[WWE intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
[Ric Flair] Woo!
-[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]
♪ Better than me ♪
[Cole] With WWE Crown Jewel looming a week from tomorrow,
we welcome you to the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri,
jam-packed with WWE fans for Friday Night SmackDown,
sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
♪ How am I hot But I'm dressing the coldest? ♪
[music fades]
["Bring the Fire" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Whoa-oh-oh ♪
[Cole] And here in St. Louis,
it's Fight Night!
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing the Brawling Brutes,
the team of Ridge Holland and Butch!
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown.
At ringside, I'm Michael Cole, he's Wade Barrett.
And tonight, for the Brawling Brutes,
there is hell to pay based on what happened last week.
There's a reason that Sheamus, "The Celtic Warrior," is not here tonight.
Last week, we kicked off SmackDown with a one-on-one match,
Sheamus versus Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline.
After the match, with the Brawling Brutes buried under the announce table,
a four-on-one vicious assault by The Bloodline on Sheamus.
[Wade] Yes, indeed.
And Sami Zayn tried to do his job in keeping Jey Uso in line.
It worked well until the end of the night.
[Cole] Yeah. Logan Paul, who faces Roman Reigns
a week from tomorrow at Crown Jewel for the Undisputed Championship.
Jey Uso did not heed Sami Zayn's words.
He went to the ring, confronted Logan Paul.
Sami Zayn was telling Jey Uso, "You should've stayed in the back."
And this is what happened.
[Wade] Well, that momentary distraction from Sami Zayn
opened Jey Uso up to one lucky punch from Logan Paul.
[Cole] And an update now on Sheamus.
He suffered a nondisplaced fracture of the radial head of the elbow
and is currently at home in an elbow brace,
with limited range of motion
and is undergoing intense physical therapy.
♪ Bring the fire ♪
-That's what we do. -Solo and Sami Zayn.
-Let's go. That's what we do. -Yes, sir. Represent, baby.
-We got this. We got this. -Let's get it.
Jey, can I have a word with you for a sec?
Listen, tonight's a big night for us, okay?
Understand what I'm saying here?
Let me guess. You don't want me to get involved tonight, right?
No, no, no. The exact opposite.
Tonight is all hands on deck, okay?
Last week was a bit of a black eye for The Bloodline.
Roman's not here yet. Tribal Chief is not here yet.
When he gets here, the first thing he needs to see
is all of our arms raised in victory, okay?
Look, a couple of weeks ago you helped me with Kofi Kingston.
I saw. I saw it. So I need that tonight.
Can you do that tonight? Can you bring that energy tonight?
-[belt clanks] -Yeet.
-[Jimmy] Yeah! -Yeet. All right. Let's do it, boys.
-Let's go! -Let's go, Uces!
["Taking It All" playing]
♪ We taking it all ♪
♪ Settle the score No, I will not take a loss ♪
-♪ Taking it all ♪ -♪ We the ones ♪
♪ We kick in the door Dropping you down to the floor ♪
♪ We taking it all ♪
♪ Ready for war, better than ever before ♪
-♪ Taking it all ♪ -♪ We the ones ♪
♪ Break down the walls My Bloodline is hard to the core ♪
♪ We taking it all ♪
[Irvin] And their opponents, accompanied to the ring
by the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, The Usos,
the team of Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa!
[Cole] And, Wade, Sami Zayn made it clear.
The Undisputed Champion, the head of The Bloodline, Roman Reigns,
is on his way to Friday Night SmackDown.
And, uh, I can imagine the mood he is in
after watching Jey Uso get knocked out last week by Logan Paul.
[Wade] Yeah, Reigns will be here at some point soon,
and after the disaster that ended last week's SmackDown,
The Bloodline cannot afford another slip-up.
[Cole] So The Bloodline hoping to be on the same page tonight
as Solo Sikoa, who has developed quite the relationship
with "Honorary Uce" Sami Zayn,
team up here tonight against the Brawling Brutes.
The Brutes say The Bloodline picked on the wrong bunch of lads,
and Ridge Holland said, "I can't wait to rattle some teeth tonight."
-[bell rings] -So Butch will start things off
against Sami Zayn, one-on-one matchup.
Bloodline and the Brutes got into it a couple of weeks ago
when Sheamus and Solo Sikoa were involved in the Fatal 4-Way Match
to determine the Number One Contender for the Intercontinental Championship.
And Butch with the leapfrog. Sami Zayn has-- Oh!
…found himself quite the home in The Bloodline.
The Usos looking on.
Four hundred sixty-seven days as Tag Team Champions.
Approaching the record of 483 days set by the New Day.
And here's Ridge Holland. Ridge, a force to be reckoned with.
[Wade] Absolutely. What a powerhouse he truly is.
And let's face it, their mate, Sheamo, got a whipping last week,
and now it's payback time.
[Cole] Frequent tags by the Brawling Brutes.
Here comes the manic Butch.
And double-team yet again
and paying homage to Sheamus
with the 10 Beats of the Bodhrán in the middle of the ring.
[Wade] Friday night firm out in force tonight here in St. Louis.
[Cole] Butch, a tremendous athlete, a former Tag Team Champion.
Tag made. Solo Sikoa.
The Enforcer of The Bloodline.
I don't think Butch realizes the tag was made, and now he does.
What a collision.
[Wade] Real nice tag team cohesion there between Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa.
[Cole] Solo Sikoa has made quite the impression with The Bloodline.
As you take another look at the impact by Solo Sikoa.
He really has added another dimension to the group.
[Wade] Yeah. When they recruit in The Bloodline, they do it right.
-Solo Sikoa-- -[Cole] Oh!
[Wade] Very nice. Turn your back for a second,
Jimmy Uso all over you.
[Cole] And again, remember with Sami Zayn, it's all hands on deck here tonight.
They need to pick up a win with Roman Reigns' arrival imminent
here tonight on SmackDown.
[Wade] Sami's completely changed his tune.
He wants all the help he can get
because he knows the Brutes want vengeance after last week.
[Cole] Watch the cheap shot now by Jimmy Uso
that put The Bloodline in full control.
Remember, Sami Zayn was put in charge by the Head of the Table, Roman Reigns.
So keeping Jey Uso,
the hot-tempered brother, in line.
[Wade] Yeah, and he's had some differing results at times.
[Cole] And Butch caught Solo with a knee, and now fighting back against Sami.
-Whoa, whoa! -[Cole] Sami Zayn sent over the top rope,
and Sami may have hurt his arm.
He came over the top rope, tried to hang on,
and now Butch with a running knee taking Sami out.
Butch is fired up.
The intensity of Butch as Jimmy Uso and Jey look on.
Get in the ring! In the ring! Hey, listen up! Hey, let's go!
One!
[Cole] And from behind, Solo Sikoa.
The Bloodline on all cylinders here tonight.
And slam into the apron!
Can the Brutes somehow climb back into this match?
[Ridge] Butch! Butch!
[Cole] Back on Friday Night SmackDown, the brawl we expected
between the Brawling Brutes and The Bloodline.
It's Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn against Ridge Holland and Butch.
And Butch slides out of harm's way
and try to make a tag now to Ridge Holland,
or Ridge "The Fridge," as Sheamus calls him.
[Wade] Finally buying himself an opportunity was Butch,
but it's quite simply not enough against The Enforcer.
[Cole] Solo Sikoa picking Butch out of the air,
and now a critical moment for both these Superstars in this matchup.
[Wade] You gotta think it's now or never for Butch.
Taken a lot of abuse at the hands of The Bloodline.
[Cole] Solo trying to get to Sami.
Can he get there? Crawling there.
He does. Sami makes the tag. Now Butch trying to get to Ridge Holland,
and Sami able to drag Butch back toward the middle of the ring.
-[Wade] Looking like a well-oiled machine. -[Cole] Tag.
Here comes Holland.
And Ridge Holland, a couple of shoulder tackles
sending the Honorary Uce Sami Zayn flying.
Another shoulder tackle by Holland.
[grunting]
I tell you, the Brawling Brutes have improved so much
under the mentorship of Sheamus.
As physical as they come.
Kick to the face by Sami.
[Wade] Now it's time to step up in Sheamus' absence.
-[grunts] -[Cole] Ridge with a smile on his face.
Catching Sami Zayn,
and now planting Sami.
Cover for the win to knock off Zayn,
and a kickout at two.
And Jey Uso quickly up on the apron.
Not sure he believed Sami was gonna kick out there.
[Wade] Panic in the eyes of the entire Bloodline.
This one slipping away at the worst possible time.
[Cole] Ridge hoisting Sami up.
Sami trying to fight out of it.
Again, The Bloodline looking to work together tonight,
stay on the same page just like that.
Sikoa makes the tag.
And Solo Sikoa with a kick right to the face of Holland.
And now Solo, Samoan drop!
Cover by Sikoa for the win.
Almost had him, and Ridge at two and a half.
-[grunts] -The power of Sikoa.
[crowd cheers]
-Come on! -[crowd] One, two--
[crowd gasping]
[Cole] So close for The Bloodline.
[Wade] Just outlines how, once again,
The Bloodline one step ahead of the game at all times.
[Solo] Who the hell do you think you are, huh?
You know who we are?
Huh? You disrespecting me?
[Cole] The Enforcer of The Bloodline trying to talk trash to Ridge Holland.
Ridge able to hook him however.
And a headbutt.
[Wade] Bit of northern grit for you.
[Cole] Headbutt after headbutt in the middle of the ring.
Oh! And a big collision.
[crowd cheers]
Sami wants to make a tag.
Butch wants in the matchup as well.
[Wade] Both ready. Butch ready.
-Got his second wind. -[Cole] Tag.
Here comes Butch,
and Sami Zayn as well, now the legal men.
And the temperamental Butch runs into a right hand
and then a boot by Sami.
And Sami looking for Blue Thunder Bomb,
and Butch able to counter with a side headlock.
[grunts]
-Whoa! -Come on!
[Cole] And Butch stacking Sami up.
Now looking, perhaps, for the Cloverleaf that Sheamus uses.
Jimmy Uso causing a distraction
and gets an enzuigiri for his efforts.
Sami Zayn from behind to steal one.
[crowd] One, two…
[Cole] Oh, and a kickout by Butch.
[Wade] Constantly so many moving parts with The Bloodline.
[Cole] Oh. There's the exploder suplex into the corner,
and Sami Zayn may have Butch where he wants him
for the Helluva Kick, Sami's finishing maneuver.
[Wade] Brawling Brutes might have bitten off way more
than they can chew without Sheamus here.
[Cole] Honorary Uce, nobody home.
Butch now with a kick right to the back of the neck.
Jey looking on. Butch.
[crowd chanting] Sami! Sami!
[Cole] As the "Sami" chants begin from the WWE fans.
Solo Sikoa hanging onto Butch, but he's knocked off the apron.
And Sami Zayn…
[Wade] Sami Zayn, "Master Strategist," appeared to have something in mind there.
-What are you doing? -It's cool.
-What are you-- -He's about to jump on you, Uce.
-I had him, man. -It didn't look like it.
-It's called strategy, man.
-I'm protecting you. I'm protecting you. -[Sami] You have to wait.
[Cole] Oh, and meanwhile, Solo Sikoa…
That's how you help.
-That's how you help. -Really?
I'm trying to damn help your ass out,
but if you get up in my damn face again, I'ma have to get you.
-Jey… -I'm trying to help you out.
-I'm trying to help you. -No, relax.
-You need to calm down. -You said, "Get on the same level."
You said, "Get on the same level."
-Chill out. -Didn't you? Didn't you?
-Chill out. -Didn't you?
-Yo. -Huh?
[screaming]
[Cole] And meanwhile, Ridge just plowing through everyone!
Sami back in the ring.
[Wade] Sami Zayn's got to remember he's got a match to win here.
[Cole] And now Butch rolling Sami up, shoulders are down.
Is it enough? It is!
-The Brutes win! -[bell rings]
["Bring the Fire" plays]
[Irvin] Here are your winners, the Brawling Brutes.
[Cole] Again, issues between Sami and Jey Uso
and the rest of The Bloodline blow up in their faces here tonight.
The Brawling Brutes with a big win on SmackDown.
[Wade] Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, it's a tenuous relationship at best.
It might be about to explode.
[indistinct yelling]
[Cole] The argument's not over yet.
[Wade] Sami Zayn had a plan in mind there.
He was trying to play possum. He just didn't clue in Jey.
-[music ends] -[indistinct chatter]
[crowd boos]
[indistinct chatter]
[crowd chanting] Sami! Sami!
[indistinct chatter]
[Cole] This situation's become untenable
as, uh, now the brothers get in each other's faces,
the Tag Team Champions.
["Head of the Table" plays]
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] I believe there's gonna be hell to pay.
[Wade] The kids are in trouble.
[Cole] Daddy's here.
The Head of the Table, the head of The Bloodline,
the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns,
flanked by his Special Counsel, Paul Heyman.
And the look on Jey Uso's face told the story.
This is gonna be a very uncomfortable conversation for the family.
[Wade] Fear in the eyes of everyone stood in that ring.
[Cole] Roman Reigns has a championship defense
in eight nights at Crown Jewel.
He can ill afford to have his family crumbling around him.
[Wade] Falling apart at the seams right now.
[fireworks popping]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Pure trepidation.
[Wade] You done messed up.
And now you gotta face those consequences.
[Cole] And Roman looks pissed off.
And in typical Roman fashion,
he's gonna make The Bloodline wait.
Doing things on his time.
And Friday Night SmackDown tonight is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
Well, it is reckoning time for The Bloodline
because the Head of the Table is here.
Roman Reigns does not need any more problems
because he is at 789 days and counting
as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
A week from tomorrow at 12:00 noon Eastern
at Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, streaming exclusively on Peacock,
Roman Reigns defends the title against Logan Paul.
Will Reigns continue his record-setting reign
or will it be one lucky punch for Logan Paul
to shock the world at Crown Jewel?
["Head of the Table" continues]
[music fades]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Roman! Roman! Roman!
[chanting fades]
[crowd cheers]
St. Louis…
[crowd cheers]
…acknowledge me.
[crowd cheering]
We usually have a little order to things here,
but we're gonna switch it up tonight.
You've acknowledged me…
Now it's time for me to acknowledge
this elephant in the room.
You two…
you want to act like kids,
then we're gonna treat you like kids.
[crowd gasping]
I don't believe in airing the backstage in the ring.
I believe in fighting in the ring and handling your business,
but it seems like you two just can't do that.
So this is what I want you to do.
I want you to put it all on the table.
I want you to let it all out
because I want this problem fixed right now.
[crowd cheers]
Well, uh, okay, um…
Look…
[crowd chanting] Sami! Sami! Sami!
Let's-- I'll be the first to admit
there's been a bit of a communication breakdown as of late,
uh, and I feel like it's…
pretty specifically with Jey, right?
So, uh… look, I… I'll be honest. I don't understand what's going on here.
I… I like you, man.
I like you. I've always liked you.
And we've always gotten along.
And ever since I started hanging out with The Bloodline,
I don't know what it is, but you just can't seem to stand me.
And I don't understand it. Everybody--
Jimmy seems fine.
Solo seems fine. Everybody seems fine. Just you,
and I don't know what I did to offend you.
I really don't, but whatever it is, I'm sorry, okay?
I'm sorry.
I just don't want this to keep going on like this anymore.
[crowd cheers]
Okay?
So, what… Thank you.
Seriously, whatever-- whatever…
Whatever I did, I'm sorry.
Can we just be cool?
Can we just…
can we bury the hatchet once and for all?
[crowd murmuring]
You're the man. I just admitted it. Come on.
Jey, come on.
Come on.
Come on! Jey!
[crowd murmuring louder]
Jey, come on.
Let's end this.
[indistinct] Please. Please.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
Sami, you got about two seconds to get that out of my face.
[crowd booing]
I don't like you.
Huh?
I don't like your hair,
I don't like your face…
I don't like that shirt you wear.
[crowd gasping]
Hey, hey!
I don't like him being around my family every single week.
"My dawg" this, "my dawg" that.
Hey, how you think you part of The Bloodline if you ain't blood?
Huh?
Hey, hey, hey. Newsflash for you, Sami,
you never will be, Uce.
You don't belong here.
Huh? Huh?
Nobody in this group like you.
I'm just the realest one to say it out loud.
You's a fake-ass Uce!
[crowd gasps, boos]
Yeah. Yeah!
You know the difference between you and me is?
I shed blood for every single one of my family members in here
because it's my family!
Not yours!
Huh? Will you do it?
Will you? I'm asking you a question.
-Will you-- -Why are you yelling at me, huh?
Why are you yelling at me?
I'm trying to make peace.
The Tribal Chief said he wants peace.
Man, I don't give a damn what the Tribal Chief say!
[crowd gasping]
[mic thuds]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
Hey, Roman. Roman.
Hey. Look, hey.
Look, what Jey just said was super, super messed up,
but he did-- he didn't mean that.
He didn't mean-- right? You didn't mean that? He didn't mean that.
Roman, seriously, he did not mean that, okay?
Look, Jey's been going through a lot. He's gone through a lot.
He's just not himself right now. That's it, okay? He's just not--
Lately, he just hasn't been…
very Ucey.
[crowd chants] Ucey! Ucey! Ucey!
[chant stops]
[crowd cheering]
[Roman chuckles]
Is that what's going on here? Uh…
That's the problem, Jey?
It's because you're not feeling…
[crowd shouting] Ucey!
It-- It's 'cause you're not feeling Ucey?
[crowd cheers]
Ucey?
[inaudible]
It gets us all sometimes. Really.
Uh…
No, no, stay-stay right here.
Stay right here.
This is what we're gonna do.
If you can't find your inner Ucey again…
[crowd laughing]
…I'm gonna do something you ain't gonna like.
This is what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna take that "Honorary" away…
and I'm gonna make him a full-blown Uce.
[crowd cheering]
No, no, no.
You know what? No, no, no.
If you don't figure this out…
we just gonna change his name.
You want to know what that name's gonna be?
We gonna name him…
Sami Uso, y'all.
-Come on, Uce. -[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] Sami Uso! Sami Uso! Sami Uso!
Sami Uso! [claps]
Sami Uso! [claps] Sami Uso! [claps]
Sami Uso! Sami Uso!
-[chant continues] -[inaudible]
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
I think the Tribal Chief has called an end to this segment.
Please catch your Tribal Chief live and in person
streaming on Peacock and on the WWE Network
all across the world next Saturday, November 5th,
from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
when the Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, Roman Reigns,
defends the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Championship
against Logan Paul.
[crowd booing]
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
a kind word from our sponsors
in three, two, one.
[static crackling]
-[ominous music playing] -[insects chirring]
[flame crackling]
[woman] Tonight, we celebrate the gods.
Without their guidance,
we are blind.
[man] But now…
with you, we see.
[suspenseful music playing]
[indistinct whispering]
[woman] The gods have opened our eyes.
Valhalla awaits.
[flame roars]
[Cole] We are back on Friday Night SmackDown
as the Maximum Male Models get set for tag team action.
I still can't get over this whole "Ucey" theme tonight.
[Wade] Jey Uso was so messed up, he didn't know
if he wanted to laugh or cry when Roman was in the ring.
♪ It's a new day, yes, it is ♪
[Cole] If he doesn't get his act together, he's gonna be crying.
["New Day, New Way" playing]
-[bell rings] -[Irvin] The following contest
is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring,
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods,
The New Day!
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen, The New Day set for action here tonight,
but they've got their focus on another tag team.
♪ Give the world a fresh coat of paint ♪
♪ Looking in the mirror Is who you gotta change ♪
Tonight, we got the Maximum Male Models.
Who do these guys think they are? Rick Martel and Tyler Breeze?
-I was thinking more Billy and Chuck. -Okay.
Either way we're gonna help the Models debut their "getting pinned" collection.
And we hope The Usos are watching so that they can be reminded
exactly why we are the longest-reigning WWE World Tag Team Champions,
and it's gonna stay that way.
[Cole] Xavier Woods Sunday is on Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune.
[Wade] Cool. Can I buy a number?
[Cole] You buy a vowel, Wade.
[Wade] I want to buy numbers four, eight, and three.
The 483-day record-breaking reign of The New Day.
[Cole] I see what you did there. Nonetheless, the only scarier
than the official Moonsault Halloween NFTs
featuring the most terrifying moments in WWE history
is missing out on them.
They're going fast, so claim yours at WWEmoonsault.com.
New Day had a busy week.
They were at the premiere
-of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Mingling with the stars in Hollywood.
Great to see Big E out there with them too.
[Cole] And now, they mingle with the Maximum Male Models.
This is Xavier Woods starting things off with Mansoor.
Unique pose.
Center of the ring as Maxxine Dupri looks on.
[Wade] She's got the playbook now for the Maximum Male Models
since the defection of LA Knight.
[Cole] New Day, of course, mentioning earlier
the fact that The Usos are closing in
on their record-setting reign as Tag Team Champions.
New Day holds the record at 483 days.
The Usos, as of tonight, are at 467. Oh.
[Wade] Championship record in real jeopardy right now--
[Cole] Oh! Senton by Woods.
And now, a pose of his own.
-[Maxxine] Mansoor, focus! Focus! -[Cole] Mace does not like it.
Come on, baby.
[Cole] Tag made. Here comes Kofi Kingston, former WWE Champion.
New Day is perhaps the greatest tag team in WWE history
because of moves like that.
The double-team by Kofi.
Hook of the leg and a kickout.
[Wade] You gotta think New Day really want to sharpen themselves up right now
ahead of an apparent assault on that Uso title reign.
[Cole] Yeah. Here's Xavier Woods now from the top rope, again, double-team.
New Day showing why they set the record of 483 days in the first place.
[Wade] Looking in full control of this one.
Maximum Male Models failing really to get out of the blocks so far.
-[Cole] Woods sent out to the apron. -[grunts]
Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?
-Maxxine! Maxxine! -[Cole] Now, uh…
Maxxine rushing over to--
Oh, and now, Mace getting involved.
-Get down! Come on! -[Cole] Maxxine distracting the official.
Cover now. Mansoor looking--
Well, shoulders were never down.
[Wade] Unique offense as this moron referee
missing that entire attack by the Maximum Male Models.
[Cole] What do you want him to do, Wade? I mean, Maxxine's running around.
[Wade] It's supposed to be your job to maintain control.
Let me tell you about this doofus referee.
He's had a YouTube account for 13 years.
He's on global TV every single week.
He's amassed a total of 200 followers.
[Cole chuckling] Cover and here's a kickout.
What are you getting at with this whole thing?
[Wade] I've got some dirt on this referee.
[Cole] Dan Engler is his name, by the way.
Are you gonna tell us about the dirt or what are you gonna do?
[Wade] He's got a nine-year-old son. He's already beaten him.
-He's had a YouTube account for one week. -[Cole chuckles]
[Wade] How can you be on global TV that often
and get 200 followers in 13 years?
[Cole] Now, Mansoor looking for the upset.
Xavier Woods lands on his feet, rolls through, tag made.
Here comes Kofi.
And Kofi Kingston off the top rope picking up the pace.
[Wade] Ready to steamroller through the opposition.
[Cole] Nice dropkick by Kofi.
And a knee dropping Mace.
And Kingston!
Down goes Mansoor.
Things not quite going the Maximum Male Models' way tonight.
Boom Drop!
[crowd cheers]
[Wade] Director of talent, Maxxine Dupri,
needs to add a little direction urgently.
[crowd] New Day rocks! New Day rocks!
[Cole] And Mansoor runs into the turnbuckle, caught by Kofi.
Xavier Woods takes out Mace,
who's been little to no factor in this match
thanks to Woods and Kingston.
Now, face-first.
Kofi Kingston and a splash to the spine.
Tag made.
One! Two!
[Cole] And a little, uh…
-Midnight Hour action. -[Wade] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Cover.
Woods and Kingston with the win.
[bell rings]
["New Day, New Way" playing]
[Irvin] Here are your winners, The New Day!
[Cole] Proving why they're still among the best in the entire world, The New Day.
[crowd cheers]
Just us right there!
Impressive victory for The New Day,
but now, please welcome my guest, Sonya Deville.
[crowd booing]
Sonya, Ronda is moments away from issuing her open challenge.
Do you plan on answering?
What kind of question is that?
Why would I sit here and tell you
and ruin the element of surprise, Kayla?
I can tell you who's not gonna answer her open challenge
and that's Liv Morgan,
because she had one little loss to Ronda Rousey at Extreme Rules
and she's completely broken.
That's because she was walking around with a championship
she didn't deserve in the first place.
You know that. I know that.
-[gasps] -She--
[Cole] Oh, Liv Morgan!
Liv Morgan assaulting Sonya Deville!
Deville, I guess, didn't learn her lesson,
and now the brawl continues back in the locker room area.
[Wade] The fight is on.
Can Sonya Deville get one up finally on Liv Morgan?
-Hey, knock it off! -[Cole] Finally, some officials there
to try to separate these two.
[overlapping chatter]
-Come on. Hey! -Come on!
-Come on, Liv. -Come on!
Come on, let go!
[grunting, groaning]
[screams]
[Cole] Oh my goodness. Somebody's gotta get control of Liv here.
-[Liv screams] -[Wade] Might need a Taser here.
[screams]
-[indistinct shouting] -Get her back!
[screaming]
Chill out. Chill out.
Enough. Enough.
-["Monster of All Monsters" playing] -[sighs] You know, there's a saying.
[crowd cheering]
There's always someone bigger
and stronger than you are.
Now, Omos, it's clear that you're bigger than me,
but stronger?
-[grunting] -[clanking, thuds]
Everyone's seen that I can rip the doors off cars
and flip over ambulances and limousines.
[glass crunching]
Hell, I've picked up a tractor-trailer.
Why?
Because it was a challenge to me and it excited me.
I felt some of that same excitement
when I looked up into the eyes of the giant Omos
and I thought,
"What a challenge it's gonna be for me."
Because when it comes to challenges,
the bigger, the better.
Now, come Crown Jewel, Omos…
you're gonna find out real quick
that there is no giant too big
for the Monster of All Monsters.
[laughs]
[Cole] And "real quick" means in eight days.
A week from tomorrow, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
WWE Crown Jewel,
the Monster of Monsters taking on the giant.
Imagine the scene in the desert.
♪ Give up the fight, I'm gonna bite We're gonna take control ♪
♪ Out of the lights, sharp as a knife… ♪
[music fades]
["Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts playing]
[Cole] It is open challenge time for the SmackDown Women's Championship.
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the SmackDown Women's Championship!
Introducing first, she is the SmackDown Women's Champion,
"The Baddest Woman on the Planet,"
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey!
[Cole] Ronda saying earlier today that she's not even gonna have to stretch.
She's gonna walk out, kick butt,
and go home in tonight's open challenge.
[Wade] Might be the most confident Ronda Rousey we have ever witnessed.
♪ And I don't have to please no one ♪
♪ And I don't give a damn 'Bout my bad reputation ♪
-[music fades] -[crowd boos and cheers]
Well, it looks like the belt is back where it belongs.
[crowd boos]
And you guys are actually in luck
'cause I just so happen to be in the mood to prove it
with an open challenge tonight.
Oh, don't worry. I don't expect you to be grateful
to have such an active champion or to even realize how impressive it is
that I repeatedly defend this title at a moment's notice.
No, no, no.
I don't expect that much out of you.
And you want to know why?
Because only the great can recognize greatness.
[crowd booing]
And you're all too mediocre to even know what you're looking at.
[crowd boos]
All right, let's get this formality out of the way, shall we?
Who's feeling lucky tonight?
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Who's gonna take the open challenge?
-[mic drops] -An opportunity at the championship?
[Wade] I can think of a few ladies in that locker room who want their opportunity.
♪ It's all about me ♪
[Wade] Huh?
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Oh my goodness.
["About Me" playing]
Ladies and gentlemen, it is the return to WWE of Emma.
[Wade] What?!
[Irvin] And her opponent, from Melbourne, Australia,
-Emma! -[Wade] Oh wow.
[Cole] If you're not familiar with Emma,
she was one of the most popular Superstars in the history of NXT,
and tonight she returns to WWE.
[Wade] That is so cool. We haven't seen her in years.
[Cole] To take on Ronda Rousey.
An opportunity at the SmackDown Women's Championship.
Can Emma shock the world?
Next, on Friday Night SmackDown.
Yeah.
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, we're in the historic wrestling town
of St. Louis, Missouri.
We're at the Enterprise Center tonight,
just down the road from that building,
The Dome, where this year's Royal Rumble was held.
Ronda Rousey winning the 2022 Royal Rumble match.
Ronda is in the ring already tonight
because she's gonna defend the SmackDown Women's Championship
on Friday Night SmackDown, which is sponsored by Progressive.
So Ronda issued an open challenge to defend her championship,
and it was Emma returning to WWE to accept that challenge.
I did some research during the commercial break, Wade.
Five years to the day tomorrow,
Emma was released from WWE.
She now returns for an opportunity
to win the SmackDown Women's Title.
-[bell rings] -So Ronda Rousey,
how can she prepare for someone like Emma who is a total surprise?
[Wade] That's the point.
That is Ronda Rousey saying to every woman on the planet,
"Step in with me. I will stack the deck in your favor."
"I will have no knowledge who my opponent is,
and get this, I'm still gonna beat you."
[Cole] It's from Ronda's judo background.
She never knew who she was going to battle any given day.
[Wade] And what she did in those matches,
when she didn't know who she was gonna fight,
she just consistently kept on winning.
[Cole] Now Ronda Rousey taking down Emma.
Let's talk about Emma a little bit.
First female Australian-born wrestler in WWE back in the day.
She began training at the old FCW.
She's from Boronia, Victoria, in Australia,
-a suburb of Melbourne. -Who wants to take her back to Australia?
[Cole] And Ronda Rousey now dominating Emma,
and Emma though slides down underneath. Rolls up Ronda.
Trying to win the championship, and a kickout.
[Wade] Emma has been competing around the world for the past five years.
[Cole] Roll-up and a kickout by Ronda.
[Wade] Attempting to stay sharp, but staying sharp is one thing.
Staying sharp enough for someone like Ronda Rousey
is something else completely.
[Cole] Wade, Emma considers herself
one of the pioneers of women's wrestling in NXT,
as Ronda Rousey delivers the kick to Emma.
Remember, Emma lost in the finals
of the inaugural tournament for the NXT Women's Championship.
Emma losing to Paige that night,
so she has been close to the top of the mountain.
As Ronda Rousey, knee-first into the steel steps,
and this could be Emma's opening, Wade.
[Wade] Emma's got to be razor sharp in this matchup.
No signs of ring rust apparently for Emma.
Thankfully so.
[Cole] Well, now an opportunity because the champ's injured.
Remember, champion's advantage.
Emma has to pin or tap Ronda Rousey to win the title.
Ronda trying to get some feeling back into her leg.
Side step by Emma.
[Wade] This is where Emma needs to be all over Ronda Rousey.
[Cole] And there's Emma with the Tarantula.
She has a five-count
before she has to break or be disqualified.
[Wade] You cannot give Ronda Rousey an inch at this point in the matchup.
[Cole] Emma up to the top rope. Ronda Rousey back to her feet,
and a little Emma-mite Sandwich by Emma.
Cover for the title and a kickout.
Remember the old Emma-mite Sandwich from the old days.
[Wade] Yes, indeed. I got a question.
When she came out, how smart it was to make your return
against a woman as dominant as Ronda Rousey.
[Cole] Why not? If you're gonna return, you can win the championship.
-Can you imagine? -[referee] Ronda. Come on.
[Cole] Now, Ronda, in what she calls the Rondaconda.
Trying to tie up Emma in the bottom rope using the five-count.
[Wade] Anacondas eat tarantulas for lunch, Michael Cole.
-[referee] Inside here. Let's go. -[Cole] Ronda Rousey dominating right now…
Where you goin'?
-[Cole] …and having her way with Emma. -You tryin' to reach something?
[Wade] It would be the biggest headline on planet Earth
if Emma can pull off a victory here.
[Cole] And Ronda just toying with her opponent.
-[Rousey shouting indistinctly] -One! Two!
[Wade] Ronda Rousey snaps limbs for a living.
It's the reason the whole world knows her name.
[Cole] Ronda Rousey also says
she doesn't give a damn about the WWE fans.
She believes that the fans turned their back on her.
She said she's doing the open challenge not for them,
but to prove that she's the best in the world.
[Wade] It's true. They were clamoring for their favorites, not for the best.
-[Cole] This could be over. -[Wade] Oh my.
[Cole] Ronda Rousey punishing Emma,
and you have to wonder if Emma's gonna tap here.
-Tap! -[Emma groans]
-[Cole] Ronda screaming for Emma to tap. -Tap! Tap! Tap!
They don't care about you, Emma.
They don't even remember you. Emma who?
[Cole] Emma trying to hang on
as Rousey continues to punish Emma in this championship match.
Mocking the crowd. Emma, though, taking control.
And Emma hammering away on Ronda Rousey. Showing a bit of life here.
[Wade] Rousey gloating a little too much there.
Not wise against the caliber of opponent like Emma.
[Cole] Running knee, caught her in a clothesline, drops the champion.
Critical moment now in the matchup.
Both women down, center of the ring. Referee Jessika Carr right there.
Can Emma somehow rally to pull off an upset?
-Bang. -[Wade] Let's face it.
Emma's fighting for her future in this matchup.
Fighting with a little extra something.
Perhaps came back to WWE
with some unfinished business, and I like it.
[Cole] Been a very physical matchup here tonight
for the SmackDown Women's Title.
The veteran Emma hammering away on Ronda Rousey.
Plenty to prove here tonight.
[Wade] What a great showing from Emma so far.
Can she close the deal?
[Cole] Uh-oh. And Emma now, side Russian leg sweep to the champion.
[Wade] Ronda Rousey may have taken this one a little too lightly.
[Cole] Cover again for the championship.
Is it enough to put Ronda away,
who's got a kick at two.
And now Ronda…
looking for an ankle lock. Trying to get Emma to tap out yet again.
[groaning]
-Where's your Vegemite now? Huh? -[screaming]
[Cole] Emma's in the center of the ring with nowhere to go.
Ronda Rousey looking to put her away.
[Wade] Glory is slipping through the fingers of Emma.
No way out from here.
[Cole] Ronda's gonna try to break the ankle.
Emma trying to hang on, realizing tonight is her opportunity.
Trying to make it to the ropes. Flip through. Rousey into the corner.
Prevents herself from going face-first into the turnbuckle,
and now misses with a kick.
[Wade] Slammed on the anchors just in time.
[Cole] Emma now with the champion,
dragging her back toward the middle of the ring.
[screams]
Oh! And a suplex by Emma.
Now Emma firing up against the champion.
-[screaming] -[crowd cheering]
Can this be her moment to pull off a monumental upset?
As you take another look.
[Wade] Deadlift wheelbarrow suplex.
Emma's got some new stuff in her arsenal.
[Cole] Cover now. Hook of the leg…
and a kickout at two.
That right there is the original version…
-[Wade] Millisecond away. -…of the Emma-mite Sandwich.
And again…
into the corner.
Looking to put Rousey away.
[Wade] Ronda Rousey thought she was gonna have an easy night tonight.
[Cole] Yeah. Emma taking her to the limit here.
[grunting]
And Rousey had Emma up looking for Piper's Pit.
[groans]
Referee Jessika Carr just-- Oh, look at--
Ronda Rousey, I believe, just raked the eyes of Emma
as the official had to sidestep and get out of harm's way.
And now, Rousey's taking control with Piper's Pit.
And Rousey now…
[crowd cheering]
-[Wade] It's limb snapping time. -…with the armbar.
-Emma has to tap. Rousey retains. -[bell rings]
♪ I don't give a damn 'Bout my reputation ♪
[Irvin] Here is your winner by submission
and still the SmackDown Women's Champion,
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey!
[Cole] An admirable effort tonight by Emma,
but Ronda Rousey retaining the SmackDown Women's Championship
-here on SmackDown. -[Wade] Yeah.
Ronda Rousey dug deep into her bag of tricks on that one.
Pulled out the victory. Scraping the eyes.
What a performance once again
from the WWE Women's SmackDown Champion.
Ronda Rousey defending the SmackDown Women's Title here tonight.
We have breaking news now
considering-- when we talk about the Raw Women's Title.
It's going to be defended a week from tomorrow
at Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bianca Belair versus Bayley in a Last Woman Standing Match.
[Wade] And, Cole, the way you win that match
is by beating your opponent so badly,
they cannot make it to their feet by the count of ten.
[Cole] Takes place at Crown Jewel a week from tomorrow.
Also, based on what happened earlier tonight,
we will have a Tag Team Championship match at Crown Jewel.
The Usos putting their reign on the line against the Brawling Brutes.
[Wade] And as we know, The Usos closing in
on beating New Day's reign as the longest ever WWE Tag Champs.
♪ Me and all my soldiers ♪
-About what though? -Man, besides Sami Uso, oh…
man, Logan Paul, man. I need to get him.
He-He knocked me out when I wasn't looking, OG.
Flat back, counting sheep hopping over the gate.
If you just let me go holla at him real quick, please, OG.
You know, some things, some things shouldn't be dealt with--
Well, sometimes it's better for him to hear it
-from his Wiseman. -True.
I got you on this.
I'm the warden of the Uso penitentiary.
Cool, man, you got me?
Always and all ways.
-Thank you. -Yeah. Always. Yeah.
[sighs heavily]
["Legend of the Ghost" playing]
[Cole] I sort of feel for Paul Heyman.
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following is a six-man tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Zelina Vega,
Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro, and Santos Escobar,
Legado del Fantasma!
[Cole] Wade, tell me about this group now led by Santos and Zelina.
[Wade] Oh my word.
Well, Zelina is the new addition, but the trio of men--
-[static crackles] -[animal growling]
[whooshing, crackling]
[Wade] …entire show.
SmackDown had a massive upgrade with this crew in town.
[Cole] So tonight is a six-man tag team match.
The problem is…
Hit Row only has two men.
B-Fab says she's got someone in mind.
Who's it gonna be? We find out next.
[crowd booing]
Hey, nice work.
Taking care of what's her name? The new girl?
-I don't know, like aviator crowd. -Hey.
I don't know if you're the baddest woman on the planet
or the luckiest woman on the planet,
because if I had answered your open challenge,
I'd be champion right now, Ronda.
-No-- -[groans]
[gags, gasps]
[gasping]
[groaning]
[coughing]
That's what we're missing.
[coughing]
[panting]
[Wade] That was a completely unnecessary
and appalling attack by Shayna Baszler.
[Cole] Legado del Fantasma set for six-man tag team match against Hit Row.
We're gonna show you how this match came about.
Here is our Progressive Match Flo.
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[Cole] Hit Row set for tag team action.
Top Dolla, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, and of course, accompanied by B-Fab.
Oh, wait a minute! Who the hell?
Hit Row being attacked from all angles.
-[Zelina] Zelina Vega is back… -[crowd booing]
…and I did not come alone.
SmackDown is ours.
LDF, we have no competition
because we are head and shoulders above everybody else.
[Cole] This is a four-on-three assault.
[Escobar] We are Legado del Fantasma, an unbreakable force.
Our legacy on SmackDown begins
by destroying Hit Row.
[Cole] But B-Fab of Hit Row claims that she has a plan.
She says, "I'm the dime who makes the deals."
Who has B-Fab brought along
to help Hit Row in this six-man tag team battle tonight?
♪ Hit Row, Hit Row ♪
-♪ Hit Row ♪ -♪ And if you didn't know… ♪
[Irvin] And their opponents,
first, accompanied to the ring by B-Fab,
Ashante "Thee" Adonis and Top Dolla,
Hit Row!
[Cole] Top Dolla looks like Mr. Wrestling.
[indistinct]
♪ No, we don't count it slowly ♪
♪ Stop that talkin', better show me ♪
♪ I fly up at the top ♪
[music fades]
[chuckles]
Since Legado don't want to fight us to our faces,
Hit Row is rising, son,
and we got friends in high places.
[laughs]
["The Rising Sun" plays]
[Cole] Indeed they do.
What a coup by B-Fab.
[Irvin] And their tag team partner,
from Kyoto, Japan, weighing in at 220 pounds,
Shinsuke Nakamura!
[Wade] Well, this is a combination I had no idea I needed in my life.
[Cole] I believe that B-Fab pulled one over on Zelina here tonight.
Did you notice B-Fab not wearing heels?
She's all business.
[Wade] She's coming for a fight.
What do you know about fashion, anyway, Cole?
You've been wearing the same suit for the past 25 years.
[Cole] No. I've gained a lot of weight. And here we go. Brawl underway.
Matchup not even underway yet.
Hit Row going right after Legado del Fantasma.
And B-Fab screaming down at Zelina. She wants some.
[Wade] Hit Row have been outfought and outnumbered two weeks in a row.
It's about time they got in the ring and regulated.
[Cole] The official here just trying to gain some semblance of control
so we can actually start this matchup.
And Top Dolla!
-And now Ashante "Thee" Adonis… -[howls]
…sending Mr. Wilde for a fly across the ring.
[Wade] Legado del Fantasma run the bingo.
[Cole] And Top Dolla with a crossbody in the corner.
[Wade] Hit Row run the streets.
[Cole] To Cruz del Toro who's gonna go cruising.
-Huh? -[Cole] And now Shinsuke Nakamura
having some fun with Santos Escobar.
Not quite what Legado del Fantasma was planning for here tonight.
[Wade] The man can dance. I didn't know he could rap too.
[indistinct chatter]
[Cole] And Zelina telling Santos, "Let's focus."
It's hard to focus when you've been beaten down
and the match hasn't even started yet.
-And now B-Fab! -[crowd cheering]
What's up, huh? What's up?
[Cole] We still got to get this match underway, and…
Hit Row is doing some damage.
[all screaming] Come on!
Let's go!
[Cole] We're back on Friday Night SmackDown.
Six-man tag team action.
Legado del Fantasma against Hit Row and Shinsuke Nakamura.
The match got underway during the commercial break,
and we're gonna show you some of the action
-that happened during the commercial. -[Wade] This matchup did a complete 180.
Hit Row in full control
until Legado got up to their old tricks,
launching Ashante "Thee" Adonis into our table,
and things have looked bleak ever since.
[Cole] Zelina was on Busted Open Radio on SiriusXM this week.
She basically said, "Hit Row is just there. Nothing personal."
"They're not credible. We're the ones in the spotlight."
"We're gonna step on Hit Row to get to where we're going here in WWE."
And Top Dolla and company were not happy with those comments.
[Wade] Well, they might not be,
but things are looking downhill in this matchup right now.
-Ashante "Thee" Adonis… -[Cole] Tag.
…getting battered from pillar to post,
-and on the wrong side of the tracks. -[Cole] Tell me about Santos Escobar.
-You called a lot of his matches in NXT. -[Wade] Oh my word.
One of the finest exponents of lucha libre anywhere on the planet.
A hundred years of lucha tradition has gone into building this trio,
and of course, with the acquisition of Zelina Vega,
they got stronger and stronger.
[Cole] They talked about Zelina,
saying the family business is growing into an empire.
Business grows stronger through merger and acquisitions.
The latest acquisition is Zelina.
[Wade] Of course they do. Just look at Elon Musk acquiring Twitter.
Just gets more powerful and more powerful.
And you expect Legado won't stop
-until they control the blue brand. -[Cole] Oh!
Del Toro with a splash off the top rope.
Cover now, and now Top Dolla gonna break things up.
Top Dolla had a chuckle and said,
"I can't believe that Legado del Fantasma is saying
how they're head and shoulders above us
when they don't even reach our shoulders."
[Wade] He ain't chuckling now, is he?
Seeing his boy Ashante "Thee" Adonis getting his ribs smashed in.
[groaning]
[Cole] Ashante needs to make a tag.
This is perfect tag team wrestling from Legado del Fantasma.
[grunting, groaning]
[Cole] Shots to the midsection.
Ashante trying to create some space.
[Wade] You talk about that perfect tag team wrestling.
How can Shinsuke Nakamura form any chemistry…
-[Cole] Tag! -…with Hit Row this quickly?
Now he's getting his chance.
[Cole] Yeah. When Legado del Fantasma have been a team for years.
Shinsuke Nakamura however, the veteran, former Royal Rumble winner.
And Shinsuke taking out Fantasma.
[crowd gasping]
I'm not sure you want to go strike for strike…
[grunting]
…with Shinsuke Nakamura, the King of Strong Style.
[Wade] Erratic, enigmatic, and highly unpredictable.
-Aside from the fact he's damn good. -[Cole] Oh!
Enzuigiri dropped Escobar.
-[screams] -[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Nakamura fired up.
I like this combination of Shin with Hit Row.
[groans]
[screams]
[Cole] And that's vintage Nakamura.
[Wade] Yeah. Nakamura can vibe.
-He can drop some beats. -[grunting]
[Cole] Joaquin Wilde runs into a kick from Shinsuke.
[Wade] Drop opponents too.
[Cole] Now he catches Escobar on the other side.
Cover now by Shin for the win in this six-man tag match,
and a kickout.
Zelina realizes how close that was.
Tag made. And here comes Top Dolla.
[indistinct chatter]
-[Wade] Escobar desperate for a tag here. -[Cole] Oh! And…
Catching Cruz del Toro in midair, got him up on his shoulders.
[Wade] Oh, seen this before.
[Cole] And now Joaquin Wilde as well.
[referee] Come on.
No, no, no!
[Wade] World's Strongest Wasteland!
[Cole] Had to get that in.
Oh! And Escobar catches him with a kick to the face.
Now, Santos Escobar picking apart Top Dolla.
-[groans] -[crowd gasps]
[Wade] Beast of a human being Top Dolla really is.
[Cole] Yeah, that chop barely fazed Top Dolla.
What does Top Dolla have in store?
Top Dolla gonna show some lucha libre of his own
-on the top rope… -[indistinct] three!
…with a Downtown Three!
[Wade] Adding insult to injury to the masters of lucha libre.
[Cole] And Nakamura now the legal man
with a Kinshasa!
[crowd cheering]
-One, two, three! -[Cole] Hit Row and Shin with the win.
[bell rings]
["The Rising Sun" playing]
[Irvin] Here are your winners,
the team of Hit Row
and Shinsuke Nakamura!
[Cole] Well, we wondered how they would adjust to being a team.
Pretty damn good.
[Wade] Worked incredibly well,
much to the chagrin of the serpent-like Zelina Vega.
[Cole] B-Fab had a great plan tonight, picking Shinsuke Nakamura for the team.
My Tribal Chief…
-[music ends] -[crowd cheering]
…if I can implore upon you.
I just need you to watch
one simple piece of footage.
Please, sir.
Let me roll it for you.
You ready?
All right.
Shoulder, shoulder. Shoulder, shoulder, right.
[indistinct chatter]
[grunting]
He did the Ali!
[spluttering]
Why are we watching this?
Because, my Tribal Chief…
it just takes one lucky punch.
He's not… [scoffs]
Wiseman, he's not gonna hit a lucky punch.
My Tribal Chief, I was in synagogue.
And I was sitting next to a doctor
who knows a doctor who knows Logan Paul's doctor.
And you know how we all kibitz.
And Logan Paul's doctor told the doctor that knows my doctor
that Logan Paul once broke his hand…
and Logan Paul has steel pins inserted in the hands
that he throws that knockout punch with.
Wiseman. [scoffs]
-Wiseman. -Yes, my Tribal Chief?
He's had two matches.
-Two. -And-And this will be his third match.
And Brock Lesnar won the UFC title in his third match.
Not that Logan Paul is Brock Lesnar.
Not-Not that Brock Lesnar is Roman Reigns.
I mean, you beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania,
and-and-and then SummerSlam in a Last Man--
My Tribal Chief, I think this is a good time
-for me to take my absence. -I think so too.
I'm-I'm gonna fire up the jet for you, my Tribal Chief.
-That's what you should do. -Thank you for your time, my Tribal Chief.
[Heyman muttering]
We're back here on Friday Night SmackDown.
-And I'm standing by with LA-- -…A Knight.
Yeah, let me talk to you. It seems like I should go ahead
and handle all my introductions around here, right?
'Cause, uh, last time I checked with the ring announcer out there,
she couldn't even get my hometown right.
How hard is that job?
I could do it in my sleep, right?
Yeah. Matter of fact, I'll do it for you right now.
-Hailing from-- -Well, well, well,
-if it isn't Lala Knight. -[crowd cheering]
Look, man, I just wanted to be the one to come and tell you that,
you know, you might get a little bit warmer of a reception around here
if you didn't act like you were some God's gift to SmackDown.
I'm just trying to help you out.
Oh yeah?
Yeah. Because around here,
when someone's head grows as big as yours is,
someone else is likely to knock it around.
You know what? You're right.
I am God's gift to SmackDown.
Yeah!
All right, go ahead. Keep running your mouth
'cause I promise you, somebody's gonna shut it.
["Dead Silent" playing]
[Cole] The cunning and seductive…
evil Scarlett…
leading "The Harbinger of Doom" Karrion Kross to the ring.
♪ He is time ♪
♪ Famine, war ♪
♪ Pestilence ♪
♪ You cannot endure ♪
♪ The end is here ♪
♪ Fall and pray ♪
[Cole] It is the return tonight of Karrion Kross,
who, a few weeks ago, was sent to the hospital
by an irate Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre responsible for a car accident involving Kross and Scarlett
and then the attack after that accident
that sent Kross to the hospital.
-Drew McIntyre has been raging… -[screams]
…since his loss in a Strap Match to Karrion Kross.
And tonight, Friday Night SmackDown is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
["Ready For Business" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, from Minneapolis, Minnesota,
weighing in at 245 pounds,
Madcap Moss!
[Cole] So Kross will go one-on-one with the upstart Madcap
here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
And we invite you to enjoy premium experiences
when Elimination Chamber comes to Montreal this February
with a WWE Priority Pass powered by On Location.
Go to onlocationexp.com/WWE
to secure your package today.
Kross and Moss, one-on-one here tonight
-on Friday Night SmackDown. -[bell rings]
Karrion Kross, of course, a week from tomorrow,
eight nights away, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
WWE Crown Jewel,
special start time of 12:00 noon on the East Coast,
streaming live and exclusively on Peacock.
Kross will be locked inside a steel cage with Drew McIntyre.
[Wade] This match right here is an opportunity for Kross
to send a message to Drew McIntyre,
show him that there's no lingering damage
from that vehicular assault we saw two weeks ago.
[Cole] An atomic drop by Madcap
as he drops Karrion Kross and stares down at Scarlett.
Now remember, we've talked a lot about Drew McIntyre
and how, for months now,
the odds have really been stacked against Drew.
-Woo! -[Cole] And it came to a head back
at Extreme Rules in the Strap Match
when Scarlett used Mace to blind Drew McIntyre,
giving Kross the victory.
And now, you lock them inside a steel cage
and you try, at least attempt, to take Scarlett out of the equation
by keeping her outside the cage.
[Wade] A steel cage is the absolute best thing for Drew McIntyre.
The issue all along for McIntyre has been the numbers game.
They come as a duo, Kross and Scarlett.
The inevitable influence of Scarlett
will hopefully be held at bay in the steel cage.
[Cole] But let's not forget how dangerous of a man
Karrion Kross is inside a steel cage.
There are no disqualifications. You do whatever you want.
You win via pinfall, submission,
or escape over the top or through the door.
[Wade] I'll take nothing away from Karrion Kross.
Puts the fear of God into me.
But McIntyre is a pretty dangerous individual in his own right.
What a match.
[Cole] Kross sending Madcap across the ring and runs right into an elbow.
And Madcap, oh, with a shoulder tackle.
[Wade] What a tremendous athlete Madcap Moss is.
His only issue has been,
what is his direction post-split from Corbin?
[Cole] Kross is upset. Madcap in control.
[Madcap] Come on, baby!
[Cole] And we are back live on Friday Night SmackDown.
Karrion Kross one-on-one with Madcap,
and Madcap putting up a hell of a fight tonight.
Oh, and what a throw by Kross.
Scarlett looking on.
A week from tomorrow, Kross locked inside a steel cage
at Crown Jewel with Drew McIntyre.
[Kross screams]
[Wade] Straight to the jaw.
Just cleaning the clock of Madcap Moss.
[Cole] Well, Kross is someone who thrives
on the energy of suffering and torturing his opponent.
[Wade] Mental intimidation combined with physical annihilation.
[Cole] And Scarlett just stirs the pot, stirs Kross on.
Another great throw.
And Northern Lights and now…
-[grunts] -…rolls out of it into a clothesline.
Cover now by Kross. Hook of the leg. Is it enough?
And Madcap able to get the shoulder up.
[Wade] Kross and Scarlett, just two bundles of negative energy
feeding off one another.
[Cole] This is the pace that Kross loves.
Just to continue to beat down.
Make your opponent suffer.
[Wade] And you know McIntyre is watching this very closely.
Kross hoping to give McIntyre
some sleepless nights ahead of Crown Jewel.
[Cole] Forearm straight to the gut.
[Wade] Madcap Moss' chances are dropping off
-faster than Tom Brady here. -[Cole] Oh!
Kross has said that his intentions are to overthrow all competitors,
including Madcap, who kicks again at two.
To do anything he can to establish total dominance in WWE.
[Wade] Get the sense that Madcap Moss is just delaying the inevitable.
It's a game fight from him
and you've got to take your hat off to his durability.
I own you.
[crowd boos]
[Cole] He wants to be the most ruthless Superstar
to ever walk the squared circle in WWE.
Madcap looking to fight back,
and, again, runs into a wicked elbow from Kross.
Cover again by Kross to put Madcap away,
and Madcap stays in the fight.
Very impressive young Superstar is Madcap.
Scarlett getting very upset and distressed here
over the fact that Madcap will not be put away.
-[groans] -What a whip into the corner.
Look at that sick, sadistic smile on the face of Kross.
[Wade] Starting to be concerned for the physical well-being
of Madcap Moss at this point.
It's getting beyond competition now.
[Cole] A great suplex. Floating into the cover is Kross.
Madcap gets his shoulder up again.
[Wade] Just out of the frying pan and into the fire for Madcap Moss.
[Cole] Trying to make it to the bottom rope.
Kross trying to lock in an armbar,
-and now he's got to break at five. -Two! Three!
[Cole] Has a full five-count and does.
Referee Jason Ayers right there with the call.
[Wade] Madcap Moss in a real bad way here.
Jason Ayers better take a close look at this.
[Cole] Kross continues to punish Moss who continues to fight out of this.
You got to admire the grit and the heart of Madcap here.
[Wade] There's an unbreakable spirit to the man.
[grunts]
[Cole] Madcap continuing to fight back now.
Karrion Kross still on his feet, but for how much longer?
Madcap exploding off the ropes with a clothesline.
[Wade] Nice. What a way to get back on track
for Madcap Moss by knocking off Karrion.
[Cole] And here is the impact of Madcap.
-[screams] -That high intensity, high energy
has got Madcap back in the game.
[Wade] Suddenly looking rejuvenated.
[Cole] Oh, what a right!
Madcap, however, with a spinebuster, into the cover.
Is it enough to knock off Kross
who can ill afford a loss here tonight,
eight nights away from a Steel Cage Match?
-[screams] -Madcap with a fallaway slam.
And Kross is now reeling.
[crowd cheering]
Madcap buries his shoulder in the gut of Karrion Kross…
-[grunts] -…and yet again.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] And now, Scarlett with the distraction,
allows Kross to take over.
[Wade] We see it time and time again.
This is a demonic duo.
[Cole] A back suplex floors Madcap
and, again, Scarlett pays off being at ringside.
The mesmerizing presence of Scarlett
as Madcap was stopped in his tracks
and has turned things around now for Karrion Kross.
[Wade] All it took was one glance.
This match did a 180 in a heartbeat.
Down! Down!
[Cole] Down goes Madcap at the request of Scarlett.
[screams, grunts]
[Cole] And now, Kross with a blow right to the back of the neck.
Cover now on Madcap for the victory,
and it's over.
[bell rings]
["Dead Silent" playing]
[Irvin] Here is your winner, Karrion Kross!
[Cole] After the Down The Rabbit Hole
and then the club to the back of the head,
now the Kross Jacket locked into Madcap.
[Wade] Come on. The message has already been sent here.
[breathing heavily] Hey, McIntyre.
Just so you know, Moss put up a much better fight than you did
because he's not a coward or a hypocrite like you.
You stand for absolutely nothing
other than your own ambitions,
and we've all seen your true face,
and I will always stand for the new beginning.
And at Crown Jewel,
when they lock you inside that steel cage with me,
I promise you,
history is going to repeat itself.
Tick tock.
And Madcap Moss is out cold.
Kross Jacket still being applied.
[laughing]
[Wade] This is just fuel to the fire of Drew McIntyre.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Come on. Somebody break this.
Madcap has been out for--
[Wade] He's turning blue.
[referee] Scarlett, come on, tell him!
[Cole] Kross refusing to release the Kross Jacket on Madcap.
[Wade] No depths to which this duo will not stoop, Cole.
["Dead Silent" playing]
[Cole] My question is,
why do you continue to tick Drew McIntyre off?
You saw what McIntyre was capable of a couple of weeks ago.
And now, a week from tomorrow at Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
streaming live and exclusively on Peacock,
Karrion Kross is gonna be locked inside a steel cage
with the Scottish Warrior.
[Wade] Karrion Kross thrives on chaos.
As tough as McIntyre is,
the sick mind of Kross is prepared to go places
no other human being is willing to go.
♪ …is here ♪
♪ The end is here ♪
-["Shatter" featuring Code Orange playing] -[crowd cheers]
[static crackles]
[static crackling]
[indistinct mumbling]
[Cole] In addition to this huge match next Saturday night at Crown Jewel.
[Wade] Oh my word. Brock Lesnar taking on Bobby Lashley.
Two of the biggest brutes here in WWE.
What chaos and disorder is in store between these two?
[Cole] For the Raw Women's Championship,
it's Bianca Belair defending against Bayley
in a Last Woman Standing Match.
You win when you incapacitate your opponent
to the point where they can't make it to their feet by the count of ten.
[Wade] And finally, finally,
Drew McIntyre gets his hands on Karrion Kross
one-on-one inside a steel cage.
Scarlett kept at bay.
Drew McIntyre gets his wish at Crown Jewel.
[Cole] Also, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on the line,
Roman Reigns looking to extend his record-setting streak
against Logan Paul, who's hoping for one lucky punch
to pull the biggest upset in wrestling history.
It takes place a week from tomorrow, 12:00 noon Eastern,
WWE Crown Jewel.
♪ We so crazy, fire blazin' ♪
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown.
And join me in welcoming the man
who'll be challenging Gunther next week on Friday Night SmackDown
for the Intercontinental Championship,
Rey Mysterio.
[crowd cheers]
Kayla, let me say how excited I am
to compete once again for the Intercontinental Title
and how truly thankful I am to be back on SmackDown, my home--
-[thwacks] -[groans]
[shouting in German]
Huh? Are you excited?
-[groaning] -Are you excited?
[grunting]
[Cole] Oh!
-[groans] -[crowd booing]
[Cole] Rey Mysterio is going to be feeling that for a week.
And speaking of a week, how about SmackDown next week?
[Wade] Yes, indeed, because it's been a war for weeks between these two.
Next week, it's gonna get put to bed.
A newly extreme Liv Morgan
takes on a vengeful Sonya Deville
in a no disqualification matchup right here on SmackDown.
[Cole] And also next week, ladies and gentlemen,
Rey Mysterio, who you just saw, is going to challenge the man
who just knocked him down with that one big chop, Gunther.
It's for the Intercontinental Championship.
Gunther versus Rey Mysterio right here on SmackDown next week.
♪ But I don't have friends When I was at my lowest ♪
[music fades]
["Shatter" featuring Code Orange playing]
[crowd cheers]
[music intensifying]
[crowd cheering]
♪ You can throw it all away ♪
♪ When things break, things shatter ♪
♪ Keep it written on your face ♪
♪ The little details matter ♪
♪ Only in me ♪
♪ I am the coil, I am the spring ♪
♪ Only in me ♪
♪ I am the ghost in the machine ♪
♪ Only in me ♪
♪ Recount confession, give no release ♪
♪ Only in me ♪
♪ Will your stain ever live to be ♪
♪ Die for me, brother ♪
♪ Know not what you've seen ♪
♪ Love one another ♪
♪ Know not where you've been ♪
♪ Lie for me, brother ♪
♪ Know not what you've said ♪
♪ Use me for cover ♪
♪ When things break, things shatter ♪
♪ Just a sliver of a thought can make ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Even a thick head clatter ♪
♪ Disappear without a trace ♪
♪ While the whole world's laughing ♪
♪ But it's only in me ♪
♪ I am the coil, I am the spring ♪
♪ Only in me ♪
♪ I am the ghost in the machine ♪
♪ Only in me ♪
♪ Recount confession, give no release ♪
♪ Only in me ♪
♪ Will your stain ever live to be ♪
♪ Die for me, brother ♪
♪ Know not what you've seen ♪
♪ Love one another ♪
♪ Know not where you've been ♪
♪ Lie… ♪
[music stops]
[crowd cheering]
I'll tell you what, this is still pretty new to me,
but I can really get used to that, man.
Do you feel that?
-[crowd cheers] -My God. Ooh!
[laughs]
It's like an adrenaline ru-- Oh my God.
[laughs]
-[man 1 from crowd] Welcome back! -[laughs]
[man 2] Welcome back, bro!
[crowd chants] Welcome back! Welcome back! Welcome back!
-[chant fades] -I'm not gonna lie,
when y'all start doing stuff like that,
it starts making me feel like I'm invulnerable or something,
like I need to do something wild.
[laughs]
[crowd cheers]
But, uh, I really wanted y'all… I wanted y'all to see something, right?
Something I'm very proud of here.
I want you to notice that, right now, it's just… it's just me and you, right?
It's just me and y'all.
There's no mask that I'm hiding behind.
There's no smoke and mirrors. It's just me and you.
[crowd cheers]
And that's what I want y'all to get used to, right?
This is-- this is…
Bray Wyatt, the real man.
[crowd cheers]
This is the best version of me that will ever be.
I am proud to be here today,
and I'm gonna do some spectacular things while I'm here.
[crowd cheers]
The truth is that, for the majority of my life,
I've been completely out of control.
[chuckles] And I can't help that, man.
My emotions, they don't… they don't work
like most other people's.
I don't have control.
Sometimes, they can send me to a very, very dark place.
And other times, no matter how hard I try,
I… I just don't feel anything at all.
-[man from crowd] We love you, Bray! -[chuckles]
[crowd cheering]
I think that's part of what makes me me, right?
For me to get where I have gotten,
I've had to do some really horrible things
and there's a part of me that really, really likes
that I'm not afraid to do horrible things.
[chuckles]
And I know that that's not the end of it.
I know that there will come another time
when I'm faced with some adversity
and I will be asked to do something completely horrible…
[static crackles]
-[ominous music playing] -[whispering]
Who… who… who-who-who-who-who…
Who am…
Who-who-who-who-who…
Who am I?
I'm just the ghost of the man who sold the world, of course.
[laughs]
Wow, you need me.
You are a fool.
You-You killed the world! Killed the world!
You sent him away.
And they… they are the reason why
you are just a shell of what you once were.
And I say… I say teach you to revel… revel… revel in what you are.
But you, sir…
But you are a liar.
You're a liar.
You claim that… You claim you don't wear a mask anymore…
Do not wear a mask…
But we both know that's not true, don't we?
I… I can see you.
You will never be able to hide from me.
Your Uncle Howdy.
[ominous music playing]
[whooshes, crackles] g]