205 Live
Date: June 25, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Well this show suddenly means nothing as most of the roster has been released, meaning I have no idea what to expect from this series going forward. That may or may not be a good thing, but it is fairly clear that 205 Live is going to get a heck of a shakeup following this taped edition. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Ariya Daivari

Jiro, now in a corn on the cob jacket (I need to see the store that comes from), gets taken down by the wrist to start but comes right back with a headlock. Back up and a running knee to the ribs puts Jiro down but he is fine enough to bust out a handstand in the corner. A Delfin clutch gets two on Daivari, who is right back with a reverse DDT onto the apron. Some right hands to the head set up a chinlock on Jiro and Daivari kicks him hard in the ribs.

Jiro fights up with a suplex and some running forearms, setting up a double springboard moonsault. The Ikemen Slash misses so Jiro superkicks him to the floor instead. A Lionsault connects to set up another moonsault for two back inside. Daivari is right back with a hammerlock DDT for two of his own but the Persian Lion splash misses. The Ikemen Slash finishes Daivari at 8:42.

Rating: C-. Not much to see here but it was the usual perfectly fine Daivari match. Jiro might not be everyone’s can of corn, but those jackets are a bit more memorable than almost anything else does around here. Jiro getting a win is a good sign and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him as a featured piece of the new look 205 Live.

Grayson Waller vs. August Grey

Waller takes him down to start and walks over Grey’s back as the cockiness is on in a hurry. Grey gets taken down again but this time Waller lets him up, allowing Grey to snap off a hiptoss. The armbar keeps Waller down and Grey twists it around a few times for some near falls. Waller uses some very fast nipups into a forearm to the head to escape and chops away in the corner.

Grey’s sunset flip is countered into a triangle choke (cool), followed by some choking on the ropes. Waller snaps off a suplex and puts on Grey’s headband before tying him in the Tree of Woe. A torture rack sets up a reverse Regal Roll (that’s a new one) into a middle rope elbow for two. Grey fights up with a clothesline to the floor into a suicide dive but Waller snaps his throat across the top. The running stomp finishes Grey at 9:42.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure what kind of legs he’ll have, but they have something with Waller for the time being. He does all of the heel stuff well and the stomp is a good looking finish. It isn’t like he has anywhere to go but up and it is nice to see a heel with this kind of success. Grey was starting to get somewhere but it wasn’t like he was lighting the world on fire. He had a short WWE run though and that’s better than most people get.

Overall Rating: C. It’s weird to see a show that has absolutely no meaning but that was the case here. I have no idea what they are going to do with the show going forward, but hopefully they do something actually new instead of just putting new names out there with the same issues. I’ve grown a bit of a soft spot for some of these rather talented people over the years and hopefully they wind up doing well elsewhere, as they deserve it for putting up with this low level show for so long.

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NXT
Date: June 8, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

It’s the go home show for In Your House and there is not exactly a lot of hype around this one. It isn’t a good sign when they have a main event of five people in the title match, which feels about as un-NXT as you can get. Hopefully they have something to build up the show tonight, because it needs the help. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the NXT Title match, plus a look at some of the rest of Takeover.

Austin Theory vs. Oney Lorcan

This is “my friend is better than your friend” and Theory dropkicks him into the corner to start. Lorcan is back up with a headlock takeover to put Theory down for a bit. They get up and exchange forearms with Theory getting the better of things. Lorcan is knocked down for a slingshot stomp into a suplex, which has commentary a bit too impressed. Back up and Lorcan hits a heck of a chop to knock some skin off of Theory and a knee life puts him on the floor.

A suplex puts Theory down again outside and here is Pete Dunne to watch as we take a break. Back with Johnny Gargano at ringside too and Theory sending Lorcan into the barricade a few times. They get back in for a fall away slam to send Lorcan down again. Lorcan is sat up top for a running springboard Spanish Fly and another near fall. Another trip to the floor sees a double clothesline, sending Gargano and Dunne into a brawl. As the two of them are ejected, Lorcan hits a half nelson slam for the pin at 12:35.

Rating: C+. They hit each other pretty hard here and it was nice to see Theory getting to do something nice in the ring instead of having everything be all wacky comedy. Lorcan is the same as he can get in there and have a good match with anyone. All in all, this was a fine match, though I’m not sure how much it did to build towards Takeover’s title match.

We go to LA Knight’s house to show his Million Dollar Legacy. This involves having some women join him in the hot tub with some champagne so he can talk about how he’ll take out Cameron Grimes on Sunday. Then he gets in a rather expensive looking car (with one of the women closing the door) and drives off. This is the kind of vignette that we need to see more of because they are a great way to build someone up in a hurry.

Here’s your weird flashback of the week as Dok Hendrix joins us for an In Your House Slam Jam.

Here is Legado del Fantasma to call out Bronson Reed. Cue Reed to look at him running over Santos Escobar last week so the brawl is teased. Cue MSK to chase them off, so Escobar throws out the challenge for a six man tag with all titles on the line. Deal, but first we see Escobar getting squashed again last week. Hold on though as here is Hit Row to stare down the champs.

Isaiah Scott vs. Killian Dain

The rest of Hit Row and Drake Maverick are here too. Dain works on the wrist to start and Scott can’t get around him to start. Scott gets sent outside but it’s too early for the big dive. The distraction lets Scott sneak in from behind for some cheap shots but Dain runs him over again. Another distraction lets Scott get in a cheap shot, setting up the running kick from the apron.

Back in and a kick to the face rocks Dain but he unloads in the corner to stagger him again. One heck of a shot to the head drops Scott again, setting up a running crossbody for two. Scott rolls away from another clothesline and the rolling Downward Spiral gives Scott two of his own. Dain is back with a splash in the corner as the brawl breaks out on the floor. Top Dolla catches Maverick with an AA on the apron so Scott kicks the distracted Dain off the ropes. A running kick to the head finishes for Scott at 6:40.

Rating: B-. There is something so cool about the way Scott moves as he looks so smooth out there. This was a rather fun match and the two of them both looked good the whole time. Hit Row has hit the ground running as they are already feel like one of the bigger deals around here. I would be surprised if they don’t have some titles by the end of the summer and that is a good thing.

Candice LeRae is annoyed at Poppy being here tonight but Indi Hartwell runs off to find Dexter Lumis. Candice: “Why does this keep happening? They were never even a thing.”

And now, Cameron Grimes’ Million Dollar Legacy. We start with Cameron hitting a cannonball into a pool and coming back up to talk to the camera while looking between a woman’s legs. Grimes fires up a Cuban cigar with a $100 bill but chokes on the smoke. Some liquor makes him cringe as well so it’s time for a massage. Then Grimes gives the woman a massage and seems to have a better time. Then he jumps in a less expensive looking car and drives off.

Mercedes Martinez comes out for a match but Xia Li jumps her from behind and the big beatdown is on. Martinez fights back and sends Li over the barricade. Back in and ring the bell.

Mercedes Martinez b. ???

Air Raid Crash finishes in 16 seconds.

Breezango talks about Imperium coming after them and doesn’t like the propaganda videos that they have been seeing. Maybe Imperium is a little scared because Breezango beat them once before.

HHH and William Regal are in the back with Poppy, who has put together an NXT soundtrack. HHH asks when the album drops so Poppy pulls out her phone and hits a button. Poppy: “Right now.” The album is plugged and here’s Dexter Lumis with a drawing for Poppy. She hugs him and here’s Indi Hartwell to scream.

Cameron Grimes and LA Knight arrive at the same time and a guard comes in to say that Ted DiBiase is waiting in the ring for them. After Knight can’t tip the guy and Grimes won’t, we cut to DiBiase in the ring asking them to join him. Cue Grimes and Knight so DiBiase can say that they need to climb the ladder to success. A solid gold ladder comes down from the ceiling and Knight seems cool with all of this. He promises to run over the hillbilly to get here but Grimes doesn’t like the name.

Instead Grimes talks about how he can do everything in between these ropes, he cannot be beaten. You can take his clothes and his legacy but he is taking the Million Dollar Legacy to the moon! Grimes starts climbing the ladder and asks what is he reaching for. DiBiase is glad he asks and tells the guys to bring it in. Two goons bring in a case containing….the Million Dollar Title. Well that was kind of obvious and I really don’t need to see a ladder match, but it does make sense in this case. DiBiase’s laugh makes up for a lot of it though and Grimes’ promo was fire.

Kyle O’Reilly and Karrion Kross have to be held apart in the back when a ticked off Regal comes in to say cool it.

Ever-Rise is going to host the Takeover Pre-Pre Show!

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. August Grey/Ikemen Jiro

Grey/Jiro are a regular team on 205 Live. Gibson takes Grey down by the arm but Grey is back up with a running hurricanrana. Jiro, who wrestles in a jacket, hits a forearm to the head but gets sent to the apron. That’s fine with Jiro, who slingshots in with an anklescissors. Gibson is fed up with this and goes after Jiro but makes the mistake of touching the jacket.

Everything breaks down and Drake comes in to clean house, including Gibson kicking Jiro in the face. A shot to Jiro’s leg puts him down and a slam sends him legs first into the ropes. Cue Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa to watch the match and the distraction lets Grey come in off the hot tag. House is cleaned, including a spinning high crossbody. So Much Prettier (Unprettier running up the corner) is broken up and it’s the Ticket To Mayhem to finish Grey at 5:00.

Rating: C. This is where 205 Live can be a bit of a benefit to NXT, as Grey and Jiro have won a few matches in a row on the show. Now that wasn’t exactly focused on here, but at least the Veterans won clean in the end despite the distraction. It wasn’t exactly a great match but they did it fast enough that it didn’t hurt anything.

Post match the Veterans shout at Ciampa and Thatcher about wanting the titles, but Ciampa says the title shot goes through them. That’s cool with Gibson, who issues the challenge for a tornado tag match next week. Ciampa says they love tornadoes and they don’t need tags, so let’s do it right now. The Veterans run from the right.

We look back at Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan injuring Bobby Fish’s arm.

Fish is training in the back and says he isn’t done with Lorcan.

Here is a ticked off Candice LeRae to talk about how annoyed she is with Poppy. Indi Hartwell ran off crying because of Poppy so now it is time for Poppy to learn. So either come out here right now or be introduced to the parking lot. Cue Poppy, who doesn’t seem interested in fighting, but here is the returning Io Shirai who is glad to do it.

Dok Hendrix gives us the Slam Jam for In Your House, still as the best promo on the show.

During the break, Poppy and Xia Li ran into Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai.

Dakota Kai vs. Ember Moon

Raquel Gonzalez is here with Kai but there is no Shotzi Blackheart. They both kick the other in the arm to start so they take turns driving the other into the corner. Kai knocks her down for two and a whip into the corner sets up a running kick to the face for the same. Back up and Moon hits a running kick to the face into a basement Downward Spiral for two of her own. Kai gets sent to the apron but manages a forearm to the back and sends Moon into the post as we take a break.

Back with Moon hitting the middle rope Codebreaker, followed by a superkick. A flipping Stunner gives Moon two and she grabs something like a dragon sleeper of all things. That’s reversed into a spinning faceplant to give Kai two and a running kick in the corner gets the same. Moon is back up to reverse a victory roll into a powerbomb for two and Kai needs a breather on the floor. Gonzalez’s cheap shot doesn’t work so Moon hits a suicide dive to take them both out. That’s enough for Gonzalez, who comes in for the DQ at 12:34.

Rating: C. Moon has improved a good bit in recent weeks and is now starting to feel more like the version that made her a star in the first place. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t have her get the pin over Kai here but it could have been worse. Still though, not a bad match and Moon busted out some new stuff here so she feels like a bit more of a threat to the title on Sunday.

Post match the beatdown is on but Moon counters the lifting powerbomb into a Stunner. The Eclipse leaves Gonzalez laying and Moon holds up the title.

Karrion Kross says the four challenges have been given the opportunity to face him tonight. They don’t have to wait until Sunday to feel what it is like to be flatlined though and now is their chance to find out what it is like. Tick tock.

William Regal is in the ring with Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Regal rants about how he is the GM around here and Kross isn’t taking over the show. Kross says this place has been out of control for a long time now so he wants the four challengers out here right now. Cue Kyle O’Reilly to say that Kross has the thinnest skin he has ever seen and it is a matter of time before he snaps.

Cue Johnny Gargano to stand on the announcers’ table and talk about how Kross shouldn’t let a guy in a jean jacket talk about him that way. Kross isn’t Johnny Takeover but he should go choke O’Reilly out right now. Kross calls Gargano a mark and offers him a beating of his own. Cue Pete Dunne to say he is tired of waiting and promises to win the title on Sunday.

Adam Cole pops up on the video screen to say he beat the unbeatable Kross (verbally) last week. Kross is scared to face Adam Cole bay bay because Cole can beat any of the rest of them (again) to become NXT Champion (again). He’ll see you on Sunday and goes away. O’Reilly: “Clearly Adam Cole is too much of a b**** to be here tonight.” He gets in Kross’ face and the beatdown is on with security getting beaten up as well.

Security winds up holding Kross so the other three can score on him a bit. Kross is back up to run O’Reilly over though and stands tall….until Cole runs in for a superkick to the back of the head and the Last Shot. Cole stands tall to end the show, again looking like the biggest star on the show by a mile. This segment was effective enough, but egads it felt tacked on, much like the entire title match. I could see this not headlining if there was anything else worthwhile to put in the top spot, but that just isn’t the case this time.

Overall Rating: B-. This show did a good job of building up Takeover but at the same time, the show isn’t exactly jumping off the page. Nothing on it feels must see and it comes off more like a Takeover that is happening because it has to, not because they have the material to have one. The wrestling tonight was good enough and they added a match/adjusted another, though I’m still not sure how much I need to see the show. That being said, Takeover has a reputation like no other and if anyone can pull it off, it’s NXT.

Results

Oney Lorcan b. Austin Theory – Half nelson slam

Isaiah Scott b. Killian Dain – Running kick to the head

Mercedes Martinez b. ??? – Air Raid Crash

Grizzled Young Veterans b. Ikemen Jiro/August Grey – Ticket To Mayhem to Grey

Ember Moon b. Dakota Kai via DQ when Raquel Gonzalez interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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205 Live
Date: June 4, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

There are some new wrestlers around here but things are already starting to sink into the same problems the show has had for months now. I’m hoping that they find some way to make it better, but there are only so many things that can be done with the limitations that 205 Live has. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ari Sterling vs. Sunil Singh

Nigel dancing to the Bollywood Boyz’ entrance will always make me chuckle. A rollup gives Sterling a quick one but he has to fight out of a headlock. Sunil gets knocked outside so the Boyz try to make a switch….which doesn’t work as they don’t look alike. Then again neither did Demolition and that worked several times. The referee tells Samir to get out but Sunil uses the distraction to come in for a chop block.

Some leg cranking ensues but Sterling kicks him over the top for trying a cannonball. Sunil takes him down again though and it’s a slingshot elbow to the knee to put Sterling in trouble again. The Bollywood Lock goes on but Sterling turns it over for a leglock of his own, sending Sunil into the ropes. Back up and Sterling hits the running flip ax kick into 86 for the pin at 6:25.

Rating: C-. Ignoring the lack of selling before Sunil can do the running flip legdrop, I believe this is (at least) three straight matches where someone has worked on Sterling’s knee. Does no one keep a list of something like that? I mean of course they don’t, but you would think someone would say something about how Sterling’s matches are the same almost every week.

We look at Kushida successfully defending the Cruiserweight Title against the debuting Carmelo Hayes on NXT in a good match.

Ariya Daivari vs. August Grey

Grey goes for a fast rollup for two before cranking away on the arm. Daivari blocks a charge in the corner and hits a kick to the ribs to takeover. Back up and a running hurricanrana sends Daivari outside, setting up the suicide dive. Grey gets sent into the barricade a few times though and it’s time for some running knees to the ribs back inside.

The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a running kick to the side of Grey’s head for two. An enziguri gives Grey a breather but the top rope spinning crossbody misses. The Persian Lion splash sets up the camel clutch but Grey is out in a hurry. The double clothesline puts both of them down until Grey stomps away in the corner.

A belly to back suplex puts Daivari on the floor and now the crossbody connects. Grey hammers away but Daivari is right back with the reverse layout DDT for two of his own. An exchange of superkicks set up Daivari’s hammerlock DDT for two more. The hammerlock lariat is countered and Grey reverses into a half crab. Daivari grabs a rope so Grey hits So Much Prettier for the pin at 11:50.

Rating: B-. Pretty nice back and forth match with Grey getting what felt like more of a definitive win over Daivari. These two have fought more than a few times now and this seemed to be a bigger match than usual. I’m not sure if this is going to mean anything, but maybe they could have something new for Grey. It would be nice to have some hope at least.

Overall Rating: C. The good counters out the bad here and that’s actually a bit of a downgrade for this show in recent weeks. I do like that there are at least a few different wrestlers to rotate around here as it keeps things a bit fresher. It helps quite a bit, though I’m not sure what kind of a difference it really is going to make. Perfectly fine show here, though nothing you need to see, as usual.

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205 Live
Date: May 21, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Nigel McGuinness

Believe it or not, 205 Liv is kind of on a roll here and it could be interesting to see where they take it. Above all else, they have introduced some new names into the fold and that could make all the difference in the world. Even Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari have seemed a bit more energized as of late so hopefully they can keep it up. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Asher Hale vs. Ari Sterling

This could be interesting. Sterling grabs the arm to start and blocks a snapmare attempt with a shove off for a unique counter. Hale starts working on the arm and spins him down into an armbar. Back up and Sterling hits a running shoulder but Hale kicks the leg out to put him down again. A slingshot anklescissors sends Hale into the corner though and Sterling hits a running spinwheel kick.

Back up and Hale sends him outside for the moonsault off the apron and Sterling is in trouble again. A neckbreaker across the knee drops Sterling and we hit the cross arm choke. That’s reversed into one from Sterling but Hale goes right back to the knee to put him down. Something like a Figure Four dragon screw legwhip has Sterling in trouble but he comes back with some strikes to the face.

A running forearm in the corner rocks Hale but the knee gives out on a running hurricanrana attempt. Hale grabs a bridging Indian Deathlock, eventually sending Sterling over to the ropes. Another attempt is countered into a small package for two and some more rollups give Sterling some more near falls. Back up and Sterling hits a jumping knee to the face, setting up 86 for the pin at 9:14.

Rating: B-. This is the kind of match that this show needs as it was two new guys trying to showcase themselves and that’s what they got to do. Sterling needed the win a little bit more and is the kind of guy who could be beefed up into an eventual challenger. Hale looked good as well and that Indian Deathlock looked rather good. Nice stuff here, and that’s the kind of thing the show needs.

Bollywood Boyz vs. August Grey/Ikemen Jiro

Jiro has a watermelon jacket this time. Grey and Samir start things off with an exchange of headlock takeovers. Samir’s headscissors is broken up in a hurry and Grey grabs a rollup for two. An armdrag into an armbar works a bit better for Samir and it’s off to Sunil for a double elbow. Jiro comes in for a shot to the face and an armdrag into an armbar of his own. It’s already back to Grey, who misses a charge into the post so Sunil starts cranking away.

Samir comes back in with a middle rope bulldog for two and the armbar goes on again. Grey fights up and sends Sunil outside though and the hot tag brings in Jiro to start picking up the pace. A slingshot springboard moonsault gets two on Sunil but a Swanton misses. Instead Sunil snaps off a spinwheel kick and it’s a modified Hart Attack (top rope elbow instead of a running clothesline) for two on Jiro with Grey making the save. Grey breaks up a double superkick so Jiro can hit a solo version of his own and a running knee (Ikemen Slash) finishes Sunil at 8:33.

Rating: C. Rather energized match here as Grey and Jiro continue their nice start as a tag team. It isn’t like the Boyz losing is going to hurt anything for them as they are as established of an act as you can get around here. The new guys continue their roll and that’s a nice thing to be able to say.

Overall Rating: C+. Solid stuff here with a theme throughout the show, including one good and one pretty good match. I liked both of the matches and the big story here is continuing the youth (or at least) new movement. Just let things grow from here and maybe give us some stories and this might turn into a nice little show. For once.

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205 Live
Date: May 7, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tom Phillips

We’re in for a kind of interesting show this time around in that we are going to be seeing some fresh faces. WWE has actually announced that some new wrestlers are going to be debuting here and that could make for quite the interesting night. Well maybe not interesting but at least new. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ari Sterling vs. Samir Singh

Sunil is here with Samir. Ari is better known as Alex Zayne and is the first wrestler I’ve ever heard billed from Lexington, Kentucky. Samir grabs a headlock takeover but Sterling is right back up with an armdrag to the floor, setting up a slingshot springboard Lionsault to take him down again. Back in and Sterling works on a cravate but Samir breaks up a springboard to knock him outside.

Samir comes back in for a Boston crab but Sterling makes the rope. A hurricanrana is countered into another Boston crab so Sterling has to break it up again. Now the comeback is on, including a running flip ax kick to drop Samir for two. Samir gets up and tries a tornado DDT but Sterling shoves it off, setting up a backbreaker, which is flipped forward into a faceplant to put Samir away at 7:12.

Rating: C. It wasn’t a great match or anything but it was a completely effective debut. That’s what Sterling needed to do here and he had enough spots to make it work. Beating one of the Singh Brothers isn’t impressive, but it got his feet wet enough and he had enough charisma. Above all else, this show needs some fresh blood and if Sterling can be out there for some new matches, he should be fine.

We look back at Santos Escobar and Legado del Fantasma promising to take various titles from Kushida and MSK. Kushida popped up on the screen to challenge Escobar to a 2/3 falls title match next week.

Tony Nese/Ariya Daivari vs. August Grey/Ikemen Jiro

This is Jiro’s debut and apparently Ikemen means handsome. Jiro, wearing his yellow jacket, starts with Nese, and gets driven straight into the corner. A shoulder puts Jiro down but he nips up and tells Nese to try it again. It’s off to Grey, who gets double teamed in the corner to slow things down. A hurricanrana takes Daivari down but he decks Grey before the hot tag. Then the tag goes through a few seconds later so house can be cleaned, including a bulldog to Daivari.

Nese comes back in and stomps away though, followed by a sleeper from Daivari. It’s already back to Nese, who rolls over to knock Nese off the apron but gets knocked down by Jiro. The real hot tag brings in Grey to pick up the pace, including the running crotch attack to the back of the head while Daivari is in the ropes. The spinning suplex gets two on Daivari but Nese cuts Grey off, setting up the Lionsault for two.

Everything breaks down with Nese kicking Jiro straight in the face. A Dominator/sliding cutter combination gets two on Grey with Jiro diving in for the save. That means it’s back to Jiro to start taking over, including a bunch of strikes to the face. The villains are sent to the floor for the Asai moonsault, followed by a Swanton for two on Nese back inside with Daivari making the save. Jiro dives onto Nese and it’s a running kick to the face gives Jiro the pin at 10:25.

Rating: C. The jacket might take some getting used to but the energy was good and I wanted to see him pin one of these goofs. That’s what we got here, but the most important thing is that we are getting someone new around here. It was a good enough match and while I don’t think Jiro and Grey have much of a future as a team, beating Nese and Daivari is fine for a first step. Just don’t make it the tenth and eleventh steps.

Overall Rating: C+. In case I didn’t make it clear enough, the most important thing they did here was add in some new wrestlers. This show has had about the same ten people for months now and nothing has happened. Jiro and Sterling might not be the biggest stars ever around here, but at least they can give us something new. This has been one of the biggest problems on 205 Live for a long time now and for once, they actually did something about it. What a relief.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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205 Live
Date: April 30, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Nigel McGuinness

It’s another show from the cruiserweights and odds are we are not going to be seeing any of the bigger names of the division. I don’t know if it is some kind of a Coronavirus thing or just a weird choice, but you would think that some of the more prominent cruiserweights could pop up here every now and then. I would say maybe tonight, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Jake Atlas/August Grey vs. Bollywood Boyz

Sunil headlocks Grey to the mat to start and then runs him over with a shoulder. They go to a standoff so it’s a fist bump and a double tag to bring in Samir to roll Atlas up. The kickout sends Samir outside in a crash so it’s time for Atlas to chop away back inside. Atlas elbows Samir down and puts on a bodyscissors to work on the ribs.

Grey comes back in and sends Samir chest first into the buckle. Samir manages to get in a shot of his own and the hot tag brings in Sunil to clean house. The top rope elbow gets two on Atlas but Sunil is sent into Samir to knock him to the floor. Atlas hits a good superkick on Sunil and Grey adds the spinning high crossbody for the pin at 6:45.

Rating: C. Pretty nice match here as Grey and Atlas are fine enough as a team. Granted that isn’t going to get them very far as there are only two regular teams on this show and they just beat one of them. At least it is a slightly different way for them to go though as it isn’t like there is anything else for the two of them to do.

Post match here are Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese to interrupt the celebration as they have a match of their own.

We look at Legado del Fantasma beating Kushida/MSK on NXT.

Tony Nese/Ariya Daivari vs. Ever-Rise

Nese takes Martel down to start and hands it off to Daivari for some kicks to the head. It’s already back to Nese for the cover and the forearms to the back keep Martel in trouble. Daivari snapmares him into a chinlock as Martel stays down. A dropkick gives Nese two but Martel is back up with a clothesline. Nese knocks Parker off the apron like a good villain should and the springboard moonsault connects. Daivari adds the Persian Lion splash for two but Martel gets in a shot of his own, allowing the hot tag to Parker.

A Gory Bomb gets two on Nese but he’s right back up to go to the corner. Nese’s superplex is countered into a super spinning neckbreaker but Daivari is back in with a reverse DDT for two. Martel is taken up top for a running palm strike and an Iconoclasm. Nese gets two off a 450 but Martel is right back with a powerbomb into a Boston crab. Daivari makes the save with a superkick but Parker comes in for one of his own. Everything breaks down and it’s the Sweet Taste to finish Nese at 11:53.

Rating: C. What else is there to say about a Nese and Daivari match? It feels like we have seen about a hundred of them at this point and that doesn’t exactly leave you with much to get excited about. Ever-Rise have turned into some rather enjoyable good guys and yet there still isn’t much of a reason to care about what you’re seeing here. Totally passable match and that’s the end of my enthusiasm.

Overall Rating: C-. This was indeed an episode of 205 Live, featuring mostly the same people having matches that we have probably seen before. I know I make the same criticisms of this show over and over but that is because we keep seeing the same things over and over. I’m not even expecting things to change any longer, but it would be nice to be able to believe that they could. As usual though, it’s hard to really get mad at a 30 minute show, but it isn’t easy to get interested either.

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205 Live
Date: April 23, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tom Phillips

It’s time for more interchangeable cruiserweight action as the same people get to have mostly the same matches as they always do around here. Hopefully the action is good, because that is about all that happens to make things interesting on this show. I wouldn’t bet on it though, as I learned not to do a long time ago. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Bollywood Boyz vs. Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese

The Boyz manage to get Phillips, now with a beard, to dance a bit. Commentary points out that we’ve seen this match before, which isn’t giving me much hope. Daivari hammers away on Samir to start and sends him arm first into the buckle. A cobra clutch puts Samir down and it’s off to Nese for the quickly broken chinlock. Instead, Daivari comes back in to drop some elbows but Samir manages a tornado DDT.

Nese is smart enough to break up the hot tag though and comes back in for two off a snap suplex. A chinlock with a bodyscissors keeps Samir in trouble but he fights up again. This time Nese’s suplex is countered into a neckbreaker and the hot tag brings in Sunil to pick up the pace. A middle rope clothesline gets two on Daivari and the middle rope Hart Attack (elbow instead of clothesline) gets the same. The Bollywood Blast gets another near fall with Daivari having to make a save. Nese hits a pair of Running Neses for the pin on Sunil at 8:16.

Rating: C-. Quick match here without breaking their mold. There is only so much that you can do with a match like this as Nese and Daivari are going to be the major heels around here for years and the Boyz can’t go higher on the card. The action was decent, but it’s another match with no impact or stakes at all, other than recharging Nese and Daivari for the 167^th time.

We look at Kushida issuing an open challenge for a Cruiserweight Title shot and retaining over Oney Lorcan on NXT. Post match, MSK had to save Kushida from a Legado del Fantasma beatdown, setting up a six man next week.

August Grey vs. Ashante Adonis

Grey spins out of a wristlock to start but can’t get an O’Connor roll. Adonis sweeps the leg and elbows him in the jaw to send Grey into the corner. Grey is right back with an armdrag into an armbar but Adonis makes the rope. Not to waste a chance, Adonis pulls him throat first into the rope to take over. Some elbows set up a missed knee drop but Adonis pulls him right back down into the chinlock.

What looks like a Captain’s Hook is countered so Adonis snaps off a belly to back suplex for two. Cue Ariya Daivari to watch from ringside as Grey hits a running elbow to the face. A bulldog drops Adonis again and the spinning high crossbody connects for no cover. Instead they both crash to the floor, with Daivari telling Grey to take the countout win. That isn’t happening but the distraction lets Adonis hit the Long Kiss Goodnight for the pin at 9:14.

Rating: C. Not too bad here and the Daivari stuff should set up something going forward. Adonis needed a win so maybe he can get a minor push around here. I’m not if it is going to amount to anything, but at least they gave him a quick win here, even if it was more about Daivari vs. Grey than anything else.

Post match Daivari yells at him for not using his head. Grey says he’s doing it his way.

Overall Rating: C-. Yet another dull, dry and repetitive offering from 205 Live, which is kind of hard to fathom. You would think at some point that they could come up with something fresh, even in the short term, but that has not been the case in years now. If nothing else, just having someone other than Nese and Daivari as the main villains would be a nice upgrade.

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205 Live
Date: April 16, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

This is the most up and down show you are going to find in WWE as there are weeks where you get good stuff but then there are weeks that have absolutely nothing going on whatsoever. You might as well flip a coin to figure out which you’re going to see here and that is kind of scary situation. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Jake Atlas vs. Ashante Adonis

Feeling out process to start, including some light kicks to the leg. Atlas cranks on the arm and grabs the armbar to keep Adonis in a bit of trouble. Adonis is right back with a knee to the ribs to take over for all of about three seconds, as Atlas sends him shoulder first into the buckle. It’s way too early for the cartwheel DDT though as Adonis shoves him out to the floor.

Back in and Adonis goes after the arm for a change, with Atlas not being able to roll his way to freedom. Atlas finally kicks his way out and goes up, only to be slammed back down. That lets Adonis go up for a high crossbody for two but Atlas hits him in the face. A release gordbuster sets up the cartwheel DDT to finish Adonis at 8:43.

Rating: C-. These are two guys who went out there and had one of the most generic matches you could ask for. They worked on a limb each and then one guy won in the end. Maybe it’s that I have seen these two around here for months now but there was nothing to get excited about whatsoever. Technically fine, but good luck making me care about these two having a cold match like this one.

We look at Kushida winning the Cruiserweight Title on NXT.

August Grey vs. Tony Nese

Ariya Daivari joins commentary. Nese slams him down to start and strikes a quick pose so Grey grabs a headlock to take it to the mat. Back up and Grey busts out some jumping jacks, which really don’t sit well with Daivari. Nese drops him with a belly to back suplex but gets sent throat first into the middle rope. That means the running crotch attack to the back of the head but Nese is right back with a gutbuster

Another belly to back connects so Nese goes to the corner to….I think adjust the turnbuckle pad. Whatever it was it takes too long, allowing Grey to catapult him into the corner. Grey picks up the pace with a running hurricanrana and an elbow to the face. Nese isn’t having that as he hits a spinning kick to the face and puts on the chinlock. That lasts as long as the common chinlock with Grey coming up and winning a strike off.

A jawbreaker into a neckbreaker sets up Grey’s rope walk spinning high crossbody for two. Back up and Nese fires off some kicks, including an enziguri but Grey kicks him to the floor. The suicide dive sends Nese over the announcers’ table, with Grey breaking up the count for reasons of dumb honor. Back in and Grey grabs a rollup for the pin at 11:30.

Rating: C. It was a better match than the opener but that isn’t exactly saying much. The wrestling is fine, but I never need to see Nese and or Daivari again after how many times they have been on this show over the last few….well years now. It doesn’t help that the rather talented Grey is stuck on the treadmill that is 205 Live and there is nothing to indicate that is going to change anytime soon.

Overall Rating: C-. The words ho-hum come to mind here as this was every dull 205 Live that you can ever hope to see. The wrestling continues to be fine but there is nothing in the way of an interesting story, or even any kind of a story for the most part. The shows come and go without developing and that is not going to keep my attention. Even thirty minutes is feeling long around here and that’s hard to fathom.

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205 Live
Date: April 2, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

I’m starting to get curious about where things might be heading around here again, as Mansoor is becoming a bit of a star around this place. That might not be the best thing for 205 Live’s future as stars don’t stay here for very long, but at least it could wind up giving the show a bit more exposure. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

August Grey vs. Mansoor

Mansoor’s Main Event wins are now being mentioned. Grey takes him to the mat with a headlock to start and even holds on as they get back up. A cradle gives Mansoor two and an escape, followed by a standing moonsault for the same. Grey is right back with a belly to back faceplant and the chinlock has Mansoor in trouble again. This one is broken up for a kick to the face, followed by a suplex to give Mansoor two.

Mansoor gets his own armbar into another suplex into another armbar. Back up and Mansoor is sent to the floor for a suicide dive from Grey, followed by a running neckbreaker back inside. An Oklahoma roll gives Grey two and Mansoor’s crucifix gets the same as we hit the pinfall reversal sequence. Mansoor kicks him in the face to set up a German suplex to put Grey down again.

Grey’s tornado DDT is blocked but he manages to counter a springboard into a middle rope Russian legsweep for two. Mansoor is right back with a pop up Downward Spiral for his own two. Grey manages to grab So Much Prettier to send Mansoor outside for nine….but Grey doesn’t want to win that way, because he is a schnook. Back in and Mansoor grabs a rollup for the pin at 10:58.

Rating: B-. These guys were working and we have to be getting to the point where the Mansoor winning streak is going somewhere. You can only talk about it so long before it loses whatever importance it has, though I’m not sure where it can go. Mansoor getting a Cruiserweight Title shot seems almost hard to fathom, so maybe just putting him on NXT would be a good idea.

We look at Santos Escobar’s NXT open challenge and subsequent win over Tyler Breeze.

Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese vs. Chase Parker/Sunil Singh

If Parker and Singh lose, Bolly Rise (the rest of which is at ringside) can never team again. Singh and Daivari lock up to start but it’s quickly off to Nese to hammer away. The forearms to the back don’t do much though as Singh snaps off an armdrag into an armbar. Parker comes in to stay on the arm as commentary discusses Bolly Rise merchandise. Singh gets sent into the corner but fights out in a hurry, only to be knocked outside.

Back in and Daivari whips Singh chest first into the buckle and Nese grabs the chinlock. Singh fights up and manages a spinwheel kick, allowing the hot tag to Parker. Everything breaks down and it’s a Gory Bomb to set up Singh’s top rope elbow (McGuinness: “OH YEAH!”) for two. Nese makes the save and Daivari hits the Persian Lion splash for two, with Singh making the save this time. Samir Singh throws in a foreign object to distract Daivari and Sunil grabs a rollup for the pin at 7:55.

Rating: C. This was a fun match for the sake of saving a group, though I’m not sure how interesting the team is in the first place. Who in the world needs a four person team on a show with no titles and top villains who can be distracted by throwing in something shiny? I’m not sure how appealing Bolly Rise is, but what else is there to get excited about around here?

Overall Rating: C+. Pretty nice show here, though the lack of anything feeling important continues to plague the whole thing. There is just nothing important going on here with a bunch of things happening, mainly involving Daivari and Nese losing. The show was fun because of the opener, but don’t waste your time if you want anything with any kind of weight involved.

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205 Live
Date: March 26, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s Wrestlemania season and that is not going to mean the slightest thing around here. That is not the best thing in the world to say but it isn’t like 205 Live is going to mean much of anything when it comes to the important shows. The best thing you can hope for around here is something entertaining week to week so maybe that can be the case this time. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Bollywood Boyz vs. Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese

Daivari stomps Samir down to start and hands it off to Nese, who gets rolled up for two. Sunil comes in for an armbar on Nese and it’s time for the Boyz to change places and stay on the arm. Daivari gets in a cheap shot though and it’s time to stomp away in the corner. Then it’s time to tie Samir in the ropes and hammer away before it’s back to Nese for a bodyscissors.

A spinning kick to the face gets two but Samir fights up and grabs a neckbreaker, allowing the hot tag off to Sunil. The Bollywood Blast is broken up and a powerslam into the Persian Lion splash gets two on Sunil. Samir gets to clean house as well and it’s a big dive to the floor to take the villains down. Back in and Daivari hits a Rock Bottom for two on Samir but Sunil grabs a rollup for the same. The hammerlock lariat finishes Sunil at 8:41.

Rating: C-. It’s nice to see the resident villains win here because they are going to put over every single person around here so switching them up for a change is not a bad idea. Now just find something else for them to do or maybe bring in some new villains and we might be in for a slightly better show.

We look at Jordan Devlin beating Kushida on NXT and having a staredown with Santos Escobar. Then Shawn Michaels came out to send in a ladder, turning the Cruiserweight Championship unification match into a ladder match. Makes sense in this case.

August Grey vs. Ashante Adonis

Adonis grabs the arm to start and cranks away but Grey walks through the ropes to counter into one of his own (a Nigel spot, much to his appreciation). Grey cradles him for two but gets powerslammed down for two more. A neckbreaker gives Adonis another two and he hammers away in the corner for a bit. Some elbow drops have the crowd trying to get Grey back to his feet, where Adonis spinebusters him back down.

We hit the chinlock on Grey but he forearms his way to freedom in a hurry. Adonis dropkicks him out to the floor but Grey walks the rope for a high crossbody to start the real comeback. A Michinoku Driver gets two on Adonis, who is right back with a knockdown of his own. Adonis’ dancing right hand to the mat sets up a spinning kick to the head for two. Grey sends him into the corner though and So Much Prettier finishes Adonis at 8:36.

Rating: C. It is a good idea to have these guys get the featured match this time around because you don’t see some fresh faces around here very often. This is one of the better things that they could do, even if the match was not quite a classic. It was perfectly fine, but it had some fresh faces and that is a good idea.

Post match Ariya Daivari comes out to raise Grey’s hand but Grey walks off to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This felt like the kind of show that we have seen more than once now and that is not the greatest news. The show doesn’t do much in the way of fresh ideas or new material and that has been the case for a long time now. Again though, it is a completely watchable show and seeing them get in and out in thirty minutes makes it that much easier. Not a great show or anything, but what else can you expect?

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