“You wanted the thunder, you got it!”

So says “The Game” and the self-proclaimed “King of Kings” Triple H, as the 14-time world champion stood in front of his army of hand-picked NXT Superstars.

This was the closing scene of tonight’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, just seconds after NXT Champion Adam Cole pinned Daniel Bryan, clean in the middle of the ring. It was a reoccurring theme throughout the entire evening, as the black-and-yellow brand took advantage of the WWE main roster being stranded in Saudi Rabia to send a powerful message ahead of Survivor Series.

“This is our ring. This is our fight,” continued Triple H, as the crowd chanted behind him. “This is our ring, and at Survivor Series, know what you’re getting into. We have now fired the first shot. Raw, Smackdown – let’s see what you got!” 

As reported earlier this week, the 2019 Survivor Series pay-per-view set to take place in Chicago later this month will be tri-branded for the first time ever. Superstars from Raw, Smackdown and NXT will go head-to-head in direct competition.

While it’s not clear what matches we’re in store for in three weeks’ time, Friday’s show also featured NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler attacking Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley. Matt Riddle and Keith Lee attacked Sami Zayn in another segment, and Tommaso Ciampa actually scored a victory over The Miz.