205 Live – May 15, 2018: 92.9864 Taped

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: May 15, 2018
Location: 02 Arena, London, England
Attendance: Vic Joseph, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness

Since we’re over in a foreign country, it makes sense to have some guest stars. As you might guess (or know if you watched last week’s show), that would be a bunch of the United Kingdom wrestlers, many of whom are likely going to be in the upcoming United Kingdom Championship Tournament. This could make for a fun night, especially if it’s done right. Let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show if you need a recap.

Drake Maverick narrates the opening video, which tells us about the guest stars and the two matches we’ll be seeing tonight.

Opening sequence.

We get some bios for some of the names that we’ll be seeing tonight. That’s a really good idea as while they’re not much, it at least puts a name with a face and lets you know a little something about these people. Their heights, weights, styles and finishing moves, among other information, is all given.

Tyler Bate vs. TJP vs. Kenny Williams vs. Kalisto

One fall to a finish. Bate and TJP nearly get into a fight before the bell over issues when Bate was here last time. Kalisto wastes no time in going for a rollup on a distracted Bate with Williams making the save. At least someone is on the ball. TJP pulls Bate to the floor and sends him into the barricade before heading back inside to get headscissored by Kalisto. A takedown sets up a quick Boston crab on Kalisto with TJP grabbing Kalisto’s arms to pull him off the mat.

Williams comes in and dropkicks TJP before diving out to take out Kalisto. That allows Bate to come back in for some right hands to TJP in the corner as the pace stays slower than you might expect for a match like this. We hit the airplane spin and Bate spins back the other way to unwind, taking out Williams and Kalisto at the same time. I love that spot.

The dizzy Bate gets sent outside and TJP spins through the ropes before going after Kenny’s leg. Bate’s save attempt earns him an armbar while TJP has Williams’ leg barred as well. We’ll throw in a front facelock on Kalisto at the same time for a rather ridiculous looking spot. The hold is broken up and it’s Kalisto kicking away until Williams crotches him on top. That means the required Tower of Doom spot but it’s Williams up first with some kicks through the ropes.

Bate adds a no hands dive over the top to take Williams and TJP down, followed by a flip dive from Kalisto to put everyone down again. Back in and Williams tornado DDTs Kalisto for two with TJP making the save. A double clothesline puts Bate and TJP down as Kalisto and Williams fight to the floor. The Detonation Kick is blocked and Bate’s rebound clothesline sets up the Tyler Driver 97 for the pin on TJP at 10:33.

Rating: B-. This took some time to get going but wound up being fun at the end. Williams didn’t get much of a chance to shine but did well enough. Bate winning is the right call as he’s a big enough name and the fans were going to love seeing him do his thing. If nothing else it gives us another mustache pose and that alone is worth it.

We look at Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander, which is set for two weeks from tonight. This focuses on Murphy, who certainly has more charisma than Alexander. I know Cedric was the sentimental pick to win the title but he’s reminding me more of the bad days of Bob Backlund without as high a level of skill.

Next week: Akira Tozawa vs. Hideo Itami.

Cedric is in the back when his partners for tonight, Flash Morgan Webster and Mustafa Ali, come in to talk strategy for the main event. Webster is a bit over the top, to put it mildly, with a helmet, what appears to be pajamas with an ascot and mirror sunglasses.

Here’s Drake Maverick to do commentary on the main event.

Joseph Conners, Drew Gulak and James Drake are ready for the six man.

Cedric Alexander/Mustafa Ali/Flash Morgan Webster vs. Joseph Conners/Drew Gulak/James Drake

Alexander and Conners get things going with Joseph taking him into the corner and hammering away with elbows to the head. Cedric’s dropkick gets him out of trouble to a very limited reaction, which isn’t the most surprising thing in the world. Webster comes in to stay on the arm and a running armdrag sends it off to Drake. That lasts all of ten seconds and it’s Gulak coming in for the first time. A hurricanrana has Gulak in trouble as well so let’s try Conners again.

Ali gets two off a spinwheel kick as the silence from the crowd is almost eerie. Gulak organizes a huddle, which he calls a team building exercise. We settle down to Drake vs. Ali and the team building seems to work with Ali getting stomped down without much effort. The latest hot tag brings in Webster, who is quickly kicked down but Gulak ignores his partners’ requests for tags. Drake comes in for the chinlock on Webster (with a bloody mouth) but gets sent into the corner.

That’s enough for the hot tag to Ali as things speed up (with the crowd not getting up to join them). The rolling X Factor hits Conners and a super hurricanrana sends Conners into Drake for two. Alexander comes back in and it’s time for a parade of secondary finishers to put everyone down. Gulak charges into a boot (with the camera AGAIN showing that it doesn’t make contact, which is a major problem as of late) and Morgan hits a double dive. The Neuralizer is countered into an ankle lock but Cedric rolls Gulak into the corner. Ali is back in with the tornado DDT, setting up the 054 for the pin on Gulak at 12:40.

Rating: B. Webster caught my eye before the match and looked good during the match itself. The rest of the match was your usual 205 Live stuff: an above average match that didn’t show off any kind of interest because it’s just people doing moves to each other. Either way, it’s still more than good enough and for a stand alone show, this was a fine main event.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a show with one idea and they did it very well. The matches didn’t last too long and they didn’t try to do anything more than mixing the 205 Live guys with the UK wrestlers which is all it needed to be. Both matches were entertaining and I had fun watching what felt short. They also announced a title match in a few weeks until they get back to America to set things up. Good show here, even if it means nothing whatsoever.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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