[WWE signature intro playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[music fades]
[music playing]
[Irvin] The following is a six-man tag team match.
[Cole] It's going to be a flat-out war.
Canadian brawler Kevin Owens, "The Viper" Randy Orton,
and the Undisputed WWE Champion, "The Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
take on the vicious reigning Bloodline.
[Graves] This is a fight. This is a battle.
This is gonna be ugly and brutal and personal.
♪ This is my moment ♪
[Cole] Oh my God, the official's dead.
♪ This is my moment ♪
Through the damn table!
Cross Rhodes! Not once, but twice.
What would be three Cross Rhodes?
Jacob Fatu lights out Cody.
[Fatu] Solo!
You will acknowledge me.
[Cole] The Samoan Spike.
Solo Sikoa said what's next
is to bring the WWE Championship back home,
and he's well on his way
by pinning the champion, Cody Rhodes, here tonight.
[def rebel's "Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[Graves] Welcome to the heart of the Commonwealth,
Worcester, Massachusetts, and the DCU Center,
the host for tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on Fox,
sponsored by Progressive.
A triple-threat of protection with home, auto and more.
And at Money in the Bank for the very first time
since becoming Undisputed WWE Champion,
Cody Rhodes tasted defeat
courtesy of the new Tribal Chief, Solo Sikoa, and The Bloodline.
The American Nightmare is in the house tonight.
And conversely, in Toronto,
lady luck smiled upon Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano
as DIY captured the WWE Tag Team Champions.
But the former champs have wasted no time exercising their rematch clause.
The gold is on the line again as we run it back tonight.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the winner of the 2024
Women's Money in the Bank contract,
Tiffany Stratton!
[crowd cheers]
♪ It's Tiffy Time ♪
["Tiffy Time" by def rebel plays]
♪ Drop, I'm going in Bass so loud, it's in my skin ♪
[crowd cheers]
♪ Drop, I wanna see you drop Drop, drop, drop, drop ♪
[Graves] Wade, many considered Tiffany Stratton
to be the odds-on favorite at Money in the Bank.
But whether you were rooting for Stratton or against her,
the fact remains the same.
The Center of the Universe is Miss Money in the Bank.
[Wade] This woman has simply steamrolled
everything in her path for the past two-plus years,
including her time at NXT.
There really are no limits to the heights
that Tiffany Stratton can scale in this industry,
and she's scaled perhaps the greatest height of all,
climbing atop the ladder
last Saturday at Money in the Bank and getting the golden ticket,
the contract within that briefcase.
[Graves] Arguably the most dangerous woman
roaming the halls of WWE these days.
But the climb to the top of the ladder for Miss Stratton was not easy.
In fact, it was quite painful and downright arduous at times, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, what a night it was in Toronto!
Tiffany Stratton utilizing all of her athletic gifts
and ultimately delivering this hellacious fall
to poor Chelsea Green
before unhooking the briefcase and becoming Miss Money in the Bank.
And now all of WWE
is operating exclusively on Tiffy Time.
[Graves] The holder of the coveted Money in the Bank contract,
entitled to a championship opportunity
at the time and place of their choosing for up to one year.
This Saturday, it officially became Tiffy Time
when I climbed up that ladder to the Tiffy Top,
grabbed that briefcase
and became the youngest Miss Money in the Bank
in WWE history!
[crowd cheers]
And Trish Stratus may have been the hometown host,
but I was the real star of the show.
And she's not here tonight to ruin my moment
because it is my time.
[crowd chants "Tiffy Time"]
Liv, Roxanne, Bayley.
You better all keep your head on a swivel
because your guys's title reigns are on Tiffy Time.
And very soon
we will all be saying,
"And new WWE Wo--"
["Role Model" by def rebel plays]
[Graves] Hold on just a second, Ms. Stratton,
because the reigning WWE Women's Champion, Bayley,
has hit the scene.
Tiffy, Tiffy, Tiffy.
Tiffany Stratton, let me be the first to congratulate you
on such a huge victory.
I really know, I know what it takes,
and with someone who has such high praise about her lately
that must add a lot of added pressure.
So I'm impressed that you were able to prove everyone right.
Bayley, why are you even here? What's your point?
You, out of all people, should know that it is Tiffy Time.
Um, Tiffy Time-- I don't really care what time it is.
I actually came in here to lend a hand of advice
because, you know, I did win a Money in the Bank briefcase
in the past, in 2019.
But let me guess, you didn't even know what the WWE was in 2019, did you?
[crowd booing]
In 2019? Wasn't that like a million years ago?
And it's 2024, and guess what?
Three years into this business
and I'm the youngest Miss Money in the Bank in WWE history.
[crowd cheers]
While you were at home watching from your couch,
probably eating potato chips with no friends.
You know what? I'll give you that…
This is gonna be the last piece of advice that I give you.
If you even plan to use that on me,
then you better plan on making history again
as the first woman to ever fail a cash-in.
["Not Like Most Girls" by def rebel plays]
[Graves] Well, Bayley speaks the truth to this very point.
There is a 100% success rate for Miss Money in the Bank cash-ins.
But Bad News, I think it's time to take a knee.
The Queen is in town.
[Wade] Her Majesty!
Bayley, what are you doing out here making empty threats here?
In case you forgot--
[crowd boos]
That's a rude welcoming to your queen.
But in case you forgot, Bayley,
you have a match against me in three weeks at SummerSlam.
Well, I will be taking that title off of you.
[Bayley] Is that right? Is that right?
Uh…
Look, I don't know who you think you're talking to,
but this isn't NXT "hugger" Bayley.
This isn't 2017 Bayley
who you single-handedly put on the shelf for three months.
This…
Ah, you're proud of that, huh, you idiot?
This is the Grand Slam Women's Champion Bayley.
This is your Royal Rumble winner.
And this is the WWE Women's Champion, the same Bayley…
-[crowd cheers] -Ha.
The same Bayley that's gonna embarrass you at SummerSlam.
But you know what?
You know what? Let's just play a game here, all right?
Let me play devil's advocate.
Let's-- Let's say I slip on a banana peel at SummerSlam and you do beat me.
[Nia] I will beat you.
Tiffy, what's gonna happen then?
You gonna cash-in on ol' Nia Jax here,
because we all know she has a little PTSD from the last time you got--
[Tiffany] Bayley, you know what--
Bayley, I'm well aware you're no longer the hugger I injured
before your SummerSlam match in 2017.
What are you now, BBL Bayley?
I don't know what you're trying to prove
by playing divide and conquer with me and Tiffany.
I have no problem with Tiffany.
She's my personal little Barbie doll.
But you, Bayley, you're not a toy.
You're my victim.
And at SummerSlam,
I'm gonna victimize you.
[Graves] The champ has heard enough.
Bayley went to fire a right hand at Nia and got trapped by Stratton.
And now the champion's outnumbered.
[Wade] Well, this is the worst place Bayley could ever find herself.
Two on one.
[Graves] Wait a second. That's-- That's Michin with a Kendo stick.
[Wade] Michin, who has made a target of Nia Jax of late.
Braver than most.
["I Am" by def rebel plays]
[Graves] Michin standing by the side of the WWE Women's Champion.
Tensions are high.
We got action coming your way, Wade.
Let's hop in our time machine
and take it back to last Saturday in Toronto
to look at some of the highlights
of the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
These six women left it all in the ring and then some, Wade.
[Wade] Oh man, a whole new level of athleticism, daring,
and, yes, pain was reached.
All six women risked career-altering injuries
in pursuit of a career-altering prize,
and poor Chelsea Green got scraped off the mat
as Miss Money in the Bank, Tiffany Stratton, grabs it all.
[Byron] Excuse me, ladies.
Excuse you, Bryan,
I don't have time for your stupid questions.
Did you not see the brutal Money in the Bank Ladder Match
that I went through?
The whole world is calling me
Mother of Mayhem, Princess of Pain.
We'll workshop those.
So, I don't have time for you.
I'm waiting for Sir Nicholas the Pricklest to answer me.
Go away.
Well, Nick Aldis--
Bryan, did you not hear the woman?
Go on. Get. Shoo!
[indistinct chatter]
Sorry, sorry sorry, sorry. Are you okay? You okay?
[Graves] Wade, I don't know who's more insufferable.
[bell rings]
[Graves] Chelsea Green or Byron Saxton?
[Wade] It's Chelsea Green for sure.
I'll answer that question.
Dead set on that answer.
But right now, Michin braver than pretty much anyone
in the Women's Division, trying to take it to Queen Nia Jax.
[Graves] There's a fine line between bravery and insanity.
Michin has been dancing on it recently,
incredibly impressive in her tenure in NXT recently,
and Michin obviously still has a score to settle with Queen Nia Jax.
[Wade] Michin is hungry, ready for success,
but it might behoove her to avoid Queen Nia Jax,
The Irresistible Force, who perhaps nobody in the Women's Division can stop.
[Graves] And I'll tell you what, Wade,
if Nia makes the mistake of looking past Michin
because she's too focused on Bayley at SummerSlam,
it could be a catastrophic error for The Irresistible Force.
[Wade] Absolutely. There is a lot of women
trying to make their mark here on SmackDown right now.
[Graves] Soccer style kick from Michin rocked Nia Jax.
Michin looking to run up the ropes.
Tornado DDT, but Jax shrugged it right off.
[Wade] Well, it would be a complete game changer
for someone like Michin to put away Queen Nia Jax.
One way to get yourself right…
[Graves] Cover here by Jax.
[Wade] …in the championship conversation,
but that is looking increasingly less likely
once Nia Jax takes control
as she's doing before our eyes with sheer power.
It's very hard to turn this thing around.
[Graves] It's as though Nia gains confidence as the match progresses.
The more punishment she inflicts on an opponent,
the more Nia Jax enjoys herself, Wade.
This does not bode well.
How do you like Bayley's chances at this moment
as we prepare for Cleveland and SummerSlam?
[Wade] I don't like them at all, and I'll tell you this,
since Nia Jax returned to WWE, in the past 12 months,
it is a very different Nia Jax,
and I don't think one single woman can stop Nia Jax.
It needs to be a group of them together.
And Bayley on her own, for me, it's Nia Jax.
[Graves] Injury and insult moments ago by Nia Jax.
Knocked the eyelash clean off Michin's face.
Some next-level physicality.
Ever have eyelashes knocked off and your bare knuckle days, Wade?
[Wade] Yeah, I did once or twice and it really threw me for a loop.
[Graves] Jax now just showing blatant disregard for her opponent,
Michin, just disrespecting the opposition.
[Wade] Just toying with your food. This is a message to the champ, Bayley.
"Hey, look how easy I can dismantle somebody as accomplished,
someone as tough as Michin. I'm doing it with a smile on my face."
[Graves] And what do you think of Bayley's strategy,
attempting to sow seeds of dissent
between Nia and Miss Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton?
[Wade] The smartest thing you can do.
Someone like Nia Jax, once she's teamed up with Miss Money in the Bank,
such a threatening force together.
[Graves] Uh-oh. Oh my God! What a vicious biel!
[Wade] You need all the help you can get against this woman.
But I'll tell you this about Nia Jax.
She's just-- not just physically strong, as she talks a little smack to the champ.
She is mentally strong too, knows how to dismantle opponents.
[Graves] Little Ace Ventura on Bayley there.
[Wade] You can't spend too much time gloating
and fooling around against Michin.
-[Graves] Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh. -[Wade] You'll regret it.
[Graves] I think Michin may be the one experiencing regret. Face-first!
And taken down again by The Irresistible Force.
Queen Nia's in control.
Michin putting all of her body weight on Nia Jax
with this guillotine submission,
trying to drain the life out of Queen Nia,
who just turned the tables with outrageous power.
[Wade] What can you possibly do
when you hook in a move like that against the woman
who is perhaps twice as strong as any other woman in the Division?
There's just no way of taking Jax down.
[Graves] Michin found out the hard way, and I think Bayley herself,
the WWE Women's Champion, was thrown for a loop,
witnessing firsthand the power of Queen Nia.
But Michin still in this fight, Bad News, trying to make something happen here.
[Wade] Well, this has to be it for Michin.
She has been under the cosh for 90% of this match.
It's impressive she's even still moving.
[Graves] Credit to Michin for hanging in there
with someone as powerful as Nia Jax.
Michin would love to continue to ascend the ladder here
in the SmackDown Women's Division.
This may do it, down goes Jax.
[Wade] Nice use of momentum there by Michin.
That has to be the key to success.
[Graves] Shotgun drop kick by Michin.
She is starting to roll. Cannonball in the corner.
[Wade] Hit and move.
[Graves] Hook of the leg. Covers Jax.
And Nia kicks out.
[Wade] You simply have to keep peppering the Queen of the Ring with shots.
Do not give her any breathing room.
And Bayley loving what she's seeing.
Perhaps getting clues to how to defeat the mountainous Jax at SummerSlam.
[Graves] Michin, realizing she may have to take it high risk
to topple Jax once and for all.
[Wade] Michin's a little groggy, though. Took too long and Jax is up.
That's the issue.
The amount of beating that Michin has taken thus far in this match…
[Graves] Oh dear.
[Wade] Could not get to that top rope quick enough.
[Graves] Well, things just went from bad to worse for Michin
who got out of the way just in time.
And I don't mean Tiffy Time, Wade, but Miss Money in the Bank,
just placed the Kendo stick on the ring apron and…
Look, we know Engler has trouble paying attention
when there's a pretty girl around, but this is no excuse.
[Wade] It was an attempt at diversion,
but Jax has the Kendo stick. Beaten to the punch by Michin.
[Graves] Bayley running interference on behalf of Michin,
who finally takes down Nia.
Tornado DDT! Cover by Michin.
And Queen Nia hangs in there.
[Wade] And that may well have been your best shot at victory, Michin.
Panic in the eyes of Michin,
stress in the eyes of her friend Bayley on the outside.
Where the hell do you go from here?
[Graves] Well, now is no time for panic.
If you're Michin, you need to keep your foot on the gas pedal.
Keep the pedal to the metal.
Nia Jax, Samoan drop.
[Wade] And you know what time it is now?
It's squashing time, Corey.
[Graves] From the second turnbuckle.
Annihilator.
[Engler] One, two, three.
[bell rings]
["Not Like Most Girls" by def rebel plays]
[Taylor] Here is your winner,
The 2024 Queen of the Ring, Nia Jax!
[Graves] Wade, I've never been one for prognostications or predictions,
but I have a feeling the WWE Women's Champion
is in big trouble come SummerSlam, and here comes Bayley.
[Wade] Well, Bayley is trying to get her licks in early,
but Miss Money in the Bank with that briefcase.
The ultimate equalizer.
[Graves] This is not where Bayley wants to be.
Thunderous headbutt from Bayley's SummerSlam challenger.
[Wade] The problem with being the champ in WWE,
you're constantly a moving target
for women like the Queen of the Ring and Miss Money in the Bank.
[Graves] Oh my goodness. And here comes the wrecking ball.
Bayley may be a moving target as WWE Women's Champion, Wade,
but it looks like there are two Superstars with incredibly heavy artillery
who have Bayley locked directly in their sights.
[Wade] A little over three weeks at SummerSlam, Bayley,
this is your future.
[man in crowd] You suck!
[Graves] Queen Nia Jax and Miss Money in the Bank,
operating on Tiffy Time tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] What a fearsome unit.
Hold on.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Wade, Wade, Wade, you don't…
You don't think…
-[Wade] I do. -[Graves] No, no.
[Wade] It's happening!
[Graves] Stratton's gonna…
Stratton's gonna cash-in.
[Wade] Wasting no time once…
[crowd boos]
["Not Like Most Girls" by def rebel plays]
[Graves] Look, I think Tiffany was maybe just trying to run through it once,
experience what it's gonna feel like someday.
[Wade] They call that a dress rehearsal.
Get a few reps in, just a little practice go.
[laughing]
Nia does not look happy.
The Bloodline had all the titles,
both Heavyweight and both Tag Team Titles.
It would all be the same if Roman Reigns never went soft.
But it takes a real Tribal Chief to stay on top of his game.
[bell rings]
And that's why I'm here.
To build a whole new family.
I loved you!
[Sikoa] A more powerful family.
"Right Hand Man" Tama Tonga, step up.
I acknowledge you.
A hungrier family.
"Infamous" Tonga Loa, step up.
I acknowledge you.
A more aggressive family.
My "Enforcer," Jacob Fatu, step up.
I acknowledge you!
And this family will rule for decades
as long as I'm The Tribal Chief.
And by the end of tonight,
everyone will acknowledge me.
[Graves] "By the end of tonight," Wade.
What could that ominous warning from Solo possibly mean?
[Wade] I dread to think, but we should be ready
to get the hell out of here at a moment's notice.
[bell rings]
[Taylor] The following contest is a tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, weighing in at 285 pounds,
Baron Corbin!
[Graves] The time has arrived to burn the ships.
Baron Corbin set for tag team action tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] A man rejuvenated, a man reinvigorated,
and a man in action later on.
After this break, it's Corbin and Crews teaming up
against Angel and Berto of Legado Del Fantasma.
They've been a nemesis of late.
Try and fix it now. It's up next.
["Burn The Ships" by def rebel plays] ♪ All your days, they're over now ♪
♪ Set the room, make it cold It's the last run ♪
[Graves] Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
And the entire WWE Universe is still buzzing.
So, we want to take this chance to say thank you to The Six,
the entire city of Toronto.
You were amazing hosts for a record breaking
Money in the Bank weekend.
We kicked things off with Friday Night SmackDown
through Money in the Bank on Saturday night,
and capped it all off with a night at NXT Heatwave
none of us will soon forget.
Over 45,000 members of the WWE Universe attended live.
What a wild weekend, Wade!
[Wade] Absolutely unreal.
I want to take it back to some of the highlights
of the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match,
and two Superstars in particular who captured the imagination
and hearts of the WWE Universe,
Carmelo Hayes and Andrade, with breathtaking moments
like what we are witnessing here.
And if you thought that was enough, you would be mistaken
because Andrade would continue to raise the stakes
in some of the most brutal competition we've ever seen.
Our own Byron Saxton was able to catch up with Andrade earlier this afternoon.
[Byron] Andrade, thank you for sitting down with me today.
Last Saturday in Toronto, Money in the Bank.
A lot of people said that you had a star-making performance.
But here we are nearly a week later and those same people are asking,
"What's next for Andrade?"
What is next?
[speaking Spanish]
[Hayes] Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Byron, what are we doing talking to this guy for?
Should be talking to the real MVP of the match.
The guy that stole the show at Money in the Bank.
The one that everybody is talking about.
[Andrade] Hey, Melo.
Tranquilo.
I didn't say I was the MVP.
The people say it.
[speaking Spanish]
Well, the people are saying
that you're the one that screwed me out of that match.
Man, I should be treated better around here.
I don't know if people forgot.
I'm a first-round draft pick. I need to start being treated like that.
I'm the guy that pinned Randy Orton.
I went against Cody on my very first night in this company.
Let's talk about it.
Melo, you done?
Okay.
What is the question?
What's next for Andrade?
What is next?
Him.
You are next.
[huffs]
[Graves] Andrade versus Carmelo. Bad News, sign me up.
[Wade] Hell, yeah. Give me a piece of that.
The world wants to see that one.
["The Best Is Yet To Come" by def rebel plays]
[Taylor] And his tag team partner, weighing in at 240 pounds,
Apollo Crews!
Let's go!
[Graves] Another look at Apollo Crews tonight here in Worcester
as he prepares to join forces with Baron Corbin in tag team action.
Both men with a score to settle involving Legado Del Fantasma.
Legado have been thorns
in the sides of both Crews and Corbin for weeks recently.
[Wade] Yeah, Crews and Corbin, two guys
who are really trying to kick start their careers
after a couple of months really in the doldrums.
And this is a good chance to get that restart tonight.
[Graves] Well, tonight, Friday Night SmackDown
is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home or motorcycle insurance.
And, Wade, I wouldn't necessarily say Corbin and Crews
have been in the doldrums.
They've both gone back to NXT, looked to recreate themselves.
And Baron Corbin in particular has applied the "burn the ships" mentality,
meaning there's no turning back.
It's essentially now or never.
[Wade] Yeah, it's a new and improved version of him.
And really, Corbin and Apollo,
two guys that have won championships here in the past,
need to get back to that kind of form.
["Soul March" by def rebel plays]
[Taylor] And their opponents,
accompanied by Elektra Lopez and Santos Escobar,
representing Legado Del Fantasma,
Angel and Berto!
[Graves] Angel and Berto of Legado Del Fantasma,
accompanied by Elektra Lopez and the sinister Santos Escobar.
[laughs] Remember what I said?
[Graves] This group has provided more than enough trouble
for Corbin and Apollo Crews recently,
including last week right here on Friday Night SmackDown.
How was your cash-in?
[laughing] You're right.
Unsuccessful.
That cash-in was a big, big failure.
Kind of like you.
Well, at least I got to the dance.
You didn't even get in the door.
I didn't come here to attack you.
-No? -They did.
[Wade] As we know about Santos Escobar, he never walks alone.
And has his men launched an attack,
it was Apollo Crews, who had his own issues with Legado,
even the score until officials thankfully restored order.
[Graves] You had that Liverpool reference
in your back pocket for a while, haven't you?
[Wade] It's been waiting there, mate.
[Graves] I can tell how naturally it just flowed out.
We're gonna have some high level tag team competition.
And there goes Crews with the assist from Corbin
taking out Angel and Berto!
We haven't even received the opening bell yet.
Our official Jessika Carr needs to restore some semblance of order.
There it was. And here comes Corbin.
[Wade] What a disastrous start for Legado,
but who can think of a 240-plus pound man
like Apollo Crews being used like a missile!
[Graves] Cover here by Corbin.
To that same point, Bad News,
believe it or not, Baron Corbin actually competed
on WWE Speed this past weekend.
A 275 pound man in a match under a three minute time limit.
Absolutely incredible to witness.
[Wade] Love that show.
We're still figuring out what is the perfect strategy on WWE Speed,
but right now it's the strategy of Legado Del Fantasma,
commonly underhanded,
led by that man, Santos Escobar,
that seems to have control.
[Graves] Angel and Berto, an incredibly talented tag team,
unmatched when it comes to chemistry.
Oh my goodness! Big elbow to the heart by Crews.
[Wade] They've practically been tagging together
since they were kids.
It's very difficult to out-compete a unit like that,
but right now Corbin and Crews firing on all cylinders.
[Graves] Corbin muscles up Berto into a cutter,
Corbin scrambling for a cover.
Here comes Angel.
But Corbin sensed it coming.
And now Crews has joined the fray.
[Wade] I'll tell you right now, if this just turns into a brawl
I'm backing Corbin and Crews every time.
[Graves] Hard to disagree with that, Wade.
As Berto's sent to the outside.
-[Wade] No. -[Graves] Corbin, no.
-[Wade] No. -[Graves] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Oh my God!
Corbin to the outside.
How in the hell do you deal with that, Wade?
[Wade] I have no idea, but Legado have got to figure it out quick
because Corbin and Crews are in control.
[Graves] This is nuts.
It is tag team action on Friday Night SmackDown
as Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin
do battle with Angel and Berto of Legado Del Fantasma.
What on earth are we gonna see here?
Berto didn't get all of it, but knocked Corbin down face-first.
Modified Gory Special. Cover.
[Wade] Yeah, they like to call that the Garza Special.
It simply didn't quite connect there as they would have liked
or this one would have been over.
[Graves] Let's take a look at what happened during the break.
Corbin got a little overzealous. Berto out of the way,
and the tides have turned in this tag team contest.
[Wade] Legado are just in perpetual pursuit of power here on SmackDown,
led, of course, by the devious mind of Santos Escobar,
flanked by the stunning apparition that is Elektra Lopez on the outside.
But things are going swimmingly right now for Legado.
[Graves] And getting serious Poison Ivy vibes
from Ms. Lopez this evening.
[Wade] I'm definitely getting vibes too, but I don't know what I could call them.
[Graves] Well, look at the power of Corbin and Berto against--
Escapes out the back door.
Look at the athleticism!
Kick on the temple. That could do it.
Cover by Berto. Legado looking for the win. No.
[Wade] It was a split second to get that cover.
Berto hesitated, admiring his handiwork, as were the rest of us,
because that was beautiful.
[Graves] But did that moment of admiration cost Berto a win back?
Let's take another look at this.
[Wade] Watch the athleticism. It's the kick right there.
Just like Chicharito in the Mexican national team.
To the temple of Corbin.
But Corbin is built tough.
And he's still ticking.
[Graves] Death Valley Driver by Baron Corbin.
[Wade] Corbin can do it all.
Brawling, high flying, Death Valley Drivers.
What he really needs right now though is the tag to the fresh Apollo Crews.
[Graves] Same can be said for Berto. Here comes the tag to Angel Garza.
Here comes Crews.
Fresher competitor. It's legal now for both sides.
Pump kick by Crews.
Tremendous athleticism on that jumping clothesline.
And Apollo Crews is feeling it, Wade.
[Wade] Crews, a man who was born with springs for knees
and he's using them to full effect now.
[Graves] A series of German suplexes from Apollo Crews, refusing to relent,
not breaking his grip. Will the third time be the charm?
[Wade] Just laying out Legado Del Fantasma
as Santos Escobar looks on from the outside, helpless.
[Graves] Splash in the corner.
[Wade] Angel looking worse for wear. And now the big powerhouse.
Crews goes up top.
[Graves] Crossbody!
Down goes Angel into the cover
and Humberto preserves the opportunity for his team.
[Wade] Well, perfect timing, because that one was over.
Crews, a man who can simply do it all.
[Graves] Corbin out of the way and Berto just crashed
and burned to the outside.
[Wade] Can Apollo Crews pull out victory here for his team?
As an enraged Corbin is now stomping.
Are you gonna hit me? I'm not even in the match.
What are you gonna do?
[Graves] Santos put himself in harm's way
and got… blasted by Corbin,
who just took Berto out.
Now Apollo Crews one-on-one with Angel.
Enzuigiri.
Look at this, Wade.
[Wade] Raw power. Gorilla press.
Could have held him up there for five minutes.
[Graves] But Elektra Lopez proving invaluable.
Escobar with a knee.
[Wade] There's the deep bag of tricks of Legado Del Fantasma.
[Graves] Wing Clipper.
[crowd and referee] One, two, three!
-[Graves] And a big win for Legado. -[bell rings]
["Soul March" by def rebel plays]
[Taylor] Here are your winners,
Legado Del Fantasma!
That's what you get, Corbin!
[Wade] As always, with Legado Del Fantasma,
it is rarely a fair fight.
But the record books don't reflect that.
Big W tonight for the men from Legado.
[Graves] Take a look back at the power of Apollo Crews.
But Elektra Lopez would play spoiler, drawing official Jessika Carr's attention,
allowing Santos Escobar to deliver that epic knee right on the jaw.
The Wing Clipper from Angel Garza.
One, two, three for Legado Del Fantasma.
And, Wade, you can understand, Baron Corbin is pacing at ringside,
understandably distraught with the result of tonight's matchup.
[indistinct]
You don't mess with me.
-[Prince] Nick Aldis-- -Oh!
Whoa!
Look, excuse us, my ladies,
but we really need to see Nick to get the budget approved
-for Pretty Deadly… -[gasps]
[both] …The Musical.
[Piper] What? Oh…
-Yes, we have a musical. -Yeah, that takes it.
Well, Sparkle Sisters, there's a line.
Get to the back of it.
I hate waiting in line!
Nobody, I repeat, nobody is getting in before moi.
-[crowd cheers] -Ah! Excuse me.
Excuse me, Mr. Knight.
Sorry.
Um, is Nick busy?
Uh, yeah. Actually, uh, he said he was gonna call you.
Uh, I think, uh, he's got a couple more things to do.
It's just gonna be a little bit longer. I think it'll be good.
[feet stomping]
[def rebel's "Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[Graves] Well, "The Megastar" LA Knight is on his way.
[crowd cheering]
[loud cheering]
Check it out, Cody, I heard what Solo said.
So, I think there's a pretty good chance that you're gonna find yourself
in the middle of that ring tonight with a bunch of Samoans.
But I also know you well enough to know
that you do not want me out there with you.
But I need you to know, Cody,
I need you to know, whether you like it or not,
if things go sideways, I'm coming, because I got your back.
I will always and forever have your back.
You know this.
Kevin Owens, he feels the same way.
But he's not here tonight.
And now that's on me.
You know that man loves to fight.
He fought me tooth and nail,
but I insisted he stay home with his family.
His family… I think you would agree.
His family needs him more than we need him.
Absolutely.
If you find yourself in that ring tonight,
you give that big, ugly Samoan a piece of your mind, all right?
But everything comes to an end.
Everything eventually comes to an end.
So, when this business with The Bloodline is finally over…
you're gonna have a lot of men in this locker room…
coming after that Championship.
[clears throat]
And I'm gonna have your back then, too.
Thank you.
Always.
["Welcome To LA" by WWE, def rebel plays]
[Wade] Are your loins tingling yet, Corey? 'Cause I know mine are.
[Graves] I sense an overabundance of kavorka here in the DCU Center.
[Taylor] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome LA Knight!
[crowd yells "yeah"]
[Graves] As we eagerly await to find out what is in the folder
LA Knight just slid into the ring,
unfortunately for The Megastar,
we know it is not the coveted Money in the Bank contract.
However, last Saturday night wasn't out with…
Wasn't without plenty of LA Knight highlights.
[Wade] While The Megastar was perhaps the fan favorite going into the match,
along with Jey Uso, he tried everything, highlight reel performance,
and came so close to victory,
only to fall agonizingly short in the end.
And these wounds on the body of The Megastar
are gonna be felt for a long time.
[Graves] Well, tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on Fox
is sponsored by Progressive.
[crowd chants "LA Knight"]
Let me talk to you.
[crowd yells "yeah"]
Money in the Bank came and went. Let's be honest.
I ain't gonna stand out here and complain.
I ain't gonna cry. I ain't gonna make excuses.
It didn't go my way.
I got dumped out on a ladder and somebody else reached up
and grabbed that Money in the Bank contract.
[crowd boos]
So, then I just start thinking to myself, I start thinking…
Money in the Bank contract or no Money in the Bank contract,
I told y'all it doesn't make a difference.
I am the walking embodiment of Money in the Bank.
Yeah!
[crowd yells "Yeah"]
So what that's got me doing, is let's rewind our mind just a touch,
because let's go ahead and look at the path to Money in the Bank.
I got a little piece of footage I think we should take a look at.
[shouting]
[Graves] This is the from the Money in the Bank qualifying match
two weeks ago.
LA Knight delivering BFT to Santos Escobar, and Logan Paul from behind,
rolling up The Megastar.
But "The Megastar" LA Knight would have the last laugh,
pinning the United States Champion
and qualifying for the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Now you look at that, you look at what happened right there.
Every single person in this building right now…
[crowd cheers]
Every single person at home,
what they saw was they saw this man
move on to Money in the Bank.
Right?
-[crowd yells "Yeah"] -Yeah.
But let's look a little deeper.
Let's think about what we really saw there.
Because yeah, I did move on to Money in the Bank.
But there's something more important that happened right there.
What happened right there is I pinned the United States Champion.
[crowd cheers]
With that in mind…
I got a little something delivered a little bit earlier,
hot and fresh in Nick Aldis' office.
And, uh, let's just say
what this has inside here was just for me.
What this had in here had Nick Aldis' signature already on it.
[crowd yells "yeah"]
And what this is,
is a contract for the United States Championship
at SummerSlam.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Wow!
[crowd chants "LA Knight"]
Now the only thing missing,
I look through here, I see a signature from Nick Aldis.
Yeah!
[crowd yells "yeah"]
I see a signature from LA Knight.
-Yeah! -[crowd yells "yeah"]
The only thing missing is a signature
from that edgelord, Logan Paul.
[crowd boos]
So, what I want to do,
I would love to have Logan Paul come right down here
and sign this contract right now.
But don't get too excited.
That ain't gonna happen. I can't do that.
You know why? Surprise, surprise, roll your eyes.
Guess who ain't here? Logan Paul.
[crowd boos]
But Logan, you can rest assured, one way or another,
I will get this contract signed.
It will be you. It will be me. And guess what?
At SummerSlam, I'll own you, I'll own that belt.
And there's nothing you can do to stop it.
Not because you're not good enough, but because I won't let you.
And that's not an insult.
That is just a fact of life.
With everybody saying…
[crowd "LA Knight, yeah."]
[Knight] Yeah!
["Welcome To LA" by WWE, def rebel plays]
[Graves] Calm down, Bad News, contain yourself.
[Knight] Read that right there.
-[Wade] Every moment… -[Knight] You can sign at any time…
[Wade] …is just box office when it comes to The Megastar.
This guy is unreal.
This place is losing their minds.
[Graves] If somehow, someway LA Knight does manage
to get Logan Paul's signature on the contract,
this could be massive in Cleveland at SummerSlam
with a United States Title on the line.
[Wade] Oh man. I'll tell you what, Corey.
Feel the frenzy, consume the kavorka.
LA Knight versus Logan Paul,
the United States Championship at SummerSlam.
Give the people what they want. Yeah!
It may, in fact, be the best thing to happen to the city of Cleveland.
A big time opportunity for The Megastar.
But LA Knight is not the only Superstar on Friday Night SmackDown
looking to make the most of an opportunity.
There's another new face
in the Women's Division making serious noise.
[Davenport] Everybody wants to talk about living your truth.
Truth is, you're weak.
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.
["On Point" by def rebel plays]
[Graves] Blair Davenport inviting the competition.
[bell rings]
[Taylor] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Wellington, New Zealand,
Blair Davenport!
[Wade] A woman who has conquered the European scenes,
the Japanese scene and up next,
the WWE women's scene.
This woman is savvy, she's cunning, she's mean,
and she's up next.
The world is about to feel the glow.
Naomi takes on Blair Davenport
right here live on SmackDown, next.
[Rhodes] I think this story goes down a path
that no one in their right mind could have ever anticipated.
[Triple H] We blur the lines of fiction and reality.
[Roman] If you can continually swerve them,
then we've done our job.
[The Rock] The Final Boss
allowed me to be as visceral as I want to be.
[Triple H] When chaos happens, something magical will come out of it.
["The Time Is Now" by John Cena, Tha Trademarc, and WWE]
[crowd cheers]
[Cena] Why am I here?
Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from the WWE.
[crowd boos]
You see, I've been doing this a while. I've been in WWE
for over two decades.
And in that time I have seen incredible waves of prosperity
like we got right now.
[crowd cheers]
WWE is the hottest ticket in town, no doubt.
And this farewell, this farewell does not end tonight.
We are planning something unforgettable.
2025 Royal Rumble will be my last.
The 2025 Elimination Chamber will be my last.
And I'm here tonight to announce…
WrestleMania 2025 will be…
the last WrestleMania I compete in.
[crowd chants "Thank you, Cena"]
Thank you so much for letting me play in the house
that you built for so many years.
So, if you want some, hurry up and come get some.
'Cause the last time is now!
[crowd chants "Thank you, Cena"]
[Graves] Almost hard to fathom Cena's WWE tenure coming to an end,
as Blair Davenport's just kicks off.
Davenport looking to make some waves in the Women's Division tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown,
which is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home or motorcycle insurance.
Wade, Blair Davenport's a young lady
that we have seen glimpses of in NXT, NXT UK.
How does Blair Davenport prepare to feel the glow?
["Glow (Feat. Billy B)" by def rebel plays]
[Wade] Blair Davenport needs to tap into that mean,
nasty side that has taken her all the way to SmackDown in a long and storied career,
execute all of that tonight against Naomi and shock the world.
[Taylor] And her opponent, from Orlando, Florida,
Naomi!
[Graves] Well, as Worcester feels the glow and Naomi makes her way to ringside,
we'd be remiss not to mention
the incredibly impressive performance Naomi
put on this past Saturday
in the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match, Wade.
Naomi may not have left Toronto with the contract,
but she certainly took the country's breath away.
[Wade] Toronto felt the glow.
Five women felt the pain
because Naomi can do things in that ring that no one else can.
This one made my eyes water. A split between two ladders
by Naomi, followed by a DDT.
Naomi lighting the town up,
ultimately falling short to Tiffany Stratton
in that Money in the Bank matchup.
But wow, what an effort from Naomi!
[Graves] Let's see if Naomi can utilize some more innovation tonight
as she battles Blair Davenport, who as we mentioned,
is hungry and eager to scratch and claw her way up
the Women's Division ladder.
[Wade] Well, let's be honest with you.
I'm surprised Naomi's even competing after that…
[bell rings]
[Wade] …hellacious matchup last Saturday.
Her body must be so banged up. And looking at the left shoulder of Naomi right now,
I can see it's taped up.
But the fact that she's competing here tonight is quite surprising but--
[Graves] I think "quite surprising" is quite an understatement, Wade.
I'm surprised all 12 competitors in the ladder matches
aren't held together with duct tape and superglue right now.
[Wade] Take a week off, Naomi.
She's such a competitor.
Weeks off do not come into the equation.
[Graves] Oh. Out of the way just in time.
Naomi utilizing her educated feet to full effect.
Big leg drop. Into the cover.
Davenport escapes.
[Wade] And there's been some real issues between these two
in the locker room of late.
Blair Davenport showing no respect to the veteran, that is, Naomi,
the woman who helped build this division into what it is today.
Constant chirping at one another, including on social media.
[Graves] That's a relatively common occurrence these days in WWE, Wade.
On the men's side of things,
you talk about Carmelo Hayes,
who's had sort of the same mentality, disrespecting everybody.
Because you realize, the higher on the card your opponent is,
the bigger your star can essentially be.
[Wade] It's a shortcut to the top, but looking at Naomi there--
[Graves] Boom!
[Wade] Reference to that shoulder issue she's clearly having
post that Money in the Bank matchup.
[Graves] Naomi looking to rally the WWE Universe.
Big split. Cover.
[Wade] Naomi right now just having her way with this newcomer,
recently signed in the draft to SmackDown.
Take another look at Naomi, lighting the town up.
Just a two count on this occasion, but Blair Davenport's hurting.
[Graves] Well, Davenport kicking the arm of Naomi.
Smart decision by Davenport, desperate as it may have been.
And now Naomi starting to rock the newcomer
with a series of forearms.
And we say newcomer, Wade,
but Blair Davenport has quite literally traveled the globe
and tasted great success on her way to WWE.
[Wade] Yeah, absolutely. We're kind of the last to know here
in the US, and Blair Davenport at one point in her career…
-[Graves] Wow! -[Wade] Oh, nice!
…trained by Iyo Sky.
So, she's been trained by the best.
And right now, that perhaps was the upper hand
that Blair Davenport was waiting for.
[Graves] I think you might be right, Wade.
Naomi feeling the effects of the double stomp off the top rope
from Davenport, and Blair not looking to relent here!
Shoulder-first into the post.
Naomi is hurt badly.
Tonight may belong to Davenport.
Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown,
as we are witnessing one-on-one action
in the Women's Division as Naomi battles Blair Davenport.
And, Wade, shortly before the break, Davenport was able to isolate.
Cover here. Naomi escapes.
Davenport was able to isolate and attack the injured arm of Naomi.
[Wade] Yeah, such a smart move by Davenport,
and it's pretty much been one-way traffic ever since
with all the athletic gifts that Naomi has there, kind of neutralized
once that shoulder has been attacked
and Naomi has not looked like herself ever since.
[Graves] Admirable effort from Naomi looking to compete tonight,
but there is no doubt about it,
Naomi's body still banged up from the brutal,
gruesome Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match this past Saturday night.
[Wade] This is where being a fearsome competitor
can be your undoing, as Naomi bravely battles on here
and somehow looks to be regaining control of the matchup.
[Graves] Cover here by Naomi.
[Wade] Just when Blair Davenport thought she was gliding
into winners enclosure in this matchup,
things have turned around,
but there is certainly not a spring in the step
of Naomi as usual, she slowed down.
[Graves] Naomi maybe feeling the desperation,
looking for the split legged moonsault.
Davenport able to thwart that attempt,
and now Naomi finds herself trapped in a Tree of Woe!
Big stomp to the heart by Blair!
Cover by Davenport.
Could this do it?
Not just yet.
[Wade] I spoke to Blair Davenport a couple of weeks ago.
She's had to toil around the world for years to get an opportunity here.
She tells me she's not gonna let it slip through her fingers
with some bitterness and some anger in her soul,
and that is now about to be unleashed on Naomi--
[Graves] Oh, inside cradle by Naomi.
Davenport. Shoulders down.
Both women looking for a quick ending to this matchup.
Sunset flip.
Davenport shifts the momentum.
[Wade] Blair Davenport realizing she does have to raise her game here on SmackDown.
-It's-- -[Graves] O'Connor Roll, shoulders down.
Naomi counters.
Seesaw battle to this point, Wade.
[Wade] Frustration building on Davenport. A knee to the jaw!
[Graves] That'll jam your spine.
Rolls directly into the cover.
Shoulders down.
-Naomi picks up the W. -[bell rings]
["Glow (Feat. Billy B)" by def rebel plays]
[Taylor] Here is your winner, Naomi!
[Wade] Well, it is a steep learning curve here on SmackDown
even for a veteran as accomplished as Blair Davenport.
Take your eye off someone like Naomi,
she's gonna be on you in a flash.
But hey, Corey, what a gutsy and savvy performance there
from the veteran Naomi.
Despite the physical limitations she had tonight, pulling out the W.
-Respect that. -Gutsy.
Very, very accurate description of what we saw last week right here
on Friday Night SmackDown in our main event
as the WWE Tag Team Titles were on the line with A-Town Down Under
defending against a couple of underdogs.
See what we mean in our Progressive Match Flo.
[def rebel's "Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[announcer] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple-threat of protection with home, auto and more.
[Graves] Ciampa and Gargano looking
for magic tonight in the Scotiabank Arena.
No tag team has been able to unseat Theory and Waller.
[Wade] Tag team gold on the line.
Who's gonna take it?
This one is swinging back and forth.
All four men leaving it out there tonight in pursuit of the gold.
[Graves] A-Town Down Under looking to take a cheap shot. That backfired.
[Wade] This again, Theory taking the bullet for his man.
He was about to tap!
Austin Theory prevented the tap!
[Graves] Deja vu in Toronto!
[Wade] The champs are gonna-- Oh, it's a tap out!
[Graves] They did it! They did it!
[Rome] And the new
WWE Tag Team Champions,
DIY!
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] If nobody shows you the path to the top of the mountain,
you do it yourself.
["A-Town Down" by def rebel plays]
[Graves] Well, the new champions, DIY, have no doubt been riding high
for the last week.
Wade, that has not sit well with the now former champs.
[Wade] Former champs A-Town Down do not have the same pep in their step.
They don't have the same strut, the same swagger they--
[Waller] They're coming home, baby. They're coming home.
[fireworks]
[Wade] They look to regain it tonight.
[bell rings]
[Taylor] The following contest scheduled for one fall,
it's for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Introducing first the challengers,
the team of Austin Theory
and Grayson Waller!
-♪ Best believe we're doing it my way ♪ -♪ All day ♪
[Graves] Well, Wade, I think you would agree with me
that both Theory and Waller need to be laser focused on the task
at hand tonight, to avoid a repeat of what they suffered seven nights ago.
[Wade] "The loser now will be later to win,"
sang Bob Dylan once upon a time.
Will he prove prophetic tonight?
As the former champs look to regain their gold,
they go head to head. WWE Tag Championships
on the line in a rematch from last week,
as DIY defends against A-Town Down Under, next.
♪ When I walk in the room Roll out the red carpet ♪
♪ Turn the lights on It's about to get started ♪
Next week SmackDown is in Omaha, Nebraska, and breaking news,
the United States Champ Logan Paul is watching SmackDown Live,
and he'll be here next week to respond to LA Knight's SummerSlam challenge.
And in addition, what's next for Andrade?
It's him, Carmelo Hayes. They're gonna go head to head
on SmackDown right here, live, next week.
-Hey! -My girls!
-Hey! Yes, yes. -Already.
Now that's how you stand on business.
Yes. You did your thing tonight. You looked good, girl.
Well, I had to teach Ms. Blair a lesson, if you know what I mean.
And did.
But I'm more excited
and looking forward to you two getting those Tag Team Titles back.
Now, girl, you know that's top priority.
I mean, yeah, we was…
we was trying to talk to Nick Aldis tonight, but he ain't even here.
He's not here.
Well, at least y'all taught Alba and Isla a lesson
to put them on notice, too.
They better be ready.
Girl, you know we stay ready.
Okay, so we don't have to get ready, right? I see you.
But, girl, you did your thing tonight.
We about to go home, so good job.
It was good seeing you. We love you.
Enjoy that dub.
-Bye! -[Bianca] Bye!
-Love you. -[Cargill] Love you.
-Good job tonight. -Thank you, sis.
[groans]
Look, Naomi, I don't want any trouble here,
but I just really wanted to say that the best person won.
And maybe I'll have better luck next time against you.
If you're looking for Nick Aldis he's not here!
Huh!
Girl, don't jerk that neck too hard now.
[yelling]
[laughing]
Oh…
[Graves] You are not safe anywhere
when Blair Davenport is around, Wade.
[Waller] I can't wait. I can't wait.
[Graves] We are preparing for our Tag Team Title matchup.
And the question remains,
who will hold the gold when we arrive in Omaha next Friday night?
Tickets are available now via Ticketmaster.
Will it be A-Town Down Under or will it be the new champs?
["It's Our Moment" by def rebel plays]
[Wade] You could not have fit a piece of paper
between these two teams last week.
DIY ended up scoring the victory.
What a barn burner it was.
More of the same tonight, please.
[Taylor] And their opponents, they are
the WWE Tag Team Champions,
DIY!
[Graves] As the Tag Team Champions make their way to the ring,
we got a little business to take care of.
SummerSlam is sponsored by C4,
the official energy drink of WWE.
Available anywhere energy's sold.
Buy now on Amazon and c4energy.com.
And by Wingstop, the official wing of SummerSlam.
Choose from 12 delicious flavors
and get your favorite wings from ordering online
at wingstop.com.
Bring the flavor.
And, Wade, this has got to be the most amazing feeling
in the world for Ciampa and Gargano, to be announced
as reigning WWE Tag Team Champions,
not far from where Ciampa himself grew up.
Everett, Massachusetts, right down the road.
This has got to be cathartic.
This has got to be validation.
These two champions are gonna have to fight like hell
to keep what means the most to them.
[Wade] Yeah, and you and I have both won championships in this game, Corey.
And we both well know the week that you win a championship,
everyone wants a piece of you.
Ciampa, for example, guest of honor at the Red Sox this past week.
He's been a star. Everybody wants to take pictures with the champs.
You ain't human if that doesn't soften you at least a little bit.
It can be a really dangerous period right after winning a title.
[Graves] Grayson Waller looked for a quick start off in the opening bell.
Ciampa was one step ahead.
Now back inside the ring,
got ourselves a standoff…
and the champions with a double dropkick.
[Wade] The former champs are snarling and angry,
but right out of the blocks it is going very…
[Graves] Boom!
[Wade] …for A-Town Down Under.
The champs were ready and lying in wait for this.
[Graves] Oh, ho, ho, man.
Theory ain't playing tonight.
[Wade] Oh, pushed his own partner out of the way.
Almost took a bullet, but no, blasted Johnny Gargano
with that perfectly timed forearm to the jaw.
[Graves] And Gargano now launched into the barricade.
This is the aggression it's gonna take to become champions yet again.
What the hell is Waller trying to do?
I don't know if that was the intended result for Grayson Waller,
but Ciampa is down and the challengers are in control.
This is what it's all about.
The gold is up for grabs.
The WWE Tag Team Championship is on the line as new champions DIY
defend against former champions A-Town Down Under.
And, Wade, for the past several moments throughout the break,
it has been all Theory and Waller.
[Wade] Yeah, the now-challengers, A-Town Down Under,
look completely different to the dissension we've seen between…
-[Graves] Tag made. -[Wade] …them in recent weeks.
Whatever happened between them is in the past now.
And that loss last week seems to have galvanized this team.
They are looking better than ever in pursuit
of winning back their gold!
[Graves] Oh!
If you're wondering what happened to Gargano,
he was knocked off the apron altogether during the break by Austin Theory,
but Johnny Wrestling is back up
and Tommaso Ciampa needs to make a tag!
[Wade] Battle-hardened by life,
and in comes the ultimate underdog, Johnny Gargano.
[Graves] Gargano, a Superstar who's been told his entire career,
"You're not big enough".
"You're not marketable enough. You're not what we need."
Johnny says, "Yeah, watch this."
This dude has more heart than anybody I've ever met.
[Wade] Yeah.
Unrelenting passion is what beats all of those comments, Corey.
And Johnny Gargano has that in spades.
[Graves] Gargano out of the way, back kick rocks--
Waller on the outside. Spear to Theory.
Cover by Johnny.
[crowd counts]
[Graves] And Theory keeps this one alive.
[Wade] I'll tell you this about Johnny Gargano.
I have seen the highs of his career.
I have seen the lows.
I have never once seen this man out of breath.
Perhaps the greatest engine in our industry.
[Graves] The mechanical marvel,
a veritable encyclopedia of this business, Wade.
Countered by Theory. Shoulders down.
[Wade] That is the key to victory.
In this kind of matchup, you have to divide and conquer.
Take one of your tag team opponents out, focus on the other.
And right now it is Ciampa
who has taken absolute beating thus far in this match.
But of course, he's still ticking.
[Graves] O'Connor Roll, shoulders down. Here comes-- Oh!
Theor-- I'm sorry, Waller takes Ciampa face-first.
Cover by Theory.
Hooks both legs. New champions? No.
[Wade] Again, I'm not sure that was exactly
what Grayson Waller was trying,
but he is so effective in the moment.
He's able to manipulate opponents, and even if the move goes slightly awry,
it is still devastating.
[Graves] Tag made. Grayson Waller, the Aussie icon, now legal for his team.
Tommaso Ciampa…
[Wade] Oh, this is an insult.
[Graves] This is gonna be Meet Me in the Middle!
D… Oh no.
Ciampa out of the way of his own finishing maneuver.
Shoulders down. Stacked up high.
Oh dear!
[Wade] And how many times have we seen that in recent weeks?
Grayson Waller laying out his own tag partner.
[Graves] Shatter Machine!
[Wade] And it has all gone wrong once again for A-Town Down Under.
[Graves] Meet Me in the Middle!
Cover by Johnny.
[referee and crowd] One, two, three…
-And still… -[bell rings]
["It's Our Moment" by def rebel plays]
[Taylor] Here are your winners and still
the WWE Tag Team Champions,
DIY!
[Graves] Well, the thing about DIY and the WWE Tag Team Championship,
both men have fought their hearts out, scratched and clawed to get the titles.
I assure you they'll do the same and then some to keep them.
[Wade] Well, this was the key moment. This was Waller,
perhaps inadvertently, catching his own tag partner,
Theory, on the jaw with that knee.
Something we've seen time and time again.
And this "meeting in the middle." You don't have to ask DIY twice.
When they see an opportunity, they grab it,
and grab it they did tonight.
Successful retention for the new champions DIY.
[yelling]
[Graves] What the hell? Oh God!
Oh God, Wade!
That's a Samoan Werewolf.
Jacob Fatu is here.
God help us all.
[Wade] Good luck, Ciampa.
You might need an army with you against this guy.
[Graves] We found out last week
that this is Solo Sikoa's new Enforcer.
Jacob Fatu's no enforcer.
This is a damn walking warning shot.
[Wade] He's untamed, he's volatile, and he's highly dangerous.
[Graves] Jacob Fatu just took out the Tag Team Champions single-handedly.
[Wade] What chance does anybody have against this lawless madman?
[crowd boos]
[Graves] Fatu is not done.
But who is gonna stop this man?
[Wade] And when is enough?
What are you looking to achieve here?
[Graves] Good God!
Man, how the hell did he do that?
How the hell does a man that size move like that, Wade?
[Wade] It's a scene of utter devastation and he's still not done.
[Graves] It's like a damn horror movie.
Unbelievable!
This man has been blessed by the gods.
And not even they can save us.
[Wade] Is this animal finally satiated?
["Taking It All (feat. Stevie Stone)" by def rebel plays]
[Graves] Or was the Samoan Werewolf doing the bidding of the new Tribal Chief?
The new Shot Caller, Solo Sikoa.
[Wade] Fresh off unparalleled glory at Money in the Bank,
The Bloodline are here.
And this man, Jacob Fatu,
has to be the final piece in the puzzle.
Perhaps the greatest acquisition in history of WWE.
[Graves] Solo is pleased with the Samoan Werewolf.
The Bloodline is here.
But why?
["Taking It All (feat. Stevie Stone)" by def rebel plays]
[Graves] This is Friday Night SmackDown.
And The Bloodline has arrived.
[crowd boos]
Worcester, Mass.
[crowd boos]
Acknowledge me!
[crowd boos]
[Sikoa] Need I remind you what happened to those
that didn't acknowledge me?
[crowd boos]
[crowd chants "We want Roman"]
Jimmy Uso,
my own brother,
my own flesh and blood, didn't acknowledge me.
And you know what happened?
He's gone.
The Wiseman, Paul Heyman…
…he's gone too.
And Roman Reigns.
[crowd chants "Roman"]
Oh, don't cheer for him now.
You people don't deserve Roman.
You got me now.
[crowd boos]
And if Roman Reigns decides to come back…
he will acknowledge me as his Tribal Chief.
[crowd boos]
But tonight…
Tonight is about Cody Rhodes.
It's Cody Rhodes' turn to acknowledge me.
So Cody, if you're back there--
["Kingdom" by Downstait plays]
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] The Undisputed WWE Champion is not a hard man to find.
-[fireworks] -♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every thought out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up, I’m home ♪
♪ Whoa! ♪
[Graves] An absolutely deafening welcome
for The American Nightmare!
And, Wade, you have to imagine Cody is in one hell of a mood tonight,
after tasting his first defeat
since becoming champion at Money in the Bank.
[Wade] Well, this is the biggest star in the game
and as you mentioned, completely unaccustomed to tasting defeat.
Now being ordered to acknowledge the man who pinned him last week
at Money in the Bank, namely the "Head of the Table," Solo Sikoa.
[Graves] Cody's got to know better, Wade.
Rhodes can't get in the ring with all four members
of The Bloodline standing there.
That's jumping off a cliff to your own slaughter.
[Wade] For better, for worse, Cody only has one gear.
[crowd] ♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ My father said ♪
♪ When I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men ♪
[Graves] We know one man has promised to watch Cody's back,
but there's a big difference between theory and execution.
♪ Can't take my freedom ♪
[song fades]
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants "Cody"]
I've heard everything that you're saying.
I'm sure you can figure this out.
We want the same thing.
Now, of course, got to speak to Nick Aldis,
but you might as well consider it official.
SummerSlam, the Undisputed WWE Championship.
[crowd cheers]
[Cody] But if it was really up to me,
if I could make any decision,
I wouldn't be waiting till SummerSlam.
I'd want to do it here and now.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Cody had to expect this, Wade,
being circled by The Bloodline.
[Wade] Pride and ego…
have broken many great men.
[Graves] The hyenas have circled
but The Nightmare not going down without a fight.
[Wade] Keep swinging, Cody, swing for your life.
[Wade] Superkick by Jacob Fatu.
And now Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Fatu again.
["Voices (Randy Orton)" by Rev Theory, Richard Luzzi, and WWE plays]
[Graves] Cody's got backup.
[Wade] Not a moment too soon.
Good to his word is The Viper, but is it enough?
[Graves] Orton and Rhodes still outnumbered,
but The Viper standing tall.
[Wade] Man who's been at the top of the game
for the last 20 years for good reason.
[Graves] Vintage Orton to the new Shot Caller.
[Wade] Turn around, Randy.
[Graves] Randy, look out!
Fatu again.
This walking warning shot just took out The Viper
and now the Tongans have pounced.
That's a 14-time World Heavyweight Champion
in Randy Orton.
That's the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion in Cody Rhodes.
Neither man proving to be much of a match for The Bloodline.
And this freak of nature, Jacob Fatu,
"The Samoan Werewolf."
[Wade] Bloodline were just like a pack of rabid dogs
waiting for the signal from Solo Sikoa.
"Sic 'em!"
[yelling]
[Graves] Oh my God! Oh my God!
Solo and Fatu are tying up Cody Rhodes in the ring ropes.
And Fatu still going to work.
[Wade] There's a plan. There's a tactic.
And it is as ugly as can be.
[Graves] Oh no! Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa.
This has got to be giving Randy Orton some severe flashbacks, Wade.
This looks eerily similar
to when The Viper was taken out for 18 months.
[Wade] There is nothing clever about this.
[Graves] Oh no, guys, guys, guys.
[Wade] Simple brutality at its worst.
[Graves] Get the hell out of the way, Wade.
I don't want to be anywhere near this crime scene.
[Fatu yelling]
Get the hell out the way!
[Graves] Superkick to Orton.
[yelling]
[Wade] Untamed beasts!
[Graves] Oh my… again.
Engler, get the hell away from these guys.
[Wade] What can you do? Who are you gonna send?
There's nobody!
-This is all your fault, Cody. -You don't want him!
-This is all your fault. -Take me!
[Graves] Get these maniacs under control.
Get out of the way.
[Wade] Cody Rhodes being forced to watch his friend Randy Orton getting decimated.
[crowd groans]
[Graves] And The Viper has been defanged.
[Wade] It's a message to the…
[Graves] Samoan Spike to the champion.
-[Wade] This is your future, Cody. -[Graves] Good God!
[Wade] That WWE Championship must feel like a curse.
[Graves] Oh, no, no, no. Wade, Wade.
That sacred Ula Fala
adorning the neck of Solo Sikoa.
[crowd boos]
[Wade] And if you're smart, you will acknowledge these men.
[Graves] If you're The American Nightmare, you better start praying.
An absolutely sadistic turn of events.
An all out assault.
[Wade] Cody Rhodes was forced to watch all of it
until he, too, was taken out by that Samoan Spike.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] Cody Rhodes, come SummerSlam,
you've got a big, big problem on your hands.
[crowd chants "you suck"] lem on your hands.