[narrator] Then.
Now.
[crowd cheering]
[no audible dialogue]
[narrator] Forever.
Together.
[Joseph] We are live in Fort Lauderdale.
The site of two WWE Armageddon Premium live events,
WCW Bash at the Beach,
ECW Hardcore Heaven,
but the energy is off the charts here tonight
-as I welcome you all to No Mercy. -[chanting] NXT! NXT! NXT!
[Joseph] And there is Lola Vice.
She is looking to get her first taste of gold tonight
in the shadows of her hometown here at No Mercy.
She, of course, will be going up against our women's champion
Fatal Influence's Jacy Jayne.
The question is, who walks out with the championship gold tonight?
For Jordynne Grace, not looking for gold
but looking to hurt, looking to punish The Glamour tonight,
while her opponent Blake Monroe,
well she has promised to unleash hell onto The Juggernaut
who survived the weaponized steel cage.
Earlier today, the number one contender arrived.
Confident as ever, Ricky Saints.
Can he dethrone the ruler
or will Oba Femi continue to destroy all those in his path?
The NXT championship to be decided in our main event tonight.
[crowd cheering]
The War Memorial is sold out and tonight no acts of forgiveness or compassion.
Our superstars won't give their opponents the time to breathe or recover.
This night is about showing No Mercy.
[narrator] As the seasons change,
comforting warmth remains in the sunshine state.
But tonight, a chilling force of nature will show the superstars of NXT
no mercy.
[Booker T] We're about to do it like it should be done.
This is No Mercy. This is NXT.
Now can you dig that, sucker?
["DAMN" playing]
[narrator] A champion's cruelty can be the key to an endless reign.
[Booker T] That's Jacy Jayne!
[Jayne] For over 100 days,
I have been standing in your face as the NXT women's champion.
[narrator] But a fierce warrior fueled by family honor arrives to dismantle it.
[Joseph] Lola Vice looks to lend a fatal blow to Jacy Jayne's championship reign.
[Vice] At No Mercy,
I become NXT Women's Champion
close to the one place where I know how to win best,
Vice City, baby.
[narrator] Hell comes for two bitter rivals.
A hell as cold and sharp as steel.
[Joseph] This will get ugly.
Blake Monroe, Jordynne Grace, one on one inside a weaponized steel cage.
At No Mercy, I'm not stuck in a cage with Blake.
She's trapped in a cage with me.
I'm going to break your heart.
Now The Glamour has teeth.
See you in hell, JG.
[narrator] To remain at the top of NXT,
wars must be waged as a revolution looks to overthrow a ruler.
Ricky, I see fear in your eyes. No Mercy.
I'm going to make The Absolute absolutely mediocre.
[Saints] I'm the man. I'm the one, Oba Femi.
Come No Mercy, I am not gonna be denied.
I am gonna be the NXT champion
because I am absolute-wicked-freaking Saint.
["DAMN" continues]
[narrator 1] Tonight in Fort Lauderdale,
ruthlessness, savagery, and malice cuts through NXT.
Welcome to No Mercy.
[narrator 2] And now WWE presents NXT: No Mercy.
[crowd chanting] NXT! NXT! NXT!
-["Who Want It" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[shouting]
[bell dings]
[Rome] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Greensboro, North Carolina,
weighing in at 195 pounds,
Je'Von Evans!
[Joseph] Vic Joseph alongside the two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.
Booker, you were ringside yesterday, last night with Michael Cole.
It's been 24 hours and that man,
the young OG certainly impressed the masses on SmackDown.
[Booker T] Went up there and did a hell of a job, Vic.
I said last night on SmackDown against Sami.
He's gonna get a Herculean exit. I echo that.
I echo that here tonight against Josh Briggs
because what happened at the end of that match?
This kid is definitely gonna be a little bit hot.
It's about to pop off. Oh, yes!
-["Journey Ahead" playing] -[crowd boos]
[Rome] And his opponents from Nothing, Arizona,
weighing in at 290 pounds, Josh Briggs!
[Joseph] Well, it's a hell of a transition there, Book.
Let's go back to what took place last night on SmackDown.
as you were just talking about, it was after… Bam!
He answered the open challenge for the United States championship.
Je'Von Evans was planted by Josh Briggs.
That man made his presence known last night on the blue ground.
[Booker T] You know what they say,
the first man that throw a punch like that is the man that has run out of ideas.
We're gonna find out here tonight at No Mercy.
[Joseph] You think Josh Briggs is out of ideas when it comes to
-what to do to Je'Von Evans? -[Booker T] Hey man, that's what they say.
That's an old saying.
From back in the day.
In the hood.
[Joseph] Well, we are set to kick things off here.
Briggs, Evans, No Mercy.
This, of course, is on the heels
-of Tuesday's chaos. -[bell dings]
It carried over to last night's TNA's Victory Road.
Je'Von challenging Leon Slater for the exhibition title
and bound for glory.
Is that wise, the young OG to just add to his already full plate?
[Booker T] This kid is definitely on a mission to be great in this business.
-Ah, yeah! Man, sometimes, you gotta… -[Joseph] Oh, my word!
…put yourself in certain positions.
That's what this kid is all about.
-Je'Von looked like he got caught up… -[Booker T] Yeah.
…in between those two ropes.
And look, for Je'Von Evans…
I'm looking up from my desk right now, from our desk here, Book, and…
[crowd groans]
He looks to be favoring his right hip.
And let's go back to last night. I mean, it was a hell of a match. He's not 100%.
[Booker T] He's definitely laboring right now.
I mean, I don't know if it's that shot he just took over the top rope,
-or if it's something to do with his hip… -[Joseph] Whoa!
… he's still got his balance and his wits about him.
And that's a good thing right there.
[Joseph] Well, he's gonna have to throw some hands right now.
-He's getting a little bit too close-- -[Booker T] Aw, yeah!
[Joseph] He's still got that speed,
but you can see him favoring that right hip right row.
Look, Book, you know, when you first come in the game, they try to play you.
You drop a couple opponents…
Look how they wave to you…
-Je'Von into the cover… -[crowd] One!
…but he's gone from the PC to Madison Square,
and the only thing is a matter of years.
And as fate would have it,
his status appears to be rising
-if he can take out Josh Briggs. -[Booker T] Oh, baby!
Talking about a rib, Josh Briggs here trying to pull a rib.
He's trying to take this kid's career,
his livelihood away from him.
And I don't think the young OG is gonna be down for that.
[Joseph] Oh, and he just got scooped up to the young OG with one arm
and is overpowered by Josh Briggs.
And, no doubt, Briggs is gonna have the strength advantage in this matchup.
[Booker T] Oh, Briggs is a big guy and he's strong and tenacious.
As well as… This guy, I feel like
the boat, the parade is kind of passing him by.
-[crowd chanting] -The sand in the hourglass is running out
for this man Josh Briggs and he gotta make good tonight.
[Joseph] I talked about what happened on Tuesday!
[Booker T] Yes!
[Joseph] I understand that our general manager Ava
will have an announcement tonight
in regards to what happened this past week on NXT.
-Briggs of the elbow, into the cover… -[crowd] One, two…
…and Evans able to kick out.
As this matchup has begun, it's starting to carry forward.
Who needs to win more?
Is it Josh Briggs?
-Or is it that young OG, Je'Von Evans? -[groans]
[Booker T] Young OG, I think he really needs to win.
I mean, because the kid has been in some really, really, really great positions,
um, in some really great matches, but when you look at the one loss record,
this kid has definitely been on the bad side of that right there.
You do not wanna get that in your head that you're just a journeyman.
You're just a good hand.
That's not what this kid is all about.
He could be great, man.
[Joseph] And again, Evans really favoring that hip and Briggs knows it.
Briggs was there. Briggs was live at SmackDown to see
that open challenge be answered by Je'Von Evans.
He was there at the end to plant and drop Evans.
He knows that this man is not 100%.
-There's bull's eyes all over his body… -[grunts]
…and Briggs is trying to exploit that right now.
But Evans' took quick around. Shoulders down.
-Near call. -[Booker T] Let me tell you something.
-Josh Briggs is one of those guys that-- -[Joseph] Wait… Oh, no.
[Booker T] Oh, yes!
You know, he doesn't really show it.
Oh! Wait a minute. Oh, yes. Wait a minute. Let's see what we got here.
[Joseph] Into the cover off that innovative backbreaker…
And another kick out, but again look what Briggs is aiming for,
the lower back of the hip.
[Booker T] Look, like I said, look at that…
-[Joseph] Bam! -He's trying to hurt this kid, man.
Like I said, Josh Briggs is a guy that he hadn't been showing it as of late,
as far as when the when the lights go out,
when nobody's around,
that's when, when all of those monsters creep in for this guy right here.
That's what we're seeing right in the middle of this ring with Josh Briggs.
[Joseph] To your point, Josh Briggs said his mind set…
Off the head, one! Off the head, two!
-…was completely changed… -Off the head, three! All the way down.
All the way off him.
…when he stopped listening and caring about what the fans…
[Booker T] I mean, you know,
I hate to say it, but you know, to break out in this business,
you know, it's a selfish business.
You gotta be very, very selfish.
-You gotta think about me. -[Joseph] Okay, okay.
The Jackson championship.
That's what it's all about.
[Joseph] Bring up Jackson championships, and was it smart?
Was it wise of Je'Von Evans 24 hours ago to answer that open challenge?
To possibly wear that United States championship
knowing he was gonna be in there with this man, this man of mayhem?
[Booker T] It was very smart because like I said last night,
it was a win-win situation for Je'Von Evans.
If he wins, he wins. If he loses, he wins.
He got the experience of a lifetime with a man named Sami Zayn,
a guy that's been in that same position at the OG once upon a time,
the perfect, perfect example.
[Joseph] It's not often you see an Irish whip.
Into the turnbuckle to take down Je'Von Evans
and Evans, it wasn't just seeing that look up,
-he is punching the mat in frustration. -[crowd chanting]
What would what does a hip injury feel like, Book,
if you're in there trying to fly around like he does.
[Booker T] It's not just a hip injury it's a lower lumbar,
you know what I mean? The lower lumbar.
[Joseph] That's a Scrabble word. I'll give you five points for that.
[Booker T] And right now Je'Von Evans is trying to, he's trying to fight it off.
You can see it in his eyes and in his body language.
He's trying his best.
-[groans] -[Booker T] Oh, yes!
[Joseph] What a right hand from Je'Von following it up with another one.
And right now you got to think Evans is trying to block out whatever pain
is shooting up his hip into his back,
and Briggs is overpowering once again.
It's odd and hard to believe that for Josh Briggs,
this is his first singles match on a premium live event.
[Booker T] A guy like Josh Briggs is so upset.
I mean, he probably felt like he should have been here a long time ago
and right now this right here could be his one shot to take advantage of.
[Joseph] And just taking too much time… In his spine, lower back…
-[Booker T] See that? -…hip right into that steel.
[Booker T] I mean, Je'Von Evans
just ricocheted off that barrier right there, man.
[Joseph] Well, that barrier, let's be honest
with people that are watching at home. Underneath that cloth is solid steel.
[Booker T] Steel barrier. Like I said, he just ricocheted,
just springboarded of that rail. Wow.
[crowd cheering, chanting]
[Joseph] NXT Universe sold out here in Fort Lauderdale.
Right on top of Josh Briggs,
and again it was Briggs who said he doesn't listen,
he doesn't care what anyone behind the railing has to say
because they're just fans.
-It has no bearing on what he does. -[Booker T] I will tell you right now,
the fans are giving him an ear full right now
from that little job that he did on Je'Von Evans right there.
He tried to hurt that kid.
[Joseph] Certainly is and Evans is able to break that.
But you don't think it's a little out of pocket for Briggs to talk like he knows
-Je'Von Evans? -[grunts]
[Booker T] Just words, man. I mean, those are called fighting words.
Have you ever been in a fight before?
Somebody might tell you something… Somebody might talk about your mama.
[Joseph] I know what you're trying to do. Those are fighting words.
[Joseph] I see what you're trying to do, and I'm not gonna fall for it.
We're gonna focus on this matchup
and there has been a lot of words thrown back between both these men.
It was actually Je'Von Evans who said that Briggs is big, but his mouth is bigger.
[Booker T] I mean, yeah. I mean, like I said,
Briggs has something to prove, man.
Briggs has something… Not to the universe or anything,
but to himself that he could go out there and get the job done.
That's what it's all about.
[Joseph] At some point tonight you're gonna say, "Give Briggs his flowers.
Can you give credit to this man?" Come on, say something… Look.
It's hard to argue that he can do things most big men just dream about doing.
[Booker T] I'm just speaking truth, man. That's all I'm doing.
I'm just speaking truth. Ask me what I think about Josh Briggs.
Ask me what I think.
-[Joseph] What do you think? -[Booker T] He's a hell of a talent.
I didn't think you were gonna go with that one.
If Corey Graves is listening, I figured you're gonna go,
"He's a big guy." And he just got caught with a right hand.
[Booker T] Oh, yes.
[Joseph] And that might just pissed off Josh Briggs.
He just got blocked right back. With the right, comes Je'Von.
[Booker T] Let me tell you something. Je'Von Evans is gonna find himself in…
He just gotta sit in the pocket and throw hands, man.
-Oh, yes. -[Joseph] There's that strength!
And there's some power from Je'Von.
And as Je'Von start to rally, I want to come to you
because a lot of people have said they lost a little bit of faith in Je'Von
when he went MIA and no one could get a hold of him
over the last several weeks until his return.
[Booker T] Sometimes you gotta take a step back, man.
It's called self-discovery.
Trying to find yourself.
That's what this young man has done over these past few months.
And right now if you can just cash it.
-Wait a minute, wait a minute. -[Joseph] For Josh Briggs.
[crowd cheering]
This is what he's been trying to say to Je'Von.
-Square up and… Oh! -[Booker T] Oh!
[Joseph] Letting his feet do the talking.
-Big clothesline right to him. -[Booker T] Beautiful, baby!
[Joseph] Charging right back in. Je'Von getting bouncy!
[Booker T] That's that adrenaline factor right there just kicked in.
[Joseph] Run it back. The young OG.
And Je'Von Evans has heard enough from Briggs.
He heard Briggs say that Evans competes in a way not for wins and losses,
but just for the approval of the WWE and the NXT universe.
Briggs said that wanting that approval makes him weak.
Well, I don't think he looks weak right now, Book, but he looks fired up.
[Booker T] I totally disagree with that. Josh Briggs, right there, that sixth man…
That extra added something you need is essential sometime,
and right now the young OG is feeding off this energy of this crowd, man.
[Joseph] Je'Von Evans blocking out any pain and…
Je'Von Evans looking to go high risk, literally pulling himself to the top.
No way, we're gonna go…
[crowd booing]
-[Booker T] That was smart. -[Joseph] Briggs, I think, saved himself…
-[Booker T] Get out of Dodge. -…in that situation.
But didn't save himself.
-[Booker T] Oh, yeah! -[Joseph] OG!
-[Booker T] Buddy! Yes! -[Joseph] Je'Von wants to pin this man.
He wants to prove it inside the ring.
Getting Briggs back in, but Briggs is a long way away.
[Booker T] Yeah, but this kid could fly with the best of them,
with the greatest of ease.
Oh, yes!
-[Joseph] Getting a little froggy. -[crowd] One!
-Two, thr… -[Booker T] Oh!
[Joseph] I just looked over to our timekeeper Mike Rome as well.
-That was close. -[Booker T] They got the goods right here.
Throwing all caution to the wind right there.
Trying to get the big leap and then went for…
-[Joseph grunts] -…right there and almost got it.
-[crowd] One, two, thr… -[Joseph] You know what's impressive?
Most of the time you see someone hit a high impact frog splash,
they bounce off their competitor.
Je'Von Evans had the presence of mind and the body coordination
to stay right on top of Briggs,
but that's a lot of credit to Briggs too, for being able to kick out.
[Booker T] Kicked out of a big, strong spot right there.
I always say with Je'Von Evans, a guy like Josh Briggs…
-Je'Von… Oh! -[Joseph] No!
[Booker T] About to land a big shot just like that shot that Josh just landed
to the back of the cranium.
Oh, yes. Here we go.
-[Joseph] Following it up. And that… -[Booker T] Good God. Good God, man.
-…could be it. -[Crowd] One!
-Two! -[Joseph] Ooh!
Evans keeping the fight alive and you know both these men have to be thinking about
what's gonna happen in our main event.
Saints, Oba for the NXT championship.
Could the winner, Booker, be in line for an NXT championship opportunity
-on the other end of No Mercy? -[Booker T] I get you.
Man, that could happen on the other end but right now these guys are in a fight.
They're in a fight right now, man, for their lives.
[Joseph] NXT universe sold out here in Fort Lauderdale.
-[grunting] -In the War Memorial,
letting these two know just what they think of this matchup as we kick off.
No Mercy, Evans taking the big man down.
-Center of the ring. -[Booker T] Oh!
[Joseph] Almost able to pull another one out.
Big jumping for him under the jaw.
Briggs is rock… Following up the right hand.
Je'Von Evans now starting to feel the flow and just got bull rushed.
[Booker T] Got caught big time right there.
Oh, baby.
[Joseph] Just caught Briggs.
Stomp, pop with a super kick.
-Knees are starting to get weak, big boot. -[grunts]
-Followed up with another… -[Booker T] Double up!
[Joseph] And remember the history of jaw injuries for Je'Von Evans.
[Booker T] Yeah, I mean, the jaw injuries are…
I just spotted something, Je'Von Evans, his back, his lower back is all taped up
as well, he tried to hide that injury coming into this match.
But right now it's a bull's eye on it, dawg.
It's a bull's eye.
[Joseph] And we think about all the pain and… Oh!
[Booker T] Oh, good night.
[Joseph] Into the cover, falling right in that left shoulder.
Great job by our official Adrian Butler.
That left shoulder did just make it off the mat for Je'Von Evans,
but I looked up, I'm looking in Je'Von's eyes.
I don't think he realizes that he's not back at SmackDown in Orlando.
He doesn't realize he went down I-95 and is in Fort Lauderdale.
[Booker T] These fans right right here in this arena right here,
they just woke Je'Von Evans up because he was asleep, man.
All he needed was a pillow.
He was out.
[Joseph] Well, Josh Briggs now.
At what point does Briggs start scratching his head thinking,
"What do I got to do to keep down Je'Von Evans?"
He's hit him with just about everything here tonight.
And well, I said Briggs can do
a lot of things that most big men only dream about
and that's going to the top.
And now it's Briggs just pulling Je'Von all the way up.
[Booker T] Josh Briggs, is he gonna win here tonight?
He's gonna make his mark.
He's gonna cash his ticket.
-He's gonna stop this young man… -[Joseph] What the hell's he doing?
…at the gate,
-and he's gonna look to finish it. -[Joseph] No, no.
[Booker T] He's gonna look to finish it right here, man.
-[Joseph] A super… Whoa! -[crowd cheering]
[Booker T] You got to be kidding me.
[Joseph] We talked about ESPN.
That's a top ten all over SportsCenter.
-[Booker T] The highlight… -[Joseph] One through ten!
And a big kick right to the jaw.
Evans right now, feeling it.
-Springboard got caught. Oh, no! -[Booker T] Aw, man!
-[Joseph] Oh, got planted. -[crowd] One!
-[Joseph] With a chokeslam. No, no, no. -[crowd] Two!
[Joseph] No, no, not yet. How?
We talk about resiliency.
I don't know where Je'Von Evans is getting this from.
[Joseph exclaims]
-Monstrous, thunderous chokeslamming. -[crowd] One, two…
[Joseph] He just beat the count and I don't… I honestly do not know how.
[Booker T] Let me tell you something, Josh Briggs is one step ahead
of this young OG right now.
He's bringing the pain and he's looking to do something special here tonight.
[Joseph] What the…
I mean, Evans doesn't… Evans pulled himself up.
Briggs doesn't want to get himself disqualified by any means.
[Booker T] Wait a minute, get out of the way.
-Back it-- -[Joseph] OG!
Oh!
[crowd groans]
[Joseph] Clubbling blow from Briggs.
Briggs right now is in the driver's seat of this matchup
and I don't know how much is left in Je'Von Evans.
-[Booker T] Oh, right on that jaw. -[Joseph] You can say that again.
-And right into a cover. -[crowd] Two…
[Joseph] Sometimes it's better to be lucky than anything else.
[Booker T] Referee was in the perfect position right there
to see that. You got to give him a lot of credit right there.
[Joseph] Great job. And again that clothesline.
Josh Briggs hit Je'Von Evans with so much force, fell into the cover,
that Briggs's own momentum carried Je'Von Evans out of that bottom hole.
[Booker T] Mind you, he was on that surgically repaired jaw as well.
This kid could be in a lot of pain right now.
He's in a lot, a lot of dire straits.
[stammers] I don't know. I don't know.
-He's in deep waters. -[Joseph] You brought up our official.
When does the official step in and maybe try to save Je'Von?
[Booker T] Right now he's gonna, he may have to have wherewithal understanding
and know how to do his job perhaps, but this kid's no quitter.
He's no quitter, dawg.
[Joseph] We know there's no quit
in Je'Von Evans.
Hell no!
[Booker T] You're gonna have to separate this kid
-from his senses before he quit. -Hell no!
[Booker T] I'm telling you that right now.
-[Evans] Do it! [exclaims] -[crowd gasps]
Huh? Huh? Huh?
Come on!
Right here!
-[Joseph] And… Oh! -[Booker T] All this…
[Joseph] Came out of nowhere. Briggs is rocked!
Je'Von is flying and just got caught again.
And Briggs might be done playing around.
Fun and games are over.
Cutter! Cutter! Cutter out of nowhere!
-Je'Von! -[Booker T] You got to be kidding me now.
[Joseph] Hey! Down again!
-Into the cover! -[crowd] One!
Two! Three!
-[Joseph] Evans silences Briggs. -[bell dings]
[Rome] Here is your winner.
Je'Von Evans!
[Joseph] Unbelievable!
[hip-hop music playing]
Briggs might have brought out a new side of Je'Von Evans
we may have never seen before.
Josh Briggs was bringing and laying out the heavy artillery right there.
The momentum from that clothesline, carrying Je'Von's foot over.
Saved him maybe in that moment.
Big cutter from Je'Von was followed up all the way to the tippy top.
Take another look.
So nice, see it twice.
-Bam! Picture perfect from Je'Von Evans. -[crowd] One, two, three!
[Joseph] Here tonight to kick off No Mercy.
And now, if you're Je'Von Evans,
if you are the young OG,
you can now turn your attention
to the X Division and TNA's Leon Slater.
[Joseph] We're in Fort Lauderdale here tonight, it is No Mercy.
Let's go back to last Tuesday though.
Mike Santana joined us on commentary
-and everything was fine until that slap… -[bell dings]
…woke up not only Mike Santana, but everyone from TNA that was in attendance.
The NXT locker room cleared out.
All the men, all the women.
This was absolute chaos what we saw last Tuesday on NXT.
[Booker T] Yeah, slapped the taste out that boys mouth.
They kicked this thing off, man. I love it.
[Joseph] As I said, TNA wrestling on that night turned into total nonstop anarchy,
and it wouldn't just stop there.
We had to have more security, more security, more security
finally separate everyone from NXT
and everyone from TNA.
And that brings me to something. I talked about earlier that tonight,
here at No Mercy, on No Mercy,
we will hear from our general manager Ava
as it relates to what transpired last Tuesday live on NXT.
But right now I want to go and talk about something that happened last night,
not at SmackDown,
but at Victory Road at TNA's event last night,
it was Kelani Jordan who was in action.
She was one of the final two to battle it out alongside Léi Ying Lee.
These two would meet for the vacated knockouts title at Victory Road,
and really what a battle it was between these two women
with Indi Hartwell as a special guest official
and right here, Kelani Jordan will prove
-she is truly one of a kind. -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[bell dings] -[crowd cheering]
[Garcia] Here is your winner.
And new
TNA Knockouts World Champion,
Kelani Jordan!
[chuckles]
Someone always told me, "fortune favors the bold,"
and at first I didn't really know what they meant,
but now I finally get it.
I became the first ever women's North American champion,
and now I'm a TNA Knockouts Champion.
I get to represent NXT and TNA and I'm gonna do it with all the pride
that I have, all the purpose, and I'm gonna give 110% every single time.
A lot of people, they choose to stand in and stay in one lane, but not me.
Kelani Jordan stands out wherever she goes.
I'm gonna continue to make history, turning my dreams into gold,
because at the end of the day, no one can do it like Lani.
-[Jospeh] Booker, this… -[Booker T] Bravo.
We have to give a huge congratulations to Kelani Jordan.
Bravo.
Congratulations, young lady.
You did it!
Look, what a moment it was, but right now we have some late breaking news
that we just received here at the desk.
Lainey Reed suffered an injury over the last few days.
She is not medically cleared to compete here tonight
for what was supposed to be the WWE Speed championship.
That being said, Sol Ruca will still defend that championship here tonight.
And look for, Sol Ruca, I bring that up because so late in the day,
and had to be medically cleared to compete for Lainey Reid…
Sol still wanted to defend this championship.
It's very interesting to see who she will defend it against,
but for Sol Ruca, I mean, hats off, right?
Because there's no way,
there's no way she's prepared. So what would be going through her mind?
[Booker T] She's got to feel like she is just that damn good, Victor.
That's the only reason you do something like that, man.
[Joseph] As I mentioned, Sol wanted to defend the title. Our general manager…
put it out there: Who wants to step up to the plate?
[Booker T] Get some want some.
They better be big enough, bad enough to take some.
[Joseph] Who wants to challenge for the speed championship?
[Booker T] I wasn't finished, man.
-Jack. -[Joseph] We're about to find out.
["Let 'Em Know" plays]
Oh, did you see the eyes of Sol Ruca?
[Booker T chuckles]
[crowd chants] Jaida Parker! Jaida Parker!
[Joseph] This woman's got to be feeling lucky.
This must have been the first person to respond to our general manager
for this golden championship opportunity.
[Booker T] Opportunity is right, man.
You know, sometimes you win by attrition.
That's Jaida Parker.
[Joseph] Let's remind everyone, this is a championship match.
It has a five minute time limit, as you see.
No decision in five minutes, the champion will retain.
Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker for the Women's Speed Championship.
Let's go up to Mike Rome.
[bell dings]
The following contest is a Speed Championship match
with a five-minute time limit, and it is for
the Women's Speed Championship.
Introducing the challenger.
-From Port St. Lucie, Florida. -[crowd cheers]
Jaida Parker!
And her opponent from Honolulu, Hawaii.
She is the NXT Women's North American
and the Women's Speed champion,
Sol Ruca!
[Joseph] We see Zaria out here alongside Sol.
Of course, they had a little friendly argument, so to speak.
Sol accidentally hit her with the Sol Snatcher,
if you remember several weeks back.
But it is all about the Speed Championship.
History being made right here, right now, sold out in Fort Lauderdale.
This is the first time a WWE Speed Championship
will be defended on a Premium Live Event.
-[bell dings] -For Sol Ruca, proud double champion,
winning a Superstar in NXT this year.
Gets Parker down quickly four seconds into the matchup,
shift of the weight by Parker, and again
it's all about who can beat the clock, who can be the fastest.
It's all about speed.
[Booker T] It's all about speed. You can't waste any time in a match like this.
And let me tell you something right now about Sol Ruca.
She's a double champion, and right now she had that cloak of invincibility.
So it's gonna be hard for Jaida tonight.
[Joseph] No losses to Chelsea Green for the Women's United States Title.
That's further proof of Sol Ruca, that she is battle tested this year.
163 days as Speed champion, 160 days as the Women's North American champion.
Thirty seconds already off the clock.
Jaida Parker trying to regroup. Sol right now.
[Booker T] Oh, yes!
[Joseph] Not allowing any room for Jaida Parker to breathe
-and then mocking the challenge. -[Booker T] All about speed right now.
So Ruca is all about speed right now.
Zaria is out here giving high fives.
Seem like everything is all under control.
But wait a minute.
-[Joseph] Well, Jaida… Whoa, whoa, whoa! -[Booker T] That was smart. That's smart.
[Joseph] Nice baseball slide. Though it got countered, got caught.
And then a big right from Jaida Parker,
and this must be playing into Jaida's, obviously, her mind-set in this matchup,
maybe her strategy.
She knew she was competing.
I don't necessarily know Sol did, but jumping off that bottom rope
right into the throat, making it hard for Sol to breathe.
Into the cover, hook of the leg, and a kick out.
[Booker T] I think Jaida Parker's the one that's really ready for the…
-Wait a minute! -[Joseph] On the cover!
[Booker T] Ready for this moment.
And I always say winning that first championship is the hardest one.
If she could do that tonight, it could be, it could start something special, man.
[Joseph] Nice counter for Sol, and Sol right now…
Oh, wait a minute.
Backcracker, backstabber, nonetheless it was effective.
Looking for that Sol Snatcher.
Parker, though, had it countered.
And Parker, a different style than Lainey Reid is.
We got about two minutes off the clock.
[Booker T] We're about to go, we about to go high five, baby.
Oh, yes, man, let me see it. Oh, wait a minute.
[Joseph] And look, she did in high step
'cause she knows she's got to beat the clock.
She's got three minutes to win this championship.
Falcon Arrow.
Center of the ring, will this be enough?
Do we have a new Speed champion?
And a kick out.
We're in the middle of that John Cena retirement tour.
It was back in No Mercy 2007.
Had to relinquish the title due to a torn pectoral on that night.
Three separate WWE championship matches tonight.
This is the first of four championship matches at No Mercy.
Looking for that Hipnotic.
Got countered. Tilt-A-Whirl.
Taking her down into the cover,
overpowering Jaida was Sol in another near fall.
[Booker T] A great recovery there by Sol Ruca.
Tells me her IQ, her skill level, has definitely risen.
Oh, yes! Oh, yes!
[Joseph] What a planted knee that was, right to the chest.
[Booker T] Again, smart there by Jaida Parker to gain a little separation,
not get caught with that Sol Snatcher.
-[Booker T] Oh! -[Joseph] Sol Ruca just got caught.
Fell right back into the ring as we are about two minutes left.
And for Jaida Parker, she knows this is that moment.
She looked back and saw the clock.
Two minute warning right now.
For the challenger, big knee right to the face.
Sol hit that DDT,
and now she gets to keep a little bit of life left in this matchup.
Into the cover in her own right center of the ring.
Near fall to retain.
But look, if the clock strikes zero, Sol Ruca retains her championship.
[Booker T] The champion's advantage going into a matchup like this. I mean…
But I don't think that should be Sol Ruca…
Sol wants to prove that she is truly one of the best in the women's division,
if not the best in the women's division.
[Joseph] Ninety seconds left in this Speed Championship match,
and you can feel the tension starting to rise
-here amongst all the members of the WWE. -[Booker T] Oh, yes!
[Joseph] It… Whoa, whoa… Sol wisely rolling to the outside
and that's gonna waste a little bit more time.
And every second, so crucial here in this Speed matchup,
As you're looking right now, 70 seconds 70 seconds left in this matchup.
And both superstars are right out here in front of us.
[Booker T] Oh, yeah. If you're the champ, you definitely wanna try to stretch time…
-[Joseph] Sixty seconds, Book! -…as much as you possibly can.
-[Joseph] Under sixty seconds! -[Booker T] Oh, man!
[Joseph] Fifty-five seconds and counting.
[Booker T] Sol's got too eager to try to do anything, but here we go.
[Joseph] Sol able to roll right through, but there's only 45 seconds.
Big Hipnotic.
She got her, but Jaida's gotta get her back in the ring.
[Booker T] Can't win it out here, man.
Got to get her back in the ring. Here we go.
[Joseph] Thirty-five seconds left. Don't worry about Zaria, Jaida.
You gotta get in the damn ring.
-[Booker T] Thirty-three seconds. -[Joseph] Oh, no.
Lash Legend.
Lash just got dropped by the Spear.
Zaria took out Lash.
Twenty-one seconds. We're down inside the final twenty!
Oh! Ruca snatches the soul of Miss Parker.
[bell dings]
[Rome] Here is your winner.
And still, the Women's Speed Champion
Sol Ruca!
[Joseph] First and foremost, Lash Legend had no business being out here.
Jaida Parker is just as confused and angry as anyone else.
She has the right to be. But at the end of the day,
beating the clock was the champion.
This is the turning point, Booker. You can't even argue with me on that.
[Booker T] Lash definitely came out here flipped the script a little bit.
But I tell you, man.
What a Sol Snatcher by Sol Ruca to retain the championship.
[Joseph] With 11 seconds, I believe, left.
[Booker T] Wow.
Sol able to retain.
Sol continues her reign as a double champion in NXT.
-[spectator] There he is! -[crowd screams]
Joe, another loss for you at the hands of DarkState,
which seems to be a running theme in recent weeks.
So how are you planning on handling your dark state problem?
Look, I'm hurting, Kelly,
because those guys… [inhales deeply]
They know how to dish it out. I should know better.
I will say there's something they said in that ring tonight
that really resonated with me because I do appreciate who they are,
what they stand for, the brotherhood--
[laughs] Hey, hold up, hold up. Oh, my God.
I mean, is this dude serious right now? Hey, chill, we ain't here to fight you.
We're just here to warn you, your final warning.
Bruh, if somebody say your name and we around
just act like you ain't here.
'Cause when we see you, it's on sight. Ain't no talking, ain't no excuses.
Just a four-on-one beat down.
And Joe, next time you won't be able to limp your way into an interview.
Kelly's gonna have to meet you at your hospital bed.
Because if you ain't with DarkState, then you against DarkState.
And if you're against us, we put you down.
When DarkState strike, ain't nobody safe.
There it is again.
With them or against them.
Interesting.
Oh, what a night it's been this far here at No Mercy.
That was last Tuesday.
And, Book, I gotta ask you, should Joe Hendry listen to DarkState?
You damn right.
You, you see what happened when DarkState corner you, dawg.
-You get hurt. -I understand that.
-We'll see. -Huh? Would you listen?
Well, yeah, I would listen. But I'm not Joe Hendry.
We'll see if Joe Hendry listens or doesn't listen to DarkState.
Let's talk about what's gonna happen here in just a matter of moments.
Live here at the sold out War Memorial
for No Mercy, because it is time, Booker.
We can talk about it, but the time for talk is over.
The Glamour, The Juggernaut, this one won't be pretty.
As Monroe and Grace meet in a weaponized steel cage.
JG, did you come to NXT with a dream?
That's nice.
[Joseph] Jordynne Grace is here.
The Juggernaut has just sent shock waves through NXT.
My muscle muffin.
Let's treat you.
[Grace] Isn't this way more fun?
[Monroe] JG. You'll see the difference between me
and you.
[Grace] What I didn't expect to set me back was a friendship,
however brief it may have been.
You're going to learn that Blake Monroe is everything your nightmares are made of.
Jordynne isn't good enough.
She's more of a background player.
She's just not a superstar.
[Grace] I'm gonna show you…
It's not your fault, JG.
[Grace] …what ugly really looks like.
[Joseph] And Blake Monroe shocks the universe.
[Monroe] Did you come to NXT with a dream?
That's nice.
Blake doesn't know who she is, but thanks to her,
I know exactly who I need to be now.
[Booker T] Here we go!
[Joseph] And The Juggernaut taking it right to The Glamour.
The look in Blake's eyes is that of a woman from hell looking to scorch NXT.
[Monroe] This is a tragedy, Jordynne.
The Glamour can bleed and still be the star of the show.
You reminded me that The Glamour
and hell
were never meant to be separate.
You didn't humble me.
You didn't break me.
You awakened me.
And now I'm gonna show you
why Blake Monroe can make even the devil blush.
See you in hell, JG.
[Joseph] Blake Monroe, and she's not coming alone.
Jordynne Grace realizing it.
And these two women, taking it to one another.
No remorse between these two.
Just a lot of hatred.
Girls, enough!
If you want each other that bad,
grab anything you can get your hands on,
because at No Mercy, you're gonna have a Weapons match.
[wrestler] No more sneak attacks.
No more running!
And you can bring all the weapons you want!
'Cause it's gonna be
inside a steel cage.
[Grace] At No Mercy, I'm not stuck in a cage with Blake.
She's trapped in a cage with me.
I'm gonna have access to weapons.
They're going to make this
so much uglier than it already has been.
We may be having a Weaponized Steel Cage Match,
but in that ring,
the most dangerous weapon is gonna be me.
[Joseph] Jordynne Grace. Blake Monroe.
This will get ugly.
[Grace] Blake started this.
Well, I'm finishing.
[Monroe] In our cage match,
you're going to find the cold, hard, vengeful reality that waits for you.
No rules. No mercy.
I am the woman from hell.
And I am taking you there with me.
[Joseph] Grace Monroe in a weaponized steel cage
at No Mercy.
[Joseph] Well, we are set.
And you can see those that have arrived here,
that have been on their feet since the beginning,
sold out already for the destruction and the mayhem.
Kendo stick, a bat, trash can, a lid, a weight belt.
The cage is weaponized.
I have to apologize to you, Booker, and just admit something.
I stuttered a little bit, I blanked out
when you were talking to me a second ago about DarkState
because this cage was being constructed as we were talking
and we are about to witness something that is going to be intense.
["Win" plays]
[bell dings]
[Rome] The following contest is
a Weaponized Steel Cage Match,
and it is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Austin, Texas,
Jordynne Grace!
[Joseph] Jordynne Grace examining what is around her,
what she's about to enter in.
And you talk about apologies.
Whatever happens in this matchup,
I don't think either of these women will be issuing an apology to the other.
[Booker T] And you know what? Everything…
And I'm talking about everything, it's all justifiable, man.
It's about to get… like Blake Monroe said,
it's about to get ugly, dawg.
[Joseph] This cage stipulation brought in to contain these two, so there's nowhere
for Blake to run.
Pinfall, submission only.
There is no escape.
Notice that deep breath that Jordynne Grace just took.
["Glamour Is Forever" plays]
Mwah!
[Rome] And her opponent from London, England,
Blake Monroe!
[Joseph] We're gonna get into this, I'm sure throughout this match,
but I need to bring up something right now.
You may notice for Jordynne Grace, I just realized that on her right hand,
she suffered a right hand injury.
Maybe a broken bone in her thumb. She's been cleared to compete.
That happened in the brawl between these two.
There is a target already on her body, and if she broke a bone in a brawl,
what the hell do you think's gonna happen in this weaponized steel cage?
[Booker T] Ain't nobody got time to be thinking about what happened.
Can't be crying or looking for an excuse already
-before the match gets started. -I'm not looking for an excuse.
-Why are you doing that? -[Joseph] I'm just saying.
[Booker T] Let's talk about Blake Monroe.
Confidence personified, man.
Coming down the aisle with a smile, looking good. Looking real good.
And it's about to be on like a demon by the neck bone, dawg.
I'm talking about cooking all day long. Can you feel me, huh?
[Joseph] Someone's gonna feel something here in a matter of moments
because it might be safe to say that the issues between these two
end tonight, Booker.
Just how dangerous and unforgiving is this sort of environment,
this steel cage?
-[exclaiming] -You feel it? This thing's shaking, Book.
[Booker T] The environment, the steel, is definitely unforgiving, and right now,
Jordynne Grace says, "Let's take it to another level."
[Joseph] And it is weaponized. The first one coming into play.
And now Blake Monroe getting her hands on that Kendo stick!
Batter's up.
Like the Guardians, right now, against the Rangers.
[Booker T] Animosity runs deep in between these two.
It's personal, man. It's personal.
You're talking about Jordynne Grace.
She got played, and right now, she's getting…
-Wait a minute. -[Joseph] Oh!
Jordynne Grace said she was going to be the most dangerous weapon in this matchup.
And Blake is trapped in a cage with The Juggernaut.
[Booker T] The Juggernaut's doing the plan right now.
-[Joseph] Oh, my… -[Booker T] Ooh!
[Joseph] Spinebuster on the chair.
Cover, and that left shoulder, just getting up.
Look, this event, No Mercy, has seen Last Man Standing matches.
An Extreme Rules match, a Ladders match, a Punjabi Prison match.
But never has No Mercy seen something like this, a Weaponized Steel Cage match.
[Booker T] Got the two perfect combatants in the middle of this ring right now.
And it's not about championships or anything right now.
This is about bragging rights.
-This is a-- -[Joseph] Oh.
Trying to go face first. Nice counter though by Grace.
[Booker T] Well, like I said, this is about getting a lick back right here
for Jordynne Grace because like I said, she got played.
She thought she had a friend, but like I said, you gotta keep
your enemies close and keep your friends closer
-and enemies closer. -[Joseph] I hear what you're saying,
but look what Jordynne Grace is constructing.
-[Booker T] Oh, no! -[Joseph] That back!
That lower back being bent across a steel chair at the seat.
How unique, how innovative.
Blake Monroe trying to get herself out
and somehow navigated her way free.
Unbelievable.
[Booker T] Jordynne Grace's thinking about that all… Oh, right there! [laughs]
Trust me on that. She didn't just come in the ring and just pull that off.
She's looking to put Blake Monroe through a lot of pain, man.
[Joseph] This is the first cage match for both these women.
No fear indeed, as Jordynne Grace almost seems at home.
NXT Universe becoming unglued right now
because Jordynne Grace has just set that steel chair up
with evil, nasty intentions in her mind.
-[Booker T] Jordynne Grace… -[Joseph] Trying to navigate her way free.
Right now, I think Blake Monroe was biting the hand of Jordynne Grace.
Jordynne Grace turning things around.
And almost ate the steel in her own right.
-[Booker T] Oh, wait a minute. -[Joseph] The brakes on one more time.
Oh!
Shoulder first, Grace just went.
Unbelievable.
[Booker T] Blake Monroe said that Jordynne came here with a dream
and that dream is to win championships.
But she can't do any of that before she get past Blake Monroe.
And Blake Monroe,
that's what she's here for, man.
I'm talking about to go all the way to the top here, baby.
[Joseph] Bodies, egos will certainly be bruised
in this matchup. And again, we talk about all the weapons the ring,
but we haven't even talked about the cage that's a weapon in itself.
That's going to grate flesh off the bodies of both these women.
[Booker T] The structure, man. The structure that steel grating.
Like I said earlier, it's not forgiving, and right now, Blake Monroe--
[Joseph] There's that hand. There's that injured hand and wrist.
[Booker T] You're gonna use the steel a little bit to bring the pain a little bit
to Jordynne Grace.
And look good doing it.
[Joseph] Blake Monroe happy with herself right now.
Again, Jordynne Grace was medically cleared to compete,
but Blake Monroe knows that hand is not 100%.
Is she gonna be able to grip as this match goes on?
You take away her grip, you take away that power, do you not?
[Booker T] If she got cleared, it couldn't have been nothing more than a scratch
or something like that, but right now that's here nor there.
That's here nor there.
Right now, Blake Monroe is looking to cash in.
[Joseph] Hook of the leg, and a kick out.
Blake is looking to take Jordynne to hell and back,
and it seems that Monroe has found that dark evil, vindictive side of her
that we didn't see when she first arrived on this brand.
[Booker T] Blake Monroe will not even mention Jordynne Grace--
[Joseph] Right into the hand! Look at this, Book!
[Booker T] Broken hand? What are you talking about?
[Joseph] Broken thumb in her bone, which has been heavily taped
from the Pull-Apart
that took place this past week when the security was ripping--
[Booker T] Look, she got cleared. The doctor said it was okay.
It had to be a mild strain or something like that.
What are you talking about?
[Joseph] A little tug of war right now, center of the ring, and swinging.
A miss, doesn't connect.
And look at that assisted inverted…
-Russian leg sweep and a kick out. -[Booker T] No respect.
[Joseph] Throat-first into the Kendo stick.
-What do you mean "no respect"? -[Booker T] If I can say, Blake Monroe,
she has no respect for Jordynne Grace.
Like I say, JG. She won't mention her by name because she doesn't feel
like she's worthy to, to be called by her name Jordynne Grace.
-That what that is? -[Joseph] The thing that's wrong here--
[Booker T] If I just call you V, huh? That's disrespect.
[Joseph] You call me a lot of things I can't say on air
that would get us kicked off, that are very disrespectful.
-[Booker T] All fair. -[Joseph] All fair.
Blake doesn't think she has done anything wrong.
She said there's no wrongdoing.
She called out Grace for her past. She lied to Jordynne Grace.
She stabbed Jordynne Grace in the back, cost her the NXT Women's title
at Evolution. And right now,
bringing out some extra tools of the trade, so to speak,
that help her become glamorous. Oh!
[Booker T] Talking about tools of the trade.
I mean, this is the way you play this game, Vic,
and right now Blake Monroe understands exactly what this game is all about.
It's not about friends.
It's not about buddies. It's not about pal.
It's about putting a beat down on somebody, just like that.
Oh, yes, man!
[Joseph] Just tied Jordynne Grace with a blow dryer, a hair dryer.
Tying her hands so she cannot move and now going into her glamour bag.
And who knows what she-- Oh.
That look! Oh, Booker, okay.
When do you go too far? Because those are scissors.
[Booker T] You talking about too far. There's no rules in this match.
-[Joseph] No! Wait a minute. -[Booker T] Cut it, cut it!
Aw, yeah!
[Joseph] You talk about disrespect, Booker. This is gross.
It's disgusting.
Blake Monroe wants to take everything from Jordynne Grace.
[Booker T] Jordynne, you gotta admit, I mean, she doesn't have the glamor.
-She doesn't need the hair. -[crowd jeering]
[Joseph] I'm gonna let you rethink what you just said because you're gonna
have to go face to face with Jordynne Grace earlier.
Or later, excuse me.
And sooner or later, she's gonna speak a piece of her mind, Booker.
I'm gonna tell you that right now. Let you think about that.
I'm gonna get back to calling the matchup because Jordynne Grace has broken free.
And Jordynne Grace now realizing what was just done.
What if someone came over here and cut your hair, Booker,
are you gonna be happy about it?
[Booker T] I mean, a weapons match…
[Joseph] And Jordynne Grace, Thesz Press beating the hell out of Blake Monroe.
And The Juggernaut is entering that zone that not many people can go to.
[Booker T] Oh, big shots, big shots right there by Jordynne.
-Oh! -[Joseph] My word!
It was Grace who said she was going to show Blake what ugly truly is.
Tonight is her night to do so. Looking for a Powerbomb.
And now Blake Monroe scaling the steel cage.
[Booker T] Oh, man.
[Joseph] This cage, which is 20 feet high, you cannot escape.
There is, you have to finish the match with pitfall
submission center of the ring.
The cage is designed so there's nowhere to run.
What is on the mind of The Juggernaut?
[Booker T] Looking to take all those frustrations out
in this match on Blake Monroe! Oh, man!
[Joseph] And she certainly just did. I mean, take a look at the canvas.
Take a look at the environment. With this weaponized steel cage--
Cover. Count.
Blake Monroe getting that left shoulder off the mat.
-Take another look at this nasty landing. -[Booker T] Man!
[Joseph] Blake Monroe from the top.
And if you're asking, "What is in the ring?"
That's Jordynne Grace's hair that Blake Monroe felt the need to cut.
Not to hurt her, not to win. To embarrass Jordynne Grace.
[Booker T] Weapons match. Anything goes in a match like this, Vic.
I mean, if Jordynne Grace would have, would have pulled that same thing,
would you be saying this right now? Would you be saying the same thing?
-No, you wouldn't. -[Joseph] Yes, I would be.
I 100% would be.
And now taking it to Blake
is Grace.
Nothing graceful about that for Jordynne, but now.
I think Jordynne has her own mind of what to do.
[Booker T] Well, these ladies, they got a score to settle, and to settle
it this way in the middle of this ring where there are no rules.
We're gonna get a definitive victor tonight.
[Joseph] Face-first went Grace into the bottom of that trash can.
And Blake Monroe continuing to look around.
I mean, how many more things are stuck on this cage?
A little bit too much time for Blake.
Blake picking right back up where she left off.
And a little assist with that drop kick.
And again that back. The body just grating down the steel cage.
[Booker T] I'm liking the action from Blake Monroe.
Not letting Jordynne Grace get any momentum in this matchup.
[Joseph] Is this gonna be enough for Blake Monroe?
[Booker T] Whoa!
This matchup gonna continue. Adrian Butler doing a hell of a job.
[Booker T] A hell of a job tonight.
[Joseph] You take a look at someone like Blake Monroe,
she might be a global sensation,
but she is also a woman from hell,
and we've seen that side over recent weeks.
Now what is going through her mind?
What is going through the demented thoughts of Blake Monroe?
[Booker T] A lot of question marks on Blake
when she came in, but I'm gonna tell you right now, she's no flash in the pan.
She's not here today and gone tomorrow.
[Joseph] Well, she's already put Jordynne Grace through physical pain.
She's put her through emotional pain in this weaponized steel cage match,
-but for Jordynne Grace… -[crowd gasps]
…diamonds are not going to be a woman's best friend here tonight.
And what a glamorous thing
this would be for Blake Monroe, but Jordynne Grace realizing it.
-Grace trying to fight back. -[crowd chanting] ECDub!
[Joseph] To that injured hand coming right back in,
nice counter and turning things around.
Whoa! It's Jordynne Grace! Both bodies landing on those diamonds.
-[crowd cheering] -[Joseph] Listen to the NXT universe.
Listen to these two women screaming in pain as Grace crawls into the cover.
Nice counter and turning things around. And this fight is going to continue.
And everything that Jordynne Grace has had to go through, as I mentioned,
not only here tonight, but the emotional…
[Grace] You want this, huh? You want this?
That's what you want? That's what you want, huh?
[Joseph] …the physical, and you're seeing some of that
come out in Jordan. I just looked up. She's angry.
She's pissed off, rightfully so. Booker, can you give me that?
-Can you understand why she's angry? -[Booker T] A hundred percent.
I mean, we're at the point of no return before this friendship go.
It's gonna… It's gonna end here tonight one way or the other.
[Joseph] But as the mind starts to change for Blake Monroe…
[stammers] …and then you look at Jordynne Grace
and you see the eyes of Grace start to twitch a little bit.
Is this all playing into the mindset of Blake Monroe
to get Jordynne Grace to make a mistake?
[Booker T] I think Blake Monroe knows that she has to go through Jordynne Grace
before she can get any momentum here in this women's division here in NXT.
This is a must. This is a must.
[Joseph] I think both women know that they have to get past their own issues
to focus on bigger goals such as the Championship.
And right now for Blake Monroe!
-Double stomp into that trash can! -[Booker T] That could've did it!
That could've did it right there.
[Joseph] Jordynne Grace could be out.
[crowd] One! Two!
[Joseph] It… The official had the best view.
We couldn't see it. Grace's body was still in the trash can.
And I don't know how much can be left in either of these two women.
-Look around the ring, Book. -[crowd chanting] Tables! Tables!
[Joseph] Kendo stick, diamonds.
-[crowd cheering] -[Joseph] Blow dryer, and now…
[Booker T] We got the table.
[Joseph] This certainly a weaponized steel cage.
-[Booker T] Either way you look at it… -[Joseph] Oh, more to that hand!
[Booker T] It's gonna be a lot of wear-and-tear on the ladies' body
after a match-up like this,
but these type of matches, no one, no one leaves unscathed.
They're just part of it. They do that.
[Joseph] Blake Monroe trying to put face-first Jordynne Grace
into that point of the table leg.
Coming right back, Blake trying to hold on,
but at the same time while she's holding on,
she's just getting battering rammed into the steel.
And I just looked up, Booker, take a look.
Where Blake Monroe just went, that steel on the-on the cage is bent out
from the force of Blake Monroe's face.
[crowd chanting] Tables! Tables! Tables!
[Booker T] Oh, these fans are feeding off of the energy of this match-up right here,
and I tell you.
Everything… Everything is being left in the middle of the ring right here tonight.
[Joseph] Booker, the same can be said for the superstars in the ring
feeding off the energy of those sold out
here in Fort Lauderdale.
'Cause you take a look around that ring,
there's not much left these two women can do to each other.
I mean, I just saw Jordynne Grace's back.
It's cut up probably from the diamonds she landed on.
It's ripped up. The bodies are bruised.
Blake Monroe is climbing and there's nowhere for her to go,
-and she just got caught once again. -[Booker T] Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Oh! This is a long way down.
You're talking about a gnarly-- Oh. Wait a minute.
[Joseph] And look at… How wise it is of Monroe.
But, Monroe…
you can't escape.
[stutters] Booker.
These two women are on top of this steel cage.
One slip, one fall. They're 20 feet to the floor, Booker.
[Booker T] No rules. These ladies… No, somebody's got to win tonight.
Somebody's got to lose tonight.
[Joseph] Is it winning now, Book, or is it surviving?
[Booker T] It's everything, man. Winning is everything, Vic.
[Joseph] Jordynne Grace, Blake Monroe.
Taking each other to hell, and now what's Monroe doing?
With some powder to the eye!
Powder right into the eyes of Jordynne Grace.
Grace, I believe, had something in her hand.
It was a crowbar of some sort, and now both getting back in,
and Blake Monroe could be moments away.
No, Booker.
Monroe trying to muscle up Gra--
-[Booker T] Oh, baby! -[Joseph] Oh!
-[crowd cheering] -An Air Raid Crash, table snap.
[crowd] Two! Three!
[Joseph] And Grace survives hell in Fort Lauderdale.
[Rome] Here is your winner, Jordynne Grace!
[Joseph] And landing on top of those diamonds as well.
That Air Raid Crash had some Slim Jim jalapeno spice to it, Booker.
[Booker T] Yeah, Jordan overcame that foreign agent.
I don't know what it was,
but she did a hell of a job to come out with the victory, dawg.
[Joseph] I mean, looking around right now,
some members of the NXT universe that are here tonight.
Standing ovation for these two women
because they both just went through a battle.
They both just went through hell, but it was Jordynne Grace who survived.
And there was the powder right to the eye.
[Booker T] Foreign agent, foreign agent.
[Joseph] Blinding for a moment until this Air Raid Crash,
table snap.
Onto hair. Onto a broken watch. Onto a bag full of diamonds.
And is it finally over for the juggernaut?
Can she finally move on?
For Grace, she shows Monroe how ugly it can get in NXT,
and there's one thing for sure, these two women will never be the same.
["New Heights" playing]
-[bell dings] -[Rome] The following contest
is scheduled for one fall is for
the NXT North American Championship!
Introducing first,
from Fountain, Colorado, weighing in at 260 pounds,
Tavion Heights!
[Joseph] But what do you hope Tavion has learned
over the last several months heading into this Championship match?
[Booker T] I mean, I hope that he's gonna have the…
You know, take his time with the, uh, veteran like Ethan Page
because if you run in there thinking that your expertise
-from what you did in the past… -["With A Smile" playing]
…trust me, it might not work with this guy.
[crowd cheering]
[Rome] And his opponent
from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Weighing in at 240 pounds.
He is the NXT North American Champion.
"All Ego"
Ethan Page!
[Joseph] Well, the one thing we do know is
both these men represent their country proudly.
Page though
has uh, self-anointed himself the greatest North American alive.
-That's not ridiculous to you? -[Booker T] Ethan Page has represented
all of North America.
He's a hell of a champion.
I mean, impressive. Well, he's always damn debonair.
Come on. Tavion Heights, have a little respect here.
-[Joseph] Booker-- -Have a little respect.
Wait on the referee to ring the bell. Can we do that?
-[Joseph] Booker… -Ring that bell!
-…you're not even from Canada. -[bell dings]
[Joseph] You actually live closer to Mexico than you do Canada.
[Booker T] What that got to do with anything?
[Joseph] I'm asking you.
[Booker T] What that got to do with this man, Ethan Page
representing all of North America?
-All right? [stammers] -[Joseph] You're proud of him
-and his antics and his ego. -[Booker T] He's a hell of a champion.
It's all about Championship.
I mean, the title, the title of champion. That's Ethan Page.
[Joseph] Big shoutout to a former World Champion
and another former North American Champion, Damian Priest.
He helped set this match up at Homecoming a few weeks back,
as Page in control.
Heights, by the way, he owns two straight victories over Ethan.
[Booker T] Come on, man. Stop playing. Stop playing with me, Vic. Stop playing.
[Joseph] What're you talking about?
[Booker T] Let's just say he has one tainted victory over Ethan Page
that really didn't mean nothing.
[Joseph] He won the Flag match, and then made him tap out on Tuesday.
[Booker T] Come on, like I said. Come on, stop playing.
[Joseph] I'm not playing. He owns two victories.
[Booker T] Stop playing, all right? You get paid to do this.
[Joseph] Can Tavion then get it done when it counts the most?
-How about you answer me that? -[Booker T] Under the bright lights.
He definitely probably could, but I'm gonna tell you right now,
Ethan Page is a precision tactician.
-This guy knows everything. -I do this! Huh?
[Joseph] Oh, just got caught. Ethan Page done playing around.
[Booker T] What I'm saying, the kid has a mouth overload us behind right there.
He got caught with a big shot.
[Joseph] Going right to the body and it's Heights answering back with his own shots
'cause he's taking things over, but Ethan answering one right back between the eyes.
I want to ask you this about Tavion.
Do you agree Heights came back different from his trip last summer to Japan?
[Booker T] I think so. I mean, Tavion hanging over there in Japan.
It's a lot different. That's a lot of dogs over there.
So Tavion came back wanting more here in NXT,
and wanted to move up the ladder a lot quicker.
I like that.
I like the attitude.
-[Joseph] Able to get some tutelage-- -[Booker T] Oh, yes!
[Joseph] Being able to get some tutelage while over in Japan
from a WWE Hall of Famer, The Great Muta.
Nice drop kick and right back to work.
Going for the midsection. Goes Tavion,
but look, Tavion knows he can't win this match
on the outside and that might have just been a huge mistake by Tavion.
[Booker T stammers] I wouldn't call it a rookie mistake or anything like that,
but Tavion definitely got out of position and…
Ethan Page took well advantage of it. I like that.
[Joseph] I mean, I'll ask you, I've never landed on a steel grate
or anything like our entrance ramp.
I mean, that had to have knocked the wind out of Tavion Heights.
[Booker T] Definitely caught him on the tailbone.
Maybe not knock the wind out of him,
but definitely could have that sciatic nerve buzzing right there.
Oh, yes.
[Joseph] Ethan Page, a veteran of the squared circle,
a man who has worn The NXT Championship, the current North American Champion.
-That's 122 days as champion. -[Booker T] Hell of a champion.
A hell of a champ. Hell of a champ.
[Joseph] His sixth defense
of the North American Championship if I want to add that to it,
and he knows what to do with a bull's eye on someone's body
as he's doing it right now. He's punishing his opponent.
[Booker T] You know what they say about defending that championship
until you defend it one time, you're really not champion.
That says a lot about Ethan Page. He defended it… How many times?
How many? how many times, Vic? Six, damn it, say it.
[Joseph] I already did, six. I'm glad you were listening,
-but you know what Ethan Page also knows? -[Booker T] What's that?
[Joseph] He knows the feeling of that ankle lock
'cause his ass was tapping this past Tuesday to Tavion Heights.
And we'll see if it happens once again,
but right now Ethan Page planting in the center of the ring.
Into the cover, deep hook of the leg,
and Heights able to get that left shoulder out.
[Booker T] Yes, man. Ethan Page on top of his game right now
showing Tavion Heights that you got to bring
a whole lot more than just a lot of talk, you know what I mean?
You got to bring a whole lot more than just a background
being an Olympian and all that. This is professional wrestling, man.
[Joseph] When we think of No Mercy, I think back to last year.
And what a difference really a year makes for Ethan Page.
Also NXT and TNA.
It was last year Ethan Page was defending the NXT Title
against someone trying to take it to TNA.
Tuesday was the invasion.
October 7th it will officially be Invasion.
What a difference 12 months has made for both brands, and I must admit,
-Ethan Page himself. -[Booker T] What a difference a day makes.
I mean, Ethan Page, I mean, he stepped into NXT
and went straight to the top immediately.
And now, like I say, one of the greatest,
if not the greatest North American champion of all time.
You got to give this guy…
I mean, he did it in warp speed, warp speed.
[Joseph] Someone who won a championship faster than Ethan Page is Ricky Saints.
Saints will be in our main event tonight trying to become the NXT Champion!
And the back giving out on Tavion! And taking advantage was Ethan Page.
Big suplex. Cover and another count and another kick out.
And I go back to that backdrop on the steel grate.
That changed this match-up.
It changed the complexion of it for Tavion Heights.
[Booker T] No, but you see how quick Ethan Page exploited that
little mistake there by Tavion Heights.
That's what Tavion… He doesn't know how to deal with something like that.
Like I say, a guy like Ethan Page, he's a veteran.
He's a veteran of the sport. He knows every trick of the trade.
He's got every tool in the tool bag. He's got it all bad.
[Joseph] It's hard to argue with your point there,
and also it brings us to something else
you've said about Tavion Heights being on his own,
leaving the NQCC, standing up to someone like Ethan Page
because there's nobody out here to coach him up.
There is no Charlie Dempsey.
And you're right, Tavion Heights has not been in this sort of predicament.
Premium live event, bright lights.
Championship on the line and having to deal with an injury like something
to the lower back that happened mid-match that he's got to alter his game plan.
[Booker T] Trust me, that nervous energy, it just makes everything burn
in the middle of that ring.
I mean, your breathing, everything is a little bit tighter.
So right now Tavion Heights,
he's not just feeling the pain and the punishment from Ethan Page.
His body is trying to give out on him.
[Joseph] Trying to counter for a moment. Look at Page climbing the ladder,
so to speak, and really rocking Tavion Heights.
-but right up… What he got left? -Oh, baby.
I can feel it. I can feel it in my bones.
I can… Yes! Oh, yes, man!
[Joseph] That back breaker over the steel. Over the turnbuckle.
And a lot of concern right now.
You just felt the air leave this sold-out crowd.
[crowd gasps]
[Booker T] Good timing, man.
Ethan Page is in… He's in the zone, man. He's in the zone.
[Joseph] I was trying to listen to Gary Wilson, our official,
try to talk to Tavion Heights.
Heights right now right out here in front of us.
[Booker T] I tell you right now, the referee gave Tavion a break.
He gave Tavion a break right there stepping out the ring to check on him.
[Joseph] Tavion's right here in front of us.
-He's breathing very heavy right now. -[Booker T] Just quit.
-Just quit, son. Just quit. -[Joseph] He's not gonna quit.
-And Ethan Page… -You're enjoying yourself right there?
I'm loving it. I'm loving it.
You're doing a hell of a job, champ. You're doing a hell of a job, champ.
Let's go, champ. Let's go. Let's go, champ.
[Joseph] You're gonna call it down the middle. What are you gonna do?
[Booker T] I'll just sit…
[Joseph] Yeah, Ethan Page, you're gonna turn around.
And you say "Let's go! Let's go, Tavion Heights!"
Heights not trying to block out all that pain.
This may be his second, his third wind in the match-up,
but will it be enough to overcome "All Ego"?
Will it be enough to overcome
whatever's going on in that lower back right now?
Firing through his body. Big offense! And Tavion Heights is feeling it.
[Booker T] He's burning a lot of energy.
You better keep your foot on the gas, son, if you want a victory here tonight.
[Joseph] This is someone Tavion Heights who just rolled right through.
Blocking out the pain! Overpowering Page!
Lifting Page up.
Can't stand the disrespect that Page has shown,
especially leading into that Flag match a few weeks ago.
Tavion represented America.
And now with that ankle lock trying to represent North America as its champion.
[crowd chanting] USA! USA! USA!
-[Booker T] Oh, man. -[Joseph] Page got to that bottom rope.
As I mentioned, Tavion represented America.
Medal in the Pan American Games…
-[Booker T] Come on, referee! -…in the Pan American Championship!
Inside cradle! Shoulders down and a kick out.
-What are you yelling at the official for? -[Booker T] He should've broke the count.
[Joseph] From behind! Shoulders down one more time, and a near fall.
Oh, now you're worried about the rules, huh, Book?
[Booker T] Just calling it like it is, man.
[Joseph] Looking for that Twisted Grin! counter backslide!
-[Booker T] Oh, man! -One! Two…
[Joseph] Another near fall, back up in a big kick just connecting.
And Ethan Page
looking for maybe that Ego's Edge.
Dropping Tavion and…
Ooh, another kick out, but look at Ethan.
Page holding on, and a nice deep cinched-in Boston crab.
[Booker T] The combination by Ethan Page on the Olympian.
Right now turning the tides.
[Joseph] And remember that lower back. That's got to be on fire.
It went down across the top turnbuckle on a back breaker.
It went against the hard steel of the ramp.
And getting to the ropes.
[Booker T] Honorable champion there releasing the hold.
[Joseph] "Honorable champion." His body collapsed because
I think his ankle just gave out, and if his ankle didn't give out,
I'm sure he would've held it until the last possible moment.
-[Booker T] Why would you say that? -[Joseph] Because we've seen him do it.
It's called a trend.
Somehow both men back to their feet. We've questioned Tavion Heights' back.
Now I start to look at maybe Ethan Page's ankle after that ankle lock.
'Cause he was in the ankle lock for quite a few moments there,
-Book, as you pointed out. -[Booker T stammering] He's resilient.
He's resilient. That's why he was able to withstand all of that pain.
He's resilient.
[Joseph] Obviously Book has bought a Chapstick from Canada
before he made his way to Fort Lauderdale.
Trying to get a superplex though is Page.
Tavion trying to block it out, trying to create separation.
It's all about the North American Championship.
And that's a sleeper hold!
All the way on the top rope, Booker! That's a sleeper hold.
[Booker T] I don't know how wise that is to put a sleeper hold on the top rope.
-That's not too wise. -[Joseph] Page countering!
Oh, my Lord!
[Booker T] What'd I tell you? Didn't I tell ya?
[Joseph] Pulling him up! Turning him right around! Bam!
-[Booker T] Good night. -[Joseph] Oh, Twisted Grin.
-As Page… -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[bell dings] -…retains.
[Booker T] Kid ain't ready yet. He's not ready.
[Rome] Here is your winner, and still
the NXT North American Champion,
"All Ego"
Ethan Page!
["With A Smile" playing]
[Booker T] I'm gonna say this, kid's got a hell of a future.
He's got a hell of a look. You know, one day he's gonna go straight to the moon,
but tonight… but tonight
he had to go out there to slip on a banana peel on Ethan Page, man.
[Joseph] Let's go back. I mean, take a look at this massive powerslam.
And then Ethan Page with presence of mind.
-A little bit of an alligator roll. -[Booker T] Yeah!
[Joseph] He turned it, he twisted it right into that Twisted Grin
to take the smile off the face
-of Tavion Heights. -[Booker T] Hell of a champion.
-Hell of a champion. -[crowd cheering]
-Stand up. -[Joseph] I'm not standing up.
-But still, North American champion-- -[Dr. Wagner Jr.] "All Ego" Ethan Page.
[laughs] Ethan, Ethan, Ethan.
Ethan, you think you should be Latin American Champion?
You want me so bad?
Well, I have eyes on your North American Title.
And I see you real…
[inhales deeply]
…real soon.
[Joseph] Well, just when Ethan turns the page, a new challenger emerges.
This time, the AAA Latin American Champion.
I'm here with the man who came out victorious in this past
Tuesday's Lights Out match, Myles Borne.
Now, Myles, we also saw you involved in the very chaotic end of the night
whenever TNA wrestlers invaded.
In light of Ava's announcement, how are you feeling about these developments?
First off, Kelly, it feels really great to put Lexis King in the rearview.
I mean, he's doubted me. He's mocked me.
He even tried to blind me.
But what he really did was he helped me tap into that inner demon to give him
the beatdown that Lexis deserves.
Now, as far as TNA is concerned, I've been trying to walk my own path
here at NXT, but NXT is my family.
The WWE universe are the same people who embrace me for who I am.
So I'd be willing to go to war for them.
Hell, you can sign me up to be the captain of Team NXT because it doesn't matter
who's standing side by side with me.
If TNA wants to show up on Tuesday, we'll be ready to defend our house.
Hey, yo, Trick, big man. You've got a big problem.
But NXT, you've got an even bigger problem.
You wanted to be man enough and slap me in the face, right?
And then decided to run and you weren't man enough to take this ass-whipping.
Where I come from, we call you a…
That TNA championship is being held hostage, but not for very long,
because me, Mike Santana, is gonna do everything that it takes to bring
that title back home where it belongs.
And NXT…
I ain't the only one that's pissed off.
Enjoy No Mercy, 'cause on Tuesday, I'm storming right back through your door.
And I ain't coming alone. I gave you fair warning.
[Joseph] Well, things certainly are heating up.
Santana with a warning, but also you see what is being posted on social media.
The new International Champion over for TNA, Frankie Kazarian.
He's saying that he's got some issues that he's gonna take place.
The king of TNA, he's gonna be live Tuesday on NXT.
[tense music playing]
[Joseph] But there you see Lola Vice. The challenger is ready.
There you see the champion. She too is ready.
Because we have been waiting for this matchup.
This is what Lola Vice has been fighting for.
Can she deliver a fatal blow to Jacy Jayne's reign?
We'll find out at No Mercy.
-["Te Lo Tompo" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Joseph] Is tonight the night, Book? We're in the shadows of Miami.
Lola Vice's hometown.
Does Lola become champion? Don't ride the fence on this.
Do you believe Lola Vice has what it takes?
As you see Lola with family, with friends, sister
in attendance tonight,
does she have what it takes to put gold around her waist?
[Booker T] Yes, of course she has what it takes.
But like you said, friends, family, a lot of pressure
in this arena tonight and the thing is, Lola knows what this magic means.
She knows what this is all about.
It's about the championship. She's been here before.
And we always… we always talk about it the thrill of victory,
but on the other… on the other hand, the agony, the agony of defeat.
She knows what that tastes like. It's not a good feeling at all.
[Joseph] Just looked up from the monitor.
You can see her almost fighting back tears,
the emotion pouring out of the challenger.
["The Chosen" playing]
[Joseph] Well, we talked about the emotion of the challenger.
Let's talk about the champion.
Can Jacy Jayne keep it together, or do you think she'll be rattled
by this hostile environment?
I know, first woman to win the TNA knockout championship, first WWE superstar
to hold a TNA title along with an NXT.
I get it all. I know what it all is,
but she's never been in this sort of environment.
She's in the backyard of the challenger. Lola Vice is focused.
She wants to become champion.
Family, friends, standing ovation right now.
The match hasn't even begun.
There's a woman in the front row that has a fake Lola Vice dancing back and forth.
She is in Vice City tonight, Book.
[Booker T] It is a hostile environment, but I'ma tell you right now,
the rock star Jacy Jayne, she runs off it, man.
She's here to hush all the doubters, all the naysayers.
Check her out, man. It's a sold-out house here tonight.
The following contest scheduled for one fall…
[crowd] One fall!
…is for the NXT Women's Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger from Miami, Florida,
Lola Vice.
And her opponent, representing Fatal Influence.
She is the NXT Women's Champion,
-Jacy Jayne. -[crowd booing]
[Joseph] Well, there is no doubt
who those here sold out in Fort Lauderdale…
[crowd chanting] Lola! Lola! Lola!
[Booker T] Thanks for the house, Jacy. Thanks for the house.
[Joseph] The hell you talking about?
You must be, outside of Fallon Henley, the only person in here
that is rooting for Jacy Jayne tonight.
[Booker T] Look, the people came to see Jacy, whether she win or lose.
-Am I right on that? Am I right? -[Joseph] You're wrong.
[Booker T] Thanks for the house. Thanks for the house, Jacy.
-[Joseph] Back on-- -That's what Lola should be saying.
"Yeah. Thanks for the house."
[Joseph] We'll try to get us back on track.
Lola Vice has said she was born to do this.
To be a champion, and right now she's squaring up with Jacy Jayne.
Jacy Jayne does not want to get into any sort of striking contest with Lola Vice.
-Can we agree on that? -[Booker T] I don't think so.
I mean, Lola Vice got deadly feet, deadly hands, I mean dynamite.
And both, uh, orders there.
But, uh, right now Jacy Jayne is showing her in-ring prowess.
[Joseph] What would it have meant to you, Book, to win a world title in Houston
with your family and friends around you?
[Booker T] Not just win a world title, win a world title in grand fashion
like I said, again, in warp speed.
Uh, it took me-- It took me eight years, eight years to win a world title.
[Joseph] Well, Lola's family, friends here tonight, as we've already seen,
early going, a little bit of a chess match between these two.
We can talk about the striking.
We can talk about the grappling, but Jacy Jayne does have the advantage
in what it takes to be a superstar.
She has done it at a high level for a very long time, whether it's been a singles
competitor or a tag team competitor here in NXT.
[Booker T] Jacy Jayne definitely didn't get enough
credit for-for like I say, her knowledge, her IQ of this game.
She didn't just slip on a banana peel and become double champion, man.
No, no. No, no, that didn't happen, man.
She did it because, like I say, her in-ring knowledge to this game.
[Joseph] You brought up Lola Vice having opportunities in the past.
-This is actually the third attempt. -[Booker T] Oh, yeah.
See what I'm saying? See what I'm saying right there?
I mean, Jacy Jayne just one, uh, one, maybe two steps ahead right now.
[Joseph] Jacy Jayne in control of the match.
For Lola Vice, as I was getting ready to say,
her third attempt at the Women's Championship here in NXT.
Became the number one contender by winning a triple threat match at Heatwave
and currently, Book, is on a four-match winning streak,
but if Jacy Jayne keeps rolling--
And just took a little bit of a bow in front of Lola's family and friends.
This is pro wrestling.
[Joseph] Lola might not see that fifth win in a row.
[Booker T] I don't really like that attitude right there by Jacy Jayne.
I mean, right now doing a lot of showboating.
It's way too early to be, you know,
having that kind of attitude in a matchup of this magnitude.
[Joseph] Trying to turn things around now because Lola Vice has not been able to get
out of the gate. Trying to get up, get going.
-Counter! -[Booker T] Oh, yes.
-[Joseph] Looking for that submission. -[Booker T] That was quick.
[Joseph] Jacy Jayne right now trying to roll her body pressure over.
Does, and having to force a kick out, relinquished the hold for Lola.
But right now Lola's back up and she has the eye of a warrior,
the heart of a champion,
and she's putting it on display and she's going to have to dig deep to an
area we've never seen Lola have in NXT if, if, she wants to become champion.
[Booker T] Yeah, but I'ma tell you right now,
Jacy Jayne has champion's advantage.
She don't-- She don't have to win, Vic. She just don't have to lose,
if you know what I'm saying. I'm talking about DQ.
Uh, you know, disqualification, count-out, anything can happen in this match.
[Joseph] That's a great point. Right here in front of us is Fallon Henley.
She could become the X factor in this matchup for Jacy Jayne and look,
Jacy didn't seem to mind that Nyx was taken out literally this past Tuesday.
You know, Booker, I don't want to take away the focus from this match,
but there could be a good possibility that someone from TNA was behind that attack.
Could've been The Inspiration, could've been Xia Brookside,
anyone that was in the building on Tuesday.
[Booker T] I'm not gonna be speculating, man.
I'm not a detective or anything like that.
[Joseph] I'm just throwing it out there.
Jacy Jayne right from behind.
And as I just got done mentioning Fallon Henley on the outside,
that X factor took Lola's eyes off the ball.
And Jacy Jayne right now in control just like that.
[Booker T] Lola gotta be lot smarter in this matchup right here, like I say.
You don't get championship opportunities too often,
so right now this is a major, major moment for Lola Vice.
[Joseph] Here at this event, No Mercy.
-The NXT… -[Booker T] Oh, yes.
…Women's Championship has been defended by Roxanne Perez,
not to mention The Man, Becky Lynch,
the current Women's Intercontinental Champion,
as Jacy Jayne knows what the women's title can do to one's career,
but so does Lola Vice, who goes to the body.
And you would have heard that shot in Key West. What a body shot.
[Booker T] Educated fists right there.
I'm gonna tell you right now if Lola would have had that strike a little bit higher,
this match could be over.
[Joseph] Could have been a knockout. That's a great point.
Off the suplex, into the cover, and Jacy Jayne kicking out at one.
And you gotta… you gotta imagine for Jacy Jayne, she's well aware of the…
What'd you call them? Educated fists?
[Booker T] Educated fists, educated feet.
I mean, uh, right now Lola Vice is very, very dynamic
in so many different departments.
Right now, Jacy Jayne is in a bad, bad position.
[Joseph] Well, the strategy for Jacy has to be to stay away from those hands,
you would think, heading into this matchup.
[Booker T] I mean, at some point, I mean, no matter what strategy Jacy has, she's
gonna have to… have to mix it up and
change that strategy mid-sentence, trust me on that.
[Joseph] Able to create a little bit of separation for the moment.
Jacy Jayne has been in control, but a nice takedown,
floating right through, shoulders down,
another kick out and look how quickly Lola's right back in, crucifix pin,
and it's still not enough to keep the champion down.
-Both superstars back up. -[Booker T] Oh, man.
[Joseph] And you talk about the fists.
Let's talk about the feet because that one just struck right back to the body
and Lola Vice right now is starting to break
-apart the champion. -[Booker T] Oh, yes.
And a little Cholula green on it as well, man.
-[Jayne groans] -[Joseph] Oh.
-You gonna be okay? -[Booker T] I'm good.
[Joseph] Oh, big kick. Jacy might not be okay.
Perfectly planted precision-style kick.
[Booker T] I mean Lola Vice right now, she's in her zone, man.
She's a striker.
She's a striker and right now Jacy Jade is a fifth.
Ow! Man!
[Joseph] Ain't no helping you, Jace. Whoa.
-[stammers] -[exclaims] Just sayin'!
[Joseph] Fallon again took Lola's eye off Jacy, allowed her to recover,
and then just put Lola right into the steel.
[laughing]
[Booker T] Jacy Jayne throwing caution to the wind.
[Joseph] Look at Lola Vice's family over on the far side screaming right now.
[crowd chanting] Kick her out!
[Joseph] Oh, yeah, so funny.
You hear the sold-out universe here in Fort Lauderdale, telling
the referee to get rid of Fallon Henley as the referee's count up to six.
Of course Lola's… Jacy, both… No.
Championship advantage is in favor of Jacy in this matchup.
[Booker T] I mean it is, but I'ma tell you Jacy… Jacy wants to beat Lola Vice
in front of all of her people, man.
[Joseph] That was a sling blade, a reverse back break or whatever the hell it was,
it was effective.
It was nasty, and take another look right now.
That impact of Jacy Jayne,
the back of the neck of Lola Vice, body sandwiched in between the steel.
And if Jacy Jayne retains that might have been the turning point of the matchup.
Can you see it that way?
[Booker T] It tells you how much Jacy Jayne wants this match.
-She's willing to do-- Whoa. -[Joseph] Cover.
[Booker T] She's willing to do anything to win here tonight.
And like I say, to shut up this crowd.
I mean, all the family and friends. I'ma tell you,
Lola Vice probably gave out a hundred tickets, trust me.
[Joseph] Certainly a hushed silence now over the sold-out War Memorial
as they witness their hometown girl in her backyard of Fort Lauderdale
from Miami get beaten down
by Jacy Jayne, who has held the Women's Championship for 122 days.
And as you've talked about, it's not a chip on Jacy Jayne's shoulder.
It's almost like there's a boulder up there at this point,
as Lola starting to fight her back,
but her body just gave out. Once again, Fallon.
The official… And Jacy Jayne from behind with a backstabber.
But it's important to know as she goes into the cover,
hooks the outside leg, and a kick out.
Lola Vice is heavily favoring her back, and I go back to being sandwiched in
to those steel steps over here to our right.
Take another look, feel the impact. Bam!
To the spine of Lola Vice.
[Booker T] Yeah, right now Jacy Jayne is carving and dissecting Lola Vice.
I mean, talking about precision, man. I'm talking about precision right now.
[laughing]
[Joseph] Jacy Jayne, the first superstar to hold a WWE and TNA championship
at the same time.
She's heard… She's heard it all from the locker room…
-Off the elbow, into another cover… -[referee] One, two…
[Joseph] …and another kick out.
She was called the most beatable champion in history.
She was scoffed at from the women in the locker room, probably on all three brands,
of course on social media, but I will say this in front of the world.
You have been by her side the entire time, Booker.
[Booker T] You know me, 'cause Jacy… Wait, listen to these people.
Trying to come into play right here, but Jacy Jayne, I talk about it all the time,
preparation. Preparation is the only luck you're ever gonna have.
Jacy Jayne has been preparing since day one.
She's been a star since day one, like I said, hadn't got the credit, but right
now she's proving she's double champ. She's proving she's one of the best.
[Joseph] She is not double champ. She lost that…
[Booker T] I said… I mean, not now but she had it, right?
She's a former double champ, right?
Why you gotta bring up that? Why?
[Joseph] Congratulations by the way to Kelani Jordan,
the new TNA knockouts champion,
but what a veteran that we are seeing and this is almost
like a blueprint for the future, if you're watching, is what Jacy Jayne is doing.
Hostile territory, has taken the crowd out of this matchup
that plays in part to the fact that she's been a champion on many different levels,
tag team, singles star, right back in, double champion, to your point, smart to
go into a quick pin and a kick out,
-but got countered! -[Booker T] Whoa!
[Joseph] And going for that submission.
And now that crowd is starting to get back into it.
They're starting to rally behind Lola Vice and Lola has the right
arm trapped in between her legs and flailing is Jacy Jayne for a moment.
Jacy again shifting weight.
[Booker T] So smart there by Jacy Jayne.
[Joseph] Veteran of the game is Jacy.
We cannot take that away from her. What she has done over the summer
here in NXT, but you said it's how good she is.
She's also had some help specifically from the woman that's on the outside here
tonight, that being Fallon Henley!
And what a kick under the jaw.
[Booker T] Big shot right there, landed it perfect,
and right now Jacy Jayne better get on a bicycle.
[Joseph] Lola Vice starting to heat up.
Like the Miami night.
[Booker T] Oh yes, chop-chop, chop-chop.
[Joseph] I gotta give you credit here, Book. You have a way of just going
from one person to the other seamlessly.
-I'll give you that. Here you go. -[Booker T] It's all about the exit, baby.
Oh, yes. Ah, ah. Oh, yes.
-[Joseph] Bam! -[Booker T exclaiming]
Oh, yes!
[Joseph] Lola Vice right now could be closing in on the championship.
Big suplex dropping Jacy Jayne, folding her in half.
-So much taken out of Lola though. -[Booker T] Stay focused.
[Joseph] Jacy again, the veteran,
wisely rolling not only to her stomach where she couldn't be pinned,
but also getting into the ropes…
But that backfist almost connecting.
Oh, and Jacy Jayne just saw her life flash before her eyes.
And Lola, she's had enough of Fallon Henley.
-Fallon taken out. -[Booker T] Oh, she's feeling it.
-Got caught big time. -[Joseph] Oh!
That pump kick taking out the challenger.
[crowd cheering]
Three!
-[Joseph] I understand she's a champ… -[referee] Four!
…but she should stay focused on Lola Vice, not look over here at us.
[Booker T] Pay some respects, man.
That is the champion and right now she's about to close in
on the biggest victory of her career.
This could be it, man.
[Joseph] Trying to look over and if you're thinking of small victories,
Fallon Henley's been wiped out.
It's only Lola Vice now, and Lola connects with that kick.
-[Booker T] Wow! -[Joseph] Is that it?
-Knockout blow. -[Booker T] No way.
-For the title… -[crowd clamoring]
[both shouting indistinctly]
[crowd cheers]
[Joseph] Yes. Jeremy Marcus, get her out of here.
This is ridiculous!
[Booker T] I mean, when can you--
-Can't have a conversation with the ref-- -[Joseph] When can you what?
Not a conversation.
[laughing] She ripped the referee out of the ring, Book.
The hell are you talking about?
Are you the third member now of Fatal Influence?
[Joseph] Back into the ring. Fallon's been sent to the back.
Roll through, shoulders down, kick out, counter.
-Submission's locked in! -[Booker T] Oh, yes.
[Joseph] Squeeze, squeeze, Lola. Squeeze!
Is Jacy gonna tap?
Fort Lauderdale on their feet.
[Booker T] She's not gonna do it. She's not gonna do it.
[Joseph] Trying to… Jacy, though, rolling through, cover…
And having to relinquish the submission yet again.
Almost like a cat with nine lives.
[Booker T] Jacy slipped out the back door there.
[Joseph] And just slipped away,
but Lola just face first into that top turnbuckle,
and if this trades down to strikes at this juncture--
Backfist, backfist.
-Jacy fell into the cover. Kick out. -[Booker T] Whoa.
[Joseph] Phew.
That was close, as we try to reset ourselves in this matchup.
Deep water and take a look.
That was a backfist that caught Lola Vice and there wasn't a lot
on that kick out, Book.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome! This is awesome!
[Joseph] The NXT Women's Championship right now hanging in the balance.
Fallon Henley has been sent to the back finally
after interfering and sticking her nose in this matchup on multiple occasions.
Jacy Jayne not just battling Lola Vice, also Lola's family, Lola's friends,
and an entire sold-out War Memorial here in Fort Lauderdale.
[Booker T] Jacy Jayne right now, she's feeling it in front of this crowd here.
[Joseph] I don't know who got the worst part of that,
but that was quite the elbow right to the teeth
of Lola Vice, and again, the crowd a quiet hush.
[crowd booing]
[Booker T] Jacy barking at this crowd right now.
[Joseph] Barking over at Lola's family,
and Lola answering back a little bit of separation elbow her own.
Deep, deep waters of this matchup, Book.
[Booker T] Perfect, prime position here for Lola Vice. Can she pull it off?
-[Joseph] Lola looking for that DDT. -[Booker T] Oh, yes.
-[Joseph] Another submission locked in. -[Booker T] Locked in deep too.
[Joseph] Cinched.
Guillotine, Jacy trying to fight.
Jacy did a nice job, got back to a little bit of a vertical base,
and that creates a fighter's chance at this juncture.
I mean, that certainly takes the pressure off, Book.
[Booker T] Jacy Jayne refused to tap right there.
She's the champion's champion, Victor.
[Joseph] What a battle between these two women, just showing you what it means
to be the Women's Champion here in NXT and there's a locker room full of women.
A deep women's division.
Looking to be the next in line to face whomever walks out with the title
and it's looking like Lola Vice.
But Vi-- Is it wise to be taking a risk this late in the match, Book?
[Booker T] Gotta take risks like this if you want to become champion.
You get one shot-- Oh, baby. Right there, got caught though.
[Joseph] Just hear how hard these two women hitting each other
this late into the matchup.
What is it gonna take to keep the other down?
[Booker T] Lola's in a bad, bad, bad position.
[Joseph] Belly-to-back suplex off the top.
Bam!
-[Booker T] That's it. That's it. -[crowd] One, two…
-[Joseph] It's not it. -[Booker T] Whoa.
[Joseph] That warrior's spirit inside of Lola Vice might be starting to awaken
here in the 12th round.
[Booker T] What a night. What a night.
What a fight. These two young ladies right there bringing it.
[Joseph] Look at Jacy. Look at Jacy. Look at her eyes. Look at her eyes, Book.
She's in disbelief. She doesn't know what the hell she's gonna have to do.
[Booker T] I don't think that's what that look is. I think that look says,
I'm finna go out here and do something no matter what it is.
[Joseph] Yeah, something drastic like get herself disqualified.
[Booker T] It's like I said, champion's advantage.
-[Joseph] Come on, ref. -[Booker T] You don't have to win to win.
Put that down! You can't use that! All right, Jacy?
[Joseph] No, no, no, no, no.
The official.
Whoa! Rolling through. Come on, ref. Get over there.
-[crowd] Two… -[Joseph] Jacy hangs on.
Last second. Picking it up. Looking for that knee, missed again.
And now rolling through second time, cover!
Kick out again by Jacy Jayne, championship on the line.
Super kick to the body, into that left elbow of Lola Vice.
And Jacy Jayne back in control.
Separation, big super kick under the jaw by Lola Vice.
-[Booker T] Oh, man. -[Joseph] Oh, my word.
And if it gets into strikes again, I gotta side with Lola Vice,
especially this late.
-And there she goes. -[Booker T] Oh, baby!
[Joseph] She remembers all that training from her father. Bang!
Rolling out… Backfist! Backfist from Lola and…
Oh, her momentum carried her out of the ring.
-[Booker T] Jacy still out though. -[Joseph] Jacy would be out.
Lola's got to recover.
-Lola's got to get back up. -[crowd shouts]
[Joseph] Who in the blue hell?
The official was getting the NXT Women's Championship out of the ring,
didn't see what just happened.
Two!
[Joseph] Lola… Lola's not moving. The referee is counting.
-Four! -[Joseph] Referee's at four.
-[crowd clamoring] -Five!
The NXT universe shouting right now at Lola Vice,
trying to get her back into this matchup.
Her father, her family, her sister trying to rally her.
The referee continuing to count. Her body collapses at eight.
-Referee's at nine. -[Booker T] It's over.
[Joseph] She's gotta-- Just, just, just beat the count, Booker.
[Booker T] Wow.
[Joseph] And bam! Oh, that Rolling Encore.
[Booker T] Too much. It's too much.
[Joseph] As Jacy delivers a fatal blow to Lola's dreams.
["The Chosen" playing]
[Rome] Here is your winner and still the NXT Women's Champion,
Jacy Jayne.
[Joseph] Jacy Jayne walked into enemy territory.
Jacy Jayne walked into Fort Lauderdale.
Jacy Jayne retained but not without a lot of help.
This was the… I lost count of how many times Fallon Henley
stuck her nose in this matchup.
Finally, the official had no choice, sent her to the back,
ejected her from ringside.
Lola Vice would continue to fight throughout this matchup.
Jacy Jayne with that knee, we all thought this match was over, but there was that
warrior's spirit inside the challenger. This though the turning point.
The official at this moment went back to Jacy Jayne, also went over
to get the NXT Women's Championship that was brought into the ring,
and this hooded figure came out of nowhere to drop Lola, who just beat the count
at 9.99 seconds, only to turn around and, bam.
get clocked and get dropped by the Rolling Encore.
And Jacy Jayne will see day 123
of her championship reign.
[Booker T] What a title event.
[Joseph] For Fallon and Jacy. I'm sure they're going
to be celebrating tonight in Vice City.
[music fades]
[rock music playing]
[Joseph] Beautiful beaches here in Fort Lauderdale,
but tonight we are sold out for No Mercy.
The spookiest night of the year though,
right around the corner, Saturday, October 25th, Halloween Havoc.
But let's talk about tonight. Quite the night it has been.
Jacy Jayne just retained the NXT Women's Championship,
but who will be the NXT Champion after tonight?
And speaking of tonight, a lot of comments right now from TNA wrestlers.
You see, I've seen and I've heard all the noise and the date is finally set.
October 7th Invasion, and you think this past Tuesday was total nonstop anarchy?
Well, I got news for you.
You haven't seen nothing yet because I'll be there this Tuesday.
We will be there this Tuesday, and we're gonna cause even more chaos.
And on October 7th Invasion, I'm gonna prove three things.
One, why I'm the face of the franchise.
Two, why you always trust the system,
and three, most importantly,
why TNA will always be the superior brand.
Moose.
[Joseph] Well, you know that Moose is focused,
but right now Mustafa Ali has gone to social media
and has taken to what we've all been talking about tonight,
this TNA Invasion that is going to take place October 7th.
It's getting real, real chippy between superstars of NXT and wrestlers from TNA.
That's coming up October 7th.
Let's talk about what's going to take place this upcoming Tuesday,
as you take a look at what happened all night long between these two.
There's been a lot said over the last several weeks.
These two, though, Booker, are going to settle their issues Tuesday.
Parker, Legend, one-on-one on NXT.
And it's really been the talk of the wrestling world.
And on Tuesday, our general manager, Ava,
and the TNA Director of Authority, Santino Marella,
are going to select their teams
for what we've been talking about all night long: Invasion.
You do not want to miss what happens this Tuesday on NXT.
But that brings me to our main event.
Who will be NXT champion come Tuesday?
Can Ricky Saints's revolution take down The Ruler,
or will Oba Femi send another superstar on a fall from grace?
[rock music playing]
[Oba Femi] I made this place my home a long time ago.
[Booker T] Give it up for Oba Femi.
[Joseph] Oba Femi has shocked us all!
From breakout star to North American champion.
[Oba Femi] Since January 7th, I have been your NXT champion,
and ever since then, NXT has been my kingdom.
[Joseph] Continuing to dominate, continuing to rule
is our champion, Oba Femi.
[Oba Femi] Any man in my position will start to rest on his laurels
and bask in the euphoria of his victories,
but The Ruler is not just any man.
I get restless when there's no contenders because I crave the fight.
So any man who thinks they are worthy to take this title from me,
any man who thinks they can stand up to The Ruler himself,
this is your opportunity.
This is your moment.
["Revolution" plays]
-[Joseph] Well, look who it is. -[Booker T] Wait a minute.
[Joseph] Ricky Saints.
Is Saints the one to end the reign of The Ruler?
[no audible dialogue]
What is Oba Femi without the title, huh? Who are you at the core of it?
I know who I am.
When I was younger, I always thought
that I was going to be a professional wrestler,
but I did not think
that it was going to take me to heights that I never could have imagined before.
I knew that I was going to do something great.
I just couldn't define it till this moment.
This isn't just about winning the NXT championship.
It's about making all the nonbelievers into believers,
and ultimately, it is proving to myself
that all the gambling and all of the sacrifices that I made pays off.
I prove to myself that I am exactly who I say I am.
There's been six months since I've been here.
[rock music playing]
And in that six months,
I have been North American champion, taking down monsters,
and I have faced the best of the best,
but there is one thing that I want,
and that is the thing that you, Oba Femi, have in your possession.
I can't help but be underwhelmed
because Ricky, I eat, sleep and breathe this title.
You act like you got a warrior spirit, but more like you're just a pampered athlete.
You were scouted.
You were sponsored.
I grinded for that. I worked for that.
I got a big mouth and a bad attitude as well.
Eight years ago, I poured my energy, I poured my effort into it.
Three days, just to go home to get an automated email that said no.
But guess what?
I realized that a delay is not a denial, and I will always gamble on myself.
Come No Mercy, I am not going to be delayed.
I am not going to be denied. I am going to be the NXT champion.
Why? Because I am Absolute Ricky "Freakin" Saints.
[crowd chanting] Ricky! Ricky! Ricky!
[Oba Femi] No Mercy, I'm going to show you that you are not special
and make the exceptional average.
And in your case,
I'm going to make The Absolute absolutely mediocre.
[Joseph] Can The Revolution end the reign of a ruler?
Who will show no mercy? Who will be NXT champion?
["Revolution" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Joseph] Take a look around, Book. Sold out here in Fort Lauderdale.
Phones are out.
Everyone trying to snap a pic of the leader of the revolution, but…
but, is it time to put up or shut up if you're Ricky Saints?
[Booker T] It's time.
This is a massive opportunity for this young man to grab
and cash in on that ultimate dream, the NXT championship.
It's gonna be a hell of a task though, dawg.
[music continues]
This is my time!
Tonight!
[crowd cheering]
This is it!
[Joseph] It's main event time here at No Mercy.
[music fades]
[crowd clamoring]
["Hands of Fate" playing]
[crowd members chanting] Ooh!
[crowd member] Ricky!
[crowd chanting] Oba! Oba!
[Joseph] No doubt The Ruler has been in control,
has been dominant,
and this brand has been under his thumb since his arrival.
[music continues]
[crowd clamoring]
[Joseph] Let's go up to our ring announcer, Mike Rome.
-[bell dings] -[music fades]
The following contest scheduled for one fall…
[crowd] One fall!
…is for the NXT championship.
Introducing the challenger.
From New Orleans, Louisiana,
weighing in at 200 pounds,
Ricky Saints!
[crowd cheering, clamoring]
And his opponent.
From Lagos, Nigeria,
weighing in at 310 pounds,
he is the NXT champion,
Oba Femi!
[crowd cheering]
It's on.
[Joseph] We just looked into the eyes of the champion through the monitor,
and wherever you're watching around the world, Booker,
Ricky Saints is gonna have to stand toe-to-toe,
face-to-face with that man.
[Booker T] This monster. That's what he is, dawg.
M-O-U-N-S-T-E-R. This monster, dawg.
-No bread, no water, just meat. -[bell dings]
Oh, man.
Uphill battle.
[Joseph] Ricky Saints became the number one contender on August 26th.
And let's not forget, at Heatwave, Saints confronted Femi,
and we remember that feeling on that night.
We were sitting there ringside.
But also, you can feel everyone right now, here,
sold out in Fort Lauderdale for No Mercy.
The tension is in the air.
[Booker T] I mean, the tension is in the air,
but I'm gonna tell you right now, Ricky Saints,
he must know something we don't know.
We're gonna find out what it is tonight.
[Joseph] I think what we don't know is how much belief that man has in himself,
that inner belief.
I think it's been questioned by a lot of people.
-We don't know… -Stay down!
…what sort of man Ricky Saints is.
We know he's won championships,
but Oba Femi's looked him in the eye and said, "Look, you're not special."
He's going to have to show Oba just how special he is.
And he's fighting to overthrow the dominance of Oba.
And every man is beatable, right, Book, on any given day.
[Booker T] Every man is beatable, but I'm gonna tell you right now,
Oba Femi has managed to figure a way
or find a way to combat all challengers, man.
The guy is… He is just that good.
He's not champion by accident or anything like that.
[Joseph] Oba Femi, second longest reign of any champion in WWE,
trailing Tiffany Stratton,
who retained the WWE women's championship last night on Friday Night Smackdown.
As Saints, going from behind, taking Oba off his feet for a moment,
not able to get a three.
And Saints turning right back around.
And both men, same thought process,
but Oba had a little bit more behind his kick,
and then he follows up with that deep European uppercut.
[Booker T] Oba's coming in at, what, 310 pounds of muscle.
I mean, very little body fat right there,
is what Ricky Saints is going to have to deal with here in this matchup.
[Joseph] Well, I'll ask you this about Oba Femi.
We've seen what's happened over the last several weeks.
Do you think he's overlooking the challenger?
Do you think Oba is looking past Ricky Saints?
And I bring that up to you because Oba has mocked Saints.
Remember the appearance on The Grayson Waller Effect?
It was overshadowed by Oba wanting to talk to and talk about Trick Williams.
Didn't even want to talk about Ricky Saints.
[Booker T] I think Oba Femi is just finding himself right now.
Oba Femi has realized he has overcome all opponents.
He's beaten anybody that they put in front of him.
[Joseph] Off the body slam, Ricky able to kick out at one,
but you see immediately upon kicking out, Ricky grabbed his ribs, grabbed his back,
and is crawling over to the ropes.
[Booker T] Ricky senses he's gonna be tested in this match
like he's never been tested before.
I can… I can almost guarantee you that.
[Joseph] I hate to bring this up,
but I want to go back to something I've already mentioned.
Do you agree with Oba that there's nothing special about Saints?
He confidently did say that Ricky cannot take his title here tonight.
He said earlier today on social media.
[Booker T] I'm gonna tell you, you can't underestimate a man
-in thinking that… Not knowing that… -[Joseph] Whoa!
Not knowing how good he is until you get in the ring with him.
[Joseph] Ricky turning right around.
And now Ricky trying to keep his foot on the gas,
able to buckle the legs of Oba Femi,
and that might have been a wake-up call to the champion.
The challenger right now swinging away, but Oba back to his feet.
Maybe a smart strategy for Ricky Saints is going to be stick and move.
I mean, what strategy would work against Oba?
Nothing has seemed to work for… for anyone.
[Booker T] I can tell you right now, Ricky Saints only got one strategy
that's going to work, and that's weather this storm of Oba Femi
because, trust me, the storm is coming.
[Joseph] And Ricky took too much time, started to showboat,
and now might just pay the price…
able to slither down the back.
Oba right now, looking out for that top rope, is able to…
[Booker T] Too much muscle.
…push off, but that dropkick connecting.
Oba, though, staying on his feet.
Oba's knees buckle for a moment.
Ricky charging right in with a knee, right into the back,
taking Oba right out here to the floor.
And how should Saints go about trying to defeat someone like Oba,
who's already rising from the ashes in front of us?
[Booker T] Just like he's doing right there,
trying to land big shots… trying to land big shots,
but got got with one right there on the rebound, man.
[Joseph] What a shot that was.
And I feel… And look at… I can't get over it.
I just looked up, saw Saints's eyes roll around because…
-[blow lands] -[Joseph] Did you hear that?
[Booker T] All of it right there.
[Joseph] What was the saying Mike Tyson has?
[Booker T] I mean, uh, what is it?
[Joseph] Everyone's got a plan until you--
[Booker T] Till you get hit.
[Joseph] And what a right hand from Oba Femi.
…two, three, four.
Come on.
[Joseph] And if this match slows down the way it has,
it obviously favors the champion.
[Booker T] I mean, right now, Oba's…
you know, he's fighting at his tempo right there.
He's in his… in a comfort zone right there.
And Ricky Saints isn't pushing… isn't pushing the issue.
Oh, yes!
[Joseph] Nice backbreaker.
Oba just playing around, almost, with his food right now,
here against Ricky Saints.
Saints, I mean, just… Again!
[Booker T] Too much muscle. I mean…
And the thing is, he's doing it with ease. He's making this look so easy.
[Joseph] And he's doing it for fun at this point.
The champion, third time, to the challenger.
-[Booker T] Finish it! -[Joseph] Hook of the leg,
and Ricky Saints's left shoulder coming off the mat.
This is Oba's 11th title defense.
We talk about Jacy Jayne with six.
This is Oba's 11th championship defense of the NXT title.
Booker, I'm gonna put that in perspective.
That's the most since Bron Breakker's second reign…
second reign with the NXT title, when he defended it 13 times.
[Booker T] I don't know how many times I can tell you.
I mean, Oba Femi, he's a generational talent.
This guy could have worked across all, you know, ages of this business
because he is truly one of a kind.
-[Joseph] Oh! Dang. -[Booker T] Oh, man.
Big shot right there by Oba.
[Joseph] And what's wise for Ricky Saints at this juncture of the matchup is…
He's been in the game a long time.
Every time he's going down, he's trying to quickly get to the ropes.
[Booker T] You see that? Oba said, "Just count him out.
-Count him out. He's done. -Two!
[Booker T] He's finished."
-Come on. -Come on.
[Joseph] Now, you've had a lot of praise here for Oba Femi.
In your opinion, you're a two-time WWE Hall of Famer…
-[groans] -[Booker T] Ah, man!
-[Joseph] What is this man's ceiling? -[Booker T] No, I mean--
[Joseph] When you really look at it and break it down,
what is the ceiling for someone like Oba Femi?
[Booker T] I don't think there are any bounds for Oba Femi.
-[Joseph] Really? -[Booker T] I think, in any company…
I mean, you put him on a main roster, he's gonna be champ,
uh… [stammers] …you talk 20 years from now, he's gonna be a Hall of Famer.
This guy is definitely… He checks off… He checks off every box.
[Joseph] Referee at five. Referee at six.
Ricky Saints trying to get back.
Seven!
[Joseph] Ricky Saints just flopping, falling back into the ring.
[Booker T] Oba wasting no energy, man.
Right now he's just… he's just stalking Ricky Saints.
-[Joseph] And… Ooh! -[Saints groaning]
[Joseph] Ricky… The veins popping out of his throat…
-[Booker T groans] Baby! -…his face, as he is just being punished.
And when we talk about domination, take a look at the body count of challengers.
[Booker T] Is this the strategy? Is this Ricky Saints's strategy
to take as much as I possibly can take here tonight?
-Is that it? -[groans]
[Joseph] I don't know if that's a great strategy right now
because he is just getting bent, broken, battered and bruised.
Center of the ring, and there's no way…
He's got to try to move with 300-plus pounds sitting on his lower back.
He's just… He's just giving away energy at this point.
[Booker T] Got to devise some kind of plan here
to try to withstand and try to combat Oba Femi in some way, shape or form
because right now it doesn't look good.
[both groan]
[Joseph] Well, that's a little bit of separation created for Ricky Saints.
That's something for Saints to start trying to build off of.
[Booker T] Bad move. Bad move.
[Joseph] Just got caught, and again,
you see more of these devastating backbreakers, rib-breakers,
-and, like, nothing. -[Booker T] Now, the thing is--
[Joseph] It's like he's grocery shopping right now.
[Booker T] That crossbody that Ricky Saints just went for
-did not move Oba Femi one inch. -…two, three, four.
Come on, Oba. Off the rope!
[Joseph] And we got a great view of this right here from the announce desk,
just looking up.
-Oba's slow, methodical. -[groans]
-[Joseph] Just breaking down. -From Nigeria.
[Joseph] And at what point, Book, as we see him just bending the challenger…
at what point, Booker, is too much too much for the challenger?
[Booker T] Wait a minute. Ricky Saints just landed a shot.
[Joseph] We've seen him do it two or three times. It doesn't go anywhere, Booker.
[Booker T] He landed a big knee right now. Oba Femi reeling just a little bit…
[Joseph] He got caught, got hoisted, and he got planted.
That's what I mean.
Does this man have a weakness? Answer that after the cover.
Hook of the leg is…
And this one's going to continue. Does he have a weakness?
[Booker T] Of course Oba Femi has a weakness. The question is…
[Joseph] I don't see the weakness, Book. He just caught a grown-ass man
and planted him like nothing.
[Booker T] The question is, can Ricky Saints find that weakness?
Every man has one.
[Joseph] Ricky Saints doing his best,
and if the ropes weren't there, the turnbuckle wasn't there,
I don't know if he'd be standing for this bout of the NXT championship.
Ricky knows that. Cover and a kick out.
And you've said it, Book, championship opportunities don't grow on trees.
Ricky Saints, who arrived here, earned this opportunity.
He became the number one contender.
He, just like Oba, is a former North American champion.
He's walking the walk.
He's trying to talk the talk tonight as well.
Picking up some speed, charging in with a forearm.
He's gonna have to have a little bit more than that, though, Book,
to take down the big champion, Oba Femi.
-And that's what he's got! -[Booker T] There it is.
-[Joseph] There it is. -[Booker T] There it is.
[crowd cheering]
[Booker T] I don't know if that's gonna do anything
that's worth trying to finish Oba Femi or anything like that,
-but he's rocking a little bit. -[Joseph] Charging back in.
Challenger now trying to hoist up the champion.
Well, that goes back to what you just said about wise decisions,
but he's able to slide right underneath.
-Whoa! -[crowd cheering]
[Joseph] Back up and down.
-[Booker T] Used all his momentum. -[Joseph] Cover!
For the title…
-Oba's left shoulder off the mat. -[Booker T] Uh-uh.
That's not gonna be enough right there.
You're gonna need to hit Oba with many, many big shots before that happens.
[Joseph] Whoa!
But too… You know, I'm glad Ricky's starting to get back into it,
but even there,
the amount of energy he just used to hoist up a 300-plus pound man.
And now charged in, Fall from Grace!
Able to land on his feet.
Saints turning back around, got caught.
Enzuigiri to the right side, rocking Oba.
-Saints charging in. That spear… -[Booker T groans]
[Joseph] That spear just got swatted and flattened like a mosquito.
[Booker T chuckles] Called wipeout. That's what that was.
-Oh, yes! Big uppercut. -[Joseph] Oh!
Big European, into the cover…
and Ricky able to kick out.
I've never seen a spear countered with a human swat like that before.
Ricky still with a little bit of fight, able to sidestep Oba.
Back in! And he connected with the spear!
-[Booker T] And all of it too. -[Joseph] Spear!
-[Booker T] Is it gonna be enough? -[Joseph] Ooh.
[Booker T] Not gonna be enough.
[Joseph] That was close. That was close.
And right now, I know you're hurt.
Ricky is hurt. He's been hurting the whole match.
But that spear right there,
this near fall we just witnessed is proof to what you said earlier.
Oba is human. Oba is a man.
Every man has a weakness.
Can you find it? Can you exploit it?
The time may be now for Ricky Saints.
[Booker T] Ricky Saints, I think that is his best strategy,
try to get Oba Femi in those deep waters,
let the cardio effect come into play.
Maybe that… Maybe that might work.
[Joseph chuckles] Just when I start believing what I'm saying, Oba rises up
and takes control of the matchup once again.
[Booker T] Yeah, but we're in the high, red district.
Oba's normally not too comfortable being up here on these top ropes, man.
[Joseph] Oh, Ricky got to take advantage.
And Ricky, trying with everything, holding on.
Looking for a powerbomb.
-Yes! -[Booker T] Got all of it!
[Joseph] Fall, and he fell into the cover!
-He fell into the cover! -[crowd] One, two…
[Joseph] Oh!
Oh, disbelief.
[Booker T] I wonder, was that Ricky's best shot.
I mean, because he landed that powerbomb right in the middle of that squared circle
and then covered him immediately.
-I wonder if that was it. -[crowd] One, two…
[crowd groaning]
[Joseph] We talked about a gas tank earlier,
as we're sold out here, War Memorial, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Main event of No Mercy. NXT championship on the line.
Ricky Saints, the challenger, Oba Femi, the champion.
You talk about everything that's happened.
-Who was the first one to his feet? -[Booker T] That's scary.
-[Joseph] Who was the first one to get up? -[Booker T] Oba Femi got up first
after a massive powerbomb delivered.
You gotta love it.
[crowd clamoring]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd clamoring]
[Joseph] Body shot by the champion.
-[crowd cheering] -[Joseph] Challenger answering back.
Uh…
I think Ricky Saints's body just gave out from that last body shot.
I mean, you watch boxing. You break it down.
A body shot can crumble a man.
[Booker T] It's called playing possum. It's called playing possum, dawg.
That's what it was.
[Joseph] Ricky back up, almost baited in Oba Femi, I guess, to a point.
-Then just got rocked! -[Booker T] Good night.
-[Joseph] Turned inside out. -[Booker T] Welcome to the party, pal.
[Joseph] And now rolling through, though, is Ricky!
-[Booker T] Oh, wait a minute. -[Joseph] Ricky holding that leg.
Kicking out another near fall. The championship, again, is on the line.
Ducking the clothesline. Ricky coming right back in.
-And just got tossed. -[Booker T] God, man.
-The strength on Oba Femi. -[crowd booing]
[Joseph] Hey, Book, you know what's next: a Fall from Grace…
-Counter! Cover! -[crowd] One, two…
[Joseph] Kick out.
Ricky Saints pulling out all the stops at this point.
-Oh! -[Booker T] Wow!
Big man got air. Big man got air right there.
[Joseph] We talk about pulling out the stops.
6'5", 6'6", 300 plus.
[crowd chanting] NXT!
[Joseph] And everyone right here around us,
-close to us, on their feet to the right… -[Booker T] What a main event.
…up in the rafters behind us, going nuts.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome!
[Joseph] This, the main event tonight of No Mercy.
-And Oba… Hey! -[crowd clamoring]
-[Booker T] Uh, pack it up. -[Joseph] Move.
[Booker T] Pack it up, Vic.
[Joseph] Hell, you ain't gotta tell me twice.
[crowd clamoring]
-[Joseph] And Oba breaking the count… -[Booker T] Smart.
…because he wants to beat the hell out of Ricky Saints.
[fan] Do it! Do it!
[Booker T] It's about dominance right here, Vic.
-[Joseph] Certainly is. -[Booker T] It's about showing dominance.
[Joseph] And the referee showing discretion right now.
He knows how much this match means. He knows what this is for.
It's for the NXT championship.
Oba, think about it.
-[Booker T] He thought about it, Vic. -[Joseph] A Fall from Grace!
-[Booker T] Here we go. Here we go, baby. -[Joseph] Book, into a powerbomb
to destroy Ricky Saints…
Saints counter! DDT!
There is still fight. There is still… left in the challenger, Book.
You got to give him that much, right?
[Booker T] Oh, this kid is definitely fighting his heart out here tonight.
Ricky Saints is everything he said he is,
and that's a fighter with a… with a lot of heart, man.
[Joseph] And I'm gonna go into what you said, Booker.
Is it heart? Is it fight?
Or is it desperation?
Because that's the second time… the second time that tornado DDT…
This time, it was right here in front of us.
[Booker T] I think Ricky Saints is desperate right now.
-He's definitely in panic mode. -[Joseph] How can he not be desperate?
-It's for the damn championship! -[Booker T] That might help him, man.
[Joseph] You gotta be desperate right now.
So much taken out of Ricky Saints. So much fight still left.
-[Booker T groans] -[Joseph] Oh, God!
And the fight in Ricky Saints might have just been smacked…
-[Booker T] Wow! -…from Fort Lauderdale
back to New Orleans.
[Booker T] Heard that all over this arena, man.
[crowd clamoring]
[Joseph] I talked about a body count earlier.
You can add another one.
-Fall from Grace! -[Booker T] Welcome to the party.
[crowd] One, two…
[Booker T] Oh, no! Wow!
-[Joseph] Oba beside himself. -[Booker T] I'm beside myself.
[Joseph] Unbelievable.
The referee right now trying to tell Oba, "You didn't put the man away."
This is showing you, for everyone that has questioned Ricky Saints,
about his heart, where his head's at.
He's bringing it here tonight.
Second Fall from Grace.
Oh, a DDT! [stammers] How many is that?
-[Booker T] Now this kid is doing… -[Joseph] Two? Three?
…everything he possible can to try to slow Oba down.
-Oh, coup d'état! Oh, coup d'état! -[Joseph] On four! DDT!
-One on the table. One on the floor. -[crowd] One, two…
-[Joseph] One in the ring. -…three!
-[Joseph] And Saints… -[bell dings]
Saints did it!
-[all cheering] -[rock music playing]
[Rome] Here is your winner
and the new NXT champion,
Ricky Saints!
[Joseph] For all those hardships, for what your mother went through…
That man just overcame The Ruler, The Destroyer, and you know what?
It is yours. You did it, and new…
[crowd cheering]
This is me!
[Joseph] Look at this place. Listen to this place. Sold out.
What a moment.
[music continues]
[Joseph] Right out here, legitimately on our desk,
that was the first DDT.
That DDT rocked Oba.
The second one did the same, but as you said, Oba Femi is a monster,
being able to rise up, swat down another grown man.
And this is where Oba Femi does what he always does:
conquers, overpowers, destroys and rules.
And just when he looked to add to his defenses,
Ricky Saints showed you the heart,
showed you he's gonna be what he says he is.
[crowd exclaims]
[Joseph] "That man," to your verbiage, I should say.
And then, not only the third, but the fourth DDT.
-And for Ricky Saints, he did it. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-[bell dings] -[Joseph] Ricky Saints defeated The Ruler.
[rock music playing]
[Joseph] And the Revolution takes its next step.
But with the current situation with TNA, what's next for NXT?
What's next for our new champion?
And with an Invasion on the horizon, we're all gonna have to show no mercy.
-[crowd cheering] -[music continues]
[music fades] ng] -[music continues]