[WWE intro music plays]
[John Cena] Then…
-[glass shatters] -[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolls] -[Cena] Now…
-♪ The King of Kings ♪ -♪ You can't see me ♪
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
[music fades]
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] It's about bragging rights and a huge psychological advantage
for their upcoming "I Quit" Match.
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?
[bell rings]
[Cole] Ronda Rousey and Shotzi.
Shotzi trying to buy herself some time.
Now Ronda looking for an ankle lock.
-Do you quit? -[screams]
-I quit. I quit. I quit. I quit. -[bell rings]
[Cole] You see the time that was established by Rousey.
Charlotte looking to make Aliyah utter the words "I quit"…
-[bell rings] -…before a minute 41 seconds.
[Pat] Charlotte Flair taking her time.
[Cole] Charlotte not in any hurry.
Ronda, watch this.
[Cole] We're under 20 seconds now.
Looking for the Figure-Eight.
Aliyah trying to fight.
[Pat] I mean, the Shot Clock is on.
[Cole] Charlotte trying to lock it in at four seconds.
Three seconds.
-Do you quit? -[buzzer sounds]
[Cole] Clock's over! Aliyah survived!
-[crowd cheering] -Ronda wins the Beat the Clock Challenge.
[Pat] Ronda gets the big dub.
[Cole] Charlotte Flair can't believe it.
Will she be holding the championship
after the "I Quit" Match at WrestleMania Backlash?
[Pat] A battle of icons. A battle of GOATs.
["Are You Ready" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] With the "I Quit" Match looming this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash,
we welcome you to Long Island, New York, the historic Nassau Coliseum,
for Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
Sponsored tonight by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
And, Pat, what a night.
[Pat] Massive SmackDown in store!
Just two days away from their epic clash at WrestleMania Backlash,
RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre will go face-to-face
with The Bloodline, The Usos,
and our Unified Universal Champion, Roman Reigns.
[Cole] And for the first time in over two years,
SmackDown hosts a Tables Match.
Only one rule, you win when you put your opponent through a table.
It happens tonight on SmackDown.
And, ladies and gentlemen, up next,
ahead of Charlotte Flair's championship rematch
against Ronda Rousey this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash,
the tenacious Aliyah has been rewarded with another opportunity
against The Opportunity.
It happens right now.
[Charlotte Flair's theme playing]
[Cole] And here comes the champ.
[Samantha] And her opponent, she is the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Charlotte Flair!
[crowd boos]
[Pat] We are on Long Island,
and we are in the presence of greatness.
Charlotte Flair leading off SmackDown.
[Cole] The confident strut of a champion.
[fireworks exploding]
[Pat] With the pyro of a goddess,
Charlotte Flair is everything that is awesome in sports entertainment.
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen,
this coming Sunday, Providence, Rhode Island,
start time of 8:00 Eastern, 7:00 Central, live on Peacock.
Charlotte Flair defends the SmackDown Women's Championship
against Ronda Rousey in an "I Quit" Match.
There's one rule, Pat.
You win when you get your opponent to utter those words, "I quit."
And there was no quit in Aliyah last week.
She survived, allowing Ronda Rousey
to win the Beat the Clock challenge against Charlotte Flair.
[Pat] I'm not sure if it goes down as a win for Aliyah,
but it certainly felt like that.
-[music fades out] -[crowd boos]
-Long Island, New York, what is up? -[crowd cheers]
[Pat] What's up?
Look at all these people who paid their hard-earned money to come see me.
[crowd cheers]
Thank you. Thank you.
I mean, I don't know why people call Long Island
the armpit of New York.
-[crowd boos] -[Pat] I thought that was Staten Island.
No? No? No, no, anyways.
But listen, I can empathize with you all,
because people are saying that I was humiliated last week
after I lost the Beat the Clock Challenge.
No, I wasn't humiliated. I was screwed.
This woman here clearly tapped out, clearly said, "I quit,"
before the time expired.
[not audible] No, I didn't.
[Charlotte] No? No?
I mean, Drew Gulak, that moron, I don't know what his problem is with me.
I mean, clearly, the time was going up. It wasn't going down.
That threw me.
No? No?
No, the only person that is going to be humiliated
come WrestleMania Backlash is Ronda Rousey
when I make her say, "I quit."
[crowd cheers and boos]
Because she's going to cry like her own baby.
Wah, wah!
[crowd boos]
Hell, when she says, "I quit,"
I wouldn't be surprised if she left WWE altogether.
Bye, Ronda.
♪ Na, na, na, na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye ♪
-That's what she's gonna be doing. -[crowd boos]
Now, you, Aliyah, you're standing here, right?
Everyone, say hi to Aliyah.
[crowd cheers]
Aliyah, are you enjoying your 15 seconds of fame,
standing in the ring with me?
Because I'm about to give everyone here a preview
of what I'm going to do to Ronda at WrestleMania Backlash
here in Long Island.
[Pat] On Long Island.
Actually, you know what? Aliyah…
I'm going to pretend you're Ronda right now.
Come here, Ronda. Come here. Come a little closer.
[Cole] Oh! A cheap shot by Charlotte!
[Pat] Aliyah knew that wasn't her name. Why was she listening to Charlotte?
[Cole] And Charlotte Flair promises to make an example tonight of Aliyah.
Gonna treat Aliyah like Ronda Rousey.
Those are the types of mind games that Charlotte Flair can play, has played,
and will continue to play during her reign of dominance.
[Cole] Well, Charlotte can be as physical and as brutal as anyone.
-Say, "I quit!" Say, "I quit!" -No! No!
Say it! Say it!
[Pat] Remember, Aliyah refused to say "I quit" a week ago.
It hurt Charlotte Flair's reputation.
[Cole] It ticked Charlotte off is what it did.
[crowd boos]
[Pat] She came out here and said Long Island is--
["Bad Reputation" playing]
[Pat] Oh, here we go!
[Cole] Why wait until Sunday?
[Pat] "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey's on the run!
[Cole] And Charlotte meets Rousey at the ropes,
and Ronda Rousey dragging the champion out of the ring.
It's on, Pat! It's on!
[Pat] Pump fake from Ronda, one-upping Charlotte.
Now, they're throwing bombs at each other outside the ring.
[both grunting]
[Cole] A rivalry that is not only physical but emotional.
Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair, and things exploding tonight,
two nights away from WrestleMania Backlash.
Look at the intensity on the face of Ronda Rousey.
[Pat] Remember, Charlotte called out Ronda's baby.
[Cole] Ronda driven into the barricade.
[Pat] Charlotte reversing momentum,
saying, "Ronda, this is my world. Always will be."
[crowd chanting] Ronda Rousey!
[Cole] Rousey and Charlotte.
[Pat] I don't think I know the rules fully, but all that is very…
This thing could get nasty on Sunday.
[Cole] Exactly. There are no rules on Sunday
except to get your opponent to utter the words "I quit."
What a takedown by Charlotte! And now pounding away.
Now Ronda Rousey trying to gather the arm for the armbar.
A kick to the midsection by Rousey,
and the champion with a boot to the face.
A powder keg exploding here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
[referee] That's enough.
-Finally, officials coming into the arena… -[crowd boos]
…to separate these competitors, much to the chagrin of the WWE Universe.
-[Pat] Two days-- -[Cole] Oh!
Charlotte just took out an official,
and now Ronda Rousey and Charlotte have to be separated again.
[Pat] An incredibly yoked official just caught a boot to the face.
Two refs can't get this thing handled.
These two are gonna tear each other apart on Sunday if it doesn't happen--
Is that Jamie Noble? Is Jamie Noble out here?
[Cole] Ronda dragging Charlotte back toward the middle of the ring,
and the fight continues.
More officials now in trying to separate these two.
And on Sunday, there will be no separating them.
They're gonna beat the hell out of each other
until someone says, "I quit."
[Pat] These two have so much disdain for each other.
[Cole] Pat, it's about being at the top of the mountain.
It's about being the SmackDown Women's Champion.
-[indistinct] …bitch. Huh? -[Pat] It's not just about that.
It's about the entire planet recognizing you
as the alpha in combat sports!
[Cole] Ronda Rousey isn't done yet. Charlotte either.
[Pat] Ronda just flowed into a flip over the top of Charlotte there
after spearing her.
She's looking to make her maybe say "I quit" right now.
Oh, a couple of shots to the spleen.
Ronda's getting her shots in.
Charlotte's getting dragged out like a dead body.
Where you going, huh?
[Cole] This thing has become so immensely personal.
[crowd chants] Let them fight!
[Pat] Long Island saying let them fight.
[Cole] Charlotte trying to fight her way back into the ring.
-I'll get you! -[Cole] Rousey, finally--
Charlotte, come on!
-["Bad Reputation" playing] -This is mine!
[Cole] The intensity, the emotion oozing from the pores
of Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey.
Pat, what the hell is gonna happen Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash?
There's a chance that each of these ladies leave with broken bones.
They hate each other.
It happens Sunday, WrestleMania Backlash for the SmackDown Women's Title.
An "I Quit" Match between Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair.
Another rivalry that is gaining steam here in Friday Night SmackDown
is Sasha and Naomi
along with Natalya and Shayna Baszler, who staked their claim two weeks ago.
♪ And I don't give a damn About my bad reputation ♪
See, what you're looking at and everybody else in here
are the next Women's Tag Team Champions.
[crowd boos]
[Cole] And then last week, here on Friday Night SmackDown,
it was Naomi versus Shayna.
Naomi would pick up the win. Natalya wasn't happy.
And then the brawl would get underway.
As Natalya would neutralize Sasha Banks, watch what Shayna does to Naomi.
-[groans in pain] -[Cole] A minor rotator cuff strain.
Naomi extremely lucky after that devastating move by Baszler.
[Pat] Naomi's arm could have looked like
that dude that rushed the stage of Chappelle for sure.
But here we go.
It's Boss Time.
-[crowd cheering] -["Sky's The Limit" playing]
♪ 'Cause I gon' gon' Pushed it all out the way… ♪
[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Naomi,
she is one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Sasha Banks!
[Cole] Well, the vicious Shayna Baszler has already injured Naomi's arm.
With a Tag Team Championship Match looming next week,
will Shayna Baszler do the same to The Boss
when they face off in the ring?
-It happens next… -[fireworks popping]
…on Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] This coming Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash,
these six men meet in a massive six-man tag team match.
But, Pat, imagine what it's going to be like tonight
when McIntyre, RK-Bro, and The Bloodline are in the ring face-to-face.
[Pat] Tensions are gonna be palpable. Ain't that right, pal?
[Cole] And Sasha Banks, "The Boss,"
has some business to take care of with Shayna Baszler.
-["Limb By Limb" playing] -[Pat] That's clear.
The Queen of Spades broke her tag team partner's arm last week,
or at least tried to.
[Samantha] And her opponent, accompanied to the ring by Natalya,
from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Shayna Baszler!
[Cole] Listen, Shayna Baszler's no joke.
"The Submission Magician."
Martial arts expert, submission specialist.
Loves to cause pain. Just ask Naomi about it last week.
Naomi's lucky she didn't suffer a more serious injury.
[Pat] Shayna Baszler is a problem.
She's been a hired gun before. She's ruthless.
They call her The Submission Magician,
and she's a mixed martial artist, obviously,
but she's also an actual magician, so…
[Cole] And she's also in there with one of the all-time greats,
multi-time champion Sasha Banks.
-[bell rings] -[Pat] You can say it. Icon. GOAT.
Hall of Famer.
[Cole] And Sasha going right after Shayna Baszler.
This has gotten very personal as well. Sasha with a kick to Baszler.
Now off the second rope. Meteora for Sasha Banks!
And Sasha comes out of the gates blazing.
-One, two… -Cover on Baszler. Kickout.
Remember, Pat, next week, right here at Friday Night SmackDown--
-And look at Sasha now. -[Pat] Hey!
[Cole] Trying to damage the arm, perhaps, of Shayna,
much like Shayna did to Naomi.
[Pat] Arm for an arm.
[Cole] Oh, and Baszler…
[Pat] She telegraphed it. We all saw it coming.
[Cole] …moves out of harm's way.
Again, next week right here on Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,
Banks, Naomi defend the Tag Team Titles against Baszler and Natalya.
[Pat] That's gonna be a massive match, obviously.
Sasha and Naomi, historic Tag Team Championship reign.
-[groaning] -No, no, no.
[Cole] Sasha looking again to punish.
Now some joint manipulation on Baszler.
[Pat] Easy for you to say, not easy to live through.
Shayna knows this game well, and Sasha's mastered it knowing.
[Cole] Sasha, again, trying to punish and torture Baszler,
who catches Sasha in the face as Natalya looks on.
Now Shayna Baszler looking for an armbar, and looking to block now is Banks.
Notice how she keeps her hands together so Baszler can't apply full pressure.
[Pat] You've gotta remember, Sasha's in-ring IQ is-- Oh.
[Cole] And a kickout at two. Baszler keeps it locked in.
You see that? That's what you do.
-[Pat] You'd think with the advantage… -Come on, Shayna.
…The Submission Magician would have over Sasha,
but Sasha has been in the game a long time.
[Cole] She's so experienced, a veteran. Again, driven by emotion.
The fact that Naomi and Sasha have been very close friends
for almost a decade now here in WWE.
The injury to Naomi last week hit deep for Sasha Banks.
[Pat] Naomi, obviously, has her entire left arm wrapped up.
[Cole] And now Sasha Banks, again, rolling up Baszler here, who kicks at two.
[grunts]
[Pat] The Blueprint almost ending this thing.
Oh, look at Natalya interrupting. Take a seat, Natalya.
[Cole] Yeah, the Queen of Hearts getting involved.
[Pat] To the Queen of Spades' advantage.
[Cole] And a Gutwrench.
-Oh! Face-first goes Banks. -[crowd groans]
[Cole] And because of the distraction, Baszler has kept control in the match.
Naomi looking on.
Baszler now trying to get some blood flowing back into her hand and arm.
Once again, watch this, Pat. Bang! Face-first.
[Pat] Was able to flip her around with ease
and dump her through the canvass.
This is where Shayna starts getting full fulfillment as well.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Sasha!
[Cole] WWE fans all over Baszler, chanting for Sasha Banks.
And now Baszler driven into the corner.
Nobody home. Shayna Baszler misses with the knee.
Banks now unloading with the rights.
A very aggressive and intense Sasha Banks here tonight.
Sasha… catching Baszler.
Oh! And Baszler… What a counter!
Turned it into a side slam.
Shayna's in control. Can Sasha get back in this?
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Cole] And look at this. Rollup, middle of the ring!
And a kickout as Baszler and Banks--
Shayna Baszler dominating, Pat, throughout the commercial break.
And she is looking to break the left arm of Sasha Banks
like she tried to do to Naomi last week.
[Pat] She's given a couple of different attempts at breaking Sasha's arm.
She's staring me down, to be honest.
[Cole] She was screaming at you, saying, "Talk about this, Pat."
[Pat] Yeah, I might have just, uh, Lou Holtzed in my pants there,
and that's not good for anybody, when you grumpy yourself.
Shayna's scary, but Sasha ain't scared of nothing.
[Cole] SmackDown Superstars off a very successful tour
of Europe last week.
Regrouping tonight here on Long Island for Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
Baszler dumped out of the ring.
[ref shouting indistinctly]
[Naomi shouting indistinctly]
[Pat] Sasha's so crafty.
[Cole] Oh, baseball slide!
-[Pat] So crafty, Sasha Banks -[Cole] Sasha right in front of us.
Did you see the look on Banks' face?
Now, it's Sasha Banks' turn to try to injure the arm of Shayna Baszler.
-[Pat] That's for you, Naomi. -[Naomi shouting]
[Cole] And Naomi is loving it.
-[Pat] Hey, way to go, Sasha. -[Cole] Banks is fired up.
-[crowd cheers] -[Pat] That's a good teammate.
That's good teamwork.
[Cole] Meteora!
Cover, for the win by Banks.
And a kickout by Baszler at two.
[Pat] Sasha hitting a gear, and I'm not sure Shayna's ready for it.
[Cole] Pat, what a match this has been.
Think about what's gonna happen next week for the Tag Team Championship.
[Pat] Shayna and Natalya obviously looking to get the titles
that Sasha and Naomi have worn so well.
[Cole] Kicks to the hamstring. Banks now out to the apron.
Shoulder buried in the midsection, and Sasha went for the kick.
And Baszler able to duck out of harm's way.
[Pat] Whoa, whoa, whoa. What maneuver is this?
[Cole] Oh! Bulldog by Banks!
[Pat] Shayna thought she was gonna outpower her, but instead--
[Cole] Natalya goes for a ride.
[Pat] Sasha orders a two-piece.
One for Shayna, one for Natalya.
"I'll beat the hell out of your whole team."
[indistinct shouting]
[Cole] Banks back into the ring, and Baszler--
-Did you feel that? -[Pat] I did.
[Cole] Rollup now.
-Two-- -[Cole] And Banks has got a kick at two.
[Pat] Shayna and Natalya helping each other out.
-[Cole] Backslide for the victory. -One, two…
Baszler's got a kick at two again. Another near fall.
[Pat] They've become a great team.
-[Cole] Small package. Shoulders down. -One, two, three!
-Look at this! Wait a minute! -[bell rings]
That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm talking about.
[Cole] Baszler using the ropes. Natalya helping out.
[Samantha] Here is your winner, Shayna Baszler!
[crowd cheers and boos]
[Pat] I mean, we've seen poor officiating in the past.
I don't know how Scruggs misses that and then-- Oh no.
Now Natalya and Baszler, another cheap shot.
Natalya beating the hell out of an already injured Naomi.
And now Baszler looking to make Banks suffer as well.
[Pat] Naomi's only got one arm, Natalya. What are you doing?
-[Cole] Oh, no. Just like- -[Pat] Oh, no, no.
Not the Future Endeavor Stomp.
[Cole] Now Naomi trying to fight away from Natalya.
-Baszler looking to maim Sasha Banks. -[crowd cheers]
[Pat] Naomi doesn't need two arms. Saving her…
[Cole] And now Natalya…
Bang!
[Pat] That was clean.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] But if the last weeks are any indication,
can you imagine what it's going to be like next week on Friday Night SmackDown
when The Boss and Glow put the Tag Titles on the line
against Shayna and Natalya?
[Pat] I can't wait.
Two teams that have been nothing short of stupendous
the last couple of months going at it for the title.
[Cole] The Tag Title is on the line next week.
Sunday, it's a six-man tag team match.
-[Cole] Here's our Progressive Match Flo. -[indistinct shouting]
[man] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[Pat] Welcome to the official contract signing
for the Tag Team Championship Unification Match
for WrestleMania Backlash.
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] And here comes Roman Reigns.
From behind, The Usos attacking Orton, attacking Riddle.
[Pat] This was the plan all along by The Bloodline.
[Cole] That's the contract for the Unification Match.
And Roman Reigns says, "That's not happening."
["Gallantry" playing]
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior.
Drew McIntyre and Reigns now exchanging blows.
[dramatic music continues]
[Heyman] Roman Reigns is not very happy this evening.
You know this Title Unification Match you had with The Usos and RK-Bro?
Slight change.
At WrestleMania Backlash,
RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre
versus The Usos and Roman Reigns.
[Graves] We're kicking off Raw with the Head of the Table.
The Bloodline looking for a little payback.
North Carolina, acknowledge me.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Oh, what the hell?
Orton and Riddle dropping Jimmy and Jey Uso
with stereo RKOs.
The Tribal Chief is outnumbered two-to-one.
["Gallantry" playing]
-[crowd cheers] -And here comes The Scottish Warrior.
Staring a hole through the WWE Universal Champion.
[announcer] RK-Bro allowing Drew McIntyre to have Roman Reigns all to himself.
-Here we go! -[crowd cheers]
[Pat] Now Reigns unleashing on McIntyre.
[Cole] McIntyre now muscling Reigns back into the corner.
But The Usos from behind.
[Pat] RK-Bro right on their trail.
[Cole] This is downright chaotic.
[Pat] This is just a taste, a sign,
of what that six-man tag match is gonna be like.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guests,
the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, The Usos.
-What up? -What up, Kayla?
[crowd cheers and boos]
Gentlemen, this Sunday you team up with your cousin,
the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns,
to take on the team of Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro.
Do you have any final thoughts before you step inside the ring
for your face-to-face with your opponents tonight?
No, Kayla.
Because the time for talking is done, right?
That fool, Riddle, he talks too much, anyway.
He's got a problem with putting his own foot in his mouth.
And as far as the Viper goes, Kayla, we're some Florida boys.
-Huh! -We been moving with the snakes.
Them things ain't scaring nobody. The Usos got the antidote to their poison.
Nah, 'cause we about to have us
-some fresh snakeskin… -Ooh!
…Air Force 1s after WrestleMania Backlash, boy.
Because they're the tools, and we the ones.
[crowd boos]
[Pat] Snakeskin Air Forces, can't wait for that.
-["The Good Life" plays] -[Cole] Can you wait for this?
[Pat] No.
[Samantha] Please welcome the host of "Happy Talk," Happy Corbin!
[Cole] There was this big debate backstage before the show
about you and Happy Corbin and your golf career.
-[Cole] You guys were close at one time. -[Pat] We were good friends.
That was before he became this insufferable human being
that he has become.
At that point, he was living on the punters' couch, wasn't on the team.
Then he became big soup.
[fireworks explode]
And now he has pyro,
and he's kinda lost everything charming about him.
He stinks.
[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 pre-qualify now.
Terms apply.
Well, Madcap Moss tricked Happy Corbin last week
and stole back his André The Giant trophy.
Happy Corbin apparently still has something to be happy about.
What that is I can only imagine.
We're gonna find out next.
-["Moscow Mule" playing] -[Pat] Hola, amigos.
Former WrestleMania headliner, Bad Bunny, has a new album,
Un Verano Sin Ti, which is currently number one on the global charts
and available now on Apple Music and Spotify.
Be sure to catch him on his international tour,
playing 30 cities in 14 countries, starting August 5 in Orlando, Florida.
That sounds beautiful, Cole.
[song fades out]
Welcome, everyone, back to Friday Night SmackDown,
and please welcome my guests, the Raw Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro.
-[crowd cheers] -[Pat] I love these dudes.
Gentlemen, I'm sure you heard what The Usos had to say about you both.
You know what? I sure did. [chuckles] Sure did.
And to be honest, I'm a little confused.
Do The Usos really think I put my own feet in my mouth?
Because that would be gross.
But you know, to each their own.
Because who am I to judge what people like to put in their mouths?
[Cole coughs, chuckles]
Wrong time, wrong place.
Sorry, Kayla.
Yeah, we've heard The Usos earlier tonight.
Yap, yap, yap, yap. Yapping their gums.
But they've been doing that for weeks and weeks and on end.
Here it is, loud and clear, plain and simple for you, Kayla,
and for the entire WWE Universe.
At WrestleMania Backlash, The Usos don't need to worry
about what type of shoes they're gonna be sporting afterwards.
They need to worry about the fact that they're gonna be in the ring
with the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment.
-RK-Bro. -Bro!
Yeah, man!
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Pat, the thing about Riddle is Riddle's always happy.
But for Happy Corbin, not so much.
I want to take you back to what happened two weeks ago
here on Friday Night SmackDown.
Now, Madcap Moss, remember, was the winner of the André the Giant Battle Royal
on WrestleMania week. He was admiring his trophy
when a sneak attack from behind from Happy Corbin,
followed by End of Days. And then what does he do?
He steals the damn trophy that belongs to Moss.
I'm gonna take this sledgehammer,
and I'm gonna hit this trophy repeatedly and repeatedly and repeatedly.
[crowd boos]
[Cole] Guess who had the sledgehammer?
[Pat] Speaking of thief.
[Cole] Madcap Moss, who was dressed as a cameraman,
went right after Happy Corbin, and Madcap Moss got him some last week.
[groans]
[Cole] Now, we look ahead to Sunday, where these two go one-on-one,
and Moss got his trophy back.
["The Good Life" playing]
♪ Breakdown ♪
♪ Got large amounts, hard to count That boy bad, let 'em scream it ♪
If you think that bothers me, you're crazy.
Listen, I am already so happy
because I've been thinking about all the things I'm gonna do to Madcap Moss
at WrestleMania Backlash this Sunday.
[Moss] Corbin.
Corbin.
Nobody wants to hear you talk, man.
-They want to hear me crack jokes. -[crowd cheers]
-[Pat] Yeah. -Trust me, I'll make you happy.
Now, before I get started, did you want to start singing?
'Cause you look like you're trying out for a Pitbull cover band.
-[Pat chuckles] -[crowd laughs and cheers]
[Pat] Those are good sunglasses.
Now, I will give Corbin credit for one thing, seriously.
He does a lot of charity work.
Yeah, I mean, over the years, for years now,
he's let tattoo artists try out their worst ideas on him.
[Pat chuckles]
Corbin, I don't mean to alarm you,
but it looks like a Hot Topic threw up on your chest.
Now, Corbin, you've got many names over the years--
Okay, okay, this is enough. Listen, I get it.
You feel safe back there in the back,
hiding somewhere in some dark corner, telling these lame, unfunny jokes.
But I understand. Look, I get it, man.
You don't have the guts to come out here and say it to my face.
Hmm.
Funny you should mention that.
[Pat] Well, where the hell is Madcap Moss going?
-[Cole] Corbin said Moss didn't have the-- -[Moss] Joke, joke, joke!
-["Three Jokes" playing] -[crowd cheers]
I'll tell you what, I don't know what the beginning of his entrance music is.
Is that "joke, joke, joke?" Is that what it says?
-[Cole] Yes, it does. -[Pat] This man ain't no joke, joke, joke
in the ring, though.
-Wa-hoo! -[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Corbin did not expect this.
I don't believe he expected Madcap Moss to make his way into the arena.
[Moss whoops]
[Pat] He's all thumbs-up out here.
He did say that…
Corbin's tattoos look like a graffiti artist just found a spot
and started doing his stuff.
That's an accurate assessment of some of the art that is on Happy Corbin's body.
These two know each other better than anybody.
[crowd cheers]
Okay, then, Corbin.
To your face, it is.
Now, you've gone through a lot of phases over the years, right?
You've been Baron Corbin, Constable Corbin, King Corbin,
Broke Ass Corbin, Happy Corbin.
Maybe for your next phase, you could be…
entertaining.
[Pat chuckles]
-[crowd cheers] -That was good.
I would say you could go back to your Lone Wolf phase,
but unfortunately,
wolves have hair.
-[crowd groans and laughs] -[Cole] Wow.
[Pat] He's killing him.
[chuckles]
I guess… I guess you could be the Big Bald Wolf.
[Pat laughs]
The Big Bald Wolf, ladies and gentlemen. Give it up for the Big Bald Wolf!
-[crowd cheers] -Big Bald Wolf.
-Big Bald Wolf! Big Bald Wolf! -[crowd chanting] Big Bald Wolf!
-[laughing] -[crowd chanting] Big Bald Wolf!
[Pat] Well, it'd certainly be unique.
Imagine a Big Bald Wolf roaming…
the hills of Saskatchewan.
-[Cole] Well, Happy Corbin… -[Moss] Come on!
-Come on, big man. -[Cole]…is done listening to this.
And Sunday, at WrestleMania Backlash, streaming live on Peacock,
Corbin goes one-on-one with Madcap Moss
in a match that Madcap, Pat, has called the biggest match of his career.
Hey, guess what? At least Happy Corbin still has a job.
-Come on, big boy. -[Cole] Drew Gulak,
-he's auditioning for one. -[indistinct]
-Come on! -[Pat] This guy's like…
[classical music playing]
[Cole] Here is a man that is auditioning
to be a part of the SmackDown broadcast team, Drew Gulak.
Are you concerned about Ronda's submission game?
Did you quit being a competitor
so you could stand here and hold a mic and ask me stupid questions?
[crowd boos]
-[Pat] Tough night to interview-- -[Cole] Oh no!
Charlotte attacking Gulak from behind.
Say you quit!
I quit!
[tense music plays]
[classical music playing]
Forgive me, Drew Gulak is interning to become my new assistant.
Mr. Pearce, I just wanna say, I am super pumped for this opportunity--
Shut up.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Ronda Rousey taking down Charlotte. Now it's Rousey's turn.
And Drew Gulak trying to--
[Pat] Drew's trying to be a good intern here.
[Cole] Ronda Rousey with Gulak on her shoulders.
[Pat] Oh no.
[Cole] Now Rousey with an armbar on Gulak.
[Pat] Way to get the job done, Drew Gulak.
[Cole] And there you see him, Pat.
Drew Gulak is our timekeeper, ringing the bell here tonight.
[buzzer sounds]
-Clock's over! -[bell rings]
Aliyah survives.
Ronda wins the Beat the Clock Challenge.
How hard is your job?
[Cole] Oh no!
[Pat] Charlotte is blaming this on Drew Gulak.
-All you had to do was ring the bell. -[bell rings]
How hard is your job?
[Cole] Every job ends this way for Drew Gulak.
[Cole] So failed attempt after failed attempt,
but Pat, tonight Drew Gulak is right back in his happy place,
where he says he's always belonged, in the ring.
It's good to be back, baby
[Cole] But who's he gonna face?
[Pat] I'm sure this is gonna end well for Drew Gulak.
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] Tonight, Friday Night SmackDown on FOX is sponsored by Progressive.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
[Pat] Drew Gulak looks like he's ready to run through a wall
like Cyberknife through the Churchill Downs mañana.
Who's he gonna face?
[Cole] Who's it gonna be? Gulak can't wait.
-He's back in his happy place, the ring. -[Pat] He earned the job.
[eerie music playing]
-[Pat] Oh no. -[Cole chuckles] Oh yeah.
-Good luck, Drew. -[Pat] Oh no, Drew. Oh no.
Ladies and gentlemen.
[Pat] Oh no, Drew.
Der Ringgeneral, Gunther!
[dramatic music plays]
[Pat] Absolutely terrible news for Drew Gulak.
[Cole] Hey, Drew, you could still come down here to ringside and be a timekeeper.
We can bump Berkley.
[Pat] Berkley doesn't deserve that,
and I don't think Drew's chest deserves what's coming.
What you're looking at right there…
[Cole] Six-foot-four, 265, The Ring General.
Steadfast, commanding, imposing.
And I think Drew Gulak may have soiled himself.
[Pat] Yeah, how could you not?
I almost did just thinking about what Drew's about to go through.
Now, Drew has a chance, I guess. Well, he…
[Cole] Drew is a tremendous competitor. Let's make no mistake about that. He's…
In fact, you know Drew Gulak very well. He's helped you in the ring.
[Pat] Yeah, Drew has coached me numerous different times,
and me nor my mentor stand much of a chance against…
Gunther.
[Cole] Gunther's all business.
There's very little wasted motion in this man.
He considers the ring sacred.
Everything he does, how he competes, it is about picking up a victory.
[Pat] Drew Gulak obviously distraught.
[Cole] He's keeping his game face on, Pat, is what he's doing.
-[Pat] I guess, Cole. -[bell rings]
[Pat] He needs to put on, like, a knight's shield.
[crowd chanting] USA! USA!
[Cole] And Gulak psyching himself out,
getting ready for this battle with the imposing Gunther.
[crowd chanting loudly] USA! USA! USA!
[Pat] I don't know if the "USA" chant is gonna help out Drew Gulak,
but here we go.
[Cole] Here on Friday Night SmackDown,
it could be said that this is the first real test for Gunther, right?
[Pat] Yeah, last week he beat the guy
who won the 200-man Royal Rumble the night before, right?
-[Cole chuckles] That's what you said. -[Pat] Teddy Goodz.
[Cole] Look at Gunther now, just trying to dislocate the shoulder
of Gulak, who rolls through.
[Pat] This is the type of game that Drew Gulak's good at, though,
submission.
[Cole] Yeah, and that lasted momentarily
as Gunther, now, tries to rip the head off the shoulders of Gulak.
Oh my goodness!
Drew, are you okay?
[Pat] Three ribs potentially broken right there,
one swing of Gunther's right hand.
[Cole] Referee Dan Engler just asked Drew Gulak, "Are you okay?"
[grunts]
[Cole] Oh! He might not be after that.
Collapsing the face of Gulak.
[Pat] Just think about how quickly--
[Cole] Oh, and again!
I can only imagine what that must feel like.
[Pat] I couldn't.
[Cole] It's like taking a frying pan and hitting somebody's chest with it.
-The size of the hands of Gunther. -[grunts]
[Cole] And again, Gulak with nowhere to go in the corner.
[Pat] Oh, Gulak!
[Cole] And Gunther punishing Gulak, tied up in the ropes.
[Pat] I feared this is what was gonna happen to Drew.
This is what happens to anybody that Gunther steps in front of.
[Cole] And just like that, dragging Gulak into the ring.
Sleeper hold applied now to Drew Gulak. Gulak with nowhere to go.
-[Cole] Gulak is-- -[Pat] Fighting. He's fighting.
[Cole] You call it fighting. I call it fainting.
[Pat] Well, he's still alive.
Gunther don't care. Up you go.
[Cole] Powerbomb!
-[Pat] "Nein more for you," Gunther says. -One, two, three.
[bell rings]
[dramatic music plays]
[Cole] Hey, catering needs help, Drew.
[Pat] I guess. Chef Boyar-Drew.
Nein means "no" by the way. So "nein more." No more.
Gunther fan.
-[Cole] What a display. -[Pat] Of power.
[Cole] Listen. Oh my god!
And then collapsing Gulak's face.
[Pat] "Nice beard. Say hello to the bottom of my boot."
Then he almost chokes him out…
and then decides to Powerbomb him through the ring.
One, two, three.
[Pat] Done.
Meine Damen und Herren…
Your winner, Der Ringgeneral!
Gunther!
[Pat] I will say…
Ring General sounds very similar to the English pronunciation.
Nonetheless, what a dominant performance.
[Cole] Well, Pat, Gulak's lucky he didn't get seriously hurt here tonight.
We talk about being injured,
Rick Boogs seriously injured at WrestleMania last month
when this happened.
Rick Boogs collapsing under the weight of The Usos.
He suffered a torn quadriceps injury
and then would go through successful surgery.
Then the following week,
Shinsuke Nakamura came to his partner's defense.
Roman Reigns would just sucker Nakamura in.
[Pat] Hug him, say, "It's all good," then pow.
Shin's chin meets The Usos' shoes.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Shinsuke Nakamura.
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] Here we go.
Shinsuke, The Bloodline has a huge target on their backs tonight.
Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro aren't the only ones
who have an issue with them. You have a legitimate bone to pick.
Yeah. The Bloodline hurt my partner and my friend, Rick Boogs.
Then they tried to hurt me. I haven't forgotten.
One day soon, the time is right,
I will get a piece of Roman Reigns,
and then he will never forget.
[Cole] Oh, look at that stooge. [chuckles]
["Hellfire" playing]
[Pat] It's…
Fight Night, baby!
[explosion]
[Cole] Normally an unholy trinity.
Tonight, an unholy duo.
Because coming up next,
for the first time in over two years on Friday Night SmackDown,
a Tables Match.
You win when you put your opponent through a table.
Sheamus and Ridge versus The New Day, coming up next.
[Pat] Where the hell is Butch?
Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown.
Please welcome my guest, The SmackDown Warrior, Drew McIntyre.
Kayla, how are you?
Drew, there's been quite a bit of trash talk from The Bloodline lately.
Yes, there has.
Everybody knows The Bloodline would rather talk trash, run their mouths
than throw their fists. That's not gonna happen on my watch.
I'm not gonna let them run their mouth all the time,
especially when it comes to Roman.
This Sunday, WrestleMania Backlash, it's the big six-man tag.
The Bloodline versus Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro,
otherwise known as RK-McBro.
Exciting, huge match. Gonna be a hell of a match,
But that is then. This is now. Let's talk about tonight.
I think the WWE Universe deserve a surprise,
something special.
Hmm. A sneak peek of this Sunday.
I'm thinking they deserve to see The Head of the Table
get his head kicked straight off his body.
How about that? Oh, love it.
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] What does that mean?
[Cole] Sheamus and Ridge set for a Tables Match
for the first time in over two years here on Friday Night SmackDown,
which is sponsored tonight by Progressive.
Hey, listen, there's a hashtag going around the past couple of weeks,
#ButchIsGone.
That is the question.
Where is the third member of this trio, known as Butch?
Two weeks ago, right here on SmackDown,
it was a match between Butch and Xavier Woods.
Using Backwoods, Xavier Woods would pick up the win.
-[bell rings] -And what does Butch do?
He continues to be the spoiled, pouting, petulant child,
upset over the fact that he lost, showing absolutely no sportsmanship, Pat.
He would storm out of the arena, not before attacking a security guard.
And Butch has not been seen since.
So what does WWE do?
We have a social media campaign for the past couple of weeks
trying to give some clues and ideas of where Butch may be.
[Pat] Yeah, maybe he's roaming the cities.
He could be. That's a dangerous man, and he's a lunatic.
Maybe he went out to Vegas for the draft.
How about to London Town?
Why not Coachella? Losing his mind, rolling a little bit.
The guy could be anywhere.
[Cole] And last week, Butch-less,
the Eastie Boys, Ridge and Sheamus, would pull out a table.
They would put New Day through this table,
hence the reason we have a Tables Match tonight.
[Pat] Every single member of the WWE Universe has chanted,
"We want tables."
And finally, tonight on SmackDown, we have a Tables Match.
-This is awesome. -["New Day, New Way" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following contest is a Tables Match.
In this match, the only way to win
is by putting your opponent through a table.
Making their way to the ring,
the team of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.
[Cole] This rivalry's been going on for some time now.
Remember, Ridge Holland injuring Big E, causing a broken neck,
which pissed off Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.
And here we are today. Tables Match.
No rules, no pinfalls, no submissions, no count-outs, no disqualifications.
You win when you put your opponent through a table.
[Pat] We all miss Big E.
T's and P's, big man. You're mightily missed, but right now…
This is my first Tables Match. This is my first Tables Match.
-[Cole] Ever? -[Pat] Ever.
[Cole] Oh, you're gonna enjoy this one. Xavier Woods now…
Look at outside. It's Ridge Holland and Kofi Kingston
fighting outside the ring.
You can go through a table anywhere.
You can go through a table outside the ring, inside,
anywhere in the arena.
[Pat] We've been trying to put people through tables my entire life.
Now, it is the goal of this match.
Xavier Woods downing Sheamus.
[Cole] Oh.
Running knee, knocking Sheamus out of the ring.
Meanwhile, here's Ridge Holland from behind.
[Pat] The bruising Ridge Holland.
[Cole] Again, no tags in and out of this match.
Really, a free-for-all between these four men.
[grunts]
[Cole] Xavier lands on his feet. Kofi Kingston--
[Pat] A big lariat from the top rope.
[Cole] The 11-time Tag Team Champions, the New Day.
[Pat] "On your head, Ridge Holland," Kofi said.
[Cole] The double-team to Ridge Holland.
[grunting]
[Cole] Meanwhile, Sheamus back out to the apron,
dragging Kofi Kingston out of the ring.
Sheamus was favoring his knee moments ago, as he's taken out by Xavier Woods.
[Pat] Perfect timing by Xavier Woods
as Sheamus was backpedaling around the corner.
[Cole] You called it right. Perfect timing, Pat.
Remember, New Day has been a team for many, many years.
Of course, Sheamus and Ridge, newly formed over the past couple of months.
As you take another look at Xavier Woods out of nowhere.
[Pat] Dropping down from the skies, from space, if you will.
[Cole] Now, the table being used as a weapon,
which is completely legal in a Tables Match.
[crowd cheers]
[Pat] Asking the Nassau Coliseum what they like about it.
Get up!
[Cole] First, the Hall of Famers, The Dudley Boyz, making tables famous.
-[Pat] They always wanted tables. -[grunts]
[Pat] And how could you not? Putting somebody through a damn table.
Where else but the WWE?
[Cole] Now, Xavier and Kofi gonna set the table up in the ring,
and looking to perhaps put Ridge through it
to pick up the win in this match.
[grunts]
[Pat] Kofi handling Ridge Holland.
-Double-team coming from the New Day. -This could be it.
[Cole] Meanwhile, Sheamus back in the fray and saving the matchup,
shoving the table out of the way
and preventing Ridge from going through it.
The matchup continues.
[Pat] What a save by Sheamus! He looked like Igor Shesterkin,
the goaltender for the Rangers.
[Cole] Does anybody watch that?
[Pat] It's hockey. Everybody watches it, of course, but not tonight.
It's SmackDown, and we've got a Tables Match. Sheamus…
[Cole] Now Sheamus gonna set up a table.
You saw again the veteran instincts of Sheamus moments ago,
as Sheamus knocks the table out of harm's way.
[Pat] Does a 4.2 forty, good leverage. Gets that table up and out of the way.
[Cole] This could be it. Kofi Kingston… And Xavier Woods saving his partner.
[Pat] That came dangerously close
to Sheamus and Ridge Holland winning this thing.
Xavier, King of the Ring.
[Cole] That man there, Ridge Holland, with all the potential in the world, Pat.
Oh, sidesteps Holland.
-[Pat] Little green, though, they'd say. -Into the steel steps.
Hence the reason he's teaming with Sheamus, who's become his mentor.
[Pat] Xavier took advantage of that.
Sheamus also taking advantage of a little bit of veteran ring--
[Cole] Oh, no, no, no. Off the apron.
Kofi Kingston trying to haul Woods back in.
Remember, there was a table placed out there.
Sheamus almost went through it.
-[man] Get him, Sheamus! -[woman] Get him, Sheamus!
[Cole] Now, Kofi Kingston heading up to the top of the ring post.
Kingston gonna fly.
-Sheamus taken out through the barricade. -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Are you kidding me?
[Cole] Can you buy a table at shop?
Nonetheless, an extremely rare Tables Match here tonight.
Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
It is Sheamus and Ridge Holland against the New Day.
You win when you put your opponent through a table.
And look at Sheamus. I don't even know how he's still walking.
With the 10 Beats of the Bodhrán to Xavier Woods,
and Ridge Holland mirroring that at ringside to Kofi Kingston.
-[crowd] …seven, eight, nine… -[Pat] Both members of New Day helpless.
[crowd] Ten!
"No, no, no. Not on your time, on mine!"
-[Cole] One more. -[Pat] Sheamus says.
[Cole] And this is where we left you before the commercial break.
[Pat] One of the most insane things I've ever seen.
Kofi Kingston jumps down--
[Cole] Look at the height. Look at how high Kofi is.
He hung in the air forever.
The hang time of Kingston through the barricade.
[Pat] He looked like Ja Morant taking off in the paint,
floating through the sky.
[Cole] Yeah, but Ja Morant doesn't come down on a 285-pound man
-and then drive him through a barricade. -[Pat] 100% true.
Kofi Kingston floating through the sky.
[Cole] Sheamus and Ridge now, the double-team on Kofi.
Again, no disqualifications, count-outs, pinfalls or submission.
One thing to do, put your opponent through a table,
which Ridge and Sheamus are trying to do.
Kofi averting disaster.
Now the former WWE Champion--
Oh, Kofi Kingston with an SOS.
[Pat] Kofi, the former World Champion.
[Cole] Sheamus out to the apron.
And Kingston now…
-[Cole] How does that feel, Sheamus? -[crowd] One, two, three…
-[Cole] The 10 Beats of the New Day! -[crowd] Four, five, six!
-[Pat] Only got to four. -[Cole] Uh-oh. There's a table set up.
There's a table set up out there.
Just a few feet away from Sheamus on the-- Oh my goodness!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] The thud, the impact
as Kingston crashed spine-first to the apron.
[Pat] I got a little uncomfortable watching that.
Kofi had to lose every piece of breath in his body.
[Cole] Now Xavier Woods trying to fight back.
He realizes Kofi's gonna be out for a bit.
Trying to take on this match by himself.
[grunts]
[Cole] Sheamus again driven off the apron.
Doing a great job avoiding the table that's set up there.
Sunset Flip.
Xavier rolls through and catches a heel kick to Holland.
[Pat] He's got Sheamus down and out. He's got Holland down,
and a couple of tables already set up.
Can Xavier Woods end this thing?
[Cole] Xavier Woods has been on quite the roll here
over the last year with WWE.
Xavier setting up a table in the ring.
Kofi is out. Sheamus is out. It's a one-on-one match at this point.
[Pat] Ridge Holland with a desperate headbutt to Xavier Woods' jaw.
[grunts, groans]
[Cole] Nobody home, chest-first to the turnbuckle,
and now Holland near the table.
Xavier Woods may have Ridge Holland where he wants him.
This could be it.
Xavier Woods is gonna go up high.
[Pat] Rounding third in this Tables Match.
Ridge Holland… on a table! Xavier Woods to the sky!
[Cole] Sheamus now running interference and preventing Woods.
You see how Xavier grabbed at his knee?
Xavier Woods with an Achilles injury. Kept him out of action for a while.
You have to wonder if maybe he tweaked that when he came down.
[Pat] Anytime you rehab the Achilles, the hips, the knees, they're all off-sort.
[Cole] Now Kofi Kingston to the knee, dropping Sheamus off the apron.
And Kofi Kingston gonna fly. Trust fall.
Takes out Sheamus.
Kingston fired up.
[crowd cheering raucously]
[Cole] Kofi Kingston looking to use our table.
[Pat] Let's go.
-[Pat] Kofi fired up. How could he not-- -[Cole] Oh no! Sheamus. Sheamus.
[Pat] Bad intentions.
[Cole] Kofi able to fight through,
and now the stomp to the chest.
Oh, a little Trouble in Paradise knocks Sheamus on top of our table.
Will Xavier Woods go through the announce table?
This will count, right?
[Pat] Kofi Kingston's a mad man.
-Butch has entered! -[Cole] What?
[Pat] Son of a bitch! Butch is… [indistinct]
[Cole] Where the hell did he come from?
[Pat] Butch was under the ring this whole time.
[Cole] Butch is back.
[Pat] He wasn't at Coachella.
He was waiting, laying in wait.
[Cole] Remember, there are no disqualifications.
Brogue Kick to Woods.
[Butch shouting indistinctly]
[Cole] And a rabid Butch drives a knee into Kofi.
[Pat] All of a sudden.
[Cole] Holland setting up the table in the ring.
Sheamus back into the ring as well.
[Pat] Making Big E watch this from home.
-[Cole] And Xavier Woods through a table. -[bell rings]
[Cole] The unholy trinity with a win.
[rock music playing]
[Samantha] Here are your winners, the team of--
-[Pat] What is this? -[crowd booing]
[Pat] What is this lunatic…
[Cole] It doesn't matter. He helped them win.
Butch returned after two weeks and helped Sheamus and Ridge Holland.
[Pat] Was he at Coachella, or was he just under the ring the whole time?
[Cole] Doesn't matter. He's in Long Island now.
Or on Long Island.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest,
Paul Heyman.
-Hi, Paul. -Hi, Kayla.
I caught up with Drew McIntyre earlier today,
and he said that he wanted to kick the head off The Head of the Table.
Do you have a response to that?
Are you flirting with me?
Is that what you're doing?
Are you trying to get a rise out of me, Kayla?
A-are you looking for me to take you out tonight in New York City? Pizza?
-So-- -[Sami] Paul. Paul.
Just the man I was looking for.
Kayla, if you don't mind giving us a moment here…
-This is-- -Don't leave me alone with him!
Paul, Paul, don't kid around. This is important. Listen to me.
Look, I consider myself a confidant to Roman Reigns of The Bloodline,
much like yourself. Okay?
And there's something you need to know.
As locker room leader, I overhear and see everything,
and I couldn't help but overhear Shinsuke Nakamura earlier
was talking about Roman Reigns.
Talking about The Usos, talking about The Bloodline.
He hasn't forgotten anything. Okay?
He wants payback. He's not letting anything go.
Here's what I want you to do.
I know he's having a busy night.
The Usos, Bloodline, they're all having a busy night.
I'm trusting you with this.
You tell him I will personally deal with Shinsuke Nakamura. Okay?
He doesn't need to worry about it. I will handle it on his behalf.
I just need to make sure you-- you let him know what's going on, okay?
Listen, I'm gonna tell you something I really shouldn't repeat.
Well, go on, then.
-The Tribal Chief… -Yeah?
…respects and appreciates your initiative.
That's what I'm talking about. That's what I'm--
That's how I get my… That's how I get my credibility back.
-Yes. -My respect back.
-Yes. -Listen, please,
make sure he understands what's going on.
Make sure he knows I'm the one who's taking care of this.
-You'll tell him? -Done.
-You'll tell him? -Handled.
-Okay. -Ah…
No, I believe you. You're gonna…
-You're a-you're a good man. -Sami, I am a good man.
-You just let him know. -Thank you.
-Th-- Hey. Thank you. -No, no. Thank you.
-Paul… -["Are You Ready" playing]
[Cole] That's what initiative's all about these days.
Nonetheless, still to come tonight,
The Bloodline face to face with… What did McIntyre call it?
-RK-McBro? -[Pat] It's a good name.
♪ I woke up feelin' dangerous… ♪
[Pat] You're listening to "Dangerous" by Set It Off,
an official theme song of WrestleMania Backlash.
It's from the album Elsewhere.
Available now on Apple Music and Spotify.
Set It Off, folks.
Why?
Until now. Let me call you back.
Adam, as locker room leader
and on behalf of the Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, and The Bloodline,
I am formally requesting a match with Shinsuke Nakamura for next week.
I don't wanna get into it all, but this is actually important.
This is for me to regain my credibility for the Blood--
-Sami, I'll do you one better. -Okay.
You can go one-on-one with Shinsuke Nakamura right now.
[crowd cheering]
-Like now? -Yeah. Now, right now.
-Like right… right now, now? -Well, I'll give you a minute or two--
Well, a minute or two is not-- Adam, that's not--
-Oh my god. Always pushing it. -Now.
Okay, okay, okay.
Right now.
Adam Pearce might be one of the only officials in any sport
that makes great decisions.
Sami's weaseled his way into a bad situation.
The world loves it.
We will get to Sami Zayn and Shin in just a moment.
But switching gears now. Over the past few weeks,
we've learned about the origins of Lacey Evans,
littered with constant disappointment and heartache.
But the lack of role models and support throughout her childhood
has become the fire
through which the unconquerable Lacey Evans has been forged.
Right now, we present to you chapter five in the story of Lacey Evans.
Okay, here it goes.
[somber music playing]
My father lost his battle with mental health and addiction,
and he overdosed two months before my WWE tryout.
I had one family member attempt suicide at the same time frame,
and by the time I found them, they were gasping for air
and trying to apologize as I tried to stop the bleeding.
Then right before my first match at NXT,
another family member overdosed
and was found in the parking lot not far from the show in Florida.
My knees got weak, and I didn't know how much more that I could take.
That was the day I decided
that I needed to do what's best for me, my family, and my mental health.
You see, I've tried my entire life to make my family proud,
and break the addiction, and get the help, and keep them motivated to succeed.
But instead, there I was,
on what should have been the most happiest moment of my life,
the most important moment, my first match in WWE,
but instead of feeling excited, I was completely broken.
And that was the first time I didn't drop everything and go.
I stayed, I washed my face, and I had my first match
in front of my daughter wearing the world's biggest smile.
I went to the hospital afterwards to face the inevitable, um,
but not until I had my first match.
For years, I've carried the weight and so much pain for and of my family.
I've been put through the worst situations
by the people that were supposed to love and protect me.
But, um, now it's my time.
It's my time to show the world the power that we have to break the cycle,
to show my daughters to keep fighting
when you second guess yourself because of where you come from,
when your knees get weak and you feel so broken
because of what you've been through.
And as for the WWE Superstars here, I just have one question.
What are they going to do to me to stop me?
What are they going to do to me to bring me down
that my life hasn't already done?
What I've been through has created the woman I am today.
A motivated, ready-for-anything, careful, confident mother,
wife, sister, daughter,
United States Marine…
and WWE Superstar.
-[crowd cheers and applauds] -[chuckles]
And soon-to-be…
SmackDown Women's Champion.
-[breathes deeply] -[crowd cheers]
There is no question this has been a heart-wrenching story.
I think we've all appreciated the true Lacey Evans story.
And before we introduce her tonight live,
Lacey has asked that you show the proper respect.
So, ladies and gentlemen, please applaud and welcome Lacey Evans.
[crowd cheers]
["Bet On Me" playing]
♪ Left, left, left, right, left ♪
[Cole] A very emotional Lacey tonight, Pat.
-[Pat] Absolutely. -[crowd cheering]
[Pat] It's the first time the WWE Universe has gotten to see her in person
since learning more about her story.
-What a moment. -[cheering]
[Cole] Very inspirational human being.
Everything she's been through in her life
and then to be able to come out here tonight and be a part of all this.
-We got it. -[Pat] A Marine as well. Hoorah!
Great to see you, Lacey.
Lacey Evans has talked a lot about the fact
that she can't wait to compete here in WWE
and one day perhaps win a championship.
And one of the Superstars that she is going to have to contend with,
the newcomer known as Raquel Rodriguez.
Here's our DoorDash Highlight of the Night.
[man] The Highlight of the Night is sponsored by DoorDash.
Get more from your neighborhood today.
[Raquel] I really hope that I can represent everything that I've built
and bring it all to SmackDown.
[crowd cheers]
[Pat] Raquel Rodriguez, an absolute dominant Superstar.
[grunts]
[Raquel] I am the brick wall that nobody can get through.
[Cole] Raquel Rodriguez is a dominating force.
[Raquel] I'm gonna put on a show
and make an impact that no one will ever forget.
♪ Get it, get it, get it ♪
["This Is It" playing]
-[Cole] From a very confident Raquel… -[crowd boos]
…to someone I expect gonna put on a good face,
but he can't be happy with the fact
-that he has a match right now. -[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 212 pounds, Sami Zayn!
[Cole] Pat, Shinsuke Nakamura is ticked off.
The Bloodline hurt Boogs.
[Pat] The Bloodline hurt Boogs. Shinsuke is all the way back.
Sami Zayn has talked himself into potentially getting kicked in the mouth.
It's a glorious night here on SmackDown.
[Cole] It happens next.
[Cole] Friday Night SmackDown on FOX is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
So, um, what did Paul Heyman call it? Initiative?
Sami Zayn taking the initiative
to take out Shinsuke Nakamura on his own tonight
so The Bloodline wouldn't have to worry about him.
-["The Rising Sun" playing] -[Pat] Oh yes. Oh my God, he's back.
[Samantha] His opponent, from Kobe, Japan,
weighing in at 220 pounds,
Shinsuke Nakamura!
[Cole] Did you need a ladder to get on the desk?
It's been a long time since you've been up there.
I have been eating carbs every day since WrestleMania, bud.
Boogs, it's not the same without you, but the electricity is back on SmackDown!
[Cole] Paying homage to Boogs is Pat McAfee.
Shinsuke Nakamura acknowledging my broadcast partner,
and Nakamura has a score to settle tonight
with a person who many people call a stooge, Sami Zayn.
[fireworks explode]
[Cole] Zayn considers himself a locker room leader,
but yet he runs to Roman Reigns every time somebody talks about him
to give him information about what people are saying behind Roman Reigns' back.
-Pat, Sami is not happy. -[Pat hums along to "Rising Sun"]
[song ends]
[Cole] Remember, Nakamura
-with a score to settle as well. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Roman Reigns and The Usos suckering him in a few weeks ago.
Shinsuke came out to blame The Usos for the injury to Boogs.
Now, Sami Zayn running his mouth.
[Pat] Well, that's all Sami Zayn does.
Can we get some oxygen to the commentary table?
And let's get started.
[Cole] Shinsuke Nakamura with a score to settle tonight with Sami Zayn.
Again, a lot of people have labeled Sami a stooge, Pat.
Would you, uh, agree with that?
[Pat] A rat, a coward, a stooge. Plenty of nicknames,
but "stooge" does seem to be very accurate to describe how Sami Zayn operates.
He has a brain, but he never seems to use it.
[Cole] How about the way that Sami Zayn describes himself,
that being a locker room leader?
[Pat] A locker room leader, a veteran, somebody that people look up to.
The only people that look up to him, rats in the subway.
This guy's a coward.
He got beat by Johnny Knoxville at WrestleMania. Never forget.
[Cole] Entertaining match.
-[Pat] I saw Wee Man pick up… -[Cole] Cover.
Kickout by Sami Zayn.
[Pat] …Sami Zayn and slam him on his back.
Ow! Ow! Ow!
[Pat] Just like I saw Pontius' cheeks.
[Cole] Pat, when you were playing in the NFL,
how would you treat someone like Sami Zayn,
who would run around and stooge stuff off to the coaches?
[Pat] To be honest, I never had a teammate that was like this.
[Cole] Really?
[Pat] I think it's because I was only on good teams. I was very lucky to do so.
But if Sami gets on your team, that is a catalyst to you guys sucking, probably.
[Cole chuckles]
[Pat] And I think we've all seen it here at SmackDown.
-One, two, three… -[Cole] Sami Zayn calls himself
a locker room leader, but I guess you could really call him a follower,
who just wants to follow Roman Reigns and The Bloodline.
[Pat] Yeah, he's been looking a little desperate
to get into The Bloodline.
[Cole] He says he has to… Oh! …see a return to his credibility
after the loss to Knoxville back at WrestleMania,
which is very embarrassing and humiliating for Zayn.
Shinsuke Nakamura!
That step-up enzuigiri caught Zayn in the ear.
[Pat] I think there's a couple of people chanting "Sami Zayn."
Are these people watching the same shows we've been watching?
Nakamura, former Intercontinental Champ.
[Cole] Oh, wow!
Vintage Nakamura there.
He is in complete control of Zayn.
I'm sure Zayn is gonna use some sort of excuse,
like he wasn't ready for the match, if he loses,
blame Adam Pearce for putting him in the match, or whatever.
[Pat] Nobody can ever be ready for Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Cole] Went for the Kinshasa! Michinoku Driver.
Cover now, and a kickout at two.
Sami Zayn has taken control.
[crowd boos]
[Cole] We're back on Friday Night SmackDown here on FOX.
It has been all Sami Zayn during the commercial break.
Zayn trying to regain his quote, credibility,
after the loss to Johnny Knoxville back at WrestleMania.
He's also claiming he's doing this for The Bloodline,
taking care of Roman Reigns' business
after he caught Nakamura talking about both Roman Reigns and The Usos.
[Pat] I haven't spoken directly to The Bloodline.
They have to hate the fact that Sami Zayn and their names
are coming out of your mouth in the same sentence.
[grunts]
[Pat] But that's what Sami Zayn can do. He can manipulate situations.
That's how he's worked himself into a match with a great one tonight.
[Cole] Now Sami Zayn off the second rope.
Cover now on Nakamura. Is it enough to put him away?
-Near fall by Zayn. -Come on!
-Hey. -Hey!
[Cole] Now getting frustrated with the official.
[indistinct]
[Pat] Sami showing zero couth, per usu.
[Cole] Very upset with Ryan Tran as Sami Zayn, now, measures Nakamura.
Zayn second rope.
Nakamura caught him with a kick to the midsection.
And now, it's time for Shinsuke to rally.
[Pat] Shinsuke, every part of his body is a weapon.
The King of Strong Style.
[grunting]
[Pat] Innovative offense here. Sami Zayn holding his foot.
"Let me pound the other one off your jaw, pal."
[Cole] Nakamura physical as they come.
[Pat] Rallying in Long Island. On Long Island.
[Cole] Former Royal Rumble match winner.
Knee right to the back of the neck by Nakamura.
Shin now rolls to the cover. Cover. Hooks the leg.
-[screams in pain] -[Cole] Kickout at two by Zayn.
[Pat] We're talking millimeters away
from Shinsuke getting a win over Sami on Friday Night SmackDown.
Shinsuke… thought it was over.
It's great to see Shinsuke Nakamura in action, isn't it?
-[crowd applauding] -[Cole] Indeed.
Sami Zayn not expecting this match to happen tonight.
He asked for the match to be next week.
WWE official Adam Pearce said, "No, it's gonna happen right now."
-Now, Nakamura… striking back. -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Kick after kick after kick.
[Pat] With the explosivity from Shinsuke.
-[Cole] Nakamura. -[Pat] And creativity.
[Cole] Looking for the armbar.
Sami Zayn able to block, at least momentarily.
Nakamura trying to break the grip.
Finally does.
Is Zayn gonna tap out? Armbar in.
What's Zayn gonna do?
Nakamura trying to extend the arm, couldn't quite do it,
and allowed Sami Zayn to roll into a pinning combination.
[Pat] Sami impressively out-powers Shinsuke.
[Cole] Couldn't out-quick Shinsuke there, though.
[Pat] Shinsuke almost had Sami tapped out. Now, he's got him in his sights.
[Cole] Nakamura ready perhaps
for the Kinshasa to put Sami Zayn away.
[shouts]
[Cole] Zayn realizing it. He's gonna hightail it yet again.
"Mr. Retreat." That's what we should call him
after the past few weeks.
[Pat] This is becoming your finisher, running from people.
[Cole] Now Nakamura turns his attention to Zayn
and catches him with a kick to the face.
Both men down right in front of our announce table,
-as the official now at a count of three. -Three!
Sami Zayn crawling his way back here behind the announce table again,
tossing chair after chair into Shinsuke Nakamura,
but Nakamura now on the other side.
Sami drives him into the barricade, and a Helluva Kick
dropping Nakamura right here in front of us.
And Sami Zayn has beaten the count to the ring.
[bell rings]
-[crowd boos] -[Pat] This…
[Samantha] Here is your winner as a result of a count-out,
-Sami Zayn! -[Sami's theme music playing]
[Cole] Sami Zayn celebrating
a count-out victory over Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Pat] That's straight out of the Sami Zayn playbook.
-[Cole] Of course it is. -[Pat] Looks like a coward.
Wore Shinsuke out, outsmarts him, gets a backdoor win somehow.
[Cole] And as Sami Zayn celebrates,
we head to this Sunday, Providence, Rhode Island,
WrestleMania Backlash, streaming live on Peacock.
Who will say "I quit"?
Who will win the SmackDown Women's Championship?
Charlotte Flair, Ronda Rousey,
one-on-one in an "I Quit" Match on Sunday.
[Pat] And a rematch that the entire globe is speaking of.
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
takes on Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[Cole] Also Sunday, at WrestleMania Backlash,
a massive six-man tag team match.
The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns,
and the Tag Champs from SmackDown, his cousins, The Usos, The Bloodline
to take on McIntyre, the Raw Tag Champs, RK-Bro, or RK-McBro,
as Drew coined it tonight.
-["Talk To Me" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ They talk to me… ♪
[Samantha] Please welcome the Raw Tag Team Champions,
Riddle and Randy Orton, RK-Bro!
[Cole] You know, Riddle is such a strange cat, Pat,
but for some reason,
his partnership with a 20-year veteran, Randy Orton, works.
[Pat] I don't think he's strange at all.
He's deep thinking, he scoots to altitudes that you could never operate at,
and he and Randy Orton have brought out the absolute best in each other.
-Becoming Tag Team Champions quickly. -[indistinct]
[Pat] And now they're more unified than ever.
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] In incredibly good shape, these two men, as well.
[Cole] Randy Orton, perhaps, in the greatest shape of his career.
[Pat] I got a chance to chat with Randy.
Riddle actually motivated him to become even greater.
He celebrated 20 years--
[fireworks exploding]
[Cole] Oh, Pat.
[Pat] And here's to 20 more with giraffes.
A herd of giraffes stampeding out of the sandals of Riddle.
[Cole] Hey, coming up next on Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,
RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre,
two nights away from their six-man clash at Backlash,
face-to-face, same ring, same time, with The Bloodline, led by Roman Reigns.
Live, next.
["Are You Ready" playing]
[Cole] Next Friday, for Friday Night SmackDown,
we have a Women's Tag Team Championship Match.
[Pat] That's right.
Our historic, trailblazing champions,
Sasha Banks and "The Glow" Naomi take on Shayna Baszler and Natalya.
[Cole] Meanwhile, in the ring, the Raw Tag Team Champions,
Orton, Riddle, RK-Bro.
-["Gallantry" playing] -[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Here comes their tag team partner on Sunday.
[crowd cheering]
[fireworks exploding]
[Pat] Look at that guy.
[Samantha] Please welcome Drew McIntyre!
[Cole] It's got a little ring to it, RK-McBro.
[Pat] Absolutely, and I think they're gonna be a great team.
How could you not when you add in RK-Bro
and the "Kneel to the Steel" man himself,
who looks like he's chiseled from granite
and able to do things that no man his size should be able to do?
And when he lifts his sword…
[Cole] That's Angela.
[Pat] …fire comes.
-[explosion] -[crowd cheering]
[Pat] An absolute monster of a man.
[Cole] An absolute monster match Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.
These three men against The Bloodline. I cannot wait to call that.
[Pat] Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, Riddle, and these boys.
Strong Island!
[crowd cheers]
-Acknowledge-- -Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
[chuckles] Hey, Drew, before we get into the Tribal Chief,
and The Bloodline, and all that jazzy-poos,
I was thinking, what do you bros acknowledge?
Like, I acknowledge that Randy's my best friend.
[crowd cheers]
-Acknowledge. Acknowledge. Acknowledge. -I acknowledge that.
-Acknowledged. -I acknowledge.
I acknowledge that I still have Drew McIntyre's handprint on my chest
from two years ago when I beat him for the WWE Heavyweight Championship.
Acknowledge. Acknowledge. Yes, that did happen.
-Acknowledge. -Acknowledge.
I acknowledge that you kicked me in the head, first four times,
and then I won back that WWE Championship.
-Acknowledge. -Acknowledge.
Acknowledge.
But also remember we also acknowledge to let bygones be bygones,
and the past is the past.
-Acknowledge. -[both] Acknowledged.
[Pat] Aw, acknowledged. That was awesome.
[Cole] Riddle, the voice of reason.
[crowd cheers]
I also acknowledge that Randy has the most muscular legs in WWE.
[crowd cheers]
Acknowledge. Acknowledge.
-[Pat] I can acknowledge that. -Drew, yours are thicker,
but Randy's are more, you know, vascular.
Acknowledged. Acknowledged.
I acknowledge that the sky is blue, and the grass is green,
and that The Usos have had their lips permanently attached to Roman's ass
for the last few years or so.
-Acknowledged. -Acknowledged.
-Big acknowledgment right there. -Acknowledge.
Acknowledge.
I acknowledge I've got all kinds of ideas and horrible things I want to do
to The Bloodline this Sunday, but we're a team.
We're gonna work on a game plan. This is gonna be a joint decision.
-Acknowledge. -Acknowledge.
-Acknowledge that. -Acknowledge.
Acknowledge! Acknowledge! Acknowledge!
Acknowledge.
-[crowd chants] Acknowledge! -[Pat] That one sparked a chant here.
We all acknowledge that Roman Reigns is the biggest piece of crap
walking this damn Earth.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Come on, Fickle McAfee.
[Pat] I didn't acknowledge that.
-There's far worse things. -["Head of the Table" playing]
[Pat] You ever heard of the Pharmacy Bro?
What a shock. It worked.
[Pat] Welcome to the show.
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] This is why you came.
[Cole] 615 days Roman Reigns has held the Universal Championship.
He now holds the WWE Universal Championship, Undisputed.
The Usos, SmackDown Tag Champs, a record 291 days.
-There's been no stopping The Bloodline. -[fireworks exploding]
[Pat] Just absolutely dominant
over everybody in this business.
[song fades out]
[crowd cheering]
-Oh boy. You done screwed up now. -Yeet! Yeet!
[Pat] Okay.
[Cole] Roman Reigns and The Bloodline marching to the ring.
RK-Bro, Drew McIntyre are ready.
McIntyre said we'd have a sneak peek of WrestleMania Backlash here tonight.
The promise made earlier on.
Come on, bro!
[Pat] Longest reign, largest quarter, that face right there.
Roman Reigns is the face of this business.
[crowd cheers]
Flanked by The Usos. They have entered their ring.
[Cole] I think the talking's over.
Forty-eight hours away from WrestleMania Backlash
and a monster, massive main event.
And here we go! Bloodline throwing hands with RK-Bro and McIntyre!
McIntyre and the Universal Champion… Backing the champ into the corner.
Riddle dumped outside.
Now, The Usos going after McIntyre.
The Bloodline may have the numbers. Superman Punch from Reigns!
[Pat] That's all it takes.
-[Cole] Now, Jimmy and Jey. -[grunting]
And McIntyre held defenseless as Roman Reigns pounds away on McIntyre.
[shouts indistinctly]
[Pat] RK-Bro nowhere to be found.
-[Cole] And Riddle back into the ring. -[crowd cheers]
[Cole] An RKO to Jey.
An RKO to Jimmy.
Roman Reigns goes after Orton.
Claymore kick to the champion.
Roman Reigns dropped by McIntyre,
who vowed earlier tonight to kick the head off The Head of the Table.
Pat, there is gonna be hell to pay Sunday.
Roman Reigns is pissed, as we head to WrestleMania Backlash.
[indistinct yelling]
[Pat] A six-man tag with Superstars.
Gonna be etched in history. Two days from now. Let's go! sh.