Xavier Woods Replacing Kofi Kingston In Intercontinental Title Number One Contender's Match

Kofi Kingston's New Day partner Xavier Woods will take his place in tonight's five-way match on SmackDown. 

Woods will square off with Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, LA Knight and Karrion Kross, with the winner receiving a shot at Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER at WrestleMania 39. Kofi was pulled from the match after sustaining an injury to his leg on last week's episode of SmackDown.

Regarding Kingston's injury, Dave Meltzer suggested that he may be able to avoid surgery but might not be back in time for WrestleMania. 

Speaking on a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said: 

"Kofi Kingston will probably not be, almost assuredly will not be in that match [on SmackDown next week]. If he can be ready for WrestleMania, I don't want to say 100% no but it'll be touch and go if he can make it for WrestleMania if he doesn't get surgery. Like I said, he's hopeful he was not going to get surgery. So, it's going to be time off but perhaps not that much time off". 

The only other match scheduled for tonight's show is Ricochet & Braun Strowman taking on The Viking Raiders.