[dramatic music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
-[glass shatters] -[Rock] If ya smell…
-[bell tolls] -[Cena] Now.
-♪ The King of Kings ♪ -♪ You can't see me ♪
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
[music fades]
["Are You Ready" by AC/DC playing]
♪ Are you ready? ♪
♪ Are you ready for a good time? ♪
-♪ Who all need it? ♪ -♪ You ♪
-♪ Who all need it? ♪ -♪ Yes, you do ♪
♪ You all breathe it ♪
♪ We all need it ♪
♪ Are you ready for a good time? ♪
[crowd cheers]
♪ Are you ready for a good time? ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
[music ends]
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] We're one day away from Elimination Chamber
as we welcome you tonight to Friday Night SmackDown on Fox,
sponsored by Progressive Insurance,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
Hello again, everybody, at ringside,
I'm Michael Cole from Raw, Corey Graves.
Pat McAfee is off this week.
What a couple of days we have to come.
We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there.
Luckily, I gassed up the DeLorean.
I have a feeling we're gonna make it
because I wouldn't miss Elimination Chamber for the world.
WWE official Adam Pearce is already in the ring.
[announcer] Please welcome WWE official, Adam Pearce.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd cheers]
Now, the four women you saw mix it up last week
will take place in a tag team match tomorrow
at the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event,
but only if we get their signatures on this contract.
With that in mind, please welcome the team of WWE official Sonya Deville
and the SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair.
["Made Me Stronger" playing]
[Cole] Yes, Sonya Deville who's had some run-ins
as of late with not only Naomi but of course "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] Sonya Deville obviously still feeling the effects
of the Ronda Rousey armbar several weeks back.
Last week, we saw a melee ensue
at the end of the Charlotte Flair-Naomi SmackDown Women's Championship match.
[Cole] Here comes the SmackDown Women's Champion.
What a great match last week between Charlotte Flair and Naomi.
Naomi taking Charlotte Flair to the limit numerous times.
I believe she was gonna win the SmackDown Women's Championship.
[Graves] Many people believe the exact same thing.
Unfortunately, for those people, Charlotte Flair endures.
["Recognition" playing]
The SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair,
who cannot wait to arrive in Dallas, Texas,
to main-event WrestleMania
and defend her SmackDown Women's Championship
against the Baddest Woman on the Planet, Ronda Rousey.
But before we get there,
tag team action with serious consequences.
[Cole] Yeah, Elimination Chamber, 12:00 noon tomorrow,
exclusively on Peacock.
It's a special start time,
where these two women, Charlotte and Sonya,
are gonna team together
-to take on Naomi and Ronda Rousey. -[Graves] How? How?
Less than 24 hours from now?
Is Sonya supposed to miraculously heal herself?
I'm no doctor, but…
[Cole] Well, maybe she shouldn't have mixed things up like she did last week.
Also at Elimination Chamber, for the Raw Women's Championship tomorrow,
it'll be Becky Lynch defending against Lita.
[Graves] A true clash of eras, a dream match, many are calling it,
that never should have happened, but it is reality,
much like Charlotte Flair dominating the SmackDown women's division
is undeniable reality.
And now, let's get ready to feel the glow with their opponents, Naomi
and the Baddest Woman on the Planet, Ronda Rousey.
[Naomi's music playing]
[Cole] And, Corey, if you're Naomi, what is your mindset?
How do you focus on the match tomorrow
after the incredible performance she put on against Charlotte Flair last week?
[Graves] To be perfectly honest, as impressive as last week was,
Naomi needs to realize this is her one and likely only opportunity
to put her hands on Sonya Deville without consequence.
["Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts playing]
[Cole] And here's a woman who's already put her hands on Sonya Deville
without consequence,
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey,
the reason that Sonya Deville is wearing the sling once again here tonight.
[Graves] Well, Ronda Rousey outlasted 29 other women
and won the Royal Rumble Match
to earn the right
to choose which champion she would challenge
on the grandest stage of them all.
Ronda chose Charlotte,
and we are witnessing history in the making.
[music fades]
All right, ladies, four signatures on this contract will make it official.
-You've all been a part of these before-- -Yeah, I know how contract signings work.
Give me the contract.
[Adam] Have it your way.
[crowd boos]
Actually, you know what?
You should explain how it works to the two of them
because, clearly, they need it broken down for them very simply
because they don't know how to follow rules.
Rule number one is sign the damn contract.
Rule number two, I'ma slap the taste out of your mouth.
[laughs]
See, this is why I don't like people like the two of you
because you have no respect for authority,
-you don't understand-- -Ah, bleh! Stop stalling
and just sign the contract.
Don't tell me what to do. How about that?
Did you forget how to spell your name?
-It's B-I-T-C-- -[Charlotte] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
-Really? Really? -I don't know
why you two think this is so funny.
Naomi, I beat you last week.
Oh?
And, Ronda, you've never beaten me.
Yes, Charlotte, but all that
-is about to change. -Excuse me? Don't interrupt me.
-You know what? I'm sick of all this-- -Shut up. Shut up.
-[crowd cheers] -[indistinct]
Sonya, sign the contract.
[inaudible]
Now, just so you know,
this is your last chance to back out of the match.
If either of you have anything that you're afraid of
-or that you want to say-- -Girl, if you don't stop stalling,
I'ma flip this table over on you and use your head as the pen.
-[crowd cheers] -[Ronda laughs]
Shh.
[crowd boos]
[laughs]
The both of you need to listen to Sonya's new stipulation.
-Stipulation? -What stipulation?
Stipulation.
See, this is the funny part. The two of you don't want to listen to me.
I was trying to tell you something this entire time
if you would shut your mouths.
[laughs]
Ronda Rousey did a little interview a few days ago
where she said she could easily beat me with one arm tied behind her back.
So then, I thought to myself,
"What a badass idea,
Ronda Rousey wrestling with one arm tied behind her back."
"It's genius, it's genius."
So I talked to the higher-ups,
and if you read right there-- I only have one hand, sorry.
But right there at the bottom of the page, it says,
"Ronda Rousey will--" Hold on, I can't read from here.
"Ronda Rousey will wrestle this match with one arm tied behind her back."
[inaudible]
I mean, you can back out, it's no problem.
Oh, oh, okay.
I was just gonna say that if--
Sonya, with no hands, I will still tap dance on your forehead.
One hand is plenty enough.
But, um, the match is tomorrow,
and I've got two hands tonight.
-[Graves] Oh no. -[Cole] Here we go.
And Sonya gets one as well.
[Graves] The table is flipped.
[crowd cheers]
["Bad Reputation" playing]
[Cole] Tomorrow at 12:00 noon at Elimination Chamber,
it's gonna be Charlotte and Sonya in a tag match against Naomi and Ronda.
Ronda's gonna have one arm tied behind her back.
[Graves] I understand Ronda is the Baddest Woman on the Planet,
but this is crazy.
One arm tied behind your back is a total game-changer.
-Here, we see… -[Cole] Well, Sonya has a bad arm as well.
♪ Never said I wanted To improve my station ♪
[Graves] I'm not an official, I-I… didn't make the decision.
Just an observation, I think
Ronda Rousey made a terrible, terrible choice
by signing this contract.
[Cole] It all goes down tomorrow at noon Eastern, 9:00 a.m. Pacific,
in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at Elimination Chamber.
[inaudible]
♪ I don't give a damn… ♪
[Graves] It was two weeks ago on SmackDown
when Ridge Holland went one-on-one with Ricochet,
and it looked like Holland had things well in hand
when, out of nowhere,
Ricochet would turn the tide and hit the Recoil to score the victory.
That led to a very frustrated Ridge Holland
and an absolutely irate Celtic Warrior,
who was fuming over the loss by Sheamus' protégé.
What was that? What was that?
["It's About to Go Down" playing]
[crowd boos]
You know, Ridge,
I still cannot believe you lost to Ricochet two weeks ago.
I mean, that insignificant little flea,
that pest got the better of you,
even after he broke your nose, and you let that happen?
Let me explain something.
I have never had a problem with Ricochet.
I've always knocked the snot out of him with no problem whatsoever,
and the fact that he got the better of you,
it just… annoys me, you know?
What's it take?
When you get someone like that down,
you give him a Ridge Holland hammering that he'll never forget, fella.
I mean, like, what'd I say? You know?
Are you retaining any of this information I'm giving you?
-No, I'm listening. -Yeah?
-I am, I am. -What'd I tell you?
When you walk down Donnybrook Lane with me on fight night,
you tool up and you get your head in the game, lad, right?
I mean, you said to me already,
do you not want to be a great, like your old pal Sheamus?
-You know I do. -Good, good.
Well, tonight, get your peelers peeled
and watch what I do to that insignificant little flea, Ricochet,
because I'm gonna take his bleedin' head off.
Fight night, yeah?
Fight night.
["Written In My Face" playing]
Fight night. Let's get them.
[Cole] And it is fight night on Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd boos]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Ridge Holland,
from Dublin, Ireland, weighing in at 267 pounds,
Sheamus.
[Cole] Well, Corey, Sheamus continues
to offer advice to his protégé, Ridge Holland.
[Graves] Well, tonight, Sheamus has the opportunity to lead by example
as the Celtic Warrior goes one-on-one
with the one and only Ricochet,
live on Friday Night SmackDown.
Still to come on SmackDown,
just hours before their epic clash at Elimination Chamber,
the icon Goldberg
and the Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, will go face-to-face tonight.
[Cole] We are back on Friday Night SmackDown,
and there is Sheamus, ready to fight,
accompanied by his protégé, Ridge Holland.
…take that aggression and put it on him, do you understand?
♪ One and only ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ It's about to go down ♪
["It's About to Go Down" playing]
[announcer] And his opponent, weighing in at 207 pounds,
Ricochet.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Ricochet, one of the most exciting Superstars on Friday Night SmackDown.
We had the opportunity earlier today to talk to Ricochet
about his battle tonight with Sheamus.
[indistinct]
Wait, so Sheamus has been running around here calling me a pest?
[laughs]
Well, tonight, he's gonna find out
that he's gonna need a much bigger exterminator to get rid of me.
[Cole] Ricochet ready to go tonight against Sheamus.
Remember, Ridge Holland had his nose shattered
because of Ricochet in a tag team match back at the Day 1 pay-per-view event,
and Sheamus and Ridge have not forgotten about that night.
[bell rings]
And Ricochet comes flying right out of the blocks,
going right after Sheamus.
The explosive offense of Ricochet.
Ricochet knows what he's dealing with
with someone as dangerous and powerful as Sheamus.
[Cole] If you're Sheamus, how do you combat that high-flying style of Ricochet?
Shoulders down, is it enough? A kick out.
[Graves] Sheamus needs to get his hands on Ricochet first.
There we go, slow him down with a nice knee to the gut.
[Cole] Exactly, and now begin the punishment
and the barrage of punches from the Celtic Warrior Sheamus.
[Graves] And Ricochet, obviously, gonna want to try to stick and move.
Fast-paced offense, keep the Celtic Warrior-- Oh!
[Cole] And driving Sheamus out to the floor.
Ricochet, great start here against Sheamus in this matchup tonight.
Flies through the ropes and takes out the Celtic Warrior.
[Graves] Throwing caution to the wind is Ricochet.
[Cole] High-risk offense by Ricochet,
but in moments like those, it pays off and it's fun to watch.
[Graves] Using himself as a human cannonball,
flattening Sheamus on the outside.
[Cole] And Ricochet,
as Sheamus misses wildly, catches Sheamus with a right hand,
gonna launch himself off the top rope.
Ducks underneath. Ricochet rolls through,
and Sheamus now with an Irish Curse backbreaker.
That will stop Ricochet in his tracks, as Holland looks on.
[referee] Hey, get him off there.
[Cole] Corey, if you're Ridge Holland, what an opportunity for this young man,
to learn from the likes of Sheamus, a multi-time world champion.
[Graves] It truly is an invaluable opportunity for Ridge Holland
to learn from one of the most successful WWE Superstars in history
and with tenure.
It's not like Sheamus showed up and was an overnight sensation.
Sheamus has been doing this, has been a constant in the WWE Universe.
[Cole] And Ricochet, looking to continue to be a "pest,"
those are Sheamus' words, as he looks to take down Sheamus here tonight.
-Come on! -[Cole] Chops and rights and--
Oh, and a forearm of his own by Sheamus,
that one just stunned Ricochet, now driven face-first into the corner.
Sheamus so powerful.
Oh, back suplex drops Ricochet on the back of his neck,
and Ridge Holland loves it.
[Graves] Ridge Holland approves.
Sheamus, looking to the outside,
making sure Ridge is paying close attention.
Sheamus looking to lead by example.
No better way to ground a high-flying athlete like Ricochet
than with a nice rear chin lock.
Sheamus utilizing his power,
with minimal self-exertion, to just wear Ricochet down.
[Cole] Ricochet needs to try to create space so he can get rolling again
with-- Oh, explosive offense, and perhaps that could do it,
a knee right to the jaw of Sheamus.
-[Graves] My God. -[Cole] Both Ricochet and Sheamus
over the top rope, Ricochet able to hold on.
[Graves] Ricochet not finished yet.
[Cole] And Ricochet leaps off the apron, caught by Sheamus.
[Graves] Oh my goodness.
The power of the Celtic Warrior.
Look out, guys.
[Cole] Now, Sheamus with a fallaway slam, driving Ricochet over our table.
Can Ricochet somehow get back in this?
We are back on Friday Night SmackDown.
It is Sheamus one-on-one with Ricochet.
Sheamus on the top rope, and now in total control.
[Graves] Oh, like a battering ram from the top rope.
Big clothesline by the Celtic Warrior.
Finish him.
[Graves] Before the break, the action was furious on the outside.
Sheamus using his power
to deliver a fallaway slam over our broadcast table,
and Ricochet has not yet been able to recover.
[Cole] Now, with a shot to the kidney
and Sheamus sets up Ricochet for the 10 Beats of the Bodhrán.
Pummeling the chest, caving in the chest of Ricochet.
[crowd] Five, six, seven, eight, nine.
[Graves] Sheamus looking for the big-time exclamation point.
[Cole] One more to go.
With authority.
Are you not entertained?
[Graves] The trademark brutality of the Celtic Warrior,
and his protégé, Ridge Holland, looking on with delight.
[Cole] And be very afraid if Ridge Holland picks up a lot of these traits of Sheamus.
Cheeky bastard, aren't ya?
[grunts]
[Cole] Oh, and Ricochet catches Sheamus.
[Graves] Around we go.
-Satellite DDT. -[Cole] Down goes Sheamus,
and now Ricochet with an opportunity.
And Holland with a look of concern on his face.
Come on, Sheamus.
[Graves] The playing field is even for the moment.
This matchup could go either man's way,
as we take another look
at the spectacular ability of the one and only Ricochet.
But the Celtic Warrior, again, first man up.
Ricochet showing off his boxing skills right now.
Lefts and rights.
[Cole] Ricochet launches himself, second rope, crossbody,
takes out Sheamus.
And as Ricochet points at Ridge Holland,
he's gonna launch himself off the top rope again.
This time it works.
Flying elbow drop to Sheamus,
and Ricochet-- Look at that.
Cover for the win on the Celtic Warrior,
and a kick out.
A standing shooting star by Ricochet.
[Graves] Let's take another look at this, as Ricochet soars through the air
before delivering a flying elbow of his own,
taking down Sheamus.
[Cole] And now, the springboard moonsault by Ricochet.
Again, looking for the win on the Celtic Warrior,
and Sheamus has got to get the shoulder up at two,
and a frustrated Ricochet understands this match continues.
[Graves] This is what Ricochet has to avoid,
allowing himself to feel the frustration
in the heat of battle because one error could be costly.
Ricochet very, very powerful.
[Cole] Yeah, but the elbow to the jaw will end that quest.
[Sheamus grunts]
-[Graves] Uh-oh. -[Cole] And Sheamus with an Alabama slam.
Cover now on Ricochet for the win by Sheamus,
and Ricochet manages to get the shoulder up.
[Graves] You've got to respect the resilience and tenacity
being shown by Ricochet,
even after this Alabama slam from the Alabaster Gladiator himself.
Sheamus nearly ending this one, but Ricochet not done quite yet.
[Cole] Ridge Holland with words of encouragement to Sheamus.
Sheamus looking to pull out all the stops.
Slowly to the top rope, and that may cost him.
Ricochet not allowing Sheamus to get all the way up.
[Graves] And Sheamus looked at Ricochet with the same expression you would
a household pest, a gnat, a housefly, a rat.
Sheamus looking to exterminate--
[Cole] Yeah, but it might be Sheamus who's exterminated.
Ricochet with Sheamus up on the top rope.
Are you kidding me?!
[Graves] Spanish Fly!
[Cole] Cover by Ricochet for the win on Sheamus.
Is it enough? And Sheamus just kicks out.
[Graves] Unbelievable.
We're talking about the toughness that Ricochet has displayed to this point,
how about this?
Driving all of his own weight onto Sheamus.
Spanish Fly.
It doesn't get any closer than this without the bell ringing.
Sheamus survived, the match continues.
[Cole] And now, it's Ricochet's turn to go up high-risk, top rope.
[Graves] This will surely end it if--
[Cole] Oh, Ridge Holland now on the apron looking to cause the distraction.
-Ricochet felt it coming. -What are you doing?
[Cole] Sheamus missed with a Brogue Kick,
and Ricochet catches him.
Knees to the face, cover by Ricochet for the win.
Got him! The Recoil by Ricochet and the victory over Sheamus.
-What a win. -[announcer] Here's your winner, Ricochet.
[Graves] Last week it was Ridge Holland.
This week it's Sheamus. Hats off.
What a hell of a fight and a win for Ricochet.
[Cole] Sheamus was not happy when Holland popped up on the apron.
He screamed at him, "What are you doing up here?"
And Ricochet made them pay.
["It's About to Go Down" playing]
Incredible victory for Ricochet tonight.
-What were you doing up there? -I'm sorry.
I'm trying to teach you.
Pay attention.
You're not listening, are you?
[Graves] I think Ridge's heart was in the right place,
it was just a poorly executed attempt.
[Cole] Sheamus does not like to lose.
Well, coming up later tonight, Sami Zayn meets Shinsuke Nakamura
for the Intercontinental Championship.
This took a twist last week.
Let's show you our Progressive Match Flo.
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[Zayn] This is "In-Zayn." Welcome to the show.
I am your host, Sami Zayn.
I think I need to start focusing on the task at hand,
like reclaiming my Intercontinental Championship--
[guitar plays]
Shinsuke Nakamura,
I'm pretty shocked that you actually showed up
because for over six weeks you have been ducking me.
You once had the Great Liberator in your corner,
and now you go from me to him?
To this shaved gorilla with a guitar?
And you can play your guitar all day long
-doing all the-- -For God's sake, Sami, shut up!
[crowd cheers]
-And let me tell you something, all right? -[electricity zaps]
Oh my God, what happened? Boogs, are you okay?
[Cole] Oh my goodness.
[Graves] Sami Zayn really has a master strategy in place
to become Intercontinental Champion once again.
[dramatic music playing]
Joining me now is self-proclaimed Master Strategist
and the challenger for Shinsuke Nakamura's Intercontinental Championship,
Sami Zayn.
[crowd boos]
Unsure. Okay. Decent.
Now, Sami, tonight you have the opportunity
to regain the Intercontinental Championship
-that you lost over a year ago. -I didn't lose it…
Now, with Rick Boogs out of the picture,
due to some suspicious faulty wiring--
Stop right there, I know what you're implying,
and I want to say first and foremost I had nothing to do
with what happened to Rick Boogs and I accept no responsibility.
But I do think it is cute how you care so much.
Because I've never seen you or actually anyone else, for that matter,
care about anything that's happened to me,
and a lot of terrible things have happened to me over the last year.
You say I lost the Intercontinental Championship. I didn't.
I was robbed. I was ousted, I was overthrown. It was a coup.
And since then, they have done everything in their power
to keep me away from my Intercontinental Championship.
They have discredited me at every turn. They've done everything to embarrass me.
Do you know what I've been through in the last year?
They have blocked my documentary from release,
which would have blown the lid off this whole conspiracy.
I have been electroshocked,
I have been arrested, I have been put in a wheelchair.
It… It has been the worst year of my life,
but none of it matters,
because tonight… tonight is going to be the best night of my life
'cause I am going to regain my Intercontinental Championship.
[crowd boos]
Now, Kayla, respectfully, I'm gonna ask you
to just please get out of my face because I need space,
I need to center myself.
Go.
♪ Are you ready? ♪
[Graves] Well, the Master Strategist clearly has a plan of attack,
but will it be successful when Sami Zayn challenges Shinsuke Nakamura
for the Intercontinental Championship tonight?
[Cole] As first reported earlier today by the New York Post,
the Undertaker is the first inductee
into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2022.
[Graves] The undisputed Phenom of sports entertainment
with an incredible three decades of dominance and destruction,
the Undertaker will be immortalized in this year's Hall of Fame class,
and this made headlines around the world.
[Cole] Here's a special look at the legendary career of the Undertaker.
-[bell tolls] -["Sad But True" by Metallica playing]
[Ted DiBiase] From Death Valley, I give you the Undertaker.
[Vince] Undertaker, the character and the man behind it,
is something very, very special.
[Paul Bearer] Your fears will become reality.
He was like a mythological character.
You see this figure walking down,
and he's larger than life, literally and figuratively.
[bell tolls]
He's just Cool Hand Luke.
["Sad But True" continues]
There has never been anyone like him.
[man] The Phenom.
[Ross] The Prince of Darkness.
[Lawler] He is truly superhuman.
He's a legit godfather of this business, a leader.
[Cole] Completely awe-inspiring.
To sum it up, he's a tough son of a bitch.
♪ Hey, I'm your life ♪
♪ I'm the one who takes you there ♪
♪ Hey, I'm your life ♪
♪ I'm the one who cares ♪
♪ They, they betray ♪
♪ I'm your only true friend now ♪
♪ They, they'll betray ♪
♪ I'm forever there ♪
♪ I'm your dream, make you real ♪
♪ I'm your eyes when you must steal ♪
♪ I'm your pain when you can't feel ♪
♪ Sad but true ♪
♪ I'm your truth telling lies ♪
♪ I'm your reasoned alibis ♪
♪ I'm inside, open your eyes ♪
Buckle up, Teddy.
♪ I'm you ♪
[Cole] The Brothers of Destruction have risen.
♪ Sad but true ♪
[Undertaker] You will rest in peace.
♪ Sad but true ♪
The changing over time, the ability to adapt.
He was able to take that character and morphed it.
He's here.
♪ They call me cowboy I'm the singer in black ♪
♪ So throw a finger in the air Let me see where you're at and say ♪
♪ Hey, hey ♪
♪ Let me hear where you're at and say ♪
♪ Hey, hey ♪
♪ I'm giving it back, so say ♪
♪ Hey, hey ♪
♪ Show me some metal and say ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
[Ross] Undertaker is dragging Hogan right across the concrete.
♪ I'm a cowboy, badass in black, singin' ♪
♪ Hey, hey ♪
♪ Show me some metal and say ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
["American Badass" by Kid Rock playing]
[Paul Bearer] Oh yes!
["Sad But True" by Metallica playing]
[Cole] He is the epitome of WrestleMania!
[Lawler] He did it!
[Cole] Fourteen.
16-0.
21-0.
The immortal Undertaker's streak continues.
[Layfield] I don't know of anybody in the history of this business
that has more respect than the Undertaker.
♪ I'm your dream ♪
♪ I'm your eyes ♪
♪ I'm your pain ♪
♪ You know it's sad but true ♪
People look up to someone that walks the walk, and he does.
♪ Sad but true ♪
He's iconic.
-The Undertaker. -Undertaker.
[commentator] WWE legend, the Undertaker.
Almost became bigger than the industry.
Phenomenal, fans.
I see you.
[man] Our thanks to the Undertaker.
[crowd cheers]
Some habits… real hard to break.
-Taker, you are the man. -Thank you, guys.
To ride the edge of a lightning bolt for 30 years,
the way he has,
has been nothing short of phenomenal.
["Sad But True" continues]
♪ Hate, I'm your hate ♪
♪ I'm your hate when you want love ♪
♪ Pay, pay the price ♪
♪ Pay for nothing's fair ♪
♪ Hey, I'm your life ♪
♪ I'm the one who took you there ♪
♪ Hey, I'm your life ♪
♪ And I no longer care ♪
♪ I'm your dream, make you real ♪
♪ I'm your eyes when you must steal ♪
♪ I'm your pain when you can't feel ♪
♪ You know it's sad but true ♪
He is the greatest character in the history of this company.
He's a magical person, he's a magical performer.
He's a never-ending, ass-kicking, undead phenomenon.
His legacy is that there will never be another.
-[bell tolls] -[music ends]
♪ Are you ready? ♪
[Cole] There you see the Universal Champion.
And later tonight,
just hours before their epic clash at Elimination Chamber,
Roman Reigns and the icon Goldberg will go face-to-face tonight.
[Graves] Tomorrow in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,
we get to witness the WrestleMania match that never happened,
a match nearly two years in the making,
when Roman Reigns defends his Universal Championship
against the Hall of Famer Goldberg.
[crowd chants "Goldberg"]
[Goldberg] I don't fear anybody in this business.
I'm here to take care of business.
I'm here to rip people's faces off and get back to who I am.
[dramatic music playing]
Everybody that's been put in front of me, I've destroyed.
Who's next?
[man] Goldberg has really taken this sport by storm.
[Bobby Heenan] The first undefeated man to ever win the World Championship.
[Goldberg] I don't care whether I'm 52 or 22,
I still think that I can go out there and be the best that I can be.
[Cole] Goldberg turns back the clock.
[Goldberg] The icon.
The ass-kicking machine Goldberg.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Holy hell!
[Cole] The Hall of Famer is here.
Goldberg marching to the ring.
[Goldberg] Roman Reigns,
you're next.
[crowd cheers]
[Reigns] Goldberg?
Nobody cares. Do you want to know why?
Because I'm here now.
I'm the greatest Universal Champion of all time.
[Cole] The longest-reigning Universal Champion ever.
[Reigns] I've beaten them all.
I'm in god mode now.
♪ Look at the god you built ♪
♪ Look at the god that you built ♪
[Graves] He's on a different level.
♪ Look at the god you built ♪
[Goldberg] No one has done the things that I've done in over 35 years.
♪ The new god, the new god ♪
♪ Overpowering odds ♪
[Reigns] Goldberg, years ago, he might have had a chance.
Everything's different now.
♪ Look at the god you built ♪
[music ends]
[Cole] This match was supposed to take place two years ago
at WrestleMania and didn't.
A lot of people are talking that this may be one comeback too many.
[solemn music playing]
[Goldberg] See, and that's the problem.
I've listened to a couple of those people,
and it's taken me out of my game.
But I finally realized…
I don't give a damn what anybody thinks.
I'm still the same Goldberg.
[Reigns] He's old news.
If that guy came back around,
I'd smack him in the face and get him out of here too.
[Goldberg] I'm here for my legacy.
I'm here to show people that it doesn't matter your age,
it matters only about your desire.
[dramatic music playing]
[Reigns] Your Tribal Chief is untouchable.
I'm gonna smash Goldberg.
As far as comebacks are concerned,
this one will call upon the old Goldberg you remember.
All the pressure's on Goldberg.
You're gonna acknowledge me.
I acknowledge you as my next victim.
[Cole] Dream matchup, dream fight.
Goldberg, Reigns, for the Universal Title.
I'm gonna Goldberg…
Goldberg.
[Goldberg laughs] Good luck with that, kid.
There's only one me.
[music fades]
[Cole] And, Corey, I cannot wait until tomorrow at noon,
exclusively on Peacock.
The Usos' cousin Roman Reigns
defending the Universal Championship against Goldberg.
We're gonna be there ringside to call this historic moment.
[Graves] It is gonna be a big, big day for The Bloodline.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Jimmy Uso,
he is one half of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions,
Jey Uso.
[Cole] Well, "Main Event" Jey Uso, Corey,
has got his work cut out for him tonight.
Because remember last week, during an interview,
the Viking Raiders were ambushed by the Tag Team Champions, the Usos.
[Graves] Dare I say, the Viking Raiders were ransacked,
and they'll look to raid ahead of their SmackDown Tag Team Championship match
at Elimination Chamber,
when Ivar goes one-on-one with Jey Uso next.
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[Cole] Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored tonight by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
So the Usos are in the ring.
Jey Uso set to go one-on-one with Ivar of the Viking Raiders tonight.
♪ Raid ♪
[crowd cheers]
♪ Raid, raid, raid… ♪
[announcer] And his opponent, accompanied to the ring by Erik,
he is one half of the Viking Raiders, Ivar.
[Cole] Corey, now, remember, the Usos
are the longest-reigning Tag Team Champions in SmackDown history.
They won the titles back last July
at the Money in the Bank Premium Live Event.
But the Viking Raiders, tomorrow, 12:00 noon,
Elimination Chamber, Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,
exclusively on Peacock,
the Viking Raiders versus the Usos
for the SmackDown Tag Team gold.
[Graves] Two of the best tag teams on the planet Earth
throwing down at the Elimination Chamber.
This one will be explosive for sure.
["Raid" playing]
-[music fades] -Here we go. Ring it.
[bell rings]
[Cole] You notice the Viking Raiders
came out without their traditional war helmets.
That's because the Usos attacked them and took them last week.
And again, to your point, the mind games that have been played by the Usos.
This is "Main Event" Jey Uso against Ivar of the Viking Raiders, one-on-one.
Remember, Jimmy knocked off Erik a couple of weeks ago.
[Graves] Ivar answering with a big right of his own.
[Cole] This Ivar is so athletic for a big man.
It is amazing what he can do in the ring.
[Graves] You're absolutely correct.
Great athleticism from Jey Uso.
-Oh, smack! -[Cole] Planting Jey just like that.
Cover now by Ivar. Is it enough?
And a kick out.
The Viking Raiders, former Tag Team Champions
over on Monday Night Raw in their own right.
Corey, they are a team to be reckoned with, no doubt.
[Graves] The Viking Raiders have held championships all over the globe,
everywhere that they have competed, including here in WWE.
But the Viking Raiders would love to add the SmackDown Tag Team Championships…
[Cole] Oh, nobody home as Jey Uso moved out of the way.
[Graves] …to the already impressive list of accolades.
What a superkick by "Main Event" Jey. Into the cover.
[Cole] Cover by Jey on Ivar. And a kick out again.
You know, we asked Erik about the loss a couple of weeks ago to Jimmy Uso,
as we take another look, boom, the kick to the face.
Erik said, "Hey, that's just one chapter in the book."
"Everyone knows when you wage war,
it's more than just one battle that decides it."
"There's nothing the Usos can do to stop us from fulfilling our destiny."
[Graves] That's the problem with WWE.
Sometimes it does come down to one battle.
You don't always get multiple opportunities.
Sometimes you only get one battle, and that decides the war.
The Viking Raiders have to be wary of that
because the Usos aren't exactly happy
to be handing out title opportunities on a whim.
[Cole] Yeah, tomorrow at high noon Eastern time,
Usos and the Viking Raiders for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles.
Look at Ivar.
[Graves] Circus brand of cartwheel.
[Cole] Oh, and a step-up enzuigiri from Jey Uso, stuns Ivar.
Still on his feet. What a clothesline, just about knocked his head off.
[Graves] And Ivar, a little too disorientated to capitalize
after delivering the clothesline.
Jey Uso, still reeling from the effects as we look once more. Boom.
Ivar had all of his weight behind that one.
-Incoming. -[Cole] And Ivar.
Oh my goodness.
Flattening Jey Uso.
Now, the 300-pounder gonna head up to the top rope.
This could be ugly for "Main Event" Jey Uso.
[Graves] Ivar looking to finish the job.
[Cole] Splash!
Connects.
Cover.
-[Graves] What the-- -[Cole] And Jimmy Uso--
-[bell rings] -[Graves] That's Erik's headgear,
his Viking helmet.
[Cole] Yeah, that's the helmet stolen by the Usos last week.
And now, Erik turning the tide on Jimmy Uso.
I believe Ivar was closing in on the win before the attack by Jimmy Uso.
[Graves] Ivar is gonna get the win via disqualification.
[Cole] The question is, will the Viking Raiders win
when it counts tomorrow?
Elimination Chamber against the Usos,
for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles.
[Graves] The Viking Raiders are certainly geared up
for their Tag Team Championship match,
but one person who isn't looking forward to Elimination Chamber is Madcap Moss,
who last week claimed he wouldn't be able to compete due to an eye injury.
I know you're perfectly fine, buddy,
so go ahead and tell Mr. Doctor here
you're perfectly good to go against Drew McIntyre at Elimination Chamber.
Um… yeah, vision is miraculously better. I'm all good.
Oh, thank God.
I was worried about you for a second, buddy,
because I was just talking to Adam Pearce.
It's no longer just a regular old match we're having. No, no, no.
At Elimination Chamber, it's you and I, falls count anywhere.
You never know, maybe I'll Claymore the other eye,
balance out your black eyes, or maybe I'll say,
"Screw it, it's anything goes," which means…
anything goes.
[laughs]
[swords clang, scrape]
["Gallantry" playing]
[Cole] And here comes The SmackDown Warrior…
[crowd cheers]
…with his trusty sword named Angela.
[announcer] Please welcome Drew McIntyre.
[Cole] You know, on Talking Smack a couple of Saturdays ago,
Drew McIntyre said,
"Listen, I am here to make nightmares for Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss,"
after everything they put Drew McIntyre through.
Well, coming up next,
McIntyre wants to live up to his word.
We'll see what The SmackDown Warrior has in mind
for Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin.
McIntyre joins us live next on Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
[crowd cheers]
♪ Are you ready? ♪
[Graves] Tomorrow, at Elimination Chamber,
we get the WrestleMania match that never took place,
a clash nearly two years in the making.
And still to come, the Hall of Famer Goldberg
and the Universal Champion, Roman Reigns,
go face-to-face tonight.
Friday Night SmackDown on Fox is sponsored tonight by Progressive.
Drew McIntyre is in the ring,
knowing that tomorrow, high noon,
Elimination Chamber, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Peacock,
McIntyre against Madcap Moss, Corey, in a falls count anywhere match.
[Graves] Well, listen, you can't say Madcap Moss didn't ask for this
when he and Happy Corbin attacked Drew McIntyre
and altered the course of McIntyre's career.
It could get ugly.
You know, in this job, I've got to travel some cool places,
live in some cool places, and I actually used to live in Mandeville,
just over the bridge.
I used to hang out in New Orleans all the time.
This was in 2010, the year the Saints won the Super Bowl.
[crowd cheers]
I remember Bourbon Street that night. It was crazy.
It was the night I learned
the only people that can keep up with the Scots' drinking
is people in New Orleans.
[crowd cheers]
I also remember at some point, I ended up in the back of a police car.
Obviously, it was not my fault.
[crowd laughs]
Thankfully, another officer walked past, he recognized me, he said,
"Drew McIntyre, get out here. This is a celebration. Let's party."
And all of us partied all night long.
[crowd cheers]
I've been doing some thinking,
doing some reflecting on my life and my career,
the reason is it almost ended because of this.
As for Corbin, we go way back,
and as annoying as he is, he can actually handle himself and his--
[yelling]
Hey, hey, put it down. Put it down. Put it down.
[overlapping shouting]
[crowd boos]
I wanted to play that clip not for anyone else's benefit,
but for my benefit, to remember how I felt in that moment,
how I felt during rehab, being told by the doctor,
"You're not gonna make WrestleMania season."
I think back to two years ago during Mania season.
I was on my way to slay the beast.
Last year, I was WWE Champion.
This year, it is damn personal.
[crowd cheers]
But, Madcap,
Elimination Chamber is anything goes. I can do what I want to you.
I can beat you up outside the ring.
I can take you up the ramp, beat you in the crowd,
throw you into some electrical equipment,
take you backstage, flush your head in a toilet,
burn your hands in a stove, take you to the desert,
feed you some sand, drown you in the Red Sea.
The ideas, my goodness, they're unlimited.
In fact, I want some help, WWE Universe.
How do I get some ideas in today's day and age?
A hashtag. Let's do a hashtag.
#MadcapMauling,
and send Drew McIntyre all your ideas how I can inflict pain on Madcap.
I got a 20-hour flight. I got WiFi. I'll read everything.
-["The Good Life" playing] -There they are.
[Graves] Madcap Mauling, that doesn't seem very nice.
I'm sure Drew has plenty of ideas how to inflict punishment.
He doesn't need the WWE Universe's help.
No, no, no. I gotta put a stop to this.
I mean, this is… this is ridiculous.
Drew, do you hear yourself?
I mean, you're coming up with a hashtag to bully my friend.
You're talking about burning his hands on stoves
and drowning him in the Red Sea.
I mean, Drew, what kind of role model
are you supposed to be to little Scottish kids?
Come on, man.
[Corbin chuckles] Can you believe this guy?
[Moss] Ah, you know what?
I hope you pack a good neck pillow for the flight, Drew,
because what I hear, you're nowhere near 100 percent.
You are right about one thing, though.
Tomorrow, we can fight all over the arena,
but the joke's on you,
because like any good comedian,
I'm great at using my environment,
and after I finish what we started at Day 1,
we're gonna be laughing all the way home.
[chuckles] Hey. Hey, Hap, I got one more joke for you.
What does Drew McIntyre's bad neck have in common
with a popular breakfast cereal?
They both go snap, crackle, pop.
-[laughing] -[crowd boos]
[laughing continues]
You know, this whole situation is just sad.
Madcap, aside your terrible jokes,
you actually have all the talent in the world,
but you decided to align yourself with a piece of crap like Corbin…
[crowd cheers]
And the biggest mistake you made
was coming after Drew McIntyre.
At Elimination Chamber, I'm gonna hurt you.
I am gonna end you.
Elimination Chamber will be the night the laughter died.
["Gallantry" playing]
[Cole] I'm not quite sure, if you're Madcap Moss,
why you'd continue to tell jokes and poke fun at Drew McIntyre
knowing, in less than 24 hours,
you've got McIntyre in a falls count anywhere match.
[Graves] If I'm Madcap, I'm purposely gonna miss my Uber to the airport, okay?
I don't want anything to do
with the Scottish Warrior in the mood that McIntyre's in.
Shinsuke, earlier tonight,
Sami Zayn vowed to win the Intercontinental Championship,
but what's your plan without Rick Boogs in your corner?
My plan is…
kick Sami in the face.
He likes talking a lot,
but if he thinks he can beat me for the Intercontinental Title,
he must really be In-Zayn.
["Shadows of a Setting Sun" playing]
[Cole] Well, indeed, Shinsuke Nakamura goes it alone tonight
because his buddy, Boogs, is recuperating at home.
Luckily, he didn't suffer any nerve damage
after that unfortunate event in the In-Zayn talk show last week.
For Shinsuke Nakamura,
he's held the Intercontinental Championship for 178 days,
won the gold all the way back last August,
and he defends tonight against Sami Zayn.
Up next, Zayn, Nakamura,
battle for one of the most prestigious championships in sports entertainment,
the Intercontinental Title.
It's next on Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
[crowd cheers]
And there's Shinsuke Nakamura,
the Intercontinental Champion defending the gold tonight
against Sami Zayn.
[Graves] Nakamura without his usual sidekick, Rick Boogs,
which may not bode well
because the Master Strategist
wants to become Intercontinental Champion once again.
["This Is It" playing]
[Cole] Well, Sami Zayn won the 12 Days of Christmas Gauntlet Match
back in December to earn this opportunity tonight.
He claims Nakamura has been dodging him. Well, dodge no more.
The championship match happens right now.
[Graves] Both of these men looking to be Intercontinental Champion
come WrestleMania,
and WrestleMania Weekend will kick off
with a huge two-for-one
SmackDown plus Hall of Fame event on Friday, April 1st,
from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Tickets available this Tuesday for the final SmackDown before WrestleMania
and the Hall of Fame induction of the Phenom, the Undertaker.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the Intercontinental Championship.
Introducing the challenger, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 212 pounds, Sami Zayn.
[crowd boos]
And his opponent, from Kyoto, Japan,
weighing in at 220 pounds,
he is the Intercontinental Champion,
Shinsuke Nakamura.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] There has been a long emotional history between these two individuals.
[Graves] Shinsuke Nakamura's first match
after joining WWE was against Sami Zayn
back at NXT TakeOver many years ago.
These two know each other like the backs of one another's hands.
[bell rings]
[Cole] Here we go.
Matchup underway for the prestigious Intercontinental Championship.
More than a dozen WWE Hall of Famers have held this title over the years.
Shinsuke Nakamura has been a proud champion,
holding the gold since all the way back in August.
For Sami Zayn, he's a two-time Intercontinental Champion.
The last time that he lost the title, Corey,
really started this whole downfall of Sami Zayn,
when he started believing in conspiracy theories
-and started blaming everyone. -Why is it a downfall, Cole?
It's not a downfall, it's reality, wasn't it?
This isn't some conspiracy theory.
Sami Zayn has documented evidence of the conspiracies against him.
[Cole] Nakamura promised to kick Sami in the face, tried to do so there.
Drove Sami Zayn back to the ropes.
[Graves] I think the fact that Sami has succeeded to this level,
in spite of all of these setbacks and conspiracies, is rather inspiring.
And tonight, if Sami captures the Intercontinental Championship,
it would be the completion of his journey.
[Cole] And Sami, again, side headlock now on Shinsuke Nakamura,
knows Nakamura so well.
Tremendous rivalry over the past number of years.
[Graves] And I'll have you know that Sami Zayn felt very badly
at the misfortune suffered by Boogs during "In-Zayn."
[Cole] Do you honestly believe that?
[Graves] Why would I doubt Sami Zayn?
[Cole] And Sami unloading the right hands on Nakamura.
Remember, championship match,
Sami Zayn only wins the championship via pinfall or submission.
Nakamura sent across the ring,
and, oh, comes flying out of the corner and drops Zayn.
And a kick right to the chest
and another one by Shinsuke Nakamura, the King of Strong Style.
This is the side of Nakamura Sami Zayn did not want to see,
the brutality, the King of Strong Style once upon a time.
[Cole] I'm sure Shinsuke Nakamura has not forgiven Sami Zayn
for what happened last week to his buddy, Boogs.
[Graves] Listen, I guarantee you, that was all a strategy
by the Master Strategist,
as we look once again at Shinsuke delivering a monstrous kick.
Sami wants Shinsuke to be thinking about Rick Boogs.
Sami wants the Intercontinental Champion to be distracted in this matchup.
[Cole] Yeah, but Sami's telling everyone it was an accident last week.
I don't think Nakamura believes that, as Shin slides out of the ring.
And Nakamura has Zayn in trouble
on the apron and the running knee.
Oh, nobody home as Zayn rolled out of harm's way.
[Graves] Uh-oh, Shinsuke's grabbing his knee.
The Intercontinental Champion is in a bad way.
Can Shin get back in it?
[Cole] Sami Zayn is in control of the Intercontinental Champion,
Shinsuke Nakamura.
This is for the title.
Sami Zayn, looking to win
the Intercontinental Championship for a third time.
[Graves] Crossfaces left and right,
into a rear chin lock with the arm trap.
Great strategy by Sami Zayn in this position.
It keeps you out of the long range
of Shinsuke's very well-educated feet and hands.
[Cole] So many people talk about Sami Zayn,
how he's annoying, and he talks too much, and he does these outrageous things,
and he talks about conspiracies,
but there's no doubt that Sami Zayn
is one hell of a competitor inside the squared circle.
And he's trying to prove that tonight against Nakamura,
drops the elbow.
Cover by Zayn for the championship, and Nakamura kicks.
And again, another kick out by Nakamura.
Third time, hooks both legs this time, and Nakamura survives.
[Graves] Sami Zayn showing he can turn up the heat when need be.
Zayn can be vicious.
Zayn can be downright sadistic at times.
[crowd chants]
WWE fans trying to…
Nakamura, huh?
[Cole] …rally Shinsuke here tonight,
defending his Intercontinental Championship.
Oh, and another wicked chop.
[Graves] And a third.
Here comes Sami Zayn, building up speed.
[Cole] Oh, and knocking down Nakamura.
Cover again for the championship.
Kick out at two. Is this the pace Sami wants right now?
[Graves] Sami Zayn's a competitor who can compete at a faster pace,
but I think slowing things down definitely behooves Sami.
You get to strategize while competing,
which is not a skill that many possess.
Sami's got the ability to completely re-plan his game
in the middle of a situation, in the middle of a match.
A lot of competitors come to the ring with a game plan
and, to quote Mike Tyson,
"Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the mouth."
[Cole] Well, Sami Zayn fancies himself the Master Strategist.
Nakamura tries to create space and does.
-Whoa. -And now takes down,
looking for the arm bar now on Zayn.
Can he lock it in?
Sami Zayn, trying to fight out.
[Graves] Sami pins Shinsuke's shoulders down.
[Cole] Yeah, stacked him up, and that forced Nakamura to release the hold.
And now, Nakamura with a straight right hand to Sami Zayn.
Block, and here comes Nakamura now.
The strikes by Nakamura.
[Graves] Across the back of Sami Zayn's neck.
[Cole] Oh, and a sliding basement dropkick from Shin, stunning Sami.
[Graves] Sami Zayn, in trouble.
Nakamura…
[Cole] Drives Sami out to the apron.
Nakamura now, baseball slide,
oh, drops him right on the back of his head.
Now, Shin rolls into the ring.
Cover to retain the Intercontinental Title.
Is it enough? And a kick out at two and a half.
[Graves] I think this deep into the matchup,
you see slightly more urgency from Shinsuke Nakamura,
realizing that Sami Zayn did in fact come to fight tonight.
Nakamura now could be thinking about the reverse exploder.
Sami trying to fight his way out of Shinsuke's grasp.
[grunting, screaming]
Oh my goodness.
[Cole] Is that a frustrated Sami Zayn?
Nakamura with elbows of his own.
Now, a knee.
Sami caught him.
-Oh, right on the back of his neck. -[Graves] Michinoku Driver.
-Good night. -[Cole] Michinoku Driver
for the championship,
and a kick out at two.
[Graves] My goodness.
I can't believe we don't have a new Intercontinental Champion.
Watch this.
Sami, driving the champion right on the crown of his skull,
center of the ring.
That could have been catastrophic for Nakamura,
but Sami realizes he's got to get the champion inside the ring
to become Intercontinental Champion.
Sami cannot afford a count-out
-or disqualification victory. -[Cole] Yeah, but Sami
doing everything he can, pulling out all the stops,
launching himself through the ropes, and right into a kick by Nakamura.
Sami Zayn may be down and out.
[Graves] Shinsuke sensed Sami coming,
was prepared, and delivered a kick right in the face.
[Cole] Nakamura keeping up the intensity outside the ring.
Sami Zayn sidesteps,
and the knee he injured earlier into the steel steps.
Nakamura's in trouble with the Intercontinental Title on the line.
[groans]
We are back on Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
This is for the Intercontinental Championship.
It has been a physical, hard-hitting affair
between the challenger, Sami Zayn, the champion, Shinsuke Nakamura.
And, Corey, Zayn now working on the injured left knee of Nakamura,
and this is how it happened right before the break.
[Graves] Shinsuke looking to deliver, potentially, a Kinshasa knee strike.
Zayn able to avoid it,
and Shinsuke made nasty contact with the steel ring stairs,
and the veteran, the cagey, wily veteran Sami Zayn now in control.
[Cole] And what is Sami Zayn gonna do now with Nakamura up toward the top rope.
Both men perched on the second rope.
Nakamura trying to fight out with the elbows,
and now drops Sami.
[Graves] Shinsuke now from the second rope.
[Cole] Shin launching himself. Caught Sami with a knee.
Cover now to retain.
Is it enough? Hook of the leg.
Almost had him, near fall for the champion.
[Graves] Nakamura connected with the challenger.
I believe it was Shinsuke's shin
that rocked Sami Zayn and nearly ended this matchup.
[Cole] Zayn's arms flailing wildly.
Oh, and look at this, Nakamura with a kick, knocking down Sami Zayn.
And now Shinsuke Nakamura
thinks he can be closing in on a victory here tonight.
[Graves] If this lands, this will do it.
-[Cole] Oh no. -[Graves] Oh-ho-ho.
Sami Zayn a step ahead.
[Cole] Blue Thunder Bomb!
For the victory, for the championship.
Nakamura stays in it.
[Graves] A look of frustration on the face of Sami Zayn,
who realizes he was less than a half a second away
from being crowned Intercontinental Champion,
but Shinsuke will not stay down.
[crowd chants "Sami sucks"]
Sami now stalking, carefully measuring Nakamura.
Rights and lefts.
[Cole] Sami realizes this could be his opportunity.
[referee] Hey, hey, hey, get off of him!
[Cole] He's got to be careful he's not disqualified.
[Graves] Trust me, I believe Sami Zayn.
-Come on! -[Graves laughs]
[Cole] Mocking Nakamura.
[Graves] The gall of Sami Zayn.
[referee] Sami, back it out.
[Graves] Nakamura showed frustra-- Uh-oh.
Maybe there's a little more left in the tank
of the Intercontinental Champion.
Shinsuke Nakamura striking his way back into this fight.
[referee] Over there, Shin. Come on, off the ropes.
Come on. One. Two.
Back it off. One. Two.
[Graves] Now Shinsuke returning the favor,
a little disrespect for his challenger.
[Cole] Nakamura has Sami right where he wants him.
-[Graves] Oh-ho-ho, my! -[Cole] Oh, Sami Zayn is stunned!
[Graves] I think Sami might be out on his feet.
-I can feel the impact down here. -[referee] Back it up.
-One. -[Graves] I'm not sure Sami knows
-what planet he's on right now. -Two. Three.
[Cole] Now, the official, Jessika Carr, backing Shinsuke Nakamura up
to check on Sami Zayn.
[Graves] Shinsuke wants to put the final nail in this one.
Here we go.
[Cole] And Sami Zayn rolling out of harm's way.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] It's brilliance, nothing short of brilliance.
Sami Zayn, physically worse for wear,
mentally still as sharp as anyone.
-Come on. -[Cole] Uh-oh, uh-oh.
Oh, and that's the bad knee of Nakamura Zayn targeted.
Wrapping the knee now around the ring post.
[Nakamura screaming]
[Graves] The adrenaline was flowing through the Intercontinental Champion
for a while to fight through the pain,
and now Zayn inflicting serious damage to the champion.
[Cole] Trying to get some feeling back into his left leg.
Nakamura on his feet somehow.
Sami Zayn able to block the kick.
-Right back to the bad knee again. -[Graves] Cover here.
[Cole] Cover to win the title. Does he have him?
-[Graves] Oh my God! -[Cole] He does!
Sami Zayn for the third time wins the Intercontinental Title.
[announcer] Here is your winner and new Intercontinental Champion,
Sami Zayn.
[Graves] Wow, wow, wow!
-["This Is It" playing] -[crowd boos]
[Cole] Sami Zayn wins the Intercontinental Championship
after a brutally physical match with Shinsuke Nakamura.
And this is the turning point.
Nakamura knee-first into the steps, and Zayn took advantage.
[Graves] Shinsuke fought through the pain to the best of his ability,
but Sami Zayn was brilliant.
Exploiting the injury of the champion,
delivering a Blue Thunder Bomb that nearly ended it,
but Nakamura had more left.
-Shinsuke looking to close the deal. -[Cole] Watch this. Boom.
[Graves] Sami Zayn brilliantly capitalizing on the injured knee,
pinning the champion's shoulders down,
and tonight, eat your heart out, Johnny Knoxville.
The WWE Universe
can celebrate the new Intercontinental Champion,
Sami Zayn, forever.
Yeah!
[Cole] WWE is so proud to celebrate Black History Month
throughout the month of February.
Please join us tonight in learning more
about one of the company's many initiatives.
[narrator] This Black History Month,
WWE is proud to support Black-led community organizations
across the country.
As part of the Road to WrestleMania 38 Community Champions Showcase in Dallas,
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T visited with students at For Oak Cliff,
a community center in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas
that has traditionally been underserved and under-resourced.
For Oak Cliff was founded by Taylor Toynes and Xavier Henderson,
who both grew up in the neighborhood
and worked as teachers before launching the center.
Our mission is to liberate Oak Cliff from systemic oppression.
We do that through our four pillars,
which are education, advocacy, community building, and art,
and all of our work serves all ages.
[narrator] To date, they have served more than 30,000 community members.
The center has also distributed more than 1.4 million pounds of food.
Join us in celebrating For Oak Cliff this Black History Month
as a Community Champion at WrestleMania 38.
♪ Are you ready? ♪
[Graves] Just one day before the icon
and the head of the table finally compete in the WrestleMania match
that never happened,
Goldberg and Roman Reigns
go face-to-face in the center of the ring tonight on SmackDown.
♪ Then get ready for the night line ♪
♪ Are you ready for a good time? ♪
[Cole] Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored tonight by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
♪ Are you ready for a good time? ♪
Whoa, Ricochet. What an incredible win.
I mean, you were flying from one side of the ring to the other.
I've never seen anything like that.
-That was amazing. -Thank you. I mean, it felt good too.
I mean, this was Sheamus.
He's a former US Champion.
He's won the Royal Rumble.
He's a former WWE World Champion.
And for some reason,
he's been for so long trying to make my life miserable,
but tonight, after I beat him,
I realized that his past,
that could be my future.
And tonight was just one gigantic step forward
into making that future a reality, so… [chuckles]
It was a good win, huh?
-Yeah. -[chuckles]
I'm sorry. I couldn't help but overhear you talking about big wins.
Uh, are you familiar with the Intercontinental Championship?
Because I just won it back, baby! [laughs jubilantly]
-We'll talk later. We'll talk later. -Okay. Congrats.
Hey, guys, new Intercontinental Champion.
Pictures? Autographs?
I'll get you later, okay? Let me just cool down.
[Graves] Well, the new Intercontinental Champion clearly ecstatic,
and I absolutely cannot wait
for tomorrow in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
One of the most sadistic matches in WWE,
the Elimination Chamber,
as Bobby Lashley defends his WWE Championship
inside the structure against five hungry Superstars
looking to headline WrestleMania.
[MVP] In a match built up over decades, one we thought we'd never see,
two leviathans coming face-to-face.
Bobby Lashley versus Brock Lesnar.
At the end, Bobby Lashley pinned Brock Lesnar and stood victorious.
[Graves] We have been thrust back into the era of the All Mighty.
Bobby, you're gonna pretend like you're the champion?
The only way you beat me
was because of Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman.
After that little debacle…
[crowd] Three, two, one!
[alarm blares]
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[Lesnar] …Brock Lesnar entered the Royal Rumble.
[Cole] Brock Lesnar's going to WrestleMania.
[Lesnar] You see, at WrestleMania,
Brock Lesnar versus Roman Reigns
is gonna be title versus title.
I challenge you for my rematch.
Let's do it, Bobby. Come on.
You can go to the end of the line and earn your title shot.
Your challenge is declined.
I think I may have an idea.
The new All Mighty WWE Champion
will step inside the Elimination Chamber
against five Superstars.
[Graves] Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
Riddle,
Austin Theory,
AJ Styles, and the…
…"Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar.
[dramatic music playing]
["Trapped" by Atom Music Audio playing]
♪ They got me trapped ♪
♪ They blocked the path ♪
♪ They got my back ♪
-♪ Up against the wall ♪ -[screams]
♪ They got me trapped ♪
♪ I gotta dash ♪
-♪ And not collapse ♪ -[screams]
♪ Or trip and fall ♪
[Rollins] It is my time.
You are talking to the winner and the next WWE Champion.
[laughs]
[Riddle] Bro.
What's up, bros?
Close your eyes and look into the future.
Could you imagine if I was WWE Champion?
[Theory] Mr. McMahon has taught me a lot of lessons.
Trust me.
[Theory] I can't let him down.
[Styles] I could walk into WrestleMania the WWE Champion.
No one is gonna stop me from having
a defining WrestleMania moment.
[Graves] How do you make Brock Lesnar more dangerous?
You unleash the beast inside the Elimination Chamber.
♪ They got me trapped ♪
[Lesnar] Bobby, you know you didn't beat me.
Brock Lesnar is gonna be
the new WWE Heavyweight Champion.
[Lashley] It's not me locked into the Chamber with Brock.
It's gonna be Brock locked in the Chamber with me.
I will be defending my title at WrestleMania.
[Graves] The last one standing wins.
Who will emerge WWE Champion?
[dramatic music fades]
[crowd cheers]
["Head of the Table" playing]
[crowd boos]
[Cole] Roman Reigns' historic reign
as Universal Champion
has now reached
an unfathomable 536 days.
He is the longest-reigning champion
in the last 35 years in WWE.
The question is…
does he have less than 24 hours left to hold the title?
[Graves] The look in the champion's eyes should give you all the answers you seek.
-Roman Reigns feels downright unstoppable. -[announcer] Please welcome Paul Heyman
and the Universal Champion,
Roman Reigns.
[crowd cheers]
[inaudible]
[Cole] When we come back on Friday Night SmackDown
for the final time before they clash tomorrow at Elimination Chamber,
Roman Reigns,
Goldberg,
go face-to-face on Fox.
We are back on Friday Night SmackDown with the Universal Champion.
Tomorrow, at noon Eastern, in Jeddah,
the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event streaming exclusively on Peacock.
And who will escape the torturous environment
of the men's Elimination Chamber match?
Riddle, Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
Austin Theory, AJ Styles,
"The Beast" Brock Lesnar,
and "The All Mighty" WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley.
The winner heads to WrestleMania as the WWE Champion.
[Graves] And generations collide when the Raw Women's Champion, Becky Lynch,
defends her title against Becky's teenage idol
and WWE Hall of Famer, Lita.
Can Lita end the dominant reign of Big Time Becks
or will Becky make Lita's comeback a short one?
[Cole] Earlier tonight, this match was made official.
And we can now confirm
that when the SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville
"take on Naomi and Ronda Rousey,
Ronda will have to compete with one arm tied behind her back.
[Graves] And the women's Elimination Chamber match,
Liv Morgan, Rhea Ripley,
Nikki A.S.H., Doudrop,
Bianca Belair, and the returning Alexa Bliss
will enter the Chamber,
and the winner will go on to face the Raw Women's Champion at WrestleMania.
[Cole] And this match was supposed to take place two years ago at WrestleMania.
Tomorrow, at Elimination Chamber, it will happen.
Roman Reigns defends the Universal Championship
against the icon Goldberg tomorrow in Jeddah exclusively on Peacock.
["Head of the Table" playing]
[music fades]
[crowd cheers]
New Orleans…
[crowd cheers]
Acknowledge me.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Many are.
[crowd chants "Roman"]
Now, celebrate me, wise man.
Oh.
Ladies and gentlemen,
this is the best part of my day,
because I know none of you understand
what it's like to stand this close to true greatness,
but I… I find it
spiritually orgasmic.
[breathing heavily]
[Heyman spluttering]
If you never got a chance
to see, in his prime, Michael Jordan,
if you never got a chance to see,
in his prime, Wayne Gretzky,
if you never got a chance to see, in his prime,
Drew Brees, you--
[crowd boos]
Then you didn't miss a damn thing
because he played for the Saints, but…
-[crowd boos] -But…
If you never got a chance to see, in his prime, Tom Brady,
do I have a gift…
[crowd boos]
[crowd] Who dat? Who dat?
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?
Who dat? Who dat?
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?
Who dat? Who dat?
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?
Who dat? Who dat?
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?
[Cole] A chant of "Who dat?" has broken out here in New Orleans.
The battle cry of the New Orleans Saints.
The 11th Commandment on the Island of Relevancy,
"Thou shalt not interrupt the wise man's promo."
[crowd boos]
Fourteen hours away
for your opportunity to see, in his prime,
at his best, in the ring
doing what he does to continue
to cement his GOAT status,
your Tribal Chief, your Head of the Table,
the end-all, be-all,
the Undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion,
Roman Reigns.
[crowd boos]
-["Invasion" playing] -[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants "Goldberg"]
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] And here comes the challenger to Roman Reigns' Universal Championship,
the WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg.
[Graves] The personification of intensity
staring a hole through the Universal Champion.
[Cole] One of the most intense Superstars in the history of sports entertainment.
[Graves] Goldberg has carved out a career out of intimidating his opponents.
Roman Reigns, not backing down an inch.
A Universal Championship clash
years in the making goes down tomorrow.
[music fades]
[crowd cheers]
[microphone clatters]
I was going to give you one last chance to acknowledge me, but…
You're going to walk up on me, huh?
[crowd chants "Goldberg"]
Now you're going to crowd me. I don't think you understand, Bill.
I run things around here.
You're in my ring now,
so you're either here to fight or you're here to talk.
Which is it? Speak your intentions, huh.
Tomorrow, twelve o'clock.
And I gotta apologize
in front of all of these wonderful people and the entire world.
I was wrong.
You're not next.
When it comes to the Universal Championship,
I'm next.
[crowd cheers]
["Invasion" playing]
[Cole] Will that be the case?
We will find out tomorrow at 12:00 noon Eastern on Peacock.
The Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event,
Roman-Goldberg for the Universal Championship. on Peacock.