01:01Great Phoenix has successfully defended his championship eight straight times.
01:07He hopes to make it nine in a row here tonight.
01:10Big matchup wave.
01:12The winner defends this coming Sunday at Triple Mania in this building in a fatal floorway
01:18against Jack Cartwheel and Vinny McKingo and Nathan Frazier.
01:22Triple Mania Friday tonight in Las Vegas immediately following SmackDown.
01:25More on that in just a bit.
01:27But what an opportunity tonight.
01:29Ricky Saints called his shot and he finally gets it.
01:32Yeah.
01:32So Ricky Saints has had a bit of a rough run over the past couple of months on SmackDown.
01:37He's had a couple of opportunities for the next champ.
01:39Trent Williams is United States Championship.
01:42Go begging.
01:43But now back on track in a big way.
01:45And looking to spoil this homecoming for Ray Phoenix by taking his gold ahead of this weekend's
01:52Triple-A shows.
01:53Ray Phoenix was brought up just outside Mexico City.
01:57And we're underway now for the Triple-A World Cruiserweight Championship.
02:00The official in this match, Felix Fernandes.
02:04This explosive audience right off the back.
02:08This explosive audience has come here to see Ray Phoenix victorious.
02:12They demand it.
02:14And Phoenix now.
02:15Tremendous balance on display as he sends Saints across the ring with a deep-arm drag and piles
02:21it up with a drop kick.
02:23And Ricky Saints just did not get out of the blocks at all here.
02:27Clearly hyped up on adrenaline is Ray Phoenix.
02:31First time ever these two men have met in a one-on-one matchup.
02:35Way to mention at the top of the show.
02:37Elevation in Mexico City.
02:38City's 7,300 feet.
02:40Will that come into play at all tonight?
02:41Yeah, no doubt about it.
02:43I've competed right here in this city.
02:45It is absolutely physically exhausted.
02:48Poison runner by Phoenix.
02:50And a kick out by Saints.
02:51It's also mentally exhausting.
02:53The brain requires a lot of oxygen.
02:55That's often the first thing that shuts down before your muscles.
02:58So keep an eye on that all night.
02:59Oh, Phoenix tried to come back through the ropes and Ricky Saints met him.
03:03And now Saints through the ropes.
03:04And there it is.
03:05The version of the Revolution DDT from Ricky Saints.
03:09Welcome to Friday Night Saints.
03:12And he's not done yet.
03:15The absolute one in control.
03:37Wade, Ricky Saints has been dying for an opportunity, a championship gold.
03:42And he can win it here tonight.
03:44But will his attitude come into play?
03:46Well, I'd say his attitude has done him a pretty solid job so far.
03:50Had to ride out that early storm from Ray Phoenix.
03:53That was always going to be the issue.
03:55Oh, look at Saints here trying to rip the mask off of Ray Phoenix.
03:59Now, of course, in Lucha Libre, that is illegal.
04:01That would cause a disqualification had it been successful.
04:04But we are not competing under strict Lucha Libre rules here.
04:09Simply trying to humiliate Ray Phoenix first, then take his title.
04:13Yeah, but Saints doing a great job here by grounding Ray Phoenix.
04:24Oh, what a superstar to appear in this kind of atmosphere and be incredibly intimidated.
04:30I'll say, Ricky Saints has had the opposite reaction.
04:33He's almost goading this all.
04:34Wow, what a throw by Saints.
04:36Feeding off their fury.
04:37Cover for the title.
04:39Phoenix kicks out at two.
04:41Ray Phoenix, of course, has had many matches in Triple-A in this city.
04:48has the full support of the over 12,000 here tonight.
04:52Ricky Saints not making any friends.
04:55You don't need friends in this industry.
04:57What you do need is championships.
05:00And Ricky Saints will happily hear those boos ringing out all night, providing he gets the dunk.
05:06Saints, a former NXT champion and an NXT North American champion.
05:12Well, there's no doubt about it.
05:13Ricky Saints is the real deal.
05:16And for me, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when he grabs gold.
05:19Oh!
05:19It's increasingly looking that that is happening very soon.
05:23Ray Phoenix in his second reign as the Triple-A Cruiserweight champion.
05:29But Saints right now is dominating.
05:32Well, Ray Phoenix came out tonight looking to put on a show for this adoring audience.
05:38He did that for about two minutes.
05:39It was spectacular.
05:41We're quickly hitting the skids now.
05:43And Ricky Saints needs to maintain this pressure and not let Ray Phoenix up.
05:47Yeah, seeing what Ricky Saints is all about tonight.
05:50Off the second rope, Max Handle, the back of the neck of Phoenix.
05:53Saints now into a cover.
05:54Looking to win the championship.
05:57And this is why Ricky Saints was such a massive acquisition 12 months or so ago in NXT.
06:03It's because of his capabilities.
06:05And we really, really scratched the surface so far here on SmackDown.
06:17What an electric crowd tonight for what's going to be an amazing weekend in Mexico City.
06:22Sunday in this arena.
06:23It is Triple-A's Triple-Mania Sunday.
06:27Monday Night Raw, of course, this coming Monday Night Live.
06:31It's an extravaganza right here in Mexico City.
06:34And what a way to kick it off here.
06:53Ricky Saints has been grounding and dominating the Triple-A World Cruiserweight Champion Ray Phoenix so far in this match.
07:02Now Ricky Saints walking the tightrope and showing off a bit, getting a bit cocky, and brings Phoenix down again.
07:10Well, it's a very simple message to the world of Lucha Libre.
07:15Hey, I can do spectacular, too.
07:18Ray Phoenix, of course, who just went through that grueling number one contender tournament
07:22for determining who will face Roman Reigns for the world title.
07:25Phoenix losing in the finals to his brother Penta.
07:27Penta and Reigns meet Monday Night on Raw for the world title.
07:31It does not get any bigger than that here in Mexico City.
07:35But Ricky Saints now starting to get a little too cocky.
07:37And he may have opened the window here for Phoenix.
07:40Ray Phoenix looking to turn things around and gain the upper hand.
07:44Saints dominated much of this matchup.
07:46You mentioned a few moments ago, Phoenix started out with a bang, but he was grounded.
07:50And look at this, Hurricane Rana from the top rope by the Cruiserweight champion.
07:54And now Phoenix building momentum.
07:56Yeah, always the danger for Ricky Saints.
07:58Do not let the spectacular begin for Ray Phoenix.
08:01That jaw-dropping ability that we've seen in recent weeks against Dragon Lee and against Penta.
08:07Well, it's back.
08:08Oh, Phoenix almost lost his balance, but turned it into a moonsault.
08:11Cover now to retain.
08:13And Saints kicks out.
08:14Yeah, it's where you can make a mistake on the top rope and recover and somehow make it even more
08:19impressive,
08:19but it just shows you the unreal agility that Ray Phoenix possesses.
08:25Don't try that at home.
08:27And Phoenix now.
08:29And oh, goodbye, amigo!
08:31A kick with the top rope!
08:38And Phoenix with a moonsault to the outside.
08:41Well, Ray Phoenix pulling out all the stops here, putting a real show-off for these people in Mexico City,
08:47but the job is not finished yet.
08:51Listen to this place.
08:54Phoenix up top.
08:57What a crossbody!
08:59Lateral press hooks the leg.
09:01Saints at two.
09:02And a frog splash style crossbody connecting.
09:06And you get the sense that Ray Phoenix is only just getting started, whereas Ricky Saints was completely wiped out.
09:15The first of four championship matches tonight, main evented by Sami Zayn and CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE title.
09:23And now, Ray Phoenix from the second rope.
09:27Saints back to his feet.
09:28Phoenix!
09:28Oh, caught!
09:29Caught!
09:30Turned into a powerball!
09:31Stacks him up and a kick out by Ray Phoenix.
09:34What a move by Ricky Saints to now a Revolution DDT cover to try to win the title!
09:41And Phoenix kicks out of there, Paul!
09:43Yeah, and that is championship-level ability from Ricky Saints to be completely flat-lined on the ground.
09:50Everyone's ripping you off, and you bounce back in a hurry like that.
09:54The Kurt Powerbomb mid-air followed up by that DDT.
09:57Stunning stuff.
09:58He might put it to bed here, Cole.
10:00Yes.
10:00Oh, look at Ray Phoenix now rolls on Saints!
10:03Saints kicks it too.
10:05And Saints with a kick to the face.
10:07This one is balanced on a knife edge right now.
10:10Could go either way.
10:13Phoenix through the ropes, kick to the face.
10:16And now Ray.
10:18Ricky on his shoulders.
10:19Ricky slips out from behind.
10:21Almost sent him into the official.
10:23Kick just caught Phoenix.
10:25Didn't get all of it.
10:26Flip the top of the head.
10:27It might have been enough, though.
10:27Looking perhaps for Oshombo, and Ray Phoenix ducks from behind.
10:33Oh!
10:34Hands!
10:35String!
10:35Stunner!
10:37Cover!
10:39And a kick out!
10:40Well, just a millisecond away from a retention.
10:44And take another look at that high-flying, high-octane Ray Phoenix.
10:49Just unique cutter-style move off the ropes.
10:53Almost putting it to bed, but he doesn't miss twice.
10:56Go!
10:58Go!
10:58Ray!
10:59Utah!
11:00Phoenix hits to the corner, runs into a boot by Saints.
11:03Ricky Saints now, kicked by Phoenix, caught him right in the jaw.
11:06And these heavyweight-style shots from these two high-flyers.
11:10And Saints does not want to be in this position.
11:12Ray Phoenix is in control.
11:15Phoenix with a driver.
11:17Off-cover, off-cover, nothing gets special buster, gives him the win!
11:23Here is the only winner.
11:25And still, AAA World Cruiserweight Champion, Ray Phoenix!
11:32What a match, Wade!
11:34Well, Ray Phoenix calls that championship the proudest achievement of his long career.
11:40And once again, he has brought on an absolute blockbuster match for us tonight.
11:46Winning with that MMB.
11:48And this adoring audience certainly got their money's worth from their hometown hero.
11:54Ray Phoenix will now defend in a fatal four-way Sunday at TripleMania in this building.
12:03And a show of respect here from the Luchadores.
12:09Show of respect, declined by a very big rookie Saints.
12:15They're frustrated Saints.
12:18Ray Phoenix retains the world.
12:20All right.
12:22Show!
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