- 3 days ago
Episode 06: Perception is Reality
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Then, now, forever, together.
00:36My name is Elio Lafleur, and I'm from Paris, France.
00:41I was a wrestling fan since I was 10.
00:45I started really young.
00:47I went to a school in France when I was 14, beginning my wrestling journey.
00:52And now I'm here 10 years later, and still enjoy the process.
01:03I think that my style is very different from the others, like my move and what I do is
01:08very innovative.
01:09I try to do stuff that no one's doing.
01:12So when people see things, it was like, wow, this was an Elio move.
01:17When you come here, you start again from the beginning.
01:20So it was kind of hard in the beginning, and I was just like, I want to go.
01:24And then when I knew I was on LFG, I was like, okay, it's time to show the world who
01:27I am.
01:29They're going to see something very different that they never saw before, and I hope they're
01:34going to enjoy it.
01:43We're out here to be decent.
01:45We're here to be great.
01:46I know you guys can do the moves, but now make me feel something.
01:50You don't do what you want to do.
01:52You do what they want to see.
01:53You don't have to wait to see who gets called up.
01:55They can go at any point.
01:57The future is indeed now here on LFG.
02:00All right.
02:01All right.
02:02Let's go.
02:07Guys, good to see y'all.
02:09We're back.
02:09The LFG train keeps rolling.
02:11Yeah.
02:12KO's excited.
02:13I'm not first this time.
02:14KO.
02:14How did KO do on commentary?
02:16What'd you think?
02:17Yeah.
02:18Yeah.
02:19Yeah.
02:23You know, I've always had an interest in doing commentary in the first place.
02:29These up and comers, they have to be willing to have an open mind at all times.
02:32I'll do it as many times as they allow me to do it until they get tired of it.
02:35KO, what do you think about doing commentary for the first two matches?
02:39Go ahead.
02:39You got it in you?
02:40I'm coming for the job.
02:42What?
02:42You coming?
02:42It's cool though.
02:43It's cool.
02:44All right?
02:45It's cool.
02:47Maddie, I got a match for you.
02:49I'm excited about this one.
02:50Carly Bright versus Bailey Humphries.
02:53Awesome.
02:54Bailey, I want to feel like she's not afraid to be in there and run through her offensive
02:59moveset and she's not taking care of Carly.
03:02This girl is like no other girl I've ever seen before, which is extraordinary.
03:06Let's make it work for her.
03:07You know what I mean?
03:08Where people see her and go, I'll never forget watching her.
03:11I was very impressed with Carly the last match that I watched her have.
03:14I thought she took direction really well.
03:16She's got a great attitude.
03:17And hey, it's nice to be a nice person.
03:20But when the bell rings, tell me who you are.
03:21Show me your guts.
03:22Tell me why you want to be here.
03:24Moving on to the next match.
03:26Booker, Elijah Holyfield versus Malik Blade.
03:29A new face on LLG.
03:31And this is someone who is coming off an injury.
03:33He's been on NXT before.
03:36He's going to try a new gimmick, new character.
03:39I'll call him a high flyer.
03:42Blade, he does have talent.
03:44I think it just needs to be brought out of him.
03:46He's going to be in the ring with a potential star in Elijah Holyfield.
03:50And he's going to have to show up.
03:52It's just that simple.
03:53Because you definitely don't want to be showing up by a guy who just got here.
03:57Final match in a match I'm really excited about.
04:00Mike Deruta.
04:01Well, I think I don't really like him, man.
04:03This the kid from Belgium?
04:04This the kid from Belgium.
04:05He's a big athletic kid who's a sponge.
04:08He just wants to learn.
04:09He grew up in the business.
04:10His dad was a promoter.
04:11He's not afraid to be a heel.
04:13I like that.
04:13And this next cat, Eliola Fleur.
04:16This is someone that Sean has seen, has heard of.
04:19Wants to see what he does under the biggest lights,
04:22the biggest stage that he's been on.
04:24K.O., you're going to work with him?
04:25Mm-hmm.
04:26Big thing for me that I need to see out of Elio is,
04:28he's got a mask on.
04:30How are you going to show me that you're angry, fired up, hurt,
04:33using your hands?
04:35Right.
04:35But I think these two are going to show out.
04:37Yeah.
04:37So I work with Mike, K.O. works with Elio,
04:41and we're going to bring them together, work with both of them.
04:43Collectively, let's put on a banger.
04:44Cool.
04:45We're going to try it differently this time.
04:46I want buy-in.
04:48LFG on three, two, one.
04:49I'm always the first one there.
04:51LFG.
04:51I just want to hold his hand.
04:52Come on, guys.
04:53They love soft hands, and they're warm.
04:54I just can't do it.
04:56You got it.
04:56I can't.
04:57Jesus, dude, Jesus.
04:58Before the end of the season, fuck,
04:59before the end of the season,
05:01you guys are going to touch our hands, okay?
05:05This week's coaching is underway,
05:07and Natalya gets her first look at the powerful Bailey Humphrey.
05:13Oh, my God.
05:14That looks great.
05:16Yeah.
05:16What a pinnacle.
05:18I'm like, oh, my God, I'm scared.
05:22Bailey is amazing.
05:24I mean, look at her.
05:25She's an anomaly.
05:26Like, nobody is built like her.
05:29Oh, yes.
05:31I trust Bailey with my complete life.
05:33Your thoughts are up and down.
05:35Yeah, I love that.
05:36Yeah.
05:37That looks great.
05:38Jump with it.
05:39Yeah.
05:40I think it's great.
05:41And I feel like both of you, especially as athletes,
05:43you can really, really execute the moves.
05:45Yes.
05:45Now what I would like to see, and if Rome wasn't built in a day.
05:48Right.
05:48What I would like to see be a little bit, if Bailey's doing this,
05:52make a little noise.
05:54Yes.
05:54If I punch you and I'm making noise, she's selling with noise.
05:57Right.
05:58And then he's hitting me back.
06:00Oh, you know what I mean?
06:01Like, I know you guys can do the moves.
06:03But now make me feel something.
06:05Natty's a really fun person to work with.
06:07Whenever she talks or whenever she says something,
06:10it honestly can get you really fired up and kind of in the moment.
06:13I was like, damn, like, I'm ready to fight now.
06:18Natty's the best.
06:19She's strong.
06:20She's powerful.
06:21She's aggressive.
06:22And one of the main things she said this week is intensity
06:25and aggression never goes out of style.
06:27And so working with her is helping me bring that out.
06:29Exactly.
06:30Exactly.
06:32It felt so real where the point where, like, Bailey got in my face
06:36and I was like, oh, like, I definitely want to back up
06:38because it felt like we had real beef.
06:40When the bell rings, show me who the you are.
06:42If I'm not interested in the first couple seconds,
06:44I'm playing on my phone.
06:46I'm ordering, say, on Amazon.
06:50Okay, you guys work on it.
06:51Thank you, man.
06:52That's it.
06:57Time for action from the women's division on LFG.
07:01The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
07:05Introducing first from Ken Hoosha, Wisconsin, Carly Bright.
07:11Ah, JB, it's just hard not to smile when Carly Bright comes out.
07:17Carly Bright, Wisconsin native, cheerleader, done well here at the Performance Center,
07:23looking for big things.
07:25Big Joseph alongside Jeremy Borash and back for a second week.
07:29Kevin Owens, you liked it so nice.
07:31You want to do it twice?
07:32Absolutely.
07:32I mean, you guys also told me I had to do it.
07:36Well, I didn't tell you that, but I thought you were back by popular demand.
07:38It was my popular demand.
07:40I'm the one who wanted to do it.
07:41Let's get the action started right now on LFG.
08:04Oh, it will certainly be a tall, tough task for Carly Bright.
08:11Jeremy, Bailey Humphrey, somebody we saw totally take over LFG last year.
08:18Someone the Undertaker was very high on.
08:21He certainly continues to check in.
08:25In fact, she seems in a good mood.
08:30Bailey recently trained with the Undertaker in Texas a few weeks back.
08:36She told me all about it.
08:37Had a great time down there with Michelle.
08:39Michelle, hello to Michelle and Taker, of course.
08:42Big fans of Bailey.
08:43And we're going to see how much development here in Season 3 there is left for this woman
08:49because I have a feeling big things are in store for Bailey Humphrey.
08:53Oh, look, when it comes to Bailey Humphrey, she's used to throwing bodies of cheerleaders around.
08:58Carly Bright, who is a former cheerleader in her own right,
09:04may find herself getting lawn darted around this ring before too long.
09:10She's going to have to use some speed and some quickness.
09:12Ooh, well, maybe not.
09:16That was awesome.
09:21Well, you've also been in the ring with much bigger, stronger competitors.
09:25I don't necessarily know if Carly's strategy is working right now.
09:28Well, so far it's definitely not because she keeps getting her face slammed into the ground.
09:32But let's see if she can pivot.
09:38Well, I'll tell you what.
09:39Carly Bright has so much heart, so much resiliency.
09:42Oh, there we go.
09:43Going to the knee.
09:44That's a good one.
09:44And then a drop kick right to the shoulder.
09:48Bailey still not going down.
09:50And look at Carly right now, trying to figure out what to do next.
09:52Charging in.
09:54Carly trying to negotiate.
09:55Ooh, she did not negotiate her way free.
09:57Instead, just gets dropped across the top rope.
10:03Carly Bright is in a bad way against Bailey Humphrey.
10:09Carly Bright, what I don't think she's factoring in is how much heart,
10:12and I say endurance, she has.
10:15She's got some toughness in her, and don't let her cheerleader happiness fool you.
10:20She can actually get taken out and come back fighting.
10:24I see what you're saying.
10:25You know, it's a big week here on LFG.
10:26Obviously, Kevin Owens joining us on commentary,
10:29and JB, a big main event still to come.
10:31Boy, looking forward to our main event.
10:33We're going to go inside the arena,
10:34and what kind of a turn of events we've seen,
10:37how many careers we've changed,
10:39and seen change at, courtesy of Shawn Michaels,
10:42after those main events here on LFG.
10:44It's been one week after another.
10:45Just amazing, amazing things have happened to some incredible athletes.
10:53When you were in NXT, even though it was a short period of time,
10:56and all those that you were in NXT with,
10:58do you guys, maybe looking back, wish you had an opportunity like LFG
11:02to open that door that much quicker?
11:03To be honest, I'm almost thankful that we didn't have it,
11:06because this is the amount of pressure these girls and guys are under,
11:10to kind of learn their craft in front of millions of people.
11:14You know what I mean? It's a whole different story.
11:22Off the moonsault into the cover and a kick out,
11:25and that's something that we haven't really dove into yet this season,
11:28JB, is the pressure that these athletes are under.
11:31Standing moonsault connects, another cover, another hook of the leg,
11:33another power out, that it is any moment.
11:36Every match matters so much.
11:37One slip could cost you months, years.
11:42Not only that, but just getting used to being in front of the cameras at this stage of your career
11:45is something that's obviously different.
11:48Oh, look at this.
11:50What?
11:57I mean, Bayley just sat up like the Undertaker.
12:00Oof!
12:01With a human being in her arms, no less.
12:05Oh!
12:06Oh!
12:06That scream.
12:08Oh!
12:10Oh!
12:12Oh!
12:13Oh!
12:13Oh!
12:13There's that innovative power from Bayley Humphrey.
12:18Here is your winner, Bayley Humphrey!
12:25Well, now you got to think and you have to imagine what has Shawn Michaels seen.
12:31I'm sure he's talked to the Undertaker about Bayley Humphrey.
12:36However we want to look at it, Carly Bright gave it her best shot KO,
12:40but in the end, Bayley Humphrey stands tall here on LFG.
12:45She sure does.
13:05That whole beginning, I felt it.
13:06You had lock up.
13:07I liked how you went into the buckle and then you moved over to the ropes.
13:13That beginning set the tone.
13:15Great.
13:15It set the tone that she's a bitch.
13:18She's a threat.
13:19She's dangerous.
13:19To me, we're such a mountain to climb.
13:21That's scary when you do that scream.
13:23Yeah.
13:23It's like a war cry.
13:24Yeah.
13:25It's a very animalistic thing.
13:27Yeah.
13:28You guys both got very vocal.
13:34But there were so many great things.
13:36It was a simple little story.
13:37I loved it.
13:38I thought it was so good.
13:39You're the best.
13:40You're like, you're improving so much.
13:41Yay!
13:42Thanks, Nani.
13:42Yeah, she is.
13:44That honestly, like, made my heart burst because, one, I can't let myself down in the match.
13:51But also, two, I think something more is I can't let these legends down either because it would just feel
13:57like such an embarrassment.
13:58So, she came back through and she was smiling.
14:00She gave us a big hug and couldn't ask for anything more.
14:04So, here are some of the notes that I took down as you guys were working.
14:07I feel like some of the bumps you were taking, we've got to find a way to make more noise
14:12on them.
14:12And I don't know if you're landing flush.
14:14I know the move looks.
14:15Like, she was giving you those short arm tackles.
14:18Yeah.
14:18I didn't hear anything when you landed.
14:21My God!
14:24Try to attach a cell to your offense.
14:26How do I really make them believe that, like, my ribs broken or my shoulders dislocated or my fingers are
14:32broken.
14:32Like, something, you're fighting through it.
14:34And I felt like, and I felt this after the match.
14:38Like, we kind of made it a rustling story.
14:41Whereas, we could have made this, like, this is real.
14:43And less is more.
14:44We talk about it all times.
14:45That's what I was thinking.
14:45Yeah.
14:46And I just feel like the people are going to feel a lot more sympathy for her rather than throwing
14:51flippers and clubs and stuff like that.
14:54Right, yeah.
14:54That they're going to see every match, but they're not going to see this.
14:56Correct.
14:56Trying to slam you to hell.
14:58Correct.
14:58You know what I'm saying?
14:59Yeah.
14:59This is a good rep though, dude.
15:01I appreciate you guys working so hard.
15:02I appreciate you doing this, dude.
15:04All right.
15:04I'm proud of you guys.
15:06Bloom also was pretty happy with it.
15:08The biggest critique is, like, me staying big.
15:11And he said, for me, less is more.
15:14Meaning, like, I don't have to go crazy and I don't have to do 70,000 different moves.
15:19Hell yeah.
15:20I was like, you know what?
15:20You're right.
15:23Tonight's next match features one future great who's well known to Booker T.
15:28And another who has yet to make an impact.
15:30Malik.
15:31Malik.
15:34How long you been around here now?
15:36Uh, four years.
15:37How many conversations have we had?
15:39Maybe two.
15:40I equate that to zero.
15:42All right.
15:44My name is Malik Blade.
15:46I've been pro wrestling for about eight years now.
15:48And here comes Malik the Freak Blade.
15:52I came to the PC in 2021 and I've been here since then.
15:56An incredible athlete with a 40-inch vertical leap in Malik Wayne.
16:02There's a reason why **** hadn't happened a lot faster for me.
16:06All right.
16:06I know he's a guy that has been around here for quite some time and still been trying to figure
16:13this thing out.
16:15Does he have the ability to learn this?
16:18Booker is on my Mount Rushmore.
16:20To get even a little bit of something from Booker T is, I hold that with me forever.
16:28Bang.
16:29All right.
16:29Okay.
16:30Instead of lock up.
16:31Give me a bang.
16:33Stop it.
16:34All right.
16:35Yeah.
16:35You stop him right before we go.
16:37Yeah.
16:37Yeah.
16:38Yeah.
16:38I'm very excited to work with Booker again.
16:40He gave me so much game and I feel like the more I was working with him, the more I
16:44started to understand what he meant.
16:46After the pin, how do I get him?
16:47I can just pick him up and throw him to the corner at that point.
16:49Exactly.
16:49Spear him and then same spot, push him and then miss the spear too.
16:51Exactly.
16:52You don't do what you want to do.
16:54You do what they want to see.
16:56You know, I have my moves that I want to do, but I was always thinking about what they wanted
17:03to see
17:03because they had to feel a certain way when they was watching it.
17:06But it's the best feeling in the world when you know that you're like the puppet master
17:14and you're making them do everything you want them to do.
17:18That's what wrestling is.
17:20Booker knows how to add that extra swag and extra charisma I need when I wrestle, man.
17:26So I know when we get in there, it's going to be a banger.
17:34As the future greats make their final preparations, the legends are joined backstage by WWE superstar,
17:41Apollo Crews, who has stopped by for a closer look at Elijah Holyfield.
17:46When I first saw him in the ring, I thought this guy really reminded me of myself.
17:50So I decided to talk to Matt Bloom and see if I can see what he's about.
18:06The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
18:10Introducing first from Atlanta, Georgia, winging at 234 pounds, Elijah Holyfield.
18:22Well, we are set to kick off LFG in a major way with Elijah Holyfield.
18:30And Kevin, I would love to know, how would you get ready to fight someone who is a puncher, is
18:37a boxer?
18:38How would you counter someone like Holyfield?
18:40I think I'd go straight for biting his ears off, which has proven to some degree of success, you know,
18:48in the past.
18:50Not to him necessarily.
18:51Too soon.
18:52Too soon.
18:53Too soon.
18:54It's been 25 years.
18:55I'm still not over it, KO.
18:58And his opponent, from Orlando, Florida, winging at 200 pounds, Malik.
19:05He's got a lip on him.
19:07Oh, he's got a great look.
19:13As someone who has gone through the Performance Center and then has gone on to main event of WrestleMania, has
19:20gone on to be a universal champion, what would your advice be to Malik Blake?
19:24Well, as far as Malik goes, he's been here for a while, and I was blessed and cursed with the
19:31fact that I didn't get to stay at the Performance Center as long as I honestly wish I could have.
19:34But at the same time, I say cursed because being here for too long, or what feels like too long,
19:40could also be, you know, a disadvantage mentally.
19:43I would hope that he's not taking the fact that he's still here after three years as a negative.
19:49You know what I mean?
19:49I think you'd want to use that as your positive.
19:52That's what I'm talking about.
19:53Back up.
19:54Back up off me, son.
19:56Malik's also, correct me if I'm wrong, Malik is also coming off of being part of the tag team for
20:01quite a while.
20:02Now he's in singles action, you know?
20:05And I'm glad you bring that up because a lot of people that may be at home watching right now
20:09on A&E might just go like, well, it's still the same thing.
20:12There's a big difference in being a singles competitor and a tag team star, is there not?
20:16Yeah, definitely.
20:17Oh!
20:18Well, that didn't work out for him.
20:20And a kick out.
20:21There's just nobody to rely on.
20:23You know, when you're in a tag team match, if things get too hairy out there, you try to tag
20:26out, hope for the best, but you can't do that in a singles match, obviously.
20:30And if you've been used to relying on someone else for that long, that's also, ooh, something that could play
20:35against you.
20:40Very explosive.
20:41He's very explosive.
20:44Let's remember, too, this is a man who's coming back from tearing his left bicep.
20:48He was out for eight months over this, and Malik Blade's got the right attitude.
20:51He's going in, taking it to the sky, going with a quicker, faster approach, and that's how you've got to
20:56take down a guy like Elijah Holyfield.
20:57And, JB, you've been around the Performance Center a lot day in and day out, more so than myself or
21:01Kevin Owens.
21:02You've got to wonder if some of the coaches, led by head coach Matt Bloom, have been talking to Malik
21:08Blade about showing a more aggressive side.
21:11Well, you've got to use the tools that are given to you, and obviously they are developed here each and
21:14every week at the Performance Center.
21:16Malik Blade is well aware that he is a great, high-flying athlete, and to use that to his advantage
21:21is his best bet.
21:28You know, and Kevin, you have to like when a younger athlete that is still growing into themselves can find
21:34that almost killer instinct, if you will.
21:37Yeah, I mean, you have no choice but to get there eventually.
21:40Otherwise, you know, it's sink or swim when we get in there, and if you don't have that aggressive side,
21:45you're going to sink.
21:46You know what I mean?
21:56Oh, look, they're going deep into the bag of tricks here in this matchup on LFG because it's all about
22:01JB getting to the main event.
22:03All about getting to an opportunity to impress.
22:06But it also only takes one match, one moment to change Shawn Michaels' opinion and maybe award you a contract
22:13to NXT.
22:16It's amazing what we've seen thus far this season, what's already happened to the careers of Kendall Gray, happened to
22:21the careers of Drake Moreau, and Elijah Holyfield.
22:24Bam!
22:25It's just one uppercut away.
22:28Good night.
22:29His daddy told him that.
22:31I told him that.
22:33I told him that.
22:37Elijah Holyfield!
22:38Knockout power, sudden impact, and that loaded right fist of Elijah Holyfield.
22:51Match with Elijah and Malik went very well.
22:55I think they went out there and they touched upon a lot of things that we talked about.
23:00From a structural perspective, I really thought it was sound.
23:05I thought, Malik, I thought you learned a lot tonight that perhaps, you know, you wasn't even thinking about before.
23:14I thought the match was amazing.
23:16I thought everything we executed exactly how they wanted.
23:18Elijah really had a great showcase.
23:20Elijah, that power slam spot.
23:23Yes, sir.
23:25That center line is very, very important.
23:28You can never be on that center line waiting.
23:32You gotta be...
23:35Got you.
23:36Got me.
23:37I need you here, up D, bang.
23:40I need all of it.
23:41Because that's one of my pet peeves.
23:43Yes, sir.
23:43As far as wrestling goes and making it look a certain way.
23:48I think it's another step in the right direction, but I still ain't where I really want to be yet.
23:52Some of my footwork and spacing and stuff like that, I need to continue to work on.
23:55And I want to work with him again.
23:57I could work with Book every time, man.
23:58I love it.
23:58How did the punch look?
23:59Punch look great.
24:00I just wish you the...
24:01Dang!
24:03I got you.
24:04I need the action.
24:04You know what I mean?
24:06Good job.
24:08Thank you, sir.
24:08Thank you, sir.
24:09I love him.
24:11I thought he had that certain energy about him.
24:14Just raw emotion, raw power.
24:17So I was impressed.
24:18I was impressed and I was curious to know more.
24:20And then there's things that you figure out for yourself that work.
24:23Things that don't work.
24:24So stay in tune, too.
24:26You know, ease that intuition.
24:27He said he enjoyed the match and he just said, just keep going, keep working.
24:29And he said, you know, he might give me some tips and we might get together sometime.
24:33So hopefully that happens.
24:35Keep it up, guys.
24:35Appreciate you.
24:36Pull that out there.
24:37I will.
24:40How you feeling?
24:41Good.
24:42Let me hear some feedback.
24:44Everybody's saying I need to show something that's coming for the other guy, but I'm just
24:48still trying to figure out what's big enough to just like let people know, but not like
24:53looking too weird either.
24:54I don't give a about weird, dude.
24:56Wait, wait.
24:56Listen, weird might be the one you end up going with, all right?
24:59But I need you to try stuff, man.
25:01Yeah.
25:01And I see you getting more comfortable to try stuff, but you got to show that thing,
25:06man.
25:06Malik, today I felt like you ran the play for his story, but how does Malik Blade fit into
25:12this story?
25:13I want to see Malik Blade get better at something today.
25:16And Malik Blade's good, man, but like, I need you to step out of that, like, just good.
25:20I want to make you great, man.
25:21I'm a big believer in one person teaches, two people learn.
25:24So while you're helping him out in there and he's learning, you'll be learning as well.
25:28All right.
25:29Nice rep, man.
25:29Thank you, sir.
25:30Stay the course.
25:31Yes, sir.
25:31Appreciate it.
25:31Hey, maybe light the fuse or something.
25:33Like, I'm just like.
25:34Yeah.
25:35Yeah.
25:36You start showing it, like.
25:37Yes.
25:38Throw everything against the wall.
25:40It might be stupid as , but stupid might turn into something.
25:43Yes.
25:44All right.
25:44Yes, sir.
25:44Stay the course.
25:45All right, brother.
25:50Hello, man.
25:51Hello, sir.
25:51How are you?
25:52Good to see you.
25:52Elio.
25:53All right.
25:53Nice to meet you.
25:54I'm Kevin.
25:55So how's your transition been, the way we do things here?
25:58I like it because, like, we learn different stuff every day.
26:01They just want to work more on my emotion because it's hard.
26:04Yeah, with the mask.
26:04To show emotion with the mask.
26:06Yeah.
26:06It's just emoting more and just.
26:08Exactly.
26:08Okay.
26:09Being more mad.
26:09The strike I get should make me more mad and be more emotional.
26:13Just adding grit to what you have.
26:14Exactly.
26:15Elio seems like a very nice guy.
26:17You know, he's kind of got this reserve kind of air about him, which I think maybe that's
26:21why he wears a mask, you know?
26:22But obviously, if you're wearing a mask, you have to use your body language to try to communicate
26:27with people what you're feeling because you don't have your facial expressions to do it.
26:31And that was one of the things that Bloom wanted, you know, him to work on.
26:35My opponent is Mike Deruder from Belgium.
26:39We know each other since the Indies.
26:41He's really, like, my special opponent and I know we have a great chemistry together.
26:46But this is really the first time, like, people are going to see it in WWE.
26:51Hello, Mike.
26:52So wait, where is your accent from?
26:54From Belgium, sir.
26:56Tell me about you.
26:57Second generation pro wrestler.
26:59Mm-hmm.
26:59So my father.
27:00Who is your dad?
27:01Patrick Deruder.
27:02Who are you really doing this for?
27:04Honestly.
27:05For me, of course.
27:05You definitely want to be a pro wrestler.
27:07Yes.
27:07This is your life.
27:08To be a WWE superstar, not a pro wrestler, boss.
27:11That's a great answer.
27:12Today, pro wrestling for me is just a guy who can do some flip.
27:16No more aura.
27:18If you have the physique, the aura, everything after will look so cool.
27:23Because you are so cool.
27:25So, Mike, about tonight, the high-flying Frenchman.
27:28Yes, it's the guy who's flying everywhere.
27:30You've wrestled him before.
27:32Yes, a lot.
27:33Do you feel like you have a good chemistry with him?
27:35Yes, one of the best I have in my career.
27:37Me and Ilio have faced each other all around the world, all over Europe,
27:41even in Japan.
27:43And it was the best partner for me to show to the world who I am.
27:54All right, Ilio and Mike, why don't you guys show us what you have already?
28:01Yes.
28:01In the beginning, we want to play a little bit of size difference,
28:05because it's, like, bigger than me.
28:07So, our idea was, like, having a big lockup.
28:09Yeah.
28:09So, right off the bat, I've got to ask you, you talked about the size difference.
28:13Let me ask you, Kevin, is there a size difference here?
28:16A perception.
28:17No, it's not perceivable.
28:18Like, at the naked eye, you're more muscular, but he's a bit taller.
28:24I, when you said he's bigger than me, I was like, well, is he?
28:27You may think you're bigger than him, and you might agree, because he's got a little bit more mass,
28:31but from the people sitting right here to all the way up in the 300 section, you're the same size.
28:38Perception is reality.
28:40When you see Mike and Elio side by side, they are the same height.
28:45Elio might even have an inch on him.
28:48Fans might just go, oh, he's not that much bigger.
28:51Don't we see the 35 pound difference between him and me?
28:54I don't want to hurt your ego, but not really.
28:58I know that Mike were hurt when Kevin said that we look the same.
29:02Can I...
29:03You can do whatever you want, but we're trying to...
29:06Just because, yes, my ego is like...
29:08Zip it.
29:09Listen.
29:09Sorry, sorry, sorry.
29:10We're trying to tell you about perception.
29:13On a scale, there might be a 35 pound difference.
29:17In reality, there's none.
29:18I took it personally because he don't even know the artwork.
29:24I have to look like that.
29:26All the diet and diet and days and days and days of sacrifice to look like that.
29:31You're more muscular, for sure.
29:33You look great.
29:34Just, you know, you should feel good about yourself.
29:37I think we hurt his feelings a little bit.
29:39Me and Bubba were both like, you're not that much bigger.
29:43But he looks great.
29:44So does Elio.
29:46When we, like, explained the match to them,
29:48I can see in their eyes, they were like,
29:51What are they doing?
29:56I mean, it all sounds great.
29:58There's a couple things that I...
30:00That stuck out to me and logistically might not work,
30:02but let's see.
30:04We both understand that you need to go out there
30:06and do it yourself and either live or die
30:10by what you've come up with.
30:12Just a little question, Kevin.
30:13When you say she's a kid in the match,
30:16is there a lot of...
30:17That doesn't mean that it's bad.
30:18Do you agree with me?
30:19Yes, of course.
30:20But I wanted to see if it was possible to tell me...
30:24Sorry, I just realized we're speaking French.
30:26I just kind of fell into it.
30:27They just wanted me to tell them what I would do differently,
30:29but I really don't want to sway them, right?
30:32Oui?
30:34All right, we're good.
30:36Just do it your way and we'll talk after.
30:41With doors open and fans piling in,
30:45the two European main eventers get ready for tonight's showcase.
30:50Coach, can you not see the size difference?
30:52Like, with the respect, but you need glasses.
30:55Yeah, even me.
30:56Even me when they say we are the same size.
30:58I was like...
31:01What's your number one job tonight?
31:03So special and be mad.
31:04Show your aggression.
31:05Show your struggle.
31:07Yes.
31:07Okay?
31:07What's your number one job tonight?
31:09Show off and be the best version of myself.
31:11Good.
31:11Don't come back here saying,
31:13oh, I think I could have did better.
31:14No.
31:14Yes.
31:14Go do your best now.
31:15Yes.
31:17Yeah.
31:18It's another week and it's another opportunity
31:21for our aspiring superstars to shine.
31:25Welcome to Legends of Future Greats.
31:28Welcome to the main event.
31:29Welcome in ringside.
31:31Big Joseph alongside Jeremy Borash.
31:33And again, every single week we talk about it,
31:35it's a huge opportunity for two superstars to take that next step.
31:40I mean, look what's already happened this season.
31:42It's season three.
31:43All ups already.
31:44Going to NXT already.
31:46Who's going to be next?
31:47Could it be one of the two combatants in our main event?
31:50We're about to find out.
31:51We're going international on this one.
31:53It's our main event on LFG.
32:02we're going to be considering a battle on...
32:14the level of the Premier League,
32:18will be ready?
32:18First of all,
32:21you're ready to have a few minutes of this.
32:22We're going to be able to run the fight,
32:22if you don't have a few minutes of this.
32:23We're going to be ready.
32:26And this is a French luchador who has come stateside,
32:31who has come to the WWE and the Performance Center.
32:37There you see the Belgian powerhouse.
32:41Mike DeRuiter making his way to the ring.
32:44And his opponent from Brussels Valdez,
32:46going in at 235 pounds, Mike DeRuiter!
32:55He's a man who has a different type of intensity.
32:58As you can tell, someone who is not afraid of confrontation,
33:02doesn't care where you came from.
33:04Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Japan.
33:07He just loves to fight.
33:10Well, I'd like to give a shout out to our talent recruitment department here at WWE
33:14because these two international superstars have been plucked from Europe,
33:19brought here to the Performance Center.
33:21And that's an amazing thing walking through these doors.
33:24You never know who you're going to see or where they came from.
33:28But everybody that walks through those doors has a story and a story to tell.
33:32These two men are about to tell a story for us here in our main event of LFG.
33:37Both very different backgrounds, but both have that same goal.
33:40And that's to make it to NXT, courtesy of the Heartbreak Kids,
33:44Shawn Michaels and Coach Matt Bloom here at the Performance Center.
33:46And these two are, I think, ripe for the picking.
33:48You know, we talk about the European style.
33:51You start thinking about those that have had success in recent memory here in the WWE.
33:55Think about a former world champion, Gunther.
33:58Think about someone who defeated John Cena in his very last match.
34:01You go to a former United States champion, former NXT champion,
34:05and Ilya Dragunov as well.
34:07You just take a look at all the men who stake claim over in Europe.
34:10You think about other superstars as well.
34:12And this is that next wave of international superstars.
34:16Wow, and it's that ability. It's the agility.
34:19It's the things you haven't seen before, you know,
34:22as they've honed their craft elsewhere and brought it to the Performance Center
34:26where they take it to a whole new level.
34:28And that's the beautiful thing. Look at this.
34:40And this is someone who began training JB back at the age of 16 years old.
34:47And you did say something earlier that was very correct, but I want a touchdown.
34:51It's going to the air, and nice catch.
34:54Talk about style. How about power?
34:56How about power?
34:58How about power?
34:58How about Mike DeRuiter?
35:04And that's kind of agility, and I dare say just the power, the strength that he has,
35:08that he possesses, but also he can move like a luchador.
35:11And if we're going to get to see that, if we can see what not only he brings to the
35:15table
35:15from the power standpoint, but also from that high-flying ability that he has,
35:20I can't help but think Shawn Michaels has to be salivating at the heart.
35:24The fact that these two are here in this ring and looking for that opportunity to get to NXT.
35:28And that's what I want to talk about.
35:29Something you brought up at the start of our main event here,
35:31was if you think back to week number one, the season debut here of season three.
35:38What about what happened to Kendall Gray?
35:39I mean, never before in three seasons we've been doing this show,
35:42has somebody had that kind of a skyrocket effect on their career?
35:46Just one match in front of Shawn Michaels.
35:49The sky is the limit for not only Kendall Gray, but I'd say for Mike DeRuiter
35:52and for Ethel DeFleur.
35:54So far so good though.
35:56Great.
35:57You can tell they've worked with each other a lot, eh?
36:00They said in Europe they had a whole bunch.
36:02Yeah, a whole bunch.
36:02Got it on a bunch of times.
36:07Oh my word!
36:10Check his jaw.
36:12My official said he's okay, but he might be eating through a straw for a month after that.
36:16Take another look.
36:17Wow!
36:18Wow!
36:27That might have just fired up the French Luchador.
36:33Boom!
36:36Going back and forth.
36:37Look, that might have woken up.
36:39Elio!
36:39Sometimes it has that effect.
36:41Oh, look at this.
36:42It's that shot that wakes you up.
36:43And look at these flurries.
36:44Look at this.
36:44What a combination.
36:46Swinging for the fences.
36:48Not going to back down.
36:49He obviously is maybe fighting on some pure adrenaline right now.
36:52Charging back in.
36:53Pace is starting to quicken.
36:56P, P, P, P, P, P, P, P, P.
36:59Going up, going under.
37:01A little instigary.
37:02Rocking his opponent back down to the mat.
37:04And this is the pace that he likes to work at.
37:06Well, it's that quickness.
37:07But I'll tell you what.
37:08The Rooters, the Rooters staying right with him.
37:10I mean, make no mistake about it.
37:12This is toe-to-toe.
37:13Combat.
37:14Look at this.
37:15Moonsault to the outside.
37:18Woo!
37:21Woo!
37:22Woo!
37:22Woo!
37:24Woo!
37:25The Rooters are chanting right now.
37:26But whatever it is, it is firing up.
37:28Elio.
37:29Ready!
37:34And looking to take it high-risk one more time.
37:37Big knee right to the jaw.
37:39That could have been the knock-out blow!
37:40Hook in both legs!
37:42And that right shoulder, J.B.
37:44just getting off the mat.
37:46Well, so far, so good for both men competing here tonight
37:49in our main event.
37:51Will one of them catch the eye?
37:53Will both of them catch the eye?
37:55of Shawn Michaels and looking to get that next spot
37:57on NXT. That's what we're all about here on
37:59LNG, getting to that next level.
38:07As the power again on display, and
38:09oh, counter! Hurricane Rana!
38:11Shoulders down! And another near fall.
38:13I don't know how he was able to kick out.
38:15Oh!
38:18Inside out
38:19goes Elio. Take another
38:21look. Feel the impact.
38:26Massive clothesline
38:27could have just turned the complexion of this
38:28matchup. Whoa, whoa, whoa, JB, what's he thinking?
38:31No way.
38:36Take into the air with ease.
38:39The future is indeed now
38:41here on LNG.
38:43LNG! LNG!
38:45LNG! LNG!
38:46Come on.
38:47He barely, like,
38:49they did this awesome
38:50and then he barely...
38:51Love being shown. Oh, that's wise, actually.
38:54Oh, maybe it wasn't!
38:55Ooh!
38:57One, two,
38:58one!
39:00Wow.
39:01One more time. Let's see it.
39:02From the top. Look at this.
39:05Mike DeRuiter.
39:07And look, Elio was
39:08rolling away. DeRuiter didn't even blink an eye.
39:10He said, forget it. I'm not gonna go
39:12five feet. I'm gonna go damn near
39:1415.
39:14Well, we told you about the power.
39:16We saw that displayed right away in the match, but
39:18as we go on here, how about the high-flying
39:20ability?
39:22Oh, oh, trying to get to that top rope.
39:24Nice job
39:25by Elio.
39:26One, two,
39:28three,
39:29four,
39:29three,
39:30three,
39:33three,
39:34three,
39:37three,
39:38three,
39:42three,
39:42who's flying, 450, able to land on his feet,
39:44roll through, Elio back up,
39:45charging in, ducks to clothesline,
39:47picking up the pace one more time,
39:49and what the hell was that,
39:50JB?
39:52One, two,
39:53three,
39:54and it was
39:54very effective.
39:56That was really good.
39:57That was really good.
39:58Nice.
39:58Here is your winner,
40:01Elio LaFleur.
40:04Innovative offense.
40:06Picking up the win.
40:08Certainly we can say not to be cheesy about it.
40:12A statement made by the French luchador here tonight.
40:16Give credit to both these men.
40:18But how about you ever seen anything like this,
40:21JB,
40:21in all your years in this great sport?
40:24Never seen that before.
40:25That's innovative.
40:27I bet you're seeing some smiles backstage.
40:29These two impressed tonight.
40:31Mike DeRuiter,
40:32congratulations.
40:33Elio LaFleur,
40:35congratulations our main event
40:37here on LFG.
40:42Good stuff.
40:43Good job, guys.
40:43Thank you very much.
40:44Thank you very much.
40:44You dressed really well out there.
40:46Thank you very much.
40:46Appreciate it.
40:47Want to talk to you real quick?
40:48Yes, yes, sir.
40:49Look,
40:50a French luchador
40:51is something that's very unique.
40:53It's a style that I want to bring here in NXT.
40:56And so what we're going to do now
40:58is we're going to move you into NXT right away.
41:00No way.
41:01All right, yes.
41:02Still got a lot to work on,
41:03but you're going to,
41:04I think you're going to be a busy man.
41:05From this moment on,
41:06you're going to be part of the NXT roster.
41:07Thank you very much.
41:08Get ready because the work's going to start.
41:10Yes, I'm in the works for me.
41:11All right, you got it.
41:12Thank you very much for this.
41:13Hell of a job.
41:14Good stuff.
41:17I'm officially a WWE superstar working in NXT.
41:23And where can I say it?
41:24That's what I wanted my whole life.
41:26And we're going for it.
41:29Merci beaucoup, Cyril.
41:30I just wanted to say in English.
41:32Cyril, thank you very much.
41:35And what you saw tonight
41:37was just we did everywhere in the world.
41:40And this is just the beginning of us.
41:44Leo is going on NXT now.
41:47Congratulations to him.
41:48He deserves it.
41:50And without being Cokie,
41:52I'm the next, guys.
41:55It's not that different.
41:57It's not that different.
41:58Look at this.
41:59Maybe the chest.
42:00It's bigger than me.
42:01I will give you my workout.
42:02Yes, please.
42:03I know a lot of people who say something,
42:05but I wait for this my whole life.
42:07For real, like,
42:08this is what I wanted,
42:09and now I have it.
42:10And now I just want to go to NXT
42:12and prove to everybody
42:13that I belong to be here.
42:16Guys, I thought you did an excellent job.
42:18I really, really think
42:20you did an excellent job.
42:21It was excellent.
42:22It was excellent.
42:22I think you both have
42:23some really bright futures
42:25in LFG,
42:26but most importantly,
42:28past LFG.
42:30My future can be really bright.
42:32I just can't wait.
42:34To be able to do this together
42:36is the best feeling ever.
42:38This exact moment
42:39was what I want.
Comments