- 4 months ago
- #wrestlepalooza
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00:00She is a proven commodity at this level and she's facing off against a woman who we all expect
00:06to be at the top of the ladder for at least the next 10 years here in WWE but you don't get to
00:11claim that until you've proven it. And Stephanie Viqueira looking for her watershed moment here
00:17in WWE looking to win her first major championship as she looks to break this waistlock of Eoskai.
00:24Eoskai held the world championship for 245 days before Naomi cashed in to win the title.
00:33Eoskai is used to the bright lights, used to the marquee. Stephanie Viqueira, we all assume
00:37to Wade's point, he's going to get there but it doesn't happen until it happens.
00:41There have been many people over the history of WWE who have been projected to be the top
00:47star in the future and did not make it. I hope that isn't the case with Stephanie Viqueira
00:53but we're going to learn a lot tonight against Eoskai.
00:55Yeah, tonight could be a part of the documentary. Fourth time, first time becoming world champ.
00:59Let's go do this!
01:00But it's a different ball game tonight. You're under the bright lights. It's such a historic
01:04night here on ESPN as part of Wrestlepalooza. Eoskai has much more experience than Stephanie
01:11does in these big WWE moments. Does that matter?
01:14The whole world's promoting this match, this event, this evening.
01:18Stephanie's just been waiting for it, maybe they'll win.
01:23Let's imagine it's been selling itself. Belt to Belt, two of the most technical, precise
01:27and innovative women we've ever seen fighting out for the biggest prize in all. But I'm going
01:33to be critical of both of them here, especially for Kerr. The build to this has all been pleasant
01:38and cordial. Shouldn't have been, if you're the up-and-comer, you should have rattled the
01:43favorite in Eoskai. You should have taken a cheap shot. You should have thrown Eoskai
01:48off her game. And I don't think Stephanie McCurr took that opportunity when she had the
01:53Jets.
01:53They shook hands before the match, Wade.
01:55And I don't like that at all. That's not how it should be. It's the very top level,
01:58Pat. You know it full well. It's dog-eat-dog.
02:02Solid.
02:03Eoskai controlling Stephanie here. Feeling out-processed, really, in the early going.
02:08Yo, the problem is, these two women are both so dangerous and so skilled, you don't want
02:12to make an early mistake and give your opponent the upper hand off the back.
02:17Eoskai now with a great reversal.
02:20Oh, look at that. Great penny combination by Eoskai. Stephanie into one of her own.
02:25Almost had her. That was close. Referee Eddie Arango right there.
02:29That's a little technical brilliance.
02:32And Pat, you like this? You like these smiles?
02:34Yeah, that's...
02:35With respect, you enjoy that?
02:35Yeah, they're sparring a little bit right now.
02:37A little bit of one-upmanship going on.
02:40Both of these women can be technical. They can fly high when they need to.
02:44They can be powerful if they need to.
02:46Oh, and there's a great example of that.
02:49The curve drops Eo on the back of her head.
02:52Oh! Nope.
02:54Eoskai's not going to allow the Devil's Kiss to happen.
02:56Went into the cover. Stephanie able to take out the legs.
03:03I'll tell you what.
03:05Good joust right now.
03:06Yeah, very evenly matched, Pat.
03:12Eoskai's...
03:12Oh, the great athleticism of Sky taking Stephanie out of the knee.
03:18And now Eo with that drop kick, that basement drop kick to the care.
03:21Sky just looking a little step ahead of the curve.
03:26Perhaps that's the nerves in the less experienced superstar showing early on here.
03:31And all the experience of Eoskai giving her the upper hand.
03:35Yeah, both of these women cut their teeth and became famous in Japan.
03:42Eoskai, former ace of stardom.
03:49Stephanie Viqueira actually won the strong women's championship and a victory over the current United States champion over on SmackDown, Julia.
03:57And look at Eoskai now.
03:58Cover.
03:59Hook of the leg.
03:59Kick out by Stephanie.
04:01Balanced handstand into the knees.
04:04And this might be Stephanie Viqueira realizing she's hit a ceiling in her career at this point.
04:10This is a very, very different level to what she's used to.
04:13This is the top level.
04:15Does not get any higher.
04:16And she's now being schooled by Eoskai.
04:19So, wait.
04:19Do you think there's nerves?
04:21100%.
04:22This is a brand new level.
04:23It's the first time competing one-on-one for the championship of the world against arguably, and many would argue it, the best on planet Earth, male or female.
04:32Pat, how about the first time in your career that you went to the playoffs?
04:35I mean, were there nerves?
04:36Were you uptight a little bit?
04:37You never know what the big lights are like until you're there.
04:39Some people are built for it.
04:40Some people are not.
04:41Stephanie Viqueira, I think, is built for it at the moment.
04:44She's proven that since she has gotten here.
04:46Stephanie Viqueira still has that new car smell about her.
04:49You don't quite know the full capacity of her skills, but...
04:53Has a five count here.
04:55And will break, but the damage may have been done on the arm of Eoskai by Stephanie Viqueira.
05:01A brief opportunity to turn the tide of Viqueira's taking it.
05:06Now to capitalize.
05:07Yeah, the Dark Angel, La Primera.
05:12Super talent.
05:13And the genius of the Sky looked for the sunset flip.
05:17And Stephanie...
05:18Break of the ice.
05:19Great counter.
05:20And there's that running leg drop.
05:21Cover now to try to win the women's championship and a kickout by Sky.
05:26Some welts forming on the hip of Eoskai.
05:29Looking at a pounding earlier in this one.
05:31And both women signed her.
05:33And this is where the gloves perhaps will come off.
05:35Stephanie was involved in the six-woman tag team matchup at NXT Homecoming.
05:41Victorious along with Rhea Ripley and Lyra Valkyria.
05:45One, two...
05:46You talk about a night like this for Stephanie, her first time in it.
05:48You know, everything up until the bell ringing is different.
05:51It's bigger.
05:52It's hyped.
05:52Everybody's talking about it.
05:53It's ESPN.
05:54You got billions of dollars in the building sitting ringside.
05:56And then once the bell rings...
05:58Oh, nice suplex.
05:59And you find the water and it's leveled.
06:01That's where Stephanie's at right now.
06:02I think she realized this is another match.
06:04I completely agree with you, Pat.
06:06I think the adrenaline is now pumping.
06:08It's overtaking the nerves for Vakir.
06:10And now Vakir is starting to move through the gears.
06:13And we're seeing the best of her.
06:14And the other thing is we talk a lot about Vakir.
06:16But Eoskai's had a lot on her mind as of late.
06:18The situation between her friend Asuka and Kairi Sane, of course.
06:22That's really weighed on her personally.
06:25I had an opportunity to talk to Eoskai earlier today.
06:27And she talked about how that's really been in her head over the past month or so.
06:30I think you're probably right up until the bell rang.
06:34And somebody the level of Eoskai has that ability to compartmentalize those issues.
06:40And at the end of the match, she can go back to him.
06:42But leave your baggage at the front door if you want to be the best.
06:45Oh, look at this.
06:47It's a ruthless move.
06:48Vakir punishing the genius of the Sky.
06:51We're really going to glimpse into the difference between these two great competitors.
06:55Eoskai, of course.
06:56It's the air game that's a specialty.
06:59It is the ground game and the submissions of Vakir that gives her the edge on the match.
07:04But right now, Eoskai's showing all of her range.
07:07And that's putting it perfectly with the range of Eoskai.
07:13She does everything.
07:15Durability and the amount of women she's fought over the years.
07:18The varying skill sets of all the women she's defeated.
07:23Oh, and a backbreaker.
07:25Knee right to the spine.
07:27And Eoskai collapses as well.
07:29Both women are down.
07:31Critical moment in this matchup.
07:33That's the big durability question, isn't it?
07:37Which woman gets up and which woman starts firing back first?
07:41It's a backbreaker there.
07:42But Eoskai perhaps spent herself in the process.
07:46Yeah, capacity crowd tonight at Cambridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
07:50Over 15,000 for Wrestlepalooza.
07:55WWE's debut on ESPN.
07:58The man to my left here tonight, Pat McAvee.
08:00He's so critical in getting WWE in the forefront on ESPN.
08:06And one of the reasons we are here tonight.
08:08So thank you, Pat.
08:09Lucky, thankful to be here.
08:10Especially with Eoskai and Stephanie Vakere.
08:13Battling right now.
08:14Oh, and face first goes Stephanie Vakere.
08:16Again, both these women battling it out for the vacant Women's World Championship.
08:22Talked about that durability.
08:23It really was Eoskai that got back into the firefight quicker than Stephanie Vakere.
08:28Again, that experience factor of Eoskai coming to the floor.
08:33And now we're going airborne.
08:35Missile dropkick.
08:36The charisma of Eoskai starting to shine.
08:42Vakere wisely rolling out of the ring.
08:44But when you're in there with Eoskai, nowhere is safe.
08:49Eoskai getting this capacity crowd pumped up.
08:57Suicide dive to Vakere.
08:59It really does go high risk.
09:03Puts her own body on the line.
09:05Could have broken a left arm with that landing.
09:07But clearly, Vakere ate the worst of it.
09:11Tyrese and 15,000 people on their feet here.
09:13Showing respect to Eoskai.
09:15You know as well as anyone, Pat McAbee, this is a sports town.
09:19They love their competition.
09:21And they are eating this one up.
09:23It's also a wrestling town.
09:24Always has been.
09:25Always will be.
09:27What a year it's been for Indianapolis.
09:28I saw the Royal Rumble here back in February.
09:31The first ever ESPN Premium Live event here tonight.
09:35On the way of SummerSlam.
09:36And I do believe many more.
09:38We're thankful that the WWE comes here to Indianapolis.
09:41We're lucky to see this match.
09:44Stephanie and Eoskai with a well-placed kick.
09:47And it seems like Stephanie's off just a bit here tonight.
09:50Yeah, it looks like she's running on the rims.
09:52Oh, my God.
09:52Clinging off a dear life now.
09:54This could be incredibly ugly for the Chilean.
09:57Hold your tongue.
09:58Yeah, but a great counter by Stephanie as Eoskai went for the sunset slip powerbomb.
10:02And a knee right to Skai.
10:04That wasn't just a counter.
10:06It was a devastating offensive move in return that perhaps swings the balance once again in this.
10:13And now leaping off the top rope and a crossbody to take out Eoskai.
10:17And what we're seeing out of Stephanie McCair now is one of the reasons she's called the Dark Angel.
10:21She's got an aggressive side.
10:23She can get very, very vicious when she needs to.
10:25And she's turning it up a notch.
10:27Give Eoskai a taste of her own medicine there, Pat.
10:30Well, look, Stephanie's realizing what it's going to take to become world champion.
10:33And Indianapolis is describing this perfectly.
10:37Again, off the top rope, another crossbody.
10:40And that collision really took something out of Skai.
10:44Talked about the range of Eoskai earlier.
10:46Now you're seeing the range of Stephanie McCair.
10:49But this woman can do it all.
10:51Yeah, great snap suplex.
10:54Another technical wizard.
10:57Stephanie McCair.
10:58Absolute assassin in there right now.
11:01Now into the corner.
11:02Nobody home.
11:03Knee first.
11:03Bottom turnbuckle.
11:04And Eoskai now with a German suplex and releases.
11:07Again, for the Women's World Championship.
11:12Now vacant.
11:13But won't be after tonight.
11:16Stephanie McCair out quick.
11:18The German suplex of her own.
11:21In the ground game, the submission, the technical skills, airborne, and the power moves.
11:28Both women throwing everything at this.
11:31Pat evenly matched.
11:32Absolutely.
11:33Both of these women worthy of becoming a world champion with how they fought tonight.
11:38Both of them take it to the Skai.
11:41Incredibly dangerous game of chess.
11:44Both women going move for move.
11:47And both women now laid out.
11:51Gasping for oxygen.
11:53And what a scene here tonight.
11:56In Indianapolis.
11:59Stephanie McCair, Eoskai.
12:03Battling it up for the Women's World Title.
12:06Is this the pace wave you expected?
12:09At this point in the match, given the amount of offense that both women have absorbed,
12:13I think there's no choice but to be operating at this kind of pace.
12:17But who gets their second win?
12:19The answer, perhaps, Stephanie McCair.
12:22Maybe not.
12:23Eoskai.
12:24Tucks underneath.
12:25Uppercut by Skai.
12:2715th round right now in the World Championship fight.
12:30All about how bad you want.
12:31Eoskai meeting her at the rope to the huge right.
12:37Now Stephanie with a back suplex.
12:43Who's going to survive?
12:44And an ovation capacity crowd.
12:49Again, looking for the Devil's Kiss.
12:50But she got caught.
12:51Eoskai with a stop to the midsection.
12:53Stephanie playing to the crowd just a little bit too much there.
12:55And Skai looking to take advantage and win the title.
12:57Again, there's levels to this.
12:59And what a transition there.
13:01Into a cross-face by Eoskai.
13:04Stephanie's center of the ring.
13:05Is she going to tap?
13:06Stephanie McCair just not used to this level of competitor.
13:10Eoskai, who's been to the top many times and may well imminently be about to get there again.
13:15And you may mention earlier, just that one mistake could cost you.
13:18And maybe Stephanie made it there.
13:20Yeah, and it might be a learning experience tonight for Stephanie McCair.
13:23Cannot take a beat against someone on the level of Eoskai.
13:29The blink of an eye will turn the game for Skai.
13:32What a knee.
13:33Huge knee.
13:33And now Eoskai is saying, let's take it through the sky.
13:37Yeah, the genius of the Skai up to the top rope.
13:40Perhaps he's looking to be over the moonsault.
13:42But Stephanie was able to block.
13:44There's a little showbite in there from Eoskai.
13:46Oh, no, my God.
13:48Oh, my God.
13:50That dragon screw.
13:51That might have popped the kneecap.
13:55Now, that's a ligament shredder.
13:58There's a lot of ligaments in that knee.
14:00The ACL, the MCL, the PCL.
14:02I don't know how any of them are still surviving after that.
14:05And now looking for the SVP, the Stephanie McCair bomb.
14:08But Eoskai able to somehow work her way out of it.
14:11Eoskai's operating on one wheel at the moment.
14:14Headbutt from Stephanie McCair.
14:16And now Eoskai.
14:18What a takedown for the victory of the title.
14:20Oh, and a kick out by Stephanie.
14:23Eoskai with a kick now to the side of the head.
14:25Right to the temple.
14:26Toe first.
14:29There's no breather.
14:30You can't catch a breather with Eoskai in the ring.
14:32Too quick.
14:34Too tough.
14:37Take another look at this.
14:39Imagine this happening to your knee.
14:42We know how devastating an injury it is when your knee is taken out.
14:47And there was an attempt there from Fakir has done clearly major damage to Eoskai who is battling through the pain now, Pat.
14:57And a bullet train attack to the corner by Skai.
15:01Call for the Women's World Championship.
15:03Eoskai says that's it.
15:06Steps over Fakir, but again, having an issue with that leg.
15:10I don't know how she's still standing, climbing.
15:13How she's going to hit the over the moonsault.
15:14Up to the top rope.
15:15Oh, and the boots up by Stephanie.
15:19Right to the midsection of Eoskai.
15:20And now Fakir has an opportunity.
15:23Well, that knee injury to Eoskai took a beat too long to get to the top rope for the moonsault,
15:28which is allowing Fakir back into the match with the boots up.
15:33And now Stephanie goes on offense.
15:37More damage done.
15:39Did you see the way that the body contorted of Eoskai?
15:42Pat, I've got to throw it to you.
15:44You know as well as anybody.
15:45If you've got a busted limb, you simply cannot operate at the top level athletically.
15:50Especially with a knee, but it's about to be a lot more than just a knee for Eoskai.
15:54Oh, here we go.
15:56We're going bouncy, bouncy.
15:58The Devil's Kiss.
16:03Where's Booker?
16:06I would love to smooch with the Devil, wouldn't we all?
16:11What?
16:12Never mind.
16:12Move on.
16:13Well, it's called The Devil's Kiss.
16:14Right.
16:15Got it.
16:15Oh, and a knee right to the spine.
16:18Stephanie Akir for the Women's World Championship.
16:20A kick out at two.
16:22What a near fall.
16:23Stephanie can't believe it.
16:26Kick out of the SVB.
16:29Tyrese is thanking the wrestling guards that Eoskai somehow kicked out there.
16:34We'll take another look at this.
16:36Which was a beat up at the last second by Stephanie Vakar from the over-the-moonsault attempt.
16:42And here we go.
16:43This is the second Dragon Scrap.
16:44But the first one did so much damage to Eoskai.
16:48And here we go.
16:49The Stephanie Vakar bomb that's beaten everyone in WWE it's connected with.
16:53And the blood just drained out of the face out of Stephanie Vakar because Eoskai kicked out.
16:58Stephanie tried to hit it earlier.
16:59Eoskai countered.
17:00But not that time around.
17:01But how wise is Eoskai rolling out of harm's way into the bottom rope?
17:05It was total instinct from a woman who's climbed to the top of the mountain so many times.
17:09And Shotae uppercut to the jaw.
17:11I mean, that's a huge right from Eoskai.
17:14She needed it.
17:14I don't know how Eoskai is still functioning after suffering the devil's kiss in the SVB.
17:22These women are showing out tonight with the biggest prize of all at stake.
17:31Lighted high above the ring.
17:32High-risk situation here.
17:35It's all about the Women's World Championship.
17:38Eoskai setting up something special here to end this.
17:43Dangerous predicament.
17:45Oh!
17:47Spanish fly connecting at the knee of Eoskai hurting in the process.
17:53Yeah, again, that's the leg that's been attacked by Stephanie Vakar.
17:56Beautiful Spanish fly by Eoskai, but she couldn't capitalize.
18:00And now covered by Sky.
18:02And a kick out by Stephanie.
18:04Such a game changer when you can't hit top pace because one of your legs simply isn't cooperating.
18:10Pat, imagine you trying to punt with shredded ligaments in your knee.
18:16I had dislocated kneecap in my right knee in my last season.
18:19I know exactly what this feels like.
18:20Mind over matter at this moment.
18:22The World Championship is on the line.
18:24Got to push through, right?
18:25You got to try and win it for your team.
18:26All eyes are on you.
18:28And again, Bullet train attacked in the corner by Eoskai.
18:30We'll deal with that knee tomorrow.
18:31And now Eoskai exposing her knee, taking down her knee pads.
18:36And this obviously is for more impact on the bullet train attack to Stephanie Vakar.
18:43Pulling out all the stops against a great opponent who may now be spent.
18:50Eoskai willing her way for the running knee.
18:55Bare kneecap to the face.
18:57And against Guy now, positioning Vakar as she goes to climb to the top rope and look for over the moonsault.
19:07The grand finale.
19:10Heel off the top rope.
19:11Nobody home.
19:12And the exposed knees hit hard when she missed with the moonsault.
19:16Oh, man.
19:17Rolling down the knee pad doesn't sound like high risk.
19:20But in this instant, it was exactly that.
19:23All the damage absorbed by that knee had laid off.
19:27Stephanie going up to the top rope.
19:31And he did deliver a version of a spiral cap.
19:35And by the car wins the championship.
19:37What?
19:39Here is your winner.
19:42And new women's world champion, Stephanie Vakar.
19:57Extended ovation for the brand new women's world champion.
20:03Oh, my God.
20:05Just when it looked like all hope was lost for Stephanie Vakar.
20:11She adds a new wrinkle to her playbook.
20:14Something that nobody saw coming.
20:17And hits it perfectly.
20:19As crisp as your life path.
20:20The biggest match of her life.
20:23The biggest night of her life.
20:24While in the deep water.
20:25This was the Spanish fly that really added extra damage to the knee of EO Sky.
20:32But she used the knee there.
20:33Right to the cranium of Stephanie Vakar.
20:36And it looked like she was closing in for the victory.
20:39But this over-the-moon soul with the knee exposed towards the maximum damage.
20:43And then this.
20:45A version of a spiral tap.
20:49That's absolutely nasty.
20:50God, in the deep waters of the match, who could not have been executed any better.
20:58Flush on the genius of the sky.
21:00Wow, Stephanie Vakar.
21:02What a world championship performance.
21:10And what a show of honor and respect.
21:14From the genius of the sky, EO Sky.
21:17Celebrating with a brand new women's world champion.
21:23From humble beginnings.
21:25As a dark angel.
21:27A teenage wrestler.
21:29In South...
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