American Ninja Warrior (2009–…): Season 9, Episode 9 - San Antonio City Finals - full transcript

.

[bluesy rock music]

- Every day,
we face adversity,

and with each challenge,
we face a choice.

- Hard times are coming.

There's gonna be obstacles
in your way,

whether it's a Warped Wall
or a sick child,

and it's how
you deal with that.

- The strongest person
I've ever met

is an 8-year-old little girl,

and thanks to Zoey,
I refuse to stay down.



The only way I will give up

isf you lock me up
and throw away the key.

- ♪ May we all do
a little bit better ♪

♪ Than the first time ♪

♪ Learn a little something
from the worst time ♪

♪ Get a little stronger from
the hurt time ♪

- No!

- I will never give up.
- I'm never gonna quit.

That's not me.
That's not how I do things.

- Tonight, 34 athletes

will give it everything
they've got.

- ♪ And you learn to fly,
and if you can't ♪

♪ Then you just freefall ♪

- Oh!
- Ooh!



What a save!

Looking stronger than ever.

- When the going gets tough,

you keep going and keep pushing
and do not quit.

- I want to grow up
and be strong and fly.

- Nice.
- So smooth.

- The road to
the "American Ninja Warrior"

national finals
winds back down south.

- I can't wait to face
this city finals course.

- City finals course,
I'm coming for you.

- ♪ May we all ♪

- [giggling]

[cheers and applause]

- Start your engines.

We're at the Daytona
International Speedway,

home of the Daytona 500,

and tonight, home for
"American Ninja Warrior."

Hello, everyone, and welcome
to Florida.

I'm Matt Iseman.

- And I'm Akbar Gbajabiamila,
and what a combination.

Our great ninja fans here
at this iconic home of NASCAR.

Look at this.

- And they're in
for something special.

We've got the top men
and woman

in a loaded field tonight,

racing for a spot at the
national finals in Las Vegas.

- And just like NASCAR,

we're probably gonna
see some crashes,

and we're definitely
gonna see some speed.

- We've got the man
who went further

than anyone last season,
Drew Drechsel...

The best ninja on the planet!

Who blew away the field
in qualifying.

The fastest time
by over 30 seconds!

Plus a Miami stuntman,
JJ Woods.

- It's good to be back!

- And the athlete who made
history

on the course last season,
Jessie Graff.

- She is a rock star!

For a look at this longer,
tougher finals course,

let's go down trackside to
the third member of our team,

Kristine Leahy.

- Thanks, Matt.

The course tonight features
ten grueling obstacles.

The first six are the ones

these athletes saw
in qualifying,

including the Wingnuts and
the grueling Rolling Thunder.

Then it's on to the
four obstacles

added for the finals,

starting with
the Salmon Ladder,

followed by a new obstacle,

the Giant Cubes: two
massive Plexiglas structures

with tiny handholds floating
18 feet above the water.

Then they'll have to use
their upper body

to work their way across the
slots on the Circuit Board.

And finally,
one last brutal obstacle,

the Elevator Climb.

Competitors have to
use their upper body

to pump those handles up
the 35-foot chute to the top.

If they can survive
and hit the buzzer,

they've guaranteed
themselves a spot

in Las Vegas.
Matt?

- Thanks, Kristine.
- Join POM Wonderful

for a behind-the-scenes look

at how our course is designed.

Check out our digital series
"Crashing the Course."

Well, we're down south, and
we're gonna kick things off

with a competitor
from Hueytown, Alabama.

It's the pec-flexing
firefighter, Eddy Stewart,

taking the jacket off
to reveal

that 200-pound physique,

and you know what comes next.

- Oh, and there it is.
- Left, right, double, double.

- And with that big body,

he's always one of the most
entertaining

runs of the night.

Ooh!

- I'm 200 pounds, and so
I'm not your average ninja.

It's a little more difficult
holding your bodyweight up.

- Oh! Oh!
- Right there on his elbow.

- The balance obstacles always
get me real nervous.

- Oh!
- Ooh!

- Hard impact.
- Right there in the obliques!

- During qualifying on Broken
Bridge, I thought I had it.

Maybe I was leaning
forward too much,

and I just did a head dive,
straight over it, and flopped.

- Oh!
- What a Save!

- It would make my year
to hit the buzzer

in the Daytona city finals.

Yeah!
I'm gonna flex my pecs

all the way to Vegas.

Left, right, double, double.

- And Eddy's has a lot of fans
here tonight,

, including his wife Natalie.

[countdown clock beeping]

- All right, look at him
taking a double step

here after the double bounce
on the pec.

Stewart made it to the
national finals two years ago,

and he's through the Floating
Steps.

[cheers and applause]

And now the Rolling Pin.

You got to wrap those arms
around the cylinders

for that jolting 28-foot ride.

Ooh.
Hard landing,

but that's what we expect
from Eddy Stewart.

- Watch it last!

- He's checking his lip
for blood.

Well, oh, boy.
Let's look at it.

He got his face
against that cylinder,

and when he hits
those jolts, boom!

It's like taking a punch,
and it busted his lip.

- Now this dangerous
new obstacle, the Wingnuts.

Took out about 1/3 of
the competitors in qualifying.

He has to swing sideways
across the three Wingnuts.

It's a challenging move,
but he gets the first one.

- And those transitions...
that's not easy,

especially when
you're 200 pounds,

walking, carrying
all that weight.

That's extremely difficult.
And look at that.

- Very easy for the big man.

On now to the Broken Bridge.

That bloody lip
is still bothering him.

- Breathe now!
- His Alabama buddy,

JoJo Bynum,
giving some advice.

- And remember, he barely
survived this in qualifying.

- Oh!
- Look at that.

A hard impact headfirst.

Once again, Eddy Stewart
is just beating himself up.

- Well, he was just
stumbling forward,

so he dives over
the last step,

and he lands headfirst
on the pad.

He's going to have some
bruises after this one.

- And you can really see
that blood on his lip,

but things don't get any
easier.

Now it's Rolling Thunder,
which just wears you down.

- I expect to see him
go fast here.

Get it moving.

You can see JoJo down
there, JoJo screaming to him,

"Move, move!
Get that thing moving!"

- 200 pounds, a lot of weight
to carry across this obstacle.

23 feet across.

- Oh, that's that 'Bama
strength. 'Bama strong.

- And just telling him
to move it, keep it moving.

- You know how they do
in Alabama.

He's rolling with it.
He's rolling with it.

- Roll tide,
roll this thunder.

- You can jump!
- You can jump!

- Going for the dismount,
and he's got it.

- Whoo!
- Yes! Yes!

- He's bloodied,
but Eddy Stewart

now facing the Warped Wall.

- I know your limbs hurting.
- Go! Get up the wall!

- A little blood in your mouth?
- That's good.

He got busted
right in the mouth.

- And he's up it.

Eddy Stewart, our first
runner, is gonna give us

our first look at
these back-half obstacles.

These final four are
upper-body-intensive,

and it starts here
with the Salmon Ladder.

- Whoo!

- Come on, man.
- Breathe!

Breathe. Let's go.

- Got to jump it four rungs
to the top.

Here he goes. Here he goes.

- This is where you want to
use all the muscle.

You got 'em; use 'em.
That's it!

- Look at this.
- Found his second wind.

- Yeah.
- I see you, Eddy Stewart!

- And he completes
the Salmon Ladder,

moving on to the new
obstacle, the Giant Cubes.

- Let me tell you,
it's tough being the first.

He hasn't seen
anyone else try this.

He's gonna have
to figure it out.

- He's trying to use
those small handholds

to get up to the top and
use that red ledge up there

to work his way around
the box, but that is not easy.

- Breathe!

- You can see
he's really struggling,

holding his 200-pound body
on those tiny handholds,

trying to reach up.

- Pull yourself up.
- Tag it!

both: Oh!

- Splashes down,
but the firefighter

makes it to
the eighth obstacle,

and as always, Eddy Stewart
left it all on the course.

- Big Eddy took a shot
at the rolling pin,

and the face plant
on the Broken Bridge.

The blood didn't stop
Eddy Stewart,

but the Giant Cubes did,

as he just gassed out
trying to pull himself up.

- Got tired.
- Super tired.

Whoo!

- Tonight, ninja favorites hit
the starting line in Daytona,

including Jessie Graff.

- She is a beast!
- JJ Woods.

- I'm back, baby!
- And Drew Drechsel.

The real-life ninja!

- Daytona city finals,
start your engines.

- But up next, one of the
most inspirational stories

we've ever had on
"American Ninja Warrior,"

how one family came back from
a heartbreaking loss.

- It's definitely gonna be
a special moment

when I see them saying,
"Go, Daddy, go!"

Come on, buddy.

- When "American Ninja
Warrior" returns.

- Welcome back to
"American Ninja Warrior."

While we were away,
three more athletes took

on this Daytona
city finals course.

Rookie Cedric Idudu came out

with the flag and wardrobe
of his native Nigeria.

- But when you take of the
dashiki, you mean business.

- The Atlanta IT consultant

quickly went offline
at the Wingnuts.

- Ooh!
- Idudu doesn't do it.

Haunted house makeup artist
Bree Widener

and her scary-looking
co-workers were back

for another shot
at the course.

- Yeah, I get my eyes
on you, Bree.

- The 23-year-old from
Augusta, Georgia,

looked strong early,
but just as in qualifying,

she was worn down
by Rolling Thunder.

both: No!

- Widener once again out
on the Rolling Thunder.

- Greenville,
South Carolina's Brett Sims

made an impressive leap
to get past Rolling Thunder.

- Looked like he almost got
a swing right there.

- Wow!
- But in a major shock,

this seven-time veteran
slipped up

on the Salmon Ladder.

Oh. No!

And that's how quickly
it can end.

Disappointment for Brett Sims.

Well, if you're a fan
of the hit show,

"This Is Us,"
or even if you're not,

you'll want to meet
our next competitor.

This is Nashville
bus driver Josh Butler,

Right there he's saying
"Dad" in sign language.

That's to communicate with
his two-year-old son Braxtel.

On "This Is Us,"
a couple adopts a baby

after a terrible loss...
the same thing

Josh and his wife have done.

- Hi, Dewey.
- Good morning, Dewey.

- Our first son, Dewey,
was born in May 2015

with a genetic disorder

that had never been
documented before.

He had trouble breathing
and he had trouble eating.

They were definitely some
dark times, some sad times.

Yeah.

Basically, all our waking
hours were in the hospital.

That's where he passed away
after 132 days.

- His little body had been
working so hard.

So hard.

But we knew that God was
preparing us

for something with Dewey.

- One of the nurses from
the hospital told us

that there was a baby
on the fifth floor, Braxtel.

His family had deserted him,
really,

and he had some of the same
illnesses that Dewey did.

- Right away, I knew it
was an answer to a prayer.

This baby needed a home,
needed a family.

- And so we met him, and
we fell in love with him,

so we fostered
and then adopted him.

Eventually, our new son,
Braxtel,

we got to bring him home.

Come to Mommy and Daddy.
Come on, buddy.

- He's experienced such
healing,

such supernatural healing.

We are so grateful.

- Here's the one thing you need
to know about the claw,

is it's gonna get you
in the tum!

It's gonna get you in the tum!

It's definitely gonna be
a special moment

when I'm running the course

and I see them down
there... see them smiling

and saying, "Go, Daddy, go!"

And I'm gonna be
thinking about Dewey

and thinking about Braxtel,
and it's past his bedtime,

but I'll let him stay up
this one time.

- You see Braxtel has that
special breathing tube

to make sure
he gets enough oxygen.

Because of that tube, Braxtel
isn't able to speak yet.

That's why they communicate
in sign language.

[countdown clock beeping]

Someone should nominate this
guy for Father of the Year.

Not only does he help
take care of Braxtel;

he drives a bus for
a nonprofit in Nashville

that helps
underprivileged kids.

- This is a 31-year-old
ninja rookie.

Qualifying was his first time
on a course.

- He's through
the first obstacle,

and moves up
to the rolling pin.

- Oh, look at this.
- He's wrapping around his knee.

That keeps his leg
from pulling him off.

- Ooh, but that technique
makes for a hard landing.

And Mom and Braxtel giving him
that sign for "Daddy,"

as he faces off against
the Wingnuts.

- And this could be a tough
one for someone

who doesn't have
a lot of obstacle experience.

- He built a few obstacles
in his backyard,

but between his job
and his family,

he hasn't got
much time to train,

so it's impressive
he's made it this far.

- Oh! Come on,
come on, come on. Ooh!

- Having trouble getting that
left hand up. He's got it.

- You got it, Josh.

- Nice!

- Barely making those
transitions,

and you can see
there's not a lot to grab

on to... only about two inches

for your fingers
in those handholds.

- Get off there!

- But Josh Butler gets
through.

On, now, to the Broken Bridge.

- Come on. You got it.
- You got it.

You got it!
Whoo!

- Excellent balance
for the Butler.

- I need you!

- And he's telling the crowd,
"I need you!"

- Go, Josh!

- That's because this next
obstacle, the Rolling Thunder,

is where he went out
in qualifying.

Only made it about
halfway down the track.

- And we saw this take out
so many six weeks ago.

- He's moving a lot quicker
than he was in qualifying.

Can he get that hundred-pound
Rolling Thunder moving?

- All right, come on.
- Go get it.

- Good power out
of the bus driver.

- See what happens when
you call the Butler?

He comes.
He's at your service.

Yes!
Serve this Rolling Thunder!

- Fighting for it. That grip's
starting to give out.

Looking for the dismount.

- Keep going! Keep going!
- Keep going! Keep going!

- Still needs a few more feet.
- Okay, come on, Josh.

- As you can see, as he sways,
the wheel counteracts it,

moving the opposite
direction.

- His wife's telling him,
"Turn around and go forward."

- I love it. The husband
listening to his wife

in the middle of his run.

- And he's got it!
- Yes!

Rolling Thunder just got
served by the Butler!

- And look, that's sign
language for "thank you."

He's thanking his son,
Braxtel,

and really the whole audience
for helping him get through.

Now for the first time ever
he's facing the Warped Wall.

all: Beat that wall!
Beat that wall!

- Here we go!
- Oh, yeah!

No problem on the Warped Wall.

- And yeah. Wow.

- And again says "thank you."

- Whoo!

- And now Josh Butler's

gonna take on the back half
of this course.

- Well, he's breathing
heavily.

He looks a little winded,
Matt.

- Josh, backyard.
- Backyard all day.

- His wife saying "backyard,"

a reference to
the Salmon Ladder

he built in their backyard,

but it's always tougher

after doing the six obstacles
before this.

- Ooh, ooh! Come on!

- Got that bar uneven.

You got to fight to
correct it.

- Get that auto correct.
- Auto correct.

Nice.

- No!
- Ooh!

- Josh Butler just gives out
on the Salmon Ladder,

and yet what a courageous run
in front of his son.

- Good job, Dad.

- It really was, Matt.

He got past Rolling Thunder,

which took him out
in qualifying,

but at the Salmon Ladder,

you could see his fingers peel
off the bar after one jump.

He was exhausted.

Let's go down to Kristine

for the POM post-run
interview.

- Josh, let's first go back
to the Rolling Thunder.

How were you able to
get through it tonight?

- You know, me and my wife
talk about it,

and Braxtel talked about it,

and how he gets
stronger every day,

and so I just got through it.

- What did you hope
to accomplish

by being here tonight?

- Just to share a little bit
about my family's story

and, you know, hope,
perseverance, faith...

it's all important,

and dreaming big dreams
is also important too.

- That's a great message.
- Thank you so much.

- Thank you.
- Guys?

- Thanks, Kristine. Braxtel's
got to be proud of his dad.

Well, a lot of ninja
heavyweights here in Daytona,

including eight-time veteran
Travis Rosen.

His run's coming up later.

Then, get ready
for some fast times.

- Whoo!
- Wow!

As movie lookalike Rigel
Henry hits the course.

- Hey, bud. Let's ninja!

Whoo!

- When "American Ninja
Warrior" returns.

- Welcome back to
the Daytona city finals.

While we were away,

two more ninjas
took their shot at the course.

- All right! All right!

- Hampton, Georgia's Ricky Vu
had dancing feet at the start.

- He's so happy.
- But the fun faded quickly.

Uh-oh.

As he developed cramps
in both legs

and had to be
carried off the course.

He is in a lot of pain.

The pride of Possum Kingdom,
South Carolina,

Bootie Cothran,

was making his first
appearance in the city finals.

48 years old.

This guy seems to get
better every season.

With his Bootie bandwagon
cheering him on,

the 105-pound athlete
made it to Rolling Thunder.

Oh!

The same place
he fell in qualifying.

- That Rolling Thunder's
got my number.

- Well, our next athlete
weighs

almost twice as much
as Bootie,

and he's got ice in his veins.

This is Michael Johnson
from Stone Mountain, Georgia,

and you can see him blow
a kiss to his late mother.

She's one of the three women
who helped raise him.

- I'm running this course
mainly for three women

in my life.

First off, it would be my mom.

She died due
to vehicular homicide.

I was six years old.

After my mom passed,
my aunt Charmaine,

she stepped up big time.

- I know you're gonna be
the next Ninja Warrior.

- She filled in
the mother role.

She still pays my phone bill.

And last but not least,
my grandmother.

She used to hate this.
Watch.

She's one of the
strongest people I know.

She came straight off
the boat from Jamaica.

They played such
a big role in my life.

- This guy is jacked,
in tremendous shape.

- In qualifying a few weeks
ago, it was super surreal.

- Somebody came here
ready as a rookie.

- And in my mind,
I'm just going,

"Holy snap. I'm here."

Let's go!

As soon as I got up on the wall

I had to let the crowd know.

I have ice in my veins!

It was a beautiful moment.

I think that my mom is
extremely elated right now.

She's looking down smiling
and is like,

"That's my son,
and I put ice there."

This city finals, I'm going
to run this course for them.

Tell them, Mom. Blood doesn't
flow through these veins.

Ice does.

- What an impressive kid.

He's on the course now,
on the Wingnuts.

- Ooh!

That was a near fall
for Michael Johnson.

- Swinging wildly, but going
for the dismount.

Oh, and he survives,
making it interesting.

- Well, with a name
like Michael Johnson,

better sprint through here
on Broken Bridge.

High knees. High knees.
High knees.

Light on your feet.
High knees.

He just jumped over it.

He gets me worked up.

Every time he screams like
that, he gets me worked up.

- Well, well ahead of his pace
in qualifying,

and the shirt comes off.

His aunt and grandma are
watching

back in New York City,

but he's got some friends
on the sideline.

Hard to believe this guy

started training just
a couple years ago.

- That's right.
- Now, he deadlifts 500 pounds.

That's amazing.

- 24 years old.

This guy is a specimen.

- Yes, he is, Matt.
- You got it.

You got it.

Whoo!

- And really moving
the Rolling Thunder.

- Tremendous power out of MJ.
- Nice tempo.

- All your might.
- Let's go, man. Come on.

- Keep that pace going.
- Keep that pace.

- Keep going, baby.
- Keep going. Keep going.

- Keep that pace. You got it.

- And remember,
this guy weighs 200 pounds.

Not easy to carry
that weight for this long.

- He's in a good position
right now.

He's in good position.

- Oh, but you can see that
wheel wants to roll backwards.

- Oh!
- Fighting for the dismount.

- Come on. Get it. Nice.
- Got it!

- Whoo!

- Tell them what you got
in your veins, baby.

- There's a smile.

Oh, and the flex!

all: Beat that wall. Beat
that wall. Beat that wall.

- Takes a big breath
for the Warped Wall.

- And he's got it!
- I love this guy.

I love this guy!

[cheers and applause]

- But now the back half,

and this is gonna be a
challenge with that big body.

- This is you, man.
- This is you.

- Remember, he's a rookie.

Never faced the Salmon Ladder
in competition.

Come on. You got this.

- And this is where we see
the effects

of the Rolling Thunder,

deep into this course.

- Yeah.
- He's straightening out.

I don't like that.

You want to keep that form.

Nice. Okay.

- Oh, he looks comfortable.
- Good power.

- He looks comfortable.
- He looks real comfortable!

One more rung.

- Nice.
- Got it!

- All right.

- Now moves on
to the Giant Cubes,

but what does he have left?

- Shake it out. Shake it out.

- Matt, it's gonna take them
a while

to figure out how
to attack these cubes.

- Well, those red handholds,

only a couple of inches wide.

Ideally, you want to work
your way up to the top

and use the ledge, but that's
easier said than done.

200 pounds.

- I can feel it.

- Can he get up?

- Oh!
- Feet are down.

- Save your life right now.

- It's gonna take
a superhuman effort

to get that foot back up!

I don't know how he did that.

- 40 seconds he's been
on this thing now.

Come on, now.
Don't look back; look up!

- No!
- No!

Splashes down, and
we'll have to wait and see

if that's good enough
to stay in the top 15.

He lost his grip and his
glasses.

Now he's got 'em.

- Michael Johnson made it
interesting.

Had some crazy swings
on the Wingnuts

and made a big jump right
at the Broken Bridge,

before falling on
the first cube.

- I know what I got
to do next year.

I'm hanging 24/7.

Whoo!

- Coming up, Emily Durham's

already a superstar
in one sport.

Now this mom's ready to take
the next step as a ninja.

- I'm walking into something
totally different,

and it's so fun.

- Plus, JJ Woods' inspiration
for this season

comes from an unlikely source.

- That's the sharp one, right?

She knows it hurts,

but she still has
a smile on her face.

- That story's coming up

when "American Ninja Warrior"
returns.

.

- Welcome back to
the city finals

in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Our coverage is brought to you
in part by SB Nation.

For everything you need
to know

about "American Ninja
Warrior,"

Up next

is one of the best water
sports athletes in history.

This is Emily Durham,

a four-time world champion
in wakeboarding.

She's also a wife and
a mom to two kids,

and they're one of the reasons
she's out here competing.

[rock music]

- I was a professional
wakeboarder for 16 years,

and walked away with the
biggest titles in the world,

from world champion,
X Games champion.

I got to the point where I
was just satisfied,

and I was like,
"You know what?

I'm gonna hang it
up while I'm on top."

And I walked away, and now

I'm walking into something
totally different,

and it's so fun.

- As a wakeboarder,
a lot of body control.

- I feel like
"American Ninja Warrior"

is, like, something as a goal

for myself, seeing
how strong I could get.

- Durham, we know she has
tremendous athletic prowess.

- I have two kids
that I absolutely adore.

I want to show other moms
that you can do both.

I mean, you can have this
awesome home life

with your kids,

but then you can
also go work out.

My whole family will go in the
ninja gym

and go play on obstacles.

And jump. Ah!

My daughter honestly tells

every single person
we run into,

"My mom's an
American Ninja Warrior."

Vegas is so close,
I can feel it.

- There are her kids, husband,
and her brother on the right,

and on the left
is Shaun Murray,

another champion wakeboarder.

He's competed
on the show twice,

and Emily trains
on his backyard course.

[countdown clock beeping]

This is Durham's third time

competing on
"American Ninja Warrior,"

but the first time she's
made it to the city finals.

- And it's worth noting:
no more wildcards

into the national finals.

Now, they have to earn it.

These women tonight are
competing for just two spots.

You can feel the pressure,

and I think she steps up
with the big lights on.

- There's Emily's biggest fan,
her seven-year-old daughter,

Hope, who loves Mom
being a ninja.

Durham's 5'8",
one of the taller women.

About to wrap those arms
around the rolling pin.

- This mom's got muscles.
- She is fit.

- Look at her. Hold on. Oh!
- No!

- Ooh, wow. Elbows.
- Hard impact, and stays safe.

- Did you see the way
she got up?

She got up like a G.

- Well, this is the obstacle

that took her out
of qualifying:

the Wingnuts.

- The thing about
professional athletes:

they have the mentality.

I don't see this thing
getting her again.

- She's really stepped up her
ninja training this year,

going to local competitions
around the country.

- She's got a swing
going here.

- And what a catch,

hanging on one side,
but she saves it.

- Hey, look, when stuff
gets tough, stay calm,

and she is.

Yes. Yes!

- Another great save.
- All that wakeboarding,

she understands what to do
with her body in space.

Looking for the dismount.

And she's through.

And her daughter is excited
about what Mommy's doing.

I love the improvement
out of Durham.

- That's a professional
athlete right there.

You know who that is?

- Come on, Emily.
- Now for the Broken Bridge.

- You float on water.

You can float here
on the Broken Bridge.

- Right through.
- Yeah.

- Great balance out of Durham.
- Man, I love this.

I love this.
Come on, Emily.

- Now facing the fifth
obstacle, Rolling Thunder.

Keep in mind, we've never
had a mom

make it up the Warped Wall.

Durham now
just one obstacle away.

- There's a confidence
I'm seeing in her, Matt.

There's a confidence.

We've got some stars
developing here tonight.

- Well, this is the best
performance Durham's

had in
"American Ninja Warrior"...

- Yeah, girl!
- And look at that,

keeping the body tight,
another long reach.

Well, no woman has bested
the Rolling Thunder this year.

Last year, it took "Flex"
Labreck to get through it.

The arms extending.
She may be in trouble here.

Oh, a tremendous second wind!

- 30 seconds on here already.

You got to get out of there,
Emily.

- Down on that final leg.

- Come on.

You got to be smooth.

- Maybe looking
for the dismount,

and this is where
it's trouble.

That Plexiglas making
the next spoke a long reach.

She's got it.

- Oh, she's starting
to show some teeth.

She's showing some teeth.

She's a fighter.
She understands what it takes.

- What does she have left?
- No!

A strong run by Emily Durham.

We'll have to wait and see
if it's good enough

to move her on
to the national finals.

- I tell you, she made

a couple of great catches
on the Wingnuts,

and then battled to the end
of Rolling Thunder

before the arms gave out,

but she still put a smile
on her daughter's face.

- I made it so much father
than qualifying,

so I'm proud of myself.

I'm excited, so...

- Still a lot of big names
to come tonight,

including JJ Woods.

He's trying to stay loose.
We'll see him in a bit.

In early runs, the Salmon
Ladder's been a factor,

taking out architect
Oscar Ramirez.

- No!

- And Orlando's Faris Xero.

- Ooh, he doesn't have it.
- He doesn't have it.

- But horse trainer
Adriane Alvord

didn't get that far,

and she washed out
on the rolling pin.

- Oh, no, no!
- Yo, Adriane!

- But there's more to come
on "American Ninja Warrior."

.

- Welcome back to
"American Ninja Warrior"

in Daytona Beach, Florida.

While we were away,
two more athletes tried

to run their way into
the national finals.

Connecticut's Nick Patel
was one of seven walk-ons

from qualifying to make it
to this city finals round.

- Oh, boy. He flipped right
into it. He was up.

- The massage therapist
nicknamed "Nicky Thumbs"

made it all the way
to the Giant Cubes

before losing his grip.

- Yeah, thumbs down!

- Alexio Gomes, oldest
of the two Brazi Bros,

finally figured out a way
to get around the first cube.

- Look at that.
- Nice.

And he became the first
to attempt the leap

to the second cube,
though it didn't end well.

- Oh!
- Ooh! Ooh!

- Oh! He bricked.

My goodness, he face-planted
into that second cube.

- Well, get ready for one of

the craziest characters
of the night.

This is North Carolina
construction

worker Rigel Henry.

- Yeah!

- Yes, he has his own
scream,

and with that wild hair,

he looks like
Sean Penn's character

from "Fast Times at
Ridgemont High."

This dude is
definitely one of a kind.

- People say I totally look
like Spicoli.

Hey, bud. Let's ninja.

You can't judge
a book by its cover.

Whoo!

I don't drink,
don't smoke...

Whoo!

But I will say,
I'm completely high on life.

Mount Midoriyama, that's
the good stuff, all right?

- Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
- Wow!

- I seem like
a pretty chill guy,

but I got a great way to get
fired up on the course.

Yeah!

If I'm really going for it,
you know, it'll come out,

"Skeeaap!"

And then I'm there.

Skeeaap!

Whatever it is,
it's been snatched.

Skeeaap!

That's that battle cry.

All I need is a tasty run,
a cool buzzer, and I'm fine.

Skeeaap!

- Rigel's also got a wife
and two kids.

They're back in
North Carolina,

but he has a few friends

he trains with
on the sidelines,

including 74-year-old

former competitor
Chuck Mammay, the Chuckster.

[countdown clock beeping]

- This guy came out of nowhere
in qualifying.

He finished the course

and looked like
a wild man doing it.

- Well, he's a 29-year-old
rookie who just started

ninja training this past year.

He's quickly through
the floating steps.

This guy works
in industrial construction.

Has some strong arms,

and he'll need them here
on the Rolling Pin.

Ooh, a hard landing,

but bounces up
to take on the Wingnuts.

5'10", 165.

- Got a lot of hair.

Just gotta hope that hair
doesn't get in his way.

He's like Samson.
Gives him a lot of strength.

And he's got nice form here,
nice technique.

- And makes
the first transition.

Has a good pace so far.

Remember, time is often
a factor in the city finals.

You want to go
the farthest the fastest.

- Nice.
- Right now, it looks like

he'll at least have to get
to the Giant Cubes

to stay in the top 15.

And he's through.

- Whoo!

- He's having a lot of fun
out here, Matt,

but I love how calm he is.
He doesn't look spooked.

- He breezes through
the Broken Bridge.

[cheers and applause]

We talk about fast times.

Rigel's only 1 minute 20 in,

and he's already taking on
Rolling Thunder.

- All right, Rigel.

- Had to really fight
through this in qualifying.

Getting a good pace here.

- Look at Rigel, all that
hair, just hanging loose,

going side to side,

moving the Rolling Thunder
round and round.

- Mr. Hand would be
impressed by this run.

Rigel's wife is watching
at home

with their two young kids,

but she said she'll come
to Vegas if he qualifies.

Looking for the dismount.

- He doesn't look fazed
at all, does he?

I haven't seen him grimace,
not once.

He's Mr. Cool.

- Gets through, and now
facing the Warped Wall.

And a blazing pace
to this point.

- I see you, Rigel!
- I see you, baby.

- Just a rookie trying to get

to the back half
of the course.

Right up the Warped Wall,
Rigel.

I don't think he's done, Akbar.

His time to this point
is the fastest so far,

and we're still waiting
for the first

to get past the Giant Cubes.

- Come on, Rigel!

- What's he gonna do here
on the Salmon Ladder?

He's a rookie. Never faced
this obstacle in competition.

- Well, first off,
he's being smart,

trying to slow his swing

and calm the body
before he starts up.

Nice. Whoo!

- Great acceleration.

And he's through
the Salmon Ladder

and moving down to the Cubes.

- Matt, look at that.

He puts his feet up right away
to take the weight off.

Another smart move.

- Well, these ninjas
figure things out.

We've seen a few others
try this,

and he's taking
a different approach.

Has his hand on the top.

- Strength matters,
and reach matters here

on the Giant Cubes.

Look, he's standing up
real tall.

- The first to do that, and
the Chuckster likes it.

And now that he's on top,

he can use his fingers
to move around the sides.

No one's been able to get
to the second cube thus far.

- Turn now, 180 turn.

Ooh!

- The first to make
the transition!

- Oh!
- Unreal Rigel Henry

showing these ninjas
how it's done.

- Oh, he is clean right now.
- Clean.

- Can a rookie be the first to
complete this new obstacle?

- Hold on.
- What is he doing?

He should move around
to the other side.

- He's going for the dismount!

- Oh!
- No!

No!

Dang!

- Well, a great run,
but a strange ending.

Rigel Henry comes up short
on the Giant Cubes.

- Man, he's the first to make
that five-foot jump

to the second cube,
and he looked home free,

but instead of working his way
around the side of the cube,

he goes for an early dismount,

but doesn't get enough swing,
and comes up short.

- He's standing by
with Kristine Leahy.

- Rigel, amazing run on
the Giant Cubes.

You were able to do
something tonight that

so many others were not.

How did you do it?

- You know, I got the whole
lunar rays going on.

You know, the crowd going on.

You know, it was... I was
feeling it, you know, for sure.

- Why did you decided
to attempt the dismount

from that side of the cube?

- Well, honestly,

I was starting to burn out,
and, you know,

I thought maybe I'd
shake things up a little bit.

- Well, you had a fast time
to that point.

There's a good chance you're
gonna be going to Vegas.

Can I get your battle cry?

- Skeeaap!

- Matt and Akbar,
back to you.

- Whoo!

- Well, he went farther
than anyone

in the competition last year.

Everyone's gonna be watching
when Drew Drechsel

runs later tonight.

Plus, her history making runs

have inspired
a generation of young fans.

- I want to be a ninja
just like you.

Thank you for being
my role model.

- So just how far can
Jessie Graff go tonight?

- I can't wait to face
this city finals course.

- When "American Ninja
Warrior" returns.

- Welcome back to
"American Ninja Warrior"

at the Daytona city finals.

We're about halfway
through the night,

and Akbar, there's a big
roadblock in the speedway.

- Yeah, that's right, Matt.
- It's the Giant Cubes.

They're more like
Rubik's Cubes,

because our ninjas
can't figure them out.

Minutes ago, we saw rookie
Dustin Fishman

make it to that first cube,

but then, the arms gave out.

both: Ooh!

- Then, Miami line cook
Royall Eason

battled for almost a minute

until he too ran out of gas.

- He's losing real estate.
- Cannonball.

- Oh, splashes down.

Six-time ninja veteran
Reko Rivera

was able to solve the
first cube. Look at that.

- Nice!
- But the costumed competitor

had nothing left
for the second.

both: Whoa!

- With so many falls here,
the top 15 may come down

to who gets to this
obstacle the fastest.

Our next competitor
is a ninja super fan

who is living the dream.

This is 21-year-old
Kevin Carbone.

Not only did he finish
the course in qualifying,

earning his spot
here in the city finals;

he also entered our obstacle
design challenge last season.

He sent in an idea,
and it was selected,

and it's on the course
here in Daytona.

- The Wingnuts! There's very
little to grab on to.

Oh! No!

- Oh!

- It's great and awful
at the same time

watching people fall on
an obstacle that I created.

- Ooh. Oh!
- So close!

both: No!
- She missed it.

- It's almost like
"The Hunger Games,"

when, you know, someone
dies, and it goes,

"Pfew."

both: No!

- "Pfew."
- Uh-oh. Uh-oh.

- I see the ninja ghosts
just kind of float away.

- Oh, no! No! No!

- I am so happy
that I was able to beat it.

- Oh, look at this.

The maker survives
the Wingnuts.

- Since qualifying,
I've come up

with a bunch of new designs.

They're really, really cool.

One of them's called Pegasus,

a new type of peg
salmon ladder.

- Pegasus.

- Another one of the obstacles
is called Chopsticks.

It's so hard, because
it's, like, all arms.

Your legs can only help you
if you time it right.

A few weeks ago, I was
waiting in the walk-on line.

I kept training.

Now I'm out here
for the finals night,

and I couldn't be more ready.

- His parents are here
from Georgia.

I think Mom's more nervous
than Kevin is.

[countdown clock beeping]

Well, Carbone had a memorable
run in qualifying...

got past his own obstacle,
the Wingnuts,

and then hit the buzzer
in his rookie debut.

- It's a great story for him,
and the perfect ending

would be to earn a ticket
to the national finals.

- Gets through
the Floating Steps.

- Breathe, baby.
- Breathe.

- Only 5'8", 140 pounds.

Got to ride out
the Rolling Pin.

- Ooh! Came close to
falling off the course.

- He's out here giving his
mom heart palpitations.

- Well, she should be proud,

because this is the obstacle
her son designed.

It's the Wingnuts.

- This is full circle for him.
- This is everything... one dream.

You're on the obstacle

that you created
and in the finals...

- Makes the first leap.

Remember, we're doing
the Obstacle Design Challenge

again this year,

so if you have an idea
just like Kevin Carbone,

Makes it
to the final Wingnut.

Just needs the dismount.

No problem for
the maker, Carbone.

- Now, the Broken Bridge.

- Ooh, nice speed.

Nice speed through here
on Broken Bridge.

I see you, Carbone.

[cheers and applause]

- And he's smiling as he jumps
up to take on Rolling Thunder.

- All right, breathe, baby.
- Breathe.

- Got through this in
qualifying,

and he is really attacking it.

He's going after it.

- You got it. You got it.

- You see that tank top says
"The Maker."

He's not being blasphemous;
he made his own obstacle.

He feels like he can make it
through this one here.

- A good pace. Really powering
this 100-pound obstacle.

- Yeah, he is.
- Well, I love the technique.

You give yourself a chance
after the Warped Wall,

where you just roll through
Rolling Thunder.

- Ready for the dismount.

He's through,

and the dream continues
for this rookie.

Now he's facing
the Warped Wall.

14 1/2 feet, and he's headed
to the back half.

all: Beat that wall!
Beat that wall!

- Right up it.
- Yes!

Up and over. Up and over.

- One of the great things
about

"American Ninja Warrior,"

you can go from fan
to competitor in a short time

if you've got the skills.

This guy's 21st birthday
came just in time.

- I got this!

- Oh, he says, "I got this."

I love the confidence.

all: You got this!
You got this! You got this!

- And now the crowd's
chanting, "You got this!"

- There's a lot of love
in the crowd.

Lot of love for you, Kev.

- Got to get up four rungs.

And look at this: The rookie
destroys the Salmon Ladder.

Got to reach out
and touch it.

- There you go.
- All right.

- He's completed it.

- Now he has to go into
overdrive here, Carbone.

- And the second-fastest time
of the night to this point.

We know he can
design obstacles,

but can he solve this one?

No one has done it so far.

- What is this?
- What, is this new?

- Using that pole
to try to get up there.

- I like this, you
innovative rookie, you.

- Well, the Maker thinking
outside the box of the Cube.

- That's why he is the Maker.

- Oh, my.
- Shaking out those forearms.

- Oh, he's trying to take
this show to Vegas.

- The 21-year-old...

- Looking like a magician
over there.

- I love it. That's showing
these vets how it's done.

- All right, now here
it is right here now.

If you haven't done
a lot of this... a lot of 180

mid-air, this could be
challenging here.

- Yeah!
- He made it.

- I can't believe...

- Come on; is a rookie gonna
do it here?

A 21-year-old.

- Oh, my goodness.
- Look at him.

- Yes!
- Yes!

Kevin Carbone has done it!

The first to complete
the Giant Cubes.

We've seen a lot this year.

These kids have been
ninja training for years

finally get their shot
at the course,

and they are excelling.

Now he'll be the first to
take on the Circuit Board,

another tough obstacle.

Has to move those handles in
and out

of the slots across 24 feet.

- And you have to
understand, your upper body

is exhausted at this point.

- Well, you can see how
they have

that large ball on the top...

Putting it out and
finding it. Look at this.

Kevin Carbone... we saw this
obstacle for the first time

in last year's
Indianapolis city finals,

and now stage three
in Vegas.

- What'd I tell you?
- And those arms are extended.

He's getting tired.

- These courses get
tougher every year,

because the athletes
get better and stronger.

both: Oh!

- Well, the run comes to
an end, but Kevin Carbone,

the rookie, has gone
farther than anyone tonight.

It's not official yet,

but a good chance he'll be
moving on

to the national finals.

- I see you, young pup!

He's the first to make it
past both Giant Cubes.

You know, he showed
it can be done,

but on the Circuit Board,
he was just gassed.

As he moved to
the second panel,

his hands slipped
right off the handle.

- I mean, that was awesome.

Freaking unbelievable
experience.

- JJ Woods is warming up

down in the Toyota Pit Stop.

We'll see his run
when we come back.

Plus, would you buy
a used car from this guy?

- Hey, guys.
- My name's Drew Drechsel.

- It's a blast from the past.

Drew Drechsel's evolution

from car salesman
to ninja superstar.

- Whoo!

- When "American Ninja
Warrior" returns.

- Welcome back to
"American Ninja Warrior"

.
in Daytona Beach, Florida.

While we were away,

two more athletes got
their shot on the course.

Look at that.
Georgia's Ryan Stratis

got a ceremonial backslap from
his students at the start.

And right up the Warped Wall.

The nine-time veteran then
cruised through the course,

but even this ninja legend
couldn't pull off the leap

to the second Giant Cube.

both: Oh!

- Shoot!

- Jimmy John's delivery
driver Tyler Gillett

delivered another strong run.

- He's got it!

- The impressive rookie
made it all the way

to the Circuit Board,

one of the best runs
of the night.

Oh, no!

Up next,
another ninja favorite.

It's Miami stuntman JJ Woods.

He's back in the city finals
after missing out last year,

and he's getting
extra motivation

from an eight-year-old girl.

- JJ, come on. I want
to show you all my flowers.

- Show me.

This year in qualifying, I was
running for a special someone.

That's the sharp one, right?
That's the sharp one, right?

- Yep.
- Ahh!

Her name is Zoey,

and she is as close to me

as anybody in my family,
if not closer.

I've known Zoey's family
for years.

I've trained her,
her family members.

You know Uncle JJ's
terrified of spiders, right?

- Me too.
- Yep. They ain't coming.

She was diagnosed
with stage 4 neuroblastoma.

She's been undergoing numerous
sessions of chemotherapy

as well as surgery,
and she knows it hurts.

She knows she's in pain.
She can't help but feel it.

But she still has
a smile on her face.

I would never think
I would look at the lineup

of people I know

and say that the strongest
person I've ever met

is an eight-year-old
little girl.

Helmet.
Go. Ow!

No matter what gets thrown
her way,

she keeps fighting it,

and she approaches it with
confidence,

her head held high.

I won't let you fall.
It's coming back to you.

Doing it.
Yeah, girl.

This season,
every buzzer that I hit,

she's with me
every step of the way.

- Yep.
- Bam!

Oh, JJ's not falling again.

- Yay.

- A sweet story,

and JJ clearly inspired.

He's already blazing
through the course.

Looking for the dismount
on Rolling Thunder.

- Come on, JJ. Got it!

- All right.

And right in to the Warped
Wall.

- Flying.

- And this veteran has a sense
of urgency here.

- Oh, he's sprinting.

- Got to get up
the Salmon Ladder, though.

- Let's go, JJ!

- And this crowd,
getting into this run.

JJ's has his family
and friend Tiana Webberley

down on the sideline.

His friend, Zoey,
was too ill to make the trip,

but you know she's watching.

Just needs to get up
the Salmon Ladder

to ensure a spot in Vegas.

- Well, he is the crowd
favorite.

You cannot underestimate
any of these obstacles,

even if it is an iconic one
like the Salmon Ladder.

Nice!

- Just needs to reach over,
and there it is.

He's guaranteed a spot
in the top 15.

He's going to
the national finals.

Now he's on the Giant Cubes.

- Oh, and look.

He's using the Kevin Carbone
technique to lift himself up.

- I like that approach.

You can see, it just gives him
a brief respite there.

- Ooh, ooh, ooh.
- Now, that cube, it moves.

It's slippery.
You know how ice cubes are.

- This obstacle is diabolical.

- He's using his feet
to hold himself up.

Oh, but they slide off!

- Recovers.
- Nice!

- Great power, great control
out of JJ Woods.

Only two others have
made it past this obstacle.

And he's done it.

[cheers and applause]

JJ Woods,
only two obstacles left,

starting here
with the Circuit Board.

- First finisher!
- First finisher!

You got that.
The first finisher!

- You heard it. He says JJ's
gonna be the first finisher.

But right now, JJ has to
survive

this Circuit Board.

No one's made it through
this obstacle so far.

JJ did a good job
conserving his energy.

I think he can be the guy

to go all the way,
but this Circuit Board,

now, you really have
to be efficient.

- Yeah, not only efficient;
you got to see

where the heck you're going.

- Oh, it's such a challenge
to be up there

and have the precision
to hold your body up,

especially at 175 pounds.

He's moving quickly.

I believe that's helping.

Some of the other guys
had a more deliberate pace,

and they just wore out.

- He's staying very calm,

even if one of those handles
slip out, like that.

He's moving the right side
and then the left side,

not trying to do too much.

- Has made it
to the final panel,

close enough to consider
a dismount.

These are shorter slots.

That makes it
a little more frustrating.

Trying to lock it in,
and Woods... oh, my.

The third board.

- Come on.
- He's going for it.

- He's going for the dismount.

- Yeah!
- Got it!

[cheers and applause]

And what a feeling that
has to be for JJ Woods.

- Matt, he is gassed.
- He is gassed.

He put everything
into that one.

- Now he'll be
the first tonight to take

on this final obstacle,

the Elevator Climb...
35 feet up to the buzzer,

and only a few have beaten
it this year.

all: JJ! JJ! JJ!

- The crowd chanting his name
as he backs into the tower.

- Come on, JJ.
- Can he be the first

to hit the buzzer
here in Daytona?

Last week in San Antonio,

only the great Daniel Gil
reached the top.

Here we go. 35 feet.

- Come on, JJ.
- Oh, boy.

He's climbing that 15 feet.

He's going.
He's going.

- Come on, J!
- Fight. Fight.

- The eyes closing.

- You start closing your eyes,
you start feeling it.

- And the arms extended.
- Zoned out.

- It's like he's not
even doing it.

JJ Woods!
He looks unconscious now.

- Come on. Oh, no.
- Oh!

He was about ten feet away,

but couldn't
quite reach the top.

Has the best run of
the night so far, though,

and little Zoey has got to
be proud of her Uncle JJ.

He got past the tough ones.
He flew past the Giant Cubes

and just dominated
on the Circuit Board,

but it all took a toll,

and as he neared the top
of the Elevator Climb,

he just runs out of gas,

but JJ's going back
to the national finals.

- Coming up...
- Oh!

- Before he became
a superstar ninja,

Drew Drechsel was
a superstar car salesman.

- Just like these
used cars here,

I got plenty of fight
left in me.

- The real-life ninja's
secret past

when "American Ninja
Warrior" returns.

- Welcome back to the Daytona
International Speedway.

If you ever get to visit here,
check out the Toyota Injector,

where you'll find vehicles,
displays,

and activities like
the Canyon Run,

featuring the 2017
Toyota 4Runner.

It's a real treat for race
fans and auto enthusiasts.

Up next, another one of our
impressive women competitors.

This is Lindsay Eskildsen.

She's flown across the country
from Sacramento, California,

to compete here in Florida,

but she's got plenty
of frequent flyer miles.

- I was a competitive gymnast
for a total of 12 years,

and then I transitioned
into cheerleading.

I started off
with an all-star team,

and then I also cheered
for the WNBA.

After cheerleading
kind of came to an end,

I was always looking for a way
to kind of fill that void,

so I got really involved
in the ninja thing.

I train in the office.
I train in the gym.

I train at home.

Went to different
ninja competitions

all across the country,

and then I went to a ninja
competition in North Carolina,

where I met another ninja,
Joe Green,

who was in the Atlanta
finals last year.

- You know, I'm gonna call
him Mean Joe Green.

- So we met on a ninja course,

but we had to conquer
a much tougher obstacle.

I live in California,
and he lives in Alabama.

- She's a go-getter.

When she wants something,
she gets it.

- I missed you.
- I missed you too, baby.

I come out to visit him
in Huntsville,

so I fly back and forth
2,300 miles every time.

- We have a ton of fun
together all the time.

We're best friends.

- It's tough,
but it's worth it.

I love being with Joe,

and I'm willing to do whatever
it takes to make it work.

- And there's Joe, ready
to cheer her on,

along with Lindsay's parents.

[countdown clock beeping]

Well, Eskildsen was serious
about her cheerleading.

She was on the college
cheer squads at Fresno State

and at Sacramento State.

You have to be a very good
athlete to reach that level.

- Just 5'2", 103 pounds,
but she's a bundle of energy.

You better believe
she's still got

that cheerleader spirit
in her.

- She was impressive
in qualifying,

made it all the way
to Rolling Thunder,

and looking very comfortable,
very strong doing it.

- Grab it tight.
- Let's go.

- Now the Rolling Pin.

- And at just over 100 pounds,

this obstacle is really
gonna throw her around.

Hard impact,
but she bounces right up.

[cheers and applause]

- Now the Wingnuts.

Her size may be
a challenge on this.

- 5'2", 103, but excellent
body control

as a gymnast and
a cheerleader.

Body control
is crucial here,

but the landing is even more.

- Wow. And good power.

- Matt, you can see that

she's really been prepping
for this opportunity.

She's not coming around
here, playing around.

This isn't a playground.
This is serious.

Whoo!
There we go.

- I'm telling you, business
is booming for Lindsay.

She's just looking so calm,
this web developer.

You can see, she hasn't
forgotten her athletic roots.

- No.
- Really great power.

- Yeah!

- Well, Joe Green's loving it.

He made it to the
Warped Wall last year.

His girlfriend
trying to top that.

First up, though,
the Broken Bridge.

Gets through it, and
now facing the obstacle

that took her out
in qualifying,

Rolling Thunder.

[cheers and applause]

- I think she understands
what it takes.

She's gonna have to have
better speed

here on Rolling Thunder.

- Ooh!
- Just barely grabbed the bar.

Only had one hand on it,
but saves it.

Again, she's only 5'2"
and 100 pounds,

and moving
that 100-pound wheel... oh!

Took a shot to the face.

- Right in the kisser.
- Well, at this point,

Lindsay Eskildsen is the
fastest woman to get here.

With only Jessie Graff
remaining, Lindsay Eskildsen

has punched her ticket
to Vegas.

And look at this.

This apparatus
weighs 100 pounds,

about as much as Lindsay does.

- She is scrappy.
- I like it, Lindsay.

- Oh, my.

This is where it gets tough,
though, on the Plexiglas.

The long reach for the 5'2"
Eskildsen.

Got it!

- You see a turn
in her body now.

She's looking for the exit,

but she needs a few more
turns.

- Long reach!

- That extra reach she had
to go for.

- Oh, my. I don't know
how she's doing it.

- 45 seconds, Matt.
- When you start flirting around

with a minute on this thing...

- And still moving it!
- Man, Rolling Thunder,

that's a good record,
if you only...

- No!

Splashes down!

I thought she was gonna do it,
but still a good enough run

and to guarantee her a spot
in the national finals.

- Watch this.
- She was barely able to jump up

to reach the bar and start
Rolling Thunder.

Then she took a shot
to the face, so it's no wonder

she was exhausted at the end,

and her hands
just peeled right off.

- She's down with Kristine

for the
POM post-run interview.

- Lindsay, what an incredible
run... so incredible

that we actually want you
to look up at the Jumbotron,

and we're gonna replay
some highlights here.

This is on the Rolling Pin.

Can you walk me
through what's happening

as it hits you
right in the face?

- Oh, that was... I didn't
even know

I got hit in the face
right there.

I mean, honestly, I didn't have
as tight of a grab as I wanted,

so I really grabbed on tight,

and then my chin kind of
was in the wrong spot, so...

- And here's
the Rolling Thunder.

Watch is it hits you
right in the face again.

Did you know it happened there?

- That one I really felt.

It really... it kind
of rocked me.

Oh, my gosh! That's even
worse than I thought.

- Well, Lindsay, the great
news is, it was all worth it,

because I can officially
tell you

that you've qualified
to go Las Vegas.

Congratulations.

Matt,
we'll send it back to you.

- So now only one woman
left tonight,

but it's the great
Jessie Graff.

Her run's just minutes away.

A couple of earlier runs
came up short.

- Oh!
- Ooh, he is fighting for it.

Miami Realtor Les Bradley
battled to the Salmon Ladder.

both: Oh!

- And med student Steven Cen
took a tumble

- on the Broken Bridge.
- Boom!

- We've got more to come
on "American Ninja Warrior."

- Welcome back to
Daytona Beach, Florida.

While we were away,

two more ninjas took on
this city finals course.

Florida's Casidy Marks
was one of the few

to get past the Giant Cubes.

Got it!

And what a feeling
for Casidy Marks.

However, the three-time
walk-on

finally fell
at the Circuit Board.

- No!
- But it was good enough

to get him
into the national finals.

Brazi Bro Lucas Gomes,
the other competitor

from that fun-loving
Brazilian family

was back for his second
straight city finals.

Oh, look at that!

Just like his brother, though,
the worship leader

couldn't get past
the Giant Cubes.

- Oh!
- What?

- But because he had
a fast time to that point,

he got some good news.

- He's officially qualified
for Las Vegas.

[cheers and applause]
Congratulations.

- On the course right now,
facing the Warped Wall,

one of the most
popular athletes out here:

Sean Darling-Hammond, a lawyer
based in Washington, D.C.

- Yes!
- And right up it.

[cheers and applause]

This guy has one
impressive résumé:

undergraduate degree
from Harvard,

law degree from Cal Berkeley,

clerked for a federal judge.

This guy's known as
The Giving Ninja,

because he's dedicated
his life

to helping others.

He and his wife,
always thinking of others.

He said, Akbar, he
wins a million dollars,

not taking a penny of it.

- Yep.
- He's giving it all away,

and that's why he has been
named The Giving Ninja.

- Well, he'd be a step closer
to that million dollars

if he finishes
the Salmon Ladder.

His time, he'll be
guaranteed a spot

in the top 15.

And there it is.

Sean Darling-Hammond qualifies
for the national finals.

His second time in the
four years

that he's competed here.

"Flex" Labreck among
the ninjas

offering advice down
on the sideline.

- And that's as fast as anyone
getting up to the top.

He's taking a different route.
He's taking his own path.

- Well, he got up there.
- That was the difficult part.

Using his feet to take the
pressure off his fingertips.

That's a climbing technique.

- Now he's got to leap over
to the other one.

- Ooh!
- Yes.

- Okay!

Yeah! Oh, yeah.
He's got enough energy.

- I love it.
- Sean Darling-Hammond.

I think, we talk about
The Giving Ninja.

This guy's got a big heart,

and he's showing it here
on the Giant Cubes.

- Yes.
- Look at that.

- He wants that million
dollars to give it all away.

- And talk about giving.

Get this: Sean actually handed
out sandwiches and drinks

to all the folks waiting in

our walk-on line
for Daytona this year.

- Come on, babe.

- Now the Circuit Board,

and how much does
he have left?

JJ Woods the only one to get
past this so far tonight.

- He's really stretching,

covering a lot of distance
with each move.

- And you can see just
how precise

you have to be with
those placements.

- Mm-mm. Not that one.
- He tried the wrong slot.

- Well, those handles
are two different sizes.

The big one won't fit in the
small slot, and vice versa.

And look at him just keeping

those arms looking
utterly in control.

- Look how crazy this is.
- Oh, my.

- Look at this.
- He's making a transfer.

I told you with that smile

he was gonna be able
to make it through.

He's already on the third
Circuit Board.

- Repositioning it.
- Come on! Unreal.

Sean Darling-Hammond
looking utterly in control

on this upper body.
gauntlet.

- Ooh. Watch that left hand.
- Watch that left hand.

- He's gonna go for it.
- He's going for it.

Get out of there.
Get out of there.

Fly! Fly! Fly!

- Yes!
- Yes!

The Giving Ninja
giving it his all.

And throwing up
that heart sign.

That's his trademark.

- Man, he just gave it
to the Circuit Board.

- He's already punched
his ticket to Vegas,

but The Giving Ninja could
give

this night a special boost

by getting to the top of this
obstacle, the Elevator Climb.

- Let it go.
- Let's go. Come on!

- No one's made it
to the top tonight.

We saw JJ Woods, though,
get very close.

- This thing is 35 feet tall.

- Well, in L.A.,

we saw a few athletes
get up it,

but San Antonio,
only Daniel Gil did it.

- Right. He's got a slow
start here, Matt.

You can tell, this is taxing.

Punch that third floor.
Get up to the top.

- Come on, babe.

- Another 20 feet to go.

- Come on, Sean.

It's all shoulder joints
right there.

Ain't no muscles
involved in that.

- Look at this, just
going inch by inch

at this point.

- Just ignore the pain.

Pain don't make no noise.
Come on.

- Well, I love it.
- The arms are extended.

Barely move the handles
going up,

but he's not advancing.

- Oh, man.
- You can see all teeth.

- Oh!

What a run!

We saw Sean Darling-Hammond,
The Giving Ninja.

This man has heart.

- Look at him
on the Circuit Board.

He was 10 feet away, and he
just goes for the dismount.

Barely survives, and you got
to love his reaction,

but just had nothing left
for the Elevator Climb.

- He's standing by with
Kristine.

- Sean, the Elevator Climb, can
you describe to me the feeling,

what it's like to be
hanging up there

and trying to make it
all the way to the top?

- You're pouring every drop
of effort you have left

inside of you out
onto the course.

Your fans are cheering you on,
you've got all the love

of everybody, and everything I
had, it's up there.

- I notice that you were kind
of making a heart sign

in between obstacles.
What was that all about?

- I think everybody
should love themselves

and love each other.
That's what I'm all about.

That's what I'm gonna
do... inspire people

to be more loving
and more giving.

- Well, we love you too,
and we're so excited for you

to bring all of that love
to Las Vegas, Sean.

- Whoo!
- Congratulations.

You guys go celebrate.

Matt and Akbar, back to you.

- Well, she seems to make
history every time

she hits the course.

What is Jessie Graff
gonna do tonight?

We'll see her run
when we come back

on "American Ninja Warrior."

.

- The Internet
is about to blow up!

Last season, Jessie Graff,
broke barriers,

becoming the first woman
to finish Stage 1.

Jessie Graff has done it!

And then, in our USA vs.
The World competition,

she finished Stage 2.

Making history again!

Now here she comes again.

What's Jessie
gonna do this time?

This stuntwoman
from Calabasas, California,

is trying to earn her
third straight trip

to the national finals,

but there's one obstacle
in her way.

all: Jessie! Jessie!
Jessie! Jessie!

- I thought I would be able
to finish this qualifier.

- This is a beast.
- This is a monster.

- I'm definitely disappointed
that I didn't.

- Over a minute.

both: No!
- No!

- Rolling Thunder...
it's just so tricky.

The women who I saw do it
last year... a lot of them

I think are
a bit stronger than me.

- Oh!
- No!

- So, like, seeing them
fall on it, I was like,

"Okay, this is harder
than it looks."

- This is the obstacle that
took her out in qualifying.

In fact, no woman
has made it past it.

- The Rolling Thunder
was definitely

a difficult obstacle.

Having to move
backwards through it,

keeping your momentum going.

It was a struggle.

- She's going for it.

- She's going for
the dismount!

Yes! Yes!

- I believe that Jessie Graff
definitely

is gonna be able
to get through it.

- It's definitely a relief
knowing

that I have a second chance,

but it's also intimidating
knowing that, "Oh, snag.

I didn't even finish
Rolling Thunder."

So I'm just gonna have
to be smarter and faster

and see what I can do
to get it done.

- Well, everyone's gonna be
watching this,

including Jessie Labreck,

who we just heard from.

- And Daniel Gil...
- You got it, Jess!

- Plus Jessie's mom
and good friend, Maggi Thorne,

all on the sidelines.

[countdown clock beeping]

- You got it, Jess!

- Well, Jessie's runs
from last season

all became viral sensations.

Something like
80 million views.

Gets through the Floating
Steps,

heading up
to the Rolling Pin.

[cheers and applause]

- Trying to figure it out,
thinking it through,

and look, grabbing her leg
like a pretzel

to keep them from
falling down.

Whoo!

- Hard fall,
but she is through.

- Deep breath, Jessie!

- And now steps up
to the Wingnuts.

Jessie does stunt work in many
top TV shows and movies,

and also does trapeze work,
so she knows how to fly.

Makes the first grab.

- She's also got that
experience as a pole vaulter

back at the University
of Nebraska.

She's strong upper
and lower body.

- Taking a couple
extra swings here.

- Whoa, whoa.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Okay, come on now. Come on.

Don't play with my feelings
like that, Jessie.

- And now she's through.

And now to the Broken Bridge.

It's the extreme variations
on these steps

that makes it so hard,
going down, then up.

- Nice on the feet. Yep.

- All right,
and she's done it.

So now it's the one she really
wants, Rolling Thunder.

- You know what it feels
like now. Come on.

- As we mentioned earlier,
"Flex" Labreck,

the only woman
to get past this obstacle.

Let's see if Jessie takes
a different approach.

Already moving quickly.

- Well, watch it. Okay, so
qualifying, it got her...

- Whoa.
- She took off her sleeves.

She's ready to fight
this big old thing.

- But you could see that drop
was a hard impact, Akbar.

it seemed to interrupt
her rhythm.

- Yeah. Watch her
slow it down there.

- There we go. Much better.

- Did you see, though,
when she did that?

She slowed down that last
drop,

so it didn't bounce her
off.

Now look at all those
muscles coming through.

- Ooh, slow it down.
- Oh, long reach!

- That danged old
Plexiglas again.

- Got it.

- Break that Plexiglas.
- Oh, my,

those arms fully extended,

and she flipped around, Akbar,

- looking for the dismount.
- Yeah!

- Only Jessie Labreck
has gotten through it.

- Whoo-hoo!

both: Yes!

- Jessie Graff does it.

- Well, we saw Jesse
Labreck do it last year,

and now we see Jessie Graff
do it this year.

- Now facing the Warped Wall.

Jessie's one of
the handful of women

who've made it up
in competition.

And she does it again!

[cheers and applause]

And this crowd loving it.

Well, she's gone farther
than any women tonight,

so she's guaranteed to go
back to the national finals,

but how far can she go
on this grueling course?

- Stay calm!
- In case you didn't notice,

there's still
no finisher tonight.

I think Jessie can do it.

- Well, the first test
is the Salmon Ladder.

She faced this
in the city finals the past

two years;
got past it both times.

Good precision.

- All right, one more.
- There we go.

- That's it.
- Look at this.

Jessie Graff just warming up.

But these Giant Cubes have
been giant killers all night.

Can she figure it out?

Well, the pole vaulter... this
is a familiar position,

keeping that body around.

- Oh, yes. Nice.
- But reaching up.

- Uh-oh. She's using that
rock climbing technique.

- Look at the flexibility.
- Oh, my goodness.

You look like Spider Woman.

- Jessie Graff, 5'8", 130.

So powerful.

- Yeah,
get your feet on the wall.

Get your feet on the wall.

It takes stress off
of the upper body.

- There we go.
- Now they're just dangling.

- Yeah, she's just showing
off.

She's just showing off
her upper body.

- Just a great transition
there

to get those feet back up.

Can she make this flip?

- Whoa!
- She's reaching out!

- You're kidding me!

- She's doing the splits!
- What? Oh, my goodness.

- Oh, wow.
- Shut the front door!

- I don't know that anyone
even thought of doing that.

- I don't know,
she just reached out

and touched somebody.

That's the Jessie Graff way!

- That's why we love watching
this woman perform,

redefining the limits.

- I am signing up
for yoga class today.

- Are you kidding me?

Still has to get around
to the other side.

- Well, once again,
we saw this

in Los Angeles. Jessie Graff...

- She didn't use her
spider webs!

She didn't use her
spider webs!

- And she's through!

[cheers and applause]

The greatness of Jessie Graff!

Tonight, we are seeing what
this woman is capable of.

And now facing another brutal
challenge, the Circuit Board.

Only two competitors
have survived it tonight.

She's has actually made it
to the ninth obstacle

the past two years,

but hasn't been able
to get past it,

and it won't be easy tonight.

This Circuit Board
can be so taxing,

especially coming after
the eight obstacles before it.

And look at this precise
approach out of Jessie Graff,

really using the lower body
for momentum.

- I like it, Akbar.
- She doesn't even look tired.

- Gets through
the first board.

Down to just one hand.

But doesn't panic. Saves it
and just keeps moving.

- I'm telling you, she's
dressed like a superhero,

and she's performing like one.

- Only about halfway through,

and again, down to one
hand.

Saves it once more.

- Look at that.
- Come on, Jessie.

- Move in control, Jess.

- Almost through
the second board,

and she's smiling,
like it's a walk in the park.

- You don't really see
her grimace.

- Making that transition.
- Onto the third board!

She's on the third board,
Matt.

- I think she's gonna go
for the dismount!

- She's going for it!
- She's going for it!

- All right!
- Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

- She got it!

[cheers and applause]

- I think even she's
a bit surprised.

Kacy Catanzaro,
the only other woman

to make it this far
on a city finals course,

and now Jessie is looking up

at the 35-foot tower
of the Elevator Climb.

- Come on, Jessie!

- She'll be the first woman
ever

to try this obstacle, and
no one has beaten it tonight.

- I'm telling you,
if she gets to the top,

I'm running out of the booth,
and I'm running up there.

- And here we go.
- On the elevator climb.

- She's got that extra thing.

She's got the "get" factor,
and that's for sure.

- The arms are straight.

She's using the body,
and she's smiling.

Come on!

- At this point she's...
- 15 feet!

- 15 feet.
- She's got a lot... come on.

I don't see spider webs
coming out.

I just see Jessie Graff.

[cheers and applause]

- Everyone here trying
to will her to the top.

Does she have anything left?

- She's saying "no mas."
- Come on!

- She's saying "no mas."
I say yes.

- Oh!
- Oh.

- Can't quite make it
to the top,

as we got to witness
the amazing Jessie Graff.

- Namaste!

Check out her
doing the splits

across that six-foot gap
between the Giant Cubes.

No one had tried that before.

Then she barely makes it

to the landing pad
on the Circuit Board,

but halfway up the Elevator
Climb, she was done.

- Let's go down to Kristine,
who's standing by with Jessie.

- Jessie, describe to me
the feeling

when you're going up
the Elevator Climb.

I know you were so pumped.
What's that like?

- Well, obviously, like,

finishing
and hitting the buzzer

is an amazingly
satisfying feeling,

but to me, like,
the biggest thing

I've gotten out of this whole
"Ninja Warrior" experience

is enjoying that moment of,

like, I am at my limit,
I am pushing as hard as I can.

In that moment, like,

I think you can see me
just smiling my face off,

because I'm like, "I'm getting
so much stronger right now."

- You look like you're having
such a great time.

You gave us the splits
tonight, smiles tonight,

so thank you for that, Jessie.

Enjoy your evening,
and congratulations.

- I will. Thank you so much.

- Matt and Akbar, back to you.

- Always tough to top
Jessie Graff,

but our final runner
is gonna be Drew Drechsel.

Can he be our first finisher?

His run's up next on
"American Ninja Warrior."

- Welcome back to the last few
minutes of the city finals

.
in Daytona Beach, Florida.

While we were away,
eight-time ninja veteran

Travis Rosen got his shot
at the course.

He gets better with age.

At 42 years old, he did
the splits on the Giant Cubes,

just like Jessie Graff
did minutes ago.

He's got a little longer
reach.

Aha!

The stock trader from
Franklin, Tennessee,

finally gassed out
on the Circuit Board...

- No!
- Sha na na.

- But it's good enough
to send him back

to the national finals.

Eighth time back to Vegas.

Well, there's only
one athlete left with a chance

to beat this course,

but he really is one of
the best ever.

It's the real life ninja,
Drew Drechsel.

- Whoo!
- Running here at

the Daytona
International Speedway

has special meaning for Drew.

In fact, his career
started in cars.

[rock music]

- Before I was the real-life
ninja,

I was a real-life car salesman.

Hey, guys.
My name's Drew Drechsel.

I'm here in Gainesville,
Florida, at Magic Imports.

I used to work
at a car dealership

selling cars
and doing marketing,

and before that,
it was detailing.

Is this stow-and-go?
Sweet.

I look back, and I wish
I had realized earlier that,

when I was working
at a car dealership,

I was wasting myself.

It just wasn't enough
to work that 9:00 to 5:00,

get off work,
and go to the gym,

and train for three
or four hours.

I definitely needed
to take a step back

and reevaluate what
I was doing with my life,

and I decided to become
a full-time ninja.

- He's a 23-year-old used car
lot marketing manager.

- This is my seventh year
competing.

- He blows away
the fastest time threshold!

- Every year, I'm getting
a little bit stronger,

I'm learning a lot more
things.

- He is destroying
this course.

- Yeah, baby!

- This is what
I was born to do,

is just demolish
obstacle courses.

- We haven't seen anyone
remotely close to this point.

- Pretty cool that I went
from selling cars

to now taking the
checkered flag in Daytona.

- The fastest time
by over 30 seconds!

- I mean, what's left other
than

just winning it all, right?

- Drew's girlfriend, April,
will be watching,

along with every ninja here,

but especially the pec-flexing
firefighter, Eddy Stewart.

He's on the bubble
in 15th place.

[countdown clock beeping]

Well, only once in "American
Ninja Warrior" history

has a course
remained undefeated.

That was last year in
the Philadelphia city finals.

Right now, Drew Drechsel
is the only one

who can keep Daytona

from joining that
undistinguished list.

- Ooh, a little funky
on the landing.

All right. Gets right back up
to take on the Wingnuts.

- Well, he's known
for going fast,

but last year,
we saw he could go far.

He dominated every phase of
"American Ninja Warrior,"

going farther than anyone
in the regular season,

winning the skills competition
and the Supersonic Shelf Grab,

leading Team USA to victory

and completing Stage 3
in the process.

- Just go ahead and say it.
- He's a metahuman.

Watch him work here
on the Broken Bridge.

Wow.

- Drechsel has confidence.
- He is destroying this course.

- You've got this, Drew.
- You've got this.

- All right,
hit the Ninja Speedway

here on Rolling Thunder.

- Drew Drechsel really relied
on athleticism early on,

but now he's combined
a mental approach.

- Drew Drechsel
throws a big punch. 5'9",

160 pounds,

and he is throwing this big
wheel around

like it's nothing.

He's moving through this
faster

than anyone we've seen.

- He's getting close
to the dismount.

This guy is a beast.

Wow!

Just 17 seconds through
the Rolling Thunder.

Listening to some music
to get up the Warped Wall.

- He might have Michael
Jackson's "Beat It" here.

- Right up the Warped Wall!
- No surprise.

So now if he finishes
the Salmon Ladder,

he ensures himself
a spot in the top 15,

and he'll have three
more obstacles to go

if he wants to finish.

- This crowd definitely wants
to see him reach the buzzer.

- And Drechsel goes right up
onto the Salmon Ladder.

He is not playing around.

Gotta touch that bar.
Got it!

And we say good-bye
to Eddy Stewart.

Maybe next year, man.

Drew Drechsel is
going back to Vegas.

- Okay, his spot is safe.

Now, I want to see
Drew Drechsel

let it all out
and go for that buzzer.

- First up are
these Giant Cubes.

- Let's see if he applies
the Jessie Graff technique

on the back half
of this Giant Cube.

Oh, oh, oh.

- I don't know if he has
the flexibility.

At 5'9", he's about Graff's
size.

There we go!

- You do all the flying
and the hopping.

Let Jessie Graff do
the yoga.

- I love that he tested it,

and he goes,
"No, I can't do it."

Dismounts from the side,
the real-life ninja.

He's barely stopping
to catch his breath.

Stepping right up
to the Circuit Board.

This is another obstacle that
just wears you down

for the Elevator Climb
that comes after it.

- And you can tell,
he came in with a plan.

- Just perfect placement.

Not moving fast, but moving
in perfect control.

- You know, I think Drew made
a good career decision

to give up selling cars
to become a full-time ninja.

I think that decision's
paying off.

- Already on that third board,
and he's looking to dismount,

and he's going for the lache.
Yeah!

- And he's through.

Got through
that obstacle quickly.

And I like it... save some
energy

for this, the Elevator Climb.

The course has been
undefeated tonight.

Drew Drechsel, the last man
with a chance to hit a buzzer.

all: Go, Drew, go!
Go, Drew, go!

- All right. Here we go.

And he's up.

- That's it. That's it.

Uh-oh.
Matt, that's good rhythm.

- Climbing it.
- That's good rhythm.

- And look at those long
reaches.

- He's got plenty
of strength left.

- Oh, my!

- He's about
to bring this house down!

- Daniel Gil did it on
the final run last week.

Can Drew Drechsel
the same tonight?

And you can use your feet,
but if the elevator tries

to bring you down,
go crazy.

- Come on, now.
- He's tipping.

- If this elevator stops,
go right through the top.

- It's your only exit.
- Five feet away!

- There's [inaudible]
the button.

- Yes!
- There's a real-life ninja!

- Oh, my!

- The last run of the night,
he's gonna do it!

- I see you, boy!

The crowd is going nuts,
Matt.

They're going nuts!

- Drew Drechsel hits the
buzzer in the city finals.

- Whoo! Yeah!

- That man was thirsty
for success,

and of course that's our
POM Wonderful

Crazy Healthy
Run of the Night.

Drew Drechsel had a big
dismount on the Circuit Board

and managed to fight
all the way to the top

for the only buzzer
of the night.

- Right now, he's standing
by with Kristine.

- Drew, I am so happy for you.

Congratulations.

The only finished of the night.
How did you do it?

- It was really hard,
but I live in a gym.

I basically live in a gym,
so as much as someone works

is as much as I'm spending off

the ground hanging
from anything.

- How excited are you
to get back to Las Vegas?

- Oh, man, I can't wait to
hang out with my friends

and attack that course, and
to just... it's a great time.

I'm super excited
to be going back.

- All right, Drew.

I am so excited
to see you in Las Vegas.

Congratulations.
The only finisher of the night.

- Thank you very much,
Kristine. Thank you.

- Matt and Akbar,
back to you.

- Drew Drechsel sits atop
the leaderboard,

the only finisher tonight.

Jessie Graff ended up 4th
among all competitors.

He'll see all these athletes
at the national finals

in a few weeks,
including Wingnut

creator Kevin Carbone

and Michael "Ice In His Veins"
Johnson,

who got the 15th
and final spot.

Joining Jessie Graff as
the second woman to advance

is web developer
Lindsay Eskildsen.

Next week, we'll be
in Cleveland, Ohio,

the fourth stop for our
city finals competition.

For Akbar Gbajabiamila
and Kristine Leahy,

I'm Matt Iseman.

We'll see you next time
on "American Ninja Warrior."