[epic music playing]
[narrator] Then.
[male voice] Woo!
[narrator] Now.
Forever.
Together.
[man] The sun is out,
and the dial has been cranked up
as a historic Heatwave rips through NXT.
Tonight, the finale of an epic tale takes to the streets
as the Don of NXT, Tony D'Angelo,
faces the leader of leaders, Santos Escobar,
in an all-or-nothing street fight.
[Santos] I win, Legado is free.
[Tony] I rid NXT of Santos Escobar for good.
[Vic] The friendship between Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez
has melted down into sheer bitterness.
Two former best friends and champions
are now on two different paths.
Jade seeks vindication.
[Jade] Roxanne used me.
Roxanne is a selfish bitch.
[Vic] Perez seeks revenge.
[Roxanne] You want me out of your life? I couldn't agree more.
So let's settle this once and for all.
[Vic] Nine months of grueling rehab
has brought Zoey Stark to the doorstep of greatness.
Can the returning superstar cool down
the hottest women's champion in NXT history,
or will Mandy Rose continue her reign
at the top of the toxic mountain?
[Mandy] When it comes to this title,
I only win.
[Zoey] Mandy Rose, nothing is going to stop me
from taking that title at Heatwave.
[Vic] For almost a year,
NXT champion Bron Breakker
has scorched the landscape of NXT,
but tonight,
the champion faces an unusual kind of challenge.
Can the Irish Ace, JD McDonagh,
dissect his way
to becoming the new NXT champion?
Or will Bron Breakker make McDonagh feel
right at home in a world of pain?
[Bron] My game plan is simple.
Speed, power, and aggression.
Pain is in store for a lot of it.
[JD] Breakker learns once and for all
never bet against an ace.
[intense music playing]
[man] Crack open an ice-cold beverage,
sit back, relax,
and enjoy a show too hot to handle.
NXT Heatwave.
[latin music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] As Paul Heyman stated,
the dial has been cranked up
and we're kicking things off with the first of three championship matches
tonight at Heatwave.
[intense futuristic music playing]
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT North American Championship.
Introducing first, the challenger,
Giovanni Vinci!
[Vic] Let's be honest with everyone,
this is the title match you have been salivating over.
[Wade] Oh, absolutely.
For my money, this match up
includes two of the absolute
best in-ring competitors in all of NXT.
Personally, I'm expecting a high pace,
some raw athleticism, counter for counter,
and an exhibition of what two top athletes destined for great things
are capable of achieving here in NXT.
Add to that of course, two rather sizable egos.
I'm going to sum it up by saying
I'm expecting a banger from these two.
[Vic] Vinci calling his shot early on,
but when it comes to taking shots,
the champ don't miss.
[hip hop music playing]
[announcer] And his opponent, accompanied by Trick Williams,
he is the NXT North American Champion,
Carmelo Hayes!
[Vic] The champion said that Vinci's face
was going to be put on a t-shirt
and it wasn't going to be designer.
[Wade] Yes, said so much right there
without opening his mouth,
torching that image of Giovanni Vinci.
Of course, a huge slapping to the face
of a man who loves the camera,
Giovanni Vinci.
But there you go, that's what Melo is all about,
consistently putting opponents on his shirts
before going on and beating them.
Will that be the case tonight?
[crowd chanting "Melo, Melo"]
[Vic] No doubt who the NXT Universe
is behind in this match up.
But, look, there was a lot of tough talk
last week between the challenger
and the champion ahead of tonight's match up.
[Wade] Vinci told Hayes
he didn't see an A-champ,
he just saw a guy.
Whereas Hayes claimed
that Nathan Frazer saved Vinci a beating
when he stole Vinci's spot
in the North American Championship open challenge a couple of weeks ago.
Either way, time for talk is over.
[crowd chanting for Melo]
[Vic] Continuing to pick up here.
You bring up Nathan Frazer.
It was a challenger helped by Frazer cutting the line
as you continued to say over the last several weeks.
[both] Whoa!
[Vic] Nasty landing.
[Wade] Well scouted by Melo there.
You talk about Vinci being helped by Frazer cutting the line?
-[Vic] Yeah. -[Wade] I'm struggling to see your point.
I'll say, okay, Vinci took a ringside seat
to watch his opponent tonight, Melo, in action.
I will grant you that, it was a perfect scouting opportunity
for Giovanni Vinci.
But if you're implying that somehow--
[Vic] Cover, title on the line.
[Wade] He should thank Frazer for that? Hell no.
Frazer wasn't being kind, he wasn't doing anyone a favor,
Frazer stole the opportunity because he wanted the gold.
[Vic] We know Frazer along with superstars
like Cameron Grimes, Solo Sikoa among others
that are looking on to this opening contest,
and what a way to kick off NXT Heatwave here tonight on USA.
[Wade] Two of the absolute best here.
Very, very excited to see how this one turns out.
[Vic] And Hayes, textbook offense
right into the face of Vinci.
[Wade] I'll tell you this,
Melo's biggest--
[Vic] Cover, title on the line.
And the challenger kicks out at two.
[Wade] Melo's biggest advantage
in every match he ever has
is his movement.
As we take another look at some of that perfect movement.
We see time and time again from him.
He is a generational talent,
one of the greatest movers I have ever seen in this industry.
Usually, that's his ace.
But I'll say, against someone like Vinci,
he may well have met his match.
[Vic] Vinci, about to reach back to Rome for that last chop.
And now Vinci anything you can do I can do better.
Tit for tat, human game of chess
for the North American Championship.
[Wade] Move for move, counter for counter.
[Vic] You see Trick on the outside,
I wonder where Trick's head's at tonight.
[Wade] Trick's there to help his--
[Vic] He can't help him now.
[Wade] Help his boy, might need a shield to stop that one.
Ooh!
[Vic] See the viciousness,
you can see the chops.
Starting to whelp the chest of Hayes.
I had the same reaction.
[Wade] That genuinely reverberated
upon my own diaphragm.
Just imagine what it did to that of Melo.
[crowd chanting "One more time"]
[Vic] The NXT Universe wants some blood here tonight.
Now Hayes trying to battle back.
You talk about the attributes,
I don't know if a slug fest would favor the champion.
[Wade] Let me tell you this,
both of the men in this match up are so well-rounded,
they can do high-flying, technical--
No answer to that, though.
[Vic] Don't miss a second.
North American Championship,
on the line here live, at NXT Heatwave.
[Vic] We're back live here on USA,
North American Championship
on the line, NXT Heatwave.
And during the break, one thing I noticed,
the intensity between the champion and the challenger.
[Wade] This audience is feeling it, believe me, red hot in here.
Red-hot atmosphere, red-hot action.
[Vic] Well, we mentioned, take a look at what happened
during the commercial break.
Moments ago Williams interfering in the match up.
That opens the door for the champion,
who of course took full advantage.
[Wade] He does it time and time again.
I've noticed that Melo's rocking a new tattoo on his left shoulder.
Third eye for extra protection according to him.
Served him well tonight.
Might have spoke too soon.
[Vic] Vinci, hoisting up the champion. Oh!
Not only strength, look at the athleticism.
Will this bring Vinci some gold?
North American title on the line.
Champion kicks out.
Again, you won't miss a second of the action tonight.
What a way to kick off Heatwave.
[Wade] Is there anything that Giovanni can't do in that ring?
Pound for pound, the absolute strongest in NXT,
high flyer, technician.
[Vic] Hayes from behind.
[Wade] Man can literally do everything
perhaps better than anyone.
[Vic] They're going back and forth. And again, it's this time Hayes
staying in front of Vinci, looking for the fade away and connects.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Will this be enough for Hayes to retain?
Vinci's getting that left shoulder up in the nick of time.
Take another look.
No wasted motion-- Boom!
From the champion. And are we witnessing something special
with Hayes as champion?
[Wade] Let me tell you about Carmelo,
every match he has, you see six or seven highlight moments
such as that one there.
That is what he does, calls himself the A champ.
In his mind, this Championship is the most important title here in NXT.
and he competes like he means it.
[Vic] Shoulders down. Another near fall.
Now Hayes-- Oh! this time connects with the superkick.
He said, "Put the beef in the pot, let it cook."
He is roasting right now, Vinci,
looking to retain.
Another successful North American Championship.
Defense, and look at Vinci just catching Hayes.
Ooh!
[Wade] Hayes just bouncing off Vinci.
[crowd counts "One, two"]
[Vic] Champion kicks out yet again.
[Wade] Just a split second away
from a new North American champion this evening.
Frustration's starting to build
on the face of Giovanni Vinci.
What else has he got in the tank?
[Vic] Hayes now trying to figure out what he's got to do.
Able to go inside out, Vinci's one step ahead.
Could be a power bomb!
[Wade] Here we go!
[Vic] It was the champion who dropped the innovative cutter to the challenger.
Is this going to be enough?
[chuckles] Somehow, some way,
Challenger again able to kick out.
Vinci knows championship opportunities,
they don't just come to a superstar every single week.
He called his shot, he's got to make the most of it.
[crowd clapping]
[Wade] Things are different when a man like Melo comes along,
opens up that championship opportunity to all comers.
That's how you end up with a crazy match up like this.
Did not see this coming.
[Vic] Hayes one more time, this time has to switch idea in mid-air.
Vinci though, ooh!
Both these superstars who have known each other so well.
Have studied the tape, have gone to call their own shots.
What's on the mind of Vinci?
Whoa!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Vinci knows he's got to get Hayes into the ring.
Only way the championship can change hands.
[crowd chanting "Holy shit"]
Vinci continuing to talk trash
and looking to beat Hayes at this own game.
You got to be kidding me.
[Wade] What a freak.
[Vic] That's got to be it!
Oh.
I mean.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] Take another look.
First, taken to the air, high risk,
all reward for Vinci.
Then you got to believe,
this might have been the best opportunity
for Vinci to win. But back to live action.
Williams' distracting the champion.
Hayes taking advantage.
[Wade] Vinci has been robbed this evening.
Trick Williams is paying dividends once again.
[Vic] Looking for the net, able to roll through.
It was Hayes.
So much taken out of both these superstars.
Talk about Heatwave-- Oh! [chuckles]
[Wade] That alone might do it and here for good measure.
[Vic] Williams again!
This time taken out.
Oh, no. Oh, no.
Well, Williams just paid for interfering.
[Wade] Fully deserved by Trick Williams there.
And here we go. Put him to bed, Vinci.
[Vic] Now there's no one to stop him.
Oh, nice counter by Hayes. Shoulders down.
Hayes able to retain.
[hip hop music playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner and still
the NXT North American champion,
Carmelo Hayes!
[Wade] I'll tell you something, I called a banger at the beginning.
We've got all that and some, and then for my money,
there were some leftovers there for Giovanni Vinci.
[Vic] Let's go back at the action.
This was Trick Williams distracting Vinci.
Who you could make the argument, Williams saved Hayes here tonight.
Vinci continued to apply the offense,
and not only once, Trick Williams would again,
stick his nose in Vinci's business.
[Wade] I got to hand it to you, for once we agree.
But hats off once again to Melo, the A champ.
He is never, never down and out,
proving his class once again.
Pulling it out of the bag here.
Somehow getting away with the North American Championship.
Perhaps for once, undeservingly so.
[Vic] First of three championship matches now in the book.
Earlier tonight, Mandy Rose and Toxic Attraction arrived,
here in Heatwave.
The Attraction has arrived.
Hottest trio in the biz, baby.
That's right.
Oh, look who it is, Bron Breakker.
You got an uphill battle tonight, huh?
Yes, so do you.
Okay, I guess we'll see who leaves with their title.
Yes, I guess we will.
Good luck.
So I went back and watched the 8-man tag
over and over and over again,
but I found what I was searching for.
And I'm going to address who needs to be addressed,
but I'm going to address it in front of the NXT Universe
this Tuesday at Heatwave.
[Vic] Well, it's over the weekend, but the time for waiting, no longer.
The Creed brothers making their way to the ring.
What exactly did Julius Creed see?
What did he find?
We'll find out next on NXT.
[commentator] Massive Smack Down in store.
Roman Reigns is in the building.
The quickness and explosiveness.
Of course, the power.
[Roman] All I want is to get my hands on you and I can't wait.
[commentator] The WWE universal champion and the number one contender,
Drew McIntyre.
Face to face.
[narrator] Friday night Smack Down live.
This Friday, 8/7 central.
Only on Fox.
This is my very first experience
wrestling in front of an audience.
It was so much fun.
Then I started experiencing headaches.
Doctor said, "You got to retire."
I'm going to miss all of this, all of it.
Suddenly, wait, hold on a second.
[commentator] It's been nine long years.
Adam's comeback is special. It was never supposed to happen.
I'm going to soak in every part of it.
[narrator] Biography: WWE Legends continues with Edge.
Sunday at 8:00 on A&E.
Two weeks ago, Solo Sikoa got a so-called victory over Von Wagner.
Yet Solo on the shelf for six weeks and Von is still standing here in ring.
If you learned one thing from that Falls Count Anywhere match,
it's that Von is a freak of nature.
The man can run the 40 at 4.5
and he can bench press 225 30 times.
Right now if Von wanted to walk straight out of the ring
onto an NFL pre-season football field,
he could do it like that.
Stone, you've heard the talk,
how a change is in the air?
More opportunities, more doors open.
To me, it doesn't matter
if you're Internet famous or you're popular with the media.
The game has changed, but the rules remain the same.
Anyone smaller or weaker will not survive in my jungle.
[Wade] Got to agree. Win, lose or tie, Von Wagner is out here to hurt people.
[entrance music playing]
[announcer] Please welcome Diamond Mine.
[Vic] You see this very stoic look
on the face of Julius Creed.
What was he looking for?
What has he been searching for that he has found?
[Wade] I don't know,
Julius Creed for me,
over the past few weeks,
has been running his mouth a lot,
throwing accusations around.
To me, it's been a lot of hot air.
You've got something to say,
you've got someone to accuse, bring me some evidence.
If you don't have anything, I'm done.
[music playing]
[indistinct crowd noise]
Less than a year ago,
my brother and I got the opportunity of a lifetime.
To learn from one of the greatest champions in NXT history,
Roderick Strong.
[crowd cheering]
And we jumped at that opportunity.
We jumped at that opportunity.
And we dedicated every fiber of our being
to win the Dusty Cup
and to win these NXT tag team championships
for Diamond Mine.
We've been stitched, we've been stapled,
we've blown ourselves up doing cannonballs,
all for this.
Right here.
[crowd chanting "You deserve it"]
Recently, it was brought to my attention
that someone's trying to destroy what we've built.
Someone's trying to bring down Diamond Mine.
And I want to use this opportunity to call that person out.
Right now.
Roderick Strong!
Are you kidding me?
Seriously, are you kidding me?
Why are you pointing the finger at me?
I started Diamond Mine and I brought you guys in
because you were one-of-a-kind athletes
with endless potential who just needed some guidance.
That's something I never had.
And I stand here,
looking at you guys, tag team champions.
[crowd cheering]
Yes, they do.
Listen to me, I say this with pride,
you are one of the best tag teams in all of WWE.
Hell, I'd run you guys against the Usos any day of the week.
That's how much I believe in you.
That is how much I believe in you.
You guys… You guys are the future of this place.
That's great, Roddy. That's great.
You can tell the Usos they can get it,
but we're just not the future.
We're not just the future, right?
We're the now.
And you can say whatever you want to our faces,
because I know as soon as you get a chance,
you're going to stab us in the back.
[crowd cheering]
Julius, are you sure?
Hey, I'm sure bro. I'm sure.
Then I got your back.
We ride together.
Hey Julius, Julius. No, Julius.
Julius, listen to me.
Be very careful with the next words that come out of your mouth.
See? Everything I do is calculated.
I'm not going to go back and forth.
Not going to play games.
Not going to keep talking about it.
I'm going to show you.
Let's roll the tape.
[Vic] This is the 8-man tag team match up from three weeks ago.
Barrett, you wanted proof?
The Creed brothers went back, did some film study apparently,
and Julius Creed has found something.
Right there, Tony tapping the mat.
That was a signal to you, wasn't it?
Or is that just a figment of my imagination?
Then the look he gives you before you hit me with your knee,
is that part of my imagination too?
You can't be serious right now.
You cannot be serious.
No, you cannot.
Listen. I don't know.
Tony D is a scumbag, dude. I don't know.
Maybe he's got a tick.
Maybe he was signaling his boys,
I don't know.
You know what, Julius?
Julius. Julius. You know what?
You know what?
Let's just do it.
Let's lay all the cards down on the table.
Let air it then, Roddy. Let's air it out.
Since May you've had something against me.
Listen, but now,
you're letting your imagination get the better--
[Vic] Oh!
That's Gallus!
[Wade] The hell?
Wolfgang, Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey from NXT UK.
[Wade] What's their beef?
[crowd chanting "Gallus, Gallus"]
[Vic] Oh!
Gallus is destroying Diamond Mine.
But why?
[Wade] Diamond might be decimated here.
[Vic] I'm even lost for words. What the hell is going on?
[Wade] You're asking me.
Who the hell has the answers?
[crowd booing]
[crowd chanting "Gallus, Gallus"]
[drum music playing]
[Vic] They said that the dial was going to be cranked up tonight.
No one predicted the arrival of Gallus.
Let's go back to the moment that Gallus arrived.
The Coffey brothers, Wolfgang, decimating Diamond Mine.
I'm shocked.
[Wade] Even Roderick Strong didn't get away with no conspiracy here.
[Vic] I don't know if I'm having déjà vu.
Wasn't that Apollo Crews' vision?
[Wade] I don't know about any vision, but the Gallus boys are here
They're on top and they might be making NXT their kingdom.
Gallus sending a message to not only Diamond Mine,
but the entire NXT Universe as well.
With me now, Roxanne Perez,
and coming up next, you finally get your hands
on your former best friend, Cora Jade.
[sigh]
McKenzie, this is the most nervous I've ever been walking into a match.
Honestly, my stomach's been in knots all day.
I just never thought
that I would be standing across the ring from my best friend.
[sigh]
But Cora wanted this.
Cora ended our friendship.
And now she has nowhere to hide.
She made her bed, now she has to lay on it.
[woman] Welcome to the generation of Jade.
It's go-time.
Best of luck.
Vic and Wade, back to you.
[Wade] Thanks, McKenzie.
Hopefully, for Roxanne's safety, she can get over those nerves quickly.
She is in for the fight of her life this evening.
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, Cora Jade!
[rock metal music playing]
[Vic] Superkick your fandom
and collect the first ever WWE Superstar Trading Card NFT
with Candy Digital.
WWE's official trade-in card NFT collectible partner.
Get in on the mania right now at wwe.candy.com.
The spotlight stealer is in the center of the ring,
but she may not like the eyes across the ring.
Perez, Jade, next on Heatwave.
[Vic] There is Zoey Stark getting ready for the biggest opportunity in her career.
Her WWE tag team tournament partner, Nikita Lyons, is here as well.
NXT Women's Championship match
still to come here live on NXT Heatwave.
[Wade] And here is the challenger to the NXT Championship,
preparing in his own unique way.
JD McDonagh versus Bron Breakker,
still to come in tonight's main event.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] Right now we are set for
two friends-turn-bitter-rivals.
[EDM music playing]
[announcer] Her opponent, Roxanne Perez!
[Vic] Looks like Perez wants to waste no time.
Going right at her former best friend.
It was Perez who was blindsided
that her friendship with Jade
was nothing more than a lie.
[Wade] Come on, hardly blindsided.
[Vic] Whoa!
[Wade] Oh, came out of hand early.
Listen, this isn't kindergarten.
You got to grow up and move on. Friendships fall apart.
You talking about, she got attacked by her best friend.
Cora Jade attacked Roxanne Perez
in the parking lot just before the biggest match
for her for NXT women's title.
You tell me that's kindergarten?
[Wade] This is real life.
[Vic] Cover. Hook of the leg. Kick out.
[Wade] If Roxanne Perez can't get over a breakup of a friendship,
as we take another look at this hot stuff from Roxanne Perez.
Weeks of anticipation exploded in the ring.
She might as well quit.
I've been stabbed in the back many times in my career.
Dust myself down, shrug it off, move on.
Get rid of the dead weight.
Friends are a liability.
[Vic] You're the one who did the stabbing. That's how it went.
[Wade] I'll tell you this right now,
I have been a tag champion in this industry before.
2008, WWE developmental,
alongside none other than Drew McIntyre.
[Vic] Cover by Jade.
Hook of the leg and a kick out.
[Wade] If Drew back then had been as unfocused
as Roxanne Perez has been in recent weeks,
maybe I would've stabbed him in the back too.
[Vic] Drew McIntyre is now focused on Clash at the Castle
against Roman Reigns.
As Jade now focusing back on Roxanne Perez.
Look how much in advancement Jade had planned.
You talk about, you had that mindset?
Let's put yourself in Jade's shoes.
Another cover and kick out.
Did Jade have that planned or are you going to give me some story?
[Wade] I think as soon as Jade was stabbed in the back by her friend--
[Vic] How?
[Wade] I'm not going to go all out
and tell you that Jade is completely in the right
in all of her actions.
But she's not completely in the wrong either.
Her future was tied into the future of the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships
and that future was put in jeopardy by Roxanne Perez,
spreading herself too thinly and chasing additional championships.
[Vic] Too thin?
Talking about the tag team titles that she loved and desired.
How about the time weeks ago right in front of you,
Cora Jade threw the title in the trash?
[Wade] And I called it what it was.
It was one of the most disgusting acts I've seen in this industry.
I didn't appreciate it. I didn't approve of it,
and it was a slap in the face of everyone who's ever won a title in this industry.
With that being said,
let's not forget,
Cora Jade is ultimately responsible
for Perez even getting hired here in NXT.
[Vic] Of course. You finally take the side of Jade.
And Jade looking to inflict damage
to her former best friend.
Don't miss a second.
[crowd booing]
Cora continuing to apply the pressure.
Can Roxanne Perez bounce back at NXT Heatwave?
[Vic] Back live.
Roxanne Perez just getting her shoulders off the mat.
It has been all Jade in this contest here at NXT Heatwave.
Who could have predicted the timeline for these two
after winning the aforementioned NXT women's tag team titles?
[Wade] I will say this. It is unheard of in this industry.
Tag champions, we've seen them split before,
we've seen tag teams fall apart,
but tag champions splitting before they've even had their first defense,
giving up their championships?
Throwing the championship and the title,
never been done before to my knowledge.
As we take another look at the hatred boiling over
between these two as well,
you might expect former friends,
former best friends, colliding.
[Vic] Well, Jade showed her true colors.
It opened the door for Chance and Carter to capture the women's tag team titles.
Last night on Raw, Asuka and Bliss
advancing in the WWE women's tag team title tournament,
but right now, more than just about a title.
[Wade] Absolutely.
Both women, looking to exorcise the ghosts of their past,
looking to get a monkey off their back.
I'll say this, as bad as vacating
those NXT women's tag team championships would have felt,
losing tonight is going to cut even deeper.
[Vic] NXT Universe, you can see them trying to rally behind.
Roxanne Perez has pressed down--
Inside cradle. Inside cradle. Shoulders down.
That was close, but Jade just able to kick out
and now rolling into her own predicament in another near fall.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, shifting weight and another kick-out.
[Wade] Perez desperately trying to get a pinfall attempt,
really needs an onslaught of offense in the other direction.
[Vic] Shoulders down, one more time. Nice bridge by Perez.
Again, these two who know each other so very well,
traveled the roads before making it to NXT.
And know what the other one is thinking
as they're clashing here at NXT Heatwave center of the ring.
Who will get the better of one another?
Both again, same idea.
[Wade] Roxanne Perez, just about getting a little breather in this match.
[crowd applauding]
[Vic] Same page, same idea
by these former best friends.
When I think about Jade,
what drives someone to become so egotistical?
[Wade] You talk about egotistical.
The egotist in this incident is the person--
[Vic] Egotistical, Mandy Rose, Championship match later tonight.
[Wade] Don't go there. Egotist in this particular case
is the person who wasn't satisfied by having one championship,
the NXT Women's Tag Championship,
is the person who wanted more.
That, to me, is the egotist in this scenario.
Certainly not Cora Jade.
[Vic] Perez is thinking that her friend
took the biggest opportunity in her life away from her.
Her friend took the NXT tag team titles away from her.
Because she wanted the spotlight just for herself.
And Perez now,
thinking about moments
and is starting to bring the heat
right to Jade here at Heatwave.
[Wade] Finally getting that second win rode out the storm
from Cora Jade, now in full control.
[Vic] She believes all eyes should be on her
while the eyes of Perez are fixated on her former best friend.
As Perez's continuing to try to drive through Jade.
[Wade] Absolutely. Giving a good hiding to Jade at this point.
Cora Jade in desperation there.
[Vic] Over into the cover.
Jade, just able to hit the shoulder up.
Perez almost in disbelief, you got to imagine,
for someone who said earlier her stomach was in knots.
She's got to be conflicted at some point,
with what she has to do to her former best friend.
Into another cover.
Innovative offense And again, Jade just able to kick out.
You can see that emotion,
boiling now, bubbling out of Perez.
[Wade] Yeah. If Perez liked Cora Jade
as much as she said she did,
perhaps she should know that she's not going to lie down that easily.
It's going to take something special to put Cora Jade away this evening.
[Vic] Looking for pop rocks.
Jade though had it scouted.
Oh, man.
What a devastating knee.
Oh, it's a more innovative offense.
This time by Jade.
Will it be enough?
Perez kicks out at two,
near fall in this match up.
To your point, you just made,
what must be going through the mind of Jade?
[Wade] I suspect Jade's got something up her sleeve.
Let's face it, she normally does.
It's a completely different side of Jade
than we saw over the past 12 months.
[Vic] Her trusty old faithful.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] You hear the official.
I don't think she cares about being disqualified.
Swinging amiss!
[chuckles]
[Wade] Oh, my. How the tables have turned.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Think about this, Roxanne.
Think about it.
[Vic] You know Perez wants to win--
Jade from behind!
Not like this.
Oh! Right down on the kendo stick.
[crowd counting "One, two, three"]
[Vic] Come on!
[bell dings]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Cora Jade!
[Wade] Say what you like about Cora Jade,
but that is the smartest thing
you're going to see all evening.
Hats off to Jade.
[rock music playing]
[Vic] This is the turning point in the match up.
Cora Jade did not care anything about the rules,
but the same can't be said for Roxanne Perez,
that inner turmoil coming out,
wanting to do the right thing.
It cost her here tonight because
you knew Jade was gonna pick up the scraps.
Any sort of door that opened,
she was going to kick it wide open by any means necessary.
[Wade] Here's why Cora Jade is now
so impressed that she has finally developed a killer instinct here in NXT.
[Vic] Are we entering into the generation of Jade?
Cora Jade, walking away with a victory.
With me now, the NXT UK tag team champions,
Briggs, Jensen, and Fallon Henley.
Guys, I want to go back to last week--
How about we don't, just say we did?
Pretty Deadly and Lash Legend, they got one up on us,
but we're going to see him down the line real quick.
[indistict crosstalk]
See the championships? They don't belong there.
They're on our shoulders, what are you going to do about it?
UK tag champs for five minutes.
Six minutes, what's up?
Try 497 days, pal.
That's longer than you have been in this business.
Listen, I'll tell you what we'll do.
We'll do what the Gallus always does and turn this place upside down.
Why? Because it's going to be Gallus' boys on top.
You see? Another thing.
See those championships? They're coming home with Gallus.
Anytime, anywhere, boys. Make a date.
How about next weekend? Fancy around?
Y'all getting the bill and we'll do the damn thing.
[indistinct shouting]
[tense music playing]
[Santos] Over the past four months,
I got to know who you are,
and what makes you tick.
Tony, you must know by now.
This arrangement isn't going to work.
Congratulations on becoming
the Don of NXT.
[man] It is my honor to present Tony D'Angelo.
[Tony] We're both very powerful men in our respective circles.
[man] Santos Escobar is no stranger to being a boss,
a jefe, a patron.
[Santos] Out in the street, everyone knows
they can trust Santos Escobar.
I look at you, I don't see the trust.
This a Legado's car?
I think it's pretty obvious who did this.
[grunting]
Playing games is what brought us to this point.
[commentator] Oh, no!
You don't get involved in Legado's business and just walk away.
[commentator] Oh, Escobar from behind.
[Tony] Santos, you think you're real tough because you run around with a little crew.
But Tony D made a few calls.
Now Michael is here.
[man] Santos had to sucker punch me with a pair of brass knucks.
[bell dings]
-[Tony] Want to up the stakes? -[Santos] Yes.
Six-man tag.
If we win, you'll come into the D'Angelo family under me.
If you win, we'll come into your family.
[commentator] Wait a minute, Stacks is out.
[bell dings]
[commentator] Oh, no. Legado now has to join the D'Angelo family.
You take orders from me.
He's not jefe, I am.
We have a code we live by.
Omertà, an oath of loyalty.
Not only in word but in action.
Right, Santos?
Absolutely, boss.
If I walk out of here and I'm not
the NXT North American champion, who's going to be?
[crowd cheering]
[phone ringing]
Hello?
[man] Hey, I want to talk to the new North American champion.
[laughs]
God, I'm done with it.
You and your goon put me in the hospital,
nearly ended my career.
Nobody laughs at Tony D.
You didn't think you'd see me again.
Well, what can I say? I'm full of surprises.
[crowd cheering]
[commentator] Oh, Santos Escobar is back.
If it wasn't for that prick, I'd be tag team champ, North American champ.
We've been strapped.
One final match.
You beat me, I'm gone.
But if I win, el Legado Del Fantasma is free
from the D'Angelo family.
Hey, this is your guy, huh?
Come on, do something.
We do this in a street fight.
[in Spanish] Una pelea callejera.
Deal.
[tense music playing]
[narrator] In NXT 2.0 we got the drill, so find your fit.
[trap music playing]
NXT style, as close as it gets.
Now a fanatic's experience.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Mandy Rose and Toxic Attraction
putting their final preps together
ahead of the NXT Women's Championship match
against Zoey Stark, later on tonight.
[Vic] From the NXT women's title
to the NXT champion, huge main event.
We saw JD McDonagh putting in the work a little bit earlier,
getting himself focused, getting himself prepared.
I'm sure that's an interesting showdown.
But for Bron Breakker,
he's got to stay focused tonight on the task at hand,
which is JD McDonagh in our main event here at Heatwave.
[Alicia] The following contest is an all-or-nothing street fight.
[crowd cheering]
If Santos Escobar wins,
Legado is free,
but if Santos loses,
he is gone from NXT.
[Mexican music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Santos, Santos"]
[tense music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell dings]
[Alicia] Introducing first,
representing Legado Del Fantasma,
Santos Escobar!
[crowd chanting "Legado"]
[Vic] Santos Escobar walking into war
to restore his family, to honor his tradition.
Can you imagine NXT without Escobar?
[Wade] Well, we had one final accord last week.
Is this one final bingo for Santos Escobar?
Escobar has been a mainstay of NXT programming
for over three years at times,
running this show along with Legado.
It'll be strange without him, but empires crumble.
I'm a Brit, I know a thing or two
about fallen empires.
And the truth is, the empire of Legado Del Fantasma
started to get washed to the sea
the day Santos Escobar's opponent tonight arrived in NXT.
[crowd chanting "Legado"]
[Vic] There's no doubt who the NXT Universe is standing behind tonight.
[accordion music playing]
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Alicia] And his opponent, representing the D'Angelo family,
the Don of NXT, Tony D'Angelo.
[Vic] D'Angelo might be all smiles now, but is D'Angelo ready for Escobar?
We may have never seen before in NXT,
because tonight, for that man, it's all or nothing.
[Wade] Yes, this is a really stripped-down D'Angelo family
without Legado Del Fantasma in the lights these days.
Looks like he's been on the ground, but Escobar, has to be said,
he's one of the NXT's greats, I'll sing his praises forever.
Escobar is always at his best,
at his most dangerous, when his back is against the wall.
[Vic] This is a street fight,
no disqualification, no count-outs,
anything goes.
The referee basically here to count to three
or to see if anyone says, "I quit."
Look at Escobar, right off the rip.
[Wade] You asked me from the beginning, is Escobar ready for this?
Escobar has a bag of dirty tricks.
It's almost bottomless.
I guarantee you,
he's going to empty the bag on the ring tonight.
[crowd chanting "Santos, Santos"]
[Vic] We said the heat would be down,
NXT heating up Twitter
and everyone wondering,
what does the future hold for Santos Escobar?
Is he going to be out of NXT or will the family be back together?
Look, you got to imagine.
Think about a camp being taken from--
[Wade] Whoa.
[Vic] Forget about analogies now.
Escobar bringing it to D'Angelo.
[crowd counting "One, two"]
[Wade] Oh.
The quickest match in history.
Straight out of the cannon is Santos Escobar.
You ask what is in the future for him.
In the immediate future for both of these stars
is going to be severe pain.
[crowd chanting "Santos, Santos"]
[Vic] Again, NXT Universe, take a look around, on their feet.
You're going to see some with the masks, some with Legado,
some with Santos Escobar.
Everyone behind Escobar here tonight.
He's got to be feeling the love from the Universe,
as he is bringing it tonight to D'Angelo.
[Wade] Escobar has delivered the goods
time and time again for this audience.
Almost unthinkable, him no longer being around.
But that is what's at stake for the emperor of lucha libre.
[crowd chanting "Santos"]
[Vic] Escobar has found a body part
he's now weakening down the Don.
I want to ask you this,
who has more pressure with what's at stake tonight?
[Wade] It's going to be Santos.
Both men have giant egos,
we know all about that,
but for Santos Escobar,
what the hell happens if he loses tonight?
Tony D loses, he can rebuild the family
like he's always done since he was a kid, since he was running the streets.
Santos loses and he's gone.
[Vic] Oh, that could be the knockout blow.
Escobar fighting for his family.
Into cover, hooked him on the leg.
D'Angelo kicks out at two.
[Wade] Santos Escobar fighting like his life depends on it.
Take a look at the shot to the jaw.
I'll say this, I don't think Tony D has got a single shot in thus far.
[Vic] Escobar laying on the line.
Talk about a high cross body.
There's a little extra oomph behind that, and now, oops--
Escobar looking over at Legado and--
Whoa, is that Stacks?
Well, Stacks just wiped out Wilde and Del Toro.
D'Angelo trying his best to get back into this match,
but you're right, since this match up began,
he hasn't gotten out of the gates.
[Wade] It's been man against boy in there, thus far.
Despite Legado getting wiped out on the outside,
it clearly hasn't helped Tony D at all.
[Vic] The issues between these two began the moment D'Angelo became a main man.
Really escalated when D'Angelo became the Don.
[Wade] Four months ago, which got Santos's reign as the jefe of NXT unnoticed.
From there, we've had power struggles, turf wars.
A turf war continuing
right on the floor in front of us.
It ultimately ended up with the absorption--
Oh! There's so much damn action
going on around the ring.
D'Angelo just might have turned the tables.
[crowd booing]
Street fight on Heatwave.
[Vic] Street fight continuing between Escobar and D'Angelo.
Thus far, if he loses, he's out of NXT.
If he wins, Legado is free from D'Angelo's family control.
And throughout the commercial break,
Tony D'Angelo has been wearing Escobar down
with a steel chair,
with a trash can, with the steel steps.
It's all legal in this street fight.
[Wade] Completely battering the left arm, left shoulder, of Escobar.
Looking like he's been through the wars
in a real bad way with his future at NXT.
[grunting]
[Wade] It ain't getting any easier.
[Vic] See Del Toro in front of us covering his face.
He knows what is on the line here.
He knows what's at risk.
I've heard Stacks during the break yelling,
"Teach him a lesson, Tony."
Almost adding gasoline to the fire tonight
as D'Angelo into the cover to rid Escobar from NXT!
And Santos just kicks out.
[Wade] Santos looking in a really bad way.
This is panic stations now for Legado.
What else have you got in the bag?
[Vic] Right to the body goes D'Angelo.
The NXT Universe was so behind Escobar at the start of tonight.
Into the cover one more time,
and another kick out.
But you talk about social media.
It's been all behind Santos Escobar.
NXT Universe has been behind Escobar.
You almost feel that the air has come out of the building.
[Wade] Yeah, nobody in this career wants to lose a match.
Sure as hell nobody wants to lose a championship,
but to lose your future?
What's greater than that? Nothing.
[Vic] Of course, there's Channing Lorenzo on the outside
doing the bidding of the Don.
We talk about this match up as again,
D'Angelo looking to rid NXT of Escobar.
Fighting for his career, and just kicking out at two and a half,
is Escobar.
But how will this match impact the future of this brand?
[Wade] It's massive one way or another.
Tony D wins this match,
Legado, who have been involved in every championship situation in NXT
for years, they're gone.
There's a power vacuum,
and there's only one person who's going to fill it.
[Tony] This is my NXT. I'm the Don.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] This certainly could be D'Angelo's NXT, but Escobar now
trying to fight back, trying to remember what he's doing this for.
Del Toro-- Oh!
Wilde, Elektra Lopez,
lucha libre, doing it for everyone,
doing it for his familia.
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Wade] I'll tell you, you get a chance to put Santos Escobar away for good,
you don't gloat, you get the job done
or this happens.
[Vic] Escobar high risk all reward again.
[crowd cheering loudly]
[Vic] Oh!
[chuckles]
Turn to my right. Wait a minute. Whoa!
[yelling]
[crowd chanting "Holy shit"]
[Vic] We said Escobar would risk it all here tonight,
for what's at stake, what's on the line.
Back to the left shoulder goes D'Angelo,
almost out of desperation.
[Wade] Escobar putting his body on the line
because his future is on the line.
Will it now backfire?
Tony D back in command.
[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Vic] I don't know if you can hear over the crowd chanting, "This is awesome."
D'Angelo screaming for the crowbar.
[laughs]
Look who's-- Oh!
[Wade] Straight to the jaw.
[Vic] Talk about a knockout blow.
Escobar now, off the distraction, shoulders down.
Is that a three? Is that a three?
Oh.
[crowd chanting "That was three"]
[Wade] They agree with you.
[Vic] Escobar was looking for the brass knuckles,
D'Angelo now, shoulders down.
Another near fall, in this match up.
Both superstars, same idea.
Pulling out all the stops here tonight.
[Wade] Match up balanced on a knife-edge.
Now, Escobar finally getting the upper hand.
[Vic] Talk about the upper hand.
Ooh!
[crowd going "Ooh"]
[Wade] Inadvertent collision.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] That's not going to sit well with Escobar.
Oh! Was that a low blow?
[Wade] It's all legal, Vic. What's the problem?
[crowd booing]
D'Angelo may have.
And the tensions between these two…
This dates back all summer long.
Coming to a head here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
What must these two do to each other
to keep the other one down?
That air we talked about being out of the building?
It seems the NXT Universe has gotten its second wind.
[crowd chanting "Santos, Santos"]
This could be what Escobar needs at this moment.
All the memories of the last months.
[Santos] I'll never give you my family.
[Tony] I will die.
[Santos] I will never come home. Not you.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Wade, both realizing.
-[Wade] Pair of equalizers! -[Vic] Equalizer!
[Vic] It's D'Angelo!
[crowd booing]
[Vic] No, no, no.
[bell dings]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Tony D'Angelo!
[crowd booing]
[Vic] Wade, it is setting in
for everyone here.
Santos Escobar's gone from NXT.
[Wade] There was a millisecond
between victory and defeat here,
but he's how it all went down.
Crowbars to the jaw,
boots to the face.
This one turning into a melee.
Accidental collisions on the floor.
This match has everything.
[Vic] This was a street fight.
Both competitors knew what they were getting into.
Santos Escobar layed it all on the line,
as did Tony D'Angelo.
But as we mentioned, it came down to this moment,
you said a split second,
and Tony D'Angelo had the advantage.
And with that, Escobar is no more.
[Wade] The bingo is closed.
[accordion music playing]
For a long time, we competed for those titles,
but I'll be honest,
when you guys won, I cried.
Really? That's so sweet.
Honestly, no one's more deserving.
That means a lot, dude.
The feeling of winning these? I can't describe that.
I know. It's indescribable.
100%.
I remember that feeling, the good old days.
Do you miss being in a tag team?
I love my tag team partners,
and being by yourself is thrilling,
but depending on yourself?
Indi Hartwell? This came in for you.
Oh, cool. All right.
-See you around. -See you.
Oh, my God!
What the hell?
[crowd booing]
Who do you think you are?
[chuckles]
I'm Blair Davenport,
the future NXT women's champion.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] Blair Davenport?
What is going on
here tonight as Heatwave continues?
Zoey Stark focused on the task at hand.
We talk about the NXT Women's Championship.
It's the biggest opportunity for Stark's career,
but there is the woman who has held down the women's division.
Stark, Rose, next
for the NXT women's title at Heatwave.
[tense music]
[crowd cheering]
[epic music]
[narrator] The two-night blockbuster event
is coming.
Wrestle Mania goes Hollywood.
[Roman] This is my WWE.
[commentator] There's no way any human being
can feel confident of dethroning the tribal chief.
[Roman] I'm in god mode.
[Drew] Drew McIntyre is going to beat that ass and take those titles.
[commentator] What a phenomenal athlete,
what a physical specimen.
This man is a weapon.
Drew McIntyre, Roman Reigns
at Clash at the Castle.
[pop music]
I am like completely over Wendy Choo,
like, so done with her.
Seriously, it's like not even funny.
[sigh]
It's real simple with me and Tiffany Stratton.
I'm tired.
I'm tired of her talking down to me,
I'm tired of her believing that she's better than me,
I'm tired of her thinking that I'm a joke.
[screams] Oh, my God!
Next week, it's you and me in a lights out match
[crashing sounds]
where everything I did is all legal.
I'm obsessed with this lights out match
because I can do whatever I want to Wendy Choo.
There are like no rules. None.
[pop music playing]
The arena will be darker than usual,
so you won't be able to see Wendy's face as good,
which is perfect,
but won't be able to see my face as good,
which is so tragic.
Tiffany, you're right about one thing.
I'm so obsessed with you.
I'm obsessed with making you feel
how you make everyone else feel.
Maybe Wendy's a little bit crazy.
Next week, Tiffany, you're going to get wacky Wendy
when I turn your dreams into nightmares.
Next week, Wendy,
I make you go night night.
Toodles.
[Wade] They've been at each other's throats for months now.
Well, next week, Wendy Choo versus Tiffany Stratton
in a lights out match.
Things get put to bed once and for all.
[tense music playing]
[rock music playing]
[Vic] Here comes the woman who outlasted 19 others
for this golden opportunity here tonight.
And not only the match up tonight,
Stark and Lyons also entered the WWE Women's Tag Team Title tournament.
This could be a golden month for Zoey Stark.
[Wade] Well, I'll tell you this.
I'm getting the air of Roxanne Perez right now.
What I mean is it's dangerous to spread yourself too thinly in this industry.
Right now, Zoey Stark has her eyes
on not one, but two championship matches.
And like Perez, if she's not careful,
she might end up with nothing.
[Vic] Stark has been focused on this moment
since the day she graduated high school
and began training for her career in sports entertainment.
[drums]
Toxic.
[rock music playing]
[Wade] Here she is.
The Attraction, the one everybody comes to see.
Mandy Rose has taken on
and beaten all-comers since arriving in NXT.
I'll grant you this,
Stark may be the most athletic competitor she's ever faced.
I'll add to that, no challenger has ever been more motivated
than Zoey Stark.
Zoey, of course, spending nine months of her career on the shelf,
had it taken away by an injury sustained at the hands of
of Toxic Attraction.
Now, of course, she's out for vengeance.
But that is easier said than done
when Mandy Rose is in town.
[Vic] Wrestlemania is going Hollywood.
Tickets for the greatest spectacle in sports entertainment
are available now
at tickmaster.com.
The hottest ticket in Wrestlemania history.
Focusing back on the right now,
the NXT women's champion,
Mandy Rose, nearly 300 days,
but as you just mentioned,
I don't think she's ever faced a challenge like Zoey Stark.
[Wade] Are you ever going to stop doubting Rose?
[Vic] You just said that she's never faced someone as focused.
[Wade] I put some positives on both the competitors.
You're straight out there with the negatives.
Are you ever going to get off your pulpit of hate?
You even doubted Mandy Rose and my relationship.
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
the NXT Women's Championship.
Introducing the challenger,
Zoey Stark!
[crowd booing]
And her opponent, representing Toxic Attraction
she is the NXT women's champion,
Mandy Rose!
[Vic] Sit down!
Did you just play sex panther?
[Wade] No. Before I was rudely interrupted
by the ring announcer, Alicia.
I was about to say
did you not see my lady send me
a personal happy birthday tweet
this past week?
By my lady, I mean Mandy Rose, of course.
Did you see that?
-[Vic] Me lady? -[Wade] My lady.
-[Vic] Me lady? -[Wade] Yes.
[Vic] I wonder if your lady saw that right hand coming
from Zoey Stark or if she's aware that you called Arianna Grace
your favorite wrestler superstar
in the women's division here in NXT.
Your words, not mine.
Whoa, Stark going for the knockout blow.
Rose able to catch it.
[Wade] This one almost over fast.
No rust on Mandy Rose, however. Oh!
[Vic] Roll through. Championship is on the line!
And another kick out.
Zoey Stark bringing her A game
early on in this match up.
This is the biggest match in her career.
This is the biggest moment in her life,
and she is going to try and capitalize on it if she can.
Look, she's staying right on top of the champion,
who has to call time-out.
[Wade] You've got to keep a cool head in a match up like this.
And I don't know if Zoey Stark is capable of staying cool
in a situation like this.
There's so much anger--
[Vic] Would you get off your pulpit of hate?
[Wade] It's not pulpit of hate.
I've been in the ring and experienced it.
I know what's like to have hatred for an opponent.
[Vic] Oh!
I would ask if you're all right, but, anyway, Stark, right now.
And Mandy Rose.
Oh! To the injured left knee.
Rose is in control.
Is Stark even able to continue?
Back live on NXT Heatwave.
You just saw Toxic Attraction
stick their nose into this NXT Women's Championship match.
Great call by the official.
[Wade] Hell no!
[screaming]
[Vic] Nikkita Lyons,
Stark's tag team partner in the WWE tag team title tournament.
[chuckles]
Not a woman you want to mess with.
[Wade] The most dangerous striker in the women's division.
Cleaning house.
[Vic] I wonder what's on the mind of Rose.
Rose didn't connect.
Stark rolls through!
Oh, near fall.
Rose just able to kick out that time.
Chop block connects.
Of course, Rose took full advantage of this match up
when she started to work on that surgically repaired left knee
literally right in front of us.
[Wade] Mandy Rose gets a lot of hate
because of how good she looks,
but let's face it, brains as well as beauty.
You don't get a 300-plus-day reign
as NXT women's champion
just by looking good,
but I ain't going to lie, it helps.
[Vic] The complexion of this match turned when Zoey came to our lap,
I'm sure you would've wished it was Mandy,
but it was Stark, the challenger.
Has Mandy Rose ever faced someone
with such a personal vendetta as Zoey Stark has against her?
[Wade] Well, here's the thing, Stark says
that she's more aggressive than any opponent
that Mandy Rose has ever faced here in NXT.
She says she hits harder,
she's more intense, she's more durable
than any woman in the division.
The question I have, can you do any of those things with one leg?
I seriously suspect not.
[Vic] That surgically repaired knee getting tested now
as a single-leg crab by Rose.
Rose is sitting.
The NXT women's champion looking for a tap-out.
[crowd cheering]
You can see Stark feeding off the NXT Universe,
reaching for the bottom rope, but look at Rose dragging Stark
back to the center of the ring, and now,
Zoey Stark has to remember what she's been pushing herself for.
She's got to remember who put her on the shelf.
It was Mandy Rose, it was Toxic Attraction
that cost her nearly a year of her career.
[Wade] If that happens again, it ain't going to be a year,
it's going to be an entire career that goes up in smoke.
[Vic] One knee connects.
Stark trying to build a bit back into this match up.
Starting to stream together some offense.
Now, for Zoey Stark, getting that second wind we talked about.
[Wade] I'd say this, Stark is still looking pretty wobbly on that left leg.
[Vic] Into the cover for the title.
Rose kicks out at two.
Still to come the NXT Championship,
Breakker, McDonagh, but now,
it's about the NXT women's title.
[Wade] Marked by Rose, a late kick out,
getting as much of a breather as she can, as she faces
an ongoing onslaught here
from Zoey Stark, the resurgent challenger.
[Vic] You see Stark now favoring, as you mentioned, that left leg.
That move now, does she have enough to plant on her left knee?
Into the cover, another kick out by Rose.
You've got to imagine how effective Stark's offense is going to be
as this match continues.
[Wade] She's even struggling to tuck in a tight pin on Mandy Rose.
Referee taking a close eye at that knee, "Do you want to continue?"
I'll say this about Zoey Stark,
she has an unbreakable spirit,
but she certainly does not have an unbreakable body.
[Vic] We know how much Stark push herself.
She did it in her rehab, came back before doctors' predictions.
Right now, Rose turning Stark inside out.
Nasty landing by the challenger.
Champion now looking to capitalize to retain,
and Stark kicks out again at two.
[Wade] The truth is, you mentioned it,
Zoey Stark outlasted 19 others to become the number one contender.
Well, now she's getting a beating at the hands
of somebody who has done it time
and time again the hard way, Mandy Rose.
She didn't get a lucky win.
She didn't catch anyone by surprise.
Consistently, week in, week out,
she's beaten the absolute best.
[crowd chanting "Let's go, Mandy" "Let's go, Zoey"]
[Vic] NXT Universe has been fired up all night here at Heatwave.
And both these women slugging it out.
-[Vic] Stark connected! -[Wade] Didn't connect clean, though.
[Vic] So much been taken out she can't capitalize.
Got to imagine this would be Stark's moment.
Stark right now trying to fight, trying to crawl.
Scratching herself over to Mandy Rose to make the cover.
Oh, come on.
[Wade] Instincts of a champion right there, Vic Joseph.
[Vic] Did Stark just witness her championship dreams
slip through her grasp?
Oh. Oh!
[Wade] What a nasty landing there for Zoey Stark.
[Vic] Stark's tied up.
Think about the landing, Stark can't move.
Rose now, there's a bullseye on that left knee.
[Wade] Like a sitting duck, hung up in the ropes there
for Mandy Rose to attack, annihilate.
[wrestler screaming]
[Vic] Rose relentless. What's she doing?
What's Rose doing?
[Wade] Removing that protection.
What the hell is Zoey Stark's surgeon thinking right now?
[Vic] What is the official thinking?
[Wade] It's all legal, Vic Joseph.
[Vic] There is no way Stark is going to say, "I quit."
No way she's going to give up on her dream, as now--
Whoa! Side step.
Cover, cover, cover.
Oh, near fall.
[Wade] Still somehow fight left in Zoey Stark.
[Vic] Stark right back.
We talk about the will she has.
Deep down she will never quit,
she will never be stopped.
She may have just gotten stopped.
[Wade] Boom.
[Vic] Rose's reign continuing and the--
Whoa!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] We're both sitting here just as shocked as Mandy Rose.
[Wade] Nobody's ever kicked out of that.
[crowd chanting "Zoey, Zoey"]
[Vic] This is the moment for Zoey Stark.
Take another look.
This knee, bam, perfectly planted.
[Wade] Right on the tip of the jaw.
How the hell did Zoey Stark kick out?
[Vic] Look at the live action.
Rose is putting on Zoey Stark's knee brace.
[Wade] Tweaked her own knee.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] And the vindictive Mandy Rose.
Boom!
[Wade] That's the knee brace.
[crowd yells "One, two, three"]
[Vic] That is a retention for the champion.
[announcer] Here is your winner, and still the NXT women's champion,
Mandy Rose!
-[Vic] Are you going to gloat? -[Wade] You might not like it.
[Vic] Get up on the table and dance?
[Wade] But it is here to stay by hook or by crook.
[Vic] Yes, crook.
[Wade] Mandy Rose does it once again.
[Vic] Your heart goes out to Zoey Stark tonight, the challenger.
After everything she's been through, to have it--
Bam, her own knee brace under her jaw.
Certainly the knockout blow
here tonight at NXT Heatwave.
From Mandy Rose, whose reign will now crawl past 300 days
as NXT women's champion.
Unreal for Rose, as the toxicity continues to flow
in the women's division in NXT.
When we come back, the NXT championship
will be on the line.
Breakker, McDonagh one-on-one
next at Heatwave.
I'm going to miss all this, all of it.
Suddenly, hold on a second.
[commentator] It's been nine years.
Adam's comeback is special,
it was never supposed to happen.
[narrator] Biography WWE legends
continues with Edge,
Sunday at 8:00 on A&E.
[commentator] Massive Smack Down in store.
Roman Reigns is in the building.
The quickness and explosiveness,
of course, the power.
All I want is to get my hands on you
and I can't wait.
[commentator] The undisputed WWE universal champion
and the number one contender, Drew McIntyre
face-to-face.
[narrator] Friday night Smack Down live
this Friday 8/7 central only on Fox.
[tense music playing]
I'm Quincy Elliott and I have a confession to make.
I'm bringing all of this to NXT.
[dance music playing]
I look to my left,
I look to my right,
I see people of all different walks of life,
and it excites me.
You may be shocked at this,
but I ain't ever struggled with being different.
I own it, I work it,
because I am it.
And everyone in NXT may be superstars,
but Quincy Elliott,
I am the super diva.
[dance music playing]
Quincy Elliott coming soon to NXT,
but with me now is Grayson Waller.
It seems like you're happy to see everyone but me.
Pretty much.
Is it because I ruined your Emmy-winning interview
with Apollo Crews last week when I punked him out?
Punked him out? Apollo challenged you and you backed down.
Backed down? I could've dropped him right there.
But you would've said it's unfair because he just had a 20-minute war
with Roderick Strong.
I just can't win with you.
You know what? Let's be real about this.
Everyone is scared to say it, I'm not.
Apollo Crews is selfish, and he'll to stab anyone in the back
to make sure that he's the man around here.
He might come for your job next.
I don't think so.
He doesn't smell as good,
but he's got a much better smile.
Wow.
His words not mine,
but since you want to walk around on eggshells,
and no one wants to ask the tough questions, I will.
Because next week is the debut
of The Grayson Waller Effect,
the only honest talk show in WWE history.
Tough questions asked,
real answers given.
What I want you to do is take some notes,
because right now, I'm inviting my first guest onto the show,
Apollo! Crews.
Guys, back--
By the way, that perfume must be cheap, lass.
[rock music playing]
[crowd booing]
[Vic] We'll move on of what we might see next week with Grayson Waller
because it is main event time
for the NXT Championship.
[Vic] Make sure to watch WWE superstar Ricochet
on an all-new episode of American Ninja Warrior
streaming now on Peacock.
[Vic] McDonagh has described in very gruesome details
how he will permanently injure Bron Breakker tonight.
A little uneasy when I see McDonagh.
[Wade] Yeah, McDonagh has a precise,
surgical breakdown of human anatomy,
and I'll tell you this, With the knowledge he has,
JD McDonagh could do great things
in a health field if he wanted to,
but he's chosen to use that knowledge for human mutilation.
The question is, is he going to succeed
in his pursuit of human mutilation tonight
and succeed in his pursuit of gold here in NXT?
[sound of sirens]
[rock music playing]
[Vic] Breakker has shown no fear
in the face of the Irish Ace.
[Vic] Sending a direct message to the challenger.
The champion promised to be more animalistic here tonight.
[Wade] I don't know if I agree
when you say he hasn't shown any fear.
I stood between these two when JD McDonagh signed the contract
for this match up with his own blood.
I saw the look in Bron Breakker's eyes.
If that wasn't fear, I don't know what it was.
But Bron, he's got his game face on now.
He knows he's going to be up against it tonight.
Most fear Bron's wrath, but JD McDonagh seems to have embraced that pain.
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT Championship!
Introducing first the challenger,
JD McDonagh!
[crowd booing]
And is opponent, he is the NXT champion,
Bron Breakker!
[Vic] For the first time in a long time
there's no tape, there's no bullseye on Breakker's shoulder
but is he coming into this match up at 100%?
[Wade] I'll tell you this,
I've injured shoulders in the past.
They take a longer time to heal than anything on the body
in my estimation.
I had an injury back in 2014,
and to this day it still gives me grief.
You can ignore Bron's posturing.
There is zero chance, strapping or not,
that that shoulder is 100%.
[Vic] Look at McDonagh quickly right to that aforementioned shoulder.
Look at Breakker,
swatting away McDonagh like a fly.
[Wade] If I know that shoulder is hurt,
a surgical approach from someone like McDonagh has that well scouted.
[Vic] Breakker would be wise to understand
that that would be the offensive strategy
for JD, who goes right back to work on that right shoulder.
Look at Breakker, trying to stand tall.
And Breakker now.
Ooh!
[crowd chanting "Let's go, JD" "Let's go, Breakker"]
[Wade] He enjoyed that slap.
[Vic] I was going to say Breakker taken a little aback by McDonagh.
We've talked about Bron Breakker. He's had a lot of tough opponents,
but he's never ran up against a surgeon like JD McDonagh.
[Wade] Bron has fought them all. High flyers, brawlers, technicians,
even former world champions.
No one with a kind of approach like McDonagh has, though.
Bron is completely unnerved, in my estimation, by McDonagh.
Might be hiding it now,
but how badly he's unnerved is yet to be seen in this match.
[Vic] I want to talk about Bron Breakker.
We usually talk about his strength and his speed.
How about the grappling ability right now, going toe-to-toe with McDonagh?
[Wade] Well, that tells its own story for me,
that he has a good amateur background,
but the fact that he's not exploding with rage like he usually does
shows me he's pressing the brakes a little around McDonagh.
He doesn't want to make a mistake
because he knows there are severe physical consequences if he does.
[Vic] Roll through by Breakker.
Now that strength coming into display.
Hoisting up McDonagh,
letting the Irish Ace think about what else is to come
in this championship main event.
[Wade] The other issue, of course, is that Bron knew
that JD was expecting a certain strategy out of Bron,
and when he doesn't get it, maybe he'll change his game plan.
[Vic] Bron said he knows the championship attracts all types of superstars,
all types of challengers,
and he knows JD is driven by inflicting pain.
[official] JD, inside.
One.
Two.
[Vic] Breakker now, almost methodical in his own right,
giving a little bit of chase,
because he knows he's in store to deliver a lot of punishment
as he promised to the challenger tonight.
How about turnabout fair play?
As Breakker going to work on the shoulder of JD McDonagh.
[Wade] Turning the tables perhaps.
Bron, to his credit, has always been ready for whatever comes his way.
It's how it has to be if you're going to have a long reign as a champion.
Eventually, every type of competitor wants to take their shot.
Some high-flying ability!
[Vic] Cover by the champion,
and the challenger just kicking out at two.
Let's go back to the overhead belly-to-belly toss.
Did you notice that Breakker put McDonagh's arm behind him,
almost in a hammerlock, for extra punishment?
As you see, a little extra height by Breakker on that standing moonsault.
[Wade] The more we see of Bron Breakker,
we've talked about his lack of experience,
the more well-rounded he's getting.
That's what happens if you go to war with Dolph Ziggler amongst others.
You start to learn tricks of the trade,
you start to cool down a little in-ring,
you start to formulate extra game plans when they're needed,
and Bron really is growing as a superstar before our eyes.
[Vic] NXT Universe has been fired up all night long.
Right now, it's Bron Breakker who is taking apart JD McDonagh.
Even a little bit of a back and forth
but still Breakker on top of his game here tonight.
It's been all Breakker here in this NXT title main event.
[Vic] Back live on NXT, it is Heatwave,
this is our main event, NXT championship on the line.
Champion, Bron Breakker, right now up top--
Oh! What a nasty landing.
As the challenger now taking into effect what we saw during the commercial break
almost looked like McDonagh was enjoying popping his shoulder back into place.
[Wade] I got to tell you, I'm not surprised by that.
Got headbutted by Bron a few weeks ago and laughed
at the sight of his own blood coming from his mouth.
The guy--
[Vic] Oh! That was nasty.
[Wade] Oh.
[Vic] Neckbreaker over that steel.
[Wade] Steel crust holding the turnbuckle in place
while Bron's neck came crashing down right on the top of it.
I'll tell you this, looking at the state of Bron Breakker on the floor,
that is at best a stinger and at worst a broken neck.
[Vic] I was looking over at JD who almost had a Hannibal Lecter smile on his face.
McDonagh knows Breakker's got to back in the ring,
the only place McDonagh can win the NXT title.
As he predicted weeks ago,
the winds of change were blowing into NXT.
As now McDonagh relentless,
raining down on the neck of Bron Breakker.
It seems McDonagh has switched body parts on the champion.
[Wade] I'm not sure Breakker can even feel his hands right now.
This referee taking a very close look.
Might have to call it if this has been a severe mischief
to the neck of Bron Breakker.
A ton of nerves involved in that area.
[Vic] Championship match tonight, but how about next week?
It is official. NXT UK tag team titles on the line.
Briggs and Jensen defending against Gallus,
who shocked us all here tonight,
but now it is McDonagh looking for a submission from Bron Breakker.
Again, is focusing in on the neck.
It was McDonagh who said
there's only so much pain the body can endure before the brain shuts off.
[Wade] I'll tell you this, Breakker is no quitter,
but even he might get this taken out of his own hands the way this is going.
I know for a fact that JD McDonagh would love nothing more
not just to beat Bron Breakker, but to humiliate him by making him tap out
and take the NXT championship in the process.
[Vic] JD has gone from the shoulder, now the neck.
I wonder, when it comes to Bron's neck,
you mentioned his hands,
how's he going to be able to lift up JD McDonagh?
How's he going to be able to use his strength to his advantage
as this match up goes on?
[Wade] JD McDonagh calls himself the necessary evil of NXT.
I'm not sure I agree with the necessary part,
but the evil part can't be doubted.
There is a blue-eyed devil loose
in the ring right now
and that should strike fear into all of us.
[Vic] Breakker able to create a little bit of separation.
Breakker starting to fight back.
Trying to block out whatever pain. Looks like the feeling back in his hands.
Ooh! Breakker taking to the air,
and now we see that 4 3 speed picking up.
Breakker said it's speed, it's power and it's aggression.
[Vic] Breakker now with the challenger in his sights.
Breakker charging in.
Oh!
[Wade] Perfectly scouted by the Irish Ace,
going in for that spear, failed.
[Vic] Got to think it went right into the shoulder and neck,
and now it's McDonagh looking for submission.
This time there's nowhere for Breakker to go.
Look at the torque on the neck,
the strain in the shoulder of the champion.
[Wade] This is the pain McDonagh was talking about earlier tonight.
What he was going to exert on our champion, Bron Breakker.
Well, it's happening before our eyes.
[Vic] Breakker looking, and you see the sense in his eyes,
almost a sense of fear if he didn't get to that bottom rope.
[Wade] The damage is done, though. Look at Bron, can't even lift his head up.
[Vic] We all know that McDonagh has an extensive knowledge of the anatomy,
and it's coming into play right now in this main event.
Systematically dissecting the NXT champion.
[Wade] JD McDonagh is a dangerous and scary individual.
Nothing creates fear in the locker room
more than knowing there is a man loose in that locker room
intent on committing severe harm to opponents.
[Vic] Running on pure adrenaline. Frankensteiner!
Is this going to be enough?
He just bent the challenger in half.
Into a two!
Oh, that was a near three-count for McDonagh.
[Wade] Just insane regenerative abilities of Bron Breakker.
Once again, take another look at this.
When you think he's done and out
he pulls out something like that.
Crazy athleticism for a man the size of Bron Breakker.
Even more so after the damage he's incurred in this match.
[Vic] McDonagh answering right back.
You can hear that kick ringing through the NXT Universe,
and now it's McDonagh who's looking for an exclamation point.
What's McDonagh thinking?
Breakker trying his best to block,
trying to sit down.
McDonagh muscling up Breakker.
Spanish fly!
You got to be kidding me.
This is going to be JD's moment.
Brainbuster!
Right into the cover.
[crowd "One, two"]
For the title.
Breakker kicks out at two.
Whoa.
[Wade] Oh, my word.
[Vic] Damn, that was close.
[Wade] Damage incurred
by the neck of Bron Breakker one after the other.
Spanish fly,
first of all, against Bron of all people.
Followed by a brain buster talented offense.
[Vic] Look at the action, McDonagh to the top rope.
McDonagh looking for the moonsault,
able to roll through,
Breakker had it scouted, and Breakker spear.
Much like we saw earlier,
not able to capitalize.
[Wade] The impact of that spear
not only reverberating on the ribs
of the challenger, JD McDonagh,
but also down the cervical spine
of the champ, Bron Breakker.
[Vic] Bron quickly getting him into the ring.
They now could be setting up.
[Wade] He's got that look in his eye.
[Vic] JD bought himself some extra time, but for what?
As Breakker-- Boom, again!
[Vic] When you talk about winds of change,
Breakker's entering into that zone.
[Vic] How the hell is McDonagh standing?
[Wade] How the hell's he laughing?
[Vic] He said he welcomes pain--
And a third spear!
Breakker said everyone has a plan
until they're broken in half.
[crowd yells "One, two, three"]
[Vic] Breakker retains his NXT title.
[announcer] Here is your winner and still the NXT champion,
Bron Breakker!
[Wade] What a win.
[Vic] What a battle.
[Wade] What a match.
What a defense.
[Vic] What a champion.
[Wade] I'll tell you this.
There is something wrong in the head of JD McDonagh.
[Vic] You still wonder what's going through the mind of Bron… Breakker.
[funky music playing]
[Vic] Wait a minute!
That's Tyler Bate, the NXT UK champion.
What the hell's going on?
[electric guitar music playing]
[funky music playing]
[Vic] You talk about Gallus?
Davenport,
and now Tyler Bate?
[Vic] I don't know what's going on,
but can worlds be colliding
here in NXT?
Subtitles: Viena S. Díaz g