[buzzer blares]
- What a moment!
- Being in Vegas, man, it's always
such an amazing opportunity.
And I'm gonna show the world what I've got.
- 35 feet closer to my dad!
It's the promised land in my rookie year.
- Let it out, let it out.
- I got goose bumps.
I'm trying to make sure this is real.
- * Dreamer is the kids who play *
- Having type 1 diabetes and living with it every day
and competing with it is not easy.
- You got your buzzer, Katie!
- It is so incredible just to be sitting here.
- * This is once in a lifetime *
* We're coming alive *
* Anything can happen *
* This is once in a lifetime *
- I got to give it everything I have.
Let's go!
You never fail until you quit,
and I have not quit yet.
- * Shining who we are for the whole world *
- It's already been such a great comeback season for me.
I'm, like, super grateful for it.
- * This is once in a lifetime *
* We're coming alive *
* Anything can happen *
- I'm having my best season ever.
It feels like it's all coming into place for me this year.
- * This is once in a lifetime *
- National Finals, baby. - Let's go!
[upbeat music]
- * This is once in a lifetime *
- Lots of big shows on the Vegas Strip,
but nothing's more exciting than the National Finals
of "American Ninja Warrior"!
Hello, everyone, and thanks for joining us.
I'm Matt Iseman. - And I'm Akbar Gbajabiamila.
This is it.
This is our Super Bowl.
Only the top athletes are left,
and one of them could walk away
with a millie, a million dollars!
- It's not gonna be easy, though.
They'll have to get through four stages,
and we start tonight with stage one.
For a closer look at the course,
let's go down to Zuri Hall.
- Guys, we have taken the obstacles
to another level all season,
and we're doing it again here on stage one.
[dramatic music]
It starts with a sprint across Slide Surfer.
That leads to the brand-new Three Ring Circus.
Ninjas have to swing up and make a blind grab,
then use the final ring to get to the landing pad.
The third obstacle is the wild ride
of the Giant Roller Coaster...
- Ride it, ride it!
Nice!
- Followed by the Jumping Spider.
- Right through it.
- Then it's the all-new Tetherball,
where ninjas have to swing round and round on the rope
and land safely.
- Nailed it.
- After a run up the modified Warped Wall,
it's a Split Decision.
Ninjas can hit the button
and run across the Dipping Birds
to jump up and grab the ring on the High Road--
a quicker but riskier option--
or they can take the slower but safer choice--
the Fly Hooks.
[buzzer blares]
And they'll have to do it in 2 minutes, 50 seconds.
It's gonna be great. Guys?
- Well, we're gonna kick things off
with one of this season's biggest success stories.
This is Levi Enright,
one of those high-energy group of ninjas from Iowa
that includes his best friend, Chris.
There's Levi's fiancée, Bailey.
Those two happen to be first cousins.
Yeah, Levi's not your everyday farm boy.
- So this year has been amazing so far.
I proposed to Chris's cousin Bailey, and she said yes.
[rooster crowing]
- Yeah, he's going for it, he wants it.
- In San Antonio, I scaled that Mega Wall.
[buzzer blares]
Bro-tein shake!
Weddings are expensive,
so having that ten grand from the Mega Wall
is really helping out a lot.
Then the semifinals came around.
- Here we go. Nice!
- First time on an extended course,
and finished the ten obstacles with the fastest time.
Noggin!
And then on to the Power Tower,
I had to go against the homey Jackson Twait.
- Now they're neck and neck!
- I beat Jackson by 9/100ths of a second.
- Look at this! - Oh!
- It can't get much closer than that.
And now I'm here
at National Finals for the first time
with Chris and Jackson
and the Safety Pass in my back pocket.
It's gonna be a good time.
* *
[cheers and applause]
- And there's that Safety Pass he won on the Power Tower,
so if he falls, he'll get another shot.
And Levi's gonna get plenty of support
from that rowdy Iowa cheering section.
Well, here we go, Akbar.
The clock will count down from 2 minutes, 50 seconds.
[countdown clock beeping]
First up, Slide Surfer.
- Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, nice!
- Yeah! - Let's go!
- Here's a new one, Three Ring Circus.
- All right, lean back, pull back, get that momentum.
- Going to that big top to a blind grab.
Got it! - Oh, nice!
- Now get to that third ring and slide down,
get the dismount.
- Nice and easy.
Perfect!
But now here comes Giant Roller Coaster,
and this thing is colossal!
60 feet long!
- Gotta ride down with the bar and make those jumps.
- Here we go.
Nice! - Now another move,
got to take that little rhythm, and he did it!
- Ooh, Levi Enright, show you're right!
- Just needs the dismount.
- Boom! - No problem!
And obstacle four is the iconic Jumping Spider.
Okay, get a good jump and lock in.
Got it!
- And you can see that Safety Pass on his butt.
That only saves him on stage one or two.
Hoping he doesn't have to use that tonight.
- Went fast in qualifying and semifinals.
But he's having trouble making progress here, Akbar,
and that's eating up some time.
- He better get going.
Come on. - Finally gets through.
[cheering]
- Halfway through the course,
but these final obstacles can eat up time.
- On to another new one, Tetherball, Akbar.
The first one to attempt this new obstacle, grab that rope,
and then wind his way around to the landing platform.
- All right, spin around, spin that ball around.
You are the ball!
And you will get lower and lower
on that rope as you go around.
- Well, there's nothing like this in Iowa.
- All right, there he goes.
- See if he tries to land it this time.
both: Uh-oh!
- Oh, now his feet are getting close to the water.
He's got to go.
And he lands it.
Still got a minute left, Akbar.
Now the 14-foot Warped Wall.
And he's reached Split Decision.
He may need High Road. - Yeah.
- Noggin! - Oh, noggin!
- Has to fly across the Dipping Birds
to get to that ring.
- Oh, no! - No!
[air horn blares]
He was scrambling to get to the High Road
and came up short on Dipping Birds,
but he's got that Safety Pass he won on the Power Tower
back in semifinals, so he'll get to run again.
- With the clock ticking down, he used his noggin
to activate the quicker option, High Road.
And he was rushing!
When those Dipping Birds drop down,
you've gotta move fast, and Levi came up short.
- So he'll get another chance to take on stage one.
- Guess we're going back at it.
Another round on it.
Shoot!
- Up next is another athlete who's had a memorable season.
This is 15-year-old Jacob Arnstein,
carrying the Guatemalan flag.
That's where Jacob was born before being adopted
by an American family.
He's come to the start line with his little brother Sam,
who was also adopted.
Sam has special needs, but Jacob says
it's Sam's courage that really motivates him
out here on the course.
- Oh, he's showing him how to do it.
Giving him tips for the first obstacle.
- What a special bond these two have.
- [laughs mischievously] Now you can't jump me.
- I call myself the Guat Ninja
because I was born in Guatemala.
But my brother Sam was adopted from Colombia
around 1,000 miles away.
Even though me and Sam came from two different countries,
we were meant to be brothers.
- Hey, Sam, what are you excited about Vegas for?
- I'm excited about the hotel...
and the pool.
- 5'3", can he get his first buzzer?
Yes!
- Oh, my goodness!
[all screaming]
- When Jacob hit the buzzer in San Antonio,
I've never seen Sam as emotional as he was.
It was pretty emotional for me
seeing those two hug when Jacob came down
from the Warped Wall.
- [crying] I'm just so happy.
- So proud of you, dude, so proud.
It doesn't matter that they're not,
you know, blood brothers or biological brothers.
They were supposed to be brothers.
- All right, go to the X now.
Grab on to those sides.
Me and Sam do Ninja together.
As I've excelled, I've really wanted
to help Sam grow in the sport too.
Sam's going to be here in Vegas cheering me on,
and that means a lot to me.
If I hit a buzzer on stage one,
Sam's going to be going crazy, not only 'cause I'm going
on to stage two, but because we get to stay
one more night at the hotel.
* *
- All right, Jacob!
- And, of course, Sam is on the sideline
with Jacob's parents and training partners.
Watching from Guatemala, the woman who runs the orphanage
where Jacob was adopted from.
[countdown clock beeping]
- Let's go! - Come on, come on!
- Explodes across the Slide Surfer.
- Just like Sam showed him!
- Now Three Ring Circus.
And there's a good look there.
He can't see that second ring that's on the other side.
- All right, now lean back and then ride it all the way up.
- Makes the blind grab.
[cheers and applause]
Arnstein only 5'3", battling an obstacle
two stories above the ground.
- Come on.
- And gets through!
[cheers and applause]
But here goes the ride on the Giant Roller Coaster.
- Yeah. - These super-sized obstacles
can be so intimidating.
- Here we go. - Watch the transition.
- Nice.
There you go, nice,
just throwing his body into it.
- Good transfer! - Ooh!
- Tight, tight, tight, tight!
- Got through it!
[all screaming]
- They can hear Sam all over Vegas!
He is so proud of his brother.
- But at 5'3", gonna need a good powerful leap
to get deep into the chute on Jumping Spider.
- Boom, just like that! both: Nice!
- Nice flexibility too.
- So amazing when we saw him in qualifying,
as those kids from the Luz de Maria Orphanage
from where he was adopted
were watching him on the course.
What a special moment that was.
Got to be so proud of this young man.
- But now only a minute and a half left.
Needs to get through Tetherball quickly.
- Having that clock on stage one adds extra pressure.
And, again, he's only 15 years old.
Hit a buzzer back in qualifying.
Let's see if he can go for a ride here,
end up on that landing platform.
- All right, here we go, go around for that spin.
Nice, even--you see how his body's straight like a pencil?
Uh-oh, now he's starting to get a little bit of movement here.
Got to stay calm, see the landing.
Find that target, land it.
Nice--no! - No!
[air horn blares] - The impact!
- Arnstein bounced off!
- Oh, my goodness.
- Looked like he had it lined up.
Jacob Arnstein out on Tetherball.
- He gave Sam and his family some thrills
like he's done all year, but on Tetherball,
couldn't stay on top of the landing pad
and just slid right off.
- Tonight, it's Vegas, baby!
And we're ready to roll!
- Get excited!
Get excited!
- We've got "Ninja's" biggest stars...
- This is going to be big-time!
- And the best stories of the season.
- Oh, my goodness!
- For some, their season will end in heartbreak.
Oh, no! - No, no, no!
- While others keep their million-dollar dreams alive.
- What the what?
- Less than a second!
It's gonna be a party.
- We are ready to rock out in Vegas.
- It's the wildest show on the Strip.
- Awesome. - Yeah, bro.
- On night one at the National Finals...
- Hey, there we go. Hey!
- Of "American Ninja Warrior."
- Welcome back to Las Vegas,
where the NFL's Raiderettes cheerleaders
are keeping this crowd hyped.
Minutes ago, Illinois teenager Maggie Owen
made her National Finals debut.
She trains in Chicago with one of the best--
Jesse "Flex" Labreck.
And Owen, at just 5 feet tall and 105 pounds,
came up big on Three Ring Circus.
- That was impressive!
- Then the recent high school grad
went for a ride on the Giant Roller Coaster.
- All right, throw yourself--oh!
[air horn blares]
Oh, just missed the grab!
- Another Chicagoan, Derrick Pavoni,
is better known as the Pizza Ninja.
- Let's go!
- We've got Pavoni and cheese!
- The 28-year-old sliced his way
through the early obstacles
and knew how to handle the Giant Roller Coaster.
- Technique is required, though.
Nice!
- Then tried to deliver
on the Jumping Spider.
- He's got to stick this one like he ain't gluten-free.
- Ooh! - Oh!
[air horn blares]
- Not bringing in the dough this year.
- We may need some divine intervention
to change the luck of our ninjas,
and we've got just the guy for that.
It's the Papal Ninja, Sean Bryan.
The 37-year-old Catholic Church worker
is one of the best.
He's been part of Team USA
in our international competition
and has been as far as stage three twice.
The former college gymnast, a legit threat to win it all.
He's got his dad on the sidelines,
along with some priests and other friends,
plus lots of family watching back in Jersey.
[cheers and applause]
There it is, the gymnast salute.
[countdown clock beeping]
Last year had a perfect season
going to the very end of stage two.
Hoping to get back there once again.
Four-year gymnast at Temple and Cal.
- You can tell, Matt, he is super focused.
Here we go, Sean Bryan.
Holy Spirit, activate!
Oh, no! - Oh, no, no, no!
No!
- Thought he was going
to levitate, but Sean Bryan
shockingly out on just the second obstacle.
- My goodness.
Look at it again!
He made the initial grab,
but as he tried to adjust his grip,
it slipped right out of his hands!
And that's a long way down, 18 feet to the water.
- Well, up next, another "Ninja" favorite,
it's the Big Dog, 6'6" Jody Avila.
The heating and air-conditioning technician
and father of two from Texas
is making his fourth appearance in Vegas.
But last year didn't go as planned.
Avila went for the High Road with plenty of time left.
- Here we go, he's got the long legs--
both: No!
[air horn blares]
- But even with his long legs,
he couldn't get past Dipping Birds,
and he fell on stage one for the second time
in his career.
- Hi, boys. - Love you!
- Watching from back in Texas, Jody's wife and two sons.
- We love you, babe.
- I love you, boys. I love you, babe.
- [shouts indistinctly]
- And good friends Barclay Stockett,
Flip Rodriguez, and RJ Roman on his sideline.
[countdown clock beeping]
- Time to let the Big Dog eat!
- 36 years old, 7th season competing
in "American Ninja Warrior," made it to stage two
only once back in season nine.
Looking to turn the clock back,
show these young teens he's still the Big Dog.
- Yes, he is, Matt.
This dude's got a lot of bite in him.
It's all about really putting it together!
- Ooh! - Come on, big guy!
- Stays alive! - Whoa-ho-ho!
- He's smiling.
- He knows he escaped a near disaster!
- Well, he's definitely tall enough to ride this ride,
but can he handle the Giant Roller Coaster?
- I like what you did there. That was really cool.
Yes, he can.
Land it, land it.
You see how calm he came in.
- Yeah! - Let's go!
- Jumping Spider shouldn't be a problem,
but get those legs in simultaneously.
- Nice. - There it is.
Almost too wide, that's good flexibility there!
- Yeah, look, that's not great flexibility,
but he's in there bunched up.
He is a big dude, though.
- Let's see you in there, big man.
- Nah, I'm not making it. - Yeah, nor am I.
Long drop. - Ooh, ooh!
Oh, be careful, dog!
- Yeah! - Come on!
- All right, okay.
All right, I'll let you borrow the jacket.
- Hey, watch your legs here on the water, Big Dog!
Here he goes on Tetherball.
- Yeah, I can tell, Matt, he's 36 years old.
It's been a long time since he played tetherball.
- Well, this obstacle is new to him,
and with those long legs,
you'll have to really be careful
as that rope lowers closer to the water.
- Oh, here we go for a big old spin here.
That's 6'6", 215 pounds going around.
- Looks like he's finding the control there,
sliding down the rope, here we go.
- Okay--oh, boy! - One extra push!
- He's got to land it on this one 'cause it's getting--
The rope is getting lower! Oh!
Did you see the way he used his long legs?
[cheering]
- But now under a minute.
He's gonna have to hustle.
No problem with the Warped Wall.
Looking a bit winded.
- He needs the High Road,
but that means he's going to have to sprint
across the Dipping Birds,
and that's what made him fall last time!
- Hits the button.
No time to think about a rematch
with the Dipping Birds-- he's got to go.
- He's not--no, no!
No--oh! Thank God he's 6'6"!
- He's still alive, but now got to get going!
Doesn't have a lot of time!
[all shouting]
- Go, Jody! - He may be shaken up,
'cause he's moving very slow.
- You got to go, you got to go! You have 30 seconds, come on!
- This can eat up a lot of time here
on the Fly Hooks, these transitions,
and that clock is ticking!
- Oh, he's got to be efficient.
- Oh, Akbar, he just put himself
in a big hole here.
- Oh, I'm not liking it. - Go for it!
- Nice!
- Get on to that net, get on! - Come on!
Go! - Hustle, hustle!
Oh, boy. - Oh, my God!
[siren blaring] Jody Avila is gonna time out!
- Oh, my goodness!
- Feet away from going back to stage two!
- Oh, my goodness.
[siren blares]
- Oh, my gosh!
- Oh. - The Big Dog put down,
timed out on stage one. - Oh.
- Oh, babe, you got so close.
- He almost fell on Dipping Birds
for the second-straight year,
was able to save himself with those long legs.
But it took extra time, and he just didn't have enough
to get to the buzzer.
[siren blares]
- Coming up, he gets his training down on the farm.
- Whoo! - The Country Boy Ninja,
Josiah Singleton,
and his wild bunch of Loonies
are ready to run wild on the course.
- Let's go!
- Welcome back to "American Ninja Warrior,"
where it's night one of our National Finals.
Minutes ago, Utah nurse Mady Howard
had her biggest fan on hand,
her eight-month-old son, Beckham.
- Aw, look at Beckham.
- Then the "Ninja" veteran hit the course
with Beckham and her husband cheering her on.
The last time she was on stage one was three years ago,
but she couldn't get past the third obstacle.
- No! [air horn blares]
- Tonight on the Giant Roller Coaster,
history repeated itself.
- Oh! [air horn blares]
Don't worry, baby Beckham. Mommy's okay.
- It's a bummer.
We'll get it next year.
- Then it was one of the bro-tastic ninjas from Iowa,
Chris Behrends.
- Fumbling, bumbling through there, but he made it.
- He's the second of three ninjas from the Hawkeye State
to make it to the National Finals.
- Iowa's definitely representing
out here in the desert.
- The 21-year-old college student
was looking good as he approached the Dipping Birds,
where his buddy Levi Enwright fell earlier.
- All right, keep your feet high,
keep your feet high, keep your feet high!
Oh, no!
[air horn blares]
- Behrends fell on the very same obstacle,
but he doesn't have a Safety Pass like Levi.
So for Chris Behrends, his season is over.
[cheers and applause]
Well, our next runner is sure to get this crowd going.
This is the Country Boy Ninja, Josiah Singleton.
He's a grad student at Liberty University,
and he's another ninja
who's got a Safety Pass on his shorts.
But his biggest advantage may be the Looney bunch
from Virginia on his sideline. - Whoo!
- Are y'all ready?
Three, two, one, action! - Whoo!
- * We got our trucks dialed up *
* And they touching the clouds *
* Kicking dust on our gator Luccheses *
- I'm from a really small town, and country people like us,
we don't really travel to Vegas too much.
Whoo!
[buzzer blares]
Country Boy to the big city!
- * Couple country boys chasing them daisies *
- I looked at Mount Midoriyama,
and I'm like, "My gosh, that's bigger than our whole town."
But Lynchburg, for sure, is becoming a hub for Ninja.
- * Y'all already know who it is *
- Let's go!
- * Boom-chicka-boom on a Friday night *
- The Lynchburg Loonies,
it's my best friends from back home.
- Here we go! Go! - [yelling]
We love to just come together and just hang out
and have fun.
all: Loonies!
- It's super crucial to have the Loonies
out here with me in Vegas. - Let's go!
- Whoo! - Come on!
- [yelling] - Come on, let's go!
[all cheering]
- * You know who it is *
[buzzer blares] [all screaming]
- I love you, Loonies!
Whoo!
- Yes! - You did it!
- We're gonna bring the noise to Vegas.
[yelling]
Might get a little rowdy out here.
- * It's YA'BOYZ *
- Besides the Loonies on the sidelines,
he's got big groups watching back in Virginia,
including his family and a bunch of fellow students
at Liberty University.
[countdown clock beeping]
Won that Safety Pass in a race against teenager Evan Andrews.
[all screaming]
This is the challenge, Akbar-- we can see that disk
in the middle, but they can't.
- Yeah. - On a leap of faith here
on Three Ring Circus.
Perfect. - Very, very easy.
And for Josiah Singleton,
this is his first time to Las Vegas.
The first time in the finals.
Oh, boy, you don't let the Country Boy out in Vegas!
Nice.
[all yelling]
- With the Loonies behind him, he's had his best season.
Competed three times,
but never had this kind of success.
- Matt, they've got roller coasters at state fairs,
but not like this.
Boom!
Now he's just got to make that dismount.
- Whoo! - And he's got it!
- Let's go! - 5'8", 155,
getting ready for Jumping Spider.
- Hit a straight line here like a line dance.
Nice!
- Well, country acts do well in Vegas.
Josiah Singleton's killing it like Shania Twain
up the street at Planet Hollywood.
And he's on to the back half of the course.
[cheers and applause]
Got about a minute, 45 left, but has to keep moving,
and this new one, Tetherball, is next.
- All that training in the country
has prepared him for the desert,
and he is doing it right now on Tetherball.
Here we go.
- And you can see that push-off.
Now, you're not gonna move in a circle.
You're likely gonna move in an oval.
You just need the long end of that oval
to be right there at the landing pad.
It looks like this next pass--
- He's going counterclockwise here.
He's got to make that landing right there--nice!
[all screaming]
- And you can see the clock ticking down.
- All right, here we go, power up!
Nice! [cheers and applause]
[all screaming]
- Josiah Singleton looking country strong!
- And I suspect, Matt, he's gonna go for some speed here.
I think he's going to go with High Road.
- Here he goes.
You got about eight seconds now
to get to that trampoline.
No problem!
Can he time it?
- Oh, he missed it! - Oh, he missed it.
So now he'll be the second tonight to try Fly Hooks,
and this is the slower option.
It can eat up a lot of time.
- He's got to be very efficient here.
He's got 40 seconds to complete it.
- The trick here on the Fly Hooks,
you got to kick that ring up,
launch himself high into the net.
And he's done it!
Josiah Singleton's gonna be
our first finisher of the night!
- Oh! The Country Boy can survive!
- And most importantly, he's keeping that Safety Pass
for stage two, Akbar.
Josiah Singleton making the most
of his first-ever trip to Vegas!
[buzzer blares] - Let's go!
- * It's YA'BOYZ *
- Aah!
* *
- And the Loonies are losing it!
- Whoo!
- Let's go!
[cheers and applause]
* *
- That farm work was perfect training for stage one.
Jumping out of barns is a lot like the Jumping Spider.
Swinging on the tractor got him ready for Tetherball,
and running across hay bales
was good practice for Dipping Birds.
And it led him to our first buzzer tonight.
- And the Loonies are going wild in Las Vegas.
[all shouting]
Coming up, he mastered Harvard,
and he's mastered stage one before.
- Yeah!
- Can "Ninja" veteran Josh Levin
keep his perfect streak alive?
- Whoo!
- He's next on "American Ninja Warrior."
- Welcome back to night one of the National Finals.
17-year-old Karen Potts is a star
on her high-school softball team.
- Matt, she's trying to knock this one out of the park.
- And she was a "Ninja" star back in semifinals.
She made it to the eighth obstacle--
as far as any woman this year.
Tonight the ball player nearly slid off the first obstacle.
- Oh, my goodness!
- The shortstop then showed good hands
on the second obstacle and tried to go deep on the third.
- Oh! [air horn blares]
- And her impressive rookie season was over.
No one brings the energy
quite like New York welder Anthony Eardley.
- Whoo!
- The four-time veteran was making
his first appearance in the National Finals.
- Nice--oh, hold on!
- And he did get past the Giant Roller Coaster.
- He is wild.
- Then the welder tried to lock it in on Jumping Spider.
- Whoa, oh, no! Oh!
[air horn blares] - [yells]
- There were a boatload of fans on hand
to watch professional gondolier Jonah Bonner.
The 25-year-old was hoping for smooth sailing
in his Vegas debut
but got hung up on the second...
- Come on, you got this!
- And the third obstacle...
- Whoa! Okay, that's a great save!
- Bonner recovered
and made it through the middle of the course.
But he was scrambling to make up time.
- Hit and run.
- His only hope was to hit the button
and try the High Road.
- Oh, he missed it! [air horn blares]
- Oh, no!
- Check this out. Oh, so close!
So close!
- I was just, like, a millisecond too late.
- Don't call it a comeback,
but up next is our old friend Josh Levin.
And he's back on stage one
for the first time in four years.
He was one of the best,
then he stepped away from Ninja for a few years
to pursue some other goals.
His story is brought to you by NerdWallet--
the smartest decision for all your financial decisions.
[cheers and applause]
Josh Levin looking confident here on stage one.
And he's through! [buzzer blares]
- Wow!
- Whoo! [cheers and applause]
After season ten, I took off
three years of Ninja competition.
I've been very fortunate to earn my master's degree
from Harvard University.
I also got the opportunity to try and qualify
for the first-ever Olympics in rock climbing.
[timer beeps]
[crowd shouting]
Even though I didn't make it there as an athlete,
I realized that I need to take some risks
in order to reach my goals.
[buzzer blares] - Yeah!
- Knowing that really gave me the fire
to come back to "American Ninja Warrior"
and give it one more shot.
- Josh Levin's like clockwork.
He's incredibly consistent.
- So dynamic!
[buzzer blares]
- In the past, I'd always been trying to avoid mistakes.
Whoo!
And now I'm just going to go out there and take some risks
you may not have seen me take in the past.
- What an aggressive pace.
Oh!
Just stays alive.
- But I'm really excited to show you Josh 2.0.
[cheers and applause]
- And the shirt's coming off.
- Oh, Josh 2.0 is ripped!
This dude's got a Harvard degree and a six-pack?
Come on.
- He's got his parents and a big group of friends
on the sideline.
[countdown clock beeping]
- Matt, I don't want to jinx him,
but Josh Levin has a perfect record on stage one.
Three runs, three buzzers.
What can't he do?
He can Ninja, he can rock-climb, he can Harvard.
- Watch this swing now.
- This course is a lot more agility
than it is upper-body strength.
So it's gonna be interesting to see how Josh Levin does.
- Levin, a 19-time national champion
in rock climbing,
won't be intimidated hanging 18 feet in the air
here on Three Ring Circus.
And he's through.
[cheers and applause]
He's got an engineering degree,
probably knows all the angles on Giant Roller Coaster.
- You got to have great anticipatory skills here
to be able to make that transition,
anticipate the throw here, make that timing good!
- Now just needs the dismount.
Got it.
[cheers and applause]
Just 5'6", so needs a big bounce into Jumping Spider.
Boom!
- Ooh, did a little hop in there!
- The old Josh Levin used to be much more methodical.
Josh 2.0 is moving.
There really is a difference.
He's been teaching an obstacle design class for a few years,
but probably never seen anything like Tetherball.
Gotta use his engineering degree to figure this one out.
But can he execute it?
- Well, Matt, you remember he was very big
in bringing rock climbing to the Olympics.
Maybe he's going to bring Tetherball to the Olympics!
Who knows?
- Watch this push here.
- All right, come on, master it.
- And it looked like he didn't give a very strong push,
Akbar, just trusting that circle
to bring him up to that landing pad.
- Yeah, you see him-- he's seeing himself.
He's got to get his body out wide.
The further he's away-- - Working the legs!
- Gives him a chance--boom!
- Great job! You see how he bear claws?
Used that lower body to control his momentum.
And rolls right up the Warped Wall.
Got about a minute left.
Probably doesn't need the High Road,
- But I think he's gonna try it.
This is Josh 2.0!
- And he's doing it.
- Eight seconds to get through here
on Dipping Birds.
Nice, all right, look over your left!
Got to look over to your left!
Get it, grab it!
Yes! - Perfect!
Josh Levin!
Now he can ride to the ladder and skip the cargo net!
- The old Josh would've never tried that!
- And he keeps his perfect streak on stage one alive.
How far can Josh Levin go in this comeback season?
- Yeah!
- Our second finisher tonight!
[cheers and applause]
- Whoo!
[inspirational music]
* *
- Matt, I'll put that on everything I love.
I think this dude could make it all the way to stage four!
- Whoo!
- He normally plays it safe, but not tonight.
He moved quickly through the course
and then took the riskier option, the High Road,
and nailed it--
the first to conquer it tonight.
Josh 2.0 is moving on to stage two!
- More of our national finalists are coming up,
including the rock and roller from Orlando, RJ Roman,
the stuntman out to change his luck in Vegas,
Flip Rodriguez,
plus the type 1 diabetic who's defied the odds,
16-year-old Katie Bone.
It's the National Finals on "American Ninja Warrior."
- Welcome back to the Las Vegas Strip
and our National Finals.
Ronald Washington's nickname is Dynamite,
and he was ready to blow the doors off stage one.
[explosion]
- Oh, boy, Matt!
- Let's go!
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife officer
had a wild approach to Three Ring Circus.
- He tried to wrap his legs around it!
- The five-time veteran somehow recovered.
- Oh, my goodness! Explosive!
- But his run fizzled out at the Jumping Spider.
- Oh! [air horn blares]
He rushed it!
- Seven-time veteran,
the Muscle Ball, Tyler Yamauchi,
rolled through the front half of stage one.
While only 5'1",
he was able to stick the landing on Jumping Spider.
- Looking really Gucci.
- And the Muscle Ball had no problem with Tetherball.
- He made that look easy!
- His height didn't stop him from topping the Warped Wall
or getting across Dipping Birds.
- Yeah! - Come on!
- He flew across Fly Hooks
and was able to climb his way to the buzzer,
our third finisher tonight.
[buzzer blares] - Yeah!
- And the former gymnast couldn't help but celebrate.
- Okay, Yamauchi.
- Our next competitor is having a really big year.
This is 16-year-old Addy Herman,
carrying a license plate
because she just got her driver's license.
And she's equally excited to be competing
in her first National Finals.
The soon-to-be high-school senior
had a breakout year on the course.
- Addy Herman is the real deal.
- But it's a dream years in the making.
She competed on two seasons of "Ninja Junior."
- Addy's got it! She is fierce!
[buzzer blares]
- She's been training for "Ninja" almost every day
since she was 11 years old.
- I wake up, go to school, go to training,
train for as long as I can.
I have put in so much work to be where I am today.
It's just so epic to be here.
[cheers and applause]
- She just got her driver's license,
and she likes to drive fast!
[countdown clock beeping]
Says her dream car is a Mustang.
If she gets a buzzer,
her parents may have to buy that for her.
- Let's go! - Whoo!
- Here we go for a ride here on Three Ring Circus.
- All right, Addy, come on.
- Been a strong competitor but has yet to get a buzzer.
It'd be amazing... - Wow!
- To get one here in stage one.
She'd be only the fourth woman ever to do it
and join Jessie Graff, Allyssa Beird,
and Flex Labreck in the history books.
- Yeah!
- Yeah! Yeah! - All right, let's go!
- She's a teenager--she's got to like roller coasters,
but you got to know how to ride this one.
- Keep that body passive, let that bar throw you
to that next one-- - Nice!
- Find the cradle!
Got it!
- That's the biggest roller coaster
here in Las Vegas,
right here on "American Ninja Warrior"!
- Perfect! - Whoo, and she just owned it.
- [screaming]
- She'll be the first woman
to try Jumping Spider tonight.
Only 5'4".
Got it! - Nice!
You go, girl!
- Jumping Spider's always been a challenge,
especially for shorter competitors.
So impressive she stuck that landing
in her first time on stage one.
And now she's halfway to a buzzer.
- Okay, Addy!
I see you, Addy!
- Now she'll be the first woman ever to try Tetherball.
[cheers and applause]
About to start her senior year of high school
back in Pembroke, Massachusetts.
Has been touring colleges.
- And Addy told me on the playground,
she owned tetherball!
Let's see if she can own the "Ninja" Tetherball.
- That clock ticking, had a good pace to this point.
This is an impressive run out of the young Herman.
- Man, nobody wanted to mess with her on recess.
- There it is! - Oh!
- And nobody wants to mess
with her on "Ninja Warrior"!
[all screaming]
- That screaming you hear is from
her training partner, Taylor Johnson.
- Let's go!
- Got a little over a minute left
for these final three obstacles.
- Run, run, run, run, run, get that!
Oh! - Had her fingertips on it!
She had her hand over the top but couldn't hold on!
Well, at this point, she's likely gonna
have to get the High Road, Akbar.
- Come on, Addy, Addy, come on!
A little stumble--
both: Oh!
- Oh, the frustration has to be building
after that second failed attempt.
This version of the Warped Wall
has a different run-up, making it even harder.
crowd: Addy! Addy! - Listen to that.
This crowd is behind her.
- On tired legs, can she get up the Warped Wall?
Oh! - No!
- What a heartbreaking way to finish.
crowd: Addy! Addy! Addy! Addy! Addy!
- Time's slipping away, but she will not give up!
- Come on, girl, come on!
- Yes! - Okay!
All right, go for it!
- Got to go for it, get that High Road!
- Might as well! [alarm blaring]
All right, sprint cross those Dipping Birds!
both: Oh! [air horn blares]
- Falls on Dipping Birds, but still an impressive
stage one debut by Addy Herman.
She got up that Warped Wall.
That is something to build on-- a great run out of Addy Herman.
- Matt, she never gave up.
She just got her license, and Addy was ready to roll.
She kicked it into high gear early,
cruising through the early obstacles.
The Warped Wall was a roadblock,
but she kept at it and got over the top.
- Addy, your first time on stage one, National Finals,
how does that feel?
- Feels amazing.
It doesn't even feel real at this point.
- Well, look, you're the
second-youngest female competitor tonight.
You've been absolutely impressive.
We can't wait to see what you do next season.
Congratulations on a great run. - Thanks so much. Thank you.
- Of course. Guys, back to you.
- Coming up,
he's known for his high-flying moves in the ring.
So what's WWE superstar Ricochet
doing with us in Vegas?
We'll find out.
Plus, another high flyer is going to try something
that's never been done before.
You won't believe what
social-media superstar Bob Reese is up to...
- Oh!
- Coming up on "American Ninja Warrior."
- Welcome back to Las Vegas, where we are midway
through our first night of the National Finals,
and these ninjas have been burning up stage one.
Montana teenager Evan Andrews came into stage one
with a lot of momentum after being the only finisher
of his semifinals.
And the soon-to-be high-school senior from Butte, Montana,
turned in another beaut tonight.
- Boy, this dude's got some serious game!
- In his first time on stage one,
Andrews was impressive,
cruising through every obstacle.
- He is just destroying this course!
- And even though he skipped the High Road
and took the Fly Hooks, he was still able
to put up the fastest finish so far,
with more than 40 seconds to spare.
- Evan Andrews is getting his first Vegas buzzer!
- Montana, let's go!
- Fremont, California's, Grant Nguyen
was sporting a black eye at the start line.
Just weeks ago, the college student
was in a bike accident,
and he wasn't sure he'd even be able to compete.
And he nearly had another disaster
just seconds into his run. - He's in trouble.
- Oh, he's got to regulate himself!
- Got it. - Oh, boy, he almost
threw himself off the mat!
- This rookie had a big group on the sidelines
and watching from home.
The 23-year-old gave them a thrill.
- Nice throw!
He's out there looking like a madman here!
- He made every obstacle interesting.
both: Oh!
- You got it! - Come on, Grant!
- He better M-O-V-E, start moving!
all: Yeah!
- With time running out,
he had no choice but to try the High Road.
- Oh, boy!
One-handed!
- Let's go!
- What? I see you!
- And it paid off as he made it to the buzzer
with just seconds to spare. [buzzer blares]
- Grant this man permission,
because he's going to stage two!
[cheers and applause]
- Well, Vegas is a city of bright lights and big stars,
and one just wandered into our booth--
WWE superstar Ricochet!
- What's up, guys? - What's up, man?
- It is awesome to have you here.
I know you're a "Ninja" fan.
- Yes. - And I can tell you,
this guy's a wrestling fan.
- Yes. - It is taking everything
for him not to come off the top rope on you.
- No, yeah, I saw him out there earlier looking at me
as I was walking by.
- Man, you know I'd come off the top rope, man.
- We're thrilled to have you out here.
- Yeah, this is great. - Would you set up there
for a run? - I would absolutely love to.
- Well, our next athlete has a nickname
worthy of the WWE.
It's Electric Enzo, teenager Enzo DeFerrari Wilson.
Like you, he's got a big fan base.
There's his family and friends over there.
- Guys, look at this-- he's got shirts,
he's got merch already.
- [laughs] - Oh, good branding right here!
[countdown clock beeping]
Enzo made it to stage two last year as a rookie.
all: Ooh!
- Wow!
- Crashing into the pad.
- Landing, hard impact, a hellacious blow.
- Well, he's learning how to take a bump there, Ricochet.
- This is crazy.
Here he goes. - Watch him kind of levitate
here on Three Ring Circus.
- Nice! - Turning your body
mid-swing is absolutely wild.
- Yeah, you're absolutely right.
- And they're 18 feet in the air.
That's intimidating. - Yes.
[cheers and applause]
- And he's gonna go for a ride here on Giant Roller Coaster.
- This one specifically is so wild today.
This is crazy! - Yeah, it is!
- Got to stick it in the cradle, get that dismount.
crowd: Enzo! Enzo! Enzo!
- And he's through.
Electric Enzo looking to lay the smack down
on the Jumping Spider.
Hesitation step there.
- Come on.
both: Oh! - Oh, no!
- What a save! - Wow!
- Again, I'm wearing this. - Yeah, what a close call.
Your heart rate gets going.
How do you calm yourself and continue?
- You got to keep going forward, like, you're gonna--
you might make some mistakes, but it's about your drive.
- Well, he's hearing it from the crowd.
He's 16. Is this unbelievable?
- What were you doing at 16?
- I was wrestling probably
in Tennessee or something somewhere.
- Well, look at Enzo, Matt.
He's got a pretty good time going.
- But it's easy to eat up a lot of time here on Tetherball.
Never had any obstacle like this before.
- Speed endurance is so crucial here,
especially on this extended stage one course.
- And they never know what they're going to face,
so this is a brand-new obstacle.
What's it like in wrestling
when you go up against new opponents?
- And that's the thing, like, you might--
all: Whoa!
- Oh, no! - No!
- Hold yourself--
- Oh, boy. - Clock's ticking!
- Oh, my gosh. - Oh, no!
- You can feel it, you can feel the intensity.
He's in no-man's land.
- Climb up, climb up, climb up, climb up.
- That's it, that's exactly what he needs to do.
If he can just climb up, he's getting so close to the water.
He's 5'9", 130 pounds--
all: Oh!
- Electric Enzo had a great run going, plenty of time left,
but his season ends on the Tetherball.
- Enzo had this crowd energized!
He was really flying through the early obstacles,
but when he couldn't stick the landing on Tetherball,
had to swing back over the water
and just couldn't recover.
- Ricochet, we know you've been the U.S. champion.
You've been the Intercontinental Champion.
Will you ever be a Ninja Warrior?
- Hey, if I get one chance, I am going to take it.
I am definitely going to try, absolutely.
- There it is! - If I get one chance.
- Be sure to catch Ricochet
and all your favorite WWE superstars in--
Akbar, what is it? - The Clash at the Castle!
- Live from Cardiff, Wales, streaming September 3rd,
only on Peacock.
You gonna win it all? - Oh, of course, absolutely.
- There it is!
There's your prediction-- money in the bank.
Up next is another teenager with a cool nickname.
It's Jay "Lache" Lewis,
and this talented 18-year-old is a threat to win it all.
Fell early on stage one last year,
but this year, he's got insurance.
You can see it on his shorts. He's got a Safety Pass.
- You got it, Jay. - You got it, Jay!
- Family down on the sideline.
And Jay's training partner, Joe Moravsky,
is watching, but from Connecticut.
Joe, unfortunately, is not going to be here
for the National Finals.
Due to health and safety protocols, had to withdraw.
And, Joe, I know it's got to be disappointing.
- Yeah, it's really, really heartbreaking,
and, you know, as much as I want to be there,
I'm going to do my best to be there for Jay.
I love him so much, and I just want total victory for him.
Let's go, Jay!
[countdown clock beeping]
- We'll get Jay started, but reassure all your fans
and tell them you'll be back next year.
- Oh, come on, I'm the Weatherman.
I don't give up. I will be back next season.
You better count on it.
- Great to hear, and love the support
Joe's showing for a fellow ninja and friend.
- Nice!
- And Jay Lache looking very comfortable.
- Jay Lewis with the Safety Pass--
he can relax and just go all out.
- But he fell on the third obstacle last year,
so he may be a little careful here.
- All right, but this is the Giant Roller Coaster--
a little different.
Nice! Ooh! Hold on!
Boom! Okay!
- There we go!
- Oh, dusting his shoulders off!
- Good, yes!
- Only weighs 115 pounds, so needs to get
a good bounce here on Jumping Spider.
And he's got it! - He just crushed it!
- Just 5'4", looks taller than he is.
Lache is flying.
- This kid is built for speed.
[cheers and applause]
- Through the first half of the course
in less than a minute.
Now time for the teenager to play some Tetherball.
Starts college in just a couple weeks.
- Come on, Jay. - You got it, Jay.
- Matt, this new obstacle has been problematic tonight,
knocked out Electric Enzo minutes ago.
- Yep, you're good. - Here we go, Jay!
- He said he's going to college, but let's see
if he can remember how to play Tetherball at recess.
- Ride with it, ride with it. - Come on.
- Let's see, he's spinning around,
can he line it up for that platform?
Ooh, one more pass.
Can he land it this time?
- Got it! Yes, yes! Yes!
- Keep it going, keep it going. You got a lot of time.
- This kid is showing why so many of the ninjas have
so much respect for him.
And just waves off the High Road button.
He's going to take his chances on the Fly Hooks,
but first has to get across the balance obstacle.
- Here we go--Dipping Birds.
Nice!
- And he's smiling because he's got plenty of time.
His pace gave him a cushion.
- Well, he has to be efficient.
If he can get up and over and out
just like that, he's good, he's in a good spot.
- Well, he came out with some confidence,
and you can see why.
- How about that for a lache, Jay Lache?
- Just so impressive-- didn't need the High Road.
Still gonna have a very fast time.
And he can save that Safety Pass for stage two.
- Let's go!
[crowd cheering]
- Whoo-hoo!
- Jay "Lache" Lewis going to stage two!
- After getting past that third obstacle,
Jay was feeling pretty good.
He made stage one look easy.
There's a reason ninjas say
this kid could win a million dollars.
[buzzer blares]
- Go ahead and dust your shoulders off, Jay.
- [laughs]
- Great job--we'll see you at stage two, buddy.
- Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
- Coming up, an insulin pump on her arm
hasn't stopped Katie Bone from reaching incredible heights
as a world-class climber or a world-class ninja.
The 16-year-old rookie takes on stage one next
on "American Ninja Warrior."
- The party's poppin' here in Las Vegas,
and while we were away,
three "Ninja" veterans got their shot.
Captain NBC, Jamie Rahn, hit the stage one course
for the eighth time,
with his pregnant wife, Kim, watching from home.
- Get up there!
- But the superhero couldn't fly right
on the second obstacle.
- Three Ring Circus is causing confusion for Jamie Rahn.
- And though he got through, he was rushing
to beat the clock the rest of the way.
- Just keep moving, babe! You got it!
- He does have to get going here, Matt.
- And when the 12-time Ninja veteran reached Tetherball...
- He's got to make this drop right now.
Make that drop--oh!
- He hit the wall. [buzzer blares]
all: Oh!
- One of "Ninja's" originals, Lorin Ball,
was making his sixth appearance in Vegas.
- He's been doing it for a long time, Matt.
- Yeah!
Come on, keep going! You got it!
- Ball competed on the very first
season of "Ninja Warrior."
- Just do it, just do it, go!
- And though he's known for speed,
he was slow tonight
and knew his best hope was the High Road.
- Explode!
- And the former break dancer
had to rush across Dipping Birds...
- Ah! Oh!
- And it cost him.
[air horn blares]
Then it was The Godfather, David Campbell,
who's competed on every single season.
- Whoa, here we go.
- The 44-year-old has a unique history with stage one.
He's failed six of the seven times he's been here.
- Oh, no!
- It's all about the clock. Whoa.
- No!
- David Campbell--
a heartbreaking end to his season.
So the 14-time veteran came into tonight
determined to break his stage one curse.
- Okay, Godfather!
- But after sprinting through the early obstacles,
it caught up to him.
- Oh, he's in trouble, Matt!
- With the clock ticking,
he went for the High Road but stumbled...
- Oh, my goodness.
- And had to take his chances with the Fly Hooks.
- Oh, this is going to haunt him
- Time ran out, and the pizza delivery driver
couldn't deliver on stage one again.
- Stage one has been the kryptonite for The Godfather.
- Guys, Katie Bone has made quite an impression
in her rookie season.
She got a buzzer in qualifying,
and no woman went further
than she did in the semifinals.
The 16-year-old from New Mexico
is a true inspiration
because she does it all as a type 1 diabetic.
[heartfelt music]
- I have climbing competitions
and Ninja competitions pretty much every week.
- Nice, Katie.
- It's a lot, and it can be hard,
but I love it.
But having type 1 and living with it every day
and competing with it is not easy.
- If her glucose drops too low,
it could affect her balance, her eyesight.
She could even lose consciousness.
The insulin helps keep it at manageable levels.
- In semifinals, my blood sugar was low,
and I was dizzy by the Salmon Ladder,
and I had a hard time seeing it,
so that definitely affected my run.
both: No!
- I definitely have to work harder at competitions,
but every time that I can hit a buzzer or have a win,
it makes it so worth it.
[all cheering]
One of my big goals this season was making Vegas,
so being here is a dream come true.
Tonight I'd love to hit my second buzzer.
* *
[cheers and applause]
- Katie's parents on the sideline
along with some of the ninjas she trains with.
[countdown clock beeping]
Only 5'2", will need big strides here.
- Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh! - Got through it!
- Rough start there by Katie Bone,
but great recovery.
- See the type 1 diabetic
with her glucose monitor and pump.
So impressive what she's doing.
Hasn't let that diabetes slow her down at all.
Gets the blind grab.
- She made that 18-foot swing look easy.
- Really confident throwing her body through the air.
- Of course, looking to go to the 2024 Olympics
as a contender for rock climbing.
- She's been climbing since she was eight years old,
among the best in the country.
And gets through Three Ring Circus.
Watch her on the Giant Roller Coaster,
about to go for a big ride.
This is little different than rock climbing.
- Yes, it is.
Here we go.
Nice throw!
Uh-oh, fumbled a little bit. Got it, nice!
- 16 years old and just 110 pounds,
but she is so impressive.
And she gets through.
[all cheering]
Katie sizing up the Jumping Spider
with the clock ticking.
Needs a big jump here at just 5'2".
- All right, so here's what Katie Bone needs to do.
She has to evenly distribute her weight.
Hands and feet have to hit at the same time--boom!
both: Oh!
- Just maxed out, rolled forward,
Katie Bone bitten on the Jumping Spider,
but what a rookie campaign.
- Good work, Katie! - Good job, Katie!
- Man, she's got a lot to be proud of.
Made it to Vegas as a 16-year-old rookie.
On Jumping Spider, she couldn't quite get
deep enough into the chute to lock herself in,
but what a year for Katie Bone.
[cheers and applause]
- Well, our next ninja is famous for his falls.
- Whoa!
- This is social-media sensation Bob Reese.
He's got millions of fans who check out
his crazy antics on TikTok and YouTube,
and he's got something special planned for tonight.
[upbeat music]
- On YouTube, I just hit a million followers.
On TikTok, I have almost 4 million followers.
Viral videos is essentially my actual current job,
but tonight, I'm going to do something
that's never been done before on stage one.
I really want to front-flip into the Jumping Spider.
[record scratches]
- What? Are you kidding me?
- Front flip-- - You trippin', homey.
- [laughs]
I've been practicing in the gym
to make sure I can get that.
I actually had planned to do this last year.
- Oh, no! - And he is in no-man's land.
- And I didn't get the opportunity
because I fell on the obstacle before it.
My mom and other people think it's kind of crazy
that I want to, like, risk doing a front flip
and then potentially mess up and not get a million dollars,
but the goal for me is to get out there and have some fun,
entertain some people, and get that flip
into the Jumping Spider, so you do not want to miss this.
* *
- Okay, he's got my attention.
- Also with a front-row seat are his family
and his training partners, Brett and Grace Sims.
[countdown clock beeping]
Well, it just sounds insane, but--
- It sounds insane? It sounds impossible!
- You either do it big, or you don't do it at all.
But first has to get through these next two obstacles.
- Matt, he is a circus act, and he's on Three Ring Circus.
- Check him out online.
This guy is just throwing his body constantly,
but really knows how to move.
- And Matt, he's not a small guy.
He's 6 feet, 190 pounds.
Oh, and he just did a flip out of Three Ring Circus!
You Circus Ninja, you!
- Bob Reese! - He is having fun!
- The main event will be on the Jumping Spider
if he can get through this.
- Come on big fella. Nice!
- Well, here it is, just needs that dismount.
- Matt, I swear on my mama, if this dude--what!
He is flipping out!
If he flips into Jumping Spider, man,
I'm gonna lose it.
This is unbelievable.
- And understand-- it's very hard to land
in the Jumping Spider if you do it the normal way.
We've seen top ninjas fall here tonight.
To do it with a flip is ridiculous.
- No, this is more than keeping it a hundred.
This is keeping it a millie.
- No one's ever tried this before.
- Come on, Bob.
- Here we go!
- No, he ain't, no, he ain't, no, he ain't--
oh, no! [air horn blares]
Reese's Pieces! - He had it!
[all shouting]
- Oh, my goodness!
- Splashes down on the Jumping Spider,
but not before bringing this crowd to their feet.
- All right, take a look-- he stuck the landing at first
but just couldn't stay up in the chute.
He was so close.
I know the next time he tries, he'll get it.
- Bob, what the what? What just happened here?
I mean, look, I get the M.O.
Break it down for me one more time.
So what was the plan here, what was the vision?
- Oh, I just opened a little bit early,
so I was leaning back.
If I would have held that tuck a little bit longer,
rotate a little more, I would have had it,
but I found those two other flips to do before it,
and I'm happy I got to do those
because I sadly didn't get the Jumping Spider.
But I'm just happy I got to try it--I'm happy to be here.
- You're going viral either way,
so I think mission accomplished, all right?
We'll see you out here next season?
- All right, yeah, I'm going to get it next season.
- All right, there we go. Guys, back to you.
- They're roommates and friendly rivals,
but only one has a Safety Pass.
Austin Gray and Gnarly Nate Hansen
take on stage one
when "American Ninja Warrior" returns.
- Welcome back to Vegas
and the first night of our National Finals.
The bright lights in the Strip pale in comparison
to the Sparkly Ninja, Barclay Stockett.
- Look at that grand entrance.
- And she had her fiancée, Tee, cheering her on.
The six-time veteran has had success on stage one before,
which is why tonight's run was so shocking.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa! Oh, no!
[air horn blares] - Oh, my gosh!
- And her comeback season ended in disappointment.
- Wow, she is livid, Matt.
- The Axe-Throwing Ninja, Megan Rowe,
was ready to cut stage one down to size.
- Oh, she is ready.
- The 25-year-old was back in Vegas
for the second year in a row.
Last year the graphic designer fell on the third obstacle.
- Nice, take it. Whoo!
- And she was determined not
to let it happen again tonight.
- We've seen a lot of flips tonight on stage one.
- Then the former gymnast
tried to stick the landing on Jumping Spider.
- Look at how focused, dial it in--oh!
[air horn blares]
- The Flamingo Kid, Arkansas teenager Owen Dyer,
has been flying high all season.
He hit a buzzer in qualifying
and in the semifinals.
- I see you!
- So tonight, he was trying to keep
his perfect season going.
- Yeah! He's pumped!
- And the 17-year-old came through.
Yeah, buddy! - Have some fun, baby!
- Everything was looking good
until he reached the Dipping Birds.
- Fly here, fly here, Flamingo!
- Oh, no!
- But the high-school senior survived the dire situation
and swung his way to his third buzzer of the season.
- Nice!
[all cheering]
- Yo, Owen, what's up, man? Do flamingos fly?
- Yes, they do! Yes, sir!
- Well, our next athlete was runner-up
the last two years.
It's Colorado's Austin Gray.
He and his roommate, Nate Hansen,
have had a friendly battle going all season.
Now they're both ready to conquer Vegas.
- I got fastest time in qualifying.
- Gnarly Ninja Nate gets that buzzer!
[buzzer blares] - Let's go! Whoo!
Austin was a little bit behind.
- Go, go, go!
- And just off the fastest time, Austin Gray.
- But now he's catching up a little bit.
Austin's hitting the first place in semifinals.
- Austin Gray, the fastest time of the night!
- But I've got the Safety Pass in my pocket.
We're going back to Nate first.
- Oh, and Austin falls!
It's never over on "American Ninja Warrior"!
- Never underestimate Gnarly Ninja Nate!
- Let's go!
That's just how it's going to be.
- I don't know, man. I think it's really--
I just--there's a mistake in qualifying.
- You know, this is a showdown of roommates.
- And a million dollars is on the line.
I'm ready. - We're big ready.
- I'm readier. - Uh, maybe, we'll see.
- Readiest, honestly. - Read--eh...
[upbeat music]
- Can't top that. [both laugh]
* *
- And Austin starts every run with a back flip.
- That's how he gets pumped up!
- Nate's on the sideline. He'll run later.
Also over there is Austin's girlfriend, Jaelyn Bennett.
[countdown clock beeping]
Last season in Vegas, had a Safety Pass,
but not this time.
Austin running without a net here on stage one.
- Matt, he is tired of finishing second.
He wants to be number one.
He wants that million dollars.
- 25 years old and one of the most influential ninjas.
So many top athletes come to Colorado to train with him.
There are a few of them on the sidelines.
Five-time veteran now at Giant Roller Coaster.
- A lot of people think this is Austin's year,
and let me tell you, he looked dominant
in qualifying and semifinals.
- Sliding out on Giant Roller Coaster.
- Come on. - Good transition.
- Got this big move here. Nice, got it.
- And he's easily through three obstacles.
Gnarly Nate taking notes.
Let's see now on Jumping Spider.
- All right, here we go, Matt.
Boom, nice. - Wow!
Good height! - Nice!
- Austin Gray looking in complete command so far.
Has just under two minutes on the clock.
- Yes, babe, you got this!
- But this new obstacle, Tetherball
has taken out some big names tonight.
- There's no obstacle like this in a Ninja gym.
No one's been able to practice for this.
All these ninjas out here seeing it for the first time.
- Austin Gray's been training so hard for this season.
Doesn't want to end up second again.
- Come on, Austin, let's go!
- Look up!
- A little push there.
This has been another tricky obstacle.
- One revolution around, here we go.
- And you can see him kicking that lower body again,
trying to build up that momentum.
Got good speed!
- Oh, no! - Oh!
- And he's low, Akbar!
- Oh, he's very low. - Pull those legs up--oh, no!
- Oh, my goodness!
Oh, and look at him-- he's trying to climb up!
- Holding on, and he's regrouping.
- All right, he's got to do it.
He's got to go all the way back again.
- He's resetting it, you can see that arm recoils.
- Go for it, dude! - Do it!
- He has got to make up some time--
- Wow! - What the--
[air horn blares] - No!
Austin Gray seemed to have found a solution
but can't stick the dismount.
Another fall here on Tetherball.
And without a Safety Pass, that's it.
The season is over for last year's runner-up.
- On his first approach, he came in hot
and couldn't stop himself with his legs.
On the second attempt, he was so low on the rope,
he couldn't stop again.
So his only chance was a Hail Mary jump.
He tried to hook the landing pad, but his momentum
pulled him to the side, and you can see his foot
just hit the water.
- Austin, I am so sorry.
I know you're devastated. I am gutted for you, man.
What went wrong here, first of all, on Tetherball?
- Uh, well, I have no idea how it works, apparently.
Got hung up.
Instead of trying to make it swing around,
I went for the big jump and was off by a tiny bit.
At this level, flukes like that can't happen.
So, you know, this was my year.
I had all the capability in the world
to win the whole thing.
I still know I can do it,
but, you know, we'll see where we go from here.
- Well, at the end of the day,
you have had an incredible season.
You continue to blow our minds year after year.
I hope you'll be back next season, okay?
- Appreciate that.
- Okay, of course.
And more of your "Ninja" favorites are coming up.
- While we were away,
two more ninjas got their shot at stage one.
Former college track athlete Casey Rothschild
got off to a hot start.
- Boom, bust a move!
- The 23-year-old was one of five women
to hit a buzzer this season, and she was cruising
in her second appearance on stage one.
- Rothschild looking real rich right now.
- The four-time veteran was a long jumper
at Wesleyan University.
- [yells] [air horn blares]
- But she came up short on Jumping Spider.
- We'll jump higher next time. [chuckles]
- It was a Max attack when teenager Max Feinberg
hit the stage one course.
- Let's go, Max!
- The 17-year-old uses his runs to raise awareness
for breast cancer, inspired by his mom, Debbie,
a breast cancer survivor.
- All right, you ready?
- Though he's heading to college this fall,
he took on Tetherball like he was back on the playground.
- Aah, nice!
- Feinberg finished stage one last year...
- This kid's good. - And he did it again tonight.
- What an amazing run right there.
- Let's go!
[cheers and applause]
- And another top ninja has just started his run.
This is RJ Roman,
and he is just shredding the course.
Finishes the Roller Coaster
and flies right into Jumping Spider.
He's going all out.
- Look at how fast he's moving!
- Just flying through the course!
This dude rocks, yeah!
- Rock out, man, rock out! - Didn't even look up!
- RJ's totally dialed in.
- Well, he's got a score to settle with stage one.
Last year, he was a favorite to win it all
and shockingly fell on the Fly Hooks.
Been working all year to get back
and get some redemption,
and he's a contender to win it all again this year.
- One more, one more, one more!
- You can see Flip Rodriguez offering advice
from the sidelines.
The 12-time veteran and RJ trained together a lot
to prepare for this season.
- Come on, come on!
Got it, nice.
- Look at that-- a minute, 30 left
for the final three obstacles.
Looking to get that revenge with Fly Hooks.
Made it there last year with plenty of time
but couldn't get the ring off the hook,
so you know he wants another shot.
- Let's go, RJ!
- Not even gonna mess with the High Road.
He is laser-focused on the Fly Hooks.
Still got over a minute left.
- Let's go, RJ! - Come on, RJ!
- All right, Matt, he's got to go fast here.
He's got to go fast! Okay!
- And he's made it back to Fly Hooks.
- All right, now, you got to be efficient--
super efficient here, up and out.
- Well, just couldn't make that move last year.
He's trained it, though. He says it's automatic now.
- Here we go on this eighth obstacle, Fly Hooks.
[crowd shouting]
There it is.
- That is a lot of work for that one move.
He put in the work, and RJ Roman...
- Throw yourself up high.
- He's gonna be going back to stage two.
Well, in season 11, made it all the way to stage three.
This guy is a threat to win it all.
RJ Roman one step closer to a million dollars!
[upbeat rock music]
[cheers and applause]
- Let's go, RJ!
- Hard work pays off, baby!
- Yeah! Let's go! Let's go!
- RJ Roman!
- I'm back, baby! - Yeah!
- Last year, you got tripped up on the Fly Hooks.
How many times did you practice
for that one move you got tonight?
- Over and over, 3:00 in the morning,
all by myself.
The grind pays off. Let's go.
- We'll see you on stage two, RJ!
- Thank you, guys.
all: [chanting] Gnarly Nate! Gnarly Nate! Gnarly Nate!
- Well, this crowd's already chanting the name
of our next athlete.
He's one smallest competitors but one of our biggest stars.
We're talking about 5'2" Gnarly Nate Hansen.
He's wearing a semifinals finisher patch on one leg
and a Safety Pass on the other.
Earned it with a come-from-behind win
on the Power Tower...
- Yeah, let's go!
- Beating his roommate, Austin Gray.
all: [chanting] Gnarly Nate! Gnarly Nate!
[countdown clock beeping]
- Nate Hansen has blown us away since he exploded
onto the scene in season 12.
Most of his family's here in Vegas to watch.
We've told you his story.
Despite taking growth hormones,
never got past 5'2", but he has become
such an inspiration to kids, especially undersized ones.
It's not hard to root for Nate Hansen.
And it looks like he's going full send in here.
He's not going to play it safe.
- You can't be too careful with that clock ticking.
You have to keep it moving.
- Through Three Ring Circus,
but now the Giant Roller Coaster.
These super-size obstacles
are especially tough when you're 5'2".
- He knows what to do.
Nice, throw yourself into it right here!
Got it. - Whoa, okay!
So he's reached the Jumping Spider,
and this is where his season ended last year.
- Oh!
- Just couldn't hold himself up.
5'2", 135, got to get deep into the chute
here on the Jumping Spider.
- If I'm Nate Hansen, I'm not thinking about last year.
I'm thinking about getting deep into that chute.
Oh, no! - Oh!
- That is exactly why you have that Safety Pass.
The Jumping Spider bites him,
but Nate will get another chance.
- With his size, he needs an almost perfect jump,
and he didn't quite get deep enough,
but he's going to get another shot at stage one.
[cheers and applause]
- It's all right. Glad I have it.
Blessed to have it. Can't wait for another shot.
- He's one of the craziest ninjas of all.
You never know what will happen
when Cat Daddy Jackson Twait hits the course.
He's up next on "American Ninja Warrior."
- Welcome back to Las Vegas.
Minutes ago, 18-year-old Isabella Wakeham made
her second straight appearance in the National Finals.
She's about to start college at Texas A&M,
and she passed the test on the early obstacles
with flying colors.
- Look at that!
- Last season on stage one, Wakeham went farther
than any female rookie in history.
- All right, come on, wakey-wakey, don't breaky.
- Let's go!
- But tonight, her run was cut short by the Jumping Spider.
both: No!
- It happens, but grateful for another year in Vegas.
- The Classy Ninja, Donovan Metoyer,
came dressed for success.
Even his sidelines got into the act.
- Stay classy, Vegas.
- The seven-time veteran took a slower approach
on the Slide Surfer.
- Looking clean, trying to stay clean.
- Though the 34-year-old from the Kansas City area
looked smooth...
- Oh, no! Hold on!
- His run wasn't,
and he was running out of time at the end.
- Time is ticking. He's got to hustle.
- Metoyer successfully took the High Road
last season and went for it again tonight.
- He's gonna go for it! Whoa!
[all cheering]
- He's now the first athlete to get
the High Road in two straight seasons.
[buzzer blares] - Wow, Matt, high top,
High Road, he did it!
- Yes, let's go!
- Then it was the reigning Last Ninja Standing,
Colorado's Kaden Lebsack.
The 16-year-old made it
all the way to stage four last year
and came up just short of winning the million dollars.
- He's had the best start of any ninja
in the history of "ANW."
- In his "ANW" career, he's never hit the water.
That streak nearly ended tonight.
- Oh, boy!
- But Lebsack stayed calm under pressure...
- That's a sign of a really good ninja!
- And powered his way through the rest of the course,
proving he's still a threat to win it all.
[buzzer blares]
- In Vegas, you never bet against Kaden.
- Up next, another ninja with a huge group of fans.
Cat lovers, this run's for you.
It's the wild and crazy ninja from Iowa, Jackson Twait,
making his Vegas debut.
- Finally made it!
- Matt, we know we're about to have some fun
watching this one.
Ah, he's going old school with that camera!
Wait, do they still make those?
- And his cat, Hashbrown, looks like he's hosting
a poker night back home.
- [laughs] It's a cat-sino, baby!
- And his whole crew from Iowa in the Vegas spirit.
They're going to hold up a card
for every obstacle he conquers.
[countdown clock beeping]
- Jackson Twait is definitely a wild card.
Never know what he's going to do.
- What was the first one? Little ace.
[cheers and applause]
Good launch.
Kid's got good power-- 6'1", 160.
He's been prone to mistakes in the past.
- Well, Matt, he's got to represent for Iowa, Matt.
- Got it! Good. And up goes the deuce.
- Remember, the other Iowa ninjas,
Chris Behrends and Levi Enright,
both fell on Dipping Birds tonight.
- Jackson Twait trying to avoid that fate,
riding down now on the Roller Coaster.
Well, a good pace out of Twait.
And right into the Jumping Spider.
Whoo! - Boom! Nice stick!
- Showing catlike reflexes.
The Cat Daddy-- so fur, so good.
- Way to stay right there underneath his center of mass.
And then a big drop-off.
- That's four.
[cheers and applause]
Twait rolling on, pumped up.
- Okay, Twait!
All right, show 'em how you do it in Iowa.
- Hashbrown's got to be so nervous right now.
- [laughs]
[crowd shouting]
Climbing around there, getting up high,
controlling the speed, slowly making his way down.
- This is a kid I bet still plays Tetherball.
- I bet he does. Oh, no, not there.
- Extra swing.
- Okay, third time around here,
but he's got some time to recover.
This is it. - Got it. Good balance!
[cheers and applause]
Five down, and he's getting closer to those Dipping Birds.
- The Dipping Birds has taken out
all of the ninjas from Iowa.
- Can Jackson Twait get the revenge for all of them?
Looks like he's going for the High Road.
- All right, here we go, Dipping Birds!
Got it!
- A little stumble! Got to time it.
- Oh, he missed it. He missed it.
- That's all right, has plenty of time
to get through the Fly Hooks.
- Yeah, he missed it because he was so focused
on Dipping Birds.
He's like, "Uh-uh, I ain't goin' out, not on me."
[cheers and applause]
- Got to kick it up and out, that ring, lift it--
- Ooh.
- You can see he's struggling with the move.
This could be trouble.
- This back half--oh!
- Up and out, up and out, Twait!
Up and out!
Nice! - There it is!
- Okay, he heard me. He's got plenty of time.
Now bring your knees up and generate some momentum.
- And an extra swing--
got to launch high on this cargo net.
- Yeah, he's got to go, Matt. - Another swing!
- He's got to get on that net by 15 seconds.
- He's been using all nine lives
on this run on stage one.
- All right, he's got to go meow right now.
[siren blaring] - The siren's sounding!
- Matt, he's got five seconds! Hurry up!
Oh, you messing around! You are messing around!
[buzzer blares]
[cheers and applause]
- And he did! - Oh, my goodness!
- Less than a second!
- Whoo!
[all cheering]
[upbeat music]
- We love you, Jackson!
- Jackson, what you trying to do, man?
You trying to kill me up here, man, huh?
- Holy cow.
- Did you realize you were that close?
- I didn't realize I sucked that much at cargo nets.
- [laughs]
- Jackson, we'll see you on stage two.
- Whoo!
- Coming up, he's one of "Ninja's" all-time greats.
- Yeah! [all cheering]
- But he hasn't had much luck in Vegas lately.
- Oh, no!
- Can Flip Rodriguez turn it around tonight?
He's up next on "American Ninja Warrior."
[crowd cheering]
- Minutes ago, some of our top ninjas got their shot
on stage one, including 16-year-old Josiah Pippel.
- This is a kid that has a passion for Ninja,
and it shows.
- The New Jersey teenager is a big Formula 1 racing fan,
so it was no surprise he was moving fast.
- He's got plenty of time.
- Though he got spun around at Tetherball...
- Oh, look at that.
- Pippel found a way.
He hit buzzers in both qualifying and semifinals,
and he sailed to another
with one of the fastest times of the night.
[all cheering]
Then it was another impressive teenager--
the Flyboy, Isaiah Thomas.
- He's got the wings on the back of his shirt,
and he's flying. Okay, Flyboy Ninja.
- The 17-year-old has had an outstanding sophomore season,
hitting his first semifinals buzzer.
- Yeah, he's built for speed, Matt.
[all cheering]
- And he had one of the fastest times
on stage one last year.
- He's got plenty of flexibility!
No! [buzzer blares]
- Oh, my God.
- So his fall on Jumping Spider
was one of the biggest shocks of the night.
- Well, that's it.
- Then it was another ninja who likes to go fast,
stuntman Kyle Soderman.
The 27-year-old was one
of the final four competitors last season
and looked like he might be a threat again.
- Ooh, jumped right into it, nice!
- Last year, Soderman was one of the few
to try the High Road,
and though he had plenty of time, he did it again tonight.
- Yes! Whoo!
Just like last year, right?
- And that allowed Soderman to finish in under two minutes--
the fastest finish of the night.
[all cheering]
- Let's go!
Whoo!
- Our final runner tonight,
12-time veteran Flip Rodriguez.
And there's the trademark mask he wears
to raise awareness for child sexual abuse,
which Flip himself was a victim of.
Written a book about his journey
and now advocates for others.
And Flip is having a huge season,
and he gives much of the credit
to training with fellow ninja RJ Roman.
- Let's go, Flip!
[soft music]
- I've been to National Finals seven times,
and the farthest I've ever been is stage two.
- Yeah, he's starting to make that look--oh, no!
- It drives me insane. [buzzer blares]
- And time runs out, just feet away from the buzzer!
- Ugh.
But I believe in my heart and soul
that this year is going to be different.
* *
I've been going to Orlando every week,
three hours up and three hours down,
to get some really fantastic training with RJ Roman.
All right, ready to hit it again?
- [laughing] Yeah, something like that.
- Honestly, I've learned so much from RJ.
- Oh!
- He's amazing at creating replicas of stage one,
stage two, stage three.
He's so passionate, driven, and disciplined.
I couldn't ask for anyone better.
- When you transferred to the top of the white one,
you were right on the corner.
- Listen, I like to live on the edge, okay?
- Flip and I push each other on a daily basis.
Want to go all the way up?
The biggest thing I've been able to offer him
is more technique, since I'm in a gym year round.
Let's do that arch on your back swing.
And the leg kick-- oh, yeah.
Oh!
And the biggest thing
that I've gotten from training with Flip
is just how to push through pain.
- Aah!
- You always have a little bit left,
even when you don't think you do.
Flip always forces me to keep going.
- What do you mean, bro? Let's go.
Come on, Vegas, let's go! - Ah, let's do it.
- When I hit that buzzer in the semifinals course...
Yeah!
It brought me back to when I was at the top of my game
on "American Ninja Warrior."
I believe everything happens for a reason,
and the people you keep around you are so important.
I mean, if you don't have an RJ on your side,
I don't know what you're doing with your life.
* *
- I love it, and to show his respect,
Flip's actually wearing RJ's double-R shirt
during his run tonight!
- [shouts indistinctly]
- RJ hit a buzzer earlier.
He's on the sideline
with some of the ninjas Flip coaches.
[countdown clock beeping]
The extra training's already paid off.
Flip got a buzzer in semifinals
for the first time in three years.
Last time he was on stage one in season 11,
had a Safety Pass.
Didn't get one this year,
so one mistake, and his season's over.
- This is his season bet.
He's been at the game for a long time.
- One of the all-time great ninjas--
so explosive and really has become
such a big force as a coach and mentor.
Many of his students cheering for him tonight,
including Jordan Carr and Cal Plohoros.
- Now 33 years old,
celebrated his birthday during the semifinals.
- Going for a ride. - All right, here we go.
- Very smooth, very under control.
And I'm sure RJ, who ran earlier,
shared some intel on how to run the course.
[all shouting]
5'11", 170-- gonna take on Jumping Spider.
Locked in, good power!
- Here at the Jumping Spider,
he's done this many times before.
- Flying through, picking up the pace now.
His sidelines really cheering him on.
- You have to love how the Ninja community
always supports each other.
[all shouting]
Everyone loves to see Flip succeed.
- Got to be careful on Tetherball.
Seen a lot of good ninjas go down right here tonight.
- There's a certain calmness
about Flip Rodriguez right now, where you just feel it.
Flip Rodriguez is about to go to stage two.
- You can see the efficiency in this run.
- Watch those feet!
- All right.
- Lining up the platform, using that lower body
to build up a little more momentum.
- Nice!
Did you see how high up he got to give himself
the ability to adjust and make it on the landing pad?
[crowd cheering]
- No problem on the Warped Wall.
Will he go High Road?
[cheers and applause]
- I don't think so, homey.
He's given himself enough time.
He's going to take his chance on Fly Hooks.
- But first got to get through Dipping Birds,
and we've seen a lot of falls here tonight, too,
but not for Flip.
- Well, this is the obstacle RJ trained for relentlessly.
I'm sure he gave Flip some tips on this one.
- Everyone's on their feet,
want to Flip end it with a buzzer.
- Nice! Great landing!
all: Let's go, Flip! Let's go, Flip!
- And you can hear the crowd.
All that work with RJ Roman has paid off,
about to get another buzzer.
all: Let's go, Flip!
- And a new chapter in his book.
That time I came back. I'm going to stage two!
- And so much emotion, everyone's so happy for Flip.
And the man behind the mask, Flip Rodriguez,
moving on to stage two! [buzzer blares]
- Let's go!
[cheers and applause]
Let's go!
[upbeat music]
* *
I see you, God.
I see you, God, let's go!
- Look, man, I got to ask you--
you've been doing this a long time.
What brings you the most pride
as you're standing atop stage one with a buzzer yet again?
- Leading by example.
- Wow, it's been three years since you made it
back to stage two.
Did you have any doubt
that you were hitting this buzzer tonight?
- No, sir, no room for doubt in here.
I got great friends, supporters.
Got everybody behind me this year.
No distractions. We're gonna crush it.
- Well, man, you did that, man.
You did your thing, man. Congratulations.
We'll see you on stage two. - Appreciate it.
- The man behind the mask is moving on once again!
Next week, we're turning up the heat
at the National Finals.
We'll see our remaining finalists take on stage one.
Then we'll slide over to the even tougher stage two...
- Oh!
- As we move a step closer to the million-dollar prize.
For Akbar Gbajabiamila and Zuri Hall, I'm Matt Iseman.
We'll see you next time on "American Ninja Warrior"!
[dramatic music]
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