Tonight on SmackDown Live, a few fluff segments that all lead to what we want to see. The Gauntlet match that Kofi Kingston needs to win to get to WrestleMania. Will Kofi overcome the odds? Find out here on our recap of SDL from Chicago, IL!

Let’s get this out of the way.

The Miz cuts an AWESOME promo.

The Miz opens the show and after a video package on how the Best Tag Team In The World became enemies, Miz cuts an emotional promo. The Miz states that he wanted to give Shane McMahon’s dream in becoming a Tag Team champion, and wanted his father to be proud of him. However, Shane is like his father Vince and is nothing but a disgusting human. THe Miz lays it all out, stating finally he received the acknowledgment he wanted from his father and from the WWE Universe he wanted. Now it is the time to give Shane a beating he deserves. Great Promo.

Kevin Owens Show ends with, well you know…

Kevin Owens opens his show with a confrontation between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. KO starts the show off with comments between Rousey, Lynch, and Flair. This all leads to Owens goading Flair and Lynch to fight. After Flair makes a statement, Owens wisely asks for a pause and steps outside. Lynch responds to Flairs statement with a fist and chaos ensues. The Man even targets security that attempts to break up the fray. KO accomplished his job.

Sasha Banks/Bayley vs IIconics. Non title match, IIconics win via Roll up tag team pinfall.

Let’s just get this out the way. The champs quickly take over the match, hitting tag moves on the IIconics. However, Lacey Evans interrupts the match and this allows the IIconics to gain control. Bayley eventually hot tags Banks in. Sasha takes it to the IIconis, but when Banks goes for a double knee. Billie interferes, Bayley goes to correct this and is met by Billie’s foot. Peyton then rolls up Banks and is helped by Billie for the pinfall.

Let’s get this started and why we are here. Kofi Kingston’s Gauntlet Match!

Daniel Bryan has choice words.

The Planet’s Champion comes out with Rowan and delivers a venomous promo against Kofi. Stating that Kofi does not deserve to be in this position and calls him a “B+” opponent. Bryan also states that is why the crowd loves Kofi, because he is a “B+” fighter, Big E’s intro quickly interrupts, to much of the pleasure.

Kofi vs Sheamus, with Cesaro at ring side.

The two lock up and Sheamus takes control with his power. However, Kofi counters with his quickness. This match actually turns in to a display of Kofi’s technical skill. Whenever Sheamus overpowers Kingston, Kofi reacts with a technical approach. Kofi hits Sheamus with a dive after tossing him outside. Cesaro quickly interferes for Sheamus to regain control.

After the break, Kofi fight backs with hard chops, a dropkick, a Boom Drop. Kofi attempts a Trouble In Paradise, but is countered by Sheamus’s Irish Curse. Now both exhausted, Kofi is first to his feet and lands the Trouble In Paradise for a pinfall!

The other part of The Bar.

After interfering throughout Sheamus’s match, Cesaro attacks Kofi. Landing fierce European Uppercuts. Cesaro then takes the momentum to hit a Gut Wrench Suplex. In the back round, it is seen that Sheamus walks out from the hard fought match, and it allows Kofi to gain an even playing field. The two fight on the apron of the ring, with Cesaro catching Kofi in a mid air back breaker to submission hold.

During a picture in picture break, Kofi fights off Cesaro with everything he has. Yet the Swiss Cyborg cuts off the rebound with a Swiss Swing to Clover Leaf lock. After much torture and a Half Boston Crab, Kofi fights out and lands a quick SOS for a pinfall on Cesaro!

The Planet’s Champion is in for destruction.

Kofi now faces off against Rowan, Daniel Bryan’s new BFF. Quickly Rowan overpowers the exhausted Kofi. The backstage camera displays an over growing support from the locker room. In which includes The Uso’s eating pancakes, The Hardy Boyz, R-Truth/Carmella, War Machine, Nikki Cross, etc. However, Rowan does not know and does not care ramming Kofi in to the barriers. Rowan is in this gauntlet to punish Kofi, and grabs a steel chair for an attack. Thus getting disqualified and Kofi to continue. However, the Planet’s BFF is not done yet and Iron Claw Slams Kofi through the announcer’s table.

Enter the Samoan Nightmare.

Samoa Joe enter the gauntlet and proceeds to continue the all beat down of Kofi Kingston. Joe goes in over confident, mocking a beaten Kofi during the match. However, when Kofi displayed sparks of offense and heart. The Samoan Submission Machine tore Kofi apart with vicious shots, turning Kofi inside out. The overconfidence of Samoa Joe was his downfall, as he went for the devastating Muscle Buster  and Kofi reversed it for a roll up pinfall. The infuriated Joe then locks in the Coquina Clutch between the ropes on Kofi, after the win. This seriously takes away any momentum Kofi had and he is gasping for air.

Legend Killer, The Viper, Dream Killer enters.

Randy Orton now is the only opponent that stands in the way of Kofi reaching WrestleMania. Orton walks in with villainous grin, thinking he will break Kofi. For the most part, The Viper did. Landing hard shots outside the ring, but Kofi out of survival instincts, tosses Orton in to the steel steeps. Kofi rolls Orton back in to the ring and Orton takes controll. The Viper lands hard shots on Kofi and sets him up for the RKO, but Kofi desperately counters with the Trouble In Paradise FOR THE PIN!!

The Aftermath.

KOFI IS GOING TO WRESTLEMANIA, right? Not so fast, the Devil of WWE, Vince walks out as New Day celebrates Kofi’s undying heart with another stipulation. Kofi must beat the WWE Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Bryan to advance. All without The New Day at ringside. Kofi gave it his best, spending 50+ mins in a gauntlet designed for him to fail. Yet, the fresh champion proved too much for the King of Gauntlets and succumbed to a Double Knee pinfall, ending Kofi’s dream to headline WrestleMania… or is it?

Kofi’s story shall continue.

Yes, Kofi Kingston pulled off an amazing feat, but to fall short. However, this is the WWE and you can never count out Kofi’s surge in fandom. I would like to remind the ONLY McMahon that has not succumb to full “heel” is Stephanie McMahon. I wager, Steph will have a part in getting Kofi to WrestleMania and fight for the Championship, in which he deserves.