[WWE dramatic intro music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[Graves] One week from tomorrow in Lyon, France,
the newly-crowned WWE Champion,
the flag bearer of the new era, The American Nightmare,
will defend his title for the first time at Backlash
against an opponent Cody Rhodes has never faced before.
The opponent, a former two-time WWE Champion,
the phenomenal AJ Styles,
who solidified his number one contender status last week.
Tonight, both men will put pen to paper to make the showdown official.
And this dynamic duo, Cargill and Belair,
have been making waves and headlines on SmackDown.
Could this be the last time we see them side by side?
Is a change of scenery imminent?
After all, it is draft night.
Live, from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio,
this is Friday Night SmackDown on FOX, sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto and more.
♪ Who can tussle with the beast? ♪
And before we get the festivities underway,
let's take another look at the draft rules this year,
slightly different from years prior.
Superstars from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT are eligible.
SmackDown begins the festivities tonight with the first pick.
Raw will have the first pick on Monday,
and of course, the rosters lock Monday, May 6th.
[Barrett] And to be clear,
here's another change from historical methodology.
Champions are ineligible to be drafted this year.
If you carry a championship, you are tied to the brand
that you are already registered to.
♪ Nothing I can't conquer ♪
♪ Speak the truth, never lie This for our fans… ♪
[Graves] There's a glimpse inside of both the Raw and SmackDown war rooms.
Adam Pearce, Nick Aldis extremely busy at work.
What a night it's going to be.
Let's throw it backstage to our own Kayla Braxton.
Standing by here with Paul Heyman.
And, Paul, it is night one of the WWE Draft,
and there's already a lot of rumors circulating
what's going to happen tonight,
including rumors about "The Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns.
Oh, well, let me clarify that for you, Kayla.
These are not rumors regarding your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.
These are facts.
Ladies and gentlemen, your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns,
has voluntarily withdrawn from eligibility for the 2024 Draft.
This is not a negative.
This is a positive.
Who built SmackDown since the pandemic?
Roman Reigns.
Who is the biggest star in the entire industry?
Roman Reigns.
Why would Roman Reigns hog the number one draft pick spotlight
when Roman Reigns is not going to be returning
in the immediate future?
Read into my words, Kayla.
That is not what a real Tribal Chief would do.
Instead, now the pressure is on Nick Aldis
because if Roman Reigns is not the first draft pick, who is?
Whoever are the first two draft picks, they make history in a brand-new era.
I don't know about you, but me?
I'm intrigued.
All right.
Well, now we're going to throw things down to Orlando, Florida
at the NXT Performance Center with Jackie Redmond. Hey, Jackie.
[crowd cheering]
Kayla, let-- Kayla, let me tell you,
the emotion here inside the NXT Performance Center,
oh, it is palpable excitement, hope…
-[crowd chanting "NXT!"] -…and a little bit of nervousness.
Let me tell you something, for these NXT Superstars,
tonight is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work,
dedication, a little bit of luck, and a whole lot of self-belief.
Just last year, it was current WWE Tag Team Champion Grayson Waller
hoping that he would hear his name
and be drafted.
-[man] Grayson! -Look at him now.
And you know, Corey, it's funny we call this NXT,
but tonight we are buying a vowel.
We are throwing an E in there and we are asking this important question…
Who's next?
We find out tonight. Back to you.
[Barrett] Well, already a massive curve ball with Roman Reigns
withdrawing eligibility from tonight's draft,
but here's a look at the WWE Draft night one pool
who the GMs will be picking from this evening.
Remember, a separate pool is going to be available
for night two of the draft this Monday on Raw.
And now, let's hand over to voice of SmackDown Corey Graves in the ring.
Welcome, everyone, to night one of the 2024 WWE Draft.
[crowd cheering]
Now, understandably, our general manager for SmackDown,
Nick Aldis, has his hands extremely full tonight,
so I've been given the honor of moderating the contract signing
for our Undisputed WWE Championship Match
taking place one week from tomorrow at Backlash.
So without any further ado, please welcome the challenger,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
♪ You don't want none ♪
["You Don't Want None" playing]
♪ I’m the lone wolf, I be on it, I go ♪
♪ All four corners I leave it on the floor ♪
♪ Hand held high… ♪
[Barrett] Here he is, the number one contender
to Cody Rhodes' WWE Championship,
an opportunity he earned last week on SmackDown
by defeating "The Megastar" LA Knight.
♪ AJ Styles, I be styling like whoa ♪
♪ In the ring where anything goes ♪
[Barrett] Now, assuming this contract signing goes smoothly,
here's where we're heading.
Cody Rhodes' first defense
of the Undisputed WWE Championship, one week from tomorrow
at WWE Backlash, streaming on Peacock.
♪ Told 'em back, back up ♪
♪ Want to roll on me ♪
♪ Get active, I'm up ♪
And now…
the Undisputed WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.
[crowd cheering]
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
[raucous cheering]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every thought out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
[crowd sings along] ♪ Whoa! ♪
[popping explosions]
♪ When I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men ♪
♪ Better men! ♪
♪ You took it all away I give it all away ♪
♪ Can't take my freedom ♪
♪ Here to change the game A banner made of pain ♪
♪ I built my kingdom ♪
♪ Now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪
♪ You'll follow me until the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
♪ Lights go down, I'm ready now ♪
♪ Tear this roof off for the town ♪
♪ Gonna give 'em what they came to see ♪
♪ Hear the crowd on their toes ♪
♪ Ready for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
[crowd sings along] ♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ And my father said, when I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men ♪
♪ Better men! ♪
♪ You took it all away I give it all away ♪
[song fades]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!
Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!
[crowd cheering]
Before I sign this…
[crowd booing]
I don't know if you realize what we have here.
We have two Georgia boys ready to mix it up for the first time
for the biggest prize in the game.
[crowd booing]
And I can understand why you boo me.
I understand that. I get it.
But you got to know that I don't respect LA Knight
and he got under my skin.
[crowd booing]
I accept it. I accept it.
Hey, that's why I lost at WrestleMania.
But what happened?
I got my composure back, and I realized that I am phenomenal.
[crowd] What?
And I beat LA Knight to earn the right to face Cody Rhodes at Backlash.
[crowd] What?
Now, unlike LA Knight, I respect you, Cody. I really do.
We haven't crossed paths yet,
but we've been down the same roads…
[crowd] What?
…and we had to prove ourselves outside of WWE.
[crowd] What?
And I'm willing to believe
that the same man that gave me advice a long time ago
gave you the same advice, Cody.
[crowd] What?
How to stand on our own two feet and be the men that we are today.
[crowd] What?
And he goes by the name of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty!
Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty! Dusty!
I learned a lot from your dad.
He's a good man.
He taught me how to carry myself and how to carry the weight of a champion.
[crowd] What?
[sighs]
And I look at this right here…
[crowd] What?
And the weight of this isn't just of leather and gold.
[crowd shouting]
And at Backlash, we're going to see if you can carry it.
[crowd booing]
[crowd jeering]
So…
[crowd cheering]
Cincinnati!
[crowd cheering]
What do we want to talk about?
Certainly, we can talk about respect.
There is not a locker room on Earth that you'll find
where everyone in it, every single person,
they all respect AJ Styles.
Last week, I went on to say you were the modern-day Excellence of Execution.
I respect the roads that you have traveled down to get here,
the parallel paths that perhaps you and I had.
Much respect. Mutual respect.
But that respect goes by the wayside at Backlash.
-[man] Yeah! -Okay.
I can feel it in your words, to a degree.
You've been here before,
and it seems like you're implying that I cannot carry…
that I cannot carry the weight of that championship.
Well…
good thing the man who trained me not far from where I sit now
used to tell me all the time, it's not about winning the title,
it's about keeping it.
[crowd cheering]
And boy, do I respect your familiarity with my last name.
But when I put C-O-D-Y in front of it on this piece of paper,
that means that we have never touched before.
That means that at Backlash, it is a level playing field.
That means that no matter how phenomenal you are,
this is not a dream match for me.
It's a must-win.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!
You know, Cody,
it was a beautiful thing to see you finish your story
and get the championship.
[fan 1] Cody, smack him already!
[fan 2] Shut up, AJ!
But it's a shame that your title reign is going to end at Backlash.
[crowd booing]
[no audible dialogue]
[crowd shouting]
[crowd booing]
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
[Barrett] Signed, sealed,
and one week from tomorrow, for the first time ever,
Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles will have to deliver
with the Undisputed WWE Championship up for grabs.
Cody's first defense of the title he won at WrestleMania,
at Backlash in Lyon, France,
streaming on Peacock.
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
[crowd singing along] ♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ It's time to play the game ♪
-["The Game" by Motörhead playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Time to play the game! ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ It's all about the game And how you play it ♪
♪ All about control And if you can take it… ♪
[Graves] Well, Wade, we knew the first night of the draft
was going to be big.
What bigger way to kick it off
than with The Game himself.
Man, you could feel the tension in the ring
when they were signing that contract.
I can't wait for Backlash.
[Barrett] I was worried for your safety.
Welcome
to the first round of the 2024 Draft.
It's the night that changes the landscape of WWE going into the future.
And the draft here is a bit different
because as those GMs sit in the back in those war rooms,
pondering their next step,
they have to understand
that it's just as much about protecting the roster they have
as it is bringing in the roster that they want.
Meaning that when they use their pick, they have just as much of a chance
of gaining a WWE Superstar
as they do losing one that they already have.
Cody, I thought since champions are protected
and you'll be staying right here on SmackDown…
[crowd cheering]
…I thought maybe you could help me out here
and you read the SmackDown picks, I'll read the Raw picks.
And since it is SmackDown, you get the honor of going first.
[whistles]
[man] All right!
[crowd cheering]
[man] Cody!
With the first pick of the 2024 WWE Draft,
SmackDown selects The EST of WWE,
Bianca Belair.
[Graves] No surprise there, Bad News.
"The EST" Bianca Belair
staying right here on Friday Night SmackDown,
bolstering what I believe is the best Women's division in the game.
The second pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, Raw selects…
-[man 1] Ay! Yeet! -[man 2] Yeet!
Yeet!
…"Main Event" Jey Uso.
[Graves] That is incredible career trajectory from "Main Event" Jey,
splitting from The Bloodline, standing on his own two feet,
and earning the right to be the number one draft pick
for the red brand.
Yeah, wow. Yeah. Nailed it.
[Graves] Can we hold Jey responsible for seeing that?
[crowd shouting] Yeet!
Yeet.
With the third pick of the 2024 WWE Drafts,
SmackDown selects…
NXT's Carmelo Hayes.
[Barrett] What?
What a genius pick!
Oh my-- Nobody saw that coming.
["Melo Don't Miss" playing]
♪ I'm at the top Get respect while I get fit ♪
♪ Who got a problem, huh? Tell 'em to step here ♪
-♪ What? ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest, no arguing… ♪
[Graves] What a reaction from Carmelo's peers at the Performance Center.
[Barrett] Drafted round one. Completely warranted.
Carmelo Hayes is a hell of a pick. I like that.
Yeah.
The final pick of the first round, Raw selects…
[man shouts indistinctly]
…Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] No surprise there.
The man who's held the World Heavyweight Championship
until this past WrestleMania.
An overabundance of heart and guts.
Seth 'Freakin' Rollins staying on Monday nights.
[crowd sings] ♪ Whoa ♪
[Graves] Round one is in the books, Wade. Any immediate thoughts?
[Barrett] It's the Carmelo Hayes thing. I'm still blown away, but I love it.
♪ Burn it down! ♪
["Melo Don't Miss" playing]
♪ 'Cause I’m the greatest, ain’t no hatin' I’m the best here ♪
♪ You want your shot Well, I guess you wait 'til next year… ♪
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes is here.
♪ Tell 'em to step here ♪
-♪ What? ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause I’m the greatest No arguing or debating… ♪
Hey, hey, hey.
When they talk about who's next up,
when they talk about who's the hottest out,
they don't call him the hottest out,
they call him Carmelo Hayes.
[crowd cheering]
And Cody…
[crowd chanting] Whoop that trick! Whoop that trick! Whoop that trick!
[laughs] Oh. Oh, I already did.
And, Cody, ever since you won that championship,
I've been hearing you.
You've been saying a lot about if you come for the king,
you best not miss.
And that's funny how that works, 'cause one thing about me is,
when I shoot,
I don't miss.
And as a first-round draft pick,
I can't think of a better way to shoot my shot here on SmackDown
than to shoot it against you.
[crowd exclaiming]
-[man 1] Kick his ass, Cody! -I got it.
-Okay. -[man 2] Whup his ass, Cody.
Fortune, uh, certainly favors the bold, but I don't know. You-you…
you folks don't want to see me in action tonight, do you?
[crowd cheering]
Oh, I don't know.
What if I forgot my gear?
-[crowd buzzing] -Oh.
Oh, that's right.
I didn't forget my gear.
[crowd cheering]
And this right here, for me, means absolutely, 100%,
you're on.
[crowd cheering]
I'll see you out there.
[Barrett] Make no mistake, when you're as good as Carmelo Hayes,
you are ready.
[Graves] The American Nightmare
one-on-one with the number one pick tonight.
But before we get there, The LWO have had their hands full
with Legado Del Fantasma.
Coming up next, one more opportunity to exorcise the past.
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
From a sold-out Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio,
this is Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,
sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
Corey Graves ringside alongside Wade Barrett,
as we prepare for tag team action against two factions
who cannot stand one another, Wade.
-Legado Del Fantasma and The LWO. -[bell rings]
[Barrett] Yeah, this rivalry has turned into something of a saga
over the past few months.
You want to claim to be the pre-eminent lucha group on the planet?
Well, put your number one rivals in the rearview mirror for good.
[Graves] Most recently, it was originally scheduled to be
Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee teaming up at WrestleMania
until a backstage attack took Dragon out of action.
Of course, Andrade filled in to great success.
But here comes Dragon Lee.
[Barrett] Whoa.
[Graves] Suicide dive to the outside.
[Barrett] Dragon Lee the man who Rey Mysterio himself has called
the future of lucha libre.
All the more reason why Rey wanted to tag
with Dragon Lee at WrestleMania.
[Graves] Crossbody. Down goes Berto.
[Barrett] At least getting a redo here tonight.
[Graves] And of course, understandably, LWO has accused Santos Escobar
of being behind the attack on Dragon Lee and Santos.
[Barrett] And I'm sick of it.
How many times does Santos Escobar have to deny it was him?
The man, if he causes mischief, claims responsibility.
He's a man of perceived honor in that regard.
Wears it as a badge of honor.
[Graves] Oh my God.
Nasty spill to the outside.
Great teamwork by Angel and Berto.
Can The LWO claw their way back into this tag team match?
[Graves] Tag team action here on Friday Night SmackDown.
Legado Del Fantasma versus The LWO.
Dragon Lee makes the tag.
Here comes the Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio.
[Barrett] And it has been Legado Del Fantasma
in complete control until now.
But what a game changer that tag is.
[Graves] From the very top. Seated senton takes down Angel.
[grunts]
Rey Mysterio absolutely timeless.
-Code red, shoulders down… -One, two…
And Berto breaks up the fall.
[Barrett] Just in the nick of time,
much to the relief of Legado Del Fantasma.
[Graves] Berto now, the illegal competitor for Legado, is sent to the outside
via head scissors by Mysterio.
[Barrett] Simply cannot write off the Hall of Famer.
[Graves] Can't afford to take your eyes off someone
as dangerous as Angel Garza.
Angel now setting up for something big.
Perhaps the end for Rey Mysterio.
Double underhook.
Rey countered, able to trip up Angel.
[Barrett] Freakish athletic ability.
[Graves] Tag made. Dragon Lee is legal for LWO.
[Barrett] Absolutely text book 619.
[Graves] Project Dragon.
[referee and crowd] One, two, three!
-[Graves] And The LWO does it. -[bell rings]
["Booyaka 619" by P.O.D. playing]
[Mike Rome] Here are your winners,
The LWO.
[Barrett] Big celebrations for The LWO,
but they've been out to humble Legado Del Fantasma
for some time.
As a group, they've-
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hold that celebration.
[speaking Spanish] Paren la celebración.
[in English] I am many things, but a liar…
I am not.
And when I said I did not attack Dragon Lee
the evening before WrestleMania XL, I meant it.
Elektra has been working for weeks to track down
the security footage from that evening.
And, Rey…
Rey, what you're about to see,
you're going to find very, very interesting.
[indistinct chatter on video]
-[banging] -[crowd exclaiming]
[screeching]
-You told him. You told him. -Looks like he got caught.
[indistinct chatter]
[Escobar] Not a liar.
[Santos] It's the code, honor, legacy. That's what it's about.
[Carlito on screen] Help! Somebody help! Call the trainer. Somebody. Hey!
[crowd shouting]
[Graves] It was Carlito!
Carlito all along.
[Barrett] Give the man an Oscar.
What are you doing?
[Graves] The ultimate betrayal.
[Barrett] We're left asking the question, why?
[Graves] I'm sure no one's more confused than Rey Mysterio
who personally brought Carlito into The LWO.
[speaking Spanish]
[Barrett] Those two go back about 20 years.
That's all been thrown away.
[Graves] You were right about Santos having clean hands…
We're supposed to be family--
[Graves] …but Carlito with a backstabber for the whole LWO.
And there we look once again at the war rooms for the 2024 WWE Draft.
The first round is in the books.
What does the future hold?
The draft continues tonight.
[Barrett] Just confirmed SmackDown's newest Superstar,
the always confident Carmelo Hayes.
He's called his shot, and as the man said, he rarely misses.
Melo takes on "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
in tonight's main event.
♪ This is my time, get used to my name ♪
[siren blaring]
["Destined for Greatness" playing]
Yeah!
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 250 pounds.
Bron Breakker.
[Graves] Wade, It is the 2024 Draft, and you talk about a blue chip athlete,
you've got to mention Bron Breakker,
potentially a future World Champion.
[Barrett] No doubt about it. Last two years,
the Men's division in NXT has been the Bron and Carmelo Hayes show.
Melo got drafted in round one.
To be clear, Bron Breakker is still up for grabs,
and I'm going to guess he's going to move quick--
[Graves] Oh! [laughs]
I didn't even have time to talk about Cedric raising his stock.
-[referee and crowd] One, two, three! -Good night.
[bell rings]
["Destined for Greatness" playing]
[Rome] Here is your winner,
Bron Breakker!
[Graves] Well, Bron Breakker was not here for a long time
and, unfortunately, Cedric did not have a good time.
But Bron Breakker just elevated his draft stock even higher
if you can believe that.
[Graves] Cataclysmic and highly charged, this man, Bron Breakker,
is going places in a hurry.
And, Corey, I got to agree with you.
Bron Breakker, if he wasn't the next pick in everyone's draft board,
has just shot up even higher with yet another cataclysmic performance.
Definitely raising your draft stock, putting yourself in title contention.
Well, here on Friday Night SmackDown,
another newcomer who's been stealing headlines
and doing, frankly, whatever the hell she wants, has been Tiffany Stratton.
It's Tiffy Time in our Progressive Match Flo.
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[dramatic music playing]
[Graves] Bayley will make her first title defense
against long-time friend, and former champion, Naomi.
[Naomi] Now, last week.
I made little Tiffy Time feel the glow,
and I wanna keep that same energy rolling tonight.
[Bayley] There's one thing that's not going to change, and that's me,
as your WWE Women's Champion.
[grunting]
[Barrett] Bayley knows all about swimming in those deep waters.
[Graves] Facebuster, that could do it. New champion? No.
[Graves] Long range, Bayley nails it.
And the champion still can't finish the job.
The WWE Women's Championship hanging in the balance.
Bayley To Belly onto the desk.
Tiffany Stratton.
What the hell does Tiffany Stratton think she's doing?
[Barrett] This is a rookie who believes she is owed everything by the world.
And if it won't give it to her, she's going to take it.
[dramatic music plays in slow-motion]
[Graves] Prettiest Moonsault Ever.
[Tiffany] Who better than The Center of the Universe herself
to win the WWE Women's Championship?
I just love the sound of that.
Toodles!
[crowd cheering]
[Tiffany] Nick. Nick. Nick.
Did you see what I did last week?
Of course you did.
Because I'm The Center of the Universe.
I dropped Naomi and Bayley.
Where's my title match?
See this watch?
It's not set to Tiffy Time.
You know what, Tiffany?
I was this close to sending you to the back of the line.
But then someone convinced me otherwise, thankfully for you.
So tonight, you go one-on-one with Naomi again
and the winner gets a title match at Backlash.
Whose stupid idea was that?
Ha! Ding-dong, that would be me.
You're welcome. You see, it's a win-win situation.
Because if Naomi wins, then she gets the championship match
that she was cheated out of last week.
And if you win, then you find out what it's like
when you attack The Role Model.
[gasps] I just had a Tiffany epiphany.
What if you sat ringside and you had a front row seat to watching
what you couldn't do, and I do it, and that's beat, Naomi.
Toodles.
Remember when you thought I was annoying?
-I still do. -[indistinct]
[Barrett] Wow. Well, it's always good to see
former Women's Champ, WWE Legend Michelle McCool,
but it's even more exciting when she's got SmackDown's round two draft picks in hand.
[Graves] Well, on the Raw side of things, Adam Pearce has got
a Hall of Famer in Torrie Wilson making the big announcement.
The WWE Draft continues live, next.
[Graves] Combo tickets for Friday Night SmackDown
and Clash at the Castle at the Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland,
on Friday, June 14th and Saturday, June 15th
are on sale now via ticketmaster.co.uk.
♪ Ain't about time, ain't about money It's about legacy ♪
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome,
WWE Legend Michelle McCool
and WWE Hall of Famer,
Torrie Wilson.
["Need a Little Time" playing]
[Graves] The stars are indeed out in full effect
for night one of the 2024 WWE Draft.
♪ Just a corner of the world Where I can be alone ♪
Oh, you can't see mine.
[dramatic music playing]
With the first pick of the second round of the 2024 WWE Draft,
SmackDown selects "The Viper" Randy Orton.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Huge. Absolutely massive get, or should I say keep for the blue brand
here on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Barrett] Protect your biggest stars at all costs,
and Randy Orton is certainly that.
And with the second pick of the second round of the 2024 WWE Draft,
Raw selects Bron Breakker.
[Graves] No!
This is a heartbreaker, Bad News.
[Sade] Man, Raw have just got one of the biggest Superstars of the future.
You just saw him firsthand.
How could you possibly let Bron Breakker slip through your fingers?
Nick Aldis, I am disappointed.
["Destined for Greatness" playing]
[Graves] And there you see the Monday Night Raw squad reacting.
Congratulations, Adam Pearce.
You got yourself a thoroughbred.
-And Aldis has got to be disappointed. -[Barrett groans]
[Graves] You heard Triple H mention at the top of the evening
the delicate balance.
When you keep a Randy Orton, you leave yourself susceptible
to having a future star snatched away.
With the third pick of the second round of the 2024 WWE Draft,
SmackDown selects Nia Jax.
[Barrett] Yes!
My absolute favorite on the Women's division.
A woman who causes carnage everywhere she goes.
That is a massive, massive selection .
Way to get back in the good books, Aldis.
And with the final pick of the second round,
Raw selects Liv Morgan.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Oh. That's a big get.
["Liv Gone Mad" playing]
Or a big keep. Again, this is the--
The priorities here being shown early on by both managers general,
of keeping your established stars on your brand.
You want to bolster, you want to solidify, you want to build,
but you can't build without a great foundation.
[Barrett] But here's the-- here's the…
Take a look at the selections in round two.
Of course, SmackDown retaining The Viper and adding The Irresistible Force.
It's going to take a while to get over Bron Breakker heading to Mondays though.
We just need to pump the brakes for a second.
Massive names already off the board. But hold on.
The Bloodline have still not been selected.
I am astounded by that.
Yeah, I am astounded as well. We heard Paul Heyman mention
at the top of the night that Roman Reigns has removed himself
with the-- from the draft pool.
Regardless, we are about to be three rounds deep,
The Bloodline still without a brand, but you can be sure
that wherever The Bloodline ends up, trouble is going to follow.
[crowd buzzing]
[Graves] This is last week on Friday Night SmackDown.
The newest addition to The Bloodline, Solo's "MFT" Tama Tonga
dragging a bloodied Kevin Owens to ringside,
but Kevin Owens will not stay down.
[Barrett] The damage had already been done to KO at this point.
The problem is KO simply doesn't have a reverse gear.
Does not know when he's beaten.
Security dragging the man away, until one Samoan Spike.
And the punishment just got worse from there.
[crowd booing]
-Come with me. I wanna show you something. -Ow, ow.
All right. Let me paint you a picture.
One of those rental cars belongs to Kevin Owens,
and the other one is your boy Tama Tonga's.
I will not tolerate this kind of savage behavior.
-I don't blame you. -Just tell me you understand.
I understand.
Losing isn't the only thing that has consequences.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd buzzing]
[sighs]
I know. I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry.
I'm sorry.
[crowd booing]
I know I always get the car-- the door for Roman. I understand.
I'll get the door for you from now on.
-Wiseman. -Yes.
The Bloodline got drafted.
Right?
Well, not exactly.
Not yet.
Give me all the details.
Okay. Roman Reigns…
withdrew from the draft right before the show began.
And with all due respect, you're adding new members now,
which means nobody knows what they're getting in a draft
when they draft The Bloodline.
[sighs]
Oh God.
No. E-Easy. Easy.
-Please. -Wiseman.
-Yes, Solo. -I need you
to repeat that for me one more time.
[grunting]
[crowd cheering]
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Grab it! Grab it! Come on, get at it!
[overlapping shouting]
Come on. Grab him. Grab him. Grab him.
[shouting continues]
-Come on! -Get outta here!
Come on!
-Come on, Kevin. Come on, Kevin. Kevin. -Get outta here!
Get off me!
[dramatic hip-hop music playing]
[Graves] We are live tonight from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
14,028 fans on hand.
A complete sellout for tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,
as we prepare for our main event tonight
that was announced at the top of the show.
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
accepting the challenge of the first round draft pick Carmelo Hayes.
The two will collide in our main event.
Wade, I want to take you back a few moments ago
to the melee that transpired.
[Graves] Yeah, so The Bloodline were discussing business
in a rather heated manner, when one week removed
from a savage Bloodline beatdown, the inevitable happened.
KO returned looking for blood,
thankfully immediately swarmed by our security guards
before things really went off the deep end.
[overlapping shouting]
[Graves] Well, our Kayla Braxton is standing by, hopefully with an update.
-Come on! -Let him go.
[shouting continues]
[Kayla] Thanks, Corey.
And welcome back, everyone, to night one of the 2024 WWE Draft.
And now please welcome the first overall pick, Bianca Belair.
♪ I'm on my own, against the wall ♪
♪ The pressure's building But no, I will never fall ♪
♪ Instead of crying, they hear my roar ♪
♪ And now I see that I'm way better than before ♪
♪ I never needed you at all Think I'd fall down ♪
♪ I'ma watch you fall down ♪
♪ I'm living large now I never needed you at all ♪
[Barrett] Number one pick in the entire draft.
This is our version of Caleb Williams.
And, if I may add, she looks a hell of a lot better.
[Graves] In a dress? Yeah, I agree.
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
Bianca, first of all, congratulations on being the first overall pick.
Thank you.
But let's talk Backlash.
One week from Saturday, you and your tag partner, Jade Cargill,
have the opportunity to dethrone The Kabuki Warriors.
How satisfying will that victory be on a stage of that magnitude
in Lyon, France?
So satisfying.
You know, I really hope that Jade gets drafted to SmackDown on Monday
because I've had a lot of history with Damage CTRL,
and while I've had a lot of amazing women fight alongside me,
I have never been the one that's gotten to finally end it with Damage CTRL
for everything that they've done to me and to this division,
and Jade is the perfect person to help me do that.
-[man] Yeah, B! -[crowd cheering]
Now Damage CTRL is falling apart piece by piece
and that final piece is those Tag Team Titles.
So once Jade and I take those titles at Backlash,
The Kabuki Warriors won't even have a reason to show back up here
to SmackDown.
Period.
[crowd cheering]
["Reigning Warriors" playing]
[Graves] Uh-oh.
The Women's Tag Team Champions obviously taking notice
of The EST's comments.
Kairi Sane and Asuka.
[indistinct bickering]
[speaking Japanese]
["A Storm Is Coming" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Graves laughs] How's this for backup, Wade?
[Barrett] Damage CTRL have never liked not having the numbers advantage.
They may have no advantage whatsoever
once Jade Cargill pairs up with Bianca Belair.
[indistinct bickering]
[Graves] Feel the tensions rising on the entranceway.
Getting a little preview of the throwdown at Backlash.
[bickering continues]
Going down one week from tomorrow, streaming live, WWE on Peacock.
-[Barrett] Oh! -[Graves] Look at the background.
That's Kevin Owens, and is that--
That's The MFT. Owens bringing the fight to Tama Tonga,
looking to take back his pound of flesh.
[Barrett] Well, KO can be a beaten man but the truth is,
he never stays beaten for long,
and Tama Tonga is about to learn that firsthand.
[Graves] Double leg by Owens.
But here comes Solo.
And the numbers yet again…
[crowd booing]
…overwhelming…
Kevin Owens.
[Barrett] KO has learned nothing from his experience last week.
But he's going to keep on swinging with all his might.
[Graves] Look at The MFT just wrecking everyone in his path.
[Barrett] Every single security guard getting dropped.
These guys aren't paid enough,
[Graves] I think security certainly deserves hazard pay
when you're dealing with The Bloodline.
Poor Hurricane nearly got flattened.
[Barrett] Jamie Noble desperately trying to drag KO--
-["Voices" playing] -[Barrett] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
♪ They counsel me, they understand They talk to me ♪
[Graves] Talk about an unexpected ally.
[Barrett] Of all the music in the world you do not want to hit,
it's Randy Orton's.
[Graves] Tama and Solo trying to bull rush The Viper.
Solo escaping the RKO.
Orton giving chase.
[Barrett] Place is in complete meltdown.
[crowd chanting] Randy! Randy! Randy!
[Graves] I don't know if anybody expected to see Randy Orton tonight.
Certainly not bringing the fight…
to The Bloodline.
I know Owens would have never asked for help,
but KO's got to be happy to see Orton.
[Barrett] This would have ended up gruesome
had Randy Orton not showed up in the nick of time.
We might get back to it.
[Graves] Owens isn't done yet.
Kevin Owens will not rest. Kevin Owens will not settle.
KO may not sleep until this issue is resolved.
[Barrett] This is certainly not the last we've seen from these four.
["Voices" playing]
♪ You've got your rules And your religion ♪
["Livin' the Life" playing]
[Graves laughing]
Bad News.
[Barrett] From refereeing at WrestleMania to helping SmackDown
with their draft picks. Bubba Ray is here!
[Graves] And so is D-Von!
The Dudleys are here as the WWE Draft continues,
next.
♪ I'll tell you what I'ma do ♪
[Graves] Wanna take you now to a live shot of the NXT Performance Center
in Orlando, Florida.
[Barrett] Yes, indeed. A lot of excitement in that building
because Carmelo Hayes went in round one of the draft,
third overall pick.
One of the Superstars on your screen may be next
to get the call that will change their lives forever.
[Rome] Please welcome WWE Hall of Famers
Bubba Ray and D-Von,
The Dudley Boyz.
["We're Coming Down" playing]
♪ Come on ♪
♪ Yeah, that's right ♪
♪ We puttin' it down ♪
♪ It's like a family in here Just a little disabled ♪
♪ Puttin' it down We lay 'em out on the table… ♪
[Graves] What an ovation for the WWE Hall of Famers
Bubba Ray and D-Von.
[Barrett] Tag Team GOATs,
and I don't think I will ever get used to seeing those two bedecked in suits.
[song continues]
That just isn't the ECW way.
♪ We puttin' it down ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Uh, yeah ♪
♪ Okay ♪
♪ Hypnotized in a trance Gotta make em' dance ♪
♪ Jump in the pit Now throw up your hands ♪
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[crowd chanting] ECW! ECW! ECW! -What?
ECW! ECW! ECW! ECW!
ECW! ECW! ECW!
I can't read this.
-You can't? -What about yours?
[crowd chanting] We want tables!
[clapping rhythmically]
We want tables!
[clapping rhythmically]
We want tables!
[clapping rhythmically]
We want tables!
[crowd cheering]
We want tables!
With the first pick of the third round
of the 2024 WWE Draft,
SmackDown selects LA Knight.
[Barrett] Yeah!
Greatest pick ever! LA Knight.
The Megastar is staying here on the blue brand, and, Corey,
the whole world has got to be elated about that.
Great job, Nick Aldis.
["Welcome to LA" playing]
[Graves] And the SmackDown war room obviously pleased with the decision.
LA Knight staying right here on Friday nights.
With the second pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE Draft,
Raw selects… Ricochet.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] The one and only, the premier high-flying Superstar in this industry.
Wade, I know you've been watching Ricochet do big, big things
on WWE Speed on X every Wednesday at noon.
The sky truly is the limit.
["It's About to Go Down" playing]
With the third pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE Draft,
SmackDown selects…
Solo Sikoa,
"MFT" Tama Tonga,
and Paul Heyman.
The Bloodline.
[Graves] Well, I suppose they say better late than never.
But, Bad News,
I can't imagine there are going to be a lot of happy campers
within The Bloodline
about being picked in the third round.
[Barrett] I mean, where The Bloodline go, trouble follows.
That's been the story of the past few weeks.
You have to think Paul Heyman has negotiated that deal rather rapidly.
["Taking It All" playing]
And with the final pick of the third round, Raw selects…
Sheamus.
[Wade laughing] Throw an extra couple of slices on the burgers, fella.
You're going to Raw. What a pickup by the red brand.
["Written In My Face" playing]
[Graves] Let's take a look at the completed third round
of the 2024 WWE Draft.
LA Knight and The Bloodline
staying right here on Friday Night SmackDown.
Ricochet and Sheamus hanging out on Mondays.
♪ It's Tiffy Time ♪
["Tiffy Time" playing]
♪ Drop, I'm going in Bass so loud, it's in my skin ♪
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Prior Lake, Minnesota,
Tiffany Stratton.
[Graves] Well, Wade, lucky for all of us, The Center of the Universe has arrived
on Friday Night SmackDown
and this matchup is about to have some serious championship implications.
And speaking of championship implications,
we are joined on commentary by the WWE Women's Champion, Bayley.
And Bayley, we understand this matchup was your idea,
yours and Nick Aldis', collaborating.
Tell us why you feel this is a good decision.
Well, I'm a genius, but Tiffany Stratton is new on SmackDown,
she's new here in the WWE,
and she has to learn that she has to earn her way to this.
Okay, you can't take shortcuts when Bayley's a champion.
Like disrespecting Hall of Famers The Dudley Boyz on the way out?
[Bayley] Exactly.
["Glow" playing]
♪ Let's go! ♪
♪ The beast is out the cage ♪
♪ You know I own that stage ♪
♪ We knock the competition out ♪
♪ And make 'em go insane! ♪
♪ My head is in the game ♪
-♪ I make 'em feel the pain ♪ -♪ Uh-huh ♪
♪ I hear the people scream my name ♪
♪ One, two, three ♪
[Graves] Mike Rome is busy dancing over by the ringside area.
[Barrett] Do your job, bro!
[Graves] I'm talking about Naomi, who, last week, very nearly became
the WWE Women's Champion in your first defense, Bayley.
Talk about what it meant to compete at such a high level
against someone who's meant so much to you personally and professionally.
[Bayley] I mean, I wouldn't say she was that close to beating me.
I mean, you know, all due respect to Naomi, she has won--
you know, a former Women's Champion,
so I was excited to get in the ring with her.
She's someone I know so much outside of the ring,
which makes everything we do inside very, very special.
But Tiffany decided that, you know, she didn't care
what happened at the end of the match.
She didn't care who won the match because she wants a piece of it.
And in some way, I respect that.
She made a statement.
-She got my attention. I'm out here now. -[bell rings]
[Graves] There we go. Naomi out of the gate.
Lou Thesz Press. Just raining down rights.
What do you expect to see, a different side of Naomi in this one, Bayley?
[Bayley] I hope so, because, you know, we talked a little bit afterwards
and we were both very annoyed at the way things had went down, so.
[Barrett] Listen, let me-- Let me pull you up on that one, Bayley.
Tiffany Stratton laid you out last week.
Bayley from three months ago would have been out for blood.
Yet the new… nice you has done absolutely nothing.
Are you going soft?
[Bayley] Oh, you idiot. Am I-- Have I gone soft?
I'm the champion right now, Wade Barrett. Let's not forget that.
Understand, he's worked with Michael Cole for a long time.
[Bayley] Ah, that's very true. Michael Cole is an idiot.
-[Graves] He is an idiot. -I'm the champion now, all right, Wade?
I have to go about things at a certain level.
At a different level.
[Graves] Naomi making the climb to the top turnbuckle.
Looking for fireworks here.
Stratton able to avoid contact. Naomi rolls through.
And Naomi suffering whiplash on the middle rope.
Here comes Stratton.
Ooh, hip attack. That may do it.
[Barrett] Getting some firsthand looks at the incredible athleticism
and aggression of Tiffany Stratton.
Bayley, sources are saying
you don-- you don't want to fight Tiffany Stratton.
You're scared of her. What's your response?
-Who are your sources? -[Barrett] Sources?
-[Bayley] Michael Cole. Come on! -[Graves laughs]
-He was one. -[Bayley] Look, look.
I would love to get in the ring with somebody new.
[Graves] The modified piledriver on the apron nearly took Stratton out.
-And here comes Naomi. -[Bayley] Oh my God.
[Graves] Scissor split takedown on the floor.
Naomi versus Stratton. Who is going to challenge Bayley?
[Bayley] I like it.
[Graves] This is Friday Night SmackDown on FOX
and we are witnessing one-on-one action. Stacked up, Stratton on top.
One-on-one competition between Naomi and Tiffany Stratton.
The winner will advance to Backlash to challenge the WWE Women's Champion,
who is joining us here at commentary. Of course, Bayley.
And we spoke moments ago about this being your idea for the matchup,
for the stakes being what they are.
What have you thought about what you're seeing?
-[Bayley] I'm-- -[Graves] Shoulders down.
[Bayley] I almost thought that was it.
These are two of the best in the division right now,
and Tiffany's proven it in her couple matches with Naomi.
She proved it in the Elimination Chamber.
Like, we know what we're-- what she's capable of,
but let's see how far she can actually go.
[Graves] Back kick by Naomi, utilizing some very unique offense,
into a driver.
Hooks the leg. Naomi's headed to Backlash.
-[Bayley] Woo-hoo. -[Barrett] Let me ask you,
Damage CTRL are going to be available in the night two draft pool
on Raw this Monday.
I take it you're going to be hoping they get taken by Raw.
-Keeping it safe for you. -I pray that they stay on SmackDown, Wade.
I don't know about you, but I think we've got
some unfinished business there.
[Graves] Stratton able to shrug Naomi off,
force her face-first into the turnbuckle.
The Center of the Universe and Naomi both with the same idea.
Both women are down.
[Barrett] Both women running on fumes now.
And this is that point in the match,
you really have to dig deep and figure out who wants this more.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Both women struggling to their feet.
Bayley, you've got to be enjoying what you're witnessing.
Two women leaving it all in the center of the ring
in the name of being a contender.
[Bayley] Yep. This is what SmackDown is all about.
I'm so proud to be the champion right now,
so I'm excited to see who does this.
And it looks like my girl Naomi!
[Barrett] Patella to the cheekbone. Maybe the nose.
-Naomi got all that. What the-- -[Bayley] Oh!
Nia Jax!
Nia just ripped Bayley out of her…
her commentary seat and The Irresistible Force is wrecking
the WWE Women's Champion.
[Barrett] This match is continuing.
We've got bedlam at ringside thanks to The Annihilator.
[Graves] Naomi finally realized what was going on
and tried to come to the aid of Bayley.
[bell rings]
Mind your business.
[Graves] Referee Dan Engler just threw this match out.
-It's gonna be a no contest. -[crowd booing]
-[Barrett] Oh… -[Graves] Nia flattens Bayley again.
[Barrett] Here's what happens when you are the champion.
[Graves] Nia Jax wasting absolutely no time,
just minutes after being drafted to Friday Night SmackDown.
Nia staking her claim to the Women's division.
[Barrett] Tiffany Stratton avoided the worst of it.
Happy to embellish on the damage already caused.
[Graves] And the disrespect continues.
Complete disregard…
for the veterans in this business,
for the women who laid the groundwork that she follows.
Tiffany Stratton cares about one thing and one thing only.
Herself.
-Prettiest Moonsault Ever times two. -What did I say?
Don't mess with me!
["Tiffy Time" playing]
[Barrett] Stratton. And of course, Naomi just missed out
on the opportunity to become number one contender.
[Graves] Now, Bayley was hoping to have a high profile matchup
when we arrived in Lyon, France
one week from tomorrow, but…
doesn't appear to be the case.
I'm the future!
Where's Bobby? Where's Bobby?
He said he's coming. He's on his way.
-[indistinct chatter] -[Byron] Sorry to interrupt, guys.
But you are, Byron!
-You know what? -Manners, man. Manners.
He need to say sorry.
Byron, go ahead.
Okay, so we don't know what your WWE Draft destination will be
until this Monday night on Raw, but looking ahead to next Friday,
what we do know is that you, Montez Ford, and you, Angelo Dawkins,
will challenge A-Town Down Under for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Yes, sir!
Byron, it doesn't even matter when we get drafted.
-Amen. -Because next week,
The Street Profits are going to take down A-Town Down
for those Tag Team Championships.
And then we're going to have our first-class ticket
right back here to SmackDown.
SmackDown. Did you say SmackDown?
Because you can't have SmackDown
without the greatest undefeated Tag Team Champions of all time.
-Why are you talking so hard? -Boo!
We come in peace.
Hey, Dawkins, this is a championship.
Something the Bengals know nothing about.
-Do something, bro! -Relax. Save it for next week.
[overlapping chatter]
Hey, what y'all jumping for? What y'all jumping for?
Hey, we're gonna see y'all next week!
We gonna beat y'all's asses.
[Barrett] Trash talk ends when The All Mighty shows up.
[laughs] It's a Hall of Famer
and the greatest GM the blue brand has ever seen.
Teddy Long's here with the SmackDown picks
for round four, playa.
[Graves] And Monday Night Raw is boasting a wrestling god.
JBL is in the house. The next round of the draft
continues when we come back.
Oh! Good evening.
What's going on here?
You guessed it.
More random acts of violence. You come with me.
Come with me right now. Don't worry. You're gonna love this.
-[loud metallic rattling] -We're gonna have fun tonight.
Gentlemen…
Look at this!
[screaming]
It's all about the sacrifices.
Listen to me.
Whether we are drafted to Raw or we stay here on SmackDown,
the violence will continue until we get what we want.
So sayeth The Final Testament.
[crowd buzzing]
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
WWE Hall of Famers
Teddy Long and John Bradshaw Layfield.
[bell rings]
["Longhorn" playing]
[cow mooing sound effect]
With the first pick of the fourth round
of the 2024 WWE Draft,
SmackDown selects…
AJ Styles.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] What a pick. You know what, Corey?
It's gonna look even better if AJ beats Cody at Backlash
a week tomorrow to become Undisputed WWE Champ.
Phenomenal and timeless.
Love it.
With the second pick of the fourth round of the 2024 WWE Draft,
Raw selects…
Chad Gable, my man Otis,
Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri,
The Alpha Academy.
[Graves] Alpha Academy remaining on Monday Night.
Curious to see what the Academy is able to accomplish
with the new perspective of master Chad Gable.
["Shoooosh" playing]
With the third pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE Draft,
SmackDown selects…
Andrade!
[Graves laughs]
This is a big one for the blue brand.
["Conquistar" playing]
Recently returning to WWE,
battling alongside Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania,
Andrade's coming to Friday nights.
Obviously cause for celebration
in the SmackDown war room. Raw losing Andrade.
And with the final pick of the fourth round, Raw selects
Kiana James.
-[Barrett] What? -[Graves] Wow.
[Barrett] NXT's Kiana Ja-- I did not see that coming at all.
But the more I think about it, the more I like it.
Self-made businesswoman, master manipulator Kiana James
is going to be making money moves on SmackDown.
Well done, Kiana.
[Graves] She is getting ready for an interview with Jackie Redmond,
but here is the full class of round four.
Styles staying here on Friday Night SmackDown.
Andrade joining the blue brand.
Alpha Academy remaining on Raw.
And let's take a closer look,
for those of you who may not be familiar with NXT,
or should I say Monday Night Raw Superstar Kiana James.
[dramatic music playing]
-♪ Hey! ♪ -[Kiana] My name is Kiana James.
In the corporate world and in the ring, I'm relentless.
A successful woman knows her worth and her clout.
And I have both…
in spades.
[music fades]
Kiana, congratulations!
You are headed to Monday Night Raw.
Over 100 NXT Superstars eligible tonight.
Only two names were called.
Yours was one of them.
How much does this mean to you right now?
It means the world to me.
I'm just filled with gratitude.
But honestly, I know that every decision that I've made thus far
is by design to get me to this exact moment.
And I'm so proud of everything that I've done in NXT.
But I'm ready to show Raw exactly why Kiana James is the 1%.
I was watching you. Were you surprised?
-Was I surprised? -Yeah.
I mean, yeah, I was-- I was.
Well, listen, HBK, The Heartbreak Kid himself
is here to congratulate you. Congratulations again.
Thank you for this.
What a week for NXT, two draft selections tonight,
and it all comes on the heels of an amazing Spring Breakin'
where we crowned a brand-new NXT Champion.
Congratulations.
[cheering]
-[Graves] Trick shot. -[crowd] One, two, three!
[male announcer] Here is your winner,
the new NXT Champion,
Trick Williams!
[crowd chanting] Whoop that trick! Whoop that trick!
[Graves] Congrats to the new NXT Champion, Trick Williams.
And here is a man who knows Trick very, very well.
The first-round pick of Friday Night SmackDown
in the main event sponsored by eBay Motors.
Carmelo Hayes goes one-on-one with Cody Rhodes, next.
♪ Who better than me? ♪
[rumbling]
[man screaming]
[dramatic music playing]
[narrator] Now…
for the first time ever,
NXT comes to UFC's Apex Arena…
with NXT Battleground.
[Graves] We are sold out tonight in the Heritage Bank Center
in Cincinnati, Ohio for Friday Night SmackDown on FOX,
sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
It has been draft day all day, but what we just witnessed moments ago
hits you right in the feels
with a surprise draft pick from NXT.
[Barrett] What a moment for Kiana James. Shock pick.
[Graves] Well, let's send it back to Kayla Braxton
who is with our Nick Aldis.
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
Thanks, Corey. Yeah, standing by with SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis.
And now that night one of the WWE Draft has concluded,
how do you feel about SmackDown's selections?
I'm feeling very good about our selections.
The future is bright, and I can't wait for our new recruits
to step up and show out for the blue brand.
But we've got to turn our attention for a moment to Backlash,
because I got a couple of matches to announce for our first ever PLE in France,
and I'm very excited, you see, Kayla,
because the WWE Women's Championship will be on the line
in a Triple Threat Match.
Bayley will defend against Tiffany Stratton and Naomi.
And there's one more match to announce, but I'm gonna let the GOAT take this one.
Go ahead, Teddy.
Hey, what's up, playa?
Let me let you know something right now.
All right?. Don't forget that-- [laughs]
We're going to talk about this tag team match,
what's going to happen now, and it's going to be
The Bloodline taking on Kevin Owens and Randy Orton.
Holla, playa.
[crowd cheering]
[Kayla] All right.
Well, thank you both. We'll toss things back to you, Corey.
Two massive announcements for Backlash.
Lyon, France, one week from tomorrow.
The Triple Threat for the WWE Women's Championship
and a huge tag team matchup. That's great news.
I'll tell you what. Teddy Long has still got it, hasn't he?
Still got the magic of making those tag matches.
I was hoping you would have to go in a tag team matchup against The Undertaker,
but that's neither here nor there.
It's the 2024 WWE Draft. Superstars switching brands all evening,
and it continues this coming Monday.
But our very own Kofi Kingston
took part in a different kind of draft last night.
Congratulations.
[inaudible conversation]
[Graves] This is, of course, the New England Patriots draft pick Drake Maye
being presented with a New England Patriots
WWE Championship.
Kofi a dyed-in-the-wool Pats fan.
[Barrett] Could be the next Tom Brady.
[Graves] And I mentioned it, the draft continues this coming Monday.
If your favorite Superstars weren't drafted tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown, perhaps their time will come on Monday.
The landscape sure to look very, very different.
[Barrett] Now these two will be meeting in the main event of Backlash
a week tomorrow, but next Friday, 24 hours before Backlash,
here on SmackDown, Cody Rhodes will meet face-to-face
with his opponent, AJ Styles.
That's right here on SmackDown, next Friday.
[Graves] And after suffering a vicious beatdown
at the hands of The Authors of Pain,
Akam and Rezar, The Final Testament,
they will do battle with The New Catch Republic,
"The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
[Barrett] And The Street Profits won themselves a Fatal 4-Way Tag Match
to become number one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championships.
They take their opportunity next Friday on SmackDown.
A-Town Down Under defending their shiny new championships
against the Street Profits.
[Graves] If you're talking shiny and new, how about this.
The first ever edition of "The RKO Show"
with co-hosts Kevin Owens and "The Viper" Randy Orton.
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
["Melo Don't Miss" playing]
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest, ain't no hatin' I'm the best here ♪
♪ You want your shot Well, I guess you wait 'til next year ♪
♪ I'm at the top, get respect While I get feared ♪
♪ Who got a problem, huh? Tell 'em to step here ♪
♪ Step here ♪
-♪ What? ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest, no arguing… ♪
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled
for one fall.
Introducing first, from Boston, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 210 pounds,
Carmelo Hayes.
[Graves] Wade, we've been waiting all night for this matchup,
but Carmelo Hayes has been waiting his entire career for this moment,
which is one of the many reasons why the Performance Center
is cheering on a man
who was not necessarily thought well of when he first appeared.
[Barrett] Well, Carmelo Hayes helped build that building into what it is today.
Make no mistake, Carmelo Hayes is not a new guy.
This guy isn't a rookie.
Melo has done it all in NXT, and if you don't know this guy already,
take your head out of your backside
and accept that the future is here.
The future is him.
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every thought out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
[crowd singing] ♪ Whoa! ♪
[popping explosions]
♪ When I was younger… ♪
[Rome] And his opponent, from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 222 pounds,
he is the Undisputed
WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes!
[Graves] Cody will, no doubt, have his hands full tonight,
but in the back of Rhodes' mind, he's got to be thinking
about one week from tomorrow,
Lyon, France at Backlash, where Cody will make
the first defense of his Undisputed WWE Championship
against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
[crowd] ♪ Whoa! ♪
[popping explosions]
♪ My father said ♪
[Graves] Wade, we began the night with the contract signing.
I was just a few feet from both Rhodes and Styles.
You could feel the tension inside the ring,
the respect and the tension of two world-class athletes
doing battle for the richest prize in the game.
Yeah, you're right.
There's a lot on the plate of Cody Rhodes right now.
He got to the mountain top of WrestleMania.
Well, the mountain just got extended and got made even steeper
because everybody is coming for Cody Rhodes right now,
even Carmelo Hayes, who two hours ago wasn't even part of SmackDown.
[crowd buzzing]
[bell rings]
[Graves] Well, tonight's main event is sponsored by eBay Motors.
And Wade, I've got to ask you, if you're Carmelo Hayes
and you're in this situation, standing in the center of the ring,
your first night as a member of the SmackDown roster,
and you see the WWE Champion, with all the fireworks,
with all the adulation, walking your way,
how do you keep your head cool when you're in this scenario?
[Barrett] Cool? That is the middle name of Carmelo Hayes.
This is a guy who…
-[Graves] Don't miss. -…never seen once feel the pressure.
He main evented NXT Stand & Deliver a few weeks ago.
That's the biggest moment of the year for any NXT Superstar.
It was a walk in the park for Carmelo Hayes.
This guy is built for pressure.
[Graves] Well, Carmelo needs to find a way back into this.
Rhodes and Hayes, one-on-one, continues.
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes' first night as a Friday Night SmackDown Superstar,
wasting no time challenging the top dog, the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes
one-on-one.
And, Wade, I've got to ask you.
If you're Carmelo Hayes you're a new Superstar,
tell me about the mentality that it takes to challenge
the top dog out of the gate,
much like you did when a man named, uh, Cena was on top.
[Barrett] I had backup though.
I wouldn't have done it on my own, I promise you that much.
But let me tell you, Carmelo Hayes is a guy
who certainly does not lack confidence.
This is a statement of confidence, a statement of intent.
"I'm ready for the top spot right now. I'm not here for the small fry."
[Graves] Could it be overconfidence?
We just saw a moment ago, Cody Rhodes didn't seem to be impressed.
[Barrett] I am yet to see Carmelo Hayes, in his two and a half years-plus in NXT,
once overexert himself.
He is confident, I'll give you that, but he feels he's ready.
He's wanted opportunities like this one for over 12 months.
He's been kicking down the doors of anyone in management,
demanding, "Bring me to Raw. Bring me to SmackDown."
"I will prove how good I am."
He's got the chance now
against the absolute biggest star in the industry in '24, Cody Rhodes.
[Graves] Well, and I know Cody's been competing in live events around the globe,
but what are the odds Cody is suffering from some semblance
of a WrestleMania hangover,
just coming off the biggest match of his entire life?
[Barrett] Cody's career mission was to try and claim that gold
that his father, the great Dusty Rhodes, never won.
Now that's done, Cody needs to find a similar motivation to keep pushing on,
because if he can't, it's going to be a short reign.
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes doing his best
to push The American Nightmare to the limits.
Around we go into the facebuster.
[Barrett] Carmelo Hayes, you will learn,
has what I would call a very easy endurance.
[Graves] Oh-ho! That could do it.
-What an upset. Carmelo Hayes! -One, two…
[Graves] And Rhodes kicks out before three.
[Barrett] Right now, the NXT Performance Center losing their minds
at one of their own coming out here and blowing minds.
[Graves] Well, Cody Rhodes learning firsthand
just what Carmelo Hayes is capable of.
A fadeaway DDT.
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!
[Graves] WWE Universe here in a sold-out Heritage Bank Center
trying to will on The American Nightmare.
Carmelo escapes out the back door.
It looked like he was thinking about Cross Rhodes.
Shoulders down, inside cradle.
[Barrett] Cody is just crafty at the most--
[Graves] Boom! Whoa!
That might have been the biggest disaster kick ever.
Cover by Rhodes.
And Carmelo Hayes not going down without a fight.
[Barrett] Absolutely cleaned the clock of Carmelo Hayes.
Take another look at this.
A complete 360, landing face-first, but still with the endurance
and the durability to kick out. Carmelo Hayes ain't giving up.
[Graves] What Carmelo Hayes is doing right now
is putting all of WWE on notice, taking the eyes of the WWE Universe
and forcing them to watch him.
This could be Carmelo Hayes' big moment.
Cody muscling up Hayes.
Running powerslam by Rhodes.
Hook of the leg, and Hayes kicks out again.
[Barrett] Well, if it ended right there, you would say Carmelo Hayes
knocked it out of the park today because what a performance it's been.
The fact that he's still in this match with the absolute best WWE has to offer
is quite something. Hats off to Carmelo.
[Graves] At what point does Cody Rhodes start to feel the frustration?
Is it possible we see the WWE Champion unravel a bit tonight?
Well, you got to remember, Carmelo Hayes has been--
[Graves] Cody Cutter!
I might have just gotten my answer. No!
[Barrett] That right there is just how good Carmelo Hayes is.
This is a different level.
The frustration building now on the face of Cody Rhodes.
He knows he's in big trouble.
This Cody Cutter connected to perfection.
How many guys have you seen be put away with that move?
Melo is still in this one.
[Graves] But Cody could be looking for the Cross Rhodes.
You can see Rhodes look at our official Jason Ayers and say,
"Are you kidding me?"
Cody in disbelief. Look out! First 48.
[Barrett] This could be it.
[Graves] I can't believe this. We could be moments away
from the biggest upset in SmackDown history.
[Barrett] And it shouldn't be an upset… Oh!
…because Melo is simply that good.
[Graves] Superkick by Rhodes. Both men at a stalemate.
Who can find that next gear?
Both men with the same idea!
Cody with a gnarly landing on his shoulder.
[Barrett] Horrible, horrible landing. About as bad as it could have been.
And right now, Melo has the chance to capitalize on a wounded duck.
[Graves] Cody's hurt. Can--
Uh-oh, uh-oh.
[crowd cheering]
Cross Rhodes.
Can Cody finish the job?
[crowd] One, two, three!
[bell rings]
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
[Rome] Here is your winner,
the Undisputed WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes!
[Graves] What an effort by both Superstars.
The WWE Champion Cody Rhodes picking up the win,
but Carmelo Hayes leaving not only Cincinnati,
not only Cody Rhodes, but the entire WWE Universe.
[Barrett] Breathtaking and exhilarating.
That is a taste of what is to come from Carmelo Hayes.
A simply sublime performance and effort.
And you have to think…
perhaps earned the respect of The American Nightmare.
[Graves] I don't think there's any "perhaps" about it.
I think Carmelo Hayes earned the respect
of the Undisputed WWE Champion and the WWE Universe as a whole.
Big things in the future for the first-round pick,
Carmelo Hayes.
Cody Rhodes can now shift focus to Backlash,
to France one week from tomorrow,
where he will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship
against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
No need to hang your head, Carmelo.
The future is bright.
[Barrett] It takes years and years to get good enough to compete at that level.
Look how long it took Cody Rhodes to get there.
We all witnessed his story.
Well, Melo pushed Cody to the limits on day one of his SmackDown career.
[Graves] Iron sharpens iron, and tonight was no exception.
Carmelo Hayes stunning Cody Rhodes and the WWE Universe with his offense.
Cody delivered a Cody Cutter that was surely the end, but wasn't.
And finally,
the Cross Rhodes planted Carmelo Hayes.
-A wounded champion… -[crowd] One, two, three!
[bell rings]
[Graves] …and a hell of an effort by both athletes.
Plenty of reason to be excited about Friday Night SmackDown
and WWE as a whole.
Oh, wait a minute.
[crowd buzzing]
[crowd shouting]
[crowd chanting] AJ sucks! AJ sucks! AJ sucks! AJ sucks!
AJ sucks!
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!
Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!
[Graves] Styles and Rhodes staring daggers through one another.
They'll see one another at Backlash.
We'll see you on Monday Night Raw for the WWE Draft night two.
[crowd buzzing]
[fan booing loudly]
[crowd buzzing] ly]