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00:00KONIEC
00:06Then...
00:12Now...
00:20Forever...
00:26Together...
00:31KONIEC
00:36My name is Elio Le Fleur, and I'm from Paris, France.
00:41I was a wrestling fan since I was 10.
00:45I started really young.
00:46I went to a school in France when I was 14, beginning my wrestling journey,
00:51and now I'm here 10 years later, and still enjoy the process.
01:03I think that my style is very different from the others.
01:06Like, my move and what I do is very innovative.
01:08I try to do stuff that no one's doing.
01:11So when people see things, it was like, wow, this was an Elio move.
01:16When you come here, you start again from the beginning.
01:19So it was kind of hard in the beginning, and I was just like, I want to go.
01:23And then when I knew I was on LFG, I was like, okay, it's time to show the world who
01:26I am.
01:28They're going to see something very different that they never saw before,
01:31and I hope you're going to enjoy it.
01:41We're all here to be peace up for Amy Green.
01:44I know you guys can do the moves, but now make me feel something.
01:48You don't do what you want to do. You do what they want to see.
01:52You don't have to wait to see who gets called up.
01:54They can go at any time.
01:55The future is indeed now here on LFG.
02:05Guys, good to see y'all. We're back.
02:07The LFG train keeps rolling.
02:10Yeah. KO's excited.
02:12How did KO do on commentary? What do you think?
02:15Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
02:18Big Joseph Lockside, Jeremy Borash,
02:20and we're joined this week by one of the only Kevin Owens.
02:23You know, I've always had an interest in doing commentary in the first place.
02:26These up-and-comers, they have to be willing to have an open mind at all times.
02:30I'll do it as many times as they allow me to do it until they get tired of it.
02:33KO, what do you think about doing commentary for the first two matches?
02:36Go ahead. You got it in you?
02:37Look, I'm coming for the job. What? You coming?
02:40It's cool, though. It's cool. All right? It's cool.
02:44Maddie, I got a match for you. I'm excited about this one.
02:47Carly Bright versus Bailey Humphries.
02:50Awesome.
02:51Bailey, I want to feel like she's not afraid to be in there and run through her offensive moveset,
02:57and she's not taking care of Carly.
02:59This girl is like no other girl I've ever seen before where she's extraordinary.
03:03Let's make it work for her. You know what I mean?
03:04Where people see her and go, I'll never forget watching her.
03:07I was very impressed with Carly the last match that I watched her have.
03:10I thought she took direction really well. She's got a great attitude.
03:14And hey, it's nice to be a nice person, but when the bell rings, tell me who you are.
03:18Show me your guts. Tell me why you want to be here.
03:20Moving on to the next match. Booker, Elijah Holyfield versus Malik Blade.
03:25A new face on LFG, and this is someone who is coming off an injury. He's been on NXT before.
03:31Malik Blade!
03:32He's going to try a new gimmick, new character. I'll call him a high flyer.
03:38Blade, he does have talent. I think it just needs to be brought out of him.
03:42He's going to be in the ring with a potential star in Elijah Holyfield.
03:46And he's going to have to show up. It's just that simple.
03:48Yeah.
03:48Because you definitely don't want to be showing up by a guy who just got here.
03:53Final match in a match I'm really excited about.
03:56Mike Deruta. Well, I think you don't really like him, man.
03:58Is this the kid from Belgium?
03:59This is the kid from Belgium. He's a big athletic kid who's a sponge.
04:04He just wants to learn. He grew up in the business. His dad was a promoter.
04:06He's not afraid to be a heel. I like that.
04:09And this next cat, Elio LeFleur.
04:11This is someone that Sean has seen, has heard of.
04:15Wants to see what he does under the biggest lights, the biggest stage that he's been on.
04:20K.O., you're going to work with him?
04:21Big thing for me that I need to see out of Elio is he's got a mask on.
04:25How are you going to show me that you're angry, fired up, hurt, using your hands?
04:29Right.
04:30But I think these two are going to show out.
04:31Yeah.
04:32So, I work with Mike, K.O. works with Elio, and we're going to bring them together, work with both
04:37of them.
04:38Collectively, let's put on a banger.
04:39Cool.
04:39We're going to try it differently this time. I want buy-in. LFG on 3-2-1.
04:44I'm always the first one there.
04:45LFG.
04:45I just want to hold his hands.
04:47Come on, guys.
04:47I love soft hands, and they're warm.
04:49I just can't do it.
04:51I can't.
04:52Before the end of the season, you guys are going to touch our hands, okay?
04:59This week's coaching is underway, and Natalia gets her first look at the powerful Bailey Humphrey.
05:07Wow.
05:08That looked great.
05:10Yeah, what a pinnacle.
05:12I'm like, oh, my God, I'm scared.
05:16Bailey is amazing.
05:18I mean, look at her.
05:19She's an anomaly.
05:20Like, nobody is built like her.
05:23Oh, yes.
05:24I trust Bailey with my complete life.
05:26Your thoughts are up and down.
05:29Yeah, I love that.
05:30Yeah.
05:30That looks great.
05:31Jump with it.
05:32Yeah.
05:33I think it's great.
05:34And I feel like both of you, especially as athletes, you can really, really execute the moves.
05:38Yes.
05:38Now, what I would like to see, and if Rowan wasn't built in the day.
05:41Right.
05:41What I would like to see be a little bit, if Bailey's doing this, make a little noise.
05:47Yes.
05:47If I punch you, and I'm making noise, and she's selling with noise.
05:50Right.
05:50If I'm going, ah, and then he's hitting me back.
05:53Oh, you know what I mean?
05:54Like, I know you guys can do the moves, but now make me feel something.
05:58Nattie's a really fun person to work with.
06:00Whenever she talks or whenever she says something, it honestly can get you really fired up and kind of in
06:05the moment.
06:05Boom, I hold you down.
06:07I was like, damn, like, I'm ready to fight now.
06:09Yeah.
06:10Yeah.
06:11Nattie's the best.
06:12She's strong.
06:13She's powerful.
06:13She's aggressive.
06:14And one of the main things she said this week is, intensity and aggression never goes out of style.
06:19And so working with her is helping me bring that out.
06:22Exactly.
06:23Exactly.
06:23Oh.
06:24Yeah.
06:25It felt so real where the point where, like, Bailey got in my face, and I was like, oh, like,
06:29I definitely want to back up because it felt like we had real beats.
06:31When the bell rings, show me who the you are.
06:34If I'm not interested in the first couple seconds, I'm playing on my phone, I'm ordering, say, on Amazon.
06:42Okay, you guys work on it.
06:43Thank you, man.
06:43That's it.
06:49Time for action from the Women's Division on LFG.
06:52The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
06:56Introducing first, from Kanusha, Wisconsin, Carly Bright.
07:02Ah, JB, it's just hard not to smile when Carly Bright comes out.
07:08Carly Bright, Wisconsin native, cheerleader, done well here at the Performance Center, looking for big things.
07:16Big Joseph alongside Jeremy Borash, and back for a second week, Kevin Owens.
07:21You liked it so nice.
07:22You want to do it twice?
07:23Absolutely.
07:24I mean, you guys also told me I had to do it.
07:26Well, I didn't tell you that, but I thought you were backed by popular demand.
07:29It was my popular demand.
07:30I'm the one who wanted to do it.
07:31Let's get the action started right now on LFG.
07:52Oh, it will certainly be a tall, tough task for Carly Bright.
08:01Jeremy, Bailey Humphrey's somebody we saw totally take over LFG last year.
08:08Someone the Undertaker was very high on.
08:11He certainly continues to check in.
08:14In fact, she seems in a good mood.
08:19Bailey recently trained with the Undertaker in Texas a few weeks back.
08:25She told me all about it.
08:26Had a great time down there with Michelle.
08:28Hello to Michelle and Taker, of course.
08:31Big fans of Bailey.
08:32And we're going to see how much development here in Season 3 there is left for this woman,
08:38because I have a feeling big things are in store for Bailey Humphrey.
08:41Well, look, when it comes to Bailey Humphrey, she's used to throwing bodies of cheerleaders around.
08:47Carly Bright, who is a former cheerleader in her own right,
08:53may find herself getting lawn darted around this ring before too long.
08:58She's going to have to use some speed and some quickness.
09:01Well, maybe not.
09:05That was awesome.
09:09Well, you've also been in the ring with much bigger, stronger competitors.
09:14I don't necessarily know if Carly's strategy is working right now.
09:16Well, so far, it's definitely not, because she keeps getting her face slammed into the ground.
09:20But let's see if she can pivot.
09:26Well, I'll tell you what.
09:27Carly Bright has so much heart, so much resiliency.
09:30Oh, there we go.
09:31Going to the knee.
09:32That's a good one.
09:32And then a drop kick right to the shoulder.
09:36Bailey still not going down.
09:38And look at Carly right now.
09:39Trying to figure out what to do next.
09:40Charging in.
09:41Carly trying to go.
09:43She did not negotiate her way.
09:44Free instead.
09:46Just gets dropped across the top rope.
09:48LFG action continues after this.
09:56We are back on LFG.
09:59And Carly Bright is in a bad way against Bailey Humphrey.
10:05And Carly Bright, what I don't think she's factoring in is how much heart, and I say endurance, she has.
10:10She's got some toughness in her.
10:12And don't let her cheerleader happiness fool you.
10:15She can actually get taken down and come back to fight.
10:19I see what you're saying.
10:20You know, it's a big week here on LFG.
10:22Obviously, Kevin Owens joining us on commentary.
10:24And JB, a big main event still to come.
10:26Boy, looking forward to our main event.
10:28We're going to go inside the arena.
10:29And what kind of a turn of events we've seen.
10:32How many careers we've changed and seen change at courtesy of Shawn Michaels after those main events here on LFG.
10:38It's been one week after another.
10:40Just amazing, amazing things have happened to some incredible athletes.
10:48When you were in NXT, even though it was a short period of time, and all those that you were
10:52in NXT with, do you guys maybe looking back wish you had an opportunity like LFG to open that door
10:57that much quicker?
10:58To be honest, I'm almost thankful that we didn't have it because this is the amount of pressure these girls
11:03and guys are under to kind of learn their craft in front of millions of people.
11:08You know what I mean?
11:09It's a whole different story.
11:16Off the moonsault into the cover and a kick out.
11:19And that's something that we haven't really dove into yet.
11:21This season, JB, is the pressure that these athletes are understanding.
11:25Standing moonsault connects.
11:26Another cover, another hook of the leg, another power out.
11:28That it is any moment.
11:29Every match matters so much.
11:31One slip could cost you months, years.
11:35Not only that, but being used to being in front of the cameras at this stage of your career is
11:39something that's obviously different.
11:42Oh, look at this.
11:43What?
11:50I mean, Bayley just sat up like The Undertaker.
11:53Oof!
11:54With a human being in her arms, no less.
11:58Oh!
11:59That scream.
12:01Oh!
12:05Oh!
12:06Oh!
12:06Oh!
12:06Oh!
12:06Oh!
12:06Oh!
12:07Oh!
12:07Oh!
12:09Oh!
12:11Oh, I put my hands up.
12:21Oh, oh.
12:29Oh!
12:30Uh, oh.
12:32Oh, Ooh!
12:33Oh!
12:35Oh, oh!
12:37Oh, oh, oh!
12:37Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!
12:37Tak, tak, tak.
13:07that she's a bitch.
13:09She's a threat, she's dangerous.
13:11To me, it was such a mountain to climb.
13:12It's scary when you do that scream.
13:14It's like a war cry.
13:16It's a very animalistic thing.
13:19You guys both got very vocal.
13:25There were so many great things.
13:27It was a simple little story.
13:28I loved it. I thought it was so good.
13:30Thank you.
13:31You're enjoying so much.
13:32Yay, thanks, Daddy.
13:33She is.
13:35That honestly,
13:37my heart burst.
13:39I can't let myself down.
13:41I can't let myself down.
13:43I can't let these legends down.
13:46I can't let these legends down.
13:46I can't let these legends down.
13:48She was smiling.
13:50She gave us a big hug.
13:51She couldn't ask for anything.
13:54Here are some notes.
13:55I took you guys were working.
13:58I feel like some of the bumps.
13:59You were taking.
14:00You've got to find a way.
14:01I don't know.
14:02If you're landing flush.
14:03I know the move looks, like, she was giving you those short arm tackles.
14:08I didn't hear anything when you landed.
14:14Try to attach a cell to your offense.
14:16How do I really make them believe that, like, my ribs broken,
14:19or my shoulder's dislocated, or my fingers are broken,
14:22like, you're fighting through it.
14:24And I felt like, and I felt this after the match,
14:27like, we kind of made it a rustling story,
14:30whereas we could have made this, like, this is real,
14:32and less is more.
14:34We talk about it all the time.
14:34That's what I was thinking.
14:35Yeah.
14:35And I just feel like the people are going to feel a lot more sympathy for her
14:39rather than throwing flippers and clubs and stuff like that,
14:43that they're going to see every match,
14:44but they're not going to see this trying to slam you to hell.
14:47Correct.
14:47You know what I'm saying?
14:48Yeah.
14:48This is a good rep, though, dude.
14:50I appreciate you guys working so hard.
14:51I appreciate you doing this, dude.
14:53All right. Proud of you guys.
14:53Thanks, Coach.
14:54Thank you.
14:55Bloom also was pretty happy with it.
14:57The biggest critique is, like, me staying big,
15:00and he said, for me, less is more.
15:03Meaning, like, I don't have to go crazy
15:05and I don't have to do 70,000 different moves.
15:07Hell, yeah.
15:08I was like, you know what?
15:09You're right.
15:12Tonight's next match features one future great
15:14who's well-known to Booker T,
15:16and another who has yet to make an impact.
15:19Malik.
15:23How long you been around here now?
15:24Uh, four years.
15:25How many conversations have we had?
15:27Maybe two.
15:28I equate that to zero.
15:30All right?
15:32My name is Malik Blade.
15:34I've been pro wrestling for about eight years now.
15:36And here comes Malik the Freak Blade.
15:40I came to the PC in 2021, and I've been here since then.
15:44An incredible athlete with a 40-inch vertical leap
15:46in Malik Blade.
15:49It's the reason why
15:51**** hasn't happened a lot faster for people.
15:53All right?
15:54I know he's a guy that has been around here for quite some time
15:57and still been trying to figure this thing out.
16:02Does he have the ability to learn this?
16:05Booker is on my Mount Rushmore.
16:07To get even a little bit of something from Booker T is,
16:11I hold that with me forever.
16:15Bang.
16:15All right?
16:16Okay, instead of lock-up.
16:18Yeah.
16:19Give me a boot.
16:19Bang. Stop it.
16:21All right?
16:22Yeah, you stop him right before we go.
16:24Yeah.
16:24Yeah, yeah.
16:25I'm very excited to work with Booker again.
16:27He gave me so much game,
16:28and I feel like the more I was working with him,
16:30the more I started to understand what he meant.
16:32After the pin, how do I give him?
16:33I can just pick him up and throw him to the corner at that point.
16:35Exactly.
16:35Spear him, and then same spot, push him, and then miss the spear too.
16:39You don't do what you want to do.
16:41You do what they want to see.
16:42You know, I have my moves that I want to do,
16:44but I was always thinking about what they wanted to see
16:49because they had to feel a certain way when they was watching it.
16:52It's the best feeling in the world
16:57when you know that you're like the puppet master
17:00and you're making them do everything you want them to do.
17:04That's what wrestling is.
17:06Booker knows how to add that extra swag
17:09and extra charisma I need when I wrestle, man.
17:11So I know when we get in there, it's going to be a banger.
17:18As the future greats make their final preparations,
17:22the legends are joined backstage by WWE superstar Apollo Crews,
17:26who has stopped by for a closer look at Elijah Holyfield.
17:30When I first saw him in the ring, I thought this guy really reminded me of myself.
17:34So I decided to talk to Matt Bloom
17:36and see if I can see what he's about.
17:50The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
17:54Introducing first from Atlanta, Georgia,
17:57winging at 234 pounds, Elijah Holyfield.
18:06Well, we are set to kick off LFG in a major way with Elijah Holyfield.
18:13And Kevin, I would love to know, how would you get ready to fight someone
18:19who is a puncher, is a boxer?
18:21How would you counter someone like Holyfield?
18:23I think I'd go straight for biting his ears off,
18:26which has proven to some degree of success, you know, in the past.
18:33Not to him necessarily.
18:34Too soon. Too soon.
18:36It's been 25 years.
18:38I'm still not over it, Gail.
18:41And his opponent from Orlando, Florida,
18:45weighing at 200 pounds.
18:48He's got a look on him.
18:49He's got a great look.
18:55As someone who has gone through the Performance Center,
18:58and then has gone on to main event of WrestleMania,
19:01has gone on to be a Universal Champion,
19:03what would your advice be to Malik Blake?
19:06Well, as far as Malik goes, he's been here for a while,
19:09and I was blessed and cursed with the fact that I didn't get to stay
19:14at the Performance Center as long as I honestly wish I could have.
19:16But at the same time, I sit cursed because being here for too long
19:19or what feels like too long could also be, you know,
19:23a disadvantage mentally.
19:25I would hope that he's not taking the fact that he's still here
19:28after three years as a negative.
19:30You know what I mean?
19:31I think you'd want to use that as your positive.
19:33That's what I'm talking about.
19:35Back up.
19:35Back up off me, son.
19:37Malik's also, correct me if I'm wrong,
19:40Malik is also coming off of being part of the tag team for quite a while.
19:44Now he's in singles action, you know?
19:46And I'm glad you bring that up because a lot of people
19:49that may be at home watching right now on A&E might just go,
19:51well, it's still the same thing.
19:53There's a big difference in being a singles competitor
19:55and a tag team star, is there not?
19:57Yeah, definitely.
19:58Oh!
19:59Well, that didn't work out for him.
20:01And a kick out.
20:02There's just nobody to rely on.
20:03You know, when you're in a tag team match,
20:05if things get too hairy out there,
20:06you try to tag out, hope for the best,
20:08but you can't do that in a singles match, obviously.
20:11And if you've been used to relying on someone else for that long,
20:14that's also, ooh, something that could play against you.
20:21Very explosive.
20:22He's very explosive.
20:24Let's remember, too, this is a man who is coming back from tearing his left bicep.
20:28He was out for eight months over this, and Malik Blade's got the right attitude.
20:31He's going in, taking it to the sky, going with a quicker, faster approach,
20:35and that's how you've got to take down a guy like Elijah Holyfield.
20:37And, JB, you've been around the Performance Center a lot day in and day out,
20:40more so than myself or Kevin Owens.
20:42You've got to wonder if some of the coaches, led by head coach Matt Bloom,
20:46have been talking to Malik Blade about showing a more aggressive side.
20:51Well, you've got to use the tools that are given to you,
20:52and obviously they are developed here each and every week at the Performance Center.
20:56Malik Blade is well aware that he is a great high-flying athlete,
20:59and to use that to his advantage is his best bet.
21:08You know, and Kevin, you have to like when a younger athlete that is still growing into themselves
21:13can find that almost killer instinct, if you will.
21:16Yeah, I mean, you have no choice but to get there eventually.
21:19Otherwise, you're, you know, it's sink or swim when we get in there,
21:22and if you don't have that aggressive side, you're going to sink, you know what I mean?
21:35Oh, look, they're going deep into the bag of tricks here in this matchup on LFG,
21:39because it's all about JB getting to the main event,
21:42all about getting to an opportunity to impress,
21:45but it also only takes one match, one moment to change Shawn Michaels' opinion
21:49and maybe award you a contract to NXT.
21:55It's amazing what we've seen thus far this season,
21:57what's already happened to the careers of Kendall Gray,
21:59happened to the careers of Drake Moreau,
22:01and Elijah Holyfield.
22:03Bam!
22:03It's just one uppercut away.
22:06Good night!
22:08His daddy told him that.
22:09I told him that.
22:11I told him that.
22:12I told him that.
22:13Elijah Holyfield!
22:16Knockout power, sudden impact,
22:19and that loaded right fist of Elijah Holyfield.
22:25LFG action continues right after this.
22:30On A&E.
22:33Match with Elijah and Malik went very well.
22:37I think they went out there and they touched upon a lot of things that we talked about.
22:42From a structural perspective, I really thought it was sound.
22:46I thought, Malik, I thought you learned a lot tonight,
22:50that perhaps, you know, you weren't even thinking about before.
22:56I thought the match was amazing.
22:57I thought everything we executed exactly how they wanted.
22:59Elijah really had a great showcase.
23:02Elijah, that power slam spot.
23:04Yes, sir.
23:06That center line is very, very important.
23:09You can never be on that center line waiting.
23:13You gotta be...
23:16Got you.
23:16Got me.
23:17I need you here, up D, bang.
23:20I need all of it.
23:21Because that's one of my pet peeves.
23:23Yes, sir.
23:24As far as wrestling goes and making it look a certain way.
23:28I think it's another step in the right direction,
23:30but I still ain't where I really want to be yet.
23:32Some of my footwork and spacing and stuff like that,
23:34that I need to continue to work on.
23:35And I want to work with him again.
23:37I could work with Book every time, man.
23:38I love it.
23:38How did the punch look?
23:39Punch look great.
23:40I just wish you the...
23:41Dang!
23:43I need the action.
23:45You know what I mean?
23:45Good job.
23:50I thought he had that certain energy about him.
23:53Just raw emotion, raw power.
23:57So I was impressed.
23:58I was impressed and I was curious to know more.
24:00Yes.
24:00And then there's things that you figure out for yourself that work.
24:02Things that don't work.
24:03So stay in tune too.
24:05You know, ease that intuition.
24:06He said he enjoyed the match and he just said,
24:08just keep going, keep working.
24:09And he said, you know, he might give me some tips
24:11and we might get together sometime.
24:12So hopefully that happens.
24:14Keep it up, guys.
24:15Appreciate you.
24:15Pull that out.
24:16Yeah, I will.
24:19How you doing?
24:20Good.
24:21Let me hear some feedback.
24:23Everybody's saying I need to do...
24:25Show something's coming for the other guy,
24:27but I'm just still trying to figure out what...
24:28Yeah, absolutely.
24:29...big enough to just, like, let people know
24:30and not, like, looking too weird either.
24:33I don't give a about weird, dude.
24:35Wait, wait, wait.
24:35Listen, weird might be the one you end up going with, all right?
24:38But I need you to try stuff, man.
24:39Yeah.
24:39And I see you getting more comfortable to try stuff,
24:42but you got to show that thing, man.
24:44Malik, today I felt like you ran the play for his story,
24:48but how does Malik Blade fit into this story?
24:51I want to see Malik Blade get better at something today.
24:54And Malik Blade's good, man,
24:55but, like, I need you to step out of that.
24:58Like, just good.
24:58I want to make you great, man.
25:00I'm a big believer in one person teaches,
25:02two people learn.
25:02So while you're helping him out in there and he's learning,
25:05you'll be learning as well.
25:06All right.
25:07Nice rep, man.
25:08Thank you, sir.
25:08Stay the course.
25:09Hey, maybe light the fuse or something?
25:11Like, I'm just, like...
25:12Yeah.
25:14You start showing it, like...
25:15Yes.
25:16Just throw everything against the wall.
25:18It might be stupid as ,
25:19but stupid might turn into something.
25:21Yes.
25:21All right?
25:22Stay the course.
25:22Thank you.
25:23All right, brother.
25:28Hello, man.
25:28Hello, sir.
25:29Good to see you.
25:30All right, nice to meet you.
25:31I'm Kevin.
25:32So how's your transition been,
25:34the way we do things here?
25:35I like it because, like,
25:37we learn different stuff every day.
25:38They just want to work more on my emotion
25:40because it's hard.
25:41Yeah, with the mask.
25:42To show emotion with the mask.
25:43Yeah.
25:43It's just emoting more and just...
25:45Exactly.
25:45Okay.
25:46Being more mad.
25:47The strike I get should make me more mad and...
25:49Yeah, it's just adding grit to what you have.
25:51Yes.
25:51Exactly.
25:52Elio seems like a very nice guy.
25:54You know, he's kind of got this reserved kind of air about him,
25:57which I think maybe that's why he wears a mask, you know?
25:59But obviously, if you're wearing a mask,
26:01you have to use your body language
26:03to try to communicate with people what you're feeling
26:05because you don't have your facial expressions to do it.
26:08And that was one of the things that Bloom wanted,
26:10you know, him to work on.
26:11My opponent is Mike Deruder from Belgium.
26:15We know each other since the Indies.
26:17He's really, like, my special opponent,
26:21and I know we have a good chemistry together,
26:22but this is really the first time, like,
26:25people are going to see it in WWE.
26:27Hello, Mike.
26:28So, wait, where is your accent from?
26:30From Belgium, sir.
26:32Tell me about you.
26:33Second-generation pro wrestler?
26:35Mm-hmm.
26:35So, my father...
26:36Who is your dad?
26:37Patrick Deruder.
26:38Who are you really doing this for, honestly?
26:40For me, of course.
26:41You definitely want to be a pro wrestler?
26:43Yes.
26:43This is your life?
26:44To be a WWE superstar, not a pro wrestler, but...
26:47That's a great answer.
26:48Today, pro wrestling, for me,
26:49is just a guy who can do some flip.
26:51No more aura.
26:53If you have the physique, the aura,
26:56everything after will look so cool,
26:58because you are so cool.
27:00So, Mike, about tonight, the high-flying Frenchman...
27:04Yes, it's the guy who's flying everywhere.
27:06You've wrestled him before.
27:07Yes, a lot.
27:08Do you feel like you have a good chemistry with him?
27:10Yes, one of the best I have in my career.
27:12Me and Elio have faced each other all around the world,
27:15all over Europe, even in Japan,
27:18and it was the best partner for me
27:20to show to the world who I am.
27:27All right, Elio and Mike,
27:29why don't you guys show us what you have already?
27:34In the beginning, we want to play a little bit of size difference,
27:37because it's, like, bigger than me.
27:39So, our idea was, like, having a big lockup.
27:42So, right off the bat, I've got to ask you,
27:44you talked about the size difference.
27:46Let me ask you, Kevin.
27:47Is there a size difference here?
27:48A perception?
27:49No, it's not perceivable.
27:50Like, at the naked eye, you're more muscular,
27:54but he's a bit taller.
27:56I, when you said he's bigger than me,
27:57I was like, is he?
27:59You may think you're bigger than him,
28:00and you might agree,
28:01because he's got a little bit more mass,
28:03but from the people sitting right here
28:05to all the way up in the 300 section,
28:07you're the same size.
28:10Perception is reality.
28:11When you see Mike and Elio side by side,
28:15they are the same height.
28:17Elio might even have an inch on him.
28:20Fans might just go,
28:21oh, it's not that much bigger.
28:23Don't we see the 35 pound difference
28:24between him and me?
28:26I don't want to hurt your ego,
28:27but not really.
28:29I know that Mike were hurt
28:31when Kevin said that we look the same.
28:33Can I...
28:34You can do whatever you want,
28:36but we're trying to...
28:37I'm just because, yes,
28:38my ego is like...
28:39Zip it.
28:40Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.
28:42We're trying to tell you about perception.
28:44On a scale, there might be a 35 pound difference.
28:48In reality, there's none.
28:49I took it personally
28:51because he don't even know the artwork.
28:55I have cute to look like that.
28:57All the diet and diet
28:58and days and days and days of sacrifice
29:01to look like that.
29:02You're more muscular for sure.
29:03You look great.
29:04Just, you know,
29:06you should feel good about yourself.
29:07I think we hurt his feelings a little bit.
29:10Me and Bubba were both like,
29:11you're not that much bigger,
29:13but he looks great.
29:15So does Elio.
29:16When we, like, explain the match to them,
29:19I can see in their eyes,
29:20they were like,
29:22what are they doing?
29:26I mean, it all sounds great.
29:28There's a couple things that I...
29:30that stuck out to me
29:31logistically might not work,
29:32but let's see.
29:33We both understand that you need to go out there
29:36and do it yourself
29:37and either live or die
29:40by what you've come up with.
29:41Just a little question, Kevin.
29:43When you say there are two kids
29:44in the match,
29:45do we have a lot of them?
29:47It doesn't mean that it's bad.
29:48Do you agree with us?
29:49Yes, of course.
29:50But I wanted to see if it was possible
29:53to tell me.
29:54Sorry.
29:54I just realized we're speaking French.
29:56I just kind of fell into it.
29:57They just wanted me to tell them
29:58what I would do differently,
29:59but I really don't want to sway them.
30:01Right?
30:02Oui?
30:04All right.
30:04We're good.
30:05Just do it your way
30:07and we'll talk after.
30:11With doors open
30:12and fans piling in,
30:14the two European main eventers
30:15get ready for tonight's showcase.
30:18Coach,
30:19can you not see the sign difference?
30:21We have the respect,
30:22but you need glasses.
30:24Right.
30:24Even me.
30:25Even me when they say
30:26we are the same size.
30:27I was like...
30:30What's your number one job tonight?
30:31So special and be mad.
30:33Show your aggression.
30:34Show your struggle.
30:35Yes.
30:35Okay?
30:36What's your number one job tonight?
30:37Show off and be the best version of myself.
30:39Good.
30:40Don't come back here and say,
30:41no, I think I could have did better.
30:42No.
30:43Go do your best now.
30:44Yes.
30:44Thank you.
30:45Yeah.
30:47It's another week
30:48and it's another opportunity
30:49for our aspiring superstars to shine.
30:53Welcome to Legends of Future Greats.
30:56Welcome to the main event.
30:57Welcome in ringside.
30:59Big Joe to the large side,
31:00Jeremy Borash.
31:01And again,
31:02every single week we talk about it,
31:03it's a huge opportunity
31:05for two superstars
31:06to take that next step.
31:08I mean,
31:08look what's already happened this season.
31:10It's season three.
31:11Call-ups already.
31:12Yeah.
31:12Going to NXT already.
31:14Who's gonna be next?
31:15Could it be?
31:16One of the two combatants
31:17in our main event?
31:18We're about to find out.
31:18We're going international on this one.
31:20It's our main event on LFG.
31:41The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
31:43The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
31:45Introducing first,
31:47from Paris Brighton to begin,
31:48at 187 pounds,
31:50Elio LaFontaine.
31:53And this is a French luchador
31:55who has come stateside,
31:57who has come to the WWE
31:59and the Performance Center.
32:02Elio LaFontaine is set to make his LFG debut.
32:05Next.
32:08Next day on the A&E app.
32:11Welcome back to LFG.
32:13There you see the Belgian powerhouse.
32:16Mike DeRuiter making his way to the ring.
32:19And his opponent,
32:20from Brussels Voucho making
32:22at 235 pounds,
32:24Mike DeRuiter!
32:30Some man who has a different type of intensity.
32:33As you can tell,
32:34someone who is not afraid of confrontation,
32:37doesn't care where you came from.
32:39Canada,
32:39Mexico,
32:41France,
32:41Germany,
32:42Japan.
32:42He just loves to fight.
32:45Well, I'd like to give a shout out
32:47to our talent recruitment department
32:48here at WWE,
32:50because these two international superstars
32:52have been plucked from Europe,
32:54brought here to the Performance Center.
32:56And that's an amazing thing.
32:58Walking through these doors,
32:59you never know who you're gonna see
33:01or where they came from.
33:02But everybody that walks through those doors
33:04has a story and a story to tell.
33:06These two men are about to tell a story for us
33:09here in our main event of LFG.
33:11Both very different backgrounds,
33:13but both have that same goal,
33:14and that's to make it to NXT.
33:17Courtesy of the Heartbreak Kids,
33:18Shawn Michaels and Coach Matt Bloom
33:19here at the Performance Center.
33:20And these two are, I think, ripe for the picking.
33:23Now we talk about the European style,
33:25you start thinking about those that have had success
33:27in recent memory here in the WWE.
33:29Think about a former world champion, Gunther.
33:31Think about someone who defeated John Cena
33:34in his very last match.
33:35You go to a former United States champion,
33:37former NXT champion, Elia Dragunov as well.
33:41You just take a look at all the men
33:42who state claim over in Europe.
33:44You think about other superstars as well.
33:46And this is that next wave of international superstars.
33:49Well, and it's that ability.
33:51It's the agility.
33:52It's the things you haven't seen before.
33:55You know, as they've honed their craft elsewhere
33:57and brought it to the Performance Center
33:59where they take it to a whole new level.
34:01And that's the beautiful thing.
34:02Look at this.
34:13And this is someone who began training JV
34:15back at the age of 16 years old.
34:20And you did say something earlier,
34:22that was very correct, but I want to...
34:24Touchdown is going to the air, and...
34:25Nice catch.
34:27Talk about style.
34:28How about power?
34:29How about power?
34:30Ooh!
34:31How about Meiser Ruder?
34:36And that's the kind of agility,
34:38and I dare say just the power and the strength
34:40that he has, that he possesses,
34:41but also he can move like a luchador.
34:44And if we're going to get to see that,
34:45if we can see what not only he brings to the table
34:47from the power standpoint,
34:49but also from that high-flying ability that he has,
34:52I can't help but think Shawn Michaels has to be salivating
34:56at the fact that these two are here in this ring
34:58and looking for that opportunity to get to NXT.
35:00And that's what I want to talk about.
35:01Something you brought up at the start of our main event here
35:03was if you think back to week number one,
35:07season debut here of season three,
35:10what about what happened to Kendall Gray?
35:11I mean, never before in three seasons
35:13we've been doing this show
35:14and somebody had that kind of a skyrocket effect
35:17on their career,
35:18just one match in front of Shawn Michaels.
35:20The sky is the limit for not only Kendall Gray,
35:22but I'd say for Mike DeRuiter
35:24and for Elio LaFleur.
35:26So far, so good, though.
35:27Great.
35:28You can tell they've worked with each other a lot, eh?
35:31They said in Europe they had a whole bunch.
35:33Got it on a bunch of times.
35:38Oh, my word!
35:41Check his jaw.
35:43The official said he's okay,
35:44but he might be eating through a straw
35:45for a month after that.
35:47Take another look.
35:48Wow.
35:50Wow.
35:58That might have just fired up the French Luchador.
36:06Going back and forth.
36:07And look, that might have woken up.
36:10Elio.
36:10Sometimes it has that effect.
36:12Oh, look at this.
36:12It's that shot that wakes you up.
36:13And look at this.
36:14Look at this.
36:15What a combination swinging for the fences.
36:18Not gonna back down.
36:19He obviously is maybe fighting on some pure adrenaline right now.
36:22Charging back in.
36:23Pace is starting to quicken.
36:29Going up, going under.
36:31Well, Enziguri rocking his opponent back down to the mat.
36:34And this is the pace that he likes to work at.
36:36Well, it's that quickness.
36:37But I'll tell you what,
36:38Reuters, Reuters staying right with him.
36:40I mean, make no mistake about it.
36:42This is toe-to-toe combat.
36:43Look at this.
36:45Moonsault to the outside.
36:53I don't necessarily know what they're chanting right now.
36:56But whatever it is, it is firing up Elio.
37:03And looking to take it high risk one more time.
37:06Big knee right to the jaw.
37:08That could have been the knockout blow.
37:09Hooking both legs.
37:11And that right shoulder, JB, just getting off the mat.
37:15Well, so far, so good for both men competing here tonight in our main event.
37:20Will one of them catch the eye?
37:22Will both of them catch the eye?
37:24I'm Shawn Michaels.
37:25I'm looking to get that next spot on NXT.
37:27That's what we're all about here on LFG.
37:28Getting that next level.
37:35As the power again on display.
37:37Oh, counter!
37:39Huracanrana!
37:40Shoulders down!
37:40And another near fall.
37:41I don't know how he was able to kick out.
37:44Oh!
37:46Inside out goes Elio.
37:49Take another look.
37:50Feel the impact.
37:54Massive clothesline could have just turned the complexion of this matchup.
37:57Whoa, whoa, whoa.
37:58JB, what's he thinking?
37:59No way.
38:04Take into the air with ease.
38:07The future is indeed now.
38:09Air on LFG.
38:11LFG!
38:12LFG!
38:13LFG!
38:14LFG!
38:14Come on!
38:14What did you do?
38:15Barely.
38:16Like they did this awesome .
38:18And then you better.
38:19Love being shown in.
38:20No, that's wise actually.
38:22Oh, maybe it wasn't.
38:23Ooh!
38:24One, two, three.
38:27Wow.
38:28One more time.
38:29Let's see it.
38:30From the top.
38:31Look at this.
38:32Mike DeRuiter.
38:34And look, Elio was rolling away.
38:36DeRuiter didn't even blink an eye.
38:37He said, forget it.
38:38I'm not gonna go five feet.
38:40I'm gonna go damn near 15.
38:42Well, we told you about the power.
38:43We saw that displayed right away in the match.
38:45But as we go on here, how about the high flying ability?
38:49Oh, oh, trying to get to that top rope.
38:51Nice job by Elio.
38:53One, two, three, four.
38:57Let's go.
38:58Ooh.
39:00Ooh.
39:01Are you kidding?
39:06And now look who's standing.
39:08And now look who's flying.
39:09450, able to land on his feet.
39:11Roll through, Elio back up, charging in.
39:12Ducks to clothesline.
39:13Picking up the pace one more time.
39:15And what the hell was that, JB?
39:18One, two, three.
39:20And it was very effective.
39:22That was really good.
39:23That was really good.
39:24Nice.
39:25Here is your winner, Elio LaFleur.
39:30Innovative offense.
39:32Picking up the win.
39:35Certainly we can say not to be cheesy about it.
39:38A statement made by the French luchador here tonight.
39:42Give credit to both these men.
39:44But how about, have you ever seen anything like this, JB,
39:47in all your years in this great sport?
39:49Never seen that before.
39:51That's innovative.
39:52I bet you're seeing some smiles backstage.
39:55These two impressed tonight.
39:57Mike DeRuiter, congratulations.
39:59Elio LaFleur.
40:01Congratulations.
40:02Our main event here on LFG.
40:07Good stuff.
40:08Good job, guys.
40:09Thank you very much.
40:09Thank you very much.
40:10You just did really well out there.
40:11Thank you very much.
40:11Appreciate it.
40:12Want to talk to you real quick?
40:13Yes, yes, sir.
40:14Look, a French luchador is something that's very unique.
40:18It's a style that I want to bring here in NXT.
40:21And so what we're going to do now is we're going to move you into NXT right away.
40:25No way.
40:26All right, yes.
40:26Still got a lot to work on, but you're going to, I think you're going to be a busy man.
40:30From this moment on, you're going to be part of the NXT roster.
40:32Thank you very much.
40:33Get ready because the work's going to start.
40:34Yes.
40:35I'm in the works for me.
40:36All right?
40:36You got it.
40:36Thank you very much for this.
40:38Hell of a job.
40:39Good stuff.
40:42I'm officially a WWE superstar working in NXT.
40:47And what can I say?
40:49That's what I wanted my whole life.
40:50And we're going for it.
40:52Thank you very much, Cyril.
40:55I just wanted to say in English.
40:57Cyril, thank you very much.
40:59And what you saw tonight was just we did everywhere in the world.
41:04Yeah.
41:05And this is just the beginning of us.
41:08Leo is going on NXT now.
41:11Congratulations to him.
41:12He deserve it.
41:14And without being cocky, I'm the next, guys.
41:19It's not that different.
41:20It's not that different.
41:22Look at this.
41:22Maybe the chest is bigger than me.
41:24I will give you my workout.
41:25Yes, please.
41:26Thank you.
41:27I know a lot of people who say the same thing, but I wait for this my whole life.
41:31For real life.
41:32This is what I wanted and now I have it.
41:34And now I just want to go to NXT and prove to everybody that I belong to be here.
41:39Guys, I thought you did an excellent job.
41:42I really, really think you did an excellent job.
41:44It was excellent.
41:45It was excellent.
41:45I think you both have some really bright futures in LFG, but most importantly, past LFG.
41:53My future can be really bright.
41:55I just can't wait.
41:57To be able to do this together is the best feeling ever.
42:01This exact moment was what I want.
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