[WWE signature intro playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[music fades]
["War" playing]
[Graves] This is France's third largest city.
Welcome to Lyon.
This is the largest gate of any arena show in WWE history.
Backlash in Lyon, France. Here we go!
♪ If they wanna battle I'm ready for war ♪
[Cole] The bell hasn't even rung.
-[speaking French] -[bell rings]
[Graves] It's a street fight.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd] One, two--
[Cole] Tonga Loa. That's Tama Tonga's brother.
-Bloodline Rules. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Kabuki Warriors put the gold on the line against Bianca Belair
and Jade Cargill.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] What a display of athleticism!
Jaded! K.O.D! New Tag Team Champions.
A Triple Threat Match.
The first woman to gain pinfall or submission will win
the WWE Women's Title.
♪ Kick in the door, been in the gutter ♪
♪ I come from the mud I can give you a tour ♪
♪ If they wanna battle I'm ready for war ♪
♪ I come from the struggle And love all the trouble… ♪
-[Cole] Bayley got her. -[bell rings]
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[crowd] ♪ Day one ish… ♪
[Graves] I've never felt anything like this.
[crowd sings] ♪ Day one ish, it's just me, Uce ♪
♪ Day one ish ♪
[Graves] It's like the walls are moving. This is nuts.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] The onus is on the champion Damian Priest
to set the tone for what his title reign will mean to WWE.
-[Cole] Oh, look who's here. -[Graves] JD McDonagh.
What are you doing here?
[Cole] Finn Bálor.
This is three-on-one out here. Spear.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] McDonagh saved the championship.
South of Heaven. Damian Priest retains.
-[Graves] Wait a minute. -[Cole] Damian Priest has made it clear,
"I want to do this on my own."
[crowd boos]
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes defends against AJ Styles
for the first time ever.
[crowd singing] ♪ You'll follow me until the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
[crowd cheers]
♪ There can only be one… ♪
[Cole] How deep will Cody Rhodes be able to dig?
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Cody Rhodes may now lead us fearlessly into the new era.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] On the heels of an epic Backlash weekend in France,
we adjust our sails and set course for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,
where two weeks from tomorrow,
we will crown a brand-new King and Queen of the Ring.
We are live in a sold-out Mohegan Sun at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
This is Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
And both the King and Queen Tournaments began Monday on Raw,
and the first round will conclude this coming weekend.
As of right now, this is how things are shaking up in the Queen's bracket.
These are the matches we can expect tonight,
with one taking place over the weekend.
And on the men's side of things, we've got some work to do, Bad News.
[Wade] Yes, indeed.
But as announced yesterday by general manager Nick Aldis,
"The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley has sadly picked up an injury in training.
He's now been replaced in the tournament by stablemate Angelo Dawkins.
Massive opportunity for Dawkins tonight.
[Graves] Well, let's not waste any time. We are kicking things off in a big way.
I'm gonna toss it up to our general manager, Mr. Nick Aldis.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to SmackDown Live
from a sold-out Mohegan Sun Arena here in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
[crowd cheering]
We have some huge King and Queen of the Ring matchups
for you here tonight. But before we get to that,
ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Undisputed WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes!
[crowd cheering]
[Cody Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
["Kingdom" playing]
[crowd cheering raucously]
-♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪ -[explosion]
[crowd singing along] ♪ 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 ♪
♪ Whoa! ♪
-[fireworks exploding] -♪ My father said, when I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men ♪
♪ Better men ♪
♪ You took it all away I gave it all away ♪
♪ Can't take my freedom ♪
♪ Here to change the game A banner made of pain ♪
♪ I built my kingdom… ♪
[Graves] Wade, the WWE Universe in Lyon, France this past weekend
has been the talk of social media, the talk of the entire industry.
Well, with the arrival of the American Nightmare,
it sounds like they got the memo here in Wilkes-Barre.
This place is live, and it is loud.
[Wade] And that is exactly what this man deserves
after that performance in Lyon,
that may go down as one of the highest pressure moments
of Cody Rhodes' career.
You won at WrestleMania. What else do you got, pal?
Show us. Can you sustain it? Well, he passed that with flying colors.
-[crowd] ♪ Whoa! ♪ -[fireworks exploding]
♪ My father said, when I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men… ♪
[Graves] What a main event it was last Saturday at Backlash.
The American Nightmare and "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
As you can see, Rhodes passed the test,
but many are calling it an instant classic.
[Wade] One of the finest performances of AJ Styles' career,
and somehow Cody Rhodes had to figure out a way to top that.
He managed it. Hats off to him.
♪ 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 ♪
[song fades out]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
[crowd cheering raucously]
Well, old friend, let me start
by congratulating you on a successful championship defense
against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles at Backlash.
[crowd cheering]
Never a small feat to get your hand raised
against the best in-ring performer of a generation.
But Cody, we must now turn our attention
to the King and Queen of the Ring Premium Live Event.
And I know you quite well, and I've heard you say it,
and frankly, I knew it already.
You're a fighting champion. You want to be a fighting champion.
You want to defend that championship against the very best as often as you can.
So with that in mind, I invited you out here tonight
to tell you that your next challenger has been determined.
-[crowd] Ooh. -[inaudible]
And I thought
there is no better time to introduce him
than right now.
[crowd cheering]
-["Take Flight" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Wade laughs] Wow.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] The United States Champion,
"The Maverick" Logan Paul.
I bet y'all didn't see that coming.
What's up?
[Wade] A man who's never met a spotlight he did not love.
Well, that spotlight is about to get even brighter.
[Graves] Well, you need not look too far into the past
to find a little match in the archives
that nearly saw Logan Paul become Undisputed Champion in Saudi Arabia,
only it was it the expense of the Tribal Chief at the time.
[Wade] Yeah, well guess what?
This Logan Paul has 18 months' more experience in this game
than he had in that particular match.
[Graves] You're absolutely right.
Certainly a qualified challenger
for Friday night's new kingpin.
[song fades out]
[crowd booing]
So…
Logan Paul.
One more time. Say it again.
So, Logan Paul…
[crowd boos]
I-I think I know what you want to talk about.
Yes, you do, brother.
Main eventing the King and Queen of the Ring PLE
in a champion-versus-champion match
against the Cody Rhodes
to truly kick off the Logan Paul-Levesque era.
-[crowd boos] -[indistinct]
[crowd chanting] Logan sucks! Logan sucks! Logan sucks!
Logan, champion versus champion,
that's a challenge I certainly like
because the fact is holding not one, but two--
Ah, see, that's the thing, Cody.
Facts don't care about your feelings, and neither do I.
[crowd boos]
[indistinct]
I got some facts for you, champ.
I, Logan Paul, not you,
am the longest reigning champion in the WWE.
[crowd boos]
I am the greatest attraction in this company.
[crowd booing]
I had the greatest rookie year of all time.
[crowd boos]
And I am a Superstar.
[crowd booing]
Isaiah, I saw it's your birthday.
Hold up that sign, Isaiah.
Congratulations.
You met a Superstar, brother,
and that's Logan Paul.
[crowd boos and cheers]
Happy birthday, kid.
Hey, but guess what? Cody Rhodes is great. He's a Superstar too. Right, Cody?
[crowd cheering]
Yeah, you won the 2023 Royal Rumble.
But what does everyone remember from that night?
Logan Paul's epic, viral mid-air collision with Ricochet.
The crash heard around the world.
And yes, Cody,
you won WrestleMania,
but what was everyone talking about that night?
IShowSpeed and Prime.
My brands, my ideas, my moments.
And look who's taking all the credit.
You see three years ago, Cody…
Another fact.
…you and I debuted at Wrestle--
[crowd chanting] Prime sucks! Prime sucks! Prime sucks! Prime sucks! Prime sucks!
Prime sucks! Prime sucks! Prime sucks! Prime sucks! Prime sucks!
I'll have you know, Prime has 20 calories and two grams of sugar
filled with BCAAs and electrolytes.
Shut your mouth, Pennsylvania.
[crowd booing]
More facts for you virgin inbreds!
Three years ago at WrestleMania,
Cody Rhodes and I debuted on the same night,
and since then, I have been the rocket fuel
for the spaceship that is WWE.
So my question for you is
how can you finish the story when it's not even your story?
So what do I wanna talk about, Cody? How about this? Let's talk about this.
Me knocking you out, and pinning you on top of my logo,
and walking out of Saudi Arabia as the WWE Undisputed Champion.
[crowd boos]
[inaudible]
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
-[crowd chants] Cody! Cody! Cody! -[crowd chants, overlapping] Logan sucks!
I… I bet a lot of people stand across from you
and assume just,
"What a dumbass!"
[crowd cheers]
As… as fun as that would be,
I'm not gonna call you a podcaster, a YouTuber, an influencer, an outsider.
I'm not gonna pretend that this is a fad for you.
I've actually gotten a sense of who Logan Paul really is,
and so have they.
You're the guy who went toe-to-toe with Floyd Mayweather, right?
-I am. -Under 40, and you made the Forbes list.
And correct me if I'm wrong, fourth or fifth match,
you won the United States Championship.
[crowd boos and cheers]
Since we are, uh, going over facts,
the fact is that if I was to win that United States Championship,
that would make me a WWE Grand Slam Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[indistinct]
[crowd cheers]
I am not done.
In addition to all the positive things that I said you are,
you are also disrespectful.
You are also self-centered.
You are delusional.
You cannot go a single match without grabbing those brass knucks,
and you are out here taking credit for something that doesn't belong to you,
doesn't belong to me.
This right here, it's a team.
And at the Queen and King of the Ring in Saudi Arabia,
you are going to find out where you stand on that team.
[crowd cheering]
["Kingdom" playing]
[Graves] It is going down at the King and Queen of the Ring,
two weeks from tomorrow.
Champion versus champion, Rhodes versus Paul.
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
[crowd singing along] ♪ Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet… ♪
I'm standing by with "The Phenomenal One" AJ Styles.
And AJ, tonight you have a first-round King of the Ring Tournament match
against "The Viper" Randy Orton.
How prepared are you feeling?
You know, before we talk about tonight, let's talk about Backlash.
Let's talk about how I had Cody Rhodes on the ropes.
I had Cody on the ropes. I had him beat.
He knows it. I know it.
Lyon, France knows it.
That's why they were doing their little sing-alongs,
their little chants to distract me.
Well, mission accomplished.
It should be me facing Logan Paul, defending my championship.
But just know this.
Cody, the next time that we meet, I will beat you.
And I will earn a chance to get another title match.
And that starts tonight.
I would say that winning the King of the Ring Tournament
is a phenomenal step in the right direction.
["Glow" playing]
[Graves] Styles looking to recover and rally in the wake of Backlash.
And so is this woman.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Let's go! The beast is out the cage… ♪
[bell rings]
[female ring announcer] The following is a first-round match
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Introducing first from Orlando, Florida, Naomi!
[Graves] After a thrilling Triple Threat last Saturday at Backlash,
Naomi looks to take a massive step toward the throne
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Standing in Naomi's way, "The Irresistible Force" Nia Jax! Next.
♪ Turn it up some more… ♪
-["Not Like Most Girls" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Graves] This a Queen of the Ring first-round matchup.
♪ There's only one of me ♪
♪ Look it up I'm written down in history… ♪
Making her way to the ring
from San Diego, California,
Nia Jax!
[Graves] As The Irresistible Force stalks her way to the ring,
I want to say welcome to Alicia Taylor,
the new ring announcer here on Friday Night SmackDown.
We are happy you're here.
And Friday Night SmackDown is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
And if you're concerned, if you miss Mike Rome,
you can still find him on Tuesday nights as the new voice of NXT.
But right now, this is Queen of the Ring, first-round action.
-The Irresistible Force versus Naomi. -[bell rings]
[Graves] Wade, Naomi looks to recover after coming up short in her quest
to become WWE Women's Champion last weekend at Backlash.
[Wade] Yeah, and Naomi might be the most unlucky woman on the planet.
When you look at the field of eight competitors
in this Queen of the Ring Tournament,
the one you want to avoid is Nia Jax.
And that is why.
[Graves] An absolute powerhouse who wasted no time inflicting her will
on the roster right after being drafted to Friday Night SmackDown
by our general manager, Nick Aldis.
[Wade] One of my absolute favorite picks of Nick Aldis.
Hats off to the man.
Alongside, of course, Pretty Deadly. Yes, boy!
[Graves] Nia Jax should know better
than to get too confident, too comfortable, or too cocky
when you're dealing with someone the caliber of Naomi,
who very nearly, on multiple occasions last Saturday,
became WWE Women's Champion.
[Wade] Yeah, undoubtedly I agree with all that, Corey,
but no matter who you are,
no matter how good your performances have been of late,
when you're in the ring with Nia Jax, you are the underdog.
And right now, Naomi looks every inch that underdog.
Here's the thing about Nia Jax. Time and time we've seen it.
It seems to take several women to stop the momentum of Nia Jax.
It's rare that you see one person able to do it.
Not that I'm counting off… counting out Naomi.
[Graves] Naomi trying to kick at the hamstrings
of the larger competitor.
This is a smart strategy from Naomi, looking to chop Nia Jax down to size.
Face-first goes Jax.
[Wade] This has to be it for Naomi.
You've got to use your maneuverability in that ring,
outfox the more powerful Nia Jax.
And so far, it seems to be working for Naomi.
But is the damage done to the body?
[Graves] Naomi looking to pick up the pace.
Propelling herself to the outside.
Naomi teeing off on Nia Jax.
[Wade] Nia Jax did her best to stand up tall against that dive.
[Graves] And that just turned the tides right back in the favor of Nia Jax.
Can Naomi claw back into this?
[Graves] This is a first-round matchup in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Naomi one-on-one with Nia Jax, and for the past several minutes,
Nia has just been imposing her will on Naomi.
[Wade] Yeah, and hats off to Naomi for staying in this,
'cause it has just been a case
of pure brute force thrown in her direction,
and it says a lot about her durability
that she's still somehow trying to get back in it, but that might be it.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] Nia Jax, with a thunderous headbutt, drops Naomi,
and I think, at this point, Nia can feel the next round.
She's so close. Hanging Naomi up on the top rope.
[Wade] As this match progresses, it's becoming more and more of a mauling.
And who the hell is gonna be capable of stopping Nia Jax in this kind of form?
-[Nia, indistinct] -[Graves] When Nia's got her confidence,
which she clearly does at this particular juncture,
Jax is nearly unstoppable.
[Wade] Simply having fun in there right now,
which is hard to do at the best of times, let alone against a competitor like Naomi.
[Graves] Meanwhile poor Naomi's brains may be scrambled on the outside
-as our official Jessika Carr… -Five!
…continues counting.
But Naomi hangs Nia across the top rope.
-[grunting] -[Graves] Sunset Flip attempt.
-[crowd] Oh! -[Graves] Nobody home for Jax.
[Wade] Smartly out of dodge at the last second there for Naomi
before she was crushed.
[Graves] But is this enough time for Naomi to cover,
or is she simply delaying the inevitable?
[Wade] May well need a month to recover from the beating she's received thus far,
but desperately trying to get something going here,
some form of offense.
[Graves] The first of three matches
in the first round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament
tonight, here on Friday Night SmackDown
as Naomi starts to build some semblance of momentum,
but Jax puts the brakes on.
Baseball slide by Naomi.
[Wade] This has to be the methodology. Hit and run.
[Graves] Naomi has got to stay out of the clutches
of the much stronger Jax.
Enzuigiri!
And Jax is down to one knee.
[Wade] Powerhouse is wobbled.
[Graves] Naomi needs to stay the course, keep her foot on the gas pedal,
as we look again at something of a modified Disaster Kick
utilized by Cody Rhodes.
Jax picks Naomi out of mid-air.
[Wade] Naomi tasted that once already. Manages to negotiate her way out of this.
[Graves] And Naomi just thumped Nia Jax on the ring apron.
Could be thinking about the Split Legged Moonsault.
Here it comes.
-There it is. -[crowd cheers]
-[Graves] Naomi headed to the next round-- -One, two…
[Graves] No!
[Wade] Talking about the durability of Naomi.
Well, hats off to Nia Jax for weathering that storm.
Take another look at this, the supreme athleticism of Naomi
that has taken her to championships in the past.
One step closer to the semifinals of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Can she finish the job?
[Graves] Naomi out of the way once again.
Continuing to soldier forward and chop down The Irresistible Force.
Naomi looking to muscle up Jax. This is quite a task.
[Wade] What the hell has Naomi got in mind here?
She managed it, Corey.
That is not where Nia Jax is comfortable at all.
[Graves] What does Naomi have in mind here?
[Wade] Did the effort of lifting up Nia Jax
take everything out of Naomi?
[Graves] I'm afraid that could be exactly what the case is, Wade.
Naomi still trying to gain her footing on the top rope.
Precarious balancing act.
-Oh my god! Oh my god! -[Wade] Whoa!
[Graves] From the top! Naomi scrambles with a cover.
-[crowd] One, two… -[Graves] Hook of the leg.
And Nia stays alive.
My goodness! Naomi went for the Hail Mary.
Connected in the end zone, but Jax has other plans.
[Wade] Well, Nia Jax has never in her career been treated like this.
She's never met offense like this.
Yet still, after such a massive crash landing, kicks out.
But it's ripe for the pickings now, Corey.
[Graves] Über kick right on the chin of Jax.
And another by Naomi.
Caught by Nia.
[Wade] Just when Nia Jax's eyes were rolled in the back of her head…
-[Graves] Just planted by Jax. -[Nia exclaims]
[Graves] And a leg drop to the back of Naomi's neck.
This could be the beginning of the end for Naomi's Queen of the Ring dreams.
Nia making the climb.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Annihilator!
[referee and crowd] One, two, three!
-[bell rings] -["Not Like Most Girls" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Nia Jax.
[Graves] The Annihilator sends Nia Jax, The Irresistible Force,
into the next round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Wade, let's take another look at the brackets thus far.
[Wade] This is the moment Nia Jax enters the semifinals of this tournament
after a staggering performance from both women.
Jax had to be at her best tonight. She was.
-She progresses through. -[shouting indistinctly]
[Graves] Hats off to Naomi for a tremendous effort,
but tonight belongs to Nia Jax.
[Byron] Excuse me, Baron.
What's up, man?
First of all, welcome back to the blue brand.
-Thank you. -How have you changed
since the last time you were on SmackDown?
So much has changed.
Obviously, things weren't going my way when I was up here before.
I was lost, man.
Was I the King? Was I the Constable? Was I Happy? Was I sad?
I had to go figure it out.
I went back to NXT, and I found myself. I'm doing this as me.
I'm gonna wreck shop as me, and it's gonna be a grind,
-but I'm-- -[Hayes] Hey, Baron.
Hey, man, congrats on getting called up, bro.
Hey, when did you get drafted? I must have missed it.
[chuckles] You got jokes, huh?
With a head that big, it's gonna be an easy target.
-So let me give you some advice. -Hey, you know what? Save that.
The last guy that tried to give me advice, he pulled out the tournament altogether
at the thought of me running circles around him.
-So let me give you some advice, Baron. -[indistinct]
You should have did what Bobby did and pulled out while you had the chance,
because tonight, I'm running circles around you.
I'll see you out there.
Seriously?
-[indistinct] -[indistinct] …that impressive.
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa.
DIY is here!
[Ciampa] DIY is every person who has supported us.
DIY is us together!
[Gargano] What if DIY become the WWE Tag Team Champions?
It feels like a matter of time.
We are…
[both] DIY.
[crowd chanting] DIY! DIY! DIY!
[Graves] The post-draft rosters are locked and in effect.
And here comes another familiar face.
-["Burn The Ships" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Won't take what's mine You'll burn, and I'll… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following is a first-round match
in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Introducing first, from Kansas City, Missouri,
weighing in at 285 pounds,
Baron Corbin!
[Graves] When Baron Corbin says "burn the ships,"
it's not just a catchphrase. It's an ethos.
It means there is no retreat, no surrender.
Continue to move forward no matter what the cost.
And tonight, Corbin has a golden opportunity to advance
in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Wade, something you and Baron have in common,
both former Kings of the Ring.
[Wade] Yeah, no doubt about it. Look, I'll say this.
When I was King of the Ring, there was a certain feeling
that perhaps the tournament had lost a little bit of its luster,
wasn't taken as seriously as it should at times.
That's not the feeling in the locker room or with management right now.
This is a new era.
Big things are gonna happen to whoever wins these two tournaments.
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest No arguing or debating… ♪
[Alicia] And his opponent from Boston, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 210 pounds,
Carmelo Hayes!
[Graves] This is the man who has wasted zero time making waves,
ruffling feathers up and down the Friday Night SmackDown roster.
And this match is sponsored by Max, the one to watch for movies.
Witness the true story
of professional wrestling's Von Erich brothers
in The Iron Claw, streaming exclusively on Max.
Sign up now. Subscription required.
♪ Get respect while I get feared Who got a problem, huh? ♪
[Wade] And you mentioned about Melo, he is a cocky individual.
He's rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way already
in his short stint here on SmackDown. But it has to be said
-Melo has been that way… -[bell rings]
…throughout the past two and a half years on NXT, and it was a gold-laden run
to the point he was effectively running the brand.
Do not change a winning formula, Melo. I like the cockiness.
[Graves] These may be relatively new faces
on Friday Night SmackDown,
but certainly no strangers to one another.
Baron Corbin and Carmelo Hayes have collided numerous times in NXT.
Some time that Corbin said he's extremely grateful for.
Smart move by Carmelo, going low.
A series of kicks catching Corbin off guard.
[Wade] The speed of Melo,
that maneuverability that has taken him to the top before,
but this is the cockiness that can backfire.
[Graves] You can't get too cocky
when you're dealing with a former Golden Gloves boxing champion.
In general, tough SOB, Baron Corbin.
Heavy right hands to the body of Carmelo Hayes.
[Wade] Corbin is someone
who stared into the abyss of obscurity not so long ago,
went to NXT, reinvented himself, is now rejuvenated,
and looks like every inch a potential winner of this tournament.
[Graves] Crashing down is Hayes.
-Cover by Corbin. -[referee] One, two…
[Graves] Baron Corbin in control.
Can Carmelo Hayes find a way back into this King of the Ring Match?
[Graves] This is a first-round matchup in the 2024 King of the Ring Tournament,
as Baron Corbin just beats the daylight out of Carmelo Hayes
on the top turnbuckle. Hayes looking for some sort of escape.
[grunting]
[Graves] Clothesline by Carmelo Hayes. Takes down Corbin.
[Wade] Just leaping like a puma.
That is Carmelo Hayes 101.
[Graves] Facebuster.
-Into the cover, hook of the leg. -One, two…
[Graves] Corbin stays alive. Wade, I wanna ask you.
What are your thoughts initially on Carmelo Hayes
and the waves he's causing up and down the roster?
[Wade] I love it. It's exactly what he should be doing.
It's what he did when he turned up at NXT. And let me add this-- Oh!
It's a reversal there from Baron Corbin.
Carmelo Hayes, when he broke onto the scene in NXT,
he won the NXT Breakout Tournament.
He has experience of winning these things,
and he's a potential guy who could go all the way in King of the Ring.
[Graves] Corbin was looking for Deep Six. Fantastic counter by Hayes.
Corbin with a Death Valley Driver.
[Wade] As you mentioned earlier, two men who know each other very well.
Counter for counter, but it might be game over now.
-[Graves] Hook… Need the hook and the leg. -One, two…
[Graves] That may have cost Corbin.
[Wade] Yeah, that was a slack cover from Corbin just when he connected
with a battery of offense. We're taking another look at this.
All perfectly executed against his smaller opponent.
But that cover, you're right, Corey, may well have cost Corbin victory.
[crowd chanting] Corbin!
[Graves] Corbin in a position to stay the course.
The WWE Universe beginning to rally behind Corbin,
which, if I'm being honest, sounds a little unusual, Bad News,
a little weird.
[Wade] People respect the grit, they respect the graft of Corbin.
This is a different animal. He accepts his faults from the past.
He accepts his negativity from the past.
He knows this isn't gonna be easy, but he wants to grind his way…
-[Graves] Oh! -…back to the top. Low blow!
[Graves] First 48 off the ropes by Carmelo Hayes.
Melo's got daylight.
Connects with the big shot. Corbin is down.
Can Hayes punch his ticket to the next round?
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Carmelo perched on the top turnbuckle.
Corbin out of harm's way.
[Wade] Perhaps going for nothing but net there.
But well skirted by Corbin,
and immediately back on the offense is the big man. Boom!
[Graves] Big lariat takes down Hayes.
-Corbin, now sensing victory is at hand. -[shouts]
[crowd groans]
[Graves] Into the cutter. Hook of the leg.
[crowd] One, two…
[Wade] Now it is Carmelo Hayes on the ropes,
and perhaps Baron Corbin about to go in for the kill.
[Graves] Here we go. Looking for the End of Days.
I love the sense of urgency from Corbin. Inside cradle by Carmelo Hayes.
-One, two, three. -[Graves] Shoulders down.
-Carmelo steals this one. -[bell rings]
-["Melo Don't Miss" playing] -[Alicia] Here is your winner,
Carmelo Hayes!
[Graves] A shocking turn of events,
certainly an upset in the mind of Baron Corbin.
And this match replay is brought to you by Max,
the one to watch for movies.
Witness the true story of pro wrestling's Von Erich brothers
in The Iron Claw, streaming exclusively on Max.
Sign up now. Subscription required.
[Wade] Corbin and Hayes smashed each other from pillar to post in the closing stages.
It looked like Baron Corbin had this thing won,
but this is the brilliance of Carmelo Hayes.
He's always thinking, always trying to find a way out of danger
despite the overwhelming brute force that he received.
One, one little glimpse of victory.
He sniffs it, went in for the kill, scored a quick one.
And you're right, Corey, for many people, that was a shock win.
Hayes moves on.
[Graves] What a win for Carmelo Hayes, who is the first to advance tonight.
We've got two more King of the Ring first-round matches still to come
-tonight on SmackDown. -[indistinct]
That's right. First round, baby. You can't play with me, son! I am HIM.
I'm standing by with WWE Women's Champion, Bayley.
And Bayley, tonight starts the first round
of the Queen of the Ring Tournament here on SmackDown.
Do you have a favorite to win the whole thing?
I mean, there's a lot of talented women in this tournament,
but I gotta say, I'm pretty interested to see
how far Jade Cargill can go because she has--
Ooh la la!
Clearly, the stench of France has made you lose your mind
because you forgot about Miss Piper here.
But we have to go.
Piper is about to kick Jade out of the first round
of the Queen of the Ring Tournament. Au revoir. [smooches]
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
♪ I don't see nobody, nobody I don't see nobody who stepping to me… ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] A storm is coming to Friday Night SmackDown.
After becoming one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions
at Backlash,
Jade Cargill looks to continue her momentum
in the first round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
But standing in Jade's way,
a very game, extremely dominant Piper Niven.
It's live, and it's next.
♪ And now I'm the greatest ♪
["FE!N" by Travis Scott playing]
In case you've been living under a rock…
[The Rock] Professional wrestling is electrifying once again.
…WWE is on fire right now.
And next year, we're bringing the Show of Shows to Las Vegas!
♪ Fein', fein', fein', fein', yeah Fein'… ♪
[Triple H] WrestleMania in the entertainment capital of the world.
♪ Just want a piece of mine, ah I been focused on the future… ♪
[Triple H] The only question is…
Are you ready?
♪ Fein', fein', fein', fein', yeah Fein', fein', fein', fein' ♪
♪ It's about life… ♪
[Graves] Experience the very best WrestleMania 41 has to offer
with an official WWE Priority Pass from On Location.
Place your deposit today to secure premium seating,
pre-show hospitality, interactions with your favorite WWE Superstars,
and so much more.
Head to onlocationexp.com/WWE for details.
♪ I'mma be fightin', I'mma be grindin' It's my legacy… ♪
Thank you so much, guys.
Randy Orton, tonight a lot of people are looking at you
as the favorite to win the King of the Ring Tournament.
However, some are saying the same thing
about the man you're facing in tonight's first round, AJ Styles.
Your thoughts?
Well, Byron, there's a lot that I have accomplished
during my tenure here in the WWE,
but one of those things I have not accomplished
is becoming King of the Ring.
[inhales sharply] Now I, just like everybody else,
all the guys in the back, all the fans out there,
they know how truly great AJ Styles really is.
But man, oh man,
it feels phenomenal when I hit AJ Styles with an RKO out of nowhere.
So Byron, stay tuned.
Ah. You know what?
That reminds me.
This is for you, Tama Tonga.
Last week you took out my friend, my partner, my tag team partner,
Kevin Owens, at Backlash.
You and The Bloodline took him out. You think I forgot about that?
No, no, no, son, I have not forgot about that.
I can see this bracket.
I see that you are safe and sound on the other side of this bracket.
But something tells me, Tama, that you and I are gonna cross paths.
And when we do, it won't just be an RKO out of nowhere for you.
No, no, no, no, no.
I'm gonna do everything in my power to make sure that your ass sees it coming.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] The Viper's in a mood. Orton, Styles still to come tonight.
["A Storm Is Coming" playing]
♪ A storm… ♪
[laughs]
♪ …is coming ♪
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following is a first-round match
-in the Queen of the Ring Tournament. -[indistinct]
[Alicia] Introducing first, from Vero Beach, Florida.
She is one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Jade Cargill!
[Graves] Wade, Jade Cargill has admitted on numerous occasions
that one of her best assets is her confidence.
You look at the gold strapped around her waist.
I can't imagine that's gonna hurt Cargill's game in any way.
[Wade] I was just thinking to myself, "Damn, Jade Cargill looks good with gold."
But then the same could probably be true of any color you could come up with.
["Taste The Jealousy" playing]
♪ I live it, I do it When I pull up, it's goin' down ♪
[Alicia] And her opponent, accompanied by Chelsea Green,
from Ayrshire, Scotland,
Piper Niven.
[Graves] Tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on Fox is sponsored by Progressive.
And Wade, I'd imagine that Jade Cargill is gonna have to approach this matchup
in a very different manner,
having never dealt with someone quite as powerful as Piper Niven.
[Wade] Yeah, I love-- From the second I saw this matchup,
I knew we were gonna see Jade Cargill's biggest physical test
since her debut here in WWE.
Look, Cargill has proven already she can throw opponents around with ease.
The question is, can she handle it
when similar offense is thrown back in her own direction?
-[bell ringing] -[Wade] Because Piper Niven can do that.
[Graves] We had Nia Jax, in our first Queen of the Ring
first-round matchup earlier tonight, advance.
And a stalemate off of the opening collar and elbow tie-up.
[Wade] In the history of this industry, a lot of powerhouses
just hate competing against other powerhouses,
because they're completely out of their wheelhouse at that point.
[both shouting indistinctly]
[Graves] Getting a little bit chippy in the center of the ring. I like it.
[Wade] Two alpha females refusing to take a step back. I love it.
[both shouting indistinctly]
[Graves] Looks like Jade's trying to call Piper's bluff,
saying, "Your shot."
And another stalemate standoff.
[Wade] You gotta remember, Piper Niven is the experienced hand
in this particular scenario.
[crowd chanting] Jade! Jade! Jade!
[Wade] She's not gonna be intimidated for a second.
[Graves] Cargill off the far side of the ropes, and down goes Piper.
[Wade] Score the first blow to Jade Cargill
outmaneuvering the veteran Piper Niven.
[grunting]
[Graves] But Niven just that quickly turns the tides back into her favor.
Back elbow connected off the chin of Cargill.
Jade slips out the backside. Superkick.
Might have caught Piper on the bridge of her nose.
My goodness!
-[Wade] That extended-- -[Graves] Oh!
[Wade] All Jade Cargill. And there's that power we talked about.
[Graves] Senton!
-Can they do it? -[shouting indistinctly]
-[Graves] Niven into the cover. -One, two…
[Graves] Wade, could you imagine Chelsea Green if Piper Niven--
As we look again at this superkick by Cargill and the senton by Piper.
If Piper Niven advances, perhaps even becomes Queen of the Ring,
Chelsea Green is going to be even more intolerable than usual.
[Wade] I've never heard what a cat sounds like
when he gets castrated.
I suspect it sounds exactly like Chelsea Green's voice,
and I don't wanna hear any more of that!
[Graves] Niven boxing the ears of Cargill. That'll disorient you very badly.
Keep your eyes on Chelsea on the outside.
[Wade] Chelsea will swing for the fences when she has Piper Niven as backup.
[Graves] Niven now in complete control of a downed Jade Cargill.
Big bodyslam.
[shouting indistinctly] That's the one?
That's the one you were cheering for?
[shouting indistinctly] On that? On that?
[Graves] Niven now looking to finish the task at hand.
A brutal short-arm clothesline, and Jade Cargill's legs just buckled.
Jade might be out.
[Wade] Completely knocking the wind out of the storm of Jade Cargill.
[grunting]
[Graves] Simply haven't seen Cargill treated this way.
That is the power, that is the experience of Piper Niven coming to the fore.
[Graves] And with each brutal shot, Niven herself gains confidence,
but here comes Cargill again.
[Wade] The cockiness that may well have cost Piper Niven there.
Allowing a window for Jade Cargill back into this.
[Graves] Oh my goodness. Look at the power!
-Stacked up high. -[crowd] One, two…
[Graves] And Jade nearly advanced to the next round.
[Wade] Look at this Blue Thunder Bomb there
connecting against Piper Niven,
who has never received offense like that in her career.
That is what Jade Cargill,
despite being flattened thus far in the match, is capable of.
[Graves] And here comes Jade with a splash in the corner.
[Wade] Now it is Piper Niven who is hurting bad.
[Chelsea shouting indistinctly]
[Graves] Oh no, Chelsea.
-[Wade] Oh! -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Richly deserved, it has to be said.
[Graves] Unfortunately, Miss Green,
I don't know that Jade has a manager you can complain to.
Weaves underneath. There's no way in hell,
no way Jade's gonna get Piper Niven up for Jaded.
[Wade] Yeah. Piper Niven was not born yesterday.
She is on a mission to climb the card
ahead of, of course, Clash at the Castle in Scotland in June.
She wants to get herself in prime position,
and being Queen of the Ring for that particular--
[Graves] Oh goodness!
[Wade] …in her home country would be massive.
This might be the semifinals for Niven.
-One, two… -[Graves] Shoulders down.
I don't know that we've seen Jade Cargill in this much jeopardy at this point
in her WWE tenure as we look again at the colossal cannonball by Piper Niven.
Get her!
[Wade] And now you're starting to see some panic on the face of Piper Niven.
She knows that would put away
the vast majority of competitors in this tournament.
Clearly, Cargill built a little differently than most.
[Graves] Uh-oh! Niven now on the middle rope,
and Jade just a little too quick.
Pumpkick!
Cargill wasted no time.
-[Wade] Second bite of the cherry. -[Graves] No way.
Jaded! My goodness!
-Cargill did it. -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[bell rings] -["A Storm Is Coming" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner,
one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Jade Cargill!
[Graves] Well, Jade Cargill was put to the test tonight
in the first round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
But a superhuman effort by Jade
gets her past the threat of Piper Niven
and into the next round of this tournament.
[Wade] Oh, I love who Jade Cargill gets in the semifinals.
None other than "The Annihilator" Nia Jax.
It simply doesn't get any easier
as you progress in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
-Jax versus Cargill next week… -[indistinct]
-[Wade] …here on SmackDown. I cannot wait! -Hate on me all you want!
Undeniable!
[Graves] Jade Cargill continues to take WWE
and Friday Night SmackDown by storm!
-["Watch Me Shine" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Instead of crying, they hear me roar ♪
♪ And now I see That I'm way better than before… ♪
[Graves] We're gonna have a little impromptu champ summit here.
♪ I'mma watch you fall down ♪
♪ I'm living large now ♪
-[indistinct] -♪ I never needed you at all… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following is a first-round match
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Introducing first, from Knoxville, Tennessee,
one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Bianca Belair!
[Graves] The other half of the Tag Team Championship equation has arrived.
The EST now has her chance to advance in the Queen of the Ring Tournament
against Candice LeRae. Next!
♪ Instead of crying, they hear me roar ♪
♪ And now I see that I'm way better… ♪
[Graves] Individual event 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.
[dramatic music playing]
[speaking Japanese]
[Graves] This is Friday Night SmackDown on Fox,
sponsored by Progressive insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
We are prepared for another Queen of the Ring first-round matchup
as "The EST" Bianca Belair goes one-on-one with Candice LeRae.
Wade, if you're Bianca Belair, you're coming off of Backlash,
just capturing the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.
How hard is it to focus on the next task at hand,
being the Queen of the Ring Tournament?
[Wade] Yeah, it can be difficult,
but when you've just watched your Tag Team partner Jade Cargill
move through to the semifinal,
you're not about to be outdone, are you?
You have to at least match what your tag partner is doing.
Otherwise someone might infer that you are the weak link.
So I think the motivation is certainly there for Belair.
[Graves] That's a scary thought. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair
constantly pushing one another as they dominate together.
That's a game changer.
And look at this.
Swinging LeRae like a Louisville Slugger.
[Wade] That is one of the brilliant things
about Bianca Belair over the past few years,
that insatiable hunger she has to keep on achieving more.
[Graves] Oh, wait a minute. Hartwell from the outside.
[Wade] Nasty cheap shot to the back of the left knee there.
[Graves] Inside cradle attempt by LeRae.
We've seen recently on Monday Night Raw
that Indi has sort of adopted Candice LeRae's mentality
as it comes to, oh, win at any cost.
[Wade] Yeah, and I like that from LeRae and Indi Hartwell.
They haven't been happy with where their careers have been going,
so you gotta change something.
Embrace the dark arts if you have to.
-[crowd] One, two, three, four, five… -[Graves] EST fighting through the pain.
You could see her limp just slightly after the kip-up.
And now LeRae again, a tenacious competitor.
Years of experience prior to her WWE arrival.
[Wade] Ooh!
[Graves] And again, the knee of Belair could play a factor in this one,
and wisely, LeRae takes advantage.
[Wade] I mean, the tactics are clear from LeRae and Indi Hartwell.
-[Graves] Another hook of the leg. -[crowd] One, two…
[Wade] It was a mission from the beginning to attack that left knee of Belair, and…
[Graves] It was initiated.
[Wade] It was the initial attack, a blindside attack from Indi Hartwell
on the outside that softened up Belair,
and then it was that instinctive backflip off the top rope.
We've seen Belair do it thousands of times,
but now a catastrophic occurrence has happened in that left knee.
[Graves] Potentially catastrophic. No doubt you've got somebody
who's relatively well versed in submissions like Candice LeRae.
[crowd chanting] EST!
[Graves] The EST in jeopardy, and the WWE Universe doing their best
to rally behind Belair, who, still on one leg,
is stronger than almost everyone walking the earth.
My God, is she powerful!
[Wade] Trying to shake some movement into that knee.
It's easier said than done. Any doctor will tell you that.
Some injuries you can't simply just shake off.
[Graves] And look at this. The adrenaline clearly pulsing through Belair,
and again, Candice attacking the knee.
[Wade] And you might not like it, but this is called
a tactical masterclass by Candice LeRae.
[Graves] You're absolutely right about that.
Can LeRae advance to the next round? Oh my!
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] This ends now. K.O.D.
-Hook of the leg. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-Belair is going to the next round! -[bell rings]
["Watch Me Shine" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner,
one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Bianca Belair!
[Graves] Bad wheel and all, the adrenaline kicked in,
and The EST punched her ticket
to the next round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
[Wade] The semifinals starting to take shape now.
Just one spot left.
[Graves] One half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
potentially the next Queen of the Ring.
Bianca Belair no doubt living up to the billing
as the first overall pick in this year's 2024 draft.
But Wade, do you know who wasn't content with their draft position?
-The Bloodline? -The Bloodline.
But that didn't stop The Bloodline from traveling across the Pond
and bringing their own unique brand of chaos to Backlash.
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[Wade] Yeah, what a way to kick things off at Backlash!
A match that was quickly changed into a street fight by GM Nick Aldis.
And it was as gruesome as you would imagine.
Almost had victory there for KO until the intervention of one Tonga Loa,
seemingly the latest personnel change within The Bloodline.
Steel steps. The KO, followed by a Samoan Spike.
The Bloodline standing victorious in France
as an unnerved Paul Heyman looked on.
[muttering indistinctly]
[crowd cheering]
Solo, can I… can I just have one moment of your time alone, please?
Thank you. Listen.
I know my place in life.
I'm Roman's Wiseman.
[crowd chanting] We want Roman!
But… but Solo, you're making decisions--
Like the decision to lie
and pull Roman from the draft?
Yeah, that one backfired on us, Paul.
Because of that mistake, we got drafted in the third round
when we should have been number one.
[scoffs] It's like you're trying to take money out of my pocket.
-You trying to do that? -No.
Huh? You trying to take food away from my kids to eat, huh?
You want my kids to starve, Paul?
No.
Well, last week, you walked by my brother Jey.
Did you try to, like, give him a signal or a look that you needed help?
No.
Okay.
I understand you're the Wiseman.
I know you were trying to protect Roman from the draft,
protect us, protect the family, The Bloodline.
Okay.
And you haven't spoken to Roman since he lost our title
at WrestleMania, right?
Right.
Well, I have.
-I've spoken to him. -What?
And until he comes back, I'm charge of The Bloodline.
I call the shots.
And you will be my Wiseman
by orders of the Tribal Chief.
Give me a hug, Wiseman.
Bring it in.
It's okay. Bring it in.
Yeah, I love you.
I love you, Wiseman.
Yeah.
["Bring The Swag" playing]
[Graves] Solo's calling the shots for The Bloodline?
Did Solo call it "our title"?
[Wade] Solo Sikoa seems to be the interim leader
in the absence of Roman Reigns.
♪ Don't mean to brag What about it? Yeah, yeah… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following is a first-round match
in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Introducing first, accompanied by B-Fab and Montez Ford,
representing the Street Profits,
Angelo Dawkins!
[Graves] Well, as we mentioned earlier in the day,
"The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley, originally scheduled for this matchup,
went down with an injury during training.
Angelo Dawkins said, "No problem."
-"Next man up." -[yelling]
[Graves] Angelo Dawkins goes one-on-one with Tama Tonga in the first round, next.
[both shouting indistinctly]
[dramatic music playing]
I am a third generation luchador.
My destiny is here in WWE.
The era of Andrade El Idolo
has begun.
[Graves] Andrade on his way to Friday Night SmackDown.
Angelo Dawkins and the Street Profits and Montez Ford are both already here.
Dawkins moments away from a first-round match
in the King of the Ring Tournament.
["Brother's Keeper" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] Accompanied by WWE Hall of Famer the Wiseman Paul Heyman,
Solo Sikoa and Tonga Loa,
Tama Tonga!
[Graves] Wade, we got our first glimpse of Tama Tonga in a WWE ring
last week at Backlash.
But what can viewers expect
who have never seen this man do what he does before?
[Wade] This is a man who has quickly become
the butcher of The Bloodline.
In this industry, we all need to physically dismantle opponents
to get places to advance our careers. There is a line.
It's a line you should never cross,
and that is permanently altering the trajectory of an opponent's what?
-[Graves] You-- -[Wade] Physical health.
Tama Tonga doesn't have a line.
He doesn't care about opponents, and he's here to do extreme damage.
[Graves] When you factor in the arrival of Tonga Loa, Tama Tonga's brother…
They ain't never seen a king. You're gonna show 'em what a king is.
[Graves] …you are talking about barbaric, unpredictable,
extremely dangerous competitors.
But Wade, I've gotta ask you this.
Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, they're not rookies to this game.
They're not new around here.
They have been on the scene for years and years and years.
There's a reason they have never been signed
-to WWE. -[bell rings]
[Wade] Yeah, you're not wrong about that. I first heard both of their names
around 2008, 2009.
The truth was, management in WWE back then
would not touch either of them with a barge pole
because they are simply out of their minds.
They're untrustworthy.
This is a publicly listed company,
and we all have to act in a corporate manner at times,
whether we like it or not.
The problem with Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, they have no interest in doing that,
and that is why it could be a huge problem
that they are now here under the SmackDown brand.
[Graves] The sons of Haku.
To call the Tongans "men of ill repute," might be the understatement of the year.
Here comes Tama Tonga. Dawkins out of the way just in time.
Again, Angelo Dawkins competing on behalf of "The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley,
who went down with an injury during training for this matchup.
And Dawkins might turn the whole tournament upside down.
[Wade] And this is a tough spot for Dawkins,
who, at short notice, has had to get ready for a singles match.
Remember, of course, he is a Tag Team specialist, historically.
Very different wheelhouse tonight, but he might pull off a shocker here,
much to the dismay of Solo Sikoa.
[Graves] Solo Sikoa, who we learned moments ago is--
Oh my God! He's running The Bloodline in the absence of Roman Reigns.
Dawkins just pounced. Oh--
Oh, Dawkins not about to hear it.
-[Wade] This is an Angelo Dawkins-- -[Graves] Montez!
Taking out The Bloodline and making it look easy.
Sky High to Tama Tonga.
-[crowd] One, two… -Dawkins gonna do it.
[Wade] Milliseconds away from what would have been a huge shock.
[Graves] Wait a minute. Tonga Loa… And look at the top of your screen.
Tonga Loa launching an attack on Montez Ford.
-Solo with the Samoan Spike. -[shouting]
[shouting]
[Graves] Dawkins taking his eye off the ball.
I can tell you right now it's gonna cost him.
Face-first goes AD.
-Hook of the leg by Tama Tonga. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-[bell rings] -And Tama Tonga gonna advance.
-["Brother's Keeper" playing] -[Alicia] Here is your winner,
Tama Tonga!
[Graves] They are as deep as they are dangerous.
[Wade] Just ruthlessly efficient.
[Graves] No task too tall,
no depth too low for Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa,
Solo Sikoa,
and their Wiseman appointed by orders of the Tribal Chief.
And things are about to go from bad to worse for Dawkins.
-[yelling] -[Graves] Another Samoan Spike.
[crowd booing]
[Graves] And the Wiseman looks absolutely horrified.
["Brother's Keeper" resumes]
[shouting indistinctly]
[Wade] Well, The Bloodline under this current stewardship of Solo Sikoa,
they are just reckless thugs.
But the most important thing to note of all
is that Tama Tonga is through to the semifinals
of the King of the Ring Tournament.
[Graves] It has been a big night thus far on SmackDown for new arrivals.
You talk about Tama Tonga. We saw DIY earlier.
We know Andrade is on his way.
Right now, I want to take a look at another newcomer
hoping to make a lot of waves on Friday Night.
Let's see what I'm talking about in our Progressive Match Flo.
♪ I don't see nobody 'Cause there ain't nobody ♪
[narrator] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[dramatic music playing]
[Davenport] Throughout my career, I've been unjustly labeled
as narcissistic, egotistical, or sadistic.
And that is simply not accurate or fair.
Winning, that's not enough to succeed. You have to send a message.
So that's what I do.
I look for the fragile, delicate parts of my opponents, and I break them.
I show the whole world
that your little heroes are really, truly pathetic.
Anyone can be respected, appreciated, celebrated,
but Blair Davenport will be feared.
[Graves] Blair Davenport, a new force in the women's division
on Friday Night SmackDown.
["You Don't Want None" playing]
-[fireworks exploding] -[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following is a first-round match
in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Introducing first, from Gainesville, Georgia,
weighing in at 220 pounds,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles!
[Graves] Fresh off of an instant classic at Backlash
against "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes,
tonight, AJ Styles looks to pick himself up, dust himself off,
and knock somebody's teeth down their throat.
Unfortunately for Mr. Styles,
that somebody on the other side of the ring, "The Viper" Randy Orton.
It's Orton. It's Styles. It's the first round
of the King of the Ring Tournament, and it's next.
Sometimes in life, in order to move forward,
it helps to look back.
To learn from the pioneers and trailblazers.
To gain inspiration from those who came before us.
To show us what it means to act with empathy
and to show that love has no labels.
Join WWE and Love Has No Labels throughout the year
in celebrating people from all communities and heritages.
[Belair] Because when love has no labels…
[Deville] That's a love we can all fight for.
[Graves] It's the biggest part of the summer,
and you are gonna wanna take part.
Tickets for WWE SummerSlam in Cleveland Browns Stadium
in Cleveland, Ohio
on Saturday, August 3rd are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
But before we get to Cleveland,
we've got a lot of road to cover, including next week in Jacksonville,
as we make it official and put pen to paper.
The contract signing for the Cody Rhodes-Logan Paul showdown
for the Undisputed WWE Title at King and Queen of the Ring.
[Wade] Next week, we've also got the King of the Ring quarterfinals.
The winner of tonight's main event, Orton or Styles,
will face a newcomer, Carmelo Hayes.
While Tama Tonga of The Bloodline will fight-- face
either LA Knight or Santos Escobar,
who will be competing this weekend on one of our WWE live events.
[Graves] And in the Queen of the Ring Tournament,
we will see Jade Cargill, and if she can summon the power
to get past The Irresistible Force, Nia Jax.
And The EST will battle either Michin or Tiffany Stratton
next Friday in the quarterfinals.
-["Voices" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ They counsel me, they understand They talk to me ♪
♪ You got your rules and your religion All designed to keep you safe… ♪
[Alicia] Making his way to the ring, from St. Louis, Missouri,
weighing in at 275 pounds,
"The Viper"
Randy Orton.
[Graves] This is a main event any night of the year.
In fact, this is a WrestleMania rematch
in the first round of the King of the Ring Tournament.
It was WrestleMania 35 where Orton and Styles collided.
You have to go back nearly 30 years to Lex Luger versus Yokozuna
to find such an occurrence in WWE,
and you can see the intensity in Orton's eyes as he approaches the ring.
Who will advance? We will find out in moments
who will advance in the tournament, which will continue next week
in Jacksonville, Florida on Friday Night SmackDown,
the Veterans Memorial Arena.
You know, Orton would love to be able to add
to his already Hall of Fame-caliber resume
by becoming King of the Ring for the first time in his career.
[Wade] It's incredibly difficult to think of the career of Randy Orton
and try and come up with something that man hasn't already done.
King of the Ring is perhaps the only thing
that The Viper still needs to check off. But it has to be said
Orton and Styles have simultaneously drawn the short straw tonight.
Two guys that, before the draw was made,
were clearly the out-and-out favorites for this one. No longer.
Two guys that everyone wants to avoid.
We're the lucky guys we get.
♪ They show me things I'll do to you ♪
[crowd singing along] ♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[Graves] I think France may have started something, Bad News.
They are singing for The Viper tonight in Wilkes-Barre.
♪ 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 ♪
[crowd singing loudly] ♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ They tell me things that I will do ♪
♪ They show me things I'll do to you ♪
♪ They talk to me… ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Like our good friend JBL always says,
if you were to build a sports entertainer from the ground up,
Randy Orton would be the result.
And I know AJ Styles would vehemently disagree with that assessment.
Wade, let me ask you this. Coming off of Backlash
and failing to capture the WWE Championship,
-how does AJ Styles shift focus today? -[crowd chanting] Randy!
[Graves] How does he change the mindset
to the King of the Ring Tournament mentality?
[Wade] He just needs to notice the bitter taste in his mouth
and realize there's only one way to wash that taste away.
That's victory here tonight against Randy Orton.
Because guess what? If he loses here tonight,
that bitter taste just gets ten times worse.
[Graves] And if you're Randy Orton, how do you avoid being preoccupied?
As Styles is sent to the floor.
We'll get back to that in a second.
Randy Orton in control in a King of the Ring first-round match.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] This is a first-round matchup in the King of the Ring Tournament.
And right now "The Viper" Randy Orton having his way
-with "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles. -[crowd] …seven, eight, nine.
[Graves] This is our third King of the Ring first-round matchup
of the evening.
The remaining matchups will take place this weekend on WWE Live Events.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] And Randy Orton thriving in this environment.
Wade, I began to ask you before the break. We talked about the AJ Styles' mentality.
If you're Randy Orton, how do you avoid being too preoccupied with The Bloodline
in the wake of Backlash…
Forearm by Style.
…and costing yourself an opportunity to be King of the Ring?
[Wade] I'll tell you right now, from my career,
whenever I went to the ring angry about something,
I never performed at my best.
Randy Orton is a different animal.
He has spent about 20 years in WWE
being perhaps the most angry and volatile guy on the entire roster.
This isn't new territory for Randy Orton. He can handle it.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] Orton all out of sorts as we take a look at the Prime Hydration Station,
and "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles is gonna give chase.
-[grunts] -Right into the trap of the Apex Predator.
[grunting]
[Graves] And Orton sends Styles spine-first across the barricade.
[Wade] The master of baiting in opponents. Perhaps playing a little possum.
Perhaps, in part, genuinely hurt,
but ultimately, it's The Viper who gets back on top in a hurry.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] You don't think, Wade… You don't think Orton's gonna do
what I think he's gonna do? Oh!
Styles sensed it coming, knew disaster was at hand.
[Wade] Orton perhaps trying to line up that DDT of his. Whoa!
[Graves] Onto our announce table, which held up under the weight of Styles,
but right in the clutches of Orton.
Oh dear.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Styles sent spine-first yet again on our announce table.
-[crowd chanting] One more time! -And the sanguineous WWE fans want more.
[chanting continues] One more time! One more time!
[Graves] Hoisted up. Let free fall onto the table.
-And The Viper isn't finished. -[Wade] He ain't done yet. Oh!
-[Graves] Again! -[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Take a bow, Randy. Take a bow.
[Wade] That is just typical Randy Orton.
The only thing I'm surprised about
is the fact that our table is somehow still standing.
[fans chanting] Randy! Randy! Randy!
[Wade] It's less than can be said about Orton's opponent
after the abuse leveled at him.
[Graves] I don't know how much Styles has left in the tank.
Apparently enough, at least, to buy himself some time momentarily.
And AJ with a dropkick to the back of Randy's knee.
The cagey veteran AJ Styles always aware of any opportunity presented to him.
Just ask "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes,
the Undisputed WWE Champion,
who was pushed to his absolute limits last Saturday
by this same man, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[Wade] This is part of that durability
that has led to AJ Styles being a multiple-time world champion
and may well take him on to be the King of the Ring.
-[indistinct] Come on! -[Wade] AJ Styles in control.
This match continues.
[Graves] Orton's hurt. I don't know if Randy's getting back in this.
[Graves] This is our third and final King of the Ring
first-round matchup of the evening.
We are sold out tonight at Mohegan Sun in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
with two surefire first ballot Hall of Famers doing battle,
Randy Orton and "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
Shockingly, neither man has earned the right in their career
to be called King of the Ring.
[Wade] Right now, this has completely turned into the AJ Styles show,
who is inching closer and closer
to "a phenomenal step in the right direction" as he put it.
[Graves] AJ right now raining down all of his internal vitriol
on the left knee and ankle of a fallen Apex Predator.
The veteran AJ-- Oh, Styles kicked over the top rope!
Great ring awareness by Randy Orton.
[Wade] Yeah, complete desperation move there from The Viper,
who's desperately now trying to get some movement
back in his lower extremities.
Just when AJ, perhaps going in for the kill on that knee,
and Orton managed to buy himself a window of time.
[Graves] If nothing else, AJ with a few moments to recover of his own.
And Orton unable to plant on his left leg.
You gotta wonder how much impact was behind the kick.
Enough to stun Styles for the moment.
The Viper trying to fight through the agony,
trying to earn his way to the next round.
[Wade] Yeah, you're right Corey. That issue still-- Oh!
Attempted a Calf Crusher perhaps.
[Graves] And a vicious boot to the chest.
Right to the sternum.
[Wade] Orton just doesn't have his base under him at the moment.
That's the problem.
Doing all he can despite the obvious knee issue.
[Graves] Styles again sensed it coming.
-[Wade] Orton's just a beat too slow. -One, two…
[Graves] Even at 275 pounds, Orton can pack a punch behind any strike.
Case in point, the glancing European uppercut
rocked Styles for the moment.
[Wade] That usual ability of Orton to strike at a moment's notice
has completely disappeared.
This could be job done by AJ Styles.
[Graves] Styles trying to pull himself back to a vertical base
as Randy hopes the adrenaline begins flowing sooner rather than later.
The ability to fight through the pain on one good leg.
[crowd chanting] Randy! Randy! Randy!
[Graves] Orton surveying the situation.
[Wade] How dangerous can you be on one leg? That's the question.
[Graves] And AJ knows it. AJ realizing immediately
that The Viper is wounded badly.
[Wade] AJ completely focused and locked in on the damage
that has occurred to Randy's left leg.
That is the pathway to victory.
[Graves] AJ smells blood.
And now the Apex Predator being hunted by "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
Phenomenal Forearm.
-No! -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Again, that desperation move from Randy
knocking AJ off the top rope just when it counted the most.
[Graves] But it's rare that you see Orton almost tentative
in delivering an attack on any opponent,
having a healthy respect for what Styles is capable of.
And AJ once again looking for the Calf Crusher.
I assure you Orton will not survive.
But Styles unable to finish the hold thus far.
The powerful Orton fighting with his long, powerful legs.
-Come on, Randy! What do you say? -[Graves] Styles has him stitched in now.
-[Orton groaning in pain] -[Wade] The Viper in complete agony.
[Graves] But Styles as of yet unable to rock back
to maximize the pressure on the knee.
[crowd chanting] Randy! Randy! Randy!
[Wade] The biggest and strongest version of Randy Orton
we have ever seen in WWE.
He needs all of that strength here to try and fight his way out of this.
-[referee] Randy, what do you say? -[Graves] Can Randy muster the strength?
Can Randy fight through the pain, through the agony…
-What do you say, Randy? -…and find an escape route?
Orton with a rear chin lock.
It was just enough to force AJ to break the submission hold.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] And the powerslam.
-Orton barely into the cover. -[crowd] One, two…
[Graves] Styles still kicks out with relative ease
this deep into a matchup.
Wade, I do not like the sight we are seeing from Randy Orton.
[Wade] Well, we've seen that powerslam millions of times from Randy Orton,
and he normally follows it up with a barrage of abuse.
Simply not capable of doing it at this point.
The damage, the toll on his body
inflicted by AJ Styles has just been too great.
[Graves] If anybody has enough experience in this game
to call a surefire audible this deep into a matchup,
it is "The Viper" Randy Orton. But the same has got to be said,
the same credit has got to be given to his opponent,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
Both men in an incredibly precarious position.
Styles escapes, and face-first goes Orton.
[Wade] Two brains like supercomputers trying to outdo one another.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Will this attack find pay dirt? It does.
Vintage Orton.
But Randy Orton yet again unable to capitalize
due to the damage suffered at the hands of his opponent, AJ Styles.
[Wade] Desperately trying to find a way back to somehow figuring out
how can I be my ruthless best here?
How can I be my barbaric, sadistic best
in order to put away one of the GOATs in AJ Styles?
That might be your answer, Corey.
[Graves] I assure you, this is exactly what Styles wanted to avoid.
Randy looking for the RKO. Styles sensed it coming.
[Wade] Saw that brief stop there of Randy where he had to clutch the knee.
And now we set up in the drop zone.
[Graves] AJ looking for it again. Phenomenal Forearm on the mark.
Hook of the leg.
-Styles is going to the next round. -One, two…
[Graves] Oh my goodness!
[Wade] Oh, Randy looked out-cold. Somehow reaching out for that bottom rope.
The shock etched on the face of AJ. He knew he had this one won.
[Graves] Wade, you and I talk so frequently
about the importance of ring awareness.
Veteran experience.
We have seen it in spades from both of these competitors.
[Wade] AJ did everything right there. Hooked the leg, grabbed one of the arms,
but Orton is a long, long-limbed individual.
Simply didn't contend for it.
[Graves] Styles still doing the right thing…
-[shouts indistinctly] -…continuing to apply the pressure.
RKO!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] One, two, three!
-[bell rings] -["Voices" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner,
"The Viper" Randy Orton!
[Graves] Talk about out of nowhere!
Phenomenal Forearm.
-Randy Orton kept this match alive… -One, two…
…with great ring awareness.
[Wade] One hundredth of a second away. This is the danger of the Randy Orton RKO.
-[crowd] One, two, three. -The most dangerous three letters in WWE.
Strikes at a moment's notice
and progresses in the King of the Ring Tournament.
[Graves] Well, I assure you no one in the second round
is happy about this result.
The Apex Predator headed to the next round
of the King of the Ring Tournament!
♪ I feel tension risin' ♪
♪ I hear voices… ♪ ♪