Countdown to King & Queen of the Ring: May 25, 2024

Get the latest breaking news, rivalry analysis from a panel of experts, and so much more on the Countdown to King & Queen of the Ring!

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>> THEN, NOW. FOREVER. TOGETHER. >> THIS IS THE MAJOR — IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA. IN THE FAR WEST WEST COUNTRY ON THE GORGEOUS RED C. THE SERVER FROM THE ARCHITECT, TO THE TALLEST HOUSE IN THE WORLD. 800 FEET INTO THE SKY, THIS IS JET A. AND THIS IS THE SUPERDOME. THE LARGEST DOME ON THE PLANET. HOSTING EXHIBITIONS LIKE W TO BE EE, KING. — WWE, KING. >> THE KINGPIN OF W TO BE EE, CODY RHODES WWE, CODY RHODES HAS ARRIVED. EARLIER IN SAUDI ARABIA, THE BOXING WORLD SAW A NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION CROWNED. THE SELF PROCLAIMED ROCKET WAS TO TAKE THE TITLE TO EVEN HIGHER HEIGHTS IF LOGAN PAUL CAN WRESTLE IT FROM CODY RHODES. >> SHE’S THE WOMEN’S CHAMPION FROM MONDAY NIGHT RAW. BECKY LYNCH DEFENDS HER TITLE HERE TONIGHT AGAINST THIS WOMAN, LIV MORGAN. A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE, THE LIV MORGAN REVENGE TOUR CONTINUES TONIGHT AND HOPES TO IN WITH A WORLD TITLE AROUND HER WAIST. HE’S THE CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER OF WW EE — WWE. THE TRIPLE H ERA TAKES US TO THE QUEEN AND KING OF THE RING. THE COUNTDOWN FROM JETTA IS LIVE, NOW. >> THE MOMENT AN IDEA BECOMES AN OBSESSION SIGNIFIES THE BEGINNING OF A CHAMPIONS JOURNEY. AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE THRONE. DEFEND WHAT’S ALREADY YOURS. AND DELIVER A MASSIVE SPECTACLE. >> AND ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE SCENE. >> IN FRONT OF THE WORLD. >> SHOWTIME. >> TONIGHT, IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, IT IS NO LONGER ABOUT HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME, BUT HOW HIGH YOU WILL ASCEND. >> THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. THE MOMENTS. THE EMOTION. >> REMEMBER THIS. EVERY JOURNEY STARTS WITH A SPARK OF AN IDEA. AND WHAT WE MAKE OF OUR OBSESSIONS BECOMES OUR DESTINY. THIS IS WWE KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING. AND NOW, WWE PRESENTS COUNTDOWN TO KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING. >> TONIGHT, THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME AWAITS MONDAY NIGHTS OF START FROM EMERALD ISLE IN OUR QUEEN OF THE RING FINALS. AWAITING FOR LYRA, THE IRRESISTIBLE FORCE WHO HAS A SWATH OF DESTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE SMACKDOWN BRACKET. TONIGHT, NAYAK CAN PUNCH HER TICKET NOT ONLY TO THE QUEEN CROWN BUT SUMMERSLAM. TONIGHT, HE HOPES TO BECOME THE KING GENERAL. GUNTHER, THE LONGEST REIGNING INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM AGAINST THIS MAN. A 14 TIME WORLD CHAMPION, THE APEX PREDATOR, RANDY ORTON, WHO HAS NEVER WON KING OF THE RING IN HIS HALL OF FAME CAREER. THE QUESTION IS WHO WILL BECOME KING TONIGHT? HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA. THIS IS THE SUPERDOME. INSIDE THE SUPERDOME, I AM MICHAEL COLE FROM MONDAY NIGHT RAW, JOINED BY OUR EXPERTS. FORMER KING OF THE RING FROM FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN, LANE BARRETT. AND THEN MR. MONEY IN THE BANK, BIG E. AND THE VOICE OF FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN, ORRIE GRAVES. WELCOME TO THE COUNTDOWN SHOW FOR KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING. ROWDY CROWD ALREADY. THEY HAVE BEEN RARING TO GO ALL DAY LONG. YOU ARE A FORMER KING OF THE RING. HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS NIGHT? >> WINNING KING OF THE RING WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOMENTS OF MY ENTIRE CAREER. BUT, THIS IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL. THERE IS A NEW SPARKLE TO THE CROWN THIS YEAR. THAT SPARKLE GOT EVEN BRIGHTER WHEN TRIPLE H ANNOUNCED THAT THE WINNER OF THAT CROWN WILL GET A CHAMPIONSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT SUMMERSLAM. COULD NOT BE MORE HUGE FOR BOTH OF THOSE TWO SUPERSTARS. >> IT’S COMFORTABLE INSIDE THE JEDDAH SUPERDOME. BUT OUTSIDE, WE ARE IN THE DESERT AND IT IS SMOKING HOT. THE TEMPERATURE RIGHT NOW IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA, IS 94 DEGREES. IT FEELS A LOT WARMER THAN THAT. ALL I KNOW IS I COULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN A MORE APPROPRIATE DAY TO LOSE THE PANTS OF THE SUIT I’M WEARING. I HAVE PANTS BUT THEY ARE NOT MINE. >> MY BALLS IS HOT. THAT’S A REAL THING. >> LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR NEW DAY BRETHREN, XAVIER WOODS. HE COULD NOT DEFEND BECAUSE OF INJURY. HE TOLD YOU HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS TO HIS CAREER. >> THIS IS SOMETHING HE HAS ALWAYS DREAMED OF. KING OF THE RING MEANS SO MUCH TO HIM AND SO MANY OF OUR SUPERSTARS. I WAS THE MATCH AFTER WOODS AS HE WON KING OF THE RING AND SAW TEARS STREAMED DOWN HIS FACE. THAT’S HOW MUCH WINNING THE CROWN WENT TO HIM AND THAT’S HOW MUCH WINNING KING AND CREAM — QUEEN OF THE CROWN MEANS. >> BOTH THE QUEEN AND THE KING GET A CHANCE AT THE SUMMERSLAM. >> THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAD TO THE BIGGEST PARTY OF THE SUMMER. SUMMERSLAM. AND CHALLENGE THE CHAMPION OF YOUR RESPECTIVE BRAND. IT DOESN’T GET BETTER THAN THAT. WE ARE TALKING ROYAL RUMBLE CALIBER OPPORTUNITY. >> CORY AND I WILL HAVE THE PLEASURE TO CALL THE KING OF THE RING FINAL MATCHUP BETWEEN GUNTHER AND RANDY ORTON. TWO OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE SUPERSTARS IN W W E TODAY. THIS MATCH WILL BE EXTREMELY PHYSICAL. WITH MORE ON THIS MATCHUP, LET’S HEAD TO THE BACKSTAGE GENERAL AND OUR OWN MYRON SAXTON. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. I POSITIONED MYSELF OUTSIDE OF THE LOCKER ROOM OF THE RING GENERAL, GUNTHER, WHO IS PREPARING FOR ARGUABLY THE HIGHEST PROFILE MATCH OF HIS CAREER AGAINST RANDY ORTON IN THE FINALS OF THE KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT. UP TO THIS POINT, GUNTHER HAS MAINTAINED HIS SEEMINGLY UNSHAKABLE CONFIDENCE AS WELL HAS HIS STERN — AS HIS STERN, COMPOSED DEMEANOR. AFTER SPEAKING TO HIM, HE MADE IT CLEAR HE WANTS TO BE KING OF THE RING. HE WANTS TO BE A FUTURE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. BUT HE ALSO WANTS TO BE A LEGEND IN THIS INDUSTRY. HOW IRONIC IS IT THAT FOR GUNTHER TO TAKE ONE STEP CLOSER TOWARD THAT LEGENDARY STATUS, HE HAS TO DEFEAT THE MAN ONCE KNOWN AS THE LEGEND KILLER. THAT’S IT FROM GUNTHER’S LOCKER ROOM. I SEND THINGS OVER TO MY BROADCAST COLLEAGUE, KAYLA BRAXTON. >> THANKS, BYRON. I’M STANDING OUTSIDE I CAUGHT UP WITH HIM EARLIER TODAY. CAN TELL YOU, THE VIPER IS AS FOCUSED AS EVER. I HAD TO ASK RANDY ABOUT HIS KNEE SINCE HE WILL BE FACING AN OPPONENT AS RUTHLESS AND VICIOUS AS GUNTHER LATER ON IN THE KING OF THE TOURNAMENT FINALS. ALTHOUGH RANDY ACKNOWLEDGED HIS KNEE IS NOT AT 100 PERCENT, HE’S EXTREMELY DETERMINED TO ACCOMPLISH ONE THING HE HAS YET TO ACHIEVE IN HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER IN W TO BE AND THAT IS TO BECOME KING OF THE RING. ALL RIGHT, GUYS. I WILL SEND IT BACK TO — WWE AND THAT IS TO BECOME KING OF THE RING. I WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU. >> A TRIPLE THREAT MATCH. SAMMY VERSUS CHAD GABLE VERSUS BRONSON REED TONIGHT. WILL THE LIV MORGAN REVENGE TOUR CONTINUE OR COME TO A SCREECHING HALT AT THE HANDS OF THE MAN? BECKY LYNCH DEFENDS THE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST LIV MORGAN. WHO WILL BE THE QUEEN OF THE RING AND EARN THE OPPORTUNITY AT SUMMERSLAM? WILL IT BE LYRA VALKYRIA OR NIA JAX FROM FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN? AND THE KING OF THE RING FINAL GOES DOWN AT THE JEDDAH SUPERDOME. A DREAM MATCH. THE VIPER, RANDY ORTON, BATTLES THE RING GENERAL, GUNTHER, TO CROWN THE KING. TONIGHT IN OUR MAIN EVENT, THE UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPIONSHIP IS ON THE LINE AS OUR UNITED STATES CHAMPION, LOGAN PAUL, CHALLENGES THE CHAMPION, THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, CODY RHODES. HE IS MORE THAN EXCITED TO LEAD W W E INTO A WHOLE NEW ERA. — WWE INTO A WHOLE NEW ERA. >> HE IS THE UNDISPUTED W W E — WWE CHAMPION. I HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH CODY RHODES TO TALK ABOUT HOW HIS ROLE HAS CHANGED SINCE BECOMING CHAMPION. I WANT TO ASK YOU TO DO YOUR BEST TO PUT INTO WORDS THE FEELING OF FINISHING OFF THE STORY AT WRESTLEMANIA. >> I FEEL LIKE FINISHING THE STORY, THAT’S THE FEELING OF WHATEVER IT IS, I WANT TO CHASE IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. IT IS A SENSATION I REALLY CAN’T DESCRIBE. IT MADE ME HAPPY, IT MADE ME SMILE. IT MADE ME CRY. IT MADE ME EVERYTHING AND IT FELT LIKE THE THING I WANTED ALL ALONG AND THE MOMENT MET IF NOT EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS. W>> IN THAT MOMENT, YOU GOT WHAT YOU WERE CHASING. YOU CAPTURED WHAT YOU WERE AFTER. YOU ARE NOW THE FACE OF WWE. WHAT DOES THAT FEELING AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY FEEL LIKE? >> IF THAT’S TRUE AND I HAVE BECOME THE FACE OF THIS WONDERFUL COMPANY, IT FEELS LIKE I AM MORE APPRECIATIVE OF THE TEAM AROUND ME THAN I EVER WAS. I SAID THIS TO LOGAN PAUL AND I STAND BY IT, IT’S A TEAM EFFORT. >> CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE TIME COMMITMENT THAT IS REQUIRED OF BEING THE UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPION IN THIS DAY AND AGE? >> MAYBE BECAUSE THEY HEAR ABOUT IT IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE AND WRESTLEMANIA, MAYBE THEY THINK IT IS HYPERBOLE WHEN WE SAY HOW MUCH YOUR LIFE CHANGES WINNING ROYAL RUMBLE OR WINNING THE UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPIONSHIP. CONVERSATIONS WITH MEDIA, TELECONFERENCES, ALL THE STUFF, I FEEL PRETTY BALANCED IN BEING ABLE TO DO IT ALL. >> HAVE THERE BEEN ANY SUPERSTARS, WHETHER THEY BE CURRENT OR IN THE PAST WHO HAVE BEEN WORLD CHAMPIONS WHO YOU HAVE SOUGHT OUT FOR ADVICE? >> I HAVE TRIED TO STAY CONNECTED TO RANDY ORTON. ALWAYS REMEMBERING WHAT I SAW IN 2008 AND 2009, WHEN JOHN CENA WAS ON THE TOP OF THE BILL AND WHAT HE WAS DOING AND DOING MY BEST TO DO THE THINGS THEY DID RIGHT AND DO IT MY OWN WAY. I AM THINKING HOW DO WE MAKE THIS BIGGER? >> IN YOUR QUEST FOR ALWAYS BIGGER, ALWAYS BETTER, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE STATE OF WWE AND THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE, CURRENTLY? >> ONE THING THAT WAS WONDERFUL ABOUT THE LAST THREE YEARS OR SO IS WE ARE SEEING NEW FANS, WHETHER THEY BE LITTLE KIDDOS OR THEY BE PEOPLE COMING BACK TO PRO WRESTLING AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER. I THINK THERE IS THIS KIND OF LIKE PAT ON THE BACK FOR YOU AND I AND ANYONE WHO CAME UP IN OUR GENERATION BECAUSE GOSH, WE WERE BEAT OVER THE HEAD WITH HOW WONDERFUL THE ATTITUDE AIR WAS. AND IT WAS. THEN I WOULD GET BITTER BECAUSE WE ARE HERE NOW AND WE ARE DOING THIS NOW. IT’S REALLY SPECIAL TO SEE A METRIC LIKE HEY, THIS IS THE BIGGEST ARENA GIG IN THE HISTORY OF WWE IN FRANCE, KNOWING THAT WE CAN PUT THAT NEXT TO OUR NAME . AND THE ROCK AND STEVE DON’T HAVE THAT ONE. THAT’S SOMETHING I AM PROUD OF. >> IF YOU HAD TO GIVE YOURSELF ADVICE, TALKING ABOUT DASHING CODY RHODES, FROM WHERE YOU SIT NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOURSELF THEN? >> BASICALLY WHEN YOU ARE IN THE POSITION I WAS IN AND YOU ARE NOT SOMEONE WHO IS DESIRED, YOU ARE UNDESIRABLE, YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST CHOICE OR NUMBER ONE ON THE CALL SHEET, IF THE ANSWER YOU ARE FINDING TO MIA FUTURE W W E CHAMPION — WWE CHAMPION, IF THE ANSWER IS YES, YOU HAVE TO BET ON YOURSELF. I NEEDED TO FIND OUT WHAT CAN I DO TO GET BETTER. IF YOU ARE THE SAME AS YOU WERE, THAT’S NOT A GOOD THING. YOU ARE NOT GROWING. FOR ME, I WAS GETTING WORSE AND FINALLY MADE THE CALL TO GO AND GET BETTER. >> COMING UP, CODY RHODES HIS UNFILTERED OPINION ON HIS CONTROVERSIAL OPPONENT AT KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING, LOGAN PAUL. >> I’LL BE HONEST. I DON’T THINK LOGAN PAUL STANDS A CHANCE. >> IT’S BEEN FOR CODY RHODES AS WELL. THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE LEAD UP INTO THE ROYAL RUMBLE AND INTO WRESTLEMANIA AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE ROCK, SO ON AND SO FORTH. BUT YOU’RE SIT DOWN WITH CODY, CORY, CODY IS EXTREMELY CONFIDENT. HE KNOWS HE BELONGS IN THIS ROLE AS WWE CHAMPION DESPITE WHAT ANYBODY MAY SAY. COREY: BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT TAKES. HE’S ONLY BEEN CHAMPION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AS YOU UNDERSTAND VERY WELL, THE TIME COMMITMENT AND BEING A WWE CHAMPION IS NOT A TIME COMMITMENT. IT IS A LIFESTYLE. IT IS 24/7, 365. % IT IS TIRELESS AND THANKLESS AT TIMES. HE UNDERSTANDS THAT LOGAN PAUL IS NOT A GUY WILLING TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT. MICHAEL: THROUGHOUT MANY YEARS IN YOUR CAREER, BIG E, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DOUBTED YOU. THEY NEVER BELIEVED YOU COULD HOLD THE TOP TITLE IN OUR COMPANY AND YOU DID IT AND YOU WERE ABLE TO DO IT. WHAT WAS CODY GOING THROUGH TO THE POINT HE FINALLY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP? >> THERE IS A PERCEPTION PEOPLE CAN HAVE AS A MID CARDER. HE WON AN INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT WWE. HE HAS A HIGH BAR FOR HIMSELF AND HE’S HARD ON HIMSELF BUT HE DID INCREDIBLE THINGS FORGETTING TO THIS MOUNTAIN TOP. OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE SEE THE GLASS CEILING AND SAY THAT’S ALL YOU CAN BE AND ALL YOU EVER WILL BE. FOR CODY, THAT WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH SO HE HAD TO LEAVE AND COME BACK A BETTER VERSION OF HIMSELF. MICHAEL: YOU NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN WWE. HOW DID THAT EAT AT YOU PROFESSIONALLY? >> IT STILL EATS AT ME PROFESSIONALLY, THANKS FOR BRINGING IT UP, MICHAEL. I WAS IN A GOOD MOOD UP UNTIL THEN. IT’S ONE OF THE BOX CHECKING EXERCISES YOU DO IN YOUR CAREER. DID I DO EVERYTHING I WANT TO DO, DID I GET HERE, DID I WIN THIS CHAMPIONSHIP? NOT BECOME THE WORLD CHAMPION? THE A-PLUS — DID I BECOME THE WORLD CHAMPION? THE A-PLUS, NUMBER ONE GUY? IF THE ANSWER IS NO, THE QUESTIONS ARE WHAT CAN I HAVE DONE BETTER. I’M AT THE POINT WHERE I CAN’T CORRECT THAT. >> FOR THE RECORD, I’VE NEVER DONE IT EITHER. MICHAEL: LADIES AND GEM AND, THERE IS PLENTY MORE TO COME AT THE JEDDAH SUPERDOME. THOUSANDS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING AND ALSO ON OUR COUNTDOWN SHOW. LATER ON, COREY AND I WILL CALL A MATCH FOR THE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP. BIANCA BELAIR AND CORA JANE WILL DEFEND AGAINST CANDICE LERAE AND INDI HARTWELL LATER TONIGHT. TOO MUCH SOCIAL MEDIA. >> THE ULTIMATE FAN EXPERIENCE. THE W W E EXPERIENCE — THE WWE EXPERIENCE. RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. >> TODAY, THE BIG TIME FIGHT GOES NEXT LEVEL IN JEDDAH. BECKY LYNCH. >> I’M THE BEST I’VE EVER BEEN. >> LIV MORGAN. >> I WON’T STOP UNTIL I HAVE EVERYTHING. >> THE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. >> THAT I WANT. >> WWE, KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING. TODAY FROM JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA. >> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS, WE WILL CROWN A KING OF THE RING. WILL BOOKER T BEACH KING BOOKER? >> YOUR WINNER, BOOKER T. >> ALL HAIL KING BOOKER. >> THE KING, UNMATCHED COURAGE, PROWESS AND ABILITY. >> KING BOOKER. >> THANK YOU ALL, MY LOYAL SUBJECTS. >> BOOKER MADE IT THE GREATEST THING TO HAPPEN TO HIS CAREER. >> BOW DOWN AND KISS MY RING. >> I STARTED TALKING IN A BRITISH ACCENT. HOW MANY GLADIATORS WILL I HAVE TO SLAY TO PROVE I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD? WHO IS THIS ROGUE? >> YOU CAN’T PHYSICALLY EMBODY A KING ANY BETTER THAN BOOKER T >>. >>I DIDN’T JUST — >> BOOKER T. >> I DIDN’T JUST GET ANOINTED KING. I BECAME KING. >> PERHAPS THIS YOUNG MAN IS THE NEW KING BOOKER. JOINING THE VIP ACCESS AREA HERE AT THE JETTA SUPER, WHICH HOSTS THE KING AND QUEEN OF THE — JEDDAH SUPERDOME, WHICH HOSTS THE Q KING AND QUEEN OF THE RIN. ALSO TONIGHT, THE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP. JADE CARDELL AND BIANCA BELAIR WILL DEFEND. >> YOUR FIRST TELEVISED WOMEN’S TAG TEAM EVENT AGAINST CANDICE LERAE AND INDI HARTWELL. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU? >> BEYOND EXCITED. THIS IS MY FIRST PLE IN SAUDI ARABIA. WE ARE GOING TO WIN AND TAKE THIS HOME LIKE WE ALWAYS DO. >> BIANKA, WE SAW YOU GET BANGED UP ON FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN, HOW IS THE KNEE FEELING? >> IT’S NOT 100%. I LOST THE MATCH LAST NIGHT BECAUSE OF MY KNEE. CANDACE STARTED ALL OF THIS. I BEAT HER WITH ONE KNEE AND I WILL BEAT HER AGAIN. WE WILL REMAIN CHAMPIONS. >> GOOD LUCK TONIGHT IN YOUR MATCH. >> WHO NEEDS LUCK, RIGHT? >> GOOD POINT. JETTA CARGILL AND BIANCA BELAIR WILL TAKE ON CANDICE LERAE AND INDI HARTWELL LATER ON. THERE IS ANOTHER ANTICIPATED MATCH. THAT IS THE FINALS OF THE QUEEN OF THE RING TOURNAMENT. >> THE THRONE IS READY FOR THE TAKING. A NEW KING AND QUEEN OF WWE WILL BE CROWNED. YOU’VE HEARD OF THE NCAA BRACKETOLOGY. THIS IS SOME BARRETT-OLOGY. I WOULD SAY IT IS THE SWEET 16 BUT THERE IS NOTHING SAVORY ABOUT WHAT THESE WOMEN HAVE DONE. >> FIRST ROUND MATCHUP OF THE QUEEN OF THE RING TOURNAMENT. >> THE ROUNDS MOST SHOCKING VICTORY CAME FROM THE NEWCOMER, LYRA VALKYRIA. >> TRYING TO ADD A FEATHER TO HER WING AND SHE PUTS DAKOTA AWAY. >> ON SMACKDOWN, JADE CARGILL AND DASH WENT INTO ROUND TWO. NIA JAX SQUASHED NAOMI. MEANWHILE, BIANCA BELAIR CONTINUED TO SHOW WHY SHE IS THE EST. KICKING OFF THE QUARTER FINAL — QUARTERFINAL, BASZLER RAN INTO THE FULL-COURT PRESS. WHILE LYRA VALKYRIA SHOWED COMPOSURE IN THE HEAT OF COMBAT. >> INTO THE NIGHT WING. >> SECURING HER SPOT IN THE SEMI’S. >> I ONLY TRAVEL AS THE CROW FLIES. STRAIGHT TO THE TOP. >> BIANKA BELAIR WAS ABLE TO OUTLAST TIFFY TIME. VICTORY CAME AT A COST. >> MY KNEE IS NOT 100%. QUEEN OF THE RING. >> IN AN ABSOLUTE SHOCKER, THE BATTLE BETWEEN NIA JAX AND JADE CARGILL WAS AN ALL OUT MELEE. >> NIA JAX TAKING A MOMENT TO INSULT JADE’S DAUGHTER. >> THAT’S GOING TO CAUSE A DISQUALIFICATION. >> AFTER ALL OF THE BRACKET BUSTERS TOOK PLACE WE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE FINAL FOUR. >> LYRA VALKYRIA NDS GUY GO ONE-ON-ONE. THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT TO THE FINAL. VAL CARIA STACKS — LYRA VALKYRIA STACKS HER UP. LYRA WINS. BIG UPSET, LYRA VALKYRIA IS IN THE FINALS. >> THINKING ABOUT AKO. — A K.O.. >> I’M GOING RIGHT THROUGH YOU TO BECOME QUEEN OF THE RING. >> WE HAVE A TRUE DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH STORY. LYRA VALKYRIA, THE UNDERESTIMATED ROOKIE, HAS SCRATCHED AND CLAWED HER WAY THE ENTIRE CAREER. OVERCOMING BECKY LYNCH FOR THE NXT CHAMPIONSHIP, TO BEING DRAFTED TO RAW AND IN JUST WEEKS, REACHING THE FINALS OF THE TOURNAMENT. STANDING ACROSS THE RING FROM LYRA IS THE IMPOSING NIA JAX, WHO HAS ADVANCED FROM THE GROUND AROUND USING BRUTE FORCE AND PURE DOMINANCE. WILL HER MENACING PRESENCE AND SHEER PROUD — POWER WILL BE TOO MUCH FOR LYRA VALKYRIA TO OVERCOME? OR CAN SHE WRITE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER TWO HER CINDERELLA STORY? TONIGHT, WE WILL FIND OUT WHO WILL BECOME THE NEXT WWE QUEEN OF THE RING. MICHAEL: IT IS AN UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY. WE NOW KNOW THE QUEEN OF THE RING WILL GET A CHAMPIONSHIP SHOT AT SUMMERSLAM. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE UPSTART FORMER NXT CHAMPION LOOKING TO PULL THE UPSET TONIGHT, LYRA VALKYRIA. [SPEAKING UNKNOWN LANGUAGE] THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I HAVE EVER FACED IS AHEAD OF ME. 16 WOMEN STARTED ON THIS JOURNEY AND NOW ONLY TWO REMAIN. MY ROAD TO THE THRONE HAS BEEN ARDUOUS. ZOEY STARK, IYO SKY AND NOW NIA JAX. THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT THE CHALLENGE AHEAD IS GREAT. AND IT’S TRUE. THE OUTCOME IS NEVER CERTAIN UNTIL THE TASK IS COMPLETE. BUT, I AM LYRA VALKYRIA. I ONLY TRAVEL AS THE CROW FLIES. STRAIGHT TO THE TOP. STRAIGHT TO THE CROWN. AND I WILL BE THE QUEEN OF THE RING. >> ALL RIGHT, LYRA. TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT. YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF YOUR W W E CAREER AND ONLY AFTER BEING ON MONDAY NIGHT RAW FOR ABOUT A MONTH, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE BRAND-NEW QUEEN OF THE RING. HOW SURREAL IS IT FOR YOU TO REALIZE YOU HAVE MADE IT TO THIS POINT IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME? >> IT IS SO SURREAL. A MONTH AGO, I WAS IN NXT THINKING ABOUT THE PREGAME. NOT ONLY AM I HERE IN RAW, I AM IN JEDDAH. I CAN’T IMAGINE A MORE SEVERE — SURREAL START TO MONDAY NIGHT RAW AND HERE I AM IN THE FINALS. >> YOU WILL BE FACING NIA JAX, WHO QUALIFIED YESTERDAY NIGHT. SHE HAD SOME WORDS TO SAY. >> I CAN’T WAIT TO PROVE HER WRONG. SHE SAID SHE WILL BUZZ THROUGH ME, I BET EVERY OTHER WOMAN THOUGHT THROUGH THAT. DECODE AWRY, ZOEY STARK, IYO SKY . I’M THE ONE THAT’S GOING TO BE THE QUEEN OF THE RING. I AM THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO SUMMERSLAM. LYRA VALKYRIA IS ABOUT TO GET LAUNCHED STRAIGHT INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURE. >> WE WILL TAKE A LOOK INTO YOUR OPPONENT THAT IS THE IRRESISTIBLE FORCE, NIA JAX. >> DESTINY. NO ONE IS STOPPING ME FROM REACHING MINE. >> IT’S ALL IN ME DOWN TO BE ♪ >> NOT NAOMI. NOT JADE CARGILL. NOT BIANCA BELAIR. >> NIA JAX WILL SQUASH THEM ALL. >> AND CERTAINLY NOT LYRA VALKYRIA. TONIGHT, I TAKE THE CROWN BY FORCE. >> NEAH HAS — NIA HAS BEEN UNSTOPPABLE. >> NO ONE IS STOPPING ME FROM REACHING MY DESTINY AS THE NEXT WWE QUEEN OF THE RING. MICHAEL: I’D LIKE TO START HERE AND TALK ABOUT THIS MATCHUP WITH YOU, WADE. WHAT DOES LYRA VALKYRIA NEED TO DO TO HAVE ANY CHANCE AGAINST NIA JAX TONIGHT? >> SHE NEEDS TO BE LIVING IN A FAIRYTALE. I WATCHED LYRA’S ENTIRE CAREER. SHE HAS BEEN BRILLIANT. THE PROBLEM IS SHE HAS NEVER FACED ANYBODY LIKE NIA JAX HER ENTIRE CAREER. AND THE PROBLEM IS TO LEARN HOW TO BEAT NIA JAX, YOU HAVE TO TRY YOUR MOVES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT DOESN’T WORK AND COME UP WITH A BUNCH OF NEW MOVES. YOU CAN’T DO THAT ON THE FIRST NIGHT. IT HAS BEEN A CINDERELLA STORY FOR LYRA VALKYRIA BUT THAT IS A FAIRYTALE. IT’S NOT A DOCUMENTARY. >> IT’S ONE THING TO LIVE INSIDE OF A FAIRYTALE. IT’S ANOTHER ENTIRELY WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER AN ACTUAL FIREBREATHING? AND — ACTUAL FIREBREATHING DRAGON, WHICH NIA JAX IS. DOES LYRA HAVE A CHANCE? >> LYRA HAS HAD HER BEST RUN YET. YOU COULD ARGUE THE LAST ROUND, SHE HAS GONE A LOT FARTHER THAN PEOPLE THOUGHT. SHE HAS SOMEONE IMPORTANT WHO BELIEVES IN HER, IN BECKY LYNCH, HER FELLOW COUNTRY WOMAN. I THINK HAVING SOMEONE IN YOUR CORNER WHO HAS GONE THAT PATH AND HAS BEEN WHERE YOU WANT TO BE, I THINK THAT BUOYS HER SPIRIT AND GIVES HER THE CONFIDENCE SHE CAN DO THIS. >> LIKE I DID FOR YOU? >> YOU NEVER DID THAT. YOU ARE AN ALBATROSS IF ANYTHING. >> THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME AROUND SINCE HER FIRST RUN AT WWE, HOW IS NIA JAX DIFFERENT? >> I WAS WATCHING FROM HOME DURING HER FIRST RUN AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS REALLY GOOD. SHE WENT AWAY AND CAME BACK. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN SHE RETURNED. SHE’S NOT JUST REALLY GOOD THIS TIME. SHE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME AN ALL-TIME GREAT. SHE HAS COMPLETELY PERFECTED THAT STYLE OF THE POWERHOUSE WRESTLER THAT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO. SHE IS BIG, SHE’S POWERFUL. SHE IS ATHLETIC. MOST OF ALL, SHE IS SO AGGRESSIVE. I DON’T THINK THERE IS A SINGLE PERSON ON THE ROASTER — ROSTER, LET ALONE LYRA VALKYRIA, WHO, IN A ONE-ON-ONE SITUATION, CAN CONSISTENTLY BEAT NIA JAX. SHE MIGHT BE THE BEST OF ALL OF THE WOMEN ON THE ROSTER IN MY OPINION. >> YOUR BARRETTOLOGY SEGMENT WAS LOVELY. IT REMINDS ME OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT AND THE CINDERELLA. HER CONFIDENCE HAS TO BE SKYHIGH. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE PICKING NIA. >> CAN LYRA VALKYRIA PULL OFF A MAJOR UPSIDE — UPSET AGAINST NIA JAX? WE WILL FIND OUT IN A LITTLE BIT. THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES. THERE IS PLENTY MORE TO COME AS WE GET READY FOR THE KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING. ♪ >> WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE SUMMER. >> FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS, SUMMERSLAM HAS DELIVERED SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING MOMENTS IN WWE HISTORY. >> I AM COMPLETELY IN SHOCK RIGHT NOW. >> IN 2026, IT WILL ONCE AGAIN MAKE HISTORY. >> FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS. IT’S ABOUT TO GO DOWN. >> WORKING WITH MINNESOTA SPORTS EVENTS, WE WILL EXPAND SUMMERSLAM TONIGHT. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2026 IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. LIVE, FROM THE WORLD-CLASS U.S. BANK STADIUM, WWE WILL BRING TWO EPIC NIGHTS OF SUMMERSLAM TO THE CITIES. THERE IS ONLY ONE QUESTION TO ASK. ARE YOU READY? >> THE QUEENS TOURNAMENT — QUEENS CROWN TOURNAMENT WAS THE LATEST VERSION OF THE ICONIC KING OF THE RING WHERE EVERYBODY IS COMPETING IN THIS TOURNAMENT AND THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER CROWNED KING OF THE — QUEEN OF THE RING. >> EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO SEE THIS TOURNAMENT COME TO FRUITION. >> HISTORY WAS MADE IN THE FINALS OF THIS FIRST QUEENS CROWN TOURNAMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA. ZELINA VEGA. >> THE FIRST EVER QUEENS CROWN TOURNAMENT. IT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT FOREVER. >> ONCE I ACTUALLY WALKED INTO THE RING AND STOOD ACROSS FROM HER, I REMEMBER THINKING I’M GOING TO SOAK EVERY BIT OF THIS UP. >> WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS UPON US RIGHT HERE. >> AESTHETICALLY, THEY ARE COMPLETE OPPOSITES. ZELINA IS MY FEET MAYBE. AND WE HAVE A LARGER — FIVE FEET, MAYBE. AND WE HAVE A LARGER ATHLETE TOWERING OVER HER. WE HAVE A CLASSIC DAVID AND GOLIATH STORY. >> ZELINA DROPPING, CATCHES VEGA. >> SHE IS AN ABSOLUTE POWERHOUSE. >> OUT OF THE ZELINA. >> TO SEE THESE TWO WOMEN BATTLE IT OUT WITH THE QUEENS CROWN ON THE LINE, WE GET TO SEE THAT UNFOLD IN THE RING. >> AROUND AND AROUND. A KICKOUT BY DOUDROP. >> THE FACT THIS MATCH IS HAPPENING IN SAUDI ARABIA AND NOT ONLY THAT, IT’S FOR THE QUEENS CROWN, THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN. THERE IS PEOPLE OUT THERE WATCHING. THERE ARE. THERE ARE LITTLE GIRLS WATCHING SAYING IF THEY CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT. >> AND ON THAT NIGHT, ZELINA VEGA PROVED NO MATTER WHAT OBSTACLE WAS IN FRONT OF HER, SHE COULD COME OUT ON TOP. >> ZELINA VEGA IS THE QUEEN. >> FOR ME, IT MEANT A LOT MORE THAN I REALIZED AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE MY LIFE. THAT I COULD ACTUALLY BE A HISTORY MAKER. TO SAY I DID THAT IS MIND BLOWING TO ME. >> SEEING HER GET THAT WIN, SHE WAS GOING TO ELEVATE. >> TO SEE ALL OF THE MEN IN THE CROWD BOWING DOWN TO ME, THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE IT. >> THERE IS ONLY ONE FIRST. FOR THE REST OF WWE HISTORY, THIS WOMAN, ZELINA VEGA, WILL BE ABLE TO CALL HERSELF THE FIRST EVER QUEENS CROWN TOURNAMENT WINNER. >> I FEEL LIKE THE SECOND I PUT ON THE CROWN AND THE CAVE, A FEEL LIKE — I FEEL LIKE A WHOLE NEW SIDE OF ME CAME OUT. >> ZELINA DID A GREAT JOB SETTING THE STANDARD FOR THE FIRST EVER QUEEN. >> WE ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF ROYALTY. >> SHE IS FIVE FOOT ZERO. WHEN SHE HAVE A CROWN ON, IT LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS SEVEN FEET TALL. MICHAEL: ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THE JEDDAH SUPERDOME IS THIS VIP ACCESS AREA YOU CAN WANDER TO AND GET A FEEL FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS WWE INCLUDING THE WWE SHOP WHERE YOU CAN BUY SOME MICHAEL MERCHANDISE. LET’S HEAD BACK. >> I’M JOINED BY A MAN WHO NEEDS VERY LITTLE INTRODUCTION. HE IS THE CHIEF CONTENT MANAGER. PAUL, TRIPLE H LAVETTE. FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE MATCHES FOR THE WWE UNIVERSE? >> THEY ARE MASSIVE. IT IS A HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT. THE EXCITEMENT HERE, WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MOST OF THIS WEEK. THE EXCITEMENT HERE FROM THE MOMENT WE LANDED, AS YOU KNOW, BEING IN RIYADH, BEING IN THE W W E EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS JUST AWESOME, I CAN’T IMAGINE MYSELF BEING A KID GETTING TO GO TO THE WWE EXPERIENCE, A IMMERSIVE WORLD OF EVERYTHING W W E. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT. COMING HERE LAST NIGHT FOR JEDDAH AND SMACKDOWN, IT WAS OFF THE CHARTS. THE PLACE WAS SO EXCITED. TONIGHT IS THE MAIN EVENT. TONIGHT IS THE REASON WE ARE ALL HERE. KING OF THE RING, QUEEN OF THE RING, AS YOU SAID. THEY ARE NOT JUST FANCY TITLES THAT WIN AND GET TO CALL THEMSELVES KING OR QUEEN. IT IS ABOUT ESTABLISHING YOURSELF, CEMENTING YOUR LEGACY. THE COMPETITION FOR THESE TITLES IS MASSIVE. IT IS INCREDIBLY HIGH. WHEN YOU LOOK AT TONIGHT AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY LIKE NIA JAX WHO HAS BEEN BACK IN THE WWE AND HAS TORN THROUGH EVERYBODY HERE, SHE HAS DONE IT ALL, FROM GOING TOE TO TOE WITH RHEA RIPLEY TO TEARING THROUGH BECKY LYNCH, NAOMI. BIANKA BELAIR, JADE CARGILL, TO GET HERE TONIGHT IN THE FINALS FOR KING OF THE RING. CAN SHE FINISH THAT JOB? CAN SHE ESTABLISH HERSELF AS THE QUEEN? TO DO THAT, SHE HAS TO GO THROUGH LYRA VALKYRIA. IN MANY WAYS, YOU COULD LOOK AT HER AND SAY A LOT OF ACCOLADES ON HER OWN FOOT SHOULD SHE EVEN BE IN THIS POSITION? — ON HER OWN BUT SHOULD SHE EVEN BE IN THIS POSITION? SHE HAD A CUP OF COFFEE WITH RAW BUT SHE ALSO HAD TO BEAT IYO SKY TO GET HERE. WHEN YOU BEAT THE FORMER CHAMPION TO GET HERE, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, RANDY ORTON COMING BACK AFTER WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A CAREER ENDING INJURY, 18 MONTHS HE WAS OUT. CAN HE SOLIDIFY HIS LEGACY TONIGHT? CAN HE PUT THAT STAMP THAT SAYS I’M BACK AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN TONIGHT AND WIN KING OF THE RING? CAN HE FINISH AND TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THAT JOURNEY OF BEING ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME IN HIS CAREER? TO DO THAT, HE HAS TO GO THROUGH GUNTHER. AND GUNTHER HAS REALLY BEEN LIKE NOBODY WE HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE IN WWE, JUST ON A TEAR. LONGEST REIGNING INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION OF ALL TIME. NOW, HERE HE IS, HAVING GONE THROUGH JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY TO TONIGHT. RANDY ORTON VERSUS GUNTHER. IMPOSSIBLE TO CALL ON MY END. BUT, I’M GOING TO BE DOING WHAT EVERYBODY HERE IS DOING. I WILL BE SITTING ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT, WATCHING WITH BAITED BREATH TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. NOT ONLY DOES A KING GET CROWNED AND A QUEEN GET CROWNED, BUT THOSE WINNERS WILL GO ON TO FACE THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMPIONS AT SUMMERSLAM. A LOT ON THE LINE HERE TONIGHT. THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME. >> I APPRECIATE YOU PROVIDING YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT COULD BE A NIGHT THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME. >> HISTORY MAKING. >> INDEED IT IS. MICHAEL AND THE REST OF THE PANEL, WE WILL SEND THINGS BACK TO YOU. MICHAEL: THANK YOU, BYRON. WE WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SAMI ZAYN. NO CHAMPION’S ADVANTAGE UNDER TRIPLE THREAT RULES, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS LONGTIME FRIEND, KEVIN OWENS. OR WILL IT BE BIG BRONSON REED WHO BELIEVES THIS WILL FINALLY BE HIS MOMENT TONIGHT, HIS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE MAIN ROSTER. OR, THIS MAN. A VERY BIDDER CHAD GABLE. THE FORMER U.S. OLYMPIAN LOOKS TO WIN THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TONIGHT. >> SAMI ZAYN DEFENDS THE INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE IN HIS HOME TOWN. THE MAN A SAY HE IS RESPONSIBLE — THE MAN MANY SAY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS CHAMPIONSHIP, CHAD GABLE. >> IT’S AN HONOR TO EVENT MY CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST YOU. >> I CAN’T WAIT. >> SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE TONIGHT. >> GABLE HAS HIM LOCKED IN. CAN SAMI CAPITALIZE HERE? KICK, SHOULDERS DOWN. SAMI RETAINS. YOU CAN SEE THE DISAPPOINTMENT ON THE FACE OF GABLE. HE CAME SO CLOSE, YET AGAIN. AND NOW THE CELEBRATION WITH HIS FAMILY. OF COURSE, HIS WIFE. GABLE FROM BEHIND. GABLE SNAPPED. THE PRESSURE HAS GOTTEN TO HIM. >> WHAT I DID TO SAMI WAS JUSTIFIED. HE KNEW THAT WAS MY MOMENT. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME AT WRESTLEMANIA. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME WITH MY DAUGHTER CELEBRATING BUT I WAS WASTING MY TIME TRAINING SAMI ZAYN. I’VE BEEN WASTING MY TIME TRAINING A BUNCH OF FREAKING LOSERS. >> HE’S OBSESSED WITH THE FACT HE WANTS TO WIN THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP. >> NEVER MIND CHAD GABLE. YOU HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH. >> YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION. >> WHILE THOSE TWO ARE FOCUSED ON THEIR RIVALRY, I’M ABOUT MY BUSINESS. THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP BELONGS TO BIG BRONSON REED. >> SAMI HASN’T GABLE AND BRONSON REED LOOKING TO TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP FROM HIM — HAS GABLE AND BRONSON REED LOOKING TO TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP FROM HIM. >> HOW DOES THIS END? TO ME, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY IT CAN AND. TRIPLE MATCH. — THAT IS WHEN I’M AT MY BEST. THAT PASSION, THAT’S WHY I’M HOLDING THIS RIGHT NOW. >> SAMI ZAYN GOES RIGHT AFTER CHAD GABLE. AND NOW TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO BRONSON REED. FROM BEHIND, CHAD GABLE. >> ONCE AGAIN, REED IS THE LAST ONE STANDING. >> ALL I CARE ABOUT IS BUSINESS AND VIOLENCE IS HOW I MAKE MY MONEY. I WILL USE MY BODY AS A WEAPON AND I WILL TAKE THAT CHAMPIONSHIP. >> I’M NOT JUST TAKING YOUR TITLE, SAMI. I’M TAKING YOUR SOUL. >> AT KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING. >> MARK MY WORDS, I WILL WALK OUT STILL INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION. MICHAEL: DOZENS OF HALL OF FAMERS HAVE HELD THE PRESTIGIOUS INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP, 1979, THE FIRST EVER CHAMPION, THE LATE, GREAT PAT PATTERSON. BAD NEWS BARRETT, A FORMER MULTI-TIME INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION, TELL US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HOLDING THAT TITL . — TITLE. >> ONE OF THEM WAS AFTER I DEFEATED A CERTAIN BIG E. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST THING IN MY CAREER. MY HEROES, THEY ALL HELD THAT CHAMPIONSHIP. PUT MUCH EVERY GREAT WRESTLER IN HISTORY, IN W W EE, HELD THAT CHAMPIONSHIP AT SOME POINT. IT IS MASSIVE AND A HUGE THING . I UNDERSTAND WHY CHAD GABLE IS SOLELY FOCUSED ON WINNING THAT TITLE. I THINK IT WILL CHANGE HIS WORLD AND CHANGE HIS LIFE. >> CHAD SAID THIS IS PERSONAL BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER HELD A SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP IN WWE. THIS HAS BECOME PERSONAL. >> VERY MUCH SO. ONE THING WE HAVEN’T DISCUSSED IS THE LATENT TRAUMA OR PTSD FROM BEING CALLED SHORTY G. CAN YOU BLAME THE MAN FOR SNAPPING? I DON’T. I WOULDN’T. HE’S AN INCREDIBLY TALENTED MAN WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME. IT IS SOMEWHAT SHOCKING TO HEAR A STAT LIKE THAT THAT HE HAS NEVER HELD A SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS IS ALSO A TRIPLE THREAT. THERE ARE NO DISQUALIFICATIONS. YOU HAVE A SECOND MAN OUT HERE WHO CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS. I THINK CHAD HAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO WALK AWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A SINGLES CHAMPION. >> WHERE DOES OTIS STAND IF HE’S OUT THERE WITH CHAD TONIGHT? >> I DON’T KNOW IF HE’S BRIGHT ENOUGH TO HAVE CHANGED HIS MIND AT THIS POINT. ANYTIME YOU TRUST OTIS TO DO ANYTHING, THERE IS A 50-50 SHOT IT GOES RIGHT. WHEN YOU HAVE A WRECKING BALL LIKE HIM, IT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU DEAL WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF SOMEONE LIKE BIG BRONSON REED. >> WHO WINS THIS MATCH? >> CHAD GABLE. >> CHAD GABLE. >> SAMI ZAYN. MICHAEL: I’M GOING WITH BIG BRONSON REED, A FORMER NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION. WE CAN’T TALK ABOUT THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION WITHOUT REMEMBERING THE LATE, GREAT, EDDIE GUERRERO. A TWO TIME INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION AND THE SUBJECT OF OUR BIOGRAPHY, WWE LEGENDS TOMORROW NIGHT. I SPENT MANY YEARS AND HAD THE HONOR OF CALLING MANY OF EDDIE GUERRERO’S MATCHES. EDDIE HAS HAD A LASTING INFLUENCE ON OUR INDUSTRY. >> TALK ABOUT ARRIVING IN STYLE. THAT IS A PRETTY COOL CONVERTIBLE LOW RIDER. >> YOU WATCH ANY PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING SHOW TODAY, EDDIE GUERRERO’S FINGERPRINTS ARE ALL OVER EVERYTHING. >> VIVA LA RASTA. >> COMING OUT IN SNOOP DOGG’S LOW RIDER, PAYING HOMAGE TO THE LATE, GREAT EDDIE GUERRERO. >> THE LOW RIDER WAS EDDIE’S TRADEMARK. THE FACT I WAS ABLE TO COME OUT IN A LOW RIDER WITH EDDIE’S SONG WAS DEEP. VERY, VERY DEEP. >> LATINA WORLD ORDER. TOGETHER, WE CAN DO THIS. >> IT’S OFFICIAL. >> FOR THOSE SUPERSTARS THAT DIDN’T GET THE CHANCE, THEY WITHIN THEMSELVES FEEL A CONNECTION AND THAT IS EDDIE’S MARK. THAT’S WHAT HE LEFT BEHIND. EDDIE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED. >> THIS IS AN HOMAGE TO HIS UNCLE, EDDIE GUERRERO. >> ANYTIME I SEE MY SON, THERE IS A RESEMBLANCE TO EDDIE. I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S THE HAIR OR THE MOVEMENT. >> I WILL NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE TO ANYTHING HE HAS EVER DONE. BUT IF I CAN GET AS CLOSE AS I CAN TO LATE 1990’S EDDIE BEING THE BAD GUY, HIS MULLET, HIS MOVES, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN TO TRY TO PAY HOMAGE TO HIM AND MAKE HIM PROUD. YOU HAVE THESE CERTAIN MOVES THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO THEM AND THEY ARE AFFILIATED WITH THAT ONE PERSON. JUMPING OFF THE TOP ROPE, DOING A FROG SPLASH. IT GOES STRAIGHT TO EDDIE GUERRERO. >> FROG SPLASH THROUGH THE HEAVENS. >> IT’S COOL TO SEE. >> SHADES OF EDDIE GUERRERO. >> YOU SEE THE FROG SPLASH ALL THE TIME AND THE SHIMMY ALL THE TIME. THE THREE AMIGOS ALL THE TIME. >> WASH THE HIPS ROLE. — WATCH THE HIPS ROLL. >> LOOKING FOR THREE AMIGOS OF HIS OWN. AND HE PULLS IT OFF. >> VIVA LA LOGAN. >> I THINK HIS GREATEST CONTRIBUTION IS HOW ALL AROUND INCREDIBLE HE WAS. HE CAN JUST DO EVERYTHING. SOMEONE ASKS WHO SHOULD I WATCH? YOU WANT TO GET GOOD AT EVERYTHING? WASH EDDIE GUERRERO. — WATCH EDDIE GUERRERO. >> EDDIE GUERRERO LEFT AN INDELIBLE FOOTPRINT ON THIS INDUSTRY. I CAN TELL YOU FROM SPEAKING TO A LOT OF CRUISERWEIGHT GUYS, THEY ALL STOLE EVERYTHING EDDIE COULD DO. THEY WANT TO BE JUST LIKE EDDIE GUERRERO. EVEN THE BIGGER GUYS WHO COULDN’T MOVE AS WELL AS EDDIE GUERRERO DID, WE LOOKED AT HIS PERSONALITY, HIS ABILITY TO WITH THE CROWD AND WE WANTED TO STEAL THAT FROM HIM. THE MAN WAS A MAESTRO AT THIS AND A HALL OF FAMER AND HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. >> WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW THERE WILL NEVER BE ANYBODY LIKE THIS GUY OR THAT GUY. THERE WILL NEVER, EVER BE ANYBODY LIKE EDDIE GUERRERO. WHAT HE DID IN THE RING, HIS CHARISMA, HIS TALENTS, HOW HE ENTERTAINED PEOPLE. I COULD TELL YOU STORIES UNTIL I WAS BLUE IN THE FACE ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME I SPENT WITH EDDIE GUERRERO. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE MAN. AND PROBABLY THE HIGHLIGHT OR ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY CAREER WAS THE HIGHLIGHT AT THE COW PALACE WHEN EDDIE GUERRERO DID THE UNTHINKABLE AND BEAT BROCK LESNAR FOR THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP, IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL NIGHTS IN THE HISTORY OF WWE. THE SCENE BACKSTAGE WAS EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE. WE HAD TEARS BACKSTAGE WHEN IT FINALLY HAPPENED FOR EDDIE GUERRERO. IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMPANY TO CONTINUE TO REMEMBER WHAT EDDIE GUERRERO MEANT TO ALL OF US. WE HAVE PLENTY MORE TO COME HERE TONIGHT ON THE COUNTDOWN. >> WE ARE REFERENCING THE WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM MATCH COMING UP ON KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING COUNTDOWN. BEFORE WE GET THERE, PART TWO OF MY SIT DOWN WITH THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, THE UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPION, CODY RHODES, AS HE SHEDS A LITTLE MORE LIGHT ON HIS OPPONENT TONIGHT, LOGAN PAUL. ♪ >> THE ULTIMATE FAN EXPERIENCE. THE WWE EXPERIENCE. RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. >> SINCE 1998, THIS MAN HAS COMPETED ALL OVER THE WORLD. >> I HAVE BEEN A CHAMPION ALL OVER THE WORLD. I EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HERE IN THE WWE. >> THE PHENOMENAL ONE, A.J. STYLES. IS HERE. >> SWINGING LANE TO LANE OFF THE GROUND DOG ♪ >> A MASTERMIND OF OFFENSIVE INNOVATION. >> A.J. STYLES CONTINUES TO BE THE BEST PERFORMER OF OUR GENERATION. >> EVERY TIME I STEP FOOT IN THIS RING, I TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT I DO IN IT. >> HAVING THE MATCH OF MY LIFE IS WHAT I DO. >> THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT A.J. STYLES BUILT. >> ♪ WORD AROUND TOWN SAYS I’M THE TRUTH ♪ >> A.J. STYLES IS THE DOUBLE W CHAMPION. >> I AM THE BEST THAT SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT HAS TO OFFER. >> WHAT GOOD IS BEING A CHAMPION IF YOU ARE NOT A FIGHTING CHAMPION? >> NOTHING ABOUT A.J. STYLES AND HIS CAREER HAS BEEN EASY. HE’S WORKED HARD FOR EVERYTHING HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED. >> THEY DON’T CALL ME PHENOMENAL FOR NOTHING. >> JIMMY BEATING THE HELL OUT OF A.J. STYLES. >> COULD IT BE? A.J. STYLES. >> PHENOMENAL. >> A.J. STYLES, EVENING THE ODDS. >> JUDGING BY AJ’S APPEARANCE, THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT MAN FROM WHAT WE LAST SAW. >> I’M DIALED IN. I WAS OUT, I GOT MY MIND RIGHT AND NEW WHAT I WANTED AND GOT FOCUS. >> THEY KNOW WHAT I’M CAPABLE OF. THEY THINK MAYBE I’M OVER THE HILL. YOU KNOW WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE THEN? NOTHING. I’M GOING TO DEMOLISH EVERYTHING TO PROVE A POINT. >> I AM BETTER THAN THE BEST. I AM PHENOMENAL. C1 >> ♪ [APPLAUSE] >> THE MOMENT AN IDEA BECOMES AN OBSESSION SIGNIFIES THE BEGINNING OF A CHAMPION’S JOURNEY. AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE THRONE, DEFEND WHAT IS ALREADY YOURS, AND DELIVER A MASSIVE SPECTACLE. IN FRONT OF THE WORLD. >> SHOWTIME! >> TONIGHT, IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, IT IS NO LONGER ABOUT HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME, BUT HOW HIGH YOU WILL ASCEND. >> THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. THE MOMENTS! THE EMOTION! >> REMEMBER THIS. EVERY JOURNEY STARTS WITH A SPARK OF AN IDEA. AND WHAT WE MAKE OF OUR OBSESSIONS BECOMES OUR DESTINY. THIS IS WWE KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING. >> WELCOME BACK TO THE KING OF THE RING COUNTDOWN SHOW. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.] YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SHOT OF THE JEDDAH SUPER DOME IN SAUDI ARABIA. WHEN I TELL YOU THE ENERGY HERE IS DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS LIVE EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD, I ABSOLUTELY MEANT IT. IT HAS BEEN ELECTRIC IN JEDDAH. I AM HONORED TO BE JOINING THE PANEL. YOU WERE HERE EARLIER. HOW IS THE ENERGY FOR YOU GUYS? >> BEAUTIFUL. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHO THE NEW KING AND QUEEN WILL BE TONIGHT. >> A MASSIVE FEW DAYS IN JEDDAH. THE BIGGEST ENERGY I FELT SINCE WE GOT HERE WAS THE RETURN OF KEVIN OWENS ON SMACKDOWN LAST NIGHT. WE ALL OWE HIM A DEBT OF GRATITUDE. HAD HE NOT SHOWN UP, I DO NOT THINK WE WOULD HAVE A KING OF THE RING TONIGHT. >> IT IS HAPPENING THANKS TO ME. I LOVE PRAISE. >> [LAUGHTER] >> HOW HAVE YOU ENJOYED YOURSELF IN JEDDAH THIS WEEK? >> I’M GLAD I MADE IT. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE RANDY WOULD HAVE SOME SUPPORT. I AM WEARING THE SHIRT. DID YOU SEE THE SHIRT THEY MADE? >> RANDY HAS A HUGE NIGHT. HE IS UP FOR KING OF THE RING. SOMETHING HE HAS NEVER ACCOMPLISHED IN HIS TIME IN WWE. ANOTHER BIG MATCH WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER, CODY RHODES VERSUS LOGAN PAUL. WE KNOW CODY RHODES WAS ABLE TO FINISH HIS STORY AT WRESTLEMANIA THIS APRIL. BUT LOGAN PAUL IS ALREADY SAYING HE WILL END THAT STORY. EARLIER, WE DID HEAR FROM CODY RHODES. HE HAS A LITTLE MORE TO SAY ABOUT HIS UPCOMING MATCH TONIGHT. LET’S TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT RIGHT NOW. >> EARLIER, CODY RHODES GAVE INSIGHT INTO HOW HE HAS ADJUSTED TO LIFE AT THE TOP OF WWE. NOW, CODY AND I DISCUSSED HIS NEXT CHALLENGE AT KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING. IN SAUDI ARABIA, YOUR OPPONENT WILL BE UNITED STATES CHAMPION LOGAN PAUL. I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD LIMITED ACCESS TO LOGAN THE SHORT TIME HE HAS BEEN IN WWE, BUT FROM CODY RHODES’ PERSPECTIVE, WHO IS LOGAN PAUL? >> I WAS THINKING OF SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT LOOKING — LOGAN. I LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION OF MAVERICK. IT IS AN UNORTHODOX OR INDEPENDENT MINDED PERSON. I CANNOT SAY THAT I DISLIKE THAT. IT DEFINITELY FITS LOGAN PAUL IN OUR UNITED STATES CHAMPION BECAUSE OF THE VENTURES HE HAS MADE. HE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL. FROM A WRESTLING PERSPECTIVE, LOGAN IS MORE FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND THAN HE HAS ANY RIGHT TO BE. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A HEALTHY PROFESSIONAL RESPECT FOR LOGAN PAUL. WHAT ABOUT PERSONALLY? >> HE HAS A BIT OF A REPUTATION FOR RUBBING PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY. FORTUNE DOES FAVOR THE BOLD AND ALL OF THAT. EVERYTHING THAT I JUST SAID ABOUT LOGAN, HOW GOOD HE IS, THAT HAS INFORMED THE CHOICES HE HAS MADE. HE HAS BEEN TOO BOLD TAKING CREDIT FOR WWE’S SKYROCKETING SUCCESS. >> I HAVE BEEN THE ROCKET FUEL FOR THE SPACESHIP THAT IS WWE! >> KNOWN HE BELIEVES THAT, THE BEST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO THAT PERSON IS TO SLIP ON A BANANA PEEL, FALL FLAT ON THEIR FACE, AND WE SEE WHAT THEY DO. >> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT LOGAN DID CHANGING THE CONTRACTS TO TAKING HIS UNITED STATES TITLE OFF THE LINE IN THIS MATCHUP AT KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING? >> TITLES MEAN EVERYTHING. I KNOW A LYING WRESTLER WHEN HE SAYS I DO NOT CARE ABOUT THAT CHAMPIONSHIP OR THAT LIST. I KNOW THEY ARE NOT TELLING THE FULL TRUTH. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE GOTTEN A GRAND SLAM VICTORY. MAYBE THAT IS A STORY TO FINISH AT ANOTHER TIME. >> STILL PLENTY OF TIME. >> YES. >> I DO NOT WANT YOU TO GIVE AWAY YOUR STRATEGY, BUT HOW DO YOU PLAN ON NEUTRALIZING THE DREADED RIGHT HAND OF LOGAN PAUL? HE HAS SHOWN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, IT ONLY TAKES ONE LUCKY PUNCH. >> THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST PERSON TO QUOTE. BUT TO QUOTE JBL WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SHAWN MICHAELS’ SUPERKICK, HE SAID HE WOULD JUST DUCK. >> [LAUGHTER] THAT IS J.B.L. FOR YOU. >> I THINK THAT IS MY CURRENT STRATEGY. I DO NOT NEED TO GET IT TO A POINT IN THE MATCH WHERE I AM AT ALL OFF BALANCE BECAUSE THEN, NO MATTER HOW QUICK, ATHLETIC, AND INSTINCTS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF THAT YOU HAVE, IT CAN END VERY QUICKLY COURTESY OF A LOGAN PAUL RIGHT HAND. >> AS WE APPROACH KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING, DEFEND YOUR UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST LOGAN PAUL, NOT TITLE FOR TITLE, HOW DOES IT GO DOWN IN SAUDI ARABIA? >> AS MUCH POSITIVE THINGS AND WONDERFUL PLATITUDES AS I CAN THROW OUT ABOUT LOGAN PAUL, I WILL BE COMPLETELY HONEST. I DO NOT THINK LOGAN PAUL STANDS A CHANCE. I THINK LOGAN PAUL FINDS OUT, YEAH, HE IS WONDERFUL, BUT HE IS NOT ON THE LEVEL HE THINKS HE IS ON. THAT IS A GREAT THING FOR HIM TO FIND OUT. >> IT WILL BE A GREAT THING FOR ALL OF US TO WITNESS. KEANE AND QUEEN — KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING, SAUDI ARABIA, GOOD LUCK. >> THANK YOU. >> CODY RHODES AS COOL, CALM, AND COLLECTED AS HE ALWAYS IS. YOU HAVE HAD A FEW BOUTS WITH LOGAN PAUL, AS RECENTLY AS WRESTLEMANIA. WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT THOUGHTS ON LOGAN? >> HE IS BETTER THAN HE HAS ANY RIGHT TO BE. WE HAVE SAID THIS MANY TIMES. CODY JUST MENTIONED IT NOW. HE IS NOT WALKING OUT WITH CODY RHODES’ TITLE. THERE IS NO WAY. I DO NOT THINK HE HAS EARNED ONE SINGLE VICTORY HE HAS HAD SO FAR. >> LOGAN HAS HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS IN SAUDI ARABIA. >> YEAH, THE BRASS KNUCKLES HELP CRAIG >> DO YOU BUY THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THE BRASS KNUCKLES WERE IN HIS SHORTS? WHAT WERE YOU BORN YESTERDAY? YOU KNOW HOW THIS GAME WORKS. I WORRY ABOUT WHAT I AM HEARING FROM CODY RHODES. CODY RHODES IS BRILLIANT. BUT RIGHT NOW, HE IS TRYING TO BE THE PERFECT AMBASSADOR. HE IS THE CHAMPION. HE IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING US INTO A NEW ERA. HE IS TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING CORRECTLY AS A GOOD GUY, AS AN INSPIRATIONAL GUY. THE PROBLEM IS YOU ARE IN THERE WITH A COMPLETE RAT IN LOGAN PAUL WHO HAS NAVIGATED NOT PUTTING HIS OWN CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE PRE-CODY FOR SOME REASON AGREED TO THIS. YOU ARE FIGHTING A GUY TONIGHT WHO IS PROBABLY GOING TO TRY TO INVOLVE REST KNUCKLES OR SOMETHING OF THAT ILK. YOU CANNOT BE PERFECT TONIGHT. YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN IN THE TRENCHES AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE LOGAN PAUL. >> HAVE WE CONSIDERED THE METAL PLATE THAT HE MAY HAVE HAD SURGICALLY IMPLANTED IN HIS HAND? WICKS HE HAS GONE ON RECORD BEFORE SAYING HE HAS A TITANIUM PLATE IN HIS HAND FROM AN ACCIDENT AS A CHILD. I WAS NOT LISTENING, BUT I KNOW HE SAID THAT. >> WE KNOW CODY RHODES IS AT THE TOP AND THE STANDARDBEARER IN WWE. WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT LOGAN BLAMING HE IS THE REASON FOR WWE’S SUCCESS AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CODY RHODES? >> DILUTION IS A STRONG DRUG FOR SOME PEOPLE. >> I HAVE TO GO YOU UP ON THAT. I LOVE PRIME, ESPECIALLY THE BLUE RASPBERRY ONE. I DRINK THAT ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. THEY SEND IT TO MY HOUSE. >> HOW MUCH HAS HE GIVEN YOU? >> LOGAN PAUL HAS BROUGHT A TON OF EYEBALLS TO WWE. I WOULD NOT LET THAT MAN BE TARNISHED ON THAT. >> TIME WILL TELL WHAT HAPPENS LATER TONIGHT. ANOTHER HUGE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH TONIGHT IS THE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. WE HAVE LIZ STANDING BY WITH BYRON SAXTON. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU HAVE SPOKEN AT LENGTH ABOUT YOUR LIV MORGAN REVENGE TOUR AND THAT COULD REACH ITS EPIC CONCLUSION IF YOU DEFEAT BECKY LYNCH AND BECOME THE NEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPION. WHERE IS YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL RIGHT NOW? >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS SINCE SHE INJURED ME. TONIGHT, I FINALLY COMPLETE THE LIV MORGAN REVENGE TOUR AND TAKE WHAT SHE LOVES MOST BY WINNING THE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. >> ON THE FLIPSIDE, WE KNOW BECKY LYNCH IS EMOTIONALLY CHARGED. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO HANDLE THE EMOTIONS? >> BECKY LIKES TO KEEP REMINDING EVERYONE I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO BEAT HER ONE-ON-ONE. THAT CHANGES BECAUSE SHE HAS NEVER FACED THIS VERSION OF LIV MORGAN. THERE IS NOTHING SHE CAN THROW AT ME — WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? >> YOU KNOW WHAT I AM DOING HERE. I FLEW ALL THE WAY TO SAUDI ARABIA TO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT GET YOUR HANDS ON MOMMY’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. >> DIRTY DOM TRYING TO GET IN HER HEAD. BEFORE THAT, WE SAW A CONFIDENT LIV MORGAN AHEAD OF HER MATCH . WE WILL SEE WHEN THESE SUPERSTARS COLLIDE TONIGHT. >> ♪ >> I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT TOOK FOR ME TO GET WHERE I AM TODAY. THIS IS A CULMINATION OF A LIFETIME OF HARD WORK. THE ONLY THING I EVER PROMISED MYSELF IS I WOULD GIVE IT MY ALL AND LEAVE EVERYTHING I HAVE IN THIS RING. I HAVE DREAMED ABOUT THIS MY ENTIRE LIFE. SOMETIMES, I FELT LIKE I WOULD NEVER GET HERE. BUT HERE I AM! >> ♪ DON’T MESS WITH ME ♪ >> BLINDSIDE ATTACK! THIS IS GOING TO END MORGAN’S CAREER! >> ♪ >> WHEN I WAS INJURED, I HAD EIGHT MONTHS TO SELF REFLECT AND EXAMINE. BUT ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT WAS REVENGE. >> THE FINAL STOP ON THE LIV MORGAN REVENGE TOUR IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE RHEA RIPLEY AND THE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME, WATCH ME. >> ♪ >> AHH! >> GET OUT OF HERE! >> I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED TO VACATE MY WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! >> I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE IS MAD AT ME. FOR WHAT? I AM NOT THE BAD GUY HERE. THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE LIV MORGAN REVENGE TOUR. NO, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. [GIGGLING] >> TONIGHT, WE CROWN A NEW CHAMPION. IT IS EVERY WOMAN FOR HERSELF! [BELL RINGS] >> BECKY AND MORGAN. >> HERE I STAND, YOUR NEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPION, THIS IS MY SHOW NOW! >> I AM SO TIRED OF BEING OVERLOOKED AND UNDERESTIMATED HERE. IN CASE YOU FORGOT, I AM THE ONE THAT TOOK OUT RHEA RIPLEY. YOU ARE WELCOME! >> YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS YOU HAVE DONE. LIV, YOU NEVER BEAT ME! LIV AND I HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY TOGETHER. BUT IN THE MANY TIMES WE HAVE FOUGHT EACH OTHER, SHE HAVE S NEVER ONCE BEATEN ME! SHE IS HELL BENT ON REVENGE AND NOW SHE THINKS THIS STRATEGY IS GOING TO BE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT ME. >> AFTER 10 LONG, HARD YEARS IN THE WWE, I WILL FINALLY SIT WHERE I BELONG, WHICH IS AT THE TOP OF THIS DIVISION AS YOUR NEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPION! CRY ABOUT IT. >> THE KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING, JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA, BECKY LYNCH DEFENDS THE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. THE LIV MORGAN REVENGE TOUR, IN HER MIND, CONTINUES! >> BOTH EXTREMELY STRONG COMPETITORS. THIS PAST MONDAY NIGHT RAW, BECKY MENTIONED SHE AND LIV MORGAN HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY TOGETHER. BECKY HAS ONLY DEFENDED HER TITLE AGAINST LIV MORGAN TWICE. BECKY WAS VICTORIOUS BOTH TIMES. BOTH WOMEN HAVE UNDERGONE A LOT OF GROWTH THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. WHO IS THE STRONGEST SUPERSTAR IN 2024? >> ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED IN THERAPY IS YOU CANNOT POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP. MY FEAR WITH BECKY IS HER CUP IS CLOSE TO EMPTY. A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPECTED HER TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN GRINDING. LIV IS HUNGRY AND READY. SHE SPENT TIME ON THE SHELF. I HAVE NEVER SEEN HER THIS DRIVEN. I WONDER IF NOW THINGS COME TO A HEAD, IF BECKY DOES NOT HAVE MORE GAS LEFT IN THE TANK, THIS MIGHT BE LIV’S NIGHT. >> I AGREE. LIV WAS EFFECTIVELY A ROOKIE AT THAT POINT IN TIME. SHE IS NOT. SHE IS A 10-YEAR VETERAN. SHE HAS EXPERIENCE. SHE HAS ALL THE EXPERIENCE SHE NEEDS AT THIS POINT TO BE FULLY CONFIDENT IN HERSELF AND TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP TONIGHT. >> I WOULD NEVER BET AGAINST BECKY LYNCH. I HAVE KNOWN HER A LONG TIME. ONE OF THE GREATEST REMNANTS — WOMEN’S WRESTLERS I HAVE SEEN. THIS IS A GREAT LIV MORGAN. EVER SINCE RHEA RIPLEY ENTERED HER, LIV SEEMS ON ANOTHER LEVEL. I DO NOT WANT TO BET AGAINST BECKY, BUT I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT. >> LIV FIRED BACK AT BECKY LYNCH THIS WEEK CALLING HER THE MOST SELFISH PERSON IN THE COMPANY. DO YOU AGREE? >> NOT EVEN CLOSE. >> YOU SEE HER GO TO NXT. YOU SEE TIFFANY STRATTON LEVEL UP BECAUSE OF HER TIME IN THE RING WITH BECKY. BECKY HAS GIVEN BACK. I ALSO SEE WHERE LIV IS COMING FROM. YOU ARE OFF TO THE SIDE, DOING A GOOD JOB. I THINK SHE IS TIRED OF BEING THE LITTLE SISTER WHO IS DONE A GOOD JOB. SHE WANTS THE TOP SPOT. I DO NOT BLAME HER. >> A LOT OF WOMEN ARE HERE IN JEDDAH TO SHOW UP. — SHOW OUT. WE HAVE THE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP. THAT MATCH WILL BE HAPPENING ON THE COUNTDOWN SHOW WHEN WE RETURN. >> ♪ WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL ♪ >> EVER SINCE I WAS A KID, I HAVE HAD MY EYES ON THE KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT. TITLES CHANGE HANDS CONSTANTLY. KING OF THE RING WAS A TITLE THAT YOU WON AND HAD FOR AT LEAST A YEAR OR UNTIL THE NEXT TOURNAMENT. >> ANYBODY FOLLOWING XAVIER WOODS KNOWS THAT HE WAS VERY PUBLIC ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A GOAL OF HIS. HE WANTED TO BECOME THE KING OF THE RING. THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIS GOAL. THAT IS ALL HE EVER WANTED OUT OF THIS INDUSTRY. IT IS WHAT HE WANTED THE MOST OUT OF THIS INDUSTRY, TO BE THE KING OF THE RING. >> IF YOU PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT WHILE YOU ARE KING, IT IS THE ROAD TO BECOMING HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. WHEN YOU BECOME KING, THAT IS THE FIRST STEP. >> IN 2021, THAT IS WHAT HE DID. >> YOU LOOK AT A GUY LIKE XAVIER WOODS, HIS MOTIVATION FOR ENTERING THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, FOR TRAINING AT THE AGE OF 17 WAS BECAUSE HE WATCHED THE KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENTS OF THE PAST. >> IS ME AND RICOCHET, I HAVE NEVER TOUCHED HIM BEFORE. HE IS MY FAVORITE HIGH FLYER THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. >> RIGHT TO THE HEART! >> 1, 2, 3, THAT IS IT. WHAT’S GOING TO THE FINAL SPRIG >> CROWN JEWEL, SAUDI ARABIA. THE FIRST EVER UNIVERSAL CHAMPION. >> ONE OF THE BEST TO EVER DO THIS. YOU EXPECT FINN BALOR TO BRING A MAT SHE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT FOR MONTHS AT A TIME. THIS IS XAVIER WOODS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF ON HIS OWN, TO HAVE A SOLO CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT. >> IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN XAVIER WOODS GREATEST MATCH, PROBABLY HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT ON HIS OWN. >> NIGHT NIGHT! >> SAVIOR COVERS — XAVIER COVERS. >> THIS IS THE MOST NERVOUS THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE FOR ANYTHING. THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF NEAR A LIFETIME OF DESIRE. I AM FINALLY HERE. >> HE IS GOING TO DELIVER THE ELIGIBLE — THE ELBOW! KING XAVIER! >> THE DREAM HAS COME TRUE FOR XAVIER WOODS! [APPLAUSE] >> MY DESTINY! >> HIS EMOTIONS BROUGHT HIM TO TEARS. THIS WAS TRULY FOR XAVIER WOODS A DREAM COME TRUE. >> THE NEW KING OF WWE, THE NEW KING OF THE RING! >> XAVIER WOODS BECOMING THE KING — [NO AUDIO] THE KING OF THE RING WINNER WAS A MOVIE IN REAL LIFE. >> ON THE LIST OF OTHER KINGS, IT IS SOMETHING NOT MANY PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO SAY. [APPLAUSE] >> IS A MOMENT I WILL NEVER FORGET — IT IS A MOMENT I WILL NEVER FORGET. >> I KNOW WE ALL REMEMBER THAT NIGHT WHEN XAVIER WOODS BECOMES KING OF THE RING. ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZED KINGS OF THE RING IS STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN. MICHAEL COLE IS HERE TO TELL US A STORY ABOUT AUSTIN’S 316. MICHAEL: IT WAS JUNE OF 1996. THE WRESTLING LANDSCAPE HAD CHANGED AS THE WWE WAS STRUGGLING, BEING DOMINATED BY ITS COMPETITOR, WCW. THE MONDAY NIGHT WARS WERE IN FULL GEAR. WCW NITRO WAS BEATING WWE HANDILY. >> YOU WANT TO GO TO WAR? YOU’VE GOT A WAR. MICHAEL: WWE’S PRODUCT HAD GROWN STALE AND PREDICABLE. SOMETHING MAGICAL HAPPENED THAT SUMMER IN MILWAUKEE. IT WAS THE KING OF THE RING FINALS. ON ONE SIDE STOOD THE LEGENDARY JAKE THE SNAKE ROBERTS WHO HAD TAKEN TO PREACHING THE WORD TO HIS FLOCK. >> MY SOUL WAS PURCHASED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. SO HOW CAN I LOSE IF I JUST GO OUT THERE AND KNOW THE POWER OF LOVE IS REACHING DOWN AND LIFTING ME UP? MICHAEL: ON THE OTHER, A ROUGH AND TOUGH BLUE-COLLAR TEXAN BY THE NAME OF STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN. ROBERTS NEVER STOOD A CHANCE. >> A STONE COLD STUNNER! THIS MAY BE ONLY THE BEGINNING FOR THAT YOUNG MAN! MICHAEL: AFTER A QUICK VICTORY, HE STEPPED UP TO THE PODIUM AND DELIVERED A PROMO THAT WOULD REVOLUTIONIZE AN INDUSTRY AND CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF AUSTIN’S LIFE FOREVER. >> TALK ABOUT YOURSELF, TALK ABOUT JOHN 3:16. AUSTIN 3:16 SAYS I JUST WHIPPED YOUR — >> I JUST PUT IT TOGETHER IN MY HEAD. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT KIND OF MOMENT THAT WAS. WE SHOWED UP AND THERE WERE AUSTIN 3:16 SIGNS. >> THE T-SHIRTS ARE SELLING OUT EVERYWHERE. MICHAEL: MANY SAY THIS MOMENT IS WHAT USHERED IN THE ATTITUDE ERA. >> ♪ MICHAEL: THE ERA THAT SAW WWE RECLAIM ITS GREATNESS AND ANNIHILATE WCW BEFORE EVENTUALLY PURCHASING IT FIVE YEARS LATER. AUSTIN 3:16 WOULD GO ON TO BECOME ONE OF, IF NOT THE MOST, ICONIC CATCHPHRASES IN WRESTLING HISTORY. IT WOULD BE QUOTED BY ATHLETES AND CELEBRITIES AROUND THE GLOBE. >> AUSTIN 3:16. >> IT DON’T COMPARE TO THE STONE COLD. >> I DO NOT WANT TO INTIMIDATE YOU BEFORE WRESTLEMANIA, BUT CHECK THIS OUT. MICHAEL: IT WAS AS IF ANYONE — EVERYONE ON THE PLANET WAS WEARING THE SIGNATURE BLACK T-SHIRT. THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE HEARING THE GLASS BREAK. NOTHING MORE EXCITING THAN TO EXPERIENCE THAT SENSATION FIRSTHAND. AUSTIN WOULD STUN AUDIENCES THE WORLD OVER AS WELL AS A CAVALCADE OF SUPERSTARS IN THE RING. MYSELF INCLUDED. IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS OF MY LIFE TO BE ONE OF THE TWO MEN TO HAVE BEEN THE SOUNDTRACK OF STEVE’S ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER. MYSELF AND ALL OF WWE ARE FOREVER INDEBTED TO THE MAN WHO NOT ONLY ENTERTAINED US BUT SAVED AN ENTIRE COMPANY AS WELL WITH THE POWER OF AUSTIN 3:16. >> AND THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE, BECAUSE STONE COLD SAID SO! >> FROM ONE STUNNER TO ANOTHER, WHAT HAS STONE COLD MEANT TO YOU IN YOUR CAREER? >> HE CHANGED MY LIFE. THAT IS THE TRUTH. WHEN HE CAME IN AS THE RINGMASTER, I WAS ONE OF THE FEW THAT LOVED THE RINGMASTER FROM THE GET-GO. HE BECAME STONE COLD. THAT NIGHT KING OF THE RING CHANGED EVERYTHING. YEARS LATER, I MET HIM IN THE AIRPORT AND ASKED FOR ADVICE, TOOK IT TO HEART, AND 17 YEARS LATER, I WAS IN THE RING WITH HIM FOR HIS LAST MATCH. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU NOTICED I WAS GETTING STUNNED IN THE PACKAGE. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS NECESSARY TO INCLUDE ME, BUT A HUGE MOMENT IN MY CAREER. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ME BEING HERE IN A LOT OF WAYS. >> CLEARLY CHANGED OUR INDUSTRY. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN IS NOT ONLY DID HE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT IN HIS HEYDAY IN THE RING BUT HE CONTINUES TO MENTOR SO MANY OF US AND SHAPE OUR INDUSTRY TO THE STATE. SO MANY OF US ASPIRE TO HAVE A FRACTION OF THAT. >> IT SHOWS YOU HOW POWERFUL THE KING OF THE RING TERM IT CAN BE. THAT IS THE LAUNCHPAD THAT TOOK STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN FROM AN AVERAGE GUY ON THE ROSTER AND TURNED HIM INTO THE BIGGEST DEAL ANY OF US HAD EVER SEEN FROM THAT ERA. IT WAS MASSIVE. THAT IS THE POWER OF THE KING OF THE QUEEN, AND THE QUEEN OF THE RING TOUR WHEN USED CORRECTLY. >> WE ALL APPRECIATE THE IMPACTS STEVE AUSTIN HAS HAD, ESPECIALLY THE NEXT TWO MEN LOOKING TO JOIN STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN AS KING OF THE RING. GUENTER HAS NOT BEEN HERE NEARLY AS LONG AS HIS COMPETITOR BUT HAS BEEN SHATTERING RECORDS. HE IS FACING A MAN HAVE BEEN IN WWE FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS WHO HAS YET TO HAVE THE TITLE OF KING. >> IF THE SPORTS MEDIA THOUGHT I WAS THROUGH GIVING YET MOST EXPERT ANALYSIS AND THEIR JOBS WERE SAFE, WELL, I AM AFRAID I HAVE GOT SOME BAD NEWS! THE 20 KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT IS STRONGER THAN EVER — THE 2024 KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT IS STRONGER THAN EVER FEATURING A FIELD OF FORMER KINGS AND ALMOST THE ALMIGHTY HIMSELF. HIS INJURY PROVIDED AND OR DAWKINS AN OPPORTUNITY OF HIS OWN. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS LITTLE REASON TO BET AGAINST HIM FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHER’S ROYAL FOOTSTEPS. LA KNIGHT LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY. TONGA HIT HIM LIKE A MACK TRUCK. >> WE MUST CONTINUE COUNTING BODIES TO THE RHYTHM OF HIS WAR DRUM. >> CARMELO HAYES RETIRED FORMER KING BARON CORBIN IN THE FIRST ROUND. FORGET THE KING, ALL HAIL HIM! THAT WAS BEFORE MEETING A LIVING DYNASTY. AFTER DISPATCHING A.J. STYLES IN THE FIRST ROUND, HE SHOWED CARMELO THE THREE MOST DANGEROUS LETTERS IN WWE ARE NOT HIM BUT R.K.O., WHICH LED TO A DANGEROUS SHOWDOWN BETWEEN ORTON AND HIM A TONGA — TAMATONGA. >> THE APEX PREDATOR TAKES ONE MORE GIANT STEP TOWARD THE THRONE. >> THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BRACKET BROUGHT ITS OWN MADNESS IN SEARCH OF THAT ONE SHINING MOMENT. JEY USO FOUND HIMSELF IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF A MAD DRAGON ON A HOT STREAK. AFTER A JAW-DROPPING VICTORY AGAINST RICOCHET, HE CAME UP JUST SHORT IN A PHYSICAL BATTLE IN THE MAIN EVENT. MEANWHILE, THE ODDS ON RAW FAVORITE DROPPED HIS COMPETITION. HE MANAGED TO MAKE IT BY THE LEGENDARY REY MYSTERIO. MARCHING TOWARDS THE CROWN, HE TOOK ON EVERYONE’S FAVORITE BRACKET BUSTING UNDERDOG, JEY USO. >> I AM GOING TO CATCH A CROWN "COUNTDOWN TO WRESTLEMANIA XL." — I’M GOING TO CATCH A CROWN. >> HE ADVANCES TO THE FINALS! >> AND NOW, WE HAVE A FIRST TIME EVER DREAM MATCH IN THE FINALS, THE LONGEST REIGNING FORMER INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION OF ALL TIME LOOKING TO GO FROM BRING GENERAL TO KING GENERAL VERSUS ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED SUPERSTARS IN WWE HISTORY RANDY ORTON. A MATCH FOR THE AGES AND FOR THE CROWN. >> KEVIN, I’M GOING TO KICK IT TO YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT ON FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN. YOU CAME TO THE AID OF YOUR FRIEND, RANDY ORTON. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE TO BE RUNNING DOWN THE RAMP. THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE WAS CHEERING YOUR NAME. >> I HAD TUNNEL VISION PRAYED I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING. I WANTED TO GET THERE BEFORE THEY DID ANY DAMAGE TO RANDY THAT WOULD AFFECT HIM TONIGHT. I AM HERE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT TO MAKES BLOODLINE DOES NOT GET INVOLVED. I WANT RANDY TO HAVE ALL THE CHANCE HE HAS AGAINST GUNTHER. GUNTHER IS NO RANDY ORTON. >> I LOVE THIS MATCH, I REALLY DO. IT FEELS LIKE A FLIP OF THE COIN. IT IS SUCH A CONTRAST IN STYLES. GUNTHER USUALLY WINS WITH PHYSICALITY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN RANDY BIGGER. MISSISSIPPI IS IN, THE CONDITION HE IS IN, HE LOOKS INCREDIBLE. I DO NOT KNOW WHICH WAY THIS ONE GOES. IT IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE. I DO NOT KNOW WHICH ONE TO PICK. >> I HAVE TO STOP YOU. YOU ARE COMPLETELY WRONG. FIVE DAYS AGO, GUNTHER QUALIFIED FOR THIS FINAL. LAST NIGHT, RANDY ORTON GOT BATTERED BY TIM A TONGA AND THE BLOODLINE BEFORE K.O. SHOWED UP. HE IS IN THERE TONIGHT WITH THE GREATEST TECHNICIAN OF OUR ERA IN GUNTHER. THE BULL’S-EYE IS ON RANDY ORTON. IT WILL GET SHREDDED BY THE RING GENERAL. >> I HEAR YOU, BUT IT IS HIM. >> DISGUSTING, IT IS DISGUSTING! >> IT IS NICE TO SEE THE MUTUAL RESPECT THESE STARS HAVE FOR EACH OTHER. HE DID SAY IN ORDER TO BECOME A LEGEND, HE HAS TO BEAT A LEGEND. I SPOKE WITH RANDY ORTON AND HE GAVE GUNTHER SO MUCH CREDIT. >> THIS IS GUNTHER’S FIRST MOMENT STEPPING UP FROM SHEER DOMINANCE TO THE A-PLUS TEAR IN WWE. IT IS A MASSIVE TEST, BUT I THINK HE HAS A HEAD START. >>’S KNEE WAS WORKING THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE I GOT TO WALK AROUND WITH RANDY ORTON IN JEDDAH TO DISCUSS THE MATCH TONIGHT. I WOULD LOVE FOR ALL OF YOU TO TAKE A LOOK. >> ♪ >> THIS IS WILD. WE ARE LITERALLY IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA, WALKING ALONG THE RED SEA. THIS IS WHERE WE CAME TO DO OUR JUMPS. HOW THIS? WHAT’S PRETTY SURREAL. I HAVE BEEN HERE A FEW TIMES. THE FANS ARE AMAZING, IT IS NICE TO BE BACK. >> IT IS ALWAYS SPECIAL FOR THE SUPERSTARS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD AND BE IN FRONT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FANS. WE WERE IN FRANCE A MONTH AGO. THE FANS WERE SINGING YOUR SONG. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? >> ♪ I TASTE BLOOD ♪ >> [CROWD SINGING] >> I TELL YOU WHAT, OVER THERE IN FRANCE, THEY WERE SINGING MY SONG, JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW IMPACTFUL OUR FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD CAN BE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST 16 YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THAT ENTRANCE MUSIC, THEY BEGAN TO SING MY SONG. >> HOW ARE YOU FEELING GOING INTO THIS ONE? >> I HAVE BEAT UP KEVIN. I HAVE BACK-TO-BACK SINGLES MATCHES. THIS IS FOR A GRAND PRIZE THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET MY HANDS ON. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMPETING. >> WE’RE GOING TO TALK GUNTHER. I’M SURE YOU HAVE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON HIM FOR A WHILE. VERY IMPRESSIVE SUPERSTAR SINCE HE ARRIVED IN WWE. >> I HAVE A LIST IN MY HEAD OF GUYS I WANTED TO WORK WITH, GUYS I WANTED TO WRESTLE. I WOULD NOT SAY HE WAS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. HE IS ONE. IT IS GOING TO BE HARD-HITTING. IT MIGHT BE THE TOUGHEST MATCH I HAVE HAD SINCE I HAVE COME BACK. IT IS GOING TO BE A WAR FOR ME. THINK IT IS A GREAT WAY TO TEST AND SEE JUST HOW MUCH MY BODY CAN TAKE. AS FAR AS THE PROBLEMS AND SUCCESSES, I DO NOT THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN THEM ALL IN ONE PERSON. IT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING. IT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING. I’M LOOKING TO BECOME KING OF THE RING. >> I THINK I SPEAK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN I SAY WE ALL HOPE THAT FOR YOU AS WELL. WE HOPE YOU BOARD THE PLANE ON THE WAY BACK HOME AS KING RANDY ORTON. >> HAPPY TO BE ALIVE. HAPPY TO BE HERE IN SAUDI ARABIA SITTING NEXT TO YOU WITH THE BEAUTIFUL SUN, BEAUTIFUL OCEAN, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. IT WILL BE AMAZING. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> WE ARE INSIDE THE JEDDAH SUPER DOME. WE ARE SET FOR OUR FIRST MATCH OF THE NIGHT. THIS IS FOR THE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM TITLES. WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE FRESH OFF THE COUNTDOWN PANEL. WE ARE NOW RINGSIDE. I AM MICHAEL COLE. HE IS COREY GRAVES. ARE YOU READY FOR THIS NIGHT? >> I FOUND MY TIE. I’M STILL BORROWING SOMEONE ELSE’S PANTS. HOPEFULLY BY KING OF THE RING, I WILL BE FULLY DRESSED AND READY. MICHAEL: LET’S GET UNDERWAY WITH THE FIRST MATCH OF THE NIGHT. [BELL RINGS] >> THIS IS FOR THE WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP! INTRODUCING FIRST THE TEAM OF INDI HARTWELL AND CANDACE LANG. >> OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE TAG TEAM TITLES. THEY HAVE HELD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS IN THE PAST AT NXT. INDIA FORMER NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPION. SHE DOES NOT FIND HERSELF IN THE FINALS TONIGHT. COREY: IN THE FIRST ROUND, BIANCA BELAIR FACED THEM AND BOTH DAMAGED HER KNEES SO MUCH THAT HER PERFORMANCE WAS AFFECTED THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE CREDIT TO CANDACE FOR GETTING IN THE MIND OF INDIA AND TEACHING HER YOU HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE. TRY IT MY WAY PRAY TONIGHT, THE PROOF COULD BE IN FRONT OF OUR EYES. >> THESE TWO WERE DRAFTED OVER TO FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN. A BIG OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA. >> IT IS COMING! >> ♪ >> THEY ARE THE WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! FIRST, JADE CARGILL! MICHAEL: THIS WOMAN, JADE CARGILL, HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF IMPRESSIVE SINCE ARRIVING ON THE SCENE IN WWE. COREY: I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU ANYMORE. AS ADVERTISED, AS PROMISED. THE HYPE HAS BEEN THE TRUTH. JADE CARGILL IS A BONA FIDE SUPERSTAR. THE FANS OF THE WWE HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED THAT. NOW, THE SUPERSTARS ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE NOTE OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN JADE CARGILL. MICHAEL: TREMENDOUS APPEARANCE IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE THIS YEAR. WON AT WRESTLEMANIA. AND OF COURSE, AT BACKLASH EARLIER THIS MONTH, WOULD WIN THE TAG TEAM FINAL. NIA JAX WAS USING JADE’S OWN ANGER AGAINST HER TO ADVANCE. COREY: NIA SCREAMING IN THE FACE OF JADE’S DAUGHTER WHICH SET JADE CARGILL OFF. TONIGHT, DEFENDING THE TAG TEAM TITLES. >> ♪ >> ♪ I AM ON MY OWN AGAINST THE WORLD ♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> ♪ THEY HEAR ME ROAR NOW I SEE I AM WAY BETTER THAN BEFORE ♪ >> NEXT, HER TAG PARTNER, BIANCA BELAIR! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] MICHAEL: HOW MUCH HAS TAGGING WITH BIANCA BELAIR HELPED JADE CARGILL? IF YOU SPEND ANY TIME AROUND BIANCA BELAIR AND DO NOT ABSORB SOME OF THE TALENT BY OSMOSIS, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. THIS WOMAN HAS HEADLINED WRESTLEMANIA. BIANCA HAVE BEEN IN THE TOUGHEST SPOTS IN THIS GAME AND COME OUT SHINING LIKE A DIAMOND. WHEN YOU ARE A SUPERSTAR AND YOU SEE A CAR GUILT INTO THE RING, THAT IS INTIMIDATING. BUT THEN YOU REALIZE IT IS ABOUT TO GET EVEN WORSE BECAUSE I HAVE TO DEAL WITH HER. >> IT IS A SUPERSTAR TEAM. >> EXTREMELY APROPOS DESCRIPTION. MICHAEL: THE SKY MAY NOT EVEN BE THE LIMIT FOR BEL AIR AND CARGILL. COREY: THEY WON THE TAG TITLES EARLIER THIS MONTH IN FRANCE WITH BACKLASH KNOCKING OFF THE KABUKI WARRIORS AND THE MATCHUP AND NOW DEFENDING TONIGHT. MICHAEL: WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO TRY TO TAKE THE TAG TITLES OFF OF THIS TEAM? COREY: DIVIDE AND CONQUER, IF THAT IS POSSIBLE. PHYSICALLY SPEAKING, BIANCA AND JADE ARE SO GIFTED AND LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF THE CHALLENGERS. THEY WILL HAVE TO DEFEND ON EXPERIENCE — DEPEND ON EXPENSE AND TECHNIQUE. MICHAEL: JESSICA CARR WILL WORK THE MATCHUP. OUR FIRST MATCHUP OF THE NIGHT IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA. IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE COUPLE OF DAYS IN THIS COUNTRY. BIG EVENT AT THE WWE EXPERIENCE THIS PAST THURSDAY IN RIYADH. COREY: YOU HAVE BEEN RUNNING AROUND WITH BRASS KNUCKLES IN YOUR POCKET SINCE THURSDAY. MICHAEL: PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT WITH THAT. I SAW YOUR TWEET, BY THE WAY. INDI HARTWELL UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF JADE CARGILL. COREY: IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG. MICHAEL: IMPRESSIVE ATHLETE IN HER OWN RIGHT. JADE MISSES WILDLY. INDI HARTWELL TRYING TO OUT-QUICK CAR GILBERT CAUGHT. THAT IS A SLAM THAT WOULD MAKE J.B.L. PROUD. COREY: YOU WILL WANT TO RELY ON YOUR SPEED. CARGILL HAS TO BE BUT SHE IS MORE OF A POWER PLAYER. MICHAEL: HERE COMES THE MULTI-TIME WOMEN’S CHAMPION OF WWE, BIANCA BELAIR. COREY: WHAT I HAVE SEEN OUT OF BIANCA BELAIR RECENTLY NEEDS TO BE MENTIONED, AS WE LOOK AT THIS POWER! SINCE ALIGNING WITH CARGILL, BIANCA BELAIR SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING HERSELF A LOT MORE IN WWE. SHE IS NO LONGER STOIC AND CONSTANTLY DETERMINED. BIANCA IS HAVING FUN. IN A WEIRD WAY, THAT MAKES HER MORE DANGEROUS. MICHAEL: BIANCA HAS TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST. IF YOU SEE HER FAVORING HER KNEE , IT WAS EXPLOITED LAST NIGHT TO GREAT EFFECT BY NIA. GUTBUSTER AS BIANCA TRIES TO FIGHT THROUGH THE PAIN. BIANCA TOLD ME A FEW WEEKS AGO SHE IS NO LONGER TENSE IN THE RING PRINT SHE TRIES TO LIGHTEN UP AND HAVE FUN. SHE BELIEVES IT HAS HELPED HER GROW IN WWE. COREY: ASKED ME WHAT JADE HAD LEARNED FROM BIANCA. HOW ABOUT WHAT BIANCA HAS LEARNED ABOUT HERSELF? IT IS THAT OLD ADAGE AND THE TRUTH IN THE TAG TEAM DIVISION. CANDID JUST GOT IT UPSIDE THE JOB. — CANDICE JUST GOT IT UPSIDE THE JAW. MICHAEL: THE KNEE GAVE OUT. INDI HARTWELL NOW LEAVING. COREY: BEL AIR IS AWARE. MICHAEL: SHE HAD NIA JAX UP ON HER SHOULDERS. THAT IS WHEN THE NEED BUCKLED — THE KNEE BUCKLED. COREY: GREAT STRATEGY BY INDI HARTWELL AND CANDICE LERAE. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A ONE LEG GED SUPERSTAR. THAT IS HOW FAR AWAY WE ARE FROM THE KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING PREMIUM LIVE EVENT IN JEDDAH. BIANCA IN ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE. COREY: THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO SEE, THIS RUTHLESSNESS. SHE IS ENJOYING HER TIME, LIKES TO TAKE THE LONG TRIPS, LIKES TO TRAVEL, LIKES TO BE PHYSICAL. BUT I WANT TO SEE KILLER INSTINCT OUT OF INDI HARTWELL. MICHAEL: SHE WILL PERHAPS START TO SHOW THAT IN HER TEAMING AND FRIENDSHIP WITH CANDICE LERAE WHO HAS CHANGED HER ATTITUDE ABOUT EVERYTHING. COREY: WHAT SHE LACKS IN SIZE AND STRENGTH, SHE COMPENSATES FOR WITH RUTHLESSNESS. MICHAEL: I THOUGHT SOMEONE ASK CANDICE LERAE WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO KNOW THAT SHE WAS THE REASON BIANCA BELAIR PERHAPS DID NOT ADVANCE TO THE FINALS OF QUEEN OF THE RING. SHE JUST SMILED THAT NASTY, SINISTER SMILE OF HERS, NOW UNLOADING ON BEL AIR. LATER TONIGHT, IT IS THE FINALS OF THE QUEEN OF THE RING. THE WINNER GETS A CHAMPIONSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT SUMMERSLAM. WILL IT BE NIA JAX IN SMACKDOWN? WILL IT BE THE UPSTART FROM MONDAY NIGHT RAW? COREY: DUMPING HER TO THE OUTSIDE. STILL PLENTY LEFT. I WANT TO POINT OUT THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB CUTTING THE RING IN HALF, ISOLATING HER FROM JADE CARGILL. YOU NEED TO APPLY MAXIMUM PUNISHMENT. THERE WE GO. MICHAEL: A KICKOUT. THEY HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR MANY YEARS, CLOSE FRIENDS, TAG TEAM PARTNERS. BIANCA AND JADE, DESPITE THEIR CHANCE, THEY ARE STILL LEARNING TO BE A TEAM. COREY: IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO DEVELOP TAG TEAM CHEMISTRY. I WOULD ARGUE THEY HAVE THE SKILLS TO COMPENSATE FOR THEIR LACK OF TAG TEAM CHEMISTRY. IN A SHORT TIME, THEY HAVE DEVELOPED EXTREMELY STRONG CHEMISTRY. MICHAEL: LOOK AT A TEAM LIKE THE L.A. LAKERS. YOU CAN PUT SOME OF THE BEST TALENT TOGETHER ON THE SAME TEAM AND THEY DO NOT WIN. COREY: TRYING TO PREVENT BELAIR FROM MAKING IT ACROSS THE RING TO MAKE THE TAG. CHEAP SHOT BY HARTWELL. THIS IS WHAT IS DRIVING ME NUTS. INDI HARTWELL SHOULD BE GOING FOR COVERS, HOOKING LEGS, DOING WHATEVER SHE CAN TO BECOME CHAMPION. NOT DANCE AROUND AND FLIP YOUR PIGTAILS. MICHAEL: NOW BIANCA TRYING TO FIGHT BACK. CANDICE LERAE FROM BEHIND THE OFFICIAL’S BACK TRYING TO PUNISH BIANCA BELAIR! COREY: BROUGHT IN UNCEREMONIOUSLY. HERE COMES THE STORM! JADE CARGILL EXPLODING INTO THE RING WITH A SPINEBUSTER TO LERAE. MICHAEL: TRYING TO RALLY THE WWE UNIVERSE IN JEDDAH. BIG SPLASH IN THE CORNER. A MATCHING ONE FOR HARTWELL. COREY: SHE IS NOT DONE YET. SENDING LERAE ACROSS THE RING! MICHAEL: NOW, A DOUBLE SPLASH. THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END. UP WE GO, DOWN GOES INDI! LERAE SAVES THE MATCHUP! COREY: A LUCKY TURN OF EVENTS FOR HARTWELL AS WE LOOK AGAIN AT THE POWER POSSESSED BY JADE, DRIVING HARTWELL DOWN. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR LERAE, THIS WOULD BE OVER. MICHAEL: THE KICK RIGHT TO THE KIDNEYS. THIS IS FOR THE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP. THE TAG MADE, DOUBLE-TEAM COMING. CANDICE! I DO NOT KNOW IF CANDICE GOT ENOUGH OF IT! CARGILL KICKS OUT! SPRINGBOARD MOONSAULT. I DON’T THINK SHE GOT EVERYTHING. COREY: ANY SUPERSTAR WILL TELL YOU THE HARDEST PLACE TO ADJUST IS MID AIR, PARTICULARLY MID MOONSAULT. SHE STILL GOT A TWO COUNT BUT NOT ENOUGH TO FINISH THE JOB. MICHAEL: ANOTHER DOUBLE-TEAM COMING. CANDICE NOW LEGAL COME UP TO THE TOP ROPE. INDI SENT SHOULDER FIRST TO THE POST. COREY: SHE WILL DROP KICK JADE BACK INTO HER OWN CORNER. MICHAEL: BIANCA BELAIR NOW GOING FOR LERAE’S KNEE FOR THE PAYBACK! COREY: LOOK AT THE POWER. MICHAEL: GOOD GOD, MAN! OH! FOR THE WIN! [BELL RINGS] >> HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS AND STILL THE WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPION, JADE CARGILL, AND BIANCA BELAIR! COREY: TALK ABOUT WHAT JADE HAS LEARNED SINCE TEAMING WITH BIANCA, IN THE LAST SECONDS, NOTICE BIANCA BELAIR SHOVING JADE CARGILL TO WHERE JADE IS SUPPOSED TO BE AFTER THIS RIDICULOUS DISPLAY OF POWER FORCING THEM INTO THE OCEAN CYCLONE SUPLEX. BIANCA REALIZING SHE IS LEGAL. SHE HAS TO COVER. JADE ALL SMILES WITH GOOD REASON. MICHAEL: THE OTHER THING THAT IS IMPRESSIVE IS THEY CONTINUE TO CHANGE THEIR GAME. THEY CAME UP WITH SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO RETAIN THE TAG TITLES TONIGHT. COREY: NEW LOOKS, SAME RESULT. THAT BEING A GIANT W TONIGHT AT KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING FOR THE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPION! MICHAEL: WE ARE SOLD OUT TONIGHT AT THE JEDDAH SUPER DOME! PLENTY MORE TO COME! >> ♪ WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN, DREW MCINTYRE STEPS >> –A UP AND PUSHES FORWARD. >> I AM NOT THE SAME GUY I WAS. >> THERE IS A SAYING IN SCOTLAND. WHAT IS MEANT TO BE WILL BE. >> I WAS THE FIRST SCOTTISH GUY EVER SIGNED TO THE WWE. ARE BELIEVED AT THAT MUCH — I BELIEVE THAT THAT MUCH. >> DREW MCINTYRE IS BACK HOME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. >> THE MAIN EVENT, THE FIRST UK STADIUM SO IN 30 YEARS, THE JOURNEY THAT LED TO THIS MOMENT. >> YOU ARE GOING TO FIND OUT WHY THEY CALL ME THE CHOSEN ONE! THE SCOTTISH WARRIOR! >> ♪ >> ♪ TAKE WHAT YOU WANT ♪ >> WRESTLEMANIA! >> DREW MCINTYRE FULFILLS HIS DESTINY. >> WWE CHAMPION! >> THE FIRST SCOTTISH WWE CHAMPION IN HISTORY! >> ♪ DO WHAT YOU WANT ♪ >> KEEP IT UP. GIVE IT UP FOR DREW MCINTYRE! >> THE WORLD CHAMPION. >> WWE SUPERSTAR DREW MCINTYRE. >> ALL I HAVE EVER DONE IS TRY TO GIVE THE FANS WHAT THEY WANT. I FIND MYSELF LOOKING BACK AND ASKING, IS THE SACRIFICE WORTH IT? >> THE MAIN EVENT AT WRESTLEMANIA ON THE LINE. >>, OF COURSE, WE ALL WANT TO WIN, BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE SUPERSTAR. THE SAVIOR OF WRESTLEMANIA, DREW MCINTYRE. >> DREW MCINTYRE HAS A CHANCE TO BECOME THE SELF-PROCLAIMED SAVIOR OF WRESTLEMANIA. IT WILL BE MCINTYRE AND RAWLINS FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. >> MCINTYRE HAS WON THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP! >> ♪ >> CM PUNK ASSAULTING THE CHAMPION! OH, MY GOD! >> THE SLAM! [BELL RINGS] >> HE WON THE WORLD TITLE! >> EVERYTHING I DID, YOU STOLE THAT FROM ME. I AM COMING FOR YOU! NOTHING BUT A TRANSITIONAL CHAMPION! >> MCINTYRE IS SENDING A MESSAGE TO ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION. ALL BETS ARE OFF. HE IS FINISHED PLAYING NICE! >> TWO THINGS YOU SHOULD BE AVOIDING, BEING IN MY PRAYERS AND FIGHTING ME ONE-ON-ONE. >> ♪ >> LOOK AT THAT GORGEOUS VIEW OF THE JET ASSIGNED — JEDDAH SIGN. I KNOW I CAN SPEAK FOR ALL OF THE WWE SUPERSTARS WHEN I SAY WE HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED OURSELVES. ONE OF THEM IS STANDING BY BACKSTAGE WITH BYRON SAXTON AHEAD OF HIS MASSIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH. WE’RE TALKING LOGAN PAUL. HEY, BYRON. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS. I’M STANDING ALONGSIDE THE UNITED STATES CHAMPION LOGAN PAUL. I WANT TO REVISIT SMACKDOWN LAST NIGHT. I WANT TO REVISIT WHAT WAS SAID BY YOUR OPPONENT TONIGHT, CODY RHODES, WHO CALLED YOU A FRAUD. YOU SAID YOU PERHAPS SUFFER FROM IMPOSTER SYNDROME. WITH THOSE STRONG WORDS IN MIND AND THE CONTROVERSY THAT SURROUNDS YOU, WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH HEADING INTO TONIGHT’S MATCH? >> THERE IS NO CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING ME. EVERYBODY LOVES ME. IMPOSTER SYNDROME? WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I TRANSITIONED INTO BEING A PROFESSIONAL BOXER. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I AM IN THE RING WITH FLOYD MAYWEATHER. THERE IS NOTHING I CANNOT DO. FOR THE THIRD TIME, I AM IN SAUDI ARABIA WRESTLING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP. MIND YOU, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I LEFT WITH THE BELT. TONIGHT, I AM LEAVING WITH TWO BELTS, DOUBLE CHAMPION, UNITED STATES CHAMPION AND UNDISPUTED CHAMPION. EVERYONE HAS DOUBTED ME MY WHOLE LIFE. MY LIFE IS A CONSISTENT CYCLE OF ME WINNING AND PROVING PEOPLE WRONG. TONIGHT, I’M GOING TO SHOW EVERYONE WHY I BELONG IN THE WWE , WYATT BELONG IN THE RING, AND WHY I BELONG ON TOP. >> APPRECIATE YOU, LOGAN. TONIGHT, WE WILL FIND OUT IF LOGAN PAUL BELONGS ON TOP. BACK TO YOU GUYS. >> LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, LOGAN PAUL HAS SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS IN SAUDI ARABIA. BUT, WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO END THE STORY OF CODY RHODES? WE WILL FIND OUT HERE TONIGHT. >> ♪ >> CODY, YOUR NEXT CHALLENGER HAS BEEN DETERMINED. >> ♪ >> THE UNITED STATES CHAMPION, LOGAN PAUL! >> SO, LOGAN PAUL, I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT. MAIN EVENTING THE KING AND QUEEN OF THE RING IN A CHAMPION VERSUS CHAMPION MATCH. >> I AM NOT GOING TO CALL YOU A PODCAST OR, OUTSIDER. I’M NOT GOING TO PRETEND THIS IS BAD FOR YOU. I HAVE GOTTEN A SENSE OF WHO LOGAN PAUL REALLY IS. YOU ARE DISRESPECTFUL, SELF-CENTERED, DELUSIONAL. YOU CANNOT GO A SINGLE MATCH WITHOUT GRABBING THOSE BRASS KNUCKLES. YOU ARE MAKING VIRAL MEMORIES. I THINK IT IS TIME TO DROP THAT UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP. >> NOT WHAT I AGREED TO. I AGREED TO WRESTLE CODY FOR THE UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPIONSHIP ONLY. CODY RHODES NOT DONE ANYTHING TO DESERVE A SHOT AT MY UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP. I HAVE PROVEN EVERY SINGLE TIME I AM IN THE RING THAT I AM WORTHY OF EVERY TITLE IN THIS INDUSTRY! THIS IS THE BOTTOM LINE, CODY. YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP IS ON THE LINE, MINE IS NOT! >> THE UNITED STATES CHAMPION SENT TO THE FLOOR! >> UH-OH! >> THAT IS MINE! >> CODY RHODES HAS A LOT ON THE LINE! LOGAN PAUL HAS JUST OPPORTUNITY. >> FOR ANYONE OUT THERE WHO THINKS I MAY USE CHEAP TACTICS TO WIN, YOU ARE WRONG. YOU SAW ME GET MY BRASS KNUCKLES TO MICHAEL CALL. I WILL BEAT CODY PARENTS WHERE –FAIR AND SQUARE. I WILL NOT USE THEM IN THE MATCH TOMORROW. MY EXPERIENCE WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE YOU HAVE ANOTHER SET OF KNUCKLES ON YOU RIGHT NOW. >> [LAUGHTER] ARE YOU CALLING ME A LIAR? YOU WANT TO BE A TSA AGENT? >> ♪ >> OK. I DON’T KNOW HOW THOSE GOT THERE! THESE ARE NOT EVEN MY PANTS! >> THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND I. IT IS A CRUTCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR CAREER. THIS TITLE IS MY WHOLE LIFE. IT IS ALL I EVER WANTED TO BE. UNTIL YOU START TREATING THIS PART-TIME, UNTIL YOU DEDICATE YOUR HEART AND SOUL, UNTIL YOU RESPECT THE RING WE ARE STANDING IN, YOU WILL NEVER, I MEAN NEVER, BEYOND MY LEVEL! YOU WILL NEVER BE UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPION! I AM GOING TO BEAT YOU SO BAD, KID, THAT YOU WILL REGRET EVER HAVING STEPPED FOOT IN THE RING WITH ME! >> OF COURSE, WE TOUCHED ON THIS MATCH EARLIER. THIS IS ONLY CODY’S SECOND TITLE DEFENSE SINCE BECOMING CHAMPION AT WRESTLEMANIA. HE DEFENDED AGAINST A.J. STYLES IN FRANCE. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPETING AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE A.J. STYLES AND LOGAN PAUL? >> THEY ARE BOTH AMAZING ATHLETES. THAT IS ONE THING I WILL NEVER TAKE AWAY FROM LOGAN PAUL. HE IS INSUFFERABLE AND A MORE ON BUT GREAT ATHLETE. AJ, PHENOMENAL ATHLETE. THAT IS HIS WHOLE NICKNAME. THEY ARE A LOT MORE ALIKE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. THE EXPERIENCE FACTOR IS NOT THERE. CODY HAS THAT. >> I THINK THE RISK IS GREATER WHEN IT COMES TO LOGAN PAUL. CODY HAD BUILT HIMSELF UP TO BE THE LEADER OF THE NEW ERA, TO BE THIS AMBASSADOR. IF YOU LOST THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE TITLE II A.J. STYLES, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE THING. BUT TO LOSE IT TO THE ANTITHESIS OF EVERYTHING CODY RHODES IS IN LOGAN PAUL, OUTSIDER, AMORAL GUY, A GUY WHO WILL CHEAT AND SNEAK AROUND AND NOT REPRESENT THE WAY CODY RHODES DOES — >> IT SELLS LIKE YOU ARE TARNISHING A LITTLE. >> I WILL TARNISH THE MAN WHEN HE COMPETES IN THE RING. >> MORAL FIBER. >> LOGAN IS INCREDIBLE. HE IS REALLY INCREDIBLE. >> I AM SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF. THAT IS BECKY LYNCH. IT LOOKS LIKE SHE IS MAKING HER WAY TO THE RING. THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE LIV MORGAN REVENGE TOUR END WITH THE GOLD AROUND HER WAIST OR WILL BECKY REIGN SUPREME? THESE ARE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE WOMEN. WHO IS GOING TO GO HOME AS THE QUEEN OF THE RING? THE IMPLICATIONS ARE MASSIVE HEADING INTO SUMMERSLAM. WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT BECAUSE THAT MATCH HAPPENS RIGHT NOW! >> ♪