- We're at Universal Studios Hollywood,
our home for qualifying on "American Ninja Warrior."
Hello, everyone, and thanks for joining us.
I'm Matt Iseman. - And I'm Akbar Gbajabiamila.
Matt, we're gonna jump right into
our first run of the night.
- This is Jawon Turner. - Let's go!
- Matt, he's gonna get this crowd fired up.
- Let's do it, baby!
- He knows fiery.
He's a server at a hot wings restaurant.
He's served us some spicy wings up here in the booth.
- Get into this, man. You ready?
- Mmm, this is good. - Mmm, ooh, ooh.
- My one brought a little spice.
- Ooh, that's spicy. - That's hot.
[countdown clock beeping]
- We'll see if he can heat it up on the course.
- Ooh.
- 5'7", 140. - Mm-hmm.
- Serving up on the pole vault there.
[cheers and applause]
His family here from Wisconsin.
They call Jawon Won-Won.
Let's see him on Greased Lightning.
- Well, he better fly like he got some wings.
- I see you, guys!
- I see you.
- Well, this obstacle has been dropping people all season.
Lock it in. - All right. Come on.
- Dismount it, nice. - Got it.
- Let's go. - Jawon is turnt up.
That boy hot, spicy.
- The balance obstacle tonight is Domino Effect.
Won-Won played wide receiver
for the Lakeland University Muskies back in college.
- Jawon from Sheboygan, let's go.
She-boing-boing-boing. Nice.
- Won-Won.
- Got some nice springs on that one.
- He's a single dad who's inspired to compete
by his three-year-old daughter.
- You got this! - Go!
- You got this. - Whew.
I'm sweating, it's so hot.
- Now on the Getaway.
Got to spin it 270 degrees.
Not easy with the chicken grease.
- You can't have greasy fingers for this one.
- Spin it back 180.
- He's using a lot of upper body strength
on this one, Matt.
Well, here we go.
His first year competing, and he's looking good, Matt.
He's got a nice hot and spicy run going.
- From here, he's got to latch on to the diamond ring
and then swung over to escape with the bag of cash.
- This dude clearly ate his protein.
[cheers and applause]
All right, let's go, Jawon.
Boom.
[cheers and applause]
- Just got to grab that bag of money.
- All right, come on, come on.
Whoo, oh, come on, hold on!
- And he's got it.
- Ain't no thing but a chicken wing.
- Jawon Turner.
- Let's go! Let's go!
[cheers and applause]
- Look at this!
He almost missed the bag, but he wanted it badly.
High grab, got in low.
Hung on with his fingertips. - Absolutely money.
Won-Won serving it up with sauce.
Now on Ring the Bells.
- This fifth obstacle is hard.
Remember, it took out half the athletes
who tried it a few weeks ago.
- You have to work your way across the four bell handles
and time your moves perfectly.
Can he make the transfer? Got to send it here.
- Oh no, come on now.
Dip and fry. Dip and fry.
- Can't be chicken here.
Spread those wings, Won-Won.
- Oh, Matt, no, I think his arms are frying out.
[together] Oh!
- What a grab! - OK, Won!
- Even he's nodding.
Is he going for a second helping?
Yes, he is.
[cheers and applause]
Spread your wings, young man.
It's all you can eat on Ring The Bells.
One more move.
- Come on, you can ring that bell--
[groans] Oh.
- The wing man is grounded on Ring The Bells,
but that may be good enough to get him into the semis,
where every run is a race.
We've got a lot more to come.
For our preview, let's go down to Zuri Hall.
- Yeah, guys, we are definitely gonna see
some ninjas tonight who could win at all.
We've got the teenager who just missed out
on the million dollars the past two years,
Kaden Lebsack. - The last ninja standing!
- And two guys who like to have fun...
- Whoo!
- The Iowa cat daddy Jackson Twait.
[cat meows]
Along with the Classy Ninja, Kansas City's Donovan Metoyer.
- He's dressed for success.
- Plus, it's the debut of Taylor Greene.
She was beating the boys back on "Ninja Junior,"
and the 15 year old could be the next Ninja superstar.
All right guys, get them going.
- Our next athlete is known as the Blue Jean Ninja.
It's Iowa farmer Cade Perkins.
He's thrilled to be here to run because at one point,
he couldn't walk.
- When I was 10 years old, we found out
I had an autoimmune disease that, among other things,
took away my ability to walk.
The doctors we went to said that, yeah,
there's nothing we can do. You know?
Pray and go home.
[soft dramatic music]
I remember being in a window,
sometimes friends would come over,
and you'd see them play,
and you can't join them.
* *
I was like, "Well, shoot.
Why? Why me?"
* *
My mom researched and found out
about food allergies, and she's like,
"Well, that sounds crazy, but crazy is all we got left."
My mom started doing this dieting stuff.
I started to very slowly get better and better.
- Whoo!
- * So I'm gonna climb *
- You know, he fought.
And that's when things started to turn around.
- * Up to the mountaintop *
- Everybody's got that little box, you know,
it's like the one--that dream
that, you know, they kind of pushed
to the back of their head.
- * No, I'm not gonna ever stop *
- And Ninja was mine.
- * No, I'm gonna climb *
- This is my biggest dream come true.
[cheers and applause]
- And he's got his family watching back at the farm
and his dad and other Iowa Ninjas
on the sideline.
[countdown clock beeping]
- Cade is a walking testimony.
This is a kid that never gives up.
- Stay dry. Whoa, nice.
Good choice right there.
5'7" 142.
- He goes by the name the Blue Jean Ninja.
I call him Young Country.
Come on, Young Country.
- These jeans are broken in, looking to stay dry here.
You don't like wet denim.
- I hope they got a little
of that stretch material, though.
Come on. Wow.
Oh! - Ooh, split leg.
- I guess they do got that stretch material.
- And look at him, Cade just looking calm, unfazed by that.
[cheers and applause]
- Had to learn how to walk again.
Can he handle the balance obstacle?
- Let me see them feet.
- And he's through.
[cheers and applause]
When they told him he wouldn't walk,
Cade didn't take that answer.
He just kept moving.
On now to the Getaway.
- Impossible is nothing for him.
And now look at him, opening up that safe.
- He lives on a farm.
Says he's-- never ending string of chores
starts before the sun even comes up.
- Yeah, he real country though, Matt.
They got 10 horses, 12 pigs, 2 donkey, 5 goats,
3 cows, 5 turkeys, 10 chickens.
- And one diamond ring on a hook.
Can he get the bag of money to add to it?
- Come on, Country. Nice.
- E-I-E-I-O.
Cade Perkins rolling.
- On his farm, he doesn't have this,
Ring The Bells.
This one takes a lot of hard work,
but you got to go back like you on the farm.
You got to do that grip long. - Tries and he does it.
Good control.
You can see, this dude's got some upper body strength,
big man.
Getting close to a buzzer. - Oh!
[air horn blares]
- Still, a great debut by the Blue Jean Ninja.
And we could see him in our Ninja vs. Ninja semifinals.
Remember, the top 12 men and top 4 women from tonight
will move on.
- These jeans are a lot heavier when they're wet.
- Tonight, we've got Ninja's new stars
and some fan favorites.
- Let's go!
- Plus, the Iowa dad who made Ninja a family affair.
- My goal is to keep doing this with all my kids.
I got a few more years to go.
- And at the end of the night,
we're going racing in the runoffs
for the final spots in the semifinals.
- Ooh!
- It's all coming up on "American Ninja Warrior."
- It's qualifying night, and no one was more excited
to be here than Colorado's Angela Fuller.
After four years of trying, this year,
she finally got the call to compete.
- Oh, my gosh, I am, like, in shock.
I think I'm gonna have a heart attack.
- The 42-year-old mother of two
calls herself the Happy Dance Ninja.
And though her run wasn't what she hoped for...
- Oh, watch out. Get up high.
Get up high. Ooh.
- She still left with a smile.
- Honestly, I'm just-- this was my dream come true.
- Nate Person brought a teddy bear to the start,
a tribute to Lexi, the 13-year-old girl
who inspired him to run.
And he gave Lexi and his family
a run to remember.
The rookie from Iowa
celebrated after every obstacle.
[cheers and applause]
Person made it to the Getaway.
- Ooh!
- But despite the fall, he is still Lexi's hero.
Ninja veteran Chris DiGangi was looking
for his 11th career buzzer.
His fiancée, Ninja great Jesse "Flex" Labreck,
was cheering for him back in Chicago.
As the 33-year-old muscled his way
across Ring The Bells...
- Nice, that's exactly it.
- He looked like the night's first finisher.
- Oh!
- Despite the fall, he's in good position
to move onto the semifinals.
- Let's go, babe.
- Well, Flex and Chris are training partners
with our next athlete, 18-year-old Maggie Owen.
She just finished her freshman year
at North Central University in Chicago,
and it's been an adjustment.
- I'd say hardest part of college is probably
just deciding to go to my classes.
[laughs]
- Get down. - I'm a good student.
I don't skip my classes that much,
but it's definitely been an adjustment
being away from my parents.
I can stay up as late as I want.
[upbeat music]
It's been hard to fit Ninja into the schedule,
but this is my third season now,
and so I'm ready to go and ready to hit the buzzer.
* *
[cheers and applause]
- We won't tell the parents she's skipping class.
They're on the sideline. - You've got this, Maggie!
- And her buddy Flex is watching from Chicago.
- Love you, buddy. You got this.
[countdown clock beeping]
- Only 5 feet tall.
Our smallest competitor tonight.
Oh. - She got too low.
She's got to hustle, hustle to the top.
Hustle, no, oh!
Oh, wow, what a save.
[cheers and applause]
- Maggie Owen survives.
On now to Greased Lightning.
Well, you need a break in Ninja.
That might have been hers.
- Come on, Maggie! - Go, Maggie!
- Hasn't hit a buzzer out here,
certainly capable of it. - Nice.
[cheers and applause]
- Just like Flex, Maggie ran track
in high school, has never failed on balance.
- Now, she's getting the momentum.
[cheers and applause]
- On now to the Getaway.
- She's 105 pounds,
so she's really got to muscle it around that
270 counterclockwise.
But you can see, it's going clockwise.
She's got to get it going the other way.
- Really trying to launch herself up and into it.
There she goes. - Nice.
- That's that drop.
Now, 180 degrees the other way.
- Open that safe. Open that safe.
Get that ring.
- And she's extending a lot of grip strength here.
- But she's also 105 pounds, so she might be able
to hang on a little longer. - That is a good point.
I think you and I weighed that
in about the third grade, big man.
- I was 120 in the fourth. Nice.
- Well, she has never made it past the fourth obstacle.
- I don't know, man, she might change that--
get that bag! - Maggie Owen, her best run.
[cheers and applause]
- Come on.
- This is her third year competing,
and her first buzzer is within sight,
but Ring the Bells is gonna be tough.
Big transfers here.
At just 5 feet tall, you really have
to launch yourself. - Yes, she really is.
She's got-- she's eyeballing it right now.
She's gonna take a couple more swings
and then throw herself into it.
- You can see just how those bells
slamming into each other, how it disrupts
the momentum of the athlete.
- And Matt, the secret to the lache is in the hips.
Nice! - Got it.
- Nice hip action right there, money.
- Maggie Owen, those forearms have to be exhausted.
- Come on. Just one more catch, dude.
[cheers and applause]
- Come on, ring the bells.
- Boy, what a buzzer would mean to Maggie.
And she is just muscling this, big man.
- Throw your hips into it.
Remember, you got to get back, throw your hips into it.
Oh!
[air horn blares]
A great run by Maggie though.
- Good job, Maggie. Whoo!
- Just couldn't do it. Came up a bit short.
But that's probably gonna be good enough
to get her into the semifinals.
If you've watched Ninja over the years,
you've probably seen this family on the sidelines
cheering for others, but tonight,
the Behrends bunch is taking over the start line.
Ninja has changed the life of this Iowa family,
especially 41-year-old dad Scott Behrends.
- Hit it, Ben. Beat that wall.
Nice.
Get up there.
"American Ninja Warrior" is very much a family affair.
- [screams]
- Seven or eight years ago, we started making
obstacle courses in the backyard.
Backyard Ninjakids was born.
We are here in our backyard where we're gonna try
to build an obstacle course, see how we do.
Three years after Backyard Ninjakids was formed,
we opened up Ninja U.
* *
- Let's go!
- Yeah! - Oh!
* *
- In the water.
* *
- We would never know our best friends,
right, that we've created over these years
if it wasn't for Ninja.
[laughter]
And now...
- Ben and Scott, congrats.
You're both gonna be on "American Ninja Warrior."
- Yeah! - [laughs]
- Let's go, baby. Whoo!
- You just keep chasing the dream,
and it's way bigger than you ever expected.
* *
My goal is to keep doing this with all my kids.
So I got a few more years to go.
* *
[cheers and applause]
- Scott's the leader of these Iowa ninjas.
Many of them are here, including his son Ben
who we'll see run later.
Has a huge group watching back in Cedar Falls.
[countdown clock beeping]
At 41, he's one of the oldest competitors tonight.
- But no problem on Pole Vault.
His son Ben is known as the hype guy
because he's always hyping other ninjas
from the sidelines.
- And look at his daughter. She's pretty hyped up too.
- They'll be screaming as their dad
takes on Greased Lightning.
We've seen these drops just dislodge the hands.
- Nice dismount.
[cheers and applause]
- Domino Effect, balance obstacle.
- Nice.
- Just made it. - Whoo-hoo.
[cheers and applause]
- Hey, he may be the oldest Iowa Ninja out here,
but he's getting it done.
- Can he keep it going on the Getaway?
270 drop.
180 the other way.
- Daddy knows how to open up the safe now.
Look at that. OK.
- It's like "Ocean's 11" here.
[cheers and applause]
- Come on, Scott! - You can do it.
- This is a big one here, big transfer.
- Got that ring. - Nice.
Now get that bag. - That's a 5-foot lache.
Get it. Nice.
[cheers and applause]
- On now to Ring the Bells.
There it is, quick lache.
- Oh, he moved quick.
That's the way to do it right there.
- Oh, you can see he hesitated there.
- He doesn't want to spend a lot of time
swinging back and forth. - The bells are--
- Nice. - Making like Quasimodo.
Making them bells move. - Whew.
[cheers and applause]
- Come on! - Just needs the dismount!
- Scott Behrends...
[cheers and applause]
At 41, trying to be our first finisher of the night.
Set the bar high for the Behrends boys.
[buzzer blares]
And he is pumped.
[cheers and applause]
Scott, you created a community of ninjas in Iowa.
What's it like to remind them that the old guy
can still hit a buzzer?
- Doesn't matter how old you are, keep pushing.
- The first buzzer of the night, Scott Behrends.
Congratulations. - Let's go!
- We'll see if Ben can match it.
[cheers and applause]
What a moment for the Behrends family.
[cheers and applause]
* *
- Coming up, Donovan Metoyer's gone 360 on the Warped Wall.
Now, he's gonna try it on the Mega Wall for $10,000.
- I'm gonna give them something
they have never seen before.
- That's next on "American Ninja Warrior."
- Minutes ago, Chicago's Brian Meslar
made quite a production of his entrance.
The 29-year-old voiceover actor
can do over 200 characters.
- It's not about how hard you hit--
Red October signing in--
One inch at a time.
- But Meslar weighs almost 200 pounds,
and his attempt on Pole Vault was not his best performance.
- Oh, no!
- In the end, it was a short story.
- Indiana's Brian Parache
brought his bike to the start line.
The 23-year-old cyclist races in a competition
called cyclocross, which involves biking
through an obstacle course.
Parache rolled through the first obstacle...
- Come on, Parache!
- But he hit a speed bump on Greased Lightning.
- Hold on, big fella. Ooh.
[air horn blares]
- Cincinnati's James Wilson barely survived
Greased Lightning.
- Gotta keep them L's, homie. Oh.
- Let's go, James!
- The man known as the Natty Ninja
has competed eight seasons...
- Let me see them feet. Oh.
- But he's never hit a buzzer.
- Ooh, just banged it.
- And he kept that streak alive tonight.
Our next ninja is promising to do something
we've never seen before.
Donovan Metoyer is the Classy Ninja
because he runs in a suit,
but he's got something special up his sleeve for tonight.
He once did a 360 on the Warped Wall.
[cheers and applause]
- He did a 360!
- And tonight, he wants to put the same spin
on the Mega Wall.
- People think I'm crazy to try it.
I'm going for it regardless.
- That is crazy.
The Mega Wall is 18 and 1/2 feet,
that's 6 inches taller than it was last year.
If he pulls this one off, he'll be a legend.
[countdown clock beeping]
- He's gonna need to go fast to get
that shot at the Mega wall.
Watch them suit tails. - Whew!
He got that Cabernet three-piece suit on.
Even his sideline crew is classy.
They got the ties on and everything.
We've had three ninjas top the Mega Wall this season.
Metoyer's never done it before.
But first has to get there in under a minute 20.
Great at balance. - Nice--oh, no, no, no!
- Donovan Metoyer tripped up.
- That wasn't classy.
- Metoyer just stunned.
He was going fast to get a shot at the Mega Wall,
and it may have just cost him his season.
- He started falling on the third step,
and he almost saved it,
but his feet touched the water,
and the suit got wet.
- Our next ninja may be going for the Mega Wall as well.
This is the Cat Daddy,
five-time Ninja veteran Jackson Twait.
Over the years, we've talked about his love of animals.
And now, he's turned that into a new business.
- Hashbrown, I'm home.
Hey, buddy.
Did you miss me?
I might be known as the Cat Daddy,
but I love all kinds of animals.
[upbeat music]
I kind of started a little pet sitting business
on the side just to kind of get me out of Iowa.
It's taking me all around the country.
* *
I've sat for koi fish.
I've sat for cats, dogs, the usual.
* *
But I've also sat for kangaroos too.
Hey, Rocket. How's the wife doing?
All right, let's go.
* *
Yes, it's nice to meet you.
Oh, my gosh.
You smell the bread in my pocket, don't you?
Believe it or not, somehow, the kangaroos
are a lot easier than the cats.
Cats can get feisty.
They're kind of sassy.
[cats snarling]
Kangaroos just go with the flow.
How are you doing?
Like, they're perfect animals for me.
* *
- Well, the other wild animals in his life,
his Iowa training partners will be cheering him on.
both: There's more for you! There's more for you!
[cheers and applause]
- And Jackson's got a big group
down on the sidelines as well.
[countdown clock beeping]
Cat Daddy coming off his best season ever.
Made it all the way to stage two last year.
Trying to keep this kitty cat dry.
[cheers and applause]
On now to Greased Lightning.
- We know he likes to have fun,
but do not underestimate him.
He is one of the best ninjas out here.
- Real smooth.
Well, he's gotten to Mega Wall in the past,
and it looks like he's trying to earn that dime.
Remember, got to get a buzzer faster than a minute 20.
But as we just saw with Donovan Metoyer,
if you go too fast, it can cost you.
- They say it all the time, speed kills,
so you have to move quickly, but stay in control.
- He's being very efficient here on the Getaway.
- He wants that bag and the real bag.
That $10,000 is his target.
Ooh, grabbed that money bag with one hand.
I see you!
[cheers and applause]
- Got to get through Ring The Bells.
And he is moving. - Ooh, be careful now.
- This cat is living with nine lives.
I think he's down to eight.
About 20 seconds left if he wants the Mega Wall.
- Matt, he is not pussyfooting this time--
oh, what?
- Like Donovan Metoyer, I think Twait
was rushing to qualify for a chance at the Mega Wall,
and it caused him to miss.
But he did reach the fifth obstacle,
has a good chance to move on.
- On the Getaway, Jackson missed the bag
with his right hand
and held on with just his left.
On the fifth obstacle,
watch how the clang of the bells
stops the handle swing,
and not even the Cat Daddy could reach it.
- Up next, she may already be the top female ninja,
and she's only 15.
- We knew even when she was 10
that she was gonna be spectacular.
- Teen phenom Taylor Greene makes her debut
on "American Ninja Warrior."
- It was an emotional moment minutes ago
as dad Scott Behrends hit the buzzer
while his son Ben teared up on the sidelines.
And while we were away, Ben got his shot
at the course. - He clapping himself up.
- The 16-year-old is known as the Hype Guy
because of his support for other ninjas,
but the crowd is behind him tonight.
At just 5'1", he came up big and reached
the fifth obstacle.
- Let's go big Ben, ring the bell.
- The Iowa high schooler looked like
he might get a buzzer just like his dad.
- Oh!
- Despite the fall, he's moving on,
and that's reason to be hyped up.
- I love you guys!
- One of the most inspirational athletes
of the night was Sandy Sanders,
competing for the first time at 49 years old.
- Oh, yeah, she dancing with joy.
- This former Navy diver and mother of two
wanted to live her dream of competing
before she turned 50.
And though her run didn't last long...
- All right, get up high, get up high.
Ooh!
- The crowd appreciated the effort.
- I had a blast, though, so this was a dream come true.
- Hey, guys, the folks have been talking
about our ninja for years.
Now 15-year-old Taylor Greene
is finally old enough to compete.
And you better watch out.
- You're right about that, Zuri.
We've known Taylor since she was in fourth grade.
And pretty soon,
everyone's gonna know her name.
[soft dramatic music]
- Originally, she went to a birthday party
at an ninja gym,
and I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
- When I first tried it, I thought,
"Hey, I'm kind of good at this."
- Let's go.
- I met Austin Gray when I was in my first year
of Ninja. - Handstand.
- He became a coach, mentor, training partner.
- Taylor and I have been training together
for six years, I think, now.
She's gone from this little string bean of a kid,
flopping around
to one of the best females in the world.
- * It's time for me to show my hand *
- Taylor Greene wants that buzzer.
- We knew even when she was 10
that she was gonna be spectacular.
- And she's in the green. She's going to the finals!
- We've had our eye on Taylor Greene, all of us,
the whole Ninja Warrior community.
I think she's probably gonna make history.
- She's brought the pressure
because she is mean-- mean, green Taylor Greene.
- She's been wanting to get to the big show
since she's been nine years old,
and to see her achieve that goal
has been very exciting.
- Here she comes.
- I just really want to prove that, like,
they've been waiting for me for a good reason.
* *
[cheers and applause]
- Only 15 years old,
but she's already a hero to many.
Has a big group watching back in Colorado.
[cheers and applause]
There are her parents on the sidelines
along with some of the ninjas she trains with.
[countdown clock beeping]
- All right, here we go.
- Youngest overall athlete we'll see tonight.
Real smooth there.
[cheers and applause]
Like a lot of our competitors, she started out in gymnastics
but then found Ninja and switched her focus
to this sport.
- This one right here, Greased Lightning,
has got some speed.
You got to hold on and dismount.
Nice.
[cheers and applause]
- Trained with Austin Gray, Nate Hansen.
They don't coach her.
They just try to keep up with her.
- Student at Broomfield High School.
Last season, she competed in long jump and triple jump.
Let me see them feet. Whoo!
[cheers and applause]
- Her Instagram handle, SweetNinjaGirl.
- Yeah, she is nice to be around,
but on the course, she is Mean Greene.
She's go tremendous grip strength, too.
- 180, watch the drop here.
- Now, her wingspan, too,
is 4 inches longer than her height,
so she will have the ability to just reach out
just like that.
- 15 years old, and she's looking
very comfortable, Akbar. Got that ring.
Got to lock it in place.
Now go for that bag of cash.
- Go for it. Nice.
- And she is through.
Definitely living up to the expectation.
We're a few weeks into the season,
but no woman has hit a buzzer so far.
This 15-year-old rookie looking to be the first.
- And no woman has conquered this obstacle, Ring The Bells.
- You can see those bells, as they bang into each other,
those handles-- - Nice move.
- You got this, Taylor!
- Good control, Taylor looking real focused here.
- Nice. - Just reaching out.
- There's that reach, that wingspan.
- Well, here's the big move.
This is the tough one. Got it!
And Taylor Greene just needs the dismount.
- Oh, she got to get off of that thing.
- Taylor Greene hoping to figure out
what so many others-- - Throw yourself into it.
- Nice! - Yeah, you did, you made it!
You made it!
[cheers and applause]
- Has a chance to be the first finisher
for the women this season.
[all chanting] Beat that wall!
- Taylor Greene, 14 and 1/2 feet away
from her buzzer in the first time on the course.
- Can she live up to that expectation?
[cheers and applause]
- And Greene is golden!
She delivers!
[cheers and applause]
Soaking it in.
[cheers and applause]
- How does this one feel?
You made it to the big stage, and you hit the buzzer?
Come on.
- This has been the dream for so long,
and I did it, and I'm so proud.
- You are Mean Greene for real!
[cheers and applause]
She looked surprised by how well she did on this run,
but we've seen this coming for years.
Taylor Greene is the real deal
and our first female finisher of the season.
[upbeat music]
- And she's gonna go down and celebrate.
[laughter]
What a moment.
- A new star is born.
- Greene was money.
He's been the last ninja standing two years in a row.
Kaden Lebsack starts his run for a third straight title
when "American Ninja Warrior" returns.
While we were away, three of Chicago's own
showed their chops on the course.
Professional axe thrower Drew Marinelli is known
for his impressive tricks.
[upbeat music]
And the 30-year-old dad looked sharp
through the first three obstacles.
- Oh, nice.
- But he couldn't cut it on the fourth.
- Drew Marinelli just got axed by the Getaway.
- The pizza ninja, Derrick Pavoni
came ready to slice up the course.
- Go get that cheese.
- Pavoni's family runs a pizza business
back in Illinois, and he delivered on Domino Effect.
- Nice little rhythm going.
- The five-time veteran has never hit a buzzer,
so when he reached the fifth obstacle,
he knew it might finally be in reach.
- One more.
- He said "one more," one more to go.
He's losing a little bit of power.
No!
- I thought that was the one.
It was right there.
- But it was good enough to make the top 12.
- You are headed to the semifinals.
Congratulations. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
- Another Windy City veteran,
the Muscle Ball Tyler Yamauchi
had it rolling early.
- Yeah, he's moving with speed, Matt.
- The 37-year-old father of three is only 5'1",
but he was one of the few to master Ring The Bells.
- Oh!
- But despite getting up the Warped Wall
11 times in his career... - No!
- The physical therapist failed on his first attempt,
the second... - Oh!
- And even the third.
- Come on, get it, get it, get it, get it!
all: Oh!
- But he's still moving on to the semifinals.
- He's been the top dog on "Ninja"
the past two seasons, and he's only 17.
Kaden Lebsack is so good,
he's never fallen on our course.
The Colorado teenager has won back-to-back
Last Ninja Standing titles and has racked up 12 buzzers
in just two seasons.
- What did he do with the 100 grand he's won twice
as Last Ninja Standing?
Well, he bought himself some wheels.
He's got a Jeep so he can go off-roading.
[cheers and applause]
There are his parents. - Check out his mom.
Even though he's got all those buzzers,
she still gets a little anxious during his run.
[countdown clock beeping]
- He always makes it look so easy,
but he's worked hard for his success.
Trains every day for Ninja.
[cheers and applause]
Also runs a chalk business with his friend
and fellow ninja, Max Feinberg.
- Matt, this kid can do it all.
- One thing he's never done, though, get a Mega Wall.
He'd need to finish in a minute 20 to try tonight.
- All right, stay on top, boom, boom, boom, oh, oh.
- Mom looks nervous, but Kaden doesn't.
He is just steady as she goes.
Never looks rattled.
- Whew, the little drop, 180.
Here we go.
- And you can see just a methodical pace here.
- Ooh, nice, but with authority.
You see that?
He was trying to break that diamond ring.
Get that bag.
[cheers and applause]
- Mom still can't relax,
but he's looking strong.
And still has a shot at the Mega Wall
if he gets through Ring The Bells quickly.
- He's never attempted the Mega Wall in his career,
so this could be a first for him.
- But the clock is ticking.
This is gonna be close.
- He's got to go for it. He's got to go.
- Gets the last handle. He's got 10 seconds.
- All right, go for it, then, homie.
Go for it. - Why do we ever doubt him?
Kaden Lebsack gets that buzzer.
[buzzer blares]
And he's earned a shot at the Mega Wall.
Look at that, mom had nothing to worry about.
- Good job, baby.
- Kaden, we've got some good news.
You're getting a shot at the Mega Wall, buddy.
- Hey, in two seasons, you've never tried it.
You going for it? - I'm afraid of heights.
That's all the way up there. - You might as well.
- Hey, $10,000, you don't have to take it.
You want to give it a shot? - I'll try it.
- Get down there and give it a shot.
- OK? OK, I'll try it.
You should never doubt Kaden Lebsack.
- Well, it is 18 and 1/2 feet. - Oh, boy.
Ladies and gentlemen, hold your seat.
[all chanting] Beat that wall!
Beat that wall!
- A chance at $10,000!
- Move up to the front of the couch.
He's about to do it. Oh.
- Well, he is human. - [laughs]
- Kaden Lebsack, though, well on his way
to another incredible season.
Gets that first buzzer.
- All this kid knows is buzzers.
- When we come back, it's the Runoff Races,
a last chance to earn a spot in the next round.
- That was crazy.
- And we're now just a few weeks away
from the start of those semifinals...
- Now they're neck and neck.
- Where our remaining athletes go
head-to-head in a full night of ninja versus ninja races.
- Oh, my goodness!
- On "American Ninja Warrior."
- Moments ago, 18-year-old Max Feinberg
came out looking for his third straight
qualifying buzzer. - Boom, now go get that bag.
- The college student wears pink ribbons
to raise awareness for breast cancer.
His mom's a cancer survivor.
And Feinberg came through with the seventh buzzer
of his young career. - Let's go!
- The final runner of the night
was Barry Boyd,
who brought one son to the start line...
- Aww.
- With another watching on the sideline with mom.
- Oh, wow, look at that.
- And the stay-at-home dad gave the family
a heck of a good show.
- Form, Matt, he's looking very good.
- This rookie from Pittsburgh was a revelation.
- Nice, whoa. OK, that was a big move.
- In his first time on the course,
he not only finished, he put up
the second fastest time of the night.
- Come on!
OK, Barry Boyd!
- It's lovely to meet you guys. It's an honor.
- So on our leaderboard, Boyd joins
the three other finishers,
including Iowa dad Scott Behrends,
he's going to the semis along with
his son Ben Behrends, who's among
the non-finishers moving on.
The Axe Ninja Drew Marinelli ended up in 12th place
with the Natty Ninja James Wilson in 13th.
So those two, the 30-year-old axe throwing
handyman from Chicago
and the 36-year-old gym owner from Cincinnati
are gonna race in tonight's first runoff.
[countdown clock beeping]
First obstacle is Home Run.
Natty Ninja off quickly.
- Oh, he stumbled into that one.
- But he stayed dry.
- Now on Spring Forward.
And Drew Marinelli is staying calm.
- And we'll see if James is gonna have
to try to link a lache here.
And Marinelli is through first.
- The Natty Ninja's falling behind.
He's gonna have to pick it up.
- Now, into the Beehive.
Marinelli first up there.
- And he's got a healthy lead.
He just needs to avoid mistakes
on these last two obstacles.
- This one will just tax that grip, these big throws.
- Ooh! - And down goes Marinelli.
- And now the pressure is on James Wilson to complete it.
- If he gets through Beehive, he wins.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, hold on for dear life! - Can he save it?
- What the--what? Come on!
- Unbelievable! - Come on!
- After an incredible save, Wilson gets the win.
- Are you not entertained?
Look at this, holds on with one hand.
Come on, dog! - What a catch.
- Come on, you go this!
- Wilson's gonna keep going and try to finish.
In eight seasons, he's never hit a buzzer,
so this could finally be his moment.
- No!
- Ah!
- Does not get a buzzer but does get a win.
The Natty Ninja gonna the semis.
The women's side tonight was dominated by youngsters,
as 15-year-old phenom Taylor Greene,
college student Maggie Owen,
and Michigan teenager Riley Porter
came in one, two, three.
The final spot will go to the winner
of our women's runoff.
In fourth place, Ally Tippetts Wootton
and fifth place, Kyndal McKenzie.
And this will be the Battle of Utah.
Ally lives in St. George
in the southern part of the state
while her opponent lives 380 miles north.
Kyndal McKenzie is a wedding photographer
who has faced her opponent in local competitions before.
- Ally is such a strong athlete.
I definitely have a challenge ahead of me.
- Ally Tippets Wootton is a physician assistant
who calls herself the Flipper Ninja.
And she just had her first child
six months ago. - Whoo!
Kyndal, I hope that we both get buzzers,
but I just want to get there a little bit faster.
[dramatic music]
- Ally's son Greyson here on the sidelines
with her husband.
And Kyndal's got her mom and husband supporting her.
But here they are, squaring off,
a spot in the semifinals on the line.
[countdown clock beeping]
- All right, gotta bounce across the four houses.
Whatever your technique is, just do it fast.
- Wootton getting through first.
On now to Spring Forward.
Both these women, good upper body strength.
- And Spring Forward is a great opportunity
to get ahead.
Look at Kyndal and Ally going neck and neck.
- Well, Ally got off first once again.
That puts the pressure back on Kyndal.
[cheers and applause]
And Kyndal looking to seize it.
- Yeah, Kyndal is on the Beehive first.
Don't get stung.
- Well, Utah is the Beehive State.
[cheers and applause]
- You see her looking around, do not look around.
- You get that east/west, building it up,
now back going north/south
- Oh, now, Ally's got-- - Oh!
- Whoa! - And Ally delivers.
[cheers and applause]
Son Greyson gotta be so proud of mama.
She's gonna keep going to try to get to a buzzer.
Will have to get through Hopsotch.
- Back on the playground with Hopscotch.
Ally Tippets Wootton looking strong.
It looks so easy for her.
Look at how she is flowing through.
- Well, she was a diver in college.
Loves to do backflips.
That's why she calls herself the Flipper Ninja.
Has always wanted to flip after hitting a buzzer.
- She knows it. She knows it.
- Look at that.
She is elated. - She can feel it.
- And getting her first buzzer ever.
- If she hits this buzzer, Matt, she's gonna flip out.
[buzzer blares]
I see you, Ally.
[cheers and applause]
Oh, she's got it. And now, she's flipping out.
[cheers and applause]
- Baby Greyson is gonna get to watch
his mom in the semifinals.
That wraps up another night of qualifying here in LA.
For Akbar Gbajabiamila and Zuri Hall,
I'm Matt Iseman.
We'll see you next time on "American Ninja Warrior."