[WWE theme music plays]
[male voice] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic Joseph] Oh, the NXT Universe is ready.
And tonight, it's week two of the Great American Bash.
[Ethan Page] This ain't NXT. It's N-X-me!
So how about when I do beat Kendal, you let me in the group?
Well, what about this? I'll sweeten the pot up a little bit.
If Wren wins tonight, I'll give you a Heritage Cup match.
Win your match. You can be in the group. You happy?
Yes.
[Vic] Oh. Driving gray.
And she did it. Wren Sinclair's in. Sinclair, the newest member.
But Dempsey now gets his rematch with The Don.
♪ Say his name and he appears ♪
[Vic] Get ready for another standing ovation for Joe Hendry.
I like it here.
And I might just stay for a lot longer.
[Vic] The following contest is for
the NXT Tag Team Championship.
MSK.
Axiom Frazer, who's walking out of the Bash
with the NXT Tag Team Championships.
-Wentz just got dropped in front of us. -[Booker] Here we go.
[Vic] Now it's go time.
Golden Ratio connects. Lee is out. Axiom into the cover to retain the titles.
[bell rings]
And they did it. They survived here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
Brother, what are you doing?
You left me alone.
I know.
S.A.
[challenging music plays]
[crowd cheering]
Wes Lee. Excuse me, Wes.
Everyone wants to know why did you turn on your brothers last week?
Look, it's just time for me to start taking this. Mom, wait.
But, Wes.
May I? It was rhetorical.
That's better. You can leave now.
We are back live on the USA Network.
And I know you guys all saw what happened last week at the Great American Bash.
Ethan Page finally defeated Oro Mensah.
Wes Lee finally got a spine and dropped all that dead weight. Boo hoo hoo.
But what we're most excited about is your NXT champion is about to address
the NXT Universe right now. Hit my music.
[rock music plays]
[crowd cheering]
Oh. From a man who needs to explain his actions to a champion who is--
[inaudible]
[Vic] I don't even know what the hell you just said. Welcome.
Welcome to NXT.
-And there is a man who all by his-- believes it.
And now you can cut it.
Ladies and gentlemen.
The NXT Universe wanted so badly for Oro Mensah
to dethrone me as NXT champion.
But what Oro found out
and what everyone here found out and what everyone watching at home found out is
when Ethan Page says it, oh, it comes true.
I said I was talented. I said I had the skills to back it up.
And I call myself All Ego, and I have every single right to do so.
The era of Ego will continue to roll on
and roll on strong.
Nobody's taken this Championship from Ethan Page.
Hell, I heard Wes Lee chirping.
Wes, you are not taking this away from All Ego.
Hell, Trick Williams,
if you manage by some miracle to figure out Pete Dunne
and you want to come at me one more time,
you're not going to be the one to take this from All Ego.
Hell, Pete.
Pete, you could break every single finger that I have
and it will not loosen the grip I have on the NXT Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Because the era of Ego will roll on.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is not NXT.
No, no, no, no, no. It's N-X-me
♪ Say his name ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ I believe in Joe Hendry ♪
♪ London, Paris and Tokyo ♪
♪ America and Canada and Mexico ♪
♪ I believe in Joe Hendry ♪
Ethan, apologies for the interruption, but last week I did say,
You wouldn't even need to say my name.
I would just appear.
[cheers and applause]
So here I am.
And looking at you, I can see why you think that you are the talk of NXT.
After all, you are the NXT champion.
[cheers and applause]
And then he waves, you shocked the world when you won that Championship.
And Ethan, you became the talk of the WWE.
Hell yeah. Thank you, Joe. I really appreciate you.
For about 90 seconds until…
this face appeared and closed the show.
[cheers and applause]
[crowd chanting] Go Hendry!
Seriously though, Ethan, incredible performance against Oro Mensah.
Once again, you were the talk of the town.
But the truth is the fans left here talking about Wes Lee.
[crowd cheering]
So, Ethan, it seems like your ego is saying one thing, but the reality--
Okay, you know what, Joe?
I don't have to sit here and listen to you,
especially your opinion, your thoughts,
or the fact that you just want to come out here and ramble.
If you ask me, I think what you should do is take your victory from last week
and get your ass back to TNA.
[crowd booing]
Because if I'm being honest with you, if I'm being honest with you, Joe,
I don't even know why you're still hanging around NXT.
Ethan, I'm here for the same reason that everyone is,
to win the NXT Championship.
[cheers and applause]
[crowd chanting]
Of course you are.
Of course you are. I mean, it makes sense. Everyone believes in Joe Hendry, right?
Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
TNA clearly believes in Joe Hendry. NXT clearly believes in Joe Hendry.
All the people here tonight, everyone watching at home,
the entire world believes in Joe Hendry.
[cheers and applause]
The only problem is…
I don't.
[crowd booing]
You know what I do believe, though?
I believe that your song,
yeah, it makes me sick to my stomach every single time I hear it.
I also believe that you're on the 14th minute of your 15 minutes of fame.
[crowd booing]
And you know what I believe the most? With my heart of hearts, Joe?
I believe that if you are silly enough to come after me and my NXT title,
I will expose you for the flash in the pan that you are.
Ethan, you could call me a flash in the pan, a one hit wonder,
but I am no overnight success.
I have been grinding for 10 plus years.
[crowd cheering]
And everywhere I've gone,
I've made believers out of everyone who's watched me perform
and everyone who's faced me.
I've made believers out of Hall of Famers like Kurt Angle.
[crowd cheering]
Booker T. is the president of the Joe Hendry fan club.
[cheers and applause]
Ethan, your boss, HBK, Shawn Michaels, believes in Joe Hendry.
[cheers and applause]
Ethan, I will make a believer out of you when I take the NXT Championship.
And when I do, I'm going to take it to London,
Paris and [singing] Tokyo, America, Scotland and Canada and Mexico--
Stop singing!
♪ I believe in Joe Hendry ♪
♪ I believe in Joe Hendry… ♪
[Vic] Well, it certainly is catchy, Book.
The NXT Universe certainly believes Joe Hendry has called.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Oh, wow.
On the same breath, I can say you got your own.
The NXT Universe can't believe in Wes Lee.
Keep your eyes on the [inaudible]
Oh, yeah. Big night for you, Charles.
Tonight you're gonna go out there and win our Heritage Cup back.
-Bring it back to the NQCC. -Wren, stay out of it. All right?
Look, now that I'm in the group, I'm not staying out of anything.
And Tavion's actually in Japan. It's crazy, right?
I told you.
Yeah, but, like, he looks like he's having a great time. I'm honestly right.
-[loudly] Enough! I need to stay focused. -Okay.
Three months I've been wanting this Heritage Cup back.
-Now it's time for us to go. Execute. -I'll meet you there.
[soft music plays]
[Vic] What a way to start the night here on NXT.
Challenger is ready. The Don has his family by his side.
Ready to defend the Heritage Cup when we return to NXT Live on USA.
Ladies, thank you for joining me.
So Stevie actually had this great idea
because our women's division is stacked and NXT is the brand of opportunity.
Next week there is going to be a No Mercy Gauntlet Eliminator,
and it is going to be made up of women who have not yet had a title match.
And whoever wins will move on to face Roxanne Perez
for the NXT Women's Championship at No Mercy.
The six competitors in the Eliminator will be chosen at random.
Another one of my great ideas.
Okay.
Here we go. It was an okay roll.
[inaudible]
-Oh, give me a break. -I could do better.
-First up we have-- -Stevie. Backup.
-Renzy. -Oh yeah!
Nice. Good job. Hey, there it is. There you go.
Stone Galva, face. Okay, Adriana Rizzo.
-Where is she? -Oh, Josh.
-She went out with Tony D for his match. -Oh, sure, yeah, okay, I'll tell her.
Just let her know one of you, yep, more competent. And last one.
For now we have Sol Ruca.
-Woo. -Sick.
-Stevie, this was great. I can't-- -Hold on. No, hold on.
I can't listen to this anymore. This wasn't Stevie's idea.
-This was my idea. -How dare you!
I came up with this right out of my mouth.
[bell rings]
The following contest is for
the NXT Heritage Cup Championship.
Introducing the challenger,
representing No Quarter Catch Crew,
Charlie Dempsy.
And his opponent,
he is the NXT Heritage Cup Champion,
The Don of NXT,
Tony D'Angelo.
[Vic] Booker, we got a lot to digest.
First 20 minutes of NXT this week, everything that just transpired.
I can't believe what Wes Lee just did.
We got a Heritage Cup match that's ready to take place.
We gotta remember it was Tony D'Angelo who defeated Charlie Dempsey
back on May 14th to capture the Heritage Cup.
Not to mention the rules of this matchup. Six-three minute rounds,
pinfall submission, you earn a decision with a victory.
First one to two decisions.
And there's Tony D right on top of Charlie Dempsey.
And then we got to remember that it was The Don who made the deal last week,
[inaudible] this opportunity.
He kind of sweetened the deal and made this match himself.
[Booker T] He did. Right now The Don is grinding.
But you saw Charlie Dempsey warming up for this competition here tonight.
He's fully ready to go to get back that Heritage Cup.
You gotta love it.
[Vic] And Wren Sinclair, who's on the outside,
just found out she'll be in next week's No Mercy Gauntlet Eliminator,
as did Rizzo, who is not aware of that.
Here ringside, both women in that No Mercy Gauntlet Eliminator to challenge Roxanne
in Denver September 1st for the next Premium Live event, which is No Mercy.
But as we are 60 seconds about into this round, number one,
it's Dempsey trying to take control of this matchup.
And, Book, truly is a nice submission.
Almost a dragon sleeper from Tony D'Angelo.
Why does this cup mean so much to Charlie Dempsey?
[Booker] Because it's a part of his heritage, Vic.
I mean, he's one of the guys that won this Championship
and now he wants to get it back just one more time.
And you gotta understand, Vic, it's the heritage of it.
Just that, the heritage.
[Vic] Well, he would become only the second man,
that being Charlie Dempsey, to hold the cup more than once.
This is the first of three Championship matches here ten,
of course, Axiom Frazer to defend the NXT tag titles later tonight against Chase U.
But there is a nice submission, and that would be a decision for Dempsey,
and it was quite the…
Well, almost overpowering. Dempsey was… D'Angelo.
He certainly did right there. Ninety seconds into round one.
[Booker] The Don is overpowering right now. Whoa. This is AD sets.
[Vic] Oh, wait a minute.
I think The Don was looking maybe for that spine buster,
but what a counter by Dempsey.
[Booker] One thing about Dempsey, he's going to rely on his base,
and that is truly, truly wrestling.
He's a precision tactician in the middle of that squared circle.
[Vic] Again there's a big difference between this matchup
and the Intercontinental Championship match on Raw between Braun and Sammy,
which was two out of three falls.
There's that 10 second rest period in between rounds,
as we are now 55 seconds away from the end of round number one.
How crucial are those seconds going to be coming up in between rounds?
[Booker] No, no. One thing about it.
You got both teams that have great corners.
[Vic] Shoulders down. Dempsey, nice job.
Lifting that shoulder up at the last moment again
looking for another submission.
This is what you said is Dempsey's wheelhouse
because not only he's looking for a triangle, he also has that armlock
where he could transition into an armbar.
-And you see that Don now is stressing-- -[Booker] The test match right now.
Whoa. It's pretty even.
But right now, Charlie Dempsey is going to his special welders down. Whoa. So close.
[Vic] And right back in another takedown. Rolling right through.
Thirteen seconds and over power with a backdrop
is Tony D'Angelo with seven seconds.
Now Don charging in five seconds down to four.
Dempsey up, over. And this round will end. The Don somewhat saved by the bell.
[Booker] That was an appetizer, man. That was the appetizer.
I don't think anybody was really going for anything big at this point.
I mean, it's going to be weathering the storm. Who's going to…
Who's going to weather that storm? Getting those deep, deep waters. Join me.
Join me in and drown him, man.
[Vic] I want to talk about Wren Sinclair there,
who we saw her kind of wake up Tavion at the last Heritage matchup we had.
How will Wren change the No Quarter Catch Crew
now that she is the official member?
[Booker] She's a motivator because having that woman's touch as a butter,
just like the Rizzo, she brings something to the table.
[Vic] Shot by our official as…
It was The Don again trying to look for another counter into a pin
and a vicious knee right into the ribs.
As you see, Wren looking on Rizzo right here in front of us again.
As we just mentioned moments ago,
we found out three of the women that'll be in that No Mercy Eliminator Gauntlet
and something else that Gauntlet matches--
It's for women who have not yet had an opportunity at the NXT women's title.
So Perez is going to have a brand new fresh opponent, as she has said.
[Booker] What happened? What happened to her?
[Vic] Shoulders down. Oh, almost a half second away from--
[Booker] What happened to earning your opportunity?
-[Vic] They're going to earn it in the 11. -[Booker] What happened to them?
[Vic] Rolling right back through is Dempsey looking--
Forget about it. And oh, he got all of it.
And the first decision in round two.
[Mike Rome] Tony D'Angelo has scored the first fall.
[Vic] They'll miss a second of action as this matchup continues.
Who's leaving with the cup?
[Vic] Back live on NXT. Heritage Cup is on the line.
D'Angelo up one fall to none here on Charlie Dempsey.
As you can see, 20 seconds left in round number 3.
And right now you gotta imagine for Dempsey, he's feeling the pressure.
The sharp elbow to the jaw of D'Angelo right through trying to get the victory.
With 10 seconds to the kickout by the nod is now inside the final 10.
At 7. It's at 6.
Dempsey swinging away at 5, at 4 to put it away with a back slide in
-getting saved by the-- -[Booker] Hey, wait a minute.
If there's a disqualification, this is over.
This is going to be the referee's discretion.
[inaudible]
[Booker] I don't think he heard the bill.
-You got to do this for us. -I'm doing it.
I know, but you got to do it better. Just like Wren did the Tavion. I mean.
You're gonna do this. You're gonna bring us at the top.
[inaudible]
[bell tolls]
[Vic] Should this be the final attempt, by the way,
for the No Quarter from behind to win the--
That would have won the match, that would have retained the cup.
[Booker] I wouldn't say final attempt or anything like that, but if Dempsy loses,
he goes to the bat of the lineup. She don't want that.
[Vic] Well, look Tony. Tony D'Angelo's confident as ever.
He has grown appreciation for the cup as Dempsey right back in.
And another uppercut. You got to go back to that knee.
Some would say it was on the bell, some would say it was after bell.
The referee is being very lenient. Dallas Irvin in this moment.
But what a clothesline from The Don who exploded out of the corner.
[Booker] Question Vic. And they say, you know,
when you become cup champion, Heritage Cup champion, it makes you about 30% better.
See that in The Don and it's in ring powers right now.
Just measuring Charlie with those big shots.
[Vic] D'Angelo needs one more decision, you know,
does The Don need to have his issue with The No Quarter?
Catch clean sleep with the fishes? Does he have to put it to bed tonight?
[Booker] The last man standing is the man that wins the fall.
That's what it's all about, man.
[Vic] Sixty seconds off the clock here in round four.
Time becoming the factor for Charlie Dempsey.
Time the best friend of Tony D'Angelo.
But also would be the second decision in a kickout. Nice power slam from D'Angelo.
And Charlie Dempsey right now seems to be worse for wear as looking for--
Forget about it. And inside cradle. Inside cradle by Dempsey.
D'Angelo just able to kick out with 90 seconds remaining here in round four.
A nice German suplex from The Dimes.
[Booker] Power shots right now.
All big power shots by the Dunne trying to finish the thing. Just got caught.
Got caught there by Charlie.
[Vic] Standing switch by Dempsey.
Who's the challenger? Looking for his first decision.
Of course, Dempsey has held the cup in the past.
It's what almost has become his obsession over the last three months.
Heads into the post or, excuse me, into the turnbuckle.
Look at that cover shoulders down and The Don could kick out.
-[Booker] That was smooth, Charlie. -[Vic] Dempsey has scored the second fall.
And go back to the counter where The Don went into that top turnbuckle.
That was wise of Charlie Dempsey.
As you see, both these competitors now, they are breathing heavy.
We are tied at one.
And now it's not going to come down to skill, Book.
It's going to come down to who wants it more.
Who will get themselves the victory for that Heritage Cup.
And D'Angelo right out of the gates here in round five.
[Booker] Who's going to have that mental attitude to just stay in the fight?
Because that's what it comes down to-- a fight at the end of the night.
-Here we go. -[Vic] It certainly is breaking down.
Another takedown by Dempsey. Kick out by The Don.
And look at Dempsey trying to hold on.
And this is now turning in to a war in this matchup between these two.
But there is that spine buster we've seen D'Angelo win in the past
to the kickout by Dempsey.
Thirty seconds off the clock here in round five.
Again, there's only six rounds.
Dempsey trying to swing at this point. So is The Dimes.
[crowd chanting]
[Vic] Take a look. Both these men right now. Puffin and Puffin.
Nice northern light suplex with a bridge and a kickout.
[Booker] A little bit different. I see Dempsey just preserving his energy
in this matchup. He's smooth as silk right now, Vic.
[Vic] The butterfly connected counter though by The Dimes.
Charging back in [inaudible]
The Don trying to block the best he can.
Dempsey right now, The Don able to roll through.
The legs weren't hooked, but look what he transitioned into a triangle.
Shoulders down. Dempsey keeping that shoulder up.
And now elbow after elbow, strike after strike. powerbomb from The Don.
Ninety seconds left in round five. Booker, this is not it. At one.
What a way to kick off NXT, the first of three Championship matches tonight.
[inaudible]
[Booker] Oh, right now. Oh, wait a minute. Oh, got caught again.
Let me tell you right now, Dempsey seems to be a step ahead at The Don.
[Vic] What the hell. He tried to run interference.
The Don able to knock him down. Wait, what?
Hey, what are you doing?
[Vic] Oh, you get the assist, I suppose.
[Booker] It's not a DQ. No, it's not a DQ.
[Vic] Wait! Sinclair!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] The referee was distracted by Stacks on the outside with board.
-Dempsey back into the ring. Butterfly. -[Booker] That's it.
-[Vic] And we got a new champion. -[bell rings]
[crowd cheering]
[Mike] Here is your winner and the new NXT
here it is called Champion, Charlie Dempsy.
[Vic] I hate to give you credit.
You said Wren Sinclair could be a difference maker
for the No Quarter Catch Crew.
And right here, she tried to wake up Charlie Dempsey.
That put Dempsey back into this matchup.
Because right there, that little wake up call helped propel him
to the decision that tied this at one. As this matchup will continue right here.
Bam. Pulling the rug right out from under Tony D'Angelo
for Charlie Dempsey to get right into the matchup.
Right back in, the referee didn't see it.
And Charlie Dempsey since May 14th has been on a mission
and now becomes the second superstar to hold the Heritage Cup more than once,
as the cup is back in the No Quarter Catch Crew.
[inaudible]
Tatum put up a good fight, but you proved why you're a North American champ.
-Thanks, Lola. -Clearly, she isn't taking it well.
I'd love to be able to help her, but I don't know where we stand right now
after this whole Wendy situation and just everything.
Besides, you know, Tatum can be a little--
-I got it. -Okay.
I feel like I'm really good. I feel--
Que te pasa? It's gonna be okay, Mama.
I have nothing. Kalani's not my friend.
Wendy's not my friend, and neither are you.
-So what do you want? -Excuse me?
Oh, I'm sorry. Not all of us can be popular and cool MMA fighters
-that have had everything handed to them. -Oh, handed to me?
I don't know where you're going with this.
I'll show you.
I'm a new age Native American striving to go beyond the stereotype.
But I refuse to assimilate to the expectations of the world outside
of the reservation.
DJing and my music is a key part of who I am.
And dancing is an important part of my culture.
Lexis King doesn't have the respect nor the brains
to understand.
[inaudible]
Music is important.
It's got to be the right kind of music.
Eddie Thorpe's music is a disgrace.
He's playing that demonic stuff, that evil EDM.
And I did his tribe a favor by smashing his hand,
and now he wants another shot at the King.
Eddie Thorpe, you are as moronic as the music you create.
[energetic music plays]
[Vic] And Booker, get ready. Cause this one is personal.
[bell rings]
[Vic] The following contestant.
We need to get Mike Rome. Lexis Kings out here.
-[Booker] Ring the bell. -[Vic] Ring the bell.
Oh, yeah, you're all smiles over here.
That's crap, Booker, and you know it. The bell hasn't even sounded yet.
Thorpe's been attacked. King, of course able to--
-Hey, look at this. King fight right back. -[Booker] Welcome by any thought.
-Man, I respect this guy so much. -[Vic] Oh, now you respect.
[Booker] He's truly the king of the underground.
Take nothing away from it.
But he's in the ring with the TV star, man.
I want to point out Eddie Thorpe's right hand and wrist.
That is the hand and wrist that was attacked by Lexis King.
Thorpe with a brace on and--
Oh, I don't know if using that right hand was the wisest point,
because right now that just opened the door back up for Lexis King.
What is Lexis King's issues with the locker room? What's his issue?
-[Booker] What are you talking about? -[Vic] Thorpe.
[Booker] His issue with Eddie, man, like I said, I like Eddie.
I like him a lot.
But that music, man, that techno, pop, I hate it.
Just a little bit of rock and roll. That's the only thing Lexis deliver.
Just a little bit of rock and roll. That's what the TV star--
That's what it's all about. Ridge, come on, man.
[Vic] I'll tell you what his biggest issue is.
It's a half inch underneath his nose, and now he's bending back to digits,
focusing on that injured hand.
And I want to talk about Eddie Thorpe,
because music is such a big part of Thorpe's life.
King doesn't like it. It's not for everyone.
I get it, but it's a personal shot King took.
He attacked Thorpe at gigs. He injured his hands.
He took away Eddie Thorpe's reason,
the reason why he gets up every single day.
His outlet, so to speak. Why? He's very simple.
[Booker] All he had to do is change his tune.
I mean, little Guns N' Roses.
-Is that so hard? Is that so hard? -[Vic] You listen to Guns N' Roses?
-[Booker] Sometimes. Yeah. -[Vic] Sweet child.
Deep down I think it's just jealousy. That's what it is.
Lexis King is jealous of Eddie Thorpe, who just hit King with a big backdrop.
People gravitate towards Thorpe. They don't gravitate towards King.
[Booker] No, I'm not going to sit here and say anything negative about Eddie.
I love this guy. Like I said, he is truly a man's man.
He will get in there and fight even with a bad hand.
I don't know if it's broken or not, but this shows me,
it tells me a whole lot about Thorpe.
[Vic] You can respect Thorpe for striving to go beyond the stereotypes
-to break down the world. -[Booker] Yes, I can do that.
[Vic] Lexis King doesn't care about that. Lexis King doesn't respect that.
[Booker] You know why? Because King
he's not here to make friends or anything like that.
He doesn't need buddies hanging rolls or anything like that. He's a star.
He's the-- he's the guy with the entourage. That's what it's all about.
[Vic] Well, Eddie Thorpe, he's all about self expression. Point blank.
King took that ability away for him to do that for the time being. And Eddie--
Nice step German.
Beautiful combination, folding King right up like an accordion.
And now there comes Eddie Thorpe measuring
and charging in right into the heart of Lexis King.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Eddie Thorpe with a lot on his mind.
Oh, how sweet it would be tonight for Eddie Thorpe--
King able to block for the moment, turning right back around
and right back to that.
[Booker] It's no quitting Thorpe, but you gotta understand, he…
He's competing with a handicap right now.
And trust me, trust me, Lexis King, he's got a bullseye on it.
Rock a bar, baby. Rock a bye.
[Booker] And King hits the coronation and crowns Thorpe--
[bell rings]
[inaudible]
[Mike] There is your winner, Lexis King.
[Vic] You told me, but-- Party later. Handful of chapstick.
Okay, Petey, let's talk about it.
You say I haven't figured you out yet, but I will.
Because Williams solves problems.
I fix issues.
Problem. Best friend stabs me in the back.
Solution. I walk out of the biggest show in NXT history with my hand raised.
High issue? I can't defeat the Mad Dragon.
Solution. I become the new NXT champion.
And the truth is, Pete, we may be even more similar than you realize.
Yeah, I heard your story.
How you got jumped at 18 years old on the bus.
Well, I got jumped at 18 too, except I was making plays.
Turns out the upperclassmen don't like when the freshman comes in
and he falls early.
So some teammates decided to throw rocks at my car,
but they didn't know I was on the inside.
Then they took off running to the dorm room,
and I followed them up there.
Then I popped off, just like Trick Williams always does.
Running up on three dudes in a small room. It didn't make no sense.
Yeah, it didn't go well for me.
But let's just say I figured it out. By the end of that year,
each one of them dudes took an L. Believe that.
And I may not have the NXT title,
but I'm still looking to be the man here at NXT.
So, Petey, I ain't coming to you for advice.
I'm coming to you for a rematch.
One loss isn't gonna scare me away. The one way or another,
I'm gonna figure your ass out.
[cheers and applause]
So, Pete, after what we just saw,
are we getting Dunne vs Williams, round two?
Do you think Trick deserves a rematch?
Yeah. No chance.
Because last week I proved he has a whole lot of figuring out still to do.
Men like Trick like to bitch and moan,
and men like me, we shrug it off and move forward.
Speaking of which, I'm moving forward to the NXT Championship.
Thanks.
[inaudible chatter]
Right, because I wasn't a Division 1 baseball player.
Excuse you, it's basketball.
And how are you so bitter at all the athletes
when Jasmine was a former D1 soccer player as well?
-Thank you. -What's your point, Lash?
All the women in the locker room should be following in Jasmine's footsteps
and see JC&I as their influence.
I don't see you or you as anything but my opponent.
If we're in this Gauntlet match, I know that's right.
Bye.
[crowd cheering]
Uno. Dos.
[Vic] Oh, we've seen three women decided. Still three to come.
Six women who have never had an opportunity, will have one next week.
[bell rings]
[Mike] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, Lola Vice.
[Vic] While Vice tried to show compassion earlier,
now she's looking to settle into the ring Next.
[energetic music plays]
[Vic] Back live on NXT.
[Mike] Tatum Paxley.
[Vic] Quite the battle.
It was Tatum at last week
for the women's North American title and Book,
We're being joined by the champion, Kalani Jordan.
Welcome. Thank you, Vic and Book. I'm so excited to be on commentary.
[Booker] Yes.
[Vic] About time you were excited Kelani joined us here.
-[Booker] The first history maker. -[Vic] History maker.
Hey, by the way, congratulations on your victory last week.
[Kalani Jordan] Thank you. Tatum, she's awesome.
She's a stud athlete. I'm sure I'll be seeing her again soon.
[Vic] Well, there seems to be a lot going through her mind,
maybe more than normal as we saw earlier.
And Brooker, wasn't Vice just trying to help her earlier?
[Booker] Just trying to give her a little bit of good advice?
I think that's what didn't turn out too well, though.
[Vic] Words of encouragement, so to speak, is what Lola--
Whoa, Lola, nice crucifix.
Tatum able to kick out Connor right back into a pin in her own right.
And able to kick right back out. And I want to talk about that.
[Booker] We're going to find out a whole lot about Tatum back.
We don't know a whole lot about Tatum. We're going to find out. Whoa.
[Vic] Whoa, the lower back.
Kelani, you yourself, you had concern, you know, in your eyes for what you saw
for Tatum Pax earlier.
She goes into a cover hook and leg and a kickout.
[Jordan] Yeah, like I said before, Tatum, she's a force to be reckoned with.
She really pushed me to my limits last week
and I hope I do get to see her again soon.
[Vic] And you got to wonder what's going through the thought process,
everything with Tatum, who said earlier tonight she's not friends with Kalani,
she's not as popular as Lola Vice.
But I don't necessarily know,
Lola has had opportunities just handed to her--
-With a big power slam. -[Jordan] Wow.
[Booker] The breakout tournament winner I mean, here in NXT,
we're in the Olympic time, right? That's like a gold medal.
It's like a gold medal. Gotta give her a promise.
[Vic] You mentioned first time, first champion history maker.
What are your thoughts on the No Mercy Gauntlet Eliminator that takes place?
[Jordan] Oh, yes, I think it's awesome that six women may not normally--
[Vic] Into the cover hook to the leg and a kickout.
[Jordan] Six women who may not normally be in the running for their title
are now getting a chance to prove themselves. I mean, look at me.
-Opportunity. -[Booker] You gotta agree with me. You--
[Vic] Up and over goes Tatum.
Shoulders down and oh, almost a big victory.
[Booker] …almost earn that title shot, don't you think?
[Jordan] Yeah, but sometimes people just need a chance.
All you need is a chance.
[Booker] Talk about the Rocky Basil offense.
[Vic] Hey, wait a minute. Nice counter. Nice roll through.
And a single leg crab like-- Holy crap.
-[Booker] What? -[Vic] Oh, 22 attacking the champion.
[crowd chanting]
[Jordan] Impact of the ring. We still have a match going on.
-[Vic] Paxley taking full advantage. -[Booker] I told you, Vic. I told you.
You're going to find out a lot about Tatum Pax.
[Vic] Realize that is that 450 back fist knocked Paxley out of Lola Vice.
-One, two, three. -[bell rings]
[Vic] Big victory but…
[lively music plays]
[Mike] Here is your winner, Lola Vice.
[Vic] I know what we just witnessed, but it's what happened here.
To our left,
as you can see, nice job by Paxley.
Able to roll through big back fist and roll of ice.
Vice, of course, victorious as she's checking now on Tatum Paxley.
But over here to the left, Wendy Choo.
When Kalani wakes up, she's gonna have a nightmare on her hands.
You know, Ava, it was a rough night for the family, and I really needed that.
So bring it in. You're good to me, Ava. You're good to me.
Thank you.
All right, now that this is sorted, ladies, thank you for coming back.
Rob, spin it.
[giggling]
Do it. Here we go.
[chatter]
Okay, spot number four is going to Jaida Parker.
[chuckles] Thank you, baby. Thank you.
[inaudible chatter]
Spot number five is going to Kendal Grey.
-Kendal. -Give me something.
And the Gauntlet Eliminator is going to…
-Karmen Petrovik. -Oh, hell, no.
So time for that.
Ladies, thank you all for coming. I'll see you next week. Thank you, guys.
-Next time, you know. -Thank you, Karmen.
-I'm so happy for you. -Thank you.
I can't believe it's almost been two years on our journey.
Remember the SummerSlam trial in Nashville? So fun.
I can't. And you know what? If it's not me, I hope you win.
Thank you, Bran.
Honestly, I'm so sorry it didn't work out for you today.
-It's okay. -But I can't believe
it's almost been two years since--
By the way, if anyone deserved to be in that Eliminator match, it was me.
Well, I'm not in it either, and you don't hear me bitching about it.
I couldn't stand you at our SummerSlam trial,
and I can't stand you now.
-What is her problem? -She is delusional. Don't worry about it.
[pop music plays]
[Vic] There's a man who owes us all an explanation.
The question for the last week, "Why, Wes? Why?"
[energetic music plays]
[Vic] Back live on NXT with a man who has some explaining to do.
[Mike] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Wes Lee.
[Vic] I think…
I can say this. We both sat here last week
and both were shocked. The unthinkable happened.
[Booker] No, Vic, I didn't want to say anything,
but this Rascalz running back in here,
trying to steal the thunder of Wes Lee. I can smell it, man. I can sense it.
And as far as I'm concerned, man, Wes Lee, he don't own nobody nothing.
[crowd booing]
Hey, look, look, I get it. I get it.
Last week, I shocked the world.
Honestly, I shocked myself, too.
You see, like,
I believed that I was going to be winning the tag team titles with my best friend.
But Zach let me down again.
Now, you see, this goes back to two years ago,
when Zach first let me down.
One of the greatest tag teams in NXT history…
done!
MSK was dead.
And when all of that happened, everybody was feeling sad for Zach,
but they were feeling sorry for me.
They doubted me,
saying things like, "What is Wes going to do now?
Is he going to find a new tag team partner?" And, I mean,
everyone only had me slotted as being a tag team guy, so it only made sense.
But I dried my tears,
I picked myself back up, and I busted my ass to become
the greatest North American champion of all time.
[cheers and applause]
Some of y'all cheer that, some of y'all boo that.
But you all witnessed it firsthand.
But Zach and Trey were not here.
They abandoned me.
They reunited in TNA and they absolutely killed it.
While I broke my back to become a top star here in NXT.
[crowd cheering]
And you see…
All of us,
we all aspired to reach greatness together.
We all wanted to have a legacy that lived beyond all of our years.
But it was I and I alone that achieved that greatness.
You see…
you all don't know this, but Zach does.
Zach…
I'm just done being a caretaker dog.
I'm done worrying about what you are going to say or do.
I was the one that kept everything together
when we were the Rascalz.
I was the one driving us from city to city for our shows.
I was the one squashing the beefs when you were being too childish.
I was the one waking you up for your flights so you did not miss them.
I am tired of taking care of you.
[cheers and applause]
Now…
where I want to go?
I know that I cannot have my best friends riding my coattails.
I know that the only reason why they came back was for the WWE Rub.
And more importantly, I truly know how this is about to go.
Zach, I know that you and I are going to end up having a match.
I know you desperately want to get your hands on me.
And No Mercy is coming up.
And I feel like the title is fitting, right?
But the thing is, when we have our match,
you're going to learn firsthand
that everything that I have said here tonight reigns true.
And I am going to show you no mercy, dawg, when I beat the living hell out of you.
[cheers and applause]
Once all of that is done,
you and Trey can go back to TNA
and have a wonderful career as a TNA wrestler
while I aspire and focus on bigger and better things like
that NXT Championship.
[cheers and applause]
So…
on behalf of WWE Superstar Wes Lee…
I wish you the best in all your future endeavors.
[challenging music plays]
Look at this.
Look at this. I'm impressed.
Because finally, someone around here has started to figure it out.
But don't get too carried away, mate,
because last week I beat Trick,
and now my eyes are fixed firmly on that NXT Championship.
♪ Say his name ♪
♪ I believe in Joe Hendry ♪
[Vic] Hendry's back looking for payback
because it was Wes Lee who attacked him earlier tonight.
[Booker] But it took Pete Dunne.
[inaudible]
[crowd chanting]
Axiom, Nathan, clearly a successful title defense last week.
-Will we see another one tonight? -Yes.
Well, it is no secret
that recently me and my amigo here haven't exactly been on the same page.
-However-- -Yeah, I mean, I did kick you.
-You kicked me. -Yes, that did happen.
…been preoccupied with our own desires, but that is a thing of the past.
Yes. No chasing after the Speed title. No chasing after the Heritage Cup.
All right, we arrived on time. We changed in the same locker room.
-Locked in. -We are locked in.
And tonight the full focus is defending these NXT Tag Team Championships.
And yes, JCU did put up a hell of a fight at Heatwave, but--
Ridge brings a power element to the table that we have to take care of.
But we are locked in, bro. We are on the same page.
And as good as JQ might be,
I am certain that tonight will end up the same way
-it did last week. -Let's freaking go. Yes.
Thanks, guys. Good luck tonight.
Nathan Frazer and Axiom defend the NXT tag team titles in our main event.
Tony, not the way you wanted it to go.
What's running through your mind after losing the Heritage Cup?
Look, Mini Don and his girl, they got one out.
The ruler of NXT is here, and it is time for my open challenge.
Otis, last night we came face to face on Raw,
but tonight, tonight I'm ready for battle.
Tonight is the night. You can feel it.
Ridge. I am pumped.
Good. Good.
Ridge, I want to do something I don't normally do, and that's apologize.
I think Riley and I were taken off guard last week, that's all.
But to be honest,
it doesn't matter who of us comes home with the tag team gold
-as long as it comes home to Chase U. -Exactly. Duke's right.
You have done the impossible for us. And you keep saying it.
If one person wins, we all win in Chase U.
-So please, boys, bring those titles home. -Go get it done, please.
It's coming home. Honestly, guys, I am so excited.
But most of all,
I'm grateful.
Thea, come. Come.
You came out of a situation where someone betrayed your trust,
but still, you believed in me.
I can't tell you how much that meant to me.
And I know that it's taken you guys a lot longer to come round
and see that my intentions are pure,
but I feel like you're 100% behind me now.
We are.
And I can't thank you enough for giving me a fair chance.
So that's why I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure
Mr. Chase and I come home with those NXT tag team Championships.
And I promise this won't be just another Championship win.
This is going to be the title reign to end all title raids.
[everybody cheering]
[Vic] It fired up, Book, massive main event still to come.
But it's time for our second Championship match of the night.
And you've gone on record.
Look, you don't necessarily like an open challenge.
There's a lot of dangers for Oba Femi.
But he knows it was Otis who accepted the challenge earlier today.
[Booker] Yeah, you're right about that.
Open challenge is like traveling to the world of the unknown.
You always want to scout your opponent,
know exactly what you need to do.
But this guy right here, this is over 50. He's different.
[Vic] As the voice of WWE, Michael Cole, who called Oba Femi the real deal.
[inaudible]
[Vic] We talk about open challenge and being prepared.
Oba did have a few hours to prepare for this matchup.
And he's probably been thinking about it since last night because Oba and Otis,
as you can see, who's flanked by Tozawa and Maxine of the Alpha Academy.
These two had intense stare down at Raw last night.
Sold out Austin, Texas. But Otis has called his shot.
He answered the open challenge earlier and it's his chance to step up
and win some gold as NXT trending number one right now.
[Booker] Know what I always say, Vic? You said it earlier, preparation.
Preparation is the only luck you're gonna have with this man over Femi.
No bread, no water, just me.
[Vic] Saw a new Heritage Cup champion crowned earlier tonight
in Charlie Dempsey.
Will we see a new North American champion crowned here tonight on NXT.
[cheerful music plays]
[bell rings]
[Mike] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the NXT
North American Championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Mike] Introducing the challenger.
Otis!
[cheers and applause]
And his opponent.
He is the NXT North American champion,
Hooba Ben.
[cheers and applause]
[Vic] Think about Otis here, Book.
He has a golden opportunity not only for himself,
but also the rest of Alpha Academy.
And he's still got to be reeling from that Tornado tag team match
with Tozawa last night against former NXT tag team champions the Creed Brothers.
I don't think you've noticed it yet,
but there is a massive bruise on the right shoulder of Otis
as he heads in to this Championship matchup.
[Booker] You walk into every match deemed up just a little bit--
I always say, as long as you're not injured, you can go.
[Vic] Power versus power here in this matchup on NXT.
You know, we probably won't see this move too many times,
but can anyone actually, actually put a hammer off on Otis?
-I mean, just the size of this man. -[Booker] He's capable too.
He's very, very talented. I don't want to underestimate Otis.
[Vic] Test the strength between these two.
Otis, of course, a former Money in the Bank winner.
He can get it done on his own.
And some do believe-- Oh!
Otis now going right in at Oba Femi. And it's Femi trying to out power.
I mean, this is going to be very interesting in this match
because this is a new challenge for the champion facing someone like Otis.
I'm even trying to rack my brain around it here.
-At the best. -[Booker] It'll be a little different.
I mean, Otis has competed at the next level.
He's a guy's former tag team champion. Like you say, Money in the Bank.
He's done it all. Whole lot in this business.
[Vic] If you look at the career of Femi who tried to take down Otis,
but there is that base, there is that strength
and Oba having to reset here.
I mean, is this the toughest challenge to date for Oba Femi?
-[Booker] I would agree. Oh! -[Vic] Oh my God, man. Wow.
[inaudible]
[Vic] Who's walking out North American champion?
Back live on NXT, the second of three Championship matches.
This was an open challenge accepted earlier today by Otis.
Oba Femi in control of this matchup.
And it doesn't matter your size, your strength.
This happened during the break. When you run into a steel post,
it's going to take out anyone.
[Booker] Tell you right now, Femi has proved his medal in the ring
time and time again.
And the thing is, we really don't know how far his hypocrisy actually goes.
This guy could be the next greatest superstar
we've seen in quite some time.
[Vic] Whoa! By Otis to bring some goal to the Alpha Academy.
[Booker] Easy kickout though. You see that easy kickout by Olba.
[Vic] You know, this is a matchup. We talked off air about Femi.
He doesn't have that typical strength advantage.
Same can also be said for Otis in this showdown.
How are these two going to have to adjust to that situation in this matchup?
[Booker] Oh. Oh, wow.
[Vic] I guess that's one way to--
[Booker] It goes back to my point if Otis could actually figure out
how to pull this thing off, it could change his life, Vic.
[Vic] And you see the look of worry on Maxine face again.
I come back to the bruise,
to the damage done last night to the right shoulder of Otis.
Right there it goes into the steel steps.
And Otis right now on the outside
just got decked with that uppercut from the North American champion.
[Booker] Took a gnarly, gnarly shot right there to the back of the head as well.
Vicious.
[Vic] Guess I answered my own question.
When it comes to how do you adjust for strength as individual cover goes,
Oba Femi to retain and Otis able to kick out.
Just use your surroundings.
That's what Oba Femi has done. First was the steel post.
Now it's the steel steps and Oba Femi just dropping his weight right down
out of the massive chest of Otis into another cover
and another near fall as that shoulder just getting off the map.
[Booker] One thing about Femi, he's not shy, Vic.
He's not shy at all. He's not timid or anything like that.
He's gonna win by any means necessary
and I love that in this young man.
[Vic] Over setting his sight once again
like a human battering ram just bouncing off Otis
whose legs are starting to buckle.
Oba Femi for the third time just drops the challenger champion
into the cover hook of the leg
and another near fall as you see Tozawa Maxine on the outside.
It's been a hurtful 24 hours for the Alpha Academy.
Everything that happened last night.
Maxine having to question the actions of her former best friend
Ivy Nile into tonight.
And now Oba Femi looking for the powerbomber.
Powerbomb. But a nice counter by the challenger and Otis has life.
[Vic] Talking about strength, Otis still got a lot of power in that body.
Look at him right now. He's psyching himself up.
[Vic] Oh, look at these rights and left.
Club and blows followed by a headbutt from the challenger.
And Otis now seems to have maybe shaken those cobwebs
from what we saw a few moments ago from that steel post,
from that Steel steps as Femi able to sidestep Otis for a moment.
And the champion right to the back of--
[Booker] What a shot. What a shot, Vic.
These two have not held back in tow.
I mean, you gotta give Tozawa and Maxine some credit trying to keep Otis.
I don't think Otis necessarily thought this was gonna happen here tonight.
[Booker] Oh, man, I'm gonna tell you right there, every time.
[Vic] Oh, man. God. What do you tell me? Don't stick your nose in business.
-[Booker] Mind your business. -[Vic] But that just woke up Otis
and Otis like a freight train, right into Oba Femi.
And that might be what Otis needed.
Tozawa sacrificing himself for the challenger.
[Booker] It's all about pals, you know, all about pals with Otis.
He don't like anybody-- anybody messing with his friends.
[Vic] He certainly does not. And right now, Otis like a man possessed.
Elbow after elbow, strike after strike.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] And how many times, Booker,
have you seen Oba Femi get knocked down like that?
With a close knock down.
[Booker] Got knocked down by a big shot, by a big man. And Otis looking to--
Oh, finish this thing, Vic. Oh!
Here we go. Here we go.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] You know what's next, Book?
[Booker] Oh, yeah.
[Vic] Otis with the elbow off the caterpillar
and it almost brought him the North American title.
But so much taken out of Otis usually pops right back up
looking for a spot. That's gotta be it. He conquered.
Wow, wow.
That might have been the closest I've seen.
-[Vic] That was close-- -[Booker] To losing that Championship.
[Vic] No one has been this close before.
Otis is starting to swing away, trying to chop down. Oh, my word.
That is the biggest damage powerbomb I've ever seen.
-[Booker] Wow. -[bell rings]
[Vic] Oba overcomes Otis.
[victory music plays]
[Mike] Here is your winner
and still the NXT North American champion,
Oba Femi.
[Booker] Wow.
[Vic] The champion was pushed tonight by the challenger.
And that, I mean, everybody here thought we were about to crown a new champion.
But Femi, able to kick out and then overpower,
overcome Otis here tonight.
And Book, the question remains the same.
Who can conquer the uncomfortable North American champion,
the ruler of NXT, Oba Femi?
[soft music plays]
It's been documented. I was in a dark place.
It's just been an experience
spiraling out of control.
[loudly] You want to silence me. And I say you want to silence me. I do.
I hit rock bottom.
Some people say they were looking out for me.
You are so lost right now, it's not even funny.
Those were empty words.
But there was one man who vouched for me in every sense.
He stuck his neck out for me so I could get rehired.
Sean and I have decided to give you a second chance.
He told me not what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to hear.
I was doing dumb and immature things, and I was better than that.
He made sure I got home safe every night, no matter what I was doing.
This place is cutthroat. Friends are turning on each other.
People are out for themselves.
Well, I finally got someone looking out for me besides Brooks Jensen.
He was a leader,
a mentor to me.
Does that work?
Yeah.
Brooks…
that was perfect.
-You want to do something? -No, that's crazy.
I feel like we should do something about this.
I agree.
Yeah. We've known Brooks for a long time.
Plus, with Briggs being in Japan for a while, Brooks is a lost cause.
That's just sad, man. Because me and Brooks came in together
and really we all became different Texans around the same time,
but no doubt about this, he is being manipulated.
100%.
It's crazy about Brooks, but sounds like y'all got him, so…
-Let's start thinking. -See y'all around.
Have that little chit chat with Ms. Ava that we were talking about.
I saw the GM Ava, and she loves herself some Hank and Tank.
-We got a match next Tuesday. Bro talk. -That's what I'm talking about, my bro.
The good brothers want to crash our barbecue Bash on our food.
All we're gonna taste next week is some defeat with a little side of Honk,
Honk Honk. Taste the best this time.
[Vic] I like the sound of that, Book.
We got ourselves some tag team action next week.
Hank and Tank in the O.C.
[bell rings]
[Mike] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, Izzi Dame.
[Vic] Luck was not on her side earlier,
she let it be known led to a confrontation which has led to this matchup.
Izzi, Brinley, Live Next.
[Vic] Earlier this month was the WWE SummerSlam tryout with athletes
in WWE hopefuls from all over the country.
The WWE Universe was on hand to see these possible superstars of tomorrow,
as was Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, Bianca Belair, Chelsea Green,
and even Baron Corbin.
They kept a close eye on the competition along with the Performance Center coaches.
Congratulations to all those that took part in the SummerSlam tryout.
[energetic music plays]
[Vic] And there is Izzi Dame, who, of course, had a tryout back in 2022.
She was also at SummerSlam. It was in Nashville.
A volleyball standout all compared.
She put her pursuit of her professional volleyball court to the side
to become a WWE Superstar.
[crowd cheering]
[Mike] And her opponent, Brinley Reece.
[Vic] And the same can be said for her opponent here tonight
as these two had that back and forth and talk about how tensions
between the two started in Nashville during those SummerSlam 2022 tryouts.
And there you see Reece, who is from Sacramento State University.
A cheerleader. Three months after graduation,
she stepped into a WWE ring at that tryout for the very first time.
Think about that. Both these women for the first time ever
stepped into a wrestling ring two years ago.
[Booker] I'm gonna say really brilliant Reece,
but if I could give her any advice, Vic, she gotta focus.
She has to focus because she has a lot of talent.
And right now she's in the ring with Izzi Dame
who has been under the expert tutelage of Kev [inaudible]
[Vic] I also want to talk about how far both these women really have come along
since their tryout two years ago. And it's not just these two.
It's everybody from Nashville.
It's all those that were signed here to WWE, to NXT.
It's just wild to think that these two for the first time ever,
two years ago stepped into a ring for the first time ever.
And now they're here on NXT.
[Booker] Watching these ladies build that playbook,
I always say, "You gotta be going to your troll bag."
And these ladies definitely are learning that they don't learn it overnight.
[Vic] Cover hook of the leg and a quick kickout.
You got to appreciate Ava's decision, by the way, on the No Mercy.
[Booker] I've been very impressed with a decision making here in NXT.
Big props. Big props.
[Vic] And the six women who are randomly selected tonight
from the field of superstars have never challenged
for the NXT Women's Championship.
That Eliminator taking place next week live here on NXT.
But it's Izzi Dame who thought she should have just been handed, so to speak,
an opportunity in that match in a nice tilt to world backbreaker--
[Booker] I think Izzi should have been considered to have a buy
into that tournament.
I think she should have been handed--
She's been doing a hell of a job here.
-There a-- -[Vic] No, you feel she's been overlooked?
-She was overlooked -[Booker] Somewhat.
So the person who was rolling the balls around that was selecting those balls
all of a sudden just said, you know what? I'm going to overlook her.
No, it's the luck of the draw into the cover hook the leg--
[Booker] I'm saying Ava should have had to wear understanding
and know how to make sure somebody like Izzi Dame,
who is somewhat a star in this business, put into turn.
[Vic] I hear what you're saying
because in her mind, she already thinks she's a WWE legend.
You can look at her social media and see where she was sitting at SummerSlam,
but here it's NXT. She's going one on one with Reece.
Reece trying to fight back in this moment as well.
And charging right back in was Dame. Reece creating some separation.
And Reece got caught-- Oh! [inaudible]
She got slanted, and a big kickout by Reece. Take another look.
The height and then the nasty landing.
And Izzi Dame also upset because during the recent strength
and conditioning fitness test here at the Performance Center,
it was Reece who blew away the competition, including her opponent.
Bottom line, these two just don't match. These two just don't like each other.
[Booker] This ain't no fitness competition right here.
This is a fight.
All that you talking about, it don't matter.
Only thing that matters is who get the victory here tonight.
[Vic] Looking for the submission. Reece able to counter.
These two going back and forth now. Reece able to land on her feet.
There's that cheerleading background.
And, oh, that was a knee right to the side of the face.
[Booker] Izzi ran into that knee as well, Vic. Added a little extra pressure.
Oh, man, Reece is looking good.
[inaudible]
Reece looking for the ben-- Whoa. She's right on top.
Bully.
[Vic] You hear Reece yelling at Izzi Dame again,
these two just don't like each other.
They've said it time and time again, and you see those tensions starting to boil.
That was a knee right to the midsection.
[Booker] Goes back to what I was talking about earlier.
Reece cannot lose focus in this matchup tonight.
[Vic] Showing some strength is Reece.
And, oh! Nice little delayed northern light of sorts without the bridge,
but does make the cover but doesn't get to three.
Izzi just getting that right shoulder up.
And you look at Izzi, you look in her eyes right now.
She's trying to refocus,
trying to refigure out where exactly she is.
And, you know, maybe Ava was right
by not handing her an opportunity in that matchup.
Nice shot to the back.
[crowd booing]
Izzi trying to power back into this matchup.
And again, this would be a big victory because you look at the state
of the women's division, it's not just the NXT Championship.
How about the North American women's champion, Kanye Jordan,
who was by Wendy earlier, big boot from Izzi.
[Booker] Talking about being one step ahead.
Talking about going into your tool bag, trick bag. You just got to pick.
-Weird, right? Is that it? -[Vic] And Izzi--
Rock Reece here tonight.
[Mike] Here is your winner, Izzi Dame.
[Booker] Smart, smart.
[Vic] Going back. You call it smart. You said going into the bag of tricks.
And man, big high impact offense from Izzi Dame here tonight.
And I may not like it. I know you do NF at home, you may not like it,
but in the end, for Dame, it is what it is.
[energetic music plays]
I'm joined now by the NXT general manager, Ava.
Ava, next week is shaping up to be a huge show leading up to No Mercy in Denver.
Absolutely. It is a super exciting time in NXT right now.
Next week, six women will compete in the No Mercy Gauntlet Eliminator.
Whoever wins will then face Roxanne Perez for her Championship at No Mercy.
And just before this, I finalized a triple threat match between Wes Lee,
Joe Hendry and Pete Dunne.
Whoever wins that will then face Page for his Championship at No Mercy.
It's gonna be a great show.
Sorry, Ava, did I hear you say a Gauntlet Eliminator match? Cute.
I actually got my break in a similar style
when I dominated the NXT women's breakout tournament.
And now look at where I'm at.
No one is on my level,
but this is an opportunity for someone to actually get on my level,
become a big star, launch their career, and maybe,
maybe even become the next Roxanne Perez.
The only problem with that is that they're going to be waiting a long,
long, long time before they even come close to my NXT Women's Championship.
I'm excited to watch.
[cheers and applause]
-Thank you, Kelly. -Thanks, Ava.
Vic, Booker, back to you.
[Vic] Thanks, Kelly. It doesn't seem that Roxanne Perez is very impressed.
Well, it's also the NXT women's champion. There's a big matchup next week
to find out who will challenge her for the Women's Championship.
You also heard from our general manager.
A lot of big news surrounding next week as we get ready
for our very next Premium Live event. Booker, you ready to head to Denver?
-[Booker] Yes, babe. -[Vic] No Mercy, September 1st.
Tickets are on sale right now for our next Premium Live event.
But we're not just headed to Denver.
If you missed the news, here it comes,
first hand from The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels.
Before we take off, gotta let you know, not only I am flying out,
but NXT is now going on the road.
The launch of CW happens in Chicago, Illinois,
All State Original Arena, October 1st.
What's better than one week on the road with NXT?
Two weeks on the road, October 8th, St. Louis.
Get ready, because we're coming your way.
That's right, two weeks in a row. NXT, the CW launch. We're coming your way.
Everybody get ready. NXT's been on fire the last year,
but now NXT, LCW gonna be a whole different animal.
[Vic] Coming up next, it's main event time for the NXT tag team titles on the line.
Are we going to crown new champions and Chase U,
does the gold go back to the campus or will the champions get on the same page
and stay on the same page? It's main event time live on NXT.
-It would have been so awesome. -I know, it's okay.
I'm so happy for all the other--
I understand that everyone wants a shot at the NXT Women's Championship,
but honestly,
everyone should be shooting a shot with me.
Yeah.
So we thought it was her moment, but I'm sure we'll get another chance.
And yeah, what we're gonna do is we're just gonna train extra,
extra hard until that moment comes so that we'll be ready.
Yeah. And we could go to all the open rings.
-We could go to the gym together. -It's not y'all, listen to me.
Oh, my gosh, I love that book. I love that book.
-Really? Awesome. -Oh, books.
I love books too.
Come on. Let's go.
I see you big pimping,
game recognized game.
Although the bookworm thing ain't my style,
my approach is a little bit more ballsy.
I'm just being myself, bro. I'm just being myself.
What you reading anyway?
-"It ends with us." -Oh, really?
Well, it can end with us next week in the ring.
It's the name of the book.
[Vic] Oh, speaking of next week, we heard from our general manager, Ava.
And next week we'll have No Mercy implications.
First, these three men with the same goal, to be NXT champion.
TNA wrestler Joe Hendry, Wes Lee and Pete Dunne.
The winner will face Ethan Page
for the NXT title on September 1st in Denver at No Mercy.
In addition, these six women who have never had a Championship match,
will compete in the NXT No Mercy Gauntlet Eliminator.
Who survives, who heads to Denver?
Next week we find out who faces Roxanne for the NXT Women's Championship
at No Mercy.
At the Great American Bash, a barbecue fight broke out.
Well, it's going to continue next week
when Honk Honk, Hank and Tank face Gallows and Anderson.
It's Tag Team Action Live on NXT.
And after what transpired earlier tonight, Lola Vice will face Wendy Choo.
Can Vice knock out Choo or will Choo put Vice to sleep
on NXT Live next week?
But Booker, it is main event time to see who is gonna head
to No Mercy with Tag Team Gold.
Because we talked about Charlie Dempsey earlier tonight,
who became the new Heritage Cup champion?
I asked you, should this be his final opportunity?
The final opportunity for the No Quarter Catch Crew.
I will ask you the same question here in our main event.
Should this be the final opportunity for Chase University?
[Booker] You don't want to ask me that, Big. You don't want to die. No, Big.
-[Vic] I thought you were a jerk. -[Booker] No, no, Big. Serious, stop.
Chase, you have put themselves in position for this match tonight at the--
At the behest of one man. At the behest of one man, Ridge Holland.
Put them in this position. Can they cash in? That's the question.
[Vic] I tell you. Look Chase. Looks to be a team here. You need to get a Chase.
[inaudible] Booker T. On the back.
-What number would you wear? -[Booker] Double wood.
[chuckles]
[celebratory music plays]
[Vic] You see the NXT Universe to their feet, chanting, "Chase U."
And I'm sure they're going to be split between the champions and the challengers.
[energetic music plays]
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] We heard from the champions earlier.
We've heard from them, go back and forth for really months about Speed,
about this, about that. Are they finally on the same page?
[Booker] You talk about Speed,
you talk about compete for the Heritage Cup.
None of that matters.
They still go out and do one thing. Do what they do best.
Win inside the middle of that squad circle.
They are the best tag team we've seen here at NXT in quite some time.
Give them their props. Give them their props.
-Do that for me just once. -[Vic] I've always given them their props.
What the hell are you talking about? Talking to yourself?
[bell rings]
The following contest scheduled for one fall,
is for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challengers, representing Chase University,
Ridge Holland and Andre Chase.
[crowd cheering]
And their opponents, they are the NXT tag Team champions,
Nathan Frazer and Axiom.
[cheers and applause]
-[Vic] I want you to do something for me. -[Booker] What's that?
[Vic] Can you finally admit that Ridge Holland has been good for Chase?
-[Booker] How many times have I said it? -[Vic] You haven't.
[Booker] I have to say this again? Do I have to say it again?
I trust Ridge Holland. He's like a snake. I trust him to bite me.
-That's what I'm talking. -[Vic] You trust him to bite you?
[Booker] That's exactly my point. He's a snake.
He's gonna do what he has to do to survive.
-[Vic] You trust the snake to bite you. -[Booker] The thing is,
I have no problem with Holland. Let's just sit that out there.
I have no problem with Ridge Holland.
[Vic] What twilight zone am I living in right now?
Where all of a sudden you trust a snake to bite you? I mean--
-You just said you trust-- -[Booker] I said why would you?
That's what a snake does. Look here.
-[Vic] You're unreal. -[Booker] Look at Holland.
[Vic] You're earning your money tonight.
-Into the cover. -[Booker] …by any means necessary.
He's gonna do what he has to do to walk away tag team champ.
I respect that.
[Vic] You just talked me into a whole circle.
Nice drop kick by Axiom makes it tag into Frazer.
I'm gonna get back in to this Championship match.
Because there is a renewed excitement within Chase University.
Obviously you can feel it. All of a sudden you're on the Chase.
You bandwagon has Andre Chase can't catch on to Frazer shoulder down.
[Booker] No, I'm just speaking facts is what I'm talking about. They…
Axiom. Are they capable? Of course they are.
Because they are one of the best tag teams I've ever seen.
[Vic] I didn't ask you about the champions.
I was talking about the challengers.
-With Chase U being excited. -[Booker] I heard your question.
[Vic] Holland now trying to overcome overpowered.
-[Booker] Which bag was made. -[Vic] Axiom is in.
He is legal. Holland nasty spill over the top champions.
By the way, defending it back.
They got the job done last week.
They said they are locked in here to [indistinct] on Chase.
Well, I think I know what's going to happen here.
But first is Frazer. Here comes Axiom.
Tag team titles on the line. They never slow.
[inaudible]
[Booker] These two guys are incredible. Oh yes.
[cheers and applause]
[Vic] Champions certainly on the same page.
Jonas II the action. Who's walking out with gold?
[cheers and applause]
[Vic] NXT tag team tunnels on the line. This is the main event of NXT.
The challengers. Chase U, trying to turn this on the champion.
Axiom.
Back to back defenses of the titles.
Both men down. This place becoming unglued.
There's what it's all for. The NXT tag team titles and Booker,
as a former champion,
did you like defending the titles week in and week out?
[Booker] Oh, here we go. You just gotta stay intuitive.
You wanna stay ready so you don't have to get ready.
[Vic] Ridge Holland has been ready for this moment
to show what he is gonna bring to Chase University.
Said he was faithful earlier tonight for the fair chance
for those that believe in him.
He even got a mighty big apology from Duke and Riley who apologized him earlier.
And he just caught a human man like a fish.
And now just dropped with a DDTS move to bring the title to Chase U. Cover.
Axiom just got that right shoulder off the mat.
[Booker inaudible]
…and that right there is a motive. Trust me, man.
[Vic] Well, it was Axiom who earlier tonight admitted
that Ridge adds a different element of power to Chase U.
Unlike the matchup, these two teams had a couple of weeks ago,
a couple of months ago in Toronto when it was Duke Cutson and Andre Chase.
-What a tag team matchup that was. -[Booker] Oh, beautiful.
No doubt, no doubt. Ridge Holland is a power out.
That's all we see. Double up. Double up one time. That's it.
[cheers and applause]
[Vic] I don't know if you can read Frazer's lips,
but he said, "You gotta be kidding me."
Take another look at that 450
'cause Frazer got all of it. Back to the live action.
We're seeing kick after kick from the champions.
Frazer got wiped out. Axiom now being dealt with.
Into the crowd. I believe a tag was made.
[Booker] One man record right there by R--
[Vic] Andre Case stopping Ridge Holland.
Doesn't look like a snake now.
He looks like one half of the tag team champion.
Frazer saved this match.
[Booker] Wow. So close.
That's what tag team work is all about right there.
You gotta be watching your partner's back at all times, Big.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Risking it all as Frazer can actually with Frazer, they've been off,
but they've been victorious.
They said tonight they are focused on the gold
as Axiom able to counter for a moment.
Goes up over.
From Chase and trying to look around, I don't see Holland.
-Andre Chase now is legal. -[Booker] Oh, here we go, Vic.
Axiom, Nathan Frazer about to throw caution to the wind.
[Vic] We've seen this in the past, that combination offense,
but nice job by Frazer. Able to run in, run a little bit of interference and goal.
Well, in recent weeks we've seen Axiom and Frazer connect with those kicks.
But here tonight, they're able to wipe out and take out.
Ridge Holland is now to the top.
Tag. Axiom is legal.
Superplexed by Nathan Frazer. Lifts him up.
[crowd cheering]
[Booker] That's it.
-[inaudible] -[crowd cheering]
-[Booker] You gotta be kidding me. -[Vic] Say it again.
[Booker] You gotta be kidding me.
[Vic] This place is becoming unglued.
This is our main event of NXT for the NXT tag team titles.
This is the third Championship match of the night
[crowd chanting] NXT!
[Vic] And everyone is on their feet. Look around.
You got to be loving tag team action under the spotlight.
[Booker] Like I said, going into the deep waters right there.
Going to have a test report to stab in a Vic.
[Vic] Nice counter there by Axiom.
Axiom, though, who's a master at submissions,
follows up with a close line.
Andre Chase fought up with a boot.
Nice job by Frazer, who was able to hold on to the tag rope.
Great job by the official. Frazer didn't connect. Ridge Holland now.
Now here's that power on display with a backstabber.
Titles on the line. Ridge into the cover. Frazer kicked out.
Just got that right shoulder up. Oh, my.
Mike Rome's hair almost jumped off his damn head. Take a look.
Bam. The whack stabber combo.
Holland fell into the cover.
No accent no problem for Nathan Frazer.
[crowd chanting]
[Vic] But you always talk about deep waters, Book.
The champions have been there. Ridge Holland, Andre Chase have not.
They got to stay composed right in this moment.
[Booker] Yeah, they gotta stay composed.
Holland, like I say, is fighting for something that he's never had before.
That Championship goal. And to do it with the teeth of family.
That's a little something different as well.
[Vic] You got to wonder now
if the champions are starting to maybe change up their game plan on the fly.
We've seen this, though, multiple times in the past.
It's what won them gold.
It's what retained gold. Axiom looking for that super Spanish fly.
Axiom got all of it.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Frazer now starting his climb.
Axiom pushing Holland into place. Wait a minute.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Andre Chase saving things for his team
because Nathan Frazer was looking for that Phoenix splash.
Golden Ratio. Knocked out Chase.
[Booker] Chase did the right thing. He did the right thing.
He saved his partner with kid teleport to gold.
[Vic] Passive turn inside of him.
Ridge Holland into the cover. And Chase U is back to the mountain top.
[cheers and applause]
[Mike] And the new
NXT Tag team champions,
Chase University, Andre Chase and Ridge Holland.
[Vic] Ridge Holland kept his promise to Andre Chase,
to Riley Osborne, to the MVP, Duke Hudson,
to Thea Hail and the rest of Chase University.
He did what he said he would do.
And that was bring gold back to campus.
[celebratory music plays]
[Vic] We gotta go back to this.
The champions, they did it right here.
That Golden Ratio brainbuster combo.
That is what has won them matches in the past,
what has led them to retain the Championship in the past.
Here though, this combination from Ridge Holland and Andre Chase.
Ridge Holland,
I believe everyone else in this moment thought Frazer was done.
He would show the heart of a champion. He would kick out.
Like we've seen though, over and over again for weeks and weeks,
for months and months.
First, that Phoenix splash.
Finn right here would not happen for Nathan.
Frazer countered because Andre Chase, the teacher himself, studied tape.
He saw what was coming to open the door for Ridge Holland to keep his word,
to keep his promise and Book, let the party begin.
The students have rushed the ring.
The former champions in disbelief.
What a way to close out the summer.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] We have new NXT Tag Team champions.
Book, I hope they got the quad ready.
[Booker] Clean all this stuff up.
[Vic] Not my problem. Not your problem.
We had the best seat in the house.
I want to go back.
One more look at Ridge Holland,
who you said was fighting for his family,
was fighting with something different.
He showed a different side of himself tonight.
He showed the heart of a warrior, a man who kept his word.
You can see the joy, the happiness in everyone
from Chase University as they party now.
Snow angels in the confetti.
You can't help but smile.
You can't help but be happy for Chase University,
for everything that Andre Chase, for the University itself,
has had to go through over the last year to get back to the top of the mountain.
Gold is back.
Congratulations. And here on NXT, it's all about the U.
Subtitles: Jessica Fanelli n NXT, it's all about the U.