[opening theme music playing]
[man] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[upbeat music playing]
[Vic] Our WWE weekend in Atlanta has begun as our superstars are set to carry on
a summer tradition like no other.
There is our champion, Oba Femi, arriving focused, determined,
and ready to defend the NXT Championship here live tonight.
He will do so against the number one contender, Yoshiki Inamura.
Can Inamura win the championship here tonight at The Great American Bash?
Another man looking to win gold is Ricky Saints,
in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
He faces Ethan Page for the North American Championship.
On the topic of champions,
there is TNA World Champion Trick Williams.
His Slammiversary match gets made official live here tonight.
The goddesses of hostility are here in center stage.
Big weekend for our women's champion in the middle,
Jacy Jane.
That's because she meets Jordynne Grace tomorrow.
As for tonight, she meets the Juggernaut,
along with her tag team partner, Blake Monroe.
It's our main event, at The Great American Bash!
-[intense music playing] -[camera shutter clicking]
[narrator] 40 years ago,
at the American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina,
a summer tradition unlike any other was born.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Great American Bash!
[narrator] A historic event created by the American Dream.
The patriotic celebration at the heart of summer
continued to unleash a spectacle worthy of celebrating.
[man] The power is on, and the summer tradition has arrived!
[narrator] And tonight, in Atlanta, Georgia,
the fireworks will be set off once again.
♪ Watch me, I'mma do my thing ♪
♪ I'mma do my thing ♪
♪ Yeah, watch me do my thing ♪
♪ I'm about to do my thing ♪
Ricky, I am a fighting champion, and you can earn a shot
at this championship if you survive the Vanity Project gauntlet.
[Ricky] When I beat the gauntlet,
I get to dictate the stipulation for my rematch.
I love that!
[Ricky] Ethan, the ball's in my court.
Anything goes, a Falls Count Anywhere match.
[inaudible]
Jordynne, you and Blake Monroe think you can just walk up in here
and everyone's gonna bow down at your feet.
-[Vic] Oh, my God! -[Corey] Wow!
[Vic] NXT just became glamorous!
Fatal Influence will always be here to remind you exactly where you stand.
[all exclaiming]
[Vic] Certainly a numbers advantage now for Fatal Influence.
-[Vic] She's here! -[Corey] Blake Monroe!
[Ava] You want something done about Jordynne and Blake.
So it will be Fallon Henley and Jacy Jane
against the team of Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe.
Oba, you wanted to see if I was worthy.
[Corey] Inamura has earned the right
-to challenge the ruler! -[bell ringing]
[Oba] The truth will prevail.
You are not worthy enough to take this title from me.
At Great American Bash,
I will become the new NXT Champion!
[narrator] Welcome back to NXT's Midsummer Classic.
Welcome to The Great American Bash.
[narrator] And now, WWE presents Great American Bash.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] You can feel the excitement inside the sold-out Center Stage live in Atlanta.
As 40 years ago this month, a man with an American Dream created this event.
A dozen Hall of Famers competed on that night.
The tradition carries on with our superstars
looking to forge their own future Hall of Fame pass.
Welcome to The Great American Bash.
-["Who Want It" playing] -♪ Your boy is bouncing ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Let's go ♪
Yeah!
[crowd cheering]
♪ Let me ask you again ♪
♪ It's the end Tell a friend ♪
[bell ringing]
[Mike] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Greensboro, North Carolina,
weighing 180 pounds,
Je'Von Evans!
[Vic] Vic Joseph alongside Mr. Great American Bash,
-Booker T and Corey Graves! -[Booker] That's right!
[Vic] You know, we've got late arrivals here tonight
due to our downtown traffic here in Atlanta, we are sold out.
But, Corey, are we about to see a new layer to the young OG?
[Corey] We're about to find out exactly what Je'Von Evans is truly made of.
We know he has mastered the aerial game,
But does Je'Von have what it takes
to stand toe to toe with a bona fide monster?
[Vic] You can see there's already a target on the body of Je'Von Evans.
["Evil Challenger" playing]
[roars]
[Mike] And his opponent,
from Huffman, Texas,
weighing in at 320 pounds,
he is the winner of LFG Season One,
Jasper Troy!
[Vic] I know Booker's opinion.
Corey, how big is this for Jasper Troy?
Well, listen, when you're an upstart in NXT,
as Jasper Troy is, fresh off of winning LFG,
the opportunity to knock off one of the most wildly popular superstars
in the business, like Je'Von Evans,
the importance of this match-up for Troy can't be overstated.
[Vic] And Booker, you see Je'Von Evans, his… his ribs are heavily taped.
[Booker] He better be ready.
He better be ready because Jasper Troy,
-that's the real deal. -[bell ringing]
That M-O-N-S-T-E-R, that's monster, man!
-Oh, yeah! -[Vic] Well, look…
[Vic] …Je'Von Evans out here fighting for R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
But what I want to ask you about is how is that rib injury
going to hinder him in this match?
[Booker] Rib is the hardest thing to heal, especially with the cartilage in between.
And right now, that big man, that monster
ready to take the pain and punishment out on this young man.
[Vic] You can say that again. Interesting clash of styles.
We've got the smash mouth style of Jasper Troy
versus the aerial artistry of Je'Von Evans.
[Corey] I've got to question this decision by Evans
to try to stand toe to toe with a much larger Jasper Troy.
[Vic] Now, as we look bigger picture here in NXT, Booker, in your opinion,
should the winner of this be in the conversation
-for the NXT championship after tonight? -[Booker] Well, look.
-[all exclaiming] -[Booker] That's a good question.
Je'Von Evans has had some major major opportunities,
and he's come so close to cashing in.
The kid definitely needs to be in the-the conversation.
But this big-big man, this big man, Jasper Troy,
he just needs to go out there and just keep wrecking the competition.
Night in, night out.
He'll find himself with the championship, trust me.
[Vic] Inamura versus Oba Femi for the NXT title later tonight.
But you know he's not here, Graves,
-but you certainly can feel… -[Booker exclaims]
…the spirit of the American Dream, Dusty Rhodes.
[Corey] No doubt, the son of a plumber, smiling down on The Great American Bash,
-Dusty's great creation. -[Vic] Whoa!
[Corey] All these years later,
Dusty's influence felt in every aspect of the game.
[Vic] And for Je'Von Evans, he is defending himself tonight.
-Springboard, and just got caught! -[Booker] Oh, baby! Oh!
[Vic] Just got manhandled, and Jasper Troy looking to punish Evans,
who was able to escape for a moment.
-And a dropkick! -[Booker] Wow!
[Vic] But again, it's Evans who's defending himself.
He's been ambushed by Troy multiple times.
Troy said Tuesday he was done with Evans,
but Evans showed he is not done with Jasper Tro… whoa!
[Booker] Ah! Too much power!
Too much power from the big man, Jasper Troy!
6'5", 300 pounds! Oh, yes!
[Corey] Evans doing his best to find a way out of his predicament,
slipping into the sleeper hold from behind!
[Vic] Great counter by Je'Von,
trying to wear down Jasper Troy center of the ring.
And that was clever there by the young OG.
But did you see that, Corey?
He immediately grabbed his rib cage.
Everything right now is hurting the body of Je'Von.
No doubt about it, when you suffer damage to your--
-[all exclaim] -[Corey] Oh, God!
[Corey] That's not going to do Evans any favors.
Both superstars crashing to the outside!
Trying to get a look at our right.
But look at the eyes of Je'Von Evans, and Evans--
-[all exclaiming] -[Booker] Man!
[Booker] Right there on the steel part of the ring right there.
That's the hardest part.
[Corey] You see the agony etched on the face of Evans.
[Vic] Booker, what does that feel like,
hitting that corner where the steel meets wood?
[Booker] That right there can end many, many of matches and right now,
definitely Jasper Troy gonna use it to his advantage.
[Vic] Graves, you talked about earlier, and you know,
as this matchup has really begun,
can Evans' high flying style overcome that
monster mentality of Jasper Troy?
[Corey] So far, he's done a pretty good job.
I don't know if Evans got all of that kick, but--
[Booker] Oh, no!
-[Vic] Jasper Troy… -[Corey] Oh, God!
-[Vic] …just got all of Je'Von Evans! -[Booker] Oh, my God!
-Did you see his body just flop? -Oh, my God!
[Booker] Wow!
[Vic] That was unreal.
[Booker] I told you, he's a monster, baby.
[Corey] Je'Von Evans' body was absolutely mangled upon impact on the outside.
It's about to get worse!
[Booker] I'll tell you something.
Come up like Jasper Troy… Let me tell you…
-[Corey] Oh, the ribs! -[Booker] I've been in that position.
[Booker] If you looking for a meal,
when you're hungry, it's time to eat.
That's what I'm talking about. That's Jasper Troy, man!
[Corey] I think the scariest thing about Jasper Troy is
this is catharsis for Troy.
He's letting out all the rage, all the anger he keeps pent up inside
on the broken body of Je'Von Evans.
[Vic] We've seen against the ropes, we've seen against the side of the ring,
we've seen against the steel guardrail here to our right.
It's like human pinball right now for Jasper Troy,
and now what's on his mind?
[Corey] I'll tell you exactly what's on Jasper's mind.
He wants to end Je'Von Evans
-once and for all. -[Booker] Oh, baby!
[Corey] Every time we see that million dollar smile of Je'Von Evans,
Jasper Troy gets sick to his stomach.
My God, what impact!
[Vic] This matchup right now, Jasper Troy looks to be at home.
He's looking around, how can he inflict more damage.
How can he inflict more?
-Bang! Big splash. -[Booker] Just keep crushing.
Just keep crushing the opposition.
That's what this man is all about.
Booker, why is Troy the way he is? You know him better than us.
[Booker] Look here, man. When you come up out the hood,
when you looking for a meal late at night,
and you get nothing but Jack back,
staring at the wall of silence,
that's what you turn into, man.
[Vic] Now just punishing again.
Je'Von Evans, look at the face of Evans,
just ripping away, trying to break the back.
Jasper Troy, who won LFG Season 1, made his debut May 27th.
He's already competed, Booker, for the NXT Championship.
Six weeks after his debut, he's already here
for a premium live event.
[Booker] From day one, from day one, Jasper Troy is locked in.
They always say, the eyes, the eyes never lie, man.
-This dude right here… -[Vic exclaims]
[Booker] …he's dangerous, man. He's dangerous!
[crowd booing]
[Booker chuckling] Oh, yeah.
[Vic] We've heard from Booker. Corey, I'd love to get your thoughts
of what your first impressions have been about Jasper Troy.
[Corey] You can't not be impressed by the physicality of Jasper Troy.
I think with a little more experience, a little more seasoning…
-[Booker] Oh! -…this dude is gonna be a force
to be reckoned with for a long, long time.
[Vic] Trying to follow up with a big elbow
and lucky for Je'Von Evans, just able to get out of the way.
[Corey] And we've said for a long time that when it comes to Je'Von Evans,
maybe the sky isn't even the limit.
But perhaps Evans has met his match in Jasper Troy tonight.
[Vic] Jasper Troy, who's looking for a body shot.
Je'Von got out of the way and now swinging right to the zone.
Able to sidestep Jasper one more time.
Big jumping right hand, right under the jaw of Troy.
Jasper right now for a moment is rocked.
But Je'Von Evans, Corey, can't capitalize.
[Corey] Evans out of the way, double axe handle off the rope.
Looking for the German suplex.
-There's no way. -[Booker] No way, baby.
-[Corey] Not with banged up ribs. -Booker, how wise was that of Je'Von?
[Booker] Je'Von Evans, he came in here…
[Corey exclaims]
[Booker] …those ribs taped up,
and right now, Jasper Troy,
he's got a target right on those ribs. He's gonna try to take this kid out.
[Vic] Trying to fly one more time,
but that momentary hesitation just cost Je'Von again.
[Booker] Right on the steel again, baby.
[Vic] Focusing on the ribs. Je'Von Evans,
I can only imagine how hard it is for Je'Von to breathe right now,
following that devastating backbreaker,
-and then just getting tossed. -[Corey] Oh, my goodness.
[Booker] Je'Von Evans won't quit.
But this man, Jasper Troy, he's gonna try to separate this young man
from his senses,
take everything from him tonight.
[Vic] Booker, I know you've talked to Jasper Troy
about the magnitude of this event.
You've competed at six Great American Bashes during your career.
[Booker] I told Jasper Troy, "Look, man, you got one shot."
"You got one shot at greatness."
And I love what this young man is doing right now.
[Vic] I heard what you told him earlier
talking to him about 1995, beating the stud stable.
2006, you won a world title at this event.
I told him, "Hey, you go out here, you put this young man down."
"You go out there, and there it is."
"You step on him, you put him down, you walk on him,
and you step on some toes,
and keep on walking, Jack! I love that."
[Vic] I think your exact quote to him was "Step on his throat and don't let him up."
If you want me to be completely honest for what you said earlier tonight.
But Graves, listen to center stage.
[crowd chanting]
[Vic] Sold out, letting Jasper Troy know exactly how they feel about him.
[Corey] Unfortunately for the NXT Universe in attendance,
Jasper Troy could care less what they think about his performance.
Troy's out here to make a statement to the entire roster,
to the entire business,
Jasper Troy has arrived.
[Vic] And to be fair, he's also trying to make a statement
to our general manager, Ava, who is here tonight.
Jasper Troy feels
-he should get another opportunity… -[Booker] Wow.
at the NXT Championship.
Because in his opinion, no one has ever pushed Oba Femi to the limit
the way he did.
[Corey] Hard to argue with Jasper Troy's assessment
of his own performance,
taking the ruler to the limit.
But right now, Jasper Troy is
-just having his way. -[Vic] Are you kidding me?
Jasper Troy just picking up Je'Von.
Je'Von finally able to get a little bit of separation.
[Booker] Right now, the big man is closing in on him,
but Je'Von, he's putting up a hell of a fight.
Let's just say this about the kid. He's putting up a hell of a fight.
Steal your bicycle, son.
[Vic] Trying to ride it to victory at this point,
but Je'Von Evans again trying to get away.
And look, as this matchup goes on,
we've been talking about the career of Jasper Troy,
you're seeing the fight right now in Je'Von Evans.
Graves, is Je'Von at a crossroads, so to speak?
[Corey] Listen, I don't believe that's necessarily the case.
I think no matter what happens in this match,
Je'Von Evans has an extremely bright future
as a major player in WWE.
[Booker] Big man down on one knee, guys!
[Vic] Je'Von Evans, trying to get bouncy,
and oh, the ribs, the ribs, the ribs, the ribs.
Referee might have to step in.
[Corey] When your body just fails you in the middle of a match,
what goes through your head?
[Booker] That right there, that's called shutdown.
And when that happens right there, you can't go into panic mode.
Hopefully this young man will not go into panic mode
because the referee will have the wherewithal
or understand the know-how to perhaps stop him, man!
[Vic] He would've been in panic mode
and he would have been squished by Jasper Troy.
-[Booker] Man! -[Vic] But you said it earlier, Booker,
there is no quit in Je'Von Evans.
He's learned in a year,
you can't achieve million dollar dreams with thousand dollar hustle.
He's got to bring it tonight.
[Booker T] …down his champagne wishes and caviar dreams.
[Vic] I'm trying to get my own shtick. I'm trying to do something on my own here.
[Corey] Look at that, kicking out the knee of Jasper Troy,
whose face made contact with Je'Von's knee.
This might have bought the Young OG some very valuable time.
[Vic] And now he might be blacking out the pain.
Corey, you've said it before, whether it's Raw, SmackDown, or NXT,
whatever number of shows you do,
adrenaline will make a man do crazy, crazy things.
[Corey] That's exactly what we're seeing before our very eyes.
The Young OG fueled by adrenaline alone.
-[Vic] He's chopping down the monster. -[Booker T] What the hell?
[indistinct shouting]
-[Vic] Super-kick. -[Corey] Troy is down to one knee.
-[Vic] Big boot. -[Booker T] Big man keeps coming, though.
[Vic] Oh, got caught.
Looking for that massive chokeslam.
Countered by Evans. Looking for the German again.
-[Corey] No way. -[Vic] Trying to block out the pain.
[Booker T] I don't like the tactics right there by the Young OG.
[Corey] But look at Jasper Troy. Like a horror movie monster,
like Michael Myers, like Jason Bourne, he's just continuing to soldier forward.
[Vic] Heard Je'Von screaming in pain, trying to fly.
-This time connected, into the cover. -[Booker T] Wow!
[Vic] And-- That was out at a quick two.
[Corey] An emphatic kick out by Troy.
[Vic] Springboard… Caught!
-[Booker T] Oh, no! -[Vic] Caught him!
[Corey] Oh, man! This dude ain't human.
[Vic] Jasper didn't connect. Evans getting bouncy!
-[Booker T] Wait a minute. -[Vic] Crawls into the cover.
For Je'Von… Near-fall.
What a way, guys, to kick off the Grand American Bash.
What a way to kick off this weekend here, live in Atlanta.
[Corey] Evans needs to find out a way to keep his foot on the gas pedal.
Making a questionable climb to the high rent district.
Does Je'Von have what it takes?
[Vic] Well, we just found that out, and,
whoa, we're gonna roll through for a moment.
-[Jasper yells] -[Vic] And Jasper-- Oh!
[Corey] Dumped over the top to the floor. Remember earlier in the match-up…
[Booker T] Here we go! Here we go!
-[crowd cheering] -[Booker T] Pow!
[Corey] Je'Von Evans takes out Troy on the outside.
[Vic] But how much damage did Je'Von just do to himself?
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Vic] Sold out in Center Stage
and, right now, I don't think Je'Von Evans gives a damn,
but just like you said earlier, that monster rising.
[Corey] When Evans is sipping on that cocktail
of the adrenaline in the NXT universe, he can be hard to stop,
but Troy, looking to snuff out Je'Von once and for all.
[Vic] I gotta wonder what's going through the mind of Je'Von Evans right now.
And a small slip going right back around and…
-Oh! -[Booker T] What the--
-[Vic] Can you believe that, Book? -[Booker T] Hell no!
[Vic] Je'Von just hit "the-third-time-the-charm."
Trying to climb, trying to will himself to the top.
Je'Von Evans, getting the little froggy.
But the damage to the ribs…
-Into the cover, and the-- -[crowd] One, two--
-[crowd exclaims] -[Booker T] Oh!
[Vic] Jasper Troy, again, able to power out.
[Corey] And Vic, you hit it right on the head, the impact
of perhaps the damage suffered to this juncture,
to the ribs of Je'Von Evans.
-Frog Splash on the money. -[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Corey] But Evans just a hair too late into the cover.
[Vic] He's looking for that cutter again, this time from the top. Got caught.
And a massive, emphatic chokeslam from Jasper Troy to Je'Von.
-And, oh! -[Booker T] Beat!
[Vic] And that could be the beginning of the end for Je'Von Evans.
Looking for that Black Hole Slam. Ooh, ooh, from behind, up, over.
-[Booker T] You gotta be-- -[Vic] Stacking him up.
[Vic] Evans surprised the monster in Atlanta! What?
["Who Want It" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Je'Von Evans!
[Vic] Did I just see that with my own two eyes?
[Corey] I'm seated right beside you, Vic, but the disbelief is strong with this one.
A shocking turn of events, and the W belongs to the Young OG.
♪ We the streets, bring the heat We dem beast, yeah ♪
♪ Be prepared Ain't nothing that we fear ♪
♪ Beware warning, thundering… ♪
Sol Ruka, an incredible performance last night on SmackDown.
In a few minutes, you'll be defending
the NXT Women's North American Championship
against the Culling's Izzi Dame.
But not only that,
Zaruca has a chance at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship
tomorrow night at Evolution.
How are the two of you feeling?
Sarah, I'm not gonna lie, I am riding high.
Last night on my SmackDown debut,
everyone got to see me snatch not only one, but two sols.
But today, it is tunnel vision on retaining
this Women's North American Championship.
Izzi Dame is a master manipulator and she's the pulse of The Culling,
but she's gonna get her soul snatched regardless.
My best friend is an absolute workhorse.
In three days, you best believe I'm going to be in her corner
to make sure that nothing goes wrong.
Especially with the little [growls] Tatum lurking around.
After she retains, tomorrow night,
Zaruca becomes the new WWE…
[both] Women's Tag Team Champions.
-Me with three titles? -Ooh!
Oh, my God, it's gonna be sick!
-Come on. I guess it's time to go. -Let's go.
Good luck.
[automated voice speaking, echoing] Truth will ultimately prevail…
But there is pain bringing it to light…
[crowd cheering]
[Joseph] Well, with a nod of approval
from Shawn Spears, Izzi Dame looks to capture gold here tonight,
and, Corey, doesn't it just seem, week by week,
Izzi is growing in confidence?
[Graves] I think that The Culling
was exactly what Izzi Dame needed in her career,
and time will tell if the same holds true for Tatum Paxley.
But this is a massive opportunity, with gold on the line
not only just for Izzi Dame,
but for The Culling as an entire unit.
[waves crashing]
["Chasing Surf" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Joseph] Twenty-four hours ago,
Sol Ruca competed in Nashville on SmackDown.
Graves, you can't feel 100%.
[Graves] You would imagine not,
but when it comes to thriving in high-pressure situations,
I don't know if anyone is doing it these days
quite like Sol Ruca.
The woman is born to handle pressure.
Tonight could be the latest example.
[Joseph] Let's go up to our ring announcer, Mike Rome.
[bell dings]
[Rome] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the NXT
Women's North American Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger
representing The Culling,
Izzi Dame.
[mixed cheering]
And her opponent, she is the NXT
Women's North American Champion,
-Sol Ruca. -[crowd cheering]
[Joseph] There have been eight NXT championship matches in Atlanta.
Zero title changes.
Women's North American title on the line in this moment.
And, Graves, you kind of just brought it up a second ago.
But you've seen a lot of Sol on WWE Speed.
-She is the Women's Champion… -[bell dings]
[Graves] Oh! Wait a minute.
Paxley just smacked the taste out of Zaria's mouth.
[Joseph] But don't forget what Zaria called Tatum just moments ago.
And Tatum, right now, might be running for her life.
Our referee, Gary Wilson, trying his best…
[clamoring]
[Graves] I mean, to be fair, Tatum was absconded with several times--
-[Joseph] Oh, wait a minute! -[Booker T] Oh, baby!
-Oh, the referee! -[Joseph] Ref! Ref!
-Gary didn't see it. I tried! -[crowd] …two, three, four, five.
-[Joseph] Izzi screaming for the title! -[crowd] One, two…
[Joseph] Oh! The foot!
The right foot of Sol Ruca on that bottom rope.
You felt the air leave this sold-out center stage.
Corey, check this out one more time.
[Graves] Amongst the chaos outside, inside the ring,
-Izzi Dame with that sky-high powerbomb. -[crowd counting down]
[Graves] You heard the crowd count to five.
That was about a seven-and-a-half count
before Sol got her foot on the bottom rope.
[Joseph] I mean, Booker, that was heads up--
[Booker T] Can I say this? Great strategy from Tatum Paxley.
Right off the bat. I love it, man.
[Joseph] Well, no doubt who Paxley is in the corner of.
She has decided to join Izzi, join The Culling
instead of siding with Sol Ruca and Zaria, who were once her friends.
-[crowd booing] -[Booker T] Don't waste any time, Izzi.
-[Joseph] As I was getting ready-- -[Graves] Let me ask you this, Vic.
Why do you think Tatum Paxley made such a choice for her own career?
[Joseph] I honestly don't know how to answer that.
Because we've seen Tatum Pax for such a long time.
And she always says that her friends leave her.
For some reason, she trusts Izzi more than most.
[Graves] But this ain't about friends. Book, what's it about?
[Booker T] Buddies, pals, man. That's what it's all about.
[Joseph] I thought you were gonna say "checks and championships."
-You screwed up your shit. -[Graves] You feeling okay?
[Joseph] Missile dropkick from Sol.
[Booker T] I thought she was going another round.
[Joseph] Oh, with a big kick. Sol getting back into this matchup
and, Graves, to get this back on track,
how has she handled the extra workload with not one--
-[Booker T] Oh, baby! -[Graves] Whoa!
[Joseph] …but two championships?
[Graves] That might have been the beginning of the end.
[Joseph] Able to roll through was Sol, both woman on the outside,
[Graves] Izzi did her best to plant Sol,
Sol definitely took some impact high on her shoulder.
She's obviously able to recover,
but curious to see if that's going to factor in as this match progresses.
[Joseph] It's a counter at that point. Sol also did just have enough momentum
-to get Izzi up and over, charging in-- -[Booker T] Oh! Big shot
[Joseph] Into the cover. Title on the line, and a near fall.
Sol could have three championships after tomorrow night.
Of course, teams with Zaria for the women's tag team titles
and a 4-Way Tag Team Matchup at Evolution.
Booker, how difficult is it to stay focused
on one title, let alone three?
[Booker T] It's so hard to try to go out there
and defend a championship like that free championship.
In this business, you're on the road so much.
This is not like football with Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders or anything like that.
Too much of…
[Joseph] Hoisted up. Izzi again showcasing that power.
This is a rubber match between these two in singles competition,
but it is important to remember Izzi did pin the champion recently
-in a tag team match. -[crowd booing]
[Joseph] And Izzi, right now, in control.
[Booker T] Total control, man.
[Graves] Certainly has to give a mental advantage to Izzi Dame,
who seems to be settling into cruise control in this matchup.
Making sure she doesn't make any errors, doesn't leave any openings
for the champion to get back in this fight.
-[crowd booing] -[Joseph] Tatum Paxley,
here on the outside playing cheerleader.
If we're all being honest with each other,
Tatum has more issues than TV Guide, but we can save that for another day
as Sol Ruca, trying to fight back into this matchup--
[Graves] Since when did you become a mental health professional, Joseph?
[Joseph] Hey, look, I have to sit between you two every single week.
I earned a few stripes… As now, looking for a title,
is Izzi Dame, and a near fall.
Izzi looking for her first championship here in NXT.
And imagine tomorrow, Corey,
Izzi has another massive opportunity at Evolution.
The Women's Battle Royal winner would have a championship match at Clash in Paris.
[Graves] It could be Izzi Dame. We're talking about in a matter of months,
holding multiple championships, as Sol Ruca does right now.
Think about the other side of the coin for Ruca.
She potentially could leave Evolution with three titles
or… Whoa! Just the Speed Championship.
[Joseph] That's very true.
As Izzi Dame, right now, has been…
in the driver's seat since the beginning.
Sol from behind, using her quickness and almost able
to keep Izzi's shoulders down for three… Right back up, though,
and right back down, into the cover, hook of the leg and another kickout.
[Booker T] Izzi's one step ahead right now, guys.
[Graves] I agree with you, Book.
It's like Izzi has utilized the fact she had a singular focus
coming into this matchup, one opponent to worry about, that being Sol Ruca.
Whereas Ruca, as we talked about before, has been burning the candle at both ends.
[Joseph] Shawn Spears believes in Izzi Dame.
-[crowd clapping] -[Joseph] He has said
he suffered so that she could shine
along with Niko Vance and Tatum Paxley.
Booker, how important has Shawn Spears been
to the growth of the challenger here tonight?
[Booker T] You're talking about the GPS signing deals with…
…done a hell of a job with Izzi Dame
because Izzi was kind of floundering on after Kiana James took a hiatus,
but right now she's looking for her best big shot.
-We got the champ. -[Joseph] Into the cover!
-[Booker T] Oh, my God! -[Joseph] Off boot a half second away.
And this is where, Corey, I come back to yesterday, 24 hours ago.
[Graves] Let's take another look at this before we get there, Vic. Bam!
Sol Ruca, you can pick up your bicuspids over on Peachtree Street.
Incredible boot by the challenger.
[Joseph] But, Corey, she's coming in, not at 100%, competing last night,
taking on the likes of Roxanne Perez.
-[crowd chanting "Let's go, Ruca"] -[Graves] Listen, a lot of champions
believe that iron sharpens iron. Sol Ruca certainly of that mentality.
But right now, Izzi Dame proving why it's a questionable thought process.
[Booker T] Not only that, we never come into the ring 100%,
and it's always that, you can work hard all day, man.
You just can't work injured.
That's the deal, dawg.
[Joseph] Right now, Sol trying to get back.
Boom! With flying clothesline, looking to the outside,
you see her tag-team partner Zaria trying to fire her up,
as is this sold-out crowd here in Atlanta.
[Booker T] Watch your positioning, Izzi.
You've got to stay out of those corners, man.
[Joseph] And Izzi again, just able somehow to slither away,
able to counter, rolling up now, the champion for the title.
Another near fall.
And that power-on display counter, though by Sol,
a unique backstabber of sorts. I believe that was two feet to the spine.
[Graves] Unique offense from the Women's North American Champion, Sol Ruca,
now with a few valuable moments to re-strategize.
-What the hell? -[Booker T] Oh, baby!
What the hell!
[Joseph] She didn't get all of that.
She took a nasty spill to Sol.
[Graves] It's tough to tell which woman got the worst of that exchange,
and Tatum Paxley almost having a…
panic attack of sorts overseeing her friend suffer.
[Graves] Look at this. Ruca's right foot,
perhaps her knee, connected with the forehead
or face of the challenger, but Sol took a nasty spill in the process.
[Booker T] Izzi took all of that, guys.
[Joseph] Sol now springboard into the ring.
And she's getting a little crazy right now,
laying it on the line, hook of the leg,
with the title, and the challenger able to kickout.
And you can see Tatum Paxley, you can see now the eyes of the champion.
You see Zaria on the outside, a lot of layers between these four women,
but the one thing that matters the most right now
here at the Great American Bash is the Women's North American Championship
and Sol Ruca, not afraid to take risks, Corey.
But I don't know about this.
[Booker T] I've learnt this trick, guys. Huh?
Whoa!
[Corey] Izzi Dame did her homework.
[Vic] Certainly did, and… Oh!
She might have just broken the code.
Into the cover for the title!
And another near fall.
[Corey] Kudos to the champion for surviving,
but Izzi Dame brought her A-game tonight,
first shrugging Sol off,
followed immediately by a Codebreaker from the middle rope.
We almost had a new champion.
[Vic] Graves, Izzi has a cold-hearted edge over most.
I mean, she's manipulative and she's conniving.
But will that carry her to a victory? Because, right now,
Sol almost seems possessed in a way.
[Corey] Listen, "manipulative," "conniving," those are words
people use when they talk about someone that they don't like.
I haven't been close enough to Izzi to understand where her head truly is.
Sol Ruca, wildly popular. Izzi Dame, perhaps not so much.
That could all shift here at the Bash.
[Vic] And the combination from the champion.
Challenger answering right back.
And you heard Ruca and Zaria call Izzi the pulse of The Culling?
Booker, that is certainly something that's hard to argue.
-[Corey] Capo kick by Ruca. -[Booker T] I agree.
I mean, right now, Izzi Dame's doing a hell of a job for The Culling.
And we talk about Sol Ruca having to compete on multiple occasions.
Could it be catching up with her, guys? That's the question.
[Vic] And now, again, looking for a little high-risk maneuver.
-[Booker T] To my point! To my point! -[Corey] You're right, Book. Absolutely.
Luckily, Sol able to recover.
X-Factor from the top!
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Pivotal point right now in this matchup.
And, truthfully, I don't know who's taken more punishment here tonight.
[Corey] Great point, Vic.
[Vic] What a hard-hitting matchup!
[crowd chanting] This is awesome! This is awesome!
[Corey] They're probably fueled by the WWE Universe.
Sol Ruca back to her feet first.
[Vic] Hoisting up the challenger. At this point, too, Book…
Dropkick to the back.
You kind of have to throw, sort of, strategy out the window.
[Booker T] Definitely. Right now, we're in those deep,
those deep, deep waters right now.
We're gonna see who's gonna drown.
That's the question. Who's gonna drown here?
Oh, baby! Oh, baby!
-Oh, yes! -[Vic] Whoa!
-Massive chokeslam from the challenger. -[Booker T] That could be it!
[Vic] Izzi, right back in, center of the ring.
-High-impact offense! -[Booker T] Wow!
-[Vic] For the championship! -[crowd] One! Two!
[Vic] And the champion just kicking out. And now--
[Corey] Now is not the time, Izzi. You can't let yourself fall apart.
[Vic] To Graves' point,
Izzi Dame has to stay focused, Booker.
[Booker T] No, definitely got to stay focused.
But this… God, this is what the Great American Bash is all about,
leaving everything in the middle of that squared circle.
Izzi is feeling it.
Can she deliver the coup d'etat?
[Vic] And both also want to carry momentum into tomorrow's Evolution.
And a superkick under the jaw.
Champion has life. And looking for that Sol Snatcher.
Countered for a moment by the challenger.
-[Booker T] Oh, baby! -[Vic] Oh, geez!
[Booker T] I thought Izzi was gonna walk right into it right there.
[Vic] Izzi, as Corey said earlier, has certainly done her homework.
Both women… Oh!
[Corey] Unbelievable athleticism from Sol Ruca.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Target set.
Big spear!
Much like Zaria entering into the zone of destruction.
And…
[crowd jeering]
Tatum!
Our official didn't see Tatum Paxley help out her new BFF.
Oh!
Drive from Zaria!
Tatum Paxley is wiped out.
A big right hand, though, from the challenger.
Izzi Dame back in. Ducks the clothesline.
And, oh, there it is!
Ruca snatches Izzi's soul!
-[bell rings] -Sol Ruca retains the title.
[announcer] Here is your winner,
and still the NXT Women's North American Champion,
Sol Ruca!
["Chasing Surf" playing]
[Vic] What a match!
Graves, let's go back to the closing moments.
[Corey] Here we see an epic spear by the champion.
Wasn't quite enough to get the job done,
thanks to the assist from Tatum Paxley on the outside,
who was met, and nearly sawed in half,
by Zaria for her troubles.
But Izzi got a bit overzealous.
And Sol Ruca with the Sol Snatcher,
a move that no one has been able to solve just yet.
And still Women's North American Champion!
["Chasing Surf" continues playing]
[Vic] And is more gold in the future of Sol Ruca and Zaria?
We'll find out tomorrow at WWE Evolution.
[Corey] The Revolution has arrived!
Do not let the handsome face and expensive fragrance fool you.
I am here to turn this place upside down!
Baby, I'm standing here at the NXT, North American Champion!
[Page] Ricky Saints, everybody here seems to believe with their heart
that you are the coolest guy in NXT.
But on the inside, Ricky Saints,
one of the most insecure human beings I have ever met.
[Vic] Ethan Page!
[Corey] When it comes to Page and Saints, it has become downright toxic
between the two of these men.
You know, you and I, we go way back, man.
I am tired of you, Ethan Page.
So, if that means that I gotta show up and defend the North American Championship
and whoop your ass,
then, hey, baby, let's dance!
[crowd exclaiming]
[Vic] Page, he steals the spotlight,
and he puts gold around his waist.
[Corey] Across the steel chair, throat-first.
Saints will be diagnosed with acute trauma to his larynx.
Bro, you messed Ricky up!
-This might be my best work. -I would say so.
[Page] The champ should be standing in the middle of that ring,
tap dancing on the memory of Ricky Saints!
[Corey] Ethan's ego grows more.
Everyone always looks forward to seeing this beautiful, beautiful smile.
"All Ego" Ethan Page, the greatest North American
to ever hold the North American Championship.
[Vic] And Ricky Saints, he's pissed off!
Let's give him a pound of flesh off Ethan Page.
[Saints] I want my rematch!
Ricky, if you wanna get to Ethan Page, you're gonna have to go through
WWE Evolve's hottest faction
the Vanity Project.
[Page] Ricky, Ricky, Ricky.
You can earn a shot at this championship
if you survived the Vanity Project gauntlet.
[Vic] Ricky Saints, cleared and ready to compete.
I don't mind playing this little game of yours
'cause, in fact, when I beat the gauntlet,
I get to dictate the stipulation for my rematch.
[Vic] And the first man is eliminated!
Go!
[dramatic instrumental music]
[Vic] And that's two! That's two!
Finish him!
[Vic] Third matchup here tonight.
Caught him with a superkick!
Ricky, right now, starting to come back.
Looking for the Roshambo.
[crowd] One! Two! Three!
-[Vic] Saints is headed to Atlanta. -[bell rings]
[Saints] Ethan, the ball's in my court!
Great American Bash,
I'm gonna dog walk your ass all over Atlanta
in the best match that I know how,
anything-goes, Falls Count Anywhere Match!
[Vic] Page, Saints, for the North American Title,
Falls Count Anywhere at the Great American Bash!
♪ This is the revolution ♪
["Revolution" playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a Falls Count Anywhere Match
for the NXT North American Championship!
Introducing first, weighing in at 200 pounds,
Ricky Saints!
[Vic] No countouts, no disqualifications, falls can occur anywhere.
Graves, why do you think Saints chose this stipulation?
[Corey] Look at the fire in Ricky Saints' eyes tonight.
This is a man who is ready for battle, no matter the circumstance.
And the only rules tonight,
there are essentially no rules.
That's the wheelhouse for The Revolution at the Great American Bash.
["With A Smile" playing]
[announcer] And his opponent, weighing in at 225 pounds
he is the NXT North American Champion,
"All Ego"
Ethan Page!
[Vic] Born in Canada, but says he was made in America.
-Flippant right hand, and here we go! -[Booker T] Fight! Fight!
Here we go!
[Vic] And, Graves, the champion cannot be happy in this moment.
Oh, there's a big spear from the challenger.
-And again, Ethan Page-- -[Corey]…away.
[Nick] Ethan Page …the outside.
-[Nick] He could be pinned… -[Booker] I doubt that. Fight anywhere.
[Nick] …on the desk.
He could be pinned up inside the NXT Universe.
[Corey] The challenger right now eager to explore the surroundings.
-And a …stick has entered the fight. -[Nick] Oh, boy.
[audience exclaims]
[Nick] The last Falls Count Anywhere match
here at NXT, 2022.
It's been three years.
And… Whoa!
[commentator 2] Looked like Saints hit something,
almost like a trash can of sorts.
And again, that's the dangers of this match-up, Booker.
It can literally go anywhere.
[Booker] I don't agree with this Falls Count Anywhere match
-by this young man Ricky Saints. -[all] Oh!
[Booker] We're thinking about Ethan Page.
He's resourceful, man.
He's resourceful. He will find a way to win in a situation like this.
[Nick] Right, Booker. As eager as Ricky Saints was
to make this a Falls Count Anywhere match,
he has to realize in the back of his mind,
this could also be very beneficial to the champion.
Ethan Page loves to explore the territory.
[Nick] They are already up amongst the sold-out crowd
-here at Center Stage in Atlanta. -[Booker] It's a fight!
And our referee, Adrian Butler, there
at the count of three to hear somebody say, "I quit."
And Ricky Saints right now… I mean, guys,
he can unleash all that anger, all that rage, all that frustration.
It's all legal.
[audience chanting] Ricky Saints! Ricky Saints!
[Corey]Not only is it legal, it is encouraged.
Falls Count Anywhere rules.
As if Saints needed any added motivation.
Remember this, Ricky is a very longtime close protege
of none other than Cody Rhodes.
You know the respect that Saints had for Dusty Rhodes in his creation
that is the Great American Bash.
[Nick] Little bit extra in the heart of Ricky Saints here tonight.
And I mean, Booker, you take a look at this match,
it has to favor the challenger, does it not?
He picked the stipulation.
[Booker] Man, I have to beg to differ, man.
[Corey]…going…
[Booker] I beg to differ because Ethan Page,
as I said, this guy, he's very, very dangerous.
And sometimes it's not about the win.
It's about maiming his opponent.
That's what this man is about.
[Nick] They're out in the main concourse
here at Center Stage.
Let's remember, it was Ricky Saints
who successfully ran the Vanity Project in a Gauntlet
to earn this match-up to give him the right to choose this stipulation.
[Corey]Begs the question, what sort of physical condition
is Saints in just days after running the Gauntlet?
Oh! Spine first into a pillar on the outside.
[Booker] … guy's fighting in the kitchen,
and right now it's Paige, he's looking for a sharp edge.
Oh, yeah, man!
[Corey]That back just went into that solid,
what would you say, cement structure?
That pose. And now, there's nothing that's stopping Ethan Page.
Page is just punishing the challenger.
[Nick] Remember, if Saints submits,
even in the concession area,
that counts as the end of this Falls Count Anywhere match-up.
[Corey]See some… get out…
if you're members of the NXT Universe over there in the bar area now
and could be looking for…
It looked like he was thinking about putting Saints into the post!
[Nick] Certainly appeared that way. It's all perfectly legal.
Saints just saved his own hide by escaping.
Now some heavy right hands, on the jaw of the champ.
[Booker] Big shots, man.
[Nick] Booker, you've been in these matches.
What challenges will both these men have to overcome in this match?
[Booker] Got to stay composed in a situation like this.
because, like I said, anything can happen.
This match could be over in a blink of an eye, man.
Like I say, one hard shot in the wrong…
In the wrong spot, like I said, it could be over.
-Here we go! -[Corey]Oh!
[Booker] That's what I'm talking about.
[Corey]Over in the WWE shop area.
Ricky Saints… Booker's right.
If Saints can cover… he can win the title!
-Falls Count Anywhere…cover. -[Booker] There it is!
-[referee] Three, two… -[Corey]And…
-[Booker] Ooh. -[audience] Aww.
[Nick] Two-count.
You were right. Great observation by both of you.
But the fact is, Ricky Saints has had the hell kicked out of himself as well
in the early moments of this match-up.
This has been grueling on both sides.
[Booker] I must say, though, Ricky came out of the…though, man.
[Nick] …win Saints becoming two-time
North American champion. The fourth man to do so.
Joining Dominic Mysterio, Carmelo Hayes and Johnny Gargano.
And it seems, finally, these two
have fought their way back in somewhat ringside.
[audience chanting] Ricky Saints! Ricky Saints!
Ricky Saints! Ricky Saints!
[all] Oh!
[Corey]Reversed into the steel ring stairs.
And that could be the game changer …was looking for.
[Booker] Exactly what I'm talking about.
[Nick] Ricky Saints was grabbing at his right shoulder.
And now again, everything legal.
[Booker] Bam! Right to the gut, baby,
I love… Take him inside and finish him off!
[audience chanting] We want table!
We want table!
[Nick] Make no mistake about it.
Ethan Page will not hesitate to re-damage the--
[Corey]Right back to it!
Back to that injured throat you were pointing out.
It was in a different way here in front of us,
-but into the cover, hook of the leg… -One, two--
Ricky just able to kick out.
And this is something that we hadn't even talked about yet.
-Ethan Page… -…being the operative…
[Nick] We know how cerebral Ethan Page is as a competitor.
Once again utilizing a steel chair to great effect,
potentially reinjuring the larynx of Ricky Saints.
[Booker] Didn't I tell you, this guy is about business, man.
Right now, straight back to the medulla oblongata.
And now with that big shot, oh, baby.
[Corey]Booker, you know, reassigning the anatomy here
at the desk again.
[Nick] And you know that…has conjured up
a lot of diabolical ideas over the last week.
[Corey]Diabolical. Oh, my goodness.
Almost saw it on display.
Just getting out of dodge with Ricky Saints.
Hey!
…went off all ego!
Everything legal.
Championship hanging in the balance.
[Corey]Challenger certainly feeling desperate.
Understandably so!
And a fire extinguisher to the body and to the spine.
[Booker] Anything goes, man. Anything goes.
Watch out, guys.
[Nick] Trying to get out of… Not a lot of room for us here.
Inside Center Stage
is now Ricky Saints, back in control, of this matchup,
…exposed that steel guardrail.
Did he just rip that?
[commentator 2] You got a better angle.
[Nick] Saints detached the upper part
of the guardrail from the base
and just slammed it across the body of the fallen champion.
[Corey]He saw Ricky reach for that throat for a moment.
Again, let's not forget the issues that run deep between these two.
It was Ethan Page who interrupted Ricky Saint's contract signing.
It's everything they've gone through. All the battles they've had.
[Booker] Man!
[Nick] When we talk about Ethan Page sidelining Ricky Saints
several weeks ago.
But Booker, do you truly believe the long-standing issue
between these two is going to end today?
[Booker] No, it's not going to end. This thing is just beginning.
These guys are going to fight throughout their careers.
They may be buddies.
They may be pals after it's all over with.
But right now it's about what checks…championships, man.
-[all] Oh! -[Booker] Oh, yes!
[Nick] …damage, hurting the other.
And I'm just looking up from my monitor, Corey,
I don't know if you see the same thing I do
on that right shoulder, but it looks like there's a welt and a bruise
starting to show on Ricky Saints
after going into the steel step suit to the right.
[Corey] I think you're accurate in your assessment,
but Saints fighting through the pain, muscling up the champion.
… looking for …
but countered by Paige!
Challenger right now precarious position. Oh!
Just got his neck crunched!
[Nick] Did you see the way Saint's neck collapsed
into that top turnbuckle?
[Booker] That was gnarly, dog. That was gnarly.
And right now, Ethan Page is looking to finish this thing in a big, big way!
[Nick] …those devilish ideas that Paige has dreamed up.
Now what is he thinking?
[Corey] These ideas may be diabolical, as you said, Nick, but if they work,
you have to call them genius and up top…
… didn't work out for the champion.
[Booker] Backfire!
[Nick] Page could be out!
Saints right now
could be on the verge of becoming a two-time champion, and…
Page left shoulder just getting up.
Take a look around. You can feel the tension here in Atlanta.
[Corey] Saints made the most of a tiny opening
and turned the tide to this North American championship match
driving Page face first.
Now it's Saints with the opportunity to do a little construction of his own.
[Nick] Again, these two know each other so well.
Paige beat Saints for the title in May.
[Nick] Saints beat Paige
-to maintain the title. -[Booker] No way he can do this.
-at… -[Corey] No, no! Oh, God!
[Nick] The spine!
On the top of those steps, and Page now quickly realizing it.
Page now pulling, trying to yank up Ricky Saints, looking for that suplex,
bending that steel guardrail!
[Corey] That's got to do it.
[Corey] And it's into the cover for the title!
[Nick] There wasn't a lot, Booker.
-Not a lot on that kick out. -[Booker] You gotta be kidding.
Let me tell you, I don't know
where Ricky Saints got that from, but right there,
that had to be all…
-especially after a shot like that. -[Nick] I don't want to see it again.
Spine, kidneys
-first into the steel. Not once, twice. -One, two!
[Nick] And somehow, Saint's able to survive.
[Nick] We are sold out in Center Stage.
This is the Great American Bash.
A huge weekend for the WWE here in Atlanta.
But this one about the North American title.
-It's Falls Count Anywhere. -[screams]
No count outs, no disqualifications.
Falls can occur anywhere.
[Corey] And if it's up to "All Ego" Ethan Page,
Goldberg won't be the only superstar having his final match this weekend.
Page looking to end Saints once and for all.
[Nick] Ethan Page believes
he is a North American icon that others should base their life on.
And it's Ethan Page who is slowly, methodically
almost now it looks as if he's enjoying himself.
[Corey] The champion savoring the suffering of Ricky Saints.
What is All Ego looking for here?
[Booker] Just rearranged the furniture a little bit.
[Nick] A little bit? He just stacked how many chairs? Four steel chairs.
And it's going to be a nasty landing for Ricky Saints.
Saints trying everything he can do to hold on.
Because Corey, you're right. This could end Ricky Saints.
[Corey] Saints has his feet hooked under that turnbuckle strut
for the moment. Biting! Wait a minute!
Challenger biting the champion!
It's all legal.
Ohh!
Power bomb!
Cover that man, Ricky, but someone's taken out Saints.
Saints trying to crawl under the cover,
put the shoulders down.
-AUDIENCE:3, 2, 1! -cover the champion for the title and…
Again! That egomaniac able to kick out.
Page wisely looking for rest but on the outside,
as we look again at the power bomb
delivered across four steel chairs by the challenger,
-[audience cheering] -Aah!
Aah!
I agree, Atlanta. This is awesome.
Unfortunately, it may lead to shorter careers for one of or both of these men.
Again, this is falls count anywhere.
Right now, they're almost around the loading dock area.
Over by the seamstress area here in the locker room.
Again, falls count anywhere.
This matchup could end right there on the ironing board.
Could end right there on the couch.
-[grunts] -Woah, woah, woah!
[screams]
-[screams] -Innovative Ricky Saints.
You got to use your environment, though, right, Corey?
-I mean, aim of the game. -Baby!
That's a dangerous area right there, guys.
-[groaning] -Is that a flip-flop?
I believe the preferred nomenclature is chunkler.
[groans]
Well, whatever it is, the--Oh!
-[grunts] -[groans]
Is that Jasper Troy?
What the hell!
That is a black-hole-slam onto that road case.
-Yes! -[audience exclaiming]
What! Again, there's no disqualification.
I don't know if that was by design or pure happenstance.
-Either way. -You know Piston, big man.
Watch out, Booker. They're right here to our right.
And Ethan Page saw it.
He realized it. Jasper Troy,
just inserting himself into this matchup.
You expect he's a little hot right now?
Obviously is for what happened to kick off the night
here, at the Great American Bash and again,
-[bangs] -Woah!
[all exclaiming]
Ricky answering back. Big right hand.
Page is spilling out to the ramp.
That was smart. Creating a little distance right there.
-[shouts] -What a fight this has been. Oh!
Ethan Page turning it around, looking for-- no!
-[audience exclaiming] -[grunts]
Looks like he was again looking for Ego's Edge.
-God! -He realized it. He's Saints.
Saints was staying right on top of the champion,
[audience exclaiming]
Did he just use the referee?
Tornado DDT with an assist from Adrian Butler
for the title--left shoulder up.
I don't know if I saw that correctly, but that would be some more
-innovative offense from the challenger. -Innovative?
If it wasn't the referee, it was the LED board behind him.
Let's look again.
I think you might be right, Vic.
-What do you mean, innovative? -You referee should have disqualified him.
There's no disqualification, Booker.
What are you not understanding? You've been here.
That's a little different. He hit the ref. He hit the ref lately.
I think your medulla oblongata is malfunctioning.
He doesn't even know where his medulla oblongata is.
-And Ricky Saints now, -Come here. Come on here.
could be looking for rose shed-- Oh no!
[audience exclaiming]
They're up near our camera crew at this junction.
There is next to no real estate to work with up there.
No, no, no, no, no.
Page looking for Ego's Edge.
Can he do it?
-This can be it. -Oh my God! No!
-[thuds] -[audience exclaiming]
Stop the match!
[audience cheering]
Wow!
Page fall into the cover.
-And Ethan Page… -[buzzer sounds]
Survives.
Falls count anywhere.
[electronic music playing]
Here's your winner and still,
The NXT North American champion,
All ego, Ethan Page!
We got to get some medical staff out here to check on Saints.
That man is broken.
We're done!
Corey,
did you hear Ethan Page screaming?
Just take another look at this.
[audience exclaiming]
I'm, I'm still at a loss for words.
[audience exclaiming]
That's got to be easy, ten, twelve feet
from the top of the Saints, head down to the floor.
Absolutely unreal.
And for Ethan Page, with a twisted grin on his face,
is still the North American champion.
[electronic music playing]
This weekend, WWE continues to make history.
Of course, we'll see this at Evolution tomorrow,
but this afternoon is no exception.
I'm here on behalf of the Director of Authority of TNA, Santino Marella,
[audience cheering]
to supervise the official contract signing
for the TNA world Championship Match at Slammiversary.
[audience cheering]
So, ladies and gentlemen, please help me in welcoming
first the challengers, beginning with Mike Santana.
♪ Let's get it again! Boy! ♪
♪Santana was gone.♪
[rap music playing]
And guys, this is a man who has made it known,
he wants to take TNA back to its roots.
He wants to not only be the champion,
but he also wants Corey to be the savior of TNA.
It was much easier said than done, and I am personally
very, very impressed by what I've seen from Mike Santana.
I won't be the guy to say that he can't do the job.
But you know who does disagree with Santana's assessment
that being the reigning TNA champion,
that man, Trick Williams.
-[rap music continues] -[audience cheering]
Give it up for Mike Santana.
This guy would've put TNA on his back.
You gotta give him props for that.
Next, Joe Hendry.
[audience cheering]
[music playing]
♪ I believe in Joe Hendry! ♪
[audience claps]
♪ I believe in Joe Hendry! ♪
[electronic music playing]
Center Stage has risen to their feet.
This is a man who also wants to be the savior of TNA,
but he wants to lead the resurgence of that brand.
This is all about redemption for Joe Hendry,
the man who unfortunately allowed the TNA Gold to slip through his fingers.
Hendry feels that he's the only one.
Vic, stop waving your arms!
I can't stop because I believe!
Joe Hendry.
Grandfather of professional wrestling, not throwing interceptions,
but he just fumbled the ball bad.
He just fumbled the ball.
[chuckling] That was the reference that came to mind.
It came from his medulla oblongata. God bless him.
And finally, the TNA World Champion, Trick Williams.
[pop music playing]
Now we're talking!
[audience cheering]
What!
[commentator exclaims]
I like it.
Oh yeah, man.
Yeah, man, That's that boy. Trick Williams!
The TNA World
Oh, he's looking good.
He's looking debonair.
Give it up for that, man.
Oh, yes!
We are sold out, as I mentioned here in Atlanta,
inside Center Stage.
[audience cheering]
Uh huh!
And also joining us here amongst the crowd is Carlos Silva.
He's the TNA president.
He is sitting here at ringside on hand
to see this Slammiversary contract be signed between these three men
that will do battle, July 20th, for the TNA world title.
He's got to love the ratings that this man,
this man, Trick Williams, is bringing to the company.
I love it!
Now, gentlemen, I'll just need all three of your signatures
and then it can be made official.
[audience shouts]
Hey, yo. First and foremost, Atlanta, what's good!
[audience cheering]
[audience clapping]
AUDIENCE: TNA! TNA! TNA!
Now that I got that out of the way, Ava, I just gotta say
I don't take moments like this for granted.
Being the standard of TNA wrestling,
and being in the ring on the WWE PLE, means something to me.
[audience cheering]
But what also means something to me is that TNA World Championship,
which I feel like you've taken for granted,
[audience exclaims]
Just another thing to boost your ego, right?
But to me, it represents much more.
The hustle, the grind, the dedication.
But more importantly, the respect.
Which were all things that you had once upon a time
But to keep it a buck with you, Trick.
I think you've gotten soft, baby boy.
[audience exclaims]
So, next week.
Next week,
we're gonna find out whether or not
Trick Hollywood over here, or Hollywood Trick,
however you want to say it…
is all sizzle,
-and no steak. -[audience] What?
And, Joe, don't think I forgot about you.
Don't think I forgot about you.
I respect what you've done.
I respect how you've repped our brand.
But at the end of the day…
[audience] [chanting] We love … We love … We love …
Joe, at the end of the day, let me tell you this.
At the end of the day,
you're standing in the way of me getting mine.
So, we gotta throw these hands. Straight up.
TNA Wrestling was built off the backs
of some of the very best professional wrestlers.
And at Slammiversary,
I will be the man
to bring it back to the roots. Let's get it!
[audience cheering]
Mike, I respect the fact that you want to bring TNA
back to its roots. But you know what I want to do?
I want to get back to doing exactly what I was doing.
And that's taking TNA wrestling
to new unprecedented heights like only Joe Hendry can!
So, I will not be distracted by you when it comes to reclaiming
the championship that I never should have lost in the first place.
And, Trick, as for you, what have you been doing?
You've been trying to use people as human shields,
whether it's high rise or first class,
whoever you can get to do your dirty work.
But guess what?
Slammiversary, there's gonna be no one to protect you.
You're sitting there with the championship all cozy because we're in your house.
But next Sunday, it's you that's going to be behind enemy lines.
And you are going to be facing a man
on a mission for redemption.
I will make you believe in Joe…
-[audience] Hendry! -…Hendry!
[audience cheering]
[clears throat]
Thank you.
Y'all good now?
Y'all got all that out of your system?
Now, for real. Because I really want y'all to enjoy this moment.
I know how big of a deal it is for you two to be here at NXT with Trick Williams.
But let me help the both of y'all out.
Let me give y'all some advice.
When you're talking to me, when you're talking to your champion,
you put some respect on my name.
[audience cheering]
Not only because I'm him,
but because the both of you are not him.
I'm the one with the stroke around here.
I'm the one with the steak and the sizzle.
I got the modest touch.
Damn it! I'm the man carrying two brands.
Let's talk about it!
[audience cheering]
This ain't about making people believe.
This ain't about making promises to your daughter.
You heard me. Get your hand down.
It's about getting the job done.
And that's why I'm the greatest TNA Champion of all time.
[audience cheering]
Joe, I know you're upset.
[audience] [chanting] AJ Styles…
A-Trick Williams!
Joe, I know you're upset.
Mike, I know you're upset too
because I got a little help defending this here title.
A few title defenses, I had a little bit of help. And that's cool.
But let me tell you something.
One thing for sure. Two things for certain.
I don't need no help, I don't need no entourage
next Sunday at Slammiversary to whoop both of y'all ass.
It's Trick-N-A, and it's always gonna be Trick-N-A.
[audience cheering]
-Thank you, gentlemen. -Let's talk about it!
Trick, you should know that Mike and I don't agree on a lot.
But there are two things that we do agree on.
Number one, that TNA World Championship
is coming home to TNA superstar…
And two,
you talk too damn much.
-[commentator 1] Santana, Hendry… -[commentator 2] Oh, no!
…showing some TNA unity…
-[commentator 3] Hell no. -…this afternoon in Atlanta.
[audience booing]
[theme music playing]
[commentator 1] Who will walk out of Slammiversary
with the TNA Championship?
[commentator 2] I think, if nothing else, it makes a strong case for Ava
to start using DocuSign for these sort of things.
Hendry Santana, Trick Williams, Slammiversary. It's going down.
It's all about the gold.
That's not the only gold we're talking about today, is it, Vic?
A bull, man. That's a bull.
Well, I understand where you're coming from, but back to what Corey's point was.
It is a big day here in Atlanta.
Great American bash right now.
But coming up in a few hours, it is Saturday night main event.
And when you talk about championships, how about this one?
Goldberg's final match.
He challenges the Ring General, Gunther,
for the World Heavyweight Championship.
[wrestler theme music playing]
Guys, Dark State's here, and out come the wolves!
[Booker] [exclaims] Look at that.
[Vic] And they're looking to feast on TNA!
Hendry, Santana…
[Corey] Absolute chaos, madness, disorder…
[Booker] Oh, baby! Oh, damn!
[Vic] And we have seen Dark State arrive and destroy on TNA.
Where Dark State goes, destruction follows.
No one is safe.
Biggest match of our career. Here we go. Here we go.
-You're ready. Today is the day. -Yes…
Go out there and become the NXT Champion
by any means necessary.
Yes, I will become champion.
But Briggs, I do it with honor.
All right.
[Corey] Well, here we go.
Human demolition derby for the NXT Championship.
[wrestler theme music playing]
[audience cheering]
[Vic] And we just heard from these two.
And you heard, Graves. what Inamura said.
This is about honor,
-doing it the right way. -[Yoshiki screams]
[Vic] You yourself have competed for the NXT Championship.
Would you be tossing honor out the window
here at the Great American Bash to put that gold around your waist?
[Corey] Personally speaking, absolutely, I would.
But this isn't about me. This is about Yoshiki Inamura,
a man who returned from Japan to make life better
for his friend and partner, Josh Briggs.
Briggs couldn't capture the TNA Championship
in the opportunity that Inamura earned.
But it only gets bigger.
If you want to think big in NXT, it doesn't get any bigger
than the NXT Championship and The Ruler.
[wrestler theme music playing]
[yells]
The last time the NXT Championship
was defended here in Atlanta, 2018.
Andrade defeated Johnny Gargano.
We talked about this stat earlier. It still stands true.
An NXT Championship of any sort has never changed hands here in Atlanta.
And when you look at the challenger, he seems focused.
Briggs seems calm, cool, and collected.
But there is The Ruler who is always one thing, Booker, dominant.
[Booker] He's on the warpath, man.
That man, no bread, no water tonight.
All he wants is eat Inamura.
What, about three hundred pounds of beef?
He's finna eat tonight, dog.
[Vic] Mike Rome standing by.
-What's he so angry for? -[bell rings]
[ring announcer] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the NXT Championship!
Introducing the challenger,
from Tokyo, Japan,
weighing in at 242 pounds,
Yoshiki Inamura!
And his opponent, from Lagos, Nigeria,
weighing in at 310 pounds,
he is the NXT Champion,
Oba Femi!
[audience cheering]
[Vic] Weight of opportunity is on the shoulders of Inamura.
[crowd chanting]
[Vic] Challenger looking to become the second Japanese-born
superstar to win the NXT title.
The other, Graves, is someone you know very well,
-Shinsuke Nakamura. -[Corey] No doubt.
Nakamura going to keep an eye on this one and think of the legendary superstars
who sent well wishes to Inamura before this match.
Talking about Marufuji, talking about the great Muto, Keiji Muto,
Iyo Sky, all wishing Inamura the best of luck in this contest.
And trust me, as talented as Inamura is,
he's going to need a little bit of luck tonight.
[Vic] On to that point, Corey, does that add extra pressure,
do you think, to Yoshiki Inamura,
knowing that all those greats, all those legends are…
[Booker] Oh, baby!
[Vic] …on his side, watching closely here?
[Corey] Perhaps. But did you see how lightning quick
Inamura got back to his feet after being run over by the Ruler?
Whatever it takes to fuel you, to become great.
Sometimes it's pressure.
Sometimes it's fear.
Sometimes there's a litany of different reasons that a superstar can become great.
I'm not sure what's driving Inamura tonight,
but no doubt he's looking to do it with honor.
[Vic] Well, Booker, to raise his point,
how has Inamura's past paved the way for this championship moment?
-Maybe a golden moment in his career? -[Booker] Not just Inamura's past,
but the path of the Japanese wrestler. You guys are talking about honor.
But they say in Japan, death before dishonor is the way of the samurai.
So you can expect Inamura to do anything necessary to win this match tonight.
-Trust me on that. -[Vic] And he could go that far
but only with honor, as Inamura right now,
a test of strength here between he and Oba.
[Corey] Something of an unfamiliar feeling for Yoshiki Inamura…
[Booker] Oh, baby!
[Corey] …overpowered by really anybody in NXT.
[Vic] There's that quickness on display
and right back into the center of the ring
like two mastodons, Oba got hung up for a second
and he sits right back down on the challenger.
And let's remember Inamura returned
to battle ground for his brother, Josh Briggs,
who is here on the outside for the fans, for the passion of NXT and, Graves,
he's going to need the support of everyone that's here today.
Everyone that's here tonight to overcome his greatest test
he's ever faced in NXT, Oba Femi.
[Corey] No doubt about it. But again, if anybody can thrive
under this sort of, shoulders down, if anybody can thrive
under this sort of pressure and emerge victorious,
they absolutely deserve to be the NXT champion.
Yoshiki Inamura could be the NXT champion for a long time
after tonight, who knows? Time will tell.
[Vic] Booker, Yoshiki Inamura returned to thinking bigger.
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Vic] You have to like that mentality.
[Booker] I like everything about this.
Right now, he's in there with a true beast here in NXT, has fought every--
[Corey] Wait a minute, Book.
[Vic] Book, look at Inamura, Just rise right back up.
[Booker] Japanese strong style, baby.
Here we go.
Wait a minute. It's not a sumo contest.
[Corey] About to be.
-[Booker] This is America. -[Vic] Hell, yeah! Look at that!
Inamura, who just tossed Oba Femi.
Inamura leaning into his sumo background,
overpowering Oba Femi, Here comes the challenger.
Oba, right now, center of the ring, just got trucked.
[Booker] Lot of weight coming right there.
[Vic] Cover, cover,
and a kick out at one, like a cannonball, right to the chest of the champion.
That elbow connected right to the sternum
for Inamura, who is fired up here.
And Booker, will Inamura respond to this premium live event environment?
[Booker] I mean, breeing under…
Excuse me, being under these bright lights, Inamura knows
he's got one shot at this championship.
He needs to go out there.
He needs to cash in big time with a big move, like…whoa!
[Vic] Oba rolled to the outside. Yoshiki realizing it, and…Oh!
[Booker] Give Oba Femi a lot of credit right there.
This kid has gotten a lot smarter over this last 365 days, man.
[Corey] I agree with you, Book, Oba just laid a trap and Inamura
-stepped right into it. -[Booker] Big time.
[Vic] When was the last time, Graves, we saw Inamura go down with one chop.
[Corey] There aren't too many men walking God's green earth
who possess that type of power.
But Oba Femi absolutely is one of them.
[Vic] Able to counter for a moment,
and a little bit of separation, Oba went down.
Yeah, he's grabbing that …
[all exclaiming]
-[Vic] And again! -[Booker] What'd I tell you?
[Vic] That's who we're talking about, Book.
[Booker] You're gonna see a different Inamura here tonight,
trust me, and I'm not surprised.
[Corey] It's that passion coming out in Inamura.
He wants to be champion so bad for the man on the outside,
for the butts in the seats, for those watching at home
and now showcasing his own will, showcasing his own power,
showcasing his own strength. Big Slam.
[Booker] Wow. That was impressive.
[Corey] Cover. Is it going to be enough in this juncture of the match up?
It is not, as this title match continues.
I just looked up from my monitor as we take a look at this.
Inamura launching himself like a missile off of the apron, taking down Oba.
And this is a straight up, terrifying display of power
from the challenger.
[Vic] And back to the action of the ring.
Yoshiki has a handprint on his chest from Oba Femi.
Femi! Just going right down to the mat.
High impact offense with his championship on the line, hook of the leg
on the Challenger, and Yoshiki rolling that left shoulder off the mat.
Today, by the way, guys,
one hundred eighty sixth day as champion for Oba Femi.
[Booker] I'll tell you something, Oba Femi is well past his years
as far as his advancement in this business,
with the time he's put in thus far, this kid, he's unbelievable.
-He's definitely a star. -[Vic] And we were interrupted
by the Darkstate moments ago on the topic of titles.
Booker, How excited are you for tonight? Goldberg's last match.
[Booker] Goldberg, this is where it all started, right here
at the Georgia Dome, 1998, his first championship.
Can he go out there and do it just one last time?
They say he may not be as great as he once was, but he can be great once.
-Oh, yes, man. -[Vic] It was on that July night,
he defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan in Atlanta.
Will history repeat itself?
But the NXT championship hanging in the balance,
and it's the champion who is in control.
-And while-- -[Booker] Look at the power!
[Vic] Oba, right now, into the cover.
[crowd chanting] One… two…
and another kick out and I mean, Graves, you take a look at Oba Femi,
there were a lot of questions by some coming into this matchup.
If there was chips in the armor of sorts of the champion.
[Corey] So far, so good from the Ruler.
Take a look at the the power of Oba,
hanging the challenger across the top rope.
Listen, Oba Femi has been a fighting champion.
There is no reason to doubt the Ruler and his dominance.
It's not like Oba is making competitors jump through hoops.
He's not running away.
He stands there and he defends his title.
[Vic] And speaking of standing there, standing in the center of the ring,
another gut buster, another cover and another kick out.
Graves, are you starting to sense that maybe Oba Femi, looking at the stomach,
the ribs, is trying to take away the impact
of that Yoshiki splash from the top?
[Corey] Listen, we've learned to Booker's point earlier
that Oba continues to evolve as a competitor.
He's become more intellectual in his strategy.
It's not just raw force anymore.
It's a game plan that very well may be what the champion's looking to do.
[Booker] Oba Femi's very methodical in his approach here tonight.
And he needs that because Inamura's perhaps
most dangerous he's been since since he joined NXT tonight.
Trust me on that.
[Inamura screaming]
[Vic] You feel…
-[Corey] Trying to shift the power -[Vic] Certainly is, right back in.
-[Booker] Hold on. -[Corey] Right back around,
shifted his weight, counter, cover, title on the line and a near fall.
And now it's Yoshiki who's on top looking for the crucifix,
shoulder down one more time, almost able to put the title around his waist.
He's doing it with pride, passion, uh-oh.
Spine buster, champion rolls right through and another near fall.
[Booker] That's the advancement of this man right here, Oba Femi.
He has a playbook now, man.
This is not the same guy you dealt with, like I said, a year ago. Trust me.
[Vic] You saw Inamura able to shift power for a moment
and utilize his weight to take down the champion.
But just this quickly, Oba Femi is back on top.
Nearly put an end to this matchup.
[Booker] Beautiful spine buster.
[Vic] NXT championship on the line here at the Great American Bash.
And this certainly has been a test of power between the two and again,
right back to the body goes Oba Femi, buckling the knees of Yoshiki Inamura
trying to hoist up Yoshiki, who counters.
Something had to give.
[Booker] Wow.
[Vic] And it's Inamura in control.
Yoshiki,
could be closing in on dropping the ruler.
And there's that offense.
[Corey] Sumo-style strikes to the chest, muscling in, oh, my God!
Muscling Oba all the way to the corner.
And right now, the challenger teeing off
like Nick Karnowski on a golf course.
[Booker] Taking it to the street right now. Bang!
[Vic] Yoshiki, peppering Oba.
[all groaning]
[Vic] Look at this. We haven't gotten to see the striking ability Inamura.
Two heavily rolling elbow rocks the jaw of the champ.
[Corey] Oba just got dropped.
Briggs is fired up, trying to fire up Inamura.
[Booker] I wonder if Oba is truly prepared for what's going on right now, guys.
-[Vic] Bridge! -[Booker] Oh, baby.
Oba Femi, give credit.
Able to roll off.
[Corey] Booker, it's been a while since I've seen you come out of your seat,
seeing something like this, that is outrageous power
from the challenger who nearly knocked off the Ruler.
[crowd chanting]
[Booker] … Oba truly prepared for this right here, guys, this is different.
-[Vic] Yoshiki going to the top. -[Booker] Looking to drop that ball!
[Vic] You've seen this in the past.
Yoshiki, he had to roll through, Oba had it scouted quickly, though,
back to his feet, look at him…
That was serving almost… oh, no! I spoke too soon.
[Corey] Crushing impact in the corner, the official's down.
Oba, looking for the end.
[Vic] Hey! Briggs!
-[Corey] Briggs, what the hell! -[Booker] What the hell!
[Vic] Briggs just hit Oba Femi with the NXT championship,
and I don't think Yoshiki Inamura realizes it.
But the advantage now is for the challenger.
Oba is down,
challenger to the top.
[shouting indistinctly]
[Briggs] You can win! I don't care.
[Vic] This is all about honor for the challenger.
Yoshiki, though, got hoisted, Inamura able to slip down the back,
coming right back in, flying back through the air,
-dropping the champion. -[Yoshiki shouts]
He doesn't want to take a shortcut.
He wants to do this the right way.
And once again, Yoshiki Inamura, climbing to the top,
got his target acquired.
-Yoshiki! -[audience gasping]
-Got all of it! Cover. -[audience] One!
-[audience] Two! Three! Four! -[Vic] There's no referee.
-[audience] Five! Six! Seven! -[Vic] The officials still down.
[audience] Eight! Nine! Ten! Eleven!
[Corey] We should have a new champion.
[clamoring]
What the hell's Briggs doing now?
[Briggs screaming]
[Vic] Briggs is screaming.
I think Briggs is trying to hand him his chain,
[Corey] But Briggs is gonna get his partner disqualified.
[Vic] The official… The official wormed back in.
Yoshiki said "No".
Yoshiki, though, just got dropped.
-Chokeslam! -[Booker T] Bam!
-Champion into the cover to retain. -[audience] One! Two!
-[Vic] Whoa! -[audience gasps]
That fighting spirit of Yoshiki still thriving,
here at the Great American Bash.
Briggs is in disbelief.
So is Oba Femi.
The NXT Championship is on the line, sold out here in Atlanta, Center Stage.
Great American Bash.
Who will walk out NXT Champion?
[Booker T] Inamura could be champion right now,
if he would have taken advantage of the situation.
[Vic] He's not gonna take advantage, though.
We've heard what he had said not just today, but earlier this week.
-He's going to do it the right way. -[audience gasps]
It's about honor for Yoshiki Inamura.
[Corey] Right now, these gladiators unloading the heavy artillery
in the middle of the ring.
No excuses!
[audience chanting]
[Booker T] Try to chop that tree down, man.
-[Yoshiki shouts] -[audience chants]
-[Corey] Oba answering back.
But… Oh!
Could have been waiting for that Fall from Grace.
Countered, though. Inamura, now.
-Hoisted up! -[Booker T] Look at the power!
-[Vic] And drop it! Center of the ring! -[Booker T] Wow!
[Vic] Sit-down style for the title--
-Oh my… -[audience gasps]
Briggs thought it was over.
[Booker T] Last minute.
-[Vic] Last minute. -[Booker T] Last second.
[Vic] Split second, nanosecond.
But Briggs is screaming "Go, go, go!"
[Corey] Briggs, get off the apron.
[Vic] Briggs-- Oh no, from behind!
-Yoshiki for the championship! -[audience] One! Two!
-[audience gasps] -[Vic] Oh, again!
Oba just able to kick out the last second.
Right back in-- Uh-oh!
-Fall from Grace! -[Booker T] My God!
[audience] One! Two!
-Three! -[Vic] Oba overcomes Inamura.
[Oba Femi's theme music playing]
[Mike] Here is your winner,
and still…
the NXT Champion,
Oba Femi!
[Corey] What a fight.
Here we see the closing moments, Inamura able to power up
310lbs of Oba Femi.
Delivering a sit-out powerbomb.
But The Ruler refused to relent.
Incidental contact with Briggs, shoulders down.
Oba survives yet again.
And Inamura provides this slightest of openings,
and got a powerbomb for his troubles, Fall from Grace.
And still.
[Vic] What a fight from the challenger.
He tried to do it with honor.
What's going through the mind of that man, Josh Briggs?
But what we do know the reign of The Ruler,
Oba Femi,
as our champion, continues here in NXT.
-[audience chants] -[mouths] I told you! I told all…
[intense music playing]
We have the most stacked and the deepest Women's Division in the world.
When you stand out here talking about the NXT Women's Division…
you're really just talking about…
Jacy Jane.
[Corey] Boom!
-[Vic] Jane falling into the cover. -[audience] One!
[audience] Two! Three!
[Mike] The new NXT Women's Champion.
Jacy Jane!
[Corey] I am in absolute shock.
Jacy Jane is the Queen Pin in NXT.
But you know, the part that just really irks me
is how you continue to underestimate me.
[contestant] You are the most beatable champion of all time.
[Jacy] The most beatable champion ever?
-[Corey] Oh! -[Vic] Jesus!
[gasps]
[Jacy] Guess who's gonna have the last laugh.
Jacy Freakin Jane.
[Vic] The champion, the one standing tall.
I continue to add the hottest free agent in sports entertainment…
Jordynne Grace.
[Corey] Grace knows what it feels like to carry a Women's Division on her back.
[Jordynne] I did everything I had to do in order to get here.
The Glamour, Blake Monroe.
[Blake] The Glamour raises the bar,
turns heads and redefines what it means to be a star.
This Women's Division is all mine.
[Vic] Guys, are we looking at the next face of the NXT Women's Division.
You and Blake Monroe seem to be cut from the same cloth.
You think you can just walk up in here and everyone's gonna bow down at your feet.
But if you really think you came here
to take what Fatal Influence has built, then you're delusional.
The rumors are true.
Fatal Influence are as insecure as they are.
[mouths] Bitches!
[audience gasps]
-[Vic] Oh! -[audience gasps]
[Jacy] Fatal Influence will always be here to remind you
exactly where you stand.
Why don't you just shut up?
[Corey] Jordynne Grace is looking to stand her ground.
Fallon Henley and Jacy Jane, delivering a message.
[Vic] She's here!
Blake Monroe getting hurt some right now!
At the Great American Bash, it will be Fallon Henley and Jacy Jane,
against the team of Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe.
[Blake] Oh, the Great American Bash is not gonna know what's hit it.
[Corey] It will be glamorous
as Blake Monroe will team with Jordynne Grace,
who, 24 hours later, will face Jacy Jane for the NXT Women's Title Evolution.
First, we beat Fatal Influence at Bash,
then I beat Jacy at Evolution.
[Vic] Has a fatal blow just been delivered to Fatal Influence?
We will find out at the Great American Bash.
[male voice] It's not over until I win.
[Vic] Main Event time of the Great American Bash.
[Jordynne Grace's theme music playing]
[Mike] The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Austin, Texas,
Jordynne Grace.
[Vic] Graves, this has to be the biggest weekend
in the career of Jordynne Grace.
[Corey] I'm sure an argument can be made for that to be a fact,
but Jordynne Grace needs to focus on the task at hand,
which is about to take place right now.
Yes, she has a golden opportunity less than 24 hours away
tomorrow at Evolution, as The Juggernaut challenges Jacy Jayne
for the coveted NXT Women's Championship.
But tonight could be a trap game for Jordynne Grace.
[female voice] Glamour is forever.
[Blake Monroe's theme music playing]
[Mike] And her tag team partner,
from London, England,
Blake Monroe.
[Vic] The official in ring debut of Blake Monroe.
Things are about to get glamorous here in NXT.
[Vic] How about this? Her first official matches?
Yes. You see, the camaraderie between these two
is in the main event of a premium live event.
[Corey] We're about to see whether or not Blake Monroe lives up to the hype.
We know what she's done before she's arrived here.
What can she do with this opportunity?
Does she have what it takes?
[Fatal Influence's theme music playing]
[Booker T] Yeah!
[Mike] And their opponents, accompanied by Jazmyn Nyx,
Fallon Henley and the NXT Women's Champion, Jacy Jayne,
Fatal Influence.
[Vic] Uh, Graves, is Jacy starting to view herself
a little bit in a hierarchy than her partners?
[Vic] I'm sure you saw what happened on the countdown show.
She decided to have an interview all by herself
and didn't let her partners know it was going down.
[Corey] Well, when you are a singles champion in WWE,
it affords you certain benefits, that being single interview time,
and all these people talking about Jacy Jane being
the most beatable champion of all time.
You think that's the case?
It's simple. Show up and do it.
Show up and beat Jacy Jane.
Until you do, I'm tired of hearing about it.
[Vic] It's the third time women have Main Event-ed in the Great American Bash.
It, however, is the first time ever they've done it in a tag team match.
A history-making weekend kicking off
with the Great American Bash here, sold out, at Center Stage.
And Booker, we see Jordynne Grace starting things off with Fallon Henley.
But when you take a look at Jordynne Grace,
she is a seasoned competitor who is power personified.
But how big is this weekend for her?
[Booker] It's huge, but let me go back to something.
Jordynne Grace told Blake Monroe
that she's been chasing that NXT Championship.
That's a big fight. That's a big fight. And that need to--
The championship is in the right hands with this moment right here.
-[Vic] Wow. -[Booker] The rockstar, baby.
[Vic] And we know Jordynne Grace is no stranger to the big stage.
[Corey] We remember her incredible Royal Rumble match performance, etc.
Jordynne Grace is always a threat any day of the week, no matter what.
But the question remains, does she have what it takes
to beat "The Most Beatable Women's Champion" in NXT history?
[Vic] Well, it's hard for us not to look at tomorrow night,
at Evolution, at that NXT Women's Championship match--
-[Vic] Ooh, nice. -[Corey] Wow!
[Vic] One has to wonder, for Jordynne Grace,
-[Vic] if she comes-- Ow! -[Booker chuckles]
[Vic] How will she handle the burden of failure?
[both wrestlers grunt]
[Corey] That remains to be seen.
And Jordynne Grace can't be thinking about failure, tonight or tomorrow.
At Evolution, Jordynne Grace needs to maintain a championship mentality.
[Booker] Wait a minute. Here comes the champ,
here comes the rockstar.
You got your ticket. You got your ticket, man.
Cause you about to get…
[Corey] Well, this is a preview of what's gonna happen
tomorrow at Evolution.
-[Corey] These two women will tingle-- -[Vic] Roll-- Shoulder's down.
[Corey] …bringing a-- whoa!
Shifting weight, Grace for a moment. kicking right out.
Coming right back in, getting countered into a--
[Corey] Here's Jordynne Grace
who shifts her weight for a second time.
shoulder down at Jayne in another near-fall.
Chill out!
[Booker] Slow it down a little bit. Take a little time out there, Jacy.
[Vic] Start to take two.
What a loss of new greats for Jayne, or Grace for that matter.
heading into Evolution.
[Corey] Absolutely. Jordynne--
Wait, we'll talk about Jordynne Grace in just a moment
[Corey] because The Glamour has arrived.
[Corey] Booker, what are you looking for out of Blake Monroe NXT in-ring debut?
[Booker] You know, Blake, she's got the glamour thing going.
Everybody knows she's a hottie biscotti.
But let's see exactly what she can do inside the American Bash circle.
[crowd chanting "Let's go, Blake!"]
[Corey] I haven't heard that one in a while, so that's--
[Booker] Scotty.
[Corey] That's gonna be back on his bingo card
on Tuesday's [indistinct], obviously.
Already popular with the NXT Universe.
Well, Monroe has been a champion, success all over the world.
Japan, Europe.
And have seen since her arrival, she is bold and confident.
[Booker] But has she done anything with Tag Team division.
We're talking about the Tag Team division right there.
Something that Jacy Jayne is very familiar with.
With two Tag Team championships under her belt.
Okay? Okay?
[Vic] Well, Jayne now, the NXT Women's Champion
ripping at the shoulder of Blake Monroe.
And we know there would be nothing more for Jacy Jayne that she would like
than to ruin the in-ring debut of Blake Monroe,
and also walk away from this weekend still Women's Champion.
[Corey[ Can you blame Jacy?
I mean, she is the NXT Women's Champion.
And for some reason, people are refusing to pay Jacy the respect she deserves.
So, you know what? She's gonna step up and force the respect.
Maybe she does that by taking out Blake.
[Booker] She is a pillar, man. She's a pillar here in NXT, an original.
[Vic] So, Booker, you're very upset--
[Corey] Takedown by Henley. Into the cover.
[Vic] You're very upset with those
that are publicly been saying
that Jacy Jayne is the most beatable champion in the WWE.
[Booker] The thing is, Jacy Jayne has been here
uh, for very, very long time.
And it's not just by accident or anything like that.
Jacy Jayne stuck around to win that championship.
Now she's got that belt,
things are looking up with-- For Jacy Jayne.
[Vic] Well, she's seeing her partner get decimated
by the woman who'll challenge her for the title tomorrow at Evolution,
that being Jordynne Grace.
And Grace now-- how about that team work!
-[Booker] What the hell was that? -[Vic] Cover.
[Vic] And she kicked out.
[Corey] Something they dreamed up at the spa?
That would've been anything,
but now I'll come back to what I've said to you earlier, Grace.
One has to wonder if Grace comes up short,
how she will handle the burden of failure as she checks out of the match,
because she has had numerous attempts at the shifts.
[Vic] No doubt about it, it could be argued
that Jordynne Grace is riding her hottest hand.
At least that we've seen in NXT.
That could all go up in smoke right here, at Center Stage in Atlanta.
And following up, Blake Monroe. Round and round.
There you go. Blake Monroe with a little extra on the sidewalk.
Slam, into the cover, looking at the champion. And a kickout.
[Coret] The same could be said for Jacy Jayne.
She's riding high as NXT Women's Champion.
She wants to prove herself.
If she fails to do so in this Tag Team match,
what's that gonna do to the champions mentality?
[Booker] Beautiful switch by Monroe.
-[Vic] Wait a minute. -[Corey] Holding her down, but--
[Corey] That's great situational awareness.
-[Corey] And Jazmyn Nyx. -[Booker] Yeah!
[Booker] That's called Tag Team action, I love it.
[Vic] You were saying
about Jacy Jayne knowing her way around the ring as a Tag Team competitor.
She knows all the tricks.
[Corey] And it's about time to respect on the name of Fallon Henley.
This is a woman who has held gold at NXT numerous times,
yet for some reason, remains overlooked. Just like Jacy.
[Booker] That Tag Team Champion as well.
And I think Fatal Influence has a huge advantage in this matchup.
That's just the way I see it.
[crowd booing]
[Vic] Take a look, Graves, at this teamwork one more time.
A counter roll executed by Blake Monroe,
but Jacy realized what is going on.
-[Booker] Yes! -[Vic] Calling the official.
And Jazmyn Nyx on the outside with a right…
[Corey] Cover by the champion.
[Vic] Blake Monroe with a kickout.
Jazmyn Nyx, the X factor on the outside of the ring.
[Corey] And we talk about Tag Team chemistry.
This is what we're seeing Booker.
Look at how well Fatal Influence has cut the ring in half,
isolated Blake Monroe far, far away from the juggernaut.
[Booker] We could've found out a whole lot about Blake Monroe here, tonight.
[Vic] The most experienced Tag Team.
Two single competitors as a tag was made.
Jordynne Grace making her way in and out the juggernaut,
taking over, dropping Jayne, dropping Fallon.
If she could get her hand on Jazmyn Nyx, I'm sure she'd drop her as well.
Coming back to a nice counter, going to the…
Whoa. For a second,
stopping the momentum of Grace was Jacy Jayne.
[Vic] And in one more…
[Vic] Two for one! Showcase of strength from the juggernaut.
[Booker] Grace on NXT here, tonight.
[crowd chanting "NXT"]
[Vic] Goddesses of hostility cannot be happy right now.
[crowd chanting "NXT"]
[Vic] Yeah, and, uh…
[Corey] Ow!
[Vic] Doesn't matter how big your muscles are,
you get dropped by that pump kick no matter who you are.
[Corey] Right in the chin.
Jacy Jayne on point with that pump kick.
-[Vic] I'm letting them know. -[Corey] Cover by Henley.
[Corey] And a kickout.
[Booker] That's right.
[Corey] You just felt the air leave at Center Stage. Ooh!
[Booker] What did Jacy say? What did she say?
[Vic] Jacy said, "Let them know."
[Vic] "Let the WWE Universe at home know."
[Booker] "Let them have it." That's what she said, I bet.
[Vic] She didn't talk to you. How do you feel?
She's talking to Corey instead of you now.
[Booker] Nothing makes me feel better now she's doing her work.
[Corey] Cover here by the champion.
[Vic] The double suplex and another kickout.
Booker, as a Tag Team specialist,
it's hard to argue Fatal Influence doesn't have the influence.
But taking it further, how much scouting can be done
by Jacy Jayne or Jordynne Grace, for that matter, heading tinto tomorrow?
[Booker] This match is all about Jacy
download that information about Jordynne Grace's strategy.
If Jazmyn Nyx, a little injury perhaps,
[indistinct] coming into that matchup, that could be a problem.
[Corey] You're absolutely right about that, Booker.
[Vic] That's a danger of this matchup for these two.
Not to mention they are becoming
even more familiar with one another inside of the ring.
There are maneuvres happening today that may be countered tomorrow.
These women will study, they will research,
they will strategize accordingly based off of the results today.
[Booker]Download that information, baby.
[indistinct] hates when the spotlight is not on them.
-[Booker] Oh! Ho-ho! -[Vic] And it is square on them
right here in this moment.
And that superkick was square on the jaw of Jordynne Grace.
And here's where the Tag Team continuity come back in
continuing to cut off…
[Booker] Right now they're working
like a well oiled machine,
right there, Tag Team extraordinaire.
I love it, man.
Mending the rules, not breaking them for the moment.
-[Vic] Fallon Henley! -[Booker] Did you see that?
[Vic] High impact offense
[Vic] into the cover and a kickout by Grace.
Derek Sanders doing his best in this matchup
with all three members of Fatal Influence
but they are certainly putting it together
for the main event here at the Great American Bash.
Another cover--another tag made.
Jacy Jayne is back in.
And I'm looking at Jordynne Grace's face,
she, right now, is desperately trying to
grab some sort of air to get into her lungs
to get back into this fight.
[Corey] That's because Fatal Influence is overwhelming Jordynne Grace.
This repeated offense, the quick tags over and over.
This is Tag Team wrestling 101
and it does not look good for Jordynne Grace.
[Corey] [indistinct] earlier, it looks like they are trying to
target a body part to soften Jordynne up
not just for this matchup, but for that Championship match tomorrow.
-[Corey] at WWE-- -[Booker ]They are breaking Jordynne down
-[Booker]trying to soften her up. -[crowd booing]
Just a little bit.
Trust me. Jacy Jayne, she is thinking about
tomorrow night and holding onto the championship.
[Vic] You could hear that all the way at the State Farm Arena,
the site of Saturday night's main event this evening.
And woah! Jordynne Grace right now
This has to be that opportunity,
she's gotta make the most of
overpowering Fallon Henley.
rolling through, so close now to the tag.
This could be the opportunity Jordynne Grace is waiting for.
Blake Monroe eager to reenter the frame.
Blake Monroe looking to save her Muscle Muffin,
here right now, tag me!
And in comes the Glamorous One.
NXT in ring debut.
[Booker] Nothing glamorous about that.
-[Vic] Bam! -[Booker] Oh yes, man!
[Vic] Fired up!
[Booker] Getting the work done.
Jazmyn Nyx, right here, in front of us beside herself,
Jacy Jayne, nice elbow.
Getting a little bit of separation, but uh oh!
-[Booker] Beautiful! -[Vic] [indistinct]
[Vic] A page out of Trish Stratus' playbook.
Trish will be in action tomorrow at Evolution.
Big dropkick from Blake Monroe.
Monroe now into the cover.
-[audience] 1,2,3! -[Vic] for her team's victory!
Jacy Jayne just getting that shoulder up and again, does not want to take
to greats this point, Booker,
Jacy Jayne is not one to take in hell here tonight
and moving into tomorrow's massive matchup.
[Booker] I just need to get a good look.
Get a good look coming into tomorrow night's Evolution.
-[Booker] but right now, Jacy Jane is-- -[Vic] Wait a minute!
this will not go well for anybody.
[Vic] Jacy Jayne they not make it to Evolution.
A big foreram though, by Monroe, you can see it
almost hurting herself, trying to shake some feeling.
[Booker] Wait a minute! She is not going to do that
[Corey] She is certainly trying to.
Jacy hanging on for dear life.
[Vic] Thank God for Fallon, trying her best.
Well, there's Grace.
Grace hooking Fallon. Monroe-- Oh!
Again, our referee did not see Jazmyn Nyx,
Jacy Jayne wiping out Monroe.
Sanders sees it now.
And it's Monroe, it's Jayne who were the two legal superstars
in this match until that moment when Fallon Henley tagged in.
And again, Fatal Influence in control
and a blockbuster on the corner.
will this be enough?
[Booker] Here we go!
[Vic] Stacking up Monroe, and a kickout.
Think about how sweet a victory would be for Fatal Influence.
Both Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne descended.
They spoiled the in-ring debut of Blake Monroe.
[Corey] At the same time, I hear what you're saying but look,
if you want to call this down the middle,
this is almost a glorified handicap Jazmyn Nyx out here,
put three on two.
[Booker] Why are you always complaining?
[Vic] I'm stating facts.
Has she not interfered once but twice?
Blake Monroe-- Nicely covered!
Almost got the three.
[all] Oh!
[Vic] Big headbutt just rocked Fallon.
Monroe fell back into the tag.
Jordynne Grace now… Oh!
Spine buster!
[Corey] Power overtaken.
Wait. Wait a minute.
-[Vic] Monroe beat herself -[Booker] What the hell.
Just took a shot from Jacy Jayne covered by the--
challenge her tomorrow night in another near fall.
This is getting bad
for officially doing his best job right here, right now.
[Booker] I can't blame monroe, right there.
She took a big shot, she may not have known
where she was in that situation.
[groans]
[Vic] Countered for a moment.
-[Vic] Jordynne Grace-- -[Booker] Ow!
[Vic] now the action is spilling all over Center Stage.
[crowd cheering]
[Vic] Jordynne Grace- oh!
[Corey] Fallon with a spear!
Turning this matchup right around.
What a main event here at the great american bash.
Take another look impressive athleticism by
Jordynne Grace.
Fallon took advantage of the situation, delivered a spear.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
Booker, would you call this a pivotal point in the matchup?
[Booker] We could call for both of these teams right now
because we don't know who's gonna win.
It is 50-50 right now
[Vic] Here comes Jayne, here comes Monroe.
Both are fresher women for their respective teams.
Trained with heavy artillery.
NXT Women's Champion took a right hand from Monroe,
making her NXT debut.
[Booker] Big shot there by Jacy.
[Vic] Main event premium, live event spotlight for both women.
combination offense step up rocking Monroe.
you can feel the rage coming out of Jacy Jayne.
Jayne-- ooh!
Nodoby home. Monroe from behind, could be late
for a German Suplexes connected.
Blake Monroe got all of that german suplexes out of the corner
on at the NXT Women's Champion.
There's Fallon Henley again running interference.
Distracted our offical.
[Vic] What do you mean who's legal?
[Corey] Jacy Jane's legal but watch Jasmine Nyx!
[Vic] Again!
Nyx sticking her nose where it doesn't belong.
[all cheering]
-[Corey] It's Masha Slamovich! -[Booker] What the hell?
[Vic] The TNA Knockout Champion.
She'll meet the winner
of tomorrow's NXT Women's championship match
at Smaiversary.
But back in the center of the ring, two for one combination offense.
Into the cover goes Jacy Jane
and at the last moment, Jordynne Grace.
Masha Slamovich just equaled the odds in this main event.
[Corey] Look at this.
Masha Slamovich coming to the aid of Grace and Blake Monroe.
Rushing impact in the middle with a knee of the champion
might have turned Monroe's lights clean out.
But the muscle muffin bulldozer keeps this matchup alive.
[Vic] What a main event here at the Great American Bash.
Jayne, Grace, meet tomorrow,
Fallon Henley and Blake Monroe,
All four women, rioght now--
[Booker] Fight, here we go, baby.
[Vic] Double clothesline dropped Jayne and Monroe.
Everything staring to break down right now.
Our official losing control of this matchup.
And right around goes Fallon Henley.
And I do believe the two legal stars are Jayne and Blake Monroe.
-[all cheering] -[Booker] Jacy Jayne… So close.
[Vic] Was the women's champion…
Rolling encore, does not connect.
Big boot does not connect. Super kick certainly did.
[Booker] Right on the money.
[Vic] And right back in comes Jayne.
Rolling up Monroe, center of the ring.
[all exclaim]
[Corey] Back fist by Grace!
[Vic] And turn around DDT from Blake Monroe.
Monroe into the cover.
[Vic] And Blake Monroe just pinned the NXT Women's Champion.
[annoanucer] Here are your winners, the team of Jordynne Grace
and Blake Monroe!
[Vic] What a win for this newly minted tag team.
And her in ring debut, Blake Monroe just pinned the NXT Women's Champion.
[Booker] Baby!
[Vic] Let's go back to some of the action.
Here we are seeing a roll up attempt by Jacy Jayne
who was met by a heavy impact from the outside.
Double DDT from the glamour
and Blake Monroe
earns the biggest W of her still growing career.
It was a glamorous debut and another memorable Great American Bash.
[Corey] How does this affect tomorrow night's evolution?
[all cheering] s this affect tomorrow night's evolution?