00:00The Women's United States Champion set to the Venture title here on SmackDown.
00:30Introducing the challenger from Tokyo, Japan, Julia!
00:46The beautiful madness.
00:49Weiji has targeted Zelina Vega for many weeks now.
00:53This being the most important matchup of Julia's career at WWE to this point.
00:59And what did she just call the United States Championship?
01:02A stepping stone.
01:03That is kind of a slap in the face to every great champion who has ever held the Women's United States Championship
01:11or indeed the Men's United States Champion.
01:13But I like that.
01:14That's a cockiness.
01:15That's an assuredness that I'm not just here to win world titles on SmackDown.
01:21I'm here for everything.
01:22I'm here to run this show.
01:24Well, she's already won the NXT Women's Championship for the United States title next in her sight.
01:30And I have no doubt after watching this woman over the last number of years wave that she will indeed be a world champion at one point in her career here in WWE.
01:39Yeah, World Champion, United States Champion, Tag Champion, Royal Rumble winner.
01:44Just keep adding those accolades to the list.
01:47There are massive expectations on the shoulders of Julia, but even those aren't as big as the expectations she puts on herself.
01:57Well, that woman there, Zelina Vega, four years ago won the Queen of the Ring tournament back in 2021.
02:06So this weekend, of course, means a lot to Zelina.
02:09Back in April of this year, Zelina Vega beat Chelsea Green to win her first singles championship at WWE.
02:17She was so emotional that night.
02:19It meant so much to her, Wade.
02:21And she's been a very proud champion over the past couple of months and intends to keep going.
02:25She said she wants to get the Summer Slam.
02:28Here's the interesting thing.
02:29For the past two months, it has been all about the green regime.
02:34Chelsea Green at Alataka.
02:36Cover again.
02:37The United States champion.
02:39Finally, Zelina seems to have shrugged them off and immediately a new challenge.
02:46And again, just steps up.
02:48Zelina Vega looking for a quick win here as is Julia.
02:51Now, both women exchanging kicks and both women down.
02:54In the early going of this matchup.
02:57Those women rumbled there.
02:59But immediately back up.
03:02It's got a motivation that championship will give any competitor.
03:06Shake off the cobwebs.
03:07Tonight, duplexed by Julia, who in her career have knocked off the likes of Roxanne Perez,
03:13Stephanie Vaquer, Jordan Grace, who will now face JC Jane at Evolution for the NXT Women's title.
03:20Grace winning that big matchup this past week as Zelina Vega delivers a knee to Julia.
03:27And now, Zelina is very comfortable going up top and flying wave.
03:30Yeah, well, Zelina is the underdog in pretty much every match.
03:35Uh-oh, but Zelina may have hurt her knee.
03:37Zelina Vega may have tweaked her knee, folks.
03:47Well, this could be a concerning problem perhaps for Zelina Vega.
03:50It looked like she landed awkwardly when she took out Julia coming off the ring at that point.
03:55And we'll see if it affects Zelina at all in this matchup.
03:58The wardrobe malfunction in the process, but quickly back on the offense.
04:03Oh, don't speak too soon.
04:05And the power of Julia coming to the floor once again.
04:08But again, she's got to get Zelina Vega in the ring.
04:11Champion's advantage in this match.
04:13Julia's got to pin or submit Vega to win the championship.
04:17Fascinating about Julia.
04:19She's so intense when on the attack.
04:21But in those brief windows in between.
04:24She's kind of lackadaisical.
04:26She kind of slows it down, enjoys it.
04:28And that is the beauty and the mouth is combined.
04:31You can get caught just like she did there into the Hurricanrana by Zelina.
04:35And now looking for a 619 to pay homage to her mentor Rey Mysterio and Julia.
04:41Wow, Zelina got a broken nose as she hit the ropes hard.
04:46Let's go with that broken hip slash knee or whatever happened earlier on that moonsault on the outside.
04:53Now Vega, a kick of her own.
04:55The feisty Zelina Vega believes she's an unbreakable force.
05:00She's conquered so many obstacles in her career.
05:05This could be really ugly, Cole.
05:06Keep your eye out here.
05:07Potential Nate Breaker.
05:09And Nate Breaker off the apron.
05:11And Julia in firm control of the champion.
05:15He just doesn't do that particular version of it justice.
05:20Zelina Vega in the opening four minutes of this match has been really battered from pillar to post.
05:27Does not look the same Zelina Vega who walked out here.
05:30Yeah, but Zelina Vega tremendous guts and heart.
05:34She's been an underdog most of her career.
05:38She said that she's fueled by purposes.
05:41She runs into Julia yet again.
05:43Julia now.
05:45Perch top rope.
05:47And missile drop kick takes Vega down.
05:51Very calm confidence.
05:54Covered by Julia for the title and a kick out at two by Vega.
05:58And I like the confidence.
05:59I think the cockiness might be going a little too far against the champion the level of Zelina Vega.
06:05Got to keep focused.
06:14Julia now with a submission move locked in on Zelina Vega.
06:17After Zelina went face first in the mat.
06:19And Julia's been dominated the United States champ.
06:22Yes, she has.
06:24And Zelina Vega got the sting knocked out of her early in this one.
06:28And really a struggle to get her foothold in the match ever since.
06:32And Julia's done a great job of keeping the pressure.
06:34Cover again for the title.
06:35Kick out at two by Vega.
06:37We've talked about Julia's natural charisma.
06:40Talked about her being calm and confident.
06:43But she can brawl with the best of them.
06:45Punishing her opponent here tonight in Zelina Vega.
06:48The smile has been wiped off the face of Julia somewhat at this point.
06:56Now get a little frustrated with Vega.
06:59But you know Vega is not going to give up.
07:02And again there's the resilience of Meteora.
07:05Driving Julia into the steel steps.
07:09And again favoring the knee that Zelina tweaked earlier on in the matchup.
07:13I saw Julia grabbing the bottom row of teeth there.
07:16Checking they were all still there.
07:18Might need a recount.
07:20But now it's all Vega.
07:22The underdog is biting back.
07:24Yeah the resilient champion staying in the fight.
07:26But Julia bringing that strong style.
07:33And now Zelina Vega looking to pick up the pace here.
07:35Use her quickness to her ability.
07:37Couple of clotheslines.
07:38Takes the challenger down.
07:40Thought she was going to go for a dragon screw.
07:42But it was a back elbow deliver.
07:44Didn't quite get all of that.
07:45And that is why Julia is straight back on the offense.
07:50Crazy maneuverability now from Vega.
07:53Like Julia was going for her finisher moments ago.
07:55And Zelina was able to counter.
07:57Popped her up.
07:58Kneed her in the jaw.
08:00And now it is Julia completely rocked.
08:03And at the mercy of the champ.
08:04And Vega with double knees to the spine.
08:07Zelina Vega beginning to build momentum.
08:11May have the challenger in trouble.
08:13Oh.
08:14Meteora.
08:15From Zelina.
08:16Again.
08:17And a kick out by Julia at two.
08:19And Viva.
08:21La Vega.
08:22How many times have we written off this woman?
08:25It's like Rey Mysterio.
08:26You mentioned it earlier.
08:27You have to fight from underneath.
08:29But keep fighting.
08:31Stay in the fight however you can.
08:33And Vega is doing that.
08:34And Julia though.
08:35Zelina took a bit too much time getting to the top rope.
08:38Perhaps the knee bothering her more than she's letting on.
08:40Both women hurting at this point.
08:42This is a championship level matchup.
08:44With the goal on the line.
08:46And we are getting a treat from these two women.
08:50Oh.
08:51Goodness.
08:52Julia just got her over.
08:53Just enough.
08:54You saw Vega trying to scramble out of the move.
08:56But.
08:57Julia just had enough power.
08:59And wait up.
09:02And Zelina.
09:03Able to drop back behind Julia.
09:06And now.
09:07Coverhead.
09:08Delivered by Zelina.
09:09For the win.
09:10Is it enough?
09:11And Julia gets her feet on the bottom rope weight.
09:15Just that little extension.
09:18When Vega thought she had this one put to bed.
09:22She hit her nuke.
09:24Right on Julia.
09:26And what is it going to take to put this Japanese superstar away.
09:31And this could be it.
09:33Moonsault.
09:34No.
09:35Julia.
09:36Moves out of harm's way.
09:37Zelina Vega back up center of the ring.
09:39Running knee now.
09:40By Julia.
09:41Arrivederci.
09:42Maybe the kiss of death.
09:45And another knee by Julia.
09:47Continues to torture and punish the champion.
09:50Julia lifts her arm.
09:51And Zelina is down.
09:53Julia with the cover.
09:56The Northern Lights ball.
09:58Brings her the championship.
10:02Here is your winner.
10:04And new women's United States champion.
10:10Julia.
10:13Julia's biggest win.
10:15On Friday night Smackdown.
10:17Brings her United States championship gold.
10:24While Zelina went big.
10:26This was after a code red didn't quite get the job done.
10:30But that maneuverability.
10:31Of Julia.
10:32A couple of Arrivederci's.
10:35And then this.
10:36The Northern Lights ball.
10:39Which has simply put all comers away.
10:43Since arriving in NXT a few short months ago.
10:47It's grabbed gold there.
10:48And now it has grabbed gold here on Smackdown.
10:52In the form of the Women's United States Championship.
