[WWE intro music playing]
[male announcer] Then.
-[man] Woo! -[Booker] Let's hear some more!
[male announcer] Now.
[Roman Reign] Acknowledge me!
-[Triple H] The king of kings! -[John Cena] You can't see me!
[male announcer] Forever.
Together.
NXT Battleground's gonna come to Lowell, may 28.
[streamer] There's so much happening at this event.
The ticket you have to get.
["Animal" by Pvris playing]
[Vic] We've witnessed WWE history in this town before.
-[Booker] Ooh, yeah! -[crowd cheering]
[Sean Grande] We are live right here, in Lowell, Massachusetts!
[Vic] Oh, no, no, no!
Rock's the new champion!
From being first to crown the people's champion,
to being front and center to witness the emergence of a new attitude.
Vincent, I did it!
[Vic] This town has always embraced the new generation.
[Sean Grande] NXT Lowell, are you ready?
This is the "local guy makes good" story coming back home.
[Hayes] I had actually gone as a fan the last time we were in Lowell,
so it's so cool to go now as the champ.
[Vic] History shows that walking into this town as NXT champion
doesn't guarantee you'll walk out with the gold.
After battleground, you're gonna realize that you're not him.
[crowd cheering]
[Bon] You're nothing.
Beating you is gonna help me create the dynasty
that I'm about to build over your body.
[Vic] With NXT back on the road, beneath the shadow of Beantown,
we've arrived at the precipice of another NXT milestone.
Who will be the next to hold the prestigious Women's Championship?
[grunts and yells]
[Vic] Just who will be left standing in Lowell?
The battleground is being crept
with possible champions taking claim to the gold.
And with these NXT superstars on their road to glory,
battleground is all about making some history of their own.
[Crowd chanting "NXT"]
[male announcer] And now, WWE presents NXT battleground.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Every battle begins with conflict,
as the battle is about to be laid out tonight.
We are live in the shadows of Boston, in Lowell, Massachusetts,
where our superstars are prepared to fight!
Welcome to NXT Battleground,
and welcoming at ringside I'm Vic Joseph,
alongside with the two-time WWE Hall of Fame Booker T.
Booker, we've felt nothing but excitement since we have arrived.
Man, I had excitement last night.
I must congratulate the Boston Celtics, man.
That boy, Jason Tatum… They did it, man.
They pushed going to game seven!
It's about to get on in here, man!
Let's get ready for the first championship match,
tonight here, at Battleground.
[Wes Lee's "Assemble" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[crowd cheers] -[bell rings]
[female announcer] The following Triple Threat Match
is scheduled for one fall.
Including NXT North American Championship!
Introducing first, he is the NXT North American champion,
Wes Lee!
[crowd cheers]
[Vic] Our love for the NXT universe,
because with a victory tonight, Booker,
Lee will have the most successful title defenses
of the North American Championship.
-How can anyone question his greatness? -[Booker] Oh, man!
[Booker] I mean, you can't. I look at this kid, Wes Lee,
and I say it all the time, he's a special talent.
He's that kid, Vic.
He's that rose that just grew right out of the concrete!
He's a special, special individual,
and tonight he's got a chance to go out there
and do something very special in the middle of the squared circle.
Oh, my God, man!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Wes Lee"]
[Vic] Wes Lee's defending this. Of course, in the the triple threat rules
There is no champion's advantage.
[Tyler bate's "Born Animal" playing]
[female announcer] Introducing the challengers.
-First, Tyler bate! -[crowd cheering]
[Vic] And the big, strong boy, no stranger to wearing gold.
One of the youngest champions ever in WWE history.
And really, since his first championship reign
as the United Kingdom champion,
how has he matured in your Hall of Fame eyes?
[Book] Matured? He's a champion.
I must say this young man, Tyler Bate, he's smart,
because he slimed his way, he stole his way right into this match.
The thing is, I'm not looking down on him for that, Vic.
That's what this business is all about.
You gotta watch your back all the time, man.
[Vic] We'll talk about that as this match continues,
because Tyler Bate is very deserving
-of a North American championship. -[Booker] Oh, yes.
[Book] I'm not saying that he isn't, Vic. I'm not saying that!
[Vic] You said, "If you're not cheating, you're not trying.
[Book] You know what? Like I said,
did I say I was doubting him for that?
I just said, "Look, if I'm gonna go into a bout,
I'm gonna tell a man exactly what I'm all about."
This man, Tyler Bate, is not like that.
[Vic] You can see Wes Lee won't even look Tyler Bate in the eyes.
Looking right past one of his two challengers.
[Joe Gacy's "Love is Blind" playing]
[crowd cheering and booing]
[female announcer] Accompanied to the ring by Ava,
representing Schism,
Joe Gacy!
[Vic] One thing we've always talked about is just
how dangerous Joe Gacy is.
And he doesn't want the North American Championship
for its prestige.
He wants it for the power.
-[Book] Yeah. -[Vic] He wants it for the platform
to continue to spread his message.
[Booker] Well, Joe Gacy, he's a manipulator, man.
You look in his eyes, you could fall under that spell of Joe Gacy.
Tonight, let me tell you something, he is a very, very accomplished individual
in the middle of that squared circle.
Don't let the smooth taste fool you, man.
[Vic] Gacy not coming alone.
There of course is Ava.
And how will she play a factor in this triple threat match?
Again, Wes Lee, the champion does not need to be factored in the decision
to lose his championship here tonight, at NXT battleground.
[Booker] You said it there, Vic. "Factor". The X-Factor.
That's what Ava is.
[Vic] What a way to kick off battleground here tonight.
I wanna talk about Wes Lee again real quick, upfront here.
For someone who's had doubters throughout his career…
[bell rings]
[Vic] How has Lee proven himself to the naysayers?
This is gonna be quick. First cover of the matchup.
-[Booker] Here we go. Wait. -[Vic] Oh, oh.
[Vic] Bate trying to get Lee down, and here comes Gacy crucifix pin.
His shoulders are down. The referee doing a lot of work here upfront.
[Booker] Thing's fluid right here off the top.
Wes Lee is that kid that has gone out there,
and proved he's a man inside that squared circle
each and every night,
Competing against the best, here at NXT,
proving that he is that man, that guy.
[Vic] Here's what you were talking about earlier,
the friendship between Lee and Bate.
And for so-- Oh! Lee goes charging, and Bate took us.
What the hell, Tyler?
[crowd yelling]
[Vic] Well, look, Joe Gacy, Book, has done a masterful job
driving a wedge between these two,
that being Lee and Bate,
-but he just got tossed-- Ooh. -[Booker] All he had to do
-is quote the OG. -[Vic] Here we go.
[Booker] All he had to do is quote the OG.
They're smiling in your face
while all the time they're stabbing you in your back!
That's what this kid Tyler Bate has been doing.
[crowd yelling]
[Vic] Gacy, I think this plan's gonna backfire,
because both Lee and Bate are going to the outside.
There's no count outs, no disqualification.
You got to win by pinfall submission inside the squared circle.
[Booker] There are no friendships here. Every man for himself right here,
because it's about one thing, it's about that North American Championship.
Oh, yeah. It's heating up a little bit.
[Vic] This is what you were talking about. There's no friendships!
There's just three superstars with one piece of gold.
-And Gacy! -[Booker] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
Gacy's just wiped out the field!
And now, look, this is the danger of a triple threat match for Lee.
Lee's taken down.
Gacy pins Bate, Gacy wins the North American title.
[Booker] Gacy's very calculated right there.
He saw that window opening, he just slipped right inside.
Almost put himself in a position to get a victory.
Right now, that big, strong boy is, look--
-Wow, man! -[Vic] High-impact nasty landing.
-[crowd counts down] -[Vic] Gacy into the cover,
and Wes Lee just breaking up the count.
[Booker] One thing about Joe Gacy, he's crafty, man.
He's a crafty individual. Check him out right here.
[Vic] Just absolutely rolling,
to start this match with a back ring. Bam!
Big high impact from Gacy,
who's a half second away from becoming the north American champion.
But you talk about Gacy, his best attribute in this match
really is mind manipulation.
Able to drive that wedge between two former friends.
We've seen time and time again in his career.
-He goes up and-- Oh! German suplex! -[Booker] Oh, yeah!
[Vic] Quick shoulders down and a near fall!
Wes Lee!
[Booker] He's getting riled up, trying to get into your opponent's head.
But Imma tell you, one thing about this young man, Wes Lee,
he has been major laser-focused.
-Check him out. -[Vic] Ooh!
[Vic] Wes Lee, a nice job, too.
Off the German presence of mind, to secure the pin.
And now Wes Lee, the one who is in control.
-Double stomp, right to the back! -[Booker] Wes Lee, like I said,
-he's not gonna sit… -[Vic] Oh!
-[Book] and watch the action. -[Vic] Shoulders down
and another near fall.
[Booker] This kid wants to get right in the middle of the action.
We know he'll threw caution to the wind, Vic.
-Check it out. Oh, yeah! -[Vic] Let's take a look.
[Vic] Aside of Wes Lee, just able to kick out, was Tyler Bate.
When it comes to Wes Lee, we asked him this Tuesday about the records,
about the longest-reigning North American champion.
He said he's not focused on the numbers.
He's focused on being the best.
[Booker] That's what make great champions.
If you think about being the best in that locker room,
championship just follow along, man.
Trust me, I'm a living proof.
-Thirty-five. 35, Vic! -[Vic] Oh!
[Vic] We can add them all night,
but right now, we're trying to add up yet another suplex on Tyler Bate!
And the big, strong boy now,
has turned the momentum around in this matchup.
[Booker] With a little attitude there, with that little nip up.
[Vic] We talk about Gacy's greatest attribute,
It will be the strength of Tyler Bate here tonight.
[Booker] Wow.
[Vic] And Bate now, standing shooting star!
He's into the cover, into the count!
Oh, he saw Gacy coming.
Presence of mind by Bate. And now Bate-- Oh oh!
Trying to hoist up Gacy,
easily the largest athlete in this matchup.
A little bop and bang, but didn't happen.
Oh, second time the charm!
[Booker] Nice jab there, by the…
The strength of this young man, Vic.
[Vic] Round and round, a little spin!
And Bate…
-No way. -[crowd cheering]
[Booker] No way.
No way he's gonna be able to do this.
Hell, no!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] NXT universe…
[ovation]
[Vic] in awe of the big, strong boy.
Ooh!
Can you-- [laughs] An airplane spin and a swing?
-Bate doing it all! -[Book laughs]
And, oh, boy! Right center of the ring as well.
And Bate now leads down.
Bate in the cover and…
Oh!
[Booker] One thing about the championship run
is always, you know, when you hit the wall
and we've been wondering for a long time,
when is this young man, Wes Lee, going to hit that wall, Vic?
[Vic] Look, I know you talked about Tyler bate earlier.
[crowd chanting "Wes Lee"]
As you see, the Tsongas Center here,
in the shadows of Boston, fired up for NXT Battleground.
You can't blame Tyler Bate. He didn't do anything malicious.
He said he was coming after the championship.
[Booker] Come on, Vic. You know what?
I don't mind you coming out for the championship,
but don't try to be my friend,
you know, along the way. Because this is a man's game, Vic.
It is about competition.
I don't mind that, but don't try to sneak your way in
like this lion did right here, this Tyler Bate.
-[crowd chanting] -[grunts]
[grunts]
[Vic] 50-50 split here, between Lee and Bate from the NXT universe.
But Lee's the one in control right now. Nice.
Whoa, wait a minute!
Oh! What--? Gacy!
[Booker] Right place at the right time, Vic.
-Wow! -[Vic] Two for one special!
-[Booker] Cover him! Cover him! -[Vic] Uh-oh.
[Vic] Gacy looking to make Schism's roots stronger here tonight.
[crowd chants "NXT"]
[Vic] Gacy gets caught by bate.
Bate with the knee lift, charges him, gets caught though, by Gacy!
And one more time,
Gacy taking out the field!
-[Gacy screams] -[Booker] Can you imagine, Vic?
Can you imagine Joe Gacy becoming the North American champion?
How strong would that make Schism?
[Vic] And Gacy looking for a submission.
-Wes Lee has nowhere to go. -[Booker] Oh, he's got him locked in!
[Booker] Middle of the ring, Vic. He's stuck.
[Vic] Here, Gacy talking right into Lee's ear.
-Lee… -[screams]
[Vic] The heart of a champion, but how much is left in Lee tonight?
The referee may have to add a wherewithal, understanding how to do something.
-Oh, wow! -[Vic] Bate stepped in.
[Vic] Tried to do something.
But look at Gacy, looking in the eyes of Bate.
Now, look in the eyes of Gacy.
[Booker] Oh, yeah. Sadistic, man.
[Vic] And while this is going on, is Lee gonna tap?
You see the arm high in the air.
Bate trying to get right back in.
Finally, Bate, swinging away to break up and save this matchup,
as this triple threat match rolls on.
[Booker] I was wondering for a second what's taking him so long.
I mean, the title is on the line right there.
I mean, Wes Lee could have tapped out.
This thing could have been over, Vic.
[crowd clapping]
[Vic] Gacy coming in with that strategy was smart.
I suppose they knew he needed to manipulate the friendship,
that he didn't want to be at a two-on-one disadvantage.
-[Booker] He thought about it. -[Vic] He was standing tall on Tuesday,
but it's Bate standing tall for a moment!
Missed the shooting star, and right back in!
[Booker] Oh, yes! He's going to divide and conquer, Vic.
Ring's lock down on Bate!
Is Bate now gonna tap?
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] And finally, Wes Lee having to break it up.
-[Booker] Wow. -[crowd cheering]
[Booker laughing] We're just getting started, Vic.
And I'm sweating already, man!
[Vic] This is the first match here at NXT Battleground,
and what a matchup!
[crowd chanting and clapping]
[Vic] NXT universe showcasing their love
for all three of these superstars.
And what a big right from Lee!
And at this point in the matchup,
looks like we're just how we started, at a stalemate.
[Booker] Wes Lee is a late-game player.
Seems like he gets stronger
-the longer the match goes. -[Vic] Oof!
[Booker] This match right here, he's got his hands full, Vic.
[Vic] Well, the legs getting rocked, and--
Wait a minute!
-[Booker] Whoa! -[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Finally, Bate and Gacy were working for a moment.
[Vic] And Wes Lee, turning it right around!
-[Booker] You got to be kidding me! -[Vic] Double cardiac kick
-for the cardiac-- -[Booker] Oh, whoa!
-[Vic] Try again, another cover! -[crowd] One! Two!
[Vic] Ooh! And I think Lee--
If you take another look at that,
Lee pulled so back on the leg in the pin,
almost the momentum of Bate, rolled his shoulder up.
[crowd chanting "Wes Lee"]
[Vic] Take a look at this action.
Same mindset. The challengers wiped each other out.
And then Lee would take advantage with a double kick!
[Booker] Man! It's like a guillotine right there, coming down.
This kid, Wes Lee, like I said, he's special, Vic.
But I'm wondering, I'm wondering,
did that take a little bit more out of him?
[Vic] Book, Wes Lee's put just about everybody he's faced away
with that cardiac kick.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] It just shows you how much the North American Championship
means to all three.
As Wes Lee now. Oof!
Who has shown that he is willing to fight anyone,
anywhere, at any time.
[crowd whistling]
[Vic] It gets-- Oh, Bate pulled him right back.
Nice sharp elbow this time from Lee.
Lee right now, controlling the momentum of this matchup.
Typically, we see Lee use his speed to his advantage.
[Booker] The key is his cardio it looks great,
but right there, just out of place at the wrong time.
Right there, Gacy just took advantage of it, Vic.
[Vic] Gacy got caught! Oh, now a submission by Lee!
And Lee trying to put Gacy to sleep,
Trying to sense this sleeper.
And look at Gacy's knees, Book.
He's starting to fade.
-Gacy's starting to bend. -[Booker] Yeah.
-[Vic] Gacy's down to a knee. -[Booker] He is, Vic.
[Booker] I don't know about this strategy. I mean,
this is just not the right-- You wanna get big shots.
You wanna hit big shots, stick and move.
[Vic] Lee trying to cinch in,
and Lee trying to squeeze.
but Gacy…
Who can hear Ava on the outside.
Uh-oh. Whoa!
[Booker] That's the big shot I'm talking about. Cover him!
That could be it!
[Vic] Well, Gacy, presence of mind to listen to what you said, into
into the cover!
-But Bate--! -[Booker] Wow!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Bate, now!
can he hook in Tyler Driver '97?
-[Book] He's about to demonstrate! -[Vic] Got all of it!
-[Book] It's all over. Whoa! -[Vic] Counting! Oh!
Cover! Cover! Cover!
And Gacy, breaking it up.
Oh, Lee dumped to the outside.
-Now, you see a sense of urgency in Gacy. -[crowd] Oh!
[Vic] And Lee, just flipping the switch here in this moment.
Lee's been in these deep waters before. In comes Bate!
Bate's starting to quicken in this triple threat match.
This is a pace. Everyone moving right now, Book.
[Booker] Yes, indeed. Like I say, this guy,
he always seems to find a way.
He always seems to find that answer.
Will he find it tonight, here at Battleground?
[Vic] Lee has been at the disadvantage all night long.
Gacy now, with Lee in his sights.
But so much's taken out.
Lee-- Oh!
[crowd cheering]
-[Booker] What the--? -[Vic] Lee dodged Gacy to wipe out Bate!
Bate to our left, not moving!
-Turned on Lee! -[screams]
Oh, and his Schism's about to get golden roots.
-Coming in, and-- Cardiac kick! -[Booker] Wow!
-[Booker] You've got to be kidding me! -[Vic] Cover!
[crowd] Two, three!
-[bell rings] -[Vic] Lee retains his title!
[Wes Lee's "Assemble" playing]
[female announcer] Here is your winner! And still
the NXT North American champion,
-Wes Lee! -[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Damn right you're getting a standing ovation!
Wes Lee, who has just set the record
for the most successful title defenses
of the North American Championship.
-[Booker] Tears of joy, Vic. -[Vic] Wow!
[Booker] Tears of joy right there.
This young man is incredible.
[Vic] I mean, this action was absolutely incredible.
Tyler bate here,
he has won countless championships here,
-in NXT and WWE. -[Booker] He had it won.
-[Booker] He had it won there. -[Vic] That driver '97
to that meteora,
was able to connect. And just in the last present,
Gacy was able to break up the count.
This match will continue to roll,
but look at the presence of mind by Lee.
Side steps Gacy,
-Gacy actually ducked out of the way… -[Book] Yes.
[Vic] to wipe out Bate back into the ring.
Wes Lee was trying to take control. Bam! Gets planted by Gacy.
When we talk about that championship pedigree,
having that mindset right here.
Being able to dig down deep for that cardiac kick.
-For the cardiac kick to retain… -[bell rings]
[Vic] …the North American championship.
-[crowd cheers] -[announcer] Here is your winner!
[Vic] After Wes Lee, he's still fighting as the North American champion.
He's a rascal for life.
And Lee's record-breaking reign
continues in NXT.
[Wes Lee's "Assemble" playing]
[crowd cheers]
There'll be a tournament to crown a new NXT Women's champion,
culminating at NXT Battleground.
Indi Hartwell, your 15 minutes of fame are over.
Sorry ladies, but I have it.
It's Tiffy time.
[hip-hop music playing]
[Tiffany] I can't believe I have to compete in this tournament.
Like, I should have been handed the women's title.
Survive tonight…
[Vic] And Stratton's the first to advance
in the NXT Women's Tournament.
…then two more, and then go on to become the NXT Women's champion.
[Booker] Wow!
[Vic] And Stratton is headed to Battleground!
[Tiffany] Tonight, the center of the NXT Universe
claims her rightful spot
at the top of the Women's Division.
[hip-hop music playing]
[Tifanny] I never asked to be the it-girl at NXT.
When you're the center of the universe, everything perfectly falls into place.
[Vic] And the finals are set.
Valkyria.
Stratton.
Who is walking out the NXT Women's champion?
It's off to Battleground to become the NXT Women's champ.
Traveling first class, of course. Toodles!
Toodles!
[Vic] We'll find out if Stratton will become champion later tonight,
but there is the challenger Bron Breakker,
arriving ready to regain the NXT title,
and ruin the champion's homecoming,
here, in the shadows of Boston, at NXT Battleground.
And there we see Carmelo Hayes. Trick Williams arriving, as well.
As we mentioned the homecoming, there, of course,
Sean Grande, the voice of the Boston Celtics.
Him and Carmelo Hayes, one final prep talk,
and also, Sean Grande, the voice of the Celtics
also voiced-over the opening to Battleground. Huge main event,
still to come later tonight here, at NXT battleground.
We talk about a championship, how about the prestigious Heritage Cup?
As for the first time on US soil,
Noam Darr will defend the Heritage Cup,
as he faces Dragon Lee
in a matchup that is a test of strategy and stamina.
[hard-rock music playing]
[announcer] The Heritage Cup.
A celebration of the rich history and lineage
of European wrestling,
that dates back to the turn of the 20th century.
All heritage cup matches
are contested under six three-minute rounds,
with a 20-second break between each round.
During this break,
the competitors go back to their respective corners,
to receive treatment or advice from their corner man.
Heritage cup matches are two out of three falls.
Falls can be scored by pinfall, submission or count out.
When a fall occurs,
the round ends immediately.
In the event of a disqualification or a knockout,
the match ends instantly.
If the contest has not been decided by the end of the sixth and final round,
whoever's ahead on falls would win the match.
In the event of a tie,
the champion will retain and be awarded the Heritage Cup.
[crowd cheering]
The following contest
is for the NXT Heritage Cup Championship!
And will be contested by Heritage Cup rules.
[Dragon Lee's "Control the Empire" playing]
[Vic] Get ready Booker,
because the first NXT premium live event ever in Massachusetts
is gonna see the first ever Heritage Cup Championship
defended on US soil.
[bell rings]
[female announcer] Introducing first the challenger.
Accompanied by Nathan Frazer,
Dragon Lee!
[Vic] And there you see Nathan Frazer, and he's gonna be the chief second,
the corner man for Dragon Lee in this matchup,
which is unusual on its own, right?
Because, how vital can a corner man be
to a superstar in this sort of matchup that, again,
is gonna be six three-minute rounds.
Pinfall, submission or count out to earn a fall.
First superstar to two decisions wins.
[Booker] The second's very important, Vic.
Rocket boxing that second set of eyes.
See things you can't see.
And Nathan Frazer, he's been there, he's done that.
He competed for that Heritage Cup, so he knows.
-He knows, Vic. -[Vic] He does, and you know what?
Noam Dar knows that he has to blame himself
for bringing Lee and Frazer together for this matchup.
A common enemy.
And Dragon Lee looking toward gold for the first time,
in the form of the Heritage Cup,
here in NXT.
[Noam Dar's "Time Out" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] And his opponent,
he is the NXT Heritage Cup champion!
Supernova 11,
Noam Dar!
[Vic] We're always talking about wearing the gold, holding a title,
carrying the Heritage Cup.
There's no taking away from Noam Dar's accomplishments.
But he's been a little reluctant
to defend that Heritage Cup. What's he scared of?
[Booker] Vic, I wouldn't call it reluctancy or anything like that.
[Vic] What word would you use for it?
[Booker] We've gone through some troubling times. We got through COVID,
travel restrictions, and all that.
You want everybody--
People like Dragon Lee to be a part of this tournament.
The best tournament in the world.
This heritage cup, we need everybody, man. Come on!
It's simple, right?
[Vic] I think for Noam Dar,
he'd love to hold on to what he calls his baby for the rest of his life.
Like, did you ever rock one of your championships to sleep?
Did you ever hold the TV title,
the World title, the tag team title?
Did you ever rock anything and talk to it?
He's whispering to it! He was whispering to the cup!
[Booker] Man, the television championship, just like this Heritage Cup, man,
it means everything, Vic.
And when I say everything, I mean everything!
Yes! But the man is gonna defend it!
Noam Dar. Give him his props, Vic.
-Give him his props. -[Vic] All I heard you say--
You didn't say no, so I'm assuming
you talked to your titles at one point in your career.
-[Booker] Oh, yeah! -[Vic] We're set for the Heritage Cup,
first time ever domestically.
We talked about six three-minute rounds.
Knockout or disqualification, I do wanna add,
this match ends. It's over.
And if this goes the full distance and it's tied,
Noam Dar retains the Heritage Cup.
[Booker] Look at the craftsmanship on that cup.
I had a chance to see it up close in person.
Imma tell you, it's a beautiful, beautiful cup.
-[bell rings] -[Vic] There's the bell.
Three minutes will begin,
as there you see the countdown in your lower right.
How will the heritage cup rules, Booker,
throw Dragon Lee off?
[Booker] I don't think they're gonna throw Dragon Lee off,
or anything like that, because he's an athlete,
as well as he got Nathan Frazer in his corner
to give him those what-not-to-dos,
more than the what-to-dos, Vic.
[Vic] That's a great point. I'm sure Frazier over the last few days
has lent some advice to Dragon Lee,
and we do notice that no one out here for Noam Dar,
so at least that's a little advantage for Dragon Lee.
-Wow, ripping at the eyes! -[Book] I don't think it is.
[Booker] Imma tell you, I got a chance to see Noam Dar last week
on television against Nathan Frazer.
I tell you, this kid is an extraordinary talent.
He's humble, he's special.
Look at him with that control right there over Dragon Lee,
just controlling the body.
That right there is smart. That's a skill, Vic.
[Vic] Now both these superstars, though, have really been on your radar
since their arrivals to NXT.
[Booker] I mean, you can't help but to be on the radar. I mean,
the Booker T's fav five
highly anticipated international superstars
like these two guys.
[Vic] Our first 60 seconds has gone by in this opening round
and Noam Dar certainly has been in control of this matchup.
[crowd cheering]
Dar keeping the pace nice and slow again.
Noam Dar's been here before.
He's had to go through several of these rounds.
He's been deep into the waters of these sort of matches.
This is the unknown for dragon Lee.
As Lee now, trying to quicken the pace a little bit,
as 90 seconds just about ticked off the clock here,
in this opening round.
[Booker] Right now it's a pretty even match Vic,
in this first couple of minutes.
[Vic] You see, now everyone's settling into this match,
almost like a feeling out process is Dar.
A little takedown of Dragon Lee, and now focusing
on a submission, the left knee.
Now trying to transition over.
and Dragon Lee right now, in a precarious position,
as Dar's trying his best.
Lee able to kick out. You know what?
Dar knows, "if I can start weakening the body part in round one,
how's that gonna fare in round three or five?"
[Booker] You wanna try to weaken the body.
You know you're not gonna get the win in round one, or anything like that.
But you wanna go out there and wear that man down.
You wanna lean on him as much as you possibly can,
like Dragon Lee is doing right now.
[crowd clapping]
[Vic] You see the clock now, ticking underneath 45 seconds.
And Dar right back in control of this match-up.
[Booker] Nice escape there, by Noam Dar.
One thing I like about this kid, Noam Dar,
Noam Dar, that's a championship name, right there. The--
-[Vic] You're big on the names. -[Booker] I am. "Supernova".
[Booker] You know what that means? "A luminous explosion of a star."
-That's what this kid is. -[Vic] Oh.
[Vic] A miss to the left knee, connects, swing and miss by Supernova.
Oh! And looking for that-- Look,
Dar has felt that foot under his jaw.
It happened several weeks ago, when Dragon Lee was facing Frazer.
But we're approaching the final ten seconds
in this opening round matchup.
-[Booker] Neither has broke a sweat. -[clapping]
[Vic] And there you-- Oh!
Oh, you heard the clap, that's the final 10 seconds.
And right now, four!
-Three! Coming in! -[Booker] Wow!
-[bell rings] -[Vic] And Lee-- Wow, wow!
And again, that's what I mean by the rules.
Lee now has to stop.
His momentum just ended
when the clock hit, and…
What? That's Oro Mensah. Apparently Mensah's had a change of heart.
NXT Anonymous caught the conversation on Tuesday.
It was on the Kickoff Show.
Dar, sweetening the deal, and…
Hey, come on, man! I'm here, now! Come on, man.
[Vic] Looks like Noam Dar indeed has a Chief second.
It kind of caught Frazer off guard.
His eyes got really big.
And Dragon Lee now, the bell has sounded, and round 2 has begun.
Booker, let's put on a different mindset here for your head.
If you were scoring this on points,
who would you have ahead here,
in terms of momentum into round two?
[Booker] After Dragon Lee landed that big shot right there,
at round 1, I would definitely give Dragon Lee the upper hand.
Right now, he's rolling downhill,
and getting bigger, faster, and stronger, Vic, right now.
Here we go!
[Vic] Lee knows a lot about heritage,
-which is why he put Dar on notice-- -[Booker] Wow!
[Vic] at Springbreaking for this matchup.
And picking up right where he left off on round one
your point in the first 30 seconds.
Lee is rolling right now!
[Booker] I don't know how you're gonna take-- Being in there,
with a man until you see him face to face, eye to eye.
Dragon Lee right now seems like--
He's dealing like he's gonna walk away with this Heritage Cup here tonight.
[Vic] Dar trying to cover up in his own right.
Lee coming right back in on Dar.
And Lee's got to remember, time is the enemy in this match.
Even though it's round two,
-every second matters. -[Booker] Wow!
And a big explosive kick,
right into the corner, into the cover.
And Dar just got the shoulder up.
And another reminder, if there's a pin, a submission or a count out,
the bell will sound, the round ends at that very moment.
[Booker] Noam's not like that.
If we stop this match right now… If we stop this match right now--
[Vic] Nice counter roll through! Dar's with the shoulders down!
-And-- Ooh! -[Booker] So close!
[Vic] Dar almost gets the first fall. Another swing and a miss,
caught the back elbow right on the ear.
And going up, going around. Dar now,
-into the cover, and… Whoa! -[Booker] Wow!
[bell rings]
[female announcer] The winner of the fall,
Noam Dar!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Wow!
Come on!
I'm getting on, I'm getting on.
Let's go for more. Let's go!
[Vic] Frazer saying, "Let's go",
trying to get Lee's mind back into this.
-What? What do you want? -[indistinct]
[Vic] The referee doing a nice job. That's how quick it happens.
Round three, and now,
the momentum has swung immediately to Dar, who has one fall.
And now, how does this change the strategy for Dragon?
[Booker] Mind game's right, man.
Let me tell you, how unorthodox would that shot there from Noam Dar
to get that pinfall that quick?
[Vic] Oof. And look now, Lee realizing--
Maybe that's something Frazer told him…
-[Booker] Oh! -[Vic] Oh, the submission!
[Booker] Right there, Dragon Lee just walked right into that shot.
He got a little overzealous, probably because of that one pinfall.
He's down right now.
[Vic] Dar was trying to throw some hammer fists.
Nice kick though by Lee, who is able to figure out
and navigate his way free, as we're 30 seconds in
to round three.
We've talked about it, Booker. This is gonna be a true test
of strategy and stamina!
And a nasty landing for Lee.
Lee immediately grabbed the left knee,
into the cover, and another kickout.
If Dar would have finished that pin, if the referee would've hit three,
this was over in three rounds.
[Booker] Lee's gotta feel a little desperate right now,
you know, behind one.
And right now, in dire straits, Vic.
[Vic] Dar taking advantage of the situation.
[Booker] Mean, nasty elbows.
[Vic] Booker, this is sort of a match I think you would like to process.
[Booker] Matches like this, Vic, you gotta have a lot of stamina.
You gotta want to go out there and compete, and compete all night,
like those tennis players playing four hours a match.
No, no. I'm not that type of guy, Vic.
[Vic] Noam Dar, looking for a knee.
Nice counter though by Lee. Shoulders are down!
And-- Oh! 90 seconds left here, in round three.
Of course, Dar with an advantage of one fall.
Big knee. Oh! Kick under the jaw!
And Dragon Lee starting to get some momentum.
[Booker] That big knee was right under the chin.
The first time I saw Dragon Lee, I said,
"this guy, he's a superstar", Vic.
Tonight can make his night, winning this cup.
[Vic] Well, look at Dar. Dar realizes
any extra second he can have to regroup--
-[Booker] Wow! -[Vic] No regrouping now!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Approaching 60 seconds!
Book, this is the best shot for Dragon Lee!
[Booker] He's on the move right now, Vic.
[Vic] He's got him on the clock! Frazer's gotta let him know
there's only 60 seconds in the round!
-Big suicide dive connects! -[Booker] Gotta get him back in the ring.
[Booker] Gotta get him back in that ring.
He hit up one big shot, trying to even this thing out.
[Vic] So much taken, though, out of Lee. You gotta remember, Lee grabbed the knee
when he came down from the middle ropes several moments ago.
Charges in! Big knee to the side of the face!
Forty seconds on the clock,
into the count, and Dar kicked out!
For Dragon Lee, you look at the clock, there's 35 seconds.
He is down a fall. And right now, Dar's on the back foot.
[Booker] That big knee struck him.
Didn't look like anything was wrong with the knee, Vic.
Right now, he seems like he's maybe laboring just a little bit.
I'm wondering why isn't he on his feet.
[Vic] We talked about, with the type of matchup this is,
the strategy, the stamina.
It's a different test than a traditional one-on-one match-up,
as we're inside the final 15 seconds here, of round three.
And Lee, continuing to punish Noam Dar.
But Dar is up on points.
He is up one fall to none,
as we're inside the final five seconds.
-Lee's swinging away. -[Booker] He's not watching the time.
-[Vic] And Dar gets the round three. -[bell rings]
-What a cheap shot! -[Booker] Whoa!
-What are you doing? -[Vic] What was that?
[Booker] He didn't hear the bell, Vic.
[Vic] Oh, boy, he didn't hear the bell, Book!
-[crowd booing] -[WWE music playing]
[Vic] If that's a disqualification, this is over.
-Referee's using his discretion. -[Booker] Vic--
[Vic] I mean, Dragon Lee was rolling throughout this round three.
Maybe the best opportunity thus far, to the outside, big dive.
And right here, after the fall, the bell rang and bam!
-Cheap shot! -What are you doing? Let's go!
[Vic] Look at Dar.
"Let's get going, let's get going", all of a sudden out Dar.
Knows Dragon Lee is not at 100 per cent.
And right off a rib. Oh!
Unable to move, and there's where the corner man you talked about.
Able to come in to play, Frazer's able to give Lee the heads-up, and-- Big kick.
[Booker] You're talking about strategy, you must admit
this is a great strategy by Noam Dar.
[Vic] For sure, but if he gets the pin it's over!
-Into the cover, and-- -[Booker] Whoa!
[Vic] That right shoulder up was Lee.
[Booker] Whether that shot was legal… Was it legal? I don't know.
But this is a great strategy.
[Vic] You don't know. 30 seconds off the clock here, in round four.
And now Noam Dar, sensing the end is near…
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Vic] Looking for that Nova Roller.
Looking around, then instead, coming right back in.
He ceases Dragon in. This is Dar's match.
Wait! Inside turtle! Inside turtle!
Oof. Dar able to kick out.
[Booker] Dragon Lee playing a little possum right there,
got caught with that kick around the ear.
Oh, right into it!
[Vic] Going for a submission, trying to stretch out the left arm,
hyperextend the elbow. Can he break the grip though of Lee?
Lee trying to fight, two minutes left.
If Lee taps out, this is over.
And Lee now, continuing to fight, Dar's got him cinched in.
[Booker] Went right into that Demetrious Johnson special.
-Almost pulled it off. -[Vic] Oh, so close.
-[Booker] Going right back to it. -[Vic] Clock ticking down to 1:44.
-[Booker] Oh, wait a minute! -[Vic] Wait!
[Vic] Oh, and Dar had to relinquish the hold
to continue this match, and a crescent kick under the jaw!
Lee now, that urgency back!
Is he looking for a submission?
-Looking for a Texas cloverleaf? -[crowd cheering]
[Booker] Plenty of time left.
-Minute 30 left, and… -[Vic] 90 seconds, and Dar…
[Vic] Is Dar gonna tap out? There's Oro Mensah,
who came out after round one.
Wait! He-- He just pushed the rope!
[Booker] What are you talking about?
Who's he talking to?
[Vic] Oh! What-- What's got into Mensah?
Oh, Dar's gonna steal it from behind!
Whoa, Lee, able to kick out again.
Minute five, here, in round four.
Dragon Lee, coming right back in, going up, going around!
Drops Dar. Cover!
-[crowd counts down] -[Vic] Whoa!
-[bell rings] -[Vic] We're tied!
[female announcer] The winner of the fall,
Dragon Lee!
[Vic] I understand we're tied, but look at Mensah,
sticking his nose-- Oh, there's Frazer!
[Booker] What's going on here?
[Crowd cheering]
[Vic] The corner man!
Get out of here! Take him out!
[Vic] Finally, some officials,
and I believe, I just looked up,
the official has tossed out both corner men.
Now, how does that change the game plans here?
[Booker] Bad idea to have any corner man out here.
[bell rings]
[Vic] Well, these two go in round five.
We're tied at one and, Booker, there's only six minutes left,
or less than that, at this juncture in the matchup.
If this stays at one after the next two falls,
Dar's gonna retain.
Dragon Lee now has to realize the moment is now.
Swing and a miss, and an ankle lock being applied by Dar.
[Booker] I like it, Vic. This is about two men in.
One man leave. That's what it's all about.
It's about the Heritage Cup and who's gonna walk away the winner.
-[Vic] Dragon Lee. Whoa! -[Booker] Wow!
-[Vic] The second time! Was it the charm? -[Booker] Oh, no.
[Booker] Oh, no, Vic.
[Vic] Lee…
Lee might be out.
Big elbow again from Dar.
Dar's gonna fall into the cover,
to retain-- Whoa!
[crowd cheers]
[Vic stuttering] How did Dragon Lee kick out?
Take another look. Feel the impact, just--
-Oh! -[crowd] Oh!
A nasty landing.
[Booker] Nasty.
[Vic] Under two minutes left in round five.
Every second counting,
every second that ticks away, an enemy
towards Dragon Lee as this Heritage Cup Championship matchup
tied at one.
[Booker] They're just kicking out, they're prolonging the inevitable, Vic.
This thing is gonna be over with here in a minute.
That was a bad spill.
[Vic] Dragon Lee gotta remember
when everything got heated up in Supernova Sessions a few weeks ago.
Everything that Noam Dar has said, Dragon Lee, why he's here in NXT.
Why he's become the fastest-rising superstar on this brand.
But he's having a tough time standing.
Snap German suplex!
Dar's-- Big knee under the jaw!
Dar's rocked! Time is ticking under one 20.
Lee hoisting up,
-looking for the big powerbomb! -[crowd cheers]
[crowd] One! Two!
[Vic laughs]
[Vic] Dar just able to…
Jakara Jackson?
What are you doing?
[Vic] It's under 60 sec-- What?
Lash Legend!
Oh!
The official didn't see Legend!
Boom! Nova roller!
Wait a minute. What the--?
-Cover! I mean-- -[crowd] One! Two! Three!
-[bell rings] -[Vic] Noam Dar has done it!
[female announcer] The winner of the match,
and still the NXT Heritage Cup champion,
Noam Dar!
[crowd cheering]
[WWE music playing]
-What in the world? You're laughing. -[Booker laughs]
[Booker] Not like this, man.
The kid's a player.
[Vic] Oro Mensah, who was tossed earlier in the matchup, coming out.
And Noam Dar snakes his way
-to another successful defense… -[Booker] Yeah.
[Vic] …of the Heritage Cup.
Again, this match was a true test of stamina and strategy.
This was the first fall for Noam Dar. He was able to get the shoulders down.
Had the one fall advantage in this matchup.
Dragon Lee would come back,
and do his best to continue to fight through the pain
of his lower body to pick up a fall on his own right,
to tie things at one.
After both corner men were sent to the back,
Lee looked like he had it all wrapped up.
Huge powerbomb, and Dar somehow was able to kick out,
but that's what made him the greatest Heritage Cup champion to date.
But this is where things get a little cloudy.
Jackson coming down, turning the official's eyes to her,
while Lash Legend coming from the crowd.
Bam! That corner bucket!
That spit bucket to back, to the spine,
boom! Setting up for the Nova roller,
for Noam Dar to once again raise in victory the Heritage Cup.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Whether you like it or you don't,
there's no doubt there's going to be a pinky party tonight…
-[Booker] Yeah. -[Vic] …for Supernova.
[Booker] Where the party at, Vic? Where the party's gonna be?
Where the party going to be?
[NXT music playing]
[Vic] Well, Jayne and Dolin are going to kick off Tuesday night,
inside that weaponized cage.
No telling what evil thoughts these two will come up with,
when it all goes down live on NXT this Tuesday.
How about we continue with the action,
because there's been nothing but evil thoughts
going through the mind of both Dijak and Dragunov.
It's been the most brutal rivalry in recent memory,
and tonight we're gonna find out who is the last man standing.
[epic music playing]
[Dragunov] Nothing in life worth having comes easy.
[Vic] Dragunov has said in the past, pain makes him feel alive.
He's just a different breed of intensity.
[Dragunov] I will suffer!
I will endure a great deal of pain.
[Booker] Dragunov, he's on a different level.
He fights with a furious passion!
[Vic] He doesn't fear pain.
He welcomes it.
[Dragunov] I've never feared pain.
Pain makes you feel alive.
You say the pain makes you feel alive?
-Yeah. -That's great!
Because I'm gonna make you a mortal!
[Dijak] It's about authority. My authority.
[Booker] Dijak's all about mayhem, all about destruction.
[Vic] He is the biggest and he is the baddest.
Ilja Dragunov, I gave you fair warning.
[Booker] Dijak got to be the toughest man I've ever seen in my life.
[Dijak] And now look at you.
So helpless.
You. You're obsessed with the idea of breaking me.
There's not a man alive that i can't break.
[Dragunov] I invite you to try.
-[Dijak] Is that enough? -[Dragunov] Not even close.
[Dijak] I told you I'd break any man.
I'm still standing!
Last week was torture.
At the end, I was still standing.
I will sign the agreement tonight.
[Vic] The Hold Harmless Agreement to sign tonight.
[Booker] These guys know exactly what it means to go to war!
[Vic] We better buckle up,
because it's Dijak and Dragunov,
in a Last Man Standing match at Battleground!
I don't care who you are!
I can break any man!
And Ilja, I'm finally going to break you!
[Dragunov] And Dijak will understand when I say
that I'm invincible,
unbreakable.
[music ends]
[Dijak's "Driver" playing]
-[crowd cheering] -[bell rings]
[female announcer] The following is a last man standing match.
Introducing first, Dijak!
[Vic] Remember, the only way to win this matchup
is to incapacitate your opponent,
so they cannot reach their feet by the count of ten.
They signed the Hold Harmless Agreement,
which means no one is liable for what happens.
Get them out of here!
They don't need to see this!
[Vic] Booker, Dijak just told his wife and kids
he doesn't want them to see what is about to happen,
what's about to transpire and take place in this matchup.
Can you remember a rivalry that has been so destruc--
So intense in recent memory?
[Booker] Vic, this is the wall, man.
This is the real deal.
Look at the eyes.
I've never seen this guy happy once.
[Ilja Dragunov's "Death Waltz" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] And his opponent,
Ilja Dragunov!
[Vic] You talked about looking in the eyes,
Dragunov is seeing red.
Here tonight in--
Got a funny feeling we're about to see a different side
of Ilja Dragunov,
here, at NXT Battleground.
[Booker] Talk about this kid, Ilja Dragunov,
playing his greatest symphony.
He has no reverse gear, Vic.
-He doesn't go back! -[Vic] He truly does not.
[Vic] He talks about wanting to persevere and push forward.
-[Booker] Yes. -[Vic] We gotta get ready, man,
because we could be in…
We're getting ready to witness what could be the most chaotic,
intense, physical Last Man Standing match
in recent memory.
[Booker] I agree 100 per cent.
Dragunov and this man, Dijak,
is a molotov cocktail about to explode, man!
[Vic] You said there's a reason you never wanted to compete
in one of these matches.
[Booker] Yes. It's just about going out there
and creating pain, mayhem,
-destruction. -Ring the bell!
[Book] Somebody's gonna get hurt!
[Vic] The referee here, only to count to ten.
And the slugfest has already begun.
The Heritage Cup we just witnessed was really about a test of skill.
This match's gonna be about the test of human will.
And look at Dijak.
[Booker] It's not gonna be pretty, Vic.
Like Dijak said, put the women and children to bed.
[Vic] Think about their first encounter, one point Dijak-- Oh!
Had Dragunov, pinned under the steel steps,
and then Dragunov stood on top of those steps.
It was an unreal sight!
[Booker] Yes, indeed, he won the battle, Vic,
but he didn't get the job done.
He's in a war right now!
[Vic] It is early going in this matchup. And look at these two,
coming out with a game plan, and it's pretty simple.
Just beat the holly hell out of the other.
-Ooh! -[Booker] Ooh!
[Vic] Feel some of this impact.
You see the body snap and manipulate around.
Look at the-- Oh!
And right away, looking for maybe an early sign of Constantine special.
Instead Dijak just knocking Dragunov to the ground.
You can hear Drag-- Right here in front, you can hear him
agonizing, trouble breathing,
taking deep breaths.
[Booker] You know what they say, Vic, it's not about getting knocked down,
it's about how many times you can get up.
[Vic] I mentioned those steps earlier, Book!
[Booker] Yes, you did!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] And Dijak's evil mind, already starting to come to play.
[Booker] Moving the furniture around a little,
look like he's ready to play a little house
inside the middle of the squared circle.
[Vic] These two have been all around.
They've brawled in locker room, brawled in warehouses, loading docks.
-This match, this battle… -[Booker] Wow!
[Vic] …can go anywhere!
[Booker] Vic, those are called forearm shivers,
and they are stiff, man.
-Oh, yes! -[Vic] Oh!
-[Booker] Let me get out of the way. -[Vic] You better get out of the way!
[screams]
[Vic] Feel the rage boiling out of Dragunov.
[Booker] The intensity of this young man, let me tell you,
he matches up with anybody, Vic,
because he's willing to go to a different place,
and that place is pain, is his pleasure!
[Vic] I don't have a clock, but we got to be
maybe two minutes into this matchup,
and look at the welts that have been forming on everyone's body!
And you might be counting teeth!
[Booker] Wow.
That upkick, Vic, caught him straight on the jaw.
[Vic] Forget about the jaw.
What about the spine, Book?
Because you just saw Dragunov look over for a landing spot!
-And that's not Boston Logan Airport! -[Booker] Yeah!
And again, the official only here to count to ten.
I'm not done with you! The final show!
[Vic] Here Dragunov goes-- Bam! An upkick, right under the jaw.
Which for Dragunov,
-may have lost a few teeth. -[Booker] He lost a couple of bicuspids.
[Vic] Uh-oh!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] This battle could go anywhere.
Look, we know Dragunov can absorb a ridiculous amount of punishment,
but it's almost like-- Oh!
Dragunov just went through the table…
-[Booker] Wow. -[Vic] …to take out Dijak.
[Booker] Let me tell you, this kid…
[crowd chanting "NXT"]
[Booker] He's willing to do something like that to himself.
Just imagine what he's willing to do to you, Vic. That's--
[Vic] Don't want to know what he's willing to do to me.
[Booker] That's the thing. He's busted open, Vic.
[Vic] There you see the referee starting his count.
Referee is at six.
Both superstars starting to move, trying to get back to their feet.
Dragunov up. And look at Dijak,
just struggling, but the official using his discretion,
Dijak's feet both up.
And look at the pain for Dijak.
Everything his body has gone through early on in this matchup.
And there's no predicting
the barbaric lengths, Booker,
these two are going to be willing to go
-for victory. -[Booker] There's no rules, Vic.
[Booker] Anything goes in a matchup like this.
It's about debilitating your opponent till he quits.
[Vic] There's Dijak. Let's go back to some of the action we've seen
in a very physical matchup, and we knew it would be.
First, the kick and then listen.
That is a human being spine on steel,
but Dragunov gets back to his feet.
And then sacrifices himself-- Oh!
You mentioned what are they willing to do to each other,
how much they're willing to sacrifice to destroy the other.
And now look at the hard chops.
Big kick, and a roundhouse buckling the knees of Dijak.
I mean, whoa.
Book, you've even been a little squeamish over here, next to me,
for some of these lefts and rights.
[Booker] I'm thinking the battle scars after a matchup like this.
You gotta wonder, but it doesn't seem like neither one of these guys
really care about that right now.
It's just about beating the hell out of each other.
[Vic] We are looking at a different type of intense in this matchup.
and we mentioned, the likes of maybe we've never seen--
-[Booker] Wow! -[Vic] Oh, my gosh! In NXT.
[Booker] Wow.
[Vic] The referee doing a great job, right on top of everything.
[Booker] Wow.
[Vic] Derek Sanders, I do not envy here tonight.
Look at Dijak.
Dijak doesn't care about the count.
He wants to beat the hell out of Dragunov!
[Booker] Dragunov, he always said he's a guy who don't mind a lot of pain,
-but right now-- -[Vic] DDT!
[Booker] Oh my God, man!
[Vic] What about the back of Dragunov again?
Destroying each other, destroying themselves!
[Booker] You talk about that place, that sacred place
that this young man Dragunov is willing to go, Vic.
[Crowd chants "NXT"]
[Vic] It has been an electrifying atmosphere,
as the official up to five,
and Dragunov, like a phoenix, just rises up
and goes right after Dijak. Again, this guy, Book…
They're stopping the referee's count!
How's Dragunov still moving after all the pain he's going through?
And right now, not just moving, he's taking over!
[screams]
[Vic] Now, Dragunov said pain makes him feel alive.
Dijak has promised to make Dragunov mortal.
[Booker] Vic, I don't think we've seen Dijak in this much trouble ever.
-Oh! -[Vic] Oh, no!
Good God!
[Vic] Everything Dragunov has been through in this matchup…
Remember the big boot under the jaw?
Medical team doc came out here, cleared Ilja Dragunov to continue,
and Dragunov hasn't let up, hasn't taken his foot off the gas.
And what in God's name is he thinking?
[Booker] The man is willing to crawl to get to this top rope, Vic.
[crowd cheering]
[Booker] What is he gonna do?
[Vic] Oh!
That could've been the kiss of death from Dragunov's
[crowd cheering]
[Booker] Wow.
[Vic] Referee starting his count.
-[Booker] Check it out, Vic. -[Vic] Look at this nasty landing.
-[Vic] Bam! -[Booker] Oh, man!
[Vic] That put Dijak on Dream Street, and Dragunov still wouldn't be done.
[Booker] Coast-to-coast.
-[Vic] Then in the impact, bam! -[Booker] Oh, my God!
[Vic] That wasn't a trash can, that wasn't a chair. That was steel steps,
as the official continuing to climb, almost to nine!
And somehow Dijak, nice bridge, he's back on his feet.
Great job by the official in this matchup.
And that was as close, Booker, as we've been to a ten count.
[Booker] This is NXT Battleground, and right now we got two grown men
in the middle of this ring, trying to chop each other down, Vic.
[Vic] Oof. Oh!
[Booker] No quit.
No quit in Dijak!
[Vic] Dijak declared he could break any man.
Dragunov challenged him to try to break him.
That raised your eyebrows.
And it's Dragunov who is up and delivering possibly the final blow.
But Dragunov goes down too,
body almost giving out.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] And again, the referee will start his count to ten.
[Booker] Both of these men have given a lot here tonight.
[Vic] Oh, well!
-Dragunov giving a little bit more. -[Booker] Oh, yeah!
[Vic] Oh!
-One! -[Booker] Wow!
-[Vic] I don't know what to say. -Two!
-[crowd] This is awesome! -Three!
[Booker] That's what you need to say right there, Vic.
-Four! -[crowd] This is awesome!
-Five! --[crowd] This is awesome!
[Vic] Referee's up to five.
Dragunov's up. Referee continuing to count to six.
And Dragunov sensing Dijak was close to getting back to his feet,
going right back on the offensive
in this Last Man Standing match.
Oh! Turning Dijak inside out!
[Booker] What I'm talking about, as far as…
-Dragunov, he… -[Vic] What the--? What?
[Booker] …matches… Oh, wow!
[screams]
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Who's gonna break who?
[crowd] Oh!
[Vic] Dragunov trying to hold on.
Oof! trying to break that grip of Dijak,
but Dijak, now--
-[Vic] Whoa! -[Booker] God, Vic.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Vic] When we said we were witnessing something that could be
the most chaotic, intense, and physical
Last Man Standing match ever.
[Booker] For those who don't know, that's the apron right there.
That's the hardest part of the ring right there.
That's where the steel runs down,
and right there he felt every bit of that steel, Vic.
[Vic] Referee has his count going.
Dijak beats it at six, but look at Dragunov.
Dragunov's on a knee.
Referee's at eight right now.
Dragunov can't get back, and at nine,
just, just, just able
-to beat the count. -[Booker] Wow.
[Dijak and Dragunov grunting]
[screams in Russian]
[Vic] That rage still boiling. I don't know how,
but it is in Dragunov.
And that just might've angered Dijak.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Feast your eyes!
[Booker] That may have been the shot, Vic, that separated this man, Dijak--
Excuse me, Dragunov, from his senses.
Oh my god, Vic.
[Vic] And Dragunov, by the way, is still up,
'cause he's still on his feet. I don't know how.
[Booker] The only thing holding him up is the ropes, Vic.
[Vic] Great point, Book. Great point.
[screams]
[Vic] You gotta wonder Dijak's mind,
talk about being able to break anybody, everything he's put Dragunov through
over the last several months, everything he's put Dragunov through
here tonight, at Battleground.
And somehow, Dragunov's standing.
[Booker] Last outing, like I said, Dijak didn't finish the job.
Tonight, he's more than willing to go out here
and finish this job, and finish that job well!
Oh, yes!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] The uneasy tension filling the air here, inside the Tsongas Center,
as Dijak has yet another weapon at his disposal, ¿
and it's all legal.
You said that you like pain, huh?
You like this, Ilja?
-[Booker] Oh! -Come on!
[crowd chanting "One more time"]
How's that feel? Do you feel alive?
[Vic gasps]
[pants]
-Not even close! -Not even close, huh?
Not even close?
What are you forcing me to do, huh? What are you forcing me to do?
Damn!
[screams in pain]
Stay down!
Stay down. Let it go, man.
You like that? Look at that. Look at that.
You like that? Look at that.
I want you to stay down!
-You need to stay down! -[screams]
-[screams in Russian] -Don't make me do this.
-[grunts] -Don't you make me do this!
[crowd cheering]
[Booker] Vic, I can tell you how excruciating that kendo stick is.
I can tell you the pain this young man, Dragunov is feeling
right now at this point.
[Vic] Book, this is just
absolutely…
-[Booker] Torture. That's what this is. -[Vic] It's uncomfortable.
[Vic] Dijak--
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] These are a different breed of human
here at Battleground.
[Booker] He's at interrogation right now, Vic.
That's what this is.
He's in interrogation mode.
[crowd yelling]
You forced this, Ilja!
You forced my hand.
[Vic] And Dragunov fighting back as best he can.
-[Booker] God! -[Vic] Oh! Come on!
[Vic] You see the level of…
-…the bruise on Dragunov's arm? -[Booker] This is real.
[Booker] This is as real as it's gonna get.
-[Vic] Oh! -[crowd cheering]
[Vic] I don't know how Dragunov has anything left
-from the welt on his left arm. -[Booker] Desperation.
[Vic] The bruise on his left arm, to the welts-- The swelling of his body!
[Booker] Desperation shot right there, Vic.
[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Vic] What a nasty-- The forearm, it is!
But Dijak now,
has to be in disbelief.
Because Dragunov continues to move forward,
continues to persevere.
How the hell are these guys moving?
[Booker] I can't believe Dragunov won't quit.
-[Vic] What's it gonna take? -[Booker] He won't stop.
[Booker] He won't quit. He will not lay down.
[Vic] Last Man Standing!
I don't know what the other's gonna have to do.
[screams]
[Vic] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
-[Vic] Dijak just driven… -One!
-[Vic] …face-first… -[crowd] Two!
-[Vic] …into the steel chair. -[crowd] Three!
-[Vic] Referee's count has started. -Four!
-[Vic] Neither men has moved yet at six. -[ref] Five!
-[Vic] Referee's continuing to count. -[Booker] Dijak's out.
[Vic] Closing on nine, Dijak hasn't moved!
-Dragunov now at nine, gets to his feet! -[crowd] Nine! Ten!
-[bell rings] -[ovation]
[female announcer] Here is your winner! Ilja Dragunov!
[Ilja Dragunov's "Death Waltz" playing]
[Vic] We talked about the test of human will,
the internal fortitude to persevere.
Look at the body of Dragunov.
[applause]
The body of Dijak.
I want you to listen, just listen to this impact.
Ah!
[Vic] Across the spine.
And nothing Dijak would do
would keep Dragunov down.
A human machine is Dragunov.
Bam.
Explosive blow after explosive blow, but this, the last one,
and look at the landing
which bounced Dijak off that steel chair one more time.
Pin-point precision.
Bam.
And that would be the final blow
in one of the damndest things we have ever seen,
as Dragunov is the last man standing.
[Ilja Dragunov's music plays]
[Chase U's music plays]
All right.
I have input the results of everyone's quiz into the system,
and I am pleased to say that you all did very well.
[class applauds]
Except you, Ricky.
You suck, Ricky. You suck, you suck, you suck.
Moving on.
Being the of Chase University
and serving as substitute teacher here has been consuming,
sucking my will to live,
so I've brought in two special guests
who are going to help teach the art of catch wrestling.
Please welcome Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey.
[class applauds]
Oh, if you or anyone needs me, I'm going to be at the back
working on the Money in the Bank study guides.
Thank you, Duke.
Chase U students, normally, when you come to this classroom,
you learn what to do.
Today, I'd like to focus on what not to do when you hear that bell ring.
And who better to use as an example than Chase U's very own Thea Hail.
What?
As you can see, Thea's lack of grappling knowledge
puts her at a severe disadvantage against every single opponent
she steps in the ring with.
This is not how to become a superstar.
Good news is not all Chase U students have to fail like Thea does.
But with the right guidance, you too can learn how to crunch
and crack your opponents in half.
Hey, what the hell are you doing?
Trying to show your students what not to do in the ring.
That's the lesson, but you just had a student leave the room crying.
There's no crying in WWE.
That was a reality check.
Look, no one talks to Thea that way or any of my students,
Chase U students.
Look, do me a favor, next week, have a better lesson plan prepared.
Get out of here.
Sorry, guys.
Class dismissed.
Someone go check on Thea.
Oleé, oleé. Hey, hey, hey.
Excuse me.
What's your question?
Noam Dar, congratulations on retaining the Heritage Cup,
but what is all of this? What are we witnessing right now?
This is history.
We just defended the NXT Heritage Cup Championship
on American soil for the first time.
Look how beautiful Miss Jackson is holding the cup.
-Thank you. -Lash the legend.
My main man Mensah.
I've been saying there's levels to this and I'm at the top.
But now, we're at the top.
Check, please, times four.
Thank you.
Buh-bye.
[singing]
[The Creed Brothers' music]
[Victor] Will tonight be the night for the Creed Brothers?
Seem to be back on their path of destiny
here in NXT under the guidance of Ivy Nile.
And the universe. Check out the universe.
Everybody's behind the Creed Brothers.
The signs, man.
That right there tells you they got a lot of support,
and like you say, Ivy's the one that legitimize a man.
NXT Universe, as we talked about, been on fire here tonight.
No doubt, a lot of supporters here for Julius and Brutus,
as they compete for the tag team gold.
[Gallus's music plays]
They're rough, they're rugged, they're nasty.
They'll fight anyone.
They certainly look confident defending the NXT tag team titles
once again here this evening.
They're no nonsense, Vic.
What I like about this team, these Gallus boys,
no playing, no jiving, just been the hell of a trio, Vic.
A hell of a trio.
Have only gotten stronger since the arrival of Joe Gacy,
who's on the outside of the ring on the floor,
when he made his return at Stand & Deliver Wrestlemania Saturday in LA.
-[Booker] Joe Coffey. -[Victor] Joe Coffey, thank you.
-[Victor] Appreciate that. -[Booker] Good to the last drop, Vic.
Remember that.
[bell ringing]
[male announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT tag team Championship.
Introducing first, the challengers,
accompanied by Ivy Nile
Julius and Brutus, the Creed Brothers.
Their opponents, accompanied by Joe Coffey,
Wolfgang and Mark Coffey,
they are the NXT tag team Champions,
Gallus.
I was making sure you were listening to that.
I mean, you weren't looking at an app on your phone or like that,
at this moment.
But I do want to talk about Joe Coffey in all seriousness.
He'll be here ringside.
Creeds called out the champions
for not having any more surprises here tonight,
like they did at Stand & Deliver.
They also defeated the family in Los Angeles, if we remember,
and Coffey had some off-putting comments about the Dunne
and his legal situation this past Tuesday.
[Booker] Can't blame anybody but yourself, Vic.
That's what I said.
Let's not come into this match looking for an excuse,
looking for a way out.
The Creed Brothers, they are truly a great tag team,
one-time tag team champion.
I thought they would be more time tag team champions
more tag team champions than that because they're good.
They really are good, Vic.
You bring up a great point.
It was around this time a year ago that Julius and Brutus
actually won the NXT tag team titles for the first time.
So can they recreate that magic here tonight at battleground?
[Booker] This match's going to say a whole lot, I'mma tell you right now.
These Gallus boys, you got to give them a whole lot of credit.
They came back within one month, Vic, one month.
They had pretty much cleaned out the tag team division.
[Victor] That first tag of the matchup, and here comes Big Brutus,
the powerhouse of the Creeds in there with Mark Coffey,
who some would consider the calm member of Gallus,
which is interesting in its own right.
But when you talk to the Creed Brothers and you get a chance to know them,
they've talked about re-engaging in a mindset
a mindset that made Julius undefeated in the ACC,
a mindset that led Brutus to have an undefeated season
in an NCAA competition as a senior.
And this is part of it.
Look, they're not backing down tonight, the Creeds.
[Booker] They shouldn't back down.
I mean, you look at them, they're two big guys.
Just standing next to these guys for the first time, I said,
"what the hell you got here?"
The Wolfgang trying to charge in
and gets caught in a nice fireman's takedown by Brutus.
What I mean for Gallus,
they're not used to having other superstars, other men, other teams
not back down.
They're used to people just running away.
They're used to bringing the fight to a team.
But it's right now the Creed Brothers who are bringing the fight
to the NXT tag team champions.
[Booker] You got Julius Creed, you got Brutus,
two guys who's got a background and a pedigree in--
these kids been fighting their whole lives, Vic.
If you're going to be intimidated by anybody,
it should be the Creed Brothers
[Victor] Off the belly-to-back and a kick out.
[Booker] Not saying that the Gallus boys are intimidated or anything like that.
-[Victor] Backtracking? -[Booker] No, I'm not. I'm just saying.
[Victor] [indistinct] about Ivy now,
who of course, is on the outside for the Creed Brothers.
Does she get enough credit for the guidance of the Creeds
bringing that mindset back, so to speak?
[Booker] You got to understand that Ivy is like a player-coach right there.
She's got her own business,
but right now she's doing a hell of a job
just trying to keep these boys focused more than anything.
[Victor] Oh, nice job. Tag was made.
Mark Coffey doesn't realize that Brutus is actually the legal superstar.
Julius point around. Mark confused, not confused any longer.
Double axe handle, and it looks like Brutus ready to smash.
[Booker] Ground and pound right there.
That was a beautiful misdirection tag right there
-[Booker] made by the Creed Brothers. -[Victor] Oh, you talk about misdirection.
[Victor] Wolfgang baiting over Brutus,
and that allowed Mark Coffey for half second to get a breath.
But look at the takedown.
This, that amateur background we've been talking about of Brutus,
coming right into play in this matchup.
I love Bruti, man, because he don't mind getting into a fight,
and that's what the Creed Brothers are going to have to do.
They're going to have to go out there and get into a fight
if they expect to win this matchup tonight.
[Victor] Oh.
[Booker] Wow. Wolfgang in the house.
[Victor] Throat first.
And Wolfgang making a nice tag, a blind tag to Mark Coffey
to get into this matchup, and taking full advantage now.
Booker, Brutus is hurt.
Brutus came down nasty on that top rope.
Walked by Wolfgang in the back and he's just talking to himself.
He's ready for this moment right here, this right here,
and bring the pain to these boys.
[Victor] Tag made. Back in comes Mark Coffey.
And you talked about the nastiness of that landing from Brutus throat-first.
You can see Brutus now grabbing.
He's having trouble breathing at this juncture.
Look at Mark. Look at where the knee placement was, Book.
Right on the face, right in the throat.
And now, going right back to the body.
[Booker] Mark Coffey right now, Vic, he's taking his time.
He's getting very, very precise.
He's dissecting Bruti right now piece by piece.
But here comes Bruti with those big shots.
[Victor] Trying to fight back, and right back into the stomach,
driving the air out of lungs.
Quick tag and here comes Wolfgang to flatten Brutus, center of the ring.
And it's been a vile relationship
between these two teams dating back to last summer.
It's truly combustible elements between these superstars
in this tag team matchup.
[Booker] You see that big shot there by Wolfgang?
He just came and just laid all of his weight on Bruti.
It wasn't pretty or anything like that, but it was very, very effective.
Also, if you think about what they've been focusing on,
the body, the ribs, the midsection, the throat.
Brutus, not able to breathe.
How does that change what goes on inside that ring for a superstar?
Hook of the leg.
Julius saw he's going to have to intervene.
Brutus was able to kick out, but look at now.
Just grinding down Brutus are the Gallus boys.
[Booker] The Gallus boys, like you said, grinding down on Bruti,
just leaning on him, just trying to keep all the weight on the body.
Right now, he's doing a hell of a job,
but right now Bruti is back up to a base, back up to his feet.
[Victor] Trying to create a little bit separation.
Perhaps the two toughest teams in NXT, Booker, battling over the gold right now.
-[Victor] A nice takedown by Coffey. -[Booker] That was called a hip lock, Vic.
You have to check that beautiful, beautiful base right there,
just used his balance to take Bruti over.
You see Julius on the outside
trying to get his brother to make a tag,
like a caged animal patiently waiting.
Brutus trying to--
Oh, and he did, but so much has been taken out of Brutus.
Coffey bouncing right over, makes the tag.
In comes Wolfgang.
Julius tried his best.
Did you see how he moved corners,
grabbed the rope tag to make it all legal,
reach out, but still, just not close enough for Brutus.
Wolfgang gets to work Bruti back into his corner.
That way we can have a full advantage here from a tag team perspective.
That's legal, Vic. That's legal.
Took his eye off the ball and Wolfgang-- that allowed Brutus to make the tag.
Now, Wolfgang might be regretting the actions.
[Booker] Here come Julius.
[indistinct]
[Booker] Beautiful suplex. This kid's hips is unbelievable.
[indistinct]
-[Booker] Wow. -[Victor] A kick.
He's going on a ride.
One more time.
The hip action is incredible from this kid Julius right here.
Wow.
What?
Are you--
Again?
[Booker] Oh yes.
Here we go, Vic.
[Victor] Are you talking about no bread, water, and meat,
-[Victor] take a look at Julius Creed. -[Booker] Wow.
You said he was like a caged animal on the outside, ready to pounce.
Oh, no.
Add them up.
[Booker] How many is that, Vic?
How many is that? Is that 10 yet?
-[Booker] Are we at 10? -[Victor] I don't know.
[Victor] I'm going to have to go back on Peacock and watch this later to count.
Look at this, shooting star followed by a moonsault.
Into a cover for the title.
[Booker] Whoa.
[Victor] Coffey just able to kick up.
What an offensive flurry that was from the Creeds.
[Booker] Yes, but that took a lot of energy out of Julius right there.
I can't keep going like that, Vic.
A standing shooting star, picture-perfect, got all that.
Big Bru came in, moonsault, got him some too, but couldn't get the three.
[Booker] Look at Bruti right now, he's still laboring, Vic.
Like I say, exerting all that energy like that, it does something to you.
[Victor] We talk a lot about the Creeds, we got to give credit where credit is due,
to the champions, Mark Coffey, Gallus, Wolfgang as well,
really showing their resilience in this matchup,
but there may be no coming back.
Wait, roll through.
Coffey-- Oh.
Closing on Wolfgang-- Brutus hanging out up top.
We talk about those combustible elements, Booker, things starting to break down.
[Booker] Yes, we talked about Julius using all that energy coming in there
just going crazy.
[Victor] Oh, the Brutus ball!
[Booker] You call that a cannonball?
[Victor] No, Brutus ball.
[Victor] Cannonball is when he's sitting in the-- we'll talk about it later.
Brutus off the top, changing the complexion,
all four men down.
[crowd chants "this is awesome"]
[Victor] Here's where you talked about Ivy nile earlier, Book.
You talked about being on the outside,
she is in the ear of the Creeds, but so is Joe Coffey.
Joe Coffey in the ear.
Nobody else I'd rather be out here with, baby.
Let's get our titles back. I love you, baby.
I love you, baby. Let's do it, brother.
Let's do it. I love you.
[Victor] Brothers going into that mindset.
Come on.
This is our kingdom.
[Victor] Gallus wanted a fight, let's go.
[Booker] There we go, Vic.
It's breaking out here.
[Victor] Nice takedown.
The referee right now taking a look around, seeing the landscape.
That's what the referee's trying to do,
create it and there we have the legal participants,
Julius, Mark Coffey.
Mark coming in, going up…
Bam! Gets planted.
We've seen this in the past.
Julius could be looking for that knockout blow.
Ivy.
No surprises tonight.
Joe wiped out.
Is this the Creeds' moment?
[Booker] Oh. Wow!
Sticking her nose in business that doesn't belong to her,
getting into the ring.
Gallus gate connects.
Referee didn't see.
Oh, come on.
[bell ringing]
Come on.
[female announcer] Here are your winners and still the NXT tag team champions,
Gallus.
[Booker] Wow.
[Victor] We're trying to get all the pieces in place sitting here.
In the end, Wolfgang, Coffey retain.
Oh, your heart goes out to the Creed Brothers, who many believe--
[Booker] Why you got to be so sarcastic?
I'm not being sarcastic, Book-- closing in.
Ava, who week after week--
this is the issue that Ivy has had with Ava.
sticking her nose where it doesn't belong,
which is one of your mottos, Booker,
and that left Julius Creed in disbelief,
which opened the door for Gallus gate-- Bam!
Gallus gate connected, dropped Julius Creed.
The official did not see the illegal superstar.
-[Booker] And still. -[Victor] Yeah.
And still, as the Gallus boys continue
to be on top at NXT.
[Booker] Brothers to the bone.
[music]
[female] I have wreaked Havoc
on the NXT Women's Division for months.
This Tuesday, I will reveal myself.
[music]
[Victor] Finally on Tuesday, we will find out who's been wreaking Havoc,
but right now, we want to extend a special thank you
to Pvris for "Animal," the official theme song of NXT battleground.
The song is available now on Apple Music and on Spotify.
Here at battleground, we are moments away from history,
as it will be made in the crowning of a new NXT Women's Champion.
Will it be the "the center of the universe" Tiffany Stratton
or will Lyra Valkyria be guided to the goal?
[music]
[female] Prepare to witness the rise of Lyra Valkyria.
[Lyra] I left my homeland channeling spirit of the morrigan.
[speaking foreign language]
As my old feathers fall to the ground, new feathers emerge stronger.
I am evolving, adapting, and sharpening my weapons,
ready for a new battleground.
Three women have been marked on my route to the NXT Women's Championship.
Kiana James, you are the first.
[Booker] They're laser-focused, thinking about one thing
and that's getting to the top of this division.
[Victor] Oh, that could've been the knockout blow.
Valkyria into the cover, and Valkyria advances.
Cora Jade was going to teach me my place here in NXT,
but I guess Cora changed her mind.
[Booker] She's got all the tools and all the talent, man.
[Victor] Oh, devastating strike.
Valkyria into the cover, and Valkyria's done it,
she's headed to lowell, Massachusetts.
To become women's champion, I must risk it all,
embrace the unknown of what's to come
because life as a women's champion begins tonight.
[Lyra Valkyria's music plays]
[Victor] This is it, Booker.
It is the finals of the NXT Women's Championship tournament.
Lyra Valkyria lives by the motto,
"a single dream is more powerful than 1,000 realities."
And the gold you see on Valkyria represents herself
molding herself into the champion
she is about to become here tonight at battleground.
[Booker] I read that, Vic.
What a powerful statement to live by that dream.
But to bring that dream to fruition,
and make that dream reality here tonight at battleground,
that's the ticket, man.
Now, we got a question, is Valkyria at a 100%
after Cora Jade's kendo stick attack this past Tuesday?
You see the brace on the left knee of Valkyria,
heading in to the finals here tonight.
[Tiffany Stratton's music plays]
[Victor] "The center of the universe" in her own mind,
Tiffany Stratton has been on a whirlwind of media.
She has also noted
that this is the first-ever singles Championship match in her career.
She sounded confident, she looks confident,
but that can't shrink the butterflies deep down in Tiffany Stratton
heading into this match.
[Booker] Tiffany Stratton's not worried about those butterflies, Vic.
She's going to make those butterflies line up and fly straight
because this is that moment of the night, Vic.
This is that shucky ducky quack quack moment
and she is, oh, Tiffany Stratton.
My god, man.
[Victor] Better watch your blood pressure, Book.
Unbelievable.
[bell ringing]
[female announcer] The following is the final match
in the women's Championship tournament,
where the winner will become the new NXT Women's Champion.
Introducing first, Lyra Valkyria.
And her opponent,
Tiffany Stratton.
[Victor] Booker, what a Memorial Day weekend it has been
for the women of the WWE.
We know this is the finals for the NXT Women's Championship.
Perhaps the greatest NXT Women's Champion of all time, Asuka,
won the women's title at night of champions yesterday in Saudi Arabia.
Women taking center stage here tonight at battleground.
Congrats to Asuka, man.
We see both women sort of soaking in this moment.
It was Lyra Valkyria who defeated Kiana James, Cora Jade,
who we mentioned attacked the left knee with that kendo stick
after that matchup.
For Tiffany Stratton, defeated Roxanne Perez,
who is a former NXT women's champion,
and Gigi Dolin.
Who had the harder path to get here to the finals?
This matchup starting to break down.
[Booker] Yes, it is. Who had the harder path?
I think Tiffany Stratton had the harder path,
coming off of the biggest victory perhaps of her career over Roxanne Perez,
like you say, former champion.
That tells me a whole lot about Tiffany Stratton.
She's ready, Vic.
She's ready for primetime, man.
[Victor] Tournament began earlier this month,
of course, after Indi Hartwell had to relinquish the Championship
after she was drafted to Monday night raw.
The tournament began with eight superstars handpicked by Shawn Michaels
and the coaches at the performance center.
It's down to the final two.
One of these two women will be wearing gold
by the end of the night.
[Booker] Yes, indeed.
Right now, Lyra Valkyria, she's draped out in gold right now,
so she must have something in mind here tonight, Vic.
[Victor] Valkyria believes this is the battleground she was born to fight in.
Now looking for-- nice counter into a crucifix pin, and a near fall.
[Booker] I like that. I like that little connection you made with battleground.
-[Booker] That was smooth. -[Victor] Thank you.
[Victor] Said on Twitter she will redefine what it means to be champion as well,
-[Victor] and Valkyria-- -[Booker] what does that mean?
[Booker] We've had great champions here, Roxanne Perez, Indi Hartwell.
[Victor] That's what makes me excited to see someone like Lyra Valkyria
become champion, or Tiffany Stratton,
who counters right back, but look at Valkyria.
Counter for counter. Shoulders down one more time.
Stratton having to kick out at two and a half.
Look, Tiffany Stratton has not been in this sort of--
look at Valkyria, pumped up, ready to go.
Again, believes she was born for this moment.
[Booker] You look at Tiffany Stratton, she checks off all the boxes, Vic.
We talk about that airport test, she has no problem with that.
Her in-ring prowess, Vic, is definitely off the chart
for someone who's been in less than two years.
[Victor] Oh.
I don't know if it's time for Stratton to start showboating yet,
as she's picking up the pace here with Valkyria-- Oh!
[Booker] It's that bad wheel, Vic.
[Victor] A little bit of an awkward landing, but look, Valkyria ready to go.
This is not something she just can let slip.
[Booker] Vic, don't think that it's not a bullseye on that left knee.
Trust me, there's no way you can work through the pain.
It's going to catch up with you sooner or later.
[Victor] Take one more look.
Just a regular, old leapfrog and then--
[Booker] Oh, man.
Just coming down a little awkward.
You're right, Book, because Stratton saw what happened.
Now the test of strength here by Tiffany Stratton.
She obviously in her own mind thinks she is the stronger of the two.
I would have to say Stratton is the stronger of the two in this matchup.
[Booker] With the gymnastics background, the young ladies that did gymnastics,
they get that, and early in their lifetime.
Right now, Valkyria is looking pretty good.
-[Victor] She is. -[Booker] Even on that bad wheel.
You come back to the strength, how strong can Valkyria be
if she's just on one wheel?
The adrenaline's going to wear off at some point.
[Booker] The adrenaline is going to wear off, but right now, Vic,
Valkyria's trying to take it-- Oh, you see that misstep right there?
[Victor] You saw it for a moment.
Didn't look like she was going to have all the speed
on the attack as she was going to pounce to the outside,
as Stratton back into the matchup.
Could you imagine though also--
I do want to focus on Stratton for a second--
if she wins, the demands she would make as champion?
[Booker] What do you expect, Vic?
[Victor] She's going to exceed the demands she's tried to make before.
[Booker] Look, when you're champion, man, you want your own locker room,
you want first-class treatment.
You want the limo service, and I'm talking about limo service everywhere, man.
[Victor] Whoa, and this time Valkyria went for it, got caught,
again ripped right down.
[Booker] You see that right there, Vic?
Tiffany Stratton just lured Lyra Valkyria
to that spot right there to put her in a bad position.
[Victor] Oh!
Just bounced right off of that steel.
[Victor] That steel post and just the knee cap,
and there goes Stratton to what you talk about, that bullseye.
How effective is Valkyria going to be able to be on one leg?
She's someone who uses her speed, Book.
You might as well make it easy on yourself, Vic.
It's not about going out here and trying to [indistinct]
Or anything like that, it's about hurting Valkyria.
It's about walking away tonight with that Championship around that waist.
Look, Stratton right back in because--
Yes, showboat a little bit, but Booker,
if Valkyria can't get back into the matchup,
Valkyria gets counted out.
She's going to lose and--
Bam! Stratton's going to become the new champion.
[Booker] But Tiffany said no, she doesn't want to win it like that.
She want to do it right in the middle of the ring.
[Victor] No, what Stratton wants to do is she wants to embarrass somebody.
She continuously talks down to every woman in the division.
She wants to--
[Booker] Yeah! What is she supposed to do, Vic?
[Victor] She just whipped the knee brace at us, Book,
and you didn't even see what was going on because you're so--
[Booker] No. She whipped it at you, at you, Vic, because she doesn't like you.
That's what it is.
[Victor] Stratton right back in, and now that knee is exposed, Booker.
That left knee is exposed.
How much can Lyra Valkyria take?
Nice dragon screw, just whipping Valkyria down to the mat.
[Booker] Working on that knee right there,
that reminds me of Ric Flair going right to that body part,
trying to wear you down and then take you out.
That's what it's all about, Vic.
[Victor] That's interesting that you say Ric Flair
because Stratton has said time and time again,
she idolizes and wants to follow in the footsteps of Charlotte Flair,
a superstar anyone should admire.
Into the cover, hook of the leg.
Shoulders are down, and a near fall.
A half second away from becoming the NXT Women's Champion,
and just continuing to work the injured, awkward hyperextension
and then following up, bam, right back down
and ripping it right back out,
trying to rip the ligament out
and setting up one more time, continuing to focus on the knee.
Smart strategy by Stratton.
I say that about Charlotte Flair
because Charlotte Flair ironically won her first title
in the Championship tournament for the NXT Women's Championship.
Beautiful work here by Tiffany Stratton,
and what a person to admire, Charlotte Flair.
For me, it was guys like Ric Flair, Bockwinkel, Simmons.
You know what they had in common?
They were champions, Vic.
It's about reaching to the stars.
[Victor] Oh, and look at the bridge.
It's about going to the nebula right now, Vic.
[Victor] Forget about the nebula, I'm worried about the meniscus.
Take a look at the body being bent.
Stratton. Look at Valkyria's eyes, they're fighting saying,
No, she's not going to tap,
somehow breaking the grip and breaking the hold, but again, how much is left?
[Booker] Has the damage been done?
Has the damage been done to that left knee, Vic?
[Victor] Quick cover, hook of the leg, and a kick out.
Only getting a one count.
Valkyria right now, she can't even get back to her feet.
When was the last time you saw Valkyria on her own two feet in this matchup?
It's been several minutes.
[Booker] Talking about dreams,
talking about perhaps shattered dreams here tonight for Valkyria.
Never seen Stratton target a body part like she is here tonight,
picking up her game week in, week out, month in, and month out.
[Booker] Wow.
and could be closing in on some gold around her waist.
Tiffany Stratton, Vic, I talk to my students about having that--
[Victor] Cover, cover, cover, cover.
[Booker] About making sure you go deep, deep into your tool bag,
and right now Tiffany Stratton has been looking great
in this matchup here tonight.
[Victor] It's easy when your opponent comes in at less than 100%.
Now maybe looking for a stretch muffler.
Stratton trying to get back to her feet possibly,
but right now, look at the torque, look at the bend.
Oh, Valkyria so close to that rope.
[Booker] Vic, please don't make any excuses for Valkyria.
She could've forfeited, she could've stayed at home.
[Victor] Oh yes, she's going to forfeit, Book.
[Booker] She could've stayed at home, Vic.
Let's not make this a tainted victory, if so for Tiffany Stratton.
Let's not do that.
Booker, is it excuse or is it fact that Valkyria was attacked,
heinously attacked on Tuesday, not in a 100%, but she's not giving up.
Up, over, shoulders down, and a near fall.
[Booker] That was close, and innovative too at the same time.
[Victor] Looking for maybe a figure four counter. Oh-oh.
This could be now for Valkyria, somehow up, rolling right back through.
Again, shoulders are down.
Oh, another near fall.
[Booker] That knee, just not enough knee strength right there, Vic,
to hold Tiffany down.
[Victor] The referee doing a nice job at it.
Valkyria said, "I am good. I can continue."
And she's continuing to fight in this match.
Looking for some high risk.
Will it pay off?
-[Victor] Oh. -[Booker] Wow.
Missile dropkick.
Valkyria right to her injured left knee,
immediately grabbed the knee, could not capitalize on that dropkick.
[Booker] Yes, you're right,
couldn't capitalize, couldn't get a cover out of that big shot right there.
[Victor] Quite the atmosphere here tonight NXT battleground.
This, the finals for the NXT Women's Championship.
Somebody at the end of the night will have that title around their waist,
will have the prestigious NXT Women's Championship,
and win this tournament.
Take another look.
Valkyria right in despite the knee, bam, able to connect.
Wasn't able to capitalize.
Now for Valkyria, she's got to block out the pain.
She's got to put all that behind her.
She's got to settle in.
She's got to focus, and she's got to somehow figure out
a solution to the problem that is Tiffany Stratton.
[Booker] Valkyria has worked her way into this position.
She showed up in December and has been onward and upward.
She's soared here in NXT, and right now she's in a hell of a position,
but I don't know about that left knee, Vic.
[Victor] Combination offense connecting, able to black out the pain for the moment.
You talk about being here six months ago, competed at Stand & Deliver,
here tonight in the finals, northern lights suplex
rolling right through, and on one leg, completes it again with the bridge.
Into the cover.
[Booker] Oh, we going for the trifecta.
We going for one more, Vic.
[Victor] Oh, to the knee.
Stratton right to that kneecap.
Buckling Valkyria.
Oh.
I wonder if that was an enziguiri of some sort.
[Booker] Yes, it was, but I'm going to tell you right now,
Valkyria may have taken the worst of that shot right there,
even so she delivered it.
[Victor] Well, I think everything right now for Valkyria,
anything she does, walks, breathes, it's just shooting pain.
You've had knee injuries, Book, it's not easy to compete at this level.
Oh!
Oh, but throwing caution to the wind is Valkyria.
[Booker] The adrenaline right now is pumping, Vic.
Valkyria right now, she's just trying to push through the pain,
and like I say, it's a short window, a very short window, Vic.
[Victor] Valkyria pulling herself,
trying to shake some feeling back into the left knee.
Does she have enough to climb to the top?
A little bit longer than she wanted, but she's raining down.
Connects.
This that strength.
This that strength of Stratton.
[Booker] Wow.
[Victor] Overpowering.
[Victor] Oh.
Cover. Cover.
No!
[Booker] Wow.
[Victor] Right shoulder just.
You could have slid a piece of paper under her shoulder
just getting up for Stratton to continue in this matchup.
Just when we thought Stratton was looking, bam, that crucifix bomb.
Referee comes right over and just-- but that was close.
That was close.
[Booker] Allowing Valkyria to maintain contact
and to reverse that into something awesome.
Wow.
[Victor] Oh, now you're giving her credit.
-[Victor] Look at Valkyria. -[Booker] Of course.
Oh, buckling the knees,
and right underneath-- and Stratton right in.
[Booker] Don't waste any time.
Don't waste any time.
Stratton moving with purpose, with urgency.
Oh.
We've seen Stratton win in the past.
Can she-- Oh, and a kick out by Valkyria.
We've seen Tiffany Stratton early on in her career.
Stratton was racking up the victories with that move.
Let me give Valkyria a lot of credit, Vic,
because I thought this match would've been over about five minutes ago,
but she's tough.
She's weathered the storm.
[Victor] We have witnessed the rise of Valkyria firsthand,
but we've also seen the rise of Tiffany Stratton.
These two here in the finals, both picked by the coaches,
by the two-time hall of famer, Shawn Michaels.
Valkyria trying to hoist up, and back again to the knee.
Right back-- got caught again.
Shoulders down. Shoulders down, near fall.
-[Booker] Woah. -[Victor] Boom.
[Victor] This has to be it, Booker.
High impact for the-- No!
[Booker] You've got to be kidding me.
Book, this is the NXT Women Championship.
This is the finals to win the NXT Women's--
so think about all the women that have held the Women's Championship,
what their careers have gone on to be.
Charlotte Flair we mentioned.
You talked about Rhea Ripley.
The list goes on.
When you talk about Asuka.
These superstars want to follow in that lineage.
[Booker] What did Lyra say, Vic,
a dream is worth more than a thousand realities.
She's trying to make that reality come true tonight.
[Victor] That's just about part of her passion
that she has had oozing out in this matchup, but from both superstars.
That hit hard. See the pain right there?
See the grimacing look right there in Lyra's face?
I don't know how Lyra's even up right now.
There's that gymnastic background, got caught.
[Booker] Oh, baby.
[Victor] Big German suplex for Valkyria.
That's the fighting spirit, Vic.
[Victor] Mustering up everything she's got.
Oh, but we've seen that roundhouse kick connect.
The knee buckled.
[Booker] Just left her right there, Vic.
[Victor] And Stratton to pick up the scraps.
Hoisting up Valkyria,
and this could be the beginning of the end.
-[Victor] Boom. -[Booker] Oh man.
Oh, we about to see it.
Oh no.
[Victor] Nobody home. Moonsault didn't connect.
Valkyria back to her feet.
Boom.
This time it does connect.
Valkyria on one wheel trying to crawl,
trying to inch, trying to scrap her way over.
The cover.
[Booker] Wow.
You gotta be kidding me, Vic.
Wow.
[Victor] By the tippy top of her toe, Tiffany stays in it.
[Booker] Chinny chin chin, that's what that was, Vic.
[crowd chanting "NXT"]
[Victor] Who is walking out of battleground NXT Women's Champion.
That was the knockout blow that we've seen Valkyria deliver
throughout this entire tournament.
But we're going to have a big risk.
Will it pay off?
Valkyria setting her-- Stratton getting back into the fight.
What is on the mind of Valkyria now.
[Booker] That knee, Vic.
[Victor] Up and-- oh, looking for a powerbomb out of the corner.
Stratton trying to hold on.
Stratton able to take down Valkyria.
Right back in.
Again.
[Booker] Double up.
Here we go, Vic.
-[Victor] Moonsault. -[Booker] Cover.
[bell ringing]
[Victor] Stratton makes history tonight.
[female announcer] Here is your winner
and new NXT Women's Champion,
Tiffany Stratton.
V Take nothing away from Lara Valkyria,
but hats off to Tiffany Stratton.
All the emotion, all the passion pouring out of both these superstars
not just here tonight at battleground,
throughout this entire NXT Women's Championship tournament,
and there you see your winner and new champion.
What a moment that is for Tiffany Stratton.
Back into some of the action.
This is when the problems began for Valkyria in this matchup
stemming from that knee injury Tuesday night.
Stratton was there to inflict damage,
to inflict pain, and continue to bullseye that left knee.
When Valkyria was looking to strike, that knee again,
buckling later on in this matchup for Valkyria.
She really was on one leg this entire match.
And for Tiffany Stratton,
Stratton was willing to go to all the lengths in the world
to finally connect with the prettiest moonsault ever.
And Tiffany Stratton has begun her journey as NXT Women's Champion.
And tonight, Stratton has made it
to the tippy top of the Women's Division here in NXT.
[music]
[Victor] Another toxic chapter written Tuesday,
as former tag team partners, now bitter enemies,
are gonna kick off NXT inside a weaponized cage.
Don't miss NXT live this Tuesday on USA.
While this match is not about gold,
this one is in our main event
as we're about to witness the homecoming of Carmelo Hayes.
Is it the one he's dreamed of
or it's the massacre that Bron Breakker has predicted?
[commentator] This is the Him era.
18 months in the making was well worth the wait
because now there's no question on who the man is
because I am the NXT Champion
and I am Him.
Stand & Deliver was the culmination of my year-long reign as NXT champion.
[Victor] There is Bron Breakker who passed the torch at Stand & Deliver.
[Bron] At the end of the match, you presented me this Championship,
and man, I got to say, that was real cool for you to do that, man.
On behalf of me and everybody here at NXT, thank you.
That title holds great legacy.
It's my honor right now, man,
to congratulate you the most respectful way.
Give it up for the new NXT Champion, Carmelo Hayes.
I finally realized that I don't need the approval of these scumbags anymore.
You people are going to see a side of me that you have never seen before.
Big match after big match,
defending this brand, carrying the title,
all for what?
So I can pass the torch to a guy that I'm better than?
No one can have the torch because I'm about to burn this bitch down.
Bron Breakker, everything between you and I
was supposed to be about respect,
and at NXT battleground,
I want you, my neck of the woods.
Let's talk about it.
I don't like the idea of Carmelo Hayes having the NXT Championship.
I'll give you something, come here. Come here.
Melo, you're going to realize that you're not him.
You're nothing.
Anyone can be him, nobody can be me.
See you at battleground.
Bron decided that he wanted to send me a little message.
Well, guess what, Bron?
Message received.
To come into my house, into my backyard, and to beat me, that's crazy.
Bron Breakker is literally going to walk into a hostile environment.
I've earned a lot of respect and a lot of love in this area.
They've been waiting for this homecoming, and I know Bron wants to ruin that for me,
and I refuse to let him do that.
You thought you were untouchable until you got touched.
At NXT battleground, we're in my yard,
and in my yard, we don't bark,
we bite.
You are not taking my NXT Championship.
I'm not coming to lowell to witness a homecoming,
I'm coming to lowell in front of your family, your friends,
to dish out a massacre.
[Victor] Well, there you are looking in the eyes of Bron Breakker
who has been operating on a totally different level
since Los Angeles at Stand & Deliver.
Well, there you see the champion alongside trick Williams
getting ready for the most emotional match of his career.
[music]
[dogs barking]
[Bron Breakker's music plays]
[Victor] We all know this is going to be a hostile environment
for the challenger, more rabid than ever.
His attitude, "reasonable men never achieve anything."
[Booker] You know the saying, Vic, "no bread, no water, just meat."
We talked about that dog in this young man.
He's that lone wolf, Vic.
He doesn't need anybody watching his back, and that's a very, very dangerous dog.
[Victor] Well, we know the history, came to NXT at the same time,
both told by the brass they'd be the two to take NXT to the next level.
Toxic comparisons between the champion and the challenger.
The next chapter is written tonight
between Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes.
[Brooker chuckles]
[Booker] Yes, look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes, Vic.
Oh, we're about to get busy.
[music]
The city of champions,
the city of greed,
the city of the Red Sox,
the city of those baked beans.
To the city of the Celtics,
play while we still get to win,
to the city of Boston,
Him.
-[Carmelo Hayes' music plays] -[presenter] Wohoo!
[Victor] Well, the champion's family is here, friends are here.
He's in his own backyard where he went from a kid with a dream,
to grow into a Casanova, to become a champion.
He's going to be to be amped up tonight, Booker, there's no doubt about it.
How can he contain his emotions?
[Booker] Let me tell you something,
if Carmelo Hayes was anywhere besides here in this city,
I would say, "man, this kid is about to go out here and do it."
But that right there, that pressure of fighting at home,
fighting in front of family, giving away about 150 tickets,
right there is enough pressure, Vic, for any man to break.
I'm wondering if he can just hold it together.
Although he is truly that man.
[Victor] Look at Bron Breakker, not impressed.
Melo looking to build his legacy, Bron looking to cement his.
It's main event time for the NXT title at battleground.
[Booker] Yes, you can feel it.
[bell ringing]
[female announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT Championship.
Introducing first, the challenger,
Bron Breakker.
And his opponent, accompanied by Trick Williams,
he is the NXT Champion,
Carmelo Hayes.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting]
[Victor] It's all about the NXT title.
Heard all week Carmelo Hayes
tell the story about attending an NXT live event here in lowell.
Now he's here as champion.
Certainly a full circle moment,
but will it be the homecoming or will it be the massacre?
Here in our main event.
[Brooker laughs]
-[Booker] Let me tell you something… -[Victor] Oh!
[Booker] Carmelo Hayes is going to be able to allow emotion to take him.
I hope he doesn't run into something big with Bron Breakker here tonight.
[Victor] We talk about emotion, it's Carmelo Hayes
coming out firing right off the rip,
right on the bell, coming right at Bron Breakker.
And this brings up a question I wanted to bring up to you,
what changed in terms of strategy for both since Stand & Deliver
because this seems to be a different game plan from the champion?
[Booker] It's hard to say, but I can tell you this.
Bron Breakker is about not following the rules, Vic,
he's about making the rules,
and if so, he may just go out and break the rules.
That's what this man is all about now.
[Victor] Oh, pump kick connected.
For Carmelo Hayes, he's at least come out and been able to contain his emotions,
but the ring can't contain Carmelo Hayes.
[Booker] Wow.
[Victor] Brushing the dirt off his shoulders
and looking to keep the gold around his waist.
Hayes bringing the fight to Breakker.
I don't know if Breakker thought this was going to be the side of Hayes
he was going to see.
[Booker] Like I said, Vic, I like everything I'm seeing right now
with Carmelo Hayes, but like I said, he's fighting with a lot of emotions.
Right now the city got him going, but I'm telling you,
he's going to break down sooner or later, Vic,
because I'm going to tell you right now, Carmelo Hayes is not 100%.
[Victor] We've seen everything that's happened over the last several weeks
when it came to Bron Breakker targeting Carmelo Hayes
and those ribs as you see a little extra wince from Hayes,
as Hayes trying to pick up the speed, coming right back and caught and dropped.
Well, a little tip of the cap to his family from Bron Breakker
who's looking to become just the second man
to hold the NXT Championship three times.
[Booker] Coming in with all that anger inside, Vic,
it could make him make some big mistakes,
make him walk into something really big
because like I said, he is compromised.
Like I said, I don't think Carmelo Hayes is 100% by any means, Vic.
Anyone can argue that point, Book,
and that brings up the fact that would you argue that Bron
this is a Bron Breakker we've never seen before,
who's been living in the mind of Carmelo Hayes recently.
[Booker] He just took out the market, forget about living in the mind rent-free.
This dude right now, Vic, is on another level.
That's the mistake I'm talking about, that one little mistake.
Oh, yes.
Let's go, Melo.
[crowd boos]
[Booker] Look at Bron Breakker, man.
He's adopted that superstar mentality, Vic, and I like it.
[Victor] Look at Ron just baiting almost, Melo in.
Carmelo on the outside looking for the kick.
Bron knew it was coming, was able to catch the foot easily,
and right back on the offense, and look at Breakker.
[Booker] Oh yes, and he's bringing the pain up close and personal right here.
Laying it on thick on Carmelo Hayes right now, Vic.
[Victor] Trick Williams on the outside.
Nothing Williams can do about it.
Let's go back a couple of weeks ago, Vic.
Carmelo Hayes was speared through the stage.
I like the distraction right there.
Then, you just go back to last week, I mean Carmelo Hayes
speared out of thin air, man.
I'm going to tell you right now, those ribs got to be ginger
after this matchup, Vic, trust me.
[Victor] Connected with the fadeway, and Hayes now into the cover,
trying to the hook the leg, and under the bottom rope.
Nice job by Carmelo Hayes' presence of mind
to realize where Bron Breakker was in the ring.
and now Carmelo Hayes trying to switch gears in this matchup
and take it to Breakker.
[Booker] Let me tell you, we're going to find a whole lot
about Carmelo Hayes tonight, Vic, trust me.
[Victor] When it comes to Carmelo Hayes, you talk to him weekly
as we see some of his offenses, patented fadeaway connected
right into the back of Bron Breakker.
You talk regularly to Carmelo Hayes.
Did it anger him to be told that he had a defeat by the challenger?
[Booker] Of course it did.
It made him angry, but that's the thing, Vic,
Bron Breakker is looking to find any advantage he possibly can
coming into this match tonight,
even knowing that Carmelo Hayes is not the the best for wear,
let's just say that.
[Victor] Look at Breakker. Nice job of keeping the right knee on the mat,
not allowing the full stretch of this single leg crab,
but now Hayes has worn down Breakker.
[Booker] What he's trying to do, Vic, he's trying to slow down the momentum,
-[Victor] Oh back to the ribs. -[Booker] That's what he's trying to do,
and right now, Bron Breakker, he's not going to let him do that.
[Victor] Talking about not being 100%, Breakker a little ginger right now
as Hayes goes up, turns right back around.
Able to take down Breakker, and some of that speed--
Oh, and how do you stop speed?
You run into a brick wall.
[Booker] All power right there, Vic,
just lord, the boom on Carmelo Hayes right there with that big clothesline.
Nothing pretty about it, but effective.
[Victor] Certainly was, and Breakker,
just like that, can change the complexion of the match up--
Bam!
Back to live action, just tossing again around the champion.
[Booker] Yes, he did.
Carmelo Hayes is going to have to try to figure out how to swim
and not get wet in this mess tonight,
but right now, he's in a lot of trouble, Vic.
Breakker right now just enjoying--
[Booker] Oh yes.
[Victor] Every moment, every toss.
[Booker] That you made in the street, we call this the ganking zone, man.
[crowd booing]
[Victor] Bron Breakker doesn't give a damn about anyone in the NXT universe.
He has said it for weeks.
I've known Bron since the day he arrived here.
It's hard to sit here and hear what he has said about the NXT universe
that he has turned his back on.
[Booker] Come on, Vic.
[Victor] Right now-- Oh, nice belly to belly.
[Booker] He tried to play by the rule.
[Victor] Into the cover, Breakker for the title.
[Booker] Tried to make the fans feel a certain way.
-[Victor] I don't know if Hayes-- -[Booker] The fans turned on him.
[Victor] I don't know if Hayes kicked out or if Bron let him up
just to get out a couple more pushups.
[Booker] Bron said he's going to bring the pain tonight.
We know exactly where you're at.
You're in no shape for this matchup here tonight.
You're in no shape to go the long haul.
[crowd chants "you suck."]
[Booker] Well, right now, Bron Breakker just stalking his prey right now, Vic.
I don't like the looks of this for Carmelo Hayes.
This is what boasting looks like, right here.
[Brooker chuckles] Oh yes.
-[Victor] You like this new Bron breaker. -[Booker] Yes.
[Victor] He said it's not a change of attitude.
He said, "all I did was wake up."
This is the real Bron Breakker.
This is the Bron Breakker
that's looking to become a multi-time champion in this business.
[Victor] Breakker again another overhead belly to belly toss.
[Booker] It's going right to those ribs too, Vic.
Going right to those ribs.
[Victor] The focus of Breakker from the beginning.
[crowd chants "you suck."]
[Booker] Bron's just thriving off of these fans right now, giving it to him.
-[Booker] He's loving it. -[Victor] Well, you can say that
[Victor] because not only is he driving the air out of the lungs of Carmelo Hayes,
he's driving the air out of the home court advantage
Hayes has here at battleground,
and he certainly has silenced the majority
and the masses here tonight that came in support of Carmelo Hayes.
[Booker] Let me tell you something--
[Victor] The wind almost has left the saga center
as right now, Bron Breakker
could be looking for one more devastating suplex.
[Booker] Bron, man, this shot right here, Vic,
is going to be hell from Carmelo Hayes' ribs.
[Victor] Oh Hayes, back to the knee,
kind of softened up earlier with that single leg crab.
Back in goes Bron to the top.
-[Victor] Frankensteiner. -[Booker] Wow.
[Victor] For the third time, can Bron Breakker become NXT champ--
and Hayes kicking out.
[Booker] Oh, man, I'm in Bron Breakker's favor right now, Vic,
and he's licking his chops right now.
Oh, he's chomping at the bit right now, Vic, and I'm loving it.
[Victor] Bron said it wasn't going to be a homecoming,
it was going to be a massacre.
[Booker] Much as I love Carmelo Hayes, I love a good battle even more, Vic.
That's what we got here tonight between these two young men,
these two young lions.
Look at-- measuring Melo.
[Booker] I see that look in his eyes.
-[Booker] That looks so unlike him. -[Breakker] He's just like all of you.
I felt it as well.
[Victor] Bron just pulling the champion up to drop him again.
[Booker] Going to wake you up just to put you back to sleep.
I like that mentality, Vic.
Bron said time and time again, also this past week,
he was the favorite coming into this matchup.
[Booker] Oh, he is.
[crowd chanting]
[Victor] Oh, and now Hayes trying to get his second,
maybe his third win back in this matchup.
But so much has been taken out of the champ here.
Just trying to swing back, and look at the speed,
the quickness, the power, just getting yoked up by the challenger.
[Booker] Carmelo delivering those chops right there,
didn't look like he had much on them.
Looks like he's out of gas right now, Vic.
-[Booker] See what I'm talking about? -[Victor] One more time.
Look at the awkward landing though, Booker, for the champions just-- Bam!
[Booker] Just that adrenaline dump
being here at home in front of your home crowd.
Just that adrenaline dump alone.
[Victor] Talk about the emotion.
We talked about the ribs, the lower back,
and Bron now setting up
to just recline back on the champion
here in front of his family, in front of his friends.
[Booker] He's in a position to do it right now.
He's going to do it. He's going to finish him off right now.
There's nothing Carmelo Hayes can do about it, Vic.
[Victor] Hayes realizing it, sensing it-- Oh!
[Booker] Oh, wait a minute.
[Booker] Forgot about the crown jewels.
Bron might be singing an octave higher come tomorrow,
but right back in goes the challenger, taking control of the champion,
and it doesn't seem any-- Oh.
[Booker] Beautiful.
[Victor] I was about to say nothing the champion can do,
he can't continue to get momentum,
but right now, maybe the momentum has finally swung back
into the hometown kid.
Talking about momentum, Carmelo just used all of his momentum
to land that beautiful DDT on Bron Breakker.
Right now, this thing is about to even up just a little bit.
[Victor] Back to their feet.
Now, that emotion that maybe we thought he had a little bit too much of early on,
that being Carmelo Hayes,
he's going to have to channel all that emotion right now.
[Booker] One thing about being champion, Vic, I always tell you
that being champion gives you that cloak of invincibility,
and right now, Carmelo Hayes is feeling it.
[Victor] Hayes is going to the body, turning right back around face first.
Oh, Crescent kick under the jaw.
Hayes, big hop kick connects for the second time.
Champion finding the rhythm.
Feeling the flow, looking to fly.
-[Victor] Connects. -[Booker] He got it, he landed it.
[crowd cheering]
[Victor] Hayes right back in.
He goes up, goes around.
-[Victor] Drops Bron. -[Booker] Wow.
Into the cover.
Oh no, not even a one, not even a one, Vic.
[indistinct]
[Victor] Oh.
The whole crowd, we're even stunned.
Oh, nice cutter.
Bron gets dropped.
Melo again into a cover, hook of the leg this time, he--
-[Booker] Oh. -[Victor] Near fall.
[Victor] What is going through the mind of Hayes?
[Booker] You saw that the bravado of Bron Breakker
almost put him in a precarious position to get beat.
[Victor] Bam, that was a turning point of this match up.
Really allowing Hayes to get back in.
Cutter here connected beautifully.
Hayes though, not able to put Bron Breakker down
as this Championship match continues here at battleground.
[Booker] You just can't take free shots
like Bron Breakker just took there a second ago, Vic.
You can't do that.
[Victor] No doubt who the NXT Universe is behind in this matchup.
Can they rally Hayes?
Oh.
[Booker] Big uppercut by Bron.
Catching-- Oh, and now hoisted up.
[Booker] Wow.
-[Booker] What a counter by Him. -[Victor] Certainly was.
[Victor] That first 48.
[Booker] This going to be it?
[Victor] Now to the top, looking for nothing but--
able to roll through. Presence of mind. Turn around.
Breakker looking for the spear, found the post instead.
Hayes back up.
Oh my god.
[Booker] That's it, Vic.
New champion.
What?
[Victor] Woo.
[crowd cheering]
[Booker] You got to be kidding me.
[Victor] You're in disbelief.
-[Victor] Trick in disbelief. -[Booker] Check this out.
-[Booker] He got all of it. -[Victor] Bron in disbelief.
Oh my god, man.
He not only got all of it, Book.
He got more than that.
I have never seen a spear delivered from Bron Breakker like that.
[Booker] You hear the impact on that, Vic?
My god, man.
[Victor] Bron, gut wrench, just tossing Hayes again.
Breakker's done playing games.
[Booker] Taking out the trash right now, Vic.
Doesn't look good when you're taking out the trash.
Breakker's here to decimate, he's here to destroy,
he's here to dethrone.
And once again, become the NXT champion.
Hayes is out of it.
Hoisted up.
Oh, inside cradle. Inside cradle, shoulders down,
and no.
[Booker] Whoa.
[Victor] Another kick connect, but was that the…
is this the last win for Hayes, Booker?
What does he have to do to finally drop Bron Breakker?
[Booker] One last gas, one last effort here to try to--
Oh, yes! That could be it right there, Vic.
[Victor] It could be it. That DDT connects.
Now, look at Hayes.
[Booker] He's going for it, Vic.
-[Booker] First 48. -[Victor] Hayes couldn't connect.
-[Booker] Can he do it, Vic? -[Victor] To the top.
Nothing but net.
[Booker] Oh, wow.
Into the cover for Carmelo to retain.
[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Carmelo Hayes' music plays]
[female announcer] Here's your winner and still the NXT champion,
Carmelo Hayes.
[Victor] This was going back and forth.
That looked like a buzzer-beater to me from Carmelo Hayes.
[Booker] Yes, it was.
[Victor] 2/10 of a second left and he drops Bron Breakker.
[Brooker laughs] Right here at home, baby.
You got to love it.
[music]
[crowd cheering]
[Victor] Standing ovation from the hometown crowd.
We got to go back to this spear.
Bam.
You heard the impact.
Trick Williams felt the impact,
but still able to kick out was the champion.
Then, that disbelief kind of filled in.
The eyes were big.
The eyes here could've gotten rolled into the back of the head
from Carmelo Hayes on one kick followed by another
and then look at this, Booker.
Thing of beauty.
[Booker] Beautiful.
-[Victor] Bam. -[Booker] Beautiful.
With the greatest of ease, Vic.
[Victor] DDT, and then Carmelo Hayes looking for nothing but net.
Driving Bron into the mat.
Huge statement victory
for Carmelo Hayes here tonight
in front of his family, in front of his friends,
in front of the NXT universe all around the world.
Melo's legacy continues to grow,
and Booker, Melo's dynasty is just beginning in NXT.
[music]
Subtitles: Ignacio Pedernera & Florencia Goya n NXT.