205 Live – November 6, 2020: Here Is The Future

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: November 6, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

This show has been getting a little bit better as a result and that is a good thing to see. Things have started taking a familiar but still somewhat new direction and hopefully we get to see a good show this week again. I’m not sure what that is going to entail, but the former Evolve guys are at least something new. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ashante Adonis vs. Mansoor

They lock up to start with Mansoor taking him to the ropes for a shove. An armbar works a bit better on Adonis but he gets caught in a front facelock. Adonis grabs a flapjack but gets knocked off the top for the crash to the floor. Mansoor’s dropkick through the ropes connects for two back inside as the pace has picked up.

Back in and Mansoor grabs a front facelock of his own and they even tease a knockout for a change. That’s broken up with a faceplant and Adonis hits a heck of a dropkick. A high crossbody into a kick to the head sets up a small package for two on Mansoor but he catches Adonis on top. The electric chair Death Valley Driver finishes Adonis at 8:06.

Rating: C+. Again, Mansoor continues to be one of the best and most consistently solid wrestlers around here so hopefully he gets an upgrade in the near future. Adonis has been doing fine as well and it s a good example of taking one of the dozens of people you have on the roster and turning them into something. If WWE could do that more often, it’s almost scary to imagine how fast they could restock the shelves.

Post match, respect is shown.

Curt Stallion and August Grey are ready to take care of Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese later tonight.

Santos Escobar says next week is the 205^th episode of 205 Live so we’ll be seeing a five way match for a future Cruiserweight Title shot. I’ve heard worse ideas.

Tony Nese/Ariya Daivari vs. Curt Stallion/August Grey

Nese drives Grey into the corner to start and it’s Daivari coming in for some loud chops. Stallion comes in off a blind tag though and it’s time to work on Daivari’s taped up elbow. A double stomp to the chest gets two on Daivari but Nese gets in a cheap shot from the apron to take over. Daivari’s neckbreaker gets two and Nese blasts Stallion in the face for two more.

Stallion grabs a small package for two though and rolls straight over for the hot tag to Grey. House doesn’t get a chance to be cleaned though as Nese gets in a shot from the apron and the Lionsault connects for two. Daivari suplexes Grey but pulls him up at two, which can’t be a good idea. Nese’s chinlock keeps Grey down and Daivari’s follows, though it doesn’t work so well.

Nese splashes Grey on the back and puts on a bodyscissors Grey, who elbows his way to freedom. The hot tag brings in Stallion to clean house and everything breaks down. Stallion gets sent outside so Grey has to fight both of them at once, which actually works for a change. Back up and Stallion hits a heck of a suicide dive to drive Daivari into the announcers’ table. Nese sends Stallion hard into the steps though and he heads back inside, only to get rolled up for two. The kickout sends Grey into the ropes, where Daivari gets in a cheap shot with a foreign object to give Nese the pin at 12:57.

Rating: B-. This was one of the better matches in recent 205 Live time as they had time, a formula and some cheating to make the veterans look like they couldn’t keep up with the younger team. The rookies need something like this and even though they didn’t win, the fact that they are having actual competitive matches serves as a good sign for their future.

Overall Rating: B-. It’s a good show with a pair of solid matches that is still off the air in just over half an hour. They are doing some nice things around here and you have a few interesting stories. I’m not sure what to expect from the show going forward, but at least we have some potential going forward. That hasn’t been the case in a long time, though I’m not sure if I have any reason to believe it’s sticking around. I’ll take what I can get though and that includes a good show here.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

205 Live – October 30, 2020: Boo05 Live

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 30, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

There have actually been a few changes around here as of late, with the biggest ones being in the form of some fresh stars. I don’t believe for a second that it is going to matter in the long run, but it is nice to see something new taking place for a change. It’s certainly better than some of the things we had been getting so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Vic: “Welcome to Boo-05 Live.” I’ll allow it.

Ariya Daivari vs. Curt Stallion

Tony Nese joins commentary and yes, he and Daivari are called Originals, as they are somehow already back to that. Stallion grabs a headlock to start as Nese doesn’t think much of these new guys. Daivari can’t get away without a pull of the hair so Stallion chops away but gets sent face first into the buckle. A belly to back suplex drops Stallion as Nese is kind of incensed over Vic offering him Skittles.

Daivari bails to the floor from the threat of a right hand but a Nese distraction lets him drop Stallion again. Back in and the cocky Daivari stomps away, setting up the chinlock. Stallion fights back with some strikes to the face but a neckbreaker cuts him down for two. They’re on the floor again, with Nese doing some rather nice Stallion taunting.

Back in again and we hit the camel clutch but Daivari’s Arn Anderson style jump down onto Stallion’s back is countered with the raised knees (also Anderson style). Daivari crotches him on top though as this is a lot more back and forth than I would have bet on. The Persian Lion splash gets two but Stallion is back with a jumping double stomp for the same. Stallion sends him outside in a crash, headbutts Nese, reverses the hammerlock lariat and rolls Daivari up for the pin at 9:07.

Rating: C-. Nothing of note here but the important thing is Stallion getting the pin. At some point you have to do something with someone new and while Stallion might not be the next big thing, he’s certainly better than nothing. Daivari is a made man around here and is going to be a focal point almost no matter what, so it isn’t like the lost hurt him at all.

Earlier today, Brian Kendrick talked to Mansoor but Ever Rise interrupted to talk trash and set up the main event.

Ever Rise vs. Mansoor/Brian Kendrick

Martel wristlocks Mansoor to start and Mansoor can’t even roll out of it. Back up and Mansoor reverses into an armbar of his own but it’s off to Parker for some shots to the face. Kendrick comes in as well and starts cranking on Parker’s arm as well. It’s back to Mansoor for more of the same but Martel comes back in to take over. That doesn’t last long either as Mansoor gets over to Kendrick for the comeback tag.

The back to back tagging keeps Parker in trouble until Martel pulls him away from a charge in the corner. A snap suplex gets two on Kendrick but Martel clotheslines Parker by mistake. That’s not enough for another tag yet though as Parker pulls Mansoor out to the floor. The ankle lock doesn’t last long either and Martel misses an elbow, allowing the hot tag to Mansoor. House is cleaned but Mansoor’s Sliced Bread is cut off. Kendrick makes a save of his own and now Sliced Bread can finish Parker at 10:02.

Rating: C-. Not much to this one but the tagging was rather fast paced. Ever Rise continues to be the most nothing tag team in WWE (yes that includes the Bollywood Boyz) and a win over them doesn’t mean much. I can go for more of Mansoor though and the match was good enough while it lasted. The problem continues to be the lack of anywhere important to go for these people, but that’s part of being on 205 Live.

Overall Rating: C. Average. Humdrum. Boring. Nothing to see. The same stuff you always get around here. It was nice to have the newer names getting wins but at the same time, I don’t know how much more I can take of having the old vs. new and random tag team pairings. We’ve had the same kind of themes around here since the show began and there’s no reason to believe it’s going to change. I can’t get annoyed at a thirty minute show, but I can’t get excited about it either, as usual.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

205 Live – October 23, 2020: They’re Doing It AGAIN

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 23, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We are on the way to the Cell, which has nothing to do with this show whatsoever. 205 Live continues to be a show that is almost kind of sort of a way to advance the cruiserweights. Granted that usually means the cruiserweights not big enough to make it to NXT, but you can get a few surprises here and there. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Brian Kendrick vs. Mansoor

Kendrick grabs a headlock to start and takes it to the mat as Mansoor tries to find a way out. Back up and Kendrick armdrags him down, only to get caught in a chinlock. That’s broken up and Kendrick is already looking frustrated, which isn’t the best sign. Mansoor flips out of a belly to back suplex and scores with a dropkick. A middle rope bulldog gets two on Kendrick but he kicks Mansoor out of the air to cut him off.

They slug it out of the corner until Kendrick pulls him down into an armbar. That’s broken up and Mansoor hits a jumping clothesline into a spinebuster, followed by a Falcon Arrow for two. The moonsault misses but Mansoor is right back up with a sitout powerbomb for two more. A quick facebuster gives Kendrick the same though and another powerbomb is countered with a hurricanrana to send Mansoor into the corner. Kendrick hits a butterfly superplex for two but Mansoor pulls him into a cradle for the pin at 8:50.

Rating: C+. Mansoor continues to be one of the most consistently booked stars on the show and I could go for seeing more of him. I’m still not sure why he is only around every so often but he is certainly doing something right in the ring at the moment. Now just find something a little bit better for him and they could be going somewhere.

Post match Kendrick shakes and raises Mansoor’s hand, but doesn’t seem happy about it.

Video on Jordan Devlin, the same one which aired on NXT UK. He’s been wrestling for a long time and finally reached the peak of his career. Now he’s stuck at home and he sees Santos Escobar with the Cruiserweight Title, but that belongs to Devlin. Come take it from him.

Escobar has responded via Twitter and doesn’t seem overly impressed.

We look back at the six man tag from NXT, with Legado del Fantasma beating Ashante Adonis, Isaiah Scott and Jake Atlas.

The Bollywood Boyz (the Singh Brothers) are back and Nigel McGuinness is rather pleased. They’re back and promise to bring the star power and charisma to go with the lights, camera and Bollywood action. And that’s it. It’s better than calling them the Singh Brothers I guess.

We look back at Tony Nese costing Curt Stallion $10,000 against Ariya Daivari last week.

Stallion says he has a second chance to make a first impression and tonight, he’s proving himself to Nese.

Curt Stallion vs. Tony Nese

The bell rings and here’s Ariya Daivari to offer a distraction so Nese can jump Stallion from behind. Daivari joins commentary as Stallion strikes away and hits a White Noise onto his knee for two. Nese is right back with a kick to the head and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up so Nese goes with the Lionsault for two instead. The bodyscissors stays on Stallion’s ribs but he has to elbow his way out of a torture rack.

Stallion knocks him into the corner and adds a running basement dropkick. There’s a DDT for two so Nese rolls outside, only to get dropped with a moonsault from Stallion. Daivari starts yelling, so Stallion drops him with a headbutt. Back in and the Running Nese finishes Stallion at 7:25.

Rating: C. Stallion got to showcase himself a bit and that’s the point of something like that. It makes sense to have him come close to beating Nese but not being able to pull it off, because that would be a heck of an upset. I’m not sure if I need to see what seems to be another random pair of heels on this show again, but this place has about three stories to run over and over again.

Post match Daivari gets in to stand next to Nese but they leave before jumping Stallion. Commentary talks about the two of them being 205 Live originals, because we’re doing that story AGAIN.

Overall Rating: C+. Having some fresh talent around here is a good thing but I’m not sure how much I believe in 205 Live being able to make them last. This show has not have the best track record for about four years now and given that we are now doing Old vs. New again, things aren’t exactly looking up. What we got here worked though, and I’ll take that over my usual apathy on this show.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

205 Live – October 16, 2020: Good Wrestlers Wrestling

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 16, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the post Draft edition of the show and that isn’t likely to mean a thing. You never know what to expect around this show, save for cruiserweights, wrestling, and not much of a run time. Hopefully it winds up being another rather easy to watch show, which has tended to be the case over the last few weeks. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Here’s Ariya Daivari for the Daivari Dinero Division, meaning he’s facing two men and if either beat him, they get $10,000.

Ariya Daivari vs. Anthony Greene

Greene is from Evolve and is very 80s. Daivari drives him into the corner to start for a slap to the face but another attempt is blocked with some right hands from Greene. A running elbow takes care of that though and Daivari whips him hard into the corner. Daivari stomps him down in the corner but misses a charge in the corner, allowing Greene to get some near falls off a pair of rollups. A hurricanrana gets two more but a spinning high crossbody misses. The hammerlock lariat gives Daivari the pin at 3:22.

Rating: C-. I’ve liked the little I’ve seen of Greene before and he did fine here. You can’t get much out of a three minute match but it wasn’t quite a squash so Greene did what he could under the circumstances. It’s interesting to see the Evolve guys trickling in, as there is a lot of talent who could offer some fresh energy around here and NXT.

Ariya Daivari vs. Curt Stallion

Daivari keeps the money because it wasn’t a pin or submission.

Brian Kendrick vs. Isaiah Scott

They lock up to start with Kendrick going to an early armbar. Scott can’t quite spin out so the armbar stays on for a bit until Scott grabs his own on the mat. Back up and Kendrick forearms away in the corner, only to get caught in a rolling Downward Spiral for two. Kendrick’s arm gets sent into the corner so it’s a hammerlock belly to back suplex to stay on the injury.

Kendrick kicks his way out of an armbar but he has to go to the ropes to escape a cross armbreaker attempt. They head outside with Kendrick sending him head first into the steps to bang up the back/neck a bit. Back in and Scott punches him in the face but misses a charge in the corner. A neckbreaker gives Kendrick two and there’s another one over the middle rope.

Sliced Bread is broken up though and Scott hits a suplex. The middle rope elbow to a seated Kendrick’s back keeps him in trouble but Kendrick sends him to the apron. Another neckbreaker is countered into a backdrop to the floor but Kendrick is fine enough to get a mostly one armed Captain’s Hook back inside. Scott gets up so Kendrick hits Sliced Bread for two. Kendrick takes him up top but Scott flips him down hits him in the arm, and grabs the JML Driver for the pin at 10:14.

Rating: B-. I’ve always liked Scott and this was two talented wrestlers getting some time to have a good match. They stripped away everything else that could have made the match stupid and let them use their talents to make it work. I can’t say I’m surprised given who was in there either and this felt like one of the better matches this show has seen in awhile.

Post match Kendrick teases ignoring a handshake but eventually gives one to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Again, they didn’t do anything stupid here and it was by the numbers with talented performers (yes including Daivari). I liked them bringing in some fresh names as this show could use some new faces and Nese vs. Stallion could be taking place next week. Good show here, and at less than twenty eight minutes, you can’t argue with much here.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

205 Live – October 9, 2020: You Would Never Know

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 9, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the post Draft show and I can’t imagine much of anything is going to change very much around this show. That might not be the best thing in the world, but 205 Live isn’t exactly the top priority around here. I’m having to strain to remember what happened last week, which isn’t a good sign for any show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ariya Daivari vs. Jake Atlas

Daivari does seem to be in better shape and starts jabbing away. Atlas knocks him into the corner and they’re on the floor in a hurry. Back in and a quick neckbreaker over the middle rope puts Atlas in trouble again. A chest first whip into the corner sets up a chinlock on Atlas, with Daivari slamming him head first into the mat. Atlas fights up and they slug it out until Daivari grabs a layout reverse DDT.

Rating: C-. The match wasn’t all that interesting in the first place but both guys were looking crisp for the most part. That being said, the ending didn’t do it any favors as the idea was to set up a likely tag match next week. It isn’t exactly a top level feud in the first place and now we get to see more. This could have been worse though, and I’ll take that on this show.

Post match Nese leaves and Daivari smiles, setting up the hammerlock lariat to lay Atlas out again.

We look back at Brian Kendrick beating Ashante Adonis a few times but Adonis keeps learning.

The Singh Brothers are coming back but this time, it’s the Bollywood Boyz. As it should have been a long time ago.

Video on Santos Escobar retaining the Cruiserweight Title over Isaiah Scott at Takeover.

Brian Kendrick vs. Ashante Adonis

Trilogy match time and commentary casually mentions that this is the 200^th episode. Adonis’ headlock doesn’t work so well but a dropkick puts Kendrick down on the ropes. A Cactus Clothesline puts both of them outside and it’s Kendrick sending him into the barricade. The Russian legsweep sends Adonis into the barricade again and a leg lariat gets two back inside.

The armbar goes on for a bit, followed by a bunch of forearms to put Kendrick down in the corner. A high crossbody into a DDT gives Adonis two, followed by a spinebuster for the same. Kendrick is back with four straight big boots to set up the Captain’s Hook but Adonis rolls out. Adonis hits a low superkick and the Long Kiss Goodnight (superkick) finishes Kendrick at 8:27.

Rating: C. The match itself was fine, but it was nice to see them trying to make someone into a new star. This show really needs someone like that and while I’m not sure if Adonis is the kind of person to become the next big thing, he is someone fresh and that is a great thing to see. They also built this up with Kendrick beating Adonis before until he Adonis finally learned enough to get the win.

They shake hands to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This was a bit of a mixed bag for the show as they need to add in a new star but also set up a feud between the more established stars. In other words, you would have no idea that the main shows had been completely reset. I’m still not sure what the solution is around here, but what they’re doing isn’t going to draw in any extra viewers.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

205 Live – September 25, 2020: They’re Changing Gears

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 25, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Nigel McGuinness

Last week saw 205 Live turn into the Ariya Daivari Show and I’m not sure why anyone thought that was going to be their best idea. Thankfully this show has a tendency to change things up almost weekly so there is a good chance that it will be something different this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Mansoor vs. Ashante Adonis

Adonis takes him down in a hurry to start and throws in an early taunt. That earns Adonis an armbar and you can see the frustration/surprise setting in. Adonis fights up and spins out so Mansoor takes him down with a reverse DDT. Back up and Adonis snaps Mansoor’s throat across the top to put him outside and a neckbreaker gets two. We hit the chinlock for a bit, followed by a flapjack to give Adams two more.

Mansoor jawbreaks his way to freedom from another chinlock and something close to a Vader Bomb gives him a breather. The middle rope bulldog gets two more but Adonis pulls him down into Brian Kendrick’s Captain’s Hook (nice touch). That’s broken up as well though and Mansoor hits his electric chair into a Death Valley Driver for the pin at 7:57.

Rating: C. I know I say this every time he’s out there but Mansoor is someone who looks good and I don’t know why he isn’t getting a lot more time. He has the look, is smooth in the ring and has a cool finisher. What else can you ask for out of him? I’m not sure why he isn’t around very often, but I could go for a lot more of him.

Video on Santos Escobar vs. Isaiah Scott.

Isaiah Scott vs. Ariya Daivari

Daivari works on the arm to start so Scott takes him down by the leg without much effort. That’s reversed into a headlock but Scott is right back with a quickly broken chinlock. Scott bends then arm back and snaps it down onto the mat for an always painful looking moment. There’s a basement dropkick to put Daivari in the corner and they head outside with Scott hammering away.

As they head back in, Daivari grabs a DDT, setting up a neckbreaker for two. The crossface chickenwing goes on until Scott fights up with an elbow to the face. Scott sends him outside for a kick to the face and the rolling Downward Spiral gets two back inside. Daivari plants him down again though and it’s the Persian Lion splash for his own two. The hammerlock lariat is broken up though and it’s the House Call for the pin at 10:33.

Rating: C+. That might be the best Daivari match I’ve ever seen and a lot of that is due to Scott. He is one of the more talented wrestlers around today and I’m glad to see him getting a bigger role at Takeover. I’m not sure if he’s winning the title, but I’m also not sure what he does next if he loses.

Overall Rating: C. They did indeed switch things up here and that’s kind of a strange way to go. Daivari was built up as a bigger deal with an idea last week and then he loses the next? It’s a little weird as you would think they would have built him up further, but then again everything has been rushed as of late so it isn’t all that surprising. The wrestling was pretty good this week too, with Scott and Mansoor both shining as usual. Nice little show, and again the thirty minute run time helps a lot.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

205 Live – September 18, 2020: Four At Once

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 18, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

This show is turning into Friday’s Main Event as I’m running out of ways to describe it. They’re doing some good enough things, but at the same time it isn’t a show that you would ever need to watch whatsoever. There are a few stories around here though and that can be rather helpful to make the show easier to watch. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ariya Daivari vs. Eli Night

This is the first of three Daivari matches (….Why? What did I do to them?) and if anyone beats him, they get $10,000. Daivari suplexes him to start and stomps away in the corner, followed by the leg lariat. There’s the running dropkick in the Tree of Woe and the hammerlock lariat finishes Night at 1:28.

Ariya Daivari vs. Bobby Flacco

Flacco practices a form of karate called Miyagi-do, uses a crane kick, and insists that he is the best around and no one is going to keep him down. A clothesline and some kicks to the ribs have Flacco in trouble and he gets knocked to the floor in a hurry. Back in and Flacco misses a high crossbody, setting up the hammerlock lariat for the pin at 1:59.

Ariya Daivari vs. Jason Cade

Cade is something of a name on the indies and snaps off a hurricanrana to start. That just earns him a Rock Bottom for two and a superkick makes it worse for Cade. The hammerlock lariat ends Cade at 2:00. Well at least they kept it short, but I’d still love to know what WWE sees in Daivari.

We look at Danny Burch upsetting Tony Nese last month, partially thanks to the returning Daivari.

Danny Burch vs. Tony Nese

Daivari joins commentary as Nese sends Burch into the barricade to take over. Back in and a running elbow gives Nese two, setting up the chinlock. Burch fights up with a suplex as Daivari talks about how generous his three challenges were. Nese hits a dropkick to cut him off though and we’re right back to the chinlock. Burch gets to his feet again and nails a headbutt for the double knockdown.

It’s Burch slugging away to start the real comeback, including a very high backdrop. The German suplex into a hard clothesline gives Burch two but Nese kicks him in the face. The Lionsault misses so Burch grabs a Crossface, sending Nese over to the ropes. Nese is right back with the pumphandle driver for two but the Running Nese misses as well. They fall out to the floor and Daivari stands up to offer a distraction. Burch kicks him away but Nese uses the distraction to hit the running knee for the pin at 14:07.

Rating: C. The match was fine enough and it’s nice to see someone getting some extra time like this. Burch is someone who can have a fine match with almost anyone and Nese is a good heel for around here. The ending does set up a Daivari match, but at the same time it sets up a Daivari match, which is a far too common situation around here.

Overall Rating: D+. This was a show that happened and for some reason Daivari was involved in everything. I’m not a Daivari fan in the first place but having one guy in on everything is a bit much for any show. It was definitely the minor league edition of the show and one of their weaker in a good while now.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

205 Live – September 4, 2020: It’s Like A Wrestling Show

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 4, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

I’m not sure what to expect from this show anymore but they tried something a little different last week with three matches instead of the usual two. I don’t know if that is going to solve things around here, but the recent shows have not been as dull as the ones in the last few weeks before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ariya Daivari vs. Tehuti Miles

Daivari hits him in the face to start and says he’ll be Miles’ veteran. More right hands put Miles down and Daivari shouts about Miles being a piece of trash. That’s enough to fire Miles up and he unloads in the corner with some rights of his own. Miles goes to the apron but gets kicked into the announcers’ table to put him back in trouble. Back in and Daivari hammers away, setting up a neckbreaker for two.

The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a heck of a clothesline to put Miles down. Back up and Miles grabs a DDT for a breather and there’s a spinebuster for two. Miles misses something off the top though and Daivari runs him over again. The hammerlock lariat misses for Daivari and Miles rolls him up for two more. Daivari is back with a superkick though and the hammerlock lariat finishes Miles at 6:18.

Rating: C-. I don’t know how to believe it but they actually have a storyline developing here. Miles was his usual self to start but then got serious and came close to beating Daivari a few times. If they keep going through with that, they could have a little something with him. It’s certainly better than nothing and the match wasn’t too bad either.

Post match Miles pulls himself up and Daivari teases a handshake before pulling the hand away. Makes sense.

We look at Isaiah Scott pinning Santos Escobar on NXT.

Mansoor vs. Colby Corino

That would be Steve’s son, who is almost a veteran to mess with my head that much more. They run the ropes to start until it’s an atomic drop into a clothesline to drop Colby. A middle rope bulldog connects and we hit the chinlock to keep Corino down. Colby gets back up and sweeps the leg to drop Mansoor off the middle rope. A seated abdominal stretch doesn’t last long as Mansoor fights up and hits a hanging TKO. The One Winged Angel into the Death Valley Driver finishes Corino at 3:18.

Rating: C. The more I see of Mansoor the more I like of him and that’s a nice thing to have around. He really could be a full time guy on some show and I don’t get why he isn’t. Corino showed some fire here too and they had a completely watchable, and even energized match given how little time they had.

We look back at Ever Rise failing to cheat to win against Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch.

Ever Rise vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch

Rematch from last week and Ariya Daivari joins commentary because I must have been evil in some past life. Before the match, Ever Rise yells at Vic Joseph for having a big mouth. Lorcan and Parker start with both guys taking turns dragging the other into the corner for tags. Burch gets taken into the corner for some alternating stompings but it’s quickly back to Lorcan to run people over.

Martel breaks it up with an elbow to the head and it’s Parker stomping away against the ropes. Parker gets two off a snap suplex and we hit the seated armbar. Lorcan fights up with a running shoulder but a drop toehold into an elbow to the back cuts him off again. Parker gets kicked away though and the hot tag brings in Burch to clean house. A German suplex into a running clothesline gets two on Martel but here is Legado del Fantasma to hit Parker with a chair for the DQ at 5:30.

Rating: C-. The match wasn’t the point here and that’s perfectly fine. Above all else it is nice to see some storyline advancement, even if it was on such a low level. Bringing in Legado, especially with the champ involved, makes things seem more important, which has been a big problem around here for a long time. Nothing match, but at least it offered something.

Post match Legado destroys all four of them, including duct taping Ever Rise’s mouths shut to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. For once this show actually gave me some hope and that’s a very nice feeling to have. What mattered here was they felt like they actually had a goal to the show and they made me want to see a little more. They haven’t done something like this in a very long time so hopefully they keep it going for a long time to come.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

205 Live – August 14, 2020: Take A Look At Greatness

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: August 14, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

The show was starting to come together but then they brought back Ariya Daivari and my soul was stabbed all over again. For the life of me I still don’t get why he is treated as such a big deal around here but he is going to be around here no matter what until the end of time. Hopefully the other stuff on here works a bit better. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Ever Rise

Santos Escobar is here with Legado and this is the result of an open challenge from Ever Rise. Raul Mendoza and Matt Martel start things off with Martel cranking on the arm. It’s quickly off to Chase Parker to continue the arm pulling but Joaquin Wilde tags himself in for a quick DDT. The chinlock is on in a hurry and Martel starts what sounds like a DEFENSE chant.

Mendoza takes him down into a chinlock and pulls Parker down to cut off a comeback attempt. Parker fights up and shoves him into the corner though, allowing the hot tag off to Martel. Everything breaks down and Mendoza gets a blind tag to snap Martel’s throat across the top. The Russian legsweep/kick to the face finishes Martel at 5:49.

Rating: C-. Not terrible here but Ever Rise suddenly being faces isn’t going to make them any more interesting. If it means we don’t have to hear them talk any more, it’s at least an improvement though. Legado racking up wins is a good idea, as you need Escobar’s lackeys to be strong. Just try to find anything more interesting for Ever Rise. It can’t be that hard.

We look back at Ariya Daivari’s amazing, incredible, earth shattering return last week.

Ariya Daivari vs. Jake Atlas

Daivari hides in the ropes to start (although in a very exciting way of course). Atlas grabs a headlock takeover and Daivari can’t get out immediately, giving us a rather fascinating display of flailing limbs (only he could make that work). Vic talks about Daivari being a 205 Live original, which must be a compliment and not an indictment against him for not being able to get anywhere other than the lowest show in the company for almost four years.

Daivari gets in a neckbreaker over the middle rope and hammers away in the corner. We hit the armbar (and a THRILLING one at that) on Atlas, followed by a forearm to cut him down again. Atlas fights up anyway and it’s a German suplex into an enziguri for two. Daivari’s hammerlock lariat misses and Atlas knees him in the face. The Blockbuster connects but Daivari bails to the floor.

That means a suicide dive but Daivari gets in a cheap shot and unhooks the turnbuckle pad (cheating is acceptable when you’re that fascinating). The referee doesn’t allow it (pest getting in the way of greatness) so Daivari pokes Atlas in the eye and hits a hammerlock lariat (real wrestlers can win a match with a clothesline) for the pin at 9:21.

Rating: D+. More of the same that we’ve always seen from Daivari, without the one good looking move that he has in the Persian splash. I’ve ranted about Daivari enough over his time here and while that doesn’t make it any easier, it does make me wonder who in the world he has blackmail on. You would think there was SOMEONE else in WWE to push over him but apparently this is as good as we can get. We’re just that lucky I guess.

Overall Rating: D+. This was the flat show that I’ve been expecting over the last few weeks as there is no reason to believe that this show’s warm streak is ever going to continue. They either don’t know how to make it work long term or they would rather just go with the bare bones stuff that they do here. Nothing to see here, with the focus being on making Daivari a thing. Again. After it worked so well all those other times.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

205 Live – May 9, 2020: (Matches That Made Me: Oney Lorcan): Count Those Belts

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: May 8, 2020
Host: Jeremy Borash, Tom Phillips

Yes it’s the first time that Jeremy Borash has gotten to host a show and I could go for more of that taking place. If nothing else, Tom Phillips could probably use a break as he is on almost every show these days. I’m not sure what we are going to be seeing this time, but opening the vault is always fun. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Tom introduces Jeremy and welcomes him to the team.

The subject this week is Oney Lorcan, who is working out in his back yard. Here’s our first match.

From Starrcade 1996.

J-Crown/Cruiserweight Title: Ultimo Dragon vs. Dean Malenko

The J-Crown is a collection of 8 junior heavyweight titles from around the world collected into one title. Dragon currently holds the J-Crown but wants the Cruiserweight Title, held by Dean. Sonny Onoo, the evil Japanese representative, is now a regular evil manager, representing Dragon. The Dragon is a very solid wrestler from Japan while Malenko is a smaller guy but known as the Man of 1000 Holds. Mike Tenay, international wrestling expert, joins commentary for this one.

Dean takes it to the mat to start but Dragon sits out. Now Dean sits out as both guys fight for control. Ultimo finally gets control with a leg lock but Dean rolls away to the ropes. Dragon takes him right back down to the mat and puts on a quickly broken chinlock. They’re moving very quickly so far. Dragon nips out of a headscissors and we have a standoff. Dean is taken down again and Dragon fires off some HARD kicks to the back.

Dean takes him down with a backbreaker and puts on a headscissors as this is a chess match so far with both guys trying to get an extended advantage. Dragon hooks another chinlock but Dean is out of it almost immediately. The fans all chant USA as Dragon hits a jumping kick to take Dean down and it’s off to a modified STF. Malenko fights up again and we head outside where the Dragon slams him down. A suicide dive takes Malenko down but there’s no Asai Moonsault (it’s named after Dragon, its inventor).

Back inside and Dragon suplexes him down for two and Malenko gets the same off a sunset flip. Dragon hooks on a bow and arrow hold before shifting over to an abdominal stretch. The match has slowed WAY down and not in a good way. Tenay talks about Dragon’s name meaning that he’s the final student of Bruce Lee. Dragon would have been about seven years old when Lee died, so I’m thinking that’s not true.

Malenko fights up and hooks a quick release German suplex for two and it’s off to a leg bar by Dean. In a smart move, Dean lets go of the hold for a second so he can pull Ultimo back to the middle of the ring. Dragon finally makes it to the rope so Dean dropkicks him in the side of the knee to keep the pressure on. A kind of spinebuster puts Dragon back down and we hit another leg lock to keep Dean in control. Dean catches a charging Dragon in a WICKED powerslam to pop the crowd but for some reason there’s no cover. Dragon comes back with a spinwheel kick and a powerbomb for two.

Dean picks him up for a tombstone and the fans go nuts again. The Texas Cloverleaf (Malenko’s leg lock finisher) is escaped but a tiger bomb gets two instead. Dean is kicked to the floor and there’s the Asai Moonsault to put both guys down again. Back in and Ultimo misses a moonsault, allowing Dean to put on the Cloverleaf, only to break it to go after Onoo. A brainbuster gets two on Dragon but Ultimo escapes a suplex, leading to a pretty awesome pinfall reversal sequence, culminating with Dragon hitting a tiger suplex for the pin and the title at 18:30.

Lorcan is lifting his dog and throws us to his own match.

From 205 Live, February 21, 2020.

Ariya Daivari/Brian Kendrick vs. Danny Burch/Oney Lorcan

No DQ. It’s a brawl in the aisle before the bell with Daivari throwing Lorcan off the stage (for a rather short drop). Kendrick gets whipped hip first into the steps and Lorcan is brought inside for the opening bell and a near fall as Burch and Kendrick fight in the crowd. Lorcan throws Daivari over the barricade and into Kendrick, who is taken inside for a beating

It’s Daivari coming in with a chair, only to get sent face first into said chair. Again: Daivari is not very good at….anything really. Burch tells Lorcan to get the table and they set one up at ringside. Kendrick saves Daivari from going through the table and sends Lorcan through it instead with a Death Valley Driver from the apron. Lorcan goes over the announcers’ table and Daivari throws in a ladder. Daivari is sent into the ladder though and he’s down again

Kendrick Russian legsweeps Burch off the ladder and Daivari adds a splash off the ladder for two. Lorcan Hulks Up to slug it out with Kendrick but Daivari makes the save with the chair. A running Blockbuster sends Kendrick onto the chair and Burch duct tapes Kendrick to the turnbuckle. Daivari tales the assisted spike DDT onto (not through) the table. Another one inside finishes Daivari at 12:16.

Rating: B. Again, it’s the kind of match that works for the dual reason of they were trying hard and it was something fresh around here. These guys beat each other up rather well and the weapons were the right touch here. Burch and Lorcan are two of the better people around here and if you can get some better opponents for them more often than not, they could be the focal point around here.

Tom and Jeremy both pick Drake Maverick to win the Interim Cruiserweight Title tournament. Tom walks out to let Jeremy have the show to himself to wrap things up.

Overall Rating: B. This is the kind of thing that I like to see. You get a nice mixture of the old and the new, which is the kind of thing that you can do on this show for a long time to come. It’s not like the cruiserweights mean anything around here and I get more out of this than watching the same matches over and over. There’s good stuff in the vault, and sometimes it’s better to let things out than put more stuff in.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6