[WWE intro music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[music fades]
[Graves] Tonight, for the first time ever,
SmackDown emanates from the banks of the Red Sea.
Welcome to Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
a port city and a modern commercial hub and gateway
for pilgrimages to the Islamic holy cities, Mecca and Medina.
And tonight it will host the semifinal matches for SmackDown
in the King and Queen of the Ring Tournament,
with both finals taking place tomorrow live on Peacock.
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
This man is a Viper, an Apex Predator,
-[crowd cheering] -and a 14-time World Heavyweight Champion.
But for all of Randy Orton's accomplishments,
he's never been King of the Ring.
To do that, he must first find a way
to get past Tama Tonga, an aspiring warlord
with a bloodthirsty disposition, looking to acquire
even more power for The Bloodline.
And The Irresistible Force has proven
unstoppable thus far in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
But does Nia Jax have what it takes to topple one half of the WWE
Women's Tag Team Champions in Bianca Belair?
And what sort of condition is The EST's knee in?
That remains to be seen.
But if the stakes weren't high enough already,
our chief content officer, Triple H,
made this announcement yesterday.
The King and Queen of the Ring.
It was such an honor to be in that tournament and to win
that tournament on your own, to have that launch you to another place.
The winner of the King of the Ring Tournament and the winner
of the Queen of the Ring Tournament
will both go on to receive World Title shots,
either WWE or World Title at SummerSlam.
[Graves] From the Jeddah Superdome,
this is Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto and more.
There is a shot of our beautiful Queen of the Ring crown.
The Queen will be determined tomorrow.
Streaming live, WWE on Peacock.
Very special 1:00 p.m. Eastern start time for King and Queen of the Ring.
["Watch Me Shine" by CFO$ playing]
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following is semifinal match
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Introducing first, from Knoxville, Tennessee,
Bianca Belair!
[Graves] We are kicking things off in spectacular fashion tonight
in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Wade, by the end of the night, we will know
what the finals of both the King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments
will look like.
[Wade] Yes, indeed. What a huge night here on SmackDown.
And the stakes have only got even greater considering
that announcement from Triple H regarding a championship opportunity
at SummerSlam for the winner
of the King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments.
[Graves] Well, it be "The EST" Bianca Belair or Nia Jax
who advances to meet this woman.
Lyra Valkyria winning the bracket on Monday Night Raw
and advancing to the finals of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Welcome, everybody to Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
I am still Corey Graves.
He is still Wade Barrett, but we are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
We need a little help with the heavy lifting.
So please welcome our Arabic announce team of Jude Aldajani and Faisal Mughaisib.
[speaking Arabic]
[Graves] Bianca Belair looking to succeed where her tag team partner
Jade Cargill failed last week to get past Nia Jax because
Cargill's temper got the best of her in a very heated situation.
[Wade] Yeah, wily smarts from Nia Jax got her through
to this semifinal matchup, but it's going to take more than that
against a fellow veteran in Bianca Belair.
["Not Like Most Girls" playing]
[Rome] And her opponent from San Diego, California,
Nia Jax!
[Graves] And Wade, it's been undeniable since being
drafted to Friday Night SmackDown,
Nia Jax is a woman on a mission, an equal opportunity destroyer.
We have seen Nia take out Bayley. We've seen her take out Naomi.
We've seen Nia take out Tiffany Stratton.
Can Jax follow suit tonight and dispose of The EST?
[Wade] Well, you look at Nia Jax and you think to yourself,
how on earth can one individual stop The Irresistible Force?
And I'm of the opinion that it may well be impossible.
I think if Nia Jax sets her mind to running through
the entire roster one at a time, including her opponent tonight,
Bianca Belair, she absolutely has the capability of pulling that off.
[Graves] Here we see the first round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Thus far we are in the semifinals of the SmackDown bracket.
Nia Jax one-on-one with "The EST" Bianca Belair, who will head
to King and Queen of the Ring tomorrow to potentially gain the crown.
[Wade] Nia Jax has managed to take out two of the big three
from WrestleMania, Naomi and Jade Cargill.
Now she gets the chance to complete the set.
[crowd chants]
[Graves] Remember, the announcement we heard again moments ago,
the winners of both the King and Queen Tournaments will receive
guaranteed title opportunities at SummerSlam on their respective brands.
[Wade] And Corey, I don't think that has increased anybody's desire
to win this tournament.
I think that desire was already at 100, but it has increased
the consequences and the disappointment of not being successful
in winning the King and Queen Tournaments.
[Graves] Wade, I know you keep your ear to the ground backstage.
Have you heard any updates on the knee of Bianca Belair
that seemed to give her some trouble over the past several weeks?
[Wade] Well, I asked her last week
before the match, was the knee bothering her?
She said not at all. That was clearly a lie.
It gave her a ton of trouble last week. She powered through.
I didn't bother asking this week. I knew she was going to be game-faced.
[Graves] Great escape by Belair.
[Wade] But clearly after the trouble she was given last week,
it cannot be good at all.
[Graves] Certainly, these two women, no strangers to one another,
have competed as opponents on numerous occasions.
But you know what they say. Familiarity breeds contempt.
And Nia Jax feeling all of the contempt right now for Bianca Belair
who stands in Nia's way of the finals of the Queen of the Ring.
[crowd cheering]
Belair mocking Nia Jax. Is that a wise decision, Wade?
[Wade] I saw a little limp on the landing there.
Maybe I'm imagining things,
but it looked like there was a little twinge or something in that knee.
[Graves] And the usually sure-footed Belair
for the third time, colliding with Jax.
[Wade] And perhaps coming off worse in the collision.
It's like running into a brick wall.
It's going to hurt you just as much as it hurts Nia Jax.
[Graves] I don't know if the brick wall feels much pain in that scenario.
Big heavy rights by Belair being rained down on The Irresistible Force.
[Wade] Well, it would behoove Bianca Belair to end this one
as quickly as possible.
When you've got Nia Jax rolling, you better make it count.
Well, they're getting creative on the outside.
Standing on the ring apron before driving.
Nia face-first into the top turnbuckle and Belair not done just yet.
[crowd counts]
Now, Wade, in this environment,
is it easy to look past the match at hand
because you're so focused on a potential opportunity at SummerSlam?
[Wade] Yeah, it depends on the experience level.
I'd say we've got two former Women's World Champions in the ring now.
Both of them--
[Graves] Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute. Oh my goodness!
[Wade] …fully astute on taking this one step at a time.
Oh my, the tides may be turning.
[Graves] Jax shoulder-first into the ring post.
Belair looking to take it high-risk.
[crowd cheering]
-And down goes Jax! -Let's go!
The EST is on a roll. Can Bianca make it to the finals?
[Graves] This is a Queen of the Ring Tournament Semifinals Match
for the Friday Night SmackDown bracket,
as "The EST" Bianca Belair goes one-on-one with Nia Jax.
The same Irresistible Force as we see Lyra Valkyria looking on.
Lyra, who's already advanced to the final tomorrow
at King and Queen of the Ring.
Last week, it was Nia Jax who managed to get past
Bianca's tag team partner, Jade Cargill, due to Nia causing Cargill
to lose her temper and utilize an illegal steel chair.
[Wade] Nia Jax getting a little bit too cocky there
with a worn down Bianca Belair,
giving Bianca Belair a brief window to get back into this, Corey.
[Graves] Notice Bianca's knee.
She seemed a little less than sure-footed as she tried
to regain a vertical base before being put back down
by The Irresistible Force.
[Wade] Yeah, sometimes Bianca Belair, I think, is in denial to herself
about the limitations of her own body.
When you have an injury, when you have tweaked something,
especially the knee, there's no hiding from it.
[Graves] This Stretch Muffler submission could spell catastrophe,
but Belair utilizing her powerful legs.
Nobody home for Nia.
Belair sliding into a crucifix cover, shoulders down.
[Wade] Now Belair having to show all of her range and versatility as an athlete.
[Graves] Samoan Drop by Jax.
-[crowd] One, two-- -Nia's going to the finals. No.
[Wade] Inching closer and closer, however, staring over
at the crown, realizing what is at stake.
[Graves] I think Bianca had better hope that Nia doesn't begin staring down
at the left knee of The EST, because there is no doubt
at this point, Wade, Bianca's knee is giving her a world of trouble.
[Wade] Yeah, that's your pathway to victory if you are Nia Jax.
Hone in on it. Focus on that bullseye.
Slow The EST down any way you can.
[Graves] Belair from the top turnbuckle. Crossbody! Down goes Nia!
And I think-- I think Belair might have injured her knee in the process,
scrambling for the cover, hook of the leg.
And Jax survives.
[Wade] That bang to the knee from the landing
after this perfect crossbody caught Bianca Belair briefly,
cost her a couple of seconds in going to that pin.
A pin that could have taken her through to tomorrow's final.
[Graves] I didn't notice the actual impact on the landing of the crossbody, instead,
Wade, I'm afraid that Bianca may have hyperextended her knee
as she made contact with Nia Jax's frame.
[Wade] I'd say there's a whole hell of a lot going on in that knee
at the moment, but the gritty and driven Belair
is still in the fight for now at least.
[Graves] And with one kick, Jax regains control
and continues to dismantle the injured leg of The EST.
Oh no. Nia could be dreaming of the Annihilator.
[Wade] Squash in time, Corey.
[Graves] Belair with a little too much left in the tank at this juncture.
-Can Belair power up Nia? -[Wade] On one leg.
-[Graves] My God! Powerbomb! -[Wade] What a freak!
[Graves] Cover!
[crowd] One, two--
Nia Jax kicks out.
What a superhuman effort by Belair.
[Wade] Bianca Belair lives in the gym, has unmatched genetics,
but pulling that off is just grit and drive and desire to win
that is simply unmatched here.
[Graves] A great showing of the wills of both athletes.
Both women want to be the one to advance to the final,
to challenge Lyra Valkyria for the Queen of the Ring crown.
[Wade] Neither woman has anything left in the tank at this point,
but they've got to keep fighting.
[Graves] There is no way.
There is no way Bianca is going to get Jax up on one good wheel.
[Wade] Yeah, you need a plan B at this point,
if you're Bianca Belair.
[Graves] And Jax just savagely
driving Belair's knee back into the canvas yet again.
[crowd chants] You suck!
[Graves] This is a brilliant strategy by Jax. Whether you inflicted
the initial injury or not, you take away the legs of Bianca Belair.
You're going to neutralize a great deal of The EST's power.
[Wade] Well, that's the biggest advantage.
Bianca Belair has a supreme athleticism. And Corey, it might be take two.
[Graves] I think you might be right, Wade.
But Belair again almost miraculously back up to her feet.
[Wade] Oh!
[Graves] Thinking about a KOD. Can Belair do it?
Oh my God!
Oh my God! Oh no.
[Wade] Belair simply collapsed.
[Graves] Bianca's knee buckled and Jax with a senton.
Nia Jax smells blood in the water
and the finals of the Queen of the Ring.
Annihilator!
[referee] One, two, three!
-[Graves] Jax is going to the finals. -[bell rings]
["Not Like Most Girls" playing]
[Rome] Here is your winner, Nia Jax!
[Wade] Just an overwhelming onslaught of attacks
on Bianca Belair, valiantly fighting back as best she could.
But ultimately, it was that knee giving out and an attempt at a KOD.
This is how we got there, slowly but surely, Jax softening up
that knee of Belair till it just crumbled to nothing.
[Graves] The adrenaline not quite enough to power Belair through.
A thunderous senton by Nia and the Annihilator.
Be careful what you wish for, Lyra Valkyria,
because you will now go head-to-head with "The Irresistible Force"
Nia Jax in the finals of the Queen of the Ring Tournament tomorrow.
Kayla Braxton's in the ring with Nia Jax.
Nia Jax, congratulations.
You are now advancing to the finals taking place here
tomorrow, and you've only got one victory standing
-between you and that coveted-- -Shut up, Kayla.
Hey, Lyra.
You see that?
That's Bianca Belair.
I just buzzed through Bianca Belair. Come on, Kayla.
The same way I buzzed through Becky Lynch.
The same way I buzzed through Rhea Ripley.
Kayla.
And the same way I'm going to buzz right through you
to become Queen of the Ring.
And thanks to Triple H's announcement at SummerSlam,
I'm going to be Queen and Champion.
And it all starts tomorrow when I buzz through you.
[Graves] A bold declaration by the woman
who may be your next Queen of the Ring, Nia Jax.
And a valiant effort by Bianca Belair tonight.
It's going down tomorrow right here in Jeddah.
Jax, Valkyria, for Queen of the Ring.
[Wade] Now, Waller and Theory putting their final prep together
ahead of The Grayson Waller Effect
with special guest, "The Megastar" LA Knight.
It's up next here on SmackDown.
[Graves] Yeah!
Better luck next time.
Loser.
[crowd cheering]
Uh, Bianca, I know the Queen of the Ring loss has to sting,
but would you care to share how you're feeling?
I mean, it's no lie. I'm disappointed.
I really, really wanted that crown, but I think I just took
my knee to the limit. And--
-Little Bianca with her little hurt knee. -Oh.
You wouldn't have this problem, though, Bianca,
if you'd just given up. I injured your knee.
And then somebody more deserving could be on her way to winning--
-She did that to you. -Yeah.
-She did that to you. -You're welcome for that loss.
-You're welcome. You deserve it. -What are you gonna do?
-You got one knee, we got four. -You wanna do something?
Wait, wait, wait, wait. What's happening here?
-[crowd cheering] -It's not going on, not like that.
-Oh yeah? -Right.
-Oh, what? What? What? -We have to go.
-Excuse me? -You quiet now?
Seems like to me they want their wig split.
That's what it seemed like to me.
Let me go speak to Aldis.
Bet. Go do that.
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[Wade] Careful, Candice and Indi. Sounds like a storm is heading your way.
[Graves] Well, from the Jeddah Superdome,
this is Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
["Say So" playing]
♪ Now do it because I say so, say so ♪
♪ When I pop out they lay low, they know ♪
♪ Blood run hot, but that heart go Stay froze ♪
♪ You know how they go, I can't stop ♪
♪ Ask who did it, I did it, I does it ♪
♪ They finished, they talkin', I live it ♪
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome
the Friday Night SmackDown sensations,
your WWE Tag Team Champions.
The audacious Austin Theory
and the host of The Grayson Waller Effect,
Grayson Waller!
["Say So" playing]
Welcome to a very special championship edition
of The Grayson Waller Effect right here in Saudi.
With my guest host tonight,
Austin Theory.
[crowd boos]
[crowd chanting]
We know we're the best. Thank you.
Yeah, we know we're the best. So shut up, you idiots.
[crowd boos]
Now, moving on,
some of you might call this man a Megastar.
Allow me to introduce to you one of the most talented,
the most entertaining Superstars on the SmackDown roster.
["Melo Don't Miss" playing]
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest Ain't no hatin'… ♪
[Graves] Wade, correct me if I'm mistaken, but we were expecting LA Knight. No?
[Wade] That's what my sheet said.
I'm not complaining about Carmelo Hayes, however.
I'll accept that. This is one of the greatest trash talkers in the game.
Hey. Austin, Grayson,
thank you guys so much for the introduction.
Look, I had to stop you because it sounded like you were describing me.
[laughing]
The only problem is, you guys missed a couple things.
Let's see. Uh, SmackDown's first round draft pick,
the hottest new superstar here on SmackDown,
and most importantly, Him.
Hey, Mr. Him, I think you kind of forgot what happened last time
you were on SmackDown with us.
[Melo] Hey, hey, Austin. Hey, I know what you're going to say, man.
Let's put all of that aside,
because guys like us, we got to stick together, man.
Come on.
Hey, Austin. I think he's right.
He's right? He ain't right.
Carmelo should be the guest. He'd be a way better guest
than LA Knight, that's for sure.
Yeah, LA Knight does suck.
He sucks. And you know what?
You're doing things the right way.
Coming out here on SmackDown to get the Grayson Waller rub.
Exactly, look, I get the rub. You guys get the ratings.
Look, we all win, all right?
But look, I'm telling you, man, these veterans,
they got to take out the guys like us.
We got to be the ones that show them how it's done.
I mean, hey.
Look at guys like Bobby Lashley, right?
I mean, where's-- where's the good advice from Bobby Lashley?
I mean, only advice he gives The Street Profits
is how to lose to A-Town Down Under, doesn't he?
[Melo laughs]
Hey, listen, I'm telling you, guys like Lashley,
guys like Corbin, man, I'll tell you about them, bro.
They're selfish,
they're jealous, and they're egomaniacs.
[Waller] You're right.
Speaking of egomaniacs…
LA Knight.
[groans]
[crowd cheering]
That guy's the worst.
Man, there's nothing worse than a veteran that hasn't accomplished anything
that wants to talk all this talk.
[crowd chants] LA Knight!
Hey, hey, I think-- I think everybody in here is talking
about that loser LA Knight.
Yeah.
You mean the guy who can't win the big one, LA Knight?
Yeah!
The guy who was drafted way after me, LA Knight?
[together] Yeah!
All right, so you know what? Let's just do this, man.
Let's leave that fraud Megastar in the back,
and some real Megastars will chop it out. What do you say, boy?
["Welcome To LA" playing]
-[Wade] Yes! -[crowd cheers]
This night just gets better and better, Corey.
[Graves] Oh, you didn't honestly think LA Knight was gonna kick back
and take a tongue lashing from this trio, did you?
What an eruption here in the desert for the arrival of The Megastar.
[Wade] Days like this, you just have to give the people what they want,
and they want Kavorka, and they're about to get it in spades.
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes has wasted absolutely no time since
arriving on Friday Night SmackDown of making enemies.
I think you can add LA Knight to that list.
[Wade] Oh no.
[Waller] Hey, hey, hey!
[Graves] Does The Grayson Waller Effect have insurance?
[crowd chants] LA Knight, yeah!
[Graves] We are on international grounds.
Could be very expensive.
[crowd chants] LA Knight!
Let me talk to you.
[crowd cheers]
Hey. No, no, no, we do not talk.
You know how much it cost me to get these?
I don't remember asking either of you a damn thing.
[Knight] I'm going to keep this short and sweet because I got better things to do.
[crowd] Yeah!
-Yeah. -[crowd] Yeah!
Right now you're poking a mean dog with a sharp stick.
[crowd] Yeah!
You keep knocking my door,
this mean dog is gonna bite the hell out of you.
[crowd] Yeah!
And it ain't going to take you very long.
I don't care how new you are, it won't take you long to figure out exactly
whose game this is with everybody saying…
[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
[Knight] Yeah!
[mic thuds]
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes from behind, launching a sneak attack on LA Knight.
[Wade] He is a master cheap shot artist.
[Graves] Here comes The Megastar. And here come the Tag Champs.
Waller and Theory alongside Carmelo Hayes.
They're stomping a hole through LA Knight,
but here comes backup.
[Wade] Well, it was crazy of LA Knight to enter that ring on his own,
but now it looks like the odds are even.
[Graves] Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, The Street Profits.
No doubt took offense to the comments about Bobby Lashley a few moments ago.
[crowd cheering]
The Street Profits are up and they want the smoke.
-I say let them fight, Bad News. -[Wade] Love it.
[Davenport] Everybody wants to talk about living your truth.
Embracing who you are, that anything is possible.
It's embarrassing.
[epic music plays]
Truth is, you're weak.
You're lazy.
And the reason bad things keep happening to you
is because you allow it.
You're not successful because you're not good enough.
So while you cry about being overlooked,
Blair Davenport has already taken your spot.
Does that hurt your feelings?
Well, come and do something about it.
[bell rings]
[Graves] During the break, SmackDown general manager
Nick Aldis sanctioned this Six-Man Tag Team Match
between LA Knight and The Street Profits
against A-Town Down Under and Carmelo Hayes.
[crowd singing]
Very rowdy, lively crowd tonight in Jeddah.
Tomorrow promises a lot more of the same, Wade,
at the King and Queen of the Ring. What was that special start time again?
[Wade] Special start time of 1:00 p.m. Eastern time.
-You're testing me, Corey. -[Graves] I saw you getting nervous.
[Wade] Where's-- where's my notes?
[Graves laughs]
[Wade] I think we've flown through about 15 time zones
in the last couple of days, so I'm a little all over the place.
[Graves] Understandable.
At least your watch is working tonight.
Carmelo Hayes and Montez Ford exchanging wrist lock, mid-ring.
[Wade] Just lucky that this ring between Carmelo Hayes,
Grayson Waller and "The Megastar" LA Knight.
We may have the three biggest smack talkers in the industry
in the same ring right now.
[Graves] An argument could be made. Nice arm drag takeover by Montez Ford
who's enjoying a power advantage over Carmelo Hayes.
Former NXT Champion.
A great deal of success in NXT before being drafted to SmackDown.
Montez Ford just about dropkicked the features off Hayes' face.
[Wade] I'll tell you, The Street Profits have not been their usual self
over the past couple of weeks.
They got beaten down by The Bloodline a couple of weeks ago.
They've been on a warpath ever since.
It seems like they're finally feeling a bit of partner spirit once again.
[Graves] Bobby Lashley being forced out of the King of the Ring Tournament
due to unforeseen injury might have lit something
inside of The Street Profits.
They haven't tasted a great deal of success recently.
Maybe it's time for Dawkins and Ford to change up their game a little bit.
Facebuster to Hayes.
[Wade] Well, it has been complete one-way traffic thus far
from The Street Profits, who are obviously, as you mentioned,
still reeling from that training injury to Bobby Lashley.
[Graves] Tag made to LA Knight
and Carmelo Hayes wants no part of The Megastar.
[crowd chants] LA Knight!
Collar and elbow tie up between LA Knight and Austin Theory.
One half of the WWE Tag Team Champions.
[Wade] I'll tell you what, it does not matter where on planet Earth we go.
Every human being is fully fluent in the international language of Kavorka.
[Graves] A blind tag made by Grayson Waller from the outside.
Theory is going to be illegal for his team in this instance.
As referee Shawn Bennett restores order.
[Wade] Illegal, but the damage has been done.
The wind has been knocked out of the sails of The Megastar.
[grunts]
[Graves] Stood up by Knight and taken back down is Waller.
Tag made to Angelo Dawkins of The Street Profits.
Dawkins is just stupidly athletic.
[Wade] Yeah, and stupidly underrated by a lot of people.
[Graves] No doubt about it. A bright future for AD.
And an enzuigiri right on the ear of Grayson Waller.
Here comes Dawkins again.
And Theory just pulled Waller out of harm's way.
[Wade] Find a little help from your friends when you need to.
Now an unsighted Dawkins caught.
[Graves] Dropkick right to the heart of Dawkins and Waller…
with a clothesline to follow.
The Tag Team Champions and Him are in control of this six-man showdown.
[Graves] This is six-man tag team action on the eve of King and Queen of the Ring
as The Street Profits have joined forces with LA Knight
to battle A-Town Down Under and Carmelo Hayes.
A-Town Down Under, of course, the reigning WWE Tag Team Champions,
but it's Angelo Dawkins in need of a tag.
But, Bad News, I know you of all people
have been extremely impressed thus far by Carmelo Hayes.
[Wade] Yeah, I spotted his whole career in NXT
and it didn't go like you just saw on your career.
The man won everything in NXT, was perhaps the greatest NXT talent of all time.
[Graves] Tag made. Austin Theory is legal for his team,
and Theory Just ripped LA Knight off the apron.
[Wade] This referee once again lost complete control here,
and Dawkins now.
[Graves] Aw, the champs making a mockery of Angelo Dawkins now.
Grayson Waller perched on the top turnbuckle.
[Wade] Don't get too cocky around a man like Angelo Dawkins
or you will get flattened.
[Graves] LA Knight wreaking havoc on the outside.
Down goes Austin Theory.
Can Dawkins make the tag? He does.
[crowd cheering]
The Megastar now just teeing off on the Aussie icon.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Arena erupting with a frenzy of energy.
[crowd cheering] Yeah!
[Graves] Running knee right on the chin of Waller.
Dropkick takes out Theory. LA Knight like a one-man army.
[Wade] The Hub City Hitter himself returning some mockery of his own.
[Graves] Flying tackle takes down Waller.
Pop-up Powerslam.
The Megastar is on fire!
Cover by Knight.
[Wade] This was turning into a one-man show.
No finer man for it than LA Knight.
LA, Looking for BFT.
Hayes sensed it coming, First 48!
[Wade] Connected a beauty.
[Graves] Enzuigiri turns Hayes inside out, big left by Theory.
[Wade] Nothing pretty about that, but highly effective.
Wow!
[Graves] Nearly pounced Theory back to Atlanta.
Big knee from Waller rocks Dawkins, now LA Knight
all by his lonesome in the ring. And here comes Waller.
Picked out of midair! BFT!
Carmelo Hayes sent to the outside.
[Wade] You need about 15 pairs of eyeballs if you're a referee in this one.
[Graves] No doubt, but The Megastar had Carmelo being
launched over our announce desk.
Meanwhile, Montez Ford from the heavens!
[crowd cheering]
Ford scrambling for the cover.
-Hook of the leg. -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[bell rings] -The Profits and Knight with the win.
[Rome] Here are your winners,
the team of LA Knight and The Street Profits!
[Graves] It sure wasn't easy, but oh, how much fun we all had watching on.
[Wade] I was having fun until The Megastar came flying
across the desk and bust me open.
But you're right, the match itself was fantastic.
[Graves] Six-man tag team action delivered as advertised.
A huge pounce by Dawkins, jumping knee.
And just when Waller thought victory was in hand,
a BFT turned the tides.
[Wade] This is where it all went south for the commentary team
and our desk and our monitors, et cetera.
But here is where the flying Montez Ford hit Paydirt.
Connecting with the big splash
-off the top. -[Graves] The hangtime on that,
hard to be believed
and they are celebrating all over Saudi Arabia.
That is going down in Riyadh, home of the WWE Experience.
Everybody watching along here on Friday Night SmackDown
and having just as much fun as The Street Profits, B-Fab
and LA Knight with the big W.
Well, the WWE Experience isn't the only thing going on in Riyadh.
Yesterday, Riyadh hosted the kickoff to WWE King and Queen of the Ring,
and the challenger in our Undisputed WWE Championship Match
made something of an uncharacteristic comment to our very own Michael Cole.
[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
In Saturday's match against Cody Rhodes,
I'm gonna show y'all just how great I am.
And something I bring with me everywhere.
My brass knuckles.
I will give these up.
I will beat Cody fair and square on Saturday night.
How about this, Michael Cole?
I'm gonna give these brass knuckles to you.
You keep them, you make sure I don't use them.
And Saturday night, I'm coming for you.
Clean, Cody, fair and square.
I will take that title from your shoulder and put it on mine.
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[Wade] Here is his opponent tomorrow.
Cody Rhodes.
He must be feeling pretty good about himself here in Jeddah,
just 24 hours ahead of that championship defense.
[crowd cheers]
Good luck tonight.
Thanks, Code-man.
[Wade] Cody Rhodes joins us live on SmackDown and it's coming up next.
[announcer] Welcome, everyone, to the biggest event of the summer.
For more than 35 years, SummerSlam has delivered
some of the most amazing moments in WWE history.
[commentator] I am completely in shock right now.
[Triple H] In 2026, we will once again make history.
[McAfee] Fasten your seat belts.
It is about to go down.
Let's go!
Working with Minnesota Sports and Events,
we will expand SummerSlam to two nights.
-[epic music plays] -[crowd cheers]
Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd, 2026,
in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Live from the world-class U.S. Bank Stadium,
WWE will bring two epic nights of SummerSlam to the Twin Cities.
So there's only one question to ask.
Are you ready?
[Graves] Huge news yesterday as WWE, in partnership
with Minnesota Sports and Events, announced that Minneapolis
will host WWE SummerSlam over two nights
on Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd, 2026,
at U.S. Bank Stadium.
To learn more about registering for pre-sale opportunities
for SummerSlam, visit WWE.com/events.
That, of course, is in 2026. Tonight we are emanating
from the Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
For the very first time ever,
Friday Night SmackDown headed your way from Jeddah,
and tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on Fox is sponsored by Progressive.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] Still to come tonight,
the finals here on the SmackDown side.
Randy Orton one-on-one with Tama Tonga.
Who will advance to the finals of King of the Ring?
[crowd cheering]
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
-♪ Adrenaline, in my soul ♪ -[fireworks pop]
♪ 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 pop] -♪ And my father said ♪
♪ When I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men… ♪
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the Undisputed
WWE Champion, "The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes!
[Graves] Wade, I have to imagine it's tough
not to be confident when you've got the entire
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia singing you on your way to the ring.
[Wade] Yeah. Simple test of how big a star someone is, is look around the arena
when they make their entrance.
Literally every single person in a massive building is stood up.
That is as big a star as it gets.
[crowd sings] ♪Whoa! ♪
[fireworks pop]
[Graves] It all goes down tomorrow at King and Queen of the Ring.
A special start time of 1:00 p.m. Eastern, streaming only on Peacock
as "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
defends his Undisputed WWE Championship
against the United States Champion, Logan Paul,
whose title will not be on the line,
courtesy of some legal shenanigans last week by The Maverick.
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
♪ You tried to tell me what to do ♪
♪ I saw the door and kicked it down ♪
[music fades]
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants] Cody!
♪ Hey yo! ♪
["Take Flight" playing]
[Graves] Wow.
Well, if you're Cody Rhodes, it's got to be very, very difficult
not to feel extremely disrespected in this moment.
[Wade] Well, I have to think Logan Paul is haunting the dreams of Cody Rhodes
right now, and now he's haunting him in real life.
[Graves] You think Cody Rhodes is concerned, Wade?
Are you trying to tell me that Cody Rhodes is afraid of Logan Paul?
[Wade] That's not what I'm telling you at all.
But Cody Rhodes has a lot on the line tomorrow night.
Logan Paul has nothing on the line.
Just opportunity.
There's only one person with risk--
[Paul] Hey, Cody.
Bad news bears, brother.
You got played.
For the third time, I'm walking down the aisle in Saudi Arabia
with a championship in my sights.
And unfortunately, this time you're the victim.
Because tomorrow night, brother, I'm walking out of here
with the Undisputed Title on my shoulder.
Yeah, the one you're holding right now,
as well as the United States Championship.
Because I got some facts for you, Cody Rhodes.
While you may have the edge in experience, brother, I'm smarter than you.
[crowd chants] What?
All that bleach must be getting into Cody's brains, making him dumb.
Because here's one thing I know, Cody.
[crowd chants] What?
I certainly am a better athlete than you, a better entertainer than you
and a better performer than you.
And for anyone out there who thinks I need to use cheap tactics to win,
you're wrong.
Just yesterday, you saw me give my brass knuckles to Michael Cole.
And you have my word.
I will not use them in the match tomorrow.
Logan, maybe you're smarter than me.
Surely, uh, I'm not an idiot.
And my experience…
My experience would lead me to believe that you--
You're just a scared kid.
You're afraid that somebody is going to see you as a fraud in WWE.
A YouTuber pretending to be a pro wrestler, cosplay.
Truth is…
[crowd chanting]
The truth is, Logan, I…
I don't believe that.
I have seen just how good you are,
but I've also seen that you've got a case of imposter syndrome.
And standing in this ring with me face-to-face,
my gut and my experience would lead me to believe you've got another set
of knuckles on you right now.
[laughing]
What?
What? What? Where? What?
What, are you calling me a liar, Cody?
[laughs] That's what I mean.
He's stupid.
Look, bro, call me many things, but I'm not a liar.
You saw me give my-- my knuckles to Michael Cole.
He has him, not me, Cody. No-- No need to do this.
[crowd chanting]
Y'all are just as dumb as Cody.
Okay. All right, all right. Give--
Let's give Mr. Paul a chance to-- to prove himself, right?
You're not a liar.
You're a-- you're a man of your word. Like you said.
You gave your only brass knucks to Michael Cole.
Well, guess what?
One of our senior officials, Ryan Tran,
he's standing over there right now.
Why don't we make this official, man of your word?
Why don't you come in here, Ryan, check him out.
Give him a basic referee instruction check.
Give it to him.
-[crowd cheers] -Hold on. Whoa. [laughing]
What is this? The airport security dog?
What are you, a TSA agent?
Ryan, come on.
No, Cody-- We're gonna do it, fine.
Do him first.
He's a champ, right? Champ privilege.
Check Cody.
Check me, I'll check you. Yeah.
Every crevice, Ryan.
What? He's clean?
Hey, are you sure? You want to double check, maybe?
Yeah. No. All right. I got nothing to hide.
Do what you got to do, Ryan.
[crowd clamoring]
[crowd chants] Liar!
Okay. Hey, I don't know how those got there.
These aren't even my pants, bro. No, these are my brother's pants.
I don't even wear Prada, dawg. I'm from Ohio.
Nah, nah. Come on.
Okay. All right, listen. Take them, bro.
Fine. I wasn't being 100% truthful, but now I will be.
I can explain.
Look, I said I wouldn't use them in the match tomorrow.
Cody, those are for my protection.
What if you came out here, tried to attack me?
By the way, you have them now and they're illegal.
So maybe, I don't know, police or security or something.
Escort him out. Whatever, whatever.
Hey. No. Come on.
Cody, Cody.
Shut up! Shut up!
[crowd clamoring]
No! Nothing changes.
I do not need brass knuckles to beat you, Cody.
I'm better than you. I'm taking everything from you.
Keep those because tomorrow I'm going to beat you clean,
fair and square.
Okay, Logan, one more thing.
You see these?
These are the difference between you and I.
It's a crutch for everything that you've done in your career.
It's a way to check another box. It's a way to get another click.
This title, on the other hand.
It's my whole life.
It's all I ever wanted to be.
Every ounce of blood, every drop of sweat, every cheer from these fans.
It's the thing people love and hate about my family.
The Rhodes are as real as real gets.
[crowd chants] Cody!
You said last week that I was saying the same thing as the other guy.
So allow me to say something new.
I don't think of you as a YouTuber.
I believe that you're a pro-wrestler. I believe that you're a WWE Superstar.
But until you stop treating this part-time,
until you dedicate your heart and soul,
until you respect the ring that we are standing in,
you will never, and I mean never be on my level!
You will never be Undisputed WWE Champion.
And tomorrow I'm going to beat you so bad, kid…
you'll regret having ever stepped foot in the ring with me.
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
[Graves] I don't know about you, Bad News,
but Logan Paul looks all types of shook to me.
[Wade] Logan Paul was made to look like a fool tonight,
but tomorrow it is no risk, all reward.
[crowd singing along] ♪ Every thought out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them… ♪
I am standing by with The Viper himself, Randy Orton, and Randy,
a couple of weeks ago you had a pretty direct message for Tama Tonga.
Well, tonight it's Tama Tonga who stands in front of your opportunity
to advance to the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament.
Byron, ever since Tama Tonga stepped foot in the WWE ring,
he has proven that he is vicious.
He has proven that he is unhinged, that he is unpredictable,
but unfortunately for Tama Tonga, I am Randy Orton,
and I have made a career, I've made a name for myself
from being vicious, unhinged and unpredictable.
Now The Bloodline, it's true.
They've got the numbers on their side, but time and time again,
throughout the course of my career, I have overcame the odds
and tonight is going to be no different. Byron, it's going to be no different.
When Tama Tonga sees it coming-- When he sees it coming, and he gets hit
with the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment.
[crowd chants along] RKO!
-[crowd cheers] -[indistinct chatter]
[crowd chants] Bayley!
-[crowd boos] -Bayley.
Keep that thing clean until SummerSlam.
["Role Model" playing]
[Graves] Nia Jax with an ominous warning for the WWE Women's Champion.
♪ Role model ♪
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, she is the WWE Women's Champion,
Bayley!
[Graves] Nia Jax may be getting a little ahead of herself.
She's got to win Queen of the Ring before she heads to SummerSlam,
but Bayley is prepared for action as the WWE Women's Champion
goes one-on-one with Chelsea Green next.
[chanting] Hey!
Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown. I'm standing by with The Street Profits
and B-Fab and Angelo, Montez,
the two of you scored a victory over the WWE Tag Team Champions earlier tonight.
Clearly, you are feeling pretty good.
Fantastic, 'cause don't nobody like losing, Kayla.
Uh-uh. Waller, Theory keep talking about they're the smoke, mate.
Well, we pinned the smoke!
[together] Siu!
-Yeah. [laughing] -Bring the smoke!
[overlapping chatter]
Great win tonight. Known you guys a long time.
Nothing but respect here,
but the agenda is DIY as WWE Tag Team Champions.
You know what I love about The Street Profits?
-What's that, Tommaso? -Well…
-they are always so damn optimistic. -They are.
Cup's always half full with you boys.
Like Johnny said, we're here to take the titles.
If that means going through you,
so be it.
Cup's empty now.
-See ya. -See you soon.
Hell no, they didn't.
["Role Model" playing]
[Graves] A collision coming down the pike in the Tag Team Division,
but it is time for the WWE Women's Champion in action.
We gotta be louder than that, baby.
♪ It's Chelsea ♪
["Hot Mess" playing]
♪ I'm a hot mess ♪
[Rome] And her opponent,
accompanied to the ring by Piper Niven,
from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada,
Chelsea Green!
[Graves] Put a little feeling in it, Rome.
[Wade] That's copyrighted by somebody else, but, uh, Chelsea Green,
now, what a perennial pain in the posterior she truly is, Corey.
Somebody I really want to like, but she just makes it so difficult.
By whining, by complaining, by moaning.
You get on with her, Corey?
[Graves] I think the less I say about Chelsea Green, the better we all are.
Let's celebrate the diversity and excellence of WWE
with your exclusive WWE merchandise
celebrating Asian American, Pacific Islander month this May.
For every T-shirt sold, WWE will donate proceeds
to the Ad Council's Love Has No Labels campaign.
Wade, you have to imagine Chelsea Green's goal tonight
is to somehow escaped with a victory, thus propelling Miss Green
to the front of the contenders line for Bayley's championship.
[Wade] Of course, but that's easier said than done.
You see, Chelsea specializes in running her mouth
and then hiding behind her tag partner, Piper Niven.
-[bell rings] -That is not an option.
[Graves] Oh! Chelsea out of the gate just clocked Bayley with a right.
[Wade] A hot start from Chelsea Green, which is exactly
what she needed to get the upper hand early,
but it may have been a short--
[Graves] Smack right to the face now.
Chelsea Green perched on the top turnbuckle.
Big drop kick finds the mark.
Green into the cover, hook of the leg.
[Wade] And for all the mockery of Chelsea Green's personality,
when she actually focuses in the ring, which is rare,
she is damn incredible. It's just too little of it.
That's the problem.
[Graves] Jawbreaker by Bayley buys the champion some time.
This is mine!
Chelsea takes a moment to confer with Piper Niven, who,
let's be honest about Piper Wade.
Piper Niven is a bully in every sense of the word.
The woman loves to pick on everyone because she can.
[Wade] She's powerful enough to do exactly that.
But right now, Bayley in a world of trouble.
Can Chelsea pull through with a victory?
[Graves] Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
This is one-on-one action between Chelsea Green
and the WWE Women's Champion, Bayley.
[Wade] Chelsea Green was looking good for the past few minutes,
but Bayley bouncing back like only she can.
This one turning into a real slugfest.
These two have been chirping back and forth on social media all week.
[Graves] Bayley's not about the social media life.
Bayley wants a healthy Women's Division
here on Friday Night SmackDown,
on Monday Night Raw, in the business as a whole.
Bayley wants women's wrestling to be stronger than it's ever been,
and she knows as the… Oh! Rough Ryder by Green.
One, two--
-[Graves] As the WWE Women's Champion… -What?
…Bayley can affect that change.
Bayley can strengthen the division with her actions as we look again
at Green ripping the champion down and then following with a Rough Ryder,
I don't know if Green got as much height on that as she would have liked.
[Wade] That was the moment Green temporarily lost focus.
And that's exactly what has allowed Bayley back in the match.
Sometimes Green is her own worst enemy.
[Graves] Rose Plant!
Green went to the well one time too many and paid for it.
[bell rings]
["Role Model" playing]
-[Rome] Here's your winner-- -[Graves] Oh, wait a minute!
Piper Niven just flattened the champion.
[Wade] It's a package deal when it comes to Green and Niven.
One's down, the other is still standing, which may be less
that can be said about Bayley when Piper Niven is done with her.
[Graves] Bayley able to get the boot up just in time, but the champion
just competed in a grueling contest.
Piper Niven looking to pick the bones of The Role Model.
[grunting]
[Wade] Bayley must be running low on fuel here,
but hats off to the valiant effort to fight back.
[Graves] Oh my goodness! Nearly put Bayley through the ring.
You like that, huh?
You like that?
[Graves] The Role Model driven into the abyss by Piper Niven
and a senton as the exclamation point.
Message sent to the WWE Women's Champion and Piper is not done yet.
Good God.
[Wade] Just shows how devastating Piper Niven can be with the wind in her sails.
[crowd chants] You suck!
[Graves] It looks like Niven might be coming back for even more.
Oh my God.
[Wade] Chelsea Green, Nia Jax, Piper Niven.
You do not have friends when you are the champ.
[Graves] Piper Niven looks mighty impressed with herself,
wouldn't you say, Wade?
[Wade] Well, she should be, just flattened the champion.
I don't care if the champion was beaten down.
We're the real winners. Us!
[Wade] Big moment for Niven.
[Green] Not you!
-Yeah! -Not you!
Bet you didn't see that one coming.
[indistinct yelling]
[knocks on door]
Hey, Nick, I'm not going to take up a lot of your time or anything.
Believe me, I know I haven't been the easiest
to deal with these past couple months.
But you saw what happened in Lyon, France.
Cody and I, we tore the house down. It was unbelievable.
And I was one second away from beating him.
I was one second away from beating Randy Orton
in the King of the Ring Match.
So what I'm asking before I make any rash decisions…
Give me one more chance.
Whoever comes out on top between
Logan Paul and Cody Rhodes,
to be the Undisputed WWE Champion.
Just need one more chance.
Nick, I need this.
Please.
AJ, I know you want to be WWE Champion.
And you know how much respect I have for you.
If you were asking me personally, 100%, yes.
Every day of the week.
Professionally.
I can't give you what you want.
That chance you're asking for,
that has to be earned and that takes time.
Nick.
You know I don't have time.
AJ.
That's not something I can help you with.
I'm sorry.
[AJ sighs]
[Graves] The clock is ticking on AJ Styles as it is,
until the moment we have been waiting for.
It's our final semifinals match in the King of the Ring Tournament
as "The Viper," Randy Orton battles Tama Tonga
of The Bloodline.
Next.
[dramatic music playing]
[Andrade]
[speaking Spanish]
I can't stand this guy.
He should have stayed on Raw.
I don't know, man, Andrade is skilled.
He could be valuable to us.
Let's be intelligent, Familia.
Elektra is right.
Let bygones be bygones and think about…
business.
[speaking Spanish]
I'll tell you what, Corey, I have been in locker rooms
where the mere mention of the name Andrade has caused shockwaves.
What a bright future that man is going to have right here on SmackDown.
Talking about shockwaves, how about how we kicked off
Friday Night SmackDown with Nia Jax advancing to the finals
of the Queen of the Ring Tournament. In a matter of moments,
it's the men's turn.
We will find out who will advance to tomorrow's
King and Queen of the Ring Premium Live Event in the finals,
with an opportunity to become King
and head to SummerSlam for challenge for the gold.
Let's take a look at what I'm talking about in our Progressive Match Flo.
[announcer] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive,
a triple threat of protection with home, auto and more.
Last week on SmackDown, the King of the Ring Tournament
raged on as Tama Tonga would battle The Megastar.
An intense LA Knight brought the fight.
[Graves] LA Knight's attention understandably split.
[announcer] But was no match for The Bloodline's numbers advantage.
As Tama Tonga advanced to the semifinals.
Then, Randy Orton squared off against SmackDown's
first round draft pick, Carmelo Hayes.
[Graves] Hayes has been in complete control for the past several moments.
[narrator] After an impressive showing by the upstart,
The Viper would secure victory…
[Graves] RKO!
[announcer] …out of nowhere.
[Graves] The Viper moving to the semifinals.
[announcer] Tonight, these two fierce rivals come head to head.
And after the vicious assault on Kevin Owens at WWE Backlash…
[Orton] You took out my friend,
my tag team partner, Kevin Owens.
[Orton] There wont 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 you and The Bloodline sees it coming!
[announcer] The Apex Predator looks to settle the score against The Bloodline.
The Bloodline is going to come out and try to intimidate me.
My name is Randy "Freakin" Orton, soon to be King of the Ring.
[announcer] With the finals of the King of the Ring
in Jeddah just hours away,
which of these men will advance for a chance at royalty?
Solo.
You know Tama.
You know Tonga Loa is not here tonight, right?
I know.
You know Tonga Loa is not here tonight because we couldn't
get him across the border, right?
Yes, I know.
I can't get these people to clear customs.
They--
as soon as there's a background check.
S-- Solo these are very dangerous people that you are recruiting
into The Bloodline.
I know.
There's a reason why we didn't bring these people
into The Bloodline in the past.
Solo un-- until Roman…
Until Roman comes back,
I'm the man that's in charge, Paul.
So if you have any problems,
they're up to you to fix it.
Okay. I say this very respectfully.
The problem regarding Tama Tonga is that--
-[Tonga speaks indistinctly] -Oh God!
You got a problem?
You know why he recruited me?
Because I am that dangerous!
And tomorrow the new King comes back to The Bloodline…
by orders of The Tribal Chief.
[Graves] Paul Heyman, The Wiseman,
no doubt with a great deal on his mind tonight.
Let's take a look at the King of the Ring crown,
a prestigious trophy…
["Voices" playing]
…to be awarded to the winner at tomorrow's Premium Live Event,
but it is semifinal time, Wade.
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following is the semifinal match
in the King of the Ring Tournament!
Introducing first, from Saint Louis Missouri,
weighing in at 275 pounds,
"The Viper,"
Randy Orton!
[Wade] You know, Corey, I was about to say
you can count on one hand the number of things that Randy Orton
has not achieved in this industry.
That would be wrong.
You can count on one finger the amount of things Randy has not achieved.
Placing that crown on his head and becoming King of the Ring
is that one thing.
[crowd chants] RKO!
[Graves] They are rowdy for The Viper in Riyadh at the WWE Experience.
The chants of "RKO"
all the way on the other side of the Kingdom.
Orton certainly the fan favorite is this semifinal matchup.
How do you prepare, Wade, if you're Randy Orton?
For somebody as vicious, as unhinged, and as unpredictable
as Tama Tonga is, even with Randy being Randy.
[Wade] You beat him at his own game.
This is the most angry version of Randy Orton I've seen
in many, many years. It's all been triggered
by what The Bloodline have done to his sometime tag partner,
Kevin Owens in recent weeks.
If Randy Orton taps into that guy, that sadistic, nasty piece of work
we know he can be, he beats Tama Tonga at his own game tonight.
[crowd sings along]
♪ They talk to me ♪
[Graves] It is going down in a matter of moments.
In our main event, the last semifinal match
in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Orton. Tonga. Next on Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd cheering]
[Graves] From the Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
This is Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
It is time for the final semifinal match in the King of the Ring Tournament.
What a tournament it has been, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, it's been a lot of fun, but it's crunch time now.
Who will earn the right to take on Gunther in tomorrow's final
to crown the King of the Ring?
[crowd sings along] ♪ I hear voices in my head… ♪
[Graves] What a reaction from the live audience in Jeddah for the man
who could potentially be the next King of the Ring.
And I'm not talking about the man seated in our front row.
The Ring General,
the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in history, Gunther,
who will battle the winner of this one.
[Wade] Gunther won the Raw bracket.
He faces the winner of tonight's main event tomorrow.
Queen and King of the Ring.
[Graves] All starts at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.
But join us a little bit early if we could.
My God, let's find a new graphic.
I haven't had hair like that in four years.
Someone in the truck do something about it.
The countdown to King and Queen of the Ring.
Tomorrow, 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Streaming on Peacock.
[Wade] You can keep my graphic. I've got more wrinkles these days.
That's a bit of comedy, guys. And speaking of comedy,
Ibrahim Al Hajjaj is back.
He tore the house down six months ago at Crown Jewel.
He's going to do it again tomorrow night for us right here in Jeddah.
[Graves] There won't be anything funny about this one.
And the Queen of the Ring finals.
Lyra Valkyria from Raw. Nia Jax from SmackDown.
These two women collide. Who will be Queen?
[Wade] There is serious bad blood between Women's World Champion
Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan.
Those two square off with the gold on the line tomorrow
at King and Queen of the Ring.
Sami Zayn has learned to thrive under pressure
as he defends his Intercontinental Championship in a Triple Threat Match
against "Big" Bronson Reed and Chad Gable,
the champion at a big disadvantage tomorrow.
[Wade] And get this, based on what happened earlier tonight,
just announced for the King and Queen of the Ring countdown show tomorrow,
Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill
will take on Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell.
Women's Tag Team Championships
on the line, that is streaming live tomorrow,
11:00 a.m. Eastern on WWE on Peacock.
[Graves] And in our main event for the Undisputed WWE Championship,
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
clashes with the United States Champion, Logan Paul
at King and Queen of the Ring.
It's gonna be an extremely eventful 24 hours for this man,
for the Apex Predator who awaits his next challenge.
["Brother's Keeper" playing]
[Rome] And his opponent, accompanied to the ring
by WWE Hall of Famer, Special Counsel, "The Wiseman,"
Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa.
Weighing in at 220 pounds,
Tama Tonga!
[Graves] Hate to draw any attention away from the matchup you're about to witness,
but Wade, I can't help but notice,
I have never seen Paul Heyman look as nervous as he does right now
and has for the past several weeks.
[Wade] Paul Heyman is basically
The Bloodline's answer to Manchester United's Erik Ten Hag.
Still got a job, but for how much longer? It has to be said.
Heyman is on thin ice ever since the interim leader Solo Sikoa took over.
[Graves] Tama Tonga looking to acquire more power on behalf of The Bloodline,
and could do just that as King.
But let's take a look at the bottom of your screen
to the start times around the globe for WWE King and Queen of the Ring.
Tomorrow, 8:00 p.m. local here in Saudi Arabia,
1:00 p.m. in the East, Wade, you're a West Coast guy.
What time you got to be keeping an eye on things in Cali?
[Wade] Quick bit of mathematics in my head.
That would be 10:00 a.m. in California and the entire West Coast.
[Graves] Fantastic.
Look at the intensity in the eyes of Tama Tonga.
A man who is perhaps more hyena than he is human, an absolutely vicious,
sadistic competitor who is hell-bent on taking down The Viper tonight.
[Wade] Tama Tonga is an uncontrollable primal beast.
Growls like an animal, is bloodthirsty,
and what a pickup for The Bloodline instigated by Solo Sikoa.
[Graves] Stoic. The Ring General looking on,
watching tonight's proceedings unfold.
Solo taking another glimpse at the beautiful King's crown.
[bell rings]
And here comes Tama Tonga out of the gate, trying to get the upper hand.
Throwing lefts and rights at Orton off of the opening bell.
[Wade] Straight into the fire, fighting once he hears that bell.
This is exactly where Tama Tonga lives. This is where he thrives.
[Graves] These vicious headbutts from Tonga taking down The Viper
and Orton doesn't know what hit him.
[Wade] Being attacked by a reckless thug.
-[crowd cheering] -[Graves] Huge Fallaway Slam from Orton.
We see that Solo Sikoa not pleased with the events occurring
inside of the ring right now as Tama Tonga driven into the ring post
and coast to coast into the other.
[Wade] Game plan immediately out of the window.
[Graves] It was supposed to be that rush blitzkrieg type of start
to the matchup, but Randy Orton simply too good.
What a classic that man is.
Much like you alluded to earlier, there isn't much,
if anything, left in this industry that Randy Orton
hasn't seen or accomplished.
[Wade] Never met anyone quite like Tama Tonga.
I think they broke the mold when Tama Tonga was born.
[crowd counts]
[Graves] Randy Orton with carefully measured right hands between
the eyes of Tama Tonga.
The son of a man who once upon a time was royalty in his own right, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, that's right, King Haku. Perhaps universally seen
as the toughest man in the history of professional wrestling.
What a claim that is.
And I have never met anyone who would argue with it.
The good news is Haku didn't raise sons. Haku raised mercenaries,
and they're both running around doing the bidding of Solo Sikoa.
Tama Tonga able to avoid disaster and just clipped the leg of Orton.
[Wade] It's the leg that has given Orton
cause for concern over the past couple of weeks
in the King of the Ring Tournament,
and it's cause for concern right now.
Tama Tonga in full flow.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] It is a semifinal matchup in the King of the Ring Tournament,
as Randy Orton goes one-on-one with Tama Tonga of The Bloodline.
One of these two men will advance to the finals
and face Gunther to become King of the Ring tomorrow, of course.
King and Queen of the Ring streaming live tomorrow.
WWE on Peacock, 1:00 p.m. start time in the East in the United States,
and Tama Tonga right now has Orton exactly where he wants him.
Frog Splash. Nobody home.
Tonga was looking to destroy Randy's knee, but The Viper was a step ahead.
[Wade] Past three or four minutes have been pure Tama Tonga.
The durability of Orton may be thin on the ground at this point
thanks to that damaged knee, but he is keeping on fighting.
[Graves] You can scout this, there is rarely an answer for it,
but Tama Tonga may have found it.
-[Wade] Every shot on that knee. -[Graves] Oh!
[Wade] Just like thunderbolts shooting up the leg and spine of Randy Orton.
Grimacing in agony.
That is the last place you want to be when you're in there
with The Butcher of The Bloodline, Tama Tonga.
[Graves] Brutal clubbing blows across the chest of Randy Orton
and now a sleeper hold applied.
[Wade] There's a big smirk on the face of Tama Tonga,
who is in his element in this kind of match.
[Graves] Orton doing his best to fight out of the sleeper hold.
But Tonga very wisely putting all of his body weight across the back
and shoulders of Randy, forcing The Viper to carry them both.
[Wade] Saw it before-- Tama Tonga is a smart veteran.
He's got about 20 years around the world under his belt,
was untouchable by WWE for being such a reckless thug.
-Somehow he's found his way in. -[Graves] I'll do you one more.
Not only untouchable by WWE,
untouchable by The Bloodline standards, Wade.
We heard that from The Wiseman himself.
There are reasons you haven't seen Tama Tonga or Tonga Loa
in WWE, hell, Tonga Loa couldn't even
make it through customs because of his past.
[Wade] But when things don't go your way and you're managing
The Bloodline, you have to pivot. You have to make changes.
That's exactly what the interim boss did. That is exactly what Solo Sikoa did.
He feels he can control Tama Tonga, and so far
it has been a match made in heaven.
[Graves] It has been a very simple yet very effective strategy
in the last several moments from Tama Tonga as Gunther looks on stoically.
[Wade] Gunther probably does not care who he faces tomorrow.
He wants these two to rip one another to shreds and just make
his pathway to become King of the Ring that much easier.
[Graves] And as if the stakes weren't already high enough,
with the King and Queens of the Ring crowns on the line,
how about Triple H's announcement yesterday in Riyadh?
The winners of both the King and Queen's Tournaments will-- Oh!
Will challenge for their respective brand's championship at SummerSlam.
-That is colossal news, Wade. -[Wade] Absolutely massive.
This is a new era in WWE. The King and Queen of the Ring
is getting an additional, much deserved shine.
[Graves] Look at Solo trying to soldier Tama Tonga forward, and Orton has now
regained a vertical base, even with one bad knee.
[Wade] You're in the ring with Randy Orton and you write him off,
it is the worst mistake you can make.
I don't care what you throw at The Viper.
He somehow… Wow!
…always gets back up.
[Graves] Might have taken a little more out of Orton's knee than he realized,
delivering the Snap Powerslam. Can The Viper slither into a cover?
Randy needs some insurance here.
[crowd chants] RKO!
Tama Tonga sent once again out to the ring apron.
Counters Orton a second time
and dumping The Viper all the way to the floor.
[Wade] A nasty landing, you just saw that slower than usual movement
from The Viper, thanks to that knee injury.
That's all Tama Tonga needed.
And he smells blood now.
[Graves] How about Solo Sikoa out here calling the shots?
Oh, wait a minute! Orton went to the eyes.
I don't know if Ryan Tran was privy to that one.
[Wade] Didn't see that one.
[Graves] This is going to be hard to miss.
[crowd cheering]
Across the announce desk.
Spine-first goes Tama Tonga,
and did Randy Orton just smile at us, Wade?
[Wade] Well, we spoke about it earlier.
Randy needed to tap into that sadistic, vicious piece of work
only he can be.
[Graves] Unhinged, unpredictable.
[Wade] How badly do you want it now, Tama Tonga?
[Graves] Saw the action brought a brief smirk
to the face of The Ring General.
Gunther, who is never afraid of some physicality,
particularly when the stakes are at their highest.
Gunther will face the winner of this one as Tama Tonga
bulldozes Randy into the ropes.
[Wade] Gunther's opponent tomorrow is getting battered,
whomever it may be at the end of this match.
[Graves] Wait a second. Tama may have just put himself in harm's way.
-[crowd cheering] -Vintage Orton!
[Wade] The point in the match you just stop thinking clearly.
You go on instincts and put yourself in danger.
There aren't many places in that ring that are safe
when you're in there with The Viper.
[Graves] Wade, you can feel that,
the Jeddah Superdome is rumbling right now.
Because The Viper is coiled.
Orton stalking a fallen Tama Tonga.
Big right hand for Solo, Tama Tonga from behind, shoulders down.
Tonga is going to steal it-- No.
[Wade] Almost enough with the-- There it is!
[Graves] RKO!
[crowd] One, two, three!
[bell rings]
-[crowd cheers] -["Voices" playing]
[Rome] Here is your winner, Randy Orton!
[Graves] And the Apex Predator
takes one more giant step toward the throne.
What a King of the Ring finale we've got on our hands, Wade.
[Wade] Massive, massive, massive. Could not get any bigger tomorrow.
The final of the King of the Ring Tournament is set.
"The Ring General" Gunther against that man, The Viper.
The man who has almost done it all, Randy Orton.
[Graves] Two generational talents-- Look out, Solo from behind!
[crowd boos]
Just flattened Randy Orton.
[crowd clamoring]
["Fight" by CFO$ playing]
[crowd cheers]
-[Graves] KO is back! -[Wade] The Prizefighter.
[Graves] Kevin Owens coming to the aid of his friend Randy Orton,
and maybe saving The Viper from certain disaster.
[Wade] We haven't seen KO in weeks after his beatdown by The Bloodline at Backlash.
[Graves] When Randy needed him most, Kevin Owens answered the call.
But what sort of shape will The Viper be in tomorrow, Wade?
[Wade] Well, it would have been a lot worse
had it not been for the arrival of Kevin Owens.
Randy's in with a fighting chance tomorrow night.
[Graves] The finals are set.
Orton versus Gunther for King of the Ring.
Valkyria versus Jax for the Queen of the Ring.
It all goes down tomorrow.
WWE on Peacock, live from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It's King and Queen of the Ring. gdom of Saudi Arabia.