00:03They tell me I'm hot, they tell me I'm mixed.
00:06If I wasn't so cool with myself, I could be the best, he's so conceited.
00:10The following contest is scheduled for one thought.
00:14It's for the NXT North American Championship.
00:20Here we go.
00:22Introducing first from Orlando, Florida,
00:25we get to 190 pounds, EK Prosper.
00:31Oh, EK Prosper be the North American Champion.
00:36When we get to our next premium live event, this weekend you take a look at the schedule,
00:42it all starts with a trunk or treat for everyone here at the Performance Center,
00:46followed by Countdown and then Dan Housen hosts.
00:49Halloween Havoc, it's the spookiest night of the year.
00:52It's this Saturday.
01:00And we could be in for a nightmare scenario for this man.
01:09And his opponent representing the Vanity Project.
01:14He is the NXT North American Champion, Jackson Drake.
01:23First one-on-one meeting between these two superstars.
01:28It hasn't been the best night thus far for the Vanity Project.
01:32If we want to recap the evening, of course, they came up a little bit short to Romeo Moreno
01:39and Noam Dar in the Dusty Cup semi-final matchup to kick us off tonight.
01:43We do know that the finals are set for again next Wednesday, NXT Live due to election coverage.
01:51But right now that man looking to put championship gold around his waist, EK Prosper Booker.
01:57Is this superstar ready for this sort of spotlight?
02:00I can tell you this, EK Prosper versus this young man, Jackson Drake.
02:06This is the perfect matchup for Prosper.
02:09Both young, agile, mobile can do it all in the middle of that ring as well as the threat that
02:15was made earlier by Mr. Stone.
02:18No outside interference.
02:20I'm glad you bring that up because everyone on the outside gonna have to mind their P's and
02:24their Q's for EK Prosper.
02:26What do you think the threat is?
02:27What do you think it is?
02:27They're gonna get fired?
02:28They're gonna get fired?
02:29Is that it?
02:30What if they get stripped of those tag team titles?
02:32What if they get suspended?
02:34What if they get no candy on Halloween?
02:37Maybe Mr. Stone should have specified that.
02:40Maybe, right?
02:41Well, it's time to look at tonight's NXT recap presented by Progressive.
02:46EK Prosper locked in all day for this matchup.
02:51You don't need some insurance for a job like that for Prosper.
02:55Max and Drake doing the wise thing, trying to create whatever separation he can.
02:58And I wanna go back to Saquon Sugars from last week and even what really led to the matchup
03:03earlier today between he and Shawn Legacy.
03:06Should EK be in this spot for this matchup?
03:09Of course, I mean, EK Prosper has been on a fast track since arriving here in NXT.
03:15I'm gonna tell you right now, the suits, the suits, the higher ups are watching this young man.
03:21Boy, has he been the surprise of the year to you, EK Prosper?
03:23I think so, I agree with that.
03:24He's had some hell of a bouncer that's come so close, so close.
03:29Into the cover, we're getting one count.
03:31Drake able to kick out very quick.
03:33And look, you talk about, we talk about all the time, the building blocks for the future.
03:38You know, you like both these superstars, but truly, who has the advantage in this matchup?
03:44Is it the champion or is it the challenger?
03:46Cuz typically I would say it would be the champion, but as you mentioned,
03:48no outside interference tonight.
03:50I mean, EK Prosper got a lot going for him, but
03:52there's gonna always be champion advantage in a situation like this.
03:56Cuz the champ, he don't have to win, he just don't have to lose, Vic.
03:59By a hook or by a quirk, you gotta think about walking out with the championship by any means necessary.
04:06Jackson Drake in this matchup, trying to continue to hold on to the title.
04:11He's held for nearly 60 days, defended that championship against Tavion Heights.
04:16Heights born, of course, weapons wild this Saturday at Halloween Havoc.
04:21The wheel sealed their fate, and again, the big news we broke earlier,
04:25NXT will be live next Wednesday due to election coverage.
04:28And as we learned, John Cena is gonna be-
04:31Prosper going for it.
04:32Big clothesline, and EK Prosper right now.
04:35We're gonna make short work of the champion.
04:39Prosper, who we have mentioned has never held it.
04:41Hey, we gotta do qualification, but we don't need that.
04:44We don't need a disqualification.
04:47Whoa, here we go.
04:49Kairn up over, wiping out the bodies.
04:53Uh-huh.
04:53Taking control.
04:54I told you.
04:57EK, EK.
04:58Well, Vanity Project really not having a good night.
05:00And Lockwood, the official didn't see Micah, who just stuck her nose in where it didn't belong.
05:06Gonna hear this going in.
05:07And go first goes the challenger, champion just like that, right back in this match.
05:13Who's walking out with the gold?
05:19North American Championship on the line between these two.
05:22The final NXT before this Saturday's Halloween Havoc premium live event.
05:27And I asked you earlier if EK Prosper was the surprise superstar of the year.
05:31I wonder if Vanity Project feels EK has outshined him.
05:35Both arrived at the same time.
05:37Both were doing evolved things around the same time.
05:40And for Jackson Drake, his antics are why people don't respect him like they do EK Prosper.
05:45Four years sitting here at this desk and I haven't seen better competition than we've
05:50seen with these two young men here right here in the middle of this ring.
05:53Like I say, this is the future of the WWE right here.
05:57I'm glad you bring that up, because not just the future, we're getting a glimpse of
06:01the future main event scene in the WWE right here.
06:05And right now, big kick, Prosper, springboard.
06:09That is, that is.
06:12Challenger right now, looking for a little Tornado DDT.
06:15Connected, got all of it, then some.
06:18Center of the ring, is it enough?
06:20And it is not quite enough.
06:22Still the gas, still the gas, Prosper.
06:24Got to go back to the neck breaker, face first into the middle turnbuckle.
06:28That was that big super kick.
06:30And we're talking about high risk, high reward, EK Prosper hitting some heavy shots.
06:35He still has, and you and I both know, a homerun shot left in him.
06:40That's what it's all about.
06:42Like I say, staying on the gas.
06:46Can Prosper be the one to dethrone Jackson Drake?
06:51Missed on the Shining Wizard, came right back in and got caught again.
06:54Throat first, and Drake.
06:56That's it.
06:57Turning the challenger.
06:58That's it, Vic.
06:59You may be right back in Prosper's left shoulder.
07:04Great job by our official.
07:06That was super close.
07:08That kick connected, Drake no doubt.
07:10Got all of it to you, Vic.
07:11He did, he got all of it, but look at his shoulder.
07:13Right up at that last possible moment.
07:17The momentum of that shot right there landing on Prosper, that should have been it.
07:21I'm talking about instinct right there.
07:22That was an instinctual kick out from Prosper right there, Vic.
07:25You started this match up with me asking you if you thought EK Prosper was ready to
07:30handle the spotlight.
07:31He has certainly been in there with someone who has competed on the biggest stage we've
07:36had to offer, who has had a championship and of all, who has had the championship here in
07:40NXT, who's mocking Prosper.
07:42And right now EK, I think we can agree, is starting to rise to the occasion.
07:47I said it once, I said it again, this kid's a special talent.
07:50He's extraordinary, Vic.
07:52There it is, beautiful, beautiful roll up there to get it though.
07:56Forearm under the jaw, champion answers back to the challenger, challenger missed Wally.
08:01So did the champion, back in, big roundhouse kick.
08:05Turned him inside out, whoa.
08:08That might have been instinctual by the champion as you see the challenger feeling the effects.
08:14But take another look at this roundhouse that you hear back.
08:20As they turn it inside out, Vic.
08:22But the young man, Jax and Drake, still had just enough to kick out.
08:26My.
08:27Man.
08:28Defense, defense, defense.
08:30No doubt who the WWE fans are behind in this match.
08:34Take it off the cape right now, Vic.
08:37Well, he may need to put that cape back out.
08:38This one's not over, because he's certainly gonna have to try to fly at some point.
08:42Back into his wheelhouse, but those are some extra oomph on those shots.
08:46Big shots right there.
08:48I'm talking to Lula Green, hot man.
08:52These two just trading back and forth.
08:55Jackson Drake catches EK.
08:57What the hell?
08:58And you talk about getting turned side out.
09:00Inside out, that's exactly what just happened.
09:03Followed up with a cutter.
09:04Young man's good.
09:05To retain.
09:06Stupid.
09:07Whoa.
09:08Boy, yeah.
09:12Jackson Drake can't lose his cool.
09:14We talk about those deep waters right now.
09:16It seems to be the challenger who's a little bit more composed than the rest of
09:20Vanity Project.
09:22We're in the dead zone right now, Vic.
09:25That's where we are, talking about those deep waters.
09:27We're in the dead zone in this matchup with two young men, fighting for that spot.
09:33Take a little bit too much time, and EK wisely just able to grab on.
09:37And you might call it, some might say that's desperation.
09:39That's smart.
09:39No, that was very, very smart right there.
09:41You're in a fight.
09:42You're in a fight.
09:43You gotta go out there, like I said earlier, win by any means necessary, Vic.
09:47I'm talking about bend the rules if you have to, young man.
09:50Yeah.
09:56Precarious position for both champion and challenger.
10:04WWE fans trying to rally behind EK Prospero.
10:07Vicious headbutt right between the eyes.
10:09That's the separation Jackson Drake needed.
10:11Drake repositioning himself, but got caught.
10:15Wow.
10:16Doors open, book.
10:18Do you see that?
10:19The doors open, book.
10:20That's it.
10:21Prosper, what the hell?
10:24Come on, Stone.
10:26What the hell, Stone?
10:27No, no, not like this.
10:29Dammit and a kick out.
10:30Prosper's still fighting.
10:32Prosper back up.
10:33Swing and a miss, looking for that cutter again.
10:35Ducking, diving, connected.
10:37Big kick, poison, Rana connected.
10:40Stuck the landing.
10:42Drake's down.
10:43Finish it, young man.
10:45Michael, what the hell?
10:47Come on, ref.
10:48Prosper's starting to climb.
10:50Looking for that moonsault.
10:52Who the?
10:53What the heck?
10:56The hell's Cam Hendricks doing out here?
11:00Not like this.
11:02Come on.
11:03Jackson Drake steals this match from Prosper.
11:07Here is your winner, and still, the NXT North American Champion, Jackson Drake.
11:18What business does Cam Hendricks have out here?
11:22For all of you, I'm the first.
11:22Yeah.
11:24Go on, rec.
11:30Who the heck?
11:32I'm the first.
11:32There.
11:33I need you.
11:33I need you.
11:33I need you.
11:33Khmer.
11:34For all of you.
