[WWE intro music plays]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
♪ Better than me ♪
[Graves] On the eve of WWE Backlash,
for the first time ever, Friday Night SmackDown emanates
from the sold-out LDLC Arena in Lyon, France,
just one night before the Undisputed WWE Championship clash at Backlash.
The champion, Cody Rhodes, and his challenger, a former WWE Champion,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, will come face-to-face
on Friday Night SmackDown.
Also tomorrow at Backlash, "The Viper" Randy Orton and Kevin Owens
will battle Solo Sikoa and the "MFT" Tama Tonga of The Bloodline.
But tonight, the duo put their chemistry to the test
as they join forces to co-host the first ever "RKO Show."
♪ Get wrecked if you wanna be cocky ♪
Tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on Fox is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
♪ I don't see nobody Who can tussle with the beast ♪
♪ I don't see nobody 'Cause there ain't nobody ♪
♪ I say I'm the best 'Cause ain't nobody got me ♪
-[music fades] -[crowd vocalizing "Seven Nation Army"]
-["Role Model" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Role Model ♪
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following is an eight-woman tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from San Jose, California,
she is the WWE Women's Champion,
Bayley!
[crowd chants "Bayley"]
Welcome, everybody, to this extremely special edition
of Friday Night SmackDown on the eve of WWE Backlash.
Live from Lyon, France. I am Corey Graves.
Bonsoir. Je m'appelle Wade Barrett.
Dans la France. Vive la liberté !
I don't know if Wade speaks enough French to get us through the whole evening,
which is why we brought our French announce team in the house tonight.
Say hello to Christophe Agius and Philippe Chéreau.
[in French] Good evening, gentlemen. Unbelievable, inconceivable.
It's WWE SmackDown in France!
It's historic. The superstars are full of energy.
Welcome to France. Welcome to the capital of the Gauls.
[music fades]
♪ N-A-O… ♪
[Graves in English] The atmosphere has already reached nuclear levels, Wade.
And we are just getting started.
["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 ♪
♪ I hear the people scream my name ♪
♪ One, two, three ♪
♪ Glow, glow… ♪
[Irvin] Next, from Orlando, Florida,
Naomi!
[Graves] Tomorrow night, Bayley and Naomi will be opponents.
Tonight they're partners.
Last week, Naomi and Tiffany Stratton were competing to find out
who would be Bayley's challenger when they were greeted
by "The Irresistible Force" Nia Jax, a brand new draft pick
to the Friday Night SmackDown roster.
-And, Bad News, this was ugly. -[bell ringing]
[Wade] Yeah, Bayley's good friend Naomi tried her best
to intervene, at no avail.
Jax continued her assault before leaving and allowing
Tiffany Stratton to come along and add insult to injury
with the World's Prettiest Moonsault to both downed Superstars.
[Graves] Again, Bayley and Naomi will have to co-exist as teammates tonight,
but tomorrow it is all about the Women's WWE Championship.
["Tiffy Time" playing]
♪ Drop ♪
♪ I'm goin' in Bass so loud it's in my skin ♪
[Irvin] Making her way to the ring, from Prior Lake, Minnesota,
Tiffany Stratton!
[Graves] Wade, I think when we crossed the Atlantic, something happened to my watch.
Could you inform me of exactly what time it is?
[Wade] I have no clue at this point.
You bought me way too many les bières last night, Corey.
So I'm blaming you.
[Graves laughs] It is Tiffy Time indeed.
But tomorrow night it is about the WWE Women's Championship
as Bayley will make her defense against both Naomi and Tiffany Stratton
in a Triple Threat Match, and, Wade, under Triple Threat rules,
that always puts the champ at a distinct disadvantage.
[Wade] You ain't kidding me.
It's gonna be a hell of an evening tomorrow at Backlash,
but we have to get through SmackDown first.
-["Still the Baddest" playing] -[singing in Japanese]
[Irvin] Next, Dakota Kai
and the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
The Kabuki Warriors,
Damage CTRL.
[Graves] Damage CTRL on what could be their final night
on Friday Night SmackDown,
as they have been drafted to Monday Night Raw,
but The Kabuki Warriors have a tough road ahead tomorrow.
[Wade] Yes, indeed.
WWE Women's Tag Championships on the line against what many are calling
the dream team of Bianca Belair and the newcomer,
the powerhouse, Jade Cargill.
That's tomorrow at Backlash.
♪ I'm on my own ♪
♪ Against the wall ♪
♪ The pressure's building But no, I will never fall ♪
♪ Instead of crying, they hear me roar ♪
[Irvin] From Knoxville, Tennessee,
Bianca Belair!
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] A response from the WWE Universe
befitting the first overall pick in the 2024 draft,
The EST.
["Watch Me Shine" playing]
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
♪ Watch me, watch me shine now Watch me, watch me shine now ♪
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
-[crowd chanting] -[music fades]
-[wind howling] -[crowd cheering]
[Cargill] A storm…
[laughs]
…is coming.
["A Storm Is Coming" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Irvin] Making her way to the ring,
from Vero Beach, Florida,
-Jade Cargill! -Oh yeah! Let's go!
[Graves] Wade, I've got to ask, has there ever been a woman
who has taken WWE by storm quite like Jade Cargill has recently?
[Wade] Well, you just have to sit back and admire
the heavenly confidence of this woman.
And my, oh my, isn't it warranted?
This is a woman who, in a few short weeks,
has taken this company by storm, and you already get the sense
that she will define the future of the women's division here on SmackDown.
[Graves] The future could be sooner than later.
Obviously, Cargill, coming off of a victory at WrestleMania,
alongside Bianca Belair and Naomi, over Damage CTRL members.
[Wade] What a big moment it was for this duo.
And tonight, of course, what was termed the "Big Three" at the time,
Naomi, Cargill, and Belair, for one night only joining forces
with a one-time nemesis of Bianca Belair, that is… that is Bayley.
-[bell rings] -[Graves] And I was gonna ask you, Wade,
how do you see this team functioning? Is Bayley gonna be an issue?
It seems as though there's still some rough waters left between her and The EST.
[Wade] Well, we'll see how it develops.
Of course, they're going to present a united front
against this common enemy of Damage CTRL and Tiffany Stratton.
That is the easy part, but things may come loose at the seams.
[crowd singing "Hey! Baby"]
[Graves] Naomi having a little fun at the expense of Kairi Sane.
[crowd clapping, chanting]
Here comes Naomi.
Dropkick in the bottom turnbuckle and followed up with another vicious kick.
[crowd crescendoes]
[Wade] Admire the fashion stylings of Naomi decked out
in the Tricolore of La France.
[crowd chanting]
[crowd crescendoes]
[Graves] Moonsault right into the cover, hooks the leg.
[crowd] Un ! Deux !
[Graves] Bianca Belair wasting no time wowing the WWE Universe here in France
with her mind-blowing athleticism.
[Wade] Panic etched all over the faces of her Damage CTRL running buddies
who have not got out of the blocks thus far.
[crowd chants]
[Graves] Kairi Sane able to escape out the back door,
now has a grip on Bianca's braid.
[Bianca yells]
[crowd cheering]
Vicious vertical suplex.
[Wade] All just too easy for an athlete like Bianca Belair.
[Graves] Asuka sent to the outside.
[Wade] What a massive confidence builder this will be
for the Tag Championship challengers tomorrow.
[Graves] Bayley just tagged herself in from the outside.
[crowd chanting "We want Bayley"]
Asuka from the outside.
[Wade] As she was temporarily distracted by Bayley,
completely inadvertent, but that will not help things between--
[Graves] Cover by Stratton.
Bayley survives.
Tiffany Stratton in control.
Can Bayley and her team recover?
Eight-women tag team action to kick off Friday Night SmackDown
live from Lyon, France,
as Bayley still in trouble now
at the hands of The Kabuki Warriors.
[Wade] This match did a complete U-turn
when there was a miscommunication between Belair and Bayley,
who are teammates tonight,
and Bayley really has not got any form of offense ever since.
[Graves] Sliding knee by Asuka. That could do it. Slides into the cover.
[crowd] Un ! Deux !
-Simplement deux ! -[Graves] And Bayley kicks out.
[crowd chanting "Simplement deux"]
[Graves] Tag made. Tiffany Stratton,
who has worked very well alongside Damage CTRL thus far.
[Wade] This unit has really clicked.
Tiffany. No fear of the spotlight. No fear of taking on Superstars
with way more experience than her.
Remember, Tiffany Stratton, only a couple of years into this game,
but already showing massive, massive promise.
[Graves] To that point, how important is it for Tiffany to have this opportunity
tonight to be in the ring to compete against Bayley
and Naomi, whom she'll face tomorrow night for the WWE Women's Championship?
[Wade] She already thinks she's way better than them.
You know, last week we had the Legends here
who were doing picks for the WWE Draft.
She pulled me aside at one point and said, "Who the hell are all these old people?"
"Yuck."
Zero respect for veterans at all.
And when you're as good as Tiffany Stratton who--
[Graves] Cover here by Asuka, has Bayley stacked.
[crowd] Simplement deux !
[crowd chanting "Simplement deux"]
[Graves] Stratton sends Bayley into the neutral turnbuckle.
Stratton flexing her otherworldly athletic abilities.
Snapmares Bayley over.
Look out. Here comes the Alabama Slam.
-Bayley is stacked… -[crowd] Un ! Deux !
Simplement deux !
[Graves] And Naomi bulldozing Stratton out of the way.
[Wade] Well, it was a vital intervention from Naomi who knew
victory was slipping through their grasp.
The Alabama Slam connecting to perfection.
There's just no defending when you have someone like Stratton,
and she has the ability to get into a move like the Alabama Slam with a cartwheel.
Nobody has seen that before and nobody has any defense.
[Graves] You can almost feel Stratton's confidence growing by the moment,
as if that were even possible.
[Wade] You ain't lying there, Corey.
But again, what a momentum builder it would be.
[Graves] Oh!
[Wade] Why not take out Jade Cargill for good measure?
[Graves] Listen, if Tiffy wants to be the Center of the Universe,
not a bad decision trying to take out someone as…
highly hyped as Jade Cargill. Bayley takes down Stratton.
Can Bayley make a tag?
[Wade] That is where confidence turns into arrogance for Tiffany Stratton.
And it has backfired, and Bayley…
almost having second thoughts about tagging Belair.
[inaudible]
-[crowd cheers] -[Graves] Uh-oh.
Big pump kick by Cargill.
The powerhouse decimating Asuka.
[crowd crescendoes]
[cheering]
That is terrifying power, Wade. Cargill making it look effortless.
[crowd crescendoes]
Dakota Kai going for a ride.
[Wade] Tag had already been made to Bianca Belair.
Remember, these two are teaming up for tag gold tomorrow.
-[Graves] Cover by Belair. -[crowd] Un ! Deux !
[Graves] And at the last second, Kairi Sane keeps this one alive.
[Wade] A little taste of what is heading the way
of The Kabuki Warriors tomorrow, but Asuka may have the last laugh.
[Graves] Naomi takes down Asuka.
[Wade] Referee now lost complete control of this one.
[Graves] It is chaos. This is a melee.
Bayley-to-Belly.
Scorpion Kick by Dakota Kai.
[crowd crescendoes]
And look at the power of The EST.
K.O.D.
[crowd] Un ! Deux !
-Trois ! -[bell rings]
♪ I'm on my own ♪
♪ Against the wall ♪
[Irvin] Here are your winners,
the team of Naomi, Jade Cargill,
the WWE Women's Champion, Bayley,
and Bianca Belair.
[Wade] Well, despite the clear issue still lingering between Belair and Bayley,
it is their team who is victorious tonight,
gaining momentum going into Backlash.
[crowd chants]
♪ Watch me, watch me shine now Watch me, watch me shine now ♪
[Graves] It was no easy night for these women,
but they managed to pull out a victory.
Look at this.
What unique tag team offense from Cargill and Belair.
Nearly earned the W there had it not been for Kairi Sane.
[Wade] Challengers for the tag gold have clearly been in the lab
working together, figuring stuff out.
And it was Bayley's moment before Bianca Belair hit the K.O.D.
And it was good night.
[Graves] Bianca connects with the K.O.D.
Tomorrow night we will have new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
and Bayley has better keep her head on a swivel as she has to defend
against Naomi and Stratton tomorrow night.
[crowd chants]
♪ Watch me, watch me shine now Watch me, watch me shine now ♪
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
Bonjour, friends.
-[crowd boos] -Yeah. You get a gift tonight.
You get the greatest undefeated Tag Team Champions
in their first title defense.
Bro. What's-- What's that? What's that smell?
[sniffing]
-Ah, that's red wine. -No, that's not red wine.
-No, that's something else, man. -Oh, hold on.
-That's strong. -[sniffing]
Mmm. Cheese.
No, no. That's what the audience smells like, man.
-[laughs] That was a good one. -No, no.
-Actually, I know what it is. -All right. Wait…
I think it's smoke…
'cause that's what the Street Profits want, right?
-Oh yeah, they do. -And after tonight,
A-Town Down Under are gonna show that we are the smoke.
Yeah, smell that.
[crowd boos]
Now, Jade, Bianca, after tonight, you must be feeling pretty confident
in your chances of becoming Tag Team Champions tomorrow at Backlash.
Confident? Baby girl, we are always confident,
and tomorrow will be no different.
And not only are we confident. Speaking for myself,
with all this history with Damage CTRL,
I am ready for closure. I'm ready for this to be done.
I am sick of talking about it because honestly, Damage CTRL
has been coming at me my whole, entire career,
and I'm ready to be done with it.
So once me and Jade take those Tag Team Titles tomorrow,
I'll be done with Damage CTRL for good.
Hopefully.
Stop.
-[crowd boos] -I'm just sayin'. I'm just sayin'.
My bad.
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
SmackDown selects…
NXT's Carmelo Hayes.
[Wade] What a genius pick!
Drafted round one.
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes is here!
Cody, as a first round draft pick,
I can't think of a better way to shoot my shot
than to shoot it against you.
Absolutely. You're on.
[dramatic music playing]
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes wasting no time challenging the top dog in the main event.
[Wade] When you're as good as Carmelo Hayes, you are ready.
[Graves] Oh!
Cover by Rhodes, and Carmelo
not going down without a fight.
Cody with a gnarly landing on his shoulder.
This could be Carmelo Hayes' big moment.
Uh-oh.
Cross Rhodes.
[crowd] One, two, three!
[Graves] Cody Rhodes picking up the win,
but Carmelo Hayes earned the respect of the Undisputed WWE Champion.
Oh, wait a minute.
Styles and Rhodes. They'll see one another at Backlash.
[music fades]
You really proved that you belong here on SmackDown in the match with Cody.
Two things you gotta do here on SmackDown. Show up and show out.
-You did exactly that. -Thank you, Slick Nick.
Appreciate you, man.
Hey, despite what people are saying, you know, last week,
I almost beat Cody Rhodes. You know, your boy got motion right now.
I gotta keep that momentum going, so I'm declaring myself
for the King of the Ring tournament.
-Okay. Hey, we can talk about that. -Let's talk about that, yeah.
-Bobby. -What's going on, Nick?
Good to see you.
-How you doing? -Big Bob.
-You good? -Yeah, man.
Hey, man, first of all, congratulations on being drafted onto SmackDown.
-Thank you. -All right, secondly,
and even more important, congratulations
on the very impressive match against Cody last week.
-It was impressive. -But now that we are on the same show,
if there's anything that I can do for you, any advice I can give you,
anything at all,
just call me, man.
Nah, you know what? I think I'm gonna be good.
I don't know if you saw last week, I was a first round draft pick.
Was in the ring with the WWE Champion.
You know, I think I got this whole thing figured out.
But I appreciate you, though.
All right, big time. It's not about the shots that you shoot.
It's about making those shots count.
And last week, you lost.
When was the last time you shot your shot, Bobby?
[crowd gasping]
Here's a piece of advice you can have for free.
Be careful who you disrespect around here.
[applause]
♪ New Catch Republic ♪
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes wasting no time making waves
here on Friday Night SmackDown.
["Walk of Life" playing]
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate,
New Catch Republic.
[Graves] Fantastic show of respect from the WWE fans in Lyon
for the New Catch Republic, Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
[Wade] We've got two teams up tonight
with an axe to grind with one another
after their actions over the past seven days.
We'll get into that shortly,
but I hope New Catch Republic have a big axe
because they are taking on the humongous AOP,
and it's coming up right here on SmackDown next.
[Graves] Tickets for WWE SummerSlam
at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio,
on Saturday, August 3rd,
go on sale this Thursday, May 9th, via Ticketmaster.
Visit wwe.com/events to register to be the first to receive
exclusive pre-sale information.
♪ My time and my money and my legacy ♪
[Wade] Well, they square off tomorrow at Backlash
for the Undisputed WWE Championship,
but tonight Rhodes and Styles meet face-to-face
in-ring right here on SmackDown.
But before that, let's take you back to last week
when Cody Rhodes announced the first pick of the WWE Draft.
[Rhodes] With the first pick of the 2024 WWE Draft,
SmackDown selects The EST of WWE,
Bianca Belair!
Jade Cargill!
[Rhodes] NXT's Carmelo Hayes.
[Wade] An NXT Superstar has been drafted in round one of the draft. Wow.
SmackDown selects, from NXT,
Blair Davenport.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] We are about to shake things up.
[Graves] The landscape sure to look very, very different.
Plenty of reason to be excited about Friday Night SmackDown.
♪ This for the crowd, look at 'em again ♪
[Graves] There you see the official SmackDown roster post-draft.
Of course, the rosters become official next week.
They lock beginning Monday night on Raw.
Of course, next Friday will be the official beginning
of the new Friday Night SmackDown roster.
♪ Wait a minute, wait a minute… ♪
[Graves] Tonight, Friday Night SmackDown is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
We got tag team action on tap, Wade, between two teams
who have been drafted to Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] I just did a quick bit of math on that graphic.
I think SmackDown acquired 15 new Superstars, but of course,
the yang to that yin is that we do lose some Superstars
and two of which are the teams that we're gonna see competing tonight.
["The End Is Cold" playing]
[Graves] Nick Aldis worked diligently with his team to keep
Friday Night SmackDown the place to be.
[Irvin] And their opponents, accompanied by Paul Ellering,
Scarlett, and Karrion Kross,
representing The Final Testament,
at a combined weight of 618 pounds,
Akam, Rezar,
Authors Of Pain.
[Graves] I'm sure there are a few people on the Friday Night SmackDown roster
who are happy that The Final Testament has been drafted
by Monday Night Raw, but make no mistake about it.
Where The Final Testament goes, destruction follows.
[Wade] Here's how we got to this situation.
Last Friday on SmackDown, Bate and Dunne were the victims
of a heinous beatdown by The Final Testament.
Then, last Tuesday on NXT, AOP showed up to compete
for the NXT Tag Team Championships against the NXT Tag Champions,
Nathan Frazer and Axiom.
That is when Bate and Dunne arrived, costing AOP the victory.
[bell ringing]
Neither team is satisfied.
Both are out for blood this evening.
[Graves] Well, both teams, as members of the Monday Night Raw roster,
could see each other regularly in the future.
How will they spend their final evening here on Friday Night SmackDown?
Who will leave with the ever so important momentum?
[bell rings]
You got the "Bruiserweight," Pete Dunne, a technical mastermind
against a bruiser of a human being in Akam of AOP.
[Wade] Simply not gonna win a power game against AOP.
Pete Dunne realizing that rapidly.
[crowd cheers]
You've gotta win by tekkers,
and that is the name of the game for the New Catch Republic.
[Graves] Series of dropkicks. Right on the money from Pete Dunne.
Looking for some sort of armbar, but… I think Akam just a little--
[crowd cheering]
Akam unable to stop the submission.
And here comes Tyler Bate.
And there's four fists flying at once, Wade.
I'm pretty sure that constitutes clobbering.
[Wade] Well, you simply need to do that against somebody as big as the AOP boys.
[Graves] Here comes the Big Strong Boi. Running European uppercut.
And another.
[Wade] Just been a swarm of offense thus far, and it's worked.
[Graves] Oh my goodness.
[Wade] Famous last words.
Three hundred shots thrown in the direction of AOP,
but it took one to make this match do a complete U-turn.
[Graves] Akam and Rezar possess that unique ability to eat 'em and smile.
-[crowd chanting] -Absolutely terrifying
when you're competing with somebody… that dangerous, that tough.
[crowd booing]
[yelling in Albanian]
[Graves] Rezar, a former kickboxing world champion.
[crowd chanting "C'est pas gentil"]
Absolutely lethal with his fists as well as his feet.
But look at Tyler Bate trying to find an escape route.
[Wade] Really, the technique combined with the power of AOP
that makes them so devastating.
But Tyler Bate is a real veteran at such a young age.
But this-- This, Tyler Bate, is not smart. This is not a veteran move.
[Graves] Listen, we've seen Tyler Bate and what he's capable of.
Arguably, pound for pound, one of the strongest Superstars on the entire roster.
[Wade] He's a Big Strong Boi, but even he is not big and strong enough…
-[Graves] Tag made. -[Wade] …to lift up AOP.
[Graves] The Bruiserweight from the top turnbuckle.
And a double stomp to the arm.
New Catch Republic looking to chop away at the much larger AOP.
Akam and Rezar sent crashing to the outside.
[Wade] It has all been a mental masterpiece thus far
from the New Catch Republic.
[Graves] Whoa!
[Wade] Everything they are doing is working.
[applause]
[crowd chants]
[Graves] Bate trying to muscle Rezar back into the ring.
[Wade] This is the thing. When you get AOP softened up,
you better make it count. You cannot give them any breathing room.
[Graves] Just--
Rezar just so powerful, he can impose his own will on anybody.
My God! That may do it.
[yelling in Albanian]
[Graves] AOP in complete control.
Friday Night SmackDown from the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France.
Eleven thousand, one hundred and one fans on hand tonight,
as we watch the New Catch Republic and the Authors of Pain unfold,
and, Wade, we just received some breaking news
during the commercial break.
Make sure you are subscribed and following WWE social platforms
for a major announcement tomorrow.
-Cover by Rezar. -[crowd] Un ! Deux !
Simplement deux !
[Graves] Tyler Bate stays alive.
[Wade] Yeah, I've been hearing rumors all day about that announcement
coming tomorrow. I'm excited to see what is fact,
what is fiction. Cannot wait for that tomorrow.
But I'll tell you something that is absolute fact.
That is that AOP are two bad, bad dudes,
and Tyler Bate is in a hell of a lot of trouble.
[Graves] AOP have managed to cut the ring in half and isolate Bate
from his partner Pete Dunne.
Thinking of how bad this has got to feel if you're Tyler Bate.
Seeing that Pete Dunne, that your last hope,
is only a few feet away
as Rezar squeezes every last breath out of your broken body.
[Wade] Dunne and Bate felt completely humiliated by last week's needless attack
from The Final Testament.
Tonight is about showing the world that they don't back down from anyone,
but that is easier said than done.
[Graves] Look at Tyler Bate trying to slide his way out of the bear hug.
Manages to do so, but might have found himself
in even less favorable position.
[crowd cheering]
Dropkick created some separation. Can Bate make the tag?
[Wade] Thrown up in the air with ease.
[Graves] Rezar just too quick, able to close the distance.
[Wade] That's really the impressive thing about AOP,
that unfathomable speed for two massive guys like that,
and Tyler Bate fighting for dear life.
-[crowd cheering] -And that might do it, Corey.
-[Graves] Tyler Bate has daylight. -[crowd chanting]
The Bruiserweight is jonesing to join the fight.
[Wade] You've got an opportunity. You won't get another.
You don't need another. Here's Dunne.
[crowd yells]
[Graves] Pete Dunne has been unleashed in this one.
[crowd yells]
Big dropkick takes down Rezar,
and the Bruiserweight striking anything that moves.
-[Wade] Simply… -[Graves] Whoa.
[Wade] Simply nobody in the locker room who can go
from casual indifference to rabid rage
in the blink of an eye quite like Pete Dunne.
[Graves] Sliced Bread. Cover here.
[crowd] Un ! Deux !
Simplement deux !
[Wade] Paul Ellering on the outside, now has fear in his eyes.
-It's not often you see that. -[crowd chanting "Simplement deux"]
[Graves] The Bruiserweight, making the climb to the top turnbuckle yet again.
Here comes Dunne.
Tremendous athleticism, able to adjust mid-air.
Here comes Bate, who is legal.
[Wade] Bate's got his second wind in a hurry.
[Graves] Barrage of strikes from the New Catch Republic.
And can he do it?
-Yes, he can! -[Wade] Yes!
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] The Big Strong Boi.
[crowd cheering]
I'm seeing it with my own two eyes and I don't believe it.
[Wade] My lower back hurt watching that.
You ludicrous human being, Tyler Bate.
[Graves] Shooting star by Bate.
Running knee by Dunne.
-Hook of the leg. -[crowd] Un ! Deux !
-Here comes Akam to break up the fall. -[crowd] Simplement deux !
[Wade] Split second away from what many would have down
as a shock victory.
[crowd chanting "Simplement deux"]
[Rezar yelling in Albanian]
[Graves] Rezar looking to take out both members of the NCR.
But oh no, no, no, no.
That small joint manipulation.
[crowd crescendoes and yells]
A pair of forearms sends Rezar to the outside, to the feet of Scarlett.
New Catch Republic are rolling, Wade.
[Wade] Got all the wind in their sails.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] This wicked siren, Scarlett…
making her presence known, and Dunne takes out Rezar on the outside.
[Wade] Tyler Bate using his body as a missile.
[Graves] Uh-oh.
Oh my God.
Karrion Kross just flattened Tyler Bate.
Pete Dunne takes out Kross.
And a standing uranage by Rezar.
This could be the beginning of the end.
[Wade] That distraction by Scarlett and Karrion Kross
leads to this…
-[crowd] Un ! Deux ! Trois ! -[Wade] …devastation.
-[bell rings] -[crowd boos]
["The End Is Cold" playing]
[Irvin] Here are your winners,
Authors of Pain.
[Graves] A strong final showing on Friday Night SmackDown
for The Final Testament.
Monday Night Raw,
grit your teeth.
This matchup was back and forth, both teams pulling out all the stops.
Tyler Bate sacrificing his own safety.
[Wade] This is when the referee's back was turned, clearly.
Karrion Kross taking his opportunity to flatten Tyler Bate
before getting one in return from Pete Dunne,
who that momentary distraction opened the door for Akam with a uranage
before once again, perhaps the most devastating move
in the tag division.
Victory for AOP.
They move onwards and upwards.
[Graves] Monday Night Raw certainly in for a heavy dose of sadism,
courtesy of The Final Testament.
Another group that we expected to be drafted much earlier
last week, Wade, was The Bloodline.
But last week, more than worrying about their draft stock,
The Bloodline had their hands full with an irate Kevin Owens.
[Wade] Yeah, well, two weeks ago, KO was the victim of a heinous beatdown
at the hands of "MFT," Tama Tonga.
Last week, KO returned looking for vengeance,
and has to be said, taking out the newcomer to The Bloodline
and simply being unrelenting with these attacks.
Things were going great for KO until the arrival of Solo Sikoa,
who once again gave The Bloodline the numbers advantage.
[Graves] Owens being overwhelmed by the numbers
-until an unlikely ally arrived. -♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They understand, they talk to me ♪
"The Apex Predator" Randy Orton
coming to the aid of Kevin Owens.
Orton, another Superstar on a list miles long
who has had severe issues in the past with The Bloodline
and is hungry for vengeance.
[yelling]
[crowd cheers]
Did you get my memo?
I did.
Request denied.
You want me to pull Kevin Owens and Randy Orton
out of the tag team match tomorrow night at Backlash?
Why? Why would I do that?
I don't know, for the sake of Kevin Owens,
for the sake of Randy Orton, for the sake of the SmackDown…
You know, you know what? I've tried and tried and tried with you.
Leave 'em in the damn match as far as I'm concerned. Okay?
What happens to Randy Orton and Kevin Owens tomorrow night
is no longer on my conscience, Mr. Aldis.
What happens to Kevin Owens and Randy Orton tomorrow night
is on your conscience.
Good night.
Is that by orders of The Tribal Chief?
That's not funny.
-That's not funny. -Well, I just…
All communication to The Bloodline and Roman Reigns
must go through Paul Heyman. Are you in charge?
You know, there's a difference between being in charge
and being in control.
I haven't even spoken to Roman Reigns since WrestleMania.
[crowd] Ooh!
I'm sorry. What did you just say?
You haven't spoken to Roman Reigns since WrestleMania?
So when Roman Reigns pulled himself out of the WWE Draft…
Roman Reigns did not pull himself out
of the WWE Draft.
I pulled Roman Reigns out of the WWE Draft.
[crowd gasping]
You have to understand what's going on here.
I had no choice.
I cannot subject Roman Reigns to the chaos
that's going on within The Bloodline right now.
And you can't subject Kevin Owens and Randy Orton to what awaits them
at the hands of The Bloodline tomorrow night.
Well, you know what, Paul?
If you can take it on yourself to pull Roman Reigns out of the draft,
then why don't you try pulling
Randy and Kevin out of that match at Backlash?
You can try right now on the "RKO Show."
It's up next.
Bon courage, Monsieur Heyman.
[applause]
[crowd cheers]
♪ Better than me ♪
[Graves] Welcome back to the first of two nights in beautiful Lyon, France.
We are in a sold-out LDLC Arena,
11,101 fans on hand.
Totally sold out for tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on Fox,
which is sponsored by Progressive.
But we are looking forward to what's still to come tonight
before they clash at Backlash for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
The champion, "The American Nightmare," Cody Rhodes
will stand face-to-face with his challenger,
a former WWE Champion in his own right, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[music fades]
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
["Voices" by Rev Theory playing]
♪ You got your rules and your religion ♪
[Irvin] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome "The Viper,"
Randy Orton!
♪ Hates to love and loves to hate ♪
♪ I have a voice that has the knowledge ♪
♪ And the power to rule your fate ♪
-[crowd singing along] -♪ I hear voices cryin' ♪
♪ I see heroes dyin' ♪
♪ I taste blood that's dryin' ♪
♪ I feel tension risin' ♪
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[Graves] Yes, Wade, that is over 11,000 members
of the WWE Universe singing along with Rev Theory
to welcome "The Viper."
[Wade] Come for the grappling. Stay for the karaoke.
Thank you, Lyon.
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ All the lawyers are defenseless ♪
♪ All the doctors are disease ♪
♪ And the preachers all are sinners ♪
♪ And the police just take the grease ♪
♪ All you judges, you are guilty ♪
-[crowd cheers] -♪ All the bosses I will fire ♪
♪ All you bankers will have losses ♪
♪ Politicians… ♪
[Graves] A hero's welcome for the Apex Predator.
♪ I see darkness fallin' ♪
♪ I hear voices callin' ♪
♪ I feel justice crawlin' ♪
♪ I see faith has fallen ♪
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[crowd sings loudly] ♪ They talk to me, oh! ♪
-♪ They tell me things that I would do ♪ -[music fades]
[crowd continues] ♪ They show me things I'll do to you ♪
[crowd cheers]
["Fight" playing]
[Irvin] Please welcome Kevin Owens.
[Graves] Another electric welcome from the Lyon faithful for the Prizefighter.
[crowd cheers]
As we are moments away from the first-ever edition of the "RKO Show."
[Wade] Well, bitterness, vitriol, and bloodshed.
It's taken only a couple of weeks to get here, but these two teams
are gonna commit obscene acts upon one another tomorrow at Backlash.
Owens and Orton taking on Bloodline's Solo Sikoa
and the newcomer, the "MFT," Tama Tonga.
That is streaming on Peacock, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time tomorrow.
[crowd chanting "KO!"]
[in French] It's…
It's greatly appreciated, but tonight, it's not "KO,"
it's "Ka-O."
[crowd cheering]
Because "K"…
[in English] "K" in French is "Ka." Anyway, you get it.
[crowd chanting "Ka-O!"]
[in French] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome
to the very first
RKO Show!
[crowd cheers]
-[in English] I'm gonna sit. -Yeah. Have a seat. Have a seat.
-Thank you. -You know, normally it would, you know,
you'd really have to talk me into doing something like this,
but it didn't take a lot of talking me into anything
because these people are so freaking amazing.
-[crowd cheers] -Oh! Oh!
You know what else? Ladies and gentlemen,
you know what else didn't take a lot of--
[crowd chants]
Now, you know what else didn't take a lot of talking me into?
It was teaming with my man here, Kevin Owens,
and taking on The Bloodline tomorrow at Backlash
and kicking both of their asses.
[crowd cheers]
Right. And, you know, before we get to that,
I know you had a… a bit of a concern about our guests tonight, right?
And look, at first, I didn't want to have a guest tonight.
I thought, "Let's give France something special."
"We'll give 'em the first 'RKO Show.' We won't have a guest."
"We'll just play around, have fun with the crowd."
But then I started getting call after call after call
from a number that I didn't want to answer because--
-You told me about it. -Caller ID was somebody
I didn't want to talk to. But then finally, Wednesday at 4:00 a.m.,
he wore me down and I answered.
And that's when Paul Heyman
asked to be a guest on our show tonight.
[crowd boos]
I know. I had the same reaction
every time his name would pop up on my phone,
but he said he had something very important to tell us.
And look, it piqued my curiosity.
So why don't bri-- Why don't we bring him out?
Oh, do you want to introduce him? Do you want to do this part?
Introduce Paul Heyman?
Not-- Not especially.
But I would like to introduce Paul Heyman
to the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment.
R, K…
[crowd yells "O"]
[Owens] I like the way you--
[Heyman] Ladies and gentlemen.
[crowd cheering]
I guess he didn't wait.
I didn't introduce him.
[crowd chants]
Mesdames et messieurs…
Ladies and gentlemen,
-my name is Paul Heyman. -[crowd in unison] My name is Paul Heyman.
[crowd cheers]
I am a WWE…
[crowd in unison] …Hall of Famer.
I am a raconteur.
I am a bon vivant.
I am a boulevardier.
And I am, without question,
WWE's Undisputed Wiseman.
[crowd cheers]
Therefore, tonight,
I come out here with respect,
with admiration,
and, of course,
with wisdom.
May I?
Yeah, come.
Whoa, wait, wait. Yeah, yeah, but, Randy, if you--
If you say he can come in, you can't just RKO him right away.
You know that, right?
Not right away.
I'm more of an out-of-nowhere kind of guy.
[crowd chants "RKO"]
[Heyman] Ladies and gentlemen,
there will be no RKOs this evening.
[crowd boos]
I beg to differ.
[Owens laughs]
[crowd chanting]
Paul, I've never met a man who talks so much, yet says so little.
So please, what do you want?
I-I understand why you would doubt a man who…
has very little conscience whatsoever.
However…
[crowd chants "We want Roman"]
More than you'll ever know,
I want Roman too.
[crowd cheering]
I came out here for a very simple reason.
I have great respect for you, Randy Orton.
I have great respect for you, Kevin Owens.
When you stepped into the ring with Roman Reigns,
it was competition.
There was a title on the line,
and I understood, just like you understood,
that whatever Roman Reigns had to do to defend his title,
that's what Roman Reigns was going to do.
But the rules, the rules with Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga
are a whole lot different.
Do yourselves, do SmackDown, do WWE, do these people, do your families a favor,
back out of this match now.
[crowd boos]
Please. Please.
It's the absolutely biggest piece of trash in this industry
trying to tell my partner and I whether or not to take a match?
[Owens] Yeah. You know, Paul, I don't, uh…
I don't think you're in any position to give anybody advice,
considering how everything around you is falling apart.
Yeah, right?
As a matter of fact, that begs the question, Paul.
[crowd chanting "Il a raison"]
[Owens] They're saying I'm right. Just so you know.
Paul, I got a question for you.
Who exactly is the real Tribal Chief?
[crowd murmuring]
I, um…
Oh, you put me in a bad position.
[crowd chants]
I think…
the whole world knows.
There's…
There is only one Tribal Chief.
[Graves] Oh, look out!
Solo and Tama Tonga from behind.
[crowd boos]
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] This is a preview for what's gonna go down tomorrow at Backlash.
It's gonna be ugly. It's gonna be brutal.
These four are trying to destroy each other.
[Wade] Simply cannot be in the same vicinity
without trying to rip each other apart.
[Graves] Randy Orton standing toe-to-toe with the enforcer Solo Sikoa.
[Wade] Got some reinforcements out here desperately trying to tear these four
away from one another.
[Graves] You might want to call in the French National Guard.
This is crazy.
You're gonna need more than a couple. Here we go.
[Wade] Finally, the reinforcements.
[Graves] Oh. Look out.
Orton…
[crowd cheering]
…laying waste to the security staff.
The Viper has lost it.
Owens taking out everyone!
[crowd chattering]
Orton and Owens standing the high ground.
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
[Wade] This incarnation of The Bloodline is ruthless,
but KO and Orton are ready to match that intensity.
["Voices" by Rev Theory playing]
[crowd cheering]
-Come on! -Hey, hey.
[yelling]
SmackDown is on fire tonight.
Yeah, you already know. You know what's crazy, though?
Waller and Theory acting like they know French.
-Is that right? -Uh-huh.
You know, we've been practicing French ourselves.
-Oh, talk to 'em, talk to 'em. -Are we the triple crown
that always puts it down, Street Profits?
Oui, oui.
And it's tonight. Are we gonna put a whooping
on Austin Theory and Grayson Waller in Lyon, France?
Oh, oui, oui.
-And it's tonight. Are we… -Uh-huh.
-…me and my right-hand man, 100 grand… -Uh-huh.
…gonna walk out your new WWE Tag Team Champions?
Oh, oui, oui.
That sounds like we're pretty fluent because the Street Profits are up.
[together, with crowd] And we want the smoke!
♪ LA Knight ♪
-[crowd cheers] -["Welcome to LA" playing]
♪ Oh yeah, I wanna see you dance ♪
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Los Angeles, California,
weighing in at 240 pounds.
LA Knight!
[crowd yells "Yeah"]
[Wade] Doesn't matter where in the world we go, Corey.
Kavorka is a universal language.
LA Knight takes on Angel of Legado Del Fantasma,
and it's coming up right here next on SmackDown.
[Graves] Oui !
[crowd] LA Knight! Yeah!
[Graves] We are on the eve of Backlash.
And tonight, Friday Night SmackDown is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
["Legacy of the Ghost" playing]
Wade, I know you are as excited as anybody in this arena
to watch the Megastar LA Knight in action,
but look what he has to deal with in Legado Del Fantasma.
Angel's his opponent. But you've learned from the past.
You can't take your eyes off the rest of the crew.
[Wade] A deep bag of tricks.
That is the Santos Escobar and Legado Del Fantasma story.
Every trick in the book will be thrown at LA Knight this evening.
[bell rings]
[Wade] The good people of France are raising a glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
to the honor and the legacy of Legado Del Fantasma.
[Graves] Is that what we had at the hotel?
[Wade] No, it's too expensive for us. We're the cheap drink guys.
[Graves] Collar and elbow tie-up.
LA Knight and Angel of Legado Del Fantasma.
[crowd cheering]
The atmosphere. We keep talking about it
because it has to be felt to be truly appreciated.
It feels like the great Gorilla Monsoon used to say, it's a happening, Wade.
There's something big going on in Lyon this weekend.
Tonight with SmackDown, tomorrow with Backlash.
The WWE Universe is out in full force.
-[Angel] Yeah! -[Wade] Absolutely.
The people of France, whenever I competed out here,
were always the loudest group anywhere
on the planet, and Lyon is living up to that reputation.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] LA Knight firing out of the corner with a clothesline.
[crowd crescendoes]
[crowd cheers]
Swinging neckbreaker takes down Angel.
[Wade] Really doesn't matter where in the world you go.
A wild and erratic energy takes over every arena
when the Megastar's in town.
[crowd chanting]
[Graves] LA Knight dropping haymakers.
[crowd] Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
[crowd crescendoes]
Yeah!
[Graves] Haven't seen dribbling like that here in France since Tony Parker.
[Wade] That is a reference completely lost on me.
If you had said Zinedine Zidane, I would have got it.
[Graves laughs] I haven't watched basketball in about a decade.
LA Knight trying to send Angel back to the outside.
Rough landing.
And here comes the Megastar.
Pair of boots right to the heart.
[Wade] I don't think Angel's managed to get a single shot in thus far,
but LA Knight keeping a very close eye
on Legado Del Fantasma, as well he should.
[crowd chanting]
[crowd] Yeah!
Yeah!
[crowd crescendoes]
Yeah!
[crowd crescendoes]
[Graves] Sent hard into the turnbuckle. Here comes LA Knight.
But almost instinctively, Berto made his presence felt.
LA trying to keep his eyes on Legado and his opponent
at the same time. Into the cover.
[crowd] Un ! Deux ! Simplement deux !
[Graves] LA Knight is on a roll.
[indistinct shouting]
[Graves] Angel of Legado Del Fantasma, one-on-one with LA Knight.
The opening few moments all belonged to LA Knight,
but Angel's fought his way back into this encounter, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah. Finally, Santos Escobar unleashed the bag of tricks.
[Graves] Oh, what a headbutt.
[Wade] There's another bag of tricks, Berto with the distraction,
and Angel back on top.
[Graves] Angel, a little disrespect, mocking LA Knight,
which the Megastar rarely takes kindly to.
[crowd cheers]
And a big flying clothesline by the defiant LA Knight.
-Stomping away. -[crowd] Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
[Wade] Popularity and fan support off the scale.
-[crowd] Yeah! -[Graves] Oh my goodness.
Running knee right on the chin.
[Wade] People of France making it quite clear what they want.
They want LA Knight.
[Graves] Big-time powerslam.
[crowd crescendoes] Yeah!
[Graves] And the elbow finds the mark.
[crowd cheering]
LA Knight could be looking for the BFT.
Big right hand to Berto. Angel from behind. Gonna steal one.
[crowd] Simplement deux !
-[Graves] BFT! -[Wade] There it is!
-[crowd] Un ! Deux ! Trois ! -[Graves] You can count to 15.
[bell rings]
["Welcome to LA" playing]
[Irvin] Here is your winner,
LA Knight!
[crowd] Yeah!
[Wade] Well, Legado Del Fantasma threw everything they could
at the Megastar, but it bounced off like water off a duck's back.
Hey, hey, Corey, the Megastar is gonna talk to us!
[music fades]
[crowd chants "LA Knight"]
Let me talk to ya.
[crowd cheers]
All around the world, it's the same song.
Another SmackDown.
Another dummy dropped on his head. Three the hard way. Yeah.
[crowd] Yeah!
Now, if I wanted to be cliché, I'd say this is my ring, right?
[crowd] Yeah!
But no, no, I ain't gonna do that.
Instead of me saying, like everybody else, "Oh, this is my ring."
-Nah, nah. -[crowd] Nah!
I'm gonna make this my ring.
What do I mean by that?
I'm now officially entered into the King of the Ring.
[crowd cheers]
[Escobar] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
[crowd boos]
It's impressive.
Impressive. You just keep talking and talking and talking and talking.
[crowd chants "You suck"]
I'll show you who sucks.
You keep running your mouth on and on,
'cause at King of the Ring,
while you're busy running your mouth, I'll be busy winning.
[crowd] What?
I'm sorry. I-I couldn't hear anything you said.
All of Lyon was telling you you suck.
[crowd] Yeah!
-[inaudible] -[LA Knight] But you know…
[crowd chants "You suck"]
But through that, the one thing I heard is, I think you said that
maybe I talk too much. Should I maybe just keep on talking, Lyon?
[crowd] Yeah!
Yeah, that's about what I thought, because for you, when I stop talking,
that's the time that you get stomped out
and you'll be laying there thinking to yourself, "My God, what was I just doing?"
"I know whose game this is."
And before anybody here tells you, you'll think to yourself,
and you'll hear the whole damn world saying,
with everybody saying…
[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
-Yeah! -["Welcome to LA" playing]
[Graves] Well, there you have it. The Megastar declaring
for the King of the Ring. It's finally taking shape.
And it sounds like Santos Escobar has got a brand new focus
after finally clearing his name last week.
[Escobar] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
I did not attack Dragon Lee
the evening before WrestleMania XL.
Rey, what you're about to see, you're gonna find very interesting.
[Wade] It was indeed interesting.
The security footage reveal a familiar silhouette of the perpetrator,
none other than the LWO's Carlito,
who managed to get in a couple of extra shots
at Dragon Lee and Mysterio, leaving the world asking why.
Let's head over to Byron Saxton for some answers.
Thank you, guys. Carlito,
everyone's asking the same question.
Why did you attack Dragon Lee?
Carlito been away from the WWE for many, many years.
And all I wanted was another WrestleMania moment with my familia,
the LWO.
So when Rey challenged Santos and Dominik to a match at WrestleMania…
I figured Rey would make the right choice and choose Carlito.
Instead,
he chose Dragon Lee, someone who's been in the group for, what, five minutes?
That's not cool.
So… Carlito took matters into its own hands.
It wasn't personal.
Dragon Lee was just in the way.
And the whole plan would have worked if it wasn't--
[yelling in Spanish]
¡Eres un traidor! ¡Eres un traidor!
["Bring the Swag" playing]
[Graves] Obviously tensions still high.
Unluckily for Rey and the LWO,
they've all been drafted to Monday Night Raw, including Carlito,
where I imagine this issue is still gonna exist.
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ Don't mean to brag What about it? Yeah ♪
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Introducing the challengers,
at a combined weight of 492 pounds,
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins,
the Street Profits!
[Graves] We are moments away
from a WWE Tag Team Championship matchup.
And the Street Profits enjoying the vibe tonight in France
before one of the biggest opportunities of their career.
[crowd chanting]
♪ Built it from the bottom, aye ♪
Ford and Dawkins will challenge Austin Theory and Grayson Waller,
the men who won the WWE Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania.
It's live and it's going down next.
[Wade] Where the hell are they going? Come back, lads.
You've got a championship match.
♪ Don't mean to brag What about it? Yeah ♪
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ It's in the bag, man, I got it, yeah ♪
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can ♪
♪ Don't mean to brag… ♪
♪ All day, I do it like the best… ♪
[Irvin] And their opponents,
they are the WWE Tag Team Champions,
the team of Grayson Waller and Austin Theory.
["A-Town Down" playing]
[Graves] A less than rousing response from the WWE Universe
for the arrival of the new WWE Tag Team Champions, Theory and Waller.
♪ A-Town down ♪
[Wade] They just have that ability to rub everyone up the wrong way.
Two peas in a pod with very few friends.
But most importantly of all, they have the WWE Tag Championships
around their waist for now.
♪ I'm a star ♪
♪ Put in that work and go hard ♪
[Graves] Dawkins and Ford know what it takes to be Tag Team Champions in WWE.
Can they make it to the top of the mountain again?
We will find out in a matter of moments.
♪ Knock 'em down one by one Nobody's left ♪
♪ All day! Best believe I'm doing it my way! ♪
♪ All day! Victory staring in my face! ♪
-[music fades] -[crowd singing] ♪ All day ♪
-[bell rings] -[Graves] Before the opening bell,
Waller with a cheap shot and Theory bringing the fight to Angelo Dawkins.
[Wade] It looked like Waller was gonna start the match.
That was the ruse. That was the trick.
And it has worked to perfection.
Dawkins now getting a beatdown.
[Graves] With his aggression in the corner from Theory.
Makes the tag to the Aussie icon.
[Wade] I was a little concerned that the Tag Champs Theory and Waller,
they've been gloating these past few weeks
that they've been working the championship schedule,
what they deem to be the championship schedule,
which is basically not working very hard at all.
But that was a nice start. Turned around in a hurry
by the Street Profits.
[Graves] Dropkick by Ford right between the pec muscles.
And face-first goes Theory.
[Wade] Get the impression Theory and Wallace thought this was gonna be
a championship procession.
[Graves] Oh, but look out. Montez Ford got caught celebrating
for just a moment too long and--
[crowd chanting "Allez les Bleus"]
Uh-oh.
Rock Bottom to Waller. Tag made.
[Wade] This could be one of the shortest championship reigns
we've seen in a long time.
[Graves] That is a lot of man on the top turnbuckle.
Angelo Dawkins…
Swanton!
[Wade] Crushing the sternum and ribs
of the Aussie icon, to the outside to regroup.
Is the damage already done to the champs?
[Graves] Tag made.
And Montez Ford, you have been cleared for takeoff.
Taking out the champs.
There goes Montez Ford of the Street Profits.
[Wade] A disastrous start to 2024 for the Street Profits,
thanks mainly to The Final Testament, all turned around
with victory at WrestleMania and then won a Fatal 4-Way tag match
a couple of weeks ago to secure this opportunity.
What a cherry on top of the cake it would be to grab gold tonight.
[Graves] The tides have turned.
The Street Profits both utilizing tag team offense on Grayson Waller,
who at the moment is without his partner Austin Theory,
who's been neutralized.
[Wade] Waller and Theory were ringside with us at the desk
when the Street Profits won that Fatal 4-Way a couple of weeks ago.
They know how dangerous this duo is.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Dawkin's rocking Waller's jaw in the corner.
Into the cover.
[crowd] Un ! Deux !
Simplement deux !
[crowd chanting "Simplement deux"]
The Street Profits are up.
Can they win the gold?
[crowd chanting "Simplement deux"]
[Graves] The WWE Tag Team Titles are on the line.
Austin Theory was just tagged in, as was Montez Ford.
The Street Profits have been rolling.
[Wade] This place is going into meltdown.
They smell a championship change here.
[Graves] Springboard by Ford into the back elbow. Down goes Theory.
[Wade] Montez Ford hitting top gear,
and it's very difficult to slow the man down.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Take a look at this effortless
springboard back elbow.
Up at the top of your screen, cover, hook of the leg.
[crowd] Simplement deux !
[crowd chanting "Simplement deux"]
[Graves] We very nearly just had new WWE Tag Team Champions
in Ford and Dawkins.
Can the Profits stay the course?
[Wade] Ford and Dawkins are cooking something up here.
Inching closer and closer to victory,
but you cannot count out Theory and Waller that easily.
[Graves] Theory luckily put in a position
to make a tag in his own corner.
But keep your eyes on Waller on the top turnbuckle.
Unbeknownst to Ford.
What…
Wow. Waller went coast to coast.
Might have just dropkicked Dawkins' hip out of the socket.
[Wade] Hurt himself in the process, but this might do it.
[crowd] Un ! Deux !
Simplement deux !
[Graves] Theory preventing Ford from breaking up the pinfall attempt.
All four athletes leaving it all in the ring for the right to be called
WWE Tag Team Champions.
[Wade] The Street Profits looked like they were steamrollering
to the finish of this one, but things have turned around in a hurry.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] Dawkins. I'm sorry.
Oh my God! Pounced out of midair!
[Wade] Once again that explosive power of Angelo Dawkins.
[Graves] Sky High takes down Waller. Tag made. Montez Ford legal.
Could the Street Profits be closing in on tag team gold?
[Wade] It's there for the taking now.
[Graves] Blockbuster!
-Montez into the cover. -[crowd] Un ! Deux !
[crowd gasps]
[Graves] Oh my goodness!
[Wade] Well, say what you want about Austin Theory,
as he attempts here to hit one of his signature moves,
completely negated by the Street Profits,
but having the durability-- durability to kick out of a move like that.
That man is double tough.
[Graves] Montez Ford once again makes the tag to Angelo Dawkins.
The Street Profits have been working like a well-oiled machine
since the opening bell.
Oh, Austin Theory went to the eye of Dawkins, sweeps the leg of Ford.
O'Connor roll attempt.
[Wade] The referee didn't see this.
[Graves] Waller with a Flatliner. Theory's gonna steal this.
[crowd] Un ! Deux ! Trois !
-[bell rings] -[crowd boos]
♪ A-Town down, scream it out loud ♪
♪ A-Town down… ♪
[Irvin] Here are your winners
and still the WWE Tag Team Champions,
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory.
[Graves] By hook or by crook.
Theory and Waller, A-Town Down Under retaining their WWE Tag Team gold,
much to the chagrin of the WWE Universe here in Lyon.
But fret not. Tomorrow is a brand new day.
It is time for Backlash. We are counting down the hours.
It's a massive day for all things WWE.
No doubt about it. You mentioned earlier
there is gonna some huge breaking news on WWE socials tomorrow.
I've just found out that that news is gonna be related to WrestleMania.
Huge. Make sure you download and follow WWE on all social platforms.
[Graves] That's right, Wade, keep an eye on all of WWE's social media platforms,
and while you're there, check out the Countdown to Backlash
starting tomorrow at noon Eastern, 9:00 a.m. Pacific.
Obviously, we've got Jackie Redmond hosting all the festivities
with very special guests the "Second City Saint" CM Punk
and Big E. Check it out.
Streaming live on Peacock or on all of WWE social platforms.
And then the main event begins.
The WWE Women's Tag Team Titles will be on the line as the champions,
The Kabuki Warriors, defend against "The EST" Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
[Wade] And things boiled over earlier.
It's only gonna get worse tomorrow at Backlash.
KO and Randy Orton team up
to take on the savage Solo Sikoa and the MFT of The Bloodline.
[Graves] And the WWE Women's Championship
will be decided under Triple Threat rules, which does not bode well
for the champion Bayley as she defends against both Naomi
and Tiffany Stratton.
[Wade] Not only that, but The Judgment Day's Damian Priest
puts his newly won World Heavyweight Championship
on the line versus the Yeet Meister General himself, Jey Uso.
That's tomorrow at Backlash.
[Graves] And for the very first time since finishing the story at WrestleMania,
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
defends his Undisputed WWE Title against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
Again, just a reminder, a special 1:00 p.m. start time in the East,
10:00 a.m. on the West in the United States.
[Styles] You don't want none.
["You Don't Want None" featuring Stevie Stone playing]
♪ I'm the lone wolf, I be on it, I go ♪
♪ All four corners I leave it on the floor ♪
♪ Hand held high so the people all know ♪
♪ Yeah, whoa ♪
♪ You don't want none ♪
♪ Time to run it up, check score ♪
[Irvin] Please welcome
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
♪ I be stylin' like whoa ♪
[Graves] For the first time ever, Rhodes and Styles will compete
one-on-one tomorrow night, but in a matter of minutes,
Styles and Rhodes stand face-to-face live on Friday Night SmackDown.
♪ Got back up ♪
♪ Headed to the finish line ♪
[Graves] Tonight we are in beautiful Lyon, France,
awaiting Backlash tomorrow.
How is this for big-time news, Bad News?
The tournaments for the King and Queen of the Ring
begin this Monday on Raw and continue next Friday right here
on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] A lot of big names throwing their hats into the ring
for King and Queen of the Ring tournaments.
[Graves] Well, this man looks to become kingpin of WWE tomorrow at Backlash.
AJ Styles, who is set to go face-to-face with Cody Rhodes,
and just wanted to share some incredible news with the WWE Universe
and say thank you for making this the highest grossing SmackDown event
in WWE history.
-[Wade] Wow. -[Graves] Absolutely unheard of.
Congratulations and thank you to everybody who made this possible.
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
[crowd cheers]
-[crowd singing along] -♪ 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] ♪ Whoa! ♪
[fireworks]
♪ And my father said when I was younger ♪
[Irvin] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome
The Undisputed WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes.
♪ Now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪
♪ You'll follow me into the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
[Graves] They'll go face-to-face in moments,
but tomorrow it all goes down at Backlash,
special start time, 1:00 p.m. in the United States in the East,
10:00 a.m. on the West Coast.
For the first time since WrestleMania, Cody Rhodes will defend
the Undisputed WWE Title.
And his challenger,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[crowd singing] ♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ And my father said when I was younger ♪
[Wade] AJ Styles about as dangerous a challenger as you can imagine.
A man who has been to the top of the mountain before
and is ready to do it again.
And Cody Rhodes looks as relaxed as can be.
♪ 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 into the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
♪ You tried to tell me what to do ♪
♪ I saw the door and kicked it down ♪
♪ I stepped right over and right through ♪
♪ And you can never stop me now ♪
♪ Bow! Now! ♪
♪ I am the king and you're the clown ♪
♪ Now watch me as I take my throne ♪
♪ And rule my kingdom ♪
[music fades]
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants "Cody"]
[crowd cheers]
[crowd singing]
So, Lyon.
[crowd cheers]
Voulez-vous parler de quoi ?
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants]
Hey, Cody, I don't care what they want to talk about.
You're in the ring with "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
It's-- It's almost like you…
[crowd sings]
[crowd cheers]
I was gonna say, it's almost like you're not focused right now, Cody.
You're focused on all this
and not what you should be focused on.
If you are looking for my full focus,
my full attention, AJ, you absolutely have it.
From one Georgia boy to another, from one Dogs fan to another.
Come on, my man.
I broke into the industry in the state of Georgia.
Of course, I grew up watching you. I grew up--
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't need that crap.
I don't need that. Hey, I was your hero.
"I looked up to you." I don't need that crap.
I may be older than you, but I'm still in my prime.
AJ, who is saying otherwise?
You didn't have to. We knew what you meant.
You know what? Here's the problem with you, Cody.
[crowd] What?
Yeah, just like I thought. Disrespectful.
These are the most disrespectful fans.
That's why nobody comes to Lyon.
[crowd boos]
Here's the thing. We were never on the same path.
You had the path laid out for you because everyone wanted
the son of the "American Dream," Dusty Rhodes.
[crowd sings]
Including WWE, and they welcomed you with open arms.
[crowd sings]
You loved it here, Cody.
Until things didn't work out, until things got a little rough
and you couldn't handle it, if you know what I mean.
And you left.
You packed your bags and you left. Your decision.
One I never got to make because I was kept out of the WWE for years.
And when I finally got here, I wasn't welcomed with open arms
-like you were. -[crowd] What?
I had to prove myself in WWE.
I had to make my way to the top, and I did it all by myself.
[crowd cheering]
Unlike you, who had Hall of Famers and Legends
watching your back at WrestleMania so you could finish your story.
That's great.
A bunch of guys that I've beaten before.
I beat them all the same way I'm gonna beat you
tomorrow night at Backlash.
[crowd] Ooh!
You see, I'm gonna find my way to the top again
and remind you and everyone else
that I am phenomenal.
[crowd sings] ♪ Il est vraiment ! Il est vraiment ! ♪
♪ Il est vraiment phénoménal ! ♪
[crowd singing and clapping]
♪ Il est vraiment ! Il est vraiment ! ♪
♪ Il est vraiment phénoménal ! ♪
[Rhodes] Okay.
Who are you trying to convince?
Certainly not me.
I said last week you were a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.
I also said you're the modern-day Excellence of Execution.
Your reputation is unmatched.
But do not disparage my accomplishments in an effort to build yourself up.
Every sacrifice I made, every mistake I endured,
and there were many, to stand here as the WWE Champion.
[crowd cheering]
And my very first title defense happens to be our very first match.
Commentary can call it a dream match.
You are and forever will be "Phenomenal," but--
[crowd sings] ♪ Il est vraiment ! Il est vraiment ! ♪
♪ Il est vraiment phénoménal ! ♪
But tomorrow, I'm not looking at you as phenomenal.
[crowd singing and clapping]
♪ Il est vraiment ! Il est vraiment ! ♪
I'm looking at you as my first.
And that…
[crowd singing]
That's…
That's too sweet.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd yells]
["You Don't Want None" playing]
[Graves] Blatant disrespect from the challenger.
And I will not hesitate, Wade.
We have got a dream match on our hands tomorrow.
Streaming live-- And what's--
[yelling]
[Graves] What the hell's going on backstage? Get--
[yelling]
[Wade] These guys couldn't even wait 24 hours till Backlash?
[yelling]
[Graves] Might not make it to Backlash.
[yelling]
This is gonna be one hell of a fight and one hell of a night.
[yelling] nna be one hell of a fight and one hell of a night.