[WWE theme music playing]
[John Cena] Then…
-[glass shatters] -[Rock] If you smell!
-[bell tolls] -[Cena] Now…
-♪ The King of Kings ♪ -♪ You can't see me! ♪
[Cena] Forever.
[fireworks whistling]
Together.
♪ Are you ready? ♪
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] With WrestleMania Backlash looming a week from Sunday,
we welcome you to Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
And SmackDown is sponsored tonight by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
-And, Pat, what a night tonight. -[McAfee] You're damn right.
WWE official Adam Pearce will have the incredibly tall task
of maintaining order when RK-Bro and The Usos
step in the ring to sign on the dotted line
and make their WrestleMania Backlash Championship Unification Match
officially official tonight on Fox.
[Cole] And bragging rights and a huge psychological advantage
for their upcoming "I Quit" Match will be on the line
when Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair
compete in a Beat the Clock "I Quit" Challenge.
Who will get their opponent to utter "I quit" in the fastest time?
We'll find out later on tonight.
[McAfee] Meanwhile, we kick off Friday Night SmackDown
with Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn locked inside a steel cage.
[swords clashing]
[crowd cheers]
["Gallantry" playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a steel cage match.
In this match, the only way to win is by pinfall, submission,
or escaping the cage with both feet hitting the floor.
Introducing first, from Ayr, Scotland, weighing in at 265 pounds,
Drew McIntyre.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Drew McIntyre, "The Scottish Warrior,"
finally gets his opportunity
to get his hands on Sami Zayn tonight
inside a steel cage.
[McAfee] Just the mere presence
of this steel cage in an arena
makes the energy palpable.
-The Scottish Warrior… -[clinking]
…knows that he's gonna get his hands on Sami Zayn
and be able to punish his ass
like he's been wanting to do for the last few weeks.
[Cole] Inside a steel cage, you win via pinfall or submission,
or escape over the top or through the door,
where both feet must hit the floor.
[McAfee] We know Sami Zayn has rat-like tendencies,
but even rats would have to be scared to death
to have to get into a cage with that man,
looking like he's chiseled from granite.
["This Is It" plays]
[announcer] And his opponent from Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 212 pounds, Sami Zayn.
-[crowd boos] -[Cole] Pat, let's explain to everyone
why we have this steel cage match tonight.
First, I wanna take you back to SmackDown three weeks ago.
Sami Zayn really had no interest in fighting Drew McIntyre,
so what does Sami do?
He runs away, he gets counted out.
[McAfee] Like a coward.
[Cole] Two weeks ago, yet again,
Sami Zayn runs through the people, retreats, squirms like a rat.
So last week, we had a Lumberjack Match.
Sami Zayn, for I believe the first time ever,
actually escaped from a Lumberjack Match.
Sami Zayn ran away from McIntyre again.
And let's remember, Pat, ever since WrestleMania,
where Sami was embarrassed in his loss to Johnny Knoxville,
Sami's been trying to get some respect back from the WWE Universe.
It's hard to do that
when he's been running away from Drew McIntyre
for the last three weeks.
Sami Zayn trying to psych himself up.
Perhaps saying a little prayer, with good reason.
Drew McIntyre made it crystal clear last week when he said,
"There is no escape."
"Sami Zayn is locked inside a cage with Drew McIntyre."
"I'm gonna tear him apart."
[Cole] So, tonight, WWE official Adam Pearce says, "No more running, Sami."
"You're gonna be locked inside a steel cage with Drew McIntyre."
And here we go.
Drew McIntyre says, "Let's slam the door shut,
let's lock things down, let's battle inside a steel cage."
[McAfee] The rat's locked in a cage with a warrior.
-[bell rings] -[Cole] And there you see it, Pat.
Drew Gulak is our timekeeper, ringing the bell here tonight.
He's auditioning to be the new timekeeper of SmackDown.
[McAfee] Drew's doing a great job.
Honestly, his last two jobs he was auditioning for went terribly.
I think this one's going much better. Go, Drew, go.
[inaudible]
Sami Zayn looking to make an exit and win this thing quickly.
[Cole] Sami trying to escape on the other side.
If he goes up over the top and both feet hit the floor, he'll win.
[McAfee] Drew McIntyre says, "Get over here."
[Cole] And McIntyre slinging Sami to the corner.
What about Sami Zayn last week
going into Roman Reigns' office and groveling?
Asking Roman Reigns for help,
stooging off McIntyre, Randy Orton, and Riddle.
[McAfee] No low is too low for a man like Sami Zayn.
[Cole] He'll do anything to survive, like a cockroach, right?
[McAfee] Yeah, and just like a cockroach, he somehow always does survive,
but tonight might be the end of that.
Oh, it's time!
[Cole] And McIntyre sends Sami Zayn into the steel cage.
[crowd cheering]
[McAfee] Sami Zayn eating fence.
It does appear as if Drew wants to continue to punish Sami Zayn.
[crowd chanting] One more time!
The WWE Universe is asking for the same thing.
[Cole] And Sami Zayn into the other side of the steel cage.
McIntyre looks like he's enjoying himself,
finally able to get his hands on Sami.
[McAfee] He's been waiting weeks and weeks and weeks for this.
How about it, huh?
Uno más, por favor.
I think that's how they say it in Scotland.
[Cole] Oh!
Look at Sami Zayn now, trying to scale the cage.
Looking to escape. Drew McIntyre says, "Not so fast."
Oh, Sami Zayn, though, creates some space.
Look at McIntyre!
[McAfee] Pummeling blow to the back of Sami Zayn.
[Cole] McIntyre a former two-time WWE Champion.
And now, it's Sami Zayn trying to drive McIntyre,
and did successfully into the cage, and again.
[McAfee] The face of Drew McIntyre right off the fence.
[Cole] You know, make no mistake about it,
we talk a lot about Sami Zayn being a coward and the like,
but he's a world-class athlete.
Former champion-- Sunset flip powerbomb!
Who's gonna survive the steel cage on SmackDown?
[Cole] Sami Zayn is taking control of this steel cage match
over "The Scottish Warrior" Drew McIntyre.
[McAfee] The sunset flip powerbomb really flipped this thing around
as we get a close view of Drew's face.
-[Cole] And Sami… -[McAfee] In the steel.
[Cole] Expertly using the steel cage as a weapon.
[heavy breathing]
[McAfee] Drew McIntyre…
[Cole] Sami, you know, calls himself "The Master Strategist."
There is some truth to that, Pat.
[McAfee] Oh!
[Cole] Zayn very cerebral in the ring.
[McAfee] Yeah, somebody who can survive anything,
he's always gonna be good at coming up with plans to…
Do I look scared?
-[crowd boos] -[Cole] Remember what Sami said.
[McAfee] …survive.
[Cole] Sami has said for two weeks now that he's not scared of Drew McIntyre,
that it's been a strategy.
[Sami grunting]
[Cole] McIntyre, though, not allowing Sami to use the cage again.
And now, Sami Zayn…
Bang!
Can you imagine being locked inside a cage with McIntyre?
[McAfee] No. No way.
Especially because you can rake his face off the steel
and he'll come back and throw you.
[Cole] Yeah, but Sami Zayn sidestepping McIntyre who crashes into the cage.
And now, Sami's got an opportunity.
[McAfee] You have to wonder if Drew underestimated Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Zayn with a Helluva Kick!
-[McAfee] Right to the jaw. -[Cole] Yeah, with McIntyre down and out,
Sami Zayn realizes this could be his opportunity to win.
Sami Zayn climbing the ropes, gonna scale the steel cage.
Smile on his face, believes he's gonna win this.
Up over the top, both feet hit the floor.
Sami Zayn will knock off McIntyre.
[McAfee] Could you imagine if Sami Zayn wins this match?
[Cole] Drew McIntyre, though, grabs a headful of hair.
Legal, no disqualifications inside a cage.
[McAfee] Sami dangling at 20 feet.
[Cole] McIntyre dragging Sami back in, bouncing Sami off the steel.
[McAfee] Both men back to the canvas.
Drew McIntyre hitting his second wind here.
Almost out of desperation,
Sami Zayn almost stole the win, to the surprise of everybody.
[Cole] He still may win this thing. Zayn, well, was on the attack.
Sent into the cage, though.
And now, Drew McIntyre-- [McAfee] Dribbling him off the fence.
Like the NBA playoffs.
[Cole] And McIntyre, what a throw!
[crowd cheers]
-[McAfee] See the height on that? -[Cole] Neckbreaker.
And a kip-up by McIntyre.
Man, he is a thing of beauty when he's rolling.
[McAfee] He doesn't make sense.
He's too tall, too handsome,
too powerful, too athletic, and he's not scared to take a trip too.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[Cole] As Sami Zayn trying to escape the claymore,
trying to escape the cage.
And Drew says, "Not so fast."
Drags Sami back into the top rope.
McIntyre and Zayn, top rope way above the ring.
[McAfee] Inside a steel cage on Friday night.
[Cole] Man, Zayn has just been surviving tonight somehow.
That could be the opening Sami needs.
McIntyre collapses to the mat.
[McAfee] His kit said hello to the ropes.
[Cole] And Sami Zayn going to climb outside the steel cage
and beat Drew McIntyre, and maybe not.
-[crowd cheers] -McIntyre trying to pull himself up.
Zayn just has to drop to the floor.
McIntyre just grabbing Zayn.
[McAfee] Sami Zayn too damn slow on the climb.
[Cole] Wow. Now Drew McIntyre
with Sami Zayn on the top of the steel cage.
-[McAfee] What is Drew McIntyre thinking? -[Cole] No way!
Superplex!
Zayn collapsing in a heap.
[crowd cheers]
Bone-rattling superplex.
[McAfee] From the top of the steel cage.
-Drew McIntyre. -[crowd] Three, two, one.
[Cole] Welcome to Claymore country!
[crowd cheers]
-Good night, Sami. -[crowd] One, two, three!
[bell rings]
["Gallantry" plays]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Drew McIntyre.
[McAfee] Sami Zayn's been running from that Claymore for almost a month.
It was nice to see it delivered.
What a match.
[Cole] That had to feel good for Drew McIntyre.
Look at this.
[McAfee] Look at the height.
Look at the explosion.
Perfectly thrown by Drew McIntyre
into a neckbreaker,
and then a kip-up from a man
that's too damn big to be doing a kip-up.
-[Cole] And then this. -[McAfee] Sami almost had it won.
[crowd] One!
[Cole] Bang!
[McAfee] Superplex off the top of the cage.
A Claymore from Claymore country.
That's all she wrote.
[Cole] And with Angela in tow, The Scottish Warrior celebrates.
-[crowd cheers] -[yells]
Well, as McIntyre enjoys his victory
inside a steel cage, I wanna take you back to last week
and the contract signing of the "I Quit" Match
between Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair.
[crowd boos]
Just so you know what you're getting into,
you will be spared no humiliation when you say "I quit."
[mic thuds]
[Cole] Before Ronda could even sign the contract,
Charlotte would flip the table over on Rousey
which had a kendo stick under it.
[Cole] Charlotte would attack Ronda until Rousey would turn things around
and gave the SmackDown Women's Champion a taste of her own medicine.
Drew Gulak, who was acting as Adam Pearce's assistant last week,
would step in and try to put an end to the chaos.
But Rousey would have none of it
as she would take Gulak down with Piper's Pit,
and then apply her patented armbar
as Ronda would sign the contract and make it official
for the "I Quit" Match for the SmackDown's Women Championship
at WrestleMania Backlash.
♪ I don't give a damn About my reputation ♪
[crowd cheers]
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest
the SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair.
[crowd boos]
Charlotte, Ronda says she intends to humiliate you
-at Wrestle-- -Kayla.
Please, I don't get humiliated or embarrassed.
I'm Charlotte Flair.
I am adored, worshiped by all.
Ronda, however, when I make her say, "I quit,"
may never show her face in the WWE again.
And that all starts tonight when I'm going to beat her
in the Beat the Clock "I Quit" Challenge,
and I hope everyone sees the sheer embarrassment on her face
when she realizes that I am better than her at everything.
Hell, she may even quit before WrestleMania Backlash.
-[chuckles] -[crowd boos]
[slot machine whirring]
[Cole] And the Beat the Clock "I Quit" Challenge
still to come later on tonight.
But meanwhile, the man who absconded
with the Andre the Giant Battle Royal trophy last week.
["The Good Life" plays]
[announcer] Please welcome the host of Happy Talk, Happy Corbin.
[McAfee] And a thief and a bomb.
-A man who somehow still has pyro. -[pyro explodes]
[Cole] Happy Corbin's gonna have to show off his solo talk show skills
without his old jokester partner in the first Happy Talk since their split.
It's next.
[Cole] And tonight, Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
It's time for Happy Talk.
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to the new and improved Happy Talk.
[crowd boos]
And, listen, I say new and improved
because we no longer have to deal with my lackey.
A man that you all detest just as much as I do.
The insufferable Madcap Moss.
[crowd cheers]
Listen, nothing dragged this show down
like his awful, awful, awful, awful,
and I do mean awful jokes
that he insisted on telling every single night
that I never ever found funny.
-[crowd boos] -So at WrestleMania Backlash--
Listen, I'm gonna show Madcap
that the one thing he did do that was relatively funny
was think that for one second he could beat me.
[McAfee] Show still stinks.
Madcap Moss is, well, he's still living off
his Andre the Giant Battle Royal victory
and he owes that victory to me
because I made Madcap Moss.
I molded and shaped him
with my own two hands into the man that he is today.
[crowd boos]
Everything I touch, it turns to gold.
So just like I made Madcap Moss,
I'm gonna destroy Madcap Moss.
But tonight, no, tonight, I have something special.
Tonight, I'm gonna settle for destroying
the one thing that he loves most,
his Andre the Giant Battle Royal trophy.
So please welcome my guest on Happy Talk,
Madcap Moss' Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy.
[triumphant music plays]
[McAfee] Oh, having the trophy as a guest.
[Cole] But he plans to destroy it.
[McAfee] Well, this show destroys everything.
[Corbin] Let's take a look, let's take a look how I acquired that beauty.
[announcer] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[thrilling music playing]
[Cole] Madcap Moss with the biggest win of his career.
[announcer] Here is your winner
of the 2022 Andre the Giant Battle Royal, Madcap Moss.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Madcap Moss looked good in his first singles match
away from Happy Corbin.
Madcap Moss looks to continue his winning ways.
Madcap Moss brings an intensity to the ring.
Turning Angel inside out.
How pumped up is Moss?
One, two, three!
[Cole] Madcap Moss celebrates yet another victory.
Off to a fast start in his singles career.
Look out. Look out.
Happy Corbin assaulting Madcap Moss.
He's absconding with the trophy.
Take a look at it.
[McAfee] What is wrong with this guy?
[crowd boos]
I-I can't wait to see the look on Madcap's face
when he returns and finds his one little accomplishment
smashed into a million little pieces,
so bring me that sledgehammer.
I'm gonna take this sledgehammer
and I'm gonna hit this trophy repeatedly and repeatedly and repeatedly.
-[McAfee exclaims] -I know. It's exciting, huh?
I'm gonna smash into so many pieces
-and I'm gonna pick all those pieces… -[McAfee] This is awesome.
…scoop them up, and I'm gonna drop them off at the local junkyard.
[McAfee] Best Happy Talk ever I think coming right up.
[Cole] Now, Happy Corbin realizes that Madcap Moss is in the ring.
[McAfee] He was in a Dickies onesie.
[Cole] And he goes after him.
Madcap goes after Corbin with a sledgehammer.
And now, Madcap unloading on Happy Corbin.
Happy Corbin trying to run away.
And Madcap Moss taking on his former mentor.
[McAfee] Crashing the Happy Talk set
and saying, "This show was better with me in it."
[Cole] Happy Corbin was not expecting this.
[McAfee] New season of Happy Talk, characters are a little different.
Madcap's awesome.
Happy stinks.
Corbin, come on, baby.
-[yells] -[Cole] Madcap Moss all fired up.
[upbeat music plays]
Oh baby!
I'm back, baby! Whoo!
[Cole] Well, we do know, Pat, that a week from Sunday
at WrestleMania Backlash in Providence, Rhode Island,
streaming live on Peacock,
Madcap Moss takes on his former mentor, Happy Corbin.
[McAfee] Making out with his trophy.
[Cole] You know, ladies and gentlemen,
coming up next here on Friday Night SmackDown,
we have an Intercontinental Championship match.
Ever since winning the gold,
Ricochet said that he will be a fighting champion.
And I wanna take it back to two weeks ago
right here on SmackDown when Ricochet took on Jinder Mahal.
Jinder Mahal talked a big game,
had Ricochet on the ropes a number of times,
but in the end, Ricochet's high-flying ability
would deliver a shooting star press
for the win and retention of the Intercontinental Championship.
And then last week, Jinder's buddy, Shanky,
would stand up to take a challenge.
If you're such a fighting champion,
you won't have a problem defending your title again.
No, actually, you're right. I'll take on you or anybody at any time.
Then face me.
Okay, let's see if you're up for it.
What are you doing?
[Cole] That is what Ricochet has to face here tonight.
["It's About to Go Down" plays]
[crowd cheers]
[booming]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the Intercontinental Championship.
Introducing first, weighing in at 207 pounds,
he is the Intercontinental Champion, Ricochet.
[Cole] Pat, the question is this.
Will Mr. High Fly Ricochet continue his streak
and keep his prized Intercontinental Championship
or will he crown a brand-new champion tonight?
Ricochet versus Shanky, live next on Fox.
[Cole] Earlier this week, WWE Global Ambassador
and Tampa Bay native Titus O'Neil was invited
to join the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions,
Tampa Bay Lightning, at the White House.
Titus would tweet, "Today was amazing."
"Was honored to be invited to the White House
as we celebrated as City of Champions."
It's for the Intercontinental Championship
right here, right now, Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
Ricochet against the seven-foot 300-pounder known as Shanky.
[Cole] Shanky looks ready to win his first championship in WWE, Pat.
[McAfee] Charles Robinson officiating this affair.
If you looked at the billing, you would think this was a…
-[Cole] Wow. -…David versus Goliath situation,
but Ricochet is used to this type of thing.
[Cole] He's getting manhandled right now by Shanky.
[McAfee] I was in the middle of my sentence when things turned there.
-Shanky dominant. -One, two, back it up.
[Cole] Unloading with the right hands to Ricochet.
Look at the size differential, Pat, between these men.
[McAfee] "Hey, I'm Shanky."
"I have a wingspan of turnbuckle to turnbuckle."
[Cole] Towering Ricochet and collapsing Ricochet's chest.
-[referee] One! -[Cole] And now, driving an elbow.
Shanky looks so focused here tonight.
[McAfee] With how athletic Shanky is,
how focused he is with Jinder Mahal next to him,
his size, everything about him screams.
[Cole] And the thing about Shanky, he's been able to ground Ricochet so far.
Shanky, I believe, understands that if Ricochet gets rolling here,
starts to use that speed, quickness and high-flying ability,
it could be lights out, but Shanky has floored Ricochet so far.
Oh, and again, driving him to the mat.
[McAfee] Incredible power displayed here by Shanky.
[Cole] Oh, and a big elbow.
[McAfee] Look at this good ring IQ as well from Shanky.
[Cole] Cover to win the championship, and Ricochet gets the shoulder up at two.
[McAfee] Ricochet has had an electrifying run as Intercontinental Champion.
[Cole] That could come to an end tonight.
How would Jinder react if Shanky
wins the Intercontinental Title when Jinder could not get it done?
[McAfee] You'd think Jinder would be happy for Shanky, but who knows.
-Jealousy can be real. -[Cole] Oh, Ricochet.
Wow!
[McAfee] Shot-putted across.
[Cole] Shanky has been impressive.
Freddy Beal across the ring.
[Cole] Now, with a right hand drops the champion.
Could Shanky be closing in on a massive upset?
Did you see the welts
on the chest of Ricochet from the massive hands of Shanky?
[McAfee] Yeah, it's like looking at Bigfoot's footprint in the snow.
You can't think that a hand is that large.
-[Cole] That's a great analogy. -[McAfee] That's what I do here.
Nonetheless.
[Cole] Shanky trying to twist the head off the shoulders of Ricochet.
[McAfee] Ricochet taking a colossal beating right now.
[Cole] And an elbow as Ricochet rolls out of the way,
now an opportunity for the Intercontinental Champion to fight back.
[McAfee] Ricochet has to sense a little bit of urgency here,
trying to chop down the big tree.
[Cole] Shanky sending Ricochet into the ropes.
Misses wildly.
Springboard crossbody.
-Lateral press to retain the title… -One, two--
…and a kickout at two.
[McAfee] Shanky should not have thrown Ricochet into the ropes.
Just that little bit of momentum, it's Ricochet flying around.
Ricochet flawless whenever he gets going.
A video game come to reality.
[Cole] And Ricochet now heading up to the top.
Look at Jinder Mahal. Jinder getting involved.
The official Charles Robinson was with Shanky, never saw it happen.
[McAfee] I mean, Charles Robinson has to know
with the man advantage they're gonna be up to something.
And that answers your question from earlier.
Jinder wants Shanky to win.
-[Cole] And now, Ricochet-- -[McAfee] Down the oak tree.
[Cole] With the shoulders down, stacking them up.
-Ricochet survives! -[bell rings]
[announcer] Here is your winner
and still Intercontinental Champion, Ricochet.
[Cole] It's not the way that you're used to Ricochet winning a match,
but it got the job done over a very game Shanky here tonight.
[McAfee] Zero pontificators could've guessed
that Ricochet would almost out-power Shanky,
stack him up in a loss with the championship on the line.
[McAfee] Jinder Mahal scolding Shanky almost.
[loud yells]
[McAfee] Almost?
[McAfee] Certainly, I guess.
Boss, no.
[McAfee] Uh-oh.
[Cole] Mr. Shanky has heard enough.
[McAfee] He just said no to Jinder, I believe.
[Cole] Was that…
[McAfee] He's done with him.
Congratulations to Ricochet on another successful title defense.
But now, please welcome my guest,
the formidable and beautiful Raquel Rodriguez.
-Hi. -Hi.
Raquel, tonight, all eyes are on you as you make your in-ring debut.
Are you nervous?
Kayla, chica, when you look this good, you're used to having all eyes on you.
[giggles] Oh, of course, I'm nervous.
I've got butterflies like you can't even imagine.
Como una fiesta de mariposas.
But I do like being center of attention.
And tonight, I'm gonna put on a show
and make an impact that no one will ever forget.
["Get Out of the Way" playing]
Ciao.
[Cole] Strong, sturdy, and a badass attitude.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Rio Grande Valley, Texas,
Raquel Rodriguez.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Raquel Rodriguez looking to establish herself as a dominating force
in the SmackDown Women's Division.
Pat, she steps into the ring for her first-ever match on SmackDown.
And it's live next.
[Cole] WrestleMania Backlash is presented by the official WWE Credit One Visa card.
Get closer to the action with benefits like Superstar meet and greets,
sweepstakes, early ticket sales for select events, and more.
Visit UltimateWWEcard.com to see if you prequalify now, terms apply.
Raquel Rodriguez will take on that woman, Cat Cardoza, here tonight.
Raquel's debut match on Friday Night SmackDown,
and Cat Cardoza looking to make a name for herself in the early going.
[McAfee] It's also her debut match on SmackDown as well.
Cat Cardoza said some terrible things about this city we are in right now.
[Cole] During the commercial break.
-Raquel Rodriguez just got angry. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Now the match gets underway.
Cardoza attacking Raquel before the bell rings,
and now Raquel Rodriguez looking to show off
her power here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
Everyone you talk to, Pat,
she is gonna be a player in the SmackDown Women's Division.
[McAfee] How could she not be?
She's able to pick up grown women and throw them around while flexing.
[Cole] Extremely confident.
Oh, and a shoulder tackle as she retains the grip on Miss Cardoza.
Whipped into the corner.
[McAfee] If you had this type of strength, this type of upside,
how would you not be incredibly confident?
[Cole] A fallaway slam by Rodriguez.
Más, más, más.
[McAfee] Más, más, más.
More, more, more.
[Cole] Another fallaway slam,
a big smile on her face as well,
as Raquel Rodriguez enjoys this.
[McAfee] Absolutely, Raquel Rodriguez.
[Cole] Oh, a spinning splash from the second rope.
[McAfee] You see the smooth, the fluidity of the athlete
that is Raquel Rodriguez.
-Did I say that right? -[Cole] Yes.
Oh, and hanging Rodriguez up on the top rope is Cardoza.
Would love to ruin the debut here tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown of Raquel Rodriguez.
[McAfee] Cat Cardoza not really trying to make any friends at all,
just trying to get a win against…
a potential marquee in the WWE in Raquel Rodriguez.
[Cole] Yeah, but Raquel finds herself in some trouble here.
-[McAfee] Cat Cardoza. -Go back. All right, you gotta listen.
[McAfee] Almost getting the best
of Raquel here if we had to score this thing.
Not so fast, let me catch your leg.
[Cole] Uh-oh, Raquel gonna power her up.
[McAfee] Off-balance.
[Cole] With a Chingona Bomb!
-And the cover by Rodriguez. -One, two, three.
-And the win. -[bell rings]
[crowd cheers]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Raquel Rodriguez.
[McAfee] What's it called?
[Cole] Chingona Bomb.
[McAfee] That's 'cause Raquel Rodriguez is a chingona, an absolute badass.
Cat Cardoza woke her up a little bit, and once she did,
the power, the finesse, the athleticism,
the future star power took over.
[Cole] And with the Chingona Bomb,
Raquel Rodriguez wins her debut match
here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
[McAfee] Congrats.
[dramatic classical music playing]
Gunther is the embodiment of greatness.
[Ludwig] He pulverizes any and every opponent
not worthy, stepping on that mat that is so sacred to us.
[speaking German]
[continues speaking German]
[in English] Respect will be taken by Der Ringgeneral.
[crowd boos]
["Talk to Me" plays]
[McAfee] Hello to the Gunther Era! Or guten Tag, should I say?
[Cole] Meanwhile, here come the Raw Tag Team Champions.
[crowd cheers]
[announcer] Please welcome the Raw Tag Team Champions,
Riddle and Randy Orton "RK-Bro."
[Cole] Now, Pat, WWE official Adam Pearce will have his hands full
trying to maintain order when RK-Bro and The Usos
step in the ring to sign on the dotted line and make it official.
The WrestleMania Backlash Championship Unification Match.
The contract signing with RK-Bro and The Usos.
It will take place live next on Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd cheers]
Children who are fighting critical illnesses
experience emotional challenges every day.
A spark of hope can change everything.
[Drew] With hope, a child with a critical illness
finds light in the darkness of their current circumstances.
[Liv] By granting wishes, we can help restore hope for a child
and open the door to exciting possibilities.
[Drew] A wish begins with hope and hope begins with you.
Join WWE in supporting Make-A-Wish this World Wish Day
by visiting Wish.org/WWE.
[Cole] WWE is celebrating World Wish Day with Make-A-Wish,
the anniversary of the first-ever wish granted in 1980.
Today we are excited to welcome a special guest
from Make-A-Wish, Wish Kid Giovanna.
Earlier tonight, Giovanna's wish to meet Drew McIntyre came true.
Let's all give a warm welcome to Giovanna.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Make-A-Wish kid, Giovanna.
[Cole] And you can help make wishes like Giovanna's come true
on World Wish Day.
Visit Wish.org/WWE to donate.
[McAfee] Man, that's awesome.
♪ Are you ready? ♪
[Cole] Bragging rights and a huge psychological advantage
for their upcoming "I Quit" Match will be on the line
when Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair
compete in a Beat the Clock "I Quit" Challenge.
It's Rousey and Flair trying to beat the clock tonight.
And tonight, Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored by Progressive.
In the ring, WWE official Adam Pearce
and the Raw Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro, set to sign the contract.
["Done With That" plays]
[McAfee] Here come our champions.
[announcer] Please welcome
the SmackDown Tag Team Champions,
Jimmy and Jey, The Usos.
[Cole] You know, Pat, The Usos have set a record,
284 days as SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
But a week from Sunday, WrestleMania Backlash,
streaming live exclusively on Peacock,
it is Winners Take All Championship Unification for the Tag Team Titles.
The Raw Champs, RK-Bro, against the SmackDown Champs, The Usos,
they make it official tonight.
[McAfee] One of the biggest tag team matches in the history of this business.
-They said we don't need champs. -Gentlemen, if you please.
Thank you for joining me and welcome
to the official contract signing
for the Tag Team Championship Unification Match.
RK-Bro, Usos, you've all been a part of enough of these
to understand the rules so I'll make it real simple.
Four signatures on this contract
and the match is official for WrestleMania Backlash.
[McAfee] It's easy. It's easy.
Hey, P, check this out.
-We ain't got nothing to prove to you. -No.
And we ain't got nothing to prove to this tag team standing right here.
No.
Because everybody in this arena knows
and everybody in the whole damn world knows.
That you the tools and we the…
-[McAfee] What? -Because the Bloodline
is about to draped in all the gold, Uce.
And after WrestleMania Backlash,
-we gonna need bigger luggage. -Check bag.
And you two gon' be doing a whole lot of acknowledging.
You know what?
I got something to say, and, Pearce, I'm glad you're here
because, honestly, Randy, I can't tell you two apart.
And it's not fair. Like, look at Randy,
he's got these sweet tattoos, that 'stache that goes for days.
I got this long hair, I don't wear shoes.
I mean, Pearce, we need to get them some name tags
or maybe he can get a mustache, we need to do something.
Riddle, I'll take it under advisement.
Thank you, man.
-[McAfee] They are twins. -Riddle, I appreciate the insight,
but you're telling me right here, right now,
that you can't tell The Usos apart from each other?
-Not at all, Randy. -[Randy] You know, that is so funny.
They've been here a long time.
I have never had a problem telling these two gentlemen apart.
You see this one? This one right here? Okay, check it out.
He's the Right Hand Man.
The Right Hand Man, okay.
And his one right here, he's nothing but a little bitch, right?
Oh! [laughs]
[Cole] Oh, and here we go.
And The Usos going right after the RK-Bro, and a brawl underway.
Who would've known this contract signing was not gonna go easily?
[McAfee] "Ain't no bitches in the Bloodline,"
Jimmy Uso said to the 20-year vet, Randy Orton.
[Cole] Jimmy and Jey unloading on Riddle and Orton.
Meanwhile, Orton turning the tables on Riddle.
And RK-Bro now going after the Bloodline.
["Head of the Table" plays]
[McAfee] Oh no.
The Big Uce.
[Cole] The undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
And here comes Roman Reigns flanked by his special counsel Heyman.
Roman has not been happy
with his cousins, The Usos, the past couple of weeks,
losing one-on-one matches to Riddle here on SmackDown.
[McAfee] You see that shirt there--
[Cole] Now from behind, off the distraction by Reigns,
The Usos attacking Riddle, attacking Orton.
[McAfee] This was the plan all along by the Bloodline.
[Cole] Superkicks to Orton.
Roman Reigns watching his cousins pick apart Riddle.
[McAfee] One and done to Riddle.
[Cole] The 1D.
And the Bloodline again establishing dominance.
[McAfee] Bullying Riddle and Randy.
[Cole] That's the contract for the Unification Match.
And Roman Reigns says, "That's not happening."
Ripping up the contract and shoving it in Riddle's mouth.
And now a three-on-one assault.
-["Gallantry" plays] -[Cole] Wait a minute.
[McAfee] What?
[Cole] Drew McIntyre!
The Scottish Warrior.
[McAfee] What the hell is he doing out here?
[Cole] That's what Roman Reigns is asking himself.
[McAfee] Jey Uso, Right Hand Man, eats a lariat.
[Cole] Jimmy Uso runs into a right-hand as well.
And now McIntyre has his sights
on the undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
[Cole] G.O.D. Mode staring at The Scottish Warrior.
[crowd cheers]
[inaudible]
[McAfee] What is Drew McIntyre doing?
[Cole] Remember, McIntyre-- Roman Reigns goes after McIntyre.
And Drew McIntyre and Reigns now exchanging blows, middle of the ring.
[McAfee] Two titans.
[Cole] And Roman Reigns sent flying and the champion sent into retreat.
[Drew] Come on! Come on!
This has been coming a long time.
I've been biding my damn time!
[Cole] Remember, McIntyre buried the hatchet with Randy Orton.
And with all that went down tonight, Pat, we saw Reigns tear the contract,
what does this mean for the Tag Team Unification Match?
Come over to SmackDown.
I see what's up. I see what's up.
["Gallantry" playing]
-Mr. Heyman. -[crowd boos]
Mr. Pearce, I'm sure you have all your little minions running around,
giving you all the inside scoops from the locker room,
but surely you have been apprised by now
Roman Reigns is not very happy this evening.
I'm aware.
So I want you to have a good relationship with the Undisputed Champion.
And here's what I'd like you to do, sir.
You know this Title Unification Match you had with The Usos and RK-Bro?
Yeah.
Slight change.
A little bit of an upgrade and an elevated status
and prestige of this match.
At WrestleMania Backlash, imagine this,
RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre
versus The Usos…
and Roman Reigns.
Paul, I have a Unification Match. I just can't change it into a six-man tag.
Championships.
I admire a man
who will stick to his principles
at the expense of his own career
to give someone like me the ammunition
to go to the Board of Directors and file a complaint
that you would deprive the WWE Universe
of a match at WrestleMania Backlash
involving "The Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns.
Oh, Mr. Pearce,
you can make that match,
and I assure you, you will.
[sighs]
[McAfee] Holy hell.
Roman Reigns is getting added into the mix.
Drew McIntyre as well.
That's if WWE officials make it official.
We'll not get too far ahead of ourselves, I guess, Cole.
Well, ladies and gentleman, right now, we are set for glow time on SmackDown.
[McAfee] Let's go.
["Amazing" plays]
♪ Bring it to the floor ♪
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Sasha Banks,
she is one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Naomi.
[Cole] The Boss and Glow,
the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
Of course, last week on Friday Night SmackDown,
Natalya and Shayna Baszler marched out
to the ring and said, "We want an opportunity."
"We want a shot at the title,"
and that's going to happen
in two weeks right here on Friday Night SmackDown.
[McAfee] Absolutely.
Sasha and Naomi have been nothing short of fantastic together.
[Cole] And there's Drew Gulak.
So he auditioned a few weeks ago to be an interviewer,
last week to be Adam Pearce's assistant, this week a timekeeper.
He was in a Figure-Eight and then last week the armbar.
["Limb by Limb" playing]
[announcer] And her opponent, accompanied to the ring by Natalya,
from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Shayna Baszler.
[Cole] I never thought I'd miss Berkley.
[McAfee] Good luck, Drewy Hammersticks.
Kay? We need you to stick around here.
You've stunk at everything else.
Ring the bell properly, Drew. We love you.
I don't know if Sasha and Naomi care about Drew's hammer,
but Shayna is looking to hammer Naomi here
and set the tone for two weeks from now.
[Cole] "The Submission Magician" Shayna Baszler.
[McAfee] She's put a mouthpiece in.
Anybody that puts a mouthpiece in is ready to go.
Shayna Baszler once said she'll make somebody snap, tap or crap in a ring.
She's ruthless.
She's a Submission Magician, and she's very comfortable on the mat.
[Cole] And Naomi, the former SmackDown Women's Champion, back to her feet.
We see Natalya cheering Shayna Baszler on.
Natalya and Shayna Baszler, a formidable team, Pat.
There's no doubt about that.
Look at the athleticism of Naomi.
[McAfee] Shayna kind of a hired gun, Natalya, the vet with all the cash.
[Cole] Oh, and there's the split by Naomi
and the cover off that leg drop and a kickout by Baszler.
Banks and Naomi, of course, won the titles back at WrestleMania.
Successfully defended them a few weeks ago on Raw
against Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan.
And Naomi and Sasha able to take on all comers.
[McAfee] That's right.
And there's a reason Naomi and Sasha are so confident.
It's because of things like this.
Oh, she misses. Not so quick.
[Cole] Oh, what a suplex by Baszler.
Shayna is so dangerous.
[McAfee] Natalya celebrating as if she was the one that did it,
but Shayna putting the hurt now on Naomi.
[Cole] Natalya, "The Queen of Harts,"
of course, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler.
[McAfee] Just two suits short.
[Cole] Looking to become Women's Tag Team Champions
in a couple of weeks.
[McAfee] The crowd, WWE Universe,
absolutely love The Glow and The Boss.
[Cole] Naomi fighting back, though,
Baszler off the hammerlock, drives Naomi into the corner.
-[McAfee] Oh, now Shayna… -[Cole] Yeah, the…
-[McAfee] Acting like she's on… -[Cole] Oh, the body shots.
[McAfee] …a bag almost, just taking free punches.
Oh, took too much time.
Naomi set her up, reversing things.
[Cole] Oh, and a kick right to the face.
And Baszler's stunned.
[McAfee] Vintage Naomi.
-[Cole] Hey. -[McAfee] Yeah.
[Cole] And Baszler with an elbow
well placed to the jaw and then another one.
A duck and a nice standing switch by Baszler.
And now Shayna trying to set up for the submission move,
the Kirifuda Clutch, Naomi able to counter.
Waist lock again by Baszler.
[McAfee] I believe Naomi was going for-- Oh.
[Cole] Baszler sent into the second rope.
-Naomi got Baszler off-balance. -[McAfee] Absolutely.
-Naomi trying to take advantage. -[Cole] Roll through, stacking up Baszler.
-Got her. Naomi with the win. -[bell rings]
-[announcer] Here's your winner-- -[Cole] Oh, and Natalya
just blindsiding Naomi.
-[crowd boos] -And now Sasha Banks.
[McAfee] Sasha was celebrating with the WWE Universe.
Natalya blindsided Naomi.
Now Sasha kneeing Natalya in the mouth.
Baseball slide.
[Cole] Oh! And Natalya driving Sasha knee-first into the apron.
Natalya and Baszler, so dangerous, submission specialists.
And now the Sharpshooter locked into Sasha Banks.
Naomi desperately trying to help her partner,
and Shayna Baszler now…
-planting Naomi. -[crowd boos]
The challengers in two weeks
for the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions
are taking out the champs here tonight.
-[McAfee] Doing what they do best. -Hold her! Make her watch!
[McAfee] Look at Shayna forcing Naomi to watch Natalya.
-Oh no! -[Cole] My God!
Shayna going to try to break the arm of Naomi! Oh my goodness!
[McAfee] I just got sick to my stomach, Cole.
[crowd boos]
That was despicable.
[Cole] Natalya and Shayna saying, "Look out for us."
I don't wanna watch that again.
[McAfee groans in disgust]
[Cole] The Tag Champs with their work cut out for them in two weeks
with the SmackDown Tag Team Titles on the line.
[McAfee] Somebody come help Naomi.
[Cole] Right now, I wanna take you back
to what happened last week on Friday Night SmackDown.
It was a one-on-one match with Butch and Xavier Woods.
Butch looking for some revenge after Xavier Woods beat him
a couple of weeks ago.
But once again, Butch would get caught with Backwoods by Xavier Woods.
Woods picking up the win,
but then, this happened, Pat, after the match-up.
As Sheamus and Ridge were trying to console Butch,
Butch went completely off.
He's started screaming and yelling at his partners,
and then like a spoilt, petulant child, he ran out of the arena.
He ran away.
And no one has seen Butch since.
In this past week, the WWE social media team
started the hashtag #WheresButch.
Butch could literally be anywhere.
Maybe he's in New York City
or perhaps Las Vegas,
across the pond in the UK,
or even rocking out at Coachella.
[McAfee] Where the hell is Butch?
Ridgey, Ridgey, Ridgey, we have got to find Butch, yeah?
Now, if he gets out of control, man, you don't know what he's gonna do.
You know what I'm saying?
So as this goes, I put posters everywhere, yeah?
I put them in the locker room. I put them in catering.
And I even put them in the parking lot, right, so we're bound to find him.
-How about you? How did you do? -I got rid of them all.
-You did? You're bloody brilliant! -Yeah.
Where'd you put them?
I put them in the locker room.
I put them in catering.
And I plastered them all over the parking lot.
But-but that-that's where I put my posters.
I told you to spread out. Did you not see my posters everywhere?
Oh, come on. The more the merrier.
Jesus.
-I'll go take them down. -No. We got to go, man.
-We got to go. -Hey.
I put Big E down, and he won't be back for a very long time.
[laughs] That's it.
You did, Ridge the Fridge. And I'm telling you what.
If he decides to show his big ugly mug around here,
he'll be walking right into Fight Night.
Fight Night!
[both] Fight Night. Fight Night.
-Let's go. Fight Night. -Let's go, fella. Come on.
[McAfee] It's…
Fight Night!
[Cole] With the Unholy… Duo
because no one knows where Butch is.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Sheamus,
weighing in at 253 pounds, Ridge Holland.
[Cole] You think Ridge will have any better luck against Xavier tonight?
[McAfee] I'm not sure. I'm just worried about that damn Butch.
[Cole] Well, Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
Hopefully, that little rabid dog doesn't come running over the barricade
and jumps on top of us tonight.
[McAfee] Yeah. Well, we can hope
in one hand and wish in the other and honestly, Butch will poop in both.
[Cole laughs] Ridge Holland and Xavier Woods, live next.
You just said that.
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, back on Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
We have breaking news tonight.
It's been made official by WWE officials,
a week from Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash
streaming live on Peacock, it is now a Six-Man Tag Team Match.
On one side, Drew McIntyre
and RK-Bro, the Raw Tag Team Champions
against the Bloodline, Roman Reigns, and The Usos.
Six-man tag-team action.
It's official for WrestleMania Backlash.
There you have it.
We've been wondering what the first match will be
for Roman Reigns since becoming
the undisputed WWE Universal Champion
and it's a six-man tag.
-["New Day, New Way" playing] -Let's go.
[McAfee] It's awesome.
[Cole] What's awesome is the winning streak
that Xavier Woods has been on.
-[McAfee] Absolutely. -[announcer] And his opponent,
accompanied to the ring by Kofi Kingston,
weighing in at 205 pounds,
Xavier Woods.
[McAfee] The Backwoods have done him well.
Well, well, well.
It appears as though where once there was three,
there's now only two, two, two, two.
Where's Butch?
[laughs] Donde?
Hey, you mean to tell me that your boys,
the New Day, have been able to keep it together since 2014?
That's eight years.
And y'all can't keep it together for a mere month and a half?
What?
Wow!
And, Sheamus, actually, you've had a lot of partners here in WWE.
Matter of fact, you're like WWE's resident thot.
-Little tag team thottie. -Little thottie.
First, you were out here shaking it for League of Nations,
and then you were shaking it for the Swissman.
Now you're out here shaking it for these two young booties
who don't know any better but look, hey, you ever hear of Wreck-It Ralph?
-Y'all know Wreck-It Ralph? -[crowd cheers]
Well, we're about to start calling him Shake-It Sheamus.
[laughter]
So, Sheamus, while you're busy shaking it on the outside,
I'm gonna be inside the ring…
[crowd] Shake-It Sheamus! Shake-It Sheamus!
-[McAfee] It's catching on. -There we go.
[crowd] Shake-It Sheamus!
Shake-It Sheamus!
Yeah.
-[inaudible yelling] -Oh, no, no, no.
Let me go back. Let me rewind.
So while you're shaking it on the outside,
I'm gonna be inside the ring absolutely destroying your boy, Ridge.
Get up in them guts because…
-New Day rocks. -[crowd] New Day rocks.
New Day rocks.
[McAfee] I thought that was majestic.
[Cole] You did.
[McAfee] Absolute bars from the New Day.
[Cole] You liked the whole Shake-It Sheamus thing.
[bell rings]
I did laugh.
I did.
[Cole] So Shake-It Sheamus is gonna look on
as Ridge Holland goes one-on-one with Xavier Woods here tonight.
Kofi Kingston, of course, over on the other side of the ring
in support of Woods.
And Ridge Holland, a rough-and-tough brawler.
Again, Butch, who is part of this group, is nowhere to be found.
He ran away last week.
-[crowd] Shake-It Sheamus! -[Cole] And the Shaking Sheamus chants.
-[McAfee] "Shake-It" Sheamus. -[Cole] Shake-it.
[McAfee] Because he shakes it up with his teams.
[Cole] I like shaking.
-[crowd] Shake-It Sheamus! -[Cole] There is the power now and, oh,
Ridge Holland dropping Woods right on the back of his neck.
-Let's go! -[Kofi] Come on, Woods!
[Cole] Sheamus has called Ridge Holland a powerhouse, rugged and rough
around the edges, and that's what Sheamus' job is to do,
is to smooth out that roughness.
[McAfee] We miss Big E.
-[Cole] Of course we do, everyone does. -[McAfee] Hell yeah.
[crowd] You look stupid!
[Cole] I believe those chants are directed at Sheamus as well
as Holland goes shoulder-first to the post.
[McAfee] Sheamus is taking a beating from the WWE Universe right now.
-What? -[McAfee] Xavier Woods.
[Cole] Oh, a tornado DDT by Woods.
New Day in control.
[crowd] Shake-it Sheamus!
[Cole] Xavier Wood versus Ridge Holland here tonight.
Of course, Kofi from the New Day at ringside, as is Sheamus.
Butch, the other part of this Sheamus group,
nowhere to be found-- Oh my goodness!
Ridge Holland and the explosiveness.
[crowd boos]
[Cole] Xavier Woods landed hard on his knee and now Holland's in control.
[McAfee] I talked to Ridge Holland earlier.
His dad ran all the bars and nightclubs where he grew up in England.
[Cole] He was a bouncer at times.
[McAfee] When he was a kid, he was a bouncer.
Literally been fighting forever.
I'd like to see the match
but Sheamus decided to sit on our announce table.
[indistinct yelling]
Hey, Shake-It Sheamus,
can you shake it a little bit out of our way, pal?
[Cole] Sheamus seems very perturbed tonight.
A lot going on in Sheamus' life.
Ridge is losing, Butch is lost, the WWE fans are all over Sheamus.
Things aren't quite going the way that Sheamus has planned.
[McAfee] I'd say.
And now Xavier Woods outsmarting Ridge Holland in the ring.
[Cole] Look at Xavier just chopping away
at the six-foot-one 253-pounder, Yorkshire, England.
[McAfee] Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and wherever the hell Butch is…
[Sheamus yelling]
[McAfee] …have a chance to be great if they can get on the same page.
[McAfee] Sheamus Happy that Ridge used his head there.
Ground and pound and pummeling Ridge Holland.
[crowd] Shake-It Sheamus!
Shake-It Sheamus!
[Cole] Ridge Holland used to be a professional rugby player, Pat,
and he was deemed too dangerous for that sport,
so he decided to come to WWE.
-[crowd] Shake-It Sheamus! -[McAfee] He is a dangerous man indeed.
As is the Fight Night founder,
Sheamus, who is getting accosted by this entire arena.
[Cole] Yeah, he's trying to make it seem like it's not bothering him,
but I know Sheamus.
Sheamus lets a lot of things get under his skin.
Again, WWE fans trying to rally Xavier Woods.
[McAfee] Xavier Woods feeding off the energy.
[Cole] Xavier with stellar performances over the past few weeks.
The former King of the Ring winner.
Look at Xavier, rights and lefts, combinations.
[McAfee] Ridge Holland not being able to keep up with the blocks.
[Cole] Woods slides underneath.
Uh-oh, Holland plants him.
Cover by Ridge for the win, and a kickout.
Official Jessika Carr says two.
[McAfee] Sheamus just kicked the hell out of the barricade over here.
Look at Ridge just catching him in mid-air.
[Cole] Spike!
[McAfee] And spiking him through the canvas.
That type of punishing power
from Ridge gives us all hope that Ridge can rise the ranks here.
[Cole] WWE Universe has just been all over Sheamus and company tonight.
[McAfee] Sheamus is gonna hear Shake-It Sheamus
in his nightmares and his dreams going forward.
Xavier Woods can't even hold himself up.
[Cole] Yeah, Ridge Holland saying it's all but over.
[crowd chants]
[McAfee] The crowd says, "No, no."
[Cole] Blows to the spine of Xavier Woods, driving Woods back down to his knees.
[McAfee] I'm not sure if the liver or kidney is back there but one of them.
-[Cole] Uh, kidneys. -[McAfee] And the spleen too, I think.
-If you really wanna get into this-- -[Cole] Oh, look at this.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
-Woods now with Backwoods, got him again. -[bell rings]
[crowd cheers]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Xavier Woods.
[McAfee] The Backwoods always hits, and the Backwoods always wins.
The alternative Backwoods, baby.
-[Xavier] The alternative. -[Sheamus] Give me a mic.
Ridgey, Ridgey, I'm through playing games, fella.
-[crowd boos] -Huh? What happened?
[Sheamus] Sorries aren't gonna cut it.
I'm gonna show you how it's done.
Hey, Kofi.
Kofi, how about it, man, you and me go right now?
[crowd cheers]
[Sheamus] How about it, fella?
One-on-one.
[McAfee] Shake-It Sheamus wants a match.
[crowd cheers]
All right, let's bleedin' do this.
Let's bleedin' do it.
[McAfee] Sheamus and Kofi next.
[Cole] And we are back on Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
The match started during the break.
Sheamus made the challenge, Kofi accepted.
[McAfee] Oh my goodness!
Trying to show them how it's done.
Well, Kofi does what Kofi do for a long time here in the WWE.
[Cole] Kofi on the apron, looks back, kick to the face of Sheamus.
Up now to the top rope, and Trust Fall takes out Sheamus.
Things are not going well for the Unholy Trinity,
now an Unholy Duo because Butch is nowhere to be found.
[McAfee] Ridge Holland eats an L earlier,
and now Sheamus wants to stop Kofi Kingston.
Blow to the spine.
[Cole] And now Sheamus with Kofi set up for the…
perhaps the 10 Beats of the Bodhran.
Kofi Kingston fighting back
though understands what was coming, and he hangs Sheamus up.
[McAfee] Kofi, former champ, saw it coming.
[Cole] Roll through, gonna steal one on Sheamus, who kicks out.
[McAfee] That was gonna be a quick rollup as well.
He's taking a page out of Xavier Woods' book.
[Cole] Sheamus posted, Kofi Kingston
up in the second rope, top rope,
takes Sheamus down.
[McAfee] "On his head," says Kofi.
[McAfee] Sheamus…
entrenched in a battle we did not see coming tonight.
Embarrassed by Ridge's loss, calls out Kofi.
[Cole] Oh, the Irish Curse Backbreaker.
Kofi was going for the SOS
and Sheamus countered into the Irish Curse.
[McAfee] You've got to think, the only confidence left
in this entire group would come from Sheamus
finally getting a win for the boys.
[Cole] Well, trying to set an example here for Ridge Holland tonight,
and a third time with an Irish Curse Backbreaker.
[McAfee] One for him, one for Ridge,
and one for Butch, wherever the hell he is.
[Cole] Sheamus not even going for the cover,
just looking to punish Kingston.
Now he's trying to rip the face apart of Kingston.
[McAfee] Every night's Fight Night for Sheamus.
[Cole] Ooh, and Kofi fighting back as well.
The grit, determination, the heart of the former WWE Champion.
And Sheamus planting Kingston.
And right now, it's Sheamus in full dominance mode.
[McAfee] Sheamus looking over at us and Ridge.
[Cole] He's looking at Ridge, not us.
[McAfee] Well, I thought he made eyeballs with us saying,
"Who's Shake-It Sheamus now?"
[Cole] And now calling for the Brogue Kick.
Went for the Brogue, Kofi able to duck underneath.
Kingston, this time, he caught him into an SOS.
Kofi stacks him up for the victory
and a kickout by Sheamus at two, near fall.
[McAfee] Telegraphing the Brogue Kick by pounding his chest,
Kofi saw it coming from a mile away.
[Cole] Now Kofi fighting back.
Kofi, physical as they come, and so is Sheamus.
Oh!
And now the Brogue!
[McAfee] Wow.
-[Cole] Cover by Sheamus… -One, two, three.
…with a win over Kingston.
[McAfee] Sheamus said, "That's how you do it, lad."
[announcer] Here is your winner, Sheamus.
-[McAfee] What a punishing ending. -[Cole] Look at Ridge Holland now.
Holland attacking Woods, who beat him a bit earlier on tonight.
[indistinct yelling]
[McAfee] Ridge looking to make up for the embarrassing loss.
[Cole] Ridge and Sheamus, like you mentioned, embarrassed,
humiliated over the past few weeks at the hands of Xavier Woods.
[McAfee] What is Sheamus thinking here?
[Cole] And Sheamus now…
[McAfee] He getting a table so we can have some pints?
[Cole] No, I think he has more punishment in store for Xavier Woods.
Look at Ridge Holland not allowing Woods to escape
as Sheamus sets up the hardware.
You want your revenge? Get your revenge.
[McAfee] "Did you learn anything from me?"
Asked Sheamus to Ridge.
[yelling]
[Cole] And Woods put through a table by Ridge Holland.
Yes.
You like that?
Fight Night!
[McAfee] Golly!
[Cole] Well, in the end, I believe Sheamus
-and Ridge won the war. -Fight Night.
[McAfee] These dudes don't care about nothing.
[Cole] Again, it was a rough night for Ridge Holland and Sheamus
in the early going, but in the end, Pat, they got what they wanted.
Yeah. Like I said, they're gonna go drink a pint or ten and celebrate
even though Ridge took an embarrassing loss
and Butch is still God knows where.
And as they do that, we wanna switch gears now and mention
that over the past few weeks,
we've learned more than we ever imagined about Lacey Evans.
From growing up in an abusive household to living a life on the run,
often with no one else to rely on except herself,
she would become a champion athlete.
And she shared every step of her heartbreaking story with us.
We now present chapter four in the story of Lacey Evans.
[deep exhale]
Okay, here it goes.
I got kicked out of my home at age 17.
But I was still the first in my family to not only graduate high school,
but I decided to join the military
and I became a United States Marine at the age of 19.
I graduated out of boot camp as my company's highest shooter
and I graduated out of military police school
as top of my class, the honor graduate.
And I also became the only female
on the Marine Corps SWAT team out of Parris Island, South Carolina.
All the other graduates on graduation day were smiling
and waving at their parents, except for me.
Imagine looking up trying to find your father's face
in a group of cheering parents,
only to find out that he's not gonna show up.
Imagine working your butt off in hopes that one day
finally making your father proud, only for him never to once show up
to the most important things that you accomplished out of life.
You know, it gets to the point that you find a different driving force
that fills you with anger.
[sniffles]
It's like no matter what I did and begged and tried to show my family
that addiction and depression weren't our only options
and that there was help that could be gotten, it never worked.
Unlike the other female Superstars in that locker room,
I wasn't blessed with a lifetime
of perks, and pats on my back, and positive support.
I've never had it and I don't need it.
I made it out of the trailer park and straight into the WWE
and I'm coming after every single one of them.
You know, what I've been through has created the woman that I am today.
A motivated, ready for anything,
careful, confident, mother, wife, sister, daughter,
United States Marine,
and WWE Superstar.
Now, I'm no better than the other Superstars…
[deep breath]
…but they're damn sure no better than me.
[crowd cheers]
["Bad Reputation" plays]
[crowd cheers]
♪ I don't give a damn About my reputation ♪
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a Beat the Clock "I Quit" Challenge.
Introducing first, the Baddest Woman on the Planet,
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey.
[Cole] Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair in an "I Quit" Beat the Clock Challenge.
Who will get their opponent
to utter the words "I quit" in the fastest time?
Will it be Ronda? Will it be Charlotte?
We'll find out live next on Friday Night SmackDown.
♪ And I'm only doing good When I'm having fun ♪
♪ And I don't have to please no one ♪
♪ Are you ready? ♪
[Cole] Next week on Friday Night SmackDown here on Fox,
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods,
the New Day, take on Sheamus and Ridge Holland in a Tables Match.
It takes place next week here on SmackDown. Plus!
[McAfee] A week before their Tag Team Champions Clash,
Sasha Banks takes on Shayna Baszler in an effort to gain momentum.
[Cole] So Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair
will compete in separate singles matches tonight.
Whoever is able to win their match
and get their opponent to utter the words "I quit"
in the fastest time will win the challenge,
but I guess Ronda is gonna have someone looking on at her match tonight.
Her opponent to the "I Quit" Beat the Clock Challenge,
the SmackDown Women's Champion.
[McAfee] It feels like a smart move for Charlotte.
Get a closer look at this thing.
[Cole] The Opportunity. The 14-time champion.
[fireworks booming]
[Cole] Let's remind everyone what happens a week from Sunday.
Providence, Rhode Island.
Streaming live exclusively on Peacock, it is WrestleMania Backlash.
That is where Charlotte Flair will defend her SmackDown Women's Championship
against that woman, Ronda Rousey, in an "I Quit" Match.
And the rules of that match are simple.
You incapacitate your opponent
to the point where they utter the words, "I quit."
-[bell rings] -Beat the Clock Challenge round.
Ronda Rousey and Shotzi.
And Shotzi makes her way out of the ring, trying to buy herself some time.
Ronda Rousey in pursuit.
The clock will count up. Ronda Rousey will set the pace.
-Charlotte Flair will compete next. -[McAfee] Shotzi doesn't wanna be
on the receiving end of the winning team here.
She said, "You're gonna have to
really come and get me if you wanna get this win."
[Cole] Well, Ronda Rousey finally able to grab Shotzi
and try to drag her back into the ring.
[McAfee] Great strategy by Shotzi,
but the Baddest Woman on the Planet is gonna catch up eventually.
Well, Ronda knows so many ways
to make you scream and make you say "I quit"
as she drops Shotzi, rolls back out of the apron.
[McAfee] You see a left boot right to the mouth of Shotzi.
[Cole] You saw Ronda look back at the clock at 45 seconds and counting.
Shotzi went for the kick. Ronda able to intercept.
Now drops Shotzi face-first on the apron.
[McAfee] Fifty-three, 54, 55, I have no idea what will win this.
[Cole] Now at a minute, Ronda Rousey looking to set the pace,
a pace that she hopes Charlotte Flair cannot beat.
Rousey dragging Shotzi back into the ring.
Ronda Rousey, relentless on the attack.
[McAfee] The crowd telling Charlotte Flair that she tapped out.
-All Ronda needs is Shotzi-- -[Cole] Oh, nice fisherman suplex.
[McAfee] Charlotte Flair says, "Earmuffs. I don't wanna hear this."
[Cole] Now, Ronda rolling Shotzi through, looking for an ankle lock.
Ankle lock locked in.
Do you quit?
[screaming]
I quit!
-[bell rings] -[Cole] And Shotzi quits.
It's over.
[McAfee] Drew Gulak, a little slow on the bell.
[Cole] You see the time that was established by Rousey.
Off the ankle lock, 1:41,
and that is when Shotzi uttered the words "I quit."
So now, Charlotte Flair needs to beat that time.
[McAfee] A hundred and one seconds into a thing of beauty.
[crowd chants]
[Cole] And now it's Charlotte Flair's turn.
Ronda Rousey, not just-- she doesn't only have the armbar.
You saw the ankle lock, of course, made famous by her mentor,
the man she had her first match with as a team,
-her debut at WrestleMania, Kurt Angle. -Ronda, Ronda, Ronda, congratulations.
That was amazing.
But go ahead and do your victory lap right now
because that will be your last win for a very long, long time.
Shoo.
All right, Aliyah, come on out here.
Get your ten seconds of fame with Charlotte Flair.
[crowd boos]
Get out of here, Ronda. Come on.
Aliyah can even post it on Instagram or Twitter
that she's the last woman to lose to me.
[crowd boos]
-Bye, Ronda. -["Shining Like a Diamond" plays]
[McAfee] Doesn't seem like a good social media post for anybody.
[Cole] Well, quite the opportunity, however, for Aliyah
as she looks to survive at least 1:41
with the SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair.
[McAfee] Remember, Aliyah has the fastest win in WWE history.
[Cole] Indeed. A victory over Natalya.
[McAfee] 3:17 seconds.
Now, can she last longer
than Shotzi was able to last with Ronda Rousey?
[Cole] Charlotte is so confident.
Will she be after she faces Aliyah?
Looking to make Aliyah utter the words "I quit" before the clock
counts down to zero from 1:41.
-Ronda Rousey looking on. -[bell rings]
Charlotte Flair starts the match confidently.
Not in any hurry, which is a bit surprising for Charlotte.
Now, into a collar-elbow tie-up as she plants Aliyah face-first.
[McAfee] Charlotte Flair, old school, taking her time.
-You should just quit right now! -[crowd chanting]
[Cole] Charlotte just said, "Quit right now."
Aliyah, though, with no quit in her.
Ducked with her boot caught her with a step-up enzuigiri.
And now a big clothesline by Charlotte.
-A minute 15 and counting. -Quit right now. Quit.
[McAfee] Aliyah is not an easy opponent for Charlotte Flair here
knowing that she has to beat Ronda Rousey's time.
[Cole] And Charlotte…
Oh, and Aliyah's fired up.
Ronda, not impressed.
We're under a minute.
[McAfee] I mean, the shot clock is on.
Fifty-two seconds, Aliyah in control.
[Cole] Aliyah, now, up to the top rope, went for the crossbody.
-[McAfee] Whiffs. I mean… -Come on.
[McAfee] Charlotte saw that one coming from a mile away.
[Cole] Now, the boot by Charlotte. Forty seconds.
Watch this!
-[McAfee] Charlotte gave that as a way-- -Watch this.
[Cole] And now with 33 seconds left,
Charlotte looking for the Figure-Eight.
Aliyah able to counter. Charlotte outside the ring.
And now, at 25 seconds, Charlotte looked at us and she said, "Oh, shoot."
She realizes time is of the essence.
Twenty seconds now. Back into the ring.
[McAfee] I do not think she said "shoot," but still, the urgency was there.
[Cole] And now, Charlotte Flair, looking for the Figure-Eight.
Aliyah trying to fight.
At ten seconds, Aliyah still fighting.
Charlotte trying to lock it in at four seconds, three seconds.
-Figure eight's in. -Do you quit?
-[buzzer buzzes] -[Cole] Clock's over. Aliyah survives.
Ronda wins the Beat the Clock Challenge.
[McAfee] So did Aliyah win?
[Cole] No, Ronda won.
Ronda won the Beat the Clock Challenge because Aliyah survived.
[McAfee] But Ronda and Aliyah won.
Ronda won definitely in the Beat the Clock Challenge.
[announcer] The winner of the Beat the Clock "I Quit" Challenge,
Ronda Rousey.
[Cole] Indeed, but I get your point.
[McAfee] Charlotte lost twice.
[Cole] Right.
[McAfee] Ronda gets the big dub.
And she should be pumped up.
She's the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
[Cole] Ronda Rousey celebrating.
Charlotte Flair can't believe it.
Charlotte Flair humiliated.
Just over a week away
from her "I Quit" Match with Ronda Rousey
for the SmackDown Women's Title at WrestleMania Backlash.
[McAfee] Who will make who say "I quit"?
A battle of legends.
A battle of icons. A battle of GOATs.
[Cole] Who will be the SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte or Ronda?
[crowd boos]
[Cole] Don't say anything, Pat.
You'll get yourself in trouble. Just leave it alone.
Charlotte's not in the mood.
[crowd chanting]
[McAfee] Charlotte can certainly hear what they're saying though, I think.
She is not happy about it.
You!
-Run through. Run through. -Hey.
-How hard is your job? -My job?
Are you stupid?
-[Drew] Look, I didn't do anythi-- -Are you stupid?
-No, I'm not stupid. -Is he stupid?
[Cole] Oh no!
Charlotte assaulting our guest.
All you had to do was ring the bell.
How stupid are you?
[McAfee] Every job that ends this way for Drew Gulak.
Ring the bell, Drew.
Ring the bell.
[McAfee] Charlotte's blaming this on Drew Gulak.
[Cole] Gulak, he did nothing wrong. I mean, the clock ran out.
It wasn't Gulak's fault.
-[bell rings] -How hard is that?
[McAfee] You got to hit the side of it, I think.
[Cole] You go tell her that.
[McAfee] I'm not gonna tell her anything. She is incensed.
[Cole] No, no, no, no, no. Drew, better get out of there.
The ring bell to the back of the neck.
How hard is your job?
How hard is his job?
How hard?
[crowd boos]
[Cole] Charlotte Flair incensed over the fact
that she lost a Beat the Clock Challenge tonight to Ronda Rousey.
[McAfee] Listen, Drew, it might have been a little bit of an aggressive interview.
[Cole] Taking all this anger out on someone else,
with the guest timekeeper in Drew Gulak.
[McAfee] That's what I'm saying. Drew has had his faults and flaws
but his ringing of the bell has been spectacular.
That was uncalled for from Charlotte Flair.
[Cole] Will she be holding the championship
after the "I Quit" Match at WrestleMania Backlash? aults and flaws