[WWE intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
[Ric Flair] Woo!
-[The Rock] If you smell! -[bell tolling]
[Cena] Now.
[Roman Reigns] Acknowledge me.
-♪ The King of Kings ♪ -♪ You can't see me ♪
Forever.
Together.
[Cole] We are sold out at the PPG Paints Arena
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
14,584.
Pittsburgh, welcome to Payback.
Your newest member of the Raw roster,
Jey Uso.
[Cole] Oh!
[Graves] Look at this arena rock.
["Too Good At Raising Hell" by The Struts playing]
[Cole] The culmination of a rivalry inside a steel cage.
Not from up there!
Wait a minute! Zoey Stark.
Manhandle Slam!
♪ I'm ringing the bell ♪
♪ I run a hotel without any beds Run a catwalk without any threads ♪
[Cole] Zoey Stark's had enough.
LA Knight one-on-one with The Miz.
John Cena, special guest referee.
[Graves] LA Knight looking more legit than ever tonight.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio will defend the United States Championship
against Austin Theory.
♪ I'm wearing it well ♪
-[Cole] Rolls through. Rey retains. -[bell rings]
[Graves] Raquel Rodriguez may be the biggest threat
to Rhea Ripley's championship.
♪ Getting harder to please me ♪
♪ I know you're starving to feed me ♪
[Cole] Look who's here.
And he's gonna pay!
And now Ripley off the distraction.
["Too Good At Raising Hell" continues]
Seth Rollins versus sensational Shinsuke Nakamura
for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The elephant in the room, the bad back of Seth Rollins.
And Rollins said Shinsuke will target it in this championship match.
Nakamura is destroying the World Heavyweight Champion.
Pedigree! Seth's got a chance.
Rollins able to shift his weight.
Stomp!
Seth Rollins survives.
[dramatic music playing]
[announcer] The following is a Pittsburgh Steel City Street Fight.
♪ You got to kick it up a notch, like ♪
♪ You don't want it This gon' be a hard fight ♪
[Graves] This is nuts.
♪ Yeah, this is our life ♪
♪ We ain't stoppin' 'Cause we goin' all night ♪
[booing]
♪ We 'bout to be wildin' We 'bout to be wildin' ♪
[crowd roaring]
♪ We turn up another round ♪
♪ We 'bout to turn it up ♪
-[music stops] -[dramatic, slow-motion tone plays]
-[thunderous crash] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Threw Dominik, through the table with a Swanton!
To retain the championship.
Wait a minute. JD McDonagh.
♪ We 'bout to be wildin' We 'bout to be wildin' ♪
[Cole] Rhea Ripley with a spear through the barricade.
Dominik Mysterio with the Money in the Bank briefcase.
-[crowd cheering] -[referee] One, two, three!
[bell rings]
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
♪ Woo! Woo! ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
-♪ Let's go! ♪ -♪ Who's better than me? ♪
♪ I don't see nobody, I don't see nobody ♪
♪ Who's steppin' to me? I don't see nobody ♪
♪ I don't see nobody ♪
♪ Who can tussle with the beast? ♪
♪ I don't see nobody 'Cause there ain't nobody ♪
♪ I say I'm the best 'Cause ain't nobody got me ♪
♪ Runnin' through the crowd Like there ain't nobody ♪
♪ Who's better than me? ♪
♪ Woo, woo ♪
[popping explosions]
♪ Who's better than me? ♪
♪ Besting opponents Flexing and focused ♪
♪ I'm leaving them all Looking stressin' and folded ♪
♪ How am I hot But I'm dressing the coldest ♪
♪ Impressing the suckers That said I was bogus…♪
[Patrick] Following a record-setting and epic night at WWE Payback,
we welcome you to TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
for tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,
sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
And, Corey Graves, we are set for a thriller.
[Graves] That's right. After dethroning Owens and Zayn,
the new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, the devious Finn Bálor
and the sinister Señor Money in the Bank, Damian Priest,
can appear on Raw and SmackDown.
Well, it begins tonight as they face off with Ridge Holland and Butch,
The Brawling Brutes.
[Cole] Fresh off the biggest victory of his career over The Miz at Payback,
LA Knight is back in action tonight,
looking to correct a wrong against Austin Theory.
Plus, Grayson Waller joins us on commentary.
[Patrick] And last week, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles
found himself embroiled in Bloodline business,
thanks to the emotional outrage of Jimmy Uso.
Now, the tenacious leader of The OC looks to settle the score tonight.
[crowd cheering]
["All Hail the Queen" playing]
[Patrick] And we are kicking off Friday Night SmackDown with royalty.
♪ Bow down ♪
♪ All hail the queen ♪
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is a tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from the Queen City,
Charlotte Flair.
[fireworks crackling, popping]
[Cole] The 14-time World Champion.
[Patrick] You can understand the confidence
and that smile on Charlotte Flair's face
after last week when Charlotte leapt to the defense of Shotzi.
It was a brilliant match between Shotzi, out for revenge
against Bayley of Damage CTRL.
And when Bayley was looking to see off Shotzi
in any which way she could,
all of a sudden, ding-dong, hello,
The Queen would appear.
[Graves] Charlotte Flair laying waste to Iyo Sky on the outside.
The official tied up with Dakota Kai.
And The Queen would make her presence known in spectacular fashion,
opening the door for Shotzi to steal a win from the leader of Damage CTRL.
[Cole] And of course, Charlotte is still upset
over the fact that Iyo Sky cashed in
on the night Charlotte was involved in a Triple Threat Match
for the Women's Championship.
♪ I'm a psycho ♪
["I Am A Psycho" playing]
♪ Welcome to the ball pit You can get your ass kicked ♪
♪ Off the top, backflip… ♪
[announcer] And her tag team partner, Shotzi.
-[Patrick] Corey-- -[fireworks popping]
Corey, last week, you called it an enormous upset
as Shotzi beat Bayley, a Grand Slam Champion in WWE.
That, Shotzi claimed, was the biggest victory of her career,
revenge at last over Bayley.
[Graves] And I agree with that assessment to this moment.
But now, the question is, what will Shotzi do with the momentum
she began to generate last week?
Can Shotzi parlay it into something bigger?
We'll find out in moments.
["We Got the Rage" playing]
[laughing in song]
♪ Damage CTRL, yeah ♪
♪ Ha-ha-ha ♪
[announcer] And their opponent, accompanied to the ring by Dakota Kai,
representing Damage CTRL, Bayley,
and the WWE Women's Champion,
Iyo Sky.
[Patrick] Well, Damage CTRL certainly have the control
ever since Iyo Sky won the World Championship at SummerSlam,
cashing in her Money in the Bank to become champion.
And they have been wreaking havoc across the Women's Division.
This match last month interrupted by Damage CTRL
as they continue to cause problems.
[Graves] Asuka and Charlotte Flair leaving it all in the ring.
But "The Genius of the Sky" Iyo Sky making her presence felt
as did Damage CTRL as a whole,
reminding all of Friday Night SmackDown that Damage CTRL is indeed in charge.
[Cole] You know, earlier today, I had an opportunity to talk
to both Iyo Sky and Bayley of Damage CTRL, and I…
I asked them about Iyo's… well, her confidence level
and Iyo said that she has a major chip on her shoulder.
It's really bugging her and bothering her that all anyone in the WWE Universe
is talking about Rhea Ripley as the Women's Champion.
Rhea, of course, in India earlier-- earlier today at Superstar Spectacle.
She, of course, was on the Premium Live Event Payback
this past Saturday.
Iyo Sky is like, "What about me? I'm champion as well."
"I'm going to prove something here tonight."
[Graves] I understand that frustration and that mentality,
but the question is how does Iyo make a name for herself?
She is the champion right now,
but it's about Iyo to get the eyeballs looking at her and her alone.
Well, is there any truth, you think, to the whispers…
As Charlotte Flair now unleashing a vicious right.
…to the fact that Bayley has been preoccupied by Shotzi?
[Graves] And it is getting wild in here to kick off Friday Night SmackDown, KP.
[Cole] Yeah, complete melee as Charlotte tosses Bayley outside the ring.
[Graves] Amidst this chaos is where Shotzi thrives.
This is how Shotzi wants this matchup to go.
[Patrick] Tossed to the outside by the World Champion Iyo Sky.
And The Genius of the Sky now has ideas.
Iyo off the ropes, oh, to devastating effect.
[yelling]
The champion in control. Can Charlotte and Shotzi get back in it?
Welcome back, folks.
You're watching Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
We're live tonight from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, tag team action.
The Queen Charlotte Flair, and Shotzi against Damage CTRL's Iyo Sky and Bayley.
-Oh. -[Graves] Great interception by Iyo,
thwarting the attempt of Shotzi to make the tag.
A lot of whispers--
You mentioned Iyo Sky and gaining that momentum as champion.
Whispers backstage that Bayley has taken away from that
being occupied with Shotzi, Michael Cole.
-Is there any truth to that? -[Graves] Cover here.
-One… -[Patrick] Bayley, now can she put away--
[Cole] I can tell you this about Shotzi.
Shotzi told me earlier today that the incident with Bayley
and Iyo Sky and Damage CTRL from a number of weeks back
has changed her in a good way.
She said she was grateful with that confrontation
because it woke her up, she has to look at things differently around here
on Friday Night SmackDown.
She says she's got a new look, a new attitude, new aggression,
and a new way about doing things here on Friday nights.
[Graves] It's one thing to say you possess new aggression
it's another to display it while competing.
I'm yet to see it from Shotzi in this particular matchup.
Damage CTRL, on the other hand, has it in spades.
They certainly do with the leadership of the Grand Slam Champion Bayley.
And in an environment like this,
it's gonna break down to tag team chemistry.
Shotzi and Charlotte Flair are barely friends,
let alone tag team partners.
Iyo and Bayley have--
They travel together, they train together,
they are a team in every sense of the word.
[Patrick] Yeah. Why do you think Charlotte is teaming up with Shotzi?
-[Graves] It's a great question. -[Cole] Necessity. Common enemy.
I mean, Charlotte and Shotzi both have an issue with Damage CTRL.
I want to get back to Damage CTRL just for a moment
because you called Bayley the leader of the group.
Maybe Iyo is the leader of the group now that she's the WWE Women's Champion.
You guys ever think of that?
And maybe Iyo feels the same way?
-[grunts] -[thud]
[Patrick] Certainly could be a lot of truth to that, as Shotzi responding now.
Taking Bayley off her feet. Shotzi quickly across now for the tag.
Can she get there?
Bayley dragging Shotzi back.
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh, wow.
[grunting]
[Graves] Shotzi with a kick right on the ear of Bayley.
Shotzi desperately needs to make the tag.
[Patrick] Tag made for Charlotte Flair.
[Graves] And The Queen from the high rent district.
[Patrick] Oh, crossbody taking out Iyo and Bayley!
Feeling the energy of the Beantown crowd tonight.
[crowd exclaiming]
What a teammate for Shotzi to have here against Damage CTRL.
[Cole] Charlotte and Bayley with a rich history.
[Patrick] Bayley at pace now, caught by Charlotte.
[grunting]
[Graves] Fallaway slam by The Queen.
[Patrick] And Flair makes it look effortless.
[Graves] The opportunity is upon us.
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh, what a collision.
[Graves] Well, walkover clothesline takes out Bayley.
[thud]
[Patrick] Charlotte's looking better than ever.
Quickly back up on her feet now.
-Looking to-- -[Graves] Inside cradle.
[Patrick] Bayley may turn this around. Charlotte out just in time.
[Graves] Bayley ever so dangerous.
The same has to be said about Charlotte Flair.
-Figure four locked in! -[Cole] Bailey's caught now.
Oh! Meteora!
[Patrick] To devastating effect.
[Cole] Charlotte tried to bridge into the figure eight.
Couldn't quite get there, and Iyo Sky took her out.
[Patrick] And this is where Damage CTRL can punish Charlotte Flair. Tag made.
-Hey! -[Cole] Another tag.
[Graves] Tags back and forth.
Brilliant strategy by Bayley and Iyo.
Hurricanrana from the top.
[Patrick] Astonishing from the WWE Women's Champion.
[Graves] Bayley keeping a close eye on things
as Iyo is attempting to position Charlotte Flair inside the ring.
[Cole] Are you distr-- Wait-wait a minute.
[Graves] That's Asuka.
-[shrieks] -[Patrick] Asuka is back.
[Cole] Bayley was distracted.
She saw Asuka come from out of the timekeeper's area
and grab Iyo Sky's title.
[Graves] And a boot from The Queen knocks Bayley from the top.
[Patrick] And how Asuka's appearance has turned the tide here.
[Graves] The WWE Women's Championship
is in the possession of The Empress of Tomorrow.
[Cole] The champion just got knocked off the apron.
[Patrick] Meanwhile, back inside. Shotzi!
In for the cover. Shotzi with another win over Bayley…
-She's got it. -[bell ringing]
["I Am A Psycho" playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners, the team of Charlotte Flair and Shotzi.
[Cole] Shotzi has made it a point of saying she wants to change things.
She wants to change her attitude and her direction here on WWE
and she is on her way to doing that.
[Graves] Shotzi may have initiated change of a different kind
by allowing Asuka to become involved in this matchup,
taking Damage CTRL's attention from the match.
And uh-oh. Uh-oh.
[speaking indistinctly]
[in Japanese] I'll kick your ass.
[crowd chanting in English] Iyo! Iyo! Iyo! Iyo! Iyo! Iyo! Iyo!
Iyo! Iyo! Iyo! Iyo! Iyo!
[Cole] Asuka making it pretty clear what she wants.
[Graves] I need to brush up on my Japanese,
but it's very apparent that Asuka wants the championship
that is hanging over Iyo Sky's shoulder,
the very same championship that Iyo captured
by cashing in her Money in the Bank at the expense of Asuka,
Charlotte, and Bianca Belair.
["You Can't Hide" playing]
♪ I already live in your tomorrow ♪
♪ You can't hide ♪
[Patrick] Switching gears now, let's hit our Progressive Match Flo.
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
♪ Uso ♪
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd booing]
I don't care if each and every one of you sitting in these damn seats disagree.
You people came to see me.
A top star, Jimmy Uso.
I've been wanting to say this to you for three years.
The wrong Uso quit.
[crowd cheering]
-[thud] -[crowd cheering]
-Think I'm ready to go. -What?
Hello?
-Hello? Ain't nobody talking to you. -This is why I called you in here.
You can't go around here being rude to everybody, man.
Come on. What's with you?
-That it? -Yeah.
-Hey, hold up. You're leaving? -I'm out.
Good, 'cause nobody wants you here anyway.
-You want to disrespect Michin? For what? -Michin? I don't even know who…
-Next time you talk to her though-- -What you gon' do, AJ?
-I'll tell you what I'm going to do. -[yelling]
You out The Bloodline…
when we say you out The Bloodline.
Not you, Roman, or Paul
can tell me anything, Uce.
[Patrick] AJ Styles is doing this for The OC,
standing up to The Bloodline's Solo Sikoa.
[crowd shouting]
[Graves] Phenomenal Forearm.
[laughs] Styles on dream street right now.
Oh, my back!
[Graves] Solo enforcing on behalf of The Bloodline.
-[Patrick] AJ has Solo scouted. -[Graves] Oh!
[Patrick] This could be it for AJ Styles.
[Graves] Look out, AJ. Jimmy Uso!
[Cole] Jimmy Uso came from out of nowhere.
The official never saw the attack. Solo capitalizes.
-One, two, three! -[Patrick] And the victory.
-[bell rings] -[crowd booing]
Solo, no!
[music slows, distorts]
[music builds slowly]
[tense music playing]
[crowd exclaims]
[Graves] Jimmy Uso from the top.
Uso Splash to Styles.
[Cole] It looks like Jimmy Uso wants back in,
but will The Bloodline have him?
[crowd booing]
[indistinct]
-And I've been asking and asking. -[Jimmy Uso] OG.
-I'll call you back. -Stress isn't even a word, Uce.
Last week, I was told by John Cena the wrong Uso brother quit.
On top of that, I was told by little brother Solo,
"You ain't out The Bloodline unless we say you out The Bloodline."
OG, nobody told me anything about being out The Bloodline.
-So guess what? -What?
I'm in.
What we doing tonight? AJ, what's the strategy?
-Well… -[scoffs]
F-First of all, Solo is not here tonight,
and-and-and-and The Tribal Chief is-is not here.
-But-but-but always… -Of course.
…but always represented.
And-and-and technically… right.
If you're not out, then you're in.
-But there's in and then there's in. -I'm in.
But-but-but-but-but you're not in
until The Tribal Chief says you're in
and he-he-he did offer you a house and a car
and-and-and the yacht and you, you know, I-I-I understand how…
Listen.
Do-do yourself the favor.
-Mm-hmm. -You handle AJ Styles business tonight,
and I'll handle Jimmy Uso business with The Tribal Chief.
And before you know it, Jimmy…
I'll bring this family back together.
-Yeah? -We The Ones.
It's been stress, OG.
-I understand. -You know.
-Okay. I got you. -It's stre…
[exhales]
One at a time. Then it's…
[crowd cheering]
Really?
Funny. I was, uh… just talking about you.
Don't you think you have enough problems in your life
before you decide you want to tangle with me?
Pfft.
Oh!
-Ow! -Who do you think you are? Huh?
-AJ… I-I-- -You got zero clout around here.
-I'm sor-- -[grunting]
[grunts]
Come here, dawg.
-[grunts and groans] -[thud]
[clanging]
[laughs]
Handle that AJ Styles business, huh, OG?
Yes, sir.
-Yeet. -[quietly] Yeet…
Call Roman Reigns.
Moments ago here on Friday Night SmackDown,
a scene backstage.
Jimmy Uso looking to get back in the good graces of Paul Heyman and The Bloodline.
That's what he's doing.
And then he attacked AJ Styles who was getting in Heyman's face.
So what does that do for Jimmy Uso?
It makes our main event tonight extremely interesting.
I can't wait to see how this thing plays out.
Yeah, it's Jimmy Uso and AJ Styles in our main event
here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
I can't believe this keeps happening to us.
What is wrong with these people? What is wrong--
Excuse me. So Asuka certainly made her presence known tonight.
Yeah, Kayla, she certainly did. And you know what?
Asuka is not the champion anymore, so she should mind her own business.
Or else we're gonna put her on the shelf, just like we did to Bianca.
Is that a challenge?
I'm ready for Asuka. That is a challenge for the title.
[Cole] I said earlier tonight, Iyo had a chip on her shoulder.
-[Graves] Wow! -[crowd cheering]
Or should I say, "Yeah!"
["Welcome to LA" playing]
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome LA Knight.
[crowd] Yeah!
You talk about Iyo having a chip on her shoulder,
what about LA Knight for the past 20 years?
And at Payback, victorious over a two-time Grand Slam Champion in The Miz.
[Cole] Probably the biggest win of LA Knight's career this past Saturday
at Payback in Pittsburgh.
[Graves] No doubt about it.
An ever important first step toward the top of the mountain in WWE.
Being able to knock off a two-time Grand Slam Champion like The Miz,
no small feat.
LA Knight's legit.
[Patrick] An electric crowd here tonight in Boston, Massachusetts,
14,420 of the WWE Universe.
[crowd cheering]
[cheering continues]
Let me talk to you.
[crowd cheering] Yeah!
I don't know if everybody got a chance
to see The Miz's scintillating performance on Raw.
[crowd booing]
But let's go ahead and dissect that for a second.
How's that song of his go?
"I came to play," right?
Now, if I was a complete moron,
I'd say, let's look at that adjective.
But I'm not a moron,
so I'm gonna say let's look at that verb "play."
I didn't come here to play, Miz.
So I tell you what, I came here to walk straight to the damn top.
And anybody who stands in my way,
brother, you already got a little taste of it.
But here you are, man. What?
One week, you play dress up.
The next week, you play make believe with an invisible John Cena.
[crowd] Yeah!
And you whine and cry and you say,
"Oh, well, LA Knight won because of John Cena."
[crying mockingly]
-Right? -[crowd] Yeah!
No, no. Here's the deal.
I didn't ask for John Cena.
I didn't need John Cena.
As a matter of fact, I didn't even need John Cena's endorsement.
I've endorsed myself to stand right here.
[crowd cheering] Yeah!
I got all the respect in the world for everything John Cena's accomplished.
But at the end of the day, he did count the three.
So, Miz, that can chap your keister all you need.
It's a bitter pill to swallow it, but swallow it.
You most certainly will.
[crowd] Yeah!
But if you want to be a cockroach that hangs on
and just needs to get stomped out one more time,
then, Miz, I'll tell you what, consider your challenge ac--
["Eye on the Prize" playing]
♪ Every day, hard work ♪
♪ Let's go ♪
♪ Now do it 'cause I say so, say so ♪
♪ When I pop out they lay low, they know ♪
♪ Blood run hot when that heart cold Stay froze ♪
♪ You know how that thang go I can't stop ♪
Whoa, whoa. Hold on, "la Knight." Okay?
[crowd booing]
Are you really sure that's a good idea?
After The Miz ran through John Cena Monday night on Raw,
it's almost like he wasn't even there.
So before you get ahead of yourself and accept this challenge,
me and my associate, Austin Theory…
[crowd jeering]
…we were backstage talking and we…
Actually, you know what? This is way more fun if I bring him out to say it.
[laughs]
-♪ A-Town ♪ -♪ Down ♪
♪ Let's go ♪
-♪ A-Town Down ♪ -♪ Scream it out loud ♪
[Cole] How do you get egos this big in the same building?
♪ Tearing the place down ♪
-♪ A-Town Down ♪ -♪ You like how that sounds ♪
[indistinct]
What's goin' on?
♪ Yeah ♪
See, la-last week, myself and Austin
had one of the biggest victories in SmackDown history.
We beat Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio and his stepson Santos.
In fact, that means we're the only tag team on the roster
who's undefeated.
That's us!
And realistically, the greatest tag team of all time
if we decide to be, right?
[crowd jeering]
That's great!
Well, you guys really got to be proud of yourselves.
I mean, obviously, you're a fan favorite.
[crowd booing]
But I tell you what, I don't know why you're telling me.
Maybe if she's not sick of you, go tell your mommy,
and while you're at it, tell her I said hi.
[crowd cheering]
Talking about your mom. You wouldn't say that about my mom.
-Wouldn't say that about my mom. -Let me talk to you.
[crowd booing]
Who's… who's the referee that helped LA Knight beat The Miz?
Oh, that's right.
"The Greatest of All Time" John Cena.
The man that I beat.
Yeah.
And who's this? LA Knight?
The Megastar? Who I've actually already beat as well.
Yeah.
And, Grayson, let me ask you.
At only 26 years old,
already have became a two-time United States Champion,
Austin Theory.
Yeah!
[crowd booing]
And then, LA Knight, you've, uh, you…
What… what has he done?
He was at… Oh no, he didn't do that.
Well… Well, you've just been here.
Yeah.
And-and I'm glad you're here because soak all this in,
take in that 15 minutes of fame
because when I'm done with you,
The Miz ain't gonna waste his time.
God, you guys are cute together.
If you're done boring everybody,
why don't I show you incels how to do this?
[crowd cheering]
Show us--
Who's this guy to my right?
-A mushmouth moron. Yeah. -[crowd] Yeah!
Who's this guy to the left?
-A cross-eyed halfwit? Yeah! -[crowd] Yeah!
But I tell you what, if you two crotch goblins want to come on up and get served,
we can make that happen right now.
[crowd cheering]
'Cause TD Garden right here,
TD Garden stands on Legends Way.
[crowd cheering]
And in a very legendary way, Austin Theory, at just 26 years old,
you can get your keister kicked tonight with everybody saying…
-[crowd] LA Knight. Yeah! -Yeah!
-["Welcome to LA" playing] -[Cole laughing]
[Cole] Come on, Graves. Get with the program.
[Graves] I will not stand for such disrespect.
[Patrick] Oh, let's be having you, folks.
LA Knight in flying form tonight,
looking to even the score against the braggadocious Austin Theory,
and that match is coming your way next.
[Graves] "Let's be having you." What the hell does that mean?
[laughter]
[Bianca Belair] For nearly ten years, we have asked the WWE Universe to join us
in fighting pediatric cancer and support the superstars of tomorrow.
And you didn't disappoint.
You found creative ways to raise money to fund research.
Running, baking, tailgating, making art,
playing video games.
And this year, we are spotlighting the top fundraisers
with a chance to meet me…
…or me, as a thank you for raising funds for critical research.
[Cody Rhodes] Go to v.org/ConnorsCureUniverse
to find out more and to get started today.
[Patrick] Well, folks, Jimmy Uso has been doing all he can
to get back in the good graces of The Bloodline.
Paul Heyman says, "You handle AJ, I'll bring this family back together."
That's our main event tonight.
Welcome in, folks. Friday Night SmackDown.
Welcome to the commentary desk.
A man that just received the Corey Graves rub on after the bell.
-Welcome, Grayson Waller. -You wanna talk about rubs,
let's talk about next week.
I'm hoping that kid John Cena, he's really struggling lately,
giving him the Grayson Waller Rub on "The Grayson Waller Effect."
He finally got his wish.
John Cena on the show next week. I can't wait.
That is going to be absolutely massive.
-As big as it gets. -[Graves] Congratulations.
-I expect nothing less from you. -[bell ringing]
-[Waller] Lucky John. -[Patrick] The bell rings here.
Grayson Waller on commentary alongside Michael Cole,
Corey Graves, and me, Kevin Patrick.
[Graves] Why are you still talking? Let's talk about Grayson Waller.
Grayson, congratulations on your undefeated streak
and your newly formed tag team with Austin Theory.
[Cole] They've had one match.
[Waller] Yep, 1-0. 1-0. That's an incredible record.
-Not many can say they've done that. -I want to know at WrestleMania.
Really? Oh… I've seen your match, I wouldn't be proud of that.
You wanna step up to me? Step up!
Grayson, what are we looking for tonight
out of your man Austin Theory against LA Knight?
He's already beaten him once, so I'm expecting it to happen again.
Theory… Look at him. He's a monster. Look at the size of him.
He's going at LA Knight.
LA is just worried about these fans. Austin Theory is worried about winning.
[Graves] A physical specimen second to none.
[Waller] And then it happens as soon as I said it.
[Cole] Have you come up with a nickname for your team yet?
We've been throwing some ideas. We spend a lot of time together,
but I think right now, A-Town Down Under.
-That's pretty clever, right? -Oh, I love it!
-That's good, right? -It just sounds like money.
[Cole] Oh!
-[Graves] Down Under. -Down Under.
-You got to say it properly, you know. -From the guts.
Corey sounds English when he tries to do an Aussie.
[Waller] Hey, hey, Kevin. You said it, Corey.
We're close personal friends here. Okay?
[Patrick] Oh, Theory driving LA Knight into the ring post.
Hey, Corey, is there an issue tonight
maybe with LA Knight that he perhaps could have a hangover
after the huge win, biggest win of his career Saturday against The Miz?
[Graves] I would say that, pertaining to some Superstars,
yeah, you can get caught resting on your laurels…
-Cover. -In for the cover.
Hooking the leg, and LA Knight kicking out.
…riding on the high that, no doubt, LA Knight experienced after Payback.
But we're not here to talk about "la Knight."
We're here to talk about Grayson Waller and Austin Theory.
-[Waller] As we should be. Like… -Yeah!
Like we're such good guys, coming out, helping LA Knight here.
[Graves] I think I might have been more offended than anyone in this arena
when LA Knight referred to you as a "mushmouthed moron."
The disrespect is unreal.
He must have been in an elementary school recently
and getting his things against me from there
'cause that's a schoolyard insult.
Come on, you can't say that about Grayson--
-[Cole] Oh! -[Waller] Oh-oh no.
-[Cole] Uh, Theory needs to regroup. -[Graves] Oh.
[Patrick] The athleticism of LA Knight.
-Eyeing his prey. -Hey, hey, hey.
-[Waller] Oh, hey, hey. -[Cole] There you go, Grayson, up--
-Hey, this isn't personal. -Hey, this is illegal.
Are you allowed to even do this? Hey, ref, come on.
[Patrick] Just dribbling Austin Theory off the announce desk.
Well, we are in the home of the Celtics.
[Patrick] Larry Bird would be proud.
[Graves] That was the most recent reference you could come up with?
-[laughter] -[Waller] Get in there, Austin.
[Patrick] Rajon Rondo, about as good as I got.
-[Cole] Rajon Rondo. [laughs] -[Graves] Nice.
[Patrick] Back inside they go.
LA Knight coming off a victory at Payback over The Miz.
Austin Theory defeated by Rey Mysterio, the United States Champion.
-[Cole] Oh, slam dunk. -[Graves] Beautiful.
That was like a self-alley-oop by Theory.
[referee] No. Theory, no!
-[Waller] Oh no. -[Graves] Grayson, you've got to be--
-[Patrick] Watch out. -[Waller grunts]
-[laughs] -[Patrick] Theory in control.
[Waller] Oh, easy all day, baby.
[Patrick] How can LA Knight recover from this?
[Graves] That is a great shirt, Mr. Waller.
[crowd booing]
[Patrick] Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown.
LA Knight, Austin Theory in the ring.
What a hellacious battle we are witnessing here between this duo.
[Graves] We are joined here at the commentary desk
by the other half of A-Town Down Under,
of course, Mr. Grayson Waller.
[Waller] Hey, did you see how far John Cena went to get away from--
Oh! All the way to the other side of the world.
[Waller] As far as he could. As far as he could.
[Cole] Well, he was part of-- John was part of the Superstar Spectacle
in India earlier today.
Highlights coming up later on tonight.
-[grunts] -Oh!
Grayson, I've got to ask, when Cena is a guest next week
on "The Grayson Waller Effect,"
are you going to ask John about how it felt to receive
a Skull-Crushing Finale from The Miz?
I have a lot of questions to ask Cena. That's one of them.
-I have a question for you. -Please, Michael.
What was it like to feel the AA from John Cena
in front of like 60,000 people?
Well, you know, the energy was so big in England.
I don't actually remember how that even went.
I remember being in there with John Cena,
and he was so thankful to be there with me.
-I'm glad I could help him out. -I didn't even know that happened.
I think they edited it out of the broadcast I was watching.
[Waller] Yeah, no, it never happened. It's like--
-Oh, there we go. -Oh, wow.
[Patrick] Did you hear that?
-Theory now. -[Waller] Oh! [splutters]
[Patrick] Austin Theory quickly across to put away LA Knight
who kicks out at two.
[Cole] Beautiful rolling blockbuster by Austin Theory.
You know, you talk about Cena being on "The Grayson Waller Effect" next week
here on Friday Night SmackDown
and how he's going to get the rub from Grayson Waller.
Many people are saying that because of the high caliber guests
you've had on the show,
you've actually gotten the rub from them early on in your career.
[Waller] Who said that? Whoever it is, that's not true.
Not true at all. I'm out here helping these legends who were struggling.
It's hard with all the social media and all these things to stay relevant.
That's what I'm doing, keeping them relevant.
Oh, hold on.
-[Patrick] LA Knight. Now-- -[Graves speaks indistinctly]
[Waller] Are you allowed to do that? He grabbed the ropes.
[Cole] Here's the most relevant man in WWE today…
-[Waller] No! -…LA Knight.
-[Waller] No. -[Cole] Yeah.
-[Waller] Oh, no, no, no. -Two!
[Waller] Oh, no, no, no. Don't do that.
Three!
-Oop! -[grunts]
[Graves] And Theory wins the power struggle.
[mic rustling]
-Nasty landing for-- -[Patrick] Grayson Waller.
Off commentary he goes. What is he up to?
He's doing ring maintenance.
What'd you think, he was gonna sit here and do commentary with us bozos all night?
Well, the Superstars are outside of the ring.
Maybe Grayson felt that the turnbuckle pad was inadequate.
[Cole] Well, exposing the steel turnbuckle did Grayson Waller.
[Patrick] And Austin Theory could see every single bit of it.
LA Knight trying to turn it around now. Knight gets back up on his feet quickly.
[grunts]
Look at the strength of LA Knight.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Powerslam rocks the spine of Austin Theory.
-And right now, Boston… -[crowd] LA Knight! Yeah!
[Graves] …reminding everyone whose game it is.
Hey.
[Patrick] Theory struggling, looking to get back on his feet.
[Cole] They usually don't like people from LA in this building.
[Patrick] The distraction by Grayson Waller
and Austin Theory may capitalize here.
LA Knight out just in time.
[Cole] Oh.
[Graves] Theory avoiding disaster.
[Patrick] Oh! BFT.
-Knight for the cover and the victory! -One, two, three!
-[bell ringing] -[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
LA Knight.
[Cole] Does that count against the one loss record of, uh…
[Graves] That was a singles competition
as far as anyone keeping track is concerned.
A-Town Down Under. [with exaggerated accent] Down Under.
[Patrick] There you go.
[Cole] Yeah, but LA Knight keeps his momentum going here tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown.
What a victory.
Whoa, whoa. Hey!
[no audible dialogue]
[Patrick] Sliding and running away from LA Knight is Grayson Waller.
-Waller wanted to make the moment bigger. -[Cole] Yeah, sure.
[Graves] Grayson just gave LA Knight the rub.
[crowd cheering]
Imagine what a big star Cena is going to be after next week.
[Cole laughs]
["Welcome to LA" playing]
[crowd] LA Knight!
I'm standing by to get a comment with AJ Styles.
Now, AJ, after what occurred earlier between yourself and Jimmy Uso,
do you still feel like you are in any condition to compete later tonight?
I'm standing, aren't I?
And if I'm standing, I can fight.
Jimmy Uso can jump me from behind as many times as he wants.
But nothing is going to stop me from tearing his head off tonight.
[crowd cheering]
["The Other Side" playing]
[Cole] Well, The Judgment Day are Tag Team Champions,
which means they can appear on both Raw and SmackDown.
[Graves] Consider this something of a victory lap.
[explosion echoes]
[Patrick] Friday Night SmackDown on FOX is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is a tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by the NXT North American Champion,
Dominik Mysterio,
they are the Undisputed
WWE Tag Team Champions,
Finn Bálor and Señor Money in the Bank, Damian Priest,
The Judgment Day.
[Patrick] And competition in their way against The Brawling Brutes.
That's next.
WWE is proud to be in Boston, Massachusetts tonight,
a proud sports town as well.
Celtics 17-time champions,
the Bruins six-time Stanley Cup champions.
And we're at their home tonight of TD Garden,
enjoying Friday Night SmackDown.
[Cole] Yeah, over 14,000 here tonight in our main event.
Still to come, Jimmy Uso, earlier tonight,
attacked AJ Styles from behind.
AJ said, "I'm standing, I can still fight."
Styles, Uso, our main event tonight on SmackDown.
No one…
but no one, especially not AJ Styles,
is going to put their hands on The Wiseman.
And you shall handle this after you tell me
who's being traded to SmackDown from Raw.
You can keep asking the same question over and over again,
but you know as well as I do
that those decisions come from the highest level. So--
You heard on Monday from Miz, you heard tonight from me.
Make the match. It's me. It's Miz.
If he wants to get his chin checked one more time,
he can do it.
How about next week?
I think we should do it next week. Yeah.
-Then you can consider that official. -Yeah.
Hey, how you doing? We, uh…
We've never been formally introduced.
My name is Paul Heyman, and, uh…
Hi.
I-I'm a huge admirer of your work.
-Are you really? -Yeah!
See? You see what I did?
It's catchy.
I get it. There's t-shirts and everybody says it.
Oh-oh! [splutters] I love it.
And-and-and-and-and let me help you out another way.
Um…
the next time…
the guy outside the door tells you that I'm in here doing business,
do yourself a favor…
and knock first.
Are we clear?
[tongue clicks]
Yeah.
[crowd] Yeah!
Okay. Okay.
["The Other Side" playing]
[Graves] LA Knight better choose his battles carefully.
[Patrick] Tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on FOX is sponsored by Progressive.
The dominant Judgment Day wearing all the gold after Payback.
Corey, and your hometown, Steel City,
brought it in this Steel City Street Fight.
Kevin Owens going to the extreme.
[Graves] Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were simply outnumbered
by The Judgment Day,
also including JD McDonagh, Finn Bálor's old running buddy
who received a pop-up powerbomb for his troubles.
[Cole] Yeah, but what about what "The Eradicator" Rhea Ripley,
the Women's Champion, did to Kevin Owens?
[Graves] Just when it seemed as though Sami had victory in his hands,
Dirty Dom and the Money in the Bank briefcase
would prove to be the game changer.
[Cole] And with that, The Judgment Day now has all the gold.
No Rhea Ripley here tonight.
Rhea, of course, performed in India earlier on today.
We'll have highlights of that in a little bit here on SmackDown.
All rise for the crew with all the gold.
[laughs]
And all rise for The Judgment Day.
-[crowd cheering] -[laughs]
Who's better than us?
[crowd shouting]
-Nobody. -That's right, nobody!
So SmackDown, take a look
at Señor Money in the Bank and Grand Slam Finn,
your Undisputed Tag Team Champions.
[crowd cheering]
And let's not forget, still celebrating his one-year anniversary
since joining The Judgment Day
and the NXT North American Champion,
"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio.
Tell 'em, Dom.
And we can't forget…
[crowd booing loudly]
…about Mami who's halfway across the globe…
[crowd booing]
…in India
being the most dominating
WWE Women's World Champion.
And we are proud of Rhea Ripley.
That's right. I said it. Proud.
Now, speaking of proud,
we're also proud that we accomplished something,
well, not even The Bloodline can do.
Ooh!
In fact, we accomplished something
not even Roman Reigns could do.
Ooh!
We not only beat Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens,
we took the Undisputed World Tag Team Champions
from Sami Zayn…
Yeah!
…and Kevin Owens.
[crowd booing]
And Jey…
[crowd booing]
Ignore 'em, Dom. Ignore 'em.
Like I said, Jey…
[crowd booing loudly]
…you always have a family here with The Judgment Day
because we're all equals.
[crowd booing]
And we are the most dominant group in all of the WW--
[explosion echoes]
["Bring the Fire" playing] ♪ Bring the fire ♪
[Graves] Well, the reaction for Dominik Mysterio,
you'd think he was wearing pinstripes tonight.
Boston is raucous.
♪ Bring the fire ♪
[Patrick] And look who's wearing green tonight here in Beantown.
Boston, it's Fight Night.
[crowd cheering]
Hey, uh, Butch.
I couldn't hear because Dom was being booed so loud,
but did he say that these guys
are the most dominant group in WWE?
-[scoffs] -Well, actually--
Well, The Brawling Brutes are here,
and we're looking to put on a banger in Beantown.
[crowd cheering]
Yeah, right.
And you look really proud, guys,
standing there with your shiny new Tag Team Titles.
And you couldn't have picked a worse first opponent
because, you see, I've made a habit of breaking fellas like you.
[laughs]
But-but-but-but-but-but-but…
it's, uh…
it's not me that you need to worry about.
It's not me that you need to worry about.
It's this fella.
[laughs]
-Wait, Damian, did you hear this? -I heard.
Did you hear this, Dam--
Dom, did you hear this? Did you he--
They want me to worry about this fella?
They want me to worry about you?
I don't care about you.
-[grunts] -[groans]
[Graves] No!
Butch might have just snapped Finn's fingers.
Priest being sent to the outside, The Brawling Brutes standing strong.
[Cole] Now, that's what you get when you laugh at The Brutes.
Get in here!
[Graves] Oh, it is Fight Night in Boston.
No doubt about it.
Butch and Ridge will battle Señor Money in the Bank
and Finn Bálor.
[Patrick] Yeah. Bring it on.
This is a match that's coming your way next here, folks,
on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Patrick] Welcome back, folks.
What a dig that was from Señor Money in the Bank, Damian Priest.
Tag team action here.
Ridge Holland and Butch of The Brawling Brutes
against the Undisputed Tag Team Champions now
and in Finn Bálor and Damian Priest.
No Sheamus here tonight.
The Celtic Warrior's been nursing an injury over the past couple of weeks.
[Patrick] Look at this again from Damian Priest.
Boom.
[Graves] Priest just uncorked a right hand
that rocked the jaw of the mangy mutt Butch.
[Cole] Hey, Corey, what do you think of Damian Priest's
new Money in the Bank briefcase?
[Graves] The custom-designed Señor Money in the Bank briefcase?
I think it's fantastic.
I may or may not have one on the way from WWE Shop.
Don't you worry about what I do on my own time.
[Cole] It was gifted to Mr. Priest by one JD McDonagh,
who did a number of things for The Judgment Day
in a positive manner this past Monday on Raw.
An interesting point you bring up
because now Señor Money in the Bank, Cole,
as you've mentioned, will come across to SmackDown
as a Tag Team Champion.
[Graves] Tag was made. Ridge Holland now legal for The Brawling Brutes.
And around we go.
[Cole] Yeah, the powerhouse Ridge Holland.
-Look at Ridge. -[Patrick] This rugged roughneck.
Sensational power.
And a man from Yorkshire in England.
[Graves] Built like a stack of cinder blocks.
Finn escapes out the back and made the tag.
-I believe Priest is going to be legal. -Oh!
[Patrick] There is the punishment within The Judgment Day, Damian Priest,
who, no question, will get the attention of Roman Reigns
now that he is Señor Money in the Bank and here on SmackDown.
Come on.
[Cole] Two powerhouses going at it in the ring right now.
And a lot of Superstars on the roster
who can claim a power advantage over Damian Priest,
Ridge Holland certainly one of them.
[Cole] Yeah, and a great block that time by Priest.
[Patrick] You got to also think about the fact that Priest and Bálor went to war
in that Steel City Street Fight on Saturday at Payback as well.
Gotta question their condition today, Corey,
but Priest is looking pretty good.
[Graves] It's been six days.
Make no mistake about it,
Finn Bálor and Damian Priest are not civilians, KP.
-They are WWE Superstars. -Oh, look at this.
They are tougher than the day is long.
But look at this power from Holland.
[Cole] Two men! Two men.
[roaring] Get up!
[Patrick] Ridge Holland.
He's feeling it tonight.
The former rugby league star.
Here's Dominik Mysterio now, trying to get in the way.
[Cole] And running interference is the North American Champion.
-[Patrick] Oh! -[thud]
Huge clothesline from Damian Priest.
[Cole] Dominik Mysterio,
the North American Champion of NXT
has a date with Mustafa Ali in a couple of weeks at NXT's No Mercy.
[Graves] If you're talking about NXT, how about Butch
and what he's been accomplishing in the Heritage Cup?
He's going to face--
Oh, wait, wait, wait. Yes, boy!
Oh my God. I was so excited to talk about NXT,
I almost neglected Kit and Elton.
[Cole] The reason Elton is in a wheelchair
is because of Ridge Holland.
[Patrick] Cover.
Kicking out at two is Ridge Holland.
Holland and The Brawling Brutes
did a number on Pretty Deadly, as they look on.
But again, to get back to Butch's performance
in the Global Heritage Invitational over on NXT,
a time limit draw with Axiom this week,
one of the best matches of the tournament.
[Graves] Absolutely incredible.
Butch's future looks very, very bright.
But can we get more Pretty Deadly? I mean, we…
[Patrick laughs]
Knew you'd be excited coming to SmackDown with those fellas.
Finn Bálor and Damian Priest now Tag Champions.
We've seen, Cole, the Money in the Bank contract
has driven a wedge between Bálor and Priest.
Do you think that's an old story now at this stage?
[Cole] No, not at all. As long as Priest has the briefcase
and the contract that he can cash in any place, any time…
[Graves] As long as you two wedge drivers are here to ensure
that there is some type of conflict within The Judgment Day.
Let's just look at the facts.
The Judgment Day do what they say they've done for a while now,
run WWE, and they've got the gold to prove it.
[Patrick] Look at this again.
Ridge "The Fridge" Holland.
Tag made with the mangy mutt Butch.
How do you plan to-to go against someone as unorthodox like Butch?
[Graves] You make sure you've got all your shots.
[Cole] [indistinct] changes the pace of everything.
[Patrick] Such a unique offensive style.
[Graves] Shining Wizard rocks the jaw of Finn Bálor.
[Patrick] The Tag Champions are rocked here, as Butch making a climb.
-Butch now with a moonsault. -[Cole] Moonsault!
[crowd cheering]
Butch is rolling.
[crowd cheering]
[Patrick] Finn Bálor now, and Butch on the top rope.
A perilous situation.
-Butch. -[Cole] Oh!
[Graves] Superplex.
[Mysterio] Come on, Finn!
[Patrick] Butch is rolling alongside Ridge here
as The Brawling Brutes looking for the upset
against the Undisputed Tag Champions.
Bálor turned it around now.
[Graves] Great wherewithal by Finn Bálor to deliver the elbow to a falling Butch,
the mangy mutt of The Brawling Brutes.
But now, Finn desperately needs to make a tag.
And Pretty Deadly again!
Come on, guys. Give me a "Yes, boy!"
[indistinct commentary]
[Graves] Cole? KP? Either of you? Come on!
[Patrick] Analyzing the match over there.
-Look at this from Priest. -[Graves] Oh!
[Patrick] Kick after kick to the midsection.
[grunts]
[Cole] Oh, Ridge, what a counter.
Look at this!
[Cole] That's power.
[Patrick] He said, "I've got a habit of breaking fellas like you."
[Cole] Well, ask Pretty Deadly about that.
-Tag. -[Graves] Impact in the corner.
Priest caught between a rock and a hard place.
[Cole] Great double-team.
[Patrick] Butch now quickly across. What an upset this could be.
Butch, oh! Damian Priest out at two.
-[Cole] That was a great double-team. -[Mysterio] Come on, Priest! Get up!
[Graves] No Sheamus. Injured. As Butch and Ridge looking to get
a statement victory tonight over the Undisputed Tag Team Champions,
Señor Money in the Bank, Damian Priest, and Grand Slam Finn.
-[grunts] -[Cole] Oh man!
[Graves] Educated feet of Priest on display. Cover.
[Patrick] And that's got to do it for the jaw-- No!
Butch is still alive.
[Graves] Butch charging in, just caught right on the side of the jaw
by a big kick from Señor Money in the Bank.
-[referee] Off the hair. -Come on, Priest.
[Patrick] Imagine the power Damian Priest possesses now in WWE
as Undisputed Tag Champion and Señor Money in the Bank.
[Graves] I'd say that power extends across all of The Judgment Day as a whole.
That may do it.
Face-first goes Butch.
[Patrick] Could be good night to The Brawling Brutes.
And no, Butch kicking out again.
Let's not forget how important this is for The Brawling Brutes tonight.
A win over the Tag Team Champions puts them in the hunt for a title match.
[Graves] Obviously, Pretty Deadly backstage looking on.
We look again at Priest with that headlock driver.
-Nearly all she wrote for Butch. -[groans]
[Graves] But Butch is back in this fight.
[Patrick] Tag made. Here comes Finn Bálor.
Butch had him scouted.
[Cole] Man, great German suplex by Butch,
and now, again, running interference is Dominik.
[Graves] Dirty Dom caught. [laughs]
[crowd cheering] One, two, three!
-[Graves] Bálor from behind. -One…
[Patrick] Finn Bálor.
Butch still alive again.
Oh, Sling Blade.
[Cole] Maybe not for long.
[roaring]
[Patrick] There's the fire in the eyes of Bálor,
dropkicking Butch into the corner.
In the drop zone now.
Finn Bálor looking for Coup de Grâce. Out of harm's way is Butch.
-[grunts] -[Graves] Crucifix combination.
Shoulders are down. Bálor out just in time.
-Oh! -[Cole] Step-up enzuigiri.
[Graves] Finn answers with the overhead kick.
[Patrick] Butch looks rocked here.
Tag made to Priest.
Butch has got the wobbly legs
and Damian Priest may capitalize and take him on a trip.
-Oh! -[Graves] Butch got the kick.
Butch stunned Priest with a kick.
Here comes Holland.
[roaring]
[Patrick] With that rugby tackle, and going back for more.
[Graves] Hustling up Señor Money in the Bank.
[Cole] Oh, the wherewithal of Bálor though.
-[Patrick] Priest catching Ridge. -[Cole] Oh! What elevation.
[Graves] South of Heaven.
[Patrick] And maybe one more for good measure on The Brutes.
[Graves] Finn from the top.
[Patrick] Coup de Grâce to the ribs of Ridge Holland, and with that…
-[bell ringing] -…a victory for The Judgment Day.
["The Other Side" playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners, The Judgment Day.
[Cole] They become more dominant each and every week.
[Graves] Make no mistake, the champions know they were in a fight tonight.
Here are the closing moments.
Bálor dumping Butch from the top
and Ridge Holland taking a trip South of Heaven.
-Butch would join him. -[groans]
Could they listen? No, they won't.
This is all she wrote.
-Finn Bálor, Coup de Grâce. -[bell rings]
And The Judgment Day with a dominant performance
as they continue to run the WWE.
["All Mighty" playing]
[Cole] Speaking of dominant.
[Graves] It's The All Mighty!
Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford,
The Street Profits.
And what a union these three have…
created over the past several weeks.
[Patrick] That is one intimidating trident,
making their way inside the squared circle.
[Graves] The Judgment Day standing their ground.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Bobby! Bobby! Bobby! Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!
Bobby! Bobby!
Bobby! Bobby! Bobby! Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!
Bobby!
You guys are right about one thing.
The Bloodline is crumbling,
but it ain't The Judgment Day taking over.
It's gon' be us.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, I guess you can't put it any plainer than that.
[Patrick] A statement of intent from Lashley
alongside The Street Profits.
-It's my favorite. -I wanna see it. Do it.
[in high-pitched voice] "Coming down the aisle, from Boston, Massachusetts."
LG, you always get it. You always get it.
Oh, hey, Unc.
Do guys have any idea what's going on?
-Yeah. -Big main event.
AJ Styles versus Jimmy Uso right here tonight.
You want us out there? You want us out there?
-You're on top of things, aren't you? -Yeah.
So you saw Jimmy Uso jumped me from behind, right?
-You saw that? -[sighs]
I'm sorry, man. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You're sorry?
-You're-- -Listen. Whoa, listen. Whoa, hey.
We were the ones that told you not to get involved in Bloodline business.
-That's not our dra-- -It doesn't matter! No! It doesn't matter.
We have always had each other's back. Always.
Right or wrong, we've always had each other's back.
[sighs]
You know what?
If this is the way this is going to be,
I don't want you guys anywhere near my match tonight.
[sighs]
[Patrick] A fired-up AJ Styles and Jimmy Uso tonight.
-Told him not to get involved-- -That's not the point…
[Patrick] Well, folks, a monumental day for WWE.
For the first time in six years, heading back to India.
[Cole] Yeah, the WWE Superstar Spectacle.
And from all reports, it was one of the loudest raucous crowds
in WWE history.
Thunderous ovations for all of our WWE Superstars,
including for the man making his first ever appearance in India,
"The Greatest of All Time" John Cena.
["My Time Is Now" playing]
John Cena super-hyped to be at Superstar Spectacle.
I've been imagining this moment right here for 20 years.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And congratulations to all the WWE fans…
Thank you for allowing me to be here today.
[Cole] …who were able to take part in the Superstar Spectacle.
[crowd chanting] Cena! Cena!
[Patrick] And John Cena will be making his way back
to Friday Night SmackDown next week
and another showdown with Grayson Waller.
So how will The Aussie Icon handle having the living legend in the hot seat
on "The Grayson Waller Effect"?
[Graves] After falling short at Payback with John Cena
as a special guest referee,
The Miz demanded another match with LA Knight.
It has been made official.
Will the most must-see Superstar in WWE get retribution
or will the fast-rising LA Knight continue his meteoric rise?
We'll find out next week.
[Cole] Iyo Sky said she has a chip on her shoulder.
She wants to prove herself and she has the opportunity
defending the WWE Women's Championship against Asuka,
who we spoke to a bit earlier tonight.
[in Japanese] You really wanna do that, Damage CTRL?
[laughs]
[in English] They forgot about me.
They forgot I was the champion and never gonna [indistinct].
[laughs]
Iyo has my title.
[in Japanese] That's my title! Give it back! Idiot!
You know it's true. Damn you!
[in English] But in two weeks, I'm taking it back.
[in Japanese] Little Iyo…
[in English] No one is ready for Asuka.
[Cole] Cannot wait for that matchup in two weeks,
right here on Friday Night SmackDown
["Born a King" playing]
♪ I was born a king ♪
♪ Ran with the pack ♪
♪ I was born a king, I was born a king ♪
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from San Francisco, California,
weighing in at 251 pounds,
Jimmy Uso.
[Patrick] All alone. Jimmy Uso is doing all he can to get back
in the good graces of The Bloodline,
including this earlier on tonight.
♪ This my land, I stand on my own two… ♪
You handle AJ Styles business tonight
and I'll handle Jimmy Uso business with The Tribal Chief.
And before you know it, Jimmy…
♪ Uso ♪
…I'll bring this family back together.
-Yeah? -We The Ones.
It's been stress, OG.
-I understand. -You know.
-Okay. I got you. -It's stre…
[grunting]
[Cole] And then Jimmy Uso would attack AJ Styles
after AJ Styles' confrontation with the man
he's had a lot of heat with over the years,
Paul Heyman.
Uso, again, trying to get back into the good graces with The Bloodline,
which makes tonight's match a must-win.
♪ Jim Uso, baby ♪
[Patrick] WWE Fastlane is sponsored by Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
Available September 26th on Xbox Series X and S,
PlayStation 5, and PC.
Rated M for mature.
[Graves] Looks like AJ Styles is a man without a club tonight
as he tries to settle the score against a headstrong Jimmy Uso.
Jimmy wants nothing more than to get back
into the good graces of The Bloodline, next.
["Born a King" continues]
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah E'erybody hype here ♪
♪ Big dreams and we tryin' To live the life here ♪
♪ Big timers, big… ♪
The Only One.
♪ Big cars catchin' big speeds In the right gears ♪
♪ Attitude infamous, iced stares ♪
♪ Yeah, we bankin' But we ain't afraid to fight here ♪
♪ Moving forward couple light-years ♪
♪ Hardcore, bangin' Throw a wheelie on a bike here ♪
♪ Uh, I do it for The hoods out in Harlem ♪
♪ From the bridges to the light… ♪
["My Time Is Now" playing]
Let's get weird.
[Cole] Corey, I should start a TikTok account.
[Graves] Yes, you should. Absolutely.
We can all witness you twerking alone.
[Cole laughing]
Well, Jimmy Uso is going it alone, at least for now,
as he tries to prove himself to The Bloodline.
[Patrick] And now, another man going it alone tonight
is "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
["Phenomenal" playing]
♪ No, they don't want none No, they don't want none ♪
[announcer] And his opponent, from Gainesville, Georgia,
weighing 218 pounds,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
♪ You better give respect ♪
♪ 'Cause ain't nobody breakin' This redneck… ♪
[Patrick] Friday Night SmackDown is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
And next week, folks, Friday Night SmackDown
is headed to Denver, Colorado.
The return of John Cena will be on "The Grayson Waller Effect."
[Cole] And you have to wonder where both of these individuals are going to stand
when we get to Denver next week for SmackDown.
AJ Styles, where is he going to be standing with his family, The OC,
and, Corey, as Roman Reigns, the Undisputed Champion
celebrating his 1,104 day as champ.
[Cole] What do you think he's thinking about Jimmy Uso and this whole situation?
[Graves] Honestly, I hate to speculate about anything
that goes on in The Tribal Chief's mind.
Roman Reigns is surely watching with a careful eye.
Paul Heyman is here doing the work on the ground,
sort of acting as the liaison between Jimmy and The Tribal Chief.
I assure you, no matter what Roman's thinking,
he wants Jimmy to dominate tonight.
[Cole] Well, AJ Styles wants retribution on Jimmy Uso
for attacking him earlier.
-For Jimmy Uso, Corey… -[grunts]
[Cole] Oh my goodness. Landed on the back of his neck.
[Graves] We know Jimmy's goals. Jimmy wants to impress The Tribal Chief.
Jimmy wants to get back into the good graces…
-Watch this. Goodness. -[Graves] …of the Bloodline.
AJ Styles not looking to make that an easy task tonight.
-AJ Styles-- -Wait, shoulders down…
[Patrick] But wait a second. Look at this. An early victory.
No. Out in time.
[Cole] Again, going for a quick cover in this matchup, even using the ropes.
And this is the desperation, Corey, of Jimmy Uso understanding,
he's got to win, take out AJ Styles to prove himself
and get into The Bloodline again.
[Graves] While Jimmy has done his best to maintain a stoic facade,
you can tell Jimmy Uso is unraveling inside.
This is bothering Jimmy. His family has left him high and dry.
[Patrick] Hard not to agree with you there, Corey.
-Cole, we saw the ultimate 180 last week. -[Cole] Oh!
Jimmy Uso wanted nothing to do with The Bloodline at the start of the night.
At the very end, you said it, it looked like he wanted back in.
[Cole] To use the old cliché, things aren't always greener, right?
I mean, Jimmy Uso understanding now that there's something to be said
about getting the "push" from Roman Reigns,
the Undisputed Champion,
the protection of "The Enforcer" Solo Sikoa,
of course, his brother Jey, who was once in The Bloodline,
and then the advisement from Paul Heyman.
There's a lot of good if you're Jimmy Uso to being in The Bloodline.
When you go it alone, there's a lot of people that want you.
They want the target on your back. They want to take you out.
[Graves] Well, speaking of, look no further than AJ Styles,
who has turned his aggression up to 11 tonight.
I can take it all night long, punk!
[Cole] I mean, just take a look at Jimmy's brother, Jey.
Jey Uso, over on Monday Night Raw,
he shows up Monday night, things aren't all that rosy.
Sami Zayn is glad to see him, but nobody else is.
[Patrick] Did you see the ovation he got, Cole?
You see it at Payback as well?
[Cole] He did from the WWE fans.
The problem is this, The Bloodline, including the Usos,
have damaged so many people's careers over the past couple of years
that you can't just forget that.
[Graves] Jimmy Uso's hurt. AJ Styles connected with a right hand
and Jimmy is rocked.
You saw our official, Jason Ayers, getting closer to the situation.
Obviously, Jimmy able to compete, but this could be it.
[Cole] AJ was looking to put him away with a Styles Clash
and Jimmy Uso rolling out of harm's way.
And again, the official explaining to AJ that…
[Graves] And right now, if you're Jimmy Uso,
this is incredibly foreign territory.
Jimmy is so used to having at least his brother Jey by his side,
or at least Solo or perhaps The Wiseman.
If Jimmy needs a break in the middle of a match,
he's usually got the tools to provide it, but not tonight.
[Cole] Or he's in a tag team match where he can just tag his brother in.
[Patrick] And this, of course, the importance cannot be overstated.
Jimmy Uso. We heard from Paul Heyman earlier,
"I'll bring the family back together."
Jimmy's got to get a victory tonight against AJ.
[Graves] Smart move by Jimmy Uso.
Looks like he lured Styles in
but AJ again connecting with strong right hands.
[grunting]
[Cole] AJ had Jimmy Uso on the ropes and he realized that
and went on the attack.
[Graves] AJ flexing his Georgia bulldog mentality tonight,
turning up the heat.
But Jimmy Uso still a dangerous competitor.
[Patrick] Cover here.
Early kickout from AJ.
You got to think Roman Reigns is watching this as well,
remembering Jimmy Uso calling him an egotistical maniac
just a few weeks ago.
[Cole] How about Jimmy Uso kicking Roman Reigns in the face
a number of times?
How do you think Roman Reigns thinks about that?
And the problem is trust now.
If you're Roman Reigns, how can you trust Jimmy Uso?
[Graves] The onus is on Jimmy Uso to prove his trustworthiness yet again
to The Head of the Table.
I don't imagine it will be easy.
I don't imagine it will happen overnight.
-[Patrick] Oh, here goes AJ-- Oh! -[Graves] Superkick by Uso.
But the fact remains that if Jimmy is able to prove
and remind Roman why Jimmy is so valuable to The Bloodline,
business is business.
[crowd jeering]
Speaking of…
[Cole] Look who's here.
-Apparently, Solo Sikoa is here. -Okay. Yeah, we The Ones.
Two!
[indistinct chatter]
[Graves] Much to the delight of his older brother Jimmy Uso.
Just dribbled AJ's face off the stairs.
[crowd cheering]
[Patrick] Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.
Our main event tonight,
Jimmy Uso, hoping to re-earn the trust within The Bloodline,
up against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[Graves] Styles also on his own, sans OC tonight.
-Oh! -[thud]
[Cole] Yeah, but look who's out here.
Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman of The Bloodline,
as Jimmy Uso continues to try to impress The Bloodline
as he looks to gain re-entry into the group, the family.
[Graves] To that point, I wonder if AJ Styles
is potentially regretting telling The OC to stay out of his business tonight.
Because when you've got The Enforcer of The Bloodline
and The Wiseman lurking,
it's always best to have backup.
I said get him out--
-[grunts] -[Patrick] Jimmy Uso receiving
maybe some confidence from Paul Heyman
that he will be welcomed back within The Bloodline
if he gets a win tonight.
But do you believe Paul Heyman?
[Cole laughs] I haven't believed Paul Heyman for 25 years.
Why should I start now? But I get your point.
I mean, Paul Heyman is out here to try to motivate Jimmy Uso,
try to impress on Uso the importance of taking out AJ Styles
who, remember, put his hands on Heyman earlier tonight.
[Patrick groans]
[Graves] Jimmy Uso backing it up. That could do it.
[Patrick] Cover for Jimmy Uso and the victory-- And AJ out at two.
[Graves] Let's listen to the impact on this one.
-[clattering thud] -[grunts]
Ring-shaking impact as Jimmy Uso backs it up.
Somehow, AJ Styles remains in this fight.
[Cole] I'd love to know what is going through the mind of Solo Sikoa right now.
The Enforcer, but also the younger brother of Jimmy Uso.
[Graves] We've seen in the past where Solo's loyalty ultimately lies,
that being with The Tribal Chief. That is undeniable.
[applause]
[Patrick] That loyalty has certainly never wavered.
[Cole] Well, there have been moments when it's been questioned
and Solo Sikoa has always come back to the flock.
[Patrick] AJ hoping to rally here. Quickly taken off his feet.
[crowd buzzing]
This is SmackDown, says AJ Styles, the house that AJ built,
hoping to put The Bloodline away for the locker room.
It's not just The OC anymore.
[Cole] And Jimmy glancing back at his brother.
He continues to punish Styles in front of Solo and Heyman.
And again, Roman Reigns, the Undisputed Champion for over 1,100 days,
must be looking on.
[Graves] Moments ago, Jimmy utilizing his veteran instinct,
ripping Styles down to maintain control of this one.
[Cole] And again, if-- We talked about this earlier,
if you're Roman Reigns, you sort of understand
why you're forcing Jimmy Uso to jump through hoops
to possibly get back in the group. It's a trust issue.
Roman Reigns can't trust his man.
He kicked him in the face a number of times,
said a lot of derogatory things about Roman Reigns.
-[grunts] -[Graves] Oh!
God. Nasty landing for Uso.
High angle, belly to back suplex.
[Cole] And if you guys remember correctly,
it was Jimmy Uso who was the first one to tear away from Roman Reigns,
even well before Jey Uso ever did.
[Patrick] But Roman Reigns may not be the Undisputed Champion right now
if it wasn't for Jimmy Uso at SummerSlam.
[Graves] All valid points, and the unfortunate truth
is only one man knows for sure,
that being The Tribal Chief himself.
[Cole] Two proud men just duking it out here.
[grunting]
Oh, caught him on the shoulder.
[Patrick] AJ now responds emphatically.
[Graves] Styles with the Pelé Kick. Both athletes down.
[Patrick] The stoic Enforcer, the Street Champ Solo Sikoa
watching on as we see this once more.
-[grunts] -[thud]
[Graves] You can see Jimmy almost habitually throwing up The One,
as he so often did, reverting back to the "We The Ones" t-shirts tonight.
Jimmy Uso looking to recapture past glory
but Styles looking for vengeance.
[Cole] Almost sad in a way, as Jimmy is sent outside the ring,
right to the feet of his brother.
What are you gonna do, Solo? What are you gonna do?
[Graves] Styles now lining it up.
-[grunts] -[Patrick] AJ…
[Cole] Oh!
[Graves] Forearm to the outside rocks Jimmy Uso.
[Cole] AJ and Solo, of course, the issues from last week.
[Graves] AJ knows to tread carefully
after having experienced the physicality of Solo
just seven nights ago.
AJ lining it up yet again. Here it comes.
Phenomenal Forearm.
[Patrick] Scouted well by Jimmy.
AJ has Jimmy Uso where he wants him.
[Cole] Knee right to the back of the neck, that could be it.
[Patrick] Cover for AJ Styles to get the victory now.
And Jimmy kicking out.
The frustration starting to show for The Phenomenal One.
[Graves] AJ no stranger to the deep waters.
Styles, a former World Champion, has held gold all around the globe
throughout WWE.
AJ is in his wheelhouse right now.
[Patrick] As fired up earlier on as we've seen AJ Styles in some time.
Disgusted that The OC weren't by his side when he was attacked by Jimmy.
-Oh! -[Graves] Uso out the back door.
[Patrick] Jimmy Uso now in for the cover. Hook in that leg, and AJ out in time.
[Cole] And Jimmy may be getting frustrated here.
[crowd buzzing]
Trying to figure out what he needs to do to put AJ Styles away.
Again, you can't get much closer to a must-win
than this matchup tonight for Jimmy.
[Graves] I agree with you. And the longer this match goes on,
the more I would have to imagine it favors AJ Styles,
simply because Styles is used to competing on an individual level.
Jimmy Uso may not have the stamina that AJ Styles has.
One of the reasons he doesn't want to go it alone anymore, right?
-Oh. -[Graves] Headbutt.
[Patrick] Givin' all he has now, the headbutt from Jimmy.
Well, here goes AJ once more.
[Graves] An escape by Uso. DDT!
[Cole] Good night.
[Patrick] AJ Styles to put away Jimmy who's out at two.
[inaudible]
[Patrick] How close was AJ Styles?
[Graves] Certainly close. But we know almost only counts
in horseshoes and hand grenades.
-DDT right on the top of Jimmy's skull. -One, two…
[Graves] But Uso able to survive.
[Cole] Styles said, "This is it."
[fans cheering]
[Patrick] Fire in the eyes of AJ Styles.
A little distracted by Paul Heyman now.
[Cole] Oh, Solo as well, I mean…
But AJ's concerned about Solo taking a step closer to him.
[Graves] But notice how The Wiseman simply placed his hand
in front of The Enforcer and Solo stood still.
[Cole] Yeah, just that silent… that-that silent distraction cost Styles.
[indistinct shouting]
One, two, three, four! Come on. [continues indistinctly]
[Cole] And notice, all the offense now from Jimmy
is being focused over to The Bloodline side
so Solo and Heyman can get a firsthand look
at what Jimmy Uso is doing to AJ Styles.
[Graves] They say old habits die hard and…
you can see Jimmy trying to make eye contact with Solo
and Solo not moving a muscle.
[referee] One!
[Graves] I think it's safe to say it's The Wiseman pulling the strings right now.
Three!
Let's go!
What you doin'?
[indistinct chatter]
[grunts]
[Cole] And as Solo turned his back on his brother,
AJ Styles made 'em both pay.
[crowd buzzing]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Whoa, whoa.
-[Cole] Oh, goodness. -[Patrick] AJ's rolling here.
Can he finish off Jimmy Uso?
[Cole] Jimmy was shocked that Solo didn't get involved
when AJ was at his feet.
[Patrick] Styles now. Phenomenal Forearm!
Quickly in for the cover to put away Jimmy Uso.
[Cole] And if you're Jimmy Uso, all you can say is, "Oh no."
[announcer] Here is your winner.
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[Graves] Luckily for Styles, he was able to get out of the ring
before Solo entered.
But wait-- Oh, Damian Priest!
[Cole] The Judgment Day attacking AJ Styles.
[indistinct chatter]
[crowd booing]
[crowd booing loudly]
[Graves] Is that a peace offering?
-[grunts] -[Cole] Oh, the Samoan Spike.
[crowd booing]
What a turn of events.
[Graves] I don't know the meaning of this, but if battle lines are being drawn,
I think you want The Bloodline on your side.
[crowd booing]
[booing continues] e Bloodline on your side.