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[WWE dramatic intro music playing]

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[Triple H] Then.

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Now.

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Forever.

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Together.

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["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]

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[Graves] One week from tomorrow
in Lyon, France,

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the newly-crowned WWE Champion,

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the flag bearer of the new era,
The American Nightmare,

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will defend his title for the first time
at Backlash

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against an opponent Cody Rhodes
has never faced before.

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The opponent,
a former two-time WWE Champion,

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the phenomenal AJ Styles,

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who solidified
his number one contender status last week.

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Tonight, both men will put pen to paper
to make the showdown official.

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And this dynamic duo, Cargill and Belair,

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have been making waves and headlines
on SmackDown.

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Could this be the last time
we see them side by side?

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Is a change of scenery imminent?

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After all, it is draft night.

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Live, from the Heritage Bank Center
in Cincinnati, Ohio,

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this is Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,
sponsored by Progressive.

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A triple threat of protection
with home, auto and more.

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♪ Who can tussle with the beast? ♪

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And before
we get the festivities underway,

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let's take another look
at the draft rules this year,

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slightly different from years prior.

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Superstars from Raw,
SmackDown, and NXT are eligible.

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SmackDown begins the festivities
tonight with the first pick.

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Raw will have the first pick on Monday,

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and of course,
the rosters lock Monday, May 6th.

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[Barrett] And to be clear,

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here's another change
from historical methodology.

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Champions are ineligible
to be drafted this year.

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If you carry a championship,
you are tied to the brand

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that you are already registered to.

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♪ Nothing I can't conquer ♪

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♪ Speak the truth, never lie
This for our fans… ♪

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[Graves] There's a glimpse inside of both
the Raw and SmackDown war rooms.

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Adam Pearce, Nick Aldis
extremely busy at work.

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What a night it's going to be.

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Let's throw it backstage
to our own Kayla Braxton.

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Standing by here with Paul Heyman.

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And, Paul, it is night one
of the WWE Draft,

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and there's already
a lot of rumors circulating

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what's going to happen tonight,

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including rumors about
"The Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns.

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Oh, well, let me clarify
that for you, Kayla.

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These are not rumors regarding
your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.

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These are facts.

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Ladies and gentlemen, your Tribal Chief,
Roman Reigns,

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has voluntarily withdrawn from eligibility
for the 2024 Draft.

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This is not a negative.

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This is a positive.

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Who built SmackDown since the pandemic?

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Roman Reigns.

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Who is the biggest star
in the entire industry?

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Roman Reigns.

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Why would Roman Reigns
hog the number one draft pick spotlight

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when Roman Reigns
is not going to be returning

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in the immediate future?

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Read into my words, Kayla.

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That is not
what a real Tribal Chief would do.

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Instead, now the pressure is on Nick Aldis

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because if Roman Reigns
is not the first draft pick, who is?

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Whoever are the first two draft picks,
they make history in a brand-new era.

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I don't know about you, but me?

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I'm intrigued.

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All right.

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Well, now we're going to throw
things down to Orlando, Florida

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at the NXT Performance Center
with Jackie Redmond. Hey, Jackie.

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[crowd cheering]

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Kayla, let-- Kayla, let me tell you,

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the emotion here inside
the NXT Performance Center,

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oh, it is palpable excitement, hope…

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-[crowd chanting "NXT!"]
-…and a little bit of nervousness.

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Let me tell you something,
for these NXT Superstars,

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tonight is the culmination
of a lifetime of hard work,

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dedication, a little bit of luck,
and a whole lot of self-belief.

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Just last year, it was current
WWE Tag Team Champion Grayson Waller

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hoping that he would hear his name

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and be drafted.

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-[man] Grayson!
-Look at him now.

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And you know, Corey,
it's funny we call this NXT,

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but tonight we are buying a vowel.

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We are throwing an E in there
and we are asking this important question…

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Who's next?

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We find out tonight. Back to you.

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[Barrett] Well, already a massive
curve ball with Roman Reigns

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withdrawing eligibility
from tonight's draft,

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but here's a look at
the WWE Draft night one pool

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who the GMs will be picking
from this evening.

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Remember, a separate pool
is going to be available

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for night two of the draft
this Monday on Raw.

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And now, let's hand over to voice of
SmackDown Corey Graves in the ring.

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Welcome, everyone, to night one
of the 2024 WWE Draft.

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[crowd cheering]

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Now, understandably,
our general manager for SmackDown,

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Nick Aldis, has his hands
extremely full tonight,

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so I've been given the honor of moderating
the contract signing

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for our Undisputed WWE Championship Match

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taking place one week from tomorrow
at Backlash.

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So without any further ado,
please welcome the challenger,

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"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.

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♪ You don't want none ♪

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["You Don't Want None" playing]

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♪ I’m the lone wolf, I be on it, I go ♪

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♪ All four corners
I leave it on the floor ♪

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♪ Hand held high… ♪

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[Barrett] Here he is,
the number one contender

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to Cody Rhodes' WWE Championship,

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an opportunity he earned
last week on SmackDown

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by defeating "The Megastar" LA Knight.

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♪ AJ Styles, I be styling like whoa ♪

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♪ In the ring where anything goes ♪

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[Barrett] Now, assuming
this contract signing goes smoothly,

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here's where we're heading.

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Cody Rhodes' first defense

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of the Undisputed WWE Championship,
one week from tomorrow

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at WWE Backlash, streaming on Peacock.

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♪ Told 'em back, back up ♪

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♪ Want to roll on me ♪

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♪ Get active, I'm up ♪

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And now…

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the Undisputed WWE Champion,

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"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.

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[crowd cheering]

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[Rhodes] Wrestling
has more than one royal family.

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["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]

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[raucous cheering]

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♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪

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♪ Every thought out of control ♪

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♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪

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♪ Crowd is here, about to blow
Waitin' for me to start the show ♪

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♪ Out the curtain, lights go up
I'm home ♪

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[crowd sings along] ♪ Whoa! ♪

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[popping explosions]

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♪ When I was younger ♪

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♪ Hard times breed better men ♪

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♪ Better men! ♪

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♪ You took it all away
I give it all away ♪

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♪ Can't take my freedom ♪

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♪ Here to change the game
A banner made of pain ♪

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♪ I built my kingdom ♪

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♪ Now you bow to me ♪

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♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪

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♪ You'll follow me until the end ♪

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♪ I am my kingdom ♪

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♪ Lights go down, I'm ready now ♪

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♪ Tear this roof off for the town ♪

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♪ Gonna give 'em what they came to see ♪

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♪ Hear the crowd on their toes ♪

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♪ Ready for me to start the show ♪

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♪ Out the curtain, lights go up
I'm home ♪

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[crowd sings along] ♪ Whoa! ♪

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♪ And my father said, when I was younger ♪

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♪ Hard times breed better men ♪

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♪ Better men! ♪

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♪ You took it all away
I give it all away ♪

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[song fades]

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[crowd cheering]

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[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody!
Cody! Cody! Cody!

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Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!

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[crowd cheering]

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Before I sign this…

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[crowd booing]

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I don't know if you realize
what we have here.

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We have two Georgia boys
ready to mix it up for the first time

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for the biggest prize in the game.

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[crowd booing]

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And I can understand why you boo me.

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I understand that. I get it.

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But you got to know that
I don't respect LA Knight

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and he got under my skin.

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[crowd booing]

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I accept it. I accept it.

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Hey, that's why I lost at WrestleMania.

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But what happened?

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I got my composure back,
and I realized that I am phenomenal.

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[crowd] What?

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And I beat LA Knight to earn the right
to face Cody Rhodes at Backlash.

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[crowd] What?

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Now, unlike LA Knight,
I respect you, Cody. I really do.

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We haven't crossed paths yet,

185
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but we've been down the same roads…

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[crowd] What?

187
00:11:17,309 --> 00:11:22,581
…and we had to prove ourselves
outside of WWE.

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[crowd] What?

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And I'm willing to believe

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that the same man
that gave me advice a long time ago

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gave you the same advice, Cody.

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[crowd] What?

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00:11:35,461 --> 00:11:40,332
How to stand on our own two feet
and be the men that we are today.

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00:11:40,399 --> 00:11:41,834
[crowd] What?

195
00:11:41,901 --> 00:11:46,405
And he goes by the name of
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.

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[crowd cheering]

197
00:11:52,712 --> 00:11:58,184
[crowd chanting] Dusty! Dusty!
Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty!

198
00:11:58,250 --> 00:12:03,589
Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty!

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00:12:04,657 --> 00:12:06,325
I learned a lot from your dad.

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00:12:11,997 --> 00:12:13,165
He's a good man.

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00:12:15,401 --> 00:12:20,439
He taught me how to carry myself
and how to carry the weight of a champion.

202
00:12:20,506 --> 00:12:21,774
[crowd] What?

203
00:12:23,542 --> 00:12:24,376
[sighs]

204
00:12:25,344 --> 00:12:27,079
And I look at this right here…

205
00:12:27,146 --> 00:12:28,781
[crowd] What?

206
00:12:29,348 --> 00:12:35,755
And the weight of this
isn't just of leather and gold.

207
00:12:35,821 --> 00:12:38,357
[crowd shouting]

208
00:12:39,458 --> 00:12:43,062
And at Backlash,
we're going to see if you can carry it.

209
00:12:44,630 --> 00:12:46,165
[crowd booing]

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00:12:48,901 --> 00:12:52,104
[crowd jeering]

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00:13:05,918 --> 00:13:07,353
So…

212
00:13:07,987 --> 00:13:10,990
[crowd cheering]

213
00:13:12,858 --> 00:13:14,727
Cincinnati!

214
00:13:14,794 --> 00:13:17,530
[crowd cheering]

215
00:13:19,999 --> 00:13:21,567
What do we want to talk about?

216
00:13:24,336 --> 00:13:27,807
Certainly, we can talk about respect.

217
00:13:28,407 --> 00:13:32,077
There is not a locker room
on Earth that you'll find

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00:13:32,144 --> 00:13:35,681
where everyone in it, every single person,

219
00:13:36,315 --> 00:13:38,317
they all respect AJ Styles.

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00:13:38,384 --> 00:13:44,190
Last week, I went on to say you were
the modern-day Excellence of Execution.

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00:13:44,256 --> 00:13:47,626
I respect the roads that you
have traveled down to get here,

222
00:13:47,693 --> 00:13:50,129
the parallel paths that perhaps
you and I had.

223
00:13:50,196 --> 00:13:52,498
Much respect. Mutual respect.

224
00:13:53,232 --> 00:13:59,371
But that respect
goes by the wayside at Backlash.

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00:13:59,438 --> 00:14:00,706
-[man] Yeah!
-Okay.

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00:14:00,773 --> 00:14:03,209
I can feel it in your words, to a degree.

227
00:14:03,275 --> 00:14:05,010
You've been here before,

228
00:14:05,077 --> 00:14:08,180
and it seems like you're implying
that I cannot carry…

229
00:14:09,281 --> 00:14:13,652
that I cannot carry the weight
of that championship.

230
00:14:15,087 --> 00:14:15,921
Well…

231
00:14:17,223 --> 00:14:20,292
good thing the man who trained me
not far from where I sit now

232
00:14:20,359 --> 00:14:23,829
used to tell me all the time,
it's not about winning the title,

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00:14:24,797 --> 00:14:26,699
it's about keeping it.

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00:14:27,733 --> 00:14:29,735
[crowd cheering]

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00:14:32,504 --> 00:14:37,176
And boy, do I respect
your familiarity with my last name.

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00:14:37,243 --> 00:14:41,313
But when I put C-O-D-Y in front of it
on this piece of paper,

237
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that means that we have
never touched before.

238
00:14:43,816 --> 00:14:47,086
That means that at Backlash,
it is a level playing field.

239
00:14:47,152 --> 00:14:51,323
That means that no matter
how phenomenal you are,

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00:14:52,424 --> 00:14:55,060
this is not a dream match for me.

241
00:14:57,062 --> 00:14:58,731
It's a must-win.

242
00:14:59,565 --> 00:15:02,735
[crowd cheering]

243
00:15:07,439 --> 00:15:10,142
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!

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00:15:10,209 --> 00:15:15,781
Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!

245
00:15:24,890 --> 00:15:26,225
You know, Cody,

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00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,730
it was a beautiful thing
to see you finish your story

247
00:15:32,631 --> 00:15:33,866
and get the championship.

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00:15:34,566 --> 00:15:36,268
[fan 1] Cody, smack him already!

249
00:15:36,335 --> 00:15:37,937
[fan 2] Shut up, AJ!

250
00:15:38,003 --> 00:15:43,142
But it's a shame that your title reign
is going to end at Backlash.

251
00:15:43,876 --> 00:15:45,678
[crowd booing]

252
00:15:48,380 --> 00:15:52,284
[no audible dialogue]

253
00:15:52,351 --> 00:15:55,554
[crowd shouting]

254
00:16:05,564 --> 00:16:08,033
[crowd booing]

255
00:16:15,341 --> 00:16:17,343
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]

256
00:16:19,678 --> 00:16:21,313
[Barrett] Signed, sealed,

257
00:16:21,380 --> 00:16:25,451
and one week from tomorrow,
for the first time ever,

258
00:16:25,517 --> 00:16:30,389
Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles
will have to deliver

259
00:16:30,456 --> 00:16:36,095
with the Undisputed WWE Championship
up for grabs.

260
00:16:36,161 --> 00:16:40,165
Cody's first defense of the title
he won at WrestleMania,

261
00:16:40,232 --> 00:16:43,402
at Backlash in Lyon, France,

262
00:16:43,469 --> 00:16:45,304
streaming on Peacock.

263
00:16:45,371 --> 00:16:48,073
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪

264
00:16:48,140 --> 00:16:52,611
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up
I'm home ♪

265
00:16:52,678 --> 00:16:54,880
[crowd singing along] ♪ Whoa! ♪

266
00:16:56,148 --> 00:16:58,183
♪ It's time to play the game ♪

267
00:16:58,250 --> 00:17:01,487
-["The Game" by Motörhead playing]
-[crowd cheering]

268
00:17:01,553 --> 00:17:04,056
♪ Time to play the game! ♪

269
00:17:09,194 --> 00:17:10,963
[crowd cheering]

270
00:17:17,369 --> 00:17:20,339
♪ It's all about the game
And how you play it ♪

271
00:17:20,406 --> 00:17:23,609
♪ All about control
And if you can take it… ♪

272
00:17:24,843 --> 00:17:27,746
[Graves] Well, Wade,
we knew the first night of the draft

273
00:17:27,813 --> 00:17:29,181
was going to be big.

274
00:17:29,248 --> 00:17:31,483
What bigger way to kick it off

275
00:17:31,550 --> 00:17:34,019
than with The Game himself.

276
00:17:34,086 --> 00:17:35,754
Man, you could feel the tension
in the ring

277
00:17:35,821 --> 00:17:37,256
when they were signing that contract.

278
00:17:37,322 --> 00:17:38,557
I can't wait for Backlash.

279
00:17:38,624 --> 00:17:40,492
[Barrett] I was worried for your safety.

280
00:17:42,094 --> 00:17:43,062
Welcome

281
00:17:43,595 --> 00:17:47,566
to the first round of the 2024 Draft.

282
00:17:50,002 --> 00:17:54,673
It's the night that changes the landscape
of WWE going into the future.

283
00:17:55,441 --> 00:17:58,243
And the draft here is a bit different

284
00:17:58,310 --> 00:18:01,580
because as those GMs sit in the back
in those war rooms,

285
00:18:01,647 --> 00:18:03,549
pondering their next step,

286
00:18:03,615 --> 00:18:05,951
they have to understand

287
00:18:06,018 --> 00:18:11,056
that it's just as much about
protecting the roster they have

288
00:18:11,123 --> 00:18:14,927
as it is bringing in the roster
that they want.

289
00:18:16,562 --> 00:18:21,100
Meaning that when they use their pick,
they have just as much of a chance

290
00:18:21,166 --> 00:18:23,769
of gaining a WWE Superstar

291
00:18:23,836 --> 00:18:26,905
as they do losing one
that they already have.

292
00:18:27,773 --> 00:18:31,143
Cody, I thought since champions
are protected

293
00:18:31,210 --> 00:18:34,046
and you'll be staying right here
on SmackDown…

294
00:18:34,113 --> 00:18:37,483
[crowd cheering]

295
00:18:38,917 --> 00:18:42,020
…I thought maybe you could
help me out here

296
00:18:42,087 --> 00:18:45,090
and you read the SmackDown picks,
I'll read the Raw picks.

297
00:18:45,157 --> 00:18:50,395
And since it is SmackDown,
you get the honor of going first.

298
00:18:50,462 --> 00:18:51,363
[whistles]

299
00:18:51,430 --> 00:18:52,264
[man] All right!

300
00:18:52,331 --> 00:18:54,733
[crowd cheering]

301
00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:55,968
[man] Cody!

302
00:18:57,236 --> 00:19:01,940
With the first pick of the 2024 WWE Draft,

303
00:19:02,007 --> 00:19:07,880
SmackDown selects The EST of WWE,

304
00:19:07,946 --> 00:19:09,948
Bianca Belair.

305
00:19:10,582 --> 00:19:12,718
[Graves] No surprise there, Bad News.

306
00:19:12,784 --> 00:19:16,221
"The EST" Bianca Belair

307
00:19:16,288 --> 00:19:20,092
staying right here
on Friday Night SmackDown,

308
00:19:20,158 --> 00:19:23,529
bolstering what I believe is
the best Women's division in the game.

309
00:19:28,834 --> 00:19:34,673
The second pick of the 2024
WWE Draft, Raw selects…

310
00:19:36,175 --> 00:19:38,310
-[man 1] Ay! Yeet!
-[man 2] Yeet!

311
00:19:38,377 --> 00:19:39,611
Yeet!

312
00:19:39,678 --> 00:19:43,115
…"Main Event" Jey Uso.

313
00:19:44,349 --> 00:19:49,254
[Graves] That is incredible
career trajectory from "Main Event" Jey,

314
00:19:49,321 --> 00:19:52,758
splitting from The Bloodline,
standing on his own two feet,

315
00:19:52,824 --> 00:19:56,361
and earning the right
to be the number one draft pick

316
00:19:56,428 --> 00:19:57,796
for the red brand.

317
00:19:57,863 --> 00:20:00,032
Yeah, wow. Yeah. Nailed it.

318
00:20:00,098 --> 00:20:02,000
[Graves] Can we hold Jey
responsible for seeing that?

319
00:20:02,868 --> 00:20:04,570
[crowd shouting] Yeet!

320
00:20:04,636 --> 00:20:05,971
Yeet.

321
00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,978
With the third pick of the 2024
WWE Drafts,

322
00:20:13,045 --> 00:20:15,380
SmackDown selects…

323
00:20:17,015 --> 00:20:19,718
NXT's Carmelo Hayes.

324
00:20:19,785 --> 00:20:20,953
[Barrett] What?

325
00:20:21,553 --> 00:20:23,989
What a genius pick!

326
00:20:25,224 --> 00:20:27,292
Oh my-- Nobody saw that coming.

327
00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:28,794
["Melo Don't Miss" playing]

328
00:20:28,860 --> 00:20:31,563
♪ I'm at the top
Get respect while I get fit ♪

329
00:20:31,630 --> 00:20:34,600
♪ Who got a problem, huh?
Tell 'em to step here ♪

330
00:20:35,867 --> 00:20:36,702
-♪ What? ♪
-♪ Yeah ♪

331
00:20:37,736 --> 00:20:39,438
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest, no arguing… ♪

332
00:20:39,504 --> 00:20:44,776
[Graves] What a reaction from Carmelo's
peers at the Performance Center.

333
00:20:45,711 --> 00:20:49,014
[Barrett] Drafted round one.
Completely warranted.

334
00:20:50,349 --> 00:20:52,484
Carmelo Hayes is a hell of a pick.
I like that.

335
00:20:52,551 --> 00:20:53,418
Yeah.

336
00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:59,057
The final pick of the first round,
Raw selects…

337
00:20:59,124 --> 00:21:00,325
[man shouts indistinctly]

338
00:21:02,127 --> 00:21:04,730
…Seth "Freakin" Rollins.

339
00:21:04,796 --> 00:21:06,765
[crowd cheering]

340
00:21:06,832 --> 00:21:08,300
[Graves] No surprise there.

341
00:21:08,367 --> 00:21:11,069
The man who's held
the World Heavyweight Championship

342
00:21:11,136 --> 00:21:13,272
until this past WrestleMania.

343
00:21:13,872 --> 00:21:16,274
An overabundance of heart and guts.

344
00:21:16,341 --> 00:21:19,444
Seth 'Freakin' Rollins
staying on Monday nights.

345
00:21:20,912 --> 00:21:23,048
[crowd sings] ♪ Whoa ♪

346
00:21:23,115 --> 00:21:27,085
[Graves] Round one is in the books, Wade.
Any immediate thoughts?

347
00:21:27,152 --> 00:21:29,988
[Barrett] It's the Carmelo Hayes thing.
I'm still blown away, but I love it.

348
00:21:31,189 --> 00:21:33,392
♪ Burn it down! ♪

349
00:21:36,328 --> 00:21:39,598
["Melo Don't Miss" playing]

350
00:21:39,665 --> 00:21:42,634
♪ 'Cause I’m the greatest, ain’t no hatin'
I’m the best here ♪

351
00:21:42,701 --> 00:21:45,437
♪ You want your shot
Well, I guess you wait 'til next year… ♪

352
00:21:45,504 --> 00:21:49,808
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes is here.

353
00:21:50,309 --> 00:21:51,576
♪ Tell 'em to step here ♪

354
00:21:53,145 --> 00:21:54,179
-♪ What? ♪
-♪ Yeah ♪

355
00:21:54,913 --> 00:21:57,049
♪ 'Cause I’m the greatest
No arguing or debating… ♪

356
00:21:57,115 --> 00:21:58,216
Hey, hey, hey.

357
00:21:58,784 --> 00:22:01,153
When they talk about who's next up,

358
00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,723
when they talk about
who's the hottest out,

359
00:22:05,724 --> 00:22:07,826
they don't call him the hottest out,

360
00:22:07,893 --> 00:22:10,896
they call him Carmelo Hayes.

361
00:22:10,962 --> 00:22:13,165
[crowd cheering]

362
00:22:15,967 --> 00:22:17,269
And Cody…

363
00:22:17,803 --> 00:22:21,973
[crowd chanting] Whoop that trick!
Whoop that trick! Whoop that trick!

364
00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,576
[laughs] Oh. Oh, I already did.

365
00:22:25,677 --> 00:22:29,114
And, Cody, ever since
you won that championship,

366
00:22:29,181 --> 00:22:30,582
I've been hearing you.

367
00:22:30,649 --> 00:22:34,086
You've been saying a lot about
if you come for the king,

368
00:22:34,152 --> 00:22:36,221
you best not miss.

369
00:22:37,122 --> 00:22:41,126
And that's funny how that works,
'cause one thing about me is,

370
00:22:41,193 --> 00:22:42,661
when I shoot,

371
00:22:43,895 --> 00:22:46,732
I don't miss.

372
00:22:48,734 --> 00:22:51,536
And as a first-round draft pick,

373
00:22:51,603 --> 00:22:57,309
I can't think of a better way
to shoot my shot here on SmackDown

374
00:22:58,076 --> 00:23:03,115
than to shoot it against you.

375
00:23:03,181 --> 00:23:05,550
[crowd exclaiming]

376
00:23:10,088 --> 00:23:11,490
-[man 1] Kick his ass, Cody!
-I got it.

377
00:23:11,556 --> 00:23:13,525
-Okay.
-[man 2] Whup his ass, Cody.

378
00:23:17,028 --> 00:23:21,399
Fortune, uh, certainly favors the bold,
but I don't know. You-you…

379
00:23:22,801 --> 00:23:25,670
you folks don't want to see me
in action tonight, do you?

380
00:23:25,737 --> 00:23:28,573
[crowd cheering]

381
00:23:31,209 --> 00:23:32,377
Oh, I don't know.

382
00:23:33,245 --> 00:23:34,746
What if I forgot my gear?

383
00:23:35,747 --> 00:23:38,116
-[crowd buzzing]
-Oh.

384
00:23:38,183 --> 00:23:39,618
Oh, that's right.

385
00:23:40,118 --> 00:23:42,721
I didn't forget my gear.

386
00:23:42,788 --> 00:23:45,323
[crowd cheering]

387
00:23:46,525 --> 00:23:52,864
And this right here, for me,
means absolutely, 100%,

388
00:23:52,931 --> 00:23:54,266
you're on.

389
00:23:54,332 --> 00:23:56,768
[crowd cheering]

390
00:23:59,070 --> 00:24:00,205
I'll see you out there.

391
00:24:00,939 --> 00:24:04,509
[Barrett] Make no mistake,
when you're as good as Carmelo Hayes,

392
00:24:04,576 --> 00:24:06,011
you are ready.

393
00:24:06,645 --> 00:24:08,079
[Graves] The American Nightmare

394
00:24:08,146 --> 00:24:11,750
one-on-one
with the number one pick tonight.

395
00:24:12,818 --> 00:24:16,721
But before we get there,
The LWO have had their hands full

396
00:24:16,788 --> 00:24:19,191
with Legado Del Fantasma.

397
00:24:19,257 --> 00:24:23,428
Coming up next, one more opportunity
to exorcise the past.

398
00:24:23,495 --> 00:24:25,130
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]

399
00:24:27,732 --> 00:24:31,169
From a sold-out Heritage Bank Center
in Cincinnati, Ohio,

400
00:24:31,236 --> 00:24:33,538
this is Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,

401
00:24:33,605 --> 00:24:35,707
sponsored by Progressive Insurance.

402
00:24:35,774 --> 00:24:40,111
Save when you bundle auto,
home, or motorcycle insurance.

403
00:24:41,213 --> 00:24:44,349
Corey Graves ringside
alongside Wade Barrett,

404
00:24:44,416 --> 00:24:47,652
as we prepare for tag team action
against two factions

405
00:24:47,719 --> 00:24:49,754
who cannot stand one another, Wade.

406
00:24:49,821 --> 00:24:52,257
-Legado Del Fantasma and The LWO.
-[bell rings]

407
00:24:52,324 --> 00:24:55,660
[Barrett] Yeah, this rivalry has turned
into something of a saga

408
00:24:55,727 --> 00:24:57,162
over the past few months.

409
00:24:57,229 --> 00:25:00,765
You want to claim to be the
pre-eminent lucha group on the planet?

410
00:25:00,832 --> 00:25:04,669
Well, put your number one rivals
in the rearview mirror for good.

411
00:25:04,736 --> 00:25:06,738
[Graves] Most recently,
it was originally scheduled to be

412
00:25:06,805 --> 00:25:10,008
Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee
teaming up at WrestleMania

413
00:25:10,075 --> 00:25:12,777
until a backstage attack
took Dragon out of action.

414
00:25:12,844 --> 00:25:14,679
Of course, Andrade filled in
to great success.

415
00:25:14,746 --> 00:25:16,548
But here comes Dragon Lee.

416
00:25:16,615 --> 00:25:17,916
[Barrett] Whoa.

417
00:25:17,983 --> 00:25:20,385
[Graves] Suicide dive to the outside.

418
00:25:20,952 --> 00:25:23,889
[Barrett] Dragon Lee the man
who Rey Mysterio himself has called

419
00:25:23,955 --> 00:25:25,290
the future of lucha libre.

420
00:25:25,357 --> 00:25:27,859
All the more reason why Rey wanted to tag

421
00:25:27,926 --> 00:25:30,195
with Dragon Lee at WrestleMania.

422
00:25:30,262 --> 00:25:32,531
[Graves] Crossbody. Down goes Berto.

423
00:25:32,597 --> 00:25:34,866
[Barrett] At least getting
a redo here tonight.

424
00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:38,803
[Graves] And of course, understandably,
LWO has accused Santos Escobar

425
00:25:38,870 --> 00:25:40,872
of being behind the attack
on Dragon Lee and Santos.

426
00:25:40,939 --> 00:25:42,007
[Barrett] And I'm sick of it.

427
00:25:42,073 --> 00:25:44,743
How many times does Santos Escobar
have to deny it was him?

428
00:25:44,809 --> 00:25:48,914
The man, if he causes mischief,
claims responsibility.

429
00:25:48,980 --> 00:25:51,650
He's a man of perceived honor
in that regard.

430
00:25:51,716 --> 00:25:53,618
Wears it as a badge of honor.

431
00:25:54,853 --> 00:25:56,121
[Graves] Oh my God.

432
00:25:56,187 --> 00:25:58,189
Nasty spill to the outside.

433
00:25:58,256 --> 00:26:00,559
Great teamwork by Angel and Berto.

434
00:26:00,625 --> 00:26:04,262
Can The LWO claw their way back
into this tag team match?

435
00:26:08,333 --> 00:26:10,669
[Graves] Tag team action here
on Friday Night SmackDown.

436
00:26:10,735 --> 00:26:13,738
Legado Del Fantasma versus The LWO.

437
00:26:13,805 --> 00:26:15,373
Dragon Lee makes the tag.

438
00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,843
Here comes the Hall of Famer,
Rey Mysterio.

439
00:26:19,411 --> 00:26:22,047
[Barrett] And it has been
Legado Del Fantasma

440
00:26:22,113 --> 00:26:24,182
in complete control until now.

441
00:26:24,249 --> 00:26:26,217
But what a game changer that tag is.

442
00:26:26,284 --> 00:26:31,456
[Graves] From the very top.
Seated senton takes down Angel.

443
00:26:32,223 --> 00:26:33,058
[grunts]

444
00:26:33,124 --> 00:26:35,627
Rey Mysterio absolutely timeless.

445
00:26:36,661 --> 00:26:39,931
-Code red, shoulders down…
-One, two…

446
00:26:39,998 --> 00:26:42,133
And Berto breaks up the fall.

447
00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:43,635
[Barrett] Just in the nick of time,

448
00:26:43,702 --> 00:26:46,972
much to the relief of Legado Del Fantasma.

449
00:26:47,839 --> 00:26:52,043
[Graves] Berto now, the illegal competitor
for Legado, is sent to the outside

450
00:26:52,110 --> 00:26:53,878
via head scissors by Mysterio.

451
00:26:53,945 --> 00:26:57,315
[Barrett] Simply cannot write off
the Hall of Famer.

452
00:26:57,882 --> 00:26:59,818
[Graves] Can't afford to take your
eyes off someone

453
00:26:59,884 --> 00:27:02,187
as dangerous as Angel Garza.

454
00:27:02,253 --> 00:27:04,289
Angel now setting up for something big.

455
00:27:04,356 --> 00:27:06,591
Perhaps the end for Rey Mysterio.

456
00:27:06,658 --> 00:27:07,859
Double underhook.

457
00:27:09,494 --> 00:27:11,863
Rey countered, able to trip up Angel.

458
00:27:12,931 --> 00:27:15,600
[Barrett] Freakish athletic ability.

459
00:27:15,667 --> 00:27:19,304
[Graves] Tag made.
Dragon Lee is legal for LWO.

460
00:27:19,871 --> 00:27:22,307
[Barrett] Absolutely text book 619.

461
00:27:23,608 --> 00:27:25,377
[Graves] Project Dragon.

462
00:27:26,011 --> 00:27:28,380
[referee and crowd] One, two, three!

463
00:27:28,446 --> 00:27:30,348
-[Graves] And The LWO does it.
-[bell rings]

464
00:27:30,415 --> 00:27:32,417
["Booyaka 619" by P.O.D. playing]

465
00:27:32,484 --> 00:27:34,152
[Mike Rome] Here are your winners,

466
00:27:34,219 --> 00:27:39,557
The LWO.

467
00:27:39,624 --> 00:27:42,360
[Barrett] Big celebrations for The LWO,

468
00:27:42,427 --> 00:27:45,764
but they've been out to humble
Legado Del Fantasma

469
00:27:45,830 --> 00:27:46,698
for some time.

470
00:27:46,765 --> 00:27:47,599
As a group, they've-

471
00:27:47,666 --> 00:27:50,335
Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

472
00:27:51,970 --> 00:27:54,205
Hold that celebration.

473
00:27:56,841 --> 00:27:58,543
[speaking Spanish] Paren la celebración.

474
00:28:00,779 --> 00:28:05,684
[in English] I am many things, but a liar…

475
00:28:08,019 --> 00:28:09,154
I am not.

476
00:28:11,823 --> 00:28:16,194
And when I said
I did not attack Dragon Lee

477
00:28:16,261 --> 00:28:21,066
the evening before
WrestleMania XL, I meant it.

478
00:28:22,133 --> 00:28:27,138
Elektra has been working
for weeks to track down

479
00:28:27,205 --> 00:28:29,974
the security footage from that evening.

480
00:28:30,041 --> 00:28:31,276
And, Rey…

481
00:28:31,910 --> 00:28:35,246
Rey, what you're about to see,

482
00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:40,418
you're going to find
very, very interesting.

483
00:28:43,254 --> 00:28:45,990
[indistinct chatter on video]

484
00:28:46,057 --> 00:28:48,126
-[banging]
-[crowd exclaiming]

485
00:28:49,427 --> 00:28:50,595
[screeching]

486
00:28:57,202 --> 00:29:00,138
-You told him. You told him.
-Looks like he got caught.

487
00:29:00,205 --> 00:29:02,240
[indistinct chatter]

488
00:29:02,307 --> 00:29:03,141
[Escobar] Not a liar.

489
00:29:04,209 --> 00:29:09,481
[Santos] It's the code, honor, legacy.
That's what it's about.

490
00:29:09,547 --> 00:29:13,518
[Carlito on screen] Help! Somebody help!
Call the trainer. Somebody. Hey!

491
00:29:13,585 --> 00:29:14,786
[crowd shouting]

492
00:29:14,853 --> 00:29:15,854
[Graves] It was Carlito!

493
00:29:16,554 --> 00:29:18,123
Carlito all along.

494
00:29:21,025 --> 00:29:22,727
[Barrett] Give the man an Oscar.

495
00:29:24,162 --> 00:29:25,230
What are you doing?

496
00:29:25,296 --> 00:29:27,332
[Graves] The ultimate betrayal.

497
00:29:28,533 --> 00:29:30,802
[Barrett] We're left asking the question,
why?

498
00:29:33,037 --> 00:29:35,707
[Graves] I'm sure no one's more
confused than Rey Mysterio

499
00:29:35,774 --> 00:29:38,409
who personally brought Carlito
into The LWO.

500
00:29:38,476 --> 00:29:39,310
[speaking Spanish]

501
00:29:39,377 --> 00:29:41,479
[Barrett] Those two go back about
20 years.

502
00:29:41,546 --> 00:29:42,914
That's all been thrown away.

503
00:29:44,949 --> 00:29:48,186
[Graves] You were right about
Santos having clean hands…

504
00:29:48,253 --> 00:29:49,854
We're supposed to be family--

505
00:29:49,921 --> 00:29:54,292
[Graves] …but Carlito
with a backstabber for the whole LWO.

506
00:29:56,261 --> 00:30:01,566
And there we look once again at
the war rooms for the 2024 WWE Draft.

507
00:30:01,633 --> 00:30:03,768
The first round is in the books.

508
00:30:03,835 --> 00:30:05,703
What does the future hold?

509
00:30:05,770 --> 00:30:08,039
The draft continues tonight.

510
00:30:12,544 --> 00:30:15,780
[Barrett] Just confirmed
SmackDown's newest Superstar,

511
00:30:15,847 --> 00:30:18,149
the always confident Carmelo Hayes.

512
00:30:18,216 --> 00:30:21,853
He's called his shot,
and as the man said, he rarely misses.

513
00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:24,822
Melo takes on "The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes

514
00:30:24,889 --> 00:30:26,591
in tonight's main event.

515
00:30:26,658 --> 00:30:28,593
♪ This is my time, get used to my name ♪

516
00:30:30,094 --> 00:30:32,764
[siren blaring]

517
00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:38,736
["Destined for Greatness" playing]

518
00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:43,508
Yeah!

519
00:30:45,109 --> 00:30:46,077
[bell rings]

520
00:30:46,144 --> 00:30:49,814
[Rome] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall.

521
00:30:49,881 --> 00:30:53,284
Introducing first, from Atlanta, Georgia,

522
00:30:53,351 --> 00:30:58,089
weighing in at 250 pounds.

523
00:30:58,156 --> 00:31:02,327
Bron Breakker.

524
00:31:02,393 --> 00:31:07,398
[Graves] Wade, It is the 2024 Draft,
and you talk about a blue chip athlete,

525
00:31:07,465 --> 00:31:10,368
you've got to mention Bron Breakker,

526
00:31:10,435 --> 00:31:12,170
potentially a future World Champion.

527
00:31:12,237 --> 00:31:13,771
[Barrett] No doubt about it.
Last two years,

528
00:31:13,838 --> 00:31:18,676
the Men's division in NXT has been
the Bron and Carmelo Hayes show.

529
00:31:18,743 --> 00:31:21,012
Melo got drafted in round one.

530
00:31:21,079 --> 00:31:23,781
To be clear, Bron Breakker
is still up for grabs,

531
00:31:23,848 --> 00:31:25,917
and I'm going to guess
he's going to move quick--

532
00:31:25,984 --> 00:31:27,151
[Graves] Oh! [laughs]

533
00:31:27,218 --> 00:31:30,488
I didn't even have time to talk
about Cedric raising his stock.

534
00:31:30,555 --> 00:31:32,323
-[referee and crowd] One, two, three!
-Good night.

535
00:31:32,390 --> 00:31:33,458
[bell rings]

536
00:31:33,524 --> 00:31:35,894
["Destined for Greatness" playing]

537
00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:37,328
[Rome] Here is your winner,

538
00:31:37,395 --> 00:31:41,666
Bron Breakker!

539
00:31:41,733 --> 00:31:44,535
[Graves] Well, Bron Breakker
was not here for a long time

540
00:31:44,602 --> 00:31:47,505
and, unfortunately,
Cedric did not have a good time.

541
00:31:47,572 --> 00:31:52,277
But Bron Breakker just elevated
his draft stock even higher

542
00:31:52,343 --> 00:31:53,544
if you can believe that.

543
00:31:53,611 --> 00:31:58,182
[Graves] Cataclysmic and highly charged,
this man, Bron Breakker,

544
00:31:58,249 --> 00:32:00,885
is going places in a hurry.

545
00:32:01,552 --> 00:32:03,488
And, Corey, I got to agree with you.

546
00:32:03,554 --> 00:32:07,458
Bron Breakker, if he wasn't the next pick
in everyone's draft board,

547
00:32:07,525 --> 00:32:11,663
has just shot up even higher
with yet another cataclysmic performance.

548
00:32:11,729 --> 00:32:14,799
Definitely raising your draft stock,
putting yourself in title contention.

549
00:32:14,866 --> 00:32:16,601
Well, here on Friday Night SmackDown,

550
00:32:16,668 --> 00:32:19,003
another newcomer
who's been stealing headlines

551
00:32:19,070 --> 00:32:23,474
and doing, frankly, whatever the hell
she wants, has been Tiffany Stratton.

552
00:32:23,541 --> 00:32:26,177
It's Tiffy Time
in our Progressive Match Flo.

553
00:32:27,712 --> 00:32:30,515
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by
Progressive.

554
00:32:30,581 --> 00:32:33,918
A triple threat of protection
with home, auto, and more.

555
00:32:33,985 --> 00:32:35,586
[dramatic music playing]

556
00:32:35,653 --> 00:32:38,589
[Graves] Bayley will make
her first title defense

557
00:32:38,656 --> 00:32:42,727
against long-time friend,
and former champion, Naomi.

558
00:32:42,794 --> 00:32:44,395
[Naomi] Now, last week.

559
00:32:44,462 --> 00:32:46,230
I made little Tiffy Time feel the glow,

560
00:32:46,297 --> 00:32:49,567
and I wanna keep that
same energy rolling tonight.

561
00:32:50,301 --> 00:32:53,404
[Bayley] There's one thing that's not
going to change, and that's me,

562
00:32:53,471 --> 00:32:55,907
as your WWE Women's Champion.

563
00:32:55,974 --> 00:32:56,908
[grunting]

564
00:32:57,809 --> 00:33:01,512
[Barrett] Bayley knows all about
swimming in those deep waters.

565
00:33:03,147 --> 00:33:06,918
[Graves] Facebuster, that could do it.
New champion? No.

566
00:33:10,154 --> 00:33:12,390
[Graves] Long range, Bayley nails it.

567
00:33:13,224 --> 00:33:16,995
And the champion
still can't finish the job.

568
00:33:18,162 --> 00:33:21,099
The WWE Women's Championship
hanging in the balance.

569
00:33:21,165 --> 00:33:23,101
Bayley To Belly onto the desk.

570
00:33:26,637 --> 00:33:27,872
Tiffany Stratton.

571
00:33:29,407 --> 00:33:32,443
What the hell does
Tiffany Stratton think she's doing?

572
00:33:33,044 --> 00:33:38,116
[Barrett] This is a rookie who believes
she is owed everything by the world.

573
00:33:38,182 --> 00:33:40,551
And if it won't give it to her,
she's going to take it.

574
00:33:40,618 --> 00:33:42,153
[dramatic music plays in slow-motion]

575
00:33:45,123 --> 00:33:48,559
[Graves] Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

576
00:33:48,626 --> 00:33:50,728
[Tiffany] Who better than
The Center of the Universe herself

577
00:33:50,795 --> 00:33:53,731
to win the WWE Women's Championship?

578
00:33:54,465 --> 00:33:55,733
I just love the sound of that.

579
00:33:56,834 --> 00:33:57,902
Toodles!

580
00:34:02,940 --> 00:34:05,009
[crowd cheering]

581
00:34:06,644 --> 00:34:07,645
[Tiffany] Nick. Nick. Nick.

582
00:34:07,712 --> 00:34:09,080
Did you see what I did last week?

583
00:34:09,147 --> 00:34:10,148
Of course you did.

584
00:34:10,214 --> 00:34:12,650
Because I'm The Center of the Universe.

585
00:34:12,717 --> 00:34:14,752
I dropped Naomi and Bayley.

586
00:34:15,253 --> 00:34:16,554
Where's my title match?

587
00:34:16,621 --> 00:34:17,455
See this watch?

588
00:34:17,522 --> 00:34:18,823
It's not set to Tiffy Time.

589
00:34:19,357 --> 00:34:20,224
You know what, Tiffany?

590
00:34:20,291 --> 00:34:22,560
I was this close to sending you
to the back of the line.

591
00:34:22,627 --> 00:34:25,129
But then someone convinced me
otherwise, thankfully for you.

592
00:34:25,196 --> 00:34:28,666
So tonight, you go
one-on-one with Naomi again

593
00:34:28,733 --> 00:34:31,936
and the winner gets
a title match at Backlash.

594
00:34:32,003 --> 00:34:33,638
Whose stupid idea was that?

595
00:34:33,704 --> 00:34:37,008
Ha! Ding-dong, that would be me.

596
00:34:37,074 --> 00:34:40,144
You're welcome.
You see, it's a win-win situation.

597
00:34:40,211 --> 00:34:42,747
Because if Naomi wins,
then she gets the championship match

598
00:34:42,814 --> 00:34:44,715
that she was cheated out of last week.

599
00:34:44,782 --> 00:34:48,820
And if you win,
then you find out what it's like

600
00:34:48,886 --> 00:34:50,555
when you attack The Role Model.

601
00:34:51,155 --> 00:34:53,925
[gasps] I just had a Tiffany epiphany.

602
00:34:53,991 --> 00:34:57,161
What if you sat ringside
and you had a front row seat to watching

603
00:34:57,228 --> 00:35:02,033
what you couldn't do, and I do it,
and that's beat, Naomi.

604
00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:02,967
Toodles.

605
00:35:05,403 --> 00:35:06,938
Remember when you thought I was annoying?

606
00:35:07,638 --> 00:35:08,940
-I still do.
-[indistinct]

607
00:35:09,974 --> 00:35:11,876
[Barrett] Wow.
Well, it's always good to see

608
00:35:11,943 --> 00:35:16,214
former Women's Champ,
WWE Legend Michelle McCool,

609
00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:21,118
but it's even more exciting when she's got
SmackDown's round two draft picks in hand.

610
00:35:22,086 --> 00:35:25,523
[Graves] Well, on the Raw side of things,
Adam Pearce has got

611
00:35:25,590 --> 00:35:31,229
a Hall of Famer in Torrie Wilson
making the big announcement.

612
00:35:31,295 --> 00:35:35,466
The WWE Draft continues live, next.

613
00:35:39,337 --> 00:35:42,340
[Graves] Combo tickets for
Friday Night SmackDown

614
00:35:42,406 --> 00:35:46,310
and Clash at the Castle at
the Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland,

615
00:35:46,377 --> 00:35:49,914
on Friday, June 14th
and Saturday, June 15th

616
00:35:49,981 --> 00:35:55,753
are on sale now via ticketmaster.co.uk.

617
00:35:55,820 --> 00:35:59,090
♪ Ain't about time, ain't about money
It's about legacy ♪

618
00:35:59,156 --> 00:36:00,658
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,

619
00:36:00,725 --> 00:36:02,326
please welcome,

620
00:36:02,393 --> 00:36:06,697
WWE Legend Michelle McCool

621
00:36:06,764 --> 00:36:10,735
and WWE Hall of Famer,

622
00:36:10,801 --> 00:36:14,972
Torrie Wilson.

623
00:36:15,039 --> 00:36:17,942
["Need a Little Time" playing]

624
00:36:19,243 --> 00:36:22,613
[Graves] The stars are indeed
out in full effect

625
00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:27,518
for night one of the 2024 WWE Draft.

626
00:36:28,586 --> 00:36:31,789
♪ Just a corner of the world
Where I can be alone ♪

627
00:36:32,657 --> 00:36:33,991
Oh, you can't see mine.

628
00:36:34,492 --> 00:36:36,661
[dramatic music playing]

629
00:36:36,727 --> 00:36:42,667
With the first pick of the second round
of the 2024 WWE Draft,

630
00:36:43,367 --> 00:36:49,874
SmackDown selects "The Viper" Randy Orton.

631
00:36:49,941 --> 00:36:51,742
[crowd cheering]

632
00:36:51,809 --> 00:36:58,015
[Graves] Huge. Absolutely massive get,
or should I say keep for the blue brand

633
00:36:58,082 --> 00:36:59,483
here on Friday Night SmackDown.

634
00:36:59,550 --> 00:37:02,119
[Barrett] Protect your biggest stars
at all costs,

635
00:37:02,186 --> 00:37:04,422
and Randy Orton is certainly that.

636
00:37:07,625 --> 00:37:13,297
And with the second pick of
the second round of the 2024 WWE Draft,

637
00:37:13,364 --> 00:37:17,735
Raw selects Bron Breakker.

638
00:37:17,802 --> 00:37:18,703
[Graves] No!

639
00:37:19,837 --> 00:37:21,906
This is a heartbreaker, Bad News.

640
00:37:22,707 --> 00:37:27,979
[Sade] Man, Raw have just got one
of the biggest Superstars of the future.

641
00:37:28,045 --> 00:37:30,314
You just saw him firsthand.

642
00:37:30,381 --> 00:37:34,552
How could you possibly let
Bron Breakker slip through your fingers?

643
00:37:34,619 --> 00:37:36,988
Nick Aldis, I am disappointed.

644
00:37:37,054 --> 00:37:40,124
["Destined for Greatness" playing]

645
00:37:40,725 --> 00:37:43,661
[Graves] And there you see
the Monday Night Raw squad reacting.

646
00:37:43,728 --> 00:37:45,263
Congratulations, Adam Pearce.

647
00:37:45,329 --> 00:37:47,198
You got yourself a thoroughbred.

648
00:37:47,832 --> 00:37:49,967
-And Aldis has got to be disappointed.
-[Barrett groans]

649
00:37:50,034 --> 00:37:52,303
[Graves] You heard Triple H mention
at the top of the evening

650
00:37:52,370 --> 00:37:53,504
the delicate balance.

651
00:37:53,571 --> 00:37:56,474
When you keep a Randy Orton,
you leave yourself susceptible

652
00:37:56,540 --> 00:37:58,542
to having a future star snatched away.

653
00:37:59,944 --> 00:38:05,449
With the third pick of
the second round of the 2024 WWE Draft,

654
00:38:05,516 --> 00:38:10,021
SmackDown selects Nia Jax.

655
00:38:10,087 --> 00:38:11,422
[Barrett] Yes!

656
00:38:11,489 --> 00:38:15,359
My absolute favorite
on the Women's division.

657
00:38:15,860 --> 00:38:20,131
A woman who causes carnage
everywhere she goes.

658
00:38:20,197 --> 00:38:23,334
That is a massive, massive selection .

659
00:38:23,401 --> 00:38:25,870
Way to get back in the good books, Aldis.

660
00:38:29,373 --> 00:38:33,344
And with the final pick
of the second round,

661
00:38:33,411 --> 00:38:36,580
Raw selects Liv Morgan.

662
00:38:36,647 --> 00:38:37,782
[crowd cheering]

663
00:38:37,848 --> 00:38:40,584
[Graves] Oh. That's a big get.

664
00:38:40,651 --> 00:38:42,353
["Liv Gone Mad" playing]

665
00:38:42,420 --> 00:38:44,755
Or a big keep. Again, this is the--

666
00:38:44,822 --> 00:38:48,726
The priorities here being shown early on
by both managers general,

667
00:38:48,793 --> 00:38:51,629
of keeping your established stars
on your brand.

668
00:38:51,696 --> 00:38:54,165
You want to bolster, you want to solidify,
you want to build,

669
00:38:54,231 --> 00:38:56,567
but you can't build
without a great foundation.

670
00:38:57,068 --> 00:38:59,036
[Barrett] But here's the-- here's the…

671
00:38:59,904 --> 00:39:03,007
Take a look at the selections
in round two.

672
00:39:03,074 --> 00:39:08,846
Of course, SmackDown retaining The Viper
and adding The Irresistible Force.

673
00:39:08,913 --> 00:39:11,816
It's going to take a while to get over
Bron Breakker heading to Mondays though.

674
00:39:12,350 --> 00:39:14,518
We just need to pump the brakes
for a second.

675
00:39:14,585 --> 00:39:17,421
Massive names already off the board.
But hold on.

676
00:39:17,488 --> 00:39:20,558
The Bloodline have
still not been selected.

677
00:39:20,624 --> 00:39:22,393
I am astounded by that.

678
00:39:22,460 --> 00:39:24,929
Yeah, I am astounded as well.
We heard Paul Heyman mention

679
00:39:24,995 --> 00:39:27,598
at the top of the night
that Roman Reigns has removed himself

680
00:39:27,665 --> 00:39:29,633
with the-- from the draft pool.

681
00:39:29,700 --> 00:39:31,836
Regardless, we are about
to be three rounds deep,

682
00:39:31,902 --> 00:39:35,039
The Bloodline still without a brand,
but you can be sure

683
00:39:35,106 --> 00:39:38,309
that wherever The Bloodline ends up,
trouble is going to follow.

684
00:39:40,211 --> 00:39:43,314
[crowd buzzing]

685
00:39:49,487 --> 00:39:51,822
[Graves] This is last week
on Friday Night SmackDown.

686
00:39:52,490 --> 00:39:58,763
The newest addition to The Bloodline,
Solo's "MFT" Tama Tonga

687
00:39:58,829 --> 00:40:01,966
dragging a bloodied
Kevin Owens to ringside,

688
00:40:02,032 --> 00:40:04,802
but Kevin Owens will not stay down.

689
00:40:04,869 --> 00:40:07,371
[Barrett] The damage had already been done
to KO at this point.

690
00:40:07,438 --> 00:40:10,741
The problem is KO simply doesn't
have a reverse gear.

691
00:40:10,808 --> 00:40:13,010
Does not know when he's beaten.

692
00:40:13,077 --> 00:40:17,581
Security dragging the man away,
until one Samoan Spike.

693
00:40:18,415 --> 00:40:20,851
And the punishment
just got worse from there.

694
00:40:20,918 --> 00:40:23,287
[crowd booing]

695
00:40:23,354 --> 00:40:25,589
-Come with me. I wanna show you something.
-Ow, ow.

696
00:40:25,656 --> 00:40:27,024
All right. Let me paint you a picture.

697
00:40:27,091 --> 00:40:28,759
One of those rental cars
belongs to Kevin Owens,

698
00:40:28,826 --> 00:40:31,195
and the other one
is your boy Tama Tonga's.

699
00:40:31,262 --> 00:40:34,732
I will not tolerate
this kind of savage behavior.

700
00:40:34,799 --> 00:40:36,801
-I don't blame you.
-Just tell me you understand.

701
00:40:36,867 --> 00:40:37,835
I understand.

702
00:40:38,402 --> 00:40:43,007
Losing isn't the only thing
that has consequences.

703
00:40:45,743 --> 00:40:47,611
[crowd cheering]

704
00:40:53,517 --> 00:40:56,020
[crowd buzzing]

705
00:40:56,887 --> 00:40:57,755
[sighs]

706
00:41:09,366 --> 00:41:15,139
I know. I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. Sorry.

707
00:41:15,206 --> 00:41:16,607
I'm sorry.

708
00:41:16,674 --> 00:41:18,409
[crowd booing]

709
00:41:18,476 --> 00:41:23,013
I know I always get the car--
the door for Roman. I understand.

710
00:41:23,080 --> 00:41:25,115
I'll get the door for you from now on.

711
00:41:25,182 --> 00:41:26,917
-Wiseman.
-Yes.

712
00:41:26,984 --> 00:41:29,753
The Bloodline got drafted.

713
00:41:30,855 --> 00:41:32,022
Right?

714
00:41:32,523 --> 00:41:33,624
Well, not exactly.

715
00:41:34,158 --> 00:41:35,092
Not yet.

716
00:41:37,294 --> 00:41:40,631
Give me all the details.

717
00:41:40,698 --> 00:41:42,766
Okay. Roman Reigns…

718
00:41:44,134 --> 00:41:46,837
withdrew from the draft
right before the show began.

719
00:41:47,872 --> 00:41:50,741
And with all due respect,
you're adding new members now,

720
00:41:51,509 --> 00:41:54,745
which means nobody knows
what they're getting in a draft

721
00:41:54,812 --> 00:41:56,513
when they draft The Bloodline.

722
00:42:00,985 --> 00:42:02,253
[sighs]

723
00:42:02,319 --> 00:42:03,554
Oh God.

724
00:42:05,990 --> 00:42:07,291
No. E-Easy. Easy.

725
00:42:08,225 --> 00:42:09,760
-Please.
-Wiseman.

726
00:42:09,827 --> 00:42:11,729
-Yes, Solo.
-I need you

727
00:42:12,463 --> 00:42:18,168
to repeat that for me one more time.

728
00:42:21,238 --> 00:42:22,606
[grunting]

729
00:42:22,673 --> 00:42:24,441
[crowd cheering]

730
00:42:25,175 --> 00:42:26,644
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

731
00:42:26,710 --> 00:42:28,379
Grab it! Grab it! Come on, get at it!

732
00:42:28,445 --> 00:42:32,049
[overlapping shouting]

733
00:42:34,051 --> 00:42:36,320
Come on. Grab him. Grab him. Grab him.

734
00:42:36,387 --> 00:42:38,355
[shouting continues]

735
00:42:38,422 --> 00:42:39,390
-Come on!
-Get outta here!

736
00:42:39,990 --> 00:42:40,824
Come on!

737
00:42:40,891 --> 00:42:43,227
-Come on, Kevin. Come on, Kevin. Kevin.
-Get outta here!

738
00:42:44,061 --> 00:42:44,895
Get off me!

739
00:42:46,530 --> 00:42:47,898
[dramatic hip-hop music playing]

740
00:42:47,965 --> 00:42:52,336
[Graves] We are live tonight from the
Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

741
00:42:52,403 --> 00:42:55,739
14,028 fans on hand.

742
00:42:55,806 --> 00:43:00,878
A complete sellout for tonight's
Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,

743
00:43:01,545 --> 00:43:04,081
as we prepare for our main event tonight

744
00:43:04,148 --> 00:43:05,950
that was announced at the top of the show.

745
00:43:06,750 --> 00:43:08,652
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes

746
00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:13,457
accepting the challenge of the first round
draft pick Carmelo Hayes.

747
00:43:13,524 --> 00:43:16,560
The two will collide in our main event.

748
00:43:16,627 --> 00:43:19,430
Wade, I want to take you back
a few moments ago

749
00:43:19,496 --> 00:43:21,598
to the melee that transpired.

750
00:43:21,665 --> 00:43:24,368
[Graves] Yeah, so The Bloodline
were discussing business

751
00:43:24,435 --> 00:43:27,271
in a rather heated manner,
when one week removed

752
00:43:27,338 --> 00:43:31,542
from a savage Bloodline beatdown,
the inevitable happened.

753
00:43:31,609 --> 00:43:33,243
KO returned looking for blood,

754
00:43:33,310 --> 00:43:37,247
thankfully immediately swarmed
by our security guards

755
00:43:37,314 --> 00:43:39,383
before things really
went off the deep end.

756
00:43:39,450 --> 00:43:40,651
[overlapping shouting]

757
00:43:40,718 --> 00:43:43,921
[Graves] Well, our Kayla Braxton is
standing by, hopefully with an update.

758
00:43:43,988 --> 00:43:45,089
-Come on!
-Let him go.

759
00:43:45,155 --> 00:43:46,490
[shouting continues]

760
00:43:47,424 --> 00:43:48,425
[Kayla] Thanks, Corey.

761
00:43:48,492 --> 00:43:55,032
And welcome back, everyone,
to night one of the 2024 WWE Draft.

762
00:43:55,099 --> 00:44:00,871
And now please welcome the first
overall pick, Bianca Belair.

763
00:44:00,938 --> 00:44:03,807
♪ I'm on my own, against the wall ♪

764
00:44:03,874 --> 00:44:06,577
♪ The pressure's building
But no, I will never fall ♪

765
00:44:06,644 --> 00:44:09,813
♪ Instead of crying, they hear my roar ♪

766
00:44:09,880 --> 00:44:12,082
♪ And now I see that
I'm way better than before ♪

767
00:44:12,149 --> 00:44:14,852
♪ I never needed you at all
Think I'd fall down ♪

768
00:44:14,918 --> 00:44:16,687
♪ I'ma watch you fall down ♪

769
00:44:16,754 --> 00:44:18,489
♪ I'm living large now
I never needed you at all ♪

770
00:44:18,555 --> 00:44:21,492
[Barrett] Number one pick
in the entire draft.

771
00:44:21,558 --> 00:44:23,794
This is our version of Caleb Williams.

772
00:44:23,861 --> 00:44:27,464
And, if I may add,
she looks a hell of a lot better.

773
00:44:27,531 --> 00:44:29,366
[Graves] In a dress? Yeah, I agree.

774
00:44:30,134 --> 00:44:32,036
♪ I never needed you at all ♪

775
00:44:32,670 --> 00:44:36,907
Bianca, first of all, congratulations
on being the first overall pick.

776
00:44:36,974 --> 00:44:37,908
Thank you.

777
00:44:37,975 --> 00:44:39,777
But let's talk Backlash.

778
00:44:39,843 --> 00:44:43,580
One week from Saturday,
you and your tag partner, Jade Cargill,

779
00:44:43,647 --> 00:44:47,818
have the opportunity to dethrone
The Kabuki Warriors.

780
00:44:47,885 --> 00:44:52,089
How satisfying will that victory be
on a stage of that magnitude

781
00:44:52,156 --> 00:44:53,891
in Lyon, France?

782
00:44:53,957 --> 00:44:55,059
So satisfying.

783
00:44:55,125 --> 00:44:59,930
You know, I really hope that Jade
gets drafted to SmackDown on Monday

784
00:45:00,998 --> 00:45:03,400
because I've had a lot of history
with Damage CTRL,

785
00:45:03,467 --> 00:45:06,670
and while I've had a lot of
amazing women fight alongside me,

786
00:45:06,737 --> 00:45:10,507
I have never been the one that's gotten
to finally end it with Damage CTRL

787
00:45:10,574 --> 00:45:14,445
for everything that they've done to me
and to this division,

788
00:45:14,511 --> 00:45:18,282
and Jade is the perfect person
to help me do that.

789
00:45:18,348 --> 00:45:20,284
-[man] Yeah, B!
-[crowd cheering]

790
00:45:23,954 --> 00:45:27,758
Now Damage CTRL is
falling apart piece by piece

791
00:45:27,825 --> 00:45:31,095
and that final piece
is those Tag Team Titles.

792
00:45:31,695 --> 00:45:34,631
So once Jade and I take
those titles at Backlash,

793
00:45:34,698 --> 00:45:38,402
The Kabuki Warriors won't even have
a reason to show back up here

794
00:45:38,469 --> 00:45:39,903
to SmackDown.

795
00:45:40,604 --> 00:45:41,438
Period.

796
00:45:41,505 --> 00:45:43,240
[crowd cheering]

797
00:45:43,307 --> 00:45:46,043
["Reigning Warriors" playing]

798
00:45:46,110 --> 00:45:47,444
[Graves] Uh-oh.

799
00:45:47,511 --> 00:45:51,315
The Women's Tag Team Champions
obviously taking notice

800
00:45:52,049 --> 00:45:54,318
of The EST's comments.

801
00:45:55,319 --> 00:45:57,654
Kairi Sane and Asuka.

802
00:46:02,693 --> 00:46:06,630
[indistinct bickering]

803
00:46:06,697 --> 00:46:09,967
[speaking Japanese]

804
00:46:12,970 --> 00:46:14,705
["A Storm Is Coming" playing]

805
00:46:14,772 --> 00:46:16,573
[crowd cheering]

806
00:46:16,640 --> 00:46:19,343
[Graves laughs]
How's this for backup, Wade?

807
00:46:20,177 --> 00:46:26,016
[Barrett] Damage CTRL have never liked
not having the numbers advantage.

808
00:46:28,018 --> 00:46:30,954
They may have no advantage whatsoever

809
00:46:31,021 --> 00:46:34,691
once Jade Cargill pairs up
with Bianca Belair.

810
00:46:35,325 --> 00:46:37,861
[indistinct bickering]

811
00:46:37,928 --> 00:46:40,631
[Graves] Feel the tensions rising
on the entranceway.

812
00:46:40,697 --> 00:46:43,934
Getting a little preview
of the throwdown at Backlash.

813
00:46:44,001 --> 00:46:45,435
[bickering continues]

814
00:46:45,502 --> 00:46:49,173
Going down one week from tomorrow,
streaming live, WWE on Peacock.

815
00:46:49,239 --> 00:46:51,241
-[Barrett] Oh!
-[Graves] Look at the background.

816
00:46:51,308 --> 00:46:53,010
That's Kevin Owens, and is that--

817
00:46:53,076 --> 00:46:57,748
That's The MFT.
Owens bringing the fight to Tama Tonga,

818
00:46:57,815 --> 00:47:00,117
looking to take back his pound of flesh.

819
00:47:00,184 --> 00:47:03,587
[Barrett] Well, KO can be a beaten man
but the truth is,

820
00:47:03,654 --> 00:47:05,823
he never stays beaten for long,

821
00:47:06,723 --> 00:47:09,927
and Tama Tonga
is about to learn that firsthand.

822
00:47:10,460 --> 00:47:12,563
[Graves] Double leg by Owens.

823
00:47:12,629 --> 00:47:14,464
But here comes Solo.

824
00:47:15,165 --> 00:47:17,234
And the numbers yet again…

825
00:47:17,301 --> 00:47:18,936
[crowd booing]

826
00:47:19,002 --> 00:47:20,671
…overwhelming…

827
00:47:22,139 --> 00:47:23,507
Kevin Owens.

828
00:47:23,574 --> 00:47:27,344
[Barrett] KO has learned nothing
from his experience last week.

829
00:47:29,546 --> 00:47:32,683
But he's going to keep on swinging
with all his might.

830
00:47:32,749 --> 00:47:36,286
[Graves] Look at The MFT
just wrecking everyone in his path.

831
00:47:36,920 --> 00:47:39,623
[Barrett] Every single security guard
getting dropped.

832
00:47:39,690 --> 00:47:41,091
These guys aren't paid enough,

833
00:47:41,158 --> 00:47:43,827
[Graves] I think security certainly
deserves hazard pay

834
00:47:43,894 --> 00:47:45,662
when you're dealing with The Bloodline.

835
00:47:47,631 --> 00:47:49,766
Poor Hurricane nearly got flattened.

836
00:47:49,833 --> 00:47:52,236
[Barrett] Jamie Noble
desperately trying to drag KO--

837
00:47:52,302 --> 00:47:53,770
-["Voices" playing]
-[Barrett] Oh!

838
00:47:53,837 --> 00:47:54,738
[crowd cheering]

839
00:47:54,805 --> 00:47:59,743
♪ They counsel me, they understand
They talk to me ♪

840
00:48:00,410 --> 00:48:03,947
[Graves] Talk about an unexpected ally.

841
00:48:04,014 --> 00:48:08,085
[Barrett] Of all the music in the world
you do not want to hit,

842
00:48:08,151 --> 00:48:09,753
it's Randy Orton's.

843
00:48:11,655 --> 00:48:16,126
[Graves] Tama and Solo
trying to bull rush The Viper.

844
00:48:17,194 --> 00:48:19,663
Solo escaping the RKO.

845
00:48:20,797 --> 00:48:22,466
Orton giving chase.

846
00:48:24,835 --> 00:48:27,104
[Barrett] Place is in complete meltdown.

847
00:48:28,538 --> 00:48:30,974
[crowd chanting] Randy! Randy! Randy!

848
00:48:31,041 --> 00:48:34,378
[Graves] I don't know if anybody expected
to see Randy Orton tonight.

849
00:48:34,444 --> 00:48:36,146
Certainly not bringing the fight…

850
00:48:37,180 --> 00:48:38,115
to The Bloodline.

851
00:48:39,850 --> 00:48:43,186
I know Owens would have never
asked for help,

852
00:48:43,253 --> 00:48:45,956
but KO's got to be happy to see Orton.

853
00:48:46,490 --> 00:48:48,625
[Barrett] This would have
ended up gruesome

854
00:48:48,692 --> 00:48:51,662
had Randy Orton not showed up
in the nick of time.

855
00:48:51,728 --> 00:48:53,230
We might get back to it.

856
00:48:53,297 --> 00:48:55,165
[Graves] Owens isn't done yet.

857
00:48:55,799 --> 00:48:59,202
Kevin Owens will not rest.
Kevin Owens will not settle.

858
00:48:59,269 --> 00:49:03,307
KO may not sleep
until this issue is resolved.

859
00:49:03,373 --> 00:49:07,911
[Barrett] This is certainly not the last
we've seen from these four.

860
00:49:08,545 --> 00:49:10,080
["Voices" playing]

861
00:49:14,351 --> 00:49:17,020
♪ You've got your rules
And your religion ♪

862
00:49:17,087 --> 00:49:20,023
["Livin' the Life" playing]

863
00:49:20,090 --> 00:49:22,225
[Graves laughing]

864
00:49:22,292 --> 00:49:23,627
Bad News.

865
00:49:24,294 --> 00:49:29,466
[Barrett] From refereeing at WrestleMania
to helping SmackDown

866
00:49:29,533 --> 00:49:32,169
with their draft picks. Bubba Ray is here!

867
00:49:33,070 --> 00:49:36,573
[Graves] And so is D-Von!

868
00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:41,778
The Dudleys are here
as the WWE Draft continues,

869
00:49:41,845 --> 00:49:42,779
next.

870
00:49:44,081 --> 00:49:45,148
♪ I'll tell you what I'ma do ♪

871
00:49:46,783 --> 00:49:50,020
[Graves] Wanna take you now to a live shot
of the NXT Performance Center

872
00:49:50,087 --> 00:49:51,455
in Orlando, Florida.

873
00:49:51,521 --> 00:49:53,623
[Barrett] Yes, indeed.
A lot of excitement in that building

874
00:49:53,690 --> 00:49:56,126
because Carmelo Hayes
went in round one of the draft,

875
00:49:56,193 --> 00:49:57,594
third overall pick.

876
00:49:57,661 --> 00:50:00,630
One of the Superstars
on your screen may be next

877
00:50:00,697 --> 00:50:03,867
to get the call
that will change their lives forever.

878
00:50:03,934 --> 00:50:09,506
[Rome] Please welcome WWE Hall of Famers

879
00:50:09,573 --> 00:50:13,276
Bubba Ray and D-Von,

880
00:50:13,343 --> 00:50:17,247
The Dudley Boyz.

881
00:50:17,314 --> 00:50:19,649
["We're Coming Down" playing]

882
00:50:19,716 --> 00:50:20,584
♪ Come on ♪

883
00:50:20,650 --> 00:50:23,120
♪ Yeah, that's right ♪

884
00:50:24,254 --> 00:50:25,255
♪ We puttin' it down ♪

885
00:50:25,322 --> 00:50:27,557
♪ It's like a family in here
Just a little disabled ♪

886
00:50:27,624 --> 00:50:29,693
♪ Puttin' it down
We lay 'em out on the table… ♪

887
00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:34,164
[Graves] What an ovation
for the WWE Hall of Famers

888
00:50:34,231 --> 00:50:36,533
Bubba Ray and D-Von.

889
00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:38,235
[Barrett] Tag Team GOATs,

890
00:50:38,301 --> 00:50:44,007
and I don't think I will ever get used to
seeing those two bedecked in suits.

891
00:50:44,074 --> 00:50:45,342
[song continues]

892
00:50:45,409 --> 00:50:47,377
That just isn't the ECW way.

893
00:50:47,444 --> 00:50:48,278
♪ We puttin' it down ♪

894
00:50:49,112 --> 00:50:50,113
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

895
00:50:50,981 --> 00:50:52,215
♪ Uh, yeah ♪

896
00:50:53,483 --> 00:50:54,684
♪ Okay ♪

897
00:50:54,751 --> 00:50:57,354
♪ Hypnotized in a trance
Gotta make em' dance ♪

898
00:50:57,421 --> 00:50:59,489
♪ Jump in the pit
Now throw up your hands ♪

899
00:50:59,556 --> 00:51:00,457
[dramatic music playing]

900
00:51:01,258 --> 00:51:02,692
[crowd cheering]

901
00:51:02,759 --> 00:51:06,229
-[crowd chanting] ECW! ECW! ECW!
-What?

902
00:51:06,296 --> 00:51:11,067
ECW! ECW! ECW! ECW!

903
00:51:11,134 --> 00:51:14,204
ECW! ECW! ECW!

904
00:51:16,840 --> 00:51:18,075
I can't read this.

905
00:51:18,141 --> 00:51:19,309
-You can't?
-What about yours?

906
00:51:22,446 --> 00:51:24,281
[crowd chanting] We want tables!

907
00:51:24,347 --> 00:51:25,615
[clapping rhythmically]

908
00:51:25,682 --> 00:51:27,551
We want tables!

909
00:51:27,617 --> 00:51:28,952
[clapping rhythmically]

910
00:51:29,019 --> 00:51:30,887
We want tables!

911
00:51:30,954 --> 00:51:32,022
[clapping rhythmically]

912
00:51:32,089 --> 00:51:34,124
We want tables!

913
00:51:34,191 --> 00:51:35,459
[crowd cheering]

914
00:51:35,525 --> 00:51:37,427
We want tables!

915
00:51:37,494 --> 00:51:40,497
With the first pick of the third round

916
00:51:40,564 --> 00:51:44,901
of the 2024 WWE Draft,

917
00:51:44,968 --> 00:51:50,440
SmackDown selects LA Knight.

918
00:51:50,507 --> 00:51:51,908
[Barrett] Yeah!

919
00:51:52,676 --> 00:51:56,513
Greatest pick ever! LA Knight.

920
00:51:56,580 --> 00:52:00,550
The Megastar is staying here
on the blue brand, and, Corey,

921
00:52:00,617 --> 00:52:03,520
the whole world has got to be
elated about that.

922
00:52:03,587 --> 00:52:05,355
Great job, Nick Aldis.

923
00:52:05,422 --> 00:52:07,891
["Welcome to LA" playing]

924
00:52:09,826 --> 00:52:14,264
[Graves] And the SmackDown war room
obviously pleased with the decision.

925
00:52:14,331 --> 00:52:17,767
LA Knight staying right here
on Friday nights.

926
00:52:20,904 --> 00:52:27,544
With the second pick of the third round
of the 2024 WWE Draft,

927
00:52:27,611 --> 00:52:31,681
Raw selects… Ricochet.

928
00:52:31,748 --> 00:52:33,183
[crowd cheering]

929
00:52:33,250 --> 00:52:40,156
[Graves] The one and only, the premier
high-flying Superstar in this industry.

930
00:52:40,223 --> 00:52:42,759
Wade, I know you've been
watching Ricochet do big, big things

931
00:52:42,826 --> 00:52:47,230
on WWE Speed on X every Wednesday at noon.

932
00:52:47,297 --> 00:52:49,299
The sky truly is the limit.

933
00:52:49,366 --> 00:52:52,102
["It's About to Go Down" playing]

934
00:52:54,437 --> 00:53:01,244
With the third pick of the third round
of the 2024 WWE Draft,

935
00:53:01,778 --> 00:53:03,880
SmackDown selects…

936
00:53:03,947 --> 00:53:06,583
Solo Sikoa,

937
00:53:06,650 --> 00:53:10,253
"MFT" Tama Tonga,

938
00:53:10,787 --> 00:53:14,491
and Paul Heyman.

939
00:53:14,558 --> 00:53:16,927
The Bloodline.

940
00:53:16,993 --> 00:53:19,296
[Graves] Well, I suppose they say
better late than never.

941
00:53:19,362 --> 00:53:20,230
But, Bad News,

942
00:53:20,297 --> 00:53:22,532
I can't imagine there are going to be
a lot of happy campers

943
00:53:22,599 --> 00:53:23,600
within The Bloodline

944
00:53:23,667 --> 00:53:25,302
about being picked in the third round.

945
00:53:25,368 --> 00:53:28,271
[Barrett] I mean,
where The Bloodline go, trouble follows.

946
00:53:28,338 --> 00:53:29,973
That's been the story
of the past few weeks.

947
00:53:30,040 --> 00:53:33,977
You have to think Paul Heyman
has negotiated that deal rather rapidly.

948
00:53:34,044 --> 00:53:36,513
["Taking It All" playing]

949
00:53:39,516 --> 00:53:44,054
And with the final pick
of the third round, Raw selects…

950
00:53:45,789 --> 00:53:47,257
Sheamus.

951
00:53:47,324 --> 00:53:53,396
[Wade laughing] Throw an extra
couple of slices on the burgers, fella.

952
00:53:53,463 --> 00:53:57,367
You're going to Raw.
What a pickup by the red brand.

953
00:53:57,434 --> 00:54:00,303
["Written In My Face" playing]

954
00:54:00,370 --> 00:54:04,074
[Graves] Let's take a look
at the completed third round

955
00:54:04,140 --> 00:54:07,243
of the 2024 WWE Draft.

956
00:54:07,310 --> 00:54:08,979
LA Knight and The Bloodline

957
00:54:09,045 --> 00:54:12,215
staying right here
on Friday Night SmackDown.

958
00:54:12,282 --> 00:54:16,653
Ricochet and Sheamus
hanging out on Mondays.

959
00:54:18,355 --> 00:54:20,123
♪ It's Tiffy Time ♪

960
00:54:20,190 --> 00:54:22,192
["Tiffy Time" playing]

961
00:54:25,762 --> 00:54:28,932
♪ Drop, I'm going in
Bass so loud, it's in my skin ♪

962
00:54:33,069 --> 00:54:34,004
[bell rings]

963
00:54:34,070 --> 00:54:38,008
[Rome] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall.

964
00:54:38,074 --> 00:54:41,578
Introducing first from Prior Lake,
Minnesota,

965
00:54:41,645 --> 00:54:45,949
Tiffany Stratton.

966
00:54:46,016 --> 00:54:50,353
[Graves] Well, Wade, lucky for all of us,
The Center of the Universe has arrived

967
00:54:50,420 --> 00:54:52,656
on Friday Night SmackDown

968
00:54:52,722 --> 00:54:57,494
and this matchup is about to have
some serious championship implications.

969
00:55:01,464 --> 00:55:04,601
And speaking of championship implications,

970
00:55:04,668 --> 00:55:09,472
we are joined on commentary by
the WWE Women's Champion, Bayley.

971
00:55:09,539 --> 00:55:12,075
And Bayley, we understand
this matchup was your idea,

972
00:55:12,142 --> 00:55:14,277
yours and Nick Aldis', collaborating.

973
00:55:14,344 --> 00:55:16,046
Tell us why you feel
this is a good decision.

974
00:55:16,112 --> 00:55:19,249
Well, I'm a genius, but Tiffany Stratton
is new on SmackDown,

975
00:55:19,316 --> 00:55:20,650
she's new here in the WWE,

976
00:55:20,717 --> 00:55:23,687
and she has to learn
that she has to earn her way to this.

977
00:55:23,753 --> 00:55:26,489
Okay, you can't take shortcuts
when Bayley's a champion.

978
00:55:26,556 --> 00:55:29,893
Like disrespecting Hall of Famers
The Dudley Boyz on the way out?

979
00:55:29,959 --> 00:55:30,827
[Bayley] Exactly.

980
00:55:30,894 --> 00:55:35,665
["Glow" playing]

981
00:55:38,568 --> 00:55:39,402
♪ Let's go! ♪

982
00:55:39,469 --> 00:55:40,904
♪ The beast is out the cage ♪

983
00:55:40,970 --> 00:55:42,706
♪ You know I own that stage ♪

984
00:55:42,772 --> 00:55:44,274
♪ We knock the competition out ♪

985
00:55:44,341 --> 00:55:45,809
♪ And make 'em go insane! ♪

986
00:55:45,875 --> 00:55:47,644
♪ My head is in the game ♪

987
00:55:47,711 --> 00:55:49,279
-♪ I make 'em feel the pain ♪
-♪ Uh-huh ♪

988
00:55:49,346 --> 00:55:51,081
♪ I hear the people scream my name ♪

989
00:55:51,147 --> 00:55:52,882
♪ One, two, three ♪

990
00:55:52,949 --> 00:55:55,318
[Graves] Mike Rome is busy dancing
over by the ringside area.

991
00:55:55,385 --> 00:55:56,386
[Barrett] Do your job, bro!

992
00:55:56,453 --> 00:56:00,657
[Graves] I'm talking about Naomi,
who, last week, very nearly became

993
00:56:00,724 --> 00:56:04,027
the WWE Women's Champion
in your first defense, Bayley.

994
00:56:04,094 --> 00:56:06,796
Talk about what it meant
to compete at such a high level

995
00:56:06,863 --> 00:56:10,400
against someone who's meant so much to you
personally and professionally.

996
00:56:10,467 --> 00:56:13,536
[Bayley] I mean, I wouldn't say
she was that close to beating me.

997
00:56:13,603 --> 00:56:16,339
I mean, you know,
all due respect to Naomi, she has won--

998
00:56:16,406 --> 00:56:18,441
you know, a former Women's Champion,

999
00:56:18,508 --> 00:56:20,643
so I was excited to
get in the ring with her.

1000
00:56:20,710 --> 00:56:23,913
She's someone I know so much
outside of the ring,

1001
00:56:23,980 --> 00:56:26,916
which makes everything we do inside
very, very special.

1002
00:56:26,983 --> 00:56:30,053
But Tiffany decided that,
you know, she didn't care

1003
00:56:30,120 --> 00:56:31,721
what happened at the end of the match.

1004
00:56:31,788 --> 00:56:34,124
She didn't care who won the match
because she wants a piece of it.

1005
00:56:34,190 --> 00:56:36,159
And in some way, I respect that.

1006
00:56:36,226 --> 00:56:37,360
She made a statement.

1007
00:56:38,361 --> 00:56:40,697
-She got my attention. I'm out here now.
-[bell rings]

1008
00:56:40,764 --> 00:56:42,599
[Graves] There we go.
Naomi out of the gate.

1009
00:56:42,665 --> 00:56:45,168
Lou Thesz Press. Just raining down rights.

1010
00:56:45,235 --> 00:56:48,204
What do you expect to see, a different
side of Naomi in this one, Bayley?

1011
00:56:48,271 --> 00:56:50,940
[Bayley] I hope so, because, you know,
we talked a little bit afterwards

1012
00:56:51,007 --> 00:56:54,210
and we were both very annoyed
at the way things had went down, so.

1013
00:56:54,277 --> 00:56:56,713
[Barrett] Listen, let me--
Let me pull you up on that one, Bayley.

1014
00:56:56,780 --> 00:56:59,215
Tiffany Stratton laid you out last week.

1015
00:56:59,282 --> 00:57:01,785
Bayley from three months ago
would have been out for blood.

1016
00:57:01,851 --> 00:57:06,723
Yet the new… nice you
has done absolutely nothing.

1017
00:57:06,790 --> 00:57:07,957
Are you going soft?

1018
00:57:08,024 --> 00:57:10,827
[Bayley] Oh, you idiot. Am I--
Have I gone soft?

1019
00:57:10,894 --> 00:57:13,830
I'm the champion right now, Wade Barrett.
Let's not forget that.

1020
00:57:13,897 --> 00:57:16,099
Understand, he's worked
with Michael Cole for a long time.

1021
00:57:16,166 --> 00:57:18,535
[Bayley] Ah, that's very true.
Michael Cole is an idiot.

1022
00:57:18,601 --> 00:57:21,204
-[Graves] He is an idiot.
-I'm the champion now, all right, Wade?

1023
00:57:21,271 --> 00:57:23,206
I have to go about things
at a certain level.

1024
00:57:23,273 --> 00:57:24,340
At a different level.

1025
00:57:24,407 --> 00:57:26,442
[Graves] Naomi making the climb
to the top turnbuckle.

1026
00:57:26,509 --> 00:57:28,511
Looking for fireworks here.

1027
00:57:29,512 --> 00:57:32,081
Stratton able to avoid contact.
Naomi rolls through.

1028
00:57:32,882 --> 00:57:35,084
And Naomi suffering whiplash
on the middle rope.

1029
00:57:35,151 --> 00:57:36,219
Here comes Stratton.

1030
00:57:36,286 --> 00:57:38,621
Ooh, hip attack. That may do it.

1031
00:57:39,155 --> 00:57:43,760
[Barrett] Getting some firsthand looks
at the incredible athleticism

1032
00:57:43,827 --> 00:57:46,196
and aggression of Tiffany Stratton.

1033
00:57:46,262 --> 00:57:47,597
Bayley, sources are saying

1034
00:57:47,664 --> 00:57:49,499
you don-- you don't want to fight
Tiffany Stratton.

1035
00:57:49,566 --> 00:57:51,701
You're scared of her.
What's your response?

1036
00:57:51,768 --> 00:57:53,369
-Who are your sources?
-[Barrett] Sources?

1037
00:57:53,436 --> 00:57:55,438
-[Bayley] Michael Cole. Come on!
-[Graves laughs]

1038
00:57:55,505 --> 00:57:56,873
-He was one.
-[Bayley] Look, look.

1039
00:57:56,940 --> 00:57:59,108
I would love
to get in the ring with somebody new.

1040
00:57:59,175 --> 00:58:02,345
[Graves] The modified piledriver
on the apron nearly took Stratton out.

1041
00:58:02,412 --> 00:58:05,014
-And here comes Naomi.
-[Bayley] Oh my God.

1042
00:58:05,081 --> 00:58:07,450
[Graves] Scissor split takedown
on the floor.

1043
00:58:07,517 --> 00:58:10,920
Naomi versus Stratton.
Who is going to challenge Bayley?

1044
00:58:11,654 --> 00:58:12,889
[Bayley] I like it.

1045
00:58:14,691 --> 00:58:17,093
[Graves] This is Friday Night SmackDown
on FOX

1046
00:58:17,160 --> 00:58:21,698
and we are witnessing one-on-one action.
Stacked up, Stratton on top.

1047
00:58:22,398 --> 00:58:26,035
One-on-one competition between
Naomi and Tiffany Stratton.

1048
00:58:26,102 --> 00:58:31,007
The winner will advance to Backlash
to challenge the WWE Women's Champion,

1049
00:58:31,074 --> 00:58:33,243
who is joining us here at commentary.
Of course, Bayley.

1050
00:58:33,309 --> 00:58:37,180
And we spoke moments ago about
this being your idea for the matchup,

1051
00:58:37,247 --> 00:58:38,581
for the stakes being what they are.

1052
00:58:38,648 --> 00:58:40,517
What have you thought
about what you're seeing?

1053
00:58:40,583 --> 00:58:42,619
-[Bayley] I'm--
-[Graves] Shoulders down.

1054
00:58:42,685 --> 00:58:44,320
[Bayley] I almost thought that was it.

1055
00:58:44,387 --> 00:58:47,090
These are two of the best
in the division right now,

1056
00:58:47,156 --> 00:58:49,325
and Tiffany's proven it
in her couple matches with Naomi.

1057
00:58:49,392 --> 00:58:52,161
She proved it in the Elimination Chamber.

1058
00:58:52,228 --> 00:58:54,197
Like, we know what we're--
what she's capable of,

1059
00:58:54,264 --> 00:58:55,865
but let's see how far she can actually go.

1060
00:58:55,932 --> 00:58:59,168
[Graves] Back kick by Naomi,
utilizing some very unique offense,

1061
00:58:59,235 --> 00:59:01,204
into a driver.

1062
00:59:01,271 --> 00:59:03,940
Hooks the leg. Naomi's headed to Backlash.

1063
00:59:04,007 --> 00:59:05,742
-[Bayley] Woo-hoo.
-[Barrett] Let me ask you,

1064
00:59:05,808 --> 00:59:09,479
Damage CTRL are going to be
available in the night two draft pool

1065
00:59:09,546 --> 00:59:10,680
on Raw this Monday.

1066
00:59:10,747 --> 00:59:13,883
I take it you're going to be hoping
they get taken by Raw.

1067
00:59:13,950 --> 00:59:18,087
-Keeping it safe for you.
-I pray that they stay on SmackDown, Wade.

1068
00:59:18,154 --> 00:59:20,256
I don't know about you,
but I think we've got

1069
00:59:20,323 --> 00:59:21,758
some unfinished business there.

1070
00:59:22,859 --> 00:59:24,727
[Graves] Stratton able to shrug Naomi off,

1071
00:59:24,794 --> 00:59:27,564
force her face-first into the turnbuckle.

1072
00:59:27,630 --> 00:59:31,634
The Center of the Universe
and Naomi both with the same idea.

1073
00:59:31,701 --> 00:59:33,136
Both women are down.

1074
00:59:34,203 --> 00:59:36,339
[Barrett] Both women running on fumes now.

1075
00:59:36,406 --> 00:59:37,807
And this is that point in the match,

1076
00:59:37,874 --> 00:59:41,611
you really have to dig deep
and figure out who wants this more.

1077
00:59:41,678 --> 00:59:43,313
[crowd cheering]

1078
00:59:44,280 --> 00:59:46,849
[Graves] Both women
struggling to their feet.

1079
00:59:46,916 --> 00:59:49,085
Bayley, you've got to be enjoying
what you're witnessing.

1080
00:59:49,152 --> 00:59:51,721
Two women leaving it all
in the center of the ring

1081
00:59:51,788 --> 00:59:53,022
in the name of being a contender.

1082
00:59:53,089 --> 00:59:55,825
[Bayley] Yep. This is what
SmackDown is all about.

1083
00:59:55,892 --> 00:59:57,860
I'm so proud to be the champion right now,

1084
00:59:57,927 --> 00:59:59,562
so I'm excited to see who does this.

1085
00:59:59,629 --> 01:00:01,965
And it looks like my girl Naomi!

1086
01:00:02,031 --> 01:00:04,033
[Barrett] Patella to the cheekbone.
Maybe the nose.

1087
01:00:04,100 --> 01:00:05,902
-Naomi got all that. What the--
-[Bayley] Oh!

1088
01:00:06,869 --> 01:00:08,338
Nia Jax!

1089
01:00:09,172 --> 01:00:11,007
Nia just ripped Bayley out of her…

1090
01:00:11,507 --> 01:00:16,179
her commentary seat
and The Irresistible Force is wrecking

1091
01:00:16,245 --> 01:00:18,581
the WWE Women's Champion.

1092
01:00:18,648 --> 01:00:20,216
[Barrett] This match is continuing.

1093
01:00:20,283 --> 01:00:23,886
We've got bedlam at ringside
thanks to The Annihilator.

1094
01:00:25,154 --> 01:00:27,290
[Graves] Naomi finally realized
what was going on

1095
01:00:27,357 --> 01:00:29,859
and tried to come to the aid of Bayley.

1096
01:00:29,926 --> 01:00:31,327
[bell rings]

1097
01:00:31,394 --> 01:00:32,528
Mind your business.

1098
01:00:32,595 --> 01:00:35,031
[Graves] Referee Dan Engler
just threw this match out.

1099
01:00:35,098 --> 01:00:36,766
-It's gonna be a no contest.
-[crowd booing]

1100
01:00:40,970 --> 01:00:44,607
-[Barrett] Oh…
-[Graves] Nia flattens Bayley again.

1101
01:00:46,309 --> 01:00:49,545
[Barrett] Here's what happens
when you are the champion.

1102
01:00:51,180 --> 01:00:54,751
[Graves] Nia Jax
wasting absolutely no time,

1103
01:00:54,817 --> 01:00:59,155
just minutes after being drafted
to Friday Night SmackDown.

1104
01:01:00,423 --> 01:01:03,826
Nia staking her claim
to the Women's division.

1105
01:01:03,893 --> 01:01:06,396
[Barrett] Tiffany Stratton
avoided the worst of it.

1106
01:01:08,765 --> 01:01:12,535
Happy to embellish on the damage
already caused.

1107
01:01:13,469 --> 01:01:15,438
[Graves] And the disrespect continues.

1108
01:01:15,505 --> 01:01:17,607
Complete disregard…

1109
01:01:18,908 --> 01:01:20,643
for the veterans in this business,

1110
01:01:20,710 --> 01:01:23,880
for the women who laid
the groundwork that she follows.

1111
01:01:24,514 --> 01:01:28,584
Tiffany Stratton cares about one thing
and one thing only.

1112
01:01:29,118 --> 01:01:30,053
Herself.

1113
01:01:32,221 --> 01:01:36,626
-Prettiest Moonsault Ever times two.
-What did I say?

1114
01:01:36,692 --> 01:01:38,227
Don't mess with me!

1115
01:01:38,294 --> 01:01:40,129
["Tiffy Time" playing]

1116
01:01:40,196 --> 01:01:42,932
[Barrett] Stratton. And of course,
Naomi just missed out

1117
01:01:42,999 --> 01:01:46,602
on the opportunity to become
number one contender.

1118
01:01:47,970 --> 01:01:50,873
[Graves] Now, Bayley was hoping
to have a high profile matchup

1119
01:01:50,940 --> 01:01:53,176
when we arrived in Lyon, France

1120
01:01:53,242 --> 01:01:55,111
one week from tomorrow, but…

1121
01:01:55,178 --> 01:01:56,512
doesn't appear to be the case.

1122
01:01:57,613 --> 01:01:59,148
I'm the future!

1123
01:02:02,251 --> 01:02:03,553
Where's Bobby? Where's Bobby?

1124
01:02:03,619 --> 01:02:05,221
He said he's coming. He's on his way.

1125
01:02:05,288 --> 01:02:07,323
-[indistinct chatter]
-[Byron] Sorry to interrupt, guys.

1126
01:02:07,390 --> 01:02:09,025
But you are, Byron!

1127
01:02:09,092 --> 01:02:10,693
-You know what?
-Manners, man. Manners.

1128
01:02:10,760 --> 01:02:11,994
He need to say sorry.

1129
01:02:12,061 --> 01:02:12,895
Byron, go ahead.

1130
01:02:12,962 --> 01:02:16,866
Okay, so we don't know what
your WWE Draft destination will be

1131
01:02:16,933 --> 01:02:20,303
until this Monday night on Raw,
but looking ahead to next Friday,

1132
01:02:20,369 --> 01:02:24,240
what we do know is that you, Montez Ford,
and you, Angelo Dawkins,

1133
01:02:24,307 --> 01:02:29,645
will challenge A-Town Down Under
for the WWE Tag Team Championship.

1134
01:02:29,712 --> 01:02:32,448
Yes, sir!

1135
01:02:32,515 --> 01:02:35,051
Byron, it doesn't even matter
when we get drafted.

1136
01:02:35,118 --> 01:02:36,519
-Amen.
-Because next week,

1137
01:02:36,586 --> 01:02:39,622
The Street Profits are
going to take down A-Town Down

1138
01:02:39,689 --> 01:02:41,858
for those Tag Team Championships.

1139
01:02:41,924 --> 01:02:43,960
And then we're going to have
our first-class ticket

1140
01:02:44,026 --> 01:02:45,528
right back here to SmackDown.

1141
01:02:45,595 --> 01:02:47,930
SmackDown. Did you say SmackDown?

1142
01:02:47,997 --> 01:02:49,599
Because you can't have SmackDown

1143
01:02:49,665 --> 01:02:53,069
without the greatest undefeated
Tag Team Champions of all time.

1144
01:02:53,136 --> 01:02:54,437
-Why are you talking so hard?
-Boo!

1145
01:02:54,504 --> 01:02:55,605
We come in peace.

1146
01:02:55,671 --> 01:02:57,473
Hey, Dawkins, this is a championship.

1147
01:02:57,540 --> 01:02:59,142
Something the Bengals know nothing about.

1148
01:02:59,208 --> 01:03:01,811
-Do something, bro!
-Relax. Save it for next week.

1149
01:03:01,878 --> 01:03:04,280
[overlapping chatter]

1150
01:03:05,314 --> 01:03:07,984
Hey, what y'all jumping for?
What y'all jumping for?

1151
01:03:08,050 --> 01:03:09,919
Hey, we're gonna see y'all next week!

1152
01:03:09,986 --> 01:03:11,454
We gonna beat y'all's asses.

1153
01:03:11,521 --> 01:03:14,490
[Barrett] Trash talk ends when
The All Mighty shows up.

1154
01:03:14,557 --> 01:03:17,627
[laughs] It's a Hall of Famer

1155
01:03:17,693 --> 01:03:20,863
and the greatest GM
the blue brand has ever seen.

1156
01:03:20,930 --> 01:03:22,999
Teddy Long's here with the SmackDown picks

1157
01:03:23,065 --> 01:03:24,433
for round four, playa.

1158
01:03:25,835 --> 01:03:31,274
[Graves] And Monday Night Raw
is boasting a wrestling god.

1159
01:03:31,808 --> 01:03:35,044
JBL is in the house.
The next round of the draft

1160
01:03:35,111 --> 01:03:37,380
continues when we come back.

1161
01:03:40,516 --> 01:03:42,318
Oh! Good evening.

1162
01:03:42,852 --> 01:03:44,253
What's going on here?

1163
01:03:44,954 --> 01:03:45,888
You guessed it.

1164
01:03:45,955 --> 01:03:49,525
More random acts of violence.
You come with me.

1165
01:03:49,592 --> 01:03:52,161
Come with me right now. Don't worry.
You're gonna love this.

1166
01:03:52,228 --> 01:03:54,597
-[loud metallic rattling]
-We're gonna have fun tonight.

1167
01:03:54,664 --> 01:03:55,865
Gentlemen…

1168
01:03:55,932 --> 01:03:56,966
Look at this!

1169
01:03:57,033 --> 01:03:59,268
[screaming]

1170
01:03:59,335 --> 01:04:01,337
It's all about the sacrifices.

1171
01:04:01,404 --> 01:04:02,471
Listen to me.

1172
01:04:02,538 --> 01:04:05,975
Whether we are drafted to Raw
or we stay here on SmackDown,

1173
01:04:06,042 --> 01:04:08,911
the violence will continue
until we get what we want.

1174
01:04:08,978 --> 01:04:12,882
So sayeth The Final Testament.

1175
01:04:16,852 --> 01:04:18,287
[crowd buzzing]

1176
01:04:18,354 --> 01:04:22,124
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome

1177
01:04:22,191 --> 01:04:25,795
WWE Hall of Famers

1178
01:04:25,861 --> 01:04:32,835
Teddy Long and John Bradshaw Layfield.

1179
01:04:32,902 --> 01:04:35,238
[bell rings]

1180
01:04:35,304 --> 01:04:38,841
["Longhorn" playing]

1181
01:04:41,477 --> 01:04:42,511
[cow mooing sound effect]

1182
01:04:54,924 --> 01:04:58,361
With the first pick of the fourth round

1183
01:04:58,427 --> 01:05:02,064
of the 2024 WWE Draft,

1184
01:05:02,131 --> 01:05:04,166
SmackDown selects…

1185
01:05:05,635 --> 01:05:07,103
AJ Styles.

1186
01:05:07,169 --> 01:05:08,337
[crowd cheering]

1187
01:05:08,404 --> 01:05:11,307
[Barrett] What a pick.
You know what, Corey?

1188
01:05:11,374 --> 01:05:16,145
It's gonna look even better
if AJ beats Cody at Backlash

1189
01:05:16,212 --> 01:05:20,883
a week tomorrow to become
Undisputed WWE Champ.

1190
01:05:20,950 --> 01:05:22,718
Phenomenal and timeless.

1191
01:05:23,252 --> 01:05:24,120
Love it.

1192
01:05:26,622 --> 01:05:32,328
With the second pick of
the fourth round of the 2024 WWE Draft,

1193
01:05:32,395 --> 01:05:34,664
Raw selects…

1194
01:05:35,231 --> 01:05:38,067
Chad Gable, my man Otis,

1195
01:05:38,134 --> 01:05:40,770
Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri,

1196
01:05:40,836 --> 01:05:43,205
The Alpha Academy.

1197
01:05:43,272 --> 01:05:47,443
[Graves] Alpha Academy
remaining on Monday Night.

1198
01:05:47,510 --> 01:05:49,979
Curious to see what the Academy
is able to accomplish

1199
01:05:50,046 --> 01:05:54,617
with the new perspective
of master Chad Gable.

1200
01:05:54,684 --> 01:05:57,453
["Shoooosh" playing]

1201
01:05:57,520 --> 01:06:04,460
With the third pick of the third round
of the 2024 WWE Draft,

1202
01:06:05,294 --> 01:06:07,063
SmackDown selects…

1203
01:06:07,630 --> 01:06:09,098
Andrade!

1204
01:06:09,699 --> 01:06:10,766
[Graves laughs]

1205
01:06:11,367 --> 01:06:13,336
This is a big one for the blue brand.

1206
01:06:13,402 --> 01:06:16,639
["Conquistar" playing]

1207
01:06:16,706 --> 01:06:19,241
Recently returning to WWE,

1208
01:06:19,875 --> 01:06:23,412
battling alongside Rey Mysterio
at WrestleMania,

1209
01:06:24,080 --> 01:06:26,115
Andrade's coming to Friday nights.

1210
01:06:28,584 --> 01:06:30,486
Obviously cause for celebration

1211
01:06:30,553 --> 01:06:35,024
in the SmackDown war room.
Raw losing Andrade.

1212
01:06:35,658 --> 01:06:41,230
And with the final pick
of the fourth round, Raw selects

1213
01:06:41,297 --> 01:06:43,032
Kiana James.

1214
01:06:43,099 --> 01:06:45,634
-[Barrett] What?
-[Graves] Wow.

1215
01:06:45,701 --> 01:06:50,373
[Barrett] NXT's Kiana Ja--
I did not see that coming at all.

1216
01:06:50,439 --> 01:06:53,509
But the more I think about it,
the more I like it.

1217
01:06:53,576 --> 01:06:58,547
Self-made businesswoman,
master manipulator Kiana James

1218
01:06:58,614 --> 01:07:01,150
is going to be making money moves
on SmackDown.

1219
01:07:01,217 --> 01:07:02,518
Well done, Kiana.

1220
01:07:03,919 --> 01:07:06,756
[Graves] She is getting ready for
an interview with Jackie Redmond,

1221
01:07:06,822 --> 01:07:10,526
but here is the full class of round four.

1222
01:07:10,593 --> 01:07:13,262
Styles staying here
on Friday Night SmackDown.

1223
01:07:13,329 --> 01:07:15,431
Andrade joining the blue brand.

1224
01:07:15,498 --> 01:07:17,867
Alpha Academy remaining on Raw.

1225
01:07:17,933 --> 01:07:19,702
And let's take a closer look,

1226
01:07:20,236 --> 01:07:23,239
for those of you who may
not be familiar with NXT,

1227
01:07:23,305 --> 01:07:26,776
or should I say Monday Night Raw
Superstar Kiana James.

1228
01:07:28,411 --> 01:07:31,847
[dramatic music playing]

1229
01:07:31,914 --> 01:07:33,949
-♪ Hey! ♪
-[Kiana] My name is Kiana James.

1230
01:07:34,450 --> 01:07:38,654
In the corporate world
and in the ring, I'm relentless.

1231
01:07:38,721 --> 01:07:42,358
A successful woman knows
her worth and her clout.

1232
01:07:42,425 --> 01:07:43,893
And I have both…

1233
01:07:43,959 --> 01:07:44,894
in spades.

1234
01:07:50,900 --> 01:07:52,168
[music fades]

1235
01:07:54,770 --> 01:07:57,706
Kiana, congratulations!

1236
01:07:57,773 --> 01:08:01,577
You are headed to Monday Night Raw.

1237
01:08:01,644 --> 01:08:04,847
Over 100 NXT Superstars eligible tonight.

1238
01:08:04,914 --> 01:08:06,449
Only two names were called.

1239
01:08:06,515 --> 01:08:07,883
Yours was one of them.

1240
01:08:07,950 --> 01:08:10,186
How much does this mean to you right now?

1241
01:08:10,252 --> 01:08:11,420
It means the world to me.

1242
01:08:11,487 --> 01:08:13,222
I'm just filled with gratitude.

1243
01:08:13,289 --> 01:08:16,492
But honestly, I know that every decision
that I've made thus far

1244
01:08:16,559 --> 01:08:19,228
is by design to get me
to this exact moment.

1245
01:08:19,295 --> 01:08:22,031
And I'm so proud of everything
that I've done in NXT.

1246
01:08:22,098 --> 01:08:26,368
But I'm ready to show Raw
exactly why Kiana James is the 1%.

1247
01:08:26,435 --> 01:08:28,771
I was watching you. Were you surprised?

1248
01:08:28,838 --> 01:08:30,172
-Was I surprised?
-Yeah.

1249
01:08:30,239 --> 01:08:32,641
I mean, yeah, I was-- I was.

1250
01:08:32,708 --> 01:08:35,044
Well, listen, HBK,
The Heartbreak Kid himself

1251
01:08:35,111 --> 01:08:36,979
is here to congratulate you.
Congratulations again.

1252
01:08:37,046 --> 01:08:38,514
Thank you for this.

1253
01:08:38,581 --> 01:08:42,618
What a week for NXT,
two draft selections tonight,

1254
01:08:42,685 --> 01:08:46,989
and it all comes on the heels
of an amazing Spring Breakin'

1255
01:08:47,056 --> 01:08:50,626
where we crowned a brand-new NXT Champion.

1256
01:08:50,693 --> 01:08:51,894
Congratulations.

1257
01:08:51,961 --> 01:08:53,529
[cheering]

1258
01:08:56,565 --> 01:09:00,135
-[Graves] Trick shot.
-[crowd] One, two, three!

1259
01:09:00,202 --> 01:09:03,539
[male announcer] Here is your winner,

1260
01:09:03,606 --> 01:09:07,243
the new NXT Champion,

1261
01:09:07,309 --> 01:09:11,580
Trick Williams!

1262
01:09:11,647 --> 01:09:15,818
[crowd chanting] Whoop that trick!
Whoop that trick!

1263
01:09:16,785 --> 01:09:19,622
[Graves] Congrats to the new
NXT Champion, Trick Williams.

1264
01:09:19,688 --> 01:09:22,458
And here is a man who knows
Trick very, very well.

1265
01:09:22,525 --> 01:09:25,161
The first-round pick of
Friday Night SmackDown

1266
01:09:25,227 --> 01:09:28,130
in the main event
sponsored by eBay Motors.

1267
01:09:28,197 --> 01:09:32,167
Carmelo Hayes goes one-on-one
with Cody Rhodes, next.

1268
01:09:32,234 --> 01:09:34,069
♪ Who better than me? ♪

1269
01:09:35,170 --> 01:09:37,573
[rumbling]

1270
01:09:38,274 --> 01:09:39,475
[man screaming]

1271
01:09:43,779 --> 01:09:46,081
[dramatic music playing]

1272
01:09:52,621 --> 01:09:53,455
[narrator] Now…

1273
01:09:55,691 --> 01:09:57,359
for the first time ever,

1274
01:09:58,294 --> 01:10:01,197
NXT comes to UFC's Apex Arena…

1275
01:10:03,432 --> 01:10:05,801
with NXT Battleground.

1276
01:10:12,208 --> 01:10:15,311
[Graves] We are sold out tonight
in the Heritage Bank Center

1277
01:10:15,377 --> 01:10:19,114
in Cincinnati, Ohio
for Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,

1278
01:10:19,181 --> 01:10:21,116
sponsored by Progressive Insurance.

1279
01:10:21,183 --> 01:10:25,154
Save when you bundle auto,
home, or motorcycle insurance.

1280
01:10:25,221 --> 01:10:28,524
It has been draft day all day,
but what we just witnessed moments ago

1281
01:10:28,591 --> 01:10:30,426
hits you right in the feels

1282
01:10:31,026 --> 01:10:33,562
with a surprise draft pick from NXT.

1283
01:10:35,898 --> 01:10:39,335
[Barrett] What a moment
for Kiana James. Shock pick.

1284
01:10:39,401 --> 01:10:41,270
[Graves] Well, let's send it back
to Kayla Braxton

1285
01:10:41,337 --> 01:10:42,905
who is with our Nick Aldis.

1286
01:10:42,972 --> 01:10:45,341
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]

1287
01:10:45,407 --> 01:10:49,245
Thanks, Corey. Yeah, standing by with
SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis.

1288
01:10:49,311 --> 01:10:52,414
And now that night one
of the WWE Draft has concluded,

1289
01:10:52,481 --> 01:10:54,250
how do you feel
about SmackDown's selections?

1290
01:10:54,316 --> 01:10:55,818
I'm feeling very good
about our selections.

1291
01:10:55,884 --> 01:10:58,153
The future is bright,
and I can't wait for our new recruits

1292
01:10:58,220 --> 01:11:00,122
to step up and show out
for the blue brand.

1293
01:11:00,189 --> 01:11:02,591
But we've got to turn our attention
for a moment to Backlash,

1294
01:11:02,658 --> 01:11:05,427
because I got a couple of matches to
announce for our first ever PLE in France,

1295
01:11:05,494 --> 01:11:07,896
and I'm very excited, you see, Kayla,

1296
01:11:07,963 --> 01:11:10,232
because the WWE Women's Championship
will be on the line

1297
01:11:10,299 --> 01:11:11,433
in a Triple Threat Match.

1298
01:11:11,500 --> 01:11:15,004
Bayley will defend against
Tiffany Stratton and Naomi.

1299
01:11:15,070 --> 01:11:18,240
And there's one more match to announce,
but I'm gonna let the GOAT take this one.

1300
01:11:18,307 --> 01:11:19,275
Go ahead, Teddy.

1301
01:11:19,341 --> 01:11:20,309
Hey, what's up, playa?

1302
01:11:20,376 --> 01:11:21,910
Let me let you know something right now.

1303
01:11:21,977 --> 01:11:25,314
All right?. Don't forget that-- [laughs]

1304
01:11:25,381 --> 01:11:27,282
We're going to talk
about this tag team match,

1305
01:11:27,349 --> 01:11:29,518
what's going to happen now,
and it's going to be

1306
01:11:29,585 --> 01:11:33,956
The Bloodline taking on
Kevin Owens and Randy Orton.

1307
01:11:34,023 --> 01:11:35,190
Holla, playa.

1308
01:11:35,257 --> 01:11:36,692
[crowd cheering]

1309
01:11:36,759 --> 01:11:37,860
[Kayla] All right.

1310
01:11:37,926 --> 01:11:40,796
Well, thank you both.
We'll toss things back to you, Corey.

1311
01:11:41,463 --> 01:11:44,266
Two massive announcements for Backlash.

1312
01:11:44,333 --> 01:11:46,435
Lyon, France, one week from tomorrow.

1313
01:11:46,502 --> 01:11:49,304
The Triple Threat for the
WWE Women's Championship

1314
01:11:49,371 --> 01:11:52,508
and a huge tag team matchup.
That's great news.

1315
01:11:52,574 --> 01:11:55,844
I'll tell you what.
Teddy Long has still got it, hasn't he?

1316
01:11:55,911 --> 01:11:58,380
Still got the magic
of making those tag matches.

1317
01:11:58,447 --> 01:12:01,884
I was hoping you would have to go in
a tag team matchup against The Undertaker,

1318
01:12:01,950 --> 01:12:03,252
but that's neither here nor there.

1319
01:12:03,318 --> 01:12:08,123
It's the 2024 WWE Draft.
Superstars switching brands all evening,

1320
01:12:08,190 --> 01:12:09,591
and it continues this coming Monday.

1321
01:12:09,658 --> 01:12:11,527
But our very own Kofi Kingston

1322
01:12:11,593 --> 01:12:14,330
took part in a different kind of draft
last night.

1323
01:12:14,396 --> 01:12:15,230
Congratulations.

1324
01:12:15,297 --> 01:12:16,799
[inaudible conversation]

1325
01:12:16,865 --> 01:12:21,370
[Graves] This is, of course, the
New England Patriots draft pick Drake Maye

1326
01:12:21,437 --> 01:12:24,173
being presented
with a New England Patriots

1327
01:12:24,239 --> 01:12:26,375
WWE Championship.

1328
01:12:26,442 --> 01:12:30,079
Kofi a dyed-in-the-wool Pats fan.

1329
01:12:30,145 --> 01:12:32,247
[Barrett] Could be the next Tom Brady.

1330
01:12:32,748 --> 01:12:36,385
[Graves] And I mentioned it,
the draft continues this coming Monday.

1331
01:12:36,452 --> 01:12:38,987
If your favorite Superstars
weren't drafted tonight

1332
01:12:39,054 --> 01:12:43,659
on Friday Night SmackDown,
perhaps their time will come on Monday.

1333
01:12:43,726 --> 01:12:47,496
The landscape sure to look
very, very different.

1334
01:12:47,563 --> 01:12:50,432
[Barrett] Now these two will be meeting
in the main event of Backlash

1335
01:12:50,499 --> 01:12:54,970
a week tomorrow, but next Friday,
24 hours before Backlash,

1336
01:12:55,037 --> 01:12:58,273
here on SmackDown,
Cody Rhodes will meet face-to-face

1337
01:12:58,340 --> 01:13:00,709
with his opponent, AJ Styles.

1338
01:13:00,776 --> 01:13:02,845
That's right here on SmackDown,
next Friday.

1339
01:13:02,911 --> 01:13:05,280
[Graves] And after suffering
a vicious beatdown

1340
01:13:05,347 --> 01:13:07,850
at the hands of The Authors of Pain,

1341
01:13:07,916 --> 01:13:10,219
Akam and Rezar, The Final Testament,

1342
01:13:10,285 --> 01:13:13,889
they will do battle
with The New Catch Republic,

1343
01:13:13,956 --> 01:13:17,326
"The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne
and Tyler Bate.

1344
01:13:17,893 --> 01:13:21,997
[Barrett] And The Street Profits
won themselves a Fatal 4-Way Tag Match

1345
01:13:22,064 --> 01:13:26,635
to become number one contenders
for the WWE Tag Team Championships.

1346
01:13:26,702 --> 01:13:30,372
They take their opportunity
next Friday on SmackDown.

1347
01:13:30,439 --> 01:13:34,843
A-Town Down Under defending
their shiny new championships

1348
01:13:34,910 --> 01:13:36,178
against the Street Profits.

1349
01:13:36,245 --> 01:13:39,448
[Graves] If you're talking shiny and new,
how about this.

1350
01:13:39,515 --> 01:13:43,952
The first ever edition of "The RKO Show"

1351
01:13:44,019 --> 01:13:49,425
with co-hosts Kevin Owens
and "The Viper" Randy Orton.

1352
01:13:49,491 --> 01:13:51,627
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]

1353
01:13:52,861 --> 01:13:54,263
["Melo Don't Miss" playing]

1354
01:13:56,031 --> 01:13:59,034
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest, ain't no hatin'
I'm the best here ♪

1355
01:13:59,101 --> 01:14:02,037
♪ You want your shot
Well, I guess you wait 'til next year ♪

1356
01:14:02,104 --> 01:14:05,174
♪ I'm at the top, get respect
While I get feared ♪

1357
01:14:05,240 --> 01:14:08,110
♪ Who got a problem, huh?
Tell 'em to step here ♪

1358
01:14:08,177 --> 01:14:09,011
♪ Step here ♪

1359
01:14:09,578 --> 01:14:10,979
-♪ What? ♪
-♪ Yeah ♪

1360
01:14:11,046 --> 01:14:12,581
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest, no arguing… ♪

1361
01:14:12,648 --> 01:14:13,649
[bell rings]

1362
01:14:14,316 --> 01:14:16,218
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled

1363
01:14:16,285 --> 01:14:18,287
for one fall.

1364
01:14:18,353 --> 01:14:21,824
Introducing first,
from Boston, Massachusetts,

1365
01:14:21,890 --> 01:14:26,094
weighing in at 210 pounds,

1366
01:14:26,161 --> 01:14:29,798
Carmelo Hayes.

1367
01:14:29,865 --> 01:14:32,568
[Graves] Wade, we've been waiting
all night for this matchup,

1368
01:14:32,634 --> 01:14:37,105
but Carmelo Hayes has been waiting
his entire career for this moment,

1369
01:14:37,172 --> 01:14:40,709
which is one of the many reasons
why the Performance Center

1370
01:14:40,776 --> 01:14:42,611
is cheering on a man

1371
01:14:42,678 --> 01:14:45,514
who was not necessarily thought well of
when he first appeared.

1372
01:14:45,581 --> 01:14:49,918
[Barrett] Well, Carmelo Hayes helped
build that building into what it is today.

1373
01:14:49,985 --> 01:14:53,522
Make no mistake,
Carmelo Hayes is not a new guy.

1374
01:14:53,589 --> 01:14:55,257
This guy isn't a rookie.

1375
01:14:55,924 --> 01:14:59,862
Melo has done it all in NXT,
and if you don't know this guy already,

1376
01:14:59,928 --> 01:15:02,364
take your head out of your backside

1377
01:15:02,431 --> 01:15:04,766
and accept that the future is here.

1378
01:15:04,833 --> 01:15:07,102
The future is him.

1379
01:15:08,770 --> 01:15:12,774
[Rhodes] Wrestling
has more than one royal family.

1380
01:15:12,841 --> 01:15:17,012
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]

1381
01:15:17,079 --> 01:15:19,081
[crowd cheering]

1382
01:15:27,456 --> 01:15:30,759
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪

1383
01:15:30,826 --> 01:15:33,662
♪ Every thought out of control ♪

1384
01:15:33,729 --> 01:15:38,200
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪

1385
01:15:39,701 --> 01:15:42,804
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪

1386
01:15:42,871 --> 01:15:45,874
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪

1387
01:15:45,941 --> 01:15:50,012
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up
I'm home ♪

1388
01:15:50,078 --> 01:15:51,980
[crowd singing] ♪ Whoa! ♪

1389
01:15:52,047 --> 01:15:55,651
[popping explosions]

1390
01:15:56,151 --> 01:15:58,020
♪ When I was younger… ♪

1391
01:15:58,086 --> 01:16:02,124
[Rome] And his opponent,
from Atlanta, Georgia,

1392
01:16:02,190 --> 01:16:06,995
weighing in at 222 pounds,

1393
01:16:07,062 --> 01:16:11,633
he is the Undisputed

1394
01:16:11,700 --> 01:16:16,238
WWE Champion,

1395
01:16:16,738 --> 01:16:19,741
"The American Nightmare"

1396
01:16:20,309 --> 01:16:25,147
Cody Rhodes!

1397
01:16:25,213 --> 01:16:28,183
[Graves] Cody will, no doubt,
have his hands full tonight,

1398
01:16:28,250 --> 01:16:30,752
but in the back of Rhodes' mind,
he's got to be thinking

1399
01:16:30,819 --> 01:16:32,721
about one week from tomorrow,

1400
01:16:32,788 --> 01:16:35,624
Lyon, France at Backlash,
where Cody will make

1401
01:16:35,691 --> 01:16:39,895
the first defense of
his Undisputed WWE Championship

1402
01:16:39,962 --> 01:16:43,365
against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.

1403
01:16:43,432 --> 01:16:45,801
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪

1404
01:16:45,867 --> 01:16:50,238
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up
I'm home ♪

1405
01:16:50,305 --> 01:16:51,440
[crowd] ♪ Whoa! ♪

1406
01:16:51,506 --> 01:16:53,108
[popping explosions]

1407
01:16:53,175 --> 01:16:54,443
♪ My father said ♪

1408
01:16:54,509 --> 01:16:57,212
[Graves] Wade, we began the night
with the contract signing.

1409
01:16:57,279 --> 01:16:59,815
I was just a few feet
from both Rhodes and Styles.

1410
01:16:59,881 --> 01:17:02,551
You could feel the tension
inside the ring,

1411
01:17:02,617 --> 01:17:06,321
the respect and the tension
of two world-class athletes

1412
01:17:06,388 --> 01:17:08,657
doing battle for the richest prize
in the game.

1413
01:17:09,157 --> 01:17:10,025
Yeah, you're right.

1414
01:17:10,092 --> 01:17:12,461
There's a lot on the plate
of Cody Rhodes right now.

1415
01:17:12,527 --> 01:17:14,663
He got to the mountain top
of WrestleMania.

1416
01:17:14,730 --> 01:17:18,600
Well, the mountain just got extended
and got made even steeper

1417
01:17:18,667 --> 01:17:22,237
because everybody is coming
for Cody Rhodes right now,

1418
01:17:22,304 --> 01:17:26,842
even Carmelo Hayes, who two hours ago
wasn't even part of SmackDown.

1419
01:17:26,908 --> 01:17:28,777
[crowd buzzing]

1420
01:17:28,844 --> 01:17:29,678
[bell rings]

1421
01:17:29,745 --> 01:17:33,148
[Graves] Well, tonight's main event
is sponsored by eBay Motors.

1422
01:17:33,215 --> 01:17:35,651
And Wade, I've got to ask you,
if you're Carmelo Hayes

1423
01:17:35,717 --> 01:17:38,286
and you're in this situation,
standing in the center of the ring,

1424
01:17:38,353 --> 01:17:41,123
your first night as a member
of the SmackDown roster,

1425
01:17:41,189 --> 01:17:44,860
and you see the WWE Champion,
with all the fireworks,

1426
01:17:44,926 --> 01:17:47,663
with all the adulation, walking your way,

1427
01:17:47,729 --> 01:17:50,465
how do you keep your head cool
when you're in this scenario?

1428
01:17:50,532 --> 01:17:53,502
[Barrett] Cool? That is the middle name
of Carmelo Hayes.

1429
01:17:53,568 --> 01:17:55,237
This is a guy who…

1430
01:17:55,303 --> 01:17:58,607
-[Graves] Don't miss.
-…never seen once feel the pressure.

1431
01:17:58,674 --> 01:18:01,677
He main evented
NXT Stand & Deliver a few weeks ago.

1432
01:18:01,743 --> 01:18:05,380
That's the biggest moment of the year
for any NXT Superstar.

1433
01:18:05,447 --> 01:18:07,883
It was a walk in the park
for Carmelo Hayes.

1434
01:18:07,949 --> 01:18:09,718
This guy is built for pressure.

1435
01:18:09,785 --> 01:18:12,054
[Graves] Well, Carmelo needs to
find a way back into this.

1436
01:18:12,120 --> 01:18:14,623
Rhodes and Hayes, one-on-one, continues.

1437
01:18:17,926 --> 01:18:21,863
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes' first night as a
Friday Night SmackDown Superstar,

1438
01:18:21,930 --> 01:18:27,736
wasting no time challenging the top dog,
the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes

1439
01:18:27,803 --> 01:18:28,637
one-on-one.

1440
01:18:28,704 --> 01:18:30,305
And, Wade, I've got to ask you.

1441
01:18:30,372 --> 01:18:32,708
If you're Carmelo Hayes
you're a new Superstar,

1442
01:18:32,774 --> 01:18:36,178
tell me about the mentality
that it takes to challenge

1443
01:18:36,244 --> 01:18:37,746
the top dog out of the gate,

1444
01:18:37,813 --> 01:18:41,316
much like you did when a man named,
uh, Cena was on top.

1445
01:18:41,383 --> 01:18:42,517
[Barrett] I had backup though.

1446
01:18:42,584 --> 01:18:44,719
I wouldn't have done it on my own,
I promise you that much.

1447
01:18:44,786 --> 01:18:46,521
But let me tell you,
Carmelo Hayes is a guy

1448
01:18:46,588 --> 01:18:48,523
who certainly does not lack confidence.

1449
01:18:48,590 --> 01:18:53,095
This is a statement of confidence,
a statement of intent.

1450
01:18:53,161 --> 01:18:57,365
"I'm ready for the top spot right now.
I'm not here for the small fry."

1451
01:18:57,432 --> 01:18:59,067
[Graves] Could it be overconfidence?

1452
01:18:59,134 --> 01:19:01,970
We just saw a moment ago,
Cody Rhodes didn't seem to be impressed.

1453
01:19:02,037 --> 01:19:06,908
[Barrett] I am yet to see Carmelo Hayes,
in his two and a half years-plus in NXT,

1454
01:19:06,975 --> 01:19:09,177
once overexert himself.

1455
01:19:09,244 --> 01:19:12,547
He is confident, I'll give you that,
but he feels he's ready.

1456
01:19:12,614 --> 01:19:16,218
He's wanted opportunities like this one
for over 12 months.

1457
01:19:16,284 --> 01:19:19,287
He's been kicking down the doors of
anyone in management,

1458
01:19:19,354 --> 01:19:22,324
demanding, "Bring me to Raw.
Bring me to SmackDown."

1459
01:19:22,390 --> 01:19:24,059
"I will prove how good I am."

1460
01:19:24,126 --> 01:19:25,494
He's got the chance now

1461
01:19:25,560 --> 01:19:30,198
against the absolute biggest star
in the industry in '24, Cody Rhodes.

1462
01:19:31,466 --> 01:19:34,669
[Graves] Well, and I know Cody's been
competing in live events around the globe,

1463
01:19:34,736 --> 01:19:37,139
but what are the odds Cody
is suffering from some semblance

1464
01:19:37,205 --> 01:19:39,007
of a WrestleMania hangover,

1465
01:19:39,074 --> 01:19:41,843
just coming off
the biggest match of his entire life?

1466
01:19:41,910 --> 01:19:44,713
[Barrett] Cody's career mission
was to try and claim that gold

1467
01:19:44,780 --> 01:19:48,216
that his father,
the great Dusty Rhodes, never won.

1468
01:19:48,283 --> 01:19:53,155
Now that's done, Cody needs to find
a similar motivation to keep pushing on,

1469
01:19:53,221 --> 01:19:56,191
because if he can't,
it's going to be a short reign.

1470
01:19:56,258 --> 01:19:57,759
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes doing his best

1471
01:19:57,826 --> 01:19:59,828
to push The American Nightmare
to the limits.

1472
01:19:59,895 --> 01:20:02,297
Around we go into the facebuster.

1473
01:20:03,031 --> 01:20:04,833
[Barrett] Carmelo Hayes, you will learn,

1474
01:20:04,900 --> 01:20:07,936
has what I would call
a very easy endurance.

1475
01:20:08,003 --> 01:20:09,838
[Graves] Oh-ho! That could do it.

1476
01:20:09,905 --> 01:20:12,507
-What an upset. Carmelo Hayes!
-One, two…

1477
01:20:13,041 --> 01:20:16,077
[Graves] And Rhodes
kicks out before three.

1478
01:20:16,144 --> 01:20:20,549
[Barrett] Right now, the NXT
Performance Center losing their minds

1479
01:20:20,615 --> 01:20:24,386
at one of their own
coming out here and blowing minds.

1480
01:20:25,587 --> 01:20:27,389
[Graves] Well, Cody Rhodes
learning firsthand

1481
01:20:27,455 --> 01:20:30,492
just what Carmelo Hayes is capable of.

1482
01:20:30,559 --> 01:20:32,627
A fadeaway DDT.

1483
01:20:32,694 --> 01:20:38,300
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody!
Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!

1484
01:20:38,366 --> 01:20:41,736
[Graves] WWE Universe here
in a sold-out Heritage Bank Center

1485
01:20:41,803 --> 01:20:43,939
trying to will on The American Nightmare.

1486
01:20:44,005 --> 01:20:46,174
Carmelo escapes out the back door.

1487
01:20:46,708 --> 01:20:48,577
It looked like he was thinking
about Cross Rhodes.

1488
01:20:48,643 --> 01:20:49,911
Shoulders down, inside cradle.

1489
01:20:52,113 --> 01:20:54,482
[Barrett] Cody is just crafty
at the most--

1490
01:20:54,549 --> 01:20:56,518
[Graves] Boom! Whoa!

1491
01:20:56,585 --> 01:20:59,020
That might have been
the biggest disaster kick ever.

1492
01:20:59,087 --> 01:21:00,488
Cover by Rhodes.

1493
01:21:01,156 --> 01:21:05,694
And Carmelo Hayes
not going down without a fight.

1494
01:21:06,628 --> 01:21:09,764
[Barrett] Absolutely cleaned
the clock of Carmelo Hayes.

1495
01:21:09,831 --> 01:21:11,199
Take another look at this.

1496
01:21:11,266 --> 01:21:16,738
A complete 360, landing face-first,
but still with the endurance

1497
01:21:16,805 --> 01:21:20,075
and the durability to kick out.
Carmelo Hayes ain't giving up.

1498
01:21:20,141 --> 01:21:22,010
[Graves] What Carmelo Hayes
is doing right now

1499
01:21:22,077 --> 01:21:27,015
is putting all of WWE on notice,
taking the eyes of the WWE Universe

1500
01:21:27,082 --> 01:21:29,150
and forcing them to watch him.

1501
01:21:29,651 --> 01:21:32,454
This could be Carmelo Hayes' big moment.

1502
01:21:35,357 --> 01:21:37,292
Cody muscling up Hayes.

1503
01:21:38,760 --> 01:21:41,162
Running powerslam by Rhodes.

1504
01:21:41,229 --> 01:21:45,267
Hook of the leg,
and Hayes kicks out again.

1505
01:21:45,333 --> 01:21:48,470
[Barrett] Well, if it ended right there,
you would say Carmelo Hayes

1506
01:21:48,536 --> 01:21:52,274
knocked it out of the park today
because what a performance it's been.

1507
01:21:52,340 --> 01:21:58,413
The fact that he's still in this match
with the absolute best WWE has to offer

1508
01:21:58,480 --> 01:22:00,515
is quite something. Hats off to Carmelo.

1509
01:22:00,582 --> 01:22:03,418
[Graves] At what point does Cody Rhodes
start to feel the frustration?

1510
01:22:03,485 --> 01:22:06,888
Is it possible we see the WWE Champion
unravel a bit tonight?

1511
01:22:06,955 --> 01:22:09,057
Well, you got to remember,
Carmelo Hayes has been--

1512
01:22:09,124 --> 01:22:11,092
[Graves] Cody Cutter!

1513
01:22:11,726 --> 01:22:14,829
I might have just gotten my answer. No!

1514
01:22:14,896 --> 01:22:18,833
[Barrett] That right there is just
how good Carmelo Hayes is.

1515
01:22:18,900 --> 01:22:20,568
This is a different level.

1516
01:22:20,635 --> 01:22:24,039
The frustration building now
on the face of Cody Rhodes.

1517
01:22:24,105 --> 01:22:26,041
He knows he's in big trouble.

1518
01:22:26,107 --> 01:22:29,678
This Cody Cutter connected to perfection.

1519
01:22:29,744 --> 01:22:33,281
How many guys have you seen
be put away with that move?

1520
01:22:33,348 --> 01:22:34,883
Melo is still in this one.

1521
01:22:34,950 --> 01:22:37,719
[Graves] But Cody could be looking
for the Cross Rhodes.

1522
01:22:37,786 --> 01:22:40,722
You can see Rhodes
look at our official Jason Ayers and say,

1523
01:22:40,789 --> 01:22:42,257
"Are you kidding me?"

1524
01:22:42,324 --> 01:22:45,927
Cody in disbelief. Look out! First 48.

1525
01:22:46,528 --> 01:22:47,929
[Barrett] This could be it.

1526
01:22:47,996 --> 01:22:50,231
[Graves] I can't believe this.
We could be moments away

1527
01:22:50,298 --> 01:22:53,802
from the biggest upset
in SmackDown history.

1528
01:22:53,868 --> 01:22:56,571
[Barrett] And it shouldn't be
an upset… Oh!

1529
01:22:56,638 --> 01:22:59,140
…because Melo is simply that good.

1530
01:23:00,608 --> 01:23:04,813
[Graves] Superkick by Rhodes.
Both men at a stalemate.

1531
01:23:05,480 --> 01:23:07,415
Who can find that next gear?

1532
01:23:08,516 --> 01:23:10,085
Both men with the same idea!

1533
01:23:10,151 --> 01:23:12,687
Cody with a gnarly landing
on his shoulder.

1534
01:23:13,188 --> 01:23:16,257
[Barrett] Horrible, horrible landing.
About as bad as it could have been.

1535
01:23:16,324 --> 01:23:20,161
And right now, Melo has the chance
to capitalize on a wounded duck.

1536
01:23:20,228 --> 01:23:21,830
[Graves] Cody's hurt. Can--

1537
01:23:21,896 --> 01:23:23,064
Uh-oh, uh-oh.

1538
01:23:23,131 --> 01:23:25,100
[crowd cheering]

1539
01:23:26,434 --> 01:23:28,036
Cross Rhodes.

1540
01:23:29,771 --> 01:23:31,806
Can Cody finish the job?

1541
01:23:31,873 --> 01:23:34,809
[crowd] One, two, three!

1542
01:23:34,876 --> 01:23:36,244
[bell rings]

1543
01:23:36,311 --> 01:23:37,946
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]

1544
01:23:38,013 --> 01:23:39,547
[Rome] Here is your winner,

1545
01:23:39,614 --> 01:23:44,619
the Undisputed WWE Champion,

1546
01:23:44,686 --> 01:23:47,789
"The American Nightmare"

1547
01:23:48,356 --> 01:23:51,993
Cody Rhodes!

1548
01:23:52,527 --> 01:23:55,196
[Graves] What an effort
by both Superstars.

1549
01:23:55,263 --> 01:23:58,967
The WWE Champion Cody Rhodes
picking up the win,

1550
01:23:59,034 --> 01:24:03,505
but Carmelo Hayes
leaving not only Cincinnati,

1551
01:24:03,571 --> 01:24:06,741
not only Cody Rhodes,
but the entire WWE Universe.

1552
01:24:07,275 --> 01:24:10,478
[Barrett] Breathtaking and exhilarating.

1553
01:24:10,545 --> 01:24:14,849
That is a taste of what is to come
from Carmelo Hayes.

1554
01:24:14,916 --> 01:24:19,621
A simply sublime performance and effort.

1555
01:24:19,687 --> 01:24:21,456
And you have to think…

1556
01:24:21,523 --> 01:24:24,893
perhaps earned the respect
of The American Nightmare.

1557
01:24:25,760 --> 01:24:27,796
[Graves] I don't think there's
any "perhaps" about it.

1558
01:24:28,296 --> 01:24:31,166
I think Carmelo Hayes earned the respect

1559
01:24:31,232 --> 01:24:37,205
of the Undisputed WWE Champion
and the WWE Universe as a whole.

1560
01:24:37,272 --> 01:24:40,775
Big things in the future
for the first-round pick,

1561
01:24:41,376 --> 01:24:42,844
Carmelo Hayes.

1562
01:24:42,911 --> 01:24:46,614
Cody Rhodes can now
shift focus to Backlash,

1563
01:24:47,315 --> 01:24:50,919
to France one week from tomorrow,

1564
01:24:51,719 --> 01:24:55,423
where he will defend
the Undisputed WWE Championship

1565
01:24:55,490 --> 01:24:58,393
against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.

1566
01:24:58,927 --> 01:25:01,596
No need to hang your head, Carmelo.

1567
01:25:02,530 --> 01:25:03,998
The future is bright.

1568
01:25:04,065 --> 01:25:08,436
[Barrett] It takes years and years to get
good enough to compete at that level.

1569
01:25:08,503 --> 01:25:10,939
Look how long it took
Cody Rhodes to get there.

1570
01:25:11,005 --> 01:25:13,041
We all witnessed his story.

1571
01:25:13,108 --> 01:25:18,746
Well, Melo pushed Cody to the limits
on day one of his SmackDown career.

1572
01:25:18,813 --> 01:25:22,617
[Graves] Iron sharpens iron,
and tonight was no exception.

1573
01:25:22,684 --> 01:25:28,957
Carmelo Hayes stunning Cody Rhodes
and the WWE Universe with his offense.

1574
01:25:29,023 --> 01:25:32,927
Cody delivered a Cody Cutter
that was surely the end, but wasn't.

1575
01:25:33,428 --> 01:25:34,529
And finally,

1576
01:25:35,163 --> 01:25:39,501
the Cross Rhodes planted Carmelo Hayes.

1577
01:25:39,567 --> 01:25:42,070
-A wounded champion…
-[crowd] One, two, three!

1578
01:25:42,137 --> 01:25:43,004
[bell rings]

1579
01:25:43,071 --> 01:25:45,807
[Graves] …and a hell of an effort
by both athletes.

1580
01:25:45,874 --> 01:25:50,278
Plenty of reason to be excited about
Friday Night SmackDown

1581
01:25:50,345 --> 01:25:52,680
and WWE as a whole.

1582
01:25:54,682 --> 01:25:55,717
Oh, wait a minute.

1583
01:25:56,584 --> 01:25:58,586
[crowd buzzing]

1584
01:26:09,464 --> 01:26:11,466
[crowd shouting]

1585
01:26:13,401 --> 01:26:20,241
[crowd chanting] AJ sucks! AJ sucks!
AJ sucks! AJ sucks!

1586
01:26:20,308 --> 01:26:22,076
AJ sucks!

1587
01:26:22,143 --> 01:26:27,849
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody!
Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!

1588
01:26:27,916 --> 01:26:33,788
Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!

1589
01:26:34,522 --> 01:26:37,425
[Graves] Styles and Rhodes staring
daggers through one another.

1590
01:26:37,492 --> 01:26:39,360
They'll see one another at Backlash.

1591
01:26:39,427 --> 01:26:44,632
We'll see you on Monday Night Raw
for the WWE Draft night two.

1592
01:26:45,333 --> 01:26:47,368
[crowd buzzing]

1593
01:26:47,435 --> 01:26:49,470
[fan booing loudly]

1594
01:26:50,505 --> 01:26:51,973
[crowd buzzing]
ly]