00:00Now, forever, together.
00:20Chicago, living up to his reputation as the Windy City today, breezy and cool.
00:34The Cubs won a home game in Wrigley this afternoon, and the White Sox are on the road tonight,
00:38but Friday night SmackDown is here, sold out at the All-State Arena.
00:46And finally, we may get some resolution to the Simmerine rivalry.
00:50The former world champion, Damian Priest, plans to raise some hell tonight
00:54when he steps into the ring with a man that wants to take his career.
00:59The dangerous Aleister Black, Priest Black, live tonight.
01:05Beechin with an opportunity to win her first title in WWE.
01:10Earned it with a win last week.
01:11Tonight, she goes head-to-head with the Women's United States Champion.
01:16Beautiful, Madness, Julia.
01:19It's the Women's United States Championship match, live tonight, on Friday Night SmackDown.
01:25You hear the reaction?
01:35Chicago's own CM Punk is here, live.
01:40And you are looking live in the All-State Arena for 40 years, home to some unreal WWE history.
01:51We're sold out tonight.
01:5216,678 WWE fans on hand for Friday Night SmackDown.
02:01Hello again at ringside, everybody.
02:02Michael Cole, Corey Graves.
02:04Who's going to be your SmackDown team for the next couple of months?
02:06It feels great to be back home on SmackDown.
02:09There is something in the air all day long in the second city.
02:12I have a feeling we will be talking about tonight.
02:14This episode of SmackDown for a long time to come.
02:18But before we get there, let's take a look back at last Sunday night.
02:21The world is talking about Clash in Paris.
02:27You are looking live at the first WWE premium live event ever in Paris.
02:34The Blackhawks are loving people.
02:38Oh, my God.
02:3913,323 people.
02:53It is amazing.
02:55And they might feel a goose bump atmosphere.
02:59Cena, Paul, at Clash in Paris.
03:04Cena's done everything he has at Logan Paul.
03:07Styles, Claire?
03:08It's Styles Clash!
03:10Boom!
03:11Logan hits him with the right hand!
03:12Cena still in it!
03:15And Paul off the top rope.
03:16Cena, though, rolls through.
03:19And a two-adjustment!
03:20John Cena wins!
03:24Gain energy from this going on, man.
03:26Tonight feels like WrestleMania.
03:30Fatal four-way for the World Heavyweight Championship.
03:34Seth Rollins, LA Knight, CM Park,
03:37and Jey Uso.
03:41Oh, no!
03:43Crash and burn!
03:45Puck smells blood.
03:47He knows it's coming.
03:48He knows it's his moment.
03:52Oh, my goodness!
03:53Who left?
03:55Becky Lynch!
03:57Seth Rollins' wife!
03:58Seth Rollins stacks the deck in his favor.
04:12The most dangerous card you can lay
04:15is the one nobody realized you were holding.
04:18the most answer buddy.
04:19Oh, no!
04:20Oh, no!
04:20Oh, love!
04:20Ty!
04:21Oh, no!
04:24Oh!
04:28Oh, my God!
04:39Oh, my God!
04:40Oh, my God!
04:41Oh, no!
04:42Oh, my God!
07:44You guys have no idea what that means coming from Chicago.
07:47I mean it.
07:48Thank you so much.
07:49I see people jumping around the scoreboard from limited view seats over there just to stand on their feet and be a part of a special, special night here in Chicago.
08:01I remember when this farewell tour started, I remember when this farewell tour started, all of my peers and everyone I was associated with, the thing I kept hearing was, enjoy this.
08:14Be present, be present, be present, and have fun.
08:17But you got to understand, I was coming off a lot of bad years and I really needed to get my mojo back.
08:31So I focused on doing great work, giving you my heart and soul and leaving it all in the ring every single night on this farewell tour.
08:40The reason I say that is because I come out and stand out here in front of you tonight with absolutely nothing planned.
08:51Because tonight, I wanted to have fun.
09:02For over half this tour, I have given you everything I've had.
09:05I've had to overcome hurdles, roadblocks, and pivots, and you have been with me every step of the way.
09:11But tonight, I'm just going to take it in.
09:13That is not a familiar sound for me in this building.
09:36You see these two guys right here, that's what all y'all used to look like.
09:40Right there.
09:40When I came out here, I used to see 14,000 people looking like that.
09:47Not saying thank you, Cena.
09:49Maybe something different.
09:51I don't know.
09:52F you, Cena.
09:53You can fill in the blanks.
09:55But that, that is what makes this night special.
09:59That is what makes this city special.
10:02That is what makes this building special.
10:04That is what makes you people special.
10:10You are not afraid to use your voice.
10:14You are not afraid to cheer for the ones you love, even if they're not here.
10:19Hell, you bring people back to the WWE.
10:22And you know what I'm talking about.
10:24Boy, are we in for one exciting night tonight.
10:46This is my last time in the city of Chicago.
11:02This is my last time to ever appear on SmackDown.
11:06I view it as a beautiful moment.
11:13Because 23 years ago, in this very city, you allowed me, on SmackDown, to walk down this ramp.
11:25In my skimpy little tights, slap Kurt Angle in the face and start this crazy ride that we have been on for over two decades.
11:41I have had WrestleMania matches with Triple H in this building.
11:45I have had U.S. Open Challenge matches in this building.
11:54This is the building where I might have finished second place in a world title match.
11:58And the title ended up in CM Punk's refrigerator right here in Chicago.
12:03This place is special, man.
12:07There is an argument about what is the greatest crowd in the WWE.
12:15On the inside track, with the WWE superstars, there's an argument.
12:24In my mind, there is no argument.
12:33You guys allowed me to start here.
12:37I'm very, very thankful.
12:40Because you kept me honest.
12:42You made sure I gave my all.
12:45You let me experience failure.
12:48You let me experience humility.
12:50You let me experience humility.
12:50Thank you, Steve.
12:53Thank you, Steve.
12:56And for the last time, when I really need it the most,
13:14you let me experience joy
13:16that's the Chicago way
13:18I don't have any other words
13:26I just wanted to say
13:26thank you so much for a beautiful ride
13:30enjoy a hell of a night
13:33tonight
13:44on the brand new United States
13:57champion Sami Zayn
13:59who defeated Solo Sokola last week
14:01on Friday night Smackdown
14:14Jon
14:37hear me out
14:46I'm not here to interrupt
14:47I just want to tell you
14:49watching you this last year
14:52on this retirement tour
14:54getting your opportunity
14:55to thank the fans in all these cities
14:58yo yo
15:04it is happy hour in Chicago
15:07and I am here for the booze
15:08thank you very much
15:09look I just wanted to come out here
15:15to tell you
15:16it would feel wrong
15:18to come out here
15:21and not look you in the eyes
15:25on your last night at Smackdown
15:26and tell you
15:27thank you
15:29on behalf
15:30of all of us back there
15:32for everything you've done
15:33for us
15:34and not only that
15:40but a little more specifically
15:41I want to look you in the eye
15:43and I want to say
15:43thank you
15:44for everything you did
15:45for me
15:46because I know
15:50you're having
15:50your own full circle moment
15:52right now
15:52you debuted in Chicago
15:54and now
15:56it's your last Smackdown ever
15:57here in Chicago
15:58well for me
15:59I made my debut
16:01against John Cena
16:02for the US Championship
16:04and now I am standing
16:09in the middle of this ring
16:10as US Champion
16:11I think of the John Cena
16:19US Open Challenge
16:21and everything it did
16:22for not just me
16:23for what it did
16:24for so many young talent
16:25and I want to pay it forward
16:27John I want to pay it forward
16:28the way you paid it forward
16:30the way you carried this title
16:31with dignity
16:32with honor
16:33as an opportunity
16:34for other talent
16:36to try to get showcased
16:37I want to do that
16:38so with your permission
16:39John
16:40I would love
16:41to carry on the tradition
16:43and introduce
16:46the Sami Zayn
16:47US Title
16:48Open Challenge
16:50with your permission
16:51a fighting champion
16:56giving underrated superstars
16:58an opportunity
16:59a Sami Zayn
17:00US Open Challenge
17:02man
17:03I think that's a great idea
17:04thank you very much
17:05I appreciate it
17:06thank you John
17:08but John
17:11wait
17:11don't
17:12don't leave so quick
17:1410 years ago
17:28I barely had one foot
17:29in the door
17:30when you gave me
17:31this opportunity
17:32and now I clearly see
17:33you've got one foot
17:34out the door
17:34but John
17:35if tonight
17:36is your last Smackdown
17:38and if tonight
17:42is the last chance
17:44I ever get
17:45to share a ring
17:46with you
17:46then it would be
17:51my honor
17:52to pay you back
17:54and give you
17:56what you gave me
17:5710 years ago
17:58and that is a shot
18:00at the US
18:01championship
18:02now John
18:20I'm not saying
18:22we do it in a month
18:23I'm not saying
18:30we do it next week
18:31I'm saying
18:36we do it in Chicago
18:38and we do it
18:42right
18:43now
18:44to quote
19:01the greatest
19:02of all time
19:03John Cena
19:05if you want some
19:08come get some
19:10you want to have
19:18a US
19:19championship
19:20match
19:21with me
19:23right here
19:25right now
19:26what the hell
19:41you're on
19:42hell yeah
19:47let's go
19:48Cena
19:50standing for the US title
19:51if I'm dreaming
19:52don't you dare
19:53pinch me
19:54this is surreal
19:55to meet you
19:58I'm dreaming
19:58I'm dreaming
19:59I'm dreaming
20:00I'm dreaming
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