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00:00The mask, Chad Gable, is a hot property right now.
00:03Well, coming up next on Friday Night SmackDown,
00:06a battle of two massive men.
00:09Royce Keys takes on Tala Tonga of the MFTs up next.
00:20Welcome, everyone, to the biggest event of the summer.
00:26We are getting caught in this summer slot.
00:30It's here when you talk to the princess.
00:32I am completely in shock right now.
00:50Ladies and gentlemen, Friday Night SmackDown in Bologna, Italy,
00:53as we take a look at what's on the menu for the WWE Podcast Network.
00:58Of course, R-Truth, a guest on The Undertaker's podcast.
01:02Very entertaining conversation, as you may expect.
01:05And on Stephanie Vance, what's your story?
01:08The former Intercontinental Champion, Becky Lynch.
01:11All available on the WWE Podcast Network.
01:33The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
01:36Introducing first, accompanied by Solo Sokoa and Tama Tonga,
01:40from the island of Tonga, weighing in at 300 pounds,
01:43representing MFT, Tala Tonga!
01:48Now, ladies and gentlemen, this has been a long-going rivalry,
01:53including these two.
01:54Yeah, this was last week on SmackDown.
01:56And a reluctant Priest and Royce Keys were tagging against MFT,
02:00looking pretty damn good,
02:01until Solo Sokoa got involved from the outside.
02:05Now, upon seeing that, R-Truth, who's not medically cleared,
02:09attempted to intervene,
02:11but needed saving by Royce Keys,
02:14who was also dropped in the process.
02:16That left Damian Priest alone to be fouled by the massive Tala T-Bomb.
02:22And one pin later, victory once again for MFT,
02:27who have been causing carnage in recent weeks.
02:30Well, there's a lot to dissect in this matchup here tonight.
02:33When we look at the MFT, Solo Sokoa, Tama Tonga,
02:36and, of course, Tala Tonga,
02:37you've got to look back to what happened after the matchup on Sunday
02:40at Clapton, Italy,
02:41when Roman Reigns defeated Jacob Fatu.
02:44And Fatu would have to go on to acknowledge Roman Reigns
02:46and become a part of that bloodline.
02:48Solo and company were looking on in the audience,
02:51and you have to try to dissect what that all means.
02:55Yeah, well, Solo Sokoa obviously has major historical links with Jacob Fatu.
03:00He tried to recruit himself back into the MFTs,
03:03but was denied by Fatu.
03:06And you think, when you look at Solo Sokoa,
03:08he wants an army that can control the entirety of WWE.
03:13I would assume that includes SmackDown and Raw.
03:16Solo Sokoa has also tried to recruit this man.
03:26And his opponent, from East Palo Alto, California,
03:30weighing in at 270 pounds,
03:33he is the winner of the 2026,
03:35Andre, the giant Memorial Battle Royal,
03:39Royce Keys.
03:41I am so impressed with this man, Royce Keys,
03:45and what he has been able to do since coming to WWE a number of months ago,
03:49as we prepare for this battle between these two massive men, Wade.
03:54Yeah, you mentioned the fact that Solo Sokoa had been trying to recruit Royce Keys for several weeks.
04:00Now, they do have some history from their independent days and even prior to that,
04:05but those efforts have all been rebuffed by Royce Keys,
04:09who insists he wants to walk alone here on SmackDown.
04:14And thus far, it's been an incredibly successful walk on SmackDown.
04:19Well, Solo Sokoa took advantage of fatal four-away rules,
04:22even though he didn't win the matchup this past Monday
04:25when Tawatanga got involved in the first round of the King of the Ring Tournament.
04:29Let me ask you about this.
04:30You're Royce Keys.
04:31You burst on the scene here.
04:32I understand you want to do your thing your own way.
04:35You want to carve your own path,
04:37but the way things are heating up around here,
04:39wouldn't you think that you might want some backup?
04:41I mean, historically speaking in this game,
04:43especially at the very top level,
04:46the numbers game will always help you out,
04:48but I get it from Keys' perspective.
04:50He's walked alone his entire life.
04:52He's from the streets.
04:53He doesn't get intimidated easily
04:56and clearly not intimidated by the almost seven-foot-tall Tawatanga.
05:00Yeah, much of the same background that Jacob Fatu had.
05:03And Royce Keys now with a shoulder tackle to Tonga.
05:06If you're Royce Keys,
05:08how do you go into this matchup against this six-foot...
05:10a ten monster?
05:12Well, it's rare for Royce Keys
05:13to be outsized by anyone in that ring,
05:16and quite simply,
05:17you need to chop the big man down to size in great time.
05:22Royce Keys trying to power up Talatanga
05:24and not able to,
05:25and the clubbing blows now to the back,
05:28driving Royce Keys to his knees.
05:30Well, this is the first time
05:31we've seen Royce Keys meet his match
05:33when it comes to the power game.
05:35Simply didn't have the power or strength
05:37to lift up that massive body of Talatanga.
05:40Royce Keys will be involved in a
05:43King of the Ring first-round matchup next week
05:47with Jey Uso, L.A. Knight, and Finn Balor
05:50right here on Friday Night SmackDown.
05:52It'll be the final first-round matchup for the men
05:54if he survives tonight,
05:56especially after that right hand by Talatanga.
05:58Survive is a great word.
06:01That was an intriguing slugfest,
06:02but the size of Talatanga was pivotal
06:04in winning that exchange.
06:07But keeping Royce Keys down for good
06:09is another matter entirely.
06:11Now Royce Keys able to duck underneath,
06:12and there's a,
06:14well, that clothesline,
06:15a drove Talatanga back to the top rope,
06:18and Royce now sending Talatanga
06:21over the top rope.
06:25Come on.
06:35And wait, what's interesting here
06:37is some frustration being shown by Talatanga now
06:40as Royce Keys is on the attack.
06:43Oh, was on the attack.
06:45Talatanga is an experienced competitor.
06:47He knows full well that kind of offense
06:49he's thrown at Keys so far
06:50should keep everyone down,
06:52but if it didn't before,
06:54it will now.
06:55Wow, Talatanga.
06:59Solo Sokoa has a diamond in the rough
07:02in Talatanga.
07:03Well, undoubtedly,
07:05Talatanga proved pivotal
07:06in deciding several matches and brawls
07:09on behalf of MFT
07:11really is the key piece of the puzzle
07:14when it came to that rebuild back to power.
07:17for Solo Sokoa.
07:18The official Ryan Tran in this matchup
07:20trying to get both men back into the ring.
07:22Important matchup for both of these men tonight
07:25as Keys has sent spine first into the post.
07:29Well, Keys does not want his momentum slowed down,
07:31and when it comes to Talatanga,
07:33I wouldn't want to go back to the locker room
07:36or the office of Solo Sokoa
07:38and explain why I couldn't get the job done.
07:41So, yeah, Talatanga increasingly important here
07:45on SmackDown for this rebuild of Solo Sokoa.
07:48And this has been great strategy by Tonga,
07:50trying to take out the back of Royce Keys,
07:52because was that due, Wade?
07:54It takes away this,
07:55the power game of Keys.
07:56And I don't know if Keys had a 100% spine right now.
08:00He'd be able to power up Talatanga,
08:02but he keeps on trying, refusing to be denied,
08:06but slowly, hope is starting to fade away
08:09for the monster.
08:17Rowdy cloud here tonight,
08:18Malone, Italy, as we wrap up a week-long tour here.
08:22Oh, Royce Keys is sent into the corner,
08:25and now Talatanga with a sidewalk slam,
08:27with authority.
08:28And it started to look pretty damn easy for Talatanga,
08:32and I never thought I would say that
08:35for an opponent of Royce Keys.
08:37And clearly Solo Sokoa is loving what he's seeing.
08:40Again, I would love to know
08:41what is going through the mind of Solo Sokoa
08:44after what happened with Jacob Fatu and Roman Reigns
08:47this past weekend at Clash in Italy,
08:49and, of course, the acknowledgement ceremony
08:51Monday night on Raw,
08:52where Jacob Fatu fell into line with the Usos.
08:56Solo has to view that
08:58as a major L.
08:59The man he tried to recruit into the fold
09:01has now gone to a different group,
09:04albeit rather reluctantly, I suspect,
09:07but nevertheless,
09:09now part of that bloodline crew.
09:14Oh!
09:15And again, Tonga.
09:17Just dominating right now.
09:20Royce Keys.
09:20Are you surprised with how this has unfolded?
09:22It's difficult to imagine Royce Keys ever being put in this position this early in a match,
09:28but if anyone's gonna do it, it would have been Talatanga,
09:31so therefore, my surprise is zero.
09:44Tala Tonga putting on a show here tonight.
09:47He's been dominating the powerhouse Royce Keys, who, whoa, just didn't have enough.
09:51Tonga now, into the cover, and a kick out.
09:54Again, Tonga's been focusing on the lower back of Royce Keys, which has taken the power away from Key's game.
09:59Yeah, that is the number one asset that Royce Keys has.
10:04Take away the power.
10:05What else does Royce Keys have in the Tang?
10:08And the answer right now looks like very little,
10:11and he might be about to get put to the floor,
10:13but...
10:13But Tonga perhaps got a bit overzealous,
10:16went for the bigger kick in the corner,
10:18and got caught up,
10:19and now Royce Keys with an opportunity.
10:23It isn't often that Royce Keys is dwarfed in the ring.
10:27They're having to block out that lumbar pain right now is Royce Keys.
10:31You've got yourself an opportunity to get back into the fight.
10:34Do not let it go begging.
10:36Yeah, these clubbing blows by Keys to the front and the back of Talatanga.
10:42Tonga's rocked.
10:43And Keys trying to knock the big man,
10:45the 6'10 Talatanga off his feet.
10:47Keys again, another collision.
10:49Keys trying to figure out what he needs to do.
10:51Tonga, though,
10:53stopping Keys at least momentarily.
10:55And now Royce Keys once again trying to lift Talatanga and not able to do it.
11:01I think he's got to think of a different strategy.
11:03That's attempt number four,
11:05and all four have failed now for Royce Keys.
11:07Simply that back is not up to lifting the massive frame of Talatanga,
11:12it would seem.
11:13And again, another opportunity,
11:15another opening perhaps for Royce Keys.
11:18Continues to splash Tonga in the corner.
11:22And Keys now using some quickness there,
11:26and that tackle will knock Tonga off his feet.
11:28And now Royce Keys is starting to feel it.
11:31Simply pounced out of his boots there was Talatanga,
11:35and now with the wind in his sails,
11:37it might be a 10 number five.
11:38And now Keys has got him up on his shoulders.
11:41Wow, what a power slam!
11:50And Keys has entered the zone.
11:53Solo Sokoa now up on the apron.
11:58Just like he did in tag action last week.
12:01And Tama Tonga as well.
12:02Well, behind the referee's back now.
12:05And that'll draw Keys out of the ring.
12:07Who's upset with Tonga getting involved.
12:10And this is where it looked like, oh!
12:13Catching a flying Tama Tonga,
12:16or is just when Royce Keys had complete control of the match,
12:19and looking back in the ring, I think,
12:21oh, Talatanga is up.
12:25To regain himself after the Keys attack.
12:28Those distractions are going to cost Royce Keys
12:31that Talatanga bomb by Tonga.
12:34The cover and the victory.
12:39Here is your winner, Talatanga!
12:43Well, give the assist there to Solo Sokoa and Tama Tonga.
12:47Yeah, the numbers game crucial once again.
12:50And Royce Keys' insistence on standing alone on SmackDown
12:54has now been really tested at this point.
12:57As these three vultures are lurking around their victim
13:01in celebration once again of a massive...
13:05Oh, here we go.
13:06And Solo Sokoa just ordered Tama Tonga
13:08to assault Royce Keys,
13:11who's defenseless at this point.
13:14Talatanga now getting involved.
13:16Yeah, Solo Sokoa saying it didn't have to be that way,
13:19but now it looks like, perhaps unwisely, once again,
13:23R-Truth, who's not medically cleared,
13:25who was injured by the NFT group several weeks ago.
13:29Yeah, but coming out here to get himself some.
13:31R-Truth coming out the aid of Royce Keys,
13:33who he's allied with lately.
13:36Well, that's three weeks in a row.
13:37He's come out to play the savior,
13:39come out to be the hero and save Priest,
13:41save Royce Keys,
13:43and he's getting stumped as a reward.
13:46And meanwhile, Damian Priest,
13:48R-Truth's tag team partner, the tag champs.
13:51What are you doing?
13:51What are you doing?
13:52Are you crazy?
13:54Every week is the same thing.
13:56Stop, stop, no, go, go, go, go, no, no, no.
13:59Priest saving R-Truth from himself.
14:03Quite smartly, I would say.
14:12But by saving R-Truth,
14:15he's left Royce Keys alone,
14:16and helpless, and defenseless.
14:19Well, Priest, to be fair,
14:20has no loyalty to Royce Keys.
14:22He's made that quite clear.
14:23It didn't have to be like this,
14:25but you don't miss it.
14:27Join our family.
14:29Oh, it's gonna be worse for you.
14:32Again, the recruitment campaign continues
14:35for Solo Sokoa as it comes to Royce Keys.
14:39Maybe a little bit of tough love here tonight.
14:42I'd say the dial has been turned up significantly
14:44for Royce Keys here.
14:46Here's what you're gonna get
14:47if you don't join us in the MFT group.
14:52Solo continues dominance.
15:16And think about it.
15:18If we both keep winning,
15:19we'll face each other in the finals,
15:21then one of us gets to take that title off of Rhea.
15:23Yes.
15:24Plus, I have my King of the Ring match tonight,
15:27and then Judgment Day will have all of the gold.
15:30My goodness, don't you think that Dominic and I
15:32are gonna be the perfect King of the Ring?
15:33Dominic, you're gonna be a match in gold.
15:35I thought you just said I could be.
15:38You can, you can, you totally.
15:39You can.
15:41And you will.
15:41Let's just focus on Dominic winning tonight.
15:45It's gonna be so fun.
15:46Are you excited?
15:48What kind of size do you want, Dominic?
15:50I told you.
15:51Well, nonetheless,
15:52Dominic Mysterio is in action later on tonight
15:55with Damian Priest and Tripp Williams
15:57and Braun Breaker.
15:59Fatal 4-Way, first round,
16:01King of the Ring tournament live tonight.
16:33Get my passport.
16:38SummerSlam is coming to U.S. Bank Stadium
16:40in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 1st and 2nd.
16:44Two-day combo tickets on sale now.
16:46Individual tickets go on sale this Monday,
16:49June 7th via Ticketmaster.
16:52Chase Freedom card members can use the unique telephone number
16:55on the back of their Chase Freedom card
16:57to unlock first access to SummerSlam tickets.
17:00Offer is valid for Chase Freedom card members only.
17:03Chase is not responsible for fulfillment of the offer.
17:06Cards issued by J.P. Morgan, Chase Bank,
17:08N.A., member FDIC, subject to credit approval.
17:12Terms apply.
17:22I've proved myself time and time again in this business.
17:27The first ever Universal Champion!
17:31Grand Slam Finn!
17:35Any night, any situation, any match,
17:42I will shine.
17:46Any time an opportunity falls my way,
17:51I prove that I can stand toe-to-toe with Vessel.
18:04But I want more.
18:06I want it all.
18:10The newest member of Friday Night SmackDown,
18:13Finn Balor, will make his in-ring debut next week
18:17as part of the Fatal 4-Way
18:18in the first round of the King of the Ring Tournament,
18:21Jey Uso, L.A. Knight Royce Keys,
18:23and Finn Balor next week on SmackDown.
18:31I can't believe it's the same thing, man.
18:35Why didn't you want to help?
18:37Why would I want to help?
18:39I don't know him.
18:40If I'm going to help somebody,
18:41it's my tag team partner,
18:42the guy that's tag team champions with me.
18:44You, you're all that matters right now.
18:47So Royce, I don't know his deal with Solo or anything.
18:50I don't trust that guy.
18:51We're here in Italia, right?
18:53Right.
18:54I'm here focused on King of the Ring,
18:56and I'm focused on Somerset.
18:59It's good, but shouldn't we at least check on him?
19:01For what?
19:02If he's hurt?
19:03What are you going to do?
19:04You're not a doctor.
19:06I know a little something about what the brother was.
19:10You don't have a brother, Truth.
19:12How dare you?
19:15The doctor of Thuganomics?
19:17You can't see me.
19:20All right.
19:23Look, look, look, look, look.
19:25I know you got a lot going on right now,
19:28but we are the new AAA world tag team champions.
19:34And when you're ready to put your titles against these ones,
19:39we're waiting.
19:39So what we're saying is we're ready for everybody,
19:44but nobody's ready for war.
19:49I never met neither one of you a day in my life.
19:56Eric and I are adding more tag team gold to their collection.
20:00Well, ladies and gentlemen, next week,
20:02Friday Night SmackDown, Providence, Rhode Island,
20:04fatal four-way first-round matchup
20:06in the Queen of the Ring tournament.
20:08It is going to be a battle
20:09between the brand-new Intercontinental Champion,
20:11Sol Ruka, Lyra Valkyria, both from Raw,
20:14and, of course, the Queen Charlotte Flair,
20:15and Jade Cargill from Friday Night SmackDown.
20:18Take place next week.
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