["Outside" playing]
[Michael] This is New York City, The Big Apple.
But tonight, we're located just across the Hudson River,
somewhere in the swamps of Jersey,
East Rutherford, MetLife Stadium, for SummerSlam.
♪ Way too easy ♪
♪ Good-for-nothing low-down dirty dogs I'm convinced ♪
♪ Next time you see your mama Tell her how she raised a… ♪
The United States Champion, Solo Sikoa, and his Family Tree, the MFTs, are here.
Solo, hell-bent on destruction, versus the "Samoan Werewolf,"
none other than Jacob Fatu.
Jacob and Solo battle inside a steel cage live tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] It's Lyra Valkyria's last opportunity
at the Intercontinental Championship as long as Becky Lynch is champion.
But there's no champion's advantage tonight
for "The Man" Becky Lynch
because there's no disqualification, no count-out
for the Intercontinental Championship live tonight.
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
hopes to win the Undisputed WWE title tonight
and beat the real John Cena in the process.
Cody versus John.
Cena's final SummerSlam, a Street Fight tonight.
And over 56,000 WWE fans will be here tonight
for SummerSlam Sunday.
[song concludes]
[epic music playing]
[Michael] Over 50,000 WWE fans are expected tonight.
Reigns gonna go all-out! Oh my goodness!
Let's go, new champs!
[Wade] Here's your viral moment, everyone!
[audience member] Oh my God!
It's clobberin' time!
Oh my God! Punk's the champ!
♪ Burn it down! ♪
Oh, I'm sorry, were some of my posts misleading?
[overlapping chatter]
-Crazy! -Are you kidding me?
[both laugh]
Yo, that just happened right behind me. What you think night two gonna bring?
We ain't done yet. Not even close.
Tonight, we run it back. We run it loud.
One more shot to shake the world.
Let's shut it down the only way we know how.
And lose our damn minds doing it.
[cheering]
♪ I might swerve, bend that corner, whoa ♪
♪ Hold on tight, 'cause I tweak in this Start letting go ♪
♪ And I heard that she wanna show ♪
Oh my God!
♪ Like the money in my pockets, blow ♪
♪ They havin' convos about me These … don't know ♪
[laughs]
♪ Tell me what they talkin' 'bout I ain't listenin' ♪
♪ Let yo' thoughts run yo' mouth But I ain't touchin' dividends ♪
♪ I ain't from the south But kick it with my Memphis twin ♪
♪ I can't take a loss I'm always goin' for the win ♪
-That's incredible! -Oh my God!
Get out your cameras, you're gonna want to remember this moment.
♪ I might swerve, bend that corner, whoa ♪
♪ Hold on tight, 'cause I tweak in this Start letting go ♪
♪ And I heard that she wanna show ♪
We're getting wild and crazy, man.
SummerSlam night two, we out here.
[music ends]
[narrator] And now WWE presents SummerSlam.
["Outside" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] You are looking live at MetLife Stadium,
home to the NFL's Jets and Giants,
the finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
and tonight, SummerSlam Sunday.
Fifty-six-thousand-plus expected tonight.
And what a gorgeous weekend we've had here in East Rutherford.
It's sunny, 82 degrees, a slight breeze,
and we're ready for SummerSlam.
[song concludes]
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
WWE Chief Content Officer,
Paul "Triple H" Levesque!
["King of Kings" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ On your knees, dog ♪
♪ All hail ♪
♪ Bow down to the, bow down to the king ♪
♪ Bow down to the, bow down to ♪
♪ The king grinned red As he walked from the place ♪
♪ Where the traitor lost both his name And his face ♪
♪ Through the halls and the corridors Stinging in blood ♪
[song fades]
[crowd cheering]
So, here we are.
This is it. This is the moment.
This is your time.
[crowd cheering]
All of you right now are part of the biggest SummerSlam in history.
[crowd cheering]
And if you thought last night was something,
you ain't seen nothing yet.
[crowd cheering]
So, MetLife Stadium,
I have one question for you.
Are you ready?
[crowd] Yes!
[Triple H] I said,
-are you ready? -[crowd] Are you ready?
[crowd cheering]
Then welcome to the biggest SummerSlam in history.
[crowd cheering]
[fireworks exploding]
["Outside" playing]
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, uh-huh ♪
♪ When I tell you these … ain't … Please believe me ♪
♪ They gon' … on anything These … way too easy ♪
-["Demon In Your Dreams" playing] -♪ This is my brutality! ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed The demons in your dreams ♪
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪
♪ Look at my eyes Look a, look alive, live ♪
♪ Look at my eyes This is do or die, die… ♪
[Michael] I've said it before, I'm gonna say it again.
When you look up the term "Superstar,"
you see the face of "The Eradicator,"
Rhea "Bloody" Ripley.
And for Rhea Ripley tonight,
it is about ending undesirable streaks.
It is about putting to bed things she's not been able to accomplish.
She's never won at SummerSlam.
She's never defeated Iyo Sky.
I spoke to Rhea Ripley earlier today, Wade,
and she says tonight is the night.
[Wade] Well, this is undoubtedly the face of women's wrestling
in the present era.
But how the hell can you be the face of women's wrestling,
A, without the gold, and B, without a victory at SummerSlam?
That is a baffling statistic,
one that I would feel I'd have to check up on
if I didn't know you weren't always completely accurate,
Michael Cole, but yeah, big, big night for Rhea Ripley.
[Michael] An opportunity tonight for Rhea to win the Women's World Championship.
[crowd cheering]
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed The demons in your dreams ♪
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪
[Michael] She just has an unbelievable presence,
-does Rhea Ripley. -[song concludes]
[crowd cheering]
["Tokyo Shock" playing]
[screaming]
[Michael] She's the Genius of the Sky, Iyo Sky,
the former Women's World Champion.
And last month at the Evolution Premium Live Event in Atlanta,
Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley put on the proverbial barn burner,
stealing the show.
One of the all-time great matches at Evolution.
Rhea Ripley seemed to be finally closing in on beating Iyo Sky.
And Naomi, Wade, would cash in Money in the Bank.
[Wade] Well, sometimes in life, you just have your kryptonite.
And as close as Rhea Ripley got at Evolution,
ultimately, she did not prevail.
Kryptonite won once again, one way or another.
And for many, if Rhea Ripley is the face of women's wrestling,
then the best woman's wrestler on the planet,
bell to bell, is Iyo Sky.
["Tokyo Shock" continues playing]
[crowd cheering]
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome again to ringside.
Michael Cole, Wade Barrett.
Wade, my question to you is, how on earth do we follow up last night?
Well, night one was epic,
but night two always tops night one, doesn't it?
Gauntlet laid down, let's have ourselves a night here
on SummerSlam Sunday.
Our Spanish announced team, Jerry and Marcelo, here as well.
-Welcome, guys. -Thank you, amigos.
[speaking Spanish]
[both speak Spanish]
[Michael, in English] Two of the three participants in our Triple Threat match
for the Women's World title.
Again, first to gain pinfall or submission becomes the Champion tonight.
No count-outs, no disqualifications.
[song concludes]
["Last Warning" playing]
♪ You'd better watch out ♪
♪ Watch out! ♪
♪ I'm coming! ♪
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, the man on the guitar is Naomi's father,
Shawn McCray, a world-renowned guitarist.
He heads up the Derek Mack Band.
He once opened for Kool & the Gang back in the day.
He's played with Taylor Dayne, and now tonight,
he's helping his daughter Naomi head to the ring to kick off SummerSlam.
[Wade] I don't know if Naomi's gonna come to the ring.
She's having too much of a party out there.
But some people get all the luck, don't they?
Not only is Naomi the Champion of the World,
but her dad can play guitar like Jimi Hendrix.
I wish I was Naomi.
♪ You better watch out ♪
♪ Watch out! ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Caution You better watch out ♪
♪ Watch out ♪
♪ I'm coming! ♪
♪ This is your last warning ♪
♪ You better watch out… ♪
[Michael] Let's head up to our ring announcer,
the great Alicia Taylor.
-[bell ringing] -[song concludes]
The following contest
is a Triple Threat match…
and is for
the Women's World Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challengers.
First, from Adelaide,
South Australia,
Rhea Ripley.
[crowd cheering]
Next, from Tokyo, Japan,
Iyo Sky.
[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] And their opponent,
from Orlando, Florida,
she is the Women's World Champion,
Naomi!
[Michael] A lot of interesting stats as we start this matchup tonight.
For Naomi, she's never won at SummerSlam.
Her last appearance was back in 2017.
On that night, she lost the Women's Championship to Natalya.
So a lot of revenge on Naomi's mind tonight.
Let's take a look at Iyo Sky, Wade.
In her career, she is eight and one.
Eight and one in Triple Threat matches.
[referee] Ring the bell.
[Michael] Referee Jessika Carr calls for the bell, and we are underway.
Iyo Sky, two years ago at SummerSlam,
cashed in Money in the Bank to win the WWE Women's Championship.
So, what's the strategy now, Wade,
for these women as they try to knock off Naomi tonight?
[Wade] Well, Naomi took a major shortcut
with the Money in the Bank briefcase at Evolution,
costing two women their historical moment after an epic match.
And clearly, the two women concerned have not forgotten that
and were apparently out for vengeance on Naomi.
Naomi taking a step sideways, at least momentarily.
[Michael] Well, she's allowed to do that.
There are no count-outs in a Triple Threat match.
But remember, there's no champion's advantage.
Naomi does not have to be involved in the decision
to lose the championship tonight.
If Rhea pinned Iyo or vice versa, they'd be the champ.
[Wade] Well, there seems to be a momentary alliance here.
[Michael] Well, there's no love lost for Naomi, that is for sure,
who looks for a way to escape early,
and Rhea Ripley will not allow that to happen.
[Wade] Yeah, sadly, there are no shortcuts tonight for Naomi.
This is gonna be as arduous as winning
the Money in the Bank briefcase in the first place,
should she prevail.
[Michael] Well, Naomi is gonna have to, well, to use her words,
"proceed with caution" against these two women here tonight.
Naomi went after Rhea Ripley,
now Iyo Sky gets involved with the right hand.
And we're underway with action
in this Women's World Championship matchup.
[Wade] Yeah, it's a lot more difficult now that Iyo Sky
and Rhea Ripley are completely fresh, unlike the cash-in at Evolution,
when they were wiped out after such a tortuous match.
[Michael] Of course, that was a surprise, right?
Naomi cashing in. Tonight, there are no surprises.
Oh, no, Rhea Ripley, I think that was inadvertent, clocked Iyo Sky
as they appeared to want to be working together there.
And a mule kick by Naomi, and suddenly the champ's taken control.
[Wade] And that was about the best thing that could have happened for Naomi
in this one.
Break up this alliance right off the bat, this ain't two-on-one.
Now, surely, it's every woman for themselves.
[Michael] Naomi now climbing up to the top rope, Iyo and Rhea are there.
-And Naomi now with a crossbody. -[Sky screams]
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Takes out Rhea and Iyo Sky.
You know, we talked at the Countdown show, Wade,
the importance of this matchup for Naomi.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] There again is that kick from Rhea Ripley to Iyo Sky.
[Wade] Friendly fire, despite the fact both are opponents in this match,
that alliance completely obliterated right off the bat.
[Michael] Well, Naomi's been upset too,
there's been a lot of whispers over the past few weeks
over the fact that she became champion by cashing in Money in the Bank,
that maybe she didn't quite earn that,
those are the words of others in the locker room.
[Wade] Complete BS, I've heard that a million times.
The cash-in is easy, that's the bit that-- A fool couldn't screw that up.
The hard part is getting the briefcase in the first place.
That is really where you win the World Championship.
So I'm taking no shot at Naomi about cashing in
-and being successful. -[Michael groans]
[Wade] She earned every piece of that championship,
but now you've gotta earn it all over again.
[Michael] And Rhea up on the apron now, and looking to outpower Naomi here.
And Naomi trying to block.
-Rhea got a handful of hair. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh!
[Wade] Naomi was perhaps biting the hand there of Rhea Ripley.
Either way, it was completely effective.
Naomi in the early goings here has been dominant.
[Michael] The X-Factor delivered to Iyo Sky.
-Cover now. -One, two…
[Michael] And a kick-out by Sky.
Again, if it was biting, it's legal and no disqualifications
here in the Triple Threat match tonight. The new attitude by Naomi,
tried to talk to her about it earlier today…
-[Wade] Good luck with that. -[Michael] She's sick and tired, she said,
of being disrespected, being mistreated, being overused.
[Sky screams]
[Michael] Those were her words. Felt like she was stabbed in the back
by both Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
Decided it was time to do things on her own.
[Wade] Fifteen-plus years at the top, and who was giving Naomi any respect
until she alerted everyone to this change in personality?
Proceed With Caution. Oh my God, right on the nose of Rhea Ripley.
[Michael] Chick Kick off the ropes,
and now Naomi gonna try to pin Rhea there, who kicks out.
[Wade] Well, look, when you break into the industry,
as we take another look at this boot,
I think it's actually the forehead of Rhea Ripley.
Didn't get a gushing nose like Gunther last night,
fortunately for the Aussie Superstar.
But when you break into this industry and you perform in a role
like a Funkadactyl, a backing dancer,
very often the stigma of that follows you forever.
Well, that's been enough for Naomi. It did follow Naomi, not anymore.
[Michael] She also felt like a number of years ago,
she was forced out of the company,
had to go and reinvent herself, which she did.
Became a TNA Knockouts Champion, then returned to WWE,
and then decided, "Hey, I gotta start doing things the way I wanna do things
around here," and it's paid off.
[Wade] Yeah, came back after that departure,
was given respect for about three weeks,
and then it was all back to the old Naomi once again.
"Oh, it's just Naomi, we don't need to give her opportunities."
"Well, don't give me any opportunities, I'm just gonna start taking them."
Well done, Naomi.
[Michael] Naomi with a big kick, and now-- Oh! And Rhea bounced off the apron.
[Wade] It's been all Naomi. She is absolutely battering Rhea
and Iyo Sky, arguably the two best women wrestlers on the planet.
[Michael] Naomi now up to the top rope, Rhea back to her feet.
And Naomi-- Oh! What a blockbuster by Naomi.
Quickly into the cover now on Ripley, hooks the leg,
and Rhea's got a kick-out at two.
[Wade] Complete control from Naomi, just picking apart these two badass women.
And Rhea Ripley looking in major dire straits
and-- Though keep your eye on Iyo Sky!
[Michael] Iyo Sky comes off the top rope and Naomi able to avoid it.
Perhaps a missile dropkick there, and now--
Roll through by Naomi, kick right to the face of Iyo Sky.
And again, Naomi looks great so far in this matchup.
[Wade] Arguably the best Naomi has ever looked in her entire career.
This woman is just getting better and better.
[Michael] And now she's mocking Iyo Sky.
[Wade] You do whatever you want when you're the champ.
You have the gold, you're in control, just keep on doing what you do.
[inaudible]
[Michael] And now Rhea back to her feet.
Rhea with a clothesline,
and now The Eradicator starts to take over.
[both grunt]
-[Naomi grunts] -[Michael] Naomi face first.
Iyo, springboard off the top rope, and there's the missile dropkick.
-Into a kip-up for Sky. -[crowd cheering]
-[Sky screaming] -[Ripley screaming]
[Michael] Now Rhea and Iyo having some fun together.
You know they'd love to make this a one-on-one match at some point, Wade,
to finally settle their differences.
[Wade] It's a hell of a lot easier winning a one-on-one match
than a three-way like this.
[Michael] 619 into a release German suplex.
That's what you get, Naomi. Proceed with caution!
[Wade] And this double-teaming on Naomi might have been the only way
Ripley and Iyo Sky were going to get back into the match, but now…
-It's one-on-one. -[Michael] Yeah, Rhea with that smile.
We got some unfinished business back at Evolution last month.
And Iyo, such a joy to watch.
Two of the best in the world going at it right here.
[Wade] And if there was any doubt before Evolution,
I think the world knew right after it,
these are the two toughest women we've ever seen.
[Michael] Cover by Rhea, Iyo's got a kick-out at two.
[Wade] Put each other through hell in Atlanta three weeks ago
and kept on ticking.
[crowd chanting "Mami"]
[Wade] Take another look at this.
High-flying Iyo Sky just plucked out by the powerhouse Rhea Ripley.
[Michael] Rhea going for a Riptide, looking to put this one away.
And Iyo able to turn it around, roll up, shoulders down,
and a kick-out by Rhea at two.
-[both grunt, scream] -[Michael] Another great takedown by Iyo,
now in control.
[Wade] And that crossface, and Rhea Ripley just too strong,
at least at this point in the match, to keep that locked in.
Oh! Right on the bridge of the nose.
[Michael] And, uh-oh, Iyo missed wildly with a kick, up on Rhea's shoulders now.
-Iyo, though, wow! -[Wade] Oh my God. Oh my God.
[Michael] Cover by Sky to win the championship,
and Naomi's gotta break things up to save her title. That was close.
[Wade] Poisonrana there,
just as Rhea Ripley was going for the power move once again.
Worked the first time,
but Iyo Sky just developing as the match goes on,
learning from opponents and figuring out counters.
[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Michael] And Naomi in the corner, there's a back elbow to Sky.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael laughs] Man!
[Wade] Great reflex dodge there by Naomi, but didn't dodge the second one.
[Michael] Razor's Edge from Rhea to Iyo.
And now Ripley, down goes Iyo again, stacks her up.
[crowd counting]
[Michael] Then Naomi drags Rhea off the cover.
[Wade] What a contrast in styles between these three women.
The high-flying, technical skills of Iyo Sky,
the power moves of Rhea Ripley,
and this unorthodox craziness of Naomi.
[Michael] Now, Naomi, who appeared to be going in for a cover,
was stopped by Ripley.
And now Rhea and Naomi going at it outside the ring.
Driven ribs first into the barricade and now into the steps.
[Wade] That rage inside Rhea Ripley starting to bubble to the surface,
and that can be dangerous for Ripley. She's devastating when she's in this mode.
[Michael] Oh! Moonsault.
[Wade] Take her eye off the ball
-when consumed by rage, drops the guard. -[screams]
[Wade] And Iyo Sky can capitalize from any angle.
[Michael] Springboard Moonsault from Iyo Sky.
There's a reason she's called "Genius of the Sky,"
as she wipes out Rhea and Naomi.
And now Iyo with an opportunity to win the championship.
[screams]
[Michael] That kick stunned Naomi, caught her in the ear.
[Wade] This audience is starting to believe that it is Iyo Sky's night,
especially with Rhea Ripley down on the outside.
[Michael] Iyo looking for the Bullet Train Attack,
but Rhea Ripley looks to intercept and Iyo gonna make her pay with a stomp.
[Wade] Kryptonite strikes again for Rhea Ripley.
-Nothing is working against Iyo Sky. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] We've talked about it before,
sometimes you just have an opponent you can't beat.
And Sky has been that for Ripley, a couple of Bullet Train Attacks now.
[Wade] And the longer that streak goes on,
the worse it gets, the harder it is to get over the hump.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Now, Iyo Sky with all the momentum in the world.
Choose your victim.
[Michael] Rhea down and out in the far corner,
and Iyo Sky says, "That's it."
-Gonna head up top. -[Naomi screams]
[Michael] Maybe looking for the Over the Moonsault,
and Rhea Ripley drives her into the ring post.
[Wade] Oh! Sternum first onto the top of that ring post.
Could be cracked ribs or anything from there,
but Rhea Ripley doesn't care.
Not when gold is on the line.
[Michael] Thought Rhea was going for the Riptide,
and Naomi caught her with a kick to the hamstring.
And now Naomi, split-legged moonsault, how she won the championship.
Cover, hook of the leg. Is it enough to put Rhea away?
Iyo Sky! Over the Moonsault, but she takes out Rhea.
-[Sky screams] -[Michael] Naomi, that was a--
She's been watching Bianca Belair, that was from WrestleMania.
And look at this now, shoulders down again and a kick-out by Sky.
[Wade] You're absolutely right. So much awareness from Naomi.
You mentioned it yourself, something very similar happened at WrestleMania
with former tag partner Bianca Belair.
And we know full well that Naomi knows everything about Bianca Belair.
She was stalking her in her house at one point,
rummaging through her underwear drawers
and finding out whatever else she could about Bianca Belair.
Well, she found out the crucial detail there,
that is how you avoid Iyo Sky.
[Michael] Naomi's been doing her homework.
Triple Threat match for the Women's World Championship
in front of over 56,000 tonight on SummerSlam Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
[Wade] And crucially it has given Naomi the upper hand with Rhea Ripley laid out.
-And now Iyo Sky on jelly legs. -[Naomi] Come on. Come on, girl. Come on.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Shotei uppercuts there.
[Michael] And another one by Iyo.
[Wade] Iyo struggling to maintain a vertical base,
but once again, the pendulum swings here.
[Michael] And Naomi, what a knee! What a collision!
She may have broken the nose of Iyo Sky.
[Wade] Completely wiping out the Genius of the Sky,
but ready to pounce is Ripley.
[Michael] Off the headlock, into the Riptide by Rhea.
Rhea stacks up the champion.
[crowd counting]
[Michael] Iyo Sky just before the three count breaks things up.
[Wade] One 100th of a second away from victory for Rhea Ripley.
-Look at this knee to an… -[Michael] Bang!
[Wade] …in-motion Iyo Sky, temporarily wiping out the Japanese Superstar,
and then Ripley ready to pounce with the big hitter.
Riptide connects, 2.99.
Hey! That's not quite gonna get the job done tonight,
-thanks to the speed of Iyo Sky. -[Michael] Again, first woman
to gain pinfall or submission wins the Women's World Championship.
Naomi outside the ring after getting clocked
by not just the knee but the Riptide.
And now Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky square off, center of the ring.
[Wade] Yeah, the double whammy to Naomi
opened a window for these two now to grab the gold.
Gotta make it count while you can,
but there ain't much left in the tank of these two.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Exchanging blows, Iyo back to her feet, Rhea as well.
-Kick by Rhea drops Iyo to her knees. -[Sky screams]
[Wade] Slugfest against Rhea Ripley, I don't fancy anyone else's chances.
[Michael] And now Naomi gonna pay for it.
And Rhea Ripley with a boot drives Naomi off the apron.
And now Iyo gonna dump Rhea out to the apron as well.
[Wade] And all of the big hits are going the way of Naomi right now.
-[Michael] Oh, no. -[Wade] Except for that one.
-Bullseye, Rhea Ripley. -[Michael] And now Ripley off the apron.
A bowling ball, the cannonball delivered to Naomi.
[Wade] It's almost a scorpion kick, kind of caught the heel of the boot
right to the top of the head of Naomi.
Scrambling the brains of the champ for now.
[Michael] And now Naomi back up to the apron.
She looks down at the champion, Iyo Sky back to her feet.
Iyo Sky now looking for a sunset flip powerbomb,
Rhea Ripley hanging on, and now Iyo delivers a powerbomb to Naomi.
And all three women are down in front of us here.
[Naomi gasping]
[Wade] Cushioning the landing somewhat for Rhea Ripley
were the ribs of Naomi.
Rhea Ripley now not looking good at all.
And in whole pursuit is Iyo Sky.
[Michael] Iyo gonna climb now to the top rope.
Genius of the Sky says this one's over.
-Iyo Sky positioning. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Uh-oh. Looking for Over The Moonsault,
and again, Rhea Ripley able to counter.
[Wade] Sky just too sluggish on that one.
So beat up at this point in the match, as are the other two women in the match.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Iyo caught her.
[Wade] It's again one of those shotei uppercuts
that completely scramble the brain.
-[Michael] Iyo… -[Wade] A little stumble there.
[Michael] Coming up to the top rope, Rhea Ripley with a headbutt.
-And now Rhea's got Iyo in position. -[Wade] Oh God.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Rhea Ripley from the second rope.
Riptide! Avalanche Riptide, stacks her up for the win.
Naomi now from behind, rolls up Rhea.
-Naomi, Naomi retains the title. -[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering] -["Last Warning" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner
and still the Women's World Champion…
Naomi!
[Michael] My goodness, Wade, Rhea Ripley is snakebitten.
There's no other way to describe it. Ripley had the title won again.
And Naomi came from out of nowhere and pinned Rhea Ripley.
Doesn't matter if she used the tights, Rhea, no disqualification.
[Wade] The craftiest woman on Earth played all the right cards tonight.
Naomi, the world is basking in your glow.
Congratulations, still World Champ.
You effers tried to kill me!
[crowd groaning]
[Wade] This is the bullseye right to the kisser
of the Genius of the Sky,
followed by this little scorpion-like attack on Naomi.
It looked like Naomi was dead and buried after this powerbomb
right onto the chest by Iyo Sky, but things turned around in a hurry.
One slip on the top rope from Iyo Sky, an Avalanche Riptide later,
it was over, but not in the way Rhea Ripley thought it was over,
because Naomi pounced and was ready.
[Alicia] Here is your winner.
["Last Warning" continues]
[Michael] Shrewd, lucky, smart.
Naomi is still the Women's World Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I cannot believe it's been 25 years,
a quarter of a century,
since the very first Tables, Ladders and Chairs match
at SummerSlam.
Edge and Christian, The Dudley Boyz, The Hardy Boyz making it a tradition,
which is followed up tonight with the biggest TLC match of all time.
[Alicia] In honor of the 25th anniversary of the very first TLC match,
at SummerSlam 2000,
we're thrilled to have two of the teams
who competed in that match with us here tonight.
Please welcome WWE Hall of Famers
Bubba Ray and D-Von, the Dudley Boyz!
[Michael] One of the greatest tag teams of all time, D-Von and Bubba.
-D-Von! -What?
-[Michael] Hey, Wade, get the… -One, two, three…
-[Wade] Tables! -[crowd] Get the tables!
[Wade] I'd happily put you through a table one day, Michael Cole.
You go figure that out.
[Alicia] And WWE legends Matt and Jeff,
-The Hardy Boyz! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] It's so awesome to see Matt and Jeff here.
And Wade, you heard the news, in a couple of months,
at TNA's Bound for Glory event, one last time,
the Hardy Boyz, the Dudley Boyz, gonna do battle in a match.
[Wade] Oh, man, we got some OGs in the house tonight,
the guys who set the table for the modern era of tag team wrestling.
-[bell ringing] -[Alicia] The following is a Tables,
Ladders, and Chairs match.
And it is for
the WWE Tag Team Championship.
In this match, there are no pinfalls,
no submissions, no count-outs or disqualifications.
The only way to win is when one team climbs a ladder
and retrieves the titles hanging above the ring.
-["We Want Smoke" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Meet us here right in the middle We comin' and poppin' it off ♪
♪ Tonight is the night we deliver And no we not takin no losses… ♪
[Alicia] Introducing first, The Street Profits!
[Michael] You know, this is actually the third Tables and Ladders
and Chairs match in SummerSlam history. We mentioned the 2000 affair. And in 2009,
CM Punk beat Jeff Hardy in a TLC match.
And the WWE Tag Team Titles are on the line in this one tonight.
[Michael] The Street Profits, former three-time tag team champions.
[Wade] They were the most recent holders of the gold
until they were dethroned by the returning Wyatt Sicks.
But this year has really been the year of The Street Profits.
They returned in a big way, went on a tear,
and took out every team in the division before grabbing gold.
["Do It Myself" playing]
♪ One, two, three, four ♪
♪ Let's go ♪
♪ Come on… ♪
-[Alicia] Next, DIY. -[Michael] Ciampa and Gargano,
despite what you might think about their crazy attitudes,
they are former two-time WWE Tag Team Champions
and one-time NXT champs. I sort of am leaning
towards DIY pulling things off in this match tonight.
[Wade] Yeah, so DIY also held tag gold earlier this year.
It's been such a chaotic division on SmackDown.
But DIY have really been the manipulators in the background of this division,
pitting all the other teams against each other.
-["Raise Your Fist" playing] -[Wade] And if they do that tonight,
they could well scarper up a ladder and grab gold.
♪ Raise your fist ♪
[fireworks exploding]
♪ Let's go… ♪
[Alicia] Next,
Motor City Machine Guns!
[Michael] Shelley and Sabin, former tag team champions,
they lost their tag titles to DIY,
looking to grab the gold back here tonight.
First SummerSlam for this team,
Wade, that's been together for a couple of decades.
[Wade] Yeah, well, we saw the Dudley Boyz a little earlier,
we saw the Hardy Boyz a little earlier.
Now, these two are from that same old school,
a couple of revolutionaries who built their careers over in TNA
before moving over here to SmackDown,
and ultimately SummerSlam later on in their careers.
These two, two minds working together in complete cohesion.
That is the strength of the Motor City Machine Guns.
["Just The Frax" playing]
[Alicia] Making their way to the ring, Fraxiom!
[Michael] Nathan Frazer and Axiom,
the tag team that was an odd couple at one point, Wade,
thrown together on NXT, ended up being a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion.
Three hundred fifty-six days cumulative as tag team champs down at NXT.
This is a team that I expect to show us some highlights tonight.
[Wade] Well, Axiom and Frazer, the portmanteau,
Fraxiom is the team name.
They should just change that name to The Blur,
because these two are so rapid,
you need to upgrade your eyeballs to try and keep up with them.
-The fastest tag team I have ever seen. -[Michael] It's their first SummerSlam,
and they've actually knocked off the Profits and DIY in recent weeks.
["Conquistar" playing]
-["Animo" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] Next,
the team of Andrade and Rey Fenix.
[Michael] And, Wade, I love this team.
Andrade and Fenix undefeated, since starting the team together
on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Wade] Yeah, so all the teams in this match,
we've talked about how much history they all have together.
Probably the minimum is Fraxiom,
they've got a couple of years together but still a ton of rep.
But these two, however, thrown together about six weeks ago
and just had instant chemistry,
they went on a tear, win after win after win.
Ultimately, got themselves a title match which ended up
in complete bedlam with a locker room clear out,
but now they get their real chance at gold tonight. Auto chemistry.
Sometimes the magic is just there.
["Animo" continues]
[music fades]
["Shatter" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ You can throw it all away… ♪
-[Michael] Oh, no, the witch is here. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I mean, I know it's Nikki Cross, but she freaks me out
as that Abby the Witch.
[Wade] Can we please get a change of pants for Michael Cole,
who has made a puddle underneath his chair?
Do you not remember what happened when they first debuted in WWE
and she was coming over here giving those creepy VHS tapes?
[Wade] I tried to blank it out, Michael Cole,
and now you've given me PTSD.
♪ Die for me brother ♪
♪ Know not what you've seen ♪
♪ Love one another ♪
♪ Know not where you've been ♪
♪ Lie for me brother ♪
♪ Know not what you've said ♪
♪ Use me for cover ♪
♪ When things break, things break Things shatter ♪
♪ Just a sliver of a thought can make… ♪
[Wade] These guys have got their own Halloween horror house?
-[Michael] Yes. Well, look at them. -[Wade] Wow!
[Michael] I mean, they're a bunch of freaks, right?
Lumis and Gacy.
[Wade] I would like to see the business meeting where that was pitched
-to The Wyatt Sicks. -[Michael laughs]
You think they actually did the pitch? And look at this guy.
Lumis has been a tortured artist his whole career,
was always a loner.
Now he's teamed up with guys dressed just as nuts as he is.
Gacy, he used to be a cult leader in NXT. Did you forget about that?
[Wade] No, absolute crazy. But since returning to SmackDown,
they have shown sheer dominance in the division,
ultimately capturing the gold
-and attacking every single team… -[bell ringing]
-…in that SmackDown locker room. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And here we go, TLC match is underway.
[Wade] And it's apparently ten versus two, the two being the current champs,
The Wyatt Sicks, who I mentioned moments ago
had attacked every single team in the locker room
since returning earlier this year. Well, this is payback time.
[Michael] Again, the TLC rules, you gotta use the ladder to climb it.
Grab the tag titles that hang above the ring
in order to become the tag team champions. This is gonna be a car wreck.
There's no other way to describe it. It's gonna be out of control.
There's gonna be bodies flying everywhere. People are gonna get hurt.
[Wade] Now, I spoke to a bunch of these guys right after WrestleMania 41,
they were all incredibly angry they'd been left off the card.
They were given a spot on SmackDown a few days later
and were given a TLC match and it was perhaps
-the match of the year thus far. -[Michael] Oh!
[Wade] Message sent to management, "Don't leave us off again."
-And apparently, management listened. -[Michael] And there we go, Fraxiom.
Frazer and Axiom showing things off, and now the Motor City Machine Guns.
Chris Sabin taking out DIY.
[Wade] Kind of match we simply don't have enough cameras,
-and people have a high likelihood… -[Michael] We don't have enough eyes.
-…of getting injured. There is carnage. -[Michael] Oh! Goodness.
[Wade] Bodies strewn around the ring already,
and we've been going, what, 30 seconds?
[crowd cheering]
[overlapping shouts]
[Wade] Now, it's Fraxiom initially getting the upper hand here,
making a move for the first ladder. Waiting to greet them are the vets.
[Michael] Yeah, the Motor City Machine Guns.
[chuckling] That did not… That didn't feel well.
Have you been in any ladder matches in your career?
[Wade] Yeah, I lost every single one of them, Michael Cole,
and I suspect you knew that before you asked the question…
-[Michael] I did. -[Wade] …which is why you asked it.
[Michael] Yeah, you were… You were the opposite of undefeated
in ladder matches in your career.
-[Wade laughing] Totally defeated. -[Michael] And now Frazer and Axiom
setting up the ladder.
Center of the ring, if they climb and grab the titles,
-and now look who's here. -[Wade] Well, joking aside,
some of us are just not built for ladder matches,
but when you look at Frazer and Axiom--
[Michael] Oh my God, Gacy just threw a chair at Axiom.
[Wade] And look how quick Nathan Frazer scrambles up there
and gets a fingertip on the gold. As I was saying just then,
some people are built for this kind of match, the high flyers,
-the quick movers, really are. -[Michael] Oh! Death Valley Driver.
I'll tell you who's built for this match, is these sickos,
these whack jobs, The Wyatt Sicks.
[Wade] I don't know what they're built for,
but apparently they're built for success,
and it's come rapidly since returning to SmackDown.
[Michael] And now Dawkins and Montez Ford.
But Gacy completely missed the ladder, which probably saved him.
[Wade] Yeah, either way, it was gonna hurt.
[Michael] And now, right here in front of us,
Gargano and Shelley going at it. Johnny Gargano, believe it or not,
his first SummerSlam here tonight in this matchup.
[Wade] There's fights everywhere you look right now.
There's 12 bodies around here.
They're all swinging at anything that moves, and…
-[Michael] Oh! -[Wade] …a second bite of the cherry,
and this time the brawler Gacy eats the steel.
[Michael] Yeah, this time around, Joe Gacy did not avoid the ladders
as The Street Profits are fired up and ready to go.
[Wade] The hell are The Street Profits cooking up in the ring right now?
I don't like it. Let's get the tables, perhaps.
[Michael] And again, Bubba and D-Von,
-they're at ringside front row and-- -[Wade] They're nodding in approval.
[Michael] Yeah, Bubba Ray's cheering over the fact
that The Street Profits have brought out the Slim Jim tables.
[Wade] Well, I'm a little worried that Bubba Ray's gonna climb over
the barricade and try and get involved in this match.
He's looking awfully excited over there, as is D-Von.
What are we building, guys? We're trying to win a match here.
[Michael] Oh! And driven into the post goes Sabin by Tommaso Ciampa,
who's another one that, you know, is a little crazy in his own right.
[Wade] What I like about Tommaso Ciampa, number one, the endurance,
the greatest physique perhaps on the roster,
never out of breath, a training machine. But after that, the high in-ring IQ.
-[Michael] Oh my God! -[Wade] Oh my God!
You saw that chair bounce off the head of Angelo Dawkins.
That's a tough guy, he can take a punch, but--
[Michael] And we haven't called the names of Andrade and Rey Fenix much yet,
-but we are now, because here-- -[Wade] Oh, look at that!
[Michael] Almost there! That would have been
one of the most unique victories I've ever seen in this type of matchup.
[Wade] Who needs ladders when you're a couple of acrobats like those two?
[Michael] And The Street Profits, the former tag champs are--
Oh, look at this, Andrade and Fenix turning things around.
-Three Amigos. -[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Eddie"]
[Michael] And the chants for the late, great Eddie Guerrero.
[Wade] The lucha libre legend himself. Andrade and Rey Fenix, fully in tune,
fully on the same page here,
-and perhaps going in for the kill. -Uno! Dos! Tres!
[Michael] Now DIY, though, gonna stop them in their tracks.
Ciampa and Gargano now into the ring and on the attack with the steel chairs.
Completely legal in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.
[Wade] And how many times do we talk about in a regular Triple Threat match
how difficult it is to get the win? There's always a fresh competitor around.
[Michael] And it's dangerous outside the ring.
I don't think we saw that,
but a chair just came flying out of the ring and caught Rey Fenix.
You don't even have to be in the middle of the action to get hurt out here.
[Wade] Shrapnel flying everywhere, not even aimed at Fenix,
but he caught a nasty one on the outside, and oh!
[Michael] Montez Ford launched over the top rope.
[Wade] Well, the game plan was to throw him into that table
that's propped up in the corner. Montez Ford ducked out the way
and took out everyone on the outside in the process,
leaving DIY all alone in the ring with a ladder.
[Michael] And now, Gargano and Ciampa's opportunity,
both climbing the ladder, trying to make it to the tag titles.
And now, the Motor City Machine Guns with the steel chairs,
dropping Ciampa and Gargano.
[Wade] Earlier this year, Ciampa and Gargano
screwed over former friends the Motor City Machine Guns in a big way.
So that must have felt pretty damn good for the Machine Guns.
[Michael] Now look at this, double team by the Motor City Machine Guns.
Oh, goodness! That dropkick driving Gacy through the chair.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And now, Ciampa is building a bridge
from the announce table to the ring apron.
[Wade] There are instruments of torture everywhere you look.
Things getting constructed left, right, and center.
-Every team's coming to this one… -[Michael] Oh!
[Wade] …with a game plan,
but a lot of times amidst the carnage, you gotta figure it out on the fly.
[Michael] Again, Gargano delivering the--
Oh, look at that, Johnny Gargano and Gacy through the table.
We just saw Gargano take out his once best friend, Alex Shelley.
And now, Dexter Lumis from up top.
Oh, God! Oh my God! Montez Ford may be dead.
Lumis launched his entire body like a cannonball, Wade.
[Wade] What a sickening landing, and keep your eye on Rey Fenix.
[Michael] And Fenix with a splash through the table.
[Wade] "Anything you can do, Lumis, I can do better."
[Michael] Uh-oh, wait a minute, big old Dawk.
Angelo Dawkins built like a linebacker, should be playing for Cincinnati Bengals.
They're going up top and…
-Axiom meeting him there. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Oh, God, there's no way, absolutely not. The Spanish Superstar…
[Michael] Oh my goodness! A Spanish fly through a table.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Oh my God. Take a look at the first one.
Joe Gacy with a springboard DDT through the table.
Montez Ford with a leg drop on Lumis.
Rey Fenix with a five-star frog splash through the table on Frazer.
And then Axiom, the Spaniard, with a Spanish fly
taking out Angelo Dawkins.
[Michael] Brother, there are bodies everywhere.
-And look who's come down to ringside now. -[Wade] Name her! Who is it?
-Who is it, Michael Cole? -[Michael] That is Candice LeRae.
[Wade] Wow.
[Michael] The actual wife of Johnny Gargano is out here at ringside.
[Wade] Michael Cole has been researching all week for that one and he got it.
-Wait a second. -[Michael] Oh, no.
-[Wade] Candice… Candice LeRae-- -[Michael] And B-Fab's here, B-Fab's here.
[Wade] B-Fab, who is aligned with The Street Profits,
is clearly not gonna allow Candice LeRae to steal the gold on behalf of DIY.
And if that was the game plan for DIY,
might need to return to the drawing board or wait--
[Michael] And now, look who's here, Nikki Cross, oh my goodness.
Nikki Cross is here.
That Carrie wannabe is climbing the ladder now, going after B-Fab.
-[Wade] It's ladies-- Ooh! -[Michael] Oh, no!
[Wade] It's turned into ladies night here at TLC.
That is if you can, in fact, call Nikki Cross a lady,
-which is questionable. -[Michael] What would have happened
if they had grabbed the title? I'm confused here.
[Wade] Yeah, I don't know how that would play out,
but Candice LeRae is getting a second bite at this.
And Johnny Gargano, hubs, is steadying the ladder.
[Michael] Yes, Johnny steadying the ladder for his wife, the Poison Pixie.
-Ciampa now drops Shelley. -[Wade] Ladder--
[Michael] And Candice is close to grabbing the titles.
Candice is close to grabbing the titles.
[Wade] With DIY playing God on the floor
if she throws them the title, I think they've got it won!
[Michael] Oh! No, no, no, no. Oh my God!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Michael] Ciampa and Gargano
inadvertently sending Gargano's wife, Candice, through a ladder.
[Wade] Don't blame Gargano and Ciampa,
they were shoved into the ladder, and the victim is Candice LeRae,
who may never walk straight again.
[Michael] Oh my God, somebody get the damn doctor out here.
Now, what does Johnny do? Maybe you should check on your wife.
He just gave his wife a thumbs up,
and now he's gonna try to win the championship.
[Wade] Well, her lips didn't move, but she says,
"I'm absolutely fine, Johnny, go grab the gold."
[Michael] She didn't say that, she can't move, she's out cold.
[Wade] We'll worry about that later, get the match won first.
[Michael] And now, Montez Ford leaping up to the center of the ladder.
Here comes Ford now. Oh, no, Erick Rowan now.
-[Wade] This big freak of nature. -[Michael] Big Red with a big boot.
[Wade] And the numbers game of The Wyatt Sicks
has been the story from day one. A man who is not legal in this match,
-Erick Rowan causing chaos… -[Michael] It doesn't matter.
…and there's nothing the refs can do about it.
[Michael] There's no disqualification. It doesn't matter.
Rowan now lifting up Ford, shoving him into Dawkins.
[Wade] Well, Erick Rowan is the size of a tag team
if they morphed together and created one monstrous human being.
And he might just win this match on his own
-for The Wyatt Sicks. -[Michael] Look at him,
look at Rowan now, look at this monster.
Oh, and The Street Profits though,
able to battle back with a big kick to the midsection.
Now, chairs being used by Dawkins and Ford,
trying to bury Erick Rowan of The Wyatt Sicks.
[Wade] Man, you gotta soften up this big brute any way you can
and steel on bone,
I don't care how big you are, it's always gonna sting.
[Michael] Man, what a match.
-I told you it was gonna be a car wreck. -[Wade] It has been absolute insanity,
and I wouldn't want anything less from these 12…
[Michael] And look at-- Rowan's back on his feet!
Erick Rowan driven through the table by The Profits.
[Wade] I don't think he's getting back up after that one,
and the same could be said for The Street Profits.
[Michael] Well, the same could be said for Candice.
Candice is just still down and out, outside the ring here.
[Wade] This is when Erick Rowan came back to life,
only to be sent packing again by The Street Profits.
And I can't believe anybody is moving in this match.
[Michael] Well, Ciampa is, he's setting up a ladder,
-trying to win the tag team gold. -[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Wade] By my count, 12 people are involved in the match,
we've actually had 16 people total get involved,
and it might be academic--
[Michael] Oh, Ciampa's there, Ciampa's there.
Motor City Machine Guns now, Shelley and Sabin,
and Ciampa now hanging on.
Ciampa hanging on for dear life, hanging on to the titles.
Meanwhile, Nathan Frazer climbing the ladder.
Gargano throwing chairs. Look at Frazer.
[Wade] Frazer so rapidly getting up there, booting Gargano up.
[Michael] And Frazer now, nobody home!
Ciampa. That was incredible.
[Wade] Core strength and timing, and nothing Nathan Frazer can do about it.
-Missed with that spin. Oh! -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Super kick to the jaw
of a springboard moonsault of Nathan Frazer.
[Michael] And now, Gargano's gotta move the ladder to the center of the ring
to help out his partner Ciampa here.
[Wade] Well, that was brilliant for Tommaso Ciampa,
-and it's earned him the gold. -[Michael] Uh-oh!
Ford leaping onto the ladder. Montez Ford now.
Ford's close to the titles.
Ciampa's knocked off the ladder, here comes Gargano, here comes Axiom.
[Wade] Montez Ford all alone at the top of the ladder,
and now the blur I mentioned earlier, Axiom.
[Michael] Oh! Axiom with a headbutt blow.
[Wade chuckles] This match has been almost over
about six times in a row there.
[Michael] And now, the Motor City Machine Guns
setting up a ladder as Ford and Axiom go at it.
The Motor City Machine Guns gonna climb the ladder, try to grab the gold.
Axiom's got his hands.
[Wade] Gold is swinging around left, right, and center,
oscillating wildly at the top.
And every competitor who can at least move
is scrambling up there to get a piece of the action.
[Michael] Yeah, who's gonna win the tag team titles?
Everybody's so close.
Motor City Machine Guns dropping down to the mat.
-[Wade] Time to let go-- -[Michael] And look who's here.
[Michael] Bo Dallas, Uncle Howdy is now in the ring.
[both screaming]
[Michael] And down go DIY through a couple of tables!
[Wade] The numbers game of The Wyatt Sicks
comes into play once again. This group is screwing every team
-in the match. -[Michael] Well, not quite yet.
Nathan Frazer, so quick, up to the top of the ladder.
Uncle Howdy's gonna meet him there.
And now from behind with a steel chair is Fenix.
[Wade] Never seen a human being scramble up a ladder
as quick as Nathan Frazer just did, the speed of the puma,
but unfortunately met by that Mandible Claw.
[Michael] And now, Frazer dropped to the mat.
Rey Fenix now gonna climb up the ladder on the other side,
trying to prevent Uncle Howdy from getting up to the titles.
[Wade] Uncle Howdy has just had his men
ready to unleash hell at the snap of the fingers.
[Michael] And now Andrade is up there as well.
Who is gonna win this Tag Team Championship match?
-[Wade] That's-- -[Michael] Oh my God,
a sunset flip powerbomb into a ladder.
[Wade] It's wiped out Howdy, it's wiped out Andrade,
but Rey Fenix gingerly moving his way closer and closer to gold.
[Michael] It could be Fenix's opportunity.
Meanwhile, Lumis and Gacy into the ring, steel chairs in hand.
[Wade] Shot to the lower back
of Ray Fenix, who has been badly abused
already in this match, and it's about to get even worse.
[Michael] Now Lumis and Gacy take out Fenix.
[Wade] Andrade is getting good, getting shot down for good measure too.
And now all alone in the ring, the current reigning champs.
[Michael] And Lumis playing defense as Gacy climbs the ladder.
Gacy grabbing the gold, unhooking the titles.
-He does, and The Wyatt Sicks… -[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] …retain.
-["Shatter" playing] -[Alicia] Here are your winners,
and still the WWE Tag Team Champions,
The Wyatt Sicks.
[Michael] That was the damnedest thing I've ever seen.
I don't know how any of these people are functioning, Wade.
[Wade] Well, I hope our medical crew in the back are fully limbered up.
They're gonna have their hands full for a while after this match,
because that was utter insanity.
But ultimately, it takes a family to win the gold.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] What great core strength from Tommaso Ciampa,
ducking out the way of that from Nathan Frazer,
whose all the speed in the world couldn't keep him away
from that perfectly timed Gargano superkick.
But this was the night ending for DIY. What a sickening thud that was.
[Michael] And then,
the sunset flip powerbomb by Andrade.
And then Lumis and Gacy would take out Fenix,
and it would be The Wyatt Sicks's night.
[Wade] This was after the entirety of The Wyatt Sicks
had at various points in the match got involved and assisted these two.
But gold remains with this family of sickos.
[music fades]
[Michael] Well, you know, The Man became Lyra's replacement,
but will she replace her for good?
Betrayal runs deep and tonight it comes to a head.
No rules, no rematch, no more second chances.
If Lyra fails tonight,
she never gets another shot as long as The Man is still champion.
Lyra Valkyria challenges Becky Lynch, no disqualifications, no count-outs,
for the Women's Intercontinental Championship live next.
[mellow music playing]
[Michael] Lyra Valkyrie and Becky Lynch
have become great friends over the last couple of years.
[Lynch] To be able to be here, it's really quite amazing,
especially to be by this woman's side.
[Valkyria] Double champion with The Man, dream come true,
and I couldn't be happier.
[music fades]
[announcer] And new…
[Michael] Very disappointed Becky Lynch, Lyra Valkyria as well.
Not quite the way they wanted the Raw after WrestleMania to go.
["Greed" playing]
[Lynch] Lyra wouldn't be in this business if it wasn't for me. I had high hopes.
But she got to see what a bigger star looks like.
♪ I can see behind your eyes A sickness has consumed you ♪
♪ And you're never satisfied There's nothing that you won't do ♪
[Valkyria] The one thing I want to drive into your skull more my foot
is the fact that you didn't make me.
♪ Cause you take ♪
♪ Everything you can take Until there's nothing left ♪
[Valkyria] I put this title on the line.
Backlash.
[Lynch] I'm gonna make that matter like I made you matter.
♪ When's it gonna be too much? When's it gonna be enough? ♪
♪ You always want more ♪
-♪ You always want more ♪ -[bell ringing]
♪ You always want ♪
[Valkyria] She tried to break my arm, so yeah, now it's personal.
I am going to hurt her.
♪ The cycle is repeating At the bottom you keep feeding ♪
♪ Cannibal You got a taste for the blood… ♪
[Lynch] The thing that's going to hurt you the most
is when you're gonna have to raise my hand!
[Michael] Becky's got the title!
♪ The dots are connected Showed you're infected ♪
♪ I know your intentions ♪
♪ 'Cause you take ♪
♪ Everything you can take Until there's nothing left ♪
♪ You never change, stay the same Feed on the greed that makes you ♪
[Lynch] At Evolution. I beat Bayley. I beat Lyra.
♪ You always want more You always want more… ♪
[Lynch] You have done nothing but disrespect me for months.
When you lose at SummerSlam,
you can never challenge for this title ever again.
My problem is I never take it quite far enough.
No count-outs, no disqualification.
♪ 'Cause you take everything you can take Until there's nothing left ♪
♪ You never change, stay the same Feed on the greed that makes you ♪
♪ When's it gonna be too much? When's it gonna be enough? ♪
♪ You always want more You always want more ♪
♪ You always want ♪
[Valkyria] I am prepared to go to a place that I have never gone before.
[Lynch] It doesn't matter how good you think you are.
I am the greatest to ever do it.
[music concludes]
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following is a no-count-outs, no-disqualification match
for the Women's Intercontinental Championship.
The only way to win is by pinfall or submission.
-["Triumph" playing] -[crowd chanting "Whoo"]
-[Michael] Whoo! -[Wade] No.
[Alicia] Introducing first, the challenger, from Dublin, Ireland,
Lyra Valkyria!
[Michael] Wade, in her very first SummerSlam,
it could be the last chance for Lyra Valkyria.
She must win tonight
to take the Intercontinental Championship from Becky Lynch.
If she doesn't, she never gets an opportunity at the championship
as long as Becky holds the gold.
[Wade] Yeah, a lot at stake tonight for Lyra.
This is really a coming-of-age moment, a chance to prove that, Becky,
the past was yours and the future's mine. You are all out of time.
[Michael] Lyra knocked off Bayley in a two-out-of-three-falls matchup
to earn this opportunity at SummerSlam.
She owns a two-in-one record in singles competition
against the champion Becky Lynch.
And again, Lyra, the inaugural Intercontinental Champion.
["Triumph" continues]
[music fades]
[rock music playing]
♪ The Man has come around! ♪
[male vocalist singing indistinctly]
[crowd booing]
[Alicia] And her opponent, from Dublin, Ireland.
She is the Women's Intercontinental Champion,
The Man,
Becky Lynch!
[music continues]
[Michael] A lot of memories in this stadium,
Wade, for this woman, Becky Lynch.
Back at WrestleMania 35 here at MetLife Stadium,
Becky Lynch, Ronda Rousey, and Charlotte Flair made history
when they became the first women to ever main event a WrestleMania.
I spoke to Becky in a sit-down interview on the Countdown show,
which was taped earlier this week.
Becky told me that, that moment will resonate with her forever.
I also asked her what she's scared of. Why is she paranoid?
Why has she been acting like this over the past couple of months?
She didn't really answer the question, but I pose this,
perhaps she's worried about her legacy as she gets further on in her career.
[Wade] Well, Becky Lynch has been the standard of Irish dominance
in women's wrestling around the globe for the past ten years.
She is The Man who kicked down doors for every woman in this industry.
And she is not ready to relinquish that role
to a young, up-and-coming pretender
from the same city of Dublin, Ireland, in Lyra Valkyria.
[Michael] Not sure I would use the word "pretender"
when it comes to Lyra Valkyria. Lyra, the inaugural
-Intercontinental Champion. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] As I mentioned, a winning record against Becky Lynch
over the past couple of years.
Again, Becky said, "Hey, listen, I'll give you one more chance."
Lyra took it. "If you don't beat me,
you'll never get a chance at the title, Lyra."
How did Lyra counter?
"Let's make this no count-outs, no disqualifications."
Becky had no choice but to agree.
[Wade] Well, Becky does not fear that from anyone.
And a nice shot immediately there from Becky Lynch,
and it's turned into a slugfest.
[Michael] And Valkyria now dropping the champion, Lynch.
Lyra Valkyria been extremely upset over her treatment by Lynch
ever since the night after WrestleMania, the night that Becky Lynch turned on Lyra
-when they lost the tag team titles. -[Wade] No, no, no, they didn't lose them.
Lyra lost the tag team titles
and she was to blame for her punishment afterwards.
It was tough love. Tell the truth.
[Michael] I have no idea how you ever, uh,
lived on a tag team with that attitude.
[Wade] Nobody would tag with me, and that was absolutely fine, no problem.
And nobody should tag with Lyra Valkyria
because she will lose the gold if you win them with her.
[Michael] …by Lyra, and Lyra is controlling the match early on
against Becky Lynch.
Not sure if Becky was expecting this fire, she should have, out of Lyra Valkyria.
And now Lyra, nobody home, lands on the floor.
And Lyra now driven into the announce table by Becky.
And Becky now bouncing Lyra's face right off our announce desk.
[Wade] And what did you just say, Michael Cole?
"Becky Lynch should not bring this kind of fire out of Lyra Valkyria."
Yes, she should, because Lyra Valkyria just overcommitted.
She was so angry, incandescent with rage.
Her strategy went out the window, and that's when the vet,
The Man, the standard of Irish dominance in women's wrestling, took control.
[Michael] I agree with you on that point. I mean, obviously,
the veteran, Becky, a former seven-time World Champion.
[Wade] More than one way to skin a cat in this game.
Sometimes you gotta take a couple of shots to really get the advantage,
but wait up.
[Michael] And Becky had a kendo stick, and Lyra now has-- Is that a crowbar?
[Wade] "Yeah, I see your kendo stick. I've got something far more dangerous."
[Michael] Yeah, Becky not too happy to see that crowbar
in the hands of Lyra Valkyria. And crowbar meets kendo stick,
-crowbar will always win. -[Wade] Every single time.
[Lynch] No, no, no! Please! Please!
[Wade] Now it's taken out the kendo stick…
[Michael] Becky-- Oh!
That would've ended this match quickly if Lyra had connected there.
And now Becky Lynch once again,
driving Lyra face first off the steel steps.
[Wade] How impressive was that movement of Becky Lynch?
For a while there…
It would have been night over had that crowbar connected,
but nice movement there from Lyra Valkyria.
[Michael] Landing on the barricade and now a crossbody to take out Lynch.
Again, there are no count-outs in this match,
-they could fight out here all night long. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] I do think there is a screw loose of anybody
who commits themselves to this kind of match,
and it was Valkyria who demanded this.
Yes, you may ultimately end up winning this
should things go your way, but regardless,
win or lose, you're coming out of this one
with some major damage incurred.
[Michael] Well, Wade, I thought it was great strategy by Lyra.
I mean, Becky loves to cheat her way to victories, controversial wins.
And Lyra Valkyria trying to make sure that doesn't happen tonight
by having the stipulation.
[Wade] Well, this certainly is the great equalizer,
and it's gone back and forth.
But now, the youngster Valkyria getting the upper hand.
[Michael] I am so impressed with Lyra Valkyria.
You're looking at a future Women's World Champion,
no doubt about it.
And Lyra now with a boot right to the midsection of Becky Lynch.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Becky-- Oh! Driven into the--
And that poor still photo man outside the ring just got…
Send him back to the medical tent.
[Wade] A dangerous place to be for anyone near this ringside area.
-Not least Becky Lynch… -[Michael] Oh!
…who is getting bounced from pillar to post.
[Michael] Becky bounced off the post now.
[Wade] From a resurgent Lyra Valkyria heading back our way apparently.
[Michael] Oh, look out, Wade.
Lyra sending Becky right over our announce table
-and into the floor. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here.
Where do you want me to go? I'm out the way. Don't get me involved.
[Michael] Becky got herself back up in your chair and now Lyra Valkyria
with a dropkick to Becky through the chair to the floor.
-[Wade] Valkyria has risen. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Becky Lynch may be doubting,
wondering why she ever agreed to this matchup with Lyra tonight.
[Wade] She was forced into it, to be fair.
[Michael] Becky told me in the interview this week
that "Becky's best for business."
Lyra may be best for business after tonight.
[Wade] Becky Lynch might not be ready for any kind of business whatsoever,
the way this thing is going.
[Michael] Becky, you may wanna wake up because Lyra's got a table.
Lyra Valkyria dragging a table out here to ringside.
[Wade] Highly effective in our TLC match earlier tonight,
taking out numerous Superstars.
And this could be a one-way ticket to the gold
for Lyra Valkyria, whatever she is cooking up here.
[Michael] Lyra setting up the table at ringside.
Uh-oh. Uh-oh, Becky Lynch-- Becky from behind.
Becky somewhere grabbed a steel chain and now using it to her advantage.
[Wade] Sheamus would call that a Dublin Grin.
[Michael] Oh God, look at this. The chain in the mouth of Lyra Valkyria
and Becky with that sick, sadistic look on her face.
[Lyra groaning]
[Wade] Torturing the tonsils of Lyra Valkyria
and, for good measure, eating the steel steps in the process.
[crowd yelling]
[Wade] And once again, perhaps a little bit of over-enthusiasm
from the young pretender, spending way too long--
[Michael] Oh, stop with the "pretender" stuff.
[Wade] Well, you're not a pretender until you beat "The Man" Becky Lynch.
[Michael] Well, she did, she has a winning record against Becky,
obviously you don't listen to anything I say.
[Wade] Okay, that's if you ignore the Triple Threat at Evolution
that Becky Lynch won and that makes it two-two.
You're a liar, you twist statistics, it's what you do all the time.
[Michael] I'm talking about one-on-one matches, Wade, listen up.
Oh! And a kendo stick to the spine.
And Becky Lynch now, here's the mean streak from The Man,
unloading on Valkyria.
[Valkyria grunts]
[Michael] The woman who has the second most wins
in the history of SummerSlam, Becky Lynch,
is taking out all her anger and frustration on Valkyria tonight.
[Wade] Yeah, there's levels to this game, and Valkyria has been incredibly
-impressive over the-- -[Michael] Oh! Cover.
I believe this is the first cover of the matchup
and a near fall by the champ.
[Wade] The past 12 months,
but it is Becky Lynch who has risen to the top heights
of the industry time and time again.
[Michael] You know, what's interesting that this is the first straight-up
no-disqualification match in the career of Becky Lynch.
And now Becky pretending she's Juan Soto.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And now-- Well, Becky looked like
she forgot she was playing a part in Happy Gilmore.
A little golf swing, but Lyra Valkyria able to duck underneath,
and now Becky drives Lyra to the mat.
And here's the cover, and the hook of the leg,
and a kickout by Valkyria.
[Wade] Yeah, mid-match in a brutal encounter
like this, Becky Lynch is still able to mock her opponent.
That is a mind game being played. "It's that easy for me, Valkyria."
"That is how far above you I am."
[Michael] And now Becky just unloading on Valkyria with a kendo stick.
No denying a mean streak in Lynch.
[Wade] It's a mean streak that can take you to the very top in this game.
And Lyra Valkyria has modeled her entire career on Becky Lynch.
[Michael] I believe that there, Wade, is a toolbox.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] And that is a chair.
[Wade] You should climb inside that box, Michael Cole,
apt name for your little home.
[Michael] I once had a box at ringside, the Cole Mine.
Needed one of those tonight for the TLC match.
And now Becky Lynch with a steel chair in hand.
And Lyra Valkyria looks to be defenseless after the beatdown with a kendo stick.
-Right to the spine of Lyra. -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] And this is a vicious Lynch we're watching here. Again to Valkyria.
[Wade] Valkyria is getting turned into minced meat tonight.
[Michael] I mean, this is a woman that grew up idolizing Becky Lynch.
They developed a great friendship,
and now I believe a jealous Lynch has turned things around
in the way she feels about Lyra Valkyria.
[Wade] How can you be jealous if you are the champion?
[Michael] Oh, nice drop toe hold, face first into the chair.
[Wade] Just unmatched finesse and heinous attacks from Becky Lynch.
That's why she is the absolute best.
[Michael] Oh, no.
Toolbox in hand, you can see how heavy it is.
Becky having to use her shoulder to support it.
Oh, right to Valkyria.
And this is becoming a massacre, Wade.
Cover now on Lyra, manages to stay in it.
[Wade] Careful what you wish for, Lyra Valkyria,
'cause this is what you get, you're playing with fire,
prodding Becky Lynch.
-[Michael] Bang. -[crowd gasping]
[Michael] I was always wondering what was inside those toolboxes,
and Becky Lynch just pulled out what…
Is that a…
It appears to… And now Becky pounding away on Valkyria.
-[Wade] It's a zip tie. -[Michael] Yeah, it's a zip tie.
That's what I thought, Becky's got a zip tie.
-[Wade] Oh-ooh! -[Michael] She's gonna zip tie
the hands together, literally handcuffing Valkyria here.
[Wade] Perfectly legal, Michael Cole. Guess what, Valkyria?
This is what you asked for.
[Michael] Well, indeed she did.
Another disqualification stipulation, and Valkyria now… and now a wrench
in the hand of Becky. Oh goodness, to the ribs!
The official can't do anything about this.
[Wade] Welcome to the jungle, Lyra Valkyria,
where only the strongest will survive.
[Michael] Welcome to the man cave.
And Becky…
again with that wrench in hand into the corner.
And Lyra Valkyria just pummeled by Lynch!
Cover by Becky, hook to the leg, is it enough?
Kick-out by Valkyria.
[Wade] I mean, at this point, if you're Lyra Valkyria,
what is the point in kicking out?
You can't defend yourself, you can't throw attacks.
A referee can technically step in
if Lyra Valkyria simply can't defend herself.
[Michael] That suplex to Lyra Valkyria.
[Wade] The referee has now gone white as a ghost.
He's questioning, "Should I step in? Is this my moment?"
"Do I need to protect Lyra?"
[Michael] Now the Bexploder to Valkyria, who again can't even defend herself,
has no use of her hands right now.
Look at it, she's trying to use the step to somehow saw that zip tie apart,
but Becky Lynch just relentless on her assault here.
I mean, Becky's to the point where she could really
damage this young woman's career.
[Wade] That's the intent right now, finish Valkyria off for good.
-[Michael] And… -[Wade] Valkyria hung out to dry.
-[Michael] Oh no, a kendo stick to Lyra. -[crowd groaning]
[Michael] Come on, Becky, what are you doing here?
I mean, this is a woman that the locker room looked up to.
She was a role model. People like Lyra Valkyria
based everything in their career on Becky Lynch.
And now, Becky Lynch is trying to torture this woman
and punish her with a kendo stick.
My God!
[Wade] Becky Lynch is just merciless,
and that's how you have to be at the very top level.
[Michael] Well, I mean, at some point, Wade,
just go for the pin and win this thing, end it.
And Becky Lynch now with Valkyria not able to protect herself,
delivers the leg drop off the ropes, cover again by Lynch.
[crowd counting]
[Michael] And again, Lyra somehow gets the shoulder up.
I mean, Lyra's got guts, she's got heart, she's got resilience,
but I'm not sure if her brain's functioning right, right now.
[Wade] Yeah, I'd call this stupidity at this point.
You simply can't win a fight from this position,
hands tied together, body mashed.
[Michael] And now Lyra desperately trying to see what's left in that toolbox.
I don't think there's anything there.
Well, there was, but Lyra couldn't get her hands on it.
[Wade] Yeah, if you got your hands tied together,
what good are they?
[Michael] And Becky now, chair's positioned,
went for the Manhandle Slam.
Lyra Valkyria able to somehow get her arms around Becky,
and now she's got Becky trapped in a waistlock.
And now, Lyra Valkyria using headbutts for offense.
-[Wade] But no-- Oh! -[Michael] Oh goodness!
[Wade] No way to escape for Becky Lynch,
and this may have turned around in a hurry.
[Michael] And look at-- Did the zip ties come apart?
[Wade] I think they snapped on impact from that belly-to-belly suplex.
[Michael] Oh, no. Actually, no, they're still intact.
The zip tie, still intact…
on Valkyria.
[Wade] Well, I thought she got lucky on that landing, but no such joy.
And it was a flurry of offense, an attempt to escape,
but it simply wasn't enough.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And now Lyra fighting back, man, what guts from this young lady.
Lyra Valkyria with a kick now to the head of Becky Lynch,
and Becky stunned and in trouble.
[Wade] Well, take nothing away from the resilience of Lyra Valkyria
-as she's… -[Michael] Oh!
[Wade] …showing us all something right now.
[Michael] Lyra with a dropkick.
[Wade] Kind of athleticism, most people simply cannot pull off
without their hands tied.
[Michael] And again, hands still zip tied together,
-Lyra Valkyria's second wind. -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] And a moonsault on Becky Lynch, into the cover now.
Shoulders are down, but she couldn't hook the leg,
-and Becky was able to kick out. -[Wade] A no-hand moonsault.
How do you get rotation with your hands tied together?
But this dropkick speaks for itself.
I'm astounded by that.
To be able to pull this maneuver off at such high risk,
this deep into a match with hands tied together,
don't try that at home, anybody.
[Michael] Yeah, over 56,000 here tonight at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
This is SummerSlam Sunday for the Intercontinental Championship.
Becky, Lyra.
No count-outs, no disqualifications, Lyra's last opportunity at the title.
And now Lyra Valkyria, hands handcuffed, zip tied together,
using to her advantage,
bouncing Becky face first off the chairs.
[Wade] By hook or by crook, trying to figure out a way.
And you do sense if Lyra can get those hands free,
it's gonna be over in a short amount of time
'cause with all the momentum in the world now.
[Michael] Well, Lyra here, obviously,
attempting somehow to untie the protective padding,
the turnbuckle padding there.
[Wade] Read a book by Harry Houdini before she entered this match.
[Michael] Yeah, 1913 wants their guy back.
And now, Lyra Valkyria tossing the turnbuckle outside the ring,
and Becky from behind.
And Lyra driven into the post, shoulder first.
I mean, Lyra had a rally, but what can you expect to do?
You can't wrestle, you can't combat in this type of matchup
when you can't use your hands.
[Wade] I mean, it was impressive enough that Lyra Valkyria
is even still ticking in this matchup.
[Michael] And Becky has no idea where Lyra went.
[crowd chanting "Let's go Becky, let's go Lyra"]
[Michael] Becky Lynch has no idea where the challenger
for the Intercontinental Championship has disappeared to.
Well, there's your Houdini reference.
[Wade] I think I saw Lyra going through the crowd to the exit and saying,
"Nah, my night's over. Just hand it to Becky Lynch."
-[Michael] I don't believe that happened. -[Wade] "The best woman has won."
"The best Man has won, in fact."
[Michael] And Becky looking-- Oh!
And Lyra was under the ring with a fire extinguisher in hand.
[Wade] Noxious gases inside those fire extinguishers,
now in the lungs of Becky Lynch.
[Michael] Becky Lynch blinded by that fire extinguisher from Lyra Valkyria.
And now Lyra trying to figure out-- Look at this.
Lyra trying to use the sharp edge of that fire extinguisher
to break these…
the grip by the zip tie here.
[Wade] There is a technique to this. I know the SAS,
-the special forces in the UK-- -[Michael] How do you know?
[Wade] I know everything about the SAS. They are the absolute best on the planet.
And hopefully Lyra Valkyria knows a thing or two.
[Michael] Okay, James Bond. And Lyra Valkyria now underneath the ring
and trying to somehow use anything she can
to get those zip ties.
And now Becky Lynch with a kendo stick in hand.
Lyra better turn around.
Lyra Valkyria, she finally got herself separated.
[Wade] She's free!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And now intercepts Becky. And Lyra has use of her hands again.
And Lyra Valkyria making The Man pay.
[Wade] What a game-changing moment it is,
getting those hands loose from the zip tie…
and now swinging for the fences.
[Michael] And Becky Lynch is now on the run.
[Wade] I mean, the mindset of Becky Lynch,
seeing her opponent free, but apparently…
[Michael] Oh, the kendo stick just splintered.
And now, Lyra Valkyria hooking Becky Lynch, fisherman's suplex.
[Michael] Cover now for the win, and the championship--
Becky at two.
[Wade] What a gutsy performance from Lyra Valkyria, but it ain't over yet.
There's a certain level of class
that Becky Lynch has when the chips are down.
[Michael] Lyra Valkyria now,
and Becky Lynch steals the chair that she was gonna use.
Lyra drove the chair off the face of Becky.
[Wade] Ricocheting off the forehead of Becky Lynch,
and Becky Lynch has no clue where she's at now.
[Michael] Now outside the ring, Lyra Valkyria.
Becky Lynch on her shoulders. Becky though able to get to the steps.
Now, a handful of hair.
And Becky with Lyra going for the Manhandle Slam.
Lyra trying to counter.
She's got Becky up on her shoulders now.
Lyra Valkyria with a bit of Nightwing to Becky Lynch.
[Wade] Oh! Off the steps, onto the concrete floor.
There ain't much padding out here, guys, trust me on that one.
[Michael] But the pinfall has to take place inside the ring.
As we take another look…
[Wade] Once again, so resourceful was Lyra Valkyria
after taking a hideous beating in this match.
And I mean, it would be over
had Becky Lynch landed in the ring there.
[Michael] Well, Lyra Valkyria, what a performance tonight
with everything she was against,
getting her hands zip tied, beaten down by Becky.
The fact that she's still in this fight,
what a testament to the heart of this young woman.
[Wade] Just no quit whatsoever in Valkyria,
just keeps on believing even when it felt like there was zero chance.
[Michael] I told you Lyra Valkyria, she's a future world champion.
I believed in Lyra since day one here. Tremendous athlete, great upside for Lyra.
And could be closing in on the Intercontinental title.
[Wade] Not doubting that at all.
Lyra Valkyria, incredibly special
and she's converting the doubters second by second in this one.
[Michael] Lyra into the corner, Becky Lynch moves out of harm's way.
Remember the turnbuckle had been exposed by Lyra.
Now, a Manhandle Slam through the chair
-into the cover for the win. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Lyra kicks out again!
[crowd applauds]
[Wade] And that look says it all.
This may not be your night, Becky Lynch. Face first into the exposed turnbuckle,
followed by the Manhandle Slam onto two chairs,
and you still don't win?
[Michael] Now, is doubt creeping in on Becky now, Wade,
with everything she's done to Lyra Valkyria tonight?
[Wade] The entire soul, brain, body of Becky Lynch is wracked in doubt.
That's all that exists
for Becky Lynch right now. Can she overcome that?
[Michael] Probably the best thing Lyra did was roll out of the ring there.
After suffering the Manhandle Slam through the chairs
and somehow kicking out.
And now Becky Lynch with a chair in hand to the spine of Lyra Valkyria.
Lyra has-- she's absorbed so much punishment here tonight.
And somehow still in this.
And Becky just face first off the chair.
[Wade] A bouncing ball repeatedly, up and down, and, oh God.
-[Michael] No, no, no, my God. -[Wade] Oh God.
[Michael] Oh goodness, she's kicking the back of the neck of Valkyria,
who's now caught inside the steel chair.
[Wade] Throat of Valkyria jamming against the sharp edge of the back of that chair,
and what the hell are you cooking up here?
[Michael] Oh, no. Oh my goodness.
[Wade] Sternum taking more.
[Michael] And again, Lyra is trapped in that chair.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And now Lyra,
she may have Becky pinned against the post.
And Lyra may use the chair now as a weapon.
Becky Lynch, though, out of harm's way. And now gonna swing Lyra into the post.
[Wade] Got the leverage, got the momentum.
[Michael] Man, what a match.
[Wade] Got the sickening mindset to maximize the punishment here
against the victim, Valkyria.
[Michael] Becky Lynch, who's got Lyra trapped,
now standing on the Spanish announce table.
And Becky Lynch, oh, with a kick right to Lyra.
And Lyra Valkyria appears to be out.
[Wade] A spine-snapping moment on Valkyria.
[Michael] And now Becky Lynch with a crowbar in hand.
-[Wade] Valkyria completely out cold here. -[Michael] Oh, come on now.
Can the ref just call this thing off?
I mean, uh… Lyra hasn't moved, she's defenseless.
And Becky now with that steel crowbar in her hand.
[inaudible]
[Michael] Oh, come on, Becky. Don't do this, don't do this, Becky.
Oh, wait a minute, from behind is Bayley!
-Bayley's here. -[crowd cheering]
You would be in this match if it wasn't for her!
You would be in this match.
-[yelling indistinctly] -[crowd chanting "Bayley"]
If it wasn't for her!
You do it.
I'd do it myself, Bayley. She took SummerSlam.
Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!
-Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! -Bayley. Bayley, no.
[Michael] And Bayley didn't take the bait, tossing the crowbar down,
came out here to save Lyra, who she's had a soft spot for.
And now Becky with a chain wrapped around her hand,
but Bayley saw it coming,
and now Bayley beating the hell out of the champion.
[Wade] The woman Becky Lynch took out right before WrestleMania 41
and stole her spot.
With unrelenting rage seeping out of her paws,
Bayley is wrecking this match.
[Bayley] You took everything from me!
[Michael] And Bayley trash-talking Becky and driving her into the barricade.
Again, the official can do nothing. Match continues.
No disqualification, but Lynch is being destroyed by Bayley here.
Becky Lynch, oh man, she just got out of harm's way,
Bayley going flying into the WWE fans here.
[Wade] God, how tough is Becky Lynch? Taking on two women effectively.
-Oh! Oh, God! -[Michael] Oh!
Where the hell did she come from?
[Wade] The Peripeteia to the back of the head of Lynch through a table.
[crowd applauds]
[Wade] Just when we thought Lyra Valkyria
had been finished for good, trapped in that chair.
[Michael] Lyra Valkyria…
came flying out of nowhere
like the Irish goddess she portrays, Morrigan.
And Lyra Valkyrie now with an opportunity.
-[crowd chanting "This is awesome"] -[Michael] The champion stunned.
Lyra sends Becky back into the ring. Can Lyra somehow pull off
what would be just an unbelievable victory tonight?
[Wade] It looks like Becky Lynch is done here,
there's nothing coming back the other way.
[Michael] Lyra with Becky up on her shoulders,
and Becky rakes the eyes, was going for Nightwing again.
And now Becky went for the Manhandle Slam. Nice arm drag, takedown.
And Bayley, oh my goodness!
[Wade] Took a swing at Becky Lynch, missed and caught Valkyria!
-[Michael] The Manhandle Slam. -[crowd counting]
-[Michael] The Man retains. -[bell ringing]
-Bayley with a crucial error. -[rock music playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner!
And still the Women's Intercontinental Champion!
"The Man" Becky Lynch!
[Michael] Well, Bayley upset after what Becky did to her.
She had her hand wrapped with that steel chain.
And, I believe, inadvertently took out Lyra Valkyria,
which handed the win to Becky Lynch. Wade, Lyra has no more opportunities
at the Intercontinental title as long as Becky's champion.
[Wade] You've got to be tough, you've got to be talented,
but most of all, you've got to be lucky.
And luck was smiling on Becky Lynch tonight.
[Michael] Congratulations to Becky Lynch.
-["Imminent Danger" playing] -[Michael] Well, it is time
to go inside a steel cage.
For the fifth time in SummerSlam history, a steel cage match.
Well, they share blood, but inside the cage, it means nothing.
The family tree is fractured.
The animosity is intensified between these two warriors.
And tonight, there's no escape.
It's a contest of rage and roots as Solo Sikoa
takes on Jacob Fatu in a steel cage match for the United States Championship next.
[intense music playing]
[Fatu] Keep it 100.
You ain't never been in a ring with nobody like me.
-[Michael] Jacob… -[Fatu] Fatu!
See, I'm all gas, no brakes with it. You know what I mean!
[Michael] Fatu is the United States champion!
[Fatu] Solo says I wouldn't be nothing if it wasn't for him.
Me and you, Solo, Night of Champions, one-on-one.
I'm about to dog-walk your ass for the US championship!
[Michael] Fatu into the cover.
-Who the hell is that? -[Wade] Oh my God!
[Sikoa] I gave Jacob the world.
I gave him everything.
And he deserves none of it!
[bell ringing]
[Sikoa] I'm the new United States champion, baby.
These are my MFTs.
My Family Tree.
And now my family is complete.
If Jacob wants to get involved in our business,
we'll take care of him.
[police siren wailing]
[Cathy] Moments ago, a multi-car accident.
[officer] Do you know where we can find Jacob Fatu?
You gotta be kidding me. Jacob Fatu is a person of interest?
I ain't going with you punk-ass police.
-I didn't even do nothing. -Calm down, calm down.
Let's answer their questions, not make it any worse than it already is, okay?
[dramatic music playing]
Tonight is the perfect example of who Jacob Fatu really is.
Once a criminal, always a criminal.
[siren wailing]
-He should be locked up. -[crowd cheering]
-[Wade] Jimmy Uso! -[Joe] And it is on!
[Pearce] Solo!
You wanna frame an innocent man, and get Jacob locked up?
Let's see how you like it.
Because you will defend your United States Championship
against Jacob Fatu inside a steel cage!
[crowd cheering]
[Sikoa] Tonight is about sending a message.
Come on!
-Pull the cage down! -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Where is Solo going all of a sudden?
[Wade] The hell away from Jacob Fatu, and who can blame him?
[Fatu] Solo, SummerSlam… [yells indistinctly]
[music fades]
-[bell ringing] -[Alicia] The following
-is a steel cage match. -[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] And it is for the United States Championship.
Both competitors will be locked inside the cage.
The only way to win is by pinfall, submission, or escaping the cage,
either through the door,
or climbing over the top with both feet touching the floor.
-["Taking It All" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ We're taking it all! ♪
♪ Settle the score No I will not take that loss… ♪
[Alicia] Introducing first, from Las Vegas, Nevada,
weighing in at 250 pounds,
he is the United States Champion,
Solo Sikoa!
-[exclaims] -[Michael] Solo Sikoa…
who beat Jacob Fatu for the United States Championship
back at the end of June,
now marching into the second steel cage match
of his career.
Pinfall, submission, escape from the cage, both feet hitting the floor.
Wade, the question is, who does this match favor,
Solo or Jacob?
[Wade] Well, based on the actions of Solo Sikoa
and the MFTs over the past several months,
it's been the numbers game that has really exemplified
this accumulation of power by Solo Sikoa.
The cage, in theory, neutralizes all of that,
and makes this a one-on-one matchup,
Fatu against the man who calls himself Solo,
but rarely has been.
♪ Say it again Straight to the top I ascend ♪
♪ I'm ruthless, I'm ten out of ten Ready for war ♪
♪ The struggle, the hustle, the pain ♪
♪ I see the smiles From the fake on their face ♪
♪ This is my time Ain't no time to waste ♪
♪ The warrior is ready To scream in my name ♪
♪ We're taking it all! ♪
♪ Settle the score No I will not take that loss ♪
-♪ We're taking it all ♪ -♪ We the ones! ♪
♪ We kick down the door Dropping you down to the floor ♪
[Michael] Defended that championship against Jimmy Uso
at Saturday Night's Main Event last month.
[shouts indistinctly]
[Michael] Steel cage though, as Solo well knows,
is a different ball game.
[Wade] What a return to great heights it has been for Solo Sikoa
after the world started writing him off.
-♪ Tasi Lua Tolu Fatu! ♪ -["Samoan Destroyer" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] Introducing the challenger, from Sacramento, California,
weighing in at 291 pounds,
The Samoan Werewolf,
-Jacob Fatu! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Jacob Fatu in his very first SummerSlam,
the former United States Champion
heading into his first steel cage match in his WWE career.
This is the fifth time at SummerSlam that we have had a steel cage matchup,
the first since 2001 back in 1990.
The Ultimate Warrior beat Rick Rude in '94.
Bret Hart with a big victory when he beat his brother Owen in '97.
Mankind beat Hunter Hearst Helmsley inside a steel cage at SummerSlam.
And then we had a tag team matchup in a cage back in 2001.
Jacob Fatu…
who at one point in his career, Wade, said, "I love you, Solo."
And now, it's nothing but disdain.
[Wade] Well, Jacob Fatu loved Solo
when Jacob Fatu was comfortable in the role of a soldier.
Unfortunately for Solo, Jacob Fatu outgrew the soldier's uniform,
and started making some battle plans of his own.
Those battle plans led him all the way to the United States Championship.
However, Solo and his MFTs
brought it back to the family.
[Michael] The prestigious United States Championship match…
-[bell ringing] -…is underway.
The official, Daphanie LaShaunn, inside the cage.
Harley Race, of course, the late great Hall of Famer,
the very first United States Champion.
Dozens of WWE Hall of Famers have held this title over the years.
[crowd cheering]
[speaks indistinctly]
All right, you got one more chance.
[Michael] Solo reminding Jacob Fatu
that he is again locked in the cage.
Made some comments about the fact that Jacob has been in jail before,
and Solo Sikoa tried to get him arrested a few weeks back as well.
[Wade] Solo Sikoa just made one final offer to Jacob Fatu
-to come back to the family. Ooh! -[Michael] Well, it's not gonna happen.
I think Jacob's made that pretty clear over the past couple of months.
For Solo Sikoa, he's really gotta stop
this high-octane style of offense from Jacob Fatu.
[Wade] Yeah, but everyone forgets that Solo Sikoa,
the former street fighting champion of the islands,
the former enforcer of The Bloodline, this man is double tough too.
He might not be as flashy as Jacob Fatu, but he is just as dangerous.
[Michael] Well, no doubt,
and Jacob Fatu now gonna mount Solo in the corner.
-[counting] -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Headbutt after headbutt after headbutt
by The Samoan Werewolf.
-[shouts indistinctly] -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] This is exactly what Jacob Fatu has wanted.
No more sneak attacks, no more family politics.
-Just pure unadulterated violence. -[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Michael] Yeah, "Lock me in the cage with Solo,
and I'll take care of business."
He just delivered that flying corkscrew elbow.
[crowd chanting "Fatu"]
[Wade] Let's not forget it was Solo Sikoa that brought Jacob Fatu
into the world of WWE after management had consistently said, "Hell no."
-[Michael] And-- And-- And… -[Wade] Other family members
from the Samoan dynasty had said,
"Hell no, this guy is just too dangerous, too uncontrollable."
[Michael] Oh no! Jacob launched into the cage by Solo.
And yeah, your point's right,
and you are accurate that that did happen,
but that it was the way that Solo treated Jacob once he arrived here.
Looked down upon him, expected him to do menial tasks for him.
[Wade] Menial tasks.
[Michael] Never really appreciated, or respected Jacob.
And now, Solo squashing him into the cage.
-[Wade] Solo Sikoa… -Get your stupid ass up!
…knows Jacob Fatu better than anybody--
-any of us. -[crowd chanting "Solo sucks"]
[Wade] He knows exactly how to control Fatu.
[Michael] Oh! And let's not forget Solo's bitter too, Wade.
I mean, Jacob Fatu cost him the Money in the Bank contract.
[crowd booing]
[Wade] That was really the first shot in this rivalry, in my opinion.
And it really didn't work out for Jacob Fatu
the way he thought it would.
[Michael] Oh, and there's that senton delivered by Solo Sikoa,
who has now taken over.
Does the steel cage match favor Solo or Jacob?
[Wade] Well, at this point, you have to say it favors Solo Sikoa.
But initially, I would have said,
thanks to the fact that the MFTs cannot get involved,
-it would be Fatu's advantage. -Look at you, looking stupid.
I gave you everything. I gave you everything.
But you didn't wanna listen. Come here.
[Wade] The thing about Fatu is he's a massive weapon in this game.
Weapons need to be pointed in the correct direction.
Solo was capable of doing that with Fatu. Now, he's a loose cannon.
He can go anywhere,
and it's not leading to success for Jacob Fatu like it did
when he was working under Solo Sikoa.
[Michael] And Wade, here's another interesting statistic.
-Look at you! Looking stupid. -[Michael] The last time that Solo Sikoa
was actually pinned in a match,
it was January at the Netflix premiere by Roman Reigns.
Solo has not been pinned since then in eight months.
[Wade] Solo is a dominant competitor.
He's had a huge impact ever since arriving at Clash at the Castle
-several years ago. -[Michael] Oh! Wow.
[Wade] And he's continued in the same vein ever since.
[Michael] The night Mr. McIntyre will never forget.
[crowd booing]
[Michael] Solo Sikoa right now is dominating Jacob Fatu.
Here's the cover, and a kick-out by Jacob.
-And Solo with… -Open the gate. Open the gate.
[Michael] And now, he's asking the official, Ryan Tran,
outside the ring to open the door.
Remember, Solo can walk out, both feet hit the floor,
-he will win this steel cage match. -[crowd booing]
[Michael] And that would just be, like, humiliating
if that would happen at this juncture, but Jacob Fatu holding on.
Get off!
[Michael] Solo trying to drag him toward the door.
-[crowd chanting "Let's go, Jacob"] -[crowd clapping rhythmically]
[Wade] Looked like it was gonna be an easy victory for Solo Sikoa,
which is an unthinkable result here tonight
against someone as dangerous as Jacob Fatu,
and it's all been going the way of Solo Sikoa.
[Michael] And since Solo went back on offense,
the official locks the door yet again.
[Michael] Now, Solo says, "Open it again."
[Solo] Open it.
-[crowd booing] -[Michael] And Solo…
wanting to just waltz out of here, and Jacob Fatu is just holding on.
[Wade] Now, perhaps lining up the most dangerous move in his arsenal.
[Michael] Yeah, The Samoan Spike.
Think about the Superstars this has felled over the years.
You should've listen to me. Now look at you.
[Michael] Going for The Samoan Spike, Jacob able to duck underneath,
and now, Fatu catches him with a kick.
[Wade] He took way too long on delivering that,
-but bouncing back with a super-- Oh God! -[Michael] Oh!
-[crowd cheering, applauding] -[Michael] What a collision.
[Wade] Completely pole-axing the massive Solo Sikoa.
-So much power held between these two men. -[Michael] Oh!
[Wade] Jacob Fatu getting the better of that one.
Now, all men have weaknesses,
and Solo Sikoa knows better than anybody how to expose Jacob Fatu's weaknesses.
He's done it so far in this match, but got a little too lax there,
and has allowed The Samoan Werewolf back into this.
[Michael] The sun is setting in North Jersey,
SummerSlam Sunday, over 56,000 at MetLife Stadium looking on
as Solo and Jacob battle
for the United States Championship inside the steel cage.
[Wade] When the sun goes down, the werewolves start howling.
[crowd chanting "Ooh, yeah"]
[crowd chanting "Yeah"]
-[crowd cheering, applauding] -[Michael] And Jacob's feeling it!
-And Solo sent into the cage. -[Wade] Solo Sikoa now getting dog-walked.
All gas, no brakes, and perhaps no respite for Solo Sikoa.
[Michael] And it was that phrase, remember,
when Solo Sikoa twisted the words…
"All gas, no brains," that really set Jacob Fatu over the edge.
-And now, Jacob-- Oh my! Oh man! -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] Solo can't believe it. Fatu just bounced off the cage.
[Wade] A human being reacts to steel like that,
you are in big trouble.
[Michael] And now, Jacob picking up the pace,
senton by Fatu, into the corner now, gonna bury Sikoa.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And Jacob-- Oh! Planting Solo Sikoa.
And Fatu now gonna head up to the top rope.
There's the moonsault to Sikoa.
[Wade] Unfeasible movement, menacingly delivered.
-[Michael] And another one! -[crowd cheering]
-Cover by Jacob! -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Solo kicked out!
[Wade] Oh. Such a late kick-out, Jacob Fatu cannot believe it.
[Michael] But… But… But there were two here.
Wait, is that the first time that anyone has ever kicked out of a Jacob moonsault?
[Wade] Absolutely. Certainly a double whammy of them.
Never question the toughness of Solo Sikoa ever again.
[Michael] And now, Jacob Fatu's gonna start questioning himself a little bit.
He hit Solo with his bread and butter and it didn't pay off.
-[Wade] Wait a second. -[Michael] Oh, look who's here.
[Wade] Tonga Loa. The massive Talla Tonga down here too.
-[Michael] And JC Mateo, the MFTs. -How dare you? [grunts]
[Wade] Circling the outside of the ring like sharks.
-[shouts indistinctly] -[Wade] Kept at bay for now.
♪ Uso! ♪
-[Michael] My Family Tree… -[crowd cheering]
-…and now Jacob's got a little backup. -["Born a King" playing]
Come on! [speaks indistinctly]
-[Michael] And Jimmy Uso's here! -[Wade] Launching an assault.
Technically, it's three-on-one. Make it three on--
[Michael] Down goes Mateo.
[Wade] Two-on-one. Now, one-on-one, but that one is massive.
[Michael] Oh, and Talla Tonga with a boot to the face.
-[Wade] God, he's almost seven foot tall. -[crowd jeering]
And that is the perfect soldier that Solo Sikoa wanted.
[Michael] And Talla Tonga driving Jimmy into the cage as Jacob looks on,
sending him over the Spanish announce table.
Jacob can do nothing about it as he's locked inside the cage.
[Wade] How do you lose Jacob Fatu,
yet make your army stronger by recruiting this?
[Michael] And Talla Tonga still stalking
as Solo now tries to drag himself to the door.
The door's open.
Jacob Fatu gonna drag Solo back into the ring.
-Now, will Jacob Fatu-- -Close the gate.
It's all gas, no [inaudible] brains… right there.
[Michael] Oh, he doesn't want an escape, he wants to punish Sikoa.
-[crowd applauding] -[Michael] He wants the door locked.
[Wade] Keep the MFTs out of here and let me--
-[Michael] Oh! -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] Samoan Spike from out of nowhere!
-And Fatu kicked out! -[Wade chuckles] Oh.
And Solo Sikoa got the jump on Jacob Fatu, but Jacob Fatu is just too durable.
[Michael chuckles]
[Wade] Take a look at this angle right here.
Jacob Fatu wiping out JC Mateo, but beware the danger behind you.
How do you miss that guy?
[Michael] And now, the Samoan Spike as Jacob turned around into it,
but he was some-- able to somehow kick out.
Jimmy Uso attacked the group here at… at ringside.
He's been dumped over the table, he's down and out.
Now, Solo Sikoa, perhaps looking to escape,
drop over the top.
If he gets over the top and his feet hit the floor,
he wins the matchup and retains the title.
Solo, now, up-top-- up high, Jacob in pursuit.
[Wade] He could just jump into the arms of the massive Talla Tonga from there.
He'll save you, Solo.
[Michael] He's gotta catch him
and then drop him on the floor for the win.
And now, Jacob Fatu dragging Solo back into the cage.
[shouts indistinctly]
[Michael] And a headbutt by Jacob, and yet another one.
Meanwhile, JC Mateo trying to… trying to scale the cage here and…
[Wade] Tonga Loa too.
[Michael] Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, Jacob Fatu trying to fight him down.
And now this, Talla Tonga…
scaling the cage, and-- What the hell's he got in his--
[Wade] Tonga Loa's actually inside the cage now,
and Talla Tonga following close behind.
[Michael] And he's got handcuffs.
Talla Tonga's got handcuffs.
-[Wade] Oh, that is a genius move. -[Michael] Oh my goodness.
Talla Tonga handcuffing Jacob Fatu to the top of the steel cage.
[Wade] How do you win a steel cage match if you're tied to the top?
[Michael] And the problem is for Jacob, he's handcuffed to the top.
He's got Solo Sikoa and Tonga Loa in the ring.
[Wade] You can't get out
and you can't stop Solo from heading to the doorway.
[Michael] And I don't think that's gonna be the only member of the group
that perhaps gets in the ring,
but JC Mateo can open the door up now for Solo Sikoa.
And Jacob Fatu somehow, somehow busting out of those handcuffs!
I have no idea how he did that,
but he's loose, and he prevents Solo from getting out of the cage.
[Wade] The moon came up at exactly the right time for this werewolf,
drew some sort of power from it, snapped those handcuffs,
and he's battling away, Cole, back in the fight!
[Michael] And now, Solo ducks underneath again,
trying to dive to the door, trying to somehow escape.
Jacob Fatu trying to keep Solo in the cage.
[Wade] Trying to slither his way out of there,
it's a tug of war now.
[Michael] And Solo, it doesn't matter if his hands hit the floor,
his feet have to, in order to win the match.
And now, Fatu-- Jacob Fatu dragging Solo back into the cage.
-[Wade] Oh! -[Michael] Oh goodness.
-[roars] -[Wade] Both men took that to the head.
Solo perhaps getting slightly the better of it--
[Michael] And Solo Sikoa is gonna win this match.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Thanks to Talla Tonga.
-["Taking It All" playing] -[Alicia] Here is your winner,
and still the United States Champion,
Solo Sikoa!
[Michael] Okay, I understand we actually have a shot
of how Jacob Fatu shred the handcuffs when he was handcuffed by Talla Tonga
at the top of the steel cage.
He just ripped the handcuff off his hand.
[Wade] Non-human strength that is possessed by Jacob Fatu
that saved the match for himself.
And just when Solo Sikoa was heading for the entrance,
JC Mateo getting flattened by this boot from Talla Tonga.
You saw Jacob Fatu catching that steel door flush
on the top of the head.
And an incredibly groggy Solo Sikoa scrambles out to victory.
[Michael] Sikoa is still your United States Champion.
-Get him. Get him! -[Michael] And now, Solo Sikoa…
[Sikoa] Get him!
[Michael] And now, Jimmy Uso back into the fight.
Big kick to JC Mateo.
[Michael] And Mateo driven into the cage.
[Wade] Sending a message here to Solo Sikoa and Talla Tonga.
Solo Sikoa is not heading back into the fight to protect his family.
[Michael] And Jimmy Uso is… is locking the… the door of the cage
as Jacob Fatu is having his way with Mateo and Tonga Loa.
[Wade] The Werewolf is ready to feast now.
[grunts]
[Michael] And there's no escaping for these MFTs.
[Wade] Irate and frustrated.
This might not be the end of Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu.
Loud message being sent here.
-[Michael] Fatu to the top rope. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Oh no.
Oh no. Don't do it, Jacob.
[Michael] Jacob's gonna climb. He's gonna climb the cage.
[Wade] There's no talking sense to this guy.
[Michael] From the top of the steel cage.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Mighty Moonsault by Fatu.
["Samoan Destroyer" playing]
[Michael] Incredible.
[Wade] The most heavy-duty Superstar I have ever seen from the top of the cage.
After already taken a beating in this match from four men,
wiping out 50% of the MFTs in one fell swoop,
and then bouncing off like you've just taken a walk in the park.
This man is uber terrifying.
[Michael] Jacob Fatu takes out Solo Sikoa's crew.
And Solo Sikoa is still the United States Champion.
[music concludes]
[Michael] Dominik Mysterio calls himself a champion.
AJ Styles, however, thinks he's a fraud.
One defends his name, the other is looking to snuff it out.
After weeks of blind shots and cheap shots,
it's finally time to find out who's right. It's "Dirty" Dom, AJ Styles
for the Intercontinental Championship live next.
[music concludes]
[suspenseful music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] AJ Styles returning to Monday Night Raw.
[epic music playing]
Four months ago, I came into this building with the biggest smile on my face.
Gonna get my career back on track, and then I get injured.
[crowd] Oh!
[Styles] This was a career-ending injury I was supposed to have.
♪ I've been down ♪
♪ I got back up ♪
-I am back! -[crowd cheering]
-["It Is My Time" playing] -[crowd booing]
[Dominik] I know it's been a while since you've been on Raw.
-The Judgment Day runs Raw. -[tense music playing]
I gotta admit, man, I'm kinda inspired by your work ethic.
But just so you know,
you will always be Rey Mysterio's punk ass kid.
[crowd cheering]
I'm coming after that Intercontinental Championship.
[Dominik] AJ's been breathing down my neck. He's coming after my title.
[Michael] Dominik Mysterio cannot run forever.
[music concludes]
[Cathy] Dominik, you said you wanted to address the WWE Universe
-regarding your injury. -[crowd booing]
-AJ, read the doctor's note. -[suspenseful music playing]
I am injured.
-[crowd booing] -My ribs aren't at 100%.
But if you lay a finger on me before I'm cleared, AJ…
you'll never get your title match. Doctor's orders.
So, uh, you want to pull out your little glasses
and read this, or what?
Yep, right here. Doctor says you're a punk-ass.
[mutters] I don't like hitting the elderly anyways.
[Michael] So, for somebody that isn't medically clear,
Dominik Mysterio's running around looking like he isn't hurt at all.
-[brooding music playing] -Dom, you must be feeling great.
It was the adrenaline in… in my soul.
Next week, you are scheduled to be re-evaluated.
If you are medically clear, I'm gonna write a contract for you
to defend this Intercontinental Championship
against AJ Styles.
-[crowd cheering] -[epic music playing]
-See you out there. -Okay, sir.
Hey, I hope you get cleared today.
Quit stalling.
What are you doing?
-I'm not cleared, AJ. -Not yet. You will be.
[Michael] And once again, "Dirty" Dom, who apparently has rib injuries.
He seems pretty, uh, limber to me.
Dr. AJ!
CPR!
You're gonna get that doctor's evaluation?
-Like now? -Like now!
-We finished the evaluation of Dom. -How much longer?
AJ.
I am cleared.
I will see you at SummerSlam.
I am the greatest. I'm already the greatest ever.
I'm the best.
I'm the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time.
I'm coming after that Intercontinental Championship.
[Michael] One of the all-time best at WWE.
[Styles] You will always be Rey Mysterio's punk ass kid.
[music concludes]
-[crowd cheering] -["It Is My Time" playing]
♪ Mysterio! ♪
♪ Este es el tiempo ahora Now I'm coming for ya ♪
♪ Ya no pueden conmigo That's why I'm coming for ya ♪
♪ Yo no paro, yo sigo Now I'm coming for ya ♪
♪ El estilo peligro That's why I'm coming for ya ♪
♪ Yo soy un hombre ahora ♪
♪ Yo soy un hombre ahora… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the Intercontinental Championship.
Introducing first, from San Diego, California,
weighing at 200 pounds, representing The Judgement Day,
he is the Intercontinental Champion,
"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio!
[crowd cheering]
♪ Mysterio! ♪
♪ Este es el tiempo ahora Now I'm coming for ya ♪
♪ Ya no pueden conmigo That's why I'm coming for ya ♪
♪ Yo no paro, yo sigo Now I'm coming for ya ♪
♪ El estilo peligro That's why I'm coming for ya ♪
[Michael] Dominik Mysterio says he's celebrating his 20th anniversary
of WWE this year, 20 years ago at SummerSlam.
Rey Mysterio battled Eddie Guerrero in a ladder match
for custody of Dominik Mysterio.
Dominik still rubbing salt in his dad's wounds,
said I'm gonna defend the championship tonight.
wearing a prototype of the gear that my dad wore
at SummerSlam in that ladder match for the custody of me.
[Wade] Forget about the deadbeat dad.
This is the new and improved vision of what a Mysterio can be.
"Dirty" Dom, aka the man.
[music fades]
["Phenomenal" playing]
-[Michael chuckles] -[Wade] What the hell is this?
♪ No, 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 With the farmer strength ♪
♪ Ain't nobody man enough To feel the pain ♪
♪ And you could be next You better give respect… ♪
[Michael] Speaking of Eddie Guerrero.
AJ Styles, his son Avery arriving in a lowrider tonight
on the 20th anniversary of the Eddie-Rey Ladder match from SummerSlam.
Viva la raza!
[Alicia] Introducing the challenger from Gainesville, Georgia,
weighing in at 220 pounds,
the "Phenomenal"
AJ Styles!
[Michael] Wade, AJ Styles one-upping Dominik Mysterio
in the mind games here tonight. I talked to AJ earlier today.
He said, "Cole, I got a surprise for you, check out my tights
when I come to the ring tonight."
I didn't know what he was talking about. Now, I'm putting two and two together.
The lowrider, the tights, that's Eddie Guerrero gear there
-for this matchup tonight -[Wade] Yeah, that's the gear Eddie wore
against Rey at SummerSlam 2005, in the match for custody
of Dominik Mysterio,
and the message is not very subtle, is it?
"Tonight, Dom, I'm your papi."
[Michael] AJ Styles
talked to me during the Kickoff show on Friday in Newark
and told me this could be it.
This could be his last SummerSlam.
So he's gonna come out here tonight
and win his second Intercontinental Championship.
[Wade] Well, first of all, AJ Styles is not fevering anyone's raza tonight.
He's not even Mexican.
And secondly, playing off the most traumatic moment
of Dominik Mysterio's childhood, and a childhood full of trauma,
is absolutely disgraceful from AJ Styles.
[Michael] Well, maybe you're not even English.
♪ No, they don't want none No, they don't want none ♪
♪ They looking scared No, they don't really want none ♪
♪ No, they don't want none No, they don't want none ♪
♪ No, they don't want none… ♪
[Wade] Technically, I'm a dual citizen. I'm both English and American.
[Michael] Yeah, I know. I hear that every week.
-Nonetheless, SummerSlam… -[bell ringing]
…and Intercontinental titles have been such a rich tradition.
This is for the Intercontinental Championship,
16 times at SummerSlam,
the Intercontinental title has changed hands.
Will that happen again tonight?
Think about all the great battles for this title over the years.
SummerSlam '88, Ultimate Warrior
ending the long winning streak of the Honky Tonk Man.
1991, Bret Hart winning his first Intercontinental title.
'92, in what was voted the greatest SummerSlam match of all time,
The British Bulldog, Bret Hart, for the Intercontinental Championship.
'97, Stone Cold Steve Austin's first Intercontinental Championship win.
And tonight, AJ Styles, Dominik Mysterio do it again.
[Wade] The way this has started,
it's not gonna be a classic, it's one-way traffic so far.
-[crowd 1 chanting "AJ Styles"] -[crowd 2 chanting " 'Dirty' Dom"]
[Michael] And again, we mentioned it earlier in the Countdown show,
big match for Dominik Mysterio tonight.
He wants to prove he belongs on the big stage
in these type of matches.
He can do that by beating Styles.
[Wade] Yeah, take on a former World Champion
and beat him on your own without any help from anyone
would be a massive feat,
but it's certainly one Dom is capable of.
But right now, Dom can't get out of the blocks.
His head is all over the place thanks to the antics of AJ Styles.
[Michael] And that's a good point, Wade. He's got a lot on his mind.
Of course, Liv Morgan, his girlfriend, out with injury.
Dominik's got a big match for the AAA Mega title,
-in two weeks at TripleManía-- -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] Oh! That Fatal 4-Way, as now he takes control of AJ Styles.
[Wade] And right there was the brilliance of Don Mysterio, that 619
taking down this Eddie Guerrero phony, AJ Styles.
[Michael] I don't think he's being a phony,
I just think he's paying homage to the man, but--
Dominik Mysterio now gonna climb the ropes up
over the top and takes out Styles.
And one of the things about AJ that I was a bit concerned about
coming into this match tonight, was the fact that perhaps AJ
was overlooking Dominik Mysterio.
Dominik's been playing this cat and mouse game with him
for a number of weeks.
AJ Styles perhaps overlooked the champ.
[Wade] Who hasn't overlooked Dom Mysterio over the past few years?
Everyone. And guess what?
They've all been proven wrong and will continue…
-[Michael] Oh! -…to be proven wrong.
There's a little Eddie Guerrero for you, AJ, how'd that feel?
[Michael] And a kick-out by Styles,
before the referee
Eddie Orengo could get in position.
And Dominik Mysterio now looking to wear down AJ Styles.
[Wade] I mean, now, this game plan
of AJ Styles to wear the Eddie gear has simply been a red rag to a toro.
That's a bull.
[Michael] Thanks, Wade.
[Wade] No problem. I know you need a little help every now and again,
and it's all about "Dirty" Dom Mysterio now.
[Michael] Dominik Mysterio won the Intercontinental title
back at WrestleMania, in a Fatal 4-Way match,
when he actually pinned his Judgment Day teammate, Finn Bálor.
[Wade] Important to remember here, "Dirty" Dom hasn't actually competed
since early June, thanks to a multitude of injuries keeping him out.
[Michael] He had one injury, he had a rib issue.
[Wade] A rib issue, and obviously it seeped into other body parts he was--
[Michael] Uh-oh, went for a hurricanrana, and AJ Styles has him
in position perhaps, for a Styles Clash here,
and Dominik fights out of it.
[Wade] Danger moment there for "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio,
but he sensed it and scampered out of there in a hurry.
[Michael] And AJ Styles with a Tornado DDT,
launching himself off the ropes.
And both men are down in a critical moment in this match.
[Wade] Yeah, you can tell AJ is hurting at this point.
He's taken a lot of abuse in the early goings,
but this was executed perfectly.
Unfortunately for AJ,
hurting so badly, he wasn't able to leap up and capitalize on it.
[Michael] But a great night here, SummerSlam Sunday,
56,000-plus in attendance at MetLife Stadium.
The lights are on, spotlight's on the Intercontinental Championship,
Dominik turned inside out.
And Styles now with that running sliding forearm
and Dominik's on the ropes.
[Wade] And again, that second wind now is AJ,
and looking incredibly rapid with it.
[Michael] SummerSlam has been pretty good to AJ Styles,
beat John Cena here at one point in his career.
Cover by Styles for the Intercontinental title,
kick-out by Mysterio.
[Wade] I think you could literally name any PLE of the year,
and they've all been very good to AJ Styles,
'cause that's how successful he has been since arriving back
at the Royal Rumble in 2016 here. It's been a golden time for AJ,
will it continue tonight?
[Michael] AJ Styles again looking to put Mysterio away
and there's a Pelé kick by AJ and Dominik's down.
[Wade] This really is AJ Styles at his very best,
and at the moment, Dominik does not have an answer.
[Michael] Styles launched out to the apron by the champ,
forearm caught Dominik in the nose.
[Wade] How quick are those reflexes of AJ Styles, still to this day,
-26 years deep. -[Michael] Looking for Phenomenal Forearm,
Dominik ducks underneath, AJ rolls through,
caught himself in the apron,
and Dominik with a Michinoku Driver.
Here's the cover, is it enough to retain the title?
Kick-out by Styles.
[Wade] Both men with such brilliant reflexes there.
First of all, AJ leaping
with that attempt at the Phenomenal Forearm,
but the slip that caught him up in the ropes,
that's all that Dom needed to get up with that Michinoku Driver.
And Dom just continues to grow in this game.
[Michael] There's no doubt about that. I agree with you, Wade.
I mean, Dominik Mysterio has grown leaps and bounds
over the past couple of years. And now Dominik.
We've been talking a lot about Eddie Guerrero tonight,
and these are the Three Amigos that Eddie made famous.
[Wade] This is the modern-day Eddie Guerrero.
[Michael] Let's not go that far quite yet.
[Wade] I don't think we're going far enough.
-And AJ-- -[Michael] Oh, AJ Styles
drops Dominik on the back of his head,
that brainbuster by Styles.
[Wade] Oh man, that was vicious from AJ Styles,
just like it was closing things out,
straight down on the top of the neck and the shoulders.
And Dom's barely moved ever since.
[Michael] AJ Styles trying to pull Dominik into position.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Michael] AJ, a former Intercontinental Champion,
former WWE champ as well.
Oh, went for a Frog Splash, à la Eddie.
And Dominik got the knees up, and now Dominik with an opportunity.
[Wade] Real toughness from Dominik Mysterio,
ready to capitalize.
[Michael] And now AJ in position.
[Wade] Turning disaster into opportunity.
[Michael] The move that Dominik took from his dad, Rey Mysterio, the 619.
And now Dominik going up top, looking to put AJ away.
Went for his own Frog Splash. AJ Styles caught him.
[Wade] Hook up!
[Michael] And looking for the Calf Crusher now.
[Wade] What a transition from AJ!
[Michael] Yeah, looking for a Calf Crusher on Dominik Mysterio here, by AJ Styles.
If Dominik taps out, we've got a new Intercontinental Champion.
[Wade] Turning this matchup on a dime was AJ Styles,
so inventive there.
And desperately trying to grab the rope and makes it.
[Michael] Yeah, Dominik, he has champion's advantage.
AJ's gotta pin or submit him,
and Dominik making it to the ropes will force a break.
-[crowd 1 chanting "AJ Styles"] -[crowd 2 chanting " 'Dirty' Dom"]
[Wade] Frustrating for AJ Styles, he must have smelled victory on that one.
Thought that he was adding to that trophy cabinet
with Intercontinental Championship gold.
[Michael] And Dominik trying to fight out of the corner, and he does.
"Dirty" Dom…
Oh! Sends AJ face first into the turnbuckle!
[Wade] A millionth of a second away from colliding,
but just at the right time, "Dirty" Dom, who is now…
[Michael] Well, the official, Eddie Orengo, uh,
pretty much caught Dominik there
and said, "What are you doing?"
[Wade] And it's not illegal to take it off.
-To then drive an opponent… -[Michael] Exactly.
…intentionally into the corner would be a disqualification, but--
[Michael] And the official is trying to put the pad back on
as Dominik now has the steel chair in hand.
[Wade] And that was the trap, distract the referee with the turnbuckle,
and then pounce with the steel.
-[Michael] Oh, tossing it to AJ! -[Wade laughs]
[Michael] Talk about some lying, cheating, and stealing!
-And AJ Styles turns it around! -[Wade] No, no, wait! No, no, no, stop it!
That's not what happened, referee.
-No! -[Michael] Vintage Eddie Guerrero here.
Well, the referee doesn't know what happened.
[Wade] Of all the dirty tricks, AJ Styles, that's disgusting.
-[crowd chanting indistinctly] -He hit me!
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Michael] Well, the issue is, the official had no idea what happened,
so the matchup's gonna continue. And AJ Styles makes "Dirty" Dom pay.
That was right out of Eddie's playbook. Lying, cheating, and stealing.
[Wade] A wild couple of moments there, could have gone either way,
but wow, great reactions once again from "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio.
[referee] That's a warning. If you do it again, this match is over.
[Michael] And now, Dom…
and AJ Styles up again-- hung up on the top rope.
AJ Styles, though, back to his feet, and a little payback there.
[Wade] Catching "Dirty" Dom in the nether regions right now.
Liv Morgan will be in a blind panic watching this one.
Doesn't bode well for the next few weeks, does it?
And it doesn't bode well for the next few minutes of this match
for "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio.
-[crowd 1 chanting "AJ Styles"] -[crowd 2 chanting " 'Dirty' Dom"]
[Michael] Listen to this place, trying to will AJ Styles on.
[Wade] Shot to the throat there from "Dirty" Dom,
it's getting desperate in there.
This is what you gotta do if you wanna maintain--
[Michael] AJ rolled through. Roll through by AJ.
AJ Styles once again into the Calf Crusher,
and this way "Dirty" Dom has nowhere to go.
Styles with the Calf Crusher in, Dominik Mysterio in trouble.
Is he gonna tap out here?
[Wade] "Dirty" Dom a million miles away from the ropes here.
I don't think he's getting there, we might get a tap out imminently.
[Michael] Calf crusher in by Styles. AJ Styles is…
Oh, the boot has come loose.
Styles just pulled the boot loose, and Dominik's gonna…
"Dirty" Dom is gonna survive because Styles just pulled the boot off.
[Wade] It's tough to compete with a busted calf and no shoe on,
however, but Dom's gonna try it.
[Michael] Oh, wait a minute, Dom's got the boot in hand.
-The official-- -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] Boot to the face of Styles!
[Wade] The referee missed the entire thing,
covering up in the corner.
I think AJ's out cold here.
[Michael] "Dirty" Dom now, up to the top rope
with a Frog Splash.
-Mysterio covers… -[crowd counting]
-…wins! -[bell ringing]
["It Is My Time" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, and still the Intercontinental Champion,
"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio!
[Wade] Well, how unfortunate is AJ Styles when he had victory in his grasp.
The boot of "Dirty" Dom Mysterio
coming loose and the Calf Crusher canceled.
[Michael] AJ Styles cannot believe he didn't win
the Intercontinental Championship here tonight.
"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio somehow surviving with the gold intact.
A lot of Eddie Guerrero references tonight,
including, well, this move.
"Dirty" Dom pulling one out of Eddie's playbook,
but AJ Styles was ready.
[Wade] Lying, cheating, and steal, well, two can play at that game.
Referee, well-- And we both thought that was gonna be the end
one way or another, but the referee didn't fall for it.
"Hell no, let's fight on," but fascinating in the middle of--
[Michael] So, wait a minute, wait a minute, this is earlier.
Look at Dom-- Dominik Mysterio actually
-unzipped his boot earlier on. -[Wade] Oh! It wasn't luck!
It was a game plan by the incredible "Dirty" Dom Mysterio.
Loosened the boot knowing full well he was gonna bait AJ Styles
-into attempting the Calf Crusher. -[Michael] Oh my.
[Wade] What a genius "Dirty" Dom is.
It was strategic and it paid off perfectly.
This kid is so smart and so good, he may be unstoppable.
-[crowd] One, two, three! -[Wade] Creative, inventive,
-and escaping to victory. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] AJ Styles came out here tonight, channeling Eddie Guerrero.
Dominik Mysterio used an Eddie trick to win.
Eddie did that to beat Kurt Angle two decades ago, using his boots.
El Sucio de los Sucios!
[music concludes]
["Outside" playing]
[Michael] And we're at MetLife Stadium, heading toward our main event,
Cody Rhodes and John Cena.
It is an absolutely gorgeous early August night
in East Rutherford, clear and 75 degrees.
[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome WWE icon,
-Stephanie McMahon! -["Welcome to the Queendom" playing]
♪ Style and grace, I'm never gonna be done Lean on in now, welcome to the Queendom ♪
♪ The Queendom, where the kings bow down Then relinquish your crown ♪
♪ Y'all gonna hate me now I'll just turn that around and make you ♪
♪ Love me, love me, love me ♪
♪ The Queendom Where the kings bow down… ♪
Is everybody having a good time tonight?
[crowd cheering]
Well, I have the honor of announcing tonight's attendance,
and that is 60,561 people here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
And when you add last night and tonight,
we get a total of a 113,722 people
making this the biggest SummerSlam
-in history! -[crowd cheering]
-["Outside" playing] -[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen,
we wanna thank all of you that showed up here
at MetLife Stadium over the past couple of nights, and also,
watching around the globe to make this an absolutely epic two-night SummerSlam.
It's been an epic night tonight as well, Wade.
What about that Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match
for the WWE Tag Team titles?
You know, we got announcers calling our action all over the world.
Let's take a little peek at how they call the TLC.
[music concludes]
-[Nadir speaking French] Oh! -[Christophe] Whoa!
[Nadir speaking French]
[Calvin speaking German]
[Jude speaking Arabic]
-[Alex speaking Korean] -[Kyung-Ho speaking Korean]
-[Kevin speaking French] -[Patric speaking French]
[Síkfői speaking Hungarian]
-[Izgecan speaking Turkish] -[Ilker speaking Turkish]
-[bell ringing] -[commentator speaking Turkish]
["Outside" playing]
[Michael] Well, this just isn't a title match.
It's main event mythology.
In one corner, John Cena,
with a record 17 world titles and a once in a generation legacy.
And the other, Cody Rhodes,
fighting to continue writing the next chapter
in the story he started years ago and save the industry he loves.
It's personal, it's brutal, it's a Street Fight showdown
between the self-professed last real champion
and The American Nightmare for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
It's live, it's our main event, and it's next.
[song concludes]
["Hope I Get To See" playing]
♪ Oh, Lord, I hope I only get to see ♪
♪ Oh, I know that now you're here for me ♪
♪ But what I would have chosen If I could not be free ♪
♪ Oh, my hope, I hope ♪
[Cena] Everyone you have cheered for.
I have beaten your best.
When that hits zero, this championship comes home with me!
There will be no one…
ever worthy enough to earn the right…
to hold this…
again.
[Rhodes] Enough!
I don't want to fight a guy who's counting the days
until he's out the door.
At SummerSlam, I want to fight the real John Cena.
Hold on, Cody. I am not going to be at SummerSlam.
I am filming a big movie for Netflix in New York City.
I am emotionally exhausted.
This was what's best for business right now.
There is no way that I can sign this contract.
[Rhodes] John Cena forced me to make a choice and I hesitated.
I did not flinch when I returned at WrestleMania
and I came back home.
I did not flinch when I stood across from a future Hall of Famer
with a muscle hanging off the bone.
I did not flinch when I went back-to-back at the Royal Rumble.
I did not flinch when I faced my mentor, Randy Orton.
And I did not flinch when The Final Boss came for my soul!
-["Unchained" playing] -♪ Unchained, oh, unchained ♪
♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Unchained, oh, unchained ♪
♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah… ♪
[Rhodes] Check the fine print! At SummerSlam,
it's a Street Fight!
[thrilling music playing]
[Cena] Thank you. That was just the boot in the ass that I needed.
You forced me into a fight.
If I don't show up for war, I shouldn't show up at all!
[Rhodes] Welcome back, John Cena.
[Cena] We get to see Cody Rhodes
face off against the greatest of all time at my best.
[Rhodes] I was born to do this.
At SummerSlam, I want all the hustle, loyalty, and respect.
[crowd cheering]
[music concludes]
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following is a Street Fight!
And it is for the Undisputed
WWE Championship!
In this match, there are no count-outs, no disqualifications,
and the only way to win is by pinfall or submission.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Dusty over speaker] When you walk behind and you're not a leader,
then the view never changes.
The view never changes.
Don't let me down now, 'cause I came back for you,
for that man up there that died ten years ago
and never got the opportunity to see a real world champion.
I'm proud of you. Thank God I have you.
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[music concludes] -[crowd screams, cheers]
[Rhodes] Wrestling has more than one Royal family.
-["Kingdom" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[crowd singing along]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain Lights go up, I'm home ♪
♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ And my father said, when I was younger ♪
-♪ Hard times breed better men ♪ -♪ Better men! ♪
♪ You took it all away I give it all away ♪
-♪ Can't take my freedom ♪ -Yeah!
♪ Here to change the game A banner made of pain ♪
♪ I built my kingdom, now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams but not my name
♪ You'll follow me into the end I am my kingdom ♪
♪ Lights go down, I'm ready now ♪
♪ Tear this roof off for the town ♪
♪ Gonna give 'em what they came to see ♪
♪ Hear the crowd on their toes ♪
♪ Ready for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain Lights go up, I'm home ♪
♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ And my father said, when I was younger ♪
-♪ Hard times breed better men ♪ -♪ Better men! ♪
♪ You took it all away I give it all away ♪
♪ Can't take my freedom ♪
♪ Here to change the game A banner made of pain ♪
♪ I built my kingdom, now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪
♪ You'll follow me into the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
♪ You tried to tell me what to do ♪
♪ I saw the door and kicked it down ♪
♪ I stepped right over and right through ♪
♪ And you can never stop me now ♪
-♪ Bow now! ♪ -♪ I am the king and you're the clown ♪
♪ Now watch me as I take my throne And rule my kingdom ♪
♪ You took it all away, I give it all away Can't take my freedom ♪
♪ Here to change the game A banner made of pain ♪
♪ I built my kingdom ♪
♪ Now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪
♪ You'll follow me into the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
♪ You took it all away I give it all away ♪
♪ Can't take my freedom ♪
♪ Here to change the game A banner made of pain ♪
♪ I built my kingdom ♪
♪ Now you bow to me ♪
-♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪ -[song fades out]
[crowd cheering, clamoring]
[crowd chanting "Cena"]
[chanting continues]
-["The Time Is Now" playing] -[crowd cheering, applauding]
♪ Krrr, Amadou! ♪
♪ Your time is up, my time is now You can′t see me, my time is now ♪
Oh, he's back!
♪ It's the franchise, boy, I′m shinin' now You can't see me, my time is now! ♪
Yes!
♪ I′m still hot, knock your shell off ♪
♪ My money stack fat Plus I can′t turn the swell off ♪
♪ The franchise, doin' big business I live this, it′s automatic… ♪
I missed you, man!
You got a run in you? Let's run, then.
Y'all know what time it is. It's time to go to work.
♪ I'm slaughtering stale, competition ♪
[crowd screaming, cheering]
♪ I got my soul straight I brush your mouth like Colgate ♪
♪ In any weather I′m never better, your boy's so hot ♪
♪ You′ll never catch me In the next man's sweater ♪
♪ If they hate, let ′em hate I drop your whole clan ♪
♪ Lay yo' ass down For the three-second tan ♪
-[crowd cheering] -♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It′s the franchise, boy I′m shinin' now ♪
-♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪ -♪ Yeah, uh ♪
♪ It's gon′ be what it is gon' be ♪
♪ Five pounds of courage buddy, Bass tint pants with a gold T, uh ♪
♪ It′s a war dance, a victory step ♪
♪ A raw stance is a gift When you insist it's my rep ♪
♪ John Cena, Trademarc, y'all are so-so And talk about the bread you make ♪
♪ But don′t know the recipe For dough though ♪
♪ Aimin′ guns in all your photos That's a no-no ♪
♪ When this pop, you′ll lip lock Your big talk's a blatant no-show ♪
♪ See what happens when the ice age melt ♪
♪ You see monetary status Is not what matters, but it helps… ♪
-[song fades] -[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
Introducing first,
the challenger!
[scattered crowd booing]
From Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 222 pounds,
The American Nightmare,
Cody Rhodes!
-[crowd 1 booing] -[crowd 2 cheering]
-[Alicia] And his opponent… -[crowd cheering]
…from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
-weighing in at 251 pounds… -You gotta give 'em the whole thing.
…he is the greatest
of all time!
The Never Seen Seventeen
here tonight at SummerSlam,
one final time,
the last
real champion,
-John Cena! -[crowd] John Cena!
[Michael] Get it, Alicia!
It is main event time! For the sixth time in his career,
and the final time ever,
-John Cena will main event SummerSlam… -[crowd chanting "Cena"]
…defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against the former champion,
The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes.
I actually got an opportunity to talk to John Cena earlier today.
[bell ringing]
[Michael] John seemed like the John Cena of old.
The man that I spent over 20 years with in this industry.
The man that I rode up and down the roads with.
It seemed like the old John Cena is back,
much like he proclaimed Friday night on SmackDown.
[crowd chanting "Let's go, Cena"]
[crowd continues chanting "Let's go, Cena"]
[Michael] Much like they stood toe-to-toe as the final two men
in this year's Royal Rumble.
Two of the final three before Jey Uso went on to win everything.
[inaudible]
[Michael] And after the show of respect, here we go, Cody and Cena underway.
[Wade] Well, Cody Rhodes said, "I wanted the best version of John Cena."
Ask and ye shall receive,
at least, if you believe the words of John Cena this past Friday.
[Michael] And Cena sending Cody right out to the announce table early on.
Remember, Street Fight rules, anything goes.
You gotta win via pinfall or submission.
And Cody Rhodes now sends Cena shoulder first into the steel steps.
And for those of you questioning
whether or not Cody Rhodes had the killer instinct,
and whether or not he'd pull the trigger, Cody Rhodes answers that early.
[Wade] Yeah, this is a very different situation
than WrestleMania 41, when Cody wouldn't pull the trigger.
That was about remaining virtuous. This is a Street Fight, though.
Breaking the rules, the standard rules, is not only allowed, it's encouraged.
So, Cody, fill your boots.
[Michael] Cody bouncing Cena face first off the apron.
And now John Cena gonna reverse Cody shoulder first into the steps.
[crowd chanting "Let's go, Cena, Cody sucks"]
[Michael] And John Cena…
That's Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers.
[inaudible]
[Michael] And now taking the crutch from Tyrese.
Tyrese, of course, out after an Achilles surgery.
And now John Cena using the crutch. Again, perfectly legal, tonight.
Anything goes for the championship.
[Wade] Yeah, it's very difficult for John Cena
to do anything wrong tonight 'cause all bets are off.
[scattered crowd chanting "Cena"]
[Wade] Oh, Cena cooking up here.
Using the base of the steel steps that is much heavier than the top end,
which is bad enough in itself.
Cooking up something here for Cody.
[Michael] Again, Cena won the championship at WrestleMania
with a win over Cody Rhodes.
Cody wants the title back tonight, but John Cena wants to…
[Wade] Oh, here we go.
…finish off his first SummerSlam with a bang, looking for the AA.
Cody Rhodes now with John Cena up, and he'll slam him down on the steps.
[Wade] Well, that is falling on your own sword for John Cena,
such is the inherent danger of a Street Fight like this.
Any weapon you bring in the ring could well be turned on you.
[Michael] John Cena, of course,
undefeated against Cody Rhodes in his career in one-on-one action,
as Cody now looks to head up to the top rope.
Cena looking to try to roll off the steps and does,
and now he sends Cody Rhodes crashing to the floor.
[Wade] Careful what you wish for, Cody Rhodes.
If this is indeed the very best version of John Cena,
the one that's been AWOL for the past five months,
you may have put yourself in major jeopardy here.
You see how heavy those steps are.
[Michael] Yeah, look at the power of John Cena…
[crowd chanting "Let's go, Cena"]
…in this very dangerous situation here.
And Cena-- Oh! Actually throwing the steps at Cody…
-[Wade] Oh! -…who immediately grabs his arm.
[Wade] That radius and that ulna could have snapped on that one.
It's the forearm for you, Michael Cole.
[Michael] Thanks, Gorilla.
And now Cody bounced face first off the barricade.
Cena, the record-setting, seventeen-time World Champion.
[crowd chanting "Let's go, Cena"]
[Michael] And Cody Rhodes now launches himself
with a big Disaster Kick to John Cena.
[Wade] Take another look at this impact here.
[Michael] Oh my goodness!
[Wade] There's just no way of safely blocking that
to reduce the impact.
You just have to eat it, and I'm surprised…
-[Michael] Cover, cover! -…Cody blocking it.
[Michael] And Cena kicks out off the side Russian leg sweep.
Cody knew he wasn't gonna pin Cena there. That was a little mind game.
[Wade] Yeah, of course, a little psychological.
Let Cena know who's back in control of this one.
It's the fight within the fight.
[Michael] Dropped down, Cody Rhodes with a big right hand.
Again, into the cover on Cena.
-And Cena forced to kick out. -[Wade] Here's the issue for John Cena.
The reason he's had so much success over the past five months
is because he's broken the rules when others haven't.
That's not an option tonight.
I don't know if I see how John can win this match
when he doesn't have the advantage
against the best of the current generation, Cody Rhodes.
[Michael] Again, Street Fight rules tonight.
[crowd chanting "Let's go, Cena, Cody sucks"]
[Michael] Cena claims he saw the error of his ways.
Knows he has four months left here in WWE.
Oh! And a power slam by Cody.
Cover now for the title!
And a kick-out at two.
[Wade] Locked-in focus of Cody Rhodes,
this is a mission to prove to himself, more than anybody else,
-that he can take out the very best… -[Michael] Oh!
…of the previous generation, the greatest of all time.
[Michael] Cody launched over the top rope,
John Cena collapsing to the floor as well, and now…
Cody trying to see what type of tools he can utilize.
From under the ring, steel chair in hand.
[Wade] Hell of a lot of options hidden underneath that ring
and John Cena knows it too.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Michael] And John's got a steel chair and both men now in the ring.
The official in this matchup, Dan Engler, can do nothing about this.
[Michael] Oh!
And Cody sends-- Smart move by Cody, sent the chair flying,
now uses the other chair to his advantage.
[Wade] Shock waves reverberated down the fingertips of both men. But Cod--
[Michael] Cover again by Cody.
And forces Cena to kick out at two.
[Wade] Cody's just shrugging off the pain a little faster
than John Cena at this point, and that might be the element of youth
that's in favor of the challenger here.
[Michael] Now stomping away at the ankle of John Cena is Cody.
Cody understands the importance,
the opportunity to get his championship back,
the championship that defined so much of the last couple of years in his life.
Finishing the story a couple of years ago at WrestleMania,
only to have it ripped away from him in such controversial fashion
-this past April. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] The body of John Cena has been through wars
for the past 20 years, taken way more abuse than most,
and eventually it does catch up with you.
-[Michael] Cody now, sent into the chair. -[Wade] Oh!
[crowd applauding]
[Michael] And Cena ducks underneath, and now, John Cena with a shoulder tackle.
And a little bit of a Cena of old coming through.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Anyone who's been in the ring with John Cena has tasted this moment.
[crowd] You can't see me!
[Michael] And John with a Five Knuckle Shuffle.
And now measuring Cody Rhodes, looking to put Rhodes away.
Had him in the position for the AA,
Cody Rhodes with a clothesline.
And again, Wade, to your point earlier on,
Cody Rhodes seems to be a step ahead of Cena tonight.
[Wade] Yeah, he knows exactly what's coming
from this version of John Cena.
-That was the issue at WrestleMania. -[Michael] Oh!
[Wade] He didn't know what was coming. And this has perhaps made it easier.
[Michael] And Cody Cutter, and that could be it.
-John's neck snapping back, Cody. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] And a kick-out by Cena at two.
[Wade] Have a look at this. Cody Cutter expertly executed.
So precise, Cody is locked in.
'Course, he had to win the King of the Ring tournament
to earn himself this opportunity. The crown is great,
but this is even better if you pull off the dub.
[Michael] That's what defines Cody Rhodes here
-in WWE today, the Undisputed WWE title. -[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Michael] John Cena now, with an AA from out of nowhere!
-Cover to retain the championship. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] And Cody gets the shoulder up.
[Wade] Cody ain't gonna go down that easily.
It's a move that has put us all away at one time or another.
It's put Cody away in the past,
but this is the best version of Cody Rhodes we have ever seen.
And he is driven tonight.
[Michael] And now, Cena runs right into Cody.
-Cody gonna climb up to the top rope. -[crowd chanting "Yes, he can"]
[Michael] Cody. Oh, look at that!
-Cover off that crossbody. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Cena kicks out that twisting crossbody by Cody Rhodes,
almost put Cena away.
[Wade] Like a Terry Funk style moonsault right there, so hard to defend,
it's not linear.
Get your hands up, he'll knock you upside the side of your head.
[Michael] That's the point. He ended up in that crossbody position, and now,
Cody off the second rope with yet another Disaster Kick to Cena.
-Cover by Rhodes. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] John has to kick out at two.
[Wade] Again, here's an age factor for you.
I don't wanna harp on about John Cena.
He is clearly at the twilight of his career.
And when you get deeper into a match like this,
massive momentum swing in the favor of Cody Rhodes.
[Michael] Yeah, but could John Cena feed off adrenaline?
Can he feed off emotion?
John Cena has four months left in his career here.
He wants to go out as the champion. That's what he wants to be remembered by.
[Wade] John Cena needs to feed off the Cenation.
And they are watching right now.
[Michael] Cover by Cody, hook of the leg!
And a kick-out!
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Cody Rhodes has been emotionless from the get go. Every kick-out,
Cody's eyes are like a computer, processing the data.
What do I need to do? How close is Cena? To be ready for the kill.
[Michael] And again, Wade, it's what we were talking about earlier on.
Cody finally proving that he had that killer instinct,
that he could pull the trigger when he needed to.
But now, John Cena with an Electric Chair to Cody Rhodes, center of the ring.
-Cena cover, can he retain? -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Hooks the inside leg, and Cody has to roll the shoulder out.
And it's a big fight feel in our main event,
been rumbling the crowd since the get go.
And Cena, with Cody, back up on his shoulders again.
Cody Rhodes now lifting John Cena up!
-Cody Rhodes! -[Wade] Oh God.
-Oh! -[Michael] With a piledriver to Cena!
Cody Rhodes with a piledriver for the title!
And Cena kicks out!
[Wade] That is a move that is technically banned in WWE.
You can't ban it in a Street Fight.
It's banned because it paralyzes human beings.
One of the most dangerous moves we have in the history of professional wrestling.
Well, Cody pulled it off tonight and it wasn't enough.
[Michael] Yeah, and look at Cody, the look on his face.
He can't believe he didn't put John away with that piledriver.
Cody Rhodes digging down deep, pulling out all the stops,
doing anything he can to try to win the title tonight.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Michael] Cody's tried just about everything, Wade.
And now, you see the official, Dan Engler, checking on Cena,
who instinctively kicked out.
The piledriver, though, leaving John in a heap.
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
[Wade] John can't even move his limbs at this point, despite that kick-out.
Well, this is a major concern, and the referee may have to step in.
It is a Street Fight, but the ref can end it if--
Oh no, hold on.
[Michael] John Cena going back to his feet, playing possum!
-AA delivered, both men down! -[crowd cheering, applauding]
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
[Michael] Man, Cena with a tremendous amount of resilience
getting Cody up and delivering the AA.
[Wade] An explosive,
almost instinctive reaction from John Cena,
unable to mount a pin here.
Take another look at this. I thought Cena was playing possum,
but, uh, the post AA collapse tells you otherwise.
[Michael] This is our main event
in front of 60,561 WWE fans at SummerSlam Sunday.
John Cena, his final SummerSlam ever defending the WWE Championship
against the former champion Cody Rhodes
and both these athletes leaving it all in the ring tonight.
[crowd booing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
[crowd cheering]
-[crowd booing] -[Michael chuckles]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
[Michael] Cody ducked underneath. John Cena launched.
A pop-up powerbomb. Cover now!
Is it enough?
Cena able to kickout.
-Turns it in. -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] Looking for the STFU. The STFU's in.
[Wade] Completely locked in there. Cody in panic mode. Cody in peril!
[Michael] Cody's gotta try to make it to the ropes to force this break here.
[Wade] What an amazing transition from Cena,
just when he got written off on that powerbomb.
[Michael] Cody dragging himself to the ropes to try to grab it,
-forces the break. -[Wade] No rope break, no rope break.
This is a Street Fight. You can use the ropes
for leverage to pull yourself out of the ring.
-[Michael] Indeed. -[Wade] That is Cody's only chance here.
[Michael] Indeed, and the official doing a great job
making sure that he didn't call for the break here.
But Cody now, using the ropes to his advantage
to make sure John Cena has to break the STFU.
[Wade] Well, Cena's throat dragged across that bottom rope.
There was almost no way out there for Cody Rhodes.
-How much damage has been done? -[crowd shouting indistinctly]
[Michael] And now, John Cena suddenly in control of this matchup.
The current champion, the seventeen-time champion.
[crowd cheering, shouting indistinctly]
[Michael] Now, a reversal and Cena is sent over the barricade
into the timekeeper's area by Cody.
[Wade] This audience absorbing every blow, every shot from these two Superstars.
People are scared to blink.
They don't wanna miss a millisecond of what is likely to be an all-time--
-Oh! -[Michael] Oh!
-[crowd gasping] -[Michael] Cena with a microphone
off the face of Rhodes.
[Wade] We're at that point in the match-- Oh God.
[Michael] Oh my God! John Cena, are you kidding me?
-[crowd cheering, applauding] -[Michael] Cena.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Michael] John Cena pulling out all the stops tonight.
[Wade] The skull of Cody Rhodes rattling off the ground there.
John Cena turning back the clock, rolling back the years,
and now has a massive smile on that face.
[Michael] And now, clearing off the Spanish announce table
and putting Cody now on our… on our announce table.
You gotta wonder what John's got… got in store for Rhodes.
[Wade] I guarantee you it's not gonna be pretty, whatever it is.
[Michael] Street Fight rules, Cena can do anything he wants here.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] He's got Cody Rhodes up on his shoulder.
He's making his way toward the Spanish announce table!
Cena with an AA to Cody through the table!
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Michael] Doing everything he can to walk out of here with the title.
[Wade] Collapsing the reinforced metal desk,
Cody launched like a human projectile.
How much power does Cena still have?
[Michael] Again, the pinfall or submission needs to take place
inside the ring in the Street Fight.
[Wade] Cena can barely stand up himself at this point, understandably so.
[Michael] Well, John looks unbelievable in this match, though.
Best he's looked, I think, here at WWE in his return.
[crowd chanting "This is awesome, let's go Cena"]
[Michael] Sends Cody back in the middle of the ring,
and John Cena now in pursuit.
-John cover, hooks the leg to retain. -[crowd counting]
-[Michael] Cody gets the shoulder up. -[crowd booing]
[Wade] My God, take another look at this, a jumping John Cena and flying Cody Rhodes
and a horrific landing for "The American Nightmare."
[Michael] But again, the story of this is, Wade,
is that Cody Rhodes was still able
to kick out of the pin by Cena following this.
[Wade] That's no surprise to John Cena, he's fought the best for 20-plus years.
He's seen the toughest, he's seen the most durable,
-and Cody matches all of them. -Let's go!
[Wade] Cena knew exactly what he would have to do tonight
-to get the win. -Let's go!
[Michael] Cena firing up.
Oh! Nobody home. Cody Rhodes sidesteps Cena!
Cody now has got him in position for a Cody--
Oh my God, the Cross Rhodes by Cody!
Cover now, hooks the leg!
Almost had him! Cena kicked out at two!
And now Cody has the doubt starting to set in!
The Cross Rhodes by Cody.
[Wade] Locked in out of nowhere, the Cross Rhodes,
bang on the top of Cena's head!
It should have been over,
and against almost anybody else, it would have been over.
You wanted the best, Cody, well, you got him tonight.
[Michael] And John Cena has just been feeding off the WWE fans tonight,
but perhaps the end is near.
Cody's saying, "What do I need to do to put John away?"
What did JBL used to call him? "Big Match John."
Always steps up in these massive situations in his career.
[Wade] Big Match John, QB1, hustle, loyalty, respect,
against the blood, the struggle, The Nightmare.
[Michael] And now Cody Rhodes,
heading up to the top rope, he's got Cena hooked.
High above the ring here at MetLife.
John's trying to power out.
So much of his game over the past couple of decades
has been based on power.
And John Cena now,
with a couple of headbutts to the chest of Cody.
And Cody dropped to the mat. And now Cena to the top rope.
How is Cena still able to do this?
Leg drop, back of the neck! Cody may be out!
John Cena with an opportunity to deliver an AA!
Just like old times for John Cena!
But Cody Rhodes kicks out!
[Wade] Oh my God, John Cena going for broke here.
There's no way to land this for Cena that's remotely pretty.
It's even worse for Cody, followed up with yet another AA.
And Cody Rhodes, who clearly is no longer in control
of his faculties or his body, manages to kick out.
[Michael] Yeah, but now it's John Cena who's starting to say to himself,
talk to himself, "What do I do? What can I do?"
Street Fight rules, but John may have an idea in mind.
[Wade] John Cena has the experience to never run out of options.
He's been in the deep waters more than anyone.
Chair ain't good enough apparently.
-[crowd cheers] -[Michael] But a table might be.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Cena apparently having all the time in the world to concoct
whatever he wants to come up with here,
'cause Cody Rhodes is minced in the corner.
[Michael] He just went through an announce table with an AA
and got AA'd again inside the ring.
And John Cena just taking his time,
setting this table up to use it to his advantage.
[Wade] Cody Rhodes just desperately trying to gather your bearings,
figure out what the hell you have to do to get back into the fight.
You do not wanna turn around and see this view.
[Michael] Cena now measuring Cody, lifts Cody back up on his shoulders.
Cody Rhodes, though, smart move, tips the table,
and now Cody delivers a DDT.
Into the cover, hooks the leg on Cena!
John's gotta kick out again.
[Wade] The right move at the right time for Cody Rhodes.
Sometimes defense is the best form of attack.
Get that table the hell away from you and figure it out from there.
[Michael] And now Cody looking to use the table to his advantage.
The punishment showing on both of these men
as our Undisputed WWE Championship match continues in the main event at SummerSlam.
[Wade] Could only ever have been this way.
From the two best from their respective generations,
all-out war!
[Michael] John Cena, averting disaster, Cody Rhodes as well.
John Cena now with Cody up top, Cody hangs onto the top rope,
able to land on the apron.
Ducks down underneath, and gonna drag John outside.
Now John bounced over the barricade and into the WWE Universe here,
and Cody's in pursuit.
[Wade] Well, the entire stadium is your playpen tonight, gentlemen.
[Michael] The reason it's called a Street Fight.
[Wade] Well, in fact, outside the stadium, could potentially be.
Referee in hot pursuit.
[Michael] Now Cody whipped into the protective barricade.
No padding there, though.
[Wade] This entire audience now being treated to a front-row seat.
[Michael] And Cody and John throwing everything at one another,
and now throwing haymakers.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And Cody just raking across the back of John Cena.
[Wade] Cena is just moving so, so well.
The best he's moved since returning to WWE,
and this is the most abuse he's taken in that time.
[Michael] Agreed, 100%. Going toe to toe with Cody Rhodes.
And now John Cena with a barricade in hand,
bouncing it into Cody, using anything he can as a weapon.
[Wade] This looks very ugly for The American Nightmare.
[Michael] And Cody driven back again.
[Wade] Tried his best to block that, caught it on the arms more than anything.
But unable to launch it, falling back in response.
-[Michael] And now John Cena… -[Wade] Oh no.
-…gonna lift Cody up again. -[Wade] Oh no.
[Michael] And Cody surviving.
Cody, though,
suplex to John into the steel!
[Wade] No give whatsoever.
[crowd gasping]
[Wade] Spine against steel.
Every angle imaginable. Tyrese Haliburton felt that.
So did all of us.
[Michael] Cena trying to crawl away, Cody Rhodes trying to gain the upper hand.
This match has been so even, Wade, for the Undisputed WWE title.
[Wade] Been an absolute barn burner so far.
Who's gonna crumble though? Both men close to collapse.
[Michael] Cody's still in pursuit, Cena doubled over in pain.
[Wade] Both driven by greatness,
something out of reach to most of us mortals.
[Michael] You know, John Cena, I've said it many, many times,
the greatest of all time, the seventeen-time champion.
Cody Rhodes looking to follow in his footsteps.
And Cena now sending Cody underneath this massive stage here at SummerSlam.
[Wade] Well, we didn't have a cameraman close enough
to see what the hell is going on here.
[Michael] And again, Cena and Cody Rhodes are somewhere underneath the stage.
-That there is the elevator shaft that… -[Wade] Is somebody on fire?
-…Cody Rhodes came up on. -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] And John Cena now,
coming up the elevator that Rhodes used earlier on tonight for his entrance!
-And Cena now with Rhodes on his shoulder. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] I've seen that look on Cena's face before.
It didn't end well for Cody Rhodes.
[Michael] And Cena with Cody Rhodes on his shoulders…
delivers an AA onto the ramp of the stage!
Just an incredible moment at SummerSlam.
[crowd screaming, gasping]
[Wade] On a reinforced steel ramp,
capable of holding ambulances should we ever need
to drive them down to the ringside area,
which sadly is starting to look increasingly likely,
-looking at the carcass of Cody Rhodes. -[Michael] Indeed.
John Cena gonna have to drag or carry Cody back to the ring.
[Wade] I don't know if Cena's got the power left in his body
to walk that far.
Dragging a dead weight like Cody Rhodes. Cody is a big dude.
[Michael] Well, John Cena gonna prove you wrong, Wade.
Cena with Cody on his shoulders is marching his way back to the ring.
[Wade] The ultimate farmer's walk for you strongman enthusiasts,
and this is this deep into an arduous Street Fight.
[Michael] Cena marched all the way down the ramp
to the ring to put Cody inside where John has to
actually get the pin to win.
[Wade] John Cena really has tapped back into what made him great
in the first place this evening. I had my doubts with the rousing speech.
[Michael] And Cody though… Cody quickly drops Cena onto the table!
Cody Rhodes took advantage, Cena driven into the table!
And now Rhodes with a Cross Rhodes to Cena!
-Cover by Cody! -[crowd counting]
-[Michael] John kicked out again! -[crowd cheers]
[Wade] John Cena, though, done all the hard work
at the top of the ramp, thrown through the table,
pounced on with a Cross Rhodes, and still as hard-wearing as ever.
[Michael] And the doubt again crossing the eyes
in the face of Cody Rhodes, wondering what he needs to do
to put away the greatest of all time, the seventeen-time World Champion.
[Wade] The man, who for better or worse,
controlled WWE for the best part of 15 years,
and to this day, in 2025, continues to do so.
[Michael] How much does Cena have left? How much does Cody have left?
And Cena now…
Cody up over the top rope and falls to the floor.
[Wade] John Cena written off thousands of times historically,
almost always capable of bouncing back.
[Michael] Now Cody with a chair off the face of Cena.
Street Fight rules, do anything you can to keep your opponent down.
Use anything that you can.
[Wade] Cody Rhodes, a man constantly needing to prove himself,
only interested in the biggest of challenges.
Well, you got it tonight, Cody, didn't you?
Can you finish the job?
[Michael] What exactly is Cody doing here?
Hey! What are you doing?! You can't--
[Wade] Unscrewing that turnbuckle, the rope's down.
[Michael] Loosening the bottom ropes here.
Cody Rhodes with that exposed turnbuckle, that piece of steel.
[Wade] Use that as a metal truncheon if you really wanted to,
and I think that's the idea.
[Michael] Cody Rhodes doing anything he can,
whatever he needs to do to try to fell the Champion.
[Wade] That's the name of the game in this Street Fight.
-Go above and beyond. -[crowd booing]
[Michael] Cody again, measuring his man.
[Wade] Cody having doubts again here.
[Michael] Well, I mean, he's looking at the all-time great.
[Wade] Once upon a time, Cody's hero.
[Wade] The man Cody modeled himself after.
[Michael] Wade, we've talked so much about this
over the past number of months.
Pulling the trigger when you have to.
Having the killer instinct when you need to,
and Cody Rhodes did it yet again, using the steel, to Cena.
[Wade] You have to be merciless right now, Cody.
Block out the noise, block out the history,
block out the human feeling.
[Michael] Well, it's all legal. It is a Street Fight.
-[inaudible] -[crowd clamors]
[Wade] Cody begging the referee to call this off,
check Cena, he can't defend himself.
Cena just shoved the referee away.
[Michael] He went through a table,
he got hit in the face twice with that steel.
[crowd clamoring]
[Michael] And John makes it back to his feet.
-[Wade] Oh! -[Michael] Drop toe hold, this time Cena.
Trying to wrap up Cody Rhodes for the STFU again.
And now, using the ropes to his advantage, John Cena…
has no remorse, he'll do whatever he has to do to keep the championship.
Cody trying to fight out of this.
[Wade] Trying to get some oxygen back in his lungs
after Cena cut it off with that rope, but now reversing it on John.
[Michael] And now it's Cody Rhodes using the rope as a weapon.
Cody making Cena pay.
-[crowd cheering] -[crowd member] Cena! Cena!
[Michael] And can John fight out of this now?
[Michael] Cena.
Went low, now he's got Cody up on his shoulders again.
Cody Rhodes, though, ducks underneath. Cody's got John hooked.
Cross Rhodes!
[Wade] But he ain't giving up there, Cole.
[Michael] Cody still has John hooked.
Another Cross Rhodes.
[Wade] Will two do it? That's the question.
I don't think Cody thinks so.
[Michael] Is Cody going for the trifecta?
A triple Cross Rhodes to Cena!
Cover by Cody!
[crowd] One! Two!
[Michael] Cody-- Oh, and a kick-out! A kick-out by Cena!
You gotta be kidding me! How the hell did Cena kick out?
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Michael] And Cody in disbelief, if you can read lips,
you know what he just said.
Ladies and gentlemen, Cody Rhodes is shocked.
Cody Rhodes thought he had Cena pinned after three Cross Rhodes.
[Wade] Well, that was number three, and that had to be the end.
But Superman is back to his best,
and Superman at his best is unbeatable.
[crowd chanting "Super Cena"]
[Michael] Cody staring at the Undisputed WWE Championship.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Michael] The title that he held so proudly
before losing to Cena at WrestleMania this year.
[Wade] Cody might be realizing he's met his match this evening.
What the hell have I got to do to keep John Cena down?
[Michael] Anything you need to do.
It's about being champion at the top of the game,
even if it means taking out a man you idolized for many years,
who you looked up to, who you tried to pattern your career after.
And now Cody Rhodes on his feet, title in hand.
[Wade] No remorse, Cody, this is what both men signed up for.
[Michael] John Cena back to his feet, he catches Cody.
AA, Attitude Adjustment!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Cena going for another one, John with an AA!
And he's not gonna do it that way, he's gonna do it his way.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Wade] Oh God, a super powered version, Cole.
[Michael] John Cena with Cody on his shoulders from the second rope.
Cena looking to power Cody up.
John Cena…
with an avalanche AA to the middle of the ring
-to retain the championship! -[crowd] One! Two!
[Michael] Cody kicked out!
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Michael] Yet another near fall in a classic main event.
[Wade] An avalanche AA from the second rope,
the additional height, the broken body of Cody Rhodes
crashing down center of the ring.
And at 2.99, well, Superman meet Superman.
[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Michael] How many times in this match
has doubt crept in the mind of both of these men?
The man who has been the standard bearer of the company for two decades.
The other man who wants to carry this company into the next decade.
Cena and Rhodes for the Undisputed Championship.
[Wade] Doubt seemed to turn to despair there
momentarily for John Cena, but he's cooking up something else.
How do you raise the stakes
when you simply have thrown everything at Cody Rhodes,
yet somehow, it's not quite been enough?
[Michael] Well, you introduce another table, I guess.
Under Street Fight rules, John Cena…
[crowd chanting "Let's go Cena, Cena sucks"]
[Michael] And again, the WWE fans with the familiar chant for Cena.
[Wade] What a war of attrition this has been.
Both men throwing everything,
but both men being equal to the abuse thrown at them.
[Michael] Well, Wade, there's no doubt whoever wins this match
will have earned it.
[Wade] Trial by fire for both men, forget passing any torches.
[Michael] And now…
John gonna look to power Cody back up to the top rope again.
How much do these men have left? John Cena now,
as if that first avalanche AA wasn't enough.
Now with a table in place, for John Cena to retain--
Cody Rhodes trying to fight back with the elbows down to the face of John.
Lands on his face-- on his feet now.
And Cody, up top.
[Wade] Oh God, Cody, what a reversal if he can pull this off.
[Michael] Cody, counter through the table! From the top rope!
[Wade] John ate the table. Cody ate the table.
-John has no idea where he's at. -[Michael] Not at all. John may…
John just collapses onto the ropes.
[Wade] Cody's body is not cooperating, but he has his bearings.
That's more than can be said for John Cena.
[Michael] Yeah, Cody's back to his feet. He's stalking his opponent.
Cody Rhodes looking to put John Cena away one more time and a final salute
to the greatest of all time.
Cody Rhodes with a Cross Rhodes to Cena.
-Into the cover, hooks the leg! -[crowd counting]
-[Michael] Cody Rhodes is champion! -[bell ringing]
-["Kingdom" playing] -[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Alicia] Here is your winner,
and new Undisputed
WWE Champion,
The American Nightmare,
Cody Rhodes!
[Michael] In one of the most emotional matches in Cody Rhodes's career.
Cody Rhodes has defeated the greatest of all time
in John Cena's final SummerSlam
to once regain the title that means everything to him,
the Undisputed WWE Championship.
[Wade] This was the avalanche AA that we thought
was the kill shot to Cody Rhodes,
but Cody Rhodes was on something special tonight,
on a promise, on a mission, and refusing to be denied,
and this was really the game-wrecking moment.
This avalanche Cody Cutter through a table
leaving John Cena defenseless and unaware.
A salute to the Chain Gang Soldier who went down fighting tonight,
but Cody was just the better man.
-One, two, three. -[crowd] One, two, three.
[Michael] It is somewhat appropriate
that in his sixth main event, in his final SummerSlam of all time,
John Cena would once again roll back the clock,
would once again deliver us a match and a performance for the ages.
But in the end, The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes,
who has vowed to carry this company
as its quarterback, as its captain, into the next decade.
Cody Rhodes is once again the Undisputed WWE Champion.
-[inaudible] -♪ Now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪
♪ You'll follow me into the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
♪ You tried to tell me what to do ♪
♪ I saw the door and kicked it down ♪
♪ I stepped right over and right through ♪
♪ And you can never stop me now… ♪
[crowd cheering, applauding]
♪ Now watch me as I take my throne ♪
♪ And rule my kingdom ♪
♪ You took it all away I give it all away… ♪
[Michael] Two men that have meant more to my career…
-than I can ever say. -["Kingdom" continues playing]
[fireworks bursting]
[Michael] It has come full circle at MetLife Stadium at WrestleMania XXIX.
John Cena with the most therapeutic win of his career
when he defeated The Rock.
It was almost a passing of torch at that moment in time.
And now here, once again, back at MetLife Stadium,
this time at SummerSlam,
it is again a passing of the torch from the greatest of all time, John Cena,
to the man who will carry WWE into the future,
the new Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes!
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] That shot right there, the nucleus of an entire industry.
Two men who laid it all on the line tonight.
[Michael] And absolutely, always the gentleman, Cody Rhodes,
The American Nightmare,
will leave the ring to the one and only, the greatest of all time, John Cena,
to bask in the glow of over 60,000 people
in what is his last SummerSlam.
-Wade, there's four months left. -[song fades]
[crowd cheering, applauding]
-[inaudible] --[crowd cheering, applauding]
[crowd chanting "Thank you, Cena"]
[inaudible]
[crowd continues chanting "Thank you, Cena"]
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy this while you can.
We have four months left to enjoy the greatness that is John Cena.
-["Next Big Thing" playing] -[crowd screaming, cheering]
[Michael screams] What?
[crowd screaming]
[Wade] Oh my God!
[Michael] It's The Beast! It's The Beast!
[Wade] The Beast is back!
[Michael] Brock Lesnar! Brock Lesnar!
Brock Lesnar is at SummerSlam!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh my God.
Hell has come to the Meadowlands!
Wade, it's been years.
[Wade] Hold on, I'm looking at the look in John Cena's eyes.
It doesn't look like he's ready to greet an old friend here.
There's a smile on the face of Brock Lesnar.
[Michael] Wait a minute, let's not use the word "friend"
when it comes to Lesnar and Cena.
This is a man that has beaten the hell out of John Cena over the years.
[Wade] This is a man who is a walking hazard.
A walking threat.
[Michael] John Cena once called this man his greatest rival,
his toughest rival, his most physical rival.
And Brock Lesnar is here and he's as massive as ever.
["Next Big Thing" continues playing]
[crowd cheering]
["Next Big Thing" continues playing]
[Michael] The Beast has not taken his eyes off John Cena
since he entered this stadium.
He had to shed his jacket, he's taken down his hat.
[Wade] This is a man built for one thing…
[Michael] And now Lesnar into the ring!
And Brock Lesnar with John Cena on his shoulders!
Brock Lesnar with an F5 to John Cena!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] On a night when John Cena
went through an absolute war with Cody Rhodes!
[Wade] Let's be honest,
Brock Lesnar was never coming down here to commiserate with anyone.
A message has been sent.
And everything we thought we knew about WWE just changed.
[Michael] Wade, what I said is John Cena's got four months left
and it could be a nightmare.
A man who has dominated this event has once again made headlines.
The Beast is back and he's hungry as hell!
["Next Big Thing" continues playing] hell!