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WWE LFG S03E07 Crews Control
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00:00Then, now, forever, together.
00:37I've still been here outworking everybody every day.
00:41I'm in the gym putting in work.
00:43I'm in the ring putting in work.
00:46Oh, big pounds.
00:48That's about it.
00:49There's not really too much to say about what we do.
00:52That's my goal.
00:53I set my goal to be champion on NXT, and I'm not going to stop
00:55until I achieve that goal.
00:57And like I said, I'm outworking everybody.
00:58There's no one in this building that's not working.
01:00I sew up every day.
01:01I put the work in.
01:02Excuse me.
01:03Can you give me a second?
01:05Look.
01:06Let's face it.
01:07You're not very popular on the LFG, all right?
01:10Nobody here got the better person.
01:12I'm done talking about you.
01:13I'm done talking about you.
01:13Nobody here got the better person.
01:15You ain't.
01:15You don't this .
01:17But the reality is this kind of attitude is something I think
01:21we can use in NXT, so you don't feel like changing for anybody,
01:25there's an opportunity for you to get moved up to NXT.
01:30What do you think?
01:31Hell yeah.
01:33All right.
01:34Looking forward to it.
01:36Appreciate you.
01:44Well, I'm done with LFG, so I don't got to answer none of y'all questions.
01:58Come on.
02:00Talk to him.
02:01Let's go.
02:02Yeah.
02:03We're out here to be decent.
02:05We're here to be great.
02:05I need you to look like you're in control.
02:08If I was Shawn Michaels, you guys would be on NXT tomorrow.
02:11You want your baby face rocking and rolling.
02:13You don't have to wait to see who gets called up.
02:15They can go at any time.
02:17The future is indeed now here on LFG.
02:27Welcome back to another episode of LFG.
02:30Kevin, good to see you.
02:31Booker, good to see you.
02:32Yeah.
02:33I want to introduce a man that I can't say enough good things about,
02:36a man who came through the NXT system.
02:39Johnny Gargano will be with us this week.
02:41Teddy Russell.
02:42Johnny Russell.
02:43Rip it up.
02:43Rip it up.
02:44Do it.
02:45So good to have you here, and thank you.
02:46Thanks for having me.
02:47And I wanted to give you, Johnny, a match of two veterans
02:52who have been here for a bit.
02:54Okay.
02:54They've been on LFG.
02:56Harlem Lewis, runner-up last year.
02:59He's a heel.
03:00Okay.
03:00I think you'll learn a lot about him.
03:01I think you'll like him a lot, but I'm looking forward
03:03to see what you can do with him.
03:04Going against Tate Wilder, I'm going to say that one day,
03:08I think, Coach, I hope you agree.
03:10He's going to be a fan favorite, I feel.
03:12He's young, he's hungry, he's smart, he's coachable.
03:17Right now, the biggest thing for him is I need to see more emotion,
03:21not so much motion.
03:23Got it.
03:23All right.
03:24Booker, someone that you know very well,
03:27trending in the right direction, PJ Vassa.
03:29She'll be facing Mason Holliday.
03:32Okay.
03:32Mason was in a tag versus PJ in Serena Linton.
03:37So this will be Mason's first singles match.
03:40Yeah.
03:41I mean, as far as Mason Holliday, she's fresh and new around here.
03:44I mean, what are we looking for her?
03:46What are we looking to get out of her?
03:48Stand out for us.
03:49She's been with us.
03:50She's been working with the coaches.
03:52She has a toolbox right now, but we can only put so many tools in there.
03:55And now she has to use the tools and show us something a little bit different.
03:58That's what I need her to do right now.
04:00KO.
04:01Yes.
04:02So, commentary last week.
04:05Want to step away for a second?
04:07I was ousted, actually.
04:08Ousted?
04:08Yeah.
04:09By who?
04:09See, there's no noise and I don't have any rings.
04:13Say it or so.
04:15It's just quiet.
04:16Did you have something to do with that?
04:17Look.
04:17I did not have anything to do with that.
04:20I was told that you strongly encouraged me.
04:22I made a suggestion.
04:23I made a suggestion.
04:25We're a man down.
04:25You can't make a suggestion while you're doing this.
04:28No, no.
04:28The rings.
04:29It's very influential, Booker.
04:30We're a man down this week.
04:32And I say, who better?
04:33Who better than Kevin Owens to come in and take that spot?
04:37I'm talking about Coach Extraordinaire, someone who got that expert knowledge,
04:41could give that expert toolage to one of these up-and-coming LFGos.
04:46You feel what I'm saying?
04:46I feel what you're saying.
04:47He sold it really well.
04:48I'm awful.
04:49He sold it really well.
04:50He made me believe it.
04:52He set the next match up.
04:53Who am I working with?
04:54Elijah Holyfield?
04:55Yeah.
04:56Oh.
04:57Hell of a talent.
04:57Hell of a talent, man.
04:58And he's got a lot to offer.
05:01He just needs to be given the right information and taught how to apply it.
05:04Okay.
05:04And he's, listen, gotta give mad respect to my man, Apollo Crews.
05:09He saw Elijah's first match.
05:11He felt like it was something that he wanted to help build off of and test himself, Apollo
05:17to test himself.
05:18He wanted to come down and have this match.
05:20So I'm excited to see what you guys produce out of it.
05:22It's kind of a lot of pressure, too.
05:23And I'll tell him that as well, you know?
05:25If you can't have a good one against him, it doesn't look great.
05:30But all right, I'm looking forward to it.
05:34I spent so much time in this building.
05:37Honestly, like one of the big things about this building is you got to be coachable.
05:39If you're rocking and rolling, big moves, all big cross body.
05:43Oh, oh, you're freaking fired up.
05:45Get up.
05:46Freaking run.
05:47Springboard.
05:47And you take that wind out.
05:48You take the air out of the building with that bang.
05:50Like you want it.
05:51You want your baby face rocking and rolling until you take the air out of the building.
05:55Yeah.
05:55That's good.
05:56That's a good idea, man.
05:57I like that.
05:58Just like I always think.
05:59You've been doing this for years.
06:01I was with NXT from 2016 until like 2021, 2022.
06:09Number five, John Gargano.
06:12Quiet room.
06:13Initially had my first tryout with NXT in 2015 and was told no.
06:19But then I was brought back.
06:25Basically, I went from a guy who was told no at his tryout to becoming the first tryout
06:29triple crown champion in NXT history.
06:31This is what happens when you refuse to take no for an answer.
06:35John is a champion.
06:37John is a champion.
06:38John is a champion.
06:39I've been with WWE for about 10 years now at this point, but I've been wrestling for over 20.
06:45It's just hilarious because I just thought about it.
06:47I was just in Japan and I picked up a bunch of like tape balls over there and I got
06:50to evolve.
06:51I think it was evolve at eight.
06:52Oh God.
06:52Something like that.
06:53You're in the main with somebody.
06:54What are the odds, dude?
06:55I know.
06:55It's like 2011 and now you're coaching us up.
06:57That's what you got to do.
06:58Yeah.
06:59Like watch wrestling from all over the world.
07:01That's how you find out what works for you.
07:03You might see something on tape that someone did years ago.
07:07And that sparked something for you.
07:11Accidentally executed neck breaker right there by Johnny Gargano.
07:14That's a guy who's been doing this his entire life.
07:17So for me to be able to finally meet him and like pick his brain was really, really cool
07:22because he had so many good ideas.
07:23You either backflip, backflip, crossbody, don't cover.
07:27Like you hit it and pop off.
07:28He'll strike the springboard.
07:28Yeah, yeah, hit it and pop off.
07:29Bam, roll off.
07:30See where he is.
07:31Yep.
07:31And then he freaking bang.
07:33Not a bad idea.
07:35And I can tell he's like me.
07:36Like when we're calling the match I can see he's like getting all ADHD and like kind of
07:40antsy and like moving around a lot and we're getting like, I'm getting excited with him
07:44calling spots and he's not even in the match.
07:46He'll throw one, fly, shoulder tackle, boom.
07:48For me, like as a babyface, like it's really like my bread and butter is always like getting hit.
07:53And like going towards the people and like going towards the camera and like seeing
07:58like my facials and things like that.
08:00Like again, I'm more of a sympathy sort of babyface.
08:02Oh, that's a good.
08:03You got me fired up now.
08:04I'm ready to roll out there.
08:05Let's go.
08:08Honestly, when he first got signed with me, I kind of thought he was like a little pansy.
08:13You know what I'm saying?
08:14I thought this guy coming in here who's supposed to be this bull rider cowboy and he weighs 160
08:19pounds soaking wet, got injured and he had some time off and he came back and he's
08:23been balling and he's a lot tougher than I think people give him credit for.
08:27What a job.
08:29I can't believe I do this for a career.
08:31It's unbelievable.
08:31We're all ready for a wild ride.
08:38The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
08:42Introducing first from Gilbert, Arizona, weighing at 230 pounds, Jake Wilder.
08:51Here's an individual, JB, who a lot have used the same word to describe him.
08:57Impressive.
08:58Yeah, very impressive.
08:59And that's certainly, you know, when you speak about all the talent here at the world famous
09:03WWE Performance Center, you have to stand out.
09:07And this guy, Tate Wilder, in a very short time has caught the attention of a lot of people.
09:17Tate Wilder getting ready to square off with Harlem Lewis.
09:20That's next here on LFG.
09:29Back on LFG and here comes one intense individual.
09:35And his opponent from Long Island, New York, weighing at 245 pounds, Harlem Lewis.
09:47Harlem Lewis, season two, he was a finalist.
09:50You know he's even hungrier now.
09:53Well, he made it all the way to the end, but the one thing he didn't do was win the
09:56contract.
09:57His opportunity now in season three completely different because at any time, at any moment,
10:01as we've seen time and time again here on LFG, you get that call up from Shawn Michaels.
10:08The heartbreak hit himself could happen at any time.
10:11And Harlem Lewis is just one victory away from doing just that.
10:15I think he is so close.
10:18And, of course, Tate Wilder standing in his way looking for that opportunity.
10:22These two are about to go at it.
10:24And I dare say, Tate Wilder, look out for that smash-mouth offense from Harlem Lewis.
10:28Well, there also are two individuals who are complete opposites of one another.
10:34Personality-wise, yeah, training-wise, yeah, very different styles, very different attitudes.
10:39It goes to show you that very different types of people can make it in this industry.
10:43And that's what they're trying to do right now is get to that next level here on LFG.
10:47Well, when you take a look at both these men in the body of work in a short time here,
10:51even though season three, a couple of weeks in, there's been a lot of talk about a lot of different
10:55athletes
10:56that have come through LFG, but when I think of Harlem Lewis, who just delivered a big body slam,
11:02you gotta wonder what someone like Booker T is thinking about when he sees him here in season three.
11:07Well, one thing that Booker T has instilled is a lot of, uh, doesn't need a lot of help to
11:12tell him this,
11:13but to turn up that intensity, that viciousness.
11:16And Harlem Lewis has done just that.
11:19And look out. Tate Wilder now going to the top.
11:26You can see Tate Wilder seems to be checking on his eye.
11:30We'll try and get a closer look at that as we move along here.
11:36This is a man who has not been scared to take risks in his career in the short time we've
11:43seen him compete.
11:44One other note I'd like to get across is that Harlem Lewis, you know, made it to the finals of
11:48season two.
11:49We saw that. Wow, look at this. Look at that athleticism. Look at that balance.
11:53And right back in, coming in for a second time.
11:55This time hitting that high cross body, bouncing right off.
11:58And he maybe would have liked to have sticked the cover to try to get a pitting opportunity.
12:01But his momentum carried him right over and again fearless through the air and just got dropped.
12:08The referee now checking on Tate. Seems to be focused on that eye.
12:12Looks a little red from our vantage point, but really it's hard to tell exactly what happened.
12:18Tate now taking control of the moment, collecting himself.
12:22You can definitely tell his eye though is still bothering him.
12:25One thing, Harlem Lewis, since not winning season two, then going to Japan, coming back, refocused.
12:31But you talk about going over to Japan, that's obviously a learning experience.
12:34You know, all joking aside, I talk about you being a legend.
12:37You have spent time with numerous athletes, wrestlers, superstars from all over the world.
12:43When you head over and get to compete in Japan, it is a different world.
12:46It's a different learning experience.
12:48Well, it's just another part of the culture of this industry that you need to learn.
12:51You need to go to Mexico. You need to go to Japan.
12:55Into the cover, hooking the leg. And we get a near fall.
12:59I like Harlem, man. He's got everything you want in a wrestler.
13:03But it's just something, it seems like he's missing something, you know?
13:07It's like he's holding back.
13:13So for me, I don't know if I believe the facade he has.
13:20Like, you know, he tries to look intense.
13:22He looks like a monster, but he doesn't act like one.
13:24Yeah, it feels put on a little bit.
13:26Yeah.
13:26I don't think it's really him trying to intimidate and just...
13:30I think he can do that just on his own, just the way he looks and his build, his stature.
13:34But I don't think he needs to try to act intimidating.
13:37He's acting. That's exactly what he's doing.
13:42We've talked about it already.
13:43Massive main event still to come here tonight.
13:46Elijah Holyfield in the ring.
13:48Apollo Crews sitting at ringside, taking note of this kid.
13:51I say kid. He's a man.
13:53Don't tell him you said kid, by the way.
13:54I say that because he's useful.
13:57But when Apollo Crews witnesses somebody like Elijah Holyfield and says,
14:02I need to get in the ring and tangle with this guy.
14:06This is going to be our main event tonight.
14:07I can't wait to see what happens in that one.
14:10But if we get back into this match of Tate Wilder earlier in the match,
14:13went for that springboard, was swatted out of midair, as you put it.
14:17And Wilder now starting to fight back.
14:19A little bit of separation, swing and a miss from Lewis.
14:22He looks tired.
14:25He looks tired.
14:26Yep, he's tired.
14:28The legends are watching backstage, ready to give their feedback,
14:33to help get these athletes here at the Performance Center to the next level.
14:37That opportunity awaits to impress Shawn Michaels, to impress Coach Matt Palum.
14:45Ooh.
14:46Wow.
14:48What a suplex from Wilder into the cover.
14:51Will it be enough?
14:52And Harlem Lewis still showing you some grit, some determination, and some fight.
14:56And maybe another attribute we need to talk about in Harlem Lewis is resiliency.
14:59Well, resiliency is so important, obviously, having that, that intestinal fortitude to continue,
15:05even when it feels like you're down and out.
15:08And now, look at this.
15:15And Harlem able to cut him off at the pass.
15:17Remember, earlier in the match, he did a moonsault to the outside,
15:19which dropped Wilder awkwardly on his face.
15:22Harlem Lewis may be trying now to shake those cobwebs free.
15:25Could be looking for a superplex.
15:27Counter, though.
15:28Tate Wilder at a tough spot.
15:30Down goes Lewis.
15:32Wilder to the top.
15:34Perched high.
15:35Looking for a high cross body, and look at Lewis.
15:38Oh, Lewis the power.
15:40That's the strength.
15:41Wow, so impressive.
15:42The momentum carries.
15:44Tate Wilder through it.
15:45Look at this.
15:47Oh, jackhammer-esque.
15:49Harlem Lewis picks up the win.
15:52Here is your winner, Harlem Lewis.
15:57You've got to be impressed, JB, because just the physical strength of Harlem Lewis,
16:02everything he overcame in this match, and in the end, still had more in the tank.
16:07Certainly did, and that's the conditioning.
16:09We're about to hear feedback.
16:11Can't wait to hear what the results are from the progress made.
16:16Forward or backwards?
16:26I couldn't see anything at all.
16:27It was crazy.
16:29I was like, holy crap.
16:31Like, something's wrong.
16:32Like, something's messed up.
16:33Okay.
16:36It doesn't look super irritating, so I don't think you got anything scratched.
16:38It's just that initial jolt poke.
16:41I don't know what it was.
16:42It feels like sandpaper almost right now.
16:44Yes.
16:45And it could be, well, if it's still irritating like that, we'll take it back.
16:48We've got to put some dye in it and see if there is a scratch in there.
16:50You kind of use, like, a blue light.
16:55I came out of the match feeling like we didn't really have the people.
16:58In the match, I could tell the spots when he was supposed to, like, fire up and, like, be, you
17:01know, getting the people with him.
17:03Everything was flat.
17:04Do you know what this happened with?
17:06Like, the lockup?
17:07Dude.
17:07The, uh, first headlock takeover.
17:11It went black.
17:12Did I poke your eye?
17:14Yeah.
17:14Yeah.
17:14Here I am in the back, just kind of downing myself because of the performance we just put on.
17:19I wanted to say yes because I couldn't see anything, so I was, like, more concerned about this.
17:24The crowd starts coming.
17:25Start showing a little bit of...
17:27Energy.
17:27Like, yeah.
17:28Come on, come on, come on.
17:29You could tell you were a little, like, obviously your eye and, like, you were a little, like, the crowd's
17:33gonna come as much as you show you're firing up.
17:36Being a pro, being in the moment, selling what's going on, understanding, okay, yeah, something's messed up, but we can
17:42also get through it.
17:42Reps and time.
17:44You can't teach it.
17:45Like, it's just experience in every element.
17:48He was kind of confused on some things, but we all kind of patched it together by, like, explaining that
17:53he couldn't see out of his left eye for the first half of the match.
17:57You guys make me smile because, like, I say it all the time, man.
18:00Like, I see where you guys started.
18:01I see, you know, improvement in which way you guys are going.
18:05Like, it's a good match, man.
18:07I was proud of you guys.
18:08I'm always gonna have stuff that I think you guys can do to get better and you need to get
18:11better at.
18:11One is not poking the guy's eye out in the first 30 seconds wrapping a headlock.
18:16When you go up to Bloom after a match and he's kind of looking at you smiling and, like, you
18:20know, hitting his little laugh, like, it's a really, really great feeling.
18:23I put you with Johnny Argama because I remember Shawn Michaels saying this to him.
18:27You're smooth in the ring.
18:29You've got to find how to, when you're hurt, how to make that look a little bit more gritty.
18:33You were just so fresh in everything you did right there.
18:36Yeah.
18:36You have to find that kink in your armor as you're running through that pretty offense.
18:40Yes, sir.
18:40Especially if the heel put some beat down on you.
18:42Yep.
18:42All right?
18:43That makes sense.
18:44Working for each other.
18:45All right?
18:45And it's a better story.
18:46Thank you so much, dude.
18:47Thank you, brother.
18:48Coach, thank you.
18:49Appreciate you, man.
18:49Yes, sir.
18:52Being a star is one thing, but being a superstar is so totally different.
18:59PJ Vassa, she's so unique as far as what she brings to the table.
19:03It's just a matter of getting PJ to believe in herself more than anything.
19:07You know, you just can't go out there and do it.
19:10You have to become it.
19:14Mason Holiday, she has a certain charisma about herself.
19:18She's definitely going to be put in a position to where it's sink or swim.
19:23So we're going to see exactly what she's made of.
19:27Big bump.
19:28I need you to accent that bump for me.
19:30Got you.
19:31All right?
19:32Splat, squat, and I need it to be loud as a .
19:34Okay.
19:35All right?
19:36Working with Booker T is like catching up with that old friend that you grew up with.
19:41I feel like I'm one of the few people who can actually understand what he means.
19:46Two, two, three, four.
19:48Boom.
19:50One.
19:51PJ Vassa.
19:53She is a force.
19:55So I know I'm about to get my ass kicked today.
20:02We got it.
20:03We got it.
20:04We got it.
20:05Y'all got it.
20:06We do.
20:15The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
20:19He's your gta take first from Atlanta, Georgia.
20:22Mason Holiday.
20:27I see you, JB.
20:31I got my dancing shoes on.
20:32You ain't lying.
20:33Yeah.
20:34Mason Holiday.
20:36The pride and joy of Stockbridge, Georgia.
20:40You got this on your playlist, don't you?
20:42This is on my playlist.
20:46Mason Holiday dancing her way to the ring,
20:49but things are about to get serious
20:51as she takes on PJ Vassa.
20:53Up next.
20:58The action continuing here on LFG.
21:03Here comes someone who is never in a dancing mood.
21:08We've seen PJ Vassa since the beginning,
21:11since the inception of LFG.
21:13Mason Holiday joining us in Season 3,
21:16looking to get the attention of the Heartbreak Kid,
21:18Shawn Michaels,
21:20and get taken to that next level.
21:23become a worldwide superstar on NXT.
21:27This is the gateway to get there right here on LFG.
21:30I want to go back to Holiday here in this comparison.
21:32She's gotten to Bianca Belair.
21:33She just gets overpowered right off rip,
21:35right off the bell.
21:36There is PJ showing her dominance,
21:38showing her will,
21:39showing her alpha style.
21:40But I start to wonder if that's unfair pressure
21:43for someone like Holiday to be compared so early on
21:46to someone like Bianca Belair.
21:48Well, certainly the expectations are high
21:50and a lot of comparisons there,
21:51I guess, you know,
21:52in terms of being a track and field athlete.
21:54Yes, baby.
21:55Oh, oh.
21:57You see what I just created?
21:59You know, the comparison can be made.
22:00But the question is,
22:01what's going to happen when the bell rings?
22:03Bianca Belair,
22:03obviously just a future Hall of Famer in my mind.
22:06And Mason Holiday wants to follow in those footsteps.
22:17Holiday right now needs to find a way
22:19to get away from PJ
22:21and have to do it in a hurry.
22:23Absolutely.
22:23And PJ Voss is just demonstrating that power.
22:26And, oh, that leg drop was so close.
22:29Holiday just able to get out
22:30in the nick of time,
22:32charging back in.
22:33And it was awkward,
22:34but it was effective.
22:35Into the cover,
22:35hook of the leg in an earful.
22:38You know, you take a look at Holiday.
22:40She's got the moves,
22:41but maybe it also comes back
22:42to trying to control her body
22:44a little bit more.
22:45Something we're learning,
22:46something these athletes are learning
22:47each and every day
22:48in the performance center
22:50as PJ overpowering,
22:51maybe looking for a power slam.
22:53Holiday trying her best right now
22:54to maybe negotiate her way free,
22:56try to break away from this grasp.
22:58Voss is just holding on for dear life.
23:00Holiday, though,
23:01give her credit for fighting.
23:02Certainly fought out of that one
23:03and good for her
23:04because delivering the elbow
23:07and getting out of that
23:08just in the nick of time.
23:09Hook of the leg
23:10and PJ kicking out at one.
23:11I give a lot of credit to Holiday
23:13in that last little altercation right there.
23:15She didn't quit.
23:16She didn't stop.
23:17She continued to fight.
23:18To break her way free,
23:20picking up some steam
23:21and did not break away
23:22from that black hole slam.
23:25That's it.
23:25That's it.
23:26Let's go.
23:26Oh, that's not it.
23:28You've been hard on that one.
23:30They got me.
23:31They got me.
23:38Obviously, the track and field background,
23:40she's all about the speed
23:41and perpetual motion.
23:42Whereas a gymnast comes in
23:43and it's all about control
23:45and body control.
23:46Whereas PJ Vasa
23:47with a rugby background,
23:48it's about power.
23:49It's about strength.
23:50It's about throwing your opponent.
23:51So they're able to use
23:52these athletic backgrounds
23:54to their advantage.
23:55On a second backbreaker right now.
23:57And you know,
23:57PJ Vasa obviously knows
23:59the speed that Holiday possesses.
24:01Can't run away from you.
24:02You can't get to your feet.
24:12She has to fight
24:13what we say from underneath.
24:14She has to come
24:15and bring all guns blazing
24:17and try and get that opportunity
24:18to take advantage
24:19and overcome the size
24:20of PJ Vasa.
24:21Any part of you, though,
24:23is frustrated
24:24after how the last year
24:26has gone.
24:27Another near fall
24:28in this match.
24:29She has to play a part
24:30in her approach psychologically
24:32knowing that
24:33a lot of people said
24:34she's a shoo-in
24:34to win season two.
24:36PJ Vasa comes into season three now
24:38looking for that opportunity
24:39and also at the same time
24:40looking to not get leapfrogged
24:42by somebody like Mason Hall.
24:43Well, then I'll take it
24:44even a step further.
24:45Let's not talk about frustrating.
24:47Let's talk about doubting oneself.
24:49Because you've heard
24:50all those things.
24:51You've heard,
24:51hey, you're the favorite.
24:52Hey, you're going to win it.
24:54Hey, you're the best.
24:55And then it doesn't happen.
24:56Does that doubt
24:57start to creep in a little bit?
24:59Look, they're human beings
25:00at the end of the day
25:01and all creeps in from all of us.
25:02A doubt is a part of human nature
25:04and certainly doubting oneself
25:05going into the ring.
25:07You have to have so much confidence
25:08to get the job done
25:09and to show that.
25:10You can't show weakness.
25:16But looking for the victory right now.
25:19Rolling through.
25:20And...
25:22Holiday almost able to score the victory.
25:25And I think one would call
25:27a win from Holiday an upset.
25:29Well, certainly with the experience level
25:31as it is in this matchup,
25:33no question about it.
25:34Still a great athlete,
25:35but does not have the experience
25:38PJ Vassa does.
25:39Well, the track star
25:40able to show some of that speed
25:41to match that elusiveness.
25:43And now trying to bring it
25:44right back up.
25:45Holiday coming in for a second time.
25:47Little forearm under the jaw.
25:48PJ knocked off that equilibrium.
25:50Maybe looking for a neck breaker
25:52and was able to reach back
25:53and pull Vassa down.
25:58Has to capitalize on that momentum.
26:04That strength again from PJ Vassa
26:06coming in though.
26:07Nobody home.
26:08And Holiday going to have to
26:09get into the bag of tricks she's got.
26:11Pull out something we haven't seen.
26:14Come on!
26:15Come on!
26:15Yeah!
26:17Firing up those here.
26:19Looking for a suplex.
26:20I don't know if she's got enough power, Jeremy.
26:22Certainly may be a mistake.
26:24Maybe not.
26:25Look at this.
26:26Inside cradle.
26:28A counter!
26:29Holiday!
26:31Here is your winner,
26:34Jason Holiday!
26:38It's like PJ forgets
26:40to be the monster they want her to be
26:42in between the stuff.
26:44Yeah.
26:44But when she's hitting it...
26:45She's open.
26:46She's open point.
26:47Yeah, you know?
26:47Yeah.
26:48A big win
26:49with our main event
26:50on the horizon
26:51here on Legends
26:53and Future Greats.
26:59Here is your winner,
27:01Mason
27:02Holiday!
27:03I thought you guys executed
27:05a lot of stuff
27:05that we talked about.
27:06You look a lot better tonight.
27:08Yeah, I mean,
27:09it seemed like you felt a lot more.
27:10Thanks, Mason.
27:10Thanks, Mason.
27:13It seemed like when you were getting into trouble
27:16is when you start thinking
27:17about what you got to do for her.
27:20Yeah.
27:21Clotheslines,
27:21like at half speed,
27:23opposed to,
27:24you know what I mean?
27:25And making her duck.
27:27And I thought you guys
27:28may have utilized
27:30shooting off the ropes too much.
27:32And the reason why
27:33you're breathing like that
27:34is because you guys
27:34were shooting off the rope.
27:35You was running,
27:36you were running
27:37and running and running,
27:37you know what I mean?
27:38Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
27:40That's why I say
27:40you can just pick her up
27:41and give her that right there
27:43because you're in better position.
27:44You look like you're
27:45in close quarters,
27:46you look like you're
27:47in more control,
27:48you know what I mean?
27:48One thing I need you
27:49to think about is
27:50as a baby face,
27:52if you do something
27:53to BJ
27:54and you get a cover,
27:55you kick out,
27:56if you're sitting on your ass,
27:58the fans are sitting
27:59on their ass.
28:00You got to be able
28:01to get up from that spot,
28:04freaking move
28:04from here to here
28:06to here,
28:07you know what I mean?
28:08Boss Band looked great.
28:09It was like a finisher.
28:10It looked like a finisher.
28:11It felt like a finisher.
28:18That's the kind of stuff
28:19you wanted people
28:19to bite on
28:21to be able to,
28:21you know,
28:22really bring them
28:23into the ring
28:23because that looked like
28:25you was finished right there.
28:26I thought you guys
28:27did a great job.
28:27I really do.
28:29Seriously.
28:30Booker had something
28:31really good to say.
28:32Him not seeing me
28:33as a monster
28:33but being very happy
28:34with how aggressive
28:35I was today.
28:36That's what I'm going
28:37to run with.
28:37That's what I'm going
28:38to work the hardest
28:39on the next couple weeks,
28:40showing that I am
28:41that monster.
28:45So,
28:46to the point
28:46of shooting across
28:47rope to rope,
28:48you got to put
28:49a little bit more
28:49body English
28:50in the shoot.
28:52It's just very army
28:53right now
28:54where you're just
28:54kind of going like
28:55this here.
28:56Like,
28:56you can go
28:56a couple steps backwards,
28:58especially when you're
28:58shooting her.
28:59You're going to be
28:59shooting her,
29:00which you shouldn't
29:00do too often.
29:01But make me feel
29:02like this hand
29:03is shoving them
29:04into the ropes.
29:05Okay.
29:05All right?
29:05We're part of it.
29:06Yeah.
29:07Sunset flip,
29:08she gives you,
29:08right?
29:13One, two,
29:13kick out.
29:14Like,
29:14she almost beat
29:15you right there.
29:17Your emotions
29:18have to change.
29:20Like,
29:20you got to go
29:21beat her ass
29:22right now.
29:23You thought
29:23you were in control,
29:24almost lost.
29:26You got to pay
29:27to that now.
29:27All right?
29:28That resonate?
29:29Yes.
29:29And clotheslines.
29:31Let's keep working
29:32on those clotheslines.
29:33All right?
29:34When she's going
29:34to sell for you
29:35and you're going
29:36to knock her over,
29:36I want those clotheslines
29:38to look pro.
29:39Okay.
29:39All right?
29:40You did a good job
29:41in this one, man.
29:42You stayed in the fight.
29:42I want some of these
29:43strikes to look tighter,
29:45better.
29:46Nice job, though.
29:47Heck yeah.
29:47Heck yeah, P.
29:50It's main event time
29:51as all eyes turn
29:53towards Elijah Holyfield's
29:54big match
29:55with Apollo Crews.
29:56How's it going?
29:57How we doing?
29:58Sorry, guys.
29:58Sorry, I didn't mean
29:59to interrupt.
29:59It's all good.
30:00It's all good.
30:00You guys are putting
30:01it together.
30:01Yes, sir.
30:02All right.
30:02I'm just going to listen.
30:03Anything you need
30:04to see from them
30:04specifically or that
30:05they want to...
30:06But I know they,
30:08obviously, you're aware
30:08that they see a lot
30:09in you and they get
30:10a big potential, right?
30:12Yes.
30:13If you can't show them
30:15that that's the case
30:16against this guy,
30:17you know what I mean?
30:18Absolutely.
30:18I don't want to put
30:19too much pressure on you.
30:20I got you.
30:20I got you.
30:21I got you.
30:23I'm Apollo Crews,
30:24and I have been working
30:25with the WWE for over
30:27a decade.
30:29Apollo Crews,
30:30the perfect combination
30:31of strength, charisma,
30:33agility, and, of course,
30:34power.
30:35When I saw Elijah Holyfield,
30:37I thought this guy
30:37really reminded me
30:38of myself.
30:39I was impressed,
30:40and I was curious
30:41to know more.
30:43And we'll get something
30:44there, whatever it is, right?
30:45Apollo Crews, man.
30:47Somebody that I've known
30:47for a while,
30:48somebody that I've kind
30:49of looked up to
30:50since I've been here, man.
30:51So to have him watch matches
30:52and me stick out to him,
30:53it's really cool.
30:54We can walk it
30:55once you get dressed.
30:56Absolutely.
30:56Perfect.
30:57You're not dressed?
30:59I was watching you
31:00go dressed the whole time
31:01in that suit.
31:02I'm astonished.
31:05Unbelievable.
31:05I'll get my real clothes on.
31:08Elijah has quite
31:09an opportunity
31:10getting to work
31:11with somebody
31:11that has that much experience.
31:13Because Apollo,
31:14like, he doesn't need me
31:15telling him how to plan
31:16a match, right?
31:17But they were asking
31:17for ideas.
31:18I was happy to give them
31:19ideas and give them
31:19a bit of input.
31:21I think you should make
31:22it more of a thing
31:22once he hits you, too.
31:24Don't get hit
31:25and go right into it.
31:26I think there's a moment
31:26for you, too,
31:27like, I can
31:28take this, too,
31:29you know?
31:31Kevin Owens, man.
31:32Some of the stuff
31:32he was saying to me,
31:33it never occurred to me
31:34that, oh,
31:35that might be a good idea.
31:36So it was just so much
31:37stuff that now I'm able
31:38to think about
31:38and use it
31:39into my next matches.
31:41So this is one thing
31:42I tell all, like,
31:43younger guys.
31:44If something goes wrong,
31:46you know,
31:46with a lack of experience,
31:47you kind of panic,
31:48you don't really know
31:48what to do,
31:49and then it gets jumbled.
31:50The easiest thing to do
31:51is to grab for a suplex.
31:53That way,
31:53you guys are right here.
31:54You can communicate.
31:55I don't know if anybody
31:56had ever told you that.
31:57It's not even something
31:58I ever learned.
31:59It's just something
31:59that I,
32:00when I realized,
32:00when I was up,
32:01I realized this is
32:02a great go-to
32:03because I could say,
32:03kill me.
32:05So anyway,
32:06that's it.
32:06But yeah,
32:07I mean,
32:08you're in good hands,
32:08obviously,
32:09so you'll be great.
32:11That's it.
32:13It's showtime
32:14as Elijah Holyfield
32:16gets set
32:16for the most
32:17make-or-break match
32:18of his young career.
32:21I'm going to go out there
32:22and watch the match
32:23for a minute.
32:23You guys are good?
32:24Yeah, we're good.
32:25Hell yeah.
32:25Just, yeah.
32:27Honestly,
32:27you're in great hands,
32:28so just take care of yourself
32:30and you'll be good, man.
32:31All right, 100%.
32:32All right, man.
32:32I'll see you.
32:32Good luck.
32:38It's another week.
32:40It's another main event.
32:46It's another big main event,
32:49but it's another opportunity
32:51for two men
32:52to take that step.
32:54Well, certainly is,
32:55and we're talking about
32:55a teacher versus student scenario here.
32:58We're talking about two men
32:59that are going to be going at it
33:00momentarily,
33:01both ferocious,
33:02both can get it done in the ring,
33:03and both about to main event
33:05this week's edition of LFG.
33:07This is a battle for power.
33:09I'm the man of the hour.
33:11It's the eager to devour.
33:13Be a hero or coward.
33:14You gotta cover all
33:15to get to the top of the tower.
33:18This is when it takes all
33:19in this crystal power.
33:20This is a battle for power.
33:22This is a battle for power.
33:23The following contest
33:24is scheduled for one fall.
33:27Introducing first,
33:28from Atlanta, Georgia,
33:30weighing in at 234 pounds,
33:35Elijah Holyfield.
33:38This is the biggest opportunity
33:41in Holyfield's young career
33:43here in the WWE.
33:45Crowd on their feet
33:46for Elijah Holyfield.
33:48That's horror.
33:49This man has it.
33:52Elijah Holyfield
33:54versus Apollo Crews.
33:55Perhaps the biggest main event
33:57in LFG history.
33:58And it's next.
33:59You don't need an F4.
34:01You don't need an F4.
34:03You don't need an F4.
34:09It's main event time
34:10here on LFG.
34:23And his opponent
34:24from Stone Mountain, Georgia,
34:27weighing in at 225 pounds,
34:32Apollo Crews!
34:33And what I mean about this main event
34:35for this individual
34:36is it's an opportunity
34:38to remind the world
34:39who he is.
34:40He is not a stepping stone.
34:42He wants to showcase
34:43to everyone
34:44that he hasn't lost a step,
34:46that he won't be overlooked,
34:48that he is actually
34:49a superhero come to life.
34:51That being
34:52a former United States champion,
34:54a former intercontinental champion,
34:56that being Apollo Crews.
34:58Such an incredible athlete,
35:00such a well-rounded athlete.
35:02And for Apollo Crews
35:04to be sitting in the crowd,
35:05take note
35:06of Elijah Holyfield,
35:08go to Coach Bloom and said,
35:11I want to challenge
35:13this man in the ring.
35:14And don't you think
35:15that's him also challenging
35:17himself?
35:18Oh, absolutely.
35:19And not only that,
35:20but Apollo told me himself,
35:21I see so much of myself
35:22in Elijah Holyfield.
35:29I see so much of a younger version of me.
35:31So much fire,
35:32so much determination.
35:33Yeah, Apollo Crews,
35:35someone I've known
35:35for a very long time
35:36when I say that he's
35:37a superhero come to life.
35:38It's not just what he can do
35:39physically, athletically,
35:41inside a squared circle.
35:42It's what he brings
35:44to the world
35:45outside of the ring.
35:46The way he's willing
35:47to give back
35:48and help those
35:49that are asking for it,
35:50such as his opponent
35:51in this matchup.
35:52I mean,
35:53we've seen Apollo here
35:54on LFG.
35:54We've seen him around
35:55the Performance Center
35:56trying to lend some advice.
35:58But I also think
35:59for Apollo,
36:00as I mentioned,
36:00he wants to test himself
36:01against that next wave,
36:03that next generation.
36:04And now both these men
36:05getting right into
36:05each other's face.
36:06And you can feel
36:07the tension starting to rise.
36:08I love it.
36:09And Holyfield
36:10giving his shot now,
36:11running right into Crews.
36:25Something's got to give.
36:28And it's Apollo Crews
36:29who's knocked to the outside.
36:32Holyfield with a smile
36:33on his face.
36:36I'll tell you what.
36:39That is a man
36:41who has been in the ring
36:42with some giants.
36:44And the look on his face
36:46was like, wow.
36:47This kid's got it.
36:50That's impressive
36:51for not only Elijah Holyfield,
36:52but as you see that,
36:53that acknowledgement.
36:55And when you're in the ring
36:56with a guy
36:57who is legitimately,
36:58and I mean this
36:59this is the best way,
36:59better than you.
37:00You're only going to improve.
37:02And that means that
37:03the more experience
37:04he has in the ring,
37:06his comfortableness
37:07in the ring,
37:07his ring awareness.
37:09Ooh.
37:12It's hard to argue,
37:13Jamie,
37:13because I've gotten better
37:14each week sitting with you.
37:15Big fat cowboy,
37:16and it's how Holyfield
37:17is rocked.
37:18And look at Apollo Crews.
37:19And I don't know
37:20if you noticed this
37:20from Apollo,
37:21but he caught that elbow
37:22right on the bridge
37:23of the nose,
37:23and he kind of had like this
37:25almost like shaking
37:26the cobwebs free.
37:27And Apollo Crews,
37:28the smile is off his face,
37:30and the smile is off
37:31the face of his opponent
37:32because right now,
37:33these two are slugging it out,
37:35and right into the post
37:36goes Holyfield.
37:37I think Apollo Crews
37:38just realized
37:38he was in a fight.
37:40Apollo Crews just realized
37:41when he's in there again,
37:42so that's Elijah Holyfield,
37:44who has just since
37:45coming back from his injuries
37:46just shown so much
37:48determination and heart.
37:49Remember the left bicep injury
37:51that sidelined Holyfield
37:52for so long,
37:53and look at Apollo Crews
37:54going right at it.
37:55I don't want to say
37:56necessarily he wants
37:56to make an example
37:57out of Holyfield,
37:59but Apollo into the cover
37:59hook of the leg
38:00and a quick kick out.
38:01Well, I think if anything,
38:02Apollo would want
38:03this situation to be
38:04a victorious one.
38:04Obviously,
38:05at the same time,
38:06if Elijah Holyfield
38:07can be that much more better
38:10from that experience,
38:11I think it's a win-win
38:12for everybody,
38:13but right now,
38:14he's just taking
38:14his strong...
38:15Nope.
38:16No mercy.
38:20And I'm just looking up
38:21and I'm just seeing Apollo
38:24and for someone
38:24that you've also known
38:25for a long time,
38:26whether it's been on Raw,
38:29SmackDown, NXT,
38:31what we've seen
38:31inside the Performance Center
38:33here on LFG,
38:34this seems like
38:35a little bit
38:35of a different vibe
38:36coming from Apollo Crews.
38:38And I don't necessarily
38:39know why,
38:40because now it's Holyfield
38:41who's starting
38:42to throw some rights
38:43and try to break
38:44the body down
38:45as Apollo fighting
38:45right back.
38:46But Apollo Crews
38:47trying to hoist up
38:48Holyfield,
38:49belly to back,
38:50suplex.
38:51That vibe is
38:52coming from one man
38:53and that's KO,
38:54Kevin Owens.
38:55We saw so much advice
38:56getting into this matchup.
38:58You know,
38:59KO certainly has a perspective
39:00like none other.
39:02I mean,
39:02he's been to the mountaintop
39:03before.
39:03He's been to that level.
39:10Apollo Crews,
39:11someone who we use
39:12in the past
39:13has seen him use
39:13his strength,
39:14but also his athleticism
39:16and the standing moonsaults
39:17going to the top rope.
39:18He has not left
39:19his feet in this match.
39:20It's almost as if
39:21Holyfield has made
39:22Apollo change his game
39:24here tonight.
39:25Keeping it fresh,
39:26keeping him on his toes
39:27and that's certainly
39:28one way that
39:29Apollo Crews can learn
39:31even something from
39:32an athlete like
39:34Elijah Holyfield
39:34brings something
39:35different to the table.
39:36Who else is like
39:36Elijah Holyfield?
39:38There aren't many
39:38and look at Holyfield
39:39now.
39:40Look on his face
39:41and you don't want
39:42to let him start
39:42throwing rights.
39:43Oh!
39:44Wow!
39:45Wow!
39:50The official Apollo
39:52from behind
39:53into the cover
39:54and Apollo
39:55beats Holyfield.
39:59Here is your winner
40:04Apollo Crews!
40:05Apollo Crews
40:06in the closing minutes
40:07of that matchup
40:08rolled to the outside.
40:09I thought maybe
40:11to catch his breath,
40:12but right here
40:13it's almost as if
40:13he suckered in Holyfield.
40:15Look where he leaned.
40:16He went right up
40:17against that post
40:17and moved it
40:18the perfect time.
40:20And you've got to
40:20wonder how much damage
40:21done to the hand.
40:22Apollo sensing it,
40:23rolls in,
40:24and then picks up
40:26the victory.
40:28Big win for Apollo
40:30and certainly taking advantage,
40:32I dare say,
40:33the experience perhaps
40:34of Elijah Holyfield
40:36who will come back
40:36to learn
40:37and fight another day
40:39here on LFG.
40:49You good?
40:49I'm good.
40:50I'm good.
40:51You all good?
40:52Yes, sir.
40:52How was it, man?
40:53Good, great.
40:54Everything's great.
40:55After every match
40:56when you get done,
40:56you know if it was good
40:57or bad.
40:57You just know.
40:58So when I came back,
40:59it was that feeling of
41:00this was good.
41:01Of course,
41:02there's little things
41:02that we could have done
41:03and then Sean giving us
41:04some of the critiques after.
41:06When you're doing
41:06the tackle stuff,
41:08like you're just
41:09kind of just standing there.
41:10Be a little bit
41:11kind of ready,
41:12jacked up,
41:12like I'm ready to feel that.
41:14Yes, yes.
41:14You know what I mean?
41:15Two big bulls
41:15to each other.
41:16Yes, sir.
41:16Yes, sir.
41:17Bulls don't just
41:17stand there like this.
41:18Yes, sir.
41:19The tackles,
41:20I could have made
41:20a little bit better.
41:21Being more natural
41:24which I think is one
41:25of those things
41:25that's going to come
41:26with time.
41:27I feel like I think
41:28you caught me there
41:29with that elbow, man.
41:30My fault, brother.
41:30It's all good.
41:31I had to catch you
41:32with one back.
41:34Yeah, we all good, man.
41:35And the anger
41:35got the best of you, man.
41:36I'm going to show you
41:37how to channel that anger
41:38and I'm going to take you
41:39to the top of the million,
41:40all right?
41:40100%.
41:40And I'm going to be
41:41riding there with you.
41:42100%.
41:42I appreciate that, bro.
41:43For real, man.
41:44Absolutely, right.
41:45That was fun, brother.
41:46I like what I saw tonight.
41:48It reminds me of myself a lot
41:49when I was coming up.
41:50Man, I think the sky's
41:52the limit.
41:56The execution of everything
41:57was really good.
41:58At the beginning
41:59when you guys locked up
42:00and you were both battling.
42:06And it sets the tone.
42:07Something so small
42:08could get people's attention.
42:10You just have to remember
42:11to sell what's happened.
42:13You weren't really
42:14favoring your arm
42:15even though you'd already
42:15been at it.
42:16And then the same thing,
42:17like when you hit the post,
42:20I think I would have
42:21made the cell a bit bigger.
42:22It's a much more fun.
42:23But that just comes
42:24with time, you know?
42:25If I were you, man,
42:25honestly, I would tell Bloom
42:26at least put me on
42:27as many shows as possible.
42:29Because, dude,
42:29that's where you're
42:30going to look.
42:31If he stays the course
42:32and keeps working this way
42:34and having this kind
42:35of attitude,
42:36there's no way he won't
42:36grow as a performer.
42:38With time and those
42:40in live crowds,
42:41that's when you'll
42:41become great.
42:42You know what I mean?
42:43Yes, yes.
42:43I could see Elijah
42:44being on NXT next week
42:45and looking like
42:47he belongs there.
42:49Tonight went great, man.
42:50And Paulo said he wants
42:51to holler at me tomorrow
42:52if he might have
42:53something in store for us.
42:53So he's just always
42:55giving me tips,
42:55which I'm so thankful for.
42:57Me and E. Holy,
42:57we worked so hard together.
42:58I think we need
42:59to explore this further.
43:00So just be on the lookout.
43:01You never know
43:02what might happen.
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