Nene Royal Steals the Show

It all comes down to this! Part 1 of the Season 21 America’s Got Talent finale featured the Top 10 finalists taking the stage to wow the judges and viewers with their acts one last time.

Throughout the night, the contestants performed and judges Mel B., Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel, and KSI offered their commentary (Simon Cowell was still away from the show while recovering from back surgery, so KSI stepped in as a guest judge). The winner will be chosen by viewers, though, who will vote for their favorites ahead of the September 23 results show.

Below, find a full recap of the finale performances. Check back tomorrow night for the big winner reveal.

Royal Lasers

First to hit the stage was light-up dance group Royal Lasers. They earned Terry Crews‘ Golden Buzzer for their audition, then cruised through the Quarterfinals and Semifinals thanks to America’s votes. For their finale performance, they put on a routine that was bigger and better than ever.

“What a way to open the show. I’m always fascinated, not only by how great it is, but how much work goes into that,” Mandel raved, while giving the group a standing ovation. Mel B. told the dancers, “No matter what happens today or tomorrow, you guys are winners. I love you guys. I love your choreography.”

Vergara called Royal Lasers “one of the most fun acts” of the season. “We’re always waiting for you guys to be on stage because it’s so mesmerizing and fun,” she added. KSI pulled a Cowell by telling the dancers, “I didn’t like it. I LOVED IT!”

Come Here

Up next was another dance group, Come Here. Coming all the way from South Korea, it’s been quite a journey for these performers so far.

“I don’t even understand how you guys can be so synchronized. There’s so many of you,” Vergara admitted. “Every time the choreography feels fresh and creative. I think you guys should perform in the Super Bowl.”

Mel B. added, “Every time I see you, you literally put your heart and soul and put everything on that stage. Tonight, yet again, was perfection. It’s just brilliant.” KSI called the routine “very, very good” and said he “loved what [he] saw.” Mandel, on the other hand, said he liked the group’s audition better than their Finals performance.

Lai Noelle

Lai Noelle, the 14-year-old singer who got Cowell’s Auditions Golden Buzzer and Kenan Thompson’s Quarterfinals Live Golden Buzzer, took the stage next. For the Finals, she sang Bruno Mars‘ “Risk It All.”

The judges expressed disbelief that Lai could possibly only be 14. “Every time you come onto this stage, you just command attention. You almost sounded a bit like Whitney Houston tonight,” Mel B. said. KSI was “perplexed” and admitted, “I didn’t expect that voice from you. That was incredible!”

Mandel urged Lai to “have more fun” and “loosen up” when she’s performing, and Mel agreed, while Vergara noted, “Your voice is something out of this world. It’s mesmerizing. You look beautiful on that stage.”

Veronika Goroshkova

Vergara pushed the Golden Buzzer for aerialist Veronika Goroshkova during the Auditions, and she performed another death-defying routine in the Finals.

“I have no words,” Vergara gushed. “She gets better and better. She makes it more dangerous every time and it’s flawless and exciting and it’s beautiful.” Mandel praised Veronika’s “athletic ability” and “strength” and told her mom, “You have to be so proud. There aren’t words to describe how amazing she is.”

Mel B. admitted that she didn’t know where Veronika could go from her past performances, but said her Finals routine exceeded her “wildest expectations.” KSI was also blown away. “It was dangerous, it was fierce, it was scary, it was VERONIKA!” he raved.

Acro Canine Crew

After dealing with an injury during rehearsals, the Acro Canine Crew had to switch things up at the last minute for the finale.

“What a performance,” KSI said. “It’s very risky doing it with dogs, but I can tell, you got the dog in all of you!” Mandel added, “America and we here at AGT love dog acts. You’re not a dog act. You’re a dog show. You are best in show.”

Vergara assured the group that they “deserve to be in the Finals, definitely.”

Hundred Fingers

Up next was magic act Hundred Fingers, who earned Golden Buzzers from Mandel during the Auditions and Quarterfinals. Mandel called it the “best magic show” he’s ever seen and told Hundred Fingers he’ll put up his own money to produce their Vegas show.

“I wasn’t that keen on you before, but I have to say, you really did the best you could possibly do tonight,” Mel B. assured the group. “Not only did you incorporate different levels of stuff, but it had a story, and I like it when I can follow a story.” However, she did offer some “criticism,” noting that some parts were out of sync.

KSI called the performance “spectacular,” and Vergara said, “This is not like any magic group or magic act. This is something special. This was such a perfect performance for the Finals of AGT. I think you guys could win very easily.”

Nene Royal

For her finale performance, Nene Royal, who got a Quarterfinals Golden Buzzer from Mel B., sang “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. The judges were on their feet and Mandel even went into the crowd to huge Nene’s dad.

“This is the first time I have ever seen and heard you, and I am a fan. That was out of this world,” KSI raved. Mel B. told the teenager, “I’m glad I pressed my Golden Buzzer for you. Not only do you have such mysterious, mystical stage presence … you’re from the best place in the world, Phuket, Thailand. And what you’re bringing to this competition is so unique. If you don’t win this, I am going to sell Howie’s new house.”

Vergara pointed out that “the world is going crazy” over Nene because “there is no one like you right now.” Meanwhile, Mandel declared that Nene should win the competition.

Olivia Befus

Olivia Befus and her dogs were next to take the stage. She finished a bit before the music, but the audience still cheered. “Today, I feel like you were very nervous and the dogs also, I think they can feel your energy,” Vergara admitted. “But even with those little mistakes, I love it. You’re the best.”

Mandel assured Olivia that people will be voting on what they saw all season, not only tonight’s performance, and Mel urged her to “just enjoy it.” KSI concluded, “Performing with dogs is always a risky task and for someone who is self taught, you’ve done a terrific job. You should be very, very proud of yourself.”

Geno Ploeger

Hitting the stage next was Geno Ploeger, the only solo magician in the finale. He made photos of Vergara, Mandel, and Mel B. randomly appear in a deck of cards and then combine into one picture. Finally, he had KSI draw cards that ended up completing a puzzle that had already been formed on stage, among other predictions.

“How did you do it?” KSI wondered. “Great stuff. Loved it.” Mel B. was also blown away. “You’re adorable. I believe in magic, you are magic,” she said. “Again and again, you amaze me. I just think you’re brilliant.”

Vergara praised Geno for how hard he works. “I’m so proud of you because you made it really far in the competition and there’s been so many good acts, it has not been easy,” she added. Mandel noted that Geno’s “need and want” to be in the competition “exudes” more than anyone else in the competition.

Unitree

For the final act of the night, Unitree, a robotic dancing act who earned Vergara’s Quarterfinals Golden Buzzer, performed their most impressive routine yet.

“It scares me, it’s so good,” Vergara admitted. “I forget they’re robots!” She also called the routine “spectacular” because it’s something she’s never seen. Mel B. had some criticism and said, “I think you’ve missed what we originally loved about this act. We could see the fact they were robots on stage. Now I feel like I’m not looking at robots, I’m looking at robots.”

Mandel jumped in to say, “She’s confused!” He also joked, “I think you changed the name of the show. It’s AGT, it was America’s Got Talent, now it’s America’s Got Technology!”

America’s Got Talent, Season 21 Finale, Wednesday, September 23, 9/8c, NBC