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The biggest story from this Sunday's Fastlane pay-per-view was the continuing saga of Kofi Kingston and the WWE Championship. Tonight's episode of SmackDown Live should have some answers.
After failing to win the title at Elimination Chamber - not from lack of trying - he earned his way into a championship match for Fastlane. However, as Kofi was ready to sign the contract Vince McMahon interrupted to inform the WWE Universe that a returning Kevin Owens would instead take his place for "business" reasons.
It didn't end there, as Mr. McMahon asked Kofi into his office before the pay-per-view started and told him he would be in a Triple Threat match. What Kofi thought was his title opportunity, turned out to be a squash at the hands of The Bar.
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Tonight, Vince McMahon is set to address the WWE Universe and explain his actions from this Sunday. But how will the crowd react, and will Kofi finally get the shot he's been waiting for the past 11 years?
Speaking of McMahon's and explaining their actions, Shane's heel turn on The Miz this Sunday was a surprise. The former SmackDown Tag Team Champions are no more, but what drove Shane to be so malicious in his attack of The Miz?
WWE.com confirmed a couple of matches for tonight's episode. The first is a U.S. Championship match between current title holder Samoa Joe and R-Truth. Joe defeated multiple opponents last week on SmackDown Live where he won the belt and at Fastlane to retain, but can he handle the John Cena-loving R-Truth?
Finally, The Hardy Boys will team up with Aleister Black and Ricochet to take on The Bar, Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura. Since The Usos are still without an opponent for WrestleMania, perhaps the winning side will get one step closer to a title opportunity.
We're four weeks away from WrestleMania 35 and a lot is expected to go down tonight. Here's everything that happened on the March 12 episode of SmackDown Live.

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SMACKDOWN LIVE RESULTS
Opening Segment
- Shane McMahon comes out with the Greatest in the World Cup in the ring. Commentary say that The Miz is home tending to his injuries. Shane calls the ring announcer back into the ring to call him "the best in the world." Unhappy with how it sounds, he pushes the ring announcer into the corner twice until he is satisfied.
- Shane explains his actions on Sunday. He says he's tired of everyone coming to him to try and get ahead in this business and that includes The Miz. And he put an end to all of that on Sunday. Shane says he's not the "best in the world" because of a trophy or the tag team titles, but because he was born that way. He says that seeing the Miz getting beat ignited a spark within him that won't go away. He tells the Miz that he wants to continue to beat him at WrestleMania and he has to, because he is the Miz's boss.
Aleister Black/Ricochet and The Hardy Boyz vs The Bar and Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura
- All three members of the New Day come out and cause a DQ before they take out The Bar, and Rusev and Shinsuke.
Uso Promo
- The Usos run down the rest of the SmackDown Tag Team division and they're ready for any of them at WrestleMania.
Randy Orton Promo
- Orton comes out and runs down AJ Styles. Some of the highlights of his promo include: "In 2005, while you were down in Florida getting a tan with Dixie Carter, I was facing the Undertaker at WrestleMania."
- AJ Styles comes out and fires back at Orton with, "I'm damn proud to come from the indies. You couldn't have made it in my world. Not with this pose and a knock off Diamond Cutter."
- AJ challenges Orton at WrestleMania.
Asuka vs Sonya Deville (with Mandy Rose)
- Asuka wins
Becky Lynch Promo
- Becky says it's good to be healthy and runs through her crazy road to get to WrestleMania. She says that she had to get in the 'Mania match twice, once at the Rumble and playing Ronda Rousey to do her bidding so she can win at Fastlane. Becky says that it's hard to play mindgames with someone with no brain, but she thanks Ronda and will repay her by beating the champion.
- Charlotte interrupts and congratulates Becky for making it into her match. While Becky was getting suspended and arrested Charlotte was putting in the work. While Becky is hot for six months, Charlotte's been hot for four years and that's why she was put in the match. She says the WWE Universe feels bad for Becky that's why they cheer her.
- Becky says that for four years Charlotte did nothing for the division, but in her short time Becky made the women's division the main event of WrestleMania.
Backstage
- Daniel Bryan and Rowan come out of Mr. McMahon's office. He's asked what the meeting was about, and Daniel says that he voiced his displeasure about what he's had to do the last few weeks and he and Rowan were put in a tag team match for later against Mustafa Ali and Kevin Owens.
Rey Mysterio and R-Truth vs Samoa Joe and Andrade
- Mysterio pins Joe after a roll up
Kevin Owens and Mustafa Ali vs Daniel Bryan and Rowan
- Rowan pins Ali after a Chokeslam
Vince McMahon WrestleMania Announcement
- Vince says he wants to give the people and Kofi what they want. However, he says the WWE Universe hears what they want to hear. He never said Kofi would be inserted in the WWE Championship match at Fastlane and that this is a teachable moment. New Day interrupt and come to the ring.
- Big E and Xavier Woods tell Mr. McMahon that they've done everything the WWE wanted them to do and Kofi deserves this opportunity.
- Mr. McMahon says no one deserves anything. And he tells Kofi that if he was worthy of a WWE Championship opportunity it would have happened a long time ago. He tells him that one day Kofi will be in the Hall of Fame but not as a singles competitor but as a part of the New Day. He suggests that Kofi takes the credit for what Big E and Xavier Woods do as younger men. He says Daniel Bryan was right in calling Kofi a B plus player.
- Kofi says he's not asking for a free ride and he's blessed for having his job. He doesn't complain that he's missed family time or the people Vince has put in front of him. He asks Vince to tell him what he needs to do to show him that he's worthy.
- Randy Orton comes out and Vince says he needs to be him. Then Samoa Joe, The Bar and Rowan come out. McMahon says that Kofi needs to defeat all of them in a Gauntlet match next week to get his match at 'Mania. The heels swarm the ring but The New Day kick them out.
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