[WWE intro music plays]
[John Cena] Then.
[Ric Flair] Woo!
-[glass shatters] -[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolls] -[Cena] Now.
[Reigns] Acknowledge me.
♪ The King of Kings ♪
♪ You can't see me ♪
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
[music fades]
-[tense music playing] -[crowd chants "You sold out"]
[Cole] What is the future of The Bloodline?
♪ Uso! ♪
-[tense music continues] -[crowd cheers]
I'm about to throw 37 years down the drain right now
if you don't tell me why you did it.
[Cole] The reign is over!
[Graves] Who the…
What the hell?!
[Cole] The ultimate betrayal.
[crowd groans]
[referee] One, two, three!
[Cole] After everything these twins have been through,
Roman Reigns is still in charge.
You really want to know?
Man, I was afraid, all right?
I was afraid to lose you.
I would never be able to live, Uce,
if I let you and watch you become an egotistical, lying [bleep]
like Roman Reigns.
So if you want to kick my face off, brother, give it to me.
[tense music playing]
[Reigns laughs]
Tonight, it ain't about you and your brother.
Nobody cares anymore, all right?
This night is only about one thing. You understand me? One thing.
It's been like this for three years now.
I can't believe you don't understand it.
Acknowledge me!
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Solo from behind.
[Cole] As things have once again exploded.
[dramatic music playing]
Superman punch.
[Graves] Jey Uso's night just went from bad to worse.
[Cole] Spear!
[crowd cheers]
Jimmy, hold up.
[music drops]
[dramatic music continues]
I'm out.
I'm out of The Bloodline.
I'm out of SmackDown.
I'm out of WWE.
Deuces, Uces.
[music fades]
[crowd chants "Jey"]
♪ Who better than me? ♪
♪ I don't see nobody, I don't see nobody ♪
[Patrick] On the eve of WWE Payback,
we're coming to you live
from the raucous Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania,
for Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
♪ How am I hot But I'm dressing the coldest? ♪
[music fades]
["The Time Is Now" by John Cena & Tha Trademarc playing]
[crowd cheers]
♪ Amadou! ♪
♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
Stu, you made the gig!
Stu is here.
You can't see him, but he's here.
♪ In case you forgot or fell off I'm still hot, knock your shell off ♪
♪ My money stack fat Plus I can't turn the swell off ♪
Let's go to work.
♪ It's automatic, I win this Oh, you hear those horns, you finished ♪
♪ A soldier And I stay under you fightin' ♪
♪ Plus I'm stormin' on you chumps Like I'm thunder and lightning ♪
♪ Ain't no way you breakin' me, kid ♪
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome
John Cena!
[crowd cheers]
♪ In any weather I'm never better, your boy's so hot ♪
♪ You'll never catch me In the next man's sweater ♪
♪ If they hate, let 'em hate I drop your whole clan ♪
♪ Lay yo' ass down For the three-second tan ♪
♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
[crowd cheers]
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise Boy, I'm shinin' now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's gon' be what it's gon' be ♪
♪ Five pounds of courage, buddy Bass tint pants with a gold T, uh ♪
♪ It's a war dance, a victory step ♪
[music fades]
[crowd cheers]
Welcome to SmackDown!
[crowd cheers]
Coming to you live
from a sold-out Hershey, Pennsylvania.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants "Cena"]
This right here.
You guys have given me 20 years' worth of moments
running down and sliding in this ring right here.
[crowd cheers]
And it never gets old.
As a matter of fact, every single time, it gets better…
which is why, no matter what I'm scheduled to do,
from now on, every single time I get in this ring,
I'm gonna do my best to say thank you.
[crowd cheers]
Thank you for all that you have given
and thank you for all you continue to give.
I mean, look around.
You have given me the chance yet again
to come home to my WWE family, and it feels good.
[crowd cheers]
You have given me a chance to be a part of SmackDown,
and not for one night only, no, for months.
[crowd cheers]
You've given me an opportunity for the first time
in my two-decade career to travel to India,
to have my first match ever of my career there in India,
and I thank you for that.
And I just found this out right before I ran down here.
That's why there was a little extra pep in my step.
You have given me the opportunity
to host Payback tomorrow night.
[crowd cheers]
Yeah, we're doing it tonight and tomorrow night.
So for all that you have given me,
I give you my word.
I'll do my best to give back to you.
So that starts right here, right now,
and it starts with SmackDown tonight.
Tonight, we are giving you an epic SmackDown.
[crowd cheers]
You saw that video. You got questions.
Tonight, we are giving you answers
to those questions that have been on your mind for weeks.
Tonight, because of the energy, because of the electricity,
because of the noise…
[crowd cheers]
…we are giving you unforgettable moments
because tonight,
we are giving you a chance to see John Cena face--
["Born A King" playing]
♪ Uso! ♪
♪ I was born a king, ran with the pack ♪
♪ I was born a king, I was born a king ♪
♪ They talking family first I put that in the past ♪
♪ Put that in the past Put that in the past ♪
♪ Talk to 'em, Uce They ain't ready, they ain't listening ♪
[laughing]
♪ It's your time now, baby ♪
♪ We ran with 'em, that's done though ♪
♪ Yeah, put 'em up, yeah ♪
♪ This my world, this my earth This my turf, this my land ♪
♪ I stand on my own two feet Against my family tree ♪
[music fades]
[crowd boos]
[crowd chants "Cena"]
[crowd chants "We want Jey"]
[chants grow louder]
A feisty and vocal bunch tonight talking about what they would want.
[crowd cheers]
What you doing here?
[crowd boos]
No, no, no, don't boo me.
What you doing here, John?
And these people came to see me,
a top star, Jimmy Uso.
[crowd boos]
They did not just come to see me, Uce,
they came to hear, "Why, Jim, why?"
And the answer's very simple.
I will save my brother ten times over if I got to, Uce.
You see, listen, I don't care
if each and every one of you sitting in these damn seats
disagree what I've done.
I'm telling you, I did it because I love my brother.
[crowd boos]
See, here's the funny thing.
The funny thing is,
I didn't want Jey Uso to be corrupted like Roman Reigns,
and I damn sure didn't want Jey Uso to be corrupted
like John Cena.
[crowd boos]
Yeah. Yeah. Let's talk to them. Yeah. Let's talk to them.
I mean, look at you, dawg.
This right here, this…
You are this place, Uce.
This is you. Here's the--
I admit I have an identifiable fashion sense. That's…
Never give up on it, you know.
No, you ain't about to take this one, brother.
You a GOAT,
but you're standing in the ring with one of the best now, Uce.
See, this is my ring.
And here's the funny thing that I wanted to tell you, brother.
You and Roman Reigns are exactly alike.
Y'all exactly alike, man.
Why? How is John Cena like a Roman Reigns?
The answer's very damn simple.
You take, take, take, and take.
The only difference is, between you and Roman Reigns, is…
you do yours with a smile.
[crowd chants "Cena"]
I gotta stop you for a second.
You've had a lot on your mind, all right?
You've had a crazy run.
You're probably thinking about a lot of things.
You've made some rash decisions
and you're trying to make sense of it all in your head.
I've been wanting to say this to you for three years,
because I've only been thinking of one thing…
The wrong Uso quit.
[crowd exclaims]
Take that.
[Patrick] Uh-oh!
[Cena] Oh, look out!
Cena! Cena!
AA! Attitude Adjustment!
And with that, John Cena is back.
♪ My time is now ♪
[Graves] Buckle up, WWE Universe.
It's gonna be a fun ride.
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
[Cole] Things did not work out the way Jimmy Uso expected them to.
♪ Plus I can't turn the swell off ♪
♪ The franchise, doin' big business I live this ♪
♪ It's automatic, I win this Oh, you hear those horns, you finished ♪
♪ A soldier And I stay under you fightin' ♪
♪ Plus I'm stormin' on you chumps Like I'm thunder and lightning ♪
♪ Ain't no way you breakin' me, kid I'm harder than nails ♪
♪ Plus I keep it on lock Like I'm part of the jail ♪
♪ I'm slaughtering stale competition ♪
♪ I got the whole block wishing They could run with my division ♪
♪ But they gone fishing with no bait ♪
♪ Kid, your boy hold weight ♪
♪ I got my soul straight I brush your mouth like Colgate ♪
♪ In any weather, I'm never better… ♪
What a return for John Cena.
But now, please welcome my guests,
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory.
[crowd boos]
You and me, what a team.
[Kayla] Gentlemen, what are your thoughts
on John Cena being the host of WWE Payback?
[breathing heavily]
[laughter]
Really? Huh? Please, Kayla.
I beat John Cena at WrestleMania. Come on.
You want to talk Payback?
Aside from Theory reclaiming his stolen United States Title,
all anyone can talk about
is "The Grayson Waller Effect"
featuring "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes,
and I hear he's got some big news.
So who better to ask the hard-hitting questions and expose the truth than me?
[laughs]
-Well, you know-- -Hey, hey.
If you're done fantasizing about John Cena…
Yeah, he's back. Woo!
Yeah, if you're done with that,
then get ready to see the greatest tag team of all time
go out there and beat
Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio and his little sidekick, Santos Uno Leg.
[laughing]
-Let's go. -That means "One Leg." [laughs]
♪ Viva la raza ♪
[Cole] They're a barrel of fun.
[Patrick] What a cracking start to Friday Night SmackDown.
[Graves] Kayla was back there drooling like Otis at the buffet.
[Patrick laughs]
[Patrick] What a huge night tonight for the LWO.
[Graves] It could be. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, KP.
♪ Somos la generación ♪
♪ Estamos en un nivel Que no llegar en un avión ♪
♪ Por eso no fallamos Cuando estamos en acción ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka ♪
[Graves] Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro
will battle Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens later tonight on SmackDown,
but here comes the Hall of Famer.
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, 619 ♪
[Cole] And the United States Champion.
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, that's my pueblo ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, 619 ♪
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest
is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
the team of Santos Escobar
and WWE Hall of Famer, the United States Champion,
Rey Mysterio.
[Patrick] Just 24 hours before Rey Mysterio defends
his United States Championship
against Austin Theory,
the legendary luchador is headed to the squared circle
alongside his brother, Santos Escobar,
taking on the arrogant Austin Theory
and the Dynamite from Down Under, Grayson Waller.
That match is next on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Graves] Some kind of dance troupe? [laughs]
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, Rey Mysterio ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, 619 ♪
♪ Booyaka, booyaka, that's my pueblo ♪
♪ Think I'm getting too good… ♪
[Graves] This is Friday Night SmackDown on Fox,
and we'd like to extend a very special thank you to The Struts
for "Too Good at Raising Hell,"
the official theme song of WWE Payback.
Available right now on Apple Music and Spotify.
♪ I'm ringing the bell ♪
♪ It's a little too easy, getting… ♪
-Yo! Yo! You… Say my name. -[music fades]
-You know who I am? -Jimmy.
[Cole] Obviously an embarrassed and humiliated Jimmy Uso.
Things did not go as planned tonight
when he interrupted John Cena moments ago.
[Patrick] Meanwhile, inside the ring, the LWO, Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar.
Zelina Vega will be watching on as they get set for tag team action.
["Eye on the Prize" playing]
[Graves] How can your eyes not be glued to the screen?
[Rome] And their opponents, first, from Sydney, Australia,
weighing 220 pounds,
Grayson Waller.
[Patrick] Here comes the cocky Aussie, Grayson Waller.
And, guys, I want to know a bit more about the publicist of Grayson Waller
because on "The Grayson Waller Effect" at Payback,
tomorrow, streaming live on Peacock,
The American Nightmare is taking to the hot seat.
What sort of scoop can Grayson Waller get off Cody Rhodes?
[Graves] You need not concern yourself with Waller's publicist.
You need to give credit to Cody Rhodes' publicist
to get him booked on "The Grayson Waller Effect."
[Cole] You know, I give credit to the publicist,
but, listen, Grayson Waller perhaps is becoming even more of a star
because of people he's having on the show.
♪ A-Town down, scream it out loud ♪
[Rome] And his tag team partner,
from Atlanta, Georgia, weighing in at 220 pounds,
Austin Theory.
[Graves] If you want to talk about becoming a bigger star,
this is a young man who does not require a rocket to be strapped to his back
because, quite frankly, Austin Theory is the rocket.
[fireworks pop]
["A-Town Down" playing]
[Patrick] Already been bragging
about his success at WrestleMania over John Cena.
Will Austin Theory be successful tomorrow at Payback
when he looks to reclaim the United States Championship?
[Cole] He better be because here's the situation for Austin Theory.
In my mind, Graves, it is a must-win tomorrow night.
Austin Theory had every excuse in the book
after he injured Santos Escobar.
Rey Mysterio got into the match and took the championship from Theory.
So Theory now, with a number of weeks to prepare,
has to win tomorrow night at Payback.
[Graves] Look at the confidence just oozing from Austin Theory.
Does that look like a man
who is concerned about a match 24 hours from now?
Absolutely not.
Theory is all business and it starts tonight.
[Patrick] In the past year, Theory has beaten the likes of Edge,
Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, John Cena.
Will it be the turn of Rey Mysterio tomorrow?
[music fades]
[bell rings]
What a match. Here we go, the bell rings.
LWO, Santos Escobar starting with Grayson Waller.
[Cole] It's good to see Escobar 100 percent healthy here tonight.
Of course, it was Austin Theory that caused the leg injury to Escobar.
[Graves] Cover here.
[Patrick] Escobar quickly into the cover. Kickout by Grayson Waller.
Of course, Grayson Waller was trying to stir the pot
on "The Grayson Waller Effect"
saying that Rey Mysterio stole that opportunity from Santos Escobar.
[Cole] One of the funniest things I've ever heard.
[Graves] It's an objective observation.
Simply put, Grayson Waller watches this industry,
watches SmackDown, watches Raw with an extremely careful eye.
Waller sees things that you and I don't see.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio, speaking to him a bit earlier on today,
Rey said he is so happy, so honored to be
-the United States Champion. -[Graves] Oh, look out.
[Patrick] Watch out. Rey landing on his feet.
[Cole] At this point in his career, never thought he'd hold a singles title again,
and here he is.
[Patrick] Three-time United States Champion now.
Rey Mysterio at pace.
Little help from Santos Escobar!
[Cole] They look pretty good as a team.
[crowd cheers]
[Patrick] Welcome back, folks. Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
Sold out tonight, just 24 hours before Payback
in Pittsburgh live tomorrow night on Peacock.
[Graves] Tomorrow night, Austin Theory will challenge
the United States Champion, Rey Mysterio.
And right now, Theory and Waller are having their way with the luchador.
[Cole] It started during the commercial break,
Rey Mysterio looking to try to put this matchup away.
Look at Austin Theory, just taking Mysterio out,
and that turned this match around.
And Theory and Waller,
two of the young up-and-coming Superstars in WWE.
You're looking at the future. It looks pretty bright when you look at those two.
[Patrick] Is it any surprise they get along pretty well?
[Cole] Not at all. They're the same type of people.
They're cocky, narcissistic, egomaniacs.
[Graves] Uh, confident, handsome, talented. Should I continue?
[Patrick] Santos Escobar…
[Graves] Look at this, demonstration of wisdom beyond their years.
Theory and Waller gelling as a unit right now.
This is beautiful to witness.
[Patrick] Rey Mysterio, you got to wonder about this strategy, Cole.
Just 24 hours before he defends his United States Championship.
Is this a wise move?
[Cole] Rey Mysterio is never gonna back down from a fight.
Austin Theory in this match as well, so…
[Patrick] Tag.
Here comes the Dynamite from Down Under.
No, it's not someone from The Full Monty, Corey.
[Graves] Darn.
[Patrick] Grayson Waller now, knees to the face of Rey Mysterio.
[Graves] That last knee came right across the bridge of Mysterio's nose.
Might have knocked the Hall of Famer a little loopy.
[Cole] I think this is the first time
that Theory and Waller may have teamed together,
and they look pretty darn good as a team.
-Oh. -Oh. Whoa. Well…
[Graves] Look at you and your cursed tongue, Michael Cole.
Look what you did.
[Cole laughing] On cue.
[Patrick] Waller now trying to help Austin Theory back inside.
[Cole] That may be the best timing I've ever had in this business. [laughs]
[Patrick] Mysterio looking to get across to Santos Escobar.
Grayson Waller.
[Graves] Such quickness by The Aussie Icon.
[Cole] So who calls him The Aussie Icon?
Himself or somebody else?
-[Graves] Most Aussies. -[Cole] Oh!
-[Graves] Most Aussies. I just did. -[Cole] You're not an Aussie.
[Patrick] He's got that genius publicist, remember.
[Graves] I'm not an Aussie and I know he's an icon.
That speaks to the status of global icono--
[Patrick] Tag made. Here comes Santos Escobar.
[Cole] And here comes an emperor of lucha libre.
[Graves] You can't just make up yourself a royal nickname.
That's not how this works. You have to be crowned by someone else.
[Patrick] Again, look at Escobar go.
Chucking Grayson Waller into the corner.
[Graves] Great balance displayed by Escobar.
Rocks the jaw of Waller.
[Patrick] Santos Escobar looking better than ever.
Taking flight. Crossbody.
In for the cover and the victory, and a kickout by Waller.
[Cole] And Escobar looks great.
Remember, he was once the Number One Contender
for the United States Championship before Austin Theory took him out.
[Graves] Until Rey Mysterio stole Santos's opportunity.
[Cole chuckles]
[Patrick] Santos now at full tilt, knees rocking Grayson Waller.
A man that says he hopes to give Cody Rhodes
the Grayson Waller Rub tomorrow at Payback.
[Escobar whistles]
Look at this.
[Cole] If Waller's not careful, he's about to get rubbed out.
[Patrick] Escobar for the victory for the LWO,
and in the way is Austin Theory.
Oh.
[Graves] Kick to the body thwarts Mysterio's forward progress.
But keep your eye on the United States Champion.
[Cole] Oh, look at Mysterio go.
[Graves] Lightning speed.
[Patrick] Oh! Big kick by Santos Escobar.
[Graves] Look out, Santos, he's gonna chop block you.
[Cole] LWO in action.
Oh! Look at-- Escobar just knocked Mysterio out of harm's way.
[Graves] I thought Rey was gonna do the chop-blocking.
[Patrick] Theory looking to take Rey Mysterio on a trip A-Town down.
To the outside they go.
[Cole] Meanwhile, Escobar is favoring his already injured left knee.
[Patrick] Oh!
The Stunner from Grayson Waller.
[Cole] That Rolling Stunner by Grayson Waller.
[Graves] Can we call that "Rolling Thunder from Down Under"?
[Cole laughs]
[Rome] Here are your winners, the team of Austin Theory and Grayson Waller.
[Graves] Oh baby, if that was just a Payback appetizer,
I am starving to get to tomorrow.
[Cole] Interesting note, however.
Escobar actually pushed Mysterio out of harm's way,
as we're gonna show you here.
And as this happened,
Escobar suffered an injury to his already injured left knee.
[Graves] A re-aggravation, courtesy of Austin Theory,
who would be dumped to the outside by Rey Mysterio,
but the damage was done to Escobar.
Boom.
Rolling Stunner… [with accent] from Down Under.
[Patrick] That was an English accent.
Momentum in favor of Austin Theory
ahead of tomorrow night's United States Championship match.
-[Waller] LWO. -My time! My time!
[Graves] "Undah." That's how they say it.
["Eye on the Prize" playing]
I think I'm ready. I think I'm ready to go.
-Good. I'm glad to hear it. -I just need-- I just need…
-What? What up? -What?
Hello?
"Hello?" Ain't nobody talking to you.
You called me. You wanted to--
-We were having a conversation. -No.
If you don't mind, this is why I called you in here.
This, you're rude to the crew, bullying them.
That is the lifeblood of what we do. People are trying to do their job.
You can't go around here being rude to everybody, man.
Come on. What's with you?
-Seriously. -All right.
That it?
Yeah.
I am sorry.
-It's all good. -I don't know what's gotten into him.
["All Mighty" playing]
[Graves] Jimmy Uso, a man with a great deal on his mind.
But right now, WWE Universe, behold The All Mighty.
[Rome] Please welcome
"The All Mighty"
Bobby Lashley.
[Graves] Custom-made from head to toe,
as dangerous as the day is long.
[Patrick] Dapper and deadly.
Bobby Lashley has arrived here on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Graves] What an ovation from this sold-out Giant Center
for the arrival of The All Mighty.
[Patrick] Lashley has been on a recruitment drive over the past month.
Big, big news.
We want to hear more from Lashley, next.
And then Jimmy wants to come in
-and just interrupt me, the disrespect. -Listen, listen, listen.
Don't get involved in that Bloodline stuff.
-Don't worry about it. -It's too much drama. It's happy hour.
-Too much Drama? -Let's chill.
What happened?
Jimmy disrespected me when I was just trying to talk to Pearce.
It's not a big deal.
-What do you mean, it's not a big deal? -It is a big deal.
It is a big deal. I'll handle it, sis.
Thank you.
-You want to go to happy hour real quick? -No. Not happy. [groans]
["All Mighty" continues]
[Patrick] A fired-up AJ Styles.
Speaking of handling things, "The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley is upon us.
[music fades]
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants "Bobby"]
Damn. You guys know how to make somebody feel good.
[crowd cheers]
But we have a little business to attend to.
See, everywhere I go,
from the locker rooms in the back to the airports,
even when I'm at home with my kids,
everybody keeps asking me the same question…
[fan] We love you, Bobby!
I love you too.
And that question is, "Bobby,
what's going on with you and the Street Profits?"
-[crowd cheers] -Ooh.
So I'm here tonight to give you guys a straight answer,
and it's a very simple answer.
Real recognizes real.
[crowd cheers]
And great recognizes great,
and that's why I recognize the Street Profits.
["Bring the Swag" playing]
[Graves] I love everything about this union.
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
[Cole] Corey, I 100 percent agree.
We both followed the Street Profits' career for a long time
and we've talked a lot about this newfound aggression in recent weeks,
but there's a… there's a new confidence.
[Graves] And Montez Ford has always had an overabundance of swag.
I want to talk a little bit about the upgrade
that has been Angelo Dawkins
from a guy who walked into the performance center in house shoes
to walking out on SmackDown in Ferragamos.
[Cole] Well, they're the Suit Profits.
[Graves] I don't know if that's gonna stick, Cole.
♪ What about it? Yeah ♪
[Cole] I'm trying, but nonetheless, there's a new swagger,
there's a new confidence, there's a…
The Street Profits are relaxed.
[Graves] And focused.
Focus above all else,
something imparted upon Ford and Dawkins
by The All Mighty himself recently.
[Patrick] Don't forget the aggression
that we've seen under the mentorship of Bobby Lashley so far.
♪ I stay 100, I keep it home-grown ♪
[Patrick] Man, the Street Profits are looking good.
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ Don't mean to brag What about it? Yeah ♪
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ It's in the bag, man, I got it, yeah ♪
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ Don't mean to brag What about it? Yeah ♪
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ It's in the bag, man, I got it, yeah ♪
Yeah!
[music fades]
[chuckles]
Y'all know the Street Profits.
[crowd cheers]
They're charismatic.
-Sheesh! -Sheesh!
They're athletic.
-Sheesh! -Sheesh!
And now they're more aggressive than they ever been.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up.
Bobby, no Boucher.
-Tonight is not about us. -No, sir.
Tonight is simply about us giving the gratitude to you,
to everything that you've done for us.
I mean, think about it, Dawks,
the last time we had this much success…
-It's been a long time. -Long time.
I mean, think about it, we in fresh cuts,
fresh watches, fresh suits, and we sexy.
[crowd cheers]
Combination.
But, no, ever since we formed this friendship,
Bobby's helped us see the bigger picture.
The bigger picture.
We stepped over what was, and stepped into what is.
To what is.
From was to is,
was to is,
was to is.
I mean, think about it, Bobby.
There's nothing personal,
it's just Profits.
[fan cheers]
And while we could go on for days and days, hours and hours,
weeks and weeks, years and years, centuries, centuries,
about the goodness of you,
we only got two words, truly, for you, partner.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
-[chuckles] -[applause]
I appreciate you guys, and you guys don't have to thank me.
You can thank me with your continued success.
Continued success.
But now we're about to send a message out to the entire WWE Universe.
We are putting everybody in notice.
We are coming for power,
control…
and championship gold.
[crowd cheers]
We are coming for it all.
["All Mighty" playing]
[Cole] Well, Bobby Lashley has indeed put WWE on notice.
And this new formed partnership may be as formidable as we've ever seen.
[Graves] It spells big, big things for the trio we can see on our screen,
and it spells big, big trouble for the rest of the roster.
[Cole] The Street Profits were dangerous before.
Imagine what lies ahead.
[Graves] With the tutelage of a former World Champion in Bobby Lashley…
-["Fight" playing] -[crowd cheers]
Speaking of champions.
[Cole] Big weekend for KO and Sami.
["Worlds Apart" playing]
[crowd vocalizing]
Let's go!
[Cole] In 24 hours, they have a street fight.
They got a tag match coming up next.
[crowd vocalizing]
[Graves] It's not just any street fight, Michael Cole,
it's a Steel City Street Fight.
[indistinct]
[Montez Ford vocalizing]
[Patrick] That was something.
-[bell rings] -[Rome] The following contest
is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
they are the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions,
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
[Cole] When you're the Tag Team Champions, you've always got a target on your back.
[Patrick] And tomorrow in Pittsburgh, we've got a Steel City Street Fight,
but tonight, look what's on tap.
Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde
in the way of the champs, next.
[crowd vocalizing]
["Our World" playing]
[Patrick] Tonight, SmackDown on Fox is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
[Cole] I can't wait for this matchup.
This is gonna be an exciting one, LWO against the Tag Team Champions.
And, Corey, in 24 hours, in your hometown of Pittsburgh,
the Pittsburgh Steel City Street Fight,
where Owens and Zayn defend against Judgment Day,
where there are no rules.
[Graves] No disqualification,
no count-outs.
-[bell rings] -It is going to be wild for sure.
Although the young ladies in the porta-potty
set the bar pretty high this week for fighting in the Steel City.
[Cole] And speaking of wild,
Joaquin Wilde starting things off against Sami Zayn.
[Graves] Joaquin Wilde is a young man I have known for many, many years,
long predating his tenure here in WWE.
Joaquin has traveled the globe.
This is a young man who has scratched and clawed…
[Patrick] Cover here.
[Graves] …for everything he has in his life.
He grew up and never knew his birth father.
So Joaquin idolized his sports entertainment heroes
and wanted to follow in their footsteps.
And it's been a long, arduous process,
but here he is with the opportunity of a lifetime.
[Cole] Yeah, knock off the Tag Champs tonight
and perhaps earn yourself a future Tag Team Championship opportunity.
[Patrick] What a start it is as well for Joaquin Wilde.
-[Graves] Cover. -[Patrick] For the victory,
and what a win it would be too, but Sami Zayn out early.
[Graves] Obviously, the titles are not on the line in this matchup.
But you know full well that if Wilde and Del Toro are able to pick up a victory,
they're gonna move right to the front of the line for a title opportunity.
[Cole] Will that be against Zayn and Owens or could it be against The Judgment Day?
Bálor and Damian Priest with their eyes set on all the gold.
[Patrick] KO now taking to the top rope.
Kevin Owens, Swanton Bomb!
Straight to business for the Tag Champions.
And the cover and the win. No. Kickout.
[Cole] What about what "The Eradicator" Rhea Ripley said
to Priest and Bálor this past Monday night on Raw?
"You either win the Tag Team Titles at Payback
or there's gonna be some changes in Judgment Day."
[Graves] Yeah, no pressure there.
[Patrick] Think about what it could look like.
Imagine Señor Money in the Bank, Damian Priest,
and Finn Bálor as Tag Champions.
-[Graves] Tag made. -Rhea Ripley defending as well.
Dominik Mysterio has gold of his own.
The Judgment Day would be living up to the talk
at running Monday Night Raw.
[Cole] They may not be around if they lose.
[Graves] Check out the athleticism of Cruz Del Toro,
simply mind-blowing, catches Zayn off guard.
Oh wow!
Beautiful backflip kick by Cruz Del Toro.
Keep your eye on the sky.
[Patrick] The aerial artist missing out this time. KO.
Oh!
The Pop-Up Powerbomb.
[Graves] And just that quick.
[Patrick] Under normal circumstances, you might see
signs of mutual respect here between these tag teams,
but right now, the Undisputed Champions,
they look like they're ready to send a statement to The Judgment Day.
[Cole] Oh! Helluva Kick!
[Graves] Tag made.
Zayn and Owens firing on all cylinders.
[Patrick] Kevin Owens with the Stunner
and the cover.
-The Tag Champions with the win. -[bell rings]
["Fight" playing]
[Rome] Here are your winners,
the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions,
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
[Graves] All business tonight for the conquering Canadian duo
who defend their Undisputed Tag Team Titles
against the hellacious duo from Judgment Day,
Bálor and Priest,
tomorrow night at Payback.
[Cole] In a Pittsburgh Steel City Street Fight.
[Graves] Thank you.
[Patrick] Buzzing to see what you Yinzers are made of, Corey.
-[Cole] Oh my goodness. -You're not allowed to say that phrase.
Judgment Day…
[music ends]
Just a little message for tomorrow at Payback,
I want you to know right now.
Tomorrow night is not gonna be fun.
It's not gonna be pretty.
Bring everything you have
'cause tomorrow night will be the fight of your life.
-[crowd cheers] -["Worlds Apart" playing]
[Patrick] Sami Zayn has us all pumped up for tomorrow night.
Payback streaming live on Peacock
and a match for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships.
[crowd vocalizing]
Hey, hold up. You leaving?
-I'm out. -Good.
'Cause nobody wants you here anyway.
-Bro, what's your problem? -What is your problem?
You wanna disrespect Michin? For what, 'cause you're having a bad day?
-Hey, listen-- -Next time you talk to her though--
What you gonna do, AJ?
-I'll tell you what I'm gonna do-- -[screams]
Jimmy, you out The Bloodline when we say you out The Bloodline.
Not you, Roman, or Paul
can tell me anything, Uce.
[Patrick] Moments ago, folks.
-You do. -Hey, listen--
-Next time you talk to her though-- -What you gonna do, AJ?
-I'll tell you what I'm gonna do-- -[screams]
Jimmy, you out The Bloodline when we say you out The Bloodline.
Not you, Roman, or Paul can tell me anything, Uce.
AJ, can I get your reaction to what we just saw happen
-between yourself, Jimmy Uso-- -My reaction?
The Bloodline think they run everything.
They don't.
They think they run SmackDown. They don't.
They think they run WWE. They do not.
So I'm gonna handle it.
I want Solo tonight.
I want him. I'm gonna knock his teeth down his throat.
I'm gonna give him a taste of what he's been showing everybody else.
-That's what I'm gonna do. -Listen, we don't need
to get involved in all this Bloodline drama.
-What do you mean, get involved? -No, let's not--
-Don't listen. Don't listen. -No.
They need a reminder that this is SmackDown.
This is the house that AJ Styles built.
[applause]
♪ Awesome! ♪
[Cole] You can't blame AJ.
[Graves] AJ is all fired up,
but I don't know if you ever want to pick a fight with Solo.
♪ I came to play ♪
♪ You can say goodbye To the good ole days ♪
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
The Miz.
♪ I guess you had a dream But it can't be saved ♪
♪ I came to play ♪
[Patrick] Tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on Fox is sponsored by Progressive.
♪ I came to play ♪
[Graves] What a blessing it is to have The A-Lister
here on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Patrick] Yeah, many have said The Miz is jealous and obsessed,
but that obsession reached a new level on Monday Night Raw.
♪ I came to play to get my dues paid ♪
♪ LA Knight ♪
-[crowd cheers] -["Welcome To LA" playing]
[crowd boos]
[imitating] Let me talk to you.
I mean, yeah, I mean, what,
I mean, yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean, yeah.
[crowd boos]
[normal voice] Anybody can be LA Knight.
It's generic. It's vanilla.
At Payback, when the dust settles,
with everybody not only saying
but immortalizing whose game it really is,
M-I-Z.
Yeah!
♪ I have come to play ♪
[Patrick] Well, the verbal jousting between the loquacious LA Knight
and "The A-Lister" The Miz
has reached a boiling point.
Who's gonna triumph inside the ring
when the fastest-rising sensation
meets the most must-see Superstar in all of WWE?
[Graves] Can we give Miz his flowers
for the method acting we witnessed on Monday?
I mean, that was up there with Heath Ledger
-as The Joker or Val Kilmer. -Or you as Ludwig Kaiser.
[Graves] Not quite that good.
[music fades]
[crowd boos]
Tomorrow night at Payback,
LA Knight will be competing in the biggest match of his career.
[crowd chants "LA Knight"]
I didn't-- It's not an insult. It's not an insult.
It's just a fact.
You saw how easy it was for me to be LA Knight last Monday night on Raw.
LA Knight, yeah…
[crowd] Yeah!
…is not on my level.
He is not half the star I am.
He's not half the star I was ten years ago.
-LA-- -♪ LA Knight ♪
♪ Oh yeah, I wanna see you dance ♪
-[crowd cheers] -["Welcome To LA" playing]
[Graves] Well, The Sweetest Place on Earth just about melted down
for the arrival of LA Knight.
[Patrick] Look at the motivated walk of LA Knight,
tearing for tomorrow
at Payback with The Miz.
♪ Oh yeah, I wanna see you dance ♪
[music fades]
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants "LA Knight"]
Let me talk to you.
[crowd cheers]
Here's The Miz
with another one of his little, infamous cosplay dress-up times, huh?
Let's go down the line.
Who's he done?
He's done The Rock.
-He's done John Cena. -[crowd] Yeah!
And now he's done LA Knight.
-[crowd] Yeah! -Yeah.
And, you know what all three of those guys have in common?
Aside from the fact that you can't fill out our clothes,
you skinny little turd.
All three of those guys
are people that you want to be, but you can't.
But you come out here and you say it's easy to be LA Knight.
Let's go ahead and explore that for a second.
I brought myself out of the sewer to stand right here in this ring.
I've lived in the roach-infested apartments.
I've walked the street when I missed the bus trying to get to work.
I've worked every dirty job I could. I've slept in my car.
I've cashed my checks at the payday loan place.
I did it all.
And still, I stand here and you talk about it's easy to me.
Pal, you would not last a day in my boots.
But here's the thing,
you say I'm not on your level, you're right,
because you got to come in,
walk in on your glory from a reality show,
ride the elevator up.
Meanwhile, I came from down here, stood up here,
so now you're telling me I'm not on your level?
You're right.
I'm above and beyond you.
It's you who's not on my level, pal.
[crowd cheers]
You want to talk about TV, about how we are different?
See, you have failed where I have succeeded.
A lot of people don't know this. He was on a reality show.
You don't know it because he was first eliminated.
You were on a show called The Hero and you couldn't even be the hero.
See, you have failed where I have succeeded,
Real World, Challenges, Raw, SmackDown.
Twenty years it didn't take me to get here. It took me three.
Movies, The Marine.
TV, Miz & Mrs.
I succeed because I am a star.
You succeed because you took advantage of every single advantage that you had,
and I can't fault you for that 'cause I'd have done the same thing,
but you talk about being a star.
You weren't even a star of your own show.
You talk about Miz & Mrs.
The star of that show was your wife.
You were just walking around being a baggage handler,
carrying the bag that she carries your little giblets in.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants "Tiny balls"]
Well, I'm glad you mentioned your wife.
I want you to send her my regards
because I understand that, after Payback tomorrow,
when I send her a broken, battered husband,
she's gonna be empty inside,
but with one little call to this guy, we can fix that real quick.
Yeah!
[crowd cheers]
Wow.
I guess all the years in that roach-infested apartment,
playing with your hairbrush,
cutting promos like you're a WWE Superstar has really paid off.
See, these people all love you.
They relate to you
because people are failures.
[crowd boos]
They try, they fail, they settle for mediocrity,
but don't get me wrong, you are different.
You have had losses.
You have had your hopes and dreams crushed.
You've had setbacks,
but you never gave up.
And that gives you a chance to do something
that they'll never be able to do,
and that is succeed.
Unfortunately for you,
you're going up with a Superstar,
and trust me,
I am the wrong Superstar for you,
because I crush hopes and dreams of Superstars all the time.
Don't believe me? Look at my past.
And this Saturday?
Oh, this Saturday,
I'm not only your opponent,
I'm a human time-traveler.
So when you lose your match,
you lose your confidence, you lose your popularity,
you lose your job,
you'll go back to that roach-infested apartment
staring at your mirror, holding a hairbrush,
cutting promos like you're a WWE Superstar,
just like it's 2003.
Of every stupid thing that you just said,
the one thing you said that was right
is I didn't quit because I don't know how.
I never learned that.
I don't know how to quit,
but you want to live in the past constantly.
You whine about it, you cry about it.
Hell, you even glorify it.
So while you live in the past, I'm living me.
So go ahead and get in your little time machine,
go as far away as you can because your present is trash.
Your future is about to get worse
because, tomorrow at Payback,
at Payback tomorrow,
you will get stomped out,
and you will learn in the present and in the future
whose game this is with everybody saying…
[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
[Patrick] Oh, Miz goes for a cheap shot.
[Graves] Miz avoided the right hand of LA.
To the throat, brilliant move.
-[Patrick] Skull-Crushing Finale! -[crowd boos]
[Cole] Will this be the scene tomorrow night at Payback?
[Graves] I think Miz just gave us all
a crystal-clear glimpse into a crystal ball.
You want to talk about future?
That's your future.
♪ I came to play ♪
[Cole] Here's the situation that's facing LA Knight.
LA Knight has scratched and he's clawed
for this opportunity and for this moment.
He has the WWE fans behind him.
Many have jumped on the LA Knight bandwagon,
but in order for this bandwagon to continue to be a success
and for LA Knight to continue climbing the ladder here in WWE,
he must win
and he must win tomorrow night at Payback
-against The Miz or all this is-- -Wait, wait.
-[Graves] Look out, Miz! -[Patrick] Behind!
[Graves] What a sore loser.
Who does this guy think he is?
[Cole] It's crunch time.
It's pressure time for LA Knight, and he understands that.
[Graves] It looks to me like LA Knight's panicking.
[indistinct shouting]
[Cole] And perhaps he is panicking, Corey,
because in WWE, in this business,
you only get a slight window of opportunity.
When that window is open, you have to jump through,
'cause if it closes, you may never get that opportunity again.
Carnage, absolute carnage,
and carnage is what Damage CTRL will go to.
They'll go to any length
in order to solidify their dominance here on SmackDown.
Do you feel like tonight was any sort of payback against--
[yelling]
[screaming]
[laughter]
[screaming]
["We Got the Rage" playing]
[Patrick] The bully Bayley and Damage CTRL.
[Graves] The bully Bayley?
You should start calling her Bayley the Barber, KP.
[Patrick] Well, Bayley better watch out because the demented Shotzi.
This is your opportunity, Shotzi, to finally get your hands on Bayley.
♪ We are the puppet masters ♪
♪ They goin' fast, we faster ♪
[Cole] Well, this is what all this haircut stuff we're talking about.
It was Bayley and Iyo a few weeks ago
cutting the hair of Shotzi,
and this moment has sent Shotzi off the deep end.
This is a different Shotzi.
[Patrick] It would send anyone off the deep end.
Shotzi looking for revenge against Bayley of Damage CTRL,
and it's next on Friday Night SmackDown.
♪ And we still the baddest ♪
♪ Breaking down the walls We are far from average ♪
[Patrick] Huge breaking news here on Friday Night SmackDown.
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles got his wish,
the match he wants for later on tonight
against The Enforcer within The Bloodline, Solo Sikoa.
Fellas, what a match coming up.
[Cole] Interesting also what Solo said to Jimmy Uso moments ago,
"You're in The Bloodline until we say you're not."
[Graves] Right now we are joined by a different dominant faction, Damage CTRL,
as its fearless leader and part-time barber, Bayley,
prepares for action.
["I Am a Psycho" playing]
[Cole] And the TCB tank!
Shotzi here to take care of business.
[explosion, fireworks]
[Graves] That tank drives any slower, it's gonna be going in reverse, Cole.
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making her way to the ring, from Oakland, California, Shotzi.
[Graves] I didn't know Ed Grimley was competing tonight.
[Cole] By the way, number one, it's a tank, it's not a race car.
That's the first thing.
And the second thing is, I think Shotzi looks beautiful.
[Graves] We're all entitled to our opinion.
I think it's a cool look. It's tough to pull off.
[Patrick] This is a WWE Superstar, fellas, that was once lovable,
-spirited. -[Graves] Who?
-Who was lovable? -[Patrick] Shotzi. Shotzi was.
[Cole] I don't think I'd call her lovable, but I get your point, Kevin. Nonetheless…
[Patrick] Driven demented by Bayley and the bullying tactics of Damage CTRL.
[Cole] And Bayley… Bayley has nobody to blame but herself.
You can see Bayley is scared.
Don't try to tell me it's camouflage, Graves,
'cause you know as well as I do,
Bayley is scared to death of Shotzi and what she's become.
[Graves] If you shave a panther and you get locked in a cage,
it's still a panther, Cole.
[Cole laughs]
[Cole] Who thinks about shaving panthers?
[Patrick] Who knows what's going on
-inside the mind of Graves. -I partied a lot in my day, Cole.
[Patrick] Shotzi catching the leg of Bayley,
and vicious rights now unloading on Bayley of Damage CTRL.
[Cole] And Bayley trying to create some sort of separation.
[Graves] Ooh, and five across the eyes.
[Cole] Yeah, that just, uh, made Shotzi even more giddy.
Shotzi was so dangerous before.
Imagine the level of danger she can give now.
[Graves] Who's gonna line me up after the show?
I mean, Bayley took care of me today.
I look nice and fresh and clean. I'm gonna have to pay for a barber again.
-She's responsible for that? -Yeah. Who told you you look nice?
[Graves] I put the picture on my Instagram. Go check it out.
-I don't lie. -[Cole] I don't have Instagram.
[Patrick] Big boot from Shotzi.
Look at Shotzi who says she is in control now.
More control than ever after Bayley shaved her head.
[Cole] Maybe Bayley shouldn't have been hanging out at the Beyoncé concert
and been concentrating on this match here tonight.
-[Graves] Beyonci? -[Patrick] Who's Beyonci?
[Cole] It's an inside joke with Bayley.
[Patrick] To the right.
To the right.
[Graves] I liked Shotzi better when she was the lead singer of The Prodigy.
[Cole] And Bayley looking now to take control of this match.
[Graves] That's a European band, KP. Come on, give me something.
[Patrick] It is. "I'm a firestarter," Gravey.
[Graves] There you go.
[Patrick] Bayley now with Damage CTRL watching on.
[Graves] I was gonna go HorrorPops and The Cramps.
I've got references for days, KP.
I want to see Shotzi get her pound of flesh back.
She's been talking about how she's in control now,
more control than ever, but right now Bayley is in control.
[Cole] Look at Bayley mocking Shotzi and the shaving of her head,
as Dakota and Iyo, the WWE Women's Champion, look on.
[crowd chants, "Let's go, Shotzi"]
And again, continuing to mock Shotzi here,
and Bayley paid for it.
[Patrick] Step-up enzuigiri rocking Bayley now.
Shotzi, what have you got in your locker here to take down "The Role Model" Bayley?
[Graves] Shotzi bringing the fight tonight to Bayley. No doubt about it.
Short hair, don't care.
[Patrick] Sadistic smile on the face of Shotzi.
[Shotzi howls]
[Graves] There we go. Howl at the moon a little bit, Irishman.
[Patrick] Shotzi, oh! Taking down Bayley.
-Yeah! -[Graves] Come on, KP.
-[Patrick] Will this be her night, Shotzi? -[Graves howls]
[Patrick] Welcome back, folks. Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
Shotzi suffering the bullying tactics
of Damage CTRL's Bayley all summer long.
[Cole] It's been a numbers game in this matchup
during the commercial break.
Dakota and Iyo and Bayley all over Shotzi.
[Graves] There's been multiple occasions within this match
where Bayley's had to weather the emotional storm provided by Shotzi.
Shotzi's all fired up tonight,
but the veteran Bayley has seemed to be able to remain a step ahead.
That's gonna do it.
[Patrick] Bayley quickly in for the cover to get the victory.
Shotzi, the resilience, kicking out.
Out for revenge tonight.
The shaved head of Shotzi.
-[Cole] It's not really shaved anymore. -[Patrick] Not anymore.
-Oh! -[Graves] Bayley wanted a second elbow.
Shotzi able to get her knee up just in time.
[Patrick] What would you call it now?
[Cole] Short.
[Graves] Spiky, KP.
[Patrick] Shotzi has ideas here, at pace now.
Off the ropes.
Ready to take flight and taking down Bayley.
[Graves] Shotzi just launched herself like a missile.
[Cole] That's been Shotzi's offensive style throughout her career.
These high-risk maneuvers.
This one paying off, taking out Bayley.
[Patrick] World Champion Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai watching on.
[Graves] Facebuster by Shotzi, and Bayley is weary.
[Patrick] Shotzi is rolling here. Big right rocks Bayley.
[Graves] Educated feet on display by Shotzi.
[Patrick] Now, Bayley hammering away at the back,
wearing down Shotzi.
[Graves] Again, as impressive as Shotzi has been, even in this matchup,
it's hard to topple someone as decorated and experienced as Bayley.
[Patrick] Bayley, a Grand Slam Champion in WWE,
in for the cover now
to put away Shotzi once and for all,
who's out at two.
[Graves] Let's take another look at this. Bayley utilizing the bottom rope
before delivering another elbow right across the chest of Shotzi.
It seems like Shotzi may be running low on artillery at this point.
[Cole] Looking for the Bayley to Belly.
[Patrick] This is the match that Shotzi has wanted… to get this revenge.
[Graves] Now, Shotzi, you got your match.
What are you gonna do with the opportunity?
Oh! Cannonball in the corner.
[Cole] This could be Shotzi's moment.
[Patrick] Has ideas now from a height.
Bayley in the drop zone…
[Graves] Shotzi gotta keep her eyes
on the surrounding situation involving Iyo and Dakota.
Not the way Shotzi had hoped things panned out.
[referee] No! No!
[Cole] Again, we knew the numbers were gonna be…
["All Hail the Queen" playing]
[Graves] Bayley was asking for Iyo's championship,
presumably to use as a weapon.
[Cole] But Charlotte has other ideas.
♪ Bow down ♪
[Patrick] "The Queen" Charlotte Flair.
-Big boot rocks Iyo. -[music ends]
[Cole] Charlotte's still ticked off over the fact that Iyo cashed in on her watch
in the Triple Threat at SummerSlam.
[Graves] The Alpha Female has once again ripped attention away from this matchup.
Charlotte just decked Bayley.
[Patrick] This could be Shotzi's opportunity.
Shotzi quickly across for the cover and the win.
-[Graves] No! -[Patrick] She's got it.
♪ Welcome to the ball pit ♪
♪ You can get your ass kicked ♪
[Rome] Here is your winner, Shotzi.
[Cole] Shotzi wins by a hair thanks to Charlotte.
[Graves] An enormous upset.
All puns aside, Cole.
["I Am a Psycho" playing]
[Patrick] "The Queen" Charlotte Flair raises the arm of Shotzi.
What a win for The Ballsy Badass,
and what a match we have coming up here on Friday Night SmackDown,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles
taking on The Bloodline's intimidating Enforcer, Solo Sikoa.
And that match is next.
♪ Nutty sicko crazy And I'm never gonna change ♪
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
I want my legacy…
[tense music playing]
Hmm.
…to be that I was one of the greatest that ever lived.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
I am the damn mountain top!
It needs to be my company. I want it. I want the ball. Give me it.
I've been carrying Monday Night Raw on my back
every single week.
I am going all-in on this World Heavyweight Championship.
I'm gonna give it every single thing I've got.
This has given me a life beyond my wildest dreams.
At some point, you start to take it for granted.
Now it's something that, every time I go out, I go,
"Okay, this could be gone in a second."
[music intensifying]
-[music stops] -[crowd gasps]
[soft music playing]
[speaking in Japanese]
[laughs]
[dramatic music playing]
[music stops]
Watch your back.
[solemn music playing]
[Rollins] I do have two fractures in my lumbar spine.
And the truth is,
I don't really know how much longer I'm gonna be able to do this.
But if Shinsuke Nakamura wants to bring my family
and my livelihood into this,
then he better be prepared to face me man-to-man.
[dramatic music playing]
My broken back didn't stand in the way
of me becoming champion,
and it's not gonna stand in the way
of me beating your ass at Payback.
You will never take anything from me.
Not my title, not my future,
and not my family.
[ominous music playing]
[Nakamura speaking in Japanese]
[in English] Watch your back.
[words echoing]
[speaking in Japanese]
[Cole] Shinsuke Nakamura believes his future is now.
But what he has to do is knock off the World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth Rollins.
Our main event tomorrow night for WWE Payback.
[Graves] And there will be no disqualifications, no count-outs,
as Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships
against The Judgment Day in a Pittsburgh Steel City Street Fight.
[Patrick] That's not all.
A brilliant, brilliant card tomorrow night sees Rhea Ripley
looking to defend the Women's World Championship
against the powerful Raquel Rodriguez.
[Cole] You know, Grayson Waller,
despite what you may think about him,
always makes promises that he keeps
because tomorrow night, a massive guest
on "The Grayson Waller Effect,"
none other than "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.
It takes place at WWE Payback.
I'm so excited to be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, tomorrow night
with our special guest host, John Cena!
It can't get here quick enough.
And John Cena was here earlier on tonight,
and he put Jimmy Uso in his place.
♪ It's a little too easy Getting harder to please me ♪
I've been wanting to say this to you for three years,
because I've only been thinking of one thing…
The wrong Uso quit.
[crowd exclaims]
[Cole] Well, Jimmy was embarrassed.
He was humiliated, and it was about to get much worse.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Welcome back, John Cena,
with an Attitude Adjustment to Jimmy Uso.
♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
[music fades]
["Taking It All" playing]
[crowd boos]
♪ We taking it all ♪
♪ Settle the score No, I will not take a loss ♪
-♪ Taking it all ♪ -[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Las Vegas, Nevada,
weighing in at 250 pounds,
Solo Sikoa.
[Cole] Now let's remember, guys, that this all came about
because after the embarrassment by Cena,
Jimmy Uso went to the backstage area
and started running roughshod over everybody.
[Graves] Jimmy Uso managed to offend Michin of The O.C.
And when you offend one member of The O.C.,
generally, they all follow suit.
♪ Ain't no time to waste ♪
♪ The warrior's ready They're screaming my name ♪
-Hey, listen. -Next time you talk to her, though--
Oh, what you gonna do, AJ?
-I'll tell you what I'm gonna do-- -[yelling]
♪ Dropping you down to the floor We taking it all ♪
♪ Ready for war, better than ever before ♪
Jimmy, you out The Bloodline when we say you out The Bloodline.
Not you, Roman, or Paul can tell me anything, Uce.
♪ I am a king, I do not ever pretend ♪
♪ Straight to the top I ascend ♪
♪ Say it again Straight to the top I ascend ♪
[Patrick] A standoff between brothers.
-[yelling] -Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso.
[Graves] What an ominous warning from Solo.
[Patrick] With The Bloodline in shambles, AJ Styles is walking into the lion's den
against the dangerous Enforcer of The Bloodline, Solo Sikoa,
and it's next.
-♪ Taking it all ♪ -♪ We the Ones ♪
♪ Ready for war, better than ever before ♪
Since I was young kid,
I always wanted to do something great.
He was one of the best-conditioned athletes in the world.
Kurt Angle went and trained at Foxcatcher.
Determined to be Olympic champion.
It was the proudest moment of my life.
What am I gonna do now?
Oh, it's true! It's damn true!
He had great chemistry with anybody he stepped foot in the ring with.
That's how good he was.
[The Rock] The irony of the success and the bright lights
is it can be very alluring, but then there's a dark side.
Four breaks in two and a half years.
I just wanted to keep going until I couldn't go any longer.
[Austin] This Olympic gold medalist,
you think he's bulletproof, but nobody is.
[intense music playing]
[Angle] I was so out of control.
[music fades]
It makes my story look very lame.
[solemn music playing]
♪ This for the crowd, look at 'em… ♪
[Patrick] Next week on Friday Night SmackDown,
what a match this promises to be.
We saw Charlotte Flair come to the aid of Shotzi earlier on tonight
against Damage CTRL's Bayley.
And next week, The Alpha Female is gonna team up with Shotzi
and take on Iyo Sky and her pompous partner, Bayley.
♪ I see the smiles from the fake On their face ♪
[Graves] Gonna be a night to remember next week
as we roll through Boston, Massachusetts, at the TD Garden.
We know Boston always brings the fire.
-[music fades] -It will continue next week on SmackDown.
["Phenomenal" playing]
♪ No, they don't want none No, they don't want none ♪
[Rome] And his opponent, from Gainesville, Georgia,
weighing 218 pounds,
representing The O.C.,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[crowd cheers]
♪ 'Cause ain't nobody breaking This red neck ♪
♪ No, they don't want none, no… ♪
[Patrick] Tonight, SmackDown on Fox is sponsored by Progressive insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
[Cole] As we get ready for this matchup,
it would be remiss if we did not mention the history
that was accomplished by the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion,
"The Head of the Table" Roman Reigns, this week
passing three years as champion.
One thousand ninety-seven days as of tonight
Roman Reigns has been a champion in WWE.
Unheard of in the modern era.
[Graves] Congratulations.
And I assure you that the Tribal Chief is keeping a close eye on this one
as he rests comfortably on the Island of Relevancy.
[Cole] AJ Styles taking it to Solo Sikoa. He will not be punked out.
AJ Styles, a veteran of the locker room,
but Solo Sikoa, the Enforcer for The Bloodline.
[Graves] AJ Styles has never met a fight he didn't like,
but then again, AJ Styles has never met a fighter quite like Solo Sikoa,
a freak of an athlete.
[Patrick] Oh! But AJ, protective of The O.C.,
standing up for Michin earlier on tonight
and wanting this match with The Enforcer.
[Cole] But it's more than just that for AJ Styles.
He's really standing up for the entire locker room,
the entire roster on Friday Night SmackDown
because in AJ's words,
The Bloodline has dominated for so long.
They've made everything in the WWE about themselves for three years,
and AJ Styles says, "It's finally time for somebody to step up."
[Graves] AJ Styles clearly thinking with his guts tonight, not his brains.
Oh, strong kick takes down Solo. Maybe I'm gonna eat my words.
[Patrick] AJ says he's gonna knock the teeth out of Solo Sikoa tonight.
[Graves] A task much easier talked about than accomplished,
but Styles, the veteran, in control right now.
[Cole] Yeah. Multi-time World Champion.
[Graves] And right now, Styles has to feel like he's trying to wrestle a steer.
[Cole] Look at AJ Styles.
[Graves] One elbow to the back of AJ's neck,
and the tides have turned yet again.
[Cole] AJ Styles once held the World Title for over 300 days,
but that pales in comparison,
when you think about it, over what Roman Reigns has accomplished.
[Patrick] Fellas, what about Solo Sikoa
telling his brother Jimmy earlier on tonight,
"You're out of The Bloodline when we say you're out of The Bloodline."
[Graves] There are only about three people walking the Earth right now
who could potentially have an answer, that being Solo,
Paul Heyman "The Wiseman," and, of course, the Tribal Chief,
but right now Solo is doing what he is constantly tasked with,
enforcing on behalf of The Bloodline.
[Patrick] Oh, AJ.
[Graves] Dropkick connected flush, but Solo still on his feet.
[Cole] Yeah, Solo not taking kindly to AJ Styles
shoving Jimmy Uso down earlier tonight.
-[Graves] Speak of the devil. -[Cole] Oh, and taking advantage.
[Patrick] The Wiseman, the Special Counsel to Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman.
[Graves] Solo now stalking AJ Styles.
Sikoa to the floor.
[Patrick] What do you think Heyman wants out here?
[Cole] Anything he wants. He's the Special Counsel for The Bloodline.
[Graves] Sliding knee right in the grill of Sikoa.
[Cole] I'm sure he's spoken to Roman Reigns today.
I'm sure Roman Reigns has got something to… something to say.
[Patrick] Oh! Phenomenal Forearm.
-AJ Styles on top here. -[Graves] For how long?
[crowd cheers]
[Patrick] It's the main event of Friday Night SmackDown.
AJ Styles starting to rally there
during the commercial break
against The Enforcer of The Bloodline, Solo Sikoa.
[Graves] Styles trying to even the odds on behalf of the O.C.,
who was disrespected by--
-Oh man! -Oh man!
[Graves] …by The Bloodline earlier tonight.
Styles on Dream Street right now.
[Sikoa yells]
-Oh! -Oh my goodness.
[Graves] Styles might have broken his ribs.
[Cole] And as Styles is learning now,
Solo Sikoa is a different character.
Listen to this.
[slams]
[groans]
[Graves] Solo Sikoa truly a physical anomaly from bell to bell.
Reminds me of the proverbial Sherman tank with a Ferrari engine.
I mean that with all due respect.
[Cole] Oh, and Styles bounced right off the top of the announce desk.
Solo Sikoa continues to hammer away on AJ Styles.
[Graves] Things are getting worse by the second for The Phenomenal One.
[Patrick] The Street Champ just having his way.
[Graves] You can see the devious look in the eyes
of the Special Counsel to the Tribal Chief, Paul Heyman,
lurking at ringside.
This could do it.
[Patrick] Oh! Spinning Solo.
[Graves] That was a belly-to-belly suplex.
Deep hook of the leg.
Similar maneuver, slight difference.
I believe Spinning Solo likely would have ended this one officially.
And Heyman is enjoying every second.
[Cole] Well, it's about re-establishing dominance,
reminding everyone in WWE that The Bloodline hasn't gone away.
[crowd clapping]
Jey Uso quitting WWE
doesn't mean The Bloodline's any weaker.
That's what Solo's trying to show here tonight.
-Whoa! -Oh man.
[Graves] I've said it a million times,
The Bloodline are as deep as they are dangerous.
Jey doesn't want to be here,
there might be a cousin or a nephew
waiting in the wings to come here and wreak havoc, much like Solo is doing
as he propels Styles toward the lights
before AJ crashes down, and the Samoan Spike is loaded up.
This will end things.
[Cole] AJ's helpless.
He hasn't been right since he went into the post spine-first.
[Patrick] Solo stalking Styles.
[yells]
Oh, caught by AJ!
[Graves] Where does Styles get this?
[Patrick] There's the Pelé kick.
What has AJ Styles got left?
Solo Sikoa's down.
[Graves] There we see, as Solo was looking for the Samoan Spike,
AJ Styles had the wherewithal to deliver one
and then a second big-time kick.
[Patrick] We're sold out tonight in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
An electric crowd here this evening
watching the main event as AJ Styles looks to take down Solo Sikoa.
[Graves] Solo swinging wildly.
AJ has found that next gear.
-Dropkick to the knee. Smart strategy. -[Patrick] Smart.
A bit of separation as Styles goes back for more.
[Cole] It's that running forearm by AJ Styles,
and he's starting to build some momentum now.
[Graves] That Georgia Bulldog mentality shining through.
[Patrick] AJ to the corner to devastating effect.
[Graves] Look at the power.
Solo able to escape.
Now Styles in the Samoan drop zone.
[Patrick] AJ still rallying, goes after the knees.
Look at the rapid offense of AJ Styles.
[Cole] Oh, what a Samoan drop!
[Graves] Good night, AJ.
[Patrick] Solo for The Bloodline.
AJ kicks out!
AJ Styles is still alive.
[Cole] This is a thing of beauty.
[Graves] Beauty for everyone not named AJ Styles.
First the launch, then the drive down into the canvas in the Samoan drop.
Solo thought he had this one in the bag,
but AJ had other plans.
[Cole] And so did Paul Heyman.
Heyman thought it was over.
[Patrick] AJ Styles is doing this for The O.C.
As you mentioned, Cole, doing this for the locker room.
A noble man.
An honorable man standing up to The Bloodline's Solo Sikoa.
[Cole] Let's see how honorable AJ feels if Solo spikes him out of his shoes.
[crowd chants "AJ Styles"]
[Patrick] AJ has Solo scouted.
Oh!
[Cole] AJ's gotta pick up the pace here.
I don't know how much he has left, but he's gotta dig down deep.
He's gotta change the pace.
[Graves] Asai moonsault by Styles. Cover.
[Patrick] AJ may win this right here.
AJ Styles, and Solo kicking out.
[Graves] Cole, you know AJ needed to dig down deep.
Here's another wrinkle to his ever growing arsenal.
An Asai moonsault
right across the midsection of Solo Sikoa.
It did not put the Samoan down,
but Styles is still in control for the moment.
[Cole] AJ never rests on his laurels.
He's always evolving,
always looking for different ways to win matches and put his opponents away.
[Patrick] This could be it. This could be it for AJ Styles.
[Cole] Looking for the Styles Clash.
-[Patrick] Oh no. -[Cole] Just the power of Solo.
[Patrick] Look at Solo Sikoa.
[Graves] Styles grasping at the top rope to prevent whatever Solo is thinking.
Forearm connects.
Solo on spaghetti legs.
[Cole] Solo's stunned!
[Graves] Wait, what the hell?
Look out, AJ!
[Patrick] No!
[Graves] It's Jimmy Uso!
[Cole] Jimmy Uso came from out of nowhere.
The official never saw the attack.
[crowd boos]
Solo capitalizes.
[Patrick] Samoan Spike…
-and the victory. -[bell rings]
♪ …not take a loss, taking it all ♪
[Rome] Here's your winner,
Solo Sikoa.
♪ Better than ever before, taking it all ♪
[Graves] What…
does this even mean?
♪ We taking it all ♪
["Taking It All" playing]
[music stops]
Hold on! Solo! Solo! Solo!
Solo… Solo…
[crowd chants "Do it"]
[crowd boos]
[Cole] Well, at first glance…
Oh!
[Graves] Jimmy Uso from the top.
Uso Splash to Styles.
[crowd boos]
["Born A King" playing]
[Cole] I would say, at first glance,
it looks like Jimmy Uso wants back in.
♪ I was born a king ♪
But will The Bloodline have him?
♪ I put that in the past ♪
♪ Put that in the past ♪
Thanks for joining us, folks.
Hey, a reminder,
we'll see you tomorrow night in Pittsburgh for Payback. ever Solo is thinking.