By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
America’s Got Talent: Extreme (AGT: Extreme) ended tonight! Over the past few weeks, we have seen the danger and high-tech acts duke it out for a spot in the spin-off’s finale. Tonight, the final set of performers will face judges Simon Cowell, Nikki Bella, and Travis Pastrana. They advanced to the superfan vote if they received two or three YESES. Just like America’s Got Talent: The Champions, the superfans determined which act won the $500,000 grand prize.
Which acts successfully impressed the judges? Did any of the acts receive the group’s Golden Buzzer? Who won AGT: Extreme’s life-changing grand prize?
Angelina and Michelangelo are known as The Nerveless Nocks are a father-daughter duo carrying on a family tradition that can be traced back to the 1840s! Their signature act is working with sway poles that are 80 feet (!!!) in the air. As they told Terry in their pre-performance package, they had no safety equipment such as nets to catch them if they fell. Angelina noted that this was her first performance back since breaking her leg last year.
My jaw dropped while they climbed to the top of their sway poles. Once the duo performed their stunts, my eyes widen with terror and amazement. I was blown away how they were successfully able to switch sway poles and perform death-defying slide downs from their respective sway poles. All three judges gave them a standing ovation and gave them a pass to the next round.
Fire has been one element that has been incorporated throughout AGT: Extreme. 32-year-old fire dancer William Brandon is a Georgia native that loves to perform. But his passion was not complete until he discovered fire dancing. He performed to Lorde’s “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” My jaw dropped several times as William executed his fiery choreography. Nikki called the performance “absolutely beautiful,” and Simon called the performance “surprising.” While Travis voted “No,” both Simon and Nikki advanced him to the superfan vote.
A group of construction workers came together to form a dancing supergroup – the JCB Dancing Diggers. I laughed when Simon questioned them about using the construction equipment to dance. This was one of the craziest performances I have ever seen. Both Nikki and Travis were on the fence with the performance, while Simon called it “odd” and voted “Yes.” Eventually, Nikki got off the wall and gave them a “Yes.”
38-year-old Erika Lemay is an aerialist who came from a small town in Canada. She was inspired to enter acrobatics after seeing a red balloon fly away. During a performance in 2018, Erika injured herself, and it took two years to complete rehab for her chance at redemption. After the judges arrived and spoke with Erika, she began her act. Giant red balloons were tied to silk ropes. The stunt work was spectacular, and her routine made my jaw drop. Erika’s performance was one of the best aerial acts I have ever seen on any Got Talent stage. Erika made show history as the second recipient of the Group Golden Buzzer!
The auditions were over! Now, it was time for the AGT superfans to vote! Before they got to the results, Avril Lavigne, Travis Barker, Travis Pastrana, and members of Nitro Circus teamed up for an explosive performance. I got to give Travis and the Nitro Circus crew kudos as they delivered impressive stunts.
Once Avril and Travis left the stage, Terry welcomed the AGT: Extreme judges. Simon called it – “the most nerve-wracking job of my life.” It was so cool that all the Golden Buzzer acts (Verge Aero, Aaron Wheelz, Alfredo Silva’s Cage Riders, Cyndel Flores, and Erika) had their chance in their spotlight. Terry revealed two spots left in the finale, and the superfans voted to send Aaron Evans and Jade Kindar-Martin to the finale.
Terry revealed Wheelz, Erika Lemay, Alfredo Silva’s Cage Riders, and Jade Kindar-Martin that made it to the AGT: Extreme superfans’ top four. After those results, the actor revealed that it would be a “Duel of Golden Buzzers” as Alfredo Silva’s Cage Riders and Aaron Wheelz will face off for the championship.
Wheelz went first in the AGT: Extreme finale. He hoped to execute a backflip for the superfan vote, and unfortunately, he had difficult rehearsals. Once the crew helped Wheelz up the ramp, he performed the stunt, but Wheelz did not land during the first try. He got back up and attempted the backflip one final time. Sadly, Wheelz did not execute the stunt again. Thankfully, the judges, Wheelz’s wife, and the audience were able to lift his spirits.
Alfredo Silva’s Cage Riders have been frontrunners since Terry Crews gave them his Golden Buzzer. Tonight, he dedicated his performance to his late grandfather. Alfredo increased the pressure as he revealed four riders in the Cage of Death. The group performed their routine to Fall Out Boy’s “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up).” My jaw dropped as they executed their wild stunts, including the fourth rider in the Wheel of Death. I was surprised that they pulled that off. Well done, Alfredo Silva’s Cage Riders!
The superfans voted…. the winner of AGT: Extreme was ALFREDO SILVA’s CAGE RIDERS!
Congratulations Alfredo Silva’s Cage Riders!!!!
