205 Live
Date: October 1, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Things have actually changed around here a bit and that is a great thing to see. 205 Live has long since lost any appeal that it had so having some lower level NXT people getting some attention is a good thing. The show still doesn’t mean anything, but now it means something with some slightly more important people. Let’s get to it.

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

Dante Chen vs. Malik Blade

Feeling out process to start with Chen snapping off a hiptoss and grabbing an armbar. Some armdrags set up the armbar sequel but Blade is back up with a heck of a dropkick. Blade grabs his own armbar and Chen can’t even suplex his way to freedom. Chen fights up and hits a pump kick to the face, followed by a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. The guillotine drop finishes Blade at 4:38.

Rating: C-. This was a glorified squash for Chen, but it doesn’t help that he is still just the wrestler from Singapore. That is almost all WWE mentions about him and I’m going to need more than that to get interested in him. Both guys are ok in the ring and Blade could be worth having around elsewhere, but Chen is going to need some more to make me care about whatever he’s doing.

Amari Miller vs. Valentina Feroz

Miller seems rather happy to be here. Feroz grabs a headlock to start and takes Miller down out of the corner. That gives us an early standoff until Feroz charges into an armdrag into an armbar. Feroz reverses into an armbar of her own but gets dropped face first out of the corner for the escape. Miller’s reverse chinlock doesn’t last long so they go into a quick pinfall reversal sequence. That’s enough for Miller, who grabs a headlock driver onto the knee to finish Feroz at 3:32.

Rating: C-. Another match that just kind of happened here. You get the feeling that WWE sees something in Miller but she feels like a rather long term prospect. She looks like a pure rookie and it is going to take a lot of time to turn that into something. Given that it’s WWE, she’s probably a champion in a year.

Miller helps her up post match.

Ikemen Jiro/Trey Baxter vs. Imperium

This would be your NXT midcard guest stars match. Barthel and Baxter get things going with Barthel working over the wrist. A flipping hammerlock on the mat keeps Baxter down until he grabs a crucifix. Barthel isn’t having that though and hits a kick to the chest to put Baxter in trouble again. Aichner comes in to stay on the arm but Baxter sweeps the legs and stomps on the back.

It’s off to Jiro for some jacket shots to the face and a Tarantula, with Baxter getting in a shot of his own. That’s too far for Imperium, who come back in for a double clothesline to take over again. Barthel suplexes Baxter into the corner and then slams him legs first into the ropes. There’s another kick to the chest for another two on Baxter and we hit the chinlock.

Back up and a clothesline out of the corner drops Baxter, which has McGuinness rather pleased. Baxter finally jawbreaks his way to freedom though and the hot tag brings in Jiro. The pace picks up and the double springboard moonsault gets two on Barthel. Jiro and Baxter both hit dives to the floor but Aichner is back in with a brainbuster to Baxter. The Imperium Bomb finishes Baxter at 11:16.

Rating: C. This was straight out of the 1980s as you had two guys who might be able to hang with the established team for a few minutes before ultimately getting destroyed. That’s what happened here and it was the best thing on the show. I know these older formulas might not be the most popular, but they still work if you give them the chance.

Overall Rating: C-. Not the most thrilling show, but things have changed enough that this is the new norm. I’ll take that over what we had been getting for years so it is time to start getting used to this. I can go for this formula going forward, though a name change might be in store. Granted that is assuming that anyone in WWE remembers that this show exists, so 205 Live is here to stay.

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205 Live
Date: September 24, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

The new (again) 205 Live continues as they have been running three matches a week, plus often dropping the weight limit. Throw in some women’s matches and this show is actually looking like something different for a change. I’m not saying that is going to lead to a good show, but at least it isn’t all the same. Let’s get to it.

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

Xyon Quin vs. Oney Lorcan

That’s some star power for around here. Lorcan takes him into the corner to start as the fans seem to be behind Quin. Some chops and a ram into the corner don’t do much to Quin, who is right back with a spinning elbow. Lorcan kicks the leg out though and starts hammering away and another shot to the knee gets two. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Quin powers up and strikes Lorcan into the corner, setting up a running shoulder to the ribs. One heck of a ripcord forearm knocks Lorcan silly for the pin at 3:17.

Rating: C. It was short but to the point as Quin looks like a monster and someone who could run over a lot of people in a hurry. Lorcan is actually a win that means something as he has won a few things in NXT over the years. They might have a little something with Quin, or at least the pieces to go somewhere with him.

Video on Ikemen Jiro and his wardrobe (from NXT).

Ikemen Jiro vs. Malik Blade

The fans seem to like Jiro but he gets shouldered down to start. A dropkick sets up some armdrags but Jiro snaps the arm across the top. Jiro cranks back on the arm a few times and a running flip splash gets two. We go creative as Jiro grabs the arm and springboards into a moonsault to take Malik to the mat. Malik fights out of the armbar though and spinwheel kicks Jiro down, setting up a high crossbody for two. Jiro goes right back to the arm though and finishes with the Ikemen Slash at 5:27.

Rating: C-. Jiro working on the arm worked and it seems like NXT wants to push him as well. I can go with the snazzy jackets, but I’m not sure how far something that is a little bit sillier like this is going to go. Jiro is fine enough in the ring, though there would seem to be a ceiling over just how far he can rise.

Cora Jade vs. Ember Moon

There’s your even bigger star power as this show becomes even more NXT Main Event. Moon headlock takeovers her down and grinds on the head as the fans are quite behind Ember. Jade reverses into a hammerlock as the chants are a bit more split. Back up and things reset a bit until Jade snaps off a springboard hurricanrana.

A standing armbar has Moon in more trouble but it seems to make her mad more than anything else as the comeback is on. Moon ties her into the Tree of Woe for some kicks to the back and Jade is sent shoulder first into the post. That’s almost enough for a countout but Moon doesn’t want it that way. Instead she throws Jade back inside for a powerbomb and the Eclipse finishes Jade at 6:58.

Rating: C. Moon is a much bigger deal than most of the people you see on the show and that’s a good thing. NXT has all of these people just sitting around doing almost nothing every week so send them out there for a quick match and maybe draw some eyes to this show. It wasn’t a great match or anything, but the Eclipse is always worth seeing.

Overall Rating: C. This is already WAY better than 205 Live, as you can only get so far with the same wrestlers over and over and we had reached that point about three years ago. There isn’t anything in the way of storylines around here, but sometimes you need to mix things up a bit. This feels more like taking a different course and that’s ok in this case. Let us see some more of the up and coming/underused talent, which has been needed for a long time now.

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205 Live
Date: September 17, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s time for the brand new look to the show and that might be a good thing. At the same time, what matters more is the fact that this show is morphing into the NXT supplemental show that it has needed to be for a long time now. I’m not sure what to expect from this show, and that’s a nice feeling after all these years. Let’s get to it.

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

Valentina Feroz vs. Amari Miller

Feroz grabs the armbar to start and Miller can’t quite forearm her way to freedom. Instead, Miller grabs her own armbar but Feroz flips her way to freedom. A kick to the head drops Feroz though and some knees to the face from the apron rock Feroz again. The chinlock doesn’t last long but a knee to the ribs cuts off a comeback attempt. Some wristdrags have Miller in trouble but she grabs a spinebuster. That’s fine with Feroz, who grabs a cross armbreaker from the mat for the tap at 5:56.

Rating: C. Feroz got my attention here as that finish came out of nowhere. That’s the kind of move that could get her somewhere and while I don’t know if that is a likelihood, at least she did something cool once. Miller seems like a developmental project but she was smooth enough in the ring to start.

Malik Blade vs. Boa

Blake is the nephew of NBA legend Daryl Dawkins and was trained by D-Von Dudley. Boa kicks him down to start but Blade is back up with some dropkicks. Some arm snaps across the ropes put Blade back in trouble though and Boa kicks away. Blade is back with forearms and a running corner clothesline into a high crossbody for two. Not that it matters as Boa grabs a layout reverse DDT for the pin at 3:21.

Rating: C-. Blade got in some offense so it wasn’t a full on squash. That being said, Boa still isn’t all that interesting and there isn’t much else to say about him. He does his stuff in the ring and looks passable enough, but I have yet to see anything actually interesting from him at any point.

Andre Chase vs. Trey Baxter

Chase takes him down and strikes his pose (it’s making an A with his fingers) before taking Baxter down into an armbar. The crucifix gives Chase two but Baxter is back up with a headscissors. Some kicks from the apron rock Chase, who drops Baxter ribs first across the top for two. Baxter runs into a boot in the corner to make it worse and a belly to back suplex sets up the waistlock. With that not working, Chase switches to a chinlock but Baxter fights up and drops him with a shot to the face.

A Lionsault gives Baxter two but Chase is back with a half crab. Make that an STF in the middle of the ring, sending Baxter crawling over to the rope for the break. Baxter sends him outside for the suicide dive but gets caught with a tiger driver for two back inside. Chase takes him up top but looks a little shaky, allowing Baxter to pull him down. A kick to the head sets up the 450 double stomp for the pin on Chase at 8:33.

Rating: C. This is the kind of stuff that doesn’t give me the most interest in 205 Live. Both guys are fine enough at what they do but it was just two guys having a match and little more. It got some extra time and was far from bad, but it’s the kind of match that is fine enough to open a show and little more. Totally watchable, and nothing I’ll remember in about five minutes.

Overall Rating: C-. I like the idea of an NXT supplemental show, but these people aren’t on NXT very often for a reason. The women’s match worked out well enough and the main event was fine, with Boa’s near squash in the middle. Just another forgettable show, which tends to be the case a lot more often than not around here.

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

This is going to be the last show in the old school Capitol Wrestling Center as things will be upgraded next week due to NXT, assuming the taping schedule isn’t that far behind. 205 Live has been undergoing some changes as of late and we might even be in for some more non-crusierweight action. Let’s get to it.

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

Valentina Feroz vs. Katrina Cortez

They go with the grappling to start and throw each other down for an early standoff. Feroz grabs a headlock takeover as we hear about her loss against Kay Lee Ray. A rope walk headlock takeover keeps Cortez in trouble and it’s off to an armbar to change things up a bit. That’s broken up though and Cortez sends her to the apron for a kick to the back. A double arm crank goes on but Feroz is right back up with some judo throws. Cortez manages to grab a quick Boston crab but that’s broken up as well, with Feroz hitting another throw. A DDT finishes Cortez at 5:33.

Rating: C-. This was a shorter match than usual but it’s the kind of thing that 205 Live can be better served as in a big way. These are two potential upcoming stars on NXT so let them be on this show and get some exposure and experience. That isn’t a hard concept to understand but for some reason it took this long to make it happen.

Joe Gacy/Josh Briggs vs. Odyssey Jones/Trey Baxter

Baxter tries to go fast to start with Gacy and a dropkick sends Gacy into the corner. Briggs comes in to toss Baxter around but he brings in Jones for the battle of different sizes. A running shoulder drops Briggs and Jones grabs a bearhug. That’s broken up so Gacy comes in to try a double suplex, which just isn’t happening. The villains are sent outside with Baxter diving onto Gacy but getting kicked in the face by Briggs.

Back in and Briggs suplexes Baxter for two and Gacy grabs a chinlock. Baxter fights up and somehow manages a half nelson suplex but Gacy isn’t having any of this hot tag nonsense. Briggs sends him hard into the corner and we hit another rough chinlock. Gacy puts on a camel clutch but Baxter gets a leg out and jawbreaks his way to freedom. A roll over to the corner allows the hot tag to Jones to clean house. Jones gutbusters Briggs to the floor and there’s a double splash to Gacy. Briggs comes back in and gets caught by Jones’ kind of spinebuster for the pin at 11:17.

Rating: C. I was a bit surprised that Briggs and Gacy took the loss here as they have been pushed on 205 Live, but Jones (and maybe Baxter) are the future NXT stars so this makes sense. While I’m not much of a fan of the big/small wacky team deal, this feels like a one off idea instead of anything permanent. The star power was stronger here too so nice job.

Overall Rating: C. Totally watchable show, with the cruiserweights being a detail instead of the focal point. That’s what this show has needed to be for years now and it is very nice to see the change that should have taken place. The show itself was fine, but above all else it gave me some hope for some minor interest around here for a change.

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

I’ve all but given up trying to figure out what to expect from this show, but this time around we actually know what is coming. This week’s show was taped last week and WWE actually gave us a preview last week. No it doesn’t mean anything, but it is kind of nice to have for a change. Let’s get to it.

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

Cora Jade vs. Amari Miller

You don’t see women in action very often around here. Jade sits down on a skateboard and rides down to the ring for a unique entrance. Miller grabs a wristlock to start but gets headlocked over as they start technical. Back up and they fight over a test of strength until Miller flips her over with a judo toss. Jade misses a running knee in the corner and gets caught with a Backstabber.

A kick to the face gives Miller two and it’s off to an armbar with a knee in the ribs. That’s broken up and they trade forearms with Jade getting the better of things to take over. A Gory Stretch spun into a knee to the face sets up a running knee to Miller’s face for two. Miller isn’t having this though and grabs a cravate so she can drive Jade’s face into the knee for the pin at 5:26.

Rating: C-. It was completely fine, but again the important thing here is mixing things up. You can get a lot out of mixing things up like this and it was nice to have something fresh. 205 Live can get so stale so bringing in some of the women (or just unused NXT wrestlers) can mix things up a bit. Both of them worked well enough and I liked it fairly well.

Josh Briggs vs. Joe Gacy

Rematch from a few weeks back where Briggs beat Gacy. They shove each other around to start with neither getting much of an advantage. Gacy drives him into the corner and hammers away but Briggs is right back with an elbow to the face. A side slam into a splash gives Briggs two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Gacy headbutts his way out of trouble but gets knocked hard outside. Gacy gets tossed back in and this time he runs Briggs over with a shoulder. Some hard clotheslines against the ropes set up a Crossface to put Briggs in real trouble for a change. That’s broken up though and Briggs nails a running big boot for two. Back up and Gacy hits the handspring lariat for the fast pin at 8:45.

Rating: C+. This was more like it as you had two hosses beating each other up for a good while. Briggs has been around a few times as of late and it has been nice to see him getting to beat people up. Gacy can do his thing as well and it makes sense to have him even the series. This is likely setting up a rubber match, which should work out well.

Xyon Quinn vs. Andre Chase

I guess this is the extended edition. Quinn recently upset Boa on NXT so he has some momentum. Chase has to spin out of a wristlock to start but gets run over with a big shoulder. The rag dolling is on and Chase’s armdrag is blocked with ease. Quinn misses a charge into the corner though and Chase grabs a neckbreaker for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long so Chase goes with a Hennig necksnap for two instead. We hit the neck cranking for a bit until Quinn fights up and snaps off a Samoan drop. A torture rack neckbreaker finishes Chase at 4:35.

Rating: C. This wasn’t quite a squash but it was never in doubt. Quinn is pretty close to a beast and I could go for seeing more of him in the future. It’s a good sign that his win over Boa wasn’t treated as just a fluke, so hopefully he gets to do something else. I’m sure Vince will approve of someone with that kind of a look so we might be seeing him again sooner rather than later.

Overall Rating: C+. This is what I’ve been wanting to see from 205 Live, as it felt like an NXT showcase rather than just putting a bunch of people out there because they’re on the roster. 205 Live has needed to be more like this for a long time as this is a lot more useful than just running two cruiserweight matches. The cruiserweights can be on the show, but there is no need to have it be entirely built around them. This was better, and it gives me some hope. Throw in the 29 minute run time and it’s even better.

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205 Live
Date: August 27, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

I think we can officially call this the new 205 Live, which is still not live and now has little to do with 205. Since it’s WWE though and it’s all about branding, expect them to keep the name because of the great history and pride associated with the low level, often forgotten former cruiserweight show. Let’s get to it.

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

Grayson Waller vs. Andre Chase

Drake Maverick joins commentary as Chase works on the arm to start. Maverick can’t pick out any potential breakout stars around here, which might be due to no one knowing who is actually on the roster. Waller fights up and sends him outside but stops to yell at Maverick, allowing Chase to get in a shot from behind. A high crossbody gives Waller two but Chase is back with a belly to back for his own near fall.

Some shoulders to Waller’s banged up ribs keep him in trouble until he cuts off a shoulder with a knee to the face. A heck of a discus forearm gives Waller two but Chase pulls him into a quick STF. The rope gets Waller out of trouble so Chase tiger drivers him for two more. Waller is back up with his running Stunner though and the middle rope elbow connects. The step over stomp finishes Chase at 8:40.

Rating: C. I continue to like Waller, though I can’t imagine he winds up going anywhere on the main roster. That leave shim stuck around here, which might not be the most thrilling career path but it is better than getting squashed on NXT. At least they are doing something with him, and that is more than a lot of the cruiserweights can say.

We actually get a preview for next week. I wouldn’t get used to that.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Trey Baxter

Respect is shown and they go technical to start. Baxter shoulders him down and smiles so Jiro grabs an armdrag into a hiptoss. Jiro hits him in the face for two and we’re off to an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and Baxter takes it into the corner for a running chop. Jiro gets sent outside for the big dive and Baxter stomps away back inside.

The chinlock doesn’t last long and Jiro grabs a Samoan driver for no cover. Some forearms and jacket strikes rock Baxter, setting up the springboard anklescissors to the floor. A superkick rocks Baxter on the floor and the Swanton gets two back inside. The Ikemen Slash misses though and Baxter (busted open) hits a springboard 450…which Jiro reverses into a small package for the pin at 8:29.

Rating: C+. I’m a bit surprised by the result as Baxter seems to be a bigger prospect than Jiro. That being said, Jiro has been pushed more in recent weeks and it does make some sense to keep him strong in a match like this one. They kept up the energy too and it was a good match as a result.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a pretty good show overall, which might have something to do with it only lasting about twenty five minutes. The show still means absolutely nothing and probably doesn’t need to exist, but at least they are having some fairly consistently good action. Just keep mixing it up a bit and give us a break from the same cycle and it gets much better.o the corner for a running chop. Jiro gets sent outside for the big dive and Baxter stomps away back inside.

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205 Live
Date: August 20, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

I think we can officially that we are now in the new 205 Live, which has nothing to do with weighing 205lbs and isn’t live. That could mean a few things and most of them seem to be positive. What matters here is putting on a show that is entertaining while not overstaying its welcome, which may or may not work. Let’s get to it.

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

The show is in such a state of flux that it has lost its opening sequence.

Andre Chase vs. Ikemen Jiro

Chase sends him down to start and wants Jiro to bring it. That earns Jiro a hiptoss but he snaps off an armdrag to even things up a bit. Another hiptoss is countered into another armdrag (Jiro is learning) to send Chase outside but he ties Jiro into the ring skirt to set up the beating. Back in and a neckbreaker gives Chase two and he pulls Jiro off the middle rope to cut off the comeback.

The crossface chickenwing keeps Jiro down for a bit but he’s back up with a running flip clothesline. A kick to the head sets up the slingshot springboard moonsault for two but Chase pulls him into the STF (how he predicted to win). Chase switches into a Crossface attempt but Jiro sends him outside to escape without much effort. Back in and Jiro hits a Swanton for two but Chase’s tiger driver gets the same. A splash misses in the corner though and the Ikemen Slash finishes Jiro at 9:56.

Rating: C. I’m running out of ways to say that 205 Live matches are completely competent and little more than that. Jiro is getting a little somewhere around here, but that is only going to get him so far when he is losing in squash matches on NXT. Chase is fine for a low level heel and I’m not sure how much further he is going than that.

Joe Gacy vs. Grayson Waller

Waller tries some grappling to start but gets shoved away without much trouble. A headlock slows Gacy down for a bit but he’s back up with a hiptoss into some slams. Gacy’s headlock sends Waller outside for a breather but he comes back in to get ripped apart with some chops.

Waller changes things up by kicking him in the face and slapping on a front facelock. Commentary starts talking about NXT UK as Waller sends him into the corner to drop Gacy again. The bodyscissors goes on but Gacy blocks a sleeper. Back up and Gacy hits a swinging slam for two. A pump kick sets up a handspring lariat to finish Waller at 9:01.

Rating: C+. Gacy might not be great in almost any way, but he stands out so much on this show just because he’s different. That’s what you need on a show like this after so much time being spent on the same nothing matches. What we got here was a nice change of pace and it was actually pretty good even without the size differences.

Overall Rating: C. The match wasn’t much but it was the kind of show that gives me some hope as we move forward around here. Again, just the idea of dropping the weight limit and letting the show be more of NXT’s version of Main Event makes a lot more sense and that is what it felt like here. The switch isn’t complete or anything yet, but it seems that we are heading in a rather welcome direction.

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205 Live
Date: August 13, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

This week is going to be our first look at the new (or newer) 205 Live after the latest roster purge. I’m not sure what we are going to be seeing this week and that is kind of interesting in a way. For the life of me I do not get why this is still a cruiserweight show when there are barely any cruiserweights, but that’s WWE logic for you. Let’s get to it.

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

Ikemen Jiro vs. Grayson Waller

Waller tosses Jiro (and the coat) around to start and it’s off to an exchange of headlocks. Jiro gets the better of things and trips Waller down, followed by an enziguri to make it worse. The Tarantula is broken up though and Waller gets in a shot to the face. A snap suplex drops Jiro again and the cravate goes on, complete with knees to the head.

The chinlock with an arm trap has Jiro in trouble and Waller rolls him up, with trunks, for two. Waller stops to yell at the referee though, allowing Jiro to hit a springboard missile dropkick to the floor. A big flip dive drops Waller again but the Ikemen Slash misses. The running Stunner gives Waller two but Jiro grabs a Kimura of all things. A powerslam gives Jiro two, only to have Waller slip out and hit the running stomp for the pin at 9:11.

Rating: C+. More 205 Live goodness here with two of the few remaining roster members. Waller is still one of my favorite guys around here and Jiro is popular enough with the fans to get somewhere. I’m not sure if that is actually going to happen, but Kushida actually appearing here last week might give them a bit of hope.

Josh Briggs is angry and back around here. He doesn’t care about the weight limit so he wants Joe Gacy.

Josh Briggs vs. Joe Gacy

The cruiserweight limit is thrown out for this one, as it should be. They fight over the power lockup to start and it’s time for the exchange of heavy forearms. The bigger Briggs hits a running big boot to drop Gacy and it’s time for some heavy elbows for two. Back up and Briggs misses a charge into the corner, only to run Gacy over for another near fall. We hit an arm/neck crank until Gacy fights up with the chops. That doesn’t really bother Briggs, who runs him over with a shoulder.

The cranking ensues again but this time Gacy is up with right hands and a headbutt. A swinging Rock Bottom out of the corner plants Briggs but Gacy can’t follow up. Another suplex sends Briggs flying and the standing clotheslines against the ropes keep him in trouble. Back up and Gacy hammers away with forearms, only to get blasted with a lariat to give Briggs the pin at 8:34.

Rating: C+. This was fun in a completely different way as it is nice to see some people doing something different around here. It might not be going with the spirit of the show, but it isn’t like having a show based around cruiserweights has meant anything in a long time. They had a good hoss fight here and I could go for seeing more of both of them in the future, perhaps around here.

Overall Rating: C+. Above all else, this show gave me some hope. For the life of me I do not get why this show is still based around the cruiserweight division and hopefully this is more about shifting towards an NXT supplemental show. Go with something more like this in the future, as it would be a very welcome change of pace. I have no reason to believe it stays that way, but you can always use some hope.

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205 Live
Date: August 6, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

Believe it or not, then everything changed again. This time around, WWE has released almost everyone on the 205 Live roster, meaning the show could look very strange in the coming weeks. This show was taped in advance though, meaning this is going to be a pretty stand alone edition. That’s as opposed to the rest of the shows of course. Let’s get to it.

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

Leon Ruff vs. Grayson Waller

The fans are behind Ruff, even as Waller powers him to the mat and gets in the hair slapping. Back up and Ruff knocks him to the floor without much effort, meaning it’s Waller’s turn to be annoyed. Waller gets back inside and is knocked into the corner so Ruff hammers away. That takes a bit too long though as Waller reverses into an electric chair suplex for a cool counter. A slingshot double stomp to the back in the corner rocks Ruff again and Waller drops him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ruff is sent outside so Waller teases a dive before sliding to the floor for an STO.

Waller spends a bit too much time talking trash though and Ruff flip dives off the steps to drop him for a change. Back in and Waller is fine enough for the torture rack into the Regal Roll, setting up the middle rope elbow for two. Something like a surfboard with knees in Ruff’s back keep him in trouble but he comes back up with a DDT to plant Waller. A springboard cutter gives Ruff two but he misses the frog splash. Waller loads up the fireman’s carry, which is reversed into a quick crucifix bomb to give Ruff the surprise pin at 9:39.

Rating: B-. That’s one of the better matches on 205 Live in a long time and of course it means absolutely nothing because WWE let Ruff go. Commentary made it clear that Ruff had not wrestled in a long time so you could probably see the writing on the wall for him here. Such is life on 205 Live, as Ruff would have been a perfectly logical addition to the roster but we need to drop him because it makes too much sense.

Kushida vs. Ari Sterling

Non-title. They go with a crisscross of all things to start and it’s an early standoff. Kushida takes him down by the arm and cranks away until Sterling armdrags his way to freedom. A dropkick puts Kushida on the floor but he avoids a springboard moonsault and dropkicks Sterling’s knee.

Back in and Sterling drops him across the top rope for the running flip Fameasser. A bodyscissors goes on but Kushida turns it into a leglock to break things up in a hurry. Sterling is fine enough to break up a handspring with a kick to the back. A running hurricanrana brings Kushida back down off the top but he nails a kick to the arm. The basement dropkick is enough to set up the Hoverboard Lock to make Sterling tap at 6:11.

Rating: C+. They were moving around out there and Kushida did a nice job of reeling in the kind of wild (not a bad thing) Sterling. That made for a good story, as Kushida was the more skilled and just had to wait to catch Sterling going one step too far. Again though, none of that matters as Sterling is already gone from the company as the roster destruction continues.

Overall Rating: B-. Just like the opener, this was one of the best things that the we have seen around here in a good while and none of it means a thing. I’m not sure why this show exists, at least in its current form, as WWE keeps getting rid of everyone around here. Changing this into some kind of a supplemental show for NXT would work better, as there is no reason to keep it focused on the rather limited cruiserweight division. Good show, with absolutely no long term impact.

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205 Live
Date: July 30, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We seem to be getting back into the standard operating procedure with this show and that is kind of an annoying situation. It means that we are going to be seeing a lot of the same stuff over and over again with some different faces. The show is far from awful, but it’s forgettable, which might be worse. Let’s get to it.

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

Grayson Waller vs. Ikemen Jiro

The watermelon jacket is back this week. Waller actually shakes hands but then begs off as the fans chant for the jacket. Some knees to the ribs and a shoulder put Jiro down but he’s right back with a running hurricanrana. Waller is knocked outside so Jiro joins him only to be dropped…face first on the floor, though I think Waller was aiming for the apron. Back in and Waller clotheslines him down hard as the aggression continues. Jiro comes right back with a spinwheel kick and some shots to the face.

The Tarantula has Waller in more trouble and a double springboard moonsault gets two. Waller gets in a kick to the face of his own, only to miss an elbow. Jiro charges into a fireman’s carry spinebuster for a rather close two but the running Stomp misses. Instead Jiro rolls him up twice in a row for two each, setting up the Ikemen Slash for the pin at 7:29.

Rating: C-. I wasn’t quite feeling this one, but you can tell how much the crowd gets into Jiro’s stuff. The jacket is cool, but he also has a charisma that is going to get people to notice him no matter what. Waller is another guy who has potential, but he is not going to get any further just staying on 205 Live against the same people.

Asher Hale vs. Drake Maverick

This is the kind of thing that they should be doing more often. The fans seem happy to have Maverick back, even as Hale takes him down by the leg to start. Maverick’s wristlock is taken down in a hurry and Hale doesn’t seem worried here. Back up and Hale talks too much trash so Maverick punches him in the face.

A hard whip into the corner cuts that off and Maverick is favoring his shoulder. Like a good heel/wrestler in general, Hale goes right after the arm and rams it into the apron. The cross arm choke keeps Maverick in trouble but he fights up and this time it’s Hale’s shoulder going into the post. A running dropkick into the bulldog sets up a high crossbody to drop Hale again. Sliced Bread gives Maverick the pin at 7:44.

Rating: C+. This was more like it as they had someone fresh in to make the match feel like a bigger deal. Maverick is hardly the biggest star in WWE but he is bigger than anyone else on 205 Live. You don’t need to have him be a regular around here but you can have him, or a few others, pop in every now and then to spice up the show a bit. Maybe even put some of these new guys over once or twice.

Overall Rating: C. Maverick’s cameo helped things a bit here and it is the kind of thing I could go for again in the future. The show is actually getting shorter too as this one was less than twenty five minutes. Another completely watchable show here, even if it feels like a pair of dark matches that only exist because of contractual obligations.

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