The March 5th, 2019 edition of WWE SmackDown Live took place at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
– This week’s broadcast opens up with a graphic memorializing the late King Kong Bundy.
– WWE Champion Daniel Bryan comes out to the ring with Rowan by his side. We see a video package looking at the set-up of Bryan vs. Kevin Owens at Fastlane, and Kofi Kingston being removed. Bryan gets on the mic and talks about Kofi, and then Rowan tells the fans to shut up because Bryan is about to enlighten everyone. Bryan says Kofi isn’t a leader, and he’s where he should be now as a supporting player. Bryan says Mr. McMahon was right to replace Kofi. But, he says McMahon wasn’t right to replace the man who throws pancakes with the man who eats pancakes. Bryan says Owens looks like all the fans, thinks like the fans, and doesn’t deserve a shot at the WWE Championship. Bryan says Owens is a nobody, but that’s what makes him dangerous, because a nobody is somebody with nothing to close. Bryan says he has everything to lose because he’s the planet’s champion. Owens comes out to interrupt. Owens gets on the mic and talks about being home injured and watching RAW and SmackDown. Owens says it was awful watching Bryan on TV acting like a maniac and talking down to everyone. Owens talks about watching Bryan throw the WWE Championship belt in the trash, and that was the last straw. Owens says he’s going to shut Bryan’s mouth. Bryan tells him he needs to worry about his own mouth and empty calories. Owens says Bryan is resorting to easy fat jokes, and tells him to shove his organic carrots up his — Bryan interrupts and says Owen is just like the fans again. Owens talks about Bryan using Rowan for backup, and Bryan says Owens has no backup because he has no friends. Owens says last week he didn’t need any backup to beat Bryan. Owens steps in the ring and Rowan gets in his face. They start throwing punches and Owens dumps Rowan outside. Bryan and Owens go at it now until Rowan comes back in and breaks it up with a chokeslam.
– Shane McMahon and The Miz are shown backstage warming up for The Miz’s match tonight.
– The Usos come out to the ring, and they’ve got mics. They talk about becoming the 6-time Tag Champs at Elimination Chamber, and now they’re ready to defend on the road to WrestleMania. They do impressions of The Miz and Shane McMahon. The Usos say they’re a true tag team, and they’re going to hit hard at Fastlane. Shane and The Miz come out to interrupt. Shane talks about why he thinks he and Miz are the best tag team in the world. The Miz says on Sunday in his hometown at Fastlane, he’s going to beat The Usos and make Shane and his dad proud. The Usos charge, but Shane and Miz duck, and The Usos fall out to ringside.
– The Miz vs. Jey Uso: Shane and Jimmy are at ringside. Jey starts off strong and hits a series of strikes on Miz. Jey misses a shot in the corner and Miz comes back with a series of running knee strikes in the corner. Jey ducks a clothesline and rolls up Miz for 2. The Miz comes back with a DDT for a two count of his own. Jey fights back and hits the running hip attack in the corner. Uos goes to the top rope for a splash, but Miz gets his feet up to block it. Jimmy tries to get involved and Shane takes him out at ringside. Jey gets distracted, and this leads to Miz hitting the Skull Crushing Finale for the three count.
Winner: The Miz
– Miz and Shane celebrate after the match as Jimmy helps Jey out of the ring.
– We go backstage for an interview with Charlotte. Charlotte says she misses seeing Becky hobbling around on a crutch on SmackDown, so she invites her to SmackDown tonight. Charlotte says she wants to have a friendly discussion with Becky tonight.
– R-Truth and Carmella come out to the ring and they’ve got mics. Truth says he wants to be like his childhood hero John Cena, but he doesn’t realize Cena did the U.S. Title open challenge every week, and Truth is exhausted. Truth jokes about having John Cena posters and bed sheets. They have a 7 second dance break, and Truth says the U.S. Title open challenge starts now. Lacey Evans’ music hits and she walks down the ramp and turns around and heads to the back. Truth tells her to come back, and then says she didn’t want none. Carmella tells Truth that doesn’t count, and everyone wants to see Truth defend the Title. Samoa Joe’s music hits and it looks like Joe is accepting the open challenge. As Joe gets in the ring, Rey Mysterio comes out too. Then Andrade comes out with Zelina Vega. It looks like this one will be a Fatal Four-way.
– R-Truth (c) vs. Samoa Joe vs. Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio: R-Truth’s United States Title is on the line in this one. Joe takes control of this one early on. Rey looks for a splash off the top but Joe fakes him out and walks away. Joe throws Andrade and Truth out of the ring, then he hits a senton bomb on Rey on the mat for a two count. Joe throws Rey outside next, then he rolls out too. Joe slams Truth into the barricade and chops Rey to the chest. Joe and Andrade start trading chops and punches on the floor now. Joe and Andrade fight back into the ring, and Joe connects with a series of strikes. Rey gets back in the ring and Joe turns his attention to him. Andrade comes over and hits a series of elbows to the head of Joe. Andrade misses a flying knee in the corner and falls out to ringside. Joe follows up with a suicide dive on Andrade on the ringside floor. Joe hits some strikes on Rey and Truth while he’s at ringside now. Joe looks for a suplex on Rey, but R-Truth dropkicks him down and Rey goes down too. Andrade takes out Truth and then goes at it with Rey in the ring. Rey and Andrade fight on the turnbuckle, and then Truth comes over pulls down Andrade. Rey then hits a big splash on Joe, who just got back in the ring. Rey takes down Andrade next, then Truth throws Rey into the corner. Truth hits running splashes on Joe, Andrade, and Rey all in different corners. Truth goes for another splash on Joe, but Joe catches him and plants him with a side suplex. Andrade hits a missile dropkick on Joe, then he powerbombs Rey. Andrade goes to the top turnbuckle and hits a moonsault on Rey. Joe breaks up the pin and throws Andrade into the ring post. Truth drops Joe with a lariat and a spinning heel kick. Truth hits a splash on Joe in the corner, and then a spinning elbow on Rey. Truth hits a spinebuster on Joe, and then he suplexes Rey on top of Joe on the mat. Truth calls for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, and he hits it on both Rey and Joe. He covers Joe for a two count. Truth looks for the scissor kick, but Joe dodges it and puts the Champion in the Coquina Clutch. Rey gets back in the ring and hits the 619 on Joe to break the choke. Andrade kicks Truth out to ringside, then Rey hits a dive on Truth. Rey gets on the apron, and Andrade flips over him for a sunset flip powerbomb on to the floor. Andrade rolls Rey back in the ring, but he’s slow to pin. Zelina Vega attacks Truth behind the ref’s back, and Carmella kicks her in the face for it. Back in the ring, Andrade goes for a powerbomb, but Rey reverses into a Canadian Destroyer. Rey hits the 619, then goes to the top rope. Rey hits the frogsplash on Andrade, and he pins, but then Joe hits a senton bomb on both of them. Joe hits a version of the Rock Bottom on Andrade for the three count to win the U.S. Title.
Winner & new United States Champion: The referee raises Joe’s hand and he celebrates with the U.S. Title belt on the ramp.
– Becky Lynch is shown backstage walking through the hallway on crutches.
– Still to come: Kevin Owens vs. Rowan
– We see a video from The New Day, who are currently on a promotional tour in India.
– New U.S. Champion Samoa Joe does an interview backstage. Joe says everyone on the roster knows the lengths Joe will go to win gold, and what he’ll do to keep it. Joe says he won’t pander to the masses and he doesn’t respect John Cena. Joe says he’ll put everyone on the roster who crosses him to sleep.
– Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. The Bar: The Bar cuts a brief promo before the match. Ricochet and Sheamus start this one off, and Ricochet hits a hurricanrana and a standing shooting star press early on. A distraction from Cesaro leads to Sheamus kicking Ricochet in the face and knocking him out to ringside. Back in the ring, Cesaro tags in and works over Ricochet until Ricochet comes back with a DDT. Sheamus and Black get the tags, and Black hits a series of strikes on him. Black hits a springbord moonsault and then a knee to the face. Black pins but Cesaro breaks it up. Cesaro tags in for the double team on Black. Cesaro misses a shot and Black hits Black Mass on Cesaro. Sheamus runs in, but Black knocks him out to ringside. Ricochet tags in, and Black hits a suicide dive on Sheamus at ringside. Ricochet hits the 630 splash on Cesaro for the three count.
Winners: Ricochet and Aleister Black
– After the match, Rusev and Nakamura come out and ambush Black and Ricochet. The Br joins in on the beat-down of the two NXT talents. The Hardy Boyz come out for the save and they clear the ring. Hardy and Ricochet both hit suicide dives on the heels at ringside.
– We see Daniel Bryan giving a pep talk to Rowan backstage.
– Mandy Rose vs. Naomi: Sonya Deville is at ringside for this one. Naomi starts off strong with a kick to the face and a jawbreaker. Sonya gets on the apron, and the distraction leads to Mandy kneeing Naomi in the face. Mandy follows up with a facebuster for the three count after a very short match.
Winner: Mandy Rose
– Asuka comes out behind Mandy and Sonya on the stage and attacks them. Asuka beats them down and throws them both into the Titantron screens.
– Still to come: Charlotte invites Becky Lynch to the ring; plus Kevin Owens vs. Rowan
– We go backstage for an interview with AJ Styles. AJ says The McMahons aren’t listening to the WWE Universe, because they’re screaming for Kofi Kingston. Randy Orton interrupts and says he can’t believe AJ is talking about how someone other than himself deserves a Title opportunity. Orton says he sees why it took AJ 15 years to get to WWE.
– Kevin Owens vs. Rowan: The opening bell sounds and Owens charges Rowan, but Rowan shuts him down with some strikes, then he dropkicks Owens out to ringside. Bryan cuts a promo on Owens at ringside, and Owens attacks Bryan. Rowan comes out and throws Owens into the ring steps. Rowan hits a running elbow on Owens on the floor. Bryan gets on Owens on the floor and pummels on him, and the ref calls for the bell.
Winner via DQ: Kevin Owens
– Rowan slams Owens down on the ringside floor, then Bryan yells at Owens some more. Bryan tells Rowan to prepare the table, but then Mustafa Ali comes out for the save. Ali dropkicks Bryan down, then he hits a dive on Rowan. Rowan catches Ali and looks for a chokeslam on the announce table, but Ali lands on his feet on the table. Ali hits a hurricanrana on Rowan into the ring post. Ali shoves Rowan into the barricade, but then Bryan comes flying off the ring apron with a knee to the head of Ali. Bryan takes Ali in the ring, but then Owens runs in and hits a Stunner on Bryan. Rowan takes Bryan up the ramp as Owens and Ali exchange words in the ring.
– Charlotte is shown walking backstage towards the gorilla position.
– Charlotte comes out to the ring, and we see a video package of Ronda beating down Becky last night. Charlotte gets on the mic and says she wants to have a friendly conversation with Becky Lynch. Becky makes her way out to the ring on a crutch and gets on the mic. Becky says it’s good to be back, and says her body is hurting but that’s okay because it’s the price it takes. Becky says she’s in Charlotte’s head and Ronda’s head. Becky says her ribs may be bruised, her arm was almost broken, and her knee is damaged, but damaged people are the most dangerous because they have nothing left to lose. Charlotte attacks Becky now and beats her down on the mat. Becky grabs the crutch off the mat and hits Charlotte with it, then she puts Charlotte in the Disarm-her. Referees run in the ring and break it up. Charlotte rolls out to ringside and Becky talks trash to her from the ring as SmackDown goes off the air.
