00:00The following contest is the Women's United States Championship's No. 1 Contenders match.
00:07Introducing first, from Pryor Lake, Minnesota, Tiffany Stratton!
00:14So many great WrestleMania moments we've been discussing, we've been seeing, of course, a year ago.
00:19Tiffany had one in this town with the Barbie doll box ring entrance.
00:23Now it is French, trying to get herself some status here against Jordan Grace in a No. 1 Contenders match.
00:30That's on its way next.
00:34And her opponent, from Austin, Texas, Jordan Grace!
00:40And Corey, she is such a powerhouse on any given night, any given match.
00:45She is so capable of dismantling any contender.
00:49Oh, you're absolutely right.
00:51The juggernaut is the genuine article.
00:52I actually talked to her earlier today, and Jordan Grace told me she's spent a lot of time at the
00:57Performance Center recently,
00:58retooling a few aspects of her game.
01:00She hasn't tasted the success she's sought thus far since joining the main roster,
01:05but that could all turn around tonight with a No. 1 Contendership for the United States Championship.
01:10We'll see what that looks like.
01:12You see, go back into the lab a little bit, perhaps adding to the offensive arsenal.
01:16There is the United States champ, Julia, flanked by Kiana James.
01:21And Jordan Grace has been very impressive since joining SmackDown, including pushing Jade Cargill to the limit.
01:27Fought for the WWE Women's Championship against Jade back on February 13th.
01:32Jordan possesses one of the more unique skill sets in the women's division.
01:35She is a powerhouse.
01:36She is able to utilize a lot of offense and maneuvers.
01:39Most women can't.
01:40Look at this.
01:41You're getting an example of it right away.
01:43But you're also seeing the skill set of Tiffany Stratton.
01:46You're right.
01:47There's part.
01:48Crucifix.
01:49Shoulders down.
01:52Back and forth we go.
01:54I would imagine there's an element, not of frustration, but of drive inside of Tiffany Stratton right now.
01:59Yes, I would agree.
02:00To go from defending the championship on the grandest stage of them all one year ago to now be without
02:06gold.
02:07Here on SmackDown the night before WrestleMania with a chance to become number one contender to the United States Championship.
02:13Tiffany knows it's a long climb to the top of the mountain.
02:16She may have gotten there faster than she expected last time, but she knows she's going to work twice as
02:20hard to get back where she was.
02:21There she is, former NXT Women's Champion, the former WWE Women's Champion.
02:26You mentioned a year ago that signature moment here at Vegas at WrestleMania into the cover.
02:31And Jordan able to get her shoulders up and kick out.
02:35Look at the frustration on the face of Tiffany in that moment.
02:39Let me tell you, Joe, I've seen a few matches between Jordan Grace and Julia dating back to their tenure
02:44in NXT.
02:45And these two women leave it all in the ring.
02:48Of course, the winner of this match will compete for that Women's United States Championship against Julia and the way
02:55Jordan Grace is going about this offense.
02:57She's hoping to get to that point sooner rather than later.
03:00You're right about that.
03:01It looks to me like Jordan Grace understands the assignment.
03:03Muscling up Tiffany Stratton.
03:05That'll give you some whiplash.
03:07From that electric chair position right into your throat across the top rope.
03:11Jordan Grace is off to an excellent start.
03:16Cover.
03:36Joe and Corey with you here on Friday Night SmackDown from Teen Bowl Bowl Arena.
03:41Massive crowd out here the night before.
03:43WrestleMania 42, we heard from Randy Orton's start tonight.
03:47His very pointed and heated direct message to Cody Rhodes before they fight for the Undisputed Championship.
03:52We will hear from Cody Rhodes in moments.
03:55We have been told that the Undisputed Champion is on his way here to Teen Mobile.
04:01Jordan Grace and Tiffany Stratton in the number one contenders match right now.
04:04Not to mention the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal still to come.
04:08But Jordan Grace has been extremely impressive since the opening bell.
04:12It's been an almost one-sided matchup to this juncture.
04:14But Stratton looks to turn it around.
04:19And she'd do it with that.
04:21Listen, with all due respect, I think Tiffany needs to step on the gas pedal a little here.
04:25This is Jordan Grace we're dealing with.
04:26This woman's held championships all over the world.
04:28She is a world-class professional wrestler.
04:30And if Stratton overlooks that, it's going to cost Tiffy big time.
04:35I want to see a little urgency out of Tiffy.
04:38Still gathering herself after what Jordan Grace put forth to open up this match.
04:45Oh, my goodness.
04:47Wow.
04:47Cover by Stratton.
04:49Hooking that leg, seeing if she can put it away.
04:53And, like, right here, Joe, if I'm Tiffany, I'm accelerating the pace.
04:58You're not going to be able to keep the juggernaut down for long.
05:01Whenever you get an opening, you need to capitalize on it.
05:04That's what she's looking to do.
05:05Just take a little something, a little steam out of Jordan Grace for a moment.
05:09Once again, putting all that pressure across her throat with the middle rope now.
05:12Did it on the top rope.
05:13Now the middle rope.
05:14Looking to rev the engine here and deliver.
05:16She does with the hip attack against that middle rope.
05:19That's what it's going to take.
05:20Take cover by Stratton.
05:20Could it be right here?
05:22Number one contender status on the line.
05:24And, you know, Joe, there's an old saying in many sports that it's one thing to become champion.
05:28It's another to stay champion, to remain champion.
05:30And maybe that could be part of the reason why Tiffany is where she's at mentally right now.
05:34Maybe her inability to pull the trigger when needed is why she's not at the top of the middle.
05:40A year ago she was trying to work her way back into position.
05:44The night could go far in doing that.
05:46Of course, Tiffany missed a significant amount of time due to injury.
05:49And since she's come back, maybe it's taken a little time to re-acclimate.
05:53Maybe she's a little gunshot.
05:55Came back this winter.
05:57Strung together some good wins.
05:59Right here.
06:00Trying to get to that championship match against Julia.
06:04Again, oftentimes suffering an injury when you're a WWE superstar weighs on you more mentally than it does physically.
06:10Maybe it takes some time to really feel like yourself once again.
06:13Maybe that's not at all the case with Tiffany.
06:15I'm just speculating.
06:16But you cannot overlook Jordan Grace.
06:18Oh, Jordan Grace with the big slam and then just steps right over Stratton to deliver more.
06:25Could it be Jordan Grace?
06:32Likewise, if you're Jordan Grace, you've got Tiffany Stratton down and potentially out.
06:36You've got to finish the job.
06:38And you have to realize that Julia and Kiana are both out here studying every movement of both these women.
06:52Number one contender match to fight for the United States Championship.
06:56Tiffany Stratton and Jordan Grace as Julia, who has the title, looks on ringside here.
07:01Live from Vegas, T-Mobile Arena, Friday Night SmackDown.
07:05We have been told that Cody Rhodes, the undisputed champion, is coming this way as Jordan Grace right on through
07:12to deliver.
07:13Oh, what a counter!
07:14What an incredible counter by Stratton to deliver the DDT.
07:18And both Stratton and Grace are down, Corey.
07:21And that move may have saved Tiffany's chances of becoming number one contender.
07:26Because Jordan Grace can smell the blood in the water.
07:29She knew it was time to finish the deal.
07:31But Stratton turns the tides with this fantastic counter into a spike DDT.
07:36What a sequence there.
07:38As Tiffany Stratton had to come up with it, and she did.
07:43A year ago, women's champion fighting at Mania.
07:46A year later, overcoming so much adversity.
07:48Back from injury.
07:49Working herself back into position.
07:51Tonight could go a wrong way to getting where she wants to get to.
07:55One step closer to the United States Championship,
07:57which whereby means one step closer to the top of the mountain.
08:00And the WWE Women's Championship, perhaps the Women's World Championship.
08:04Look for the double-stop counter by Grace.
08:06For the counter, shoulders down.
08:07And Tiffany finds a way to continue.
08:09Oh, boy.
08:10The powerhouse Jordan Grace.
08:12But look at Stratton.
08:14Back and forth they go.
08:16It has been evenly matched.
08:17With each getting the best of the other.
08:20There's a double man.
08:22Good God.
08:23The impact of that.
08:24Is that enough?
08:26And Jordan Grace just barely escapes.
08:30There was some malice behind this dropkick, Joe.
08:33Let's take another look.
08:35Full extension right to the chest of Grace.
08:39What a scene here at T-Mobile.
08:42The superstars of Raw and SmackDown.
08:44All together.
08:45We're going to have a commercial-free last hour.
08:47The Andre the Giant Battle Royal is still to come.
08:50I was mentioning Cody Rhodes is going to also be here.
08:53His response to what we heard from Randy Orton earlier tonight.
08:57Look at this unique offense from Jordan Grace.
08:59The juggernaut teeing off.
09:01Corey, you had said that she went back to the lab,
09:04to the performance center, to add to her arsenal.
09:07I think we're starting to see it now.
09:08It could be paying massive dividends in the form of a number one contendership
09:13for the United States title.
09:14She has found her gear.
09:17Jordan Grace looking to package up Tiffany Stratton.
09:22And she does.
09:24One, two.
09:26And Stratton gets that right shoulder up and off.
09:30And the face of Jordan Grace says everything you need to know.
09:34The folding powerbomb couldn't get it done.
09:36Incredible power displayed by Jordan Grace.
09:39But you can see the frustration instantly after Tiffany Stratton kicked out.
09:44The first time in this match we've seen that sort of emotion out of Jordan Grace.
09:48She calls herself the juggernaut for a reason.
09:51And you're seeing it right here.
09:52What a battle in Vegas.
09:55Oh, boy.
09:55Well done by Stratton.
09:57I think Grace was looking for a vertebrae.
09:59Handspring.
10:01Stunner by Stratton.
10:03Look!
10:04She is rallying here in Vegas.
10:07And now in position.
10:11Looks Julia's way and says, you know what I'm going for.
10:16Prettiest moonsault ever.
10:23Here is your winner, Tiffany Stratton!
10:27And with that, number one contender, Tiffany Stratton.
10:34And Julia, the champion, looking cool, calm, and collected.
10:40What a scene.
10:42Julia and Tiffany face-to-face after that.
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