[WWE signature intro playing]
[John Cena] Then.
-[Ric Flair] Woo! -[glass shatters]
[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolls] -[Cena] Now.
[Roman Reigns] Acknowledge me.
-♪ The King of Kings ♪ -♪ You can't see me ♪
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
[The Rock] On Night One of WrestleMania,
the biggest tag team match in the history of professional wrestling,
you and your new best friend,
that walking clown emoji, Seth Rollins,
against a Universal Champion and "The People's Champion" The Rock,
if you two jabronis
beat The Rock and Roman Reigns on Night One,
then on night two at WrestleMania, your championship match,
Cody Rhodes, will be free of The Bloodline.
You got a shot to finish your story one-on-one with Roman Reigns.
[crowd cheering]
But when The Rock and Roman Reigns
beat your two candy asses on Night One,
then on night two, for your championship match, Cody Rhodes,
it's Bloodline rules.
Anything goes.
If you don't accept this challenge,
then The Rock and Roman Reigns will end your story…
tragically.
If you smell…
…what The Bloodline is cooking.
[dramatic music playing]
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
♪ I don't see nobody ♪
♪ I don't see nobody Who stepping to me? ♪
♪ I don't see nobody, I don't see nobody ♪
♪ Who can tussle with the beast? ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Running through the crowd Like there ain't nobody ♪
♪ Who better than me? ♪
♪ Besting opponents Flexing and focused… ♪
[Graves] He is the most electrifying man in all of entertainment,
perhaps the most influential figure in Hollywood,
and the man whose return to WWE
has turned the Road to WrestleMania upside down.
♪ I'm winning, I'm acing I'm sitting at first ♪
♪ Man I'm a beast It's a gift and a curse ♪
[Graves] Flanked by additional security,
as ordered by General Manager Nick Aldis,
The Great One is here, and he didn't come alone.
This man is the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion
for 1,286 days,
and the man who The Rock himself acknowledged
as The Tribal Chief…
Roman Reigns is in the house.
[crowd cheering]
However, this pair of unlikely allies remain undeterred,
fearless and hellbent on finishing the story
and ending The Bloodline's reign of tyranny.
The World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
and Roman's WrestleMania challenger, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes,
are here to answer the challenge.
They say everything is bigger in Texas.
So, from a sold-out American Airlines Center in Dallas,
Friday Night SmackDown is no exception.
And tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on FOX
is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[Barrett] While the challenge has been made,
the stakes could not be any higher.
The main event of WrestleMania night two will either be
Bloodline rules or Bloodline-free.
That is if, of course, Cody and Seth accept The Rock's challenge.
We will get their answer later on tonight right here on SmackDown.
["Take Flight" playing]
[Graves] But we are kicking things off with the United States Champion.
[Mike Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the United States Champion,
Logan Paul.
[Graves] Logan Paul a Superstar who never misses an opportunity
to create a viral moment.
Let me ask you this, Bad News. It is WrestleMania season,
we are four weeks from tomorrow from The Showcase of the Immortals.
I know you're a guy who keeps your ear
close to the ground in the locker room, Wade.
What are Logan Paul's WrestleMania plans?
[Barrett] Well, for once, The Maverick is keeping his cards close to his chest.
His lips have been sealed. But I promise you this, Corey,
whatever it is,
"Maverick" Logan Paul will be cooking up something
that is quite simply gonna be box office for WrestleMania XL.
Dallas, Texas.
[crowd booing]
Dallas, you are my city of firsts.
Two years ago, Logan Paul wrestled his first WrestleMania
right here in Dallas.
And tonight, Dallas,
y'all will be the first to witness history unfold
right before your eyes.
If you know anything about me,
you know I'm a conqueror.
[crowd] What?
-I'm not doing that. -[crowd] What?
-I'm not doing it. -[crowd] What?
[crowd booing]
Nah, this is my moment.
[crowd] What?
-Y'all suck. [laughs] -[crowd] What?
Look, I'm a conqueror.
-I didn't just join the WWE to take part. -[crowd] What?
-I joined the WWE to take over. -[crowd] What?
-Y'all can "What?" but look at me now. -[crowd] What?
-The best rookie year of all time. -[crowd] What?
-United States Champion. -[crowd] What?
-The most viral athlete in this company. -[crowd] What?
Everything that I touch turns to gold.
-[crowd] What? -Nobody can garner attention like me.
[crowd] What?
And yeah, I'm successful. I'm not talking about my title, though.
[crowd] What?
I'm not talking about my massively successful YouTube channel.
I'm not talking about my podcast.
I'm not talking about my boxing matches.
I'm not even talking about my five-star wrestling matches.
You're welcome.
[crowd] What?
[crowd booing]
I'm talking about the thing you love, y'all.
I'm talking about the WWE.
Ever since my first appearance right here in Dallas,
we've broken every record.
-[crowd] What? -The highest viewership at every event,
every single PLE sold out.
The biggest deals the company has ever done.
Y'all don't get it, do you?
I am the secret sauce.
And the WWE business is booming.
[crowd booing]
One could almost say
that the WWE is in its "prime."
[crowd buzzing]
Boy, Dallas, do I have a surprise for y'all.
Drum roll, please.
[drum roll playing]
[echoing bang]
-[Graves] What? -[Paul laughing]
No, Dallas, you're not dreaming.
My company, PRIME Hydration,
has partnered with the WWE
to be the first ever center ring sponsor
of this great organization,
starting at WrestleMania,
and every PLE from now on.
[crowd buzzing]
I am glad you guys are just as excited about this as I am.
Because now I'd like to welcome to the PRIME Ring,
England's finest,
another social media megastar,
and my partner in PRIME,
KSI!
[Barrett] Oh, what a treat!
[Graves] It is a star-studded night here in Dallas.
[Barrett] Wow!
-[Graves] A world-famous influencer boxer. -[Paul] Let him hear it.
He came from England all the way to this hellhole
just for this moment.
[Graves] An unfortunate victim of a WrestleMania moment last year in LA.
Not the type that KSI was hoping for,
but, man, this is big business, Wade.
[Barrett] No doubt about it.
PRIME is my favorite nonalcoholic drink, Corey.
[Graves] How much you get paid to say that?
[crowd chanting] USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA! USA!
Hey, Dallas, I think a moment this big deserves a big photo.
So smile back there, y'all. I'ma make you famous.
Maybe I'll tag you.
Probably not.
[crowd buzzing]
♪ I hear voices in my head They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[crowd cheering]
["Voices" by Rev Theory playing]
♪ You got your rules and your religion ♪
♪ All designed to keep you safe ♪
♪ But when rules start… ♪
[Graves] Perhaps some mind games here from "The Viper" Randy Orton.
Where is he?
[Graves] Oh, wait a minute. From behind.
Look out, Logan.
Logan Paul escapes the wrath of The Viper, but just barely.
[Barrett] The Viper got KO'd in the Elimination Chamber
by a brass knucks-clad Logan Paul.
[Graves] Logan may have forgotten about it,
but Randy Orton sure didn't.
[crowd roaring]
RKO to KSI!
[crowd cheering]
[Paul] Wait a minute. Oh no.
[Graves] How's that for product placement, Bad News?
[Barrett] Wrong place, wrong time, KSI.
[crowd chanting] Randy! Randy! Randy! Randy! Randy! Randy!
[crowd buzzing]
[Graves] Even vipers need to hydrate.
This is very good.
[laughter]
-[Barrett laughs] -[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct]
-[crowd cheering] -[Barrett] Oh no.
♪ I hear voices in my head They counsel me ♪
♪ They understand, they talk to me ♪
[Graves] Well, a humiliating beginning to Friday Night SmackDown for Logan Paul
and, in particular, his partner in crime, KSI.
Driven face-first in the center of the ring…
by "The Viper" Randy Orton…
and placed ever so gently
on the very expensive PRIME bottle that now lives mid ring.
♪ I have a voice that has… ♪
But, Bad News, we've got some good news.
Randy Orton is just getting warmed up.
[Barrett] Yeah, after what we saw in last week's main event,
here on SmackDown tonight
we're having Kevin Owens and Randy Orton
teaming up against the arrogant team of Austin Theory and Grayson Waller.
That tag match is coming up here on SmackDown next.
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ They tell me things that I… ♪
[gentle pop music playing]
♪ It's about life, it's about love ♪
["Survival" playing]
[Graves] Well, WWE has surpassed 100 million subscribers on YouTube
with over 81 billion, with a "B," lifetime views.
WWE is the largest sports channel on YouTube
and number ten overall.
This new subscriber total is more than the NBA, NFL,
Major League Baseball, and NHL combined!
Congratulations and thank you, WWE Universe.
[Barrett] Well, from the sublime to the downright evil.
Karrion Kross and The Final Testament
have made Bobby Lashley's life hell over the past couple of months.
The All Mighty now gets what he is calling a final showdown
to extinguish this wicked group for good.
Lashley versus Kross later on tonight.
[Graves] We are moments away from tag team action.
[crowd cheering]
[Rome] And his tag team partner, from Marieville, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 266 pounds.
Kevin Owens.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] This is a case of a duo being bound by a common enemy,
or should I say pair of enemies,
in Grayson Waller and Austin Theory.
These two brash young upstarts
have wasted no time making a lot of enemies
and ruffling basically all the feathers here on Friday Night SmackDown, Wade.
[Barrett] Yeah, and let's be perfectly honest,
somebody like Kevin Owens and Randy Orton,
perhaps two of the most easy to anger individuals in WWE.
And, uh, they've certainly got some strong foil tonight
in the form of Waller and Theory,
who, although they're cocky, they're brash, as you mentioned,
they are bloody dangerous once that bell rings.
[Graves] Last week, as we left the air on Friday Night SmackDown,
it was a chaotic scene with Owens and Orton standing tall,
with Theory and Waller suffering the brunt of stunners and RKOs for everyone.
[Waller] Yeah! He looks like Kevin Owens ate Kevin Owens!
[Graves] Side headlock applied by Kevin Owens, the veteran.
Not going to make any early mistakes.
And Owens familiar with the games of both Waller and Austin Theory.
What does KO need to be careful of in this one?
[Barrett] KO needs to be careful of himself.
He's got an element of that explosive anger syndrome.
If Waller and Theory manage to get under his skin tonight,
it could be a long night for KO and The Viper.
[Graves] Nice deep arm drag takeover by Owens.
Waller, nobody likes you!
[Graves] Kevin Owens multitasking,
applying an armbar while simultaneously berating Grayson Waller,
who is the illegal member of his team,
[Barrett] Which, again, is part of the issue.
Focus on the task at hand,
which is a guy who is a former Money in the Bank winner,
a former United States Champion, and someone who, for my money,
has got 10 to 15 to maybe 20 years at the top ahead of him here in WWE.
[Graves] And let's not forget, criminally underrated in WWE 2K24.
That's Theory's opinion of his rating.
As you can see in the bottom left corner of your screen.
[Barrett] I mean, Waller and Theory both, in my opinion,
should be way higher than that.
But give it a little bit of time, give it 12 to 24 months,
they'll be up in the high 80s.
[crowd jeering]
You've got to get at least 80 on your score in WWE 2K24.
The guys in the locker room below 80, not happy at all.
[Graves] Perhaps Theory can use it as fuel.
But Theory may wanna rethink the situation
now that The Viper has entered the equation.
Randy Orton now legal for his team.
[Barrett] Or perhaps that RKO on KSI that we just saw
gave The Viper a modicum of catharsis
after the past couple of weeks he's had.
[crowd chanting] RKO!
[Barrett] Well, that might not be enough to save Grayson Waller here.
Leave. One! Back out.
Two! Come on.
[Graves] Orton has Waller backed into the corner.
And the veteran Orton just really flexing here, letting Theory--
I'm sorry-- Waller know that, "You're all mine."
[Barrett] I mean, who's gonna be the first to pull out a dirty trick there?
Let's be honest, Randy Orton…
wrote the book on dirty tricks in WWE.
[crowd] Two, three…
four, five…
[Graves] Absolutely electric!
WWE Universe counting along, enjoying the beatdown being suffered
by The Aussie Icon.
Oh! Number ten for Theory.
[Barrett] The biggest of the lot. But once again,
Orton turning his back on The Audacious Aussie,
and it has cost him.
[Graves] An oh-so rare mental lapse by "The Viper" Randy Orton.
And now Orton in trouble.
[Barrett] That's part of what this duo of Theory and Waller do so well.
Divide and conquer. Take you off your game plan.
Might not be enough to stop The Viper and KO tonight, however.
[Graves] Owens full speed ahead.
Just battering Austin Theory in the corner.
Theory able to reverse.
Great athleticism being displayed by Austin Theory.
Oh, and a beautiful dropkick
right on the money forces Owens to the outside.
Tag made, Grayson Waller now legal.
[Barrett] Cheap shot on The Viper.
[Graves] Oh man!
Waller just uncorked a clothesline on Owens.
Theory and Waller in complete control.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Back here on Friday Night SmackDown,
the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas,
completely sold out,
as we are watching tag team action unfold
as "The Viper" Randy Orton and Kevin Owens join forces
against Grayson Waller and Austin Theory,
who's in control of Owens now.
[Barrett] Well, KO has simply been fighting for his life
for the past three or four minutes,
and this duo of Theory and Waller will not let KO out of that corner.
[Graves] Tandem suplex by Theory and Waller.
And now it's Owens desperately in need of a tag.
[Barrett] All the trash talk from KO has completely died down now.
[Graves] Oh, look at this.
Grayson Waller mocking "The Viper" Randy Orton.
For the RKO…
Colliding with Austin Theory.
[Barrett] Very few fare well when mocking The Viper.
[Graves] Oh no.
[crowd cheering]
[groaning]
The Viper, unleashing his fury on The Aussie Icon.
Snap powerslam.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] Randy Orton back at his exceptional best.
[Graves] Grayson Waller not where he wants to be,
and Austin Theory to the rescue from the outside.
And Waller hangs Orton across the top rope.
[Barrett] Well, Grayson Waller has thrown Austin Theory
to the wolves a couple of times…
And once again, it is Theory who eats the worst of that one,
saving Grayson Waller, who once again seems to be back on top.
-[screams] -[Graves] Waller a little too confident.
And now Grayson's gonna pay.
Randy headed to that place.
That sick, twisted place in his mind.
Vintage Orton.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] Randy Orton is one tormented soul,
and there is simply only one kind of pressure release
for The Viper,
and we may be about to see it, Corey.
[Graves] The Viper is coiled and eager to show Grayson Waller
exactly how it's done,
but keep your eye on Theory on the outside.
-From behind. Shoulder stacked… -One, two…
[Graves] Waller very nearly stole a win, and a big right hand.
Wade, it's WrestleMania season.
How big would it be for the careers of Theory and Waller
to pick up a win tonight?
[Barrett] Theory knows a thing or two about big WrestleMania moments
after beating John Cena last year.
This would be a real momentum-maker for this duo.
[Graves] Look out for Owens on the opposite side of the ring.
Stunner.
[crowd roaring]
Here comes Theory.
Pop-up RKO!
-My God, you could count to 20. -[crowd] One, two, three!
[bell rings]
-["Voices" by Rev Theory playing] -♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me… ♪
[Rome] Here are your winners.
The team of Kevin Owens
and Randy Orton.
[Barrett] KO and Orton, simply two veterans who are so good
they have immediate chemistry.
And Orton, always coiled, always ready to strike.
[Graves] Oh! Logan Paul from behind.
[crowd booing]
The United States Champion,
The Maverick, with a sneak attack,
dropping both Owens and Orton.
And, oh no, Logan Paul has the brass knuckles,
the same brass knuckles that potentially cost
Randy Orton the Elimination Chamber.
[Barrett] We may be about to get ourselves an action replay
of what went down just over a week ago in the Elimination Chamber.
[crowd chanting] You suck! You suck! You suck!
Get up!
[Graves] Orton beat him to the punch.
Randy's got the knucks.
[crowd exclaims]
[Barrett] Never seen Logan Paul move so fast.
[Graves] Owens very… very narrowly avoided disaster.
Orton able to put the brakes on just in time.
Something tells me, Wade, that those brass knuckles
have Logan Paul's initials engraved on them,
and they're not leaving The Viper's grip.
["Voices" playing]
You got them all day, man. Hey, no stress.
[Graves] We are fully expecting a chaotic evening,
and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis
is prepared with extra security on hand
for Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins
as they answer Reigns and The Rock tonight.
♪ I say I'm the best 'Cause ain't nobody got me ♪
[Graves] At WrestleMania,
the winner of the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble
and creator of Damage CTRL, Bayley,
will attempt to dethrone the crown jewel of the faction she once led, Iyo Sky,
and this issue is deeply personal.
Let's take a look in our Progressive Match Flo.
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[Graves] The Kabuki Warriors against the team of Bayley and Dakota Kai.
You can see the motivation on the faces of Bayley and Dakota Kai
who have been betrayed by The Kabuki Warriors and Iyo Sky.
We're gonna make them pay.
[Barrett] Bayley personally took this unit to the very top.
Bayley served her purpose, these ladies, they threw her to the wolves.
[Graves] Oh, and Dakota sent crashing to the outside.
[Barrett] Vicious. There's a reason why they are Tag Team Champions.
Just in the nick of time, Dakota Kai is back.
[yells]
[dramatic music playing]
[Graves] Bayley's got daylight.
What the hell?
[crowd booing]
[intense dramatic music playing]
And Bayley's going for Kai!
[Barrett] The numbers game is simply too strong.
[crowd booing]
It's my title!
[Graves] The fourth and final dagger,
courtesy of Dakota Kai.
Bayley, thank you so much for joining me.
Look, you've had a tough couple of weeks,
even just last week, Dakota Kai turned on you
after she convinced you that she had left Damage CTRL.
How are you feeling after everything that happened?
Um, well, honestly, Kayla, I am hanging on by a thread.
And, you know, things have felt off between us for so long,
but I just… I never imagined that we'd get to this point.
And even though they've been fake to me for months now, I…
I keep questioning myself. Like, what?
What was real, you know? Was our friendship real?
Did they really believe in me or were they just using me?
And then Dakota, you know,
last week, she used our history against us
when I was in my most vulnerable state.
She knew what she was doing. She manipulated me.
She tricked me, and I fell for it.
What do you have to say to people who think that maybe you had it coming?
Well, Kayla, you know very well that
I have made a lot of enemies over the past few years.
Um, and honestly, some of that stuff I just did
because I liked the attention… and I was trying to get to the top.
But most of the things I did,
I did for Iyo and Dakota.
I would have done anything for Damage CTRL,
and I didn't care who I offended in the process, but…
[clears throat] I mean, now it's all backfiring on me, you know?
I'm paying for it, and everything I built is backfiring.
[splutters] And I'm… And I'm all alone.
Well, looking ahead to WrestleMania,
how does this affect your preparation for your title match against Iyo?
Well, the good thing is it's made me more focused.
Damage CTRL made the biggest mistake of their life underestimating me.
There's a reason why I've been in this spot for so long,
and it's because I can adapt.
I built Damage CTRL with all my heart.
And I will do everything in my soul to break them.
[crowd cheering]
Hey, what you doing?
Girl, why are you over here watching Bayley crying and complaining?
I mean, she did this to herself.
Oh, I just… I feel bad. It's a mess.
-I feel bad about the whole situation. -You feel bad?
Why? [scoffs]
Bayley literally created Damage CTRL. It just backfired on her.
Like, she's literally in the same position that she put me in for the past two years.
Like, I don't know, I just-- I wouldn't feel bad.
I don't feel bad.
[hesitates] I've had my group of girls before, B,
and I know what it's like when it all starts to fall apart,
and when it breaks down. I just… I ain't cool with that.
Yeah, Naomi, I get it. But you wasn't here.
Like, it's so easy for you to say that because you were not here.
You didn't see all the mess that Bayley created.
And I guarantee you, if you were here, she would have came for you too.
So, I don't know. I just see it as she made her bed.
Now she gotta lie in it. That's just how I see it.
I don't know, B. I don't know.
Okay, well, I guess I got to say something nice at this point.
So, uh, good luck to her at Mania, I guess.
I don't know. I said what I said.
[dramatic drum beats playing]
[Graves] After the past, you've got to understand
where Bianca is coming from, Wade.
[Barrett] Yeah, undoubtedly.
["All Mighty" playing]
[Graves] WWE Universe, behold The All Mighty.
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Dallas, Texas,
weighing in at 275 pounds…
"The All Mighty"
Bobby Lashley.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Tonight, Friday Night SmackDown on FOX
is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
Wade, Lashley challenged Karrion Kross to face him man to man,
and that's what we're about to see.
[Barrett] Oh yes, two heavyweights brimming with hatred for one another.
Something has to give between The All Mighty and The Final Testament.
And lucky for us, we get to watch Lashley versus Kross,
and it's coming up next.
[Graves] Clench your fists and grit your teeth.
The two heavy hitters collide, live, next.
["All Mighty" continues playing]
[Barrett] And in what might be the smartest move of his career yet,
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis has laid on extra security
for Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins' answer to Roman Reigns
and The Rock's challenge.
That comes up later tonight.
[Graves] There you see "The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley
who issued a challenge for a one-on-one contest with Karrion Kross.
No Street Profits, no Final Testament, just two heavy hitters.
["Dead Silent" playing]
[Rome] And his opponent, accompanied to the ring by Scarlett,
from Sin City, weighing in at 265 pounds,
representing The Final Testament…
Karrion Kross.
[Graves] Well, the issues have been brewing for months
between Karrion Kross and Bobby Lashley.
Three weeks ago here on Friday Night SmackDown,
everything escalated in painful fashion.
A brawl to the outside would lead Kross to injure Bobby Lashley's elbow,
right there with a chair shot against the steel ring post,
and Lashley has been feeling the effects ever since.
[Barrett] Yeah, just 24 hours after that attack,
Bobby Lashley was in the Elimination Chamber in Perth.
A bruising encounter. Lashley was so beaten up, however,
he lost all power in the arm as the match wore on.
Unable to defend himself, caught a Claymore to the kisser,
leading to Lashley's elimination from the match.
And with it, that cost him an opportunity
at the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.
[Graves] As of this very moment,
Bobby Lashley still without a path to Philadelphia
to the biggest WrestleMania in history.
But what we're about to see unfold
is two modern-day gladiators,
two heavyweights well-versed in many, many martial arts.
Ground game, striking. These are two bad, bad human beings.
[Barrett] Lashley missed out on WrestleMania last year,
and he's holding Karrion Kross directly responsible
for potentially putting him back in the same situation.
This may be a punishment beating from Bobby Lashley tonight.
[Graves] And, Wade, I'm about to ask you,
what is going through the mind of Karrion Kross and The Final Testament
as we approach WrestleMania, but I think you're as dumbfounded as I am.
It's tough to solve what these guys are all about.
[Barrett] Yeah, no doubt about it.
Look, I thought for sure Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits
were on a pathway to the promised land when they got together.
They simply ran into a brick wall
in the form of The Final Testament led by Karrion Kross.
[Graves] Big heavy rights now being fired off by Kross.
Bobby Lashley not used to having an opponent
who can manhandle him the way Karrion Kross has.
And there you see Scarlett,
the sinister mind behind Karrion Kross.
[Barrett] Oracle of the occult, Scarlett.
Such a terrible influence on The Final Testament,
and most importantly of all, Karrion Kross.
[Graves] Terrible's a… Oh!
…subjective point of view.
Big, big suplex by Lashley,
sending Kross crashing to the outside.
[Barrett] That is a lot of humanity that just went crashing down to the floor
in the form of Karrion Kross,
and there's no let up, no respite at all from Bobby Lashley.
This is exactly what The All Mighty wants tonight, a fight.
[Barrett] Bobby Lashley has suffered for the past two months.
Brutal sneak attack after cheap shot,
career consequences and all.
[Graves] Looking for a little retribution and…
Scarlet putting herself in harm's way to protect Karrion Kross.
Oh-ho-ho! And Kross may have just turned Lashley's lights out.
[Barrett] Kross, hammer to the jaw.
-[Graves] The All Mighty is down. -Too easy.
[Graves] Can Bobby Lashley find his way back into this fight?
Things are looking bleak.
[crowd booing]
[Graves] 16,919 members of the WWE Universe on hand,
the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas,
witnessing Bobby Lashley, The All Mighty,
one-on-one with Karrion Kross of The Final Testament,
and right now, Kross attempting to utilize his Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills,
trying to separate-- trying to hyperextend the elbow
of "The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley.
[Barrett] "The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley well-rounded in the MMA game too.
And he needs all of those skills to meander his way out of this hole.
[Graves] Lashley able to put his bottom boot underneath--
I'm sorry, his boot under the bottom rope,
gonna force the official to break the submission attempt.
[Barrett] You just need to look at the bloodshed on the left shoulder
of Bobby Lashley when you get a chance.
This has got ugly in a hurry.
[Graves] Oh my God.
[Barrett] It is all going the way of Karrion Kross.
[Graves] Karrion Kross, a powerhouse who, as we are learning,
is capable of dismantling The All Mighty.
Cover here by Kross, hooks the leg.
[Scarlett] Come on!
[Graves] Lashley survives.
[Barrett] Seldom do you see anybody capable of manhandling
"The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley
quite as well as Karrion Kross is managing to pull it off tonight.
[Graves] And, Wade, you have to appreciate the strategy
of Karrion Kross utilizing his grappling techniques,
not allowing much space between himself and Bobby Lashley.
Kross has been delivering offense and slithering right into whatever's next,
almost seamless transitions.
[Barrett] You simply cannot give Bobby Lashley an inch.
You give him an inch, he takes a mile, as we are seeing now,
until shut down once again by Karrion Kross,
this storm cloud of negative energy smothering Bobby Lashley.
[Graves] Undeniable that Kross is something of a force of nature
who has been able to manhandle Lashley
unlike anything we've seen in recent memory.
But you cannot count The All Mighty down.
If there is breath in Bobby Lashley's lungs, he will fight.
My goodness! Kross' skull just ricocheted off of the ring post,
and Lashley's not done.
[Barrett] Scarlett simply wasn't able to block it for her man on that occasion.
And now this one has done a complete 180.
Bobby Lashley looking to go in for the kill.
[Graves] Lashley wanted the spear, Kross out of the way.
[Barrett] Lashley putting the brakes on just in the nick of time,
perhaps now going for The Hurt Lock.
[Graves] Lashley only has the half Nelson applied,
and Kross just too strong at this juncture.
[Barrett] Well, you saw the panic in the eyes of Karrion Kross there.
He knew the danger that awaited.
But now this one perhaps.
[Graves] Oh my! Cover here by Kross.
-One, two… -[Graves] Shoulders down.
And the modified Death Valley Driver from Karrion Kross.
Close but no cigar.
[Barrett] Now Bobby Lashley showing all of his durability,
all of his rugged nature.
You see the frustration, punching the mat,
trying to get himself back into this one.
[crowd chanting] Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!
[Graves] The power of Kross for the world to see yet again.
Lashley escapes out of the back, thinking about The Hurt Lock again.
Kross with an elbow.
Oh my!
[Barrett] How impressive is Bobby Lashley?
[Graves] That is game-changing power.
[Barrett] After getting steamrollered for 75% of this match,
back in control.
The wounds of war all over his… Wait!
-[Graves] Oh no, AOP have hit the scene. -[bell rings]
Akam and Rezar,
over 600 pounds of pure destruction.
["Bring The Swag" playing]
The Street Profits are here!
[Barrett] Well, the equalizers are here in an attempt to shut down AOP.
[Graves] Surprised we maintained civility this long.
It is broken down.
Final Testament against The Street Profits and Lashley.
Montez Ford rocks the jaw of Akam.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] Fury bubbling up inside The Street Profits.
-Whoa. -[Graves] Oh no.
This coulda backfired for Ford,
but here comes Dawkins, toppling the AOP.
Face-first goes Kross.
[Barrett] This matchup has been thrown out by the referee,
but punishment awaits Karrion Kross.
[Graves] The All Mighty stalking Kross…
And Scarlett got caught red-handed.
[no audible dialogue]
[Graves] B-Fab!
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] Well, Scarlett certainly earned that one.
B-Fab with five across the eyes of Scarlett.
Playing equalizer for Lashley.
The Hurt Lock is in.
The Hurt Lock is cinched in!
-But… -[Barrett] Only momentarily,
as Karrion Kross's main men, AOP,
are back to stifle the attempts of Bobby Lashley.
[Graves] I think we need to get some of Nick Aldis' added security out here.
This battle could rage all night long.
-[Barrett] Ooh! -[Graves] My Lord.
[grunting]
Massive hammer fists, clubbing blows from AOP.
[Barrett] These shots are just reverberating around the arena.
Lashley desperately trying to get some breathing room.
It's simply an impossibility against that much humanity.
[Graves] This is ugly.
And this is a message being sent
courtesy of The Final Testament
to The All Mighty and the entire SmackDown roster.
The Final Prayer.
["The End Is Near" playing]
[Graves] What a night it has been thus far
on Friday Night SmackDown.
And Friday Night SmackDown is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle home, auto, or motorcycle insurance.
[Barrett] I will tell you what, Corey,
for all the heavy leather that we saw thrown in that ring just then,
absolutely nothing was settled between…
Bobby Lashley and his crew and The Final Testament.
Yeah, certainly plenty of bad blood remains between those two factions,
but they aren't the only factions at war with one another.
We have to look just a little further down the roster
here on Friday Night SmackDown,
to the battle that has raged for months
between the LWO and Legado Del Fantasma.
Last Friday on SmackDown, Santos Escobar, Angel, and Humberto
were dismantling Carlito, until a shocking turn of events.
[Barrett] Yeah, Rey Mysterio, who had been missing the past couple of months
with an ankle injury caused by Santos Escobar,
proved he was back to 100%,
using his crutches to take out Legado
and ultimately leaving Escobar at the mercy of an attack,
a 619 which led to victory for Carlito
and the LWO in the street fight.
-[crowd] Two, three! -[bell rings]
[Graves] LWO able to get the last laugh last week,
but we promise you this issue is far from solved.
[overlapping greetings in English and Spanish]
[Barrett] Even Dragon Lee celebrating post-match
with the LWO, showing his respect.
[indistinct chatter]
[Graves] Dragon Lee a proud rep-- Wait a minute.
Give me one second. I'll call you back.
You weren't on the phone with Rey Mysterio, were you?
Aw. You're so cute.
You look like a little kid dressed up as Rey Mysterio.
Wait, you don't actually think you're gonna be the next Rey Mysterio, do you?
-God, no. -Oh, pobrecito.
He's just another wannabe, like many others.
[laughing]
Rey who? [laughs]
-No, no, no. That's not it. -Come on. [sighs]
You actually think you're the future?
Let me set the record straight.
Rey Mysterio and the LWO is in the past.
Dead. Gone.
The present and the future is Legado Del Fantasma.
But you?
-You're nothing. -[speaking in Spanish]
[laughter]
-[in English] Come on! -He's no Rey Mysterio.
See you out there, chaparrito.
[laughs]
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[Graves] Well, we know that The Rock, Roman Reigns,
Cody Rhodes, and Seth Rollins are all under the same roof tonight.
Additional security has been supplied by General Manager Nick Aldis
as we await the answer tonight.
["Tiffy Time" playing]
But before we get there, Wade, it's Tiffy Time!
[Barrett] Yes!
-[bell rings] -It's Tiffy Time!
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Prior Lake, Minnesota.
Tiffany Stratton.
[woman yelling indistinctly]
[Graves] The young lady taking WWE by storm.
And WWE is proud to support the Ad Council
and their "Love Has No Labels" campaign.
Celebrate this Women's History Month and visit wwe.me/shopwhm
or scan the QR code on the screen
to purchase your own WWE Heritage Month merchandise.
$7.50 will be donated from each sale to support Ad Council.
[Barrett] Well, Michin has been out of sorts lately
after the breakdown of The OC.
Tonight, however, is a chance to get right against the Buff Barbie Doll.
It's Michin versus Tiffany Stratton,
and it's coming your way, next.
["Tiffy Time" continues]
[Graves] The UNDERTAKER 1 deadMAN SHOW comes to The Fillmore in Philadelphia, PA
during WrestleMania week on Thursday, April 4th.
Tickets are on sale Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern
via wwe.com/events.
But tonight we are in the Lone Star State, Dallas, Texas,
a sold-out American Airlines Center,
which, Wade, just so happens to be the very same arena
where The Undertaker was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
And as we all learned this week,
The Deadman has got some company.
Take a look at this Class of 2024 inductees.
[Barrett] Super! Mike Rotunda, especially was a huge help to me in my career,
I'm personally thrilled to see him finally get inducted.
Congratulations to Mike and all of the inductees
for the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame. Well deserved.
[Graves] Don't miss the Hall of Fame ceremony, Friday, April 5th,
streaming on Peacock.
[Rome] And her opponent, from Fontana, California,
Michin.
[Graves] Another big-time opportunity here on the Road to WrestleMania for Michin
as well as her opponent, Tiffany Stratton.
Michin looking to refocus, recalibrate.
[Barrett] Yeah, I had a chat with Michin a little earlier.
She's not been herself in recent weeks since the breakdown of The OC,
since, uh…
[Graves] Wait a minute. Shoulders down. Back slide out of the gate.
[Barrett] …AJ Styles decided to leave the group.
She says that, "This is a get right moment,
and a chance for a fresh start and looking forward."
But that fresh start is starting to go downhill
very, very quickly thanks to Tiffany Stratton,
who has been on fire since debuting here on SmackDown.
[Graves] Very difficult to initiate a fresh start for yourself
against a Superstar who is literally red-hot right now.
Tiffany Stratton captivating the WWE Universe week after week
with her tremendous athleticism,
even if she may be a little rough around the edges socially.
[Barrett] A little… a little abrasive, it's fine to say.
But when you are that damn good in the ring…
And Tiffany Stratton may well be the best athlete in the Women's division.
[Graves] Hooks the leg, shoulders down. Could be it for Michin. No.
[Barrett] …you can simply be as abrasive as you want.
Take another look at this.
It's all pretty until someone stomps on your chest like that.
Tiffany Stratton can simply do it all,
and Michin hasn't got out of the blocks here.
[Graves] Michin came out of the gate strong,
but was unable to solve the Center of the Universe.
Hey, let's go. Come on. Watch the hair.
[Graves] Wade, I would dare say that
the more confident Tiffany Stratton becomes--
yes, that is possible-- the more dangerous she becomes in a WWE ring.
[Barrett] Yeah, you're absolutely right.
-People are really sitting up… -[Graves] Hooks the leg, cover.
…and taking notice because newcomers like Tiffany Stratton
are simply not supposed to be this good this quickly.
Remember, it's only been a couple of years
since Tiffany Stratton's first match in NXT in her entire career.
She's already looking like she is gonna be a dominant force,
taking on veterans like Michin.
[Graves] In the opinion of many, it's the ruthlessness of Tiffany Stratton
that is her best asset.
Looking to put Michin away, but remember, The OC…
Michin trying to turn the tides back in her favor
with a vertical suplex.
Too Sweet!
[Graves] Michin thinking about The Styles Clash,
but I think that hesitation is going to cost her.
Oh-ho, did it ever!
[Barrett] You almost get a sense Michin was staring for some approval
at the entrance way from AJ Styles.
-But wait a second! -[Graves] It's okay to stare at this.
-The Prettiest Moonsault Ever! -One, two, three!
-[Graves] What a win for Tiffany Stratton. -[bell rings]
["Tiffy Time" playing]
[Rome] Here's your winner, Tiffany Stratton.
[Barrett] Well, I'm not surprised at all by that performance
from Tiffany Stratton,
but it has to say, with Michin,
the mouth is saying she's moved on from The OC,
but the body is telling a different story.
But what on Earth can anyone do
against this kind of perfect ten offense from Tiffany Stratton?
If that connects, it truly is game over
and the Tiffany Stratton steamroller continues.
[Graves] We are on the Road to WrestleMania,
and the Center of the Universe is carving her own lane.
What a win for Tiffany Stratton.
What time is it?
[tense music playing]
This is for LA Knight and anyone else wondering
why I flew across the world to do what I did at Elimination Chamber.
[crowd roaring]
[Styles] You see, it's simple.
I watched you, LA Knight,
walk around here as if you own the place.
-Yeah! -[crowd] Yeah!
But in reality,
you don't deserve to be in the same locker room as AJ Styles.
And I, I have to admit, even I thought your shtick was funny.
Until you had the audacity to steal momentum at my expense.
You see, I've been around the block a few times,
and I understand this is a cutthroat place to be.
So let me break it down so you, LA Knight, can understand it.
You're an overachieving, undertalented loudmouth
desperately in need of humbling.
And I am a phenomenal choice
for the job.
[crowd cheering]
God. The Phenomenal One, huh?
I'll just go ahead and take a little practice swing.
What about that, huh? Yeah.
Let's go ahead and just put that down there.
Let's wake everybody up since you just bored them to death.
-Phenomenal One, huh? -[crowd] Yeah!
-Boring One, yeah! -[crowd] Yeah!
Maybe you can actually have a pair and show up next week, huh?
-[crowd] Yeah! -Yeah.
[crowd] Yeah!
[Graves] Well, LA certainly did a number on "TV Styles."
[Barrett] Well, I hope we have Progressive Insurance on that set
or it's gonna cost him a pretty penny.
["Soul March" playing]
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
accompanied by Elektra Lopez, Humberto, and Santos Escobar,
representing Legado Del Fantasma…
Angel.
[crowd booing]
[Graves] Well, WrestleMania XL is sponsored by Snickers.
Snickers Satisfies.
And by WWE 2K24,
the highest-rated WWE 2K game of all time.
Relive 40 years of WrestleMania.
Play all-new match types and career mode experiences
with an iconic roster of over 200 Superstars and Legends.
Available now, worldwide.
[speaking in Spanish]
[Graves] Up next, representing Legado Del Fantasma,
Angel will be in one-on-one action against Dragon Lee,
a proud representative of the LWO.
Expect fireworks. It's live, and it's next.
[Graves] This July, Money in the Bank heads to Toronto, Ontario,
as part of a jam-packed weekend of wrestling at ScotiaBank Arena,
starting with Friday Night SmackDown on July 5th,
Money in the Bank, July 6th, and NXT Heatwave
on Sunday, July 7th.
You can see them all when combo tickets go on sale
next Friday via Ticketmaster.
Visit wwe.com/events to register
to be first to receive pre-sale information.
[Barrett] Well, The Rock and Roman are here, extra security are here,
Cody and Seth are here, and pretty soon we will get their answer
to The Rock's WrestleMania challenge,
still to come on SmackDown.
♪ 'Cause ain't nobody got me ♪
♪ Runnin' through the crowd Like there ain't nobody ♪
♪ Who better than me? ♪
♪ Besting opponents Flexing and focused… ♪
Come on. [grunts]
Oh my gosh. Get him. Get him.
Yes, Pete. I'm playing the new WWE 2K24.
You know, it launched today.
No? Okay, um…
Look, you're in the game.
I thought we could beat The Judgment Day.
Show him some unbelievable tekkers. Take those Tag Team Titles.
No? Okay.
Um…
You know what? WrestleMania is coming up. [inhales sharply]
Maybe we should just be in the gym getting some extra reps.
[sighs]
You're right. I'll go talk to Nick Aldis,
get an update on this Tag Team Title situation.
[crowd chattering]
["Soul March" playing]
[Graves] Tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on FOX
is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
We are moments away from what is sure to be a spectacular showdown
between Angel of Legado Del Fantasma,
under the leadership of Santos Escobar,
versus the breathtaking Dragon Lee.
You have to imagine some words of wisdom offered by Escobar to Angel.
[dragon growling sound effect]
["Control the Empire" playing]
-♪ Have you walking through the flames ♪ -♪ Burn it up… ♪
[Rome] And his opponent, weighing in at 165 pounds…
Dragon Lee.
[Graves] Dragon Lee, a Superstar who has captivated the imagination
of the WWE Universe in short order.
Tonight, standing up in defense of his much-respected LWO, Wade.
[Barrett] Well, Dragon Lee has also captured the attention
and the admiration of Rey Mysterio, the leader of the LWO,
and that is what has aggrieved Legado Del Fantasma,
most specifically Santos Escobar.
I mean, Legado saw that Dragon Lee was celebrating last week
after LWO decimated Legado Del Fantasma
after the return of Rey Mysterio,
and that is what has led to them being so upset with him.
-[Graves] Well… -There may be consequences here.
[Graves] I'm sure it still stings in the mind of Santos Escobar
that Rey Mysterio christened Dragon Lee as the future of lucha libre
when Escobar himself reigned with Rey as The Emperor once upon a time.
[Escobar] You're nothing! Just another wannabe.
-Let's put a little respect on the na-- -[bell rings]
-[Barrett] I like Dragon Lee a lot… -[Graves] Oh!
…and I like this start from Dragon Lee, but I'll say the future is one thing,
the now of lucha libre is Santos Escobar.
He's The Emperor for a reason.
That's more important than any future.
[Graves] Spectacular dropkick right on the jaw of Angel Garza
who's being stomped out right now by Dragon Lee.
As I started to say, Wade, Angel Garza…
Oh-ho-ho-ho!
…has a great heritage here in this business.
Cover here by Dragon Lee. This may be over before it gets started.
[Barrett] Yeah, you're not wrong. His uncle, Héctor Garza,
brought Santos Escobar into this industry.
There's some real deep roots within Legado Del Fantasma,
between Berto, Angel Garza, and, indeed, Santos Escobar.
[Graves] Gotta factor in Elektra Lopez to the equation
and Angel coming down awkwardly on his right knee.
-That's… -[Barrett] Yeah, that's ugly.
That's an agonizing face that Angel is pulling right now.
Referee checking very closely.
Respectable move by Dragon Lee, allowing Angel to have some space,
and Dragon Lee paid for it.
[Barrett] Yeah. Here's the problem. When you're the future of lucha libre
and not the now of lucha libre,
you get suckered in by dirty tricks like that.
Dirty tricks that someone like Santos Escobar knows all about.
[Graves] Here comes Angel, building up speed.
-[Barrett] Oh! -[Graves] Oh my goodness!
[Barrett] That was a face-shattering knee
to the cheekbone of Dragon Lee, who is in a bad way.
It's all going in favor of Angel.
-[indistinct chatter] -[crowd exclaiming]
[Graves] Two world-class luchadores in a battle for supremacy.
Dragon Lee one-on-one with Angel of Legado Del Fantasma.
Tremendous reversal by Dragon Lee.
Both men jockeying for position.
Look at the power of Dragon Lee.
-[Barrett] All power, all technique… -[Graves] Wow! Sit-out powerbomb.
My goodness!
[Barrett] …as all the blood drains from the face of Santos Escobar.
The best-laid plans are starting to go up in smoke
for Legado Del Fantasma.
[Graves] Angel did the best that he could to try to escape the grasp of Dragon,
but to no avail.
Now Dragon Lee with an opportunity to procure a victory.
[Barrett] All the momentum swinging firmly in favor of Dragon Lee.
[Graves] Dragon Lee pushing the pace.
This is where Lee thrives.
[Barrett] Had that springy, unrestrained style of offense
that is very difficult to counter.
And Angel in big trouble now.
[Graves] Dragon Lee beginning to roll, and all Legado can do
is look on from the outside as Angel is beaten down.
Dragon making the long climb to the top turnbuckle.
Angel able to stop his ascent.
[Barrett] I really did fear for Dragon Lee when he came out here
with the entirety of Legado Del Fantasma…
-[Graves] Oh, wow! -…surrounding the ring,
but somehow Dragon Lee is making this work.
[Graves] Double stomp through the heart!
That could do it.
Angel wisely rolling under the bottom rope
to the safety of his cousin Berto on the outside.
-[Barrett] Safe for how long, however? -[Graves] Great question!
[Barrett] Nowhere is safe when you have the leaping ability of Dragon Lee.
-[crowd roaring] -Back it up!
[Graves] Escobar not happy with what's happening before his eyes.
Dragon Lee lining Angel up.
[Barrett] Legado simply underestimating Dragon Lee.
But that kick to the jaw, complete game changer.
[Graves] Mr. Lee, you can pick up your bicuspids in Section 212.
Angel sending Dragon off the ropes.
Pop-up powerbomb. Countered. Shoulders down.
-Dragon Lee with the win. -[bell rings]
["Control the Empire" playing]
[Rome] Here is…
[Graves] And here comes Humberto, Santos, and all of Legado.
[Barrett] Well, a mugging ensues.
And let me be clear, the LWO are not in the building this evening.
They are clearly friends of Dragon Lee. But it's no help right now.
Dragon Lee has to fend for himself,
and that is simply impossible
when you are surrounded by the dogs of Legado Del Fantasma.
You! This is because of you!
This is your fault! Huh?
[Graves] Just a reminder,
the record books will show that your winner is Dragon Lee.
[Barrett] It's called a Pyrrhic victory, Corey.
And yours as well!
[laughs] Oh, boo-hoo, Bayley.
You say you put your heart into creating Damage CTRL,
but let's be honest, I've always been the brains.
[in Japanese]
[dramatic music playing]
[in English] You say you want to tear us apart?
Well, prove it.
I'll see you in the ring next week.
[knocking on door]
[cell phone chiming]
-Where are they? -Uh, I… I don't…
-Where are they? They're not in there. -I don't know.
Let's go.
[dramatic rock music playing]
[Barrett] Royal Rumble winner and founder of Damage CTRL, Bayley,
was suckered in by the treacherous Dakota Kai and pals last week.
Next week, however, it may well be payback time.
It's Bayley versus Kai one-on-one right here on SmackDown.
[Graves] I bet Dragon Lee is thinking better late than never.
The Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio returns
to Friday Night SmackDown next week in Memphis.
[crowd cheering]
["Head of the Table" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
special counsel, "The Wiseman" Paul Heyman,
Jimmy Uso,
Solo Sikoa,
and the Undisputed WWE
Universal Champion,
Roman Reigns.
[popping explosions]
[Graves] For 1,286 days,
Roman has reigned as Undisputed
WWE Universal Champion.
It's been a long time,
and last week after the acknowledgment by The Rock
of Roman as The Tribal Chief, Wade, correct me if I'm wrong,
but The Bloodline has just been propelled into untouchable territory.
[Barrett] Roman Reigns and The Rock,
two men who have already achieved immortality in this industry,
yet their growth, their climb, their demand for more
simply continues, Corey.
[Graves] Well, we are headed at breakneck speed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
the biggest WrestleMania of all time,
as Roman Reigns will defend his championship
against the winner of the 2023 and 2024 Men's Royal Rumble matches,
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes,
who will stop at nothing to finish his story.
But the question still remains, Wade,
what will the rest of Roman's WrestleMania weekend look like?
We hope to have an answer tonight.
[Barrett] And indeed, what will the stipulation potentially be
for said main event of WrestleMania Sunday
between The American Nightmare and The Head of the Table
for the WWE Championship?
["Head of the Table" continues]
[popping explosions]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering and booing loudly]
♪ If you smell what The Rock is cookin' ♪
["Electrifying" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[zapping]
[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome,
The Rock.
[Graves] The atmosphere tonight in Dallas, in a word,
electrifying.
The Great One is here.
[crowd cheering]
[music continues]
[crowd cheering]
[music continues]
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Wade, we have been around this game for a long, long time,
and there is still absolutely nothing
like experiencing The Rock in person.
[Barrett] Cody Rhodes, taking back the main event of WrestleMania Sunday,
awakened a side of The Rock that has laid dormant for over 20 years.
But, man, what a treat for a couple of old school fans like us
to be here to witness it, Corey.
[Graves] No doubt about it.
[music continues]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky! Rocky!
[crowd buzzing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd buzzing]
[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Dallas, Texas.
[crowd cheering]
Greatness stands before you now.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[crowd chattering]
[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[crowd cheering and booing]
Acknowledge us.
[crowd cheering]
["Kingdom" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
["Kingdom" continues]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every thought out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
[Graves] Wait a minute.
Cody Rhodes making his entrance from through the WWE Universe.
-[Barrett] We saw… -[crowd] ♪ Whoa! ♪
…earlier Nick Aldis and his security crew
had realized Cody and Seth had gone AWOL.
That's one way to avoid security.
[Graves] Well, that'll teach Aldis to try to save a few bucks on security.
And the World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins
is in the house as well!
Rollins and Rhodes, Reigns and The Rock,
under the same roof.
♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪
♪ You'll follow me until the end ♪
["Kingdom" continues]
[Graves] Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Cody Rhodes made their arrivals
through the WWE Universe just moments ago,
and as you can see, this additional security on high alert
for what is a combustible situation.
♪ And my father said, when I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men ♪
♪ Better men! ♪
♪ You took it all away I give it all away ♪
♪ Can't take my freedom ♪
♪ Here to change the game A banner made of pain ♪
♪ I built my kingdom ♪
♪ Now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪
[song fades]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[crowd vocalizing Seth "Freakin" Rollins' theme]
[crowd cheering]
I know it's a little tense,
a lot of bad blood, but if I'm being honest,
I feel very lucky to be standing in this ring.
I think, perhaps, the four of us should take a moment.
Feel this.
Right here in a sold-out Dallas, Texas.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rock, I have heard your challenge.
And I've heard the stipulations that come with said challenge for a match,
this match, a tag team match, at WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
I gotta ask…
Do you have the authority to make that stipulation?
[crowd booing]
I mean, I'm only asking you
because I believe it was last week
you acknowledged Roman as your Tribal Chief.
[crowd jeering]
I think we can cut through all this.
You wanted an answer about WrestleMania.
You wanted it face-to-face.
So here's our answer when it comes to your--
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You shut your mouth right now, boy.
[crowd cheering]
You shut your mouth…
and you walking clown show,
you shut your mouth before you even start talking.
[crowd cheering]
Now, before you go ahead and say something stupid
and accept this challenge in front of the world,
let The Rock drop some gospel
on your punk ass right here, right now.
[crowd cheering]
The Rock acknowledged him as his Tribal Chief
because it's what family…
it's what family does.
We are family. It's what we do.
WrestleMania Night One,
let The Rock reiterate the stakes.
If you and you
beat The Rock and Roman Reigns on Night One,
then on night two of WrestleMania,
you will be free of The Bloodline.
You will be free.
You are free to achieve that story
and the dream of your dad.
Now, when The Rock and Roman Reigns beat…
[crowd chanting] Diarrhea! [clapping rhythmically]
Diarrhea!
-Diarrhea! -[laughs]
[crowd] Diarrhea!
-I shit you not. -[crowd] Diarrhea!
Diarrhea!
[crowd buzzing]
[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Now, when The Rock and Roman Reigns
beat both your candy asses on Night One,
then on night two, it's Bloodline rules.
Anything goes.
Which means The Rock will do anything and everything in his power
to make sure you do not walk out Universal Champion.
That said, do you accept?
Will you shut the hell up?
[crowd cheering loudly]
For once in your life, will you shut the hell up?
We know the stakes.
The future of the industry is on the line. We get that.
But you listen to me, and you listen to me good, Mr. Midlife Crisis.
[crowd cheering]
You had your time.
You damn sure can't have ours.
So you want your answer?
Biggest WrestleMania of all time,
biggest tag match of all time!
We accept!
[crowd cheering]
[laughing] You got…
Oh my God.
You just gonna let him answer for you?
You… you must be an idiot.
You must be from Texas or something.
[crowd booing]
You gonna let this cross-dresser make your future decisions for you?
I mean, come on. Hey.
This is it, right here. Understand? This is your future.
When I beat you at WrestleMania on Sunday…
that's it.
As far as I'm concerned, you don't get another shot.
Your story's over.
It's done for you now. [laughs]
It is over.
And let The Rock tell you something, and let The Rock tell you something,
you walking clown emoji piece of [muted].
You shut your mouth and you listen to The Rock,
and you listen to The Rock.
Because it goes down like this, The Rock will do everything in his power
to make sure that you don't win,
and to make sure that title goes away.
The Rock is a director of the board of TKO,
which means it owns WWE,
which means he's your boss and your boss.
[crowd booing]
Cody Rhodes, listen to The Rock.
With everything in The Rock's guts,
if you do not complete this story and if you don't win,
you will never, ever get another shot at this again.
You run your mouth, you chant your chants.
Listen. Look in The Rock's eyes when he tells you this.
This is family. This right now is family.
Roman's grandfather, looking down, is proud.
The Rock's grandfather, The High Chief, is looking down.
And right now, your dad, The American Dream,
one of The Rock's heroes, is looking down.
Isn't it true that you're the youngest of three?
And isn't it true that your sister was a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys?
[crowd cheering]
And isn't it true that your brother,
your brother's a Hall of Famer, future Hall of Famer?
Yeah, and you're 20 years younger than your siblings,
is that right? You know why?
Because you were a mistake.
[crowd jeering]
Let him go. Let him go.
[crowd buzzing]
-[grunts] -[crowd cheering loudly]
[thudding in microphones]
[crowd buzzing]
-Are you all right? -It's all right. n your siblings,