. Lesnar smiles and holds up the title.

Drew McIntyre eventually comes out on the stage and thanks Heyman for respecting him as a competitor. As he talks, Rollins comes out and beats him down with a steel chair. He beats on McIntyre mercilessly until he catches Lesnar's eye and walks to the ring with the chair. Brock backs down and walks away as Seth laughs at him.

Finn Balor and Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush

Finn Balor and Braun Strowman won

After the break, Bliss talks about being the host of WrestleMania. She has Michael Cole, Renee Young and Corey Graves run down the card that has already been announced. Then, Bliss takes credit for Lilly Singh getting her own talk show before she brings out Elias as her guest.

Bliss promises Elias that her show is a safe place and nobody will interrupt him. He says he will be the headlining musical act at WrestleMania. Alexa asks him about last year's Mania and he says it's why people keep interrupting him. He takes some cheap shots at the Chicago Bears. He is quickly interrupted by No Way Jose's conga line being led by Heavy Machinery and eventually gets taken out by No Way Jose from behind.

Elias vs. No Way Jose

Elias won

Kurt Angle comes out to announce who his opponent for WrestleMania will be. He thanks the McMahons for letting him choose his opponent and picks Baron Corbin. Chad Gable comes out to be his opponent for tonight.

Kurt Angle vs. Chad Gable

Kurt Angle won

Baron Corbin comes out and mocks Angle. He promises to dominate and humble Kurt during his last match.

Charly Caruso interviews Banks and Bayley after the break about possibly ducking The IIconics by not appearing on SmackDown with the titles. Bayley says they will head to the blue brand tomorrow night. Natalya comes out with Beth Phoenix.

Beth says her and Nattie's dream can still be a reality. She says she will come out of retirement to team with Natalya to challenge for the women's tag titles at WrestleMania. Bayley says Phoenix has been gone for six years and she might need time to prepare since the competition has evolved. Nattie tries to put them in their place and ends up smacking Banks. The Boss tackles her and Beth picks Banks up and throws her away. Bayley and Beth get into a confrontation and The Hugger gets shoved down.

Natalya vs. Sasha Banks

Nia Jax comes out on the stage with a mic to mock Beth coming out of retirement. Tamina attacks Beth from behind. She causes a DQ when she superkicks Banks and Bayley before running away from Natalya.

Ricochet vs. Jinder Mahal

Ricochet won

Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Dana Brooke for the RAW Women’s Championship

Rousey fires back with a knee to the face before locking in the armbar for a very quick win. She refuses to break the hold as Brooke screams in pain. She finally lets go and slaps a ref. Security comes down and Rousey goes after one of them. Her husband gets involved and knocks out a guard. He pulls Rousey into the crowd and the leave as Ronda talks a bunch of trash to the guards.

Ronda Rousey did retain the RAW Women’s Championship

Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews

Apollo Crews won

Batista appears after the break to give an interview via satellite. Cole asks him why he is so angry with Triple H and Batista says he just doesn't like him and all he has thought about since he left WWE was having one last match with Triple H. Cole asks when this hatred began and Batista says it goes back to before they were in Evolution.

Cole brings up when Batista left in 2010 and The Animal says he blames Triple H. He talks about what he has accomplished since leaving WWE and how it has allowed him to demand this match. He claims Triple H uses everyone and has everyone fooled. He promises to end Triple H's career before ending the interview abruptly.

Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre plays a video showing him destroying Roman Reigns last week. He declares Raw as his yard now. He addresses Reigns as Joe and challenges him to a match at WrestleMania. Rollins comes out and McIntyre meets him in the aisle so they can brawl. Several officials break them apart as we head to a break. Drew McIntyre won thanks to the distraction from Brock Lesnar.

Raw ends with Lesnar and Rollins staring each other down.

Rating 80/80:

Pretty decent show and matches as we look closer to WrestleMania.

SmackDown Live

SmackDown opens with a much less energetic Shane McMahon coming out to talk about what he did to The Miz at Fastlane. He has the World Cup trophy in the ring. He demands the announcers introduce him as The Best in the World.

Shane says the reason he beat up The Miz is that he is sick of all of the people in his life using him to get ahead. The crowd chants for Kofi Kingston. Shane is not amused.

Shane says he is going to start doing things for himself moving forward. He claims it felt good to beat up The Miz in front of his father and his "Baked Potato Face." Shane says he enjoyed beating up The Miz so much that he is going to do it again at WrestleMania.

The Hardy Boyz, Black and Ricochet vs. Rusev, Nakamura, Cesaro and Sheamus

All eight men brawl until The New Day run down and attack Rusev and Nakamura to cause a DQ.

The New Day absolutely destroy Rusev as the crowd cheers them on.

Randy Orton is out after the break to talk about AJ Styles. He says AJ calls SmackDown the house that AJ Styles built but he was working in bingo halls while Orton was becoming the youngest WWE champion ever. He even brings up AJ's time working for Dixie Carter. AJ doesn't wait long to come out so he can respond.

AJ says Orton never would have made it on the indie scene with a bad pose and a knockoff diamond cutter. Orton brings up how the Bullet Club ripped off the NWO. Styles claims Orton is only in WWE because of nepotism.

Styles says Orton uses people and throws them away. Randy says he is the landlord and AJ is just renting a room in his house. Styles challenges him to a match at WrestleMania but Orton leaves without responding.

Asuka vs. Sonya Deville

Asuka won

Becky Lynch is in the ring after the commercial without any crutches. She says it feels good to walk on her own two feet and recalls all of the recent events that have led to her being in the Raw women's title match at WrestleMania. She says she had to earn her shot twice and she did it by playing Ronda Rousey like a fiddle.

Charlotte comes out and gives Becky a sarcastic congratulations. She says Becky was out getting arrested while she was putting in all the work. She says Becky had only been hot for six months while she has been hot for four years. She says Becky received a handout when Ronda helped her get back in the match.

“I don't think we need a queen, probably never did. What we need...is THE MAN.” - Becky Lynch. 

Andrade and Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio and R-Truth 

Rey Mysterio and R-Truth won 

Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan vs. Kevin Owens and Mustafa Ali 

Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan won 

Vince McMahon is out after the break and he says he is here to give the fans and Kofi what they want. He is going to offer Kofi a chance to compete at Mania for the title.

The New Day's music interrupts Vince while he is talking and they come walking to the ring looking as serious as ever. There is no dancing or trombones this time. Woods and Big E say they work hard without ever threatening to leave when they don't get what they want. E says Kofi deserves better after 11 years of grinding.

Vince says nobody ever deserves anything and Big E says this is bigger than Vince ego and Vince says nothing is bigger than his ego. Big E and Woods continue to say Kofi deserves a title shot while Kingston stands in silence. Vince says he wishes Kofi deserved this shot but if it was going to happen, it would have happened a long time ago. Vince says Kofi will be in the Hall of Fame someday, but it will be as part of The New Day and never by himself. He accuses Kofi of hanging with younger guys so he can take their glory. Vince says Bryan called Kofi a B+ player. E and Woods get mad but Kofi calms them down. He says he doesn't want a handout, he just wants a fair shot. He talks about how he busts his butt every week while other people pass them by. After Kofi gives his plea, Vince tells him all he has to do to earn a title shot is defeat Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, Sheamus, Cesaro and Rowan in a gauntlet match next week to earn his shot. All of those Superstars rush the ring and get into a brawl with The New Day. 

The show ends with New Day getting the upper hand and taking out everyone.

Rating 80/80: Great show and matches as we get closer to WrestleMania.