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.