WWE Smackdown Results
February 26, 2019
Charlotte, North Carolina
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
Fastlane Contract Signing
Smackdown Live kicks off with Shane McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Daniel Bryan and Rowan in the ring for the contract signing.
Daniel Bryan is sitting on a chair in the ring with the WWE title. A loud “Kofi” chant from the crowd. Shane McMahon says Kofi is an overnight success over the past 11 years. And that when he made his debut, unbelievable things happened. They show clips of Kofi’s debut back in 2008. They show clips of Kofi at the Royal Rumble and Kofi being Intercontinental and United States champion. And how Kofi is part of New Day.
Stephanie McMahon says it was about 2 weeks ago where Kofi lasted over an hour ago in a gauntlet match and where he had a victory over WWE champion Daniel Bryan. Stephanie mentions how Kofi went on at the Elimination Chamber and almost won the match. McMahon mentions that last week Kofi defeated Daniel Bryan on Smackdown. And that is why Kofi was named as Daniel’s competitor at Fastlane for the WWE title.
The New Day come out as Kofi runs around the ring and celebrates with fans. Kofi gets back in the ring. Kofi gets on the microphone and says for 11 years, all he ever wanted was a chance. And after 11 chance, it’s happening. Kofi says he know this moment wouldn’t be possible without his brothers in The New Day. The fans chant “You deserve it”. Kofi says he knows this would not have been possible without the fans supporting him. And at Fastlane, he will do what everyone has wanted to see him do for a very long time. He will beat Daniel Bryan and become WWE champion.
Shane asks Daniel Bryan to sign the contract first. The WWE champion grabs the pen and signs his name on the contract. Shane turns the contract over to Kofi. He grabs the pen but Vince McMahon’s music hits and out comes the chairman.
Vince McMahon gets on the microphone and says Kofi is extraordinary. But before this contract is official, he wants to tell him that he appreciates everything he has done. Truly remarkable. However, it’s up to him to give the highest caliber of competition as he possible can. Therefore, Kofi is being replaced. Vince says he has no alternatives with a man that is more deserving. More qualified than Kofi. Vince says the man who will face Daniel Bryan at Fastlane is Kevin Owens and out he comes.
Kevin Owens gets in the ring and sits on the chair. Big E and Xavier Woods are arguing with Shane McMahon as Kevin Owens signs the contract. The fans chant “Kofi” as The New Day leave the ring. The crowd is against it with the fans chanting “Kofi”.
-Commercial Break-
Kevin Owens is backstage with Stephanie and Shane. Kevin says he’s happy their father recognizes his talents to the industry. Kevin asks them if they saw Bryan’s smug face when they saw him. Kevin says he would like to team with the man who is just as deserving as facing Daniel Bryan. That is him and Kofi Kingston against Daniel Bryan and Rowan for tonight. Stephanie says they will take it into consideration.
Matt Hardy has made a surprise returning tonight, teaming with Jeff Hardy.
The Bar vs. The Hardy Boyz
The bell rings and we are under way. Jeff Hardy with an arm bar on Cesaro as he tags in Matt Hardy. Matt with an arm bar of his own. Cesaro with a kick and an uppercut as he tags Sheamus in. Sheamus with punches on Matt Hardy. Sheamus sends Matt to the ropes but Matt with a kick to the head as he tags Jeff in. Both men double team Sheamus. In comes Cesaro and they double team him as well.
The Bar roll to the outside.
Jeff jumps off Matt’s back and a flip over the top rope onto the outside.
-Commercial Back-
Back from commercial, The Bar double team Jeff Hardy. Cesaro goes for the pin but Jeff kicks out. Cesaro with a big boot on Matt who is on the ring apron. Cesaro tags Sheamus in. Jeff fights back and a whisper in the wind off the top rope takes out both men. Sheamus tags Cesaro while Jeff gets Matt in the match. Matt with a running clothesline. Matt with the Side Effect on Cesaro. He goes for the cover but Cesaro kicks out. Matt climbs the second rope and lands an elbow drop. He goes for the cover but again Cesaro kicks out.
With Sheamus on the ring apron, Matt knocks him off. Cesaro pushes Matt on the ropes and with the referee distracted, Sheamus beats on Matt. Sheamus gets the tag in. Jeff Hardy takes out Cesaro and a twist of fate by Matt on Sheamus. Matt tags Jeff Hardy who climbs the top rope and lands the swanton bomb. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: The Hardy Boyz
Backstage, Ricochet is with Aleister Black. In comes Lana and says she can’t see what the fuss is all about. Ricochet is nothing special and Black is ordinary. Ricochet says he guesses she didn’t watch Raw because they beat the Raw tag team champions. He says Rusev can’t crush what he can’t catch. Black says Lana fears the unknown but what she needs to know is that Rusev and Nakamura will fade to black.
WWE United States Championship
Open Challenge
R-Truth (c) vs. Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio
R-Truth’s music hits and he comes out with Carmella.
-Commercial Break-
R-Truth says ever says he was a kid, he always wanted to be like his hero, John Cena. And what he will do is follow in his hero’s footsteps by continuing the United States title open challenge. And that open challenge starts… He looks at Carmella and asks when it starts. Carmella says it starts after the 7 second dance break. They both dance as Andrade’s music hits.
He comes out with Zelina Vega but Rey Mysterio’s music hits. Rey hits Andrade from behind and gets in the ring. R-Truth asks if they can all get along. He says he has a dilemma, he’s at a cross roads because he doesn’t know who to face. All three men are in the ring as R-Truth says in moments like this, what would John Cena do? Carmella says John Cena would face both of his opponents at once. R-Truth says Cena is brave. But he was thinking more like a no thank you and no thank you. But John, he will make him proud. A triple threat match.
The bell rings and we are under way. A drop kick by Andrade takes Mysterio out. Andrade with a big kick on Truth. Mysterio off the top rope with a hurricanrana on Andrade. R-Truth with a spinning elbow on Rey. He goes for the cover but Rey kicks out. Truth gets on the ring apron but Andrade picks him up and power bombs him. Mysterio with a baseball slide takes out Andrade. Mysterio slides through the bottom rope as Andrade kicks him.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, R-Truth has Andrade on his shoulders and Rey Mysterio jumps off and lands a hurricanrana on Andrade. He goes for the cover but Andrade kicks out. R-Truth and Rey exchange fists as both men run to the ropes and a collision in the middle of the ring.
Andrade with running knees on Rey who is in the corner. Andrade goes for the running knees on R-Truth but Truth moves out of the way. Truth with a clothesline takes Andrade down. A jumping side kick by R-Truth followed by a big plash. R-Truth lifts Andrade up and drops him. R-Truth with the you can’t see me and lands the five knuckle shuffle. He goes for the cover but Andrade kicks out.
R-Truth picks Andrade up but Zelina gets on the ring apron. Carmella drops Vega off the apron. Andrade throws R-Truth to the ropes. Mysterio trips Andrade and goes for the 619 but Andrade moves out of the way. Andrade with a back elbow on Mysterio. He goes for the cover but Rey Mysterio kicks out. R-Truth picks Andrade up but Mysterio pushes both men onto the ropes. Mysterio with a 619 on Andrade. R-Truth rolls Mysterio and gets the cover.
Winner and still United States Champion: R-Truth
Andrade attacks Mysterio and goes for the DDT but Mysterio gets out of it. He goes for the 619 but Andrade rolls to the outside.
-Commercial Break-
Charlotte Flair’s music hits and she comes down to the ring. Charlotte says it’s not very often that the queen gets to witness history instead of making history. When Vince made the main event of Fastlane even better. Kevin Owens against Daniel Bryan for the WWE title. The fans boo. Charlotte says almost as important as when he anointed the queen to save the main event of Wrestlemania against Rowdy Ronda Rousey. Charlotte says she knows exactly why he did it. The fans chant “Becky” and Charlotte asks if they’re finished. She says Vince knows her lane and she stays in it. Unlike the criminal Becky Lynch or the quitter Ronda Rousey. She does exactly what is asked of her and she always delivers.
Media, charity, live events, the main events. She is the gold standard. Monday, Becky got arrested and Ronda put down the title that she so proudly carried. She says Becky and Ronda fear her. And fear makes you do irrational things. Becky fears that she will expose her for the fraud she really is. And Ronda fears that she will give her another beating of a life time like she did at Survivor Series. She fears nothing. And a true champion fears no one.
Charlotte says that Ronda had this to say about a true champion. They air a clip of Ronda talking back in November about how a champion can’t decide who they want to fight, they have to be the best champion on their worst day. Charlotte says they finally agree on something. But the difference between the two of them is that she will never quit. And she will never lay down that title because she is the true champion.
That’s why next Monday on Raw, she will show up that way Mr. McMahon can crown the new Raw women’s champion. Someone who deserves it. The queen, Charlotte Flair.
-Commercial Break-
Aleister Black and Ricochet vs. Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura
The bell rings and we are under way. Black and Nakamura are the two legal men. Black goes for a kick but Nakamura ducks and taunts him. Nakamura goes for a kick but Black ducks and sits down. Nakamura goes fora kick but Black moves out of the way. He gets Nakamura in an arm bar and tags Ricochet in. Both men double team Nakamura. He goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out.
Ricochet with an arm bar but Nakamura kicks him in the knee. Nakamura tags Rusev in the ring. Rusev stomps on Ricochet. A right hand by Rusev and he tags Nakamura in. Both men double team Ricochet. A knee to the shoulder by Nakamura who tags Rusev in. Rusev with a suplex. He goes for the cover but a kick out. Rusev sends Ricochet to the corner but a big boot by Ricochet. He runs and tags Black in as Nakamura is tagged in. Black with kicks takes Nakamura down. In comes Rusev who interfers and hits Black. Rusev is tagged in.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Rusev with a kick onto Black. Rusev with a bear hug. Black with an elbow to the head but Rusev with a clothesline takes Black out. Rusev lifts Black up but Black reverses it and lands on Rusev. Black tags Ricochet in. Ricochet with a hurricanrana followed by a side kick. Ricochet with a standing moon sault. He goes for the cover but Rusev kicks out. Ricochet climbs the top rope and jumps but he lands on his feet as Rusev moves out of the way. Ricochet climbs the corner again and jumps but Rusev catches him and slamds him down. He goes for the cover but Ricochet kicks out.
Rusev went for the accolade but Ricochet gets out of it. Nakamura is tagged in. Ricochet with an elbow onto Nakamura as Rusev runs to the ropes but Ricochet pulls down the ropes and Rusev lands on the outside. Black is tagged into the match. Nakamura runs towards Black as Black lands the Black Mass. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: Aleister Black and Ricochet
AJ Styles is backstage and he says he is happy that Roman Reigns is in remission. He is asked about how he is moving forward because people are saying he is in a slump. AJ says he is his harshest critic. Nothing has been said that he hasn’t already said to himself and anything less than perfection is a disappointment. And recently, he hasn’t been at his best and he is partly to blame for the rise of Daniel Bryan. Because he had his opportunity to stop Bryan and he did not succeed. But that does’t mean he will stop trying. He says it took him 15 years to get to the WWE and nothing was ever given to him.
Styles says he will stop listening to the critics, he will pick himself up, dust himself off and step up to the next challenger and keep fighting because this is the house that AJ Styles built. He turns around and Randy Orton is standing next to him. Orton says the house that AJ Styles what? And Orton walks away.
Lacey Evans walks down the ramp and walks back.
-Commercial Break-
A clip of last night’s Raw airs with the announcement by Roman Reigns that he is in remission.
-Commercial Break-
Kofi Kingston and Kevin Owens vs. Daniel Bryan and Rowan
The bell rings and we are under way. Kofi Kingston is in the ring with Daniel Bryan as the fans chant “Kofi”. Bryan tags Rowan in. Rowan pushes Kofi down. Rowan lifts Kofi up and a power slam. Rowan runs towards Kofi but Kofi moves out of the way and delivers kicks to the stomach. Kofi runs to the ropes but a shoulder block by Rowan takes Kofi out. Kofi tags Kevin Owens in. Kevin with a right hand and he runs to the ropes but Rowan with a shoulder block and Owens falls. Kevin gets back up but a drop kick by Rowan. He goes for the cover but Kevin Owens kicks out.
Rowan tags Daniel Bryan into the match. A running elbow by Kevin Owens takes Daniel Bryan out. Owens sends Bryan into the corner as he tags Kofi in. A snapmare by Kevin Owens and a kick by Kofi. He goes for the cover but Bryan kicks out. An uppercut by Kofi Kingston. Bryan runs towards Kofi but Kofi throws him to the outside. Kofi tags Kevin Owens in. Owens runs to the ropes and jumps over the top rope onto Daniel Bryan on the outside.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Rowan with a knee to the back of Kofi. Rowan with an elbow to the face. He lifts Kofi Kingston up and a pump handle slam. He goes for the cover but Kofi Kingston kicks out. Rowan tags Daniel Bryan into the ring. Bryan with a snapmare on Kofi. With Kofi leaning on the ropes, Bryan delivers a drop kick. Kofi slides on the apron and Bryan with another dropkick. He tags Rowan in.
With Kofi on the outside, Rowan delivers a power slam. He picks Kofi up and throws him into the ring. He goes for the cover but Kofi kicks out. Rowan runs to the ropes and a big splash. Again he goes for the cover but Kofi kicks out. Rowan lifts Kofi up and slams him stomach first into the top turnbuckle. Rowan tags Bryan into the match.
Daniel Bryan on the top rope and a superplex. He goes for the cover but Kofi kicks out. He goes for the cover again but Kofi kicks out. Bryan gets La Belle lock in but Kofi reaches the ropes. He throws Kofi in the corner and Daniel Bryan with kicks in the corner to the face of Kofi Kingston. He backs up and runs towards Kofi but Kofi jumps in the air and a double footed stomp.
Kevin Owens tags himself in. A back body drop takes Bryan out. Owens climbs the second rope and a drop kick. A right hand onto Rowan and a senton onto Bryan. Owens with a cannonball onto Bryan. He turns around and a super kick takes Rowan down. Owens turns around and a power bomb onto Bryan. He goes for the cover but Bryan kicks out. Kevin Owens gets on the ring apron and climbs the top rope. but Rowan grabs him down and throws him over the announce table. Kofi Kingston jumps over the top rope but Rowan catches him. Kofi pushes him into the steel post. Kofi climbs the top rope and jumps onto Rowan.
Daniel Bryan throws Owens back in the ring. Bryan goes for the double knee but Owens moves out of the way and lands a stunner. He goes for the cover and gets the win.
Winners: Kevin Owens and Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kingston gets in the ring and Kofi Kingston asks the referee to lift his hand as well as that of Kofi’s.