205 Live
Date: December 10, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We’re in a weird place with this show as WWE has actually realized that this show has little to do with the cruiserweight division and hasn’t been live in years. It might actually be time to change things up a bit and that is long overdue. Granted the show has already changed everything but the name, so maybe now it’s time to complete the ordeal. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Amari Miller vs. Lash Legend

I’ll take this over Legend talking. Legend shoves her down to start but Miller isn’t impressed. A dropkick staggers Legend but she blocks an armdrag without much effort. There’s an overhead suplex into a nipup as Miller is in trouble early. A release fall away slam sets up a big boot to the chest but Miller avoids a charge in the corner. Miller is back with a springboard Codebreaker into a cradle for two of her own, only to have Legend shrug it off. Something like a torture rack (over Legend’s back instead of the shoulders) spun into a faceplant finishes Miller at 3:30.

Rating: C-. This was a fine near squash for Legend, but those Lashing Out segments have completely destroyed any interest I could have in her. She is a bit bigger than a lot of the division and has the power to back it up, but that is going to go sailing out of the window when the next talking segment starts up. Miller is becoming a regular around here and is starting to look more comfortable in the ring, so there might be a future there.

Andre Chase vs. Guru Raaj

They go technical to start, with Chase working on the arm. A monkey flip out of the corner gets Raaj out of trouble but Chase pulls him down by the hair in a hurry. The stomps with the pointing at the student section ensue and we hit the cross arm choke. Raaj fights up with some kicks and a backsplash, setting up a bulldog out of the corner for two. Back up and Chase hits a running big boot into an arm trap Downward Spiral to finish Raaj at 4:59.

Rating: C. Chase has a dead end gimmick and Raaj is little more than a jobber so this is about as good as it could have been. Giving Chase a win doesn’t give him anything but it will make him mean a little bit more before he gets to put someone else over in the future. That has worked for years before and it can work here, even with the whole ridiculous university deal.

We recap Joe Gacy falling to Roderick Strong at WarGames, but now he is ready to change the 205 name for the sake of….whatever Gacy is on about this week.

Malik Blade vs. Solo Sikoa

Sikoa shoves him down to start so Blade is back up with an armbar. It actually lasts a bit longer than you might have guessed, probably marking the longest offense Blade has ever had around here. Back up and a heck of a clothesline blasts Blade, setting up Sikoa’s armbar for a change.

Some dropkicks don’t do Blade much good as Sikoa spinwheel kicks him right back into the armbar. Another escape works better for Blade and he hits a running clothesline in the corner. Sikoa superkicks him out of the air and a spinning fist to the head finishes Blade off at 7:44.

Rating: D+. This was another match like some previous 205 Live main events, as they spent a good while getting to the ending. It felt like they were just killing time until the finish, which is never a good feeling. Sikoa needs the ring time though and Blade is someone who seems capable of hanging in there for a bit, but I need more than long form armbars.

Overall Rating: C-. This show is already starting to get stuck in a rut, as it is more about the young up and comers in NXT, which doesn’t exactly make for an exciting night. I can imagine the new name might breathe some life into the place for a few weeks, but it isn’t like there is any reason to believe that it will last. It’s a show that WWE doesn’t care about and that doesn’t make for the easiest watch every week.

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205 Live
Date: December 3, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

The show’s future might be in jeopardy as the Cruiserweight Title is doing wacky things like getting rid of the weight limit. That makes me wonder if the Cruiserweight Title has much of a future and it is certainly nice to have that as a possible development. The title hasn’t needed to be around for a long time, but nowhere near as long as this show. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Ivy Nile vs. Erica Yan

Diamond Mine is here with Nile, who cranks on a headlock to start. A sliding knee to the ribs has Yan in more trouble and there’s a suplex to put her down again. The double arm crank goes on but Yan fights up and spins her into a sunset flip for two. Nile kicks her into the corner though and an enziguri sets up the choke to finish Yan at 4:19.

Rating: C-. Pretty much a squash here, with Nile getting to keep her feet wet. That being said, I’m not sure how much good you get out of a showcase match against another NXT rookie who gets beaten up all match. It’s almost like they need their NXT house shows back so they can have some matches with some time instead of these nothing TV matches.

Draco Anthony is still in that coffee shop, where his actions will speak louder than his words.

We look at Boa attacking Solo Sikoa and Malik Blade on NXT.

Boa vs. Draco Anthony

This is monster Boa again. Nigel calls Boa a former assassin, though it’s hard to imagine him taking out anything but interest in a show. Anthony grabs a headlock to start and drop toeholds him down for a bonus. Boa fights up and kicks Anthony down to take over as commentary talks about NXT UK. Some knees to the ribs set up a butterfly suplex and the nerve hold goes on. Anthony fights up and hits a swinging neckbreaker but Boa grabs the Tongan Death Grip for the pin at 3:55.

Rating: D+. Freaking Boa man. You have Anthony get some intrigue going with that coffee shop vignette and then he loses to Boa. I know they want to make Boa into a thing but was there NO ONE ELSE he could beat in this match? I’d hope they have a better excuse than “no one watches 205 live so it doesn’t matter”, but I can’t imagine there is a better reason.

We look at Joe Gacy getting a waiver on the Cruiserweight Title weight limit for his title shot at WarGames. The title can’t be long for the world at this point.

JacketTime vs. Creed Brothers

Before the match, Malcolm Bivens promises to end Joe Gacy at WarGames. Julius takes Jiro down to start and drags him into the corner to start the beating. Brutus comes in to roll Jiro around, only to have him get up and make the tag to Kushida. That actually doesn’t work either at first, as Julius sends him flying. Kushida is back up to knock Julius into the corner but Jiro gets knocked off the apron hard.

Back in and Brutus grabs a bearhug as we hear about his crimes against microwaves. The brothers alternate knees to the ribs until Julius sends him flying with a gutwrench suplex. An inverted bearhug sets up another planting for two on Jiro, who manages to roll over for the tag to Kushida again. A moonsault/slingshot Swanton combination hits Julius but Kushida is sent outside. That leaves Julius to belly to back suplex Brutus into a moonsault on Jiro, setting up a standing moonsault for the pin at 8:57.

Rating: D+. I really couldn’t get into this one as it was a bunch of waiting around until the Brothers put Jiro away. That makes for some long feeling sequences because there was no way Kushida was taking the fall and JacketTime wasn’t winning. Your mileage may vary on JacketTime, but it hasn’t exactly been clicking in the ring so far.

Overall Rating: D+. This wasn’t their strongest show and the fact that it was the longest in recent memory probably had something to do with that. This show works best when it is in and out in a hurry (and to be fair, this was only 35 minutes). These matches don’t have stories to them and they are little more than just waiting around until the fairly clear finishes. It might work well for some stars, but look at the amount of experience the squashers have combined. Not a good show, but this is about as close as these people are going to get to house show matches at the moment. Now figure out why NXT is not so great.

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205 Live
Date: November 26, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

NXT is on its way to WarGames and that means we are on our way to a non-cruiserweight challenging for the Cruiserweight Title. I’m not sure why that should be a surprise, as Roderick Strong hasn’t defended the title in about two months, so the future isn’t exactly bright. At the same time, that has very little to do with this show so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Valentina Feroz vs. Elektra Lopez

Legado del Fantasma is here with Lopez. Feroz tries to take her down to start and is blocked with straight power. A hard slap to the face sets up a slam spun into a Rock Bottom (which isn’t innovative Vic) and we hit the nerve hold. That’s broken up and Feroz kicks away at the leg, setting up a running hurricanrana. Lopez isn’t having that though and muscles her up into a sitout powerbomb for the pin at 3:50.

Rating: C-. It was little more than a squash, but this is the kind of a match that Lopez needs. There is no pressure on either of them and a grand total of almost no one, certainly no one that high up, is going to see it. Let her get in the ring and get some experience, which is what she needs more than anything else.

Erica Yan vs. Amari Miller

They fight over hammerlock control to start and that doesn’t get either of them anywhere. A hiptoss into an armdrag works a bit better for Yan and a cartwheel lets her pose at Miller a bit. Miller takes her down into a cradle for two and we hit the cobra clutch. That’s broken up and Yan grabs a suplex for two, meaning frustration is setting in. Miller is done with this and hits a knee, setting up a faceplant onto the knee for the pin at 4:35.

Rating: C-. Miller is still clearly a big prospect for the company but she also feels like someone who isn’t exactly comfortable in the ring. It feels like she is trying to figure out what to do next, which is something all young wrestlers go through. Much like Lopez, giving her time in the ring is the best thing for her at the moment and that’s what she was getting here.

We look back at Joe Gacy calling out the Cruiserweight Title for weight shaming. The match is set for WarGames.

Solo Sikoa vs. Andre Chase

Chase calls this a teachable moment because he is going to show that you win fights with your mind instead of your fists. Sikoa is fired up but Chase grabs an armbar to slow him down for at least a good six seconds. They fight over a wristlock until Sikoa hits him in the face to take over. A belly to belly sends Chase outside and it’s time for Sikoa to shout some more.

The Samoan drop is countered though and Chase hits a swinging neckbreaker. Chase slams him down and stomps away, while shouting GIVE ME AN INSERT LETTER HERE to spell out CHASE U. We hit the long form chinlock on Sikoa but he’s right back up with a legsweep into a backsplash. A spinwheel kick gets two on Chase but he sends Sikoa throat first into the ropes. That and a tornado DDT are enough for two on Sikoa, who plants Chase with a Samoan drop instead. The Superfly Splash finishes Chase at 8:29.

Rating: C. You could tell that Chase was carrying a good bit of this as Sikoa is another person lacking the experience. The Chase U stuff is a very minor league gimmick but it’s doing its job and seems to have found at least a bit of an audience. Keep stuff like that going and Chase should be able to stick around here for a pretty good while. Sikoa should be a star in the future, and, for the third match in a row, he is someone who needs the kind of ring time he can get around here.

Overall Rating: C. This was what 205 Live should be: a training show where the wrestlers can go out and have short matches to get them in the ring a bit. They can work up to some bigger things later on, but for now this is where they should be. It’s more or less the same concept of the old Florida house show circuit, which is something that could do them a lot of good but probably got cut due to budget issues.

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205 Live
Date: November 19, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s the go home show for Survivor Series, which has nothing to do with anything going on with this show. Instead, we’ll be getting more of the NXT B lineup, plus a battle of the midcarders. That doesn’t sound too bad, so maybe they can make it work out well enough again. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Malik Blade vs. Edris Enofe

This is Enofe’s debut. They go technical to start with Blade snapmaring him down for an early two, sending us into a standoff. Enofe rolls him up for two and that’s good for another standoff as they seem to respect each other. An exchange of rollups give them two each and it’s another standoff. Blade goes more traditional with a headlock on the mat but Enofe gives him a headlock takeover of his own. Back up and Blade hits a dropkick for one and the armbar goes on. Some armdrags have Enofe down again and a missile dropkick sets up…a missed frog splash. Enofe hits a spinebuster and a standing moonsault for the pin at 6:07.

Rating: C-. So that’s the first we’ve seen of Enofe and he’s an athletic guy with a good look. Really that’s about all there is to say about him, as he’s someone who feels like a prospect they signed, taught a basic match and then threw him out there. Certainly not bad, but he feels like a bunch of modern NXT wrestlers and that’s not a great sign.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Amari Miller

Stratton, debuting as well, is billed as Daddy’s Little Rich Girl and the Buff Barbie Doll. Before the match, she lets us know how beautiful she is, meaning she is the opposite of all of us. Miller grabs a headlock to start and grinds away but Stratton, a gymnast, flips up without much trouble. Back up and Miller hits a spinwheel kick, with Nigel saying Miller is inspired by “WWE Legend Alicia Fox.” I’ll let that one sink in for a minute as Miller tries a rollup, only to be countered into a sunset flip, with Stratton bridging up for more leverage and the pin at 3:21.

Rating: D+. Stratton is a new name and much like Tony D’Angelo, feels straight out of central casting. She’s the kind of person you would see in roughly 573 mediocre high school movies. What else are you expecting from someone who wears pink, brought a bag to the ring, and bragged about how good looking she is? It’s just such a basic idea and that is going to give her a pretty firm ceiling, but WWE has decided she’s worth a look and that’s all that matters.

Video on Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter, the same one which aired on NXT.

Kayden Carter/Kacy Catanzaro vs. Yulisa Leon/Valentina Feroz

Carter and Catanzaro do have an energetic entrance. Yulisa and Carter roll around for a bit as commentary tries to figure out what kind of music Carter and Catanzaro like. Catanzaro comes in to take Yulisa down but it’s right back to Carter to kick her out of the corner. We’ll try Catanzaro again and she gets to flip Feroz around a bit, setting up a double kick to the face.

Feroz manages to get in a shot to Carter’s arm though and twists her down for a crash. A cross armbreaker doesn’t do much for Yulisa so she goes with a gutwrench suplex for two instead. Carter fights up and it’s back to Catanzaro in a hurry. A fall away slam gives Feroz two but Carter gets the blind tag, setting up the neckbreaker/450 (KC Squared) to finish Feroz at 7:42.

Rating: C-. This was just a step above a long squash for Carter and Catanzaro, which is what it should have been. Carter and Catanzaro seem to be rising up the ranks fairly quickly in NXT and it would be nice to see how far they can go. Feroz and Leon were fine in their roles here, though it wasn’t exactly a great match.

Overall Rating: D+. Over the last few months, NXT feels like it has lost its soul. Anything energetic, fun, engaging or anything else has been completely stripped away and you’re left with very basic wrestling, almost giving it a low level independent feeling. That’s what I got here too, with wrestlers that don’t seem to have much potential (Carter and Catanzaro have more than anyone and even then it’s not great) and characters who are either non-existent or one note. NXT, and 205 Live as a result, is rapidly becoming a wasteland and this show made it seem like that is exactly what WWE wants.

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205 Live
Date: November 12, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Since this is basically NXT Main Event, I’m running out of ways to say nice things about it. The show is much better than what we had for so long before, but you can only have so many positive things to say about a show that usually features a lower card match, a squash and two midcarders. It’s still fun and short though so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Andre Chase vs. Malik Blade

The fans are behind Malik (I think?) and seem happy when he takes Chase down in a hurry. Back up and Andre elbows him in the face as you can see the Chase University Student Section (complete with a flag). The chinlock keeps Blade down and some elbows to the head make it worse.

Now the fans are behind Malik but Chase wants a C-H-A-S-E, with a stomp between each letter. A neckbreaker gives Chase two and he kicks Blade in the face for daring to try a small package. The chinlock goes on again but Blade fights up with forearms and a dropkick. Blade’s high crossbody gets two but Chase hits him in the face and grabs a Downward Spiral for the pin at 6:03.

Rating: C+. This was a good example of a match that was only ok on its own but a hot crowd brought it up. The fans were split enough that the dueling chants were a lot more fun than most of what we saw from the match itself. I had fun with it and I would not have bet on that coming in, so call it a surprise.

Valentina Feroz vs. Indi Hartwell

Persia Pirotta is here with Hartwell. Feroz gets shouldered down to start and looks annoyed while Hartwell might not be taking this incredibly seriously. A hiptoss gives Hartwell two and she drops Feroz face first onto the top turnbuckle. Feroz snaps Hartwell’s arm across the top though and we hit the armbar.

Back up and Feroz avoids a kick in the corner and goes after Hartwell’s leg for a change. It’s right back to the arm though and an armbar has Hartwell in some trouble. That’s broken up as well so Hartwell comes back with the good arm. Feroz goes for the arm again but walks into a spinebuster (with Hartwell kissing the ring) for the pin at 4:52.

Rating: C. Not too bad here as they told a nice story of Hartwell not taking Feroz seriously and having to catch her with the spinebuster for the pin. Feroz looked like a threat here and that’s more than she has done so far. This was another match that I liked more than I would have bet on so they’re on a bit of a roll this week.

Draco Anthony vs. Roderick Strong

Non-title again and the rest of Diamond Mine is here to handle Strong’s introduction. This is Draco’s debut to make it more interesting. They trade arm control to start until Strong grinds away on a headlock. That’s broken up and a series of shoulders give Draco two, with Strong bailing to the floor. Back in and Strong stomps him down into the corner, setting up a backbreaker for his own two. The seated abdominal stretch has Draco fighting back up and a release suplex gets two on Strong. That’s enough for Strong, who hits a jumping knee for the pin at 4:47.

Rating: C. Draco got to shine a bit here, though there is only so much that you can do in a match that doesn’t even go five minutes. They treated him as someone who they wanted to get something out of though so maybe he has a future. I’m not sure what they have in mind for Strong though, as he never defends the title and there isn’t exactly a top challenger on the horizon at the moment.

The Diamond Mine poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Maybe it was the rather hot crowd but this was one of the most entertaining 205 Lives in a long time. All three matches were entertaining and some unproven stars got their chance to showcase themselves. That’s where 205 Live can be a good help for NXT, but only if they keep this up. Do this more often and they might have a use for this show after all.

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205 Live
Date: November 5, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

This has rapidly become a show that actually offers something and I’m still not sure how to feel about that. It’s very nice to have 205 Live actually matter for a change, as there is only so much you can do with two hours of NXT. Let the wrestlers get in the ring somehow and see what they can do with some extra time. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

I find it interesting that the graphic saying “Orlando, Florida” is on and off in less than two seconds. Where else are we supposed to think this is from?

Roderick Strong vs. Ru Feng

Non-title and the rest of Diamond Mine is here too. Feng shoves him into the corner to start and cranks on the wrist with Strong not being able to do much to escape. Some chops up against the ropes have Feng in trouble though and Strong stomps away near the ropes. Feng fights out of an abdominal stretch and grabs a powerslam for two. That’s enough for Strong, who hits the jumping knee for the pin at 4:55.

Rating: C-. I’m still not sure what Strong is doing at the moment as the Cruiserweight Champion’s biggest feud is against someone who weighs about 400lbs. There’s nothing wrong with keeping Strong out here on some nothing show against a pretty low level opponent, but it would be nice if he had someone more impressive coming after the title. Then again, it’s hard to imagine NXT doing anything that makes these days.

Valentina Feroz vs. Erica Yan

This is Yan’s debut and she gets taken down for an early armbar attempt. That’s broken up in a hurry, as is Yan’s headlock. Feroz pulls her down into a double arm crank and then kicks Yan forward for two. Back up and Yan hits a few running shoulders but gets pulled into something like a Koji Clutch for the tap at 2:59.

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Ikemen Jiro/Kushida

Jiro and Drake trade arm control to start and it’s Kushida coming in with an ax handle to the shoulder. Jiro hits one of his own and it’s Drake in trouble early. Gibson comes in but can’t get a hiptoss. Instead, Jiro clotheslines him down but Drake comes in off a blind tag for the cheap shot. Gibson is right back in with a chinlock, setting up a top rope ax handle to the back.

The chinlock goes right back on but Jiro manages a suplex to get himself out of trouble. Drake tries to cut off the tag but winds up pulling off Jiro’s jacket instead, allowing the hot tag to Kushida. Everything breaks down and Jiro gets his jacket back, setting up a double basement dropkick. Cue the Diamond Mine though and the distraction lets the Veterans hit Ticket To Mayhem for the pin on Jiro at 10:28.

Rating: C. This was a match with some time and even had some storyline advancement at the end to make things that much better. It’s not the kind of a match that you get from this show and I could go for something like this in the future. Above all else, it’s nice to have something feel like it matters (even slightly) for a change and that’s a good thing.

Overall Rating: C-. Better main event aside, it was another show that is only going to get so far. You can’t expect much out of a show that barely breaks half an hour and spends a bit of time on two matches without a ton of drama. That being said, it felt like one of the bigger editions of 205 Live in a long time, assuming you ignore how ridiculous the name is these days.

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205 Live
Date: October 29, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for more of the NXT B show and that sounds good enough to me. I’m still wondering if they are going to change the name though, as we are now in a rare case where every single thing about the show’s title is completely inaccurate. It takes something special to pull that off and a new name would make sense. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Boa vs. Jeet Rama

Mei Ying is here with Boa. Feeling out process to start until Rama takes him down to the mat with a headlock takeover. Back up and some armdrags have Boa in more trouble and even out on the floor for a breather. Boa gets back in and hits a few shots to the face in the corner, setting up the chinlock. A neckbreaker gets two on Rama, followed by a shot to the throat for the same. It’s off to a figure four necklock but Rama fights up and hits some rolling gutwrench suplexes. Boa escapes a powerslam though and grabs a reverse layout DDT for the pin at 5:39.

Rating: C-. Just a match here without much else to be said. Boa continues to be one of the people who is around at least semi regularly but that does not exactly make him interesting. Rama is someone who could go a little somewhere with some more development but this is about his peak at the moment.

Sarray vs. Katarina Cortez

Man Sarray has just not caught on. The fans are behind Sarray to start and they fight over a test of strength to get going. Sarray gets the better of things but gets flipped over, setting up a double bridge up. A double stomp rocks Cortez but she goes for the tape on Sarray’s back to take over.

The camel clutch goes on until Sarray makes the rope, meaning Cortez busts out a rocking horse to stay on Sarray’s back. The double arm crank has Sarray in more trouble but she’s out in a hurry. A hard half crab keeps Cortez down, followed by a fisherman’s suplex for two. Sarray’s middle rope dropkick gets the same and the running dropkick against the ropes (I’m surprised she can still use that) finishes Cortez at 5:59.

Rating: C. Sarray is someone who has most of the tools to be a star but it hasn’t clicked yet. It’s not like the women’s division couldn’t use the help, but for some reason the only noteworthy thing about her is that dropkick. Cortez is good enough in the ring, but she needs a good bit more development.

Sarray checks on Cortez after the match. Maybe not kicking her in the face would be a bit nicer.

Xyon Quinn vs. Ru Feng

They stare each other down to start as Nigel refers to Quinn as a Samoan ghost. Quinn powers out of a top wristlock but gets headlocked down instead. A snap suplex gives Feng one but Quinn is back up with….I think it was a botched leapfrog but he tried to turn it into a leg lariat but had to settle for something like a Sling Blade (we’ll go with bad and leave it at that). Quinn hammers him down and finishes with the running elbow for the pin at 3:55.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t awful, but that botch in the middle is all that is going to stand out in the whole thing. There’s only so much you can do when you have less than four minutes and one of the biggest things was a mistake. I like Quinn a lot and I’m sure he’ll be fine, as it means a bit to be in the featured spot here.

Overall Rating: C-. Much like the old days of 205 Live, it’s hard to really get annoyed at a show that is over in 28 minutes and includes a bunch of advertisements in addition to three matches. This show knows how to get in and out without overstaying its welcome, but it still isn’t great stuff a lot of time time. That being said, these wrestlers need whatever ring time they can so putting them on this far less watched show is a good idea.

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205 Live
Date: October 22, 2021
Location: Capitol One Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s weird to be looking forward to this show but they have managed to make it happen. I have no idea what to expect from the show but the mere hint of effort and a purpose has turned this show into something with a bit of value for a change. What’s next? An actual big name showing up around here? Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Amari Miller/Valentina Feroz vs. Katarina Cortez/Yulisa Leon

Leon is new. Feroz and Cortez go to the mat to start with Feroz’s takedown not having any effect. It’s off to Leon for a very spinning wristdrag and Cortez’s missile dropkick gets two. Feroz has to fight out of a chinlock and Miller comes in for the first time, only to get clotheslined down. Everything breaks down and Miller cravates Leon onto her knee for the pin at 3:48.

Rating: C-. Not much to see with this one but Miller getting a win is not exactly surprising. It is clear that they want to do something with her and she has to start somewhere. Feroz and Leon weren’t bad but this was about Cortez and Miller getting over, which worked well enough for this stage.

We see the Duke Hudson poker room from last week’s NXT.

Duke Hudson vs. Malik Blade

Hudson runs Blade over to start and then tosses him outside with straight power. Back in and Blade cranks on a headlock but Hudson counters a dive into an overhead belly to belly. Some slams put Blade down again and Hudson is looking rather cocky. Blade hits a dropkick into a running corner clothesline but Hudson sends him flying again. The more serious Hudson puts him down and finishes by….grabbing Blade by the back of the head and shoving him face first onto the mat at 5:31. Not driving him down mind you, but just shoving him.

Rating: C. The match was pretty good, including Blade being treated more seriously this time, but Hudson is going to need a MUCH better finisher. That felt like the kind of thing you do to embarrass your opponent and get a one count but it finished here. Hudson is already a bit hard to take seriously and that didn’t help things.

Post match, Hudson tosses him a poker chip.

Halloween Havoc rundown.

Jeet Rama vs. Xyon Quinn

Feeling out process to start with Quinn grabbing a headlock until Rama sends him into the corner. A front facelock suplex gives Rama two and the armbar goes on. Back up and a hard whip sends Rama into the corner to give Quinn a breather. The armbar goes right back on, though this time Quinn muscles him up for a World’s Strongest Slam. Quinn is back up to toss Rama around, setting up a running shoulder in the corner. The running forearm finishes Rama at 4:15.

Rating: C. Quinn has been treated as something of a big deal in recent weeks but this time it was more about Rama. I could see that going somewhere as Rama looks good enough in the ring to become a bit of a player. I’m not at all surprised that Quinn won though, as he could turn into one of the upcoming stars of NXT without much trouble.

Respect is shown post match.

Overall Rating: C. This was a bit of a downgrade, but it’s nice to see this as the pretty firm new format of the show. Above all else, it gives you something to look forward to and that is a nice change of pace after so many years of nothing from 205 Live. If this can become something like NXT’s Dark, WWE might be on to something for a change.

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205 Live
Date: October 15, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

I’ve started liking this show a good bit more as it feels like NXT without the color scheme making my head hurt. NXT has needed a show like this for a good while now and it could do a good job in building up some people who do not get the chance otherwise. Hopefully they can do that again this week so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Jeet Rama vs. Boa

Mei Ying is here with Boa. Rama works on the wrist to start but Boa is back with some kicks to the leg. That doesn’t work either so Rama takes him down for the quickly broken armbar. Back up and Boa works on Rama’s arm for a change, including bending it around the top rope. Some kicks drop Rama and there’s a knee to the arm. The armbar sets up a cobra clutch but Rama throws some suplexes. Boa goes right back to the arm though and kicks Rama in the head for the pin at 4:30.

Rating: D+. I sighed a bit when I saw Boa was in the match and then it got worse when he was actually in the ring. Boa has not been interesting since he debuted and it isn’t getting better. What he does in the ring is decent enough, but he is just so dull an uninteresting that it isn’t worth the time more often than not.

Josh Briggs/Brooks Jensen vs. Keagan Scott/Taylor Garland

Jensen punches Scott in the face to start and snaps off a powerslam. Briggs comes in to talk some trash and release side slams Garland, setting up a splash. An assisted sitout powerbomb finishes Garland at 1:50. I’m not sure about these guys seemingly wrestling as faces, but that was an effective squash.

Roderick Strong vs. Odyssey Jones

Non-title, as the Cruiserweight Champion is on the show for the first time in months against a guy who weighs over 400lbs. The rest of the Diamond Mine is here too. Strong makes the mistake of going for an armdrag and is shoved away with ease. That means we need a bit of a breather, before Jones swats a flying shoulder out of the air. Jones pulls him back over the ropes and the confidence is rather high. Back up and Jones sends him head first into the corner over and over but Hachiman offers a distraction, allowing Strong to twist the knee around the rope.

A seated abdominal stretch goes on to put Jones in trouble and a kick to the face drops him again. The crossarm choke has Jones panicking but he powers to his feet, despite Strong telling him to stay down. Jones runs him over and hits a rolling senton and Strong’s jumping knee is blocked. Strong slips out though and the jumping knee finally knocks Jones out for the pin at 8:58.

Rating: C. Not a great match or anything, but it was cool seeing some of the bigger names on here where there might have been a tiny bit of doubt about who was winning. You almost never have that on this show these days and it helps a lot to change things up a bit. Strong winning is the right move, but it was nice to have someone who could give him a run for his money for a change.

Overall Rating: C. This show is starting to round into form and I’m rather pleased by some of the things that I’m seeing. There is certainly more of a structure around here and it is showing you just how worthless 205 Live was for so long. That’s very nice to see and I’m glad that it is finally worth something. Now just find a name that actually makes sense and we could be on to something here.

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205 Live
Date: October 8, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

I’m starting to like this show a bit more than I ever thought I would, as they have gotten into a bit more of a rhythm. You can almost bet on a women’s match, a cruiserweight match and an NXT midcard match. That’s not a bad way to go and the fact that it is done in about half an hour makes it even better. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Amari Miller vs. Sarray

Miller grabs a wristlock to start but Sarray spins her over into one of her own. Sarray pulls it to the mat for a cross armbreaker but Miller fights up. A heck of a clothesline drops Sarray for two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Miller scores with a spinning kick to the face for two, setting up an STO for the same. Sarray has had it with this though and comes back with the running dropkick against the ropes for the pin at 4:43.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what happened to Sarray but she has gone from the next prospect to being lucky to pop up on 205 Live. It’s almost like there was a total regime change and Sarray was lost in the shuffle. Or the women’s division is a complete afterthought these days unless you’re a model or a giant.

Creed Brothers vs. Demetri Jackson/Andrew Lockhart

Brutus powers Lockhart into the corner to start and then takes him down without much effort. A delayed butterfly suplex drops Lockhart again and Jackson gets pulled over the apron with a suplex of his own. Julius slaps Brutus as a tag and it’s another suplex into the basement lariat to finish Jackson at 3:07.

Rating: C. This was worth a bit more than most of the matches you see around here, as the Creed Brothers are a rather impressive team. Above all else, they feel real and you get the idea that they are going for every single time. The Diamond Mine is getting better every week and I like the idea of the whole group more and more every time.

Post match, Malcolm Bivens says the Diamond Mine challenges any group on any roster to come have the big money match.

Trey Baxter vs. Grayson Waller

Feeling out process to start with Baxter taking him down for an early riding. Waller is let up and gives Baxter a bit of applause, only to get headscissored down. A basement dropkick gives Baxter one, leaving Baxter confused. Waller is back up with a side slam and backbreaker, followed by a suplex for two.

The double arm crank keeps Baxter in trouble but he flips out in a hurry. Waller scores with a spear into a leglock chinlock but Baxter makes the rope. Baxter flips up for a DDT and Waller is sent outside for a running flip dive. Back in and Baxter tries a rollup, only to get reversed into another one to give Waller the pin at 7:27.

Rating: C+. Definitely the best thing on the show, with the extra time helping a good bit. Waller is someone they seem interested in pushing, even slightly, and Baxter already has a story. That is more than a lot of people are going to be getting in NXT and they were able to have a snazzy match here.

Overall Rating: C+. This worked far better because of the overall presentation. The show felt like the NXT supplemental show, as things are starting to come together. I like what they’re doing here, as the extra star power helps a lot. Give us more of this every week and the show is instantly better than just about anything that has taken place on 205 live in years.

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