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Your announcers are Corey Graves and Wade Barrett.
We see Cody, who is staying on Smackdown (for now), in the back signing belts.
We see AJ Styles walking outside the arena.
Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair walk together in the back.
We take a look at the rules for the Roster Reallocation.
We see the draft war rooms and no one is in a neck brace.
Kayla Braxton is in the back with Paul Heyman.
She asks him about what might happen tonight.
Paul says there are no rumors about Roman Reigns. These are facts. Paul says Roman has withdrawn from eligibility for the event. He says this is a positive. Who build Smackdown since the pandemic? Roman Reigns. Who is the biggest star? Roman Reigns. Roman says the pressure is on Nick Aldis because if he is not the first draft pick, who is? Paul says he is intrigued.
We go to Jackie Redmond in Orlando with the NXT roster.
She says this is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work, a little bit of luck, and self belief. She mentions Grayson Waller last year. She asks who's next.
We take a look at who is eligible for tonight from Raw and Smackdown.
Corey Graves is in the ring with two tables.
Corey welcomes everyone to Smackdown and he says he will be moderating the contract signing.
Corey brings out AJ Styles.
Corey brings out the WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes.
AJ reviews the contract and he says before he signs it, AJ says he doesn't know what we have here. Two Georgia boys are ready to mix it up for the first time for the biggest prize in the game. AJ says he understands why you boo him, but he doesn't respect LA Knight and he got under his skin. AJ says that is why he lost at Wrestlemania. What happened? He got his composure back and he remembered that he was Phenomenal. Then he beat LA Knight to face Cody at Backlash. AJ says they haven't met yet, but they have gone down the same roads and prove themselves outside of WWE.
AJ says the same man who gave him advice a long time ago is the same man who told Cody to stand on their own two feet and do what needs to be done. That man was Dusty Rhodes. AJ tells Cody he learned a lot from his dad and he was a good man. He taught him how to carry himself and the weight of a champion. AJ says he looks at this and the weight of this isn't just of leather and gold. At Backlash, we will see if Cody can carry it.
AJ signs the contract.
Corey gives Cody the contract and Cody takes the mic before signing it.
Cody asks the people of Cincinnati what do they want to talk about. Cody says they can talk about respect. There is not a locker room where you won't find people who respect AJ. Cody says there is mutual respect, but that goes by the wayside at Backlash. You have been here before and you are implying that he cannot carry the weight of that championship. Cody says it is a good thing the man who trained him said it wasn't about winning the title, it is about keeping it. Cody says he respects AJ's familiarity with his name. When he puts C-O-D-Y on it, they have never met before and it is a level playing ground. No matter how phenomenal AJ is, this isn't a dream match, it is a must win.
Cody signs the contract and he offers his hand to AJ.
AJ says it was a beautiful thing to see Cody finish his story. AJ says it is a shame his title reign will end at Backlash. AJ shakes Cody's hand.
AJ leaves the ring without incident.
Triple H's music plays and he comes out and shakes Cody's hand before he goes behind the official WWE 2024 Roster Reallocation Podium and he asks Cody to join him.
Paul says it is as much about protecting their roster as getting the roster they want. They have as much a chance of gaining one as they do losing one of their own. Paul asks Cody to read off the Smackdown picks.
The first pick going to Smackdown is Bianca Belair.
The first pick going to Raw is Jey Uso.
The second pick going to Smackdown is Carmelo Hayes.
The second pick going to Raw is Seth Rollins.
Carmelo Hayes makes his way out and he has something to say.
He says when they talk about who's next up and who's the hottest out, they call him Carmelo Hayes. Hayes tells Cody ever since he won the title, if you come for the king, you best not miss. Hayes says when he shoots, he doesn't miss. As a first round draft pick, he can't think of a better way to shoot his shot on Smackdown than to shoot it against Cody.
Cody says fortune favors the bold and Cody asks the people if they want to see him wrestle tonight. Cody says what if he forgot his gear. Cody says he didn't forget his gear, and he says this means that Hayes is on.
The LWO walk in the back as we go to commercial.
Match Number One: Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee (with Zelina Vega and Carlito) versus Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo
Humberto with a clothesline to Lee and he chops Lee. Lee with a head scissors take down and Humberto goes to the floor and Lee with a flip dive. Lee goes up top and he hits a cross body for a enar fall. Lee with a front face lock. Humberto with a wrist lock and forearm. Humberto with a waist lock and Lee with elbows. Angel tags in and he pulls the ropes open and Lee falls to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Angel and Rey tag in and Rey with a head scissors take down and he is sent to the apron. Rey with a forearm and he goes up top and hits a seated splash and a kick. Rey with a Code Red for a near fall. Humberto goes for a power bomb but Rey sends Humberto over the top rope to the floor. Angel with a kick and Rey escapes Angel. Angel sets for a butterfly back breaker but Rey counters and sends Angel into the ropes and Rey with a 619. Lee tags in and he hits Project Dragon for the three count.
Winners: Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee
After the match, Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez come out. Santos says he is many things, but not a liar. He says when he said he did not attack Dragon Lee before Wrestlemania, he meant it. Elektra has been looking for the security footage and he says what Rey is going to see will be very very interesting.
We see Carlito attacking Dragon Lee.
Carlito grabs Lee and pushes him into Rey and then he hits a lungblower. Carlito gets out of the ring and heads into the crowd.
We go to WAR ROOMS and we go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Bron Breakker versus Cedric Alexander
The straps come down before the match. Cedric goes for a Neuralizer and Bron with a spear for the three count.
Winner; Bron Breakker
We take a look at Tiffany Stratton.
We see Nick Aldis walking out of WAR ROOM and Tiffany Stratton stops Nick to see if he saw what she did. She asks where is her title match.
Nick says someone convinced her not to send her to the back of the line. Tiffany faces Naomi and the winner faces her.
Tiffany wants to know who came up with that idea.
Bayley shows up and she says that if Naomi wins, she gets her title match but if Tiffany wins, she will see what happens when she faces Bayley.
Tiffany tells Bayley she should watch the match from ringside.
We see Michelle McCool emerge from Smackdown WAR ROOM while Torrie Wilson emerges from Raw WAR ROOM.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the next round of picks with Torrie Wilson and Michelle McCool.
The third pick for Smackdown is Randy Orton.
The third pick for Raw is Bron Breakker.
We cut to the Raw WAR ROOM where they celebrate like they just had a huge merger in Birdemic.
The fourth pick for Smackdown is Nia Jax.
The fourth pick for Raw is Liv Morgan.
Wade comments on how the Bloodline has not been selected.
We have a video package for the Bloodline and what happened last week.
We see Paul Heyman watching a vehicle arrive at the arena.
Solo Sikoa emerges after Paul opens his door.
Solo wants to know where they were drafted and Paul says they haven't been drafted. Solo says he wants the details. Paul says Roman took himself out of the draft pool. Paul says people don't know what they are getting when they draft the Bloodline. Tama Tonga shows up and Paul is not happy.
Solo asks Paul to repeat what he said.
Kevin Owens comes from behind and attacks Solo and Tama.
Officials and referees have to pull Kevin away.
We go to commercial.
Coverage Continues on Next Page
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