[WWE intro music plays]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[music fades]
[Sikoa] Acknowledge me.
[crowd boos]
[tense music playing]
Need I remind you
what happened to those that didn't acknowledge me?
And if Roman Reigns decides to come back,
he will acknowledge me as his Tribal Chief.
But tonight is about Cody Rhodes.
It's Cody Rhodes' turn to acknowledge me.
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 need you to know, if things go sideways, I'm coming.
I will always and forever have your back.
You know this.
Thank you.
Wrestling has more than one royal family.
[Graves] Rhodes can't get in the ring with all four members of The Bloodline.
That's jumping off a cliff to your own slaughter.
Now, of course, gotta speak to Nick Aldis,
but you might as well consider it official.
SummerSlam, the Undisputed WWE Championship.
[crowd cheers]
But if it was really up to me,
I wouldn't be waiting till SummerSlam.
I'd want to do it here and now.
[dramatic music playing]
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
[Graves] Cody's got backup.
[hard rock music playing]
Orton and Rhodes still outnumbered.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd groans]
And now the Tongans have pounced.
[crowd boos]
[dark music playing]
[indistinct yelling]
[Graves] Cody Rhodes, come SummerSlam,
you've got a big problem on your hands.
[music fades]
♪ Better than me, I don't see nobody… ♪
[Graves] With the biggest party of the summer looming large
two weeks from tomorrow in Cleveland,
we welcome you live
from a jam-packed CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska,
for Friday Night SmackDown on Fox,
sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
♪ Impressing the suckaz that said I was bogus ♪
♪ Gave 'em a second, it's over ♪
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
[crowd cheers]
♪ 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! ♪
[fireworks]
♪ And my father said, when I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men ♪
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
the Undisputed WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes!
[Graves] And as The American Nightmare makes his entrance tonight in Omaha,
it is set in stone and going down in the land at SummerSlam.
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
will defend his Undisputed WWE Championship
against the man who pinned his shoulders to the mat
back at Money in the Bank, the new Tribal Chief, Solo Sikoa.
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
-[crowd sings along] ♪ Whoa! ♪ -[fireworks]
♪ And my father said when I was younger ♪
[Graves] Well, Wade, we know Cody Rhodes has never backed down from a fight.
A proud fighting champion.
But what do you honestly think of Cody's chances come SummerSlam
against Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline?
[Wade] Well, you just have to look at what happened last week to Randy--
[Graves] Wait, wait, wait, wait, Wade… Wade, do you know who that is?
That's Terence Crawford.
That's a two-time undisputed champion.
That's the number one pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
Omaha's own Terence "Bud" Crawford.
The stars are out tonight,
and Crawford has got some big plans of his own
with the WBA and WBO Interim World Super Welterweight Title,
August 3rd, defending in LA against Israil Madrimov.
♪ I am the king and you're the crown ♪
What an honor to have Terence Crawford in the house tonight
and welcome The American Nightmare!
-♪ And rule my kingdom ♪ -[music fades]
[Wade] The biggest names in boxing showing honor and respect
to the biggest name in WWE, Cody Rhodes.
[crowd chants "Cody"]
[crowd cheers]
So, Omaha!
[crowd cheers]
What do we want to talk about?
Let's talk about…
Randy Orton.
[crowd cheers]
I have the distinction,
I have the privilege to call Randy a friend.
Before he was a friend, he was a mentor.
He picked me when he didn't have to.
He kept me when others told him to discard me.
I would not be standing here,
Undisputed WWE Champion,
without Randy Orton.
[crowd cheers]
So, imagine…
[crowd chants "Randy"]
So, imagine the guilt
when a man who has a lovely wife,
a beautiful family, five children,
a man who came back
from what could have been a career-ending injury
and had spinal fusion surgery.
Imagine my guilt watching this Bloodline
put Randy Orton through a table.
[crowd boos]
You know, family is not always blood.
I don't know, how's my song go?
It says, "Wrestling has more than one royal family."
Randy is family.
Randy is my brother.
And if he were here,
he wouldn't want me to wax poetic about our friendship.
He wouldn't want me to talk about guilt,
talk about shame.
I mean, the difference between the two
is the difference between being bad and doing something bad.
Instead of talking about all that,
I would rather look directly into this camera
right here and talk to the man responsible…
Solo Sikoa.
[crowd boos]
I looked Solo in the eyes
before WrestleMania 39 even,
and I told him…
I said…
"You are not ready."
And you paid me back in kind by costing me
the very title I am holding now,
the very title that you and I will compete for
in the main event of SummerSlam.
Solo, with everything you have done,
trying to erase your time as The Enforcer--
that's a cute nickname, by the way--
and instead become The Tribal Chief,
how does it feel
knowing that I am still standing here in this ring,
still champion, and that you are still not…
♪ A-Town down ♪
♪ Let's go! ♪
-♪ A-Town down, scream it out loud ♪ -[Graves] Hang on just a second.
It's the former WWE Tag Team Champions
Waller and Theory, A-Town Down Under.
[Wade] Of course these two jackals are ready to kick a man when he's down.
♪ You see the future Right in front of your eyes ♪
♪ Headed to the top And it's not a surprise ♪
[music fades]
Uh, Cody, Cody Rhodes.
[crowd booing, yelling]
Cody, you're spending a lot of time talking about The Bloodline.
But because of you,
Jacob Fatu from The Bloodline attacked me last week.
Hey, look at my cheek.
-Look at that. -It's horrible.
It's swollen.
Wait. Your cheek is swollen.
I thought that was because your own partner,
the man standing next to you, kneed you square in the face.
Hey, you're pushing that narrative too, right?
Okay.
Trying to deflect away from the truth
that you can't take accountability for your own actions.
The reason my best mate Austin Theory got attacked last week?
That's because of you.
[crowd] What?
And the reason your mentor, your hero,
your friend who, without, you would have never won that championship,
the reason he got hurt last week was because of you.
[crowd] What?
Hey…
[Graves] Oh, Rhodes has heard enough.
The champion started swinging.
[Wade] Yeah, it was inevitable where this was going.
I'm glad Cody got him first.
[Graves] Cody got his licks in.
But now The American Nightmare is gonna pay.
[Wade] Two-on-one against the former WWE Tag Champs
is only gonna end one way.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] Cody Rhodes thrown out of his own ring.
Wait-- Wait a minute.
Wade, Terence Crawford just gave Cody Rhodes his steel chair.
[Wade] Well, that is a game-changer.
And doesn't Grayson Waller realize it now?
[Graves] Disaster Kick by Rhodes.
Down goes Theory.
-[crowd cheers] -Come on!
["Kingdom" by Downstait plays]
[Graves] And The American Nightmare,
standing tall thanks to a little help from the outside
in the form of Terence Crawford.
[Wade] Cody Rhodes needs all the help he can get right now,
especially with Randy Orton taken out.
So, thank you, Terence Crawford.
[Graves] It's lonely at the top.
And The American Nightmare is being hunted by The Bloodline.
[Theory] It's all your fault!
[Hayes] Take this up right here.
That line, nice and straight, please.
Perfect.
My guy, that's how we gotta do.
We gotta look good for tonight, bro.
How you feeling tonight?
Hey, man.
There's gonna be no crowd chants.
None of that gimmick BS.
Andrade…
it's gonna be you and me, two hoopers.
World watching, hard in the paint,
and they want to see who's gonna miss first.
And it won't be me.
-You're all set. -I appreciate you.
[hip hop music playing]
Nick, it's a complete freebie, 100%.
Let me have a match with those two guys, please.
I can absolutely do that.
But you need a tag team partner.
I don't need a tag team partner.
If anything, I need to send a message to The Bloodline.
What better way to do it? I don't need a partner.
I understand that, but listen, Cody,
I send the WWE Champion out there in a two-on-one handicap match,
I'm the one who has to answer to the board of directors, okay?
So, respectfully, you've got till the end of the night.
Find a partner.
[inhaling]
[Graves] Waller and Theory have drawn the ire of The American Nightmare.
Will Cody find a partner?
[Wade] Well, thankfully, it's not gonna be a handicap match one way or another.
That would have been a potential disaster for Cody.
♪ Who got a problem, huh? Tell 'em to step here ♪
♪ Step here ♪
["Melo Don't Miss" playing]
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest, no arguing… ♪
[bell rings]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Boston, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 210 pounds,
Carmelo Hayes!
♪ They know it, I gotta prove it ♪
♪ I'll win and I'll never lose it ♪
[Graves] As Carmelo Hayes prepares to mix it up tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown, we are sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
And, Wade, this is an issue that stems back
to the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match,
which is really the genesis of the issue between Carmelo Hayes
and his opponent tonight, Andrade.
[Wade] Yeah, two guys who wowed the world with their athleticism and risk-taking
in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match two weeks ago
now looking to use that notoriety to springboard themselves
to further success here on SmackDown.
["Conquistar" playing]
[man] El Ídolo.
El Ídolo.
[Alicia] And his opponent,
from Gómez Palacio, Durango, México,
weighing in at 230 pounds,
Andrade!
[Graves] Wade, as the reigning WWE Speed Champion,
Andrade makes his way to the ring.
Andrade was able to wow his native Mexico
alongside the rest of the WWE roster this past weekend in Mexico,
and the WWE Universe is still buzzing.
[Wade] What a time the Superstars had over there in Mexico.
Always one of my favorite places to go during my career.
Raucous crowds, packed houses of course.
Andrade being the big hero to the Mexican audience.
Mexico, thank you very much for hosting the WWE Superstars.
In unison, we cannot wait for WWE to come back to Mexico.
[bell rings]
[Graves] Both Andrade and Hayes
look to ascend the roster here in Friday Night SmackDown.
Perhaps earning a future championship opportunity.
And the end of the day, this is about ego, Wade.
This is about pride.
This is about being the better athlete of the two.
[Wade] Yeah. And I think you made a great point there.
Both of these two guys are currently residing
in that layer on SmackDown,
just beneath the kind of main event spot.
And you get the impression that a victory for one of these two here could…
[Graves] Shoulders down.
[Wade] …break out and climb into that very, very top layer.
And that's where the gold hangs out.
[Graves] Victory tonight is gonna be much easier said than done.
Both top-tier athletes,
flexing their abilities in the early moments,
evenly matched, two former NXT Champions.
Andrade, former United States Champion,
reigning WWE Speed Champion. Shoulders down.
Unique pinning combination.
Carmelo Hayes escapes. Jackknife pin.
[Wade] Nobody can talk smack quite as well as Carmelo Hayes,
as he did last week
when Andrade was getting interviewed.
But you know Andrade, he does not put up with disrespect from anybody.
[Graves] Oh my goodness!
Big boot right on the jaw of Hayes.
And Hayes answers with a dropkick of his own.
[Wade] Simply going toe-to-toe with Andrade,
refusing to take a back step!
[Graves] We almost saw a repeat of Money in the Bank,
that inverted Spanish Fly!
But Hayes one step ahead.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes and Andrade continues here on SmackDown.
The first-round draft pick Carmelo Hayes
in complete control at the moment of Andrade.
[Wade] Well, as good as his word,
Carmelo said he was gonna go hard in the paint.
He's done exactly that.
And take a look at this in the break, perfectly executed Spanish Fly here.
Both men laid out afterwards,
but ultimately Carmelo Hayes regaining control.
[Graves] Hayes now cranking at the left arm of Andrade,
who's fighting desperately to escape the submission.
The jawbreaker does it momentarily.
[Wade] I'll tell you this, I think Andrade
is in shock at the lucha skills of Carmelo Hayes.
-[Graves] Oh-ho-ho! -Carmelo, a man who can do it all,
but take nothing away from the power game of the supposed luchador, Andrade.
[Graves] Take another look
at this thunderous clothesline from Andrade,
showing he's got power to spare.
[Wade] Two Superstars that are as versatile
as they come in the ring.
But this isn't about technical now. It's gonna be about grit.
Who wants this more?
-Come on! -[Graves] Andrade calling for more.
Feeling the adrenaline pumping through his veins.
And now a series of open-hand strikes has Hayes rocked.
-Oh-ho-ho. Beautiful. -[Wade] Dragon screw there.
[Graves] And another!
[Wade] Absolutely shredding the knees of Carmelo Hayes.
[Graves] Big forearm by Andrade!
Carmelo Hayes all out of sorts in the bottom turnbuckle,
which is not where you want to be.
[Wade] Both Superstars worse for wear,
but it is Andrade who has got that second wind
just when he needs it.
[crowd clapping rhythmically]
[Graves] I got a bit of a premonition that it may be Carmelo Hayes himself
who's seeing shadows.
Double knees in the bottom buckle!
Into the cover goes Andrade.
[crowd counts]
[Graves] And Carmelo refusing to relent.
[Wade] Well, it's Melo who tried to beat Andrade at his own game.
Andrade weathering that storm
and now proven he can slug it out with anyone.
[Graves] Andrade could be thinking about the message, perhaps…
gonna go for a vertical suplex.
Escapes out the back door does Hayes.
Here comes Carmelo. Around we go. Facebuster!
Down goes Andrade.
Into the cover is Hayes.
[Wade] Both men known for their speed and movement,
but they are both hurting in a big way at the moment.
You cannot remove the athleticism of Carmelo Hayes though.
That is what he made--
That is what made him an absolute A-tier star in NXT,
and is likely to do the same in the future here on SmackDown.
[Graves] Andrade has not looked like the same athlete
since being driven chin-first into the center of the ring moments ago,
courtesy of Hayes.
[Wade] Carmelo Hayes has the ability to do that to his opponents.
We've seen it time and time again over the past three years
under the WWE umbrella.
Now, he has to go in for the kill though.
[Graves] Andrade able to knock Hayes off the top.
The luchador extremely comfortable in the high-rent district.
Here comes the moonsault!
[Wade] Wow!
[Graves] Hooks the leg.
That's gonna do it.
No!
[Wade] Simply cannot write off Carmelo Hayes.
But wow, what athleticism from Andrade!
[Graves] And even a look of disbelief on the face of Andrade
after adjusting mid-maneuver
and still delivering the moonsault.
[Wade] It's like that highest speed game of chess I have ever seen.
That double moonsault deserved a victory
and perhaps would have got it against most, but not Carmelo Hayes.
[Graves] Carmelo Hayes kicks out the knee of Andrade.
Oh-ho-ho man!
[Wade] Good old-fashioned club to the face,
followed by a knee to the jaw.
[Graves] These two are dropping the heavy artillery tonight on SmackDown.
Elbow in the chin.
That's gotta do it.
Unbelievable!
[Wade] A thousand times I've seen Carmelo Hayes written off
over the past three years,
and a thousand times he has bounced back.
He does it again.
Spinning elbow to the jaw simply wasn't enough.
Andrade, what else have you got up your sleeve?
[Graves] Andrade looking to reach deep into his arsenal,
now perched yet again on the top turnbuckle.
Here comes Andrade.
And Hayes counters!
First 48.
Into the cover.
Andrade beats the count.
[Wade] Well, Andrade was just a little sluggish
getting to that top rope, such is the beating
he has taken from Melo!
[Graves] Melo wanted nothing but net. Andrade sensed it coming.
Looking for the facebuster yet again.
Andrade into The Message.
That's gotta do it.
[crowd counts]
-[Graves] And Andrade picks up the win. -[bell rings]
["Conquistar" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Andrade!
[Graves] What a battle!
An outstanding effort by both Superstars.
[Wade] One of those rare occasions where it's a shame
that somebody had to lose this match,
after the kind of effort both put in,
absolutely blowing the minds of this audience here in Omaha.
It was Melo who went big at the end,
but then Andrade simply had too much in the playbook, connecting right here
for the one, two, three.
Two men leaving it all out there this evening.
Andrade with a big W.
[Graves] That's the name of the game on Friday Night SmackDown, Wade.
Everybody stepping up their game, knowing what's on the line,
realizing SummerSlam is right around the corner.
Championship opportunities could be right around the corner.
One win and your life could change for good.
A massive momentum builder for Andrade continuing
what he did at Money in the Bank.
Looking to move up the ladder here on SmackDown.
Talking about building momentum, let's take it back
to last week here on Friday Night SmackDown
in the women's division as Queen Nia Jax prepares for her SummerSlam showdown
with Women's WWE Champion Bayley.
Things got ugly in a hurry last week, Wade.
[Wade] Well, Jax was taking on Michin,
and ultimately that distraction on the outside led to this Annihilator
and a huge victory for the Queen of the Ring.
But things weren't ended there as they turned their attention
to Women's Champion Bayley,
who got completely flattened by the duo of Stratton and Nia Jax.
And here's the shock.
Are we gonna see a cash-in?
No, we're not.
It came close, but Nia Jax
wanting to protect her investment ahead of a big match at SummerSlam.
Tiffany Stratton had second thoughts.
[Graves] Well, as we roll toward Cleveland,
the WWE Women's Champion Bayley
and the Queen of the Ring winner Nia Jax are here.
We will hear from both Superstars
ahead of their SummerSlam championship match next.
♪ …beast of the game and I'm killin' it ♪
♪ …the crowd, look at 'em engage ♪
♪ Walk in the stage, watch the fans wave ♪
Wade, I want to talk about what's going down two weeks from tomorrow
in Cleveland at SummerSlam.
We will see Bayley defend her WWE Women's Championship
against the winner of the Queen of the Ring tournament,
Nia Jax.
Ladies, thank you both for joining me.
Nia, I want to start by asking you about Cleveland, about some--
I'm not even listening to you, Corey.
Uh, stop.
Look at me and look at Bayley.
Start feeling sorry for Bayley right now…
because at SummerSlam, I'm going to beat her.
I'm going to take her title,
and I'm gonna put her down like an old, sick dog.
I'm gonna put her out of my misery.
Man, Nia, you haven't changed in these ten years
that we've known each other.
Not one bit.
Bayley, I have changed, okay?
Before you go on too little long, I am your Queen of the Ring.
And you should address me as Queen Nia.
Oh, I'm gonna address you how I want to address you. Okay?
And you know what I meant, Nia.
You're the same heartless woman you were since day one.
You got the same big mouth,
and you just walk around like you own the place.
You're the same Nia that, in 2017, took me out of my SummerSlam match.
-Oh, we're gonna go there? -Yeah, we're going there.
And I'm gonna finish what I'm saying.
You took me out of my SummerSlam match,
and that changed the trajectory of my whole career.
But you didn't hurt me
because you're so big and you're so much stronger than me,
or that you're so vicious.
You hurt me because you're big,
you're clumsy, and you're reckless.
You know what, honestly, Bayley…
I'm pretty content being your Queen of the Ring.
I am the Queen of this division.
I'm on top.
I'm coming for that title
because I get to take it off of you.
All right, Nia, well, I have some bad news for you, okay?
And I don't want you to listen to what all these people are saying,
you know, that…
that you're so much bigger and you're gonna mop the floor with me.
No. I want you to look at me right now.
And if you're telling me that you've changed so much since 2017,
then believe me that I have too. Okay?
And I'm walking in to SummerSlam with this WWE Women's Championship
and I'm walking out of SummerSlam with this WWE Women's Championship.
And there's not a damn thing that you can do to stop me.
Is this done yet?
[Wade] Wow, well, the temperature is rising between those two.
And it hits boiling point two weeks from tomorrow at SummerSlam,
as WWE Women's Champ Bayley defends against the Queen of the Ring,
the fearsome and perhaps unstoppable Nia Jax.
[Graves] That's Queen Nia Jax to you, Wade.
And you can get your SummerSlam weekend started with SummerSlam Kickoff on Friday,
August 2nd, starting at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
Kickoff will take place right outside of Rocket Mortgage Arena
before SmackDown.
Now, this event is free to fans and will be broadcast live on Peacock
and all WWE social platforms.
♪ Money makes you happy Heaven isn't real ♪
-I'll be all good. -Yes…
Excuse me.
-You two look lost. -Mm-hmm.
We are not lost.
We are here to talk to Mr. Aldis.
Girl. Unh-unh, not before us because we're about to go talk
to Nick about getting our Tag Team Title rematch right now.
Let me guess. You're gonna go talk about losing and complain
'cause you're big, complaining losers.
Isn't that exactly what you're about to go do?
-Exactly. -Hey, we're not talking about her.
That's right. We're talking about you two.
So, scoot on over because we are talking to Mr. Aldis.
-Girl, whatever. -No, no, no, no, wait, wait, wait, wait.
You know what? You know what? She's right.
Our talk can wait
'cause you getting on my nerves right now.
So, since we can't decide on who's gonna talk to Nick first,
how about you meet me in the ring tonight and we settle it there?
-I like that. -You like that?
Yeah. So, come see me. Come see me.
-Bye. -We'll see you there.
[Green] I can't make it.
♪ I'm on my own ♪
♪ Against the wall ♪
[Graves] This is how we settle things the old-fashioned way, Wade, in the ring.
[Wade] Business gets done very quickly here on SmackDown.
Hats off to Nick Aldis for getting this one signed.
♪ Think I'd fall down? ♪
[bell rings]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by Jade Cargill,
from Knoxville, Tennessee,
Bianca Belair!
[Graves] Wade, it's no secret that both Belair and Cargill are still stinging
about what happened in Glasgow at Clash at the Castle,
losing their coveted WWE Women's Tag Team Titles
without actually being pinned.
[Wade] Well, Bianca Belair gets a chance at a little redemption here
as she goes one-on-one
with that mouthy irritant Chelsea Green next here on SmackDown.
♪ Instead of crying, they hear me… ♪
[Graves] SummerSlam is sponsored by C4, the official energy drink of WWE.
Available anywhere energy is 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.
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
But right now we are set for singles action
as Bianca Belair prepares to battle Chelsea Green,
and of course, Belair standing side-by-side with Jade Cargill,
her former Tag Team Championship partner.
["Hot Mess" playing]
I don't know about you, Wade.
I'm just glad Chelsea's recovered
after that nasty fall at Money in the Bank.
♪ Whoa, I'm a hot mess ♪
[Alicia] And her opponent, accompanied
by Piper Niven,
from Victoria, B.C.,
Chelsea Green!
♪ You cannot doubt, are you kiddin' me? ♪
♪ They look at my light for the energy ♪
[Graves] Bad News, I know you got sources in the locker room.
You have your ear on the ground.
Why is Piper Niven always perpetually in such a nasty, nasty mood?
[Wade] That is what makes her so effective.
It's like a dog barking.
The louder the bark, the more likely you're gonna stay away.
The bigger the sneer or look of disgust from Piper Niven,
the more likely you keep away from her.
She can be mean, she can be nasty, but she's highly effective.
And I'm pretty sure that's why Chelsea Green
-loves hanging out with Piper. -[Graves] Listen, you and I…
You and I are pals, so I'm not gonna tell Piper
you just compared her to a dog.
Instead, we're gonna have one-on-one action as The EST…
And Chelsea Green, showing a little bravado of her own.
[Wade] Chelsea Green had the travel day from hell
thanks to the tech meltdown around the world.
Hats off that she's even here, especially after, as you mentioned,
that fall at Money in the Bank,
but slapping Bianca Belair to start things off may not be the smartest move.
[Graves] Holy cow!
My God, what a German suplex by Belair!
[Wade] Chelsea Green's toes just hit the roof of this building.
[Graves] Hopefully, Chelsea saved the neck brace in her travel bag.
She may need it after that suplex.
Here comes Green yet again and just scooped by Belair.
K.O.D. on its way.
[Wade] Smartly scrambling out of there is Chelsea Green.
[Graves] O'Connor roll. Got the tights.
[Wade] Almost stealing one.
-[crowd counts] -[Green] No!
-[Graves] And Belair with the win. -[bell rings]
♪ I'm on my own ♪
♪ Against the wall ♪
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Bianca Belair!
[Wade] You see those flashes of brilliance from Chelsea Green
but immediately caught up in her own aura of nonsense.
And, of course, somebody as good as Bianca Belair is gonna capitalize.
♪ I'ma watch you fall down ♪
[Graves] Here comes Niven and here comes Cargill.
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
[Wade] Four women who simply do not like the look of one another,
and perhaps smartly, Chelsea Green dragging Piper Niven out of harm's way.
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
[Graves] Belair and Cargill with unfi-- Wait, hang on.
[Isla laughing] Jade, Bianca, we hear you've been looking for us.
And, oh, we just love
how passionate you are
about our titles. [giggles]
We get it. When you're champion, you have all the power.
And right now, we have everything.
[Isla laughs]
But lucky for you,
we're gonna give you just a tiny glimpse of these next week.
But when it comes to your rematch…
[laughing]
We'll see.
[both laughing]
["The Depths" playing]
[Graves] I somehow doubt that "We'll see"
was the answer that Belair and Cargill had hoped for.
Alba and Isla playing mind games in the women's tag division.
[Wade] Well, here's something I always love to see.
-[crowd cheers] -And so does the entire world.
It's The Megastar. He's out next.
Hopefully a contract signing for the United States Championship next!
♪ 'Cause ain't nobody got me ♪
[Graves] Cleveland will be the center of the WWE Universe starting
Friday, August 2nd.
The weekend starts with SummerSlam Kickoff
and SmackDown at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse,
followed by the comedy hit "Sami Zayn and Friends Do Cleveland"
at the Agora Theater.
Saturday, Undertaker's critically acclaimed "1 deadMAN Show"
takes the stage at the Agora in the afternoon.
SummerSlam coverage begins at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.
The biggest party of the summer wraps up with the SummerSlam Post-Show
immediately following SummerSlam, all on Peacock.
♪ I'm runnin' off the edge They say I'm just a wreck ♪
[Wade] Well, we started off hot here on SmackDown,
and it has set us up for a tag match in tonight's main event,
as A-Town Down Under will take on Cody Rhodes
and an as-yet-unfound partner.
You better get moving, Cody.
Time is running out.
That is later on tonight here on SmackDown.
♪ Wait a minute, wait a minute ♪
[Graves] Well, tonight's Friday Night SmackDown
on Fox is sponsored by Progressive.
Let's send it up to the ring and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis.
♪ Hey, we the legends, we did it We said it, we meant it… ♪
[music fades]
Ladies and gentlemen, as you know,
SummerSlam is right around the corner.
And as your SmackDown General Manager,
it is my responsibility to deliver the biggest and best matchups
I possibly can.
So, with that in mind,
I hold in my hand a contract.
It is already signed by me
and it is already signed by one of the participants.
It is for the United States Championship match at SummerSlam.
So, all that is left
for this to be fully executed is the signature
of the United States Champion.
So, without further ado…
please welcome first the challenger,
"The Megastar" LA Knight.
-[crowd yells "Yeah"] -♪ LA Knight ♪
♪ Oh yeah, I wanna see you dance ♪
["Welcome To LA" playing]
[Graves] Well, Bad News, we know LA Knight has already done his part
and put pen to paper.
Is The Megastar truly ready for Logan Paul
at SummerSlam?
[Wade] I would have said every single time
I've seen Logan Paul compete
that his opponent is more than ready for him,
and on most occasions I've been completely wrong.
But I'll tell you this, Corey, the biggest events on the calendar
need the biggest stars, and "The Megastar" LA Knight
is every inch one of the biggest stars in this entire industry.
-And I, for one… -[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
[Wade] …like the entire WWE Universe,
are hoping this contract gets signed, sealed, delivered tonight.
[music fades]
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the United States Champion,
Logan Paul.
[crowd boos]
[Logan] Ayo!
["Take Flight" playing]
[Graves] Well, Wade, The Maverick,
our United States Champion, Logan Paul, may be polarizing,
may be brash,
but no one can deny
what Logan Paul is capable of inside the ring.
[Wade] Just a complete natural and absolute magnet to the spotlight
at whatever he turns his hand to, but let's…
Let's be honest, nothing ever runs smoothly with Logan Paul,
and you have to anticipate, as he struts his stuff into the ring,
there's gonna be some form of chicanery here.
Sure.
[music fades]
[crowd boos]
[crowd chants "LA Knight"]
Right when you close it.
Ah, hey, Omaha, let me ask you a question.
[crowd boos]
Why would I give this hillbilly Aladdin,
Sons of Anarchy extra-looking, Larry the Lobster dude
a shot at my United States Championship?
Hey, edgelord, over here.
You talk about… there's no reason for you to face me.
And in a way, man, maybe you're right.
Maybe you should just go ahead and take a walk
and we'll think about this later.
But the one thing I think about before you do do that is I just…
I start to think that one reason you might want to reconsider
is the fact that every time we've been face-to-face,
I have owned and cooked you.
[crowd cheers]
Let's take us back just a year ago.
I walked right down that aisle…
I presented you a map…
[crowd] Yeah!
…and I told you it would give you the exact directions…
[crowd] Yeah!
…of where you can stick each and every bottle of Prime.
[crowd] Yeah!
Now, that was a year ago.
Now, in the meantime, you become the United States Champion.
And congratulations to you.
Thank you very much, LA Knight.
[crowd boos]
I can't take that away from you.
If you're holding that, I tell you what, man, you are the man.
You're the guy around here as long as you hold that.
So, I figure to myself, maybe it's time for my shot.
So, I ask you for it and you tell me no.
So, I decided to take that into my own hands.
I show up to your house, your goofy little friends, they let me in.
I make myself at home in the pool, make it into my own little toilet.
And what's that do?
All that did was it got me a Money in the Bank qualifying match.
But what that did was it got me to pin your shoulders right here on this mat.
[crowd cheers]
Now, that felt good.
That felt damn good. And I want to do it again.
But it didn't give me what I want because I want…
What I want is sitting right on your shoulder.
So, now I chase you all around the damn world
just to get you to sign this contract and still--
Oh my God.
Listen to yourself, Shaun.
[crowd boos]
You sound pathetic.
You're a grown man. Look at you.
Look how bad you want this.
The fact is, you need this.
You need this match against me.
I don't need this match.
[crowd jeers]
And that's a fact, LA Knight. We are not the same, brother.
See, the difference between you and me is your entire existence
is defined by what you do in this ring, but not me.
See, when I leave this ring, I'm interviewing former presidents,
building multi-billion-dollar businesses, starting a family,
changing the landscape of sports media with my brother.
The last name Paul echoes throughout the zeitgeist of culture.
[crowd boos]
And that's not to say that what you do in this ring is not important.
It is.
You're very good.
In fact, I like this whole catchphrase, bodybuilder shtick you got going.
It's a good gimmick.
See, my real problem with you, LA Knight, is…
you want my accolades, but you are not me.
You don't think like me.
You don't move like me.
You want to be the champion, but you are not him.
And for someone whose entire existence
is defined by what they do in this ring…
you have not had a single defining moment in the past 20 years.
You are a gym bro
with a spray tan and a catchphrase pretending to be The Rock.
[crowd] What?
[crowd boos]
Oh-ho-ho.
Oh, cut me, I bleed.
I've never heard that one before.
Leave it to you to use old material.
Low rent, lowbrow, low T.
Low T Logan P.
I tell you what. You talk about the United States Championship,
you talk about frauds.
Let's talk about frauds for a second,
'cause here's a man parading around as the United States Championship.
Here's a man playing fraud on this whole damn company,
pretending to be the United States Champion.
And meanwhile, you won't sign a contract. And isn't that funny?
I'm glad you mentioned your brother because you mentioned your brother…
Your brother is willing to jump in the ring with Mike Tyson,
but you don't seem to have the balls to jump in the ring with me.
[crowd cheers]
I guess balls don't run in the family, now, do they?
[crowd] Oh!
Y'all want this match?
I'll tell you what, LA Knight.
I'll sign your little contract.
I'll give you the shot at glory.
Give me this, Nick.
Hey, how about this?
After I beat you at SummerSlam, you will have nothing.
I'd say I'm gonna take everything from you,
but you have nothing of value to give me.
In fact, open this up, Nick. How about this? I'ma give you something.
On the back of this, I'm gonna draw a map
that you can follow with the exact directions
where you can stick your dreams of becoming a WWE Champion.
Yeah!
[crowd boos]
[inaudible]
[Graves] Seems to me like Logan Paul struck a nerve in The Megastar.
[indistinct arguing]
Tempers are flaring mid-ring,
Aldis in between these two Superstars.
[Wade] About the most smack talk we've ever crammed into five minutes.
Things are about to explode here.
[crowd chants "LA Knight"]
[Graves] It sounds like LA Knight at least the sentimental favorite come SummerSlam.
That's familiar territory for Logan Paul.
[Wade] And here we go.
[Graves] Logan Paul bringing the fight to LA Knight,
who's turned the tables.
[Wade] A standardized cheap-shot attempt by Logan Paul,
who once again gets the upper hand.
A big right hand. No!
[Graves] Oh!
Logan Paul nearly felt a BFT.
[crowd boos]
And come SummerSlam, that could make all the difference.
-["Welcome To LA" playing] -[Wade] The Megastar looks primed
and ready to take a chunk out of Logan Paul.
-[Logan shouting] -[fan] You suck.
[Wade] Wow, that entire thing was exhilarating.
But it is official. That's the most important part.
It's Larry the Lobster versus the Edgelord, or to the rest of us,
"The Megastar" LA Knight versus Logan Paul
for the United States Championship at SummerSlam.
Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Yeah!
Did you just make a Larry the Lobster reference, like SpongeBob?
I'm ripping those guys off.
[laughs] Well, the contract has been signed. It's official.
The United States Title on the line come SummerSlam.
But, Wade, while we're talking contracts,
there's a particular contract available here in WWE.
It's very highly coveted. It guarantees you an opportunity
to cash in at the time and place of your choosing.
Let's take a look at Ms. Money in the Bank.
♪ 'Cause I'm greater than all of you ♪
["Pink Bubblegum" by Scene Queen playing]
♪ I'm about to pop like bubblegum ♪
[Tiffany] When you're Tiffany Stratton, perfection comes easy.
♪ I'm in it for the fame I don't want your love ♪
♪ Yeah, I'm about to pop like bubblegum ♪
[cash register dings]
♪ I'm about to pop your music bubble ♪
♪ I'll be pickin' fights Gonna get in trouble ♪
♪ Label said to watch the way I talk ♪
-♪ But I'm about to pop ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Pop off ♪
♪ I'm the drama queen, so I keep abusin' ♪
♪ All these clichés everybody else uses ♪
♪ Do it for the spite So I keep on chewin' ♪
♪ And make them all talk Bubblegum, when I pop off ♪
♪ I'm about to dead your temper tantrum ♪
♪ Girl said she loves me 'Cause I'm handsome ♪
[Tiffany] I'm gonna go down in history
as one of the best NXT Women's Champions of all time.
♪ I'm about to pop your music bubble ♪
♪ I'll bе picking fights Gonna get in trouble ♪
♪ Label said to watch the way I talk… ♪
[Tiffany] I'm the Center of the Universe. Everything goes my way.
♪ I'm the drama queen, so I keep abusin' ♪
♪ All these clichés everybody else uses ♪
♪ Do it for the spite So I keep on chewin' ♪
♪ And make them all talk Bubblegum, when I pop off ♪
[Cole] Money in the Bank will change your career.
[Tiffany] It's Tiffy Time!
♪ I'm the drama queen, so I keep abusin' ♪
♪ All these clichés everybody else uses ♪
[Graves] What time is it?
[Wade] Tiffy Time!
♪ And make them all talk Bubblegum, when I pop off ♪
♪ Bubblegum, when I pop off ♪
[Tiffany] Toodles!
[Cole] It is Tiffy Time!
Ms. Money in the Bank!
[Tiffany] The Center of the Universe just won Tiffy in the Bank.
♪ Label said to watch the way I talk ♪
Better get used to seeing this face.
♪ Bubblegum, when I pop off ♪
[music ends]
It's Tiffy Time.
["Tiffy Time" playing]
♪ Drop, I'm going in Bass so loud, it's in my skin ♪
♪ Drop, I wanna see you drop Drop, drop, drop ♪
[bell rings]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by Queen of the Ring, Nia Jax,
she is the 2024 Ms. Money in the Bank,
Tiffany Stratton!
[Graves] Well, Wade, it may be Nia Jax
who currently has a championship opportunity
two weeks from tomorrow at SummerSlam,
but many would consider Tiffany Stratton the most dangerous woman in WWE
as Ms. Money in the Bank.
[Wade] Yes, indeed.
She's up next,
and she's got a threat to deal with in the form of Michin.
Stratton, Michin, next right here on SmackDown.
[soft, dramatic music playing]
[Cody] 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.
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Na-na-na-na-na, whoo ♪
♪ Get ready for the roar ♪
♪ Everybody screaming whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
["Roar" by iSeeMusic playing]
♪ Get ready for the roar ♪
♪ Everybody screaming whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ We're getting ready for the roar ♪
♪ Get ready for the war ♪
♪ Everybody screaming whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Get ready for the… ♪
♪ Na-na-na-na-na ♪
[music fades]
[crowd cheers]
LA Knight!
-Ew! -[laughs]
Hey, congrats, man, on finally…
Stalker!
…getting your United States Championship match.
It must be a great feeling, right?
I mean, you pin Logan Paul at Madison Square Garden.
It must be like sitting on top of the world, right?
What's with all the questions, Cronkite?
Where is this going?
Hey. Bup, bup, bup, bup.
Just a friendly reminder.
I was in that match, and I didn't get pinned.
All right.
You know and I know and she knows and everybody knows
if it was me and you, hombre a hombre, it would have been a different story.
Clearly, you didn't major in history
'cause I've been a part of that story a couple times and I know how it went.
But I tell you what. SummerSlam is still a couple weeks away,
so I might have a little free time.
If you want to get in touch with me, your mom's got my number.
[Escobar laughs]
You feel so untouchable, huh?
Facing me so close to your title shot, not the brightest idea.
Wouldn't want to get hurt.
Hmm.
Well, if he's so eager to squander your opportunity,
who am I to stop you?
I'll even help.
Let's go.
[Graves] Certainly, some unfinished business
between LA Knight and Santos Escobar.
But, Bad News, it's Tiffy Time.
[Wade] And there's a lot of unfinished business held within that briefcase.
That is the contract for a championship opportunity
whenever Tiffy wants it.
♪ You know, you know That she's that beauty… ♪
[Alicia] And her opponent, from Fontana, California,
Michin!
♪ Best believe ♪
[Graves] Tonight, Friday Night SmackDown
on Fox is sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
And, Wade, Michin has been on an absolute tear as of late
since sort of breaking free, stepping out of the shadow of The O.C.,
utilizing what she has learned throughout her career.
Michin has been a real force over the past several months here on SmackDown.
[Wade] Yeah, there's been a little while here on SmackDown
and indeed Raw that Michin was perhaps lost in the shuffle.
I like the way she's taken the bull by the horns at this point.
She is a veteran.
She's as tough as they come,
and she clearly is not intimidated
by the likes of Tiffany Stratton or Queen Nia Jax on the outside here.
[Graves] Oh, inside cradle by Michin.
Big dropkick takes down Ms. Money in the Bank.
Remember several weeks ago it was Michin
who stepped up to Queen Nia Jax.
That issue is yet to be fully resolved,
as a cannonball is delivered in the bottom turnbuckle.
Michin looking to cover Stratton here.
[Wade] Very few women in the locker room
have the guts to go one-on-one with Queen Nia Jax,
especially when there's nothing at stake.
No gold on the line to sweeten the deal yet.
Anyway, that may be a different case after SummerSlam.
-But Michin fears nobody. -[Tiffany] No, no, no, no, no!
[Graves] Michin giving chase and…
[indistinct yelling]
Stratton from behind Nia Jax delivers a forearm, and here we go.
Have an Alabama slam on the outside.
That's it, call it.
Michin ain't getting up from that.
[Wade] The skull of Michin bouncing off the ground.
Referee taking a close look.
This match, in theory at least, continues.
[Graves] Live from Omaha, this is Friday Night SmackDown on Fox,
and at the moment, Ms. Money in the Bank
Tiffany Stratton in control of Michin.
[Wade] Well, I said Michin was as tough as they come,
and I'll give her all the credit in the world
for getting up off the outside of the ring after getting her head bounced off there…
[Graves] Wow!
[Wade] …by Tiffany Stratton, but there is no respite.
[Graves] Cover here by Stratton.
[Wade] Tiffany Stratton got the upper hand thanks to that woman,
Queen Nia Jax, serving as a distraction.
What a formidable duo Ms. Money in the Bank
and the Queen of the Ring have formed.
[Graves] And look at Stratton's athleticism
and great power.
Puts Michin down.
Hooks the leg.
[Wade] Tiffany Stratton starting to show a little frustration here,
perhaps underestimating just how tough Michin is.
Get up!
[Wade] But Michin is looking groggy.
She's looking glazed over in the eyes.
[Graves] Stratton looking for the Alabama slam yet again,
this time inside of the ring.
Michin able to escape out the back.
Sunset flip.
[Wade] You just know Michin's gonna keep on fighting with whatever she's got.
[Graves] Backslide. Shoulders down.
[Wade] Hoping to catch out the less experienced Tiffany Stratton.
[Graves] And here comes Michin able to string together some offense.
[Wade] Every shot that Michin is throwing at Tiffany Stratton,
you see the pain registering on her own body,
but finally getting a little momentum here.
[Graves] You can see Michin still favoring her lower back,
presumably from the Alabama slam
delivered before the commercial break on the outside!
Tornado DDT.
Scrambling for the cover is Michin.
[Wade] It would behoove Michin to get this one finished as quickly as possible.
Still able to pull out moves like this tornado DDT.
Not quite enough to put away Ms. Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton.
[Graves] Well, Wade, you know as well as any Superstar
who stepped inside the ring.
When your lower back is injured,
it changes the entire complexion of your game.
[Wade] Nothing worse than a busted-up spine.
And it's not getting any easier for Michin.
[Graves] Ooh, wow!
Cover again by Ms. Money in the Bank.
[Wade] Michin must feel like she has been run over,
and a lesser Superstar at this point would have just given up.
"Pin me. Get it over with."
Take another look at this connection here from Tiffany Stratton.
[Graves] See the malice in the eyes of Ms. Money in the Bank,
as she positions Michin on the top turnbuckle.
[Wade] Get a sense that Tiffany Stratton is simply looking
to impress Nia Jax on the outside…
[Graves] Oh wow!
[Wade] …with her offense, but take your eye off Michin for a second
and you're gonna regret it, just like Tiffany Stratton does now.
[Graves] Michin trying to fight through the pain,
trying to fire herself up, and Nia Jax on the outside.
[Wade] Referee missed the whole thing.
[crowd boos]
Michin fighting battles on two fronts tonight.
[Graves] Oh, Stratton connected with a right from the outside of the ring.
It's rocked Michin.
Rolling senton by Ms. Money in the Bank.
And here it comes, Wade, the Prettiest--
-[Tiffany] Hey! -[Graves] Wait a minute.
Oh, look who's here.
The WWE Women's Champion, Bayley…
And Nia Jax just sent into the timekeeper's area!
[Wade] Queen Nia, Bayley's opponent at SummerSlam
for the WWE Women's Championship.
[Graves] Bayley's got the Money in the Bank briefcase.
[Wade] Queen Nia just got flattened!
[Graves] The champ just tattooed Nia with the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Bayley's unhinged.
[Wade] Lost her mind.
Bayley, that is an accessory for Tiffy!
[crowd chants "Bayley"]
[Wade] Oh.
[Graves] Watch yourself, Bad News.
From behind, Michin stacks up Stratton.
-Michin wins! -[bell rings]
♪ Ain't hard to see ♪
[Alicia] Here is your winner,
Michin!
[Graves] What a shocking turn of events for Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax!
The arrival of Bayley and the destruction
of Tiffy's coveted Money in the Bank briefcase.
[Wade] It's a double L for Tiffany Stratton
who sees that Money in the Bank briefcase as the ultimate fashion accessory.
It's been trashed.
[Graves] I mean, luckily for Tiffany,
the contract is still valid inside, but…
♪ Times is hard, I'm going hard I wage war ♪
Tonight belongs to Michin and the champ.
♪ I'm that fury, I'm that fire Gon' be hard to stop me ♪
[music fades]
[Sikoa chuckles softly]
Life…
[chuckles]
Life is so good
when you're the Tribal Chief
on the Island of Relevancy.
So good.
But it's also busy.
I never have a moment to myself,
but when I do, you know what I love the most?
Hm?
A good mystery.
Yeah.
I'm not talking about a mystery
of who's gonna be Cody Rhodes' tag team partner.
No, I'm not talking about that.
[soft, ominous music playing]
I'm talking about a mystery of who's gonna step up
and disrespect the Tribal Chief by teaming with Cody Rhodes tonight.
That's who I'm talking about.
Have you seen what we've done to Randy Orton last week?
[scoffs]
Have you?
[crowd groans]
So, if you're on Cody's side, that means you're against me.
You're against my family.
You're against The Bloodline.
And you're against the Tribal Chief.
So, tonight…
[chuckles]
Tonight, tonight better be a handicap match
or someone is gonna pay the price.
Because I am the Tribal Chief…
and you will acknowledge me.
[dramatic music building]
♪ Better than me ♪
[Wade] The Bloodline are a huge problem for Cody Rhodes,
but he has another, more pressing problem.
He needs a tag partner fast.
He's up against A-Town Down Under in tonight's main event.
Who is gonna step up here on SmackDown?
♪ Besting opponents, flexing and focused ♪
[announcer] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[Wade] The former champs look to regain their gold.
They go head-to-head.
-[crowd cheers] -[dramatic music playing]
DIY defend against A-Town Down Under.
[Graves] Theory and Waller need to be laser-focused
on the task at hand to avoid a repeat of what they suffered seven nights ago.
Shoulders down. Here comes Waller.
Oh dear!
[Wade] Waller laid out his own tag partner!
[Waller] Are you kidding me?
[Graves] Shatter Machine!
Meet Me in the Middle!
Cover by Johnny.
And still!
[Wade] Successful retention for the new champions, DIY.
Are we gonna lose every time?
[Graves] What the hell?
Oh God!
[grim music playing]
That's a Samoan Werewolf.
Jacob Fatu is here.
Jacob Fatu, The Bloodline's new Enforcer.
This is a damn walking warning shot.
[music fades]
♪ …for the crowd, look at 'em engage ♪
[Wade] Well, we've got new WWE Tag Team Champions.
All we need now is new Number One Contenders.
We are gonna get one next week
as six of the best collide
in a tag gauntlet Number One Contenders match
right here next week on SmackDown.
[Graves] Well, LA Knight got what he wanted tonight,
a US Title shot at SummerSlam.
But before we get to Cleveland,
The Megastar must go one-on-one with Santos Escobar.
[Wade] Ms. Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton
and Queen Nia Jax were left humiliated tonight.
Next week they get the chance for some payback.
They tag up against Michin
and WWE Women's Champ Bayley here on SmackDown.
[Graves] How about this, Wade?
Terence Crawford, the consensus number one
pound-for-pound boxer in the world,
with a perfect 40-0 record, will move up to 154 pounds
to challenge Israil Madrimov for the Junior Middleweight World Title
August 3rd at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
The event will be presented by Riyadh Season and League 1
under His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.
♪ Big dog in the game, letting them know ♪
♪ I told man, don't test me It's about to get messy ♪
-[music fades] -[crowd cheers]
[crowd cheers]
-Ready? -Ready.
See you out there.
["Fight" playing]
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Well, Wade, how's this for a mystery partner?
[Wade] If there's a punch-up, one man is guaranteed to be there.
The Prizefighter.
[yelling]
[bell rings]
[Alicia] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is a tag team match.
Introducing first, from Marieville, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 242 pounds,
Kevin Owens!
[Graves] Well, it's no secret that the past several weeks
have been extremely emotional for "The Prizefighter" Kevin Owens.
We're pleased to report that KO
was able to update us via social media that his mother,
who was hospitalized, is, in fact, doing better.
But that doesn't mean that Owens is any less ready for a fight tonight.
[Wade] Nah, that man, when the lights come on,
he is ready to swing, intimidated by nobody,
especially The Bloodline and threats from Solo Sikoa.
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
-["Kingdom" by Downstait plays] -[crowd cheers]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every thought out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
[Graves] Well, Wade, we know the Undisputed WWE Champion
is in a fighting mood tonight.
Cody threw hands to kick off SmackDown tonight.
-[crowd sings along] ♪ Whoa! ♪ -[fireworks]
♪ My father said… ♪
[Wade] Already thrown hands tonight.
And when he's done throwing hands, he's gonna throw some more.
And now he's aligned with "The Prizefighter" Kevin Owens.
Punch-ups aplenty in our main event, Corey.
[Alicia] And his tag team partner, from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 222 pounds,
he is the Undisputed WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes!
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] We are counting down the moments
until our main event,
which is sponsored by eBay Motors.
We have our answer. Kevin Owens joins forces with Cody Rhodes
to battle A-Town Down Under.
[fireworks]
♪ My father said… ♪
Next.
♪ …when I was younger ♪
♪ I built my kingdom ♪
♪ Now you bow to me ♪
[Graves] Cody Rhodes standing side-by-side
with "The Prizefighter" Kevin Owens,
ready for our tag team main event.
♪ A-Town ♪
♪ Down ♪
♪ Let's go ♪
♪ A-Town down, scream it out loud ♪
♪ A-Town down, the future's right now ♪
♪ A-Town down, tearin' the place down ♪
♪ A-Town down, you like how that sounds ♪
["A-Town Down" playing]
-Ooh, too good! Too good! -Straighten up there, baby!
♪ Headed to the top And it's not a surprise ♪
[Alicia] And their opponents,
the team of Austin Theory
and Grayson Waller!
[Graves] This is the same braggadocious, hyper-confident duo,
Theory and Waller, who interrupted Cody Rhodes to kick off the evening
here on Friday Night SmackDown.
One of many reasons that Rhodes is ready for a fight tonight.
[Wade] And I'll tell you this, Corey, a lot has been made about how frustrated
Cody has been recently,
and all the issues in KO's personal life.
Let's talk about the now former Tag Team Champions.
They are like a couple of wounded animals right now
after losing their championships to Ciampa and Gargano.
They are ready to lash out at anyone,
and this could be a nasty evening for Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens
if A-Town Down Under really click into gear.
[Graves] Well, Wade, I think it's no secret
that Theory and Waller haven't exactly been on the same page
for the past several weeks,
but what do you think a win over the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion
and one of the top Superstars of the last decade, Kevin Owens,
would do for the psyche of A-Town Down Under tonight?
[Wade] Well, it could be a galvanizing moment
for the former Tag Team Champions.
It will wash away all the personal issues
there have been between the two of them.
[Graves] And tonight's main event is brought to you by eBay Motors.
Austin Theory starting things off
with "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.
What do you think of the decision of Kevin Owens to stand side-by-side,
shoulder-to-shoulder with The American Nightmare
moments after Solo Sikoa warned the entire locker room?
[Wade] I suspect that if Kevin Owens
was in two minds about tagging up with Cody tonight,
the second Solo Sikoa made that…
[Graves] Boom!
[Wade] …KO was guaranteed to be out here.
[Graves] Cover here by Owens.
[Wade] Kevin Owens only has one gear.
It is head-down, straight-first into the firefight.
The more you punch Kevin Owens, the more you threaten him,
the more likely he's gonna punch you back.
[Graves] Case in point.
Owens teeing off on the outside of the ring.
[Wade] The poor Prime bottle gets it every week from KO.
[Graves] Thank goodness we got Grayson Waller here.
[crowd boos]
Tag made. Cody Rhodes now legal.
[Wade] Waller gets a free case of Prime for that.
I think it's in his contract.
Oh!
No, he doesn't. He gets punched in the mouth.
[Graves] Here comes Theory.
And Rhodes…
-[referee] Tag! -[Theory] Hold him.
[referee] Get out. One, two… Get out.
[Wade] Just really nice teamwork here from the former Tag Team Champions.
That's the difference between a legit tag team
and two guys that are kind of thrown together.
As much as they like each other,
as much as they know each other well,
they just cannot compete
with the kind of chemistry that A-Town Down Under have.
[Graves] Chemistry is the name of the game in the tag team division.
Occasionally, you can…
You can succeed for the short term, but you need somebody
who you are mentally on the same exact page with.
-[crowd chants "Waller sucks"] -That's what Theory and Waller had
as WWE Tag Team Champions until the past several weeks.
[Wade] Yeah, maybe you could say… and that last-minute decision by KO
to team up with Cody Rhodes left zero time to come up with a strategy right here.
Cody and Kevin Owens are fighting tonight on pure instincts,
and hoping that is enough to get 'em through.
[Graves] Kevin Owens, the fresher of the two competitors on his team,
just throwing heavy right hands
to the face and the body of the Aussie icon.
Look at KO go.
[Wade] What am I talking about? Strategy?
We all know the strategy for KO.
Keep punching and keep kicking.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Big clothesline by KO.
And another for Theory.
[crowd cheers]
Kevin Owens is firing on all cylinders tonight in Omaha.
[Wade] Flattening everyone in sight.
[Graves] Inverted atomic drop and an enzuigiri by KO.
[Wade] Grayson Waller getting knocked silly as is Austin Theory.
And right now it is a KO show out here.
[Graves] Clear the deck. Cannonball coming!
[Wade] KO might win this on his own here.
-He's a man possessed. -[Graves] You're right.
Owens has been a one-man army for the past few minutes.
[Wade] Zero signs of fatigue whatsoever.
[Graves] Swanton!
But Waller got the knees up.
[Wade] Great instincts there from Grayson Waller
catching the upper spine of The Prizefighter.
[Graves] Big dropkick on the money by Austin Theory.
And a cheap shot to Rhodes on the outside.
Tag made. Here comes Grayson Waller yet again.
[Wade] Straight back to those quick tags from the former Tag Team Champions.
[Graves] Elbow from Waller and another right hand to Rhodes.
Cover by Grayson.
Waller and Theory, in complete control.
This is our main event of the evening on Friday Night SmackDown,
as A-Town Down Under, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory,
battle "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens,
and right now, Wade,
A-Town Down Under in total control.
[Wade] KO the most…
[Graves] Cover here.
[Wade] …durable fighter in WWE, is looking anything but right now.
[Graves] Another cover by Waller.
[Wade] He is getting brutalized in there by A-Town Down Under.
They are not giving him an inch.
Can barely breathe at this point in that cravat from Grayson Waller.
Squeezing all of the oxygen out of Kevin Owens.
[Graves] Agonizing hold to be caught in if you're Kevin Owens.
Great deal of pressure on the jaw, on the neck.
Grayson Waller continuing to crank and now delivering a series of knees
right to the forehead of KO.
[Wade] Absolute brutal, this technique there from Grayson Waller,
the former amateur boxer who can punch with the best of them.
And KO is hurting.
KO is fading,
as are his and Cody Rhodes' chances in this matchup.
[crowd chants]
[Graves] A win tonight could be all it takes, Wade,
to really rally A-Town Down Under,
perhaps put them back into title contention
in the tag team division.
[Wade] Just when you start writing off Kevin Owens,
a sudden burst of energy,
a sudden lunge for a tag, and inches away
from getting the WWE Champ into the match, but denied.
[Graves] With this vicious side of the Aussie icon Grayson Waller, Wade,
what do you think of the strategy thus far from A-Town Down Under
cutting the ring in half?
[Wade] It has been exemplary.
This is the kind of technique that led them all the way to the gold,
to becoming the number one tag team in this industry.
Things went funny over the past few weeks for this duo,
but tonight they have been perfect
and they have to be perfect to beat KO and Cody Rhodes,
and they're inching closer to it.
[Graves] Grayson Waller in a precarious position.
Wade, you know as well as I do, when you're dealing with KO,
this doesn't work.
[Wade] It's a bad move. A bad, bad move.
And it's about to get much worse for Waller.
Or is it?
-[Graves] Well, look at this. -[Wade] Waller's done his homework.
[Graves] To this point in his career, KO has been basically un-superplex-able.
Grayson Waller can change all that right here.
[Wade] Almost like KO is glued to that rope.
[Graves] Short jabs to the body of Waller. KO trying to find his way
out of Waller's grasp.
[Wade] Well, this battle up here now is really the battle for the match.
[crowd yells]
[Graves] Owens now connecting with a series of rights and a headbutt.
Waller teetering precariously.
[Wade] It's a slugfest.
And in that situation, you bet Kevin Owens!
[Graves] Swanton!
[stomping on steel steps]
Kevin Owens now with daylight.
Can KO make the tag to a fired-up
Undisputed WWE Champion?
[Wade] It took everything in the body of KO to get here
and it was worth it.
The Champ's in.
[Graves] The American Nightmare is legal.
[Wade] A completely fresh American Nightmare.
[Graves] And this is what A-Town Down Under had hoped to avoid.
[Wade] All that work, all that effort in flattening Kevin Owens.
[Graves] Uppercut by Rhodes.
Now, a series of jabs.
And a Flip, Flop, and Fly!
A Bionic Elbow from The American Nightmare!
[crowd cheers]
[Wade] And Austin Theory needs help in the worst way possible.
[Graves] Rhodes muscling up Theory.
Great ring awareness by Waller on the outside.
Waller, I believe, executed the tag.
I'm not sure if Rhodes is aware.
DDT by the champ.
[Wade] I don't think he is,
but Waller might not be able to do anything about it.
[Graves] Here comes Waller.
How's that for doing something? Hook of the leg.
Waller!
Nearly knocked off Cody Rhodes.
That would have been enormous for the confidence of A-Town Down Under.
[Wade] Somersault flatliner.
But there's a reason why Cody Rhodes is the WWE Champion.
It's his ability to bounce back from offense like that.
But now Cody is moving very slowly,
and it's A-Town Down Under back in control,
perhaps ready to go in for the kill.
[Graves] Tandem offense seemed to be the plan, but Cody…
Uh-oh, uh-oh.
[Wade] Almost like knee to the jaw again.
[Graves] Rhodes now looking for a Cody Cutter.
[Wade] Theory shoved in the way by Waller once again.
[Graves] Stunner!
[crowd cheers]
[Rhodes yells]
Things are about to go from bad to worse for Austin Theory.
Cross Rhodes.
[crowd counts]
[bell rings]
["Kingdom" by Downstait playing]
[Alicia] Here are your winners, the team of Kevin Owens
and the Undisputed WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare…"
♪ Settle the score No, I will not take a loss ♪
[Graves] Uh-oh.
["Taking It All" playing]
[Wade] The celebrations are short-lived.
[Graves] Here comes the new Tribal Chief, Solo Sikoa,
flanked by Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.
[Wade] There would be consequences
for whoever answered the call as tag partner for Cody Rhodes.
That man, of course,
was Kevin Owens and the consequences may be imminent.
[Graves] Cody trying to take the fight to The Bloodline.
[Wade] About the smartest thing you can possibly do.
It's inevitable. They're not here to talk.
[Graves] Oh, look at Owens. Going to the eye of Tonga Loa.
That's…
That's a page right out of the Haku playbook.
[Wade] It's as nasty as it comes, but most importantly,
it's highly effective.
And Rhodes and KO, as exhausted as they must be,
have got the jump on The Bloodline.
[Graves] Rhodes and Owens looking to work together.
Looking to return the favor on behalf of Randy Orton.
Oh no.
Jacob Fatu!
The Samoan Werewolf, once again.
The Enforcer of The Bloodline.
[Wade] The most dangerous man in WWE.
Fight, Owens, fight for your life.
[Graves] Superkick by Fatu, just stopped Owens in his tracks.
[Wade] This lawless individual,
who simply doesn't subscribe to the rules
that the rest of us do, is out here to maim Kevin Owens.
[Graves] That may have done it.
You want to disrespect my Tribal Chief?
The man that does everything for the family!
[Graves] Jacob Fatu laying a verbal beatdown
on The Prizefighter as well.
This guy is out of control.
[Wade] Enough!
And just like last week, Cody Rhodes is being forced to watch all of it,
and there's nothing he can do.
[Graves] Rhodes trapped in the clutches of Tama Tonga
and Solo Sikoa on the outside,
looking on helplessly as the Samoan Werewolf
feasts on a fallen Prizefighter.
[Wade] Cody would do anything in his power to get in there and stop this.
There's nothing he can do.
[Graves] From the top. Flying headbutt.
[Wade] Security are not coming, guys. And I don't blame them.
[yelling]
[Graves] And Rhodes looks to be the next victimized…
[Sikoa] Get your ass up! Get him up!
[Graves] …at the hands of The New Bloodline.
[Wade] Owens decimated.
[crowd boos]
-[Wade] Oh hell no. -[Graves] Oh God.
Someone get these maniacs under control.
[Wade] Who, Corey?
[Graves] I don't know. Oh jeez.
Somebody…
Aldis, send somebody, get some damn security.
The hell out the way.
[Graves] These guys are gonna wreck everything.
[Wade] The security just quit, Corey.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] And the walking warning shot,
Jacob Fatu again adorning Solo Sikoa
with the sacred Ula Fala.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] The new Tribal Chief, Solo Sikoa…
The New Bloodline
ruling SmackDown with an iron fist.
[crowd chants "We want Roman"] ist.