00:00Jimmy and Jay the Usos set to defend their tag team gold here tonight against the new number one contenders, the Alpha Academy.
00:19And I can tell you this much, as successful as Jimmy and Jay have been throughout their careers,
00:23they had better not make the mistake of looking past Alpha Academy.
00:28Tozawa and Otis are functioning on an entirely different level than we've been used to in the past.
00:34This could be something of a trap game for the champs.
00:37Uso said they would be fighting champions, defending the gold that they won back at the end of December
00:44by knocking off AJ Lee and AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. There I go again.
00:50It's tough. We just saw AJ Lee.
00:52Understandable.
00:58Yeah.
01:00It's going down now.
01:02Uh-huh.
01:03Okay.
01:04Yeah.
01:05Okay.
01:06Yeah.
01:07Hey, let's get him on.
01:08And I'm about to get him on.
01:10I'm about to get him on.
01:11Let's go.
01:12Let's go.
01:13Let's go.
01:14Okay.
01:15Um, I start playing.
01:16Hey.
01:17Go!
01:27Come on.
01:28You up front.
01:29Oh my God.
01:30Come?
01:31My God.
01:32Yo, T-Rion.
01:33It's just me, oh.
01:34Okay, day one.
01:35It's just me, oh.
01:38Day one.
01:39It's just me, oh.
01:40Okay, day one.
01:42It's damn life.
01:43Oh, my life's damn life.
01:45Yeah, there.
01:46All right, this is me.
03:03It's just me, okay?
03:05Day one, it's just me, oh!
03:08Day one, it's just me, oh!
03:10Another month, the second Monday in March.
03:12March 9th, Monday Night Raw, live on Netflix, is coming to Seattle.
03:18And speaking of titles, the tag team champs, the Usos, set to defend theirs here tonight.
03:251, 2, 3, we're getting ready.
03:54Corey, you were talking just a few moments ago about the fact that the Usos cannot take Tozawa and Otis lightly.
04:02This is the team that beat three other top tag teams in a fatal four-way to qualify for this matchup a couple of weeks ago.
04:08What we've seen out of Tozawa in particular recently is a reminder of just how dangerous Akira Tozawa can be as a competitor.
04:17Yes, he's highly entertaining. Yes, he and Otis love to have a good time.
04:20But these are two bad, bad dudes.
04:23And together, they have the tools that if they put them together the right way, they can topple the Usos.
04:29It is the first time that this version of the Alpha Academy has battled for tag team gold.
04:34And I spoke to Otis earlier today. He said, I am not going to let this opportunity get out of my grasp.
04:43For the Usos, they won the tag titles back at the end of December, defeating AJ Styles and Dragon Lee for the gold.
04:50Making them nine-time tag team champions for the brothers.
04:55Definitely in the conversation for one of, if not the greatest tag team in WWE history.
05:02I know the New Day would object, but Jimmy and Jay continue to add to their legacy.
05:07And it'll be a main event.
05:09Jay Uso starting things off against Otis in this matchup.
05:12Been an interesting couple of weeks for Jay.
05:14Of course, he entered the Royal Rumble match back at number 25 before being eliminated by his cousin.
05:21The now number one contender for the world title, Roman Reigns.
05:24Jay has spent enough time in the main event scene to understand it's all business.
05:28It's lonely at the top of the mountain.
05:34Jay experiencing the power of Otis firsthand.
05:38So if you're the Usos, what do you need to do against the Alpha Academy to make sure you keep the gold?
05:43You need to try to isolate Tozawa.
05:46He is the smaller of the two competitors, or you have to try to tire Otis out.
05:50The problem with Otis is, the man has a gas tank, particularly for somebody of his size.
05:55Yeah, 330 pounds, and the shoulder tackle takes out Jay Uso.
06:00For the Alpha Academy, how can they win tag team gold for the first time?
06:05It's going to be difficult, but you've got to show the champions something that the Usos haven't necessarily seen before.
06:10This is a unique combination.
06:11Cover by Tozawa.
06:13Hook of the leg.
06:14Jay's got to kick out at two.
06:15It's a very unique combination.
06:17You've got Otis, who brings the power, and a surprising amount of speed.
06:20You've got Tozawa, who's a technical master and has a stamina meter second to none.
06:25They called him the stamina monster for years early in his career.
06:29Yeah, for those who have not followed Tozawa's career, he was a very highly decorated champion before coming to WWE.
06:36WWE, as Jimmy Uso comes in off the tag.
06:42Uso's a textbook tag team wrestling style.
06:49When it comes to tag team chemistry, it doesn't get any tighter than twin brothers.
06:53That's one of the many reasons the Usos have been so successful.
06:57Tozawa sending Jimmy a tour of the ropes off the hurricanrana.
07:01Now, they miss with a kick as Jimmy ducked under it.
07:04Hard play, but this time Tozawa caught him on the other side.
07:08Cover.
07:09Again by Tozawa for the titles and a kick out by Jimmy, who rolls out of the ring.
07:15And Jey Uso now.
07:16And listen, Tozawa and Otis have the Usos all out of sorts here in the early going.
07:21We talked about it before the bell even rang.
07:24This is potentially a trap game for the champions.
07:26If they made the mistake of looking past the Alpha Academy, it could spell disaster.
07:31No!
07:32And Tozawa looked like he was going to run and leap over the top rope.
07:35But instead, Gorilla Press sending Tozawa into the Usos of the Alpha Academy.
07:42In control.
07:43In control.
07:56What do the Usos have to do to get back into this thing?
08:00Again, Tozawa's got them all out of sorts.
08:03We know there are no timeouts in WWE, but this is a cover here by Tozawa.
08:07Is it enough?
08:08And again, a kick out.
08:09The Usos are desperately in need of a moment or two to recompose themselves, to replan their game.
08:15They obviously were caught off guard by the challengers.
08:20Jimmy trying to fight back to a vertical base here.
08:23World Tag Team titles are on the line.
08:28Otis is a former Tag Team champion, but not with Tozawa.
08:35Again, boot to the face.
08:38Right hand by Tozawa drops Main Event J on the apron.
08:41Yeah, but Jimmy!
08:42With that pop-up Samoan drop, and that slight distraction helped Jimmy Uso take over.
08:47That may be the only moment the Usos needed to turn the tides back into their favor.
08:55Look for Big Jim to attempt to cut the ring off, as the Usos do so well.
09:00Two, three!
09:01Take it, Usos!
09:02Tozawa having trouble catching his breath.
09:05He hung across the bottom rope.
09:09Tozawa, and this is where the Usos are so dangerous.
09:12Anything it takes to win, anything it takes to keep the tag titles, there's another example.
09:20We've seen it in the past.
09:21We know Jimmy and J possess it, but the question remains, can the Usos tap into that next level
09:26of aggression that has brought them so much success in their career?
09:29It's interesting, because J has been so focused on his singles career, as has Jimmy, over the past year or two.
09:39Recaptured the magic and winning the tag titles back at the end of December.
09:44Now looking to keep the gold.
09:47And that can affect a tag team's chemistry, despite the fact that they are twin brothers
09:51and think together on the same wavelength constantly.
09:54That type of layoff can spell disaster for a tag team.
09:57Obviously, Jimmy and J have been able to overcome it, such that they've captured the gold.
10:02And J now controlling Tozawa.
10:04Smart move by the Usos.
10:05Don't let Tozawa get rolling.
10:07And this is classic tag team strategy.
10:09Every great tag team in history has employed this same playbook.
10:13You cut the ring in half, you isolate one member of the opposition, and you pick them apart.
10:17And you said it earlier, the strategy for the Usos is to keep Tozawa away from Otis.
10:21Not allow him to make a tag.
10:23Isolate him.
10:24Both Jimmy and J are going to enjoy something of a power advantage over Tozawa.
10:31That is not going to be the case when Otis is the legal competitor.
10:35J with a right again to Tozawa.
10:38Now a block again by main event Jey Uso.
10:40The World Tag Team title is on the line.
10:55Usos against the Atma Academy.
10:57Oh!
10:59Tozawa.
10:59Planning Jey Uso with a DDT, and now he has an opportunity, maybe, to get to the corner and make a tag to the 330-pound Otis.
11:10The Usos both know you cannot allow Otis to build momentum, to pick up steam, because he is like a runaway train once he gets going.
11:21Yeah, critical moment now for the Alpha Academy.
11:23Jey seeing stars.
11:25He makes a tag.
11:26Otis is legal, along with Jimmy Uso.
11:28And here comes the bulldozer, Otis.
11:31100% pure carnage, courtesy of the big man.
11:37Just imposing his will on both tag team champions.
11:40Ran into a super kick from Jimmy, however.
11:43Otis, though, with the reversal.
11:45And there's the power.
11:47All right.
11:47Landed hard on the shoulder.
11:50Not going to get a lot of style points out of Otis, but that's not what this man does.
11:54He just destroys whatever is in his path.
11:57Alpha splash in the corner to Jey.
11:59Jimmy Uso caught.
12:00Look at the power now of Otis with a slam.
12:03Cover.
12:05Surviving.
12:08Jimmy Uso just survives that massive slam by Otis.
12:13Jimmy instinctively climbing toward his own corner, looking to make a tag to Jey, but Jey's nowhere to be found.
12:19Splash in the corner, pancaking Jimmy.
12:22Jey makes the tag.
12:23Otis does not realize that main event Jey Uso is the legal man.
12:27Otis made the mistake of taking his eye off of his opponent.
12:31I don't think Otis has any idea that Jimmy Uso is not legal.
12:37And Ino sifting the caterpillar.
12:40Jey wanted the super kick, but collided instead with his knee.
12:44Either way, extremely effective.
12:46Got the super kick on Tozawa on the other side.
12:50Tag made.
12:51Jimmy legal.
12:53Otis no idea where he's at right now.
12:55Double super kick.
12:58Otis still on his feet.
13:00Oh, and a double clothesline.
13:02Somehow Otis is still in this.
13:05Tag to Tozawa.
13:09From the top rope, Tozawa with a double missile drop kick.
13:13Look at the focus.
13:14Look at the intensity in the eyes of Akira Tozawa tonight.
13:21Here he comes.
13:22And Tozawa with a suicide dive.
13:25Driving Jey into the announce table.
13:28Suicide dive on the other side to Jimmy.
13:29And once again, Jey take it out.
13:35Tozawa on fire.
13:37He said, let's run it back.
13:39Tozawa like a one-man army right now.
13:44Taking out the tag team champs.
13:49Tozawa from the top rope.
13:51Tozawa connects.
13:54Could we have new tag team champions?
13:59Barely kicks out at two and a half.
14:04Tozawa can't believe it.
14:05Tozawa took a high risk and it paid off.
14:10An epic senton from the top rope.
14:13Unfortunately, not quite enough to keep Jimmy Uso down for three.
14:21Tozawa now tagging in the powerhouse Otis.
14:25Man, so close for the Alpha Academy to knock off the Usos moments ago.
14:29Double team coming.
14:31Otis.
14:33Uh-oh.
14:33And Tozawa.
14:34Oh, Otis is posted shoulder first.
14:37Tozawa runs into a super kick.
14:39Remember, Otis still legal for the Alpha Academy.
14:41Tag made.
14:44Jey now legal.
14:45Super kick.
14:50Double spear.
14:53They're not gonna...
14:55I guess they're gonna attempt it.
14:57Otis up.
14:58Into a one day.
15:01One and done.
15:04One, two, three.
15:09Here are your winners.
15:11And still, the world tag team champions.
15:19Jimmy and Jey, the Usos.
15:22Corey, don't take anything away from the Alpha Academy.
15:25What a battle tonight.
15:27But the Usos survived.
15:28Otis and Tozawa certainly deserve all the respect in the world.
15:31It took Jimmy and Jey a few moments to catch their breath, to get their footing, to get back on the same page.
15:37But once they did, the Usos reminded the world why they are nine-time tag team champions.
15:44An incredibly emotional Tozawa, who believed off the senton, was going to bring the Alpha Academy gold.
15:51Okay, day one is just me.
15:53Oh, day one is just me.
15:57Oh, okay.
15:58Day one is just me.
15:59Okay, day one is just me.
16:00Great show of respect.
16:02Certainly no reason to hang your heads if you're the Alpha Academy tonight, who pushed the champs to the limit.
16:09But in the end, the tag team chemistry, that day one is Jimmy and Jey, like a well-oiled machine, Spears in stereo to take down the big man.
16:23And against all odds, muscling up Otis for the 1-D, one and done, and still.
16:33Let's head up to Byron Saxton.
16:42Usos, congratulations on retaining the World Tag Team Championship.
16:52Now, Jimmy, Jey, as you know, we're on the road to WrestleMania.
16:57So, what's next for the Usos?
16:59Yeet, hey, first of all, big respect to Zawa and Big Daddy.
17:07Y'all held it down tonight.
17:08I see you.
17:11Yeet.
17:13Well, what's on the road for the Usos?
17:16What's next on the road to WrestleMania?
17:18Well, we were definitely going to remain the best damn tag team in the game.
17:22But what I need you to do is I need you to qualify.
17:29Yeah, then I need you to go ahead and win the Elimination Chamber.
17:34Yeah, then I need you to go ahead and get right back to being the main event, Jey Uso.
17:41Hey, Cleveland, if y'all down with that, four letters, one word.
17:46Jimmy Uso remains his twin brother's biggest fan, biggest supporter.
17:56The mission is clear.
17:58Qualify for the Elimination Chamber, head to Chicago, and win the whole damn thing.
18:03I think the big question of the night is, why are you and Byron Saxton wearing the same exact suit?
18:08It's not the same exact suit.
18:09The difference is, I make this look good.
18:11He got his out of a discount bin, and I'm offended that he dared dress like me.
18:15Hey, a programming note, just a reminder.
18:17For those of you who watch SmackDown Friday in the United States,
18:20it's going to take place over on SyFy because of the Olympics.
18:25Well, switching gears now, 68 nights away from WrestleMania
18:29in what may be one of the greatest main events of all time.
18:34Roman Reigns versus the world heavyweight champion, CM Punk.
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