[intro theme music playing]
[tense music playing]
[male narrator] We choose to show the world one face…
but our true face we only show ourselves.
Is it the face of privilege…
[Tom] Jinder Mahal's number one contender.
[Mahal] How dare you overlook The Maharaja!
-[narrator] …or a predator. -[JBL] He was born for greatness.
[Orton] Where I'm from, you actually have to win a match
to become champion.
[narrator] Is it the face of a fighter…
[Owens] I am here to be The New Face of America.
[narrator] …or a phenomenal one?
[Styles] You are standing
-in The House that AJ Styles Built! -[crowd chanting along]
[narrator] Is it the face of a show-off…
[Dolph] Nobody steals my place.
Who exactly do you think you are?
[narrator] …or an artist?
-[Shinsuke] I am… -[Saxton] Shinsuke…
-[Shinsuke] …Shinsuke. -[Saxton] …Nakamura.
[Tom] The King of Strong Style!
[crowd chanting] Nakamura!
["Highway" playing]
[narrator] Whatever face we choose to show,
prepare for the Backlash.
[Styles] You will never be the face of SmackDown LIVE.
Get the hell out of my ring!
♪ Every little stop sign… ♪
It's time for you to either put up or shut up!
♪ The devils in the details ♪
♪ Pretty little females… ♪
We will fight Natalya, Tamina, and Carmella
in a Six-Woman Tag-Team Match at Backlash.
[narrator] When it's time to face who we really are…
[Orton] You've won the jackpot.
[JBL] Jinder could walk out of Backlash the WWE champion!
[Orton] Only, your prize is an RKO from yours truly.
[narrator] It's time to face…
♪ Imma take the highway ♪
…the Backlash.
♪ Highway ♪
["Highway" by Bleeker playing]
[narrator] And now, WWE presents
Backlash.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Every little stop sign ♪
♪ All the red lights Like a preacher on a Saturday night ♪
♪ The devils' in the details Pretty little females… ♪
[Tom] It is adversity that introduces a man to himself.
Tonight, we separate the science from truth
and contenders from champions.
We are live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago.
Welcome, everyone, to WWE Backlash!
[crowd cheering]
[Dolph's theme song plays]
[crowd cheering]
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, residing in Hollywood, Florida,
weighing in at 218 pounds,
Dolph Ziggler!
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Tonight, for Dolph Ziggler, it is put up or shut up.
The two-time World Heavyweight Champion with a tremendous opportunity
here tonight at Backlash.
We wanna welcome you inside the Allstate Arena
here in Chicago.
Tom Phillips here alongside Byron Saxton
and the former WWE Champion, JBL. Gentlemen, this is gonna be a big night.
It is gonna be a huge night. What a way to start it off
with The Showoff in one of the greatest sports cities in the world.
And we are joined here by our international announce team.
First up, our German team, Tim Haber and Calvin Knie.
[speaking German]
[Tom] And as always, our Spanish announce team,
Carlos Cabrera and Marcelo Rodriguez.
[speaking Spanish]
[Tom] Well, the WWE universe, all eyes here tonight
on WWE Backlash, and of course, a tremendous in-ring debut awaits.
-[theme song stops] -[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Nakamura!
[chanting continues]
[crowd cheering]
[cheering stops]
[Shinsuke's theme music plays]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd vocalizing in unison]
[announcer] And his opponent, from Kyoto, Japan,
weighing in at 220 pounds,
Shinsuke Nakamura!
[crowd cheering]
[vocalizing continues]
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] An absolute spectacle. Captivating and mesmerizing.
The only person who doesn't seem impressed, John,
is Dolph Ziggler.
[JBL] Well, Dolph Ziggler has a point to prove
and when you're talkin' about mesmerizing,
that is exactly Dolph's problem with Shinsuke Nakamura.
So far, all he's done is make incredible entrances here at the WWE.
[crowd chanting] Nakamura!
[bell dings]
[Tom] And we are set for the official in-ring debut
for Shinsuke Nakamura versus Dolph Ziggler.
[Saxton] I'll tell you what, I hope Dolph hasn't taken Shinsuke too lightly.
[Tom] Shinsuke Nakamura, a global superstar
known the world over, his time before WWE in Japan.
Former IWGP champion.
Competed against the likes of AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar.
[JBL] You're right, Tom. At one time at 23 years, nine months,
Nakamura was the youngest IWGP champion. He's been three times,
but this is big time, Tom.
This is what--
Nakamura is now in the major leagues and out there
with a two-time World Champion. Now, we find out
how good Nakamura really is.
[Tom] That's a point Ziggler's been makin'
since Nakamura debuted on SmackDown LIVE after WrestleMania.
[Saxton] Hey, look, it is a valid point. We have not seen Nakamura compete here…
-[JBL] Whoa! -…in the WWE.
-[JBL] Whoa! -[Tom] Wow!
And took an early shot there at Dolph Ziggler, John.
You trained in Japan. You know the Strong Style
of Shinsuke Nakamura can be.
[JBL] Absolutely. You bring back the thoughts of Misawa or Inoki
or Kobashi.
It's just a different style, and it's a very physical style.
Not always pretty, but very effective.
And you've got the fluid, quick, amateur style of Dolph Ziggler
to go against it. This is a contrast of styles.
If styles makes match-ups, this is gonna be a great one. Ooh!
[Tom] Oh! And right in the face of Nakamura.
[Saxton] The disrespect by Dolph Ziggler.
-[Dolph groans] -Oh, and shot to the midsection.
Which one of these two men will suffer for their art here tonight in Chicago?
-[Shinsuke straining] -[Dolph groans]
[Saxton] Ziggler wants to remind the world how good he is,
Shinsuke wants to show the world how good he is.
[JBL] Yeah, I can tell you this for sure shot.
Shinsuke has a bona fide mean streak. That much is very well known about him.
[Tom] Look at Ziggler tyin' up Nakamura, pinning predicament
and a kickout.
[groans]
It's that all-American background from Kent State University
Ziggler brings to the ring, can beat you so many different ways.
Hey, what do you say?
[JBL] You know, Brad Rheingans had a tremendous career in Japan,
a terrific Greco-Roman wrestler.
That match-up is made for a striker like Shinsuke Nakamura,
-what Dolph's style is. -[Shinsuke groaning]
[Tom] Manipulating the hand there of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Dolph Ziggler trying to take away the strikes, perhaps, early on.
-Look at Nakamura! Oh! -[Shinsuke grunts]
[JBL] Oh, wow.
[Tom] A return to favor here on Dolph Ziggler to the left arm.
[Tom chuckles]
Uh, this is… Ooh!
[JBL] Unorthodox style.
[Saxton] Unorthodox, I'm not sure, even covers it…
[chuckling] …with Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Saxton chuckling] …There is only one.
[Tom] Nakamura sayin' bring it, and a mid-section shot
-from Nakamura! -[Shinsuke yells]
[Tom] Now, the knee drop!
[JBL] It's what the NXT universe has become accustomed to
for the past year.
Former two-time NXT champion is Nakamura.
[crowd chanting] Nakamura!
[Tom] And Good Vibrations in the corner!
[JBL] Just ask Samoa Joe what Nakamura's all about.
Look, Nakamura has been successful everywhere he's been.
It's just a different ball game now.
You're on the main stage and you're out there with a two-time
-world champion. -[Saxton] Nakamura
not allowing Ziggler recovery time!
-Oh! -[JBL] This may be a mistake by Dolph
going outside and trying to get a breather in.
This is where Nakamura feels very comfortable.
Two!
-Three! -[Tom] Now, Shinsuke
-tossing Ziggler back inside the ring. -[Dolph grunts]
[Tom] Caught up here on the ropes.
And Dolph Ziggler looking to capitalize here amidst the ropes.
Ooh, and the neckbreaker!
[Saxton] That's the veteran experience of Dolph Ziggler kickin' in.
Almost like he suckered Nakamura outside the ring
and took advantage on the inside.
[Dolph grunts]
[Tom] Now, watch this one more time.
Trying to get back inside the ropes and caught
with a neckbreaker here by Ziggler.
[Saxton] Again, Ziggler, obsessed with pulling the plug on all the hype.
All the anticipation surrounding Shinsuke.
Not the hair!
-[Shinsuke yelling] -One!
[Tom] Oh, and right for the eyes there of Nakamura,
and Ziggler releases in time.
[Dolph grunting]
[JBL] Now, we're gonna see what Nakamura's made of.
[referee] No!
[JBL] Ziggler, a man who even talked about his world title reigns
since his time at WrestleMania, Money in the Bank,
contract winner. He's done it all here at WWE.
[JBL] Ziggler likes goin' all in.
Look, he put all his chips on the table,
and he's put himself out there completely. Ziggler is betting on one thing
and that is, he's gonna walk out of this tonight with a victory.
[Saxton] I didn't realize Dolph is so insulted.
With his impressive resume, all people have been talking about
-is Nakamura. -I'm the man!
[Saxton] So, Dolph is extra motivated in this match.
[Dolph yells]
[crowd chanting]
[Dolph grunting]
[Tom] That WWE Universe capacity crowd here
at the Allstate Arena in Chicago
has been anticipating Nakamura for months now.
[Dolph grunting]
-[Tom] Oh! Dropkick by Dolph! -[JBL] Wow! A thing of beauty.
[Tom] Dolph, set to urgency here. Into the cover.
Hooked up both legs and a kickout.
[JBL] Absolutely incredible by Dolph Ziggler.
Look at this.
Look how quick this is, how high that is.
[Saxton] Ziggler knows how big this match-up is.
He cannot let Shinsuke Nakamura linger here at Backlash.
-[Dolph grunts] -[Saxton] Dolph Ziggler
doing a very good job of maintaining a slow methodical pace.
[JBL] At the same time, Dolph has to be a little careful
moving in. He's a little reticent and justifiably so.
Playing little mind games with Shinsuke. I like it.
[Tom] Shot to the heart. Into the cover here,
pressin' the shoulders to the mat, and a kickout.
[Saxton] You can see the pain etched on the face of Shinsuke Nakamura.
-Dolph's lovin' it. -[yells] Where you goin', boy?
I'm the man!
[crowd boos]
-[JBL] I'm not sure… -And you all know it.
…what you see when you look at Nakamura and you see his face. I…
That looked to me as the most expressive face I've ever seen.
[referee] One! Two!
-Three! -Do you see me, boy?
-Do you see me? -[groans]
-You see me? -[screams in pain]
-[referee] That's enough. -[Tom] Bit of bad mouth by Dolph.
Ooh! And a headbutt there
-to Nakamura. -Shut up!
[crowd chanting] Nakamura!
[Saxton] Dolph's enjoying every second of this.
-[JBL] Of course he is. He should. -[Tom] Oh! Right to the midsection,
and here comes Nakamura! Oh! Counter from the left.
[Saxton] Well, maybe took a little too much time jaw-jackin'.
[JBL chuckling] That'll wake Dolph up now.
[Tom] This is where Nakamura can be so dangerous.
You give him a window of opportunity, he'll take advantage.
Watch this.
[Saxton] It's a lethal strike.
His first one won't get you but the second one does.
And now, Nakamura's bought himself some valuable time.
[JBL] Look, like I said earlier about Dolph,
he's a little reticent about movin' in. That's what happens.
You can understand how dangerous Shinsuke is from anywhere.
[Tom] Here comes Nakamura.
[Saxton] Here comes that danger.
[Tom] An exchange of blows here.
Nakamura takes him down! Here comes The King of Strong Style!
[Saxton] Living up to his namesake.
[Shinsuke screams]
[Shinsuke grunts]
[Tom] Oh! Into the corner.
[Shinsuke yells]
[Saxton] Uh, bad position here for Dolph.
-[crowd cheering] -[Saxton] Ziggler's in trouble.
[Tom] Oh! Knee to the midsection again!
Now, Nakamura into the cover to put away Ziggler.
Kickout.
[Saxton] And quickly, now, Shinsuke Nakamura's
been able to turn this match around in his favor.
Now, it's Dolph who's in trouble.
[Shinsuke groans]
[Tom] Nakamura's, perhaps, settin' up for the reverse exploder.
Here's the cover and Dolph… Oh, Dolph got caught!
[JBL chuckles]
[Saxton] Smart. That's somethin' Dolph didn't expect.
[Tom] Tryin' to catch him in a triangle,
and Dolph's gettin' his feet here to the bottom rope. The official sees it.
[JBL] Dolph realized what kinda trouble he was in.
[Saxton] If not for the ring positioning, that could've been
-disastrous for Dolph Ziggler. -[Shinsuke yelling]
[JBL] That's why Dolph's a veteran.
That's exactly what we expect out of him.
[Tom] Vast MMA background for Shinsuke Nakamura in play.
[Shinsuke grunting]
-[Shinsuke groans] -[Tom] Oh. Oh. Wait a minute. Ziggler…
-Ziggler catches Nakamura -[JBL] Wow. Planted!
[Tom] Big DDT. Here's the cover.
Could this be it for Shinsuke? No.
[Saxton] That was a debut almost ruined.
We always talk about the resiliency of Dolph Ziggler.
That's a prime example.
[JBL] And not just the resiliency, Byron, but the quickness.
That's how quick Dolph can beat you.
-[Shinsuke grunting] -[Tom] One more time.
Dolph was able to counter mid-air, chops out the leg,
and then takes down Nakamura in one fell swoop.
One! Two!
[JBL] Both men realize they're gonna take some chances
to win this thing.
[crowd chanting] Nakamura!
[Tom] Ooh!
And once again, Ziggler,
-buildin' up all that momentum… -[Saxton] Oh!
[Tom] Was thinking maybe about the Kinshasa knee strike.
Cover! Cover! And Ziggler, very close.
[JBL] Got him! Got him!
[Tom] Cover!
-[referee] One! Two! -[Tom] Nakamura…
is still in this match!
[JBL] Yeah, but Nakamura is hurt.
[Saxton] That's about as good a chance as Ziggler's had thus far
to win this match.
You're right John. Shinsuke favoring that left shoulder.
[Tom] Both these men are feeling the effects of this match.
Ziggler clutchin' at his right shoulder,
and Ziggler, the first one to attempt to get back up to his feet here.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] Dolph is feelin' it.
And when he does, it's trouble for his opponent.
[Tom] What a moment this would be for Ziggler.
[JBL] Get ready, Shinsuke.
Your debut…
is about to be played out with the band.
[Tom] Ziggler sizing up Shinsuke Nakamura!
-Ziggler went for the super kick. -[JBL] Oh, no, no.
-[Tom] Here comes Nakamura! -[JBL] Zig Zag!
[Saxton] That could be it.
[Tom] Cover on Nakamura! Ziggler is…
-No! No! -[JBL] What?
He kicked out of the Zig Zag!
-[Saxton] Shinsuke is still in this match. -[JBL] Wow!
[Tom] How many championships? How many big matches
has Ziggler won with the Zig Zag?
[Saxton] This is what you call rising to the occasion
if you're Shinsuke Nakamura.
[JBL] Hey, Ziggler might win this one yet.
Ziggler's still in control here.
Nakamura has just found a way to stay alive.
Look at this.
Back in with an incredible counter. There's the Zig Zag.
And even though Nakamura's still in, all the momentum right now is with Dolph.
[Saxton] Dolph maybe one more big move away
from winning this match.
[JBL] Seen that before.
[Tom] Dolph with the air-- How can he close out Nakamura?
[both yelling]
[Tom] Tryin' to set up Nakamura somehow.
[both groan]
[Tom] And Shinsuke-- Shinsuke lines up Ziggler
to the back of the neck.
[Saxton] Gosh!
[Tom] And now, Nakamura has turned the tables.
[Shinsuke yells]
[Tom] Tryin' to outmuscle Ziggler here. Tryin' to get him back up to his feet.
[Saxton] Now, hook 'em.
Now, Ziggler wanted the reverse exploder.
Ziggler…
Oh! To the back of the neck!
Tremendous super kick, but Ziggler…
Can he capitalize in the moment?
[Saxton] Shinsuke's out.
[JBL] Welcome to SmackDown, Nakamura.
[Tom] Ziggler knows how big of a shot he just connected with.
Nakamura could be out cold.
[JBL] Cover him, Dolph.
[Tom] Dolph tryin' to get to the cover here.
Nakamura is out! Nakamura is out cold!
Cover here, and Shinsuke is still in it.
[Saxton] Unbelievable effort by Shinsuke Nakamura.
Still maintaining his survival in this match.
-Once again… -[JBL] Look at this.
The blow you don't see is the one that hurts you.
[Tom] One more time. Oh! Right there to the back of the neck
Nakamura had no idea where he was at after that one.
[JBL] I'm not sure Nakamura has any idea now where he's at.
[Saxton] Dolph, immediately, trying to capitalize
with those blows to the back of the neck.
[JBL] Nakamura's doing everything he can to stay alive in this match.
[Shinsuke groaning]
[Tom] Wait a minute. Look at Nakamura tryin' to slow down Ziggler
[JBL] Nakamura's just doin' anything he can.
He's hangin' on literally.
[Tom] Oh, wow. Spittin' in the face of Nakamura.
-[both grunt] -[Tom] Oh!
[Shinsuke grunting]
[Tom] Oh, wait. Goes after the leg here, it is Dolph Ziggler.
Terrific sprawl by Nakamura. Saw it comin'
Here come the knees.
[JBL] Which is impressive when Dolph just went for the double leg.
[Tom] The knees right into the ribs, into the abdomen.
-[Saxton] And it's Nakamura's wheelhouse. -[Shinsuke grunting]
[Tom] The elbows comin' down here on Ziggler,
and the official prying Nakamura off.
[JBL] It all started because Nakamura had a terrific sprawl
on Dolph's double leg.
[Saxton] What's Nakamura thinkin' now?
Ooh!
[Tom] Oh! Knee, right to the side of the face.
This could do it for Ziggler!
[crowd cheering]
Nakamura is rolling at this point in the match.
Ziggler is down. Nakamura goin' up to the turnbuckles.
[Saxton] Nakamura…
[Tom] Oh! Went for the Kinshasa out of the corner!
-Missed with the superkick. -[JBL] Barely.
[Tom] Blow to the back of the neck.
-[Saxton] And big time! -[Tom] Exploder connects!
[crowd cheering]
[Saxton] And now, the audience is comin' to life
here at Backlash!
[Tom] Nakamura… Oh! Kinshasa!
[JBL] He got him! Cover!
[crowd] One! Two! Three!
-[Tom] Welcome to WWE, Shinsuke Nakamura! -[bell dings]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
-Shinsuke Nakamura! -[Shinsuke's theme music plays]
[JBL] What a hell of a debut for Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Saxton] A victory earned but a victory well-deserved for Shinsuke Nakamura.
[JBL] You're right.
Welcome to SmackDown LIVE, Shinsuke.
The land of opportunity.
[Tom] Nakamura said he was gonna show Ziggler who he truly was
at Backlash.
Ziggler, a tremendous effort here in Chicago,
but it's Shinsuke Nakamura who comes out on top.
[JBL] They both knew they had to take their chances to win
and Shinsuke was the one that came up with one that got him the victory.
A hell of a performance by Dolph, but…
wow!
Shinsuke is something special.
[Tom] This is the closing moments here just outside the ropes.
Boom! The knee! Right on the side of the face.
That would open the door for Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Saxton] Shinsuke Nakamura, his striking ability on display.
Inverted exploder suplex and that would be the beginning of the end.
[Tom] And at this time, just threads the Kinshasa knee strike,
just running through Dolph Ziggler, would seal the victory
for Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Saxton] I think, it's safe to say The Artist successfully
created his masterpiece tonight in Chicago.
[JBL] Yeah, that was one of the greatest debuts
I, certainly, have ever seen.
SmackDown better be put on notice.
He's unorthodox, but he is awesome.
[Tom] The Artist known as Shinsuke Nakamura
arriving in style here at Backlash.
[crowd cheering]
[Saxton] Game face on tap for AJ Styles
who will attempt to reaffirm his belief that SmackDown LIVE
is The House He Built.
He takes on Kevin Owens
for the United States Championship tonight.
That is still to come here tonight.
First of all, congratulations to Shinsuke Nakamura.
-What a debut. -Good grief. Follow that!
What a way to kickoff the pay-per-view. I love it.
Well, coming up next, the SmackDown Tag Team titles
will be defended as The Usos defend the title against Breezango.
Now, they've been lookin' forward to the big bust.
It's like Eliot Ness goin' after Capone here in Chicago.
But earlier this week on SmackDown LIVE,
they made their final preparations for tonight at Backlash.
[narrator] In the modeling, and fashionista industry,
outfit-based defenses are considered especially repulsive.
In the WWE Universe,
dedicated garment gumshoes who investigate these faux pas
are members of an elite squad known as The Fashion Police.
These are their stories.
♪ Dun-dun ♪
[birds chirping]
-[indistinct murmuring] -[telephone rings]
[typewriters clicking]
[sighs] I'm up to my ears in fashion felonies
and a pair of atrocities.
Breeze, where are you? What are you doing?
Ah, great.
Another clothing catastrophe. What is this stuff?
[sighs] A dirty jumpsuit you're wearing?
You're lucky my tag partner isn't here right now.
Well, what if…
-he was! -Breeze!
-Yeah. -You truly are a master of disguise.
-Grazie. -How's all the, uh, rec…
recog…
recognance… res… Undercover work going?
I know what you meant. Check this out.
SmackDown LIVE
-is filthy with fashion felonies. -Okay.
Exhibit "U"…
[Fandango] "Day one is H".
-What does that even mean? -I dunno.
-[whispers] "Day one is H". -I don't know if anyone knows.
But you know what I do know?
The Usos? They're good.
The Usos, they're scary.
The Usos, they're…
Their hair is…
just so well-conditioned and luscious and…
[sighs] We don't stand a chance and… You're not okay!
Damn it, man. Snap out of it!
You're no lowlife janitor, man. You're in too deep.
-Who am I? -You're Prince.
Prince Pretty, the prettiest of all the princes.
Okay?
Thanks man. I needed that.
What in-- What in Versace's name am I even wearing?
Hey, hey, hey. [shushes]
You had to do what you had to do.
And at Backlash this Sunday,
we'll be wearing the SmackDown Tag Team championships.
-Yeah. -And then finally,
our Day One…
[both] will be H.
Freeze frame!
[mimicking ambulance sirens]
[bell dings]
[Male announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship!
[crowd cheering]
[Breezango's theme music plays]
[JBL chuckles]
Who is that? [laughs]
[announcer] Introducing the challenger,
the team of Tyler Breeze and Fandango,
Breezango!
[JBL] It's Tyler Breeze's grandfather.
[Saxton] It's the prettiest prince of all who is now,
as Fandango said, is now maintaining the cleanliness
of the entrance lane.
[Tom] The prettiest custodian that ever lived, is exactly what it is.
[Saxton] Who knows what they have under those cowboy boots.
Let's get those cleaned up.
[Tom laughing] Fandango and, uh, The Fashion Police.
Tremendous opportunity here after winning the first ever
Tag Team Beat the Clock Challenge in late April on SmackDown LIVE.
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] Breezango's in on quite a hot streak.
[JBL] Guys, I got a little info. That's actually Tyler Breeze.
-[Tom] Oh, is it? -[JBL] It's in disguise, yeah.
-[Tom] John, you solved the case! -[JBL] I couldn't tell who it was.
I was always told I could have a match with a mop
but I work with you, Byron.
[announcer] And their opponents, at a combined weight of 479 pounds,
they are the SmackDown Tag Team Champions,
Jimmy and Jey,
-The Usos! -[Jey yells]
[JBL] You may need a mop to get at Breezango
after The Usos get done after this match here at Chi-town.
[Tom] There's nothing funny about this match-up to The Usos.
[JBL] Plain and simple. The best Tag Team in the WWE
in the last half a decade, is right there holding those Tag Team Championships,
and that would be The Usos.
[Saxton] The Usos very focused on this match-up.
They're gonna take Breezango to the Uso penitentiary,
and put Tyler Breeze and Fandango on 24-hour lockdown.
[Tom] Three-time Tag Team Champions in WWE are The Usos,
have redefined what this division is all about here,
since the Superstar Shake-Up in the Brand Extension.
[JBL] I would say, Breezango are redefining things as well.
Not quite the same way.
[Saxton] Look, stranger things have happened, John.
[JBL] They're, you know, they're not sure what things.
[Tom] This is all about the SmackDown Tag Team titles.
It was this very pay-per-view, last year,
where the titles were brought into life
by Commissioner Shane McMahon's General Manager, Daniel Bryan.
[JBL] Tyler Breeze, if that is indeed, Tyler Breeze,
he is mopping the ring.
[Saxton] Well, Breeze is doing some undercover work.
[Tom] A real Detective Clouseau.
-[The Usos' theme music stops] -[JBL] The Usos, justifiably,
-laughing at Breezango. -[bell dings]
[Tom] So, here we go. It is all about the SmackDown Tag Team title.
This will be Jimmy Uso to start things off
-against Fandango. -[Jimmy groans]
[Tom] Breezango, they have been on a roll over the last few weeks
since becoming number one contenders.
What is it gonna take for them to knock off The Usos tonight?
[JBL] They're on a roll doing fashion files, Tom.
[Tom] They've been winning at the same time.
[JBL] They're incredibly talented.
-[Tom] Oh! -[JBL] They're just two weirdos.
[Saxton chuckles]
[Tom chuckling] Tyler Breeze is still mopping on the apron.
[JBL] Somethin's wrong with his hips and the other one's mopping the apron.
-That's normal, right guys? -[Saxton] Well, what is normal, John?
[JBL] Byron, that's the only cogent point you've made in months.
Well done.
-Okay. -[Saxton] Here comes undercover Breeze.
[JBL] Oh. I can't wait for this.
[Tom] With mop in hand.
Perry Saturn once… with a mop.
Known as "Moppy."
[JBL chuckles]
[Tom] It's, uh… It's a little awkward.
You think it's a game? You think this is a game?
-[Tom] For the mop. -[crowd chanting] Mop! Mop!
[JBL] Oh… Ooh!
[Tom chuckling] And the master of disguise just put down one of The Usos.
[JBL] WWE Universe was just chanting for the mop.
[Tom] It is a nice mop.
[Saxton] I don't think that's legal. I-I really don't.
I've been doing this for 25 years.
I don't believe you can bring a loaded mop into a ring.
[Tom] A loaded mop?
Oh! Oh! In the face… In the face of Jimmy Uso.
-That's disgusting! -[JBL] That's disgusting!
[Saxton] We don't know where that mop has been.
[Tom] Oh! That'll knock your moustache off.
[JBL] All right.
[crowd booing]
[Saxton] So much for the mop.
[JBL] I gotta agree. That wasn't nice.
-[speaking indistinctly] -[Tom] Jey Uso directing traffic
-with his brother. -[Saxton] This isn't gonna be nice either.
[Tom] Goin' up to the top turnbuckle. Lookin' to close out
this Championship match.
Oh. And Tyler Breeze doing the wise thing and rolling out of harm's way.
-[JBL] Great awareness. -[Saxton] He's quick too.
[Jey] You about to get this… You about to get this!
[Tom] On the outside. Jey Uso given another opportunity at Tyler Breeze.
-[JBL chuckles] -[Tom] Stop, drop, and roll.
[JBL] Jey Uso's not sure what to make of this.
[Saxton] All right. Jey's gettin' his cardio in.
[Saxton chuckles] Cardio?
[Tom] Like a StairMaster.
[JBL] If I'm Jey, I know exactly what I'd do, I'd tag out.
[Saxton] Jey doesn't look-- Uh, I think…
[JBL] Tyler's smart, 'cause he's got… one day at a time in the ring.
-Oh-ho-ho! -[Tom] Tyler Breeze connects with a kick.
[Saxton] See, it was all a well-mastered plan, John!
[Tom] Cover! Cover here on the champion and a kickout.
Mind games.
Tag mate, Fandango, now legal here.
-Ooh! -[JBL] Tyler needs tome Rogaine.
[Tom chuckles]
[JBL] Oof!
[Tom] And Jey Uso firing back here on Fandango,
and takes a cheap shot at Tyler Breeze.
[JBL] That was Uso who took a cheap shot. You're even befuddled here, Tom.
-Oh-ho! -[Tom] My goodness.
-Three! Get out! -[Tom] Confusion about that.
Jimmy Uso with the straight right to Fandango.
[JBL] You know, maybe his craziness is workin'.
Gettin' The Usos off their game.
[Saxton] I think you're right
Breezango did a good job, at least early on
of throwin' The Usos off their game, but… [grunts]
[Tom] Sunset Flip, lookin' for the pinfall attempt here
-and Fandango… -[Saxton] Tryna hang on!
[Tom] Trying to stay upright here
-and Jimmy just can't… -[Saxton] Whoa! All right.
-[JBL] A whole other thing to deal with. -[Tom] Ooh!
Leg drop there. Cover here for the Championship.
-Kickout. -[Saxton] What, is he Shakira now?
[JBL] Wait a minute.
[Saxton] What in the…
[JBL] Did this just become a…
[stuttering] It's a mixed drag match.
[Saxton] Undercover work never ends. We know that.
[Tom laughing] What're you talkin' about, Byron?
[JBL] Who is that? Where is security?
Gronk tries to jump the rail at WrestleMania and security's there
and some old lady just jumped the barricade and is now on the apron!
-Where is our security? -[Saxton] Grandma Breeze.
[JBL] It's a mixed bag. Usos' gotta…
[Saxton] Who are they gonna tag out to? Careful.
-[Tom] Easy. One step at a time. Come on. -[JBL] She's gonna break a hip.
[crowd chanting] Let's go Grandma!
-[Tom] Grandma Breeze. -[JBL] Moolah's back from the dead!
-[Tom] Oh, no! -[JBL] You can't do that.
-[Saxton] That's just wrong. -[JBL] That good old lady. That is wrong.
[Saxton] Oh! Wow!
The Fountain.
[JBL] I just saw an old lady give a dropkick and flash Uso!
[Saxton] Grandma Breeze got up!
[Tom] Jey Uso's got no idea what to make of what he's lookin' at right now.
[JBL] I thought Mae Young and the Dudleys was somethin'.
This is incredible.
[Saxton] I hope, The Usos didn't park in her handicap spot.
-[Tom] Oh, man! -[Saxton] I love it.
[JBL] It is Mae Young!
-[crowd cheering] -[JBL] Hope she doesn't have a glove.
[Tom] Oh!
[crowd booing]
[JBL stuttering] Wait, that…
[Tom] Oh!
[JBL] Guys that's Tyler Breeze.
[Tom] You cracked the case, John. I'm proud of ya.
[Saxton] Yeah. That's twice tonight, John.
[Tom] Jimmy Uso, back legal into this match.
-Oh! Connects to the corner. -[Saxton] Electric Uso.
[JBL] I tell ya, this Breeze is a master of disguise.
[Saxton] Now, Usos'…
[JBL] I just got hit in the head with a dress!
-[Saxton] Whoa. -[Tom laughs]
-[Saxton] You're all right, John? -[Tom] That was funny.
[JBL] Last time that happened to me, I paid for it.
-[Saxton] Oh, easy now. TMI. -[Tom and JBL laugh]
[Tom continues laughing]
[JBL] In the meantime, The Usos once again.
-Oh… -[Tom] Ooh! Ouch.
Off of the steel post and Tyler Breeze might have an opportunity.
[Saxton] And wait for it, wait for it…
Boom!
-[Tom and Saxton laugh] -[JBL] That's not funny.
Why do you wanna put a replay on that?
-I was assaulted! -[Tom] Tag!
[JBL] We got a match goin' on damn it! Would you guys quit playin' "ha-ha"?
You and the guys at PB truck too!
[Tom laughs]
[Tom] Fandango is startin' to pick up the momentum here.
[JBL] It had to be Kerwin. He's as old as Tyler Breeze is a lady.
-[Saxton] Fandang… Oh! -[Tom] Oh! Connects with a kick there.
This is for the title.
Can he put away The Usos for Breezango? No.
[Saxton] As weird and awkward as this match has been,
Breezango could be moments away from winning the SmackDown LIVE
Tag Team titles.
[Tom] It's all about the Championship here at Backlash.
[JBL] Byron, as crazy as it is, I think you're right.
I think, Breezango has taken The Usos so far out of their game…
Oh, DDT!
[JBL] I think they're about to win the Championship!
[Tom] The Fashion Police could be champions. Kickout!
Fandango, so close on multiple occasions.
Tyler Breeze is back into this match.
[JBL] Tyler Breeze has decided to join the match.
-First time he's been in. -[Tom] Oh, my God, John.
Wait a minute-- Oh! Oh, and Jey Uso tied up here with Tyler Breeze.
[JBL] Breeze wailing away
-with those right hands. -[Tom] Tag made.
[Saxton] Breeze has no clue the tag was made
[Tom] Jimmy Uso to the top turnbuckle. Whoa!
Connected with authority there and The Usos…
Oh! Can't put away Tyler Breeze just yet.
[JBL] Can you imagine how frustrated The Usos are?
They've been out there with an old lady, an old man,
The Fashion Police, and they still can't find a way to win.
[Saxton] The Usos thought they had the win here but, you're right.
That frustration cloud hovering above the Tag Team Champions.
[Tom] Quite the antics, Breezango very talented
and tough here in this match.
-Oh! Oh, my gosh. Well, the tag was made. -[JBL] Oh, man!
[Tom] Oh!
-[Saxton] We may see a miracle! -[Tom] Cover!
Cover here. Oh! Kickout.
[JBL laughing] Oh, God. So close.
See, this isn't fair for The Usos. It's really been like a four-on-two match.
[Saxton] I mean, Breezango haven't really broken any rules.
[JBL] Grandma, to Jed Clampett, to the janitor, to Tyler, to Fandango.
[Tom] Tyler Breeze-- Oh. Caught by both of 'em.
Both The Usos.
Oh! Into the barricade.
[JBL] Aw, he needs his mop.
[Saxton] Tyler Breeze is out of service.
-[Tom] Fandango! -[Saxton] Wow!
[JBL laughs]
[JBL] It's the damnedest thing I've ever seen.
These guys are about to win the Tag Team Championship.
[Tom] Wait a minute, wait a minute. Oh! Superkick.
Down goes Fandango into the cover here.
Shoulders down, and The Usos hold on to the title.
[Saxton] They stole one.
[announcer] Here are your winners and still
the SmackDown Tag Team Champions,
The Usos!
[Saxton] I'll tell you, The Usos came into this match as heavy favorites
but I think we can all agree, The Usos survived.
They survived, and in the process
hold on to the SmackDown LIVE Tag Team title.
[Tom] Take a look back here at the closing moments.
Jey Uso made the tag there but Tyler Breeze set up Jimmy Uso.
Uso gets the worst of that one. And then Jey, in the Unprettier here,
but Tyler Breeze, so close but could not put away The Usos.
[Saxton] I really thought we were gonna see new Tag Team champions,
but it all turned around here.
Usos removing Tyler Breeze from the equation.
[Tom] And then, uh, incoming. Here comes Fandango!
Little payback for his teammate.
[JBL] I simply can't believe that The Usos overcame these four on two odds.
[Tom] Grabbed hold of the foot. Now an opening door for Jey Uso,
the tremendous superkick that put away Fandango.
The Usos hold on to their title.
[JBL] That could be the craziest thing I've ever see. Ever!
-[Saxton] Gonna save that dress, John? -[JBL laughs]
Last time I had it, there was a guy I threw it to.
[Tom] Oh, my God.
Whoo!
[Tom] Credit to Breezango. A heck of an effort here in Chicago.
[JBL] The Usos have no idea what they just walked out of.
They just know they're Tag Team champions.
-[Tom] That's all that matters. -Whoo!
We have a lot more to get to here tonight. This is no laughing matter.
Coming up next, Sami Zayn to take on Baron Corbin.
Sami Zayn arriving as a part of the Superstar Shake-Up
and it's on head-to-head with Baron Corbin,
and it was this past week on SmackDown LIVE.
Sami Zayn explained why he requested a match with Corbin tonight at Backlash.
So, Baron Corbin has targeted me since the moment I got to SmackDown LIVE,
and at first, I wasn't really sure why
but then the more we kinda went back and forth,
the more I realize that, uh,
well, I think he's threatened by me.
That is a threat to his ego.
And that is what is more dangerous to a guy--
-[Baron grunts] -[Sami groans]
You should really learn to stay down.
Because if you don't and you show up on Sunday,
I'm gonna put you down permanently.
-[Baron grunts] -[Sami groans]
[Sami's theme music plays]
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] What's the old adage? Be careful what you wish for.
[JBL] Better be careful. Sami wanted this fight.
-[bell dings] -[announcer] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 212 pounds,
Sami Zayn!
[Saxton] We got to watch Sami Zayn for all the years that we have.
He is emotionally driven,
and maybe perhaps not more so than in this match here tonight.
[Tom] Same Zayn with an opportunity here at WWE Backlash,
streaming live on the WWE Network.
Seen around the world, including, with our international announce team.
Our Japanese team, Shun Yamaguchi and Funaki!
[speaking Japanese]
[Tom] Our Hindi team, Shez Sardar and Obaid Kadwani.
[speaking Hindi]
[Tom] Also, our Russian team, Moti Margolin and Zhan Pomerantsev.
[speaking Russian]
[Tom] As well as our Mandarin team, Meng Ai and Sean Deng.
[speaking Mandarin]
[Tom] And last but not least, our Portuguese team,
Marco Alfaro and Roberto Figueroa.
[speaking Portuguese]
[Tom] And no matter what language you speak,
Sami Zayn is in for a fight here at Backlash.
[Baron's theme music plays]
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] And his opponent, from Kansas City,
weighing in at 275 pounds,
Baron Corbin!
[JBL] And this is the gentleman who will bring… Tom.
[Tom] Now, John, you saw firsthand on Talking Smack here on the WWE Network,
how this rivalry got started.
Led to Baron Corbin being suspended for a week.
[JBL] Yeah, I saw up close the ferocity of Baron Corbin.
Three-time Golden Gloves champion, former NFL football player.
Sami Zayn is not afraid of a fight but I'm not sure
this is a wise move by Sami asking for this one.
[Tom] Byron, you covered Baron Corbin and Sami Zayn at NXT.
These two, just plain don't like each other.
[Saxton] They don't, but I find Sami Zayn's words very intriguing.
He basically called Baron Corbin an underachiever.
Corbin, you're not as dominant as you think you should be against me,
and it gets under your skin.
-Ring the bell! -[bell dings]
[JBL] But in fairness though, Baron Corbin doesn't like anybody.
[Saxton] That's true.
[JBL] Well, it's not just Sami.
Baron said, he didn't come here to make friends.
Baron came here to make an impact.
[Tom] Sami Zayn, one of the newest acquisitions
to SmackDown LIVE as part of the Superstar Shake-Up a few weeks ago.
[JBL] Baron made his debut at WrestleMania
and won the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
[Tom] The opinion of many that Baron Corbin's had
an incredible first year here at WWE and… but John,
you constantly say the man's a future WWE Champion.
[JBL] There's not a doubt in my mind, unless Baron becomes disillusioned,
or unless there's some type of injury.
But, I think, Baron is a future WWE Champion,
and probably a multiple-time WWE Champion.
[Saxton] To that point, maybe, there is some frustration for Corbin
that he hasn't achieved more success than he already has.
Maybe, Sami Zayn kinda struck a chord.
[JBL] Let me tell ya. If you had Steve Jobs after he found Apple,
is he happy doing what he's done? No!
You ask a guy like Elon Musk, is he happy? No.
Guys that wanna achieve and do great things are never happy
with where they are in life.
-They always want better. -[Tom] Oh. Now, it's Corbin
Big 275 pounder here, enjoying a significant power advantage…
Oh! …against Sami Zayn.
Sami Zayn, he's always got a little more heart than anything else.
Always wants to go in for the big fight. And starts to pick things up here,
takes down Baron Corbin, slidin' outside the ring.
Corbin's gotta regroup.
[Saxton] Prime real estate for Sami Zayn who's on the move.
[Tom] Hold on, here comes Sami Zayn, and Corbin saw it comin',
and Sami Zayn collectin' himself.
[speaks indistinctly]
[Saxton] You talk about wrestling with your heart,
now, Hall of Famer, Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels once said that.
"I wrestle with my heart, not my brain."
[JBL] Look, Corbin, you can tell, is not impressed by Sami Zayn's antics.
-[Baron grunts] -[Sami groans]
[JBL] You do a couple flips, you do a couple flops,
doesn't make you a superstar. You beat people up.
That's how you become champion.
[Sami groans]
[Tom] Very straightforward, no-frills style that Baron Corbin
brings to the equation.
Now, Sami Zayn,
trying to hold off the attack here from Baron Corbin.
Out on to the apron, slides himself back in here
Oh! And a little dropkick there, sending Corbin, again, outside the ring.
[Saxton] Once again, in position of Sami Zayn plans to strike,
but can see him favoring that lower back.
[JBL] Yeah, I think the longer this match goes,
the less it favors Sami Zayn.
[Tom] Oh! And Corbin with a straight right
and somethin' happened there with Sami Zayn
in the middle of the last sequence and that did not end well for Sami.
-[Saxton] Hold on… -[Tom] Off the barricade, connecting!
[crowd applaud]
[Saxton] Sami Zayn was able to create some separation with that maneuver
but you still see him favoring that lower back
which could severely affect his offense in this match.
[JBL] "Could severely"? Look, Sami's whole offense
is high-flying and quick movement.
Five!
[JBL] That hampers everything that Sami does well.
[Tom] Sami, moving a little gingerly, trying to stretch it out
while he's got an opportunity. Now, Baron Corbin.
Prime real estate here for Sami Zayn.
[Saxton] Sami Zayn, just one step slower now.
[Tom] These are crossroads for Sami Zayn, and Baron Corbin.
Sami talked about coming to SmackDown for a long time!
-[JBL] Wow. -[Tom] What an opportunity.
Now, he's got one.
[Saxton] Yeah. It's not like Baron Corbin needs a target, he needs a bullseye.
-But Baron has found one. -[Baron grunting]
[Tom] Now, goin' after the lower back.
[JBL] Things are about to get very uncomfortable for Sami Zayn.
-[Baron grunts] -[Tom] And Corbin with the backbreaker
right on target.
[Saxton] Corbin gonna do everything possible
to exploit that injury.
[Tom] This is what Corbin is all about. Just dishin' out punishment.
[JBL] You know what, takin' advantage of opportunities,
-Baron is a real-- -[Tom] Oh, God.
[JBL] …a thinking man's spider.
You come in, you spot an opportunity, that becomes your target.
That becomes your game plan.
That's why you always have to be fluid out there.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
-[Baron grunts] -[Saxton] If you're Sami,
you gotta be thinkin', "How do I, perhaps, adjust my offense
-"on the fly, here." -[JBL] Oh.
[Tom] Now, Sami Zayn, trying to fight up here.
Superstar six foot eight, Baron Corbin!
Oh, and catching Sami Zayn in a bear hug.
-[Baron grunts] -Sami, what do you say?
No, no, no.
[Saxton] Squeezing all that pressure, targeted on the lower back of Sami Zayn.
[groaning]
[JBL] Yeah, it's a great game plan by Corbin.
He also has that bear hug sunk in deep.
Got his head underneath that left arm of Sami.
[grunts]
[JBL] Makes it harder for Sami to get out of the hold.
[yells]
[Tom] Now, Zayn, trying to create a little bit of breathing room
between he, and Baron Corbin with the elbows.
Zayn managed to break the hold.
Now, here comes Zayn still clutching at the back here
and caught one more time.
No chance!
[Tom] It's Corbin, yellin' out, "No chance."
[Saxton] Corbin knows Sami Zayn's in trouble here
and the more he holds on to this bear hug,
the more dire the situation's gonna become.
[JBL] And the longer the match goes,
the more dire it becomes for Sami Zayn. Baron Corbin is in no hurry here.
[Baron groans]
[JBL] And believe me, Baron will not get tired
of inflicting punishment on Sami.
[Baron grunts]
[Tom] Sent Sami into the ropes and here comes Zayn.
[Baron yells]
[Tom] Oh, and too much momentum by Corbin!
Right in front of our announce desk.
[Sami groans]
[Saxton] The question is what can Sami do about it.
[Tom] Watch this one more time.
Baron Corbin full speed ahead went over the top rope,
-and Sami Zayn… -[Saxton] I don't know if this is smart.
Sami goin' up top.
[JBL] Sami Zayn has never been accused of being smart.
Baron Corbin has.
[Tom] Corbin gets back inside the ring. Knew it was comin' there from Sami Zayn.
Oh! Spinebuster!
[JBL] Right back to the back.
[Tom] Corbin to put away Zayn here! And a kick out.
[Saxton] All goes to Zayn's inability to strike quickly
because of the damage to the lower back.
[JBL] Sami Zayn is exciting. He's got more heart… than he has brains.
Look at this. Just perfectly planted.
It's one of the reasons people like Sami Zayn so much.
'Cause he doesn't quit. But maybe he should.
[crowd singing in unison] Ole!
[Saxton] Corbin vowed to put Sami down for good.
[speaks indistinctly]
[JBL] All that crowd is just going to anger Corbin.
That's what you're cheering for!
Stay down!
[JBL] If WWE Universe starts that chant,
Corbin is gonna take that out on Sami Zayn.
-[Tom] One more look at this spinebuster. -[Saxton] Planted.
[Tom and JBL groan]
[Saxton] Corbin is yelling at Sami Zayn to stay down.
Stay down, Sami.
Hey! I told you, "Stay down!"
[JBL] That might be a good idea.
-[Baron grunts] -[Tom] Oh.
And another right hand. This is starting to get very one-sided.
[JBL] This is target practice for Baron Corbin.
-[crowd booing] -[Saxton] For better
or for worse, we've seen so many times Sami Zayn just--
He doesn't know to stay down.
His body could be giving out, but his mind says--
[JBL] You may be right, but Baron Corbin doesn't know when to stop either.
[Saxton] It's just not in Sami's DNA. I mean, look at this.
Grabbin' a hold of anything, the leg, the ankle, of Baron Corbin,
trying to hang on.
[JBL] Baron Corbin is enjoying this.
[Tom] Oh! Sami Zayn with a clothesline!
[Saxton] He didn't enjoy that.
[Tom] Corbin was goin' for a third shot and Sami Zayn
saw his opportunity and he took it.
[Saxton] But imagine how much that took out of Sami.
Just writhing in pain as he tries to pull himself back up here.
[Tom] Sami Zayn, takin' a ton of damage here in this match,
but he's still fightin' here at Backlash!
[Tom] Oh!
[Saxton] This is where the pain takes a backseat and adrenaline kicks in!
[Tom] Hurt there on the jaw, Sami Zayn.
Tryna smack some life into the lower back, and a cross body!
Hook to the leg here on Corbin, and Corbin powers out.
[Saxton] Well, Sami turned it around with a--
clothesline!
Sami, now, trying to suck up the pain, suck up the punishment.
[Tom] Oh! And a shot there to the throat from Baron Corbin.
-[Baron yells] -[Tom] Oh. Wait a minute.
-Slides underneath the bottom rope. -[Saxton] Watch out!
-[Tom] Corbin! Nearly took his head off! -[JBL] Inside out.
[chuckles] How quick and explosive is Baron Corbin.
[Tom] Corbin, into the cover! Hook to the leg!
Sami Zayn! Just got his shoulder up.
[Saxton] Watch this quickness we talk about with Baron Corbin.
Sami had no chance to react.
[JBL] Sami is limited. Sami is limited by how quick he can get up.
How quick he can move around because of that back.
[Tom] Very few big men in the history of WWE
who can move like Baron Corbin.
[Saxton] Six-eight, nearly 300 pounds of Baron Corbin.
-He was having a field day… -[Tom] Oh!
…inflicting continued punishment on the lower back of Sami Zayn.
[Baron grunts]
[Tom] Oh! And again, a shot to the lower back,
and Sami Zayn's in trouble.
[JBL] Sami Zayn's been in trouble.
He had one momentary opportunity to try to put Corbin away
but we saw that dissipate quickly.
[Tom] Oh. Sami Zayn able to counter there in mid-air.
And Sami…
-[JBL] Uh-oh. -[Saxton] Uh-oh!
[Tom] Corbin! A backbreaker.
-Another backbreaker. Cover! -[Baron yelling]
[Tom] Can he do it? Oh, Zayn's still in it.
[Saxton] How is Sami doin' this?
How is Sami Zayn still hangin' on?
[Tom] Watch this one more time. Baron Corbin off the choke,
-into the backbreaker. -[crowd exclaims]
[Tom] And the destruction of the lower back continues,
and Sami Zayn…
You said, "What is driving him?". You gotta ask, "Why?"
Why keep fightin' here?
[Saxton] It goes back to the emotional drive to prove
that he is a thorn in Corbin's side.
To prove that Corbin just can't keep him down.
That's why Sami's fighting.
[JBL] Maybe a cockroach doesn't know it's a cockroach.
Maybe, it just survives everything.
[Saxton] Sami may not survive this.
[Tom] Corbin up to the top turnbuckle here.
Sami Zayn could be in danger here now.
Baron Corbin trying to rip Sami Zayn off the top turnbuckle.
[Saxton] Maybe realizing this could be highly detrimental to his health.
-Now fighting! He's desperately fighting! -[Tom] Look at this!
What is Sami thinkin' here?
[JBL] Sami better go for somethin' big and he knows it and he hit it.
[Tom] Sunset flip powerbomb! Cover here, and Corbin kicked out.
[JBL] Hard to get good leverage in a cover the way Sami Zayn landed.
Baron Corbin was able to stay in the match.
[Saxton] Sami Zayn has given himself several opportunities to win this match
but it all goes back to the injury.
It all goes back to his inability to capitalize.
[crowd chanting] Sami!
[JBL] It also goes back to the fact
that Baron has followed an almost perfect game plan so far.
[Tom] Sami's tryna muscle up the 300-pound frame of Baron Corbin.
[Baron grunts]
[Tom] And Corbin. Comin' in strong there. Sami Zayn able to turn it around.
-[Saxton] Sami's got Corbin hooked! -[Sami grunts]
[Tom] Oh and… [groans] He wanted the DDT
[Saxton] That is pure strength.
-Oh, no. -[Tom] Corbin just too powerful.
[yells]
[Saxton] Oh! Uh… No way!
[Tom] Tryna pick him up for the exploder here into the corner,
and Corbin…
[JBL] Corbin has that top rope hook and also, Sami Zayn's back is hurt.
Uh-oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
[Tom] Oh… Cover! Cover here on Corbin, and Sami nearly had him.
[Baron grunts]
[Tom] Sami… Corbin, Deep Six!
Corbin to close out Zayn!
Shoulders down! Kick out.
[Saxton] Wow.
What a gutsy performance from Sami Zayn.
[screams]
[JBL] You're right, Byron.
I don't know how Sami Zayn is still in this.
[Tom] A great match here between Baron Corbin…
[JBL] I can see the appeal of Sami Zayn…
[Baron grunts]
[Saxton] You can see that frustration now from Corbin
as he's now laying in those vicious boots into Zayn.
[Baron grunting]
[Tom] Corbin not stopping here. Hammerin' away on Sami Zayn.
[JBL] Just a mauling right now by Baron.
[crowd booing]
[Tom] The referee's thinkin' about stopping it, I believe.
[Saxton] Zayn, barely able to hold himself up.
[Tom] Oh, and Corbin! Corbin too much speed
and went through the ropes.
[man in crowd] Come on, Sami!
[Saxton] That bought Sami some valuable time here
but Corbin's right back. Oh! And a boot.
[Tom] Sami Zayn avoiding catastrophe… Helluva Kick!
-Helluva Kick! -[JBL] You're kiddin' me.
[Tom] Zayn! Trying to crawl into the cover!
[JBL] He pulled a rabbit out of a hat! No way!
-Zayn! he got him! -[bell dings]
-[crowd cheering] -[announcer] Here is your winner,
Sami Zayn!
[JBL] That is one of the most improbable victories I've ever seen.
[Saxton] I can't say enough about what we've just seen from Sami Zayn.
Guts. Determination. Resiliency.
And Sami Zayn found a way.
[JBL] Corbin fought a perfect fight. He made one mistake,
and Sami Zayn was able to capitalize.
What an unbelievable victory for Sami Zayn.
[Tom] Take a look back, here, and Zayn's goin' for the pinfall attempt.
Baron Corbin able to kick off and kick out.
We thought that's what he wanted, right here.
Went off with a Deep Six.
[JBL] Back, cover. Corbin thinks he's goin' home with a victory.
Sami Zayn finds a way to stay in this match.
Which he did over, and over, and over.
[Tom] And then the boot created a little separation
after Corbin just ate it on the outside.
And then the Helluva Kick would wipe our Corbin.
One more look at this!
[Saxton] You said it, John. One mistake.
One more opening for Sami Zayn to pull off a huge victory.
The Underdog from the Underground.
[Tom] Sami Zayn, he brought into question the dominance of Baron Corbin.
Sami Zayn certainly proved somethin' here tonight.
[JBL] Corbin was dominant. He won 99% of the match.
The problem is, that one percent? Sami Zayn walked out the victor.
[Saxton] Zayn's gonna be hurt, no doubt,
when he wakes up tomorrow morning after this match,
but he's gonna have a huge smile on his face
because he was able to conquer Baron Corbin
tonight at Backlash.
[speaking Punjabi]
[knocking on car door]
[crowd booing]
Mr. Mahal, welcome to Chicago.
Chicago?
Chicago is full of haters.
-[crowd booing] -America is full of haters.
You people take one look at me, and you hate me.
You hate me for who you think I am.
You hate me because of the way that I look…
You hate me because of the way that I talk.
I'm going to take all of that hatred…
and turn it into goodness.
[crowd exclaim]
Turning it into something positive.
[crowd exclaim]
Something spiritual.
[crowd exclaim]
Something almost holy.
[crowd exclaim]
I am truly a peaceful man,
but once I am provoked, I become an animal.
[crowd exclaim]
But tonight, I will turn you, a universe of doubters…
[crowd exclaim]
…a universe of discriminators…
[crowd exclaim]
-…into believers. -[crowd exclaim]
The entire world will witness what 1.3 billion people
of the great country…
of India already know.
That I am The Modern Day Maharaja!
[crowd booing]
And now, I will speak to my people in my language
of Punjabi.
[speaking Punjabi]
…Jinder Mahal…
WWE Champion.
[crowd booing]
[Ellsworth's theme music plays]
[JBL] The Maharaja is here, boys.
[Tom] Got one opportunity. He's gotta make the most of it.
[JBL] Oh, good grief. Look who it is. He's skipping.
[male announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, James Ellsworth!
[JBL] Like a garden gnome got run over by a lawn mower.
[Tom] You know, John, on the Kickoff Show, James Ellsworth
compared his relationship with Carmella to John Legend and Chrissy Teigen.
[Saxton laughs]
[Saxton] More like Screech and Lisa.
[crowd booing]
All right, all you sausages, listen to me right now!
[crowd booing]
Because I'm the Michael Jordan of sports entertainment,
James Ellsworth!
[JBL] More like Billy Sianis' goat.
Look at me. I'm the epitome of masculinity.
[laughs]
I am the excelsior of elocution!
[laughs]
But enough about me, because You're all lucky!
You're about to be in the presence of royalty.
So, Chi-town, get on your feet and show some respect
for my homegirl, The Princess of Staten Island,
Carmella!
-[Tom] "My homegirl"? -[Carmella's theme song plays]
[JBL] "The excelsior of elocution", he said.
-[Saxton chuckles] -[Tom] Uh, nailed it.
[Saxton] Ellsworth is an acquired taste.
[JBL] Who has acquired that, Byron?
[Saxton] Uh, I'm still workin' on that part.
Well, Carmella, you know, uh…
She's on top of the world. She pinned Naomi on SmackDown LIVE,
and at every chance, has been braggin' about how she deserves to be next in line
for a title opportunity.
[JBL] Carmella pinned the champ.
Hard to make an argument against it.
[Tom] Been on her mind since before WrestleMania.
All about the SmackDown Women's Championship in her future, perhaps.
[Tamina's theme music plays]
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest is a Six-Woman Tag Team Match,
scheduled for one fall.
Making her way to the ring from the Pacific Islands,
Tamina!
[Tom] Now, this could be the X factor in this match
for The Welcoming Committee.
Tamina. Such a powerhouse in the women's division.
[JBL] Oh, I think there's no doubt about it
that Tamina is the one thing in this match that could make a massive difference
for The Welcoming Committee.
[Saxton] Tamina makes my shadow wanna go into hiding.
[JBL] Please go with it, Byron.
[speaks indistinctly]
[Natalya's theme music plays]
[announcer And from Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
Natalya!
[Tom] Now, Natalya, the de facto leader of The Welcoming Committee
has been out to reclaim the women's division
for herself, Carmella, and Tamina as of late.
[JBL] The best there is, there best there was,
the best there ever will be.
The greatest Hart of them all, Natalya!
[Saxton] And if you don't believe her, Natalya will probably remind you.
[inaudible]
[Natalya's theme music stops]
[Becky's theme music plays]
[announcer] And her opponent, first from Dublin, Ireland,
Becky Lynch!
[Tom] Becky Lynch had a decision a few weeks ago.
She could join The Welcoming Committee or stand and fight,
and she chose to join the likes of Naomi and Charlotte Flair.
[Saxton] And I respect that to a T.
Becky just went against the grain, followed her heart,
followed what she thought was right, and she's standing up for it.
[JBL] Not smart. She could've joined the winning team.
[Saxton] That would've been the easy way.
-[Charlotte's theme music plays] -[crowd cheering]
[announcer] And her Tag Team partners,
first, from the Queen City, Charlotte Flair!
[Tom] And it is the former four-time RAW Women's Champion.
New arrival as part of the Superstar Shake-Up
at SmackDown LIVE that really birthed The Welcoming Committee.
It's what tipped them off here to take over the division.
Charlotte Flair arriving and asking for an opportunity,
earned a Championship opportunity
and then it was Natalya, Carmella, and Tamina that destroyed it.
[Saxton] And that created all the jealousy, all the envy
because The Welcoming Committee felt Charlotte was skipping the line.
[Tom] Shane McMahon agrees with Charlotte Flair.
You step up, you want an opportunity, you go out and earn it.
What's wrong with that?
[JBL] I agree with Shane McMahon.
Boom!
[JBL] I also don't think there's any way that Charlotte, Becky…
[Charlotte's theme music stops]
…can get along at all with Naomi.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tom] Or get along with each other
for that matter.
[Naomi's theme song plays]
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] And from Orlando, Florida, she is the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Naomi!
[Tom] And the spotlight of the division right now, on Naomi,
the SmackDown Women's Champion, and she could be the deciding factor
here in this six-woman Tag Team match.
[Saxton] Remember, Naomi was brought into this conflict
when she was attempting to defend her Championship against Charlotte,
and The Welcoming Committee decided to interfere in the match.
[JBL] Charlotte says she still wants that Championship
that is held by Naomi. There's no way these two coexist as a team.
[Saxton] For one night, John. One night.
Once that clock strikes midnight, you can go back to fightin' each other.
You just gotta coexist for this match.
[Tom] Naomi called her team Royal, Glow, and Fire,
as they go up against The Welcoming Committee
here at Backlash.
[Saxton] Think about it. This is an all-star team you're lookin' at.
The current SmackDown LIVE Women's Champion,
four-time champion in Charlotte,
the first-ever SmackDown LIVE Champion in Becky Lynch.
I don't think you can have a better team.
[JBL] The other team's got everything. Even got their little cheerleader mascot.
Ellsworth.
[Tom] Charlotte Flair and Becky, and Naomi,
they balance the team on paper. Can they work together?
The Welcoming Committee has done that.
[speaking indistinctly]
[Naomi's theme music stops]
[inaudible]
[Tom] This is all about dominance within the division.
-[bell dings] -It will be Tamina to start things off
against Becky Lynch.
She's been the flag-bearer for the women's division on SmackDown LIVE
since the Brand Extension Draft.
[Saxton] Becky Lynch was the one who initially requested this match.
[yells] Take that!
[Saxton] You can see the power on display from Tamina.
[Tom] Tamina's been out of action for quite some time, rehabing an injury.
She's been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
Ready to get a lot of frustration out.
[Saxton] Tamina was out for a year and immediately decided to join
the bandwagon.
[Tom] And Beck Lynch. The power of Tamina there.
Couldn't pull her down to the mat just yet. Oh!
Ooh! And a headbutt sending Lynch into The Welcoming Committee's corner.
[Saxton] Wrong side of town for Becky Lynch.
-[Tom] Tag made. Back in comes Natalya. -One! Out, Tamina!
Two! Get out.
[Tom] Natalya, who before WrestleMania, John, she was--
Whoa-oh! Wait a minute. Shoulders down here by Becky.
And a kick out.
She was askin' for an opportunity. Didn't believe the Six Pack Challenge
at WrestleMania was fair.
-[Natalya groans] -[Tom] Oh.
[JBL] Well, now she is the captain of The Welcoming Committee.
-Unjustifiably so. -[crowd exclaiming]
[Saxton] Here comes The Queen.
[Tom] That's what made the decision for Becky Lynch
and Charlotte Flair, very difficult in this.
They have an extraordinarily checkered past dating back to NXT.
[JBL] You ever notice that everybody has turned on Becky that knows her.
-Maybe it's Becky's fault. -[Tom] Oh, stop it.
-Come on! -Watch her head.
[speaking indistinctly]
[Tom] Natalya, right in the face of the SmackDown Women's Champion.
Got a little distracted. Cover here! And a kick out.
Natalya-- Oh! Gotta focus on Charlotte.
-Wow. -[JBL laughing] Oh.
Oh!
[Charlotte] Whoo!
[JBL] Think of the lineage of the two in the ring right now.
[yelling indistinctly]
[Saxton] There you go.
Listen, this is pay-per-view. This is Charlotte's wheelhouse.
This is her platform where she excels.
[Tom] Charlotte doin' some moonwalkin' of her own.
Now, into the corner. Out onto the apron. Oh! And a boot.
Charlotte Flair, perhaps, the most dominant athlete in WWE today.
[Saxton] And Carmella wants no piece of Charlotte.
[JBL] No reason for Charlotte to go out.
[Tom] Ooh! And Natalya!
Natalya, with a big shot there on the apron.
[Saxton] And we just saw the reason, John.
[Tom] A little help from Carmella and Ellsworth
to turn things around for The Welcoming Committee.
-Tamina, into this match one more time. -[JBL] What was the reason?
Charlotte went up to Carmella and set herself up?
[Saxton] Tried to distract Natalya
which has now opened up the opportunity for the…
[JBL] Tried to distract Natalya?
[Tom] Very smart here by The Welcoming Committee.
Frequent tag, isolating Charlotte in their corner.
Tamina back in, legal.
[Saxton] Game plan worked to a T. Now, Charlotte's in trouble.
[Tom] Another tag. Back in comes Carmella.
[JBL] Quick tags. In and out.
Welcoming Committee's workin' as a perfectly oiled team.
[Carmella grunting]
[Carmella yells]
[Tom] Vicious elbow strikes to Charlotte.
[Carmella] Whoo!
[Tom] Naomi and Becky Lynch
tryna offer some support from the far side.
Carmella in control here against Charlotte Flair.
Ooh! And Carmella
able to take down Charlotte. Into the cover here to win this match.
-And a kick out. -[Saxton] Handful of hair to do it.
[JBL] Shouldn't PETA have somethin' to say about Ellsworth?
-Isn't there a leash law? -[Tom] Say what you will about Ellsworth
but Ellsworth's paid dividends for Carmella.
[JBL] He's paid huge dividends for Carmella.
-Ellsworth is… -[Tom] Ooh!
…a bit strange-looking and acting.
Carmella did pin the Champion last week.
[Tom] Charlotte tryna reach out to her corner.
Big shot. There's the tag! And Naomi's legal.
[Tom] Ooh! And across the body from the top rope.
[Saxton] Naomi's lookin' for retribution against Carmella
-who's gettin' lit up! -[Tom] Here come the kicks!
Ooh! Right on the side of the face.
Glow! Glow! Glow! Glow! Glow!
[Tom] I guarantee you, Carmella's feelin' the Glow
here in Chicago.
[Ellsworth] No-no-no-no-no. Get her down! Get her down!
-[Saxton] Watch Tamina. -[Tom] Tamina… Oh!
[JBL] Wow.
[Tom] Choppin' out the leg there was Carmella.
Usin' Tamina's distraction. Ooh! And grabbin' at the hair.
-[Carmella grunting] -One!
-Two! -[Tom] And now, Carmella.
[Saxton] You can take nothin' away from the chemistry
-that this Welcoming Committee has. -[crowd booing]
You wanna kick me, Naomi?
[Saxton] Oh.
Both teams understand the importance of this match.
[Tom] Naomi clutchin' at the left hamstring here.
Carmella could've done some significant damage there in that instance.
Tryna showboat a little bit right in the face of Charlotte!
Connects with a bronco buster in the corner.
Now, to pin the champion, perhaps, again here.
And a kick-out by Naomi.
[Carmella yells]
[Tom] Now, the tag made. Back in comes Tamina.
At the end of the day, for all six of these women,
it's about the SmackDown Women's Championship, once Backlash is over.
[JBL] That's exactly what it's about for all these women.
That's why I don't believe that Charlotte and Naomi
are gonna be on the same page. The Welcoming Committee…
They are a perfectly oiled machine.
[Saxton] You keep sayin' that, but have you seen any dissension?
-[JBL] It's still true. -[Saxton] It's not true.
Have you seen dissension on the team? They've been workin' very well together.
[JBL] How do you know, Byron?
[Saxton] I'm watching the match, that's why.
[Tom] Naomi-- Oh! Taken out by Tamina.
Tamina, a force to be reckoned with.
Tag Carmella.
Tag made. Back in comes Carmella.
Down goes the champion again.
Carmella. All the privilege from her family,
lineage in sports entertainment.
Now, back into Naomi into the corner.
Natalya and Carmella workin' very well together.
Ooh! And missed.
Connected with the bottom turnbuckle.
Now, Natalya tryna shut down Naomi.
And Natalya-- Oh, takes a shot at Charlotte.
[Saxton] Natalya, tryin' to take away any opportunity for Naomi to tag!
[Tom] Oh! Hard into the turnbuckle. Tag made by Tamina.
And Naomi's got an opportunity if she can get to her corner.
Becky Lynch is fresh. Trying to reach out here,
and Tamina trying to stop her. Oh!
And-- Oh! Carmella pulled her off!
Carmella pulling Becky Lynch off the apron before the tag.
[Saxton] That's gotta be heartbreaking for Naomi.
She was right there to make the tag and that…
-[Tom] Ooh! -[JBL] That maybe the last ray of hope
that Naomi had.
[Tom] Cover by Tamina! Charlotte breaks it up.
Take one more look at this.
Becky Lynch was there for the tag here. Carmella sneakin' up from behind,
and face first off the apron went Beck Lynch.
[Saxton] But that just opens up the door to inflict more punishment on Naomi,
courtesy of this Welcoming Committee.
[Tom] Another tag. Natalya back in, legal.
Naomi's gonna have to dig deep in this situation.
Slide to the two-time SmackDown Women's Champion.
-[JBL] Yeah, and remember… Wow. -[Tom] Ooh!
Ugh.
And Natalya-- Oh! And normally follows with a dropkick.
But taken down by Naomi.
[Saxton] Great counter by Naomi.
[JBL] But the problem is the position in the ring that…
Natalya is in between Naomi and…
[Tom] Ducks underneath! Makes the tag! Here comes Becky Lynch!
Becky Lynch takin' out all three members of The Welcoming Committee!
[Saxton] Big Fire on display.
Can Becky Lynch turn this match around for her team?
[grunts and groans]
[Tom] Talkin' about the history between these two, John.
Natalya turned her back on Becky Lynch.
And the Bexploder!
[JBL] As we said, everybody's turned their back on Becky Lynch.
[yells indistinctly]
[Tom] Becky Lynch! And Straight Fire takes down Natalya.
Cover to win this! Kick out.
[crowd booing]
[Tom] Becky Lynch tryna figure out what she's gotta do
to put away the rest of The Welcoming Committee
[JBL] Becky's gotta do it quick.
[Tom] Natalya, in a bad position, and Tamina-- Whoa!
Tryna take Becky Lynch off the turnbuckle but gets dropkicked to the floor instead.
[yelling]
[Saxton] And Natalya-- uh-oh!
[Tom] Building up to the Hart Family Sharpshooter,
[Saxton] And a great counter by Lynch!
[Tom] Oh, the Dis-arm-her!
[JBL] Right in the middle of the ring.
[Tom] Dis-arm-her on Natalya… Carmella…
breaks apart the submission.
[JBL] Was the only chance…
[Tom] Boom!
[JBL] …that they had of that match not being over.
[Tom] And Tamina, vicious headbutt to the champion.
[speaks indistinctly]
[JBL] A one-woman wrecking crew.
[referee] Get out!
[Tom] So, Tamina not legal, has to get out of the match
Becky Lynch and Natalya still legal.
[Saxton] Becky's tryna block and reversal…
-Off the ropes. -[Tom] Under cover here, Natalya…
Natalya got out in time.
[Saxton] Ah, Tamina, again.
[Tom] Oh! Becky Lynch took down Tamina.
Oh, Natalya! Natalya…
Workin' on her play here and now, into the Sharpshooter.
Can she turn over Becky Lynch? It's Sharpshooter time!
[Saxton] A second attempt, and Natalya has it stitched in!
[JBL] Chicago's seen the Sharpshooter from the Hart Family
here before.
Becky, come on!
[Tom] Is Becky Lynch gonna tap out? Beck Lynch has tapped…
-[bell dings] -…to Natalya!
[Natalya's theme music plays]
[announcer] Here are your winners by submission,
Carmella, Tamina, and Natalya!
[JBL] Wanna hear it again, Byron?
The Welcoming Committee is a well-oiled machine!
[Saxton] The Welcoming Committee has good momentum, John.
I admit it.
The Welcoming Committee did an efficient job here tonight…
[all cheer]
…of taking down Naomi, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte,
but look at what happened earlier. Tamina…
Tamina trying to get involved in the match.
[Tom] Went for the pinfall there and then Tamina…
Boom! Taken down there by Becky Lynch
but that one opened the door here for Natalya.
Had an opening and went for the Sharpshooter,
and it was certainly able to get the job done here
at Backlash.
Becky Lynch. Tough predicament for anybody, John.
[JBL] The best there is, the best there was
the best there ever will be! Natalya Hart!
Becky, come on!
[Saxton] Becky had no choice but to tap out.
'Cause I'm the best there is…
[Tom] Charlotte, Becky, and Naomi, they worked very well in this match.
We questioned it coming into this, but it's The Welcoming Committee
that comes out on top with an impactful victory
on SmackDown LIVE.
So, great action here tonight at the SmackDown LIVE
exclusive pay-per-view WWE Backlash,
and the question off of the six-woman Tag Team match goin' forward,
the division, The Welcoming Committee looking strong but what happens now
with Royal, Glow, and Fire?
I don't know. We said, they just had to exist for one night
and they did, but weren't able to get the job done.
They did. Got beat. Now, they're gonna turn on each other.
They want that Championship. That's what it's all about.
A lot more great action to come here in Chicago,
inside the Allstate Arena,
but first, we wanna send a special thanks to Bleeker for Highway,
the official theme of WWE Backlash.
It's off the album Erase You.
Available now on iTunes and Spotify.
And, Byron, comin' up next…
Who's gonna be the face of America?
[Saxton] Well, you've got AJ Styles, who wants to reaffirm his belief
that SmackDown LIVE is the house he built but he's gotta do so
by taking down the self-appointed New Face of America, Kevin Owens,
for the United States Championship.
[distorted audio]
Welcome to the brand new
Kevin Owens Show.
I am here to be the New Face of America.
[Owens] What I did to Chris Jericho was just a sneak preview
of what's comin' to AJ Styles at Backlash.
[Tom] Kevin Owens wins his second United States title!
[Owens] The only thing…
that people should care about
is the United States Champion, and the New Face of America.
And his name is Kevin Owens.
[crowd chanting]
You see, Kevin, everyone knows how delusional you are.
Telling everybody what you're gonna do to me at Backlash.
But this isn't Backlash!
This is SmackDown LIVE,
The House that AJ Styles Built!
[Owens] I didn't just regain my United States title,
I ended Chris Jericho's career.
[Tom] Kevin Owens is back out here.
Oh, no!
[crowd booing]
[Saxton] What is wrong with Kevin Owens?
[JBL] This is bad.
[Owens] Chris Jericho couldn't even last two hours
on SmackDown LIVE because of me.
And at Backlash, I plan on ending another career,
and this time, it's gonna be AJ Styles.
[JBL] Oh, no!
[Tom] Kevin Owens is on top of the number one contender, AJ Styles.
Oh, no-no-no… Pop-Up Powerbomb!
[Styles] I'm gonna beat you for that United States Championship.
So I want you to enjoy being the New Face of America
while you still can,
because you will never be the face of SmackDown LIVE.
[Owens] I'm not just gonna be the Face of America,
I'm going to be the face of WWE.
[distorted audio] The face of WWE.
-[Styles' theme song plays] -[crowd cheering]
[Tom] AJ Styles with an opportunity to stake claim that SmackDown LIVE
is the House that AJ Styles Built.
[JBL] But you gotta wonder how well that right leg of AJ Styles is doing
after gettin' hit by that title by Kevin Owens last week,
which cost AJ that match against Jinder Mahal.
[Tom] Kevin Owens with big shots to the right knee
for the United States Championship of AJ Styles.
We talked to AJ Styles earlier today.
He said he's fine. He said he's 100%. He's ready to go here.
It's all about the United States Championship.
[JBL] Yeah, but Kawhi Leonard would tell you he was 5'2"
…cost them the series.
You wonder if this is gonna cost AJ Styles this match.
Of course, he's gonna say he's fine. He's a tough guy.
He's a former champion. He's a little obsessed.
That doesn't mean AJ Styles is okay.
[Tom] One thing we know about AJ Styles, big moment, big matches,
big time opponents.
He puts his absolute best out for the WWE Universe.
[Owens' theme music plays]
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] There he is, the New Face of America, Kevin Owens.
Who was on the Kickoff Show earlier tonight here on the WWE Network.
WWE Hall of Famer, Booker T, and Peter Rosenberg.
Byron, they believe this is a match that could steal the show.
[Saxton] I'm right there with them. Two extremely talented athletes,
and two extremely prideful athletes in Kevin Owens and AJ Styles.
[Tom] Two men that that know the Chicago area very, very well,
ready to go head-to-head. It's been a little over a year
since they last faced each other, but, John, this is about territory.
Who owns SmackDown LIVE?
[JBL] Look, I understand. You guys are over there goin' on and on.
You're payin' no respect to the New Face of America,
The United States of America Champion, Kevin Owens.
That's what it's all about, gentlemen.
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall.
[crowd] One fall!
[announcer] It's for the United States Championship!
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Introducing the challenger, from Gainesville, Georgia,
weighing in at 218 pounds, The Phenomenal
-AJ Styles! -[crowd] AJ Styles!
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] And his opponent, from Marieville, Quebec, Canada…
-[crowd booing] -…weighing in at 266 pounds,
he is the United States Champion,
and the New Face of America,
Kevin Owens!
[crowd booing]
[JBL] How can anybody boo the New Face of America?
[Saxton] Won't you stop it.
[JBL] I hear Justin Trudeau is movin' to America
just because of Kevin Owens.
[Saxton] I echo your point earlier, John, that's what it's all about.
You can attest to this, the importance and the prestige
of the United States Championship. Forty-plus year history.
In fact, just over 20 superstars who have held that title,
have gone on to become WWE Hall of Famers.
[JBL] Ahem. See, that's how I won that title here at WrestleMania,
here in this very building, Byron. Thanks for the omission.
[Saxton] Hence why I said you can attest to it.
[Tom] And here we go. Styles and Owens not wastin' any time.
Hashtag US Title.
-And Styles is fired up here at Backlash! -[Saxton] You better be.
You better be fired up, AJ. You better be on your game.
[Tom] We talked about it before the Brand Extension Draft.
These two had a bunch of battles. Tremendous rivalry.
And now, they finally meet again here as members of SmackDown LIVE.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
-[Saxton] Oh-oh-oh. -[JBL] Went for that right leg.
Goin' for the right leg of AJ Styles that Kevin Owens hit
last Tuesday on SmackDown LIVE.
[Saxton] Yeah, after a clean break by AJ.
[Tom] Much like we saw with Baron Corbin earlier,
you give Owens a target, he'll go after it.
Saw to what he did to Chris Jericho a few weeks ago,
it was only a sneak preview of what's gonna happen to Styles tonight.
[JBL] Owens said as much that he's gonna end the career
of AJ Styles if he has to.
That's the wonder of great things in the Superstar Shake-Up.
-You get a dream match like this… -[Tom] Oh! Shoulders down for the title,
-kick out! -…with The Phenomenal One
and the New Face of America.
[Tom] Kevin Owens once again on the right leg here.
Trying to take AJ Styles down to the mat. Styles able to break free.
[Saxton] Styles who has proudly carried the torch of SmackDown LIVE.
[Tom] And how would you feel if you were AJ Styles?
First night here on SmackDown LIVE. Kevin Owens declares
this is the new Kevin Owens show.
[Saxton] That's what brings us to what we call
a territorial dispute between these two.
He's gotta earn those bragging rights for SmackDown LIVE.
[JBL] Look, this is about the United States Championship.
One of the most prestigious titles in the history of sports entertainment.
[Tom] Now, Owens startin' to pick up the speed here.
AJ Styles-- Whoa! Thought about a dropkick and Owens got outta dodge.
[crowd booing]
[Saxton] Owens knowin' the tendencies of his opponent.
-AJ Styles now on the move. -[Tom] At the same time,
Owens has the Champion's advantage.
You can only lose the title by pinfall or submission.
[JBL] I wonder how that right leg is of AJ.
It certainly looked fine in that sequence.
[Saxton] Again, the longer this match goes on,
the more the condition of that right leg will reveal itself.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
-[Tom] Oof! Oh! -[Styles groans]
[Tom] And Chicago reminding Kevin Owens of his former best friend, Chris Jericho.
[JBL] Somewhere, Chris Jericho, I think, has a smile on his face right now
-with that chant. -[Tom] Ooh!
Once again, went for the dropkick, and Kevin Owens was a step too quick
Oh!
[Saxton] On the mark. Styles connects.
[Tom] It is incredible how quickly AJ Styles can pick up the pace
and change a match just like that.
[JBL] There's no false advertising here. AJ Styles really is The Phenomenal One.
[Tom] Highly-adaptable, a mastermind of offensive innovation.
That is AJ Styles.
[JBL] One of the best, if not the best in the world, I agree.
Had one of the greatest rookie years in WWE.
Hard to call a guy who's been champion all over the world rookie,
but a rookie here for the WWE.
[Tom] Over a decade in sports entertainment.
[JBL] Won championships all over the world and came to WWE,
and did exactly what he said he would do.
He said he'd beat John Cena, he said he'd win the WWE Championship.
Check and check.
[Tom] Won the WWE title at this very pay-per-view last year.
-Ooh! And a shot by Owens. -[JBL] Oh, wow.
-[Saxton] Oh! Receipt by Styles. -[JBL] Oh, man.
[Tom] Now, into the corner. Styles prevents disaster.
Into the corner. And Kevin Owens-- Oh! Face-first on the top turnbuckle.
Owens… Oh! Big clothesline.
Now, Owens, into the cover here to retain his title, and a kick out.
And the United States Champion happy to pound away on AJ Styles.
[JBL] You gotta love this about Kevin Owens.
He sees an opportunity, and doesn't give an inch.
Look at this. Clothesline right here.
And right away, Kevin Owens on top of AJ Styles.
And that's why I'm the champ!
[Saxton] You can't give an inch when it comes to AJ Styles.
You can't allow room for recovery.
[Styles groaning]
[Tom] And now the knee right here to the spine and Kevin Owens
absolutely ruthless here in this match.
[Saxton] Upgrading his aggressive approach in this match is Kevin Owens.
[Styles groans]
Ask him!
[JBL] Kevin Owens appreciates the threat of AJ Styles.
You see a mutual respect among warriors sometimes,
but there's no foolin' around. There's no wasted motion.
[Tom] Kevin Owens knows all about AJ Styles.
Long history between these two. Knows if he gives AJ Styles any room here
in this match, it's gonna be trouble.
Ask him!
[Saxton] Owens very content in the center of the ring.
Just trying to wear down AJ Styles.
[Tom] Byron, you talked about upgrading the aggression for Kevin Owens.
He could do that at the drop of a hat. We saw how quickly he snapped,
destroyed Chris Jericho.
[Saxton] Yeah, it was one thing, you know, for Kevin Owens
to defeat Chris Jericho and win the United States Championship,
but he truly wanted to end Jericho.
[Tom] DDT!
Takes down AJ Styles. Here's the cover…
Styles out if this pinfall.
Ooh! And a senton.
And Owens follows it up with another one.
Two hundred and sixty-plus pounds for the third time!
Cover here and Styles is still in it.
And Kevin Owens right back to what he does best.
Slowing down AJ Styles.
[Saxton] A simple and direct strategy employed by the United States Champion.
[crowd chanting]
Styles struggling just to make it back to his feet.
[Tom] Styles trying to pry KO off of him.
Trying to get that-- The elbow from underneath the chin here-
Oh! And Kevin Owens drops him one more time.
[crowd booing]
-[Tom] Now, Owens… Oh! A kick! -[JBL] Wow.
[Tom] And a kick stuns the champion!
[Saxton] That's what we talked about earlier.
The ability of AJ Styles to strike quickly.
[JBL] Yeah, and more importantly,
it bought AJ some time right now when he badly needs it
[Saxton] Styles still worse for wear.
[Tom] Kevin Owens back up to his feet.
Oh!
Now, both men-- Shots here in the middle of the ring.
AJ Styles gettin' the advantage. Oh! And unloads with some strikes!
And a clothesline!
[Saxton] Strike fest by Styles. Owens goes down.
[Tom] Styles-- Oh! Runs in with a forearm. Into the cover on Owens, and a kick out.
[panting]
[Tom] Now, Styles.
-Oh, man. -[JBL] Man.
[Tom] Oh, and Styles comin' in hard on Kevin Owens.
[Saxton] A little extra lustre behind the clothes.
[Tom] All the way up on the shoulders and Kevin Owens missed.
Oh, and face-first into the mat!
Cover here on the Champion! Kick out by Owens.
Styles can make it hurt from any possible situation.
[crowd clapping in unison]
[Saxton] Here's an example why, Tom. Face-first goes Kevin Owens.
And now that pendulum of momentum on the side of AJ Styles. Uh-oh! Uh-oh!
[Tom] Styles bringin' out the Styles Clash.
Kevin Owens able to get away from it.
Up on the shoulders here…
Connects to the back of the neck!
Cover here! Styles to cover! And a kick out by the champion.
[Saxton] Styles almost incredulous. Smiling to himself.
I can't believe Owens just survived that.
[JBL] Styles has had an answer for everything Kevin Owens has done.
[Saxton] But John, to your point earlier, you see Styles now
checkin' out that right knee. That leg.
[JBL] That's the leg that we wondered how it was gonna be doin',
and if you're pickin' up Kevin Owens a couple times, you're seein'
a little result of the twinge there in that leg.
Oh!
We were wonderin' if it was gonna manifest itself at all in this match,
and it looks like it is for AJ Styles.
[Tom] Oh! And Kevin Owens caught with an elbow there.
-Up from the ropes-- Superkick! -[Saxton] Wow! On the button.
[Tom] Owens got himself up on his feet for a moment.
Oh! And into a neckbreaker!
-[JBL] Oh, man! -[Tom] Cover here!
This could be it for Styles! No.
[Tom] Talkin' about the quickness of AJ Styles,
Kevin Owens pulled this outta nowhere very quickly.
[JBL] Yeah. Look right there at AJ Styles, that knee buckled slightly
and that was just enough for Kevin Owens.
AJ Styles is lucky he's still in this match.
[Saxton] Caught in a neckbreaker, and Styles is in deep here.
[Tom] Now, off the ropes, second Pop-Up Powerbomb
with Kevin Owens, and a boot on the jaw.
-Gotta hold that off for a moment. -[JBL] Straight right hand.
[Tom] Oh, and Styles sent out on to the apron
Kevin Owens-- Oh! Uses the top rope.
[Saxton] Watch this impact again
with the knee right into the back of the neck
of AJ Styles.
[Tom] And AJ Styles, he's gonna have to find a way to gather himself
here in this match.
[Saxton] You know, easier said than done.
[JBL] Yeah, 'cause Kevin Owens certainly has the Champion's advantage here.
[Saxton] Kevin Owens is gonna be goin' for the home run!
[Tom] If there's one thing we know about Kevin Owens,
he's happy to dish out some more pain. Oh!
AJ Styles saw Kevin Owens goin' up for the top turnbuckle,
and tried to stop it.
[JBL] Kevin's in trouble.
-[Tom] No-no-no! -[Saxton] No-no-no way! No way!
-[Tom] On the apron! -[JBL] Oh, no.
And Kevin Owens able to evade, and the right leg into the post!
[JBL] That bad leg. That bad right leg.
[Tom] Oh! Into the steel, and Styles went flying into the barricade!
[JBL] If that right leg wasn't a problem before,
It's gonna be now.
[woman in crowd] Come on, AJ!
[JBL] Look, we've seen signs in this whole match
of AJ Styles not quite being normal in that leg,
and Kevin Owens has finally found a way to target it.
[Tom] Cannonball!
[Saxton] The wheels are turning for Kevin Owens.
[Tom] Kevin Owens knows how good of an opportunity
he's got right now. AJ Styles in a world of hurt,
and wrapping the right leg around the bottom rope.
[Saxton] Oh, no. Oh, no-no-no-no-no.
[Tom] Isolating the right leg, and a cannonball!
[Styles groaning]
[Tom] What is Owens thinkin' about here, goin' after the right leg again?
And into a single crab, here! Single-leg crab here on AJ Styles!
[JBL] Great strategy by Kevin Owens.
You saw him for the very first of the match
when AJ Styles had a headlock on Kevin Owens.
Kevin Owens is goin' for that right leg.
[Tom] Brought back into the center of the ring,
trying to turn Styles over again.
Oh! Now, onto an ankle lock!
Oh, my gosh. Twisting at the right leg of AJ Styles!
[Styles groaning]
[Tom] Is Styles gonna tap out here to Kevin Owens?
[Saxton] Well, he's trying to dismantle any sense of function
-in the right leg of AJ Styles. -[Tom] Oh, and look at the face
on AJ Styles screaming out in pain!
[JBL] Look at the torque on AJ Styles' right leg.
-[Tom] And gets to the bottom rope. -[JBL] It started last Tuesday
on SmackDown LIVE.
What a brilliant strategy by Kevin Owens.
[Tom] Where he originally hurt the knee.
[JBL] Styles was goin' for that Styles Clash off the apron,
and it gets worse from here.
[Tom] Landed right into the steel, then into the barricade to follow.
[Saxton] Kevin Owens has been absolutely relentless with the attack
on the right leg of AJ Styles.
[JBL] Yeah, and that was just the exclamation point, Tom.
Kevin Owens Knew exactly what to target.
Keep it inside here, huh?
No, get him off of there.
[Tom] Owens goin' to the second rope here. Trying to pull AJ Styles
up there with him.
[JBL] This doesn't end well.
[Tom] One more big move to AJ Styles, and this could do it for him.
Kevin Owens in command here in this match.
Styles…
Oh, up on the shoulders here.
[Saxton] Trying to fight. Tryna somehow break out of this…
-Oh! Man! -[Tom] Oh! Powerbomb!
Wow!
[JBL] Watch how hard Kevin Owens' hit.
[Tom] Bouncing all over the map.
[JBL] That'll knock the wind right out of you. That'll daze you.
Kevin Owens had no idea that was coming.
[Saxton] Well, if AJ's gonna have a chance to win this match,
this chance is right now.
Styles…
[Tom] Styles out to the apron calling for, possibly,
the Phenomenal Forearm.
[Saxton] Bad leg and all, I don't know if Styles can pull it off!
[Tom] Trying to smack some life into the right leg.
Sucking it up. Sucking up the pain! Oh, my!
[JBL] Leg gave out. That right leg gave out.
[Tom] Oh! Into a DDT! Off the double underhook!
Here is the cover! Inside leg he caught and kick out.
[Saxton] Watch this again. Styles was thinkin' Phenomenal Forearm.
The right leg… [groans] …just give out
and almost cost Styles this match.
[Tom] And Kevin Owens is right on top of it,
and nearly closed out AJ Styles.
[JBL] One thing we can say is it saves Kevin Owens the match.
If Styles hit that Phenomenal Forearm, It's over.
[Saxton] Frustration on one end that Kevin Owens
can't put away AJ Styles. Frustration on the other
that AJ Styles can't execute his normal offense.
[Owens] Stay down!
[JBL] Oh.
It's my title!
I'm the Face of America!
-[Saxton] Blatant disrespect. -[Tom] Pelé Kick!
Pelé Kick to the Face of America! But how much did that cost AJ Styles?
[JBL] It was absolute desperation. You're right, Tom.
AJ Styles has no way to capitalize on this.
AJ created space he needs, but he has no way to capitalize,
and getting his offense goin'.
-[Styles groaning] -[Saxton] What can AJ do
to dig deep into his offensive playbook?
[Tom] AJ Styles is hobbled but he's not out of this fight.
It's all about the United States Championship.
Get him outta there! AJ, get him out!
[JBL] And look, if AJ gets disqualified, he's not gonna win.
It's champion's advantage to Kevin Owens.
Disqualification, or count out goes to the champion.
[Tom] Gotta win by pinfall or submission inside the ring.
Styles trying to keep it there.
[Saxton] Uh-oh.
[Tom] Ah, wait a minute! Owens from the top!
Styles in a heap on the mat! Can Kevin Owens shut him down
-to retain the United States title? No. -[JBL] Wow.
[Saxton] How does AJ keep doin' this?
[Tom] This tremendous suplex here. Oof! God.
Crashing down to the mat.
How much more of this can AJ Styles take?
[Saxton] For all intents and purposes, this match should be over.
[JBL] That'll just wrench your spine right out of your back.
AJ Styles is almost helpless. He's stayin' in this match.
That's all he's been able to do.
[Tom] Whoa, wait a minute. Owens goin' to the top rope,
lookin' to break AJ Styles.
Up to the top rope here, Kevin Owens.
And AJ Styles, wisely, gets underneath the bottom rope
-to the apron. -[JBL] It's all AJ could do.
AJ's just finding ways to stay in this match, that's all.
He's not able to mount any offense.
[Tom] Trying to stay out of the line of fire but there's Kevin Owens.
Get him inside.
[Tom grunting] Look at AJ Styles, has his good left leg
hooked to the bottom rope.
-Oh! Man! A suplex! -[JBL] Wow!
Kevin is hurt.
-[Owens groaning] -[Tom] Spine-first down to the apron!
[crowd chanting]
High impact to Owens.
[JBL] What a desperation move here by AJ Styles.
Look at this. That spine hit exactly on the edge of that apron.
Kevin Owens is in pain.
[Saxton] Kevin Owens is in pain, and we haven't said this all match,
-but Kevin Owens… Watch this again. -[JBL] Look how he lands.
What a horrible landing.
[Saxton] Owens could be in serious trouble.
[Tom] AJ Styles wisely rolls back inside the ring.
Breaks the ten-count and gotta get Owens back inside.
Oh, but sent into the timekeepers' area.
And now Owens ripped apart the desk in the process.
[Saxton] Maybe, I spoke too soon.
[Tom] Styles launched into the timekeepers' area.
[Saxton] Styles thought, at least temporarily,
he had created an opening for himself.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Tom] Oh, and Styles with the Phenomenal Forearm!
Owens could be out!
[Saxton] How in the world did AJ Styles pull that off?
[JBL] But you can't win the title out there.
[Saxton] And Styles, you gotta understand, he knows this.
[JBL] He can't win this by countout either!
He's not gonna win the Championship.
Oh, no. No! Styles Clash on the table.
[Tom] Lookin' for-- Oh, man! Oh, my God!
[Saxton] Styles just through one of the openings of the table!
[referee] Seven!
Eight!
[Saxton] Oh! God.
-Styles is caught… -[bell dings]
[crowd booing]
[Saxton] Kevin Owens is…
[announcer] Here is your winner by countout and still
the United States Champion, Kevin Owens!
[crowd booing]
[Owens' theme music plays]
[Saxton] Kevin Owens survived tonight.
[JBL] Look, I gotta say, it's a cheap way to win but it's a win.
[Saxton] It's a heartbreaking way to lose this match if you're AJ Styles.
[JBL] Look, AJ's bad leg is-- It's still caught in that cable
or whatever it is he fell through on that table.
[Tom] Oh! To the back of the head. Come on!
[Saxton] Enough!
Styles was defenseless.
[crowd booing]
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
[groans]
[Tom] Gotta look back here, and see what happened.
AJ Styles was settin' up for the Styles Clash
on top of the table, and was giving chase to Kevin Owens
but Styles went right through the desk.
[JBL] Yeah, and AJ Styles was trying to get out of that
and somehow ends up tangled up in a bunch of TV cables,
-and was counted out… -[bell dings]
…subsequently, and Kevin Owens retains the Championship
and wanted to get one more exclamation point
on a defenseless AJ Styles.
[Saxton] That was just cheap, is what it was from Kevin Owens.
[grunts]
[JBL] Kevin Owens would probably agree with you, Byron.
[Saxton] Again, what a heartbreaking way to lose this match for AJ Styles.
[JBL] Look, AJ is angry and I don't blame him.
[Tom] Oh! Right to the back of the neck.
[JBL] That was just a little insult to injury right there.
AJ Styles…
What a hell of a match, and for it to end like that?
You feel for The Phenomenal One.
[Saxton] Styles battled like a true warrior
but to walk away from this match
knowing you lost because your leg got caught in the announce desk?
[JBL] Kevin Owens battled like a warrior as well!
-[Saxton] I agree! -[JBL] It was just an unlucky event
for AJ Styles. Is it a cheap way to win?
Yes, absolutely! But it's a win.
[Styles' theme song plays]
[Saxton] Gotta wonder about the condition of Styles' right leg.
[Tom] Well, this was an injury that was set in motion
this past Tuesday on SmackDown LIVE.
Kevin Owens has been thinkin' about this for quite some time.
Finally just had an opportunity, got lucky, so to speak, over here
with a freak situation.
And Kevin Owens was able to retain the United States Championship.
And look at the frustration on AJ Styles, and I don't blame him.
You have a hell of a match like that,
he has a real chance of walkin' out the United States Champion,
and have somethin' crazy like that happen to end the match?
That's the kinda loss that stings.
And it's gonna sting a long time for AJ Styles.
Certainly gonna sting. We'll see if there's a medical update
later on tonight, but we wanna take you back
to earlier on tonight, however, on the WWE Backlash Kickoff Show.
Some action between The Perfect 10, Tye Dillinger,
and Aiden English, to get us started here in Chicago.
[Saxton] Dillinger would… Oh!
…bring the fight, in a highly competitive match-up
between himself and Aiden English.
[Tom] Give credit to Aiden English, former NXT Tag Team Champion,
nearly put away Dillinger, who's been on quite the roll since debuting
on SmackDown LIVE after WrestleMania.
But then this, down the stretch, Aiden English tried to close it out,
and it was Tye Dillinger who would connect big time
with a Tye Breaker to English.
[Saxton] Aiden English has had a string of bad luck against Tye Dillinger
but Dillinger, as we would say, perfectly executed.
[Tom] Well, it's definitely gonna be something for Aiden English
to be crying about.
[Luke's theme music plays]
[bell dings]
[male announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall!
Introducing first, weighing in at 275 pounds,
Luke Harper!!
[JBL] Byron, you ever heard of this guy?
[Saxton] That's Tom Phillips, just sittin' by JBL over here.
We're all on the WWE Network. Maybe, you should subscribe.
[Tom] Luke Harper, the former Intercontinental Champion
with a score to settle here tonight at Backlash.
A family squabble, so to speak.
[JBL] I'm glad I'm workin' with Tom Phillips and Byron Williams.
[Saxton] That sounds like a better name, honestly.
-[Rowan's theme music plays] -[JBL] I miss Otunga.
[Saxton chuckles]
[announcer] And his opponent, weighing in at 350 pounds,
Erick Rowan!
[Tom] Erick Rowan, a truly creepy sight to see.
And it was this past week on Talking Smack here on the WWE Network,
after a previous confrontation, Rowan wasn't satisfied
with that encounter he had with former Wyatt Family member,
Luke Harper.
Luke Harper…
He decided to leave the family.
You know what happens when somebody leaves the family?
Please, chill.
Lucas…
needs a little harsher punishment.
You have power. You can make the match.
Well, I'll be happy to grant you your wish.
You have a match this Sunday at Backlash
against Luke Harper.
[Tom] And Erick Rowan, he scared the heck out of our Kickoff panel,
Renee Young, Booker T, and Peter Rosenberg.
[Saxton] Thank you.
-[bell dings] -[JBL] Booker was not scared.
-He's the five-time Five-Time. -[Saxton] Oh, look at this.
[Tom] And here comes Rowan, right after his former Wyatt Family brother,
Luke Harper.
And Rowan, cast out on his own after Bray Wyatt went to RAW
as a part of the Superstar Shake-Up. Oh!
Luke Harper, a man who already broke free
of the bonds of the former patriarch of the Wyatt Family.
That threw some jealousy between Rowan and Harper.
[Saxton] Guess, perhaps, we understand the weird logic of Erick Rowan
-a little bit better. -[JBL] Weird is an understatement, Byron.
Yes, it would. Logic and Rowan. Same sentence.
[Saxton] I tried.
-Ooh! -[Tom] Ooh!
And Harper with a shot here at Rowan.
[Tom] Now, these two would have belonged very nicely on the '85 Bears defense.
[Saxton laughing] Yes, they would've.
[Tom] Big shot there from Harper.
-Ooh! -[JBL speaking indistinctly]
…including the fridge right here, in this building.
[Tom] Harper, face first, couldn't tell if it was the apron or the steel stairs.
Either way, it wasn't good.
And Erick Rowan, able to turn this match in his favor.
[Saxton] To be a fly on the wall in the brain of Erick Rowan.
-[Tom] Ooh! Dropkick! -[JBL] He has walls in his brain?
[Saxton] Figure of speech, John.
[Tom] Byron, you've followed these two
since their days as NXT Tag Team Champions long time ago
-and they've evolved since then. -[Saxton] Oh!
Look, here's the thing about their partnership.
I truly-- Rowan, goin' to town on Harper.
I don't think Erick Rowan and Luke Harper really truly ever liked each other.
It was more about coexisting. Convenience.
[JBL] Sledgehammers. Those huge mallet-size bits of Erick Rowan.
[Tom] Oh! Splashing down here. Cover and a kick out by Harper.
Some of the most physically gifted big men in WWE today.
Now, Rowan clamps down here on Luke Harper,
[JBL] Used to see this from Sgt. Slaughter,
that big vice grip.
But Sarge didn't have those catcher-sized mitts. Ooh.
[Tom] And Rowan with another big right here to Luke Harper.
[Saxton] Goodness.
[Tom] Every one of these shots, nasty.
Oh! Like gettin' hit with a sledgehammer.
[Saxton] Rowan just teein' away.
[Tom] Rowan so clearly stinging from the separation from the Wyatt Family.
Now Harper has got an opportunity here!
Now Harper… Oh!
Hit the corner there by Rowan, and Rowan with a dropkick!
Now Rowan into the cover. Great urgency here, and a kickout.
[Saxton] That is a 6' 8" 300-plus pounder,
-Erick Rowan. -[JBL] Erick has his beard.
[Tom] Now Rowan fighting this match in his pace.
Has Harper right where he wants him.
Oh! And a big powerslam, dumping Harper.
[Saxton] Erick Rowan's one of the few men here on SmackDown LIVE
who can manhandle Luke Harper the way he is.
[JBL] I think, Rowan is actually smiling.
[Tom] Lookin' for the pumphandle slam for a moment
into a backbreaker of sorts and-- Ooh!
-[JBL] Oh, man! -[Tom] Big clothesline!
Cover from Rowan and Harper is still in it.
[JBL] What a physical match.
[Saxton] Did you expect anything less, John?
[JBL chuckling] No.
[Saxton] If you were caught in a room with Rowan and Harper who are brawling,
your best defense would be just to play dead.
[JBL] Yeah, you would be, if you didn't play that way, Byron.
[Tom] Wait a minute. Rowan's goin' up to the top turnbuckle.
I don't know, if we reinforced the ring for this one.
Up to the top turnbuckle. Rowan with a splash!
-Nobody home! -[Rowan groaning]
[JBL] Flight path of the Hindenburg.
[Tom] Crashed and burned did Rowan. And now Luke Harper has a chance.
[JBL] Imagine bein' on the mat and seein' this massive thing
block out the entire sky, comin' down at you.
[Saxton] High-flying nightmare.
[Tom] Rowan was reachin' out for the mask.
[Saxton] We've seen in recent matches Rowan talkin' to that mask.
I didn't wanna have any insight into that conversation.
-[Tom] Oh, Harper! -[JBL] Wow.
[Tom] Harper was on the loose, and he just took out Rowan.
-[Saxton] Watch out guys. Move! -[Tom] Oh, my God.
[Saxton] Harper's got that look of hazardous bewilderment.
[Tom] What is Harper thinkin' here?
Harper through the ropes! There goes Rowan!
Rowan between the desk! Is he pinned?
There for the picking for Harper. Tosses Rowan back inside the ring.
And Harper with a senton from the apron.
Oh, and a boot!
Now into the cover here to put away Rowan in this match, and a kick out.
Watch this one more time.
Harper comin' in hot.
Wipin' out Rowan and then to follow through the ropes.
[Saxton] And these guys are hittin' each other…
[chuckling] …with heavy shot after heavy shot.
[Saxton] Oh…
Harper managed to slip out-- Oh!
Tilt-A-Whirl side slam here.
[Tom] Cover! Cover and Rowan able to kickout.
[JBL] You have heavyweights, you have super heavyweights,
and you have the unlimited category.
These guys would be in the latter.
[Saxton] What is Harper thinkin'?
[JBL] Do you really wanna get in either one of these guys' brain, Byron?
[Saxton] Very good point, John. Elbow, from Rowan.
[Tom] Oh, spinning kick!
Now Rowan-- Ooh, trying for a powerbomb and it connects.
Cover here on Harper! Shoulders down and Harper
got the left shoulder up.
And Rowan thought it was three.
[Saxton] Rowan hoisted up Harper for that powerbomb like it was nothing.
[Rowan grunting]
[Tom] Rowan startin' to show some of the frustration of this match.
Tryna find a way to seal the deal against Harper.
[crowd booing]
[JBL chuckling] These are two big, tough mammoth men.
And Harper is hurt.
-That powerbomb… -[Saxton] Rowan, uh…
-[JBL] Rowan's havin' fun now. -[Saxton] He's smiling, yeah.
[Tom] Wait. Harper able to take him down. Into the cover here.
Shoulders down. Rowan kicked out.
[Saxton] Close call.
Oh! Right on the side of the face.
And Harper and Rowan, both with a pair of shots.
Oh!
Hear the thud with every one of these impacts.
[Saxton chuckling] Jeez.
That was just a clubbing right hand.
-Oh! -[JBL] That'd knocked out a dinosaur.
[Tom] Oh!
And Rowan, shot to the gut.
-[Saxton] Rowan again. -[Tom] A powerbomb!
And there goes Rowan across the ring.
Harper-- Superkick on the jaw!
If Rowan's reachin' out for motivation, I don't know-
but it's not gonna help him with Harper on the attack.
[JBL] Probably got some inspiration from that mask.
[Saxton] He psyched himself up, look at this!
[Tom] Oh, and a clothesline! Shot, perhaps, right there to the chest.
-And the cover! Harper's gonna win it. -[bell dings]
-[Luke's theme music plays] -[announcer] Here is your winner,
Luke Harper!
[Saxton] Rowan psyched himself and up…
It was just enough to get knocked back down.
[JBL] That was about as physical as you can have.
[Tom] Two men just beatin' the heck out of each other.
Little payback from their Wyatt Family days.
Erick Rowan asked for it.
[Saxton] Erick Rowan asked for it. Luke Harper delivered emphatically.
Gotta wonder if congratulations will be in order later on tonight,
for a man who has sent shockwaves throughout the WWE Universe.
That man is Jinder Mahal
Can Jinder do, what many have called, the impossible,
and defeat Randy Orton.
[Tom] And it was just last month, Jinder Mahal took full advantage
of the land of opportunity.
[Tom] It is a Six-Pack Challenge Match!
The number one contender with the WWE title at stake.
[JBL] No countouts, no disqualifications. One of these guys
gets a shot at the WWE Championship and Randy Orton.
[yells]
[Mahal] Change? You fear it.
[Tom] The Singh Brothers. What're these two doin'?
[Mahal] You boo me?
Why?
[JBL] Jinder's goin' to Backlash!
[Tom] Jinder Mahal's number one contender!
[Mahal] Just 'cause I don't fit your stereotypes?
You lack tolerance.
And so do I.
[speaking Punjabi]
[Mahal] I don't fit your stereotypes.
I defy them.
Jinder thinks people don't respect him because of ignorance and intolerance.
The truth is Jinder's an ass.
[Mahal speaking Punjabi]
[Mahal] I will no longer be overlooked.
[man] The Singh Brothers.
[male commentator] And from behind with the Championship!
[Mahal speaking Punjabi]
[Mahal] A new era begins at Backlash!
The era of The Maharaja.
[Orton] Congratulations is in order for you, Jinder Mahal.
You've won the jackpot.
Only, your prize won't be this title.
WWE Champion!
[Orton] The only prize you've awarded yourself
is an RKO from yours truly.
[crowd cheering]
Randy Orton, relish your time.
with the WWE Championship,
because at Backlash, I destroy your pride, and I destroy your future.
-[Saxton] Oh, watch out! -[JBL] Singh Brothers!
[Saxton] Samir and Sunil from behind, goin' after the Champion.
[Mahal] You Americans don't accept diversity…
but you will have no choice…
but to accept Jinder Mahal as your next…
[Mahal speaking Punjabi]
…WWE Champion!
[Mahal's theme song plays]
[crowd cheering]
[shouting indistinctly]
Maharaja!
[Tom] Jinder Mahal, flanked by the Singh Brothers.
Said earlier tonight, "I am a truly peaceful man,
"but when provoked, I become an animal."
And he's gonna need to do that tonight against The Viper
if he hopes to become WWE Champion.
[JBL] It is the opportunity of Jinder Mahal's lifetime.
He believes he has 1.3 billion people in his home country
that he is carrying the hopes and dreams of tonight
against Randy Orton.
[Saxton] Jinder Mahal spent years on the outside looking in
at the WWE Championship picture.
Jinder Mahal, now, one win away from becoming Champion.
[Tom] John, you know it better than anybody.
-It only takes one opportunity. -[JBL] One opportunity.
Look at Rulon Gardner, look at Rey Mysterio,
look at Buster Douglas, the 1980 Men's Hockey Team.
How many more examples do you need? It's only one match, one night,
and The Maharaja could be the next WWE Champion.
[yells indistinctly]
[Orton's theme song plays]
[crowd cheering]
[Tom] The 13-time WWE Champion, Randy Orton,
knows this situation better than most.
Knows what it takes to walk away as a winner,
knows what it means to be a champion on the highest level.
[JBL] Randy Orton was born into greatness, Randy Orton has dealt with the pressure
of bein' the son of a Hall of Famer. His father was
in the main event at WrestleMania One.
His grandfather was in the main event at Madison Square Garden
against Bruno Sammartino.
Look, pressure could crack and pressure could make diamonds.
In Randy Orton's case, it's made one of the greatest of all time.
[Saxton] Think of all the poking, all the prodding
has done towards Randy Orton. Well, tonight it's Orton's platform
to unleash his spiteful venom.
[Tom] Orton entering his 10th pay-per-view event
here at the Allstate Arena. Most of all time.
He's been in this situation many times before, John.
The question is can Jinder Mahal adapt to the pressure.
[JBL] You better believe he has. Thirteen-time World Champion.
Only three people have held more championships than he.
And you talk about legendary, suddenly, you're talkin' about Triple H,
Ric Flair, and John Cena, and Randy Orton.
What an impressive company that Randy Orton holds.
You don't build a sports entertainer from the ground up,
ladies and gentlemen, that is exactly what it looks like.
What a match-up.
We got the chance of a lifetime in Jinder Mahal
against one of the greatest of all time in Randy Orton,
who, right now, is as good as Randy has ever been.
[Saxton] A tall mountain to climb for the challenger.
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall…
[crowd] One fall!
…is for the WWE Championship!
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Introducing the challenger, from Punjab, India,
weighing in at 222 pounds,
Jinder Mahal!
[crowd booing]
[announcer] And his opponent, from St. Louis, Missouri,
weighing in at 250 pounds,
he is the WWE Champion,
-the-- -[Tom] Oh, and Randy Orton!
Not wasting any time! Wants a piece of Jinder Mahal!
[Saxton] All the ways this has been festering from Orton.
[Tom] Oh, and into the corner! And The Viper not wasting time.
The Viper gettin' the early advantage here.
[JBL] Randy's absolutely lost his temper. This match has not even officially begun.
[Tom] Mahal tossed to the outside, and Randy Orton…
Randy Orton scarin' off Samir and Sunil Singh.
-Oh, no-no-no-no. -[JBL] Oh, man!
[Saxton] Thinkin' about what Jinder said.
Jinder said, "Randy Orton, you've lost the stuff."
Orton's got a different message.
[JBL] The referee's gotta find a way to get control.
[Saxton] Good luck with that.
[Tom] Randy Orton in a whole other state of mind right now.
[JBL] We're gonna have a Championship match
somewhere here tonight, if you can ever calm Randy Orton down.
[Saxton] Right now, you are witnessing The Viper unleashed.
[Tom] Tosses Mahal back inside the ring.
The official trying to regain some order here.
[JBL] If Jinder had any doubt about why they call Randy, Apex Predator.
You gotta spring to your feet. You gotta continue this match.
[JBL] Welcome to what the rest of the world knows about Randy Orton.
[speaking indistinctly]
[JBL] Jinder has been pummeled and the match has not even begun.
You wondered, if Randy was taking Jinder lightly?
-That answers your question right there. -[Saxton] Boy did it ever.
Jinder, uh, Jinder-- seething.
Seething in the corner.
[JBL] Jinder is filled with rage anyway.
Whether it's true or not, he believes that everybody is against him.
[Saxton] Well, talkin' about everybody bein' against you,
about bein' the crown jewel of SmackDown LIVE.
-This is where reality sets in. -[bell dings]
And the hashtag WWE Championship match underway
here in Chicago, and Randy Orton pickin' up right where he left off.
Now Mahal comin' in strong-- Oh! RKO, almost.
It could've been that quick.
[JBL] Jinder's gotta get in something at--
[Tom] Orton's on the hunt!
[Saxton] Jinder is getting guzzled by Randy Orton right now.
This is a lesson by The Viper
and Jinder has got to find a way to regroup
or he won't be in this thing at all.
[Saxton] Jinder just can't be happy being in this match.
Jinder's gotta be able to adjust his game plan
and adjust his game plan now.
[JBL] That maybe the smartest thing that Jinder's done right now.
-[Saxton] Is it really? -[JBL] Yeah. Spoke too soon.
[Saxton] There's no safety zone for Jinder Mahal.
[Tom] Ooh! Into the LED board there along the apron.
[JBL] That's that shoulder right there that Randy's had problems with.
[referee] One!
[Tom] Long history of shoulder injuries for Randy Orton over the years.
And now Mahal tossing Orton back inside the ring.
Into a submission now, here to tie up Randy Orton.
Remember, the title can only change hands inside the ring.
[JBL] Yeah and Jinder's just trying to settle things down right here,
and just get his wits about him again and that is smart.
[Saxton] It doesn't appear to be.
[JBL] Jinder's goin' after that shoulder that he threw
into that LED board as well which is also smart.
-[Tom] Oh! -[JBL] Get overwhelmed
when you get in there with somebody like Randy Orton.
That's what Jinder better avoid right now.
[Tom] Dropkick. Now into the cover for the WWE title.
Out at one.
[Saxton] Jinder does not look overwhelmed anymore.
To his credit, he's managed
to fight off the early flurry from the Champion.
[Tom] And once again, back into the hold here.
Middle of the ring. Randy Orton in trouble early.
Jinder Mahal was able to turn this around.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Saxton] Well, it's a sound strategy if Jinder can keep Orton down.
[Tom] Now Mahal sendin' Orton off the ropes.
And Randy Orton able to counter.
[Saxton] That's a big "If".
[Tom] Now Orton trying to gather himself.
Finding out what Jinder Mahal's got here in this match.
[Mahal groans]
[Saxton] We've seen this before.
Orton pickin' his spots.
[JBL] Like the old Garvin Stomp,
Randy Orton's gonna stomp anything Jinder has…
that has shown itself available.
[Tom] Orton able to slow things down one more time here in this match.
European uppercut.
[Saxton] Just feel the body language of Orton saying,
"You think you can outlast me, Jinder?"
[Tom] Battle of strength there between these two.
Mahal was thinkin' about a backslide. Testin' out the shoulder, perhaps.
Ooh! And with the armbreaker there on the mat.
[Saxton] Now the smile of confidence from Jinder Mahal.
[Tom] Mahal takin' his time and the knee drop right to the chest.
Now Mahal, into the cover here on Orton!
Orton out at two.
We talked about it comin' into this match that if Mahal was gonna have chance,
he's just gonna have to find an opportunity
and he's found one in the shoulder.
[JBL] Mahal is weatherin' that storm, that onslaught from Randy Orton
and finally found a way to turn the tide.
And if not turn the tide, at least slow Randy down.
'Cause that onslaught of Randy, this match is gonna be over quick.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Tom] And Mahal sent out the top rope!
And Randy Orton comin' after the number one contender again.
[JBL] No wasted motion. Randy Orton right behind him. Watch out!
[Saxton] No-no-no!
-Watch it! -[Tom] Oh! God!
[JBL] One thing about it, Jinder can't win the Championship that way.
Randy Orton can certainly retain it.
[Tom] One more time. Oh! Back first into the announce desk.
[JBL] Randy has been absolutely ruthless.
He was ruthless before the match even began.
I think Randy fears that Jinder here is a threat to that Championship
and wants to erase any of that threat
as quickly as possible.
[Saxton] We mentioned it earlier. Orton is taking the threat seriously.
[Tom] And now, Mahal able to turn things around here
on the WWE Champion.
Raining down knees.
[Saxton] Talked so much about
the physical transformation of Jinder Mahal but also,
more importantly, the mental transformation.
Jinder Mahal truly believes he is good enough to be WWE Champion.
[JBL] Sometimes, winning a Championship is just being on a roll.
And Jinder's gotten himself on a roll, the roll of his lifetime.
Now, whether it takes him all the way to that Championship or not,
that's what we're tryin' to find out right now
but he has finally found a way to stop that onslaught of Randy.
[Orton groans]
[Saxton] Identify a target area and punish that target area.
That's exactly what Jinder Mahal is doin'.
[Tom] And right back to the left shoulder.
-You want me to ring that bell? -[Mahal yells]
[Tom] Now Randy Orton tryin' to reach out for the ropes
to break the submission here.
And again brought back into the ring by Jinder Mahal.
[Saxton] Jinder Mahal doin' a good job of understanding
where he is in that ring, where he needs to position Orton.
[JBL] The longer that arm is locked in, that tricep is gonna knot up.
What do you say, Orton?
-Ask him, ref! -[JBL] Randy's gonna start
losin' function in that left arm.
[Tom] Orton's in trouble here.
What do you say, Orton?
[JBL] Jinder's realizin' it doesn't matter what works,
just find somethin' that works and stay with it.
[Tom] Now Orton back up to his feet here. Can he create a little bit of separation
between he and Jinder Mahal.
Mahal perhaps too strong and it's bringing Orton down to the mat.
[Saxton] We've seen a couple times Orton break out of this predicament.
This time, Jinder has it stitched in.
And Orton has been unable to escape.
[JBL] You've gotta give it to Mahal.
He's found one weakness in Randy and he's capitalizing on it.
[Tom] Orton is trying to inch closer and closer.
Trying to use his leg strength there.
[JBL] And Jinder created that weakness in Randy
by driving him into that LED board.
Randy found a way to break that hold.
[Tom] Now Orton into the corner. Jinder Mahal into the post!
Shoulder for a shoulder.
[Mahal groaning]
[Saxton] This is very critical now 'cause this buys Randy some recovery time.
[Tom] Watch this one more time.
Randy Orton able to sidestep Mahal. Into the steel post.
[Saxton] Window of opportunity for the Champion.
Jinder favoring his left shoulder.
Orton's shoulder is hurtin'.
[JBL] One thing we know, all the championships
that Randy Orton has won, he's not gonna make mistakes.
[Orton grunts]
[JBL] Jinder's gonna have to create his opportunity.
[Saxton] Randy Orton about to create a plan of destruction here.
Maybe.
[Tom] We've seen him go to this multiple times in the past.
One of the hallmarks of the Orton family.
Mahal tryna get Randy Orton out of position.
Jinder Mahal-- Ooh! Caught there on the top rope.
Get him down.
[Tom] Randy Orton just too quick. One step ahead there of Jinder Mahal.
Able to slow down the challenger.
One more time. Randy Orton gonna try for it.
-Up to the top turnbuckle here. -[JBL] It's a long way down.
[Tom] Both men up! Both men down!
Superplex!
[Saxton] This could be a game-changing moment for Orton.
You gotta wonder who took the worst of that in the end
but Randy Orton is tryin' to get back up here.
Trying to move, trying to get to a pinning situation.
Shoulders down and Mahal able to kickout.
[JBL] Randy got the cover but couldn't get the leg hook.
Look at this. This is a long way down.
And look at this impact.
[Tom] Ugh. Wow.
[Saxton] Orton sacrificing his own body just to inflict more damage
on Jinder Mahal.
[Orton grunts]
[Tom] Now Mahal exchanging blows here with Randy Orton.
Oh! And again to the left shoulder.
-[Orton yells] -[Tom] Now Randy.
Randy, perhaps, trying to close out Jinder Mahal.
-Has had enough. -[Saxton] Orton's got one good arm…
[Tom] Powerslam!
[JBL] Randy's feelin' it though in that left arm.
[Tom] Every point of impact sending more pain up the shoulder there
of Randy Orton but still, Jinder Mahal is fightin' back here.
Oh, wait a minute. Up in his arms-- Oh! Wow!
A fallaway slam of sorts here.
Now into the cover. Hook to the leg here!
-Orton can't put away Mahal. -[Saxton] Look at that.
Randy couldn't use his left arm to hook that leg of Jinder.
Couldn't get leverage.
[JBL] And because of that, Jinder,
that side of body was what kicked out of that pinning predicament.
[Saxton] Still impressive that Orton has been able to mount
-considerable offense. -[Tom] Ooh! Shot to the throat
from Mahal.
-Oh! -[JBL] Just one good arm.
[Tom] And the neckbreaker there from Mahal.
Hook to the inside leg and Orton still in this match!
Get the injured left shoulder off the mat in the process.
[Saxton] Jinder can't afford to be in disbelief now.
The match is not over. It continues on. Jinder's gotta create
some more offense here against the Champ.
[JBL] You're right. This is the chance of a lifetime
for Jinder Mahal.
Can't afford…
[Tom] Oh! Into a backbreaker.
But again, clutching the left shoulder is Randy Orton.
And Jinder Mahal has crawled outside to the apron.
Outside the ropes.
-[JBL] Smart on Jinder's part. -[Saxton] I-- I don't know. [chuckles]
[JBL] Trying to get away, but the problem is
-Jinder didn't go far enough. -[Saxton] Bad position, Jinder.
[Tom] No good place to be when you're facing the WWE Champion.
[JBL] Vintage Orton.
[Tom] The DDT off of the ropes!
[JBL] And it hurt. Left arm and all is feelin' it now.
When you have the heart of a champion. When you got the heart of Randy Orton,
there is nothin' on God's green Earth that can stop you.
[Saxton] Perhaps contemplating going to that place!
[JBL] Not a hurt shoulder, nothin'. It only takes one.
[Tom] And Mahal knew what was comin'. Rolled out of the ring,
into the safety of the Singh Brothers.
[JBL] Cinderella, The Maharaja has kept the dream alive.
[Saxton] He may not last long. Orton's on the prowl.
[speaking indistinctly]
[Tom] Oh! Look at Randy! Randy's tossin' the Singh brothers around!
Oh, and Jinder Mahal sending Orton shoulder-first into the post!
Mahal hiding behind the Singh Brothers and it pays dividends!
[Saxton] We've seen this countless times. The Singh Brothers
aiding Jinder Mahal in his quest.
[Tom] Tosses Orton back inside the ring.
Oh! RKO! Outta nowhere!
…by Orton, but the shoulder! Mahal across the ring!
[Saxton] Oh, my God! Get the Singh Brothers outta there!
[Tom] What is goin' on? Come on!
[Saxton] That's ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous!
[JBL] That's what they're there for, Byron.
[Saxton] Yeah, the money train to save Jinder Mahal.
[JBL] It's The Modern Day Maharaja! They will do anything for Jinder Mahal.
[Saxton] And they're about to pay for their sins.
-[Tom] This could be bad. -[Saxton] Oh, my God.
[JBL] Randy Orton's gonna…
[Tom] Oh, no-no-no. Oh!
[Saxton] You got a problem? You eliminate that problem.
That's exactly what Orton is doing to the Singh brothers.
[Tom] He's gonna eliminate both of them. Samir and Sunil-- Oh, my God!
Turned inside out by Orton.
[JBL] We got Singh Brothers layin' everywhere out here!
[Saxton] That's how you establish a level playing field.
[Tom] He's not done. Orton's not done.
[JBL] Nice. My hat at least. Thank you, Randy.
He's not gonna be nice to the Singh Brothers.
I can guarantee you that. Randy Orton has had enough.
[Saxton] Brothers wanted to get involved
-they're gettin' it all right. -[Tom] Draggin' Sunil into the ring
and Samir's comin' to help out his brother and it's not gonna help him any.
[Saxton] We got a two-for-one special on tap.
[JBL] We got a double vintage.
-[Saxton] Randy Orton's DDT! -[Tom] Wow. Planted.
-[Saxton] Watch out! Watch out! Watch out! -[Tom] Oh, no-no-no-no.
Oh, the Khallas! Khallas! He got him!
[Saxton] You're kiddin' me! You're kiddin' me!
[bell dings]
[crowd roars]
[announcer] Here is your winner, and the new WWE Champion,
Jinder Mahal!
[Saxton] You've gotta be kiddin' me. You've got to be kidding me.
[JBL] Dreams have come true!
-[Tom] Jinder Mahal is WWE Champion! -[Saxton] Oh, no!
[JBL] My God, hell has frozen over!
He believed he was carrying the dreams of 1.3 billion people!
[Saxton] The WWE fans in Chicago, their jaws have dropped!
[JBL] You've gotta be kiddin' me! The Modern Day Maharaja!
Jinder Mahal…
Listen to this… Jinder Mahal
is the new WWE Champion.
[Saxton] I'm in disbelief! I'm in utter disbelief!
[JBL] Hell's frozen over!
Jinder Mahal just beat one of the greatest of all time
in Randy Orton.
[Tom] And now Mahal's goin' out to the WWE Universe to gloat.
[JBL] Do you blame him? The Modern Day Maharaja!
Get used to it, folks. We are in a new era.
And it is the era of Jinder Mahal.
[Saxton] What does this mean? What does this mean for SmackDown LIVE?
[JBL] What does this mean for WWE?
[Tom] Jinder Mahal has shocked the world.
[JBL] I don't believe this audience can actually believe
that Jinder Mahal is the new WWE Champion.
And Jinder is takin' the whole proverbial victory lap.
Whether it's true or not, Jinder believes the whole world is against him.
And today, that rage in Jinder got retribution.
The Modern Day Maharaja.
[Saxton] Jinder called himself the crown jewel on SmackDown LIVE.
He now has the evidence to back it up.
[cheering]
[Tom] This is a remarkable moment.
This was down on the stretch here on this match.
Randy Orton just snapped. He went off on the Singh Brothers.
Tossed them all over the ringside area here.
[Saxton] He had to! He had to take away the Singh Brothers.
He had to just remove the Singh Brothers from the equation.
And he wasn't done there yet.
[Tom] They both went onto the ring after him,
and Randy Orton was happy to oblige with a pair of DDTs,
but Jinder Mahal would be right behind Randy Orton.
[JBL] The Singhs are there for a reason.
And the reason is to protect The Modern Day Maharaja.
[male announcer] Here is your…
[Saxton] The Singh Brothers ensured that Jinder Mahal
would complete his quest to shock the WWE Universe
and become WWE Champion.
-[JBL] I still can't believe it. -[Tom] I beg of you to find one person
in the WWE Universe--
But before he became number one contender,
Jinder Mahal would eventually become WWE Champion.
[Saxton] Say it again, Tom! Say it again!
Jinder Mahal is the new WWE Champion!
All hail The Modern Day Maharaja!
[Mahal's theme song plays] araja!