[WWE signature intro playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[music fades]
["Liar" by Jelly Roll plays]
[Jelly Roll] What's going on, Cleveland?
♪ You ain't nothin' but a liar ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Yeah, I walk right out the fire… ♪
[Graves] It's MGK!
♪ I can hear you in my head In my bed when I'm dreamin'… ♪
[Cole] Brass knuckles.
-LA Knight wins the United States Title. -[bell rings]
♪ Oh, and now, I ain't scared Of tellin' you… ♪
[Graves] Nia Jax is now WWE Women's Champion.
♪ You're nothin' but a liar ♪
[Jelly Roll] Let's go, SummerSlam!
[dramatic music playing]
[Irvin] The following contest is for
the Undisputed WWE Championship!
[Graves] This is the most dangerous form of Solo Sikoa that has ever existed.
[Cole] Taking out Sikoa.
[Graves] Oh, that might do it.
From the top.
[Cole] Critical moment now for the champion.
Cross Rhodes!
Oh no!
-[Graves] Tama Tonga. -[Cole] And Tonga Loa.
Bloodline Rules.
Kevin Owens going after Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.
[Graves] But the numbers game.
-♪ I hear voices ♪ -[crowd cheering]
[Pat] The Wolf is here.
[Cole] Jacob Fatu puts Rhodes through the table!
Big splash!
One, two…
[Cole] Cody somehow stays in it.
["I Am Greatness" playing]
[cheering raucously]
[Cole] He's here!
He's here! He's here!
Roman Reigns is here!
[Pat] A lot of ones to the sky in Cleveland.
[Cole] Reigns, Superman Punch to Solo Sikoa.
[crowd] Ooh ahh!
[Graves] The revival of the Roman Empire!
[Cole] Cody looking back at Reigns.
-Cody Rhodes retains the title. -[bell rings]
[Graves] I'm still in disbelief.
Roman Reigns is back!
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
[Graves] With the WWE Universe still sizzling
in the heat of an epic SummerSlam weekend,
tonight we rock the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma
with Friday Night SmackDown on Fox,
which is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple-threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
♪ I'm dressing the coldest ♪
♪ Impressing the suckers That said I was bogus ♪
[song fades out]
["Kingdom" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
-♪ Adrenaline, in my soul ♪ -[fireworks explode]
♪ Every thought out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain Lights go up, I'm home ♪
[crowd sings along] ♪ Whoa! ♪
[fireworks exploding]
♪ My father said, when I was younger… ♪
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome
the Undisputed WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes!
[Graves] An absolutely thunderous welcome
for the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes,
from the 11,098 fans on hand tonight in Tulsa.
[Wade] Apparently, every single one of whom loved every second
of Cody's defense at SummerSlam.
Let's be clear, as WWE Champ,
these moments of enjoyment are often all too brief.
♪ Whoa! ♪
[fireworks exploding]
[Graves] Rhodes all smiles to kick off SmackDown tonight, Wade.
But everyone in the WWE Universe was left with their jaws on the floor
this past Saturday night at SummerSlam,
when Cody was aided by the unlikeliest of allies.
[crowd cheering raucously]
[Wade] Cody Rhodes got a lot of friends in this industry,
two of whom have turned up to help him in Bloodline Rules
in KO and Randy Orton.
And, of course, the big shock was a major adversary returning
to help him out in his defeat of Solo Sikoa,
that being none other
than The Original Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.
[Graves] Roman Reigns is in the house live tonight.
♪ Bow! Now! ♪
[song fades out]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
[crowd cheering raucously]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
So…
Tulsa.
[crowd cheers]
[Cody] What do we want to talk about?
[crowd cheers]
I don't want to delve into the past.
I want to do something perhaps a little unexpected in this moment.
As wonderful, as epic,
as truly grand as SummerSlam was,
all eyes are on what happens next.
This right here, if you play our game, is the North Star of the industry.
It is the Undisputed WWE Championship.
[crowd cheers]
And I have been thinking
about who I would like to defend my championship against
at Bash in Berlin.
[crowd cheers]
This guy…
["Taking It All (feat. Stevie Stone)" playing]
[Graves] If Cody Rhodes thought he left Solo Sikoa
and The Bloodline back in Cleveland at SummerSlam,
the champion was sadly mistaken.
[Wade] History tells us The Bloodline are rarely dissuaded
from their mission with one loss.
Cody, let me stop you right there.
[crowd boos]
I don't care what you wanna talk about.
I don't care what these people wanna hear.
Shut your mouth, Tulsa!
[crowd boos]
What I wanna talk about is SummerSlam.
Yeah, SummerSlam.
Because we both know if it wasn't for Roman Reigns,
[crowd chanting] OTC! OTC! OTC!
…I would have been champion.
[crowd boos]
So, before you do anything else or say anything else to these people,
you will give me a rematch for that title.
[crowd boos]
So, I said I didn't want to talk about the past,
but you want to talk about SummerSlam?
Let's talk about SummerSlam, the same SummerSlam
where you could not get the job done on your own,
and you caused Jacob Fatu to get hurt!
[crowd cheering]
The same SummerSlam where you have set Roman Reigns on a warpath
because you are cosplaying as The Tribal Chief, right?
The same…
[crowd cheers]
The same SummerSlam that I beat you right here
in the damn center of the ring,
which means you are absolutely, 100% unequivocally delusional
if you think you have any claim to a rematch.
[crowd cheers]
So, Solo, what do you want to talk about?
Beating your ass. That's exactly what I'm about to do right now.
Come on, let's go. Get up. I wanna talk about me beating your ass.
[Graves] Oh no. The Bloodline closing in on Cody Rhodes.
[Wade] Time for talking is over unfortunately,
all too brief.
[Graves] We've seen this movie play out before.
Rhodes is in trouble.
Oh, wait a minute.
Kevin Owens!
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Kevin Owens with a pair of steel chairs
standing shoulder to shoulder with The American Nightmare.
Come on.
[Wade] Once again saving the bacon of Cody Rhodes.
-[indistinct] -Come on!
[indistinct]
[Graves] The issues between The Bloodline and Cody Rhodes certainly far from over.
Rhodes had better be thanking his lucky stars
-for the arrival of The Prizefighter. -I'll deal with you later.
After I find Roman Reigns.
[crowd chanting] Solo sucks! Solo sucks! Solo sucks!
I'll be right here waiting on you.
["Kingdom" playing]
[Wade] Kevin Owens needing no excuse whatsoever
to enter another showdown with The Bloodline,
who thankfully thought better of things.
[song cuts out abruptly]
Kevin.
I'm sorry. I don't mean for this to be awkward, but, uh…
I want to talk to you about something.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] KO! KO! KO!
[indistinct]
Kevin, uh…
I'm sure this…
will be awkward, will be uncomfortable,
and if I know you, which I feel like I do,
you're likely going to say no.
But earlier, before I was interrupted,
I was talking about who I'd like to face for the WWE Championship.
[crowd cheers]
Kevin…
I'd like…
I'd like to face you.
[crowd cheers]
As much as I appreciate that,
I don't… I don't deserve a title match.
I really don't.
I appreciate that as well, but I don't.
Title matches need to be earned.
I've done nothing to earn it.
Look at my win-loss record over the last year.
I don't deserve it.
I appreciate it, I really do, but I'm not the guy, man.
I'm not.
[crowd chanting] You deserve it! You deserve it! You deserve it!
You know what they're saying, right?
They're saying, "You deserve it."
[crowd cheers]
And I had a feeling that you would say no,
but I haven't forgot,
these people haven't forgot the sacrifices that you've made.
Every time I needed somebody in the trenches,
you were there to be in the trenches for me.
[crowd cheers]
You're still The Prizefighter in the prime of your career.
You just happen to be one of my closest friends.
But, Kevin, you can say no all you want.
I am getting ready to walk back there,
have a conversation with Nick Aldis.
And I'm going to tell him all the reasons
why Kevin Owens should face me at Bash in Berlin.
-[Kevin, indistinct] -And Kevin…
[crowd cheering]
Kevin, I am pretty sure Nick's gonna see all the things that I see.
Pretty sure he's gonna see all the things that they see.
-[Kevin, indistinct] -[crowd cheers]
You won the Royal Rumble twice…
And hopefully after that conversation with him,
the only thing I need to say to you is…
I'll see you at Bash in Berlin.
[crowd cheers]
["Kingdom" playing]
[Graves] Well, a reluctant potential challenger in Kevin Owens.
But, Wade, it seems to me that Cody Rhodes has already made his decision.
[Wade] Yes, he has. We will see if that gets made official,
but it has to be said,
KO has put his body on the line for Cody Rhodes
during this championship reign on more than one occasion,
and this is the champ, Cody Rhodes, showing his appreciation for that
and giving a little back to Kevin Owens.
What a classy move!
Obviously, we will await the decision of General Manager Nick Aldis.
But Cody Rhodes is not the only champion
who could leave Tulsa with a much clearer picture of their future
because there are championship implications
up and down the card tonight.
How about this one?
The brand new United States Champion, LA Knight, will be keeping a close eye
on the matchup as Andrade goes one-on-one with Santos Escobar
for the number one contender spot to the US Title.
[Wade] And after last week's Women's Tag Championship Match
ended in disqualification,
Jade Cargill looks to unleash a storm of vengeance
as she goes one on one with Alba Fyre later tonight.
[Graves] And we will take our first steps in crowning a new number one contenders
for the WWE Tag Team Championship as DIY,
the former champs, battle Pretty Deadly
in a Number One Contenders' Qualifying Match tonight.
["A-Town Down" playing]
♪ Let's go ♪
♪ A-Town Down, screamin' out loud ♪
♪ A-Town Down, the future's right now… ♪
[Graves] Our first in-ring competition of the night
will be another Tag Team Championship Number One Contenders' Qualifying Match.
♪ Let's go! You see the future Right in front of… ♪
No matter where we go, we run SmackDown all day.
-Here we go. -[explosion]
[bell rings]
[Alicia] The following is a WWE Tag Team Championship
Number One Contenders' Qualifying Match!
Introducing first A-Town Down Under!
[Graves] A-Town Down Under, fresh off a victory on Monday Night Raw,
look to parlay that momentum into the next step
to become Number One Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
They battle The Street Profits next.
["A-Town Down" continues]
[Graves] Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
Sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
-We have A-Town Down Under in the ring… -[both shouting indistinctly]
…ready for action tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
I love this energy.
Let's go, Profits.
I'm currently standing by with The Street Profits and B-Fab.
And gentlemen, we know The Bloodline are the new WWE Tag Team Champions.
And I know that the both of you are eager to get--
Byron, Byron, I gotta stop you right there.
Because Tez and Dawks are way more than eager.
They're motivated, determined, and on point.
I mean, The Bloodline is shaking in their boots, Byron.
I mean, sure, they won the WWE Tag Team Championships.
-Congratulations, fellas. -[indistinct]
But ever since the real Tribal Chief has showed back up on the scene,
they can't get it together.
And you best believe we're gonna take full advantage of that.
[B-Fab] Mm-hmm.
Three years.
It's been three long years,
and we're on a journey to championship gold.
It just so happens that A-Town Down Under, they in the way.
You know what, Byron?
The Profits are up.
[together] And we want the smoke!
Let's go, boys.
["Bring The Swag" playing]
[Graves] Ford and Dawkins ready to throw down tonight on SmackDown.
♪ I bring the swag like nobody can Don't mean to brag… ♪
[Alicia] And their opponents, accompanied by B-Fab,
Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford,
The Street Profits!
[Wade] Well, it was a gutsy performance
several weeks ago in the Tag Gauntlet here on SmackDown.
Street Profits almost running the entire thing until the very end,
pipped at the post by a much fresher Bloodline.
But perhaps that has galvanized
and added some new belief to this Street Profits team
looking to get back to the very top of the ladder in the tag division.
[Graves] And, Wade, I don't think you can discount
what B-Fab has brought to The Street Profits.
It's a renewed focus, perhaps an enhanced aggression.
B-Fab knows these guys want to make it back to the top of the mountain,
and she has proven invaluable in recent weeks.
Really getting the heads straight of The Street Profits.
[Wade] Undoubtedly, Tez and Dawks, the two men transformed in recent weeks.
Can that carry them all the way to winning this matchup
and moving on in this Number One Contender setup?
[Graves] And again, this is a Number One Contenders' Qualifying Match
for the WWE Tag Team Championships.
Big right by Dawkins connects, but Theory from behind.
This is what Dawkins wanted to avoid.
A-Town Down Under cutting the ring in half almost immediately.
Classic tag team strategy, Wade.
[Wade] Got to be careful with the likes of Theory and Waller
and expect exactly that.
Unfortunately, as much as we said Dawkins was focused,
he took his eye off the ball momentarily there,
and the former Tag Champs made him pay.
[Graves] Chicanery from Waller on the outside,
taking Ford out of the equation.
Wade, I've got to ask you.
It's no secret in recent weeks that A-Town Down Under
haven't necessarily all been on the exact same page.
Does a win tonight put Theory and Waller back on easy street?
[Wade] Well, absolutely. It helps get them there.
I would argue that the match performance on Monday on Raw,
beating Awesome Truth helped them do exactly that.
The performance was perfection.
And I would say that A-Town Down Under look back on peak form.
[Graves] Not that Waller and Theory ever seem to be lacking
in the confidence department,
but a big win on Monday Night Raw could have given them just that tonight.
Here comes the Aussie Icon.
Big clothesline by Waller.
[both shouting indistinctly]
[Graves] Waller and Theory now taking their eyes off the goal,
and Montez Ford soaring through the skies of Tulsa.
Who will advance to become Number One Contender?
[crowd chanting] We want smoke!
[Graves] High stakes tag team action tonight on SmackDown.
It's a Number One Contenders' Qualifying Match
for the WWE Tag Team Championship,
The Street Profits versus A-Town Down Under!
And Austin Theory right on the money with a dropkick.
[crowd boos]
[Graves] Tag made by Grayson Waller from the outside.
[Wade] A-Town Down Under now looking to go in for the kill.
Dawkins is hurting in a big way, taking a lot of punishment thus far.
[Graves] But Dawkins escapes. Waller over Theory.
Big right hand by Dawks.
And a suplex to Theory.
Angelo Dawkins now with a little bit of daylight to make a tag.
[Wade] And there's a fresh and fired up Montez Ford begging for this tag.
There it is!
[Graves] Montez Ford making the climb!
And here we go!
Big clothesline drops Grayson Waller, and another from Ford.
Flapjack by Montez.
Grayson Waller from behind.
Big belly to back suplex.
-And Montez Ford is on a roll right now. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] This guy is feeling it, and so is this arena.
[Graves] Standing moonsault. Hook of the leg.
[crowd] One, two…
[Graves] And Waller keeps this match alive.
[Wade] Getting one step closer to an opportunity
at the WWE Tag Championships held by The Bloodline.
[Graves] You can feel the urgency from Montez Ford now.
From the top turnbuckle.
Waller out of the way.
And just bulldozed Ford back into the A-Town Down Under corner.
[Wade] Oh!
[Graves] Double impact.
-Cover by Theory to advance. -[referee] One, two…
[Wade] Just one slipup, and how quickly this one turned around.
Montez Ford in full control,
but A-Town Down Under showing exactly why they are the former champs.
[Graves] Escape by Ford. Of course, the winners of this contest
will battle the winners
of the Pretty Deadly-DIY matchup later tonight.
Next week--
Superkick by Ford.
Waller on spaghetti legs and…
Dawkins just launched Waller into the timekeeper's area.
[Wade] That freak explosive power of Angelo Dawkins
once again never fails to drop jaws.
[Graves] Ford connects with a kick.
Theory looking for A-Town Down.
Tag made by Dawkins from the outside.
Muscling up Austin Theory.
Montez Ford making the climb to the neutral turnbuckle.
Stacked on Dawkins' shoulders.
Super blockbuster!
-That's gonna do it to advance! -[crowd] One, two, three.
-[Graves] The Profits do it. -[bell rings]
["Bring The Swag" playing]
[Alicia] Here are your winners,
The Street Profits!
[Graves] B-Fab has plenty of reason to celebrate tonight.
What an effort from Ford and Dawkins punching their ticket!
[Wade] Check the chicanery.
Take another look at the super blockbuster,
I believe you called it, Corey. Love it.
That did the damage to Theory.
Grayson Waller just not quick enough after he was bounced off by Angelo Dawkins
on the outside.
And one step closer to a championship opportunity
go The Street Profits.
[Graves] Will it be DIY?
Will it be Pretty Deadly?
We'll have our answer later tonight.
-…what I want-- -I'm sorry.
I don't deserve this title match.
In what world does Kevin Owens not deserve this championship?
I don't deserve it. I haven't earned it.
Look at what's happening on Raw. Randy Orton is wrestling for the World--
-Yeah, Randy deserves it… -And you don't?
…after what happened in King of the Ring. No, I don't. I don't deserve this match.
It's really a moot point, because truth be told,
I'm actually waiting to discuss a championship match
with Roman Reigns when he gets--
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What?
You're… You're kidding?
Roman? You're gonna give the title match to Roman Reigns? Are you…
Look, man, I'm… I'm man enough to admit I don't deserve it.
-But you think Roman Reigns does? Why? -He was champion for 1,300 days.
Oh, I don't care how long he was champion for.
Are you kidding me?
Yeah, he was champion for four years. But he shouldn't have been.
How many times did I have him beat during that reign?
How many times did he… How many times did a lot of people have him beat?
But he always had somebody watching his back
to make sure it wouldn't happen. And look, whatever.
When you're a champion, you gotta do what you gotta do to stay champ. Fine.
But are you kidding me? He deserves this? Why?
The rematch clause that hasn't been enforced in years?
I know I… I never got a rematch after I lost the Universal Title.
So, why does he get one? Because he's Roman Reigns?
Get the hell out of here, man. No way.
You want to see somebody who deserves a title match more than Roman Reigns?
Go to the locker room, open the door, and look in there,
because you'll find somebody. Trust me.
-[scoffs] -I don't need to go to the locker room.
I'm standing right here.
He sees it.
-They see it. -[crowd cheers]
And now, I see it.
At Bash in Berlin, it's Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship.
[crowd cheering]
I guess I will see you in Berlin.
I told you he would go.
[Graves] Nick Aldis has made it official,
but from the WWE Champion to the new WWE Women's Champion.
At SummerSlam, Queen Nia Jax proved to Bayley
why she is The Irresistible Force in WWE.
We'll take a look back at SummerSlam and the new champ live next.
["Liar" by Jelly Roll plays]
[Cole] Holy hell!
He's here!
Roman Reigns is here!
[crowd] Ooh ahh!
♪ You try to keep me down Try to put me underground… ♪
[Cole] The revival of the Roman Empire.
♪ I can hear you in my head, in my bed… ♪
[Wade] For the first time since WrestleMania,
Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown tonight.
♪ Oh, and now, I ain't scared Of tellin' you where… ♪
[Graves] You cannot deny the recent dominance
of The Irresistible Force.
Bayley needs to tire Nia out and try to outlast the challenger.
[music continues]
[Cole] How the hell?
You gotta be kidding me, Bayley!
♪ It's Tiffy Time ♪
[Cole] Ms. Money in the Bank.
The powerbomb!
From the second rope with an annihilator!
And for good measure, a second one by the Queen of the Ring,
who now calls herself champion.
I need pink balloons, a pink carpet.
Why aren't you writing this down? Everything needs to be perfect
for Queen Nia's championship celebration next week.
You know what? I got it. It's fine. Just leave. Ugh.
Okay. Pink balloons…
[together] Yes, girl!
Yes, girl!
Yes, girl, this party sounds so good.
Mwah, mwah. We've got the pink in all its pizzazz.
We would've maybe gone for a fuchsia. But that's just me. I'm an expresser.
Tiffy, if you have the time,
I'm wondering maybe when we win the Tag Team Championships,
you could plan our party.
-Hmm? -[gasps] No, wait.
[gasps]
-Pretty Deadly, The Musical. -Musical.
-We're casting. -We are casting.
-What's your vocal range? -So--
We kind of… We kind of need like Sabrina Carpenter,
but with the joy of One Direction.
-And we need to feel that joy. -And the pain.
I gotta go, guys. I'm busy.
-[sighs] -But the pain of…
-[Kit] Why is there always the pain? -[Elton] Pain?
[Green] Wow!
Aren't you the prettiest little princess at the state fair?
[laughing]
So, are those your plans for Nia's celebration?
Because… [inhales sharply] …if the party is anything like this abysmal outfit,
you should let the classy one take over.
Mmm. Don't you have a ladder to fall off of?
[Green gasps incredulously]
Well, Nia doesn't even like pink.
And if you were really her friend, you'd know that.
That's right. We see right through all this tacky time.
You are clearly looking to cash-in on Ms. Nia.
-This is all a ploy. -Yeah, Fibbany.
[gaps] Oh my God, Chelsea!
-You are so right. -Yeah.
You really are arrogant, oblivious.
And you're even delusional.
You really can do it all, Chels.
Toodles. [giggles shrilly]
-[gasps] -[indistinct]
["Nobody Better Than Me" playing]
Well, this is one of those hell's frozen over moments again,
because I actually agree with Chelsea and Piper.
There's no way Nia Jax can ever trust Ms. Money in the Bank, Tiffany Stratton.
Well, one thing can't be denied, and that's the fact
that there are a lot of Superstars in WWE with their eyes on gold right now,
including Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair,
who, last week, had their sights set on a second reign
as WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
a goal they nearly achieved had it not been for an unexpected arrival.
Find out what I'm talking about in our Progressive Match Flo.
[announcer] Match Flo is sponsored by Progressive.
A triple-threat of protection with home, auto, and more.
[dramatic music playing]
[Graves] Women's Tag Team Championships about to be defended.
Dawn and Fyre defends against Cargill and Belair.
Looking to get a jump start before the opening bell.
And look at the power of the challengers.
Backstabber Swanton combination!
[crowd cheers]
[Wade] Well, it's absolute blitzkrieg here.
And now we've got the K.O.D.
[Graves] Who the hell… Is that…
That's Blair Davenport!
[bell rings]
[Graves] What the hell is Davenport doing out here?
Cargill continuing to soldier forward.
[Wade] What is this relationship about?
-["A Storm Is Coming" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ A storm… ♪
[laughs]
♪ …is coming ♪
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
-accompanied by Bianca Belair… -[shouting indistinctly]
…from Vero Beach, Florida,
Jade Cargill!
[Graves] Well, Wade, Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair
have both had a lot on their minds since Clash at the Castle,
where they lost the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships
without technically being pinned or submitted.
[Wade] Well, technically, they weren't pinned
or submitted last week either,
but now Jade Cargill gets an opportunity at some vengeance
as she goes one-on-one with one half of the Women's Tag Champs, Alba Fyre.
And it's next here on SmackDown.
[shouting indistinctly]
["Ratatata" by Babymetal and Electric Callboy playing]
[Wade] And it is official.
A previously reluctant KO gets a golden ticket.
Three weeks from tomorrow, he challenges "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
for the WWE Championship at Bash in Berlin.
["A Storm Is Coming" playing]
[Graves] Here on Friday Night SmackDown,
we're preparing for singles action involving that woman, Jade Cargill.
You can see Bianca Belair out here by her tag partner's side tonight.
["The Depths" playing]
[Alicia] And her opponent, accompanied by Isla Dawn,
she is one half
of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Alba Fyre.
[Graves] Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn grinning ear to ear with confidence.
The reigning WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
Of course, Wade, this is what we alluded to earlier.
They became the champions
back at Clash at the Castle in Glasgow, Scotland
by defeating… not the champions.
[Wade] Well, arguably speaking,
they only have that gold to their name at this point
because Blair Davenport assisted them last week
in a disqualification against the former champions.
And you understand why Jade Cargill
and Bianca Belair have been so aggrieved with this duo.
They feel, in a straight-up two-on-two matchup,
they win every single time.
[Graves] Let me ask you this, Wade. In a one-on-one situation,
as we have tonight, how does Alba Fyre approach this matchup,
knowing that, before the opening bell,
she's already out-muscled and overpowered by Jade Cargill?
What does a veteran like Fyre need to do tonight?
[Wade] Physically, you simply cannot…
-[bell rings] -…match Jade Cargill.
[Wade] You need to do what Nia Jax did several weeks ago
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
You have to play some mind games with Jade Cargill
and make her beat herself.
That is a wily veteran way to do it,
and Alba Fyre certainly has those veteran wiles.
-[shouts] -[referee, indistinct]
[Graves] Waistlock applied by Alba Fyre. To the surprise of absolutely no one,
Cargill has found her way out and is now dominating
with her strength yet again.
[Wade] Alba Fyre has certainly been in there
with bigger, stronger Superstars before, but no one quite like Jade Cargill.
[Graves] Absolutely incredible power by Cargill.
Fyre looking for a Sunset Flip,
and Jade put the brakes on. Said, "Uh-uh, not tonight."
[Wade] Part of the problem with Jade Cargill, you look,
you know, it's gonna be tough.
You know she's going to be strong.
You can't quite believe it when you lock up with her
and realize how much power she actually has.
[Graves] A superkick by Fyre.
Cargill continues to march forward.
[Wade] Yeah, rocked Cargill. But that was about it.
And that is soul-destroying for any Superstar
when you're throwing your best shots--
[Graves] For the cover, it's Fyre after the tornado DDT.
[Wade] Seemingly just bounces off a superhuman Superstar
like Jade Cargill.
[Graves] Alba Fyre, around we go.
[Wade] Tying up Jade Cargill in knots!
That is one way to do it.
[Graves] The submission hold wearing down Cargill near the center of the ring.
You can see Isla Dawn was debating getting involved,
trying to add a little leverage to Alba in the ring
until the EST put a stop to that.
Look at this!
Nearly put Fyre straight through the ring.
[Wade] An attempt at chicanery, clearly preplanned, didn't quite work.
And now Alba Fyre is in a world of trouble.
How quickly did this one turn?
[Graves] Things are about to go from bad to worse.
Jaded!
[referee and crowd] One, two, three!
-[bell rings] -[Graves] Cargill gets the win.
["A Storm Is Coming" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner,
Jade Cargill!
[Graves] A downright dominant display tonight by Jade Cargill.
[Wade] Well, once Jade Cargill got the opportunity,
it was like a hot knife cutting through butter.
-[Graves] Oh, wait a second. -[Wade] Oh, here we go.
[Graves] Blair Davenport, for the second week in a row.
[Wade] They can take the L.
But now it's punishment time for Belair and Cargill just like last week, Corey.
[Graves] Seemingly out of nowhere. I'm sure Blair Davenport has her reasons,
but thus far, we're not sure what they are.
-["Glow" playing] -[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Hang on.
You need a little backup.
Naomi has hit the ring.
[Wade] Completing the big three from WrestleMania.
Naomi evens the odds.
And Blair Davenport has had many cross words
with Naomi of late,
but it might be academic
as the numbers game simply takes control.
[Graves] Oh! [laughs]
Cargill just kicked Alba Fyre's teeth into the fourth row.
Big spinebuster by Belair.
[Wade] Naomi has completely turned this dynamic on its head.
[Graves] Well, Naomi has evened the odds, plain and simple.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] The odds don't look even. That's the problem. It's one-way traffic.
["Glow" playing]
♪ The beast is out the cage You know I own that stage ♪
♪ We knock the competition out And make 'em go insane! ♪
[all shouting indistinctly]
[Graves] A rough night for the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
But in a matter of moments, Wade,
all of Tulsa can have a little fun together
as the brand new United States Champion, LA Knight,
is here on Friday Night SmackDown for the first time ever holding the gold.
Yeah!
NXT is headed to Allstate Arena in Chicago,
featuring CM Punk on Tuesday, October 1st
and Enterprise Center in St. Louis
featuring Randy Orton on Tuesday, October 8th
as part of its highly anticipated broadcast television debut
on The CW Network.
Tickets for both events go on sale Thursday, August 15th
at ticketmaster.com.
["Dead End Road" by Jelly Roll playing]
[Wade] While Roman Reigns' shock return at SummerSlam
has had the entire world talking ever since, as viral as can be,
huge numbers online,
which is exactly what you would expect from a star of Roman's magnitude.
[Graves] Anticipation at an all-time high as The Original Tribal Chief returns
to Friday Night SmackDown tonight live from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
We are at the BOK Center, and tonight's Friday Night SmackDown
on Fox is sponsored by Progressive.
♪ Diggin' me deeper than six ♪
♪ 'Cause that highway to hell Is the road I'm on ♪
["Liar" playing]
[Graves] Here tonight in his hometown, "The Maverick," Logan Paul
is gonna go head-to-head against LA Knight.
[Cole] Look who's here.
[Graves] It's MGK!
[Pat] Oh no.
This window has been bothering me all day. You can't see out of the thing.
♪ You ain't nothin' but a liar… ♪
[Knight] There you go. Now you can see.
-[indistinct] -Yeah!
♪ Yeah, you try to keep me down Try to put me underground ♪
♪ But I'm only going higher… ♪
[Cole] MGK, it's brass knuckles. He's got it on his wrist.
Oh, and he hit him with the knucks.
And Paul… Oh, Knight caught him.
♪ Try to put me underground… ♪
-LA Knight wins the United States Title! -[bell rings]
-[song ends] -[crowd cheering]
["Welcome To LA (Letdown. Remix)" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] Please welcome the new
United States Champion
LA Knight!
[crowd] Yeah!
[Graves] Your ears do not deceive you.
We want to send a special shout-out to Letdown.,
the artist for LA Knight's new entrance music.
A new champ with new tunes.
Wade, it just feels right.
[Wade] It feels right.
It looks right.
The man has finally given the people what they want…
[crowd] Yeah!
[Wade] …that beautiful, shining United States Championship
around the waist of The Megastar. Yeah!
[Graves] You know who's excited about LA Knight?
Everybody, including Lou Ferrigno.
The Incredible Hulk is in the house.
A bodybuilding legend.
What an honor to have Lou here ringside for Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] Oh my God, that's my hero! And I'm not just talking about LA Knight.
[Graves] Can you hold this down for a bit? I'm gonna go get a picture. I'm a fanboy.
[Wade] No! I'm going first. You wait here.
[crowd chanting] LA Knight! LA Knight!
[crowd cheering raucously]
Let me talk to ya.
[crowd] Yeah!
SummerSlam is come and gone,
and with all the answers, one question still remains.
They say, "LA Knight,
it had to feel extra sweet to beat Logan Paul in his home town, right?"
[crowd] Yeah!
[crowd chanting] You deserve it! You deserve it! You deserve it!
I'll tell you who deserved it.
Logan Paul deserved to get stomped out, and that's what he got! Yeah!
[crowd] Yeah!
[Knight] But I don't give a damn about beating him in his hometown.
The only thing that I care about is the fact that I stood right there
not too long ago, and I told the entire world,
I said, "Call me what you want, but sooner or later, you will call me champ."
And at long last, I have arrived!
[crowd cheers]
Fresh United States Champ.
Why? Because I made it that way.
[crowd cheers]
And what's that mean? What's that mean?
I understand that this thing makes me a marked man,
but understand something.
I've been a marked man from the day I walked into SmackDown
with the chip or not.
[crowd] Yeah!
All that means is the game is still the same.
Just like at SummerSlam with Logan Paul.
I walk in, I hit it and quit it.
Then I move on to the next,
and with the next, I hit it and quit it.
[crowd] Yeah!
And what do I do with the next one?
I hit it and quit it.
[crowd] Yeah!
Because I can't stop the Undeniable Kavorka.
I can't stop being the United States Champion
with everybody saying…
-[crowd] LA Knight! Yeah! -["Soul March" playing]
[Graves] Oh, and The Megastar's moment being stepped on
yet again by Santos Escobar, Wade,
a man with whom LA has plenty of history.
[Wade] Santos Escobar already has beef with The Megastar.
That has just grown by an order of magnitude.
Congratulations.
[crowd booing]
Felicidades.
Hey, I mean it.
I mean it.
[man shouts] You suck!
No, no, you suck. And you suck, sir.
[crowd chanting] You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck! You suck!
Hey, listen.
Felicidades. Truly.
I mean, not every day you get…
a guy like you finally get a taste of gold.
[speaking Spanish] Es la verdad.
[in English] But let's be honest. Let's get real.
This whole LA Knight as a champion thing,
nah, I don't buy it.
It's not quite a good fit.
[speaking Spanish] No eres tú.
[in English] And your time in the spotlight, good, good.
But just that,
a fleeting moment,
and all your chase, your grit, your battle, and ultimately, your glory…
is going to be nothing but an opening act to my reign,
because listen to this.
And you listen to this. Because this…
[crowd boos]
This is not only God's honest truth, but a fact of life.
I'm the one that truly deserves
to be the United States Champion.
With everybody saying, "Escobar, Sí."
[crowd boos]
[indistinct]
[crowd shouts] You suck!
I'm sorry. I didn't hear a damn word you just said.
All of Tulsa was telling me that you suck.
[crowd cheers]
No, you heard me.
But there's that word again. There's that word "deserve."
And I'll tell you what you do deserve.
You deserve to get the brakes beat off you one more time.
You've got to be sick.
You've got to be sick
of getting the brakes beat off you by me over and over again.
But I can do it one more time.
The only problem is you talk about what I know,
you know, everybody knows.
What we both know is that to get a shot at this,
first and foremost, you gotta qualify.
He'll be out here in a minute. But in the meantime, let me remind you
whether it's you, him, any of your goof squad over here,
how it goes down is this.
You ain't taking this off me.
Not because you're not good enough, but because I won't let you.
Because whose game is it?
With everybody saying…
[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
Yeah!
["Conquistar" playing]
[Graves] The United States Champion never short on words.
And now LA Knight about to realize what it means to be a target,
a marked man in WWE.
[bell rings]
[Alicia] The following is a United States Championship
Number One Contender's Match.
Introducing from Gómez Palacio, Durango, México,
weighing in at 230 pounds,
Andrade!
[Graves] Wade, is Santos Escobar making a mistake by looking past Andrade?
Is Santos too focused on the potential matchup with LA Knight?
[Wade] You have to focus on the rewards,
but first, you have to navigate your way there.
And what an arduous process it is against a man like Andrade.
Andrade versus Santos Escobar, win and in.
Winner gets an opportunity at LA Knight and the United States Championship.
And it takes place next on SmackDown.
♪ Like a dream ♪
[Damian] I get asked all the time,
what's the best part of what I do for a living?
♪ But things are rarely how they seem ♪
[Damian] My family suffered emotionally,
seeing me go through a lot of downtime, literally having nothing.
I'm out of shape. What do I do?
Go make a name for yourself.
He has a presence about him.
He kind of set himself apart.
Damian felt like he had to act a certain way.
[Damian] It was frustrating.
It was his time to have something big.
[Damian] Man, I think about everything that had to happen to get here.
I wouldn't change anything.
[crowd cheering]
[gentle music playing]
[dramatic music playing]
[Giovanni speaking Italian]
Veni, vidi, Vinci!
[Graves, in English] This is a matchup to crown the new Number One Contender
for LA Knight's United States Championship,
as Andrade goes one-on-one with Santos Escobar.
Wade, these two Superstars have a great deal of history
with one another dating back to their time in Mexico in the world of lucha libre.
But believe it or not, this is the first one-on-one matchup
these two have ever had under the WWE banner.
[Wade] Yeah, that is remarkable.
Let's not forget it was only a couple of months ago,
Escobar and Legado were laying it on thick,
trying to recruit Andrade into the old--
[Graves] Uh-oh.
[Wade] Andrade decided he'd rather go it alone,
which is a brave thing to do against the overwhelming might of Legado.
[Graves] Andrade has done a great job of capturing the attention
of the WWE Universe over the past several weeks,
picking up a few victories over Carmelo Hayes
in some absolute classic matchups.
[Wade] Talking about capturing attention, the numbers game of Legado at the fore--
[Graves] Hooks the leg. Escobar half a second away
from being crowned new Number One Contender.
[Wade] Legado, the deep bag of tricks. We talk about it all the time.
Highly effective there, taking the attention--
[Graves] Wait a second.
How's this for a neutralizer?
Baron Corbin, Apollo Crews bringing the fight to Berto and Angel.
[Wade] Well, they've been in enough fights with these two in recent weeks.
Why not one more?
[Graves] Absolute chaos at ringside tonight.
[Wade] Audience here in Oklahoma loving the turmoil,
and perhaps this evens things up a little for Andrade.
[Graves] Andrade a step ahead of Escobar in that moment connects with a kick.
Now, Andrade, El Idolo, making the climb to the top rope.
But Escobar makes Andrade pay. Wade, I've gotta ask you,
when you're competing against an opponent who is so familiar,
who utilizes such a similar style as your own,
does it benefit you, or did it benefit you in your career, to change your game plan?
[Wade] Yeah, it can do so. You've gotta try and figure out
what your… what your opponent is expecting from you.
The problem with Santos Escobar, you really can never figure the guy out.
So well rounded.
And as we mentioned, such a deep bag of tricks that just got a little shallower
after the disappearing act of Berto and Angel.
[crowd chanting] Andrade!
-[Wade] It's difficult for… -[Graves] …cover. Hooks the leg.
[Wade] …Andrade to really know
what Santos Escobar has got up his sleeve next.
LA Madrina at ringside, always calculating,
always looking for ways she can manipulate proceedings
to aid her man.
[Graves] Oh, beautiful tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Escobar.
And immediately applying an armbar to a downed Andrade.
[Wade] Yeah. And some of the people less familiar with Santos Escobar
and his extensive career might think that he's just a guy
who uses the numbers game.
That is certainly not the case at all.
He practically ran NXT for a number of years,
completely on his own before he formed Legado Del Fantasma.
This man is special.
[Graves] Andrade special in his own right,
firing off a sharp knife-edge chop to Escobar,
and a boot right on the jaw of Santos.
[Wade] Of course, Andrade got proven pedigree
at the very top of the card in WWE,
a former United States Champion already looking to re-climb
that mountain here on his second run on SmackDown.
[Graves] We have no doubt
that backstage LA Knight keeping a very close eye on this one.
Escobar rocking the jaw of Andrade with several strong forearms.
Not much room to work for either man.
[Wade] Two men on the top rope, both specialists in lucha libre.
No matter who, you were back at this point.
[Graves] Uh-oh. Escobar wants a superplex.
Incredibly precarious position for both athletes.
[Wade] The bigger, stronger Andrade managing to power his way out.
[Graves] Oh! Brutal powerbomb by El Idolo.
Can Andrade capitalize?
Who will become Number One Contender?
This match rolls on.
It's a Number One Contender's Match for the United States Championship
as Andrade battles Santos Escobar of Legado Del Fantasma.
Over 11,000 fans jam-packed into the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma
for tonight's SmackDown.
Remember, Wade, we still await the return
of "The Original Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns tonight.
[Wade] Oh, as if I can forget. Cannot wait for that.
And I cannot wait to find out who is gonna be the Number One Contender
for LA Knight's United States Championship.
We're on our way to finding out. It's one of these two.
[Graves] Neither Superstar has been able to sustain much momentum.
A true seesaw battle.
But right now, Andrade starting to feel things shift in his direction.
[Wade] Both men beat up.
Both men exhausted.
Opportunities like this to put yourself in pole position for gold
come along so rarely you have to make it count,
or you will rue it for months.
[Graves] Santos Escobar wisely rolling underneath the bottom rope,
but Andrade looking to give chase.
Breathtaking moonsault.
Down goes Escobar.
[Wade] Well, veteran moves by Escobar,
but simply too worn out to start calculating and plotting ahead.
All the wind in the sails now of Andrade,
who smells victory in the air.
[Graves] Andrade now perched once again on the top turnbuckle.
Crossbody connects.
Hooks the leg to become Number One Contender.
And not just yet.
[Wade] La Madrina at ringside, breathing a little easier momentarily,
but look at this otherworldly athleticism from Andrade
that came within a millisecond of getting himself
the Number One Contendership.
[Graves] Andrade looking to keep his foot on the gas pedal to punch his ticket
to an opportunity to challenge The Megastar.
[Wade] It is a bad sign this deep in a matchup
when your opponent is enjoying himself
as much as Andrade seems to be doing.
[Graves] Little homage to "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero.
-Cover by Andrade. -[crowd] One, two…
[Graves] Not enough to put Escobar away for three.
[Wade] I'll tell you right now, Santos Escobar is double tough.
He has been written off so many times in major matches in his career,
and often bounces back when you least expect it.
[Graves] Andrade feeling the effects of battle,
trying to compose himself before making the climb once more.
And Escobar again, the veteran wisely rolling out to the apron.
[Wade] Just a tank that refills quicker than most.
That is the Santos Escobar story, but it might not be enough tonight, Corey.
[Graves] There is no way, no way Andrade is gonna be able to pull this off.
[Wade] What the hell are these two cooking up?
[Graves] All for the right to be the next to challenge LA Knight
for the coveted United States Championship.
Poisonrana from Escobar!
Into the cover.
[Ayers] One, two… No!
[Graves] And somehow Andrade kicks out.
[Wade] Yeah, but that was a weak, weak kickout, Corey.
What a move from Santos Escobar!
Just showed you how deep his playbook is.
And on that landing, it was the knee of Andrade
-that really, really took some punishment. -[crowd chanting "You still suck!"]
[Wade] And perhaps now Andrade can barely stand up.
[chanting continues]
[Graves] WWE Universe tonight becoming a little hostile
towards Santos Escobar.
Nobody home for the running double knees.
Here comes Andrade. Superkick by Santos.
[Wade] Andrade hasn't looked the same since that Poisonrana.
Or should I not speak too soon?
[Graves] It's a battle of wills at this point.
Andrade trying to position Escobar.
[Wade] Incredible reflexology by Andrade.
Can he put it to bed?
[Graves] Moonsault. Adjusted mid-move.
Hooks the leg to become Number One Contender.
No.
[Wade] Well, Santos Escobar did everything right.
Rolling out of the way, did not counter for the fact.
[Graves] You could see a look of panic on the face of LA Madrina,
Elektra Lopez, on the outside.
[Wade] She saw her chances at gold within Legado slipping away.
-And it may still-- -[Graves] Oh, wait, wait.
Carmelo Hayes!
[Wade] Who has been a thorn in the side of Andrade in recent weeks.
That distraction there. Wait a second.
[Graves] Escobar wanted the Phantom Driver.
Andrade able to escape out the back.
-The elbow connects. Hooks both legs! -[crowd] One, two…
[Graves] And somehow…
Santos survives again.
[Wade] Just endurance beyond all reasonable expectation.
Santos Escobar is still alive in the matchup.
[Graves] And Elektra, to the surprise of no one, involving herself.
Here comes Andrade!
Carmelo pulled Santos out of the way.
-Stacks up Andrade, fistful of tights. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-[bell rings] -Escobar steals it.
["Soul March" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner,
Santos Escobar!
[Wade] Well, they had to throw everything but the kitchen sink at poor Andrade,
who has every right to feel hard done by,
-by a returning Carmelo Hayes. -[shouting indistinctly]
[Wade] But ultimately Number One Contender for the United States Championship
-is officially Santos Escobar. -Whose game is it? Escobar.
[Graves] Well, congratulations to Santos Escobar,
who is the new Number One Contender for the United States Championship.
We kicked off the night on SmackDown
with The Street Profits taking the next step toward
becoming tag team Number One Contenders,
the other half of that equation coming your way in a matter of moments.
But first, I want to take you back to last week
on Friday Night SmackDown
to see how The Bloodline captured glory.
[Wade] Yeah. WWE Tag Championships on the line last week.
DIY setting up for a meeting in the middle.
Involvement from Solo Sikoa.
Jacob Fatu seemed to be down until he wasn't,
and then his freak levels of pain tolerance and athleticism
-kicked in a few moves later. -[crowd] One, two, three.
[Wade] And Bloodline grabbed gold in the tag division here on SmackDown.
We knew coming to SmackDown,
that we were walking in to Bloodline territory,
Bloodline Rules,
and they seem to run things a little bit differently around here.
Last week in Cleveland, they stole our WWE Tag Team Titles.
The Bloodline beat me in my hometown,
in front of my family and in front of my two-year-old son,
and that is something I will never forget.
But I promise you, standing here right now,
that we will do whatever it takes
to get back our WWE Tag Team Titles.
[crowd cheers]
That begins tonight with Pretty Deadly,
because this ain't Pretty Deadly, The Musical.
No, no, no, no, no. This is day one of DIY, the redemption.
Tulsa, let's freaking go!
Game time!
["It's Our Moment" playing]
♪ We are DIY ♪
♪ Yeah, we're on top… ♪
[bell rings]
[Alicia] The following is a WWE Tag Team Championship
Number One Contenders' Qualifying Match!
Introducing first, DIY!
[Graves] Well, Bad News, from the sounds of it,
Ciampa and Gargano are on a mission tonight
with great confidence
that they can take the next step toward reclaiming the WWE Tag Team gold.
[Wade] Yeah, they feel robbed.
Who will get the rights to challenge The Street Profits next week
to become Number One Contenders for The Bloodline's WWE Tag Championships?
DIY, who we see right now, will be squaring off against Pretty Deadly next.
[Graves] In the world of WWE, much like any great story,
every great hero needs a great villain.
And today, we mourn the loss of one of the greatest bad guys
our industry has ever known,
and one of the greatest minds that's ever existed behind the camera.
[dramatic music playing]
[narrator] WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of Kevin Sullivan,
an innovative mind who helped shape the landscape of professional wrestling.
Debuting in the 1970s,
Kevin burst onto the scene and never looked back.
Tough and stout, from the bad streets of Boston
with a blend of athleticism coupled with an unpredictable persona.
But soon, Kevin's dark and manic behavior would evolve him
into a sinister and nefarious presence
and a taskmaster for the business that he loved.
[Sullivan] Nothing is as evil as I am.
[laughs]
♪ Let your spirit run free… ♪
[man] Evil is as evil does, and Sullivan's the most evil of them all.
[narrator] Sullivan was a major rival for the ring's most legendary heroes,
Sting, The Road Warriors, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.
Dusty Rhodes, you're walking on a tightrope.
I am the darkness to your day.
[narrator] And Hulk Hogan.
Hulkamania will end.
[narrator] Kevin was a creative mind behind the scenes
who will be remembered for his innovation, dedication,
and profound love for professional wrestling.
Kevin was a man ahead of his time, a friend and a loving family man.
His passion for the craft and his impact on all those around him
will never be forgotten.
[music fades out]
[upbeat music playing]
[Wade] Next week, SmackDown is in Orlando, Florida,
and Queen Nia Jax gets a Women's WWE Championship celebration
organized by none other than Ms. Money in the Bank,
Tiffany Stratton.
Join us next week to celebrate the new Women's Champ.
[Graves] And after weeks of disrespect and sneak attacks,
Blair Davenport and Naomi will finally go one-on-one.
No distractions, no surprises,
right in the middle of the ring next Friday.
[knocks on door]
Nicholas! Here he is.
How was your SummerSlam weekend? You had a good time? 'Cause we didn't.
First, we get attacked by Jelly Roll for no reason.
Then you send us to Monday Night Raw to save the show on our day off.
Then we gotta qualify for the Tag Team Championships?
This is ridiculous.
Apparently, you just complain around here, you get whatever you want, right?
It's like you ask for a match, you just get it. It's that simple.
You know, like Grayson Waller versus Kevin Owens. You just get it.
-Whoa. What do you mean, "Grayson Waller?" -That… sounds like a great idea.
Thank you, Austin.
Next week on SmackDown Grayson Waller, Kevin Owens, one-on-one.
[sighs] What are you doing, dude?
What do you mean Grayson Waller versus Kevin Owens?
-You trust me, right? -Of course.
-We're boys. We're partners. -We're partners.
-We hold it down. -Yeah.
Well, I got your back just like you always got mine. Don't worry.
Partners. Okay.
Hey, Kevin Owens, what a ridiculous idea, Nick!
Hey, Nick! Nick… [sighs]
Kevin Owens.
[upbeat music playing]
[Graves] We are moments away from the next Number One Contenders' Qualifying Matchup
for the WWE Tag Team Titles.
["On And On" playing]
♪ On and on, on and on We go on and on, on and on ♪
♪ 'Cause the night is young 'Cause the night is young… ♪
[Alicia] And their opponents Kit Wilson, Elton Prince,
Pretty Deadly!
[Wade] I'll tell you what, Corey.
That is how you turn heads.
Imagine wearing an outfit like that
and walking into your local bar in Pittsburgh, Corey.
You would be the talk of the town.
[Graves] Well, luckily Kit and Elton have the opportunity
to be the talk of Orlando as Friday Night SmackDown
rolls through Orlando, Florida next week.
Will it be Pretty Deadly one step closer to becoming Tag Team Champions,
or will it be DIY?
Wade, I'll admit it publicly and proudly.
When it comes to the art of attractiveness,
Pretty Deadly are gold medalists, man.
[Wade] They are like two English tomcats
just heading out here in Tulsa, Oklahoma
and spraying their scent all over this audience,
and this audience are lapping it up.
[Graves] That was extremely descriptive.
I appreciate it very much.
[Wade] The only thing that would make those outfits better,
they would be set off…
[bell rings]
[Wade] …by the addition of gold around their waists.
A little more sparkle.
[Graves] Well, one of these two teams will face The Street Profits
to crown the new Number One Contenders.
Got a standoff in the early moments off of the opening bell.
[Wade] I would say DIY might feel a little aggrieved
they did not get an automatic rematch
at The Bloodline, who took their championships.
Sometimes Nick Aldis gives those.
Sometimes he doesn't.
My argument would be that the reign of DIY,
unfortunately, was so short perhaps they didn't warrant…
[Graves] Oh my goodness!
[Wade] …an automatic rematch, and they've got to earn one.
They're going the right way about that in the early goings on this one.
[Graves] Pretty Deadly being used as weapons against one another.
Here comes DIY!
Look out! Double uppercuts.
[Wade] Yeah. Not just pretty.
[both] Pretty Deadly, The Musical.
[Graves] Could you imagine how big, Pretty Deadly, The Musical could be
in a place like Orlando?
Yes, boy!
[Wade] Yes, I can imagine that. I've seen some of the outfits,
and they are to die for, believe me, Corey.
[Graves] These guys will be the biggest thing
to hit Orlando since the mouse.
-[shouts indistinctly] -[Graves] DIY taking control.
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] Johnny Gargano out of the corner just in the nick of time
to keep DIY's hopes alive
in this Number One Contenders' Qualifying Matchup.
Johnny Gargano desperately crawling toward Tommaso Ciampa.
[Wade] Gargano has been hanging on by the skin of his teeth.
Needed that tag in the worst way. A fresh Ciampa in there.
[Graves] The Sicilian Psychopath unleashed on this matchup,
and Ciampa rockin' and rollin' at Pretty Deadly's expense.
[Wade] Ciampa convinced the championships that The Bloodline now hold
were stolen from DIY, thanks to involvement by Solo Sikoa,
but he aims to get those championships back ASAP.
One step closer with victory here.
[Graves] Ciampa flexing his seemingly endless, bottomless gas tank,
dominating Pretty Deadly.
Inverted DDT.
[Wade] A highly motivated Tommaso Ciampa is about the last thing you want to fight.
[Graves] That ripcord forearm rocked the jaw of Elton Prince.
Tag made. Gargano legal once again.
Double-team powerbomb.
-Into the cover. -[crowd] One, two…
[Graves] And Elton Prince keeping Pretty Deadly's chances alive.
[Wade] Such a bitter defeat last week on SmackDown shows how cruel life can be.
An arduous journey to the championship ripped away from them almost immediately.
[Graves] Of course, the winner of this matchup
will battle The Street Profits,
with the winners of that contest next week advancing to challenge The Bloodline
for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Not that that's much of a reward.
-I think DIY wanted the Shatter Machine. -[Robinson and crowd] One, two…
[Graves] Oh my goodness.
Elton Prince nearly stole the win, and a big uppercut.
[Wade] Well, it was a nice division there from the PD Playbook as they call it.
Split up DIY. Now, it's time to go in for the kill.
[Graves] Double chicken wing position.
Into the bulldog from the top. Cover by Wilson.
[Robinson] One, two…
[Graves] And Gargano breaks up the fall.
[Wade] The ever-expanding PD Playbook. That perhaps would have been enough.
Johnny Gargano had to be light on his feet on that one to get in in time.
Chances still alive for DIY.
[Graves] Superkick. Elton ate the impact for Kit.
[yells]
[Graves] Great teamwork.
And a big overhand chop from Tommaso Ciampa.
[Wade] Cutthroat, competitive Tommaso Ciampa.
I'll tell you right now, you might laugh at Pretty Deadly,
and we have some fun with them,
but right now, in that ring, they are killers.
[Graves] Emphasis on the "Deadly," but a spear from Gargano.
Ciampa out the back door, rolling through, big knee rocks Kit.
[Wade] Pretty Deadly now all over the place.
Perhaps the…
[Graves] Shatter Machine.
-Gargano and Ciampa closing in. -[crowd cheering]
[Graves] Meet in the middle.
-Cover by Johnny Wrestling. -[crowd] One, two, three.
[Graves] DIY are going to battle The Street Profits.
["It's Our Moment" playing]
[Alicia] Here are your winners,
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa,
DIY!
[Wade] It's not the first time DIY have been kicked down.
They do what they've done every single time.
Dust themselves off, roll up their sleeves,
get back to the grind.
And now they are one step closer
to getting their gold back from The Bloodline.
[Graves] Here we see DIY utilize the Shatter Machine to great effect,
leaving poor Elton all on his lonesome to be sandwiched by impact.
-Johnny, with the hook of the leg. -[crowd] One, two, three.
[Graves] And DIY take one step closer toward the top of the mountain
standing in their way, The Street Profits.
[indistinct] We're coming for our property!
[crowd boos]
We've been waiting for Roman all night.
Still not here.
He's not here, huh?
[clicks tongue] Don't worry. He'll be here.
["Taking It All (feat. Stevie Stone)" playing]
♪ We're taking it all! ♪
♪ Settle the score The one who will not take that loss ♪
♪ We're taking it all, we the ones… ♪
[Graves] Wade, is it just me,
or did it sound to you like Solo Sikoa fully intends
on confronting Roman Reigns in the ring?
[Wade] Solo Sikoa, the new Tribal Chief, according to some,
is apparently done waiting.
He wants business to take place right now.
Where is Roman Reigns?
[Graves] Solo, as always, flanked by Tama Tonga on the left of the screen.
Tonga Loa on the right.
Of course, Jacob Fatu, the rightful owner of one of those Tag Team Titles,
taken out due to injury trying to take out Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.
[Wade] An ominous feeling anytime The Bloodline arrive on SmackDown,
you get the feeling something explosive is about to happen.
♪ Ready for war, better than ever before We're taking it all… ♪
[Graves] Well, the self-proclaimed new Tribal Chief is standing his ground
in the center of the ring.
But where's Roman?
♪ You should not have stepped in my lane ♪
♪ We not the same I am elite, note the name ♪
♪ The legacy runs through… ♪
[crowd boos]
[Graves] From a jam-packed BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
this is Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, sponsored by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance.
The self-proclaimed new "Tribal Chief," Solo Sikoa in the ring with The Bloodline.
♪ And ready to fight ♪
♪ Going through the struggle The hustle, the pain ♪
[song fades out]
[crowd boos]
Tulsa, Oklahoma.
[crowd boos]
Acknowledge me.
[crowd boos loudly]
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
[crowd chanting] We want Roman!
Roman Reigns…
in case you haven't noticed, I'm The Tribal Chief now.
[crowd boos]
And if you call yourself The Tribal Chief…
and you want these back…
then come and get it from me.
-[crowd cheers] -[mic clatters to mat]
[crowd chanting] We want Roman! We want Roman!
["I Am Greatness" playing]
[crowd cheering raucously]
[cheering intensifies]
[fireworks exploding]
[music continues]
[Graves] Solo Sikoa sending Tama Tonga into the lion's den.
[Reigns shouting indistinctly]
[Graves] Here comes Tonga Loa…
trying to stop The Original Tribal Chief.
[Wade] It was almost effortless for Roman.
Oh!
[Graves] Roman Reigns unleashing the wrath of the gods
on Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.
[crowd chanting] OTC! OTC! OTC!
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] OTC! OTC! OTC!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Roman! Roman! Roman!
[Graves] Here we go!
[Wade] Wannabe Tribal Chief meet The Original Tribal Chief.
[yelling]
[Graves] Superman Punch!
Down goes Solo!
[crowd cheering raucously]
Ooh ahh!
[crowd booing]
[Graves] Tonga Loa just saved Solo's rear end.
[crowd chanting] OTC! OTC! OTC!
[crowd cheering raucously]
[Graves] Tama Tonga from behind
as Roman finally got his hands on the sacred Ula Fala.
[Wade] We know The Bloodline just don't stay down.
And that's what it's all about, power.
[Graves] Tonga Loa has Roman Reigns pinned in the corner.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Graves] Solo giving the orders.
Here comes Tonga Loa!
Superman Punch!
And a second!
[crowd cheers]
[crowd] Ooh ahh!
[Graves] Spear!
[crowd cheering raucously]
[Wade] Roman Reigns turfing the squatters out of his Island of Relevancy.
[crowd chanting] OTC! OTC! OTC!
[Graves] Bad News, I don't think Roman's finished yet.
[crowd] Ooh ahh!
[Graves] Oh my God! Here comes Roman! Through the barricade!
[crowd cheers]
[Graves] He is back, Wade!
[Wade] Well, this place is going into meltdown, and he's not done yet.
[Graves] Roman Reigns looking to take back the tribe by force.
[crowd yells]
[Graves] Roman destroying Tonga Loa with a steel chair.
[Sikoa] This is what you want. This.
You're not the chief anymore. I'm the chief. I'm the chief now.
I'm the chief now. I'm the man.
You want some of this? You want some of this?
This is what you want.
Come and get it. Come and get it.
[crowd chanting] OTC! OTC! OTC!
[Graves] There can only be one.
There is one.
Roman be thy name.
[crowd cheering]
[indistinct] ng]