Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE SmackDown Live. Please keep refreshing throughout the show for constant updates once it kicks off at 8:00 PM EST.

Since WWE is returning to Madison Square Garden tonight they will be bringing the best show they can. Let’s just see what they’re able to come up with.

We should have been expecting a King Of The Ring semifinal, but Elias is hurt. So, we’ll just wait to see what they’re going to do about that.

The Undertaker is expected to be in attendance and it’ll be anyone’s guess what he will be doing.

Roman Reigns might want some payback from Erick Rowan before the two throw down at Clash Of Champions.

Also, Kofi Kingston might have an emotional journey as he returns to Madison Square Garden as WWE Champion.

Opening Segment

The Undertaker’s music hit. The crowd was very happy to see him. He cut a very cryptic promo about Madison Square Garden and how they are ushering in a new era of Superstar.

Then Sami Zayn came out. He chastised NYC for all the various reasons that people usually do as he got closer to the ring. Then he started saying for 30 years MSG has been The Dead Man’s yard. Zayn said he respects Taker, but then he said that it shouldn’t be Taker opening up SmackDown, it should have been Sami.

Then Sami tried to get Taker to retire. He gave Taker his word that the future of SmackDown is with Sami Zayn and then Taker handed Zayn his microphone and started to leave the ring.

Zayn’s face lit up with a smile as he thought that he finally convinced The Undertaker to retire. Then Taker got back in and hit Sami with a chokeslam.

Taker then left in a big sea of smoke and blue lights while his music played him off.

The Miz vs Andrade

While these two fought in the ring, Shinsuke Nakamura sat on commentary and provided all of his comments in Japanese.

The Miz mocked Andrade’s taunt and then he sent him to the floor before hyping the crowd, but Zelina Vega jumped on the apron and stopped him from hitting the ropes for a dive.

Then Andrade nailed a kick on a distracted Miz before landing running double knees in the corner.

The Miz rallied and tried to come back with a running knee and some It Kicks. The action returned to the outside and then Shinsuke distracted The Miz, but he just threw Andrade into Shinsuke.

Zelina grabbed The Miz and Andrade hit him with a back elbow for a two count. Andrade ended up hitting a moonsault right into a Skull Crushing Finale from The Miz for the win.

Winner: The Miz

Right after the match was over, Shinsuke Nakamura nailed The Miz with two Kinshasas to leave him layout out on the mat.

Shane McMahon revealed that he will be Chad Gable’s opponent tonight.

Nikki Cross vs Mandy Rose

Mandy Rose took some time before their match to call Nikki Cross ugly. Then Cross ran to the ring to get their match started.

Mandy turned things around and latched on a submission hold while she yelled “You will never look like me, Nikki!”

Nikki got upset after a few bashed to the turnbuckle and she beat Mandy down. Cross climbed to the top rope, but she missed a crossbody. Then she rolled Mandy up for the pinfall anyway.

Winner: Nikki Cross

Bayley was backstage packing up and Ember Moon walked in. Moon said Bayley acting like a heel isn’t like her. Then Bayley reasoned why she did what she did. She did it for the division. It isn’t about Sasha Banks, it’s about the SmackDown Women’s Title. Moon said Bayley is better than that and it’s more about struggling to be relevant as a champion.

Heavy Machinery vs. Enhancement Team

Otis & Tucker won with very little effort, but MSG seemed to be into what they were doing.

Winner: Heavy Machinery

Shane McMahon got Kevin Owens backstage and he said he’s willing to consider taking away his $100,000 fine. Then he gave KO a referee shirt. It was a very “hint, hint, nudge, nudge” situation.

Erick Rowan Vents

Erick Rowan came out to new music and he cut a promo in the ring. He got a little bit of time to talk about how he terrorizes and brutalizes. Then Roman Reigns came out and hit a Superman Punch right from the jump.

Rowan went out of the ring and then Roman followed. Rowan landed a kick, but Rowan was thrown over the barricade and they fought in the crowd.

Then moved back to the ringside area and then Roman hit two more Superman Punches. Security came down to separate them and then Rowan picked up “a fan” and powerbombed him into the crowd of security. Sooo… he’s fired.

Security tried to get Rowan to leave, but he ran around the ring to take out Rowan again and drag Reigns up the ramp. Then Rowan grabbed the camera crane and sent it into Roman.

Then they finally got Rowan to leave.

Later, they showed Rowan backstage and he was just pacing back and forth saying “Roman” over and over again.

Bayley vs Ember Moon

Charlotte Flair was on commentary for this one.

Bayley took control early on with some strikes and kicks, but Flair didn’t seem too impressed.

Moon caused some separation and began to fight back. She hit a step-up kick to the head before hitting a springboard crossbody for a two count.

Ember nailed a kick to the shoulder, but she missed an Eclipse. Then Bayley nailed a Bayley To Belly for the win.

Winner: Bayley

Kevin Owens was backstage in a referee shirt and he seemed conflicted about what he is going to do tonight.

Kofi Kingston

It’s a New Day, yes it is! Kofi Kingston came out and MSG was happy to see him. Kingston said it feels great to be back in MSG and then he brought up how he stepped up to Randy Orton around a decade ago.

Then he showed the footage of that night on November 16th, 2009.

Randy Orton showed up in the crowd and he kept saying “Stupid” over and over again like he’s been known to do recently. He said that none of the things that Kofi is proud of matters. He’s taking the title from him because he’s always phony. “I don’t know if it was those dreadlocks, or that phony Power Of Positivity sh*t.”

Then Kofi Kingston went out into the crowd only to get whacked with a chair over and over again. Kofi battled back and then he grabbed the chair and got some shots in.

Then Kofi Kingston set up a table and laid Orton on it. Kingston climbed to the railing and did a Boom Drop on RKO reenacting a classic move from a decade ago.

Shane McMahon vs Chad Gable (Kevin Owens as special referee)

This match lasted 30 seconds before Kevin Owens counted to three on a roll up and Gable won.

Winner: Chad Gable

Shane McMahon grabbed the microphone and made it a 2 out of 3 falls match before proceeding to beat Gable around the ringside area.

This match continued as KO officiated. Then Gable ended up hitting some kicks and a neckbreaker on Shane McMahon.

Gable landed a moonsault and then Kevin Owens had a very slow count so Shane was able to kick out.

Shane got the upperhand and hit an Angle Slam, but Gable kicked out of the fast count. Then McMahon got a chair. Owens took the chair and then Shane went running at Chad, but he ended up in an ankle lock before tapping out.

Winner: Chad Gable

After the match was over, Shane McMahon jumped Kevin Owens and “fired” him.