WWE SMACKDOWN LIVE RESULTS

MY WINNERS, GRADES, REACTION AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM MARCH 12

Why? It's a question many fans and wrestlers were asking coming out of WWE Fastlane 2019 on Sunday. For SmackDown Live, the focus was on two main storylines, and both required answers on Tuesday night.

No name has been hotter in WWE over the past few months than Kofi Kingston, and this should be leading to a title opportunity. Unfortunately, Vince McMahon has decided to get in his way, refusing to give him a shot and booking him in an impossible handicap match against The Bar for Fastlane.

Shane McMahon turned heel on Sunday for the first time in years by attacking The Miz from behind in his hometown and in front of his father. Though it was clearly built on Shane-O-Mac's frustration at losing the tag team championships, no one knew why he would go so far.

Both McMahons promised answers with important matches that could be headliners hanging in the balance for WrestleMania 35.

While most stories were up in the air, it was already clear why Ronda Rousey had helped Becky Lynch earn her way back into title contention. However, there was still space for The Man and Charlotte Flair to respond.

This show had massive potential to jump-start a surprisingly shallow showing for SmackDown at WrestleMania so far or to continue to let Raw lead the way.

SHANE MCMAHON GOES INTO BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF

Shane McMahon bullied Greg Hamilton into announcing him clearly as the best in the world. Boy Wonder then made clear he was done playing to the fans and was out for himself from now on.

He refused to let anyone, including The Miz, hold him back and would focus on his future in the business. His first declaration as a new man was to repeat his beatdown of The A-Lister at WrestleMania, promising it would be awesome.

Grade: B

Analysis: McMahon gives a fine promo, though he doesn't come off all that threatening as a heel. That does not take away from the effectiveness of this story, though. Finally, there is true payoff to Shane-O-Mac's baffling victory in the World Cup tournament in November, as well as his connection to The Miz.

A match between Shane-O-Mac and The A-Lister could be fun but won't stand out. However, the build should be great with two entertainers at the helm, and the result should help sell Miz as a babyface in the long term.

RICOCHET, ALEISTER BLACK AND HARDY BOYZ VS. THE BAR, SHINSUKE NAKAMURA AND RUSEV

Chaos reigned in this eight-man tag match, with everyone getting in on the action. Jeff Hardy almost took the victory with a Swanton Bomb, but the pinfall was broken up. A fight broke out between the teams that did not stop.

The New Day crashed the party and took out everyone, focusing especially on Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev, who had stopped Xavier Woods and Big E from helping Kofi Kingston on Sunday. They stood tall over the field.

Backstage, The Usos cut a promo on every team involved in this brawl, stating every single one was not ready for them.

Results: Ricochet, Aleister Black, and The Hardy Boyz vs. The Bar, Nakamura and Rusev goes to a no-contest

Grade: B

Analysis: This match and segment felt a bit too jumbled to matter, but the result made sense. With SmackDown's tag team division so packed, it seems the entire field may be stepping up. A multi-team ladder match would certainly make sense.

Moreover, this fed into The New Day's frustration, adding more complications before Vince McMahon had any chance to address Kingston.

AJ STYLES CALLS OUT RANDY ORTON FOR WRESTLEMANIA

Randy Orton talked down AJ Styles, making clear The Phenomenal One's proclamations that he built SmackDown felt like a personal insult.

The Viper insulted Styles' career outside WWE, while The Face that Runs the Place took pride in an independent background much like many of his fellow stars.

The Apex Predator demanded Styles pay up for working in his company for so long. The Phenomenal One responded by offering a match at WrestleMania.

Grade: A

Analysis: Styles and Orton are often hit-and-miss mic workers, but they were on point here working off each other. The back-and-forth jabs felt fluid, and the two had great lines to sell the dynamic of this rivalry.

On a bloated 'Mania card, it would be surprising if this contest gets time to shine, but it could be great if they are as motivated at The Show of Shows as they were here.

This feels like a big spotlight contest for the blue brand.

ASUKA VS. SONYA DEVILLE

Sonya Deville looked to do what Mandy Rose could not on Sunday, but she was equally as out of sorts against Asuka.

However, it did not help that The Golden Goddess tripped Deville with the apron, setting up The Empress of Tomorrow to take this match quickly with the Asuka Lock.

Afterward, Rose and Deville argued as they headed up the ramp, with neither on the same page.

             

Results: Asuka def. Deville by submission

Grade: D+

Analysis: This match had serious potential, but it ended up feeling like a squash. Moreover, it continued to build a questionable story. Not only does Asuka have no clear rivals for The Grandest Stage of Them All, but WWE is also setting up the top team on SmackDown to break up.

The women's tag team division needs top stars from both brands. If Rose and Deville end up turning on each other, SmackDown will be left with almost no competitive teams. The IIconics will have to step up.

BECKY LYNCH REFUSES TO BE AFFECTED BY CHARLOTTE FLAIR

Becky Lynch came out for the first time in a month without her crutch, and she made clear she was ready for WrestleMania.

She stood tall as Charlotte Flair arrived to attempt to belittle The Man. However, The Irish Lass Kicker refused to listen, with her WrestleMania spot on April 7 now guaranteed.

Grade: B+

Analysis: This promo did not add much to the rivalry. It was fairly similar to past confrontations between the two. However, it was a good segment all the same.

In particular, Lynch showcased how much weight had been taken off her shoulders by earning her spot back at WrestleMania. Hopefully WWE can now avoid complicating this story anymore.

SAMOA JOE AND ANDRADE VS. REY MYSTERIO AND R-TRUTH

A confident Samoa Joe came into this match focused and determined, but he was slowly frustrated more and more by his babyface opponents. This came to a head when Rey Mysterio hit a 619 on Joe and Andrade.

The Samoan Submission Machine managed to recover enough to dodge the luchador's diving splash, but he got rolled up on an uranage attempt for three.

Irate over his loss, Joe laid out R-Truth and Andrade with uranage.

Results: Mysterio and Truth def. Joe and Andrade by pinfall

Grade: B

Analysis; This tag team match was not quite up to par with what these four men did last week together, but it was still solid.

This felt like WWE spinning its wheels, though, with Joe already taking out Mysterio with a Coquina Clutch on Sunday.

While Joe and Mysterio could be great together, there is no way they are fighting one-on-one for the title at WrestleMania. It would have been far more interesting to keep the United States champion dominant.

DANIEL BRYAN AND ROWAN VS. KEVIN OWENS AND MUSTAFA ALI

Backstage, Daniel Bryan was caught leaving Vince McMahon's office and told Dasha Fuentes he had spoken his mind on Kofi Kingston, leading to the WWE chairman booking this tag team match.

While Mustafa Ali and Kevin Owens worked well enough as a unit, they could not overcome the crafty tactics of Bryan and Rowan.

After Bryan's intellectual peer took out Owens outside the ring, the two teamed up on Ali with Rowan hitting an Iron Claw slam for the win.

Results: Bryan and Rowan def. Owens and Ali by pinfall

Grade: B+

Analysis: This tag team match was fun throughout. Ali is a constant highlight reel, while Owens has been energetic throughout this babyface run. More than even that, though, the "new" Bryan has been on fire and can do no wrong.

All of this felt like filler, though, as we waited for the main event in which WWE would reveal what is next for the WWE Championship.

VINCE MCMAHON GIVES KOFI KINGSTON A NEARLY INSURMOUNTABLE CHALLENGE

Vince McMahon stated that his decisions on Sunday were teachable moments for Kofi Kingston, but The New Day refused to listen.

Walking out to the ring, Big E and Xavier Woods demanded their friend get his due, saying he deserved the WWE Championship opportunity.

As The Boss declared The New Day leader was just not good enough, Kingston took the microphone and demanded McMahon give him a chance to prove his worth.

The WWE chairman announced he would get his championship opportunity only by defeating Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, The Bar and Rowan in a Gauntlet match.

The heels stormed the ring, but New Day cleared them out and stood tall in the bittersweet realization that next week's Gauntlet was almost impossible.

Grade: A

Analysis: This was a fantastic segment with Kingston, Big E and Woods cutting some of the best promos of their careers. You could feel how much this meant to them, especially Kofi, who is on the verge of the biggest moment of his career.

It is appropriate that a Gauntlet match will be what Kingston has to win to earn his shot at Bryan. The same match that started his run hot will be what he needs to finish in order becoming No. 1 contender.

Obviously, he will win, but the journey should be spectacular to behold.