[epic music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[hip-hop music playing]
♪ One, two, three, four… ♪
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, there is the beautiful inaugural
Crown Jewel Championship.
A week from tomorrow, someone will
be crowned because it's champion versus champion
in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther, from Monday Night RAW,
The Ring General, The King of the Ring, is here.
He will go face-to-face tonight with the Undisputed WWE Champion,
the man who finished his story at WrestleMania,
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.
Rhodes, Gunther, in the same ring tonight.
WWE's newest tag team Chris Sabin,
Alex Shelley, Motor City Machine Guns
just their second week on SmackDown and the opportunity
to become the number-one contenders for the WWE Tag Team titles.
Standing in their way,
former champions DIY.
Gargano and Ciampa want their titles back.
They battle out in a number-one contenders match
for the tag titles tonight on SmackDown.
♪ One, two, three, four… ♪
[Cole] And there is Randy Orton.
Orton made it clear last week he wants Kevin Owens.
K.O., the man who ambushed Randy Orton a few weeks ago.
[Orton Orton's entrance theme]
[Cole] Upset that…
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ You got your rules and your religion ♪
♪ All designed to keep you safe ♪
♪ But when rules start getting broken… ♪
[Cole] Well, Randy Orton confronting, uh,
Triple H as he makes his way to the ring
to kick off Friday Night SmackDown tonight.
It's been an emotional couple of weeks, Corey,
for Randy Orton.
[Corey] Well, last week, Randy Orton requested
and was denied by General Manager Nick Aldis
his match with Kevin Owens, Aldis stating,
"It goes above my head."
That's got to be what the confrontation
we just witnessed with Triple H and Randy was all about.
[Cole] Yeah, Randy Orton, who a couple of weeks ago
was trying to play peacekeeper between Cody Rhodes
and Kevin Owens, inadvertently got into a fistfight
with Owens.
Kevin, upset that Orton was taking sides, in his mind,
would attack Orton in the parking lot a couple of weeks ago,
ambushing The Apex Predator.
Orton has had enough.
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ Talk to me ♪
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
"The Viper" Randy Orton.
♪ All the doctors are disease ♪
♪ And the preachers are sinners ♪
So I've been doing everything I can to get
my hands on Kevin Owens.
[chanting "Randy"]
I've been doing everything I can to get my hands
on Kevin Owens at Crown Jewel.
But for some reason, Kevin Owens,
thank you, by the way, Brooklyn.
For some reason…
[cheering]
Kevin Owens is off-limits.
Last week, I asked Nick Aldis for a match
with Kevin Owens at Crown Jewel.
And what did Nick Aldis say?
"Oh, that's above my pay grade, brother."
So I think I know who I need to talk to.
Who I need to talk to is back there.
Triple H, please, sir, come on down.
Because if I didn't know any better,
I would swear to God that I thought you were protecting
Kevin Owens from me.
[Triple H's entrance theme]
[cheering]
♪ Time to play… ♪
[Cole] Well, that man has a lot on his plate.
A lot of history between Randy Orton and Triple H.
[Corey] Yeah. But at the end of the day, Cole, Randy needs to realize
Triple H is the boss now.
This is not the man who taught Randy so much in his career.
This is the guy running the show.
You got to be careful, Randy.
♪ All about your debt And if you can pay it ♪
♪ It's all about the pain And who's gonna make it ♪
♪ I am the game ♪
♪ You don't want to play me ♪
♪ I am control ♪
♪ No way you can change me ♪
I would have preferred not to do this out here, Randy.
But since you can never seem to show up to work on time,
which we can talk about later…
[oohing]
I guess we'll do this now.
[Orton] Listen, I think everybody in this building
knows you're protecting Kevin Owens from me.
You know it. I know it. They know it.
Kevin knows it.
I am not protecting anyone, Randy.
What I am trying to do is do my job.
Listen, you got a soft spot for the guy.
I get it.
He used to be likable.
Hell, I used to like him.
But you are protecting Kevin Owens.
Just admit it, H.
I am not.
Randy, the match is not going to happen. It's not going to happen.
Because you're protecting Kevin Owens.
-It's not gonna happen. -Because you're protecting Kevin Owens.
-Just admit it. -It is not going to happen.
Because you are protecting Kevin Owens.
Just admit it.
Just admit it, H. Then we'd be cool.
And I'll do what I got to do.
But man--
I am not protecting Kevin Owens.
I am trying to protect you.
[oohing]
[chanting "RKO"]
Look, I've known you since the day you walked in here.
I've known Kevin Owens since the day he walked in here.
Kevin wanted to be called "The Prizefighter"
when he walked in here because it was only about business.
And that was true, right?
He has never had a friend in this business.
No matter what he has said, no matter what he has been around,
everybody that he was ever near, it was just…
as long as he could take it where they weren't in his way.
Because the second they were in his way, he took them down.
He never thought twice about it.
It was all about business.
And you know what that's like.
You do.
But for the first time ever, and I don't know why,
he let his guard down.
He trusted you.
And he trusted Cody Rhodes.
He trusted both of you.
He let his guard down.
I don't know if he sees the good person that he wants
to be in Cody Rhodes and he sees the miserable prick in you
that he doesn't want to be.
[oohing]
I don't know.
But whatever it is, he likes you guys.
He trusted you.
And in his mind, Randy, you guys for the first time
ever turned on him.
And I am telling you, when I spoke to him afterwards,
there is something disconnected in him,
something different in his eyes.
He is not the same Kevin Owens.
And quite frankly,
I don't want to put him in the ring with you.
So you're-you're protecting me?
Randy… take this with all due respect.
You just came back after 18 months on the shelf.
You didn't tear your ACL.
You didn't blow your shoulder out.
You had steel rods put in your back.
Right? They told you that you were never going to wrestle again.
But yet, here you are.
And I just got you back.
And buddy, I don't want to see you go back on that shelf.
-You know what? Stop. -No, no, no, no. You listen to me.
I don't want to see you go back on that shelf,
maybe permanently.
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Well, Hunter, that's not going to happen.
That's not going to happen.
And I need you to stop, stop all this right there.
I didn't ask Paul Levesque to come out to this ring.
[oohing]
I didn't ask the COO of a multi-billion-dollar company
wearing a suit, sans the tie, to come out to this ring.
I wanted The Cerebral Assassin, The Game.
[cheering]
The guy that wore a leather jacket to the ring
and brought a sledgehammer everywhere he went.
A guy who went to my home and knocked down my front door
with a sledgehammer, threw me out my own dining room window,
and proceeded to beat the hell out of me,
out of my miserable prick ass,
right there on my own front lawn.
That's who I want in the middle of this ring
right now to hear me out.
Because what would you do if you were in my shoes?
What would you do?
You wouldn't sit back and let it slide.
Listen, this isn't-this isn't the old Randy Orton being impulsive.
This is me talking to you man to man.
I know what's at stake regarding my health
and my career more than anybody, just like, more than anybody,
you know what it's like to have all of this
taken away from you like that.
If you were in my shoes, you wouldn't just sit back and let it slide.
If you were in my shoes, you would
do what you have always done, what we have always done.
And that is handle our business the only way we know how,
right in the middle of this ring.
[cheering]
Give me Owens at Crown Jewel, please.
I beg of you, Hunter.
[chanting "Let them fight"]
[cheering]
[chanting "Let them fight"]
[cheering]
I hope to God you all know what you're asking for.
[cheering]
You want Kevin Owens at Crown Jewel?
Yes, I do.
You got him.
[cheering]
Randy, from this moment forward, I suggest you
protect yourself at all times.
[oohing]
[Orton Orton's entrance theme]
♪ I hear voices in my head… ♪
[Cole] Randy Orton made a convincing,
he made a compelling argument.
Triple H has agreed to the match
a week from tomorrow in Crown Jewel,
Orton versus Kevin Owens.
But Corey, did Randy Orton get caught up
in this too much emotionally?
Well, there's no doubt that the vitriol within The Viper
has reached a fever pitch.
I just wonder what the results are going to be.
Randy, along with the WWE Universe,
just forced Triple H's hand.
Be careful what you wish for because you just may get it.
A week from tomorrow in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, coming up next,
it is the final match in what's been
a seven-game series between Andrade and Carmelo Hayes.
[cheering]
[Wade] Andrade, Carmelo Hayes.
[Corey] Both of these superstars
have produced instant classics.
[oohing]
It has gotten so personal between Carmelo and Andrade.
[ring bell dinging]
[Cole] We're knotted at three wins apiece.
[Aldis] It seems like there's only one solution--
game seven.
And the winner of that may just find themselves
in line for a US Title shot.
[trap music playing]
Andrade.
Melo.
It's game seven.
Match number seven.
And that means that this is the most important one of them all.
I'm tired of you.
The last three months,
you've been chasing me around, trying to steal clout,
thinking that you better than me.
Well, guess what?
You not.
[Aldis] Because this is such a personal issue,
I decided we needed a special referee
who could handle business.
[crowd] Yeah!
You think you're signing up for a shot at this?
Nah, nah.
All you're signing up for is to get smacked
back to factory settings and your aspirations
for this championship up in smoke.
Yeah.
[Wade] These two bitterest
of enemies in a match neither man's
ego will allow him to lose.
[Andrade] This is enough.
And I am going to end you.
[Carmelo] Whether I shoot it from the logo or I pull up
and I dunk on your ass, the outcome
is going to be the same.
It's Melo in seven.
And I won't freakin' miss.
[Wade] Melo.
Andrade.
Game seven on SmackDown.
[LA Knight's entrance theme]
[cheering]
[ring bell dings]
[Alicia] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, special guest referee,
the United States Champion LA Knight.
[crowd] Yeah!
[Cole] Corey, the problem is LA Knight's got
a problem with both guys.
Can he stay impartial?
[Corey] Absolutely not.
I think we'd be better off with Tim Donaghy
officiating this match-up.
[Cole] That's a blast from the past.
L-A…
[crowd] L-A Knight!
Yeah!
[Andrade's entrance theme]
♪ El Idolo ♪
[Alicia] Introducing first,
from Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico,
weighing in at 230 pounds,
Andrade.
[Cole] Again, the United States Champion LA Knight
is the special guest referee in this match-up.
It's the rubber game in the series.
And you have to believe, Corey, that whoever wins
game seven could perhaps earn a future United States
Championship opportunity.
[Corey] You're absolutely right about that, Cole.
But this match-up will boil down to which of these superstars, either Andrade
or Carmelo Hayes, who cannot allow LA Knight to be a factor.
You want to come in and win this match decisively.
You don't wanna leave any room for the error.
And you certainly don't want to leave any decisions
in the hands of the reigning United States Champion LA Knight.
[dramatic music playing]
In their first six meetings, both of these superstars
have raised the bar of competition each night.
I expect tonight to be no different.
[Carmelo Hayes's entrance theme]
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest ♪
♪ Ain't no hatin', I'm the best here ♪
♪ You want your shot? ♪
♪ Well, I guess you wait till next year ♪
♪ I'm at the top Get respect while I get big ♪
♪ Who got a problem, huh? ♪
♪ Tell them to step here ♪
-♪ Step here ♪ -♪ What? ♪
♪ Yeah, come on ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm the greatest, no arguing ♪
♪ No debating… ♪
[Alicia] And his opponent,
from Boston, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 210 pounds,
Carmelo Hayes.
[Cole] Corey, this rivalry started back
in the middle of the summer.
And it has not disappointed.
[Corey] Each and every match,
each outing better than the last two world-class superstars
trying to outdo one another at each and every turn.
But what it comes down to tonight,
in the opinion of Carmelo Hayes,
is what he referred to as his own mamba mentality.
It's game seven.
It's time for him to shine.
[Cole] You know, a couple of weeks
ago, Hayes had an opportunity at the United
States Championship.
He was disappointed that he did not win the gold that night.
But you win this match tonight,
perhaps you get LA Knight somewhere down the road.
[Corey] I caught up with Carmelo earlier this afternoon.
And Hayes told me he's going to continue the momentum
that began with AJ Styles.
Carmelo was all too proud to take credit for The Phenomenal One's injury.
-[ring bell dings] -Could lead to the championship.
[Cole] Oh! And this is the first time I've ever,
[Corey] Uh-oh. Cover here.
[Cole] Hook of the leg, and a kick out.
It seemed like a decent count by LA Knight.
I don't think I've ever recalled an official refereeing
a match with a title belt on.
-[Corey] Right off of the opening bell, -[ring bell dings]
Andrade showing the WWE Universe
why he is the WWE Speed Champion,
wasting absolutely no time taking down Hayes.
[Cole] Well, both of these men
former NXT Champions as well.
[scream]
[crowd exclaim in pain]
[crowd] Woo!
[Cole] And now Andrade pounding away on Carmelo Hayes.
And LA Knight, at the 4-count, looking to separate.
No, no, no. No, no, no.
Go ahead and do it. Go ahead and do it.
You got one minute. Do it.
You'll get disqualified here.
[Cole] And Hayes taking advantage,
using LA Knight as a shield,
and now turns the tables on Andrade.
Two, three.
[Corey] Do you know if LA Knight's sunglasses
are prescription, Cole?
Because there are way too many jokes sitting here
about the official not being able to see what's going on.
[Cole] Well, LA Knight said, I don't sweat either man.
I'll squash them if they keep coming back after me.
[Corey] Well, I personally
think LA Knight, as much of a fan of him as I am,
could be a detriment to this match-up.
-Because now Hayes and Andrade -[Cole] Oh!
both have to factor in the possibility
that LA Knight is gonna pick a side.
[Cole] Knight's been pretty fair and down the middle so far in this match, Corey.
-Wait a minute. LA Knight… -[booing]
[Corey] What is this, WCW in the mid '90s?
You're not allowed to go over the top rope?
Get back in here.
One.
Two.
[cheering]
[Cole] The official is counting.
[Corey laughs]
[Cole] Andrade looking to go over the top rope.
[Corey] Hell, yeah.
-[Cole] Up over the top of the official. -[applause]
Andrade rolling.
Who's going to win the seventh match in this series?
[rhythmic clapping]
[Cole] Tied at three matches apiece in this series,
this is the rubber match between Andrade and Carmelo Hayes.
The special guest referee--
the United States Champion LA Knight.
Nobody home, as Hayes rolls out of harm's way.
[Corey] Andrade wanted the double knees in the bottom turnbuckle.
This could be the opening Carmelo Hayes was waiting for.
[Cole] Hayes now second rope, met there by El Idolo.
And now, wow!
[Corey] Beautiful inverted Spanish fly by Andrade.
But it's tough to tell which superstar got the worst of that exchange.
Nasty landing for both athletes,
as we take a look at the breathtaking athleticism
before the ring-shaking impact.
-Five. -[crowd] Yeah!
[Cole] And the WWE fans counting
along with our special guest referee here tonight
-at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. -Eight.
[crowd] Yeah!
Nine.
[crowd] Yeah!
[grunting]
[Corey] LA Knight realized that Carmelo Hayes was
up to his feet momentarily.
And now Hayes and Andrade just trading heavy artillery.
[Cole] Andrade now full head of steam.
Hayes sidesteps.
And great move by Hayes taking down Andrade.
Into the cover.
Hook of the leg,
another good count by Knight.
But this time, Andrade gets the shoulder up again.
[Corey] Credit where it's due. To this point, Knight has been impartial,
as we take another look at Carmelo Hayes
flexing his own athleticism… a tilt-a-whirl facebuster.
But still not enough to claim game seven.
[Cole] Carmelo Hayes…
[chanting "this is awesome"]
calls himself an over-dog and not an underdog.
Flashy, agile, athletic.
Former NXT Champ, former NXT North American Champ.
[Corey] So you call yourself the up-dog?
[Cole] Always. Oh.
Kick to the midsection by Andrade.
[Corey] Looking for The Message.
[Cole] And he's beaten Carmelo a couple
of times with that move.
-Carmelo able to counter. -[Corey] Oh-ho-ho!
[Cole] Oh, my goodness.
[Corey] A destroyer by El Idolo just rattled
the brains of Carmelo Hayes.
Can Andrade finish the job?
[Cole] And Andrade now looking to build momentum.
-[rhythmic clapping] -Hayes tried to counter.
Andrade countered with a destroyer.
And now the double knees by Andrade into the corner.
Cover to win this match-up,
and a kick out by Carmelo, who literally
tosses Andrade on top of the special guest referee
LA Knight.
[Corey] Impressive display
of power, an authoritative kick out by Hayes.
[Cole] Roll up by Hayes.
[crowd] Three!
[Cole] Hayes had Andrade defeated.
The official didn't see it.
And you don't bump the official.
And now Andrade almost ran into LA Knight.
Kick by Hayes caught Knight.
[Corey] And that was incidental contact.
There was no intent behind that from Carmelo Hayes.
[Cole] Well, things have gone awry.
And Andrade looking for the triple suplexes here,
the Three Amigos…
two connecting.
Andrade looking for a third.
The official LA Knight trying to gain his composure.
[Corey] Cutter by Hayes.
Into the cover.
This could be it, but--
-[Cole] And there's no official. -[crowd] Two! Three!
Four!
Five!
[Cole] LA Knight dragging Carmelo Hayes--
[Corey] Look out.
[Cole] On the announce table.
[cheering]
Well, that wasn't…
[Corey] Is LA Knight going to disqualify himself?
Yeah.
What?
You saw what he did.
[LA Knight] No, no, no, you…
No, no.
[Corey] Andrade didn't want to be disrespected.
[Cole] BFT.
Well, that's not very impartial.
I got this.
[Corey] It's a good thing that LA Knight's
crooked in both directions.
[Cole] Is somebody going to ring the bell?
Because the official is not going to.
BFT to Hayes.
Where's that thing at?
[ring bell dings]
[Cole] I guess he's a timekeeper as well.
[Corey] Oh, my god.
To hell with game seven.
I'll tell you what this is.
I'll tell you exactly what this is.
With a pile of losers in that ring,
there is only one man, only one man who is still
the United States Champion, the winner of game seven,
with everybody saying…
[crowd] L-A Knight! Yeah!
Yeah.
[Cole] I'm not quite sure how I feel about that.
[Corey] I'll tell you how to feel about that.
It's BS. It's absolute garbage.
You got two of the best athletes in the world
leaving it all in the ring for the right
to win an opportunity.
And this egomaniac just screwed them both.
I'm done with LA Knight.
You ain't even on my level.
I'm over here, US Champion.
[LA Knight] You ain't touching me.
Feeling better, Tiffy?
I hope you enjoyed your vacation.
Nia, if I could have been there, I would have.
But I'm here now.
And whatever you need, I can get you.
Actually, [sighs] I cannot get Naomi off of my back.
And she is looking for a fight.
I did need somebody to face her tonight.
I'll do it.
And I promise you, when I'm done with her,
she will never bother you ever again.
[exhales] That's really sweet of you, Tiffy.
But I actually found somebody,
Candice LeRae.
She really stepped it up last week.
And she pinned Bayley, something you haven't done,
have you?
Well, the reason why is…
-Candice. -Hi.
We were just talking about you.
Oh.
I'm going to go ahead and take care of that Naomi problem
for you tonight.
And Tiffy, you can just relax.
[softly] Relax.
Wouldn't want you to get a Tiffy Sniffle, would we?
[chuckles]
-What the hell was that? -You know exactly what that was.
Told you last week I had no business being there.
Here's the thing, man--
No, here's the thing, LA.
Keep your hands to yourself next time.
Because guess what?
Now you want to make yourself the center of attention,
you got both of those guys in a triple-threat match
at Crown Jewel.
[cheering]
[Cole] Well, I guess he deserved that.
[Corey] Great decision by Nick Aldis.
[Naomi's entrance theme]
♪ N-A-O-M-I ♪
[laughs]
♪ Let's go ♪
♪ The beast is out the cage ♪
♪ You know I own that stage ♪
♪ We knock the competition out And make them go insane ♪
♪ My head is in the game ♪
♪ I make them feel the pain ♪
♪ I hear the people scream my name ♪
♪ One, two, three ♪
♪ Glow, glow ♪
[ring bell dings]
[Alicia] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Orlando, Florida,
Naomi.
[Cole] Corey, Naomi has been building
some momentum as of late.
A couple of weeks ago, she actually knocked off
the Women's Champion, Nia Jax.
[Corey] Naomi doing some of the best work
of her entire career recently.
Naomi seems rejuvenated, refocused,
and as dangerous as ever.
♪ My head is in the game ♪
♪ I make them feel the pain ♪
♪ I make them people scream my name ♪
♪ One, two, three… ♪
[Cole] And tonight looking
to knock off another one of Nia Jax's allies.
♪ Pump your fist, let's go ♪
♪ Glow, glow ♪
♪ Glow, glow… ♪
[Corey] Can we officially refer to Candice as an ally of Queen Nia?
Has she proven herself to that point?
Or is Candice merely doing Nia's bidding?
[Cole] Last week in the tag match.
-[Corey] Sure, but one match-- -[Cole] Hey, hey.
-[Candice Lerae's entrance theme] -[Cole] Candy time.
[Corey] Oh, my god.
-[Cole] See what I did there? -[Corey] Oh, my, I--
[Cole] Is she replacing Tiffy?
[Corey] I've never been more offended by you.
[Alicia] And her opponent,
accompanied by Indi Hartwell, from Riverside,
California, Candice LeRae.
[Cole] So, Corey, last week,
I was on special assignment.
So you got the opportunity to call
the big tag team match-up on SmackDown.
[Corey] Originally scheduled
to be with Tiffany Stratton as Nia Jax's partner.
-However, Tiffany was under the weather. -[Cole] Tiffy Sniffles.
[Corey] Candice LeRae stepped up bravely.
And Indi Hartwell, Candice's BFF, paid off big time.
Candice delivering a picture-perfect moonsault
to "The Role Model" Bayley.
And LeRae picking up one of the biggest wins of her WWE tenure.
[Cole] And impressing Nia Jax.
So Tiffy Sniffles, as Nia has called her,
has been replaced, at least tonight, by Candice LeRae
to do Nia's bidding.
[Corey] Listen, you are treading on thin ice.
There are HIPAA violations involved here.
You keep talking about Tiffany's health problems.
Let's talk about the action in the ring,
Naomi and Candice LeRae,
Candice LeRae, a superstar who has traveled the world.
She had great success in NXT.
[Cole] Cover.
[Corey] Candice LeRae, the reigning WWE Women's Speed Champion.
LeRae Is a force to be reckoned with.
Candice just maybe hasn't had the opportunity to show it off,
as she has since Nia provided it.
[Cole] Naomi and Candice first time
ever meeting one-on-one here tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown.
I mentioned Naomi knocked off Nia Jax a couple of weeks ago--
could perhaps earn her a future opportunity
at the Women's Championship down the road.
Naomi, a former two-time champion and a tag champ as well.
Candice LeRae, of course, back at NXT
a former tag team champion.
And pinning Bayley last week, as we showed you moments ago.
Oh.
Nice takedown by LeRae.
Cover now on Naomi.
Hook of the leg and a kick out.
[groans]
One…
Oh…
[oohing]
[groans]
[Cole] There's Naomi with the big leg drop to the back of the neck.
And a kick out by Candice.
Indi Hartwell looking on.
Indi and Candice, a long-standing relationship.
Indi, a former NXT champ.
[Corey] Naomi making the climb to the top turnbuckle.
Candice thinks she's out of harm's way, but…
[Cole] Naomi lands on the apron.
Oh! -[Corey] Oh-ho-ho.
[Cole] Great move by Candice LeRae.
And The Poison Pixie taking control.
Can Candice win another big match this week
on Friday Night SmackDown?
Boom.
Corey, Candice LeRae has been dominating Naomi
during the commercial break.
Impressive performance by LeRae.
[Corey] We mentioned last week
-off of the opening bell -[Cole] Oh!
[Corey] Candice LeRae, The Poison Pixie,
going for a cover here.
[Cole] Hook of the leg now on Naomi.
Kick out at 2.
[Corey] LeRae is not new to this game.
She is a veteran of the business.
Candice LeRae has traveled the world honing her skills,
trying to improve on her craft.
This is a massive opportunity, the second in two weeks,
for The Poison Pixie to make sure the WWE Universe
knows who she is.
[Cole] Well, she understands the political game
as well, buttering up to the Women's Champ,
Nia Jax, trying to perhaps displace Tiffany Stratton
in the role that Tiffany has played for Nia for many
months now.
[Corey] Scorpion Kick by Naomi and--
[Cole] Oh, and takedown of Naomi.
[Corey] Great wherewithal by the veteran LeRae.
[Cole] You know, we saw,
oh, a number of months ago over on Monday Night RAW,
here's the cover by LeRae, hook of the leg,
and a kick out by Naomi this change in attitude by Candice LeRae,
which rubbed off on Indi Hartwell.
And the aggressiveness has paid off, you mentioned first
ever Women's Speed Champion.
[Corey] Like they say, the definition of insanity
is trying the same thing over and over
and achieving the same result. Candice finally realized she
needed to change something.
Maybe it was her mentality.
Maybe it was her perspective on this business.
Either way, this is the best Candice LeRae
I think we've seen in WWE.
[Cole] Yeah, no doubt about it.
[rhythmic clapping]
Naomi trying to somehow get out of this predicament here,
trying to make it back to a vertical base, and she does.
And Candice clung to the bottom rope, out to the apron.
And now Naomi with an opportunity.
[Corey] Oh!
-Here we go. -[Cole] Oh!
Head first is LeRae.
And Indi Hartwell realizes her buddy is in trouble.
[Corey] Well, we have seen in the past
that, any time Indi believes that Candice is in trouble,
Hartwell is always the first to step up.
[rhythmic clapping]
[Cole] A crowd of over 12,000
tonight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn
trying to rally Naomi here.
[Corey] A series of dropkicks.
And Candice LeRae now feeling the glow of Naomi.
[Cole] Oh!
Unique bulldog by Naomi there.
And Candice stunned…
[cheering and applause]
stumbles back to her feet.
Naomi off the second rope.
Kick caught Candice. Down she goes.
Cover now for the win for Naomi.
Hook of the leg, and Candice is able to kick out.
[Corey] You can see frustration beginning to build on the face of Naomi.
And listen, Naomi may have made the same mistake
that many superstars have.
And that is underestimating her opponent,
overlooking Candice LeRae,
not taking LeRae as serious as the threat she truly is.
[Cole] Oh.
Candice hanging Naomi up on the second rope.
You gotta stay back, okay?
Stay back.
[Cole] The official, Dan Engler, warning Indi Hartwell.
Oh! What a kick by Naomi.
[Corey] That scrambled the brains of LeRae
for the moment.
-[Cole] And Indi Hartwell gets involved. -[Corey] Oh.
[Cole] Naomi into the ring post.
-[Corey] Déjà vu. -[booing]
[Cole] No shock that Engler didn't see it.
Nonetheless, Candice LeRae looking to take control.
But wait a minute.
[cheering]
Naomi's friend Bayley on her way to the ring,
goes right after Indi Hartwell.
Bayley knows this building in Brooklyn
so well, won her first singles championship,
beating Sasha Banks, here at NXT TakeOver.
Down goes LeRae.
Naomi, cover for the win.
-Naomi with the victory. -[Naomi's entrance theme]
♪ The beast is out the cage… ♪
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Naomi.
[cheering]
[Corey] Well, Naomi able to withstand the onslaught
of both Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell
on the outside of the ring.
Had it not been for Bayley, this may have been
a very different ending to the story.
Yeah! What's up now?
[Corey] The Role Model rearing
her head at the exact right moment,
allowing Naomi to capitalize.
♪ Turn it up some more ♪
♪ The only thing we know ♪
[Cole] Well, that right there is the Men's
Crown Jewel Championship.
The inaugural Crown Jewel Champion will be crowned
in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It's Cody Rhodes versus Gunther,
champion versus champion.
They go face-to-face, however, on SmackDown next.
♪ Like, every time you see me ♪
♪ Aim for the top… ♪
[Cole] We are in Brooklyn, New York.
And this is Friday Night SmackDown
at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn,
home of the WNBA Champion New York Liberty.
Over 12,000 WWE fans in attendance,
including a very special guest here tonight.
[Corey] I imagine, Cole, you are referencing
New York City's own star and creator of the hit
Broadway show Hamilton--
Lin-Manuel Miranda in the house.
And Cole, despite three Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmys,
and a Pulitzer Prize,
I have never seen Lin-Manuel Miranda's eyes light up
like they did when he saw the Crown Jewel Championship.
[Cole] And there it is.
Someone will be the new champion.
♪ Pull up on a PJ ♪
♪ And I'm tripping, that's CC ♪
♪ She with me, she special ♪
♪ That's my habibi ♪
♪ Looking at my chains and my rings-- ♪
[Cody Rhodes' entrance theme]
[Cody] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
[cheering]
[rock music playing]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here about to blow ♪
♪ Waiting for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain ♪
♪ Lights go up ♪
♪ I'm home ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
[crowd] Whoa!
♪ My father said when I was younger ♪
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the Undisputed
WWE Champion,
"The American Nightmare,"
Cody Rhodes.
[Cole] You know, Corey, Cody Rhodes
has a chance to make some more family history in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia.
If he can win the Crown Jewel Championship match
against Gunther, he would become the first member
of the Rhodes family to win any type of title
overseas on foreign soil.
That is what Cody Rhodes is hoping to accomplish next week.
[Corey] Well, as wonderful of a story
as that may be, it is a mighty big "if" when you're talking
-about having to defeat Gunther. -[crowd] Whoa!
[Gunther's entrance theme]
[booing]
[Cole] Well, that was quite rude.
♪ Gunther ♪
[Alicia] Please welcome the World Heavyweight Champion,
"The Ring General" Gunther.
[Cole] Corey, special start time one o'clock Eastern,
ten o'clock on the West Coast, for Crown Jewel next Saturday.
Cody Rhodes and Gunther have never met in a one-on-one match-up.
However, there's some interesting history here.
The last two Royal Rumbles, Cody Rhodes
has eliminated Gunther.
[Corey] And you know who hasn't forgotten that fact, Cole?
Gunther.
That's the sort of fact that will eat at a champion.
That will keep Gunther awake at night,
someone who respects this business,
who views the ring as sacred.
That one blemish on an impeccable career
keeps Gunther up at night.
And he has the opportunity to take out Rhodes next Saturday.
[Cole] And remember what Gunther
accomplished the last time we were in Saudi Arabia.
[Corey] King of the Ring.
[cheering and applause]
[chanting "Cody"]
So, Cody…
[booing]
…what do you want to talk about, eh?
[laughing and applause]
Well, I would say it's fairly obvious
what I want to talk about.
I asked you last week.
You saw my invitation.
I want to know why,
why you leave Crown Jewel as champion.
Well, let me interrupt you, Cody.
Because obviously, I'm here because you
want to know my reason why.
But let's talk about you a little bit first.
First of all, I want to say
it was totally unnecessary to mention your daughter last week.
This has nothing to do with your daughter.
This has everything to do with a champion versus champion match
for the Crown Jewel Championship.
So let's find out who the better champion out of us two is.
[mixed cheering]
Cody, you know what I don't understand?
Every single time, you drag the people closest
to you into your business.
So look at the things you have done.
At WrestleMania, you fulfilled your story.
And it's all for the legacy of Dusty Rhodes.
[cheering]
You want to be the quarterback of this operation.
You keep asking, give me that John Cena schedule,
just to live up to somebody else's standards.
You know what I think, Cody?
I think you're doing all of this
to make things a little bit more dramatic
than they really are.
I'm going to be fully honest with you now.
My reason why is myself.
I am the greatest professional wrestler in this company right now.
[mixed cheering and applause]
So my reason for all of this is,
live up to myself.
So now, Cody, do me a favor.
Imagine all of those people here wouldn't be in the building right now.
It's just you and me.
And you give me that honesty back.
And I want to know what is your real reason why,
if there really is any.
For a man educated and so well dressed,
double-breasted suit, nice OP on your wrist,
I do have to admit that is the dumbest question
that has ever been asked of me in a wrestling ring.
[cheering]
Come on, Cody.
Honestly.
You want to strip away the veneer, see what's behind the eye of Cody Rhodes.
You're not the only one.
But then you say, take everybody out of this,
just you and I. Newsflash, brother, none of this exists
without all of them.
[cheering]
And you had-- you had the nerve, the gumption to take away their "whoa."
I say we give it to you, Gunther.
You guys want a "whoa"? Let's do it.
[cheering]
One, two, three.
[crowd] Whoa!
[Cody Rhodes] Boom!
And "dramatic"?
"Dramatic"?
Have you seen my family?
Have you seen my brother?
You bet your ass I'm dramatic.
They don't call them Cody Crybabies for nothing.
It's not like we say, hey, they're Cody Badasses,
although they could drop a man if they needed to.
We are proud to be dramatic.
We are proud to be a bit of a messy king.
[cheering and applause]
Question for you, where were you yesterday?
Day before that?
I was there, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
I was talking about WrestleMania 41.
I was making the media rounds.
I was doing everything that was asked of me.
But you couldn't be bothered to get out of bed, could you?
[oohing]
All that prestige, how well you look with the World Heavyweight Championship,
you've got part of it down.
The part you're missing is the giant responsibility
that comes with it.
Cody, responsibility?
Look at this.
I am the workhorse champion of this company.
I know everything about responsibility.
[mixed cheering and applause]
Don't you think I get the same requests that you do?
The difference is, I just tell them no.
Because I got the guts to say no.
I got the guts to say no to the boss.
I got the guts to say no to any media request, to any charity.
I especially got the guts to say no to all of them.
[booing]
And do you know what, Cody?
The reason why you don't say no,
the reason why you don't put yourself
first is, if you stop being the servant of everybody else,
your little story is over.
[oohing]
And do you know what that makes you?
That makes you a gutless champion.
And a gutless champion will always be secondary to me.
[booing]
What do they say about you?
"Ring General"?
That it?
You're a ring general because you're 6' 4", 250 pounds,
a ring general because you have been terrorizing
the planet long before we called you "Gunther"?
I don't see a general at all, though,
because you command no one.
You lead no one but yourself.
And you want to mention guts?
All I do my whole career has been built on guts!
The path less traveled has been made up with my own guts!
You want to know what guts are?
Guts is ending a civil discussion
-like this and taking the first shot. -[thud]
[Cole] Oh!
Cody Rhodes has had enough.
And Rhodes with a right hand.
And now he goes after the World Champ, Gunther.
[Corey] The Ring General obviously
pushed the wrong button on The American Nightmare.
Ludwig Kaiser is here.
[Cole] Yeah.
Gunther's Imperium running mate Ludwig Kaiser attacking Cody
from behind.
And now Gunther going to lead this two-on-one attack.
And despite what Gunther says, there's absolutely
nothing gutsy about this.
This is a two-on-one mugging.
Oh!
[Corey] Big lariat by Gunther.
[cheering]
[Corey] I've got to disagree with you.
I think Gunther found the chink in Cody's armor.
[Cole] And here's Randy Orton
now evening the odds to his--
coming to his friend Cody's side.
[Corey] I think Gunther accomplished exactly what he set out to do tonight.
[chanting "Randy"]
Gunther found the flaw in Cody Rhodes' game plan.
And no one will exploit a weakness quite
like the World Heavyweight Champion.
[Cole] Randy Orton, who knows all about Gunther.
[Cody Rhodes' entrance theme]
[shouting]
[Cole] Crown Jewel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
champion versus champion for the inaugural Crown Jewel Championship,
Rhodes and Gunther.
Special start time of 1:00 Eastern,
Ten a.m. on the West Coast.
[music playing]
Well, last week on Friday Night SmackDown,
the new powerful Bloodline took out the old Tribal Chief and
Jimmy Uso.
We'll revisit the carnage next.
Friday Night SmackDown is live tonight in Brooklyn, New York,
at the Barclays Center.
Over 12,000 WWE fans in attendance.
But right now, we take you back to last week
on Friday Night SmackDown and the saga of The Bloodline.
[Solo Sikoa] You all better get used to seeing this.
Because you're looking at the present and the future.
You looking at The Bloodline.
And you looking at the Tribal Chief.
[Corey] Is there any conceivable way to stop
this new rogue Bloodline?
[booing]
[Solo Sikoa] And Roman Reigns can't do nothing about it.
♪ Uso! ♪
[cheering]
Don't nobody got bigger issues with Roman than I do.
I'm proud of you.
Man, no yeet.
But dividing the family like this, it ain't it.
I left the family, Uce.
I left to be my own man.
And I became the Intercontinental Champion, Little Brother.
[ring bell dings]
[Solo Sikoa] Stop calling me your little brother.
I'm your Tribal Chief now.
I'm trying to unite the family.
Then why did you have to go and get them?
Why did you have to go get Jacob?
There's a reason why we stayed away from him.
And if he keeps staring at me like that,
I'm going to knock your ass out.
[cheering]
You want this?
Next time I see you, Uce, it's going to be different.
[Joe] It's the rematch,
the Intercontinental Championship, Braun and Jey.
-[booing] -[Solo Sikoa] Come on.
Let's end this.
I got tickets.
I'm trying to help you win.
What you doing here?
I'm trying to help you win the belt.
[Wade] Solo made it quite clear he's here to help Jey.
Jey told him, I want nothing to do with you.
Well, now Tanga Loa--
Oh!
[Joe] Superkick.
Tama Tonga is in.
And he eats a super kick as well.
I'm trying to help you to win.
-That's not help. -I'm trying to help you win.
What do you mean?
-You're not listening. -I told you.
-Listen. -I told you--
All you got to do is reach out--
[Joe] Oh, a super spear.
[Wade] Solo Sikoa shoved Jey Uso out of the way of that spear.
[cheering]
[Joe] Oh, and Jey comes flying.
[Wade] Finally, the Tongans
getting taken out of here.
[chatter]
[Joe] Oh, Jacob Fatu!
[oohing]
And the super spear is landed.
[crowd] Two! Three!
[ring bell dings]
[Joe] Bron Breakker is the Intercontinental Champion again.
[Wade] Solo's message has to be,
it didn't have to be that way, Jey.
[chatter]
[Ava] Ladies. Ladies.
Excuse me. Oh.
Ladies.
If we could actually have your attention for a moment,
we have an announcement to make.
Perfect timing now that the champs are here.
You guys have been at each other's throats for weeks on all three shows.
We've worked together to come up with an idea to nip it
in the bud once and for all.
-Nick. -That's right.
Ladies, it's my pleasure to inform you
that, at Crown Jewel, you'll be defending those titles
against all of these teams in a fatal four-way tag team match.
[chatter]
I love it.
That's how to do it.
-I love this for us. -I love that.
I love this for us. We did this.
We did do that.
It sounds good to us because we stay ready.
So we don't have to get ready.
[laughs] And since you ladies want to shoot your shot,
well, here's your chance.
And you better come with it.
Oh.
I heard that.
[chatter]
[DIY's entrance theme]
[Corey] I don't understand he champions' excitement
for this, Michael Cole.
It was a triple-threat match back at Clash at the Castle
where Jade and Bianca lost the gold to begin with.
-[Cole] Now it's a fatal four-way. -Maybe they think odds are better.
♪ Only way to live it ♪
♪ And we won't stop ♪
♪ Not until we get it ♪
[ring bell dings]
[Alicia] The following is a WWE Tag Team Championship
number-one contender's match.
Introducing first, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa,
DIY.
[Cole] Well, Corey, this is
one of those matches that many fans of professional wrestling
have been dying for-for many years.
[Corey] No doubt about it.
Both of these teams winning their respective triple threat
qualifying match-ups last week on SmackDown.
As you can see, DIY, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano,
ready for action, ready to earn the opportunity
to challenge once again for the tag team titles they once held.
All they've got to do is get through the hottest
new team on SmackDown.
Motor City Machine Guns next.
♪ My spotlight too bright ♪
♪ It was all a dream ♪
♪ Seven years blood and tears ♪
♪ Now we're here ♪
♪ Nobody's gonna-- ♪
[Cole] Tonight, Friday Night SmackDown
is in New York City, the borough of Brooklyn, New York.
Over 12,000 in attendance at the Barclays Center.
But next week on Friday Night SmackDown,
the night before Crown Jewel.
[Corey] Well, if we saw what we saw earlier
in the night between Cody and Gunther as any indicator,
this face-to-face could be explosive,
as WWE Women's Champion Nia Jax goes
face-to-face with Women's World champion Liv Morgan.
[Cole] After what happened moments ago,
this is going to be a colossal tag team battle.
The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes teams with Randy Orton
against the World Champ Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser of Imperium
next week.
[Corey] Speaking of tag team action,
we found out earlier that the Women's World Tag Team
Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill
will defend their titles in a fatal four-way tag
team match at Crown Jewel.
We get a 50% preview next week.
Belair, Sky, Niven, Legend in a fatal four-way.
[DIY's entrance theme]
♪ Okay ♪
♪ We see what you got ♪
♪ Got a little bit of nothing While we're standing on top ♪
♪ Standing on top, what? ♪
-♪ We're the cream of the crop… ♪ -[Cole] This our main event tonight
to determine the number-one contenders
for the WWE Tag Team titles.
DIY, Gargano and Ciampa, set for action.
One more.
Right the wrong.
We got it.
[helicopter effect]
[cheering]
[gunfire effect]
[motor city machine guns' entrance theme]
♪ Raise your fist ♪
♪ Ah, let's go ♪
[Alicia] And their opponents,
the team of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, Motor City
Machine Guns.
[Cole] Multi-time tag team champions
and singles champions around the world finally here in WWE.
I'm sure you saw it, Corey, very emotional video
on social media by Alex Shelley earlier this week talking
about how long and hard the road was to finally make it to WWE.
[Corey] I saw it. I lived it.
I loved it.
You only get one chance to make a first impression
to the WWE Universe.
And last week, Motor City Machine Guns
blew it out of the water.
I christened them your favorite tag team's favorite tag team.
That could not be more apropos than tonight, Cole.
[Cole] Well, I'm looking forward to hearing your insight.
You've known these two men for a very long time.
And this match, again, to determine who will face The Bloodline
for the tag titles.
Interesting start to this match-up, Gargano and Shelley.
Gargano telling me earlier that Shelley
has been like a mentor for him throughout his entire career.
They first battled each other back in 2006.
Shelley, Gargano called his big brother
back when he was breaking into the wrestling business.
In fact, the submission Gargano uses, the Gargano Escape,
he was taught that by one Alex Shelley.
[Corey] I can verify all of those things.
Back in 2003, Alex Shelley used to sleep on my floor.
We were a couple of independent kids trying to make it big someday.
Alex Shelley laid the groundwork,
roll up here by Gargano,
-for many of the technical masterminds-- -[Cole] Looking for the Gargano Escape.
Shelley able to counter.
[Corey] Johnny Gargano refers
to himself as "The Mechanical Marvel" these days.
But Shelley really broke the mold,
a guy who may not have been the biggest or baddest
in the ring but when it came to mechanical skills
was second to none.
-There you see a show of respect. -[Cole] And Ciampa just tagged himself in.
I was just going to ask you what you think Ciampa thinks
about this buddy-buddy relationship with Gargano and Shelley.
[Corey] I'd like to think the bond between Ciampa
and Gargano is stronger than the fact
that Ciampa would get jealous or upset that Johnny has a lot
of respect for an opponent.
[Cole] Do you forget their history?
It was right here in this building that Gargano and Ciampa
actually had a last-man-standing match where they couldn't stand each other.
[Corey] Well, when you can't stand one
another, a lot of times that helps forge the strongest bonds,
a bond of respect, of mutual admiration and respect.
Listen, at the end of the day, it's about the opportunity
to become WWE Tag Team Champions once again.
[Cole] And here's the double team
by the Motor City Machine Guns, classic tag team wrestling.
Now, I heard your commentary last week talking about how--
and here's the cover by Sabin and a kick out.
A lot of the moves that tag teams use today
really invented by the Motor City Machine Guns.
[Corey] Well, case in point right here, perpetual motion.
And not only the moves themselves, but the pacing,
the timing, everything about the tag team game
and what we know it as today can be traced
back to the Motor City Machine Guns over the last decade plus.
[chanting "Motor City"]
[Cole] Chris Sabin, who--
[Corey] To the WWE Universe right now.
[Cole] Tag.
[Corey] We're in Brooklyn, and they're chanting "Motor City."
[Cole] This is Gargano.
And a double team now with Ciampa,
former tag team champions in their own right.
And you may have heard,
right before this match-up started,
Gargano said, here's the cover by Johnny Wrestling
and a kick out.
Gargano said, "It's time tonight that we set things right."
What he meant about that is that Gargano and Ciampa
have never ever had a one-on-one rematch
against The Bloodline, who they lost the tag titles to.
Cover again by Gargano.
And again a kick out.
[Corey] Johnny and Tommaso would obviously love that opportunity.
But Nick Aldis has been very open about trying
to refresh the tag team division here on SmackDown.
That's why the Machine Guns are here in the first place.
You want the best competition in the world here on SmackDown.
You either sink or swim.
[Cole] Tag made by Ciampa, who is now the legal man.
And here's the double team by DIY.
Sabin caught him with elbow to the shoulder.
Nobody home. Tag made. Here comes Shelley.
And double team once again by the Machine Guns.
[Corey] Out of the way, a step ahead of Ciampa is Alex Shelley.
On the outside, face first into the apron.
-Watch Sabin on the top of your screen. -[Cole] Ciampa better turn around.
[oohing]
Bang!
[Corey] That looks kind of familiar, Cole.
[Cole] That's like Meet in the Middle.
[laughs] That's DIY's move.
[Corey] Oh, but wait a minute. Watch Johnny.
-[Cole] Oh, and there it is. -[Corey] Big spear takes down Sabin.
[Cole] That slingshot spear by Gargano.
Ciampa now, who was once called The Blackheart,
showing his aggression outside the ring on one Alex Shelley.
[Corey] And I like this. This is what it's going to take.
This is the side of Ciampa we need to see tonight,
when the stakes are at their highest.
-[Cole] And Gargano now… -Yeah!
Yeah!
[Cole] celebrating with Ciampa.
Who will become the number-one contenders for the tag titles?
Will it be DIY?
Will it be Motor City Machine Guns that will the number-one contenders
for The Bloodline's tag team titles?
This match-up continues.
[crowd applauding]
[Corey] Well, beyond the championship opportunity,
think about what's at stake here for DIY--
-to be the first team to snuff out -[pain exclamation]
the momentum of the Motor City Machine Guns.
All of the hype, all of the excitement.
DIY could play spoiler in more than one way.
[Cole] Look at the other side of things.
Can you imagine in just their second match in WWE--
[Corey] Wait a minute.
Sabin from the top.
[Cole] Sabin, that crossbody.
If Motor City Machine Guns can become the number-one contender
for the tag titles?
[Corey] It's extremely unlikely,
but stranger things have happened.
And right now, Chris Sabin taking care of both members of DIY.
[Cole] Sabin and Shelley have both been TNA Heavyweight Impact champions,
also tag champs there.
[Corey] Well, to borrow a phrase, Chris Sabin is not fast. He's sudden.
-[Cole] Oh! -[Corey] Boom.
[Cole] And that spinning tornado DDT center of the ring.
A lot of success in New Japan as well for this team.
[Corey] All around the globe, everywhere the Guns have competed
-[Cole] Tag. [Corey] they have tasted great success.
But now they find themselves in the ultimate proving ground
here on SmackDown.
[Cole] Ciampa misses.
-Double team coming. -[pain exclamation]
Sabin and Shelley always on the same page.
It's like synchronized swimming.
[Corey] Sabin and Shelley have really
mastered the art of maximizing the damage done
within the official's five count.
They make the rules work for them.
My god.
[Cole] Sabin top rope-- no!
-[Corey] Wow! -[Cole] Dropkick!
Down goes Gargano.
Cover by Shelley for the win.
Kick out by Johnny.
[Corey] This is what I'm talking about, master tag team strategy.
There was no physical contact that stopped it,
not allowing the official, Jessika Carr, to reach the count of five.
[chanting "This is awesome"]
Fantastic teamwork by Motor City Machine Guns.
[Cole] Sabin's never ever been a part of WWE.
Alex Shelley had a cup of coffee at one point in his career.
But I asked Johnny Gargano earlier today, did you ever
think this match was going to happen on Friday Night SmackDown?
He said, "No way, not in a million years."
[Corey] You said Gargano used to look up to Shelley.
Shelley and I would sit on my couch, talk about how Gargano wouldn't make it.
[Cole laughs] And here we go.
Now Ciampa from behind.
Roll up now on Sabin, who rolls through.
Johnny avoids the kick.
Oh, what a kick, right to the ear.
And Gargano, tag.
Here comes Ciampa.
You gotta get out of here.
Let's go.
[Cole] Well, Ciampa looking to put him away.
Oh.
Down goes Sabin.
[Corey] Gargano taking out Shelley on the outside.
[Cole] Version of the Fairy Tale Ending
with Gargano helping out.
And now Ciampa, knee down, running knee.
[Corey] Goodnight, Sabin.
[Cole] Cover for the number-one contendership for the tag titles.
[Corey] Ciampa can't let his emotions get the best
of him in this moment.
Tommaso needs to stay focused on the task at hand.
[Cole] Well, he's-he has that emotion-fueled offense.
Another knee by Ciampa.
Gargano makes the tag.
Double team coming.
Could be Meet in the Middle.
Could be the end of the short run
here by Motor City Machine Guns.
Shelley, though, drags Ciampa out of the ring.
[Corey] Look in the middle of the ring.
Back and forth we go.
[Cole] Sabin survives.
[Corey] Gargano and Sabin trading near falls.
Jawbreaker by Chris Sabin.
[Cole] Wow.
Looked like he lost a tooth.
[Corey] You might be right.
-[Cole] Gargano -[Corey] Oh!
[Cole] inadvertently took out his partner.
Roll up, Gargano stays in it.
Sabin makes a tag.
Shelley's legal.
Gargano into the corner.
Motor City Machine Guns have Gargano where they want him.
And they call this here Skull and Bones.
Motor City Machine Guns…
[ring bell dings]
are the number-one contenders for the tag titles.
[Alicia] Here are your winners,
Motor City Machine Guns.
[Corey] Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin
continue to make believers out of the WWE Universe
with absolutely spectacular effort tonight.
[Cole] That was inadvertent, of course,
-by Gargano. -[crowd] One! Two!
[Cole] And Motor City Machine Guns would take over from there.
[Corey] It's very rare that DIY are
not on the same exact page.
Tonight, the Motor City Machine Guns
-were just a little bit better. -[ring bell dings]
[Cole] Well, DIY obviously frustrated.
But what a performance by Shelley and Sabin
in their second match in WWE.
They're in line for a tag team title match.
[Corey] Welcome to SmackDown, Motor City
Machine Guns.
[Cole] Impressive performance
here tonight in Brooklyn on Friday Night SmackDown
for Shelley and Sabin.
[cheering and applause]
[Solo Sikoa's entrance theme]
[oohing]
[Cole] Uh-oh. -[Corey] Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
♪ We takin' it all ♪
♪ Settle the score ♪
♪ The one who will not take a loss Takin' it all… ♪
[Cole] Solo and the Tongans.
♪ Droppin' you down to the floor We takin' it all ♪
[Cole] Hey, Motor City Machine Guns,
welcome to the show, guys.
The Bloodline's here.
It's not going down here tonight.
We're good. We're all right.
It's okay.
Nick, there's no problem here.
I just--
[chanting "OTC"]
Brooklyn, shut your mouth.
[booing]
I just wanted to come out here and introduce ourselves
to the number-one contenders…
[booing]
…for-- I said, Brooklyn, shut your mouth.
[booing louder]
Before I get started…
[booing]
Brooklyn, New York,
[booing]
acknowledge me.
[booing]
Motor City, welcome to SmackDown.
Meet The Bloodline.
And I am your Tribal Chief.
[chanting "OTC"]
Well, it's an honor to meet you, Mr. Tribal Chief.
And since we're doing introductions,
allow me to introduce us.
I'm Chris Sabin, and this is Alex Shelley,
the Motor City Machine Guns,
now the number-one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championships.
[cheering]
And we're always ready.
Whenever you're ready to hand those championships over,
just let us know,
any place, any time.
[cheering]
Any place, any time.
Oh, that's funny. Okay.
Any place, any time, huh?
Well, since you two came to SmackDown and, uh,
you want to make an impact for yourself…
[oohing]
how about a tag team title match right here, right now in Brooklyn?
[cheering]
These men have fought.
They've sacrificed.
They've given everything to this business for 20 years.
And I will be damned if I'm going to stand by and let them
get their earned, fair WWE Tag Team Title shot
when they're anything less than 100%.
No, no, no, no. Nick, stop.
We've known you a long time.
You know more than anyone else what we've put into this industry.
Those belts, those tag team titles those are the most important championships
on this planet to us.
So if they want to do it right here, right now…
[cheering]
then you got us.
Let's do it.
Give us our title shot right now!
[cheering]
-Right now. -Hell, yeah!
Let's do it.
-This is what you want? -Yes.
This is what you want?
Yeah.
This is what you want?
[cheering]
Then get me a referee out here. And let's do this right now.
[cheering]
[Cole] Corey, I don't know how smart this is for--
[Corey] I hate it, Cole.
[Cole] Shelley and Sabin.
[Corey] I hate everything about it. I understand it.
I understand the heart and the passion of Sabin and Shelley.
But this is career suicide.
Maybe the Machine Guns are blinded by the bright lights.
Maybe it's the atmosphere in Barclays Center.
But this is not a smart decision.
[Cole] They just went through a grueling match
with Gargano and Ciampa.
Now they have to take on Tama Tonga,
Tanga Loa, the Tag Team Champions from The Bloodline.
[ring bell dings]
You're playing with the sharks now, boys.
And here we go.
Match-up underway for the tag team titles.
[Corey] Well-rested, level-headed sharks.
Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa have picked their spot.
They are calling the shots in this situation.
[Cole] And now sent outside the ring.
And now Shelley and Sabin
baseball slides.
[Corey] But don't expect to see anything resembling
quit from these two. But-- oh!
[Cole] Oh!
And then taking them out is The Bloodline, who've taken over.
Tag team titles up for grabs.
Eh?
[Cole] We are back live on Friday Night SmackDown.
And Corey, your fears--
well, so far they've been warranted.
Because The Bloodline has been dismantling
Motor City Machine Guns in this Tag Team Championship match.
[Corey] And we see the powerhouse of the Bloodline,
Tanga Loa, just imposing his will on both Sabin and Shelley.
I understand that emotions were running high,
but this was an extremely ill-advised decision
by the Motor City Machine Guns to take this match-up right
-here and now. -[Cole] And again…
-Oh! -[Corey] Oh.
[Cole] They have history
with both Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
from back in their days in New Japan,
do the Motor City Machine Guns.
But this is a different Bloodline now.
[Corey] Oh, no.
[Cole] Oh, double team, nobody home.
[Corey] Alex Shelley may have avoided disaster,
but is he just delaying the inevitable?
-Solo not happy. -Get up!
[Cole] Yeah, the new Tribal Chief Solo Sikoa up
on the apron. Wait a minute.
Solo Sikoa being attacked here at ringside…
[Corey] Oh-ho-ho.
[Cole] by none other than Mr. Jimmy Uso.
[cheering]
Jimmy Uso is here.
And Little Brother is about to get him some.
And he runs into a superkick, does Jacob Fatu.
And from behind now, Solo Sikoa.
And now the beatdown of Jimmy again.
[Corey] Jimmy needs to know better.
[chanting "Yeet"]
He just jumped into the lion's den all on his own.
He's outnumbered.
And he's being massacred.
-Outnumbered! -[Corey] No, no. Wait.
[Cole] Not for long.
[Corey] Wait.
Is it…
[Cole] Is he here?
That's the music of Roman Reigns.
[cheering]
-[Corey laughs] -[Cole] And he is.
The OTC is here!
Roman Reigns! Superman Punch to Fatu.
Reigns and Jimmy, left lying by The Bloodline last week,
have come for revenge tonight.
[Corey] The OTC and Jimmy Uso neutralizing
Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa.
But we still have a tag team title match underway right now.
[Cole] Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa defending against the Motor City Machine Guns
as Roman, and Fatu, and Solo, and Jimmy Uso fight
out of the Barclays Center.
[Corey] A turn of events I don't think
the Motor City Machine Guns could have predicted
in their wildest dreams.
[Cole] Tag made.
Alex Shelley makes the tag to Chris Sabin.
And Sabin now in the match-up going after Tama Tonga.
This is for the tag team gold here tonight in our main event.
[Corey] If nothing else, for the moment,
the numbers game has subsided. It is even.
It is two-on-two, standard tag team fare.
Sabin with a missile dropkick.
[Cole] And Sabin now regaining control
in the match-up, looking to win tag team gold
in just their second match in WWE,
their third match in WWE.
However, the referee Jason Ayers knocked down.
And there's the spinebuster by Loa.
[Corey] It's just a different world.
No matter how much success you've had around the world,
WWE is a different entity.
This is the major league.
This is the best of the best.
[Cole] And the thing is, Corey, the official's been knocked down.
So now the Tongans can use the steel chairs to their advantage
and take out Motor City Machine Guns.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute. -[Corey] Oh.
-[Cole] Who-- -[Corey] You--
Cole, look at the eyes.
[chanting "Yeet"]
[Cole] I'm looking in the eyes.
Superkick!
[Corey] You know damn well who that is, Cole.
[Cole] I know it.
I'm looking in his eyes.
Tanga Loa launched into our laps.
[laughs] Oh.
[Cole] Tama Tonga realizes it too.
[Corey] They know.
[Cole] Main Event is here.
Unloading on Tama Tonga.
Spear!
[Corey] Scream it with me, Cole.
[Cole] Jey Uso back in the fold!
[cheering]
[chanting "Yeet"]
Payback time against the men who
cost him the Intercontinental Title on RAW Monday Night.
And now the Motor City Machine Guns up top.
Down they go.
-Here's the cover. -[crowd] One, two, three!
[Cole and Corey] They did it!
[Motor City Machine Guns' entrance theme]
[cheering]
[Alicia] Here are your winners
and the new WWE Tag Team Champions,
the Motor City Machine Guns.
[Cole] I can't believe it.
Shelley and Sabin in just their third match in WWE
use the Skull and Bones to knock off The Bloodline
and win the tag team titles.
[Corey] That wasn't just improbable, Cole.
We just witnessed the impossible.
The Motor City Machine Guns, with a little help
from the OTC and the Usos,
plural, just shocked the entire WWE Universe.
[Cole] Well, Corey, if you're gonna do battle with The Bloodline,
you need to have friends on your side.
[Corey] You need help.
Roman Reigns knew he was a chief without a tribe.
Vengeance on the mind of the OTC.
There goes the Werewolf.
There goes Solo Sikoa.
And in a shocking turn of events,
as Jason Ayers was taken out, our official,
the unlikeliest of heroes, would save the day,
and the championship aspirations of the Motor City Machine Guns.
Give me a big ole yeet.
The Intercontinental Champion, the former Intercontinental Champion,
Jey Uso,
coming to the aid of the Machine Guns
with a steel chair.
And just for emphasis, the exclamation point,
a spear from Main Event Jey.
[cheering]
[Cole] So many impossible things happened tonight,
Motor City Machine Guns winning the tag team titles.
[ring bell dings]
[cheering]
The return of not only Jimmy Uso and Roman Reigns,
but the return of "Main Event" Jey Uso.
Congratulations to the Motor City Machine Guns.
Corey, I said it earlier.
But this time, I'll say it with a little different emphasis.
Let's go!
[Cole] Guys, welcome to the show.
[chanting "Yeet"]
[oohing]
[chanting "Uso"]
[chanting "Hug it out"]
[cheering]
[chanting "OTC"] out"]