[intro music playing]
[narrator] What is Backlash?
A reaction?
A consequence?
Is it retaliation?
Maybe. But tonight…
Backlash is far more.
[commentator] Big changes are coming.
The first co-branded pay-per-view.
RAW and SmackDown LIVE come together.
[narrator] It's a rivalry renewed.
[Samoa Joe] I'll be waiting at Backlash to put The Big Dog to sleep.
Believe that.
I will not be disrespected.
And I'm not leaving my ring.
Nia is the bully here.
Nia just loves to throw her weight around.
[Nia] Alexa Bliss represents everybody who is trying to keep me down.
[Bliss] I will win back my RAW Women's Championship.
[narrator] A consequential return.
[commentator] Daniel Bryan is back.
[commentator 1] Oh, Big Cass!
[Big Cass] The day that I get cleared, guess who also gets cleared?
I am living in the shadow of that little man.
[narrator] Reclaiming one's legacy.
I beat her. I beat Charlotte Flair.
I took my rightful spot at the top of the women's division.
[woman 1] It is much harder to stay on top
than to get to the top.
And you have something of mine.
[narrator] And personal retribution.
[commentator 2] Another low blow to Styles.
[commentator 3] Nakamura has a vendetta against AJ Styles.
He showed his true colors.
Shinsuke's not just an artist, he's a con artist.
[commentator 3] Styles-Nakamura, a no-disqualification WWE title match.
[narrator] Tonight…
witness the best of both worlds.
[man 2] There's a lot to celebrate.
[man 3] Nakamura wants to be WWE Champion by any means necessary.
♪ Champion, I can take a beating I'll rise again ♪
♪ Burning through the jungle ♪
♪ I'll rise again, keep rising up ♪
[narrator] And now, Hulu
and Mattel's Elite Collection Action Figures
present WWE Backlash.
♪ Champion, I can take a beating ♪
♪ I'll rise again Burning through the jungle ♪
[Cole] It's an exciting night as RAW and SmackDown Superstars
join forces for this co-branded pay-per-view event.
You are looking live at a jam-packed Prudential Center
in Newark, New Jersey.
14,724 WWE fans on hand
for Backlash.
[woman] Quiet on the set.
Can we please have quiet on the set?
[man] Awesome!
[The Miz's theme song playing]
♪ Time for you to get down On your knees and pray ♪
♪ Say goodbye to the good old days ♪
♪ They're never coming back Watch your future fade ♪
♪ I came to play I came to play to get my dues paid ♪
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest is for the Intercontinental Championship!
Introducing first, the challenger.
Residing in Hollywood, California, weighing 221 pounds,
The Miz.
[Cole] It is a co-branded bash to kick off this co-branded pay-per-view.
The Miz now part of SmackDown LIVE
with an opportunity to make history tonight.
If The Miz wins, he will become a nine-time Intercontinental Champion
tying the record set by Chris Jericho.
For Monday Night RAW, I'm Michael Cole,
along with Corey Graves and "The Coach" Jonathan Coachman.
Will The Miz make history tonight?
I don't see it happening.
I'm a big believer in The Miz and what he's capable of.
But Seth Rollins might be on the hottest roll
of any WWE Superstar living today.
[Cole] I think you got two guys that you could consider
if their A-game's coming into tonight,
we're gonna see a match that I think, right off the bat,
could absolutely, gentlemen, steal the show.
[Corey] The Miz's rematch was granted the day after WrestleMania,
before Miz went to SmackDown,
in the Superstar Shake-Up.
[Seth Rollins' theme music playing]
♪ Burn it down ♪
[Corey] The Kingslayer.
[announcer] His opponent, from Davenport, Iowa,
weighing 217 pounds,
he is the Intercontinental Champion,
Seth Rollins.
[Cole] Corey said it earlier, perhaps the hottest Superstar
in all of WWE today,
he won a Triple Threat Match.
To win the Championship in WrestleMania,
he retained it in a Ladder Match at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
He beat Finn Bálor this past Monday
to retain the title.
Joining us here tonight at ringside,
our Spanish announce team of Carlos Cabrera and Marcelo Rodriguez.
[speaking Spanish]
[Cole] And our German announce team
of Calvin Knie, Carsten Schaefer, and Tim Haber.
[speaking German]
[Cole] Talking about Seth Rollins,
he's really back to the form where he was two years ago
when he was WWE Champion before his knee injury.
[Corey] I couldn't agree any more. I want to correct something.
Yes, this is a cross-promotional, cross-branded matchup.
Miz represents SmackDown LIVE,
but when it comes to Seth, we're talking about Monday Night Rollins.
[Coach] Let me put this in a way that even The Miz would understand
if he was talking to Seth Rollins.
I like to say that Seth Rollins is much like LeBron James,
one of Miz's favorite athletes.
We expect greatness from him but we never talk about how he gets there,
how he stays there. This guy has got back to the top of the game.
And right now, every single night, guys,
he brings his absolute very best.
[Cole] It doesn't appear The Miz will get help from The Miztourage tonight.
Remember, during the kick-off show, he wanted to get the band back together
of Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas,
but seems like The Miztourage doesn't want anything to do…
[Corey] Dallas and Axel made the biggest mistakes of their careers.
You don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Miz was such a benefactor
to those two for the last few years. Without The Miz, they'd be nothing.
[Coach] I completely disagree. At some time, you got to…
[crowd chanting]
[Corey] The Rock is fired up tonight for Kingslayer Seth Rollins.
[Coach] They are ready to go.
They have got to go on the road just like I think it's a good thing
for The Miz to go on his own now that he's on SmackDown LIVE.
[Cole] Rollins and Miz for the Intercontinental Championship.
The last time a Superstar changed brands
with the Intercontinental Championship in tow
way back in 2002 when Rob Van Dam did it.
Miz trying to do that here tonight.
[Corey] Rollins with a vice grip on the arm of Miz.
Miz forced to grab the bottom rope.
[Coach] We just passed over into the month of May.
If we were to make a vote for the Superstar of the month of April,
I don't think anybody would argue with us if we said it was Seth Rollins.
[Cole] I agree, Coach. As we mentioned before, hottest Superstar in WWE today.
Curious to see how The Miz reacts to all the external forces in his life.
We know Miz recently became a new father, just moved into a beautiful new home
with his beautiful wife Maryse,
but how much of that is gonna take away from Miz's ability in the ring?
Rollins is all WWE all the time right now.
[Corey] The Miz has gotta be careful here, 'cause Rollins has champion's advantage.
[Coach] Those are all real factors.
They absolutely are.
You work your entire career to get to a certain point,
and then when you get those opportunities, it's how you manage them
that is so important in your career inside the ring.
[Corey] The early moments, it doesn't seem like The Miz
has lacked in the killer instinct that's taken him to the top.
Just curious to see, as this match progresses,
how it plays out.
[Cole] Miz has to pin or submit Rollins tonight.
Disqualifications, countouts do not allow him to win the Championship.
[Coach] I was thinking, there's a lot of added pressure
on The Miz here tonight. Here's why.
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh, my Lord.
[Coach] If he is not victorious,
we know how much the Intercontinental Championship means to him.
He won't have another opportunity,
for who knows how long, after tonight.
[Corey] Moments ago, we heard Miz screaming at Seth Rollins,
and it's been a theme for Miz over the past number of weeks.
He believes he is the man who made the Intercontinental Championship
relevant again, and the most prestigious title
in the entire world.
[Corey] I don't think I would argue against The Miz.
The Miz elevated the Championship to a whole another level. I agree.
That said, Seth Rollins has continued to elevate it even higher.
[Cole] You mentioned the Monday Night Rollins.
Rollins launched out to the apron.
[Corey] Right hand to Miz.
And Rollins--
[crowd exclaiming]
[Cole] Caught by Miz, the champ's in trouble.
[Corey] Miz certainly did his homework, Rollins crashed down hard.
And Seth Rollins knew what he was getting into tonight.
He said earlier this week that he never said Miz wasn't a hard worker.
[Cole] He said he's looking forward to going against
one of the best in the world here tonight, defending his Championship.
[Coach] It's great that he's not overlooking The Miz. I would not.
[Corey] Let's take another look at this.
[Cole] Rollins bounced straight off our announce table,
and Rollins stunned.
[Corey] Great ring-awareness by The Miz.
Booting the Kingslayer off of the top rope all the way down.
[Cole] Gave Coach a nasty look as he did that.
[Corey] Drives Rollins kidney-first into the apron.
[Coach] I don't think that was a nasty look.
I think that was Miz taking this night very, very seriously.
And I like it.
[Corey] Miz now, mocking Rollins, full head of steam.
Oh, and right to the face of the champion.
And Miz quickly to the cover to try to win the title.
A leg, and a kick-out at two.
And it's Miz and Rollins, their careers have paralleled each other
in many, many ways. They've both been WWE Champions.
They've both been United States and Intercontinental Champions.
Tag Team Champions. Both won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Both cashed in to win a championship.
[Coach] I was saying about Rollins being Monday Night Rollins.
It's not about being the champion, but it's about a way of life.
It's how he lives his life, it's how he takes his career so incredibly seriously.
Being a champion helps with that lifestyle.
[Cole] Corey, you've known Seth almost his entire career.
That's what it's all about with Seth Rollins.
He wants to be the best.
[Corey] Seth lives with a chip on his shoulder the size of a boulder,
because that is what Seth lives to do.
Prove people wrong, make himself truly amongst the greats.
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry actually went on the record this week
and said Seth is well on his way to becoming an all-time great.
If that's not a good vote of confidence, I don't know what is.
What's changed over the past couple of months for Rollins?
It really seemed like for a while, since the knee injury,
he had a hard time finding his footing. He finally found that again.
[Corey] Rollins was able to refocus. It took some time inside the ring
and outside of the ring.
Seth Rollins was a WWE Champion. He was at the top of the game,
got injured, had it all torn away from him,
and it took a while to recover to keep firing
on the level that he's doing now.
Seth has found his groove again, and he's doing great things.
[Cole] Any great athlete, whether it is in the NBA,
NFL, Major League Baseball, whatever it is--
[Corey] Looking to steal one here. Miz in two.
[Coach] When you have a significant injury,
it takes a while to have that confidence--
-[Corey] Face first. -[Coach] This could be it.
[Cole] For the title. To tie Jericho's record.
Oh, Rollins at two. A near-fall for The Miz.
[Corey] Seth Rollins dodged a bullet right there for sure.
[Coach] Wouldn't you agree that whenever you hurt your knee,
and it's a serious knee injury,
that's probably the hardest injury to overcome in the ring.
[Corey] It absolutely could be.
The knees are the base for everything that happens inside of the ring.
Rollins knows that, but it just took him a while
despite being medically healthy, psychologically it took some time.
But I think Seth's right where he wants to be again.
[Coach] You have to take chances.
You gotta take chances physically, emotionally, mentally,
and in order to do that, you have to have complete confidence in your body
and what it's able to do.
[Cole] What a great acquisition for SmackDown LIVE
when Miz came over to that brand and a Superstar Shake-up…
Sorry, we lost him on Monday nights, but…
[Corey] I still have him on Tuesdays, it's okay.
[Cole] Miz now launching himself right to the back of the neck of Rollins.
[Coach] I've never seen this intensity for an extended period of time
like we're seeing from The Miz right now.
[crowd exclaiming]
[Corey] Right now,
Miz is contradicting your exact statement, Coach.
Miz is intense, but he's wasting valuable time.
You can't lollygag when you're dealing with Rollins.
[Cole] To your point, Corey, Seth able to block him out
coming right at the challenger.
[Corey] Miz telegraphed it-- He's made him pay.
Face first.
Been a grueling schedule
for the champion Rollins since WrestleMania.
He won the Championship at WrestleMania.
RAW Superstars headed to South Africa,
came back to the States, went over to Saudi Arabia,
headed up to Canada,
now here tonight with another pay-per-view event.
All along the way, Rollins has kept the Championship.
[Coach] I don't think I've seen a schedule more brutal.
-[Corey] Oh. -[Coach] Wow. Than the last 18 days or so
have been… for all these WWE Superstars.
[Corey] Now Rollins pulls himself back up in the corner.
Miz has been stunned.
There's no rest for the weary. Everyone's headed to the United Kingdom
-after this week. -Two-week European tour on the way.
And Rollins lands on his feet.
Oh, there's the Sling Blade by Seth.
[Coach] My one word for this hour is anticipation.
-We're starting-- -Miz sent over the top rope!
[Coach] We're starting to see the anticipation
that as an athlete,
an elite athlete,
Seth Rollins is starting to truly have.
[Corey] Rollins got the devil in his eye.
The adrenaline is pumping.
Rollins with a suicide dive.
[Coach] And you notice how he landed on his feet.
His body is in elite shape, elite condition.
Amazing.
[Corey] The Architect in control
of the challenger, The Miz,
for the Intercontinental Championship,
a title held by more than a dozen WWE Hall of Famers over the years.
Rollins, top rope. Miz caught him. Looking for the Skull-Crushing Finale.
Rollins here for the kill.
Holds him up, shoulders down, almost had him.
[Cole] Rollins got the boot up just in time.
The challenger staggered. Blockbuster.
Rollins again into the cover to retain the Championship at Backlash.
Kick-out by SmackDown's Miz.
[Coach] We've seen these two have incredible matches
over the last couple of months.
But tonight, I think we're seeing two guys that are in peak physical condition
in their physical bodies, but also upstairs.
[Cole] Rollins trying to figure out what he needs to do
to put The Miz away.
The Architect stalking the A-lister. We told you earlier tonight,
the tremendous amount of respect that Rollins has for Miz
and what he has accomplished in WWE.
The elbow caught Seth right on the nose.
And Miz looking for the Figure Four Leglock.
And Rollins fighting out of it.
[Corey] Seth at the outside. Boom, big right hand from Rollins.
There goes Miz off the flying clothesline.
[crowd cheering]
[Coach] Seth is starting to feel it.
[Corey] Seth Rollins surveying the scene here at Newark.
Getting himself fired up.
-[Cole] Great evasion by The Miz. -[Corey] Face first.
Rollins goes off the apron, and now Miz takes over.
But he's got to get Rollins back into the ring
to win the Championship.
[Cole] Absolutely right. More importantly, The Miz needs to regain his bearings.
A desperation move that paid off big time,
but the challenger needs to capitalize.
[crowd yelling indistinctly]
Two!
[Corey] In a very physical and grueling match for these Superstars
to kick off Backlash tonight.
[Cole] Miz slowly taking his time to the top rope,
caught by Rollins.
Wow. What power! Incredible.
You don't think of Seth Rollins with power, but he gave you some there!
[Corey] Cover to retain--
Kick-out by Miz.
We talk about it all the time. Pound for pound, Seth Rollins might be
the strongest Superstar in WWE.
But he can also take to the skies.
[Coach] Certainly has. His athleticism is all the way back.
[Cole] Five to a player. Miz is three-quarters away--
And Rollins with a splash. Caught him, hooks the leg.
Almost had him, and Miz kicks out.
I wish everybody could see the angle that we just got to see.
[Corey] I can tell you, The Miz wants this match,
wants his Championship back,
but Seth Rollins will go through hell to not give it up.
Rollins soaring through the skies. Look at the height…
[Cole] Look at the distance, Corey.
[Corey] This is incredible athleticism and incredible impact
that the Intercontinental Champion connects.
[Coach] I think that shows to your point, Corey.
[Corey] Respect shown by the WWE Universe tonight
as #WWEBacklash trends number one in the world.
[Coach] How far Seth Rollins is willing to go
to maintain the Intercontinental Championship.
If things don't change quick,
it seems like The Miz may suffer himself a blackout here in New Jersey.
[Cole] Miz doesn't know where he's at.
Trying to make it back to his feet.
[Corey] Rollins is looking for the stomp.
-I knew it. I knew it. -[Cole] Out of harm's way.
[Corey] Miz was playing possum the whole time.
I knew it. I could see it in Miz's eyes.
And Rollins now pursuing Miz.
He wants to pin The Miz here tonight to retain the title.
Miz misses wildly.
Rollins sends him over the top rope.
[Coach] That's not gonna help him get his--
[Cole] Just 'cause you're outside
doesn't mean you're safe when Rollins is around.
Miz with the left hand.
[Coach] What a shot.
[Corey] The champion got overzealous, and The Miz made him pay.
[Cole] Now can he capitalize though?
[Corey] Can Miz capitalize on this moment and this opportunity?
You see Miz still favoring his ribs, the result of that magnificent frog splash
from Rollins.
The challenger now trying to drag the champion into position.
No way. No.
[Cole] Went for a DDT on the apron, Seth able to block.
Runs into a boot side of the face.
Precarious situation out here on the apron.
[both grunting]
[Corey] Rollins answers with some wicked rights.
-[Coach] I knew-- -[Cole] Wait, wait.
[crowd exclaiming]
[Cole] No, no, no, no.
[Corey] Oh, no. We talked about Seth's knee injury.
And how he's battled back from it. Now Miz went right for the knee.
Setting up for a Figure-Four Leglock.
And Miz has got him locked in. Seth, center of the ring.
Seth's got nowhere to go. Is Seth gonna tap to the Figure-Four?
[Cole] Turn off the radio, turn out the lights.
This one's over.
[Coach] There is nowhere for Seth to go.
[Corey] Seth Rollins hit the post, a horrific crash to the knee.
And now trying to make it to a rope.
To break the Figure-Four.
[Cole] The Miz is about to make history.
Miz about to tie Chris Jericho for most Intercontinental Championship reigns
if he gets Rollins to tap.
[Coach] Look at the eyes of Miz.
Wow.
Look at that.
[Corey] Look at the eyes of Rollins.
A rebellious Seth Rollins.
How can Rollins withstand that much pain.
[Cole] Try to reverse the pressure and get Miz on his belly.
If he does that, the pressure is reversed. Rollins trying to fight through,
can he get there? And he does.
And the champion now has control.
[Coach] Now Miz needs to get to the rope.
[Cole] Miz screaming in agony.
[Corey] The challenger could feel his opportunity
slipping through his fingertips.
What guts by Rollins.
Digging down deep.
What's Miz gonna do here?
[Cole] Miz has nowhere to go. Miz is gonna have to tap.
[Corey] Look at the angle Rollins is in.
He's got the push-up position, all the pressure on the leg of The Miz.
[Cole] And now Miz reverses it.
And Rollins makes it to the bottom rope. Miz has to break.
He's gotta break here to have an opportunity for the title.
[Corey] Both Superstars tied up in a knot.
Let us show you what started that entire sequence.
Listen to this.
-[thuds] -[commentators exclaim]
[Corey] Rollins was looking for the revolution knee,
but instead found the top turnbuckle.
After several, almost a minute spent in the Figure-Four Leglock,
Rollins's knee has to be badly damaged.
But then again, so does Miz.
[Coach] We were talking about the confidence in that knee.
When you have a shot like that, that can take that confidence
immediately away.
[Cole] Destroy your kneecap with ease, sure.
And The Miz very wisely, once again--
[Corey] But Rollins able to counter this time.
And there's a chop.
Both of these Superstars at about half speed right now
after everything that they've endured.
[crowd exclaiming]
[Corey] It's going to come down to who has more left in the gas tank,
who can reach deep enough into their bag of tricks to topple the other.
[Cole] Again for the knee. Miz went right to the injured knee.
A Skull-Crushing Finale countered by the champion.
-[Seth screaming] -[Cole] Right, you heard that.
Kick to the face by Miz.
The Miz… The step up by Rollins.
The vacant look in the challenger's eyes right now.
But wait a minute. Miz looking for the Skull-Crushing Finale again.
[Corey] Great counter by The Miz. But the knee… The knee gave out.
Rollins's knee gave out.
Skull-Crushing Finale for the title.
Punched away, Rollins kicks out again.
Unbelievable.
[Cole] Rollins's bad knee gave out and allowed Miz to hook up
for the Skull-Crushing Finale.
[Coach] And how many more times can Seth get to his feet
and stay on his feet?
[Corey] Look at this enzuigiri from Rollins.
-Right on the ear. -Boom, to the back of the neck.
Or the ear.
[Corey] Miz was… The entire foot collided.
[Cole] And watch this.
Rollins able to break out of this.
But right there, Rollins's knee gave out and allowed Miz to cover, Corey.
[Corey] Miz plants Rollins with a Skull-Crushing Finale
but somehow, some way,
The Architect fights through.
But Rollins's knee is shot, guys.
Seth can't even make it back to his feet.
[Coach] You said to Miz, "Take something out of the ordinary."
'Cause they both know each other so well,
and it might be an injury that's out of the ordinary to allow Miz
to regain the Intercontinental Championship.
[Corey] Looks like, right now,
The Miz might start breaking into his greatest hits.
And Miz still suffering the effects of the reversal
of the Figure-Four by Rollins.
Gingerly making his way to the top rope.
[Cole] You took the word right out of my mouth. "Gingerly."
Oh. Rollins getting payoff.
The A-lister took too much time, and Rollins made him pay.
[Coach] Miz isn't exactly known as a high-flyer.
So I'm questioning why he would go to the top rope.
[Corey] After what Miz has been through, he knows
you gotta do something special,
you gotta pull something different out of your bag.
Rollins could be thinking about this breathtaking superplex
we've seen so many times.
[Cole] The Miz able to block.
Couple of rights to the mid-section.
Look at the welt on The Miz's--
-Right to the knee again. -[Coach] So smart.
[Cole] The welt on The Miz's thigh.
[Corey] The size of a grapefruit. But look at Rollins.
Cat-like agility.
-Superplex. -[Cole] Goes through.
[Corey] Here it comes.
[Cole] Wait for the-- Knee gave out again.
[Corey] Another Skull-Crushing Finale…
-[Cole] Rollins survives two. -[Corey] …to make history tonight
-at Backlash. -[Cole] Rollins kicks out again.
-Can you believe it? -[Corey] Unreal.
[Cole] Seth Rollins is battling through this match
on one leg.
-[screams] -[Coach] These 14,000-plus fans,
they all thought that this thing was over.
[Corey] What you're seeing from Rollins isn't technique,
it's guts, it's real.
It is heart! For the fourth time in this match,
Rollins's knee gave out.
And it allowed Miz to capitalize.
But for the second time,
Rollins able to kick out of a Skull-Crushing Finale.
[crowd exclaiming]
What a match.
Both these Superstars at the absolute top level of their game.
[Cole] Yeah, but The Miz needs to prove tonight
that he deserves to be Intercontinental Champion.
The Miz will not be deterred.
Rollins keeps fighting through, but The Miz has an answer for everything.
[Coach] Sometimes you ease into a show, sometimes, guys.
We haven't eased into anything.
-[Corey] Jumped right in with both feet. -[Coach] That's right.
[Cole] Rollins…
still having issues with his right knee.
[Corey] I don't know if Rollins is fully conscious
after two Skull-Crushing Finales. The lights are on, but nobody's home.
[Cole] Miz has been through a battle here tonight as well.
His legs, we saw him favoring his lower back.
What is Miz thinking here as he places Rollins up on the top rope?
[Coach] We know how Seth likes to try and end his opponents.
How is he going to do that with a bad right knee?
[Corey] You said the word "thinking"…
[Cole] I can only imagine what he's trying to do here.
From the second rope.
Miz, is he looking for the Skull-Crushing Finale from the second rope?
[Corey] Miz is thinking about the Intercontinental Championship,
about putting his name in the history books.
Rollins able to fight out of it.
What about the guts of Rollins here tonight?
[Cole] It can't be overstated,
Seth Rollins has earned every ounce of this match.
[Corey] From the second rope. Miz is in trouble. Rollins…
Went for the stomp. Landed on the bad knee.
Miz rolls through. Rollins reverses. Shoulders down.
Miz now looking for the title. Stomp by Rollins.
But can Rollins cover?
Torn apart the right knee. Crawls to the cover.
-Hooks the leg. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-Monday Night Rollins does it again. -[bell dinging]
[announcer] Here is your winner, and still the Intercontinental Champion,
Seth Rollins!
[Corey] What an incredible match to kick off Backlash.
[Coach] He only had a couple of seconds, we wondered how he would pull it off,
and, guys, he had one chance. He took that one chance
and was able to deliver and beat The Miz.
[Cole] Traditionally, the Intercontinental Championship has proudly been referred to
as the workhorse championship in WWE.
The Miz, as champion, took the Championship to a whole new level
and tonight, he was part of Seth Rollins propelling the Intercontinental title
into the stratosphere.
Both of these Superstars let it all out tonight.
Rollins and Miz at the top of their game.
Both of these men deserve a standing ovation.
Let's take a look back at some of the incredible moments.
Rollins connects with a superplex, looking for the Falcon Arrow.
But The Miz, as usual, one step ahead.
Plants the champion with a Skull-Crushing Finale.
[Coach] Well, guys, you mentioned being on Monday Night RAW.
That's what I'm worried about right now.
Look at this, one more time.
He continued to abuse that right knee to try to beat The Miz.
Ultimately, after a couple of roll-ups,
he was able to get it done.
But, guys, you have to wonder, how serious is that knee injury?
[Cole] You don't need to wonder, you don't need to worry
because as long as there's one good leg, and one good breath
left in the lungs of Seth Rollins, he will fight on,
which is why he is still Intercontinental Champion.
[Corey] There is not a Superstar in WWE today who is as hot as Seth Rollins.
Still your Intercontinental Champion.
[Cole] Take another look at this. From way up high,
right on the back of Miz's neck. Face first,
I hope there's a good plastic surgeon in Miz's Rolodex.
Because I think the face might have been shattered,
an orbital bone or something, but tonight will forever be remembered
as the night in Newark that Rollins went nuclear.
Fight like a champion!
Win like a champion!
All I can say is good luck to all the other Superstars tonight.
How hot, guys, is Seth Rollins?
Guys, I'm still trying to catch my breath.
Unbelievable way to start Backlash, and we are just getting started.
Seth has been saying it for over a year that he wanted to get back
to the top of the game. I think it's safe to say, guys,
after what we saw tonight and the last month,
Seth is right at the top of the game.
Coming up next, Nia Jax looks to become
one of the most dominant champions in history.
The irresistible force Nia Jax defends against
the woman she beat at WrestleMania,
Alexa Bliss.
A woman Nia Jax once believed was her best friend.
[Nia] I trusted Alexa. I thought she was my best friend.
[Bliss] You're strong, you're beautiful.
[Nia] I love you too, Bliss.
[Bliss] Nia's like watching freaking Shrek, dumb as she is big.
[Nia] You're an insecure little girl.
And at WrestleMania, I'm gonna squash you like a bug.
[Cole] Bliss has good backup in this match.
[Corey] Wow. Nia Jax is blasting through Mickie James.
One way to eliminate a problem.
Tonight, there's nowhere to run, there's nowhere to hide.
Bliss has temporarily blinded Nia.
Once again, mocking Nia.
[Corey exclaims]
[both screaming]
[Corey] Nia's gonna dispatch of The Goddess once and for all.
[soft music playing]
[Corey] Nia Jax has done it.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] For anybody that's ever been body-shamed,
that has ever been told that you're not good enough,
Nia is proud of who she is,
and aims to be a role model for people around the world
to accept who they are.
Love who I am.
Strong, confident, different.
Nia is the bully here.
Nia just loves to throw her weight around.
It's about time you guys heard the truth about your beloved Nia.
You never know when a bully will strike.
I should know, because it happened to me.
I was visiting Walt Disney World with the person who I thought
was my best friend,
but Nia spent the entire day making fun of my height
and asking the park employees if I was tall enough for the adult rides.
When this sweet, old homeless lady approached us,
Nia ripped the food away from this poor, old woman
and just gobbled it all down right in front of her.
I can still see her...
turkey leg in each hand,
just laughing and laughing.
Nia turned the happiest place on Earth
into the saddest day ever.
Bullies thrive on silence.
If you see someone being a bully,
speak up.
Shut up, Alexa.
I have a little public service announcement of my own.
Mocking Nia Jax is bad for your health.
Alexa loves to twist words, right? I am the bully now.
But you know what? Those words did not help her in the ring.
Freaking Shrek. Dumb. Total loser.
I'm Nia Jax.
I don't take this [bleep].
I'm different, yes. And I am big. But I love who I am.
I wanna make sure that young girls and boys can see themselves on TV,
can see me as a champ.
[Corey] Alexa cares about one thing in the world.
[Bliss] I will win back my RAW Women's Championship.
I won't let the bully win.
[Nia] Alexa Bliss represents everybody who is trying to keep me down.
This is something that I shouldn't feel sorry for.
[screams]
I can't let Alexa define me.
[Alexa Bliss' theme music playing]
[Cole] You know, I never quite get used to seeing
The Goddess Alexa Bliss without a women's championship of some sort.
It just feels weird and wrong.
Like seeing Cersei without the crown.
Nia Jax took the Championship from Alexa Bliss
back at WrestleMania. Bliss vows revenge here tonight.
[Coach] You can tell from the look on her face
that she is all business,
she means business,
and wants to leave here the women's champ from RAW.
[Cole] And WWE Backlash is presented by Hulu,
enjoy live TV and the largest streaming library.
It's all on Hulu.
Start your free trial today.
And buy Mattel's Elite Collection Action Figures.
Make your collection elite.
[Corey] I just hope, for her own health and well-being,
that Alexa Bliss knows exactly what she has gotten herself into.
She has done nothing but incite Nia Jax for the past several weeks.
I hope this is all psychological warfare.
And not just an excuse to get beaten down.
[Coach] Doesn't it tell you that she's gotta have
something up her sleeve tonight?
With everything that she has done and said
over the course of the last several weeks.
[Corey] I'm wondering if it was all a ploy to get under the skin of Nia Jax.
We've seen how highly emotional Nia has been in the past.
Usually as a result of Alexa Bliss' work.
[Cole] This could be a very well laid out ploy by Bliss.
What does Nia Jax think of these, quote, "public service announcements"?
She calls them lies.
She says that Alexa is nothing but a delusional challenger.
Nia makes no bones about it. She trusted Alexa Bliss at one time.
Genuinely loved her, in her words.
And now the fact that Alexa has betrayed her
hurts Nia more than anything in the world.
[bell dings]
The following contest is for the RAW Women's Championship.
Introducing first, the challenger from Columbus, Ohio,
-Alexa Bliss. -[crowd booing]
Shut up!
Her opponent, from San Diego, California, weighing 272 pounds,
she is the RAW Women's Champion,
-Nia Jax! -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Corey, how does Alexa Bliss counter the power game of Nia Jax tonight?
[Corey] I think most of the work Bliss could have done
should have already been done.
It needed to be done in the lead-up to this matchup.
We know, physically speaking,
Alexa Bliss is no matchup for Nia Jax.
It has to be a psychological advantage which had to have already begun.
[Coach] Cole, on the flip side of things, if you're looking at Nia Jax,
we all love the fact that she is the Women's Champion,
what she stands for. The message--
-[Corey] Alexa went to the knee. -Great strategy by Bliss.
Bring Nia down, and now perhaps looking for a sleeper
on Nia, who slings her away.
[Coach] The only way, in my opinion, that she could get beat tonight
is if she does let her emotions get the best of her.
[Corey] Right now, Bliss doing a great job trying to trap down Nia Jax.
Now back into a sleeper hold on the Champion.
Remember, you win the title via pinfall or submission.
Not so sure if Bliss didn't go for the eyes for a second there.
I don't know if the referee's view was obstructed.
Alexa was trying to use her quickness and now the irresistible force
Nia Jax takes over.
[Corey] This is what the Goddess had to avoid.
Oh, no.
-[Coach] Do you think there's-- -[Cole exclaims]
[Coach] I guess I answered my own question.
Any hesitation when Nia looks at her former best friend.
[Corey] What a peel across the ring off the splash by Nia.
The irresistible force just crushing--
And another peel. It looks like there's no sympathy at all
from the champion.
[Coach] Alexa needs to take a little break,
regroup, collect herself.
[Cole] This is the risk that Alexa's game plan ran.
You incite Nia Jax, and maybe you throw her off her game.
Or Nia is able to focus and become even more dangerous
and more physical than usual.
-[Bliss] Hold on! -[Nia] Get in here.
Three.
[Coach] We talk about game plans all the time.
Everybody doesn't have one.
Once again, Bliss going low on Jax.
[Cole] Oh, man.
Big-time kick from the challenger.
[Coach] And got her off her feet.
[Cole] And Nia's down. And Bliss now looking for the cover.
Can she win the championship for a fifth time?
And Nia kicks out.
[Coach] Here's where she needs to get up. Stay quick,
keep her off her feet, you don't want to let Nia stand back up.
[Cole] Agree with you, Coach. Bliss needs to keep her foot
on the gas pedal right now. This is smart, utilize the referee's
five count.
Careful not to get disqualified.
-[Cole] Exactly. -[indistinct conversation]
[Corey] One thing we've learned about Alexa over the years,
she is definitely resilient.
She definitely finds a way to win.
[referee] Two!
[Coach] To me, it's pretty easy to see
through all of the moments of Bliss,
and all of the mind games, she loves being the champ.
She wants desperately to, once again, be the champ.
You're a bully!
[Corey] Oh, my goodness. Jax, face first into the ring apron.
Give up!
[Corey laughs] Ow.
Disrespect from the challenger.
-[Coach] Trash and the slap. -[Cole] And Nia is in trouble.
She has not been able to get into a groove at all in this match.
And it has been Bliss as she continues the attack.
[Cole] Honestly, I'm a little surprised that Bliss has been this dominant
to this point. Oh, man, now Alexa is getting confident.
Bullies never win, Nia.
[Cole] She should be on the attack-- Uh-oh. Trash talking Nia Jax.
-[Coach] Incoming. -[Cole] Nia back to her feet.
[Coach] Mistake.
[Cole] Bliss knows she's in trouble. That's dangerous territory.
Oh! Nia just--
[Coach] I'm all about somebody
being confident and talking a little trash here and there,
but when you are severely undersized,
like Alexa Bliss is,
you can't… you don't have time to do that.
[Cole] She went for the rolling senton
and Alexa rolled out of the way.
And now Bliss with an opportunity.
[Cole] Bliss with an opportunity to recover.
Whether or not she can capitalize remains to be seen.
But here it comes again, another flurry from little Miss Bliss.
[Coach] And keep Nia here, off her feet.
I know.
[Cole] Is this the pace that Alexa was looking for?
You're pathetic!
All right, now Alexa's in complete control.
Has been for the majority of this match,
so I have to say yes, it has been.
[Coach] I would say no, she wants to speed it up.
She wants to really keep the pace at a fever pitch.
[Corey] And Nia trying to fight back now.
Back to her feet. Catches Bliss in midair.
And now Nia looks to turn into the power game.
This is what the irresistible force is all about. Game-changing power.
Looking for the Samoan Drop. Wait a minute.
This is what she did at WrestleMania, right?
[Cole] This very maneuver.
If Jax hits it, it's what won the Women's Championship in New Orleans!
[Corey] Yeah, but Bliss is able to counter it somehow.
Get out of that predicament.
[Coach] Look at this.
What are you doing?
[Corey] Look at Bliss now.
[Cole] Bliss just hanging on with everything she has.
[Corey] Trying to wear Nia down,
but again, Nia just lifting Bliss out of the corner,
and now Nia could be in trouble.
[Cole] Bliss has a front facelock applied.
I can't see if her hands are locked, if it's finished, but…
[Corey] Nia drives Bliss into the corner.
That's one way to break it.
[Coach] It's clear to see what the game plan is. Keep her off her feet,
but also, try and submit Nia Jax.
[Corey] I don't know if you're gonna submit Nia Jax.
I think Bliss is just trying to cut off the blood flow, cut off the oxygen
to the much larger Jax.
Oh, my Lord. Bliss may be out.
Whipping Bliss halfway across the ring.
[Coach] I agree with you. There has been a lot more damage done
by Alexa than I anticipated coming into this match.
[Corey] Take another look at the power of Nia Jax.
Like a standing iconoclasm launching the challenger halfway across the ring.
[Cole laughs]
-Oh, my Lord. Wicked clothesline. -[Corey] Nia just brutalizing Bliss.
[Bliss screams]
[Cole] Jax just looks irritated at this point.
She's got a second win like the adrenaline started to flow.
Look out. She's throwing Bliss all over the ring.
And another wicked peel.
Nia just ragdolling Alexa Bliss.
[Coach] Now this is the pace that Nia Jax wants.
[Cole] Oh, my God.
No remorse at all for Nia.
Nia's gotta feel like a wounded animal.
She's been disrespected, she's been made fun of, made to feel less than
by Alexa Bliss.
[Coach] It's hard to believe they used to be best friends.
These two in the ring now.
[Cole] It's all boiling over right now for Nia Jax.
Nia looking to go up.
Climbing now to the second rope.
-Bliss though-- -[Coach] Oh, my God.
[Cole] Dumped over the top rope, she hit the apron hard.
And down to the floor.
But now this is the dilemma for Alexa, guys.
Alexa must get Nia back in the ring
to have an opportunity to win the Championship.
[Corey] Absolutely right. Champion's advantage in effect
but, man, how much damage did Nia just suffer
at the hands of the challenger right now? Look at the fall.
Bouncing her hip right off of the apron.
That was a desperate move by Alexa Bliss.
But will it cost her as the referee now begins the count
at a count of four?
[Cole] Bliss is aware of the situation.
She knows, somehow, she needs to get Jax in the ring.
[referee] Four.
[Coach] She's lucky her head did not hit the steps.
[referee] Two.
[Corey] Meanwhile, Bliss gonna continue the attack outside the ring.
Oh! Face first! Nia off the steps!
And now the vicious side of Alexa Bliss.
[Coach] She must have heard me say that.
[Cole] The mean-spirited challenger.
[referee] One.
[Cole] But now, can Alexa get Nia into the ring?
[Corey] Alexa has got to somehow try to get the champion back
into the ring. It's the only way she can win the title.
Via pinfall of submission.
[Coach] And not that Nia wants to win this way, but if she just lays there,
and gets counted out, she's still the champ.
[Cole] I don't think Nia has a clue where she is, Coach.
-That's the problem. -[Corey] You're right.
The facts are the facts, but I think Nia wants to prove
-Alexa Bliss to be-- -[Cole] Wait.
Alexa Bliss begging with the official saying, "I have no way to get Nia back
in the ring. Just stop the count."
-One! -[Corey] Bliss going back in the ring,
it forced the official to start the count from one again.
[Cole] It's not a bad decision on behalf of Bliss.
She has a few moments to now try once again to get Nia in,
but also, did Nia have a few seconds to recover?
Absolutely, she did.
-Five! -[Cole] Down to five now,
and Jax now willingly getting herself in the ring
-as best she can but-- -Here comes Bliss.
[Corey] Into the cover, looking to win the RAW Women's Championship.
Oh, but Nia kicks out at two, a near-fall!
[Cole] Temper tantrum being throw by Bliss.
[Corey] This is what Alexa can't have right now.
-She can't do this. -[Coach] It's a waste of energy.
It's a waste of time. It's a waste of a lot of things.
[Bliss grunting]
[Coach] This is what she needs to be doing.
[Cole] Uh-oh. Off the ropes, up goes Bliss.
And now Nia has her where she wants her.
[Corey] She's gonna flatten The Goddess again.
Nia looking to climb to the second rope.
Alexa Bliss, though, lands on her feet. Now, what's she trying to do?
There's no way--
Jax just too powerful.
Bliss right to the hamstring. Nia hit hard.
-Down goes Jax. -[Corey] It could be Bliss' opportunity
to regain her Championship tonight.
And Nia at two.
[Coach] If Alexa Bliss wins tonight,
I will say this is one of the greatest Championship wins
in the history of the women's title.
[Corey] I agree, 'cause Alexa's been behind the eight ball
since the start of this matchup.
Bliss now once again with a few moments to re-plan her game.
Needs to stay on the gas.
Kicking Nia's knee out from underneath her.
Jax crashes down, and we nearly had a new RAW Women's Champion.
[Coach] I love the fact, like any great team… Oh!
[Cole] Oh! Did you see Jax face first into the turnbuckle?
[Corey] And Bliss has just been relentless with her attacks here on Nia.
[Coach] That's a great distribution, like any great team, any great athlete…
Sticking to your game plan, seeing it through,
and that's exactly what Alexa Bliss has done.
[Corey] And Bliss to the top rope.
Looking for Twisted Bliss perhaps.
-[Coach] There it is. -[Corey] Nia caught her!
Nia caught Alexa!
Oh, no. Oh, no.
Samoan Drop there connecting.
-Nia covers. -One! Two! Three!
-[Corey] Nia retains the title! -[bell dings]
[announcer] Here's your winner.
And still the RAW Women's Champion,
Nia Jax!
[Corey] Alexa Bliss brought her A-game tonight,
but it incensed "Irresistible Force" Nia Jax.
Just too overwhelming for The Goddess.
[Coach] I'll give Alexa a lot of credit.
She knew she had to go to the high-rent district in order
to try to get Nia Jax down one more time.
It didn't pay off, Nia caught her.
Ultimately, she was too much.
[Cole] It's a hard-fought victory here tonight for Nia.
A trip from the high-rent district
that Bliss certainly did not enjoy,
courtesy of Nia Jax.
Launching the challenger halfway across the ring,
but Alexa would come back.
Jax was setting up for something big.
Alexa capitalized, and sent the champion crashing down.
And listen to this.
DDT to the steel steps.
And we thought Alexa was gonna regain her title.
[Corey] Bliss looking for the home run, to end the thing, the walk off.
But is picked out of midair by Nia Jax.
Who would deliver a thunderous Samoan Drop.
And would be leaving Backlash as your RAW Women's Champion.
[bell dings]
Nia, congratulations.
What does this victory mean to you?
It means… It means everything.
It means Alexa's moment of bliss is over.
This victory is for anyone who's ever felt less than.
Never… That they never felt good enough.
You know? This…
This is for everyone who's been bullied.
For everyone who's being bullied.
In school,
at work, or on social media.
You're not alone.
And it's okay to be different.
Who wants to be ordinary?
Be extraordinary.
Your uniqueness is what makes you special.
And that is beautiful.
And you are good enough.
You should never change for a friend, for a boyfriend,
or anyone.
I make no apologies for who I am.
This is me!
[crowd cheering]
So you…
you be who you are,
be a star.
And remember,
in the end,
a bully always gets their ass kicked.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Nia Jax echoing the sentiments of the WWE's Be a STAR campaign,
the anti-bullying initiative to show tolerance and respect,
since 2011.
WWE has held over 150 anti-bullying rallies.
Be a STAR's curriculum is available
to over 4,200 Boys and Girls Clubs across the United States.
And Be a STAR has really helped over thousands and thousands
of students in schools around the world.
Congratulations, tonight, to Nia Jax.
Poor Alexa.
[crowd cheering]
[man] Exclusively on WWE Network…
[Bruce] I'm gonna talk about the things they told me, "You can't talk about that."
This week, it is all about the Million Dollar Man.
-[laughs] -Ted DiBiase.
He not only could make people do things for money,
but also own people.
"Everybody's got a price."
[laughs]
[man] Something Else to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard.
New episode this Wednesday on demand.
Exclusively on WWE Network.
[Corey] WWE Backlash is live tonight at The Rock,
The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey,
jam-packed tonight with 14,724 WWE fans
on hand.
Of course, WWE Backlash is a co-branded pay-per-view,
which means rivalries among the stars of SmackDown and RAW
will continue here tonight as will the stories, including a story
that took centerstage nine nights ago at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
Roman Reigns challenged the Universal Champion Brock Lesnar
in a Steel Cage Match for the title.
Now, it's very important you remember the rules
of a Steel Cage Match, 'cause they will come into play.
You win via pinfall, submission or escape
with both feet hitting the floor.
This is why Roman Reigns claims that he's the uncrowned champion
because his feet hit the floor first.
[Corey] Well, the spear was dangerous.
Due to the harrowing experience of Roman driving Brock through the cage,
the referee just got swept away in the emotion of the situation.
Now, being concerned for the health of both Superstars,
referee Chad Patton simply made a mistake
and would name Brock Lesnar the winner of the match and Universal Champion.
Now, later, the error would be discovered and the referee would apologize,
but RAW general manager has stated
that the referee's decision during that event
is final, and Brock Lesnar is the Universal Champion.
[Cole] We've yet to hear from Team Brock in this matter.
But one Superstar who has been extremely outspoken,
Roman Reigns' opponent tonight, Samoa Joe.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Samoa Joe.
[crowd cheering]
Joe, after the brutal beatings Roman suffered at the hands
of Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania,
and the Greatest Royal Rumble,
do you think that Roman is rattled heading into your match tonight?
Rattled?
No, you don't seem to understand.
Rattled is not a strong enough word. This is a man who's lost his confidence.
He's lost a little bit of speed,
a little bit of power, and a whole lot of determination.
But most importantly, tonight, he is a man who loses to me.
[crowd cheering]
And you're asking the wrong questions.
You're asking me how Roman Reigns feels. You should ask how I want him to feel.
And tonight, he will feel pain!
Tonight…
Roman Reigns will close his eyes,
and every time he does, he will see my face
and he will lament all his failures.
The Big Dog, tonight, I turn the Big Dog into a whimpering puppy.
[crowd cheering]
♪ I hear voices in my head ♪
♪ They counsel me, they understand ♪
♪ They talk to me ♪
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the United States Championship.
Introducing the challenger from St. Louis, Missouri,
weighing in at 250 pounds,
"The Viper" Randy Orton!
WWE Backlash is a co-branded pay-per-view
so with that, the first opportunity for the roster of SmackDown LIVE.
Tom Phillips joined by Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, all throughout the night.
Byron, the question is, can this match that is happening for the first time
one-on-one in ten years result in a new United States Champion?
[Saxton] You just answered your own question in a sense there.
I think Randy Orton is hungry,
Randy Orton is focused, and Randy Orton needs redemption,
and that redemption may, in fact, come tonight
by regaining the United States Championship.
[Corey] This is a rare occasion where I agree with everything
you just said about Randy Orton.
But Jeff Hardy's path has taken him around the world
and back to WWE where he has captured the United States Championship
and wears it proudly, but most importantly,
Hardy is the kind of guy who will do anything and everything
to retain it.
[Saxton] Two of the all-time greats. The last time they stepped toe-to-toe,
one-on-one was 2008 at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view
where then WWE Champion Randy Orton
faced then Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy
at the not so far away Madison Square Garden.
[Corey] You guys know as well as anybody, ten years is enough to become
a completely different person, a completely different competitor,
and we're about to see what these two men are made of.
[Jeff Hardy's theme music playing]
[announcer] And his opponent, from Cameron, North Carolina,
weighing in at 225 pounds,
he is the United States Champion.
Jeff Hardy!
[Corey] Byron, I know you were excited to see Jeff Hardy,
the United States Champion join SmackDown LIVE
as a part of the Superstar Shake-up.
[Saxton] Absolutely. I don't think there's any question,
Jeff Hardy, a surefire future Hall of Famer.
And to have Jeff Hardy on the roster of SmackDown LIVE
just gives us that extra, extra boost of credibility.
[Corey] During the first night of the Superstar Shake-up,
remember it was then United States Champion Jinder Mahal
who was sent to Monday Night RAW, a one-on-one match of Jeff Hardy,
becomes United States Champion, then one night later,
Hardy's on Tuesday night.
[Saxton] Listen, we realize there is no shortage of healthy respect
between Orton and Hardy. But this past Tuesday,
on SmackDown LIVE, it was The Viper
that left Jeff Hardy laying in the center of the ring.
My question is, did Randy show his hand too early?
[Saxton] You're absolutely right. First, let's go back and show you
perhaps why Randy Orton did what he did.
Let's take you back to what happened last month, and again,
part of the Superstar Shake-up, it was Shelton Benjamin,
sent out a challenge to any member of the SmackDown roster,
and it was The Viper who would answer.
[Corey] Yeah, Randy Orton was more than happy to rise to the occasion
to Shelton Benjamin's challenge,
but Randy Orton would, in fact, be surprised, well, with a familiar face.
[Saxton] Yeah, upstaged, so to speak, by the new United States Champion.
Jeff Hardy would then go on to accept the challenge
laid down by Shelton Benjamin.
Now, Graves, to the question that you just posed,
let's go back to this past week, tag team action,
Hardy and Orton teaming up to finish off the team
of Benjamin and The Miz, and maybe this is your answer.
-[Corey] This is my point. -Boom!
After picking up a victory as a tag team,
the bell rang, and Randy Orton dropped Hardy
with an RKO from out of absolutely nowhere.
But Jeff Hardy is the kind of competitor that learns from his mistakes.
You can bet, tonight, he will not take his eyes off of The Viper.
[Saxton] I talked to Jeff Hardy earlier on today,
he said he actually thought this jaw was broken at the time,
because it has been ten years since he's been the recipient of an RKO.
[Tom] Well, believe it, 43 years of history
behind the United States Championship.
Orton versus Hardy.
[Saxton] These are two men who've collected 38 total championships
in their storied careers.
[Corey] How amazing is it that despite all those accomplishments,
it wasn't until this year that they captured their first reigns
as United States Champion.
[Saxton] Now, both men, Grand Slam champions,
incredible careers here in WWE.
Graves, one thing we talked about is Randy Orton, he went into WrestleMania
as the United States Champion. Tonight is about righting that wrong
that went down in New Orleans.
[Corey] This is a contractual obligation for Orton.
Jeff Hardy was happy to accept it, but I'm curious to see
which one of these two Superstars can implement their game plan first.
Jeff Hardy is gonna want to keep the pace quick.
Randy's gonna want to slow things down,
use that infamous, methodical style of his.
[Saxton] Elbow right on the cheekbone there of Jeff Hardy.
[Corey] Jeff Hardy did say although he expects a competitive matchup
after what happened on Tuesday, he expects it to be a whole lot--
[Saxton] Here's the cover from Orton. Kick-out by Hardy.
[Corey] He expects the intensity to be just a little bit stronger here
in this title defense.
[Saxton] We talked about all the history between these two.
Jeff Hardy with a jawbreaker there to Randy Orton.
And now, Hardy!
[Corey] Dropkick from Hardy. Looking to quicken the pace a little bit.
The Viper rolls to the outside, but you're not safe out there when Hardy's involved.
[Saxton] Hardy, through the ropes.
And Orton into the barricade.
[Corey] Hardy never afraid to take a high-risk kick.
-He enjoys it. -[Saxton] Hold on.
Launching himself at Randy Orton.
[Tom] We know Jeff Hardy has always prided himself throughout his career
on living in the moment.
[Saxton] One point in that rivalry I referenced, back in 2008,
that Jeff Hardy jumped off part of the RAW set.
He hit a Swanton Bomb on Randy Orton.
[Corey] I'm sure we haven't seen the last time
we see Jeff do something absolutely insane.
When you take a risk that big, and you're in there with a veteran,
one of the best of all time, such as Randy Orton,
you cannot afford to make any mistake, let alone a high-risk one.
[Saxton] Picture-perfect standing dropkick.
Randy Orton, methodical, into the cover, and a kick-out by Hardy.
[Tom] Your point, Corey, just that momentary pause by Jeff Hardy
allowed Randy Orton to turn this thing around.
[Corey] Jeff looking for a twist of fate.
[Saxton] Able to fend off Jeff for a moment,
and Orton caught in the corner. Stunned there.
Oh!
[Corey] Orton got rocked by the elbow, and still a little worse for wear,
looking a little hazy, but Randy able to topple Hardy on the top rope.
Now Jeff Hardy's in big, big trouble.
[Saxton] How wise was Randy Orton in just that one moment
doing the right thing with the space that he had.
-[Corey] Instinct. -[Saxton] Exactly. Instinct.
-Comes with experience. -[Corey] Look at this.
Randy better be careful not to get himself disqualified.
[Saxton] Champion's advantage goes to Jeff here.
Title can only change hands by pinfall or submission.
[Corey] Look at the elbow on the ear of Orton. Irritated Randy.
Taking that irritation out on the United States Champion now.
[Tom] Byron, we talked about Jeff who's clutching that left knee
that's favored him over the last few weeks.
Jeff Hardy, always a risk taker ever since the beginning of his career.
Meanwhile, Randy Orton, second-generation superstar.
As many have said, how you would build a superstar from the ground up.
[Corey] Third generation. Do your homework.
[Tom] But with that generational experience comes his composure,
which you see right now in this matchup.
No wasted movements.
[Corey] Classic Randy Orton. Randy doesn't waste movement.
Everything Randy does inside the ring,
or even outside the ring, has a very distinct purpose.
I have a feeling Jeff Hardy might find that out right about now.
The Viper stalking… Oh, wait a minute, Hardy!
Good Lord!
The thrill seeker, Jeff, throwing caution to the wind
and taking out the challenger on the outside.
[Saxton] Living in the moment. Watch Jeff Hardy here.
Oh!
[Corey] Hardy putting the boots to Orton here on the outside of the ring.
Hardy just come unglued, raining down fists, lefts and rights
all over the challenger.
[Tom] Hardy realizes how much of a threat Randy Orton is to his championship.
You have to readjust your high-flying strategy.
He doesn't want to see the end of his brief United States title
reign here tonight at Backlash.
[Corey] Jeff Hardy returned shockingly last year at WrestleMania
with his brother Matt to capture the Tag Team Championship.
But Jeff said… Oh!
[Corey] And Orton with a dropkick!
[Tom] Jeff said, "As proud as I am of my brother and I,
there's something special about capturing
and holding a Singles Championship in WWE."
[Corey] Randy Orton just launching Hardy once again.
Randy knows how special that feeling is and wants to recapture it tonight.
[Saxton] Watch this one more time. Randy Orton, the standing dropkick.
-Boom! -That is in the side of the face.
[Corey] Precision timing and accuracy from Randy Orton
that fells Jeff Hardy in a big way.
[Tom] Hardy crashing to the floor outside.
And now Randy Orton gonna repay the favor here to Jeff Hardy.
And Orton is very dangerous outside the ring.
Oh, man!
Right across the top of the barricade, spine first.
And Orton's not done yet.
Oh, and Orton again!
[Saxton] Patented offense from the 13-time World Champion.
And one more time!
[Corey] Randy Orton looking to break Jeff Hardy clean in half.
There is no limit to how vicious The Viper can be.
But Orton better get Hardy inside the ring before the referee's ten-count.
Randy could lose his opportunity by disqualification or countout.
Does just that. Now The Viper rolls inside the ring,
into the cover to win the title and a kick-out.
[Corey] Hardy in a great deal of agony right now after being
dropped across the top of the barricade three separate times.
Hardy's lower back has got to be destroyed.
[Tom] You notice how Randy Orton has not had to change his pacing at all.
Maintaining the strong attack.
[Saxton] This is the point I was trying to make.
Randy is able to implement the slow, methodical pace.
Now picking apart Jeff Hardy strategically and painfully.
[Corey] Stomping away on the limbs of Jeff Hardy.
Now has a hold of the United States Champion.
-Oh, man! -Across the top rope.
And Randy Orton doing exactly what he pleases here.
Bullies his way into the cover.
And a kick-out.
[Corey] Orton just stalking Hardy.
Randy realizes that Jeff is hurt.
And his option, his opportunity to capture
the United States Championship could be moments away.
[referee] Come on, Jeff, what do you say?
[screams]
[Corey] This is exactly what Randy needs to do.
Just take his 250 plus pound frame and lean on Jeff Hardy.
Wear every last bit of energy out of Jeff Hardy's body.
[Tom] I don't think in the back of Orton's mind what happened
at last year's Backlash event isn't in The Viper's thoughts here tonight.
Was humiliated when he lost the WWE title to Jinder Mahal at this same event.
-[Saxton] Not just that, but don't forget… -Oh, this is great.
And all tied up here. And now Jeff Hardy in a predicament.
Could Jeff Hardy tap out perhaps here to Randy Orton?
Randy now using his long, powerful legs to wrap around the body of Jeff Hardy.
Extra pressure all over the torso of the United States Champion.
Tom, to your point to Byron, I don't think Randy
is thinking about anything that happened last year.
Randy is thinking about the here and the now and dethroning Jeff Hardy.
[Saxton] The here and now for Hardy is trying to survive this predicament.
Somehow make his way back to his feet. Somehow create some separation.
[Corey] Again, no luck here for Jeff Hardy.
Randy Orton has got this match right at the pace that he wants.
Randy Orton just continuing to ride Jeff Hardy. Just wearing Jeff down.
It's not glamorous. It's effective. The mark of one of the all-time greats.
Jeff Hardy trying to create a little bit of breathing room.
Shots here to the midsection of Randy Orton.
[Tom] And Jeff Hardy once again just throwing himself at his opponent.
[Corey] A nasty collision. Definitely disoriented Orton.
[Saxton] For the atomic drop.
[Corey] And Hardy!
Crashing down on the midsection. Then a dropkick.
[Saxton] Now the cover to retain his title.
And a kick-out.
[Tom] This is the kind of extensive offensive attack
that Jeff Hardy has desperately needed.
[Corey] I wouldn't call it extensive just yet.
It was desperate at best. Hardy still needs to…
Uh-oh. See…
Orton able to get out of the way momentarily. Jeff climbing the ropes.
-[Tom] Going up top. -Whisper in the Wind.
Randy Orton couldn't counter. Here's the cover.
Shoulders down, and a kick-out.
[Saxton] That might have been the flurry you were looking for.
But still, after connecting with Whisper in the Wind,
Jeff Hardy still looks a little worse for wear.
A high-risk maneuver like that takes a lot out of your opponent.
But just as much out of the man delivering it.
Thinking about the Twist of Fate a second time. For the RKO.
And now Hardy caught with a powerslam.
[Corey] So sudden. The pivot by Orton. Driving the champion down.
[Saxton] The cover for the United States title.
And a kick-out.
[Tom] Orton knows he almost had Jeff Hardy.
[Corey] Notice how cool and collected Orton looks right now.
Not stressing.
Orton's been in high-pressure situations for over a decade.
Randy knows what it's going to take against an elite competitor like Hardy.
[Saxton] That was the expectation coming into this collision tonight at Backlash.
Now Jeff Hardy in a bad, bad position. When you're in there with The Viper…
Hold on.
[Corey] Hardy escapes momentarily. Oh, inverted mule kick.
Down goes Randy.
[Tom] And Orton down in the corner. Jeff Hardy hobbled.
The left knee in trouble.
Oh. Hardy was looking for the Hardyac Arrest,
the two boots right to Orton's chest.
But The Viper escapes just in the nick of time.
[Corey] Now watch this one more time. Again.
Look at the way Jeff Hardy throws his feet.
It's meant to be a delivered kick. But Orton out of time.
And Hardy just inflicted a great deal of damage to himself.
[Saxton] Remember the shots that went along the barricade to the spine of Hardy.
And now Randy Orton. The wheels are turning.
Perfect position here for The Apex Predator.
[Corey] Almost a confident smirk knowing it's about to be feeding time.
Randy Orton The Viper can strike and capture
his United States Championship once again.
[Saxton] Draped across the middle rope here. Jeff Hardy.
[Tom] Boom. That's it. Hardy's finished.
[Saxton] Struck with the DDT.
The second attempt paid off.
And Randy Orton at this juncture is in full control.
[Corey] Orton has the option right now.
A few moments. He knows exactly where Jeff Hardy is.
[Saxton] Let's put the exclamation point down, shall we?
And this is what Randy Orton loves.
Has Jeff Hardy right in his sights.
Can he close this out here for the United States title?
[Corey] Almost worse than an RKO out of nowhere
is the one you can't defend.
Jeff Hardy has to know where The Viper's mind is.
[Saxton] Here it is. Wanted it. Now Hardy.
Hardy into a deep cover, and a kick-out.
[Corey] And now, Jeff. Twist of Fate. Wow.
-What's going on? -Hardy wastes little time
going to the top turnbuckle. Orton's down.
Swanton Bomb.
-Cover. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-Hardy retains the title. -[bell dings]
[Saxton] What a Backlash.
[announcer] Here is your winner and still the United States Champion,
Jeff Hardy!
[Saxton] These two Superstars had a healthy level of respect
for one another coming into tonight.
But I can assure you, after that battle at Backlash,
Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton now have a whole new level of respect.
Hats off to the United States Champion, Jeff Hardy.
[Tom] Incredible tenacity from Jeff Hardy.
I honestly thought this was Randy Orton's match to win.
[Saxton] I watched this earlier on. Randy Orton, boom!
Fought that as well.
Hit the draping DDT there across the middle rope.
And then watch this down the stretch as Jeff Hardy with the Twist of Fate.
And Graves, he wasn't done there.
[Corey] You can call it a Twist of Fate from out of nowhere.
Would take The Viper down long enough for Hardy to ascend.
And you've seen it once, you've seen it a million times, and it never gets old.
-Picture-perfect Swanton Bomb. -[bell dings]
And Jeff Hardy escapes The Viper's wrath.
[Saxton] A clash of two of the all-time greats here tonight at Backlash.
Hats off to Randy Orton, but Jeff Hardy still United States Champion.
[man] They are global entertainers.
Professionally trained athletes.
WWE Superstars.
But they are not invincible.
They take real risks.
And endure unimaginable pain.
Broken bones.
Torn muscles.
Dislocations.
Separations.
Be smart.
Be safe.
Don't try this at home.
[woman] Ladies and gentlemen, Elias.
[crowd cheering]
Hello, I am Elias.
[guitar strums]
[crowd cheering]
And I have one question for everybody here tonight.
Who wants to walk with Elias?
[crowd cheering]
Now…
I am good friends with New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen.
Yeah.
That's right, we go to parties together.
We talk about music.
We talk about life.
I give him advice.
I mean, he calls me the boss.
He tells me of all the great things he's done.
His only regret is that he's from New Jersey.
[crowd booing]
And I said, "Brother, I get it. This place is a toilet."
In fact, he can't stand the whole tristate area, but… I texted him earlier.
I said, "Hey, Bruce, tune in tonight.
I've got a song, I think you're gonna like it."
So, Bruce, this one's for you.
But first I need you all to silence your cell phones.
Hold your applause.
[crowd booing]
Oh, hey, guess what?
If you're not gonna listen, then I'm not gonna perform tonight.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
Okay, if that's how you feel, then I'm gonna leave.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd exclaiming]
[crowd booing]
[crowd exclaiming]
[crowd booing]
[crowd exclaiming]
[crowd booing]
[crowd exclaiming]
No, no, no. Bruce needs to hear this.
[man] Awww, Newark!
Don't you dare be sour.
Clap for your world-famous four-time champs
and feel the power.
It's a new day, yes, it is.
[Tom laughs] And I needed to hear this.
[Corey] I've never been so happy to see New Day in my entire life.
-Oh, my goodness. -They're interrupting Elias.
[Tom] It is a dual-branded pay-per-view,
so that means the Superstars of SmackDown LIVE are here.
And that means The New Day is in Newark.
[Saxton] I want to know what poor high school kid Big E stole the drum from.
Big E is an accomplished drummer. From what I hear.
Xavier Woods, Big E, and Kofi Kingston.
Elias isn't gonna be happy about this.
Elias!
I've gotta say, we've heard some of your stuff before and…
You know, it's actually fantastic, so… Great job, young squire!
Give it up for Elias.
Thank you, guys.
Uh, listen, I didn't quite get through what I wanted.
I understand it's gotta be intimidating being out here with the biggest
musical act on the face of this planet, but…
You guys want autographs or something? What are you doing out here?
No, no, definitely not.
Definitely not.
Look, we wanted to know if you wanted to jam out with your boys…
[all] The New Day!
That's right, that's right.
A one-time only, special, dual-branded,
Backlash exclusive concert, baby!
So, you guys wanna play with the one and only Elias?
No, no, no. We don't wanna play with Elias.
We wanna walk with Elias!
[Corey] This is like all of my nightmares come true at once.
Okay, okay, that's a bit unnecessary.
Listen, guys, I'm a solo act.
No, no, no, no. We don't wanna play with you,
but we do enjoy a solo act.
Now! A one! A two!
A one, two, three, four!
Okay, okay, okay. Cut it. Cut it.
Kofi. Hey, Kofi. Stop.
Stop.
Now, listen.
There's clearly something there, and maybe one day you guys could open for Elias.
But tonight is not that night, so go take your toys and play somewhere else.
JoJo, let's take this from the top.
Hit the lights.
[JoJo] Ladies and gentlemen, Elias.
-[man humming] -[guitar strums]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Now, New Day Your skills don't pay the bills ♪
♪ Stick to your flapjacks Your short stacks ♪
♪ And that merchandise you shill ♪
♪ And Elias, the guitar you can play ♪
♪ But do you know What day that it is today? ♪
[crowd] Rusev Day!
♪ It's Rusev Day! ♪
[Tom] Wow.
That was talent.
[Saxton] Aiden English might be the best musical act.
It was like I was stuck in a bad dream,
and then I woke up and realized it was Rusev Day!
[Corey] What is Elias thinking at this point?
[upbeat music playing]
Okay, okay, cut the music! Cut the music!
What the hell are you two doing here?
[crowd chanting] Rusev Day! Rusev Day!
We are doing whatever we want.
There's only one person here that celebrates a holiday in his honor…
and it's not bootleg Bob Dylan.
Or The Booty Boys.
[Elias] Oh. Okay, hey, hey, hey. You wanna call me a bootleg Bob Dylan?
I'm a booty boy.
Bob Dylan wishes he was me, okay?
Now tonight, it's not about Rusev Day. It's not about New Day.
Tonight is Elias's night. This is my night.
JoJo, you know what to do. Hit the lights.
[JoJo] Ladies and gentlemen, Elias.
[guitar strums]
[upbeat music playing]
[Saxton laughs]
Maybe Elias should exit stage right.
[Tom] This gets better and better. [laughs]
[Corey] It's got nothing on Coachella.
♪ No way Jose No way Jose ♪
[Corey] Oh, God, what is Titus doing out here?
[Saxton] Has Titus fallen on that bad of times?
[Corey] Do you know how dangerous it is for Titus to be
walking in that close of a proximity to other people? Could be catastrophic.
[Saxton] Hey, don't bring up bad memories.
Whoa, wait, wait, wait!
-[Tom] It's Breezango! -Breezango's here!
Fandango and Tyler Breeze.
[Saxton] I miss those guys on Tuesdays!
This reminds me of the wedding reception I went to last month.
As much as I can't stand Elias, I kind of feel sorry for the guy.
[commentators laugh]
[overlapping conversations]
[Corey] Stop it. Stop it. No.
[Elias] All right! Stop! Stop right now!
Stop the fiesta.
Hey. Cut that music. Right now.
Stop. Stop. Stop.
[Tom] Party pooper.
[Corey] It's not Seis de Mayo, Phillips.
[indistinct shouting]
No more conga line, okay?
I don't need to see a collection of freaks out here.
No more Rusev Day. No more New Day.
This is my night, and nobody's going to ruin it for me.
And nobody better interrupt me again.
JoJo, you know what to do.
If you please.
[Corey] Poor Elias. His voice is going hoarse.
[Tom] Oh, poor thing.
[JoJo] Ladies and gentlemen, Elias.
[upbeat music playing]
[Corey] Wait a minute! Oh!
Bobby Roode!
-Glorious DDT! -[Saxton laughs]
Tremendous.
[Corey] Actually, Byron…
Wait for it. Wait for it.
Now, he does it so you don't have to.
-[crowd cheering] -Just enjoy the moment, Corey.
[Corey] I am. I'm sorry, I'm on a roller coaster of emotions.
I went from Elias to The New Day to Rusev Day.
[Saxton] I wish you were in a glass case of emotions.
That would make me very happy. Now the conga line can start again.
[Corey] I am so tempted to join the conga line.
[Saxton] Why is Big E sweating like that? Like he just got out of the swimming pool.
[Corey] Roode in the conga line. Down is up, up is down.
[Tom] We are in New Jersey.
[Saxton] Rhythmic vibrations are taking over Backlash.
[Tom] I love it.
[Corey] Byron, seriously, go jump in the conga line. We got this.
[Saxton] Don't… Don't tempt me.
[Tom] Get it, Bobby! That was glorious!
[Corey] Not until Bobby Roode celebrates Rusev Day, Byron.
[Saxton laughs]
[Tom] This has to be one of my favorite performances in WWE history.
[Corey] That's why you and I will never share musical tastes,
I'll never go to a concert with you. Because that was absolutely egregious.
[Saxton] You can party with me anytime.
[Tom] Hard pass, but you know what?
I'm disappointed Bobby Roode is not on Tuesdays, but…
[Corey] Don't worry about that. I got news.
I got scoops. I didn't realize Bobby Roode was coming back.
I didn't realize he was going to be at Backlash after what he suffered.
This is ridiculous. I can't even think straight.
[Saxton] This is amazing.
It's great to see how Bobby Roode…
He's improved so much after that brutal attack.
Apparently, his collarbones have healed up
since Elias attacked him Monday Night on RAW.
He's also lost all pride in himself because he just did what he did.
I don't know what to think right now.
You are not coming to the after party.
Calm down. This has been a lot of fun. But speaking of blindside attack,
that's exactly what Daniel Bryan has endured lately
on Tuesday nights on SmackDown LIVE. Courtesy of the returning big cast.
And tonight, Daniel Bryan has his opportunity to go one on one
with the seven-footer from Queens, New York.
Daniel Bryan has vowed to attack every challenge head-on
since his return to the ring two months ago.
[woman] Former WWE Champion Daniel Bryan
has been medically cleared for in-ring competition.
[Bryan] I have the best fans in the world.
Because you guys have supported me for this entire time.
[crowd] Let's go, Bryan. Let's go, Bryan.
And I also have an amazing,
uh… beautiful wife.
She said, "Listen. You need to fight for your dreams."
That's what Daniel Bryan does. He fights for his dreams.
And if you fight for your dreams, your dreams will fight for you.
[Corey] What a comeback story for Daniel Bryan.
Oh, Big Cass!
[Big Cass] So, you're what all the fuss is about?
Little man?
[KP] What is he doing here?
[Corey] Reclaiming territory.
Big Cass missing the better part of the year with a knee injury.
He's back with a vengeance.
[Big Cass] Nobody cares about Daniel Bryan.
The day that I get cleared, guess who also gets cleared?
Daniel Bryan.
Nobody was talking about Big Cass.
I'm gonna make sure Daniel Bryan goes back to where he belongs.
On the shelf, beaten, and retired.
And he will never cast a shadow over me
or anybody else… again.
[woman ] What exactly happened?
I got blindsided by a coward. That's what happened.
Why a seven-foot man would attack anybody from behind, I have no idea.
But at Backlash, I'm getting a one on one match with Big Cass.
I have a new lease on my career.
[Corey] Entry number one of 50 men.
The Yes Movement is alive and well in Jeddah,
but the pressure is on for Daniel Bryan.
Daniel Bryan has set the record.
One hour, five minutes.
He's lasted longer than any man in the history of the Royal Rumble match.
I don't know how Bryan is still moving.
[KP] The man who came right after Daniel Bryan,
when he returned from eight months off with a knee injury…
And now Big Cass went right after Daniel Bryan.
Daniel Bryan entered number one.
He set a record here tonight in the Rumble.
Big Cass with a big boot.
And Cass just eliminated Daniel Bryan.
One hour, sixteen minutes, five seconds.
A record-setting performance tonight.
I know I'm better than Daniel Bryan.
[Bryan] It doesn't matter how big you are, because everyone is the same size
when they're on the mat and tapping out.
[crowd] Yes! Yes! Yes!
[Daniel Bryan's theme music playing]
[crowd] Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!
[crowd continues chanting]
[bell dings]
[man] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Aberdeen, Washington,
weighing in at 210 pounds, Daniel Bryan!
[crowd chanting] Yes!
[Corey] 14,724 members of the WWE Universe
here in the Prudential Center.
All chanting "yes."
[Tom] One of the things Daniel Bryan said when he made his return
is that "I'm going to cherish every single moment
that I have inside that ring."
When I talked to Bryan earlier today, he said, "While I was gone,
it wasn't like I rested on my laurels.
I've been training tirelessly in the gym, in the dojo,
learned a multitude of new techniques and skills
that I can't wait to show the world."
[Corey] He'll have a tall task here tonight at Backlash.
[Big Cass' theme music playing]
[announcer] And his opponent, from Queens, New York,
weighing in at 287 pounds,
Big Cass!
[Corey] Very interesting matchup for obvious reasons.
Big Cass, the seven-footer, seems to be overtly confident
and smiling every time you see him when he's laying out
Daniel Bryan once and again.
But the question that I have,
could this be Big Cass projecting his insecurities
on Daniel Bryan?
Is Big Cass really insecure as he enters this match tonight?
[Tom] I think he very well could be.
Cass himself came out here and said that he wasn't happy with all the attention
Daniel Bryan received when he made his return to the ring here at WWE.
Big Cass is the one who wanted the articles on TMZ, on ESPN,
on CBS Sports, he wanted all the attention possible,
and he didn't get it.
[Saxton] How about the point that Cass made that he saw
the little kid version of himself in Bryan,
a kid who was small, a kid who got beaten up and pushed around.
I'm not a psychologist, but that sounds like something they should handle, not me.
Cass gonna try to take it all out on Daniel Bryan.
But how about the tweet that Bryan sent out earlier today, gentlemen,
that you can't teach being seven feet tall, but you can teach wrestling.
And he called Big Cass lazy.
[Tom] Called it #SizeVersusSkill.
If tan is a skill, Big Cass might be the best of all time.
The question here with Cass that we talked about throughout the night
with a variety of Superstars, this is his first match
since tearing the ACL in his left knee back in August.
[Corey] You don't think Bryan realized that?
The very first strike Daniel delivered was to the surgically repaired left knee.
You're not dealing with some amateur here.
You're dealing with a former world champion.
All the chirping that Big Cass has done has put all that extra pressure,
all that extra weight on his back to deal with here,
tonight, against Daniel Bryan.
Daniel Bryan ducking underneath the shots, and right here to the midsection,
and again, right to the hamstring of Cass.
Daniel Bryan clearly been working on his striking.
Focused on the knee of Big Cass. Oh, man!
Shoot right in there on the left leg,
and Big Cass a little too strong in that exchange.
Bryan got too close,
you're not going to win the power game with Cass.
But look at Big Cass with the straight right.
The thing about Cass…
this is a man that was competing
not half an hour from his hometown of Queens, New York,
came into this, Byron, saying, "New Yorkers are better than everyone.
-I'm going to have the advantage." -What does that matter?
We're in New Jersey. It doesn't matter if New Yorkers are better. I agree.
It doesn't mean he's got a hometown advantage or anything.
There's got to be substance behind what you're doing.
Right now we're seeing substance… Oh!
Daniel Bryan sending Cass into the barricade.
Bryan measuring Big Cass. Boom!
Oh! Good Lord! No fear from Daniel Bryan.
Bryan has always said, "I've got my legs, I've got my lungs,
and I've got my heart to carry me through."
And now Daniel Bryan going up to the top turnbuckle here.
And Daniel Bryan with the shot right to the chest with a dropkick.
Daniel Bryan is all fired up here inside The Rock.
How impressive has Daniel Bryan been over the last few months?
About 76 plus minutes in the greatest Rumble match.
Daniel Bryan's obviously been studying his Miz tapes.
-The world famous in-kicks. -Oh, will you stop?
[crowd chanting]
-Oh, ho, ho, ho! -Oh, man!
And just dropped by Big Cass.
[Corey] As quick as Daniel Bryan is,
he is well aware he cannot match strength with Big Cass.
[Tom] I gotta question Big Cass' strategy right now.
Why is he standing with his fist in the air?
He's in there with one of the greatest in WWE.
He's given Daniel Bryan way too much time. This is gonna cost Big Cass in a big way.
[Saxton] Corey, it's attention.
Big Cass wants the attention, the praise.
[Tom] You want attention, get on TMZ. Don't fight Daniel Bryan.
Oh!
[Saxton] Big Cass, the man who eliminated Daniel Bryan.
Number 14 in the 50-man Royal Rumble match in Saudi Arabia.
Dashed his hopes of perhaps going wire to wire.
[Corey] Oh, God!
[Tom] Such a deep-rooted loathing that Big Cass has for Daniel Bryan.
[Saxton] And this is a must-win match here tonight for Big Cass.
You talk this big game, you come back from injury,
and you target Daniel Bryan right off the bat. You best not miss.
[Corey] I admire his mindset. I admire the goal of Big Cass.
He wants to make a name for himself at the expense of Bryan.
But that said, you can't come in here and ooze arrogance and cockiness
with Daniel Bryan, who's got a new lease on life
and is arguably just as dangerous as ever.
-[Saxton] I agree with you, Corey. -Bryan trying to stay in this fight.
[Tom] Endurance.
The longer this match goes, you question…
Hold on a second.
Oh!
And drops the elbow there.
Here's the cover, and a kick-out by Daniel Bryan.
The longer this match goes, you question whether or not
Big Cass will maintain the advantage.
[Corey] Rapid-fire rights across the eyebrow of Daniel Bryan.
[crowd booing]
Too early to celebrate, kid.
He's way overconfident, Big Cass is.
[Saxton] Here's what Cass said on Twitter.
"I finally get the opportunity I deserve more than anyone at Backlash."
[Tom] Modified backbreaker applied.
This is where Big Cass' height really comes into play.
Bryan trying to keep his feet
on Cass' body to ease some of the pressure.
[Corey] Bryan talks about having incredible heart.
-His heart's being put to the test. -[Tom] Unable to break the grip there.
-[exclaims] -Into the turnbuckle.
Big Cass' knee crashed down as well as his face into the turnbuckle.
And now the yes kicks in the corner.
[Corey] Incredible flexibility of Daniel Bryan.
Able to kick Cass over and over again in the sternum.
[Tom] Bryan's on the move.
Daniel Bryan!
[Corey] Daniel Bryan has made a career of chopping
much larger superstars down to size.
[Saxton] Oh, man! All the way up, all the way down.
And now look at Big Cass. Look at the look in the eye of Big Cass.
What a clothesline!
Bryan turned inside out, and Big Cass may have just stopped the momentum.
Bryan might be out here…
For the cover for the biggest win of his career!
And a kick-out!
And Big Cass, some more disrespect here to Daniel Bryan.
And Big Cass appears content to take his time here against Daniel Bryan.
Listen, when you're an all-star and you want to call your shot, go for it all day.
You've earned that right.
But when you've just come back from the DL
and you're calling your shot against an all-star, forget about it.
Big Cass is smiling.
Big Cass is soaking up every second of this dominance.
And another clothesline to Daniel Bryan.
This is as much about Daniel Bryan and Big Cass
as it is about Cass' disdain for the WWE Universe.
And his issues from when he was 11 years old and undersized.
-Piling on. -Yeah.
And another clothesline, and Daniel Bryan is in trouble.
Big Cass has said
he believes he is the epitome of what a WWE Superstar should be.
You can believe whatever the heck you want to, Saxton. Show it to me.
[Tom] Look at the intensity from Big Cass here.
Loading up. Daniel Bryan's rocked.
Cass with an opportunity! Wanted the big boot!
Cass, once again, spending too much time admiring his handiwork.
Bryan went for the kick. Now trying to bring the big man down to the canvas.
-And there it is! -Almost, almost!
And the yes lock!
Long arms of Big Cass
seemingly not much of a match for Daniel Bryan right now.
Trying to secure the right arm here, but again trying to cinch in the yes lock.
And look at Big Cass right now.
Look at this. Cross faces. Cass might be sleeping right now.
And now Daniel Bryan!
-There it is! -Daniel Bryan leaning back on it!
-A tap-out! -[bell dings]
Big Cass taps out to Bryan!
What a win! -Here is your winner by submission!
Daniel Bryan!
[Saxton] Daniel Bryan proving tonight it doesn't matter how big you are
because everyone's the same size when they're down tapping out.
Bryan said, when he came back, he would face challenges head on
no matter what they are or who they are.
And Daniel Bryan has just overcome an incredible challenge here tonight.
Daniel Bryan showed in the Greatest Royal Rumble
he's still in ring shape in a group effort.
But right now, Daniel Bryan in his first match back
as a singles competitor
seemingly never missed a step.
Boom!
That wicked kick right on the ear of Cass
dazed the seven-footer.
And these relentless shots
from Bryan allowed the yes lock to be applied.
And the seven-footer wasting not much time tapping out and saving his shoulder.
-[Tom] Daniel Bryan, so good. -Oh, my God!
And Big Cass!
Why? What?
[Saxton] I'll tell you why. Big Cass is a sore loser.
Big Cass can't accept that he fell short against Daniel Bryan.
[Corey] He's insecure. He called out Daniel Bryan and he got beat.
This is…
Big Cass just tossing Daniel Bryan.
Big Cass can't accept the fact that he just got embarrassed.
[Saxton] He'll accept it.
He can watch it back over and over again on WWE Network if he wants.
There was no controversy. Big Cass tapped out.
[crowd chanting] You tapped out.
[Corey] Apparently Big Cass isn't done.
And now again, after the fact...
Big Cass
staring down Daniel Bryan.
A vulnerable Daniel Bryan.
Big boot!
Big Cass is an insecure piece of garbage. This is uncalled for.
You lost the match.
[crowd booing]
One more look here at this big boot.
Bam!
And again, Daniel Bryan was celebrating his victory here tonight.
And another blindside attack from Big Cass.
[Tom] And Big Cass just showed the world he cannot digest failure.
[Corey] Big Cass is a seven-foot pompous fool.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
And one more look at this.
Bam!
Daniel Bryan taking a beating here after the fact here, from the seven-footer.
[Corey] And Big Cass smiling like he actually won something.
This makes me sick.
I'm always a fan of guys who are willing to go to extreme lengths
to make a name for themselves or make a statement at WWE.
But what Big Cass did was completely uncalled for. A completely punk move.
Sick.
It'll go down in the record books as a win for Daniel Bryan.
But Big Cass getting the last laugh here tonight.
We do have some news regarding Daniel Bryan at Backlash.
Once Backlash concludes, the action doesn't stop.
We invite you to join us exclusively on the WWE Network
for the WWE Backlash Post-Show.
Of course hosted by Renee Young and Peter Rosenberg.
Featuring special guest The Miz, and of course Daniel Bryan
who was victorious tonight against Big Cass.
And we'll see what kind of shape Daniel Bryan is in
for the Backlash Post-Show right here on the WWE Network.
A dual-branded pay-per-view tonight in Newark, New Jersey.
More action here from the SmackDown LIVE.
Superstars right now, the SmackDown Women's title set
to be defended by Carmella against Charlotte Flair.
The question is, can Carmella be Money once again tonight at Backlash?
[Corey] This is the first ever women's Money in the Bank ladder match.
Carmella climbing the ladder.
There you have it. Carmella is Miss Money in the Bank.
This Money in the Bank contract makes me the most dangerous woman
on SmackDown LIVE.
While Charlotte is out there worried about making history…
[KP] Oh, my God!
[Corey] Charlotte the Queen sits on the throne of SmackDown LIVE.
Still your SmackDown Women's Champion.
I was making plans for my future.
[Corey] Peyton Royce and Billie Kay.
Out with the old and in with The IIconics.
[Corey] Oh!
Two on one here from The IIconics.
Oh, my God.
Charlotte is hurt.
Carmella! This is brilliant!
[KP] Carmella is cashing in her Money in the Bank contract.
[Corey] Yes! Carmella with the kick!
[Carmella] I was making plans for my future.
[Corey] Carmella is champion!
[announcer] New SmackDown Women's Champion,
Carmella!
There's just somebody that I really want to thank.
Somebody that's really, really important.
I just want to say thank you.
To me! [laughs]
Charlotte Flair! I beat her!
Me! All on my own! I beat Charlotte Flair!
Me!
Mella is Money!
♪ Money, fame, and power ♪
You can call me the moonwalkin',
trash talkin' Crown Princess of SmackDown LIVE.
I beat Charlotte Flair. [laughs]
♪ Then I learned That this world is about… ♪
Me.
♪ Me, me, me, me ♪
♪ Me, me, me, me, me ♪
♪ It's all about ♪
[commentators exclaim]
[Corey] The Queen giving The Crown Princess
a taste of her own medicine.
[Charlotte] Carmella, you have something of mine.
[KP] Charlotte Flair will have her opportunity at WWE Backlash
for the SmackDown Women's Championship.
In order to be the woman, you gotta beat the woman.
[Charlotte] Bow down to The Queen.
Learn to love it, because I'm the woman!
[KP] Will The Crown Princess of SmackDown LIVE be dethroned by The Queen?
[Charlotte Flair's theme music playing]
[Corey] Earlier today on WWE Now on YouTube,
Charlotte Flair was very candid,
talking about how WrestleMania was the biggest night of her life,
keeping her title, ending Asuka's streak, and then had it all taken away.
Charlotte looks at this as a lesson and an opportunity
tonight to rebuild and to regain her throne.
Charlotte admitted that the whole thing seemed like a blur.
Having that victory over Asuka,
then losing the SmackDown Women's Championship.
But if there's one thing The Queen never lacks, that is confidence.
And tonight, Charlotte has all the confidence in the world
that she can regain her position atop the women's division.
I think Charlotte Flair might be a little too confident tonight.
Judging by her social media posts all week long,
it's a foregone conclusion in The Queen's mind
that she's leading Backlash with the SmackDown Women's Championship.
You cannot discount Carmella.
I understand it's the popular thing to do, to say that maybe Carmella didn't earn
her SmackDown Women's Championship,
but Carmella's the champ, and the champ is money.
[woman] F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S.
♪ F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S, yes ♪
[Tom] In very short order, Carmella believes
that she can do whatever she pleases on Tuesday nights.
Byron, the truth of the matter is,
there was help with winning the Money in the Bank contract.
[Saxton] I'm gonna cut you off here. You throw to Saxton
'cause you know he's gonna give The Queen's whole
"Boo-hoo, The IIconics cost me the championship."
The fact is, Carmella's out here right now with the Cardi B vibes on her outfit,
her women's championship looking like straight dollar signs, okay?
Let's not talk about why Charlotte Flair's upset.
[Saxton] I'm curious how Carmella looks.
[Corey] 'Cause she looks like a champion, Saxton.
[Saxton] Okay, if Carmella can win like a champion, then we'll talk.
-I'm the champ! -[bell dings]
The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the SmackDown Women's Championship.
Introducing the challenger, from the Queen City,
Charlotte Flair!
And her opponent, from Staten Island,
she is the SmackDown Women's Champion,
Carmella!
[Tom] Regardless of everything that has transpired between Carmella and Charlotte,
tonight is put up or shut up for the SmackDown Women's Champion.
It doesn't matter if it all goes away in one night.
[Corey] It's put up or shut up for Charlotte Flair
because Charlotte's the challenger.
And if she doesn't put up and doesn't beat Carmella tonight,
then Charlotte may never get another opportunity.
How come you guys are bent out of shape about Carmella winning the championship?
[Saxton] I'm not bent out of shape. I'm stating facts.
[Corey] Did you cry when Edge cashed in the Money in the Bank contract?
Did you cry to your mother when Seth Rollins
committed the heist of the century at WrestleMania?
-Want me to get you a tissue? -[Saxton] Why don't we focus on right now?
[Corey] I'm focused on Carmella struttin', stylin', and profilin'.
Catching a Flair boot for her troubles.
-She's not strutting anymore. -That is how you style and profile.
That's how you strut.
Carmella's just taking a second to compose herself.
And The Queen happy to wait on the SmackDown Women's Champion.
Bad decision, there's champion's advantage involved.
The Queen shouldn't be letting Carmella run around outside the ring.
Give me my title!
I think Carmella knows it.
I am the champion. I don't need this.
I'm here for it.
Carmella outsmarted… Well, she had good intentions.
What were you saying?
I'm the champ. I'm the champ.
[referee] Carmella, back in the ring.
[Corey] Uh-oh. Oh, and Charlotte!
Charlotte running down Carmella!
-No! -That's enough, Charlotte. Get back in.
[Saxton] Carmella's escape plan just failed.
[Corey] Nowhere to hide for Carmella tonight here at Backlash.
Rolling into the ring for the title, kick-out at two.
And Carmella again trying to get to the ropes, and… Oh!
Shot right to the midsection. Charlotte, relentless here.
Oh! Nearly put her away.
And again, now Charlotte into a cover, and another kick-out.
-Carmella… -[screaming]
Carmella just trying to get out of Dodge and…
The Queen's saying, "Carmella, you're not going anywhere!"
Thought about the Figure-Four for a minute,
instead chopped down Carmella. The champ needs a respite.
Uh-oh, look out!
Heads up, and Charlotte able to gather herself,
and a kick!
Right on the mark!
What a kick by the champion!
Carmella simply lured Charlotte in, that's all it was!
It was a plan, check it out!
Carmella said, enough time running away.
So beautiful, see it again.
Bang! Right on The Queen's jaw.
And the champion's in control.
[Saxton] Back inside to attain the title! And a kick-out.
And now raining down shots here on The Queen.
[Tom] Staten Island mentality.
[Corey] Hook to the leg, and a kick-out.
After hearing all the people doubt her on social media for 287 days,
Carmella was happy to cash in Money in the Bank
and run it in the face of the WWE Universe.
[Carmella] I'm the champion!
[Tom] Byron, how many times did you tweet Carmella?
[Saxton] I will not divulge that information.
Whoo!
[Corey] Look at this!
Charlotte Flair being mocked in the middle of the ring.
That's gotta get in The Queen's psyche.
Talk to me, Charlotte, what do you say?
Ask her, ref!
Come on, Charlotte, what do you say?
-Carmella has great command here. -Shut up.
What do you say?
Right now on the former SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair.
An expression of fear early on in this match.
-I'll sit here all day until she gives up! -[referee] Come on.
Now turning into confidence from the champion.
That's the one thing about Carmella, has continued to be opportunistic.
What do you say, Charlotte?
What do you say, Queen?
-Come on, Charlotte! -I think you and Phillips can be quiet.
Nobody cares about you anymore!
-[Tom] Me too. -[Corey] Yeah.
[Tom] Smart strategy by Carmella.
[Corey] It's a great strategy.
Charlotte's definitely got the power advantage.
Carmella doing the smart thing right now.
And now, Charlotte Flair trying to get back up
to her feet and tosses off Carmella out of the--
And a kick!
And now the cover!
Carmella to put this thing away!
And a kick-out!
Charlotte definitely got rocked on the kick.
And Carmella very wisely going right back to the strategy that works.
-Remember… -All day, baby!
-I got it all day! -…champion's advantage.
Charlotte has to beat Carmella.
Carmella does not have to defeat Charlotte.
[Tom] A pinfall or submission inside the ring.
And Carmella continues to maintain control here on Charlotte.
[Saxton] You know how much pride Charlotte has in this women's division.
And look at the color fading from the face here of Charlotte Flair.
-Carmella has this in deep. -[Corey] Oh, hold on.
[screams]
Oh, wait a minute. Now Charlotte Flair back up to her feet.
-[Saxton] Oh, no! -Backpack stunner.
[Corey] Last-ditch effort from The Queen.
Charlotte bought herself valuable time, for sure.
Oh!
-Great counter by Carmella. -Able to drop Charlotte.
And right on top of the challenger.
Charlotte Flair! Charlotte Flair!
[Tom] You can see the frustration from Carmella.
Charlotte!
Oh, God, her back!
All day, baby!
Come on, Charlotte. What do you say, huh?
Give up!
Ask her, ref!
Come on, Charlotte. What do you say?
All day, baby.
[referee] Talk to me. Are you giving up?
[Corey] What do you say, Byron? All day?
-You just enjoy this all day? -No!
[Saxton] Carmella certainly is.
Carmella's so extremely confident here.
Nobody likes you!
[Corey] Oh!
Come on, Charlotte!
[Corey] Look at the face of Charlotte. Look at the resolve.
[Tom] Charlotte desperately…
Oh!
[Tom] What a counter there by Charlotte Flair.
[Corey] Two boots right to the midsection of Carmella.
Charlotte with an opportunity to capitalize.
-Oh! -Into a backbreaker.
Standing STO.
The Queen's starting to build a little momentum of her own.
[Tom] Valuable opening here that Charlotte has created.
And those signature Flair chops
echoing throughout the Prudential Center.
[Corey] Oh! No!
The Queen is feeling it.
And now measuring Carmella here.
Carmella came in too strong and she paid for it.
[Tom] Smart move by Carmella. Rolling to the outside.
You can't get pinned or submitted out there.
Charlotte is right there to meet her.
And a knee right to the midsection.
And now Charlotte… Oh! Knee right to the back of the neck.
But again, Carmella still on the outside of the ring.
And Charlotte… Oh! Went for the boot.
-Oh, wow! -And caught on the apron.
Incredible counter by the champion.
Back of the neck of Charlotte into the hardest part of the ring.
Courtesy of Carmella.
Give it to Carmella wisely using the ring to her advantage.
You guys like Charlotte!
Watch this one more time. Thought about the boot.
Bam! Down into the apron.
Give credit to Carmella. She's had answers for Charlotte
down the stretch here in the past.
Oh! Oh! Look at this.
Continuing to apply pressure on the back of The Queen.
-Five! -Five, that's it! Get in the ring!
[Corey] Carmella knows the rules.
She can maximize the damage before the referee hits five.
Carmella's frustration has forced her to be more aggressive in this match.
You're not the champ anymore, Queen.
I am!
[Tom] What is she frustrated about, Saxton?
I'm the champ!
[Saxton] That she can't put Charlotte away.
[Tom] Carmella can leave and still be the champion, Saxton.
-[Saxton] Carmella tried to leave earlier. -Has Charlotte put Carmella away?
No. Look at that.
That's moonwalking.
Trash talking.
-It's time to show off. -Oh! Spear!
Charlotte bursting out of the corner.
And drops the SmackDown Women's Champion.
The braggadocious attitude of Carmella backfires.
Watch this one more time.
With authority. And now inside the ring.
-Thinking about the Figure-Four. -Charlotte, hang on.
Carmella couldn't get away. Bridges into a cover here.
-And now Charlotte. -Oh, wait a minute.
-Uh-oh. -Code of Silence.
-Code of Silence from Carmella. -Charlotte's in trouble.
[Corey] How humiliating for the Queen to be submitted at Backlash.
[Cole] Look at the face of Charlotte Flair.
Can she stick around here in this fight?
[Corey] Carmella hanging on with everything she's got.
My gosh. Up on the shoulders. Oh, my God.
No, no, no, no.
Great counter by Carmella. Carmella, cover!
And a kick-out by Flair.
Oh, and another boot.
And Charlotte able to chop down the champion.
Here's the cover, and a kick-out.
Talked about frustration earlier for Carmella.
I think the same affliction is now getting to Charlotte.
[Saxton] That submission by Carmella nearly closed it out.
Thinking about the Figure-Four.
Carmella able to send her off into the turnbuckles.
[Corey] Charlotte up top.
Charlotte never afraid to go high risk.
[Tom] Bottom out the moonsault.
[Corey] Charlotte just tweaked her own knee.
[Tom] Oh, and the left knee. And Carmella right on top of the knee.
Here's the cover.
-That's the pinfall. -[bell dings]
[announcer] Here is your winner
and still the SmackDown Women's Champion, Carmella!
[Corey] You gonna be okay, Saxton?
Come on, say it with me.
Undisputed.
Undeniable.
Carmella is the SmackDown LIVE Women's Champion.
[Saxton] I agree with you, Corey. Carmella took advantage.
She saw the knee buckle on Charlotte. Took advantage.
Carmella has successfully defended the SmackDown Women's Championship.
[Corey] So you're gonna apologize now? For all the nonsense you spread?
[Saxton] Apologize? I said Carmella had to back it up.
-And she did. -Going up to the top here.
Thought about the moonsault. Watch the left knee here.
Full buckle there for Charlotte Flair.
She landed on the mat.
Carmella would waste no time.
Bam! Right to the hamstring.
And they got a great, deep cover here on Charlotte Flair.
[bell dings]
Great champions never cease to capitalize on opportunity.
That is all Carmella did tonight at the hands of The Queen.
Carmella is still SmackDown Women's Champion.
[Tom] Byron, listen.
I said it at the outset of this match, put up or shut up, and Carmella,
whether you like it or not, walking out of Newark with the title.
[Saxton] The biggest challenge as a champion is not
winning the championship, but staying on top. Keeping that title.
-And yes, Carmella… -You want this?
Carmella did so tonight. Congratulations.
Well, tonight, WWE Backlash,
a co-branded pay-per-view event.
More action from both RAW and SmackDown Superstars still to come.
We want to send a special thanks.
We want to send thanks to Barns Courtney for "Champion,"
the official theme song of WWE Backlash.
It's off the album The Attractions of Youth.
Available right now on iTunes and Spotify.
Backlash rolls on at the Prudential Center as AJ Styles set to defend
his WWE title against Shinsuke Nakamura in a no disqualification match.
First man to gain pinfall or submission will be named champion.
The question is, will Nakamura's streak of underhanded tactics
finally bring him the prize he chased at WrestleMania?
[announcer] Here is your winner, and still the WWE Champion,
AJ Styles!
[Corey] And there is such a great deal of respect for one another.
Shinsuke, a lot of people are calling your attack on AJ Styles reprehensible.
Why would you tarnish your dream match?
Sorry, no speak English.
[Corey] WWE Universe on its feet here tonight in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Greatest Royal Rumble matchup for the WWE Championship.
AJ Styles the champion, Nakamura the challenger.
[Styles] Shinsuke's not just an artist, he's a con artist.
But I'm not here for a conversation, I'm here for a fight.
[Corey] Styles in position.
Looking to launch himself off the top rope and put this one away.
Nakamura, oh, and AJ almost took out the official.
[Tom] Oh, low blow again.
The referee's view was obstructed.
Nakamura wants to be WWE Champion by any means necessary.
-One. -[Corey] The official beginning the count.
Two.
[Tom] Look out, AJ Styles launching Nakamura
right over the open announce table.
Hey, guys, the official is still counting.
-The official's gonna call for the bell. -[bell dings]
A double countout here in this championship match.
[Corey] This thing is so deeply personal.
Obviously, AJ Styles just wants to settle the score.
Nakamura, I'm sure, isn't gonna be happy with this result.
[Tom] Well, AJ Styles is still the WWE Champion.
[Styles] You see, this goes way beyond Shinsuke Nakamura
wanting to be the WWE Champion.
Shinsuke Nakamura is a coward.
A coward that attacks me from behind and below the belt.
Let Shinsuke Nakamura play his games.
Because that's the benefit of a no disqualification match.
There's not gonna be an apology?
If Shinsuke wants an apology, why don't he come down here?
[Shinsuke's theme music playing]
[Tom] Uh-oh, hold on, guys.
Is he here?
Oh, no!
[Corey] Shinsuke Nakamura with another low blow.
Where'd Nakamura even come from?
The cheap shot artist hits the WWE Champion again!
Some twisted form of ecstasy on the face of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Styles is down.
Nakamura set up.
[Shinsuke's theme song playing]
[Tom] Just one month ago, at WrestleMania, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura,
battling with more than 78,000 fans in New Orleans, in a classic.
And after AJ retained the WWE title,
we learned the true character of Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Corey] Once again, we find ourselves on what could be
the precipice of a new era in WWE.
The era of the King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Saxton] Even to think, to this point,
Shinsuke Nakamura still not revealing his hand.
Not revealing his motivations as to why
he has done what's been done to AJ Styles.
I talked to one of my sources who happens to speak multiple languages,
much like Shinsuke Nakamura.
And Nakamura said to him, "My only true color is gold."
That is what it is all about here tonight for Shinsuke Nakamura.
His fifth attempt at the WWE Championship.
And this no disqualification match plays right into his hands.
Considering what we've seen the last few weeks.
[AJ Styles' theme music playing]
♪ No, they don't want none No, they don't want none ♪
♪ They looking scared No, they don't really want none ♪
AJ Styles saying over the last few weeks on SmackDown LIVE to Shinsuke,
"Go ahead and play your games.
That's the benefit of the no disqualification match.
Frankly, you attacked me in the match with Daniel Bryan.
You've attacked my friends. You ruined what happened at WrestleMania.
Tonight is deeply personal."
But has Shinsuke Nakamura finally become the Superstar to get deep enough
under the skin of the champion AJ Styles to where AJ's gonna make a mistake?
You're talking about one of the best in-ring competitors, if not the best,
of a generation.
AJ Styles almost never makes mistakes. But if he does tonight, I can assure you,
Nakamura is more than willing and able to exploit that.
You're talking about getting under the skin of the champion.
AJ Styles took his son to basketball practice a few days ago.
He said the only thing he could think about during the game
was getting his hands on Shinsuke Nakamura here tonight.
Tonight, in the words of AJ Styles,
take the rules and throw them out the window.
Styles prepared to break them all tonight at Backlash.
[Tom] I heard Shinsuke Nakamura went to a children's basketball game
-and punctured all the balls. -Whoa, whoa, whoa!
[bell dings]
The following contest is a no disqualification match
for the WWE Championship!
Introducing the challenger, from Kyoto, Japan,
weighing in at 220 pounds,
the artist known as Shinsuke Nakamura!
And his opponent, from Gainesville, Georgia,
weighing in at 218 pounds,
he is the WWE Champion!
The Phenomenal
AJ Styles!
We always talk about, will AJ Styles' emotions hamper his ability to win?
Here tonight, I don't think AJ has to worry about that.
He can embrace those emotions, he can embrace his volatile nature,
because it's all legal.
[Corey] The same can be said for his opponent.
We always talk about the ability to keep calm in the heat of battle.
I don't know if anyone as cool
in the midst of a high-pressure situation as Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Tom] And Nakamura immediately gets out of the ring.
[Corey] Mind games, right out of the gate.
[Saxton] Remember, there are no disqualifications in this match.
-First man to gain pinfall is champion! -Here comes Styles.
And Styles on the run, Nakamura playing games again.
Come on!
And Nakamura trying to meet Styles here at the ropes,
and Styles grabbed a hold of the leg! And sending Nakamura into the barricade!
Nakamura's been trying to instigate Styles since before the bell!
We saw the results of those instigations take place at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
And tonight, Styles picking up right where he left off in Saudi Arabia.
[Corey] Once again, right into the barricade,
Nakamura sent crashing.
You're right, this is where the no disqualification… Uh-oh!
Stipulation comes into play as Nakamura is driven into our German announce table.
This is all perfectly legal.
[Saxton] AJ Styles doesn't have to worry about the official's count.
[Tom] And now tossing Shinsuke Nakamura back inside the ring.
And AJ Styles looking comfortable here early, happy to explore the space here
with Nakamura taking the abuse.
[Corey] Keep in mind, Byron, as much as you're enjoying watching Styles,
anything Nakamura can dream up is legal as well.
A low blow. A shot with the stairs.
Anything Nakamura can think of is legal.
[Saxton] You are absolutely right.
That's why it's imperative that Styles maintains this highly aggressive attack.
Oh!
Snap suplex by the champion, into a cover.
Retain the title, out at one.
See the disdain all over the face of AJ Styles
trying to eliminate Shinsuke Nakamura from his life,
from his career here in WWE.
I'm honestly a little surprised at the pace
Styles has chosen to follow these opening minutes,
-a little slower than I expected. -Uh-oh.
Backbreaker to Nakamura.
Very effective, but maybe AJ's got his emotions under check.
To Byron's point earlier, we saw what happened in Saudi Arabia,
the double countout, because AJ Styles completely went off that undetected
low blow that our general manager Paige referenced when making this match.
[Saxton] This goes all the way back to WrestleMania.
This was supposed to be a crowning moment in the…
Oh, right to the throat.
…the career of AJ Styles, he believes Shinsuke ruined that moment for him.
Ripping at the face, it looked like, of Styles. It's all legal.
Byron, you truly believe life is a fairy tale, don't you?
Because the fact is, the hero doesn't always win.
Sometimes you have to embrace the darkness, embrace the truth.
That's all Nakamura's done.
[Tom] Nakamura on the move.
AJ Styles trying to catch him with a dropkick.
Nakamura saw it coming.
Oh, and there it is!
How about Nakamura embracing a dropkick to the face?
-Oh, that was really clever. -Thank you.
And Styles has dropped Nakamura here, trying to collect himself along the apron.
Watch this one more time.
[Corey] Absolute work of art.
AJ Styles dropkicking Nakamura, buying himself some time
on the outside to recover. The champion giving chase.
[Tom] And again, no disqualification match here for the WWE title.
Along the barricade here.
Nakamura!
Midsection first, right to the top of the barricade.
[Corey] Styles has been liberally using barricades as weapons against Nakamura.
[Tom] Oh, wait a minute. Look at Styles full steam!
[Corey] Oh, my God! Splash right across the body of Nakamura.
Shinsuke's back bent backwards.
Styles just taking his time, thinking about his next form of punishment.
And Styles once again… Oh!
And this time he paid for it!
Styles might have taken too much time.
It's uncharacteristic of Styles to go to the well too often.
Obviously Nakamura had it well scouted and wasn't as injured as AJ thought.
[Tom] And Nakamura, now an opening.
A stiff forearm shot there to the WWE Champion.
Hard hitting, strong style that made Shinsuke Nakamura a legend in Japan.
[commentators exclaim]
[Corey] And the knees right into the steel stairs for AJ Styles.
[Tom] Styles clutching at his quadriceps. More than a knee right now.
[Corey] On the right leg there.
Now Shinsuke Nakamura can dissect the champion.
[Tom] Byron, to your point, this is what Nakamura came to America for.
The 55 years of tradition and prestige behind the WWE Championship.
Don't ask him any more questions, Tom. He's obviously upset.
Nakamura, boom!
-And Styles is out. -Knee right to the face!
-AJ Styles's body just went limp. -You're absolutely right.
Look at the arms there, draped across the apron.
Nakamura once again, like a guillotine!
To the back of the neck.
Off with your head, Styles.
And even Nakamura paid for it a little on the outside.
Now tossing the champion back inside.
Looking for the cover to win the title, and a kick-out.
Another cover, another cover, and a kick-out.
Notice this deep into the match how quickly
Styles still shoots his shoulder up to kick out.
This is where it all began. Nakamura launching Styles into the stairs.
It's been all Shinsuke since.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
Even during the match, Nakamura showing disrespect to the champion.
Knowing it's going to incite the champion. Wants AJ to get angry and make a mistake.
Shinsuke's done a great job of already getting AJ Styles angry.
Of inciting the emotions of the champion.
Oh, man.
The rangy striker, Shinsuke Nakamura.
And this time to the left leg of AJ Styles.
Remember the right leg went into the steel stairs.
Again, the boot right underneath the chin here.
And AJ Styles, again, no disqualification here in the corner.
Can hold this as long as he wants.
You're absolutely right. He could just put AJ to sleep.
But Nakamura wants to feel a little…
…bad vibrations, Phillips.
[Tom] More insult to injury. Sinister smile of Nakamura.
The pleasure all over the face of Nakamura.
A year ago at this event,
he made his in-ring debut for SmackDown LIVE.
And what a difference a year makes.
[Corey exclaims]
Now drops the knee, into the cover to win the title.
And a kick-out by Styles. Forces into another cover.
Styles still free.
[Saxton] It took Nakamura about a year to get the lay of the land.
To figure out how to navigate the waters here in WWE.
How to play the games. How to figure people out.
Now Nakamura confident that he is where he needs to be.
And he's looking to take the final step up the mountain.
Or perhaps was it that year of pursuit of the WWE Championship
-which sent him off at WrestleMania? -Oh, my. Good Lord.
Down goes Styles.
[Corey] Shinsuke Nakamura is just merciless tonight.
[Tom] Look at this. Just…
Tapping at the back of the neck there with his feet.
[Saxton] This is the new Nakamura.
This is the new attitude we've seen over the last month from this man.
If you haven't seen it, it's new to you.
If you followed Nakamura's career for a long time…
This is Shinsuke in his purest and best form.
The nonconformist that will do anything and everything necessary
to reach the goal, to take the victory. This is the King of Strong Style.
[Tom] And Nakamura!
Dropping AJ Styles, big back body drop.
Wait, wait. Foot on the chest there, and a cover.
Just a one-count on Styles.
[Corey] How disrespectful can you be if you're Nakamura?
Oh, goodness.
And again, the knees right here to the side of the face of AJ Styles.
The King of Strong Style wasn't just something
that Shinsuke Nakamura thought of to put on T-shirts.
It's a reputation that Shinsuke earned over years and years and years.
WWE could be his next kingdom he conquers.
[Corey] The WWE Champion's gotta find a way free here.
It's been all Shinsuke Nakamura over the last few minutes of this matchup.
Nakamura with a guillotine applied.
Just wearing down Styles.
This is all perfectly legal.
Styles trying to get a grip of anything he can on Shinsuke Nakamura.
Not succeeding.
Shot to the midsection there. Now Styles thought about the suplex.
And here comes Nakamura with a lift.
-I think Styles lost a tooth. -Goodness.
From every angle imaginable, Nakamura can strike.
Nakamura loaded up and kicked Styles flat out of the ring.
[Shinsuke speaks indistinctly]
Oh!
[Saxton] And again into the barricade.
[Corey] Nakamura just enjoying himself. Enjoying the fruits of his labor.
And Styles into the timekeeper's area.
But able to land on his feet.
Oh!
-Goodness! -And a big forearm smash
there to Shinsuke Nakamura.
Styles!
And now look at Nakamura.
Nakamura with urgency, tossing Styles back inside the ring.
[Corey] Styles came crashing down very hard
on his ribs on the top of the barricade.
And Nakamura bringing Styles back inside and trying to wear down the champion.
[Saxton] Nakamura has stunted every attempt of AJ Styles
to develop some sort of momentum in this match.
[Corey] Shinsuke now trying to cut the breathing off of AJ Styles.
[Tom] And watch this. Styles went up here.
Was going off the top of the barricade. And just a shot right below the left knee.
And down went AJ Styles.
[Corey] Styles barely has his chin inside the forearm of Nakamura.
Preventing the submission from being finished.
But here comes a dragon sleeper in the center of the ring.
Styles is in jeopardy.
[Tom] Can Nakamura fall back here with the dragon sleeper
to be able to put away AJ Styles completely?
-Styles is trying to bridge up now. -Great standing up.
That might benefit Nakamura if he has his feet underneath him.
He could get up on his toes. Look at this reverse exploder.
-Lands on his feet. -Oh!
And a big right hand here by Styles.
Basic but effective.
And Nakamura sending Styles out onto the apron.
Another forearm.
And look where Styles is.
Nakamura's wobbly leg.
Styles going up to the top rope. Nakamura caught him again up there.
[Tom exclaims] Into the midsection.
[Corey] Once again, the ribs of Styles in danger.
Shinsuke starting to feel it.
Could be on the verge of seeing a new champion.
Shinsuke seated on the top turnbuckle here.
Zeroing in on Styles.
-That knee strike. -That is the knee!
-A prelude usually. Cover. -Cover.
Hook to both legs, and a kick-out.
In the past, we've seen Nakamura use that very jumping knee
to set up for the finale.
-The Kinshasa knee strike. -Up on the shoulders now
of Nakamura. AJ Styles.
Oh!
Landslide.
Cover.
Kick-out.
Just barely, Styles getting his left shoulder up.
Watch this one more time. Leaping from the middle rope.
And… Boom! Right there.
He caught Styles right in the top of the chest.
Right beneath the clavicle. Incredibly painful, I'm sure.
But not quite enough to keep the champion down.
[Tom] And again, this is just plain disgust
oozing out of the challenger here. Stomping away on AJ Styles.
[Corey] It's a fight, Phillips. You don't make championship history
by being pals with your opponent.
Nakamura could be… The black…
The black heart of Shinsuke Nakamura could be his best weapon right now.
No fear. No remorse.
No morality.
And Shinsuke Nakamura using every bit of this no disqualification rules.
It's totally legal.
The smile on Shinsuke's face.
[Saxton] Shinsuke Nakamura about to take this match to another level.
[Corey] Oh, now Shinsuke.
AJ Styles got his back here to Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura with the steel chair in hand.
And look at Styles.
Styles caught him.
Styles trying to hit him there with the neck breaker.
-Oh! You can hear these. -The impact.
-There's the left. -Oh, my God!
That sound!
And somehow Styles is still on his feet.
Styles is staggered.
Nakamura manipulating the chair.
Oh no! And the reverse exploder onto the chair!
-Styles, knees connected. -Here's the cover.
Hook to the inside leg, and a kick-out.
That soothing, calm look on the face of Nakamura has vanished.
Styles, there you see reverse exploder right on top of the steel chair,
but now it would appear that maybe Nakamura
feels frustration for the first time in this matchup.
I disagree with you, Corey.
I think Nakamura's had several moments of frustration in this match.
But what he has done successfully is worn down the champion.
[Corey] Hold on.
AJ Styles is down, opposite side of the ring.
Shinsuke Nakamura wants to end it here tonight at Backlash.
Here we go!
-Shinsuke! -[commentators exclaim]
[Saxton] AJ, AJ just launched the chair and hit Nakamura in the knee.
[Corey] Styles just dodged a Kinshasa,
possibly the loss of his championship,
by firing a steel chair directly at the kneecap of the challenger.
[Saxton] It was pure desperation, but for AJ Styles, it was necessary.
[Tom] I think the chair ricocheted off of Shinsuke Nakamura.
It bounced off the cheek of AJ Styles.
[Corey] I think you're right.
Styles definitely showing the scars of battle.
Let's look at this one more time.
What incredible awareness.
But you're right, the momentum of Nakamura running forward
sent the chair right back off the face of the champion!
And off the rebound--
And connecting right on the injured cheek there to Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Tom] Styles battered, beaten.
Oh, no, trying to turn it around! Into the Calf Crusher!
-Calf Crusher here! -Styles has it locked in!
And Shinsuke Nakamura gonna tap out!
AJ Styles in this no disqualification match!
Can he put away Shinsuke Nakamura once and for all?
[Tom] How much can Nakamura take?
This is what Styles promised,
the sheer look of torture on the face of Shinsuke Nakamura!
Pulling back on the knee the chair collided with!
The Calf Crusher here!
[Corey] AJ's pulling on the foot of Nakamura like a madman!
Nakamura in intense pain!
Look, shoulders out for a moment!
Put a reversal into a triangle!
Nakamura's gotta be careful here his shoulders don't get pinned to the mat!
But again, looking for the triangle here on Styles!
Oh, man, look at the strike to Styles!
And thought about the Styles Clash!
Nakamura!
-The very maneuver that Styles… -Oh!
…used to defeat Shinsuke at WrestleMania!
-Oh, my God, guys! -Time's up, fellas.
AJ Styles feeling desperate!
And AJ Styles thought about a Phenomenal forearm!
Nakamura slides back inside the ring!
-Oh, my God! -Right to the back of the neck!
-Styles! -Nasty blow by Styles!
Up on the shoulders!
Right to the small of the back! Here's the cover!
To retain the title, and the kick-out!
Take a look at this!
-Running forearm! -Bam!
[Corey] He was shot out of a cannon right to the back of Shinsuke's neck!
[Tom] Talk about Strong Style!
Two can play that game here tonight at Backlash!
[Saxton] This was earlier on with the chair!
Watch this!
Oh, man!
Right off the left side of the face of AJ Styles!
Top, the back of the seat!
Connected with the face of Styles, but AJ fighting through!
[Corey] Almost feel like wearing the wounds of battle
is giving Styles new life in this match.
And the Pelé Kick, back of the neck. Down goes Nakamura.
Styles fired up here in this match. Thinking about--
[commentators exclaim]
Déjà vu.
-[Tom] But this time it's all legal. -[Corey] No disqualification.
Styles fires back.
[Tom] For weeks, Styles has been afflicted by the low blow
and finally gets to return the favor.
[Corey] It's all legal as these two warriors give it everything
in their bodies for the right to be called WWE Champion.
Two!
[Corey] Nakamura writhing in pain. Styles writhing in pain.
The official beginning his count.
The Superstars have to answer the official's count in this match.
And if Styles makes it to his feet first, AJ is going to be declared victorious.
Seven!
[Tom] Count of seven for both Styles and Nakamura.
And Nakamura just trying to hold on to AJ Styles.
And both men seemingly climbing each other
just to stay alive to keep the match going.
The battle of attrition in its purest form.
Both of these Superstars have got to be hurting.
Doesn't seem to be too much behind these strikes.
These punches back and forth
earlier in the match could have knocked somebody out.
-There's something behind that one. -A little more.
AJ Styles, you can hear the thud.
AJ firing off those forearms.
Nakamura having trouble getting his feet
underneath him to plant to throw his punches.
Oh!
-Oh! -[Corey] Headbutt!
Doing anything they can here.
Oh, God!
And both men, they're thinking the exact same thing in the moment.
[Coach] They say great minds think alike.
Don't know if that saying applied to what we witnessed before.
[Cole] And again, they have to answer the official's count here.
Count of five.
Nakamura and Styles here.
Seven!
-Count of seven here. -This is getting dicey here.
Nakamura and Styles.
Neither man's been able to try and get to their feet here.
Ten!
-The official's making the decision. -Are you kidding me?
[crowd booing]
[inaudible conversation]
Ladies and gentlemen, neither competitor could answer the count of ten.
Therefore, still the WWE champion,
the phenomenal AJ Styles!
[Corey] Styles may still be the champion, but I guarantee
this is not how Styles wanted to walk away from this match.
[Tom] If he even can walk…
I understand that to the letter of the law, the referee's decision is valid.
You're right. Both Superstars failed to answer the ten-count.
It's a no contest.
It started with Shinsuke Nakamura with the first low blow.
Watch this. Bam!
Transitioning off of the Styles Clash.
And again, no disqualification match here for the WWE title.
AJ would retaliate. Bam!
A shot to Shinsuke Nakamura.
That had to feel good for Styles.
All the weeks of low blows, finally getting to return the favor.
But then this. Both men, same idea.
Double low blow.
[Corey] Those were both direct hits. You've been through that.
You know how miserable, how painful, how agonizing that truly is.
Not really a shocker that neither man could make it before ten.
But at the end of the day, guys, you have to realize,
Shinsuke Nakamura may have failed to capture the championship tonight.
But Shinsuke didn't lose to AJ Styles tonight.
At the same time, a match that played into Nakamura's hands.
What does Shinsuke Nakamura do now after all that he's done since WrestleMania?
Turning himself around completely.
Look, Shinsuke Nakamura has been an emotional anomaly ever since WrestleMania.
Take another look here. Both men…
Oh!
[Tom] Think about the irony here.
The low blow has been the Achilles' heel the last few weeks of AJ Styles.
And the low blow would be the reason that this match would conclude here tonight.
[Corey] Well, nonetheless, AJ Styles leads Backlash with the WWE Championship.
[Tom] A brutal altercation tonight between Styles and Nakamura.
♪ No, they don't want none ♪
♪ They looking scared No, they don't really want none ♪
♪ No, they don't want none No, they don't want none ♪
[Tom] And this has indeed been the best of both worlds tonight.
It is now time for action from Monday Night RAW.
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest is a Tag Team Match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, weighing in at 385 pounds, Braun Strowman.
Well, "The Monster Among Men" Braun Strowman
is still basking in the glow of what he accomplished nine nights ago
at the Greatest Royal Rumble in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 50-man Royal Rumble, largest ever. Braun Strowman entering at number 41.
And, Corey, did things change at that point!
[Corey] Braun Strowman eliminated practically a who's who in WWE,
including Shane McMahon, through our announce table.
But The Monster Among Men wasn't finished there.
[Saxton] Chris Jericho, followed by a man he meets tonight, Kevin Owens.
He even eliminated his own partner, Bobby Lashley.
[Corey] And finally, Big Cass, a record 13 eliminations.
And it was Braun Strowman clutching the championship title
and that beautiful trophy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
[Saxton] This is the face, in my opinion,
that over the course of the next 12 months will be the guy.
The guy to beat.
He not only wants to be the biggest, he wants to be the best.
[Bobby's theme music playing]
[Tom] Talk about big.
[announcer] His tag team partner from Denver, Colorado,
weighing 260 pounds, Bobby Lashley.
[Corey] What is Bobby Lashley capable of?
[Tom] Well, ask Sami Zayn.
A couple of weeks ago in a Tag Team match,
he delivered a vertical suplex to Sami Zayn,
which Sami said caused vertigo.
Sami Zayn couldn't compete in Saudi Arabia at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
[Corey] I don't know why you're saying that.
You're insinuating you don't believe Sami Zayn,
but it was an incredibly impressive physical feat by Bobby Lashley.
[Saxton] We invite you to watch
your favorite shows and movies online with Hulu.
You get next day unlimited instant streaming access
to all of WWE's weekly programs.
Visit Hulu.com for a free trial and start watching your favorite WWE shows today.
[Corey] Guys, I am a big fan of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
But I don't know who in their right mind thinks that anybody, any tandem,
can topple these two behemoths.
[upbeat music playing]
[announcer] Their opponents, the team of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens this past Monday night on RAW were…
well, in their element as they returned home to Montreal.
Both were brought up in the Montreal area.
But we're not. But we're not.
Lashley looking a bit concerned tonight.
Well, we are joined by an international row of announcers
here tonight at Backlash at The Rock in Newark, New Jersey.
Including our Portuguese announce team of Marco Alfaro and Roberto Figueroa.
[speaks Portuguese]
[Corey] Our Russian team of Moti Margolin and Zhan Pomerantsev.
[speaks Russian]
[Corey] Our Japanese team of Shun Yamaguchi and Funaki.
[speaks Japanese]
[Corey] Our Hindi announcers, Obaid Kadwani and Shez Sardar.
[speaks Hindi]
[Corey] Our French team of Ray Rougeau and Jean Brassard.
[speaks French]
[Corey] And our Mandarin team of Meng Ai and Sean Deng.
[speaks Mandarin]
[Corey] You know what Meng Ai said, Coach?
-[Cole laughs] -[Coach] What's that?
[Corey] He wants you to "coach" him up.
I heard Meng Ai is a part of the Coach's crew.
[Coach] Well, he is. I mean, who isn't?
[Cole] So it's Lashley going to start things off against Sami Zayn
here tonight in this Tag Team matchup.
[Corey] Understandable, Sami Zayn's tentative.
As the bell rings, Sami experienced severe vertigo.
[Coach laughs] Please stop.
Guys, I don't like to bring up things of years past, but I too…
[Corey] Yes, you do. That's kind of all you do.
[Coach] Well, I too have taken the Bobby Lashley beat down at one point.
It does give you vertigo. I think I had vertigo for years.
[Corey] You still have it, according to your announcing.
Nonetheless, Lashley, 6'3", 260.
Former United States Champion.
Came back to WWE with a vengeance.
Lashley's a man of few words, soft-spoken, but I don't know many that hit harder.
[Corey] Interesting story. Bobby Lashley's dad, a drill sergeant.
And Bobby said that because of that,
his dad made sure that Bobby always gave 100%.
[Coach] If these two can get along and get in the flow, this could…
-I don't think this is overhyping them. -Who is "them"?
Bobby and-- Could be the most dominant tag team in WWE history.
[Corey] We've seen over the past weeks what they're capable of
as Sami heads to the corner and his friend, Kevin Owens.
[Sami] I have vertigo.
[Corey] You can hear Sami said he has vertigo.
Recurring symptoms.
[Cole] Did we get the official doctor's note from the WWE medical staff?
[Corey] Why would you doubt Sami Zayn's medical diagnosis?
Lashley, the power bringing down Owens.
[Coach] I did say this on Coach 'Em Up
that I felt like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were the best pickup
that RAW got during the Superstar Shake-up.
[Corey] Lashley buries his shoulder into the midsection.
-Is that your Periscope show? -Yes.
[Corey] All right. And Owens whipped across the ring.
And Lashley now runs into a boot by KO.
And Kevin Owens…
And there's Lashley with a swinging neckbreaker.
[Coach] There aren't too many Superstars
that if Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn get a victory
that it would really do a lot for their careers.
But beating these two, Bobby and Braun, this would do--
Oh, gosh. Wow. Did you see the athleticism of Lashley?
Of course I did. But I'm still trying to wrap my brain
around whatever Coach babbled. Of course it would be a big victory.
Any victory in WWE is important,
especially on a dual-branded pay-per-view like Backlash.
Holy cow.
[Cole] Corey's getting frustrated. I think Sami Zayn is as well.
[Corey] I've got this bad problem called logic.
[Cole] And Lashley delivers an elbow to the top
of the face of Sami Zayn.
And Sami thinks twice about it and is going to take a breather.
[Corey] Very, very wise.
Similar to what we're seeing in the opening moments
like we saw from Nakamura.
Trying to frustrate AJ Styles in and out of the ring.
It's one of Kevin Owens's favorite maneuvers.
You've seen how many times the bell rings and Kevin takes a hike.
And Sami Zayn, though, drove into the barricade by Lashley.
And Sami Zayn right out here in front of us.
Get away from me, Sami.
I don't know where you think you're going.
Not far.
Bounced off the announce table by Lashley.
And Sami back into the ring.
-[Cole] Whoa. Talk about athleticism. -That is freakish.
Oh, and Kevin Owens tried to get involved.
And now Sami Zayn takes advantage off the distraction by KO.
That was a very, very well laid out game plan by Sami and Kevin.
And here comes Kevin now with a senton to Lashley.
Sami Zayn lured Bobby Lashley into their own corner.
[Corey] You can talk about the power.
You can talk about the athleticism of the Braun Strowman-Lashley team.
But there's something to be said about the chemistry
of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Best friends, how well they know each other.
Working together to take Lashley down.
As we take a look at how they turn this around.
It seems Sami Zayn was taking a hike.
Bobby Lashley getting caught up in the numbers game. But boom!
Sami with great situational awareness makes the powerhouse pay.
[Coach] You mentioned chemistry, but if they want to be victorious,
they need to turn this into a fight.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are at their best when it's a fight.
[Corey] It's hard to get into a fight, though, with Lashley and Strowman.
I wholeheartedly disagree with you, Coach.
You're talking about Lashley, who's a former mixed martial artist,
The Monster Among Men,
and you've got Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, whose wheelhouse is technical ability.
Both can mix it up in a fight, but you want technical.
You want to get technical with these two.
[Coach] Their wheelhouse is also cheating, but nonetheless, Lashley.
The shots to the ribcage of Sami Zayn.
[Corey] Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat.
Fingertips away from Strowman.
Lashley trying to make it there. And, oh!
Planted face first, Zayn.
Can Lashley seize this opportunity?
[Coach] They've done a great job of keeping Bobby in the match.
And now Braun, in the worst way, wants and needs to get into this match.
[Corey] Tag made. Here's KO.
Great job keeping Lashley away from his partner.
If you're Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, you don't want Strowman in this match.
Lashley knees up, another opportunity.
Lashley tagged. Got him.
-Strowman! -Uh-oh.
Another wicked clothesline!
Strowman swinging those redwood-like arms.
Freight train.
[Coach] He only knows one way, one speed.
One impact.
[Corey] Sami, you're not legal, I don't think you have to do this.
Oh, my God, Braun Strowman in pursuit of Sami Zayn.
Oh, no.
And Kevin Owens just got in harm's way!
And now, Braun Strowman driving Zayn into the barricade!
A big old bear paw sent Zayn flying!
[Coach] Now he's trying to decide, which one do I go after?
[Corey] Kevin, stay down, stay down, stay down! Oh, my God!
[Coach] Which one is legal right now?
-I believe it's Kevin Owens. -[Corey] Kevin Owens.
-Right. -I feel bad for him.
Kevin Owens, week after week, has been subjected to this punishment!
-Oh, my. -Post to shoulder!
Kevin Owens just desperately…
moved out of harm's way.
And this was the opening that they needed.
Tag in Sami, here we go.
We gotta stay on Braun.
Sami wants in, Sami's gotta be thinking about a Helluva kick.
Braun's gonna end up where he needs to be!
Zayn looking for it, Strowman caught him though, picked him out of the air!
Sami able to escape, and once again…
And Sami wants nothing to do with Braun Strowman.
And Sami Zayn…
Hey, what are you doing?
-Get outta here. -What?
[Coach] We talked earlier tonight…
Let's go.
No!
No, we stay and we fight!
No! We stay and fight!
-All right. -You and me!
You and me! You ready?
Yeah.
[Corey] I guess Kevin Owens is gonna be fighting.
-Did you hear what they said? -What?
-We stay and we what, Corey? -Braun! Strowman with a clubbing blow!
That there was just an example of this toxic relationship between these two
good friends of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
You see? You see? Come on.
Let's get out of here.
[Coach] Oh, no!
What are you doing?
What are you guys doing?
[Cole] Oh, Lord.
-Oh, God. -Look at Braun and Bobby.
They have no idea what they are watching.
Easy. Easy. Easy. I got carried away.
I got carried away.
Hey. All right, calm down. Hey.
You slapped me?
[Cole] Sami's gonna run away!
-You slap me, then you leave? -It was an accident!
You slapped me!
They tagged. Kevin, they tagged!
Kevin, they tagged!
[Cole] Kevin, turn around. Strange relationship between those two.
Spinebuster!
Strange is one word for it.
[Cole] Oh, my God, look at this power! That's 266 pounds!
[Corey] Oh, no, Kevin's gonna get vertigo!
Kevin Owens!
Planted by Lashley. Cover. Hooks the leg.
-[bell dings] -Lashley and Strowman win.
[announcer] Here are your winners. Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley.
[Corey] They won the match, not sure they pinned the legal man.
[Cole] I was gonna say, I thought Sami was legal.
[Coach] I think Kevin was legal,
and he threw Sami in first, then Sami threw Kevin back in.
[Corey] Nonetheless, Strowman and Lashley in complete control in this matchup.
Laying waste to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Pretty formidable team.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
[Corey] I don't-- Uh-oh. Look at this.
Please. Please.
[Corey] Zayn trying to help his friend?
-Sami was trying to help him. -I don't think he was.
[Cole] Apparently, Braun didn't get enough--
Powerslam.
[Corey] I condemned it earlier, I'm gonna condemn this now.
That was uncalled for. Why did Strowman have to powerslam Owens?
[Coach] I actually agree with you on that one. They already got the win.
Be a great competitor and call it a night.
Boy, these two are big, nasty, and tough.
[Cole] That's an understatement.
It's unfair, it was two on one.
[Corey] All right, Sami! Finally got Sami!
Braun finally got Sami!
Sami's stuck between a monster and a hard place.
Oh, my God. No, I'm done. Come on.
I don't think he's gonna get any sympathy from Lashley and Strowman.
This is enough, Strowman. Powerslam!
[Coach] Hey, Braun wanted to be fair.
Wow.
[Coach laughs] Wow.
And it takes place six weeks from tonight.
One of my favorite pay-per-views of the year. Money in the Bank.
You and me both, the male and female Superstars
will have the opportunity to compete in a Ladder Match.
Atop the ladder, the briefcase that holds a guaranteed
opportunity to challenge for a championship here in WWE.
It has and could change more careers.
Money in the Bank can be seen on the WWE Network, as can the Backlash Post-Show.
Coming your way immediately following the Backlash pay-per-view event.
We can now tell you the guest tonight will be The Miz,
the SmackDown Women's Champion, Carmella.
Daniel Bryan will not appear tonight because of the injuries
he suffered at the hands of Big Cass earlier on.
Replacing Daniel Bryan, Elias, who demands to finish
the performance he started earlier tonight at Backlash.
Well, coming up next, an extremely personal rivalry continues.
The man who says that he is the uncrowned Universal Champion, Roman Reigns,
versus the dangerous Samoa Joe.
For Roman Reigns, he must somehow turn his attention to Samoa Joe
after his recent emotionally and physically damaging battles
with Brock Lesnar.
I just feel like I let everybody down.
-[bell dings] -You say you're gonna do something.
I didn't get it done tonight.
[Corey] Roman Reigns fought like hell, but could not conquer Brock Lesnar.
As you can see, I got my ass kicked last night.
Vince McMahon himself couldn't even look me in the eye and smarten me up.
[Cole] Brock Lesnar is officially re-signed with WWE.
[Corey] Roman Reigns will get an opportunity
at the Greatest Royal Rumble event from Saudi Arabia.
[Roman] It's not going down like it did at WrestleMania, because this time,
the story will end with me becoming the Universal Champion.
[Corey] Oh, my God.
[Cole] We gotta wait for the official's decision here.
[bell dings]
-[announcer] And still… -[Corey] Are you kidding me?
[announcer] …Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar!
[Roman] I should be the Universal Champion.
[Cole] Roman Reigns could be touching the floor before Lesnar.
[Roman] But I'm not.
[man] The official of that match made an incorrect decision.
[Corey] This is a surprise Roman Reigns is not gonna enjoy.
[Cole] The return of Samoa Joe.
Roman, you lied to these fans.
You lied to your family.
Every time Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar get in a ring together, you get broken.
And you come out here making excuses why it happened.
A lot of people lost faith in me.
Not to assume that any of us had any faith in you to begin with.
But the fact is, I am a man of my word.
Roman thinks there's a conspiracy.
You're looking at the real Universal Champion.
Reigns is a failure.
End of story.
Period.
I will never lose faith in myself.
[Samoa Joe] You keep showing up with all your heart.
And get beat over and over and over again.
And you won't learn until somebody puts you down for good.
[Roman] No matter how hard they try, no matter how tough they talk,
The Big Dog is still here.
[Samoa Joe] Here at Backlash,
I put your downward-spiraling career to sleep.
Believe that!
[Samoa Joe's theme music playing]
[crowd chanting] Joe! Joe! Joe!
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Huntington Beach, California, weighing 282 pounds…
Samoa Joe!
[Cole] Co-branded match tonight. Samoa Joe now a part of SmackDown LIVE
thanks to the Superstar Shake-up last month.
Here's the man who earlier tonight said
he's going to turn The Big Dog, quote, into a whimpering puppy.
[Corey] Samoa Joe certainly has the capability to do so.
We've seen in the past, Joe wrap his arms around
The Big Dog's neck and squeeze the breath right out of his body.
Where you at, dog? Where you at, Big Dog?
[Corey] And here comes The Big Dog!
[announcer] His opponent, from Pensacola, Florida, weighing 265 pounds…
Roman Reigns!
[Cole] Is there a man in WWE today that is more polarizing than Roman Reigns?
[Corey] I would say absolutely not.
Roman Reigns has become used to this.
Roman thrives off a hostile environment.
He lives for the big fight feel, which is what we're going to get tonight.
But is Roman ready?
Samoa Joe said earlier today that he looks in Roman's eyes
and sees that The Big Dog has no more confidence left in himself.
We're about to find out if that's true.
[Coach] Samoa Joe had to sit out due to injury for several months
and watch Roman Reigns fight month after month, week after week.
Sometimes, boys, it's not about a championship. It's about pride.
It's about looking the other man in the eye and saying,
"Let's go toe-to-toe. Let's see who is the better man."
That's what tonight is truly all about.
[Corey] Earlier today, I sat down with Reigns and I talked to Roman about this
grueling schedule that the WWE Superstars have been through over the past six weeks.
[Cole] The physical match that Roman had with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.
The trip to South Africa, the battle with Brock inside a steel cage,
the Greatest Royal Rumble, then up to Canada,
now here tonight against Samoa Joe,
and I asked him, "Has your confidence ever wavered?
Have you stopped believing in yourself?
Roman looked him in the eye, and he had one word. "No."
[Corey] I can understand that.
Roman Reigns prides himself on being a leader here in WWE.
For the guys and girls in the locker room, for the fans all over the globe,
Roman lives to do this, and he would never show any sign of weakness overtly.
That said, Samoa Joe seems to believe that Roman's cracking.
We're gonna find out right now if Joe's got a point or not.
[Coach] Here's the thing.
When you say no, that's one thing.
But when you go through so many battles, and so many battles all over the world…
[Cole] Oh, and Joe caught him with a right.
A cheap shot by Samoa Joe. The bell hasn't even rung yet.
The official trying to separate these two men.
And Joe going right after Roman Reigns.
[Corey] Absolute brutality.
Joe promised to put The Big Dog to sleep tonight.
Roman Reigns with a right hand, fighting back
-on Samoa Joe, battling right out here. -Joe!
Joe and Reigns, this is gonna be a physical war.
And now Reigns into the barricade.
This is not gonna be for the faint of heart.
-And now Samoa Joe! -Uh-oh!
-Whoa! -With the uranage!
Through the Spanish announce table.
[Coach] Holy smokes!
[Cole] Guys, this match hasn't started, right?
[Corey] No, the bell never rang. The official bell.
[Cole] Samoa Joe with a cheap shot. A right hand to start this thing.
And now Joe!
[Coach] You think he was ready to come back?
[Cole] He senses that Roman is wounded. He senses that Roman Reigns is hurt.
And Reigns sent over our announce table.
Roman Reigns sent over our announce table.
And now Samoa Joe.
He smells the blood.
[Coach] Well, he's just talking.
And talking.
-[Cole] And now for… -Another one!
The third table for Reigns.
Roman Reigns is being slung all around this arena.
Beaten down by Samoa Joe.
[Coach] But the one thing we know, Michael,
is he's been through these battles before.
This is nothing that Roman Reigns hasn't experienced.
[Cole] And again, this match has not begun.
Samoa Joe attacking Reigns before the match even started.
The official trying to get them back to the ring.
But Samoa Joe is hellbent on destroying Roman.
[Coach] Destroying Roman, yes, Cole. But also sending a message.
"Hey, I've been out for several months.
But maybe I'm The Big Dog of this show here tonight."
[Corey] Samoa Joe out here to prove that. He said that's what he's here for.
He wants to take out Roman Reigns.
Then he wants to move on to the SmackDown LIVE roster.
[Coach] If I'm the SmackDown LIVE roster, I'm watching this right now,
and I'm thinking to myself, what version of Samoa Joe has come back?
[Cole] And now the official checking with Roman Reigns.
Making sure Roman is going to be able to continue
so this match will actually start and become official here tonight.
Corey Graves back with us here at ringside. That was close.
[Corey] The match hasn't even begun yet.
And we've already had all sorts of destruction ringside.
A wicked uranage by Joe.
Put Roman Reigns through the Spanish announce table.
Can you go?
[Coach] You heard the referee, "Can you go?"
-[bell dings] -Roman shook his head. So here we go.
[Cole] Samoa Joe now teeing off on Roman Reigns.
A helpless Roman Reigns right now. He's defenseless.
He can't even put his hands up to protect himself.
[Coach] The intensity from Samoa Joe is off the charts.
I mean, from the minute Roman Reigns came out here, Samoa Joe had him in his sights,
-locked eyes, and was ready to go. -[Samoa Joe grunts]
[Cole] And this all started with a… Well, I call it a cheap shot.
A right hand by Joe to Reigns before the match began.
And it has been all Joe destruction since. And there.
Roman Reigns, hooks the leg by Joe.
Kick-out at two.
Roman, in my estimation, guys, can ill afford a loss here tonight.
[Corey] It's not going to be that easy for Samoa Joe to put The Big Dog down.
It's going to take more…
I'm surprised Roman… I shouldn't say I'm surprised.
I'm not surprised that Roman continued the fight.
The pain I was talking about…
[Coach] Samoa Joe is trying to send two messages.
One to Roman Reigns, the other one to the entire SmackDown LIVE locker room.
-Come on, Roman. -Joe's a mean dude.
-Corey, you've known him all your life. -[Corey] Many years.
He's always been the same guy. He seems to get meaner and nastier
as time goes on because he feels he doesn't get
the respect he deserves, that he has earned.
[Coach] There are certain guys that were just made for this business.
Certain guys that were just made for the physicality.
Samoa Joe checks all the boxes.
We talk about Joe's Muay Thai background, his Jujitsu background,
but he can just get in your face and beat you down.
That's not…
Samoa Joe's looking to twist the head off of Roman's shoulders.
I did not expect this tonight.
[Coach] I know you called it a cheap shot.
[Cole] It was, it happened before the bell rang.
[Coach] I understand that, it's taking advantage of the situation.
[Cole] It's a cheap shot. The bell didn't ring. The match hadn't started.
Nah.
This is the pain I was talking about!
You can make this end.
You just gotta go away.
[Cole] This is earlier on. Watch this uranage. Watch the force…
Roman through the table!
Right now, Samoa Joe's got nearly all of his 300 pounds
leaning down across the neck, twisting on Roman Reigns' shoulders.
[Coach] I would love to ask WWE Stats and Info
if that's the quickest through a table we've ever had in WWE history.
[Cole] And look at Joe continuing to work on the neck of Roman Reigns.
Keep hearing Samoa Joe say, "This is the pain I told you about."
Joe referring to the fact he said, "Roman's gonna feel so much pain
when he closes his eyes, he's gonna see me forever."
I don't wanna make excuses for Roman, but, guys, he can't be 100% tonight.
Nine nights ago, he went through that physical, brutal battle with Brock Lesnar.
[Coach] I think that's the thing about Reigns that we all respect,
is that he shows up every single night, regardless, Michael,
is if he's 100%, or if he's 50%, or if he's 25%.
[Corey] That's why he's the way he is today.
But that's also why Samoa Joe is maybe the most dangerous man in WWE.
He's got an assassin's mentality.
Find a weakness and exploit it, which is exactly what he's doing.
[Coach] There's very few men that can talk it and then walk it.
And Samoa Joe does both very, very well.
This can all end. Nobody wants it.
You just gotta go away. You just gotta go away.
[Cole] Roman's had no offense at all in this match.
It has been all Samoa Joe.
-The eyes, the voice. -Ref!
[speaks indistinctly]
[Cole] Oh!
Oh, look at Roman!
Roman just peeling back the fingers of Samoa Joe.
[Corey] He created separation.
And now Roman trying to fight back against Joe.
[Coach] This is the separation he needed.
[Cole] Into the corner goes Roman Reigns. There you go. Boom!
There it is. Joey Headrocker, kick you right in the ear.
[Corey] Cover by Joe to vanquish Reigns tonight.
Kick-out by Roman.
[Coach] Samoa Joe might be the quickest big man
that we've seen in a very, very long time.
[Cole] Samoa Joe's been that way for years, Coach.
It built his reputation. A man that size that is so smooth in the ring.
And so physical.
Corey, you've been in the ring with Samoa Joe.
[Corey] Two cracked… I don't currently have cracked ribs.
But I had two cracked ribs to show as a trophy for my survival of Samoa Joe.
[Cole] Joe now with the right jabs.
Becomes synonymous. Now a knee to the chin.
And right back working on the neck of Roman Reigns.
[Cole] Great strategy. Samoa Joe's a veteran.
He may be relatively new to the WWE Universe.
But Joe has been around the world three or four times.
Spent considerable time all over the world. Europe, Japan.
Joe is a dangerous human being.
[Cole] He's not out here trying to get style points.
It's not pretty for Joe. He just wants to hurt you.
Hurt you, maim you, and win the match.
[Corey] Joe wants to show up on Monday Night RAW and say, "I told you so."
[Coach] That's the beautiful part of the way that he works in the ring.
His pacing is always spot on depending on what he wants to do.
[Cole] Samoa Joe will show up on SmackDown LIVE Tuesday night
to say, "I told you so." If he wins this match.
[Corey] Samoa Joe can do whatever he wants.
He might show up on Monday Night RAW
to tell Roman again, "I told you so."
[Cole] Roman Reigns in deep, deep trouble here.
Can Reigns fight back?
Can he go dig down deep again?
Roman's made a career out of it.
And again, creating some separation.
Joe back to the corner.
Roman trying to shake the cobwebs. Joe launches him to the apron.
Roman Reigns up on the top rope.
Look out! Look out! Like a jumbo jet!
Wow!
My God!
[Coach] Zero hesitation from the big man.
[Cole] Clear the runways at Newark Liberty.
That was like a jumbo jet flying out of the ring and crushing Roman Reigns.
Watch this!
Speed all the way across the ring.
Diving through. Notice how Samoa Joe leads with his forearm.
The first thing to connect was Joe's forearm right on the jaw of Roman Reigns.
Followed by nearly 300 pounds.
That was high risk, but Joe had a plan.
[Coach] Yeah, and he had technique too.
Every time Roman Reigns seems to be getting back into the match, or getting
-the upper hand, Samoa Joe-- -Cover by Joe on Reigns to put him away,
Roman just gets the shoulder up at two and a half.
This is absolutely incredible, the impact right to the jaw,
and then the 300 pounds crushing down on Reigns' body.
Such a high level of difficulty for somebody the size of Samoa Joe
-to be able to pull that off. -[Corey] Joe makes it look easy.
-Now Reigning down elbows. -Joe has absolutely no absence of malice.
Just wearing Roman down. Everything Joe does is painful.
It hurts.
No wasted motion.
-Joe knows it, and Joe enjoys it. -All night long.
[Coach] Samoa Joe waited so long
to become a WWE Superstar that the way that he works,
the way that he goes about his business shows me a man that says,
"I'm not wasting any opportunity that I have
when I step in the ring with whoever I step in the ring with."
[Cole] Samoa Joe just leaning on Roman Reigns now.
-Check him. -[referee] What do you say, Roman?
[Cole] Roman's in a great deal of trouble right now.
Samoa Joe in complete control.
[crowd chants indistinctly]
Joe's enjoying himself.
-Samoa Joe knows-- -That's your punishment.
This pain is yours and yours alone.
Joe with a grin on his face.
[Cole] Samoa Joe knows he's in the driver's seat right now.
[Coach] Look at his face. He's enjoying every single second, every minute of it.
[Corey] Joe's got his forearm and elbow pinned down across the back of the neck.
Roman isn't going anywhere.
Samoa Joe just picking Reigns apart right now.
[Cole] What does Roman do?
[Corey] I don't have an answer for you.
[Coach] The one thing I don't think he's going to do is tap, give up or quit.
That's not in his DNA.
[Corey] Historically speaking, I agree with you, Coach.
I don't think it's in Roman Reigns's vocabulary to say, "I quit."
But that said, The Big Dog is in a lot of trouble right now,
and Joe inches closer to his goal of putting The Big Dog down for good.
[Cole] Roman trying to fight back to a vertical base
to give him some leverage here and try to fight back against Joe,
but has the damage been done?
Right hand. Joe still holds on.
And another by Roman forces the break.
Joe with a right.
And he's…
These two men exchanging blows center of the ring.
Dropping bombs on one another. Look at this.
Nothing is going to sneak up on the other.
Oh, wow.
Straight right.
[Cole] Oh, big boot! Joe got caught right in the face.
[Coach] And went down for the first time.
-He went out of the ring. -That's smart. That's veteran instinct.
Joe's outside. Can re-plan his game.
Now Roman trying to figure out what does he do now.
Look at the way Roman's moving right now.
He's just ginger everything, and Roman's body's got to be wracked with pain.
Take a look at this boot.
Yeah, first sustained bit of offense by Reigns right off the nose of Samoa Joe.
And now Roman Reigns has Joe in Drive-By position.
And you can feel the momentum beginning to shift a little bit.
[Coach] I think the way you counteract Samoa Joe and his physicality
is you bring even more physicality back to him.
[Cole] For Roman Reigns, he believes he has something to prove here tonight.
[Corey] Of course he does. Roman knows that according to the rules,
he might be the uncrowned Universal Champion.
But in the eyes of the WWE Universe,
Roman has failed to emerge victorious on the big stage
the last two options he had. That bothers him. That eats at him.
[Cole] Yeah, Brock Lesnar's still walking around with the Universal Championship.
[Coach] Now you're starting to see even Roman's talking a little bit.
That's out of the ordinary for him.
[Corey] Sometimes a guy like Samoa Joe brings out the best in Roman Reigns.
[Coach] Sometimes you have to go to his level, no doubt.
[Cole] That primal rage. Reigns.
Joe caught him! Inverted atomic drop!
Joe with a kick. Down goes Reigns.
-Senton. -Senton.
[Corey] Cover by Joe to put The Big Dog away.
Middle of the ring.
Reigns with the shoulder up at two.
[Coach] Can you imagine what Samoa Joe would say,
or is going to say, if he's able to beat down Roman Reigns
and walk out of Backlash with a win?
[Corey] I've already imagined it. It's not hard to imagine.
Like I said, Joe may show up on Monday night just to say, "Roman, I told you so."
And they continue to brag on SmackDown LIVE on Tuesday.
Samoa Joe will beat you down and never let you forget about it.
[Cole] Looking for maybe another uranage.
[Corey] The first one, he put Reigns through an announce table.
[Cole] Roman, though, able to fight back. Joe with a kick to the midsection.
Roman able to counter again.
[Coach] No question this pace favors Samoa Joe.
[Cole] Boot stops Reigns in his tracks.
Roman Reigns planting Samoa Joe!
Cover! For the win! Hooks the leg!
Joe powers out!
[Corey] Both these men exhausted.
Both men have been put through hell.
Samoa Joe from the jump start on Roman Reigns.
You can see the face of Samoa Joe, under his left eye,
there's a mouse beginning to grow about the size of a golf ball.
[Cole] I was going to mention, Corey, I don't even know how Reigns
is still in this fight after the way it began.
[Corey] Both these guys going to know they were in a fight tomorrow morning.
You would think there would have to be somewhere down deep
a mutual respect for each other after this one.
[Corey] I don't know if Samoa Joe respects anybody not named Samoa Joe.
Roman Reigns went for the Superman Punch.
-Joe caught him with a-- -The Coquina Clutch!
We've seen Samoa Joe take-- Oh, man, throat first across the top rope.
What a desperate but great move by The Big Dog.
-Yeah, it worked, didn't it? -And Roman's still limping.
Looks like maybe his right knee.
His whole body's beat up.
Roman measuring Joe.
Oh, and Joe caught him!
Joe caught him into the clutch! How the hell did he do that?
What a move by Joe!
He picked Reigns out of midair, but Reigns able to counter.
Rolls him up. Shoulders are now down!
Kick-out at two, near-fall.
-Superman Punch! -He got him!
-Cover! Inside leg hook! -One, two--
[Cole] Kick-out again!
[Coach] I think he's so exhausted,
he can't get a really good, hard cover on Samoa Joe.
[Corey] That was incredible, what Samoa Joe did,
picking Reigns out of midair as he went for the Drive-By.
[Cole] Look at this, though. Roman able to answer with a Superman Punch.
Jaw-jacked.
[Coach] Amazed at the back and forth.
What these two are able to do, how far they're able to dig.
[Corey] Samoa Joe looking weary for the first time in a while.
Reigns. Oh, went for the spear.
Joe met him with a kick to the face.
[Cole] It rocked Roman but Reigns still up.
Spear!
-Cover! -One, two…
[Coach] That's it!
[Cole] He hooked the inside leg which allowed Joe
to get his other leg on the rope, forcing the break.
[Corey] Veteran ring awareness by Samoa Joe,
realizing where he's at inside the ring at all times.
[Coach] And very unlucky on the part of Roman Reigns.
[Corey] This one could come down to who can make it to their feet first.
That might have been a last gasp effort.
The spear that Roman connected with, while effective,
wasn't the finale that we had all hoped it would be.
Again, the veteran Samoa Joe able to force the break of the count.
And now the official.
This is the point in the match where both men's legs are burning.
It feels like you're running through mud this deep,
you've expended every energy in your body.
Can you push through? Can you mount some sort of momentum?
[Coach] And it looks like Samoa Joe indeed is the first one back to his feet.
[Cole] This is wildly Reigns.
-Oh, man! -Got him.
And now Joe going for the Coquina Clutch!
And Reigns desperately trying to somehow break this hold.
Center of the ring. Joe wrapping the legs.
-Oh, wait a minute! -Roman though!
Roman reversed it! Joe's shoulders are down!
-And Joe had to break! -[Coach] He had to!
A great counter by Roman.
Nobody home.
Reigns just shook his… Look at this!
-Shoulders down again! -Uh-oh! Look at that!
Coquina Clutch! And Joe looking to wrap the legs!
And there he does! He wraps the legs around the midsection of Reigns!
Clutch is in.
[Corey] Like an anaconda wrapped around The Big Dog.
[Coach] There's nowhere to go. There's nowhere to breathe.
[Cole] What does Roman do here?
Come on, Roman!
[Cole] Roman's gotta somehow reverse this, to get to the ropes.
[Coach] Joe using his legs to pin Roman's left arm down.
-Control the pressure! -[Cole] Roman's fading!
Roman Reigns is fading here!
[Corey] The referee needs to check, and Roman's out!
-Referee's gonna stop this! -Look at Roman's eyes!
Roman's eyes rolling back in his head!
The referee's gonna stop this, Samoa Joe is gonna win!
Yeah, but Roman Reigns now showing some life.
Reigns showing some life! Back to the ropes! Forcing a break!
[Coach] One last-ditch effort, boys!
[Corey] I don't know about that,
I think the ref might have been able to call that one a few seconds earlier.
Roman's eyes were rolled back in his head, his arms were limp.
[Coach] In a match of this magnitude, you wanna give every last chance
to stay a part of the match.
[Corey] Look at the change in demeanor.
Joe with wide eyes as he realizes that Reigns
is somehow able to survive.
[Coach] Don't change the game plan. Don't change the attack.
[Cole] I don't think he is. He just wants to punish Roman some more.
Listen to Roman, listen. Exhausted, gasping for air.
Joe in the driver's seat.
[Coach] It doesn't look like Roman has anything left.
[Corey] Samoa Joe possibly thinking about a Muscle Buster.
[Cole] That's what he's looking for, Corey.
Roman leaps over. Samoa Joe rolls--
-Oh, he got him! -Spear!
-Cover! -One, two, three.
-[Cole] Reigns wins! -[bell dings]
[announcer] Here's your winner, Roman Reigns!
[Coach] I don't know where that came from. Where the energy came from.
But it was something Roman Reigns had to figure out,
he figured it out at the exact right moment.
[Cole] The reserve that a great champion possesses, deep down, late into the fight,
the late innings, whatever it takes to find that last bit of energy
to deliver what needs to be given.
That is exactly what The Big Dog did tonight.
[Corey] While we continue to be amazed at the resilience of Roman Reigns,
here's another example of the athleticism, the spear,
and Roman Reigns picks up a victory here tonight,
in what I believe was a must-win for Roman Reigns
after everything he's been through over the past six weeks.
[Cole] I agree. In Roman's mind, Roman believes it was a must-win.
Roman, in the back of his mind, he's thinking about the Beast Incarnate
who still clutches the WWE Universal Championship.
[Coach] Sometimes, the hardest thing, guys,
is to continue to show up night after night, week after week.
I'll give it to Roman Reigns. He continues to show up.
[Cole] Roman Reigns is victorious here tonight
as we thank you for joining us at WWE Backlash.
A reminder, up next, the Backlash Post-Show,
exclusively on the WWE Network.
Good night, everybody, from Newark. st-Show,