[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[Tessitore] This is the start of what will be an epic WWE weekend.
We've arrived in Southern California.
That's the spectacular Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Tomorrow, it will host Money in the Bank, a card filled with all-time legends
and rising superstars.
As for now, we're just a couple hours north in Bakersfield,
where so much is to be determined and revealed here on Friday Night SmackDown.
The Dignity Health Arena is packed with a PLE weekend upon us.
There's major overlap from both rosters, and these fans are psyched for it.
The American Nightmare is here in Bakersfield.
Cody Rhodes, he recently returned to confront John Cena
and to even the odds for Jey Uso.
Rhodes and Jey will have their final words tonight with the Undisputed Champion
and Logan Paul the night before the showdown.
Plus, Mami's always on top.
Rhea Ripley is leading the way for an impress attendant display of talent.
She's just one of the women's Money in the Bank competitors here tonight.
Also arriving in Bakersfield is Alexa Bliss.
Can she find the briefcase within her grasp again?
And the rising can't-miss superstar.
Stephanie Vaquer making her way to the SmackDown locker room.
She's wowed us every step of the way so far, but they are not alone.
Every participant in tomorrow's ladder match has decided to come to SmackDown,
so proceed with caution.
Naomi's in town, and she's gonna team up
with the newest member of the women's locker room.
The undeniably talented and dangerous Giulia has arrived.
And rounding out a six-woman tag team match,
the Prodigy, Roxanne Perez.
They're all in the ring the night before they battle it out in Los Angeles.
[crowd cheers]
The menacing forces that have altered the landscape
of Monday Night Raw and now are here on SmackDown.
Seth Rollins has been on a path of a master plan
since his WrestleMania twisted-turn alliance with Paul Heyman,
Bron Breakker, and now Big Bronson Reed.
♪ Burn it down ♪
["The Vision" plays]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd vocalizing "The Vision"]
♪ Burn it down ♪
[Nash] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome,
accompanied by WWE Hall of Famer, the Wiseman Paul Heyman,
Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
[Tessitore] Listen to this roar here in Bakersfield.
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett with you ringside and, Wade,
Seth, in the eyes of many, the main force to be dealt with tomorrow
in the men's Money in the Bank ladder match.
[Barrett] Yeah, massive 24 hours for this man and five others.
Solo Sikoa, El Grande Americano,
Penta, Andrade and of course, LA Knight, yeah!
That is gonna decide the trajectory of one of these men's immediate career.
Who will grab the briefcase in the men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match
streaming live tomorrow on Peacock?
[vocalizing continues]
[crowd cheering, barking]
[crowd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!
Bakersfield.
[crowd cheers]
I am a visionary.
I am a revolutionary.
I am…
-Seth "Freakin" Rollins. -[crowd] Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
And tomorrow night,
I take everything.
[crowd cheers]
When I win the Money in the Bank contract,
I will have absolute power.
I will have total control over this entire industry.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants] OTC! OTC! OTC! OTC!
Yeah, I don't think he can hear you.
He's off on the Island of Irrelevancy
where we put him after WrestleMania.
[crowd boos]
Now, that absolute power,
that total control, that doesn't just extend to Raw, no.
That includes SmackDown as well,
And so we have come here to deliver a message.
Anyone… anyone who stands in our way
will suffer the same fate as anyone who has already stood in our way.
Sami Zayn stood in our way.
He's in the dirt.
CM Punk stood in our way.
Poof, gone.
Roman Reigns…
[crowd chants] OTC! OTC!
…stood in our way,
and he is missing in action.
Roman Reigns is not coming to save you.
Roman Reigns doesn't care about you.
Roman Reigns has never cared about you, but you know who has?
You know who has?
Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[crowd cheers]
And I will drag all of you kicking
and screaming if I have to into the future
because that's what I do. It's what I do.
Not just for me, not just for us, for the entire industry,
and there is nobody… nobody who can stop me.
["Taking It All" plays]
♪ We're taking it all… ♪
[Tessitore] But maybe there's somebody willing to try here on SmackDown.
[Barrett] Raw's power trio, Say hello to SmackDown's power trio.
[Tessitore] Solo Sikoa, the US Champion Jacob Fatu,
and the newest addition to beef up Solo's family interests,
the powerhouse JC Mateo.
[Barrett] But I assure you Solo Sikoa has the exact same intentions
as Seth "Freakin" Rollins does
tomorrow night at Money in the Bank, namely, grabbing that briefcase
and the contract held therein.
[Tessitore] Solo and Seth, less than 24 hours away.
[Barrett] Paul Heyman's looking rather nervous.
So much history between Heyman and Solo Sikoa,
very little of it positive.
[Tessitore] He's got one foot out the back door.
♪ We're taking it all ♪
♪ I am controlling the game You should not step in my lane… ♪
[music fades out]
[crowd chanting] Fatu! Fatu! Fatu!
You said that, uh, if anybody gets in your way,
that you're gonna lay 'em out?
That's right.
And you said that, uh, there's nobody here to stop you?
That's right.
Well, uh, we're standing here right now.
-[Tessitore] Oh! -[crowd cheers]
Is that so?
Well, Seth, by the looks of it, uh, it looks like you got yourself
a little Bloodline here going on, huh?
Who are you supposed to be, right-hand man Jey Uso?
[crowd exclaiming]
[crowd chants] Yeet! Yeet! Yeet!
And you…
Who are you supposed to be, the honorary uce, Sami Zayn?
[crowd exclaiming]
After everything we've been through.
We went to war together at WarGames,
and now you no call, and all of a sudden you show up and team up with this guy?
Oh… [chuckles] …and you got yourself a Wiseman.
Speaking of Wiseman,
long time, no see.
[crowd exclaiming]
Choose your next words very carefully.
All right, let's cut to the chase.
All I know is tomorrow night, I'm climbing the ladder,
I'm grabbing that contract…
and all that power and control that you say you talk about,
it'll all be mines.
[Rollins chuckles] Oh!
I see. Solo, this is your turf. You feel threatened.
You wanna come push back.
Are you threatened because Bron Breakker…
[barks]
[crowd barking]
…is the future of this industry, and you're not?
Are you threatened because Big Bronson Reed
could squish you like a bug at the snap of my fingers?
Uh, you should be threatened, man,
but what you should really be worried about is the fact that…
your own family would rather stab you in the back than have your back.
[crowd exclaiming]
-What's up, Jacob? -[crowd chanting] Fatu! Fatu!
You look like… you look like you wanna say something.
Come on, take the mic from Solo.
You're gonna let Solo talk to you--
Hey, man. Shut up, man! All right, I see what you're trying to do.
-No, no, no. -Shut your mouth, Seth.
It ain't gonna work.
Uh, look, I'm just saying he's the Samoan Werewolf.
I was thinking we could come up with a new nickname for him,
like maybe, uh, Solo's Bitch.
-[crowd exclaiming] -[Tessitore] Oh.
[Rollins chuckles]
No, no, no, no, no, no.
[chuckling] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
In all seriousness, Solo, took a lot of courage,
a lot of guts for you to walk out here and talk to me the way you are.
I gotta be honest with you, you're threatened by us.
I'm threatened just a little bit by one Fatu in this ring,
but it ain't you.
[crowd exclaiming]
[crowd chants] Fatu! Fatu! Fatu! Fatu!
[Tessitore] Oh, they're done with words.
Breakker stepping in.
[crowd barking]
-[crowd cheers] -[Barrett, Tessitore chuckling] Oh!
[crowd boos]
[speaking indistinctly]
Let's go.
[crowd boos]
[Tessitore] Seth calling him off, but Breakker a little hesitant
to break that face-off with Fatu.
[Barrett] Bron Breakker lacks the ability to flinch,
but perhaps smartly ahead of Money in the Bank,
Seth Rollins taking himself and his men out of danger.
["The Vision" playing]
[Tessitore] Tensions were rising about as high as they could go
without coming to blows.
The sight of those two together…
Oh, Jimmy Uso!
He is clearing house!
[Barrett] Well, waiting for that distraction,
Jimmy Uso, who has had major problems
with Solo Sikoa's crew of late,
striking at exactly the right moment.
[Tessitore] Big Brother Jimmy Uso is here. What a way to start the weekend.
And we got Jimmy Uso against JC Mateo next.
[clamoring]
[Tessitore] We are underway here in Bakersfield,
the sold-out Dignity Health Arena
as we start the evening with Jimmy Uso facing off with JC Mateo,
the former Olympian, the new powerhouse to the SmackDown roster.
[Barrett] Well, Jimmy Uso last week prevented Mateo and crew
launching a beatdown after Mateo's victory
after many weeks of issues between Jimmy Uso and Solo's crew.
[Tessitore] You go back a few weeks ago to the Money in the Bank qualifier
when Solo Sikoa was able to get past Jimmy Uso and Rey Fénix,
and Jacob Fatu and JC Mateo made their presence felt ringside during that.
And then two weeks ago, a tag team… Crossbody from up top from Big Jim.
Into the cover and the quick kick out by Mateo,
but a couple weeks ago, Mateo and Fatu combined
for the tag team victory over Uso and Fénix.
And it was Solo Sikoa who played a distractive role ringside then.
[Barrett] Well, talking about Money in the Bank qualifiers,
how about Solo and JC inadvertently costing Jacob Fatu
a spot in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match last week.
Major tensions between that trio, although they appear,
for now at least, to have been smoothed over.
[Tessitore] Tomorrow's the day, Money in the Bank
from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Look at that man! Look at that man!
You can still come back, okay? It ain't too late, Jimmy.
-[Tessitore] And you hear Solo. -All you gotta do is come back.
You want to get your ass kicked, get your ass kicked.
[Tessitore] Once again saying, "You can still come back,"
as Jimmy's been constantly rejecting, Wade,
the recruitment by his little brother.
[Barrett] Well, I'll tell you right now, inarguably, Jimmy Uso to me
has been floundering of late.
He's been lacking career direction.
It may be distasteful to him to re-link up with little brother Solo Sikoa.
However, it must be a tempting offer.
Your opportunity to get back to the very top of the card with this group.
Solo is handing olive branch after olive branch, and as yet,
falling on deaf ears.
[Tessitore] And you and I got to spend some time with Jimmy earlier today,
and I'm sure you feel the way I do that he's not bashful about expressing that
and understanding the realities of where he is in his career are.
[Barrett] He knows full well. Look, this is a guy, Jimmy Uso,
who is one half of the greatest tag team of all time.
A WrestleMania main eventer,
and lately he's been just grabbing random opportunities,
tagging up with random people,
whoever it is to try and get a little traction in his career,
and very little to me has been working at the level
most of us expect from Jimmy Uso.
[Tessitore] And meanwhile in there against this powerful, strong,
compact, explosive JC Mateo.
[Barrett] And it's just been too easy so far for JC Mateo
who, yes, is big, strong and powerful,
but really it's the distractions on the outside that have given JC Mateo
repeated opportunities to dominate this, but of course Jimmy now
attempting to turn things around.
[Tessitore] Yeah, smart to get out of the way, lands the uppercut,
and now he's got him lined up.
Big Jim!
[Barrett] Big Jim going for broke.
It's highly effective, but you're gonna be concerned
about the proximity to Fatu and Solo Sikoa.
[Solo] What are you doing?
Come back, we're brothers, man. Hey!
Me and you!
We the ones!
[Tessitore] Cajoling on one side and that dangerous stare of Fatu on the other.
[Barrett] Fatu's just a constant threat. I don't care what Solo Sikoa says.
Jacob Fatu is not a controllable human being.
[Tessitore] Look at that. For a man with the body type and size of Mateo
to get up and land that dropkick.
[Tessitore] Jimmy Uso looking to rally here against JC Mateo
the night before Money in the Bank,
the Money in the Bank competition that Jimmy was hoping to be in,
but it was JC Mateo and Jacob Fatu who helped Solo Sikoa earn that spot.
The athleticism of JC Mateo. For his size, you just marvel, Wade.
[Barrett] Yeah, shows you the power, the explosivity
that JC Mateo holds in those boots.
A guy this big, a guy this wide, should never be allowed
to pull off a move like that.
That was Simone Biles-esque and devastating.
Are you done? JC, kick his ass. He's not done yet.
[Tessitore] Time and time again throughout this match,
throughout recent weeks, Solo Sikoa has made the offer.
"Jim, you can come back. Do you want to come back?
Do you want to join up?"
Time and time again, the offer's been rejected,
and thus, the punishment continues.
[Barrett] This does not appear to be about beating Jimmy Uso tonight.
It appears to be about torturing Jimmy Uso to convince him to re-enter Solo's group.
[Tessitore] Oh, Big Jim! Samoan Drop!
[Barrett] Wow, that is a lot of power still left inside Big Jim Uso.
[crowd clapping]
[Tessitore] Was that enough to create the opening?
[Barrett] Create some distance. That's the first part of it for Big Jim.
Now tapping into this energy from this loyal band of supporters
here in Bakersfield, California.
[Tessitore] Right uppercut.
Trying to come back is Mateo.
Uso trying to get him up again for that Samoan Drop, but instead gets caught.
[Barrett] Little too big is JC Mateo.
Still on his feet. That is astounding from the big man.
[Tessitore] It really is. Reminds us of somebody ringside, doesn't it?
Big chop from Uso.
[Barrett] Just absorbing punishment and staying in the fight.
[Tessitore] And this time Mateo comes in and eats a big elbow.
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Jimmy gets the best of it!
And the kick out at two.
[Barrett] Yeah, this deep into a matchup, this beat up, this exhausted,
pulling out that Uso in the Wind and connecting with JC Mateo.
Just goes to show you, you cannot write Big Jim Uso off.
[Tessitore] Great scene here, a sold-out Dignity Health Arena.
The start of what should be an epic weekend here in Southern California.
Worlds Collide, Money in the Bank tomorrow in LA.
Mateo just catches him.
Jimmy trying to break free.
It has been a tough battle for him from the start.
[Barrett] Capable of generating so much torque, so much momentum.
[Tessitore] Looking to finish it here.
Barely, and I mean barely getting that right shoulder up.
We're all right. We're okay. You hear me? We're all right. We're good. We're good.
[Barrett] Still playing the diplomat on the outside to Jacob Fatu is Solo Sikoa.
Burning a hole right through, I don't know if it's Jimmy Uso or JC Mateo.
[Tessitore] Super kick right under the chin and another.
The big man's wobbling.
Spear!
Great opportunity for Big Jim.
[Barrett] Got a lot of distance he needs to cover, though.
We all know what he's going for.
So does Solo Sikoa.
[Tessitore] Of course he does, and that's exactly why he's on the apron,
and so is Fatu.
As he's squared up with Jacob now.
[Barrett] Whoa!
[Tessitore] Oh, a roll up! A roll up!
-[bell rings] -["Born A King" plays]
[Nash] Here is your winner,
Jimmy Uso!
[Tessitore] Well, that didn't go as planned between JC and Jacob, did it?
[Barrett] Well, quick thinking Jimmy Uso pulls out the win,
but that collision between Mateo and Jacob Fatu--
-You cost me that! You! -[Tessitore] Oh.
[Tessitore] The discord between the two big men.
[Barrett] And once again, Solo Sikoa needs to pull out some major diplomacy
before these two explode at each other.
Hey, you're the problem. He's the problem.
He's the problem, not me!
He's the problem.
[Tessitore] "He's the problem, not me," says JC.
They were brawling to the end of SmackDown a week ago.
Now, just one more sleep until they have the much-anticipated tag team match.
Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso opposite John Cena and Logan Paul.
The final words before Money in the Bank coming up later tonight.
[crowd cheers]
Ah, Giulia. [chuckles]
You have made your intentions very clear last week.
Okay, but allow me to make something very clear to you.
Okay, I have worked my ass off to get this,
and if you want a shot at the Women's United States Championship,
you are gonna have to pry it for my lifeless body
because I am not giving this up willingly.
[both speak Japanese]
-[chuckles] -I like you.
You are confident.
[both chuckling]
[speaks Japanese]
[sighs]
♪ Pledge your allegiance… ♪
[Tessitore] The US Champion.
["Hot Mess" plays]
[bell rings]
[Nash] The following contest is a Bakersfield Brawl
scheduled for one fall.
There are no count outs, no disqualifications.
The only way to win is by pinfall or submission.
Introducing first,
accompanied by Alba Fyre and Chelsea Green,
representing the Secret Hervice,
Piper Niven!
[Tessitore] A Bakersfield Brawl next. Zelina Vega, Piper Niven when we return.
[crowd cheers]
It's tough working with family, right?
What you going through, I've been there, and I don't envy it.
But regardless of your situation, man-to-man, face-to-face,
I want you to know, at some point,
I'm coming for the US Championship.
Okay. Well, line it up all the way then, Wepa.
'Cause if you don't take care of your business when it comes to me,
then you back of the line with it just like the rest of these suckers.
Yadadamean?
[Tessitore] I yada-you-mean. You yada-you-mean?
-[Barrett] I "yadadadada" mean. -[Tessitore] I yadadamean.
Piper Niven is set for Zelina Vega.
♪ I'ma hot mess, whoa ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ I am a powerful entity ♪
♪ Look in the crowd And they feeling me… ♪
[Tessitore] You can feel it in the air here in California.
Money in the Bank weekend has arrived.
["The Visual" plays]
[Nash] And her opponent from Queens, New York,
she is the Women's United States Champion,
Zelina Vega!
[Tessitore] She has been that US Champ for 42 days,
and it has been a great display of gritty performances
and constantly countering bigger opponents,
surprising rivals, coming up with comeback wins.
Forty-two days with the title,
most recently defeating Alba Fyre a week ago, retaining against Chelsea.
That was when she broke her nose at Saturday Night's Main Event.
[Barrett] Yeah, some great stats for Zelina Vega in recent weeks,
but this is a Bakersfield Brawl, and the odds massively go in the favor
-of the powerhouse Piper Niven right now. -[bell rings]
It all comes crashing down for Zelina Vega tonight.
[Tessitore] Of course, Piper knows Zelina very well in what she's dealing with.
She's been on a tear against Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice.
In fact, she's won seven of her last eight, and four of six
have come against Chelsea Green.
[Barrett] Well, I gotta be honest with you.
I saw the entrance of Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice.
You've got the nose mask for Chelsea's broken nose.
You had Piper Niven coming out in highly unprofessional sunglasses,
and then you've got the tie of Alba Fyre which is incredibly loose,
and I've got to tell you, it looks to me like the Secret Hervice
are just crashing out at the moment,
thanks to the success of Vega.
[Tessitore] Oh, the kendo!
[Barrett] This Vega is so slippery, always has a trick up her sleeve
and is, week-by-week, humiliating the likes of Piper Niven
and the Secret Hervice.
[Tessitore] Remember Street Fight rules here in a Bakersfield Brawl.
No DQs. No count outs. They're going at it here.
Zelina and Piper.
[Barrett] Yeah, do whatever you like. It's all perfectly legal.
But like I say, now the tables have turned.
Things are heavily in the favor of Piper Niven,
who should be teaching Vega a lesson here, but once again…
[Tessitore] Back to the kendo, then she dismisses it
and just gets to business against Piper.
Piper, able to break free and kick out and then roll out.
[Barrett groans] This Secret Hervice, they must rue the day
they ever decided to tussle with Zelina Vega,
-who has made their lives a misery. -[Green] No, we don't!
[crowd chanting] We want tables!
[Tessitore] Vega coming through with a kick between the ropes.
Now, on the apron, winds her up and stomps right on her back.
[Barrett] It's been the story of the last six or seven weeks here on SmackDown
and on PLEs.
Zelina Vega is just one step ahead of Chelsea Green's crew.
Week after week after week.
She was looking for the hurricanrana, but instead,
Piper able to get the best of her.
Up on her shoulders and then slams her head down
on the hard edge of the apron.
[Barrett] Well, that could break a jaw, that could scramble the brains,
and it can certainly break a nose, and it's all fair game.
-[Barrett] Oh! -[Tessitore] Oh, boy.
[Barrett] Basement crossbody completely shaking the ring.
It's dominance here for the Secret Hervice.
[Green] What are you all sitting on your asses for?
[Tessitore] A great familiarity between these rivals.
Zelina Vega and Piper Niven, but different circumstances with the match style.
This is a Bakersfield Brawl.
This is Street Fight rules,
and Piper Niven has the chain wrapped around her right fist,
and she's looking to choke Zelina Vega with it
who's trying to hold on, Wade.
[Barrett] And this is my favorite moment.
You've got a referee in there who wants to jump in,
but there's nothing he can do.
It's all legal,
and Zelina Vega is gonna have a scar for a smile after this.
Look like the Joker from The Dark Knight.
[Tessitore] Look at the pressure that is being applied by Piper Niven.
[Barrett] And look at the pain in the eyes of Zelina Vega. Ooh!
[Tessitore] Oh, and then knees her right in the back
and smashes her head on that turnbuckle.
[Barrett] May have lost a couple of teeth in the process there.
Take another look at this.
Face first, avec the chain into that turnbuckle
and Zelina Vega incredibly concerned about her dental work right now.
Well, there's no respite, Zelina. You earned this.
[Tessitore] Piper has set up that steel chair a few times.
Once between the turnbuckles. Another in the corner.
There's been several collisions from Vega,
and this one might be the best of the bunch.
[Tessitore] Oh, the counter! She's able to counter with the DDT.
Scrappy Zelina Vega, but Piper Niven rolls out.
[Barrett] Well, Piper Niven has no clue where she's at,
but somehow instinct kicked in, and she got out of trouble for now.
Take another look at this. The salute…
gave that slight beat of an opportunity for Zelina Vega to turn it into a DDT
and seize the momentum once again.
[Tessitore] Oh, goes up top! The moonsault takes them all out!
Chelsea and the Secret Hervice,
and she gives a big right hand to Alba Fyre,
Alba Fyre, who she recently defeated.
[Barrett] I felt that was a little unnecessary.
A cheap shot at Alba Fyre,
but right now it's all about Zelina Vega going skyward.
Oh, nice and simple.
A bear paw to the jaw of Vega. A giant slap.
There's nothing pretty, but it is highly effective.
And talking about highly effective, where the hell are we going here?
[Tessitore] Piper's climbing right up there with Vega.
Piper Niven looking for the superplex,
but fighting back with body shot after body shot
and then the headbutt is the diminutive Zelina Vega.
[Barrett] I don't like the look of this at all, Joe Tess.
I know what Vega's going for.
[Tessitore] Super Code Red, could it be, Wade?
[Barrett] Oh, no. Off the second rope!
[Tessitore] Are you kidding me?
[Barrett screams] Ah!
[Tessitore] Into the cover. Lateral press.
Oh, and Alba Fyre comes into the ring, and now Chelsea Green gets involved
and is beating down her chief rival who took the title from her.
[Barrett] Oh, wait, there's no bell. There's no disqualification.
You know why, Joe Tess?
-It's a Bakersfield Brawl. -[Tessitore] It's a Bakersfield Brawl.
[Barrett] And it's the best call in the history of Nick Aldis.
[Tessitore] Street Fight rules, and it is over delivering.
[Barrett] Chelsea Green and her Secret Hervice over deliver
every time they're on TV, Joe Tess.
I'm glad you've finally come around.
[Tessitore] You can see they're bringing a table into the ring
as Niven slams down, sit out onto the floor.
[Barrett] I mean, you can throw Vega into the ring now, get an easy pin,
but it's not just about the win tonight.
It's about making a statement.
It's about making an example of someone
who has humiliated Chelsea Green's Secret Hervice week after week.
[Tessitore] Now, the numbers game has proven to be too much right now.
[Barrett] The numbers game, the power game, the intensity.
[Barrett] Zelina Vega made her bed, and now she is gonna lie in it.
[Tessitore] The United States Champion.
Forty-two days with that title.
[Barrett] We're about to witness some grievous bodily harm…
[Tessitore] Oh, no.
…from the mean, the moody, the magnificent Piper Niven.
[Tessitore] Piper's looking to come to-- Oh! Giulia is here!
-Giulia evens things up! -[Barrett] What the hell is Giulia doing?
[Tessitore] Giulia, who will be in the Women's Money in the Bank.
-And look at Vega! -[Barrett] Oh, no.
[Tessitore] Back on her feet, and Giulia's got a kendo stick in hand.
-[Barrett screams] Ah! -[Tessitore] Oh, wow!
-[Barrett] Stop it! -[Tessitore] Just in time!
My, oh, my!
["The Visual" playing]
[Nash] Here is your winner,
Zelina Vega!
[Barrett] Well, Giulia, who's made it quite clear
she wants a piece of Zelina Vega and the United States title,
giving a massive assist to the United States Champion
who once again has humiliated the Secret Hervice for what,
eight weeks in a row.
[Tessitore] Well, thank goodness for Giulia
to come in when the numbers game was going so south against Zelina Vega.
As she raises her hand in appreciation.
Tomorrow, you'll see her in women's--
Whoa! What is she doing?
What was that all about?
[Barrett] Oh!
Giulia, highly protective over who gets to beat up Zelina Vega,
it would seem.
"That US title is mine."
[Tessitore] Title in hand and stepping right on her.
The former NXT Champion,
the night before she makes her PLE debut, letting it be known what she is targeting.
And Giulia of course will be in six-woman tag here on SmackDown
later on this evening.
Perhaps that was a little warm up for her.
["Time of Arrival" playing]
[Tessitore] What a scene here in Bakersfield.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] Yeet! Yeet! Yeet!
-My boy. -[crowd cheering]
So, are you okay?
-I'm good, man. -You good?
Little banged up from Monday, but ain't nothing I can't handle.
-You good? -I'm good.
Good, man. You look good.
-Uce. -What's up with it?
-You straight? -Yeah, I'm straight.
Yeah, I'm good. Why everybody keep asking me that?
Whoa, chill, man. You got a match tomorrow.
Big title match on Monday.
We just wanna make sure the yeet man ready to yeet when it's time to yeet.
I'm good, uce. I'm a champion now.
That's what champs do, uce. Answer the play, run the call.
But look, though, only thing we gotta worry about
is what John Cena and Logan Paul have to say tonight.
[Rhodes] Mmm.
Other than that, worry about tomorrow tomorrow.
-Yeet. -Yeet.
-[crowd] Yeet! -Yeet.
No. I can't let it go.
Initially, I had convinced myself that someone of your standing,
somebody who is so loved by the WWE Universe
using the Black Mass…
using the Black Mass was almost respectful,
and in a weird way, I still respect it, but the longer I think about it,
the more I think that you…
you… you… you… you stole something from me.
And that does not sit well with me.
See, it's funny what the human mind can do.
But now I wanna take away
all this security that you had in that match.
No Shinsuke Nakamura. No relaxed rules.
Just you and me.
And none of all the shadows that were there, and I'll drag you into light.
Now let's see what's left of you.
But if you beat me, LA Knight,
I will look you in the eyes.
I will shake your hand,
and I will admit defeat.
[Tessitore] When we come back, it is revenge time for Aleister Black.
Thought he had it done to make it to Money in the Bank.
Now he faces the guy who took that spot, LA Knight.
[Barrett] Yeah!
-["Welcome to LA" plays] -[crowd cheers]
[bell rings]
[Nash] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Los Angeles, California,
weighing in at 240 pounds,
-LA Knight! -[crowd] Yeah!
[Tessitore] I mean, Bakersfield is loving this.
I can't even imagine tomorrow when LA Knight is actually in LA,
what the reception's gonna be like.
[Barrett] Well, I think I've already sweat out half of my body weight
here in Bakersfield. It's so hot.
And LA Knight has just sent this place into meltdown.
Can somebody crank the air conditioning?
-[crowd] Yeah! -[Barrett] Yeah, I agree.
The Megastar got a massive 24 hours ahead of him, as have many other superstars,
looking to take his career to the very top level.
[crowd chanting] LA Knight!
-Let me talk to you. -[crowd] Yeah!
It's that time of the year again.
-Yeah. -[crowd] Yeah.
-It's Money in the Bank season. -[crowd] Yeah.
Now I think about it, and you do a little bit of math here.
-Yeah. -[crowd] Yeah.
This is my third year in a row being in Money in the Bank.
[crowd] Yeah.
[crowd member] Third time's a charm, baby!
What's that, sir? You said third time's a charm?
[crowd] Yeah!
What do you think? Third time's a charm?
-[crowd] Yeah! -Yeah!
[crowd] Yeah!
But I ain't, uh…
I'm not satisfied with that.
I'm not happy with that because I look at five guys running out here.
-You got Penta. -[crowd cheers]
All right, we like him a little bit.
We know he's gonna do everything under the sun
to try and reach up and grab that case.
-We got Andrade. -[crowd cheers]
Okay, we like him a little bit too.
Another guy who's gonna do every possible thing that he can to get up there
because of course he's in Money in the Bank.
Everybody in Money in the Bank is going to do every single thing they can do,
but these guys are gonna take it to another level.
But after I get to those two guys,
two guys that maybe we can respect a little bit,
then we get to the goon side of things.
Then we get to, uh,
we get to, uh, El Grande Americano Gable.
[crowd cheers, boos]
Well, that was a mixed reaction. We like him or we don't?
[crowd boos]
Dummy number two, Solo.
[crowd boos]
I had a feeling that'd be a bad bit. I feel the same way if I'm honest.
And look, Solo, we've done this a million times.
I can drop you on your head one more time,
climb the ladder and take that case, no problem.
But then I think about dummy number three.
I think about a man that I haven't had a whole lot of interaction with.
I think about a guy who's recently got himself a little bit crewed up.
He's got a couple of guys running around with him
and I'm talking about Seth Rollins.
Seth's been here. He's done that.
He's had that case.
He's been the champion, as a matter of fact,
he's gonna want to come in tomorrow and he's gonna wanna burn it down.
But, Seth, what you got to understand,
is there's nothing hotter than an LA Knight
with LA Knight in LA tomorrow night, yeah.
[crowd] Yeah!
And what that means is you ain't gonna be burning a damn thing down
'cause you're gonna get burned by this man, yeah.
[crowd] Yeah!
But before we get there, I gotta think about tonight.
And tonight, well, Aleister Black,
he… he had a shot.
And I understand, I understand. Look, this is a big deal here.
Money in the Bank is a big deal.
Money in the Bank can make careers. It can break careers.
So I understand why your feelings got hurt at the fact that I went ahead
and "stole the pin from you."
My man, it's a three-way match.
I did what I had to do and I got the job done.
If you got a problem with that, if that hurt your feelings,
I'm sorry for you, but now what you did is you set yourself up
to get your feelings hurt one more time, yeah.
[crowd] Yeah!
And you will know coming into LA, coming into California,
well, we're in Bakersfield tonight, he ain't gonna be in LA.
He's gonna be sitting on the couch.
He's gonna be sitting on the couch
watching this man showing everybody whose game this is.
With everybody saying…
-[crowd] LA Knight, yeah! -Yeah!
[crowd cheers]
["Root of All Evil" plays]
♪ Oh yeah ♪
♪ 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… ♪
[Tessitore] Been a fascinating return to WWE for Aleister Black.
This will be his fifth match since coming back over a month ago.
Coming off a lone loss on SmackDown in his entire career,
and now he faces the man who took that triple-threat win from him,
or as Knight just said moments ago, "I did what I had to do."
[Barrett] Aleister Black feels like that victory and qualification
for Money in the Bank was stolen from him.
[Tessitore] It's Black against LA Knight.
[Barrett] Yeah!
♪ No man is every truly evil ♪
♪ I do the things you never could ♪
[Tessitore] Joe and Wade with you here from the sold out Dignity Health Arena.
LA Knight and Aleister Black see each other again after a few weeks ago
when they were in the Money in the Bank triple-threat qualifier
that Aleister Black put himself in great position to win
with his offensive assault against Shinsuke Nakamura.
Then LA Knight, just when Aleister Black thought he could put it away,
LA Knight came in the ring, tossed Black, made the cover, got the win,
earned his way to what will be the men's Money in the Bank ladder match.
Tomorrow just down the road in LA.
Back and forth they go.
[Barrett] Yeah, for me, I completely disagree
with the perspective of Aleister Black.
I get the frustration…
Went for that Black Mass there, but LA Knight simply too wise for it.
And that implication that somehow Knight stole the victory and qualification
to the Money in the Bank ladder match has not sat well at all with The Megastar,
who tonight is looking to extinguish all doubt by putting Black down.
[Tessitore] He said, "Hey, listen, it's a triple-threat.
I was doing what I had to do.
[Barrett] Just the nature of it,
you don't have a divine right to a victory or a pin
just because you hit the move that kept an opponent down.
[Tessitore] You brought up the fact though,
the concern of taking on a match like this and this matchup of skills…
Round and round they go.
…the night before you compete in Money in the Bank,
but that's who LA Knight is, his 24th match now of this calendar year.
That's the most in WWE this year, Wade.
[Barrett] Yeah, add up cumulative minutes of in-ring competition in 2025.
I'm willing to bet that LA Knight is at the front of the pack,
and it's admirable, yes, but it has consequences,
and I'll tell you right now, Joe Tess, burning the candle at both ends
is not a good long term strategy for anybody.
There is a price to pay in the form of fatigue.
[Tessitore] By the way, we cite the 24 matches.
He has 13 wins this calendar year. That's the second most total wins in WWE.
Stephanie Vaquer has 14.
Stephanie Vaquer who we'll see later tonight,
who we'll see tomorrow.
The women's Money in the Bank ladder match.
It's a fascinating group that's put together.
Those six women going for the briefcase.
[Barrett] Well, all those victories you've just mentioned about LA Knight
will pale in comparison
to the one he could pull off tomorrow night in Los Angeles,
-if he grabs the briefcase… -[Tessitore] Hooks the leg.
…and the contract there in.
An almost surefire guarantee, that in the not too distant future,
you will be acquiring gold the easy way.
[crowd chanting] LA Knight!
[Barrett] I'll tell you right now, this really has been a back and forth affair.
We know the mind games, the psychology of Aleister Black
often unravels opponents.
I'd say, The Megastar ego of LA Knight is perhaps impenetrable
to those mind games of Aleister Black,
-at least they have looked that way-- -[Tessitore] Oh!
[Tessitore] He went for the DDT, but instead gets put down.
-And then the kick to the face from LA. -[Barrett] Oh!
Yeah, well, if the mind games aren't working,
-the physical ones certainly are. -[Tessitore] Oh, man.
[Barrett] No backing down by LA Knight here.
[Tessitore] Quickly able to kick out is Aleister Black.
[Barrett] I love the offense of Aleister Black,
he's so quick, amazing reflexes,
and then, of course, those Muay Thai strikes
that practically nobody in the locker room has any form of defense for.
It's not our game here in a wrestling ring,
and that's what makes Aleister Black so dangerous.
[Tessitore] Oh, the jawbreaker from Black.
And Knight quick to counter, went for that elbow,
that was parried.
[Barrett] And back on those strikes again is Aleister Black. Oh!
[Tessitore] Back in control is Black. Hooks the leg looking for the win here.
[Barrett] And it's like boxing, Joe, you're the expert at that.
But every time LA Knight throws a block,
it's opened up a different part of the body,
and instinctively, Aleister Black knows how to strike.
You know what? Block your kidney, I'll hit you in the jaw with a knee.
[Tessitore] Yep, he has that kickboxing Muay Thai pedigree, the striking ability,
powerful, accurate,
but he knows where to find those spots.
[Barrett] And there's no professional wrestling school
on planet Earth that is teaching that.
You have to go to these world-class kickboxing gyms
-that Aleister Black prowls… -[Tessitore] Lateral press.
…training with world champions.
And simply nobody has found an answer to it yet here on Smackdown.
[Tessitore] That's exactly what you're talking about right there,
as Black with the leg sweep,
and then the sliding knee comes in.
[Barrett] And at this point, if you're LA Knight,
-you're begging somebody to-- -[Tessitore] Oh!
[Barrett] God, oh, God!
[Tessitore] He was going for that springboard moonsault,
and instead they're both out on the floor after the clothesline.
[Tessitore] Tomorrow afternoon in LA.
As you see Black rolling through. As LA Knight…
LA Knight's gonna be in Money in the Bank, but he is taking a lot here.
The moonsault comes through this time for Aleister Black!
And LA Knight kicks out.
Tomorrow he's gonna be in Money in the Bank.
Tonight he's dealing with the skill of Aleister Black.
[Barrett] The skill and the otherworldly athleticism of Aleister Black.
So much is made of the… the mystique and the mind games,
but far more terrifying for me is this level of physicality
that keeps opponents guessing.
[Tessitore] He's lining up Black Mass!
LA ducks it, goes for BFT.
Able to get free is Black.
Back and forth they go, and finally that jumping neckbreaker.
LA Knight with momentum now!
[Barrett] Well, ladies and gentlemen, whose game is it?
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
[Tessitore] Leaping elbow. No!
Able to see that boot coming though, just in time.
[Barrett] This time it's LA Knight with those incredible reflexes,
turning the tables on Aleister Black.
[Tessitore] Burning Hammer was denied as he landed on his feet.
The roll up.
And a kick out at two.
[Barrett] Well, these guys really neutralizing one another,
going move for move, hold for hold, counter for counter.
Oh.
[Tessitore] It's been fascinating to see this matchup.
These too wildly skilled.
Going for that moonsault again, but instead, Knight meets him right away.
And there's a Burning Hammer.
As Knight…
And rolling free and out of harm's way was Aleister Black.
[Barrett] Aleister Black looking all glassy-eyed on the outside.
But wait a second!
[Tessitore] What in the world is Seth Rollins doing?
[bell rings]
He just came in and stomped LA Knight.
[crowd boos]
[Barrett] Well, we talked a little earlier about how Seth "Freakin" Rollins
has a master plan for tomorrow night in the Money in the Bank ladder match.
Well, one of those opponents, who is now apparently a victim,
is The Megastar LA knight.
[Tessitore] He's looking for another stomp.
Oh, and Aleister Black is gonna confront him.
And Bron Breakker is in the ring.
Spear!
Breakker hits the spear!
[Barrett] Wrong place, wrong time for Aleister Black,
who is apparently collateral damage.
[Tessitore] Oh, and the senton by big Bronson Reed.
Tomorrow LA Knight has to deal with…
Oh, a spear on Knight!
[Barrett] Well, LA Knight has to make it to tomorrow first.
What condition is The Megastar going to be in
in the Money in the Bank ladder match?
-That's what this is all about… -["The Vision" plays]
…soften up one of the biggest threats
to Seth "Freakin" Rollins's path to victory
in the Money in the Bank ladder match.
[crowd vocalizing]
[Tessitore] What was a brilliant match. Interrupted by Seth Rollins.
Everybody here at SmackDown should have taken notice right from the start.
Those are the participants tomorrow, the men's ladder match.
Seth Rollins and this alliance with Breakker and Bronson Reed.
[Barrett] Well, it's utter devastation.
We've seen how dominant that power trio can be.
Now they've brought their efforts, apparently for one night only,
here to SmackDown,
and then to Money in the Bank tomorrow.
Of course, Money in the Bank tomorrow 7:00 p.m. Streaming on Peacock.
But as for other massive new plans being put forth,
Raw general manager, Adam Pearce,
our SmackDown general manager, Nick Aldis, here they are.
At WWE things tend to move pretty fast.
This week we're climbing the ladder at Money in the Bank,
and next week, well, we're kicking off the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments.
And this year it's bigger than ever.
The tournaments begin with four fatal 4-way matches
in the men's and women's division.
And the winners advance.
[Aldis] From there it becomes a co-branded singles competition
with semi-finals and the finals.
[Pearce] And those finals, they take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
at Night of Champions.
But the stakes could not be higher because the King and Queen of the Ring
get a title match against the top champion of their respective brands
at the biggest event of the summer,
SummerSlam.
So good luck, everybody. May the best man and woman win.
What a headline-grabbing announcement by Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce
with the return of the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments to WWE.
Well, my next guest has a vested interest in one of those tournaments.
She is Jade Cargill.
-What is up? -[crowd cheers]
What's going on, Jade?
Listen, I know tomorrow night you would have loved to have been part
of the women's Money in the Bank ladder match,
but how good does it feel knowing that now you get to compete
in the Queen of the Ring tournament?
I mean, it feels great.
Now I understand I won't have the opportunity
of climbing that ladder and grabbing that briefcase,
but I'm gonna keep climbing regardless.
I am The Storm and I can't wait to tear through this Queen of the Ring tournament,
and when the dust settles, I will be your next Queen of the Ring.
And at SummerSlam,
I'm not asking for gold, I'm taking it.
On a slightly different note, also last week,
we saw Bianca Belair refuse to forgive Naomi for what she did to you,
but everybody wants to know,
where do things stand between you and Bianca?
Jade, listen, just a friendly reminder, salt and sugar look the same.
So either choose your friends wisely or don't have any at all.
And if you think you're winning Queen of the Ring,
you're gonna need a prayer.
There's only one queen in the WWE.
[crowd cheers]
Good luck with that, ladies.
[Tessitore] Now look who is set to join us.
No matter what time zone you're in, it's always Tiffy Time.
[laughs]
[in Spanish] All right, Santos.
Why did you bring us here?
Family…
After the meeting we had,
we agreed that we are going to Worlds Collide.
But now, I have a plan.
Very simple.
Worlds Collide.
And there will be proof, once and for all.
We will establish before our people, our republic, our Mexico
who owns the world of lucha libre.
-Want a scoop? -Yes.
Legado Del Fantasma against Psycho Clown,
Pagano,
and the one who will always live in the shadow of his father,
Dr. Wagner the Third.
We will effectively be removing
the heart and soul of that house.
So pay close attention, I know we can.
And I have the tools to do it.
That is how it is.
Let's establish who owns the world of lucha libre
in front of our people, our audience, our country
with the voice of two words:
Legado
Familia.
¡Viva México!
[in English] Alongside Brutus and Julius Creed,
I'd like to welcome my guest Chad Gable.
Chad, big day for you tomorrow at Worlds Collide,
where you challenged El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship.
How confident are you about this match?
Confidence, confidence is high. I must admit I'm a little disappointed
I didn't qualify for the Money in the Bank,
but they found a suitable replacement.
The greatest luchador of all time,
El Grande Americano is gonna climb the ladder
and take the briefcase home.
And as for me, I find my own way into the history books tomorrow
when I defeat Vikingo at Worlds Collide and win the most prestigious title
in all of Lucha Libre, the AAA Mega Championship.
Coming home with me.
Gable…
[speaking in Spanish]
Hey, Andrade.
-[crowd cheers] -[speaks in Spanish]
Hey!
-What? -That's enough.
-What? -Think that's funny?
Yeah, what?
It'll be funny when El Grande puts you both through a ladder tomorrow night.
-Hey, you are… -Hey, hey, relax.
-Hey, you have a problem, little brother? -Hey, hey, hey, whoa, whoa, whoa.
-You have a problem, little brother? -Hey, hey, hey.
-You got a problem? -Hey, hey, hey, whoa, whoa, whoa.
I've got enough going on tonight.
I've got enough going on tonight without you lot coming to blows back here,
so guess what?
You can settle this in the ring tonight.
[crowd cheers]
♪ It's Tiffy Time ♪
-["Tiffy Time" plays] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Drop, I'm going in Bass so loud its in my skin ♪
♪ Drop, I wanna see ya Drop Drop, Drop, Drop, Drop ♪
[Nash] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the WWE Women's Champion,
Tiffany Stratton!
[Tessitore] And three weeks ago, Tiffy Time with that instant classic
of a title defense against Nia Jax.
Drop kick through the steel chair and the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.
And now she comes here knowing she will soon be somebody's target.
Money in the Bank tomorrow.
That briefcase, of course, can bring one woman a massive opportunity.
[crowd member] It's Tiffy Time!
[crowd cheers]
Let's call it for what it is, shall we?
Last year, I didn't just become the youngest Ms. Money in the Bank.
I became the it girl of WWE, which is why I can see it now.
Every single lady in that match is gonna try and pull a Tiffy
and pull someone off a ladder and then reach for the stars.
I mean, we can all agree that every single lady in that match
is championship material, right?
But it doesn't matter because whoever wins Money in the Bank,
their world will be revolving around me.
So ladies, you can win the match,
you can trend for one night,
but I fear no one can outdo the doer, because Bakersfield…
[crowd cheers]
…what time is it?
[crowd] It's Tiffy Time!
♪ This is my brutality ♪
["Demon in your Dreams" plays]
[Tessitore] A sold out Dignity Health Arena
just jumped to their feet.
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed The demons in your dreams ♪
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪
[Tessitore] The two-time women's world champ.
Rhea Ripley is here.
Two and a half weeks ago, Wade, earning her way to Money in the Bank.
[Barrett] Yeah, and there's a lot of star power
in the women's Money in the Bank ladder match tomorrow,
but for me and probably the majority of our fans,
this woman, Rhea "Bloody" Ripley, has to be the odds on favorite
to scale that ladder, grab the contract
and perhaps one day cash in and end Tiffy Time.
[Tessitore] The star power in Bakersfield tonight is something special.
♪ I am the deadly disease I'll put that soul to sleep ♪
♪ I'll leave you six feet deep ♪
♪ Brutality ♪
[Tessitore] Money in the Bank just two hours down the road tomorrow,
and with that, everybody has come to Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] Mami, Mami, Mami!
You know, Tiffy,
I've never actually been a part of the Money in the Bank match before
because the fact is, I never had to.
[crowd cheers]
So I don't know what it feels like to win that contract like you do,
but I do know what it feels like to be a champion.
And I miss that feeling.
["Bury Me" plays]
[crowd cheers]
[bell rings]
[Nash] The following contest is a six-woman tag team match.
Scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from San Fernando, Chile,
Stephanie Vaquer!
[Tessitore] Speaking of somebody who knows what it feels like
to be a champion.
This is Raw's big recent signing, the first woman in NXT history
to hold both NXT singles titles at the same time.
-What an ovation for The Dark Angel! -[Tessitore] Oh!
-[Barrett] Oh, my God, -It just gets better and better, Wade.
["The Fury" plays]
[Nash] And her tag team partner from Columbus, Ohio,
Alexa Bliss!
[Barrett] Another woman headed to Money in the Bank.
The five-time world champion,
the mysterious and perplexing Alexa Bliss.
["Last Warning" plays]
[Nash] And their opponents.
Introducing first, from Orlando, Florida,
Naomi!
[Barrett] Enter 2025's most volatile and unpredictable woman.
Yes, proceed with caution.
Naomi has grand designs tomorrow night on grabbing that briefcase.
Scaling to the top of the ladder and taking her career back to the very top.
[Tessitore] And, Wade, I think she survived in advance,
arguably the most heated of the triple-threat qualifiers
-with Jade and Nia. -["All Fall Down" plays]
[Barrett] Yeah, that was the match of death.
Three absolute monsters competing and it was Naomi who was victorious.
[Nash] And her tag team partner from Laredo, Texas,
Roxanne Perez!
[Tessitore] Few superstars that have made more of an instant impact in 2025
than The Prodigy.
Perez, the record setter, the Iron woman from the Royal Rumble,
ingratiating herself with Judgment Day and ready for another major step
in what has been a sensationally emerging career.
[Barrett] Ingratiating herself for The Judgment Day,
much to the annoyance of Liv Morgan, it would seem.
[Tessitore] Well, Liv was once in that position, wasn't she?
["Time of Arrival" plays]
[Nash] And their tag team partner from Tokyo, Japan,
Giulia!
[Tessitore] Saw Giulia earlier getting involved with Zelina Vega,
Piper Niven, Bakersfield Brawl.
[Barrett] Made it quite clear that earlier tonight she has designs
on the Women's United States Championship held by Zelina Vega,
and, of course, should Giulia grab the briefcase tomorrow,
could potentially cash in on Zelina Vega.
All championships on all brands up for grabs.
Giulia looking to go places in a hurry, dominated in a short time on NXT
and looking to continue that trend here on the blue brand.
[Tessitore] Participants in tomorrow's Women's Money in the Bank ladder match.
[Barrett] Put rivalries aside for one night at least, enemies tomorrow,
but tonight, at least two of tomorrow's opponents have to be your friend.
[bell rings]
[Tessitore] Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer to get us started.
[Barrett] Two of the big new signings on the WWE umbrella,
both did major things on NXT, becoming the NXT Women's Champion,
of course, Vaquer actually dethroned Giulia,
some major beef between these two.
[Tessitore] And then Vaquer was dethroned herself
in what was a shocking upset on NXT.
The NXT women's title, now in the hands of Jacy Jayne,
and you can listen, you can watch that broadcast,
Vic Joseph and the guys, you can hear it in their voice.
[Barrett] Very hard earned by Jacy Jayne, who I think is gonna be a fantastic champ
on NXT just like these two were.
[Tessitore] These two know each other very well.
Needing skill and athleticism right in the center of the ring
to get this six-woman tag team match…
-[Barrett] Oh, here we go! -…under way.
-[Tessitore] Oh, boy. -[Barrett] Here we go!
[Tessitore] And somewhere you can almost hear Booker T getting excited.
-[Barrett] Well, he got denied. -[crowd boos]
-[Tessitore] As it is countered by Giulia. -[Barrett] Oh.
[Barrett] Vaquer apparently going for that Devil's Kiss.
That hypnotic move of hers.
Giulia knows it too well and wanted no part of it.
[Tessitore] Stephanie McMahon's What's Your Story.
Special guest's Criss Angel this week.
That is available wherever you get your podcast,
fascinating conversation between Stephanie McMahon and Criss Angel.
[Barrett] How cutthroat is Naomi these days?
Ever since throwing Jade Cargill through a car windshield several months ago.
Vaquer so resourceful. Wait a second, Joe Tess.
-[Tessitore] Could it be? -[Barrett] Nope, denied again.
[Tessitore] Everybody enters the ring as Devil's Kiss was lined up.
[Barrett] It ain't over yet, Joe Tess.
[Tessitore] Vaquer puts her in position and delivers, Wade!
[Barrett] No comment, I don't want to get in any trouble tonight.
[Tessitore] La Primera, The Dark Angel. Devil's Kiss here on SmackDown.
[Barrett] A move that has taken the world by storm.
Stephanie Vaquer showing out this evening in the early goings.
[Tessitore] Trying to chase down Naomi.
Such focus from Vaquer.
What a huge weekend it is for her.
[Barrett] And I'd argue Stephanie Vaquer is doing too much in this match.
She's already dominated the early goings, not tagged anyone else,
and get this Joe Tess,
Vaquer competing tonight, she's competing at Worlds Collide tomorrow
in a tag alongside Lola Vice from NXT,
and then straight after that,
she competes in the Women's Money in the Bank ladder match.
That is too much competition.
Three matches in 24 hours, that is a suicide mission by Vaquer,
and she's about to pay the price.
[Tessitore] Ref distracted there.
As you see Roxanne Perez now driving her feet and her boot right in there.
Hooks the leg. Vaquer quick to kick out.
[Barrett] How about Roxanne Perez tagging up with Giulia tonight.
It was Giulia who dethroned Roxanne Perez in NXT.
Not only that, they had an incredibly short-lived tag run together on Raw,
lasted about three weeks.
And then Giulia was apparently sick to death of Roxanne Perez,
and wanted no more to do with her until right now.
[Tessitore] All the unique complexities when you get these six together.
Tomorrow they'll be trying to reach for the heavens
and get that Money in the Bank contract in the briefcase.
[Barrett] Six massively different personalities,
all with two things in common.
A, they are all world class, and B, they all have massive, massive goals,
which includes winning the Money in the Bank ladder match.
[Tessitore] You mentioned the different personalities,
but I don't know that there's any like what we've seen out of Naomi lately.
And here comes Alexa Bliss.
[Barrett] Naomi is completely demented at the moment,
but has proved highly dangerous,
but neutralizing that danger immediately is the astoundingly good Alexa Bliss.
[Tessitore] Alexa Bliss a past Money in the Bank winner.
She's looking to reclaim that past glory.
Been a outstanding return to action for Bliss.
[Barrett] Seen a couple of surprise returns
-already this year from Alexa Bliss. -[crowd cheers]
Hasn't spoken too loudly about goals, but clearly getting back--
[Tessitore] Oh!
[Barrett] Championship picture is part of it for Miss Bliss.
[Tessitore] Off the apron and then Perez turns her right into the steel steps.
Six-woman tag team action.
Naomi, Roxanne Perez and Giulia are getting the best of Alexa Bliss right now
in the midst of this six-woman tag team match.
The night before Money in the Bank
when all six of these women will be down the road in LA
competing for the briefcase.
And for Bliss, it'll be her fourth Money in the Bank ladder match
of her career, having previously been a winner.
[Barrett] I'll tell you right now, her hopes of winning tomorrow night
-are fading by the second… -[Tessitore] I agree, Wade.
…thanks to this volley of abuse.
Alexa Bliss is being forced to absorb,
but there we go,
-drop toe hold into the buckle. -[Tessitore] Bliss getting out of the way.
[Barrett] Naomi eats it and can Bliss get a tag?
How smart was that by Naomi?
[Tessitore] Naomi eliminating one of the options.
She is desperate to reach that outstretched arm of Rhea Ripley.
And perhaps with the DDT there's an opportunity to do just that.
[Barrett] This place is about to come unglued!
-[Tessitore] Here she is! -[crowd cheers]
Rhea Ripley!
Roxanne and Giulia are finding out.
Fallaway slam, she tossed her halfway across the ring.
[Barrett] The most dominant woman in WWE history,
living up to her reputation.
-Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. -[crowd chanting] Mami, Mami, Mami!
-Brilliant technique, -[Tessitore] And look at Rhea Ripley
give Roxanne that look and say, "Not now, not here."
[Barrett] Technique simply doesn't work against someone as powerful as Mami.
[Tessitore] Razor's Edge.
And coming in strong.
Looking to close it out.
And Naomi breaks it up.
[Barrett] I mean, you're looking for the winner,
you wanna be the one who scores the pin for your team.
Build that momentum, put the fear into tomorrow night's opponents. Wait up!
-[Tessitore] Alexa Bliss. -[crowd cheers]
Sister Abigail DDT on Giulia!
[Barrett] Keep your eyes peeled,
there are too many fresh women waiting to take you down.
[Tessitore] She was looking for Riptide, but instead countered by Roxanne Perez.
[Barrett] Perez is so, so resourceful, just like that.
It seemed like it was gonna be game over for Roxanne.
Pulled something out of the bag
and it's dropped even the great Rhea "Bloody" Ripley.
[Tessitore] Those vacant eyes as Rhea tries to gather herself.
Both women down,
as this sold out Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield
-is chanting "This is awesome." -[crowd chanting] This is awesome.
And if you think it is here tonight,
wait until Money in the Bank
and the ladder match between these six.
[Barrett] You put these six in a ring at the same time,
there's only one conclusion possible.
-[Tessitore] Whoa! -[Barrett] And that also way off.
[Tessitore] Naomi wouldn't accept the tag!
Roxanne Perez is in trouble,
and Naomi said that's your problem.
And now, Bliss.
-And Vaquer, and Rhea! -[Barrett] Roxanne left to the wolves!
[Tessitore] Riptide!
[crowd] One!
-Two, three! -[Tessitore] Naomi left her alone,
-and that's the result. -[bell rings]
[Nash] Here are your winners!
Stephanie Vaquer!
Alexa Bliss!
And Rhea Ripley!
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Thinking ahead to Money in the Bank,
Naomi abandons her, Wade.
[Barrett] Small move by Naomi, if you ask me.
Couldn't tag in.
Naomi opted to not put herself in danger.
Let one of your opponents tomorrow night take all the abuse,
get her softened up.
-Mami gets the victory. -[crowd] One, two, three.
There is no honor among Money in the Bank participants.
Not tonight.
And certainly not tomorrow night.
[Tessitore] What a show they put on here tonight on SmackDown.
Tomorrow's gonna be special.
As they look up and see the briefcase.
That is what they are going after.
[Barrett] Well, teammates moments ago,
these three now eyeing each other warily.
The game has changed.
[Tessitore] Still to come tonight.
Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso,
or as the undisputed champ called them last week,
John Cena wannabes.
The American Nightmare, the World Heavyweight Champ,
face-to-face with Cena and Logan Paul.
The final words before they meet up at Money in the Bank.
That is coming up.
On that ladder and Money in the Bank, grab that briefcase.
As long as I got you and Jacob--
Brother,
you really trust Jacob after what he did tonight, man?
It's okay. Don't worry about him.
As long as he follows my lead,
-everything will be okay. -[groans]
Will he follow you though?
JC, my man, you worry too much.
Listen, I brought Jacob here, okay?
-He loves me. He does. -[scoffs]
And by the way, one thing about Jacob…
He's not all the way that smart in the head.
All right?
All this man does is just think about himself.
He is literally all gas.
And no brains. [laughs]
Okay?
I got it under control.
Let's go handle business tomorrow.
-All right? -All right.
[crowd clamors]
[Tessitore] Red half crowd here at a sold out Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield.
Sign of the night, Wade.
[Barrett] Cody Rhodes will be up later on tonight,
face-to-face with John Cena.
I love Solo.
I don't know if Jacob Fatu feels the same way.
All gas, no brains. Rather you than me.
Yeet, Jey Uso likely to be…
Grief is not linear.
It is not healed…
by time.
It is a festering wound…
that is continually being ripped open
by an echo of a presence that is no more.
You don't forget.
You can only accept
that which cannot be changed.
I've watched the tag team division.
The loyalty.
The trust.
The Brotherhood.
But is that bond unbreakable?
From our loss, we have become a family.
A ship unshaken by the storm.
And yet again.
They wanted to forget about us,
…to forget about us.
Like we were never even here.
Ignoring the sacrifice.
Dying to the flesh to become one.
We return, not for nostalgia.
Not for closure.
But to rip open the wound of apathy…
and take what we are owed.
Your brotherhood will be tested.
The time for repentance has passed.
Accept your condemnation.
Your brotherhood will be tested.
Accept your condemnation.
We will not be forgotten.
Well, I don't like that. That sucks.
Listen, as the two guys who built this Tag Team division,
there is… there is no reason for us to take the fall.
So, come clean. Who provoked the Wyatts?
-Angelo. -Johnny.
Look, guys. Look, I know we're all afraid, okay?
Fraxiom, you're not fine.
Motor City, we need those guns.
And DIY, you cannot do this yourselves.
Guys, let's forget about these WWE Tag Team Championships
-just one second. -Think about it.
We have a bigger problem on our hands,
and that's the Wyatt Sicks.
Look, fam, we ain't get to where we at by being scared.
If the Wyatts want the smoke, they can get it.
Y'all must have forgot.
We're the real boogeymans around here.
[vocalizes]
Yeah, nice try.
We ain't forgetting about those tag team titles.
And look, we know the Wyatts mean business.
But look, they cost us our shot at the tag team titles a couple of weeks ago.
And mate, if I see Uncle Howdy one more time.
Hey, chill out.
Chill out, bro.
Although, now that I think about it.
-You're right. -Uh-huh.
And we are undefeated on SmackDown.
So, I think we should teach the Wyatts a lesson.
-See. -That's a great idea. That's great.
Go get them, boys.
That's a great idea. You second that. How cool.
You know, we can't stand the three of you. And you're gonna get what's coming to you.
But for right now,
for right now we're gonna put that on the back burner,
because we want to get our hands on the Wyatts too.
Yeah, let's not forget who the veterans are around here.
It's us. We set the standards.
So, if anyone's gonna bring the fight to the Wyatts, it's gonna be us.
-Hey, another great idea. Nick. -Great idea.
-Go get them. -Let the veterans take care of it.
Nick, we think any of those three teams would be awesome.
-Make a note. -I'm sure you do.
-Thank you all for your input. -You're welcome.
I think book it. Book it, Nick.
Well, one of you is gonna face them.
The entire division dealing with the Wyatts.
Finally, the SmackDown tag division agree on something.
-They are all in a fight for survival. -They are indeed.
Hey, tomorrow is one of the best days on the calendar in WWE.
Not just Money in the Bank, but Worlds Collide.
It's going to be on YouTube,
and it's going to start at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Noon local time.
Coming right from LA.
NXT, AAA, Lucha Libre.
All the best talent cross-promotion coming together.
Spectacular event.
Let's go through and show you what you're in store for.
Worlds Collide.
But it's going to get started with an all luchador six-man tag team.
Legado Del Fantasma in action against Psycho Clown, Pagano
and the talented El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.
[Barrett] Stephanie Vaquer, we saw her moments ago.
She will be teaming up alongside NXT's Lola Vice,
to take on AAA's Chik Tormenta and Dalys
in tag action at Worlds Collide.
[Tessitore] And then the action continues.
And it'll mean so much for Dragon Lee and Cruz Del Toro.
As they team with Lince Dorado who steps in for Joaquin Wilde,
to face Mr. Iguana Aero Star and Octagón Jr.
That'll be a spectacle. Ooh!
[Barrett] And the NXT North American Championship
will be on the line,
as the champ Ethan Page defends against this trio of high flyers.
Rey Fénix, Je'Von Evans,
and AAA's Laredo Kid.
[Tessitore] Well, you saw the reaction to Chad Gable,
from Penta and Andrade earlier.
And the world's collide spotlight's going to shine
on the AAA Mega championship with Chad Gable.
Remember, recently attacked by Vikingo ringside.
And then he later kicked him in that Money in the Bank qualifier.
Now, they meet for the title tomorrow.
Then, just on the heels of Worlds Collide…
it will be Money in the Bank
and it features the Women's Intercontinental Championship match.
Lyra Valkyria, says Becky Lynch, has made it far too personal.
The man says when she wins she demands that Lyra raises Lynch's hand.
Intercontinental Championship tomorrow.
[Barrett] And Rhea "Bloody" Ripley
got the bragging rights moments ago here on SmackDown.
Will it be déjà vu tomorrow
as she competes against Vaquer, Bliss, Naomi, Perez, and Giulia
in the Women's Money in the Bank ladder match?
[Tessitore] Now, things have gotten real interesting tonight,
when you think about tomorrow's Men's Money in the Bank ladder match.
Because we saw LA Knight earlier.
Seth Rollins and company attacked him.
So, tomorrow. There is the lineup for the Men's Ladder Match.
With LA Knight, Penta Andrade, Seth Rollins,
El Grande Americano and Solo Sikoa.
[Barrett] And the despicable duo of John Cena and Logan Paul
on a stated claim that they want to ruin wrestling.
"Not so fast", says the QB Cody Rhodes.
And Main Event, Jey Uso.
Those four collide in tag action tomorrow night
at Money in the Bank, from Los Angeles.
[Tessitore] And they will have their final face-off, coming up in just a little bit.
What a date tomorrow
between Worlds Collide and Money in the Bank.
["Zero Miedo" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[Nash] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first.
From Ecatepec, Mexico.
Weighing in at 87 kilos,
Penta!
[Tessitore] I wonder how that signature strut would look
with a Money in the Bank briefcase coming off that arm.
Penta. [chuckles]
[Barrett] I don't know how it would look, but it would certainly feel pretty
damn good if you are Penta,
who has set the world ablaze in 2025.
And that could be his crowning moment.
[Tessitore] Get a signature Penta Driver on Chad Gable
to make it to Money in the Bank.
[Barrett] I mean, the world has just gone lucha crazy at the moment.
And this guy might be the one leading the entire charge.
And I don't say that lightly.
Absolutely mind blowing every time he's on our screens.
[Tessitore] Teaming up with Andrade, to face American Made.
That's next.
["Conquistar" plays]
[Nash] And his tag team partner.
From Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.
Weighing in at 230 pounds.
Andrade!
[Tessitore] Tomorrow's gonna be the 3rd time in his career, Wade,
that Andrade will take part in the Money in the Bank ladder match.
[Barrett] Yeah. And Andrade is kind of a cross-breed type of superstar
when it comes to the world of lucha.
Possesses all of those mind-blowing high-flying skills,
but also has a massive amount of power
that kind of, marks him as the favorite tomorrow.
[Tessitore] Oh. How great is it to have AAA's El Hijo del Vikingo here.
Tomorrow, the massive showdown with Chad Gable,
and a very interested observer for this tag team match.
Great reception for Vikingo.
[Barrett] While you call it great,
I would argue that Vikingo is here up to no good.
There's absolutely no reason why Vikingo should be showing his presence,
when American Made are here to do business.
[Nash] And their opponents, accompanied by Chad Gable.
From the Ohio Valley.
With a combined weight of 495 pounds.
Brutus Creed and Julius Creed!
American Made!
[Tessitore] We recently saw Brutus and Julius
trying to secure the World Tag Team Championships.
That was on Monday Night Raw.
New Day we're crafty that--
Oh! Wasting no time, Penta and Andrade.
[Barrett] I mean the bell hasn't rung.
You call it wasting no time. I call it a cheap shot.
[Tessitore] Right to business.
We remember how heated things got backstage a little earlier tonight.
[Barrett] The match is not started. The bell has not rung.
And Joe Tess, are you going to defend this?
[crowd] Cero Miedo!
-Cero Miedo! -Crowd seems to love it here, Wade.
-[Barrett] A bunch of sickos, that's why. -Cero Miedo!
-[bell rings]
[Tessitore] We are underway. There's the bell,
as Andrade looks to get the best of Brutus early on.
[Barrett] But presumably, it's Brutus that is legal.
Not surprisingly, an enraged Julius Creed, looking for a little payback.
And things now looking bleak right from the off for the Creed Brothers.
[crowd clapping rhythmically]
[Tessitore] Andrade.
Oh! And the running double knees.
[Barrett] I mean the Creeds haven't had a chance!
They've been beaten from pillar to post, they got jumped.
And unsurprisingly, Chad Gable on the outside is absolutely irate.
As he tags Penta.
And Penta delivers right to the sternum.
[crowd] Whoa!
[Tessitore] And how about one for Brutus?
[crowd cheers]
Two of the fan favorites
for tomorrow's Money in the Bank ladder match,
Penta and Andrade.
[Barrett] It's all well and good right now.
We saw what happened earlier between Roxanne Perez and Naomi
who were supposed to be tagging together,
that fell apart real quick.
You see, if Penta and Andrade are capable of holding it together
now that the Creed Brothers have managed to swing the momentum.
Maybe I spoke too soon.
[Tessitore] They tried to team up on Penta,
but Penta looking to fight his way out of that compromise situation in that corner.
[Barrett] I'm really impressed with the durability of Penta.
-[crowd] Oh! -[Tessitore] Oh!
[Barrett] To go with all the other attributes that this luchador possesses.
[Tessitore] Big kick as he just hesitated on the rope for just a moment.
So smart, by Penta.
[Barrett] Now this has just been a disaster for the Creed Brothers,
from the word go.
[Tessitore] Andrade up top.
[Barrett] Nothing is going right for American--
[Tessitore] Oh!
Did you just see the stepping-stone,
-running launching big knee from Julius? -[Barrett laughs]
[Barrett] And I'll tell you right now, that's nothing less than Andrade deserved.
[Tessitore] That was sensational from Julius Creed.
[Barrett] I feel the need, the need…
-[Tessitore] His brother was out… -…for Creed.
…on all fours.
And he just launched off of his back to turn this match around.
[Barrett] And how well has master Chad Gable got this crew trained?
[Tessitore] The Creeds finding a way. Gable's loving it.
That's my guy!
[Tessitore] Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett with you on Friday Night SmackDown.
Tomorrow it is Money in the Bank at the Intuit Dome in LA.
[Barrett] There's been a five-minute solid up beatdown.
Heading the way of Andrade.
[Tessitore] Oh! And here comes Penta.
Cross body from the heavens, that was.
-Penta revving the engine big time here. -[crowd cheers]
[Barrett] Hitting that top gear,
with an astonishing series of moves, like only he can.
[Tessitore] Penta and Andrade greatly bothered by Chad Gable earlier backstage,
and now looking to get the best of Gable's American Made.
And saving it, was Brutus.
[Barrett] Well, Chad Gable has had countless problems with luchadors
over the past few months.
The Creeds, tonight, are supposed to be punishing two of the best.
But it's all going south!
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Oh, you can see Penta looking over,
as now he's got to deal with Gable!
Gable's trying to rip his mask off.
[Barrett] And Vikingo, who isn't supposed to be in the match,
now attacking Gable once again!
[Tessitore] Vikingo won't have any of that!
Defending the lucha honor.
They're gonna meet up tomorrow on Worlds Collide
for AAA's mega championship.
Meanwhile, back in the ring…
The roll up, and the kick out.
[Barrett] Gable and Vikingo have cleared out of here.
Security dealing with them now. The match continuing.
[Tessitore] Oh! Back elbow on Julius!
On Brutus, as Julius struggles to his feet,
he receives a back elbow as well.
Mexican destroyer!
-Penta with the destroyer! -One, two,
-three. -And the win!
-[bell rings] -[crowd cheers]
[Nash] Here are your winners.
Andrade and Penta!
[Tessitore] That was awesome by these two.
Tomorrow they'll be two of the six in Money in the Bank.
[Barrett] Friendship gets put aside because the price is so--
-["Burn It Down" playing] -Oh!
[Tessitore] Remember how the evening started.
With Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker,
and Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman.
And Seth declaring,
"I will have total control over this entire industry
with what happens tomorrow."
[Barrett] Well, LA Knight got a severe beatdown earlier tonight.
He of course, is in the Money in the Bank matchup with Seth Rollins tomorrow.
As are these two.
And things suddenly go from celebration
to extreme concern for Andrade and Penta.
The wolves are circling.
And there may be nowhere to hide.
[Tessitore] Two of Seth Rollins chief rivals…
for the Money in the Bank briefcase tomorrow are surrounded.
And here they go!
Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker, and Seth Rollins
trying to get the best of Penta and Andrade, Wade.
[Barrett] Well, the mission is clear.
It's a combination of intimidation, plus softening of the field
for Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
And Paul Heyman has had a major master stroke
putting this game plan together.
[Tessitore] This is more than softening up.
Look at Bron Breakker go, as he spears Andrade.
-[Barrett] Well one thing's for sure… -Oh!
-Andrade… -[Tessitore] Senton,
from the 300 pound plus.
And a stomp attempt.
And one for Penta.
This is how he wants to go about his business now.
-[crowd boos] -[Barrett] It's about stacking the deck.
It's about guaranteeing victory.
That is how valuable the Money in the Bank briefcase is tomorrow.
And Seth "Freakin" Rollins is taking no risk.
-Look what's happening, Joe. Yes! -[Tessitore] Oh, no.
-[Barrett] Yes! -[Tessitore] No! No, Wade!
[Barrett] Tsunami!
What?
[Tessitore] And now you can see,
as officials are coming ringside
to try to clean things up.
But the damage has been done to Penta and Andrade.
[Tessitore] Incredible circumstances that just took place here
the night before Money in the Bank.
Yea, though we walk
through the sold out hellhole of Bakers ****.
[crowd boos]
We fear not the future,
because ladies and gentlemen,
like it or not,
we are the future.
[crowd boos]
See, I don't understand why you would boo that.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins told you even before WrestleMania
what this industry was becoming.
Seth Rollins told you what would happen at WrestleMania.
And it happened.
Seth Rollins told you
we would get Roman Reigns out of the way.
And we did.
Seth Rollins told you
we would take CM Punk out of my misery.
And we did.
Don't you understand,
everything that Seth Rollins tells you becomes true?
Don't you get that?
Don't you understand
that Seth Rollins is the vanguard of the future of this industry?
That we are the vanguards of the destiny of WWE.
[crowd boos]
You can sit there and boo all you want.
Tomorrow night,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins becomes, once again,
Mr. Money in the Bank.
[crowd boos]
And then, when he does,
at his leisure, at his discretion,
when he damn well feels like it.
It will be "Who, what, where and when?"
Because we all know the "Why?"
The "Why?" is to solidify the power that comes with the title.
And Seth "Freakin" Rollins
will then propel this entire industry
into a future that is a vision all of his own.
[crowd boos]
And for me,
for me,
the greatest honor of my professional and personal life,
when I get to stand here in this ring
and say, "Ladies and gentlemen,
the reigning, defending…"
["Kingdom" playing]
[crowd cheers]
♪ Wrestling has more than One royal family ♪
[cheering intensifies]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain Lights go up, I'm home ♪
[crowd vocalizes]
♪ And my father said, when I was younger ♪
[Tessitore] You just listen to this crowd here in Bakersfield.
The support, the belief that they give and they have
in the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes.
♪ I built my kingdom Now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams but not my name You'll follow me into the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
♪ Lights go down, I'm ready now Tear this roof off for the town ♪
[Tessitore] Former undisputed champion
looks at the four men who have shockingly coalesced as an alliance,
to create fractures in what was such a secure foundation
of what we've known in the industry recently.
♪ Out the curtain Lights go up, I'm home ♪
[crowd vocalizes]
[Barrett] The absolute figurehead of SmackDown,
Cody Rhodes apparently taking a dim view at the antics
of this trio of invaders from Raw.
Although, this is a very dangerous
position for Cody Rhodes to put himself in,
judging by what we've already witnessed over the past couple of hours.
[Tessitore] The fan acknowledged quarterback of the industry,
QB1, Cody Rhodes.
[crowd cheering]
["Main Event Ish" playing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Tessitore] Oh!
♪ Main Event Jey Uso Is now in your city! ♪
♪ It's just me, uce Day one ish ♪
[crowd singing, cheering]
[Tessitore] The yeet scene in Southern California.
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Jey Uso makes his way to the ring
the night before the intense tag team matchup.
As Seth Rollins just threw the microphone down.
As a sold out Dignity Health Arena is riding that yeet wave.
[Barrett] A sight, a feeling, an energy,
and atmosphere that is simply unparalleled.
Arenas around the world coming unglued,
for "Main Event" Jey Uso.
The World Heavyweight champ is here.
[Tessitore] The final words before they meet up tomorrow.
[Tessitore] First time SmackDown's been in Bakersfield since 2018,
and it's a sold out Dignity Health Arena,
that's been yeeting, and yeeting, and yeeting.
Night before Money in the Bank,
when Cody and Jey Uso are gonna team up
to take on John Cena and Logan Paul.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Yeet! Yeet! Yeet!
So, Bakersfield.
[crowd cheers]
What do you want to talk about?
Talk about Money in the Bank?
[crowd cheers]
Talk about the Intuit Dome?
[crowd] Yeet!
Talk about "Main Event" Jey Uso.
[crowd] Yeet!
Talk about our opponents John Cena…
[crowd cheers]
…and his tag team partner Logan Paul?
[crowd boos]
Okay.
What did he say to you last week, Jey? It was rather aggressive.
I know what he said to me.
He said, I-I try too hard.
He called me desperate.
[crowd] Let's go, Cena! Cena sucks!
Let's go, Cena! Cena sucks!
[chanting continues]
He called me, uh, desperate.
Which I found rather bold coming from John Cena.
I mean, we all saw you dance your way onto Kai Cenat's live stream.
"How do you do, fellow kids?"
We saw you one second kicking a man in the nuts,
the next second begging for forgiveness on X.
Seeing you stand in the ring with Logan Paul in 2025,
is like seeing Michael Hayes standing next to the Hardy Boyz.
Let's talk about desperate.
[crowd boos]
And desperate is WrestleMania 41
throwing away 20 years of goodwill
so that you can have your record setting title.
Jey, tomorrow it's not about the World Championship.
It's not about the WWE Championship.
It's a showdown!
What do you call that, Jey?
I call that a yeet-down!
One time for the one time.
-Four letters, one word. -[crowd] One word!
-Uh, uh, yeet! -Uh, uh, yeet!
Come on, uce.
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[cheering intensifies]
[crowd chanting] John Cena sucks!
John Cena sucks!
[music continues]
[crowd cheering]
[music ends]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Let's go, Cena! Cena sucks!
Let's go, Cena! Cena sucks!
[chanting continues]
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the greatest of all time,
the never seen 17.
Gracing Bakersfield with his presence
one last time.
He is the last real champion,
John Cena!
-[Tessitore] Oh, Logan Paul! -[Barrett] Oh!
[Tessitore] Big right hand lands flush of Jey Uso.
Crossroads was set up and then he gets attacked with the title.
And now both Jey…
Oh, and he's got him up for an Attitude Adjustment.
Cena …
delivers on Uso.
AA!
[Barrett] Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes walk straight into a trap.
-[Tessitore] Oh, no! -[Barrett] The Paulverizer.
[Tessitore] Logan Paul came in on the back end of that ring introduction,
and now he's climbing up top.
[Barrett] Logan Paul a little overexcited…
[Tessitore] Frog splash on Cody Rhodes.
[Barrett] Got some major height, major impact.
And he's not done yet.
[Tessitore] And Cena drags Uso into position.
[crowd cheering, booing]
[Barrett] They're kicking the garbage out of the ring.
What a despicable duo.
Take a good look.
No one is coming to save you.
[crowd cheers, boos]
I've been telling you this for a half of a year!
Your dream of what the WWE is…
will be ruined.
This is your future.
I take this home.
He takes that to the top.
[crowd boos]
The last real champion.
And the moment maker.
The one of one.
The inevitable…
future face of the WWE.
[crowd boos]
Bakersfield,
humble yourselves for the humblest…
the future World Heavyweight Champion,
Logan Paul!
[crowd boos]
[Tessitore] Logan Paul…
-[crowd] Logan sucks! -…who came into the ring
with brass knuckles to deliver that right hand.
[crowd] Logan sucks!
[Barrett] You might not like it, but you cannot argue the effectiveness
and we're not done yet.
[Tessitore] As Cena throws Cody into the ring,
and Logan goes out to grab Jey.
And an Attitude Adjustment on Rhodes.
And the damage is being done.
They're less than 24 hours away from meeting up at Money in the Bank
in a tag team match.
Oh! And he does it again!
[Barrett] The biggest right hand in the game.
You can't handle the truth.
[crowd cheers]
You want our truth?
Our truth is right here staring you in the face.
And there's not a damn thing you,
or anyone who fights for you
can do about it.
[crowd boos]
You hypocrites chant for truth.
You are all pathetic liars.
[crowd chanting] We want truth!
This is why you're losers.
Take a good look because it's my last time here in Bakersfield.
[crowd cheering]
And remember these words.
Winners write the history books.
Ladies and gentlemen, your future champion,
and the last real champion.
[Tessitore] Logan Paul…
with Jey's World Heavyweight Championship.
Cena and Paul tomorrow at Money in the Bank,
meeting up with the two guys who are laid out right now.
Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso.
Tomorrow is Money in the Bank. o are laid out right now.