[stirring music playing]
[music fades]
♪ New York City ♪
♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
[man] This is New York.
The Big Apple.
The rock
and the hard place.
♪ New York City ♪
♪ I'm gonna get into… ♪
But it's more than a city.
It's a feeling.
The energy.
A possibility
that anything can happen
that we all can believe in.
[music fades]
♪ Ooh, my Lord… ♪
The world comes together tonight
to witness history.
[Rollins] No one can touch me.
[man] To do it Raw…
[Bálor] You need "The Demon King."
[man] And the latest SmackDown…
[Ambrose] You're gonna get schooled, kiddo. Dean Ambrose is here to stay.
[Ziggler] I'm the man that's gonna burn Brooklyn to the ground.
[man] To make it here, yo, to make it everywhere…
[Banks] It's the era of "The Boss."
[Charlotte] Bow down to "The Queen."
[man] For that feeling that we all know…
[Styles] You don't belong in this ring with me, John.
[man] For that energy that pumps through all of our veins…
[Cena] You are about to go face to face with the man that runs the place.
[man] …of "The Biggest Event of the Summer."
[Heyman] This is the summer of "The Conqueror."
[Cole] A match 15 years in the making.
[Heyman] Brock Lesnar is gonna drag you down to Suplex City.
I'm the man. I'm "The Conqueror."
[Cole] Welcome to Viperville!
[Orton] I'm gonna kill the legend of Brock Lesnar.
[man] Tonight, New York lives in me,
you, all of us.
This… Ha!
This is SummerSlam, baby.
[upbeat music playing]
[man 2] And now WWE presents
SummerSlam.
♪ Now, ooh, I got paper ♪
♪ And I ain't gonna chase ya ♪
♪ Baby, I'm gon' take you down ♪
♪ Now, ooh, come on, shake it, baby… ♪
[Cole] Welcome to "The Biggest Event of the Summer."
You are looking live at a sold-out Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
15,974 WWE fans on hand
for the 29th annual SummerSlam.
[Enzo and Cass's theme music playing]
[cheering]
♪ You're sawft, you're sloppy ♪
♪ They calling me Papi… ♪
[Saxton, laughing] Welcome home, boys!
♪ Bros wanna copy ♪
♪ But they are just not me ♪
♪ I'm up in the club Stacking them dubs ♪
♪ You stuck in the lobby ♪
♪ I'm hot like sauce ♪
♪ You sawft like balsa ♪
♪ You ain't heard of me? ♪
♪ Well, you probably oughta ♪
-♪ Ask around ♪ -♪ Nice to meetch ♪
♪ So good to seetch… ♪
-[whooshing] -[music fades]
[cheering]
-My name is Enzo Amore. -[crowd joins in]
And I am a certified G
and a bona fide stud.
And you can't teach that.
[cheering]
And this right here, this is Big Cass,
and he's seven foot tall,
and you can't teach that.
Let's go!
[Amore] Ba-da-boom, realest guys in the room.
How you doin'?
[cheering]
[crowd chanting] How you doin'? How you doin'? How you doin'?
-New… York… City! -[cheering]
How you doin'?
[crowd] How you doin'?
This match is dedicated to all the teachers who told us
we'd never amount to nothin'.
To all the people in the building hustling,
trying to make some money to feed their daughter.
And all the people in the struggle, you know what I'm sayin'?
It's all good, baby, baby!
[cheering]
It was all a dream.
[crowd] ♪ I used to read Word-Up! magazine ♪
♪ Salt-N-Pepa and Heavy D Up in the limousine ♪
♪ Hanging pictures on my wall… ♪
And that dream has become a reality.
How you doin'?!
[cheering]
[Saxton chuckling]
[crowd] ♪ Oh, Enzo Amore ♪
♪ Oh, Enzo Amore ♪
[Saxton] You think Enzo and Big Cass are real fired up?
There was once a man who stood on the other side of the Hudson River
who went by Ol' Blue Eyes.
And when he sang "New York, New York,"
he knew he was looking at the greatest city in the world.
[cheering]
And he knew full well if you can make it here,
then you can make it anywhere.
[cheering]
And Young Blue Eyes right in this ring
and that seven-footer standing next to me
right now are in an "Empire State of Mind," baby.
[cheering]
And we are living proof
that bright lights can inspire you.
So, with that being said,
allow me to quote
a great from right here in Brooklyn, New York,
a Notorious New Yorker, Biggie Smalls.
[cheering]
Biggie Smalls said, "Mo' money, mo' problems."
Well, then Jeri-KO, you're looking at a couple of problems,
'cause me and Big Cass are walking, talking checks
on the come-up, like the Michael Jordan silhouette.
[cheering]
Jeri-KO, we've got 99 problems,
and you ain't one of 'em.
You wanna come into our backyard and try to act hard?
Well, no, no, no, no, no.
Because there's only one word to describe you,
and I'm gonna spell it out for ya.
S-A-W…
[crowd] …F-T, sawft!
[Graves] Well, after Enzo ran through every New York cliché he could find,
Enzo Amore's from New Jersey!
♪ For those about to rock I'm what you want… ♪
[bell rings]
[JoJo] The following contest is a tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,
weighing 227 lbs,
Chris Jericho!
[Cole] And here's the man who's entering his 11th SummerSlam match,
the fifth-most in WWE history.
[Saxton] And that self-righteous saunter to go with it.
[music fades]
-[Kevin Owens's theme music playing] -[cheering]
[JoJo] His tag team partner,
from Marievile, Quebec, Canada, weighing 266 lbs,
Kevin Owens!
[Cole] Well, they call themselves best friends
and the best tag team in WWE today,
Jeri-KO.
And, of course, both of these teams representing Monday Night Raw.
We're the Raw broadcast team,
Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton.
Ready for SummerSlam?
Been ready all week. I could not be any more ready.
Let's do it. Let's go!
And we're also joined by our Spanish announce team at ringside,
Carlos Cabrera, Marcelo Rodriguez, and Jerry Soto.
[speaking in Spanish]
[Cole] Interesting interview with Jeri-KO,
'cause Jericho and Kevin Owens on the SummerSlam Kickoff show tonight,
they talked about, uh, well, ruining the homecoming,
humiliating Enzo and Cass here in Brooklyn.
[Saxton] Enzo and Cass met just about 30 minutes away from here
in the East Village of Manhattan, New York
during a pick-up game of basketball when they were just teens.
[Cole] Yeah, on West 4th Street, a place called The Cage.
And look at Owens wasting little time, and Jericho as well,
knocking Cass off the apron, and now the double-team on Enzo Amore.
And Chris Jericho, the veteran, going right after Enzo.
There's a suplex by Jericho,
who delivered a Codebreaker to Cass
this past Monday night on Raw.
[Saxton] Uh, Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens have not been shy
about the fact that they're absolutely disgusted
by the antics of Enzo Amor and Big Cass.
-[crowd chanting] Stupid idiot! -[Graves] They're not wrong. Oof!
[Cole] And the "stupid idiot" chant here in Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
[Owens] How you doin'? Huh?
[Cole] Capacity crowd, nearly 16,000 on hand.
Jericho ducks underneath the clothesline. Enzo using his speed as well.
Crossbody takes out Jericho, and now the right hands from Enzo Amore.
[Saxton] That scrappy style of Enzo. It's not pretty, but it's effective.
[Owens] It's ugly as hell.
[Saxton] Oof, man, what a right hand.
[Cole] A clubbing right hand. Here's the cover.
Hook of the leg, kick-out at two.
[Saxton] Enzo told me he's got his parents here tonight watching.
He's got his 86-year-old grandma in the audience.
[Cole] Enzo Amore, uh, with the leopard spots. Unique haircut,
run by Evan over at the Shade Bar in Hillsborough, New Jersey,
as Big Cass comes in, the seven footer.
[Saxton] Mm!
[Cole] Big Cass, of course, from Queens.
He delivers yet another right hand.
He was trained at Gleason's Gym just down the road here in Brooklyn
by WWE Hall of Famer Johnny Rodz.
[Graves] At least Big Cass is a legitimate New Yorker.
Enzo's from New Jersey.
Like claiming you won the World Series when you're in AA ball.
[Cole] Oh!
The Jets and Giants play in New Jersey, Corey,
as Cass, uh, tosses Kevin Owens to the mat.
[Saxton] Cass told me
he attended four different SummerSlams as a fan.
Of course, this his first time actually competing at SummerSlam.
[Cole] Tag to Enzo.
And here's the double-team by Enzo and Cass,
and Kevin Owens in trouble. Enzo, cover.
Gonna hook the leg on KO, and a kick-out.
Big Cass was a basketball star at NYU over in Manhattan.
Kevin Owens gonna make the tag, and here comes Jericho.
Six-time World Champion Chris Jericho,
into the deep arm drag, and a dropkick by Enzo.
Tag to Cass.
And he's gonna launch Enzo.
[referee] Tag.
[Saxton] Oh, Kevin Owens gonna get himself a piece too.
[Enzo] Ready for this?
[Cole] Enzo and Cass gonna do it again,
and this time both Jericho and Kevin Owens gonna slide out of harm's way.
[Saxton] I'm not sure they're out of harm's way.
[Cole] At least momentarily. Enzo launched over the top rope!
Yeah!
[Cole] Jericho and Owens can say all they want
about how they're best friends and a great team,
but Enzo and Cass have been tagging together much, much longer.
[Graves] That's the best thing about a partner that never shuts up.
You don't exactly feel bad chucking him into harm's way like that.
[Cole] I like the Yankee pinstripe touch for Enzo,
as he's launched over the top rope by Big Cass.
[Graves] I wish Enzo would do an A-Rod impression and retire.
[Cole] I don't think that's happening anytime soon.
Too much passion for WWE from Enzo Amore.
-Lifelong dream. -[Saxton] Watch Owens.
[Cole] Kevin Owens causing the distraction that allows Jericho to take control.
And Jericho, cover.
Hook of the leg, and a kick-out by Enzo. I mentioned…
[Graves] Let's take another look at this boot.
That momentary opening Jericho's able to exploit
and completely change the face of the match.
[Cole] I mentioned before, six-time World Champion,
but Jericho also a record-setting nine-time Intercontinental Champion.
[Saxton] Jericho kind of…
expecting with all those accomplishments that a guy like Enzo Amore and Big Cass
would, quote-unquote, "be more respectful towards me."
-[Cole] And Kevin Owens just mocking Enzo. -[Saxton] That's not how it goes.
[Graves] I like the Owens version better.
[Cole] Owens extremely bitter, says he never liked Enzo and Cass
ever since their days back at NXT.
He said that Enzo and Cass took too much credit for the success of NXT.
[Saxton] Oh, good grief.
[Cole] Enzo trying to fight back.
Oh, what a big chop.
[Graves] Personality flaws aside, Enzo Amore's a tough guy.
[Owens] Lightsaber, whatever.
High five.
[Cole] Another thunderous chop by Owens, and here comes Jericho.
Call themselves the greatest team in the history of Canada, Corey.
[Graves] It's hard to argue. I mean, this a true dream team.
As far as Canadian athletes go, this would be like having,
oh, I don't know, Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky playing together.
It's up there. It's that level of great, Cole.
[Cole] You're serious?
[Saxton] If they told you ants had wings, would you believe them too?
[Graves] There are probably ants that have wings.
I'm not an entomologist.
[Cole] What about the team of Mauro Ranallo and Renee Young?
[Graves] I'll take half.
[Cole] And Jericho now in control of Enzo.
[Owens] …like I taught you, Chris.
[Cole] Wearing down Enzo Amore, and Big Cass…
I tell you what, what a win it would be here tonight
for the upstart team of Enzo and Cass here at SummerSlam
over Jericho and KO.
[Saxton] Enzo trying to deliver that jawbreaker to create some separation,
but Jericho holding on.
Come on, Enzo!
-Ask him! -[referee] No, nothing.
[Cole] A veteran move here by Jericho. Just wear down Enzo,
full weight of his body.
Enzo trying to make it back to a vertical base
and create separation.
[Owens] Stop him!
Get him!
[Cole] Jericho, nice dropkick, drops Enzo.
Cover. Is it enough to put Amore away?
And a kick-out at two.
[Owens] Don't let him tag the big one.
He hits too hard.
[Cole] Great mind games being played with Jericho trying to get under the skin
of the youngster Cass, Corey.
[Graves] It's that veteran ring awareness.
Jericho knows he's gotta get Enzo and Cass off their game somehow,
and getting the big man off his game mentally is a great--
[Cole] Kevin Owens. Knee right to the gut.
Senton!
And KO, is it enough?
Enzo absorbing a tremendous amount of punishment
as he kicks out at two.
[Saxton] Your point, Corey, we know how emotional
Enzo Amore and Big Cass were… Hold on.
-Oh, nice. -[Cole] Typical Owens.
[Saxton] You know how emotional Big Cass and Enzo were
about returning to Brooklyn, competing here at SummerSlam,
and maybe that excess of emotion is kinda playing into the advantage
of Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho.
[Graves] Jericho and Owens have used it in the recent weeks
to get under the skin of Big Cass,
cost Enzo and Cass victories.
[Cole] Big Cass wants a tag in a bad way.
Enzo's gotta clear the 270-lb Kevin Owens to get there.
[Saxton] Kevin Owens is gonna do whatever he needs to do
to prevent that tag from happening.[Cole]
[Cole] Owens with a big right, and Enzo…
-You got nothing! -[Jericho] You got nothing!
You got noth--
[Cole] He's got something, 'cause he's fighting out.
[Saxton] There you go, Enzo.
[Cole] No quit in Enzo Amore.
[Graves] We mentioned before, as obnoxious as he is as a human being,
he's a tough guy. He keeps fighting. He'll fight to the very end.
[Saxton] Enzo barely can hold himself up,
but he's got a clear lane to Big Cass if he can somehow…
[Cole] Enzo was quoting Frank Sinatra earlier tonight,
and he definitely does do it his way,
as he tries to get to the corner and make a tag to Cass.
Kevin Owens back into the ring.
Tag made by Jericho.
[Saxton] Oof!
[Cole] Enzo caught Chris coming into the ring,
and this could be the opening.
This could be the opening that Enzo needs.
And Jericho is livid out here at ringside.
Kevin Owens was dropped.
[Saxton] But in the meantime, Enzo's taken away the opposition,
at least temporarily.
[Graves] Enzo's got a long way to go to get to Big Cass.
Oh, the interception by Jericho!
[Cole] Jericho just prevented Enzo from making the tag.
And here's Jericho, springboard dropkick knocks Cass off the apron.
Tag made to Kevin Owens.
[Jericho] Come on.
[Cole] And Kevin Owens going up to the top rope.
Enzo's in trouble.
Frog Splash by Owens!
KO hooks the leg. Is it enough here?
Enzo stays in it!
Owens can't believe it, but Enzo Amore stays alive.
[whooshing]
[Graves] Take a look at the height, the height before the impact.
Kevin Owens, bang!
All of his body weight down on Enzo. I don't know how Enzo kicked out.
[Saxton] Might have mustered every bit of energy
just to kick out of that Frog Splash.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Enzo!
[chanting continues]
[Cole] Kevin Owens perhaps getting frustrated
that he wasn't able to put Enzo away.
Who do you think you are, huh?
-[referee] Kevin, hey! -You're nothing!
Come on, get out of the corner.
[Cole] Disrespect for Enzo as he again tries to fight out of the corner.
Owens relentless.
-Get him out of the corner. -[Jericho] Get him!
[Saxton] Enzo doesn't give up.
[Jericho] Come on, Owens!
Oh!
-[Cole] He may after that. -[Saxton] Nasty landing.
[Cole] Right on the back of his head.
[Saxton] I think we know what Kevin Owens is thinking.
[Cole] Cannonball, but Enzo able to move out of the way.
Can he get to Big Cass?
[Saxton] Enzo's gotta figure out where he's at.
[Cole] Owens needs to get to Jericho.
Enzo's almost there.
Crawling toward the corner.
-[Saxton] And… Yes! -[Cole] Here comes the seven footer.
[Saxton] Here comes Jericho.
[Cole] Shoulder tackle. Splash.
Another shoulder tackle.
-[Saxton] Oh man! -[Cole] The boot to Owens.
Echoing through the Barclays Center.
[Saxton] Kevin Owens has been removed from the equation.
[Cole] That's the power of Big Cass.
Empire Elbow!
-[roars] -[cheering]
[Saxton] Big Cass has come alive.
[Graves] Jericho gets the boots up just in time.
[Cole] Jericho lands on the apron though. He's gonna go up to the top rope.
-Oh, big boot caught Jericho! -[Saxton] Jeez!
[Cole] Tag.
Could this be it? Are they looking for the Bada Boom Shakalaka?
But Kevin Owens prevents it.
[Saxton] Just in the nick of time. Kevin Owens, right place, right time.
[Cole] And now Cass and Owens going at it outside the ring,
and… Oh, Cass, shoulder-first into the post.
And there's a Cannonball from Owens into the barricade.
[Saxton] And how quickly the momentum changes now.
[Graves] Jericho and Enzo all the way on the very top rope.
[Saxton] And Enzo trying to fight it.
[Cole] Trying to fight it, and he did. Jericho lands face-first.
Enzo hit the DDG!
[Saxton] Did he get him?
[Cole] Enzo, for the win over Chris Jericho.
And Kevin Owens breaks it up.
Get out of the ring. Come on. Get out of here.
Kevin! Hey!
[Cole] Enzo really going it alone. Cass was taken out by Owens momentarily.
[Saxton] When all else fails, just keep swinging, Enzo.
[Cole] Oh man, into a Codebreaker!
[Graves] That's it. Lights out, Enzo.
[Cole] Owens launching Enzo into a Codebreaker.
♪ Break the walls down… ♪
[JoJo] Herea are your winners,
Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho!
[Cole] Well, Jeri-KO said they were gonna ruin the homecoming tonight
for Enzo and Cass, and they did just that.
[Saxton] I don't know how close their friendship really is,
but I'll tell you what, experience matters,
and experience proved beneficial for Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho.
♪ You know I got ya ♪
♪ Now you know… ♪
-[Cole] Again… -[Graves] Let's look at how this ended.
Bang!
The knee of Chris Jericho right to the jaw of Enzo.
[Cole] A Codebreaker by Jericho enough, just enough, to catch Enzo
and put him away.
Jeri-KO successful tonight at SummerSlam.
Pretty impressive.
I love you, Chris!
I love you!
I love you too, man!
-We live! -Yeah.
[cheering]
[Shane] Holy Foley.
-Shane-O-Mac. Daniel. How you doing? -How's it going?
-Gonna be a great SummerSlam, uh? -Of course.
SmackDown Live, we're running the show.
SmackDown matches are gonna be off the chart,
and then Raw is gonna top them, right?
That seems to be the trend.
Brock is gonna have his way with Randy Orton. It's inevitable, right?
Look who it is.
Jon Stewart! [chuckling]
-And you brought your muscle. -I brought the boy.
-You brought the muscle? -As we go.
-Whassup, Nate? -How's it going?
Daniel. Shane. I'm still talking about that match with The Undertaker.
-It was un… it was unbelievable. -Thank you, sir.
Don't ever jump off the end, please.
Uh, I'm loving also the Raw/SmackDown thing.
[Foley] Friendly rivalry.
The only thing I'm trying to figure out
is what are you doing working with Stephanie?
How could you do that?
[Foley] She's… she's misunderstood.
"Misunderstood"? Nepotism. Abuse of power.
-[Foley] Many layers. -[Stewart] Mean. Just mean.
-It's all mean. -[McMahon] Keep it going.
-She's right behind me, isn't she? -Yeah, pretty much.
-[Stephanie clears throat] -She's, uh…
-[crowd laughing] -Hey, Stephanie.
-Hey, Jon. -Hey. Nice to see you.
Oh, I thought it would have been nice to see you, too,
but I hear you have some remarks about nepotism, abuse of power…
"Amuse the tower," I said.
It wasn't "amuse the tower" at all. That's not what you said,
and I don't appreciate your accusations.
-No, I was-- -And quite frankly…
-She used to tap dance. -You know, tap dancing aside, Mick…
You know, what good is power
if you can't… abuse it?
She seems nice.
[Foley, chuckling] Really nice.
-[trombone blaring] -[cheering]
Hey! What's going on, guys?
Woo! What's up? What's up?
[all speaking excitedly]
-Nice to see you. -Yeah, likewise, man.
-What's up, little boy? -Little boy?
Nate. It's my man.
Of course. We wanted to say,
there's no reason for all the tension we've been feeling in this area.
And that's because…
I didn't start…
That's because we wield the power that cannot be abused, my friends.
And that is the power of positivity.
-That's that P-O-P… -[both] Holding it down.
-Yes. -Is that silk?
-It is silk. -It's nice.
Hey, Jon, we wanted to ask you a favor, man.
-Mind if we borrow you for a minute? -Happy to be borrowed for a minute.
I would love to stay and chat, but the power of positivity!
What are you gonna do? Good luck!
-Booty O's. Get some. -Bye, Jon.
-They're good. These things are good. -Delicious.
-Positivity. -[Shane] Hmm.
I am misunderstood.
Hmm. Many layers to you.
-Like that tap dancing thing. -True to form.
-Nice job. -[Bryan chuckling]
Let's go.
[Cole] It's gonna be quite the night at SummerSlam, ladies and gentlemen,
but coming up next, it is the WWE Women's Championship.
Sasha Banks versus Charlotte.
This is a return match from the night on Monday Night Raw,
July 25,
when Sasha met Charlotte for the championship.
[whooshing]
[hip-hop music playing]
[JoJo] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE Women's Championship.
[Cole] Sasha Banks has been wanting a one-on-one matchup
versus Charlotte for the Women's Championship for a long time.
She has that opportunity tonight.
[Banks] Ever since this Women's Revolution,
I feel like I've been living this ten-year-old girl's dream.
[Saxton] You can just feel Sasha's in a different zone.
[Banks] But tonight, when I become the WWE Women's Champion,
I make that dream come true.
[Cole] Oh, and Charlotte!
Boot to the gut, and Charlotte was able to counter.
[Charlotte] Sasha can keep dreaming,
because the reality is, tonight, she's gonna bow down to "The Queen."
You don't deserve this! This is mine!
[Cole] And Sasha not gonna listen to the trash talking.
Oh, look at this, look at this!
And Dana's been tossed out.
It's definitely gonna be one-on-one now.
Dana's heading back to the locker room.
And here comes "The Boss,"
pulling out all the stops.
Oh my God!
[Graves] Sasha Banks risking life and limb
for the opportunity to become the Women's Champion.
[Cole] Charlotte, kick-out at two.
Sasha thought she had Charlotte there. So close.
Oh!
[somber music playing]
[Graves] Charlotte was able to bring Sasha's momentum to a screeching halt.
Now the champ knows it's just a matter of time.
[Cole] Charlotte trying to desperately hang on to her championship,
[Graves] What's Charlotte got in mind now?
The lengths Charlotte is willing to go.
I'm the champ!
[Cole] Charlotte, for the win.
Sasha grabs the bottom rope.
You will never beat me. Ever.
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] Sasha Banks, Backstabber!
Now to the Banks Statement.
Charlotte's got nowhere to go.
Sasha Banks's night, is it her night?
Taps out. Sasha's the champion!
Sasha's the champion!
Sasha Banks has realized her dream here tonight on Raw.
[Graves] What an ovation. This place just came unglued.
♪ Had a dream I had it made ♪
♪ And now There's nothing dragging down me, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause a girl gon' push it all Out the way… ♪
I did it! I did it!
[cheering]
This has been my dream since I was ten years old.
It's a new era in the WWE.
It's the era of "The Boss,"
and I promise you every time I step in this ring,
I'm gonna show everyone
that there's only one "Boss" in the WWE,
and that's me.
♪ Had a dream I had it made ♪
♪ And now There's nothing dragging down me, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause a girl gon' push it All out the way… ♪
[whooshing]
[Charlotte's theme music playing]
[booing]
[Cole] And tonight is the opportunity at revenge for Charlotte.
I want you guys to listen to these numbers for a moment.
Charlotte is 13-2, all-time, in pay-per-view matches.
11-0 in singles matches.
No Superstar, male or female, in WWE history
has had a better record through their first 15 pay-per-view matches
than this woman, Charlotte.
[Graves] Numbers like that, as impressive as they are,
they have to be in Sasha Banks's mind.
Sasha has to know what she's up against. She's been in the ring with Charlotte.
They're no strangers,
but Sasha Banks has to factor in every single thing like that.
[Cole] And, of course, Byron, Charlotte out here alone tonight.
No Dana Brooke.
[Saxton] Yeah, after Sasha Banks was able to earn herself a victory
against Dana Brooke on Raw, well, Dana's been barred from ringside,
which means that woman right there, Charlotte, has no excuses
if she can't get the job done.
[Graves] It's not about excuses. This is an opportunity for Charlotte
to prove that she is as good as she says she is, all by herself.
[Cole] When Sasha Banks beat Charlotte back on Raw last month,
Charlotte had held the championship for 309 days.
"The Boss" Sasha Banks was able to knock off the champ that night.
This is the first one-on-one meeting
at a WWE pay-per-view for Sasha and Charlotte.
[Saxton] If you talk to Sasha,
she'll tell you that life, in her opinion, is all about timing.
Waiting for the right time to target Charlotte.
Taking advantage of the right moment
to defeat Charlotte for the Women's Championship,
and now taking control of what she calls "the era of 'The Boss.'"
[Cole] And both of you guys know from your time at NXT
that the Barclays Center has sort of become
a home away from home for Sasha Banks.
[Graves] Last year, one of the most historic matches
in the Women's Evolution here in WWE,
Sasha Banks and Bayley,
it was covered on WWE 24 on the WWE Network last night,
unbelievable match.
I have a very good feeling we are about to see a match on par with that.
[Cole] In the Kickoff show tonight for SummerSlam,
Sasha Banks fairly confident,
says she's not scared of Charlotte.
She's not afraid to do this tonight.
[music drowns out speech]
[music fades]
She's gotta do the introductions. Back off, Sasha.
Let's go. Back off.
[bell rings]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE Women's Championship.
Introducing first, the challenger,
from the Queen City,
Charlotte!
[booing]
Her opponent,
from Boston, Massachusetts,
she is the WWE Women's Champion,
Sasha Banks!
[cheering]
[Cole] Corey, despite being much smaller than Charlotte,
Sasha Banks did tweet out earlier this week
that she is not afraid,
that she was born to do this.
[Graves] As far as time spent in the ring,
Sasha Banks has significantly more time than Charlotte.
You'd have to give the veteran's edge to "The Boss."
That said, "The Boss" has found out recently
that being a champion and being "The Boss" are two totally different things.
She's lived her life as a "Boss,"
but she's realized that when you're the champion, you're a target.
[Cole] This could be a classic here tonight in front of nearly 16,000
at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
[Saxton] And to Charlotte's credit, she made her debut last July.
Two months later, she was already a champion in this division,
and, as you mentioned, Michael,
went on to hold onto championship gold for 309 days.
[Cole] And Charlotte trying to use her physical dominance
by backing Sasha into the corner,
and then, of course, the "woo," made famous by her father,
the Hall of Famer "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
Side headlock by Sasha Banks.
And Sasha gonna send Charlotte flying.
And Charlotte, almost a look of surprise on her face.
-[Graves] She's got it locked in! -[Cole] Going for the Banks Statement!
And Charlotte rolls underneath the bottom rope,
but Sasha looking to end it that quickly.
[Saxton] Close call for Charlotte.
[Garves] "The Boss" sending a warning shot early.
One!
[Cole] Sasha telling Charlotte, "I can catch you in that at any time."
Three!
[Cole] These two Superstars know each other so well,
a long and storied history,
as Charlotte flies through the rope, rolls up Sasha.
Kick-out at two. Charlotte again takes Sasha out.
Gonna maybe quickly go for the figure-4. Roll-up by Sasha,
and a kick-out.
Misses with the chop,
and Sasha with one of her own.
[Saxton] Talking about their history, once tag team partners in NXT.
That's why I'm the champ.
[Cole] It's turned bitter.
There's a nice arm drag coming off the top rope by Sasha.
Charlotte.
-[Saxton] Oh wow. -[Cole] Face-first goes Charlotte.
And Sasha on her game early.
Sasha, hey, listen up.
[Saxton] And Sasha knew she had to be in this title defense.
[Cole] Look at Charlotte, slapping away at the champion.
[Graves] What's Charlotte got in mind here?
[Saxton] Oh…
[Graves] God, she's got just a boot right across the neck and chin.
[Cole] Bent right over the top turnbuckle.
Sasha fighting back with knees to the face.
Very physical start to this match.
[Saxton] You can just feel the disdain between these two ladies.
[Cole] Oh, Charlotte now from the second rope.
Sasha's in deep, deep trouble here.
[Graves] Oh my God!
[Cole] Dropping Sasha, small of her back right across the ropes,
and then crashing to the mat.
[Saxton] My goodness.
[Cole] And you could hear Sasha scream out in pain.
Cover by Charlotte. Hook of the leg on the champion.
Sasha kicks out at two.
[Graves] The referee checking on Banks. Sasha might be injured.
That looked nasty.
[Cole] Seriously injured. She backs up into the ropes now,
and the official backing Charlotte off.
And Charlotte… looking for any opening.
Watch that again. Nasty!
And Charlotte, knee to the small of the back,
as we take another look.
-[Graves] Watch the way… -[Cole] Oh God.
[Graves] And then the way Sasha's entire body contorts,
her back and her neck.
It's hard to watch.
[Cole] And now Charlotte on the attack.
-Man. And Sasha… -Count!
[Cole] And Charlotte now caught up. Charlotte rolling through.
[Graves] That strength advantage.
[Cole] Hook of the leg now on Sasha, and a kick-out.
Sasha is hurting.
The champ in desperate trouble.
[Saxton] I think you can credit that to Sasha having Charlotte off her game
in the early moments of this matchup, and…
[Graves] I was gonna say, I can tell you one thing.
The confidence… Look at this.
Is that a Gory Special there by Charlotte?
The confidence with each and every moment of Charlotte is growing more and more.
[Cole] And more pressure on the back of Sasha.
Is Sasha gonna give up here?
How serious is the back injury to the champion?
Is Sasha gonna tap to Charlotte?
Sasha trying to fight out of this.
Backslide. Shoulders down.
Sasha's gotta roll through.
Elbow by Sasha buys herself a little bit of time.
And the champ desperately trying to fight to stay in this.
Doing a pretty good job.
[Graves] Knee strike by Sasha.
[Cole] Down goes Charlotte.
Sasha fighting through the pain.
Dropkick knocks down the challenger.
[Saxton] Sasha still favoring the lower back,
trying to maintain momentum here.
[Graves] Adrenaline makes you do crazy things.
[Cole] Charlotte caught her with an elbow.
-And again, backbreaker. -[Saxton] Jeez!
[Cole] Slamming Sasha to the mat.
For the Women' Championship…
Two-count, kick-out.
And remember, Corey, every time Sasha kicks out,
more force exerted to the back.
[Graves] Yeah, Charlotte right now,
she's like a shark with blood in the water.
Take a look at this.
Boom! Right down on the knee,
and another STO maneuver.
[Saxton] I think it just echoes what Charlotte's been saying,
saying that Sasha's not worthy of being champion,
saying that Sasha is a one-night stand when it comes to the Women's Championship.
[Cole] Well, the one move in the corner has turned this match around
in a big way for Charlotte,
driving knees and boots to the small of the back.
The champion screaming in agony.
Look at the look on the face of Sasha.
[Graves] Look at the look of absolute confidence
on the face of Charlotte.
[Cole] Oh my God, this is not gonna be good for the champion
if Charlotte can connect with a superplex.
And Sasha realizing that, desperately fighting out.
-Sasha sends her flying. -[Saxton] Oh, no, no, no.
-[Cole] Charlotte able to reverse though. -Woo!
[Cole] Looking for the figure 4 into the Figure-8,
and Sasha fighting desperately.
[Graves] Sasha knew what Charlotte was looking for,
that figure-4 into the Figure-8.
"The Boss" able to back it off momentarily.
[Cole] Sasha launched into the corner again!
A relentless assault by Charlotte.
[Saxton] I don't think there's any question
how focused Charlotte is in this match.
[Cole] Sasha trying to do everything to get out of this vulnerable position,
but Charlotte just continues the attack.
This is just about desperation, Corey.
This is about survival for the champion right now.
[Graves] Sasha Banks has got to feel that Women's Championship
slipping through her fingers as the match goes on,
and the excruciating pain in her back. What is Charlotte looking for right now?
What could she possibly be thinking?
[Cole] Oh my goodness, Sasha is up on the…
-She's up on the top rope. -[Saxton] Oh no.
-[Cole] Charlotte's on the second rope. -[Saxton] What the…
[Graves] Ch… No way. No way.
[Cole] Going for a Razor's Edge from up there?
-[Saxton whimpers] -[Cole] Oh my God, Sasha able to counter!
Sasha countered. Critical moment here.
Can the champion somehow get back into this?
[Graves] With that one maneuver, that one counter,
Sasha Banks brought Barclays Center to their feet.
[Cole] Sasha Banks has given this capacity crowd in Brooklyn hope,
and she's given herself hope as well.
Watch this counter by Sasha Banks.
But can the champion capitalize?
[Graves] Charlotte looking for maybe a Razor's Edge
or a Niagara driver.
Sasha Banks somehow able to reverse into a hurricanrana
from the top rope.
[Saxton] Whatever it was could have been fatal
for Sasha Banks in this matchup,
and, at least temporarily,
Sasha has preserved herself as Women's Champion.
[Cole] Both women are down. The referee is starting the count.
Look at Sasha Banks.
Excruciating pain, small of her back. Charlotte trying to get back into things.
It's my title.
[Cole] With the right hand, and Sasha caught her.
[Graves] You wonder, even though it was an offensive maneuver,
from that height, how much damage did it do to Sasha Banks?
[Cole] How much damage did it do to Charlotte?
Exchanging blows now, middle of the ring.
[Saxton] We're finding out who wants it more here,
Sasha Banks or Charlotte.
[Cole] The Women's Championship's only on Monday Night Raw.
-Women like Charlotte and Sasha. -Woo!
[crowd] Woo!
[Cole] Look at Sasha go!
Adrenaline kicking in.
Second wind.
Little roll, showing her maybe the back is okay.
Oh no.
Charlotte.
Into the post.
-[Saxton] Look at this. -[Graves] Whoa!
Sasha Banks with a Boston crab locked in.
[Cole] On the ropes.
And she had to break at five.
[Saxton] It may be Charlotte who might end up having back problems too.
[Cole] Especially after this. Charlotte does not wanna be there.
Sasha Banks to the small of the back,
and now Charlotte suffering back problems.
Sasha pulls her toward the center of the ring.
Hooks the leg, wraps the other leg,
and Charlotte at two.
[Graves] Let's take another look at this. Watch the way Charlotte's spine bends.
Double knees. Ugh!
The human anatomy is not meant to go that way.
[Saxton] Sasha's way of saying to Charlotte,
"You wanna try to disable me in this match?"
"I can do the same to you."
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
This is awesome!
[Cole] And now it's Sasha Banks, the champion, on the attack.
You guys notice Charlotte favoring the small of her back as well?
Charlotte into the corner. Up, over.
And Sasha driven into the second turnbuckle.
[Graves] That was a veteran maneuver if I've ever seen it.
-Kicking out the knee of "The Boss." -[referee] Let's go. Step inside.
[Graves] Brilliant move by Charlotte.
[Cole] Just great ring awareness by the challenger.
Back in the ring. Come on.
[Saxton] What is Charlotte thinking here?
Get it down off the rope.
[Cole] Sasha still with a hell of a lot of fight left.
[Saxton] Oh, more than that!
[Cole] And Women's Champion, double knees!
Almost crushing Charlotte.
These women leaving it all out there.
[Saxton] Expect anything less?
[Cole] For the Women's Championship.
This is what the Women's Evolution is all about.
[Graves] From the top rope to the floor,
"The Boss" driving those knees
into the upper chest and shoulders of Charlotte.
[referee] Five!
Six!
[Cole] And this has been incredible.
An incredible test of will and guts here tonight.
Tremendous spirit shown by both these young ladies.
Sasha rolls through. The shoulders are down.
For the win… Charlotte at two and a half. Sasha thought she had her.
[Saxton] Sasha's had to adjust her game plan,
dealing with a bad back.
Calling an audible and…
[Cole] She went for the Backstabber,
but I think her back gave out, guys, and she wasn't able to get it.
And now Natural Selection,
but Sasha with the counter, into the crossface!
Able to counter the Natural Selection.
Is Charlotte gonna tap?
Charlotte trying to make it to the bottom rope.
Sasha's got it locked in to keep the title here tonight at SummerSlam.
[Saxton] "The Boss" is holding on for dear life.
[Cole] Charlotte trying to use those long arms to make it to the rope.
Sasha pushing off the bottom. Locked in again.
Brings Charlotte back to the center, but Charlotte able to squirm away.
[Saxton] Charlotte dodged a bullet there.
[Cole] And maybe the back came into play again for Sasha.
And now Charlotte.
Oh man.
Neckbreaker.
Takes Sasha out at the knees.
-[Graves] Chopblock to the knees. -[Cole] There's the Natural Selection.
And Charlotte, to become Women's Champion for a second time…
Kick-out by Sasha.
Heart-pounding match.
Don't you get in my face. That's a two-count.
[Saxton] Heart-pounding match, but Sasha's hurt.
[Cole] Cover again by Charlotte.
And this time, Sasha again at two.
How much does the champ have left?
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Sasha!
[Cole] Charlotte, for a third time,
and again Sasha…
Maybe a bit weaker this time,
but still able to kick out.
And now Charlotte, frustration setting in. Overcome with emotion.
She can't put Sasha away.
[Saxton] Sasha knew.
I'm better than you!
This is my title!
[Saxton] Sasha knew coming into this match how much she needed to prove
that she deserves to be Women's Champion.
[Cole] Now she's screaming, "I'm better than her,"
after the slap across the face of Sasha. And another one.
[booing]
Boo!
[Cole] Complete disrespect of the champion.
Went for the tilt-a-whirl. Sasha turned it into the Banks Statement!
[Graves] They're right in the center of the ring.
[Cole] That crossface locked in again.
[Graves] Look at the torque on the back. Sasha hanging on with everything she has.
[Cole] Look at Charlotte trying to reverse this.
Shoulders down, shoulders down, shoulders down!
-[bell rings] -Charlotte got her! Charlotte got her!
Charlotte won the championship!
[JoJo] Here is your winner,
and the new WWE Women's Champion,
Charlotte!
[Cole] Sasha had her in the crossface.
Charlotte was able to counter.
Shoulders were down, and Charlotte becomes a two-time Women's Champion.
[Saxton] You gotta be kidding me. Just like that?
[Graves] That was ring awareness,
being prepared for the situation.
"The Boss" got a little overzealous with that submission,
and Charlotte took the title.
[Cole] I think a lot of things that came into play there, Corey.
I think the bigger size and weight advantage for Charlotte.
She was able to reverse that.
She was able to move over to get Sasha's shoulders down,
and then perhaps the back of Sasha not allowing her to kick out of that…
that pinfall. Watch this.
Locked in now.
Now watch Charlotte here.
Charlotte able to use, I believe, her weight advantage
to shift things over here,
lock the shoulders down.
Sasha didn't have enough to kick out,
and Charlotte becomes the champ.
[Saxton] I… I'm in shock!
[Cole] What an effort. What a courageous effort
by the former champion, Sasha Banks.
But you gotta give Charlotte credit.
She took advantage of an early injury by Sasha to win the Women's title.
[Saxton] Charlotte certainly proved that she deserves to sit atop
the Women's division one more time.
[whooshing]
[Graves] Sasha Banks is hurt.
Let's take another look at how this all went down.
Sasha with the Banks Statement locked in deep.
You're right, Cole.
Just the size advantage for Charlotte,
she's able to shift her weight just enough that Sasha pulls Charlotte on top of her.
[Cole] Right there, watch. Look how she pins Charlotte.
She uses her other arm to pin Charlotte.
Shoulders are down, hooked the leg,
and she was able to win the Women's Championship.
An emotional Sasha tonight, but Charlotte
is the Women's Champion.
-We've got three jars. -Yes.
But one sample.
We have got to come up with more samples
so we can find the real cure for ring-post-itis.
You're right. Tonight is SummerSlam. It's gonna be nuts.
I'm already feeling a little testy.
-Doctor. -Doctor.
-You're a good doctor. -Whoa!
Look who showed up for "The Biggest Party of the Summer."
[crowd cheering]
-[clears throat] Excuse me. Doctor. -"Phenomenal."
-Doctor. -"Phenomenal."
[laughs] Look at it, boys.
From Tokyo to Brooklyn, baby!
Oh yeah!
Who would have thought this time last summer
that The Club would be the talk of the town
and the center of attention for SummerSlam?
-Everybody. -I mean, yeah.
Pretty much everybody. Listen. The moment we stepped foot in the WWE,
I saw we were destined for greatness.
True. That's true.
-You guys are running Raw. -True.
I'm gonna take out the face who thinks he runs the place tonight
when I, uh…
[all] Beat up John Cena!
-I love doing that. -Never gets old!
Oh yeah!
-Right. -That's right.
-[Styles laughing] -[crowd cheering]
Does he have an itch?
'Cause we have an itch. We always have an itch.
[all talking over each other]
It's for life. It's for life.
[crowd noise drowns out speech]
[all speaking indistinctly]
♪ Ooh, my Lord… ♪
[Ranallo] Well, special thanks to Flo Rida for "Who's With Me,"
one of the official themes of WWE SummerSlam,
available now on iTunes and Spotify.
From SmackDown Live, I'm Mauro Ranallo, and the two men with me,
the longest-reigning World Champion in SmackDown history, JBL,
former WWE Tag Team Champion David Otunga.
David, the action's already been as hot as the SummerSlam themes.
But it's gonna get hotter with the first SmackDown Live matchup.
Oh, absolutely. I don't know which match I'm most excited for.
I think this is one of the best SummerSlam cards in history, to be honest.
Here we go, coming up.
[Ranallo] Well, we are set for the WWE Intercontinental Championship match.
[The Miz] Awesome!
♪ I came to play ♪
♪ I came to play There's a price to pay ♪
♪ Time for you To get down on your knees and pray ♪
♪ Say goodbye to the good old days ♪
♪ They're never coming back Watch your future fade ♪
♪ I came to play to get my dues paid ♪
♪ I guess you had a dream… ♪
[bell rings]
[Hamilton] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the Intercontinental Championship.
Making his way to the ring, accompanied by Maryse,
residing in Hollywood, California,
weighing in at 221 lbs,
he is the Intercontinental Champion,
The Miz!
[Ranallo] And, John, he's not the Phantom of the Opera,
but he is in his fifth reign as Intercontinental Champion.
The Miz, along with his wife, Maryse,
the WWE "it" couple,
and this past week on SmackDown Live,
the Intercontinental Champion, The Miz,
well, he waged psychological warfare
on his challenger tonight.
There is a reason I am the most must-see WWE Superstar,
and Apollo Creed is gonna find that out at SummerSlam.
-Apollo Cr-- -[Apollo Crews's theme music playing]
That's very funny. You're a very funny guy.
But you do know my name is Apollo Crews, right?
That's what I said.
Apollo Creed.
Crews.
C-R-E-W-S.
I memorize 90 pages of dialog for a living.
I can remember your name.
Your name is Creed, and--
[Layfield] Well, his name is Apollo Crews,
but he's about to find out, like Jay-Z and Beyoncé,
that Miz is "The A-Lister" with Maryse.
They are the hottest thing in Brooklyn.
[Otunga] John, really? Jay-Z and Beyoncé?
[Layfield] They left town. I have sources that told me.
They couldn't stand to be second fiddle to these two.
[Apollo Crews's theme music playing]
[Hamilton] Introducing the challenger, from Stone Mountain, Georgia,
weighing in at 240 lbs,
Apollo Crews!
[Otunga] And I tell you what,
Miz is gonna get his name right tonight, 'cause Crews is gonna beat it into him.
It reminds me of when Muhammad Ali beat up Ernie Terrell.
Remember that? Made him say his name for calling him wrong.
[Ranallo] This is Apollo Crews's first appearance at SummerSlam.
He looks to become the sixth WWE Superstar
to win the Intercontinental Championship in his SummerSlam debut,
and the first since Santino Marella in 2008.
And it is for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
The first meeting between the champion, The Miz, and Apollo Crews here tonight.
[Layfield] And the only place you can see the Intercontinental Championship
is on the A-show, and that'd be SmackDown Live,
and we will be your A-team.
-[Otunga] You're right about that. -[Layfield chuckles]
[Ranallo] The Miz looking to avoid SummerSlam's version
of the Sports Illustrated cover curse,
as he immediately goes on the attack.
The Intercontinental Championship has changed hands 14 times
at SummerSlam, John.
[Layfield] Yeah, and called the greatest match in SummerSlam history,
1992 at Wembley,
Bret Hart and Davey Boy Smith over the Intercontinental Championship.
[Ranallo] And at the very first SummerSlam,
The Ultimate Warrior ended Honky Tonk Man's record run
in less than a minute.
This one could end fast, as The Miz went for the cover.
Huh?
[Otunga] One thing, Miz has had a very busy SummerSlam week.
He's been filming a TV show with his wife, media appearances.
I don't know if he's had time to train.
[Ranallo] Crews avoids that kick,
rolls him up for a two-count.
Beautiful attempt at a dropkick,
but wisely scouted there by The Miz,
who plants Crews with a DDT.
Back press, hooks a leg.
And The Miz wanting to make short work of Apollo Crews,
as he cinches in that
rear chin-lock.
[Layfield] Of course, David, he has time to train,
'cause he makes time. The Rock has modeled his career after The Miz.
A movie star, gets up at five o'clock in the morning,
three o'clock, whatever it takes to train,
whatever it takes to make it.
[Otunga] Oh please, John. Yeah, clearly, The Miz's body
looks like he trains every day at 5:00 am.
-[Layfield] Sometimes 3:00 am, David. -Make him tap!
[Otunga] Exactly. His training is sleeping.
[Ranallo] Miz's better half cheering on the Intercontinental Champion at ringside.
The Miz in his fourth Intercontinental Championship match
here at SummerSlam, more than any other WWE Superstar,
as Crews lands on the apron.
And there's The Miz taking his feet out from under him,
and face-first to the apron goes Crews.
[Layfield] The Miz is taking it to this incredible athlete, Apollo Crews.
Apollo Crews was not expecting this onslaught by The Miz.
[Otunga] No. Crews has the athletic advantage,
but Miz, you know, he does have the veteran skill set here.
He's taking it to him, like you said.
[Ranallo] And we just saw Miz drop Crews like names at a Hollywood party,
although he just dived into a boot from the challenger, Apollo Crews.
[Otunga] That's the athleticism I was talking about.
[Layfield] You're right. It is incredible athleticism.
It's a great American story.
Look at this. This is a thing of beauty.
Boom!
[Ranallo] Forget about a drone. Apollo Crews is a flying tank,
and that's really what makes him such a special athlete, David,
is he's built compact, plenty of muscle,
but this guy can fly with the best of them.
[Otunga] Oh, absolutely. He's got so much agility and power.
He's jacked and an acrobat. I call him a "jack-robat."
[Ranallo] He just levelled The Miz.
Does so again with those running clotheslines.
And there's a Stinger Splash in the corner.
[Otunga] Crews is fighting his fight.
[Ranallo] Oh, and there's the athleticism with a kip-up.
[Layfield] "The jack-robat."
[Otunga] "The jack-robat," yeah.
[Layfield] That's about as bad as Byron Saxton's.
Best of six.
[Ranallo] Side press with the hooking of the outside leg,
and Crews gets a two-count.
Crews was trained by Mr. Hughes.
[Layfield] Apollo came here via his father.
Came from Nigeria to escape poverty to give his family a better life,
and that is exactly what Apollo Crews is taking advantage of right now.
[Ranallo] Oh, Miz taking advantage with the full nelson,
looking for that Skull-Crushing Finale.
[Otunga] Crews's traps are too big.
[Ranallo] Oh, and the enzuigiri by Apollo Crews.
Oh yeah!
[Ranallo] And the athleticism again on display,
but again, well scouted by The Miz. A couple of knees into the rib cage.
[Layfield] Wow! That is strength.
[Otunga] That's what I'm talking about.
[Ranallo] Side press.
We almost had a new champion.
[Layfield] Apollo's high school coach was the one who nicknamed him "Uhaa Nation."
'Cause he said he's as strong as a single country,
and he certainly is showing it.
[Ranallo] Began training at the age of 21 under Curtis "Mr." Hughes.
I'm just wondering if Mr. Hughes wore sunglasses
during training sessions, and if Crews can beat The Miz,
he'll have to wear shades,
because, well, his future definitely so bright,
as he's in control here.
Miz lands on his feet.
-Oh, and there's that-- -[Otunga] No, he caught him.
-[Ranallo] What a block by Crews. -[Layfield] Come to Papa!
-[Otunga] Wow! -[Layfield] Oh man!
[Ranallo] Beautiful overhead belly-to-belly.
And there's the standing moonsault!
[Layfield] Could see a new Intercontinental Championship.
[Otunga] Somebody that big with that much muscle
should not be able to do that. Freaky.
[Layfield] I saw Pat Patterson backstage, the first Intercontinental Champion.
He came out with a great new book right now, Accepted.
[Ranallo] And he won that title in a tournament in the home
of the 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro, right?
[Layfield] Yes, he did, against Johnny Rodz.
That championship, again, the only place you can see it, SmackDown Live.
[Ranallo] And speaking of Olympics, Crews has been,
well, aspiring to be like the Olympics model.
Faster, higher, stronger, much to the chagrin of The Miz,
and The Miz might wanna take his ball and go home here.
[Otunga] See? Miz has had enough.
[booing]
[Layfield] He's just getting a little breather, guys.
[Otunga] No, Miz knows he can't lose the title on a count-out.
[Ranallo] That's right. You can only win the Intercontinental Championship
via pinfall or submission.
Momentary distraction by Maryse gives The Miz an opportunity.
Roll-through by Crews! Shoulders down!
Only a two-count.
[Layfield] You expect that out of someone like Kalisto,
not someone the size of Apollo Crews.
[Ranallo] Oh, there is the Skull-Crushing Finale by The Miz!
And The Miz avoids the SummerSlam Intercontinental Championship curse.
[Hamilton] Here is your winner, and still the Intercontinental Champion,
The Miz!
[Ranallo] A valiant effort by Apollo Crews,
but an assist to Maryse there as well, David.
[Otunga] There definitely was a little bit of an assist there.
I gotta say, I'm impressed with The Miz.
However, however,
Crews showed me something. I think he's gonna have The Miz's number.
[Ranallo] So The Miz remains Intercontinental Champion,
adding to the legacy of his fifth reign, John.
[Layfield] I don't think any doubt that Apollo Crews is gonna be a champion.
Just makes a simple mistake here.
Miz capitalizes on it, like a veteran is supposed to do,
like a champion is supposed to do,
and walks out of SummerSlam as he walked in,
the Intercontinental Champion and "The A-Lister."
[Layfield, laughing] How lucky are we
to have Miz and Maryse,
"The A-Listers"?
"A-List" Intercontinental Championship only on SmackDown Live!
[whooshing]
-[siren wailing] -[man] Product not yet rated.
[unsettling music playing]
[whooshing]
[Goldberg's theme music playing]
-[sirens wailing] -[music fades]
[Ranallo] Twenty-ninth annual SummerSlam coming to you
from one of the five boroughs of the Big Apple.
We are in Brooklyn, New York at a sold-out Barclays Center,
and you know what?
Fitz and the Tantrums aren't the only ones
that can make your hands clap.
The dream rivalry between "The Face That Runs The Place," John Cena,
and "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles,
well, it's involved the WWE Universe.
♪ This summer, the city's ours ♪
♪ We want it all… ♪
And tonight they will be renewing their rivalry.
AJ Styles with a win over John Cena in singles competition,
but things are just heating up at SummerSlam
between these two all-time greats.
[whooshing]
[alternating chants of "Let's go, Cena!" and "AJ Styles!"
[Styles] I have been waiting for this moment for a long time.
[Cena] This is a history-making match.
[Cole] You gotta be kidding me. Anderson and Gallows!
AJ Styles beat John Cena!
[Cena] When your back is against the wall,
you got your balls and your word.
You proved that you don't have either one of them.
-[Styles] Your time is up. -[all] Beat up John Cena!
[Styles] My time is now.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Cena!
Cena sucks!
[intriguing music playing]
I figured you out.
I've beaten you in this ring,
and yet here you are still in the WWE.
And the only reason why you're here is 'cause you come out here,
and you do your little song and dance
and people come out here and think you're some noble hero?
You actually believe
what these parents, what these kids think is true
about you.
You don't belong in this ring with me, John.
You are no more than a fraud.
You said, "The future goes through you"?
I went right through you.
So tell me, John.
Why? Why are you still here?
Right now, I'm here to shut your mouth.
[cheering]
With all this stuff going on outside of WWE,
why am I still here?
Oh, that's an easy answer, because it ain't changed
in over a decade and a half.
I'm here out of love.
And no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
don't get me wrong. I see you.
Because we don't say "love" a lot in the WWE,
because when you say that, you "don't look tough."
I don't give a damn. I'm a grown-ass man.
[stirring music playing]
I love the look on that kid's face
when he's jumping up and down, excited.
I love when parents pull me aside
and say thank you.
And I love to get a chance to do the ESPYs,
Teen Choice,
The Today Show.
Not only 'cause it's fun.
Because there's always somebody there who's willing to ask…
[Cena mimics reporter] Hey, John, now you've made it mainstream,
when are you gonna leave the WWE?"
And, oh man, do I love to look them dead in the eye
and say, "Never,"
because the WWE was, is, and always will be
my home!
Always here. Always will be.
I am here out of love.
What the hell are you doing here?
[cheering]
[intriguing music playing]
That's exactly what I thought you would say, John.
That's the John I know.
That's the John that never backs away from a challenge.
SummerSlam.
AJ Styles. John Cena.
One-on-one. No excuses.
No Club.
Me and you.
I need to teach your ass a lesson. You're on.
You know what the best part of SummerSlam is? Know what it's gonna be?
When I beat you,
and then on SmackDown Live,
you come out to the world and you say,
"AJ Styles is better than me."
And if you don't, John,
you're a liar.
And if you do,
you're a loser.
Either way, I win.
[inaudible]
[music fades]
[whooshing]
[AJ Styles's theme music playing]
♪ They don't want none ♪
♪ No, they don't want none ♪
♪ They looking scared No, they don't really want none ♪
♪ We some Southern boys… ♪
[bell rings]
[Hamilton] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Gainesville, Georgia,
weighing in at 218 lbs,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles!
[Ranallo] SummerSlam billed as "The Biggest Event of the Summer,"
and, David, it doesn't get much bigger than AJ Styles versus John Cena.
A dream rivalry the WWE Universe didn't think they'd ever see.
[Otunga] No. We've been waiting for this match.
It's 15 years in the making.
I've been waiting for it ever since the match at Money in the Bank
when Gallows and Anderson ruined it.
[Ranallo] Don't forget, you can watch your favorite TV shows
and movies online with Hulu
and get next-day unlimited streaming access
to all of WWE's weekly programs,
including Raw,
SmackDown Live, Main Event, NXT, and Superstars.
Visit hulu.com for a free trial
and start watching your favorite WWE shows today.
Do you hear me, Brooklyn?
[Layfield] David, you're right.
That dream matchup that we had was ruined by Gallows and Anderson.
Tonight, we get to see it.
This will be a treat.
[Ranallo] We saw The Club momentarily reunited backstage.
[John Cena's theme music playing]
♪ Krrrr, Amadou! ♪
[crowd, to theme music] ♪ John Cena sucks! ♪
[Hamilton] And his opponent, from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 251 lbs,
John Cena!
Don't think that I'm not ready.
[Ranallo] This is John Cena's 13th SummerSlam match,
tying Triple H for second-most all-time behind The Undertaker
and "The Face That Runs The Place" is fired up.
[Layfield] It's hard to compare eras.
When you compare Bruno Sammartino's 4,040 days combined reign as WWE Champion,
and when you put that against a 15-time World Champion
and all of the matches that John Cena has dominated
in big events over the last decade-plus,
right there is the greatest of all time, in my opinion.
[Otunga] They say that John Cena is "The Face That Runs The Place"
because he's the most consistent Superstar.
For the past ten years, he's consistently been on top in WWE.
[Ranallo] A 15-time WWE World Champion.
[Layfield] And what's so great about this is this is a match AJ Styles has to win.
But on the other side, this is what John Cena…
He's been off a long time. This has not exactly been his year.
This is a match he can't lose.
[Ranallo] AJ Styles won their first meeting
at Money in the Bank in June.
The next month at Battleground, John Cena, along with Enzo and Big Cass,
got a measure of revenge over Styles as they beat The Club.
[Otunga] That match at Money in the Bank has an asterisk next to it,
because we all know AJ Styles had help there.
[alternating chants of "Let's go, Cena!" and "AJ Styles!"]
[Ranallo] An electric atmosphere at a sold-out Barclays Center.
[Layfield, chuckling] Oh man!
[alternating chants continue]
[Cena] This is what it's about!
[bell rings]
[crowd chanting drowns out speech]
[Ranallo] Two of the very best to lace up the boots
going mano a mano again here at SummerSlam.
What do you look for early from John Cena, David?
[Otunga] I think Cena's gonna show him why he's been the face of WWE
for the past ten years.
[alternating chants of "Let's go, Cena!" and "AJ Styles!"]
[Ranallo] Meanwhile, John, AJ Styles, the quintessential Georgia Bulldog,
a champion everywhere he's competed,
except here in WWE.
[Layfield] I can tell you right now, AJ Styles,
he won those two IWGP Championships,
been a former NWA Champion.
He's never been in anything like this SummerSlam in Barclays Arena.
[Ranallo] And while he's had big match experience,
not as much as John Cena.
[Layfield] Absolutely not. Whether you love John Cena or hate him,
this is John Cena's home turf,
and AJ Styles is starting to realize that. The question is, how does AJ Styles react?
I think he's gonna be perfectly fine,
but getting over that initial shock is going to take a little.
[Ranallo] AJ Styles cinches in the side headlock,
trying to get the early upper hand over John Cena.
We've been through this before!
-You can't stop me! -[cheering]
[Otunga] I think AJ's trying to psych himself up, to be honest.
He knows he had help last time,
and, frankly, he's a little worried. He's nervous.
[Layfield] Nothing wrong with psyching yourself up, David.
-It works. -[Otunga] Do what you gotta do.
[Layfield] Sold-out SummerSlam. Just don't wanna psych yourself out.
That's the thing.
Listen to this crowd.
[alternating chants of "Let's go, Cena!" and "AJ Styles!"]
[Ranallo] They are split down the middle.
[alternating chants continue]
Now it's Cena's turn with the side headlock,
trying to keep the high-flying AJ Styles grounded.
[Otunga] Obviously, Cena has a major power advantage here,
so I'd look for him to use that, but then again,
AJ's got the finesse.
[Ranallo] Beautiful dropkick executed by AJ Styles!
That's how I…
[Layfield] Speed kills.
[Ranallo] But he has to be careful about this, John.
Too much showboating will cost you against a guy like John Cena.
[Layfield] Showed us a big ol' ham hock right hand.
[Layfield laughing]
Nothing better than a good dropkick than a straight right hand to the mush.
Just hit people in the face really hard.
It works, I promise.
[whooshing]
Everybody has a plan till this happened.
You got punched right in the face.
[Otunga] There's no way to finesse that.
[Ranallo] John Cena's headlined SummerSlam more than anyone else,
six times.
Tonight, against AJ Styles,
just one of the massive matches coming your way here.
Yeah, I ain't all smiles, huh?
Sometimes, we get serious.
[Ranallo] John Cena saying it's time to get serious.
Uncorks another right hand to the side of AJ Styles's head.
[Layfield] John Cena knows if this turns into a fist fight,
if this turns into a power game, this is right up his alley.
[crowd] ♪ John Cena sucks! John Cena sucks! ♪
[Layfield] The capacity crowd having a great time tonight.
At John Cena's expense.
[Layfield] And John loves every second of it.
I'm telling you, this is his home field advantage.
[Ranallo] He thrives in atmospheres like this
and looking to deliver an AA on the apron,
but those back elbows turn the tables for AJ Styles!
-[Layfield] Oh man! -[Otunga] Oh!
[Ranallo] Suplex on the hardest part of the ring!
[Otunga] That's a match-changer right there.
[Ranallo] Wow!
AJ Styles just slammed John Cena's back to the apron,
realigning the spine.
Let's take another look, David.
[Otunga] Suplex right on the edge of the ring.
If you don't know, that's the hardest part of the ring there.
[Layfield] John got his foot caught up in the ropes
and had a terrible landing on that hardest part of the ring.
[Ranallo] Cena trying valiantly to get back up to his feet.
AJ Styles stalking him.
[Otunga] This is his opening. AJ needs to take advantage of this now.
-[Layfield] Wow! Good grief! -[Ranallo] Back body drop by Cena!
And I think Styles has back problems now, as Cena goes for the cover.
-Only gets a one-count. -[Layfield] I mean, launched.
This is the strength of John Cena. Look at this.
Just launched in the air.
[Ranallo] It showed up on the Doppler radar.
[Otunga] Golly! Right on the back.
[Layfield] The fall doesn't hurt you. It's the sudden ending.
[Otunga] Cena using his power, just wearing him down,
just leaning on him right now.
[Ranallo] Styles with a vicious forearm to the side of Cena's jaw,
and Cena delivers a dropkick of his own. Goes for the cover.
Get a two-count.
[Otunga] And this is part of why John Cena's been so dominant.
He continues to evolve his game year after year to stay on top.
[whooshing]
[Ranallo] And has consistently done that throughout his career.
And showing AJ Styles that he is willing
to go move-for-move with one of the best in the world.
Snap suplex by Cena.
[alternating chants of "Let's go, Cena!" and "Cena sucks!"]
And this Brooklyn crowd in full voice.
[alternating chants continue]
[Layfield] What a right hand.
[Ranallo] Ooh, and a headbutt from Cena!
He knows how important this matchup is,
knowing that AJ Styles, whether it was by hook or by crook,
does have a victory over him in singles competition.
Wants to even the record here at SummerSlam does Cena.
[Layfield] Yeah, and he also knows how important it is to AJ Styles.
He's won championships all over the world,
but the only way to finish his career correctly
is to beat John Cena.
[Ranallo] And there was AJ Styles lighting up Cena like Times Square,
and a forearm to the face!
[Layfield] Styles has him rocking.
[Ranallo] Cena comes off the ropes. Shoulder block.
[booing]
And again he takes Styles off his feet.
[Layfield] Here we go!
[Otunga] Not where AJ wants to be.
[booing]
[Layfield chuckling]
[Layfield] A little Five-Knuckle Shuffle.
[Ranallo] AJ Styles can see that.
A fist right across the face
by "The Face That Runs The Place," John Cena.
[Otunga] Here we go.
[Ranallo] Looking for the Attitude Adjustment.
Styles lands on his feet.
Pelé Kick by Styles!
And now Styles looking for the Styles Clash.
-[Otunga] He hit it! -[Ranallo] Styles hit the Styles Clash.
This… this could be it.
Oh, Cena powers out!
Wow!
Not too many people have kicked out of that Styles Clash, John.
[Layfield] No, I think Styles thought he had it won.
Most of the people in this arena thought AJ Styles had it won as well.
[Otunga] It was a beautiful counter. Cena went for the AA.
Oh! Pelé Kick.
Then AJ sets him up.
[Layfield] And look at this. Everything about this is perfect.
Hits him with the Styles Clash.
Gets a good cover.
[Otunga] I think it was that there.
It took him a little bit longer to roll him over and cover him.
[Ranallo] And there's an Attitude Adjustment by Cena.
Quick cover.
Hooks both legs, and yet Styles able to power out.
Incredible stuff here between Cena and Styles.
[Otunga] Just shows how much this match means to each guy.
Styles has won championships all over the world,
but one thing that's been over his head the whole time
is he's never fought John Cena and won.
-[Ranallo] He did at Money in the Bank. -[Otunga] With help.
[Layfield] Hey, a win's a win.
One here will cement AJ Styles's legacy
as perhaps the greatest of his era.
[Ranallo] John Cena's conquered many mediums,
but nothing means more to him
than beating AJ Styles here tonight at SummerSlam,
willing to pull out all the stops, including this highly dangerous one.
Styles on his feet.
-[Otunga] What? -[Ranallo] Whoa! Torture rack?
-[Otunga] Oh! -[Ranallo] Into the spin-out powerbomb.
Jackknife cover,
and Styles came oh so close.
[Otunga] Styles showing he's got some power, though, too.
[Ranallo] I think that was a message sent to John Cena that
AJ Styles may be smaller physically,
but, like you said, David,
lots of power, and when…
and when you have adrenaline, and when you have motivation,
that can make you much stronger as well.
[Otunga] Absolutely. And as important as this match is, I mean, come on!
We're here at SummerSlam. The adrenaline's through the roof.
[Ranallo] AJ Styles made his memorable WWE debut
in January at the Royal Rumble.
Looking to continue to add to his WWE legend.
Counter by Cena catapults Styles face-first into the top turnbuckle.
-[Otunga] Oh! -[Ranallo] Oh!
[Layfield] How about that innovative offense? Could have him!
[Otunga] That was close.
[Ranallo] Counter by Cena results in a two-count.
[whooshing]
[Layfield] This is strength. That's just God-given strength.
[Otunga] Just tossed him up.
[Ranallo] What of the adjustments you would like to see Styles make, John?
[Layfield] I think AJ Styles has done a great job so far.
He's gotta stay with his game plan.
He hit him with a Styles Clash. He got a good cover. He didn't beat him.
-Do it again. -[Otunga] He's doing everything right.
The only problem is, he's up against John Cena.
[Ranallo] Roll-up by Styles.
Jackknife cover. He gets a two-count.
Comes off the ropes.
Oh, drop toehold!
Cena looking for that STF.
Well scouted by Styles.
Ushigoroshi by Styles!
[Layfield] He beat him with his own move!
[Layfield] How great would that have been, to come into SummerSlam
and beat John Cena with his own move?
[Ranallo] A modified version, something he picked up in Japan from Hirooki Goto.
[Layfield] AJ Styles says he loves beating up John Cena.
Well, right now, he should be in heaven,
'cause he is beating up John Cena.
[Otunga] Look, he did some damage to Cena's neck there too.
Watch this.
Scoops him up.
Oh, right on the knee, right on the back of the neck.
Cena's still holding his neck.
[Ranallo] And with that ushigoroshi, AJ Styles came oh so close
to vanquishing John Cena,
trying to beat him down now with those forearms.
His forearms some of the nastiest strikes in WWE.
[alternating chants of "Let's go, Cena!" and "AJ Styles!"]
[Layfield] Right now, AJ Styles needs to keep applying pressure,
and whatever you do, do not let John Cena recover.
'Cause when he says he never gives up, that's not a hashtag.
That's a lifestyle.
[Ranallo] An incredible atmosphere here in Brooklyn for SummerSlam.
-Springboard… 450 splash! -[Saxton] Oh!
No water in the pool.
Oh!
-Cena-- -[Layfield] Wow, that was close.
-That was close. -[Otunga] Unbelievable.
[Ranallo] It was almost "Code Red" for AJ Styles after that move.
[Otunga] And look at this. A springboard 450 like it was nothing.
Only problem is, nobody's home.
[Ranallo] And so all of them,
both Cena, Styles willing to pull out
every possible move in their arsenal, John.
[Otunga] And moves we've never seen.
[Layfield] This is like two great old boxing champions.
Just forget the jab. Forget working the body.
Just throw home-run punches at each other
till somebody can't get up.
[Ranallo] And the Barclays Center
has played host to two memorable boxing battles
in Keith Thurman - Shawn Porter, Leo Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton,
but nothing like the atmosphere here tonight for SummerSlam
and Cena versus Styles.
Oh, German suplex! Rolling German suplex!
-[Otunga] Oh! -[Layfield] Wow.
[Ranallo] Facebuster by Styles.
Shoulders down.
John Cena able to elevate that left shoulder
before the referee was able to hit the mat for the third and final time.
[Layfield] Styles hit him with the move he wanted, but not the cover he wanted.
He left a shoulder free that was able to kick out.
And Styles right now is learning the frustration
of every WWE performer of the last decade-plus.
How in the world do you beat this guy?
[Ranallo] The intensity of this dream matchup
rising like the temperature here at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Again, AJ Styles wanting to use the real estate to his advantage.
Springboard!
Cena turns it into a drop toehold.
-Now he's got the STF. -[Otunga] He's got it locked in.
-[Ranallo] Cena putting the squeeze… -[Otunga] Yeah, Styles may have to tap.
[Layfield] Cena has positioned himself in between Styles and the closest rope.
Perfect position for John Cena.
-[Ranallo] Oh, but a nice reversal. -[Otunga] Wow.
-[cheering] -[Ranallo] Crossface here by Styles.
A lightning-quick reversal by Styles.
Will it be enough to force John Cena to tap?
[Otunga] Look at this.
[Ranallo] The strength of John Cena on display yet again.
[Layfield] Can't coach strength.
[Ranallo] Oh! Styles looking for that Calf Crusher.
[Layfield] He's got it.
[Ranallo] A war of attrition. A battle of submissions
between John Cena and AJ Styles.
Cena looking at that bottom rope.
[Layfield] Exactly what John looked at right away.
The best option of getting out of this is to get to a rope.
[Otunga] Oh, AJ's turned him though.
[Ranallo] Veteran move by AJ Styles.
[Otunga] Oh, wow, look at the torque on that.
Come on, Cena.
[Ranallo] And if Cena won't tap,
he could very well…
Oh, a reversal by John Cena!
Back to the STF.
[Otunga] This is an amazing example of the skill set.
[Layfield] His left foot is almost on his hip for AJ Styles.
The body is not supposed to bend that way.
[Ranallo] We have seen…
[Layfield] Look at Styles. Got his finger trying to figure a way out of this.
[Ranallo] Styles reversed again. Cena, shoulders down for a two-count.
Oh! Pelé Kick…
Excuse me, enzuigiri there by AJ Styles.
And a dazed look on the face of Cena.
[Layfield] One thing Styles has done, being in that submission that long,
he'll take away the power of John Cena.
[Ranallo] Ooh! Styles walks right into that back elbow.
Cena to the…
-Tornado DDT by John Cena! -[Layfield] Planted.
Back press. Hooks the leg.
Styles kicks out again.
[Otunga] Cena didn't have enough in him to hold him tight enough for the cover.
[Ranallo] Both athletes in incredible condition…
in terms of cardio,
but right now, the physicality of this matchup taking its toll
on both competitors.
[Layfield] Absolutely, but they've both been through wars.
And they both smell like smoke 'cause they've both been through fire.
This is one in a long line of battles for both of these great champions.
[Ranallo] Styles beginning to stir. Meanwhile, Cena nursing that left leg.
[Layfield] We've seen John do this before. This…
[Ranallo] They don't call it "high risk" for nothing.
Going all the way to the high-rent district is John Cena.
[Layfield] And he hit it. I mean, he hit it.
It's over.
Guillotine leg drop to the back of Styles's head
for a two-count.
[Layfield] Cena now the one realizing. Look at this thing of beauty,
this leg drop off the top rope, and he hit it perfectly.
Made a cover
and didn't beat AJ Styles.
Cena's now the one figuring out why AJ Styles has won
so many championships all over the world.
[Ranallo] Both of them possess Mensa-level ring IQs.
It could very come down to who makes that critical mistake, David.
[Otunga] Absolutely, 'cause both guys are pulling out new stuff
and countering everything. So who's gonna counter the counter and win?
[Ranallo] Cena perches Styles up on the top turnbuckle.
[Otunga] The other thing is both guys are extremely consistent.
-[Layfield] AJ knows what's coming. -[Ranallo] Fighting it off with elbows.
Now these right hands to the head of John Cena.
[Otunga] Wow!
[Ranallo] Frankensteiner! Mamma mia!
[Layfield] Incredible.
-[Otunga] He's not done. -[Ranallo] And that could be…
[Layfield] Here we go!
-Oh, he hit it! That's it! -[Otunga] He got it.
-[Layfield] That's it! -[Ranallo] It's over!
But Cena kicks out. Wow!
Are you kidding me?
[whooshing]
[Layfield] This is incredible athleticism.
And this is just a thing of beauty.
AJ Styles has won championships,
he's won matches with this for years.
He nails John Cena with it, and it's not enough.
[Ranallo] It's usually his pièce de résistance,
but John Cena, as expected, putting up lots of resistance.
He isn't a 15-time WWE World Champion for nothing.
But AJ Styles would like to ascend to the summit of sports entertainment
here in WWE.
In order to do that, he has to get by John Cena.
-Cena again… -[Layfield] On one leg.
[Ranallo] "On one leg" is right, John.
Oh, and Styles wise to attack that leg.
-[Otunga] Oh! -[Layfield] Oh man!
[whooshing]
[Otunga] Look at this. Turned him inside out with it.
[Ranallo] The vestiges of battle written over both of these warriors' faces.
Cena has him up in the fireman's carry again,
and he's going up again.
Nothing can stop him.
He's looking to go all the way up.
-Avalanche AA by Cena! -[Layfield] That super AA!
-[Otunga] Oh! -[Ranallo laughing in disbelief]
-[Ranallo] Conjoined-twins close. -[Otunga] Wow!
[cheering]
[Otunga] How did he kick out of that?
[crowd chanting] Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!
[Ranallo] A tremendous match.
An equally tremendous atmosphere at SummerSlam in Brooklyn.
[Layfield] This super AA, John Cena plants him.
John Cena makes the cover.
And the match continues.
You wonder why this was a dream match for so long
among wrestling fans all over the world?
This is why.
[Ranallo] It's manifested into a rivalry for the ages.
[Layfield] We are watching a classic.
[Ranallo] And John Cena
looking a bit shocked.
He can't believe that Styles was able to kick out of that avalanche AA.
[Otunga] He's bewildered. What does he have to do to win?
[Layfield] Cena looks like he's looking in a mirror.
[Otunga] I've never seen him perplexed like this, ever.
[Ranallo] None of us can believe…
[Layfield] This is the frustration that people have felt with John Cena
for so many of the last years. "But how do you beat this guy?"
Cena, for the first time, I think, is now feeling this
about AJ Styles.
[Ranallo] What does it say about the bushido,
the fighting spirit of AJ Styles?
[Otunga] He's definitely earned my respect,
and looks like he's earned John's too.
[Ranallo] Barely able to stand up.
Cena has him back up.
[booing]
Styles turning the tables, has him up.
Styles Clash!
[Layfield] But he can't cover.
[Saxton] He left Cena an opening.
[Layfield] Styles is going somewhere.
[Ranallo] Yeah, he's wanting to use that real estate to his advantage.
[Layfield[ He knows he wasn't gonna get the cover. Phenomenal Forearm,
and he nailed it.
He just beat John Cena at SummerSlam!
[Ranallo] AJ Styles does it again!
[Hamilton] Here is your winner,
AJ Styles!
[Layfield] Legacy affirmed.
Career defined.
That right there
is a man who has just reached the summit.
AJ Styles, what a hell of a victory!
[Ranallo] Who would have thought that in the year 2016,
AJ Styles would hold two singles victories
over John Cena here in WWE?
[Layfield] There's no asterisk on this one.
This was a one-on-one classic.
This was a battle of two incredible champions,
neither wanting to give an inch.
♪ No, they don't want none ♪
♪ No, they don't want none… ♪
John Cena could not believe that he hits AJ Styles
with that super AA,
makes the cover.
The match continues, and John Cena is in absolute disbelief.
[Otunga] Here he is going for another AA to finish off AJ,
but AJ's able to counter,
turn it into a Styles Clash.
Boom!
But he wasn't done yet.
[Layfield] But AJ knows a cover there probably would have done no good.
-[Ranallo] And then… -[Otunga] Wow!
[Ranallo] The Phenomenal Forearms leads to this dramatic and "Phenomenal" win
for AJ Styles at SummerSlam.
[Layfield] That is a career-defining moment for AJ Styles.
He just walked into SummerSlam,
the place that John Cena has ruled,
the 15-time World Champion,
and walked out with an incredible victory in a classic.
[music drowns out speech]
♪ …do it with our hands muddied ♪
♪ No, they don't want none ♪
♪ No, they don't want none… ♪
[Ranallo] What a night at SummerSlam,
and what a match we have just witnessed
between two preternaturally talented competitors
John Cena falling short again
against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[Layfield] Wow.
[cheering]
He fought like a champion.
[Ranallo] And the WWE Universe treating him like one
with a sign of respect.
[Layfield] You better believe it.
Put it on your calendar.
You wanna tell your kids and your grandkids
about the day you watched John Cena.
[Ranallo] Some kind of symbolism there as…
[Layfield] That is a legend right there.
[Ranallo] John Cena leaving a piece of him in the ring.
[Layfield] Look at the dignity. Look at the class.
That is what a champion is made of,
and that is how a champion reacts.
[Layfield chuckles]
[Otunga] This is why everybody,
I don't care who you are or how you feel about him,
you respect John Cena.
[Ranallo] The personification of a sports entertainer nonpareil,
one of the all-time greats,
John Cena leaving defeated here at SummerSlam,
but always ready for a fight.
God, I hope something exciting's gonna happen.
[funky music playing]
♪ You have me naked In the freezing cold… ♪
Haha, that's what starts it off.
Where did you bring me?
I can't work like this.
This is where I wanna be. Yeah!
♪ Get ready for the wild life ♪
♪ Yeah, been a long time coming… ♪
You out of your mind?
-That's one pissed-off snake. -[gulps]
Hello, Vince.
Why are you corrupting my son?
[Flair] The "Nature Boy's" greatest airport story.
Who can say no to that?
[Young] We're breaking down everything SmackDown.
I'd have a lot of folks try to push my buttons.
[Bryan] Me?!
No one talks more smack.
"We're gonna call it the Universal title. The Galaxy title!"
♪ For the night, yeah ♪
♪ The flashing lights, yeah… ♪
Barely functioning Foley family.
-[farts] -Ugh!
[Mick Foley] My daughter's moving in with a fake clown.
And the crowd goes wild!
♪ To lose your mind… ♪
[Austin] I'll tell you what.
♪ Get ready for the wild life… ♪
Good old "Stone Cold" is back.
You know what, Steve Austin, I know something about you.
Oh hell yeah!
♪ Get ready for the wild life… ♪
[Shane McMahon] We need to change how things are done.
We're gonna have our first SmackDown-only pay-per-view.
[Stephanie McMahon] Raw is the flagship show.
[Mick Foley] The new era of Monday Night Raw.
♪ Woo-oo ♪
♪ Get ready for the wild life ♪
♪ Woo-oo… ♪
[woman] That's when the hashtag started trending.
[Stephanie McMahon] There is a revolution
with women in sports happening.
It's amazing.
[Lita] The biggest thing in women's wrestling
that had ever happened was right here,
and that was, like, right…
♪ Get ready for the wild life… ♪
Ready to hit the road, eh?
-I gotta put the address. -Byron, let's go!
Dad, we had this talk before. I'm gonna put you in time-out.
Aaaaaah!
Yes, major victory.
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Get ready for the wild life ♪
[man chuckling]
Wow. We're all taking a moment to refocus, reset.
John, you battled the likes of the legendary Undertaker
here at SummerSlam. Your thoughts on Cena versus styles.
That is why you love this business so much.
That was an absolute classic between two incredible champions.
I still say Cena's the greatest of all time.
Well, and I'll tell you two people who love Cricket Wireless.
They are Corey Norris, Alisha Ingram,
because Cricket Wireless gave those two fans
the ultimate SummerSlam weekend.
They won big with Cricket Wireless
and have been backstage and behind the scenes all weekend.
Check this out.
[whooshing]
Ready for SummerSlam?
-This is gonna be awesome. -Ready! VIP!
[upbeat rock music playing]
-Corey Norris. -And I'm Alisha Ingram.
From Nashville, Tennessee,
and we won the Cricket Wireless WWE SummerSlam Sweepstakes.
We can't wait to go inside
and see what WWE Cricket Nation has in store for us.
We did meet and greets with some of the Superstars,
saw some of the memorabilia. It was pretty awesome.
[Ingram] Wow! Look at this.
This is amazing.
[Norris] Can't believe we're sitting at ringside for NXT Takeover.
[crowd chanting] NXT! NXT! NXT! NXT!
[Norris] Thank you so much, WWE and Cricket Wireless.
-Now that's something to smile about. -[music ends]
-[whooshing] -♪ We want it all… ♪
[Ranallo] And you can't remove the smiles from Corey and Alisha's face.
They are enjoying SummerSlam ringside.
Now, that is definitely something to smile about.
[JoJo] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Jon Stewart!
[upbeat music playing]
[Cole] Here's someone to smile about as well.
Comedian, writer, producer, director, actor,
of course… once the star of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart,
back at SummerSlam.
[Saxton] Jon Stewart at SummerSlam.
Last time Jon Stewart was here, uh, pretty controversial presence.
[Graves] You say "controversial." I say "historic."
[Cole] Jon Stewart, of course,
got involved in the Seth Rollins match last year,
in which Seth Rollins would go on to become
the first man to hold the United States Championship
and the WWE World title.
Played a pivotal role in that.
[music drowns out speech]
[music fades]
What is up, Brooklyn?
[booing]
I know. I feel ya. I feel ya.
That match with AJ Styles and John Cena
was magic.
And I'm just happy
that some idiot
didn't interfere…
[crowd] What?
…for no reason…
[crowd] What?
…by hitting one of those two great competitors
[crowd] What?
…with a chair.
[crowd] What?
[Cole chuckles]
Brooklyn, I've learned my lesson. I was here last year.
I interfered with a match. I hit John Cena with a chair.
And here's what I learned.
If you are ever
in a situation
where you may be hit
with an AA,
tuck your shirt in.
Because children are watching,
and nobody needs to see old man belly.
But more importantly, I'd like to talk about why I'm here tonight.
I have been asked
by The New Day.
As you know, Gallows and Anderson
hurt Big E
by hitting Big E in the
Well, you saw it.
And so I have decided that tonight,
I will…
join…
the great…
[Saxton, chuckling] Gosh!
Yes, ladies and gentlemen.
It is all about dignity.
I will be joining The New Day in their battle tonight
in the stead of Big E,
and so, ladies and gentlemen,
I say to you…
And I know I can't do it as Big E does, so I will need some help.
-Awwwwww, Brooklyn! -[crowd joins in]
-Don't you dare… -[crowd] …be sour.
Clap for your famous champs.
-And feel the power! -[Stewart] And feel the power!
-[The New Day's theme music playing] -It's a New Day!
[Saxton] I think Brooklyn had it just right.
Sorry, John.
[Cole] And here come the Tag Team Champions.
It was one year ago
that The New Day won the Tag Team titles right here at SummerSlam.
[Saxton] Throw some Booty O's over this way.
[Graves] I still find it hard to believe that New Day were that hard up,
they asked Jon Stewart to be their new member.
I would rather have Booty Saxton on my team.
[Saxton] Booty Saxton?
What is up, baby?
-[Kingston] SummerSlam, baby! -[Stewart] Let's do it.
[Saxton] It's a little odd, I admit,
but it could work.
[playing "New Day rocks!" tune]
[crowd] New Day rocks! New Day rocks!
New Day rocks!
-New Day rocks! -[music fades]
[Gallows and Anderson's theme music playing]
[bell rings]
[JoJo] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Introducing the challengers,
at a combined weigh of 505 lbs,
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson!
[Cole] Well, guys, JoJo mustn't have got the message,
because Gallows and Anderson wanna be referred to as
Dr. Gallows and Dr. Anderson tonight.
We're gonna show you what the doctors did to Big E
three weeks ago on Monday Night Raw.
And this is why Big E has been out of action.
The first, of course, the Boot of Doom from Anderson and Gallows.
[Saxton] And then the evil intentions of Gallows and Anderson right there.
[Cole] Big E would suffer a contusion to the groin area,
or, as Anderson and Gallows would call it, "ring-post-itis."
They, of course, are here at ringside.
Uh, they are looking for, well, more samples,
perhaps one from Kofi and one from Xavier tonight
to help cure ring-post-itis.
And I guess Jon Stewart's on the possible donor list as well.
[Graves] Did you see the size of that jar? That wasn't very impressive.
[Saxton] I think Dr. Gallows and Anderson need to have their licenses revoked.
[Graves] Byron, what do you know about medicine?
Absolutely nothing.
You need to be quiet and call the match.
[Cole] So it's Anderson and Gallows looking to win the Tag Team titles tonight
and stop the 364-day reign of The New Day.
Anderson and Gallows looking to become the third team
to ever win the Tag Team titles in their SummerSlam debut.
Only one time since 2002 have the Tag Team titles changed hands
here at SummerSlam.
This is what's gonna be interesting tonight, Corey,
because normally it's Kofi Kingston and Big E who defend the Tag Team gold.
Tonight, it's Kofi and Xavier Woods with Big E out of action.
Will that come into play tonight against Anderson and Gallows?
[Graves] It very well may come into play.
Big E is always there to sort of neutralize the size disadvantage.
Let's be honest. Dr. Anderson, Dr. Gallows,
great size advantage over Kofi and Xavier.
This could be a totally different situation.
[Cole] Karl Anderson starts things off against Kofi,
and Anderson's a four-time IWGP Tag Team Champion,
three times with Gallows, in Japan.
Anderson once had the longest title reign and most title defenses in history.
[Saxton] These two men have made a career out of pushing the boundaries,
being controversial. Ooh!
[Cole] Kofi with that flying elbow right to the face of Karl Anderson.
[Saxton] Rising to the top of whatever company
they decide to compete in.
And in this case, you beat The New Day,
you win the Tag Team titles, you accomplish that goal.
[Graves] To my earlier point,
I'm by no means saying that Xavier Woods is a weak link.
He's just not as proven as Big E is in these big-match situations.
[Cole] You know all about Xavier Woods.
In fact, you've been in the ring with him back in your NXT days.
[Graves] Xavier is as tough as he is loud.
[Saxton] Xavier told me himself they were a little taken aback
by the fact that Gallows and Anderson took out Big E
and forced them to go back to the drawing board,
re-strategize a little bit.
[Cole] Kofi lands on his feet, and Anderson cannot believe that.
-And Kofi Kingston… -[Saxton] Wow!
[Cole] Big stomp to Anderson.
And New Day fired up here tonight.
Here's the cover.
And a two-count before Anderson slips the shoulder out.
[Grves] Unbelievable vertical leap by Kofi Kingston.
[Saxton] Yeah, 42-inch vertical leap.
[Cole] And here's Xavier Woods. Mm!
Great double-team by The New Day.
Anderson goes down face-first.
[Saxton] Xavier and Kofi looking good.
[Cole] Hooks the leg now.
Two-count, kick-out.
[Saxton] Gallows and Anderson have referred to The New Day as a joke,
as a team they couldn't take seriously,
but when I talked to Kofi and Xavier recently,
they followed the careers of Gallows and Anderson all the way back to Japan.
A lot of respect for these two.
[Cole] As the big ol' Luke Gallows…
Xavier Woods, who actually is the only doctor in the ring.
Carries a PhD,
despite the fact Anderson and Gallows wanna call themselves doctors tonight.
[Graves] If Anderson and Gallows wanna call themselves doctors,
they are doctors, as far as I'm concerned.
Byon Saxton's not from the Land of Oz,
but he's still out here dressed like a Tin Man.
[Cole] And this is the two-person version of what SmackDown Live's JBL
has coined "the Unicorn Stampede" from The New Day.
[Saxton] Yeah, working to a tee.
Cutting off the ring, taking out the big Gallows.
[Cole] Gallows is feeling it.
Jon Stewart playing cheerleader at ringside.
Big size differential between Stewart and Big E, wouldn't you say?
[Saxton] Uh, about 200 lbs.
[Kofi giggles]
[Cole] Oh! Kofi kick
right to Gallows, and here comes Xavier Woods now,
and Gallows driven out of the ring,
and New Day been on their game.
Kofi Kingston gonna fly,
and down goes Gallows.
[Graves] Did Kofi just strike a pose in midair?
[playing "New Day rocks!" tune]
[crowd chanting] New Day rocks! New Day rocks!
-[Cole] Francesca leading the charge. -[Graves] I gotta give it to them.
Thus far, they've done a fantastic job of neutralizing the much bigger Dr. Gallows.
[Cole] And there's Anderson causing a slight distraction,
and that allows Gallows to kick Kingston's head nearly off,
and then driving Kingston to the apron, and now the assault begins
for the very dangerous Luke Gallows.
[Saxton] Gallows and Anderson,
it's one thing to wanna become Tag Team Champions,
but they've made it very clear
they wanna just completely eliminate New Day from the equation.
[Cole] Tag. Here comes Anderson.
Listen, this whole Dr. Anderson and Gallows thing
and what they've done to Big E and ring-post-itis,
that's all to get in the head of New Day.
The New Day have been tag champs for a year now.
Everyone's tried to knock 'em off, have not been successful,
and Anderson…
[Saxton] Remember, it was during that celebration of…
[Cole] Cover by Anderson for the Tag Team gold. Kick-out.
[Saxton] …during that celebration of breaking that record
for the longest-reigning Tag Team Champions
that Gallows and Anderson decided to ruin the celebration
and make a statement at their expense.
[Cole] Only one other team has ever held Tag Team titles longer than New Day.
That would be Demolition.
They held the World tag team titles for 478 days.
Here's Gallows.
[Graves] Gallows and Anderson are just trying to beat New Day at their own game.
Despite all the unicorns and rainbows…
Huh? You're garbage!
[Graves] When a doctor speaks, you listen.
[Cole] Just stop it.
[Graves] Despite the unicorns, despite the rainbows and all the jokes,
New Day are a legitimate…
[Cole] Went for the splash, and…
[Graves] …a legitimate tag team. They are as talented as the day is long.
They deserve to be respected.
Anderson and Gallows are just trying to beat them at their own game.
[Cole] Xavier Woods grabbing the tag rope, and he wants in this matchup.
Kofi Kingston trying to get there, and he does,
and Anderson in as well.
So Woods and Anderson the legal men,
and Xavier Woods,
look at him go.
Xavier a great athlete, as you see there,
and there's a big spinning punch.
[Graves] Xavier is deceptively powerful. He's so dense.
He's like a little brick house.
[Cole] Now Xavier, dropkick right into the spine.
Is it enough to put Anderson away?
And a kick-out.
[Saxton] You see the intensity by all those maneuvers by Xavier.
New Day knows their title reign is flirting with disaster.
When you're dealing with Gallows and Anderson,
you cannot leave any room for error.
[Cole] You know, a lot has been made of Xavier Woods's charisma,
but, as Corey mentioned,
he's really a spark plug in the ring,
and Anderson, kick to the midsection.
Whipped into the corner.
Woods lands on his feet and catches him with an enzuigiri.
And now Xavier Woods with the
Iron Sheik-like boots…
[Saxton] Xavier's got a wild look in those eyes.
I can only imagine what he's thinking here.
[Cole] Top rope for Woods.
Anderson three quarters away across the ring,
and Woods launches himself with a flying elbow.
Is it enough to retain the Tag Team gold?
Oh, and Anderson kicked out.
Great move by Woods.
[Saxton] What you call upping the ante.
[Cole] Shades of "Macho Man" there.
[Graves] Three quarters of the way across the ring
after walking out onto the ropes. Look at this, the tightrope.
Unbelievable athleticism… by Woods.
Bang! Driving the elbow right into the heart of Dr. Anderson.
[Cole] Woods has been so impressive tonight.
We talked to him. He said he felt he had so much to prove
defending the titles tonight with Kofi without Big E around.
Kick to the face. Tag.
Kofi's legal.
Tag was made. Let's go.
Let's go, Xavier.
[Cole] And here comes the double-team by The New Day!
[Saxton] Ooh, boy!
[Cole] That should be it.
And Gallows gonna make sure it's not.
Get out. You two guys, go.
[Saxton] It is breaking down between all four of these men.
Woods driven out of the ring.
Kofi Kingston drives Gallows out as well.
Anderson stalking Kingston, and he got him.
[Graves] Got all of it, right on the jaw.
[Cole] Now he's gonna bring in Gallows,
and the Tag Team title reign
may be close to over
for The New Day.
Looking for the Magic Killer!
[Saxton] Whoa, whoa…
[Cole] Oh, wait a minute.
-What are you doing in here? -[Saxton] Get out of there, Jon.
[Cole] I'm not sure how wise this is.
I understand he was trying to protect his buddies, but…
[Saxton] His buddies no more, apparently.
[Cole] Now Xavier back into the fight. Stewart wisely getting out of the ring.
Spinebuster by Anderson,
made famous by another Anderson.
-[referee] Get out of here! -One second. One…
[referee] No. No, get out.
Stewart.
-[laughter] -No!
You wanna get in with us?
[referee] No, Stewart, no!
-[Anderson] You want in here? -Huh?
You can't do this. No!
[Graves] If you're gonna get beat up, make sure you tuck in your shirt.
-[referee] No! No! -[Cole] My God.
[Saxton] Well, Jon, you're about to get beat up, I believe.
-[Gallows] Hey! -[Cole] About to get worse than beat up.
[Saxton] Oh no. Oh…
[Cole] I think there may be another sample
for the Dr. Anderson and Gallows search for a cure for ring-post-itis.
[crowd chanting] Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!
[Saxton] Jon may never walk the same again.
[Graves] Maybe he'll stop showing up in matches he's not invited to.[Cole]
[Cole] He should have kept his promise, but nonetheless, bad news for Jon Stewart.
-♪ It's a New Day, yes, it is… ♪ -[cheering]
-Wait a minute! -[Saxton] Haha!
-[Cole] He's back. -[Saxton] The real Big E.
-[Cole] Big E's back! -[bell rings]
-[Saxton] Down goes Anderson. -[Cole] Bulldozing Anderson.
Belly-to-belly to Gallows.
Big E returns with a vengeance.
[Saxton] Apparently, ring-post-itis has been overcome.
[Cole] And Gallows and Anderson are gonna need real doctors.
Medical doctors.
[cheering]
Welcome back, Big E!
[Graves] Everybody's excited to see Big E back,
but how close were Dr. Anderson and Dr. Gallows
to becoming the new Tag Team Champions?
[Big E speaking indistinctly]
[Saxton] How close were they to taking out Jon Stewart?
[crowd chanting] New Day rocks! New Day rocks! New Day rocks!
Grab these.
[trombone playing fanfare]
[Saxton] Ugh!
[Cole] That's what Big E thinks of that. And, guys, the, uh,
one-year-long title reign continues
for The New Day,
as Jon Stewart joins in the celebration here at SummerSlam.
[Graves] Can we not act like that maniac, Big E, didn't just drink formaldehyde?
[Saxton] I tried to ignore it.
Come on, Corey, enjoy the celebration. Swivel those hips.
[Cole] 364 days and counting.
[plays jaunty tune]
-What do they say? New Day… -[Saxton] New Day rocks! Yeah!
Uh…
Wait a minute.
Whoa-ho! All right.
[Graves] Only guy in the building with less rhythm than you.
[Cole] Well, New Day may rock. Jon Stewart,
not so much.
[Saxton] He got an A for effort.
[music drowns out speech]
John, coming up,
the WWE Championship match
between the champion, Dean Ambrose, and Dolph Ziggler.
[Layfield] The most prestigious prize in all of sports entertainment,
only on SmackDown Live.
[whooshing]
♪ We want it all ♪
♪ We fighting in the big, bad city ♪
♪ We're not giving up ♪
♪ We want it all… ♪
[whooshing]
[dramatic music playing]
[Ambrose] I got here by busting my butt day after day, year after year.
I scratched and clawed.
The number one undisputed man in this industry.
Ain't nobody taking it away from me.
-[music fades] -Hi. I'm Dean Ambrose.
[music resumes]
[Layfield] Ambrose has been fighting against the system,
fighting against the world.
He's been fighting against The Shield and everybody else.
[Ambrose] Forget what you think you know about this industry,
'cause Dean Ambrose is about to blow the doors off everything.
[Cole] He's cashing in!
Ambrose is champion!
[Ambrose] And everybody wants what I got.
[Bryan] SmackDown Live's very first pick.
[Ambrose] So my only question is,
who's first?
[Ranallo] Six-pack challenge
to determine the number one contender for the WWE World Championship.
[Layfield] Opportunity of a lifetime for somebody.
[Ranallo] Oh, Styles!
Super kick by Ziggler!
Dolph Ziggler has won!
[Otunga] Whoa!
[Layfield] Dolph Ziggler showed that there is no glass ceiling on SmackDown.
He holds the future in his own hands.
[music fades]
[brooding music playing]
[Ambrose] Dolph Ziggler.
"The Show Off." "Mr. Booty Shaker."
Let me tell you where you are and who you are.
Right now, who you are is the guy who's facing me
at SummerSlam for the WWE Championship, and you're gonna lose.
'Cause you're all show,
and I'm all go, brother.
[Ziggler] Ambrose, do you wanna know who I am?
[dramatic music playing]
A kid from Cleveland who went to his first-ever WWE live event and said,
"One day, that's gonna be me." Wanna know who I am?
I'm the guy who, for the last seven years, has been disrespected,
undervalued, overlooked.
Wanna know who I am? Told one day that I'm not good enough
and told the next day that I'm too good.
You wanna know who I am?
-[music distorts, slows] -There he is.
Take a look at how big this chip on your shoulder has gotten.
You should be worrying about winning. You're too worried about
where you think you should be and who you think you are.
-Every night… -Every single day…
-Every night… -I steal the show.
-And I scratch, and I claw…
-What has it got me? -One person backstage…
-The office… -It sounds like I say it a lot.
Because I do it.
You'll steal the show, like you always do,
the crowd'll go nuts, we'll have a great match,
and we'll really tear the house down. Yeah, Dolph.
You gon' steal the show.
And you gon' lose.
[stirring music playing]
You think you're in my head? You think you know me?
You want me to admit I use all the critics
and the naysayers as fuel to make myself better?
You're right.
You're gonna have to push through every mental and physical limit
you've ever pushed through, before, and still, Dean,
it's not gonna be enough for you to put me away.
And as you're reaching down deep,
and you're grinding your teeth,
and you're looking for one last move…
You wanna know who the hell I am?
I'm the man that's gonna walk into SummerSlam,
burn Brooklyn to the ground, beat your ass,
and become champion, because I am that damn good.
[music fades]
[Ranallo] Daniel Bryan getting ready for the festivities,
as it's almost time for the WWE World Championship.
♪ I'm here to show the world ♪
♪ Come on ♪
♪ Bring it on ♪
[music drowns out speech]
♪ Do what I say Better watch what I do ♪
♪ Better heed the warning I'm here to give you… ♪
[Ranallo] Well, the WWE World Championship
has changed hands eight times at SummerSlam,
and, John, Dolph Ziggler hopes it's number nine tonight,
as he has his sights set on becoming a three-time WWE World Champion.
[Layfield] Dolph Ziggler has bitched about a glass ceiling,
about people holding him back.
Well, right now, Dolph Ziggler has the opportunity.
It is 100% in his hands
what happens and if he walks out as the WWE World Champion.
[Otunga] Dolph has a lot of pressure on him right now.
There's pressure that comes along with a championship match,
but lately Ziggler's been putting even more pressure on himself.
He wants to prove something to himself.
♪ Bring it on ♪
♪ Do what I say Better watch what I do… ♪
[music fades]
-[Dean Ambrose's theme music playing] -[cheering]
[Ranallo] And a raucous reception for "The Kingpin,"
WWE World Champion,
the man who possesses
the most prestigious prize in sports entertainment,
Dean Ambrose.
[Layfield] And the only place you can see that WWE Championship,
the same championship
that Bruno Sammartino took off Buddy Rogers in 48 seconds
right across the river in the Garden,
is on SmackDown Live.
[music drowns out speech]
[Otunga] Ziggler looks focused. You gotta question what's going through his mind.
Ziggler said it before. This could be his last chance.
[Ranallo] Here you see, tensions have been rising the past few weeks.
[bell rings]
The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the WWE World Championship.
-[cheering] -[both arguing indistinctly]
[Ziggler] Oh yeah?!
[Hamilton] Introducing the challenger,
residing in Hollywood, Florida,
weighing in at 218 lbs,
Dolph Ziggler!
[cheering]
And his opponent,
from Cincinnati, Ohio,
weighing in at 225 lbs,
he is the WWE World Champion,
Dean Ambrose!
[cheering]
[inaudible]
[Ranallo] Might take a line of security like the McGregor-Diaz sequel last night
to keep these two apart before the match.
[Layfield] The difference is that these guys are actually adult size.
[Ranallo] The WWE World Championship at stake.
[fans chanting] Let's go, Ziggler!
[Ranallo] The champion, Dean Ambrose, as the bell sounds,
doesn't think Dolph Ziggler is good enough.
He's been playing mind games, and he's brought out
a hyper-aggressive side of Ziggler.
[Otunga] He has. I like this new version of Ziggler though.
He's got a chip on his shoulder.
I think this is the best Dolph Ziggler we've seen in a long time.
[Ranallo] No Superstar has appeared in more WWE pay-per-view matches
in the last five years than Ziggler,
this his 50th pay-per-view match, the biggest of his career.
[Otunga] You're right though. Ambrose was playing mind games.
Got Ziggler to start doubting himself.
The only problem is it seems like he fired him up.
[Ranallo] Dolph Ziggler just adding gasoline to the fire.
Roll-up by Ziggler.
[Layfield] And your point, David…
Dean actually believes he is in Dolph Ziggler's head.
[Ranallo] Roll-up again here by Ziggler, looking to put away the champion quickly.
[Otunga] I think he is in Ziggler's head. I think it worked.
[Layfield] Right now, Dolph is putting on a wrestling clinic.
[Otunga] I don't think it worked the way he wanted it to.
Went to Kent State. Became the winningest wrestler in their history.
[Ranallo] He's gonna be inducted in that school's hall of fame in September.
With that dropkick on Ambrose, would like to attend as WWE World Champion.
[Layfield] He's a multi-time World Champion.
Had one of the greatest Money in the Bank cash-ins we've ever seen
over at the Meadowlands the day after WrestleMania.
[Ranallo] So did Dean Ambrose.
That's how he became champion,
and Ziggler delivers a swinging neckbreaker
outside the ring.
[Layfield] Can't win it out there, Dolph.
Dolph's been in enough championship matches.
He knows that.
[Ranallo] It was at the last Money in the Bank that Dean Ambrose
won the contract, cashed it in later that night
at the expense of his former Shield brethren Seth Rollins.
Going for the Deed… Dirty Deeds.
[Layfield] Wow.
[Ranallo] Tosses Ziggler to the floor.
[cheering]
And I think emotion could play a crucial role in this matchup.
[Otunga] Ziggler going for that DDT,
but Ambrose throwing him clean out of the ring.
[Ranallo] And, John, you've been a champion.
You have to… you have to be careful with your emotion
in a matchup of this magnitude.
[Layfield] When you have somebody like Ziggler, as fired up as Dolph is
to come in here and get this opportunity again for a WWE Championship,
Dean Ambrose knows you gotta weather the storm.
A guy like Dolph is gonna come out smoking.
He's gonna throw everything at you. You wanna weather that storm.
[Ranallo] And let's not take anything away from Dean Ambrose,
who, David, he's had to scratch and claw all his life
to get what's his,
and now he is at the top of the food chain
as WWE World champ.
[Otunga] He's not the most sophisticated champ, but…
[Layfield] Ha! Boy, that isn't newsworthy.
[Otunga] But he earned it, and re represents that title well.
But, conversely, he says that Dolph Ziggler hasn't earned anything,
and frankly that's why he hasn't gotten his big shot.
[Ranallo] And Ambrose a fighting champion,
as he has Ziggler on the top turnbuckle.
Oh no.
Looking for an avalanche…
Oh!
Butterfly suplex from the top.
And Ambrose with a two-count.
[Layfield] And to your point, David, Dean Ambrose is,
as what you just saw, is as talented as you can be.
It's why he is the WWE World Champion.
He just looks like he robbed a homeless mannequin.
[Otunga chuckles]
[Otunga] The thing about Ambrose is people say he's crazy, but…
[Layfield] He is.
[Ranallo] Cover here by Ambrose.
[Otunga] That may be, but he's also crazy confident
in his own skills, and that is a dangerous thing.
[Layfield] It's hard to game plan a guy like Ambrose,
because he doesn't know what he's gonna do.
[Ranallo] Oh! He just put the sole of his boot
into the midsection of Dolph Ziggler.
[Otunga] JBL, did you say "homeless mannequin"?
[Layfield] Yes.
[Otunga] Mannequins don't have homes.
[Layfield] That is how bad Dean Ambrose is,
that he would rob a homeless mannequin.
[Ranallo] Single-leg crab here by Ambrose,
but very confident as well, doing a little flexing here
and putting pressure on the lower lumbar region of Dolph Ziggler.
[Otunga] You don't wanna be overconfident. Dolph is an amateur wrestling champion.
This isn't… doesn't exactly fit Ambrose's game plan here.
[Ranallo] Reversal by Ziggler.
Shoulders down, and kick-out by Ambrose.
Oh!
There have been some legendary WWE World Championship matches
at SummerSlam.
The brother battle between Bret and Owen Hart in 1994.
John Cena - Daniel Bryan in 2013.
-[Layfield] See what I mean? -[Otunga] Oh, no, he's definitely crazy.
[Layfield] A lunatic.
[Otunga] I don't know if that was wise, shaking the referee's hand.
[inaudible]
[Ranallo] And, of course, who can forget The Rock and Brock Lesnar, 2002?
And Brock Lesnar, "The Beast Incarnate," to battle "The Viper" Randy Orton
later tonight here at SummerSlam.
[Otunga] Again, that was crazy.
But Ambrose showed he can take a beating.
[Ranallo] Ziggler up on his feet.
-Ambrose… -[Otunga] Oh!
[Ranallo] And he caught him with the dropkick in midair.
Perfectly timed by Ziggler.
[whooshing]
[Otunga] Let's look at this. Ambrose comes off,
and look at this beautiful dropkick.
Boom! Right on the button.
[Ranallo] You just know if Ziggler becomes a three-time WWE World Champion,
he's gonna party like his hometown Cleveland Indians' Mike Napoli.
Misses with the super kick.
Wow!
[Otunga] This could be it.
[Ranallo] Ambrose with the two-count.
Ziggler able to lift that left shoulder just in the nick of time.
[whooshing]
[Layfield] This is planted.
[whooshing]
You know who you're in here with, Dolph. You know who you're in here with.
[Otunga] Ambrose continuing with the mind games, just taunting him.
[Layfield] He has absolute disdain for Dolph.
[Ranallo] Trash talking Dolph Ziggler.
Setting him up here…
-Oh, mocking Dolph Ziggler! -[Layfield] You gotta love this.
[booing]
[Ambrose] Nah.
[crowd laughing]
[Ranallo] Ambrose looking for the Dirty Deeds.
Instead, Ziggler unloads a right hand
and sends Ambrose to the outside.
[Otunga] Oh, there's that DDT.
[Ranallo] Ziggler just planted Ambrose with a DDT. Do we have a new champion?
No.
[Layfield] One of the problems with Dean Ambrose,
he has such disdain for Dolph that there's a lack of respect there.
I mean, this is a multi-time World Champion.
He's one of the best athletes we've had in the WWE.
[Otunga] You're right. To your point, he can't afford to…
Wow, what an impact.
He can't afford to take Ziggler lightly here.
[Ranallo] Neither can afford to take the other lightly.
They are contesting the WWE World Championship
here on the biggest stage of summer, SummerSlam,
and Ambrose now firing off those right hands.
[Layfield] Oh, went for that Famouser.
[Ranallo] Ziggler looking for the Famouser. Instead,
he's rolled up for a two-count.
Oh!
Shoulder-first into that unforgiving steel post.
Out of the corner. Come on.
Ziggler looking to exploit this opportunity.
There's a Famouser. Plants him face-first.
Ziggler looking to become a three-time champion.
-But couldn't get the three-count. -[whooshing]
[Otunga] Look at this. Ziggler sidesteps. Boom!
Golly.
[Layfield] Dolph has won so many matches on his quickness and athleticism.
That is it on display right there.
[Ranallo] We saw how emotional Dolph Ziggler got
this past week on SmackDown Live,
addressing Dolph Ziggler before he decked him with a super kick.
He said earlier tonight he's just one super kick away
from becoming a three-time WWE World Champion.
[Otunga] Oh!
[Ranallo] Malfunction at the junction.
You all right? Dean, you okay?
[Layfield] Both thinking the exact same thing here.
Both going for that crossbody at the same time.
They say great minds think alike, but I'm not sure Dean Ambrose even thinks.
He's up. He's up.
[Layfield] But it has been successful for Dean Ambrose,
whatever he does.
[Ranallo] Survived a six-pack challenge match
against the likes of Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin, John Cena,
AJ Styles, and Bray Wyatt to earn this opportunity,
and now it's Ambrose lighting him up with punches and chops.
Picking up momentum is the WWE World Champion.
Reversal on the Irish whip,
and he levels Ziggler with that clothesline.
[Otunga] Got him exactly where he wants him.
Get up. Get up.
Yeah, get up. Get up.
[Otunga] I think Ambrose is talking to himself.
[Layfield] The problem is, I think he answers.
[Ranallo] Running bulldog by the champion.
"The Kingpin" going all the way to the top turnbuckle.
Ziggler struggling to get back up to a vertical base.
He doesn't really know where he is.
-And he gets clocked with that elbow. -[Otunga] Here we go.
[Layfield] Could be it right--
Almost.
[Ranallo] Just a two-count.
[inaudible]
Ambrose frustrated with the referee's cadence of the count.
Meanwhile, Ziggler…
Dolph… David, what does Dolph Ziggler have to do
to try to get himself back into this matchup?
[Otunga] Dolph needs to shake out the cobwebs,
needs to go back to what he's good at.
[Layfield] Little mind games going on by Dean Ambrose.
[Otunga scoffs]
He has absolute contempt for Dolph Ziggler.
[Ranallo] Reversal by Ziggler.
Now has him up, looking for that sleeper hold,
trying to scissor the body.
[Layfield] Ed Lewis won a lot of championships with that sleeper hold.
[Ranallo] And they both got dumped outside of the ring,
and again, you cannot become WWE World Champion…
Dolph Ziggler can't by count-out. They have a count of ten.
Only by pinfall or submission.
Both very cognizant of that fact,
but what a struggle it has been here
between Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose.
The WWE World Championship at stake.
[Otunga] Ooh!
[Ranallo] Oh, super kick on the outside!
[Layfield] Referee's at a count of six.
[Otunga] Ziggler needs to break the count or get Ambrose back in.
[Layfield] If Ziggler gets in by himself,
he wins the match, but not the championship.
He's gotta get Dean in there.
[Ranallo] And he does just that and immediately goes for the cover.
-[Layfield] Not even close. -[Ranallo] Ambrose powers out.
[Otunga] Took too much time to get him back in.
Look at this.
[Ranallo] Ooh!
[Layfield] It's what Dolph said. All he needed to win a championship.
He just needed to do it right in the middle of the ring.
[Ranallo] Dolph… Dean Ambrose successfully retained the championship
at Battleground against his former Shield brethren,
Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
Rollins vying to become the first Universal Champion tonight
against Finn Bálor.
The super kick blocked by Ambrose.
[Otunga] Oh!
[Ranallo] Zig Zag! Zig Zag! Zig Zag!
-[Otunga] Wha…? -[Ranallo] It wasn't enough.
[Otunga] Now, that was as close as close gets.
[whooshing]
[Layfield] Dean going for the Dirty Deeds. Dolph counters. Zig Zag.
But it's not enough to put the lunatic away and Dean…
and Dolph to become the three-time World Champion.
[Ranallo] And, really, was the champion, Dean Ambrose,
goading Dolph Ziggler into proving himself yet again?
Ziggler fully aware that this may be his last opportunity
to become WWE World Champion.
[Layfield] You never know, as you say, Mauro,
when that last opportunity's gonna come.
[Otunga] Look at this vicious side of Ziggler too.
-I've never seen-- -[Layfield] He's got him grapevined.
And that sleeper on him.
There's your hold, Mauro.
[referee] Do you tap? Do you tap, Dean?
[Ranallo] Is it going to be enough to force Ambrose to tap
and to make Ziggler a three-time World Champion?
[Layfield] Ambrose is scrambling.
Ambrose knows the severity of what he's in.
[Ranallo] Nice escape by Ambrose.
Oh!
Lunatic Lariat by Ambrose!
And Ziggler could be out.
Will it be another successful title defense
here at SummerSlam for "The Kingpin" Dean Ambrose?
Man, he's… wasting a lot of time, guys.
[Otunga] I think he's got something else he's planning.
[Ranallo] Do you agree with this strategy, John?
[Layfield] No, but that's Dean Ambrose.
He dances to a different drummer than I've ever seen anybody…
[Otunga] But that makes him successful.
[Layfield] It has been successful for him. You're right.
You can't argue with that success.
[Ranallo] Just had his eggs scrambled on the top turnbuckle,
courtesy of Dolph Ziggler.
[Otunga] That's why Ambrose is hard to prepare for, because he's unorthodox.
Never know what the guy's gonna do.
[Layfield] Exactly right. Enjoy Ambrose while you can,
because with that style, he won't be around long.
[Ranallo] I don't know if Ambrose is going to enjoy this.
Dolph Ziggler
looking for the superplex.
Being defended thus far by Ambrose.
[Layfield] Ambrose sat down. Exactly what he needs to do to counter it.
Now it's Dolph in trouble.
[Ranallo] And Dolph Ziggler crashes back to the canvas in a heap.
Oh!
[Layfield] Ambrose holding on with both arms. I don't blame him.
The WWE Championship is at stake.
[Ranallo] Headbutt from Ziggler. Another one, softening up the champion.
Looking for that facebuster. Blocked.
Dirty Deeds by Dean Ambrose!
And it's game, set, match.
Dean Ambrose retains the WWE World Championship
at SummerSlam.
[Hamilton] …and still the WWE World Champion,
Dean Ambrose!
[Layfield] Dean Ambrose has a face that would set off a fire alarm,
but he is an incredibly talented champion.
[Ranallo] Not the most orthodox champion in WWE history,
but he remains "Kingpin" after a hard-fought battle
against Dolph Ziggler,
who falls short in an attempt to become a three-time champion tonight.
[Layfield] Man, Ambrose is walking out the WWE World Champion.
And by the way, the only place you can see that prestigious title,
the greatest title in all of sports entertainment,
is on SmackDown Live on Tuesday nights.
[inaudible]
So Dean Ambrose maintains his hold on the gold,
and what a night it has been here in Brooklyn,
SummerSlam, the 29th annual, John.
It's been incredible, as you say.
He's a lunatic, but he is a successful lunatic.
Yes, he is, and he's still our champion.
And what a night it's been,
what a week it's been for WWE in the Big Apple.
[whooshing]
[upbeat music playing]
"The Biggest Party of the Summer" is SummerSlam.
-SummerSlam. -SummerSlam.
-WWE SummerSlam.
Please welcome John Cena.
They call her "The Boss."
[man] Randy Orton.
[both] Holy Foley!
-The Miz is here. -Thank you very much.
Two-time WWE World Heavyweight champ Seth Rollins.
Yankee Stadium, baby.
[inaudible]
[Enzo] Take a walk over to the Yankees dugout.
How you doin'?
I thought I was big, but these guys got me beat.
[Carmella] As "The Princess of Staten Island,"
I thought I'd seen everything there was to see. I've never seen it look this way.
We're gonna be there, right in the heart of Brooklyn.
[commentator 1] Welcome, everybody, to NXT Takeover: Brooklyn.
Sold out. 15,671 on hand at the Barclays Center.
[crowd chanting] Thank you, Bayley!
[commentator 1] Tonight, we write a new chapter.
[Graves] Bobby Roode. This is "Glorious."
[commentator 1] It is all about the NXT Championship.
[commentator 2] Shinsuke has done it!
-[commentator 1] Nakamura is champion! -[cheering]
Everything the WWE can do to help the local communities,
this is what SummerSlam is all about.
We are at the children's hospital of Montefiore in The Bronx.
This experience makes the experience he's going through right now
so much more positive.
Every time, to see the look on their face, it makes everything worthwhile.
We're having a good time interacting with the kids.
Probably the biggest impact that it'll have on our athletes.
Whether it's Boys & Girls Clubs of America where we're doing our Be A STAR rally,
our literacy initiative,
visiting hospitals, this what we do,
and it is the best part of all of our jobs.
[Rollins] From Brooklyn, Manhattan
to the Bronx to wherever, we're all over the place.
[The Miz] As busy as the WWE Superstars are,
our WWE fans are going to every single event.
It's pretty awesome.
I've been here since 3:00 a.m.
I waited 20 hours to see The Dudley Boyz.
Knowing how far some come
to meet me and the other Superstars, that makes me feel like a million bucks.
From Scotland…
-From London, England. -Netherlands.
-[Banks] From Germany. -From India.
They come all that way just to be here at SummerSlam.
When we come into a town, we take that town over.
[all] SummerSlam!
[whooshing]
♪ No comparing to me ♪
♪ And no competition ♪
♪ I'm on fire, boy… ♪
[Ranallo] We are set for tag team action in the Women's division.
Six-woman tag.
A new look for Naomi.
-♪ Bring it to the floor… ♪ -[energetic dance music playing]
-[Otunga] All right, now. -[Ranallo] Feel the glow.
[Otunga] Naomi getting it.
♪ You ain't never seen no one like me… ♪
[bell rings]
[Hamilton] The following contest is a six-woman tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Making her way to the ring, from Orlando, Florida,
Naomi!
[Ranallo] Naomi a former background dancer for Flo Rida,
who, of course, has provided us
with one of the official SummerSlam themes.
What's the theme of this outfit here, John?
[Layfield] Me and Ron used to have an outfit like that.
[Layfield chuckling]
We both threw out our backs trying to dance though.
[chuckling] That's phenomenal.
[music fades]
[Ranallo] Naomi is lit in the BK!
♪ F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S… ♪
[Hamilton] And her tag team partners,
first, from Staten Island,
Carmella!
♪ …L-O-U-S, yes ♪
♪ Diamonds on my neck ♪
♪ Yes, I'm… ♪
[Ranallo] All of these ladies showing off their dance moves.
"The Princess of Staten Island" Carmella,
who in her in-ring SmackDown Live debut
royally flushed "The Queen of Harts" Natalya,
who she'll be facing again here tonight.
Their partner, "The Irish Lass Kicker."
The Wonder Woman of WWE,
Becky Lynch.
[Becky Lynch's theme music playing]
[Hamilton] And from Dublin, Ireland,
Becky Lynch!
[Layfield] What an Evolution of the Women's division
from the 1994 SummerSlam with Alundra Blayze and Bull Nakano.
[Ranallo] And now it's the Women's Evolution in WWE.
And Becky Lynch on social media
doing a little math,
and thank goodness Byron Saxton's not a part of this team
to screw that math up.
[Saxton chuckling]
♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh… ♪
[music fades]
[Natalya's theme music playing]
[Hamilton] And their opponents, first, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
Natalya!
[Ranallo] The first third-generation female competitor in WWE.
The daughter of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart.
The granddaughter of the late, great Stu Hart,
and here comes, well…
[Saxton] Alexa Bliss.
[Hamilton] And her tag team partners,
from Columbus, Ohio,
Alexa Bliss!
[Ranallo] Bliss celebrated her birthday
with a victory in her in-ring SmackDown Live debut.
[Eva Marie's theme music playing]
[man] From Concord, California
comes the most stylish,
elegant,
bewitching,
eternally beguiling,
continuously charismatic,
and fantastically fascinating woman to appear in this or any arena.
Allow yourself to be seduced,
enchanted,
dazzled,
and entranced by "All Red Everything" herself…
Eva Marie is currently suffering from exhaustion,
anxiety, and stress,
brought on by hostile WWE fans,
and as such will be recuperating on a vacation in the British Isles.
[Otunga] Really, John? She's on vacation?
[Layfield] I wish her the best. These fans can be very hostile.
[Hamilton] And joining Natalya and Alexa Bliss will be…
-♪ You can look but you can't touch… ♪ -[crowd roars]
♪ You keep dreaming on… ♪
-[Ranallo] Oh my God. -[Otunga] She's back.
[Hamilton] From Scottsdale, Arizona,
Nikki Bella!
[Ranallo] You talk about an impressive comeback, John.
In January, she underwent
what was considered career-threatening neck surgery,
but do not count out Nikki Bella.
What a miraculous recovery.
Recently cleared and she is ready to make a statement here at SummerSlam.
[Layfield] This former Divas Champion, what a great party…
partner for Natalya and Alexa Bliss.
[Otunga] Yeah, I'm glad to see Nikki back,
but I'm questioning her choice of partners right about now.
[Layfield] I'm not. I think it's awesome.
[Otunga] It's awesome to see her back, just…
[Ranallo] Shocking return of Nikki Bella.
♪ 'Cause you can look But you can't touch… ♪
[Otunga] Interesting thing, she goes way back with Natalya.
They started training together. Rode together for years.
[bell rings]
[Ranallo] So the Women's division on SmackDown Live
fully on display here at SummerSlam.
Becky Lynch against Alexa Bliss to get us started.
Quick roll-up by Bliss.
[Lynch] I got ya.
[Ranallo] Lynch looks for the backslide.
Gets a two-count.
-[Otunga] Ooh. -Nice try, Becky.
[Otunga] This is another situation where you must work with your partners to win,
but at the same time, you have to be a little self-interested. You wanna shine.
[Ranallo] An aggressive start by Alexa Bliss,
who's been involved in sports since the age of five.
Wow, what a beautiful Matrix escape there by Becky Lynch.
[Layfield] That's why Becky was the number one Women's draft pick
on SmackDown Live.
[Ranallo] Turned the leapfrog into a flapjack.
Immediately goes for that front facelock.
[Otunga[ Caught her out of midair.
-Here we go. -[Ranallo] Tag made. In comes Naomi.
-And Bliss…
[Layfield] Alexa knew she was in the wrong part of town.
[Ranallo] She makes the tag
and in comes "The Queen of Harts," Natalya.
Oh, there's the athleticism of Naomi, using the rope to an advantage.
Jackknife cover for a two.
[Otunga] And that's the thing. Not only is Naomi a good dancer,
but he's arguably one of the best athletes on the roster, male or female.
-Ooh! Wha…? -[Ranallo] Uh…
[Layfield] I'm not sure this is fair.
That outfit is completely distracting.
[Otunga] It's definitely not fair there, John.
[Ranallo] Oh! Natalya sidesteps that attack.
[Layfield] Ow.
[Ranallo] Naomi decks Natalya. Oh!
Does the splits for a two-count.
[Lynch] Yes, girl!
[Ranallo] And here comes Carmella.
The tag was made.
A little teamwork between Naomi and "The Princess of Staten Island."
[Layfield] Carmella's debut here at SummerSlam.
One! Two! Three!
[Carmella] Woo!
[Otunga] Oh!
[Ranallo] Yeah, Carmella moonwalking out of harm's way.
[Natalya] Really?
[Layfield] I don't think you learn that in The Hart Dungeon.
[Carmella] Woo!
[Ranallo] Wow, flying head scissors there by Carmella.
[Otunga] Carmella's looking good.
[Ranallo] And Natalya able to slip out of harm's way.
No! No! No!
[Ranallo] Ooh!
She gets steamrolled by Carmella.
Carmella all fired up here in the shadows of her hometown.
[referee] Two!
Three!
[Carmella] Woo!
[Layfield] What a great opportunity for Carmella and Alexa.
Their first SummerSlams.
-[referee] Let's go. Back in your corner. -[Otunga] Uh-oh.
That's the difference, Natalya's power.
[Ranallo] Yeah, powerslam.
[Layfield] Powerslam looked familiar, like her uncle Davey Boy.
[Ranallo] I was gonna say, shades of her uncle "The British Bulldog," as…
-You want Nikki? -[cheering]
[Ranallo] Asking the crowd if they want Nikki,
and in comes Nikki Bella to a thunderous reaction.
Snap suplex.
Goes for the lateral press.
Carmella able to power out.
[Layfield] And the Bellas were the ones responsible for this Divas Revolution.
[referee] Come on, Carmella. What do you say?
[Ranallo] Of course, while the SmackDown Live Women's division
on full display here at SummerSlam,
how about the women wrestlers in the Olympics?
Erica Wiebe of Canada, Helen Maroulis of the States
both winning Olympic gold.
For Maroulis, the first American female to win a gold medal--
-[Otunga] Oh! -[Ranallo] That's--
[Otunga] That's a spinebuster.
[Ranallo] Spinebuster by Nikki Bella.
Side press.
Only a two-count.
Oh, wow.
[cheering, applause]
[Otunga] You gotta appreciate that.
[Layfield] Nikki's showing us how fit she is.
[Otunga] It's not just showing you how fit she is.
She worked hard to come back, and she earned it.
[Ranallo] But the name of the game
is to pin your opponent's shoulders one-two-three,
and now she does have Carmella in hostile territory.
And into the full mount ground and pound by Carmella.
-[Naomi] Come on! Come on! -[Lynch] Come on, buddy, reach!
[Ranallo] Desperate to make that tag is Carmella.
[Otunga] Oh!
[Ranallo] There's that gymnastics background on display.
Alexa Bliss with a back press and a two.
Are you kidding me?!
[Otunga] Throwing somewhat of a tantrum.
[Bliss] Huh? It's because of you.
[referee] Bliss, off the hair.
[Ranallo] She is a spitfire, and the tag is made again.
In comes Natalya.
So the triumvirate of Alexa Bliss, Natalya, and Nikki Bella
in control here in this six-woman tag team match.
Side press. Carmella able to kick out.
[Otunga] They're working very well together. If you see,
they are focusing on Carmella, because she's the young one over there.
[Lynch] Come on!
[Layfield] Natalya doing a little baiting on her opponents.
[Lynch] You gotta watch her. You better watch it!
[Ranallo] And Natalya does what's necessary
and brings Carmella back into the corner.
Snapmare out of the corner. Cover.
[Otunga] Natalya always keeps a hand on her too.
[Ranallo] And just like we saw on that tag team match on SummerSlam Kickoff,
the 12-man tag team,
everyone jockeying for position in the Tag Team division
and the Women's division.
[Layfield] Former Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon
used to use this.
Not much place for Carmella to go here.
[Ranallo] Natalya would love to be the alpha female
of the SmackDown Live Women's division.
[Otunga] Becky might have something to say about that.
[Ranallo] Plenty of experience. Natalya graduating from the Dungeon,
competing in Japan and, of course, a stalwart here in WWE,
as Carmella looking to turn the tables and does.
[Lynch] Come on, reach! Come on!
[Layfield] Problem was Natty was the one between her and help.
That's right.
Come on, out of that corner, Natalya. Let's go. One!
[Otunga] This is an absolute mugging.
[Ranallo] Vicious forearms from Natalya in the corner.
Carmella trying desperately to fight back
and delivers a boot to the midsection.
Sneaks through the legs of Natalya, looking for that tag.
Come on! Come on!
Come on! Reach! Come on!
Come on!
-Hey, keep it in the ring. -You watch yourself!
[Otunga] She got it.
[Ranallo] And here comes the straight fire of Becky Lynch.
Leg lariat by "The Irish Lass Kicker."
[Layfield] The Bexploder!
Another one, just for good measure.
[Ranallo] Can she complete the hat-trick?
Nikki Bella.
Misses with the clothesline.
And Becky Lynch has them all set up in the corner.
Springboard side kick.
One for Bliss, one for Bella,
and one for Natalya.
[Layfield] Line 'em up and knock 'em down!
[screeching]
[Ranallo] And Becky Lynch fired up to be a part of SummerSlam.
-And a Bexploder to Natalya. -[Otunga] This could be it.
Alexa, come on. Outside.
[Ranallo] Schoolgirl there by Natalya
for a two-count.
Oh, enzuigiri by Becky Lynch!
And Becky Lynch firing on all cylinders.
[Naomi] Do it, do it, do it!
-[Otunga] What's she setting her up for? -[Ranallo] Natalya in trouble.
In a supine position.
[referee] Come on, back in.
[Layfield] Becky Lynch trying to create a highlight reel.
-[Otunga] Oh! -[Layfield] She did.
[Ranallo] Guillotine leg drop.
Or the Dublin Jam, if you prefer.
It's broken up by Nikki Bella.
Again, Nikki Bella back after undergoing neck surgery in January.
An incredible turn of events here at SummerSlam
as she joins Alexa Bliss and Natalya.
Bliss now in against Becky Lynch.
[Layfield] Becky went for that drop toehold. Alexa blocked it.
[Bliss] Who do you think you are?
[Layfield] There's a tag there.
[referee] Come on, Becky, outside.
[Ranallo] Naomi with the springboard crossbody!
[Naomi] What time is it?
Glow time!
-[Otunga] Oh! -[cheering]
[Ranallo] And those cavalcade of kicks,
and the coup de grâce, that roundhouse to the head.
Split-legged moonsault by Naomi.
Didn't really get all of it.
[Layfield] Alexa Bliss moved out of the way.
[Ranallo] And she just crashed into the knees of Naomi.
[Otunga] Here comes Nikki.
That's right.
[Otunga] For being gone so long, Nikki looks really confident.
[Ranallo] Naomi lands on her feet.
Tag made. In comes Carmella.
Ducks under the clothesline.
Super kick to Nikki Bella.
[Otunga] Welcome back.
[Carmella yelling indistinctly]
[Ranallo] "The Princess of Staten Island" making the most of her SummerSlam debut.
[Otunga] Here we go.
[referee] Hey, come on!
[Ranallo] And it's Nikki Bella's partners in to break up the pinning predicament,
and things breaking down here.
[Layfield] Out goes Naomi.
[Ranallo] Oh, and down goes both Natalya and Alexa Bliss,
courtesy of Carmella.
-Wow, vicious right hand by Nikki Bella! -[Layfield] Good grief!
[Ranallo] She just cleaned Carmella's clock.
[Layfield] This is a formality.
I'm back.
[Ranallo] Oh!
TKO there by Nikki Bella,
and Nikki Bella victorious in her return to WWE at SummerSlam.
[Hamilton] Here are your winners, Natalya, Alexa Bliss, and Nikki Bella!
[Ranallo] What a moment.
Nikki Bella back and leading her team to victory.
[Layfield] In the closing moments, Carmella gets rid of Alexa and Natty.
The problem was, she forgot about Nikki,
and that forearm right there
knocked Carmella out.
This right here was a formality.
Welcome back, Nikki Bella.
[whooshing]
[Ranallo] So Nikki Bella returns to lead her team to victory
as the SmackDown Live Women's division
on display here at SummerSlam in Brooklyn.
[music fades[
[percussive music playing]
[exhales sharply]
[groaning]
[exhales sharply]
[music fades]
♪ I wanna love you ♪
♪ Uh, pretty young… ♪
[Saxton] We wanna send out a special thanks
to Wale for "My PYT,"
one of the official themes of WWE SummerSlam,
available now on iTunes and Spotify.
And speaking of, there is Wale
hanging out with hip-hop recording artist Fabolous.
[Graves] Get into the after party, Byron? I did.
[Saxton comments indistinctly]
[Graves] Absolutely not.
[Cole] Maybe if you weren't wearing a Tin Man suit,
you'd get into the after party.
-[Saxton] They love the suit. -[Graves] They'd stop you at the door.
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen,
we still have two huge championship matches
coming your way from Monday Night Raw.
In just a matter of moments, we're gonna crown
a brand-new WWE Universal Champion.
Also, Rusev defends the United States Championship
against Roman Reigns in a match that has become extremely personal.
I wanna take you back to two weeks ago on Monday Night Raw
when Rusev and Lana were showing their wedding pictures
to the entire world.
Look at this, you pathetic Americans.
[booing]
You're just jealous American pigs.
[Roman Reigns's theme music playing]
I'm a little disappointed. I was expecting so much more out of you, Rusev.
Just like Lana was expecting more
on your wedding night.
[crowd] Ohhhh!
[Cole] And Rusev did not take too kindly to that.
He went right after Roman Reigns,
and as the fight continued,
the bride would inadvertently get caught in the crossfire.
[cheering, laughter]
[Saxton] I heard the wedding cake was amazing,
and, uh, well, Lana got a first-hand look.
[Roman Reigns's theme music playing]
Hey, guys, I'm Maria Menounos from E! News.
I'm honored to be here at SummerSlam.
It's been a great night so far.
Please welcome my guest at this time,
the United States Champion, Rusev,
and his beautiful wife, Lana.
So, Rusev, as we all saw last week on Raw,
Roman Reigns defeated you--
[yelling in Bulgarian]
Aren't you, like, a Hollywood reporter or something?
It's not Menounos reporter's fault.
It is her fault. It's Roman Reigns's fault.
It's all his fault.
[speaking in Bulgarian]
Every time I hear his little name, I just wanna grab his head
and run it straight into the ground.
I can still see his little smirk that he had.
But it's not just him. It's all these stupid American people.
When my wife went into the cake,
ruined her beautiful dress,
he turned it into a joke.
You see, Maria?
Roman humiliated me.
But I will not stand for this,
and neither will my husband, Rusev.
A true husband will destroy any man that tries to dishonor their wife.
But Hollywood types like yourself and all these Americans
know noting like the true, long-lasting love
that Rusev and I share.
I am the greatest United States Champion,
and tonight I will crush Roman Reigns into dust.
And he will be the joke!
[Cole] Strong words from Rusev.
He defends the United States Championship against Roman Reigns in just a little bit,
but, Byron, coming up next,
we are gonna crown the first-ever WWE Universal Champion.
How cool is that? First-ever.
Either Seth Rollins or Finn Bálor will etch their name in history,
forever be remembered as the first man to leave SummerSlam
in Brooklyn as the WWE Universal Champion.
♪ I got a lot on my mind I got a lot on my plate… ♪
[tense music playing]
[Bálor, echoing] Everything I've accomplished,
everything I've worked for
has led to this moment.
[commentator 1] Oh my goodness!
[commentator 2] Finn Bálor has arrived.
[commentator 3] The world-renowned Finn Bálor.
[commentator 1] This man, he gets it done wherever he goes.
I'm bringing something you've never seen before.
[commentator 2] Talk about living up to your reputation.
[Phillips] For 292 days, Finn Bálor was the face of NXT.
[Graves] Entire NXT Universe living vicariously through Finn Bálor right now.
[Bálor] What is next for Finn Bálor?
[Foley] With an eye towards the future,
our next draft choice,
Finn Bálor!
[cheering]
[Lawler] Who would have thought that an NXT star
would go in the top five picks?
But Finn Bálor, this guy is special.
The WWE Universe demands a heavyweight champion on Raw,
and that's exactly what they're gonna get.
[Saxton] How wild is it to imagine,
Finn's first night on Raw,
he wins two matches,
he now finds himself taking on Seth Rollins at SummerSlam
to become the first-ever WWE Universal Champion.
[Bálor] A lot of people do not know who Finn Bálor is.
Finn Bálor is real. He's as real as they come.
[Rollins] You've never faced anyone like me.
[tense music playing]
I don't know if he looked around,
but this is my ring.
Everything you did, I kind of did it first and did it better.
The first NXT Champion, that was Seth Rollins. I did that.
Finn was a first-round pick in the draft.
I mean, he wasn't, like, the first overall pick.
-Number one pick. -That was me. I did that.
I followed Finn's career for a very long time.
Cheap, second-rate knockoff of
me.
Finn Bálor isn't even his real name.
"Finn" means "famous warrior,"
and "Bálor" means "demon king."
[chuckling]
"Demon king." [laughs]
How ridiculous does that sound?
I don't need to surround myself with myths and legends.
I am the myth. I am the legend.
-I am the man. -[dramatic music playing]
At SummerSlam, I am only going to add to my legend
when I become the first-ever WWE Universal Champion.
[music fades]
[Bálor] Do you know Bálor is, Seth?
[unsettling music playing]
These are not just stories, Seth.
They are a source of power.
-[man 1] "The Demon…" -[man 2] Monstrous…
-[Graves] Finn Bálor rose from the dead. -[man 3] Finn summoning the power…
-[man 2] Completely different… -[Graves] Deep within himself…
[man 3] "The Demon" is here!
At SummerSlam…
[audio distorting]
…you'll meet "The Demon King."
[unearthly intake of breath]
[Cole] "The Demon King" unloading on Rollins.
Seth wanted "The Demon King," and he's got him here.
[Saxton] Does Seth fully comprehend what he's got?
[Bálor] I'm gonna beat you,
and I'm gonna become the first-ever WWE Universal Champion.
[music fades]
[garbled demonic speech]
[growling]
[whooshing]
[Cole] And, ladies and gentlemen, that is what it's all about.
The WWE Universal Champion will be worn for the very first time tonight
by either Seth Rollins or Finn Bálor.
General Manager Mick Foley, Commissioner Stephanie McMahon
bringing the title out moments ago,
as we get set for this historic match at SummerSlam.
I love it.
-[Seth Rollins's theme music playing] -[cheering]
[Cole] And here's the man who is 2-0 in SummerSlam in his career.
Last year, he beat John Cena to become the first man to ever hold the WWE
and the United States Championship at the… at the same time.
He owns the third-highest winning percentage
in pay-per-view history.
Seth Rollins.
[cheering]
Let's go!
[Saxton] Seth has referred to himself under three words.
"Myth. Legend. Man."
[Cole] A lot of coverage all over the world of this matchup.
In fact, we have commentators representing countries worldwide
here with us at the Barclays Center,
including our Brazilian Portuguese announce team
of Marco Alfaro and Roberto Figueroa.
[speaking in Brazilian Portuguese]
[Cole] Our Russian team is Moti Margolin and Zhan Pomerantsev.
[speaking in Russian]
[Cole] Our team from Japan, Shun Yamaguchi and Funaki.
[speaking in Japanese]
[Cole] From Germany, Carsten Schaefer and Sebastian Hackl.
[speaking in German]
[Cole] And from our French affiliate Groupe AB,
Christophe Agus and Phillipe Chereau.
[speaking in French]
[Cole] And there is Seth Rollins, a man of many firsts.
First-ever NXT Champion,
first man to cash in Money in the Bank at WrestleMania,
first man to hold the WWE World title and US title at the same time,
and tonight hoping to become the first WWE Universal Champion.
[Saxton] If Seth Rollins needed any more motivation,
it's right there at ringside,
knowing that he is one win away
from grabbing ahold of the Universal Championship.
["The Demon King" Finn Bálor's theme music playing]
[cheering]
[crowd roars]
[crowd] Ohhhh-oh!
Ohhhh-oh!
[cheering]
Ohhhh-oh!
[cheering]
[music fades]
[bell rings]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE Universal Championship.
The winner of this match can only be determined by pinfall or submission.
Introducing first, from Davenport, Iowa,
weighing 217 lbs,
Seth Rollins!
[cheering]
His opponent,
from Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland,
weighing 190 lbs,
Finn Bálor, "The Demon King"!
[cheering]
[Cole] And it is #universaltitle,
and, Corey, there always has to be a first.
[Graves] We look back in history in this business,
and we talk about Buddy Rogers.
We talk about Pat Patterson.
After tonight, the history books will reflect
either the name of Seth Rollins or Finn Bálor.
[Cole] Buddy Rogers the first WWE Champion.
Pat Patterson, first Intercontinental Champion.
The likes of Harley Race, the first United States Champion.
Seth Rollins the first NXT Champion,
and Finn Bálor comes out of the blocks on fire,
and Rollins is stunned, and he's going to the top rope,
looking for the Coup de Grace,
as Seth Rollins rolls out of the way.
And here's Finn Bálor launching himself over the top rope,
and "The Demon King" is taking it to Rollins.
[Saxton] That's the key. You talk about firsts,
the first time Finn Bálor has ever faced Seth Rollins,
and the first time Seth Rollins has ever dealt with "The Demon King."
[Cole] First time ever Seth Rollins and Finn Bálor have met.
Rollins, who dominated the scene in the United States for many, many years.
Finn Bálor, of course, overseas,
including making his name in Japan.
[Saxton] Eight years in Japan, six years in the UK,
two years in NXT. Finn Bálor has established himself
as one of the most adaptable Superstars we have ever seen.
[Cole] But that's Finn Bálor. Corey, what about "The Demon King"?
How is that different from a normal Finn Bálor?
[Graves] It's the skeleton in Finn Bálor's closet,
that part of yourself that you don't wanna think about,
and you only let out when you need to. It's a different level of aggression.
Finn Bálor, when he summons "The Demon King,"
it's like a whole different person.
[Cole] Look what Bálor's doing. He's targeting the leg of Seth Rollins.
[Graves] It's a brilliant strategy.
You take away Seth Rollins's legs,
you take away a lot of his offense, his kicking ability,
and his base for a lot of his power.
[Cole] Don't forget the serious knee injury
suffered by Seth Rollins late last year.
It cost him many months of his career.
Suplex to Bálor outside the ring.
Remember, pinfall or submission, only way to become Universal Champion tonight.
And Bálor launched into the timekeeper's area
by a very aggressive Rollins.
[Saxtons] Rollins admitted last Monday after first seeing "The Demon King"
that he had to rethink his strategy a little bit.
[Graves] They call Seth Rollins "The Architect" for a reason.
Everything that went down last Monday--
[Saxton] Oh, oh, oh! Watch out!
[Cole] Bálor off the barricade, taking Rollins out.
[Graves] Rollins summoned "The Demon" on Monday for a reason.
Seth wanted an idea as to what he would be dealing with tonight
in this Universal Championship match.
[Cole] Will it pay off for Rollins?
[Saxton] But do you think in that moment,
as Seth Rollins watched "The Demon King" make his way down to the ring,
was there maybe a little bit of doubt,
a little bit of regret for summoning "The Demon King"?
[Cole] Think about what Finn Bálor's accomplished,
as he rolls through. Dropkick right to the face.
Bálor, cover, for the championship.
Kick-out. First night on Monday Night Raw,
Bálor won a fatal 4-way to advance,
and then knocked off Roman Reigns on the same night during this opportunity.
[Saxton] That's "The Demon King" just eerily arriving,
unbeknownst to Seth Rollins.
[Cole] And Bálor again working on the legs of Seth Rollins.
Great strategy by Balor here,
as Rollins tries to make it to the bottom rope.
Bálor drags Rollins back, center of the ring.
[Saxton] Finn Bálor has not slowed down
from the moment the bell rung to start this match.
[Cole] Just looking to, uh, torture Seth Rollins here.
Bálor again.
And you have to wonder if the bad knee will hold up tonight of Seth Rollins.
Uh, back in November, he suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus.
[Graves] "The Demon King" certainly plans on testing that knee out,
seeing exactly how much Rollins's knee can handle.
[Cole] Finn Bálor, both his parents are here tonight.
He surprised them, bringing them in from Ireland for this matchup.
His mom, Leonie. His dad, Fintan.
One of the reasons he took the name "Finn" is, uh…
Finn is now driven into the barricade!
Launching him with that powerbomb into the barricade by Rollins.
[Graves] How disappointed will Mom and Dad be
when they're staring at the man Seth Rollins
as the WWE Universal Champion at the end of the night?
[Cole] Here's another look at Rollins launching Finn Bálor.
Finn Bálor said he got his work ethic from his dad,
who was a platform sweep.
Worked his way up to engineer, starting from the bottom
and getting all the way to the top of his profession.
Here's the cover, and a kick-out by Finn at two.
[Graves] I've got all the respect in the world for Bálor
and what he's accomplished around the world and in NXT.
But on this stage, SummerSlam,
against that opponent, Seth Rollins,
it's a whole different game.
[Saxton] You're right. Seth Rollins has a proven track record in WWE,
a proven track record here at SummerSlam.
[Cole] Finn Bálor one of the all-time greats in Japan.
But again, Rollins a former WWE World Champion,
among other accolades.
[Graves] We've heard people comparing Bálor to Seth Rollins,
saying Finn's almost following in the footsteps of Seth Rollins.
Oh, what a backbreaker.
[Saxton] For many fans…
[Cole] Cover by Seth. Forearm right in the face, and a kick-out.
[Saxton] For many fans who like to partake in fantasy booking,
this was the match. This is what you wanted to see.
[Cole] This is how Finn started the match, and he almost put Seth out early.
He was gonna go for the Coup de Grace, his finishing move,
and Seth rolled out of the way.
[Graves] It's a lot easier said than done
when you're following in the footsteps of a T. rex like Seth Rollins.
[Cole] Rollins, as we mentioned before, made his name here in the United States.
Bálor started out at 18 years old,
winning the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship.
He went on to become a champion in Mexico,
and then a multi-time champion in Japan.
In fact, remember, the night Bálor won the NXT Championship
was at a WWE Network special in Japan,
The Beast in the East,
and here's the cover. Hook of the leg, and a kick-out.
Took place last year, July 4 in the States.
[Graves] We can list accolades all night long
for both of these Superstars,
but for everything Finn Bálor has done,
Seth Rollins won the championship at WrestleMania.
Finn Bálor has never done that.
[Saxton] At the end of the day, that's the past, Corey.
What can you do tonight?
How do you walk away as the first-ever Universal Champion?
[Cole] Finn never has had the opportunity to be at WrestleMania, in his defense,
as Seth delivers that chop to Bálor.
I think there'll be many WrestleManias in this young man's future.
[Graves] I have no doubt about that at all.
[Cole] Tonight, it's about SummerSlam.
"Demon King" or not, it doesn't matter to me, pal.
Huh? It doesn't matter to me.
[Cole] Rollins's lack of respect shown for Bálor.
Snapmare, and then a kick right to the spine.
-Who's the man, huh? -[booing]
[Cole] When you talked earlier on, Corey, about… Byron, you did,
excuse me, about Seth understanding he needed to change his strategy
against "The Demon King," and he seems to be adjusting well.
[Saxton] He weathered the early storm that Bálor brought.
We saw Finn try to end this match early.
And somehow Seth Rollins, using that experience factor,
able to maintain life in this match and actually control the pace.
[Graves] Look at this.
Seth Rollins matching the aggression of "The Demon King."
[Cole] This crossface is… He caught him right on the bridge of the nose.
Hey, we know that Rollins can be as aggressive as anyone.
Got a mean streak in him.
It took a lot of guts for Seth Rollins to cash in Money in the Bank
on Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar at WreslteMania.
Come on, "Demon."
Come on--
[Saxton] If somehow Seth Rollins puts away "The Demon" here tonight,
I'm sure we will never hear the end of it.
[Graves] "The Demon King" going right back to that knee of Rollins to break the hold.
[Cole] Crossface again by Rollins,
and now, remember,
you can only win via pinfall or submission.
[Graves] It's the mean streak on display of Rollins,
but it's effective. You damage a man's nose,
you damage his… his ability to breathe.
The longer this match goes, if Finn Bálor can't breathe through his nose,
it could be a game changer.
[Cole] Here's another example.
Kick to the back of the head.
That's more psychological than anything else.
Hurts, obviously, but…
Rollins toying with Bálor now, showing him who's in control.
Come on, boy.
Come on--
[Cole] Just calling him "boy," that's gotta stick in the craw of Finn,
and Finn now fighting back.
Whipped into the corner. Here comes Rollins.
Seth gonna launch himself,
and there's that glancing knee that caught him right on the chin.
Rollins now heading to the other side, the other corner.
Top rope again for Seth.
And Seth Rollins with a splash three-quarters of the way across the ring.
Inside leg hooked for the championship,
and Bálor at two.
[Saxton] Bálor still in it, but how much did that take out of Finn Bálor?
[whooshing]
Watch this again. Watch the height and the distance
that Rollins travels here.
[Cole] Yeah, the distance very impressive.
Remember, the winner of this match
becomes the first-ever WWE Universal Champion
and will represent Monday Night Raw.
Our General Manager, Mick Foley, and our Commissioner, Stephanie McMahon.
looking on from ringside here
at the sold-out Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Near 16,000 on hand
for the 29th annual SummerSlam.
[Saxton] It's an opportunity Seth Rollins probably feels
should have been bestowed upon him.
He didn't ave to win any qualifying matches
to earn the right to compete for the Universal Championship.
Stephanie McMahon simply said, "Hey, you're in the match."
[Graves] Would you… All you naysayers like Byron Saxton, stop.
Seth Rollins never lost his title to begin with.
He was injured. He was stripped of the championship.
He deserves this match as much as anybody.
[Saxton] Just stating facts.
[Cole] Here's Finn. Oh, and he plants him with a DDT.
Critical moment now.
[referee] What do you say, Seth?
[Cole] Seth's done a pretty good job of grounding Finn Bálor,
as you take another look at the impact, head-first.
[Saxton] Recovery time for Finn Bálor.
Trying to get his bearings back, his wits together.
[chants of "Let's go, Rollins!" and "Let's go, Bálor!"]
[Cole] Bálor, boots to the face,
and now Finn starting to pick up the pace.
Reversal.
Bálor'll duck under the clothesline, and Finn, forearm will knock Seth down.
Frightening sight, looking across the ring at "The Demon King."
[Saxton] All part of the psychological advantage.
[Graves] As frightening as those knife-edge chops
coming from across the ring at you.
They'll take the wind out of you real quick.
[Cole] Just like that.
Low dropkick by Finn caught Seth and drove him out of the ring.
And now Finn on the attack, out to the apron.
Seth slowly back to his feet.
Bálor's gonna catch him with a knee right to the face.
[Saxton] Man, oh man!
[cheering]
[whooshing]
[Cole] Just listen to this impact.
[Saxton] So much for Seth Rollins controlling the pace of this matchup.
[Cole] There goes the sling blade from Finn Bálor.
[Saxton] Now it's Bálor. You can almost feel the confidence oozing off of Bálor.
[Cole] Momentarily, because Seth Rollins just stopped him in his tracks.
-[Graves] Here we go! -[Cole] Looking for the Pedigree.
[Saxton] Oh, no.
[Cole] Seth tried to land on his feet, was still able to get back quickly.
Enzuigiri stunning Bálor.
-[Saxton laughs in disbelief] -[Cole] There's the overhead kick by Finn.
Great sequence between these two great stars.
[cheering, applause]
[Graves] You can hear the appreciation of the WWE Universe
here inside Barclays Center.
[Cole] Either way, whoever wins the Universal Championship,
you're looking at the two men
who are gonna carry Monday Night Raw through the new era.
[Saxton] Without a doubt. This is a treat for us.
It's a treat for any fan of Raw. It's a treat for the entire WWE Universe.
[Graves] I completely agree.
But from a business standpoint,
Seth Rollins has gotta be the guy to carry this WWE Universal Championship.
You can't put that face… you can't put "The Demon King" on ESPN.
[Cole] Uh, that's your opinion.
And look at Seth Rollins, caught him with a knee.
And Bálor, though, planted him!
And Finn Bálor looking to put him away!
Finn Bálor, cover
off that 1916,
and a kick-out.
[Graves] We've seen Bálor put a lot of opponents away
with that very maneuver.
Seth Rollins with just a little too much left in the tank.
[Saxton] Look where Finn's going.
Finn may be trying to hit that Coup de Grace.
We saw him trying to do it earlier on in the matchup.
[Cole] If he hits it here… Seth though.
[Graves] Oh, Rollins going for a triangle!
[Cole] Shoulders down, though. Seth had to get the shoulders up.
But Seth's got a triangle locked in.
[Graves] Rollins has to pass… He's got the… He passed the arm.
He's got that triangle locked in deep.
"The Demon King" has gotta be fading.
-What do you say? Come on, now. -[Rollins] Tap!
[referee] Let me hear you.
[Cole] And Bálor's got a foot on the bottom rope here,
but pinfall or submission is the only way to win this matchup.
There's no rope break, pal.
Come on, tap out!
[Cole] You heard Seth say there's no rope break.
There is no disqualification.
[Saxton] Bálor hitting desperation time.
He's gotta somehow get out of this predicament.
[Graves] Bálor trying desperately and succeeding eventually,
but there's a lot of damage done.
He was in that submission, that triangle, for a solid 20, 30 seconds.
[Cole] Yeah, and Bálor just had to drag himself over the apron
and fall to the floor to force the break.
[Rollins] He was out. He was out!
[Cole] And Finn… may be out.
What Seth needs to do, though, is get him back in the ring.
I think it just dawned on Rollins.
Here, Seth, put him right here.
[Saxton] I think Rollins has some evil intentions in mind.
[booing]
[Cole] Now Finn sent back in. Rollins is gonna trail after him.
And Finn fighting back. Kick to the hamstring.
Back of the knee he's been working on throughout this entire match.
Oh, Seth, though…
Toss powerbomb into the corner.
-[Rollins] Yeah! -[Cole] There's a kick.
[Graves] That's it.
[Cole] That could be it for a new Universal Champion here.
Kick-out by Bálor. Stays in it.
[whooshing]
[Graves] Look at this. Rollins launching Bálor into the turnbuckle
and following up… Bang! …with a beautiful kick
right on the side of the face.
Just not quite enough to topple "The Demon King."
[Saxton] Finn Bálor still finding a way to survive,
finding a way to hang on.
You think you can hang with me, "Demon King"?
This is my ring.
You understand that?
This is my ring.
[Cole] Bálor does not seem intimidated.
Bálor, block. And here comes Finn Bálor.
Oh, knee by Seth.
[Graves] Rollins got the leg hooked. Oh!
-[Cole] Oh man! -[Graves] The small package driver!
[Cole] Is it enough? And a kick-out at two.
[Graves] Seth Rollins digging deep into his arsenal.
I haven't seen him use that maneuver in years.
[Saxton] I can't believe Finn even kicked out.
[Cole] And again, Corey, you talked about change in strategy.
-[Graves] Take a look at this. -[Cole] Old-school Rollins here.
[Graves] Extra impact, right into that inside cradle.
That small package driver has served Rollins so well
throughout his career, but not quite enough
to put away "The Demon King."
[Cole] And now with Finn Bálor in trouble, he's taken a lot of punishment,
Seth Rollins trying to figure out what he's gonna do next.
He's heading up to the top rope. Bálor's gonna meet him there.
And a kick drives Seth to the floor, and Finn Bálor
looks…
He's looking right at the Universal Championship.
And now Finn on the run and drives Rollins into the barricade.
[Saxton] Looking at that championship gave Finn the extra motivation
that he needed here to try to turn this match around.
[Cole] And now with Rollins in trouble, it's Finn Bálor, top rope.
Bálor, right to the back of the neck.
Finn Bálor for the championship. Hooks the leg,
and a kick-out by Seth.
How did Seth kick out there?
And now with Seth prone again, Finn Bálor's looking to fly.
Going up to the top rope. This is the move that brought him an NXT Championship.
Will it bring him the Universal Championship tonight
here at SummerSlam?
Went for the Coup de Grace.
[Graves] Here it is. Rollins with the Pedigree.
-[Cole] Pedigree] -[Graves] New champion!
[Cole] Rollins for the Universal title.
Finn kicks out at two!
Rollins is in disbelief.
[Saxton] Rollins is finding out
how tough Finn Bálor, "The Demon King," really is.
[Cole] Seth had to know this was gonna be a fight like this.
[whooshing]
[Graves] Bálor almost dropkicking Rollins through the barricade at ringside.
[Saxton] This was the third attempt to hit the Coup de Grace.
Once again, Rollins able to counter.
Rollins thought he had him here with the Pedigree.
[Cole] But Finn would kick out. Finn Bálor, at two, got the shoulder up.
-[Saxton] What is Rollins thinking? -[Graves] Questioning himself.
"What else do I have left in the tank?"
"What do I have to do to become WWE Universal Champion?"
[Cole] Looking to pull out all the stops.
Seth Rollins. Lands on his feet.
Bálor, though, on his as well. Drives Rollins into the corner.
Back of his head off the second turnbuckle.
Finn Bálor's feeling it. Rollins is stunned.
Bálor heading up to the top rope.
And Seth Rollins finally rolls out of the way,
and now meets Finn up top.
-[Saxton] This is dangerous. -[Graves] Rollins up top.
Superplex!
Rolls through.
[Cole] And now looking for the Pedigree!
Counter. Stomp.
Rollins head-first off the top turnbuckle.
Into the other side!
[Graves] "The Demon King" has dropkicked Rollins from pillar to post,
all the way across the ring.
And now "The Demon King" has ascended.
-[Cole] Coup de Grace! The Coup de Grace! -[Saxton] He hit it!
[Cole] Finn Bálor. Here's the cover.
Hook of the leg.
We've got a new WWE Universal Champion!
[JoJo] Here is your winner, and the new WWE Universal Champion,
Finn Bálor!
[Cole] Finn Bálor makes history.
Finn Bálor is the inaugural Universal Champion.
[Saxton] You talk about earning your place in history.
Finn Bálor has just done that before our very eyes.
[Cole] Finn Bálor becomes the first Superstar
to ever win a World title in his debut match on a pay-per-view.
Finn Bálor makes history tonight.
[Graves] You asked at the onset,
what does it mean when Finn Bálor becomes "The Demon King,"
When that paint goes on?
Every bit of will, every bit of fortitude in Finn Bálor's body,
every dream he's ever had
comes to life in the form of "The Demon King,"
and now you can call him Universal Champion.
[Saxton] It took every bit of will, every bit of fortitude, as you said,
for Finn to overcome Rollins,
who, on several occasions, thought he had Finn beat.
[Graves] That iron will of Finn Bálor just kept coming.
[Saxton] And that iron will kept driving Finn closer and closer,
attempt after attempt to hit the Coup de Grace,
until finally
what goes up
comes crashing down on Seth Rollins.
Coup de Grace hits,
and now Finn Bálor can call himself the first WWE Universal Champion.
[Cole] You know, guys, only two men in history have held the NXT Championship
and gone on to become a World Champion.
One of those men was Seth Rollins.
There's the other,
Finn Bálor.
[Saxton] What a moment. What an accomplishment.
[Cole] His mom and dad, his uncle here tonight from Ireland,
enjoying the celebration.
[crowd] Ohhhh-oh!
Ohhh-oh!
[Saxton] All the years of sacrifice overseas,
sleeping in the back of pickup trucks,
all for a moment like this to call yourself champion.
[Cole] What an incredible… an incredible rise
for Finn Bálor.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's join our all-star panel,
anchored by Renee Young.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the SummerSlam Kickoff panel.
I bring to you WWE Hall of Famer Lita.
WWE Hall of Famer Booker King.
-[laughing] -"Booker King"? What?
Oh, Booker… And Jerry "The King" Lawler!
-There you go. -[Lita] Got you.
-[Young] I was coming to you. -Appreciate it.
I was getting to you. That's how we're going.
What an unbelievable night. The crowning of the first-ever Universal Champion.
How are you guys feeling here at Barclays?
It's been awesome. The one new champion I wanna talk about is Charlotte.
And I called it during the pre-show.
It looks like "The Boss"'s newly found big head
got deflated tonight by Charlotte.
We have a new Women's Champion. Woo! I love it.
Lita, what about you?
Man, I mean, we could feel the energy,
and, you know, Brooklyn is always opinionated.
We have fans that were chanting for both Rollins and Finn Bálor,
but it was Finn Bálor's night,
starting the legacy of that Universal title.
-[Young] Book? -I told you, guys.
Tonight, always expect the unexpected.
AJ Styles went out there and stood toe-to-toe with John Cena,
"The Face That Runs The Place" is no more.
There is a new…
His name is "The Phenomenal One" AJ Styles.
You gotta love it.
Here at WWE, we strive to give you nothing but the best.
So recently at a WWE live event,
KFC's own Colonel Ziggler was in the house
to put an end to second-rate chicken,
Puppers Cluckers Chicken.
[panel chuckling]
[video game bleeping]
What's for dinner, Mom?
[groans] I've no idea. Ask your father.
What's for dinner, Dad?
Ask your mother.
[rock music playing]
Why don't you ask me?
[retro rock jingle playing]
♪ Puppers Cluckers Chicken ♪
♪ Open up your mouth… ♪
[Ziggler] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
I came to this event to be entertained.
What do you know about chicken, chicken?
Anybody in their right mind knows that KFC's Chicken Little
is the world's best chicken sandwich.
[cheering]
Says who?
Some old man in a white suit walking around with a beat stick?
[booing]
Excuse me?
You heard me,
Sandy.
[tense music playing]
[man] Go get him, Colonel!
[dramatic music playing]
-[Ranallo] Didn't expect this! -[crowd chanting] Colonel Sanders!
-[Layfield] Here we go! -[Otunga] Ooh!
[Ranallo] Clothesline.
[Otunga] Oh, he's fired up. Look at this!
[Ranallo] Big elbow drop.
[Layfield] Talk about incredible athleticism. Look at this.
[Ranallo] Oh, there's a super kick!
-[Layfield laughs] -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Layfield] He got him! -[bell rings]
-Finger-lickin' good! -[crowd chanting] Colonel Sanders!
[Ziggler] KFC's new Chicken Little is made with a hand-breaded tender
on a sesame seed bun.
It's finger-little good!
[Cole] It has been quite the night in Brooklyn, New York.
The Barclays Center is sold out.
15,974 WWE fans on hand
for the 29th annual SummerSlam,
but our trip to New York is not over,
because tomorrow night, Monday Night Raw comes live from the Barclays Center
right here in Brooklyn, but before we get there,
the brand-new Women's Champion, Charlotte,
and the brand-new WWE Universal Champion, Finn Balor,
will be guests on Good Morning America tomorrow morning.
[regal music playing]
[JoJo] Please welcome "The Ravishing Russian" Lana!
[music fades]
And now, America, I ask you to stand up
and put your hand on your heart
and welcome the only one and true American hero.
He is the current and all-time greatest United States Champion
and my husband.
The defender of my honor.
He is "The Bulgarian Brute," Rusev!
[Rusev's theme music playing]
[Cole] And we saw the mood that Rusev was in earlier tonight
in the interview with Maria Menounos.
Rusev vowing revenge
for Roman Reigns ruining the celebration
of Rusev and Lana's wedding a couple of weeks ago
as they looked to share their wedding photos
with the entire world on Monday Night Raw.
[Graves] It's not often you get to have a fairy tale in real life.
Rusev and Lana have that, and Roman Reigns screwed it up.
So now Rusev needs to defend the honor of his bride,
not to mention the United States Championship.
[Saxton] At least Rusev and Lana got a second honeymoon out of the deal.
To the dry cleaners. [chuckles]
-[Graves] That was good. -[Saxton] Thanks.
Is that where you picked up in the lost and found bin that suit?
[Saxton] I'll get you one just like it.
[Graves] Last night, I was partying in Dumbo.
Tonight, I'm sitting next to him.
[music fades]
-[Roman Reigns's theme music playing] -[booing]
[bell rings]
[JoJo] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the United States Championship.
Introducing the challenger,
from Pensacola, Florida,
weighing 265 lbs,
Roman Reigns!
[Cole] Tonight marks the seventh time the United States Championship
will be defended at SummerSlam.
Remember, Roman Reigns has got some momentum on his side, guys.
Last Monday night on Raw, he defeated Rusev
in a matchup where the title wasn't on the line,
but Rusev was battling to defend the honor of his wife, Lana.
[Saxton] What a match that was. And quite frankly, I can't imagine
that Roman Reigns or Rusev are 100% coming into this match
after the way they tried to completely destroy each other on Monday night.
[Cole] Roman Reigns would love to walk out of SummerSlam
here tonight with the United States Championship.
[Saxton] Reigns said it himself. "I walk in the guy."
"I walk out the champion."
[Graves] I suppose in a way you have to almost favor Roman Reigns.
Roman's fighting with one purpose, the United States Championship.
That is his only focus.
Rusev's worrying about his wife, his title.
There's a lot on Rusev's mind.
It could make him either the most dangerous man in the ring
or a very easy target.
[Cole] Emotion could cost him the championship.
Rusev. Match hasn't even gotten underway,
and Rusev immediately attacking Roman Reigns.
[Graves] Got my answer.
[Cole] And now Reigns taking the fight outside the ring here.
[Saxton] We knew Rusev was fuming. He couldn't even wait.
[Cole] The brawl has begun between Rusev and Reigns.
The official… Oh, and shoulder-first into the steps goes Roman.
Rusev vowed he was gonna take Reigns out.
He was gonna make Roman Reigns pay for the issue from a couple of weeks ago,
and Reigns now driven into the steps on the other side.
And Rusev has lost it.
[Graves] Remember Monday night, the damage that Rusev did
to that arm of Roman Reigns?
There's no way Reigns's left arm is 100%.
[Cole] Rusev, vicious assault now on Roman.
[Saxton] It's like vulture-like mentality we're seeing from Rusev.
[Cole] Corey hit on it before. Emotion can do strange things to you,
and obviously it has set a spark off in Rusev.
Oh my God, Rusev…
What the hell's "The Bulgarian Brute"…
He's got the steel steps in hands now.
And right off the arm of Roman Reigns.
[Graves] Look in the eyes of Rusev.
He's beside himself with anger.
[Saxton] Rusev is seeing red.
[Rusev] This is for my wife!
[referee] No, no, no, no!
[Cole] Now Rusev tossed into the timekeeper's area by Reigns.
And finally Roman with some separation
between him and the raging "Bulgarian Brute."
[Graves] Speaking of timekeepers, do we have a bell yet?
[Cole] No, the match isn't official.
Rusev attacked--
Superman Punch!
[Saxton] Rusev officially got tagged by a Superman Punch.
[Cole] Yeah, Rusev attacked Reigns before Roman could even get in the ring.
[Graves] I would say Rusev's strategy was to soften up Roman.
[Cole] Roman, he's gone right into the pit now,
and he's going right after Rusev.
And Roman Reigns unloading as…
[booing]
…on Rusev, the United States Champion, as a number of officials now
have made their way out to ringside to try to separate these two men.
Maybe try to get this matchup finally started.
[Graves] Rusev swung that chair, and Reigns just stopped it.
[Cole] And a headbutt by Roman.
And another one, and Roman Reigns is unleashed here.
[Saxton] Talk about a volatile situation between both these men.
-[referee 1] Come on, Roman. -[referee 2] Go, man, get out of here!
Get out of here! No! Come on!
[Cole] Rusev tossed back into the, uh, ringside area.
These officials trying to just… just get in front,
get between Reigns and Rusev,
but Roman Reigns now with a steel chair,
and Roman Reigns not taking kindly to the assault by Rusev
to start this night off.
[Saxton] Officials better watch out.
[Graves] We talked about that crazed look in Rusev's eyes.
Roman Reigns starting to match.
[Saxton] I think there was a necessity to do so
for survival.
[Cole] Oh man, Rusev.
Reigns bending that chair around the back of Rusev.
And Reigns just continuing to go after Rusev.
[Saxton] Never seen him this incensed.
[Cole] A manic Reigns tonight.
Again, the officials finally separating Roman…
-[Graves] Roman's not done yet. -[Saxton] Back for more.
[Cole] Rusev started the assault before the bell.
And now the headbutt after headbutt by Reigns.
This has been simmering for a few weeks now.
Finally boiled over tonight.
[Saxton] Rusev could be seriously hurt.
[Cole] Reigns doesn't care. Reigns is going back for more.
Wanting to punish Rusev, scar him.
[referee 3] That's enough. That's enough.
-Get out of here! Get out of here! -[booing]
[booing drowns out speech]
[Rusev] Leave me alone!
Get your hands off!
[booing]
[indistinct discussion]
[man] I don't think so.
Get off me!
-I'm trying to help you. -Don't touch me!
I'm trying to help you. I'm trying to help you.
[crowd chanting] We want Slater! We want Slater!
[Cole] That's a ringside doctor out here with, uh, with Rusev.
[crowd chanting] We want Slater!
We want Slater!
[Saxton] We thought this was gonna be, uh,
an assault by Rusev. That was certainly his intention,
but Roman Reigns really turned the tables around.
[doctor] Can you take a breath, Rusev? Come on.
[Graves] Just goes to show you, when Roman Reigns finds that next level,
that other gear, he's capable of as much damage as anybody on the roster.
[JoJo] Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been informed by the ringside doctor
that Rusev is unable to compete tonight.
[Cole] So we will not have our United States Championship match
at SummerSlam.
[booing drowns out speech]
The doctor will not allow Rusev to continue.
[Saxton] That could be some serious internal injury or…
Rusev walking very gingerly.
[booing drowns out speech]
[Cole] Not quite what we expected tonight.
Rusev did vow he was gonna take out Roman Reigns,
and he tried to do that before the match even got underway.
[cheering]
And look who's coming.
[Saxton] Oh!
[Cole] Roman Reigns… Roman Reigns did not like the--
Spear!
I think Roman didn't like the fact
that Rusev was gonna walk out of here on his own power.
And Roman Reigns came flying down the ramp
with a wicked Spear.
[Saxton] Rusev was walking gingerly a minute ago.
He may not be able to walk at all now.
[indistinct]
[Cole] He may have broken ribs now.
[Graves] If they weren't broken before, they are now.
Go.
[Cole] That Roman Reigns is scary.
[Saxton] You're telling me. Watch this.
We thought Reigns was done, but maybe you're right.
Maybe he was just incensed seeing Rusev on his feet.
[whooshing]
[doctor] Can you take a breath?
I can't breathe.
[doctor] All right, just relax. Take some deep breaths if you can.
[man] Hardcore legend.
[dramatic music playing]
Best-selling author.
Raw General Manager.
Frustrated father.
-[music fades] -Why? Why?
[acoustic version of Mick Foley's theme music playing]
-Busted. -[Noelle] Did you follow me?
-[Mick] Yeah, I followed you. -We're dysfunctional.
Just barely.
[man] Holy Foley. Series premiere tonight, immediately following SummerSlam.
All right, listen, man.
[man] Binge watch the first five episodes on demand!
-You're feeling good. I'm feeling good. -I feel good.
[man] Only on WWE Network.
Uh, I can't wait to see Holy Foley.
You got to spend some time with the family.
Interesting family, to say the least. I thought my family was a little bit off.
I don't wanna speak ill of our General Manager, but…
Holy Foley immediately following SummerSlam,
only on the WWE Network.
But coming up next, Byron, are you ready?
Suplex City versus Viperville?
[Saxton, chuckling] Fifteen years in the making.
Two of the most decorated WWE Superstars of all time
in our main event.
It is "The Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar taking on "The Viper" Randy Orton.
[whooshing]
[pensive music playing]
The annnouncement everybody's been waiting for.
It's gonna be Brock Lesnar going one on one
with "The Viper" Randy Orton at SummerSlam.
[Graves] 2002, both Superstars debuted.
In the 14 years since, you'd have to be living under a rock
not to know what they've accomplished.
The first time they meet on pay-per-view is gonna be at SummerSlam.
We're gonna finally see "The Beast" versus "The Viper." [echoing]
[Orton] When I first met Brock in OVW,
the developmental territory that we were in…
he had just won the Division I NCAA finals.
He was national champion,
and he shows up, big as a house,
so everyone was like, "What the hell is that?"
[commentator] What a specimen.
Almost 300 lbs of rock-hard muscle is Brock Lesnar.
The competition down there was something else.
Cena, Shelton, Batista.
It was definitely, uh, the class of guys that I was with,
the guys like Brock, that motivated me to get to where I'm at today.
When Lesnar and I became the closest, it was when we both got called up.
[Lawler] He just looks like a star.
You just know you're in the presence of greatness.
[Cole] The animal in Lesnar has been unleashed.
We both went on to win titles.
[Lawler] The youngest World Champion in history.
[Cole] F5 to The Rock!
Brock Lesnar is champion!
So me and Lesnar were soaking up all that together.
And then he decided to leave because he didn't like people?
[music fades]
So that pissed me off.
I'd say that became the moment where I realized, like,
"Well, this Lesnar isn't the guy I thought he was."
Yeah, I know who Randy Orton is,
but I don't have a relationship with Randy Orton,
nor do I give a… [bleep] …about Randy Orton.
See, everybody thinks that because you trained with Randy Orton in OVW
that there's some storied history between you two,
that he's on your level, that you broke in together.
There's irrelevance between Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton.
Everything that I've accomplished
far supersedes whatever Randy Orton could ever dream about.
[brooding music playing]
[Heyman] You don't have a chance against Brock Lesnar.
What you have a chance of, maybe, is survival.
I became a mega superstar,
and he became a star.
[Heyman] You ain't gonna hit no RKO at SummerSlam.
[Lesnar] We're not on the same parallel. I'm on another universe.
[Heyman] You'll never hit an RKO on "The Beast."
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] Randy Orton with an RKO outta nowhere!
[Graves] I am in shock. "The Viper" just laid out "The Beast."
I did what I had to do to provoke him a little bit.
[Cole] Did Randy Orton fire the first shot?
Or did he sign his death wish?
I wanted him to know that I'm the man.
I'm "The Conqueror."
I'm gonna rip him apart at SummerSlam.
[Lesnar] Randy Orton is just another guy.
Just like all the guys in the locker room.
He's not the guy to beat Brock Lesnar.
It ain't gonna happen.
You know who Randy Orton is? He's the best surfer on the beach.
He's the man, and he rides those waves like no other surfer,
and then along comes the shark.
When this shark digs his teeth into Randy Orton,
the surfer is going down.
-[Layfield] There's Brock. -[Ranallo] Lesnar has Orton!
F5 by "The Beast Incarnate"!
[both chuckling]
I'd say Brock's probably underestimating me.
I think it's gonna end up you know, biting him in the ass.
Just one RKO and you're going to Viperville.
[Lesnar] People forget I've been doing this since I was five years old.
I'm like a… [bleep] …robot.
I train, I eat, and I… [bleep] …opponents.
That's what I do for a living.
[Orton] August 21, the Barclays Center.
Biggest SummerSlam match in history.
What can you expect? I'm gonna kill the legend of Brock Lesnar.
[music fades]
[whooshing]
-[Brock Lesnar's theme music playing] -[cheering]
[cheering]
[Saxton] That is a human being like no other.
A specimen constructed to obliterate his opposition.
[Graves] Former NCAA Division I Heavyweight Champion.
All-American. UFC Heavyweight Champion.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
Four-time WWE World Champion,
and let's not forget,
"The Beast Incarnate" ended the single greatest streak
in all of entertainment.
[Saxton] No other athlete walking the planet
in the same category as Brock Lesnar.
Ladies and gentlemen,
my name is Paul Heyman.
Tonight, fighting…
massacring,
conquering
out of the University of Suplex City,
"The Beast Incarnate,"
"The Viper Slayer,"
Brock Lesnar!
[Saxton] Everyone here in the Barclays Center on their feet
for this main event.
[Graves] Because you don't watch Brock Lesnar compete. You experience it.
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me… ♪
[JoJo] Making his way to the ring, from St. Louis, Missouri,
weighing 250 lbs,
"The Apex Predator" Randy Orton!
[Ranallo] So the stage is set
for this monumental main event at SummerSlam.
Both of these gladiators hope to offer their magnus opus here tonight.
Mauro Ranallo, JBL, they are the powers from SmackDown Live.
We are joined by Raw's Corey Graves and Byron Saxton.
[Layfield] Corey, Byron, everything you say is true
about the greatest combat athlete in this country's history,
but the résumé, the lineage of this man, Randy Orton, is second to none.
His Hall of Fame father was a main event at the first WrestleMania.
His grandfather headlined Madison Square Garden
against Bruno Sammartino,
and this kid with so much promise has grown into a man
that became the youngest WWE Champion of all time,
defeating Brock Lesnar's record,
and 12-time World Champion,
and the biggest win of his career could come right now
with an RKO outta nowhere.
[Ranallo] SummerSlam has been pivotal to both of their careers.
It was here that both of them became the youngest champions.
Brock Lesnar at first at 25,
and then two years later,
Randy Orton at 24.
[Layfield] You build a sports entertainer from the ground up,
it will look exactly like that,
like Randy Orton.
If it's the UFC, bet on Brock.
If it's the NCAA Championship, bet on Brock.
If it's WWE SummerSlam, bet on Randy Orton.
[cheering]
[Ranallo] Guys, this isn't going to be a match.
Corey, this is going to be a fight.
[Graves] One rung above "The Apex Predator"
sits "The Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar.
You're about to find out.
[Ranallo] Suplex City versus Viperville.
F5 versus RKO.
Brock Lesnar versus Randy Orton.
[Layfield] Fifteen years in the making.
[Saxton] Interesting what Orton said. He always wanted this match,
and it kinda, quote/unquote, "fell in his lap."
[Graves] Oh, look at this.
[Saxton] Orton's finding out what it is to deal with "The Beast Incarnate"
on top of his game.
[Ranallo] Lesnar looking to utilize his brute strength.
Brawling early against Randy Orton.
[Graves] There's a reason why the premier combat athlete on earth
was drafted to the premier show in WWE, Monday Night Raw.
[Ranallo] Series of back elbows by "The Apex Predator,"
and a beautiful standing dropkick by Orton.
Looking for the RKO, but is brushed off by Lesnar.
[Layfield] The premier show's "Beast Incarnate"
almost got RKO'd outta nowhere right there.
[Saxton] Remember last year or a couple of years ago at SummerSlam,
16 German suplexes courtesy of Brock Lesnar to John Cena?
[Ranallo] There is the 33rd suplex
delivered by Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam.
And you're right. Sixteen came at the expense of John Cena.
Randy Orton has just paid a visit to Suplex City.
[Saxton] Orton said he knew he was going to Suplex City.
He knew it was going to be a bumpy ride. Now reality sets in.
[Ranallo] Another German suplex by "The Beast Incarnate,"
headlining his third straight SummerSlam.
[Layfield] Brock doesn't work by the hour.
Brock Lesnar would be happy to have this end early.
[Ranallo] Ooh!
[Graves] Brutal knees to the abdomen.
[Saxton] Oh, here comes three!
[Ranallo] And another German suplex by Brock Lesnar.
[Layfield] Randy Orton's doing everything he can to block those German suplexes,
absolutely to no avail.
[Saxton] Just imagine the shock every time you hit that canvas,
Brock Lesnar manhandling you with that German suplex,
how it jars your entire body.
[Ranallo] Corey, removing Suplex City from the equation,
what is the biggest key to victory for Brock Lesnar tonight?
[Graves] He just needs to stay the course. He came out of the gate strong.
He's absolutely decimating Randy Orton,
and he's enjoying it. Look at the smile on his face.
Brock just needs to stay the course.
[Ranallo] And you're right, John.
As Randy Orton desperately trying to block that German suplex,
unable to do so, and if that's the case,
it's gonna be a short night for Randy Orton.
[Layfield] I agree with my Raw counterpart,
but, Corey, I just think that if Randy Orton can do one thing,
Randy Orton takes Brock Lesnar to Viperville,
and that's an RKO.
When you have that in the bag, you've always got a chance.
[Ranallo] And it really is the great equalizer, that RKO,
but thus far, it is Brock Lesnar beating down Randy Orton
and delivering yet another German suplex.
That's number five, as the advocate will proudly display for you.
Right now, Suplex City making Viperville look like a trailer park.
[Saxton] And we know all it takes is one RKO,
but how effectively can that RKO be delivered
after German suplex after German suplex in this match?
[Ranallo] And despite both Superstars debuting on the WWE main roster in 2002,
this is the first time they have faced off on pay-per-view.
[Layfield] How effective is the RKO?
He has 12 World Championships, does Randy Orton.
[Ranallo] Lesnar the only man to win an NCAA Championship,
a UFC Heavyweight title,
and again a four-time WWE Champion.
John, you called him the most dominating combat sports athlete,
and he continues to dominate Orton.
[Layfield] That's half a dozen.
[Layfield] I called him the greatest combat athlete in this country's history,
and I stand by that.
[Ranallo] And things do not look good right now
for the SmackDown Live representative,
Randy Orton.
[Layfield] Jack Brisco was a great NCAA Champion.
Bruno Sammartino, great WWE Champion.
Ken Shamrock, great UFC Champion.
The only one that's done all three is "The Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar.
[Ranallo] Randy Orton valiantly trying to fight back here on the outside
with those forearms.
Well-placed knee by Lesnar.
[Saxton] Very little effect on Brock Lesnar.
[Ranallo] And there's the strength, the power of Lesnar.
[Graves] Look out, guys.
[Ranallo] Oh man! Looking to drive Orton through the table!
[Layfield] Randy would have been better off if that table broke.
[Ranallo] Randy Orton just fell into the front row
here in the WWE Universe.
[Saxton] I am really uncomfortable being this close to the action.
[Ranallo] Corey, Brock Lesnar frothing at the mouth,
stalking his prey.
[Graves] Like a Bengal tiger that's been unleashed
here in Barclays Center.
[Ranallo] Oh, and there it is!
He just drove Randy Orton through the table!
Mamma mia!
[Saxton] What a sick, nasty thud that Orton's body made on that announce table.
[Layfield] It's almost like a biel throw from the other side of the barricade.
[Ranallo] Brock Lesnar a one-man wrecking crew thus far
here at SummerSlam,
taking the fight to Randy Orton.
We told you this wasn't going to be a tactical wrestling match.
It's a fight, and thus far, Brock Lesnar has the advantage, Corey.
[Graves] This is the first time in my career I can ever say
that Brock Lesnar putting his opponent back in the ring was an act of mercy.
Randy Orton's lucky he wasn't broken in half.
[Ranallo] Brock Lesnar toying with Randy Orton.
I didn't think I'd ever be saying that in this match,
but here comes another thunderous suplex by Lesnar.
[Layfield] That's an unlucky seven.
Brock Lesnar is destroying a 12-time World Champion.
[Ranallo] And more than just bragging rights, one has to think.
-[Saxton] Uh-oh. -[Ranallo] A potential--
[Saxton] Get out of the way! Get out of the way!
[Ranallo] And Brock Lesnar
cutting a swathe of destruction here at the Barclays in Brooklyn.
The SmackDown Live table's already been destroyed.
[Graves] I got a feeling our Raw table's about to join it.
[Layfield] They call it the greatest class of all time,
the one Orton and Lesnar was in.
Well, Brock has beaten everybody but Randy from that class,
and I think right now Brock Lesnar's putting an emphatic stamp
on the legacy of his career and of Randy Orton's.
[Ranallo] I think Brock Lesnar isn't just interested in winning the match.
I think he's interested in potentially ending Randy Orton's career.
[Saxton] That mission may be about to be accomplished.
[Ranallo] Oh, RKO! RKO!
RKO by Orton!
And just like that,
guess who's back in the match, John.
[Layfield] Unbelievable!
We said it just took one.
[Saxton] I admit, I'm impressed.
After seven German suplexes, Orton found the wherewithal.
Watch this. RKO out of nowhere!
[Ranallo] Two of the most devastating weapons in sports entertainment.
RKO!
[Layfield] Few people have ever come into this sport
with more hype than Randy Orton did.
He's lived up to every bit of that potential.
And tonight he could have the greatest victory of his career.
[Ranallo] We've seen the German suplexes, but also in Lesnar's arsenal is the F5,
and look at Orton now.
-Draping DDT! -[Layfield] Spiked him!
[Ranallo] And, boy, how quickly the tables have turned here tonight.
[Saxton] My goodness, yeah.
Now it's "The Beast" who's in trouble.
[Layfield] Haha! It looks like SmackDown is gonna have the man
that dethroned "The Beast Incarnate."
Only on SmackDown Live, Randy Orton.
He's hearing voices.
[Ranallo] Lesnar struggling to get back up to his feet.
Is he going to be on the receiving end of an RKO?
[Layfield] He got him! Cover him, Randy! Cover him, Randy!
He got him!
[Saxton] Oh no, no.
[Ranallo] Lesnar kicks out.
[Graves] There aren't too many people on the planet Earth
that can say that they have stalked "The Beast Incarnate
like Randy Orton has just done.
[Ranallo] And Paul Heyman experiencing heart palpitations at ringside
after that second RKO.
[Layfield] What do you do when you've stalked the beast,
take your best shot, and he's still moving?
[Ranallo] Two tools of destruction.
Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar meeting for the first time…
-[Saxton] Whoa, whoa. Guys, guys… -[Layfield] Tee it up! Tee it up!
[Heyman thumping ring apron]
Paul Heyman knows what's coming.
[Ranallo] He's gonna try to kick his head off.
-[Saxton] Uh-uh! -[Ranallo] Oh!
F5!
[Saxton] Lesnar may have him.
[Ranallo] Orton kicks out.
Lesnar just put the "slam" in SummerSlam
with his F5.
Wow.
[Graves] Orton maybe looking for that punt
that he has ended careers with,
and he runs into an F5.
[Saxton] Explosive response by Brock Lesnar.
Oh, Lesnar
taking off the gloves.
[Ranallo] Brooklyn has spawned some of the best rappers in the game,
and these two wanting to hit each other more than any diss track.
[Ranallo] And harder-looking.
Lesnar, those clubbing forearms from the ground and pound position.
[Saxton] This is just bare bones, trying to bust up your opponent.
[Graves] Look at this. Lesnar looking to open up Orton with those elbows.
This is just pure malice.
[Ranallo] Those slashing elbows, the clubbing forearms,
"The Beast Incarnate" in a feeding frenzy.
[Saxton] We are seeing the animalistic tendencies
of Brock Lesnar at its core.
[referee] Come on, Brock. Let's go.
[Layfield] Randy may be out. I think Brock has just knocked Randy out.
The, uh, forearm to the head…
[Ranallo] Randy Orton isn't moving.
[referee] Doc!
[Ranallo] Referee Mike Chioda… Oh wow!
[Saxton] Oh my gosh.
[Ranallo] Corey, you guys mentioned that those elbows, those slashing elbows…
[Graves] You catch one of those elbows, it'll open you right up,
as just evidenced by Brock Lesnar.
[Ranallo] Turning this into a horror movie here at SummerSlam.
[Graves] Look how casual Lesnar sits in the corner.
Just relaxed, enjoying his handiwork.
[Saxton] There's a cold human being.
[Layfield] This doctor needs to call this fight now.
[Ranallo] I called Brock Lesnar's MMA debut,
and he's showcasing just what makes him
one of the most legitimate badasses on the planet.
[Layfield] You gotta call this. This is…
[Graves] I think for SmackDown's sake, you better hope the referee's called this.
You're not gonna have a Superstar.
[Saxton] This is uncomfortable to watch.
[Ranallo] Brock Lesnar mauling Randy Orton.
[Layfield] As much as I hate to agree with you, Corey, you're right.
[fans chanting] Goldberg! Goldberg! Goldberg!
[Ranallo] Randy Orton in dire straits.
[Layfield] Orton has been assaulted.
-[Ranallo] And the assault continues. -[Graves] "The Beast" is not finished.
When is enough enough?
[Saxton] Here's the scary part. Who's gonna stop him?
[Graves] Absolutely right!
[Layfield] I'd start with the damn doctor calling the match off.
-[bell rings] -There you go.
[Ranallo] The bell has gone.
[Layfield] Somebody get Randy out of there.
[Ranallo] We've just witnessed a SummerSlam massacre. I hate to say it.
[Layfield] And before we witness anymore,
somebody better get Randy Orton out of there.
[JoJo] Here is your winner by TKO,
Brock Lesnar!
[Ranallo] So Raw's Brock Lesnar
was raw in his aggression,
decimating Randy Orton at SummerSlam.
[Graves] The winner by TKO,
pure decimation, brutality,
but that's why they call him "The Beast Incarnate."
[Saxton] "Beast Incarnate" reporting for duty.
And the results of his job lie at his feet.
[Ranallo] And look at that sick, devious smile
creep across the face of Brock Lesnar.
[Graves] And, guys, the referee did the--
[Ranallo] Admiring his handiwork. Lesnar's not done!
A brutal assault!
[Saxton] You gotta be thinking about Randy Orton's long-term health.
[Graves] Yeah, this is too much.
[Ranallo] Here comes SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon.
-[Graves] Shane, be careful. -[Layfield] That's not smart, Shane.
[Ranallo] He just wants to tend to his…
-[crowd noise drowns out speech] -[Saxton] Randy is helpless.
[Ranallo] I think everyone's helpless when Brock Lesnar's in the ring.
I wanna get to my man. It's over!
Get out of here. We're done.
We are done.
We're done.
[crowd noise drowns out speech]
-[Ranallo] Oh no. -[Saxton] No, no, no, no.
[Ranallo] Oh my God!
[Heyman] Brock, Brock! Brock, what did you do?
What did you do?! No, no more.
[Ranallo] Brock Lesnar's unhinged.
[Graves] Brock Lesnar just F5'd the Commissioner of SmackDown Live.
[Saxton] Even Paul Heyman begging Lesnar to stop.
[Heyman] Oh my God.
[booing]
[Ranallo] A shocking end to SummerSlam.
[inaudible] shocking end to SummerSlam.