[upbeat music playing]
[Cole] This is the bustling metropolis of Riyadh,
crown jewel of the desert,
the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Seven million people strong.
And for the second straight night,
we're at the state-of-the-art Kingdom Arena,
host to international football matches, world heavyweight boxing bouts,
and tonight, WWE's Night of Champions.
The 14-time world champion is here.
-[crowd cheering] -Randy Orton sets a record tonight.
More SummerSlam appearances than anyone.
He's in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament against this man.
The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, a long legacy between these two men
pops off tonight.
Sami Zayn's obsessive quest for a world championship is put on hold tonight
as he deals with the devil on his shoulder,
begging him to join the dark side.
Karrion Kross, joined by Scarlett.
Kross claims he targets liars in WWE,
and considers Sami Zayn one who needs to be corrected tonight.
The Eradicator, Rhea Ripley is here, renewing an old rivalry
against Judgment Day's Raquel Rodriguez.
It's a street fight where anything goes.
The first time ever for Saudi Arabia.
She's an empress who wants to be a queen.
Asuka hopes to punch her ticket to SummerSlam,
but a storm is building and standing in her way.
Jade Cargill wants to be queen of the ring.
And the best in the world, CM Punk,
here for a massive main event versus the greatest of all time, John Cena.
It's for the undisputed WWE championship.
Tonight live from Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
it's Night of Champions.
[cheering]
[Rinaldi] The journey is long.
The path is hard…
but the destination…
distant, eternal, gleaming is somehow clear.
Getting here is framed by a question and shaped by a fight.
But maybe the fight isn't the hardest part.
Maybe it's what you carry that's even heavier.
Not just the strength and will or the grit and belief,
it's the other things.
The pressure of expectation.
The weight of opportunity.
The burden of doubt.
And the simple central unyielding question.
Are you enough?
This is where you get the chance to find out.
[Barrett] The stakes right now cannot be higher.
[Cole] How strong is Jane Cargill?
[John Cena] You are not ready!
[Barrett] One step closer to redemption for Cody Rhodes.
[Randy Orton] I have to do whatever it takes to get number 15.
[Rinaldi] And for some…
the last time is now
to show the world who they truly are.
Day in, day out, no days off.
For 25 years, I have been the greatest of all time.
[Cole] It's time CM Punk woke up as champion.
[Cena] John Cena, CM Punk.
One final match.
[Rinaldi] The chance to define yourself in this kingdom.
This moment, this match, this night…
as a champion.
[presenter] And now WWE presents Night of Champions.
[upbeat music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] You are looking live at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It is jam-packed for WWE's Night of Champions.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, for the 24th time,
a tournament will culminate
in the crowning of a King of the Ring tonight.
I'm Michael Cole with a former King of the Ring, Wade Barrett.
Wade, what an important night for the WWE calendar.
Absolutely huge. So many stakes this evening.
The fallout from what happens tonight
is going to define the rest of the year here in WWE.
Massive three or four hours to come.
Also here tonight, our Arabic announce team.
Let's check in with Jude and Faisal. Hey, guys.
[speaking Arabic]
[Cole, in English] Ladies and gentlemen,
let's head up to our ring announcer Mark Nash.
[bell dings]
[Nash] Ladies and gentlemen, the following is the finals
of the King of the Ring tournament
in which the winner will go on to challenge
for the undisputed
WWE championship at SummerSlam.
[crowd cheering]
["Voices (Randy Orton)" playing]
[crowd] ♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ You got your rules and your religion ♪
♪ All designed to keep you safe ♪
♪ But when rules start getting broken ♪
♪ You start questioning your faith ♪
♪ I have a voice that is my savior ♪
♪ Hates to love and loves to hate ♪
♪ I have a voice that has the knowledge ♪
♪ And the power to rule your fate ♪
♪ I hear voices crying ♪
♪ I see heroes dying ♪
♪ I taste blood that's drying ♪
♪ I feel tension rising ♪
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me They understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ They tell me things that I will do ♪
♪ They show me things I'll do to you ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[Nash] Introducing first,
from Saint Louis, Missouri,
weighing in at 290 pounds.
The Viper, Randy Orton!
[crowd whistling]
[crowd] ♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me They understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ I hear voices crying ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me They understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
♪ I hear voices crying ♪
♪ I see heroes dying ♪
♪ I taste blood that's drying ♪
♪ I feel tension rising ♪
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me They understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[music ends]
[crowd cheering]
[chanting] Randy! Randy! Randy!
["Kingdom" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[voice] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
[Nash] His opponent from Atlanta, Georgia
weighing in at 222 pounds,
The American Nightmare!
Cody Rhodes!
♪ Whoa! ♪
[Cole] An incredible atmosphere here tonight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Thousands of WWE fans singing in unison
to both Randy Orton and Cody, uh, Rhodes entrance music.
Tonight, now we get down to business in the finals of the King of the Ring.
In the year 2008,
Randy Orton joined forces with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr.
in a group that would be called Legacy.
Over their two years together,
Orton won three world championships and a Royal Rumble.
Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase won two tag teams titles.
Rhodes and DiBiase would kick Orton out of the group in the year 2010.
They would then do battle and one-on-one action.
And over the years, Orton owns a 7-to-3 singles record against Cody Rhodes.
Will that change tonight in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament?
[crowd chanting] Pump it up! Pump it up! Pump it up!
[Cole] Cody Rhodes very successful in Riyadh back in November.
He won the first ever Crown Jewel Championship.
For Randy Orton, it's about some retribution tonight.
Last year, Wade, in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament,
he lost to Gunther in a very controversial manner.
Gunther would go on to SummerSlam to win the world title.
[Barrett] Yeah, the final of the King of the Ring tournament last year
was absolute BS in my opinion.
A massive refereeing error.
And to a lot of people, Randy Orton is the sentimental favorite tonight
to right last year's wrong.
[crowd] ♪ Allez, allez, allez ♪
♪ Allez, allez ♪
♪ Allez, allez, allez ♪
♪ Allez, allez ♪
♪ Allez, allez, allez ♪
♪ Allez, allez ♪
[Cole] There are no words to describe the atmosphere
inside the Kingdom Arena tonight.
It is absolutely electric.
So for the first time in 12 years, these two men go one-on-one.
[Barrett] They might not need us to tonight, Cole,
I think this audience is gonna do it for us.
[Cole] Winner of this match heads to SummerSlam.
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
to take on the undisputed WWE champion
since both of these men are from Friday Night SmackDown.
Could be Cena, could be Punk. We find out later on tonight.
And Orton now with a shoulder tackle and down goes Cody Rhodes.
[Barrett] I'll tell you right off the bat. From the entrances,
I saw so much nerves in the eyes of both Cody and Randy.
It's astounding
considering where they've both been previously in their careers,
but it's off many times.
I don't know whether it's the stakes of this match
or whether it's the fact that you're probably gonna have to do
some heinous things to a good friend of yours
at some point tonight if you're gonna be successful.
[Cole] It's also the fact of getting screwed over by John Cena.
Both of these men, Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania,
Randy Orton back in his hometown of St. Louis at Backlash.
They'd love to get their hands on Cena again if Cena survives tonight.
[Barrett] I'm sure Cena and Punk might have something to say about that
in tonight's main event.
We'll see how that goes,
but right now you need to put yourself in pole position for SummerSlam.
[Cole] And we've mentioned before, these two know each other very well.
They've had a legacy together.
However, first time in 12 years they've gone one-on-one,
so still a feeling-out process, so to speak.
[Barrett] Yeah, they know each other incredibly well.
And I promise you, they've studied each other incredibly well,
even if they haven't been competing against each other.
But for me at this point, we've felt each other out briefly,
we've tied up a couple of times, we've got a sweat on.
Throw the friendship to one side. Focus on what counts.
That's beating the hell out of this man stood across the ring
who wants to take away what you badly want.
[Randy grunts]
[Cole] And Cody Rhodes with the forearm to the face of Randy Orton.
And now Rhodes off the rope.
Oh! Big knee takes Rhodes down.
Well placed into the mid-section of The American Nightmare.
Mentioned before, 24th King of the Ring tournament…
Dropped down by Cody!
And there's the right hand stunning Orton.
[Barrett] Playing a little possum there on that knee to the gob.
Making out it was a lot more painful
then perhaps it really was just sucking Randy in.
[Cole] Rhodes ripped into the corner.
High elbow catches Randy on the bridge of the nose.
Here's a bulldog by Cody quickly into the cover on Randy.
Hooked to the leg now. Kick out at two.
Referee Charles Robinson working this matchup.
[Barrett] So crazy. The mental machinations going on now
in the mind of both Randy and Cody.
You know full well that your opponent is expecting certain things early.
You need to make sure you don't do those things.
Keep your opponent guessing.
[Cole] Not sure if, um…
he's ready for Cody Rhodes to go to the top rope so early.
But he did, and it may have cost him as Randy Orton catches him there.
[Barrett] Randy certainly was ready for it.
And those are those reflexes and instincts of The Viper that are simply unsurpassed.
[Cole] 1985, the first King of the Ring was crowned.
None other than Don Morocco.
As Orton climbs to the top rope with Cody in position.
And there's a superplex from Randy!
And wait… wait… wait a second.
I don't know if you noticed how Randy, when he bounced off the mat,
he quickly went to his lower back.
Perhaps it seized up a bit.
And Randy Orton clearly in some sort of pain here.
Let's watch this again.
-[Barrett] Oh! -[Cole] And look at him right there.
Right there, Randy realizes he may be in trouble
as he moves to the ropes and grab for his lower back.
[Barrett] That could be a nerve issue.
Of course, Randy Orton has had major lower back issues in the past.
That lumbar spine that kept him out for about 12 months,
not so long ago, may have tweaked something there.
[Cole] And Cody Rhodes now stalking his man Randy Orton,
and goes right to the lower back and the kidney.
[Barrett] Yeah, it's all fair game. You have to.
[Cole] Disaster Kick by Cody.
[Barrett] God, it could be a disaster for Randy Orton here.
[Cole] Cover by Cody for the win, hook to the leg.
Orton's forced to kick out.
[Barrett] Oh, that was a weak, weak kick out.
This is not the kind of abuse that keeps Randy Orton down traditionally,
but that lower back, that lumbar spine,
apparently has now served a handicap to The Viper.
[Cole] Yeah. Cody Rhodes targeting the lower back as…
Goes to work on Orton. Nice suplex by Cody.
Cover again by Cody.
Finals of the King of the Ring tournament.
[applause]
[Barrett] Well, whatever game plan Cody Rhodes came into with,
this probably just changed.
I don't know what his plan to target was, but now throw that out the window,
go for what hurts.
[Cole] Yeah, Randy clearly hurt as Cody Rhodes unloads.
Orton trying to fight back as well.
Rhodes and Orton exchanging blows.
Randy now.
-Oh, and there's the patented backbreaker. -[Barrett] Oh!
-[Cole] And even that… -[Orton grunting]
[Cole] Even that causes Orton to collapse to the mat in pain.
[Barrett] Yeah, that's an instinctive move from Randy Orton.
He's done it millions of times before.
His brain automatically went there and now clearly regretting it.
Take another look at this standard stuff from Orton.
But it hurt him far more than it did Cody Rhodes.
[Cole] Of course, the King of the Ring tournament. One of attrition.
[Robinson] Gotta get in the ring now!
[Cole] Surviving to get to the finals, and then winning…
And now Cody Rhodes and…
-Cody now… -[Orton grunting]
…torturing Orton, working on the lower back,
wrapping him around the ring post.
Cody Rhodes here.
[Barrett] They're being completely vicious.
This is a very different side of Cody Rhodes.
Why? Because the stakes are so massive this evening.
Not just the crown,
but that opportunity beckoning at SummerSlam race
shot at the gold.
[crown chanting] Let's go, Randy!
"Let's go, Randy" chants for our capacity crowd here in Riyadh.
[Barrett] I like this from Cody Rhodes. I promise you, if the roles were reversed,
-Randy Orton would have no hesitation… -[Cole] That's a dropkick!
[Barrett] …in attacking Cody.
[Cole] Cover again by Cody. Orton forced to kick out.
Now listen, if you have a back issue,
obviously each and every time you're forced to kick out,
it bothers the back.
[Barrett] Any movement whatsoever.
I mean, even lying in bed with a bad back hurts.
I cannot possibly fathom how Orton, from this point,
can now negotiate his way back into the match.
[Cole] Well, that's Joe Tess's issue carrying you every week.
[Barrett] Oh, come on, mate. There's no need for that.
-[Cole] Cody now with a… -[Barrett] We just started.
…knee the placed to the spine.
And now Rhodes continuing to wear down Randy Orton.
-And as you mentioned earlier… -[Cody grunting]
…whatever Cody's strategy was, it's out the window
as he's completely changed things now in his attack on Orton.
[Barrett] Now attack him with that for a bat that's really a neck hole.
But Randy Orton having to use all the weight on that lower back
to force his way back up.
And now Cody smartly pressing against the upper back of Randy,
forcing him back down,
and again all that pressure goes on the lumbar spine.
[Cole] And referee Charles Robinson making sure
that the, uh, arm remains wrapped around the… the jaw of Orton
and doesn't slip underneath and do a choke here, and…
Cody Rhodes continues to put the pressure on Randy.
And Randy's in deep trouble.
Randy could be fading here in the center of the ring.
[Barrett] Randy just has that competitive spirit that never say die.
He thinks he can figure something out here,
even if the rest of us may doubt it.
[Cole] Orton trying to… trying to break the hold here,
and finally does as he buries Cody in the corner.
And now Randy Orton almost went shoulder first.
Uh-oh, great move by Randy and a big close line down to Rhodes.
And now Randy Orton's starting to build some momentum now.
Here comes The Viper.
Power slam!
Hesitation, uh… [stammers]
Barely being able to go for the cover here,
couldn't even hook the leg.
[Barrett] Yeah, and that was a solid two or three
before Randy could even execute that cover.
Just hampered in every regard
from pretty much the word go in this match.
Now, there are occasions when you tweak something early in a match
that, over time, as the body warms up, natural endorphins get released.
It can numb that injury to an extent.
And Randy is clearly hoping that is the case here.
[Cole] And Orton looking to drape Cody over the second rope.
The WWE's apex predator was going to the, uh…
Ooh, that draping DDT.
And Cody went right back to the back.
-[Orton grunts] -[Cole] And another shot to the kidneys.
[Barrett] Gotta be ruthless here if you're Cody Rhodes.
-Oh! -[Cole] Cody Cutter! This could be it!
Rhodes cover. Hook of the leg. Randy stays in it.
[crowd whistles]
[Barrett] And it really is that slight turn of speed for Randy Orton
that is now gone completely.
And that was the difference there in allowing Cody Rhodes back into the match
when it looked like Randy was starting to build a little bit of momentum.
Just cannot capitalize on the damage you caused to Cody
if you can't move quick enough to get the next shot in.
[Cole] Cody now heading up to the top rope now.
Avalanche Cody Cutter! Is that enough to put Orton away?
Randy stays in it again!
And now Cody Rhodes beginning to maybe question himself.
"What do I need to do to put Randy away?"
[Barrett] But that is the sweetest sight in the world if you're Cody Rhodes.
The Viper in agony.
And Cody deftly maneuvering to the top rope,
executing yet another Cody Cutter.
Randy in big, big trouble.
[Cole] Twelve Hall of Famers over the years have been King of the Ring.
Ten world champions have been King of the Ring.
The best of the best have won this tournament crown.
The names of Booker T and Stone Cold Steve Austin,
Triple H and Harley Race, among others.
And Cody… is up on the apron.
Kick right to the midsection by Orton, Randy's got him where he wants him.
Great DDT coming.
Fetch it, Orton!
[cheering]
[crowd chanting] Pump it up! Pump it up! Pump it up!
[Cole] Adrenaline is pumping. The Viper is ready to strike.
[Orton grunts]
[Cole] Measuring his man, going to the RKO, blocked by Cody…
-in a Cross Rhodes. -[Barrett] Oh!
[Cole] Great counter by Cody.
Cover. Randy kicked out.
Randy's kicked out of just about everything so far.
[Barrett] Yeah, that is a wild, wild kick out for a man with a busted back
who's been beaten from pillar to post already.
And Cody hits his biggest shot of them all.
And it's not good enough.
Now what happens on this kick out to the mind-set of Cody Rhodes
-who has dominated this match? -[Cole] I'll tell you what happened.
I was just looking at Cody, looked him straight in the eyes,
and he had a blank look on his face.
He… he was like, "What do I need to do?"
He was staring out into space trying to figure out,
"How do I take out Orton here?"
[Barrett] Yeah, remember, this was once upon a time your mentor.
The guy you looked up to, the guy who taught you things.
-That… Oh! -[Cole] Oh! RKO!
Out of nowhere! By Orton!
Come on! For the win!
-Cody at two and a half! -[Orton grunting]
[Barrett] Oh, my God. Never count out The Viper.
Cody just thinking…
Thinking he had all the time in the world to talk some trash
to a beaten and apparently broken Viper.
But that RKO out of nowhere,
quick as a flash.
But again, now the role reversed.
How frustrating is that for Randy Orton?
He got the kill shot in just when he'd been written off,
and it wasn't enough.
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] Randy glancing back at Cody, and…
Oh, you wonder what's going through the mind of The Viper now.
Ever dangerous.
-[Barrett] Oh! -[Cole] Oh, no. Cody's in position!
Cody's in position!
Randy second-guessing himself?
[Barrett] All the time in the world to hit this punt.
Albeit against a true friend.
[Cole] Orton psyching himself up to do it.
-Took too long. Cody Rhodes avoided it. -[Barrett] Oh!
[Cole] Now take down on Randy Orton. And Cody now.
Look at the Figure-four! Figure-four! Center of the ring! Locked in!
Orton's in trouble!
[Barrett] Well, Orton just gave a massive gift to Cody Rhodes.
Cody's embraced it and thrown it back in The Viper's face.
[Cole] Cody's got the Figure-four locked in.
Randy Orton, center of the ring, nowhere to go as Cody continues the pressure.
[Barrett] Only one way to go from here and is quite simply tap out.
Randy is a massive prey, but he is so far from any rope.
[Cole] Unless Randy can turn over onto his belly
and reverse the pressure onto Cody Rhodes, which is what Orton's trying to do here.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Randy!
[Cole] And he's able to do that! And now it's Cody Rhodes who's in trouble.
Randy Orton now has the upper hand,
and Cody has to roll to the ropes and force a break.
[Barrett] That was a hell of a long time in that Figure-four leglock.
And if Randy wasn't already in a bad way,
things are looking messy now for The Viper.
[Cole] Bad back, issues with the legs now.
[Barrett] Randy had the opportunity there to finish that with the punt.
Simply took too long.
Cody moved out of the way, and it's still game on.
[crowd exclaims]
[Cole] And now Orton Rhodes…
But right hand stunned Randy.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] You mentioned on the Countdown show today, Wade,
the fact that it's extremely humid and warm inside this arena.
And will it affect these athletes tonight?
[Barrett] It's affecting me sat here at ringside.
[crowd exclaims]
[Barrett] I promise you, it is destroying the endurance of both men.
[crowd exclaiming]
-[Cole] Ready to fight now… -[Orton grunts]
…Cody goes to the midsection with another kick now.
Rhodes, off the second rope.
-RKO! -[crowd cheers]
Orton with the interception!
Cody kicks out again!
[Barrett] Oh, God. Taking flight.
-[crowd cheers] -[Barrett] And again out of nowhere, RKO.
Connecting flush to Cody Rhodes.
And it really speaks volumes to the caliber of these two competitors
that they are taking the best shots each has to offer,
and still somehow ticking.
[Cole] Again, the King of the Ring on the line, but also…
an opportunity at the undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
[Barrett] Yeah, and that's really why the caliber of competitors
in the tournament this year is so high.
The crown is great.
Everyone wants it, but, trust me, that opportunity at SummerSlam,
it's as big as winning a Royal Rumble now.
[Cole] Uh, Randy now with a steel chair in hand.
Disqualification will hand this thing to Cody Rhodes,
so I'm not quite sure what Randy's thinking here.
[Barrett] Well, he's not thinking straight, that's the issue.
The red mist has now descended for Randy.
[Robinson] Wait! Give me the chair! Give me the chair!
You know better, man!
-What are you thinking? -You're right.
-What the hell is your problem? -You're right.
Come on. Get over here.
-[Cole] Wait a minute. -[Barrett] Oh.
[Cole] Randy Orton now, uh…
[Barrett] Undoing the top turnbuckle. With the referee's back turned.
That was entirely a ruse. It was a decoy by Randy.
[Cole] Yes, cerebral Orton has exposed the top turnbuckle,
unbeknownst to the official Charles Robinson.
[Cody grunts]
-[Cole] Cody Rhodes though, blocks. -[Orton grunts]
-[Cole] And now it's Randy Orton blocking. -[Orton grunting]
[Cole] And he went to the RKO.
-[Barrett] Oh! -[Cole] Into that corner!
-[Cole] Ribs first. -[Orton screams]
[Cole] Into the exposed steel.
Cross Rhodes by Cody.
Cover!
-Cody Rhodes is King of the Ring! -[bell dings]
[upbeat music playing]
[Cole] What an incredible victory for Cody Rhodes tonight,
who earns himself an opportunity
at the undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
What a fight tonight!
[Barrett] And I'll tell you right now, Cole, I've known Cody Rhodes a long time.
That was a very different version of Cody we saw in there tonight.
All bets were off.
Cody turned up the violence style,
and it was in fact The Viper at times who showed some restraint,
not so much for Cody.
This is early on in the matchup.
Randy going for that signature Superplex
and paying the price, tweaking that lower back.
And Cody Rhodes exploited it,
but Randy always ready and dangerous to strike
with his RKO out of nowhere.
Cody good for it.
[Cole] And then Randy Orton, after bringing a steel chair into the ring,
as Wade said, clearly a ruse to allow Randy Orton to expose the turnbuckle.
But it would backfire on The Viper.
[Barrett] Fell on his own sword. Shoved straight into it.
-Hitting that… those ribs… -[Orton screams]
…weakening The Viper,
and then Cross Rhodes number two connecting.
[Robinson] One, two, three!
[Barrett] And we have ourselves a 2025 King of the Ring.
["Kingdom" playing]
[Nash] Here is your winner.
And the new King of the Ring,
The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes!
[Cole] General manager Pearce from Raw and Aldis from SmackDown
congratulating the new King of the Ring.
Let's go up to our own Byron Saxton for an interview.
Cody Rhodes.
Cody, first off, congratulations.
How does it feel to know that you now have a chance to finally reclaim
the undisputed WWE title at SummerSlam?
Byron, first of all,
I have to thank Randy Orton, the Legend Killer.
Nothing but respect from the guy who mentored me, the guy who spoke up for me.
He's a future Hall of Famer, and this isn't his last stop here in Saudi Arabia.
One more time for Randy Orton.
I am well aware.
I hear each and every one of you. This is an arduous path.
First, Jey Uso, the most beloved character in all of WWE.
Then the modern locker room leader, the man, Randy Orton.
And at SummerSlam, that means I'm facing either CM Punk
or John Cena.
And I completely get
how you feel as an audience when I go up against these beloved characters,
but I want you to hear it from me.
I was born to do this, whether it be CM Punk or John Cena.
They are holding on to that belt for themselves,
and they are holding on to it for me.
Because at SummerSlam I get the ball back.
[Cole] The words of the quarterback.
The King of the Ring.
["Kingdom" playing]
Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez
face off in nature's most original bout, a street fight.
Will Rhea be successful in her continued crusade against the Judgment Day,
or will Raquel cement herself as one of the women's division's top enforcers?
Ripley and Rodriguez in a Street Fight, up next.
[Ripley] When I first came to the performance center, I felt very alone.
And Raquel, she was one that I sort of just gravitated to instantly.
[Ripley laughs]
We sort of just felt like we only had each other.
We had each other's backs when no one else did.
This is my friend.
-I love her very much. -I love you very much.
[Ripley] We actually got matching R&R tattoos, that's how close we are.
Well, we were.
I guess things change. People change.
[Cole] Raquel Rodriguez assaulted Rhea Ripley.
[Rodriguez] Rhea Ripley thinks she runs Monday Night Raw.
Rhea is the strongest and most dominant female in all of WWE
except for me.
Rhea… [in Spanish] Baby…
[in English] The only reason you rose to the top,
is because I was gone.
I am not going to let Rhea run through our division.
[Cole] The winner of the Queen of the Ring gets an opportunity
at a championship in SummerSlam.
Wait a minute.
Raquel Rodriguez, where did she come from?
[Ripley] Raquel, you really try to paint yourself in a pretty little picture
like you didn't deserve the beatings that I've been giving you.
See, the difference between you and I is when you betrayed me,
it was with malice and ego.
Where everything I've done to you has been deserved.
[Cole] Uh-oh! [chuckles]
Rhea Ripley just cost Raquel Rodriguez.
Turnabout is fair play!
[Rodriguez] Rhea…
You're not gonna screw me out of Queen of the Ring and get away with it.
I can drag you out here by that nose ring, or you can make it easy for yourself
and get in here and take the beating you deserve…
[in Spanish] …sucker.
[Cole, in English] Be careful what you wish for, Raquel.
Look at the fury in the eyes of Mami.
You want tables… [in Spanish]… jerk? [in English] You want tables?
[Cole] Roxanne Perez from behind.
Pearce!
-Hello, Rhea. -I want Raquel!
-How about Night of Champions? -Yeah, sounds good.
-How about a Street Fight? -[chuckles] Even better.
[Barrett] Well, these two have a hell of a history.
Former best friends, now mortal enemies.
And the smartest thing for you to do is walk away.
But we all know you're not going to do that.
So since you won't end this,
I will.
[Ripley] Raquel's not the same person that I knew back then.
And you're gonna have to kill me to stop me.
[bell dings]
[Nash] The following contest is a Riyadh Boulevard Street Fight.
In this match, there are no countouts, no disqualifications.
The only way to win is by pinfall or submission.
["La Mas Ruda" playing]
[Nash] Introducing first, from Rio Grande Valley, Texas,
representing the Judgment Day.
She is one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champion.
Raquel Rodriguez!
[Cole] Before we get into the Street Fight tonight,
you see Raquel Rodriguez carrying both titles, the Tag Team titles.
Her partner, Liv Morgan,
will be out for a number of months after her shoulder surgery,
So general manager Adam Pearce of Monday Night Raw
and general manager Nick Aldis of Friday Night SmackDown,
Wade, have a big decision to make on what to do with the Women's Tag Team title.
[Barrett] Yeah, and they need to make it quick, because a competitor like Raquel,
you don't need that hanging over you while you're trying to compete.
You want to retain that championship, however they come up with a solution.
And there clearly are some options out there
that I'm not necessarily gonna go into right now,
but that needs to be resolved ASAP.
[Cole] This is the first ever Street Fight in the history of Night of Champions,
in the history of Saudi Arabia.
["Demon In Your Dreams" playing]
[Nash] And her opponent from Adelaide, South Australia,
Rhea Ripley!
[Cole] Back in 2021 at NXT,
Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez engaged in a Last Woman Standing match.
Wade was there to call it, and it was a victory for Raquel Rodriguez,
as she established dominance that night on Rhea Ripley.
However, since that moment, Wade,
Raquel has been unable to beat Rhea Ripley in a one-on-one match.
-Will that factor into tonight? -[Barrett] I'm glad you brought that up.
Look, sometimes what happens
when superstars move from NXT to the main roster with Raw or SmackDown,
they hit the ground running, they take to it like a duck to water
and Rhea Ripley did that.
Other times, some superstars come up
and they walk around on eggshells for a little while.
They can't get comfortable in the locker room.
They don't show their best side. That's been Raquel.
Raquel, of late, however, has stepped up to a new level,
I think in large part because of the injury to Liv Morgan.
Raquel needs to fill those shoes in the Judgment Day
and she does it starting tonight.
[Cole] Yeah, but Raquel Rodriguez is the one
that really started this latest chapter in this rivalry
when she first cost Rhea Ripley an opportunity to advance
in the Queen of the Ring.
If you're Raquel Rodriguez, why are you trying to poke the bear,
for lack of a better term?
[Barrett] It's making a statement.
I don't care if Rhea Ripley has a championship or not.
She is always right at the top of the roster when it comes to the women.
To make a name for yourself, to prove a point,
to prove that this is your era, you go for Ripley.
[Cole] But Jackie Redmond on the Countdown show
had a very interesting point she made about Ripley.
It's been a rough patch over the past couple of months for Rhea.
Jackie believes, and so do I, this is really a must win for Rhea here tonight.
[Barrett] A must win for both women
and clearly Ripley needs to get rid of the Judgment Day
who have been haunting her career for months now.
They simply will not go away. Victory tonight might finally do the job.
[Cole] Now this is a Street Fight. You win via a pinfall or submission.
However, there are no disqualifications or no countouts.
We are sold out tonight at Kingdom Arena for a Night of Champions.
And Raquel and Rhea Ripley with a collar-and-elbow tie-up
to start things off.
[Barrett] Now Rhea Ripley, Cole, is a bully in the ring.
I'm not talking about the personality, but she bullies opponents.
That can't happen tonight.
Raquel is simply bigger and stronger than Ripley.
Ripley here is the underdog.
[Cole] And there's an example of Raquel tossing Rhea across the ring.
Stopping Rhea from getting the boot up
and early on Raquel Rodriguez is beginning to dominate Ripley.
And Ripley though, lands on her feet.
Kick by Rhea, stomp on the boot,
Oh! Face-first off the knee.
And Ripley now!
Raquel's still on her feet.
[Barrett] Just ate that clothesline that drops literally the entire roster
other than Big Mami Cool.
-Oh! [chuckles] -[Cole] Oh, wow!
Did you hear that?
[Barrett] Oh, my God. That was superb. It was the weaker hand too.
-[Cole] Wade, did you hear it? -Yes, I did.
And there's the Fallaway Slam.
[Barrett] Raquel took the big swing with the right and missed,
following it up with a weaker left and still knocking Ripley out of her boots.
[Cole] Another Fallaway Slam.
That thud off that chop could be heard echoing throughout the Kingdom Arena.
And Ripley fighting back with a boot to the face.
[Barrett] Yeah, you're in a dogfight now, Ripley.
Swing with everything you've got.
[Cole] Rhea went for and misses drop kick. Rodriguez moved out of harm's way.
And that's a perfect example of these two women knowing each other so well.
[Barrett] And it's a perfect example for me of
Rhea Ripley getting thrown off her game this early
because she simply cannot bully her opponent.
[Cole] And Raquel Rodriguez is doing the bullying right now,
burying her shoulder into the midsection of Ripley.
And that elbow caught her in the temple.
And Raquel Rodriguez right now is
-woman handling Rhea Ripley in the corner. -[Barrett] Well the power is one thing,
it's the movement from Raquel that has been so good.
She looks like a blur in there.
You have that much strength and that much maneuverability,
you're almost unbeatable.
-This is really really… -[Cole] Oh!
And another chop by the one time NXT Women's Champion
five times in her career.
Raquel Rodriguez has been a Tag Team champion.
And two times an NXT Tag Team champion.
She's had a couple of Street Fights in her career as well.
Rhea Ripley, Wade, has never been involved in a Street Fight here in WWE.
[Barrett] Things are changing before our eyes
and Rhea Ripley's confidence is slowly but surely draining away here,
tied up, defenseless, with a powerhouse beating the hell out of you.
[Cole] And again the official can do nothing here
because there are no disqualifications.
Raquel Rodriguez can just tee off like she is with Rhea trapped in the ropes.
[Barrett] Taunting as well in the process.
It's both a physical and mental destruction of The Eradicator.
[Cole] Rhea trying desperately to fight out of the ropes
as Raquel Rodriguez grabs a steel chair and a Kendo stick.
And if you notice, not sure if you can see,
Rhea Ripley, almost with a look of panic on her face, Wade.
As she realizes she's a sitting duck.
[Barrett] Realizes she asked for something
and she might not be able to deliver the goods against this woman.
-[screams] -Oh!
-You watch your back. -Hey, come on. All right.
[Cole] And Raquel again, punishing Ripley.
[Barrett] Raquel just reminding the referee,
there's nothing you can do here.
Oh, God.
Well, you were sat here alongside me last night at SmackDown,
Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax completely obliterated the ringside area.
-I've got a feeling Raquel's gonna do… -[Cole] Oh!
Well, Rhea may have just saved herself there, Wade,
bouncing the chair off the face of Raquel.
And now Rhea trying to, and she finally does escape from the ropes.
[Barrett] Tie up the arms, the feet are still swinging.
-[Cole] And Rhea Ripley! -[Barrett] Oh!
That caught the head of Raquel on the bottom rope on the way through.
Might get some whiplash injuries there.
[Cole] Rhea's hurt though. You can see the expression on her face,
favoring the midsection.
Rodriguez driven shoulder first to the steps.
[Barrett] Rodriguez,
barely even able to protect herself as she ran face first into those steps.
[Cole] And, Wade, this is important for Rhea
because it allows her to buy a little bit of time to recuperate and regroup here.
[Barrett] Yeah, I don't think you can recuperate physically
but mentally you certainly can.
And Ripley is cooking up something nasty here.
[Cole] Dragging the hood off the Arabic announce table.
[crowd chanting] Rhea, Rhea, Rhea, Rhea!
[Cole] And now clearing off the announce table.
And Rhea now with Raquel Rodriguez,
bouncing Raquel face first.
[Barrett] How quickly things have turned around in this one.
One window of opportunity, that is all Ripley needed.
[Cole] Oh, this doesn't bode well for Rodriguez.
Ripley.
Looking to hook Raquel. Raquel able to block.
And again Raquel blocks.
[Barrett] Ripley just not strong enough to manhandle Raquel.
[Cole] Oh, headbutt!
[applause]
[Barrett] Both women moving gingerly now.
[Cole] Now Rhea's absorbed a ton of punishment here.
Rhea now, from the announce table, gonna launch herself.
Raquel Rodriguez though,
catching Rhea Ripley in midair
and now with Rhea up top, driving Ripley.
Oh, my goodness!
Through Raquel from the announce table,
Rhea Ripley driven into the timekeeper's area by Raquel.
No countouts. Street Fight rules.
[Barrett] Oh God, let's take another look at this, this sickening crack.
It wasn't a thud, it was a crack.
I just hope it wasn't the spine of Rhea Ripley.
Raquel in agony too,
but clearly has dominated the majority of this match.
[Cole] Now you got to wonder what Raquel's looking for.
Table time now.
And again, Rhea hasn't moved.
And Raquel, sending the table into the ring.
[Barrett] What an authoritative performance thus far from Raquel,
who is cooking up more weapons of torture inside that ring
and apparently has all the time in the world to do it
because Ripley has barely moved.
[Cole] Rhea now trying to drag herself out of this predicament.
Raquel back outside the ring.
And again
attacking Ripley, bouncing her off, not just the announce table, but the apron.
[Barrett] Genuinely have never seen Rhea Ripley treated like this.
I've seen a ton of Ripley matches over the past five years, up close and personal.
[Cole] Look at Raquel now, look at the power.
Lifted up those steel steps.
Raquel is dangerous as she's ever been. May look better than she ever has,
as Raquel went to bounce Rhea off the steps.
Rhea though, able to bounce Raquel face-first.
And just like that, Rhea's taken over.
[Barrett] Oh, God, someone might be about to get a whip in here, Cole.
You wanna whip me?
[Cole] And it's Raquel now, suffering the wrath of Ripley.
[Barrett] Oh, God, a stunning belt too.
[Cole] Ow! And you can hear it.
Oh, my goodness!
[Barrett] There are studs of that belt, flying around the ringside area,
and they're making contact with the hide of Raquel.
[Cole] Raquel trying somehow to get away
as Rhea Ripley continues to just whip the hell out of Raquel Rodriguez.
Raquel just trying to cover up, but there's nowhere to go.
And Ripley,
-Razor's Edge. -[Barrett winces]
[Cole] Kick!
Cover!
Kick out.
[Barrett] Now both of these women are really showing us something here tonight.
Of course, we already knew this about Rhea Ripley,
but it has been a coming out party for Raquel Rodriguez.
Razor's Edge at such a high angle landing,
followed up with that fully to the jaw of Raquel.
But Big Mami Cool was simply equal to it.
But now a Prism Trap.
[Cole] Yeah, the Prism Trap, which is the submission maneuver Rhea's…
Tapped out of by many in her career.
Raquel in trouble, center of the ring.
Rhea Ripley's got it locked in.
[Barrett] That's the biggest weapon of them all in this kind of match.
Specialist maneuver executed to perfection.
-[Cole] And for… -[Barrett] Hey…
[Cole] Hey, that's Roxanne Perez.
Roxanne Perez has been recruited to the Judgment Day by Finn Bálor.
We saw Roxanne and Raquel put Rhea through a table Monday Night on Raw.
[Barrett] And of course it's all legal in a Riyadh Boulevard Street Fight.
[Cole] And now Rhea Ripley has had enough of Roxanne Perez,
who drops Rhea to the floor.
And now the feisty Roxanne Perez.
Uh-oh, Rhea looking to power out, Roxanne realizes that she's in trouble.
Her face says it all.
[Barrett] Well, whatever Roxanne Perez was trying to cook up here
has backfired in a big way.
[Cole] Maybe it hasn't backfired, Wade,
because Rhea's got her attention turned to Roxanne Perez and…
it may allow Raquel Rodriguez to regather herself.
[Barrett] Certainly backfired on Roxanne and this is not gonna be pretty.
[Cole] I don't know if you can read lips, but…
Rhea Ripley said, welcome to the Judgment Day.
Some people would say that Roxanne Perez belongs in the trash can.
[Barrett] Unnecessary, Cole.
[Cole] Oh, into the steel post.
Like I said, that allowed Raquel opportunity, Wade, to regroup.
[Barrett] Yeah, again, a selfless act from Roxanne Perez…
-Oh, no! -Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.
[Cole] Oh, no. Rhea may be out.
[Barrett] Just missiled right into it.
[Cole] And there's that Corkscrew Splash off the second rope.
Raquel looking for the victory,
And a kick out by Rhea at two.
[Barrett] Rhea has taken so much punishment in this one.
Now lawn darted into a steel ring post.
Driven again, face-first into those steps.
And then this Corkscrew Vader Bomb connecting.
Rhea never goes down without a fight, however.
But the end is surely nigh here.
[Cole] Yeah, Raquel dragging Rhea back to her feet, looking for the Tejana Bomb.
Maybe through the table?
Rhea Ripley though gets Raquel up close to the table off the Rana.
[Barrett] Great footwork from Raquel
that prevented herself flying into that table.
And immediately a crushing Big Boot.
[Cole] Raquel was about to deliver a Tejana Bomb through the table,
but Rhea, able to counter at least momentarily.
[Barrett] I have been so impressed how on point Raquel has been tonight.
Just a step ahead.
[Cole] Yeah, very, very impressive.
One of the best showings by Raquel in a long time here tonight,
as she has really dominated Rhea Ripley at many points in this match.
[Barrett] I've seen the growth of confidence with Raquel
over the past two or three weeks.
[Cole] Now I don't know what she's planning here. Raquel though…Oh.
Face-first off the table.
Rhea Ripley catches her with a kick.
[Barrett] Right on the edge of that table too.
Point of the jaw. Might have loosened a few teeth there on Raquel.
Bet she's thinking about anything right now though. Brain scramble.
[Cole] Trying to figure out what Rhea has in mind.
Rhea now on top of the table, which is hung up on the top rope and
bouncing Raquel off the table.
[Barrett] Ripley, not exactly a top turnbuckle specialist traditionally.
[Cole] Well, Ripley now has Raquel on the table.
I'm not sure if that table's gonna hold these two.
-[Barrett] Oh, God. Oh, God. -[Cole] Rhea setting up Raquel.
-[Cole] You gotta be kidding me. -[Barrett] Oh, no.
[Cole] From up there on top of the table, Riptide! Avalanche Riptide!
Cover by Rhea!
And the win!
[bell dings]
[Nash] Here is your winner.
Rhea Ripley!
[Cole] Wade, all I can say is, wow.
-[Barrett] What… -[Cole] Just wow.
What a Street Fight here tonight.
[Barrett] Such a grizzly affair
from two of the most militant women we have ever had in WWE.
I'll take nothing away from Raquel.
That was incredible from Big Mami Cool,
but incredible doesn't always get the job done.
Especially when you're in there with Rhea bloody Ripley.
[Cole] The turning point was
Raquel Rodriguez going face-first into the table, that she had set up, Wade.
[Barrett] Yeah, falling on her own sword to an extent,
but how resourceful is Rhea Ripley?
I'll use it to my benefit with a massive, as you called it, Avalanche Riptide!
Off that platform and hey, there ain't a person on planet Earth
who's kicking out of that one.
[Cole] Wow, Rhea Ripley, who's made it abundantly clear
that she wants, as she said on the Countdown show,
her baby back.
The Women's World Title.
Wade, we've got a brand new US champ.
[Barrett] Yeah, incredible stuff from Giulia yesterday.
Her first championship, just three or four weeks after being signed
right here on SmackDown by Nick Aldis.
And here she is, the champ is in town.
And Riyadh just loves some Giulia.
[crowd chanting] Giulia…
[Cole] Right now we're about to see
the battle between Sami Zayn and Karrion Kross.
Kross has been the devil on Sami Zayn's shoulder,
hoping that Sami would devolve into darkness
as the only way to accomplish Sami's ultimate goal,
to win the World Championship.
Sami has other things in mind.
["The End Is Near" playing]
[lip syncing]
[shouts]
[Cole] We know after months and months of taunting Sami Zayn…
Karrion Kross finally got what he wanted
when he pushed Sami over the edge
this past Monday on Raw.
…skull, that all this, the way you are, the way you want to be…
Sami, you're never gonna be World Champion.
Okay.
[grunts]
I talked to Adam Pearce.
Our match is official.
Ticktock.
Stop it.
Got him.
[Cole] Clearly it's what Kross wanted.
[Barrett] Yes, he did, and perhaps the mask has slipped off Sami Zayn.
You might not like the words of the devil on your shoulder,
but when the words are true, perhaps they hurt even more, Sami.
And the hatred you have inside your heart was apparent for all to see
this past week at Raw.
[Cole] I think Karrion Kross is completely insane.
But you know what?
A lot of people believe his stuff makes sense.
["Worlds Apart" playing]
[bell dings]
[Nash] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 212 pounds,
Sami Zayn!
[crowd] ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] ♪ Oh, let's go ♪
[Cole] Karrion Kross says that his main targets in WWE are liars,
because he hates dishonesty and misdirection.
He claims that Sami Zayn is one of those liars.
[Barrett] Well, he says Sami Zayn weaponizes sympathy,
which I thought was very interesting on that entrance.
Look, Sami Zayn wearing that traditional headdress here, okay,
to get the people on his side. Why does he do that?
Because it helps advance his own career.
This is the lies.
This is the misdirection that Karrion Kross has been trying to point out
with regards to Sami Zayn.
[Cole] And he's not trying to curry favor with anyone.
He's celebrating his heritage, but nonetheless, it's Sami Zayn.
[Barrett] I'm from England.
I never walked down the aisle in a bowler hat when we were in London.
[bell dings]
[Cole] You would have if they let you. And bell rings were underway.
Sami, Kross, one on one here tonight.
[crowd chanting] Karrion!
[Cole] There's this groundswell of support that has, uh, surrounded Karrion Kross
over the past couple of months.
But, for some reason there's many WWE fans that are backing this psycho.
Social media has been very vocal about it.
However, now you got to prove yourself if you're Karrion Kross against Sami Zayn.
[Barrett] Stop castigating the man.
First of all, you call him a psycho.
-[Cole] That's my opinion. -[Barrett] Okay.
Well, apparently the reason there's a groundswell of support
behind Karrion Kross is because certain people,
and large numbers of them, actually listen to the message
and agree with what he's saying.
[Cole] Guys like the new day and look how they've been acting
over the past few months since they had a run in with this guy.
[Barrett] Well, the new day and thousands and thousands of others.
But you are right.
The message is one thing, the demand for opportunity is another.
Tonight, opportunity knocks for Karrion Kross and you have to deliver.
[LaShaunn speaking indistinctly]
[Cole] Not quite sure, uh, taking advice and listening to the message of a psycho
is a good way to live your life, but I guess some people do that.
[Barrett] They've got a war perspective.
[Cole] Is this the pace you expected this match to start at?
[Barrett] Well, it's the goading from Karrion Kross historically,
and this guy dominated NXT.
Let's be clear, hasn't had the same level of success
since moving to RAW or Smackdown,
but he's always been a manipulator, a guy able to break people mentally
and then break them physically.
[Cole] And here he's doing just that to Sami Zayn, the viciousness of Kross.
And the official Daphanie LaShaunn backing Kross up.
You see Scarlett barking at Sami Zayn.
[grunting]
[Cole] And now Sami fighting back.
[Barrett] Sami is such a scrappy underdog fighter,
unrivaled spirit in that ring.
[Cole] Sami's been on this, uh…
what some may say is an obsessive quest in trying to win
his first ever world championship in WWE.
[Barrett] And that's been part of the issue for Sami Zayn.
Kross has told him you're simply not good enough to win it.
[Cole] Zayn does not believe that.
[crowd clamoring, cheering]
[Barrett] Well, history will tell you,
Sami hasn't been good enough to win it thus far,
and I think Kross's point is you need to bring out the hatred in your heart if you
want to get to the top of the fight game.
[crowd singing indistinctly]
[Cole] The cunning, seductive, manipulative Scarlett,
offering some words of wisdom in the ear of Karrion Kross.
[Barrett] A modern day Mickey and Mallory.
Whatever those words of wisdom there,
absolutely worked, and her man is back on top.
[Cole] And forearm dropping Zayn.
And now Kross looks to take over with his power.
Sami, though, gonna end up on the barricade.
Moonsault will take down Karrion Kross and Sami's fired up.
[Barrett] Freak nimble ability from Sami Zayn.
You can never write this guy off, and that is frustration,
frustration to a powerhouse like Karrion Kross.
[Cole] Kross now, with a smile on his face,
sends Sami Zayn across the ring with a great throw.
[Barrett] Saito Suplex there from Kross, an absolute specialist with that move.
[Cole] Yeah, "the Doomsday Saito," he calls it
as he, uh, continues the attack on Zayn.
Take another look.
[Barrett] Great maneuver he won an NXT championship with once upon a time,
and now perhaps getting back to that kind of form here at Night of Champions.
[Cole] And another straight forearm to Sami.
But there, again, is just the resilience of Zayn, that "never say die" attitude.
Oh!
That elbow, well-connected.
Kross cover.
-[LaShaunn] One-- -[Cole] And Sami able to kick at one.
Just been this plotting style by Karrion Kross to wear his opponent down.
[Barrett] It's the decayed mindset
that lives inside the head of Karrion Kross.
Draw out the pain, draw out the torture.
[Cole] Wait, you gotta wonder if Kross actually believes
in all this Doomsday rhetoric
or does he just like playing mind games with his opponent?
[Barrett] Well, in the end, regardless of which one is true, it's highly effective,
and Sami Zayn hasn't been his normal self from the word go tonight.
[grunts]
[Cole] Sami with a couple of elbows.
[grunting]
[Cole] What's Sami gonna do here? We crossed down to one knee.
Oh, right to the back, a blow by Kross.
And Sami now hung up, dangerous position here for Zayn.
[Barrett] That's the point for carrying Kross.
-You called it a plot… -Sami, you liar.
…plotting style earlier. When Kross needs to move quickly,
when he needs to close down that space like he did there, he absolutely can.
[Cole] And cover.
Sami kicks out. And I did not mean plotting in a negative way.
I mean an opportunity to slow the pace down
and just beat the hell out of his opponent,
which he's doing now to Sami Zayn.
[Barrett] Well, that surprises me because you've been nothing but negative
about Karrion Kross since he walked out here this evening.
[Cole] I just think the guys are a fry short of a happy meal.
I mean, what do you expect?
[Barrett] Well, Scarlett doesn't agree.
Thousands and thousands of people around the world don't agree,
but I'm pretty sure right now Sami Zayn might be adjusting his way of thinking
before our eyes.
[Cole] You do realize there's been a lot of psycho's over the years
that have had millions of people following them, right?
It doesn't make them right.
-[laughs] -[Cole] Kross with a straight right.
[Barrett] I brought up a good point there,
but that does not prove that Karrion Kross is a psycho.
[Cole] Oh, and Sami fighting back, and here comes Zayn.
Man, Sami Zayn… just digging down deep again,
[Barrett] Well, technically so good was Kross covering up
and blocking almost all of those shots.
[Cole] Sami leapfrog and a clothesline drafts Kross.
[Barrett] That was massive from Sami Zayn.
Knocking Kross out of his boots there with that one, did not expect that at all.
Perhaps that rage now boiling up inside Sami Zayn,
and to be fair, he looks better for it, which is Kross's point.
[audience chanting]
[Cole] Not gonna stop at ten.
Sami now measuring his man.
Zayn, an ax handle right across the head of Karrion Kross.
[Barrett] The game really has changed before our eyes.
Something is broken inside Sami Zayn,
but he's now in the ascendancy and defenseless is Karrion Kross.
[Cole] And Karrion, again, quickly back to his feet.
Sami, though, leapfrog, rolls through, caught by Kross.
Kross has got Sami in possession.
Down goes Sami Zayn, cover now.
Is it enough to put him away? And a kick out.
[Barrett] Once again, the power of Karrion Kross on display,
technique and everything with that leaping dead valley driver,
not quite enough to put Sami away, but Sami is looking like a broken man now.
[Cole] Yeah, Kross could be closing in on an important victory here.
I heard him screaming earlier at Zayn, "You're a liar.
You're nothing but a liar."
And now we're gonna put Sami Zayn away.
[Barrett] Gotta lock in that Kross Jacket. Sami Zayn go for it though.
[Cole] And Sami went for the Blue Thunder Bomb,
countered by Kross.
Oh, what a throw, dropping Sami right on the back of his head.
[Barrett] Once again, the go-to, that Doomsday Saito,
wiping the brain of Sami Zayn,
And I think I know what's coming next, Cole.
[Cole] Could be Kross Hammer time, paying homage to my broadcast partner.
[Barrett] This lands with a sickening thought.
[Cole] And Sami Zayn, though, able to turn it around into a Blue Thunder Bomb.
[crowd] One, two…
[Cole] A move that almost beat Randy Orton in the King of the Ring semifinals
almost beat Kross here tonight.
But another look at the Doomsday Saito that Kross uses so effectively.
Really his go-to move.
[Barrett] And that landing is so sickening on the back of the neck.
And just when the killer blow was about to hit,
Sami Zayn pulls it out of nowhere,
perhaps celebrating a smidge too soon because this Karrion Kross is double top.
[Cole] Sami trying to psych himself out,
up, get back into this match up off that Blue Thunder Bomb.
[Barrett] Really is tapping into the energy of this Riyadh audience.
This is their man, they believe in Sami Zayn now.
[Cole] Karrion Kross just collapsing to the center of the mat.
This is dead weight for Sami Zayn.
[Barrett] And it's a lot of weight.
-Karrion Kross in about 280, 270-- Oh! -[Cole] Oh!
That's German Suplex released by Karrion Kross
and it's almost like he suckered Zayn in.
[Barrett] Yes, he did.
Mind games, once again.
Burn out your energy lifting up this massive frame.
And when you think you've done it, it's German Suplex o' clock.
[Cole] Karrion Kross well versed in all aspects of the grappling game.
In fact, he's a brown belt and…
comes to judo.
[Barrett] He's a guy who can snap baseball bats with his bare arms.
Videos online of it if you don't believe me, multiple in one go.
[Cole] Sami Zayn slips from behind Karrion Kross.
Zayn caught him.
The Exploder into the corner.
I don't know if he got quite all of it but maybe enough,
as Kross landed on the back of his head.
[Barrett] Oh, God, not where you wanna be if you're Karrion Kross.
Not when Sami has momentum.
[Cole] But for the Helluva Kick, Kross caught him in the Kross Jacket.
[Barrett] And that is firmly locked in now.
Sami desperately reaching for those ropes.
[Cole] Sami had an opportunity. Kross intercepted him, Kross Jacket in,
Karrion Kross is gonna tap out Sami or pass it him out here tonight.
[Barrett] Oh, cutting off the oxygen supply,
cutting off the blood supply to the brain and now the hooks are in.
Locked in.
[Cole] Wrapping the legs around the body of Sami Zayn.
And Sami starting to fade, nowhere to go.
Kross has got him hooked good.
[Barrett] Lips are turning blue, body is going limp, lights are fading.
A matter of time now.
[Cole] Sami Zayn may be out.
[Barrett] Oh, God, his face is going purple.
[Cole] The official Daphanie LaShaunn right there,
-seeing if Sami taps-- -[Barrett] I think he's gone.
[Cole] Yeah, he may be out here.
[Barrett] It's out.
[Cole] When it goes down this time, it's over, ladies and gentlemen.
Sami, though, keeps it up, and Sami's still on the fight somehow.
[Barrett] Oh, a quick burst of life to the mind of Sami Zayn,
but what can you do with it, Sami?
[Cole] Yeah, but he's got to drag this 280-pound frame of Karrion Kross
to the bottom rope.
Sami about a hand's length away, fingertips away now,
trying to get to the bottom rope.
Kross wisely shifts his weight.
[Barrett] Oh, that was so good from Karrion Kross,
-but is it enough as Sami's fading again. -[Cole] Sami's fading again
and he's only a fingertip away from the bottom rope.
I told you. I told you.
[Cole] Sami Zayn will force a break.
[Barrett] And perhaps that taunt was a little too much for Sami to take.
It's broken for now.
And Sami looks like a beaten man.
What's wrong with you?
You don't wanna stay down.
-[Cole] Oh, goodness. -[Barrett] Decapitation.
Sit.
Sit!
Sit.
Say you're a liar.
[Cole] The punishment now of Sami Zayn--
[Kross] Say, "Kross told the truth."
[Barrett] Zayn looking like a mannequin here, but--
[Cole] Helluva Kick! Helluva kick by Sami Zayn.
-Drops Kross, folds into the cover… -[crowd] One, two… [cheers]
-[Cole] Sami Zayn with a miracle. -[bell dings]
[Nash] Here is your winner…
Sami Zayn!
[Cole] He had no interest, Wade, in admitting that he was a liar.
He was very truthful when he said earlier today
he was gonna beat Karrion Kross, at Night of Champions.
[Barrett] Well, Karrion Kross just stole defeat from the jaws of victory.
He had his mouth beat,
but one talk too many energized whatever spirit is inside Sami Zayn.
And Sami Zayn, with that flash Helluva Kick, gets the job done.
[Cole] Sami got caught in the Kross Jacket by Karrion Kross here
and we thought it was over.
[Barrett] Oh, man, this felt like an eternity.
I have no idea how this wasn't the end for Sami Zayn.
It was all but over…
until Sami Zayn fired up, got to the ropes,
and clothesline after clothesline in the corner
-made it look… -[Kross] Kross told the truth.
[Barrett] …like game over, but one talk too many
and boom, right to the temple, Helluva Kick…
from Sami Zayn.
Grabs the job here in Riyadh.
[crowd] ♪ Let's go ♪
[Cole] What a victory
by Sami Zayn tonight.
Slain, Karrion Kross.
We are in Riyadh tonight for Night of Champions,
the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
the largest city on the entire Arabian Peninsula.
Well, they say that blood is thicker than water, but for Solo Sikoa,
his opponent Jacob Fatu is the latest member to leave his tribe.
Will America's Most Wanted prevail in defending his title
for the first time as a lone wolf,
or will Solo and his dirty tricks come out victorious?
Fatu against Sikoa in the United States Championship next.
[Solo] At WrestleMania, everyone saw what I already knew,
that Jacob Fatu, he's the future.
But let me remind you something. Nobody wanted Jacob except me.
I love you, Solo.
[Solo] They thought he was trouble, thought he was too much of a risk.
But you know who changed that?
Me. I'm the reason that Jacob's the champion.
[Barrett] Jacob Fatu in his first offense at Backlash.
[Cole] Solo Sikoa may be saving his championship.
-Ouch. -[Cole] Who the hell--
[Cole] JC Mateo.
[Barrett] Whatever the deal Solo Sikoa has struck here,
Fatu apparently had no clue.
[Fatu] I didn't need y'all help at Backlash.
I don't trust you.
I don't know you.
He ain't my blood, and he damn sure ain't my family.
[Mateo] You really trust Jacob after what he did tonight, man?
[Solo] JC, JC, my man, you worry too much.
He is literally all gas… [chuckling] …and no brains.
Okay?
I got it under control.
[Solo] All gas…
[Cole] Solo's closing in on the briefcase.
[Solo] …and no brains.
[crowd cheering]
[chanting] Fatu! Fatu!
I hate you!
[Fatu] So Solo says I wouldn't be nothing if it wasn't for him.
This is exactly what happens when you don't fit in where you fit in.
[Solo] Jacob, I feel terrible about what happened.
I love you, Jacob.
So you love me, huh?
The way I see things is you've been using me.
You brought me in because you thought I was gonna bring you gold.
Hey, Solo, look at me when I'm speaking to you.
[crowd gasps]
Ever since I won this US title, you're the one that been acting different
and if that's what I think it is, then fight me for it.
[Barrett] The softly spoken words of Solo Sikoa
were as hollow as they come.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] Jimmy Uso made the save, albeit too briefly.
You want to talk smack?
Should've stayed away!
[Fatu] The way you're stepping up to Solo,
that's what I should have done a long time ago.
If you just get in where you fit in, then we're gonna be all right, Big Jim.
I brought you into this world and I will take you out.
[Fatu] Solo, you better get in where you fit in
because if you don't,
I'm about to dog walk your ass for the US Championship.
Yadadamean?
[crowd clamoring]
["Taking It All" playing]
[cheering]
[bell dings]
[Nash] The following contest is scheduled for one fall
and it's for the United States Championship.
Introducing first, from Las Vegas, Nevada,
playing in at 250 pounds,
Solo Sikoa!
[Cole] The man is ferocious.
He's dangerous, he's hungry.
And some would say, Wade,
jealous.
Jealous over the fact that Jacob Fatu won a singles championship…
before he did at this level.
Solo Sikoa, a former NXT North American champion,
but he's never held the singles title on either RAW or Smackdown.
Jacob Fatu did that before Solo,
and I think Solo is bitter and upset about that.
[Barrett] Well, I'm not going to castigate any competitor
who's jealous of another competitor holding a championship.
That is not the issue here at all.
The issue is a family member, Jacob Fatu,
who was brought to this company by one man when nobody else would touch him,
has thrown it all back in that man's face and that man is Solo Sikoa.
["Samoan Destroyer" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Nash] And his opponent from Sacramento, California,
playing in at 291 pounds,
he is the United States Champion,
The Samoan Werewolf,
Jacob Fatu!
[Cole] Listen, Wade, no one's denying the fact
that Solo Sikoa gave Jacob Fatu the opportunity to come to WWE,
gave him riches and fame and fortune.
What I think people are concerned about
is the way that Solo Sikoa treated Jacob Fatu once he got here,
the things he said behind his back.
It was almost like he was looking at Fatu as a worker for him
as opposed to an equal or a counterpart that would help out the family.
That's where the issue is and that's where it lies with Fatu.
[Barrett] Well, Solo Sikoa knows Jacob Fatu
a hell of a lot better than you do.
And here's the issue.
"All gas, no brains" was the insult that really sent Fatu over the edge.
I will argue that Jacob Fatu is a weapon, a major weapon,
but weapons have to be pointed in the right direction.
Solo did that for Fatu, now Fatu's on his own.
I think it's gonna all come unglued.
[Cole] For the prestigious United States Championship,
held by over a dozen Hall of Famers in the history of WWE,
Solo, Jacob Fatu staring down one another in front of a sold out crowd
at Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.
-And Solo wasted little time… -[bell dings]
…going after Fatu with the right hand. And we're underway. The bell rings.
And Jacob Fatu sent shoulder first into the ring post.
[Barrett] Oh, God, that savage side of Sikoa has been brought out
by this family betrayal from Jacob Fatu.
[Cole] Well, I would say the betrayal actually came from Solo,
but teaches on as Solo continues to pound away on Fatu.
[grunts]
[grunting]
[Cole] Oh, and a splash in the corner by Fatu.
[Barrett] Celebrating a little too much.
You cannot do that against the man who bounces back as quickly as Jacob Fatu,
amazing powers of regeneration.
[Cole] Well, Fatu is so dangerous. Incredible athlete, unhinged as well.
You never know what he's gonna do and when he's gonna do it
for the United States Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] It has that intangible quality
that terrifies and captivates in equal measures.
[Cole] Fatu won the United States Championship
with a victory over LA Knight at WrestleMania back in April.
Solo catches him with a boot in the face and a big right.
[Barrett] Well, what a burst it was from Solo Sikoa
in the opening 30 seconds of this one,
but shut down just like that by this barbarian.
You should have known.
I was loyal to you.
Everything you had.
[Cole] Uh-oh, it's Solo Sikoa wisely rolling out of harm's way.
"Wisely," that's the key word.
Solo Sikoa is a smart man, although--
[Cole] Uh-oh, Fatu on the steps and down goes Sikoa.
[Barrett] Perhaps there are no smarts in the world
-that can protect you from this man. -Shut your ass up!
[Cole] Like I said, uh, one of the most unpredictable individuals in WWE today.
Sikoa with that flying clothesline off the steps.
[Barrett] Fatu with the clothesline,
-but he has all the physical gifts… -Yadadamean!
[Barrett] …any superstar could ever wish for.
[Cole] And there's the, uh… [indistinct] …by Jacob Fatu.
Another one by Jacob.
[Barrett] You have to think these two probably grew up brawling with each other.
Oh, God, go for that.
[Cole] It's… Solo knew it was coming and, again, rolls out of harm's way.
[Barrett] Well, Sikoa, the street fighting champ of the islands,
ain't gonna get soft that quickly.
Fatu, oh, he went for the Suicide Dive and Sikoa caught him with a right.
[Barrett] A big street fighter punch, timed to perfection.
[Cole] Now Solo with that Hirayanagi, half spinning Solo onto the apron,
and now we get a-- Oh!
Hirayanagi outside the ring to the floor.
[Barrett] Lost in the eyes of Solo Sikoa,
in part because he wants to punish Jacob Fatu,
in part, because it's the only way of surviving this man.
[Cole] And again, remember, uh…
-Two! -[Cole] …countout does not help Sikoa.
Fatu has the champion's advantage. Sikoa must pin or submit Jacob Fatu.
Five!
[Barrett] Sikoa biding his time though he knows full well
Jacob Fatu ain't gonna get counted out that easy.
You should have stayed, you should have listened to me.
-You hear me? -[straining]
[Cole] Solo admonishing Jacob Fatu for turning his back on the family.
Despite the mistreatment by Solo.
[Barrett] Well, that is the issue, isn't it?
Did Solo Sikoa outlive his purpose for Fatu?
You brought me in, you guided me to championships.
I don't need you anymore. I'm a big star on my own right, Solo.
[Cole] That's a unique take.
[Barrett] It's correct though.
[Cole] Uh, blocked by Jacob and now Fatu fighting back.
Couple of well-placed rights by Jacob Fatu driving Solo Sikoa back across the ring.
Irish whip.
Oh, no. Face first off the top of the ring post.
Again, the smarts of Solo Sikoa give him the advantage,
the advantage that formerly was gifted from Solo to Fatu.
[Cole] Listen, nobody's questioned the smarts of Solo Sikoa.
I mean, here's the man who really took over things from Roman Reigns, right?
Now he's got this, uh… JC Mateo's in his corner,
had Jacob Fatu, and now backing it up into the face of Jacob Fatu.
[Barrett] Here's the truth of this world, Michael Cole.
Some people are generals, some people are soldiers.
That's enough, huh?
[Barrett] Jacob Fatu may think he outgrew that soldier uniform…
but he's about to get taught a valuable lesson from the general.
You should've listened to me, Jacob. Now look at you.
Look at you.
You should have listened. I gave you everything.
You never loved me! You never loved me.
-Jacob, what did he say? -[grunting]
[Barrett] Well, Solo Sikoa should be Mr. Money in the Bank right now
if that plan wasn't obliterated by Jacob Fatu.
[Cole] That is a true statement.
And Sikoa with great strategy here,
wearing the champion down as he talks trash.
I tried.
I tried for you, Jacob. I loved you.
You never loved me. Now I will take your ass out.
[Tran] Let's go, Jacob.
[Barrett] Spewing out bile.
-[Cole] Yeah, Fatu is fading. -All gas, no brakes.
[Barrett] Fatu may have well met his match this evening,
in the form of his own flesh and blood.
[Cole] Official Ryan Tran looking on right there
to see if Jacob Fatu may give up,
but Jacob, the United States champion, fighting back.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Trying to rally with the sold-out crowd here.
And Solo drops him with a right to one knee.
Look at you! Looking stupid, huh?
[Barrett] How long have we been watching Fatu?
You should've listened!
-Twelve months now? -[Cole] Close to it.
[Barrett] Who has treated him like this? Nobody.
[Cole] Jacob firing back, blocked the right.
Here comes Jacob Fatu now, trying to fight back into this match.
Solo dropped underneath and… Oh, my God!
[Barrett] What a display--
[Cole] How the hell did Jacob Fatu stand up from that?
[Barrett] Well, he rotated, perhaps taking most of the sting of it.
[Cole] And now Solo Sikoa swung across the ring.
[Barrett] It's that freak athleticism of Jacob Fatu.
[Cole] I don't understand how this man's on his feet
after being dropped on his head.
[Barrett] Man, that was part luck, part brilliance from Jacob Fatu,
and Solo Sikoa had no idea and now…
[Cole] An impaler by Jacob Fatu and now, out to the apron.
[Barrett] Blink and things changed quickly around.
[Cole] Oh! Swan dive by Jacob to retain the championship
but a kick out by Solo.
[Barrett] I've gonna see this thing again.
German suplex attack and you see…
Oh, wow, a full rotation tucker on the belly.
Walks straight back up,
taking down Solo in the process.
[Cole] And then the swan dive by Jacob.
But that was a great call, Wade.
He did completely rotate, landed on his belly.
It allowed him to pop up.
Solo thought he dropped him on his head, so did I.
[Barrett] Well that's it on the head, on the back of the neck.
That is the aim of a German suplex, but…
With Jacob Fatu, you cannot take your eye off him for a second.
[Cole] He goes to uber athlete.
[Fatu exclaims]
[Barrett] Freak in the ring.
-All gas, no brakes! -[fans cheering]
-[Cole] All gas, no brakes. -[grunts]
Jacob's motto, not the "all gas, no brains," that Solo throws around.
[Barrett] Jacob Fatu may well be completely unbreakable.
Certainly unyielding for hell.
-Hold on! -[Cole] Uh, JC Mateo.
I was wondering when he was gonna wander out here.
Solo Sikoa's wanted buddy.
And now who the hell is out here?
Somebody just dropped Jacob Fatu… And look who's back!
Tonga Loa!
He's been out of action since WarGames and Survivor Series,
and Loa's here with that spinning neck breaker to Jacob Fatu,
and he may have just handed the championship to Solo Sikoa.
-Tonga Loa is back! -[grunting]
Off the distraction by JC Mateo, cover,
Fatu stays in it.
[fans cheering]
[Barrett] Well, Solo's army got a major reinforcement just when he needed it.
But the fight ain't over yet, that was supposed to be the fix.
[Cole] Yeah, the fix was in right,
but the disbelief on the face of Solo Sikoa tells the story.
The referee missed the entire thing dealing with JC Mateo.
-Again, a master plan from Solo. -Get up! You're gonna listen to me.
Really? I loved you.
You said you had something?
[shouts]
[Cole] Went with the Samoan Spike. Fatu able to avoid it.
Kick to the face, dropped Solo down.
JC Mateo gonna run into a kick and now fall on the Tonga Loa.
And now Fatu over the top!
Taking out everybody!
Wow, runaway train!
[fans cheering, applauding]
[Barrett] One man against an entire army and the one man is winning.
[fans cheering] Fatu, Fatu, Fatu, Fatu!
[Barrett] Oh, my God, the Fosbury Flop!
With devastating results on Solo's men.
[Cole] And now Jacob back in the ring, and there's that pop-up Samoan Drop.
Mateo in the ring now.
[both grunt]
[Cole] And now Jacob Fatu has JC Mateo down.
The official over to Mateo.
Fatu now looking to go up to the top rope.
And there's the Moonsault!
The Moonsault to Solo Sikoa.
Fatu in position, into the cover.
-What the hell is that? -[Barrett] Oh, my God.
[Cole] Who the hell is that one? Oh, my goodness!
[Barrett] Oh, my God, you know who that is?
That's Tonga Loa!
Tama Tonga, their brother.
You messed up.
You want everything.
[Barrett] He's got to be about seven foot tall, this guy.
-You want everything. -[Barrett] Oh, geez.
You want everything!
[Cole] We've seen him destroy people In Japan
and he just destroyed Jacob Fatu with a chokeslam on our table.
And now offering the sacrifice.
Back into the ring to Solo Sikoa.
[Barrett] And Solo Sikoa's army,
apparently, grows from strength to strength.
What an acquisition.
[Cole] Jacob Fatu is helpless.
-He's defenseless. -[Sikoa exclaims]
-And a Samoan Spike by Solo… -One, two, three…
…and he wins the United States Championship!
-[fans cheering] -[hip-hop music playing]
[exclaims]
-The shocking return. -[Nash] Here is your winner!
And new United States Champion!
Solo Sikoa!
-[Cole] The shocking return. -[shouts]
First of a man we haven't seen since WarGames,
Survivor Series, Tonga Loa.
[Barrett] Well, just when Jacob Fatu was going in for the kill,
referee's back turned,
an epic moment for Tonga Loa,
proving pivotal in turning this one around for Solo Sikoa.
[Cole] And then this.
We thought it was over.
[Barrett] It was supposed to be over there. Fatu hit the big one.
It's a one, it's a two. Wait a second.
This absolute freak steps out from under the ring,
You want everything!
[Barrett] A smidge under seven feet tall.
[Cole] And then he offered the sacrifice up to Solo,
who delivered the Samoan Spike
-to win his first Singles Championship. -One, two, three!
[Barrett] The brains and strategy of Solo Sikoa wins him gold.
From Jacob Fatu.
[exclaims]
[Barrett] Everyone wrote off Solo Sikoa.
Well, look at him, look at his army, and look at his championship now.
Eat your words and look at Jacob Fatu all alone.
-[fans cheering] -[fan whistles]
It's mine!
It's all mine!
I'm tired of giving. I gave everything.
Now I'm taking it all.
It's mine. Everything!
[Cole] Well, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown".
But who will be anointed queen?
Jade Cargill looks to put an end to the surging Asuka.
Well, will the Empress of Tomorrow have what it takes to win today?
Two deserving women, one crown.
The Queen of the Ring finals is next.
[Barrett] The Queen's crown hangs in the balance.
At Night of Champions, a new queen will rule over WWE.
[fans cheering]
Her eyes set on a marquee showdown at the biggest party of the summer.
The stakes could not be higher.
Barrett-ology is back and here to guide you
through the raucous quest to the throne.
In the first round, fatal four-way matchups took place
throughout Raw and SmackDown, with the winners moving to the semifinals.
It all started as the prodigy.
Roxanne Perez would steal a pinfall to advance.
Way to endear yourself, Roxanne.
No one was a match for the oncoming storm
as Jade Cargill roared her way into the semifinals.
While former five-time champion Alexa Bliss
punched her ticket to the next round in buzzer beater fashion.
[Cole] Fire tapped out after the fitful win!
[Barrett] Claiming the final spot in the semifinals would be Asuka,
as the Empress of Tomorrow stamped her return
after a year-long absence with a dominant performance.
With the final four set,
semifinal action would kick off on SmackDown with Alexa Bliss and Asuka.
-[Asuka exclaims] -[Cole] Highly skilled former champions.
-Empress impact! -One, two,
-three! -[Asuka exclaims] The incredible Asuka!
[Barrett] Over on Raw, the brash Roxanne Perez
walked into the semifinals with home-court advantage.
-[screams] -[Barrett] Let's just say
things did not go the prodigy's way against Jade Cargill.
[Cole] The winner of this matchup faces Asuka
in the finals of the Queen of the Ring tournament.
-[Perez grunts] -[referee] Two!
Roxanne putting up a hell of a fight here tonight.
Face first off of Jade and…
She's gonna face Asuka at Night of Champions.
[Cargill] I'm walking in to reign.
[Barrett] And with that, we are down to the final two.
The Storm.
And the Empress.
Less than two years into her WWE career,
the ascendant Jade Cargill
now looks to grab her first major accolade as a singles competitor.
What awaits Cargill is her most threatening opponent to date.
Asuka, the Japanese phenomenon,
is looking to re-solidify her standing
as the most feared woman in WWE
by adding a queen of the ring tournament victory
to her already stacked resume.
The woman who emerges from the battle victorious
will have a one-way ticket to SummerSlam to challenge for the World Championship.
[Cole] Now they go one-on-one in the Queen of the Ring tournament finals.
[Barrett] The WWE universe's eyes are fixated on this generational clash.
Asuka,
Jade Cargill.
Who will become the 2025 Queen of the Ring?
[bell dinging]
[Nash] Ladies and gentlemen,
the following is the finals of the Queen of the Ring tournament
in which the winner will go on to challenge for their brand's
Women's championship at SummerSlam!
[fans cheering]
["The Future (Asuka)" playing]
[Nash] Introducing first from Osaka, Japan.
The Empress of Tomorrow.
Asuka!
[Cole] The empress who wants to become Queen
Asuka, who returned to action a couple of weeks ago
after missing 13 months with a knee injury.
In a recent interview, Asuka talked about the recovery process.
She said it wasn't easy.
There were many tough days, but the voice of the WWE fans
begging her to return are what kept her going.
She never stopped.
She matched her intensity in the training room to rehab to get ready,
and Wade, she says she's better than ever, and this is just the beginning.
[Barrett] Well, she certainly has been better than ever
on this run in the tournament so far,
I think, blowing everyone's minds at the caliber of performances she's put in.
The knee clearly not an issue now.
I do question the endurance, however,
given that we're in such a hot, humid atmosphere,
even though we're inside here in Riyadh.
I'm sweating buckets and that may be a telling factor for a competitor
who has barely competed in over 400 days.
[fans chanting] Cargill, Cargill, Cargill, Cargill!
[Cargill] A storm… [laughs] …is coming.
["A Storm Is Coming" playing]
[Nash] And her opponent.
From Vero Beach, Florida.
Jade Cargill!
[Cole] Jade Cargill has never competed for a Singles Championship in WWE.
There's an opportunity to change that if she wins tonight.
She would go on to SummerSlam to take on the WWE Women's Champion.
If Asuka wins, she would headline SummerSlam
against the Women's World Champion.
It was back in May of 2024, last year, and Backlash, Léon, France,
where Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair
took the Tag Team titles from the Kabuki Warriors, Kairi Sane and Asuka.
And it was on that night that Asuka injured her knee
that would cost her 13 months of action.
Wade, will that come into play? Will that be in her head here tonight?
[Barrett] I don't think it will.
Sometimes you have that kind of specter hanging over you
when a competitor has injured you and you either fear them doing it again
or you really want to get vengeance.
It was a fairly innocuous injury, the way it went down.
It wasn't a targeted attack on the knee of Asuka.
I don't think that will come into play in the psyche of Asuka whatsoever.
[Cole] First time ever one-on-one between these two women.
[fans cheering, chanting]
-[Cole] In 2021… -[bell dings]
…Zelina Vega won the Queen's Crown.
Last year, Nia Jax won the Queen of the Ring.
She went on to SummerSlam to beat Bayley for the WWE Women's title.
Who will become the latest Queen of the Ring?
[Barrett] Two highly respectful competitors,
but it did come to blows last night on SmackDown.
The thin veneer of civility was scratched off quickly.
With Asuka getting the best of Jade last night.
[Cole] And Jade said on the Countdown show
Asuka made a mistake when it came to blows like that.
So let's talk strategy.
If you're Jade Cargill in this matchup,
how do you match a woman who, I believe, is a first-ballot Hall of Famer in Asuka?
[Barrett] Well, clearly there's a massive disparity in resumes here.
An experienced Jade Cargill, miles behind Asuka,
but you've got to hope that power game that you're known for
really neutralizes that disparity in the early goings.
[Cole] And Asuka looking to put Cargill away early.
Asuka to pull out every trick in the book here tonight.
Cargill, oh, turning it around…
And there's the power you talked about with the side slam.
Cover. Hook on the inside leg and a kick out.
[Barrett] It's really hard to find a weakness with regards to Jade Cargill.
Occasionally the temperament has been an issue.
I know for a fact that Nia Jax has exploited that in the past
and got Jade Cargill to essentially get herself disqualified.
[Cole] Oh, nice. Dragon Screw on the rope by Asuka, who's taken over.
Now you talk about a weakness in Cargill.
One of the things I noticed in her semifinal matchup against Roxanne Perez
was the fact that she got frustrated.
Roxanne Perez had her out of her game
and she got extremely frustrated and it almost cost her.
And now the knee comes into play.
[Barrett] And that's often an issue when
competitors are bigger and stronger than most of the roster.
When things aren't going their way.
It's not what they're used to.
They're supposed to be dominant.
They're supposed to be able to control proceedings,
and sometimes they lose their rank when that doesn't happen.
[Cole] Oh, and this is a tremendous strategy…
Cover now by Asuka. Kick out.
To take out the leg of Cargill and make it an even playing field,
take the power game away.
[Barrett] And even the way that went down,
Asuka really baited Cargill into making a mistake in the early goings,
realizing, look, the bigger powerful superstar Jade Cargill…
If I take that knee out,
suddenly we're a lot more equal in terms of the power game.
-[Cole] Asuka, a four-time World Champion. -[grunts]
-[Barrett] Oh, geez. -[Cole] As NXT Women's Champion,
-she held it a record 510 days. -[both grunting]
Four-time Tag Champ.
She's won the Money in the Bank, the Royal Rumble, and who would forget?
The first 914 days she was at NXT and in WWE, Wade, she was undefeated.
[Barrett] You're saying she's won pretty much everything
apart from the Queen of the Ring.
-And that may be about to change! -And that win is here!
-Yeah, got a knee bar on Jade Cargill. -[screaming, whimpering]
-The damaged knee, Asuka now. -[whimpering continues]
[Barrett] No… Not a single thing has gone right
for Jade Cargill right from the beginning.
That is how good the strategy of Asuka has been.
[Cole] Yeah, but Jade Cargill looking to make it back to her feet,
shoulders down momentarily, and a great move.
There's the power of Cargill coming into play,
dumping Asuka on the back of her head.
[Barrett] It's a dead-lift wheelbarrow German suplex, and you're right,
the power game has finally got a bit of breathing room here for Cargill.
[Cole] We're gonna learn a lot about Jade Cargill in this match, Wade,
the fact that she's got a damaged knee already after the attack by Asuka.
[Barrett] Yeah, what's been the knock on Jade Cargill in her run in WWE so far?
It's that she's been tagging with Bianca Belair.
-And, trust me, pretty much anyone… -[Cole] Bang!
-…can win a tag title with Bianca Belair. -Let's go!
[Barrett] But we saw Cargill step up huge at WrestleMania on her own
-against former friend Naomi. -[Cargill grunting]
[Barrett] And that's the kind of confidence-building win
that has propelled Cargill to this final.
[Cole] And now the fallaway slam by Jade Cargill
and a kip up, not sure how wise that was on a bad knee, but she pulled it off.
[fans cheering]
-Now Asuka back to her feet… -[grunts]
…and a kick drops Asuka.
[Barrett] That was a bull's-eye, using full extension of those long limbs.
-[Cargill] Come on! -[fan wolf-whistles]
[Cole] Looking to outpower Asuka again with a chokeslam.
Dropping her in the middle of the ring,
-coming out for the win. -One, two…
[Cole] Asuka just got a shoulder up barely.
[Barrett] You've gotta give Jade Cargill all the credit in the world.
She gets better every single time we see her,
clearly putting in the hard hours behind the scenes.
Nailing a chokeslam here.
And Asuka, who dominated the first five minutes of this,
looks like a changed woman now though of course fighting back.
[Cole] Yeah, and Jade Cargill, one of her toughest matches to date.
Tough match up when it comes to Asuka,
-so well skilled in everything. -[heckler] Loser Asuka!
-Loser Asuka! -[Cole] Both women down.
Finals of the Queen of the Ring, sold out tonight.
The Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it's been an incredible couple of days.
As we prepare for the loyal rumble here in Riyadh.
[Cargill grunts]
[Cole] First part of 2026.
[Barrett] Both women struggling at this point.
They've both taken and given massive, massive shots.
The gleam of that crown has to be driving these two on.
-[both grunting, groaning] -[fans cheering]
[Cole] Jade Cargill beginning to get the upper hand now
delivering the right hands and the blows.
-Asuka though. There's that backhand. -[Barrett] Oh!
[Cole] And a kick to the midsection. And here comes Asuka.
This right here is classic Asuka.
[Barrett] Yeah, nine times out of ten,
you always back the powerhouse in a strike exchange.
Asuka's different though.
An absolute expert in the strike game.
And if Jade Cargill didn't know, well now she does.
[Cole] Asuka, a joy to watch and now she's gonna go up top.
She's got Cargill on the ropes and she knows it.
Asuka.
Missile dropkick, down goes Cargill.
Asuka will go for the cover here
-and try to win the tournament. -[crowd] One, two…
[Cole] Jade kicks out.
[Barrett] Well, you talked a few moments ago
about how we're gonna learn a lot about Jade Cargill.
Now it is learning time because Cargill really is gonna have to dig deep
and come up with some answers here.
She's on the ropes, she's in big trouble, and Asuka smells victory.
[fans chanting] Let's go, Asuka, one two, three!
[Cole] What's Asuka have planned here?
[both grunting]
[Cole] Okay, Cargill though. A standing switch by Jade.
Power now… Asuka rolls through.
-Shoulders down, is it enough? -One, two…
-Not quite. -[Barrett] Alaska's doing a great job
at just confusing Cargill.
But wait up!
[Cole] And again the power of Cargill overwhelming Asuka.
-Sit-down Powerbomb. -[referee] One, two…
[Cole] Asuka gets out at two.
[Barrett] Just one moment of mental clarity from Jade Cargill turns the tide.
Once again, blocking that knee strike, powering up her opponent,
driving her down with that Sit-down Powerbomb
that almost, almost gets the crown in the hands of Jade Cargill.
-[Cole] Referee definitely was shocked. -[both grunting]
[Cole] That's an armbar now by Asuka.
Armbar now by Asuka, center of the ring.
[Barrett] And that arm is fully extended, now desperately trying to block.
Just about honking those arms, how she pounded that…
-Oh, God! -[Cole] Asuka.
-Back in a full armbar now on Jade. -[Cargill whimpering]
[Barrett] What a massive hyperextension spot by Cargill though.
[Cole] Turns it into a hitting combination and a…
kick out. There's a big boot by Jade, flooring Asuka.
-And now Cargill… -[Barrett exclaims]
-[grunts] -[Cole] Asuka though.
Game was going for Jade… And Asuka now!
Again, looking for the Asuka Lock.
Looking for the Asuka Lock on Cargill!
[Barrett] Long way from the ropes now in extreme agony.
[Cole] Cargill in trouble.
Asuka with the Asuka Lock in.
Cargill trying to fight out of it,
again trying to turn it into a pinning combination
and she goes again and again, another great counter.
[Barrett] That was so resourceful from Cargill but she couldn't defend herself
from the onslaught that followed.
[fans cheering, chanting]
[Cole] And Asuka could be closing in.
Empress Impact but caught!
Intercepted by Cargill, great counter. Down goes Asuka.
-Cover. -One, two, three!
-[Cole] Oh! Jaded! Jade Cargill wins. -[bell dings]
Queen of the Ring!
[fans cheering]
[Barrett] Well, Jade Cargill is your Queen of the Ring,
but she had to crawl through hell to get there.
Absolutely spent, exhausted,
but block out the pain, you are the queen of WWE, Jade.
[Cole] Biggest win of Jade Cargill's singles career here at WWE thus far.
Not only is she Queen of the Ring, she's going to SummerSlam.
Asuka had the Asuka Lock in, but another great counter by Jade.
Very impressive was Jade with her counters tonight.
[Barrett] Yeah, clearly been working on reversals and escape plans,
but this was the moment I thought it was game over.
Asuka immediately pouncing, going in for that Empress Impact,
but the power of Cargill was too much.
Honked Asuka, Empress of Tomorrow goes down.
Victory in sight, no mistakes from here for Cargill.
[Cole] General managers Pearce and Aldis in the ring to present Jade Cargill
-with the Queen of the Ring crown. -[Nash] Here is your winner!
And the new Queen of the Ring,
Jade Cargill!
[Cole] As Jade celebrates, let's head up to Byron Saxton.
Jade, you are now headed to SummerSlam
in a match for the WWE Women's Championship.
How do you feel?
You know, Byron, when I first entered this tournament,
it felt like the world was on my shoulders.
But you know what?
For the people out there who are doubting themselves,
Praise yourself because you are fighting through the boos.
[cheering continues]
Don't let them tell you who you are, you show them.
And the grind don't stop.
A storm is coming for SummerSlam.
[Cole] Well, it remains to be seen
who will be the WWE Women's Champion at SummerSlam.
Could be Tiffany Stratton,
could be Naomi, who's Miss Money in the Bank,
but Jade Cargill has an opportunity.
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the first weekend of August…
-to win her first… -Yeah!
-…singles championship in WWE. -[exclaiming]
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
[Cole] For these two legends, the last time to face each other is right now.
From pipe-bombs of old and new to work life and pump life.
The shared history between these two is historic.
The best in the world versus the greatest of all time is next.
[narrator] Yin and yang.
Two entities in constant flux and transformation.
Totally interdependent to exist.
John Cena And CM Punk.
Yin and yang.
John Cena, the clean-cut, untouchable chosen one.
[Cena] If you want some, come get some!
[narrator] A decorated champion.
A valiant in ring competitor and above all else, a man of the people.
[fans cheering]
And after more than two decades in the spotlight,
an icon who once set the standard of hustle, loyalty and respect.
CM Punk.
The loud, defiant voice of the voiceless.
The rebel who was never meant to be king.
[CM Punk] I've been the best ever since day one.
There's one thing you're better at than I am, John, and that's kissing ass.
[narrator] His desire to sit alone atop the summit
would lead to bitterness and resentment,
self-destruction, and banishment.
But time…
Time changes everything.
Yin becomes yang.
Yang becomes yin.
Contrasting dualities destined to be viable.
And the battle in which these two have been endlessly engaged
finds itself with new motivation.
That title has corrupted you.
I've been the victim of an abusive relationship for 25 years.
Can you sit on your ass and watch me be great?
[narrator] Instead of a graceful exit, John is detached and disillusioned,
-has vowed to… -…ruin wrestling for everyone.
[audience booing]
[narrator] While CM Punk has returned from exile a beacon of hope and change.
A new face for the company he once vowed to burn down.
[fans cheering]
The balance has shifted.
Light becomes shadow.
Shadow now stands in the sun.
[Cena] I have shut your mouth and beaten in your best!
You can't beat me when I'm at my best, you never could.
I won the title.
I left with the title.
You're trying to follow in my footsteps.
[Cena] I hate this idea that you're the best in the world, you're not.
I'm the greatest of all time.
The truth is, Punk, I am jealous that you have conned these people
that you're the best in the world.
Remember who gave you the stage for your pipe-bomb, pal.
What have you done with it since then, huh?
[narrator] The greatest of all time.
Night of Champions, balls in your court, hero.
The best in the world.
"You can't see me"?
I see through you.
[narrator] Positioned, once again, upon opposing shores.
For a final reckoning.
[fans chanting] CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk!
["Cult of Personality" playing]
♪ 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… ♪
Clobberin' time is now.
♪ …and Kennedy ♪
♪ I'm the cult of personality ♪
♪ The cult of personality ♪
-It's clobberin' time! -[fans] It's clobberin' time!
♪ Neon lights, Nobel Prize ♪
♪ When a mirror speaks… ♪
I want your freakin' favorite!
♪ …the reflection lies ♪
♪ You won't have to follow me ♪
♪ Only you can set me free ♪
♪ 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 ♪
♪ Oh, I'm the cult of personality ♪
♪ Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi ♪
♪ I'm the cult of personality ♪
♪ The cult of personality ♪
♪ The cult of personality… ♪
[fans cheering]
♪ Neon lights, Nobel Prize ♪
♪ When a mirror speaks… ♪
-I got something for you. -[fan laughs]
I got something for you. [exhales sharply]
[fans chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!
[fans cheering, chanting continues]
-[The Time is Now playing] -[fans cheering]
[fans chanting] John Cena sucks! John Cena sucks!
John Cena sucks! John Cena sucks!
♪ You can't see me, my time is now… ♪
[chanting continues]
[fans chanting] John Cena sucks! John Cena sucks!
[chanting continues]
[bell dings]
[Nash] The following contest is scheduled for one fall!
And is for the undisputed
WWE championship!
[fans cheering]
Introducing first, the challenger.
From Chicago, Illinois.
He weighed in
at 218 pounds.
The best in the world!
-[Nash] CM Punk! -[fans] CM Punk!
[fans] CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!
[Nash] His opponent. From West Newbury, Massachusetts.
Weighing in at 251 pounds.
He is…
the greatest of all time!
The never seen, 17!
Gracing Riyadh with his presence one last time!
He is the last real champion.
He is the undisputed
WWE champion,
-[Nash] John Cena! -[fans] John Cena!
[fans cheering]
[Cole] The final time in Riyadh.
The final time at Night of Champions.
His retirement tour more than half over.
And tonight, for the final time,
the best in the world, CM Punk, the greatest of all time, John Cena,
for the undisputed WWE championship.
[bell dings]
The renewal in my mind of one of the greatest rivalries in the history of WWE.
They are six and six with a draw in singles matchups
against one another over the years.
CM Punk with the biggest win of his career when he beat John Cena
for the championship in 2011.
But SummerSlam of that year, the last time Punk defeated Cena.
-[fans] CM Punk! CM Punk! -[fans] Cena sucks! Cena sucks!
[chanting continues]
[Cole] First time in nearly 13 years, these two have done battle
with a championship on the line.
Side headlock by Cena as we start things off in this matchup.
Keys to the match for Cena, Wade?
[Barrett] Keys to the match for Cena is that he simply has to outclass
the best of all time in CM Punk
who, per the eye test, is in the best shape of his life.
That is a tall, tall task,
and John boy better figure something out real fast here.
[fans] ♪ Olé, olé, olé, olé, olé, olé, ♪
♪ Olé, olé, olé, olé, olé, olé, ♪
[Cole] Again, an electric sold-out crowd tonight.
Goose bumps inducing!
And Cena and Punk haven't done anything yet.
[Barrett] People are witnessing history. Fourteen years in the making.
With the roles completely reversed.
CM Punk, in 2011, the man to have stopped
with the WWE championship, Cena's stated goal.
This time around, to do the same at the end of the retirement tour.
[Cole] Side headlight now by Punk. Keys to Punk winning the championship?
[Barrett] Well, Punk needs to simply lock in, block out the noise,
focus exclusively on why he really came back to WWE.
There's been a ton of talk about why, even from himself.
He is a natural-born competitor, a natural-born winner,
and he sees his place exclusively at the top of the mountain.
Some things never change.
[Cole] Punk looking for a sixth world championship.
Been an intercontinental champion, a tag team champion,
only man in history to win back-to-back money in the banks.
Of course John Cena, record setting 17-time world champion.
[both grunting]
Randy Orton, the only active performer that is still close at 14.
Nice side headlock takedown and into a leg scissor by Cena.
[Barrett] I'll tell you something that I found fascinating a couple of weeks ago,
when John Cena hit his version of a pipe-bomb promo,
it really felt like he'd been waiting 14 years to get that off his chest.
Did not appreciate being the victim in the summer of Punk.
And he sees tonight, I suspect, as his moment for vengeance.
[Cole] Remember, uh, John Cena would win the Elimination Chamber
to earn the opportunity at WrestleMania?
And Cody Rhodes,
he beat CM Punk in the chamber after a stomp by Seth Rollins.
That was the beginning of the clues that John Cena, perhaps, was going
to do everything he needed to do to win the championship.
And then, of course,
later on in the night, the alignment with The Rock,
he would go on a controversial manner to win the championship
against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania.
Controversy has been a part of everything John Cena has done since Toronto in March.
[Barrett] Yeah, I think John Cena, when he returned to WWE, came back perhaps
with the best of intentions,
but realized maybe over the course of time he'd lost a step and if he really wanted
to achieve his goals here and become that record breaking 17-time world champ.
He needed to find some shortcuts.
He needed to become a different human being.
And boy oh boy, has he done so.
[Cole] There's no doubt he's a different human being.
As is that man, CM Punk.
[fans] ♪ Olé, olé, olé, olé, olé, olé, ♪
♪ Olé, olé, olé, olé, olé, olé, ♪
[Cole] I cannot overemphasize the amount of passion
that these WWE fans here in Riyadh
have shown us not only tonight but last night at Friday Night SmackDown.
[Barrett] Like a Champions League final atmosphere here in Riyadh.
So this is a football stadium… And, yeah, I said football, not soccer, Michael Cole.
[Cole] I said football at the top of the show.
[Barrett] Incredibly impressive that.
You're a reformed Cena fanboy and a reformed football fan.
[Cole] Ooh! Big right hand by Cena. Listen, I've made no bones about it.
I believe John Cena is the greatest of all time, and I've laid out my arguments why
on a number of occasions.
I just don't like the attitude that Cena's showing here.
-Especially in his last year in WWE. -[Barrett] Oh.
[Cole] Everything taken away from the fans.
He's taken away the "you can't see me" and the "hustle, loyalty and respect,"
not allowing them to cheer what they want to cheer in John's final time here in WWE,
and I think he's robbed the fans of that.
[Barrett] Well, had you perhaps bought that argument six months ago,
-but when you've soiled your legacy… -[Cole] Oh!
-…like John Cena has… -[Cole] Fisherman's Suplex.
-[Barrett] I don't know how… -[Cole] Into a cover!
[Barrett] You can call that guy the greatest of all time anymore.
[Cole] Well, he was once a man who… Here's a cover.
Who is, uh… Many believe is the greatest of all time.
Who just happened to be the dirtiest player in the game.
So I don't think you can necessarily, uh, talk about one's personal actions,
uh, when talking about the greatest.
[fans chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!
[Cole] Cena with a shoulder tackle.
And Punk, though,
looking for the GTS.
-And Cena just got out of harm's way. -[Barrett] Oh.
[Cole] And John Cena knew it was that close.
[Barrett] Yeah, running away like a scolded cat and who can blame him?
We know how devastating that GTS is.
Cena's tasted it enough in the past and I'll give Cena credit there,
a real clean turn of heels there to get out of trouble.
[Cole] Yeah, that's classic Punk.
[fans cheering]
Mind games. "I don't sweat you, John."
[Barrett] Totally classic Punk.
But Punk really is a career-long antagonist
who is now tasked with taking down 2025's ultimate villain.
[Cole] Uh, let's make no mistake about it. Punk is still an antagonist.
He's still got that attitude. He's got that mentality.
Oh, look at Cena trying to power Punk up.
What's Punk trying to do here?
Awkward situation for both these men.
Cena's got him in the AA position, at least momentarily.
Punk, though, roll up from behind, shoulders down, and a kick out.
[Barrett] Well, what Cena might have lost in speed…
Oh! He certainly hasn't lost in power.
John Cena still thrown around, massive weights at Hard Nocks South Gym
in Tampa, Florida, but just beaten to the punch on that one by CM Punk.
[Cole] And Punk with a side Russian leg sweep.
Floats right into the cover and forces John to get the shoulder up.
Punk knew he wasn't beating John there, that was just to say,
"Hey, I got your number."
[Barrett] Yeah, but I do think the longer this match goes on,
the more it benefits CM Punk.
I think CM Punk has shaken off a massive amount of ring rust
since coming back to WWE.
It's highly critical of him, but that epic rivalry
with Drew McIntyre last year has really taken Punk to levels
I haven't seen from him before.
[Cole] Yeah, there's no doubt, I agree with you totally on that point.
Punk again now.
Oh, Cena…
It looked like Punk was going…
What's Punk doing here? Abdominal stretch, perhaps?
[Barrett] Over this modified octopus hold.
Maybe a page out of AJ Lee's playbook.
[Cole] Oh, indeed.
As, uh, Punk delivered a couple of elbows, Cena now looking to power him up.
And down goes Punk. Nice takedown by John.
Into the cover.
And Punk can go on.
[Barrett] Might have tweaked something in the side of John Cena there though,
interestingly enough.
Brief pause for Cena, but now back on the attack.
[Cole] Is this the pace you expected?
[Barrett] From John Cena, absolutely.
This is what we've seen from him since returning.
This is historically the John Cena pace,
and when John Cena controls the pace of matches,
does things at this speed, methodically, he tends to win.
-[fans chanting] This is awesome! -[CM Punk groans]
[Cole] Cena with a kick right to the face. That caught Punk good, Punk's down.
[Barrett] And if you can pick up the pace against John Cena,
you've got a much better chance,
but the volume and the power of those strikes
just knocks the stuffing out of opponents,
so they quite simply cannot pick the speed up.
[Cole] Referee Dan Engler checking on Punk again.
That was a… a flush kick by Cena right to the face.
John with a shoulder tackle.
Vintage Cena here.
[fans] Oh! [cheers]
[Cole] And will he give the WWE fans what they want?
[Barrett] Cena's not even breathing heavily.
[fans] You can't see me.
[fans] Oh! [cheers]
[Cole] And he does with a five knuckle shuffle.
And now measuring Punk for the AA, the attitude adjustment.
Punk slips behind.
[CM Punk groans]
And Punk caught him with a heel kick.
Cena back to his feet. Punk dips underneath.
Nice neck breaker by Punk.
[Barrett] Now you getting a little classic CM Punk in return.
We're getting the greatest hits tonight.
[Cole] The running knee by Punk caught Cena flush on the jaw.
[Barrett] It got the bridge of the nose too.
Cena looking like a suplex dommy now.
[Cole] And Punk gonna climb to the top rope, Cena's down in trouble.
[Barrett] Oh, yeah!
[Cole] Paying homage to the Macho Man, flying elbow by Punk.
And he says it's time to go night-night, John.
[Barrett] Absolute bull's-eye.
[Cole] Looking for the GTS, the go to sleep.
To win the championship.
Oh, got caught. Cena picked him out of the air.
Looking at the STF.
[Barrett] And locked in. A turn of speed at the right moment from John Cena,
just when it was crucial.
[Cole] And now Punk, you gotta wonder, will he tap out?
A long way from the bottom rope.
[Barrett] I don't know if CM Punk has it in him to tap out.
-Yeah, but how would he-- -He'd pass out, if anything.
[Cole] And Punk now gonna try to turn it around into an anaconda vice
on John Cena.
[Barrett] Shows the brilliance of CM Punk while in agony, partly in dire strides.
[Cole] Submission now applied to Cena. Cena's in trouble.
If he taps, Punk wins the title.
-Shoulders down, that'll force a break. -One…
-Oh, the brains just never stop working. -[Cole] Uh-oh. Cena…
-[Cole] Attitude adjustment. AA! -[Barrett] Oh.
[Cole] For the win. To retain. Kick out by Punk at two.
[Barrett] Oh, this is incredible.
This is why these are two of the greatest in history.
Perfectly executed elbow drop.
And this looked like it was gonna be good night,
-but after the GTS as avoided… -[fans cheering]
…an AA from Cena, and a late, late, late kick out from Punk
who is hurting in a bad way now.
[Cole] Yeah, Cena, you saw the look on his face, he smells blood.
Cena with Punk up again, looking for another attitude adjustment.
Punk, though, will land on his feet, kick right into the midsection.
Oh, and he plants Cena with a DDT.
[Barrett] Yeah, but Punk is hurting bad here.
I don't know if he's gonna be able to follow this up.
He's gonna try something though.
-You know what he's going to try, Wade. -[Barrett] Oh, yeah.
[Cole] Punk gonna turn the tables on Cena. Now it's Cena in trouble.
[Barrett] Adding insult to injury.
[Cole] Can you imagine if Cena taps to his own move?
And Cena trying to drag himself,
get the hand on the rope and force a break here.
Cena trying to hang on.
Does he have enough left?
Punk's got it clinched in good. And now the break will happen.
[Barrett] Punk had those hands in the perfect spot.
Kind of blocking the vision of John Cena,
which is why it took about five seconds to actually grab that rope.
[Cole] And that's why, uh, Punk
took almost a full five seconds to break to continue the damage to Cena.
[Barrett] Cena wilting in the corner, propped up by the turn buckles,
and if Punk can move faster here…
[Cole] Another running knee caught John flush again.
And now there's the… Went for the bulldogs.
Cena able to block, and John now
plants Punk center of the ring.
[fans] You can't see me.
[Cole] And Punk with a kick.
And now it's Punk's opportunity.
Punk dips underneath, went for the neck breaker.
Cena with Punk up top.
Cena again with an AA. Attitude adjustment again.
Hooks the outside leg. Punk able to kick out.
[Barrett] And this just has to crush the spirit of John Cena.
Reversal after reversal after reversal.
I know you better than you know yourself.
-And boom! This one's over, Punk. -[fans] One, two…
-[Barrett] Or is it? -[fans groan]
[Barrett] Not tonight, not this way, John.
[Cole] Now the 17-time world champion, John Cena, starts to get frustrated
in front of a sellout crowd at Night of Champions at Kingdom Arena.
-[clapping] -[fans chanting] This is awesome!
[Barrett] That is a look of panic on the eyes of John Cena,
resilient it may be, trying something,
but he thought he'd be home and dry at this point.
[Cole] Now Punk placed up on the top rope. Both of these men, exhaustion setting in.
[Barrett] I cannot imagine going through what they've been through,
and it might be about to get worse for CM Punk.
[Cole] Yeah, two regular attitude adjustments didn't work.
So Cena going for a big one, but Punk able to block.
[Barrett] And he needed to.
[Cole] And now Punk from the top rope, cross-body.
-[Barrett] Oh! -[Cole] Cena rolls through!
[Cole] And still able to power Punk up.
[Barrett] There's your 600-pound plus squat of John Cena.
[Cole] With a third attitude adjustment. Cover!
-[fans] One, two… [groans] -[Cole] Punk kicked again.
You gotta be kidding me!
[Barrett] What the hell is driving CM Punk this evening?
Oh, my God!
Brilliant from Punk, even better from John Cena.
Just raw power. This deep and into a exhausting matchup.
AA number three.
-[fans] One, two… -[Barrett] Punk broken, but beaten, no.
[Cole] The guts of Punk in this match tonight.
[Barrett] I don't know if Punk has any clue what he's just done.
I don't know if the cogs are turning in his mind, but John Cena is fully aware.
And that is a look of resigned failure for me.
[Cole] John, uh, has his eyes trained on the WWE championship.
[Barrett] Oh, come on.
[Cole] Well, disqualification means he keeps the title.
What does John care? What is this new scene of care?
[Barrett] We know what he's cooking up here.
[Cole] The referee warning Cena, "You'll be disqualified."
[Barrett] You think he cares? This version of John Cena?
[fans] No! No! No!
[Cole] Well, the WWE fans said, "no," John Cena obliged them.
-Maybe he finally listened. Punk up again. -[Cena grunts]
-Now it's CM Punk's turn. -[Barrett chuckles]
-[Cole] GTS. Go to sleep. -[fans cheering]
-Punk! Can he do it? -[fans] One, two…
Cena kicks at two!
[Barrett] Well, I am baffled.
I am perplexed.
John Cena had the option to go cheap as hell,
get himself disqualified with a championship shot,
declined, and then kicks out of a GTS.
[Cole] Well, maybe the fans are starting to get to him.
For the most part, it's been overwhelming love for Cena
on this retirement tour despite his actions.
Maybe he allowed the fans to get to him there.
[Barrett] I don't know if I'm buying that explanation after what I've seen
over the past few months from John Cena.
Maybe he's just had his bell rung and is making bad decisions.
[Cole] Well, he suffered the bell ringing
after he dropped the title out of the ring.
[fans chanting] Let's go, Cena! CM Punk! Let's go, Cena! CM Punk!
[Cole] And now, uh, Punk and Cena throwing haymakers at each other.
[fans grunting]
Punk went for the upper hand, Cena a ducks underneath,
another shoulder tackle by John.
-[Cole] Cena with… Oh, no! -[Barrett] Oh, my God!
[Cole] Cena inadvertently just blasted the referee, Dan Engler.
CM Punk delivers a GTS, but there's no official.
Engler was knocked out of the ring with a shoulder tackle.
Punk has the championship won, but there's no official here to count it.
[Barrett] Well, two GTSs in two minutes absolutely should have got the job done.
Dan Engler, referee, inadvertently dropped.
Down and out.
[Cole] Punk didn't see what happened because he ducked out of the way
of the tackle, and then Cena just clocked the referee who's down and out now.
[Barrett] Yeah, that was a nasty landing.
The shoulder tackle was bad enough, but the way the ref contorted
through those ropes and hit the ground on the outside with a…
-[music playing] -[Cole] Oh, no.
Mr. Money in the Bank, Seth Rollins, this is not unprecedented.
Rollins cashed in to make a triple threat 10 years ago.
And Rollins and his crew are here.
[Barrett] Oh, wait up, you can't cash in Money in the Bank
without a referee present.
And this referee is down.
[Cole] That's a great point, Wade.
Normally, you'd bring an official with you.
So, well…
Well, let's not forget the long-standing issues,
the long-standing hatred for Seth Rollins and Punk,
and with the official down outside the ring, what a better opportunity
for Seth Rollins to screw CM Punk tonight.
[Barrett] Tremendous hatred felt over years and years,
maybe you've hit the nail on the head, Cole,
and the mission is simply screw over CM Punk.
[Cole] And these big bad bruisers,
Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed flanking Seth Rollins.
And Punk knows he's in trouble. Punk knows he's outnumbered.
Man, Rollins has been waiting a long, long time for this.
Go get him, boys!
Big Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker go after Punk.
And CM Punk trying to do all he can to avert disaster here.
[Barrett] And this is… CM Punk has already been battling in this heat.
Against the greatest of all time, arguably.
[Cole] Now Breakker and Bronson Reed both down and out outside the ring.
-CM Punk launches himself! -[Barrett] Oh!
[Cole] Oh, my goodness. Overshot both men.
I thought he got Breakker, but Bronson Reed able to take control and turn
the tide in favor of Reed and Breakker.
[Barrett] Oh, Reed didn't go down. He's too strong. Wait up here, Cole.
-And now Punk… -[Barrett] Oh.
…got planted onto and through the Arabic announce table.
[Barrett] Of course that should be a disqualification,
but with our referee down, these boys can do whatever they want.
[Cole] Punk is down and out. Breakker and Reed…
celebrating.
Rollins is standing in the middle of the ring.
Wait a minute.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Rollins has called for an official.
Is Rollins gonna go for the heist of a century?
-[Barrett] Oh! -John Cena not gonna allow it to happen!
Was Rollins gonna try to cash in?
-Huh? -You were dead for a second!
-I'm alive now! I'm alive now! -This has got nothing to do with you!
[Cena] This has got everything to do with me!
-[fans] Cena! Cena! Cena! -You hear that?
[Cole] Cena said not on my watch. Attitude adjustment to Rollins.
[Barrett] What is going on with John Cena tonight?
-[Cole] Breakker in Bronson Reed now. -[Cena grunting]
-Taking down Cena. -[fans booing]
[Barrett] Well, Cena, it didn't have to be this way.
I presume they didn't come down here for you.
[Cole] CM Punk is busted open, he's beaten and battered and bruised.
-[music playing] -[fans cheering]
Punk telling me he's okay. As Pénta comes out on the stage now.
[Barrett] What is Pénta planning here?
He's had his own troubles with Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker,
and Seth freaking Rollins of late.
[Cole] And Pénta now and Bron Breakker going at it.
[Barrett] He's a brave or perhaps crazy man
-stepping up to take on these guys. -[Pénta grunts]
-[Pénta screams] -[Cole] And Pénta now.
[Pénta groans]
[Cole] And Breakker, though… Bron Breakker dumping Pénta on the stage.
[Barrett] Well, thanks for trying, Pénta. It was noble but foolhardy.
[Cole] And another man who's had an issue with Rollins and company.
Sami Zayn coming to Pénta's aid.
Zayn whom he crossed earlier tonight.
Trying to send Breakker scrambling.
[Barrett] Well, that has changed the game, hasn't it?
Already been through one war this evening, ready for another.
And peppering Breakker with shots.
[Cole] Beating the hell out of each other. Breaker with the upper hand on Sami Zayn.
-[Cole] Now look at… -[Barrett] Is that Pénta?
-[Cole] Pénta from, oh, way up top! -[Pénta grunts]
-[Cole] Taking out everybody! -[Barrett chuckles]
What a maniac Pénta is.
Bronson Reed all alone with a down Cena.
[Cole] Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my god. Bronson Reed looking for a tsunami.
CM Punk from behind, dumping Reed.
Cena with the big man up!
330-pound AA!
[Barrett] Well, Cena and CM Punk
have basically come to one another's aid here.
[Cole] Well, not… I mean, they had no other choice.
They didn't want Rollins to cash in because then it would have been
a triple threat.
Now it's back to one-on-one.
Punk and Cena had to help one another.
[Barrett] Whatever the master plan was by Paul Heyman, it did not work.
[Cole] I… I told you something… Uh-oh.
Wade, we've seen that look before. And Punk was ready.
Punk was ready for a low blow.
-[CM Punk groans] -[Cole] Rollins!
Rollins clocking Punk with the briefcase!
And now a stomp to CM Punk.
[Barrett] It was like déjà vu that.
-[Cole] The referee is back in. -[Barrett] Cena!
[Cole] Cena, damn it. Cena!
-Cena steals it. -[bell dings]
Rollins is screwed.
CM Punk. [stammers]
[Nash] Here's your winner
and still undisputed
WWE champion,
John Cena!
[Cole] Wade, for two years, it has been Seth Rollins's mission statement
to continually screw CM Punk.
He did it in Elimination Chamber.
He did it again tonight at Night of Champions.
[Barrett] We're gonna take another look back at this
after helping one another out.
Albeit briefly, the desperate soulless version
of John Cena returned, but Punk was ready and waiting about
to connect with a GTS.
It looked like a replay of what we've seen historically
from Seth freaking Rollins, but Cena had other ideas.
[Cole] Yeah, John Cena dumping Rollins, taking advantage to once again retain
the championship in controversial fashion.
John Cena is still the undisputed WWE champion
as his quest to retire
as champion continues.
Meanwhile, Seth Rollins has once again…
-Don't take me out yet. -…crossed CM Punk.
You stay on and watch this.
[fans cheering] watch this.