#wwe, #wwenxt, #wwenxtdeadline, #nxtdeadline, #ironsurvivor, #ironsurvivorchallenge,# obafemi, #ruler, #rickysaints, #revolution, #oba femi vs ricky saints, #nxtchampionship,
NXT Deadline _Dec 06, 2025 - Oba Femi Vs Ricky Saints _NXT Championship Match
NXT Deadline _Dec 06, 2025 - Oba Femi Vs Ricky Saints _NXT Championship Match
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00:00It's the final premium live event of the year and we're kicking off tonight for
00:26the first time ever on an NXT premium live event with the NXT championship being defended.
00:32On a night, strategy, tactics, resilience will lead Iron Survivors to victory.
00:38We welcome you to Deadline.
00:56Through the smoke is a man looking to reclaim his gold.
01:23Yeah, man, he's fully rested, dog.
01:30100% ready for this moment, and you know what I say, you know what I say.
01:36No bread, no water, just me tonight, dog.
01:41And, Book, have you ever been around someone who has asserted dominance?
01:48Dominance, dominance, since day one, like this man, Oba Fett.
01:532023 breakout tournament winner to go on to become the North American champion.
02:00To go on to become the NXT champion, the longest reigning NXT champion at 273 days.
02:08Yes, man.
02:09NXT North American champion, longest reigning.
02:12That is, that is, I just wanted to make sure cuz I don't want social media to yell at you.
02:17This is The Revolution.
02:27The electricity in here is unreal.
02:39What a way to kick off the night.
02:42And as we talk about the dominance of the challenger, let's talk about the champion book.
02:58Do you think the champion's ambition, the ambition he has had,
03:01the ambition he has talked about since his arrival threatens Obafemi's legacy?
03:07Because there's the man that beat Obafemi.
03:12That's a huge word right there, but let me tell you something.
03:14This man right here, Ricky Sanks, he came in with one intention on his mind, and
03:18that was the championship, captain goal, big goal, North American champion,
03:23and now NXT champion, which it is.
03:26Can he beat the man twice?
03:29I don't know, dog.
03:30Saints beat Femi for the championship at no mercy.
03:35Challenger does not look very impressed.
03:38Look at that.
03:39Look at that.
03:40The eyes, double eyes.
03:41No.
03:42Yeah, but listen to the NXT universe for our champion.
03:46As we get set to kick things off tonight, we go up to our ring announcer for the evening,
03:50Mike Rome.
03:51The following contest scheduled for one fall.
03:57One fall.
03:58One fall.
03:59Is for the NXT championship.
04:08Introducing the challenger, from Lagos, Nigeria,
04:13weighing in at 310 pounds, Obafemi.
04:24And his opponents, from New Orleans, Louisiana, weighing in at 210 pounds.
04:36He is the NXT champion, Ricky Sanks.
04:49I'm gonna ask you that about ambition, Booker, because it was Saints whose revolution
04:54overthrew the ruler at no mercy.
04:58Both these men have worn the same gold.
05:00You ran through the list of it.
05:01Both, though, pulled no punches in New York City.
05:04Only one will head into the new year as champion.
05:07Only different now, though, man.
05:08I'm gonna tell you, catching that champion at the right time, you always on call like you're a doctor with a stethoscope when you're the champ.
05:16And at that time, Obafemi had been run hard, man.
05:20Let's see what happens tonight.
05:22Look at the atmosphere that this is.
05:24Wait a minute, that's not gonna work.
05:26Last NXT premium live event in San Antonio was a glorious night.
05:30Bobby Roode won this very championship, the NXT title, by defeating Shinsuke Nakamura.
05:37And he didn't like the early strategy.
05:39And look, Obafemi's giving him the leg.
05:41Obafemi saying try it again.
05:42You're not gonna shoot a single on Obafemi right out the gate.
05:46I mean, it's not gonna happen.
05:47A little bit of a cat and mouse game between the champion and the challenger.
05:53First time the NXT title has opened in NXT premium live event as we've mentioned.
05:57And what a way to kick off the final premium live event of the year as Saints getting the early control.
06:01I don't like this strategy by Saints right now trying to keep Oba close to the body.
06:05This guy's too big.
06:07He's too strong for this right now.
06:09And like I say, this is a bad idea.
06:10Okay, so let's break it down then.
06:11This is gonna be a two-parter here, Book.
06:13You ready?
06:14How does Saints retain and how does Oba reclaim?
06:16I mean, Saints is gonna have to go out there real determination, heart, you know,
06:20intestinal fortitude, all of that is gonna have to come into play.
06:23But Obafemi, he just have to do what Obafemi does and let's go out there and
06:27rule in the middle of that square circle, that 20 by 20 man.
06:31We talk about the title.
06:32How about this?
06:33We found out last night on SmackDown that the winner of this matchup will face the
06:36undisputed WWE Champion.
06:38Yes.
06:39Cody Rhodes Saturday night's main event next Saturday.
06:42I mean, that's huge for this brand and its representation as we get a backbreaker
06:46from the challenger.
06:47You gotta give it up for Cody Rhodes going out there thinking about the young guys just
06:51like John Cena's doing it this time.
06:53John Cena's handprint is on this show here tonight.
06:56Give it up for John Cena.
06:57It certainly is and it's gonna be a huge opportunity.
07:00Can you imagine if whoever wins this matchup heads to the nation's capital and
07:04then I'm not even saying defeats Cody Rhodes but is able to hang with Cody Rhodes.
07:08It's all about opportunity, getting that opportunity from a veteran,
07:11a guy that's been in the game like Cody Rhodes had been.
07:14He's done it all, man.
07:15He's the champ.
07:16He's the champ.
07:17Let's go champ.
07:18And now we're seeing that power of Oba Femi coming into display.
07:22Huge night still.
07:23Yes.
07:24And going right back to the body.
07:25See that?
07:26Goes Oba.
07:27Nice uppercut right there.
07:28Oba's taking his time tonight too.
07:30He's not rushing anything right now.
07:32You can see he just.
07:33Wait a minute.
07:34A little pectoral action.
07:39Well, he's not gonna get a championship for flexing his pecs book.
07:43He's gotta get the job done.
07:44He has to defeat Ricky Saints for the count of three or make them tap as we get a little
07:48snake eyes.
07:49Show business.
07:50The people wanna see it.
07:51The people wanna see Oba Femi go out there and dance.
07:54Oba, Oba, Oba!
07:56Listen to the people.
07:57It's almost as if you're piped into the NXT universe here tonight and they heard you
08:00almost right on cue as Saints really trying to fight at this juncture to get out of the gates of this matchup.
08:06Listen to the people, they're behind Ricky.
08:09They like Ricky.
08:10Oba.
08:11Nice counter by Ricky Saints.
08:13Saints now, nice.
08:14And now how about this strategy?
08:15He went to the legs to begin, but now he's going to the upper body.
08:18He's trying to take away one of the arms, some of the strength of the much more powerful challenge.
08:23He's trying to go toe to toe with Oba Femi.
08:25And like I said, for me, I was here.
08:27Ricky Saints still in the spine.
08:28Hey, how about that dance?
08:29He's showboating.
08:31He's showboating.
08:32That's what you just said it's all about.
08:33People wanted to see Oba dance.
08:35They're looking at Ricky dance and pose.
08:37Did I say it was a bad thing?
08:39Did I say it was a bad thing?
08:40Sometimes I don't know which way you're gonna go.
08:42It's a crapshoot every single Tuesday, or in this case it's Saturday in San Antonio.
08:45It was a nice counter from Oba Femi.
08:47Sliding right through underneath goes Ricky Saints.
08:49Saints back up, looking for the drop to hold counter.
08:51Too much power from Oba.
08:52Now just chopping down.
08:53The challenger, stiff kick to the spine.
08:55Taking out the arm.
08:56And Saints is beating down Oba Femi.
08:58You know what I always say, Vic, right?
09:00Preparation.
09:01Preparation is the only look you're gonna have.
09:03And you can tell that Ricky Saints has prepared for everything he could possibly
09:08prepare for in this match for Oba Femi.
09:10And let's go back.
09:11Saints made it clear he has believed in himself.
09:13You know what?
09:14Since his arrival, there is no self-doubt.
09:16You know what?
09:17There may be something out.
09:18To add to that, Ricky Saints is the only person that has believed in him.
09:22No one else.
09:23I don't think he believed in him.
09:24I'm talking about it before he's reaching that pinnacle.
09:26Why wouldn't I believe in him?
09:27I've seen the potential.
09:28I'm a big fan of Ricky Saints.
09:29When Ricky Saints came- Such a job.
09:30Such a job.
09:31Such a job, Vic.
09:32Well, it's not my job.
09:33Such a job to care about it.
09:34It's not action.
09:35We're gonna remember this a little bit later on tonight.
09:37Drop kick, cover, hook of the leg to retain, and a kick out.
09:40And again, the winner of this matchup doesn't only win the NXT Championship.
09:44In Ricky's case, retaining the championship, but also be a date with Cody Rhodes in one week.
09:49It's not a date.
09:50It's an opportunity of a lifetime is what it is, Vic.
09:53And it's all about the NXT Championship.
09:55When Saints first made his interest known in that very title, he did not come quietly,
10:00if you remember, Booker.
10:01He confronted Obafemi.
10:02How many men can say that?
10:04Even you have to respect the fact that Ricky Saints walked right up to Oba and said,
10:08I'm coming for that title.
10:09Well, I get a lot of respect, I mean, for going up there and doing that.
10:12But let me tell you something.
10:13It wasn't a wise choice to go out there and rile this man up, this monster, this beast.
10:20No, here we go.
10:21We're going for the ride, son.
10:23Well, when he originally did it, he was able to defeat Oba to win the title.
10:26Right now, though, different story.
10:29Hoisted high above.
10:31The elbow is locked and a long drop for Saints.
10:38And just like that, Oba turns this match up around.
10:42You know, also, I talk about Saints not only, he didn't just win the title.
10:46He stripped Obafemi of his power.
10:48How big of a blow is that to someone like Oba?
10:51Like I say now, look, timing is everything.
10:53Ricky Saints just happened to get Oba at the right time.
10:56I'm not saying that he can't go out there and do it again, but to do it twice.
10:59Look here, look here, look here.
11:01I take my hat off.
11:02You know what?
11:03I can reconstruct my crown if he can do it twice.
11:05But I don't think he can.
11:06Well, I wanna ask you this then.
11:08Is that why Oba disappeared after Noah Mercer?
11:11Is that why Oba went away?
11:13You told me earlier this year you don't run.
11:15You questioned Javon Evans for running away, not showing up.
11:18What about Obafemi?
11:19What they say when they land on the move?
11:21What they say?
11:22Wasn't alive.
11:23So you tell me what they say.
11:25One step is a giant leap or something like that.
11:27Sometimes you gotta take- You don't even know?
11:29Sometimes you gotta take a step forward, just like that right there.
11:33That's what I'm talking about.
11:34Forget the leap, how about the toss?
11:36Look, Obafemi, he just pressed play on Ricky Saints.
11:39End of the cover.
11:40End of the cover for the title.
11:41And a kick out.
11:42And he did it when he tells me that Obafemi has been in the gym.
11:45He's been trained and he's ready for this moment.
11:48And the thing is, it's not just about the title, it's about the Reckoning Sun.
11:52Well, look for Obafemi, he went back to his Alabama track and field days moments ago and just tossed Ricky Saints with a shot putt.
12:01You saw it?
12:02You saw it?
12:03Muscle, this guy right here, look here, Ricky Saints is in a whole lot of trouble here tonight.
12:08Going right to the body is Oba, and Oba now just beating down the champion.
12:12Yes, yes, yes, yes, that's that right hand, that's that left hand, that's that right hand.
12:19Boom shakalaka.
12:21This is an NBA Jam, Booker.
12:22This is the NXT Championship match.
12:24As Obafemi, though, is applying the pressure.
12:27I will say this and I will agree with you.
12:29Obafemi is a man that is powered by discipline.
12:33I think so.
12:34I think so.
12:35Obafemi, like I say, since day one, 2023.
12:38Breakout tournament, getting a few push-ups in right there for that paintball.
12:42This guy's thinking about one thing, and that's the next level.
12:45I'm talking about main roster.
12:46I'm talking about legacy.
12:47I'm talking about history.
12:48I'm talking about Hall of Fame.
12:49That's what this man is thinking about.
12:51Obafemi called Saints a, and this is a quote.
12:53This isn't something I said, Book.
12:55This is something Oba said about the champion as he's wearing down Saints.
12:58He's a fly by night.
12:59He's here today.
13:00He's going tomorrow.
13:01Are you gonna let me get the quote?
13:02I was just wondering.
13:03I was just wondering what that is.
13:04He called Saints a little man, and vowed to take it all away here tonight.
13:09I wouldn't necessarily say he's a little man.
13:12He's not as big as Oba, but this guy got a lot of heart.
13:15You gotta give up.
13:16This gives him from New Orleans.
13:18Trust me.
13:19It's a hard road to hold in New Orleans.
13:22Trust me on that.
13:23And as we're talking about this matchup, and we talk about Cody Rhodes,
13:26who awaits the winner next Saturday as we get it covered by the challenger.
13:30To have the gold for the second time as the NXT Universe now is letting their voice
13:34heard into another cover and a kick out.
13:36Another kick out of the champion.
13:41Man.
13:42And Oba now is upset.
13:44Yes, yes.
13:46But the winner will immediately have to turn their attention to our main event.
13:49Who will be the men's Iron Survivor Challenge winner?
13:52Who will get that NXT title match of New Year's Evil?
13:55But look at Ricky Saints standing in the face of Oba Femi, not backing down,
13:59saying bring me the fight.
14:01No, Ricky Saints right now, he's fighting down on his mouthpiece.
14:04He's gonna go in here and he comes to fight tonight.
14:07I love it, man.
14:08He certainly is.
14:09And Saints now charging in, target acquired.
14:11Saints earlier tried to walk the tightrope, tried to bless Oba Femi.
14:23Will the second time be the charm?
14:25Whoa.
14:29In a unique way, Hurricanrana, spear.
14:33Femi's rocked.
14:34Got all of it.
14:35Femi's down.
14:36And almost did it for the second time, Book.
14:41Wait a minute.
14:42Feel the impact.
14:43Yeah.
14:44First to Hurricanrana, and then Ricky Saints switching gears.
14:48Bam.
14:49For a near fall.
14:54Well, you go back to Oba Femi taking that time off.
14:58They also say time off could be your worst enemy.
15:02You never wanna take yourself out of the game because there's no replication for
15:06being in the middle of that square circle.
15:08There's no way you can train cardio if you're not inside that square circle.
15:12And that might be what gets Ricky Saints over the finish line here tonight.
15:16Oba Femi may be looking.
15:17Oh, baby.
15:18No way.
15:19Ooh.
15:20Able to block for a moment.
15:21Up goes.
15:22Saints able to counter land on his feet.
15:24Big forearm under the jaw by the challenger.
15:26Champion right now.
15:27Wheeling right around, answering back with a clothesline.
15:29Oba bouncing back.
15:30It got caught with a stunner.
15:33And can we have a stunning conclusion?
15:35Oh, baby.
15:36That was so close.
15:39You can talk Oba Femi right now, that time off is messing with him a little bit.
15:44Caught out of nowhere, picked that stunner.
15:48Near fall and Ricky right now is really pulling out all the stops and now looking for
15:52a submission, looking for a guillotine.
15:53How about this strategy, Booker, late in the game?
15:56I like it right now, trying to suck all the oxygen out of Oba Femi, all of that muscle,
16:01the lactic acid has to be building up late here in this matchup.
16:05You can feel the groundswell here in San Antonio.
16:12Saints trying to hold on, trying to get Oba back down, but Oba solved half of the equation,
16:17getting back to a vertical base.
16:19Took a lot of pressure off himself right now.
16:21If he could just get to the ropes, break this hole, everything will be all right right now.
16:25Oba's fading.
16:26Wait a minute.
16:27The ruler is fading.
16:28You gotta be kidding me.
16:29Saints is even doing a better job of trying to lock his legs around with a body scissors.
16:34Oba Femi, we have never seen Femi in a position like this.
16:38If I get that lock because Oba's torso is quite large, man.
16:43Might be emptying the tank right now is Oba Femi.
16:46The challenger rising back up.
16:49Can he create some separation between-
16:52Whoa, you gotta be kidding me.
16:54Whoa.
16:55That's certainly one way to do it, but the damage is done.
16:58Look at Oba Femi, flat on his back.
17:01We haven't seen that quite often since his arrival back in the spring of 2023.
17:06Like I said, time off the legs, man.
17:09The legs are the first to go, but right now Oba trying to bounce something.
17:12But you can see it right now.
17:13He's laboring.
17:14Oba Femi's laboring right now, man.
17:16He certainly is.
17:17He might have telegraphed that just a little bit because Ricky Saints ain't new to the game.
17:22Saints right now-
17:23Oh, yeah.
17:24The forearm right into the challenger.
17:26Challenger drop.
17:27Whoa.
17:28Challenger rock.
17:29Challenger book.
17:30The challenger may be out.
17:31Doesn't matter, win by count on it, doesn't matter.
17:34It doesn't matter for Ricky.
17:35He's the champion.
17:37Listen to the ref.
17:39You don't have to win it, Vic.
17:41You just don't have to lose it.
17:42I'm trying to listen to the count.
17:44Referee's at seven.
17:45Oba just starting to move.
17:47Referee's at eight.
17:48Oba's only got two seconds at nine.
17:50Can he beat the count in Oba?
17:52Just able to get there and then gets dropped.
17:55Saints into the cover to retain his title tonight.
17:58What a game.
17:59What a game plan by Ricky Saints.
18:02I must give him that.
18:03You know, but you can talk about the game plan.
18:05Look at the face of the champion.
18:06You gotta start wondering.
18:07Doubt settling in.
18:08Is now at frustration.
18:10What does Ricky Saints have to do?
18:12Bam!
18:13A famouser of sorts.
18:15Still not enough to put the ruler down.
18:18Time off could be your worst enemy.
18:20The best thing Ricky Saints going for him, he's been in the action.
18:23He's had no days off since winning that championship.
18:26That's the best thing he's got going for him right here at this moment.
18:29And I don't know if this starts breaking down into a slugfest.
18:32If I would favor the champion.
18:34I'd probably favor the challenger.
18:36But Ricky Saints is unlike any champion we've had in recent memory.
18:40He's got a heart as big as the state of Texas.
18:42But he just got caught with a lariat.
18:44Back up, back down.
18:46Obafemi, now the challenger's starting to feel it.
18:48My, that was a skillet across the chest.
18:52And a coming blow across the back.
18:54And Obafemi now.
18:56Oba's unloaded.
18:57No!
18:58Wow!
18:59Locomotive driving through the body of Saints.
19:07You talk about spring break-ins debut less than three years ago for Obafemi.
19:12You're talking about a standing liver main event or a North American champion,
19:15an iron survivor just last year.
19:17But he's never defeated Ricky Saints who might have just outsmarted him again in another near fall.
19:22What a counter that was.
19:23So close, so close.
19:24Ricky Saints right now is pulling out all the stops.
19:26I mean Obafemi just unloading a fuselage and right now Ricky Saints is still-
19:31What?
19:32Hold on.
19:33What?
19:34That's it.
19:36We got a new tap.
19:38We got a new tap.
19:39And not quite yet that right shoulder just off the mat.
19:44But you talk about unbridled power.
19:47Yolking up a man from the ground like Obafemi just did.
19:51Unreal.
19:52And you start to wonder what's going through the mind of these two men.
19:58Because Oba knows just how dominant he was as champion as you mentioned over 260 days.
20:03Ricky Saints though is the one who dethroned the ruler.
20:07And Ricky Saints is the one who just got out of the way.
20:11Right, Oba.
20:12Into the post goes Oba.
20:13Oba again, rocked in Saints like a rubber band snapping back in this match.
20:20Like I said, I'm looking at Obafemi.
20:22Wait a minute.
20:23Just landed a big shot right there.
20:25I'm still looking at Obafemi's posture, man.
20:28And it doesn't look great to me right now, Vic.
20:31Obafemi, though, rocked in Obafemi.
20:33No!
20:37Well, if you didn't like his posture before, Booker, what are you gonna think about it now?
20:40Talking about, man, Ricky Saints has a game player.
20:42And right now, he's executing that game player.
20:45And I think I got to agree with you.
20:48A DDT with a guardrail assist under the steel steps.
20:54And the referee doing his job, coming out to check on the challenger.
20:58Remember, it wasn't just one DDT.
21:00It was four DDTs that took Oba out at no mercy.
21:05Saints struggling to get Oba in the middle of that ring.
21:08But Saints got him back because Saints doesn't want to count out.
21:10Ricky Saints wants to win this match in the ring.
21:13Bam!
21:14Yeah!
21:15Exclamation point.
21:16You gotta be kidding.
21:17Two times.
21:18Two times.
21:19What?
21:24I was getting ready to talk about an absolute statement.
21:29Talking about Ricky Saints is questioning himself right now.
21:32Can he get the job done, Vic?
21:37NXT Universe can't believe NXT Universe right now standing for this match,
21:41our first night, and look at the power.
21:43You gotta be kidding.
21:44Looking for Rochambeau.
21:45Oba was able to counter, charging back in.
21:47Ball from Grace, and just like that, Oba, champion!
21:52Whoa!
21:53Whoa!
21:54Whoa!
21:55Whoa!
21:56We gotta get up.
22:04What is it gonna take?
22:05And this is how Book were kicking off Deadline.
22:15I thought that was a three count, Vic.
22:17So-
22:18So-
22:19So-
22:20Febby though back up.
22:21Saints up as well.
22:22Challenger, champion, staring a hole in one another.
22:25A second time.
22:26Fall from Grace, sit down style.
22:29One, two, three.
22:31Febby reclaims the title.
22:34Here is your winner of the new NXT Champion, Oba Femi.
22:52Throne reclaim.
22:54And Oba Femi will now face WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in the spirit of opportunity.
23:04Next Saturday at Saturday night's main event.
23:08But look at Ricky Saints.
23:09This was the second DDT.
23:12That one, as I said, with an exclamation point.
23:15Couldn't keep the ruler down late in the game.
23:18Here in this opening matchup, Ricky Saints did his best.
23:21This right here, everyone thought was the end, but Saints showed the heart of a champion,
23:26kicking out of that fall from grace.
23:28But then the eyes locked, the eyes of the ruler, the eyes of the revolution,
23:32in that moment, right here.
23:35Bam!
23:36And now, it would be the ruler, becoming the NXT Champion for the second time.
23:43Standing ovation in San Antonio.
23:50As the revolution has ended, and Oba is the ruler, once more, of NXT.
24:02T.
24:03Look out.
24:04Get it.
24:05Kick it.
24:06Hit it up!
24:08Here we go!
24:09Roll, Rudy.
24:10Rock, roll, roll, roll, roll.
24:15Roll, roll, roll.
24:17Roll, roll.
24:19Roll, roll, roll, roll, roll.
24:21Roll, roll, roll, roll, roll.
24:23Cody Rhodes, be ready.
24:51Next Saturday, you face the NXT champion, Oba Femi.
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