[epic music playing]
-[Triple H] Then. -[crowd cheering]
[Triple H] Now.
Forever.
Together.
-[music concludes] -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] We're here in Anaheim, California, where the countdown is on.
In just five days,
the World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line.
And yet right here, right now, these fans at the Honda Center,
they know there are twists, turns, and title tumult to deal with.
Charlotte and Alexa, The Twisted Queens are here.
Flair and Bliss, the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
They look to defend against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria tonight.
And no fear, not here.
The dynamic Penta has a target on the IC title.
He meets up with the big Bulgarian Rusev
to decide who gets another shot at "Dirty" Dom.
That's coming up in moments.
["4X4" playing]
As this is the kind of card that brings a sellout here.
A massive crowd at the Honda Center has arrived for Raw.
Tonight, we draw closer to Saturday Night's Main Event,
a week removed from so much more Monday madness.
This is what went down then.
[tense music playing]
[Joe] World Heavyweight Championship. We found out the news earlier tonight.
Seth Rollins out injured, needed surgery.
So CM Punk has to have somebody to battle for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The winner of this Battle Royal will be the man.
Saturday Night's Main Event.
I am here to scout.
[bell ringing]
[Joe] They are underway here.
[Punk] They're not wasting time, huh?
[Joe] Look at The Judgment Day!
[Wade] The Usos are cooking together.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Jimmy Uso just saving his brother Jey from elimination.
If they keep going that way, one of those two is gonna win this thing.
[Joe] Jimmy helps him out again.
[Punk] That's big, that is huge.
[Joe] Big Jim and Knight wrapped up over the top rope.
His brother saved him twice!
[Wade] But watch out for "Dirty" Dom!
-[Joe] It's a Jey Uso victory! -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Jey Uso wins the No. 1 Contender's Battle Royal.
He will face CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship.
[music concludes]
["4X4" playing]
[Joe] And here in Anaheim, California, dead center in the ring,
there it is,
the World Heavyweight Championship vacated after the injury to Seth Rollins.
And now two men who know what it is like to hold it,
so desperate to get it back.
[music concludes]
♪ Uso! ♪
-["Main Event Ish" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Aye, aye ♪
♪ Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city! Yahoo! ♪
♪ It's just me, uce Okay ♪
♪ Day one ish It's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish, it's just me, uce Okay ♪
♪ Day one ish ♪
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up And knock 'em down like this ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ Aye, yeah, aye, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ It's go time now, uce ♪
♪ Okay, yeah, okay, yeah Aye, let's get it, uce ♪
♪ I'm 'bout to get 'em, uce I'm 'bout to get 'em all ♪
♪ Let's go, Uso! ♪
♪ It's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish, it's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish ♪
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up And knock 'em down like this ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Main Event Jey Uso Is now in your city! ♪
♪ It's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish, it's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish ♪
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up And knock 'em down like this ♪
♪ Hey, it's on me now, uce… ♪
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
"Main Event" Jey Uso!
[Wade] Man, if you could bottle that energy up, sell it,
you would be an overnight trillionaire.
[Joe] Oh, he's eyeing that prize.
There has been a different edge to Jey lately.
♪ Uso! ♪
♪ It's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish, it's just me, uce… ♪
[Joe] It's been six months since that magic night at Mania.
But, Wade, he will fight for the World Heavyweight Championship again.
[Wade] Yes, indeed,
after Seth Rollins was forced to vacate the World Heavyweight Championship.
We don't like that situation and we are going to fix that stat.
We've got two No. 1 Contenders.
You're looking at one of them right now, the other being CM Punk.
They go head-to-head
this Saturday, at Saturday Night's Main Event.
The winner gets the gold.
The winner becomes the new World Heavyweight Champion.
That is this Saturday. Saturday Night's Main Event.
[Joe] It's an incredible weekend in Salt Lake City with SmackDown
and Saturday Night's Main Event.
Tickets are available as well as the priority pass
for the massive card Saturday night.
[Wade] Jey Uso looks ready
for Saturday Night's Main Event right here, right now.
So does this audience.
♪ It's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish, it's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish ♪
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up And knock 'em down like this ♪
♪ Hey, it's on me now, uce ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Aye, I'ma get 'em all I'ma get 'em all, uce… ♪
[Joe] Royal Rumble win put him in position for Mania
and now the Battle Royal a week ago has put him in position here
for Saturday Night's Main Event just five days away.
♪ It's on me ♪
♪ Aye, aye ♪
♪ Main Event Jey Uso Is now in your city! ♪
♪ Uso! ♪
♪ It's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish, it's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish ♪
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up And knock 'em down like this ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, it's on me now, uce ♪
♪ Aye, yeah, aye, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ It's go time now, uce ♪
[song concludes]
[crowd clamoring]
[Wade] What do you say, Joe, we run this back?
[Joe] When you sell all 13,812 seats…
-you do just that, Wade! -[Wade laughing]
["Main Event Ish" playing]
♪ It's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish, it's just me, uce ♪
♪ Day one ish ♪
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up And knock 'em down like this ♪
♪ Hey, it's on me now, uce ♪
♪ Aye, I'ma get 'em all I'ma get 'em all, uce… ♪
Yeah, uce! Let's get it, uce!
♪ I'ma get 'em ♪
♪ I'ma get 'em, yeah ♪
♪ Yo, yo It's on me now, uce, it's on me ♪
♪ Aye, aye ♪
♪ Main Event Jey Uso Is now in your city! ♪
[song concludes]
[crowd clamoring]
[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]
I said welcome to Mon-Jey Night Raw!
[crowd cheering]
Yeah!
Got a lot of people in my ear these days, uce.
-Got Roman in my ear. -[crowd] Yeet!
-Got Jimmy in my ear. -[crowd] Yeet!
-Everybody mama in my ear. -[crowd] Yeet!
But I'm gonna tell you all this right now, uce.
Right now, I don't give a damn what they think about me.
Yeah, 'cause it's just me, uce. It's just me for the No. 1 Contender.
It's just me Saturday night.
And it's just me gonna be the new World Heavyweight Champion, two-time.
Hey, y'all know the lingo, four letters, one word.
Uh-uh!
["Cult of Personality" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Look in my eyes, what do you see? ♪
♪ The cult of personality ♪
♪ I know your anger, I know your dreams ♪
♪ I've been everything you wanna be ♪
♪ Oh, I'm the cult of personality ♪
♪ Like Mussolini and Kennedy ♪
♪ I'm the cult of personality… ♪
[Joe] Of course, it was CM Punk who earned number one status himself
with a Triple Threat win over Jey Uso and LA Knight.
[Wade] Always controversial, always captivating.
And perhaps, this coming Saturday,
we will be calling CM Punk World Heavyweight Champion
if he can defeat "Main Event" Jey Uso at Saturday Night's Main Event.
[Joe] Punk's birthday yesterday,
but that's the only present he wants, and it won't be gifted.
He's going to have to earn it on Saturday against Jey.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] For five minutes, he had it this summer.
♪ I sell the things you need to be ♪
♪ I'm the smiling face on your TV ♪
♪ Oh, I'm the cult of personality ♪
♪ I exploit you, still you love me ♪
♪ I tell you one and one makes three ♪
[song concludes]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd clamoring]
[Joe chuckling]
-["Cult of Personality" playing] -[Joe] Whoa! [laughs]
"Cult of Personality" gets a run back.
[Wade] I don't think Jey Uso will appreciate it.
-Mind games begin already. -All right, all right, all right,
all right.
[music concludes]
I apologize for stealing your stuff.
-Four letters, one word. -[crowd clamoring]
"Punk."
[crowd cheering]
I'm gonna do my best not to get in your personal space tonight
because Saturday, that's all you're gonna get is me in your grill.
But before we get to Saturday, let's talk about tonight right now.
I'm happy for you.
You're finally listening to you.
You're not listening to all the noise, Jimmy, Roman.
It's no secret.
It's no secret, Anaheim, that me and Jey are friends…
which makes it harder for me to lace them up against you.
I always try to put myself in my opponent's shoes,
but I've never been in your situation…
because I've always listened to myself.
I follow my heart, I listen to my gut, and I believe in myself,
which is easy to do when you're winning.
It's a lot harder to do when you're losing or when you're about to lose.
I had a lot of questions coming out here
and your body language answers a lot of them for me.
Your actions last week answer a lot of questions for me.
I know you got what it takes.
I watched you throw your brother over the top rope.
[crowd booing]
Congratulations on winning the Battle Royal, by the way.
And, ladies and gentlemen, I don't mean to admonish you,
but you don't boo that.
It's well within the rules. It's every man for himself.
Jey's just showing everybody, including me, that he's got what it takes.
And if you're listening to you, you're not listening to anybody else.
I'm talking to you, Jey.
You got what it takes…
but how far…
are you willing to go?
I'm not asking Big Jim's brother,
and I'm certainly not asking Little Roman.
I'm asking "Main Event" Jey Uso,
how far are you willing to go?
Because you're not the only one who needs to be champion again.
The small amount of time I held on to that title at SummerSlam
after besting Gunther was way too short.
I need to be champion like I need air in my lungs.
[crowd cheering]
And I know how far I'm willing to go, but Saturday night…
Saturday Night's Main Event, Jey Uso versus CM Punk.
When you're face down on the mat
after I've knocked out your grill and you look up and realize
that you're in a situation you can't "yeet" yourself out of.
Look at me. How far are you willing to go?
[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]
Let's go, Punk.
Let's go, uce.
I've been in deep waters before, I know how to swim.
But you're gonna do what you always do.
You're gonna spin the block,
have these people thinking you're the man to get behind, right?
-[crowd] Yeet! -[Jey] That's what you do, uce.
-[crowd] Yeet! -As soon as I do something right for me,
he gonna paint the picture like I'm the bad guy.
[crowd] Yeet!
I know, I know, and guess what? Screw you, Punk.
[crowd cheering]
Yeah, yeah, 'cause Saturday night,
I'll show you who the best in the world is, uce.
Four letters, one word!
-Uh-uh! -[crowd] Yeet!
["Main Event Ish" playing]
♪ Day one ish, it's just me, uce… ♪
[Joe] Well, it is set, and we are just five days away.
Saturday Night's Main Event.
As CM Punk asked the question, "How far are you willing to go?"
And, Wade, I don't think there is any doubt
that Jey Uso answered it with great clarity,
with the intensity of just turning to him and simply saying,
"Let's go, Punk, let's go."
[Wade] No limits whatsoever
on the rage inside Jey Uso and his desire to reclaim gold.
But the same, of course, could be said for CM Punk.
Two men primed and ready for battle this Saturday
at Saturday Night's Main Event.
[Joe] Glad you're with us here from Anaheim.
Sold out, 13,812.
You just get the sense, when you've grasped gold the way these two have,
you're more desperate to regain it. Now, as for our newest champions,
we had a thriller of a tag team classic last week.
Yeah, let's take you back to last week, what a matchup it was.
This was Raw tag gold on the line
as Judgment Day defended against Dragon Lee and AJ Styles,
a massively entertaining back and forth affair.
But it was the veteran AJ Styles who connected first
with a Phenomenal Forearm.
And then followed that up with a Styles Clash
as we crowned ourselves new
World Tag Team Champions
up the road from here in Sacramento, California.
Congrats to our new Tag Champs.
[indistinct chatter]
-…getting into our business. -I know.
[indistinct chatter]
Guys, guys, we got a problem.
[crowd cheering]
We know, we were just talking about Nikki Bella.
No, no, no, no, I'm not talking about that.
I'm talking about a real problem.
Adam Pearce has some sort of vendetta against me,
and now Rusev and Penta have a No. 1 Contender's Match.
[crowd chanting "Dirty, Dirty Dom"]
Well, maybe if you weren't such a habitual cheater…
you'd have a different outcome.
Um, that's heinous because I've never cheated a day in my life.
Anyways, now I have to face the winner at Saturday Night's Main Event,
so what are we gonna do, guys?
What are we gonna do? Are you serious?
-I can't-- -Finn, calm down.
Dom, me and Finn have our plate full tonight,
getting back the tag team titles.
Yeah. You know, the ones that you cost us.
So tonight, mate, you're on your own.
Let's go.
Yeah, I need your help. Ayuda, por favor.
I think he needs help. Maybe I should go talk to him.
No, let them handle theirs and we will focus on ours. Tonight.
All right.
[Joe] And what they need to focus on is this Hall of Famer.
Nikki Bella has arrived.
She lent a helping hand a week ago to fight off Judgement Day.
Now, Nikki Bella has to bring everything she has against The Prodigy.
Bella will be opposite Roxanne Perez.
["Zero Miedo" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-♪ Cero miedo ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Cero miedo ♪
Whoo!
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following is an Intercontinental Championship
No. 1 Contender's Match!
Introducing first, from Ecatepec, Mexico,
weighing in at 87 kilos,
Penta!
[Joe] I mean, how good is that?
You wanna define a fan favorite?
Penta against the fiercely determined Rusev.
Intercontinental Championship No. 1 Contender's Match next.
[music concludes]
["4X4" playing]
[Joe] We're not far away from the famous pier.
We're down here in Anaheim for what is a rockin' Monday Night Raw
here on Netflix.
WWE superfan and famed actor O'Shea Jackson is here
among the sellout at the Honda Center.
Thrilled to have him always. And wait, that is not Preston North End.
That's the LA Galaxy in attendance, the MLS team.
[Wade] What do LA Galaxy and Preston North End have in common?
-[Joe] I can't wait to hear this. -[Wade] David Beckham played
for them both, and they are both amazing teams.
-Welcome aboard, LA Galaxy. -["I Am The Tempest" playing]
[Joe] Can't imagine how badly Rusev wants to get through Penta here
and get his hands on "Dirty" Dom after yet another IC title match lost
-because of a "Dirty" Dom low blow. -[Wade] Yeah, this is last week on Raw.
So "Dirty" Dom tried to take a walk during his title defense against Rusev.
Penta showed up, put a stop to that
before Rusev then took the upper hand in the matchup.
"Dirty" Dom trying every dirty trick in the book.
But finally, with the ref's back turned, one of those tricks worked. A low blow.
Before successfully connecting with that 619.
-The Tadpole Splash for the win. -[crowd counting]
-[Wade] Now, post match… -[bell ringing]
…Penta made it quite clear
that he still has designs on Dom's Intercontinental Championship,
taking out Rusev in the process.
And now we have a showdown to decide
who is gonna be the next No. 1 Contender for "Dirty" Dom.
[Joe] You think Rusev's ready? Look at him.
[Wade] Fired up, and that is a man I would not wanna be in the ring with
-at the best of times. -[bell ringing]
-[Wade] Good luck tonight, Penta. -[Joe] Oh, right at it,
trying to have a hot start here as Penta gets right to the chest of Rusev,
who's just absorbing it and then looking to deliver
some of his own, tossing Penta into the corner
-before a kick is delivered. -[Wade] Well, power versus movement here.
That is the battle. And right now,
movement is winning, but it's just bouncing off Rusev,
-who's a wall of a human being. -[Joe] Is he ever.
Of course, these two met up back on September 8th,
we saw Rusev actually defeat Penta.
That was a spectacular evening when he hit that midair Machka Kick…
-[Wade] Oh! -…and a big right hand is delivered.
-[referee] Two! -[Wade] Delivered to perfection.
Now, both of these two men have interfered
in one another's title opportunities at times,
and they've come to blows on more than one occasion
in recent weeks,
so it's a good chance to put a rival in the rearview mirror
so you can focus fully on "Dirty" Dom and the Intercontinental Championship.
[Joe] That is what Penta does best, in spectacular fashion.
You can see him reaching for his lower back himself.
What height, what distance he was able to get.
[Wade] We always talk about it, the kind of high risk,
high danger, but high impact offense
completely wiping Rusev out.
But may have taken a chunk out of the luchador in the process.
[Joe] Penta looking to springboard.
-And the DDT, a lateral press for Penta. -[crowd counting]
[Wade] Rusev spiked right on the top of his head there,
thought he was out cold for a second, trying to shake those cobwebs off.
It takes a hell of a lot to get Rusev down in the first place,
and keeping him down is a whole other battle.
[Joe] Trying to crawl his way to regain himself.
-You see him struggling… -[Wade] Oh, here we go, Joe.
[Joe] …to get up. Oh, could it be?
-And you can see the awareness by Rusev. -[crowd booing]
The veteran.
Looking for his third attempt
to try to put himself in position for the IC title.
[Wade] Clubbing right into the jaw there, completely wiping out Penta.
-One shot. -[Joe] As he did a week ago.
[Wade] And that is the danger of a powerhouse brute like Rusev.
It's just one punch.
For all the high-flying ability of Penta,
just straight old-fashioned smashmouth style of Rusev
has swung the pendulum back in his favor.
[Joe] You mentioned the style of Rusev.
This is such an interesting mix of styles to see these two going at it.
[Wade] It's always interesting watching Rusev operate behind the scenes.
The entire locker room seems petrified of this man.
Including, of course, "Dirty" Dom, who apparently wants nothing to do with Rusev,
was hoping he'd be in the rearview mirror.
But a win here would put Rusev back,
or I should say would put "Dirty" Dom back in the crosshairs
of Rusev immediately.
[Joe] This was just a week ago that he was up against "Dirty" Dom.
-Oh! Man, oh, man. -[crowd gasping]
-[Joe] Penta quick to turn things around… -[crowd counting]
…hooking the leg, looking for the win. But the kick-out at two.
[Wade] Once again, it's that superior movement of Penta,
even when he's up against it, he's getting beaten from pillar to post.
One backcracker out of nowhere, again, shifts the momentum in this one.
[Penta] Yes!
[Joe] And now you can sense that Penta believes he has that momentum.
Oh, the baseball slide as he gets out of the way,
and then-- Oh! Just flapjacks him right into the steel steps.
The impact on the steel steps.
-[crowd booing] -[referee] One!
[Joe] No. 1 Contender's Match to fight for the Intercontinental Championship.
As you see, Rusev trying to work on that mask of Penta.
Everything changed here when he flapjacked him
onto the steel steps.
And now, just securing Penta in his grasp.
[Wade] Good old-fashioned bear hug there from Rusev when Penta was trying
to pick up the pace, build some momentum.
Just cannot do that against someone as powerful as Rusev.
[Joe] Penta able to get out of the way and deliver the kick.
[Wade] Well, Penta has ridden out a hell of a storm here.
The fact that he's capable of coming back with something.
[Joe] Oh! The corner handstand kick right to the chest and into the cover.
[crowd booing]
[Wade] Both men surely exhausted and feeling the pain at this point.
They're getting driven by that desire for gold,
another opportunity at "Dirty" Dom awaits.
Who can put this one away?
[Joe] "Dirty" Dom, who used underhanded tactics
to recently defend his IC title against both of these men.
[Wade] Rusev suddenly getting his clock cleaned
after a major period of dominance in this match.
It's turned around in a big way and with his second wind now,
Penta looking to close this one out.
[Joe] Could he be lining it up again?
Rusev was smart enough, and now he's climbing up top.
As Penta has him right now. Oh! He did it again.
He did it again. This is how he beat him a month ago.
Oh! But this time, Penta able to kick out.
[Wade] Oh, God, Machka Kick to a flying jaw of Penta.
Take a look at this.
-What a bullseye by Rusev… -[Joe] Wow!
-…precision timing. -[crowd counting]
[Wade] And somehow, incredibly,
Penta lives on, but he is living dangerously now.
And the ball is squarely in the court of the Bulgarian.
[Joe] How does Penta survive a mid-air Machka Kick like that?
Rusev wants to put it away and end it right here.
[Wade] Oh, this is spine snapping time for Rusev.
The Accolade applied, but now escaping.
[Joe] Penta escapes The Accolade opportunity.
-Look out! The driver! Penta Driver! -[crowd counting]
-[crowd cheering] -[Wade] Wow!
Well, both men have now taken one another's best shots.
And kept on ticking. Wow!
[Joe] A mid-air Machka Kick doesn't end it.
-A Penta Driver doesn't end it. -[crowd chanting "Ref, you suck"]
[Joe] You can see how badly they want this.
No. 1 Contender's Match for the Intercontinental Championship.
[Wade] The sold-out Anaheim audience very unhappy with the referee.
I thought he got it spot on, 2.99 is not enough in this game.
Not when a championship opportunity is on the line.
[Joe] They are acting like the tough veteran fighters they are.
[Wade] This audience is feeling every blow.
-[Joe] Oh! -[Wade] What the hell?
-[bell ringing] -[Wade] It's Rayo and Bravo.
[Joe] Rayo Americano and Bravo Americano as El Grande looks on.
[Wade] Well, I guess we know who Dom's foreigner friend is.
His old buddy, El Grande Americano.
And I guess if nobody wins this match, you can't have a No. 1 Contender,
which is absolute genius.
[Joe] We heard "Dirty" Dom say earlier, "We've got a problem."
I guess this is how he solves the problem.
Right in the midst of what was a thrilling match,
-the Americanos arrive. -[crowd booing]
[Wade] And this has just turned into a mugging.
Two Superstars, Penta and Rusev, who were giving it their all,
leaving it on the mat in pursuit of a major reward,
have just been wiped out by the Americano family.
[Joe] There's El Grande, ranked by Rayo and Bravo.
[crowd booing]
[Joe] No. 1 Contender's Match, interrupted by these three.
-Oh, God. Oh. [chuckles] -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Rusev is back up, and El Grande and the guys
got a real situation now, don't they, Wade?
[Wade] Oh, wow! Rusev wiping out anything that moves.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] I'd start running now, El Grande.
[Joe] Oh! And there's Penta back on his feet.
[crowd] Cero miedo!
[Joe] Oh, and just in the nick of time, Bravo able to save El Grande.
[Wade] Well, the match has been thrown out.
[Joe] And it's Rusev and Penta, circle each other.
And that is how the No. 1 Contender's Match
-goes tonight. -[speaking Spanish]
-I'm backstage with LA Knight. -[crowd cheering]
LA, last week you had a huge opportunity to become the No. 1 Contender
to that World Heavyweight Championship in a Battle Royal.
Unfortunately, you came up short.
So where do you go from here? What's next?
You know, sometimes you almost feel like maybe you lose
little bit of the drive to keep pushing, you know what I mean?
And when you're here cutting deep right now talking about I fell short,
I appreciate that 'cause you're right, I did fall short.
I didn't come out with what I needed, but I tell you what I did come out with.
-Let me talk to ya. -[crowd] Yeah!
Here I stand, and I'm looking at not being the World Heavyweight Championship.
Do you see that thing around my waist right now?
No, you don't. But what you do see is you see… CM Punk,
you see Jey Uso going on to Saturday Night's Main Event.
Now, a lot of people are like, "Did Jey Uso mean to throw out his brother?"
"Did he mean to throw out LA Knight?"
I don't care about any of that. None of that matters.
The bottom line is, he's going on to Saturday Night's Main Event. I'm not.
So what do I do? I can get rid of the sunglasses.
I can get rid of the vest. I can do what I need to do
because sometimes I just get a little bit used to doing the hard thing.
And the hard thing is to continue on the path.
I don't know how to quit. I've never learned how to quit.
So whoever comes out of this, I'm telling you now, Jey Uso, CM Punk,
any single one of you, whichever one of you comes out
with that World Heavyweight title, I am telling you right now,
I will come back to Jackie. I will ask her the question,
"Do you see this world title around my waist?"
She will have no choice but to say, "Yeah."
-[crowd] Yeah! -Why? Because you all,
with or without the title, have to accept the is-ness of me.
-I am what is, with everybody saying… -[crowd] LA Knight!
-Yeah. -[crowd] Yeah!
[upbeat music playing]
[Joe] And remember, still to come tonight,
Bayley has convinced Lyra to buddy up again.
And they'll go for gold for the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions
defending Charlotte and Alexa against Bayley and Lyra. That's ahead.
[crowd cheering]
[music concludes]
-[crowd cheering] -I understand what you're saying,
why we weren't in the Battle Royal last week.
And I trust you.
But I still think we should have been in it.
It's the fastest way to the World Heavyweight Championship.
We should have gone down to the ring, destroyed every man in the match.
I don't see any other way. So please…
I mean…
I love your idea, I really do, but there's a consequence to it.
Because it would have exacerbated an already pissed off Adam Pearce,
who could have suspended all three of us indefinitely without pay
and made it his life's mission to keep you away from the World Heavyweight title.
But instead of using that great idea of yours on 20 men,
let's just use it on one man.
Because one man shares our vision right now.
He's looking at Saturday night,
CM Punk and Jey Uso are gonna beat each other half to death.
One of them emerges as the World Heavyweight Champion.
That World Heavyweight Champion shows up next Monday on Raw, a victim,
looking to be victimized by a true victimizer.
Now, you eliminate that one man tonight that shares our vision,
and your path to the World Heavyweight Championship
is clear.
I want you to go to Pearce,
and I want you to get me a match with that man tonight.
Well, I've already gone to Pearce,
and you already have a match with that man tonight.
And if you don't mind getting on your gear,
that match is coming up very soon.
-Who's it against? -Oh, that's the best part.
-LA Knight. -[chuckles]
[crowd] Yeah!
-Yeah! -[crowd] Yeah!
-["Survival" playing] -[Joe] Oh, that's so good,
LA Knight, Bron Breakker, and so is this.
I love that that piece of gold is so close to us tonight.
We're five days away from that being decided between Jey and CM Punk.
Joe and Wade with you here, but that look in Bron Breakker's eyes
when he buys into a Paul Heyman play, and it's scary.
We're seeing the rise of a foot soldier
who has decided he wants to grab power and become king here on Raw.
He wants a piece of that World Heavyweight Championship.
Whoever wins it at Saturday Night's Main Event,
-Bron Breakker is going to be a problem. -Wade, ten years ago this week,
the women's division added a Superstar who would go on to make history.
It was the main roster debut for Asuka.
We'll give you a look back now at the decade for the Empress of Tomorrow.
[music concludes]
[brooding music playing]
♪ From far and wide And light years away ♪
♪ Cast from the shadows Now light my way ♪
♪ I came from tomorrow to take back today I am the future ♪
-[tense music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[yells]
[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
-[dramatic music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering] -[bell ringing]
[music fades]
[triumphant music playing]
[crowd gasping]
[music concludes]
Yes, I wanna make it all official as of right now.
-[Bálor] Hello, Mr. Pearce. Knock, knock. -Lemme call you back. Thank you.
-Nice to see you, mate. -I'm glad you guys are here. Where is Dom?
-Dom? I don't know. Why? -We're not here with Dom.
I have some news that he needs to hear from me.
But since he's not here and you are, what can I do for you?
-What can you do for us? -Well, I was--
You can give us our tag team title rematch
-tonight. -Whoa, whoa, whoa. What-- what--
What JD means is we would like to know when we should expect our tag team rematch
against AJ and Dragon. We were hoping it would be tonight.
Tonight? You guys are already busy tonight.
-No, we're not. -Yeah, you are.
You don't remember the Battle Royal last week?
-Not especially, no. -Of course you don't remember.
You got eliminated.
Instead of leaving, you jumped back in there
and the two of you eliminated somebody else illegally.
That person came to me this morning really pissed off,
demanded a match against either one of you.
So you two have a choice,
because tonight one of you is gonna go one-on-one with Sheamus.
[crowd cheering]
Good, I'll fight Sheamus.
And when I rip his head off, I am coming back here.
Okay.
-Hey, and when he's done… -Uh-huh.
…don't forget, tag team titles.
Oh, I won't forget.
["You Can Look But You Can't Touch" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ You keep dreaming On the stars above… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Scottsdale, Arizona,
WWE Hall of Famer,
Nikki Bella!
[Joe] Nikki Bella against Roxanne Perez is next.
[song fades]
["All Fall Down" playing]
[Joe] Roxanne Perez, Wade, will step to anyone.
Will never say no to a match, especially one like this.
[Wade] Here's how we got here. Last week on Raw,
it was Stephanie Vaquer taking on Roxanne Perez.
Vaquer showing the world exactly why she is the champ,
getting the win with an Angel's Wings.
Nice victory there for Vaquer, but as the post-match celebrations began,
they were swiftly ended by a Judgment Day beatdown.
And that was until Vaquer's locker room friend,
the Hall of Famer, Nikki Bella, evened the odds.
And together, Vaquer and Nikki cleared out the miscreants
and earned themselves a temporary reprieve from the danger, at least until tonight.
And I can tell you right now, Big Mami Cool,
-on the outside, is rather irate… -[bell ringing]
…but it is, in fact, Roxanne Perez
who gets the first shot at Nikki Bella here.
[Joe] So here we go. The Hall of Famer, of course, Nikki was inducted
into that class of 2020, against Roxanne Perez.
[Wade] Classic generations, this is Roxanne Perez
who grew up idolizing Nikki Bella.
Talk a little smack online.
-[Joe] She's trying to show respect here. -[Wade] I don't know about that.
[Joe] Extending a hand.
[Wade] And then versus what she's been saying on social media.
Nikki Bella was not born yesterday,
she certainly was not gonna fall for that one.
[Joe] And now Bella trying to quickly get to the attack,
but out into the apron before driving that shoulder in.
-Bella quick to it. -[crowd counting]
[Wade] Well, Nikki Bella knows a trick or two,
20-plus years in this industry. As great as Roxanne Perez is,
she is lacking experience at the very top level.
And that is something the two-time world champ, Nikki Bella,
has in spades.
I do admire the attitude of Roxanne Perez, absolutely fearless, to steal a line
from her former idol, Nikki Bella,
when it comes to competing against these top stars in the division.
[Joe] Quick to counter is Perez
after Bella was trying to lock up that left arm.
-[crowd chanting "Let's go Roxanne"] -[crowd chanting "Let's go Nikki"]
[Wade] Nikki Bella just carries that aura of major star power.
She's a major crossover star in the world of light entertainment too.
Now back to doing what she loves best.
There's a hard landing on the back of the neck there,
and now going to town on that neck is Roxanne Perez.
[Joe] Windmill right hands delivered by Perez.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Of course, Perez knows everything about Nikki Bella.
Used to study her on Total Divas back in the day when she was a young girl.
Grew up, perhaps, one day wanted to tag with Nikki Bella.
Hasn't quite worked out that way. Now, major rivals.
[Joe] Nikki Bella, two-time Divas Champion,
had the longest title reign in history, over 300 days.
But you mentioned the generational gap, how that can play with a young Superstar
when you're in there against a legend that you looked up to.
[Wade] Nikki Bella has just had answers
for everything that Roxanne Perez is trying to throw at her, thus far.
[Joe] The pace being set early on by Nikki Bella.
[Wade] Nikki Bella simply looks razor-sharp this evening.
And unsurprisingly, heading to the outside in the safe embrace of Big Mami Cool.
[crowd booing]
[Joe] Sends her right into the barrier as Raquel Rodriguez steps off to the side.
And Nikki Bella's in control here against Perez.
[Wade] It's just been the Nikki Bella show from the word go.
And Roxanne Perez may have overestimated her abilities this evening.
Came in incredibly cocky and confident.
And you see that dissipating as the seconds tick by.
[Joe] Ramming her into that second turnbuckle,
and then bringing her up top as well.
[Wade] Major power advantage almost everyone has
against Roxanne Perez came into play there.
That speed and nimble ability, wait a second.
[Joe] Raquel Rodriguez,
as Roxanne was grabbing the attention of our referee,
it's Raquel Rodriguez getting the best of Nikki Bella.
[Wade] Straight from The Judgment Day playbook,
waiting till the prime moment to capitalize.
[Joe] Slingshotting her right into that second rope.
[Perez] How's that neck, Nikki, huh?
[Joe] And how quickly things turn when you deal with Judgment Day.
[Joe] Last week, we saw the stunning return of Nikki Bella
to help save Stephanie Vaquer after Roxanne Perez
and Raquel Rodriguez were attacking post-match.
Now, it's Nikki Bella in against Roxanne Perez,
as Perez has been getting the best of her and that running uppercut
to the back and neck area.
And now Perez, the double rope springboard moonsault.
[crowd counting]
[Joe] And the kick-out at two as Raquel Rodriguez looks on, Wade.
[Wade] Perez has done an incredible job of attacking that neck of Nikki Bella.
It's a neck that's been surgically repaired in the past.
And, of course, Perez, her fandom of Nikki Bella
from the past knew exactly where the weakness is,
and is now relentlessly attacking that neck.
[Wade] And in various ways,
as now you can see all the leverage she's able to get,
twisting and torquing, and utilizing her own left hand.
As Bella's trying to fight out of it, she delivers those left elbows to Perez.
[Wade] Nikki Bella's got two fused vertebrae in that neck.
Well, it's a wonder that Nikki Bella can even feel her fingertips
at this point, because these shots are just brutal.
They are pinpoint-targeted, and as you said, Joe,
they are varied in nature,
which shows you the growing playbook of Roxanne Perez.
[Joe] Crowd reacting
to what they perceive as unnecessary arrogance.
And now Bella just says, "You know what? Let's fight."
[Wade] Slugging away through the pain now is Nikki Bella.
Something the young pup, Roxanne Perez, needs to learn,
you don't celebrate till you've got this one closed out,
and there is fight left in the Hall of Famer.
[Joe] Nikki Bella delivering right hand after right hand.
[Wade] Bella now tapping into that other gear.
-[Joe] Is she ever, Wade. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] This is the kind of gear that took Nikki Bella to the Hall of Fame,
to several World Championships,
may well get her through this predicament, when it was looking like all was lost.
[Joe] Roxanne Perez writhing in pain, as Raquel Rodriguez
looks to rally with support here, as both of our competitors
try to get to their feet, deep into this match.
[Wade] You know, Bella's hurting in a big way,
but completely impervious to that pain, seemingly.
Got that adrenaline pumping through her veins,
pulled on by this capacity audience here in Anaheim.
[Joe] Excellent attack by Nikki Bella and delivering off the ropes.
[crowd counting]
[Joe] And a count of two.
[Wade] Nikki Bella is just looking back to her best now,
shaking off any ring rust that may have been there when she first returned.
And boy, oh, boy, does she need to be at her best this evening.
[Joe] Could she?
But instead, Roxanne Perez repositioning herself.
[Wade] Going for that Rack Attack 2.0,
but a nice transition as you mentioned there
from Roxanne Perez, looking to choke out the Hall of Famer.
[Joe] She got her into that fireman's carry, just couldn't deliver
the cutter at the end, instead it's Nikki Bella now.
Again, that second rope driving down across her throat.
[Wade] Bella's body just not co-operating for a second.
Wow, big spinebuster.
[Joe] Spinebuster into the hook of the leg.
And getting that left shoulder up is Perez.
[Wade] Once again, Raquel smells danger and wants to insert herself to the match.
[Wade] Bella, forearm to the jaw.
[Joe] And with that distraction, could it be a quick one?
Oh! Her foot was on the ropes, foot was on the ropes there.
[Wade] Jessika Carr simply too quick for Perez on that leg up.
[Joe] How about Nikki Bella turning things around?
And a count of two and a half.
[Wade] This one balanced on a knife edge,
and it's Nikki Bella who now has the wind in her sails.
[Joe] She wants it again.
Rack Attack 2.0 lined up.
Perez fights herself free again with a series of elbows.
[Wade] Perez knows the danger of that move.
Moving out of the way just in the nick of time
and face first into the buckle, of course, with that damage there.
-[Joe] Oh! Such awareness by Perez. -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Joe] Pop Rox from the corner. -[bell ringing]
["All Fall Down" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Roxanne Perez.
[Wade] Well, what an effort from Nikki Bella,
but it was basically the insertion of Raquel on the outside
two times in this match. And oh, here we go.
It's like an action replay of the beatdown on Vaquer from last week.
But Nikki Bella is now in the hot seat.
-["Bury Me" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Remember a week ago,
it was Nikki Bella coming to help Stephanie Vaquer.
And now the champ is here to return the favor.
[music concludes]
[Wade] Raquel runs from nobody, not even the world champ.
[Joe] Face to face.
[inaudible]
[Wade] Raquel Rodriguez is one intimidating woman.
Stephanie Vaquer did not wanna take a backwards step.
Helped having Nikki Bella by her side.
Well, we gotta keep a close eye on that situation in the coming weeks.
[Joe] Great to see Nikki Bella and Stephanie Vaquer
and what they have developed with their friendship.
And, Wade, remember, still to come tonight,
the Women's Tag Team Championship match.
It is all brought about because of this on social media from Bayley.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.
Whoo! The Women's Tag Team Champions.
I mean, you guys have a little bit of a rocky friendship.
I won't bring that up or anything,
because you are the Women's Tag Team Champions,
and respect to you, respect to you.
But I think that you guys need a real challenge.
I think that you guys need to put yourself to the limit
and test your friendship-- I mean, tag team
against two of the best.
Against me and my best tag team partner, Lyra Valkyria.
What do you say, huh? Monday Night Raw?
Right, sounds great. I'll see you idiots there. [laughs]
[Asuka] Lyra!
[speaks Japanese]
We should be in the title match tonight. You cut us in line.
-[speaks Japanese] -[repeats in Japanese]
Asuka, Kairi, I didn't have anything to do with this--
[shouts in Japanese]
-Lyra, don't make Asuka angry-- -[Asuka] Kairi!
Kairi, I…
-Dude, what was that about? -Oh!
-Hey. -What do you think it was about?
It was about this mess that you've gotten us into now.
A mess? Forget about them.
And surprise, I got you a matching tag team jacket in Tokyo.
Anyways, tonight, are you excited?
Yeah, I'm excited. Is this my surprise?
Well, no, the tag team title match is your surprise.
Dude, I have not been in the ring with Charlotte Flair or Alexa Bliss.
-This is a huge deal. -I know, I know, but look.
The tag team titles mean a lot to me,
and I know you would like to rewrite some history.
It's a big night and I believe in us.
We're in the main event and I really think that we can do this.
But now that you say that you haven't been in the ring with Charlotte or Alexa,
what if we lose?
You know what, Bayley?
What if we win?
Now you're talking! That's the freaking Lyra Val…
Bam, we got it, bam, bam, bam, bam, dude.
Oh yeah, it's just you, huh? It's just you?
You don't give a damn about what I think about, uce?
Man, come on, bro. Yo, remind you,
I saved your ass twice last week in that Battle Royal, two times.
Soon as I turned my back helping your ass, you threw me out.
Man, I was trying to throw LA Knight over the top.
Bro, I seen the tape, bro. Don't give me all that, man.
You seen the opportunity, and guess what? You saved your own ass.
You knew the play. We called it. In that Battle Royal,
it's supposed to come down between me and you, then…
then it's every man for themselves.
But you thought about yourself, just like you always do.
You know what I think? I think that you thought,
if it really did come between me and you…
If you really believed in yourself…
you wouldn't be so scared to find out.
[crowd gasps]
[Joe] Now, Jimmy shooting straight with Jey.
["Ready To Destroy" playing]
♪ I'm war ready I'm battle tested ♪
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by WWE Hall of Famer,
"The Oracle" Paul Heyman and "Big" Bronson Reed.
Representing The Vision, Bron Breakker!
[Joe] It's only 14 days ago when everything changed.
When Bron Breakker heard Seth Rollins say, "I never needed anybody."
Now comes the next step in The Vision's vision.
Breakker against "The Is-ness of the Business," LA Knight.
[Wade] Yeah!
[ominous music plays]
[heartbeat thumping]
[music concludes]
-["Welcome To LA" playing] -♪ LA Knight ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] And his opponent,
from Los Angeles, California,
-LA Knight! -[crowd] Yeah!
[Joe] He has stated his goal as clear as could be.
The World Heavyweight Championship, after Jey and Punk
will settle things this coming weekend.
The self-proclaimed Is-ness of the Business now, Wade.
But what he is right now is in a spot that should come with a warning label,
because Bron Breakker with Paul Heyman and Bronson Reed by his side,
there is danger in the air.
[Wade] Well, danger tends to be an attractor for LA Knight,
who takes a backward step
to nobody on the roster.
And of course, we're gonna have ourselves a new World Heavyweight Champion crowned
this Saturday at Saturday Night's Main Event.
Either Jey Uso or CM Punk.
Now, this is not a No. 1 Contender's Match,
at least officially speaking.
However, you have to think management are gonna look
at the winner of a match of this caliber and think, "Yeah,
maybe that guy is the next man up." And I will promise you this, Joe Tess,
whoever loses this match will absolutely not…
-[bell ringing] -…be next in line for a championship shot.
[Joe] It's a great scene as they just size each other up.
[Wade] Two absolute mass monsters here on Raw,
both of whom can move at the speed of light.
Although I will give the movement speed edge
to Bron Breakker, perhaps the fastest man I have ever seen,
at least in the heavyweight category in my entire life.
Of course, that is edged by the experience factor
when it comes to "The Megastar" LA Knight,
who has been in these high-level clashes several times in his career.
[Joe] And has such a wide range of offense.
The assault can come in any direction with anything,
as he delivers the elbow there.
[Wade] Simply moved too quick for Bron Breakker on that one,
who is a little slow out of the blocks right now.
[crowd chanting "Yeah"]
[Joe] But there is the power game of Breakker,
and Knight comes right back at him with the clothesline.
[Wade] Simply a step ahead of Bron Breakker,
mentally speaking, if not physically speaking,
in the early goings here.
Of course, LA Knight has been a perennial main event player.
[Joe] But look at that, that was just a blur.
-[Wade] What the hell? -[Joe] That was an absolute blur
that came with a vicious ending.
[Wade] Did the producer hit fast forward at some point there?
It was like the tape skipped ahead, but I actually saw it with my own eyes.
[Joe] But how does he do that…
-[Wade] It's freakish. -…at over 250 pounds, Wade?
[Wade] I've never seen anyone in the history of this industry,
in a flash, turn on the afterburners like Bron Breakker can, and of course,
it caught LA Knight completely unaware.
There's nothing you can do to prepare for that.
And the worst part is you know it's coming.
[Joe] Oh! Crossbody by Knight, could he do it?
[Wade] Knight just still trying to shake off
that sudden speed of Bron Breakker, managing to dig himself out of trouble.
But has not quite looked the same ever since.
Absolute freak, Bron Breakker really is.
-[Joe] Honestly. -[Wade] And it keeps getting better,
that's the scariest part.
-Ragdolling him. -[Joe] How about this? How about this?
LA Knight was able to get out the back door
and right back to the offensive attack is Bron Breakker.
[Wade] And you look at a 20-year veteran like LA Knight
and you think this guy has seen it all in his career.
He's had these hungry, powerful, up-and-coming contenders.
And then you get in the ring with a Bron Breakker.
And if you're LA Knight, you suddenly realize,
"This is all new to me, I'm the rookie in here."
"I've never faced anything like this."
[Joe] Of course, Knight has been in a long run of tough competition.
[crowd chanting "Yeah"]
[Joe] Triple Threat that CM Punk recently won,
then the Battle Royal to determine the number one contender
for the World Heavyweight Championship that Jey Uso won.
He was eliminated by Jey Uso a week ago.
It's interesting to hear the exchange between Jimmy and Jey Uso.
[Wade] There's ill-feeling and resentment there at the moment,
certainly on Jimmy's side,
who does not see the point of view of Jey Uso.
[Joe] A dropkick right through the ropes by LA Knight.
Don't even think about getting involved, Reed.
Come on.
[Joe] Bron Breakker against LA Knight.
Earlier tonight, Paul Heyman, who you see off to the far side there,
he put this match in motion to guide a way for The Vision
and try to get their hands on the World Heavyweight Championship.
That's just off to the side of our announce desk right now.
And he knows that LA Knight has the same exact plan.
What a big knee by Bron Breakker.
[Wade] Yeah, I call this a shop window match.
Put yourself in the shop window for management.
Let them know that you want gold. This was during the break.
Slight distraction from Bronson Reed on the outside,
and one gorilla press onto our desk later.
The match had done a 180, and it hasn't spun around since,
and that 180 has been completely in the favor
of the future, as it says on his trunks, Bron Breakker.
[Joe] Now the future is starting to feel very much like the present.
See, though! Sends him out onto the floor.
[Wade] Just an effortless explosive lift
from this man who has physical gifts that cannot be manufactured in a gym.
Well, certainly he augments those gifts in the gym.
-Oh dear. Oh dear! -[Joe] Oh no, oh, no.
Here comes a potential Super Spear,
but instead he goes up high with a flying shoulder tackle.
That is something that's new to the arsenal in recent months
and it has been so effective.
[Wade] You know what's coming, right?
It's the spear, all I've gotta do is leapfrog the spear.
Well, no, you're wrong, I'm coming with a flying shoulder tackle.
[Joe] And the height he gets on that flying shoulder tackle
and the impact that he makes.
[Wade] It's the added complexity of the offense of Bron Breakker
that grows month by month under the tutelage of Paul Heyman.
Keep adding those wrinkles to your offense,
keep your opponents guessing.
That is how you beat top-level contenders like an LA Knight.
Guys, lower down the card, you can just go smash now.
Just hit him with the basic stuff, you're gonna win, you're that tough.
But with guys like LA Knight and of course beyond that,
CM Punk or Jey Uso,
whoever the World Champ may be come Saturday,
you're gonna have to keep them guessing.
And Bron has done an excellent job of that tonight.
[Joe] We are just five days away from Saturday Night's Main Event,
that vacant World Heavyweight Championship,
Punk against Jey Uso.
But these men are trying to put themselves in position.
[Wade] LA Knight now having to dig really, really deep.
-[Joe] Oh! Like that! -[Wade] And nobody does it better.
[Joe] Knight reverses things. How about it?
Jumping neckbreaker, LA Knight.
[Wade] LA Knight is now smelling the kavorka.
-And whose game is it? -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Drops the elbow.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Looking to close this one out for good perhaps.
-[Joe] He has been in so many big matches. -[Wade] Here we go.
[Joe] Oh! He was going for the BFT.
-[Wade] That look in his eyes. -[Joe] Oh man, that knee from Breakker.
[Wade] Bron Breakker more than equal to it.
Simply a step ahead once again here.
The physical wear and tear taking its toll on both of these two men
as you would expect in a match of this caliber.
The kind of names you have to be besting if you've got eyes on gold,
if you've got eyes on being the top star in this industry.
[Joe] Trying to get that Breakker, but a great counter by LA Knight.
[Wade] Such an ugly landing for Bron Breakker
who came down hard on the back of his head.
At minimum, seeing stars,
that could have been a complete knockout of Bron Breakker.
Paul Heyman knows it.
[Joe] Paul Heyman looking at the guy who he has banked everything on
after the actions of 14 days ago.
[Wade] When we talk about high risk, you go up on the top rope,
one slip and you're down on the top, or the back of your head.
Bron Breakker just felt that, and now he's sitting pretty.
What could have been perhaps a Megaplex there, but denied.
Living dangerously. Hold on a second--
[Joe] Look at this, how quickly into the superplex.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd counting]
[Joe] Oh, and two and change as that left shoulder
was able to get up from Bron Breakker.
[Wade] Well, look at this athleticism from LA Knight,
hitting that Megaplex over a badly softened up Bron Breakker
who landed on the back of his head seconds earlier.
And the durability of Bron Breakker now is the story in this one.
How tough is this young man?
We know about the power, we know about the movement.
How badly do you want victories at the very top here, Bron?
The bluster, the words, they all mean nothing
if you can't get dubs at this level.
[Joe] And the actions he took 14 days ago demands it at this level.
Oh! And Bronson Reed is up on the apron.
[Wade] That's distraction number two for "The Megastar" LA Knight.
Oh God!
[Joe] Oh! And at the last second, LA Knight gets out of the way.
[Wade] And that could be a separated shoulder there
for Bron Breakker,
whose shoulder connected with that steel ring post,
very, very hard indeed.
As you see Bronson Reed now getting wiped out.
[Joe] And right on top of our announce desk,
time and again,
just slamming his head in.
And he wants more.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] LA Knight chasing glory at this point,
-and looks unstoppable. -[Joe] What is Heyman thinking?
[Wade] Save yourself, Paul. You ain't built for The Megastar.
[Joe] And Breakker… Again into the gorilla press.
But this time, Knight was ready for it!
[Wade] Reverse DDT connected once again
with the back of the head of Bron Breakker.
Of course, he fell off the top rope a little earlier,
right on the back of that head.
And that landing will not have helped. And I'll ask again, Joe, whose game is it?
[Joe] Oh, he's a jump up, elbow drop away potentially.
Oh! The kip up!
And Breakker. A sear, a spear by Bron Breakker.
[crowd counting]
-[bell ringing] -["Breakk And Destroy" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Bron Breakker!
[Wade] Wow, well I asked earlier, just how tough are you, Bron Breakker?
Bouncing back after a volley of abuse thrown his way with a kip up,
ducking under the elbow attempt from LA Knight,
and then connecting with a sternum-crushing spear
to ensure victory.
Find me a weakness in the offense, defense, toughness,
whatever you want, when it comes to Bron Breakker.
That man is a dangerous, dangerous competitor.
[Joe] That's exactly what The Vision envisions,
a scene like that.
Hey, man. Good to see you. Have you seen Dominik Mysterio?
No? Appreciate you.
Gentlemen, either one of you seen Dominik Mysterio here tonight?
Over there.
Thank you, good to see you.
Hey, Dom!
[crowd cheering]
[speaks Spanish]
What was that?
I was just telling them that it's pretty crazy
that they would do something like that in attacking Penta and Rusev.
I thought that they came up with all on their own,
because now Penta and Rusev are gonna go after them,
which is crazy to me.
I don't know if they thought that through, to be honest.
-All on their own? -That's what they said
-in Spanish. Español. -What is wrong with you?
-What's wrong with you? -With me? What's wrong with you?
Penta and Rusev are not going after Los Americanos.
Penta and Rusev are going after you.
-Wait, what? -At Saturday Night's Main Event,
you are gonna defend this Intercontinental Championship
against Penta and Rusev, in a Triple Threat match.
I can…
[speaks indistinctly]
No hablo inglés.
Uh…
I don't know.
[crowd cheering]
Man, look, I heard what you said, all right?
You're my brother, man.
I love you.
Nothing ever gonna change that.
But you said it yourself, uce.
You said if you had a chance to throw me over that top rope, you would.
It just didn't go that way.
And that ain't my fault either.
So why come to me before the biggest match of my career?
Think I betrayed you, man.
And on some real stuff, uce, I got a lot on my plate, man.
Roman, The Vision,
CM Punk.
If I could really rap, uce,
I ain't got a…
I ain't gotta lot of real estate for no one left, man.
Feel me?
I feel you.
-Love you, man. -Love you.
[crowd cheering]
["Rulers Of The World" playing]
[Joe] Saturday night, Jey will battle
for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship.
[Wade] Jedi mind trick by Jey Uso that took all of the venom out of Jimmy.
-[Joe] Yes. -[Wade] And they're back mates again.
I guess that's a twins relationship in a nutshell.
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one call.
Introducing first, accompanied by Finn Bálor
from Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, weighing in at 195 pounds.
Representing The Judgment Day,
JD McDonagh!
[Joe] Remember, there was a moment in last week's Battle Royal
that now has to be dealt with and avenged.
Judgement Day, JD McDonagh against Sheamus,
as this match is presented by Battlefield 6.
[music concludes]
["10 Beats Of The Bodhrán" playing]
[Joe] Sheamus with the shillelagh as Judgment Day has a lot to deal with.
We told you there were moments in last week's Battle Royal…
-[bell ringing] -…for the number one contender spot
for the World Heavyweight Championship that were classic pure banger
after banger Sheamus.
And then there was a moment that has to be dealt with right now.
[Wade] Well, these two from Judgment Day turfed out Sheamus illegally
-in the Battle Royal… -[Joe] Yes.
…after they had been eliminated.
And obviously an irate Sheamus, who wanted to book his ticket
to Saturday Night's Main Event
on the shot of the World Heavyweight Championship,
now wants his pound of flesh from his fellow Irishman.
-[Joe laughing] -[Wade] That's…
That's pretty much the first pound taken. Apparently he wants a bit more.
[Joe] I mean, how about the echo of that body shot
going up to the third level
here at the Honda Center and back, that echo.
[Wade] God, when Adam Pearce said,
"Who's gonna fight Sheamus tonight out of you two?"
-Finn Bálor backed off. -[Joe] Oh!
[Wade] A rather gung-ho JD McDonagh said, "Yeah, no problem, I'll fight him."
Well, guess what, JD McDonagh, welcome to a fight with Sheamus.
And that is why Finn Bálor backed off so quickly.
JD McDonagh has never been in a ring with Sheamus before.
Now he's got a little taste of that, he might back off too
next time Adam Pearce starts looking for volunteers.
[Joe] Yeah, in about 15 seconds, he found out, didn't he?
[Wade] And this just looks like a mismatch at this point.
Well, of course, Finn Bálor is as tough,
excuse me, JD McDonagh is as tough as they come.
He's a hell of a mover.
Just the size and aggression of Sheamus
augmented by the fact he's highly irate
of being turfed out of the Battle Royal illegally last week.
[Joe] Finn's eyes there said it all.
[Wade] Finn looks frozen in fear, and who can blame him?
[Joe] JD McDonagh.
Gonna come up with something here against Sheamus,
utilizing the speed, trying to utilize the skill as well.
-[Wade] Nice. -[Joe] And he just goes to the back
of that left leg,
chops down the big man, and then drives a forearm
right to his back and steps right over him.
[Wade] Oh, no, don't turn your back on Sheamus.
Oh!
[Joe] He found out, didn't he?
[Wade] Finn Bálor got a straight boot on that one too.
He should have known better, Finn.
Now heading out this way,
relentless in these attacks on JD McDonagh,
staring down Finn Bálor in the process.
-Absolutely fearless is Sheamus. -[Joe] I can't wait.
[Wade] Understandably so when you're built like he is.
-Sheamus inside. -[Joe] Right.
Back it up or you're out of here. Sheamus inside.
[Joe] Just don't let him go.
[Wade] Two men who both conquered this industry from Ireland
in very, very different ways.
Clearly do not like one another.
[Joe] JD able to trip him up and go up and over,
and corkscrew over the top rope
and right into the cover, hooking the leg of Sheamus.
And barely a count of one.
[Wade] It would be hard to believe that JD McDonagh
once upon a time in his NXT days was a high-flying fan favorite.
Still has those skills, but he's added to them by virtue of his alignment
with The Judgment Day. He's now even more vicious than ever,
raising a highly cunning and dangerous competitor.
[Joe] And undeniably tough.
-[Wade] Oh, God. -[Joe] Here we go.
Why not? They're gonna love it here in California.
Oh, but 10 Beats of the Bodhrán interrupted by Finn.
[Wade] Very nice, put himself--
[Joe] Oh! How about a double clothesline off the apron?
-How good is that by Sheamus? -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] And this sellout crowd is loving it.
Double clothesline by the big guy.
[Joe] Sheamus thought he had things in control with that jump off the apron
and double clothesline to take out both JD McDonagh and Finn Bálor.
But it has been the constant attack to the left leg of Sheamus
by JD McDonagh that has defined the majority of this match, Wade.
[Wade] Well, McDonagh's been really smart.
He's waited for Finn Bálor on several occasions
to open up a little distraction.
And the second that has happened,
JD McDonagh has pounced and made it count,
which is the crucial part.
Really softened up that left leg and ankle of Sheamus,
started with the knee, worked downwards from there.
Keeping Sheamus down is a very,
very difficult prospect as JD McDonagh is finding out.
But he has been relentless with these attacks.
[Joe] Of course, Judgment Day trying to long-term put themselves
in position for the Tag Team Championships.
But right now, business to be dealt with
after last week's Battle Royal when Sheamus was eliminated
by McDonagh and Finn Bálor. McDonagh stepped to this challenge
that General Manager Adam Pearce wanted to see.
[Wade] What a fight JD McDonagh has put up and-- Oh!
Dangerous landing there for both men, but smartly,
JD McDonagh managing to cling onto a rope at some point.
-[Joe] You can see the effect-- -[Wade] Save himself.
[Joe] On that left leg, Sheamus limping out on the floor.
And now, oh! The moonsault from McDonagh.
[Wade] Just picture perfect moonsault there from JD McDonagh
after that boot to the chest.
Reminiscent of Robbie Keane, an ex-LA Galaxy player from Ireland.
And now perhaps going in for the kill is JD McDonagh.
[Joe] McDonagh, 450 into the cover!
[Wade] So much range in JD McDonagh.
And this is as good as it gets,
and you think about JD McDonagh's belly at this point,
how much punishment it's absorbed.
Still pulling off high risk aerial offense like that.
[Joe] Even the punishment of putting forth the offense he has shown tonight,
not just what he's taken, not just what he's absorbed.
But what he has been doing
in attacking Sheamus has taken something out of him as well.
[Wade] Look at the welts on the body of JD McDonagh.
He's glowing red from head to toe. That certainly ain't a sunburn.
It's a lot more painful than that.
[Joe] You wanna test the punch and kick resistance of Sheamus.
You wanna know if he can withstand it when he looks at you and says, "Come on."
-[Wade] Keep kicking me in the teeth. -[Joe] Exactly.
[Wade] Keep slapping me in the face. More, more, I've been there before.
[Joe] That's right here, right there.
-Place one here now. -[Wade] What a psychopath.
[Joe] And what that does to an opponent mentally.
[Wade] "You can't hurt me," that's the message, JD now realizes it.
[Joe chuckles]
[Wade] And those welts are just growing by the second.
[crowd gasping]
[Joe] And that back of JD McDonagh smashing right into the knee of Sheamus.
[Wade] Sheamus just loves being in the trenches on a Monday night.
Doesn't quite feel himself until he's tasted his own blood.
[Joe] He tried to line up 10 Beats Of The Bodhrán earlier.
JD McDonagh, of course, grew up knowing what an Irish drum
sounds like and feels like, didn't wanna become one.
Looking for a quick one here.
[Wade] Yeah, this brawl is just another night in Ireland.
These two doing that Ireland proud.
[Joe] Are they ever.
Sheamus looking to deliver more.
Puts him right on that apron, and now he's got him where he wants him.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Go ahead and count along, Anaheim.
[crowd counting]
[Wade] Finn Bálor, the mentor,
got himself a front row seat for that one,
and there was nothing he could do to save his protégé,
JD McDonagh.
[Joe] Brogue Kick incoming. Oh, big knee!
[Wade] Well, JD McDonagh needed all of his pace and reflexes.
They're just about catching Sheamus in the nick of time.
Can he make it count here?
-[Joe] JD, pinning combination. -[crowd counting]
[Joe] But he gets scooped up instantly.
[Wade] Run ragged in this one.
They're like shadows of the two men who walked down the aisle unsurprisingly…
-Oh, my God. -[Joe] Look at the strength
of Sheamus into a High Cross.
He turned him around, and he delivers it.
Tosses him across the ring.
[Wade] High landed on the back of the neck.
-[crowd counting] -[Joe] Oh, Finn!
Finn went and grabbed the foot, put it on the rope.
[Wade] He had no choice, the match was over there.
If Finn had not done that, it was game over.
And Sheamus saw all of it, even if the referee did not.
[Joe] Now Sheamus eyeballs Finn and says, "That's how you wanna do this, really?"
[Wade] "All right, I'll fight you, Finn."
[Joe] Out on the floor, Finn and Sheamus.
Well, Finn has the shillelagh in his hand now.
The major, major equalizer, the shillelagh that Sheamus…
[Joe] Oh! Pop knee!
-Sheamus simply too quick for Bálor there. -[crowd cheering]
Catching Bálor unawares.
-Oh, God. -[Joe] Is he gonna powerbomb him?
High Cross in as well.
Oh, McDonagh comes flying out and Sheamus catches him.
-[Wade] That is… Oh, God. -[Joe] Oh man, oh man.
[Wade] McDonagh's spine just bouncing off our desk there.
[Joe] Crashing on the reinforced announce desk
and then up onto the barrier.
[Wade] Rib cage of JD McDonagh ate all of that against our security barrier,
which did not move at all.
I guarantee you, JD McDonagh's ribs did.
-Wait up. -[Joe] Finn attacks with the shillelagh.
[Wade] And the referee didn't see any of it.
How smart was that from Finn Bálor?
[Joe] And now JD looking to pounce here against Sheamus.
-[Wade] Sheamus' back just got cracked. -[Joe] Spanish fly!
-My, oh, my, JD. Pouncing into the cover. -[crowd counting]
-[bell rings] -["Rulers Of The World" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, JD McDonagh!
[Joe] What a wild, wild conclusion, Wade.
[Wade] What a war that was.
And I criticized JD McDonagh earlier, said he had the gung-ho approach,
but that paid off, 'cause that has to be the biggest singles victory
of McDonagh's career.
When it looked like Sheamus had the match won here
with a High Cross,
Finn Bálor's intervention prevented it being a three-count,
and just when it looked like Bálor had been dealt with,
no, he had not.
Bouncing back with a shillelagh to the spine of Sheamus,
and then this incredible Spanish fly
against a 280-pound competitor in Sheamus, from the top rope,
got McDonagh a massive, massive win,
that I don't think anybody was anticipating.
What a performance.
[Joe] Incredible performance.
The Spanish fly and the victory, JD McDonagh.
[inaudible]
[Wade] Let's change pace a little here and take you back to last week,
a Women's Intercontinental Championship match.
It was Maxxine Dupri taking on the Champ, Becky Lynch.
And astoundingly, Maxxine Dupri completely dominating
an out of sorts Lynch.
Maxxine was closing in on victory.
Becky Lynch trying everything she could manage
to cling on to that Championship.
Becky Lynch looked like a beaten woman.
But then Becky Lynch snapped,
got herself disqualified with that shot from the title
and then launched a vicious beat down of Maxxine.
This is what the top level is all about.
[speaks indistinctly]
You earned it, two wins over one of the best to ever do it,
which, by the way, she needed a week off for what happened last week.
Regardless of that,
two wins over the Women's Intercontinental Champion
means the third time could be the charm, right?
And you earned it, so when am I making it official?
Thank you, I really appreciate that and I'm so grateful for the opportunity.
I know that those are few and far between around here,
but I just don't want it to go to waste.
What are you saying?
No, listen, I want this match so badly.
I need this more than anything in the world.
-Glad to hear that, yeah. -Okay, but,
after what happened last week with Becky, I think I need to call a friend
and confirm that I'm prepared for anything she throws my way.
-And when I'm ready, which I will be… -Okay.
…I will step in that ring and I will take the Women's Intercontinental Championship
off of Becky Lynch's waist.
And I will give her and the rest of the world
the biggest shock of their life.
So, you're just planning ahead?
-Yes. -Good, I like it.
-So, it's official, eventually. -Thank you.
Look, bottom line here is you call me when you're ready…
-Okay. -…and we'll make it happen.
-You earned it, okay? -Thank you.
-Deal? -Deal.
-Proud of you. Yep. -Thank you.
Pleased to be joined backstage by our women's Tag Team Champions,
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Ladies, first off, congratulations.
Today is 85 days as Tag Team Champions,
and you two defend these titles nonstop.
You are true fighting champions. So, I guess my question is,
why accept this impromptu challenge from Lyra and Bayley?
Well, we never back down from a challenge.
It doesn't matter if it's Raw, SmackDown, NXT.
If anyone wants to fight, all they have to do is ask.
And not that I'm keeping tabs or anything, but I'm about to make history again.
We… we are.
I mean, I know I gotta work on that word.
We're about to make history again, because we are two victories away
from having the most women's tag team title defenses
in history.
-It's what we do-- -[speaking Japanese]
[laughs]
We should be in the title match tonight.
Bayley and Lyra don't deserve those titles,
and neither do you.
[laughs]
Listen Asuka, I know we've been through a lot.
I've beaten you a lot. But I've changed. I know.
I've changed and I'd be honored.
We would be honored to face the two of you.
I've changed too.
And you are not ready for Asuka.
-[Asuka] Kairi! -[yelps]
[Joe] Well, it is coming up,
the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match.
Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Bayley, and Lyra Valkyria.
Coming your way.
["4X4" playing]
[indistinct chatter]
But make no mistake about it, 2026 is gonna be my last year.
-I know, I get it. -But as of right now…
we are the Tag Team Champions of the World.
Damn right you are.
So, whatever worthy opponents that you have for us,
bring them up, man. We'll keep this ball rolling.
-We wanna face them. Face them soon. -Yeah.
I love the way that sounded. In fact, I was thinking about this--
-[McDonagh] Hey, Pearce! -Ah.
You too busy back here to see me handling Sheamus?
You gotta be kidding me.
Judgment Day needed their business handled,
and we did that. We don't hide from anybody.
So, now that we're done jumping through hoops for you, Adam,
we would like our tag team rematch, please.
You both have a lot of nerve.
You don't think I just saw you cheat to beat Sheamus,
-now, you're back here-- -Whoa…
-Pearce… -Are you serious right now?
No, just listen to me.
Not a bad idea.
I did say deserving opponents, which you guys are not.
-Whoa. -But let's keep it hot.
-What do you think, Dragon? -Hot. Hey, me encanta.
And if you wanna keep this hot…
[speaks Spanish]
…I am the heat, I am the fire.
And next week… [speaks Spanish]
…let's show them that together we are unstoppable.
Okay, let me understand this.
You guys want a rematch with them next week?
-Of course we want. -Oh, yeah.
-AJ, for you, it is official. -[chuckles]
Best of luck.
We won't need it.
-[chuckles] -See you next week, boys.
-See you. -Guess so.
Don't cry.
It's gonna be the shortest reign of your career, AJ.
-This might be-- -And the only one of yours.
[dramatic music playing]
-["Triumph" playing] -[crowd chanting "Whoo"]
[Joe] It is time for our World Championship Main Event.
Here we go.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] And it has been interesting over the past month,
the moments of doubt and pause with Lyra Valkyria,
with Bayley's enthusiasm for all of this, and their relationship.
But here they are fighting for gold.
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match.
Let's go in!
[Joe] Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss looking to defend
against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, that's coming next.
[Joe] Well, the long and winding road of Bayley and Lyra.
-["Triumph" playing] -[Joe] This August at SummerSlam,
Bayley had that costly interference
in Lyra's last champ match against Becky Lynch.
Then the recent erratic behavior of Bayley had Lyra questioning so much.
But now, you get this, the trust in the title shot.
And Monday Night Raw is headed to New Mexico, Wade, next week.
And the action will heat up. And you know what you saw earlier tonight?
And now, we will have Stephanie Vaquer and Nikki Bella
teaming up against Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez.
[Wade] And the tag match hits do not stop there,
because as we just heard,
the new tag champs, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee,
will take on the team they defeated for the gold last week,
The Judgment Day, and of course, JD McDonagh,
who we just saw victorious against Sheamus.
He's in a rich vein of form,
looking to grab back the gold next week on Raw.
[Joe] Speaking of tag team champs, here they come.
-["All Hail the Queen" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ All hail the queen ♪
[Joe] One of the greatest of all time.
-["The Fury" playing] -♪ Pain and play ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, the champs.
And they've gone from the most unlikely pairing
earlier this year to now friends beyond the ring,
blowing up on social media.
I mean, they were at a recent Halloween party
that had them crushing it. Bliss dressed as a vampire,
Charlotte sporting the iridescent fairy wings and face gems,
-dressed as a fairy. -[Wade chuckles]
[Joe] They're loving hanging out together.
[Wade] Well, they are an odd-couple tag team
that somehow have persevered, made it work,
and climbed right to the very top of the mountain,
grabbing gold in the process.
And when you look across the ring from them tonight,
can another odd-couple tag team, who've had a very shaky start together,
but somehow found some common ground, and made it work,
Lyra Valkyria and Bayley, dethrone the tag champs?
[crowd cheering]
For the official introductions of our championship main event,
here's Alicia Taylor.
-[bell ringing] -[crowd cheering]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
[crowd] One fall!
And is for the WWE Women's
Tag Team Championship!
[crowd cheering]
Introducing first,
the challengers, the team of
-Lyra Valkyria… -[speaks indistinctly]
-…and Bayley! -[crowd cheering]
This is my stage.
And their opponents,
they are the WWE Women's
Tag Team Champions,
Alexa Bliss
and Charlotte Flair!
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] The fifth defense in this current reign for Bliss and Flair.
Gold is on the line.
Thirteen thousand eight hundred and twelve here,
a sold-out Honda Center.
It has been a spectacular evening of action,
and it culminates right here with the Women's…
-[bell ringing] -…Tag Team Championship match, Wade,
as we are underway.
And Bayley and Bliss will get us started.
[Wade] Still blows my mind looking at Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair
as a tag team.
[Joe] Oh! Trying to score a quick one here was Bliss.
[Wade] Perhaps the greatest resumes of any tag team in history,
a combined 19 world championships between them.
[Joe] That's something when you think about it.
[Wade] And you just know if they can click
as they have done over the past couple of months,
-they may well be unstoppable. -[Joe] You sit there and you say
you got a 14-time World Champion and a five-time World Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] And as we've called them so many times,
the unlikely pairing, and yet, week after week,
you see them growing with their friendship,
and their admiration, and constantly together.
We were talking to Charlotte earlier today.
She said, "Listen, I'm finding myself hanging out
with her friends and family
and developing this Twisted Queens' mindset."
Well, you always talk about what it takes in time,
tag team action, the chemistry. They've got it.
[Wade] They have got it, and it looked like at one point,
it was never gonna happen. But then one day, it absurdly clicked,
and they haven't looked back. And the same seems to be true
over the past couple of weeks for Lyra and Bayley.
But this is really the acid test for this newer duo,
to see if they can match the level of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.
Who now have a taste for gold and are not ready to give it up.
[Joe] Of course, it was Bayley always pushing ahead
when it came to teaming up and getting opportunities like this.
You saw what she did on social media to get this tag team challenge,
and was quickly accepted by Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
[Wade] Flair and Bliss are clearly fighting champions.
Anyone who wants an opportunity, we'll grant them to you.
Kabuki Warrior is a little upset,
of course, that Lyra Valkyria and Bayley "jumped the line,"
in their words, and got this opportunity ahead of them.
They may well be waiting in the wings
for whoever the victim may be down the line.
But right now, championship's up for grabs.
[Joe] Charlotte able to get out of the way,
but then eats that elbow from Lyra Valkyria
-before coming up with the kick. -[Wade] Fireflies are out in force
and they're loving what they are seeing from the tag champs here.
-[Joe] Big Flair chop. -Whoo!
[crowd] "Whoo!"
[Wade] It's just been Flair dominating the early goings here,
controlling the pace of the match against the less experienced, Lyra Valkyria.
[Joe] Everybody's getting a boot from Charlotte.
Spinning kick right to the midsection,
and now, a striking combination from Valkyria.
[Wade] Sometimes newer Superstars
like a Valkyria can be eaten up in the moment
against someone with the kind of resume…
-[crowd chanting "Whoo!"] -…that Charlotte Flair has,
but not this Lyra Valkyria.
Oh! And the dropkick through the ropes for Lyra Valkyria.
And she says, "Yeah, we want the titles."
[Joe] Women's Tag Team Championship match, you see the gold they are battling for.
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria,
the unique relationship that has been developed in recent months.
They wanted it, they're getting it.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss quick to accept the challenges.
Now, Bliss is being stretched out…
-[Wade groans] -…by Lyra Valkyria.
[Wade] What a torturous hold by this incredibly inventive Dubliner.
It's been the Ireland show here tonight, and what a victory it would be
for Lyra Valkyria and Bayley, if they could grab gold here.
Completely getting the upper hand in this one against the champ.
[Joe] Oh! She turns it into a potential pin there
as Alexa is able to get free,
but right now, in a compromised position in that corner,
against the challengers, trying to fight her way free.
[Wade] Well, Bliss fighting for dear life at this point.
She's been under the crush from Valkyria and Bayley.
-[crowd cheering] -[Wade] And now,
if Lyra Valkyria can drag her back
-to the wrong side of the tracks… -[Joe groans]
…get the tag to Bayley, and that is just classic tag team strategy.
[Joe] She is desperate to get to Charlotte.
And now, the teamwork from Bayley and Valkyria.
One! Two!
[Wade] Late, late kick-out there from Alexa Bliss.
And you get the sense that Bayley
and Lyra Valkyria are inching closer to the gold here.
[Joe] Tag Team Championship match that Bayley desperately wanted.
Put forth the challenge on social media and gets it right here
at the Honda Center. Would you look at Alexa Bliss,
-but instead-- Oh! She does land it. -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] The double DDT!
And now, Charlotte on that apron, she wants a piece of it.
[Wade] Little glimpse into the otherworldly abilities
-of Alexa Bliss, and there's the tag. -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Here comes Flair!
[Joe] High flying crossbody wipes them both out!
[Wade] And when you are a challenger for gold.
[crowd chanting "Whoo!"]
[Joe] There are few that do it better than this.
Flair chop after Flair chop.
[Wade] The last thing you want is a fresh Charlotte Flair running at you.
-[crowd cheering] -[Joe] Walk over clothesline.
The Queen has arrived for this championship moment,
hasn't she?
[Wade] Now, taking full control of the match,
guarding those tag championships on her own.
Alexa Bliss is down, Alexa Bliss may be out,
and Charlotte, might have to win this one solo,
something she is more than capable of doing.
[Joe] The offense that Charlotte Flair has been able to string together,
it could put away this Tag Team Championship match.
[Wade] We're looking to win this one…
-[Joe] Oh boy. -…in style, perhaps.
[Joe] Flair's got that potential moonsault lined up, Wade.
-[Wade] From the top. -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] And into the cover,
-hook of the leg to retain. -[crowd counting]
[Joe] But Lyra able to get that left shoulder up.
[Wade] The game-changing queen of this entire industry,
looking as good as ever.
Connected perfectly on both opponents with that one,
and somehow, Valkyria with just about enough left in the tank
to kick out, but for how much longer?
[Joe] Big boot to deal with Bayley on the apron.
-[crowd cheering] -[Wade] Keep your eye on the--
[Joe] Oh! That gave Lyra just enough time to recover.
Just enough, Wade.
[Wade] Valkyria really needs this tag and something has snapped inside Bayley.
-[Joe] Oh, we've seen this before. -Come on!
-[Wade] Ding dong, you idiots. -Come on!
-[Wade] Bayley demanding a tag now. -Come on!
-[Joe] The intensity of Bayley. -Come on!
[Joe] This is the Bayley that at times has confused Lyra
but has helped her out as well. The big knee from Bayley.
[Wade] Control this side of Bayley, you have a great pathway to the gold.
[Joe] And Charlotte draped over that second rope
-as Bayley continues with her assault. -[Wade] Oh God…
-[Joe] Oh! -…Bayley has gone absolutely berserk here.
[Joe] Driving the elbow, drop kicking Alexa Bliss off the apron.
[Wade] Well, Bayley finding that top gear just when it was needed.
Finding a knee just when it was needed with Charlotte Flair-- Whoa!
[Joe] Bayley to belly!
-To have the gold right here… -[crowd counting]
-…and Charlotte survives it. -[Wade exclaims]
Such a late kick out there from Charlotte Flair.
Oh man, 95% of the locker room
and that was gonna be new tag team champions.
But Charlotte Flair just has that extra ability most don't have.
[Joe] Will the reign of Bliss and Flair continue?
Or will Bayley and Valkyria grab those championships?
-So, Bliss has tagged herself in. -[Wade] And Bayley did not see it,
I don't think, but taking a shot for good measure.
Bayley, I think, thinks Charlotte Flair is still legal here.
[Joe] No doubt about it, as Charlotte kicks free for a moment.
And now, look-- Oh!
Would you look at the leg drop by Valkyria!
[Wade] Buried, but here connects on Charlotte Flair.
[crowd booing]
[Wade] But of course, it's not Charlotte who's legal.
[Joe] Oh, Bliss! Could she?
Looking for the Sister Abigail
DDT!
[Wade] Connecting flush.
-[Joe] To retain! -[crowd counting]
[Joe] And a save by Bayley!
[Wade] Wow, championship timing
from the veteran, Bayley, just when it was most needed.
[Joe] Incredible drama here in our championship main event.
[Wade] Now, with a boot to the temple from Charlotte Flair,
they're brawling on the floor, which leads it to Alexa Bliss
-and Valkyria in the ring. -[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Joe] The Sister Abigail DDT.
Oh, she's going up top, she's going up top,
maybe looking for Twisted Bliss, but instead Lyra able to get to her feet.
-And catching the crossbody attempt, -[Wade] Wow!
[Joe] Lyra Valkyria, look at the dynamic power!
[Wade] Nightwing.
[Joe] The Nightwing is in,
and now, the save by Charlotte!
[Wade] Well, just like Bayley moments ago,
Charlotte Flair saving her tag partner and saving this match in the process.
Because there was no way Bliss was kicking out of that Nightwing.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, pick a winner from here, Joe Tess, good luck with that.
[Joe] Just incredible, as Alexa Bliss, feeling the effects of the Nightwing,
desperate to get to Charlotte Flair.
[Wade] Jaws are dropping all over this sold-out arena in Anaheim,
and now, it's Charlotte Flair and Bayley in there.
[Joe] Thesz Press, Bayley jumps right on her.
Ground and pound by Bayley, and now, Charlotte turns it around.
[Wade] What an absolute slugfest, nothing pretty here.
This is all about grit, determination, and a desire for gold.
[Joe] Just toe the line in the center of the ring
and determine this thing.
Oh, we got a good one in the Tag Team Championship match.
-[Wade] Boot! -[Joe] Oh, what a boot from Flair!
-[Wade] Right to the kisser of Bayley. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Bayley's down, is she out? She might be imminently.
[Joe] Oh, this could be Figure Eight time. She's locking it in.
Charlotte could bridge this, arch it and put it in and retain by submission.
Would you look at this?
-[Joe] Can Bayley survive it? The figure-- -[Wade] Bayley--
[Joe] Oh! Oh!
Lyra will not let that hand tap!
-[Wade] Lyra's holding it up-- -[Joe] Look up!
-[Joe] Twisted Bliss! -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] A Twisted Bliss breaks it up.
[Wade] Oh, just when Bayley was looking to tap, Lyra prevented that.
And a Twisted Bliss.
-[Joe] What more can we get? -[Wade] Both challengers are down.
[Joe] How much more can they give?
-In sync, Double Natural Selection! -[crowd counting]
-[Joe] Oh, what a show! -[bell ringing]
["All Hail the Queen" playing]
[Alicia] Here are your winners, and still
the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair!
[Joe] Figure Eight survived, Twisted Bliss breaks it up,
-and a Double Natural Selection, Wade. -[Wade] Well, here's your Figure Eight,
and preventing the tap out was Lyra Valkyria.
And I think this is the moment Joe Tess lost his voice.
-[Joe laughs] -[Wade] A Twisted Bliss off the very top.
Whoa, wait a second! Oh, hold on,
-Kabuki Warriors are out here. -[crowd booing]
[Joe] Asuka and Kairi Sane,
The Kabuki Warriors have arrived and they are attacking.
[Wade] Well, they've launched some verbal warning shots all night.
"We want the gold, we will not be jumped in the line."
And they're sending a loud…
-[Joe] Oh no. Oh no. -…and clear message
to our victors tonight.
[Joe] Kairi Sane's up top, Charlotte's lined up.
Insane Elbow!
Oh, this is a devastating beatdown from The Kabuki Warriors.
[Wade] Kabuki Warriors have been more vicious than ever
over the past couple of months and Bayley now, looking to defend Lyra.
[Joe] And Bayley stands opposite Asuka and Kairi Sane.
[Wade] Well, Asuka and Kairi Sane attacked everybody.
And second thoughts about attacking Bayley for some reason.
-[Joe] They pulled off against Bayley. -[Wade] What is that about?
-["Reigning Warriors" playing] -[crowd booing]
[Wade] And Bayley's pretty intimidating, especially, this version of Bayley.
But Kabuki Warriors, perhaps, wisely backing away there.
[Joe] Flair and Bliss able to defend the Women's Tag Team Championship.
Such a special night here in Anaheim.
And now, all eyes will be on Salt Lake City,
one of the very best cards of the year, set to come your way.
The World Heavyweight Championship on Saturday Night's Main Event,
CM Punk and Jey Uso.
-[crowd cheering] -[music fades] p on Saturday Night's Main Event,