[WWE signature intro playing]
[John Cena] Then.
-[Ric Flair] Woo! -[glass shatters]
[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolls] -[Cena] Now.
[Roman Reigns] Acknowledge me!
-♪ The King of Kings ♪ -♪ You can't see me ♪
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
As a master storyteller I'm here to tell you all a story.
A "Once upon a time in Hollywood" story.
["Hollywood Swinging" by Kool & The Gang playing]
[Michael Cole] It is an event that has turned into a worldwide phenomenon.
Welcome to WrestleMania!
We got star power.
You're welcome.
[Miz] A two-night total
of 161,892.
♪ In this Hollywood city, yeah ♪
♪ The city of the stars Movies, women, and cars ♪
♪ Well, I guess, I guess I… ♪
♪ Star ♪
♪ Say, hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ Ha-hey ♪
♪ Hollywood ♪
♪ Hollywood swinging ♪
[Cole] Pat McAfee's here and he's going to take out Miz.
[Corey Graves] Snoop just punched Miz in the mouth!
[Cole] And Snoop Dogg taking out Miz.
[Graves] Two super heavyweight Goliaths about to clash.
♪ Tell me, are you ready for war? Are you ready for war? ♪
♪ Right now, I'ma settle the score ♪
[Cole] Logan Paul against Seth Rollins.
[Graves] That's KSI.
[Cole] Logan's business partner, his buddy!
♪ Igniting the light Yeah, I'm ready to fight ♪
["Sound of Glory" by Pop Evil playing]
[Graves] Tonight belongs to Seth.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio will try to punish Dominik.
How do you treat your family that way?
Shut your mouth!
[Cole] Dominik deserves what he got tonight!
[Austin Theory] I made John Cena believe.
♪ Yeah, you gotta believe ♪
[Cole] Trish Stratus, Lita, and Becky Lynch taking on Damage CTRL.
♪ I'ma write my story ♪
♪ Hey, oh, tell me, can you hear… ♪
[Cole] Gunther retains the championship!
♪ It's the sound of glory ♪
[Cole] What a title defense by Bianca Belair!
In the City of Angels, Edge has slayed The Demon!
Rhea Ripley's the SmackDown Women's Champion!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens,
the brand-new Undisputed Tag Team Champions.
An incredible outpouring of emotion!
[song ends]
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] This is a moment generations in the making…
Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Title.
-["This Chosen One" playing] -♪ I am the chosen one ♪
♪ Put my life on the line ♪
♪ I'm willing to die ♪
♪ For the life of my tribe ♪
♪ Predestined to win ♪
♪ Bloodline of a champ ♪
♪ Blood, sweat, and tears This is the will to survive ♪
[Cole] Solo's been ejected.
-[crowd cheering] -♪ This is the will to survive! ♪
♪ Fight till the end Never give up, I'ma fight till I win ♪
♪ And do it again, again and again ♪
♪ Fighting the battle and winning the war Till I eat with my men ♪
[Cole] Cody's gonna do it!
Heyman with the official.
Who the…
Solo with a Samoan Spike.
Spear.
[bell rings]
♪ This is the will to survive! ♪
♪ The mission ain't hidden We do it overt ♪
♪ Sound the alarm ♪
[Cole] As the 945-day reign continues.
♪ Look in my eyes This is the will to survive! ♪
[song fades]
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[Cole] On the heels of a record-breaking and incredible two nights of WrestleMania,
we welcome you live to the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon,
for Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
Sponsored tonight by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
["Bring The Fire" playing]
[Cole] And we kick things off tonight
because Fridays are Fight Night.
[bell rings]
[Samantha Irvin] The following is a six-man tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, Ridge Holland,
Butch, and Sheamus, The Brawling Brutes!
[Cole] I'm still trying to figure out how Sheamus is even walking.
We'll get to that story in just a moment.
But it is quite the night here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
After a whirlwind and historic week in WWE,
headlines from WrestleMania and beyond,
to talk all about it, The Game,
the Hall of Famer, Triple H, is here tonight.
[Wade Barrett] Not only that, the now former Tag Team Champion
and former friend of Sami Zayn, Jey Uso,
looks to reset the balance tonight as Jey and Sami
go one-on-one in tonight's main event.
[Cole] The Brutes set for six-man tag team action.
[crowd cheering]
["Symphony No. 9 in E Minor" playing]
[Irvin] And their opponents, Ludwig Kaiser,
Giovanni Vinci,
and the Intercontinental Champion, Gunther,
Imperium!
[Cole] Imperium gets set to take on The Brutes in six-man tag team action,
but also tonight,
it was a rather eventful week
for the Mysterios, Rey and his son, Dominik.
Tonight, Rey Mysterio teams with Santos Escobar
to take on Damian Priest and his son, Dominik, of Judgment Day,
right here on FOX.
What a massive show!
[Barrett] Man, huge amounts of WrestleMania fall out
before our eyes tonight on SmackDown.
[Cole] So again, let's talk about WrestleMania,
let's talk about the fact that Gunther defended the Intercontinental Championship
against Sheamus and Drew McIntyre.
As of tonight, Gunther has the longest reign,
Intercontinental Championship reign, of the 21st century.
But how are Gunther and Sheamus even walking tonight
after one of the most physical and brutal battles we've ever witnessed?
[Barrett] Well, that is a question that simply cannot be answered, Michael Cole.
I have no clue.
I've been in the ring with Sheamus, I know how much that man hurts,
but it has to be said, the triple threat at WrestleMania
was the hardest-hitting match in the history of this entire industry.
[Cole] And there's a takedown by Giovanni Vinci,
who starts things off against Butch in our tag team matchup tonight.
A lot of history, Wade, between both of these teams.
[Barrett] Oh man, they know each other so well.
And I was speaking to The Brawling Brutes a little earlier in the locker room,
they've been really, really antsy of late.
They absorbed a lot of the energy over the WrestleMania weekend
without actually having an outlet to burn off that aggression.
Well, that comes tonight.
[Cole] Butch, of course, the rabid member, so to speak,
of The Brawling Brutes.
[Barrett] Terrier-like aggression from Butch comes as standard.
Never back down from a fight.
[Cole] And the tag made to the powerhouse known as Ridge Holland.
[man] Come on, Ridgie!
[Cole] What is it about Ridge that's really impressed you, Wade?
-[Barrett] Just as you mentioned… -[Cole] Oh, crossbody.
[Barrett] …exceptional power.
But Vinci is a smart man, he knows he cannot overpower Ridge.
He's going fast, utilizing that speed,
that high-flying ability that he has.
He really is the decathlon man of WWE. Can literally do it all in the ring.
[Cole] And Ludwig Kaiser now, the legal man for Imperium.
Here's the cover, and a kickout by Holland.
Kaiser, of course, with the technical prowess.
[Barrett] Absolutely right. The master technician in the locker room.
But once again, Ridge reverting to type,
going for that powerhouse approach of his.
[Cole] And now Butch, the legal man off the tag,
and right to the left arm of Ludwig Kaiser.
And now Butch goes to work. Made so much over the…
And if Kaiser, realizing how dangerous Butch is,
decides to tag out, in comes Vinci.
[Barrett] I've also noticed that both Gunther and Sheamus
have not come into the match.
You mentioned earlier, how can they be at 100%?
-Perhaps that's the tell. Perhaps-- -[Cole] Oh!
[Barrett] Perhaps, they're not.
Giovanni Vinci can't be at 100% after that.
[Cole] And Butch, of course,
who is the master when it comes to joint manipulation,
picking apart parts of the body.
-Let's go, Butch! -Wait, wait, wait! Hold on!
[Cole] Now Gunther having words with Sheamus.
And Kaiser taking advantage. The referee's distracted.
Look at that double-team.
And the power now of Vinci into the vertical suplex.
Incredible effort by Imperium!
Cover now on Butch who gets the shoulder up at two.
[Barrett] Once again, great cohesive strategy from the Imperium lads.
Sheamus is angry, but it's too late now, pal.
[Cole] Our six-man tag team matchup continues here
on Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
The Intercontinental Champion, Gunther,
is in control in this six-man tag team matchup,
Imperium versus The Brawling Brutes.
We're live tonight in Portland, Oregon, with Friday Night SmackDown.
-This is incredible. -[Barrett] Yeah.
A little distraction there from the Imperium lads.
And superb catch from Giovanni Vinci.
Once again, pouring scorn on the notion of fair competition,
and it has been downhill ever since.
[Cole] Oh, cheap shot by Gunther to Sheamus.
And again, the man that is in the midst
of the fifth longest Intercontinental Championship reign in history.
[groaning]
And now Butch trying to break the fingers of the Intercontinental Champion.
-[man] No! No! No! No! No! No! -[cracking]
[Cole] Oh my goodness!
-[Barrett] One way out of a sleeper. -[Cole] Tag.
[Barrett] Now, Butch just has a sickening understanding
of how to inflict ligament and tendon damage.
[Cole] Vinci went for the suplex. Butch landing on his feet.
Delivered a kick to the ear. Tag made. Here's Holland.
And Ludwig Kaiser now legal for Imperium. And the powerhouse of The Brawling Brutes,
Ridge Holland, now in the ring.
[Barrett] Get ready for some of that pent-up explosive energy.
-[grunting] -Got you, mate.
[Cole] Holland, so raw.
The raw strength of the big man, the former rugby player.
[Barrett] Just a boulder of a human being.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Or a fridge, like Sheamus likes to call him.
[grunts] Yeah!
Oh! Oh!
[Cole] Nice counter and block by Holland.
Kaiser's in trouble.
Alabama Slam connects.
Stacks him up for the victory. Kaiser able to kickout at two.
[Barrett] Kaiser needing to dig a lot deeper than he thought
he'd had to a couple of minutes earlier.
Imperium were in complete control. This just did a 180.
[Cole] Yeah, but Kaiser able to move out of harm's way.
Tag made, and now Vinci, Kaiser, and Gunther go to work.
Quick tags now.
[Barrett] This is really where Imperium…
[Cole] Double-- Triple-team!
[Barrett] …are at their best.
[Cole] And Gunther, the Intercontinental Champion,
is the legal man.
Sheamus fights back to the apron.
Saw that pensive look on Gunther's face.
He understands what Sheamus is all about
after that classic, all-time classic, at WrestleMania.
-[Barrett] You know Ridge Holland… -[Cole] Oh!
[Barrett] …is not about to stop swinging.
[Cole] Oh, and another cheap shot.
There's the running dropkick.
Gunther looking for the victory.
Powerslam to Holland.
-Stacks him up. -One, two…
[Cole] And Butch saves the matchup.
The frantic pace of Imperium versus The Brutes.
[Barrett] And how dominant is Gunther?
The legend, the aura of the big Austrian just keeps growing.
Now, Boston crab.
[Cole] The Boston crab submission move.
Holland in the middle of the ring with nowhere to go.
Meanwhile, Sheamus stomps his way up the steps back to the apron.
Ridge trying to make it to his partner.
Can he tag The Celtic Warrior in?
If he does, this place is gonna explode.
-Tag. -[crowd cheering]
And here comes Sheamus!
-[grunting] -[crowd buzzing]
And now shades of what we saw at WrestleMania Sunday.
-[grunts] -[crowd cheering]
Sheamus with a running powerslam.
[Barrett] Bone-crunching impact left, right, and center.
[Cole] Again, emotional for Sheamus,
still not able to capture the Intercontinental Title.
The one championship that's eluded him in his career.
And he's going to make the champ pay with 10 Beats of the Bodhrán.
[crowd] …six, seven, eight, nine…
[yelling]
[crowd cheering] Ten!
[Cole] And A big one for good measure.
Went for the Brogue, Gunther able to sidestep.
German suplex released.
[Barrett] The ridiculous resilience of Gunther
comes to the fore once again.
[Cole] Oh, Sheamus as well. Now a boot to the face.
Gunther now looking to put Sheamus away. Lifts him up, center of the ring.
Was looking for the power… for the, uh, powerbomb,
but Sheamus able to reverse into the White Noise.
-Cover for the victory. Gunther at two! -One, two…
[Barrett] Gunther looking for a tag in the worst way possible right now.
[Cole] Butch taking out Kaiser with a step-up enzuigiri.
Oh my goodness!
And now Ridge Holland sends Kaiser out of the ring.
-[Barrett] Pounced. -[Cole] Vinci…
[Barrett] Tip of the cap to Giovanni Vinci. High/low.
[yells indistinctly]
[Cole] Butch heading up to the top for a moonsault.
Vinci's the legal man.
Sheamus with a knee!
[crowd cheering]
Brogue! Brogue!
Brogue! Brogue! Brogue!
[Sheamus yells]
[Cole] Brogue kick!
-[crowd] One, two, three! -[Cole] The Brutes win.
[bell rings]
["Bring The Fire" playing]
[Irvin] Here are your winners,
The Brawling Brutes!
[Barrett] What an absolute barn burner that was!
Sheamus once again refusing to slow down at any point.
Just when Imperium looked like they'd grabbed the upper hand,
this one breaking down in the worst way.
Bodies flying everywhere.
[Cole] And then Sheamus
with a Brogue kick to Vinci
as the Moder-- Moda Center in Portland exploded
for the win by Sheamus and company.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, switching gears now to Monday Night Raw
where "The Beast" Brock Lesnar shocked the world,
when he brutally attacked his would-be tag team partner,
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.
We revisit this vicious assault next, on SmackDown.
♪ This is my time, get used to my name ♪
[Cole] We're back on Friday Night SmackDown
and no one has taken Roman Reigns,
and for that matter, The Bloodline itself, to the limit like Cody Rhodes.
His personal dream this weekend, almost came true.
[dramatic music playing]
[Cody] Today is turning out a lot differently for me than I anticipated.
[Cole] Cody Rhodes, he's gonna do it!
No, wait a minute. Solo.
No!
With a Samoan Spike.
Oh my God! Not like this.
[bell rings]
[Cody] I'll acknowledge this.
You've won a lot of matches where you've skated by,
but you were the victor.
Last night, I had you.
So, it boils down to just one word.
Rematch.
[crowd cheering]
No, no, no, no, no!
[crowd booing]
If you don't want to do the rematch,
last night I essentially fought both of you anyways,
why don't we at least do a tag match.
He's ready. You're ready.
Let' do something here and do something now.
[crowd cheering]
May I, for a moment, my Tribal Chief?
[ominous music playing]
Anybody who agrees to team with you tonight
will never get another title match
against Roman Reigns
as long as Roman Reigns is the champion.
[crowd booing]
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] The Beast Incarnate!
That stipulation doesn't apply to Brock Lesnar.
Brock Lesnar's already forbidden from challenging Reigns.
Lesnar will join forces with The American Nightmare.
[grim, intense music playing]
[Graves] The biggest tag team
main event in Monday Night Raw history.
I don't know that anybody would have chosen Lesnar
to stand side-by-side with Rhodes.
This is unreal!
[dramatic music playing]
What the hell?
Roman Reigns has no idea what's going on.
[intense dramatic music playing]
[crowd gasps]
Look at me! I'm your worst nightmare!
[music continues]
[crowd buzzing]
And you know, Wade, four nights later,
we still don't know why Lesnar attacked Cody Rhodes.
Well, I heard that Brock told WWE officials
that he was livid
that his match went on first on WrestleMania Sunday.
Although, with that being said,
nobody could've predicted that Brock would subsequently do
what he went and did.
You know, maybe our colleague Kayla Braxton's guest
could shed some light on this situation.
Thanks, Cole.
And yes, here to hopefully shed some insight on what we just saw,
he serves as special counsel to The Tribal Chief, Paul Heyman.
[crowd booing]
-Paul, do you have… -Hold it.
Ladies and gentlemen,
there's no booing at the name Paul Heyman, please.
[crowd booing]
Paul, do you have any idea why Brock Lesnar did what he did?
[sighs]
Kayla, why is this night
different than all other nights?
Because I, Paul Heyman,
shall pass over your intrusive interrogatory
and talk about something far, far more relevant like…
your Tribal Chief, The Head of the Table.
The fact that The Bloodline main evented both nights of WrestleMania,
all thanks
to Roman Reigns
who is now approaching 1,000 days--
[vocalizing]
-What's up, OG? -There he is.
-How you doing? -There he is.
What up, Solo?
The Right Hand Man, "Main Event" Jey Uso.
I see you, man. Uh, OG, I ain't seen Jimmy all night.
You know where he at?
You seen him?
Your brother…
is not here this evening.
The Tribal Chief wanted him to stay at home
and watch on television as you,
"Main Event" Jey Uso, The Right Hand Man,
takes out Sami Zayn all by yourself.
Cements his legacy
on the Island of Relevancy by once and for all,
by your own doing,
solving the Sami Zayn problem.
-Yeet. -That's for you.
He solves the Sami Zayn problem tonight…
or you solve our problems tonight.
[bullet ricocheting sound effect]
[Cole] Ominous words by Mr. Heyman.
Jey Uso, Sami Zayn still to come tonight.
["It's About to Go Down" playing]
♪ It's about to go down ♪
♪ Uh-huh, let's go ♪
[Cole] And it's time for The Highlight of the Night.
♪ It's about to go down ♪
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
weighing in at 207 pounds, Ricochet!
[Cole] You know, Wade, the match we have coming up,
I don't think there can be more contrasting styles.
[Barrett] Well, let's take Ricochet for example.
If you like watching miracles, this man serves up, on average,
one miracle per week here on SmackDown.
Although, he's going to have his work cut out tonight against a powerhouse.
[Cole] Ricochet, the highflyer,
takes on Ivar of The Viking Raiders.
Live, next on Friday Night SmackDown.
["Less Than Zero" by The Weeknd playing]
♪ Remember I was your hero ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I'd wear your heart like a symbol ♪
♪ I couldn't save you ♪
♪ From my darkest truth of all ♪
♪ I know ♪
♪ I'll always be less than zero ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
[Cole] And tonight,
Friday Night SmackDown on FOX is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
I can't believe that we're already on the road to WrestleMania
in Philadelphia next year.
[Barrett] It's going to be a long but fun road.
A lot of pit stops along the way.
["Vicious" playing]
[female voice] Valhalla is here.
[Irvin] And his opponent, accompanied to the ring by Valhalla,
he is one half
of The Viking Raiders, Ivar!
[Cole] So you may notice that Erik is not here tonight.
Braun Strowman not accompanying Ricochet to the ring either
because the tag team partners have been banned from ringside
for this matchup tonight,
but the very strange and creepy Valhalla will be out here.
[Barrett] Oh, I got to say that is a great call from Adam Pearce
because two things were guaranteed had the tag partners been down here.
Number one, Erik would have got involved in the matchup at some point.
Number two,
Braun Strowman would've sprinted around the ring,
flattening everything in his path
including, most likely, our announce table.
[Cole] How about WrestleMania and the Fatal 4-Way Showcase Match
between The Viking Raiders and Ricochet
and Strowman and The Alpha Academy and the eventual winning Street Profits?
What an incredible display of athleticism that night.
-Come on, ring the bell. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Here we go. We talked about this earlier, Wade.
The contrasting styles in this match.
The quickness of Ricochet and, of course, the power of Ivar.
[Barrett] Absolutely.
The gutsy and courageous Ricochet is always going to keep swinging,
trying to chop down the big tree,
but it just takes one shot from Ivar to turn this match on its head. Oh.
[Cole] Ricochet just dumped Ivar on his head.
And a dropkick will send him outside the ring.
The exhilarating, breathtaking Ricochet.
Oh, a human highlight reel.
[Barrett] Making the impossible possible before our eyes.
[Cole] And Ricochet caught by Ivar.
And again, there's the strength. Oh, goodness!
Spine first, into the apron.
[Barrett] Sometimes, gravity does not win.
-[Cole] Oh! -[Barrett] Ouch!
[Cole] And the running crossbody crushing Ricochet.
[referee] One!
[Barrett] Ricochet might need more than a miracle at this point.
He might need a ribcage transplant.
[Cole] Did you see the switch in intensity
after Valhalla got in Ivar's face?
Here, take another look. Watch this, Wade.
[Barrett] Poor Ricochet getting sandwiched here against the ring
and a flying 330-pound Ivar.
[Cole] And this is what Ivar needed to do, slow Ricochet down.
Slow the pace of the matchup to be able to deliver these wicked elbows
to the side of the head of Ricochet.
[Barrett] And what we're seeing now is a response from Ivar.
You have to think those Viking Gods that he obeys…
[Ivar] Viking Raiders!
[Barrett] …were far from happy with Viking Raiders' performance
in the WrestleMania Showcase Fatal 4-Way.
Well, now is the time to please said Gods.
[Cole] Again, the new Tag Team Champions, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn,
they're going to have to run into tag teams like The Viking Raiders
and Ricochet and Braun Strowman as they defend their titles.
[Barrett] That's a great point.
All tag teams in the division,
they've got an extra impetus to get themselves noticed right now,
including these two in the ring here.
[Cole] Ricochet up over the top,
but not enough to be able to sunset flip Ivar.
Who just hoists Ricochet up.
Ricochet, though, will land on his feet.
Oh, and a running knee.
[yells]
[yelling]
[Cole] Ivar with a knee of his own.
And… Oh!
Ivar showing some agility,
but he ran right into a dropkick by Ricochet.
[Barrett] Such ridiculous movement…
-[Cole] No way. -…from the both--
[Cole] No way!
Are you kidding me?
[Barrett] Yeah, that was never going to work.
I don't care how indomitable the spirit of Ricochet might be.
[Cole] But that'll work. Oh, spin kick.
[Barrett] Don't speak too soon, Cole.
[Cole] Cover by Ivar for the win over Ricochet who kicks out at two.
[Barrett] And that has simply angered Ivar at this point.
That flurry of strikes from Ricochet was too much
and that might signal the death knell for Ricochet's hopes in this matchup.
[Cole] Again, Ivar is sneaky quick.
Very agile for a big man.
He will go to the top rope, as he's showing here.
Took a little bit too much time and it allowed Ricochet to recover.
Ricochet trying to fight back,
shake the cobwebs out after the kick to the face.
[woman] Yes!
[Cole] Massive crowd here tonight in Portland, Oregon,
looking on as Ricochet is knocked off the top rope.
[Barrett] Bulldozer of a human being is big Ivar,
but being on the top rope, that is the realm of Ricochet!
[Cole] Wow, Ricochet!
Tremendous balance and athleticism.
And with Ivar down and out, Ricochet is going to go up high.
Set your DVR.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Shooting Star Press!
-Cover by Ricochet for the win. -One, two, three!
[bell rings]
["It's About to Go Down" playing]
[Irvin] Here is your winner, Ricochet!
[Barrett] What a game performance from both men!
But once you go up top, there's usually only one winner.
That man, "The Miracle Man" Ricochet,
and a picture-perfect Shooting Star Press
that wows every single time you set eyes on it.
It was enough to put Ivar to bed.
Huge victory tonight for Ricochet.
[Cole] Ricochet with The Highlight of the Night to knock off Ivar
on Friday Night SmackDown.
Come on, huh?
What are we doin', huh?
Hey.
Were you just staring at the titles?
No. I was… leering at them.
It's okay. I was staring at mine before too.
Hey, this is a pretty big deal, man.
First SmackDown as the Undisputed Tag Team Champions.
-It's a big night, man. -You're right. It is. Especially for you.
Big night for you, you got a big match with Jey tonight.
That's a big opportunity right there.
-What do you mean? -Oh, come on, man.
It's a big… It's a great chance
to finally just put this Bloodline stuff behind us, behind you.
You know, we took their titles at WrestleMania.
-Yeah. -We became Tag Team Champions.
And tonight, you can settle whatever is left to settle
between you and Jey and then, you know, we're done with them.
Right?
Well, you know, that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about.
Something about all this just feels off.
I-I don't know how to put it.
What you're saying is true, but I…
I can't shake this feeling, like I got to talk to him or something.
To who? Jey?
-Jey. I feel like I got to talk to him. I… -What do you mean?
What do you want to talk to him about?
Man, I-I don't know because everything you're saying is true.
You know, this is what we wanted.
We wanted the Tag Titles, we wanted to watch The Bloodline crumble,
and we did it all in the biggest way possible.
We beat them for the Undisputed Tag Titles in the main event of WrestleMania.
And yes, now it's all crumbling, but…
I know this sounds weird, but I feel like a sense of obligation.
Look, I don't know what you're talking about,
but you think you're just going to waltz in there after everything that happened
and he's going to be up to have a nice little chat with you?
You're right that we beat them. The Bloodline's crumbling.
You think that's going to make Jey willing to talk?
No. If anything, it makes him more dangerous than he's ever been.
More volatile, more unpredictable.
Like, what do you…
I don't know what you're trying to get out of this,
but, look, I've known you for a long time.
I know I can't talk you out of this, but I'm telling you right now,
it's a bad idea and you shouldn't do it.
You're right. You're right. You're right.
Of course.
I got to. I have to. I have to.
Don't worry, it'll be okay.
It'll be okay.
You said I was right and then you…
["Trap Queen" playing]
[Cole] Well, Sami believes. We got to give him that.
[in Spanish] ♪ Dale con eso ♪
[crowd cheering]
["Liv Gone Mad" playing]
-[in English] ♪ Watch me ♪ -[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, the team of Raquel Rodriguez
and Liv Morgan.
[Cole] Wade, the new number one contenders for the Women's Tag Team Titles.
[Barrett] Yes, indeed.
Huge matchup this past Monday earned them that.
However, tonight, Raquel Rodriguez,
Liv Morgan will be taking on Natalya and Shotzi.
A chance to sharpen up their skills ahead of Monday.
This matchup, next.
[Cole] We're back on Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
You guys missed it, I wish it was on television.
Wade just about fell out of his chair when Natalya and Shotzi launched the tank.
But nonetheless, they are ready for this matchup tonight
and they are very upset over the fact
that they believe they should be the number one contenders
for the Tag Team Titles.
Shotzi and I are here to prove
why we should be the ones challenging for the Women's Tag Team Championships,
not Raquel and Liv.
I don't think they're ready
for a couple for ballsy baddies.
[laughing]
[Cole] I like that. "Ballsy baddies."
An opportunity to knock off Liv and Raquel tonight
who've got a major, major match.
Come Monday in Seattle on Monday Night Raw,
Raquel and Liv take on the Women's Tag Team Champions
of Becky Lynch and Lita on Monday night.
[Barrett] Huge opportunity for Rodriguez and Morgan
against the Tag Team Champions.
We mentioned earlier this is a little skill-sharpening moment
for the number one contenders,
but there is a fine line
between sharpening your skills and then tweaking your knee…
-[Cole] Tag. -[Barrett] …pulling something
and really costing yourself the opportunity on Monday to win gold,
so the challengers certainly have to be careful here.
-[Cole] Double-team, Natalya and Shotzi. -Hey, you okay? You okay?
-[Cole] Shotzi is legal. -What are you doing?
[Cole] And here we go, with a suicide dive taking out Raquel Rodriguez.
Tag team action underway here on Friday Night SmackDown
and we would like to pass our condolences on to the family of Bushwhacker Butch,
the WWE Hall of Famer, who passed away earlier this week.
Cover by Shotzi and a kickout.
Bushwhackers one of the most,
if not the most entertaining tag team in the history of WWE.
[Barrett] Certainly one of my favorites as a kid.
[Cole] And now Raquel Rodriguez showing off her power.
One of the most powerful women in WWE today.
And Shotzi caught her with a knee.
[Barrett] Yeah. Shotzi is just impossible to game plan for.
So erratic.
[Cole] Yeah, it's that unorthodox offensive style you mentioned, Wade.
You don't know what's coming at you.
Changes up her game plan each and every week.
Raquel now, though, carrying Shotzi into the corner,
and here comes Liv Morgan.
And I love this team of Raquel and Liv.
[Barrett] You got the absolute powerhouse of the division
and perhaps the most extreme individual
in the division in the form of Liv Morgan.
What a night and day career she is having since takin' a turn for the extreme.
[Cole] Cover by Morgan, and Natalya going to break things up.
Go. Get out. Hey! Out of the ring. Come on!
[Cole] And dragging Shotzi to the corner,
the veteran, Natalya, who's had a record for most appearances
by a woman at WrestleMania this past weekend.
[Barrett] It was another record for Natalya.
Got a handful of records, world records for her.
[Cole] Liv now rolling through, shoulders down.
-[Barrett] Success. -Natalya able to counter.
Liv Morgan again and a roll-up.
[grunting]
[Cole] Liv missed wildly, and Natalya with a released German.
Oh, and there's the big discus clothesline.
Cover now on Liv, and breaking things up is Raquel Rodriguez.
Shotzi now with a crossbody.
[Barrett] Oh, this one is going into meltdown
as you would perhaps expect with some of the combatants in that ring.
[Cole] And Liv dragged into the corner. Tag made, here comes Shotzi.
Things would not bode well for Raquel and Liv
to lose this matchup tonight,
a couple of nights away from their Tag Team Title opportunity.
-Oh! -Shake it off, Shotzi! Get her!
-Great double-team. Liv's in trouble. -Get her!
And now paying homage to the great Hart Foundation,
but Raquel Rodriguez intercepting Natalya.
[Barrett] Just in the nick of time too, and turning this match on its head.
[Cole] The tornado DDT by Morgan.
Oblivion to Shotzi!
-The cover. -One, two, three!
-Morgan and Rodriguez with the win. -[bell rings]
["Liv Gone Mad" playing]
[Irvin] Here are your winners,
the team of Raquel Rodriguez
and Liv Morgan.
[Cole] Who can now turn their attention to Monday Night Raw in Seattle, Wade,
when they take on Becky and Lita for the Tag Team gold.
[Barrett] Simply unmissable.
Massive opportunity once again for Raquel and Liv Morgan this Monday on Raw.
[Raquel] Yeah, we're going to be the Tag Champions, baby!
-[Moss] Let's go, cap. -[Woods] Okay.
[Moss] Let's go, cap! Let's go, cap!
-[Woods] Okay! -Let's go, cap! Let's go, cap!
-You're good at this. -I know.
Oh.
And cocky too, I guess.
You're good, but you got a lot of work to do, man.
-Okay. -[Knight] Games, games, games,
and more cockamamie games.
[crowd cheering]
Hey, you know, I watched WrestleMania
and there was just one big glaring omission.
You see Snoop Dogg, you see Bad Bunny, you see Logan Paul,
and I just can't help to think we're in LA
and there's one thing missing, with everybody saying, "LA Knight."
But then I think, well, it is WrestleMania,
and then here's this guy on there for playing video games.
-How times have changed. -Okay, okay, okay, okay.
I'm done with this déjà vu. LA, what's wrong?
You're upset because Daddy didn't pat you on the head
and tell you you were special on his big day, huh?
Now you want to come in here and complain to us about it
rather than being like me and creating your own solution.
You know, if you worked as much as you talked,
you probably would have been on WrestleMania.
Matter of fact, that's probably why I beat you a few weeks ago,
and I will gladly beat the hell out of you for money again
if that's exactly what you need.
-Oh, you'll do it again? -I'll do it again.
Huh?
I'll tell you what, this ain't playing one of your little video games.
You're going to be playing LA Knight's game.
Yeah!
[angered grunting, muttering]
[Cole] Well, from video games to "time to play the game."
Triple H is here.
Big stuff to talk about, live, next on SmackDown.
♪ I don't see nobody 'Cause there ain't nobody ♪
♪ Hollywood ♪
♪ Hollywood swinging ♪
["Hollywood Swinging" by Kool & The Gang playing]
♪ Hollywood ♪
♪ Hollywood swinging ♪
♪ I remember… ♪
["King of Kings" by Motörhead playing]
♪ Behold the King ♪
♪ The King of kings ♪
♪ On your knees, dog ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ All hail ♪
[Irvin] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome,
WWE Hall of Famer,
"The Game" Triple H!
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, this is Friday Night SmackDown on FOX
sponsored tonight by Progressive.
Hey, you just saw all the great accolades
for WrestleMania this past weekend in Los Angeles.
You have to believe that Triple H is going to touch on that tonight as well.
-What an incredible two-day event! -[Barrett] Oh man.
You turn up in Hollywood, you have no choice than to go big,
and that's exactly what happened over WrestleMania weekend.
The letters WWE making headlines around the world.
-[crowd cheering] -♪ Bow down to the, bow down to the King ♪
♪ Bow down to the, bow down to the King ♪
♪ The King left none living None able to tell ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ The King took their heads… ♪
[Cole] One of the all-time greats in the ring, now running this place,
Triple H, "The Game."
♪ In the place of their death ♪
♪ Ripped open, they died With their final breath ♪
♪ They hailed to the King ♪
♪ The King of kings ♪
[crowd cheering]
[cheering intensifies]
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
I can tell you, as long as there's breath in my body,
that'll never get old.
[crowd cheering]
I know you've already been here for a while,
but welcome to SmackDown!
[crowd cheering]
And let me just say that there is nothing in the world
like WrestleMania…
where the greatest athletes from around the world come
to make history on the grandest stage of them all.
It is a place where hearts are broken…
and dreams are fulfilled.
And this year, WrestleMania 39 exceeded all expectations.
It is an event where millions,
record-setting millions of fans from around the world
watched as 161,000-plus fans
packed into SoFi Stadium for two nights,
breaking every single WWE record that we have.
[crowd cheering]
From viewership to attendance
to a gross of 21.6 million, to sales,
to sponsorship, to merchandise.
If there's a record, you name it, we broke it.
[crowd cheering]
Including…
on digital, almost a billion views this week alone.
But as great as WrestleMania was, it is now behind us,
and now we look to the future.
And that is why I am out here to talk about the future.
Are you ready?
[crowd cheering]
I said, are you ready?
[crowd cheering loudly]
Because I want to tell you that in just a few short weeks,
it is once again time for the WWE Draft.
[crowd cheering]
A night that changes the future
and the destiny of every WWE Superstar in the back.
And this year, the Draft will be bigger than it has ever been before
with every single Superstar eligible for the Draft.
And I promise you this, when it is all said and done,
this year's Draft will truly change the game.
[crowd cheering]
And speaking of changing the game…
let me introduce you to somebody that is doing just that.
Fresh off her win
over the legendary Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania…
please welcome the SmackDown Women's Champion,
"The Eradicator" Rhea Ripley.
["Demon In Your Dreams" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Major news tonight from Triple H.
The WWE Draft returns
in just a few short weeks,
and with every Superstar eligible, Wade,
you have to wonder, will The Judgment Day stay intact
when it comes Draft time?
[Barrett] Man, a lot of nervous Superstars upon hearing that message from Triple H,
and I'm sure a lot of opportunities are about to come about
for various Superstars in various locker rooms.
[Cole] And speaking of opportunities…
Rhea Ripley, of course, a long history with Triple H
who brought Rhea to this country.
All, of course, part of the Mae Young Women's tournament
a number of years ago, part of NXT, NXT UK, Monday Night Raw,
and of course, now the SmackDown Women's Champion.
But Rhea Ripley sees the opportunity, Wade.
-She defeated Charlotte Flair. -[Barrett] Oh.
[Cole] It was, in my estimation,
and believe me, I've sat at many WrestleManias,
called many WrestleManias, it was one of the,
if not the greatest championship match that I've witnessed on that grand stage.
It was physical, it was cerebral, it was incredible.
Rhea Ripley beating Charlotte Flair.
[Barrett] Ripley reached an entirely new level.
I think we already were aware of how brilliant she truly is,
but this surpassed all expectations,
and I bet the view is pretty damn good from the top of the mountain.
[Cole] Finn Bálor, of course,
in a hellacious battle inside Hell in a Cell with Edge.
Dominik battling his father, Rey, in which Damian Priest was involved.
But they are The Judgment Day,
one of the most influential groups in WWE today.
-[crowd cheering] -[man] Yeah, Rhea!
You know, April 1st, 2023
will go down in history
as the night that sports entertainment changed forever…
because Rhea Bloody Ripley did the impossible.
[crowd cheering]
I destroyed and dethroned
14-time Women's Champion Charlotte Flair.
[Bálor] Yes you did.
So, I think it's time
that everyone rises for Mami.
[crowd cheering]
I said rise for the biggest star,
rise for the most feared woman in this locker room,
and rise for the greatest champion
in all of WWE.
[laughs]
[Cole] At least she didn't let success get to her head.
[Barrett] She ain't lying.
Now, let's talk about Edge.
What sort of a sicko needs to resort to splitting my head open
just to get a W?
But who's the real winner?
Because even though I got 14 staples in my head,
Edge ain't nowhere to be seen
and Finn is still standing.
[crowd cheering and jeering]
You know, at Wrestle--
[crowd booing]
At WrestleMania…
I decided…
[crowd booing loudly]
[inaudible]
…I decided not to show aggression towards my dad!
[crowd booing loudly]
[Bálor] Hey, we got all night.
I'll stand here all night.
[Cole] Oh, please stop booing.
[Bálor] Take your time, Dom. Take your time.
[booing continues]
[man chanting] You suck! You suck! You suck!
[crowd joins in chant] You suck! You suck! You suck!
You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck!
You know who sucks?
A father who lays his hands on his own son.
[booing intensifies]
I held back at WrestleMania!
I pulled my punches…
because I knew that at the end of the day I couldn't hurt my own father.
I-I love my dad.
I couldn't hurt him.
But I can't say the same for him,
because when I stood in front of him in the middle of that ring,
I could see the anger in his eyes.
[speaking Spanish]
[crowd booing]
[in English] But I understand where the lines are drawn, Dad.
And as far as I'm concerned,
you and the rest of my family can go to hell.
[crowd booing]
And you can take Bad Bunny and your little friends with you.
[Cole] Let's show you what Dominik's talking about.
-[Barrett] Sure. -WrestleMania Saturday,
Dominik versus Rey Mysterio.
Now, Damian Priest put that jacket on the ring
which had the steel chain inside.
Bad Bunny was doing commentary with the Spanish announce team.
He made sure Dominik couldn't use the chain on his dad.
Rey Mysterio would take over, hit a 619, and beat his son.
[Barrett] Yeah. And this past Monday on Raw,
United States Champ Austin Theory,
fresh off a huge victory at WrestleMania against John Cena,
competed against Rey Mysterio,
Austin Theory ultimately winning the matchup.
Huge victory, in part, thanks to interference from Dominik.
[Cole] And then Dominik Mysterio
and Damian Priest would go after Rey Mysterio again.
This is the guy who just had excuses
for taking it easy on his dad at WrestleMania.
Then he points out Bad Bunny
who cost Dominik the match.
[speaking Spanish]
[Cole] They had some words and Bad Bunny made Dominik pay.
But here's the problem,
Bad Bunny is a global music star.
He-- I thought he was friends with Damian Priest.
He was a guest of this show, Wade.
You don't need to get involved, bro.
[indistinct conversation]
[Cole] WWE invited Bad Bunny
to be a part of Monday Night Raw.
He got brought into the fray
and Damian Priest would do the unthinkable.
He would beat the hell out of Bad Bunny
and he would put him through the announce table.
Now, Bunny is not a contracted WWE Superstar
so he hasn't revealed his medical status to us,
but from what people are telling us, he's in a bad way.
[crowd booing]
Bunny…
[speaking Spanish]
[continues in Spanish]
[in English] Benito, I hope you could find it in your heart to forgive me…
[crowd buzzing]
…because I forgive you…
for making me do what I did to you.
[crowd booing]
["Booyaka 619" by P.O.D playing]
[Cole] There's a Spanish word that I'm thinking about right now
that I could use to describe these guys, but I won't do it on FOX.
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring,
accompanied by the LWO,
the team of Santos Escobar
and WWE Hall of Famer
Rey Mysterio!
[Cole] Big time tag team action
on your way next on FOX.
[music continues]
[announcer] After WrestleMania Goes Hollywood…
the Backlash begins.
[funky upbeat music playing]
When the hottest collab of the year hits,
it's going to feel good to be bad.
[Cole] Bad Bunny returned to host Backlash.
[announcer] Join the Grammy Award-winning megastar
along with WWE's biggest Superstars…
on this island of adventure.
Live every sight…
live every sound…
live Boricua.
WWE Backlash,
live from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
[Cole] There are combustible elements everywhere
as Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar take on Rey's son Dominik and Damian Priest.
Judgment Day, Latino World Order are around the ring.
And now Dominik, yeah, there's the big man.
-No, wait a minute. -No.
Wait a minute. Enough.
Here's the big man who just had all these excuses before the break
that he had to hold back, that he had to pull his punches,
that he didn't want to beat up his father. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
"Which is why I lost at WrestleMania." Well, here's an idea.
Get in the ring and fight your dad tonight.
Doesn't want to hurt his dad, he said it himself.
What's your problem with that?
-[grunting] -Cole, you shut up!
[referee] One, two--
[Barrett] You need to make sure you don't upset Rhea Ripley too, Cole.
[Cole] She was just yelling at me
for what I was saying about Dominik, but nonetheless…
[Barrett] Yeah, I'm not surprised.
Listen, I've gotta tell you, I am disgusted.
There's a digital video of you, Cole,
which has millions of hits online, shows you jumping around like a lunatic
in support of Rey Mysterio whipping his own son with a belt.
[Cole] Oh, come on. That was great. Dominik deserved it.
Tag made and Dominik now hammering away on Rey Mysterio
who, of course, was defenseless when Dom came into the ring.
[Barrett] You're a big fan of corporal punishment, are you, Michael Cole?
You're supposed to be neutral, like me.
[Cole] He's a 23-year-old man, Wade. Come on.
Rey whipped into the corner.
It's not like he's a child.
You and everybody else getting all caught up into this thing.
Rey Mysterio did what he had to do.
And Dominik, with all these excuses,
did you not see the fact that he was going to use a steel chain
against his father if it wasn't for Bad Bunny?
-Yeah! -[Barrett] Well, we don't know
what he would have done with that steel chain.
[Cole] Oh my God. Please.
There we go.
[indistinct yelling]
[Cole] Rhea, the SmackDown Women's Champ,
Finn Bálor looking on as Dominik has his way with his dad.
Pathetic excuse for individuals after what they pulled
with Bad Bunny Monday night, who was a guest of our show, Wade.
-[Barrett] All right, I can get-- -Cover now
and a kickout by Mysterio.
[Barrett] So listen here, Bad Bunny was a guest.
He was employed exclusively to be on the commentary desk.
For weeks, you have spewed bile in the direction of Judgment Day,
Dominik Mysterio,
but you've never once closed the line
and tried to get involved in one of Dominik's matches.
If Bad Bunny chose to do just that at WrestleMania,
then it's on his head what happens next.
[Cole] He was doing the right thing.
-Nonetheless, Rey lands on his feet. -Put himself in the line of fire!
[Cole] Tag made. Here from Santos Escobar.
[Barrett] Let me be clear, I do not condone
what happened to Bad Bunny at all, but it's his own fault.
[Cole] Santos Escobar now who, of course,
grew up idolizing Rey Mysterio,
as so many in the lucha libre community have.
Escobar now top rope. Crossbody, takes out Dominik.
[Barrett] Right now, we've got an emperor of lucha libre…
[Cole] Oh, backbreaker.
[Barrett] …tagging up with a god of lucha libre in Rey Mysterio.
The powers have combined.
[Cole] Thought you were going to call Dominik the god of lucha libre.
Meanwhile, Mysterio sent Damian Priest flying outside the ring,
and the LWO is rolling.
Priest up and over the announce table.
Escobar and Mysterio are rolling.
[crowd cheering]
-[whistles] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, during the commercial break,
Judgment Day took over this tag team match.
Priest and Dominik Mysterio against Dominik's dad Rey
and Santos Escobar of the Latino World Order.
Cover now by Priest. Hook of the leg and a kickout.
[Barrett] Now, it is simply punishment time
with Damian Priest tearing Santos Escobar to shreds.
[Cole] Escobar has been in Rey Mysterio's corner
every step of the way in support of Rey
and what he's had to do to his son Dominik.
[Barrett] That is exactly why the LWO has been bestowed upon Legado.
A historic honor in gratitude to Legado's loyalty to Rey Mysterio.
[Cole] A group once started and…
Oh, goodness.
Is this enough to put Escobar away?
Kickout at two.
LWO started by the late great Eddie Guerrero
back in the WCW days.
Rey Mysterio, this time around, actually voluntarily joined
and re-formed the group, inviting Legado Del Fantasma in.
[Barrett] Escobar told me earlier today the empire of Legado Del Fantasma
just continues to grow, heading for world domination.
[Cole] See Zelina Vega was looking on.
Mysterio understands he's got to try to make a tag to Escobar here.
[Ripley yelling indistinctly]
[indistinct yelling]
[Cole] Santos back to his feet. Dominik trying to block.
Hold him! Hold him!
[Cole] Escobar is almost there.
Can he make a tag to Rey?
Fingertips away!
And Dominik with a knee to the midsection.
[Barrett] Smart tactical move from Dominik but not out of the woods yet.
[Cole] Created some space. Tag!
Here comes the Hall of Famer…
[crowd cheering]
Rey Mysterio.
There goes Dom.
The young man who threw a drink in his sister's face,
got slapped across his face by his mom at WrestleMania,
and then beat by his dad. But a Michinoku Driver.
Dominik for the cover and the win. And a kickout by Rey.
[Barrett] Well, Rey Mysterio thinks he taught Dominik everything he knows.
Dominik proving he can dig deep and shock the old man.
[Cole] Oh, there's no doubt he's one of the most talented…
young Superstars in the game today, Wade.
It's his attitude that sucks.
[Barrett] He's the biggest lightning rod in WWE right now.
[Cole] Up over the top.
Rey rolls through with a basement dropkick.
Priest knocked off the apron.
Rey, springboard moonsault. Cover now on Dom for the win.
Kickout at two.
[Barrett] Dominik Mysterio has to be ripe for the pickings at this point.
Rey running the cogs through his mind.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Rey saying it's time…
to dial it up.
And Rhea Ripley saving her boyfriend Dom from Rey.
And now, Zelina Vega gets involved.
[Barrett] A bold move from Zelina Vega, putting yourself in the crosshairs
of the SmackDown Women's Champion.
[crowd buzzing]
[inaudible]
Come on, champ. Come on.
You better run.
Yeah, come on.
[Cole] Zelina drawing Rhea. Tag made by Priest, Priest is now legal.
Dominik sent flying.
-[Barrett] Judgment Day are reeling. -[Cole] Tag.
[crowd cheering]
619!
The problem though is Priest is legal, not Dominik.
Damian Priest is the legal man. Escobar didn't realize it.
Now, he does.
[Barrett] South of Heaven.
-[Cole] Cover. -One, two, three.
-[Cole] Judgment Day with the win. -[bell rings]
["The Other Side" by Alter Bridge playing]
[Irvin] Here are your winners, the--
[Cole] What a matchup here tonight,
but in the end, Damian Priest with a sneaky victory for Judgment Day.
[Priest] You can get it too.
You all can get it.
You all can get it!
[crowd cheering]
Hey. Have you seen Jey Uso anywhere?
Thanks.
[announcer] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[Cole] The expressive and dangerous Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Pat McAfee] His strikes are just so innovative.
They come out of nowhere.
[crowd chanting] Nakamura! Nakamura!
Come on!
[Cole] "The King of Strong Style" Nakamura,
as dangerous with his legs as he is with his fists.
[Graves] Shinsuke certainly captured the imagination
of the entire WWE Universe.
[Cole] Next week on Friday Night SmackDown
at the University of Nebraska,
the return to The King of Strong Style,
the former winner of the Royal Rumble, Shinsuke Nakamura is here.
Oh yes, I love me some Shinsuke Nakamura.
WWE is just a better place with Shin in it.
Welcome back, Shin.
Shinsuke returns next week, but coming up next on SmackDown
it is time for our main event.
♪ 'Cause ain't nobody got me ♪
♪ Running through the crowd Like there ain't nobody ♪
♪ Who better than me? Besting opponents, flexing and focused ♪
♪ I'm leaving dem all Looking stressin' and folded… ♪
[Sami] Hey, Jey.
Maybe Kevin was right. Maybe you don't want to talk. It's fine.
I just got one thing I need to say before we go out there, okay?
It's the same thing I've been saying for months.
You know there's a way out of all this for you, right?
You know that.
[snorts]
Look, everything I said was gonna happen has happened.
I said we would take those Tag Team Titles off you
and that The Bloodline would crumble, and guess what happened?
At WrestleMania we took those Tag Team Titles,
and now The Bloodline is crumbling.
You don't believe me, man? Look around.
Jimmy ain't here.
Roman's mad at you.
Heyman is selling you lies, and Solo's looking at you
like he's ready to drop the hammer any second.
Man, it's all… If you don't see it by now…
Hey, if I got to keep beating sense into you, I'll do it, man.
You want me to beat you like I did at WrestleMania and beat you tonight?
I'll do it. I'll beat you next week, until you get it through your head.
If that's how it's got to be, that's how it will be,
but what I'm trying to say to you… is that's not how it has to be.
[loud metallic clanging]
Hey!
[indistinct yelling]
[overlapping shouting]
[Pearce] No, Sami! No!
Get out! Get him outta here!
Get it movin'!
[indistinct yelling]
Get him out of here!
-[grunting] -[indistinct yelling]
Hey!
Get him outta here!
Zayn, man, come on.
[groaning]
Get help. You gotta get help.
Hey! Get the trainer. Get the trainer. Get the trainer.
-Trainer! -[Pearce] Trainer!
Kevin Owens needs medical attention.
Attacked obviously by Solo Sikoa
after the warnings there by Sami Zayn to Jey Uso.
What is wrong with Sami Zayn?
KO warned him that there was clearly a plan afoot.
♪ Uso! ♪
[Barrett] Sami needs to start listening.
[Cole] The problem with Sami is this,
he's now supposed to partake in this main event
with Jey Uso here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
And after what happened to Kevin Owens,
where is Sami's head going to be at?
♪ We've been down since day one ish ♪
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from San Francisco, California,
weighing in at 242 pounds,
Jey Uso!
[Cole] I mean, Sami's all over the place.
He's trying to do the right thing with Jey Uso.
Obviously, trying to do the right thing with his buddy, Kevin Owens.
[Barrett] He did completely the wrong thing tonight per Kevin Owens,
because Kevin Owens is in a mess right now.
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's go, Uce ♪
Woo!
[Cole] And tonight, Friday Night SmackDown on FOX
is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle, auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
So, as if Sami Zayn didn't have enough on his mind already,
he's got to try to refocus after the attack on his tag team partner,
Kevin Owens,
to go one-on-one with Jey Uso in this massive personal rivalry.
It's next.
Monday Night Raw
just north of us in Seattle,
where Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez
will take on Becky Lynch and Lita
for the Women's Tag Team Titles.
[Barrett] And next Friday, WWE SmackDown
is at the University of Nebraska
where The Megastar, yeah, LA Knight
looks to take out his frustrations on Xavier Woods
when they go one-on-one right here on FOX.
[Cole] And next month in San Juan, Puerto Rico, it's Backlash,
which is sponsored by the Xfinity 10G network.
Get a reliable connection and the fastest internet
on the next generation 10G network only from Xfinity.
The future starts now.
And by Mike's Harder Lemonade.
Lemonade that hits harder for Mikes that go harder.
The world needs more Mikes. I agree with that.
The world does need more Mikes.
[Barrett] As long as your mic is shut off, I'm cool with as many Mikes as possible.
[Cole] Main event time. Jey Uso set to take on Sami Zayn.
Sami, do you have any update on Kevin's condition?
Yeah, he's in the medical room right now.
He's gonna get looked at. I don't think he's coming out tonight.
I don't think he's available tonight. Um…
[exhales forcefully] He was right. He was right.
They are more dangerous now than they were before.
But Jey Uso is about to find out that he's not the only one
with a problem that's going to get solved now.
["Worlds Apart" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Irvin] And his opponent,
from Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 212 pounds,
he is one half of the new
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions,
Sami Zayn!
[Cole] There's a lot to break down in his upcoming main event match,
but first, I want to remind everyone that next Friday night,
SmackDown heads to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
We already mentioned Xavier Woods, LA Knight one-on-one
next week in Lincoln, Nebraska.
For Sami Zayn and Jey Uso, this is a match that had to happen.
It's been going on for months and months and months.
When Sami first approached The Bloodline last April,
Jey Uso wanted nothing to do with him.
Didn't trust Sami Zayn at all.
But over the months that followed, Jey really started to like Sami,
started to believe he fit in, started to protect Sami,
started to try to sell Sami to Roman Reigns
and the rest of The Bloodline,
and then it just all imploded, starting at the Royal Rumble.
[Barrett] Jey Uso should have trusted his instincts from the very beginning.
This going backwards and forwards with Sami Zayn
only served to further anger The Tribal Chief.
[Cole] And now it's come to this.
[Cole] For Sami Zayn, he believes that there are some cracks
within The Bloodline.
That he believes Jey Uso
may be taken advantage of by Roman Reigns
and Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman.
That perhaps it is now time for Jey Uso to finally leave,
to break away to become his own man, "Main Event" Jey Uso.
[Barrett] Absolute poppycock.
If you want to talk about cracks, I'm concerned about the cracks
that might be in the leg of Kevin Owens after that attack we saw earlier.
Thanks, no doubt, to Sami Zayn and his naivety.
[Cole] Well, Kevin Owens warned Sami Zayn,
"Listen, I don't understand what you're trying to do."
"The Bloodline is more dangerous, more volatile,
more unpredictable than ever,
especially after we beat them at WrestleMania for the Tag Team Titles."
But Sami Zayn claimed he has a sense of obligation.
Bloodline is crumbling and you know it.
[indistinct chatter]
Yeah.
[Cole] And again, trying still to talk some sense
into "Main Event" Jey Uso.
[Barrett] Talk some sense into Jey Uso.
Jey Uso is part of The Bloodline,
the greatest group in the history of sports entertainment.
[Cole] You don't think Roman Reigns has been using The Bloodline,
The Usos, Solo Sikoa for what's amounted to be years now?
Roman Reigns has been champion for 950 days today.
One of the reasons why is because of that man, Jey Uso,
and his brother, Jimmy, and Solo Sikoa.
Look, what Solo Sikoa did for Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes
at WrestleMania this weekend?
[Barrett] And one of the reasons why Jey Uso
is half of a record-breaking Tag Champion reign--
[Cole] And, Wade, wait a minute, I'm sorry.
[Barrett] Let me finish.
[Cole] But how do they get treated, Wade? How do The Usos get treated?
Paul Heyman warns Jey Uso,
"Get rid of Sami tonight
or Solo Sikoa is going to take care of the problems within The Bloodline."
[Barrett] Hey, don't spin that.
The problem in The Bloodline is Sami Zayn.
If Jey Uso can't get the job done tonight, then Solo Sikoa is on mop-up duty.
[Cole] Well, on cue.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Solo Sikoa who you claim is on mop-up duty.
When Paul Heyman said problems, plural,
he wasn't just talking about Sami Zayn.
I believe he was talking about Jey Uso, if he doesn't get the job done tonight.
-[Barrett] Ludicrous. -Our main event continues.
Solo's out here. Sami is outnumbered. Kevin's back in the trainer's room.
Come on, then!
Jey Uso climbing up to the top rope. Sami Zayn will meet him there.
The presence of Solo Sikoa right before the commercial break
had tipped this match in Uso's favor, but Sami now trying to fight back.
Remember, his partner, Kevin Owens, is back in the trainer's room
getting attended to after his knee was all banged up after an attack
by Solo Sikoa.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
Come on! Let's go! Back in the ring.
[Cole] Sami now with "Main Event" Jey Uso in trouble,
heading up to the top rope.
Superplex.
[crowd cheering]
[pained groaning]
[Barrett] This is the opportunity
Sami Zayn has been waiting for.
Take another look.
High-flying action from Sami Zayn.
Massive impact on the top of the shoulders of Jey Uso.
When you buy yourself an opportunity against an Uso, you better make it count.
[crowd chanting] Sami! Sami! Sami!
[Cole] Jey Uso told he had to take care of the Sami Zayn problem tonight.
If he can't get it done, Solo Sikoa,
The Enforcer, is out here to take care of the "problems."
Those are the marching orders from Roman Reigns,
The Head of the Table.
[Barrett] Well, if you ask me what that means, that means Sami Zayn,
win or lose tonight,
is going to end up with a bit of that KO treatment for himself
courtesy of Solo Sikoa.
[grunting]
[Cole] Sami, who claimed he feels an obligation
to try to set things straight with Jey Uso.
Sami… Oh, ran into a superkick.
[Barrett] Yeah, that's what being a bleeding heart do-gooder gets you.
[Cole] Sami kicks at two and a half.
Boom. You call him a bleeding heart do-gooder.
Maybe he's just a guy that sees that Jey Uso
has been treated like crap for the last two to three years
and figures maybe he has an opportunity to get him out of the group.
[Barrett] Only Jey Uso can--
How many times I got to tell your ass?
Huh, Sami?
[crowd] Sami!
[Barrett] Maybe Jey Uso completely disagrees with you on that.
-How many times? -Man, I told you--
[exclaims]
[Cole] Exploder.
[Barrett] Says something to the unyielding,
unbreakable spirit inside Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Shades of WrestleMania where it was not one, not two,
but three Helluva Kicks that put Jey away.
Nobody home this time. Jey's going to roll up Sami.
Shoulders are down. Kickout at two.
[Barrett] Gonna have to soften Jey Uso up a little more than that.
[Cole] Blue Thunder Bomb!
-[Barrett] And that might do it. -[referee] One, two--
[Cole] Jey able to get the shoulder up.
The stoic Solo Sikoa.
[Barrett] Have a look at this high-impact Blue Thunder Bomb from Sami Zayn.
Jey Uso, just enough wherewithal to keep himself alive in this matchup.
[crowd buzzing]
[grunting]
[Cole] This animosity that's been brewing for months.
This is how you want it?
This is how we'll do it.
[Cole] Sami saying, "Is this what you wanted?"
[crowd cheering]
Sami gonna slowly try to make it up to the top rope.
Jey Uso trying to make it back to his feet.
He does and he catches Sami with a massive enzuigiri.
And now Jey heading up.
[crowd chattering]
[crowd cheering]
Sami countering.
Blows to the spine of Jey Uso.
The fight of Sami Zayn.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd gasps]
Oh, and Sami,
headbutt knocks him off the top rope.
[referee yells indistinctly]
[Barrett] If I bet, I'm backing Jey Uso every single time.
[Cole] And a Samoan Spike!
The same move that saved Roman Reigns' title at WrestleMania.
[Barrett] That is how you solve a problem, Michael Cole.
-[Cole] Jey Uso, off the kick. -[referee and crowd] One, two, three.
[Cole] And Uso with the win, thanks again to The Enforcer,
the problem solver, Solo Sikoa.
[Irvin] Here is your winner, Jey Uso!
["Done With That" playing]
[Barrett] Well, that is your conspiracy theory out the window,
Michael Cole.
♪ Let's welcome these fools To the Uso penitentiary ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Okay, all right ♪
[Cole] Solo Sikoa did his job for his older brother, Jey.
Jey Uso knocks off Sami Zayn tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown.
They disposed of Kevin Owens earlier
with a brutal beatdown in the locker room area.
And now Solo Sikoa
going to turn his animosity towards Sami Zayn.
[Barrett] This is what happens when you are a problem for The Bloodline.
You get solved Samoan style.
[Cole] And Jey Uso watching this all go down…
[grunts]
…as Solo looks to end the Sami Zayn problem once and for all.
[grunting]
Huh?
[crowd chanting] Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey!
[screaming]
[crowd cheering]
Enough!
[crowd chanting] Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey!
Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey!
Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey! Jey!
[Cole] And Jey said, "We're gonna do it my way."
Hey, go get the chair. Let's go.
[Cole] That was the definitive blow to any possible relationship
between Jey Uso and Sami Zayn.
Now Sikoa with a steel chair in hand--
♪ Bro ♪
["We Up" playing]
[Cole] Wait a minute!
Riddle's here.
The Original Bro.
Riddle, who months ago was taken out by Solo Sikoa.
[Barrett] With a steel chair-wielding Solo Sikoa.
[Cole] Riddle's back with a vengeance.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Unfinished business.
Here to settle a score.
-[crowd cheering] -[yelling indistinctly]
[Cole] The Bloodline thought they ended one problem.
They may have created a new one.
The Bloodline has a new dangerous enemy,
bro, and his name's Matt Riddle.
♪ Let 'em know, bro ♪
["We Up" playing] bro ♪