[dramatic music]
[Triple H] Then…
now.
Forever.
Together.
[Cole] And here on Friday Night SmackDown,
that is the inaugural Crown Jewel Championship
for the women.
Tomorrow at Crown Jewel, Nia Jax versus Liv Morgan,
champion versus champion for the title.
[Nia Jax's theme music]
[PA] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the WWE
Women's Champion, Nia Jax!
[Cole] I want to remind everyone of the very special start time tomorrow,
one o'clock Eastern, ten o'clock on the West Coast
in the morning.
It is Crown Jewel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
where for the first time, we will crown a Crown Jewel Champion.
Will it be Nia Jax, the WWE Women's Champion,
or the world champion, Liv Morgan from Monday Night RAW?
We find out tomorrow.
[Corey] My money is on The Irresistible Force, Cole.
How on Earth can anyone bet against Nia Jax
as she has annihilated everyone in her path?
Right now, there's only one thing on my mind,
the Women's Crown Jewel Championship.
I want it.
And if you haven't noticed, I usually get everything that I want.
The last time I was in Saudi Arabia,
I wanted to become Queen of the Ring.
And I did.
At SummerSlam, I wanted to become WWE Women's Champion.
And I did.
Anything and everything that gets in my way
gets annihilated,
which is exactly what's going to happen to that insufferable Liv Morgan
at Crown Jewel.
I will be walking out the first-ever Women's
Crown Jewel Champion.
And Liv will be crying on the floor
with her disgusting, dirty little--
[hype music]
[Corey] That's not Liv Morgan.
That is Raquel Rodriguez, Morgan's backup.
And here comes the happy couple.
Well, Nia had something right.
Dominik is disgusting.
Jealous is not a good color on you, Cole.
Nia, you keep bragging about your accomplishments
like you're special.
But you're not.
No, I also walked out of King and Queen of the Ring successful.
I retired Becky Lynch and then became
the greatest Women's World Champion of all time.
All thanks to a little help from the most gorgeous man
in the whole entire world,
Daddy Dominik Mysterio.
Besides, Nia, that was months before SummerSlam.
I've held my title longer than you've held yours.
So I think I know what it takes to become Crown Jewel Champion.
Also, Nia, if my memory serves correct,
I also know what it takes to beat you too.
Because last time we fought, I won.
[laughs]
So if I were you, Nia, I'd stop dreaming now.
Because if anyone's going to become
the very first ever Women's Crown Jewel Champion,
it's going to be me.
[recording] It's Tiffany time.
[Def Rebel, "Tiffy Time"]
[Corey] Nia looks annoyed.
You guys can argue all you want because at Crown Jewel,
it's going to be Tiffy time!
No, no.
That's right.
I'm taking my briefcase to Crown Jewel.
And I'm going to cash in.
And I'm going to become the new Women's World Champion.
That's right, Tiffy.
You see, Liv, you don't just have me to worry about.
Because Tiffy over here--
Nia, don't get too comfortable.
I can cash in on you too.
[laughter]
-Excuse me? -[Liv Morgan] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
This is so great. Not only do you have to worry about your best friend
cashing in on you, that means I'm going to beat you just like that.
Unlike you, Nia, I actually have people around me that I can trust.
Let's go, guys.
[Tiffany] Oh, Liv.
Don't get too excited.
I haven't even made up my decision yet.
And besides, you're both starting to piss me off.
So here's what's going to happen.
At Crown Jewel, I'm going to cash in.
And I'm taking home one of those titles.
Not mine.
But, you know, there is one thing
that could help me make up my decision a little bit faster.
Liv, if I take that title,
does that mean he comes with me?
I could use a little dirty in my life.
Well, Tiffany, it seems to me that you already have
enough dirty in your life.
[Cole] Oh, that struck a chord.
And Stratton with a right hand driving Liv out of the ring.
You want some?
You're pathetic!
You're nothing without him!
Nothing!
[chanting]
[Cole] What got into Tiffany?
Get a referee!
[Cole] This match was made official during the commercial break.
Liv Morgan taking on Tiffany Stratton
here tonight, one-on-one, on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Corey] I think Tiffany Stratton is about to learn an extremely painful lesson.
She flew too close to the sun.
And Liv Morgan is going to clip her wings.
You don't talk about Dirty Dom,
Liv's pride and joy, the love of Miss Morgan's life.
[Cole] Well, it's even bigger than that.
[Corey] And listen, all across the board, Cole,
I think Tiffany Stratton, something got into her that's
not going to serve her well.
Tiffany came out here going scorched Earth.
-She said she'll take Nia's title. -[Cole] Gross. Please.
[Corey] Oh, man. This is so great.
She's going to take Liv's title.
She might take Nia's title.
Tiffany just called her shot.
And that's the worst way to do it
when you have the Money in the Bank contract.
[Cole] They were just rubbing noses like bunny rabbits.
[Corey] Oh, I saw it, Cole. I'm trying to be professional.
[Cole] And here now, Tiffany taking it out on Liv Morgan.
And remember, Miss Money in the Bank can cash in on any champion.
So tomorrow at Crown Jewel, she could cash in on Liv Morgan.
Or she could cash in on her buddy, Nia Jax.
[Corey] Or Tiffany Stratton could stay here stateside
and not give away the gift of opportunity and surprise.
I mean, I got to be honest, it's not the smartest decision
I've seen Tiffany Stratton make,
especially when you're dealing with someone as talented
as Liv Morgan and as dangerous as Nia Jax,
both women who will be leaving it--
oh, big powerbomb.
[Cole] Shoulders down.
Can you imagine if Tiffany can knock out Liv Morgan tonight?
-Does she cash in tonight? -[Corey] She should.
Again, that's the beautiful aspect of having the Money in the Bank contract.
You do it on your terms.
You can play mind games with the champions.
But you never want to call your shot like that.
That's a recipe for disaster.
[Cole] We've seen a number
of superstars over the years call their shots.
And it doesn't always work out the right way.
And now, Stratton with Liv on her shoulders.
Liv Morgan on a codebreaker right to the face.
Cover now.
Hook of the leg.
And Tiffany gets the shoulder up.
[Corey] And if you're Tiffany Stratton,
you've managed to weasel your way into the inner circle.
[Cole] That was Morgan barking at Nia, who she meets at Crown Jewel tomorrow.
Looking for Oblivion.
[Corey] Tiffany's found herself in the inner circle between Nia Jax.
Why would you want to betray that? Why would you--
[Cole] Because Nia Jax turned to Candice LeRae
in the past couple of weeks. Maybe that's why.
[Corey] Because Tiffy had the sniffles.
[Cole] And Tiffany now trying to use the briefcase.
Liv Morgan going to roll her up. Shoulders down.
Official in position.
Hooks the tights. And Morgan with the win.
[hype music]
[PA] Here is your winner, the Women's World Champion,
Liv Morgan.
[Corey] Cole, I'll be honest with you.
It looks to me like Tiffany Stratton is imploding right now.
[Cole] Meanwhile, Liv Morgan turning her attention to Nia Jax.
And Morgan now with the briefcase in hand
wiping out Stratton.
Trying to wipe out Nia.
Oh, and a headbutt drives Morgan into the corner.
Raquel Rodriguez, and now Dirty Dom!
Oh, my goodness!
[Corey] Oh, no.
If this happens at Crown Jewel,
-we know who the new champ is going to be. -[Cole] Oh!
Annihilator!
[Corey] Good luck cashing in, Tiff.
[Cole] Good luck, Liv Morgan.
Good luck, Dominik.
Good luck, Raquel. Good luck, everybody.
Nia Jax is pissed off.
[Corey] I don't think Nia Jax needs luck.
[Cole] So again, special start time tomorrow,
one o'clock in the afternoon on the East Coast,
10:00 in the morning on the West Coast. It's Crown Jewel.
First-ever Crown Jewel Championship
between Nia Jax-Liv Morgan, champion versus champion.
Well…
What about what was made official last week on Smackdown?
It's going to be one of the most personal battles
we've ever witnessed in WWE.
And last week, Triple H made it official.
Randy Orton, Kevin Owens.
There is something disconnected in him,
something different in his eyes.
He is not the same.
And quite frankly,
I don't want to put him in the ring with you.
So you're protecting me?
You just came back after 18 months on the shelf.
You had steel rods put in your back.
I don't want to see you go back on that shelf.
You know what?
-Stop. -No, you listen to me.
I don't want to see you go back on that shelf
maybe permanently.
If you were in my shoes,
you wouldn't just sit back and let it slide.
You would do what we have always done!
And that is handle our business in the middle of this ring!
Give me Owens at Crown Jewel.
Please, I beg of you, Hunter.
You want Kevin Owens at Crown Jewel?
You got him.
From this moment forward, I suggest you protect yourself at all times.
[clears throat]
Randy, I've been trying to call you all week.
And you just won't answer.
So I'm sending this video to WWE in hopes
that you'll actually see it
and listen because I really need you to hear me.
I don't want to do this.
I don't want to fight you.
I've looked up to you for so long.
I still do now, actually.
I just don't understand why you're making me do this.
And I need you to remember something.
I really never wanted to hurt you.
And now I'm going to.
At Crown Jewel, I'm going to hurt you like you hurt me.
And it's your fault because you did this.
You did this to us.
I'll see you Saturday, buddy.
[rap music]
[Cole] Kevin Owens, he gets Randy Orton tomorrow at Crown Jewel.
But coming up later on tonight,
Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton team up
to take on Gunther and Kaiser of the Imperium in our main event.
[hype music]
And some more tag team action right now,
Friday Night SmackDown.
[CFO$, "Bring the Swag"]
[bell ringing]
[PA] The following is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by B-Fab,
the team of Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford,
The Street Profits.
[Cole] B-fab dressed like she's
going to take care of some business tonight as well.
Street Profits set to take on Pretty Deadly.
[Corey] Say it with some oomph, Cole!
Come on, give me a "Yes, boy!"
[Cole] Pretty Deadly.
[Corey] Yes, boy!
[Cole] Next.
[Cole] We are back on Friday Night SmackDown.
Ford, Dawkins set for tag team action.
[Corey] Think about it, Cole.
As if the stakes of this match-up needed to be raised any higher,
we've got brand new kingpins in the tag team division,
the Motor City Machine Guns.
[Cole] Yeah, two teams jockeying
for position to become number one contenders, perhaps.
Every match counts.
Well, we are in Brooklyn, where Saturday Night Fever was born.
So it's only, well, apropos that we have a disco ball.
[Corey] I got a fever, Cole.
And the only prescription is more Pretty Deadly.
[PA] And our opponents, Kit Wilson
and Elton Prince, Pretty Deadly!
[Corey] Cole, are those Pretty Deadly Playbills?
[Cole] Well, they have been trying to get Pretty Deadly the Musical sold.
I mean, Broadway, of course, just across the river.
[Corey] This is the city where dreams come true, Cole.
Kit and Elton are in the right place.
-[Cole] Oh, look at who's here. -[Corey] Oh, my god!
Lin-Manuel Miranda!
It's got everything.
[Cole] Of course, the man who made Hamilton famous.
Mix tape.
This is everything.
All right?
We're loving warriors.
We love it all.
[Corey] I bet Pretty Deadly the Musical is a far cry from Hamilton.
Elton just gave a CD to Lin-Manuel Miranda.
[Cole] He does not look impressed.
[Corey] How about you call the match?
Gonna get on Napster and see
if I can download some of the Pretty Deadly Musical.
[Cole] I bet that stuff is good.
[Corey] So I don't know if I like the sarcasm in your voice, Cole.
[Cole] Is it true they call themselves pretty deadly because of--
[Corey] Oh, no!
This is why they're called Pretty Deadly.
Because it's pretty hard to believe that two handsome,
talented, charismatic individuals can be as deadly as Elton and Kit.
[Cole] This is Kit Wilson
starting things off in this match-up against Montez Ford.
Now, remember what happened a couple of weeks ago.
A triple threat match, Ford and Gargano each pinned
a different member of Pretty Deadly.
But since only one was legal, DIY won.
[Corey] If you're The Street Profits,
you have to chalk that up to terribly unfortunate happens.
[Cole] Cover by Prince. Hook to the leg. And a kick-out.
[Corey] Ford and Dawkins believed
they had earned the opportunity to advance.
No such luck.
So you got to keep scratching, keep clawing,
and try to find your way back up the ladder
toward the Motor City Machine Guns.
[Cole] Well, these two teams
had a bit of a confrontation on SmackDown LowDown last week
that set up this match-up.
And now, just mocking The Street Profits.
-[Corey] Mocking? -[Cole] Yeah.
[Corey] I wouldn't consider that mocking.
I think that's just more of savoring the moment for Kit and Elton.
This is-- again, this is New York City, Cole.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is in the front row.
You don't think somebody else here that's
a producer or somebody on Broadway
that can really open some doors for these guys?
[Cole] Not sure anyone'd be interested, but--
-[Corey] So you're not a man of culture. -[Cole] Of course.
Double team by Pretty Deadly, DDT dropped right on the top of his head.
Cover now for the win.
Hook of the leg and a kick-out.
Two-time NXT Tag Champs in control.
Kit Wilson, who refers to himself
as the debonair heartbreaker.
Hypoallergenic masculinity.
[Corey] That's the best kind of masculinity, Cole.
[Cole] And now, the…
These guys are… here we go.
These guys are great competitors.
They're great competitors. I'll give them that.
[Corey] You're threatened by the incredible levels
of testosterone in the building tonight.
[Cole] Here's Wilson into the corner. Nobody home.
Elton Prince, that backfired on him.
Ford trying to make a tag to Dawkins in the corner.
Almost there.
Fingertip away.
Ford lands on his feet, backs up into the corner.
And Pretty Deadly trying to figure out what to do.
And now, the chance is on.
And Ford, uber athletic tag to Dawkins!
And here's Angelo Dawkins, a powerhouse of the team.
[Corey] Ready to see some bodies flying around,
AD the powerhouse of The Profits.
[Cole] Dawkins very athletic as well.
And there's that corkscrew elbow taking out Prince.
And Wilson pancaked by Dawkins.
And now, Dawkins into the corner.
And Pretty Deadly and--
Dawkins is just a world of trouble.
[Corey] Unbelievable athletically,
the gifts possessed by Angelo are second to none.
For a man of his size, he's extremely well.
[Cole] Dawkins hung up on the top rope now.
Tag made.
Here comes Kit Wilson and the double team by Pretty Deadly.
[Corey] Beautiful.
Into the cover.
[Cole] Hook of the leg.
Kick-out.
[Corey] Now, Elton dumping Montez to the outside.
Tez too sure-footed for that.
Big kick right between the eyes of Elton Prince.
Whoa!
[Cole] Wilson with that running uppercut.
[Corey] Oh, my goodness.
[Cole] Big elbow by Kitt. Dawkins caught him with a boot.
[Corey] Charles Robinson keeping an eye on--
[Cole] Right to the eyes by Elton Prince.
And B-Fab gets involved!
And B-Fab, look at the power!
[Corey] What?
[Cole] Down goes Prince!
Down goes Prince!
[Corey] Well, how are Kitt and Elton supposed to deal with that?
[Cole] And now, Dawkins with Wilson on his shoulders.
Tag made to Montez Ford.
That massive blockbuster, cover.
The Profits with a win.
[CFO$, "Bring the Swag"]
[PA] Here are your winners,
The Street Profits.
[Cole] A rough night at the office for Pretty Deadly.
A massive win for The Profits.
♪ I'm bout to blow up And y'all don't even know… ♪
Tiffy, I'm confused.
Pretty sure I heard you say you were going to cash in--
No, no, no, I just wanted Liv to think
I was cashing in on you.
It's all a part of my plan.
Whatever, I--
You're really smart. Huh?
Was that part of your plan or…
Can we help you?
Yeah, just keep that warm for me.
Psh.
[Cole] Naomi and Bayley take on Candice and Indi next.
[Cole] Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown.
Naomi ready for tag team action.
[WWE, "Glow (Naomi)"]
♪ 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! ♪
♪ Glow! ♪
♪ Pump your fists, let's go! ♪
♪ Glow! ♪
[vocalizations]
♪ Role model ♪
[PA] The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first the team of Naomi and Bayley!
[Cole] Good friends teaming up here tonight
on Friday Night SmackDown.
And Naomi has been on quite the roll as of late.
[Corey] No doubt about that.
Naomi really finding her stride in recent weeks,
climbing her way up the women's ranks.
But a lot of it could not have occurred
without her good friend, Bayley.
Tonight, they fight side by side and attempt to settle a score
they've been dealing with for some weeks now.
[Cole] In fact, Naomi pinned Nia Jax a few weeks back here on SmackDown.
[hype music]
[PA] And their opponents, the team of Indi Hartwell
and Candice LeRae.
[Cole] Former NXT Women's Tag Team Champions.
LeRae and Indi Hartwell set to take on Naomi and Bayley tonight.
Last week on Friday Night SmackDown,
Candice LeRae went one-on-one with Naomi when Indi Hartwell get involved.
[Corey] Well, luckily for Naomi, her good friend,
the role model, Bayley, would arrive at the last possible moment,
thwart any interference, and opened the door for Naomi
to slam it shut in the face of the Poison Pixie
and earn the W.
[Cole] Candice LeRae knocked off Bayley in a tag team match a few weeks ago,
one of the biggest wins of her career.
Candice has had an issue with Bayley for many years.
-[bell ringing] -Spoke to Candice a bit earlier today.
And meanwhile, LeRae and Hartwell go right after Naomi and Bayley.
[Corey] The irony of this whole situation is, in a way,
this is all Bayley's fault.
Bayley is a woman who, throughout her success in WWE,
has always tried to look out for the division,
for the people with the most passion, the people who work the hardest
in the Performance Center or around the world.
Bayley was integral in Indi Hartwell
and Candice LeRae both arriving in WWE, a lot of the success they had in NXT.
Now, Bayley finds herself as the target,
the Dr. Frankenstein, the Frankenstein's monster.
[Cole] It's well documented
that the reason Indi Hartwell wanted to become a wrestler
is because she watched the great Bayley-Sasha Banks
battle in Brooklyn in an NXT takeover when Bayley won her first championship.
Indi Hartwell wanted to become a wrestler that day.
[Corey] We talked about it at great length.
The passion Bayley has for this business can also be her undoing.
Bayley perhaps too unselfish to really be great.
[Cole] Tag made. Here comes the LeRae.
Mentioned earlier, I spoke to LeRae today and asked her
what her problem is with Bayley.
Now, Candice LeRae off the second rope, taking Bayley down.
Get to that story on the other side of the break.
Candice and Indi in control.
That's what you get, your role model right here.
[Cole] We're back on Friday Night SmackDown.
LeRae and Hartwell in control of Bayley and Naomi.
I was talking about this before the break. I asked Candice her problem with Bayley.
Apparently, Bayley and Candice were together in the same match
many years ago.
LeRae believed that that was going to be her night to shine
and she would become a star.
However, it was the night that Bayley was discovered.
And she would go on to super stardom.
That has stuck in the craw of Candice LeRae
for a very long time now.
LeRae believes that she has been a true role model
to people around the world in the wrestling industry,
including Indi Hartwell.
Yet Bayley is the one who named herself the role model.
All those things bother LeRae.
[Corey] Cover by Candice.
[Cole] Hook of the leg. And a kick-out.
[Corey] And in a weird way, Cole,
I understand Candice's frustration.
And what better way to resolve that frustration?
Take out the woman who caused it.
No matter how many years later,
it can still be cathartic if you're Candice LeRae
and you can knock off Bayley.
[Cole] Candice is trying to do tonight,
along with Indi Hartwell Indi, a former NXT Women's Champion.
Bayley trying to rally here, the former multitime champ.
[Corey] Bayley scrambling for Naomi in the corner.
Great wherewithal by LeRae
[Cole] A cheap shot by Candice.
[Corey] Why was it a cheap shot? I call that defense.
[Cole] Bayley now sent out to the apron. Tag made.
Here comes Hartwell.
Oh, Bayley able to counter momentarily.
And now, LeRae driven into the post.
[Corey] If we know nothing else about Bayley
is that the woman is a survivor in every sense of the word,
unmatched heart from the role model.
Hartwell, nobody home.
And now, Bayley teeing off.
[Cole] And Bayley with the knees right to the midsection of Hartwell.
Now, she's got an opportunity to make a tag.
And the red-hot Naomi hoping to get into this match-up,
tagged by LeRae.
Candice into the ring looking to thwart Bayley
from making the tag and does.
Bayley trying to get there. And Bayley makes the tag.
[Corey] And now, poor Candice LeRae about to experience the glow.
Oh!
Face first into the top turnbuckle goes LeRae.
Oh, planted by Naomi.
[Cole] And Candice in trouble.
[Corey] Candice may be out.
[Cole] And Naomi looking to put her away.
[Corey] Split, splash.
[Cole] And Indi breaks things up.
Come on, now.
[Cole] And Bayley back into the fight.
[Corey] Hartwell dumps Bayley to the outside.
Naomi connects with a kick.
Keep your eyes on Candice.
Stacked up--
[Cole] Naomi almost had her! Almost stole one there!
Candice, step up. Enziguri, caught Naomi on the ear.
[Corey] Here comes LeRae again.
Naomi out of the way, just in time.
[Cole] Bayley makes the tag.
Naomi launches herself and takes out Hartwell.
[Corey] Bayley trying to make the climb to the top.
And LeRae, yet again, stopping Bayley's upward ascent.
[Cole] And LeRae going back to battle against Naomi.
Not sure if Candice realizes Bayley's legal.
She may now.
[Corey] Candice LeRae hung across the middle rope.
Bayley misses wildly with a clothesline attempt.
[Cole] On the tag made.
[Corey] Collision with Naomi on the apron, but--
[Cole] Naomi is now legal.
That's what referee Jessica Carr said.
Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae still working on Bayley.
And now, belly-to-belly.
Candice, oh!
To the back of Bayley.
[Corey] Step up senton by the Poison Pixie.
This is where LeRae likes to fly.
[Cole] There's the moonsault. But there's no cover here.
Official waving it off because Naomi's the legal person.
[Corey] Shouldn't the official have been counting out Naomi since she was legal
for four and a half minutes?
[Cole] And now, Naomi back into the ring.
Now, Candice LeRae realizes the rear view is in play.
-[Corey] I don't like it. -[Cole] Cover, win.
[bell ringing]
[PA] Here are your winners, the team of Bayley and Naomi.
[Corey] A fantastic team win for Naomi and Bayley.
But if I'm Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell,
I'm incredibly upset.
I might file a complaint about the officiating in this one.
♪ Pump your fists, let's go! ♪
[Cole] We are rapidly approaching tomorrow, Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia, Crown Jewel.
Again, special start time.
One o'clock Eastern in the afternoon.
And on the West Coast, it's 10 o'clock in the morning.
And again, the big battle, the six-man tag match.
The Bloodline saga continues.
Absolutely colossal in Riyadh.
Let's show you what's happened in the Bloodline over the past week.
[Jey] Hey, a lot happened over this past couple of weeks, Us.
I lost my Intercontinental Championship.
[Cole] Rod breaker is the Intercontinental Champion again.
[Jey] So I went to SmackDown.
[Cole] Jey Uso!
[Jey] And I cost them the WWE Tag Team Championship.
[Cole] Payback against the man who cost him
the Intercontinental title!
There's only one Us who I want to talk to.
And he know who he is.
Thank you, thank you for what you did last Friday on SmackDown.
[Corey] Jey Uso back in the fold!
[Jimmy] We need to be together.
[Jey] You know when the last time I seen you?
At WrestleMania fighting each other.
Guess what though?
They don't get us confused now.
We still got to fix stuff.
But I'm telling you, Us, this go around, you be Jimmy.
I'll be Jey.
And we be the Usos!
Friday Night SmackDown, those OTC will be there.
How about you come through and holler at 'em?
I'll be there, Us.
So we good.
[Cole] Oh!
They have arrived.
[Wade Barrett] This is payback for costing
the Tongans the Tag Team Championships this past Friday.
[Cole] No.
[Wade Barrett] This is what happened to Jimmy Uso six months ago.
And it took him out almost for good.
Without beef squashing, conversation
between Jey Uso and Roman Reigns cannot come soon enough.
[Cole] With the Usos back on the same page,
can the OTC and his former right-hand man
resolve their differences before the huge six-man tag match at Crown Jewel?
We'll find out next.
[hype music]
[vocalizations]
[PA] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Jimmy Uso
and Roman Reigns!
[Cole] Things have been moving at such a fast pace
in this Bloodline story.
And it has led to this tomorrow.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Crown Jewel,
a massive six-man tag-team match-up.
Roman Reigns teams with Jimmy and Jey Uso,
a trio we never believe we'd ever seen together again,
to take on Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga,
Jacob Fatu of the Bloodline with Tanga Loa lurking nearby.
[Corey] Let's be honest, Cole.
We have got an uncivil war in the making.
Roman and the Usos against Solo's new Bloodline.
This one will not be for the weak at heart.
It's been incredible.
We saw Roman and Jimmy together on the same page
last week, costing the Bloodline the tag titles.
We saw the return last week of Jey Uso, taking out the Bloodline as well.
[fireworks]
The group that cost him his Intercontinental Championship
this past Monday on RAW, Jimmy and Jey,
the brothers one of the greatest tag teams of all time,
The Twins trying to hash things out to finally get
once again on the same page.
And that brings us to tonight and, of course, tomorrow in Riyadh.
[triumphant music]
[cheering]
[chanting]
Big Jim and the OTC are now in your city!
Can I keep it 100 with y'all?
[crowd chanting]
Big Us, my Tribal Chief.
Stronger together is what you would always say.
And from the looks of it, we ain't solid not one bit.
You know I love you, Us.
I need you to listen to what I'm about to tell you.
I need you to drop this beef you got with Us.
Hey, listen.
Listen.
I made up with my brother.
[chanting]
I squashed the beef with Jey.
I'm asking you.
I need you to squash it, man.
I made up with my brother.
Now, it's time for you to make up with your cousin,
to make up with our brother.
I mean, come on, Us.
Because if we don't get right, if we don't be strong like we
know we can be, Us, tomorrow at Crown Jewel,
we will lose and fall to Solo and his bloodline.
[booing]
So just listen to me.
All I'm just trying to tell you is--
♪ Uso! ♪
[cheering]
[hype music]
Hey! Hey!
Hey!
[Cole] As Roman Reigns looks on,
Corey, the one thing about this is this is a different Jey Uso
than the one that was in the Bloodline
under Roman Reigns for many years.
Look at this place!
[Corey] This is Jey Uso,
the former Intercontinental Champion.
This is main event Jey Uso, who called his shot
and grew into the role.
Jey Uso, who walked away from the Bloodline,
abandoned the family, struck out on his own,
and reached the top of the mountain.
But now, Jey is here for sure to stand by his brother's side.
But there is still turmoil, still choppy waters
between main event and the OTC.
[Cole] They better get that turmoil figured out before tomorrow
or it's going to be hard times in Riyadh.
[Corey] I'll be honest with you, Cole.
I think Roman Reigns needs to show a little respect to Jey Uso.
Hey! Hey!
[Corey] Cole, you better take it easy. Don't let Roman see you out here yeeting--
[Cole] It's thunderous in here!
[Corey] You'll tear a rotator cuff.
[chanting indistinctly]
[cheering]
[chanting]
Let's get one thing clear, Us.
This match, this fight, only took it to get back at Solo
because he cost me my championship
and he messing with the family.
Hey, this, this right here, though, us three,
it ain't all the way fixed yet.
And if I could be honest with you, Us,
it's taking all I can inside of me to even
be standing in this ring by you side by side.
Because I remember.
I ain't forget what you did to me, how you did me.
Physical damage.
Emotional damage, Us.
Man, mental damage.
I still showed up because that's what family do.
[cheering]
For the ones before us, Us, and the ones after us,
we got to show them family above all.
But this round, Us, this go round…
you're not going to be telling me what to do, how to do it.
Not your lackey no more, Us.
Not your right hand no more, Us.
I'm your equal now.
[cheering]
Equals, Us.
All three of us, equals.
All right?
Side by side and run this thing like we used to do back in the day.
I'm telling you, Us, I'm telling you right now,
if you even speak or treat me, bro,
with the slightest disrespect, I'm gone.
I'm out.
And if you don't like what I'm saying, Us, you can walk, too.
Or…
you can act like my cousin and not like my Tribal Chief.
And then, I'll see you tomorrow at Crown Jewel.
We could do it together, Us.
So what you say, Us?
We going to do the damn thing or not?
OTC! OTC! OTC!
Yeet.
[cheering]
[crowd chanting "yeet"]
[chanting]
[cheering]
[triumphant music]
[Cole] Absolute magic.
Good on Jey Uso.
Battered no more.
The original Bloodline is back together again.
[Corey] Family above all.
Well, it appears Roman Reigns and the Usos
finally back on the same page as they head to Crown Jewel
tomorrow for their Bloodline battle.
Well, speaking of the Bloodline,
my next guest know them very well
because they are the new WWE Tag Team Champions,
Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, the Motor City Machine Guns.
Guys, what is your goal now for the tag team division?
I think our goal today is
the same goal that we had when we started this team in 2006.
And that's to prove we're the best damn tag--
What have we got over here, Grace?
The new tag Team Champions. Look at them.
-Hey. -Look at them.
We know who you guys are.
We know everything you've done.
We respect you guys.
You're the new Tag Team Champions.
And the new Tag Team Champions need to be put on a proper pedestal.
You know, the biggest stage, the brightest lights,
the biggest talk show in the WWE.
We're going to be on Miz TV.
[laughter]
Oh, that's a good one, man.
But you know, you're new here.
Smackdown, there's no Miz.
The biggest talk show is the Grayson Waller effect.
And next week, what better guests than the Motor City Machine Guns.
How's that sound?
-All right. -Perfect.
We'll see you next week.
See you there.
[electronic music]
[Corey] How about that, Cole?
That is going to be a massive Waller Effect next week.
[Cole] Meanwhile, we've got a massive, Fatal 4-way match right now.
[bell ringing]
[PA] The following contest is a Fatal 4-way match.
Introducing first, accompanied by Kairi Sane from Tokyo, Japan,
representing Damage Control, Iyo Sky.
[Cole] Corey, the point of this match
is to build momentum toward tomorrow at Crown Jewel.
[Corey] Build momentum, maybe take out
some of the opposition, maybe soften somebody up
for the big tag team Fatal 4-way tomorrow at Crown Jewel.
We've got four in the ring tonight.
It's going down next.
[Cole] Corey and I will be there
tomorrow in the desert, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
And here's a look at the schedule.
Special start time for a two-hour countdown,
11:00 Eastern, 8:00 in the morning on the West Coast.
[Corey] And then, at 1 o'clock Eastern, 10:00 AM Pacific, you and I head ringside,
Cole, to call all of the action of Crown Jewel.
[Cole] And we invite you to stay afterward
because it's the post show, all live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, here on Friday Night SmackDown, the night before,
Crown Jewel, Fatal 4-way match
involving four of the eight women
who will be a part of the tag team championship Fatal 4-way tomorrow.
And there is the woman, Chelsea Green, who…
will attack me verbally on social media.
[Corey] Cole, you know I've always got your back.
But you screwed up and stepped in it in this one.
You deserve every bad thing Chelsea Green said about you.
[Cole] You said that I fear her.
That is not the case.
[Corey] You fear Piper Niven, though with good reason.
She'll flatten you.
Ever since we won these titles,
we said we would defend them against anybody who wanted an opportunity.
NXT, Smackdown, RAW, like we said, anybody can get it.
And luckily for us,
we got some contenders that want to step up to the plate.
Yep, so everybody about to get a preview
what's going to happen at Crown Jewel.
Because you best believe, we are wasting on business.
-Facts. -Let's go.
♪ I'm on my own ♪
♪ Against the wall ♪
♪ The pressure's building ♪
♪ But know I will never fall ♪
♪ Instead of crime ♪
♪ They hear me roar ♪
♪ And now, I see that I'm way better than before ♪
♪ I never needed you at all ♪
[PA] And their opponent, accompanied by Jade Cargill,
from Knoxville, Tennessee,
she is one half of the WWE
Women's Tag Team Champions,
Bianca Belair!
[Cole] You know, Corey, Bianca and Jade are fighting champions.
But you touched on this last week.
They were pretty excited about putting the titles
on the line in a Fatal 4-way.
However, they lost the tag team titles once in a triple threat.
[Corey] It sounds to me like a case of selective memory.
It was back at Clash at the Castle in a triple threat match
for the WWE Women's Tag Team titles,
where Jade and Bianca themselves were never actually defeated.
But they lost the gold.
The potential for that same exact scenario
to play out at Crown Jewel is not out of the realm of possibility.
[Cole] I've never been good at math. But I can tell you this.
They've only got a 25% chance of keeping the gold at Crown Jewel.
Fatal 4-way rules, first team to gain
pinfall or submission will become the Women's Tag Team Champions.
Fatal 4-way match tonight.
All four women in the ring at the same time.
No disqualifications or count-outs.
First woman to gain pinfall or submission will win.
Former WWE Women's Champion Iyo Sky looking on.
[Corey] What I think this boils down to is which of these women can figure out
how to take an advantage tomorrow tonight.
That means picking one opponent, maybe pick several.
Try to injure somebody.
Try to take out somebody's knee, somebody's ankle
so they're less than 100% tomorrow.
[Cole] Lash Legend taken over by Iyo Sky.
Piper Niven going to break things up.
Remember, it's every woman for herself in this match-up.
[Corey] Big right hand by the EST.
[Cole] The Meta Girl, Lash Legend,
Jakara Jackson had Damage Control on the ropes
a couple of weeks ago at NXT before Piper and Chelsea got the--
[Corey] Throw another variable your way.
That being Lash Legend, Cole, what we've seen over the past several weeks
on SmackDown, back in her days at NXT,
Lash Legend may be the only woman
in WWE who can physically match power with Bianca Belair.
And that is unfamiliar territory for the EST.
[Cole] Yeah, Jade Cargill
as well when it comes to the tag team title match tomorrow.
Bianca Belair, former multi-time Women's Champion,
has done it all here in WWE.
Up over the top, runs into Piper.
And Niven with a big shoulder block.
Chelsea very excited over the performance by Piper
so far in this match.
Wow, Lash Legend dumping Sky face first on the apron.
Lash Legend, a tremendous athlete.
Former college basketball star at Texas A&M. Oh!
We were talking earlier, Corey.
She actually holds the NCAA tournament record
for most rebounds in a tournament game, 27 in her career.
Here's Legend now lifting Piper up.
Just couldn't quite do it.
[Corey] Lash looking to bully Piper Niven
like she bullied the other girls under the boards
at Texas A&M. The Bougie Bully trying to impose her will.
[Cole] Oh! And both women down.
[Corey] High impact, center of the ring, both women with the same idea.
Here comes Bianca Belair.
[Cole] And Belair going to show off her athleticism here.
Doubled up, cover now on both Lash and Piper.
And Iyo Sky has to break things up.
Iyo Sky so impressive.
Many believe she's
one of the most underrated women wrestlers in the entire world.
[Corey] Count me in that camp.
But I too am very excited about the future of Lash Legend here in WWE.
[Cole] Jakara Jackson as well.
[Corey] For sure.
[Cole] Oh, good kick to the face.
Oh! And Piper Niven blasting Sky to the floor.
And now from behind, Bianca Belair lifting Niven up
and dumping her out to the ringside area.
[cheering]
And now--
[Corey] Bianca surveying the scene.
[Cole] And Bianca going to fly.
Uh-oh. Caught by the two powerhouses.
Bianca going to pay for it!
Who's going to win this Fatal 4-way and build momentum to Crown Jewel?
[Cole] Been a great Fatal 4-way match-up.
Right now, Lash Legend, Piper Niven
sort of working together to try to take out Iyo Sky.
[Corey] I like it. I subscribe to this school of thought.
Lash and Piper teaming up to neutralize Iyo,
take out Bianca as well.
You've got 24 hours until a championship opportunity
causes much havoc as you can tonight.
Now, Lash Legend--
[Cole] Oh, and a wicked choke slam!
My goodness, Iyo Sky!
Piper Niven with a senton!
Cover by Lash. Looking to steal one here.
And Piper Niven makes sure it doesn't happen.
[Corey] That was great situational awareness by Lash Legend.
Look at the height on this chokeslam, nearly putting Iyo through the ring,
followed immediately by an epic senton.
[Cole] And now, the breakdown happens.
Because tonight, just like tomorrow,
it's every woman for herself,
or every team for herself, tomorrow in the Fatal 4-way.
[Corey] Both women with the same idea, connecting.
And Legend down to a knee.
[Cole] Meanwhile, Bianca Belair, top rope.
Bianca crossbody.
And Bianca is fired up.
Getting this capacity crowd into it as well.
The EST with a drop kick.
And there's the power, a spinebuster to Piper!
[Corey] I'm telling you right now,
this does not bode well for the three challenger teams tomorrow.
[Cole] No, not at all.
[Corey] Bianca Belair is doing what Bianca Belair does
each and every time we see her: dominating.
Pair that with the fact that Jade Cargill will be legal tomorrow.
And Bianca now going to make Piper and Lash pay.
[crowd] 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8--
[Cole] Uh-oh, Piper able to slip out underneath.
And Lash Legend as well.
And now, both women working together again.
Bianca in trouble.
Iyo Sky off the top rope!
Dropkick to Legend and Piper!
And Iyo Sky rolling now.
[Corey] The genius of the Sky,
trying to hype the WWE Universe to rally herself forward.
Bullet train attack!
[Cole] By Iyo Sky!
And Chelsea barking orders. Sky to the top rope.
[Corey] Niven thwarting whatever Iyo had in mind.
[Cole] Perhaps that patented moonsault.
[Corey] Oh, my goodness.
I don't think even Wolverine himself caused havoc like we're about to see.
-Bianca Belair though. -[Cole] Oh, no!
[Corey] The powerhouse with Piper, up and down they go!
[Cole] Who can capitalize in this Fatal 4-way?
[Corey] Chelsea Piper needs maximum effort, stacked up.
[Cole] Shoulders down.
Legend breaks things up.
Now, Lash Legend turns her attention to Bianca Belair.
[Corey] Here we go!
[Cole] Looking to take out the EST.
Bianca down.
Legend with a massive win if she can knock off Belair here!
And Chelsea Green saving the match-up. Remember, no disqualifications.
And going to make her pay!
[Corey] Now, Kairi Sane.
[Cole] Kick right to the back of the neck.
Everybody getting involved much like it will be at Crown Jewel.
[Corey] But it will all be legal.
But watch the storm behind you, Ms. Jackson.
-Oh! -[Cole] What a kick!
She about drove her through the floor.
[Corey] Oh!
And Lash Legend just dropped Jade Cargill.
[Cole] And Piper Niven plants Legend with a uranagi.
Senton.
Iyo into the ring.
Niven takes out Sky.
Senton of her own.
Bianca Belair now.
Piper Niven wrecking everybody.
Michinoku driver takes out Belair!
Lash Legend intercepts!
[Corey] Legend has been the MVP for me in this match-up.
And Legend and Jackson carry the momentum till tomorrow.
Wait a minute.
And this is legal under Fatal 4-way rules.
[Cole] Yeah, because there's no disqualification.
But look at this showdown, Cargill, Legend.
[Corey] Be careful, J.
Lash Legend just about put her boot through your heart.
[Cole] Oh! Cargill with a right hand to--
Jackson runs into a big kick.
Bianca Belair now from behind.
Lash Legend up on her shoulders!
Belair!
K.O.D., Kiss of Death!
[Corey] Belair struggled with--
-Oh! -[Cole] Moonsault by Sky!
[Corey] The Moonsault!
[Cole] And now, cover on Legend!
Iyo Sky steals it!
That could have happened in the Fatal 4-way tomorrow!
[PA] Here is your winner, Iyo Sky!
[Corey] You're absolutely right, Cole.
But if it does happen tomorrow,
even if the champions aren't involved in the fall,
we're going to have new champions.
[Cole] You can do all the damage you want, but in the end
you've got to pick up the pinfall or submission to win the tag title.
[Corey] Here we see Jade Cargill just drop Jakara Jackson with a thunderous boot
but is met moments later by Lash Legend who--
Look at this, Cole. I'm going to be honest.
When's the last time we saw Bianca Belair struggle
to deliver the K.O.D. to anybody?
Legend was that woman tonight.
And it was Iyo Sky
at the right moment, taking the opportunity
-and maximizing it for her team. -[crowd] One, two, three!
Big win for Iyo and Damage Control as we prepare
for a Women's Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-way tomorrow in Riyadh.
[cheering]
Good to go, Coban?
-Good to go for tonight. -All right.
I'm good to go for Crown Jewel. I know that you've got Kevin Owens.
I would ask that, when you're done with him,
you save a little piece for me.
Well, that's just the thing, Cody.
I don't know if there's going to be
anything left to Kevin Owens when I'm through with him.
So sorry ahead of time.
Well, if that's the case, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.
I'm sure you'll think of something, man.
-I'll see you out there. -I'll see you out there, my man.
[heavy breathing]
[non-english speech]
All of you are in my way.
But I feel tranquilo.
Because I'm proud of you.
I have the opportunity
to beat all of you at the same time
and become…
the new champion of the United States.
I can't think of a better place
to become the United States Champion
than in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Now, that I think about it. Maybe I'll pin Andrade.
Or maybe I'll pin LA Knight.
Or maybe I'll pin both of them because, honestly, I'm really like that.
LA Knight, you're going to pay for taking away my game 7 win.
You know why?
Because I am him.
Oh, and, Andrade, make sure to put extra ketchup on those fries.
You want to talk about two guys coming for this thing?
I understand that the deck is stacked against me.
It doesn't make a difference to me.
Carmelo and Andrade, as far as I'm concerned,
they got what was coming to them.
Do I regret doing that?
No, no.
I dropped each of them on the head.
And that's exactly how it's going to go at Crown Jewel
and still your United States Champion.
Yeah.
[Cole] And tomorrow, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
it is Crown Jewel, a special start time of 1 o'clock in the afternoon in the East
10:00 in the morning on the West Coast.
And it is the Bloodline War, the 6-man tag team match-up,
Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso against Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline.
I can't believe that I'm sitting right here
talking about a match against Roman
and my two brothers.
The three men that have one thing in common,
and that's believing that I'm a bad guy.
I'm the bad guy?
How?
Because I went and found a family that loved me?
One that will never hurt me?
And that will never let me down, unlike you three?
I'm the bad guy because little brother made Tribal Chief?
And older brothers didn't?
I'm the bad guy because every time Roman needed help,
I was always there to help him?
But he was never there to help me.
I'm the bad guy?
No.
I'm the Tribal Chief.
Come Crown Jewel, the three of you will respect them.
And you will…
This is my rule to follow.
I'm the Tribal Chief!
…acknowledge me.
[suspenseful music]
[bell ringing]
[PA] The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, the team of Ludwig Kaiser
and the World Heavyweight Champion, The Ring General,
Gunther.
Imperium!
[Cole] Well, moments ago, we heard from Solo Sikoa and their big match
tomorrow at Crown Jewel.
Well, Gunther's got a champion-versus-champion match
against Cody Rhodes for the Crown Jewel championship.
But Corey, coming up next, what a tag team main event.
[Corey] The opportunity cannot be lost on Gunther nor Rhodes,
A chance to gain the upper hand and advantage
before the Crown Jewel Championship match tomorrow in tag action next.
[Cole] We are back on Friday Night SmackDown,
Gunther and Kaiser, Imperium, set for our tag team main event.
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They council me ♪
♪ They understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ You got your rules ♪
♪ And your religion ♪
♪ All designed to keep you safe ♪
[PA] And their opponents.
First, from St. Louis, Missouri,
weighing in at 290 pounds, the Viper,
Randy Orton!
[Corey] We've been talking so much about the Crown Jewel Championship,
we've neglected to mention that Randy Orton himself
has a vitriolic fight on his hands at Crown Jewel tomorrow as well, Cole.
[Cole] Randy Orton and Kevin Owens in an extremely personal battle.
Kevin Owens is upset that that man, Randy Orton,
in his mind, took sides.
That he sided with Cody Rhodes.
And this all started back when Cody Rhodes
decided to team with Kevin Owens's arch enemy,
Roman Reigns.
[Corey] Still waters run deep.
Kevin Owens cannot be reasoned with.
It cannot be explained adequately.
Tensions are extremely high
between two men who were more than just tag team partners.
They considered one another friends.
And now, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens both share a common mission,
to destroy the other at Crown Jewel.
But tonight, Randy needs to shift his focus
from the prize fighter, Kevin Owens,
toward Ludwig Kaiser and Gunther.
♪ I see faith has fallen ♪
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They council me… ♪
[Cole] I'm still trying to figure out this whole Kevin Owens situation.
[Corey] Let me give you a bit of advice, Cole:
don't.
Kevin Owens has stabbed each and every friend,
and I use that term very loosely,
that he's ever had in WWE directly in the back.
Orton was simply the latest.
[narrator] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
[Downstait, "Kingdom"]
♪ 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 ♪
♪ Of the curtain ♪
♪ Lights go up ♪
♪ I'm home ♪
♪ Whoa! ♪
[fireworks]
[PA] And his tag team partner, from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 222 pounds, he is
the undisputed WWE Champion,
the American Nightmare,
Cody Rhodes!
[Cole] Last week on Friday Night SmackDown,
Gunther called Cody Rhodes a gutless champion
who is secondary to Gunther.
Well, tomorrow in Riyadh, champion-versus-champion,
we're going to find out who's right.
♪ Hear the crowd on their toes ♪
♪ Ready for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain ♪
♪ Lights go up ♪
♪ I'm home ♪
♪ Whoa! ♪
[fireworks]
[Corey] Cole, what stood out to me
was not necessarily the choice of words used by Gunther,
it was the reaction it caused by the American Nightmare.
Gunther got under Cody's skin.
He caused Cody to snap, to make a rash decision.
And I promise you, if that happens at Crown Jewel,
the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther
is leaving with the Crown Jewel Championship.
[Cole] About Cody's reign so far, Corey, is he's been in control.
He's been in control of all the situations.
And maybe one time, he's been taken out of that moment
by that man, Gunther.
Cody-Gunther, one-on-one tomorrow starting this tag team match-up here tonight.
[Corey] Listen, Cody Rhodes is a superstar who possesses the intangibles.
Cody has the connection with the WWE Universe.
But what we just saw, case in point,
is when it comes to strategy and technique, Gunther is unmatched.
Mind games off of the opening bell
and allowing Ludwig Kaiser to procure the lead for the team.
[Cole] Now, the very dangerous Kaiser
would love to ding up Cody Rhodes before the match-up tomorrow
for the inaugural Crown Jewel Championship.
Champion-versus-champion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Cody Rhodes now switching things around.
Vertical suplex on Kaiser.
[Corey] Getting all the blood rushed to the head of Ludwig Kaiser.
Oh!
Gourd buster by Rhodes.
[Cole] And now, Cody, off the ropes,
sends Kaiser up over the top rope to the floor.
[Corey] And here comes the American Nightmare.
[Cole] And Cody with a suicide dive, driving Kaiser into the barricade.
Cody and Randy have taken over.
Can they keep it up on Friday Night SmackDown?
[Cole] We are back on Friday Night SmackDown.
It's our main event. Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton on one side.
The other side, Imperium, Ludwig Kaiser and the world champ, Gunther.
Of course, Cody and Gunther meet tomorrow, champion-versus-champion match
for the Crown Jewel Title in Riyadh.
Orton, Kevin Owens go one on one.
Cody Rhodes.
And Kaiser.
[Corey] Cody wanted the Cody Cutter.
Ludwig Kaiser one step now just mauling the face of the champion.
[Cole] That's a cheap shot by Gunther.
Boot right to the face.
And now, Kaiser just like that, mauling Rhodes.
[Corey] And this is a brilliant strategy by The Ring General, Gunther,
allowing Ludwig Kaiser to control the match-up, to do most of the work.
Gunther is looking to preserve his body.
Gunther wants to be as close to 100%
tomorrow as humanly possible, as should Cody Rhodes.
But Cody's not looking like it.
[Cole] And to your point,
Gunther makes the tag when Cody is in a vulnerable position.
And it allows Gunther to continue the attack with a double team with Kaiser.
Gunther won the title at SummerSlam.
Cody Rhodes won his championship back at WrestleMania.
[Corey] Look how patient Gunther is right now, smiling,
in no rush, understanding the situation.
He's got the American Nightmare in jeopardy.
If Gunther can maintain this mentality throughout the match-up tomorrow,
we're going to be crowning Gunther the first-ever Crown Jewel Champion.
[Cole] Gunther touched on it last week.
You know, Cody Rhodes wants to be the quarterback, right?
He wants to be in control. He wants to be the face of WWE.
He wants to be the best champion, make all the appearances,
do everything for the families and the kids.
Great traits. Gunther doesn't care about any of that.
Gunther wants to make money
and be the best professional wrestler on the planet.
Cody fighting back.
Gunther with a right.
It was in Riyadh back in May
where Gunther and Randy Orton had that classic battle in which Gunther won.
Controversial.
But he won anyway to become King of the Ring.
[Corey] That was the first chapter in the story,
which Gunther finished definitively, mind you, at Bash at Berlin.
[Cole] And it's because of physical battles like that
that Randy Orton has been through…
Cover by Kaiser, hook of the leg, and a kick-out.
…that Triple H tried to talk Orton out of this match with Kevin Owens.
Triple H saying that I'm trying to protect you.
You had steel rods placed in your back. No one thought you'd ever wrestle again.
Triple H telling Randy, I don't want to lose you.
I don't want you to be put on the shelf, perhaps permanently.
[Corey] And as difficult and possibly…
as hard as that was for Triple H to say to Randy, it is the truth.
You have to respect Triple H's point of view.
Yes, you've got Randy Orton, a surefire Hall of Famer.
But this is not the Randy that we knew 20 years ago.
And Triple H is well aware of the brutality and violence
that Kevin Owens is capable of.
[Cole] Well, and again, even Triple H alluded
to the fact that this is a different Kevin Owens.
[Corey] Something snapped inside of KO.
We've seen KO turn his back on countless friends and partners
over the years in WWE.
But this is unhinged.
This is a side of Kevin Owens
that I don't know if the WWE Universe has truly seen before.
[Cole] And like Triple H said,
I don't think anybody's ever turned on Kevin Owens.
That's the thing that's getting to him.
[Corey] Right, that's possibly the most disturbing aspect of it.
Randy Orton initially was out here
to preserve the friendship between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens.
[Cole] And both men down, the middle of the ring.
Cody and Kaiser.
Randy Orton looking to rally the WWE fans
and have Cody Rhodes make a tag in our main event here tonight.
The final SmackDown before tomorrow's Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The first-ever men's and women's Crown Jewel Champions
will be crowned in Riyadh.
Cody trying to make a tag. And he does.
And here comes Randy Orton.
And the WWE's apex predator is into the ring.
[Corey] Bigger and badder than ever.
[Cole] But perhaps more vulnerable than ever.
Powerslam by Orton.
[Corey] Do you know what you do, Cole,
when you realize you may have a potential weakness in your body?
You put on more armor.
That's what Randy Orton has done over the past several months.
The biggest Randy Orton we've ever seen--
[Cole] Near 300 pounds.
[Corey] An absolute monster of a human being.
[Cole] And now, Kaiser sent outside, on the apron.
Orton measuring his man out. I believe Gunther made the tag.
Gunther is the legal man.
Randy Orton realizing that now. Gunther is going to suffer.
Randy Orton!
That draping DDT!
[Corey] That does not bode well for The Ring General.
[Cole] And Orton is going to that place.
He's hearing voices.
[Corey] Can you imagine what this would do to the confidence of Gunther?
[Cole] Went for the RKO!
Gunther able to block.
[Corey] Imagine what it would do to the psyche of The Ring General
to be defeated less than 24 hours
before this opportunity to become the first-ever Crown Jewel Champion.
You have to battle the undisputed WWE Champion.
You need to be at the top level of your game.
[Cole] I mean, the man has suffered defeat
what, onec in the last two years, two and a half years?
[Corey] Unfamiliar territory for Gunther.
Same's got to be said for Cody Rhodes though.
[Cole] Cody fighting back.
Cody Rhodes, southpaw.
Bionic Elbow!
Cody, top rope.
Cody Cutter!
Fired up the Undisputed WWE Champion!
[Corey] Cody looking for the Cross Rhodes.
[Cole] Gunther missed wildly.
Randy Orton, RKO!
Cross Rhodes!
-Cover! -[crowd] One, two, three!
-Cody and Randy with the win! -[bell ringing]
[PA] Here are your winners, the team of the Viper,
Randy Orton, and the Undisputed WWE Champion,
The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes!
[Cole] That's a big win for both these men
heading into Crown Jewel.
[Corey] Certainly has to help the momentum for both superstars, Orton and Rhodes.
But ultimately, it was Ludwig Kaiser who was pinned in this match-up.
Tomorrow, Orton's got to pin Owens.
Cody's got to pin Gunther.
-Much different scenario-- -[Cole] Wait! Oh, my God!
[Corey] Turn around, Randy!
[Cole] Kevin Owens!
Owens with a chair!
Kevin Owens isn't supposed to be here!
Kevin Owens with a chair.
And now, Gunther from behind.
Gunther with a sleeper looking to choke out Rhodes!
[indistinct speech]
Gunther looking to choke out Cody Rhodes!
Kevin just staring down at a wounded ar--
Gunther trying to choke the life out of Rhodes here.
[Corey] The Ring General is about to put The American Nightmare on Dream Street.
[Cole] Cody's fading!
Cody's in trouble!
For two years, the world has been talking about Cody and his story.
Tonight, Gunther said, "Don't forget about me!"
[inaudible]