NXT
Date: March 17, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

We’re on the road to Takeover and this time around that means we have twice the usual amount of matches to set up. The end of last week’s show set up a pair of matches for Takeover and I’m curious to see what else they have for the show. Throw in a few more title matches to be set up and we could be in for a nice pair of shows. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at last week’s main event, followed by Kyle O’Reilly laying out Adam Cole and Karrion Kross confronting Finn Balor. There are your Takeover main events.

Here is Finn Balor, who says he is still champion. He has defeated everyone and at Takeover, Karrion Kross’ time is up. Cue Kross and Scarlett, with Kross saying this could never happen until the settled their other affairs. This had to be one on one because that is all that matters around here. The people need to know who the real champion is around here, as do the two of them. Balor says Kross doesn’t have what it takes to beat him so Kross promises to choke him out.

Scarlett says that she has already seen this in the cards: two champions, both draped in gold clashing. Cue Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch to say that Pete Dunne is going to be champion anyway because he’s the best in the world. Scarlett issues a challenge for the Tag Team Titles tonight but the champs don’t seem sure. That’s fine with Scarlett, who talks them into the match and we have a main event.

Austin Theory vs. Dexter Lumis

During the entrances, the rest of the Way talk to Theory on a tablet, with Johnny Gargano reminding him of what Lumis said about Theory’s abs. The bell rings and we take a break less than thirty seconds in (gah). Back with Theory hitting a fall away slam but having to elbow his way out of the Silence. Lumis is right back with a spinebuster and the jumping legdrop gets two.

A pop up uppercut rocks Theory again and there’s a slingshot suplex to make it worse. Lumis misses a dive off the top though and Theory hits a running forearm for two. What looks like a powerbomb is broken up and Lumis offers him a hand up. They stare each other down and Theory hugs him, earning himself the Side Effect into the Silence for the knockout at 9:49.

Rating: C-. This was the next step on the way to Johnny Gargano vs. Dexter Lumis at Takeover and in that vein, it worked out fine. It wasn’t a particularly good match but Lumis was doing a bit better with the storytelling here. You can do that in silence perfectly well, but Lumis is rarely the strongest in that area. I’m still not wild on him, though at least this was a bit better.

Tommaso Ciampa does not like Imperium jumping him last week and suggests that he took out Alexander Wolfe. The team won’t be standing after tonight.

Here’s Adam Cole for a chat. Cole is sick of Kyle O’Reilly, who he used at first but now O’Reilly is completely worthless. Last week O’Reilly came at him so Cole calls O’Reilly out here right now. Cole gets William Regal instead and it turns out that O’Reilly is not here due to his neck getting hurt again last week. O’Reilly pops up on the screen to say that he will deal with Cole in time, because Cole tried to end his career. This is not the Cole that he has known for eleven years and revenge is coming. Cole says if Regal won’t tell him where O’Reilly is, he’ll find him on his own.

We recap the Women’s Tag Team Titles being awarded and lost last week.

Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon still can’t believe they’re the champions but now it’s time to take care of business. The Robert Stone Brand comes in to challenge them for next week and it’s immediately accepted.

Jordan Devlin arrives in a very nice car.

Breezango vs. Legado del Fantasma

Fandango and Mendoza slug it out to start with Fandango hitting a clothesline to the back of the head. Another one to the front lets Breeze come in for two but Mendoza is back for a knee to the face. It’s off to Wilde into a basement crossbody for two but Breeze is right back to send Wilde into the corner. A jawbreaker rocks Fandango though and there’s the mocking of the dance. Fandango reverses a superplex attempt into a super gordbuster, only to get kicked out to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Fandango making the hot tag to Breeze to clean house via a stream of forearms. A half crab has Wilde in trouble and pulling it back to the middle makes it worse. Wilde escapes so Breeze catapults him over the top but Fandango misses a dive onto Mendoza. The Supermodel Kick gives Breeze two with Mendoza making the save. The Unprettier is broken up though and the Russian legsweep/running kick to the face finishes Breeze at 9:52.

Rating: C. Breezango continues to feel like such an unimportant team despite being former Tag Team Champions. This should wrap up the feud though as Jordan Devlin being back should let Legado need to be there to help Santos Escobar. The match was fine too with most of the action working well enough.

Post match Santos Escobar asks where Jordan Devlin is. Cue Devlin to say this is what a champion looks like. Escobar can drop his replica because the real champ is here to call him out. Escobar talks about redefining what it means to be a cruiserweight time after time. Devlin only has that title because everyone has forgotten about him. The challenge is made and Devlin hits a headbutt into the Devlin Side.

Adam Cole is going to find Kyle O’Reilly.

Cameron Grimes is on vacation, including swimming underwater while taking pictures and still wearing his hat.

Sarray is coming. I believe that has been in the works for about a year now.

Zoey Stark vs. Dakota Kai

Raquel Gonzalez is here with Kai. They fight over a lockup to start and take it to the mat before fighting over a top wristlock. Kai flips out but can’t get out, instead getting taken into a headlock. Stark takes her down into a hammerlock to crank on the arm. Back up and Kai sends her into the corner for the running knee to the face and two of her own. Stark jumps over her in the corner and sends Kai outside for the big slingshot dive. We take a break and come back with Kai hammering away for two but Starks grabs a neckbreaker.

A half nelson suplex lets Stark nip up but Kai catches her with the pump kick. They head to the apron with Stark hitting her own kick to the face. Kai gets sent inside, where she is able to superkick Stark out of the air. The running boot in the corner gets two off a heck of a kickout but Stark is back with a knee to the face. That lets her go up top, only to get kicked back down. The Go To Kick finishes Stark at 12:37.

Rating: C+. I like both of these two a good deal and it was interesting to see Kai do this well without Gonzalez getting involved. Stark continues to have a lot of potential and having her in there against some bigger names helps a lot. She needs to win something, but there is still a lot of time to get to that.

Post match Gonzalez and Kai yell at Stark but here’s Io Shirai to stare at Gonzalez and hand her a contract.

William Regal is interrupted because of something that has happened with Adam Cole.

The Grizzled Young Veterans say that MSK made a mistake and vengeance is coming.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Marcel Barthel

Ciampa jumps Fabian Aichner at ringside to start as Barrett thinks Alexander Wolfe and Timothy Thatcher have gone fishing. The bell rings and Ciampa hammers away but gets taken down into a headlock for some shots to the face. Ciampa fights up but Barthel steps on the knee to make it a chinlock. Back up and Barthel goes up, only to get dropkicked out of the air. Ciampa fights up and makes the comeback, including knocking Aichner off the apron. A running forearm drops Barthel and Willow’s Bell is good for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: C-. This was all about getting the two sides in the ring for a change. Ciampa vs. Imperium with Timothy Thatcher thrown in somewhere could be rather interesting. It is a different kind of feud for him and if it gives us some fresh matches and a way to get more Imperium on a bigger stage, everything will be fine.

Post match Ciampa is pleased….until Walter arrives. The rest of Imperium goes after Ciampa but alter walks him out with a chop into the powerbomb.

William Regal goes to the parking lot where Kyle O’Reilly is being arrested. Adam Cole shouts that O’Reilly tried to run him off the road but is being arrested too.

LA Knight is ready for his debut so he can prove that he is a megastar. Bronson Reed glares from behind.

LA Knight vs. August Grey

Knight runs him over to start and hits a slingshot shoulder. Grey’s O’Connor roll is broken up and Knight nails a powerslam. Cue Reed with Knight’s jacket, which he tears apart while trying to put on. The distraction lets Grey get a rollup for two and a neckbreaker puts Knight down again. Grey’s springboard spinning crossbody misses and a headlock driver finishes Grey at 2:22. Knight did his thing and the charisma alone will carry him a long way.

Raquel Gonzalez is happy with the contract to face Shirai but Dakota Kai comes up to say they need to face Shirai and Zoey Stark last week. They have lost twice in a row as a team and need to remind everyone who runs this place. How much running can you do of a division with about four teams that has been around for a few weeks?

Xia Li says resistance will not be tolerated and obstacles will be removed.

William Regal is ticked off and has a solution for Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly next week.

Tag Team Titles: Karrion Kross/Finn Balor vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch

Kross and Balor are challenging and have Scarlett with them. Kross throws Lorcan to start so it’s off to Burch, who is slammed face first into the mat. The bearhug goes on but a shot to the head breaks that up. The champs try a double suplex but Kross suplexes both of them instead, with Burch landing HARD on his shoulder. The referee checks on him and Kross has to just stand there as we take a break. Back with Balor armdragging Lorcan and grabbing the armbar.

Lorcan fights up and sends Balor into the corner for some chops. We hit the chinlock as we see the medic looking at Burch on the floor. Balor fights back but Lorcan is up to knock Kross off the apron. Some chops put Lorcan outside for the Sling Blade on the floor and there’s the John Woo dropkick, sending Lorcan crashing into Scarlett. Kross grabs Balor and sends him into the barricade before throwing him inside. Lorcan hits the running uppercut for the pin on Balor (who was out on his feet) at 10:59.

Rating: C+. This was much more angle than match and given how things went with Burch, this was fairly impressive. The entire point was to have Kross attack Balor and Scarlett served as his trigger. I didn’t think they would change the titles as it would be very un-NXT to do so, but now I don’t know where the titles are going if Burch is badly hurt.

Post match Kross destroys Lorcan before destroying Balor even worse. Kross chokes him out and drops the title on him to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Definitely not their strongest show but you can see where a lot of Takeover is going. They only have a few weeks left to set the show up and that is the kind of schedule that usually works well for NXT. This was a pretty off week for them, but given the amount of Coronavirus cases, that might not be the biggest surprise.

Results

Dexter Lumis b. Austin Theory – Silence

Legado del Fantasma b. Breezango – Russian legsweep/running kick to the face combination to Breeze

Dakota Kai b. Zoey Stark – Go To Kick

Tommaso Ciampa b. Marcel Barthel – Willow’s Bell

LA Knight b. August Grey – Headlock driver

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch b. Finn Balor/Karrion Kross – Running uppercut to Balor

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205 Live
Date: March 12, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

For once we’re coming off of a pretty strong show as last week saw good stuff in both of the show’s matches. The talent is there, but it is all about finding an interesting way to present it. This show has had a serious problem figuring it out along the way but hopefully they can start going in the right direction again. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Bollywood Boyz vs. Curt Stallion/Mansoor

Ever-Rise joins commentary for a bonus. Commentary mentions Mansoor being undefeated during his entrance as it seems to be a thing. Mansoor wristlocks Sunil to start but gets reversed into a headlock for his efforts. Samir comes in and it’s a pair of leapfrogs into a double back elbow for two on Mansoor. Some double dropkicks take the Boyz down but it’s too early for the hot tag.

A double suplex gets two on Mansoor and we hit the chinlock. Sunil holds Mansoor’s legs so Samir can drop a top rope elbow for two more. Mansoor manages to shove them into each other but doesn’t tag, instead fighting them both off on his own. A clothesline into a bulldog out of the corner drops Sunil and the slingshot neckbreaker hits Samir. Stallion tags himself in, glares at Mansoor, headbutts Sunil and pins Samir at 6:25.

Rating: C-. This could work as they do need to do something with Mansoor so feuding with Stallion could be as interesting as anything else. Above all else it is something and that is more than Mansoor has had this side of Saudi Arabia. I’m curious to see where it goes and that is something I haven’t been able to say about 205 Live in a good while.

Tensions seem ready to flare post match.

We see Jordan Devlin saying that he’s coming back to NXT from this week’s NXT.

Ariya Daivari vs. August Grey

They fight into the corner to start and Grey isn’t having this trash talk. Daivari takes him down into an early chinlock but Grey reverses that into a headlock. Grey throws in a takeover to frustrate Daivari even more but he’s back up with some hard chops. A running hurricanrana and some chops set up another headlock on Daivari but he’s back up with a knee to the ribs.

The threat of So Much Prettier sends Daivari bailing to the floor so Grey misses a dive and tweaks his knee. Daivari hits a hanging neckbreaker off the apron for two but Grey grabs a small package back inside. That annoys Daivari so much that he blasts Grey with a running clothesline and the chinlock goes on again. With that not working, Daivari misses the Persian Lion splash and Grey makes the comeback.

That means a double clothesline though and they’re both down again. It’s Grey up first and unloading in the corner, followed by some shots to the face. Grey snaps off a neckbreaker into a scoop brainbuster for two more. A swinging suplex gets two more so Grey heads up top, only to get pulled down in an Iconoclasm. Now the Persian Lion splash gets two so they head to the apron with Grey hitting something like an STO.

Back in and Grey misses his rope walk spinning crossbody for a big crash. Daivari gets caught grabbing the rope while trying to counter a sunset flip and stops to yell at the referee. Grey nails a superkick but So Much Prettier is broken up. Instead Grey avoids a charge in the corner and grabs a rollup with feet on the ropes for the pin at 13:16.

Rating: B. Where in the world did that come from? These two had a heck of a match and I was wanting to see how it was going to end. Grey is becoming a breakout star more and more every single week and it’s kind of awesome to see. The ending wasn’t a heel turn but rather Grey cheating because Daivari had tried to and balancing things out. It made sense and was a clever way to wrap up a good match.

Overall Rating: B-. I’m not sure what has gotten into 205 Live as of late but they are on a rather nice roll. This is their second good show in a row and the main event is worth seeing, even if you’re not overly familiar with either of them. I’ve been asking for the show to pick things up a bit and that is what they have been doing so well done on all accounts.

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205 Live
Date: March 5, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, St. Petersburg, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back to the cruiserweight show that doesn’t seem to exist as far as the Cruiserweight Champions are concerned. Now one might think that is a bad sign for the show, but it has been chugging along for so many years now that I’m not sure it makes the biggest difference in the world. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

August Grey/Jake Atlas vs. Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese

Grey scares Daivari into the corner to start so it’s off to Nese instead. A hammerlock takes Nese down in a hurry as Nigel says wins and losses matter around here. I’m not entirely sure how but you don’t argue with a British wrestler. Nese fights up and brings Daivari back in for a double suplex but Grey sticks the landing and makes the tag. Everything breaks down and Nese fakes a knee injury, allowing Daivari to crotch Atlas on top.

Daivari’s running boot to the face gets two and Nese is back in for a running elbow to the face. Atlas kicks him away though and Grey is smart enough to step around the post to make the hot tag. House is cleaned in a hurry but Daivari shoves Grey into the Sunset Driver for two. Everything breaks down and Atlas hits a suicide dive on Daivari, leaving Grey to hit So Much Prettier for the pin on Nese at 7:56.

Rating: C. Nice stuff here as Grey and Atlas were flying around while Nese and Daivari did their thing well enough. I know the stories aren’t going anywhere and they have been on the same treadmill for years now, but at least they are having some slightly better matches. Just please find something for them to move towards. Like anything, please.

Earlier today, Mansoor and Curt Stallion had a friendly discussion over what their tag team name should be. Then they agreed to a match against each other tonight.

We look at Legado del Fantasma beating up Ever-Rise and Breezango on NXT.

The Bollywood Boyz aren’t happy with Ever-Rise going to NXT without them.

Curt Stallion vs. Mansoor

Feeling out process to start with Mansoor driving him up against the ropes for the clean break. They go to the mat for the grappling exchange with Mansoor slapping on a hammerlock. That’s reversed into a headlock until Mansoor gets away for two off an Oklahoma roll. Back up and Mansoor grabs another headlock, which is reversed into a bridging German suplex for two. Mansoor nails a running clothesline for the same and the chinlock goes on.

Grey is right back up with an Air Raid Crash onto the knee and a running knee in the corner rocks Mansoor. A DDT into the corner (that’s a new one) gets two as Grey is getting frustrated. Mansoor counters a whip into a double underhook spun into a slam for two. Stallion headbutts him out to the floor and there’s a dive to take Mansoor down again. Back in and Stallion’s top rope splash hits knees but he catches Mansoor on top with a super reverse Spanish Fly. Mansoor sends him into the corner though and it’s the slingshot neckbreaker to finish Stallion at 10:32.

Rating: B. I’m still not sure why WWE is waiting for so long to do anything with Mansoor because he is one of the better names they have on the lower level of the card. This was a rather solid match with both guys working hard and looking good in the process. It’s one of the best 205 Live matches in recent memory and it’s very nice to see something like that after so many weeks of meh.

Post match respect is shown and commentary mentions that Mansoor is 41-0. There’s your stat that you probably never would have guessed.

Overall Rating: B-. As tends to be the case in WWE, the shows work so much better when they drop everything else and just focus on the wrestling. That is almost always the case around here, but this week’s main event was more than enough to carry things. I can’t imagine it means anything long term, but for a one off show, this was a lot of fun.

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

Another week, another 205 Live and I’m not sure how excited I can be about that. Hopefully this week winds up being a little better than usual because there isn’t much else to say about the whole thing. You never know what you might get out of this week’s show, but there is always a potential upside to the whole thing. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Mansoor/Curt Stallion vs. Ever-Rise

Stallion and Martel start things off with Parker taking him up against the ropes and then getting in a shove. That earns Martel a headlock takeover and then a shoulder gives Stallion one. It’s off to Mansoor vs. Parker as we continue the back to back first gears. Parker grabs a headlock but Mansoor reverses into one of his own. Stallion comes back in to keep up the headlocking and an elbow to the face gets two. It’s already back to Mansoor for two off a suplex, followed by a double armdrag to put both of them down at once.

Hold on though as here are the Bollywood Boyz to give Ever-Rise a pep talk, despite Ever-Rise not seeming interesting. Back in and a blind tag lets Martel come back in to powerbomb Mansoor and another blind tag lets Martel break up a sunset flip. Parker misses a step up elbow drop though and Stallion comes back in to start cleaning house. Stallion’s top rope splash hits raised knees as everything breaks down. Sweet Taste drops Mansoor and there’s a big boot to Stallion. Not that it matters though as the Boyz accidentally distract Parker and Mansoor grabs a rollup for the pin at 9:33.

Rating: C. This was fine again but the big question now is where we go with the Boyz vs. Ever-Rise. They have been doing these things for months now but with nothing in the way of a big show, it can be hard to figure out where this kind of thing is going to end. I’m sure the blowoff match is going to work well, though I’m not sure where it is actually going to take place.

We look back at Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese attacking August Grey and then beating him in last week’s main event.

Tony Nese vs. August Grey

Ariya Daivari and Jake Atlas are here too. Nese takes him down by the leg to start but gets reversed into an armbar. That’s broken up for a standoff and it’s Grey grabbing a slam but having to go after Daivari. Nese’s baseball slide doesn’t work but he gets in a cheap shot to the throat to take over. Back in and the Lionsault gets two so Grey is right back up with the spinning high crossbody for two of his own.

Nese grabs the gutwrench powerslam to take over again and we hit the bodyscissors. That doesn’t work either as Grey fights up with a jawbreaker into a neckbreaker. Nese catches him on the top but misses the 450. That’s enough to get Daivari on the apron so Grey can be tossed outside, meaning Daivari knocks Atlas silly. There’s the suicide dive from Grey to take out Nese and it’s So Much Prettier to finish Nese at 7:13.

Rating: C. Another completely watchable match which isn’t exactly something I would want to see again, or that I’m going to remember in the next five minutes or so. That is the problem with most of the matches on this show and that was the problem again here. I’m sure that is going to set up another tag match or something, because that’s how these shows always work on this show.

Overall Rating: C-. This was one of those shows that wasn’t exactly thrilling and didn’t make me want to keep watching in the future. That’s a common problem on this show and it keeps happening time after time. What on here is supposed to make me come back? The low level tag teams fighting each other? Another old vs. new tag match? I’d hope they can come up with something better, but I’ve been waiting for that one way too long now.

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205 Live
Date: February 19, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s another week and I still have no idea what to say about this show. Odds are it’s going to be Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari dealing with some other young whippersnappers because that’s all they have done for months. Oh and some Ever Rise/Bollywood Boyz stuff because that’s still going. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Curt Stallion/Jake Atlas/Ashante Adonis/Mansoor vs. Bollywood Boyz/Ever-Rise

Well it’s different enough. Mansoor and Martel get things going but it’s off to Parker in a hurry for a double shoulder. Samir comes in and gets caught in an armbar so Ashante comes in, only to get elbowed down by the Boyz. That doesn’t last long so it’s off to Martel vs. Atlas, the latter of whom helps Stallion shoulder Martel down for two. Parker comes in and gets caught in Stallion’s headlock as the rapid fire tagging continues.

Adonis comes back in and gets distracted by Martel, allowing the Boyz to take him down. We finally slow down a bit with Adonis getting beaten up by the rotating villains. Sunil grabs a chinlock for all of ten seconds before Adonis is sent back into the corner for more stomping. A drop toehold into an elbow to the back gets two and a top rope back elbow is good for the same.

Martel can’t slam Samir onto Adonis though and it’s off to Atlas to clean house. Everything breaks down again and Adonis dropkicks Parker for two. Mansoor’s Death Valley Driver gets the same but he gets taken down into the Power and the Glory (Did I miss Power and Glory becoming the most influential team ever???) for another two. A bit of miscommunication lets Mansoor grab a Falcon Arrow for two as everything breaks down again. Stallion comes in off the blind tag and headbutts Sunil for the pin at 9:59.

Rating: C+. It might not have been good, but it was absolutely energetic and that’s a lot better than the usual around here. I’m still not interested in the Ever Rise/Bollywood Boyz deal, but some kind of continuing story is better than none. Just find something for all eight of these people to do and this show might be able to get somewhere, because the talent is there.

Earlier today, Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese jumped August Grey for stealing his chains.

We look at Santos Escobar backing out of his match with Karrion Kross on NXT. The match happens next week or Escobar loses the title.

Karrion Kross is ready to end Escobar.

Ariya Daivari vs. August Grey

Tony Nese is on commentary. Grey goes at Daivari to start but gets hit in the ribs. An early attempt to go after Grey’s leg lets him kick Daivari to the floor, setting up a high crossbody back inside. A belly to back suplex gives Grey two but Daivari is right back with a DDT for the same. We hit the neck crank on Grey but he slips out and grabs a sunset flip for two.

There’s a neckbreaker to drop Daivari, who pops right back up with a sleeper. The Rock Bottom plants Grey for two more but Grey ducks the hammerlock lariat. A superkick connects to Daivari and they’re both down again. Grey sends him out to the apron and then clotheslines him to the floor but stops to glare at Nese. Daivari is sent inside but Nese holds up Daivari’s chains to distract Grey (they are rather shiny). The distraction lets Daivari get in a dropkick and the hammerlock lariat is good for the pin at 6:57.

Rating: C-. I’m not sure how many times this match has taken place, but the problem is that it feels like one we have seen a dozen or so times. As usual, that is one of the major problems around here: there is nothing to fight over and it becomes rather tiring in a hurry. The match was fine, but how interesting is Daivari vs. Grey really going to be able to be?

Overall Rating: C. And so ends another rather uninspiring edition of 205 Live. The opener was fun but that’s a pretty rare situation around here. The show has a lot of problems, but the biggest is the lack of anything to fight over. Daivari won the main event this week. Is that going to change anything? Is Daivari ever going to be moved up to another level? Of course not, as the Cruiserweight Champions (yeah remember there are two of them) are never here, so what is the point of this show? Other than giving the wrestlers a short show to say they’re still active, I’m missing the point, but when has that ever stopped them?

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205 Live
Date: February 5, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Things should be back to normal around here as we are almost all the way up to Takeover: Vengeance Day, meaning we are not going to have many more Dusty Classic matches to go around here. I’m not sure how much of an improvement that is going to be around here but we should be back to the usual cruiserweight action. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese vs. Sunil Singh/Matt Martel

Well it’s certainly different. This is the official burying of the hatches between Ever Rise and the Bollywood Boyz. Singh and Nese go to the mat to start until Singh armdrags him into an armbar. Nese powers up into a fireman’s carry but gets small packaged for two instead. Singh gets taken over to the corner so Daivari can come in. That doesn’t go well either as the tag brings in Martel….who hits Singh by mistake.

It’s already back to Singh, who gets taken into the corner and then suplexed down for two. Nese works on a waistlock but Singh fights up and rolls under Daivari’s clothesline. Martel gets to clean house in a hurry, including throwing some suplexes. Everything breaks down and Sunil drops a top rope elbow on Daivari with Nese making a save. Daivari drops Martel so Singh has to make a save so it’s time to bring in the chain. The referee throws that out but the distraction lets Nese hit the running Nese on Martel to give Daivari the pin at 7:51.

Rating: C-. I’m not sure how much of a difference there was in mixing the teams here but at least they did something different. If there is one major problem around here, it is having everything feeling so repetitive so just mixing it up a little bit like this can help a lot. Not a very good match, but at least it wasn’t something we have seen before.

We look at Legado del Fantasma’s success on NXT….until Karrion Kross took them out.

August Grey vs. Jake Atlas

They go to the mat to start with Grey grabbing a headlock as we hear about Jordan Devlin as the NXT UK Cruiserweight Champion. They trade armbars until Atlas drives him up against the ropes and puts on a cravate. Atlas even holds on as Grey slams him down but they get back up to fight over a backslide. With that not working, things get a little more serious with a slugout until Grey snaps off a hurricanrana.

Another right hand puts Atlas down again but he’s back with a big boot. Some kicks to the chest set up a standing moonsault but Grey is up before a count. It’s way too early for the cartwheel DDT though, meaning Atlas has to settle for a clothesline. Grey sends him outside for a suicide dive and then heads back in, with a spinning high crossbody finishing Atlas at 9:31.

Rating: C. That ending came so out of nowhere that I’m not completely sure it was the planned finish. You could see the referee talking to Atlas after it was over so maybe there was something wrong. Either way, it came at the end of a match that was ok at best, but that’s about what you would expect from the completely passable wrestlers in there.

Post match Daivari and Nese run in to beat down Atlas and Grey.

Overall Rating: C-. Yeah you could feel the lack of interest this time around and I’m thinking that is going to be the case around here going forward again. It was nice to have a few weeks with something different but now it is back to the same stuff that we have been seeing for years. This show keeps cycling through the same people and it has taken them about as far as it can. Get some fresh names in there, or at least try a bit harder.

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205 Live
Date: January 29, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We’re still in the middle of both Dusty Classics and that means another match taking up space on this show. That’s still a good idea too, because there is very little that 205 Live is going to be able to do that is anywhere near as important as something pretty big from NXT. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic so far.

Jake Atlas vs. Ariya Daivari vs. August Grey

Daivari takes over to start but Grey sends him outside for a suicide dive. Back in and Grey and Atlas fight over wrist control until Atlas cartwheels out of a hurricanrana attempt. Daivari misses a dive off the top, leaving the other two to keep fighting. Atlas gets knocked down though and Daivari flips Grey off the top onto him for two. With Atlas on the floor, Grey charges into an elbow to the face to give Daivari two more.

Grey gets chinlocked, which seems like a rather bad idea in a triple threat match. Indeed it is as Atlas comes back in to roll both of them up for two but Daivari knocks Atlas to the floor. Grey hits a high crossbody on Daivari but Atlas comes back in and everyone is knocked down. Atlas kicks Daivari in the face for two but Daivari is back up to hiptoss Grey into Atlas in the corner.

The Persian Lion splash gets two on Grey and Atlas is back in to hit him with a brainbuster. A dropkick puts Daivari on the floor but Grey is up with a superkick to Atlas. Grey dives onto Daivari and walks into a Stunner from Atlas, followed by the cartwheel DDT. Daivari breaks up the cover and hits Atlas with the chain for the knockout. Back in and the hammerlock lariat gives Daivari the pin on Grey at 10:58.

Rating: C. I felt like I was watching an indy show here with three people thrown into the match for no apparent reason other than they felt like they needed to have a triple threat match. The action was fine, but this match really did show you just how low level the 205 Live regulars seem to be.

We see Curt Stallion’s NXT promo about having a rocket attached to his back. Then he was attacked so the title match was off for the night. William Regal came in and yelled at Legado del Fantasma, setting up the match for next week.

Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Zoey Stark/Marina Shafir vs. Shotzi Blackheart/Ember Moon

I think they’re smart to put this one on 205 Live. This is Stark’s debut and she starts with Blackheart, who is launched into the corner with some straight power. Moon comes in and it’s a double dropkick for two on Stark, who is already requiring cheating to take her down. It’s off to Shafir, who wrestles Moon down for two and a slam onto Stark’s knees gets two more. Moon kicks away from a cradle but Shafir flips forward to slap her in the face.

You don’t do that to Moon as everything breaks down, with Shotzi hitting a running hip attack to both of them in 619 position. Blackheart’s reverse Sling Blade plants Shafir but Stark gets in a cheap shot from the apron to put her in trouble. Stark comes back in to stomp away and drives some knees into Blackheart’s arm. A reverse t-bone suplex from Shafir sets up Stark’s running knee for two with Moon having to make a save. Shotzi enziguris her way to freedom though and the hot tag brings in Moon. Everything breaks down and Moon ties Stark up in a modified STF for the tap at 8:52.

Rating: C+. Stark came off like a potential star here and looked a lot more polished than most you’ll see in their debut. Granted it helps when you come in with this much experience from outside WWE and you could see it on display here. Shafir continues to be someone who looks like she needs more experience, but how much can you get when you’re only on TV once a….what, year or so? Then there’s Moon, who still feels like someone who isn’t close to being back to where she was before the injury. Shotzi and Stark had the energy here though and Stark got a heck of a rub.

Overall Rating: C. This wasn’t the strongest show and some of that is due to the matches not feeling important. They didn’t exactly give you much to get excited about here and you could feel how weak the card came off. That has been a problem for 205 Live for a long time and having a low level Dusty Classic match didn’t help that feeling. Not a bad show, but something that you absolutely did not need to watch, even for just over half an hour.

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: January 15, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, FloridaCommentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

Things are going to take a bit of a turn this week as the show is going to be dedicated to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. This is where 205 Live can be rather useful, as there are going to be quite a few tournament matches which NXT does not have time to present. Let 205 Live take some of the pressure off of things and NXT can get more important stuff done. Let’s get to it.

We open with a look back at the first batch of Dusty Classic matches from NXT, plus a preview of tonight’s two matches.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Legado del Fantasma vs. Bollywood Boyz

Santos Escobar is here with Legado. Sunil grabs a headlock on Mendoza to start but that’s broken up in a hurry. A monkey flip into a clothesline to the floor has Mendoza in trouble and it’s off to Samir. Wilde comes in as well and gets armbarred down in a hurry. A quick ram into the corner has Wilde in trouble but a Mendoza distraction lets Wilde grab a DDT. There’s the double suplex for two on Samir and the cravate goes on.

Back up and Mendoza misses a charge into the post and the hot tag brings in Sunil for the comeback. The spinwheel kick drops Mendoza but Sunil goes after Wilde. It actually works this time as Sunil hits a top rope ax handle for two on Mendoza. Everything breaks down and a superplex into a top rope elbow gets two on Mendoza as Wilde makes a save. Samir gets taken down on the floor and a running boot/Russian legsweep combination sends Legado on at 9:48.

Rating: C. This was the serious version of the Boyz and it worked a lot better than usual as a result. The dancing stuff does suit them rather well but it’s nice to see them actually do the more traditional thing once in awhile. Legado was good as usual, but I’m not sure how bright their tournament futures really are.

Killian Dain is still sick of Drake Maverick.

The Women’s Dusty Classic is here next week.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Killian Dain/Drake Maverick vs. August Grey/Curt Stallion

Stallion shoulders Maverick down to start but gets sent outside so Maverick can dance. Back in and a dropkick into an armdrag has Stallion in trouble so it’s off to Grey. The staredown is enough to bring in Dain and it’s a drop toehold into a backsplash. Dain picks Maverick up to use him as a weapon (Maverick: “PUT ME DOWN!”). Grey and Stallion are sent outside, with Maverick telling Dain to dive. Instead Dain picks Maverick up to throw at them for the big crash.

Back in and Maverick wonders why Dain wouldn’t dive while getting two on Stallion. A backbreaker gets Stallion out of trouble though and it’s back to Grey for a headlock. That is switched into a headlock but Maverick fights up and brings in Dain for the serious house cleaning. A crossbody gets two on Grey but he’s back up with a superplex into a German suplex for two on Maverick. Dain has had enough of this and powerbombs Stallion, followed by powerbombing Drake onto him for the pin at 10:00.

Rating: C. Maverick and Dain are growing on me quite a bit (I bet it’s the whistling) as Maverick’s charisma is enough to carry just about anything to watchable. Throw in Dain as the monster and they’re a nice little oddball team. I’m not sure why Stallion needed to take a fall, but odds are he holds that title shot for months to come anyway so it hardly destroys him.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling was completely average but I can go with burning a show off like this and having something good come of it at the same time. Not only did they get some tournament matches out of the way, but they didn’t waste anything they had coming on the regular 205 Live. Not too bad here, even if the two winning teams aren’t exactly heavy favorites.

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: January 8, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We continue the waiting around for Curt Stallions Cruiserweight Title shot, which has been set up for months now. I’m not sure what they’re waiting on, but at this point they need to have something special planned for the whole thing. You never can tell if that is going to play a role in this week’s show but maybe they’ll surprise us. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ashante Adonis vs. Ariya Daivari

Adonis’ headlock doesn’t last long as Daivari knees him in the ribs and hits a dropkick. Daivari chops away in the corner but it just seems to annoy Adonis, who hammers away in the corner. A spinebuster gives Adonis two and there’s a dropkick to put Daivari on the floor. Back in and a missed charge in the corner allows Daivari to wrap the leg around the post.

Daivari kicks him in the face but the Figure Four attempt is countered into a small package for two. Adonis manages to knock Daivari outside for a breather and it’s time to strike away back inside. A DDT rocks Daivari and it’s a flapjack to do it again. The knee gives out to break up the Long Kiss Goodnight though and Daivari slaps on the Figure Four. That’s turned over after a bit of a struggle so Daivari grabs the Rock Bottom for two. The hammerlock lariat misses and the Long Kiss Goodnight finishes Daivari at 8:48.

Rating: C+. Better than I expected here as Daivari loses again to put someone else over. I’m not sure how many more matches he (and Tony Nese) can lose like this with anything still mattering but at least they’re trying to set up the next generation. You can only get so far with the same two people putting the same people over again and again, but it’s better than nothing.

William Regal announces that 205 Live will be hosting some Dusty Classic matches. Good, as there’s no need to cram them all onto NXT.

We look at Santos Escobar successfully defending the Cruiserweight Title against Gran Metalik on Wednesday.

August Grey/Curt Stallion vs. Bollywood Boyz

The Boyz now have a Go Pro camera. Grey cranks on Sunil’s arm to start but has to kick out of an early crucifix attempt. Grey’s rollup gets two and the armdrag into the armbar keeps Sunil in trouble. Stallion comes in off a blind tag to hit a dropkick and it’s off to Sunil as well. The Boyz are cleared out in a hurry but it’s back to Sunil vs. Grey. This time it’s Grey being knocked outside for a cheap shot so the Boyz can take over.

The chinlock goes on back inside, followed by a jawbreaker into a middle rope bulldog. We hit the chinlock again but Sunil lets go so he can knock Stallion off the apron. The Bollywood Blast connects with Stallion having to make a save. Grey avoids a charge in the corner though and now it’s Stallion coming in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Stallion dives onto Samir on the floor. Back in and the running headbutt drops Sunil and Grey’s run the ropes Unprettier finishes at 9:33.

Rating: C. Fine enough match here, though I’m curious as to why you would have the Boyz lose when they are already announced for the Dusty Classic. I know you don’t want to have Stallion or Grey take a fall, but maybe it would be better to not have the match in the first place. Either way, Grey getting the pin is a bit better as it’s not like Stallion needs that much more momentum with the title match off somewhere in the distance.

Overall Rating: C. I liked the wrestling and I want to see where some of this stuff, including the Dusty Classic matches goes. The problem is still the same though: having the same batch of people on here every few weeks and trading wins and losses. If only there was another show they could go to and actually get a chance to do something fresh for a change. Nah that’s absurd, as it would suggest that 205 Live is anything more than a dumping ground.

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:

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

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205 Live
Date: December 11, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

The rise of the new guys continues around here and that’s a good thing. Curt Stallion is leading the pack and I could go with the title match against Santos Escobar. It’s nice that they’re building things up a bit as while Stallion is unlikely to win the title, he is gaining a lot with the victories that are setting it up. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tony Nese/Ariya Daivari vs. Bollywood Boyz

Nigel dancing with the Bollywood Boyz is always worth a chuckle. Samir fights off the early double teaming attempt and it’s off to Sunil for two off a clothesline. A double suplex gets two more but the way too early Bollywood Blast attempt misses. Nese comes back in with a chinlock and then a torture rack, which looks quite impressive on someone who can be bent around like Samir.

That’s broken up and Nese dropkicks Daivari by mistake, allowing the hot tag to Sunil. Everything breaks down and the superkicks abound, meaning that NOW the Bollywood Blast can connect for two. Nese makes the save but it’s Daivari hitting a Rock Bottom on Samir. The Running Nese knocks out Sunil on the floor and the Persian Lion splash finishes Samir at 5:22.

Rating: C-. Just a match here as the Bollywood Boyz’ fall continues. It’s not a big deal to lose to Daivari and Nese, as they needed a boost after their losses to the young guys. It helps when the Boyz have more charisma than they know what to do with and my goodness it’s a lot easier to watch them as faces. Not a good match, but at least it helped the bigger names.

Curt Stallion/Ashante Adonis/August Grey vs. Legado del Fantasma

This is a rematch from the Takeover: WarGames bonus match, which apparently only aired on the YouTube channel a few days after the show. Adonis and Mendoza start things off with Adonis driving him into the corner without much trouble. They trade headlocks until Adonis shoulders him down. Wilde tries to come in and gets caught in a flapjack, followed by a kick to the face to put Escobar on the floor.

Stallion comes in but the distraction lets Mendoza knee him from behind to take over. Escobar hits a heck of a chop for two on Stallion but he kicks Wilde into the corner, allowing the tag to Grey. A gutwrench powerbomb gets two on Wilde and a victory roll gets the same on Mendoza. Escobar low bridges Grey to the floor though and it’s time to take Grey into the corner.

Some running clotheslines in the corner have Grey in more trouble and a suplex into a splash gives Mendoza two. We hit the cravate (with Escobar giving tips on how to crank) but Grey slips out and makes the hot tag to Stallion to clean house. Stallion’s top rope splash hits Wilde for two with Mendoza having to make the save. Everything breaks down and Stallion rolls Wilde up for the pin at 9:54.

Rating: C+. This is where 205 Live has been doing well as of late. No this stuff has no value anywhere else and no the title match isn’t going to be the most important thing, but they are making it feel like a big deal around here. The match and the build are being treated as something important and that is what makes this feel so much better. Good enough match too, with Stallion’s roll continuing.

Post match Escobar loads up a cheap shot on Stallion but Grey and Adonis make the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The main event means a lot more and it carries the show well enough. I’m not sure when they are finally going to get to the title match, but they have done a good job of turning what should be nothing into something I kind of want to see. That’s amazing for a show like 205 Live and this is working out rather well. Good enough show here though and that means a lot for probably the lowest show on the WWE menu.

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