Welcome to Ringside News’ LIVE COVERAGE of SmackDown Live. Don’t forget to keep refreshing when the show kicks off at 8:00 PM for constant updates.

Last night on RAW, Becky Lynch was suspended for another 60 days which means she will miss WrestleMania. That is when Vince McMahon brought out The Man’s replacement, Charlotte Flair. Needless to say, this hasn’t been very well received.

It does make a tad bit of sense seeing how Flair came in second in the Royal Rumble match though.

As the blue brand prepares for Elimination Chamber, fans have a huge gauntlet match set up with the competitors in this Sunday’s WWE Title match. However, there is likely to be a big change to that match as well.

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Mustafa Ali is injured with a concussion and he can’t work the event. So expect Randy Orton to take some heat for injuring Ali. Not only that, but WWE needs to figure out replacement.

We will also be treated to some momentum in Rey Mysterio and Andrade’s feud. There is a McMiz TV segment scheduled as well where they will interview their Elimination Chamber opponents, The Usos. We will also hopefully see something from the United States Title picture as well.

All that and more will go down when WWE kicks off SmackDown Live. In the meantime, please enjoy the following vastly underrated video from last night’s RAW.

Opening Segment

Charlotte Flair came out and she is a heat magnet. She was very easy to hate as the crowd chanted “Becky.” She called herself a future Hall Of Famer while she pointed at the WrestleMania sign to make people shut up.

She said fans might not be happy with the decision for her to be in the Mania main event, but she guaranteed that people would be standing on their feet chanting “This is awesome. So boo me now… you’re welcome.”

Then she said she will dedicate her victory to Becky Lynch, then she “Wooed” and got a ton of “You Suck” chants from the crowd. She also said that she had a front row ticket to Ronda Rousey’s RAW Women’s Title match. So they are apparently selling tickets by the match now.

Then she said you never know if she might be facing someone else at WrestleMania implying that she could be facing Ruby Riott instead. As if there isn’t a perfectly good Women’s Title she could go for on SmackDown and take on Asuka for a second Mania…that might be fun to see. It might be nice to see Asuka at all.

Carmella & Naomi vs IIconics vs Fire & Desire

Carmella came out moonwalking next for a triple threat match. This match will decide which team has to start the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.

Before the match kicked off, they showed The New Day in the locker room. They were discussing which one of them will be replacing Mustafa Ali in the Elimination Chamber match.

During the triple threat tag team match, they dropped some serious hints that Sasha Banks isn’t cleared and you can stay tuned on that one.

Sonya and Mandy worked the best as a team because they have the most experience on the main roster as a tandem. Then Carmella showed Deville up with a spinning leg scissors and Mandy got the tag, but she didn’t want anything to do with Naomi.

Then Carmella distracted Mandy so Naomi could hit a dive on her. This was followed by some more abuse on Rose during the commercial break before Deville took the tag. Then Mella came back in. The IIconics hadn’t done much in this match. That might be their strategy because if they don’t get pinned then they won’t be the other two people at the beginning of the Chamber match.

As Naomi took her aggression out on Rose, the IIconics stayed on the apron the entire time. Carmella took Deville out with a kick and the Naomi hit a split-legged moonsault and won the match.

Winners: Fabulous Glow

While Carmella and Naomi were celebrating, the IIconics jumped them from behind and beat them down. Then WWE put this graphic up on the screen and for some reason, it comes off as super creepy to me.

McMiz TV

The Miz and Shane McMahon made their way to the ring before they cut to commercial. They will have The Usos as their guests.

Before McMiz TV started, they played a pretty heartbreaking cell phone video promo from Mustafa Ali where he was getting snowed on while talking about not being able to compete in the EC.

Then they started McMiz TV. They worked on this one for a bit because they really are starting to play off of each other very well.

Then they brought The Usos out and they were wearing their new shirts. Then they accused McMiz for trying to be like them. They were being heels.

Then The Miz and Shane McMahon started playing to the Toledo crowd big time. The Miz brought up Mandy Rose to Jimmy and Shane told Jey is was going to hit him so hard his twin will feel it.

Then The Usos took over and railed on them verbally. They did a mic drop and McMahon and The Miz raised their titles in front of them. Then the crowd started chanting “Usos” before they hit McMiz with dueling Superkicks.

Wouldn’t it be really fun to see The Usos face another team that uses a lot of Superkicks?

Daniel Bryan Promo

Bryan came out and Toledo didn’t love him as much as Washington State. He called the crowd fickle and said they need him to show people how to live their pathetic lives. He said they need him as WWE Champion.

Then The New Day interrupted Daniel. Kofi joined the match so the gauntlet match will start with Daniel and Kofi.

Gauntlet Match

Daniel Bryan vs Kofi Kingston

Bryan remained on the offensive for most of the beginning. He worked at Kofi to slow him down as he transitioned from striking to submissions and back again.

Bryan got Kofi in a bow and arrow submission that was just about perfect as he transitioned it into a pin for a two count.

Kofi fired back with some shots and a quick two count. Then he skinned the cat when Bryan tried to throw him over the top rope. Bryan took a spill over the ropes instead and Kofi nailed him with a nice trustfall dive.

When we returned from commercial Daniel Bryan had regained control after sending Kingston into the steel ring steps. Bryan fired away with some stiff kicks and drove his knee through the back of Kofi’s neck off of a second turnbuckle dive.

Kofi came back and hit a Boom Drop and a somersault senton for a two count. Then Daniel kicked out after a crossbody block from Kofi.

Bryan sent Kofi’s face into the middle turnbuckle and sat him on the top rope. He hung Kingston in a tree of woe and kicked away at him before nailing a basement dropkick to the face for another two count.

Then Kingston turned a superplex into a crossbody and both went crashing to the mat. These two had already gone 17 minutes at this point.

Bryan turned a springboard clothesline into an armbar, but Kofi fought to let Bryan get a full lock on it. They traded chops and headbutts until Bryan got Kofi on his knees so he nailed some Yes Kicks. 1-2-kickout.

Bryan got on the LeBell Lock, but Kofi got under the ropes. Then Daniel prepared himself on the apron and nailed a running knee to Kofi. He rolled Kingston in and climbed to the top rope.

Daniel went for another diving headbutt, but Kofi nailed him with a dropkick. This match is elevating Kofi Kingston something fierce. Suddenly, Rowan took out Kingston which resulted in Woods and Big E fighting off Rowan. Then the referee tossed The New Day from ringside, but Rowan got to stay for some reason.

Bryan unleashed some kicks in the corner, but Kofi came abck with a kick. Suddenly, Rowan pulled Kofi out of the ring and tossed him over the timekeeper’s area. Finally, the referee ejected Rowan.

Bryan then went out to get Kofi and he went for a running knee, but Kofi nailed a Trouble In Paradise and got the win over the WWE Champion.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston vs Jeff Hardy

They wrestled for a bit and Hardy went for a swanton bomb only to have Kofi move. Hardy continue the offense and hit an inverted atomic drop, but Kofi turned it into a pin and almost won.

It certainly looks like they’re doing a lot to elevate Kofi in this match. Kofi climbed up and fought off Jeff. Then Kingston hit another crossbody, but Hardy turned it into a pin for another two count.

Then Kingston hit an SOS to win against Hardy.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston vs Samoa Joe

Surprisingly, this match didn’t end immediately. Kofi was doing good until Joe nailed a kick to the face for a two count.

Kofi hit a dive on Joe to the outside and they barely made it in. Then Joe hit a killer clothesline and kicked out at 1 when Joe covered him. The announce team was putting Kingston over huge at this point.

This makes you wonder if Mustafa Ali would have gotten this huge rub had he not been taken out of the match. Kofi went for a springboard move, but Joe shoved him to send Kingston crashing to the floor.

Joe let Kofi get back in the ring as he relaxes a little bit.

Then Joe started to “twist the skull off of Kofi’s head — neck,” as Corey Graves said.

Suddenly, Kofi rolled up Joe and beat him.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Joe didn’t take the loss well so he destroyed Kingston afterward. Then he locked on a Coquina Clutch on the outside of the ring. Officials had to run down and pry him off.

AJ Styles vs Kofi Kingston

Styles went right for Joe and punched him a few time to send Joe packing. However, Kofi was already sleeping.

AJ asked Kofi if he wanted to do this. Kingston fired up and got in Styles’ face. Then he screamed, “I’ve been doing this too long!” and he shoved AJ. Then Styles commenced with the beating.

Kofi fought back and they traded some pinning attempts. The announce team touted that Kofi had been in the match for 56 minutes. This was an iron man match for Kingston and he was winning.

They fought on the apron and AJ was selling well to match how tired Kofi legit was. Then Kingston finally went for a running knee and AJ moved. Kingston went slamming into the post and went toppling to the floor.

They returned to the ring and battled on the top rope. Kofi sent AJ down to the mat and hit a splash on AJ’s back for a two count.

Kingston went for an SOS and suddenly, AJ locked on the Calf Crusher and Kofi had no choice but to tap out.

Winner: AJ Styles

After the match, The New Day ran down to help him out and he received a standing ovation. Then it was time for Randy Orton.

Randy Orton vs AJ Styles

It was already 9:59 so Randy hit an RKO outa nowhere and won. Seriously it was that fast.

Winner: Randy Orton

Then the show ended that quickly.

Felix Upton

Felix Upton is a seasoned writer with over 30 years of experience. He began his career writing advertisements for local newspapers in New York before transitioning to publishing news for Ringside News. His expertise includes writing, editing, research, photo editing, and video editing. In his free time, he enjoys bungee jumping and learning extinct languages.

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