00:00She can be a little annoying at times. I'll actually agree with Keanu James on that one.
00:04Pushing the wrong buttons at the wrong time.
00:14The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the Women's United States Championship.
00:22Introducing first the challenger from Pryor Lake, Minnesota, Tiffany Straten.
00:30Well, big time opportunity now for Tiffany Straten, who beat Jordan Grace last week to secure herself a number one
00:39contendership.
00:40And she cashes that in right now.
00:43She goes one-on-one with the United States champ, Julia, up next here on SmackDown.
00:58On Saturday, May 9th, after the biggest weekend in WWE, what happens at WrestleMania doesn't stay there.
01:07Sweet, sweet revenge!
01:08It follows you.
01:10And in Tampa, it hits back.
01:15All scores are settled.
01:17It's personal.
01:19It's backlash!
01:33Here in Fort Worth, near the Stockyards in the twice-daily cattle drive.
01:37And we have PBR riders with us sitting ringside here at Dickey's Arena.
01:44Thrilled to have the stars of the PBR.
01:46Austin Richardson, Port McFadden, and we have the premier women's rodeo star, Fallon Forbes, are in the house.
01:53The 2026 PBR World Finals kicks off May 7th through 10th at Cowtown Coliseum, and it concludes right here in
02:01this arena, May 14th to the 17th.
02:05And by the way, you want it, you got it!
02:11Oh, outstanding!
02:12Well, the demand was made.
02:14It has been met by GM Nick Aldis.
02:17Jacob Fatu will throw down with Solo Sekoa later on tonight, right here on SmackDown.
02:24Now there's Tiffany Stratton, no denying a certain edge, a certain focus from Tiffany.
02:28She's walked her way back to the top.
02:29She won the number one contender's match against Jordan Grace a week ago, and now gets this title shot.
02:53And her opponent, accompanied by Keanu James, from Tokyo, Japan!
02:59She is the women's United States Champion, Julia!
03:05And I gotta tell you, Joe, I love the reaction from Julia about being left off WrestleMania.
03:11That is exactly what you expect from a competitor of that caliber, from a champion of that caliber.
03:19But now is the time for Julia to black those words up and send a loud and clear message to
03:26management.
03:26Hey, negotiations from Keanu James or otherwise, next year you put me on WrestleMania.
03:34I am your moneymaker.
03:36Well, she was making a statement in that interview with Kathy Kelly, and Keanu James was absorbing some of that.
03:42Of course, Keanu always by her side.
03:44It was Keanu who lost to Tiffany Stratton back on March 13th.
03:49Julia actually interfered with that match, and then that's when things really started to bubble up for that prize there,
03:56the women's United States Championship, because after that victory is when Tiffany Stratton said,
04:01Hey, Julia, this day, this moment would come.
04:06And now they've decided that is what is on the line, the women's United States Championship.
04:11We are underway with Tiffany Stratton and Julia.
04:15What are you looking for early here, Wade?
04:16I'm looking for Tiffany Stratton to keep her eyes peeled at all times.
04:21Now, these two threw down a few weeks ago in a non-title affair that was won by Julia.
04:25Why was it won by Julia?
04:27That was because outside interference from Tiffany Stratton really cost the former world champ.
04:35So Tiffany Stratton needs to keep her eyes peeled at all times here.
04:39Tiffany Stratton immediately showing off the great athleticism.
04:42Of course, world-class gymnasts getting to it right away.
04:45Oh, great counter by Julia, shoulders down.
04:49You know, Tiffany Stratton could well feel fairly aggrieved that she was not on the WrestleMania card.
04:54Of course, runner-up in this year's Royal Rumble.
04:58So close.
04:58Runner-up.
04:59Back and forth they go, shoulders down again.
05:02Look at this.
05:07Seesaw action between Tiffany and Julia.
05:09What a red-hot pace to open up this U.S. Championship match.
05:14Oh, great counter by Julia into the cover.
05:18Nice way to slow your opponent down there from this Japanese superstar, Julia,
05:24who has really taken the world by storm since arriving under the WWE umbrella.
05:29Just had unbridled success in NXT and here on SmackDown.
05:35What a loud statement it has been thus far since the opening bout.
05:39By the way, you see the reminder in the lower left of your screen that the big winners coming out
05:43of WrestleMania,
05:44we will hear from.
05:45Plus, Dan Housen has a match with The Miz tonight as Tiffany Stratton with the rolling senton.
05:51Oh, looking for the prettiest moonsault ever.
05:54And instead, Julia gets the best of her and then drapes her and delivers the dropkick.
06:00What a turnaround from the champ.
06:03Just razor-sharp movement and thinking there from Julia.
06:06That was absolutely supply.
06:08Just went things.
06:10Draping off the apron.
06:12Oh, a neck breaker onto the floor.
06:15Julia hits the neck breaker to the floor on Stratton.
06:38It's an interesting way to see the early ebb and flow to this match for the women's U.S. championship
06:44because Tiffany Stratton, there always becomes that point when you can tell she's gaining confidence
06:49and she had it there and she went for the prettiest moonsault ever only to see things completely turn against
06:56her.
06:56Well, the big advantage for Tiffany Stratton is always going to be that superior athleticism,
07:01that Olympic gymnast caliber athleticism that she possesses.
07:06Well, take the movement out of Tiffany Stratton and suddenly it becomes a lot more feasible
07:11to actually beat the woman who took WWE by storm in 2025.
07:17And right now, Julia is sending a very loud message to anyone that doubts that she should be on WrestleMania
07:23next year.
07:24This has been sublime from the word go from the beautiful madness.
07:34Now stretching her out.
07:36Oh, man.
07:38And that was jaw first onto the man there.
07:40Oh, they're looking to retain right here.
07:42Not a million miles away from a knockout there to Tiffany Stratton.
07:47Julia really feeling it tonight here in Texas.
07:50She really is.
07:53I mean, she's just the picture of control thus far.
07:58Uh-oh, Joe.
08:00One, two, three.
08:03That is the beautiful madness at its best right there.
08:07And then delivering right to the small of the back and looking to put it away.
08:13Well, it's been a full attack on the entire spine of Tiffany Stratton from the word go.
08:18Those repeated net breakers are now the lumbar spine.
08:21And Tiffany Stratton is in real trouble here after earning this shot.
08:25Trying to rally back.
08:26Trying to mount some offenses.
08:28Julia moves out of the way.
08:30And again, working that back of Tiffany Stratton.
08:34Lateral press.
08:37Pushing her head to the side as well.
08:39And you just sense that Julia feels completely at home.
08:43Completely at ease.
08:45And completely in control between those ropes now.
08:48And Tiffany Stratton just looking like a shadow of the woman we are used to seeing.
08:53But that's because Julia has utterly dominated this one.
09:03Trying to muster up something here.
09:06He is.
09:06Trying to find something from this crowd here in Fort Worth.
09:09That was trying to rally support.
09:12Could this be a moment for Stratton?
09:14Oh.
09:15Both women with the exact same idea there.
09:18And both foreheads bouncing off the mat.
09:21And this could be a pivotal point.
09:23Because finally, Tiffany Stratton may be able to shake off the cobwebs.
09:29And throw something back in the other direction.
09:39It was just a week ago when Tiffany Stratton won the number one contenders match
09:43against Jordan Grace.
09:45And Julia, the women's United States champion, was their ringside to see it.
09:49And now they have been battling back and forth as Tiffany Stratton.
09:54Bouncing a big comeback here.
09:57Look at the game gold right now.
09:59What a unique springboard stunner that was.
10:02Connecting flush with the jaw of the champion.
10:06And Tiffany Stratton here with some new offense that landed perfectly.
10:11Suddenly, suddenly, has turned this thing completely in her favor
10:15as we take a glimpse at the gold that is driving these two women.
10:19Stratton going up top.
10:20Julia, again, quick to meet her.
10:22Remember, that was the turning point in the match earlier
10:24when Stratton went up top looking for the prettiest moonsault ever.
10:28There was a neckbreaker to the outside.
10:29Julia had consistent offense,
10:31especially targeting the back and the neck of Stratton.
10:35Well, both women have absorbed some really big blows in this one.
10:39And this is the best of the ball.
10:41Butterfly suplex from the top lands and Stratton's in big trouble.
10:46You can also see Julia affected there with the impact.
10:49And that shoulder gets up as Kiana James looks on.
10:52The frustration for Julia as she's looking to retain here.
10:55Oh, so good from the top.
10:57High risk taking out both women's back,
11:00but just took too long over that pin.
11:02That is the risk on a high-impact move like that.
11:06And a sluggish kick out there from Stratton,
11:09who looks like she's a beaten woman here.
11:12She's in tough shape.
11:15Julia.
11:16Oh, Tiffany able to counter.
11:19Amazing durability.
11:21Oh, James tried to trip her up.
11:24Kiana James tried to trip her up.
11:26And now Tiffany says,
11:28I'm going to take it into my own hands.
11:30Oh, she moved out of the way.
11:32That's not going to help the bickering, is it?
11:34Shoulders down.
11:36So the quick side step from Tiffany
11:39and that forearm driven right into Kiana.
11:42And now Stratton,
11:44that rolling senton.
11:46She's in the target zone again.
11:48Nice.
11:49Oh, look at this.
11:49Oh, wow.
11:50Look at this.
11:51What a reversal.
11:52What was the modified rings of Saturn or something here?
11:56Submission hold is locked in.
11:58She went for the PME,
12:00but instead Julius got her locked in wing.
12:03Just a great intense reversal there
12:05from a sublime technician.
12:07But wait up.
12:08Shoulders down.
12:09Back and forth they go.
12:11They have been putting on quite the match.
12:14Both women starting to drag now.
12:17Unsurprisingly so.
12:19Both these women primed to fall.
12:22Big forearm out.
12:24Knee right to the midsection from Stratton.
12:27Completely knocking the wind out of Julia,
12:29but reversed again.
12:29Holders down again.
12:30Looking to retain.
12:32That's tremendous reactions here from both women.
12:35Oh, Riva Nurchi.
12:38And that could have been over right there.
12:40Had Julia gone for the pin.
12:42Decided to make a statement, however.
12:45Do you think at Northern Lights here,
12:46Julia looking for it.
12:47Oh.
12:48Oh, Tiffany getting out of the way.
12:50Over-rotated.
12:51Alabama slam.
12:54Stratton with the Alabama slam.
12:57Take two here.
12:59Prettiest moonsault ever.
13:02Put it be for gold.
13:03Two, three.
13:07Here is your winner.
13:09And new Women's United States champion.
13:15Tiffany Stratton.
13:17Oh, what a matchup from both women.
13:22But Tiffany Stratton on the back of missing out from WrestleMania this year.
13:28Immediately back to a championship.
13:32Your new United States champion.
13:35This is where it looked like Julia had it in the bank at Riva Nurchi.
13:39And then looking for that Northern Lights bomber.
13:42A reversal here from Tiffany Stratton.
13:46And there's only one place she was looking to go.
13:48The prettiest moonsault ever.
13:51And with Keanu James laid out on the outside.
13:58Back to gold for Tiffany Stratton.
14:02There is Keanu James.
14:03Who's inadvertently dropped by Julia a few moments earlier.
14:07Well, they've got some smoothing over to do.
14:18And that resume for Tiffany Stratton, it got thicker.
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