[theme music playing]
[narrator] Then…
-[Ric Flair] Whoo! -[The Rock] If you smell…
[narrator] …now…
-[Lemmy] The King of Kings. -[John Cena] You can't see me.
[narrator] …forever.
Together.
[audience chanting] NXT!
[Vic] 2022. What a year it has been for NXT.
[narrator] In 2022, NXT was highlighted by dramatic title changes.
[Hayes] I am the A Champion.
[Sikoa] Carmelo, I got next.
-["Born A Warrior" playing] -[bell ringing]
♪ You 'bout to dance with the devil ♪
-[Booker T] Oh! -[Vic] Perez has realized the dream.
[Booker T] History was just made.
-[Vic] The NXT title is on the line. -[both scream]
♪ We'll battle down to the final hour ♪
-[bell ringing] -I'm the freaking NXT Champion.
[Booker T] The new NXT Champion, Dolph Ziggler!
[Corey] Bron Breakker, once again, NXT Champion.
[narrator] New talents busted on the scene.
Yes, boy!
[McDonagh] A necessary evil has arrived in NXT.
[narrator] Mixed with shocking moments.
[Wade] This has to be the most unpredictable era in history.
[Vic] The Don of NXT, Tony D'Angelo.
[Tony] One final match, I'm gone. Never to be seen again in NXT.
Roxanne used me.
I made you!
[Jade] Roxanne is a selfish bitch.
[Vic] Apollo Crews is in NXT!
Apollo Crews is back to make history!
[Vic] We write page one of the next chapter.
Together, forever, we are…
[audience] NXT!
[narrator] What's in store for 2023? Who will break through in the New Year?
And who will take this innovative brand to the next level?
This is about Grayson Waller.
[narrator] It all starts tonight.
[audience chanting] NXT! NXT! NXT!
-[audience chanting] NXT! NXT! NXT! -[upbeat music playing]
[audience chanting] NXT! NXT!
[Vic] It's a New Year, but with the same vibe and the same goal,
to showcase the superstars of tomorrow here on NXT.
NXT! NXT! NXT!
["Melo Don't Miss" playing]
♪ Because I'm the greatest Ain't no hatin', I'm the best here ♪
♪ You want your shot Well, I guess you wait 'til next year ♪
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by Trick Williams,
Carmelo Hayes.
[Vic] It could be a big night for this duo,
but I want to focus on Carmelo Hayes who's always in your fave five.
Is 2023 the year for this so-called generation talent?
[Booker T] Vic, Vic. Give the man his proper introduction.
He is that man. Do you smell that? Do you smell that?
I smell money in this young man right here.
On top of the world, [inaudible], just looking down on everybody,
because tonight is very, very important for Carmelo Hayes.
That man, he needs to strike and he cannot miss. Oh, my God.
[Vic] He declared that he would become the NXT Champion
in the New Year.
This certainly, as you just put it, Book, the first step…
-[Booker T] Yeah! -[Vic] …in finishing that mission.
["The Best Is Yet To Come" playing]
[Alicia] And his opponent, Apollo Crews.
[Vic] And look, this is the first match of the New Year here at NXT 2023.
This is what we would call a tone-setter
for what's going to happen over the next 12 months.
Apollo Crews. Carmelo Hayes.
[Booker T] I couldn't wait for this moment right here.
This right here, a main event anywhere in the world.
And this man right here, Apollo Crews, he's special.
Tonight, he needs to do something in the ring
just as well as special, because tonight, again,
very, very pivotal for both of these young men.
[Vic] These two superstars really traded some verbal jabs.
Let's call it what it is.
It was Hayes who told Apollo to get to the end of the line.
I mean, do you agree with Hayes?
Should Apollo Crews be starting at the end?
[Booker T] Let me tell you something.
Apollo Crews even after losing to one Bron Breakker,
he's still a ranked competitor.
-No, ge may be down a couple of notches… -[bell ringing]
[Booker T] …but he's still in that picture.
[Vic] Well, you can feel the tension here among the NXT universe,
as you called it, a main event anywhere in the world
that kicks us off here in the New Year on NXT!
And Apollo Crews… You said it. You've been looking forward to this match all week.
You were texting me about it. You couldn't wait to see these two slug it out.
[Booker T] Look at the speed. Look at the agility.
Oh, look at the ability of this young man right here.
I'm going to tell you right now, Apollo Crews, he's back here for a reason.
He's back here to capture that NXT Championship.
Like he said, "It's about history, dawg."
[Vic] Certainly is. Take another look.
You talk about stopping, bam, right in his tracks with that dropkick.
[Booker T] [inaudible] right there on that dropkick.
Talking about [inaudible] position.
This man right here, Carmelo Hayes, do not sleep on this young man right here,
because he is… I call Apollo special. This kid is extraordinary.
[Vic] I'm glad you bring that up, because it was Apollo Crews
who called out Carmelo Hayes. As Hayes looking for that fadeaway.
[Booker T] Oh! Oh, cover him, kid. Don't waste no… See, that's the one…
[Vic] Into the cover. Late, kick out.
[Booker T] Uh, one thing I'm gonna have to stress to this kid Carmelo Hayes.
You got to make sure you got that man in the right position,
uh, to make sure you get that victory. You don't want to waste no time.
No wasted motion.
[Vic] We talk about this being the first match of 2023.
What about a night we have for you here on NXT. The Grayson Waller Effect.
Waller, the challenger, will host the champion Bron Breakker
a week ahead of the championship showdown at New Year's Evil,
and things are gonna be taken to the extreme later tonight.
An Extreme Resolution Match between Alba Fyre and Dawn.
-How about the slugfest right now? -[Booker T] Taken to the extreme.
It's getting hot in here, man. It's getting real hot right here tonight.
[Vic] And Crews turning things around. Hayes thinking about it.
Standing delayed vertical suplex.
[indistinct chatter]
[Vic] Oh! What strength shown by Crews.
So this is the first one-on-one meeting between these two.
We've talked about the accolades,
but, Book, in your opinion, who needs to win more here between these two?
[Booker T] Let me say, Apollo Crews coming off that loss to Bron Breakker,
and my man Carmelo Hayes getting a big win over Axiom.
-He was saved. -[Vic] Oh!
[Booker T] He was saved. Wait a minute.
[Vic] Into to the cover off the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
-Not enough. -[Booker T] I would say maybe Apollo,
but I think Carmelo needs this for the psyche, just for the mentality.
-He needs this more. -[Vic] We talked about precision earlier.
Take a look at the precision, tilt-a-whirl backbreaker right to that lower back.
That certainly will slow Hayes down, won't allow him to jump around…
[Booker T] Right that to the base of the lumbar region
is a spot you definitely do not want to mess with.
Could put you out for months, man. Trust me on that thing.
[Vic] That's a good word, Book. That's a Scrabble word.
[Booker T] That's what it is. That's what it's called.
-I mean, that's a [inaudible]. Come on. -[Vic] Well, not very [inaudible].
[Vic] And Hayes right now right back…
[Booker T] Right hand shot right there, a little shot to the base of the cranium.
Always works, but this man, didn't I tell you? Precision timing.
[Vic] And… Oh, nice German suplex, and look at Crews holding on.
Again, as you talk about that lower back being bent right now,
Crews coming in with a game plan, looking for the third.
Hayes is trying to block, and now he trying to counter,
certainly able to wiggle his way free.
Now, Hayes is trying to turn things around.
Overhead belly-to-belly toss.
[Booker T] Let me tell you something, this kid right here, Apollo Crews,
he came in tonight with a game plan. He knows this is the New Year.
We're getting close to that road to WrestleMania,
and you wanna just think. You want to [inaudible] be thought about.
[Vic] You ain't kidding. Crews is rolling.
[audience cheering]
[Vic] What a way to kick off the New Year. Apollo Crews taking on Carmelo Hayes.
First time these two have met one-on-one, and in their mind, a lot at stake,
because they both claim to be next in line for the NXT Championship.
But there's a lot of things that have gone underneath Crews' skin from Hayes.
How about what Crews said to Carmelo Hayes
that you can't perform in relation to Hayes?
[Booker T] Let me tell you something, and I agree in a lot of ways.
Carmelo Hayes in my fave five. I can still lead [inaudible].
-[Vic] Trick Williams. -[Booker T] I saw that. I saw that.
I see little small holes in his game that he could outplay.
Because somebody like Apollo, they're going to exploit that every time.
Every single time, man.
[Vic] Well, now take a look one more time. After the distraction by Williams,
Hayes opening the door as you just said, to exploit.
He's gonna now try to exploit a possible injury here to Crews,
as Crews favoring the knee, the left knee.
[Booker T] Let me tell you something about Trick Williams.
This young man, he's there to do a job, and he does that job,
and he does that job well.
Right now Carmelo Hayes back in total control.
[Vic] And Crews able to power out at one,
but Crews really right now favoring the left knee.
And it's all because of the distraction by Trick Williams on the outside,
who certainly has paid a lot of dividends for Hayes over the…
[Booker T] Let me tell you something. Carmelo Hayes, you give this kid an inch,
he will take a mile and a half. Trust me on that.
This kid is looking to do something, and that is win, baby, win.
[Vic] Yeah, but win at what cost? Shouldn't he be showing more respect
to superstars like Kofi Kingston, like Woods, like Apollo Crews?
[Booker T] You asked a question, right? Let me answer.
Win by any means necessary, at all costs. That's what it's about.
[Vic] Right now he's certainly not being, Hayes has the upper hand.
Hayes right now you heard him say, "Too easy."
Williams on the outside. And now Crews trying to…
Oh! Crews got caught and again going to the injured knee.
[Booker T] Let me tell you something. Carmelo Hayes do not wanna get complacent
in this situation right here.
-[Vic] Oh! -[Booker T] All he needs to do
-is just finish it. -[Vic] How about cover?
[Vic] Crews just kicking out. Nice transition. Into the single leg crab.
Look, it's the left knee. It's the left knee
in which the damage has been done throughout this matchup.
[Booker T] Let me tell you something. Carmelo Hayes right now
is what we call putting money in the bank.
He's just stacking his cash right now, trying to put this thing away.
All he needs to do is just lean in and make this man tap.
[Vic] Look at Crews. Crews is cowering.
[Vic] Hayes right now, eyes wide… Oh, and just cinching it right back in.
How much more can Crews take?
[Vic] And listen to the NXT universe trying to rally Crews.
[Booker T] If Crews comes out of this, man, the worse for wear,
I mean, the damage will have been done.
That knee is going to be all ripped and torn to shreds.
[Vic] Crews doing the best he can to try to fight out.
Wiggles free, but Hayes able to hold on.
Ooh! Right back off goes Crews,
and now this is a pivotal point in this matchup.
[Booker T] Let me tell you something. Crews works on his base.
-He worked from that base. -[grunts]
[Booker T] [inaudible] ability. And right now he's grounded, man.
He's like a bird with one wing, dawg.
[Vic] This could be the turnaround that Crews is, bam, looking for.
Enzuigiri creating a little separation.
And also now allowing Apollo to get some breath and refocus himself.
[Booker T] Look at that. Even after that enzuigiri,
Carmelo Hayes still look like he's in better shape.
[Vic] Oh, yeah, because Crews right now is fighting on one leg.
But it's not stopping Crews.
Crews battle it back, goes to the midsection.
[Booker T] Didn't get all of it.
[Vic] He certainly got enough. Certainly got all of that.
Boom! And, Book, no question about that clothesline. Thanks for coming.
[Booker T] It's called a adrenaline rush right now.
Apollo is feeling it right now, but this young man,
this young man is always work… Oh, wait a minute.
[Vic] Oh! Backstabber.
Crews now feeling the flow, trying to keep his foot on the gas.
Right back in. Look how he landed.
He didn't land typically how he does on his feet.
-He landed on the side. -[Booker T] Did you see that?
Carmelo Hayes just created a little bit of space.
Normally, that's done for a reason. That's a setup, man.
[Vic] I don't know it's setting up. [inaudible] right back in the face.
[Booker T] Didn't work that time, but you can tell
he's trying to draw Crews in for something and something big.
[Vic] Crews, a former United States Champion,
trying to continue his quest to wear NXT gold.
-[Booker T] Back to the [inaudible]. -[Vic] Uh-oh.
-[Vic] Look at Crews. -[Booker T] Wow!
-The strength of this young man. -[grunts]
[Vic] Definition of a superplex.
Into the cover. Will it be enough to put away Hayes?
-And Hayes just got that shoulder up.
[Booker T] I'll tell you right now, that took just as much out of Apollo Crews
as it did for this young man, Carmelo Hayes.
Trust me on that, Vic.
[audience chanting] This is awesome! This is awesome! This is awesome!
[Vic] And it's the first match of the year, Book.
-[Booker T] Oh. Beautiful switch. -[Vic] Oh, nice counter.
[Booker T] Beautiful.
[Vic] Oh, a pump kick connected under the jaw, but…
[screams]
-[Booker T] Whoa. -[Vic] Wow! And he answers right back.
Crews now got caught, got dropped. What a cutter.
[Booker T laughs] You talk about innovative.
This kid right here, like I said, extraordinary with hot sauce.
-I'm talking about Cholula, man. -[Vic] [inaudible]. Couldn't connect.
Right back in now.
Crews back to his feet, sensed it coming, able to get his foot up.
Now Crews looking for some high-impact. The blockbuster DDT.
Whatever the hell it was, it was effective.
Cover by Crews, hook of the leg, and…
[Booker T] Whoa. Talking about instinct right there.
That was all instinct from this kid right here,
knowing exactly what is on the line here in this matchup.
-[Booker T] Wow. -[audience chanting] NXT! NXT! NXT! NXT!
[audience chanting] NXT! NXT! NXT! NXT!
[Vic] We said it would be the same vibe, it would be the same pull.
Crews, Hayes, what a way to kick us off this year.
Williams looking on the outside.
You're seeing Williams right now shouting at Hayes, trying to help Hayes.
And… What the hell is Williams doing?
[Booker T] This is moral support right there. That's all it is.
[Vic] Moral support be damned.
Crews though had enough time to realize what was going on.
-[Booker T] Whoa! -[Vic] Jumping knee under the jaw.
[Vic] Another the German suplex turning Hayes inside out.
-Hayes goes up, Hayes goes down. -[grunts]
[Booker T] Hayes is in big trouble right here. [inaudible].
-[Booker T] Oh! -[Vic] Oh, to the knee!
-[Booker T] Oh, driving that knee. -[Vic] The knee. And boom!
[audience cheering]
[Vic] Oh, the injured knee coming back into play.
-And now Hayes taking his game to the top. -[Booker T] On top of the world.
[Vic] And when he shoots, he don't miss. Nothing But Net.
-Into the cover for Hayes. -[audience] One, two, three!
[Vic] And what a way to kick off the New Year for Carmelo.
[Booker T] Wow.
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Carmelo Hayes.
[Vic] But once again, and you clap for that Trick…
-[Booker T] Still. And still… -[Vic] What? Still what?
[Booker T] …at the top of my fave five, that man, Carmelo Hayes.
Do you smell it? Do you?
[Vic] Let's go back at some of the action in this matchup.
Apollo Crews is rolling right here though.
The knee, the damage that was done throughout the entire match
came back to open the window for Carmelo Hayes.
We got to remember, the door was open,
for Trick Williams providing a distraction which opened for Nothing But Net
to hit, to connect, and to put Crews down for the three.
Huge win.
-[Booker T] What the… -[Vic] Axiom!
[Vic] Well, we know he's got a bone to pick with Trick Williams.
[audience chanting] Axiom! Axiom!
[Booker T] I mean, there's a time for that thing. This is not the time.
[Vic] Well, maybe the time is now.
-[audience applauding] -[screams]
[Vic] Axiom doesn't want to wait for his match with Trick Williams.
He wants it now. Is this match going to be made official?
[Booker T] What are you talking about?
[Vic] Back live on NXT. Axiom got the party started.
This matchup became official during the commercial break.
And really, it has been all Trick Williams at the early going.
Just moments ago, Williams turning, bam, things around with just one punch.
[Booker T] Beautiful shot right there. That right hand,
that uppercut caught Axiom in the perfect, perfect prime position.
[Vic] Williams gave Axiom props for his quickness,
but didn't know that he was gonna boot him back to Comic Con.
[Booker T] Let me tell you something. This here is a moment for Trick Williams.
And I always talk about those moments.
You got them, Vic, and once you lose it, it could be gone forever.
[Booker T] This could be a big win for this young man.
[Vic] He might have smacked him back to Comic Con. Unreal.
[Booker T laughs]
-[Booker T] Oh, shucky-ducky. -Get up.
[Vic] Williams said, "This is my year."
He said he was going to solve the puzzle, that is Axiom.
Oh. By using some of his trigonometry, but it didn't really work out right there.
[Booker T] Telegraphed that shot right there.
-But this young man here, Axiom… -[Vic] Williams didn't want none of that.
Axiom able to get out of the way, but Axiom one step ahead of Williams,
ooh, for a moment.
Axiom as quick as they come, but look at Williams,
who has stepped up his game here.
I'm taking a look around the NXT universe.
I don't want to say they're stunned, but Williams has impressed some…
-[Booker T] Like I said… -[Vic] here among us.
[Booker T] …Trick Williams is in it to win it tonight.
He's one of those guys that… He's got something to prove.
Uh, he knows everybody's got their eye on Carmelo Hayes. He knows that.
[Vic] Let's talk about something to prove, because if it wasn't for Williams,
Axiom was close to beating Carmelo Hayes.
Just like Apollo Crews was a few moments ago.
-[Booker T] Vic. Vic. -[Vic] What?
[Booker T] If I would have, could have, should have pick the right lottery ticket,
I'd be a billionaire right now. You can't think like that.
You can't think in the past, you can't cry over spilled milk.
You got to do that right there, and that's what Axiom is all about.
[Vic] Axiom ain't focused on the past, he's focus on the present,
and that's dropping Trick Williams
in front of the aforementioned Carmelo Hayes.
Nice to see Hayes staying out here
to showcase his support for Trick Williams,
as flying through the air with ease is Axiom.
High crossbody, into the cover, and…
-[Booker T] Oh. Almost got it. -[Vic] Nice transition. Armbar.
Looking to hyperextend the elbow.
[Booker T] One thing about this kid Axiom.
[Booker T] He has the ability to go out there and get a victory.
-[Vic] Trying to fight. -[Booker T] Little small mistakes.
He cannot make those mistakes and get victories, no, he can't do that.
[Vic] Finally able to break the grip… Grasp.
Oh, and the length of Trick Williams.
It's one thing you've said to me in the past.
The one thing you can't teach, length and size.
Either you got it or you don't.
[Booker T] Like I said, this kid, Trick Williams,
-he checks off every box, and tonight… -[thuds]
-[Vic] Oh! What the heck was… -[Booker T] Over the holidays.
[Vic] Into the cover for Williams.
Whoa. Not enough.
[Booker T] Back to my point, over the holidays,
you can tell Trick Williams, he wasn't eating a whole lot of turkey or anything.
This kid was working on his game. He looks great tonight.
He looks good.
[Vic] Williams setting his sights on Axiom.
-[thuds] -[Vic] Oh! Damn! He got knocked out.
[Booker T] Straight right hand to the snout.
[Vic chuckles]
[Vic] And Axiom now setting his sights. Golden Ratio.
Into the cover, and Axiom right some wrongs
-here on the first NXT of the New Year. -[Booker T] Yes, indeed.
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Axiom.
["Strike Force" playing]
[Vic] Hey, Williams might not be talking a lot after that right hand. Oh.
And Williams, and now Hayes. Oh, yeah, of course.
-[Booker T laughs] -[Vic] Yeah, show your support
-and love for this, Book. -[Booker T] First 48, baby.
-First 48 right now. -[grunting]
[Vic] Absolutely uncalled for.
The referee can't do… Finally, there's Apollo Crews.
Crews had seen enough. He just fell victim to the numbers game.
["Strike Force" playing]
Chucks, we need big boss man's night and the whole eyebrow.
-The whole eyebrow. -Anything.
Hey, hey! You two have talked to every single tag team here except us.
We were wondering why, but now I'm here looking in your eyes,
I see it so clearly,
because you know that we are the biggest threats to your titles.
No. We don't talk to y'all,
because you look like extras from Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Yeah, no cap, no cap. Hey, matter of fact, I figured that you two
would have to get your permission slip signed by your daddy to talk to us.
Yo, there's a chain of command in the Schism, right?
Mr. Kingston, there is no chain of command in the Schism.
We are four roots, one tree.
And from time to time, my friends look to me for guidance
just like Big E and Xavier have leaned on you for years.
Hey, come on, man.
As much as they've leaned on me, I also lean on them, see.
He's here in spirit. You know what I'm saying?
We something like one set of hips and five cheeks.
Kofi, sadly, you think you know family,
but what you see before you is a real family unlike yours.
-Wow. -Sir.
Now here I was thinking that we were gonna have a problem
with Rip and Jagger, but apparently our problem is with you.
Me specifically, so we can solve that problem right now tonight.
-What do you think? -Knocking off a former WWE Champion
and the greatest WWE Tag Team Champion of all time
will only make the Schism stronger.
Well, what a match if that could be later on tonight
on the first NXT of the New Year.
But, Book, I actually want to take us all back
to something that happened last week here on NXT.
[Vic] It was during the North American Championship match.
Tony D'Angelo against Wes Lee, when Dijak would appear out of nowhere
and would drag Stacks all the way to the back,
which would open the door for Wes Lee to, boom, not only win,
but also retain his North American Championship.
And that hasn't sat well with the Don, and things haven't sat well with Dijak.
[ominous music playing]
[footsteps approaching]
Lorenzo, right now you're probably starting to really regret the way
that you barged into my locker room and spoke to me.
I do whatever the Don needs me to do.
That's great, but loyalty has its consequences
and disrespecting me will never go unpunished.
You and D'Angelo have your way of handling business
and I have mine.
Your boss calls himself the Don of NXT, right?
When it comes to fear in NXT,
you're looking at the face of fear in NXT.
[groans]
[panting]
How about you be a man, uncuff me, and we can settle this in the ring?
Oh, I plan on it.
This, and this is just the beginning.
[thuds]
-["Driver" playing] -[Vic] It has been a long week for Stacks.
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, Dijak.
[Vic] Stacks better bring his A-game here tonight.
As it's Dijak and Stacks next live on NXT.
You got a collar and elbow tie up. You switch right to a clinch.
When he breaks it, you got the headlock right there.
Throw him. You don't even got to leave your feet.
-All right, who's next? -I'm next.
Hey, hey! What the [bleep] is going on here?
Sorry, Mr. Chase, we were trying to get in some extra ring time
-while you finished grading papers. -Yeah.
Didn't mean to encroach on your territory there, professor,
but I am an equal opportunity teacher.
Look, I get it. I completely understand.
I understand that Charlie Dempsey's hurt and he can't compete against Hank tonight.
-I don't buy that Charlie Dempsey's hurt. -Me neither.
Be that as it may,
you can't go around putting my students in the ring without my permission.
Maybe I wanted to find out what Dempsey was talking about
when he said your students were too soft.
Yeah. And?
-Mixed results. -Okay. That's it.
On behalf of the university and Mr. Chase,
-I take exception to those comments. -Hold on, man.
Coach Gulak didn't mean anything about it, all right? It's just what he believes.
Well, I'll give you something to believe in, [bleep]
Nobody who wears this Chase U red is soft. You know what?
I'm shutting this down right now. Guys, let's get out of here.
Yeah, let's go, everyone.
[Vic] Tension's running high in Chase U.
["All About Family" playing]
[Alicia] And his opponent, accompanied by the Don of NXT,
Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo.
[Vic] Stacks wanted this matchup, Book, and he certainly looks, well…
You could see there's a bruise on his face.
-[bell ringing] -He's coming ready to fight Dijak.
[Booker T] Oh, yeah. This is two men, this is a confrontation.
Mano a mano. Let's see who weathers this storm.
That's what it's all about, Vic.
[Vic] I gotta say I give, oh, Stacks some credit
for getting out of those handcuffs.
But right now, he's trying to take it to Dijak.
And Dijak having some evil intentions going through his mind
heading into this matchup.
But you could see, holding on to his ribs, Stacks.
He's not at 100%, obviously.
[Booker T] It's not about being at 100%. It's about getting some payback.
[Vic] Oh, right back to the midsection. Right back to those ribs.
And I just looked up from the desk,
there is a huge bruise right now on the ribs of "Stacks" Lorenzo.
[Booker T] Let me tell you something, Tony D knows everything about…
[Vic] Into the cover. Hook of the leg.
[Booker T] He knows everything about Stacks.
He's a loyal, loyal soldier that's going to watch your back.
He's going to stay in there till the end. And I'll tell you something.
-That match… -[Vic] Into the cover.
[Booker T] That match against Shinsuke Nakamura,
it showed me something in this young man, Stacks.
He has a future, man. Trust me.
[Vic] Dijak warned Stacks that loyalty has its consequences.
He's into the cover. Another kickout.
But how about this match made official for tonight?
One-half of the NXT Tag Team Champions, Kofi Kingston and Joe Gacy.
Are you ready to see Kofi Kingston in action tonight here, Book?
I'm not ready to see that, but I'm gonna sit here and watch it.
Definitely, we gotta talk about that, but we'd get to that at a later date.
Stacks is trying to kick some separation between he and Dijak.
-[Booker T] Oh! -[audience grunt]
[grunts]
[Vic] Again, justice is being served Dijak's way.
[Booker T] Dijak is all about pain. He's all about punishment.
Putting you through the ringer.
And right now, Stacks is feeling it, man. Trust me.
Never seen Stacks in this much trouble.
[Vic] Oh. If he wasn't feeling it before, he certainly is now.
You can only imagine what's going through the Don's mind ringside is.
Into the cover again. Another hook of leg, but Stacks is continuing to fight.
[Booker T] He's got to be unease. Maybe nervous.
But anxious is the word I'm looking for, because this is the underboss.
This is the second-in-command, and he's getting the hell beat out of him.
[Vic] Oh. You saw the Don on the outside talking to Stacks.
Stacks kind of what he needed.
You talk about adrenaline earlier in the night
when it was Crews and Hayes where it all adrenaline right now
flowing through the pains of "Stacks" Lorenzo.
[Booker T] They may be trying to work up a little bit right now,
but he's still in dire straits right now.
He's just trying to motivate himself, but right now, Vic, trust me.
-He's in the worst position. -[Vic] He's doing it.
He can possibly be in, running into that big boot right there.
I could see it coming, man.
[Vic] I think that position just got a lot worse.
Dijak, this has to be… Stacks. I…
I mean, does the Don look over at Stacks and say, "Stay down?"
-Bam. Right to that bruiser. -[Booker T] I talked about it.
Sometimes you just have to have a wherewithal,
the understanding, and know how to stop it. You got to do it.
Did you see Dijak barking at the Don?
Continuing to inflict… And Stacks from behind, roll up and…
Oh, near fall.
[Booker T] Not enough to hold this big man down. This is a big man.
Rolling about 6'5", 260, all muscle.
[Vic] One more time and Dijak, staring a hole into the Don
with every painful maneuver and a little bit extra.
-[Booker T] This… -[Vic] Feast your eyes on Dijak.
-[thuds] -[audience grunt]
-[Vic] Good night. -[Booker T] Good night.
One, two, three.
-[Booker T] Sleep tight. -[bell ringing].
["Driver" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Dijak.
[Vic] We thought what that the Don be feeling as this match rolled on?
Dijak taking it to Stacks.
That long week continues for the family. Take a look again.
-[Vic] Bam! -[Booker T] Oh, God.
[Vic] He said to feast your eyes. It's exactly what Stacks…
Woah, whoa. Wait a minute.
Dijak, one more time. D'Angelo finally seen enough.
[Booker T] The Don. This is the Don right here. He's putting in work.
[Vic] The Don finally snapped.
[Booker T] Sometimes you want something done, Vic,
you got to do it yourself.
You think you're a tough, Dijak, huh? You think you're tough?
Listen to me.
You wish you had half the heart that this guy has.
You sit there and you talk about justice. How about this?
Next week,New Year's Evil,
how about you find out about street justice, the Tony D way.
-[audience cheering] -[audience applauding]
You want a piece of me? You got it, D'Angelo! You're on!
-[Vic] Will justice be served next week… -[Booker T laughs]
-[Vic] …atNew Year's Evil?
["All About Family" playing]
Oro Mensah, in 2022, you came onto the NXT scene,
but what can we expect to see from you in 2023?
Listen. In 2022, I got my feet wet,
but in 2023, I'm diving in head-first in the All-Stars with a win tonight.
[Bernal] Hey, what's going on, guys?
-Oh, boy. -No, listen, listen.
I'm sorry for interrupting. Not really.
Listen, 2023 is going to be the year of Big Body Javi.
And what better way to start out the year
than by releasing the Big Body Christmas album.
Are you kidding me? Isn't it late for a Christmas album?
-That was two weeks ago. -What is this?
Anybody can release a Christmas album during Christmas, McKenzie,
but I'm not anybody, I'm Big Body Javi.
15 concert tracks, including "12 Days Of Javi".
Oh, yeah. You like that?
How about "We Wish You A Big Body Christmas",
and last but not least "Feliz Javidad." [chuckles] Yeah.
[chuckles] Man, that's kind of cringe, I'm not going to lie.
Listen, when I'm done with you tonight, you won't have a singing voice anymore.
See you out there, bro.
Toxic.
[Vic] It's good to see Javi is still a little delusional over here.
["Toxic" playing]
[Alicia] Please welcome Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne,
Toxic Attraction.
[Vic] A lot has been on the mind of Toxic Attraction.
We'll hear from Dolin and Jayne when we return live on NXT.
-[Vic] We are back live on NXT. -[Booker T] Yeah.
Toxic Attraction was, is, and forever will be
the most domain female faction that this brand has ever seen.
It's 2023.
It's time we leave 2022 where it belongs, in the past.
Now, all eyes are on Jacy and I.
And those eyes will watch in remorse.
Watch as we push the envelope further than we ever did in the last 18 months,
as we cut through this roster with reckless abandon.
Bonded by our battle scars,
this year, Gigi and I will be the ones calling all the shots.
We don't do stupid New Year's resolutions, we do revenge.
[audience cheering]
While the entire world watches our every single move,
we only watch and care about one woman.
One woman, one target, Roxanne Perez.
You want to take down our Toxic empire?
Oh. We're gonna rebuild it brick by brick.
Using your broken body in the foundation.
["Impressive" playing]
[Hartwell] Oh, my God.
I'm so sick of hearing about Toxic Attraction.
When Roxanne won the title,
I thought that was the last of Toxic Attraction,
but I don't mind finishing what she started,
because it's time for some new blood at the top of the division,
and that starts with me.
[Cora Jade clears throat]
Surprise, surprise.
It's Tuesday,
and Indi Hartwell's complaining once again.
What's new?
Talk about a permanent lifeless personality.
No wonder why everyone in your life left you.
No one cares about you.
No one wants you to be Women's Champion.
I deserve to be Women's Champion.
-I already beat Roxanne Perez… -[Nikkita Lyons] Cora.
Cora Jade, I'm surprised your ego even fits in this building.
-[audience cheering] -Listen, you claim you deserve the world,
but the only thing you really deserve is a kick to the face.
[chuckles]
[Lyons] And you know what? Indi is right.
It's time for new blood at the top of this division,
-and I will throw hands with anybody… -[Zoey Stark] Well, well, well.
If it isn't Nikkita Lyons.
See, I knew I smelt bad TikTok dances and future regrets.
Why the hell are you even out here, Nikkita?
Don't you have more important things to do,
I don't know, showing your assets off for Instagram?
Anyways, back to reality.
Roxanne's attempt for a title reign is gonna be, "Oh, so short," because I…
[Wendy Choo] Oh, Zoe. I'm sorry, but you're always so angry.
And, honestly, I don't think anyone wants to see an angry NXT Women's Champion,
so I know that you and Nikkita don't like each other,
but you don't have to insult her.
I mean, I don't like Cora Jade,
so I don't call her an egotistical, self-centered, self-entitled bia…
Hey, Wendy! I've had enough of this.
O-M-G! So many girls! [gasps]
-Girl fight! -[audience cheering]
-[Booker T] Oh. -[Vic] Oh, Book!
[Booker T] Here we go!
[Booker T laughs]
The way to kick the New Year off right here, Vic.
[Vic] This is it.
-[Booker T] This is it. -[Vic] Ooh! Isla Dawn.
All these women want one thing, the NXT women's title.
[Booker T] It's all about the gold, man. It's all about…
[Vic] Holy hell! They're all coming out, Book!
-[audience cheering] -The Women's Division breaking down!
[Vic] They're bouncing around like soccer balls!
It's a free-for-all. You see these kicks? You see these strikes?
[Booker T] They've got a free-for-all, Vic. This is a Donnybrook.
-[audience cheering] -[grunts]
[Vic] Get out of the way, Alicia!
[audience chanting]
[Booker T] Oh, I agree.
[audience chanting]
["All Fall Down" playing]
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Ladies, ladies, calm down. Relax. Relax.
You don't need to fight each other,
because I was just informed
that next week there will be a 20-woman Battle Royal.
[audience cheering]
And the winner will be the first woman to face me
for the NXT Women's Championship at Vengeance Day.
[giggles]
Good luck, everybody.
[Vic] Oh. Book, I don't know if "relax" was the best word to use.
[Booker T] Back to the action. Back to the action, Vic.
-[thuds] -[grunting]
[Vic] Yeah.
[grunting]
[both grunt]
[Vic] Book, our camera is outside.
We forgot all about Fyre and Dawn.
These two are looking to destroy each other.
-[grunts] -[groans]
[Booker T] This is personal, Vic. This is personal.
-[grunts] -[clanking]
[Vic] Oh, tonight's certainly the night
as these two are scheduled to meet in Extreme Resolution match.
And looks like that match is already started, Book.
[Booker T] This is like a blood feud right now, Vic.
[Vic] We are back on NXT.
Come on. You can't fight right here. Get it in there.
[Vic] Book, we said this was gonna get ugly,
and it certainly has been between Dawn and Fyre.
They're actually… I believe that's in a warehouse.
[Booker T] Yes, Vic. This is a war right here.
This thing started on the darkest day of the year, Halloween.
Halloween Havoc. Here we are at the beginning of the year,
-and, my God, what a way to kick it off. -[grunts]
[Vic] This is quite an Extreme Resolutions match
as these two are supposed to compete in tonight.
Don't face it anymore.
[grunts]
-I know. I know inside of you. -[inaudible].
-Come on. -[grunts]
-When I'm done with you, like a sick rug! -[grunts]
-[Vic] Oh. -[laughing]
[panting]
Let me see it.
[grunts]
-[panting] -[groans]
-[grunts] -[grunts]
[Vic] We really don't have any words for what these two women are trying to do,
there's no count out, there's no disqualification,
there's no rules in this matchup.
-That's enough. -Let's go.
[Vic] Finally some officials.
Get out of here. Knock it off. You've done enough.
Let's go. Not back here. Not back here, Alba.
-Ladies. -Come on, knock it off.
-[inaudible]. -That's it!
[Vic] You talked about Halloween Havoc coming,
that's where the issues between these two started.
You can make the case, Fyre should be the Women's Champion
if it wasn't for Dawn.
[Booker T] We always talked about the intensity in Alba Fyre.
And I'll tell you right now,
Isla Dawn is matching that intensity blow for blow here tonight, Vic.
-[referee 1] Put that down, Alba. -[referee 2] Whoa, whoa, whoa!
-[Booker T] Oh, wow. -[groans]
[referee 1] What are you doing, Alba? Knock it off.
Get out of here. Let's go. Wait for the match. Put that down, Isla.
[Vic] You heard the official away from… Again, this hasn't officially begun,
but these two women are just trying to destroy the other.
[Booker T] I tell you, Vic, This is personal right here.
This has nothing to do with a match at this time. This is war.
-[referee 1] Put it down, Isla. -[referee 2] Isla, let's go.
[referee 2] You got to listen up.
-[groans] -[clanking]
[grunts]
[referee 1] That's enough. Let's go. Get out of here.
Come on, let's go, Alba. Let's go.
Listen. What are you doing? Come on. Don't do it.
-[Dawn] Stop! -[referee 1] Don't do it. Easy.
-[clanking] -[referee 2] Alba.
[referee 2] Come on, let's go.
[Vic] You hear the officials, trying their best.
But how do you get between two women
that are this angry, that want to rip the other one in half?
[Booker T] This is vicious, Vic. This is vicious.
These ladies are willing to take it to the limit here tonight.
[referee 1] Let's get down.
-[referee 2] Knock it off, you two. -[grunts]
-[screams] -[referee 1] Break it down. Come on, Alba.
Hey, hey, hey. Isla, come on. What are you doing? Come on.
Stay off of her eyes, Isla.
That's it, Isla. You two, knock it off. You guys have done enough.
Let's go, Alba. That's it.
-[Vic] Whoa, whoa, whoa. -[referee 1] No, no, no. Come on.
-Bring it back. Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa! -[thuds and clanks]
[inaudible] Come on, Alba.
[referee 1] Break it down, Alba. What are you thinking?
These are locker rooms.
Get out of here. We got to get her to medical.
Come on, knock it off. Come down.
Relax. She's out of here. She had enough.
You proved your point.
Relax, Alba. Hey. No. Knock it off, Alba. Where are you going?
Hey, hey, hey. Enough!
-Knock it off, Alba. -[referee 2] She's done.
[Vic] Yeah. When is enough enough? When is enough enough?
[Booker T] Alba wants to finish this job, Vic.
-You got to listen up, Alba. Come on. -That's it. Relax.
[referee 1] What are you thinking?
-[referee 2] Come on, Alba. Stop it, Alba. -[grunts]
-You proved your point. -Hey. No, no, no.
Come on. What are you doing?
[referee 1] Alba, relax, knock it off. That's it.
Put that down. Put that down, Alba.
-[thuds] -[groans]
[Booker T] This is about finishing the job, Vic.
That's what is happening right now.
[Vic] We talk all about the mental anguish,
all the physical torment
over the last few weeks, few months that Dawn has caused for Alba.
-Look at that. Where are they going? -[indistinct chatter]
-[Vic] Now what's going on, Book? -What are you doing?
Hey. Come on. Come on, now.
Is it gonna be [inaudible]?
[Vic] Right in here to our…
-Alicia's in the nature zone right now. -[Booker T] Oh.
[Booker T] Like I said, Alba Fyre, she wants to finish this tonight.
-This is going on long enough. -[grunts]
[audience cheering]
[Booker T] And it comes to here tonight, Vic, I think that's what's it's all about.
[Vic] Again, everything legal. There's no rules.
[audience cheering]
-[bell ringing]. -[Vic] Finally a bell, Book.
Finally a bell.
[Booker T] Let's make it official. You gotta do it.
Let's do it. I like that. I like the mentality. Let's get it done.
[Vic] It's officially is the Extreme Resolutions match.
I mean, look…
They're not even worried about the other 20 women
in the Battle Royal next week
that was just announced for the winner to meet Roxanne Perez
-for the NXT Women's Championship. -[grunts]
You said it time and time again in the last few minutes, They just…
-[Vic] Oh! -[Booker T] Oh, wow.
[Vic] They wanna destroy each other.
[Booker T] This is a personal grudge that started in Halloween Havoc.
Alba Fyre was so close to cashing in on that ultimate gold.
[Vic] kickout by Fyre. Where's the issue?
Why is Dawn trying to bring Fyre into the darkness? Why?
-[Booker T] You've been here longer than me. -[grunts]
[Vic] I assumed you knew more than me. I don't know.
[Booker T] I would've expected you to know that.
[Vic] I'm not getting close enough to ask the question.
[groans]
[Vic] But whatever it is, there's evil intentions
-flowing through Dawn. -[screams]
[Booker T] Wait a minute, think about what Isla Dawn has gone through
and right now she's back in control. I mean, what is she made of?
[Vic] She sent the warning signs in for Dawn.
She feeds off the negativity. It makes her stronger.
You can see the welts, oh, on the body of Isla Dawn
from some of these physical altercations that these two have gone through
whether it's been in the…
[audience cheering]
-[grunts] -[screams]
[Vic] Ooh! It's been in the parking lot or the warehouse.
Isla Dawn, I don't know if you heard what she said.
She said give into it. Give into it.
[Booker T] Give it to what? What are you talking about?
What does she mean by that?
-[audience applauding] -[audience cheering]
[Vic] Fyre now could be just looking to end this match-up finally,
-but Dawn's able to counter… -[grunts]
[Vic] Fyre has gotten so personal with this rivalry between these two.
Looking for the Glory Bomb finally, and yes.
-[Booker T] Oh, that's… -[Vic] That's got to be it.
-Fyre extinguishing. -[Booker T] It's gotta be it.
[Vic] Isla Dawn took it…
-Dawn's able to kick out in two. -[Booker T] Tell you something, Vic.
The toughness of these two ladies here tonight
is something that I don't think I've ever seen it before.
This is something different right here tonight.
[Vic] These two going to a dark place,
and that's right where Fyre is headed all because of Isla Dawn.
All because of Dawn's mentality. All because of Dawn's tricks.
[Booker T] Oh, this is a recipe for disaster right here, Vic.
I don't like this at all.
[Vic] Look at high risk… No reward. Crash and burn for Fyre.
This Extreme Resolution match rolls on.
[Vic] We are back live on NXT. This an Extreme Resolutions match.
As you saw throughout the commercial break,
Isla Dawn has grabbed a wrench.
She's trying to break the fingers of Alba Fyre.
This is where she turned things around.
Bam! Laying in on the line.
Then began talking to herself. Who she talking to?
[Booker T] I don't know who she's talking to,
but right now I looked on, it seemed to find pleasure
throughout all the pain she's going through here tonight.
Ooh, that right there, Vic, like I say is different,
-different than I've ever seen before. -[Vic] A new level of destruction.
[Vic] Here in this matchup between these two women,
you're talking about the darkness.
I mean, there's a lot going on inside the mind of Alexa Bliss.
LA Knight, Bray Wyatt at the Royal Rumble three weeks from Saturday.
-The first-ever Pitch-Black Match, -[thuds]
but this is a different type of darkness in the body of Isla Dawn.
[Booker T] Isla Dawn, like I say, she's stepped up to the plate
to take on one of the best here in NXT and that is Alba Fyre.
And look right now. I think this is an even matchup.
[Vic] Connected with that gourdbuster, strong kick,
and now could Fyre be able to block out the pain.
We've talked about adrenaline all night long, throughout the night.
Whoa. Both shoulders are down. Fyre able to kick out at two.
Fyre right now trying to go to that place,
that not a lot of superstars have to block out the pain,
to have that rule to continue to fight.
And again, risking it all to destroy Isla Dawn.
[Booker T] I'm talking about the toughness of Alba Fyre,
-and tonight, she's showing every bit of. -[audience] NXT! NXT!
[Vic] The mental anguish, that physical torment.
You wonder who does this environment favor in this match,
because it's been split right down the middle.
[Booker T] Both women with nasty intentions, evil thoughts.
I don't think it's about favoring either of one side tonight.
Vic, this is different.
Both of these ladies are going to a place that we have never seen before at NXT.
Guess what? I'm loving it. This is a fight.
[audience] Table! Table! Table!
[Vic] Still to come, the Grayson Waller Effect.
The challenger and champion a week ahead of their NXT title showdown,
but this matchup is not about gold, it's not about championships.
It's about pain, it's about inflicting pain,
it's about damaging your opponent,
it's about sending a deep, dark message to the other.
[Booker T] Definitely, Vic. I agree with you 100%,
and that message is gonna come from Alba Fyre
all the way back from Halloween Havoc.
Like you say, Vic, this is a message. This is a message here tonight.
-[Vic] Oh, and a nice counter. -[audience grunt]
And rib first into the point of the steel steps went Fyre.
[audience cheering]
[Vic] What lengths are these two willing to go to?
-[Vic] No, no, no. Oh, my God. -[Booker T] Oh, my God.
-[audience cheering] -[Fyre screams]
[Vic] Absolutely not.
-[audience cheering] -[thuds]
[Vic] Fyre, able to escape at the last moment.
-You talk about damaging. -[Booker T] Talk about pain.
[Vic] We question, what lengths are the other willing to go?
Apparently, there are no lengths. These two willing to do whatever it takes,
and one more time going back to the injured hand.
Trying to bend back the fingers. Dawn now turning around Fyre.
-[grunts] -[Vic] Ooh!
[Vic] Dawn, somehow still on her feet. So much taken out of both these women.
It's gone through the parking lot, it's gone through the warehouse.
[Booker T] Isla was just rocked, Vic.
I think she was rocked, she's dazed, Vic, and perhaps confused right now.
[audience cheering]
[Vic] Fyre. Isla Dawn was smiling, looking up at Fyre.
-[audience cheering] -[Vic] What the?
-Dawn. Isla Dawn didn't even flinch. -[audience grunt]
Offered herself up.
NXT Universe in disbelief after what we just witnessed.
[Booker T] Vic, I'm in disbelief right now from what just happened.
-[Booker T] Oh! -[Vic] Oh!
[Vic] The bizarre nature of Isla Dawn just sacrificing herself…
[Booker T] That's it, Vic. That's got to be it.
-[Vic] …for Alba Fyre. -[Booker T] That's got to be it, Vic.
-[Vic] Finally into the cover. -[Booker T] What a match.
[Vic] Has Fyre truly extinguished Isla Dawn?
-[Alicia] Here is your winner, Alba Fyre. -["Dare Devil" playing]
[Vic] One of the most bizarre things. Book, you're sitting here speechless.
In everything you've seen in your Hall of Fame career,
two rings, by the way, Hall of Fame career,
you're sitting here almost in awe after the bizarre nature
of what transpired throughout this entire match.
This is what I mean by bizarre. She… That being Isla Dawn,
looked up at Alba Fyre, then laid back down.
Didn't move, didn't flinch, absorbed all the pain, but for why?
But why?
And then to take it a step further, the Gory Bomb through the table.
Alba Fyre is the Victor in this matchup,
and was willing to destroy herself to destroy Isla Dawn.
Book, what is going through the mind of both these superstars?
Grayson Waller, NXT Champion, Bron Breakker is your guest tonight
on the Grayson Waller Effect.
And just one week away from your championship match
at New Year's Evil.
Oh, McKenzie, how many times have you practiced that in the mirror?
[chuckles] I just spent the last ten days at home
on holiday in Australia
manifesting the inevitable. My mind and body are aligned.
Next week at New Year's Evil, Grayson Waller becomes the NXT Champion.
So tune in tonight on another can't-miss episode
of the Grayson Waller Effect.
I just don't understand why you're so confident
to be in the ring with a man who wants to rip your head off.
You don't? That's why I have a show and you don't.
[chuckles] See, the last three weeks, I've outsmarted Bron.
I've turned him back into the "Hulk smash" guy,
[chuckles] that's where he's most vulnerable.
So pay close attention tonight, McKenzie,
because I'm about to finish the job and make New Year's Evil a cakewalk.
What's up, Bronathan? I got your number, lad.
You may have that dog in you, [chuckles]
but that doesn't make you immune to the Grayson Waller Effect.
-[barks] -Ew.
[Vic] The Grayson Waller Effect is still to come
but when we come back, we will take an inside look
at a marquee tag team matchup at next week's New Year's Evil
between the Creed Brothers and Indus Sher next on NXT.
[upbeat music playing]
Back home, we have the respect, the admiration of an entire nation.
[Sanga] 1.4 billion people appreciate us.
In India, we're treated like celebrities.
[Veer] I became India's very first professional baseball player.
I've got two TV series.
One show is top five most popular TV series in all the world.
[Veer] Global figures, the smallest appearance we make in NXT,
it gets millions of views in India.
But here in America, no one cares about us.
[Sanga] Creed Brothers, we have a great respect for you,
the NXT Universe has great respect for you.
They respect you, but they don't respect us.
The only way to gain their respect is by destroying you.
[Sanga] That's what we are going to do.
[Vic] Sanga and Veer laying waste to Julius and Brutus.
Oh, this is absolutely unreal.
-[grunts] -[suspense music playing]
Veer and Sanga keep saying this is about respect.
That's bull [bleep].
We've never been stepping stones for anybody.
[Veer] The Creed Brothers were the best tag team in NXT in 2022,
but we promise you, it will not be the same in 2023.
They chose the wrong team
because nobody will ever make their name off of us.
-Can you please just check his ribs? -No.
-Just for me. -My ribs are fine.
-You never mentioned your ribs. -They're fine.
They should've listened to Ivy.
-What are you doing? -I'm protecting my brothers.
-No, you're not. -Breathe for me.
I'm not gonna be able to clear you to compete.
We have waited for the perfect moment.
We could have beaten them when they were less than 100%,
but we didn't want any excuse from them or the WWE Universe.
You guys want respect at New Year's Evil?
[Julius] All you're going to get is body blows and power shots.
[Brutus] Respect is earned, it isn't given,
and we're not gonna give even a single inch.
[Veer] Next week, it's going to be a mauling.
[Vic] Respect's going to be earned one way or another.
[Vic] It all goes down next week at New Year's Evil.
["Gold" playing]
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
-Introducing first… -[Vic] Oh!
[Vic] Bernal jumping Mensah. We just got done talking about respect.
That's not any respect being shown.
[Booker T] That's called a steal right there, Vic, in the neighborhood.
You want to get a one-up on your opponent, then that's the way you do it.
[Vic] It didn't look like it worked out very well for Bernal.
As Mensah back to his feet. Bernal able to drop Mensah.
This is a must-win matchup for both these superstars here in the U.
[Booker T] It's 2023. It's about getting out the gate.
It's about getting out the gate quick.
Right now, Bernal, he's showing flashes of something.
Let's see if he can get a victory tonight.
[Vic] We know these superstars,
the whole locker room has circled Saturday, February 4th,
Vengeance Day, Charlotte.
They want to be part of that premium live event here in NXT.
[Booker T] Of course they want to be a part of it.
Especially Oro Mensah with that party animal mentality.
He wants to be a part of…
[Vic] Into the cover one more time, and a kickout.
First major NXT event ever held in the North Carolina area,
inside the Spectrum Center.
What a night it will be, but right now could be a big night for Bernal.
How can Bernal really make a leap here in the New Year?
As he goes into the cover. Looking for a victory.
And Mensah got that right shoulder up.
[Booker T] Bernal didn't have a great 2022.
He's had to look at that picture in the rear view of life.
Right now, he has to think about putting the pedal down in 2023.
Tonight, it starts with a victory over Mensah.
[Vic] Are you getting Queen Sharmell's Christmas album?
-[Vic] Real talk. -[Booker T] No, I'm not.
-I'll not do that. -[Vic] Fair enough.
Let's see [inaudible] about it. Back elbow, dropping Mensah.
[Booker T] Beautiful back elbow.
[Vic] No, you can't question, Book, Bernal's self-confidence.
As he goes into another cover, and another kickout.
This is something you talk about last year when it came to Bernal,
not going for covers and goofing around.
[Booker T] As well as the ability.
Right there, that elbow, that short elbow he crowned on Mensah.
Perfect way to… That's just the way I teach it.
Right there for Bernal, like I say, he has something.
Let's see if he can bring it out of him tonight.
[Vic] Mensah nice combination offense. Sending Bernal face first.
Look, it's Mensah who's trying to build on a bit of momentum he had in 2022.
What are you looking for out of Mensah in the New Year?
[Booker T] Mensah, this kid has a vibe about him.
The kid, he has style, he has that high-flying ability.
[Vic] He ain't flying now. Getting dropped off the DDT.
Shoots the half. Hooks the leg. Bernal looking for the win, and Mensah.
And I mean, he just, Book, got that right shoulder up.
I mean, just.
[Booker T] You can't be thinking about the partying now.
You gotta be thinking about going out and getting the job done.
-[audience chanting] -One, two, three.
[Vic] Let's not forget, though,
Bernal jumped Mensah at the start of this matchup.
As Mensah was making his entrance to the ring in front of the NXT Universe.
It's the first NXT of the New Year,
and Mensah is looking for a win here to kick off 2023, but so is Bernal.
-[groans] -Bernal sent with the backdrop.
[Booker T] Bernal was one step ahead up until that point right there.
Like I was talking about, the high-flying ability of Oro Mensah.
He's going to have bring it into the fold if he want to get a victory tonight.
[Vic] Wow, Mensah, able to weather that early storm.
-And you got to give credit for Bernal, -[thuds]
he pulled out all the tricks he possibly could
to get any advantage in this matchup,
but it looks like that advantage has run out as Mensah now.
-[Booker T] Oh, baby. -[Vic] Beautiful moonsault.
[Booker T] Didn't I tell you? Didn't I tell you?
Bringing in that highflying ability, bringing in that aerial assault right now.
Oh, beautiful.
[Vic] At first you don't succeed, try again.
Mensah connecting. Now charging in. Whoa!
-Able to stay one step ahead. Whoa. -[groans]
[Vic] Look at the interesting submission,
but he's got to relinquish the hold before the count of five.
[Booker T] The ropes right there. I didn't like that one part of that move.
Everything else, I loved it.
[Vic] Mensah a little bit of a smile on his face.
Certainly, opened the door.
-And now for Mensah. -[Mensah screams]
-Is that the moment he needed? -[audience chanting]
[thuds]
-[Vic] Setting his sights, ooh! On Bernal. -[thuds]
-[Booker T] That could be it. -[Vic] It could be.
[Vic] Into the cover off the spinning heel kick.
-[Booker T] Wow! -[Vic] What a way…
-[bell ringing] -…to kick off the New Year for Mensah.
-[Booker T] Good for this kid. -[Alicia] Here is your winner, Oro Mensah.
[Vic] Book, we said it at the start of the matchup, both needed a win.
Both wanted to start the New Year off on the right foot,
and the one superstar that did that? Oro Mensah.
["Gold" playing]
And relax…
It was good music, good beer, good movies, good everything.
Let's talk about how Fallon's out there fighting like an animal out there.
Look, I've been saying for two weeks now, 2023 is going be our year.
Hell yeah. You have, brother.
And now that we got the bar all squared away,
old Fallon can go and win that Battle Royal.
-And go to Vengeance Day. -Yes.
And win that women's title.
-Easy. -Easy.
I'm not here to fight, Fallon.
I'm just here to congratulate you on your big victory last week.
-Sure, you are. -You beat me fair and square.
And although I think that condos would look great on the land,
I'm going to hold up my end of the bargain.
Good luck, and I'll see you in the Battle Royal next week.
-What I tell you about her? -And, Brooks, text me later?
-Oh, you know I will. -[audience cheering]
When did that happen?
-["Ivy League Traditions" playing] -[Booker T laughs]
[Booker T] That boy Brooks' nose wide open, dawg.
[laughs] I love it.
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing Chase University,
Andre Chase.
[Vic] Chase better have his eyes wide open
heading into this teacher versus teacher showdown.
Chase, Gulak, next on NXT.
That's what we'd do.
[woman] Everyone has their secrets in NXT. What's yours?
That was a video that was posted earlier today.
And we have an official statement actually from our digital team that said,
"That video was sent to our NXT account. We don't know what to make of it."
But obviously, as we all witnessed, Chance or Carter,
were not very happy with being recorded,
and for not being made aware of what was going on.
[Vic] It'll be an interesting situation, somewhat of a disturbing one
as we continue to roll on here in the first NXT of the New Year
with Andre Chase.
-[audience cheering] -["Fade" playing]
[Alicia] And his opponent, accompanied by Hank Walker, Drew Gulak.
[Vic] True student of the game passing his knowledge on.
Obviously, as we witnessed here firsthand during the first Drew Gulak Invitational.
It was very interesting. We see Charlie Dempsey right now
watching this matchup certainly very closely.
He was not medically cleared, of course, to compete tonight.
He would be taking on Hank Walker, but Walker will be on the outside,
as we mentioned, watching what is going on in this matchup firsthand
from his, I guess you could say teacher, that being Drew Gulak.
[Booker T] Yeah, man. This match is pretty much thrown together.
I understand Andre Chase. I have a school myself, Vic,
but I think he may be taking this thing a little bit too far,
and making it maybe perhaps a little bit too personal.
Drew Gulak was just trying to help those kids.
[Vic] I'm glad you bring that up
because Andre Chase, we saw earlier a little aggressive,
maybe some would say, when it came to Drew Gulak.
-[bell ringing] -Do you think owning your own school
that Drew overstepped the boundary?
That he stepped on Chase's toes a bit too much?
[Booker T] You could see those kids were enjoying the atmosphere.
They're learning from one of the best, and I'm talking about Drew Gulak.
Taking nothing away from Andre Chase's school,
and I think that just got under his skin just a little bit more than anything, Vic.
[Vic] Nice clean break between…
Turning into a sportsmanship as well.
Look, also Chase didn't take to Drew's comments of mixed results
when it came to the students and what they were learning,
-what they could apply in the ring. -[Booker T] Look, look.
The students told him that.
He didn't just find that information by osmosis or anything like that.
That's what he was told by someone. I don't know who it was.
-[audience chanting] -Well, the pupils at ringside
for both Chase and Gulak.
Looking for maybe a crossface chickenwing.
Wisely it was this time, Chase is getting to the top rope.
Again, clean break between the two.
I'll ask you this one up front here, who's the better teacher?
You teach. Who's the better teacher?
[Booker T] I can't answer that question. I really can't, but I can tell you this.
Drew Gulak, he is what I call a precision tactician,
a straight shooter, and I think we called him a hooker.
Guy come in, thinks he knows the business, you send him to Gulak.
Gulak stretch him. He'll never come back a day in his life.
[Vic] Submit attack, that is the mantra of Gulak.
As Walker here on the outside.
Hudson, Thea Hail on the outside for Chase U.
Again, all these students right here getting a front-row seat for this contest.
A nice arm drag by Andre Chase, and at least right now.
-[audience cheering] -Chase one step ahead.
[Booker T] You're looking at the teacher. Of course, they…
This is a teachable moment.
[Vic] You didn't say anything wrong there.
[Booker T] They look up to the teacher but right now,
-he's in the ring with a master, man. -[audience chanting]
That's Gulak. Right now this right here
is going to be a schooling I think for Andre Chase.
[Vic] Gulak is answering right back with a textbook, belly to back suplex.
-Now, you talk about stretching. -[audience chanting]
[Vic] You talked about applying a submission, with a little extra oomph,
as we see Dempsey continuing to look on.
-[Booker T] Look at that. Look at that. -[Vic] Ooh, yeah.
[Booker T] Look at how Gulak got that armbar in there.
[Vic] I was more interested in what Dempsey just did.
Threw off his sling. Did you see that?
[Booker T] Yeah, I saw that. That kid, he's a little cocky.
He has a little something about him that I like as well.
[Vic] These two are going from a textbook clash.
-Now, just trying to overpower. -[thuds]
Nice suplex with a bridge, and a kickout by Chase.
Gulak quickly looking right over at Walker.
[Vic] Did you notice that? Did you see that?
[Booker T] Let me tell you something, Vic. This started out as a contest,
but somewhere down the line,
it's going to break out. It's going break out.
Sooner or later, somebody's going to do something
and I can't wait.
[Vic] You talked about Walker on the outside.
He stood up, ooh, for Gulak earlier today.
Stood up for his mentor in front of Andre Chase,
which led to this matchup.
Nice, Chase. Nice counter. Uh-oh. Russian leg sweep.
-We know what this is going to bring. -[audience cheering]
-Get that student section ready. -[audience cheering]
-Give me a C. -[audience] C.
-H. -[audience] H.
-A. -[audience] A
-S. -[audience] S.
-E. -[audience] E.
-U. -[audience] U.
-What's that spell? -[audience] Chase U!
[Vic] You still haven't visited the campus?
[Booker T] No, I haven't been to the campus,
but let me tell you something right now.
I think Chase just started something right there with that basement dropkick.
That had nothing to do with wrestling.
That had nothing to do with this style of competition.
[Vic] You talked about the dropkick that went low,
kinda sets up for this figure four.
As Gulak gets to the bottom rope to break the hold.
[Booker T] Let me tell you.
Drew Gulak came into this thinking this was a contest, this is an exhibition.
-[Booker T] And that basement… -[Vic] Oh!
[Booker T] That was out of bounds.
[Vic] Well, sportsmanship just got thrown out. Now, look at Gulak.
-Talk about turning up the aggression. -[Booker T] It's payback right here, Vic.
[Vic] Certainly is, and you said it was going to pop off at some moment.
Gulak now just steamrolling over Chase.
[Booker T] And the question is, who started it?
[Vic] What do you mean?
[Booker T] I think Andre Chase started it with that basement dropkick.
Like I say, Gulak coming in
thinking this is going to be a man-on-man contest of pugilism.
It didn't happen that way.
Gulak's locking in with the Gu-Lock. Now, Chase has nowhere to go.
-[Vic] Has to tap. -[bell ringing]
[referee] Come on, break it.
Come on. Break it. Come on. Come on, Gulak.
-[Vic] Let him go. -[Booker T] Didn't I tell you?
Didn't I tell you, Vic?
[Alicia] Here is your winner by submission, Drew Gulak.
-Yeah! -["Fade" playing]
Yes. Why you didn't go?
Yes! Yes!
[Booker T] That's real, dawg. That's real.
[Vic] Even Walker's taken back a little bit.
Wes Lee, 2022 was a whirlwind of a year for you to say the least.
-Whirlwind is a perfect way of putting it. -Well, thank you.
Hey, you ended the year by retaining the North American Championship,
but it seems like Tony D'Angelo and Dijak aren't going anywhere.
Right? I mean, Tony's out here still flapping his gums
about how Dijak's the reason why he's not the North American Champion.
Then Dijak's out here continuing to build a strong case for a title match as well.
But even though they say they want this title as much as they do,
seems like they want to fight each other even more after earlier tonight.
I honestly can't wait to see them beat the hell out of each other next week. Ooh!
As a matter of fact, I think I need to get a front row seat to this Demolition derby.
Maybe sit down there next to the Booker and Vic.
Have a little popcorn and make it an event. Yeah!
And then after it's done,
whoever gets the dub gets a shot of the North American Championship next.
-That sounds like a great idea. -Right? You know what?
Happy New Year, McKenzie.
Happy New Year to you too, Wes.
-[Big E] It's a New Day. Yes, it is. -[Vic] I like that idea.
Popcorn, Wes Lee, the champ sitting here with us.
-[Booker T] I hate that idea. -[Vic] Not to mention the New Day.
Not enough room out here for anybody but us.
-["New Day, New Way" playing] -[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by Xavier Woods,
one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions, the New Day, Kofi Kingston.
[Vic] Hey, did you see Kofi doing the side plate check?
That's a message directly to Pretty Deadly.
Kofi Kingston in action after what transpired earlier tonight.
He's going to go one-on-one with Schism's Joe Gacy next here on NXT.
[audience cheering]
[Vic] We are back on NXT.
[heartbeat thumping]
["Love Is Blind" playing]
♪ Love is blind ♪
[Alicia] And his opponent, representing Schism, Joe Gacy.
♪ I'm all yours The only reason I'm here ♪
♪ So baby don't fear ♪
♪ I'm yours I might have lied A few times before ♪
[Vic] What a night it has been. The first NXT of the New Year.
One half of the NXT Tag Team Champions, Kofi Kingston,
getting set to go one-on-one with Joe Gacy.
A lot was said earlier tonight between those two superstars
as they get ready to slug it out here in just a matter of moments.
Book, I got to address something that you said a few minutes ago as well,
that there's only room for two out here.
There's only enough room for two out here.
I got to let everyone know as we see Kofi Kingston getting ready
that that's a member of New Day,
but we're being joined by member of New Day,
one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions, the one and only Xavier Woods.
Do you have something to say to the man?
-[Woods] I guess some. -[Vic] Welcome him, please.
-[Woods] Welcome me. -[Booker T] How are you doing?
[Woods] I'm doing great. How are you doing?
-[Booker T] Are you doing all right? -[Woods] I'm doing all right
and you notice I'm sitting here by my man, Vic.
[Booker T] How do you feel? How you feel about yourself?
[Woods] I'm about to see my man, Kofi Kingston, take down Gacy.
[Vic] I appreciate the comment too.
[Woods] Of course, I'm sitting on your side.
[Vic] Kingston with a back elbow dropping Gacy.
Now Kofi quickly into the cover, hook of the leg.
Gacy able to fight out at one. I've been waiting to ask you this question
because I won't get a straight answer out of Booker.
Big E, is he classified as part of the NXT Tag Team Champions?
-[Woods] Of course he is. -[Vic] Book, see?
[Vic] I told you Big E's a tag team champion.
[Woods] One of us win, all of us win.
[Vic] High crossbody, cover, another kickout.
[Booker T] Big E is finished just like the New Day is going to be
by the end of this NXT run. Trust me on that.
[Woods] Book, what are you talking about?
You got all these things to say, but I don't see [inaudible] around here.
If you want some of the New Day? Come on, call them up.
[Booker T] I'm not looking for a fight. I'm thinking about this young talent.
[Vic] Whoa. Ava Raine, distracted what was going on.
-Fowler had the referee. -[Booker T] Four roots, one tree.
-That's what it's all about, baby. -[Woods] Four roots, one tree, come on.
[Vic] Now Schism's turning things right around for Gacy.
And Gacy claimed there's no chain of command in Schism
as he just plants Kingston.
What it would do for those four roots
if Gacy was able to knock off a former WWE Champion.
-[Woods] That's not… -[Booker T] I give Joe Gacy so much credit
for taking this match right here. God, he has undeniable aura and charisma.
If he can get a win over Kofi Kingston, what would that do for his career?
[Vic] Not only that, you heard from the Dyad earlier,
they were talking to you, Woods, talking to Kofi as well.
-They believe you're scared of them. -[audience chanting]
The Dyad believes you two are scared. You won't mention them.
[Woods] Scared? Not even almost, we have been through this so many times.
We've been in this position, now we are in NXT.
New Day is the greatest tag team in the history of WWE is here,
and we're helping cultivate all this fresh, fantastic new talent.
-[Booker T] That's the problem. -[Woods] What's the problem?
[Booker T] You shouldn't be here. You should be on SmackDown.
We're looking at Kofi Kingston in the ring now,
15-times Tag Team Champion, 4-times Intercontinental Champion,
three-times US Champion, one-time WWE Champion.
You guy's done it all and he's taking on Joe Gacy,
a guy who has, what, won '99 Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
[Woods] A man who in the Iron Survivor match
-was the only one who didn't get pinned. -[Booker T] Come on, here. Come on.
[Vic] That's fact-checking.
[Woods] We are making sure that NXT is doing
what they're supposed to be doing.
We're here to make sure the next generation
is as good as they should be.
-[Booker T] Good. Gacy put it on. -[Vic] Gacy said he is in Schism.
[Booker T] Put him on his seat like Xavier Woods to my left.
[Vic] He is in Schism to lead with his guidance.
He knows exactly what a win would do tonight.
But, Woods, you're sitting here, you're as confident as ever.
You know what Kofi can overcome.
[Woods] Kofi's been here before. I've seen Kofi in many worst predicaments.
This is exactly why we are here, Book, because we are putting people to the test.
We are here to make sure that everyone is as good as they can possibly be.
[Booker T] Vic, ask me if Kofi Kingston qualified?
[Vic] I'm not walking into this little bit.
You're not going to get me to walk into it with Woods sitting to my left.
And Woods now, nice dropkick there rocking Gacy back.
I do have to also ask, what's on the list for Pretty Deadly?
-[Woods] Whoa! A lot of stuff. -[Vic] I can tell.
[Woods] We got Big Boss Man's nightstick. We got The Rock's eyebrow.
[Vic] Oh, The Rock's eyebrow? How'd you shave that off?
[Woods] That's not our problem. They gotta figure it out.
[Vic] I guess that is a very good point.
But it was Gacy who talked about brotherhood earlier tonight.
That's Kofi into the cover. Gacy is able to kick out.
But does it really get under your skin
when Gacy is questioning the definition of family to you and Woods?
[Woods] Of course it is. Of course it's me and Kofi. That's okay.
But New Day's been together longer than any group
in the history of this company, so, of course, it rubs us the wrong way.
[Booker T] There it is, you just said it yourself.
Been together longer than anybody in this company.
Ask me if Kofi Kingston's qualified?
-[Vic] I'm not walking into it, Book. -[Booker T] Let me tell you.
[Booker T] Of course, he's qualified.
[Vic] Whoa! Looking for Trouble in Paradise. Couldn't connect.
-Now Gacy's turning it around with a DDT. -[Booker T] Cover him. Cover him.
This is it. Let's go.
[Vic] Kingston. Kicks it out. Shoulder, kicks out, off the mat.
[Woods] Resiliency, that's why it's in 2K.
[Booker T] That's the instinct of a professional.
-And I take nothing away from Kofi. -[Woods] You can't.
The guy is totally credible.
He can go out here and get a victory at a moment's notice,
but like I say, he shouldn't be here. It's wrong. He's stealing money.
[Woods] It's horrible that he's giving the opportunities
-to new performers. Why do that? -[Vic] Oh!
-[Booker T] What are you talking about? -[Vic] Turning things inside out.
Kingston now looking for the dub, and Gacy, able to kick out again.
[Woods] One of those things on the list Pretty Deadly will get
-is Booker T's nose strips. -[Vic] Ooh.
-[Woods] You got any left? -[Vic] Hey, that's your own thing.
I'll leave you to that until after the show
because Kofi right now could be looking, take away…
-[Vic] Wait a minute. -[thuds]
-[Vic] The Dyad one more time. -[Booker T] There you go
[Booker T] Four roots, one tree, Vic. That's what I'm talking about.
-[inaudible]. -You wanna fight, you fight.
-[Vic] Woods with the eye of Schism. -[Booker T] He ain't gonna do nothing.
[Vic] Swing and a miss. Kofi's taking it up and over.
[Booker T] What was that? What was that all about?
[Vic] It was effective, Book, but Gacy getting Kofi back into the ring.
Gacy looking for the exclamation point.
Looking for that spinning uranage, able to counter by Kofi.
-[Booker T] Kofi right now… -[Vic] Kofi ducks. Kofi connects.
-Trouble in Paradise! -[Booker T] Oh, no!
-[Vic] Gacy's rocked. Gacy's down. -[Booker T] Oh, no, no, no!
[Vic] And Kofi stands tall.
-[bell ringing] -[audience cheering]
["New Day, New Way" playing]
-[Vic] That was fun, wasn't it, Book? -[Booker T] What the hell?
[Alicia] Here's your winner, the NXT Tag Team Champion, Kofi Kingston.
[Vic] But the winners were the New Day.
[Booker T] Don't touch me, man. Don't touch me.
Y'all are great competitors, but you're not as good.
-I set the tone, Hank. Andre Chase? -Yeah. Andre Chase.
At the end, you held on a little too much there.
When he was tapping, you still held onto the submission.
Hank, a win's a win's a win.
Hey, Gulak.
Oh, flower. How's that arm feeling? Where's your little sling?
Injured or not, next week, it's on.
Oh, it's on. Yeah, it's on.
Hank's gonna be ready and you rest up that arm nice
because he's gonna rip it out of its socket.
-What? -Let's go.
[Vic] Oh, there is Grayson Waller who's been playing mind games
as you heard him say earlier tonight, believes he has the champion's number.
And there is Bron Breakker, the champion. Can he stay calm, cool, and collected?
The Grayson Waller Effect is next live on NXT.
I just want to get my title because we're never gonna win.
[indistinct chatter]
Hey, hey, we got every single one but that last one, impossible.
Yes. Whether you say you can or cannot, you're…
No, no! Enough! Stop talking! We've done jumping through hoops for you!
We're the best tag team here and you soon know it.
Oh, slow down, man. These titles here say that we're the best.
As for second best, we're not really too sure about that.
Who's to say? Who?
Hey, we're going to do it in the ring. Next week, we'll run the Gauntlet.
We'll take on three top tag teams to prove that we earn it.
Wow. Well, nobody loves a Gauntlet more than your boys, the New Day.
-Did he say three of them? -I hate that.
-Three teams, three next week. -All right.
You guys win that Gauntlet match, consider yourselves number one contenders
and you get a shot at these right here.
Deal. Now go on and get it.
-Get out of our locker room, guys. -Check your wallet.
[upbeat music playing]
[audience] Ten, nine, eight, seven…
[woman] The best way to predict the future is to create it.
[audience] …three…
-[woman] This will be my year. -[audience] …one.
[audience cheering]
[Vic] Get the champagne ready for New Year's Evil
because after Dijak disposed of Stacks earlier.
Next week will look to serve up his brand of justice again this time
against "The Don" Tony D'Angelo, Dijak go one-on-one,
next Tuesday at New Year's Evil.
Not only that matchup, how about this one? It is made official.
Charlie Dempsey will be 100% next week.
How much has Hank Walker learned and can he pass the test
when these two finally do battle in one week's time
here live on USA at New Year's Evil.
But we learned this earlier because we witnessed the chaos firsthand.
Whoever is the last woman standing will compete for the NXT women's title
on Saturday, February 4th in Charlotte, at Vengeance Day.
The number one contender will be decided next week at NXT's New Year's Evil.
This is a matchup, Book, you have been waiting for,
the battle of respect between these two teams.
No more talking.
Creek Brothers, Indus Sher look to go at it next week.
It's all live at NXT New Year's Evil.
["Eye On The Prize" playing]
♪ Ask who did it, I did it I does it, everyday is the season ♪
♪ Believe it Well thought out, strategic ♪
♪ Staring in the mirror The only one I compete with ♪
Welcome to a very special edition of the Grayson Waller Effect.
-A night no one will ever forget -[audience booing]
because it is the final public appearance of Bron Breakker as NXT Champion.
-[audience cheering] -[audience booing]
And what better way to celebrate that than to jump into a discussion?
I'm live on Instagram right now. It's already going off.
Let's get that jittery TV camera on me right now
because I'm looking fresh tonight too.
In one week, I save NXT.
I fulfill living that championship life
when I claim the richest prize on this brand
at New Year's Evil.
But enough about that.
Put your paws together and give me a big group woof for the future…
["Fear No Evil" playing]
[Vic] I think the champion has heard enough from his challenger.
Next Tuesday, the mind games are over,
but has Grayson Waller gotten under the skin, Book, of the champion?
-[Booker T] What? -[Vic] Has he done enough?
[Booker T] You know what I think about this young man, Bron Breakker,
no friends, no water, just meat.
[Vic] Bron Breakker right now, knows he's the champ,
knows his back's against the wall.
This is a lot of combustible elements here.
as Grayson Waller continuing to chirp.
Very interested to see what Waller has to say
when he comes face-to-face with Bron Breakker.
[Booker T] Adjure no more, the man is here.
The champ, Bron Breakker.
[audience cheering]
Look at this guy, interrupting me before I even give you a big introduction.
I can feel the tension already, but welcome, Bron Bron.
Try not to break the TV this time.
Yeah. Thanks for having me on, man. It's a pleasure.
Look at you all excited and modest,
but inside, I know you want to rip my head off, huh?
I don't know about that. We'll see. We'll see.
Okay.
Hey, we got some questions coming in. Let's have a look.
So many people talking right now.
We got Jazmine in the chat, but, hey, I like this question here.
It's from Grayson WWE.
What's it like to play your hero Goldberg
in the sequel, The Spear Seen Around the World?
You must have felt so dumb, brother. Why would I wear a fur coat in Florida?
Yeah, you got me.
Well, like, it's so hot here. How could you possibly fall for that?
What else would I be doing?
-Have you even watched Goldberg before? -[laughs]
Yeah, You outsmarted me. For sure. Yeah.
Outsmarted?
Mate, I turned you into a straight-up meme, lad.
How'd that feel? Because I could watch it over and over and over and over.
Damn. I've seen the memes, man. They're pretty funny.
That's a point for you.
A point for me? I do too.
But if we looked at the points right now leading to New Year's Evil,
it says Grayson Waller, two million, Bron Breakker, zero.
[chuckles]
You got the points, yeah. [laughs]
-Yeah, I do know the score. -I bet you do.
All right. What are you doing?
Where is the Bron that wants to rip my head off,
spear me out of my body?
Is he even still in there anymore?
If not, next week won't be a contest,
it'll be a coronation for a brand new NXT Champion.
Hold on. Hold on. I know what you're doing.
I'm smarter than this. I know what he's doing.
Look, Waller, you're good, you're smart, you're crafty.
Okay. Keep going. You can have all the time we've got.
USA, we're going late. Bron's going hard.
Hang on. Let me get to the good part.
-Hang on. -All right. All right.
Hey, everyone, shut up because the future, former NXT Champion
is going to say some things about Grayson Waller.
[audience cheering]
Now, look, all right? What separates you from everyone else
is you know how to get under everybody's skin.
-Better than anyone. -Right.
So, I mean…
If you think about it,
the best possible compliment that I can give you
is that you're just outsmarting everybody else.
-That's what I do. -Right?
You're quite frankly just better than everybody.
Wait a minute, I go viral. All I do is go viral.
You're the viral guy, right? That's your gig.
Let's talk about all your viral moments, shall we?
-Let's do it. -Let's do it.
How about WarGames?
Jumping off the top of the cage?
-It's a viral moment. -Viral moment.
How about hitting Johnny Gargano on the back with a chair?
[audience booing]
-It's a viral moment. -Viral moment.
How about jumping off the big tall ladder at Stand and Deliver?
Viral moment. That's what I do. I do viral moments.
-It's a viral moment. -You're jealous of that, right?
How about blinding Apollo Crews' vision?
All I do is viral, lad. All I do is viral.
Viral moment, right?
To me, those are distractions.
All right? I know at New Year's Evil, you're gonna show up,
you'll give me your best shot, put it all on the line.
Hell, some of these people may leave here talking about Grayson Waller that night,
and I'm going to leave here still the NXT Champion.
Oh, you think so, huh?
And that, my friend, in a nutshell, really, is the Grayson…
Don't you dare. Don't you dare.
-Waller… -Stop.
This is my show, don't disrespect me.
…Effect.
Hey, that's big coming from an overrated champion
who's only done one thing here and that's steal his dad's gimmick.
[audience cheering]
Do it, do it. I dare you, lad. I dare you.
[audience chanting]
You know what?
I don't give a damn what you say. I love my father.
So I'll see you next week.
Hey, I said, you are nothing more…
-[thuds] -[audience grunt]
[Vic] Well, Bron finally heard enough from Waller.
You want your moment.
[Booker T] [inaudible], that's what that was.
-This could be a quick preview… Oh. -[audience chanting]
[inaudible].
-[audience cheering] -[screams]
-[Vic] Did you see that, Book? -[Booker T] Yes, I did.
[Booker T] That's a message, Vic. Oh, my goodness.
-[groaning] -[Booker T] New Year's Evil.
[audience chanting]
-["Fear No Evil" playing] -[Vic] Message certainly sent.
Will Waller have his viral moment or with the ball drop on the title dreams
as Bron Breakker starts 2023 the same way he ended 2022, champion?
Don't miss New Year's Evil.