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(lively music) Well, here we go. Human demolition derby for the NXT Championship. (lively music continues) (crowd cheers) And we just heard from these two, and you heard, Graves, when Inamura said, "This is about honor, doing it the right way". You yourself have competed for the NXT championship. Would you be tossing honor out the window here at the Great American Bash to put that gold around your waist? Personally speaking, absolutely I would, but this isn't about me, this is about Yoshiki Inamura. A man who returned from Japan, to make life better for his friend and partner, Josh Briggs.
Briggs couldn't capture the TNA championship in the opportunity that Inamura earned. But it only gets bigger. If you want to think big in NXT, it doesn't get any bigger than the NXT Championship and "The Ruler". (upbeat music) Ooh. (upbeat music continues) The last time the NXT championship was defended here in Atlanta, 2018, Andrade defeated Johnny Gargano.
We talked about this stat earlier. It still stands true. An NXT championship of any sort has never changed hands here in Atlanta. And when you look at the challenger, he seems focused. Briggs seems calm, cool and collected, but there is "The Ruler" who is always one thing, Booker, dominant. He's on the war path, man. That man, no bread, no water tonight, all he wants is meat. And Inamura, what, about 300 pounds of beef we finna to eat tonight, dog Mike Rome standing by. What's he so angry for? (bell dings) The following contest scheduled for one fall, One fall. is for the NXT Championionship.
(crowd cheers) Introducing the challenger, from Tokyo, Japan weighing in at 242 pounds. Yoshiki Inamura. (crowd cheers) And his opponents from Lagos, Nigeria weighing in at 310 pounds. He is the NXT Champion. Oba Femi. (crowd cheers) Weight of opportunity is on the shoulders of Inamura. Oba, Oba, Oba, Oba. (graphic whooshes) Oba, ooh.
Challenger looking to become the second Japanese born superstar to win the NXT title. The other, Graves, is someone you know very well, Shinsuke Nakamura. No doubt Nakamura gonna keep an eye on this one and think of the legendary superstars who sent well wishes to Inamura before this match. Talking about Marufuji, talking about the great Muta, Keiji Muto, Iyo Sky, all wishing Inamura the best of luck in this contest. And trust me, as talented as Inamura is, he's gonna need a little bit of luck tonight.
Well, on onto that point, Corey, does that add extra pressure, do you think, to Yoshiki Inamura, knowing that all those greats, all those legends are side, Oh, baby! watching closer? Perhaps, but did you see how lightning quick Inamura got back to his feet after being run over by "The Ruler"? Whatever it takes to fuel you to become great. Sometimes it's pressure, sometimes it's fear. Sometimes there's a litany of different reasons that a superstar can become great.
I'm not sure what's driving Inamura tonight, but no doubt he's looking to do it with honor. Well, Booker, to Graves' point, how has Inamura's past paved the way for this championship moment, maybe a golden moment in his career? Not just Inamura's past, but the path of the Japanese Wrestling. I mean, you guys are talking about honor, but they say in Japan, "death before dishonor". It's the way of the Samurai, son. You can expect Inamura to do anything necessary to win this match tonight, trust me on that. And he could go that far, but only with honor as Inamura right now, a test of strength there between he and Oba.
Something of an unfamiliar feeling for Yoshiki Inamura, Oh, baby. powered by really anybody in NXT. There's that quickness one more time on his plane, right back into the center of the ring, like two mastodons. Oh my God. Oh. Hung up for a second and he sits right back down on the challenger. And let's remember, Inamura return at battleground for his brother Josh Briggs, who is here on the outside, for the fans, for the passion of NXT, and Graves, he's gonna need the support of everyone that's here today. Everyone that's here tonight to overcome his greatest test he's ever faced in NXT, Oba Femi.
No doubt about it. But again, if anybody can thrive under this sort of, oh, shoulders down. If anybody can thrive under this sort of pressure and emerge victorious, they absolutely deserve to be the NXT champion. Yoshiki Inamura could be the NXT champion for a long time after tonight. Who knows? Time will tell. And, Booker, Yoshiki Inamura returned thinking bigger. Uh oh, uh oh. You have to like that mentality. I like everything about this. Whoa! Right now he's in there with two beasts here in NXT, fought every- Wait a minute, Book, look at Inamura just rise right back up.
Japanese strong style, baby. Here we go. Wait a minute, it's not a sumo contest. About to be! This is America. Hell yeah, look at that. Inamura, who just tossed Oba Femi. Inamura leaning into his sumo background, overpowering Oba Femi. Here comes the challenger. Oba right now, center of the ring just got trucked. Lot of weight coming right there. Cover, cover. And a kickout at one.
Like a cannon ball right to the chest of the champion. High elbow connected right into the sternum for Inamura, who is fired up here, and, Booker, how will Inamura respond to this premium live event environment? I mean, bring under the, excuse me, being under these bright lights, Inamura knows. He's got one shot at this championship and he needs to go out there, he needs to cash in. He needs to cash in big time with a big move. Like, whoa, whoa. Oba rolling to the outside, Yoshiki realizing it and, oh!
Give Oba Femi a lot of credit right there. This kid has gotten a lot smarter over this last 365 days, man. I agree with you, Book, Oba just laid a trap and Inamura stepped right into it Big time. When was the last time, Graves, we saw Inamura go down with one chop? There aren't too many men walking God's green earth who possessed that type of power. But Oba Femi absolutely is one of 'em Able to counter for a moment, get a little bit of separation. Oba might've went down. Yeah, he's grabbing that right knee. Oh! Oh, man! And again, Didn't I tell you? That's what we're talking about, Book.
Tell you, you're gonna see a different Inamura here tonight. Trust me, and I'm not surprised. It's that passion coming out in Inamura. He wants to be champion so bad for the man on the outside, for the butts in the seats for those watching at home and now showcasing his own will. Showcasing his own power, showcasing his own strength. Wow. A big slam. That was impressive Cover. Is it gonna be enough in this juncture of the matchup?
It is not as this title match continues. I just looked up for my monitor as we take a look at this Inamura launching himself like a missile off of the apron taken down Oba. And this is a straight up, terrifying display of power from the challenger And back of the action of the ring. Yoshiki has a hand print on his chest from Oba Femi. Femi, Whoa. Just going right down to the mat. High impact offense with his championship on the line. Hooking the leg on the challenger and Yoshiki rolling that left shoulder off the mat.
Today, by the way, guys, 186th day as champion for Oba Femi. Tell you something, Oba Femi is well past his years as far as his advancement in this business with the time he's put in thus far, this kid, he's unbelievable. He's definitely a star. One, two, three. Come on, man. (Yoshiki hollering) Two, three. (crowd cheers and applauds) (crowd murmuring) Biggest moment of your life, come on. Gas, man. (crowd murmuring continues)
The NXT championship hanging in the balance and it's the champion who is in control. Look at the power. Oba right now into the cover and another kickout and I mean Graves, you take a look at Oba Femi, there were a lot of questions by some coming into this matchup. If there was chips in the armor of sorts of the champion. So far so good from "The Ruler". Take a look at the power of Oba hanging the challenger across the top rope. Listen, Oba Femi has been a fighting champion.
There is no reason to doubt "The Ruler" and his dominance. It's not like Oba is making competitors jump through hoops. He's not running away. He stands there and he defends his title. And speaking of standing there, standing in the center of the ring, another gut buster, another cover, and another kick out, Graves, are you starting to sense that maybe Oba Femi looking at the stomach, the ribs is trying to take away the impact of that Yoshiki Splash from the top? Well listen, we've learned, to Booker's point, earlier that Oba continues to evolve as a competitor.
He's become more intellectual in his strategy. It's not just raw force anymore. It's a game plan. That very well may be what the champion's looking to do. Oba Femi is very methodical in his approach here tonight. And he needs that because Inamura perhaps most dangerous, he's been since it, since he joined NXT tonight. Trust me on that. How you feel trying to shift the power. Certainly isn't. Whoa, right back in, Oh no! Right back around shifting his weight.
Wow. Counter. Cover, title on the line in a near fall and now it's Yoshiki on top looking for the crucifix shoulder down one more time. Oh, most able to put the title around his waist. He's doing it with pride, passion. Oh, spine buster. (Booker laughs) Champion rolls right through another. That's the advancement of this man right here, Oba Femi, he has a playbook down, man. This is not the same guy you dealt with. Like I say a year ago, trust me. You saw Inamura able to shift the power for a moment and utilize his weight to take down the champion. But just as quickly, Oba Femi and back on top, nearly put an end to this matchup
Beautiful spine busta. NXT championship on the line here at the Great American Bash. And this certainly has been a test of power between the two. And again, right back to the body goes Oba Femi, buckling the knees of Yoshiki Inamura trying to hoist up, Yoshiki counters. (crowd roars) (bodies thudding) Something had to give. Wow. And it's Inamura in control. Yoshiki, could be closing in on dropping "The Ruler" and there's that offense, Sumo style strike to the chest, muscling in, oh my God.
Muscling Oba all the way to the corner. And right now the challenger teeing off like Nick Kashian a golf course Taking it to the street right now. Bang! Yoshiki peppering Oba. Oh. (crowd jeers) Look at this. We haven't gotten to see the striking ability of Inamura too heavily, rolling elbow rocks the jaw of the champ. Oba just got dropped. Briggs is fired up trying to fire up Inamura. I wonder if Oba is truly prepared for what's going on right now, guys?
Oh, baby! Wow. And Oba Femi, give credit, able to roll off. Booker, it's been a while since I've seen you come outta your seat seeing something like this. That is outrageous power from the challenger who nearly knocked off "The Ruler". (crowd chanting) This is awesome. I wonder if Oba is truly prepared for this right here guys, this is different. Oh, Yoshiki, going to the top. Lookin' to the drop that ball. Oba is in the path. Yoshiki. Oh, and roll right through Oba had it scouted quickly though back to his feet.
Looking to put, wow. Dallas Irving almost bit it. Oh no, I spoke too soon. Rushing impact in the corner of the officials down Oba looking for the end. But hey, Briggs! What the, the hell? Briggs just hit Oba Femi with the NXT championship. And I don't think Yoshiki Inamura realizes it, but the advantage now is for the challenger. Oba is down, challenger to the top. (crowd jeers) (Josh and Inamura shouting indistinctly) This is all about honor for the challenger.
Yoshiki though got hoisted Inamura able to slip down the back. Coming right back in, ducks, wants flying back through the air, dropping the champion. He doesn't want to take a shortcut. He wants to do this the right way. And once again, Yoshiki Inamura climbing to the top, got his target acquired. Yoshiki! Got all of it. Cover. One, two, three. There's no referee. The official's still down. Eight, nine, 10. We should have a new champion.
What the hell's Briggs doing now? Capitalize! Briggs is screaming capitalize. I think Briggs is trying to hand him his chain. Briggs is gonna get his partner disqualified. The official's rolling back in, Yoshiki said no. Yoshiki though just got dropped. Choke slammed. Man. Champion into the cover to retain. Whoa! (crowd gasps) That fighting spirit of Yoshiki still thriving here at the Great American Bash.
Briggs is in disbelief, so is Oba Femi, the NXT championship is on the line, sold out here in Atlanta. Center stage. Great American Bash who will walk out NXT champion? This is awesome. Inamura could be champion right now if he would've taken advantage of the situation. He's not gonna take advantage though. We've heard what he has said, not just today, but earlier this week. He's going to do it the right way. It's about honor for Yoshiki Inamura.
Right now these gladiators unloading the heavy artillery in the middle of the ring. No excuses. Woo! Trying to chop that tree down, man. Oba answering back. Oh, been waiting for that Fall from Grace, countered though, Inamura now, hoisting up. Look at the power. And drop it center of the ring. Sit down style for the title. (crowd gasps and cheers) Briggs thought it was over. Last minute. Last minute? Last second.
Split second, nanosecond. But Briggs is screaming, "Go, go, go". Briggs, get off the apron. Brigg's dead. Oh no, from behind. Yoshiki for the championship. Oh, and again. Oba just able to kick out the last second. Right back in, oh! Fall from Grace. My God. One, two, three. Oba overcomes Inamura. (upbeat music) Here is your winner and still NXT Champion, Oba Femi. (upbeat music continues) What a fight.
(upbeat music continues)
