[music]
[crowd cheering]
Sunday night, I got my… kicked.
It isn't the first time and it sure as… won't be the last time
when I had been dead if you didn't think I was coming here
to be with you tonight.
[crowd cheering]
You wanted it so you got it.
This is your brand and now is your time.
[crowd cheering]
So London, England.
[crowd cheering]
Scream with me
because we are NXT.
[crowd cheering]
[Triple H] For the first time ever,
this December NXT
takes over the UK.
[music]
[Enzo] You jeopardize this future,
you jeopardize my future.
[Big Cass] We will get retribution.
[Asuka] Emma, see you in London.
[music]
[Crews] I was this close to realizing my dream.
When I get my hands on Baron Corbin,
I'm gonna break him.
[Corbin] At takeover London,
Apollo nation false.
[Bayley] Everyone knows my story. Everyone knows that I just had to scratch
and claw to get to this NXT women's championship,
and I've had defeat the very best.
[Nia] You have been lucky that I didn't get here sooner
because if I did,
you would have never
been NXT women's champion.
See you in London, Bayley.
[music]
[Joe] You know, walking into London
I realized, I may have evoked
something that most people feel.
Joe thinks he knows who I am.
But in London,
Joe is gonna see a side of Finn Balor
that he never knew existed.
[Joe] But notice that I'm a 100% complete,
total monster.
[music]
[Greg] And now, the WWE network presents
NXT takeover London.
London.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] For the first time ever,
NXT comes to you live from the United Kingdom
inside the sold-out SSE arena Wembley.
This is NXT takeover London.
[Corey] Ask and you shall receive for the first time ever live in primetime
in the UK.
[music]
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Greg] The following contest is a women's division match
scheduled for one-fall.
Introducing first from Osaka, Japan.
Asuka.
[Rich] An enormous response to the woman,
Triple H called NXT's silent assassin.
Byron Saxton, Asuka, has been around the globe
and is one of the most feared competitors
in the women's division.
[Byron] Asuka made her name in Japan,
one of the top names,
the top females to ever step inside the ring
over the last 10 years.
You'll see from her outfit wearing a freaking strike of ability,
one of the most dangerous females
we have ever seen.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] What an event here in London. Corey graves, NXT primetime in the UK.
[Corey] It is so exciting to have takeover in London live.
This is gonna be an awesome night.
[music]
[Greg] And her opponent, accompanied to the ring by Dana Brooke,
from Melbourne, Australia,
Emma.
[Rich] Emma and Dana Brooke have done their absolute best to make sure
that Asuka is going to be as unwelcome as possible,
ever since she first arrived here at NXT,
and Corey Graves, three weeks ago
Asuka was set to go one-on-one with Dana in a takeover respect rematch.
[Corey] And it all turned out
to be a well-laid plan
by Dana Brooke and Emma.
Asuka looking straight on at Dana,
and from behind, from the crowd, here comes Emma.
Nothing says unwelcome like an Emma lock.
[Emma] Game over. Game over.
[Rich] Oh, that's because you're [indistinct]
Threat that Asuka brings to the dance.
Emma and Dana Brooke trying to use
the numbers advantage
to get one over on Asuka.
[Rich] I'm gonna tell you what, uh,
last week,
things didn't quite go as planned.
Emma and Dana Brooke decided we're gonna try distracting Asuka,
but instead, Asuka said,
"hey ladies,
I've got a little preview for what may happen to you tonight
at takeover."
[music]
[Byron] The look on Emma's face and Dana's face,
Corey, I think pretty much said it all.
They were just stand right there jaws on the ground after that huge kick
by Asuka.
[Corey] I don't think anyone was surprise for Dana Brooke and Emma [indistinct].
We knew she was a dangerous striker but Asuka put it on full display
right in front of these two.
I have a feeling we might see something similar tonight.
[crowd chatter]
[bell ringing]
[Rich] [Indistinct] NXT university here tonight, you'd expect a rowdy, loud
boisterous crowd here tonight in London.
Oh.
[Corey] Asuka almost ended it early.
[Byron] You know, this is also personal for Emma. I mean, if you remember,
Emma sort of, uh, help found the reputation that the women's division
has here at NXT.
About three years ago it was Emma and Paige
to crown the first ever women's champion,
and so she takes personal to the fact that Asuka has received so much praise.
[Corey] She's got an opportunity to earn herself some praise
tonight in London.
[Rich] You see almost that playful side of Asuka.
She's been almost devilish in the way that she's deal
both Dana Brooke and Emma.
[Byron] That's where the easiest you win
when Asuka flashes that smile, you think everything's gonna be okay
and then she turns her body
into a pretzel.
[Rich] Almost got in there by Emma, into the cover quick kick count.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] I remember talking before and you made the comment
that Emma almost feels like she wants
to protect her territory, something that she feels she helped built.
[Byron] I did. You know, Emma didn't like
the fact that as she put it, the red carpet was rolled out for Asuka.
[Rich] Yeah, well.
Such a high profile signing to the women's division here
at NXT.
[Corey] So, Emma figured, you know what,
we go to lovely committee,
we're gonna show that she doesn't belong.
[Byron] Look at the technical savvy of Asuka,
never letting go of that hammerlock.
One of the reasons she's so incredibly dangerous.
[Corey] Yeah, as for Dana Brooke,
former WWE superstar early on today and she told me that's the key with Asuka.
I mean, how much film she studies, how much she tries to break down
what your weaknesses are, what your strengths are and capitalize.
[Rich] I'm gonna say, can you hear Dana Brooke
on the outside of the ring there
cheering on Emma?
How much of a distraction
could that be for Asuka?
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Well, maybe… well, maybe not that much.
[Corey] Emma's in danger here.
[Rich] Emma's struggling to get to the bottom rope
and is finally able to get her toe
on that bottom rope to break the hold.
[Byron] And how much damage it's already done.
[Rich] Vicious arm lock.
[Byron] Here we go.
[Rich] And now Asuka laying in those vicious kicks.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Oh.
Running hip attack from the apron.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Asuka's having fun out there.
[Rich] Take another look at this.
Wow.
[Corey] Well, you mentioned yet Dana Brooke being at ring side
with no intimidation factor.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Dana Brooke and Emma may have the numbers advantage at ring side
which you got to wonder what's going through the mind of Emma when the entire
NXT universe here in London seems to be behind Asuka?
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Especially when they're chanting for your demise.
[Corey] Oh, and Emma.
[Rich] That's exactly what I was talking about
with Dana Brooke on the outside.
She provided just enough of a distraction to allow Emma to catch her breath.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] And now Emma's taking over.
[Byron] And you really sense
some of that frustration, some of that distain
that Emma has for Asuka.
[Corey] That distain and frustration served Emma well at this point
since her change in attitude.
She's got that mean streak and it's got her a lot of wins.
[Rich] Cover, hook to the leg. Emma for the victory, and a kick out.
[Byron] You got to believe as, as tumultuous and difficult
as this road has been for Emma and Dana Brooke to,
kind of get Asuka out of the picture of Emma.
Somehow, there's a win here tonight.
I mean, imagine what this does to sky rocket her career.
[Rich] Emma with a signature maneuver applied.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Tremendous pressure on the shoulders
of Asuka.
[Byron] You take away those arms
that's a… somewhat Asuka's strongest weapon,
that striking ability.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] We have seen so far from this match-up.
It's just a sampling of the tremendous athletic ability
of the women here at NXT.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Uh-oh. Shoulders are down here, Emma.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] [Indistinct] Wants the power out.
[Rich] And Corey, you can vouch for this.
Emma's strategy's very wise here,
keep Asuka close, don't allow any distance.
[Corey] You're absolutely right, Rich.
When you keep the distance close, you take away the striking ability
but Asuka is so versatile.
She's got submission skills with a second [indistinct]
[Dana] Nice Emma.
You beat her. Stay on her.
You're gonna win this.
Break her.
[Corey] A little kick of her own there.
[Rich] Emma hooks the leg
and a kick out at two.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Oh, look at those blows in there.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Asuka trying to feed off the energy at the NXT universe here at London.
[Dana] Don't give up, Emma. Do not give up.
Do not give up, Emma. Don't give up.
[Corey] We talked in the past about how maybe, uh,
maybe Emma underestimated Asuka but I think Emma's proven here tonight
that maybe on the surface
she [indistinct]
Asuka's not a big deal,
but she did her homework too.
She knew that this is gonna be a fight.
[Byron] Uh-oh.
[Rich] Ouch.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Oh, look out. Backslide.
A backslide, into the cover and…
Oh.
[Byron] Emma able to stay alive.
Oh! Nice try.
[Rich] Oh, wow. What a clothesline.
And that could be enough.
[audience] One, two…
[Rich] Kick out by Asuka at two.
[Corey] Barely.
Emma may be able to capitalize on that. Let's take another look at this.
[Rich] Right out of the backslide.
And invidious.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Short on clothesline, Emma.
Barely put away Asuka.
[Corey] And it's become the situation
we're asking the question, "who can hit who harder?"
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Every time Emma strikes Asuka,
it seems to enrage Asuka,
it seems to give her energy,
it seems to give her new life fire.
[Corey] Is she in rage or in pain?
I mean, I…
it's kinda hard to decipher here.
Emma's been doing a number on Asuka for a while now.
Oh. Wow.
[crowd chatter]
[referee 1] Asuka.
[Dana] That's what we do.
How's that feel Asuka, huh?
You don't like it?
Oh, cry. Cry.
Cry.
[Rich] Did Dana ever stopped talking?
[Corey] I don't think so.
[Rich] But again Asuka.
[Byron] Yeah, Asuka's trying to find a way
to reel herself back on.
Oh, wow.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] That's actually just gonna make Asuka even more angry.
[Corey] You know, look at…look at how the confidence of Emma
seems to improve.
[Rich] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Corey] Spoke to soon.
[Rich] Missile drop kick and Asuka.
[Byron] That will take your confidence away.
[Corey] Asuka bought herself some time
but she's still a long way from her feet right now.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Look for [indistinct]
In this match-up.
Who will get to their feet first?
Emma, wasting little time.
[Byron] Yeah, I just…
I'm really kind of surprised how…
Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] …seeing Emma's continuing confidence
but you can't speak too soon with Asuka.
[Rich] Oh, man, here comes all the…
all those kicks,
the strikes, Asuka.
[Byron] Forearms. Look at this.
Emma has awaken something in Asuka.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] And it's not good.
[crowd chatter]
[Dana] Come on, Emma.
[Byron] Asuka proved here that she can take a lot of punishment
but she could dish it out,
she's doing so right now on Emma.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] The most feared striker
in the women's division.
Emma caught the leg.
[Rich] Asuka misses with the spinning backspin.
Jackknife. Cover. And Asuka.
Got to stay alive.
[Byron] Oh, can't miss that one.
What's more?
This Asuka is something else.
[Rich] Running hip attack.
Into the cover.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] And just getting her shoulder up
at two and a half.
Emma stays in this match-up
but for how long?
[Byron] How long is the question,
such a multifaceted offense
from Asuka.
It got Emma really.
[Corey] Emma is creating some distance
out of desperation there.
[Rich] Asuka had her lined on.
Oh. Uh-oh.
Dilemma.
[crowd chatter]
Yeah.
[Dana] Good girl, Emma.
Good girl.
You stay on her.
[Byron] Butterfly suplex into the turnbuckle.
Asuka is in a lot of trouble right now.
Doing a tremendous amount of damage to Asuka.
Pin her. One, two, three.
[Rich] Emma might have it.
Oh.
[Corey] Barely kicking out.
[Rich] Right back into the cover,
hooks the leg in.
Asuka again.
She's alive.
[Byron] A lot of people come into this match
believe this is gonna be lopsided in Asuka's favor.
But you see that's one pride example
why Emma really has Asuka.
[audience] Oh.
[Byron] The dangerous…
did I say tired position like that on this match-up.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Pretty effective combination by Emma.
[Corey] Absolutely.
She came in with an [Indistinct]
Pulling out the victory
but there's still a lot of fight left in Asuka.
[Dana] Do the dirty work, you got this.
Nice.
-Finish her. Finish her. -[Corey] No, no, no, no, no.
Break her.
[Rich] This could be the beginning of the end for Asuka.
Oh, game over.
Game over.
[Rich] Oh, Asuka.
Asuka reversed it.
Oh no,
Emma in a tremendous amount of pain.
[Corey] She's got that ankle locked in tight.
[Byron] Emma's got to get to the rope fast.
[Rich] No way for Emma to go.
Trying to bridge up on her hands to ease the pain.
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Rich] Whoa.
[Byron] German suplex.
[crowd chatter]
[crowd] Ooh!
[Rich] Right to the jaw.
Cover, and a kick out.
[Byron] How did Emma kick out on that one.
[Corey] You've got to give it to Emma,
even if it's instinct,
the ability to kick out after a knee strike like that
is incredibly impressive.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] You've seen this before, you know what Asuka's got in mind.
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Rich] Asuka lock on the way.
[Byron] Emma try to fight it, she knows if she goes down,
she's in big trouble.
[Corey] Asuka can't get those hands locked.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Asuka's trying to find a way.
-Emma doing everything she can. -[Corey] Wait a minute.
[Rich] Oh no.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Referee's down what's… what's Emma motioning for?
[Byron] I don't like this.
[Corey] Dana, Dana…
[Rich] What was that?
[Corey] Dana put something in there.
[Byron] Dana put through something in the ring.
Nice Emma, nice. Nice Emma.
You use that.
You use that, Emma.
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Rich] Oh no.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Hold on, Emma from behind.
Cover on Asuka.
Shoulders down and [indistinct]
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Asuka lock.
Asuka lock.
[Corey] Emma's groaning.
Emma's desperate.
[Rich] [Indistinct] Hang it in there,
the Asuka lock.
[Byron] Get Dana out of there.
[Rich] [Indistinct]
The referee, she's tapping down…
[Corey] She just tapped out.
Emma just tapped out but the ref didn't see it.
[Byron] The referee with his attention turned to Dana Brooke.
[Rich] Emma tapped out.
[Byron] Oh boy, Dana Brooke did her job,
causing a distraction.
Emma's got back.
[Rich] No, no, no, no, no, no.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] What a kick.
[audience] One, two, three.
[bell ringing]
[music]
[Greg] Here is your winner, Asuka.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] You know what guys,
Emma and Dana Brooke, they had it coming,
they tried everything they could,
they had the opportunity, once again, they tried to utilize the numbers game,
but Asuka,
Asuka just showed the world
how good she really is.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Let's take another look at this, Asuka's seemingly in the match
[indistinct]
While the referee distracted with Dana Brooke.
Dana gets tossed.
[Rich] And watch Emma trying to take advantage
but Emma you forgot who you're messing with.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] One of the most dangerous strikers we've ever seen in the women's division.
[bell ringing]
[Rich] And that is why Asuka
has her head paced tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] A showcase of what the women in NXT are all about.
A tremendous victory here in London to kick off takeover.
[Rich] Whoa.
It's Johnny Saint.
[Corey] Check out guys, it's Johnny Saint,
UK wrestling legend from the world of sport days,
one of the most amazing
technical wrestlers I've ever seen in my life.
We're glad to have you here, sir.
[Rich] And guys, earlier today as we first saw
in the NXT pre-show,
there is Finn Balor making his way into the arena
with so much on his mind, a huge title defense tonight
against Samoa Joe.
[Byron] And speaking of Samoa Joe,
there he is, looking stone faced,
cold-blooded. I'll tell you what guys,
that could be your next NXT champion.
[Corey] We wanna say thank you to motorhead
for ace of spades, the official theme
for NXT takeover London.
Check out they're new album bad magic, available right now on iTunes and Spotify.
[Rich] And right now we turn our attention to the NXT tag team title
in a rivalry that kicked it to overdrive
with Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder
intended to end the careers
of one of NXT's most beloved tag teams,
Enzo and Cass.
[music]
[Enzo] We have been doing this
longer than any team in NXT history.
♪ Do you wanna live as an untold story ♪
♪ Rather go out in a blaze of glory ♪
♪ I can't hear you ♪
♪ I don't fear you ♪
We can walk it like we talk it, blindfolded.
[crowd cheering]
[commentator 1] Listen to the ovation
for Enzo Amore and Big Cass.
Without question,
the most popular tag team in all of NXT.
[Enzo] We know who we are
and we know where we are going.
[crowd cheering]
[commentator 1] Wow, look at that. Dash and Dawson.
Oh man.
[Scott] When we saw Colin laying on the mat,
screaming and crying in pain, begging us not to rip his knee to shreds.
We know it's [indistinct]
[commentator 2] No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Dawson and Dash, these two are out of control.
[man 1] How are you doing, huh?
Have you thought about the consequences of those actions?
[Scott] Ever since we won this hardware, okay,
we've been telling everybody
that were listening to us,
"we're the absolute best tag team
on this planet."
[commentator 1] These two have taken their aggression,
and their dustiness,
and their rudeness to do whatever it takes
to a whole new level.
[commentator 2] It's like these guys come out here
just to hurt people and they enjoy it.
[Dash] Anybody that steps up,
we're gonna put down.
[Big Cass] Dash and Dawson,
at NXT takeover London,
we will walk out
NXT tag team champions.
[crowd cheering]
[music]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
My name is Enzo Amore and I am a certified G
and a bona fide stud.
And you can't teach that.
[crowd cheering]
And this right here, this is Big Cass,
and he's seven foot tall,
and you can't teach that.
[crowd cheering]
And this right here, this is Carmella,
and she's hot as …,
and you can't teach that.
[crowd cheering]
Bada boom, realest guys in the room.
How you doing?
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] I guess it's safe to say Enzo and Cass
are pretty loved here in London.
[Rich] Enzo's inspiring entire subculture in London,
they call him chav for the worst kind of people.
[crowd chatter]
London,
how you doing?
[crowd chatter]
Dawson, Dash…
[crowd cheering]
…we can assure you
that there will be pieces of us
left in this ring when this match is over.
You wanted a fight, well you got a fight,
but the difference between you and me and Big Cass…
[crowd chatter]
…if I had a pound…
[crowd cheering]
…for every time me and Big Cass
got knocked down and didn't get back up,
I'd have zero pound.
[crowd cheering]
Dawson and Dash…
[crowd cheering]
…I promise you,
you will not walk out the same way that you walked in.
[crowd cheering]
And we will walk out
the NXT tag team champions.
[crowd cheering]
And prove to everybody here and everybody around the world
that there is only one word to describe you
and I'm gonna spell it out for you.
S…
[audience] S-a-w-f-t, sawft.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Byron, you can't deny a much more serious side lately
from Enzo and Cass.
[Byron] Enzo and Cass know it's go time,
no turning back, you got to win those tag team titles.
[music]
[bell ringing]
[Greg] The following contest is scheduled for one-fall,
is for the NXT tag team championship.
Making their way to the ring
in a combined weight of 465 pounds,
they are the NXT tag team champions,
Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder.
[Rich] Dash Wilder tweeted earlier today
[indistinct]
To takeover London tonight,
it will be Enzo and big bird Cass
will do what they do best, talk a lot, and lose.
[Corey] I completely agree.
Dash and Dawson without a doubt,
the best tag team in NXT,
maybe the entire world.
These guys are a throwback
to the days of the brain busters
and the midnight express.
They are dangerous and I enjoy everything they do.
[Byron] Talk about polar opposites in tag teams,
talk to Dawson and Dash, they'll tell you,
"hey, we don't fight for cheerers. We just fight to feed our bank accounts."
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] It's all about the NXT tag team titles.
The challengers, Enzo and Cass, the champions, Dawson and Wilder.
-[referee 2] Ring the bell. -[bell ringing]
[Rich] Pinfall or submission.
I can't wait for the titles
to change into this matchup.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] We have Enzo and Cass…
[Rich] Have they found the one thing that may be they lack fire
and is that extra spark and extra seriousness.
[Corey] Well, listen, I mean, we got a relationship with Enzo and Cass,
they've known each other since they were 15 years old,
they know everything about each other.
And when that injury came down to Big Cass,
they felt that their tag team future
was [indistinct]
The light bulb on for a little bit,
then realize, "you know what, maybe we got to change something
about how we go about our business,
to achieve that next level
of greatness here in NXT and that is the nxt tag team titles."
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Dawson and Wilder captured
the NXT tag team titles, defeated the vaudevillians back
on November the 11th in a decision
that shocked the NXT universe.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Listen to these people.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] [Indistinct]
Focus out here in London.
[Rich] Yeah, Enzo needs to worry less about pandering the crowd here in London,
and worry about the beat down he's about to receive.
[Byron] Pandering? He's feeding up the empty.
[Rich] He didn't even know where England was
until he got there on the plane.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Dawson down for the cover, trying to put Enzo away and kick out.
And a quick tag made to Dash Wilder.
[Corey] It's tag team wrestling at its finest.
Dash, he goes no wasted movement,
don't maximize the five-count, which is why they're exactly
in the position they're in.
[Byron] Yeah, they're… Dash… ooh, cool.
Change of temperature at this tag team division.
The way they fight, the rules they follow
which are very few.
[Rich] Dawson and Wilder talked about
they were the tag team revival here in NXT.
Oh, wow.
[Corey] Wow.
A new offense there from Enzo.
[Rich] Planting Wilder face first into the mat.
And a cover.
A kick out.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Lets take another look,
a takedown from Enzo Amore.
[Rich] Tell you what, Big Cass in here
to continue the onslaught.
[Byron] Look at the size difference.
[referee 2] One, two, three…
[Corey] I'll tell you with that look in Big Cass' eyes it's something
you don't wanna see from any man,
let alone one that stands seven feet tall.
[Byron] When you sit on the shelf and you wonder whether or not
you're ever gonna be able to step inside that ring again,
that'll change you.
One, two…
[Rich] Devastating knee injury
at the hands of Dawson and Wilder.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Sat on the sidelines for close too long.
Byron, many people wondered whether or not
Cass would ever be the same.
[Byron] Well, I don't think he is the same,
and I think that's a good thing.
Oh.
[Rich] Oh. That's not a good thing.
That's a lot out of the way.
[indistinct]
Did you hear the sound
of Wilder's hand hitting that ring post?
[Corey] Yeah.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Enzo Amore saying recently that this match is…
yes, about the titles but also about family.
Enzo is saying he, Cass, and Carmella,
where would they all be without each other?
[Corey] They'll be in the streets.
[Rich] I think that's a very straight question.
[Corey] All three of them would be in the streets.
[Byron] Let me say something with that…
One, two…
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Look at the face of Cass.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] This university is [indistinct]
[Rich] I've heard like three or four different chants already.
[Byron] Uh-oh.
[Rich] Cass turning his attention to Scott Dawson that allows Wilder
to take advantage.
[Corey] Unfortunately for Cass and Enzo,
the Beatles weren't expert tag team wrestlers.
One, two, three.
[Byron] That's a situation you don't want to get big.
Cass now, this is where the tag
team champions try.
[Corey] Let's talk about the new mean streak,
the aggression from Cass and Enzo,
Dash and Dawson are aggressive
every day of their lives.
[Rich] Isolated, dominate, like pitbulls.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Don't forget this match is for the NXT tag team titles,
Cass and Enzo the challengers.
Oh.
[Corey] Ooh, wow.
[Rich] Perhaps the [indistinct]
For the tag team division here
in NXT but they have yet to capture the goal.
[Byron] Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Whoa.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Big Cass single handedly taken out the tag champs.
Uh-oh.
[Rich] Oh, you don't want to get a little air Enzo.
[Byron] It means no.
[Rich] Dawson scurries out of the ring.
[Corey] Great ring awareness by the tag champs,
they knew they were in bad trouble.
They'll regain [indistinct]
Uh-oh.
[Rich] I'm not doing it again [indistinct]
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] And Enzo launched over the top rope.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] I told you, you can see it in Enzo,
you can see it in Cass,
these two men know it's time for a change in their careers.
[Rich] Enzo, slingshot over the top,
Dawson desperately holding on to the top rope. You're right.
Wilder is the legal man, Enzo doesn't realize it.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Well, now he does.
[referee 2] In the ring…
[Byron] It's like Enzo kind of caught his head
on that bottom rope.
Hey, get out of the ring, all right? Listen up.
Get out. Knock it off.
Back him up, hey, back him up…
[Byron] Great strategy by the tag here, just buying their time, taking their time,
adjusting their game plan.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] And remember, Enzo and Cass have to beat Dash and Dawson.
Dash and Dawson have the champion's advantage.
[man 2] Come on.
[referee 2] …three…
[crowd chatter]
[referee 2] …four…
[woman 1] Enzo, come on, come on…
[Rich] He's got to get to his feet.
[referee 2] …five…
[audience] Six.
[referee 2] Back it up…six.
[audience] Seven.
[Byron] Come on Enzo.
[Rich] Enzo is struggling to get back to his feet,
the referee getting awfully
-close to the 10-count. -[audience] …eight…
[man 2] Ten.
[referee 2] …nine…
[Rich] Can Enzo get back in?
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Oh.
[Byron] And here it comes. Here is where Dash and Dawson excel.
They're like sharks that wander a lot.
[Rich] They found the…
they found their weak point,
the left shoulder of Enzo Amore.
One at a time.
[Rich] And the tag team champions are going to work.
[Byron] And everything they do to decimate that one body part of their opponent,
you're right.
Dawson and Dash would take advantage every time.
[crowd chatter]
-[Rich] Oh, suplex right on the arm… -One, two…
[Rich] …cover.
[Rich] How much damage did that do to Enzo's arm?
[Corey] Doubled up.
Dawson made it a hold on of a hammerlock
into a northern light suplex,
double up the damage.
[Byron] [Indistinct] How quickly, as soon as Dawson [indistinct]
assassinates,
try to crawl over to his corner,
bringing him back.
One, two…
[Byron] Kick out by Enzo.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Enzo looks desperate to get over
to his corner tagging Big Cass.
[Scott] Break that, break it.
Shut up.
[Rich] How helpless is Cass right now.
All he could do is just sit back and watch.
Nothing he can do to help out Enzo.
[Byron] Dash and Dawson will effectively cut the ring in half.
And Enzo might as well be in Scotland right now.
[Rich] Dash and Dawson, told our broadcast colleague,
Tom Phillips,
they wanna break Cass' leg.
We see an Enzo and back at the overhead bin.
You make the tag. Hurry up.
[Rich] A tremendous damage to the left arm of Enzo Amore
trying to end it right now.
Hooks the leg and Enzo
finds the will to kick out.
[Byron] I think you really should be just impressed in this aggressive style
of Dash and Dawson to…
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] [Indistinct] Overlooked here in NXT
unless they win the [indistinct]
No one took him seriously.
Oh.
[Rich] And here they are, just teeing away on the most popular tag team
in the history of NXT.
[Corey] Oh, Dash and Dawson are worried about
being the most popular, they don't…
[Rich] Slingshot suplex, cover.
One, two…
[Rich] Dawson for the win. And a kick out at two.
Shades of Tully Blanchard.
[Byron] Always here and talking about, nothing fancy, no flips,
just fists, and it's working out really well right now.
[crowd chatter]
Break it.
[Carmella] Enzo, come on.
[Rich] But how long have Enzo and Cass felt like they've maybe been overlooked?
They've been part of NXT since the very beginning.
[Corey] Cass is seven feet tall, no one could overlook someone…
[Rich] Yeah, it's not like he's being overlooked but what it has been
a case of is,
well these guys have always been applauded
for being entertaining, fun to watch,
but that wouldn't be legitimate, and you won't become legitimate
until you're the tag team champions.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] And the tag team titles
are on the line in this matchup.
[Corey] Enzo with a huge desperation, knee lift.
[Byron] Yup. And Enzo has a long way to beat Cass.
Come on, Enzo. Come on.
[Rich] Ms. Carmella cheering on her boys.
[Byron] Almost there.
[Corey] Tag made to Wilder.
[Rich] Was the tag made to Big Cass? No.
-None. The tag was made. -[Corey] I don't think he got it.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh.
Oh, gourdbuster.
[Byron] That's it.
Hey, no, no.
[crowd chatter]
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Referee didn't see the tag between Dash and Dawson.
[Rich] Whoa. Wilder into the cover and a kick-out by Enzo.
[Byron] Great officiating.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Right back into the cover.
Come on.
[Byron] But notice how quick Dawson got out of the ring
and Dash got back in.
They didn't waste time,
they knew they lost a valuable second with the referee not catching the tag.
[Rich] Oh, Dash and Dawson was well-aware.
[Byron] That's tag team wrestling at its finest.
[Rich] They're well-aware of how much a threat Enzo and Cass are
to those tag team titles.
[Byron] And they completely keep value.
Enzo that low life like take it to the pawnshop.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Enzo with a huge DDT.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] If there was ever a moment, that moment is now for Enzo Amore
to make the tag.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Tags are made.
Big Cass.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] All loading on Dawson.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Uh-oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] This is with a big boom.
[Byron] Woo-hoo, and it's there.
[Rich] New tag team champions here, no.
[Byron] Wilder in to break up the cover.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Dawson [indistinct]
Chop lock.
[Corey] Oh, no.
[Rich] Chop lock.
That's the battle of D.
The battle of D and Big Cass.
[Corey] Dawson and Wilder did not forget
what they did to Cass.
They're gonna prey on this.
Thanks for coming, Cass.
[Rich] This is the worst-case scenario,
it's the last thing Cass needs from this situation in this matchup
for that knee to become a factor again.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Oh, look at this. Submission.
[Rich] Cass [indistinct] Go.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] It's a matter of tap. Cass has got to tap out.
If he wants to wrestle a match ever again,
he should tap out.
[Byron] The stakes are too big.
Cass knows how big the stakes are,
how big this opportunity is, it may never come again.
[Rich] Look out Cass is positioned as well.
Here comes Enzo.
[Byron] Oh. Wow.
[Rich] Turned inside out.
[Byron] To the enemy Cass is still [indistinct]
Come on.
[Byron] Cass trying to reach out to the ropes
but reaching out towards one of his opponents.
[Corey] Take a look at this.
Scott Dawson, ever a vigilante from the apron,
taking on Enzo's attempt
to break up that submission.
[Byron] Look at Cass there.
Cass trying to wheel himself out, trying to suck it up.
[Corey] He's trying to knock himself out because he's in so much pain.
[Byron] He's not trying to knock himself out.
He's trying to survive.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Cass able to grab hold to the bottom rope to break the hold.
All right. Break it.
Back it off. He's got the rope.
Knock that off.
[Rich] Enzo and Cass can capture
the tag team titles by pin fall or submission,
if somehow Cass could stay in this.
No, no, no. No.
[Rich] Uh-oh. This is what did it.
[Corey] Oh, no.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] This is what put Cass out of action
for [indistinct]
Pushing Dawson off.
[Corey] Thank goodness for Enzo.
[Rich] Big Cass, from behind, rolling cover.
And Wilder able to kick out.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Well, this time…
[Byron] Big boot.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Tag made. Here comes Enzo.
He's going to jump.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Scott Dawson with the last minute save.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Oh, come on. You don't need touch Carmella.
Oh, come on now.
[Rich] Right back hand pull there by Carmella.
[Byron] Yeah, how about that, Dawson?
[Rich] Taking matters into her own hands.
[audience] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Cass went hard into a ring post.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Who's the legal man?
Enzo is legal and I believe Wilder's legal.
Oh, from the top,
Wilder's the legal man.
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Rich] Wilder and Dawson retain.
[music]
[Greg] Here are your winners
and still the NXT tag team champions,
Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder.
[Byron] How close were Enzo and Cass?
What's the official even thinking?
[Indistinct]
Talk about a champions' advantage.
[Corey] What are you blaming the officials for?
That was tag team expertise right there, Saxton.
[Byron] Oh, come on.
It was illegal double team, Corey, you know that.
[music]
[Rich] We thought that this was it.
We thought we would see brand new tag team champions.
But watch Enzo with a cover and there's Scott Dawson.
[Corey] Yeah, assist number one.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] That was great vigilance on the part of Dawson.
He knew the titles were in jeopardy, and he stopped it from happening,
and nothing brought it to a screeching halt like this.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Enzo might as well jump off the tower of London
because he wouldn't get…
-[bell ringing] -[Rich] …enough from that one.
[music]
[Byron] Once again these two,
Dash and Dawson find a way to hold on
to the NXT tag team titles.
[Rich] The tag team revival rolls on
with Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder at the helm.
[music]
[Corey] And we wanna send a special thanks to the struts of the NXT loud artist
for their song "Could have been me" from the album have you heard.
It's one of the official themes at takeover in London,
and you can get it right now on iTunes and Spotify.
[music]
[Rich] Well, the NXT women's champion
Bailey's smiling as she arrives in the arena
with her close friend Carmella but will Bailey be smiling
once she squares off with most powerful woman
we've ever seen in NXT.
[music]
[Nia] Most girls take what they're given in life.
Huh, lucky for me, I'm not those girls.
I am more than you think I am.
Power.
[commentator 2] Nia Jax dominating at will.
[Nia] Beauty.
Passion.
[commentator 1] She is an unbelievable athlete
unlike any other diva we've seen
here at NXT.
[Nia] Desire.
[commentator 2] Nia Jax is unfazed.
[Nia] Greatness.
[commentator 2] Who can stop Nia Jax?
[commentator 1] Nia Jax is out there having fun.
She got a billion dollar smile and she's as dangerous today.
[commentator 3] Taking her time surveying
every ounce of damage that she inflicts.
[commentator 2] There's almost like a [indistinct]
Confidence with Nia Jax, once she steps in between those ropes,
that power speaks for itself.
[commentator 1] I don't know any diva
that could match her
as far as the strength goes.
[commentator 2] Full, collective, powerful, and confident.
[Nia] Greatness is my destiny.
[crowd chatter]
[music]
[Rich] And what an event it has been
so far here tonight in London, England
at the SSE Wembley arena.
Oh, what a week it has been as well
for NXT wrapping up a weeklong tour year
in the United Kingdom and well, what a ground breaking event it has been
and I'll tell you what, the NXT universe has come out
in full force over the past week.
[Byron] Yeah, places like Newcastle, Cardiff,
Wales, Glasgow has gotten…
you truly see the reach of the NXT universe all over the world.
[music]
[Rich] And a sold out NXT universe here tonight in London,
10,079…
[Byron] Wow.
[Rich] …here inside the SSE arena.
[Corey] Nice job.
[Rich] Oh, what a matchup this is gonna be
for sure but it's gonna be a brawl as I'm telling you what, it all started
when Apollo Crews eliminated
Baron Corbin in a no. 1 contender's battle royal from there,
Corbin made it his…
-[bell ringing] -[Rich] …mission to ruin anything
that Apollo Crews got his hands on.
[Corey] But Baron Corbin interrupted what seemed to be an instant classic
between Crews and Fin Balor
for the NXT title, absolutely laying waste to Apollo Crews.
[Byron] Yeah, but Apollo Crews said, "you know what, I can return the favor."
Corbin was said to face off with Tye Dillinger
and we saw a side of Apollo Crews
we have never seen before just unleashing on Baron Corbin.
In fact so much so… oh.
That Corbin was forced to retreat.
[man 3] Come on, Corbin.
Come on.
[crowd cheering]
[music]
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] The lone wolf ready to tear apart Apollo Crews here tonight in London.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] That is a man who is only concerned
about his own existence.
[music]
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Think about of what Apollo Crews said
last week prior to that tag team matchup when he teamed with Fin Balor.
He said he wanted to take care of things
that night so he could focus on getting back to where he wanted to be…
[bell ringing]
[Rich] …that was in a title match with Balor.
[Greg] The following contest is scheduled for one-fall.
Making his way to the ring from stone mountain, Georgia,
weighing 240 pounds,
Apollo Crews.
[Byron] I'll tell you, rich,
Apollo Crews wins this match he could find himself in a title match
before the down ride.
[Rich] Yeah, but he better not be thinking
about anything in the world but Baron Corbin tonight.
[Byron] Man, who has brought into himself
of being the most complete superstar.
[Rich] You saw the footage just a little while ago,
Baron Corbin retreating after that attack
by Apollo Crews and graves, I know that you were shocked
to see Corbin… I don't wanna say
running away but he was… he was backing off.
[Corey] Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen
the lone wolf retreat like that.
You could see it at Crews' eyes.
I mean, it was evident that guy was as angry
as I've ever seen any man.
Maybe it was a smart move by Corbin to retreat,
catches breathe and now…
-[bell ringing] -[Corey] …he is ready
to stop the rise of Apollo Crews.
[Rich] Corbin tweeted earlier today, "tonight I tear apart #apollonation."
And there's nothing he or anyone can do about it.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] I'm interested to see how this one plays out.
Corbin's got the size advantage but I don't know for the first time
in a long time he has the strength advantage.
Crews is one of the strongest
members of the entire roster.
[Baron] How you feel, huh?
-[Rich] He's strong. He's quick. -This is house.
You can go back home.
-[Byron] Currently agile. -[Rich] Look at this.
Crews just strike out.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, come on, Corbin.
Come on. Come on, man.
[Rich] Setting up the outset we expect to…
we expect this matchup to be a brawl.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Corbin taking his time recomposing himself.
[Byron] With that I remember
when Corbin's the one that took away
Apollo Crews' opportunity.
The first one, he walked out to the scene here on NXT.
He said, "I wanna be a champion."
He said, "I'm not stopping for anyone."
And then came in Baron Corbin,
to throw him off this course.
[Rich] Baron Corbin doesn't wanna stop
for anybody. Corbin feels he deserves everything,
and every bit of angulation that Apollo Crews has received
since he got here.
And it's hard to argue with him.
[Byron] Well, he's acting a little bit better.
[Rich] Listen, Baron Corbin might not have spent his life
traveling around the globe
to become a wrestler but the fact is since arriving at NXT
he has worked as hard as anybody.
[Byron] Yeah, but, you know,
Apollo Crews treats people with respect
and that goes a long away
in this industry.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Corbin lifting the knee
into Apollo Crews and now taking advantage.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Byron, like you said,
Corbin has no respect for what
anybody has done in this business.
-[Byron] That's what I tell you… -[Rich] You wouldn't believe [indistinct]
[Byron] …with a football background.
[Rich] [Indistinct] Who decides your faith.
Yeah, he doesn't get what you've done.
[Corey] Listen, you guys can [indistinct]
On respect all you want
but it's about winning titles. It's about making money,
it doesn't matter who likes you, who doesn't like you.
[Rich] As you said Apollo Crews with his eye
on the NXT championship.
You wonder is he looking past Baron Corbin?
[Byron] No. I don't think so.
I mean, Apollo Crews is a very driven individual.
Oh, what a dropkick. Very focused individual.
[Rich] Whatever the task at hand, it needs to be accomplished,
he is all in.
Oh, man.
Crews crashed into the ring steps
on the way down.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] That was a nasty landing.
Let's take another look.
[Byron] Apollo Crews, yeah, watch this. Look at the height of the Poles, oh.
Crashing down the steel steps.
Did he crash his forehead?
[referee 3] [indistinct]
Corbin, back it up.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] They have.
You should have stay in the ring. You should have stayed [indistinct]
A little chance that I'll bring your parents.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] There is some of that blatant disrespect
we talked about with Corbin.
-[Rich] I'm not gonna tell you again. -[Byron] Oh, oh, [indistinct]
Apollo Crews is coming.
[Corey] It's not up…it's not about…
[Byron] …and only wings to get here.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Maybe he should have stayed there.
You heard what Corbin said.
This isn't about you.
[Rich] You don't think…you don't think
Apollo Crews deserves to be here at NXT?
[Corey] I didn't say that. I didn't say anything about deserving,
I'm saying over here ranting and raving about respect,
Samoa Joe said earlier tonight.
He threw away a 10-year friendship because of a title.
That's what Corbin's doing, rich, they're the same mindset.
I told you, you should have stayed home.
You should have stayed in the states, and not even to show up.
[Rich] Remember it was the fact
that Baron Corbin lost that no. 1 contender's battle royal
being eliminated by Apollo Crews and…
Corbin took away the opportunity… oh.
That Apollo Crews have waited his entire life for what a nasty shot
there by Corbin who is firmly in control.
[Byron] Corbin just couldn't stomach it.
Corbin couldn't stomach the fact that he wasn't the no. 1 contender
title opportunity.
[Rich] He did something about it.
He couldn't stomach it, he didn't like it so he's trying to change it.
He's trying to beat Apollo Crews out of the position.
Huh? How do you feel?
[Rich] How's that for respect, Saxton,
it's the manly way to handle things.
You don't like something
you do something about it.
[Corey] Yeah.
In whose world?
[Rich] The real world.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Corbin's able to [indistinct] the crowd.
I think it's time
[indistinct]
[Byron] Slow methodical pace does Corbin a lot of good where he can't take his time
to hit his flaws.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Smart strategy by Corbin trying to slow down Apollo Crews.
[Corey] Of course,
Crews once he gets rolling he's almost impossible to stop
and Corbin's done a great job
to this point to keep him and for getting his game over.
[Rich] Would you argue that Apollo Crews is probably
the more well-rounded athlete
in this matchup?
[Corey] I mean, Apollo Crews is one
of the most amazing athletes on the planet earth.
But that doesn't necessarily mean
he's gonna bet Baron Corbin.
[Byron] You know sometimes there's no replacement
for a good right hand.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Corbin
the former golden gloves boxing champion.
He does talk about the educated strikes of [indistinct]
Corbin's hands are registered weapons.
[Byron] That's coming from man who stands six foot eight,
almost 300 pounds.
[Rich] Corbin does seems to enjoy the taunting from the crowd.
[Corey] He doesn't care.
[Rich] He soaks it in.
[Corey] He's not out there
-to entertain the people. -[Byron] No, he likes it.
You're right. He relishes in that environment
where he could get under your skin.
[Rich] Crews' caught.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Whoa. Hold on Apollo Crews
small package and…
[Rich] Corbin able to kick out
but Crews finding his second win.
Ohh.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Crews' may have done some damage to his back after being launched
into the turnbuckles.
[Corey] Corbin's taking off a lot of time here.
[Rich] Corbin's drinking it all day.
He's enjoying this.
He wanted this, this is the situation he asked for.
He wanted a one-on-one match with Apollo Crews to bring an end to…
[Byron] Well, Apollo wanted this just as bad.
Apollo even said, "we're gonna find out who the man really is between us."
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Oh.
Nasty backbreaker.
And now Corbin applying tremendous pressure.
Look at that, the hand under the chin.
[Byron] You take that lower back of a guy
like Apollo Crews, that's going to affect his leaping ability.
That's going to affect his power game.
He's gonna force Apollo Crews
to [indistinct]
Just his style.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Crews desperate to get out of this predicament.
A couple of big knee lifts.
[Byron] How about a run for your [indistinct]
Corbin a little bit?
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Whoa, hold on.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Whoa, whoa, [indistinct]
[Rich] Corbin wasn't able to hang on.
Crews into the swing through, launches Corbin to the outside.
Baron back to his feet.
Crews on the leg.
[Corey] Double leg.
[Rich] Taking down the long hold and Crews' pounding away.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Another double leg takedown and Crews' vicious.
[Byron] Like you said it was gonna be a fight,
Corey.
[Rich] Unrelenting in his assault on Baron Corbin, and Corbin scrambling.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] Hey, once again, like we saw a couple of weeks ago,
Corbin
almost for the moment not wanting any piece of Apollo Crews.
[Corey] He's just recomposing himself, Saxton.
[Byron] Yeah, he's gonna try to recompose himself now.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] Corbin wanted this. Well, he also created this.
He created this new side of Apollo Crews, this new impression.
[Rich] An agility of Crews.
Whoa.
[Byron] Oh, God.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Apron moon sault takes down Corbin.
[Rich] Hey, think about that,
moon sault off the apron, yet Apollo Crews still has got
to be favoring that lower back but he was somehow…
somehow able to void that pain at least temporarily.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] A couple of big clothesline by Crews,
running splash.
And he's trying for deep six.
Corbin for the win.
[audience] One, two…
[Rich] Crews able to kick-out, man,
that was close.
[Byron] Just as soon as Apollo Crews got things going,
got a little momentum by his side,
that's what makes Baron Corbin so dangerous, he will stop you
immediately in your track.
[Corey] When you talk about the momentum Crews had going,
Corbin uses crew's own move against him to plant him into the mat with deep six.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Disdain in the face of Baron Corbin.
[Byron] It's clear, Corbin has made it
very clear, he's [indistinct]
[Rich] End of days.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Oh, boy.
[Rich] And a counter by Apollo Crews.
[Byron] [Indistinct]
A cover.
[Corey] This could be it.
[Rich] Crews on Corbin, pulling away, a kick-out.
[Byron] Whoa, what an innovative escape
from the end of days.
[Rich] And it was standing moon sault.
[Byron] And that kick…
the kick's what did the damage.
Take another look at this.
Wham.
I could hear Corbin…
[Rich] It almost like, yeah, well, Apollo Crews
immediately realized, "I got to do something quick.
This could be my opportunity to win this matchup."
[Corey] Seconds away from meeting the end of days.
A beautiful counter, a beautiful kick, a beautiful standing moon sault.
Crews trying to… trying to take control, but how smart is Corbin right there
grabbing a hold on the ropes
or is he desperate?
[Rich] He's brilliant.
-Oh. -[Corey] Oh.
Oh, man.
[Rich] You see Baron sometimes is nothing like a right hand…
[Byron] Yeah, or two.
Oh, Crews going for that big powerbomb,
maybe. He…
[Corey] Crews…
[Byron] Corbin hanging on,
Crews looking for that powerbomb he's been using that set out
to throw a powerbomb.
[Rich] Uh-oh.
End of days.
[crowd cheering]
[audience] One, two, three.
[bell ringing]
[Greg] Here is your winner,
Baron Corbin.
[Corey] What a victory for Corbin
in hostile territory against one of the best and rising stars
in NXT.
[music]
[Corey] What a win for the lone wolf.
[Rich] I got to agree with you, Corey.
Corbin took the offensive and look at this.
[Corey] Apollo was looking for that sit-out powerbomb,
that toss powerbomb he's been using, walked right into the end of days.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Same fate that so many other superstars
before him had suffered.
It would take nothing away from the fight that we saw
from Apollo Crews,
bad back and all, who let his heart out in that ring.
[Byron] You don't have to like and he may never be your favorite,
but tonight, London, all hail the big bad wolf, Baron Corbin.
[music]
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] He was wondering what happened.
Inches away, seconds away from stealing the victory,
until Corbin met him with the end of days here in London.
[music]
What drives me is the idea
that I can do something larger than myself.
It's about proving people that believe in me.
I wanna prove them right.
[music]
If it's competition you're looking for,
it's competition you're gonna get homeboy.
[commentator 2] Zayn escapes, stacks up Cesaro
for the win.
[commentator 1] Oh, my God, guys,
we will be talking about this debut for a long time.
[Indistinct]
[Sami] My focus and the focus of everybody
in the back is the same,
and that's to become
the next NXT champion.
[commentator 3] Sami Zayn just wrote
a perfect book of passion.
If you have a goal to achieve,
you give everything you have
in your system
and you put it forth
on the biggest stage of your career.
[Sami] It was in that moment
that I realize that
this could be whatever we wanted it to be.
And without a doubt in my mind,
this is the place to be.
I ain't finished, not by a longshot.
My goal is to come back better than ever.
Time is gonna heal.
And when it does, watch,
because all you've got to do is do you,
do it better than anyone else,
and the proof is right here.
[music]
[Rich] Now, it's been nearly half a year, but Sami's coming back.
[Byron] Oh, Sami Zayn's a special human being, man.
[Rich] Can't wait to see him back.
And right now, let's take it to our broadcast colleague,
Greg Hamilton, who caught up with Nia Jax earlier today.
[crowd cheering]
[music]
Nia Jax, thank you so much for joining us.
Now, tonight, you've faced Bayley for the NXT women's title
and, well, it is the biggest match of your career,
what's your strategy going into this match against Bayley
who since winning the NXT women's championship
hasn't lost to anyone?
Greg, my strategy is simple.
I'm gonna do to Bayley what I have been doing to any women
who stepped in the…
you looking at something?
[crowd cheering]
Like I was saying, Greg, I'm gonna do to Bayley
what I have done and what I will do to any woman
that gets in my path, dominate and destroy.
[crowd cheering]
[music]
[Rich] Guys, without question,
Bayley faces her toughest challenge yet,
but if there's one thing we know about Bayley,
if there's one thing we have seen
over the years,
overcoming the odds is the foundation of Bayley's success at NXT.
[music]
This idea has been stuck in my mind since I can remember.
[Bayley] Once I'm holding up that championship belt,
I can finally smile and say that I did it.
When I lie down at night as I'm facing with answering this essay question,
I've always came up with the same answer.
It's not just something that I wanted to do,
it's something that I have to do.
I wanna be the women's champion.
[commentator 2] Oh, right now it is all about
the NXT women's championship.
Bayley has done it.
Bayley is your new NXT women's champion.
[commentator 1] The imagination of an 11-year-old girl
who had a dream.
[music]
Becoming the NXT women's champion
was not an easy road for me
and I'm quickly learning keeping the NXT women's championship
is just as hard.
[woman 2] All fairy tales…
[Bayley] I want to be the best.
[woman 2] …don't have a happy ending.
[Bayley] I've never changed my mind.
[woman 3] I did write letters to myself
-when I was seven years old. -[Bayley] I stayed true to myself.
[woman 4] It's time for a real woman to become a champion.
[woman 5] People like you…
[Bayley] I am…
-[woman 5] …aren't meant to be champion. -[Bayley] …a champion.
[Nia] You have been lucky
I didn't get here sooner.
[Bayley] Everyone knows my story.
Everyone knows that I've had to scratch and claw.
[commentator 3] Bayley trying to [indistinct]
[commentator 1] Bayley-to-belly.
[commentator 2] She can weather the storm.
[commentator 1] Bayley has done it.
[Bayley] Respect isn't just given around here,
it's earned.
[music]
[crowd cheering]
[music]
[Greg] There is the challenger in this matchup.
[Rich] It's all about the dominance personify
in the women's division.
When she arrived in the NXT, everything has changed.
Nia Jax is a legitimate threat to the entire division.
[Corey] And I've never…
[Byron] Powerhouse.
[Corey] Never happen to see a woman stepped into our women's division
and be as dominating in such a short amount of time,
owning herself a high profile matchup
in this platform for the NXT women's championship.
[Rich] WWE legend Road Dogg tweeted earlier today as much
as he loves Bayley, he doesn't think she stands a chance
tonight against Nia Jax.
[Corey] I don't think Road Dogg is alone in his opinion.
[crowd cheering]
[music]
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] A couple of months that it's been for Bayley since capturing
the NXT women's championship at takeover:
Brooklyn, defending it
in a historic 30-man iron man match…
30-minute iron man match [indistinct]
Sasha Banks.
And now here tonight
for the first time ever, defending the NXT women's championship
live from London.
[Corey] Bayley's overcome so much.
[Byron] Shedding the image of gullibility,
showing that it's okay to embrace
the innocence of your personality,
and in the process,
start a movement to be the proud flag bearer
of women's wrestling.
[Rich] But Bayley looks rather jubilant for having just walked into the den
of the lioness like Nia Jax.
This could be her last title defense.
[Corey] Bayley has heard so many times,
"you can't do this. You can't accomplish that dream."
But every time, every month, every year, Bayley continues to prove critics wrong.
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
[crowd cheering]
[Greg] It's for the NXT women's championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Greg] Introducing the challenger
from San Diego, California,
Nia Jax.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[Greg] And her opponent
from San Jose, California,
she is the NXT women's champion,
it's Bayley.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] You know, guys, I think…
I think Bayley would tell you herself, I mean,
she is a little nervous coming into this matchup.
There is a little trepidation.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] By that same token,
Bayley's confident
that she can defend against
the toughest challenge of reign.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Well, this NXT universe here
in London maybe [indistinct]
[Byron] I mean, there's really nothing to say.
[Rich] Overcoming that obstacle.
[Corey] There's really nothing to say listening to them.
[Rich] Talk about home court advantage.
[Byron] Nia Jax so powerful.
[Rich] Oh, oh, oh.
[Rich] There's that power we talked about on display already.
Bayley is not gonna overpower Nia Jax.
[Byron] But don't forget, the championship matchup,
Nia Jax can only win the title
by pinfall or submission.
[Rich] And look at Bayley here taking it to Nia Jax,
not backing down.
Triple H called Bayley the ultimate underdog,
Nia Jax, a monster.
And we are witnessing that right now.
Oh, my goodness, tossing Bayley right across the ring.
[Byron] I almost wonder how Nia Jax has been
on the scene for such a short amount
of time here in NXT,
but how long has she been plotting this?
How long has she been planning to be the one to challenge Bayley?
[Rich] And today, Sasha banks tweeted,
"well, some people were born into this,"
talking about Nia Jax.
"Well, I'll say to Bayley, you were born to do this."
[Byron] I don't care where you were born.
Power like that just doesn't appear out of nowhere.
Nia Jax is an absolute freaky athletic.
[Rich] Well,
the likes of which we have never seen in NXT,
rag-dolling the NXT champion around.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Oh no, guys…
[Rich] And Bayley's NXT women's title reign
could be over quick.
[Corey] This may be over before it really gets started.
[Rich] Gosh.
[Corey] Hey, when is the last time we've seen
a women who could just physically impose her will?
[Rich] I mean, never. I mean, Nia Jax
is a whole different breed.
[Byron] Really, you will look at this on paper.
This is a complete mismatch.
[Rich] Yeah, I think Bayley'
starting to faint guys.
[Corey] On paper, this is like Manny Pacquiao
versus Mike Tyson.
I mean, both incredibly talented but just not the same class.
[Byron] Whoa, who, wait. Bayley showing some heart
trying to break out of this predicament.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Oh, whoa, what's she's gonna do?
[Byron] Like a dragon sleeper on there.
[Rich] Nia Jax using the turnbuckles
to her advantage.
Barely even faced Nia.
[Byron] The key here for Bayley is to maintain
that mental confidence.
Even if maybe her first couple
offensive maneuvers don't work,
stay the course.
-Flying running back elbow. -[Rich] Remind yourself that you are
the champion.
[Byron] One more.
[Rich] Bayley again.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] It is questionable that those back elbows
even stung Nia Jax.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Uh-oh.
[Corey] She's down to one knee.
[Rich] I think we've seen Nia knocked down yet, have we?
[Byron] For Bayley, cut the down to size.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Bayley throwing out some Masa Chono there,
-a kick to the face. -[Rich] Nia is… [Indistinct] Leverage,
still on her feet,
Bayley from to top, flying back elbow
but still Bayley unable to topple Nia Jax.
[Byron] Stay the course, Bayley, stay the course.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Another flying elbow.
-[Byron] Nia's wobbling. -[Corey] The course…
the course leads right into a brick wall, Byron.
What course is she supposed to stay in?
[Byron] Brick wall, yeah, that brick wall is rocking a little bit.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] [Indistinct] Bayley just swatted
out of the air.
[Corey] It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.
Nia Jax just spiking Bayley down.
[Rich] Uh-oh. Yeah, a legal hold.
[Byron] Oh, Bayley. Look at Bayley.
And the opening she can try to hold on.
Bayley is trying to use it.
[Corey] Lower, lower.
[referee 3] [indistinct]
[Corey] Bayley trying to force Nia Jax to submit, but again,
Nia still in the leverage.
[Rich] Oh, freaky strength.
[referee 3] Come on. Bring it down, back it up, let's go.
Bring it down, listen up, let's go.
[Rich] The NXT women's champion
in a dangerous spot. Verged on the top rope.
Nia Jax imposing her will on Bayley.
[Byron] Nia Jax has been imposing
[indistinct]
[Rich] And I hate to say it, guys, I mean, really what chance does Bayley have here?
[Byron] Well, it's almost [indistinct]
This is a championship match,
Bayley is the champion,
Nia Jax has to defeat Bayley. Until that happens, there's a chance.
[Corey] Bayley's got more heart than anybody
in the entire business,
but… and she's got
an experience advantage tonight.
I mean, I don't know if that's gonna help her
or it has to this point.
[Byron] This could be a very…
[Corey] Oh.
[Byron] And Nia has been knocked off her feet.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] This could be the game-changing
opportunity that Bayley's been searching for in this matchup.
Oh.
[Corey] Cover.
To retain the championship, and Bayley walks out of the ring.
[Rich] What a kick-out.
[audience] Go, Bayley.
Go, Bayley.
[Byron] A key for Bayley right now is to try to frustrate Nia Jax.
Try to frustrate her enough and she makes a mistake
that you can utilize.
[Corey] Yeah. But how frustrated is Bayley got to be already?
She's thrown everything she has.
[Rich] A body drop.
[Corey] That's it.
New women's champion.
[Rich] Oh, poor Bayley had… you know, coming into this matchup
it's gonna be an uphill battle.
[Rich] That's it.
Two, and there's a champion here… no.
Bayley gets the shoulder up.
Bayley had to know, you got to come into this with a couple
of backup plans,
a couple [indistinct] Ready to be called.
[Corey] Nia Jax can't get frustrated here.
She's… this is unfamiliar territory. She usually just dominates…
[Rich] That feeds into the advantage for Bayley,
oh, Samoan drop.
[Corey] That's not much of an advantage for Bayley, Byron.
[Byron] You're right.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Oh my goodness.
Three Samoan drops.
Uh-oh.
And we are about to see a brand new NXT women's champion.
Can you believe this?
Here in London,
Nia Jax.
A kick-out [indistinct]
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] How did Bayley kick out?
How is that possible?
[Byron] Let's take another look at this pop-up Samoan drop.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] I don't know if it's instinct.
I don't know if it's just
Bayley's [indistinct]
That never quits.
[Byron] That's an experience thing on the part of Nia Jax,
but you never cover
a champion with one foot. Bayley's gonna keep fighting.
Come on.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Oh.
You know it's not in Bayley's nature but you almost wonder
if she can smartly take a count-out.
-[Corey] No. -[Byron] No.
But Bayley's fought too long,
too hard to get where she is right now to be NXT women's champion.
[Corey] Forget the count out.
I think at this point, Bayley's thinking about changing careers.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] She might be out.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Oh my.
Oh.
That might've torn Bayley's shoulder right out of the socket.
[Rich] See, that may have separated the shoulder.
-[Rich] Oh. -[Byron] Oh [indistinct]
[Rich] Nia Jax with that leg drop.
[Byron] Oh, not again. Not again.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] That's it, guys.
[Corey] We are witnessing a massacre.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] And one more for good measure just to make sure.
Oh, my God.
Three leg drops.
-[Byron] Sheer domination. -[Rich] From the back of the head
and around the [indistinct]
[Byron] That's enough.
[Rich] NXT.
[audience] Oh.
[Rich] What?
[Byron] Wow.
-[Rich] NXT fans… -[Corey] Just wow.
[Rich] …around the globe thought
they were about to witness a brand new women's champion.
[Byron] Oh, I thought so, too.
[Rich] Oh, God, that almost… that had to injure Bayley's shoulder.
[Byron] Oh, we talk about Bayley's horrible attack
but how in the world is Bayley still in this?
[Corey] I kind of wonder if it's instinct alone.
[Rich] And we understand a large contingent
on hand at full sail university
watching NXT takeover live from London.
[Corey] Maybe they can welcome home Nia Jax
with her shining new women's championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Maybe it's just…
[Corey] What are these fools in England singing about?
Bayley's in a world of trouble
-and they're singing her a song. -[Rich] They're trying to put Bayley
back in this matchup.
They're trying to will Bayley on. That's what they're trying to do.
[Corey] Call her a paramedic [indistinct]
A security guard.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] There's a proud champion in Bayley.
Despite this continued onslaught of dominance by Nia Jax.
A proud champion who's just trying to survive.
[Rich] Yeah. But at one point does the referee.
There's no referee in this matchup.
[Corey] He should stop this now.
I mean, Bayley can live [indistinct]
in another day.
I'm sure she'll get a rematch.
[Byron] Well, Bayley sure isn't gonna quit.
Watch the hair, watch the hair. Come on, knock it off.
[Rich] Bayley might have too much heart,
too much guts to quit.
But I mean, at this point, for her well-being's sake,
the ref should just call it.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Oh, her body just slumped over.
I'm sure [indistinct]
[Rich] This is… this is… this is not…
I can't even watch this.
-[Byron] It's very, very hard to watch. -[Rich] You got to be kidding me.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Oh, hold on.
[Rich] Bayley still has some fight. Oh, Bayley still have some fight.
Where did this come from?
[Corey] She's got a guillotine choke on.
She's got those legs wrapped.
[Byron] She's got it cinched in.
[Rich] Nia's far from the ropes,
but can Bayley hang on?
[Byron] Now this has become
a desperate situation
for Nia Jax very quickly.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Perhaps the very last ounces of energy that Bayley has left.
[Rich] Oh.
That wasn't enough.
[Corey] That desperation slips away.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] You got to give Bayley credit for hanging on for dear life.
But at this point,
[Byron] And you wonder if that was the…
[Rich] it's over.
[Corey] What does she have left in her tank?
[Byron] Last effort from Bayley to try to…
[Rich] Oh, hold on. Wait a minute.
One more time. Bayley again.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] The NXT women's championship is on the line in this matchup,
the champion Bayley
fighting the odds yet again.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] All Bayley can do now is just squeeze.
Just squeeze.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Can Bayley make Nia Jax tap out?
The answer is no. Jax is letting Bayley down.
[Byron] But you can still… you can see the effects on Nia Jax.
[Corey] I don't care how big, how powerful you are.
When the blood flows cut off to your brain,
it has a strong effect.
[Byron] Little time maybe now that Bayley's been able to buy.
Maybe she can mount some sort of offenses.
[Corey] It doesn't look like that's gonna happen, Saxton.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] We'll give Bayley her credit where it's due.
It's been a hard fought battle but at this point, at this…
[Byron] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
One more time. Bayley again.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] Don't stop fighting.
There is the elbow of Bayley. Just don't stop fighting.
[Rich] Nia Jax down on one knee.
Jax is down on one knee now feigning.
Jax is feigning.
Nia Jax could be on the shoulders or down.
Referee checking.
How has Bayley…
how has Bayley done this?
[Byron] Oh my God.
[Rich] Where is Bayley finding this reserve of energy?
This is unbelievable.
[Corey] That guillotine is locked indeed.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Nia Jax could be fanning.
[Byron] Bayley's whole [indistinct] on it.
[Rich] It does.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] The NXT women's title hangs in the balance.
[Byron] Look at the body of Nia Jax
with…
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] She's still fighting.
Nia Jax is still fighting trying to find a way.
[Rich] [Indistinct]
-[crowd cheering] -[bell ringing]
[Rich] Nia Jax forced to tap out.
-What a tremendous matchup. -[music]
[Byron] Unbelievable.
[Greg] Here is the winner by submission and still the NXT women's champion,
it's Bayley.
[Rich] Unbelievable.
You've got to give Bayley her just due.
[Corey] You've got to give her all the credit in the world.
I counted her out.
I thought that there was no way she was gonna overcome those odds.
Nia Jax was just too powerful tonight
and Bayley proved each
and every one of us the thought that we're dead wrong.
[Byron] Bayley was beat up.
Bayley was bruised and yet,
she just somehow, somehow Bayley found a way
to hand Nia Jax her first defeat here in NXT and in the process,
hold on to the NXT women's championship.
[Rich] What persistence on the part of the NXT women's champion Bayley went.
It seemed that all was lost, Bayley kept on fighting back.
We don't know how she would find a way
but she kept on battling.
[Corey] She survived everything Nia Jax threw at her and then some,
I thought this thing had ended five, six minutes ago but Bayley,
with that pit bull-like persistence, just hanging on for dear life.
I mean, that's let's be honest, that's what it was.
And eventually, it was enough to force Jax to tap out.
There's your women's champion.
[Byron] Yup, persistence.
That's been the story of Bayley's entire life.
Of an 11-year-old girl who entered her first wrestling solo
to now NXT women's champion,
breaking the mold, setting the standard
and now, two in one of many, imagine would have been the impossible
and that's defeating Nia Jax.
Congratulations, Bayley.
[music]
[Rich] What a win.
What a win.
[music]
[Rich] Guys, we still got more action to come tonight, but check this out.
We have a special, oh,
Christmas treat, if you will, a fatal four-way tag team match,
the Vaudevillians versus the hype bros.
First Blake & Murphy and Chad gable and Jason Jordan.
I can't wait.
[Corey] Guys, take a look at this.
I've known Samoa Joe a long, long time
and I have never ever seen him
more focused than he is for his NXT title match tonight.
[music]
[Byron] We're down [indistinct] to two global superstars
who came together
to win the first ever
Dusty Rhodes tag team classic [indistinct]
A decade-long friendship dissolved over the pursuit
of the coveted NXT championship.
[music]
I did this to you.
[music]
A 10-year friendship?
Ten year friendship down the drain when in reality,
I would have given him my title shot in the first place.
[music]
[Joe] And listen, I'm not trying to justify what I did.
What I did was a horrible, horrible thing
but, when it comes to the NXT championship,
sacrifices must be made.
We are defined by two things,
the choices that we make and the actions that we put behind them.
I hate to spring this on you but I could have gone about this
a lot of ways.
And when they announced the Dusty Rhodes tag team classic,
Finn Balor,
you came to me and we won it all.
I want a shot at the championship.
You got it.
[Joe] But Finn,
you put no action behind it.
It's not that easy, actually.
You've lost focused on who is the number one contender.
And where does that leave me?
Waiting?
I don't wait.
[music]
[Joe] In case you people don't know,
I'm Samoa Joe.
And the very second I step foot in NXT,
I would own but more importantly, I am entitled
to an NXT championship match.
[music]
[Finn] We used to be friends Joe.
I used to trust you.
I'm gonna kick your … .
There's nobody in the NXT locker room that I knew better or trusted more
than Samoa Joe.
I don't care what Joe's reasons are,
he's destroyed a 10-year friendship.
And now, now it's personal.
[music]
-[commentator 2] Uh-oh. Uh-oh. -[commentator 3] Oh no. Uh-oh.
Is Samoa Joe
trying to put the champ to sleep?
[Joe] I realized that there's a very good chance
that Finn Balor
will bring along his demon.
That piece of him
which makes him almost superhuman.
You see, the demon is only a piece of you.
I'm a hundred percent complete,
total and utter monster.
[crowd cheering]
[music]
[Rich] There's Samoa Joe saying
he's not going to wait.
Who can blame him?
[Corey] Samoa Joe has travelled the world.
He has done this many years
and he has held titles everywhere he has gone.
The NXT championship to this point has eluded him
and he didn't feel like waiting any longer.
[Byron] I think that's the key right there, Corey.
This man's 16-year career, he has held major championships
all over the world every promotion he's competed it.
Now, I almost feel like Samoa Joe internally maybe a little disappointed
in himself. Maybe he figured when he came to NXT last may,
he would have been in the title picture [indistinct]
He would have been NXT champion sooner.
[music]
[Corey] What Samoa Joe said,
Finn Balor did not put any action
behind what he said and that's given Samoa Joe
the opportunity at the NXT title.
So Joe went into it. You can't blame him for that.
[Rich] Absolutely not. Samoa Joe knows what he wants.
He wants the NXT title and unfortunately for Finn Balor, Balor has it.
[crowd cheering]
[music]
[crowd cheering]
[music]
[Rich] I'll tell you what, ladies and gentlemen,
if you have never seen Finn Balor in this stage,
this is where Finn Balor taps into the darker side of his soul,
the more sinister side of his personality, to succeed where most would fail,
this is the alter ego that Finn Balor calls,
"the demon."
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] And that is 100% utter monster all the time, Samoa Joe.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[bell ringing]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall…
[crowd cheering]
…is for the NXT championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Greg] Introducing the challenger,
from Huntington Beach, California,
weighing 282 pounds,
Samoa Joe.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[Greg] And his opponent,
from Bray County, Wicklow, Ireland,
weighing 190 pounds,
he is the NXT champion,
Finn Balor.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Finn Balor's held the NXT championship
since July 4th of this year.
Captured it from Kevin Owens in Tokyo.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] The key with that win, Rich is that Finn's been eight years
training in Japan, competing in Japan where he won that championship.
And now, here we are in the UK, also familiar territory for Finn Balor.
[Corey] But Samoa Joe's no stranger to the UK.
Samoa Joe has…
[bell ringing]
[Corey] …he's been all over the world,
he's competed in the biggest stages all over the globe.
[Rich] And talk about this matchup on social media.
Use the #Balorvsjoe.
Only pinfall and submission,
the only way that Samoa Joe can capture the championship
from Balor here tonight.
Ten thousand nine… seventy nine fans, I should say.
Ten thousand seventy nine on hand sold out here tonight in London.
-[Byron] [Indistinct] -[Rich] Watching around the globe
on the WWE network.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] [Indistinct] Tonight, main event, NXT championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Balor may have hoped to be with Samoa Joe
was an agent of brutality.
Here to make the sun burn red in Balor's universe.
[Byron] And you've mentioned that home field advantage.
It sounds like the crowd here in London's about a 50-50 split.
[Corey] Well, don't forget about the star power
that Samoa Joe brought to NXT when he first came here.
Samoa Joe had us following.
Whether you approve of his actions or not,
there he… or Samoa Joe has earned a lot of respect
throughout this industry.
[Rich] What a kick by Balor. We're thinking the same thing, graves.
[Corey] From a tactical standpoint though… oh.
Nearly a hundred pound difference between Balor and Joe.
Balor announced that one [indistinct]
[Rich] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Rich] Now 282.
But Balor launching with the drop kick into Samoa Joe.
Does that make difference make any difference at all
throughout the course of this matchup, Corey?
[Corey] I don't think so. I mean,
Samoa Joe is in his great cardiovascular shape as anybody.
[Byron] Nice but not… look at… look at Finn Balor,
look at that look on Balor's face.
[Rich] Ooh.
[Byron] That is a man who is truly embracing
that demonic side of his personality took aback Samoa Joe here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] He is in another world.
[referee 4] Two, three.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Finn Balor invoking the Jack the ripper theme
here in London.
Ooh, tackling into that…
the dark passenger that he carries within him.
[Corey] Finn Balor is definitely bringing in it tonight.
I mean, he's on the attack full force right off the bat.
That he's gonna have to do.
[Rich] [Indistinct] The back of Finn Balor.
[Byron] It's all about the state of mind.
[Rich] Oh, what a dropkick.
[Byron] Yeah.
[Rich] Right into the steel ring steps.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] Mark yourself for battle and then you deliver.
And that's what the NXT champion is doing.
[Corey] Don't forget these two competitors trained together
at the Inoki Dojo in California. They know each other very well
and going back over 10 years.
[Rich] And now they're trying to destroy each other
-for the NXT championship. -[Byron] You can't… you can't worry
about the past, you can't worry about friendship.
Oh.
[Rich] I could have been hit right there.
[referee 4] One.
[Rich] Oh, man.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] And that's how quickly things change
especially when you're dealing with a man like Samoa Joe.
[Rich] Triple H said at the media call this week
that Samoa Joe has seemingly flipped the switch
and gone back in time,
it's like he's rejuvenated himself in the last few months.
[Byron] Well, if Samoa Joe has changed his old wounds of the engagement
in order to achieve his goal, which is to be a champion here on NXT.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] What stuck with me was the words we heard from Samoa Joe before the match,
Finn Balor, the demon is a part of him. Samoa Joe is 100% monster.
Come on, let's go.
Get in the ring, come on.
[Corey] He doesn't need to tap into the side of his psyche.
He doesn't need put a costume on. He just goes out there and beat you up.
[Byron] It's little more than a costume.
Balor going for that double stomp on the stairs and ooh.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Right into a [indistinct]
One, two.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Be careful not to get yourself disqualified.
[Byron] But he's definitely making the most of the referee's count
to do as much damage as possible with those rapid fire jabs.
[Corey] That's what Joe tends to do.
Let's go.
[distinct] Come on.
[Rich] Balor answers.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Well, caught him with that one.
Balor went down quick.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Balor again, defeated Kevin Owens for the championship.
-Oh. -[Byron] Oh, man.
[Rich] Last July. [Indistinct] to kill.
Defended the title in a ladder match
against Kevin Owens in Brooklyn
but has he ever face somebody… oh, my goodness…
with the force of Samoa Joe.
[Byron] It never ceases to amaze me.
A man who is 300-plus pounds moves around like a lightweight.
It's an incredible striking ability… oh [indistinct]
[crowd cheering]
[indistinct]
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Every time Balor seems to be fighting back
and gaining ground, Joe cuts him off at the knee.
[Byron] And you noticed the demeanor on Samoa Joe's face never changes.
That look of disgust. That look of focus. That cold, calculating body language.
Samoa Joe holds on to, to maintain dominance.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] It seems that this rivalry mounted
after Samoa Joe asked for the title opportunity
against Finn Balor
who was denied by William Regal, the general manager.
Joe felt insulted
that Finn Balor didn't make it happen.
Cover for the title, then a kick out.
[Byron] Yeah, it's convenient. I mean Joe says he felt betrayed
by Finn Balor. Well, it wasn't Finn Balor who denied Joe, it was regal who said,
look, you got [indistinct] Opportunity [indistinct]
[Corey] You know, this big giant knee from Samoa Joe.
Cover for the championship and kick out.
[Rich] Listen, guys, let's not worry about how we got here.
Why Samoa Joe is here.
The fact is Samoa Joe is beating the tar out of the demon in London.
[Byron] Oh, that he is at the moment.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] [Indistinct] The NXT championship is being defended primetime,
live in London.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] And Finn just trying to keep those hands
and trying to block those blows but Joe is just so quick.
He knows where to find those openings.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Uh-oh.
[Byron] Oh.
[Rich] Balor could be out cold.
Balor could be out.
Finn, are you all right? Champ? Communicate with me. Are you all right?
You wanna keep going? You okay?
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] The referee making sure Balor can continue.
Chops by Samoa Joe.
Joe wants to dismantle his former friend.
[Byron] [Indistinct]
[Rich] He's gonna fight back.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] I don't know if it's wise to do a striking match
with Samoa Joe.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] It's trending right now on twitter. NXT takeover London.
Ooh.
And we could see new NXT champion trending,
but Joe misses with the Senton.
[Byron] Balor may have just saved this championship
by getting out of the way.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] I don't know how much distress
going into this matchup [indistinct] Balor.
Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Oh, man.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Uh-oh.
-[Rich] Oh, no. -[Byron] No.
[Rich] Samoa Joe nearly 300 pounds launching himself
through the ropes and wiping out the NXT champion, Finn Balor.
[Byron] We're talking about five seconds that went by.
Finn Balor thought he had Joe [indistinct] Just like this, Samoa Joe full speed ahead
using every ounce of that 300-pound plus frame
to take out the champion.
[Rich] It's like getting in the face with a school bus.
Samoa Joe knows what is at stake and he is willing to do anything
and everything necessary to walk out on London NXT champion.
This could do it. Samoa Joe hooks the leg
and Balor able to get the right shoulder up
at two and a half.
[Byron] You got a guy like Finn Balor
who is so proud to be the face of NXT.
He's called… he's called NXT the most influential brand
in the world today and yet you're facing a man
like Samoa Joe who is hell-bent on doing anything possible
to take that away from you.
[Corey] It comes with the territory, Byron.
When you're NXT champion, you've got everybody gunning for you.
Uh-oh.
Ooh.
Powerbomb by Joe, shoulders are down and…
Uh-oh.
[Rich] Oh, no.
No, no, no. New champion. New champion if Finn Balor taps out.
[Byron] At the center of the ring a long way away from those ropes.
Finn Balor…
[Corey] Oh, no. And now a crossface.
[Byron] And how resourceful is Samoa Joe.
[Corey] Submission maneuver, two submission maneuver.
[Rich] And Joe yelling at Finn Balor, "tap out, tap out."
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Balor is struggling, trying to reach out to the bottom rope.
But hold on Balor…
-[Byron] And Joe just hanging on. -[Rich] …trying to use his weight
to pin Samoa Joe,
Joe rolls him right back into the crossface.
[Corey] And Joe using his weight to stop Finn Balor
from being able to crawl over and break this hold
[indistinct]
[Rich] He's gonna break the demon in half.
What will it need for Samoa Joe to make the demon submit?
[Corey] Balor gets his bottom… foot on the rope.
That'll break the hold.
[Byron] Now, well, at least for the time being
Finn Balor still has life in this matchup.
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] Again, the NXT championship is on the line,
the challenger, the man you're looking at right there,
Samoa Joe. Finn Balor, the champion.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] Uh-oh.
[Rich] Oh, a DDT.
Joe went for that [indistinct] Clothesline,
countered beautifully by the champ.
[Byron] Very important recovery time now for Finn Balor.
-One, two. -[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Get your head back together.
[Corey] This could be a pivotal moment for the match.
Joe dropped hard on top of his head, Balor needs to recover as best he can.
Oh.
[Rich] Balor is fighting back
but has Samoa Joe done too much damage already?
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] I don't think so, Rich.
[Corey] It still seems they have enough left in the tank,
he's gonna bring the fight to Samoa Joe.
[crowd cheering]
[audience] Oh.
[Rich] Ooh.
It's a lightning strike chops.
[Corey] It's like getting hit in the chest with a frying pan.
Over goes Finn.
[Rich] Oh.
Wow, what a nasty back elbow of Joe.
[Corey] Oh, oh. Oh, this is not good. Balor might be out cold already.
[Byron] This is not good at all.
[Corey] Maybe not.
[audience] Oh.
[Rich] Corner Enzuigiri down goes Joe to the outside.
[Byron] But he's still on his feet.
[crowd chatter]
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Hold on. Wait a minute.
[crowd chatter]
[crowd cheering]
-[Rich] There you go. -[audience] Oh.
[Rich] Swan dive over the top.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[Rich] The demon has formed new life.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Sometimes you just reach that moment
where you can't worry about repercussions.
You just got to go. You just got to charge ahead.
Double stomp to the back.
-[Byron] That's it. -[Rich] Balor rolling Joe over.
Hooks the leg with the title on the line, and a kick out, two and a half.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Let's take another look at this.
Finn Balor willing to do whatever it takes to keep his championship.
[Byron] Yeah, whatever it takes. That's right.
You just identify your target and then, you just strike it,
strike it till it can't move anymore.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] We've seen Balor go through this before.
Is he gonna be able to get Joe up though?
[Byron] I don't think so.
Ooh.
[Rich] Oh.
[indistant] Joe's out on his feet.
Here comes Balor. Sling blade connects.
[Byron] Maybe out for good.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Balor lining up Samoa Joe.
Here he comes.
[Byron] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Rich] [Indistinct]
Oh, no.
[Corey] Oh, he don't… uh-oh.
[Rich] Muscle buster on the way.
[Byron] Look at this [indistinct] A new champion.
[Rich] Balor shimmies through.
[Byron] Oh. Come on.
[Rich] Samoa Joe just able to kick out.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Pele kick.
[Byron] I'm not sure if Finn's got all of it but…
[Corey] He got enough of it.
[crowd cheering]
One.
[Byron] What a match.
Two.
[Rich] The NXT title is on the line.
Finn Balor has taken a tremendous amount of punishment.
Somehow he has found a way
to get himself back in the matchup.
But right now, it is anyone's match.
[Byron] Guys, I think you can agree with me.
This is what a championship match is all about.
This is what a championship match should be.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Joe can only win the title by pinfall or submission.
[Corey] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] It's the machine, Samoa Joe.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Ooh, rolling elbow by Joe.
-He got caught. -[Rich] He got caught. He got caught.
[Corey] No, no, no. Coquina clutch.
[Rich] Finn Balor has been forced to pass out twice but Balor…
Come on, let's go.
[Byron] Great ring awareness by Balor,
able to break that before Joe got it locked in completely.
[Rich] And the last two times,
Joe had locked in to that coquina clutch, Balor was foaming at the mouth.
-[Byron] He's going for it. -[Rich] Uh-oh.
No.
And Samoa Joe dragging the champion back in the ring.
He knows that's what he needs to do if he wants to win the championship.
[Byron] History maybe… history maybe about to repeat itself again.
[Rich] Will Samoa Joe force Finn Balor
to pass out for a third time and capture the NXT championship?
Double stomp. How did Balor roll through?
Where did he find the strength?
[crowd cheering]
One.
Two.
[crowd cheering]
Four,
five,
six.
[Byron] [Indistinct] Both Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
came prepared in this match to counter his opponent's best offense.
[Corey] You don't become some of the best wrestlers
in the world without doing your homework.
[Byron] Oh, oh, oh. Here comes the champ.
[Rich] Sling blade again.
[Corey] Balor [indistinct]
[Rich] Dropkick into the corner but Joe is still on his feet.
[Byron] Finn Balor is still gonna come.
[Rich] One more time with the dropkick but again,
Joe remains [indistinct]
[Byron] Oh, no.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Another dropkick from behind
and this time… this time Joe fell on his back.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] Finn Balor is feeling it. He knows what he needs to do.
[Corey] But can he do it?
Can he do it fast enough?
[Rich] Finn Balor going to the outside,
climbing to the top rope, Joe back to his feet.
[Byron] Yeah, it's such a short window of opportunity
-with Samoa Joe and now… -[Rich] Balor in a dangerous position,
fighting back desperately.
[Byron] Joe was thinking muscle buster again.
[audience] Oh.
[Byron] Oh, no.
[Corey] Balor holding on for dear life.
He knows that if he wants to retain the championship,
he has to fight back with everything he's got left.
Huge chops and Joe [indistinct]
[Rich] Cover now.
Cover.
[audience] One, two, three.
[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
[music]
[Greg] Here is your winner and still the NXT champion,
Finn Balor.
[Byron] We have just seen Finn Balor paid an incredible platform of perseverance
to survive, and I do mean, survive this battle with Samoa Joe.
[music]
[Byron] This is one of those matches, guys,
that Finn Balor, I guarantee you as he now look at himself in the mirror
and know that he truly deserves to be the face of NXT.
[Corey] Oh, the demon had to go through hell
to retain his championship.
But you're absolutely right, Byron. That's what a champion is made of.
[music]
[Rich] Finn Balor struggled, and points of the matchup,
we thought Samoa Joe had Balor's number.
[Corey] I thought this was it. Balor able to keep those fingertips in
just enough to prevent Joe from locking in the coquina clutch,
able to break it.
Here again, looks like Joe looking to finish him off,
rolled through and double stomp.
Gut check after gut check in the main vent tonight.
[Byron] Two of a kind.
Now, this was the key, this was the opening,
this was the one opportunity you searched for.
[audience] One, two, three.
-[Byron] One is more than enough. -[Rich] A huge moment in the matchup.
[Corey] The defining moment of the matchup.
-[Rich] The defining moment. -[Corey] The demon takes flight.
[audience] One, two, three.
[bell ringing]
[Rich] Balor was first on that top rope and Joe came after him.
We thought that Joe had him lined up for the muscle buster.
Balor knew that he had to fight every ounce of strength,
every ounce of energy that he had left.
If there was any hope of retaining his NXT championship
and he did just that.
[Byron] We talked about how much pride Finn Balor has in NXT.
In his mind, there are no greener pastures,
there is no higher level.
This is where you wanna be and at least tonight,
we know that Finn Balor's future will continue
as the face of NXT.
[Rich] What a tremendous week
it has been across the United Kingdom.
NXT traveling overseas for the first time ever.
And what a night it has been here in the capital in London.
[crowd cheering]
[Rich] A sold-out crowd, 10,079… on-hand
at the SSE Wembley arena.
And many more watching around the globe.
Live in primetime from London.
Finn Balor retains the NXT championship
in a tremendous battle against Samoa Joe.
We've seen the trainer's out here [indistinct]
Not only Samoa Joe who is helped off the walkway
but now Finn Balor being [indistinct] As well.
[Byron] Yeah, if you had [indistinct] Finn Balor,
I mean you weren't gonna walk out of this match
without some bruises, without being rocked a little bit.
But Finn did what he had to do. He tapped into that demonic side
to overcome the challenge of Samoa Joe.
[Corey] It was the demon versus the monster.
This was Godzilla versus king kong.
The demon takes flight like a gargoyle in London.
[Byron] And that gargoyle connected
in what you called, Corey, a defining moment
to retain the NXT championship.
[Corey] That's what it's about. Fighting spirit,
a warrior's heart, Finn Balor, NXT champion.
[Rich] What a tremendous event. Thank you so much for joining us
in London and across the globe.
Finn Balor retains the NXT championship.
Goodnight, from London.
Subtitles: Naresh ndon.