Published 10:22 IST, September 18th 2019
Brock Lesnar returns to SmackDown, decimates WWE Champ Kofi Kingston
As WWE's blue brand is gearing up for the big makeover in terms of broadcast and schedule, SmackDown Live just provided the fans with a preview of the future
- SportFit
- 4 min read
As WWE's blue brand is gearing up for the big makeover in terms of broadcast and schedule, SmackDown Live just provided the fans with a preview of what was yet to come in the future. Former Universal Champion Brock Lesnar returned to SmackDown Live nearly 15 years later on Tuesday and left WWE Champion Kofi Kingston lying on the mat after challenging him for the title. Brock Lesnar had earlier lost the Universal Championship to Seth Rollins at Wrestlemania following which there were rumours of the blue-brand attempting to rope in the UFC star as it prepares for its stint with Fox. With Brock Lesnar returning to SmackDown, WWE has sent indications of how they plan to give the blue brand the same big stage as Monday night RAW gets.
Brock Lesnar to battle Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston has been on his heels and is defending the championship at every given opportunity ever since he won it from AJ Styles at Wrestlemania earlier this year. After successfully defending his title against Randy Orton at Clash of Champions on Sunday, the WWE champion took on Randy Orton and The Revival in a 6-man tag-team match with New Day. Fresh from their defeat to The Revival that saw them lose their Tag-team Championships, The New Day successfully avenged their loss by beating team RKO. However, to everyone's shock, Brock Lesnar and his advocate Paul Hayman made their way to the ring following which Brock Lesnar challenged Kofi Kingston for a fight at SmackDown's Friday night premiere on October 4. Kofi Kingston, a fighting champion, accepted the challenge and extended his hand for a handshake but received an F5 from the Beast Incarnate, leaving Kofi Kingston in a pile on the mat.
Kofi Kingston beats Randy Orton
The match was being referred to as a rivalry that had been in the making for 10 years as Orton taunted Kofi that he does not have any skill today, just like he never had any skill when they faced each other in 2009. The match had a slow start as both superstars were cautious of letting the momentum slide in the opponent's advantage. Orton soon picked up pace as he started attacking Kofi and leaving him gasping for breath. Randy even taunted the crowd a few times in the middle of affairs. Kofi soon picked up the pace and exploded on the Legend Killer. After getting some momentum, Kofi tried the Trouble In Paradise on Orton who reversed it into a backbreaker. Randy then tried attacking Kofi, but Kofi reversed it into an SOS out of nowhere, leaving Orton distraught. Kofi attempted a pin, but Orton kicked out. Orton then tried to RKO Kofi, but Kofi avoided that as well. The match went on with Randy finally landing an RKO on Kofi. At that point, the match was anything but over, as Randy attempted the pin on Kofi, but Kofi used his presence of mind and put one of his feet on the rope. As Kofi was trying to recover, Randy was ready to put Kofi out of his misery by delivering a punt kick to his head. Kofi saw Orton coming and pulled out at the last second leaving Orton confused. Orton approached Kofi for a Powerslam, but Kofi avoided that and delivered a Trouble In Paradise to Orton, getting the pin on him and retaining his WWE Championship. Kofi continues to be the reigning WWE Champion, and it will be interesting to see what happens between Orton and Kofi on Tuesday's SmackDown.
Updated 10:42 IST, September 18th 2019