[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[Tessitore] It's the night before The Biggest Party of the Summer.
This is MetLife Stadium, the final preparations
for the historic two-night SummerSlam.
We're now under 24 hours to all the career-altering matches.
Meanwhile, we're live right here, right now,
down the road in Newark, New Jersey,
a special edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
The Prudential Center filled up with fans hyped
for the final face-off between John Cena and Cody Rhodes.
Inside the familiar building, a certain buzz.
And most curiously, a steel cage hangs high above.
A title fight's ahead, but there's still so much set to be revealed.
There is that steel cage here in Newark.
-Big Jim is here! -[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Jimmy Uso's been fighting back little brother and his MFTs.
Tonight, the biggest of them will be his opponent.
The MFTs put forth, with Solo by their side,
the nearly 7-foot monstrous power of Talla Tonga.
Talla makes his televised WWE debut on the big stage
before SummerSlam against Jimmy Uso.
Meanwhile, Aleister Black,
he has been outspoken
and directed a warning to Damian Priest last week saying,
"I will unmake you."
The tristate native is back near his home.
Damian Priest has arrived to SmackDown,
and he has told Black exactly what's gonna happen to him tonight.
As for right now,
time to make one of the most special weekends of the WWE year.
Look at this crowd in Newark,
and there are two men set to do just that at SummerSlam,
and they are here right now.
-["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… ♪
[Tessitore] The Never-Seen 17.
John Cena, who has done so much
with one of the greatest careers in history,
but he hasn't done in quite some time
fight in a sanctioned Street Fight.
It'll be his third defense
of the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
The rematch from WrestleMania and the first time since 2014,
Wade Barrett, that he takes part in a Street Fight Match.
[Barrett] Yeah, and make no mistake, this is a desperate John Cena,
perhaps more desperate than ever before.
A John Cena who tried his very best to get out of said Street Fight
on SummerSlam Sunday,
only to be denied in the process by Cody Rhodes.
Those two will meet this Sunday for the WWE Championship.
-And questions remain. -[music fades out]
[Barrett] What kind of frame of mind is John Cena in now?
[crowd boos, cheers]
[crowd chants] Let's go, Cena! Cena sucks!
[chanting continues]
[chanting stops]
[Nash] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome The Greatest of All Time…
[crowd cheers]
[Nash] …The Never-Seen 17,
gracing Newark with his presence,
one final time.
He is The Last Real Champion,
John Cena!
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting]
[chanting stops]
-["Kingdom" plays] -[crowd cheers]
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
[singer, crowd] ♪ 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 ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ And my father said ♪
♪ When I was younger… ♪
[Tessitore] It took Cody Rhodes slamming through John Cena and a table,
grabbing his hand to put signature to contract,
to get this championship rematch at SummerSlam.
And since then, Wade, we've heard Cody take a new approach,
a purposeful anything-it-takes strategy focused on winning back his gold.
[Barrett] Well, John Cena took the gloves off a long time ago,
back at Elimination Chamber, in fact.
So Cody Rhodes taking them off too, as far as I'm concerned,
is simply making this whole deal a fair fight and about time too for QB1.
[crowd cheers]
♪ Hear the crowd On their toes ♪
♪ Ready for me to Start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ And my father said… ♪
[Tessitore] A year and 13 days, Cody was champion.
The past 100-plus days have been the toughest to take for many.
Not just life without the title for Cody, but a WWE with this version of John Cena.
♪ A banner made of pain ♪
♪ I built my kingdom ♪
♪ Now you Bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams But not my name ♪
♪ You'll follow me Until the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
♪ You tried to tell me What to do… ♪
-[music fades out] -[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants] Cody, Cody Rhodes!
[chanting continues]
[crowd exclaims]
Cody Rhodes, I told you that I was exhausted
and that a match at SummerSlam would be too difficult for me.
You didn't listen.
You assaulted me.
You forged my signature.
And you forced me into one of the most dangerous matches in WWE
on one of its grandest stages for its biggest championship.
[crowd chants] What?
I only got one thing left to say to you.
[crowd chants] What?
Thank you.
[crowd cheers]
Because that was just the boot in the ass that I needed.
For 25 years, day in and day out,
I have forged a reputation off of hard work, honesty, and respect.
[crowd cheers, applauds]
And I now realize that five months ago, I flushed it all down the toilet,
chasing false glory when I bought into somebody's crazy idea
to make shocking TV.
And we did. We shocked the world.
We made great TV, but then the dust settles.
And then everybody goes back to their normal lives,
and the people that were supposed to be on my team, they left.
And they left me alone,
trying to pretend to be something I'm not.
I want to leave here with this.
[crowd cheers]
After my last match, I want to take this home with me.
[crowd cheers]
But it's not because I want to ruin wrestling.
Geez, you guys know I don't want to ruin wrestling.
I love wrestling.
[crowd cheers]
I want to take this home with me…
so after I'm gone, you guys don't forget about me.
[crowd cheers]
I was so hung up on how you might see me tomorrow
that I forgot to realize how stupid I am acting today.
And y'all tried to tell me. Over and over again you tried to tell me.
And I didn't listen.
Cody, you tried to tell me.
And I didn't listen.
But you did what a good friend should do.
You forced me to face it.
You forced me into a fight.
Not a match.
A fight.
Something that's gonna be brutal.
Something that is gonna force me to dig down and be who I really am.
[crowd cheers]
Something that if I don't show up for war, I shouldn't show up at all.
[crowd cheers]
Mark your calendar, Cody.
-August 1st, 2025, Newark, New Jersey… -[crowd cheers]
…the day that John Cena came back to the WWE!
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants] Cena! Cena! Cena!
You hear that?
I don't know who leaves with this on Sunday,
but I do know who wins.
Each and every one of you.
[crowd cheers]
Because I'm finally over my own BS, and at long last,
we get to see Cody Rhodes face off against The Greatest of All Time
at my best…
[crowd cheers]
…with something to prove in a main event Street Fight
with no rules that you wanted.
Well, if you want some…
[crowd] Come get some!
…come get some!
[crowd cheers]
And on Sunday,
the only platinum rapper showing up to whip your ass is me.
[crowd cheers]
-The champ is here! -[crowd] …is here!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chants] Cena! Cena! Cena!
[chanting stops]
[inaudible]
Welcome back, John Cena.
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] This is incredible.
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] He's back.
The real John Cena that Cody wanted, he's getting him, Wade.
[Barrett] What the hell just happened, Joe Tess?
[Tessitore] In a span of 15 minutes and 30 seconds,
it went from a cascade of boos
to the cheers and the standing ovation he received
for two decades of well-earned work.
John Cena declaring that Cody Rhodes gave him the wake-up call he needed,
that he was stupid, that everybody tried to tell him.
But being forced into a fight,
he acknowledges he doesn't want to ruin wrestling.
He wants to be who he's always been, and that he's over his own BS.
-["The Time Is Now" plays] -[Tessitore] John Cena is back.
The wake-up call embraced
by a massive crowd here the night before SummerSlam
as Cody Rhodes grabs the beers and toasts to that.
And it comes your way Sunday.
[Barrett] Well, I kept waiting for John Cena to drop the hammer
and cheap shot Cody Rhodes like this was yet another ruse,
but apparently not.
And this Street Fight on Sunday for the Undisputed WWE Championship
just got a whole hell of a lot more interesting
because if the real John Cena truly is back, I promise you,
the mountain for Cody Rhodes just got a hell of a lot steeper
this Sunday at SummerSlam.
[Tessitore] What a reception he received when he spoke those words.
We get you set for the historic two nights of SummerSlam.
Mark it down. He said it. You heard Cena.
August 1st, 2025, Newark, New Jersey,
the day that John Cena came back to WWE.
[crowd cheers]
[Barrett] So let me just float this out there
amongst all the feel-good and getting carried away.
Can you really trust John Cena,
a man who's tried every dirty trick in the book over these past five months?
Allow me to be a little hesitant and just pump the brakes for now.
Well, we saw Cody Rhodes's reaction.
The reception, the handshake, the toasting,
and the celebrating getting this version of John Cena.
Wade, we do have some developing news with the fluid and wild combination
of tag team partners and the heated feud you will see at SummerSlam.
Randy Orton and the music superstar Jelly Roll
facing Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre.
And our crew captured Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre
crashing a training session with Jelly Roll that Randy Orton was not at.
[onlookers clamoring]
[Paul] Wow!
A buffalo in the wild. That's crazy!
I thought buffalo don't roam!
What the hell are you doing in a wrestling ring, Jelly Roll, with these guys?
Hey, actually, thank you guys. You're making him look like a superstar.
Your doing God's work. God's work, brother.
You wanna see God's work?
We'll have a little Sunday service right here.
I am so sick of you,
you fresh out of Fraggle Rock looking ferret.
I'm done talking with you, podcaster. Let's go.
Oh, yeah? What do you think's gonna happen if I come in there?
-Just curious. -What do you think's gonna happen?
You think I'm gonna stand here and let you whoop me?
-Yeah, maybe. Let's find out. -Why don't we see we see?
[clamoring]
-[trainer 1] Whoa, whoa! Hey! Whoa! -[trainer 2] Hey!
[clamoring]
What, Jelly? I thought I told you, stupid!
-I thought I told you, stupid! -[grunts]
-You are not a wrestler, okay? -[groaning]
Oh, you're always waiting to cry for somebody to save you from yourself.
[Paul] Come on, Drew.
[McIntyre] You're welcome! You're welcome!
-[trainer 3] Hey, hey, hey! -You feel like a superstar?
Stop it!
People pay dues for years for a moment of SummerSlam.
-You think you're just gonna walk in? -You, out!
-You're gonna see, buddy. -Logan, you too.
-I thought I told you, stupid ass. -Get out!
Get out now.
[Barrett] It is a dangerous place between those ropes,
but SummerSlam Saturday, 24 hours from right now,
the match I never thought we'd ever see,
and now with some added bad blood
as Randy Orton and the music superstar Jelly Roll
team up against Drew McIntyre and The Maverick Logan Paul.
That's SummerSlam Saturday tomorrow night.
["Time Of Arrival" playing]
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] The dynamic talent known as The Beautiful Madness
with Kiana James by her side,
who recently announced herself as the official representative
for the United States Champion Giulia.
Giulia, who last month defeated Zelina Vega for this title.
Now comes the rematch.
[Barrett] And let me tell you,
I love everything I've seen about Giulia thus far
since she arrived here on SmackDown.
However, it has to be said there are significant differences
between life in the US and Japan.
There's a language barrier. There are cultural issues.
And the move to bring in the business maestro,
the mega brain Kiana James just makes Giulia's ascent
to the very top of this industry that much more assured.
We've seen how much success Giulia has had in her short time in WWE.
Gold upon gold in NXT,
and of course capped off right now by the United States Championship.
[music fades out]
[Barrett] What a bright future for this duo.
♪ Zelina Vega… ♪
-[crowd cheers] -["The Visual" plays]
[Tessitore] And a native New Yorker who comes across the Hudson now
to try to win back her prized US Championship.
Zelina Vega held the title for a couple months.
Had gone to war multiple times with Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice.
And now only one focus as you can just see with her disposition
and her look and the way she's coming to the ring.
Much different than the Zelina Vega we have seen in the recent past, Wade.
[Barrett] Yeah, I've seen Zelina around catering,
around the locker rooms over the past few weeks.
You're right. There is something very different about her.
That was a rare smile across the face. I haven't seen much of that lately.
That is a woman scorned,
a woman highly bitter, perhaps,
by the fact that she finally won WWE gold,
only to lose it within about 2 months,
and that has left Zelina on a tear, on a mission to win back the gold
that she sees as rightfully hers.
[Tessitore] Here in Newark, home of the Hall of Fame ring announcer Howard Finkel,
we go to the spirited ring announcer Mark Nash.
[bell rings]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it's for the Women's United States Championship.
[crowd cheers]
Introducing first,
the challenger,
-from Queens, New York… -[crowd cheers]
…Zelina Vega!
And her opponent,
accompanied by Kiana James,
from Tokyo, Japan,
she is the Women's United States Champion,
-Giulia! -[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Fought for the title back on June 27th.
The championship match that has gold now in the hands of Giulia.
She came up with the Northern Lights Bomb for the title win.
Hit that Arrivederci Knee, and thus her first title defense for that.
It is the United States Championship.
[Barrett] A rematch from Riyadh.
And one of the things I love about rematches
is you get to see exactly what the two competitors
have developed since the original match.
What new wrinkles are you gonna throw into this match
to keep your opponent guessing,
and I think the mere presence of Kiana James at ringside next to Giulia
adds a massive wrinkle on one side.
So the onus really for Zelina Vega is to keep the champ guessing here.
[Tessitore] No doubt about it, and you know what?
Often, rematches go in one of two directions.
They either pick up where they left off
or completely different because of going to school like you said,
of adapting, of figuring things out.
But that extra component with Kiana ringside now.
Glad you're with us here.
What a way to start Friday Night SmackDown as we go from what we heard,
from John Cena saying he got the wake-up call.
He is back to being the John Cena he always was right into this title match.
[Barrett] Yeah, I'm still not quite over that development at the top of the show.
But talking about a shocking development,
it was a major shock to the system of Zelina Vega after winning gold
and having that celebration for the best part of a month or two,
only to lose gold and really feel like your world has caved in on itself.
And now is the time for Vega to put that right, but it's not going well.
[Tessitore] Looked to finish it off quickly
as she slammed Vega down.
[Barrett] And I'm already seeing Kiana James on the outside of the ring,
this business representative of Giulia barking instructions, talking tactics.
Now Kiana James, to be clear, is not just a great businesswoman,
she is a former tag champ from NXT.
This girl really can fight.
She knows how to get things done in the ring,
but right now focusing on her business muscle
and letting Giulia do the fighting.
[Tessitore] Yeah, being an official representative
of the United States Champion
as Giulia looks to power Vega up!
[Barrett] Impressive power there from Giulia.
But of course Zelina Vega,
perhaps the most diminutive individual in the women's locker room.
[Tessitore] Hooking the leg, looking to retain.
And getting that right shoulder up is Zelina Vega.
[Barrett] Vega physically the underdog in pretty much every match she ever has.
That is something once again she's gonna have to combat tonight.
As she has so many times with great success.
As we've seen time and time again whether it's hitting the Code Red
or countering attacks.
[Barrett] Look at her mentor Rey Mysterio, the man who initially brought her
into the LWO as the first ever female member.
Some similarities there. It has to be said. Two career underdogs--
[Tessitore] Oh! The double knees off the apron!
And Zelina Vega trying to get back her prized possession.
US Championship match continues.
[crowd cheers]
[Tessitore] Glad you're with us here. Friday Night SmackDown
the night before SummerSlam.
Women's US Championship match as Giulia locking up Zelina Vega here,
trying to retain her first title defense,
and it comes with this rematch.
[Barrett] What a unique hold this is after that wheelbarrow face plant there
on Zelina Vega.
Immediately transitioned into this almost modified Camel Clutch here,
snapping the back of Zelina Vega,
who has to be really struggling for oxygen at this point.
[Tessitore] That submission hold broken for a moment as she grabs the legs again.
[Barrett] What are we talking about? Look at this.
[Tessitore] Look at the fight out of Zelina Vega.
Look at her eyes and the reaction here as that submission hold is locked in,
but somehow she fights out.
Counters it into a cover.
And right back to work goes Giulia.
-[Barrett] We were talking about new-- Oh! -[Tessitore] Oh!
[Barrett] Curb stomp!
[Tessitore] I mean, did you hear that?
[Barrett] Well, we talked about new wrinkles earlier on.
What new offense do you have?
And we've seen immediately there from Giulia,
two or three examples back-to-back,
and what chance did Vega have of countering any of that?
[Tessitore] Oh, the counter! The counter!
She was looking for that Northern Lights Bomb.
She finished her off back on June 27th with it to win this title,
and again, Vega able to get out of trouble and then spins free
with that kick to the midsection.
[Barrett] Well, those were a couple of desperation counters there
from Zelina Vega,
but has bought herself some breathing room
and now really needs to capitalize and get some momentum.
[Tessitore] Could this be the moment for Zelina Vega?
[Barrett] It's that dig-deep time.
How badly do you want your gold back Zelina Vega?
You gotta fight through the pain barrier here.
[Tessitore] She has been fighting throughout, has Vega.
[Barrett] Nice Saito Suplex connecting high angle on Giulia's neck and shoulders.
[Tessitore] Oh! The running knees just driving into the sternum.
[Barrett] Oh, looked like it caught the jaw too in the process,
and Giulia is in big trouble now, wobbled.
[Tessitore] Here's Vega! Giulia gets out of the way.
Able to get that big boot up and slam Vega into the corner.
[Barrett] Yeah, and that is why Giulia is championship level.
Just when she's rocked, she's wobbling,
eyes in the back of her head, in the blink of an eye,
she's still capable instinctively of turning the match around.
[Tessitore] Got the total package.
The skill, the dynamic athleticism.
[Barrett] The beauty and the madness, she has it all, Joe Tess,
but does she get the dub here tonight?
[Tessitore] That is what is on the line.
For 34 days, that United States Championship
has been in the hands of Giulia.
The Beautiful Madness of the Tokyo native.
Vega able to wiggle free.
[Barrett] Get out of trouble on that one, and now looking to stake the-- Oh!
[Tessitore] Oh! How about it, Zelina Vega?
[Barrett] An avalanche German suplex, and this could be it, Joe.
[Tessitore] So much has been taken out of her though.
Look as she struggles to get to the cover.
[Barrett] Oh!
And that for Zelina Vega after pulling out this high angle
German suplex at the second rope
to get the cover and be within a millisecond of recapturing
the US Championship must be devastating for the challenger.
[Tessitore] Massive crowd here in Brick City,
Newark, New Jersey, Prudential Center.
They're already chanting, "This is awesome,"
and it'll be two days of awesome tomorrow at MetLife Stadium.
It gets underway with SummerSlam.
[Barrett] They are getting a show from these two women.
Exactly what we all anticipated when we saw this matchup on deck.
[Tessitore] A series of headbutts,
and Giulia is back in position to go for it again.
[Barrett] Oh, God. What the hell are you trying here?
-Butterfly Suplex! -[Tessitore] And she lands it!
And stays with it and scoops her right back into position.
-[Barrett] Arrivederci! -[Tessitore] Arrivederci Knee.
And lining her up for the Northern Lights Bomb.
Can she deliver?
Sit out, cover, hook of the leg.
[Barrett, Tessitore exclaim]
[Tessitore] Oh, my! She's in disbelief!
-Absolutely incredulous! -[Barrett] Oh, my God!
[Tessitore] Kiana can't believe it either!
How did Zelina Vega find the strength?
[Barrett] Well, it was the triple whammy.
Not only this double underhook suplex from the top,
we saw an Arrivederci Knee to the jaw and this Northern Lights Bomb
with some added torque in there.
And somehow the Ultimate Underdog is still ticking.
[crowd chants] This is awesome!
[Barrett] Well, I'll tell you two people who disagree with that.
That's Giulia and Kiana James. Far from awesome.
This should have been over for them.
[Tessitore] She's going right back to it.
Giulia…
Great counter! Vega with the counter!
Can she get gold back? No, the kick out by Giulia.
[Barrett] Oh, this is completely up for grabs now.
If you're a betting man, save your money. I'm clueless here.
[Tessitore] Oh, Vega's coming up every which way.
[Barrett] Nailing that back cracker and the champ now in agony.
[Tessitore] She is still struggling to gather herself.
She may be trying to get in position for a moonsault,
but look at what it's taking out of her just to climb the ropes.
Wincing in pain, moonsault's lined up,
knees came up by Giulia.
Both struggling to gather it all, and Giulia now finding it.
And again in position.
Northern Lights Bomb!
Will that do it?
-Yes! -[bell rings]
["Time Of Arrival" plays]
[Nash] Here is your winner
and still Women's United States Champion,
Giulia!
[Tessitore] Wade, her first title defense is in the books,
and it was extremely hard, well-earned.
[Barrett] Yeah, what a fight from Zelina Vega,
who is now completely wiped out after taking so much abuse from the champ.
But congratulations, Giulia.
What an effort it was with this back cracker from Vega,
who then went up for a moonsault,
but unfortunately for the challenger, knees up just about by Giulia.
And then finally this Northern Lights Bomb connecting.
Victory, successful defense, and with an added new competitive edge
from Kiana James.
What a fearsome champ Giulia looks to be.
I'm here with United States Champion Solo Sikoa and the MFTs.
Solo, this Sunday at SummerSlam,
you defend that championship inside a steel cage.
But tonight, a steel cage hangs above the ring,
and I've heard that that is per your request.
Why?
Requested?
What are you talking about Cathy, huh?
Do I look like ring crew to you?
Hmm? No. Okay?
The only two things that I'm worried about is this title and my MFTs.
Speaking of your family tree,
Talla Tonga makes his in-ring debut tonight
-against your big brother Jimmy-- -Little!
Little big brother, Cathy. Okay?
Tonight, Big Jim is going to get a big boot across his big mouth
against my 7-foot monster Talla Tonga.
You see, tonight is about sending a message.
Hmm, and what's that stupid crap?
What's that stupid saying, huh?
Uh… Oh!
Get in… [scoffs]
…where you fit in?
Yadadamean?
[chuckles]
-I don't know what he means, but I do-- -[Sikoa] Yes, you do.
-[Tessitore] Thank you, Cathy. -["Soul March" playing]
[Barrett] Still, the mystery lingers,
who the hell put the steel cage above the ring tonight?
Apparently was not Solo Sikoa.
[bell ringing]
[Nash] The following contest is an open challenge match,
and it's for the AAA World Tag Team Championship.
Introducing first, accompanied by Santos Escobar,
representing Legado Del Fantasma,
they are the AAA World Tag Team Champions.
Angel. Berto.
Los Garza!
[Tessitore] Yeah, the WWE veterans who went to the famed AAA promotions
and took the Tag Team title.
So the AAA champs are here first televised events in a sense,
but we don't know who they're fighting.
It's an open challenge. Could be any superstars from any brand.
The mystery of the open challenge gets revealed next.
[Tessitore] Let's take you back to June 15th.
It was AAA mania, a night when the Fatal 4-Way determined
-the AAA World Tag Team Championships. -[bell ringing]
[Tessitore] What a show that was put on by Los Garza
as Angel and Berto would celebrate in the end,
winning the AAA World Tag Team Championships.
They've yet to win a WWE Tag Team titles,
but a change in scenery brought out the very best in them 46 days ago,
celebrating AAA World Tag Team Championship.
And their leader of Legado Del Fantasma, Santos Escobar,
feeling mighty proud and confident.
-[music fades] -[indistinct chattering]
New Jersey!
[crowd cheering]
It's time
for each and every one of you to stand up and show respect
for the AAA World Tag Team Champions,
Los Garza!
[speaks Spanish]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, look. All we demand of you is respect.
I mean,
not that you're familiar with the concept anyways, but that's besides the point.
Look, we're here for a reason.
Any Tag Team in the back. [speaks Spanish]
If you wanna be Lucha Libre royalty, all you gotta do is come out here
and face Los Garza for these titles right now.
[Tessitore] Who is it gonna be?
-["Anthem Rock" playing] -[Barrett] Oh, my God.
[Tessitore] No. No, no, no.
-Is this really happening, Wade? -[Barrett] Oh, no.
[Tessitore] Is this really happening?
The Lovable Lizard, the Green Machine, with Psycho Clown.
It's Mr. Iguana and La Yesca.
[Nash] And their opponents, making their way to the ring,
the team of Psycho Clown
-and Mr. Iguana! -[Tessitore chuckling]
-Well, Joe Tess… -[Tessitore chuckling]
-…is jumping out of his seat right now. -[Tessitore] I mean…
[Barrett] To be clear, the man in green is Mr. Iguana
and he has a plush toy with him in the form of an iguana.
This man was the standout performer of the recent AAA Worlds Collide,
-and the man behind him… -[Tessitore] Oh, yeah.
-…the man behind him… -[Tessitore] Oh, yeah.
[Barrett] …Psycho Clown is perhaps the biggest star of Lucha Libre
south of the border in Mexico over the past ten years.
So yes, this apparent collective of weirdos…
-[Tessitore] No, no, no. -[Barrett] …is a major, major deal.
[Tessitore] We're not gonna disrespect La Yesca,
the nickname for the iguana of Mr. Iguana.
-Newark has turned into a rainforest… -[crowd chanting] Iguana! Iguana!
…a habitat for a cold-blooded, egg-laying reptile.
[bell ringing]
[Tessitore] Mr. Iguana is here on SmackDown.
[Barrett] Did you just go on Wikipedia and look up iguanas?
-[Tessitore] Psycho Clown is… [chuckles] -[Psycho Clown shouting]
[Tessitore] Psycho Clown is gonna get things started.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] All right, now. Psycho Clown is a major deal, like I say, in Mexico.
Perhaps the biggest thing in Lucha Libre for the past ten years
and the son of my personal favorite ever luchador, Super Porky.
[Tessitore] Got a great combination of athleticism and size.
Crossbody by Psycho Clown.
AAA World Tag Team title matches. He's getting to work on Angel and Berto.
[Barrett] Suddenly slapping down Los Garza right at the very get-go of this one,
[Tessitore] Oh, ripping the shirt off as he is one to do
off the Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker,
Psycho Clown.
[Barrett] And I'll tell you right now there is a sentiment within AAA
that their locker room are embarrassed
by the fact that two superstars from SmackDown
in Los Garza came down to their territory and won their gold,
and clearly the mission tonight for Psycho Clown and Mr. Iguana
is to bring them back.
[Tessitore] The pop up for him right into the cover.
-[Barrett] What a start from Psycho Clown… -Iguana! Iguana!
…hasn't even tagged in the Green Machine quite yet.
[crowd chanting] Iguana! Iguana!
And you can hear the crowd here chanting "Iguana."
[Barrett] Well, they're not getting Iguana.
Mr. Psycho Clown has no interest in tagging out quite yet,
and who can blame him?
He is kicking…
Oh!
…backside from the get-go.
But that perhaps was a step too far for our clown friend.
[Tessitore] Yeah, Berto makes him pay the price.
So the open challenge met by Psycho Clown and Mr. Iguana
as Los Garza a month and a half ago claiming the AAA World Tag Team titles.
[Barrett] I'll tell you right now,
Santos Escobar is adamant that his men run Lucha Libre.
The rest of the pack are just imitators and hobbyists, and Legado Del Fantasma
are ready to prove that to any and all challengers in the ring.
And what a way to turn this one around
and poor Psycho Clown now perhaps wishing he'd made that tag when he could.
[Tessitore] Oh, man, oh, man, the double-team effort
-as Angel and Berto combining. -[shouts]
[Tessitore] And just wild to have the first time that non-WWE titles
are defended on what is a major regularly scheduled WWE TV event.
-And there is La Yesca… -[Barrett] What is this guy doing?
-It's… -[Tessitore] …in the hands of Mr. Iguana.
-[Barrett] You keep calling it La Yesca. -[Tessitore] La Yesca!
[Barrett] It's a puppet!
[Tessitore] No, it is… it is not. He will not…
-[Barrett] What is it? -[Tessitore] It's an iguana.
[Barrett] Well, it's not a real iguana. It's a puppet.
And if it's a real iguana, I will possibly call the ASPCA.
[Tessitore] It is a spiny-backed, sharp claw, proud iguana.
[crowd chanting Iguana! Iguana!
[Barrett] Whether it's a plush toy or a real iguana,
I promise you that thing is riddled with parasites and has no place in a WWE ring.
[Tessitore] Yeah. Wait till you hear the reaction.
If he makes his way in here, if they can survive, Psycho Clown and Mr. Iguana.
[Barrett] With any luck, he won't even get tagged in.
Let's end this quickly and get this charade put to bed.
[Tessitore] Now right now that could be the case
as Los Garza looks to maintain control but Psycho Clown looking to fight back.
[Barrett] Man, this guy is a scrapper, has some major pedigree in his jeans
and is now scrambling over to tag the lizard man, or whatever you call him.
[Tessitore] That'd be Mr. Iguana.
He's trying desperately
-as he reaches out the hand… -[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] …and here he comes with La Yesca in his mouth.
Would you look at this?
[Barrett] Oh, that was like a 3D Head Scissors there.
[Tessitore] Helicopter Troll Spin right into the springboard.
And La Yesca and Iguana are heating up Newark.
[crowd cheering] Iguana! Iguana!
[Barrett] This arena is losing its damn--
[Tessitore] Oh! Iguana blocking the right hand.
[Barrett] I think it bit the hand of Angel! That's illegal.
Oh, my God.
[Tessitore] He was looking for the springboard.
And he comes with the Iguanarana!
[Barrett] About recovered there
from what could have been catastrophic for Mr. Iguana.
-A crucifix bomb! -One! Two!
[Barrett] A late, late kick out there from Berto
and Santos Escobar on the outside is perspiring in a bad way,
as his men almost just lost AAA gold.
-[crowd clapping] -[Tessitore] We've seen it all
from Mr. Iguana and La Yesca
and now he's looking to fly!
Oh, but he is caught by Angel and Berto.
[Barrett] Keep an eye on the clown! Oh!
[Tessitore] And they throw him right back into Psycho Clown.
[Barrett] Well, this has turned around in a major way
thanks to some vicious maneuvering there from Los Garza.
[Tessitore] Psycho Clown up in that fireman's carry.
Berto able to break free and springboard with the big kick.
-[Barrett shouts in Spanish] -[Tessitore] Hooks the leg.
[Barrett] What an absolute scramble this matchup has been.
And now Psycho Clown in a bad, bad way.
Mr. Iguana on the outside has been brutalized too
and now slung back in on the inside by Berto.
The hell are these two cooking up here?
[Tessitore] Iguana's not in good shape here as they are teeing him up.
[Barrett] Iguana's in a bad way, Psycho Clown's in a bad way,
and it might be about to get worse if these two can connect with this one, Joe.
[Tessitore] Berto and Angel with him up high
trying to line up that super MTY.
-As La Yesca can't help n… Oh! -One! Two!
Surviving.
[Barrett] I'm astounded that anybody could kick out of the MTY
but this Mr. Iguana has a hell of a lot more in the tank
-than I personally gave him credit for. -[crowd chanting] Iguana!
[Tessitore] The survival skills of iguanas, able to detach their tails
and escape predators.
And Psycho Clown crossbody.
[Barrett] I love this Psycho Clown guy. He might be my all-time favorite.
I think he's just replaced his dad.
Super Porky is my personal favorite Luchador, but oh, deary me.
[Tessitore] Right back to position. Right back to position for the MTY.
-And hooking the leg to retain… -One! Two! Three!
-…and they do after such a game effort… -[bell ringing]
…from Psycho Clown, Mr. Iguana and La Yesca.
[Nash] Here are your winners,
and still AAA World Tag Team champion,
Los Garza!
[Tessitore] The open challenge was met.
Every single house there's just a bunch of trash sitting outside.
-And inside the houses too. -It's smells like puke.
Excuse me, Logan, Drew, earlier tonight we saw footage of you attacking Jelly Roll
during his training session.
How do you justify that ambush?
I have nothing to say to you, Cathy.
Maybe Drew does.
No.
Anything we have to say we're gonna say in front of the world later tonight.
Thank you so much. Joe, Wade.
[Tessitore] Thank you, Cathy. We will see how things develop there.
Damian Priest was playing peacemaker with R-Truth and Aleister Black.
Black didn't go for it.
We will see them against each other.
[dramatic music playing]
[Aldis] I have had enough.
You lot are hell-bent on destroying each other over those Tag Team titles.
At SummerSlam, it will be Tables, Ladders, and Chairs
for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
["We Up" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[music cuts out] -[eerie music plays]
[music stops]
[Tessitore] You want it, you got it.
Tables, Ladders and Chairs for the Tag Team gold at SummerSlam.
[Tessitore] Wade, last week that all-out brawl when Andrade and Rey Fénix
were near a win and then Nick Aldis declaring, "We're doing it this way."
[Barrett] An all-out brawl is how you can describe the SmackDown Tag division
for the entirety of 2025 and it ain't gonna stop at SummerSlam Sunday
because we got TLC.
["Rise For The Night" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ All rise for the rock star ♪
[bell ringing]
[Nash] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from New York City,
weighing in at 249 pounds,
Damian Priest!
[Tessitore] It is not that far of a drive from here in Newark,
to where there's a street in the Bronx named after Damian Priest,
and that street cred he carries is real.
So are the attacks he can deliver, and he has warned Aleister Black of that.
And now it's too late. It is on.
[Barrett] Well, Priest has been acting as a confidant of sort
to Aleister Black since his return to SmackDown a couple of months ago,
but Black decided he was sick and tired of Damian Priest
giving him some unsolicited advice and getting up in Black's business.
And ultimately Aleister Black connected with not one, but two Black Masses
to the former World Heavyweight Champ.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] Damian Priest has been on the warpath for the past couple of weeks.
He got caught out again by Aleister Black during a match with Carmelo Hayes.
-So there is some major punishment… -["Root Of All Evil" playing]
[Barrett] …to be delivered in the mind of Damian Priest tonight.
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ No man is ever truly good ♪
♪ No man is ever truly evil… ♪
[Tessitore] Aleister Black, you mentioned it,
the snap backstage with the attack on Damian Priest a few weeks ago.
That Black Mass kick sent Priest flying.
He's turned to an even darker side, and mysterious side
with the way he's gone about his business lately.
Now really steps into the kind of matchup that both men are built for,
toeing the line to living your best, striking with a striker.
[Barrett] Yeah, I'm still fascinated
by this apparent personality shift of Aleister Black.
He's only been back here a couple of months.
He seemed to be the kind of guy
who wanted to simply get in the ring, do his thing, compete,
and fast-track himself to the top of the card.
However, in his mind at least,
that momentum has been completely derailed initially by R-Truth
and then by Damian Priest.
And this shift to a more darker or nastier side of Aleister Black
has come with that loss of momentum.
[Tessitore] As he said, Damian Priest stuck his nose in his business.
[music fades]
And the debt that Aleister talked about collecting on R-Truth,
-that is inherited by Damian Priest. -[bell ringing]
[Barrett] And I think to Damian Priest's credit,
he's been around the block here in WWE.
He's a former World Heavyweight Champion.
He was simply trying to offer some help and advice
to a recently-returning superstar in Aleister Black,
and in my mind, I think Priest has earned the right to do that
with his performances over the last several years.
[Tessitore] I agree with that.
[Barrett] But it simply fell on deaf ears,
came at the wrong time for Aleister Black, who snapped in the process
and is now perhaps looking to snap the body of Damian Priest
in the form of punishment.
Yeah, Priest's reaction to that was pretty clear,
as there's a strike to that back of the leg. I mean, look at that face.
He said, listen, when I get back to the tristate area,
I get to my New York backyard, I don't play peacemaker.
I'm bringing the hands and I'm punishing you.
[Barrett] I mean he's got a street background, does Damian Priest,
brought up in the toughest areas of both the Bronx and Puerto Rico.
When you step to Damian Priest, there are always gonna be consequences.
[Tessitore] And now he comes with a striking attack.
With the big right boot looking for the spinning kick,
but Aleister gets out of the way and it's funny because Aleister Black
uses the analogy, right, of collecting a debt,
and Priest turned and looked into the camera a week ago and says,
"Hey, by the way, I used to deal with debt collectors
and after they dealt with me, they don't go around collecting debts anymore."
Damian Priest is one intimidating presence…
[Tessitore] Oh!
[Barrett] …and he can move like a lightweight
and that is a bad, bad combination to be stood across the ring from.
And you're right though, Joe, perhaps the two best strikers
in the entirety of the men's locker room,
we know about the Muay Thai strikes of Aleister Black.
But the long range-y strikes of Damian Priest
-as we've seen several times in the match. -[Tessitore] Yes.
[Barrett] He got caught up on the ropes there
and quick as a flash was Aleister Black.
[Tessitore] Oh, and there goes Black,
right over the top and flattening Damian Priest.
[Tessitore] First time we've seen Damian Priest and Aleister Black
one on one in the ring.
Here we are on SmackDown,
the night before history will be made with a two-night SummerSlam.
Earlier tonight, the big headline of the night
-is that John Cena has come to his senses. -[Barrett] Oh, wow! Oh, my God.
-Right to the point of the jaw. -[Tessitore] What a knee.
One! Two!
-[Tessitore] Black into the cover. -[Barrett] Oh!
[Tessitore] And getting that left shoulder up, is Damian Priest,
but once again, earlier tonight, John Cena coming to his senses
as he addressed Cody Rhodes.
-As we take a look back at the knee. -[Barrett] Take a look at this.
[Barrett] Right on the point of the jaw with that Tiger Knee.
I cannot believe that Damian Priest kicked out of that.
And from pretty much after the first opening minute or two of this match,
it has been all Aleister Black,
who is now just taunting someone who was not so long ago
the World Heavyweight Champion and a dominant one at that. Uh-oh.
[Tessitore] But as we have seen through the years, time and again,
Damian Priest has this kind of ability to fight back.
[Barrett] Well, that's the problem, you start writing off Damian Priest
when you stood opposite him, when you haven't finished the job,
here's what happens.
And you saw the taunting from Aleister Black,
that's just woken the beast inside Damian Priest.
It looks like he's bleeding from the mouth,
probably from one of those kicks or perhaps that knee.
-And now, Joe, I think-- -[Tessitore] He's gonna go Old School.
[Barrett] We're gonna get ourselves a little Old School Punishment,
bequeathed to Damian Priest from his mentor, The Undertaker.
[Tessitore] Oh, that giant frame just crashing down crossbody
-with all that weight. -[crowd cheering]
[crowd clapping]
[Tessitore] Blast away.
-One! Two! -[Tessitore] Straight into the hook,
and Black survives it.
[Barrett] Got so much momentum off that recoil from the clothesline
and now Damian Priest seeing and tasting his own blood.
The darkness inside Priest, the rage inside Priest is coming to the fore.
[Tessitore] Priest.
Countered by Black and then working that left leg
and kick for kick they meet each other.
[Barrett] It has been strike for strike thus far,
and right now, rocked is the Muay Thai expert.
Aleister Black, who has no clue where he's at,
-unfortunately, preseason… Oh! -[Tessitore] Oh!
What a knee he just ate again! Black.
[Barrett] Such a hard move to pull off so accurately against a moving target.
Aleister Black wasn't even looking at Damian Priest when he started that leap,
and it connected once again to the point of the jaw.
[Tessitore] All the heated attacks in recent weeks,
saying "You're inheriting the debt that I am going to collect."
-Went for the moonsault. -[Barrett] Oh, God.
[Tessitore] Oh, he just pounces him completely over our announce desk.
[Barrett] The power and the rage of Damian Priest
exploding on Aleister Black,
completely trashing our desk, and it's about to get even uglier now.
[Tessitore] As Black is trying to climb to his feet.
And Priest is clearing off the desk looking to put forth more punishment.
-Oh, a steel chair! -[Barrett] Oh, God! Right to the forehead.
-[Tessitore] A steel chair from Black. -[bell ringing]
[Tessitore] This match is over. He's DQ'ed.
A steel chair right to the face of Damian Priest.
[Barrett] The referee's doing her best to get some control here,
but now Aleister Black has completely lost it.
All right! Let him go!
I want you to leave.
All right? Just go.
[Barrett] Match of course thrown out. Damian Priest completely glassy-eyed.
-Wait up. Oh, my God. -[Tessitore] Oh, no. Another!
Steel chair attack. Match is already over.
He has been DQ'ed, and he still has that chair in-hand.
[Tessitore] Guess this is the way he intends to collect the debt.
No! He will not stop.
[Barrett] Well, that is enough now, and thankfully,
the chair finally taken away, but is the damage already done?
Looking at Damian Priest's carcass, you would have to say, "Hell yes."
-Well, this apparently was-- -[Tessitore] What is he doing?
-[Barrett] Oh, my God. -[Tessitore] He just slammed his head
right into the steel steps.
Somebody's gotta stop him.
[Barrett] This was never about a victory tonight, Joe.
This was about exacting some physical punishment
on a man who has temporarily at least derailed the career of Aleister Black.
[Tessitore] This has to end.
-[Black] I'm not done yet. -[Tessitore] The steel stairs.
[referee] No!
[Barrett] "I'm not done yet." I heard that.
-You brought this on yourself. -[referee] Please, no more.
[Tessitore] "You brought this on yourself," he says.
-Black Mass! -[Barrett] Oh, my God.
-[Tessitore] Black Mass! -[Barrett] Oh, my God.
[Tessitore] After numerous times slamming his head into the steel,
a Black Mass kick.
[Barrett] I felt that one.
Oh, my God. That just rattled the brains of Damian Priest
and this Aleister Black is one dangerous human being.
[Tessitore] That crossed the line.
[Barrett] Geez, get Damian Priest some help out here, please.
[Tessitore] It's just not a good scene
with Damian Priest taking the worst of it from Aleister Black.
[Barrett] Defenseless Priest eating that Black Mass flush to the jaw.
His entire skull rattling around at ringside.
[Tessitore] You see Priest reaching for his jaw.
[Barrett] Oh, my God, that was sicking… sickening, shocking,
and ultimately completely devastating for Damian Priest, who is just in a heap now.
Of course this comes before we get to two days of action with SummerSlam,
and that includes the high stakes of what will be
the WWE Women's Championship match.
Jade and Tiffany, let's remind everyone what happened last week, Wade.
[Barrett] Yeah, so this was Chelsea Green getting taken out by Cargill,
-but as always the Secret Hervice… -[bell ringing]
…were ready to pounce post-match with a vicious beatdown of their own…
-["Tiffy Time" playing] -…saved, however, by Tiffany Stratton,
effectively protecting her SummerSlam opponent.
Worked a little tandem offense against Fyre and Niven
and then Jade Cargill seemed to get a little too attached
to Tiffany's championship.
Will that power the storm to victory at SummerSlam?
[crowd cheering]
About last week…
I didn't need your help. I can hold my own.
I mean, maybe, but I wasn't gonna have you walking into our match limping.
-Right. -And besides, when I beat you tomorrow,
-I don't want there to be any excuses. -[chuckles]
Trust, there won't be.
Remember, I was the first to step to you after Mania.
Now there's no distractions, no cashes to worry about, nothing in my way.
I'm gonna finish what I started.
-[cheering] -[music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Nash] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
introducing first, accompanied by the United States Champion Solo Sikoa,
Talla Tonga!
[Tessitore] We had that "who in the world" moment
at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia.
In a short time we've come to very much know just who Talla Tonga is.
Jimmy Uso, Talla Tonga with Solo Sikoa, next.
[fans] I love you, Solo!
[Barrett] Wow, look at the size of this man.
-["Born A King" plays] -[Tessitore] Talla Tonga.
[Barrett] And this man heading through the entrance way now, in my opinion,
is the man who drew the short straw
at having to be the first active competitor
to step in there with Talla Tonga.
[Nash] And his opponent from San Francisco, California.
Weighing in at 251 pounds,
Jimmy Uso!
[Tessitore] Wade, we gotta go back to last week with what happened.
Jimmy was trying to do the right thing for Jacob Fatu.
[Barrett] Well, Fatu got the win against The Miz,
with an MFT beatdown immediately ensuing
while Big Jim decided to take out MFT after MFT with a steel chair
until hitting a roadblock
in the form of the nearly 7-foot tall Talla Tonga.
And with Talla Tonga just dropping bodies left, right and center,
including Jacob Fatu, major momentum for Solo Sikoa
ahead of Solo and Fatu's showdown inside a steel cage at SummerSlam.
[Tessitore] Jimmy Uso is not a small man at all.
[bell dings]
[Tessitore] And look at the size of Talla Tonga.
I mean, look at that matchup.
[Barrett] Talla Tonga has not been small since he was about ten years old.
Dude is absolutely huge.
The biggest superstar in the locker room of WWE,
and we're about to get a firsthand experience of how that man
knows how to use that size.
[Tessitore] Yeah, he has had a punishing effect
on anybody who has stepped near Solo Sikoa.
But the veteran Jimmy Uso, trying to get on the attack right away against them,
able to block that attempt at a right hand.
[Barrett groans]
[Tessitore] Oh, man, oh, man, it doesn't take much from Talla Tonga, does it?
[Barrett] Massive overhand chop like a big bear paw to a flying Jimmy Uso,
an effortless takedown.
-Oh, my God. -[Tessitore] Oh, man.
[Barrett] I mean it was an opening flurry from Big Jim as you would expect,
and normally that at least has some impact on an opponent.
But this guy.
This Talla Tonga is just built different,
almost decapitating Big Jim with that lariat.
When you have arms the size of a normal guy's legs
and you can swing them like that,
you are gonna be highly effective here on…
[Tessitore] Oh! The leg drop.
All day.
[Tessitore] As he generates all that momentum. And you hear Solo.
[Barrett] This might be Talla Tonga's first match here on SmackDown,
but this is a well-traveled individual.
Competed and won championships across the UK, and indeed in Japan.
He's got the reps and now Solo Sikoa with him at the helm,
guiding this big beast of a human being.
This is how effective he can be.
[Tessitore] Slamming Big Jim down.
As Solo continues to talk ringside.
Of course, the United States champion
who will have the steel cage match against Jacob Fatu on night two at SummerSlam.
[Barrett] Jacob Fatu, the former soldier of Solo Sikoa who wanted away.
Well, he got replaced in a big way by Talla Tonga.
[Tessitore] Oh, smart.
[Barrett] And Talla Tonga, a man who has been following orders to a T thus far.
[Tessitore] Big Jim looking to rally here
as he sends Talla Tonga out into the floor.
[Barrett] Big Jim knows no fear whatsoever.
Nice, but still on his feet is the massive Talla Tonga.
[Tessitore] He's taking his shots though.
[Barrett] Oh, that is terrifying. He just shrugs off the abuse.
And now Solo Sikoa putting the brakes on, let's rethink this.
[Tessitore] Jimmy Uso having a tough go of it here
in his first match since losing to Solo Sikoa at Saturday Night's Main Event.
That was for the US championship three weeks ago and now it's Talla Tonga,
the newest big heavy for Solo Sikoa and his turned family of MFTs.
As Talla Tonga has been in control for quite some time here in this match,
and constantly looking over at Solo Sikoa
who's been barking out orders and taunting his big brother.
[Barrett] Well, I'll say this about Solo Sikoa,
as impressive as he is in ring with his fists,
his tactical acumen, his ability to direct traffic
with his soldiers, with his MFTs, is absolutely astounding.
If anyone can guide Talla Tonga to the very top, it is Solo Sikoa.
How effective has that overhand chop been?
That has been a game wrecker tonight.
[Tessitore] Yeah, for every three to four strikes from Uso
it just takes one from the massive Talla Tonga.
And again placing that big boot with all that leverage
of nearly 7-foot tall and 265 pounds.
What a frame from Talla Tonga.
[Barrett] And here's what I like about Talla Tonga: It is the pacing.
Everything is deliberate.
He isn't rushing anything. There's no nerves with this being the first night.
I don't think this man is capable of having nerves.
Although any of his opponents lined up over the next few weeks
will certainly have more than their fair share.
[Tessitore] His first official televised WWE match,
singles action here on SmackDown,
but he won several tag team championships in New Japan Pro wrestling.
And we've seen him by the side of Solo Sikoa
doing plenty of damage in recent weeks.
[Barrett] And I will tell you right now there are far easier opponents to get
as your first match than big Jimmy Uso.
This is not an easy test for Talla Tonga,
although at times he certainly has made it look that way.
[Tessitore] Big Jim, can he get him up into position?
[Barrett] That's just crazy, Jim.
And I get it. Adrenaline is pumping.
You're looking for a Hail Mary at this point after receiving such a beating,
but picking up Talla Tonga simply not happening.
[Tessitore] Yeah, I think you saw all the damage that was done
as it had its effect on Jimmy Uso.
Now he tries to drive that shoulder into the mid-section
and comes up with the kick.
[Barrett] And this is the tactics for Big Jim, hit and run, keep moving.
-[Tessitore] This is what he needs. -[Barrett] Oh.
-[Tessitore] Oh. But instead, again… -[Barrett] Caught by the throat.
He's gonna rip the Adam's apple off Big Jim,
but Big Jim escaping now with a super kick.
[Tessitore] Instead of a chokeslam opportunity,
here's super kick after super kick and an opportunity for Jimmy Uso.
[Barrett] Still this Talla Tonga just lands on his feet, shakes his head.
Oh! Solo Sikoa gets dropped.
[Tessitore] Solo gets up on the apron just when Jimmy had momentum.
Could it be? Spear!
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] Here comes Big Jim, crawling back.
[Barrett] Talla Tonga finally taken off his feet
and can Big Jim put this one to bed?
[Tessitore] Going up in position.
Oh, but instead of the Uso Splash,
the big, long reach of Talla Tonga.
[Barrett] Oh, God, just shrugging off that spear, catching the throat.
[Tessitore] Chokeslam, Talla Tonga.
-[Barrett] Good night, Jim. -One, two, three.
[bell rings]
[Nash] Here is your winner.
Talla Tonga!
[Tessitore] The sight of that long stabbing arm…
Come on. Come!
[Tessitore] …being in the way.
And now Solo, what is he doing? Directing traffic again?
And look at this. JC Mateo and Tonga.
Tama Tonga and JC Mateo beating down Jimmy Uso.
Pull the cage down. Down!
-[Barrett] Oh, no, oh, wait up. -[Tessitore] No, no, no.
We were questioning why a steel cage was hanging over,
and now you see Solo saying lower it.
[Barrett] This is like the sword of Damocles dropping on Jimmy Uso.
You are about to be locked in this cage with a bunch of savages
as we take a look back at the dying embers
of this attempt to fell this massive beast that is Talla Tonga
denied by this chokeslam and a quick three-count,
but right now a message perhaps about to be sent
ahead of Solo Sikoa's cage match at Summerslam.
[Tessitore] He's gonna spike him.
The cage is lowering and he's gonna spike him.
Wait a minute.
Fatu!
[Barrett] Well, Solo Sikoa's opponent at SummerSlam
is here in the nick of time.
[Tessitore] As a steel cage is lowering
to trap Jimmy Uso and beat him down,
Solo Sikoa makes it into the steel cage just in time.
Come Sunday night at SummerSlam,
the cage will have Fatu and Solo locked in for that US championship.
Where is Solo going all of a sudden? He's bailing on him.
[Barrett] Getting the hell away from Jacob Fatu,
and who can blame him?
But now perhaps a mugging on Fatu.
[Tessitore] JC Mateo, Tama Tanga, trying to double-up on Fatu,
and yet the Samoan Werewolf is getting the best of them in the steel cage.
[Barrett] Well this trap was completely set up and baited by Solo Sikoa
supposedly to send a message to the Samoan Werewolf.
[Tessitore] Pop-up Samoan.
[Barrett] But this has backfired in a major way
and now Solo Sikoa is watching his men get destroyed.
[crowd cheering] Fatu! Fatu! Fatu!
[Tessitore] He tried to trap Jimmy. He tried to escape from Fatu.
And Fatu has taken the MFTs
and shown them who's boss in a steel cage.
[Barrett] And Solo Sikoa is looking on thinking,
"Oh, my God, I've got to be in that cage with this Samoan Werewolf
at SummerSlam Sunday with the United States championship
on the tar… on the line."
[Tessitore] A mighty Moonsault for one, and now a mighty Moonsault for the other.
They are locked in there with a werewolf.
Yo, Wolfie, what's up?
[Tessitore] What a statement made by Jacob Fatu.
He's looking at Solo.
I'm gonna beat your ass Sunday.
This is mine. You ain't taking it.
It's mine.
Yeah, lick that ****. This is mine.
-This is mine. -[crowd chanting] Fatu!
[Barrett] Well, Solo Sikoa and the MFTs fell on their own sword tonight.
Will that be the case in 48 hours at SummerSlam
with that championship on the line inside the steel cage?
-Whoo. -[Tessitore] 37 years ago this month,
it was just across the Hudson River in midtown Manhattan
when the industry changed again forever with SummerSlam
and that is gonna be coming your way at now this history maker--
it's grown bigger than ever--
the first two-night SummerSlam.
Fourth time that it's being held nearby here in East Rutherford, New Jersey,
as we're in Newark, New Jersey tonight.
Let's take you through the entire weekend and show you what's coming your way
for the biggest party of the summer.
The World Heavyweight Championship, CM Punk and the Ring General Gunther,
Saturday night from MetLife Stadium.
Plus the Women's Tag Team Championship match.
"We're not friends," boy, they're making a nice pairing, aren't they?
Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss.
Can they take down Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez?
We find out Saturday night, Wade.
[Barrett] And if you can't break the mind and the spirit,
perhaps you can break the body.
Karrion Kross is gonna try it all as he goes one-on-one
with his chosen victim, Sami Zayn,
tomorrow night, SummerSlam Saturday.
And then we have the match that still does not seem real.
Randy Orton and Jelly Roll will take on Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul
in tag action on SummerSlam Saturday.
[Tessitore] The video we showed you earlier tonight
of the beat down of Jelly Roll at the training session.
And the WWE Women's Championship match.
Tiffany Stratton, Queen of the Ring, Jade Cargill.
They will decide it Saturday night, not far away
at MetLife Stadium, starting at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
Plus, did you see the beatdown on Monday Night Raw?
Did you see what happened as Bron Breakker
crashed through against Jey Uso and Roman Reigns?
And then the audacity to take his shoes like a schoolyard bully.
Now Reigns and Uso, Breakker and Big Bronson Reed,
tag team action at SummerSlam Saturday night.
[Barrett] Now let's move on to SummerSlam Sunday
because one of the greatest matches ever
was ruined by Miss Money in the Bank, Naomi, at Evolution.
This time though, there is no advantage to Naomi.
Women's World Championship on the line
as Naomi defends against Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky.
That is this Sunday.
And as we just saw Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa
will be locked in a steel cage, one-on-one,
with the United States Championship on the line.
SummerSlam Sunday.
[Tessitore] Of course, incredible moments made at MetLife Stadium
in the past from Becky Lynch,
and now it is this, the Women's Intercontinental Championship match.
Lyra Valkyria, the recent champ.
Becky Lynch holding gold, this time no count-outs, no DQs,
Women's Intercontinental Championship match.
And on the men's side, the IC title,
AJ Styles has been chasing him down.
Dirty Dom will step in and defend Intercontinental Championship.
Styles and Dirty Dom coming your way Sunday from SummerSlam.
[Barrett] Now the SmackDown tag division
has been chaos and bedlam for months and months,
including an absolute banger TLC match a little earlier this year.
Well, guess what?
We're doing it all over again.
SummerSlam Sunday, six of the best competing
for the Wyatt Sicks WWE Tag Team Championship in TLC.
And then the main event of SummerSlam Sunday.
Apparently, as we heard earlier, the real John Cena is back.
That is exactly what Cody Rhodes asked for,
but what he really wants is to win the WWE Undisputed Championship.
He gets the chance tomorrow against John Cena in a street fight,
the main event of SummerSlam Sunday.
[Tessitore] Countdown show begins at 3:00 Eastern,
SummerSlam, 6:00 Eastern,
all streaming on Peacock.
Here's Cathy.
Guys, I'm here with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss,
and tomorrow at SummerSlam you two could become the new WWE Tag Team champions.
It certainly feels like the chemistry between you both has evolved
over the last couple of weeks.
So would you call this something more than just a tag team?
You know, I have to be honest,
I didn't have Lexi and I tagging on my 2025 bingo card,
um, we're both so different, but here's the thing,
she's had my back, she's shown up for me and I have to say
I respect her, even if she's super annoying.
I'm sorry.
Is that your version of a compliment?
Dude, take it or leave it.
I guess at this point I have to just take it.
Anyway, um. I will give it to her,
Charlotte hasn't been half bad, and she's had my back when I've needed it.
Playful jabs, some witty insults.
That certainly feels like friendship to me.
Uh…
Definitely not.
Maybe?
She doesn't like using the F word.
How about we focus on winning the tag titles before we put a label on it, okay?
And she says I'm the annoying one. Let's go.
I mean.
Thank you so much, guys.
And whatever they want to call it, it definitely seems like it's working.
[Tessitore] It feels like the F word.
Bliss and Flair going for the titles tomorrow.
Do you get the feeling we're about to be drowned out by boos?
Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre next here live on SmackDown.
["Still Humble" playing]
♪ Humble ♪
♪ How can I be so good lookin' And still humble? ♪
♪ How can I be so damn rich And still humble? ♪
♪ How can I do all this ♪
♪ I'm still humble, I'm still humble ♪
["Gallantry" playing]
[roars]
[Nash] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Maverick, Logan Paul,
and Drew McIntyre.
[Tessitore] Of course, Paul and McIntyre taking on Jelly Roll and Randy Orton
tomorrow at SummerSlam.
[Barrett] Now Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre
have got to be feeling pretty damn confident.
Not only have they been a step ahead of the opposition,
pretty much every step of the way,
they're also effectively in a handicap match against Randy Orton
and a non-wrestler in Jelly Roll at SummerSlam Saturday.
[Tessitore] That's what's been offending Logan Paul for the first time in ten years
an outsider celebrity taking part.
Shut up, green shirt guy. You're the worst one of them all.
[Tessitore] Oh, man. Here we go.
-[Barrett chuckles] -[crowd boos]
How dare you?
How dare all of you?
You have two of the best wrestlers in the industry.
[crowd booing]
No, no, no, no, no, that's a fact.
And we are here trying to defend this place from outsiders.
You boo, but not a single one of you understands what it means to compete
at SummerSlam, which by the way,
Jelly Roll thought was a hot dog eating contest.
Listen, me and Drew, we have dedicated our entire lives to this.
And I am so sick of these… these outsiders.
They make a name for themselves elsewhere, and they think WWE is a stepping stone.
They think they can come in here and take it to the next level.
Guess what?
That is basically impossible unless you're Logan Paul, which I happen to be.
Jelly Roll, listen to me.
You are an outsider. You are not a wrestler.
And you learn today what you're gonna learn tomorrow
and that is you are a country star, not a superstar,
and you will never ever belong here.
Randy, whatever happens to Smelly Hole tomorrow is on you.
Just because he asked for the match, you didn't have to give it to him.
You wanna be BFFs? You want free concert tickets?
Is he fangirling over the guy? I don't know.
Doesn't matter. The match is happening.
What's that song Jelly Roll's got?
He only talks to who when he needs a favor?
Yeah, I think it's Weight Watchers. Yeah, I think so.
Yes, but also you only talk to God when you need a favor.
How very selfish of you.
Well, I've got God on speed dial.
And when Drew McIntyre prays, bad things happen.
That's right.
This is the WWE, not court-ordered community service.
This is not an arena for convicts.
I know there's a lot of them here in Jersey.
Oh, nah. Nah.
[McIntyre] Oh, come on.
Don't do it.
This match ain't happening if you come out here, brother.
[Tessitore] Oh, he's got backup this time.
Randy Orton wasn't at the training session when these two crashed it.
[Paul] Aw, Smelly Hole's got his daddy with him.
Man, this is cute.
All right, got a preview, I guess.
["Voices" playing]
-[Tessitore] The Viper's with him now. -[McIntyre] Showtime.
[Tessitore] Jelly Roll and Randy Orton showing up here in Newark.
[Barrett] Well, Nick Aldis trying to slow things down there.
GM trying to get a handle on this.
There ain't no stopping Randy Orton when he's got that look in his eye now.
We're getting a showdown.
[Tessitore] Here we go.
They're gonna meet up tomorrow at SummerSlam,
but there's no hesitating right now
after that attack they put on Jelly Roll earlier today.
And here they come.
-[Barrett] Oh, yes! -[Tessitore] It is on!
Orton, right hand after right hand against Drew.
Jelly Roll trying to pin Logan in the corner,
who turns and punches to the body.
Now look at Jelly Roll.
[Barrett] Well, Aldis has sent the reinforcements down
trying to protect this matchup for tomorrow at SummerSlam.
I don't know if he's sent enough.
[Tessitore] They're fighting right through the security.
[Barrett] Jelly Roll is swinging for the fences here.
[Tessitore] Jelly Roll's been training now for months
at the performance center to get in prime shape
and have the attack necessary.
Meanwhile, the championship-caliber veterans are being pulled apart.
McIntyre and Orton, right back to it.
[Barrett] And Randy Orton is incandescent with rage here.
I don't care how many security guards and officials you send down, Aldis,
you are simply not calming the Viper down.
[Tessitore] And finally some separation.
[crowd chanting] Randy!
[Tessitore] The Viper, fired up, fuming over the attack from earlier today.
[Barrett] That is a terrifying look on the face of Randy Orton,
and following closely in tow, Jelly Roll.
Nursing that busted jaw from earlier in the week.
[Tessitore] Orton and Jelly Roll back off.
[Barrett] Orton and Jelly Roll are ready to throw down tomorrow night.
[Tessitore] By the way, Jelly Roll looks like he's in the best shape of his life.
[Barrett] He better be.
He's in there with a couple of killers tomorrow night.
Nowhere to hide at SummerSlam. No security needed tomorrow night.
[Tessitore] Oh, RKO! Oh, the Viper has snapped.
An RKO!
[Barrett] Start running!
[Tessitore] There is no holding down Randy Orton when he's like this.
[Barrett] Things come in threes. Wait up.
[Tessitore] Oh, man, oh, man!
Jelly Roll.
-Just like a year ago, chokeslam! -[Barrett] What? Oh, my God.
[Tessitore] Can you believe the venom in these two?
[Barrett] I can't believe the venom in Jelly Roll.
["Voices" playing]
[Barrett] And I don't think McIntyre and Logan Paul can either.
[Tessitore] He has turned into something different,
working his way to a tag team match.
It happens tomorrow. Night one of the historic SummerSlam.
Jelly Roll, Randy Orton, against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre.
Coverage begins with a countdown show at 3:00 p.m.
And then 6:00 p.m. Eastern
from MetLife Stadium.
They're getting after it tomorrow. Let's do this.
What a weekend ahead.
[crowd singing "Voices"] tomorrow. Let's do this.