Maybe the only thing greater than the power of positivity is the willpower of a true friendship.
Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E were tasked with climbing one final hill Tuesday night on SmackDown. One week after Kingston ran the gauntlet only to be thwarted by another swerve, his brothers in arms were asked to do the same on his behalf.
Could the New Day make lightning strike twice?
It's now up to @WWEBigE and @XavierWoodsPhD to send @TrueKofi to @WrestleMania...if they can win a #GauntletMatch TONIGHT on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/WGU8jFLWox
— WWE (@WWE) March 27, 2019
For Kingston to earn his title shot versus Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35, all Woods and Big E would have to do is defeat The Good Brothers, Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura, The Bar, and The Usos.
Seems simple enough.
With @LukeGallowsWWE & @KarlAndersonWWE out of the way, the focus is now on @RusevBUL & @ShinsukeN for @WWEBigE & @XavierWoodsPhD in this high-stakes #GauntletMatch! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/kjYwqXK9UP
— WWE (@WWE) March 27, 2019
Woods and Big E put away Gallows and Anderson in an embarrassingly short amount of time then went to the wire with Rusev and Shinsuke.
Not to be out done, and because these teams can never have a bad match, Cesaro and Sheamus drained the New Day to their last breath before folding.
Then the Usos did the best thing.
"No one deserves to go to #WrestleMania more than @TrueKofi... WE FORFEIT." @WWEUsos are a class act. #SDLive #GauntletMatch @WWEBigE @XavierWoodsPhD pic.twitter.com/n65qV9znux
— WWE (@WWE) March 27, 2019
Calling back to seven days ago, after it appeared The New Day beat the odds, another obstacle was thrown in their way.
Bryan and Rowan came out from the locker room and were named as the final challengers for Woods and Big E.
In a quick tag match, Big E came up huge for his team. First, E went move for move with the WWE Champion and he finished off the match by burying Rowan under the announce desk.
As the SmackDown crowd counted along, Rowan was counted out of the match and Kofi Kingston is headed to WrestleMania 35.
"Kofi Kingston is going to #Wrestlemania."#SDLive pic.twitter.com/jqep5oHcil
— GIF Skull - Out of Retirement like Marshawn Lynch (@GIFSkull) March 27, 2019
Congrats to Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E; you earned this one.
Get complete SmackDown results and coverage here.