[WWE intro music 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.
♪ Better than me ♪
[Cole] With Night of Champions looming one week from tomorrow,
we welcome you to the University of South Carolina in Columbia,
where tonight, Friday Night SmackDown on Fox is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
♪ I'm leaving dem all Looking stressin' and folded ♪
♪ How am I hot But I'm dressing the coldest? ♪
[music fades]
["Head of the Table" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] After 992 days,
still the Undisputed Champion.
[fireworks popping]
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome Special Counsel, "The Wiseman" Paul Heyman,
Solo Sikoa,
and the Undisputed
WWE Universal Champion,
Roman Reigns!
[Cole] Roman Reigns kicking off tonight
what would be an explosive Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] And coming up later tonight on SmackDown,
The Usos get an opportunity to stop the rut.
They take on the LWO, Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio.
[Cole] Also the hard-talking, flashy, braggadocious Grayson Waller
brings his controversial talk show to Friday Night SmackDown.
His guest, the man in the finals
of the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament
at Night of Champions, AJ Styles.
Now you notice The Usos are not out here tonight
as Roman Reigns heads into the ring.
Perhaps this is why.
Let's take you back to last week on SmackDown
where Roman Reigns talked about solving problems.
But there's a problem, you understand?
There is a real problem, but it's not Sami and Kevin, no.
The problem are your brothers.
[crowd exclaims]
You thought you were just gonna lose in the main event at WrestleMania
and we weren't gonna talk about it?
Apologize.
I'm here to make you laugh? I'm a clown now?
-I'm a clown again, huh? -No, no…
Who's a-- Who's a clown?
[crowd gasps]
Hey, man. We apologize!
The Undisputed Tag Team Titles come home to The Bloodline
at the Night of Champions
when Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
will lose to…
Solo
and your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns!
["Head of the Table" resumes]
[Cole] The Usos were embarrassed after what happened last week,
but the match will take place a week from tomorrow
at Night of Champions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn look to retain their titles
against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa.
[fireworks popping]
We know The Usos are here tonight.
They have a match later on, but they're not out here with Roman Reigns.
Is that done by design by the Tribal Chief?
Was it The Usos' choice perhaps because of the embarrassment from last week?
[Wade] Far be it from me to try and understand the mental machinations
of the Tribal Chief and the Special Counsel,
but perhaps this is the stick approach as opposed to the carrot approach.
[music fades]
[crowd booing]
[crowd shouting]
[laughs] Yes!
[crowd chanting] You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck!
[chants fade]
That's not how we start things here. No.
[crowd booing]
Columbia, South Carolina!
[crowd cheering]
-That's how we start things. -Yeah!
-Acknowledge me! -[crowd cheering, booing]
[inaudible]
["Fight" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-["Worlds Apart" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Let's go!
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen, the question has become,
are the walls closing in on the Tag Team Champions?
Kevin Owens wants to fight anyone and everyone.
Right, wrong, or indifferent.
On Raw, Judgment Day versus Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Now, earlier on, it appeared that man, Paul Heyman,
had cut a deal, some sort of deal with Imperium
to help out the Tribal Chief heading into Night of Champions.
Imperium would get involved in this match.
[Wade] Essentially, KO and Sami Zayn fighting battles
on three different fronts,
and whatever deal was struck between Imperium and Paul Heyman
was highly effective
resulting in, yes, a one, two, three in the favor of Judgment Day.
Again, everyone gunning for the Tag Team Champions.
["Worlds Apart" continues]
-[music fades] -[crowd continues vocalizing music]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Sami! Sami! Sami!
Well, this is perfect.
They seem excited. This was my plan all along.
I was gonna bring you out here,
'cause there's really only two things to do,
and I think we can accomplish both right now.
Columbia already did it.
Now it's your turn to acknowledge your Tribal Chief.
[crowd booing]
And when you're done with that,
you can drop off my titles and you can see yourself out.
[crowd chanting] KO! KO! KO! KO!
[mic clattering]
[crowd cheering]
Figures. Figures. That…
"Fight, Owens, fight," right, eh?
That's what you do. You're not here to talk, anyways.
We don't want to talk to you, anyways.
You.
[crowd booing]
I've had a special career.
I mean, I've experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
But I only have one regret.
[crowd] What?
And that one regret…
[crowd] What?
…is wasting my life on you.
[crowd] What?
[crowd booing]
Uh, it's funny, Roman, because I have one regret too.
And that's not blasting you with that chair sooner.
[crowd cheering]
It's been a long time coming, this, hasn't it?
We haven't been in the ring together since, what?
Montreal?
Elimination Chamber, you remember that, right?
And I've thought for months,
I thought I would never get this opportunity to stand here,
look you in the eye, and tell you everything I wanted to say.
I've been dreaming about it for months.
And now, your greed has finally led us to this moment.
And now that you're finally standing here, man…
I got nothing to say to you.
Except this.
Your whole life, everyone told you you were the best.
Your whole life, you got everything you wanted.
And now, you want the Undisputed Tag Team Championships.
But look at-- Hey, look at me. Look at me.
At Night of Champions…
you are not going to get them.
[crowd cheering]
And do you want to know why
you're not gonna win the Undisputed Tag Team Championships?
It's because…
you're just not as good as us.
[crowd cheering]
And for that matter…
you're not as good as The Usos, either.
[crowd exclaiming]
That's how you feel, huh?
That's how-- That's the one feeling you have about your-- That's…
I took it easy on you.
I gave you opportunity after opportunity after opportunity.
-[crowd cheering] -I tried to serve it up for you.
-You won't even-- -[Cole] Oh, wait a minute!
That's Jey Uso and Jimmy
attacking Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Just as it appeared that Sami Zayn was getting under Roman Reigns' skin,
The Usos with a sneak attack,
an ambush on Zayn and Kevin Owens,
and have left the Tag Team Champions lying.
[crowd booing]
-Give me some, baby! -Let's go!
-Give me some, baby! -Right there!
[inaudible]
This is my ring.
I didn't tell you to come out here.
It was a simple plan.
My plan that you don't ever--
[crowd exclaiming]
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Roman Reigns is irate.
We'll follow up on this story when we return to SmackDown.
Right? Just trying to help. Just trying to help out, Uce.
-Call the play. We gonna run it. Right? -Yes.
You keep saying "we."
It sounds like you're talking about you two.
Do I look like a twin? Do I look like a we?
This is us. This is a full Bloodline.
Who runs The Bloodline, huh? Who's the quarterback here?
-You. -Who calls the calls?
Then why are you running random stuff out there?
I had something I wanted to say!
I gave a good portion of my life and career to that fool,
and I had something to say!
Did I get to say it? No. Why?
Because you got to do what you wanted to do, right?
Not what's been working this whole time,
not what's kept us in the promised land, not just got us here,
but kept us here on top of the mountain!
I'm that guy! I make these choices!
Get out. Just get out. Now. Get out!
♪ Better than me ♪
[Cole] The Usos can't do anything right.
They are in an absolute mess.
And now, they have to try to concentrate on what comes later tonight,
and that's the tag team battle with Rey Mysterio
and Santos Escobar of the LWO.
Can The Usos get back on track tonight on SmackDown?
["Nobody Better Than Me" fades]
["Bring the Fire" playing]
And it's Fight Night!
♪ Whoa-oh-oh! ♪
♪ Whoa-oh ♪
[loud bang]
♪ Bring the fire ♪
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is a tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring
by Sheamus,
Butch and Ridge Holland, The Brawling Brutes.
[Cole] Holland and Butch on a mission tonight
as they take on Pretty Deadly
in Pretty Deadly's SmackDown in-ring debut.
About this matchup, Pretty Deadly said,
"We're gonna start off with a bang against some bangers."
[Wade] Well, we got ourselves some brutes against the bourgeoisie.
Polar opposites.
What a scrap this should be.
[Cole] And for Pretty Deadly,
they have a unique way about them, to say the least.
The WWE Universe has been asking us,
"What's the recipe for Friday Night's two tastiest snacks, Pretty Deadly?"
Well, you're in luck.
First, grab a bowl and add in two cups of charisma.
Then you're gonna want to add two tablespoons
of unrivaled tag team ingenuity
and… a dash of good looks.
But the most important ingredients are…
-One Kit Wilson. -And one Elton Prince.
And that makes the delicious…
-Pretty Deadly. -Pretty Deadly.
♪ Yes, boy! ♪
[Cole] That sounds like a recipe for success.
[Wade] I have been waiting for this all week, Cole.
This show just became Friday Night "SnackDown."
["Undercover (Remix)" playing]
-Yes, boy! -Yes, boy!
[Rome] And their opponents, the team of Kit Wilson and Elton Prince,
Pretty Deadly!
[Cole] Pretty Deadly, former two-time NXT Tag Team Champions
set to take on Ridge Holland and Butch of The Brawling Brutes.
[Wade] Newly drafted to SmackDown.
These two lads, Pretty Deadly, made a huge name for themselves
in various iterations of NXT over the past three years,
won championships everywhere they went,
and I suspect the same will be true in short order here on SmackDown.
[Cole] And joining us over here at the announce desk, uh,
your old buddy, Sheamus, from The Brawling Brutes.
[Sheamus] You all right? What's the story with the voice, man?
It's got deeper there with the older you get.
-[Wade chuckles] -What's happening there, fella?
[Wade] What an absolute pleasure it is to have Sheamus.
Sheamus, have you been at the pub yet today?
Not today. No, not yet.
-Not today? You don't drink on the job? -It's early days, mate.
[Cole] As this matchup gets underway, Sheamus,
I do wanna say, hell of a performance last week
in the Triple Threat Match in the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament
against Theory and company.
I appreciate that, Cole.
It's the first nice word you've said about me in five years, I think.
-[Cole] And Butch… -[Sheamus] That's it, Butch, come on.
[Cole] …taking down Kit Wilson of Pretty Deadly.
Wade, good looks, dangerous ability.
They refer to themselves as having hypoallergenic masculinity.
[Wade] Well, these are two guys
that were quite simply thrown out of the Chippendales
for being too damn sexy.
-I admire everything about Chippendales. -[Sheamus] Chippendales?
They must've lowered the bar there, didn't they?
[Wade] You should give it a shot yourself, mate.
[Cole] They might have broken fingers now.
This is Elton Prince in the ring, as Ridge Holland makes the tag.
[Sheamus] Come on, Ridgy. Ridge the Fridge.
You know what I mean? Look at the size of that fella, man.
Oh, right in the kisser!
There goes modeling days out the window, Barrett.
[Wade] Sheamus loving every second of this.
Elton Prince's nose is gonna end up like mine if he's not careful.
[Cole] The power of Ridge Holland,
as Prince tries to fight his way out of this.
Vertical suplex by Ridge.
Sheamus, Ridge has really come a long way under your tutelage.
[Sheamus] He's doing great, fella. What a background as well.
Rugby league, you know what I mean?
He's been in a lot of wars, a lot of knocks and stuff.
He's well made for this business, man. Well made for WWE.
[Cole] Oh, and a tag made. Kit Wilson legal off the DDT.
-Pretty Deadly in control. -Come on, Ridgy.
[Cole] We are back on Friday Night SmackDown.
This is the SmackDown in-ring debut of Pretty Deadly
against Ridge Holland and Butch of The Brawling Brutes.
Sheamus of The Brawling Brutes joining us on commentary.
[Wade] Deadly by name, deadly by nature.
This is why they are such a dangerous tag team
and have continued to win gold throughout NXT.
[Cole] Double-team again coming from Pretty Deadly.
Down goes Ridge Holland.
-Yes, boy! -Yes, boy!
[Cole] Sheamus, are you impressed with Pretty Deadly so far?
[Sheamus] Uh, you know-- Come on, Ridgy!
I'm still trying to figure out which one is pretty and which one is deadly.
-Can anyone explain that to me? -They're both pretty, both deadly.
I don't know about that. You need a pair of glasses there, Barrett.
[Cole] The man in the ring, Elton Prince, claims that--
Kickout by Ridge.
That he is a Norse god.
You know he was once the face of a dating app?
[Wade] That doesn't surprise me. The man is beautiful.
I mean, I kind of want to go on that dating app right now.
You, Cole? No?
-[Sheamus] Is that where your life… -[Wade] Sheamo? No, no, no. Focus on…
Is that where your life has gone after all this?
[Wade] We need to focus on this match. Stop derailing us, Sheamus.
[Sheamus] You're saying all this stuff, fella. Come on!
-Go on, Ridgy! -Ridge Holland right to the midsection.
[Sheamus] What a field goal that was, man. Look at that. Come on!
-[Cole] Tag. -[Sheamus] Come on, Ridge!
[Cole] Kit Wilson not allowing Ridge
to make it to the corner and the tag to Butch.
[Wade] Superb tag teamwork from Pretty Deadly once again.
You see Ridge slowly fading. Got to keep away from that tag.
Butch wants in in the worst way.
[Cole] Kit Wilson told me, in high school,
that he was the least likely to grow facial hair,
but the most likely to steal your girlfriend.
[Wade] Hey!
-[Cole] Tag! Here comes Butch. -[Sheamus] Come on! That's it.
[Cole] Butch now trying to turn the momentum in this tag team matchup.
Couple of step-up enzuigiris.
[Wade] Just what Pretty Deadly desperately needed to avoid here.
[Cole] German suplex.
Nice step under by Butch and another German.
-[Sheamus] Oh! -[Cole] And Butch has taken everybody out.
[Sheamus] Money Wheel would be proud of that one.
[Wade] We are gonna learn a lot about the toughness of Pretty Deadly here.
Can they make it at the very top here on SmackDown?
[Cole] All about the toughness of Butch. Cover now for the win
to spoil Pretty Deadly's debut.
[Sheamus] Are you ready, Butchy? Come on!
[chanting] Fight Night! Fight Night! Fight Night!
Fight Night! Fight Night! Fight Night!
Come on, Butchy!
-Send him home! -[Wade] Can we turn Sheamus' mic down?
I'm deaf now.
[Cole] And, oh, Butch caught Wilson in the ear.
And now Butch…
to the top rope.
[crowd] One, two, three, four, five, six…
[Cole] Tag made by Ridge.
[Wade] Got his second wind just in the nick of time.
[Cole] Elton Prince… being used as a weapon by Ridge Holland.
-And look at the power… -[Wade chuckling]
…of The Brawling Brute.
[Sheamus] Yeah! Look at that! Take it out, Barrett.
Take it out!
[Wade] This is turning into a complete disastrous debut
for Pretty Deadly here on SmackDown.
[crowd] One, two, three…
[Cole] Prince tied up in the ropes,
and now paying homage to Sheamus with the 10 Beats of the Bodhrán,
and Butch continues to hammer away.
[Wade] Sheamus is loving every second of this.
[Cole] Into the ropes.
Butch knocked off the top rope.
Oh, look at this!
-[Wade] Spilt Milk! -[Cole] Spilt Milk
by Pretty Deadly!
The official never saw the double-team. He was distracted.
[bell rings]
["Undercover (Remix)" playing]
[Rome] Here are your winners, Pretty Deadly!
[Cole] A successful debut by Pretty Deadly tonight
with some shenanigans to help knock off The Brawling Brutes.
[Wade] Well, they told me earlier they completely disapproved
of the debauched ways of The Brawling Brutes,
but what superb tag teamwork from Pretty Deadly.
This is the move that has won gold around the world, Spilt Milk,
and quite simply, The Brawling Brutes had no answer.
-Yes, boy! -[Cole] Pretty Deadly proving here tonight
that they are going to be players on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] Undoubtedly. Do not be fooled.
Yes, they are pretty boys, we can all see it,
but they are tough and they show tag team ingenuity.
That is a team heading for the very top.
You know, there's someone that would've loved Pretty Deadly.
None other than "Superstar" Billy Graham.
The WWE Hall of Famer passed away earlier this week at the age of 79 years old.
But for Superstar, he was a colorful, passionate, charismatic trailblazer.
There was only one Superstar.
[soft piano music playing]
[Billy Graham] I am a reflection of perfection.
I float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
There's nobody as beautiful or as powerful as me.
[ring announcer] Introducing, from Paradise Valley, Arizona,
"Superstar" Billy Graham!
[narrator] The WWE family is saddened by the passing
of Hall of Famer "Superstar" Billy Graham.
[somber piano and string music playing]
Billy Graham was definitely ahead of his time.
He was another intensity, another level, another color chart brighter.
There's more colors on my body than the rainbow in the sky, daddy.
"Superstar" Billy Graham was just a new dimension, redefining,
evolving the term of sports entertainment.
[bright music playing]
They had never seen anything like him.
He had the look and he certainly could talk on the mic.
I eat T-bone steaks. I lift barbell plates.
I'm sweeter than a German chocolate cake.
The man of the hour.
The man with all the power.
Too sweet to be sour.
I am the Superstar.
He was the first guy to come along with an out-of-this-world physique.
[ring commentator] Look at the size of those upper arms.
[Lawler] He set the standard
of what people thought a superstar should look like.
[narrator] With an unrivaled charisma,
Superstar became one of the most iconic villains of all time.
And in 1977, Graham would shock the world
by defeating the legendary Bruno Sammartino
to capture the WWE Championship,
ushering in a new era of sports entertainment.
[ring commentator] He had two feet on the ropes!
I am the champion. I am the greatest!
[Hulk Hogan] Billy Graham was the main reason I got in this business.
I said, "Man, I want to be just like him."
[Dusty Rhodes] He just had something so special, unbelievable.
[ring commentator] He is bad to the bone.
If controversy indicates stardom,
"Superstar" Billy Graham might just be the biggest star of them all.
Twenty years ahead of his time, he truly was the very first sports entertainer.
[Billy] "Superstar" Billy Graham. What you see is what you get
and what you don't is better yet.
[music fades]
["You Can't Hide" playing]
♪ Your destiny's written All over the sky ♪
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Osaka, Japan,
Asuka!
[Cole] So "The Empress of Tomorrow" Asuka
was drafted to SmackDown.
She returned last week for the first time since WrestleMania,
which was her title match where she lost to Bianca Belair.
Now, speaking of Bianca, last week we were in Knoxville, Tennessee,
the University of Tennessee, Bianca Belair's hometown.
She had a homecoming, Wade,
to celebrate the fact that she's now the longest-reigning Women's Champion
of the modern era.
Asuka, however, we believe was gonna come down to the ring
to offer Bianca her congratulations.
[Wade] Absolutely.
What was supposed to be a career highlight moment for Bianca
got derailed in a hurry
when the Asian mist appeared,
temporarily blinding Bianca Belair,
leaving her in agony in the center of the ring.
[Cole] Now, Asuka told us that this was an experimental mist,
a chili pepper mist,
hence the reason for the burning of Bianca's eyes.
Well, a week from tomorrow, it's a special start time, ladies and gentlemen,
of one o'clock Eastern, Night of Champions.
Bianca Belair defends the Women's Championship
against "The Empress of Tomorrow" Asuka in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
♪ Your destiny's written All over the sky ♪
♪ You can't hide ♪
Zelina, in just a few moments,
you'll be facing Bianca's challenger for the Raw Women's Championship. How--
Kayla, Kayla, I know where you're going with this.
Am I ready for someone like Asuka?
Listen, when I received that love and support from my people in Puerto Rico,
I realized that I belong with the top dogs of this women's division.
It doesn't matter how much I'm taken for granted, about my size,
or anything being underestimated.
Nothing matters.
When I gave my all to Rhea Ripley,
I showed that I can go toe-to-toe with the best of the best.
And now, Asuka is going to see
that I am ready.
♪ Viva la raza ♪
♪ Sube tu bandera si tu eres Latino ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Todo los Latino ♪
♪ Sube tu bandera si tu eres Latino ♪
[Rome] And her opponent, representing the LWO,
Zelina Vega!
[Cole] Zelina Vega was talking about the career-making match she had
a couple of weeks ago in San Juan, Puerto Rico,
in front of family and friends.
It was Zelina's opportunity versus Rhea Ripley
for the Women's Championship.
Now, it didn't turn out Zelina's way,
but in the end, 16,000 strong on their feet
saluting Zelina Vega after a masterful performance.
[Wade] One of the most emotional moments I've ever seen in this industry.
I think the whole world fell in love with Vega at Backlash,
and she now needs to use that as a springboard
to bigger and better things in her career.
[Cole] She used that chancla,
the flip-flop, in that match
-with Rhea Ripley at Backlash. -[bell rings]
So Asuka starts things off.
Zelina looking to roll up Asuka early, and a kick right to the side of the face.
Perhaps Zelina can pick off Asuka tonight
who's looking ahead to Bianca Belair next Saturday.
[Wade] Asuka perhaps taking Vega a little too lightly here.
[Cole] Vega into the cover,
and Asuka just manages to kick out at two and a half.
You saw the expression on Asuka's face,
caught by surprise with this offensive attack
by Zelina Vega early on.
[Wade] Well, Zelina Vega sees herself as a bona fide main-eventer now.
[Cole] And looking for the 619
which, of course, is used by her mentor, Rey Mysterio,
from the Latino World Order.
And now Asuka, right out here in front of us,
dropping Zelina face-first on the announce table.
[Asuka cheers]
Asuka is in control. Can Zelina get back in this?
And we are back on Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
Asuka, who's the Number One Contender for Bianca Belair's championship,
in a battle here tonight with Zelina Vega.
Vega, of course, from the LWO, the Latino World Order.
Members Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar
with a tag match later tonight against The Usos.
More on that story as this night continues,
-but Asuka has taken control. -[Wade] No doubt.
But this is a very different Asuka to the one we've seen of late,
as Zelina Vega desperately trying to fire back
and regain control of this matchup.
[Cole] Zelina Vega who has just been oozing confidence
since that great performance against Rhea Ripley a couple of weeks ago.
-Went for a knee. Asuka able to block. -[Wade] Confidence only takes you so far.
You need to back that up with smarts, and that's exactly what Vega is doing.
[Cole] Basement dropkick right to Asuka,
who's quickly back to her feet.
Ooh, drop toehold.
-Again into position for perhaps a 619. -[Wade] Second bite at the cherry.
[Cole] Made famous by Mysterio, and Zelina able to connect.
And can she capitalize? Asuka is in trouble.
[Wade] Big, big trouble here, wobbling all over the ring.
[Cole] Paying homage to Eddie Guerrero, Zelina Vega.
Meteora from the second rope!
Here's the cover, for the win,
and Asuka kicks out.
[Wade] Well, what a way to derail Asuka's championship ambitions
that would have been,
but Asuka once again showing just how tough she is.
[Cole] A Meteora by Vega, almost pinned Asuka.
[Wade] Perfectly executed. Almost a smile on the face of Asuka.
What a twisted individual.
[Cole] What a great way to describe her, twisted.
And now Asuka, waist lock.
Zelina rolls through.
-Has to try to-- -One…
[Cole] Shoulders down, and Asuka…
And Zelina, unique pinning combination.
[Wade] Almost successful, but no.
[Cole] Zelina got caught.
Zelina got caught by Asuka.
Asuka now, center of the ring.
Zelina, though, able to roll through
and switch into a pinning combination again.
[Wade] Vega, such a slippery customer.
-Oh no! -[Cole] Night… night. Asuka.
-[referee] Do you tap? -Yes!
-She taps! -[Cole] Zelina's got to say, "I quit."
-[bell rings] -Taps out.
-[screaming] -Let go, that's it!
[Cole] And…
Asuka not letting go of the Asuka Lock here on Zelina Vega.
♪ I'm on my own, against the wall ♪
[Wade] She might have to now, Cole.
[Cole] And that's gonna draw the Women's Champion, Bianca Belair,
out to the ring as Asuka retreats.
♪ I'm way better than before I never needed you at all ♪
[Cole] Game performance tonight by Zelina Vega, but Asuka able to prevail.
[Wade] Damage done, message sent.
[Cole] Asuka trying to sneak back into the ring again and ambush Bianca.
Oh, and the mist! Did it get her?
-[Wade] Bianca perhaps-- -[Cole] Just…
Just barely got Bianca this time around.
♪ Your destiny's written All over the sky ♪
But she may not miss a week from tomorrow at Night of Champions.
[Wade] Well, that experimental mist.
Bianca Belair knows exactly how dangerous it is.
And you have to say right now, Asuka is in the head of Bianca Belair,
and that record-breaking reign is in jeopardy at Night of Champions.
Yeah, it takes place a week from tomorrow,
special start time of 1:00 Eastern from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Now, it is called a Night of Champions
where we will crown the brand new World Heavyweight Champion.
Here's our Progressive Match Flo.
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[otherworldly music playing]
[Triple H] At Night of Champions,
we will crown a new World Heavyweight Champion.
This will be a champion that will defend anywhere, anytime,
all over the world.
This is an opportunity for us to push the industry forward.
I know what it's like to sit at home and watch everybody else
achieve whatever it is they want.
Now it's my turn.
[Triple H] This will be a champion you can respect, that you can admire.
This champion will earn the title.
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, it will be AJ Styles versus Seth Rollins.
One of these men will be crowned the new World Heavyweight Champion
at Night of Champions.
-[music ends] -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] One week from tomorrow,
the final of the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament,
two of the best, but only one can win.
Rollins-Styles to be crowned the World Heavyweight Champion.
[upbeat music playing]
["Eye on the Prize" playing]
[Cole] Meanwhile, here, back on Friday Night SmackDown,
we are sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle, auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
♪ They talk it, I live it ♪
He sure is entertaining, has a bit of an ego,
and loves to stir controversy.
Grayson Waller is here.
The SmackDown debut of the hot talk show, "The Grayson Waller Effect,"
with guest, well, someone Waller knows very well, AJ Styles.
This is next.
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen…
[timpani roll]
…please welcome the most-talked-about new sensation
on Friday Night SmackDown,
the man with the triple-platinum tongue,
the viral virtuoso,
the Dynamite from Down Under,
he is The Moment Maker, The Aussie Icon,
your host of "The Grayson Waller Effect,"
Grayson Waller!
["Eye on the Prize" playing]
[indistinct]
Yes! I love it!
♪ Now do it 'cause I say so, say so ♪
-[music fades] -Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to the first-ever "Grayson Waller Effect"
right here on Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd booing]
And what a treat for all of you
to see "The Grayson Waller Effect" in person,
but let's just get started, huh?
My guest tonight faces Seth "Freakin" Rollins
for the World Heavyweight Championship next week at Night of Champions.
He is "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
["Phenomenal" playing]
♪ No, they don't want none ♪
♪ They lookin' scared No, they don't really want none ♪
[Cole] And tonight, Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored by Progressive.
AJ Styles making his way to the ring here at the University of South Carolina.
But a week from tomorrow, he will be in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,
as AJ Styles takes on Seth "Freakin" Rollins
from Monday Night Raw
in the finals of the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament
at Night of Champions.
♪ We some country boys Working overtime for it ♪
♪ Kings of the South ♪
I'm gonna put you on the spot. Who's your pick?
[Wade] I've got to go with Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
It's close.
AJ's recently come back from an injury.
-Is he yet at 100%? We'll see. -AJ Styles.
♪ They lookin' scared No, they don't really want none ♪
[music fades]
Now, this isn't our first encounter.
Obviously we crossed paths when you came to NXT,
and you said something to me down there.
You said, "Try being phenomenal for 20-plus years."
And I've thought about that a lot since, because you're right.
All the championships, all the amazing performances all across the globe,
you're, without a doubt, a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
And next week at Night of Champions against Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
you get the opportunity to add one more accolade.
What does winning that title mean to you?
First, let me say this.
These past couple months, I've been out with an injury.
It was the longest I'd ever been out of a ring in my career,
so all I could think about was getting back in it.
So when I got cleared,
all I did was get after it.
I trained so hard.
You'd never seen someone train as hard as me.
[Waller] I believe it. I believe it.
[crowd applauding]
Because I knew at some point there'd be an opportunity, and here it is,
an opportunity to be the World Heavyweight Champion.
[crowd cheering]
And I want it…
more than the air that I breathe.
I-I gotta be honest, I just… I just got goosebumps.
But Seth Rollins is on a movie set…
and I am happy for him.
I'm so happy for him. That's great.
But surely he's exercising, doing a little bit of training
so that he can be ready
because I assure you…
as the heart that is beating in my chest…
I am.
[Waller] Wow. Wow.
And it's gonna be an instant classic, ladies and gentlemen,
AJ Styles versus Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
Night of Champions is stacked, but you know what?
That's the match I'm most looking forward to.
But you know what I'm most excited for?
The ending.
You know, when the announcer-- Hey, Mike Rome, take some notes here.
"And new World Heavyweight Champion…
Seth 'Freakin' Rollins."
["Eye on the Prize" playing]
[Cole] Well, Grayson Waller and his triple-platinum tongue
not endearing himself
to the man who could be the new World Heavyweight Champion next Saturday,
AJ Styles.
♪ You know where I'm headed My fight my business ♪
♪ My life, I'm menace I dare them to step it ♪
Well, you think about it.
[crowd cheering]
Word on the street is, arguably,
The Usos are the greatest tag team in the world.
-Rey. -[in Spanish] Frankly, see--
Sorry, man, I'm sorry, but…
[in English] I gotta disagree on this one with you.
Look, facts, you're a Hall of Famer.
Maybe one day I will be one too.
Latinos all around the world need to know what we are all about.
¿Sí o no?
Simón. Look, The Usos are good, but tonight we prove that we're better.
[in Spanish] Just do me a favor, both of you.
[in English] A favor?
[in Spanish] Tonight,
bust The Usos' [muted] real good. They have it coming.
[in English] Okay, okay, okay, I'll tell you what,
The Usos will find out what happens when you mess with the…
[all] LWO.
I think that settles it, right? Right? Yeah!
-[chuckles] -We're gonna tear it up.
We have to. We must.
[Cole] Mysterio and Santos against The Usos later on tonight,
but here comes another pretty damn good tag team, Wade.
["Bring the Swag" playing]
[Wade] Absolutely.
Tag team division hotting up here on SmackDown,
and this is the highest-drafted tag team of them all.
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is a 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] The Street Profits set to take on LA Knight and Rick Boogs,
sort of a makeshift tag team.
It's all because of a run-in on SmackDown LowDown last Saturday morning
on Peacock.
We're gonna tell you that entire story a little bit later on
because, coming up next, we all want the smoke.
The Street Profits, tag team action on Friday Night SmackDown.
♪ Put in work the paper pays ♪
♪ On the up and I'm on a roll You beneath and you cut and cold ♪
[Cole] We are back on Friday Night SmackDown.
The Street Profits set for tag team action.
[Wade] A party here tonight. Solo cups and all.
♪ LA Knight ♪
♪ Oh yeah, I wanna see you dance ♪
["Welcome To LA" playing]
[Rome] And their opponents, first, from Los Angeles, California,
weighing in at 240 pounds,
LA Knight.
-[music ends] -[crowd] Yeah!
Let me talk to you.
[crowd] Yeah!
I told everybody when I walked in the door here,
I'm lookin' for titles,
and that means the Tag Team Titles ain't safe either.
But then I see The Street Profits walk in on my territory,
walk in on SmackDown, talking all their stupid trash,
and I think to myself, "I can beat them with anybody."
And that's exactly what I'm gonna do,
courtesy of the man they call "The Megastar,"
with everybody saying LA Knight,
I'm gonna lead this team to a W with this man, Rick Boogs.
["Solid Ground" playing]
[Cole] Now this is an interesting team.
Rick Boogs has been excited about this all week long,
ever since LA Knight picked him as a partner at SmackDown LowDown.
[Wade chuckling]
♪ Don't deny I'm the reason you are fighting ♪
[Cole] Rick Boogs, uh, told LA Knight
that we should call our team "The Boogalicious Knights."
[Wade] I love it already.
Boogs told me he's got a real good feeling about this team,
says it just feels right.
He's been working on team names, merch ideas.
The guy's hyped up.
[Cole] Two thick manly men huffing and puffing
and putting it all on the line,
is what Boogs says he and LA Knight are gonna do as a team.
[Wade] Yeah, we need more of that here on SmackDown.
Two manly men manhandling their foes.
It's what we're gonna see tonight, Cole.
[Cole] Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins…
can't quite figure out what to make of, uh, Mr. Boogs.
[Wade] I've been watching Boogs for about two or three years now,
and I still am none the wiser to what makes this guy tick,
but he has a certain "kavorka" about him, much like LA Knight himself.
That perhaps is the attraction between these two.
-[Cole] Boogs as powerful as they come. -[bell rings]
He'll start this matchup off against Montez Ford.
The Street Profits, as Montez loves to have some fun,
won tag team gold everywhere they've been.
[Wade] What exactly was in those Solo cups this week? Oh.
[Cole] Ford going to try it again and--
[Wade] You're gonna need a different strategy, Montez.
Boogs misses wildly.
Montez Ford caught in midair by Rick Boogs.
You want some of this, kid? You want--
-I'm booging out! -No!
[Cole] And Boogs with Montez Ford up,
and now the-- pressing Montez Ford above his head!
[Wade] Just still in the warm-up stages for Boogs.
[crowd] …seven, eight, nine, ten!
[Cole] How impressive is that?
-That is ridiculous, is what it is. -[Rick Boogs] Oh my God!
[Wade] I would've slammed him on his head.
-I'm booging out! -[Wade] Not on his feet.
I'm booging out!
Tag!
[inaudible]
-[Cole] And Dawks says, "Let me…" -About to come and whoop your ass!
[Cole] "…try my fair."
[Wade] Dawks is a bit bigger, a little stronger.
He's the steak, Montez is the sizzle. Let's see if this works.
[Cole] Dawkins side headlock,
and Boogs just powering Dawkins off his feet,
sends him across the ring, Dawkins up over the top,
and a big shoulder tackle!
And Boogs impressive early on.
LA Knight made a pretty good choice here, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, undoubtedly. You know what?
LA Knight said, "I can beat you two with anyone."
In fact, grabbed the closest person, just so happened to be Boogs.
[Cole] Now he's curling Angelo Dawkins.
-Boogs is actually curling a massive man. -[crowd] …five, six, seven…
He's just doing reps with The Street Profits.
[Wade] Is Boogs actually trying to win a match here?
Tag. Here comes LA Knight.
And I think to your point, he's like, "Let's get this over with."
-Double-team number one! -All right, number one.
[Wade] Want to start making some headway in the tag division,
putting away The Street Profits in short order
will certainly do that for you.
[Cole] Double shoulder tackle, and LA Knight and Rick Boogs in control.
The Street Profits have not been able to get out of the blocks in this matchup,
but Dawkins creating some space.
LA Knight, though, nice slam.
[Wade] Street Profits have completely underestimated Boogs and Knight.
[crowd] …Knight, yeah!
[Cole] And LA Knight with that leaping elbow to the chest.
Cover to win this matchup over the Profits
in what I would believe would have to be called a major upset, Wade.
[Wade] Undoubtedly.
Number one tag team drafted off the board
is not supposed to be defeated by a hastily thrown-together tag team
on their first night.
[Cole] LA Knight told the Profits, "I can beat you with anybody,"
and he's doing just that with Mr. Boogs.
Dawkins though, tag made. Here comes Montez Ford.
[Wade] Don't speak too soon when you're around The Street Profits.
[Cole] Crossbody takes out both Boogs and Knight.
[Wade] Guaranteed commodity here on SmackDown,
and you know management must have big plans with that draft pick.
[Cole] Montez Ford with a clothesline to Knight. Lands on his feet.
Catches Boogs with a shot to the midsection, then another kick,
and Ford with a step-up enzuigiri.
[Wade] This matchup has turned around in a hurry.
[Cole] Knight sent out to the apron, and he'll go…
Oh no, he's still hanging on.
Boogs, though, miscommunication as he runs into his partner.
[Wade] There's that lack of chemistry between Boogs and LA Knight.
Haven't had time to build it like the Profits have.
[Cole] Montez Ford flies!
[Wade] And this is The Street Profits hitting top gear at the right time.
[Cole] Sky High! Tag!
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Montez Ford does not miss from here, Cole.
[Cole] From the heavens!
-The Street Profits with the win. -[crowd] One, two, three!
[bell rings]
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
[Rome] Here are your winners, The Street Profits!
[Cole] The Profits a little slow to start in this matchup
against the unorthodox team of Knight and Boogs,
but in the end, almost leaping out of your television screen.
[Wade] Took them a while to wake up, but once they hit that top gear,
The Street Profits proved once again they are, perhaps, unstoppable.
What a streak they're on here since moving to SmackDown.
-Yeah, yeah! -Easy money!
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
["Bring the Swag" fades]
We're good. All right?
[Cole] Oh, BFT!
[Wade] That was a certainly short-lived tag team.
[Cole] LA Knight obviously embarrassed that he didn't back up his trash talk.
♪ I wanna see you dance ♪
["Welcome To LA" playing]
[LA Knight] You know whose game it is.
I told you. Man, trash.
[Cole] Things could be worse for LA Knight.
He could be Baron Corbin who continues to be down on his luck.
Last week, he had a match against the debuting Cameron Grimes.
Look, I'm surprised you showed up.
You're trying to make a name for yourself, but understand this.
In about two minutes,
you're gonna be flat on your back
wishing you were back in NXT.
[chuckles]
[bell rings]
[Cole] And Cameron Grimes with a near record win here.
Off the Cave In.
-[Wade] Blink and you'll miss it. -[bell rings]
One chance, one opportunity. That is all Cameron Grimes has ever needed.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest, Cameron Grimes.
Thanks for having me.
Cameron, after your very impressive debut last week on Friday Night SmackDown,
what's going through your mind?
Megan Morant, if you would've told me that my name, Cameron Grimes,
would have been associated with one of the fastest victories in WWE history,
I wouldn't have believed you.
You know, being here on SmackDown, it feels like I'm living the dream.
Now, I know I made a huge splash last week with how quickly I beat Baron Corbin,
but that's not gonna stop me from being determined,
and being focused, and going straight to the top.
Actually, Megan, you know where I want to go?
-Where-- Where do you want to go? -I want to go to the moon!
[laughs] Whoo!
♪ Better than me ♪
[Cole] Meanwhile, there's a lot going on.
An emotional roller-coaster for the brothers Uso.
They can't seem to do anything right.
Well, they look to get back on track versus Mysterio and Santos Escobar
of LWO later on tonight.
♪ Who better than me? ♪
[soft, ominous music playing]
They say justice is blind.
Surely that must be the case
because I am the imminent threat to justice, and it has absolutely no idea.
Do you… Allen?
Tick-tock.
Well, AJ Styles' path to the World Heavyweight Championship
at Night of Champions
just got a little rockier thanks to The Harbinger of Doom.
Also, as Karrion Kross targets AJ Styles,
Cody Rhodes is targeting Brock Lesnar.
Let's take you back to Monday Night Raw when Cody Rhodes was in the ring.
"The next big thing," that's what they always said about Brock Lesnar.
The next big thing, the next big thing, the next big thing.
And they were right.
But eventually, Brock…
what happens when they just say, "next"?
You have conquered WWE, you have conquered sports entertainment,
you have conquered this sport,
but we are at the point where I need you to take your busted face,
I need you to step aside because you, sir,
are not the big thing around here anymore.
You are simply in my way.
[crowd cheering]
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
[Cole] I know Brock Lesnar, and I guarantee you he heard those words.
He is one angry beast.
As Lesnar prepares for Rhodes a week from tomorrow at Night of Champions
in one of our three main events.
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring,
they are the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions,
Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn!
[Wade] Well, welcome to SmackDown,
The Unholy Union of Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre.
These two ladies came together several months ago in NXT.
Captured NXT Women's Tag gold
and went scorched earth, laying everyone to waste,
essentially destroying NXT's women's tag division,
and they're looking to do the same here on SmackDown.
[Cole] These two young ladies will get an opportunity tonight
against the NXT Tag Team Champions here on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] First up here is Alba Fyre.
Claims that dark magic runs in her blood.
Certainly immersed herself in the ancient Scottish lore.
[Cole] Well, she claims she's from a long line of firekeepers,
the warrior's class from Scotland.
Tag made. Isla Dawn.
[Wade] Isla Dawn who refers to herself as a seductress.
A nightmare dressed as a daydreamer.
I'm getting a lot a nightmare right now, though.
[Cole] Oh! And that running Meteora by Dawn.
[Cole] An Unholy Echantress.
[Wade] Yulisa Leon is just getting battered in the early goings of this one.
-[Cole] Tag made. -Wisely getting out of there.
Not quick enough however.
[Cole] Feroz now legal, and Dawn very aggressive here.
[Wade] This is just turning into a mugging at this point.
How aggressive is Isla Dawn?
[Cole] Alba Fyre as well.
The Tag Team Champions stalking their opponent.
[Wade] Two mistresses of the dark arts.
[Cole] And the finishing maneuver,
the Gory Bomb with the Russian leg sweep.
-Here is the cover. -One, two, three!
-Fyre and Dawn with the win. -[bell rings]
["The Depths" playing]
[Rome] Here are your winners,
the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions,
Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn!
[Wade] What a performance on their debut from Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.
Just making a mockery of the competition here on SmackDown.
And at this point, sending their opponents to the underworld.
One, two, three!
[Cole] Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn,
the current NXT Women's Tag Team Champions successful tonight.
[Wade] Just fired off an ominous warning
to the rest of the women's tag division here on SmackDown.
Bad things are coming your way.
Speaking of Tag Team Titles, we will soon have new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
We're gonna show you what happened on Friday Night SmackDown last week.
Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan
defending the Tag Titles against Dakota Kai and Bayley,
and that move right there from Dakota Kai would injure Liv Morgan
to the point where Liv Morgan
is going to miss a considerable amount of time in in-ring action,
so WWE management is going to force Raquel Rodriguez
to relinquish the Tag Team Titles.
So in two weeks on Monday Night Raw,
we're gonna have a Fatal 4-Way Match
to determine the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
Raquel Rodriguez still has to find herself a partner.
♪ Somethin' comin', I can feel it ♪
♪ Deep down in my spirit ♪
Huge news regarding the Women's Tag Team Championships.
And joining me now,
one half of the former Women's Tag Team Champions,
Raquel Rodriguez.
Thank you, Kayla.
But first, I want to give a shout-out to my partner, Liv Morgan.
Even though we had to relinquish the titles,
the way she pulled through in our match last week,
there is no denying that she is still a champion.
And handing over those titles
was by far the hardest thing I have had to do in my entire career.
But, Kayla, I am not giving up.
And Liv is not replaceable, but I--
Oh my God, that's sad.
Uh, but we would also like to give a shout-out to Dakota
who got hurt last week.
A much more devastating and heartbreaking injury.
And I blame you.
So next week, if you can find another partner,
an idiot that would tag with you,
Iyo and I will be waiting in the ring for you. [chuckles]
[Cole] Who's Raquel gonna find to back her up?
♪ A-Town down, scream it out loud ♪
♪ A-Town down, the future's right now ♪
♪ A-Town down, we tearing the place down ♪
♪ A-Town down, you like how that sounds ♪
♪ Hey ♪
["A-Town Down" playing]
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ You see the future Right in front of your eyes ♪
♪ Headed to the top And it's not a surprise ♪
[inaudible] …of all time, and I am the judge
because SmackDown is A-Town Down.
[loud bang]
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the United States Champion,
Austin Theory!
[Cole] Wade, are you ready to live in the now?
[Wade] Always.
[Cole] The United States Champion, Austin Theory,
is here on Friday Night SmackDown.
♪ Let's go, A-Town down… ♪
♪ All day ♪
[Cole] United States Champion, Austin Theory, is here.
♪ All day ♪
♪ I do it like the best and it's obvious ♪
-[music fades] -Welcome to "Austin Theory Live."
[crowd booing]
Yeah, you know.
Your parents know.
Hell, your parents' parents know who Austin Theory is.
But I gotta say, coming to SmackDown last week,
it, uh, it wasn't what I expected.
You know, I expected respect.
I mean, look at the list of legends that I've just bodied.
[crowd booing]
But what happened last week? Let's talk about it.
I know. I want to boo about it too.
I was… I was ganged up on by two former World Champions,
Bobby Lashley and Sheamus.
[crowd cheers]
What? Yeah, this is what happened.
So I'm trying to figure it out,
because both of those guys know that I would have went on
and beat Seth "Freakin" Rollins
and would have became the new World Heavyweight Champion.
[crowd booing]
Hey, that's not a theory. That's a fact.
But, you know, I'm trying to figure it out.
Bobby Lashley, I mean, I get it.
When I'm on Raw, he's on Raw and shows up.
I come to SmackDown, he follows me.
He's got a weird obsession. And, you know, he's jealous. We get that.
But Sheamus? I, uh…
I don't understand, Sheamus.
I mean, I feel like we have some things in common, you know.
We're, uh, we're both tough.
We, uh, we're both strong.
Uh… we both beat John Cena.
[crowd booing]
Only thing about that is I did it this year at WrestleMania
and Sheamus did it like-- what was that?
Like, 12 years ago?
What was I, like, 13?
But that's what I'm talking about. I mean, the…
["Hellfire" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, maybe he's coming out to join us on commentary again.
[Wade] Please, please turn his mic down if he does.
[Cole] Here comes the Celtic Warrior,
former World Champion, United States Champion,
Intercontinental Champion, Royal Rumble winner,
King of the Ring, Money in the Bank winner.
He's done it all except-- Oh, I shouldn't say-- I'm sorry.
I said Intercontinental Champion. He's never won that title.
[Wade] Come on. Wake up, Cole.
I was gonna say I'm surprised Sheamus isn't in the bar right now.
It seems like you might have been in the bar.
[inaudible]
[music fades]
You got something to say?
Oh, you got something to say, huh?
[Cole] Brogue Kick!
[crowd cheering]
-[mic thuds] -Mic drop moment.
-["Hellfire" playing] -[Wade] Sheamus used up all of his words
at the commentary desk earlier tonight.
All that was left was a Brogue Kick.
[Cole] Sheamus sending a message to the United States Champion
with a big time Brogue.
It's go time.
-On me, man. -We gotta show him.
Come on. Come on.
-Tired of talking to him, honestly. -He got us twisted.
He's starting to get on my damn nerve. I don't even like that dude.
-Honestly. -OG.
-I got it all under control. -Okay.
The Tribal Chief forgives you.
He even forgives you.
So he'll be out there tonight? Yeah?
[spluttering] Excuse my reach.
Um, a-actually…
no.
-He, um… -[scoffs] Of course.
-Man. -I told you.
He-He-He won't-- He won't be-- But you see, you have to understand.
He's the Tribal Chief.
And there's a lot that goes into that burden.
You don't understand what it's like to be the Tribal Chief.
He has to go to Night of Champions…
to make a declarative statement, okay?
Let's put it that way.
And then two weeks from tonight,
the 1,000-day celebration of your Tribal Chief as champion.
Plus, come on, it's the LWO.
You guys, you're The Usos, the… the greatest tag team of all time.
You got this victory.
And please, please don't make that a prediction.
Make that a spoiler.
Yeet.
[Cole] And a ton of pressure on The Usos tonight.
-[crowd cheering] -["Booyaka 619" by P.O.D. playing]
♪ Booyaka, booyaka ♪
♪ That's my, that's my pueblo ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, 619 ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, that's my pueblo ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, 619 ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, Rey Mysterio ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, 619 ♪
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is a tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing the LWO,
Santos Escobar and WWE Hall of Famer,
Rey Mysterio!
[Cole] You know, Wade, this is a matchup
where it feels like there are two teams going in completely opposite directions.
[Wade] Absolutely.
The Usos are sinking fast, but the LWO are on the up and up.
These two teams colliding after the break.
Can The Usos finally stop the rut or will the LWO continue their momentum?
[Cole] It's next on SmackDown.
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, that's my pueblo ♪
And we will get you ready for Night of Champions
with the official Night of Champions press conference.
It takes place at 12:00 noon Eastern,
a week from today, next Friday,
live from Jeddah in Champions City.
It's the Night of Champions press conference
on WWE social media channels.
[Wade] And next Friday on SmackDown, "The KO Show" is back.
The guests, his opponents at Night of Champions,
Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa.
Expect fireworks.
[Cole] Also, next Friday, on Friday Night SmackDown,
who will be Raquel Rodriguez's partner as they get ready
for the Women's Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way in a couple of weeks?
Raquel and that new partner will take on Bayley and Iyo Sky next week.
[Wade] Well, the tarot cards have picked their next victim.
It comes at the worst possible time
for World Heavyweight Championship finalist, AJ Styles.
Styles versus Kross next Friday on SmackDown.
[Cole] And this matchup just made after what happened moments ago.
Sheamus looks to become a four-time United States Champion
as he takes on Austin Theory for the United States Title
live next week right here on Fox.
["Booyaka 619" by P.O.D. resumes]
And tonight, Friday Night SmackDown on Fox is sponsored by Progressive insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
Mysterio, Escobar of LWO set for tag team action.
[music fades]
♪ Uso! ♪
["Done With That (Day One Remix)" playing]
♪ Yah-Hoo! ♪
♪ Down since ♪
♪ Day one ish ♪
[Rome] And their opponents, Jimmy and Jey,
The Usos!
[Cole] Jimmy and Jey have been spinning out of control,
an emotional roller-coaster which went into full force at WrestleMania
when they lost their Tag Team Titles
and their record-setting Tag Team Championship reign
to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Everything they've tried to accomplish
over the past number of weeks has backfired,
including tonight when they thought they were doing right, Wade,
when they attacked Sami and Kevin from behind,
only to upset the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns.
[Wade] Boy, here's what The Usos are doing right now.
They're in so much trouble that they are trying too hard to fix things.
They basically went into business for themselves,
disobeying the orders of Roman Reigns earlier tonight.
That's never ever gonna go well.
[Cole] The only thing they've done well is win that six-man tag team match
a number of weeks ago against Kevin Owens and Sami and Riddle.
[Wade] Did they win or did Solo Sikoa win the match?
[Cole] Exactly. That was the point I was gonna make.
[Wade] The Usos are like two dogs who've made a mess on the rug
and they now are booted out into the yard,
but Solo Sikoa is the one who gets to sleep by the fireplace.
He's in the good spot right now.
Usos need to dig themselves out of a hole.
[Cole] Great analogy.
That's gonna come out well when you get that new dog.
Mysterio into the corner, and now Jey Uso, tag made, here comes Jimmy.
The Usos going back to their classic double-team.
-[grunting] -[referee] …three!
[Cole] Oh!
-Put yourself in The Usos' shoes… -You know what time it is, Uce!
-You know what we need to do. -Get the W!
[Cole] Perhaps the greatest tag team of all time.
[Wade] Statistically the greatest.
Even if the Tribal Chief does not agree with that.
[Cole] And yet, last week embarrassed and humiliated by Roman Reigns
when Roman says, "Solo and I need to get the job done."
"We're gonna take the Tag Titles back."
[Wade] I like that. A lot of people
would crumble under that kind of abuse from a family member,
from somebody they respect like Roman Reigns. The Usos felt--
They're not snowflakes, Cole. They respond well to pressure.
[Cole] This is the first time that I've ever heard you admit
that you believe Roman Reigns could be, quote-- this is a quote,
-"abusing a member of his family." -[Wade] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Let's not dig too deep on that particular word, okay?
-There's a certain nuance to the word. -Tag.
[Wade] What I'm saying is Roman Reigns clearly is not happy
with The Usos and their performances of late.
And it might be about to get worse.
[Cole] Jimmy up over the top.
Jey Uso misses wildly. Escobar's gonna send Jey outside the ring as well.
And now Mysterio and Escobar…
Rey with a 619.
Sending a little message there.
[Wade] Almost took Jimmy Uso's head clean off.
[Cole] The Usos are reeling.
Rey and Santos in control here on SmackDown.
That's funny, huh?
Aight.
[Wade] Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown.
It's The Usos against Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar.
[Cole] Escobar able to block, now trying to fight back.
Love to get over to the corner to make a tag to Rey Mysterio.
Almost there.
Fingertips away.
Jimmy trying to prevent the tag from being made.
Can he drag Escobar back to his corner?
[Wade] Excellent tag teamwork once again from The Usos.
[Cole] Roll-up by Jimmy for the win here,
and a kickout at two.
[Wade] Finally clicking again, falling back into the old habits
that made them so great in the first place.
[Cole] And The Usos need a win tonight as Roman, Solo, Paul Heyman look on.
I thought Roman was busy preparing
for his… all the work that he has to do in the big match next week.
That's why he couldn't come out to ringside to be in his cousins' corner.
[Wade] He can multitask. Don't you worry, Michael Cole.
Watch the monitor and prepare simultaneously.
Brilliant man.
Santos Escobar looking worse for wear, needs that tag in the most…
-[Cole] Oh, Escobar! -[Wade] …desperate way possible.
You need a window of opportunity.
This is it, Escobar, perhaps now or never.
[Cole] Critical moment for both of these men.
Can Jimmy get to Jey?
Can Santos get to Rey Mysterio?
[Wade] How much would the LWO look to continue their momentum
by knocking off statistically the greatest tag team of all time.
That's looking unlikely.
[Cole] Cheap shot by Jey takes out Mysterio.
Roll-up now. Is it enough for Escobar for the win?
Did he get him? Did he get him? No. Two.
[Wade] Jey Uso's life just flashed before his eyes.
Right there. Right here.
[Cole] Jey says it's over. Cover on Escobar.
Two and a half, kickout.
[Wade] The Usos now, the picture of complete control in that ring.
The dominance almost effortless.
[crowd chanting] Usos suck!
[Cole] But this is the pace that The Usos like.
Slow it down, batter your opponent.
Escobar with a block.
Now a couple of right hands, and Santos Escobar trying to fight back.
[Wade] If you go slow against someone as tough as Escobar,
he's gonna keep fighting.
This is where The Usos need to turn up the pressure and put this one to bed.
[Cole] Tag made. Here comes Jimmy.
And the record-setting Tag Team Champions, The Usos,
who lost the titles to Zayn and Owens at WrestleMania,
look to get back on track,
and they're starting to dominate here against Escobar and the LWO.
[Wade] Meanwhile, the god of lucha libre, Rey Mysterio,
has barely been in this matchup.
Such has been the brilliant strategy of The Usos.
[Cole] Jimmy backing things up.
Take another look. Watch this and the impact.
Paying homage, of course, to Umaga.
-[Wade] Oh! -Running knee by Escobar. Down goes Jimmy.
Critical moment now.
[Wade] Well, Jimmy wanted that second bite of the cherry.
Perhaps should have gone for the pin after the first one.
A beat too long…
and Escobar's alive.
[Cole] Jey's legal and so is Mysterio.
And now Rey Mysterio looks to pick up the pace here.
The Hall of Famer.
Rey sends Jey into the ropes.
Launched out to the apron. The tremendous balance of Rey Mysterio.
[Wade] If you're an Uso desperately needing a victory,
this is the last thing you want to be looking at.
[Cole] Springboard crossbody.
Cover to put Jey away,
and a kickout at two.
[Wade] This is now turning into panic stations for The Usos.
A full-throttle Rey Mysterio in full flow…
denied by a split second.
[Cole] Nobody does it better than Rey Mysterio.
[Wade] Nobody's done it longer. Nobody's done it more consistently.
Jey, though, with a kick to the midsection,
looking to stifle the rally by Mysterio.
[Wade] Easier said than done.
[Cole] Is it enough to put away Jey Uso?
Two-count, kickout.
[Wade] Jey Uso is in a bad way here.
Jimmy Uso faring a little better.
One, two…
[Cole] And a near fall for Mysterio.
Jimmy back up to the apron, and a kick to the back of the neck.
The official was dealing with Jey and didn't see it.
Jey with a neckbreaker. Rey's down.
For the win, for The Usos.
Kickout again at two!
[Wade] Jey Uso just didn't get his full body
across the chest of Rey Mysterio there.
That is potentially what cost him victory in the moment.
Once again, beautiful execution from Jey, but the pin just was sloppy.
That shows tiredness.
That shows a man who is not firing on all cylinders right now.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Cole] The Usos making uncharacteristic mistakes as of late.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Wade] It's been the story for weeks now.
These mistakes keep happening, The Usos will keep losing.
You have to fix it.
-That's basic for The Usos. -[Cole] Double-team by Jimmy and Jey.
Mysterio trying to fight out with knees to the face.
Usos both up over the top rope.
-[Wade] Usos are… -[Cole] Tag made, Escobar's legal!
[Wade] Usos looking ragged at this point, and it seems Escobar's got a second wind.
[Cole] Santos Escobar up over the top taking The Usos out!
[Wade] If you're picking a winner from here, it has to be the LWO.
[Cole] Enzuigiri stuns Escobar.
Running knee catches Jimmy.
LWO!
[Cole] Into the corner, another running knee.
[Wade] Emperor of Lucha Libre showing his class.
[Cole] From the top rope, the Hurricanrana for the win.
Is it enough? Hook of the leg.
Near fall and a kickout!
[Wade] Did you see the panic in the eyes of Jimmy Uso?
Something we are not used to seeing.
Barely anything left in the tank, surely ripe for the pickings.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Cole] WWE fans loving the matchup.
[chanting continues]
[grunts]
Tag again. Here comes Mysterio.
Rey, top rope, double-team off the leg drop.
Cover now. Hook of the leg.
Saving things is Jey.
[Wade] Just in the nick of time as the LWO are digging deep into the playbook.
You have to pull out something special against The Usos
even if they're not on form.
[Cole] Superkick to Escobar. Rey sends Jey outside the ring.
Now Jimmy into the second rope!
[crowd cheering]
Went for the 619, ran into a superkick!
-Tag made! -[Wade] Precision timing!
[Cole] Splash!
The Uso Splash for the win.
-Kickout by Mysterio! -[Wade] What?!
[Cole] What do The Usos have to do?
[Wade] Well, The Usos just took their best shot and it didn't work.
[Cole] For two years, Wade,
that splash would have taken out the opponent
and won the matchup for The Usos, but not tonight.
[Wade] When it rains, it pours in this industry.
There is a deluge coming down on The Usos now.
[Cole] Tag made.
The Usos…
gonna look for stereo Uso Splashes.
[crowd cheering]
Look who's here! Kevin Owens!
Escobar takes advantage.
Meanwhile, right here in front us, Sami Zayn up on the apron.
The official with Owens.
Zayn gets involved.
Tag!
[Wade] The fix is in, Michael Cole!
[Cole] 619!
-Escobar! -[Wade] Not like this.
[Cole] Cover!
LWO with the win!
[bell rings]
["Our World" playing]
[Rome] Here are your winners, the LWO!
[Cole] The Usos' downward spiral continues
thanks to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
[Wade] That was a disaster for The Usos,
but let it be said, that was from no fault of their own.
They got screwed tonight.
[Cole] It doesn't matter because The Usos lost…
Damn!
[Cole] And the Tribal Chief is not happy.
[Sikoa mutters]
No.
They need to learn.
They'll fall in line next week.
♪ Todo los Latino ♪
♪ Sube tu bandera si tu eres Latino ♪
♪ El mundo de latino ♪
[Cole] What does this mean for Night of Champions and The Bloodline? playbook.