Written by Matthew Widdis
Here comes the mon-ay! Shane-O-Mac is in the house. While he’s on his way out, we recap the WWE World Title match at Elimination Chamber and Kofi Kingston’s buzz-worthy near win, complete with the crowd chants of “Ko-fi! Ko-fi!” A 6-man tag match with the participants of that match will take place later tonight along with the announcement of Daniel Bryan’s opponent at Wrestlemania.
In ring
Shane announces that he was so impressed by Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Aleister Black, and (of course) Ricochet, that he is having them on Smackdown Live tonight! The Miz’s music hits. He comes out and immediately apologizes for interrupting. He has lost sleep over having lost the Smackdown Tag Team titles at Elimination Chamber. He says that Shane took a chance on him despite his history and reputation. But he used Shane, he took advantage of their shared father issues to get him on board. The best moment of his career and one of the greatest of his life was hearing the crowd chant “Mis-ter Miz!” for his dad and hearing “I’m proud of you and I love you,” from his dad. He let Shane down at EC so he wants Shane to get them a rematch for the titles.
Uso music hits and they say that there is no more automatic rematches. Usos will give Shane the match but they don’t think he wants it with a partner like Miz. Shane gets riled up at the disrespect to Miz and makes the match for FastLane in Miz’s hometown, Cleveland, OH!
Aleister Black vs Andrade
My wife is intrigued by Aleister’s look, entrance, persona, and the background that I related to her. She thinks that the name is a little “Harry Potter,” though. She maintains this through the vignette highlighting his NXT career. Excited to see his old dance partner, Andrade will be his opponent tonight.
Andrade takes control early until Aleister dodges a corner charge and El Idolo tumbles to the outside. Black waits for Andrade back in the ring and puts on a clinic until Zelina Vega grabs an ankle. Both men end up on apron exchanging strikes until Andrade hits a backbreaker and takes over. Even in rest hold mode, they’re actively moving about the ring and go high octane when in their spot work. After dumping Aleister over the top, Andrade goes for the Hammerlock DDT. It’s fought off and Aleister gets some nice kicks in and an absolute beauty of a bridging German Suplex on Andrade. After a second Hammerlock DDT attempt is escaped, Aleister Black repeats history and hits The Black Mass to beat Andrade for the second time in New Orleans.
Winner by pinfall: Aleister Black
In the back
Kayla Braxton asks Ciampa & Gargano if they feel the need to prove they’re not just hype. They say that they’ve worked hard to succeed and nobody can doubt them. The Bar (dressed like two cans of grape Four Loko) comes in and laughs at the idea that the former DIY teammates are anything special, telling them “Nobody knows who you are.” Gargano tells Sheamus & Cesaro that they didn’t come to set the bar. They came to break The Bar.
Jeff Hardy tells AJ Styles that they need to let bygones be bygones from Elimination Chamber and focus on their six-man tag match tonight with Kofi Kingston against Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, and Daniel Bryan. AJ agrees and Kofi comes into frame with a pancake-laden literal olive branch.
Did You Know? As a member of the Hart Family Dynasty, Natalya (Neidhart) is the first third generation female superstar in the world. (Shout out in next week’s Smackdown Live report to the first The Pop Break Facebook or Twitter follower who can name a 4th generation women’s wrestler that has appeared on WWE programming.)
The Bar vs Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano
The Bar makes use of their superior power, especially with Johnny Wrestling. DIY looks to take over with some dives to the outside but The Bar turns it around real quick, flattening Gargano with a clothesline and catching Ciampa out of mid-air for a backbreaker. Cesaro keeps Ciampa on the mat for a bit with a chinlock and then a European uppercut when The Blackheart comes off the top. Seamus tags in and goes to set up a throw from the turnbuckle. Ciampa hits repeated elbows to fight out and turns it into a sunset flip powerbomb but the landing is scary with Seamus landing across Ciampa’s tucked left knee. Much needed tag (kayfabe and legit) to Gargano who fends off both the now-legal Cesaro and Sheamus with a superkick, running front flip senton, and hurricanrana, all off of the apron. Johnny gets in a good kick off the roll through in the corner on Cesaro and manages to lock in The Garga-No Escape but The Swiss Superman is too strong, lifting him up for a backbreaker. Cesaro holds onto Gargano for the tag to Sheamus and another backbreaker while all 265lbs of Sheamus comes off the top turnbuckle for a massive knee drop. 1… 2… and Ciampa makes the save! He’s tossed right back out to the floor, though, and Sheamus hits The Irish Curse for another two count. The Bar is getting frustrated. Sheamus bullies Gargano for a bit but Gargano hits a superkick. Cesaro tagged in but, unbeknownst to him, so is Ciampa. A roll up out of the corner and the NXT anchors have knocked off the five-time tag champs.
Winners by pinfall: Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano
In the back
Samoa Joe and Randy Orton share uneasy looks before leering at the belt around Daniel Bryan’s waist. Now that they’re all allied in this type of match, The Destroyer and The Viper appreciate Rowan being at ringside.
Vignette plays for Ricochet and he’s announced as the opponent for Eric Young of SAnitY tonight.
In ring
Asuka comes out for an interview with Kayla Braxton. She asks Asuka if she feels slighted by the emphasis on the Ronda/Charlotte/Becky story. Asuka says that all she feels is ready. She beat both Charlotte and Becky at TLC and tapped out The Man at Royal Rumble. Who’s ready for Asuka?!?!
Mandy. That’s who. Mandy Rose’s music plays and she comes out with Sonya Deville to challenge for… an impromptu match? Open challenge?
Asuka vs Mandy Rose w/Sonya Deville (but not for the Smackdown Women’s Championship)
They’re barely under way when Lacey Evans’ music and graphics come up. The Lady of NXT/WWE walks down the ramp and has staredown with Sonya before smiling and walking back up and out to the back. Mandy Rose takes advantage of the distraction to shove Asuka into the turnbuckles and follows up with a side Russian legsweep for a one count. Mandy gets a good inside-out gutwrench on Asuka. Asuka catches her in a leglock but Mandy reaches the ropes and then ducks out of the ring altogether. Asuka follows he rout but Mandy comes around the corner for a running knee strike that’s a gorgeous as she is. Asuka recover sin time to dive back into the ring and beat the count at nine-and-nine-tenths. Mandy taunts the cahmp while slapping at her and that fires up Asuka who turns up the strike dial. A german suplex and a Shining Wizard but Mandy still kicks out at two. After a knee strike from Asuka, Mandy feigns an eye injury and, in the confusion, pulls her into the middle rope and rolls her up for a classic heel win.
Winner by pinfall: Mandy Rose
In the back
Kayla Braxton asks Charlotte Flair if she thinks that Becky Lynch will haunt her throughout the Road to Wrestlemania. Charlotte says that “haunt” is the appropriate term because Becky is a ghost. She’s a non-factor due to her own actions. Like it or not, Charlotte is in the main event and it’s the main event because Charlotte Flair is in it.
Miz lets Shane McMahon in on some big news: His dad, Mr Miz, will be ringside at FastLane in Cleveland.
In ring
Ricochet vs Eric Young w/Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe
Ricochet is hyped by the announce team while Eric Young makes his entrance during commercial with SAnitY and the match begins. Eric Young starts to get the worse of Ricochet’s offense until a distraction by Alexander Wolfe gives Eric Young to opening for a clubbing forearm to the side of the head. A Hangman’s Dragon Sleeper is broken up by the referee but Young follows it up with another forearm shot to the dome, this time off the second turnbuckle. He tries to keep Ricochet grounded but he sidesteps Young’s corner charge and hits a clothesline, a hurricanrana, a springboard Euro upper, and hets a two count off of a stepping Shooting Star Press. Eric Young does the Ric Flair corner flip and under the legs of Ricochet to back in before flopping out of the ring like a trout in a boat when dropkicked. Eric Young is showing a little color above the right eye. Ricochet gets aerial on Alexander Wolfe on the apron and then Young and Dain on the outside. Once back in the ring, the 630 that the people came to see seals the deal.
Winner by pinfall: (The One and Only) Ricochet
In the back
Kayla Braxton introduces her guests, The New Day. She says that Kofi has captured the hearts of the WWE Universe. Xavier Woods steps in and advises her (and a lot of fans) that this hasn’t been over the course of seven days; it’s been over the course of seven days. Big E says, “That’s longer than Drake’s So Far Gone has existed.” Xavier says, “That’s longer than Instagram has been around.” Big E says, “That’s longer than Empire has been on the air (and we all know that they’ve been doing some crazy things to keep that show interesting!)” Wow. Kofi says that #KofiMania is trending on Twitter because of his friends and brothers in The New Day but he’s going to introduce us all to his other friend; first name, Mo, last name, Mentum. And they’re out to the ring.
Video update from Kevin Owens whets the appetite for his return but makes no indication as to where or when. It does say that he’s rediscovered why he fights, though.
In ring
Before our main event begins, Daniel Bryan compares himself to Thomas Beckett, Joan of Arc, and Socrates. He survived the Elimination Chamber despite the small-minded skeptics. He’s going to educate us as to who his Wrestlemania opponent will be… it will be… no man in the ring tonight because he beat them all at EC! The announce team wonders if Daniel can decide that or not.
Kofi Kingston, Jeff Hardy, and AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, and Daniel Bryan w/Rowan
This is a relatively short match that sees (from the time New Day leaves gorilla position) three commercial breaks. Daniel Bryan tags out immediately and Samoa Joe tangles with Kofi and Jeff hardy before Randy Orton comes in to stomp on Jeff. Kofi comes in and starts rolling until Daniel Bryan shoves him off of the top turnbuckle and Randy hits the backdrop suplex onto the table. Now it’s safe for Daniel to come in and he pummels Kofi on the ground. The crowd is chanting for Kofi! Randy is tagged in and Kofi is tossed out for a second meeting with the announce table. Back in the ring, Orton can’t hold Kofi down and misses a corner charge to that crashes his shoulder into the ringpost. AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan are tagged in and Styles hits forearm shots on all three heels before backflipping out of Daniel’s backdrop and hitting a backbreaker and the Spinal Tap for a near fall. He calls for the Styles Clash but that brings in Randy. RKO avoided but Daniel is still legal and hits a roundhouse kick to AJ’s head. Calf crusher on the champion is broken up by Samoa Joe who takes a Twist of Fate from Jeff Hardy. Jeff is tossed out of the ring by Randy and Randy is clotheslined out by AJ. Daniel rollsup AJ and they trade pin attempts until Daniel goes for the Lebell Lock. AJ makes it to the bottom rope. He dodges the running knee from D-Bry and hits the Pele kick. Kofi is back on the apron and the tag is made. Springboard ax handle to bring the champ down. Kofi charges Daniel against the ropes. He’s backdropped out of the ring but slides off the backs of the other four competitors and lands on his feet. Daniel rushes for a tope suicida but Kofi meets him with a diving forearm. Dropkick off the top rope sends Daniel running outside but Kofi flies and takes out Daniel and Rowan! Back in the ring, Trouble in Paradise gets the win for Kofi and company.
Winners by pinfall: Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, and Kofi Kingston
Shane McMahon comes out and tells Daniel Bryan that he’ll be competing at FastLane and that his opponent will be none other than… Kofi Kingston!
Final Thoughts:
What a difference a day (and 135 miles) makes! After 24 hours of social media and wrestling journalists ripping the Lafayette crowd for their tepid-at-best reception at Monday Night RAW, the N’awlins fans had energy to spare for each match.
I recently remarked that Elimination Chamber was the last chance to turn Miz and Shane against each other. I was wrong. Shane or Miz getting pinned in Cleveland in front of Miz’s dad in his hometown is about as good a backdrop as anyone could ask.
I don’t know if the NXT appearances on RAW and SmackDown are about getting eyes on that product or finding a fit for these talents on the main roster or making NXT more appealing to potential signees who might be looking at Jacksonville over Orlando.
Gargano & Ciampa still have the muscle memory for tag wrestling and that would be a great spot for them if something were to happen to those belts they each carry at TakeOver in Brooklyn.
The Bar has helped hold the tag division together on both shows and Cesaro has long been a fan favorite. The match tonight makes it obvious for those not yet on board with just how good Sheamus is in the ring, too.
With Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville really stepping it up over the past year, it makes sense to get either one or both of them in the title picture right now.
There are these things called “Happy Accidents.” Huge props to Kofi Kingston for picking up the ball and running with it. And good job by the office for sitting back and letting it happen.
