Archangel Finds Bliss: Temptation

The Path to Paradise Begins in Hell

With the crown nested upon his head, the palanquin he rode on resting at the base of the SmackDown ring and Chad Gable by his side, the prevailing King of the Ring, Baron Corbin stood head and shoulders above the rest of the roster upon the pedestal he seized at Clash of Champion when he pinned AJ Styles to retain the crown

Corbin: Silence! I told you all, I was not going to lose this crown! Last Sunday as Clash of Champions, I defeated AJ Styles and that wretched Archangel. In what will go down as one of the GREATEST moments in WWE history, I became the FIRST-EVER back-to-back King of the Ring!

Stepping out from behind the curtains, the Archangel stood at the front of the stage, fuming as Corbin seethed in the ring. Twirling his microphone as he stretched his hand out to the ring, pointing at the king and his minion

Archangel: Last Sunday, at Clash of Champions, a dethroned King, a Prince and a Herald fought for the right to be crowned the King of the Ring. As the Herald went to claim his victory, your servant snuck up behind me and hurtled me onto my neck, allowing you to abscond with the victory...

Corbin: Here's a news flash for you, "Archangel"! That was Triple-Threat Match! You don't have to be pinned to lose the match!

Archangel: And I would be standing here with that crown if it weren't for your minion! How dare you stand in the middle of that ring, with a crown you embezzled from me?

Corbin: What I did was perfectly acceptable! You, just like all these idiots here, fail to recognise the greatness of majesty before them! Hail your King!

Archangel: No, these people acknowledge you, they know who you are, a former Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale Winner, a man who failed to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase, a failed Constable of RAW and General Manager, wow... you have quite the resume of failures, Corbin!

Gable: How about instead of flapping your wings and gums, you come down here and I'll shut you up!

Archangel: Now, why would I do that? The King and his loyal subject, the Herald was screwed over by both of them, I'm gonna drag out my fun... and you will never see it coming!

The stadium blacked out and as the lights came back on, the Archangel had vanished and the two men in the ring looked around in shock, expecting an ambush. Instead, a solitary feather came floating down from above them as well as a piece of parchment. The cameras caught the piece of paper as it landed and the inscription, looking like it came out of a horror movie 

The path to PARADISE

Begins in HELL

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The Archangel waited for the rest of the show, kissing Alexa before she went out for her talkshow with Nikki Cross before hiding himself above the ring to watch the rest of the show. Watching the Intercontinental Championship on display as Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross addressed the situation after Clash of Champions and the tournament for the Intercontinental Championship which included a mystery challenger

With Dolph Ziggler traded onto RAW, there was a myriad of rumours surrounding who was going to be a part of the SmackDown exclusive tournament before a familiar beat alerted the WWE Universe to who was the RAW Superstar joining SmackDown

Cole: AJ Styles is BACK on SmackDown!

With the former RAW Superstar back on the blue brand, the Archangel could feel the excitement build in the air. Looking on as Styles delivered some harsh words to his opponent, the Friday Night Delight's music cut Styles off as the first match of the tournament commenced. Racing through the corridor, the Herald from High walked into catering where Alexa searched for him