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00:00Coming up, two rising stars in the absolutely stacked NXT Women's Division are set for action.
00:05Layla Diggs looking to build some confidence, takes on the Southern Sass of Lady Reed.
00:10That is next.
00:12I heard WrestleMania 41 quickly approaching.
00:16Can you believe it already?
00:18Unreal.
00:18The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
00:25Introducing first, Layla Diggs.
00:30Well, she's bubbly, chipper, and has a growing confidence for
00:32the Fresno, California native.
00:34But Byron, she's beginning to face a bit of adversity,
00:36as a couple of weeks ago on Level Up, her friendliness overtakes were not well received.
00:42Hard lesson that Layla Diggs had to learn, but
00:44that's all part of the maturation process here at NXT.
00:48And her opponent, Lady Reed.
00:57And Byron, let's take a look at those comments from a couple of weeks ago.
01:03Keep your chin up.
01:07Thanks, kid.
01:09I guess.
01:10Hey, Lainey, Rizzo's right.
01:12I know you wanted to win, but
01:13you keep impressing everyone every time you go out there.
01:16Aw, did I ask for your opinion, sweetheart?
01:20Yeah, didn't think so.
01:21How about you just worry about yourself, okay?
01:24A little feistiness from Lady Reed.
01:29That's an understatement there, as in recent weeks,
01:31we've certainly seen a whole new side of the modern day Southern Black.
01:35Listen, when I think about it, I'm not really surprised by that response from
01:39Lady Reed.
01:40That's actually a response you expect to have from someone like Lady Reed.
01:44Let's think about this for a second, Blake.
01:45Lady Reed has not won a match here in eight months.
01:48Eight months of a losing streak.
01:50That don't drive anyone bonkers.
01:52I think time to shift gears indeed.
01:54So we've seen Lady Reed try to increase her aggression,
01:57adjust her style a little bit, and it still hasn't worked.
02:00When you have people who are offensive, like Layla Diggs, who try to encourage
02:03you, sometimes it just feels like a threat to get them away from you.
02:07You don't want to hear that.
02:08That's certainly one way to look at it.
02:09But of course, as Lainey Reed's looking for her first victory,
02:13Layla Diggs also looking to shoot right up the charts.
02:15And to that point, Byron,
02:16is this the type of conflict that Layla needs to grow in NXT?
02:20Layla Diggs has been very open about her insecurities, about being shy,
02:23about having a break out of her shell now that she's in this world of NXT.
02:27So this is a great example for Layla Diggs to try to find that inner voice,
02:33a voice where she can silence the doubt.
02:35Nice takedown by Layla Diggs as she looks to be in control right there.
02:38Silence the lack of confidence and step up to a competitor like Lainey Reed.
02:43And there's that track and a field back on that athleticism on full display
02:47of Layla Diggs here.
02:49And of course, we saw recently Adriana Rizzo motivate the Don of NXT,
02:53Tony D'Angelo, all the way to championship gold.
02:56You think the Riz had any words of motivation tonight for Layla Diggs?
02:59Well, we've seen in the past that the Riz has certainly encouraged Layla Diggs to
03:02embrace the big C, embrace confidence.
03:05So I would have no doubt that she's continuing to do that.
03:07And let's give some praise, let's get some flowers to Layla Diggs for
03:11putting herself in a vulnerable position to go up to Lainey Reed and
03:14try to be that person to help her get over her losing blues, if you will.
03:20Yes, certainly trying to level up Lainey Reed, if you will, and
03:22it kind of backfired in a way.
03:23But now Layla looking to prove herself and
03:25send her own message to the modern day Southern Belt.
03:28These two exchanging blows right now in the NXT universe here,
03:33since we're divided by it.
03:35You can't really worry about what the universe is saying.
03:37I'll respect that.
03:38It's about two ladies who desperately need to earn themselves a victory.
03:42As Diggs tries to create a bit of separation from the outside back in.
03:46And a drop kick by Layla Diggs, and Layla goes for the cover.
03:51We're gonna gain some confidence right here.
03:53And right on the cusp, only gets two.
03:54And I'm starting to feel like Lainey's words to Layla,
03:58maybe igniting a little bit of fire in the soul of Layla Diggs.
04:03As Layla right now trying to control the pace of this, and
04:07that's certainly a way to derail that momentum as Lainey Reed digging deep
04:10into the bag of tricks.
04:11First time ever, Lainey Reed, of course, more experienced than two in this matchup.
04:16Byron, you almost have to wonder, is this frustration being taken out?
04:19Is this not just towards Layla Diggs?
04:21Is this also towards Adriana Rizal?
04:23And while it is, it's not just Rizal.
04:25It's her career, okay?
04:27Lainey Reed is frustrated with her career.
04:30She's frustrated with not winning.
04:32So anyone who is in her way is going to receive the wrath of her frustration.
04:36That's what it is.
04:37Byron, you talked about that losing streak amounting to almost nine months now.
04:41Is this now Lainey straying away from her core values that she instilled upon
04:44herself when she came back?
04:45It's not that you're straying away.
04:47Lainey Reed is still a sweet lady.
04:50She'll still give you sweet tea on a hot summer day.
04:52But at the same time, everyone has more than one side.
04:56Everyone has that extra gear.
04:57Lainey Reed is now finding out what her extra gear consists of.
05:02This might be the unsweet tea version of Lainey Reed here.
05:04That was cute.
05:06As Lainey, twisting suplex.
05:09Laila digs down, and Laila able to power out right here.
05:13As you all see that frustration beginning to set in here for Lainey Reed.
05:16As she's doing her best to get noticed right now.
05:18Let's take another look.
05:19Nice rotation there.
05:21But the NXT Women's Division, Byron, as stacked as ever.
05:24Everywhere you look, new faces, new competition to deal with.
05:29I always say it all the time.
05:30If you don't rise with that competition, you get left behind.
05:34If you don't adjust, if you don't evolve, you get left behind.
05:37There's a lot of pressure on every single superstar in the Women's Division.
05:41Laila Diggs trying to fight right here.
05:42Of course, we've seen big debuts like Julia, Stephanie Vacker.
05:45And of course, the return of Nikita Lyons.
05:48A lot of buzz about Nikita Lyons.
05:50Here we go, inside cradle, Laila Diggs.
05:52Coming back to NXT.
05:53Of course, a lot of targets right now.
05:57Roxanne Perez, Kalani Jordan, the NXT Women's Champion,
06:01the NXT Women's North American Champion.
06:03But look at Laila Diggs fight here, Byron.
06:04This is a new type of fight that we've seen from Laila.
06:07You have an opponent that brings the aggression to you.
06:09You better respond.
06:10Laila Diggs has responded.
06:13And Laila starting to feel the fire inside.
06:16Takes down Laini Reed.
06:18Oh, and a big sweeping kick right there.
06:21And Laila's starting to feel it.
06:22The way this match is going, Blake, this will think a backfire for Laini Reed.
06:26Laila Diggs could be on the verge of getting the W.
06:29Laila could end up picking up that win before Laini.
06:32That would certainly drive Laini further into the abyss.
06:35Here we go.
06:36Into the outstretched arms here of Laila Diggs.
06:38Power on display by Diggs.
06:41And Laila now.
06:43Standing moonsault.
06:44There's the cover.
06:44This is it.
06:45Spiders are down.
06:46Laila Diggs right on the cusp.
06:51And now Laila will have to continue to fight here.
06:56Very smart by Laila Diggs.
06:57We saw earlier from Laini Reed.
06:58Don't let frustration halt your offensive attack.
07:02Stay on your opponent.
07:03Oh, and Laila may be a bit overzealous there.
07:07Man, and eats the knee of Laini Reed.
07:11And now Laini.
07:14Into a pinning combination here.
07:16Oh, with a bit of an assist.
07:19And throw those fanners out the window.
07:21Yeah, that circuit bit of the rule book.
07:22Here is your winner, Laini Reed.
07:28Look, don't look at me like that.
07:29I'm not condoning this.
07:31But Laini Reed did what she had to do.
07:33Laini Reed can now say she has won her first match here on Level Up.
07:37Certainly a way to gain your first win here on Level Up for Laini Reed.
07:42But Byron.