[WWE intro music]
[Cena] Then.
-[Ric Flair] Woo! -[glass shatters]
[The Rock] If you smell…
-[gong sounds] -[Cena] Now.
[Roman Reigns] Acknowledge me.
-The King of Kings. -You can't see me.
[Cena] Forever.
[crowd cheers]
[Cena] Together.
[music fades]
♪ I am the chosen one ♪
♪ I defeated the great ♪
♪ Rose up from the ashes ♪
♪ This is where legends are made ♪
[Triple H] This year's draft will truly change
the game.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] It is the night that will shake the foundation of WWE to its core.
Night one of the 2023 WWE Draft.
We're sold out live tonight in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Friday Night SmackDown on Fox sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[Wade] And I'll tell you what, Cole, it doesn't come any bigger
than this WrestleMania main event rematch
as Tag Champs KO and Sami Zayn
defend against the greatest tag team in history,
The Usos.
That is tonight's main event here on SmackDown on Fox.
[Triple H's music plays]
[crowd cheers]
♪ King of Kings ♪
You know, it's only appropriate that the "Game of Games,"
the man who runs the place, Triple H,
will kick off night one of the WWE Draft.
[Irvin] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
WWE Hall of Famer,
"The Game"
Triple H.
[Cole] You know, Wade, Triple H was once involved
in the famous 2004 WWE Draft
where he was drafted to SmackDown,
but he never actually made it to the show.
He was traded back to Raw later on in the week.
So, one of the most incredible draft moments involving this man.
[Wade] It's a highly valuable commodity
to get top Superstars on your brand.
Many twists and turns to come this evening.
Welcome
to Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd chants "Triple H"]
And welcome to the 2023 WWE Draft.
Now before we get started,
I just wanted to lay down some ground rules,
'cause everybody knows I'm a big stickler for rules.
Every Superstar on Raw,
every Superstar on SmackDown,
are subject to the possibility of transferring to another brand.
Fifty percent of the roster will be drafted tonight.
The other 50% will be drafted this Monday on Raw.
[upbeat music plays]
[Cole] Those are the Superstars who are eligible
to be drafted here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
[upbeat music continues]
Now in addition to the Raw and SmackDown rosters,
select Superstars from NXT are also available to be drafted
-to either Raw or SmackDown. -[crowd cheers]
The post-draft rosters will officially go into effect
on Monday, May 8th
right after Backlash.
So it's time to shake things up.
Time to make things a bit more exciting
for each and every one of you.
I have the first-round four picks in my hand.
So, the question is,
are you ready?
[crowd cheers]
Corpus, I said, are you ready?
[crowd cheers louder]
Then let's get on with the first pick of the 2023 WWE Draft.
This first pick goes to SmackDown,
and they select
all three drafted as one.
Paul Heyman,
Solo Sikoa,
and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion,
Roman Reigns.
-The Bloodline. -[crowd boos]
[Wade] No surprises whatsoever.
If you get number one pick,
you choose this man, Roman Reigns.
And if Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman
-come with him too, even better. -[Cole] A package deal,
971 days and counting as the Undisputed Champion.
Roman stays on the Blue Brand.
One, two, three.
Now with Roman Reigns heading to SmackDown
with the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship,
that means that the new World Heavyweight Champion
will be exclusive to Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheers]
Speaking of Raw,
Raw's first pick tonight…
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Really no surprise here
if you're running things over on the Red Brand
of Monday Night Raw.
Cody Rhodes, who has exploded on the scene,
just returning last year.
And he faces Brock Lesnar
a week from tomorrow at Backlash.
[Wade] Cody Rhodes might not exist two weeks from now,
but for now, yes, I agree.
Massive pick. Cody Rhodes.
Huge numbers, huge clicks. A man who gets the world talking.
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
[scattered "whoas" in crowd]
You were almost there.
You were almost at the "whoa" moment.
Go ahead and do it.
[crowd sings "Whoa"]
Third pick.
SmackDown selects…
The EST of WWE.
[crowd cheers]
The Raw Women's Champion,
Bianca Belair.
[Cole] Now this is a shocker
because Belair, as Triple H mentioned,
is the Raw Women's Champion, closing in on the longest reign ever,
and now she comes to Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] Nothing shocking about that, Cole.
If you have the opportunity to bring in The EST to SmackDown,
you take it, gold and all.
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
[music fades]
The next selection goes to Raw.
The irrepressible,
the one and the only,
"The Man" Becky Lynch.
-[crowd cheers] -[Becky Lynch's music plays]
[Cole] Becky Lynch will remain an anchor
of Monday Night Raw.
Tremendous draft pick
for the former six-time Women's Champion.
[Wade] That is huge for the Red Brand.
I was kind of hoping we'd get The Man over here
on the Blue Brand, but no.
No surprises whatsoever.
Raw wanna keep her.
That concludes the first round.
While the second round is being deliberated in the back,
it is now my pleasure to introduce what many still consider
to be the greatest tag team on the planet.
They're challenging
for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships
tonight in our WrestleMania main event rematch.
Jimmy and Jey, The Usos.
[Cole] You know, Wade, I'm so excited about the draft tonight,
I was told I'm making nicknames up.
I called Triple H the "Game of Games."
He's the King of Kings.
[Wade] Yeah, "The Game" was singular, but I get it.
It's an exciting night and there's no surprises whatsoever for me
in those first four picks.
Four of the most huge names in the history of this industry.
And they've all been taken in round one of the draft
here on SmackDown.
-The Usos would be eligible… -Hey, hey!
-…to be drafted Monday night. -The Bloodline
is now in your city.
[crowd boos]
First off, congratulations
to your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, for once again
being the number one draft pick in 2023, baby.
Yeah.
That's right.
Hey, Tribal Chief. I know you at home watching.
Tonight, we bring back gold to The Bloodline, Uce.
Yes. Yes.
We know you've been feeling some kind of way since WrestleMania.
I mean, we text you,
-you ain't text back. -No.
-You didn't call back. -No.
-DM back. -No.
-Email back. -No.
-Send a smoke signal back. -No.
-Send the letter in a bottle back. -No.
Hey, but listen, we're gonna do what we told you last week, Uce.
We dedicate this victory to you, Tribal Chief.
-Yeah. -And become
nine-time Tag Team Champs.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens,
you the twos,
and we The Ones.
[Kevin Owens' music plays]
[crowd cheers]
[Sami Zayn's music plays]
[crowd cheers]
[music fades]
[crowd chants "Sami"]
Look.
Look, guys, I'm not here to try to talk sense into you.
I'm not trying to talk you into anything or out, or anything.
I think I've said everything I could possibly say,
but I'm just gonna say this one last thing
and then you do whatever you want, okay?
You don't think it's strange
that since we beat you
for the Undisputed Tag Team Championship
in the main event of WrestleMania…
that in all this time, Roman hasn't called you,
texted you, messaged you? You said it yourself.
He has not said a single word to you this whole time
and yet you're out here dedicating this match to him tonight?
Yo, and if it's not enough,
did you not just see what everybody else saw?
The fact that Roman Reigns was drafted with Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa.
No Usos, no Bloodline.
If that doesn't tell you everything you need to know,
I don't know what to tell you.
You want to keep dedicating this match to Roman Reigns, fine,
but make no mistake, tonight, we are walking out--
Hey, you're not walking out with a damn thing tonight, Sami!
Okay?
He's coming back.
We're gonna beat you tonight.
Once we beat you and put an end to your little Tag Team reign,
Kevin's gonna turn his back on you, Sami.
[Jey] Like he always do.
And that'll be the end of this whole little brother--
Oh, man. I-I'm so sick of all this talk.
I'm so sick of hearing this crap!
I can't take it anymore.
You know what the only thing I care about is?
I don't care what happens to you.
I don't care what you think is gonna happen to us.
And I certainly don't care about Roman Reigns.
The only thing that matters is later tonight,
when we get you in that ring, we beat the hell out of you
and we keep our Tag Team Titles.
[Cole] A lot of pressure tonight. The Usos have dedicated the victory
in the Tag Team Matchup to Roman Reigns.
If you are just tuning in,
this is night one of the 2023 WWE Draft.
The first round is complete.
For Friday Night SmackDown,
we get three-fifths of The Bloodline.
Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman.
Cody Rhodes goes to Raw,
Bianca Belair, the Raw Women's Champion,
comes to SmackDown.
What does that mean for the titles if Becky Lynch
will stay on Monday Night Raw?
Now, what I find is interesting
is that The Usos weren't involved at all
in being eligible for tonight's draft with the rest of The Bloodline.
That makes sense.
Look, there's no way you can draft the entire Bloodline in one go.
That's not possible. I'm sure Raw wants a piece of The Bloodline, too.
Everybody wants a piece of The Bloodline right now.
[Cole] Again, tonight is a WrestleMania main event rematch.
The Usos dedicating what they believe will be a victory
to Roman Reigns,
as they take on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
for the Tag Team Titles tonight.
[The Brawling Brutes' music plays]
Meanwhile, it's…
Fight Night.
[explosion]
[music continues]
♪ Whoa, oh ♪
♪ Bring the fire ♪
[Cole] Coming up next, the marauding, mangy mutt with a bad attitude
from The Brawling Brutes takes on the suave and confident
LA Knight.
They go one-on-one live next on Friday Night SmackDown.
♪ We'll start a riot ♪
♪ Got no reason But we'll be laughing ♪
♪ When we kick down your door We're the mad men ♪
♪ They swear they′re tough But they're not enough ♪
[crowd cheering]
Ladies and gentlemen, inside that room,
the brain trust from Monday Night Raw, determining who they will pick
in the second round of the WWE Draft.
The same can be said for Friday Night SmackDown
on a night where the lives of just about every Superstar will be affected.
[Wade] Now we're looking live at the WWE Performance Center
in Orlando, Florida, home of NXT.
Select NXT Superstars are eligible for tonight's WWE Draft.
The first round is over. One of the picks for Friday Night SmackDown,
the Raw Women's Champion, Bianca Belair,
who checked in moments ago.
She's on tour in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Hey, yo, what's up? Yes, you heard it right.
Bianca Belair, "The EST of WWE," is coming back to the Blue Brand,
Friday Night SmackDown.
I'm so excited to be your SmackDown Women's Champion again.
You all know that the SmackDown title
was the very first title that I ever got.
So, it holds a very special place in my heart.
So, I'm so excited to be walking in again on Friday nights
as your SmackDown Women's Champion. You know, I'm here to represent.
Every single time you see me in the ring, you see yourself.
Let's do this together.
I want to make this an amazing reign.
I wanna be your fighting champion.
I wanna represent.
Can't wait to walk in, Day One, as your SmackDown Women's Champion.
And let's keep riding
and eventually become your longest-reigning
SmackDown Women's Champion.
Can't wait to see you on Fridays.
[Cole] So, the current SmackDown Women's Champion is Rhea Ripley.
She's not eligible to be drafted until Monday.
So, let's see what happens with her and the SmackDown title.
-[LA Knight's music plays] -Meanwhile, Butch set for action.
-[bell rings] -[Irvin] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, from Los Angeles, California,
weighing in at 240 pounds,
LA Knight.
[Cole] Now, this matchup did not just come out of left field, Wade.
Actually, last week, there was a confrontation
on Friday Night SmackDown.
Here we go. Here's a prime example.
You can have a group that comes together, you can have a group that goes apart.
But think about The Brawling Brutes if they end up apart.
Who's gonna feed poor Butch?
[grunting]
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Let me talk to you, fella.
Hold your guy back. Hold your guy back.
Next week might be the last time you guys are on the same brand,
with the draft, yeah?
But the thing is,
it's also Butch's last chance to rearrange those digits,
so you might not be able to hold that microphone again.
In fact, you may not even be able to wipe your own arse.
[Wade] I'll tell you what, Cole,
there is nobody in this game who rocks a mic better
than "The Megastar" LA Knight.
I love it when he talks to us.
[Cole] He embraces the Hollywood lifestyle, so to speak.
[Wade] There's nothing glitz or glam about LA Knight.
He's actually from Maryland. Small town. Went over to LA
to make himself a star.
A star he certainly is.
His friends back home when he visits in Maryland,
they mock him. They go, "Hey, LA is in town."
Nobody embraced him
because he did something the rest of them didn't dare do.
[Cole] Well, Butch is embracing this opportunity
to show up and show out here tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown.
The master of joint manipulation.
Butch and The Brawling Brutes along with LA Knight,
they are eligible to be drafted Monday Night on Raw.
So, again, another opportunity to impress
the heads of both Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] Butch just such a specialist
in attacking the small joints in particular.
The guy could start a fight in an empty room,
you suspect, Butch.
[Cole] And now paying homage to his mentor, Sheamus.
[crowd counting]
Butch with a reverse 10 Beats of the Bodhrán,
and even more.
[Wade] Might have just beaten Sheamus's record there.
I think we got about 25 out of Butch.
[Cole] That rabid personality of Butch has LA Knight off balance
in the early going.
[Wade] The problem with Butch, he's just completely uncontrollable
and a technical wizard to boot.
[Cole] Looking to perhaps now-- to get LA Knight to tap.
And LA Knight makes it to the ropes.
Oh, and just like that, LA Knight turns things around.
[Wade] Old dirty veteran trick there of LA Knight,
clearly highly effective.
[Cole] And now planted on the apron is Butch.
LA Knight has taken over.
Can Butch climb back into this match?
It's draft night on SmackDown.
It is draft night on Friday Night SmackDown.
In the ring, Butch of The Brawling Brutes,
LA Knight, going one-on-one.
Both of these men eligible to be drafted Monday Night on Raw.
That being night number two of the draft.
[Wade] This one turning into a brawl in a hurry.
All through the commercial break
he had LA Knight in complete control.
But one opportunity is all it takes for Butch
to take charge.
[Cole] Cover now by Butch. He'll hook the leg on LA Knight,
who kicks at two.
It's got to be so hard, Wade, to prepare
for a match with someone like Butch.
Such an unorthodox style.
[Wade] Yeah, no doubt about it.
Strategy has to go out the window at a time like this.
LA Knight is now fighting for his life here.
[Cole] LA Knight
startled and stunned outside the ring.
-Moonsault by Butch. -[Wade] And Butch is so well-rounded.
He can brawl. He's got the technical skills,
the high-flying skills,
and doesn't LA Knight know about it.
[Cole] Top rope and Butch is met by a right hand
by LA Knight.
What makes Knight so good, Wade?
[Wade chuckles] He just has an undeniable kavorka.
You don't know what that means, do you?
-[Cole] No idea. -[Wade] It's animal magnetism.
Cannot take your eyes off the man.
Take your eyes off Butch, though, this is what happens.
[Cole] Again, trying to break the fingers of LA Knight.
Knight, though, tremendous athleticism. Leaping all the way to the top rope.
Delivering a big superplex.
-[Wade chuckles] -Cover on Butch for the win.
Hook of the leg. Butch kicks at two.
[Wade] Oh, man. That's 250 pounds-plus of LA Knight
leaping to the top rope.
Superplex executed to perfection.
And if they didn't build Butch quite that tough,
that would've been game over.
[crowd chants "LA Knight"]
[Cole] And the WWE fans here, sold-out tonight,
chanting LA Knight's name.
With Butch high up top,
-lands on his feet. -[Wade] Attempted that BFT.
Step-up enzuigiri by Butch.
Knight meets him with a boot to the face.
[Wade] Sheamus would've been proud of that one.
[Cole] And just like that, stops the momentum of Butch.
And LA Knight…
another standing switch by Butch.
And now with LA Knight in trouble,
trying to drag himself to the rope again.
[Wade] Megastar instinct, straight to that bottom rope.
-Hurry up, referee. -[Cole] Will force yet another break.
[Wade] Butch must have been verging on a disqualification.
That was a late break there.
[Cole] LA Knight, though, driving Butch shoulder-first to the post.
And now LA Knight has Butch right where he wants him.
Down goes Butch, lands on the top of his head.
-And LA Knight with a Blunt Force Trauma. -[bell rings]
[LA Knight's music plays]
[Irvin] Here is your winner,
LA Knight.
[Wade] Now this guy, LA Knight, has to be a top draft pick
for somebody this evening, surely, Michael Cole.
[Cole] It will be Monday, that's when LA Knight and Butch
are eligible in the draft.
This is where we get to become the nine-time.
Hey, Uce. Tonight is the night. Tonight is the night.
-Big night. -Big night.
-This it. It's going down tonight. -We gotta win.
Tonight is the night.
Tonight is the night because the whole world is distracted tonight.
The whole world thinks The Usos will be drafted on Monday
to Raw or to SmackDown.
The Usos get drafted tonight.
-Let's go. -Tonight is the night The Usos get drafted
to the Island of Relevancy as champions,
or The Usos get drafted to the "ocean of obscurity"
as ex-champions.
Your Tribal Chief wants you to know that success is your only avenue tonight,
because tonight is the night.
Tonight is the night that you reject the failure
that Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens has put now as a stain on The Bloodline.
Tonight is the night that you embrace your Bloodline,
that you rise to the occasion.
Tonight is the night you come back into the locker room
as the Undisputed Tag Team Champions of the entire WWE.
Because your Tribal Chief wants you to know
that one way or another,
he will only accept the fact
that tonight
is the night.
[Jimmy] Oh, yeah.
This it, Uce. Tonight's the night.
Hey, yo. Thanks, OG.
[The Usos' music plays]
[Cole] Meanwhile, the draft continues.
And there, one of our special presenters,
the Hall of Famer,
Rob Van Dam.
"The Whole Dam Show" is here.
And from the Friday Night SmackDown side of things,
could we have some moonwalking in our future?
Freebird's here, Michael "P.S." Hayes.
Live, round two, next.
[Rob Van Dam's music plays]
[Cole] And speaking of Michigan.
[Irvin] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome WWE Hall of Famer,
Rob Van Dam.
[Cole] Hey, remember the 2006 Draft
when Rob Van Dam was drafted to the new…
[crowd chanting "Rob Van Dam"]
…was drafted to the new ECW.
[Michael Hayes' music plays]
[Irvin] And WWE Hall of Famer,
Fabulous Freebird,
Michael "P.S." Hayes.
[Cole] Everybody is eligible as part of the draft,
including select members of that group from NXT,
live down at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
Not shocked that these two are presenting together.
All right, with the first pick of the second round,
SmackDown chooses
Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, The Street Profits.
[Cole] We want the smoke, Wade.
[Wade] We also want huge ratings here on SmackDown,
and with these two coming to the Blue Brand,
that's exactly what we're gonna get.
Congratulations, Street Profits.
♪ Up and y'all don't even know ♪
♪ Powder keg about to explode Independent… ♪
[crowd chants "RVD"]
"Vantastic" to see you too.
[crowd cheers]
Ready for this?
Raw selects
Ludwig Kaiser,
Giovanni Vinci,
and the Intercontinental Champion,
Gunther, The Imperium.
[Cole] What a pick for Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] Wow. I'm not gonna lie.
I am gutted we are losing them here from SmackDown,
but wow, Raw,
three sharks have just got let into your pool.
[Cole] Including the Intercontinental Champion.
All right, Corpus Christi.
Second pick,
second round for SmackDown.
Oh, this is big.
WWE Hall of Famer,
"The Rated-R Superstar"
Edge!
[Cole ] Yes!
[Edge's music playing]
[Cole] Edge was part of the group that put SmackDown
on the map 20 years ago.
The Hall of Famer is back on the Blue Brand.
[Wade] An absolute no-brainer.
Friday nights are now R-rated.
♪ On this day ♪
♪ It's so real to me ♪
♪ Everything… ♪
Raw selects
"The Original Bro"
Matt Riddle.
[Cole] One of the big up-and-coming Superstars in WWE today,
Matt Riddle stays on Monday Night Raw.
Well, the entire Raw locker room have got to be on a high right now
because Matt Riddle's coming to Raw.
[Cole] Again, a review of the second round of the WWE Draft.
SmackDown gets the multi-time Tag Champs, The Street Profits,
the Hall of Famer Edge,
the Intercontinental Champion and his teammates, Imperium,
go over to Raw along with Matt Riddle.
And here come the brand new SmackDown tag team of The Street Profits.
[The Street Profits' music plays]
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ Don't mean to brag, what about it? Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ It's in the bag ♪
We're in for a treat because The Street Profits
are set for a Triple Threat Tag Team Match right here, right now.
[Wade] Man, these two are always ready.
We're having a party tonight.
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following is a Triple Threat Tag Team Match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, at a combined weight of 492 pounds,
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins,
The Street Profits.
[Cole] And tonight, Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home or motorcycle insurance.
[Wade] Tell you what, Cole, what a feather in the cap for The Street Profits,
being the first tag team taken off the board
in this year's WWE Draft.
That is massive.
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ Don't mean to brag… ♪
[Cole] The Street Profits will put whoever wins
tonight's Usos-Kevin Owens Sami Zayn match on notice.
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ Don't mean to brag, what about it? Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ It's in the bag, man, I got it, yeah ♪
[crowd cheers]
The beautiful state of Texas.
[crowd cheers]
As you can see,
me and my boy,
my right-hand man, 100 grand Angelo Dawkins,
are back in the blue.
Yeah.
So, baby, what it do?
Because we're back on Friday Night SmackDown,
and ain't nothing changed
but the day we work on.
Because we still live, breathe, and die by them four words, which is…
-…we want the smoke. -We want the smoke.
[Ricochet's music plays]
♪ One and only ♪
[Cole] It is time for the Highlight of the Night.
[explosion]
[Braun Strowman's music plays]
[Irvin] Making their way to the ring,
the team of Ricochet and Braun Strowman.
[Cole] Wade, a couple of "modern-day superheroes"
some people like to call Strowman and Ricochet.
[Wade] I'm surprised that Ricochet is still talking to Braun Strowman
after Braun launched him into No Man's Land last week,
but apparently, Ricochet is a rather forgiving individual
and they seem to be back on track.
-[Cole] You're gonna continue with that? -[Wade] I enjoyed it.
One of those moments you get to laugh about
over a beer afterwards.
I don't know if Braun's laughing about it.
[LWO's music plays]
♪ Viva la raza ♪
[Irvin] And their opponents, representing LWO,
the team of Cruz Del Toro
and Joaquin Wilde.
[Cole] Well, The Street Profits learned their fate tonight--
they were drafted to Friday Night SmackDown.
For Ricochet and Strowman and The LWO,
they have to wait the weekend until Monday night on Raw
to find out what brand they will be a part of going forward.
[Wade] The LWO have massive momentum right now.
What a Six-Man Tag Match they had this past Monday on Raw,
and those LWO shirts are really flying off the shelves.
[Cole] Triple Threat Tag Team Matchup.
First team to gain pinfall or submission will win this match.
Strowman starting things off
with Montez Ford and Joaquin Wilde of The LWO,
and smart to go after "The Monster of All Monsters"
Braun Strowman. Wade, let me ask you this question.
You've been a part of many WWE drafts in the past.
When you're waiting around waiting to be drafted,
-what's going through your mind? -[Wade] It's nervous.
There's a lot of things that come into play.
Of course, your career, first and foremost,
-but also your… -[Cole] Oh, no, no, no, no.
Almost a repeat of last week.
-I got you. -You got me?
It's okay. I got you.
[Wade] Panic attack there. Oh, no.
[Cole] Well, Strowman telling Ricochet, "I got you," and this time it works.
[Wade] Apparently had some target practice.
This match continues.
Let's go!
[Cole] We are back live on Friday Night SmackDown.
Triple Threat Tag Team Match.
The newest member of the SmackDown roster,
Street Profits, taking on Braun Strowman,
Ricochet, and LWO.
This is Ricochet, Dawkins,
and Cruz Del Toro in the ring right now.
[Wade] An absolute scramble of a matchup.
Neither team able to get any form of momentum.
The second you get up,
somebody else is punching you from behind.
[Cole] Strowman and Ricochet, along with LWO,
will learn their draft fate Monday night on Raw.
Double-team now, up over the top onto the apron.
Again, first team to gain pinfall or submission will win this matchup.
Del Toro going to the ropes with a missile dropkick to Dawkins.
[Wade] Crazy levels of athleticism,
we've come to learn, from The LWO.
[Cole] Oh, wow, Ricochet face-first into the turnbuckle.
The illusiveness.
[Wade] Cruz Del Toro has tricks for days.
[Cole] Oh, and Ricochet catches him with a boot to the face.
That rolling step-up enzuigiri.
Tag made.
-Here comes Joaquin Wilde. -[Wade] If you can outmaneuver Ricochet--
[Cole] Wilde, over the top, takes out The Street Profits.
[Wade] Such a daredevil.
Guaranteed hair-raising thrill ride when Joaquin Wilde is in town.
Look at this. Springboard to the outside of the ring.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] The LWO, the Latino World Order,
put together by Rey Mysterio a number of weeks ago
to pay homage to the late, great Eddie Guerrero,
who originally formed the group.
Oh, my goodness. For the win. Is it enough?
And Ricochet kicks at two.
[Wade] Just jaw-dropping maneuvers once again from The LWO.
These guys are really catching fire now.
[Cole] See the draft picks at the bottom of your screen?
Roman Reigns, along with Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman, drafted number one
to SmackDown. Roman actually tweeted out moments ago
about being drafted number one.
Roman Reigns would simply say, "Number one at everything."
Now the tag made, and here's Cruz Del Toro.
[Wade] That just angered The Monster of All Monsters.
[Cole] Oh! Again for the win.
Off that suplex.
Strowman has to break things up.
[Wade] Just about a dive in desperation there.
[Cole] And now Montez Ford runs into a right hand by Strowman.
[Wade] As Ford just taking a beat too long,
The Monster's reaction speed a little faster
than anybody would have guessed. Oh, no.
[Cole] I believe the train
is about to come roaring out of the station.
[Wade] Runaway Train, and there's some collateral damage.
[Cole] Down goes Strowman. Dawkins can fly.
[Wade] Dawkins is way too big to be doing that. Whoa!
[Cole] Ricochet said, I can do you one better.
[screaming]
There are bodies flying everywhere.
[Wade] Dawkins in big trouble now, ripe for the pickings.
Everyone else down.
[Cole] Ricochet, top rope, looking for the win…
Rolls through.
Dawkins catches him with a right hand.
[Wade] Sweet right hook to the jaw of Ricochet.
[Cole] Ricochet doesn't realize the tag was made.
He's about to.
Montez Ford, top rope, from the heavens.
[crowd] One, two, three.
[Cole] Welcome to SmackDown.
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
[Irvin] Here are your winners,
The Street Profits.
[Cole] Bodies were flying everywhere.
[Wade] What a chaotic ending to the matchup.
Montez and Angelo Dawkins giving the full range of their skills,
and then Ricochet, of course, not to be outdone.
But it was a sky-high draft pick for The Street Profits
and a sky-high move like that got them the win.
Nothing quite like winning on your debut on the new brand.
I'll tell you this, Cole, SmackDown management
must be patting themselves on the back
after that performance by The Street Profits.
[Cole] Street Profits now part of Friday Night SmackDown.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, we look ahead to a week from tomorrow.
It is WWE Backlash from San Juan, Puerto Rico,
hosted by Grammy award-winning Bad Bunny,
who now is a competitor at the event.
Here's our Progressive Match Flo.
[announcer] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto and more.
[Priest] I'm not shy about it. I'm a bad guy.
Bad Bunny here to promote
Backlash at Puerto Rico, which he's hosting, it's great.
If he's looking to get involved in our business again--
[in Spanish] I ain't afraid of you, dude.
[crowd screaming and shouting]
[Cole] Oh, no.
[tense music plays]
Bad Bunny just dropped Dom.
[Priest] Then he'll just go through a table again.
And Bad Bunny can watch you take out my deadbeat dad.
[Patrick] Rey Mysterio against Damian Priest.
[Cole] Oh my god.
Oh, god.
Steel chair to the face. That's going to force a disqualification.
Bad Bunny is here…
with a Kendo stick in hand.
Priest has Bunny.
Oh!
Good lord.
Hey, Damian.
I'm going to Puerto Rico to kick your ass.
Backlash en mi casa, Puerto Rico.
Damian Priest, Bad Bunny, in a street fight.
[in Spanish] Let's see if you're man enough.
In Puerto Rico,
I'm gonna end your entire career.
[Cole] Puerto Rico is known for where the hardcore style really took root.
Well, Bad Bunny is about to go hardcore on Damian Priest
in a San Juan Street Fight, where everything goes.
There are no rules.
Bad Bunny steps in the ring a week from tomorrow
against Damian Priest at Backlash.
[Wade] But before we get to Backlash, next Friday,
we are in San Juan, Puerto Rico,
for a sold-out SmackDown.
Bad Bunny's gonna be there.
Word of advice, Bunny.
You might want to bring that Kendo stick
for a little protection.
[Cole] Representing Friday Night SmackDown,
he was once the longest-reigning SmackDown World Champion in history,
JBL set for round three of the draft, and for Monday Night Raw?
Well, a former SmackDown general manager,
Playa, Playa, Playa, is in the house.
Teddy Long, JBL, round three, is live and next.
[JBL's music plays]
[Cole] The Hall of Famer, The Big Texan.
[Irvin] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome WWE Hall of Famer,
John "Bradshaw" Layfield.
[Cole] A man who once said I was the greatest athlete
he ever stepped in the ring with.
That's a quote.
[Wade] I don't believe a word of that,
but JBL was always the genius in the JBL & Cole show.
That much I can assure you, Michael.
-[Teddy Long's music plays] -[Irvin] WWE Hall of Famer,
Teddy Long.
[Cole] Tonight, Friday Night SmackDown is sponsored by Progressive.
Many, many years in the car together for these two men,
reunited here tonight.
[Wade] Teddy Long hasn't aged a day.
The first pick of the third round of the WWE Draft,
SmackDown selects
"The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley.
[Cole] Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
[Wade] Oh, man. We are stocking up
on main eventers here on the Blue Brand.
Nobody more impressive than "The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley.
Boom, great pick.
The next draft, Raw selects
-"The Scottish Warrior" Drew McIntyre. -[Wade] Woah.
[Cole] That's a really good pick for Monday Night Raw.
The former two-time WWE champion.
[Wade] Yes, indeed.
Monday nights have suddenly just become Claymore Country.
Guess what, Raw? You just got yourself a winner.
SmackDown selects
Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Michin
and "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, The O.C.
[Cole] Some good brothers coming to SmackDown, Wade.
What a coup for Friday nights on Fox.
[Wade] Oh man, another package deal.
AJ Styles, and he's got the entire O.C. with him here on SmackDown.
That is what I call a phenomenal pick.
And Raw selects the [indistinct] The Miz.
[indistinct dialogue]
[Cole] The Miz will stay on Monday Night Raw,
the two-time Grand Slam Champion.
[Wade] I personally haven't always seen eye-to-eye with The Miz,
so I'll be polite and say I am thrilled that he's going to Raw.
[Cole] I can tell you what I'm thrilled about. Here's the entire third round here
in the WWE Draft.
But what about Bobby Lashley?
It changes the game,
changes the landscape on Friday nights.
[Wade] Man, I am scared for the rest of the blue locker room right now.
Bobby Lashley is gonna be a problem.
[Zelina Vega's music plays]
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Zelina Vega eight nights away from the biggest match of her career.
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing LWO,
Zelina Vega.
And her opponent, accompanied to the ring by Chelsea Green,
-Sonya Deville. -[Cole] So next Saturday Night,
San Juan, Puerto Rico, part of Backlash, eight nights away,
Zelina Vega in front of her family and her friends.
Her grandmother came from Puerto Rico
to the United States a number of years ago.
Zelina Vega goes back and performs in front of her family there
for the first time in her career,
and what does she do?
She battles Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women's Championship.
[Wade] I think the world of Zelina Vega, but I get it.
She's never competed in Puerto Rico before.
-[bell rings] -She's emotional,
she's excited, but that has caused her to make a huge error
and get herself in a situation she simply cannot handle
in the form of Rhea Ripley.
[Cole] This match was made after Sonya Deville
crashed Zelina's interview on SmackDown Lowdown last week
and complained about Zelina getting a title match.
Sonya, Zelina, one-on-one here tonight.
What a shock, Sonya complaining.
But to get back to your point with Zelina and Rhea Ripley.
Listen, Rhea Ripley's a powerhouse.
She's the new SmackDown Women's Champion.
She set a record at the Royal Rumble. Zelina Vega, huge,
huge underdog going into Backlash,
but she's going to have the emotion and the adrenaline in Puerto Rico.
[Wade] Oh, yeah. I like that point.
Just like Sami Zayn did in Montreal a few weeks ago.
How did that work out for Sami Zayn?
Silence. Yeah, that says it all.
He lost.
[Cole] We'll see what happens with Rhea Ripley and Zelina Vega
if she survives Sonya Deville tonight.
The body shots by Deville as Chelsea Green looks on
complaining about the way they weren't able to win the Tag Titles last week
over Raquel and Liv.
You called it a questionable referee.
[Wade] Dreadful referee.
[Cole] Oh, and Sonya takes advantage of the distraction by Green.
Now, Zelina Vega and The LWO, along with Sonya and Chelsea,
will learn their fates Monday night on Raw.
[Wade] I mean, you just need to look at the…
[Cole] That's in the draft.
[Wade] …the ease with which Sonya Deville is manhandling Zelina Vega.
[Cole] Cover now. Hook of the leg and a kickout.
[Wade] There's a reason why Connor McGregor
would never fight Brock Lesnar.
-[Cole] Okay, well-- -You cannot compete
with that level of size difference.
[Cole] I'm gonna mention one name to you.
Rey Mysterio, the biggest underdog in the history of WWE.
The man who's a multiple-time world champion,
won a Royal Rumble,
the biggest underdog in the history of the game.
[Wade] There's always one exception to the rule,
and the one everyone always has to go to is Rey Mysterio,
'cause he's a freak.
He is a one-off by definition.
Doesn't happen again.
It's a needle in a haystack.
[Cole] I don't say it's gonna happen. I don't predict it to happen,
but it takes three seconds, Wade.
Three seconds and Zelina Vega could--
Here's the cover now by Deville
and a kickout at two.
Three seconds and Vega could change the entire course of WWE.
[Wade] Vega is massively talented. I'll take nothing away from her.
Underdogs win all the time in the world of anime that she loves,
but this is not Demon Slayer.
[Cole] And to your point, Deville right now
is just beating the hell out of Zelina Vega.
And what is Rhea Ripley going to do?
Perhaps the most powerful woman in WWE today.
Vertical suplex by Deville
as Zelina Vega able to shift the balance.
Now a waist lock runs into an elbow.
[Wade] One elbow that just flattened Vega, though,
but Vega's got tricks…
[Cole] …roll up now with Deville.
Shoulders are down
and just like that-- that quick, one, two, three--
-Vega with the win. -[Irvin] Here is your winner,
Zelina Vega.
[Cole] Is it probable? No.
Is it possible? Perhaps not.
However-- Oh my goodness, from behind!
[Wade] It's inevitable. That's the word you are looking-- Ooh.
[Cole] Rhea Ripley blasting Vega, taking out Deville,
and Rhea sending a little message.
Yeah, Chelsea, you may want to-- Don't come over here.
[Wade] Chelsea Green might be the smartest person
at SmackDown today.
[Cole] Now The Eradicator, the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Rhea Ripley, looking for Riptide.
Zelina Vega turns it into a DDT!
And a little message there from Zelina.
"You get cocky, I'll take over.
You make a mistake, I'll capitalize."
[Wade] Let me tell you, though, Cole.
Rhea Ripley doesn't make mistakes when gold is on the line.
And it will be a week tomorrow at WWE Backlash.
[Cole] Ripley versus Zelina Vega for the SmackDown Women's Championship.
Rhea won the title at WrestleMania,
and speaking of WrestleMania, later tonight,
it is a WrestleMania main event rematch.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, this time the champions.
And they will defend those titles against the team
that held the Tag Titles longer than anyone in history,
The Usos, who tonight hope to become nine-time Tag Champs
and escape the wrath of Roman Reigns.
It's do-or-die for The Usos.
Tag Titles tonight, live.
I'm so proud of you.
[in Spanish] You're the best. See what you did?
One move and she was terrified of you.
[laughing]
Zelina, I like what you did out there.
Thank you. Guys, I feel so good.
I feel like The LWO has lit a spark in me like no other.
I get to do this in front of my family, for mi gente,
at Backlash in Puerto Rico. I'm ready.
[chuckles]
[in Spanish] Rey, I think it's time for her to get
a great piece of advice
directly from the greatest of all.
Zelina, just remember,
no matter what anyone thinks about your chances against Rhea,
Sólo tu… only you need to believe.
I was smaller than any opponent that I faced,
but I fought all the way to the Hall of Fame.
If you fight with what's in here,
but more importantly, what's here,
mija, you're gonna leave Puerto Rico
as the new SmackDown Women's Champion.
From The LWO.
[Cole] Some great words from Rey Mysterio.
Meanwhile, here on Friday Night SmackDown,
the latest members of the Blue Brand.
[The O.C.'s music plays]
[Irvin] Please welcome "Michin" Mia Yim, Luke Gallows,
Karl Anderson, and "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles,
The O.C.
[Cole] AJ Styles, a former two-time WWE Champion
leading the former Tag Champs and Michin as well.
And Backlash is sponsored by the Xfinity 10G Network.
Get a reliable connection to 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 Mike's.
[crowd chanting]
[The Viking Raiders' music]
[Cole] Well, just as AJ Styles was about to address the WWE fans,
Valhalla leads the Viking Raiders out here.
Might be a short celebration party for The O.C. here.
[Cole] The O.C. the newest members
of Friday Night SmackDown.
The Viking Raiders are eligible
to be drafted as part of tonight's pool.
Hold on. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on a second.
Just wanna make sure…
Did you guys come out here to pick a fight?
Op. I get it.
Four against three.
You guys are smarter than you look.
But I have a solution to your problem.
I'm just gonna scoot back over to this turnbuckle here.
O.C., handle your business.
[Cole] I like how AJ Styles thinks, and here we go.
The O.C. and The Viking Raiders, Valhalla and Michin.
And the brawl's underway on draft night on SmackDown.
[Wade] AJ Styles has got the best seat in the house.
[Cole] For Anderson and Gallows, it's the Magic Killer.
SmackDown, we have just started.
[cheers]
[Cole] That is a scary thought, Wade, for the SmackDown locker room.
[Wade] Just laying waste to The Viking Raiders.
AJ Styles and the clan are here
and they mean business on the Blue Brand.
[Cole] I don't believe AJ Styles is through yet.
Phenomenal Forearm.
[Wade] I have missed that so much.
How good is it to have AJ Styles back?
[Cole] The O.C. gonna raise some hell on Friday nights.
Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next on Friday Night SmackDown,
it is the fourth and final round
for Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, of the draft.
And representing SmackDown, none other than
the man who now runs NXT.
He's the Hall of Famer,
he's "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
And coming out here representing Raw,
the Road Dogg in the house.
Round four of the draft is live, next.
[D-Generation X's music plays]
[crowd cheers]
♪ D Generation ain't stupid, fool ♪
♪ We just got tired ♪
[Irvin] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome WWE Hall of Famers
and D-Generation X members, "The Road Dogg" Jesse James
and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
♪ D-Generation ♪
♪ You think you can tell me what to do? ♪
Hey.
With the…
[crowd chants "HBK"]
[both chuckle]
For the first pick in the fourth round,
SmackDown selects
Bayley,
Dakota Kai,
and Iyo Sky,
Damage CTRL.
-[Cole] Oh, no. -[Wade] Yes!
-[Cole] Oh, no. -[Wade] This is the greatest pick ever.
Bayley is gonna make your life hell, Michael Cole.
She hates you with a passion
and it is absolutely hilarious.
We got Damage CTRL on SmackDown, boom.
And Raw selects
"The King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Cole] What a wonderful pick for Monday Night Raw,
Shinsuke Nakamura, the former Royal Rumble winner.
[Wade] Enigmatic Japanese flair heading over to Monday nights.
Big loss for us on the Blue Brand,
big win for Raw.
[Cole] I just love that song.
All right.
This next one I'm not exactly thrilled about,
but SmackDown selects
the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions,
Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.
[Cole] As I mentioned before, Wade,
Shawn Michaels, The Heartbreak Kid, runs NXT,
and there this is a live shot now at the NXT Performance Center
in Orlando, Florida.
Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, the Tag Team Champions,
now part of Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] That is so, so cool.
What an exciting moment for these two ladies.
One of the biggest moments in any young Superstar's career.
Wait, are they gonna be bringing NXT Women's Tag gold
-to SmackDown? -[Cole] Great question.
Shawn,
if you didn't like that last one,
I don't know if it's possible to lose your smile twice,
but you might do it again right here in Corpus Christi
because Raw selects
the NXT Women's Champion, Indi Hartwell.
[Cole] Are you kidding me?
Indi Hartwell just won
the NXT Women's Championship WrestleMania weekend,
and now she's drafted to Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] I think Shawn Michaels is just about ready to quit,
but this is massive.
What a shocker that is.
One of the most popular Superstars in NXT,
beloved by the entire locker room down there at the Performance Center.
Indi Hartwell with the NXT Women's Championship
going to Monday Night Raw.
[Cole] Again, here's the whole fourth round here tonight in the draft.
This is incredible. And shockers, of course, from NXT.
Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, the Tag Champs,
and the NXT Women's Champion, Indi Hartwell,
coming to Raw and SmackDown.
Meanwhile, standing by, our own broadcast colleague
in Florida, live, McKenzie Mitchell.
Thanks, guys.
The NXT Women's Division has been turned upside down.
The Tag Team Champs to SmackDown,
the NXT Women's Champion to Raw.
But with me now is Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre.
And ladies, congratulations on being drafted to SmackDown.
How do you feel?
Ecstatic, excited.
Ready to make my mark on SmackDown.
The unholy union of Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre
have dominated NXT, and now--
Yeah, don't think you're taking those titles to SmackDown with you.
Yeah, because we want a Tag Team Title Match
this Tuesday on NXT.
-Oh, okay. -Okay.
-Yeah, yeah. -Okay, we'll see yous on Tuesday.
-Yeah, we'll see you then. -Yeah.
[giggles]
[people chattering]
[man] Woo-wee!
Big developments coming out of NXT tonight,
but now please welcome my guest, who we just learned is being drafted
to Monday Night Raw,
Shinsuke Nakamura.
[crowd cheers]
Shinsuke, Friday Night SmackDown has been your home for a while now,
so how do you feel about going to the Red Brand?
Yeah, so excited, definitely, because this would've been my first--
[Cole] Oh.
[Kross growling]
Karrion Kross!
[crash]
[moans in pain]
[Kross grunting]
-Let's go. -Nine-time.
-Let's go get these titles. -Let's go.
-You ready? -I've been waiting.
-Let's go. -Solo, let's roll, boy.
-Let's go. -Solo.
The Tribal Tribal Chief wants Solo to stay with me.
The Tribal Chief wants the spotlight tonight on The Usos
because tonight is the night.
-Yes, it is. -Let's go.
Let's go.
Yeah.
[Kevin Owens' music plays]
[Cole] Tonight better be the night for The Usos.
And this is our WrestleMania
main event rematch.
[crowd cheers]
Kevin Owens, who says he's sick of all the talk,
doesn't care about The Usos and The Bloodline,
wants to put it all to rest tonight.
[Sami Zayn's music plays]
Sami Zayn made a good point. He told The Usos,
you're dedicating this matchup to Roman Reigns?
He hasn't even called you.
Coming up next, it is a WrestleMania main event rematch.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
defend the Undisputed Tag Team Titles against The Usos.
It is live. It is next.
A week from today at high noon
outside the Colosseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan,
it is the WWE Backlash press conference
hosted by the host of Backlash,
who also has a San Juan Street Fight at Backlash,
none other than the multi-diamond recording artist,
Bad Bunny, and a slew of WWE Superstars.
It is on-- streaming live on Peacock.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, tonight Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's been a historic night here tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown.
Just like it was Monday night on Raw
where Triple H delivered an announcement that would shake WWE to its core.
A few weeks ago when I talked about the WWE Draft,
I said the draft would change WWE at its very core.
Because when Roman Reigns gets drafted
to whatever brand he gets drafted to,
he will take the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship
with him and he will stay.
The other brand will determine a new champion.
[crowd cheers]
At Night of Champions,
we will crown a new World Heavyweight Champion.
[crowd cheers]
[Triple H's music plays]
[Cole] So, we now know that here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown,
Roman Reigns was drafted number one,
so the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion remains on Fridays,
which means the World Heavyweight Champion
will be represented on Monday Night Raw.
Yes, indeed. And to determine the new World Heavyweight Champion,
top Superstars from Raw and SmackDown
will battle it out in a tournament
the final of which will take place at WWE Night of Champions.
So right now, let's show you how the first night of the draft
shaked out here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
Here are the list of the Superstars
who have been drafted to Friday Night SmackDown here tonight,
including the shocker we heard moments ago:
Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre are the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions
coming here to Friday Night SmackDown.
Now there is a whole list of Superstars
who are still eligible to be drafted here tonight.
Since they weren't, the draft will continue tomorrow morning
on SmackDown Lowdown on Peacock.
And now coming up Monday night, live from Fort Worth, Texas,
it is Monday Night Raw night two of the draft.
And so many Superstars are still eligible
to be a part of Monday Night Raw
as the draft continues on Monday night.
And here are the Superstars that were drafted tonight
to go to Monday Night Raw,
including the number one overall pick, Cody Rhodes.
Of course, Becky Lynch,
the NXT Women's Champion, Indi Hartwell as well.
A big week next week right here on Friday Night SmackDown.
Sold out in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
You saw the backstage attack moments ago.
It'll happen next Friday night.
Shinsuke Nakamura, now on Monday Night Raw,
to take on Karrion Kross on SmackDown.
[Wade] And after what we saw earlier,
the newest recruits to SmackDown, The O.C.,
they'll be going up against The Viking Raiders
in tag action next week on SmackDown,
live from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
[Cole] He is the most streamed artist in the entire world
for the last three years in a row on Spotify.
Over 18 and a half billion streams last year alone.
He's the host of Backlash, but next Friday night,
Bad Bunny comes to SmackDown live on Fox.
And there are your Undisputed Tag Team Champions.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn set to defend the titles
in a WrestleMania main event rematch.
I'm sick of waiting, come on.
[The Usos' music plays]
♪ Down since Day one ish ♪
♪ Down since ♪
[Cole] There is a lot of pressure on the brothers, Usos, tonight
as they look to win a nine-time
Tag Team Championship.
Roman Reigns pretty much telling them you better win or else, Wade.
[Wade laughs] Pressure creates diamonds.
Michael Cole, you wouldn't know anything about that.
Roman Reigns knows how to handle The Usos.
He knows The Usos are not a pair of snowflakes.
They don't crumble under pressure.
They just step their game up,
and that is what we're gonna witness tonight.
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the Undisputed
WWE Tag Team Championships.
Introducing the challengers,
Jimmy and Jey, The Usos.
[crowd boos]
And their opponents,
they are the Undisputed WWE
Tag Team Champions,
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Kevin Owens wants to end this once and for all against The Usos.
Paul Heyman with what he,
well, attributed to Roman Reigns earlier tonight.
"You can come back to the Island of Relevancy
if you bring the Tag Team Titles with you,
or you can head off to the ocean of obscurity."
Those the words to Jimmy and Jey, The Usos.
-[bell rings] -Here we go, matchup underway.
Usos go right after Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn,
looking to put this matchup away early.
[Wade] Smart move from The Usos,
and that Island of Relevancy just got a little closer for The Usos.
[Cole] Well, they understand the pressure they're under.
They understand that they've got to get the job done tonight,
that Roman Reigns will not accept failure,
that he wants the gold in The Bloodline.
[Wade] Usos are fighting like a couple of a wounded tigers,
fighting like their future depends on it because it quite literally does.
[Cole] They dedicated the victory tonight to Roman Reigns.
Kevin Owens went for the stunner.
Superkick by Jey Uso dropping KO.
[Wade] Usos might end this one quickly.
KO is in a mess. Sami Zayn hasn't moved for the past 30 seconds.
[Cole] Oh, and a double superkick for the win
to regain the tag team gold.
Kevin Owens kicks at two, Tag Title Match continues.
The Usos are showing the world
why they held the Tag Titles a record 622 days.
They are dismantling Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn,
the current Undisputed Tag Team Champions,
in a match The Usos dedicated to Roman Reigns,
who was drafted to SmackDown with Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman
-earlier tonight. -[Wade] And the Tag Champs
were unable to get out of the blocks this evening.
The Usos' brilliant tactics, attacking that left knee of KO.
Remember, a couple of weeks ago,
that left knee of KO was battered by Solo Sikoa at Raw,
jammed in a travel case.
It's clearly not 100%, and don't The Usos know it.
[Cole] Tag made. Here comes Jey Uso. The thing for The Usos,
so much going through their mind. Where do they stand with The Bloodline?
Where do they stand with "The Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns?
It's interesting to me that Roman Reigns was able to,
well, many say, maybe manipulate the system
where he was drafted with Solo and Paul Heyman.
However, The Usos were not eligible in the draft tonight.
They're not eligible till Monday.
Maybe Roman Reigns did that on purpose.
Maybe he pulled some strings so he could see how The Usos
would do in this match tonight.
[Wade] What else are you gonna say? The Earth is flat?
You've got so many conspiracy theories.
[Cole] Oh! Well, you heard Paul Heyman earlier:
"Win this match or else," is pretty much what Heyman said.
Maybe Roman doesn't want The Usos around
if they can't regain the gold.
Have you thought about that?
[Wade] Paul Heyman is a superb motivator.
[Cole] Oh, Kevin Owens, though, dragging Jimmy into the post,
now with an opportunity.
Can he get into the corner and make a tag to Sami Zayn?
[Wade] Usos need a tag here in a hurry.
A completely fresh Sami Zayn desperate to get into this one.
No.
[Cole] Tag made, here comes Sami.
And Sami Zayn taking out Jey Uso.
And what a year these two have had.
An up-and-down emotional relationship.
Jey finally trusting Sami only for things to fall apart.
And now Sami still trying to talk some sense into Jey Uso.
[Wade] Guys just know each other so well.
At this point, though, clearly Sami Zayn a step ahead of the game,
and he's got fire in his belly tonight.
[Cole] Sami Zayn…
up over the top, and down go The Usos,
and the Tag Champs are rolling.
[Wade] This matchup just got turned on its head
by that tag to Sami Zayn
and this high-risk offense,
nailed to perfection
by one half of the Tag Team Champions.
[Cole] Paul Heyman said Roman Reigns
believes that success is the only avenue.
The Usos need to win tonight.
They need to, quote, "reject failure."
[Wade] Because The Bloodline is Winners' Enclosure.
If you don't win, you're not allowed in.
Those are the rules, Cole.
[Cole] Sami battling it out high above the ring.
Electric crowd, sold out here tonight.
Zayn. Sunset flip powerbomb for the win,
and a kickout by Jey at two.
[Wade] The future of The Usos in The Bloodline
just flashed before their eyes.
[Cole] We are sold out here tonight. It is night number one
of the 2023 WWE Draft.
WrestleMania main event rematch for the Tag Titles.
Zayn and KO against The Usos.
The Usos' "Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns
drafted number one by SmackDown
along with Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman.
Blue Thunder Bomb by Zayn.
Cover to retain,
kickout again.
The number one draft pick of the night for Raw
was Cody Rhodes.
As you take another look at the Blue Thunder Bomb.
Bianca Belair came to Friday Night SmackDown.
She's the current Raw Women's Champion.
Becky Lynch remained on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] As a reminder, The Usos dedicated their imminent victory tonight
to The Tribal Chief. That is now starting to look bleak.
[Cole] Jey Uso caught Zayn with a super kick,
knocking him off the top rope.
The Usos trying to crawl back into this.
WrestleMania main event rematch continues, live.
We are back live on Friday Night SmackDown.
Sami Zayn, tag to Kevin Owens,
they defend the Tag Titles against The Usos.
KO.
Cannonball.
[Wade] Just when Sami Zayn was looking dead and buried,
an emergency tag just in the nick of time
to The Prize Fighter.
[Cole] Oh, and a big right hand.
And now Jimmy with Kevin Owens in trouble.
Can The Usos pull it off tonight in front of this raucous crowd,
sold out for Friday Night SmackDown?
[Wade] This match completely breaking down now.
Historically speaking, that has to favor The Usos.
This is when they find that extra gear.
Oh.
[Cole] Kevin Owens with a Fisherman's Buster.
Is it enough
to put The Usos away?
[Wade] KO can barely walk at this point, but with the gold on the line,
he's doing his damnedest to get the job done.
[Cole] Oh, and a Swanton by Owens.
Cover to retain, hook of the leg,
kickout.
Yes, sir?
Yes, sir.
Thank you, my Tribal Chief.
[crowd chants "This is awesome"]
That was the call.
Tonight is your night.
[Cole] You can only wonder what those ominous words mean.
Owens went for the stunner, caught him with a super kick.
Pop-up powerbomb, Jimmy lands on his feet.
Misses wildly.
Now KO got him.
Cover for the win to retain.
Jey breaking it up.
[Wade] Oh, expert timing from Jey Uso, 'cause that was the match.
[Cole] And now Sami unloading.
So much emotion, so much frustration has gone into this.
Sami Zayn, a year ago, wanted to join The Bloodline.
Now bitter enemies with Jey, who catches him with a super kick.
[Wade] Sami Zayn might be out cold with that one.
[Cole] And now from behind, rolling Kevin Owens up
to win the Tag Titles for a ninth time.
KO able to kick at two.
Kevin Owens with a stunner.
Cover by KO to retain, and a kickout.
Jimmy kicks at two.
[Wade] How the hell
did Jimmy Uso kick out of that stunner?
[Cole] Earlier on, Sami Zayn taken out,
bang, by that.
[Wade] Zayn might be out for good after that.
[Cole] Kevin Owens perhaps questioning himself now.
[Wade] I don't know how any of these four are still moving.
[Cole] Especially after that, Wade, the stunner.
[Wade] I mean, that beats everybody.
-[Cole] Not on this night. -[Wade] They just make The Bloodline
a little better than everybody else.
[Cole] Will it be a short reign for the Tag Champs?
Wait a minute.
The Enforcer. Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline.
[Wade] When in doubt, send for Solo.
[Cole] Tonight is the night.
Meanwhile, it's Riddle.
Riddle attacking Solo Sikoa.
The Original Bro.
[Wade] He got flattened by Solo Sikoa last week on SmackDown
after a street fight, and he clearly hadn't forgotten.
[Cole] Meanwhile, back in the ring, the matchup continues.
Solo Sikoa has been taken out of the equation.
Step-up enzuigiri.
Tag made. It may not matter
because The Usos now are cooking on all cylinders.
[Wade] Building a head of steam at the right time.
[Cole] Double kick.
Cover…
to regain the Tag Titles.
Kickout at two.
[Wade] Weak, weak kickout.
There's barely anything left in Kevin Owens.
Now is the time to get the job done, Usos.
Well, whatever Roman Reigns had in mind for Solo Sikoa,
it did not play out, thanks to Matt Riddle, The Original Bro.
[Wade] One of Raw's top picks in tonight's draft
still got business here on SmackDown.
[Cole] And now The Usos, who work better probably than any team in history,
in a double-team situation.
And that's what they've got with Kevin Owens. And another superkick.
KO may be down and out.
Double kick to Sami Zayn.
And The Usos are dismantling the Tag Team Champions.
Cover for the win to make Roman Reigns happy.
And a kickout at two.
What do Jimmy and Jey have to do?
The resilience of Owens.
[Wade] Kevin Owens must be running on fumes at this point.
It's basically down to a two-on-one matchup,
but Kevin Owens refusing to die.
[Cole] Boom, another kick.
Owen's down. Cover again by Jey to win the Tag Titles.
Again, Kevin Owens is in it
and he's back to his feet, at least momentarily.
[Wade] He must have no idea. Wait, what the hell?
Owens fighting back.
Kevin Owens, "Just keep fighting" is his motto.
But it may not matter now.
A last gasp.
Sami! The Usos may have been going for the 1D.
Sami Zayn dragging Jey out of the ring.
Stunner.
Tag.
Helluva Kick!
Cover!
[crowd] One, two, three!
-They retain. -[bell rings]
[Sami Zayn's music plays]
[Irvin] Here are your winners
and still the Undisputed
WWE Tag Team Champions,
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
[Cole] The ocean of obscurity awaits The Usos.
Roman Reigns is not gonna be happy with this.
The Usos have let The Tribal Chief down.
I'm wondering if Roman's even gonna want The Usos
in the draft Monday night.
Zayn and Owens retain.
Jimmy and Jey let The Tribal Chief down
and can't get the job done.
And now The Usos head to Monday night
and the continuation of the WWE Draft.