[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[Tessitore] How do you possibly follow up Vegas?
You come here to Cowtown, to Fort Worth.
You open the doors to a sold-out Dickies Arena,
and you serve a loud and rowdy crowd
a guarantee of tables, ladders and chairs.
Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford hold gold.
They've been unrelenting in applying their brand of dominance lately.
Tonight, the Street Profits have a huge challenge.
The Motor City Machine Guns have been throttling towards the titles.
A week ago, they thought they had it all set,
only to see the championship match disrupted.
And now DIY is here in Fort Worth.
Johnny Gargano and a clean-shaven Tommaso Ciampa,
they turned the SmackDown before Mania into their personal temper tantrum.
Well, tonight we decide it all.
A TLC Triple Threat in the final hour of SmackDown.
Plus, arguably the most dangerous man of all,
Jacob Fatu proved himself.
Now, for the first time he's a champion here with Solo Sikoa by his side.
The US Champ is in Fort Worth this evening.
Plus, from Tiffany Stratton's Barbie doll entrance
to the all-out war and conquering Charlotte Flair,
Tiffy Time on time here in Texas.
We'll hear from the WWE Women's Champion
as we welcome you inside a sold-out Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.
This is what the SmackDown after Mania sounds like and looks like.
Let's feel the afterglow of a historic weekend in Vegas.
["Timeless" plays]
[reporter 1] WrestleMania!
WrestleMania Week is taking over Las Vegas.
The hype is just unreal right now.
Welcome to WrestleMania Weekend!
We have fans from all over the globe descending upon our fine city.
[reporter 2] Fans can also immerse themselves.
It's the only place to be. WWE World!
It's like old times. [chuckles]
[crowd chants] Oh, Drew McIntyre!
[Reigns] You can feel what the audience is doing,
and then you can become connected with them.
[crowd chanting] Mami! Mami! Mami!
[reporter 3] Fanatics Make-A-Wish Nevada
and WWE teamed up to give 25 kids from across the country
a once in a lifetime experience.
[Graves] …a Stand & Deliver we will never, ever forget.
Oh, hell yeah!
["FE!N" plays]
[Cole] Hello, Las Vegas!
You are looking live at Allegiant Stadium.
-Welcome to WrestleMania! -…to WrestleMania!
[Cole] Now we're kicking off the show!
-He tapped! -He tapped!
[Cole] Jey Uso wins the damn title!
Yeet!
[Jey Uso] Hell yeah.
Two-time world champ, uce.
It was so amazing, so exhilarating, and I'm super grateful.
It's the beginning of a new chapter
in the story of Lucha Libre.
[Cole] This guest here tonight, Vikingo.
Americano wins his WrestleMania debut.
-Have you held this title? -A couple of times.
Yeah, I'm better than you already. Crazy.
Two days, 124,000 solid-ass cats.
[Triple H] I've got two words for you: Thank you.
[Cargill] I've never been in front of a crowd so alive.
Thank you, guys.
[Cole] Jacob Fatu is the United States Champion!
[laughter]
[Barrett] The Man is back!
[reporter 4] What made now the right time for you to step back into this world?
Well, it's WrestleMania, isn't it?
How much bigger can it get legit?
I just don't think there's a ceiling on it.
I was born to make this moment.
There is a ton of bad blood between these three.
What a compromising position CM Punk put me in.
So I didn't betray Roman Reigns.
[Cole] It is John Cena's final WrestleMania.
For Cody Rhodes, it is about leading WWE into the next generation.
Kick out by Cody!
-[shouts] -Travis Scott is here!
["FE!N" playing]
Kick out, Cody.
[Cole] John Cena is a 17-time World Champion.
You are now talking to The Last Real Champion.
-["The Time Is Now" plays] -[crowd cheers]
♪ Krrr, Amadou… ♪
[crowd chants] John Cena sucks! John Cena sucks!
♪ Your time is up My time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me My time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise, boy I'm shinin' now ♪
♪ You can't see me My time is now ♪
♪ In case you forgot or fell off I'm still hot, knock your shell off ♪
♪ My money stack fat Plus I can't turn the swell off ♪
♪ The franchise, doin' big bi'ness I live this ♪
♪ It's automatic I win this ♪
♪ Oh, you hear those horns… ♪
[Nash] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the WWE Undisputed Champion,
John Cena!
♪ …Stale competition ♪
♪ I got the whole block wishin' They could run with my division ♪
♪ But they gone fishin' With no bait ♪
♪ Kid, your boy hold weight… ♪
[Tessitore] The now 17-time world champion.
Last time we saw him, Wade, he was telling the WWE Universe
that he'll stay champion this entire calendar year
and then leave with the title.
In his terms, "Ruin wrestling."
[Barrett] Yeah, the self-proclaimed Last Real Champion.
I sincerely hope that is not the case.
But what a level of disrespect,
not only to the people that have backed this man for the past 20-plus years,
but to that prestigious championship,
wearing it backwards, it's just a big no-no in this game.
[crowd cheers]
♪ Aiming guns in all your photos That's a no-no ♪
♪ When this pop You'll lip lock ♪
♪ Your big talk's A blatant no-show ♪
♪ See what happens When the ice age melt… ♪
Is he pointing at our new ring announcer Mark Nash again?
What did Mark do wrong?
[Barrett] Well, apparently he did something wrong this past week on Raw.
[music stops]
[crowd booing, cheering]
[crowd chants] Let's go, Cena! Cena sucks!
[chanting continues]
"My sincerest apologies.
I have been informed again
that my announcement has been deemed disrespectful.
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome The Greatest of All Time"…
[crowd cheers]
…"the Never-Seen-Seventeen,
gracing Fort Worth with his presence for the final time,
The Last Real Champion,
John Cena!"
[crowd booing, cheering]
-["Voices" plays] -[crowd cheers]
♪ They counsel me They understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ You got your rules And your religion ♪
♪ All designed To keep you safe… ♪
[Tessitore] Well, the other night on Monday Night Raw,
creeping into the frame with the new Undisputed WWE Champ,
was Randy Orton himself,
and look who arrives on time here at Fort Worth.
[Barrett] The Viper Randy Orton striking with an RKO on Raw,
letting John Cena know that his pathway to retirement
with that championship on his shoulder
may not quite be as easy as he may have thought.
[Tessitore] It's one thing for Randy Orton
to entertain the fans in Vegas with an RKO party on Joe Hendry.
It's another thing to do what he did on Monday night to John Cena.
♪ They tell me Things that I will do ♪
♪ They show me things I'll do to you ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ Talk to me, talk to me Talk to me ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ Talk to me, talk to me Talk to me ♪
♪ All the lawyers Are defenseless ♪
♪ All the doctors Are disease ♪
♪ And the preachers All are sinners ♪
♪ And the police Just take the grease ♪
♪ All you judges You are guilty ♪
♪ All the bosses I will fire ♪
♪ All you bankers Will have losses ♪
♪ Politicians All are liars ♪
♪ I see darkness fallin' ♪
♪ I hear voices callin' ♪
♪ I feel justice crawlin' ♪
♪ I see faith has fallen ♪
♪ I hear voices In my head ♪
♪ They counsel me They understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ They tell me things That I will do ♪
♪ They show me things I'll do to you ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ Talk to me, talk to me Talk to me ♪
♪ I hear voices cryin' ♪
♪ I see heroes dyin' ♪
♪ I taste blood that's dryin'… ♪
-[music fades out] -[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants] Randy! Randy! Randy! Randy!
[crowd booing, cheering]
Do you know what I found out just a couple of days ago?
In a couple months, it'll be 25 years to the day that you and I first shook hands.
Twenty-five years.
I have known you for 25 years,
and I mean this as a compliment,
up until a few months ago, you've never changed.
You were always about hustle, loyalty, respect.
It wasn't some catchy slogan for merchandise.
It was a way of life.
It was your mantra for every day of your life.
So I realized these last few months,
I need to think long and hard about what's going on.
There's a void inside you, John. A void that needs fulfillment.
So I started racking my brain,
and I started thinking about all of the fans over the years.
[crowd cheers]
The millions and millions of kids that have looked up to you since day one.
All the kids that you have motivated, that you have been a role model for.
These kids, they set goals because of you,
they accomplish those goals and set more goals,
whether it was the track field,
on the court, in the classroom, you made those children better.
Generations and generations of children looked up to you.
Surely that means something to you.
You've granted more wishes than anybody in the history
of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
You can't tell me--
I know you too well-- you cannot tell me that each and every one
of those sick children that you've met left with a piece of your heart.
You can't tell me that they were just a number.
I know that that meant something to you.
So I figured out
how to fill the void.
Take it from me,
John, you need to have some damn kids.
[crowd jeers]
Wait, wait, could you imagine a bunch of square-jawed,
thick-forearmed little Cenas running around?
The world would be a better place,
and then you would be back to who you are, who you truly are, who I know you are.
You need to become a father, man.
Grow up, it'll make you a better human being.
It worked for me.
It changes your life, man.
How dare you?
[crowd boos]
How dare you prance out here with a smile on your face
under the guise of making me feel better
and then parent shame me in front of the whole world?
Congratulations, Randy Orton.
You have children, and you love them.
Good for you.
Do you want to know the real reason why I don't have kids?
Because I've spent the last 25 years raising yours.
And by the sound of it from this group tonight,
I have done an impeccable job.
[crowd cheers]
Here is the real truth.
For the last 25 years,
I have been a better parent to your children than you could ever be.
That's right, kid, your dad's a loser.
Oh, great. A six-year-old just gave me the finger.
-Classy. Very, very classy. -[crowd cheers]
That, sir… That is why I don't have kids.
I've been policing brats like this for a quarter of a century.
Bit of advice, kid, never bring a knife to a gunfight.
Bet your loser dad didn't teach you that one.
Don't look at me like you're gonna do something either.
-John-- -Are we done here?
John, no, we're not even close to being done, man.
God, has that Hollywood rot, has it set so deep inside your brain
you can't even hear what I'm saying right now?
It doesn't have to be one or the other.
These fans are the reason why you are here standing before me
in this ring right now.
They're the reason you're in Hollywood right now.
WWE is why you made it to Hollywood, and you are crushing it.
You cut your teeth here.
You honed your skills here.
You developed your work ethic in this ring.
You took it to Hollywood, and like I said, you are crushing it.
Without the WWE, there is no Hollywood.
And without the WWE Universe, there is no WWE.
No matter which way you add it up,
no matter what kind of math you apply to it,
these fans are the biggest reason that you are standing here today
in this ring with me.
[crowd cheers]
John, I've made a lot of mistakes throughout my life, throughout my career.
I've learned from them.
I've had a long journey, but I can go in that locker room,
I can hold my head up high, and I get respect from my peers.
I am a piece of furniture here. I am here to stay. You?
[sighs]
Man, you're just a guest.
We all have our perspectives.
I used to believe yours.
That without them, there is no WWE.
I used to think that we won together.
I was wrong.
We didn't win anything. I did.
I have never needed a single one of these people.
They will chant…
They will chant in the same breath, "Let's go, Cena. Cena sucks."
[crowd chants] Let's go, Cena! Cena sucks!
I just called out a rando, and he turned pale white.
Imagine being told you suck for 25 years.
They don't mean anything to me.
You are just like all of them.
You're all hypocrites.
Because once you get tired of me,
you can put your energy into any superstar you want to cheer for.
But if the roles are reversed,
and I put my energy into anything other than this,
I'm an outcast, I'm a guest.
That's why this is dysfunctional.
That's why this doesn't work anymore.
That is not a functional relationship. That is manipulation.
You are simply manipulating the truth to make yourself feel good
that you have done nothing with your lives.
The only thing that man right there has done
is dress up to look like Jack Black.
He's 100 years old, and that's all he has to say for his life.
I get criticized and labeled
as an outcast, a guest,
for simply trying to do something different.
You know what, you know what, you know what?
I was so… I was so stupid. I was so stupid, stupid, stupid
to come out here and think for one second that in this weird bizarro world
where I'm a good guy, and you're a bad guy,
that you would somehow listen to what I'm saying,
but the words that are coming out of my mouth,
they're not penetrating your thick-ass skull, are they, John?
Cody Rhodes, before his badass entrance music starts,
it says, "Wrestling has more than one royal family."
You know, he's not just talking about his family, right?
He's also talking about my family.
You want to ruin wrestling? Wrestling has given me everything.
Ever since I came out of my mother's womb, wrestling has provided for me.
Wrestling will provide for me, my children, my loved ones
until I am put six feet in the freaking ground.
Ruin wrestling?
You're not gonna ruin wrestling, not over my dead body.
Shut your mouth!
You just don't understand, do you?
I'll explain it to you.
I've already won 17, okay?
You've won 14.
But after I take this home with me, you are forever frozen at 14.
Yes, there will be another show. You will have other matches.
They will create some tinfoil title and decide a champion.
And if you are lucky to ever get your hands on it,
your counter starts over at one, you babbling moron.
What I am trying to do, Randy Orton, is when I leave here,
make sure three generations of your family is erased.
[crowd chants] RKO! RKO!
You say you're the last real champ.
All right, prove it right here, right now. Put that title on the line and fight me.
-[crowd cheers] -Right here, right now. Come on.
Yeah!
You ain't erasing my family's history. No way in hell.
How dare you say that to me after everything we've been through?
How dare you say that in front of all these people on live TV?
How dare you?
No.
[crowd boos]
No.
And just like so many times over the past 25 years,
I'm doing it to save your ass.
There should be a match.
Randy Orton versus John Cena
for the Undisputed Championship.
[crowd cheers]
But it shouldn't happen here.
[crowd boos]
I've already given you a hard enough time. It's not your fault.
It's for Randy.
It should happen at Backlash, Randy.
Because Backlash is in St. Louis.
I know that's hard for you to hear, but for Randy, it's great
because Randy is from St. Louis.
So you can spend the whole day with your family, Randy.
You make sure you show up well rested. Randy Orton at his best.
Because I need Randy Orton at his best.
Because after Backlash,
when you fail, you will have no excuses.
Take a good look, Randy.
This
is what The Last Real Champion looks like.
And this is as close to this championship
as you're ever going to get.
-[Barrett] Oh! -[Tessitore] Oh!
Cena comes in with a right hand and attacks The Viper.
[Barrett] A sucker punch from the self-proclaimed Last Real Champ
who got humiliated by The Viper on Monday Night Raw.
[Tessitore] Saying he's gonna take this title
and erase three generations of your family, Randy.
And now he's lining up it looks like,
with that title in hand, to hit Randy Orton.
[Barrett] Once again, the most desperate cheap shot from John Cena.
[Tessitore] Looking to deliver-- Oh! Orton gets out of the way!
-RKO! -[crowd cheers]
[Barrett] "Don't bring a knife to a gunfight," John Cena.
Your own words.
[Tessitore] He did it on Monday.
He does it here on Friday Night SmackDown.
-And that Undisputed WWE Championship… -[crowd chants] Randy! Randy!
[Tessitore] …lays there with Cena laid out.
[Barrett] The voices are getting louder in this arena,
and the sadistic voices are getting louder in the mind of Randy Orton.
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] And the sight of Randy with that championship in his hands.
["Voices" plays]
♪ They counsel me They understand… ♪
[Tessitore] And remember,
just as much as we talk about Cena having just broken the all-time record,
there Randy sits on 14 himself,
and the big one in his hometown is just two weeks away.
[Barrett] Well, if that gets made official at Backlash,
that will be 31 World Championship reigns between the two of them.
That must be a record. Make it official, please.
From Raw to SmackDown, Cena and Orton.
Meanwhile, after 230 days as NXT Tag Team Champions,
Fraxiom has arrived here to SmackDown.
[announcer] They are Nathan Frazer and Axiom,
Fraxiom!
[Axiom] We created magic from chaos.
Bro, it was like lightning in a bottle.
[commentator] Two reigns for Axiom and Frazer.
They've held the titles for over 200 combined days.
And we're not slowing down. [chuckles]
[Axiom] We will be undeniable.
[Graves] One of the most complete tag teams in the business in Fraxiom.
Perhaps the best tag team in the business.
They are the big thing.
["Legacy Of The Ghost" plays]
[Tessitore] The high-flying overly athletic Los Garza,
Angel and Berto against Fraxiom.
That is next on SmackDown here in Fort Worth, Texas.
[Tessitore] Wade, it was just announced.
Fifteen days away from Cena's first title defense,
and it's gonna be in The Viper's backyard.
[Barrett] Incredible.
Randy Orton, the 14-time champ
versus the new 17-time champ John Cena,
that is your main event of Backlash.
And management unsurprisingly moving fast when that one fell in their laps.
[Tessitore] Wow.
Coming your way May 10th, folks.
["Never Slow Down" plays]
[Nash] And their opponents, with a combined weight of 365 pounds,
Axiom and Nathan Frazer, Fraxiom!
[Tessitore] Speedy combination, Nathan Frazer and Axiom.
["Strike Force" playing]
[Tessitore] Wade, for a better part of the past year,
Fraxiom, they were the best of the best at NXT.
-And then this past weekend… -[bell rings]
[Tessitore] …at an excellent Stand & Deliver at WrestleMania,
they were overtaken by Hank and Tank.
Now, a really good chance for Fraxiom to set a new course.
[Barrett] Yeah, massive acquisition for the Blue Brand here by GM Nick Aldis.
Hats off to him for moving so quickly as soon as he realized
Fraxiom were available.
Now in the ring, that is Axiom, Spanish superstar from Madrid.
On the outside is Nathan Frazer from the island of Jersey in the UK.
What a combination these two are.
[Tessitore] Yeah, combination indeed, and you're going to see right away
just what they can do when they work in sync, and look at the speed.
That's exactly what they are known for.
The dynamic speed that creates unique power and the striking ability.
[Barrett] Such an incredible blend of athleticism.
Axiom, really, the cold, calculated one.
Frazer, though, really an erratic hot head,
but they work so well together.
[Tessitore] Wow, would you look at Nathan Frazer?
And how about Axiom as well?
[Barrett] Hot start. Fresh out of the blocks here for Fraxiom.
-Taking it to-- -[Tessitore] Up and over!
Los Garza hasn't been able to breathe since the beginning here.
[Barrett] The message to the entire SmackDown tag division,
"Things have changed." My God.
[Tessitore] My, oh, my. Quick to the top, the moonsault.
Nathan Frazer and Axiom, welcome to SmackDown.
[Barrett] Los Garza have not managed to get a shot in thus far.
[Tessitore] Into the cover and quickly Berto gets Frazer
off of him with a kick out.
[Barrett] Santos Escobar must be pulling his hair out right now.
This has been a disastrous start for the lucha team.
[Tessitore] Well, Los Garza, it's interesting you say that
'cause they've got an earful from Santos Escobar lately.
He has been constantly trying to push them to the next level.
[Barrett] Far from impressed with their performances.
Wow, cheap move there from Angel and Berto
as Axiom falls to the outside.
Impressive start, but finally Los Garza are in control.
[Tessitore] Los Garza from Legado Del Fantasma in control right now.
Angel and Berto against Fraxiom making their SmackDown debut as a team.
We saw them individually in recent weeks.
Was a heck of a reception for Axiom-- who's trying to break free here--
in his native Spain,
and he does, as Nathan Frazer springboards his way into action
and the super kick, and look at him clear things up.
[Barrett] Well, this is 1000-miles-an-hour stuff now from Nathan Frazer.
[Tessitore] What a bullet he is!
[Barrett] I don't care how hard you throw that one.
It's got that pace behind it, there's simply no way to block it.
Berto in big trouble here.
[Tessitore] Sling blade and now springboards his way…
But, oh, no. Look at this.
Senton into the cover.
All that high-revving energy and couldn't put it away.
[Barrett] I've got to upgrade my eyeballs.
The frame rate is simply not quick enough to keep up with Nathan Frazer.
[Tessitore] No, they are a blur.
It is a vapor trail every time he runs the ropes.
[Barrett] Just so dynamic in there. Jaw-dropping movement.
But Berto has a trick or two up his sleeve, too,
and I don't think Nathan Frazer saw that tag to Angel.
[Tessitore] No. There was a blind tag, and coming in was Angel with the kick,
hooks the leg,
and getting that right shoulder up at the last possible second was Frazer.
[Barrett] Yeah, all the momentum of that moonsault
combined with that kick to the jaw,
that precision strike from Angel, and now it's the durability of Frazer
that has kept Fraxiom in this one.
[Tessitore] And they are heading on up.
We've seen how dangerous they could be with their teamwork from up high.
MTY!
[Barrett] From the top, a Super MTY, now cleaning house.
[Tessitore] Berto!
[Barrett] Exclamation point on this one.
[Tessitore] Oh, and coming in and making the save
through all the traffic was the 5'8" Axiom.
[Barrett] What a maul. Look at this. This is right after the Super MTY.
No kicking out here for Nathan Frazer.
It was over, and as desperate as Angel tried
to prevent Axiom breaking that up, it wasn't enough.
Fraxiom refusing to be denied here on their tag team debut on SmackDown.
[Tessitore] For Axiom to survive that Super MTY,
I remember Tez landed on his feet a few weeks ago,
that was a dynamic move,
but this was teamwork and will and grit to get out of it.
And now toe-to-toe, right in the middle of the ring,
Axiom and Angel.
[Barrett] Nothing pretty about this now. We are in a dogfight.
Oh, headbutt there too, and you've gotta think with the acquisition of AAA
that was announced on the weekend, that industry-shaking news,
these luchadors are desperate to put their best foot forward.
[Tessitore] Big kick coming up top as Angel was climbing up to the top
and now Axiom to meet him there.
[Barrett] What a thrill ride this has been,
but is power gonna win it in the end from Angel?
[Tessitore] Frazer tags in,
lines it up, the Spanish Fly!
Look at this from Fraxiom!
Phoenix Splash!
Combo work to the max!
That is a debut and a half from Fraxiom on SmackDown.
[Nash] Here are your winners,
Fraxiom!
[Barrett] What a glorious victory for Fraxiom.
Welcome to the Blue Brand.
[Tessitore] Remember, still to come tonight,
a TLC Triple Threat.
DIY, they're getting ready for it against the Street Profits
and the Motor City Machine Guns for the championship tonight.
And Tiffany Stratton,
we will hear from the WWE Women's Champion.
Don't go anywhere.
♪ It's Tiffy Time ♪
-["Tiffy Time" plays] -[crowd cheers]
♪ Drop, I'm going in ♪
♪ Bass so loud It's in my skin ♪
♪ Drop I wanna see you drop… ♪
[Nash] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the WWE Women's Champion,
Tiffany Stratton!
[Tessitore] So here comes the well-earned victory lap after a hard-fought match,
and for Tiffany Stratton, WrestleMania was more than just a title defense.
Charlotte Flair really forged her in ways
leading up to WrestleMania that few could have.
Wade, I think for the WWE Women's Champ,
she's forever changed because of that match
and that experience and that buildup, and it's for the better.
[Barrett] Yeah, Tiffany Stratton.
Just take a look at the wounds she's wearing across her face and body.
She was put through the wringer by the most physical Charlotte Flair
I've ever seen.
It was a fight in the trenches.
We've known for years that Tiffany Stratton can win pretty.
Well, now she can also win ugly.
A big development in the career of the champ.
[crowd cheers]
What time is it?
[crowd] Tiffy Time!
That's right.
At WrestleMania, in front of 60,000 people,
it was Tiffy Time.
I went toe-to-toe with one of the greatest of all time, Charlotte Flair.
[crowd boos]
And I can't even lie, there were moments when I doubted myself,
and the pressure got to me, but in the end I prevailed,
and I walked out of WrestleMania
and still your WWE Women's Champion.
[crowd cheers]
And I was always told for the longest time,
"Tiffy, you're the next Charlotte Flair."
Wrong.
There may be only one Charlotte Flair,
but I guarantee you there is only one Tiffany Stratton.
["A Storm Is Coming" plays]
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Well, speaking of one-of-one.
Tiffany, cut it.
Now I came here to give credit where it's due.
And your match with Charlotte was very impressive.
But that did nothing but create a bigger target on your back.
And since business is finished with Naomi,
I have nothing but time.
So I think it's time for me to remind everybody
why I came here to WWE.
I think it's time for everyone
to see why I came here to be a champion.
And I think it's time for you to understand
just because you beat Charlotte doesn't make you the best,
especially when you haven't faced me.
Okay, well, why don't you put your money where your mouth is,
and let's get a ref out here, right here, right now.
Well, let's do that.
[Tessitore] A little WrestleMania encore to the max.
[Barrett] Yes!
[Tessitore] Instant dream matchup in Texas.
Tiffany and Jade, let's go.
[Barrett exclaims]
[Tessitore] Well, this is one of those unexpected gifts
that just arises every so often.
Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill meeting up here instantly saying,
"You know what? Let's just do this now."
What I'm curious about here, Wade, is we saw them both in action Saturday
at WrestleMania in Vegas, but for Jade,
you know, listen, two-time Women's Tag Team Champion
now trying to gather a little momentum on the singles side.
Gets to win over Naomi and now gets to prove herself here against Tiffany.
[Barrett] Yeah, I think it's a good point. We've seen Jade Cargill at the top,
but you're right, it's been in the tag ranks.
If you're a champ in the tag world here,
but your partner is one of the greatest of all time, Bianca Belair,
how much load were you really carrying?
Were you being a passenger on those victories?
Well, clearly Jade Cargill proved against Naomi at WrestleMania,
she can stand tall on her own…
[Tessitore] Oh, it's a roll up by Stratton.
…and now Jade Cargill clearly trying to follow up
that big momentum-builder against Naomi here
against the champ Tiffany Stratton.
What a statement it would be if The Storm pulls out a big dub tonight.
[Tessitore] You, Cole and Pat were on the call for her victory against Naomi.
How about some of the displays of power we saw in that match?
[Barrett] Yeah, well, these are two great athletes
in very different ways.
For me, the key with Jade Cargill is that power.
There was a moment at WrestleMania.
She plucked Naomi out of thin air as Naomi was going for a blockbuster.
I cannot stress as an athlete, how difficult that is to pull off.
The strength and balance and core power to pull that off is ridiculous.
There's nothing you can do in a gym to train for that.
It's just God-given talent.
[Tessitore] Now, here's an example of it.
And Stratton able to get that arm drag there.
Tiffany, of course herself--
There it is. Right there into the backbreaker,
just catching her in midair,
but Tiffany herself surviving what was such a brutal test of endurance
in that draining match against Charlotte Flair.
When you reflect on it-- as you see Stratton now coming straight in
with that running hip attack as she had Jade up against the ropes--
what impressed you the most with Tiffany against Charlotte?
[Barrett] Tiffany's ability to not be swallowed up
by a more experienced competitor--
What a big spinebuster there from Jade Cargill, hold on.
All the pressure on the shoulders of Tiffany Stratton.
-It was a ginger kick out there. -[Tessitore] Oh, boy, was it.
[Barrett] Stratton is hurting here.
[Tessitore] Well, listen. I mean, we saw the…
We saw what she looked like after the match,
and again just pressing down on the shoulders
and able to get that left shoulder up.
[Barrett] Well, Stratton still has bruises all over her body,
especially on the forehead there
from one of the Natural Selections, I think it was, that connected.
[Tessitore] She went for that knee but, instead,
Stratton went right into the cover.
And now the spinebuster of her own as she hooks the leg
looking to put away Jade, and Jade easily getting that left shoulder up.
[Barrett] You've gotta think the kind of wars that these two women
both went through a few days ago at WrestleMania.
There's a lot been taken out of these bodies.
These two are hurting and, ideally, you would not take this kind of match,
but both are such competitors, they want to fight right now.
I don't know how smart that is.
[Tessitore] Hundred and twelve days as champion for Tiffany Stratton,
but not backing down from any challenge at all.
Saying, "It is Tiffy Time."
You know, it's hard to believe, Wade, she has been headlining--
She hooks the leg here and, once again, the kick out.
She's been headlining for so long now, but it's hard to believe
that this past weekend was Stratton's WrestleMania debut.
[Barrett] Yeah, it's pretty wild.
I mean, she's been in massive events before,
most notably probably at NXT where she's been at the main event level there
and really parlayed that in super quick time to be the number one
in the women's division here.
But don't forget, Tiffany Stratton four years ago
had nothing to do with this industry.
Perhaps the quickest developer ever and in full control here against Jade Cargill.
[Tessitore] Here in Fort Worth, a big crowd
of 11,600 plus sold out at Dickies Arena,
and they are enjoying seeing this.
Unexpected, but here they are.
Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill, of course, less than a week removed
from their WrestleMania victories
and deciding to test each other, and at this point, Wade,
it becomes-- the rolling senton-- who has what left in the tank?
[Barrett] Here we go, Joe.
[Tessitore] Here it is. Oh, she trips up on it.
Now jumps up, Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Jade gets on the way.
[Barrett] Yeah, that was the slip that did that.
Jade Cargill was bang to rights.
It shows how beat up Tiffany Stratton is.
I've never seen her miss.
[Tessitore] Oh, my God! Cartwheel Alabama slam! Powerbomb! Jade--
And just in the nick of the time, Tiffy Time survives.
[Barrett] Well, it just shows you how powerful Jade Cargill really is.
This attempt by Tiffany Stratton.
Midair. Let me just catch ya, turn it into a powerbomb,
but that is why Tiffany Stratton is the champion.
I'm still getting over Tiffany Stratton slipping on that moonsault attempt,
something I have never seen before.
Tiffy's hurting here.
[Tessitore] But I think it sums up the state of these two.
This is not the fresh Barbie doll entrance we saw of Tiffany.
This is somebody that had to get through the fire of Charlotte Flair.
[Barrett] Well, she won ugly against Charlotte Flair,
and she's going to have to win ugly again tonight against Jade Cargill.
[Tessitore] Looking to create some offensive momentum, but instead,
Jade-- Oh, and now…
Looking to counter is Stratton as she delivers the basement drop kick.
Right into the cover.
[Barrett] Ooh, nice there from Tiffany Stratton.
I'll tell you right now, I saw Jade pluck Tiffany from midair.
Attempted a Jaded.
Scarpering out of there was Tiffany Stratton
and almost pulling out the win.
[Tessitore] Wade, there have been two instances in this match now
where you're just in awe of what Jade Cargill can do
with the power to control an opponent.
You saw it there on the Cartwheel Alabama Slam that she countered
into the powerbomb and then looking for the Jaded moments ago
and now quick to meet Tiffany up on the ropes.
[Barrett] Again, Tiffany Stratton very slow getting up to that top turnbuckle.
[Tessitore] Superplex! Jade Cargill!
[Barrett] A lot has been taken out of Jade Cargill here.
You want to pounce on a pin as quickly as you can,
but the body is not cooperating with the mind when it comes to Jade Cargill.
And that has allowed an escape here for Tiffany Stratton
just when all was looking lost.
[Tessitore] She looks to roll out of the ring and you can see
the significant bruising on her back.
You can see Jade Cargill--
-[Barrett] Oh. -[Tessitore] Oh, no!
Jade said business is finished with Naomi about five minutes ago.
-[bell ringing] -[Tessitore] No, it's not, not at all.
[Barrett] Well, Naomi may have lost at WrestleMania,
but that has clearly settled nothing
as far as Naomi is concerned.
[Tessitore] And deep into this match,
when so much was taken out of Jade Cargill,
that is when Naomi decides to strike.
Oh, and slamming her right into the post.
[Barrett] An unhinged and vindictive Naomi saying this ain't over till I say it is.
[Tessitore] Last Saturday, it was Jade who got the best of her bitter rival.
All the emotion attached to these two,
and now Naomi comes in and interrupts the action
in this match against Tiffany Stratton.
After Jade was reaching for her back, was slow to move,
and Naomi pounces on her twice now, sending her into the post,
as her body just drapes to the floor.
Tiffany Stratton back on her feet.
And Naomi decides to exit on that stare down.
[Barrett] Naomi came here for one reason and one reason only--
[Tessitore] Nia Jax!
[Barrett] The former mentee of Tiffany Stratton
who Stratton stabbed in the back to cash in the Money In The Bank contract
and take the gold from back in January.
[Tessitore] Can you believe it's one third for Naomi,
but now Nia Jax with the leg drop
on Tiffany Stratton.
[Barrett] It's the ghost of Christmas past.
[Tessitore] And this is a violent assault on the WWE Women's Champion,
looking for the Annihilator on Tiffy Time.
[Barrett] "I'm back for what's mine, Tiffany Stratton."
[Tessitore] That was hers.
And then the cash in happened 112 days ago.
Nia Jax returns and makes that statement.
[Tessitore] Just when you thought that Tiffany's win over Charlotte Flair
would bring great clarity to the women's division, that happens.
The Motor City Machine Guns,
they are preparing for tables, ladders, and chairs,
a Triple Threat for the WWE Tag Team Championships
with DIY and the Street Profits.
But coming up next,
Fatu, the new United States Champion.
[Tessitore] What a great night here in Fort Worth.
We're at Dickies Arena, sold-out crowd of over 11,000.
Sixteen miles away from AT&T Stadium.
Of course, it was three years ago, that was the home of WrestleMania.
Coming off of WrestleMania 41 in Vegas, where one of the big stars of the night
was Jacob Fatu becoming the new US Champion.
-["Samoan Destroyer" plays] -[crowd cheers]
[Nash] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Solo Sikoa
and the new United States Champion,
the Samoan Werewolf,
Jacob Fatu!
[Tessitore] Fatu with Solo leading the way.
Of course, when the year started, Solo was leading the way.
He was then the new Tribal Chief.
By last week, he was the chief support for Fatu.
Softening up LA Knight in singles and tag action
and hyping him up for weeks as the next US Champ.
Well, that came to be, didn't it?
[Barrett] Well, there have been some major tensions over the past couple of months
between Solo and Jacob Fatu,
but Solo Sikoa has played an absolute master stroke in guiding Jacob Fatu
to his first championship gold here in the singles ranks,
and there's nothing like a good slice of gold to put tensions away for good.
[crowd chanting] Fatu! Fatu! Fatu! Fatu!
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome,
show some love and respect for your new United States Champion,
Jacob Fatu!
[crowd cheers]
At WrestleMania, everyone saw what I already knew…
that Jacob Fatu, he's the future.
He is the future of this company.
But let me remind you something.
Nobody in my family…
nobody wanted Jacob here.
Except me.
-They thought he was trouble. -[crowd] What?
-Thought he was too much of a risk. -[crowd] What?
-But you know who changed that? -[crowd] What?
-You know who made it all happen? -[crowd] What?
Was me.
[crowd] What?
I'm the reason that Jacob's the champion.
[crowd boos]
I'm the one that brought him here.
[crowd boos]
I'm the one that took him to the promised land.
I took Jacob off the streets and made him into United States Champion.
Jacob is here because of me.
This is exactly what happens when you love your family.
Jacob would not be standing here
-if it was-- -[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants] Fatu! Fatu! Fatu! Fatu!
See, let's not get it twisted.
I told you I was gonna win the US Title.
I told you the US Title was coming home to the family.
And I told you I was gonna do it with you or without you.
And that's exactly what I did.
So, Texas, look at your new US Champ!
[crowd cheers]
You see, I know that this title makes me America's most wanted.
Hell, I know that this title makes me a menace to society.
But at the end of the day,
you better get in what you fit in!
Because I'm all gas, no brakes with it!
Yadadamean!
Fa…
-tu. -["Welcome to LA" plays]
[crowd cheers]
-[music fades out] -[crowd chants] LA Knight! LA Knight!
Let me talk to you.
[crowd] Yeah!
At WrestleMania, I guaranteed,
I told you, you would eat a BFT, and by God, you ate a BFT.
I dropped you right there on your big fat mopped head.
You reached out, grabbed the rope, and good for you, because after that,
you were able to capitalize, and you were able to beat me
right in the middle of that ring.
I'll give credit where credit is due. It can happen to anybody, any night.
Anybody can get it. But you got to understand something.
I walked back there and everybody says,
"Man, you had a hell of a match at WrestleMania."
[crowd] Yeah!
But I ain't worried about having a hell of a match.
I'm worried about winning.
I'm worried about taking that championship,
and if you can't understand what I'm saying,
what I'm saying is I want my rematch,
and I want it right now.
[crowd] Yeah!
-["Gallantry" plays] -[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Scottish Warrior looking to crash this Fatu-LA Knight party.
[Barrett] The winner of the Sin City Street Fight.
And with that much abuse that he absorbed, it's astounding that he's on two feet.
You know, Dallas, it's not always easy being Drew McIntyre.
I mean, personally, it is.
Being tall, jacked, handsome, and much like Texas, I got some big guns.
[crowd cheers]
But professionally,
I've been screwed over time and time again every World Title match.
At WrestleMania, I had to get through the last roadblock,
and I beat Damian Priest in one of the most violent matches
in WrestleMania history.
So, Priest, I know you're not here tonight,
we're not gonna see you for a while,
so I want to take a moment to say thank you.
It was an absolute pleasure to embarrass you in front of your entire family.
The next plan was challenge John Cena for the World Title,
and then Randy Orton jumped the line,
the same Randy Orton I beat three weeks ago.
I'm starting to wonder, everybody, is it World Wrestling Entertainment
or Nepo Wrestling Entertainment.
Speaking of which, Hi, Bloodline.
[LA Knight yawns]
You done yet?
-I'll get to you in a second. -Yeah, continue on.
I've been watching Cena these past few weeks.
I watched him tonight.
He ain't the same guy. He's a punk now.
Drew McIntyre wants to fight the baddest dog in the yard.
I want to fight the baddest champion in the yard.
Jacob, I wanna fight you.
[crowd cheers]
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Can somebody wake me up when this mush mouth is done?
Always with the jokes, innit? Always with the jokes.
The only joke around here was your last US Title run.
Oh.
I would say your last title run was a joke, but I can't remember it.
[crowd jeers]
So I tell you what,
you got a problem with Randy Orton?
Go talk to Randy Orton.
But right now, you're standing here at a time that's my time
when I said I want my US Championship.
But if you think that you want to make claim to that US Championship,
I'll tell you what, you think you deserve it so bad?
Why don't you come on in here and show me?
Okay.
[Tessitore] Drew is not bashful about taking invitations.
[Aldis] Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on a second there, fellas.
[crowd boos]
I think we can all see where this is going,
so before you two tear each other apart,
how about I offer an alternative?
How about you come back here, you put your tights on,
you put your boots on, you lace them up tight
and, Fort Worth, Texas…
[crowd cheers]
…I'll give you Drew McIntyre versus LA Knight.
[crowd] Yeah!
One-on-one tonight, and the winner is the number one contender
for the United States Championship.
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Oh, is that a great number one contenders's match.
[Barrett] Best GM ever.
There's a logjam for the number one contendership,
and we're gonna fix it right here in Fort Worth.
Love it!
[Tessitore] A little Jacob Fatu "Yadadamean" on that, Wade.
Excuse me, Zelina, before you head out there, uh,
two weeks ago, you beat Chelsea Green by count out.
Then last week you beat her by pinfall, but if things go your way tonight,
you're gonna become the new Women's United States Champion.
Where are your thoughts at?
Hmm, honestly, Byron, I know I'm known to have a big mouth
and I always got something to say,
but tonight is one of those nights where I'm actually speechless,
and it's because it means so much to me.
I've wanted this for so long, and just like my mentor Rey Mysterio,
who's a former United States Champion, and Eddie Guerrero,
who's a former United States Champion,
I kinda wanna bring some Latino Heat into my match tonight.
And, of course, just like how they do it here in Texas,
you go big or you go home.
And, Byron, I'm not going home
until I have that United States Championship
around my waist.
Zelina, good luck tonight.
Thank you. [chuckles]
[Tessitore] The US Championship match
that Zelina Vega desperately wanted and earned,
she gets next against Chelsea Green.
["The Visual" playing]
[Tessitore] And remember we still have our TLC Tag Team Championship
coming your way.
Now this United States Championship match.
[bell rings]
[Nash] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it's for the Women's United States Championship.
Introducing first from Queens, New York,
Zelina Vega!
[Tessitore] Hey, a couple weeks ago,
perhaps you could say it was a fluky win for Vega
when Chelsea Green was unknowingly counted out,
but, Wade, last week Vega proved herself.
…in that singles match, we don't need Secret Hervice at ringside.
-Thank you so much. -No!
-[all clamoring] -No, I didn't do it. Nicholas!
[Barrett] Well, that lack of Secret Hervice protection
put the champ on the back foot,
but Green almost grabbed victory,
before things went downhill.
Vega connecting with what is a Super Code Red, for the dub.
Adding further weight to Vegas's demands for a title opportunity
that tonight have been granted.
♪ We don't play, nah nah We don't play ♪
♪ Yes, I'm the visual And I neva play ♪
♪ We don't play, nah nah We don't play ♪
♪ HOV lane No stops, no delays ♪
♪ We don't play, nah nah We don't play ♪
♪ Yes, I'm the visual And I neva play ♪
[song fades out]
[Green] Pledge your allegiance to Chelsea Green.
["Hot Mess" playing]
[Nash] And her opponent, accompanied by the Secret Hervice,
from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada,
she is the Women's United States Champion,
Chelsea Green!
[Tessitore] She is excellent in the ring,
but some may call her grading
or cringe over her constant self-promotion and complaints.
Some would say it's fueled by an inflated sense of entitlement
or delusional lack of awareness.
Some would argue it's simply unbridled arrogance.
Others salute and pledge allegiance and have names like Piper Niven,
and Alba Fyre and Wade Barrett.
[Barrett] I see pure talent, and I am personally--
[Tessitore] Do not. Please sit down.
-[Barrett] I am saluting our champion… -[Tessitore] I am begging you not to.
[Barrett] …Chelsea Green. In Chelsea we trust.
Show some respect, Joe Tess.
[Tessitore] You are absolutely incorrigible
when it comes to Chelsea Green.
That is what is on the line.
That is what Zelina Vega has earned the right to fight for.
-[Barrett] That's debatable. -[bell rings]
[Tessitore] The United States Championship,
but Green tries to go on the attack early on,
and Vega gets out of the way and delivers right hand after right hand.
Wade, after two straight wins against Chelsea Green to earn this opportunity,
was looking for the Unpretty-Her.
[Barrett] Two straight wins, pump the brakes there.
There's a caveat, the caveat being on those two straight wins,
the Secret Hervice were not here to protect the champ.
They're here tonight.
[Tessitore] I'm sorry, who's protecting Zelina Vega?
[Barrett] Zelina Vega, if she has no protection
against somebody as talented as the champ, Chelsea Green,
is gonna lose, Joe Tess. That's how this works.
[Tessitore] Now Vega came up with a very good win
that we just saw moments ago, a week ago, non-title match to earn this.
Prior to that what was the count out.
By the way, Ryan Tran, the same referee for this championship match.
He's had an outstanding career, always fair and balanced,
and does the best possible job he can.
But he was the referee when there was that count out a few weeks ago.
Oh, and look at Alba Fyre!
[Barrett] He's become known as fast-count referee.
-I've timed that ten-- -[Tessitore] Oh, man!
[Tessitore] Are you kidding me with the distraction?
And all of a sudden the Secret Hervice takes advantage.
[Tessitore] Back here in Fort Worth, Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett with you.
Women's United States Championship match.
Chelsea Green looking to defend against Zelina Vega.
We mentioned the fact that in the last two non-title matches
when Vega came up with a victory, the Secret Hervice, Piper and Alba,
were not there to protect Chelsea Green.
They've already played a major role tonight, Wade.
[Barrett] Chelsea gets nervous without her security team in place.
She feels vulnerable at the mercy of any riffraff
who wants to make a name for themselves at the expense of the champ.
Oh, my God.
[Tessitore] Look at the will and grit of Zelina Vega,
trying to fight back and delivering!
[Barrett] Well, we saw a Super Code Red last week,
that was a super release German suplex,
connecting high on the neck and shoulders of the champ,
and that might be the moment that the tide begins to turn in this one.
What a tug of war that was, won by Zelina Vega.
[Tessitore] Keep in mind, that is what they are battling for.
And for Zelina Vega,
she has competed for a singles title fives times in her WWE career. 0 and 5.
Looking to finally break through is Zelina Vega.
[Barrett] Attempt at a knee to the jaw there on Vega. Vega was just too quick.
And now with that spinning back elbow, flattens the champ.
[Tessitore] And that back elbow then sets her up
with a running knee into the corner, and now Vega is climbing up top.
[Barrett] And all over the place now is the champ Chelsea Green,
no… no clue where she's at.
[Tessitore] Zelina Vega in position to win the championship!
[Barrett] Oh, what a huge Meteora there, Joe,
and that perhaps is the moment that Vega thought she had it-- W-wait a second.
[Tessitore] Now look at Alba Fyre, just as you described, Wade.
[Barrett] A cheap shot there from Zelina Vega.
[Tessitore] Cheap shot? She's clearing the apron!
But in giving time to Chelsea Green,
Green looks to take control, looking for Unpretty-Her again,
but instead Zelina Vega with the backstabber.
And now Vega says, "I want a little 619 to top my night."
Oh, Piper trips her up!
This has gone too far with the Secret Hervice,
and now Ryan Tran finally turns around and sees it.
-[Tessitore] Get outta here! -[Barrett] No!
[Tessitore] Rid this place of them!
Justice is served.
[Barrett] The Secret Hervice evicted from the matchup,
but it might be academic, 'cause back in control is Chelsea Green.
Oh, Code Red. Code Red!
-Do we have it? -[Barrett] No!
-[Tessitore] Oh my, oh my, oh my! -[bell rings]
-A stunner in Texas! -[Nash] Here is your winner,
and the new Women's United States Champion,
Zelina Vega!
[Tessitore] Zelina Vega!
Her first WWE singles title.
[Barrett] It's a hit and run that nobody saw coming.
Zelina Vega winning her first singles championship.
She has slayed that demon.
And I think, Joe Tess, we are all in shock,
the ultimate underdog in the women's division
has just pulled off a jaw-dropping victory.
We've got a new Women's US Champ.
I mean, weeks ago she said this is the target.
She was dismissed, disrespected. You said flimsy wins to earn it.
-She just earned that! -At least try and be neutral.
Oh, man, hey, always so much that happens coming off of WrestleMania weekend,
so much that happens that weekend that you forget,
but don't forget the thriller we saw last Friday night
with Carmelo Hayes coming out on top.
There are a few prizes in the industry like it.
In the annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal,
one of the most distinct trophies in all the industry will be awarded.
[Barrett] Who needs a bell? Let's just start throwing fists, guys.
[Tessitore] Now trying to get the best of Carmelo Hayes!
[Barrett] Well, saving his tag team partner,
real chemistry growing there.
Pete Dunne going on a tear here. He smells victory.
Once again, The Miz has saved Carmelo Hayes.
[Tessitore] Melo takes care of him.
It comes down to Carmelo Hayes and Andrade.
[Barrett] Both men have given it everything they've got to win.
Using it as a launchpad for further greatness.
A lot on the line between these two.
[Tessitore] And with that, we got a winner!
[Barrett] Carmelo Hayes takes home
the prestigious 8th wonder of the world trophy.
Congratulations.
Melo,
when it is all said and done,
you will go down as the greatest André the Giant battle-royal winner
of all time.
That's why I sacrificed myself for you.
Because I have a vision for Carmelo Hayes.
And to commemorate this major achievement,
I got you something.
-Nah. -Yeah, come on, open it.
[Hayes] No, come on, man.
Yeah, spared no expense.
Damn.
Hey, you earned it.
I did.
You know what though? This thing, this is bigger than me, Miz.
This represents a chip that's on my shoulder, okay?
With this around my neck, I refuse to be overlooked.
-Keep cooking. Let's go. -I refuse to be denied.
And in the true spirit of André the Giant, when I'm wearing this thing,
-I'm seven feet tall. -Seven feet!
-I'm larger than life. -Mm-hmm.
-I am the 10th wonder of the world. -10th wonder of the world.
-And I am him. -Yes, you are.
You know what? You just inspired me.
I'm gonna go out to that ring and get something off my chest.
-Yeah, let's go. -No. Hey.
You enjoy this. Enjoy this moment. I'm about to make mine.
All right.
["I Came To Play" playing]
[Tessitore] Ah, The Miz, fresh off his custom jewelry shopping spree
to secure a ten-pound huge golden André The Giant head pendant.
[scoffs]
You know, since 2007, I've been an integral part of WrestleMania.
But this year, at the highest grossing WrestleMania in history, I had no match,
no mention, nowhere to be found.
May I remind you?
I main evented WrestleMania,
beating John Cena, retaining the WWE Championship,
something that Cody Rhodes, your chosen hero, could not do last week.
And yet he gets the cheers, the pyro, the spotlight, and I get it.
I get it. He was champion.
He deserves to be on WrestleMania.
But when Rey Mysterio comes hobbling in to WrestleMania,
does he come to a fellow legend to fill his boots?
No, he goes to a guy who's been here for two weeks.
I've been here for 20 years. What do I have to do?
Wear a lucha mask and call myself Rey?
Then KO goes down.
Orton needs an opponent. He needs an opponent.
Do you guys want a guy who's beaten Randy Orton for the WWE Championship?
No. You guys want a guy who's an Internet meme,
a TikTok trend,
a guy who does musical theater in a wrestling ring.
I am sick of it!
I am sick and tired of people showing up in WWE,
people that I'm a bigger star than.
People that cannot lace my boots in this ring.
I'm sick of them getting opportunity after opportunity.
May I remind you that I am the A-lister.
I am the most must-see WWE superstar of all time.
And may you never forget that I am The Miz, and I am…
[crowd] Awesome!
-["Root of All Evil" playing] -[crowd cheers]
♪ No man is ever truly good ♪
♪ No man is every truly evil ♪
♪ I do the things you never could ♪
♪ And we won't ever be equal ♪
♪ No man is ever truly good ♪
♪ No man is every truly evil ♪
[Tessitore] The mysterious, ultra-dangerous Aleister Black is back.
[Barrett] Oh, my God. Aleister Black is back here.
And he's on SmackDown.
Former NXT champ.
One of the most devastating strikers this industry has ever seen,
especially relating to kicks.
The otherworldly, the ominous, the eerie, Aleister Black.
[Tessitore] Incredible arrival to SmackDown.
As you said, the ultimate striker, that kickboxing background,
that Black Mass always in the holster.
[Barrett] Straight out of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Miz, what the hell have you awoken here?
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] Welcome back!
[crowd continues chanting] Welcome back!
Hey, who the hell do you--
[Tessitore] Oh!
What were we saying about Black Mass always being in the holster?
-Miz found out. -["Root of All Evil" playing]
[Barrett] Well, give the devil his due.
Welcome to SmackDown, Aleister Black. What an acquisition.
[Tessitore] Things just got real different around here.
Miz was talking about being disrespected, being left out of WrestleMania.
That's how he got shut up. Aleister Black is back.
And this is the scene right now with the champs.
The Street Profits getting set for the TLC Triple Threat match
to defend the WWE Tag Team Championships.
Coming up next, big names who both want a go at Fatu's US Championship.
Drew McIntyre against the recent US Champ, LA Knight.
[Barrett] Yeah!
Right now I'm standing by with Bianca Belair.
Bianca, your match at WrestleMania against Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley,
instant classic, like-like one of the best matches of the entire weekend.
Unfortunately, you didn't leave Las Vegas unscathed.
Can you tell us what happened?
Yeah, Byron, my fingers hurt, my feelings hurt.
No, I'm just playing.
Yeah, I walked out of WrestleMania with a couple of broken fingers,
but it was all worth it.
You know, we all fought to the end and things may not have gone my way,
but at least I can say that I am so proud
of what the three of us were able to do at WrestleMania.
To your point, you had a great outing,
but the match did not end the way that you wanted.
Obviously, we know Iyo Sky is still the Women's World Champion.
Byron, I'm just gonna stop you right there.
Iyo, she found the perfect opportunity to capitalize, and I don't blame her.
I would have done the same thing.
Now Rhea, she found a way to slip her way into a match that I earned,
so I'm pretty sure this won't be the last time that I see her,
but right now I'm just focused on healing
because I'm trying to get back to SmackDown,
'cause SmackDown is my home and right now my home is divided.
So I know when I return, I got some unfinished business to handle.
Bianca, thank you so much and get well soon.
Thank you.
Joe, Wade, we will anxiously await the return of the EST to her home
right here on Friday Night SmackDown.
-Back to you guys. -I couldn't agree with Byron more,
in assessing that Triple Threat match.
Bianca, Rhea, Iyo.
They pushed the limits of what they're capable of.
That was five-star every which way last week.
No doubt about it, it's inevitable that some people after a show like WrestleMania
are gonna be banged up in a bad way.
Get well soon, Bianca Belair. We'll miss you.
As for the other women's title scene,
let's show you what went down earlier tonight right here in Fort Worth.
[Barrett] Yeah, so an impromptu match.
Jade Cargill was taking on Tiffany Stratton,
midway through the match, up shows Naomi,
far from happy with her loss at WrestleMania to The Storm.
Now damage done.
Naomi actually handed the title back
to Tiffany Stratton,
but then struck a blast from the past
for the WWE Women's Champ.
Nia Jax,
the woman who Tiffany Stratton cashed Ms. Money in the Bank contract in on
and took the gold from.
Well, clearly Nia Jax not one to forgive and forget.
Making a point that, "I'm coming back for what's mine, Tiffy."
[crowd boos]
[Jax] Naomi.
I don't care about this revenge you have with Jade,
but when it comes to Tiffany and the title, stay out of my way.
As long as you proceed with caution.
Rude.
["Welcome To LA" playing]
[Barrett] I love the smell of Kavorka in the evening.
[bell rings]
[Nash] The following contest is the United States Championship
number one contender's match, scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Los Angeles, California,
weighing in at 240 pounds,
-LA Knight! -[crowd] Yeah!
[Tessitore] Earlier tonight, he declared,
"I'm not leaving here until I get my rematch against Fatu."
-It is LA Knight. -[Barrett] Yeah!
[Tessitore] What a scene here in Fort Worth.
Drew McIntyre, LA Knight.
Less than a week ago they were each in their own massive WrestleMania match
and not even a week later,
one central tie that connects them, Knight and McIntyre,
and that is the need to be a champion.
-And tonight this match is made… -[bell rings]
…for the number one contender's slot for Jacob Fatu.
Of course, Jacob Fatu, who just defeated LA Knight
for that US Championship at WrestleMania 41.
Nick Aldis, the general manager here on SmackDown,
came out earlier tonight when Drew McIntyre interrupted
the exchange between LA Knight and Jacob Fatu
and said, "Enough, you two fight tonight."
[Barrett] Let me be clear what we're looking at here,
we're looking at two men who are putting a brave face on.
These are both walking wounded.
McIntyre in that Sin City Street Fight,
and LA Knight who had two matches last week on SmackDown,
followed by a hell of a match with Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 24 hours later.
Neither of these two men should be anywhere near a ring this evening,
but the prize, the potential prize, at least,
is so great that it's worth risking it all.
[Tessitore] You know, you mentioned the damage that was done
in the battles that they had.
We had a visit with Drew McIntyre earlier today,
and he even said some of his best moments in that victory of the Sin City
cost him himself.
I mean, the future shock DDT on the steel steps alone, Wade.
[Barrett] Yeah, it's the kind of match, a street fight,
against such a tough competitor like Damian Priest,
you have to risk your own body in pursuit of victory.
McIntyre knows full well what victory at WrestleMania entails,
and LA Knight knows full well the kind of damage he'll have to incur
if he wins this match, and then goes on to face Jacob Fatu once again,
to try and win back that United States Championship.
[Tessitore] That was a sensational showcase moment
for the US Championship on Saturday night of WrestleMania
when Fatu defeated LA Knight,
but give Knight credit for the position he was in,
and the way he took the fight to Fatu, as well.
As McIntyre…
You see the athleticism by Knight and then the elbow from behind.
There was a moment in the match…
As he drops down McIntyre and goes into the cover, the lateral press.
…when the midair BFT was landed, Wade, by LA Knight.
Fatu had the jump up Moonsault attempt and somehow,
some way the timing by LA Knight was just spectacular.
[Barrett] Yeah, it was perfection and in truth that deserved a victory.
Unfortunately for LA Knight in the particular match,
Jacob Fatu just bounced too close to the ropes,
but it shows you how close the margins are
at very top level in WWE between victory and defeat,
being a champion and being a loser at WrestleMania.
There was virtually nothing in it… And this is getting a little too close.
[Tessitore] A little too close with these two powerhouses.
Drew able to get out of the way and rolls himself back into the ring.
[Barrett] It's the kind of match you've got so much wear and tear
on your body already, you wanna hit something big as quickly as possible.
You know your opponent is weakened just like you are, get this over with fast.
Last thing you want right now is a long banger of a match.
[Tessitore] Oh, McIntyre just sends him flat…
And did you see the barriers shake?
[Barrett] And noticeably it was those ribs of LA Knight that connected.
Those were the ribs that took so much damage last week
at both WrestleMania and last week in those two matches on SmackDown.
The Megastar looking in big trouble here.
[Tessitore] That is not to be dismissed.
What happened last Friday on SmackDown when LA Knight…
As you said, you felt it was poor judgment.
To take on Solo Sikoa then go immediately into a tag team match that included Fatu,
and Solo was looking to soften him up.
Then he goes in against Fatu on Saturday night.
Well, Knight's biggest asset is his confidence,
but at times, it's his biggest nemesis.
Oh, my God, a brainbuster.
[Tessitore] Oh, from that height and that force
with McIntyre coming down, the brainbuster,
and you can see McIntyre saying, "Boy, I thought I had it."
[Barrett] Yeah, the owner of that viral selfie, "Bored at work, LOL."
None of that nonsense.
Well, it was the one of the biggest hits socially of WrestleMania,
but McIntyre is not in a mood for fun and games this evening.
His body a constantly… constant reminder of the agony that he's feeling.
[Tessitore] And by the way… Oh, man, oh, man! Right in the midsection.
Into the cover.
[Barrett] Once again, McIntyre too,
we know the damage that he went through in the match, the Sin City Street Fight.
Both men really showing massive wear and tear on the ribs,
but you can work around a busted knee or a busted shoulder.
When the ribs or the spine are hurting, it is so difficult to pull off any move.
Everything we do in this game requires twisting and using torque
based on that core and that midsection.
Nowhere to hide.
[Tessitore] I can't even imagine what Damian Priest looks like this week
after the damage that he took.
[Barrett] But how smart is McIntyre here,
he smells the bull's eye on LA Knight, it's that midsection.
[Tessitore] And he is targeting it, isn't he?
[Barrett] You have to go on the attack.
[Tessitore] Number one contender match for the US Championship.
LA Knight wasting no time,
earlier tonight coming right out into the face of Jacob Fatu
and saying, "I'm not leaving here until I get my rematch."
Drew says it's guys like LA Knight
that make championship titles mean less, and Drew wants his opportunity as well.
He besmirched John Cena's name and said, "I want to fight a champion
who I think is the dog right now, the real test, and that is Jacob Fatu."
[Barrett] Yeah, he's a braver man than most.
I would not personally go anywhere near Jacob Fatu.
Perhaps the most scary man I've met in this entire industry,
although this version of Drew McIntyre is not far behind.
What a match that would be if it ever comes off.
Just a three count away from that being a reality,
and though same could be said for LA Knight.
[Tessitore] Oh, and LA Knight able to turn things around!
Quick snap suplexes.
McIntyre had hit the brainbuster earlier, was lining up LA Knight again.
And now look at this scene here,
in front of a big sold-out crowd at Dickies Arena. 11,644.
All that momentum and energy coming off WrestleMania at 124,000,
on back-to-back nights in Vegas, and now a sell out here in Fort Worth,
the SmackDown after Mania,
they get this matchup.
Headliners to see who's the number one contender for Jacob Fatu.
[Barrett] Well, just when LA Knight, the former United States Champ,
was starting to flatline in this match,
he's turned back into that perpetual motion machine, blocking out the pain.
[Tessitore] A jumping neckbreaker, hooks the leg of McIntyre,
and McIntyre kicks out.
[Barrett] And the people in this sold-out arena, Joe Tess,
they're starting to believe.
And that just creates the kind of energy
that makes LA Knight want to give the people what they want.
[Tessitore] As he comes in with that Glasgow Kiss.
Looking for the future shock DDT but instead jackknife!
And a two-count from Charles Robinson, the referee.
[Barrett] Trouble on the horizon there, hooking in that future shock DDT.
LA Knight couldn't get out of that one quick enough.
What do the people want?
[crowd] LA Knight. Yeah!
[Tessitore] And jump up leaping elbow by Knight, he lands it!
Could he get that rematch he wants?
No, shoulder up by McIntyre.
[Barrett] Oh, the last thing you want at this point in the match, this deep,
when your entire body is practically on fire,
seeing your opponent kick out of one of your heavy hitters.
Well, this might be the heaviest of them all.
[Tessitore] Was looking for that BFT but instead McIntyre quick to get out.
[Barrett] That weakened midsection of LA Knight didn't allow him the power
to go for that guillotine on the top row, McIntyre got out of there.
-[Tessitore] Oh! -[Barrett] Don't drop the guard, Drew.
[Tessitore] Slamming his head into the new reinforced announce desk.
And again.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] Well, Drew McIntyre somehow not out cold
after that flurry of assaults, yet… Uh-oh.
[Tessitore] Oh, Solo Sikoa with the Spike on Knight!
[Barrett] The referee's missed the entire thing.
He's dealing with McIntyre in the ring.
[Tessitore] Referee never saw it. Solo Sikoa just Spiked Knight.
[Barrett] Well, there's no love lost between Drew McIntyre and Solo Sikoa.
Quite the history between those two, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
It's been served up on a silver platter for McIntyre to win this.
-[Tessitore] Wait a minute. Unbelievable! -[bell rings]
Damian Priest is here.
His chief rival, just days removed from the Sin City Street Fight,
is attacking McIntyre.
And it puts an end to this number one contender's match.
They're picking up where they left off in Vegas.
[Barrett] Well, McIntyre talked a little too much smack
about Priest earlier tonight.
"I enjoyed embarrassing you in front of the world,"
that's what McIntyre said.
Don't speak too soon, Drew.
[Tessitore] South of Heaven through the announce desk!
-It just exploded! -[crowd cheers]
[Barrett] Well, McIntyre laid out. LA Knight took a Spike in the ring.
I don't know what the official call is on this one,
and I'm not certain we're gonna have an official winner.
[Tessitore] The bell rang. This thing went to pieces.
It went to pieces as Priest…
Jacob Fatu!
The US Champ comes flying and wipes them both out.
[Barrett] The dogs are off the chain, yadadamean?
Jacob Fatu is annihilating everything in sight.
[Barrett] If your legs work, start running.
It's too late for LA Knight.
Just a piece of meat for this savage.
[Tessitore] The Samoan Werewolf.
Taking care of Priest and Knight.
And the running hip attack.
And the smash into the corner.
Well, McIntyre got taken out with the South of Heaven through the table.
-He might of got lucky… -[Tessitore] Jump up Moonsault.
…'cause what's happening in the ring seems far, far worse.
[Tessitore] Look at Fatu.
This is how the title reign begins, with destruction everywhere you look.
[Barrett] How badly do you want to be number one contender?
[Tessitore] The most dangerous man of all.
[Barrett] No, thank you.
[crowd chanting] Fatu, Fatu!
[Tessitore] And that is that.
Fatu!
["Samoan Destroyer" playing]
The remnants of the desk, the chokeslam,
McIntyre was put through it.
But in the end, it's the new US Champion
who stands with his belt, as he would say,
"Yadadamean, boys, take that."
[Tessitore] An absolute wild night here in Fort Worth for SmackDown.
We saw the debut of Fraxiom come up with the win against Los Garza.
Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill
were interrupted with absolute disruption in the women's division
from Nia Jax and Naomi.
The shocker of the night, Zelina Vega with the victory,
and she is your new United States Champion.
Hitting the Code Red against Chelsea Green.
You know what happened with McIntyre and Knight here in front of us.
And the big news of the night.
It is coming your way
May 10th.
Backlash, it's official.
Randy Orton, John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
[Barrett] What a bloody mess, Joe Tess.
This is what happens when the dogs come off the chain.
Drew McIntyre's carcass thrown through this table by Damian Priest,
and things got a lot more ugly after that.
[Tessitore] We are commercial free.
Still to come tonight,
TLC Triple Threat for the tag team championships.
To think, how do you possibly top this?
Well, the alliance of two men got everybody talking.
Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman.
[Rollins] I am a revolutionary. I am a visionary.
I stole CM Punk's best friend.
I took a wise man from Roman Reigns.
Look!
[Rollins] I am the winner of the main event of WrestleMania.
I am…
[Heyman] There is a new number one
top star in this industry.
[Cole] Bron Breakker!
Oh, my God!
Drag him in here.
The future of this business runs through me.
[crowd cheers]
[R-Truth] John! John!
Dawg, I'm glad you won the championship.
I've been rooting for my hero from the beginning.
I always root for you.
If you need me at anytime, give me a call.
Truth.
When did John Cena become so whack?
Dawg, there's two sides to every story, Uce.
That's a real world champion.
Someday when I grow up, I'm gonna be just like him.
You're already grown up though.
[Tessitore] John Cena accepted Randy Orton's challenge.
They are going to meet up in St. Louis in 15 days.
It is Backlash, Orton and Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
As again the RKO was delivered by Orton earlier tonight on Cena.
[Barrett] Now earlier this evening, The Miz talked a little smack
and he got Black Mass by the shocking return of one Aleister Black.
Well, those two are gonna go head-to-head
live on SmackDown from Des Moines, Iowa.
[bell rings]
The following contest is a tables,
ladders, and chairs, Triple Threat match,
and it's for
the WWE Tag Team Championship.
[crowd cheers]
["Raise Your Fist" playing]
♪ Raise your fist ♪
[Nash] Introducing first, with a combined weight of 412 pounds,
Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin,
Motors City Machine Guns!
[Tessitore] Wade, there was a good chance that the Motor City Machine Guns
could have been celebrating in Vegas last week with championship titles,
but a DQ ended up being the result in that match
and now the task gets much harder here with TLC.
["It's Our Moment" playing]
[Nash] And their opponents, with a combined weight of 407 pounds,
Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano,
DIY!
[Tessitore] Gargano and Ciampa, the former champs,
who were defeated in a number one contender's match back on April 4th,
and they were so upset by the circumstances surrounding it
that they ended up completely hijacking the championship match we had last week.
They felt that should have been their opportunity.
Well, now here's a chance at redeeming it all and remedying things
for the two-time WWE Tag Team Champions.
["We Want Smoke" playing]
♪ Meet us here right in the middle ♪
♪ We comin' and poppin' it off ♪
♪ Tonight is the night we deliver ♪
♪ And no we not takin no losses ♪
♪ See mano to mano we bigger… ♪
[Nash] And their opponents with a combined weight of 492 pounds,
they are the WWE Tag Team Champions,
Angelo Dawkins, Montez Ford,
The Street Profits!
[Tessitore] This will be their third title defense
in the midst of their second reign as champions.
They're on a six-match winning streak.
Their last loss actually came in a Triple Threat tag team match against DIY.
That was back on October 18th.
Pretty Deadly was also in that match, but this just feels very different,
not just because of all the drama
that's been happening in the division between these six men.
But this is tables, ladders, and chairs. This is history.
This is violence.
This is knowing exactly what you're stepping into,
and the line that must be crossed to accomplish the task.
As the tag team championships hang up high.
[Barrett] And I'll tell you right now, Joe,
these are three angry tag teams
who clearly didn't make the WrestleMania card,
they've all got a point to prove tonight.
Hey, WrestleMania 41. Hey, management. This is what you could have had.
-[bell rings] -[Tessitore] I like that.
I like the hunger among these six men, as they all look up and say,
"There's the prize, now let's go and get it."
[Barrett] Yeah, that's exactly how it should be.
Make your point this evening, I'll say right now with the experience level,
the caliber of these teams, the motivation, and of course the stakes.
This match has the potential to top anything we saw all weekend
at WrestleMania 41.
[Tessitore] Now quickly going right to the ladder is DIY.
Oh, and the kick right through the ladder
comes from the Motor City Machine Guns.
And now the Motor City Machine Guns and Street Profits square off, Wade.
[Barrett] I've got to tell you right now, right off the bat,
I will call the Motor City Machine Guns the favorite for this one,
purely because of their cruiserweight style that they've made their own.
They really are the innovators of that style,
it really behooves you to be masters of that,
that speed, that motion, to get to the top of those ladders
as quickly as possible.
[Tessitore] And this is exactly what you're talking about
when it comes to the style of Motor City Machine Guns
as they go on the crisscross running attack.
And now the teamwork coming into play as they go for their signature facial
and they deliver it to Ciampa.
[Barrett] Yeah, dropping their heavyweight stuff right off the bat
are the Motor City Machine Guns.
Now they are a duo who have been screwed left, right and center.
There must have been four or five championship opportunities
-that have gone begging-- -[Tessitore] Oh, man!
Oh, he went for the five-hole dive,
but instead Gargano was there with the steel chair.
[Barrett] Playing tennis with people's heads.
Oh, and the steel chair right to the gut of Tez.
-Oh, man, oh, man. -[Barrett] We've only just fixed this.
-Oh, my God. -[Tessitore] Whoa!
Dawkins just pounced on Tommaso Ciampa and now he's got Gargano up.
-[thuds] -[Tessitore] Oh, look at the brutality!
Did you hear the thud of Johnny's head into the post?
[Barrett] Forehead against steel,
driven by one of the most powerful men on the roster, Angelo Dawkins.
And that just speaks to the power game of the Street Profits
who have come back re-energized, refocused.
[Tessitore] I mean, Wade, look at this right here.
I mean, Dawkins got clear sailing to retain the championships.
-[Barrett] I mean it could be a cakewalk. -This is going to be easy for Dawkins.
[Barrett] I think Johnny Gargano and Ciampa are out cold.
And thankfully, for the Motor City Machine Guns,
Chris Sabin is there to try and slow things down.
[Tessitore] Sabin came out of left field when Dawkins was all alone,
and now Shelley is in there as well, and getting hold of that left leg
and putting it through the slot of the ladder
and then cranking it with the dragon screw
right against the ladder as the championships hang high.
[Barrett] Well, that is how you shred an ACL.
And this thing has got so ugly right from the word go.
[Tessitore] And now Motor City Machine Guns.
Motor City Machine Guns are in there.
As Gargano comes down and is able to take care of Alex Shelley.
[Barrett] Motor City Machine Guns taking out those months of frustrations on DIY,
who have made their lives a misery.
At times, I'm sure the Machine Guns regretted coming anywhere near WWE.
They've had long successful careers, but they've never faced
the kind of adversity they have faced here on Smackdown
in the last three or four months.
[Tessitore] This has just been nonstop, full throttle.
Tables, ladders, and chairs
for the WWE Tag Team Championships that hang high right now.
All these teams have tasted gold in their lifetime in WWE,
but it is the Street Profits that have been the most dominant recently,
as this is how they try to put forth their third title defense.
As the ladder comes crashing down on Tez.
[Barrett] Just when we thought…
Oh, the heavyweight slugger, Dawkins, is back up.
Just when we thought we finally got some consistency,
some order in the tag ranks,
DIY blew that out of the window and we're back to the chaos we had for months.
[Tessitore] And now the 360 splash corner to corner
by big Angelo Dawkins.
-He has the power and size advantage. -What the hell are you doing, Dawks?
[Tessitore] Oh, the big man was thinking about going up top and delivering,
but instead he's draped down and in such a compromised position
by Sabin and Shelley.
-[Barrett groaning] Oh. -[Tessitore] Ooh, man.
[Barrett] Don't fancy any of that, thank you.
[Tessitore] No thank you. Oh.
[Barrett] I mean normally it's Tez who goes up top.
Dawkins saw some magic happening there but may live to regret it.
[Tessitore] See Sabin on the outside, he's quick to grab the steel chair.
And the crowd reacts to that, a sell out here in Fort Worth.
Oh, they're lining up the chair!
Oh, and the basement drop kick through the chair,
right to the head, the brutality of this.
[Barrett] Yeah, and I'm kind of getting close to writing Dawkins off
for the rest of this match.
And if Tez wants to win this thing, he may have to do it on his own,
but even that's looking bleak now.
Right up.
[Tessitore] Oh, man! The missile drop kick through the chair.
So both members of the Street Profits have taken damage
from the Motor City Machine Guns.
[Barrett] Oh, what a devastating hit that was,
that chair being dropped kicked into the forehead of Montez Ford.
The damage clearly already done to Dawkins.
The champs looking worse for wear in this one.
We may see a title change the way this is going.
[Tessitore] You would think so.
Ramming that steel chair into the head, just sliding it at full force.
[Barrett] I've seen a lot of tables, ladders and chairs matches.
This is about as vicious as it gets.
-What are you doing? -[Tessitore] No!
Tez with a full corner dive as only he can.
Wipes them all out, flying over his partner Angelo Dawkins.
[Barrett] I'm worried about Alex Shelley's arm here.
[Tessitore] Look at this.
[Barrett] I'd written Montez Ford off for the next few minutes
after that steel chair to the head,
managing to bounce back,
this is that championship caliber that the Street Profits returned
to WWE with several months ago.
[Tessitore] We are so thrilled to be bringing you
this tables, ladders and chairs, triple threat match.
As the Street Profits look to retain,
and they will if Tez can climb that ladder
and secure their championships back.
[Barrett] Referees and medical staff checking over
all the fallen men on the outside.
I guarantee you not one of them is gonna give up
no matter how much pain they're going through.
Not with the gold on the line.
And fingertips touching there from Montez Ford.
[Tessitore] Tommaso Ciampa
and Tez at the top of that ladder, fighting side-by-side
as Johnny Gargano looks to take advantage and go up on his own.
[Barrett] Nothing worse than those tiles swinging away from your grasp,
especially when the ladders aren't quite positioned perfectly,
which is the case here.
You've got to get those things up so quick to get any chance of grabbing the gold.
-Oh, God. -[Tessitore] Are you kidding me?
-[Barrett] Twisting flatliner… -[Tessitore] From that height.
…fifth or the sixth rung.
-Now Tommaso Ciampa is there all alone. -[Tessitore] Look at this!
DIY is gonna win it!
Ciampa's up there on his own!
And just at the last moment, Dawkins…
And a huge, devastating right hand.
That spinning flatliner off of the ladder was absolutely ridiculous.
[Barrett] It's a desperation tactic from Johnny Gargano,
the hope being Ciampa could have grabbed both championships for his team,
but that was denied by Angelo Dawkins coming back from the death.
[Tessitore] And now Dawkins and Johnny side-by-side
as the championships swing overhead.
No, Angelo Dawkins returns the favor.
[Barrett] The silencer that will shut Johnny Gargano up
potentially for the rest of this match,
and may well do the same for the man delivering the move, Angelo Dawkins.
[Tessitore] And now the newly clean shaven Ciampa
looking to get gold here.
Chris Sabin is trying to deny him.
And now all three teams represented as he sends them flying.
[Barrett] Ugly landing, I think Chris Sabin managed to save himself.
Ciampa took a nasty hit to the groin, to the armpit.
And now the Motor City Machine Guns get their chance, no.
[Tessitore] Got that steel chair. That weapon of choice.
And now Tommaso Ciampa.
Oh, right around the neck of Alex Shelley.
Oh, you gotta be kidding me.
Gargano, that was just pure evil, swinging that steel chair
while his neck was wrapped in another.
[Barrett] A Louisville slugger
to that torturous device wrapped around the neck. Oh, God.
[Tessitore] There is no let up in this TLC match.
I couldn't imagine missing and turning away for a single second.
This is outrageous.
Just awesome stuff to determine the tag champions.
You know, you said it earlier tonight, Wade.
A group of men angry and hungry, they were not on the WrestleMania card.
They are proving what they're all about right here.
The tables are set up.
What is Gargano doing?
What is he doing?
He's saying…
Oh, no, no, no, no.
He's saying, "Forget the flat seat part.
Let's go with the pointy tops."
[Barrett] Give us the sharpest point of the chair,
and we're gonna throw a man right on top of it,
and thankfully for Angelo Dawkins,
his tag partner, Montez Ford, saved the day.
[Tessitore] Big right hand.
[Barrett] Oh, God.
[Tessitore] Oh, Johnny takes the pointy tops of the chairs instead.
[Barrett] Falling on his own sword there,
Gargano's spine eating the pointed parts on those steel chairs.
[Tessitore] We have chairs and we have ladders everywhere,
strewn ringside and through.
Watch the top those chairs and the back of Gargano!
[Barrett] Gargano's eyeballs popping out of his head in agony.
[Tessitore] They're going to the outside.
Street Profits, they're saying, "Let's get tables in the act now."
[Barrett] Well, starting to understand them.
You can climb that ladder but be pretty certain that one of these teams
is gonna get up there and stop you.
Do the damage now while you can, you have the upper hand, reinforce it,
add the exclamation point if you can.
[Tessitore] Ciampa's back on his feet and pulls down Big Dawkins,
slams his head on the apron.
There's a super kick.
And in doing that, it puts Ciampa right into the electric chair.
No way, no way.
Blockbuster on to the floor!
I mean, Tez is out of control tonight.
Everybody's laid out. Isn't this the way it should be?
TLC Triple Threat for the tag team championships.
[Barrett] Oh, one of the most sickening moves you could possibly see.
Blockbuster to an elevated man on the outside,
managing to take out all opponents and himself in the process.
[Tessitore] We got bodies everywhere. We got a sell out in Fort Worth.
The SmackDown after Mania.
TLC Triple Threat, championships hanging high,
and yet the warriors are out on the floor
beating the hell out of each other.
-[Barrett] That's a prosthetic leg. -[Tessitore] What? What? What?
[Tessitore] Prosthetic leg as a weapon.
TLCPL, come on.
[Barrett] Little assist from the man in the crowd with one leg. Thanks, brother.
[Tessitore] As Tez now bridges
the ladder.
Can you believe the assist from the front row?
I've never seen anything like it.
[Barrett] Whatever gets the job done.
Unfortunately for the Street Profits, they are laid out once again.
Weapons of war everywhere you look around ringside.
And Alex Shelley, no way to protect himself
from the Sicilian Psychopath with a fresh shave.
New face, same vicious Tommaso Ciampa.
[Tessitore] Dawkins is laid out on that table.
Front row gotta watch their eyes here.
[Tessitore] You start to wonder who has what left.
Everybody has taken damage, who can dig deep at this point in a TLC Triple Threat?
Running his face right into the edge of the table that was on top of the ladder.
[Barrett] This has been the most
appalling, heinous, merciless TLC match, I think, in history.
-[Tessitore] Wade, it is so bad… -[Barrett] And it ain't over yet, Joe.
…but it is so good.
[Barrett] Good for us, certainly not good for the six men in there,
unless they actually end up winning the gold.
Four of these men are gonna be incredibly disappointed.
As they perhaps sit in a hospital bed this evening.
[Tessitore] I mean, how do you possibly wake up the next day after this?
Chris Sabin!
The splash through the table with Dawkins on it!
[Barrett] At some point in a match like this,
somebody has to step in and slow some of these guys down.
[Tessitore] Tez back on his feet.
[Barrett] Protect these guys from themselves.
[Tessitore] Tez has gone flying two times already, including the Blockbuster,
including the corner.
And now does that!
Come on!
How good is this?
We've had two tables go down
with warriors willing to fly through the sky.
[Barrett] Two tables going down, but six bodies going down
again and again and again.
[Tessitore] Street Profits, DIY, and the Motor City Machine Guns
in an absolute instant classic of a TLC Triple Threat for those,
the WWE Tag Team Championships.
The SmackDown after Mania,
and these six men out to prove themselves.
[Barrett] All six men with a competitive psychosis this evening.
Apparently an obsession with going nuclear in that ring
in pursuit of winning the gold,
gold that neither man has got anywhere near for the past few minutes.
They've been so bent on attacking each other.
[Tessitore] It has just been destroying each other.
Nobody's even put a ladder near those belts for many minutes,
as it has been all out brutality of destroying each other.
A big boot by Ciampa.
[Barrett] Weapons of torture hidden behind him. Oh, God.
[Tessitore] Oh, remember that ladder is bridging.
-Oh! -[Barrett] Oh!
[Tessitore] The white noise through the ladder.
That ladder is snapped in half,
and it was Tez and Ciampa who took the pain of it.
[Barrett] Well, this connects right through that ladder.
As you say it's taken so much out of Ciampa.
All he can do is yell to Gargano,
"Do it now, Johnny, win us the gold.
I'm done. I'm toast."
It's all on you, Gargano!
[Tessitore] Gargano's gonna finish it right here.
DIY in position, but no.
Met by the Motor City Machine Guns's Alex Shelley.
[Barrett] And that may have been DIY's greatest moment to win this thing.
And now Gargano's trying to fight off both Shelley and Sabin
and if he can, he will have a clear path.
As Johnny, he's eyeing that table.
[Barrett] Slingshot DDT attempted. Sabin blocked it.
[Tessitore] He was looking for that slingshot DDT,
but instead the combo kicks.
[Barrett] Their own version of a Meeting In The Middle, perhaps,
for the master of that particular move, Johnny Gargano.
[Tessitore] They're not lining up Skull and Bones.
They're not lining up Skull and Bones on top of a table.
What in the world?
[Tessitore screams]
I've seen it all.
-[Barrett] Holy crap. -I've seen it all. I've seen it all.
[Barrett] A move that devastates anyone it connects with.
Hey, add in a table. Add in an extra three- or four-feet drop.
Add in a concrete floor.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Tessitore] Listen to this crowd.
We said earlier tonight, how do you possibly have an encore to WrestleMania 41
and what we saw this weekend?
The all-time classics with Seth and Roman and Punk,
or Iyo and Rhea and Bianca.
You come to a tough town like Fort Worth. You bring tables, ladders, and chairs.
You put six desperate, hungry warriors together,
and you go for gold like DIY is about to do right now!
Moments away from winning it is Ciampa.
Motor City Machine Guns.
Oh, they get rid of the ladder.
He's hanging. He is hanging!
And now the steel chairs.
We got a human piñata in the form of Ciampa.
[Barrett] Well, Ciampa ain't letting go.
He knows this is his one chance to grab the gold.
[Tessitore] Angelo Dawkins is climbing up the ladder,
it's nowhere near the belts,
the powerhouse is to the top of the ladder.
Ciampa's defenseless.
Is he eyeing it? Is there a target on Tommaso?
Midair spear through a table!
Oh, it's too good!
How can you extend yourself and cross this line time and again?
[Barrett] My God, Ciampa.
What the hell did you just do, Dawkins?
Bedlam, disarray, carnage!
[Tessitore] Oh!
And even the Motor City Machine Guns, who sat back and watched that destruction,
could not believe their eyes.
Thank God it wasn't us.
[Tessitore] Motor City Machine Guns have steadied themselves
and they will simply bring the latter into position.
[Barrett] Joe, I don't know how much about this is thinking,
"We've got all the time in the world,"
and how much it is that the bodies simply aren't moving fast enough, but…
[Tessitore] Alex Shelley is getting a free ride as Chris Sabin guards him.
And now Gargano, he throws the chair at the head of Shelley.
[Barrett] Well, just as you write off three opponents,
a fourth one is waiting in the wings.
And Gargano smells victory.
And the higher he climbs, the stronger that smell gets.
[Tessitore] Remember his partner took the midair spear and went through a table.
And now Johnny Gargano is touching one of the belts.
Chris Sabin is there to meet him.
Whichever team removes the championships become the new tag team champions.
Sabin is touching one, Gargano has touched one.
They're trading right hands and left hands, battling atop the ladder.
Everybody on their feet here in Fort Worth,
and it has been like that for the better part of a half an hour of nonstop action.
Whoa, springboards his way to the top.
Oh, Tez. Montez Ford. Ford's got it.
Ford's in position.
Oh, Gargano brings him down.
Oh, that's a very compromised position he's in.
Oh, he is stuck in the ladder. He is stuck in the ladder.
[Barrett] Defenseless.
Bodies laid out. The place is a mess. And Gargano--
[Tessitore] Gargano's climbing right over him, Wade.
And Gargano and DIY…
Oh, Sabin's right back to him with a body shot and a head shot.
And Tez. Tez is climbing the ladder from the inside out.
[Barrett] It's up for grabs now. A three-way battle.
[Tessitore] Smashes their heads.
Street Profits, could it be?
-The only way to retain. -[crowd cheers]
Montez Ford.
How to close it out.
-He's struggling with it but gets it! -[bell rings]
-[crowd cheers] -Oh, that was awesome.
["We Want Smoke" playing]
[Nash] Here are your winners,
and still WWE Tag Team Champions,
the Street Profits!
[Tessitore] Wade, that was the first TLC match
for the tag team titles in nearly five years.
It may take 50 years to come close to what we just saw.
[Barrett] Six men completely unbreakable
in pursuit of the highest prize in the tag game,
they painted their bodies all over this arena,
but it was the gutsy, valiant Street Profits that prevailed
amidst ultimate mayhem.
All six of these men deserved the gold this evening.
Wow, you could not fit a piece of paper between these three teams.
[Tessitore] We had a spinning flatliner off the ladder.
We had a blockbuster to the outside.
We had the frog splash through the tables.
Every which way.
We even had a prosthetic leg from the front row used as a weapon.
Our poor director is trying to get us some replays.
He should just replay the entire damn match.
That was 30 minutes of brilliant,
high risk, and for two men, high reward but for four men…
[Tessitore] I mean, the Skull and Bones, Wade.
The Skull and Bones through a table.
[Barrett] And how does that not win you the match?
How does this…
As Tommaso Ciampa gets speared from about 15 or 16 feet in the air
through a table.
And that was not enough to keep Tommaso Ciampa down for good.
[Tessitore] The midair spear by Dawkins
is just one, one of the highlights.
As good as it gets.
The third defense in their second reign.
42 days they have been tag team champions, and this will be remembered forever.
Springboarding on to the ladder was Tez.
[Barrett] Just six heroic performances.
And just when it looked like Tez had it in the bag,
nah nah.
Johnny Gargano
with a merciless attack.
[Tessitore] Watch this hit and Tez would go on
to survive it and win this match.
[Barrett] Imprisoned within that ladder
but Tez escaped.
Tez scaled the heights, and Tez refused to be denied.
[Tessitore] The Street Profits, the two-time tag team champions.
[Barrett] Six of the most hard-wearing, heavy duty industrial athletes
you will ever witness in any sport.
[Tessitore] The athleticism of Montez Ford and what he was able to do.
Out to the floor, through the table.
The damage that Tommaso Ciampa took tonight,
this man went for it and was willing to pay the price.
They all were, but in the end,
it was Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, Wade,
who found a way.
[Barrett] As hazardous a match as you get
and contrast the elation of the champs
with the physical agony and despair for the four men
who did not make it theirs this evening, through no fault of their own.
The margins between glory and disaster in this game are so close.
I'll take nothing away from these guys.
Trust me, you might feel like it, you are not losers.
That has blown our minds.
[Tessitore] And just pause and think about the last seven days in WWE.
From SmackDown in Vegas through Mania to what you saw at Raw,
and now this.
Congratulations to the Street Profits
in an all-time, all-time classic TLC and the win.
These titles ours. We the best damn tag team here.
What y'all think?
Y'all think it's a game? here.