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00:00Sammy coming up next well here's a look at the new Invincible Versus throw down in the most brutal
00:05and visceral three-on-three tag fighting action in the universe Invincible Versus is out now on
00:11Xbox Series consoles PlayStation 5 and PC
00:26The following contest is scheduled for one call and is for the United States Champion
00:47Sammi has the phrase ride or die written on his knee pads that of course
00:54paying homage to the longtime fans fans that have stuck with Sammy Zane
00:58too thick and thin the problem is many believe many of those fans have moved on
01:04he's a grizzled and bitter angry veteran running out of time to accomplish the one goal that has eluded him
01:11a world championship and many think that pressure is finally getting to Zane
01:16yeah I think that's a really harsh take I think Sammy Zane has dedicated his body his soul
01:21to this industry for the past 20 plus years main event in Wrestlemania an incredible legacy of achievement here
01:27in the past few months Trigg Williams has come along and apparently allowed management
01:32the audience the locker room to turn Sammy Zane into a punchline and I understand Sammy's frustration
01:38yeah
01:39Kathy Kelly's backstage with the champ let's check on her
01:44yeah guys I am here with United States Champion Trigg Williams and Lil Yachty
01:49I spoke to Sammy Zane earlier and he said that he is feeling great what is your response
01:55Sammy's feeling great quit lying you've been lying for weeks saying you the one with all the experience
02:03you the veteran Sammy quit lying since you met me I've been running this I'm the puppet master
02:11I'm the vet in the game let's trick Williams world and tonight all the games is over
02:18and you're gonna see that let's talk about it
02:26yeah
02:27you're gonna see that
02:27you know
02:27you know
02:28yeah
02:29yeah
02:29yeah
02:38yeah
02:39yeah
02:39yeah
02:39yeah
03:10And his opponent, accompanied by Grammy Award-nominated, multi-platinum and diamond artist, Lil Yachty, from Columbia, South Carolina, weighing
03:24in for 240 pounds, he is the United States Champion, Trick Williams.
03:34Hey, the kendo stick that Lil Yachty's carrying looks a bit familiar.
03:38It was last night at the Gingerbread Man's funeral.
03:42Lil Yachty and company tricked Sammy Zane in all of us.
03:46Yes, 30 years ago, the Lil Yachty inside the corpse of the Gingerbread Man.
03:51But in a nutshell, that Gingerbread Man crop has been used to taunt Zane.
03:56It really epitomizes what Sammy views as the disrespect from the relative newcomer, Trick Williams, and his rapper friend, Lil
04:04Yachty.
04:06For Trick Williams, what an important matchup tonight.
04:09He beat Sammy Zane in WrestleMania.
04:11And in this WrestleMania rematch, Trick Williams can prove to the world that what happened in Las Vegas last month
04:17was not a fluke.
04:18Oh, here we go.
04:20A little frustration from Sammy right off the bat.
04:22And the normally cool, calm, and collected Sammy Zane has become completely erratic and frazzled since the arrival of Trick
04:31Williams completely under the former champ's skin.
04:35The official going to have her hands full in this matchup, Daphne LaShawn.
04:39This is for the United States Championship.
04:43Sammy Zane looking to win the United States title.
04:47The third time in his career.
04:52Little Yachty just handed you a bunch.
04:54Oh, my God.
04:55I love Little Yachty.
04:56I am absolutely rich.
04:58Dollar, dollar bills, y'all.
05:00What are you going to do with all those dollar bills tonight?
05:02You and I, you can't let them spend them.
05:03The only place you can spend dollar bills, Michael Cole, you fill in the blanks.
05:07Sammy Zane now backing Williams into the corner.
05:09And Sammy Zane looking to be aggressive in this match tonight.
05:12What does Sammy need to do, Wade, to win the United States Championship?
05:15Sammy needs to be really careful.
05:17Well, obviously, he wants to win the United States Championship.
05:19He's also said he wants to humiliate Trick Williams the way Trick has humiliated him over the past several months.
05:26But you've got to stay in control.
05:29Don't get ragged.
05:30Don't get yourself disqualified.
05:32And make sure you can stay in control of your emotions.
05:35Oh, and leaping clothesline by Trick Williams, much like we saw in the previous match, Wade, veteran versus relative newcomer.
05:44Sammy Zane looking to use his experience against Trick Williams tonight.
05:47Yeah, he has to.
05:48Trick Williams clearly has the superior power, athleticism, and has the power of this audience firmly behind him.
05:56Trick has had some success here in Tampa, Florida.
05:59Last year, he won the TNA World Championship at NXT Battleground in this city.
06:05Pretty much built from the ground up right here in this state of Florida.
06:11Over the road in Orlando.
06:14Go back three!
06:16Go back three!
06:18Go back three!
06:19Go back three!
06:20Infectious charisma from Trick Williams.
06:24I'll tell you right now, he's got the industry excited in ways I've not seen in a long time.
06:29Just put Trick Williams under the spotlight, and it will work.
06:34And again, that pisses somebody like Sammy Zane off.
06:36Oh, for sure.
06:37Well, Trick Williams has so much charisma and talent, he's got a rocket ship to the very top.
06:43Whereas Sammy Zane had to grind it out for years the hard way.
06:48Fighting for every inch that he's got in this industry.
06:51But again, getting back to Sammy Zane, it's about evolving, right?
06:55It's about the evolution in this industry.
06:57Changing things up.
06:58Change the way you do things.
06:59And Sammy Zane's been very stubborn to change the way he does things.
07:05I agree with you to an extent, but recently we've seen fractures, let's say, in his personality.
07:10He started saying, okay, fans who don't want me anymore, no problem.
07:15Just like this here.
07:16Trying to use the steel steps.
07:18But again, Sammy's got to be careful.
07:19He's not disqualified.
07:20And Tripp Williams has the champ's advantage in this match.
07:23And again, I understand why Sammy's so frustrated.
07:25We've got Lil Yachty on the outside swinging that kendo, that candy cane kendo stick around.
07:30That's a major distraction.
07:32Why should Sammy Zane not be upset at that?
07:34And Sammy now.
07:37Mounting Williams and hammering away on the champion.
07:41Again, you hear the WWE fans getting all over Sammy.
07:45And Sammy just can't quite understand why.
07:49I mean, what has Sammy done wrong over the past several months?
07:52Go back six months.
07:53Everybody loved him.
07:54Everyone was cheering him on to finally become the world champion.
07:57Well, listen, I've always been a fan of Sammy's, but he has been acting a bit of a jerk lately.
08:01I'm not so sure he has.
08:03I think he's been the victim of a lot of games and fun at his expense from Tripp Williams.
08:08Not least, of course, the gingerbread man that was brought along simply to mock Zane.
08:13I think that will get anyone to the end of their tether.
08:15Oh, victim syndrome for Sammy Zane.
08:18Interesting cover.
08:19Trying to win the championship and a kick out by Tripp.
08:22Another cover by Sammy.
08:24Wrapped the arms this time.
08:25Hooked the leg.
08:26This time he's going to put his full body weight on Tripp.
08:28He's got a kick out.
08:30I mean, Tripp simply cannot match.
08:40And again, Sammy sucks chance ring out.
08:44This is a man who's dedicated his life to this industry.
08:47Entertained these fans, these WWE fans for over 10 years with some of the best matches we've seen.
08:53Now their loyalty has completely shifted to the hot new star.
08:58The latest fashionable thing, Tripp Williams, for all his talent.
09:02I feel bad for Zane.
09:04A lot of things for Sammy.
09:05Zane changed the night that he brought.
09:07Oh, wow.
09:08Great neck breaker.
09:10Hi, Tripp Williams.
09:11A lot of things changed for Sammy Zane the night that he beat Carmelo Hayes.
09:16Another young up-and-comer who's the United States champion.
09:19Fans didn't take too kindly to that as you take another look at the athleticism of Tripp Williams.
09:25Well, as much as I've taken a shot at these fans for jumping onto Tripp Williams,
09:30he is a very, very easy superstar to like.
09:32And that's just one glimpse of exactly why freak athleticism, especially for such a massive frame.
09:40Ah, Tripp caught him.
09:42That spin kick.
09:43And now big power slam to Zane.
09:53Takes his time.
09:56Really has developed in the ring.
10:00He's had all the talent in the world.
10:02Now he's got the poise, too.
10:06Oh.
10:06Takedown by Sammy.
10:08Oh, and a big kick to the face by Tripp.
10:10You can get a little too cocky in there with someone like Sammy Zane, who is as resilient as they
10:16come.
10:16And he needs it all here because Tripp has the wind in his sails.
10:20Williams measuring his man.
10:22Went for a trick kick.
10:23And Sammy Zane, able to turn it around.
10:25Went for the blue thunder bomb.
10:26Countered by Williams.
10:28And Williams with a bookend.
10:29Slam Sammy Zane.
10:31And a kick out by Sammy.
10:33Oh, and Sammy's head bounced off the mat.
10:35Harbaugh take another look at some of this action.
10:39This big Urinagi bookend style.
10:43Almost wiping out Sammy Zane.
10:45But there's that toughness of Zane that has been his signature over the past 20 years.
10:50Yeah, Tripp Williams with that bookend.
10:52Paying homage to a man who's been in his corner since the very beginning.
10:55The great Hall of Famer.
10:56The voice of NXT, Booker T.
10:59And now Williams with Sammy.
11:01Up on the top rope.
11:03Both men sucking on oxygen here.
11:06The bodies are starting to give out.
11:08How deep can you dig here?
11:10It's all about the prestigious United States Championship.
11:14Sammy looking to get the upper hand.
11:17Beating Tripp Williams down.
11:18Sammy's just looking to exhaust Tripp Williams at this point.
11:22Thinking he can simply outlast the United States Champion.
11:26The crowd's getting in his head.
11:27He's got to be careful.
11:29Sunset flip.
11:29Powerbomb by Zane.
11:30Cover to regain the championship and a kick out at two.
11:34I'll tell you right now.
11:35Once the crowd are in your head, the only thing you can do to shut them up is to win
11:40gold.
11:41Hold it high above your head.
11:47Zane knows that.
11:48And needs to stay focused.
11:50Ignore Yachty.
11:51Ignore the crowd.
11:53Focus on taking down Tripp.
11:55Now Sammy trying to rally the crowd and he gets booze instead.
11:59How many riders dies here tonight?
12:02Sammy looking for an Oluva kick.
12:05Williams catches it with a boot to the face.
12:07Yeah, that was a desperate move from Tripp.
12:09Went for that cyclone kick.
12:10Sammy Zane.
12:11Blue thunder bomb.
12:13Cover for the championship.
12:15Another near fall by Zane.
12:17Well, Sammy Zane starting to show Tripp Williams that there are indeed levels to this.
12:23Everything you throw at me are bob and weave, duck and move, and come back with moves like that blue
12:30thunder bomb.
12:31When you feel that spirit starting to ebb away from Tripp Williams.
12:35How gritty can you get, Tripp?
12:37You're going to need it here.
12:38It has been inspiring to watch the maturation process of Tripp Williams over the past few years.
12:47Such a fast learner, fast developer, as tough as they've come.
12:53Sammy springboard leapfrog.
12:55May have entered his knee.
12:56Came down hard on his knee.
12:58Tweaks his knee and forces the official to back the champ in the corner.
13:01Well, a non-contact injury in this game is never something you want to see.
13:07And that is Sammy Zane screaming in agony.
13:09They officially want to get a doctor over here.
13:11Oh, Williams.
13:13Tripp Williams.
13:14Oh, look at Sammy Zane, though.
13:15Roll up.
13:16He's hit it up.
13:17And Tripp kicks out.
13:18Sammy playing a little possum, perhaps.
13:20That is a veteran move from Zane and way not.
13:24Little Yachty now on the apron.
13:27Sammy with a kendo stick to Tripp.
13:30Little Yachty arguing with the official backfire.
13:33Sammy Zane into the cover.
13:35Not this way.
13:37No kick out.
13:38Well, it would have been poetic justice if that had backfired on Yachty.
13:43And Tripp had gone down for the count on that one.
13:48Especially after the treatment of last night on SmackDown and the so-called gingerbread man funeral.
13:55I understand what Yachty was trying to do there.
13:58Just a level of inexperience, you would think, from Lil Yachty.
14:01The wrong time to jump up.
14:02The wrong time to take the referee's attention.
14:05The wrong time to leave that kendo stick lying around.
14:10And Yachty understands that he may have cost Tripp Williams this matchup because Tripp's in deep trouble.
14:17Tripp is not getting up.
14:19And now he's getting a mud hole stomped him in, stomped him in the corner.
14:27Again, he's got a five count before he has to break.
14:29And Sammy knows the rules.
14:32Well, Sammy will take all of that 4.99 seconds before backing off.
14:38That is the smart veteran thing to do.
14:40Especially with gold on the line here.
14:42Well, Sammy understands the champ's in trouble.
14:44This is his opportunity.
14:46Yeah, and there can't be no letter for this point.
14:55This is eerily reminiscent of how Sammy defeated Carmelo Hayes several.
15:01Oh, look at Lil Yachty now.
15:03With a payback.
15:04Kendo stick to Sammy.
15:07Tripp Williams.
15:08Cover.
15:09One, two, three.
15:11And Sammy kicked that out to the cyclone boot from Williams.
15:16Well, how quickly did that pendulum swing back in the favor of Tripp Williams, thanks to Lil Yachty.
15:25But both men down in a heap and hurting.
15:29And the belt, the championship, hanging in the balance.
15:32Is Lil Yachty out of nowhere behind the referee's back.
15:35And a little payback with that Kendo stick.
15:38But Sammy's showing the resilience of a veteran tonight.
15:43And this place has been electric all night long.
15:47United States championship on the line.
15:50Williams and Zane.
15:51Two competitors running on fumes at this point.
15:55But Sammy, with a wherewithal, the smarts, still has his head in the game.
16:02And plenty more to come tonight over on the ESPN app with the unlimited plan.
16:06Roman Reigns, Jacob Fontu.
16:08World title.
16:09Sammy now trying to clock Lil Yachty and drops him.
16:18Well, that's a couple of months of frustration paid back right there to Lil Yachty.
16:23But focus on the task in hand, Sammy.
16:29And allows Tripp Williams to recover.
16:32And a clothesline drops Sammy on the steps.
16:34Plop to the ear almost.
16:36But a highly effective drop in Zane.
16:40Looks like he's going to go for a bookend on the steel steps.
16:44And Sammy with the DDT.
16:46And that could be a cold KO right there.
16:50Tripp Williams on the crown of his head, eating the steel.
16:55And now Sammy's got to get the champ in the ring.
16:57Remember, champ's advantage.
16:58Pinfall or submission.
16:59Only way Sammy can win the gold.
17:09Now Sammy's A now.
17:11A little bit kicked in the back of the head of Lil Yachty.
17:17Enough's enough, Sammy.
17:18You already beat the hell out of the guy earlier.
17:20And Yachty is down for the count.
17:23And so soon may be Tripp.
17:26A luma kick incoming.
17:29Tripp moves out of the way.
17:31Tripp shot.
17:32Tripp shot.
17:34One, two, three.
17:35Roy is retained.
17:38Here is your winner.
17:40It's still the United Stade champion.
17:47Tripp Williams.
17:50I'll put these dollar bills in my pocket.
17:52As Tripp Williams celebrates.
17:55Tripp Williams, ladies and gentlemen, proves that WrestleMania is no fluke.
18:03Well, the humiliation of Zayn is fully complete.
18:07And oh, it's...
18:08Wait, sit down.
18:09Look, y'all are making it right now.
18:11I know it's more money you make in a year, but...
18:17Celebrating it in style with a major victory for Tripp Williams, the retention of the United
18:23States Championship.
18:24And here is how it went down.
18:27This is Sami Zayn thinking he had a major upper hand here.
18:31A spike in Tripp Williams on the top of his head on that steel step with a DDT.
18:37But this is where that little yachty got taken out with that haluber kick from behind.
18:42And when Sami Zayn was ready to kill this for good, Tripp Williams with a burst of speed.
18:47One trick shot and a 1-2-3 later, the champ has retained the superior movement when it counted.
18:57Championship poise and timing from Tripp Williams, who's legend in this industry, is continuing to grow.
19:04You are holding $2 in your hand.
19:06What is that going to get us tonight?
19:08Vegas will take what they can get.
19:11Tripp Williams celebrating.
19:13And again, the frustration continues to grow for the veteran Sami Zayn.
19:18We want to remind everyone that...
19:20Well, thank you for joining us on ESPN2.
19:22We head over to the ESPN app with the unlimited plan in just a couple of moments.
19:28And of course, our main event tonight is this family civil war between the world champion Roman Reigns...
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