205 Live – July 23, 2019: Great Scott

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: July 23, 2019
Location: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
Commentators: Aiden English, Vic Joseph

We’re coming up on Summerslam and that means we need a new #1 contender. They haven’t named a new #1 contender yet but that tends to be a better idea around here. Things are better when we have a bunch of matches taking place instead of focusing on one, which is the case tonight. This time around Isaiah Scott (Shane Strickland) is coming up, presumably for one night only, to face Cruiserweight Champion Drew Gulak. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Mike Kanellis driving Drake Maverick to violence last week with an insult of Maverick’s wife. That’s all well and good, but having Maverick play two different characters on the different shows makes it a bit harder to buy. Maverick is willing to give Kanellis a title shot, but he has to win a match first. As you might have guessed, that match is against Maverick.

Maverick says his actions as General Manager last week were uncalled for but as a man, they were very appropriate. Next week, they won’t be competing because they are going to fight. Just to make sure it’s as violent as possible, the match is unsanctioned.

Opening sequence.

Lucha House Party vs. Humberto Carrillo/Raul Mendoza

Lince Dorado is the odd Lucha out here. During his entrance, we get a video on Mendoza in a smart move. Mendoza and Kalisto start things off with Kalisto spinning out of an early wristlock attempt. Both guys spin out of a tilt-a-whirl attempt before they both block armdrags. Kalisto’s rope walk into an anklescissors doesn’t work and it’s an early stalemate.

Kalisto goes with a multiple springboard wristdrag and of course Mendoza is right on his feet again. Metalik and Carrillo come in with the former grabbing a headlock so Carrillo flips him away for a breather. The House Party starts in on the arm with a kick to the shoulder, followed by a quickly broken chinlock. That’s fine with Kalisto, who grabs a second one because the first one didn’t take.

Carrillo fights up again and gets kicked in the face, freaking English out all over again. That doesn’t last long though as it’s back to Mendoza for the Lucha Bros’ wheelbarrow splash and a near fall on Kalisto. Mendoza grabs an armbar on Kalisto but hands it back to Carrillo before getting too far with it. Come on man you have to put in more effort than that. Kalisto is fine enough to hit a kick to the head and it’s back to Metalik for the kicks to the head.

The running clothesline into the rope walk dropkick gets two but Carrillo’s awesome springboard spinning crossbody gives him a breather. Mendoza and Kalisto come in with Mendoza hitting a heck of a dropkick, followed by a better rope walk dropkick. Everything breaks down and Kalisto hits his handspring kick to the head, only to get dropkicked by Mendoza again. Metalik and Carrillo start trading the kicks to the head until they head to the corner with Metalik snapping off a super hurricanrana for two more. Mendoza dives onto Kalisto but Metalik’s moonsault hits raised boots. Carrillo is right back up with the Aztec Press to finish Metalik at 12:16.

Rating: B-. There’s something so fun about watching luchadors fly around like this and Carrillo is one of the smoothest guys around. He and Mendoza work very well together and the Lucha House Party have the star power. It was fast paced and entertaining, which is pretty much exactly what they were going for.

The Singh Brothers want Akira Tozawa and Brian Kendrick next week.

Video on Isaiah Swerve Scott, with Swerve meaning confidence. This guy really is awesome and he’ll be a star in no time.

We look back at last week’s great Chad Gable vs. Jack Gallagher match with Gable winning and showing respect after the match.

Oney Lorcan vs. Tony Isner

Lorcan wastes no time in hammering away in the corner, including some running elbows. The half and half suplex finishes Isner at 1:08. Short and sweet.

Drew Gulak isn’t surprised that no one from 205 Live wanted to face him, which is why Scott is here from NXT. Gulak trained Scott and knows everything about him. Tonight, Scott taps out.

Drew Gulak vs. Isaiah Scott

Non-title. Gulak dropkicks him at the bell and grabs a very early headlock. Scott breaks away without any trouble and it’s already into a standoff. A shove puts Scott on the floor and Gulak tells him to bring it. Back in and Scott grabs a wristlock before rolling away to put in some frustration. The dropkick sends Gulak outside and the confidence is flowing from Scott.

A cartwheel moonsault catches Gulak on the way back in and it’s back to the mat for the grappling. Scott punches him in the face for two and drops a knee to the chest for the same. They head outside with Gulak whipping him into the barricade as the anger begins again. A running Razor’s Edge into the post (egads) gets two on Scott as I try to imagine how long someone would have been out for had Razor Ramon used that. Back in and Gulak starts in on the leg before going aerial with a middle rope clothesline.

Scott hits his own clothesline for two and the running kick to the back of the head gets two. Gulak is right back with the Gulock, sending Scott’s foot underneath the rope for the break. Back up and Scott sends him outside for a stomp to the chest, followed by the top rope stomp for two. A tilt-a-whirl slam into an armbar has Gulak in trouble until he bends the fingers back for the break. Another crank on the bad hand sets up the Cyclone Crash to finish Scott at 14:07.

Rating: B. Yeah if they manage to screw Scott up, I have no idea what to tell them. Scott looks like as natural of a talent as you can find and there is almost no way that they could mess him up. He has the look, the charisma and the natural talent, all while the fans are behind him. What more could you ask for someone?

Overall Rating: B+. These shows are on a roll lately and having Scott in there is one of the better ideas they’ve had in a long time. This week’s show was about the guest stars and they made the show feel fresh for the week. You can all but pencil in Lorcan for the title shot, but that might change in the next two weeks before we get to the show. There is almost a guaranteed title shot at Summerslam and they might want to set something up sooner or later.

Results

Raul Mendoza/Humberto Carrillo b. Lucha House Party – Aztec Press to Metalik

Oney Lorcan b. Tony Isner – Half and half suplex

Drew Gulak b. Isaiah Scott – Cyclone Crash

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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