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00:00Coming up, NXT's Dante Jen looks to bounce back in a big way when the Singaporean Warrior goes one-on-one with the Mad Dragon, Ilja Dragunov, who will leave Fort Lauderdale with a much-needed win.
00:12We'll get the answer next on Main Event.
00:30And first, from Singapore, weighing in at 215 pounds, Dante Chen!
00:39Well, this superstar lives by the three Ps, passion, precision, and perseverance.
00:44And after being chopped down by a monster one week ago here on Main Event, the Singaporean Warrior is back for some more and trying to pick up another win.
00:53We're trying to pick up one to begin with, Dante Chen. You know, I could watch him over and over again because I do love the guy.
00:59He's in great shape. Best shape he's ever been in. I've known him since he started here. And look, he's just waiting for the opportunity, man. And timing is everything.
01:09His fifth appearance here on Main Event, one of the most electric entrances in all of NXT here, comes back to Main Event.
01:16You know, Byron normally does a little dance when he does that.
01:19Oh, does he?
01:20Yeah.
01:21Well, I'm not going to do that.
01:22Nope. Wiggle, wiggle.
01:35And his opponent, from Moscow, Russia, weighing in at 210 pounds, Ilya Dragunov!
01:45Well, fresh out of the frying pan, into the fire of the Mad Dragon.
01:49Wow.
01:50Since being drafted on Monday Night Raw, has brought his intensity and most definitely his madness to the red ring.
01:55To say this guy is intense is an understatement. You mentioned the three Ps. I peed a little when he came out here because he's pretty dang violent.
02:03Is that a different kind of reaction than the Unholy Union?
02:06Well, yes, different. It is different. The quantity.
02:11As we talk about Dante Chen here in his fifth appearance on Main Event, the first time we've ever seen the Mad Dragon.
02:17But over the last four months or so, ever since coming to Monday Night Raw, has certainly made a major impact.
02:22Can I be honest with you, Blake?
02:23Always, Dawg.
02:24I was hopeful for Dante Chen.
02:27You're not anymore?
02:28Key word was, oh, the bells ring.
02:30Well, I'll tell you what, Dawg, after last week competing against North American Champion NXT, Obafemi, on Main Event, how do you really step up to the czar if you're Dante Chen?
02:38Well, I'll tell you what, it's a totally different strategy behind it because this guy is small and powerful as opposed to big and powerful.
02:45So he also has strikes with his heads and elbows.
02:49How many heads does he have, Blake, you ask?
02:51And I say just one, but he hits with elbows and feet and knees and he'll bite you if he has to.
02:56Of course, Dante Chen considers himself the gatekeeper of NXT.
03:00Ilya Dragunov spent 525 days combined as NXT and NXT UK champ.
03:05There's a cover, only gets one early on there.
03:07Ilya Dragunov certainly has to be considered in the conversation, one of the greatest NXT superstars of all time.
03:12Well, that's for sure, and coming from the NXT UK and being that champion as well.
03:16Like, this kid's got the accolades, man, and he is tough as nails.
03:21To the point of Dante Chen considering himself the gatekeeper of NXT.
03:24Had an opportunity to speak to Dante earlier today.
03:27He talked about the fact that he never had the opportunity to really train or even step in the ring with Ilya Dragunov when he was in NXT.
03:33So he really relishes this opportunity to step up to the plate.
03:35I didn't even know you spoke Singaporean.
03:38Dante does speak English, though.
03:40Oh, I'm sorry.
03:41You've spoken to him.
03:44Whoa! He held on after that.
03:46Dante in control here.
03:47But, Dog, when Dante was coming out a few minutes ago, you talked about how you were there essentially from the beginning when he arrived in NXT.
03:53How have you really seen him evolve?
03:54I mean, between the gym, the diet?
03:56I mean, he's really come a long way in the few years he's been in the program.
03:59Well, confidence. I've seen his confidence rise.
04:01You know, he was always in great shape, and he was always a great athlete.
04:04But I've seen him gain confidence.
04:05And like I said, timing is everything in this industry, man.
04:08You never know.
04:09Maybe his time right now.
04:10And Dragunov.
04:11Look at that!
04:12Drives a mow right through Dante Chen.
04:14But once again, the Singaporean warrior slows down the Mad Dragon.
04:18Nice counterattempt there by Ilya Dragunov.
04:20That was like a hip toss.
04:21Or a head toss.
04:23Like a head toss.
04:24I guess it's called a headlock takedown.
04:25Something like that, Dog.
04:26The kids call it.
04:27Back to the basics.
04:28As Dante Chen goes for that pump kick.
04:31We talked about the striking ability in our opening matchup.
04:33Dante Chen bringing it here in spades.
04:35Oh, my word.
04:36How about a spinning backfist there?
04:37Backfist there by the Mad Dragon.
04:38Look at him.
04:39See?
04:40That intensity, Dog.
04:41Terrifying.
04:42On a whole other level.
04:43Good night.
04:44He just has ill intent.
04:46And Dragunov in the corner.
04:48Sitting on a parchment.
04:52Oh, my word.
04:53And look at the connection right there.
04:55And the Mad Dragon has turned the intensity all the way up here on Main Event.
05:04Wow.
05:06That striking ability of Ilya Dragunov.
05:08And a fever pitch.
05:15Has Dragunov really laying into Dante Chen right here.
05:18And of course, since coming to Monday Night Raw,
05:20we've seen Dragunov against the likes of Bron Breakers,
05:22Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre.
05:25Has Ilya shown he can compete at that level?
05:27Listen to this crowd.
05:30This is like the gladiators in Rome.
05:32They're chanting one more time.
05:34And waiting for it.
05:35Oh, look at Dante Chen.
05:36Dog, he came to fight tonight.
05:38He said, you're not hitting me one more time, by God.
05:40And Dante creates some separation there.
05:45We have seen a fight so far.
05:47And these two dialing it up to the highest level.
05:49Good.
05:51This is just scary to me.
05:52I mean, when you're in the ring with Ilya Dragunov,
05:54you really have to step your game up.
05:55Look, I was not good at it,
05:57so I don't know what to do with a guy like him.
06:00German suplex there by Dragunov.
06:02It looks like he might roll with Dante Chen a bit.
06:05Let's see if number two can be executed right here.
06:08And Ilya-
06:09Wow!
06:10Did you see the extra oomph on that one right at the end?
06:14And Dog has-
06:15He's holding on.
06:16Dog has to hold on and stand up for the third time.
06:18And how much really does that take out of him?
06:19And this sick crowd chanting one more time.
06:22I love it.
06:23For Lauderdale, ready to go right here.
06:25And look at Dante Chen.
06:27In a fight for his life right now.
06:29Wow, he's fighting to get out of that one more time.
06:31Dante Chen in the midst of the biggest year
06:33of his entire career,
06:34his NXT championship opportunities.
06:36You've seen him on Main Event, Friday Night SmackDown.
06:39Now the mid-dragon controlling.
06:41Modified German suplex holds the bridge.
06:43Wow, wow.
06:45That was instinct.
06:47He's still out.
06:48And at two and seven-eighths,
06:50Chen able to slip that shoulder up.
06:51Look at this innovative offense right here.
06:53The strength, the popping of the hips,
06:56the bridge, all of it.
06:58Beautifully painful.
06:59Out of a deadlift position.
07:00And if you go on Ilya Dragunov's social media,
07:02you see some incredibly unorthodox type lifts
07:05that he does to prepare for moments just like this.
07:07Yeah, I never did any type lift,
07:09whether they were unorthodox or not.
07:11So I'm not sure.
07:12Again, I bring a chair to this party.
07:14I don't know what to do with him.
07:16An athlete on an entirely different level right here
07:18as Dante Chen right now.
07:21In fact, Chen, of course,
07:22we talk about being his fifth appearance
07:23here on Main Event.
07:24Already does have a win under his belt.
07:26And Chen with a counter.
07:28Backdrop from Chen.
07:29And Dante.
07:30Still got a little something.
07:32There's that enziguri.
07:33Connects right to the side of the head of Ilya Dragunov.
07:36This is his opportunity here.
07:37He's got to pull something.
07:38And Dante digging deep right here.
07:40Together here.
07:41Doing it for his friends, his family,
07:43everyone watching back home in Singapore.
07:45Come on, Dante.
07:46Do it for me.
07:48And the D-O-double-D cheering him on right here.
07:50How about this?
07:51A little taste of your own medicine, sir.
07:53And Dante Chen.
07:54You know that intensity has to be picked up
07:56when you're in there with Dragunov.
07:57And Dante's bringing it right here.
07:59Hey, he is bringing the best out of both.
08:01I think that when you start hitting each other hard,
08:03you start thinking about it.
08:05You know, we're going to see a lot of intensity
08:06in the match in Berlin.
08:08And Dante and Ilya Dragunov
08:09trying to set the pace right here.
08:12As Chen, Dragunov,
08:14exchanging blows right in the center of the ring.
08:16Wow.
08:17These guys are clubbing each other.
08:18I can feel it.
08:21As these two going back and forth.
08:23Oh, wow.
08:24Dragunov went for it all.
08:25Chen coming back.
08:27And now Dante.
08:28Left-handed clothesline.
08:30Maybe seeing some light at the end of the tunnel right here.
08:34And Dante.
08:35Inverted atomic drop.
08:37Trying to take full advantage right here.
08:39Oh.
08:40Hump kick doesn't come this time.
08:43And Dragunov
08:44with that spitting back fist.
08:45But look at Dante coming right back.
08:49That is arse over tea kettle, my friend.
08:51The strong style of Dante Chen
08:53dialed up right here.
08:54Chen.
08:55Look at that.
08:56Innovative offense.
08:57Digging deep into the playbook.
08:59But the anti-leg up.
09:01Upset nearly on it.
09:02Wow.
09:03Dante's feeling it.
09:04Wow.
09:05He's got to be feeling it.
09:06That was close.
09:07Let's take another look right here, Dog.
09:08The impact.
09:09Dragunov down.
09:10But look at that innovative offense.
09:11Yeah.
09:12Strength and power.
09:13Wow.
09:14I am impressed.
09:15He has met Ilya's aggression with aggression.
09:18And Chen now getting into position.
09:20Dog looking to dial up that gentle touch.
09:23One of the most devastating strikes in all of NXT.
09:25Might be wasting a little time here.
09:26I don't know.
09:27Oh.
09:28And Dragunov
09:29connects right there.
09:30Oh!
09:31Cuts a team special.
09:32Wow.
09:34Do it again!
09:35And Ilya
09:36starting to see red.
09:39Oh!
09:42Oh, here we go, Dog.
09:43It's that landing that hurts.
09:45The flying's not so bad.
09:48That mad zone of the mad dragon.
09:50And this place wants to see it.
09:52And Ilya
09:56dials it up.
09:58Whoa!
09:59Loads right through.
10:00Right through it.
10:01And Torpedo Muscat!
10:06Here is your winner,
10:08Ilya Dragunov!
10:13Date Chen certainly brought the fight right on the cusp of victory here tonight, Dog.
10:17Wow.
10:18But The Czar reigns supreme here on Main Event.
10:21Hey, I gotta be honest, man.
10:23Dante Chen put up a heck of a fight here tonight.
10:26Ilya Dragunov is a Main Event
10:29title contender
10:30at any moment.
10:31Dante Chen put together a hell of a match against him.
10:34We talked about if Dragunov could hang with the likes of the Intercontinental Champion,
10:37Braun Rigger, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre.
10:40But with offense like that, Dog,
10:42The Czar is on Monday Night Raw
10:44and is ready to shoot right to the top.
10:48The Czar is on Monday Night Raw