#wwe, #wwe nxt, #wwe evolve, #ethan page, #ricky saints, #the vanity project, #nxt great american bash, #ricky saints vs the vanity project, #swipe right, #ricky saints vs ethan page, #nxt north american championship,
NXT July 08, 2025 - Ricky Saints Vs The Vanity Project _Gauntlet Match - If Ricky Saints win he qualifies to challenge Ethan Page for NXT North American Championship
NXT July 08, 2025 - Ricky Saints Vs The Vanity Project _Gauntlet Match - If Ricky Saints win he qualifies to challenge Ethan Page for NXT North American Championship
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00:00When I'm going for the Lamar, you know what I'm saying?
00:03My handshake, I gave you a mile.
00:04F.B., F.B., F.B.
00:06This is The Revolution.
00:08Yeah, baby!
00:25The following contest is a gauntlet match.
00:31Introducing first, from New Orleans, Louisiana,
00:35way again, at 205, Ricky Saints.
00:41Graves, just how monumental could this gauntlet match be for Ricky Saints?
00:46Well, it's gonna be feast or famine for the revolution.
00:50When you're talking about endurance, about cardiovascular conditioning.
00:54We're about to see what Ricky Saints is truly made of.
00:57This could be a grueling contest, but the meme, but the end could justify the memes.
01:02If Saints wins, he gets a North American Championship match Saturday at the Great
01:07American Match, and he gets to pick the stipulation when he would face Ethan Page.
01:14But first and foremost, he's gotta survive this Vanity Project gauntlet.
01:26And his opponents are coupled by the NXT North American Champion,
01:33Ethan Page.
01:36And Graves, is this man worried about what could happen if Saints wins?
01:47Look at the smile on the face of the NXT North American Champion, Ethan Page, Nick.
01:52And you should answer your own question.
01:54That is not the look of a man who feels anything remotely resembling concern.
02:00In fact, this is the picture of confidence.
02:03What up, dog?
02:04How you doing?
02:05Give it up.
02:06Give it up for the man.
02:07Stand up.
02:08That's all we go against.
02:11It was nice that you two got a handshake.
02:16The champion decided to ignore me, but it looks as if Ethan Page will be joining us
02:21here on Commentary.
02:22Whatever gave you that idea, Mick?
02:23Could it be the chair that I had personally set up for a room?
02:26You did?
02:27I did.
02:28Hey, thank you very much.
02:29I'm one of the biggest All-Ego fans walking God's Green Earth.
02:32I'm excited to have you here.
02:32Thank you very much.
02:33Hey, nobody likes you.
02:34That's not true.
02:37We see Brad Baylor starting things off with Ricky Saints.
02:41And I mentioned cardiovascular condition.
02:43We know Saints just missed a significant amount of time with that throat injury.
02:47That's true.
02:48I'm curious to see how well he's recovered.
02:51A throat injury that was caused by the man joining us here, Ethan Page.
02:54And Ethan, why can't you and Ricky Saints get along?
02:57I mean, we've hated each other.
02:59I'm pretty sure for our entire careers, we've fought in bingo halls, giant arenas.
03:05And here we are in NXT, still at each other's throats, trying to prove who's better.
03:10And I'm the one with the gold, so I think that's me.
03:12I see what you did there.
03:12You said at each other's throats.
03:13That was brilliant.
03:15Now call it the Padula, blah, blah, blah, gotcha.
03:18Yeah, sir.
03:19Nice tilt to the world, backbreaker.
03:20And look, for Ricky Saints, he's gotta get rid of this matchup quickly.
03:23Because if he beats Brad Baylor, then he would move on to the next member of the Vanity Project.
03:28That's a huge if.
03:29Well, do you really think it's a huge if?
03:31No, it is, because this guy's been spending time fishing with Cody over July 4th,
03:35instead of preparing for three men in one match.
03:39Daddy.
03:39What were you doing overall?
03:40That's how big spent his weekend.
03:41I was barbecuing, I'm the champ, I'm not wrestling.
03:43And uh-oh.
03:44All right.
03:46I like this.
03:47And the cover.
03:47Chew him on, that's great.
03:48That almost ended Ricky Saints championship dream.
03:51Champ, what can you tell us about Brad Baylor?
03:53What is so special about this young man?
03:56Just him.
03:56Talk about all three of these guys.
03:58These guys represent something that's dying in professional wrestling, they're journeymen.
04:03They, over the weekend, were actually wrestling matches.
04:07They were preparing themselves for Ricky Saints.
04:10These three have a very bright future, and they also remind me a little bit of myself.
04:14Well, to that point, Swipe Right is the Wrestling Open Tag Team Champions,
04:17close to 250 days as champions.
04:21But Brad Baylor, 20 years old, sky is the limit, WWE ID talent, but he's in there with Ricky Saints,
04:27a former North American Champion, looking to win that championship.
04:30You gotta get another high-impact moment, that's it.
04:34Baylor into the cover, and it kicked out.
04:36It's okay, man.
04:37You can see these guys have been at the expert tooling of this man right here all
04:41league game, big up to you, man, big up.
04:44You're a very smart guy.
04:44I appreciate that.
04:45Well, this would be a huge chance, certainly, to put their stamp on Evolve.
04:49Evolve every single Wednesday on 2B.
04:52Look, Vanity Project recently won a gauntlet match over Shawn Legacy.
04:56And it's gonna be a big Wednesday for this trio because Jackson Drake,
05:01the Evolve Champion who's standing to our left, has a contract signing tomorrow night
05:05with Lince Dorado.
05:07But here in the now, it's about Ricky Saints fighting for a championship opportunity
05:11this Saturday at the Great American Bash.
05:14He's gotta be three men, though, here in a row.
05:17And that is what you're talking about, the difficulties.
05:19It's a fresh opponent every single time.
05:21There is no break.
05:21Exactly.
05:22Every ounce of Ricky Saints energy will be exhausted by the end of this one.
05:27No doubt about it.
05:28But high impact in the corner from the former North American champion.
05:33And Ethan, does it worry you that Ricky can-
05:35Baby, baby, that could be it.
05:37Big DDT, Tornado DDT stacks him up.
05:40And the first man is eliminated.
05:42Bang.
05:44What do you want, what do you want, what do you want?
05:49Get in there, Ricky, go, go, go, go, finish the job.
05:52Go Ricky, finish the job.
05:53And Ricky looking to throw that heater right into Saints, and now it's smokes right on top.
05:58And this is what we're talking about, one after another.
05:59There is no breaks for Ricky Saints.
06:02But I'll go back, Ethan, to what I asked you.
06:04Are you worried about the stipulation he could choose?
06:06Let me ask you, a man that's been wrestling for over 18 years,
06:10would he be worried about any stipulation?
06:12I've been in every situation in professional wrestling.
06:14Come on, here's something.
06:16Hook of the leg, and an air fall.
06:18I thought you was a better journalist in that, big answer to question like that.
06:20That's a great question.
06:22Is Ricky headed to Atlanta or not?
06:24Back on Netflix, and Mr. Medulla Oblingata doesn't like the questions that I've been asking.
06:40Ricky, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, Ego, Ego is a guest here, he's a guest, all right?
06:44Give him that respect, please.
06:46Cover here, cover here by smokes.
06:48When Graves has to be the one who's calm right now, you know we're in for a long night.
06:52Listen, I feel bad for you, Vic.
06:53I thought you were prepared to handle all Ego, Booker T.
06:56There's too much Ego at the desk.
06:57You've got to be- And you've still got Drake over here.
06:59Nobody in this arena can relate to Ricky Saints quite the way you do right now, Vic.
07:04What do you mean?
07:04It's an uphill battle.
07:05You gotta kill me, you gotta deal with all Ego, you gotta deal with all Ego.
07:09Nice snap suplex floating over into the cover.
07:12I give him that.
07:12Second elimination did not.
07:14One man is down, two men remain.
07:17Again, if Ricky Saints is victorious, he gets a championship opportunity.
07:20It's Ethan Page Saturday afternoon in Atlanta and gets to choose the stipulation.
07:26So, can we get it on record, Ethan, that you're just jealous of Ricky Saints?
07:30Yeah.
07:30I mean, I'm a little jealous that he somehow conned the WWE to thinking he's a big superstar.
07:36If you want me to move out of the way, Ethan, if you want, I'll get out of the way.
07:38I didn't show up to slap anybody today, Seth.
07:41All right.
07:41Well, I was more referring to him beating your record as the fastest to win a championship
07:45after the debut here at NXT.
07:46Why would you do that?
07:47God, my God!
07:50My God!
07:51Well, Ricky Saints certainly went there to get this opportunity in Atlanta.
07:56He's willing to do whatever it takes.
07:58This is not good.
08:00What the?
08:01What's Drake doing?
08:03The referee, hey, hey, hey!
08:05The official checking on Ricky Smokes didn't see Drake at the call of Ethan Page.
08:11Vic, you want me to get you a striped shirt?
08:13You can jump in there and- They don't even wear many stripes anymore.
08:16Take another look.
08:17That was an absolutely vicious impact on the outside.
08:22Vic, please don't go to jail one day.
08:24Cuz you are like the biggest snitch I ever seen in my life.
08:28You are not naked.
08:30You would not do well.
08:31Can we focus on the here and the now?
08:33Ricky Smokes.
08:34Do you ever thank Booker for this great life advice?
08:37He's literally saving your life.
08:38What are you talking about?
08:39He's preparing you for your future, and you're just brushing it off.
08:42What future?
08:43What are you talking about?
08:43Snitches get stitches, man.
08:47Well, Ricky Smokes right now looking to put Ricky Saints back into the hospital.
08:53Don't worry, Vic, I'll leave a couple bucks in your commissary.
08:55Ricky, go!
08:56Nice!
08:57Where the body goes Smokes.
08:59Ricky, go!
09:00It Smokes right back on top.
09:02I love this kid Smokes, man.
09:03I love his attitude.
09:04I love his veracity.
09:05Is it cuz he was down in reality wrestling or is that Brad Bailey?
09:07No, no, no, no, that's not both of them.
09:08Both of these kids from there.
09:09But this kid right here, he has that it back there.
09:12Hook and a lamp.
09:12Here we go.
09:13Come on!
09:14Kick out by Saints.
09:15Smokes not very happy about it.
09:17Ricky Saints, one down, two to go.
09:20Can Ricky overcome the gauntlet and head to Atlanta?
09:29Smokes been in control of this matchup, one half a swipe right.
09:32Vanity Project, of course, has won gauntlet matches in the past.
09:36Trying to do it again.
09:37Into the cover and a kick out by Saints.
09:41Again, for Saints, he's already dropped Brad Baylor.
09:44He's now on to his second match here tonight.
09:48Take another look at this brutal suplex from the ring apron to the floor.
09:53Man, that was dope.
09:54The fact that Smokes recovered at all is impressive.
09:56I see why you like these guys, champ.
09:58They're great.
09:59Look at him.
09:59He's just beating them right now.
10:01This is awesome.
10:03And Booker, yeah, I think you've said this to me before, but in terms of Ethan Page and
10:07Vanity Project, how has Saints put a target on his back to the wrestling team?
10:11I mean, look, he's an outsider.
10:14And I'm not talking about Pony Boy, he's an outsider.
10:17He knows what he likes this guy.
10:19And now Saints trying to overcome.
10:20Whoa.
10:21Overhead, belly to belly toss.
10:23Saints starting to rally.
10:26It better be okay.
10:28Ethan, you look a little bit worried.
10:30Cover.
10:30Don't look at me.
10:31Getting that left shoulder just off the mat.
10:35Rick, I really don't think our North American champion appreciates you implying that he's
10:40nervous or scared or frustrated or any of these other questions you've asked.
10:43Don't be looking at me, Ricky.
10:44Keep your eyes on the ring, pal.
10:46Keep your eyes on the ring, pal.
10:47What the hell are you doing?
10:48Well, what I will say when it comes to Ethan Page, you do not lack confidence.
10:52Recently saying the North American title is the most prestigious title in all the WWE.
10:56Uh-oh.
10:57It is.
10:58Here we go.
10:59Hokes almost got Saints.
11:01Saints just able to kick out.
11:03Saints now charging right back in.
11:05Inverted atomic drop.
11:08Right through, shoulders down, nice hook of the arm.
11:11Look at that, two.
11:12That's two.
11:13I like that.
11:14Ricky just got smoked.
11:16Finish him.
11:18And now.
11:20Finish him.
11:22Finish him.
11:23Finish him.
11:24Well, now it is the Evolve champion, the Carolina Reaper himself, Jackson Drake.
11:30I'll tell you what I like about this Jackson, Jackson Drake.
11:33Yeah, get it right, please.
11:34I apologize, I'm tripping on my own tongue.
11:37Big's got me all flustered out here.
11:38Well, I got you flustered for it.
11:40It's Drake's eyes.
11:41The guy's got a creepy, almost a thousand yard stares, like staring at the eyes of a pit bull.
11:46You're not sure what he's thinking, you just assume it's back.
11:50It's very hard, when you come to the Carolina Reaper,
11:52that is the look that has made him the Evolve champion, the first one in WWE.
11:57Tomorrow he's got a contract signing on Tubi, but right now it is Ricky Saints trying to chop away.
12:02But this is Ricky Saints' third matchup here tonight.
12:07Going into the cover off that stiff kick to the spine and another kick out.
12:11I can't imagine if Van Lee's Project would say if they beat Ricky Saints.
12:15It's technically Saints' first matchup, it's his third opponent.
12:18Okay, fair enough, fair enough.
12:19Such is the nature of a gauntlet matchup.
12:20The stakes incredibly high, but Ligo, you are now feeling a little bit more confident
12:25than a few moments ago, yeah?
12:27I mean, he's in full control here.
12:29Look at this.
12:30Stomping the crack out of his neck.
12:32Yes, I'm confident.
12:34And now Booker, look at the hand, look at the hand on the throat.
12:38Ricky Saints quickly had to get that left hand, it was squeezing almost in that injured area.
12:43Bow and arrow submission applied by the technical mastermind, the Carolina Reaper, is it?
12:48I don't know if I would have named myself after a pepper, but regardless, Drake looks like the real deal.
12:53Going down low, taking Saints off his feet.
12:57Spinning right back around, kick connected.
13:00And Ethan said, go get it, go finish him.
13:03And he is.
13:03And Drake might just do that here tonight.
13:06My God, man.
13:07Cover, cover, cover, cover.
13:09I like this kid.
13:10Is it enough to put Saints away?
13:12And Ricky again, able to kick out.
13:14And Ricky just looked right over here at you, Ethan Page.
13:18And there didn't look to be a lot bigger behind that glare.
13:21This kid has a hell of an upside.
13:22And you know what I like about this?
13:23He can say he had to go out here and earn it.
13:26He's not like, you know these fans, you deserve it.
13:28No, no, you got to earn it tonight or something.
13:31I love it.
13:31Sanity Projects here to impress the man that they believe will one day run NXT again.
13:37And that is Ethan Page, but Page could be looking at his opponent Saturday.
13:41Saints into the cover, another kick out.
13:44Again, Saints has already defeated.
13:46Brad Baylor has already defeated Ricky Smoke Swipe Right.
13:51Can he defeat the Evolve Champion, Jackson Drake?
13:54Not can he defeat, can he get lucky three times in the draw?
13:57Nice.
13:58Insiguri dropping Saints.
13:59Give the pressure on, Tim.
14:01Don't you mess around with this dude.
14:03Ricky trying to overcome the gauntlet, charging right in.
14:06Sliding knee of some sort.
14:10Saints out of the way just in time.
14:11But don't take your eyes out for Jackson Drake, the Evolve Champion.
14:16And Drake was playing possum, baiting in Saints.
14:19Caught him with a super kick.
14:21Ethan Page, you're starting to smile like I've never seen before.
14:24Yeah.
14:26Swap time, knees get up.
14:28Counter by Saints.
14:29Ricky right now, starting to come back, starting to rally.
14:33And in this moment, staring right at your Ethan Page.
14:37Looking for the Roe, Sham, Bo.
14:40One, two, three.
14:44Saints is headed to Atlanta.
14:47Here is your winner, Ricky Saints.
14:53And now the question on everyone's mind, what will the stipulation be?
15:01Come Saturday.
15:08This is an incredible effort by the fourth North American champion, Ricky Saints.
15:14First, we see a beautiful Tornado DDT to take out Brad Baylor.
15:19Ricky Smokes entered the match, very, very ready for competition.
15:23Great ring awareness by Saints, able to wrap up Smokes.
15:27And then the icing on the cake, the Rochambeau to Jackson Drake.
15:32I'm a poet and I didn't even know it.
15:34Ricky Saints headed to the Great American Bash, and he gets the call to stipulation.
15:40Ethan, the ball's in my court.
15:45This Saturday, Great American Bash for the North American Championship.
15:50I'm gonna dog walk your ass all over Atlanta.
15:55And the best match that I know how, anything goes, a Falls Count Anywhere match.
16:01Get ready, Falls Count Anywhere.
16:06Paige Sinks for the North American title Saturday at the Great American Bash.
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