Match Ratings For WWE Smackdown Live 3/19/19, Podcast Notes From Sean Ross Sapp Of Fightful.com

MIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

• Miz’s dad OLD AF. Anyway, after showing a clip of why he’s mad at Shane McMahon, Miz explains it further.
• This is a really good, emotional promo.
• Miz gets a great reaction when he says Shane is rotten to the core like his father. He says Vince McMahon doesn’t own Kofi Kingston.
• Miz wasn’t born rich, he was born in Cleveland destined to flip burgers. He earned where he was with work ethic. This is a great promo that conjures up “you deserve it” chants from the crowd.
• The Smackdown end of things has done a really good job of talking me into wanting to see their non-title matches.

The IIconics defeated Boss N’ Hug Connection
4.5/10

• We fortunately get an IIconics promo that unfortunately doesn’t live up to some of their others as they have to shoehorn in ivy league references.
• Peyton wasn’t moving too smooth while taking a double dropkick.
• Lacey Evans comes out, distracting stupid babyface Bayley, then stupid heel Billie.
• Peyton’s work is not too hot. It’s regressed since her time on the main roster. She does apply a nice reverse Tarantula, though.
• Billie and Peyton pull some shenanigans and double pin Sasha to get the win.

Backstage Crappenings

• Rey introduces his son Dominic — who is big as hell. He says he’ll be front row at WrestleMania to watch the “bully” Samoa Joe get beaten by his dad in a U.S. title match.
• AJ Styles says that Randy Orton is good. Orton is a first round draft pick and he’s a walk on that overperformed.

KO Show

• Kevin Owens have a halfway suit on and puts over his graphics.
• He brings out Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. He says nobody wants to see them talk anymore.
• He wants to see them fight.
• There’s a face off that doesn’t take too much instigation, Charlotte Flair attacks.
• They have to be separated.

If Kofi Kingston wins, he gets a WWE Title Match at WrestleMania
Gauntlet Match
Daniel Bryan Wins (6.25/10)

• Daniel Bryan cuts a great promo saying apparently being a B+ player is good enough. This is great coming from him.
• I’m glad New Day were banned from ringside — otherwise, why wouldn’t they get him cheap DQ wins?
• Sheamus is first up and Kofi does a great tope Trust Fall.
• Cesaro gets involved and cheap shots Kofi with a European uppercut for two.
• We go to a commercial and come back with the crowd still hot. Sheamus hits an Irish Curse backbreaker and applies a Cloverleaf.
• Kofi misses two pins on Cloverleaf and Brogue Kick counters, but hits the Trouble in Paradise for the pin

Sheamus is eliminated (6/10)

• There are huge “Kofi” chants. New Day are joined by Usos watching backstage. The Hardy Boyz show up later, too.
• Those “Kofi is a midcarder at best” and “Kofi doesn’t deserve it” and “Kofi is getting a participation trophy” takes sure aged like shit eh?
• Cesaro is up next and hits a great capture tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
• Cesaro also applies a Cesaro Swing into a Cloverleaf.
• Kofi gets an SOS and the pin. This was another good match.

Cesaro is eliminated (5.75/10)

• Rowan runs through Kofi. I mean hard, too. This was brutal. Kofi eats barricade next.
• Rowan takes a chair and cracks Kofi Kingston. This is a DQ.
• Rowan beats the brakes off of Kofi. Recycle Plant through a table hits.
• Mustafa Ali, Heavy Machinery and others watch along backstage. Are all of these people banned? C’MON.

Rowan is eliminated (N/A)

• Samoa Joe is out next.
• EC3, Carmella, Nikki Cross and more join the viewing party.
• Joe slows things down, but turns Kofi inside out with a huge clothesline.
• Kofi rolls up Samoa Joe and gets the pin!
• Joe is livid and chokes out Kofi Kingston. The babyfaces watching are livid.

Samoa Joe is eliminated (5/10)

• Kofi Kingston has won like 10 falls compared to losing 3 since the start of the first gauntlet match.
• Randy Orton is up next.
• After a commercial, we see a callback to the “stupid” moment between Kofi and Randy Orton.
• Orton has some methodical work, but gets cracked with a Trouble in Paradise! He rolls out of the ring.
• Randy Orton gets rolled up! Kofi Kingston wins!

Randy Orton is eliminated (5.5/10)

• Vince McMahon congratulates Kofi Kingston, but says he’s going to have to beat Daniel Bryan in order to go to WrestleMania.
• New Day is livid.
• Bryan scores knees, NO Kicks, and a belly-to-back suplex.
• Kofi gets the ropes on a LeBell Lock.
• Kofi almost lands on his neck on the SOS. That looked nasty. He gets a two count.
• Bryan pins Kofi after a flying knee.

Kofi Kingston is eliminated