[intro music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[Vic] We are live in Orlando
inside the WWE Performance Center
where tonight, WrestleMania weekend dreams hang in the balance.
Who heads to Las Vegas, who heads to WrestleMania, Saturday,
with a chance to stand and deliver?
[rap music plays]
And welcome to NXT.
Let's now go to Mike Rome.
[bell dings]
[Mike] The following contest is a fatal four-way
number one contender's match.
♪ This is the revolution ♪
["Welcome To the Revolution" playing]
[Corey laughs]
[Vic] Looks like we got ourselves a guest.
The revolution has arrived.
Obviously the four men in the ring,
Ethan Page, Eddy Thorpe,
Wes Lee, and the Heritage Cup Champion, Lexis King
are all competing here tonight to become the number one contender
to that man and his title, this Saturday at Stand & Deliver.
[Booker T] Look at his eye. It's a little different this week.
Right? He's got that championship, right?
[Corey] What do you call it?
[Booker T] That look of invincibility. That's what he looks like he has.
[Vic] You heard the bell. This one is official.
And it's a four-way. Look, a quick pin and a kickout.
I'm trying to-- A lot of commotion going on here, Graves.
Looks like we got a guest.
[Corey] We're being joined ringside by North American Champion Ricky Saints.
Ricky, welcome to ringside. Happy WrestleMania week.
[Ricky] Hello, gentlemen. Happy WrestleMania weekend to you too, Corey.
[Vic] And as this one's getting started, Ricky, how excited are you
to head to WrestleMania Saturday to defend your title at Stand & Deliver?
[Ricky] I'm a man with a mission. I got money on my mind. I got--
Keeping this championship title around my waist,
taking it home to mama.
Ooh.
[Vic] This is a four-way matchup,
the first superstar to gain pinfall or submission will head to Las Vegas.
Right now, things not looking very good for Lexis King.
But I'm excited to have you out here, Ricky,
because you and I agree, Ethan Page is very egotistical.
The man-- How fragile is Ethan Page's ego?
[Ricky] Ha! Paper-thin ego, my man.
Goodness gracious.
I have never met someone so brittle.
[Vic] Oh, what is this? German suplex by Thorpe.
And look, Eddy Thorpe is the only one in this matchup
to not hold any sort of championship here at NXT.
And he has taken over this matchup.
Into the cover to head to Vegas, Ethan Page
continuing this match.
[Corey] Ricky, what's the atmosphere in the locker room like?
I imagine there is a lot of panic about the potential of
missing the biggest event of the year, Stand & Deliver.
[Ricky] The energy is very tight, Corey, I can tell you that.
One thing I'm worried about is making sure that I walk into Vegas
as champion, and walk out of it as champion.
[Vic] Oh! Nice double stomp to the spine on Eddy Thorpe.
Ricky, I would love to get your thoughts on what Thorpe had to say
about you just being handed the opportunity.
[Ricky] That's crazy, for the fact that
all four of these guys have very covetous eyes
when it comes to this North American Championship Title.
[Vic] If you're keeping points at home, that would be a Scrabble word.
Page charging in, big Superkick from King.
[Booker T] A lot of action going on right now, guys.
[Vic] Uh-oh.
And-- oh!
He missed all three.
I don't know that I have ever seen
three superstars missed at the same time.
Congratulations, Mr. King.
[Corey] King to the outside. There is no count outs, no disqualifications.
Thorpe trying to take down Lee.
Lee's able to underneath the clothesline, gets back up.
Misses and-- whoa! Thorpe sent crashing to the outside.
[Booker T] So smart there by that man.
Here we go.
[Vic] Page is trying to wipe out the field in this moment.
He is the only one standing in the ring.
Wes Lee, a little more surefooted, but a big kick from All Ego.
And piling it up.
Trying to break the code of this matchup
and punch his ticket to Vegas.
-Cover, count! -[Booker T] Big cover.
[Vic] Lee just taken out and Ricky,
you came out of your seat there for a moment.
[Ricky] I was just adjusting my seat. Come on, Vic, don't try to play me.
[Vic] I'm not. I just was calling it how I see.
We don't gotta get angry at each other.
The only one at the table that's gonna agree to half of what I say tonight
And I still got a long way to go with these two.
But look at the top. Page…
Trying to get King over.
[Corey] Precarious position for both superstars.
Keep your eyes on Eddy Thorpe.
We got the party on the top. Turnbuckle, wait a minute.
[Vic] It was Thorpe who said the North American title is his birthright.
But here is Wes Lee. Booker, Lee's someone--
[Corey] Punches to the hamstrings.
[Vic] Lee is someone who has certainly impressed you over the years.
[Booker T] Here we go. Here we go.
This is why he impress me.
From what he does inside that 20x20, that squared circle. Here we go.
[crowd chanting "NXT"]
[Vic] We take another look at the power of Wes Lee.
All four superstars down, carnage all throughout the ring.
Ricky, at this point, do you have a favorite?
Is there someone you prefer to face at Stand & Deliver?
[Ricky] Honestly, that's like asking me my favorite poison.
This is hard to call, especially after that right there.
[Corey] Wes Lee feels perpetually disrespected.
-Running shooting star… -[Vic] Cover.
And Thorpe there to break things up.
Wes Lee has competed at the first ever Stand & Deliver,
is 3-0, WrestleMania weekend.
Would love to get back to reclaim the North American championship.
[Booker T] Talk about Wes Lee perhaps
the greatest North American Champion in the history of this game.
I'm just saying.
What he has done inside that squared circle,
from the competitors he's been in the ring with.
That's the only reason why.
[Ricky] I respect it, Book.
[Vic] Like him, hate him or you're indifferent,
Booker, we certainly were here ringside
we saw Wes Lee actually break his back
because of that championship, which is now held by Ricky Saints
who is well on his way to possibly becoming
the greatest North American Champion of all time.
-[Booker T] Oh, baby. -[Vic] Incoming!
Lexis King launched through the barricade.
[Vic] I like they went towards Booker, Graves.
[Booker T] Took a bad spill right there, Wes Lee.
[Vic] There's four men, the other two out here in front of us to our left.
-Page is getting rocked. -[Corey] Now, guys.--
-Hey! -Come on!
-This is-- -Oh!
-[crowd cheering] -[Booker T] Oh!
[Vic] And All Ego just sent Eddy Thorpe into the North American Champion,
-and Saints knows it! -[Booker T] What the hell?
[Corey] What do you mean, "What the hell?"
Saints is pissed and rightfully so!
-[Vic] And look at the grin on Page. -You know what? Get out!
Yo, get out of here! We're not doing this tonight.
-[crowd jeers] -[Vic] Did he get tossed?
Ricky Saints just got tossed?
[Corey] Ethan Page knew exactly what he was doing.
Brilliant!
-[Vic] That rat bastard! -[crowd chanting] Ref, you suck!
You gotta be kidding me, ref!
[Vic] Ethan Page, Eddy Thorpe, Wes Lee, Lexis King,
one of these four men will be the number-one contender to the NXT's
North American Title this Saturday,
Stand & Deliver on WrestleMania Saturday.
Ricky Saints, the champion, was out here joining us on commentary,
until Ethan Page manipulated all the playing cards around us,
and got him tossed.
[Booker T] The guy just jumped up from the table and got into a fight.
[Vic] Looking for Ego's Edge.
King landed on his feet, trying to counter.
I'm done arguing about this, Booker. We'll talk off air.
Looking for the Coronation. Counter by Page.
Page looking for a Boston Crab.
[Corey] Ethan Page able to step over.
A tremendous amount of pressure on the lower back of King.
This could be catastrophic for the Heritage Cup Champion.
[Vic] I'm looking at the monitor, King's face right now,
he is screaming in pain.
He's reaching for that bottom rope. King, moments away from tapping.
[Corey] Oh, great move by Ethan Page, able to avoid contact from Wes Lee.
[Vic] And Thorpe now…
-[Vic and Corey] Crossface! -[Booker T] Oh, baby!
[Vic] Double submission!
Is King gonna tap? If King taps, who would win?
Who would go to Vegas? And, no!
Wes Lee just caught the arm of Lexis King!
[Corey] Preventing the submission.
Brilliant ring awareness by Lee.
And Page still has the Boston Crab. Well, had…
[Vic] For a moment. Now, Thorpe is the one standing,
the man who said the North American Title is his birthright.
And, Graves, the battles for the NXT Title certainly have helped Thorpe
get into deep waters of matches before.
[Corey] They say iron sharpens iron.
There's nothing sharper than Eddy Thorpe these days. But Lexis King,
looking to punch his ticket to Las Vegas. We heard Saints talk about it earlier.
There's a certain level of panic permeating the entire locker room.
Nobody wants to miss Stand & Deliver.
[Vic] Certainly not. We'll find out who're the last two to qualify
for the NXT Women's North American Championship,
to be contested in a ladder match.
-But Wes Lee… -[Corey] Oh, no. Oh, my God!
[Vic] That's the damnedest Whisper in the Wind I've ever seen.
[Corey] That was no Whisper in the Wind. It was a full-on hurricane.
-[Booker T] Wow! -[crowd jeering]
[Corey] Unbelievable athleticism flexed by Wes Lee, taking down the entire field.
[Vic] Double cover! Double cover! And a double kick-out.
I mean, again, it's pinfall and submission.
Whoever scores it heads to Las Vegas.
Saints isn't out here anymore. He's gotta be double angry right now,
double PO'd sitting back, watching this on a monitor.
[Corey] He may be seething backstage, but he's keeping a close eye
as this one unfolds,
wanting to know who will earn the number-one contendership.
[Booker T] You asked what I like about Lee. He can fly with the best of 'em.
This man right here, he don't mind getting into a fight.
Oh, yes, baby!
[Corey] Boy, to see this kid throw hands.
[Vic] You might catch him in a Starbucks someday,
but right now, it's about catching the opportunity
-to put gold around your waist. -[Booker T] Going up top.
-[Vic] At the biggest stage-- -[Corey] Oh, no. Crash and burn.
[Vic] King, now, all the way to the top. King gonna fly!
Swanton connected!
The Heritage Cup Champion crawling into the cover.
-[Corey] Watch Thorpe. -[Vic] Big elbow to the spine!
-[Booker T] Big elbow. -[Vic] Thorpe, is this his moment?
Is it his time? He's back up!
[Corey] Thorpe looking for a little insurance.
-[Vic] Lee! Meteora connects! -[crowd exclaiming]
[Corey] Nasty landing for Wes Lee.
-King! -[Booker T] Rockabye!
[Vic] Coronation on Lee! Into the cover!
Wait, but now Ethan Page!
Page, Twisted Grin!
-Not like this! -[crowd cheers]
Into the cover!
The count!
And Ethan Page
is headed to Stand & Deliver.
[announcer] Here's your winner, and the new number-one contender
to the NXT North American Championship.
-"All Ego" Ethan Page! -["With A Smile" playing]
[Corey] Las Vegas, get used to those pearly whites,
because All Ego is headed to Stand & Deliver.
But what a battle we just witnessed, guys,
from all four competitors.
Lexis King thought he had punched his ticket.
Eddy Thorpe soaring through the sky.
Wes Lee continues to take the collective breath away
of the NXT Universe.
Coronation from the Heritage Cup Champion.
But All Ego, at the right time, picking his spot.
The Twisted Grin.
And make your travel plans to the entertainment capital.
Well, I guess that makes me the man then, huh?
[crowd cheering]
Number-one contender.
Ricky Sainta, I know I'm not the guy who wanted to win tonight.
And you have every right to believe that,
because everyone remembers their first.
And the first championship victory in WWE,
oh, that was ruined by "All Ego" Ethan Page.
And Stand & Deliver, your first title defense,
I promise you,
that will also be ruined.
[Vic] And spear by Saints!
-Hell, yeah! -[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Calm down, cheerleader.
[Vic] Saints takes the spotlight back here tonight!
With five NXT titles on the line in Vegas,
who will walk out with the North American Title?
But will this woman walk out with gold, Saturday?
[Jordynne] What you see today as The Juggernaut…
[Vic] Look at the power! Wow!
[Jordynne] …multiple-time TNA Knockouts Champion…
[heroic instrumental music]
-…this wasn't how I started. -[music fades out]
I wasn't scouted.
I've never had star power.
Never really been a beauty queen.
If it were possible to have "negative aura," that was who I was.
I was just a little girl wrestling in half empty gyms,
trying to find a place to fit in a world that didn't seem built for me.
I knew what people saw…
or really, rather, what they didn't see.
But something I did have that not a lot of people in wrestling do
is self-awareness.
So, I finally stopped wishing that I had what I was supposed to have
and started building what I could become.
[upbeat instrumental music]
I turned insecurity into intensity, doubt into discipline,
and that was the day The Juggernaut was born.
I fell in love with getting stronger.
I became laser-focused on building my body into an atomic bomb,
waking up at 3:00 a.m. to train,
jumping into a car to drive eight hours to wrestle,
hit another gym session after that,
then sleep two hours, and do it all again the next day.
And as hard as that was, I was obsessed with it.
It was a way that I could stand out from all the other women.
And, to me, it was the only way.
I wanted the WWE Universe to say, "Yeah, the WWE women are killing it.
but have you seen Jordynne Grace over in TNA?"
"That's Jordynne Grace?"
[crowd cheering]
I put in the work so that no one could ignore me.
I forced my way into the conversation
and made people believe in the juggernaut like I believed in myself.
Now, the biggest hurdle of my career is right in front of me this Saturday,
when I have the opportunity to become the NXT Women's Champion.
And just like I've been my entire career,
I'm aware of exactly what I'm gonna have to do
to leave Vegas with my first WWE Championship.
[Vic] We'll hear from all the competitors in that matchup here tonight,
but four women have qualified.
Only two spots remain in the ladder match for the Women's North American title.
Who qualifies? Who punches their ticket to Stand & Deliver?
We find out next.
[hip-hop music playing]
It doesn't really matter because the outcome is gonna be the same.
True. Either of us as new champ.
-And I have the perfect-- -Either of us?
Don't you mean me?
Hold on. Wait a minute! Wait a minute.
I thought Za-Ruca was fine.
We are. Thanks.
Who's gonna win, you? You? Neither of you, 'cause it's gonna be me,
walking out a two-time Women's North American Champion
and showing the world why no one can do it like Lani--
Izzi, yeah. Good one, idiot.
-You guys wanna know what I miss? -No.
The old Kelani.
-We didn't ask-- -She was so much more likeable.
Old Kelani, new Kelani, doesn't really matter
when I'm the one at the top of the ladder,
-holding the title… -Right.
…bringing home yet another championship to The Culling.
Mm-hmm. Oh.
Keep dreaming 'cause it's never gonna happen.
-What is happening? -Like I said,
either of us are gonna walk out as champ.
Something like that.
-["Eyes of the Reaper" playing] -[Vic] We're about to find out who earned
one of those two remaining spots right now.
[bell ringing]
[Mike] The following is
a Women's North American Championship Ladder Match Qualifier!
Introducing first, accompanied by Gigi Dolin from Dallas, Texas,
Tatum Paxley.
[Vic] This is quite the opportunity for Tatum Paxley here tonight.
Graves, I'll ask you this, is there gonna be difficulty for Paxley
going back to a single superstar mindset?
[Corey] We're about to find out our answer in a matter of moments.
I think Paxley has the physical tools with her powerlifting background.
She may not have both oars in the water, but she's still a very dangerous woman.
["Te Lo Rompo" playing]
[Mike] And her opponent, from Miami, Florida, Lola Vice!
[Vic] You can imagine Lola Vice leaves
with that championship around her waist Saturday,
if she can qualify here and now.
Four women have qualified, two spots are left.
-[Booker laughs] -And I don't think, Graves,
-there is anyone more laser focused… -[bell rings]
[Vic] …than Lola Vice.
[Corey] Oh. Oh. Tatum Paxley out of the gate, shoulders down.
-Paxley looking to prove you wrong, Vic. -[Booker] Whoa.
[Vic] Who… will find themselves in that ladder match
in Las Vegas at Stand & Deliver.
[Corey] It's been some time since we've seen
Lola Vice compete in singles action on her own here in NXT.
What an opportunity lies in front of both of these women.
This quite simply boils down to who wants it more?
Who is prepared for this opportunity better?
Both are deserving participants. Who's actually gonna get the nod?
[Vic] On the playoff, Booker,
have you liked Ava's decisions thus far
of the qualifiers that have had the opportunity to head to Vegas?
[Booker] Eva's shaking it up. I mean, we already got the champion right now.
We're looking for the next big thing.
I think that's what Ava's master plan is all about.
Beautiful work, beautiful work!
[Vic] Rolling through, shoulders down.
-Look at that! -[Corey] Great counter.
[Vic] Right into a submission, but look, Graves,
how Paxley has her hands grasped under the knee,
not allowing Lola to fully extend.
[Corey] Great awareness by Tatum, Paxley understanding the…
-[Booker speaks indistinctly] -[Vic] Shifting weight. Another kick out.
We saw Jordynne Grace's package reel highlight.
the three other participants in our Four-way Women's Championship,
Stand & Deliver, which starts your WrestleMania Saturday.
Right around the corner is Allegiant Stadium for WrestleMania itself.
[Corey] Or if you're Tatum Paxley, you're looking forward
to Stand on the Liver.
[Vic] I'm not sure what she means by that.
But that's, you know what, I understand--
[Corey] Beautiful! Beautiful bridging armbar by Paxley.
[Booker] I'll tell you right now, Tatum Paxley,
her MMA prowess is underrated. I believe that.
[Vic] Uh-oh, might have been lured into a trap by Lola Vice
with extensive mixed martial arts background.
Shoulders down.
I was going to ask you that, Graves,
'cause you're talking about the hyperextension of that shoulder.
And wouldn't it be interesting if Paxton was able
-to make Lola Vice tap out? -[Corey] Talk about bragging rights.
If you're a woman who's able to make Lola Vice of all people submit,
I mean, Tatum Paxley would have no problem making new friends.
[Booker] I don't think that's the route you wanna take with Lola Vice,
'cause she's been fighting since she was a little bitty kid.
I mean, karate is definitely her background.
[Corey] I agree, Booker.
I think Paxley's gonna wanna rely on her power-lifting background.
She does have a rather extensive wrestling knowledge,
but power could really be the game changer for Paxley.
[Vic] Now on that, Booker, is Lola on the cusp of her moment?
She's been so close in the past.
[Booker] You said it right there. So close.
It's about being in the right place at the right time.
Lola Vice, former Breakout Tournament winner,
that tells you she's got the capability of getting it done.
[Corey] Taking it back to the Breakout Tournament,
these two have not been friends since back in those days.
[Vic] Lola to the outside, create a little separation.
But look at Lola, quickly now, trying to…
-Paxley-- -[Corey] Oh, goodness.
[Vic] …trying to get anywhere she can away from Lola Vice
-and there's Gigi Dolin. -[indistinct conversation]
-This is my time! -[indistinct conversation]
[Vic] Lola better stay focused on the task at hand.
That is being victorious, that is winning, that is walking away.
-[Booker] Oh! -[Corey] Oh, my.
Shoulder first into the steel!
[Vic] What a plan in place by Paxley and Gigi.
Can Lola even continue to fight? Who's heading to Las Vegas?
I'm your new North American…
[Vic] We are back. Who is gonna head to Las Vegas?
Will it be Tatum Paxley? Will it be Lola Vice?
They'll be the fifth competitor
in the Women's North American Championship Ladder Match,
a title that was vacated by Stephanie Vaquer
for the betterment of the women's division.
And Paxley is rolling.
Graves, can you imagine the torturistic ways Tatum can conjure up
to use that ladder if she qualifies?
[Corey] Oh, time will only tell what Paxley's capable of right now,
just using her own body as a weapon, back and forth across the ring.
-But Lola got the knees out. -[Vic] You see those knees, Book?
[Booker] Educated knees, we talked about that earlier.
[Vic] Gigi looks a little worried.
Lola, right now, trying to regroup.
Big kick right to the spine, almost a liver shot.
And now just firing up.
[Corey] Tatum Paxley unfortunately seems to have woken something up
inside of Lola Vice.
[Booker] She's feeling it. She's feeling it.
Oh, yeah, baby.
Ah. Ah.
[Vic] Bam!
And Lola now closing in.
Can you imagine the party she would throw, Booker?
-Into the cover. -[Booker] Can I get an invitation?
Can I get one?
[Vic] I'm sure she'd come over here and hand you an invitation personally
to let you into the party, Book.
-[Booker] We going to Vegas, man. -[Vic] We are going to Vegas.
Which one of these two women will join us.
At the T-Mobile Arena.
Paxley slipping down, shoulders down in the near fall.
Back to that arm, Core not sure you noticed the kick out.
Lola really not able to get that left shoulder up as high as she wanted,
and now it's the right shoulder that just got pinned into the turnbuckle.
[Corey] That was wicked. What about the lower back of Lola Vice?
That supposed to bend that way?
[Vic] Paxley is starting to dissect Lola Vice.
And the NXT universe is trying to rally Lola late in this match up,
[Corey] Perhaps Paxley understanding that Lola Vice not comfortable on the ropes.
Certainly not in the top turnbuckle Tatum trying to push Lola
out of her comfort zone.
[Vic] Enzuigiri connected.
Lee again looking to pounce.
Back up to the top.
These two willing to risk it all,
for a moment's WrestleMania Saturday
[Booker] That's it.
[Vic] Into the cover.
And Lola continuing to fight.
But now there's a sense of urgency Booker
and Tatum Paxley--
[Booker] And tell you that desperation kick out right there.
[Vic] Here we go.
-[Corey] No great counter by Vice. -[Vic] Back into the sleeper.
Looking for submission roll and shoulders down
and having to relinquish the hold.
To kick out was Lola.
Oh! Chopped right to the throat.
And Paxley now.
[crowd murmuring]
That's a unique way to enter the ring.
And she got caught.
[Corey] That was a risk that didn't pay out.
Good night.
[crowd] One.
[Vic] Lola has qualified.
[Lola's theme playing]
[Mike] Here is your winner.
Lola Vice.
[Vic] We said earlier Graves tonight was about
Stand and Deliver, implications aplenty.
And every superstar has laid it on the line.
[Corey] And hats off to Tatum Paxley
who certainly gave it her all in this matchup
on more than one occasion, very nearly knocked off Lola Vice.
But Paxley took a risk, and it did not pay off.
The backfist from Lola Vice.
Night night Miss Paxley.
Lola Vice earns her way,
to a North American Championship opportunity this Saturday in Vegas.
[Vic] Five women are in, one spot still remains.
We find out later tonight who will be the sixth to compete at Stand and Deliver.
[Lola's theme playing]
[speaking Japanese] For the past few weeks,
I watched Stephanie bask in the glory of being a double champion.
I waited and waited for her to give me a rematch, but it never happened.
Friendships only go so far
when it comes to the NXT Women's Championship.
Last week I reminded Stephanie of what Beautiful Madness is.
Jaida Parker? I don't know her, but I can tell she is very confident.
She likes to dish out punishment, but she doesn't like to take it.
Jordynne Grace is very strong,
but on Saturday, I will introduce her to Strong Style.
Jordynne and Jaida are obstacles in my way to Stephanie.
My goal was to win the NXT Women's championship.
Losing. It only made me more dangerous.
Stand and Deliver.
No friends.
Rematch.
Last year, at Stand and Deliver, I introduced myself.
This year.
I leave as the NXT Women's Champion.
[NXT's theme playing]
[Vic] We will find out on Saturday if that indeed is true.
I mean, guys, this may be The D'Angelo.
Oh no.
That's one third of the Stand and Deliver main event.
Trick Williams has arrived to NXT.
[NXT's theme playing]
[clamoring]
Ava we heard last week he said something about another opportunity.
That's right.
Not for you, not for you.
Feel about.
All of you are gonna get an opportunity at Stand and Deliver, OK?
There's going to be a triple threat tag team match.
I spoke to Nick Aldis and Adam Pierce,
and the winner
gets a women's tag team championship match
Tuesday after Stand and Deliver,
[clamoring]
I knew you'd do this seriously, of course.
So basically what you're telling me is every single woman
is going to be on Stand and Deliver except the woman that made this
the best women's division in the world.
Great, That's awesome.
Hi, how are you?
Great job on Friday against Tiffany.
But clearly it's not enough because you're still here bothering me.
You know what, I'll tell you what?
If you can charm yourself into finding a tag team partner,
I'll happily make this a fatal four way.
You always have it out for me, don't you?
Good luck.
[clamoring]
[Vic] I hate to say it Book.
There's not a lot of options for
Doesn't have any friends.
[bell rings]
[Mike] The following is a number one contender
NXT tag team Gauntlet Match.
Introducing first Hank Walker, Tank Ledger.
Hank and Tank.
[thuds]
[crowd cheering]
[Hank and Tank theme playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Hank and Tank find themselves in the unenviable position
of beginning a Gauntlet match, a task that is never easy,
no matter how talented you are,
Never mind when your team's in the middle of an identity crisis
[Tyson and Tyriek theme playing]
[Mike] And their opponent, accompanied by Wes Lee
Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe.
[Vic] However you want to slice it,
It is a long road for one of these two teams.
These two teams will start.
When a team is eliminated, the next team will immediately enter.
The last team standing is the winner of this Tag Team Gauntlet.
We'll head to Las Vegas.
We'll head to Stand and Deliver in an NXT Tag Team Championship opportunity.
They're nasty. They're powerful, they're impactful.
[Corey] I can guarantee you Wes Lee had some extra motivation
before this matchup for Tyson and Tyriek after Wes disappointed himself
by failing to qualify for Stand and Deliver.
[Vic] And this is the matchup that we've all been waiting for.
-[bell dinging] -It's finally here.
We're starting off with Hank, Tank, Tyson, Tyriek in this gauntlet match.
And, Booker, what are the difficulties of a gauntlet match?
[Booker T] I mean, starting first,
just like Corey said, I mean, you gotta have the aptitude
to be able to go through every team that comes out of that locker room.
And that's a hard road to hoe, I'm telling you.
[Vic] Oh. Well, Hank and Tank on a seven match losing streak.
-[Corey] Oh, baby. -[Vic] Actually already taken an L
to these two and almost made it two in a row.
They do hold a victory over Hank and Tank through Tyson and Tyriek.
[Booker T] Hank and Tank confidence got to be at its all-time low, I mean,
and I talked about it.
Focus. Preparation, preparation is the only luck this team is gonna have.
They can't think they're gonna slip on a banana peel and beat teams here at NXT.
[Corey] I think if Hank and Tank wanna have a good time in Las Vegas,
they ought to find Cousin Eddie and maybe cook some chicken out in the desert.
[Vic] That is a beautiful movie reference,
which I love, thank you very much.
-Chevy Chase would be very happy. -[Booker T] Oh, baby.
[Corey] Clothesline to the back of the neck.
-[Booker T] See that knot right there? -[Vic] Into the cover, and a kick out.
[Booker T] The back of his head right there.
[Vic] Tyson and Tyriek, they moved along and moved up hook, in your opinion,
because of the man right out here in front of us, Wesley.
[Booker T] Wesley, a man who has grown, a guy who has matured.
-[Vic] Tag. -[Booker T] It's not about friends
or anything like that, it's about checks, it's about championships.
Big shot there by--
[Corey] A little misdirection from Hank and Tank.
Okay, this is what it's gonna take.
This is what it's gonna take to survive in this gauntlet.
[Vic] Hank and Tank, not your prototypical team, but meeting in the middle.
[Booker T] What the hell?
-[Vic] And take a look. -[Booker T] Is it gonna happen?
Hank and Tank into the cover.
And the Xfinity Wi-Fi is booming just like that move.
[announcer] Tyson and Tyriek have been eliminated.
Look out! Oh!
[Corey] I don't know who's more shocked, us or Wes Lee.
[Vic] Well, they snapped a losing streak of sorts,
but now they're taking on another team that's defeated them.
The Culling, they're here.
And Vance being held back here by Jensen for the moment.
By the way, the third tag team gauntlet match in NXT history.
Hank and Tank snapping a streak, but another quick tag made.
And just like that, Hank and Tank back on the defensive.
Spears, Booker, said Nico Jensen, it was their time.
-Do you believe that? -[Booker T] No. Niko Vance
and Brooks Jensen definitely give you the time.
I mean, like I say, the direction of Sean Spears, the guy called GPS.
[Vic] Hold on, speaking of GPS,
you can see where Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo is at.
The D'Angelo family is on their way here.
That battle still to come with Dark State not to forget all three
in that main event of the Triple Threat.
Will be here live for their final face off.
Hank and Tank, look at making two in a row.
[Corey] I like this high-octane offense from Hank and Tank,
but can they sustain it?
-Do these big men have enough in the tank? -[Vic] A cover.
One, two…
[Vic] Looking for the second elimination, near fall, who will survive the gauntlet?
Who is headed to Las Vegas?
What a fight this has been for Hank and Tank,
and all the butterfly feels quickly out the door.
And look at Jensen, right on the man's throat and a kick out.
[man shouting indistinctly]
Going back, Graves, I mean, this was a scary moment.
[Corey] Tremendous teamwork by The Culling,
driving Hank face first into our announce desk.
Hank has not been the same since, and quite simply,
I'm a little shocked he's still in this battle at all.
[Vic] You gotta imagine Stand and Deliver
could be a coming out party for The Culling
if Jensen and Vance can qualify, become the number one contenders
-in the tag titles ladder match. -[Vic] Uh-oh, uh-oh,
There's the champions looking on right now.
They're gonna be facing possibly one of these teams,
but this is a gauntlet match again.
One team's already been eliminated, and more to come.
[Corey] The prophecy of Shawn Spears could be fulfilled at Stand and Deliver
in the wake of him losing the North American Championship
to Ricky Saints. You're right, Vic.
If Vance and Jensen become tag champs, and Izzi Dame becomes
the Women's North American Champion, talk about a shift of power.
-The Culling's gonna run the show. -[Vic] Entire landscape, Booker, here,
you would have to agree, would shift in terms of power.
[Booker T] No, I agree, I agree 100%.
Shawn Spears is doing a hell of a job with his team.
He said it's not about him, it's about his team.
It's about his team going to the promised land,
visiting that same spot that he was in just a couple of weeks ago.
[Vic] Wait a minute, a tag was made but the official did not see the tag.
Genius, genius situational awareness from Brooks Jensen.
[Booker T] Great tag team work right there. I love it, I love it.
[Vic] And Hank is not doing any favors for his partner.
I love it, that's it.
The official NC Jensen… into the cover goes Niko Vance.
-[Booker T] It's over, it's over. -[Vic] And no, it is not quite done yet.
[Booker T] I can tell you right now,
Tank Ledger lost focus there for just a second,
and that could have been a detriment for this team.
Hitting him and trying to get to the tag team picture, man.
[Corey] I mean, Hank needs to desperately make a tag right now
to the much fresher Tank.
Hank trying to muscle Nico Vance back, not an easy task.
I don't care how big and strong you are.
[Vic] Hank and Tank who have tried to take lessons from everybody,
tried to learn, tried to snap a losing streak here.
They've tried to mold everyone else's thoughts into their own.
They're in a battle right now of survival,
but it's turned into a battle of sheer will.
And in comes Tank.
[Corey] Like a heavyweight pinball bouncing around the ring.
Tank just sent Vance crashing to the outside.
[Vic] Tank, one of the first NIL athlete who's in the first class of NIL signings.
-[Corey] Bam! -[Vic] He's been waiting for his chance.
He's been waiting for his moment.
And one more time, right out here in front of us.
But you gotta look around too.
Hank is down, Tank's by himself, into the cover, hook of the leg.
And Nico Vance didn't let that get any farther than a two.
[Corey] Here comes Hank running on fumes, he's gotta be at this juncture.
[Vic] We can talk about Tank, let's talk about Hank.
He's a former security guard who is standing here on the outside.
But Jensen from behind rolling up, and another near fall.
Hank and Tank trying to put it together here tonight, looking to fly.
-Got caught. -[Corey] Well done, Mr. Jensen.
-[Vic] Spinning heel kick. -[Booker T] Tank was on fire,
but here we go. It all came tumbling down.
This is it.
[Vic] Another tag was made and, Book,
got to agree with you, the beginning of the end.
[commentators exclaim]
[Vic] What a cover! Cover!
-[crowd] One, two, three. -[Vic] They did it again.
-[crowd cheering] -[Vic] They did it again.
[Corey] Are you sure?
[Booker T] Wow!
[Corey] Can we get another look at that? I don't know how Tank pulled that off.
[Vic] Luck's maybe on their side tonight,
but another team is headed out here in this Gauntlet Match.
[Corey] Well, the luck just ran out, Vic,
because No Quarter Catch Crew aren't here to play games.
[Vic] Certainly not Borne, Tavion Heights…
[Booker T] Oh, baby!
-[Vic] …picking up the scraps. Ooh! -[Corey] The cover.
[Vic] Another near fall,
that left shoulder just coming off the mat.
Booker, you used the word earlier in this match, "lackadaisical."
I wouldn't think Hank and Tank are lackadaisical anymore.
They seem to be trying to fight with a little bit behind them,
but has too much been taken out them?
[Booker T] From the beginning
these guys have been fighting a helluva fight,
but right now they're bruised, battered and torn and they're--
[crosstalk]
Oh, beautiful dropkick right there but that's it.
Let's go.
[Vic] Another near fall, two teams have been eliminated.
Myles, Tavion, the fourth team to enter Hank and Tank.
Let's remind everybody, Hank and Tank
were the first team, Graves, in this Gauntlet Match.
[Corey] Color me as surprised as anybody watching right now
in the performance of both, Hank and Tank,
they're certainly earning their medal tonight.
However, things are not going to get any easier.
-Look at Tavion Heights. -[Vic] Cover.
And another near fall.
Well, Booker, you have said that Heights
and Borne, they're ones to watch in the New Year
[Booker T] Heights and Borne, they're future tag team champions.
And I'm looking to Tank Legend right there…
Let me tell you, it's only a matter of time.
It's only a matter of time before this match is gonna be over with.
Hank and Tank, thus far, they have done a helluva job.
They can give themselves a pat on the back.
[Corey] I agree with you, Book, a pat on the back for sure,
but right now, Tavion Heights, looking to twist Tank's head
right off of his shoulders. Let's talk about Tavion Heights.
This guy isn't athletically gifted. He's been blessed by the gods.
Tag made on both sides. Here we go!
[Vic] Back in using the brains now and now, trying to use the brawn.
Big Hank swinging away.
[Booker T] Mad elbows right there, baby.
[Corey] Ballroom handmakers right now, very effective.
All Borne can do is cover up.
[Vic] Big elbow. But, look, so much been taken out
and you start to wonder about conditioning.
Hank and Tank are larger Superstars here in NXT.
This is super deep.
[Corey] I'm shocked that they've made it this far. Hold on.
I have no choice but to give Hank and Tank their flowers at this point.
They're still hanging tough in this matchup.
-[Vic] What's Hank… -[Booker T] What the hell is he doin'?
-[Corey] What's Hank doin'? -[Vic] I don't know. Hank knows.
-Flying elbow! -[commentators exclaim]
[Vic] Just running over Tavion.
[crosstalk]
[Corey] …named it after him. But it was effective, either way.
[Vic] This duo is running out of fumes,
but somehow they're honkin', they're Hankin'
they're taking it to the limit. But look at Myles!
-[Corey] Good God! -[Vic] Born to fly!
Let's go!
[Vic] Who's headed to Las Vegas?
It's starting to turn into a slugfest between these two teams,
here in this No. 1 Contender Match.
And a tag was made. Heights is in.
He's firing right back up and he's entering the match with Tank.
And now it's a slugfest between these two
and on the line is a trip to Vegas, a chance at immortality.
WrestleMania Saturday, Stand & Deliver
for the NXT tag team titles.
[Corey] Trying to look like the Avalanche and the Red Wings game there for a minute.
Hands flying everywhere, but Tavion Heights fight through the pain.
[Vic] So is Tank, who answers with an elbow.
Can they put it together again?
[Corey] I don't know where the hell Tank is finding this.
-[Vic] Answer right back. -[Booker T] See that?
Tavion Heights just went to his wheelhouse.
Wrestling is as his base.
-[Booker T] Oh, yes! -[Vic] Good night.
[Corey] Adios, amigo.
[Vic] Hey!
Hank at the last possible fraction of a second.
-[Booker T] That was close. -[Vic] That was certainly close.
And now again, it might just be all for naught.
[Corey] At this point, it might be something of a mercy ending.
If No Quarter Catch Crew has their way out of this misery--
[Vic] Borne, ripped out from behind, shoulders down, center of the ring.
-He got the three! -[crowd cheering]
[ring announcer] No Quarter Catch Crew has been eliminated.
[Corey] Unbelievable!
[Vic] They're all smiles.
But this match isn't done because here comes the fifth and final team.
[Corey] No rest for the weary.
And now you've got some of the biggest guns in the game.
[Vic] Booker, this is the luck of the draw.
[Booker T] Yeah, another team that have beaten Hank and Tank as well.
And right now, it looks like it's going to be a quick trip.
It's about to be over. Here we go, baby.
[Vic] And you know Briggs has been in the back with Inamura.
They have been scheming. Into the cover, hook of the leg.
And again, somehow able to kick out.
But look, Briggs has been in the back. He's been scheming on how to win.
They knew they were entering last in this
after the draw earlier today with our General Manager, Ava,
they knew that they were going to be watching this close.
No way did they think they'd be taking on the team that entered in number one.
[Corey] If you're Briggs and Inamura,
you gotta feel like you've been hanging out with Grandpa Joe
because they were just handed a golden ticket to Stand & Deliver.
[Vic] Briggs and Inamura were not on the same page last week.
Seemed to be swinging in unison here tonight.
[Corey] And we saw how effective
these haymakers from Hank were earlier in the matchup.
But this is Josh Briggs.
Briggs is no stranger to a ballroom brawl, throwing hands.
-[Vic] Big splash after that-- -[Corey] That's gotta be it.
To go to Vegas, and another kick out.
I mean, again…
[Vic] There are the current champion.
[Corey] Look at the face of Nathan Frazer.
I don't know if that's concern or confusion, but either way,
they've got to be asking themselves the same questions as we are.
How the hell are Hank and Tank still in this match?
[Vic] That duo, the NXT Tag Team Champions,
will meet one of these two teams this Saturday.
[Corey] Look at Yoshiki go.
[Vic] Here comes Briggs.
And just remember earlier in this matchup,
getting dropped right over our announce table was Hank.
Somehow he's still standing.
Being chopped to the back and he's fouling it up.
It's Briggs with a chokeslam on to that knee.
Innovative offense, wasn't effective enough.
Into the cover, and… Ooh!
Hank and Tank. At least one of them was out there.
Have been competing for over 20 consecutive minutes against, Booker,
four different tag teams.
Four different strategies.
[Booker T] But I must say,
I got to give this referee a lot of credit because he's…
He's given them a lot of weight in this matchup,
and given Hank and Tank the best chance
they possibly could have in a matchup like this.
[Corey] Don't give the credit to the official, Brook.
Let's be honest, man. This is WrestleMania season.
[Vic] It's that cradle one more time.
-[crosstalk] -[bell dings]
[Vic] They did it!
Hank and Tank survived!
[ring announcer] Here are your winners and new No. 1 Contenders
to the NXT Tag Team Championship,
Hank and Tank.
[Vic] From start to finish, they ran the Gauntlet.
[Corey] Let's take another look back.
This move was booming, just like Xfinity Wi-Fi.
Hank and Tank disposing of their first set of opponents.
But the work was just getting started.
Here comes The Culling.
Somehow Tank able to shift his weight on top of Vance's shoulders,
power slamming Jennings down.
No Quarter Catch Crew would meet their unfortunate fate here.
Tank again with the old classic schoolboy, surprising Tavion Heights.
And here comes Briggs and Inamura, fresh as a couple of daisies.
But Hank in the right place at the right time.
-Inside cradle. -[bell dings]
And Stand & Deliver
is headed Hank and Tank's way.
[Vic] Couldn't buy a victory, won four straight tonight.
They finally put it together.
But can they do it when it matters the most?
When the tag titles are on the line at Stand & Deliver.
I'm really impressed. But, Kali Armstrong, tomorrow night,
you will be in the main event of EVOLVE.
Against Kendal Grey, Brinley Reece and Chantel Monroe.
All right, you bet. Thanks for the talk, Stevie.
-Good luck. -Thank you.
I think Kali's gonna be a big star one day.
-I agree. -Oh, absolutely.
But how stoked are you
that Hank and Tank just won that Gauntlet Match?
-So happy for those guys. -It's a big deal.
The tag title match is set,
but, alas, we still have one spot left in the women's Ladder Match.
We do. But I did just find a last-minute entrance
for the final qualifier tonight.
-Oh, you did? -Wait, who?
Don't worry. You guys will know when her music hits.
-She's teasing us. -Okay.
-Surprise. -Mmm-hmm.
[Vic] Well, maybe this is the D'Angelo crew.
We saw the toast earlier from the Underboss,
and we've been waiting for that fight in the--
Oh, that's The Ruler of NXT.
We hear from the NXT Champion live tonight.
[Jaida] When you see Jaida Parker, you've already made your mind up.
Because my whole life, people have made assumptions about me.
And to be honest, I don't care because I've never fit in anywhere anyways.
People think, just because you look the part, that it's easy.
But just because I carry something with ease
don't mean that it ain't heavy.
See, this path to Stand & Deliver started right here in Port St. Lucie.
I laughed in these streets.
I cried in these streets.
And I started making a damn name for myself in these streets.
And Stephanie, Jordynne, Giulia, they all come from somewhere.
I am the only homegrown talent in this match.
And yeah, other women might be intimidated by that.
Hell, the entire world is intimidated by that.
But I learned right here in Port St. Lucie,
if I can hang with the boys, I can hang with anybody.
Because, baby, I am pressure.
And I ain't talking about the pressure that burst pipes.
I am talking about the pressure that creates diamonds.
Because growing up, if you didn't apply it,
it was damn sure it applied to you.
See, my dad's a coach,
and he would never let me play football like my brother did.
So I decided to go for the next best thing.
Soccer and that physicality.
What?
Man, I loved it.
But with my dad also being my coach,
people already made their assumptions about me.
I've been in a women's locker room my whole life,
so I know exactly how vicious it can be.
All women want to do is try to cut you down.
And yeah, here in NXT, we have the best division in the world.
But I know deep down,
none of them want me to succeed before they do.
And that's not my problem.
And my best friend is actually my uncle.
Man, you talk about a support system.
You want to talk about keeping a smile on my face.
That's exactly what he did for me.
And when I lost him,
I learned real early on that I couldn't trust nobody.
[melancholy music plays]
Because if I could lose my best friend, who else can I trust?
See, people assume I have an attitude?
Nah, I'm just the way that I am because that's what happens
when you don't fit other people's agendas.
That's what happens when you lose the purpose of this all.
Life made me hard.
So nah, I don't need no damn friends in no damn locker room.
All I need is that big-game situation.
The moments that makes or break you.
And ain't nobody been able to break me.
And come this Saturday in Las Vegas,
I'm going to show the entire world Jaida Parker don't play.
And I'm taking the NXT Championship with me.
You guys know I'm a gambling man,
and I'm about to put a whole paycheck on Miss Parker after hearing that.
I can't wait for my first Stand & Deliver with you guys.
That's a safe bet, dawg.
Because that lady is high-stepping all the way to the top.
I don't mean to interrupt either.
I'm being told something's going on right now in the parking lot area.
Where's Tony?
Where's The Don?
-T's not coming. -What?
Hey, this is my call.
What are you talking about? T didn't sign off on this.
Listen to me. I don't need to justify my decisions.
I'm the Underboss, this is my call.
Are you with me?
Never backed down from a fight before.
Sure as hell not gonna happen tonight.
[indistinct] Let's go.
Good. Riz, get out of here.
[Saquon] Here we go. Here we go!
Let's go! [yells]
[groans, yells]
[grunting]
Oh!
[grunting]
[yells]
[Stacks] Go on. Take them in.
Come on, Shugars.
Oh!
[grunting]
[groans]
Come on.
[groans]
[screams]
[speaking indistinctly]
Get off me! I said get off me!
Get off me! Get off me!
[yells]
Take him out!
Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Come on! Get out of here.
Come on! Come on!
Come on! Come on! Come on.
Come on.
[indistinct shouting]
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Come on!
[yelling]
Oh! Oh!
[yells]
Hey, hey, hey!
[yelling]
[shouting indistinctly]
[yelling, grunts]
Oh!
[yells, grunts]
[yelling]
[shouts indistinctly]
[grunts]
Get his ass, D.
Let's go.
Huh? Darkstate, boy?
-What? Huh? -Darkstate, boy?
-[shouts indistinctly] -[car approaching]
-[grunting] -[crowd cheering]
[police sirens wailing]
You good?
We got to get out of here. The cops are here.
No, we don't. I called them. They're our people.
-You made it just in time… -Saints, what were you doing?
Going over my head, risking the family on something I didn't sign off on?
-D, they were disrespecting… -Yeah, I had a plan.
-I got caught up. I should've-- -Yeah, you should've listened.
While you were doing whatever this is,
I was handling business the way it's supposed to be handled.
Listen, we all want Darkstate, okay?
But we're not gonna do it in some street,
in some parking lot.
We're gonna do it in front of the entire world on the biggest stage.
Stand and Deliver.
-[crowd cheering] -Because that's what we do.
Hell yeah.
That's right.
The biggest stage.
Listen, I know what's best for this family.
Stacks, do not question me again.
You understand me?
Understood.
Come here.
[upbeat music playing]
[cheering]
[Stephanie] I am Stephanie Vaquer
La Primera
NXT Women's Champion.
And we are ready here, Chile.
I'm so happy to be here. We are ready.
[speaking Spanish]
Road to WrestleMania.
[speaking Spanish] We're here with Stephanie Vaquer
a Chilean native of San Fernando
and World Champion in the most important division of women's wrestling.
[Stephanie speaking Spanish] Yes, I am super happy
to represent my country of Chile at Stand and Deliver
and the entire week of WrestleMania.
It's the most important week.
It's the biggest stage there is in terms of wrestling,
and I am the first to hold two championships
in WWE NXT at the same time and the first in history as a Chilean.
-[laughter] -So...
[Mayor speaking Spanish] It is very, very important for us to have her here.
When the news of her achievement was made,
her Championship put our city of San Fernando on a world-class level.
[Stephanie speaking Spanish] Years ago
when I told my Dad I wanted to be a wrestler,
he obviously got worried
and I told him one day I was going to be a double WWE Champion.
So during my career I was winning Championships,
but he never got to see them Because I couldn't come to Chile.
But now, I have a surprise for him.
I have two replicas of the two championships
I have won at WWE for him.
[in English] I feel blessed to be here.
To have the opportunity to thank all of the love and support
for my Chilean people at Stand and Deliver.
I promise to continue representing you with pride,
patience and courage.
Always keeping Chile's name high.
Stephanie was so happy to go home, her popularity there is through the roof.
Let's talk about odds, they're not in her favor
come this Saturday in that four-way match up at Stand and Deliver.
But when it comes to odds,
the same could've been said for the duo that' standing by
with Kelly Kincaid.
[panting]
I'm here with Hank and Tank after them surviving the Tag Team Gauntlet match.
Boys, you are going to Stand and Deliver.
Stand and Deliver here we come!
We've had tons of advice from tag teams.
Smackdown teg teams, Legendary tag teams…
Some were good, some not so good.
But Tank and Hank stood true to who they are and they pulled one off.
We learned who we are, Kelly.
But we also learned who we are not.
We didn't change who we are and we left it all in the ring.
We took that tag team match
and gave it a bodacious belly boy twist.
And now we have a chance of a title at Stand and Deliver.
They actually did it. You guys found yourself.
And now you are ready to put it to the test on the bigger stage
against the best tag teams.
-We're looking forward to it. -I knew you could do it the entire time.
Nathan, you actually gave them the worst advice possible.
I just ran the entire Gauntlet.
It's a shame you ran the entire Gauntlet for nothing.
Agree to disagree, we'll see you at Stand and Deliver.
[scoffs] We most certainly will.
All right. I see how it is.
They get to go to Stand and Deliver and I don't?
They beat four other teams, they deserve it.
And so do I.
If you deserve it so much, did you find a tag team partner like we talked about?
Actually I thought about it
and I realized I'm a prodigy for a reason so…
I'm gonna be my own partner.
-She can do that? -No she can't.
Roxanne, that's not how this works. And one of you is plenty.
-Why not? -How bad do you want this?
Pretty bad.
It's really interesting. Bad enough to say you're sorry?
[Vic] Very interesting.
[bell ringing]
[ring announcer] The following is a Women's North American Champion
Ladder Match Qualifier.
Introducing first, accompanied by Ashante Adonis,
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
Carmen Petrovich.
[Vic] There's a lot to digest, what we saw moments ago…
What happened in the parking lot but also in moments,
who will make it to Stand and Deliver?
Thank you so much for everything you've done the past couple of months.
I'm just scared.
What if i ruin your lives like a ruined everyone else's?
You didn't ruin mine.
[crowd cheering]
You have my blessing, Mr. Chase, do it.
-Are you back in? -No, I'll always be a proud alumni.
What are you gonna be doing?
I will be qualifying for the North American Title Ladder Match.
-[crowd cheering] -Yeah!
Go get them, champ.
Come on!
[woman] I am a grown ass woman…
[Vic] Look who is back to the delight of everyone.
[Corey] except my therapist. This woman gives me anxiety, Vic.
[ring announcer] And her opponent from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
Thea Hail!
[Corey] We haven't seen her since Chase U was disbanded.
We've not seen her in a single's match since the Great American Bash.
[Booker T] Not disbanded, defunct.
♪ I'm taking back what's mine ♪
♪ You can't hold me down ♪
♪ I am the fire ♪
♪ Now's the time ♪
♪ And this is my fight ♪
[Vic] Why can't you just admit that you like Chase U?
-[Booker T] What are you talking about? -[Vic] Admit you miss it.
-[bell ringing] -[Booker T] What are you talkin' about?
I'm… I'm glad there is no more Chase U.
Let's just get that out there, all right?
[Vic] Well, look, what a night it has been.
It has been Stand and Deliver implications all night long.
Thea, almost with a quick one on Karmen Petrovich.
I can't believe…
There's another cover, another kick out.
…that the underboss went behind the The Don's back.
[Corey] You know, I sort of respect what Stacks was attempting to do,
trying to take matters in his own hands.
But I also know what it means to tick off the boss.
Not somewhere you wanna be.
[Vic] A six-man tag match takes place this Saturday
And we're also gonna find out,
who walks out NXT Champion in our main event.
Those three participants, here live.
One final face-off, here tonight.
[Corey] Taking the final spot in the women's six-way
North American Championship Ladder match
at Stand and Deliver is up for grabs.
And Petrovich utilizing her well-educated feet.
[Vic] And Book I thought it was a mighty big move of Thea to
give Andre Chase her blessing moments ago.
[Booker T] Thea is young, she's--
[exclaims, chuckles]
And I can see someone like Thea having a chance up there.
But, if I could give her--
-[Vic] Got her. -[Booker T] Hold on, hold on.
If I could give her just a little advice,
do what she said she's gonna do. And then just move on from Chase U.
[man cheering] Let's go Thea!
[Vic] Which one of these two women will earn that final spot
in the field of six for Stand and Deliver on Saturday?
Of course, Lola Vice qualified earlier tonight.
Ethan Cage, by the way, Hank and Tank, they're also heading
to championship matches in Las Vegas.
Let's remember how we got here.
Stephanie Vaquer, relinquishing the North American title,
to give the locker room a chance to shine.
And Booker I've been meaning to ask you this.
Have you ever handed over a title for the betterment of the locker room?
[Booker T] You gotta understand, trying to defend two championships
is very very difficult.
When I came into WWE, I was a WCW champion,
and the United States champion.
I'm gonna tell you,
to compete against the level of competition,
at that time it would've been incredible,
but I still made history just liek Stephanie Vaquer.
Oh, baby.
[Vic] Oh, the Dark Angel, looking to empower the women's division,
which is now welcomed back, Thea Hail.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Nice to see Thea Hail still possesses that
seemingly endless energy, but I wonder if it's gonna serve her well.
I wonder what Thea… Oh! …learnt in her time away post-Chase U.
Is she a different competitor? I'm seeing more of the same.
Impressive, but I don't know
if she has that championship caliber inside.
[Vic] Runnin' right in, stepping right over.
-Double under, hook. -[Corey] Oh!
[Vic] With a twist and twisting right back.
[Thea yelling]
[Vic] We've see her make people tap in the past.
-[bell ringing] -[Vic] She's making Petrovich tap here.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Hail, yes!
[Mike Rome] You winner by submission…
[Booker T] What the hell?
[Mike Rome] Thea Hail!
[Corey] I will be eating crow for dinner tonight. Wow!
[yelling]
[Corey] Take a look at this, Thea Hail,
sacrificing her own body to inflict punishment on Petrovich.
And the closing moment, shockingly quick, I will admit.
Taking down Petrovich into the Camorra submission.
And Thea Hail has just punched her ticket to Vegas
in the North American championship ladder match.
[Vic] I'll say it one more time. Hail, yes.
Thea Hail is back and she's headed
to WrestleMania Saturday at Stand and Deliver.
But now, reality is setting in.
Because she sees the rest of the field that she will compete against.
Then the question becomes, who will climb the ladder?
Who will retrieve the championship?
Will it be Izzy Dame?
Will it be Kelani Jordan?
Will it be Lola Vice,
who qualified earlier tonight?
Because the first one to retrieve that championship,
walks out as champion.
We're gonna find out Saturday at Stand and Deliver.
But on the topic of Stand and Deliver,
there are the three men that will compete for the NXT championship.
They have there final face-off. It takes place live. It takes place next.
[Vic] Back live on the final NXT before Saturday's Stand and Deliver.
-[crowd chanting] Whoop that Trick! -[Booker T exclaims]
-[crowd continues chanting] -[Booker T] That's right.
What?
Yeah.
Uh-huh.
I like it.
Oh, yeah, man.
That's that boy.
[Booker speaking indistinctly]
[Booker T] Just mean.
[Mike Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome, one-third of men's NXT championship match
at Stand and Deliver.
Trick Williams!
Huh. Uh-huh.
-[Booker T chuckles] -I like it.
[Booker T] That's right.
[crowd chanting] Whoop that Trick!
Eh, look, man let's talk about it.
I've been doin' a whole lot of thinkin' lately…
about who I am.
A couple weeks ago, the young OG came out here and said,
that I am…
Carmelo Hayes.
[crowd booing]
But I get it now.
You either died a hero,
or you live long enough to become the villain.
[crowd cheering in agreement]
But Trick Williams is still alive.
[crowd cheering]
Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
And Oba, your head maybe heavy,
but on Saturday I'm coming back to get my crown, dawg.
And Je'Von that means better luck next year.
[crowd cheering indistinctly]
["Hands of Fate" playing]
[Vic] Oh, here comes The Ruler.
The destroyer.
The NXT Champion.
Mr. Williams.
It's funny how…
you still talk like you're the man around here.
Well, guess what.
You're not the man.
What you are is a broken record
playing the same hits over and over,
and over and over again.
And nobody's singing along
because you're the only one who is still "whooping that Trick."
[crowd exclaiming]
[crowd chanting] Whoop that Trick! Whoop that Trick!
But let me give you a word of advice.
The spotlight is moving on…
and I suggest you do the same.
because you get one more chance to stand in the spotlight
alongside with me at Stand & Deliver on Saturday.
And that will be your last time in the spotlight.
Because when I'm done with you, I will be moving on as well.
Look here, Oba, your ears don't work that good?
What, your braids too tight?
They still chant whoop that Trick around the world, dawg, let's talk about it.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] Whoop that Trick.
Whoop that Trick. Whoop that Trick.
Whoop that Trick.
But hey, Oba, what you got?
You're still calling yourself The Ruler?
It takes more than a few Black Panther chants
to get the man around here, dawg. Believe that.
And I'mma help you out.
It looks like you're struggling holding that thing since I let you have it.
I'mma take it back from you on Saturday.
I'mma help you out.
I'mma help everybody out.
[music playing]
[Je'Von] Hey. Hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Cut the music. Cut the music.
[music stops]
Trick. [sighs]
Please, please, please, shut your ass up.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, I mean, I don't know.
I could be tripping, gang, but, like,
I guess…
I guess The Young OG was right about Trick Williams a couple of weeks ago.
I mean, you come here week after week
after week after week after week after week,
talking about a match that you deserve.
And honestly, I'm gonna speak for some people here.
At least some.
We… we tired of that.
Like, like, if you're gonna talk, talk about something else.
But you already know how I feel about you.
So, Trick Williams, you're dismissed.
Let's talk about…
Let's talk about The Ruler now.
-[crowd] The Ruler! -[Je'Von grunts]
[crowd] Oba!
I ain't gonna lie.
-[crowd] Oba! -That's cool.
You hear 'em, right?
That's cool. That's cool. Look, I ain't gonna lie.
Real recognizes real, OG.
You've been chewed or glued to a championship
ever since you got to NXT.
You know what I mean? It's like you attract success.
You walk into a room and everybody knows who you are.
And honestly, I'm not trying to be a smart-ass fool.
But those two times I dropped you, I was hype about it,
'cause I didn't drop a regular wrestler over.
I dropped the NXT champion. You feel me?
That's real talk.
I mean, how many times…
how many times are we gonna hear,
"Oba Femi will main event Wrestlemania in a couple of years."
It's not "if," Oba,
it's when you get drafted.
I mean, come on, Big O. Come on, champ.
You-- Oh, no, I did that.
Come on, champ.
You from the University of Alabama.
Roll tie.
We're talking about the 'Bam!
Roll tie, roll tie.
I mean, bro,
you're supposed to get to RAW, SmackDown and be great.
But my problem with you is you walk around this arena,
you walk around the performance center,
you walk around NXT like all of this revolves around you.
But I'm about to be dead-ass with you, bro-bro.
This kid from North Carolina wasn't supposed to make it to WWE.
But guess what I did, champ.
I did that.
And you think…
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And you think…
And you think you're the favorite for Saturday.
But little do you know, bro-bro,
that's the way I like it.
-[crowd cheering] -Yeah!
[crowd] Yeah!
Ladies and gentlemen, Je'Von Evans, everybody.
[crowd cheering]
The young OG.
This is what 20 years looks like.
Look at him.
Twenty years old, you've had a phenomenal rookie year.
If anybody knows anything about having phenomenal rookie years,
it's The Ruler, isn't that right?
And you're the future of this place.
But like I said, I'm the present.
The future's not here yet, and you're right about one thing.
This place does revolve around me
because I have this, because I have this.
It makes me the man because I have this.
I'm the top dog,
and you can't handle this because you are a child.
[crowd cheering]
I'm gonna help both of y'all out.
When y'all get done hugging, giving compliments,
we can talk about what matters.
That's me getting that title back on Saturday, believe that.
No, no, no, no.
And we're gonna talk about Saturday.
It's about how neither you or you can touch me in this damn ring
because we all know that I'll wrestle circles
around both of y'all and that's facts.
[Vic] Uh-oh, it looks like the time for talk is over.
And look who's standing.
[Corey] Really, like a child, but here we go.
Heavy artillery being dropped.
[Vic] It's breaking down.
And Trick and Oba are swinging away.
So much on the line this Saturday. Je'Von, though!
[Booker T] Oh! Evans just dropped them both!
[music playing]
[Vic] Je'Von Evans just cleared the deck.
[Corey] Je'Von Evans this Saturday
has got to be feeling like he's playing with house money.
And that confidence can take him to the mountaintop.
Case in point.
Down goes Oba, down goes Trick Williams.
The Young OG, the last man standing tonight.
[Vic] Will this be the sight this Saturday?
Will Je'Von Evans, will it be his time?
You do not want to miss the biggest NXT event of the year.
Evans has pushed his chips into the middle.
Who will have luck on their side?
Who hits the jackpot on Wrestlemania Saturday?
Who stands and delivers? restlemania Saturday?