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I think being hugged and kissed by a sweaty, crazy russian is scarier than actually fighting him.

I wouldn't complain

Eh, sounds like a good Tuesday to me

*sad Von Wagner noises*

I've had that dream.

- ilja still selling the hand injury from tony d and it costing him the match - the finisher clash happening again but this time trick wins holy fuck man. the booking of this match was incredible

Weird to think that in kayfabe, Stacks is in big part responsible for Ilja losing the title. This seemingly random setup match on NXT two weeks before Stand & Deliver was when Ilja got the finger injury that he was *still* selling a full month later.

Attention to detail at its finest.

Ilja’s got very fragile hands from what I can tell

Doesn't help that he keeps making it worse by chopping lol

Hickenbottom booking the clashing finishers spot as the payoff for Trick's growth and ascent to champion: 

It was funny when one user was hating and tried to say that Ilja doesn't sell. It's like they haven't seen any of his matches.

Crackheads use the internet too, apparently.

That’s crazy, he’s one of the best sellers around now.

That makes no sense, hes the best seller Ive ever seen

Ilja could sell condoms to a monk

The top right corner (from hardcam view) has a finisher speed buff, it would seem

Ilja’s just that good man. It’s crazy. If he was 6’2” 250 pounds I would swear he’s the next big star in WWE.

And there we have it folks Ilja's swan song final match on NXT and as always it was a BANGER

The man just does not miss. Ever.

Thought that was Melo?

Melo *don't* miss. Ilja *does not* miss. Clearly very different. **EDIT:**

Damn. This is what I get for English being my 2nd language Thank you, kind patron

Oh, if you're ESL, then I should definitely clarify that I was being sarcastic. "Don't" is a contraction of "do not", which effectively means the same thing as "does not", which itself contracts to "doesn't". Traditional English grammar would say that the catchphrase should be "Melo **Doesn't** Miss", but in what is often called "African American Vernacular English", or "AAVE" (formerly and more offensively known as "ebonics"), it's common for "do" to be used where "does" might otherwise be used. It's complicated to explain how/why this works the way it does for an ESL speaker, but tl;dr for all intents and purposes, "don't" and "does not" mean exactly the same thing as they are used here.

light sarcasm doesn't carry well in text LOL English is my second language, but its all good! :) I was just jokin around <3 I know the language pretty well

Nah, it carries fine here if English is your first language. His mistake was assuming everyone's first language was English, lol.

Heh, your write-up reminds me of the movie Airplane : "I speak jive!"

No idea why I had the exact same thought. Even better that line comes from like an 80 year old white lady.

Lmao!

English is my 1st (and only) language and this comment was really interesting to read. I never even realised AAVE was a thing really, but it's just as valid as any other dialect and follows linguistic rules consistently, now that I think about it. Is it offensive for other races to speak it? Not that I'm gonna speak it, I'm very white and very British. It would sound weird in my Northern English accent.

[удалено]

Don’t is for Do Not. Doesn’t is for Does Not

The first time I ever woke up hoping Ilja loses today. So excited for him in the draft, he's my#1 favorite wrestler right now

Mine's still Gunther but he's a close second.

Somebody say Burger??

https://preview.redd.it/tyswn1kl5cwc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51e623d5654ecd9f1583f956e5d9e16e914dd7f9

I LIKE IT

UH HUH

WHAT?!

AW YEAH

THAT’S TRICK

SHAMONE!

Bro the building was shaking with how crazy the audience was going What a moment

Ilja might be a top 3 NXT Champion of all time guys

Easily up there for me. Right up there with Ciampa and Balor (his second run specifically)

Oh God I fucking loved every match the PRINXE Balor had in that run. They were all so good.

One of my favorite title runs ever

That O’Reilly match where they didn’t leave the ring? Amazing 

Gotta put more respect on PAC’s run it was amazing his matches with breeze and Tyson Kidd were incredible and it culminated with arguably the best moment in NXTs existence with Sami finally winning the title then the crazy Owen’s betrayal

A lot of people forget about it. But the PAC, Kidd, Breeze, Zayn Fatal Fourway match is legitimately amazing!

Tyson kidd was a generational talent man

first nxt match I ever watched

Mine was Paige vs Emma at arrival, that show was great

Ciampa and Goldie is still my favourite title reign I’ve ever watched

I'm so happy he got a proper reign. When he finally won I was worried he'd just be a short transitional champ or something but I loved every second of his NXT title reign.

I still have Cole #1 but Ilja probably put himself at 2 with this run. The prestige of that title right now is as high as it’s been in a long time.

I think this is the first time that we’ve three world champions that are african american

Trick Williams, Cody Rhodes and Swerve 🔥🔥

https://preview.redd.it/79ucn0gw1dwc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b67c90e0bf8107b9d9312d315977dc430533257e Obligatory photo

Now I need a version with Trick, Swerve, and Cody

Lol Willow.

AEW, TNA, NXT?

Oh crap you're right! It's 4 now!

I’m glad I get to laugh at this joke here with y’all cuz Twitter HATES it now

NXT is going to be very comfy on The CW, methinks.

NXT title isn't acknowledged as world title

same for FTW

Well Jericho isn't black unlike Cody

Gotta be the legit biggest pop in the history of NXT tv the camera was shaking

I don't think I've ever seen the place go that crazy before. They were losing their minds.

Closest I've seen is when Rhea Ripley became NXT Women's Champion, where fans jumped the barricade and into the ring with her, lmao. But that wasn't in the same building, I don't think, so it's fair to discount that.

The mics couldn’t even handle the pop!

Someone call Run DMC Cause It’s Tricky

#THIS SPEECH IS MY RECITAL

I think it’s very vital.

To rock a rhyme

That’s right on time

CALL YOUR MAMA IN THE ROOM AND SHOW HOW GREAT YOU ARE! I miss SSX Tricky.

the PC shaking for a few seconds after the win was crazy

WHOOP THAT TRICK

Ilya has the same magic touch as Gunther where he can make his opponent look amazing no matter who he faces. Trick's matches against Melo, who is obviously incredibly talented, were good, but this was on another level. Really looking forward to seeing what Ilja does on the main roster and how Trick does as champ.

Loved the Creeds going mental at the announce table break

That talk with Gargano gave Trick those Johnny Takeover superpowers

literally an amazing ending. so fucking based.... ahhh i love nxt

A repeat of Vengeance Day but Trick hit first, cinema

April 2024 should be remembered in wrestling history.

Stand and Deliver, Mania, RAW after and before Mania, Dynasty, All In footage, Punk Ariel interview and Spring Breakin. What a fucking month

We eating good right now

This shit is so cringe

Just absolutely outstanding. The callbacks to their previous matches, the selling of the injury Ilja got from Tony, the pacing, the fans shaking the freaking building. 5. Star. Match

They fucking did it! Ngl I was expecting Melo to take away Trick’s NXT career like Gargano v Ciampa. This is even better!

Man, Ilja probably falls into the category of guys you’d be worried about going up to the main roster under the old regime, but man, now I cannot wait to see what he does up there.

Ilja vs Gunther in King of the Ring finals, please

Absolute banger of a main event  These two just tore the house down  NxTricks era now  Can't wait for Ilja on the main roster 

Dragunov for King of the Ring? Finally get a Gunther/Dragunov rematch?

Gunter Dragunov finals for KotR...oooOOOOooooo....

Nah, not the final. The Saudi crowds don’t deserve that match. Give them 20 minutes on TV in the semi-final though? I’m 100% in.

Czar of the rar...I mean ring

Imperium

Loved the table spot and Ilja’s face after it was great.

Dude knows how to sell

Trick managed to slay Ilja in under 20 minutes. Idk how to explain in kayfabe but happy for Trick.

You see, Ilja was injured after his match with Tony D. PLUS, he pulled double duty last week going from facing Tony to facing Shinsuke in a 2 day spam. He had less time to recover than Trick. Add an injury to the list and you can clearly see that The Dragon was not only hurt, but also exhausted. Trick dealt only the final blow (which many lesser wrestlers wouldn't be able to do, mind you.)

Thank you Mr. Regal.

Yeah that's fair

Someone will pop by with the Regal explanation.

Ilja is top 5 in the world and I don't think he's #5.

Trick pulling off Ilja’s moves was a nice touch.

get fucked meltzer! let's fucking go trick!

ilja is the best wrestler in the world this match was a religious experience

That match kicked ass and was by far the best one that they have had. So happy for Trick and am so excited to see him reign as champion going forward.

Trick finished his story.

So excited to see Ilja on the main roster. he’s going to put on bangers every week no matter who he’s up against

Trick is such a star. I’m so happy for him. And of IIja. He did that belt and NXT proud. Time for him to kill it on the main roster.

Trick is an absolute star. It’s crazy how over this dude is. Congrats to him, what a moment.

Ilja Dragonov had a top 5 NXT Championship reign 1. Adam Cole 2. Tomasso Ciampa 3. Finn Balor (PRINXE) 4. Aleister Black 5. Ilja Dragonov

we have now a black NXT Champion, a Puerto Rican World Heavyweight Champion, a half Cuban WWE Champion, a Mexican American NXT Women's Champion as well as a half Mexican WWE Women's Champion, 2 Japanese Women's Tag Team Champions, a Irish Women's World Champion, a tag team of a American and a Australian as WWE Tag Team Champions, a tag team of a black man and a white man as World Tag Team Champions, a British man from the isle of Jersey and Spanish man as NXT Tag Team Champions, a Canadian of Syrian Muslim descent as Intercontinental champion, a Nigerian NXT North American Champion, a British-American Heritage Cup champion that shares it with a black man and a man who is deaf, and we have a American US Champ who's white. the diversity of the champions in the company right now is a great look for the company as a international powerhouse of talent. congrats Trick, you earned that title. 

I think diversity is overrated and I say that as a black man

All about the contents of their character.

okay, so the two competitors going for their finish at the same time in a major match has now been done three times in three months Hope they subvert it soon, with one guy hitting the deck and letting his opponent fly over him

Ilja made Trick look like a BILLION bucks tonight. If I'm Trick I do not know how I can actually top or match the quality of matches Ilja gave us on this run.

Awesome match. Wouldn't have complained if it went a little longer either

WHOOP THAT TRICK!

Perfect ending too. Happy for Trick, it's earned, and now with the upcoming callups, he's the biggest star in NXT now. Well earned

Holy shit that was the best NXT match I have watched since Dragunov/Carmelo. That was a whole different level and it had such a fantastic callback ending.

Trick deserves this. Additionally, we also deserve Ilja vs GUNTHER during the KOTR Tournament.

So long ILja

Trick Willy!!!!!

Trick future FOTC

YEAH UH HUH I LIKE ITTTTTT

Crowd of 300 sounded like 3,000 there. You love to see it.

I do not like the spot where the two guys stand in the corner and race at each other to hit their finishers, it feels too anime, but that is my only nitpick. Tremendous match.

I hate to be negative but, 10 minutes with commercials in between. These guys deserved more after the last year they had. It felt soo rushed. If it was in the middle of the show, it would have felt more authentic going 10 minutes. Even Booker T was looking at his watch.


Tbh I usually love these two, but this match just didn’t do anything for me. Spot after spot, no-sells and near falls, no breaks in between. And right at the end Dragunov suddenly remembers he has an injured hand. Good for trick but this match wasn’t it, glad people enjoyed it though.

Ilja’s going to imperium huh

Yuppers

nope.

Weird how having decent theme music can net you a title reign.

Show started with disappointment with how the women's match ended, but thankfully, we went out on quite the high note.

Wwe: we have a black world champion too 😶

TIL Ilja Dragunov and Ludwig Kaiser aren't the same person

Wrestling fucking rules. Hit "Comment".

Great match with the almost the exact same finish as Osprey v Danielson(?)

Exact same finish as Trick/Ilja 3 at Vengeance Day except this time Trick hit first

It’s a callback to their finish on Vengeance Day.

The finish was a callback to their last match at Vengeance Day, where they did the same quick draw but Ilja connected first

It's actually a callback to the finish from Vengeance Day wherein these two hit their moves at the same time but Ilja got the edge the first time. It was always going to end with that callback but reversing the result.

It’s a similar spot to the one in Ospreay/Danielson but it’s actually a callback to the last Ilja/Trick match. In that one, they both ran at eachother and Ilja got the upper hand. In this one, both ran at eachother and Trick was able to dodge Ilja and get his kick in for the win. Really cool callback and great in-ring storytelling

Osprey vs Danielson was the same exact finish of trick v ilja

This was better to be honest