M.E. 07.18.24 [1]
Transcript
00:00We are inching closer to the biggest party of the summer, as two weeks from Saturday
00:06it's Cleveland and SummerSlam!
00:08Welcome to Main Event!
00:10I got two words for you, Joaquin Wilde!
00:13The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
00:14Introducing first, representing the LWO, Joaquin Wilde!
00:15We're getting the action started tonight with some Lucha Libre flavor, and the high-flying
00:31and frenetic Wilde style of the LWO in singles competition.
00:35Cat game is strong, I repeat, cat game is strong.
00:39And you gotta love the bling too, as Joaquin Wilde has been a regular here on Main Event
00:44over the last few weeks, and certainly looking to pick up a victory in singles competition
00:48as the LWO is starting to cook a bit here.
00:51As Wilde ready for action now, as you walk in the ringside, Blake Howard alongside the
00:57D.O.W., the Hall of Famer, Bryan, officially back here on Main Event!
01:01Back on Main Event, excited to be here next to you, Blake.
01:03You know you're my best friend.
01:04Am I really?
01:05No.
01:06Isn't that awkward?
01:07Sorry.
01:08What's that all about?
01:10Isn't that awkward?
01:11Sorry.
01:12What's that all about?
01:13I thought we were going to know what we were doing here.
01:15Is that Creon?
01:16Oh, this is my favorite.
01:17Luka Kusapilo.
01:28Oh, Consigliere!
01:29And his opponent, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weighing 246 pounds, Luka Kusapilo!
01:40Dog, how many cosmic cookies did you eat in that match?
01:42Hey, let me tell you this much.
01:44These two guys, both strong outfit games, and what great names they both have.
01:51Well, Luka Kusapilo certainly has transformed himself over the last six months or so, and
01:56we last saw him late January of this year, going from the legal eagle of NXT, now the
02:01Consigliere of the D'Angelo family, in unquestionably the best shape of his life, as Luka Kusapilo
02:07officially back here on Main Event.
02:08Looks great.
02:09I love the New York Yankees look.
02:11The Consigliere even looks a little bit like the Dimes.
02:19Certainly falling under that D'Angelo family tree there, and an interesting fact here,
02:23Dog, both of these superstars from Pittsburgh.
02:25It's a little bit of a hometown rivalry.
02:27Okay.
02:28Bruno's watching, guys.
02:29You better make him proud.
02:30As we saw Kusapilo make his Main Event debut earlier this year against Julius Creed.
02:34Certainly a little bit of a different look here against Joaquin Wilde.
02:36Both superstars used to tag team competition, but Joaquin Wilde certainly a veteran inside
02:40the ring in his own right.
02:41Both these guys are in incredible shape, and both good-looking young guys.
02:45It's just who's going to get the advantage at any moment here.
02:48Again, talking about the last time we saw Kusapilo, how big of a physical transformation
02:52do we see at the Consigliere?
02:53Wow.
02:54We have seen all of a sudden he has abs.
02:55You know what I mean?
02:56All of a sudden there's abs and shoulder peaks, and so I dig what he's doing.
02:59Joaquin Wilde looks to maintain control here, and Dog, how has Wilde really gotten in a
03:03rhythm with his recent action on Main Event?
03:05Well, I'll tell you what.
03:06He's had a couple of opportunities to work in singles action, and that has given him
03:10an opportunity to kind of stand on his own two feet, if you don't mind me saying so.
03:15But I just think it's given him an experience that this other kid may not have.
03:19As Kusapilo, nice counter right there.
03:21That was very unique.
03:22And Dog, that sort of athleticism wasn't necessarily in Kusapilo's game when we last saw him.
03:27No, not at all.
03:28That was very interesting and innovative.
03:32And of course, Joaquin Wilde, part of tag team competition last week with Dragon League,
03:36moves into the Creed Brothers as Julius and Brutus even the odds.
03:39And how do you take a situation like that, Dog?
03:41Block that out for tonight's encounter and essentially start with a clean slate?
03:44Yeah, well, you've got to mentally do that.
03:46Yeah, this does not look good for Kusapilo.
03:48As Luke in a very compromising position right here.
03:53As Joaquin Wilde makes that separation.
03:55Springboard.
03:56Hey, this kid can fly too.
03:57That's what I love about him.
03:59Goes for that springboard dropkick.
04:02And the Wilde style is starting to cook here.
04:05As the smooth criminal of the LWO looking to really separate himself and create his own niche here in the WWE.
04:15Is that another tune there, Dog?
04:16Yep, don't listen.
04:17As Wilde.
04:18Here we go.
04:20And Kusapilo shuts that right down.
04:23And that nearly decapitates him with that clothesline.
04:27He's serious, but you know what?
04:28That's what you've got to do.
04:29You've got to ground him.
04:30And now go to work.
04:32Wow.
04:33You must have heard me.
04:34Doing the bidding of the Don of NXT, Tony D'Angelo.
04:37How much pressure does that put on Luka to carry out tonight?
04:39Spring to the cover.
04:41Wow.
04:42Come up here on main event and face a main roster superstar.
04:47You know what I mean?
04:48A lot of pressure.
04:50Talked about that top notch gear.
04:51You can check out his social media.
04:52Getting ready with the consigliere.
04:54He's got a very deep closet there, Dog.
04:55Is that right?
04:57He's really a little bit jealous on my end.
04:59Is Luka Kusapilo in control right here?
05:03A lot of crowd getting behind Joaquin Wilde here.
05:06Sold out to Irving J. Nutter Center.
05:08Of course, favorites of the WWE Universe.
05:10Hooks the outside leg.
05:11Does Kusapilo.
05:12Wow, that was close.
05:13Right on the doorstep right there.
05:15And of course, Dog, there's a lot of history here.
05:17Essentially between Joaquin Wilde and Luka Kusapilo, but not directly.
05:20Of course, Wilde used to be a part of Legado del Fantasma.
05:23Much decorated history with the D'Angelo family at NXT.
05:26That's true, but that was pre-consigliere.
05:28Indeed it was.
05:29So let's see what the...
05:31Oh, he's not liking the fan reaction.
05:34It was pre-consigliere.
05:35It was pre-Adriano Rizzo.
05:37Of course, the family has certainly undergone a transformation.
05:39It has grown, has it not?
05:40And Joaquin Wilde certainly has changed his life.
05:42Ever since going from Legado del Fantasma to the LWO.
05:46The bad guy gone good.
05:48Is Joaquin Wilde in wild now.
05:51We saw him in singles action a few weeks back against Akira Tozawa.
05:54Looking to reverse those fortunes here tonight.
05:56We've seen him fly before.
05:57And Wilde looking to pick up some momentum here, Dog.
06:02And Wilde connects.
06:04Oh, his dance moves are on point too.
06:06Talked about the smoke terminal right there.
06:08Into position, hooks the outside leg.
06:10Whoa.
06:11And Luka able to hang on.
06:14Close.
06:15Very close, but you got to keep the gas pedal pressed down, kid.
06:18You got to stay on it.
06:19And, of course, we've seen Cruzofino in recent weeks in some tag team action
06:22alongside the underboss of the D'Angelo family, Channing Stacks Lorenzo.
06:27And, of course, we know about Wilde's tag team action.
06:29Wow.
06:30Into the armbar submission.
06:32This is new to me.
06:33I haven't seen Joaquin Wilde do submission maneuvers.
06:35That flying armbar almost taking a page out of the UFC playbook right there.
06:38I thought he was trying to do the real Road Dog.
06:40As Cruzofino shifts his weight.
06:42Only gets two as he's still going back and forth, Dog.
06:46Oh!
06:47Oh!
06:49Goes for that springboard.
06:50Oh!
06:51This has got to be it.
06:52And just like that, Cruzofino.
06:54I can't believe it.
06:55Look at the steal.
06:56Oh!
06:57And right on the cusp.
06:59What?
07:01I thought that was it too, Cruzofino.
07:03You can see that fire inside the consigliere as he's amping things right back up here.
07:08Don't tell him I agreed with him, but, man, that felt like three.
07:11What sort of opportunity is this for Luka if he can come away with a win?
07:14If he comes out with a victory here, it is definitely a Christmas present.
07:19For the family.
07:20For the whole family.
07:22Indeed.
07:23As right now, Cruzofino.
07:24Oh!
07:25A little rushed in.
07:26Misses in the corner and Wilde!
07:27Oh!
07:30From the apron back in with that Tornado DDT.
07:32Oh, no.
07:33Now, Joaquin Wilde finding himself right in his comfort zone, Dog.
07:39He's flying.
07:40Cruzofino's out!
07:41Oh!
07:42And Joaquin puts a stamp on this one.
07:45Wow.
07:46How many flips was that?
07:49Here is your winner, Joaquin Wilde!
07:54450 degrees through the air, and Joaquin Wilde steps into the winner's circle here on Main Event.
08:00Celebratory.
08:01Joaquin Wilde, and rightfully so.
08:03As Wilde goes for it all right there.
08:04Came up short there.
08:05At Cruzofino, Dog, he found an opening right on the cusp with the consigliere.
08:09I could have sworn that was it too.
08:10Incredibly effective in this matchup.
08:12Certainly very impressive.
08:13But Cruzofino...
08:14There it is.
08:15Sticks it.
08:16Falls just a bit short.
08:17That was step one.
08:18Now, here's step two.
08:19And he does 11 flips and lands on it.
08:21Somewhere around there.
08:22That map might be a bit off.
08:23But nonetheless...
08:24Nonetheless.
08:25Joaquin Wilde connects, gets the victory, and the LWO gets some much-needed momentum.
08:30Just a couple of weeks away before SummerSlam!