[WWE's intro music playing]
[Cena] Then.
-[Ric Flair] Woo! -[glass shatters]
[The Rock] If you smell…
-[gong sounds] -[Cena] Now.
[Reigns] Acknowledge me.
-The King of Kings. -You can't see me.
[Cena] Forever.
[crowd cheering]
[Cena] Together.
[music fades]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Emotional roller coaster. Finally snapped last week
in defense of his brother.
Tonight, Jey is on the warpath.
After the savage attack on Jimmy Uso by Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa last week,
the unhinged Jey Uso will stop at nothing to tear The Bloodline to the ground
and get vengeance on his cousin,
the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns.
Jey Uso here, live, tonight.
Ladies and gentlemen, Friday Night SmackDown
is at the jam-packed PNC Arena at North Carolina State University,
home of the Wolfpack.
And we are live and sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
["Watch Me Shine" by CFO$ playing]
[crowd cheers]
♪ Instead of crying They hear me roar ♪
♪ And now I see that I'm way better than before ♪
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
♪ Think I'd fall down I'ma watch you fall down ♪
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
Bianca Belair!
[Cole] Mr. Wade Barrett, what a huge night tonight for Bianca Belair.
[Wade] Yeah. You're not lying, Cole.
Because after months of waiting, the fiercely determined
"EST of WWE" Bianca Belair finally has her opportunity
to regain the WWE Women's Championship
when she faces the woman who took her crown,
the insidious "Empress of Tomorrow" Asuka, later on tonight.
[Cole] Bianca Belair and Asuka in our main event tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown for the WWE Women's Championship.
♪ Think I'd fall down I'ma watch you fall down ♪
♪ I'm living large now ♪
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
[music fades]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chants "EST!"]
You know, they… People always say things like,
"Patience is a virtue" and "Good things come to those who wait."
But man, is it hard to be patient and wait,
especially when you want something so badly.
I mean, I feel like I've been waiting for forever just for a rematch with Asuka.
You know, I've been waiting since May 27th, Night of Champions in Jeddah,
just for an opportunity to get my title back.
And… Hold up.
Let's not even talk about all the hoops that I had to go through
just to get what should have been mine in the first place.
So tonight is the night.
[crowd cheers]
No, matter of fact, tonight is my night.
[crowd cheers]
It's my night to show Asuka that not only is patience a virtue,
but vengeance is sweet.
So tonight, I'm gonna give Asuka exactly what she deserves,
that's a K.O.D., a one, two, three,
and me strutting out of here as the new WWE Women's Champion.
["All Hail The Queen" by def rebel playing]
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] When Bianca Belair was talking about jumping through hoops
to get this rematch here tonight against Asuka…
[fireworks blasting]
…one of the obstacles in her way was this woman, Charlotte Flair,
who still believes she deserves a title opportunity.
A couple of weeks ago, at the sold-out O2 in London, England, Wade,
Charlotte took on Asuka for the WWE Women's Championship.
Bianca bought a ticket, sat at ringside, and all chaos broke loose,
so Charlotte believe she didn't really get a full opportunity.
[Wade] Of course she didn't.
Bianca Belair was banned from ringside by Adam Pearce.
Bianca Belair exploited a loophole by buying a ticket,
as you mentioned, and that ultimately ruined Charlotte's opportunity
to become a 15-time World Champion.
That cannot sit well with Charlotte Flair.
[Cole] It does not sit well with Bianca Belair
that Charlotte interrupted her tonight.
[crowd "Woos"]
Ooh, you got me fired up, Bianca. I feel you!
Raleigh, North Carolina, did Bianca get you fired up?
[crowd cheering]
She got me fired up.
I mean, no disrespect to Asuka,
but I think you're going to win tonight.
I'm actually manifesting a win in Flair Country.
[crowd cheering]
I think you're gonna walk out the WWE Women's Champion.
That's right.
So I'm here to tell you that when you do,
I don't want any confusion on who's next in line.
I think we all know that the line starts and ends with Ms. Charlotte Flair.
I mean, if you want to say it that way. I wouldn't say it that way.
But I'm here, respectfully, face to face, looking you in your eyes,
telling you I'm next.
So when you do win,
it's going to be Charlotte Flair…
versus Bianca Belair…
for the WWE Women's Championship.
So what do you say?
[crowd cheering]
Back up.
I'm not even about to jinx myself right now
because right now I'm focused on Asuka,
but if I do win, I mean, what would be bigger than The EST of WWE
versus The Queen for the WWE Women's Championship…
at SummerSlam?
[crowd cheering]
So, if you win, it's on.
And you know what? You're right.
I am ready for Asuka.
Woo!
[crowd "Woos"]
["Watch Me Shine" by CFO$ plays]
[Cole] So suddenly, Charlotte has a lot riding
on this matchup tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
However, Bianca and Charlotte could be getting ahead of themselves
as far as that woman's concerned,
the WWE Women's Champion, Asuka,
who will defend the title tonight against Bianca Belair in our main event.
[Wade] A rare moment of civility in the Women's Division here on SmackDown.
We shall see how long that lasts, Michael Cole.
Again, a showdown that we could have at WrestleMania.
Bianca Belair versus Asuka
for the WWE Women's Championship later on tonight.
Meanwhile, Jey Uso is here live on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] Yeah, following last week's savage attack on Jimmy Uso,
a highly emotional and unstable Jey Uso has made it clear
he will stop at nothing to tear The Bloodline
and Roman Reigns to the ground.
An unhinged Jey Uso is here tonight.
[Cole] Check this out. Later on tonight, four of the most electrifying Superstars
on Friday Night SmackDown.
"Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
Santos Escobar, who's scintillating.
You've got the "Mangy Mutt" Butch
and the "Aussie Icon" Grayson Waller.
They kick off the United States Championship Invitational
in a Fatal 4-Way Match later on tonight.
["Nobody Better Than Me" by def rebel playing]
[crowd cheering]
What's the craic, lads? You all right?
Big night for The Brawling Brutes tonight, fellas.
Our lad, Butch, here, gonna make an advance
in the United States Invitational Tournament,
and of course, me and Ridge "The Fridge" are finally going to get payback
on those two bleeding dancing muppets, Pretty Deadly.
What do you say, Ridgey?
These two fellas keep talking about Friday Night SmackDown.
Well, tonight they're gonna get eaten alive.
[laughs]
-Boys! -[all] It's fight night!
Come on, fellas.
[The Brawling Brutes' music playing]
-[Wade] Just did your job for you, Cole. -[Cole] Can I still say it?
-[Wade] We don't need you anymore. Sure! -[Cole] It's fight night!
-[fireworks blast] -[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen,
coming up next on Friday Night SmackDown,
"The Celtic Warrior" Sheamus
and The Brawling Brutes' resident roughneck Ridge Holland
take on SmackDown's two tastiest snacks.
Pretty Deadly. It's live, and it's next.
Did you just say…
[Wade] Yeah.
[Cole] Friday Night SmackDown on Fox is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
For Sheamus and Ridge Holland,
tag team action means it's fight night.
♪ Yes, boy! ♪
["On And On" by def rebel playing]
♪ On and on On and on ♪
♪ We go on and on On and on ♪
♪ 'Cause the night is young ♪
-[bell rings] -[announcer] The following contest
is a Tag Team Match scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring, Kit Wilson and Elton Prince,
Pretty Deadly!
[Cole] Fresh off a Mamma Mia revival,
Pretty Deadly is here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
And these two men did not make friends with Sheamus last week.
Pretty Deadly has been running with Austin Theory as of late.
He was defending against Sheamus
at the United States Championship last week.
Sheamus closing in on a win when Pretty Deadly would get involved.
[Wade] Well, Pretty Deadly have certainly been a perennial thorn
in the side of The Brawling Brutes since being drafted to SmackDown.
It wasn't long until Ridge "The Fridge" and Butch came down to level proceedings,
but that opened the window for once again
another retention of the United States Championship by Austin Theory.
[Cole] Well, we would be remiss if we didn't mention the fact
that Austin Theory pulled the tights of Sheamus
to retain his championship.
So, nonetheless, the persnickety Pretty Deadly
set to take on Sheamus and Ridge Holland here tonight.
[Wade] Persnickety?
That is a word that hasn't been used on television
for over 50 years, Michael Cole. Congratulations.
-[Cole] You should know what it means. -No idea, I'll be honest with you.
[Cole] Snobbish, having an aloof attitude. Sound familiar?
[Wade] You're referring to Pretty Deadly? Sounds nothing like them.
-[bell rings] -[Cole] Here we go. Starting things off.
Now, Sheamus "The Celtic Warrior" sends Elton Prince
hightailing it out of the ring.
What makes Pretty Deadly so dangerous? Despite the fact that they cheat a lot.
[Wade] Well, they unsettle you, first of all.
-They are-- -[Cole] Oh!
[Wade] …dedi-dedicated followers of…
Look, Kit Wilson's not even the legal man here.
What is Sheamus doing?
[Cole] Well, he's trying to tick off everybody from Pretty Deadly,
who claim that their tag team name says it all.
They're pretty and they're deadly.
But right now, they're getting beaten up by The Celtic Warrior.
And Sheamus having fun with another rolling senton.
And there goes Kit Wilson over the top rope.
[Wade] Well, it has been a disastrous start thus far for Pretty Deadly,
but just like that, Elton Prince turning this match around,
or maybe not.
[Cole] He went for the hip toss and it was blocked by Sheamus,
who follows things up with a clothesline.
Tag made, and here comes Ridge Holland.
Ridge still suffering the ill effects of the Samoan Spike
from a couple of weeks ago by Solo Sikoa,
battling through a throat injury to participate in this Tag Match tonight.
Cover by Ridge.
Hook of the leg. Kick out by Elton Prince.
[Wade] It's gonna take a hell of a lot more than a raspy voice
to keep Ridge "The Fridge" down.
[Cole] You know, he… Austin Theory and Pretty Deadly were asked
on SmackDown LowDown on Peacock last Saturday about their relationship.
And Austin Theory said, "I'm sick and tired of all you nosy people.
Handsome guys like us hang out, period."
[Wade] Yeah, and then jealous guys like Michael Cole like to sit
in their cheap seats and take potshots
at handsome guys like Pretty Deadly and Austin Theory.
[Cole] I have the best seat in the house.
Double-team now by Pretty Deadly on Ridge Holland
as Wilson and Prince look to take Holland out.
[grunts]
[Cole] Frequent tags in and out.
What makes Pretty Deadly such a great tag team, Wade?
[Wade] Well, they unsettle you, first of all.
They can throw you off their game.
They can also take a beating like no other,
and if you give them a window of opportunity like they've got right now,
they will punish you.
[Cole] It seems like they always have a way to stretch the rules a bit.
[Wade] Well, they're superb tag team tacticians.
That's part of the game in the tag ranks.
[Cole] Oh, look at the power of Ridge Holland.
[crowd cheering]
Dumping Pretty Deadly with a backdrop
and now looks to make a tag to Sheamus.
Gets there. Here comes The Celtic Warrior.
[Wade] Time to retreat for Pretty Deadly.
[Wilson] Please, please, please!
No, no, no.
[Cole] And Kit Wilson dumped over the top rope.
Ridge Holland now powering Elton Prince up to the top turnbuckle.
10 Beats of the Bodhrán on the way, perhaps.
[crowd counts] One, two,
three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten,
eleven, twelve, thirteen…
[Cole] Why stop there?
…sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty…
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Oh, boy, Wade, the complexion of this Tag Team Match
has changed during the commercial break.
Pretty Deadly has taken control of Sheamus and Ridge Holland.
[Wade] This is exactly the mistake people make with Pretty Deadly.
-[Cole] Oh! -Do not judge a book by its cover.
These two have been nothing short of business,
and this is some payback for Sheamus right now.
[Cole] Multiple-time Tag Champs down in NXT.
Only a matter of time before they win the gold here.
[Wade] I don't care who you are.
If you can do a number on Sheamus like this and have him lying at your feet,
you are dangerous.
[Cole] Sheamus looking to fight back.
Oh, and that running uppercut.
Tag from Wilson. Here comes Elton Prince,
and the double-team again by Pretty Deadly.
[Wade] Again, the tag team tacticians.
Another shot of the [indistinct] smash from Kit Wilson.
The quick tags just smothering Sheamus,
giving him no room to breathe, keeping a fresh man in there.
Just outstanding work from Pretty Deadly.
[Cole] They claim they have the charisma to be on a cheer team
and also the technical ability to be on the wrestling mat,
which, of course, they are here tonight.
[Wade] Oh, they're a couple of femme fatales here on SmackDown,
who are as dangerous as they are gorgeous.
[Cole] And Sheamus learning that firsthand.
And the WWE fans here at the PNC Arena
trying to will Sheamus back into this match.
Kit Wilson in trouble on Sheamus's shoulders.
Sheamus creating some separation for himself,
but he's got to make a tag to Ridge.
[Wade] Pretty Deadly seem adamant.
They want no part of Ridge Holland in this matchup.
He's the danger man for The Brutes.
[Cole] Now, Elton Prince making sure that a tag will not take place.
Kit Wilson with a neck breaker to Sheamus.
Quickly into the cover. Hook to the leg by Wilson.
Sheamus kicks at two.
[Wade] Sheamus is just drowning in offense right now.
Cannot get a breath of air.
[Cole] That's what Pretty Deadly is trying to do, swarm Sheamus,
keep him down, not allow him to get back to a vertical base.
Wilson now top rope. Sheamus back to his feet.
Oh! And that's what I'm talking about.
You can't allow Sheamus to get back up.
They did that. He delivered the knee.
Now is the chance to make a tag.
[Wade] Well, you open up that window, Sheamus is kicking it through,
and then coming after you straight after.
[Cole] And here comes the self-proclaimed "resident roughneck"
of The Brawling Brutes, Ridge Holland, who's wiping out Pretty Deadly.
Man has all the tools, all the potential in the world,
having the opportunity here tonight to show it off.
[Wade] Sheamus used Ridge as his own personal protégé,
the heir apparent to the meat and potatoes brutalist style
of Sheamus himself.
[Cole] Yeah… Oh! That pub brawl mentality.
[Ridge growls]
[Wade] I will tell you this, Cole, when Ridge's rage takes over,
-there's simply no stopping him. -[Cole] Oh!
[Wade] Just using Pretty Deadly as a missile against one another.
[Cole] And Ridge Holland… Oh! And a Fisherman's Buster.
Here's the cover. Is it enough to put him away?
Hook of the leg and a kickout by Prince.
[Wade] Hats off to Elton Prince.
That would have put away a ton of competitors,
and wisely, Prince getting out of Dodge while he still can.
[Cole] Meanwhile, Sheamus heading up now to the top rope.
Pretty Deadly.
Sheamus… down goes Kit Wilson.
[Wade] It cannot be much more terrifying than a leaping Sheamus
coming at you 20 feet in the air.
[Cole] And Ridge Holland off that side slam into the cover.
Wilson's gonna break things up and save the matchup for Pretty Deadly.
-[Wade] Leading to Ridge-- -[Cole] Brogue!
Kit Wilson Brogued out of the ring.
Elton Prince sends Sheamus over the top rope.
And now Elton Prince loosening the protective padding
on that steel turnbuckle,
and Ridge throat-first, throat-first into the steel turnbuckle!
The exposed steel to the already injured throat of Ridge Holland.
Prince with the leg drop!
-Cover! -One, two…
-Pretty Deadly with the win! -[bell rings]
["On and On" by def rebel playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners,
Pretty Deadly!
[Cole] Pretty Deadly did their homework.
[Wade] Tactically astute, fantastic move from Pretty Deadly.
Throat-first onto the exposed turnbuckle.
The damage was done and Elton Prince finishing things
in the style that Pretty Deadly are accustomed to.
Big win.
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, Pretty Deadly not the only newcomers
making an impact.
How about Grayson Waller?
Here's our Progressive Match Flo.
Every single time.
[announcer] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[Cole] The Hall of Famer Edge takes on the bombastic Grayson Waller.
Edge's big announcement is that he is retiring.
See, I'm not retiring.
Grayson, you haven't even had a match on the main roster yet,
and it's time to sink or swim.
♪ Step in the arena ♪
♪ We ain't come to play ♪
♪ Step into the ring ♪
[bell rings]
♪ We don't play no games ♪
♪ Just take a look in my eyes ♪
♪ You see I'm ready to ride ♪
♪ I was born ready to fight I've been ready my whole life ♪
Sink or swim!
♪ You claim that you ready We gonna see who's the one ♪
[shouts]
♪ Yeah, you claim that you ready This was over before it begun ♪
♪ I got something to prove ♪
One, two!
♪ Yeah, I got something to prove I got nothing to lose ♪
Two!
♪ Yeah, I got something to prove I ain't got nothing to lose ♪
[Cole] Waller was going for the rolling stunner,
but Edge spears him out of midair, and Edge with the win.
Hey, Waller.
♪ Yeah, I got something to prove ♪
You swam.
♪ Nah, I got nothing to lose ♪
Join me in welcoming one of the four men competing
in the United States Championship Invitational tonight, Grayson Waller.
[laughs]
[crowd boos]
Now, Grayson, did you imagine yourself getting a championship opportunity
this early on in your SmackDown career?
I gotta be honest with you, Cathy, I'm not surprised. [chuckles]
Main eventing at Madison Square Garden against Hall-of-Famer Edge,
and if I had longer than 15 minutes to get ready,
I would have beat him too. But that's okay, because I swam.
So much so that now everyone's talking about Grayson Waller, including…
The Rock.
The Great One himself.
Every single week, his family is imploding right in front of him
every week on SmackDown, but he's worried about me.
And I know he's desperate for the Grayson Waller rub,
and if he wants more of my clout, he knows where to find me.
But enough about him, let's talk about tonight,
because I have the opportunity against three
of the best SmackDown has to offer to cement myself here on SmackDown.
And I'm gonna do that with my hand raised in victory
because that is the Grayson Waller effect.
If you smell what I'm cooking. [cackles]
[crowd boos]
[Cole] Well, Grayson Waller referred to The Rock's family,
and last week, the tensions between the most dominant group
in WWE history, The Bloodline, exploded into chaos
during a savage and brutal tribal court.
We'll revisit this unforgettable encounter, next.
[Wade] Bianca Belair finally gets her chance.
The EST of WWE has wanted a rematch
with "The Empress of Tomorrow" Asuka since losing the gold to her.
Well, that rematch happens later on tonight in our main event.
[Cole] And again, a WrestleMania-like main event here tonight
between Bianca Belair and Asuka for the WWE Women's Championship.
Last week, our main event was the tribal court
for "The Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns.
[Cole] It is the moment of truth time for "The Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns.
The Usos take him to tribal court.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] They said that he couldn't be beat,
and guess what happened at Money in the Bank, baby?
[Cole] Do you believe in miracles?
[crowd shouts] One, two, three!
-[Cole] Jey did it! -[bell rings]
Jey has pinned Roman Reigns!
[Reigns] I got pinned,
but last time I checked, I'm still The Tribal Chief.
So I'm… I'm having trouble understanding why I'm here tonight.
If The Tribal Chief didn't call for tribal court,
then this isn't official.
Why are you wasting my time, huh?
No, Roman, not this time.
See, what you're not going to do
is manipulate us like you always do, right?
-No, no. -This is my ring!
Go home, baby.
I didn't tell you to come out here!
I'm that guy, I make these choices.
That's not who I am.
That's who I was forced to be.
You think I wanted to do all that?
I did it for you, and I did it for you.
I didn't need The Bloodline. The Bloodline needed me!
[Reigns] This is what this is all about?
I don't want it.
I don't need it.
I'm done.
I'm done with all of it.
I don't want it anymore.
So you want it, it's yours.
[dramatic music]
[crowd booing]
[Cole] And Jimmy Uso now taking up for his brother Jey
as he goes after Roman Reigns.
Now Solo Sikoa gets involved.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Cole] Jey Uso again goes after Roman!
Sikoa now plants Jey Uso!
Jey is trapped.
You thought you was gonna be The Tribal Chief?
It won't ever happen while I'm around.
[crowd booing]
No!
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Jimmy Uso stretchered out of Madison Square Garden.
He'll be taken to a hospital.
Roman Reigns is at a different level tonight.
[somber music playing]
[Reigns] Madison Square Garden,
I didn't really like how this went the first time, so…
acknowledge me!
♪ Uso! ♪
[Cole] Jey marching through Madison Square Garden
down the steps toward the ring.
[Wade] After what we witnessed earlier, this might be a very bad idea.
[Cole] Jey now up over the top, attacking Solo Sikoa.
[Wade] Guttural rage and animosity is boiling over.
No, you don't have your brother anymore.
[Cole] Roman Reigns runs into the chair by Jey,
who's now unloading on The Tribal Chief.
Jey Uso taking out all of the frustration, and anger, and pain.
[Jey] Trial of The Tribal Chief.
You're looking at the judge, the jury, and the executioner right now.
Now, I got to get you.
Just me and you, one-on-one.
Accept my challenge so I can whoop your ass one more time!
[inaudible]
Well, we have the latest medical update tonight, uh, on Jimmy Uso.
He suffered ruptured rib cartilage
and will be out of action for the foreseeable future.
Well, an unhinged Jey Uso remains on the warpath
as he awaits an answer to his challenge from his cousin, Roman Reigns.
Yeah, Roman Reigns who, tonight, marks his 1,048th day
as the Undisputed Champion.
[crowd cheering]
Where are you going?
Well, I know you don't like competitors getting involved
in championship matches, and I have a hard time letting things go.
So before you even have to ask,
I'm leaving.
-You're leaving? -I'm leaving.
-Really? -Yes.
I feel good about Bianca.
I feel good about my championship match at SummerSlam.
I feel good.
-Pearce. -Okay.
Wow.
Charlotte's not the only one who feels good about tonight.
[cackles]
I bet.
[Bayley] Woo.
Well, on second thought,
I think I'll be staying.
[crowd cheering]
[sighs] Of course.
[Cole] Adam Pearce is not the only one with a headache.
WWE Women's Champion Asuka
has some issues as she defends her title against Bianca Belair later tonight.
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next,
Damage CTRL's insufferable Bayley takes on this woman,
The LWO's ultimate underdog, the feisty Zelina Vega.
It's live. It's next on Friday Night SmackDown.
[upbeat music playing]
[Cole] SummerSlam is sponsored by Rocket Mortgage.
Buy, sell, finance, save.
And by C4 Energy,
the main event energy drink that supercharges your performance
to the ultimate level.
Go for the ultimate undisputed performance with C4.
And a woman who's looking for an awesome performance tonight,
Zelina Vega, set for one-on-one action.
["Role Model" by def rebel playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making her way to the ring,
accompanied by Ms. Money in the Bank,
Iyo Sky, representing Damage CTRL,
Bayley!
[Cole] That is a lock of Shotzi's hair that Bayley is carrying to the ring.
Now, let's show you how this all came about.
No surprise that Damage CTRL is their name
because they've been doing physical and emotional damage…
I'm not done with you!
-You relax, you big idiot! -You think you're funny?
[Cole] …for many people in the WWE including Shotzi.
Two weeks ago, Damage CTRL again cost Shotzi an opportunity
to participate in the Money in the Bank Contract Ladder Match.
Shotzi confronted them, Shotzi paid for it,
the two-on-one assault, and then Bayley, the audacity to cut Shotzi's hair.
[Wade] Sometimes in life you've got to accept the L.
If you don't accept the L, there are consequences
when you continue to antagonize Damage CTRL.
[Cole] Could that be the fate of Zelina Vega tonight?
Bayley-Vega, one-on-one here on Friday Night SmackDown. Underway!
And Bayley blasts Zelina Vega, driving her out of the ring.
And no surprise that Bayley would take a shortcut and try to attack Zelina.
[Zelina screams]
[Cole] Yeah, it's funny, Bayley.
[Wade] Handing out free makeovers.
You might be next, Michael Cole, if you carry on like that.
[Cole] And Bayley, with the upper hand on Zelina Vega
attacking Zelina from behind as this matchup got underway.
Don't forget… Oh! And Zelina fighting back now,
the underdog from The LWO, The Latino World Order.
[Wade] Refusing to go down quietly, Zelina Vega.
[Cole] And The LWO, the meteora by Zelina.
Cover on Bayley, looking for the win and a kickout.
[Wade] Zelina Vega, "Set your heart ablaze."
That's a tattoo she has on her arm.
-[Cole] Isn't that a Roboku quote? -[Wade] No, it's Rengoku.
-Oh, sorry. -[Wade] Nice try, Michael Cole.
Stop trying to be cool. It's from Demon Slayer.
-Trust you to mess it up. -[Cole] Barely taking out Vega.
Cover, hook in the leg now, and a kickout by Bayley.
Meanwhile, Iyo Sky is at ringside.
Of course, she holds the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Inside a contract she can cash in any place, anytime,
for a women's championship opportunity, and it could happen tonight.
-That's for you, Michael. -[Cole] There's the chancla
that Zelina Vega carries around, symbolic of the Latino culture.
[Wade] Simply cannot take your eyes off the first female member of The LWO.
[Cole] Ask… ask any Latino child what the chancla means
and they'll give you the explanation.
As Zelina Vega drives Bayley out of the ring
and now looks to take her back into the ring.
[referee] What's going on over here?
-[Cole] Oh! -[referee] You stay back!
[Cole] Zelina hung up again, the distraction,
and Bayley going to capitalize with a Rose Plant.
One, two, three!
[Cole] Bayley with the win!
[bell rings]
["Role Model" by def rebel playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Bayley!
[Wade] Veteran instincts of Bayley proving she has countless ways to beat you.
[Cole] Not only inside the briefcase a lock of Shotzi's hair,
but the contract that Iyo could cash in at any place, any time.
Remember, Asuka defends against Bianca in our main event
later on tonight, as Bayley and Iyo Sky celebrate.
Surprised to see them in such good graces.
See this right here?
That's Damage CTRL. You're welcome!
You probably thought cutting my hair would intimidate me, scare me.
You probably think you have some sort of control over me.
Do I look scared to you?
[scraping]
Do I look like someone you can control?
[whirring]
Do I?
[whirring stops]
Maybe I am a little weird,
but I'm also in control.
-[whirring] -And I want to show you
just how chaotic I really am.
[manic laughter]
[Shotzi] I'm in control.
[laughs]
Do I look scared to you?
I'm not scared.
You're scared!
[manic laughter]
I'm in control.
Maybe I am a little weird.
[Wade] Fear written all over the faces of Damage CTRL.
Perhaps that makeover awakening a seemingly maniacal side to Shotzi.
Well, nonetheless, Damage CTRL
severely damaging Shotzi's psyche, maybe beyond repair.
And speaking of beyond repair, what about the psyche of Jey Uso,
and the emotional trauma that he's gone through,
not only over the past couple of weeks,
but over the past couple of years? And Jey Uso is here, live, tonight.
We've been talking about it throughout the show.
He's on the warpath.
He wants to finally get his hands on his cousin, Roman Reigns,
after what they did to his brother Jimmy last week.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome
Jey Uso!
[Cole] You know, Wade, you and I have had the opportunity
to, uh, well, know Jey Uso for a very long time.
And, well, you know, the state that Jey has been in,
including what we saw in the arrival earlier tonight,
I don't think we've ever seen Jey like this.
[Wade] This is Jey Uso unhinged and unleashed.
And I personally cannot wait to see what he has to say.
That is coming up, next.
♪ Down since Day one ish ♪
♪ We been down since Day one ish ♪
♪ Line 'em all up ♪
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, Survivor Series
is a Thanksgiving week tradition.
This year it's the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
But this is huge news.
Back-to-back nights for WWE at the Allstate Arena.
Friday Night SmackDown, Saturday Night Survivor Series,
tickets are available next Friday at 10:00 a.m., Central.
That is Chicago time.
Tickets available next Friday for SmackDown and Survivor Series.
-[Wade] Cannot wait for that. -Victory party tonight.
They've had that championship long enough, baby.
[indistinct chatter]
[Wade] Still to come tonight,
four of the most electrifying Superstars on Friday Night SmackDown,
including "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles,
kick off the United States Championship Invitational
in a Fatal 4-Way Match tonight.
[Cole] And tonight, Friday Night SmackDown is sponsored by Progressive.
Jey Uso is in the ring.
[crowd boos and cheers]
[crowd chants "Uso!"]
[man whistling]
You know what?
[crowd cheering]
Like, growing up…
me and Jimmy…
[crowd] What?
-…inseparable. -[crowd] What?
-I'm talking about glued at the hip. -[crowd] What?
-If I'm there… -[crowd] What?
-…he's there. -[crowd] What?
-If he's there… -[crowd] What?
-…I'm there! -[crowd] What?
[crowd cheering]
Like, h-having brothers is a great thing, man,
but there's something about being twins that makes us special.
[crowd cheering]
Twins know.
If he's sad, I'm sad.
[crowd] What?
-If he's happy… -[crowd] What?
-…I'm happy. -[crowd] What?
-And if he's mad… -[crowd] What?
-…I'm mad. -[crowd] What?
But if he's hurt, I'm hurt, too!
[crowd cheering]
[yells]
Hey! Just never in a million years would I think he'd be hurt
by my own family member.
I respect the hierarchy. I respect the culture.
I respect our grandparents, our mothers, our fathers,
aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews,
but, hey, Roman Reigns, please believe, when it come to you,
I'm disrespecting all of you!
[crowd cheering]
[inaudible]
And Solo!
Man, yeah, yeah, I'm gonna spank you like I did last week, little brother!
-[crowd cheering] -And Wiseman…
Wiseman, oh, man, you've been puppeteering my family
for over 40-plus years.
Guess what? All that stops right here!
[crowd cheering]
Hey, 'cause you're looking at the real Head of the Table,
the real Chief, and his name is "Main Event" Jey Uso now.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Jey is fired up!
[Heyman] Ladies and gentlemen…
[crowd booing]
Ladies and gentlemen,
my name is Paul Heyman.
This is The Enforcer
of The Bloodline, Solo.
Except Solo is not here to enforce my will.
Solo is not here to enforce victory for The Bloodline.
Solo is here to enforce the peace.
[crowd booing]
Now, Jey, we're going to step into the ring,
and nothing is gonna happen but a conversation,
because you know how this works.
It's worked this way long before you were even born.
This is something handed down from Afa and Sika,
and their father, and his father, and his father,
and his father before him.
Next week, here on SmackDown,
you and Roman Reigns will go face-to-face
and you will discuss the Rules of Engagement.
But for tonight…
we're just gonna have a little chat about things.
And I understand you're angry,
you're hostile, you're filled with vengeance,
you… you… you want it to manifest in… in some sort of revenge
for your twin brother, Jimmy.
And that anger and that hostility, that righteous indignation
on behalf of your family, Jey,
you're sounding more and more like a tribal chief
every single day.
[crowd booing]
You're right.
Solo, you're 100 percent right.
He has no self-awareness.
He doesn't understand.
He doesn't have the conscience needed to be the right-hand man.
Jey, don't… don't you understand?
What happened to Jimmy
is all your fault.
[crowd booing]
You rose up against The Tribal Chief.
You opposed Roman Reigns.
You wanted to become the head of the family.
You wanted to become the protector of everybody's children.
You wanted to be the conscience, the goodwill.
You wanted to take this family with another reputation and--
Why am I bothering telling you?
Jimmy!
Jimmy! Jim!
Jim! It's me, your favorite Juice-O.
I'm here to tell you right now.
Do you know why you're in the hospital, Jimmy?
Do you know why you caught that beating, Jimmy?
It's all because of your twin brother,
Jey Uso.
[crowd booing]
Anoa'i Fatu Uso Solofa,
I tell you this straight to your face.
I don't know how you can ever forgive yourself.
I don't know how Jimmy will ever forgive you.
Your father will never forgive you.
[crowd booing]
Your mother will never forgive you.
[crowd booing]
I…
I love you and Jimmy.
I will never forgive you.
Your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns,
will never forgive you!
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
What happened to Jimmy…
that's all on you.
[crowd booing]
But me…
I'll never forgive you either.
[crowd booing]
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
[Cole] Oh! And now the brothers slugging it out in the middle of the ring.
Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa…
[crowd cheering]
[inaudible]
I am The Wiseman!
[indistinct chatter]
Wait a second.
I always loved you!
[indistinct chatter]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And Solo from behind,
as Jey Uso had Heyman cornered.
Solo Sikoa attacking his older brother from behind.
[Wade] The Enforcer just doesn't stay down for long.
[Cole] Measuring Jey for the Samoan Spike.
Jey, though, able to take him down and the fight's on.
[grunting]
This emotional powder keg
exploding here tonight in the Anoa'i family!
The puppeteer just had the strings cut.
Solo taken out!
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants] Uso! Uso! Uso!
[crowd chants] One more time! One more time!
[Heyman] Jey.
Jey! I always… I always wanted it to be you.
I always wanted you to be The Tribal Chief.
-It's your fault. -I love you!
-It's your fault! -No!
-It isn't, no! -[crowd cheers]
No!
[Cole] And Solo Sikoa taking the shot for The Wiseman.
Come on!
Come on, Uce!
[Cole] The family civil war
has just been taken up a notch.
[Wade] Jey Uso is done with the mind games and done with the BS.
[Cole] Roman Reigns will be here live next week
on FS1 for a Rules of Engagement with Jey Uso.
You have to wonder what Roman Reigns is thinking right now,
as he watched Solo Sikoa, his Enforcer,
and his "Wiseman" Paul Heyman
taken out by Jey Uso, live.
-Whoo! -[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen,
on what has already been a wild night on Friday Night SmackDown,
still to come, the WWE Women's Champion Asuka
will defend against Bianca Belair,
who after two months finally gets the opportunity
at a rematch in our main event tonight.
And it's going to be a very interesting match,
our main event, as Asuka defends against Bianca Belair
because we also know that Charlotte Flair is still here.
We know that Ms. Money in the Bank, Iyo Sky, along with Bayley,
are still here.
They plan to watch our main event.
Can Bianca defeat Asuka? Will Asuka retain?
Will there be a cash-in? We'll find out tonight, live.
["A-Town Down" by def rebel playing]
♪ A-town down Tearin' the place down ♪
♪ A-town down Like my next sound ♪
♪ Yeah! ♪
♪You see the future Right in front of your eyes ♪
♪ Headed to the top And it's not a surprise ♪
I'm not going anywhere.
They keep talking, and I just keep winning.
[firework blasts]
[announcer] Please welcome
the United States Champion,
Austin Theory!
[Cole] And the question for Theory is, who will be his next challenger?
Well, we will find out as the United States Championship Invitational
gets underway with a Fatal 4-Way Match,
live, next.
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Two hundred and twenty pounds, Grayson Waller!
[Cole] All of these men battling for an opportunity
to perhaps face our guest.
Here at ringside, the United States Champion, Austin Theory.
Welcome, Mr. Theory.
Yeah. I could've used a way better welcome than that.
Yeah, Cole. That was pathetic. This is our esteemed guest.
The greatest United States Champion of all time, Mr. Austin Theory.
Sir, it is a pleasure having you here.
[Theory] Wade, you know exactly how it's done.
[Wade] My man.
["Phenomenal" by CFO$ playing]
[fireworks blasting]
[announcer] And making his way to the ring,
representing The O.C., from Gainesville, Georgia,
weighing in at 218 pounds,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles!
[Cole] And tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
So this is how the United States Invitational works.
A Fatal 4-Way Match tonight, the winner will advance to the finals.
Next week, we'll have another Fatal 4-Way.
The winner of that will meet the winner of tonight's match in two weeks,
to determine who faces Austin Theory for the United States Championship.
Fatal 4-Way rules, first man to gain pinfall or submission will win.
No count-outs, no disqualifications.
[Theory laughs]
[Theory] That was great.
-[man] Ring the bell! -[bell rings]
[Cole] And here we go. Styles, Butch, Waller, and Santos Escobar.
And Grayson Waller, who made his in-ring debut…
Blah, blah, blah. Just like everybody online.
-Talk that trash. -Coming for that belt. Watch your back.
-[Cole] Well, Waller, who… -Should watch your match.
…delivered cheap shot to Butch, pays for it.
[Wade] Grayson Waller convinced he already has-- Oh!
[Cole] Escobar looking for the win, and a kickout by Styles.
[Wade] Waller convinced he has the beating of Austin Theory.
He's got a long way to go until he gets an opportunity
at the United States Championship.
Hey, Waller, in his debut match last week on Friday Night SmackDown,
took Hall-of-Famer Edge to the limit.
Escobar over the top rope off the dropkick by AJ Styles,
and Butch with a wicked clothesline.
So Mr. Theory, out of these four, who would you rather face?
[Theory] Well, it's not gonna be Grayson Waller, obviously.
[Cole] Why not? A lot of people have compared him to you.
[Theory] Compared? I beat "The Rated-R Superstar" Edge.
I beat John Cena.
You want me to keep going, Cole, because I'll beat you if I have to.
[Cole] You beat John Cena, of course, at WrestleMania,
the grandest stage of all.
-[Theory] Yes. -Saw John a couple of weeks ago.
[Theory] Okay? Who cares?
[Cole] Nice takedown by Butch.
One, two…
[Cole] Off the jack-knife cover, AJ Styles.
Tremendous core strength.
Looking for a backslide, perhaps, as Butch looks to block.
[Wade] Well, a former World Champion,
AJ Styles, it appears that all of the youngsters--
[Cole] Waller with a double-pin here,
and The Dynamite from Down Under almost picked up the win.
[Theory] All right, I'll say that's impressive.
That's impressive.
Oh. What do you think about a lot of folks calling you a braggadocious man?
[Wade] A lot of folks? Let me back you up there.
One folk kept saying it.
It's a former tabloid reporter named Michael Cole.
How do you feel about that?
[Cole] Oh, Escobar!
[Theory] Listen, I may embody every characteristic of the egotistic,
-but I'm not cocky, I'm just right. -[Cole laughs]
[Theory] Okay?
[Wade] You can't be cocky if you back it up, Michael Cole.
I never wanna hear you say "braggadocious" ever again
against our great United States Champion.
[Cole] Oh! I would use the word "cocky" to describe Mr. Waller
who just ran into a boot from Santos Escobar.
[Wade] Talk about Grayson Waller, who was asked if he could swim
last week by Edge.
Well, he proved that he could swim as well as Michael Phelps.
Big future for Grayson Waller, although that future
-is starting to look a little bleak. -LWO!
[Cole] The "Scintillating" Santos Escobar
has been in control in the Fatal 4-Way.
Caught by Waller, AJ Styles runs into a boot by Grayson Waller.
Oh my goodness!
[Wade] Inadvertent double-team move there.
I don't think AJ knew much about that.
[Cole] Grayson Waller talking a lot recently about how the legends
are getting the rub from him. AJ Styles, Edge, and now The Rock,
who got into a social media battle with Grayson Waller this week.
Pelé kick from Styles! Fatal 4-Way continues.
Who advances in the United States Invitational?
[Cole] One of these four men will advance to the finals
of the United States Championship Invitational Tournament.
This is a Fatal 4-Way Match.
Waller, Styles, Escobar, and Butch battling it out.
Opportunity, perhaps, to face this man, our guest, Austin Theory.
The current United States Champion here at ringside.
-The greatest. -[Wade] I gotta ask you, Mr. Theory.
A lot of people calling you the future of this industry.
[Cole] I'd love to hear what Mr. Waller was saying, but--
[Wade] He's not saying much now. He's about to have
-his fingers broken, Cole. -He was gonna say, "Ow."
[Theory] People are calling me the future?
[Wade] Future. How do you cope with that kind of pressure?
[Theory] What do you expect? I beat John Cena at WrestleMania,
and he went back to Hollywood and became a mermaid.
Come on. Don't start with me.
[Wade] You're talking about the new Barbie movie?
[Theory] I guess so. Is that what it's called?
[Cole] AJ with a takedown to Waller.
Oh, and there's that sliding forearm
by AJ Styles that he's made famous.
[Theory] I will say, I got to keep my eyes on AJ Styles.
[Cole] You think? Multi-time World Champion.
-[Theory] Look, Cole-- -[Cole] Oh!
Knee to the back of the neck.
Cover by Styles for the win in this Fatal 4-Way.
And Butch breaks it up. Yes, sir?
[Theory] Yeah. You need to watch your mouth.
Okay? I don't know who you think you're sitting out here next to.
All right?
[Wade] I have been telling him that for months.
He simply doesn't listen to me,
but a man with gold on his shoulder, perhaps for once…
-[Cole] Oh! -…Cole will pay attention.
[Theory] No, he's gonna listen to me, or he's gonna lose his job.
[Wade] Had a chat with Santos Escobar earlier,
said he's desperate to keep the break-neck momentum
of The LWO going by capturing gold for the unit.
This gets him one step closer to a victory tonight.
[Cole] I'd love to see Austin Theory
against any one of these gentlemen, including AJ Styles!
[Wade] Talk about the veteran nous of AJ Styles,
converting potential disaster to almost-victory.
[Cole] That was a gulp I noticed from Austin Theory.
Perhaps a bit of a concern.
[Theory] Cole, you're gonna be gulping a lot through a straw
when your jaw doesn't work anymore.
[Cole] Oh, Waller! Now goes Escobar.
[Theory] I will say Escobar's been climbing the ladder here, all right?
But, uh… [laughs]
He ain't got no chance.
[Cole] There's Butch now with a step-up enzuigiri.
Catches Waller, Escobar as well.
Will it be Butch of The Brawling Brutes?
Many… well, some…
or someone has called him a mangy mutt, Butch,
aptly describing this man.
[Wade] Once again, you, Cole. Nobody else.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Double-team from Butch and Styles, to Escobar and Waller.
Now wait a minute. Escobar on the top of the ring post.
-[Wade] Lucha style. -[Cole] Sunset flip triple powerbomb!
Are you kidding me?
[Wade] This has to be there for the taking for Santos Escobar,
the Emperor of Lucha Libre.
[Cole] Look at this. The sunset flip triple powerbomb by Escobar.
I don't think I've ever seen our current United States Champion pull that off.
[Theory] What'd you just say?
[Wade] He's pulled off many other things in his time though, Michael Cole.
[Theory] Look, this is impressive, but this is still not enough.
[Cole] First man to gain pinfall or submission will advance to the finals,
in two weeks, of the United States Invitational.
Santos Escobar right now in control.
A running knee to Waller.
Oh! Is it enough to put him away off that phantom driver?
And breaking things up, the other two men of the matchup.
[Wade] Desperation save there from Styles and Butch
who saw their opportunity slipping away.
But all the momentum right now has to be with Escobar.
[Cole] Critical moment of this matchup.
Remember, no disqualifications or count-outs.
Only pinfalls or submissions.
[Theory] This is such a hard-fought you know, fight, but it's just…
Man, none of these guys are gonna make it to the United States--
[Cole] Don't sound so enthused about it, champ.
I mean, this is a hell of a match.
The WWE fans are chanting, "This is awesome."
Just because they've never said that about your matches,
-but nonetheless, I get it. -[Wade] Steady on, Cole.
[Theory] Oh! Somebody's feeling tough tonight.
[Cole] Oh! And another step-up enzuigiri catches Styles on the ear.
AJ over the top rope. Escobar up top!
Oh, and Butch caught him.
Cover by Butch to advance,
hook of the leg. Breaking things up is Waller.
[Wade] Just in the nick of time from Waller,
right when the rapacious Butch was getting the steam behind him.
[Cole] Four of the top stars on SmackDown today,
and next week we got another Fatal 4-Way.
[Theory] That's right. Takes a lot to try to get a shot
at the United States Champion.
[Cole] Kick right to the back of the neck.
And Butch sent over the top rope. Lands on his feet.
Grayson Waller… baseball slide, misses with the attempted clothesline.
-Butch with a moonsault. -[Wade] Oh.
Butch may have hurt himself in the process there.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Escobar with a suicide dive!
[Wade] All men down bar Escobar.
This is your big opportunity, Santos.
[Cole] Escobar with Butch up on his shoulders.
AJ Styles, Phenomenal Forearm!
Styles looking for the win!
-Setting up Butch with a Styles Clash! -[Wade] Oh, no.
[metal clangs]
[grunting]
[Cole] Wait a minute.
Karrion Kross has got Karl Anderson of The O.C. in the Kross Jacket.
That's AJ Styles' buddy Anderson from The O.C.--
AJ!
We're not done yet.
-[growls] -[Cole] Karrion Kross
still has an issue with AJ Styles.
Styles blasted from behind by Waller.
[Wade] The O.C. have been completely taken out. Wait a second!
[Cole] And there it is, the rolling stunner!
Top rope, Escobar. Crossbody!
-Hook of the leg. -[crowd] One, two, three!
-Got him! Escobar advances! -[bell rings]
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Here's your winner,
Santos Escobar!
[Cole] So Escobar advances to the finals in two weeks.
He'll take on the winner of next week's Fatal 4-Way.
Escobar says, Theory, he's coming for you.
You wish. You wish.
You wish you had a chance. You ain't got no chance.
I'm the greatest.
[Cole] Well, thank you, Mr. Austin Theory.
We have another championship match later on tonight.
That woman, Asuka, will defend the Women's Championship
against Bianca Belair, but there is a huge target on Asuka's back.
Charlotte's here.
So is Ms. Money in the Bank, Iyo Sky.
[Cole] Well, Friday Night SmackDown tonight is at the PNC Arena
of North Carolina State University,
the home of the Wolfpack,
and soon to be the home of the WWE Women's Championship,
Asuka versus Bianca Belair.
-[grunts, groans] -I'm gonna get you up.
-Come on. -I know he got you.
-Michin, are you okay? -Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'm fine.
-Let's get him up. -[groans]
There you go. Careful.
-You good? -I'm good.
-Kross was right. -Yeah.
-It's not over. It's not over. -Mm-mm.
-I'm gonna get him. I'm gonna get him. -Yeah.
-You good? -Yeah?
He said he was gonna be here right now, dawg. He ain't even here.
No, it's got to be him right there.
-Oh. Oh! -Man.
He say he gonna be here, he gonna be here.
-Yeah. I see. -Don't you worry about it.
If he say he gonna be here, he gonna be here.
I got you. I got you. I got you.
-It's gotta be him. Gotta be him. -It's gotta be him, dawg.
I'm just glad he showed up on time, you know what I'm saying?
Yeah, yeah. Always.
[crowd cheers]
-What's up, gentlemen? -Bobby!
What up, baby? What's good, fam?
-Looking good. Looking good. -Oh, yeah.
-You all ready to talk? -You already know.
[whooping]
You know, it's been almost one year
since my career was full of uncertainty,
but after joining SmackDown, well…
[speaking Spanish]
I have gained a new family in The LWO.
A Hall of Fame ring.
Well, now I'm looking for championship gold.
And after next week's Fatal 4-Way Match,
[speaking Spanish]
One step closer to the United States Title.
Booyaka!
I was ecstatic when I got the call
that I was in the United States Championship Invitation.
What better way to show that I belong
than by winning that Fatal 4-Way Match next week?
I'm confident, and I'm going to the moon!
[laughs] Yeah!
You know, I'm so over this, yeah?
Twice now I've had Theory beat,
and twice his newfound friends
have come and interfered and cost me the United States Championship.
That little Cena wannabe has wiggled out so many times,
I've lost count.
And now I've got to match with three other men
just to get another crack at him?
Well, bring it on, fella!
And to those three other lads that are standing across the ring from me,
get out of me bleeding way and know that Theory
is mine.
["Welcome to LA" by def rebel playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[indistinct] Cut that. -[music stops]
[loud cheering]
[crowd chanting "LA Night"]
Let me talk to you!
[cheering]
All of a sudden, LA Knight's everywhere, huh?
[crowd] Yeah!
-Yeah? -[crowd] Yeah!
Everybody wants to use my name. Everybody on the internet
wants to use my name to get views and clicks.
[crowd] Yeah!
Let's call it what it is.
I'm the best decision this company ever made.
[all] Yeah!
'Cause I stand head and shoulders above.
Nobody back there can touch me.
[crowd] Yeah!
So let's go ahead and talk about the worst decision made.
United States Title Invitational.
Nah, nah!
[crowd shouts indistinctly]
Austin Theory's title is in a lot of trouble.
Not because five guys now are vying for that title,
but because this man is coming for that title.
[crowd] Yeah!
You've got to understand something. You can call me…
The Megastar.
[crowd] Yeah!
Hell, if you want to, you can call me the GOAT.
[crowd] Yeah!
But sooner or later, one way or another, you will be calling me "Champ."
-Yeah? -[crowd] Yeah!
'Cause whose game is it with everybody saying…
[crowd] LA Knight!
-Yeah! -Yeah!
[Cole] It is an all-star field next week.
The "Scintillating" Santos Escobar.
You're looking at the United States Champion.
Next week, three men stand in my way.
Three men get dropped.
Smackdown, FS1.
[Cole] The "Scintillating" Santos Escobar has already advanced.
Who will join him?
Could it be his LWO partner, Rey Mysterio,
Sheamus, Cameron Grimes or LA Knight?
The second Fatal 4-Way
of the United States Championship Invitational comes next week on FS1.
["Watch Me Shine" by CFO$ playing]
♪ The pressure's building But no I will never fall ♪
♪ Instead of crying, they hear me roar ♪
♪ And now I see that I'm way better than before ♪
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
[Cole] Well, it has been nearly two months
since Bianca Belair lost her WWE Women's Championship
to Asuka at Night of Champions.
She has been waiting for a rematch.
She claims she has to, quote, "jump through hoops to get here,"
but she has that opportunity.
Coming up next, the Empress of Tomorrow,
the "Insidious" Asuka takes on "The EST of WWE,"
Bianca Belair!
It is our main event for the WWE Women's Championship
live, next on Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
♪ I'm on my own against the wall ♪
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, he is the most dominant champion
of the modern era. The man who's held the title for 1,048 days.
Roman Reigns returns to set the Rules of Engagement
with Jey Uso next week.
However, after Jey kicked Roman's "Wiseman" Paul Heyman
in the face tonight, what's gonna happen?
Find out. It's on FS1 next week at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.
Roman returns on FS1.
♪ And now I see that I'm way better than before ♪
Bianca Belair with an opportunity to win the WWE Women's Championship.
["You Can't Hide" by def rebel playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] This is an incredible main event here tonight.
Two of the most dominant women of the past number of years in WWE.
When Asuka burst on the scene, she went undefeated for 914 days.
She held the NXT Championship for over 500.
And Bianca Belair, she is the longest-reigning champion
of the modern era on Raw or SmackDown.
[Wade] We heard earlier tonight, Charlotte Flair seemed to think
it was a foregone conclusion that Bianca Belair
was gonna defeat Asuka for the championship tonight.
I assure you right now, it is not gonna be that easy.
No one, including Bianca Belair, is ready for Asuka.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the WWE Women's Championship!
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger, from Knoxville, Tennessee,
Bianca Belair!
[crowd cheering]
And her opponent, from Osaka, Japan,
she is the WWE Women's Champion,
Asuka!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] So for Bianca Belair, when she lost the championship two months ago
at Night of Champions, it was a controversial way to lose.
Asuka involving that blue mist did help her win the title.
Bianca said she never got the rematch she deserved
until right now, here, live tonight.
[Wade] The time to show up and show out is now for Bianca Belair
-because if it doesn't… Wait a second. -[Cole] Wait a minute.
Bayley showing off I believe that is a ticket.
In tow, Ms. Money in the Bank, Iyo Sky.
-[bell rings] -Asuka, of course,
as champion, has a threat on a number of fronts tonight,
not only Bianca Belair,
but of course Ms. Money in the Bank, Iyo Sky, who can cash in at any time.
Nice kip-up by the highly athletic Bianca Belair.
Shoulder tackle by Asuka.
[Wade] Threats all over the Women's Division.
In my opinion, the woman with the Money in the Bank contract,
Iyo Sky, has to be the biggest threat of them all.
[Cole] Hip toss takedown by Bianca Belair.
What does Bianca have to do, Wade, to take the title away from Asuka tonight?
[Wade] You have to accept that you're facing a woman
who has guile, who has cunning ways, and is prepared to go Machiavellian
in pursuit of this defense.
[Cole] Now, if you're Asuka and you're the champion,
and obviously using Bianca's hair to her advantage here,
-that long braided pony. -[Wade] Hey, it's fair game, Cole.
[Cole] Oh! But the question is, you got to concentrate on Bianca,
the former champion in the ring,
but then you got Ms. Money in the Bank lurking at ringside.
[Wade] Sleep with one eye open. It's always tough being the champ.
But after the Money in the Bank briefcase and contracts have been grabbed,
things get significantly more difficult.
[Cole] Oh! Power by Bianca, drops Asuka face-first on the top turnbuckle.
Bianca Belair, Asuka is in position for a K.O.D.,
but Asuka gave her an arm drag, Bianca out of the way.
[crowd] Oh!
Fast paced in this matchup, shoulder tackle,
and both women are down.
[Wade] Yeah, with Iyo Sky and that contract hanging around close,
it would behoove you to end this matchup as quickly as you can,
get out of Dodge safely.
Easier said than done with the level of competitors in the ring.
[Cole] But, Wade, this is also a situation with the champion down here
that Iyo could perhaps try to cash in.
Meanwhile, we have someone else that bought a ticket.
Charlotte Flair now in the mix.
She's heading to ringside. Our championship match continues.
Here tonight, our main event on Friday Night SmackDown,
Bianca Belair trying to wrestle the title away
from the current champion, the WWE Women's Champion, Asuka.
And Bianca Belair is in control.
Nice suplex by Bianca. Into the kip-up.
[crowd cheering]
And Bianca Belair…
Moonsault. Cover. Is it enough to put Asuka away?
And a kickout. Now, we've got other issues here at ringside.
There's Charlotte Flair, who believes that she deserves a title opportunity.
Bianca Belair said if she wins tonight,
she'll give Charlotte that opportunity at SummerSlam.
And on the other side, Damage CTRL. Bayley, flanked, of course,
by Iyo Sky, Ms. Money in the Bank, who could cash in a contract
on either one of these women--
that's if Bianca wins tonight-- for the championship.
[Wade] Threats at every angle, no matter which woman
comes out of this matchup as the champ.
[Cole] Bianca Belair now with Asuka, the current champion on the top rope.
Asuka looking to block a possible superplex from Bianca Belair.
Bianca lands on her feet, Asuka quickly to the top rope.
Asuka with a missile dropkick. Bianca's in trouble.
Asuka now looking to retain.
Floats into the cover for the win. Kick out!
[Wade] Very few women out there who could compete
with that kind of athleticism from Bianca Belair,
but Asuka is certainly one of them.
[Cole] Charlotte Flair, the 14-time champion, looking on,
would love another crack at the title.
[Wade] Temporary truce between Charlotte and Bianca,
pending the result of this matchup, of course.
[Cole] Bianca able to block Asuka, launches herself up over the top rope.
Sidestep by Asuka.
Oh, and a knee.
Nice takedown!
Looking for the armbar to put Bianca away.
Submission hold, middle of the ring.
Bianca trying to make it back to her feet, which she does.
[Wade] Desperation scramble from Belair there, smartly and wisely.
[Cole] Nice gut wrench by Belair, lifting Asuka up.
Oh, spinebuster. Cover…
to win the championship for Belair, and a kickout by Asuka at two.
[Wade] Belair is just a woman possessed trying to recapture
-the gold she once owned. -[Cole] Not so…
Oh, looking for the Asuka Lock.
Asuka looking for the Asuka Lock, trying to wrap the legs,
Bianca trying to block.
Great job rolling through,
cover forces Asuka to kick out.
[Wade] Instinctive roll there from Belair at the perfect moment.
[Cole] The roll through, Bianca is sent outside the ring.
Come on now, ladies. Hey!
[Cole] And Asuka hanging up Bianca Belair,
and now Asuka and that eerie look of the insidious champion.
Let's go!
[Cole] With the sliding knee, Bianca Belair able to counter.
Now Asuka on Bianca's shoulders.
-Belair, K.O.D. on the table! -[crowd cheers]
Meanwhile, Iyo Sky and Bayley have hopped the barricade,
as has Charlotte Flair.
[Wade] The danger is now.
[Cole] Big boot by Charlotte, takes out Bayley.
I'm helping you! I'm helping you!
[indistinct shouts]
[Cole] Charlotte saying, "I'm helping you."
Iyo Sky drives Charlotte into the ring post!
[indistinct shouts, chatter]
-[Cole] Spear! -[bell rings]
Well, that's gonna force a disqualification
in this championship match.
Oh, the briefcase off the face of Charlotte.
[indistinct shouts]
[indistinct chatter]
-Yeah, idiots. -[Cole] And now…
Asuka's down and Iyo Sky wondering, "Is this my chance?"
Bayley's cashed in a contract once in her career.
Will she tell Iyo to do the same tonight?
[screaming]
And Bayley said, "It's time." Bayley said, "It's time, Iyo Sky."
[Wade] We are about to witness history, Cole.
[Cole] Looking to cash in the contract.
[Iyo Sky screaming]
Iyo is headed up to the top rope for a patented moonsault.
Bayley telling the official it's time to cash in.
Meanwhile, mist to Bayley! Mist to the face of Bayley,
and Asuka will escape.
The contract was never officially cashed in.
[Iyo Sky] Asuka!
Asuka!
[Wade] Asuka, by the skin of her teeth, retaining the championship tonight.
[Cole] Asuka survives tonight.
And this is how she did it.
Iyo was about to cash in when Asuka blasted Bayley
with the blue mist.
So Asuka survives tonight.
[indistinct chatter]
[Cole] But Bianca Belair, Charlotte, Bayley,
and "Ms. Money in the Bank" Iyo Sky
are all stalking the WWE Women's Champion.
Next Friday, SmackDown,
head to FS1, 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific,
the return of Roman Reigns
and the Rules of Engagement
with his cousin, Jey Uso.
[Iyo Sky shouting]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us here tonight.
We'll see you next week on FS1.
[Iyo Sky yelling]