00:00Friday Night Smackdown here in Fort Waterdale, and how about what's coming to Tampa?
00:06Backlash is coming to Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.
00:11It'll be Saturday, May 9, and tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
00:19And we just saw moments ago, Alistair Black poking the bear, playing with fire, and now this is official, Wade.
00:27Yeah, careful what you wish for, Alistair Black.
00:30You are now going one-on-one with the Viper, Randy Orton, tonight, right here on SmackDown.
00:37That is coming up later tonight, of course, Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier,
00:41and right now, the Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match with Charlotte Flair.
00:48A chance to make a WrestleMania Championship match.
00:52She had that chance in Riyadh.
00:54Accidentally eliminated Alexa Bliss from the Royal Rumble.
00:57That night, while she was ousting Nia Jax.
01:08And her opponent, making her way into the ring, from Sioux City, Iowa,
01:15Kiana James!
01:22Wade, it has been tough to dismiss what we've seen out of Kiana James, and now she has a chance
01:28to join that crowd, already qualifying for the Women's Elimination Chamber.
01:34Yeah, what a crew that are already in there.
01:36A bunch of world champs.
01:38Tiffany Stratton, Rhea, Ripley, Alexa Bliss, Asuka.
01:42Two places left, one of which will be decided right now.
01:46And you have to say, looking at the field, Kiana James is a ranked outsider tonight,
01:51bearing in mind she's in there with two former multiple-time world champions.
02:05Speaking of former women's champions.
02:10And their opponent, from San Diego, California, Nia Jax!
02:18Of course, Jax has been a force on every level.
02:21Look at that look from Charlotte.
02:22Oh, someone's beefed historically between Nia Jax and Charlotte.
02:26These two cannot stand each other.
02:28And let's not forget, Nia Jax thought she'd be walking in tonight as one-half of the tag champs.
02:34That match against the champs Rhea and Io, alongside Lash Legend last week,
02:38getting thrown out by the referee.
02:39Although they do have their rematch next week on SmackDown, as we just learned.
02:46Of course, teaming with Lash Legend recently is the Irresistible Forces,
02:51and that has gotten everybody's attention.
02:53But now a massive opportunity for her own championship aspirations here.
02:59Women's Elimination Chamber qualifying triple threat match.
03:04Big elbow to start things off with Charlotte.
03:07Well, incredibly dismissive right off the bat.
03:09Word, Nia and Charlotte had eyes only for each other.
03:12And Kiana James saying, hey, what about me?
03:15Well, there you go, Kiana.
03:18That's what you get for your troubles.
03:19Traveled able to get out of the way of that potential Samoan drop,
03:22and then the shoulder tackle from Nia Jax.
03:42Yeah, there's going to be no deal brokered in the middle of the ring with Nia Jax.
03:46Yeah, and I don't know if I agree with that from Nia Jax.
03:49The smart thing would be to team up against one of your opponents
03:52and make this effectively a singles one-on-one matchup,
03:55increasing your chances of getting through to the Elimination Chamber next week.
04:01But Nia Jax clearly does not play that way.
04:03Now she levels Charlotte and then levels James with the pop-up headbutts.
04:11And now Nia Jax with each of her rivals lined up for the hip attack.
04:17The spoiled for choice at this point,
04:19and this is turning into a cakewalk for Nia Jax.
04:23It's just been too easy as Nia is simply too powerful.
04:32Oh, shoulder goes right into that post.
04:35Women's Elimination Chamber qualifying.
04:49Continuing on here, women's Elimination Chamber qualifying match.
04:54And Joe Tess is currently being assaulted by Nia Jax at ringside
04:58while the fight continues in the ring.
05:00And a little recovery here from Nia Jax.
05:06And here is the issue with taking Kiana James lightly,
05:09now taking full control of the matchup
05:12and starting to dominate against Charlotte Flair.
05:18You brought it up earlier, Kiana James and how impressive she has been recently.
05:24And really going beyond just guiding Julia.
05:28It's everything she's done beyond that path of success.
05:30Her in-ring ability has shown through recently.
05:34Yeah, I agree with you completely on that one, Joe.
05:36She has been absolutely fantastic for the last six or seven weeks.
05:39Here's the issue.
05:40You're now at WrestleMania season.
05:43This is where the very best, i.e. Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, find that new gear.
05:48And if you've never been in the winner's circle as a world champion,
05:52you really have to prove that you can hang with ladies like this,
05:55that Kiana is now, to be fair, doing exactly that.
06:03A great crowd here in Fort Lauderdale tonight for Friday night's SmackDown.
06:0911,400-plus all trying to rally support
06:14for the 14-time world champion, Charlotte Flair.
06:20Charlotte Flair's tag partner, Alexa Bliss,
06:22already qualified for the Elimination Chamber match.
06:25That could potentially make things a little easier for those two in the chamber
06:29if they can team up together.
06:30Of course, Charlotte needs to qualify first.
06:34Tiffany Stratton was the first.
06:36Rhea Ripley, Alexa you mentioned, and Asuka.
06:38Now, four of the six have been decided,
06:41and now the fifth will be determined here.
06:43Yeah, and how impressive is the power of Kehlani,
06:47excuse me, Kiana James.
06:48I keep getting two names mixed up,
06:50but she packs a lot of power in that frame,
06:53and it sometimes catches her opponents by surprise.
06:57And now they team up against Nia Jax.
07:00But Nia with the double clothesline.
07:03But you do have to team up against Nia Jax.
07:06That's part of the issue when you're competing against Nia Jax.
07:08Very few women on their own can beat Nia Jax,
07:12as we've seen over the years.
07:14And this is Nia just starting to have a little fun in there
07:17at her opponent's expense.
07:27And Kiana and Charlotte lined up by Nia Jax
07:32looking for the double suplex.
07:38Oh, and how about that?
07:42Charlotte and Kiana
07:43able to get the best of Nia.
07:49Oh, trying to steal a quick one here!
07:56So much on the line here in Fort Lauderdale.
07:59Big crowd for Friday Night SmackDown Women's Elimination Chamber
08:02qualifying match to see who will be the fifth superstar
08:06to make it to Chicago.
08:07We're just eight days away.
08:09A WrestleMania season.
08:11Charlotte Flair going up top against
08:13Kiana James and Nia Jax in this triple threat.
08:17Charlotte!
08:17High crossbody!
08:19It's that time of year, Joe,
08:21where the very best come out to play.
08:24And of course, the 14-time world champion,
08:27the future Hall of Famer.
08:28You know what she has her sights set on.
08:32WrestleMania is just eight weeks away.
08:35Eight days away is Elimination Chamber.
08:37And Flair is making this just look too easy right now.
08:43Oh, the walkover clothesline.
08:45Vintage Charlotte Flair.
08:47Precision, pinpoint timing once again
08:50from statistically the greatest in history.
08:54Certainly the best resume in history.
08:56We're looking to add to that
08:57by winning the Elimination Chamber
08:59and going on to WrestleMania.
09:01Getting there first, though, is the mission.
09:03A long-time rival in Nia Jax
09:06receiving those Flair chops.
09:08Barely budging Nia Jax.
09:10That's the power this woman holds.
09:13Charlotte in complete rhythm
09:15as she delivers the big boot
09:17and then takes one from Kiana James.
09:20That's the problem.
09:20We're fighting two opponents at one time.
09:22Eventually, you're going to get caught.
09:24And Charlotte did indeed get caught.
09:26And this looks bleak now.
09:27Oh!
09:29The boot that causes the Samoan drop.
09:32And both Nia and James are down.
09:35And a huge opportunity for Flair.
09:38Oh, both ladies in the drop zone.
09:40We've seen this before, Joe.
09:41Kill two birds with one stone.
09:44Flair lining up that moonsault.
09:46One of the best in the biz.
09:49High above Amerenbank Arena
09:51and delivers it.
09:52Perfect.
09:53To qualify for Elimination Chamber.
09:56Oh!
09:58And a late, late kick out from Nia Jax.
10:01And that was a surprise
10:02after an expertly delivered moonsault
10:05to both opponents.
10:07Nia Jax catching the knees
10:10of Charlotte Flair,
10:11but still having just enough
10:13to kick out the lure
10:15of a possible chance
10:17of getting to WrestleMania.
10:18Clearly driving Nia Jax now.
10:21And you can see both the competitors
10:22looking up at that WrestleMania sign.
10:25And it's Nia.
10:27Oh!
10:27And Charlotte gets the best of her.
10:31Pop-up Samoan man!
10:33Did she take a hit there?
10:36Came down awkward.
10:37Wow!
10:38Look at the power of Kiana James!
10:40Kiana James,
10:42biggest opportunity of her career!
10:45Man, Kiana James,
10:46so strong!
10:48That was a ridiculously easy-looking lift
10:51on the powerhouse Nia Jax
10:54did not even flinch on the way off.
10:57Wait, that is incredible power
11:00by Kiana James.
11:02Yeah, but it wasn't quite enough
11:03to get the dub.
11:05Now we're gonna finish the job.
11:06And what a shocker it would be
11:08if Kiana James can actually
11:10pull this off
11:11against a combined 16-time
11:14world champion opponent here.
11:17Biggest opportunity of her career by far.
11:20Her associate Julia
11:21missed qualifying for Elimination Chamber
11:24and now in against Flair,
11:26a future Hall of Famer.
11:27Jax, a former champion.
11:28Here is Kiana James.
11:32Giving everything she can, Wade.
11:35Yeah, and all three of these women
11:36are just two wins away
11:38from a main event
11:39world championship opportunity
11:41at Wrestlemania.
11:43One of those wins
11:45coming imminently for...
11:47Spanish Fly!
11:49Flair to do it right here!
11:52Two and change!
11:55And that was an absolute shocker.
11:57That looks so close.
12:00Let's take another look
12:02at this Spanish Fly
12:03that came almost out of nowhere
12:05from Charlotte Flair
12:06digging deep.
12:07And you see that shoulder
12:09just getting up in time.
12:11Take another look once again.
12:13And Charlotte Flair doesn't believe it.
12:16People in the front row
12:16don't believe it.
12:17They're arguing too.
12:19And also ref's discretion there
12:21as to what he saw.
12:22And you can see
12:23an incredulous look
12:24on the face
12:25of Charlotte Flair.
12:28Keanu James looks as good
12:30as buried at this point.
12:31Oh, dripped up!
12:33And then run right into the post.
12:39And now this is just
12:41Nia Jax completely going on a tear
12:43on a major wall path.
12:46Check out the speed of
12:48Keanu James on that.
12:50Oh!
12:50Oh, Nia Jax!
12:52Gotta stay nimble.
12:53Keanu James has found her gear.
13:01Trying to give her
13:02a taste of her own medicine.
13:03Exactly.
13:03Not quite the time
13:04to be gloating
13:05or mocking opponents
13:07this deep into the match
13:09because this
13:09is what happens!
13:11Flair's gonna show her
13:12how it's done, Wade.
13:14And locked in
13:15and brittle!
13:16Oh!
13:16But instead of
13:17arching for the figure eight
13:19it's a leg drop
13:20from Nia Jax.
13:21Well, just after we wrote
13:23Nia Jax off
13:24after eating those
13:25steel steps hard
13:27suddenly
13:28Keanu James
13:29in the worst
13:30possible position, Joe!
13:32She's dragged
13:32into the corner.
13:34It's washing time!
13:35Potential annihilator here.
13:38This could
13:39be it.
13:40Oh!
13:42And Flair comes in
13:43and saves it.
13:44Well, Jax had the match
13:45won.
13:46Of course,
13:47Charlotte Flair
13:47fully aware
13:49of the danger
13:50that that particular
13:51annihilator
13:52keeping the match
13:53alive for herself.
13:54All three of our
13:56competitors
13:56are down.
13:57All three of our
13:59competitors
13:59have given everything.
14:01Charlotte Flair,
14:02the Spanish fly.
14:04Keanu James
14:05getting Nia Jax
14:06up on her shoulders
14:07and delivering
14:08the drop.
14:10And moments ago,
14:11Nia Jax
14:12with an annihilator.
14:13Well, that's often
14:15Keanu James
14:16hanging in
14:17with these two.
14:20And now
14:21the old rivalry.
14:22The years
14:23are going
14:24back and forth
14:25as Nia Jax
14:26just floors
14:27the 14-time
14:29world champion
14:29with the right hand.
14:30Don't trade
14:30with Nia Jax.
14:31You're not
14:32going to win.
14:32And this is what
14:33happens, Charlotte.
14:34That is not
14:34your wheelhouse.
14:36Not against
14:37Nia Jax.
14:39That's more like it.
14:40You've got to try
14:40something coming.
14:42And you know,
14:43Fullwell being a flair,
14:44she has a lot of
14:45dirty tricks
14:45up her sleeve.
14:46She might need them
14:47if she's going to
14:48put Jax away here.
14:49Winner here
14:50makes it to
14:51Elimination Chamber
14:52for a chance
14:53to get a world
14:53championship match
14:55at WrestleMania.
14:56We are just
14:57eight days away
14:58from that golden
14:59ticket.
15:00Nia's got her up.
15:01But Charlotte
15:04able to get down
15:06and bring down
15:07Jax.
15:09Oh, hold on.
15:11And now
15:12flair's getting
15:12right back
15:13to business.
15:14Jax is completely
15:15stunned off that
15:16landing,
15:16and figure eight
15:17is locked in.
15:18It is locked in.
15:20Charlotte is locked
15:21in.
15:22The fifth...
15:22Kiana James...
15:25Shoulders are down!
15:26Shoulders are down!
15:31Here is your winner...
15:33Kiana James!
15:36Kiana James
15:38somehow,
15:40some way,
15:41took the figure eight
15:42and turned it
15:44into a win.
15:45What a mega
15:47brain move
15:48there
15:49by Kiana James
15:52scoring the
15:53dub
15:53and she now
15:54rolls on
15:55to the
15:56Elimination Chamber
15:57and the field
15:58is stacked.
16:00One place
16:01left to go.
16:02Wow,
16:02Kiana.
16:03What an upset
16:04here in
16:06Fort Lauderdale.
16:07Kiana James
16:08breakthrough moment.
16:16You just lost
16:18the Triple Threat
16:18qualifying match.
16:20What are your
16:20thoughts on
16:21Kiana James
16:22now qualifying
16:23for Elimination Chamber?
16:25It was so sad
16:27that Naya
16:27didn't win tonight.
16:30But yeah,
16:31congratulations
16:31to Kiana
16:32for pulling off
16:34quite an upset.
16:35But her partner
16:36won't be so
16:37like you tonight.
16:39Exactly,
16:40because I'm
16:40going to wipe
16:41the floor
16:41with Julia
16:42tonight
16:42and then on
16:43Monday
16:43Io is going
16:44to win
16:44her Elimination
16:45Chamber
16:45qualifying match
16:46so we'll be
16:47seeing Kiana
16:48in the chamber.
16:49I do have to ask,
16:50I know a lot
16:51of the focus
16:51is on Elimination
16:52Chamber
16:53but do you feel
16:53like that could
16:54be clouding
16:55your preparation
16:55for next week's
16:56Tag Team
16:57title defense
16:57against Naya
16:58Jax
16:59and Last Legend?
17:01I mean,
17:02obviously we're
17:02focused on
17:03Chamber
17:04but Byron,
17:06we're the Tag
17:07Team Champions
17:08for a reason.
17:09We know how
17:10to deal with
17:10the pressure
17:11of WrestleMania
17:11season
17:12and next Friday
17:12it's going to
17:13be no different.
17:14Naya and
17:15Last don't
17:17stand a chance
17:19and as for
17:21Elimination
17:21Chamber,
17:24may the best
17:25women win.
17:27all right,
17:28cheeky.
17:29Thank you,
17:30ladies.
17:33Oh,
17:34the ruler,
17:35the conqueror,
17:36Oba Femi,
17:38the one and only
17:39explosive powerhouse.
17:41He's coming up
17:42against Kit Wilson
17:43next.
17:51next Saturday
17:53for the first time
17:54ever,
17:55Elimination
17:56Chamber
17:56descends on
17:57Chicago.
17:59The Second
18:00City Saints,
18:00CM Punk,
18:01defends the
18:02World Heavyweight
18:02Championship
18:03against Finn
18:04Ballard.
18:04It's the
18:05Saints versus
18:06the Prince
18:06for the title.
18:07Every road,
18:09every risk,
18:10every rivalry
18:12runs through
18:13the United
18:13Center.
18:15Elimination
18:16Chamber
18:17next Saturday.
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