[narrator] Then.
Now.
Acknowledge me.
The King of Kings.
You can't see me.
Forever.
Together.
[Vic] Last week we were all left to wonder,
who could be trusted?
Perhaps we get a few answers tonight,
welcome to "NXT".
[music playing]
[camera flash sound]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
introducing first, Tiffany Stratton!
[Vic] Stratton believes she runs NXT, Books,
because she's pretty, and she's privileged.
[Book] Oh, yeah, man.
We're talking about Tiffany Stratton,
we're not talking about the stars, we're not talking about the moon,
we're talking about the nebula, baby.
Oh, you feel me, come on, man.
[Vic] You are in the holiday spirit.
[Book] I feel good. I'm in the… down, man.
[music playing]
[announcer] And her opponent, Fallon Henley.
[Vic] We talk about the holidays, the New Year is coming up,
including New Year's Eve on January the 2nd,
but do you believe that Fallon Henley
can be turning the corner
in the New Year, or does it start tonight?
[Book] A lot of momentum coming next.
And some greater challenge [indistinct].
Keeping it going with Tiffany Stratton.
[Vic] This has been a long time coming.
You can go back two years ago,
and Fallon Henley defeated any of Stratton,
that lead to the friendship dissolve early on,
the partnership with Brigs and Jensen.
He talks about needing to blame someone for that trio,
you need to blame Tiffany Stratton for that trio.
[Book] This man, it's like light years away.
Tiffany Stratton taking this brand, NXT, to another level.
You've got to admit that, man.
[Vic] Let's say what passed in those years.
To the point Tiffany has gone two years as, the nebula?
[Book] The nebula.
[Vic] NXT women's champion at one point, and that's somewhere
that Fallon Henley would like to get to, but let's talk about recent times,
Stratton just able to catch Henley, and turn things round…
Oh, for just a moment.
Dig right by Fallon whose Halloween havoc…
Henley dressed as Stratton.
Purple, it's fun.
[Book indistinct] …not with her.
That was the problem, Vic, do you get it?
-[Vic] Did you get that? -[Book] I understand.
I also understand, that was a nasty fall,
and look at Tiffany Stratton,
very quickly coming back to the outside now
because she wants to mock Fallon Henley.
[Book] You talk about Tiffany Stratton,
you talk about her poise…
how well she picks up herself,
but in the ring, her in ring prowess is just about
as good as I've ever seen inside that [indistinct] in NXT.
I'm telling you.
[Vic] Something we just talked about, laughing at, not laughing with.
Tiffany seems to be wound a little bit too tight.
No, Tiffany is thinking about those two things all the time,
-[Book] you know what. -[Vic] You talk about a lot.
[Book] Two things, those checks and those championships,
the history, all the fame, status,
that's what Tiffany Stratton is thinking about,
not the trivial things.
[Vic] That was a big Irish whip poor will, extra on it.
Stiff comments about Henley, for example,
that Henley serves people like Stratton.
Doesn't even know what top shelf is.
[Book] You know what, I'm not going to disagree.
[Vic] Into the cover, hook of the leg, Henley able to get out.
[Book] That's for Henley to deal with right now.
It seems like she's swimming uphill.
[Vic] Talk about checks and championships,
still waiting to hear from Noam Dar,
if he will accept Josh Brigs challenge
for the heritage camp.
We don't see Brigs or Jensen at the moment,
because it is Henley, it is Stratton,
these two women with a lot of bad blood.
For Fallon Henley, when she sees blond, she sees red.
[Book] Not just that, this is a moment for Fallon to step up
for once, Vic, and do it all by herself.
I like that.
[Vic] I see a little extra rage, in Fallon now,
unloading.
[Book] Man.
What the hell is the referee doing?
[Vic] He's counting, what do you mean? He's doing his job.
Look at Fallon Henley, what a counter,
a little bit of separation created, big right hand.
And Henley is starting to roll in this match,
remembering all those nasty comments and just got caught with a spine buster.
Will that be it? And Fallon able to kick out once again.
[Book] See that, that's what I'm talking about,
Tiffany Stratton just lowers Henley, like that right there.
Beautiful tag.
[Vic] I want to go back to the Irish challenge,
did they hinder each other in that match up?
To take away another near fall,
and now Stratton right back, jackknife cover,
countered, flipped right back in,
nice counter, nice reset value.
-[Vic] Fallon got her. -[Book] You've got to be kidding me.
[announcer] Here is your winner, Fallon Henley…
[Book] Wait a minute. Hold the phone.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] Maybe so.
[Vic] Come on, ref!
Tiffany has snapped.
[screams]
She's dragging her by her hair?
[Book] Beastly, Vic, beastly.
[Vic] Where are they going?
This is a side…
[screams]
Oh, this is…
[screams]
this is deplorable.
This is a sight of Tiffany Stratton, Booker, we've never seen.
[referee] Stop, stop!
[crosstalk]
Get out of here, that's enough.
[screams]
Get out of here, come on.
Let's go, get out of here.
Fallon, you okay?
Yo…
Hey, dog, I see you on Smack Down on Friday,
you look good, you look like money.
Talk about it, man, going to the semifinals.
-Holla at you about something. -What's up?
It's been on my mind all week,
I want to apologize for what happened on Tuesday,
accidentally hitting you over the head, bro.
He got me so frustrated.
No need to apologize, we good.
-Look, accidents happen. -All right.
No, I've got a question for you.
I was going to ask you last Tuesday, but then you hit me in the head.
Now I'm playing with you, bro, for real,
did you really see who attacked you?
-Do you know… do you know… -No, man, like you, bro,
I didn't see who it was, but I'm telling you,
only one person hit me that hard, and that's Iljas.
-I've been thinking about something too. -What's that, bro?
I know it's a long shot, what if we made this on New Year's Eve
a triple threat match?
Why would we do that?
Look, we don't have to fight each other or anything,
but, if we trick Melo vs Ilja, there's no way it can retain,
and also we'll get revenge and take it home with us.
You just said, you don't know
if Ilja is the one that attacked you,
you didn't see anything.
Besides, a triple threat match,
look man, I won the iron survivor challenge
so that I can get the title shot.
Yeah, well, I mean, no, I was just thinking, it was just an idea.
It doesn't really matter who wins the title
as long as we have it, right?
It does matter.
When you won all your titles, you won those matches one on one.
Now I'm going to face Ilja Dragunov
and I want him one on one,
just like you did.
No, you're right,
I just want Ilja to pay for what he did.
It's all good, bro.
-I hope you understand what I'm saying? -No, no. I do.
Most importantly, you know what you gotta do. Whop that Trick.
Yeah. I'll take care of it.
If we're gonna do this, we gotta do it the right way,
the Trick Melo gang way,
if I'm going to defeat Ilja Dragunov,
I want you to help me train,
I need you by my side, dog.
All right.
Don't have to talk about it, man.
You're my dog, man.
Trick Melo gang, baby.
All right, I got you.
[Vic] Speaking of the champion, he's here, Ilja Dragunov,
marching towards the ring in the NXT universe, next.
[music playing]
[announcer] Please welcome, the NXT champion,
Ilja Dragunov.
[Vic] Towards called out by Melo as the attacker
for not only himself, but also Trick Williams one week ago,
which the top of the show I talked about who can be trusted.
Dragunov has a little bit of explaining to do to some in the back.
I don't know
how I got caught up into this Trick and Melo saga.
It almost feels like I'm the third wheel in some bad bromance movie,
and this I did not have on my 2023 bingo card.
But what I did have
was moving to America,
chasing down and capturing the NXT championship.
This year, I showed the whole world
who Ilja Dragunov truly is.
A human
who uses his body as a weapon.
A human who sacrifices himself,
a human who puts every single gram of himself in this ring,
just because
this championship deserves it.
And 2024,
I will start this year in an unpopular way,
and defeat
the fastest rising star.
[Vic] Oh, Booker.
Ilja, Ilja, I'm not here to cause any problems,
I'm not here to cause any issues, okay,
but the past couple of weeks I've been struggling.
Ilja, I need to figure out who I am, I need to figure out where I'm going.
I need to rewrite my story,
so here I am.
Rich Holland is back in NXT.
Welcome back, Ridge, but what do you want here?
Ilja, I know what it's like to be perceived a certain way.
I know what it's like to be weighed down by a stigma.
A stigma?
Yeah, you know, like the situation with Trick and Melo,
fingers pointing at you from everywhere.
Listen, my career, up until this point, has been nothing
but a series of unfortunate events,
one step forward, ten steps back.
Accident after injury, injury after accident,
and I'm here to prove myself,
I'm here, Ilja, to redeem myself.
And you, you can help me,
not only prove myself,
not only find redemption,
but earn it.
You see, because I need to prove that I'm the kind of man
that belongs in the main event.
And that, right there,
the NXT championship,
it makes you the measuring stick.
Ridge, are you honestly asking me for a title shot?
Ilja, I have way too much respect for you
and way too much respect for this place,
just to walk in here, cap in hand,
begging, asking for anything,
even though a title shot…
I need to prove myself,
and I'm here to tell everybody back there
that I will run through every single one of them
until me and you will have this moment once more.
And listen to me when I tell you, listen to me,
when we do have this moment, because it's going to happen,
it will be my honor.
This is the first chapter
in the redemption of Ridge Holland.
Ridge, Ridge, I'm tired,
I'm so tired of people getting into my face,
tired of people threatening me,
tired of people questioning my integrity.
I promise to bring unbridled passion
as champion.
So, you want to have a chance for redemption. Right?
You want to know where you stand.
You don't need to wait.
Because you will find out where you stand tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Wow, Book, two men with a lot to prove,
look into the eye, what a slug fest this could be.
I'm already the breakout star of the year, and after I win this tournament,
I'll have the contract to prove it.
So, guys, excuse me while I go to take my first steps
into becoming a champion.
Dragunov, what the hell was that.
I thought it was going to be us at New Year's Evil.
Trick, I don't understand the question,
Ridge will find out tonight where he stands.
-Nah, brother. -Trick, I am the champion.
You are the challenger,
and the champion
dictates what the challenger does, got it?
Yeah. You are champion.
Until New Year's Evil.
We'll see.
[Vic] New Year's Evil can't come quick enough.
[music playing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following is a first round match with the men's breakout tournament,
introducing first, Dion Lennox.
[Vic] Look at this superstar.
There's a lot of internal hype about this man
coming into this breakout tournament.
[Book] I don't know a lot about Dion, but he's got a million dollar smile.
You can tell he's an athlete, because look at the frame on it, baby.
Oh yeah.
[Vic] I talked to him earlier today, he said when those glasses come off,
a flip is switched and he's focused only on victory.
[Book] I can see it.
[loudspeaker] My way, my life.
[music playing]
[announcer] Here his opponent, Lexus King.
[Vic] He attacked Trey Bearhill last week.
All competitors wanted King in this tournament.
So in reality, King got what he wanted once again.
This man is deplorable.
[Book] What he did? I mean, King did the right thing.
You've got to sit back for a minute, scout the competition,
and now he knows exactly what he has to deal with.
He's like, I can beat all these guys,
let me in the tournament, let me in, coach.
[Vic] I don't know if it's worse what we saw earlier tonight,
when she dumped garbage all over Fallon.
[Book] Tell me what you think.
Talk about, first couple of months here in NXT, talk about that.
[Vic] The breakout tournament winner, two more first round match ups
that are happening here tonight.
Oh, right in goes King,
and do you now agree with me
that this man is addicted to the drama.
[Book] Drama King. He is a drama king.
What's wrong with that? What's wrong with people talking…?
Look at the combination in that…
[Book mumbling]
Wait a minute.
Double up, oh, yeah, just oh… kicking it like hell.
[Vic] Taking it to Lennox.
-[Book] Did you see that? -[Vic] I certainly did.
[Book] That's his business.
Mowing him down.
[Vic] He said his first steps toward becoming a champion begin here tonight.
Speaking of that, I wanna go back to Dragunov and Ridge Holland,
would you be upset if you were Trick Williams?
[Book] I would be upset if I was Trick.
Back in those days, Dragunov, Ridge Holland,
we know about these kids reputation,
everybody in the ring with him, has gotten hurt.
Not just hurt, but injured, some indefinitely.
[Vic] Lennox trying to fight back, up and over, what an upset this is.
Lennox is the prime example of the new wave of athletes hitting NXT.
[Book] He's poised right now. Right now he looks focused.
Keep that focus going because this is under a different light.
[Vic] For that point, five-year linebacker at Oregon state,
had to sit with the L.A. Rams, now stepping into the ring
here tonight, he signed in February.
He debuts tonight.
Do you remember your first ten months? Were you on this stage?
[Book] I wasn't at this level… this is that level where you can shine.
[Vic] Look at the bridge. Too advanced.
King just digs out.
[Book] It's a thrill seeker, the agony of defeat.
[Vic] King taking that contract and trying to head out.
You just can't grab that contract and go, you've got to earn it.
[Book mumbling]
[Vic] Last week, Osborn advanced to the second round.
He will be the first superstar to advance to round two,
here tonight the semifinals coming up
in the NXT men's breakout tournament,
and for Lexus King he already thinks
he's a breakout star here at NXT.
[Book] That right there,
see what he's doing, he's doing his business, and…
[Vic] Wait a minute, we've seen this before.
[Book] Sleeper, sleeper.
[Vic] That coronation from Lexus King
advances King to the next round.
[music playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Lexus King.
[Book] Boss man, boss. Come on, give it to him or lay out, go ahead.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] Hey, he weaseled his way into this tournament,
nonetheless, he was successful.
But Lennox brought it here tonight.
A successful debut.
Hang your head high if you're Dion.
-[Book] Check out. Check out this. -[Vic] If you are…
[Book] Good-bye, baby.
[Vic] That coronation, and King is moving on
to the semifinals.
Take a look at the updated bracket, we talk about Osborn and Obafeti,
now Lexus King has advanced,
one more match up still to come.
To solidify our semifinals
in the men's breakout tournament.
[Vic] What do you got to say now, Book, there's the man,
Lexus King took out of the breakout tournament.
[Book] No, man. You don't want to deal with this guy.
Come on, get in the ring.
He doesn't have a shot at me yet.
Aren't done with me yet baby.
[crowd chanting]
[music playing]
This year has been trial and error for me, in NXT.
Been put directly into the fight of my life against Dijak.
Each battle has been grueling on me,
and heart wrenching for my family.
But to keep true to myself I fight through the pain,
and I move forward without fear,
the universe has pulled us back together to settle this.
You took me out of action.
And I took the iron survivor away from you.
[Vic] Eddie Thorpe, where did he come from?
No love lost between Thorpe and Dijak.
It appears that the ropes can't even contain us any longer.
So I want a match where that isn't a factor.
No ropes, no excuses,
what do you say, Dijak?
Next week, let's finish this, once and for all,
on NXT underground.
Hoka hay.
[Vic] Booker, looks like we're headed back Underground next week
on the final NXT of 2023.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest, tag team match, scheduled for one fall,
team up, Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne.
[Vic] In dark times here's some shining light to chase you.
Tag team action coming your way, next, here on NXT.
Welcome back to NXT.
[helicopter sound]
[music playing]
[crowd booing]
[announcer] The opponents that team up,
Izzi Dame and Kiana James.
[Vic] This duo established themselves at deadline,
at the expense of Roxanne Perez.
[Book] Yeah, indeed. I tell you what…
The other James… I say she's the boss.
Now she has Izzi Dame as a side kick.
That's a combination like ain't nobody jelly, dawg…
Give me a sandwich.
[Vic] Kiana James and Izzi Dame poked fun at Thea Hail last week,
which lead to this tag team match.
You're not going to sucker me into any comments,
you keep bringing up your sandwich analogies,
you are in the holiday spirit tonight.
[Book] But Thea Hail she's got to figure out how to be a rock star,
like Jayce Jane,
keep working on those dance moves, first and foremost.
[Vic] You've got to give a lot of credit to Jacy Jayne,
she's really helped Thea Hail.
[Book] With the situation that's going on. She needs a friend.
[Vic] She certainly does. And she had one in Jacy Jane.
I just looked over into that student section
and look who is on his feet, leading the charge,
it is Riley Osborne, who is in these semifinals
of the NXT men's breakout tournament,
he's showing support for his friend Thea Hail.
[Book] Nice saving, kid. Wide open.
[Vic] There seems to be a spark there, Book.
It's nice to see them supporting one another.
[Book] No, no. I get it.
[Vic] Into the cover goes into Jayne, kickout.
[Book] Thea Hail, she's stepping into womanhood. No more Hannah Montana.
No more of that, Vic.
[Vic] You talk about Chase, you talk about Brook, a lot of combos.
why don't you donate some money to Chase University.
Think about it, Booker T. Gymnasium, can you dig it?
Geoscience center, you can have your name all over it, Book.
Dame…
taking out two for one here against James and Izzi Dame,
Dame coming right back, and it's cut.
not enough to overpower for a moment, and into cover, shoulders down.
Roll it through.
[Book] Izzi Dame is making her presence known.
[Vic] I can see that. Turned inside out, a kick out.
[Vic] Right off the bat she stepped up to the plate,
and she's got the best competition here.
[Vic] I don't take anything away.
We've seen her in the breakout tournament, trying to build herself.
Changed the complexion of this match up with just a clothesline.
[Book] Talk about a clothesline, that was hilarious,
that was hilarious.
[Vic] Get back on track with these two.
Who gain it is most with this partnership?
Is it Kiana James or Izzi Dame.
Laid out Jacy Jayne.
[Book] It's hard to say in a situation like that,
I think it's two totally different relationships here.
[Vic] Talk about Dame, who is in the breakout tournament,
Kiana James must have saw something she liked in Izzi.
Into the cover, is it going to be enough for Jayne able to kick out one more time.
I think about this partnership in my own mind.
Kiana James doesn't want to get her hands dirty anymore, so to speak.
[Book] Oh, no. Is not about getting your hands dirty,
is about how dirty to get your hands.
Right now with someone like Izzi Dame, you've got a partner.
Kiana is being hit in the floor. But not with the right partner.
[Vic] Former women's tag team champion is Kiana James,
and look at Izzi Dame with her power.
-[Vic] It is what it is, and face first. -[Book] I like that.
[Vic] Will this be enough? This would be a huge victory,
able to move away.
When it comes to James, and Izzi Dame, she loves to talk down to others.
We saw it firsthand last week, for that woman, Thea Hail.
[Book] But that would be…
You want to do the bash, trash talking, able to kick out…
I'm getting into someone's skin.
[Vic] James able to kick out Jayne back to her feet,
Izzi staying right on top of Jacy Jayne.
Both women, same thought,
both laid out, and look at James, was able to get over,
make the tag to Kiana, Thea Hail is so close.
But not close enough.
The student section for a moment, got behind Thea Hail,
and Hail making her way into the ring.
Look at Thea Hail hitting Kiana James
over and over and over again,
hasn't stopped, Book.
[Book] Yeah, something…
[Vic] Just waved at Riley.
[Book] There's something different now.
I like the movement, but there's something there.
[Vic] Got to wonder how much aggression,
how much frustration
is in the body of Thea Hail with everything going on
with Chase University.
[Book] Admiring it way too much.
[Vic] I think she was admiring the man in the crowd.
Right for the throat goes Kiana James,
James cutting some corners.
[Book] Talk about cutting corners.
-[Vic] A shot to the throat? -[Book] It was legal.
Tried to get to the rope. A tag was made.
Izzi Dame is legal, Thea Hail doesn't realize it.
Thea looking for the submission,
but Kiana is not legal.
Thea thought she won, and no,
Izzi Dame just turned her inside out.
[bell ringing]
[crowd booing]
[announcer] Here are your winners, the team of Kiana James
and Izzi Dame.
[Vic] Chase U student section not happy,
but quite a first impression
for Dame and James.
You gotta wonder… We can't let this duo get too much power.
I must say, Kiana and Izzi do make an impressive team.
Yeah.
I'm not done with those two.
Oh, Roxanne, still upset about deadline?
I understand.
But you need to remember,
it's not about wins and losses,
it's about good sportsmanship,
and how you play the game.
You wouldn't want to… with that too, would you?
Actually, it is about wins and losses.
Oh my God, she's crazy.
My face. My pretty face.
My face.
[Vic] I'm going to leave that one, there is Dragon Lee,
set to defend his North American championship, but against who?
We find out next.
It's heating up.
He's on fire.
Hold up. I didn't know he could hit like that.
Pressure up. You should get out.
I got the hot hand. Can't put them down right now.
Clak clakety clak.
You got half back. You should quit while you're ahead.
Chill out. That's a grown man right there.
-You can make decisions all yourself. -Of course I can.
Matter of fact, don't he tell you what to do?
Easy, easy.
Look, professor… this ain't no bake sale or no car wash now,
you've got a lot of money there.
-That's for real. -Think about leaving when you up.
One more roll.
Actually, you know what, now I've got a proposition for you.
I'm listening.
How about next week Duke and I talk on Bronco.
[crosstalk]
If we win…
I double my money.
If we lose,
-I'll walk away with what I came in with. -Isn't much.
On one condition.
When you lose, we get the tag title match.
If you can swing that.
Yeah… I don't think we'll do that.
Duke.
Don't go for it, telling you, don't go for it.
Hey Chase,
making wise decisions again, I see.
Hey Tony, yeah, he's out here making promises.
Listen, Tony knows I'm good for it.
All right, okay.
All right, whatever you say, boss, okay.
All right, you got yourself a deal.
I knew it. I knew it, I knew Tony had our backs.
I told you they would go for it.
Next week, we pay our debt in full.
I hope Chase knows what he's doing.
[announcer] The following is a universal challenge
where one member of No Quarter catch group
will accept the challenge.
[Vic] Well, it's four members, Book.
As you just heard from Alicia Taylor,
who answers the challenge?
[music playing]
[announcer] Making his way to the ring is the NXT
North American champion,
Dragon Lee.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Dragon Lee who wears that North American championship with pride
Set to take one of this four superstars.
Dragon Lee has been trying to prepare for all four.
[crowd screaming]
I think we got our answer, Booker.
[music playing]
[indistinct]
[crowd chanting]
Relax. Relax.
[indistinct]
Let's battle. You and you, both. Come on.
All right, here we go.
[Vic] Whoa, it's going to be both of them, Booker?
[Book] I don't like this.
But Dragon, but he's a fighter, Vic.
[Vic] To be fair, to be fair, a number has never been put
on this sort of challenge from Dragon Lee.
It's not limited.
It's up to his discretion and it does look and it is a triple threat match,
and I go to you, Book,
how difficult is it to defend a title with…
[Book] Is a whole lot to deal with,
two against one in there, and of course,
you know it's going to break down somewhere, somewhere in this match up.
[Vic] I also take a look around, and he's got his crew here,
Gallus boys on the outside.
Nobody here for Dragon Lee.
But Lee, though, rocking, rolling early on in this triple threat.
Coffey from behind,
you highlighted the dangers of a triple threat match.
[Book] Exactly what I'm talking about.
[Vic] Backbreaker.
[Book] All rules go to Dragon Lee, let get this guy…
[Vic] Back breaker for Joe Coffey now, he's cruising.
Nobody there, able to get out of the way.
We thought we were going to have a traditional one on one match up
for the North American championship,
and it's turned into this triple threat match, and I know Joe…
is always ready for a scrap, he's prepared.
[Book] Joe Coffey is always ready for a scrap.
You gotta [indistinct]… Charlie Dempsey, he's dangerous.
[Vic] There's the Gallus boys on the outside.
[Book] Oh, come on, ref.
[Vic] Being held back, great job by the officials.
Wolfgang tried to stick his nose in the business of the match.
Joe Coffey can't be happy, he also just got dumped
after that German suplex super kick, champion rocking,
champion into the cover, and able to break things up and look at the power.
-[Book] Beautiful. -[Vic] Good flex, suplex.
[Vic] Who's walking out North American champion?
North American championship on the line, what we thought would be
a traditional one on one match, turned into a triple threat match.
Whit the champion, Dragon Lee, the blue blood, Charlie Dempsey
and the scrappy Joe Coffey.
And Coffey has the advantage to power, oh, a little extra,
and all three men laid out.
[Book] Nasty man.
[crowd chanting]
[Vic] Take another look at this landing.
Dragon Lee got… look, who has the advantage in this match up?
It has been even almost right down the middle between all three.
[Book] I look to the outside of the ring with no… [mumbles]
that's a no return.
It goes back to the early 1900s,
it seems that they have a strategy.
Somebody is setting traps here tonight.
[Vic] I think it would be Joe Coffey, he knew who to prepare for,
it was Lee and four others.
All five prepared for Coffey who was waiting in the wings,
but Dragon Lee somehow, trying to overcome the odds,
using his quickness,
as elusive as possible,
and listen to the NXT universe.
[Book indistinct] Extraordinary block.
If anybody can pull it off, it's Dragon Lee.
He is elusive.
[Vic] Dempsey, you mentioned in the corner, the no corner catch crew
out there trying to help as best they can, coach up Charlie Dempsey,
but nothing doing for Dempsey, or Joe Coffey,
who doesn't have Gallus ringside anymore.
And just able to get that left shoulder up.
Look how wise, Dragon Lee goes into another cover.
He knows he does not need to factor into the decision to lose
this championship under triple threat rules here tonight on NXT.
[Book] There's going to be a second one from the outside.
How invaluable is that for Charlie Dempsey.
[Vic] One of the cornerstones in his camp as he's got rocked,
Coffey got rocked, Dragon Lee is poised, looking to fly.
I'm not sure if that did fly, but instead,
just took him down.
And Dempsey, the first one to pop up into the cover,
Coffey breaks up the count and Joe Coffey is the one in the cover.
Dempsey breaks it up.
The dangers of a triple threat match up, and look at Dempsey, so focused.
No elbow pads, no knee pads,
he is just different than the rest of the locker room.
[Book] He's a fighter, a throwback to…
he's a gladiator, a spirited type of guy.
Oh, wow.
[Vic] Sharp elbow. And Coffey…
to the top, got thrust with that upper cut.
Great job by our official.
[Book] [indistinct] you know…
[Book indistinct]
[Vic] Let's see what that waist lock, trying to get Coffey up and over,
Dragon Lee, he goes up and over.
Trying to return the favor, but Coffey, so strong,
almost too strong.
[astonishment]
Did you ever see anything like that before?
[Book] What was that?
[crowd chanting]
[Vic] What action we've had.
Take a look at this upper cut, right under the jaw of Coffey,
and then going back, it's almost as if Charlie Dempsey
was able to lift up Coffey,
who just inadvertently tossed Dragon Lee.
[crowd chanting]
And this is for the North American championship,
Dragon Lee the champion,
trying to figure out his way through this match up.
Nice little DDT, took out Dempsey for the moment,
Coffey back to his feet,
only being held up maybe because of the ropes.
They're in his way, Lee charging in, and, oh…
[Book] What a stiff shot by Joe Coffey.
Here we go. Good to the last drop.
Cover him.
[Vic] Could he take out Dempsey. Could he take out the champ?
And Lee kicking out again, 2 1/2.
You could see in Dragon Lee's eyes, that was almost instinctive,
and Coffey so close
to wearing gold here at NXT.
Joe Coffey tonight could get the Gallus boys
back on top of NXT.
[Book] The triple threat match, all the cover has been on Dragon Lee.
He knows that.
[Vic] Dragon Lee has…
that's why you go back to what you said when he accepted this,
you said Dragon Lee did this to himself,
but Dragon Lee is not going to back down from anyone.
Not going to back down from a challenge and looking
to leave his imprint right into the chest of Joe Coffey.
You've got to wonder, Lee must have seen Dempsey
starting to get up on the outside.
Right now, Dempsey back into the ring.
Big knee to the side of the ear.
Back to the match, and Coffey into another cover.
No, no, no, no.
So close.
[Book] I can't believe he kicked out of that.
That was a kill shot, Vic.
[crowd chanting]
[Vic] Dragon Lee now surveying
the area around, and he sees one more time,
Dempsey getting up but Dempsey, again,
with another version of the upper cut.
A couple of formers from Dempsey, starting to score down on the outside.
Triple threat match, and there goes Joe Coffey.
All three of these men
laying it on the line.
[crosstalk]
[Vic] What is up with Joe Gacy?
It's Joe Gacy, right?
[Book] I didn't see him.
[Vic] I saw him.
I don't necessarily know if anyone else did,
but for Joe Coffey right now,
he's got to be thinking what he's got to…
Oh, Booker!
Booker!
Coffey!
Coffey just got a dragged to who knows where,
by you've got to assume Gacy, back into the ring, back into the action,
North American championship on the line,
Dempsey is looking in, charges in,
and somehow gets… what the hell, this is a cover.
[Book] How innovative was that?
[Vic] They slam into a bridge, almost able to pull off a three.
Lee trying to battle his way free.
Somehow the champion lands on his feet.
Picking up some momentum, charging in,
and operation Dragon.
Connects. Lee retains.
[announcer] Here is your winner, still the NXT North American champion,
Dragon Lee.
[Vic] It was a tall, tough pack,
but Dragon Lee
overcomes the odds here tonight.
[music playing]
What the…?
What the…? Hey.
[crowd booing]
-[Vic] Come on. -[Book] I told you, Vic.
[Vic] Pull out Booker.
It's wild, it's crude, backup has arrived for Dragon Lee.
[Book] What are they doing here?
[crowd chanting]
[Vic] Dragon Lee had Joaquin Wilde a few weeks back on Smack Down,
Wilde is returning the favor
thankfully, for the North American champion.
[music playing]
What the hell is he thinking about, man?
I'm supposed to be the first one to get that shot.
-I told you about it. -Going to take this match, Ridge Holland.
Come on, man.
I bet if Ridge Holland wins tonight, it's a triple threat at New Year's Evil.
-Oh, my God, a triple threat? -Yes.
Man, I should have thought of that.
Trick, you've got to listen to me, I know what I'm talking about.
Look, man, I beat Dragon, I can take them…
he's been unbeatable, he's been untouchable, man.
I'm supposed to be the one to take him out.
Something that no one else has been able to do.
Take that title off of Dragunov.
You feel what I'm saying?
I do.
That's why you're my dog.
She's back.
Did you guys miss me?
Because I missed all of you.
Don't worry, the savior of the NXT women's division
is finally back.
Whom who am I kidding? The savior of all of NXT.
First order of business,
pin the champion, check.
Second order of business,
reclaim my locker.
Check.
Sorry not sorry, Carmen.
It feels good to be home.
Right.
Some things will never change.
Did she just take my locker?
You know, Carmen,
there's only one way to deal with Cora.
[loudspeaker] I object.
[Vic] The NXT resident mean girl
strikes again.
[crowd booing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following is a first round match
in the men's breakout turn event,
introducing first,
Luca Crusifino.
[Vic] We heard from him several weeks ago,
he's already filed a motion
to win the breakout tournament, this, Booker,
the final quarterfinal match up,
to punch their ticket into the semifinal
happens in a matter of moments.
[Book] A real business man, shown in the way he walks,
as well as the way he talks.
-[Vic] You got one of his business… -[Book] Yes.
[music playing]
[announcer] And his opponent, Tavion Heights.
[Vic] Nice, like everyone else.
Wanting that contract that goes to the winner
of the men's breakout tournament
that guarantees them a championship match.
They can execute that contract
when they feel they are ready to possibly
put gold around their waist.
Because there are a lot of things to like
about Tavion Heights.
[Book] I tell you right now, just the intro right there,
walking around in the middle of the ring, this kid's scary,
as well as very talented, right there, look at that.
[Vic] Quick take down, into a quick cover.
[Book] He did it with ease.
He represented team USA at the 2020 summer Olympics,
take a look at that sort of caliber athlete.
He won a bronze
at the 2021 world wrestling championships in Norway.
And also won gold at the 2020 Pan-American wrestling American championship,
he has quite a background.
[Book] He has big shoes to fill,
Chad Gable, see his boy, Tavion Heights…
-[Book] Wait a minute. -[Vic] He did spend a lot…
look at that block right there.
[indistinct] Couldn't keep it going right there.
[Vic] He did spend a lot of time talking recently with Chad Gable,
and just turned Crusifino up and around,
shots the gap, into the cover to advance and able to kick out.
Coaches just raved
about how quickly Heights has grasped things
here inside the performance.
[Book] Just watch that for a second,
the belly to belly,
turning around into something that's a little bit bigger.
[Vic] Just stomping on the foot,
just by any means necessary,
whatever you can do to create a bit of separation,
and look at Crusifino,
firing a right hand, right down low,
taking away the vertical bait of Tavion.
Crusifino finding himself being illegal.
He's smart. He's got strategy.
[Book] Ain't all about Olympics,
Crusifino has been dealing
with a lot of clients from the street,
giving him a lot of trouble.
Got to know how to defend yourself today.
[Vic] When it comes to defending yourself, coming into this tournament,
is there an advantage to have a week to soak in the tournament…
Off that neck breaker, into the cover, heights able to kick out at one.
You get to sit back and let your emotions settle,
just a little bit, take another look at this high impact from Crusifino.
[Book] He's not in the street right there, Vic.
[Vic] Nice hip toss into another version of a neck breaker by Crusifino.
Those into the killer, once again able to power out.
So both these guys have had time to let their nerves settle.
[Book] Yeah, I mean, he doesn't look too settle, Tavion Heights,
he's getting the hell beat out of him right now.
Seems like Crusifino is looking for a payout.
[Vic] What are you talking about?
Looking for one of those billboards that pop out around the performance,
where Crusifino is waiting patiently.
Went to the well one too many times.
This is the final first round match up, there's been a lot of talk,
a lot of praise for all the competitors
that were in this first round.
[Book] Big shot there.
[Vic] An overhead toss.
Belly to belly. Go behind waistline.
German suplex.
Nice high release. What did you say earlier, popping the hip?
[Book] Popping the hips. Right now he's on a roll.
Crusifino is back to…
back to be looking for a [indistinct] here pretty quick.
[Vic] He's got quite the smorgasbord of suplexes here,
Tavion Heights, fired up.
We're going to pick up a little extra, and…
-[Vic] Oh, another spinning. -[Book] That's it.
[Vic] Belly to belly, in Tavion Heights,
the final superstar to advance in the first round.
[announcer] Here is your winner, Tavion Heights.
[Book] I told you, Vic, this kid is scary.
[Vic] Had to bring that up, take a look
at some of the action from Heights,
who just seemed to have his way
once he started to navigate the waters
of this match up.
Because he just delivered suplex after suplex,
including that last
belly to belly with a twist.
Big victory for Tavion Heights.
And big things should be coming his way
because now the semifinals are set,
in the NXT men's breakout tournament,
there you see the four competitors
that are left in this year's tournament,
including Tavion Heights
who just punched his ticket.
What do you think about these final four?
What's your tea?
Oh, you know who I have my money on, right?
It's King, man.
-I should've known. -The drama King.
Anyways, the semifinals continue next week here on NXT.
Let's take a look at the upcoming NXT championship match up
between the champion, Lyra Valkyria,
against the iron survivor challenger, Blare Davenport.
[narrator] Two women, crossed an ocean, to be in NXT,
but both have chosen very different paths.
Lyra Valkyria,
NXT women champion,
left her native Ireland to chase a dream.
Her opponent at New Year's Evil,
the iron survivor Blare Davenport…
I'm furry, and I am fire.
[narrator] Went from New Zealand to the UK,
to Japan and back again
in her quest for glory.
Somehow, they have never crossed before,
even in NXT UK, they were set to collide
but an injury of Lyra
meant that the WWE universe was denied the chance
to witness them to battle.
Each woman is the polar opposite of the other.
Lyra doing everything that she can to fairly claw her way
to the very top of NXT,
doing things the right way.
[Vic] Lyra did it, she did it.
[narrator] Beating her hero Becky,
and earning the respect
of the man in the process.
[Vic] A moment that will be etched in the history of this brand
as the women's division,
now soars with Lyra.
[narrator] Blair chose the darker route, hiding on the shadows,
picking off her rivals with sneakily savage skullduggery.
Enemies of Blair…
[narrator] At deadline,
Blair Davenport showed she's virtually untouchable
by beating four other women,
not just by showcasing her skill and intelligence,
but by continuing to show that she can
and will do anything to succeed.
[Vic] Blair Davenport, our women's iron survivor.
[narrator] Will Lyra's virtuous journey
keep her on track as NXT women's champion,
or will Blair Davenport's trail of destruction
lead her to championship gold?
Their paths will finally cross
at New Year's Evil.
[Vic] It's all going down two weeks from tonight,
the iron survivor challenge winner, Blare Davenport,
looks to put a dark cloud
over the women's division when she challenges Lyra Valkyria
for the women's NXT title,
it happens at New Year's Evil.
Oh, hi.
I didn't have a problem with creepy Tatum before last week
but then she put her hands on me.
I have no idea what's going on in that girl's brain.
I'll take care of your freak problem tonight,
but just so you know,
I came back for Blare Davenport
but I also came back for that woman's title.
[Vic] Booker, we're getting ready to enter the lion's den.
[music playing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
introducing first,
Nikita Lion.
[Vic] Well, for Nikita Lion, this is her first singles match
in nearly a year,
she's going against Tatum Paxley.
This one on one showdown
happens next on NXT.
Is this the holiday spirit?
Listen.
Happy holidays.
Happy holidays. Noam…
What is your answer to Josh Briggs challenge to a heritage cup match?
Well, this is the time of the year where we think of the less fortunate,
I am nothing if I'm not a man of charity.
With a heart of gold, my brother.
The gift who keeps on giving.
Noam Claus.
These guys are the best, right, Kaylee?
That was a rhetorical question,
but yes, Josh Briggs
has a Christmas miracle coming his way.
For I, supernova 11,
known as the father of Christmas,
will be defending my heritage cup
against that low drama boy, Josh Briggs.
Okay, thank you.
Bye-bye, happy festivus.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
[Vic] Well, the final NXT of 2023
keeps getting bigger, and better.
[music playing]
[announcer ] And her opponent, Tatum Paxley.
[music playing]
[Vic] Take a look at the face of Nikita Lyon
and then you'll see Tatum Paxley with Lyra Valkyria.
What is up lately with Paxley
creeping around the women's championship?
Give you the creeps?
[Book] No, no. Trying the figure it out.
Paxley is very, very dark right now.
Maybe she's trying to find herself.
I don't know what it is.
But she's got to deal with the Lyon.
It's a nightmare. You know what I'm saying?
[Vic] I'm not repeating it, no, Nikkita Lyon.
[Book indistinct]
[Vic] Nikkita is knocking out Paxley to the outside last week
didn't go the way Lyon hoped.
How can she bounce back, here tonight?
[Book] You no fun, Vic.
Let me tell you something, Nikkita Lyon,
she's not here to make friends or anything like that.
Nikkita Lyon is championship material.
[Vic] Well, you see, that's very unique and insane.
You had a creepy stalker once?
-[Vic] The boogeyman? -[Book] I won't talk about that.
[Vic] You handled the boogeyman, how should she handle Paxley?
How should she handle that?
Why aren't you any fun, Book?
Lyra confused by the entire situation herself,
so is Nikkita Lyon, because Paxley,
who pushes Lyon out of the way last week,
bringing us to this one on one match up,
and Paxley has been in control.
[Book] She's been in control and she looks very,
very comfortable right now.
[Vic] Again, a near fall. Remember, don't forget voting
for the NXT Year End Awards, begins 10:00 P.M. tonight.
Another near fall in this match up.
But it was all smiles when Nikkita Lyon returned,
don't know if it should be said for someone earlier tonight,
that being Cora Jade.
[Book indistinct]
She may be trying to think about that injury she's coming off of,
and not being able to get in the game completely.
As I mentioned earlier… big elbow.
And Paxley now methodically,
into the cover, hook up the leg, kick out by Lyon.
This is Nikkita Lyon's first singles match in nearly a year.
There's a big difference when you come back from a tag team match,
like last week, opposed to a singles match, does not have anyone to tag,
she does not have a chance to catch her breath.
[Book] You go through the rehab, you ride the bike for an hour,
you feel like you're in shape, but there is no shape
other than getting in this ring.
[Book] Let's go behind by Lyon.
[Book] And getting it done, man.
[Vic] Talk about the unusual offense from Paxley,
Nikkita Lyon trying to weather this storm in this match up,
she's been waiting to get back into the ring.
She's been waiting to unleash her roar
once again at NXT.
And these are the strikes,
this is the precision we saw
from Lyons a year ago.
[Book] Very, very [indistinct]
She's a hybrid, she can pretty much do it all.
-[Vic] What a right hand. -[Book] I like that right there, Vic.
[Vic] And Lyon added a little extra
to her offensive playbook.
And Lyon is looking for a German suplex, instead,
just tossing Paxley.
Got a question as you mentioned, the stamina.
Slice and right through Paxley.
And not to be outdone,
looking to put the finishing touches on tonight.
[bell ringing]
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Nikkita Lyon.
[Vic] It's got to feel good for Nikkita Lyon
to be able to bounce back in this match up.
When we talk about Nikkita power,
it's firsthand, right in front of us,
here tonight with this strike,
with the precision,
and for Nikkita Lyon,
it's got to feel good
to get back under her winning ways
after her first singles match in over a year.
More questions about Tatum Paxley
but 2024 could be the year of the roar.
[music playing]
All I wanted was a shot.
All I wanted was a chance to prove ourselves against the best,
and we got it, baby, and now we have two underdogs
about to flip the script on Dallas.
When that bell rings, body shots turn to knockouts.
It's gonna be a slug fest, body shots turn to knockouts.
Hey, man. Let's do a truce, we hit first.
-We hit last. -Come on, man. Let's go.
Can't believe she throw trash at you like that, that's…
I mean, Fallon, are you okay?
I'm embarrassed,
humiliated, and pissed off.
Tiffany has had everything handed to her on a silver platter.
She doesn't know what hard work means,
what it means to get your hands dirty.
When I look at Tiffany the last thing I see
is a hard worker and I am not done with her.
[crowd screaming]
I've never seen her that pissed off before.
Look, on a better note, up to the challenge,
we got to hit it this next week.
I'm ready to rock it. How many times did you say that 2023 was our year?
-Like 2023 times. -Bingo.
I think I'm ending 2023 as the heritage cup champion.
Well, Metaphor is out there, and me and Fallon out there to support you
to make sure they don't get in that match and you win the heritage cup.
Brother,
I appreciate it, you know I do,
but I need to do this one on my own.
Why?
I don't know if I can explain it.
I don't even think you'd understand,
but next week I need to ride solo on this, brother.
All right.
Good luck, man.
-Love it. -Love you too.
[Vic] It might not be a wise move.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] Now the tag team match,
introducing first, the team of Tank Rocker
and Tank Ledger.
[Vic] Big match for Hank and Tank here tonight on NXT.
Their time to shine, so to speak.
[crowd booing]
[announcer] And the opponent, accompanied by Joe Coffey,
the team of Mark Coffey, and Wolfgang, Gallus.
[man1] Gallus might not be in the best of mood
after losing the North American championship match earlier, it was a…
Joe Gacy, kind of…
I'm just happy he made it back here, to be honest.
[Book] Monkey in the mix, that was.
[Vic] Here comes Hank, ripping in this match up,
tag was made, Wolfgang is legal.
Hank and Tank annoyed Gallus to the point that they got their match.
That they got this opportunity here
against a pair of former tag team champions.
[Book] There's a business to take care.
There's a protocol to make business in this business
and right now these guys got… they don't know it yet.
[Vic] Hank going into the cover over the leg and no doubt
this would be the biggest win in the careers of Hank and Tank.
The tag was made, in comes Tank.
And this match could tag team championship ramifications to it.
[Book] Come on, come on.
Let's talk about how the Gallus boys,
Mark Coffey and Wolfgang, this young guys…
what it's truly all about to make it to the big league.
[Vic] The Wolfgang was caught in that forementioned
North American championship match up,
listen to the NXT universe,
behind Hank and Tank.
They just looking for that fight,
looking for that chance to make a name for themselves,
and it could happen in this tag team match against Gallus.
[Book] Not going to say Hank and Tank not going to beef up.
Just not tonight, I don't see it.
[Vic] Another tag was made, and Hank and Tank,
certainly holding their own
against Gallus here tonight.
Talk about the tag team champions.
Got a credible family creating a lot of new revenue,
they're cousins repping that quarterback
who plays in New York, everything here for the family
is coming up gold.
A lot of credit to the boss, you have to give credit too,
to Hank and Tank for this match up.
They have been in control
since the start, and for Hank…
Wolfgang on the outside. By the way, Wolfgang is legal.
He did make a tag, didn't realize…
Hank just got set right in that steel touch.
[Book] His former tag team champion there.
[Vic] Look at Tank.
Tank has got to fire up and rally his partner.
[Vic] He needs to do his job.
That should've been a disqualification.
[Vic] For what?
Touching someone?
[Book] Not holding the tag rope.
[Vic] Now you're a stickler for the rules,
as Hank and Tank try to get back into this match.
That could be a pivotal point for Hank.
Hank is a superstar, so strong,
to lose an arm in this match up.
Only a one-armed man…
What about Mark Coffey now?
Where's the disqualification there?
He just did the same exact thing, actually grew…
[Book] He was drawing in big.
[Vic] It took away from a possible tag, now two-on-one assault by Gallus.
Into the cover, kick out with Gallus,
they just want to beat people up.
And they warn Hank and Tank that they need to walk
before they can run, heading into this match up.
[Book] Hank and Tank, everything is going great for them,
they're running around the arena having fun.
Everything's okay.
But when this situation right here happens…
Oh, wow.
[Vic] More from Mark Coffey, and Gallus boys did not take kindly
to Hank and Tank walking into their bar several weeks ago.
But in this moment now,
it's Hank's opportunity,
he's got to tag in Tank.
Reaching out, so close.
This is that moment, making the tag.
[Book] See the amateur inexperience right there.
You got to hold the tag. I've just talked about that.
[Vic] The referee, you did… telling Hank what was going on,
but Hank turned right around,
and gets dropped by Mark Coffey.
[announcer] Here are your winners, Gallus.
[Vic] Booker, I hate to agree with you,
but the inexperience tonight
of Hank and Tank,
the deciding factor
for the Gallus boys.
[Book] I told you…
[Vic] Joe Gacy in the student section
keeping a close eye on Gallus.
Eddie Thorpe, what are you thinking my friend?
NXT underground with those injured ribs,
every breath you take,
more painful than the last.
I don't have to remind you that I put you in the hospital
last time after our strap match.
Leathered you right in front of your family.
[Vic] This has gone too far.
That's a 6-year-old niece sitting in the front row.
Now you want to face me in a match with barely any rules?
[announcer] The only way to win the match is by knockout
or submission.
Yeah, you cut me last week.
[Vic] Alicia Taylor couldn't say Eddie Thorpe, as these two have started…
I don't think a bell has gone off yet.
And then what happened?
I snapped the ring ropes,
and mercilessly drilled the buckle right into your rib cage.
That internal wound opened right back up.
What are you going to do when nothing and no one can save you?
The last NXT of 2023 is going to be your last match ever.
I'll see you in the underground.
[Vic] Well, there is Ridge Holland, who returned to NXT,
with some points to prove.
Face to face with the champion,
that being Ilja Dragunov, who has heard enough.
He's tired of people getting in his face.
These two fight, and that fight takes place next,
on NXT.
It feels good to finally put you in your place, Fallon Henley,
where you're supposed to be.
A servant in society.
I'm sure you're used to that, serving people like me,
waiting on people like me,
a person like me wouldn't step foot in your trashy bar.
A person like Tiffany Stratton doesn't belong
in the same world as Fallon Henley.
I said it once and I'll say it again,
you will never be me,
no matter how many classes you take,
no matter how hard you work,
no matter what clothes you wear,
you will always be trash.
Something that you're very familiar with,
since you like to work, right?
So I'll put you to work, you, versus me,
at New Year's Evil,
and when I win,
you will become my servant.
Just the way it's supposed to be.
Toodles.
[Vic] Booker, that had been taken to a whole new level,
next week it's official,
Eddie Thorpe, and Die Jack
are headed to NXT underground,
the only way to win, submission,
knockout or technical knockout.
Also next week it's the semifinals
of the men's breakout tournament,
four superstars remain.
Which two bunch their ticket to the final
to be able to call themselves
the next men's breakout tournament champion?
Also taking place next week on NXT, after what we saw earlier tonight,
Cora Jade stormed into the women's locker to retake her locker,
didn't sit well with Carmen Petrovic.
This two tangle next week on NXT.
And this has been accepted from Noam Dar.
It's also official next week.
The Heritage cup is on the line.
Josh Briggs going at it alone.
Briggs, Dar for the NXT Heritage Cup.
It's all happening next Tuesday here on NXT.
But it's main event time this week on NXT.
[music playing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing The Brawling Brooks,
Ridge Holland,
[Vic] Proclaimed he is back in NXT.
Wanted to talk face to face,
not run to social media and complain.
I'm sure that's something that you can respect.
[Book] Yeah, yeah.
[music playing]
[announcer] And his opponent, he is the NXT champion,
Ilja Dragunov.
[Vic] Booker, we saw… showdown these two had right face to face.
We've seen what Trick Williams has had to say.
If you were Ilja Drago,
would you be as peeped by being threatened and having
your integrity questioned at every turn? Does he have a right to be upset?
[Book] Dragunov has a target on his back
and everybody want a piece of the action.
You talk about the champagne, wish we talk about the caviar drink.
That's all it is, Vic.
When you're the champion,
when you got that title around your waist
is slowly at the top.
[Vic] Well, I want to remind everyone this is a non title match up.
Ilja Dragunov handing over the championship.
Rich Holland certainly is focused
and I want to get you on record because we got cut off earlier.
Do you think Dragunov attacked Carmelo Hayes last week?
It seems to be the question.
[Book] No, I don't believe that.
Dragunov is a man of one thing that
I truly believe in, that's integrity.
[Vic] He is tired of it being questioned by everyone here in NXT.
When you think about what Rich had to say earlier tonight,
right into the face of the champion,
he said Dragunov is the measuring stick on this brand.
[Vic] He is. But I look at Holland,
I look at thickness, I look at the dense bone of this guy.
I mean, he's a monster dog.
[Vic] Swinging wildly, missing with one,
connects with the other.
In Ridge Holland, there is just a different look in the eye
of Rich Holland
returning here to NXT tonight.
[Book] Notice how everybody's running back
to get a piece of this action because the action has been so hot and heavy.
[Vic] Rich said he wanted a bit of help.
Can you see Ridge's point about the perception,
his perception in WWE on Smack Down,
that it is a reality to some in the WWE Universe.
[Book] I can see that.
Ridge Holland, he's a guy that knows exactly what it takes to get there.
But it's not just getting there. Stand there.
Man.
[Vic] And one extra for good measure.
But Holland catching it. And then a headbutt.
Dropping buck the knees of Dragunov.
And Rich said he is more than a big angry sidekick as Dragunov
answered back with one of his own.
This is heavy artillery. Early on.
Dragunov may be looking for a power bomb.
Can he Oyster wood. Trying to shift his body weight.
Trying to counter successfully does, and then…
Dropping the champion center of the ring.
[Book] Too much power by Rich Harlem right there.
You heard Ridge Holland talking earlier about accidents.
Heard him talking about injuries.
I'm telling you, all of those injuries, they were purposeful.
-[Vic] What? -[Book] Trust me. Yes. Yes.
[Vic] How can you sit here and say that?
[Book] Come on. This is the hurt game, the hurt business.
Ridge Holland is not out here to make you feel good. Oh, yes.
[Vic] He just got dropped by Dragunov.
Thought we were going to see a show of respect.
It didn't really turn out that way. It's kind of led to that.
It did lead to this main event match up
with Dragunov right now trying to prove a point.
Bouncing right back up. You gotta wonder too.
Is Dragunov sending a message to Trick Williams,
who he will meet two weeks from tonight.
Dragunov is rolling in our main event.
Back on NXT. This our main event.
The NXT champion Ilja Dragunov, as you witnessed…
throughout the commercial break,
showcasing some of that unbridled rage in power
to persevere in this match up.
And is now standing toe to toe with Ridge Holland.
This is a message that Dragunov wants to send
to everyone in the locker room.
[Book] There's another title right now. But I tell you…
I'm watching Holland and he's eating a lot of these shots.
He's absorbing a lot of these shots.
And I'm going tell you, I'm going double down one more time. This kid is David.
If he get Dragunov in the right position.
It's not about winning this match. It's about taking Dragunov out.
[Vic] Take another look to your point. The viciousness, that clothesline.
And Rich Holland is a man that was once Pat McAfee's henchmen here in NXT.
Don't forget there's a lot of individuals who have seen potential in Rich,
and he wants to live up to that potential, which is why he's back in NXT,
which is why he's made it known he wants the NXT title,
but he's willing to go through the locker room to get it into the cover,
to put away the champion. Right shoulder off the mat.
But it brings up this point that Trick Williams himself said earlier tonight.
If Holland wins,
would that put Holland in line for a championship match?
[Book] Holland would deserve a title shot
if he could beat Ilja Dragunov,
the NXT champion here tonight.
Ilja put himself in this position, Vic.
[Vic] Trick's a little confused by this entire match up all night long.
Now looking for the half and half is Holland.
Dragunov trying to block. Able to counter for a moment.
Vicious elbow strike, followed by a second.
You can hear those strikes as Dragunov looks for something special.
Gets caught and knocked all the way to the outside.
You would think that Trick would be sitting back
wanting to see this sort of match up happen,
but Trick wants to beat Dragunov at his best.
[Book mumbles]
[crowd booing]
[Vic] And too much time for Holland. He thought about it.
And Dragunov taking full advantage.
We know Underground's coming back next week.
Those sort of strikes could knock out Rich Holland.
Much like we're guaranteed to see a knockout next week
between Dijak and Eddie Thorpe.
Look at a strike countered into an DDT.
Take another look at the champion able to shift his weight right,
there at the last moment.
Where does Dragunov get this energy?
[Book] I don't know, but I'll tell you. Real talent.
And I can see the eyes roll in the back of the head for a second, but…
wait a minute, still got strength.
[Vic] Looking for that Alabama slam.
Countered, shoulders down, near fall.
[Book] Yeah!
[Vic] You can just see the welts forming on the bodies one more time.
Right to the side of the face. Could have knocked out Holland.
Holland back to his feet.
Just dumping Dragunov almost out of desperation with yet another counter.
A big kick right to the side of the face.
Dragunov just got caught with a pump kick.
And falling right into the cover is Holland,
to pin the NXT champion in another near fall in this match up.
What I was getting ready to say,
if you can start to see the welts forming on the bodies
of both these men
from the strikes that they are delivering to one another.
[Book] Rich Holland could have came back and took a lesser opponent.
He didn't have to come back and take on perhaps the toughest man in NXT,
Ilja Dragunov.
[Vic] You give Rich Holland a lot of credit.
Coming back, jumping right into the fire.
But like he said, he wanted to face the man who was the measuring stick.
And it's Dragunov who's showing you that will right now,
that determination, that perseverance which has made him the NXT champion.
In just getting dropped almost in a modified brain buster
by Ridge Holland as Ridge Holland now.
Both has been so much been taken out of both these superstars
in this main event match up.
Talk about heavy hitting.
Holland going into the cover realizing that…
this is his moment.
[groan]
-Let's go. Come on. -Let's go!
[groans]
Don't shake the ring. Don't shake the ring.
[crowd booing]
Hey there. Hey man.
[crosstalk]
Alright, stay right there.
[crowd applause]
Can you hear me?
We gotta take him. Let's go.
[crowd applause]
[crowd cheering]
[crosstalk]
Slow, slow, watch that bump.
Thank you. Don't move.
Clear the way.
Out of the way! Coming through.