WWE SmackDown live results: Kofi Kingston’s gauntlet match
The road to WrestleMania continues as SmackDown takes place from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana tonight.
Kofi Kingston competes in a gauntlet match for a WWE Championship shot at WrestleMania 35. Kingston was set to challenge for the title at Fastlane, but Vince McMahon took the title shot away in storyline. Last week, Kingston and The New Day demanded another chance. In order to get the title shot, Kingston must defeat Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, The Bar, and Rowan in the gauntlet match.
The gauntlet match will take place at the start of tonight’s show.
At Fastlane, Shane McMahon turned against The Miz and gave him a brutal beatdown in front of his father. The Miz returns to address McMahon and the attack. Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley are also coming to SmackDown to face Peyton Royce & Billie Kay in a non-title match.
Plus, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are both scheduled to appear tonight.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair will be guests on The KO Show hosted by Kevin Owens later tonight.
The Miz made his way to the ring to address Shane McMahon. He talked about the sacrifices he made and his friendship with McMahon. His greatest moment was when his father stood in the ring and told him he was proud of him. Miz noted McMahon helped make that happen.
When Miz teamed with McMahon everyone in the back warned him. They told him that McMahon’s different behind the scenes. He said McMahon is rotten to the core, just like his father. He said they don’t own him and don’t own Kofi Kingston. Miz wasn’t born rich. People told him he was just average and would never be successful. He proved them all wrong and won the WWE Championship.
Miz did it all on his own. Boo him or cheer him he always had a good work ethic. His father didn’t give him love he had to earn it. The fans didn’t give him respect he had to earn it. He said after 13 years he thinks he finally earned the fans respect. The fans chanted “You Deserve It.” He promised to beat McMahon at WrestleMania. Miz did a good job with this promo.
Before the match, The IIconics noted Sasha Banks and Bayley finally came to SmackDown. They pointed out that Banks and Bayley returned to NXT first. They mocked the champs for their issues with Nia Jax, Tamina, Natalya, and Beth Phoenix. They claimed that Banks and Bayley were avoiding them. They promised to defeat the champs tonight.
The IIconics defeated Women’s tag team champions Sasha Banks & Bayley in a non-title match
The faces were firmly in control when Lacey Evans music hit. She made her way to the ring and walked back. This distracted Bayley and The IIconics took advantage to gain control. The heels isolated Bayley in their corner. Banks got the hot tag and ran wild. Banks pulled Billie Kay to the floor. Peyton Royce went after her but Banks countered.
Banks sent Royce back in the ring. She did a springboard in the ring but Kay tried to grab her leg. Banks kind of landed of Royce and looked at Kay. Bayley ran around the corner but Kay rocked her with a boot. Royce then rolled up Banks and Kay held her down for the win. The finish seemed like a mess.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Rey Mysterio. He brought in his son Dominic because he wanted him there for this announcement. Mysterio announced that he’s challenging United States Champion Samoa Joe at WrestleMania 35 after pinning him last week. Dominic’s proud of his father and is going to sit front row at WrestleMania to watch his father beat the bully.
Kevin Owens made his way to the ring for The KO Show. It’s the new and improved KO Show because of the graphics and his tie. He always calls WrestleMania KOMania but this year it’s all about Kofi Kingston.
Owens then turned his attention to his guests. He brought out his guests Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. Lynch walked to the ring with a slight limp. The fans broke into a loud “Becky” chant. They booed Flair when she made her way to the ring. Owens said nobody knows about best friends falling apart better than him. He noted there is nothing more annoying than a best friend.
He read comments made by Ronda Rousey. Owens pointed out that Rousey’s not there. He then read comments made by Flair. He said they’ve done a lot of talking but nobody wants to see Lynch and Flair talk. The fans want to see them fight.
They went face-to-face. Flair promised to beat the holy hell out of Lynch. Owens asked Lynch to wait before responding and stepped out of the ring. Lynch and Flair started brawling in the ring and around ringside. Security ran out to break it up. Flair and Lynch both hit the officials. The fans broke into a loud “Becky” chant.
Kayla Braxton interviewed AJ Styles in the back. He discussed his upcoming WrestleMania match with Randy Orton. Styles pointed out that Orton had advantages that most people don’t have. He promised to tear the house down at WrestleMania. He then wished his good friend Kofi Kingston luck in his match later tonight.
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan and Rowan entered the ring. Bryan said Kofi Kingston being in the gauntlet match is an injustice because he doesn’t deserve the opportunity. Bryan knows how it feels to be held down. He said Kingston wasn’t held down. He was given the opportunity to replace Mustafa Ali in the Elimination Chamber.
Bryan said that unlike him Kingston is a B plus player. Kofi Kingston interrupted and made his way to the ring for the gauntlet match. The fans broke into a huge “Kofi” chant. Big E and Xavier Woods are banned from ringside. They watched the match from the back.
Kofi Kingston defeated Sheamus (w/Cesaro)
Sheamus locked on a chin lock but Kingston fought out and worked over the arm. Kingston sent Sheamus to the floor and followed up with a huge dive. Sheamus regained control with a knee. Cesaro interfered behind the referee’s back with an uppercut to Kingston.
Back from the break, Kingston fired back with chops. He hit the boom drop and set up for trouble in paradise. Sheamus caught the leg and attempted the Cloverleaf. Kingston hit a cross body for a close near fall. Sheamus hit the Irish Backbreaker for another near fall. He then locked on the Cloverleaf submission.
In a cool spot, Kingston rolled out of the Cloverleaf and rolled up Sheamus with an inside cradle for a near fall. Sheamus attempted the Brogue Kick but Kingston rolled him up for a two count. Kingston then hit the trouble in paradise for the win.
The New Day continued to watch in the back. Now The Usos, Mustafa Ali and The Hardys joined them. The Usos had a plate of pancakes.
Kofi Kingston defeated Cesaro
Cesaro jumped Kingston right after he pinned Sheamus. Cesaro was firmly in control but Kingston fought back. Kingston attempted a springboard cross body but Cesaro caught him and hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall.
Back from the break, Cesaro was firmly in control and locked on the Cloverleaf submission. In a cool spot, Kingston tried to escape the submission but Cesaro countered with a suplex. Cesaro attempted the Neutralizer but Kingston fought out of the hold. He then hit the SOS for the win.
The New Day and the roster celebrated Kingston’s second win.
Kofi Kingston defeated Rowan by disqualification
Rowan jumped Kingston and dominated the match. They fought on the floor. Rowan then grabbed a chair and attacked Kingston for the disqualification.
Rowan continued to beat Kingston around ringside. Corey Graves pointed out that New Day can’t help or they risk getting Kingston disqualified. Rowan gave Kingston the Iron Claw through the announce table.
Kofi Kingston defeated Samoa Joe
Joe was firmly in control. Kingston tried to fight back but Joe shut his comeback down. Kingston fired back with chops but Joe took back over. Joe rocked Kingston with a clothesline for a close near fall. Joe attempted the Coquina clutch but Kingston hit a jawbreaker. Joe hit an uranage for a two count. The finish came when Joe went for the Muscle Buster but Kingston rolled him up for the win.
After the match, Joe locked on the Coquina Clutch on Kingston in the ropes. In the back, The New Day and the roster started a “Kofi” chant.
Kofi Kingston defeated Randy Orton
Orton beat Kingston around ringside. He held Kingston against the barricade and called him stupid. Kingston fought back and sent Orton into the steps. Orton regained control and slowed the pace down with a chin lock.
Kingston fought back with hard chops. He attempted a dropkick but Orton sidestepped the move. Orton attempted the RKO but Kingston countered with the trouble in paradise. Kingston crawled to Orton but he rolled out of the ring.
Back from break, Orton and Kingston fought on the top turnbuckle. Tom Philips pointed out that Kingston has lasted roughly 50 minutes. Kingston attempted a cross body but Orton rolled through for a near fall.
Orton hit the draping DDT and set up for the RKO. Orton attempted the RKO but Kingston rolled him up for the win.
Big E and Woods ran into the ring to celebrate with Kingston. Suddenly, Vince McMahon’s music hit. Vince came out and congratulated Kingston on his win. He announced that Kingston’s going to WrestleMania as long as he can defeat this last opponent. He then introduced the WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. Woods and Big E must go to the back.
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan defeated Kofi Kingston
Bryan attacked Kingston with kicks in the corner. Bryan hit a huge back suplex off the top turnbuckle. He applied the LeBell lock but Kingston made the ropes. Kingston hit the SOS for a close near fall. Kingston pretty much landed on his head.
Bryan hit the running dropkicks in the corner. Kingston rolled up Bryan for a near fall. Kingston attempted a cross body but Bryan avoided the move. The finish came when Bryan hit the running knee for the win.