IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: December 12, 2018
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re in an interesting place here as we have a Cruiserweight Title match set for Sunday, and that means we need something to fill in the gap before then. There’s a good chance that we’ll get a hard sell for the title match so whatever else we get could be rather interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick introduces the show and explains tonight’s matches: Buddy Murphy and Cedric Alexander will be facing wrestlers Maverick has chosen. Murphy will face Gran Metalik while Alexander will face Tony Nese.

Buddy Murphy vs. Gran Metalik

Non-title. Kalisto and Lince Dorado are here, complete with pinatas. Murphy takes him straight down by the arm without much effort and gets reversed even faster. A few pulls of the mask keep Metalik down but he nips back up and scares Murphy into the corner. With Murphy knocked out to the floor, it’s a flip dive to put him in even more trouble.

A hurricanrana gives Metalik two but another flip dive off the middle rope is countered into a running suplex. The chinlock goes on (duh) for a few moments until Metalik fights up and drives Murphy into the corner for the eventual break. The rope walk dropkick gives Metalik two, followed by a superkick into the Metalik Driver for the same.

Murphy rolls away before Metalik can come off the to and it’s Metalik going hard into the announcers’ table. Back in and a top rope Meteora gives Murphy two but he charges into a superkick. Metalik’s moonsault misses and a Batista Bomb (that’s becoming popular around here) is good for another near fall. Murphy’s Law is countered into a rollup for two but Metalik springboards into a successful second attempt for the pin at 12:01.

Rating: B. Yeah this worked and served as a great way to showcase what Murphy can do. A lot of the time champions’ skills are forgotten due to them hiding behind the title but that wasn’t the case here, which made for a heck of a performance. Metalik more than did his part too and is quite great in his own right. Just get him away from the Lucha House Party shenanigans every now and then and those talents will show off even more.

We look back at Drew Gulak attacking Brian Kendrick last week.

Maverick tells Kendrick and Akira Tozawa that they’re going to be in a street fight with Gulak and Jack Gallagher next week. Kendrick talks about manipulating a lot of people and no one more than Tozawa. Now though, he’s a changed man. Tozawa agrees that he’s a changed man, but he looks the same. There seems to be an idea at hand.

Gulak and Gallagher say they attacked Kendrick in an attempt to save him. That will continue in the street fight.

We look back at the newly aggressive Ariya Daivari.

Daivari is tired of all the flash and no fight around here. Hideo Itami comes in to say he approves. That explanation has been used by WAY too many characters as of late.

Tony Nese vs. Cedric Alexander

Cedric backs him into the corner to start and we hit a quick pose with Alexander showing off his own muscles. An exchange of wristlocks doesn’t get either of them very far as it would seem that they have a lot of time here. Nese goes after the foot but Cedric headscissors him over, right onto his feet. Cedric scores with a dropkick and sends him outside but gets smacked in the face as he goes up top.

A neck snap across the top rope sets up a springboard moonsault for two on Cedric. The bodyscissors stays on the ribs but Cedric fights out, only to get taken down into a chinlock with a knee in his back. Cedric fights up and this time avoids the shot to the face in the corner, setting up the springboard Downward Spiral. A knee to the jaw in the corner and a springboard clothesline give Cedric two and Nese is rocked.

Nese starts striking away until Cedric kicks him hard in the head for another near fall. Alexander gets rocked by a forearm to the face and a running crossbody for two, with Nigel swearing over how close it was. Cedric is right back with a spinning elbow to the face but the Neutralizer is countered into a somewhat messed up Samoan drop for two more.

With Alexander on the floor, Nese hits a heck of a Fosbury Flop dive to take him out again. Back in and Nese misses the 450, allowing Alexander to snap off a Michinoku Driver for two of his own. Nese flips out of the Lumbar Check so Alexander Neuralizes him into the Lumbar Check for the pin at 13:53.

Rating: B. Another good performance from both guys here as Nese has gotten a lot better over the course of the year. Alexander has been great all along and there’s a reason he’s getting this kind of a push even after his long title reign. The match on Sunday should be very solid, and if you throw in Ali, who you know isn’t done.

Post match Murphy runs in, gets sent to the floor and taken out with a flip dive, and poses with the title on the stage to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Well let’s see. Two very good matches and a strong build towards the only match they have on Sunday with a match being set up for next week as well. The title scene is starting to heat up and if the rest of the show can live up to it, they’ve got something very special around here. Check this one out if you want to see a really strong show and what 205 Live can pull off when they’re focused.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: November 28, 2018
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

Things are in a bit of a holding pattern around here at the moment as Buddy Murphy doesn’t have a challenger but is involved in a tag match tonight, teaming with Tony Nese against Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander. Other than that I’m sure we’ll be in for the normal midcard shenanigans, which can be hit or miss. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick previews the show and yes we are supposed to take him seriously after what happened on Raw. I love how WWE thinks that’s how it works, like they’re different continuities or something.

Opening sequence.

Mike Kanellis vs. Noam Dar

Fallout from Kanellis costing Dar a match recently. Kanellis slaps at Dar’s hands in the corner to start as Maria sits in on commentary. Dar gets in a kick to the leg and waves at Maria to a reaction quieter than a golf clap. For some reason Dar goes outside (presumably to look at Maria) and gets jumped from behind, with Mike hitting a suplex. Back in and we hit the chinlock as Maria tries to explain the power of love.

The hold doesn’t last long as Dar pops up with a running dropkick to the head as the arena is just quiet. A spinebuster gets Kanellis out of trouble and here’s the Lucha House Party for a distraction. With Dorado and Metalik on the stage, Kalisto kicks Mike in the head, setting up the Nova Roller to give Dar the pin at 3:52.

Rating: D. Is anyone else really getting sick of the Lucha House Party? I know they’re there for some fun and can get the fans a little more energetic than most things (like this match for example) but they’re getting more annoying every week. Dar isn’t much better and I’m not sure about having him beat Mike. While Mike isn’t great, Maria is a gem with some presence to her and it shows off on commentary. Too short to mean much, but not exactly good.

Brian Kendrick and Akira Tozawa are warming up with Tozawa getting on Kendrick’s nerves just enough to bring out the aggression. Tozawa’s hands hurt after Kendrick pounds the gloves so hard.

Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher talk about how Kendrick used to be their friend but then he changed. Gulak uses some word that he doesn’t understand so Gallagher helps him out a bit in a funny moment. Next week: Gulak vs. Kendrick.

Hideo Itami vs. Levy Cruise

Itami isn’t playing around tonight and blasts Cruise in the face to start. The kick to the back lets Itami shout RESPECT ME and believe it or not, the reactions are getting even quieter. Cruise is draped over the top rope for the jumping knee to the back and there’s the hesitation dropkick in the corner. The spinning knee to the head finishes Cruise at 1:27.

Post match the beatdown continues but Ariya Daivari of all people comes out to interrupt. Dude you still work here? And never mind as he helps beat on Cruise before saying he respects Itami. Egads man, how much more boring can they get with these two?

TJP asks Drake Maverick why he can’t be #1 contender but Maverick says no because Gran Metalik beat him last week. That means another mention of the Cruiserweight Classic, which doesn’t quite work. TJP finally brings up Maverick’s stuff from Raw but the Kanellises come in to say they want the Lucha House Party. Maria doesn’t want to hear from TJP, but does want a tornado tag match is made for next week. Maverick agrees and tosses them.

Mustafa Ali/Cedric Alexander vs. Buddy Murphy/Tony Nese

Alexander and Nese start things off with the traditional exchange of wristlocks. Nese avoids a moonsault and nips up to duck a clothesline. That’s fine with Alexander, who snaps off a dropkick for two, complete with a glare at Murphy. It’s off to Ali for a quick dropkick to the side of the head so Murphy comes in and gets dropkicked as well. The tag brings Alexander back in and Murphy immediately bails for the tag back to Nese.

A quick distraction lets Murphy hit a running knee to the face though and now he’s willing to take over on Alexander. Some knees to the ribs set up a bodyscissors from Nese but Alexander is up in a hurry. The hot tag brings in Ali to pick up the pace with a shot to the face and the Batista Bomb for two. Murphy blocks the tornado DDT through raw power though and Nese gets in a cheap shot from the apron. Nese comes in legally and steps on Ali’s hair (Nigel: “Could be an accident, you never know.”) before it’s back to Murphy for a hard clothesline.

Ali gets in a double clothesline to put both villains on the floor but Murphy pulls Alexander off the apron to break up the hot tag attempt. A spinning kick to Murphy’s face is finally enough for the hot tag and Alexander comes in with the springboard Flatliner for two on Nese. Alexander shoves Nese into the corner to crotch Murphy and it’s back to Ali, who goes up top with Alexander to get Murphy.

Since that’s a bit crowded up top (not to mention with Nese beneath the three of them), Murphy and Ali both fall down to the floor in some scary looking crashes. Alexander nails Nese with a dive and throws Murphy back in for a tornado DDT from Ali. The Lumbar Check finishes Murphy at 13:31.

Rating: B. Even with someone like Nese (who shockingly didn’t take the pin) in there, this felt like a big time tag match and a good main event. Alexander getting his rematch makes sense after how long he held the title so it’s hard to argue with the result. Ali will almost certainly be a factor going forward and that’s the best for almost everyone involved.

Overall Rating: C. The main event is all that matters here but there’s only so much you can get out of a third of the show when the rest of it isn’t exactly thrilling stuff. Murphy is turning into a much more interesting champion than I was expecting and his match with Alexander or another match with Ali could be entertaining. Other than that there isn’t much here, but that can change week to week.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: November 7, 2018
Location: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re across the pond this week with another show as we now have a new #1 contender for the Cruiserweight Title. Speaking of champion Buddy Murphy, he’ll be facing Mark Andrews tonight as a little bit of an international showdown. Other than that, it’s hard to say what we might be seeing around here but lately, that’s not the worst thing in the world. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick praises Mustafa Ali for becoming #1 contender and previews tonight’s show.

Opening sequence.

TJP/Mike Kanellis vs. Lucha House Party

Kalisto and Dorado for the House Party here. Dorado and TJP lock up to start with TJP going straight for the mask. Instead it’s off to Kalisto for some dancing and an armdrag. The fast pace continues with Dorado coming in for a splash and it’s off to Kanellis. The villains are sent outside and we get some double bicep poses from the masked guys. Back in and Dorado dropkicks Kanellis into an armdrag but it’s a cheap shot from TJP to take over.

Some running corner clotheslines keep Kanellis in control until TJP comes in and misses a running knee in the corner. The diving tag brings in Kalisto and it’s time to speed things up in a hurry. Kanellis comes in off a blind tag though and pulls Kalisto to the floor for a Russian legsweep into the barricade (with what has to be his third heard spot call of the match). Back in and the rib work continues but Kalisto reverses a waistlock into a DDT to bring in Dorado.

House is cleaned and a moonsault gets two on TJP. A double Golden Rewind cuts off the villains and it’s the stereo moonsaults to the floor for the big crash. TJP is fine enough to grab the very fast kneebar with Kalisto having to make the save. With Kalisto back outside, TJP pulls off the mask and celebrates, even though Dorado’s second mask is visible the second the first one comes off. A little dancing and a hurricanrana finish TJP at 10:07.

Rating: C. Not too bad here and it’s a good sign that TJP took the fall. Kanellis is still new around here and there’s no need to have him take a loss this early with TJP around. If nothing else it gives the House Party a win back after all the losses as the feud with TJP continues. The luchadors are still the right choice to open this show and that’s not the biggest surprise in the world. It’s a good act and the fans have fun with them so they’ll likely be around for awhile.

Post match TJP and Kanellis are ready to keep going but Maria says she’s got this.

Cedric Alexander was training at the Performance Center (with Steve Corino) when Lio Rush came in to mock Alexander for his losing streak. A match is made for next week.

Lio Rush vs. Josh Morrell

Morrell tells him to bring it and scores with an early enziguri. He heads up top so Rush shows him how to really hit one of those things, knocking Morrell out to the floor. A pretty hard Cannonball sets up the Final Hour for the pin on Morrell at 2:04. Rush getting ticked off because someone got in a shot on him is a good way to go and shows you how well he can do when the cockiness is knocked away.

Post match Rush talks about Alexander going back to the Performance Center and how hard he’s been working. That’s fine, but no one works harder than Rush. Next week, the Age of Alexander meets its final hour. Nice promo from Rush here as he was more serious than usual.

Video on Mark Andrews.

Mustafa Ali says he used to be called a baby but now he’s called the heart and soul of 205 Live. At Wrestlemania, he had a chance to be called champion and since then, he’s been fighting to get another chance. That’s the chance he has now and he’ll be called champion. I want to see him win and that’s not a feeling I often have.

Buddy Murphy vs. Mark Andrews

Non-title. The much bigger Murphy powers him into the corner so Andrews gets smart by slipping out and armdragging him down. The standing moonsault misses and that’s an early standoff. A quick run around the ring lets Andrews get two off a sunset flip back inside and Murphy gets kicked to the floor. Andrews hits a flip dive into a hurricanrana but gets lawn darted into the middle buckle back inside. A backbreaker makes things even worse for Andrews and the armbar goes on.

Andrews jawbreaks his way to freedom and hits a sick looking reverse hurricanrana (Murphy landed on top of his head) to send the champ outside. That means another shot to knock him over the announcers’ table and a diving forearm over the table keeps Murphy in trouble. Andres nails a flip dive off the steps and a standing corkscrew moonsault gets two. A moonsault into a tornado DDT is countered into a sitout powerbomb and Murphy is looking much better. Stundog Millionaire makes things a little worse but the shooting star hits raised knees. Murphy’s Law gives Murphy the pin at 10:58.

Rating: C+. Pretty good match here with Andrews getting to showcase himself a lot. There’s nothing wrong with losing to the champ, who gets a nice win here as well. They’re setting Murphy up for the big showdown with Ali and it’s a good idea to remind people that he really is good at what he does.

Overall Rating: C+. England suits this show well with a good night of action for the most part. This was a more story advancing show and that’s all well and good with the title match at Survivor Series and a big match set for next week as well. Above all else though I want to see Ali win the title and that’s a good way to get you invested in the next few shows. Nice stuff tonight, which isn’t much of a surprise.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 3, 2018
Location: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness

The road to Australia wraps up here as we’ve got one more show before Super Show-Down. That likely means one more segment between Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander and #1 contender Buddy Murphy, along with more between TJP and the Lucha House Party. You know, for a change. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening preview.

Opening sequence.

The empty seats are back with a vengeance this week.

Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher

Gallagher takes him up against the ropes to start so Tozawa shouts in his face. Tozawa takes it to the mat and it’s time to start fighting over a leglock. The pinfall reversal sequence gives us a reversing sequence of pinfall attempts until Tozawa kicks him in the chest. That sets up the backsplash because almost every wrestling match today needs a backsplash. Gallagher bails and Drew Gulak is a good enough villain to trip Tozawa so Jack can take over.

The chinlock goes on but even Gallagher knows how boring that is so he hammers away instead. Now it’s the longer form chinlock, plus a stomp to the arm. The double arm crank just seems to annoy Tozawa though as he kicks Gallagher to the floor for the suicide dive. Back in and the Black Widow has Gallagher in trouble but you don’t try holds on a British wrestler. Gallagher quickly reverses into a leglock to keep Tozawa down. With that not working, Gallagher takes him up top, which is rarely a good idea in general. Tozawa shoves him down and drops the top rope backsplash for the pin at 8:34.

Rating: C-. There was a story here with Tozawa getting a win back after he went with what worked well for him in the first place. Gallagher on the other hand had his success with the technical wrestling but then got out of his comfort zone. Tozawa could be a top star on the show at the drop of a hat, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the trio is split up soon.

Post match Gulak says the team hasn’t been successful lately so it’s time for the return of the POWERPOINT PRESENTATION! His plan for a better 205 Live includes no mercy, which is why he didn’t win the Cruiserweight Title. Starting right now, this team has no place for weakness or weak links. No place for former Cruiserweight Champions who have lost their edge and are dead weight holding Gulak back.

Gulak goes after Kendrick but gets sent outside, leaving Gallagher to take the Captain’s Hook. You never put a hold on when there are two people around though and Drew comes back in for the Gulock. Good enough angle, especially if you ignore Gallagher losing and Kendrick being called the weak link.

Video on Murphy vs. Alexander, complete with both of them training for the match. That’s a touch I haven’t seen in a very long time and it’s cool to see it back.

Drake Maverick says that Hideo Itami and Mustafa Ali will face off again, though no details are given.

Next week: Lio Rush’s Open Challenge.

Kalisto vs. TJP

They go right into the test of strength with TJP taking him to the mat into a double bridge. Kalisto monkey flips TJP down as well so TJP monkey flips over, only to have Kalisto land on his feet. A crossbody gives Kalisto two and it’s off to the armbar to slow things down. Back up and Kalisto dances a bit, followed by a slightly botched headscissors to the floor. The teased dive has TJP cowering away and he charges into a rollup for two more back inside.

Kalisto tries his hand walk again and gets dropkicked in the ribs this time, followed by another dropkick to the floor. Back in and TJP ties up the legs before tearing the back of the mast off. Good, as that tail thing looked stupid. The double arm crank (that’s popular around here) goes on until Kalisto fights up and tries a springboard but TJP is right there with a Russian legsweep in a cool counter.

TJP rolls some suplexes for two and the chinlock goes on for a few seconds. The Swanton misses though and Kalisto starts kicking away, including his rolling kick to the head. It’s too early for the Salida Del Sol so Kalisto settles for an enziguri instead. TJP is right back with an Iconoclasm of all things off the top but he goes up again, allowing Kalisto to pull him back down for a big crash.

A dropkick to the knee cuts Kalisto off again though and the kneebar goes on in the middle of the ring. Kalisto rolls him up for two and eventually dives over to the rope for the break. With nothing else working, TJP goes for the mask like a true villain. Cue Lince Dorado for the save, allowing Kalisto to grab a rollup pin at 14:27.

Rating: B-. Good match but it never reached the kind of level that these two are capable of hitting. Kalisto winning was a bit of a surprise and even though it wasn’t clean, it does him some good after losing so many times. TJP is still a star who should be on the main roster but why do that when you can have him toiling here?

Post match TJP steals the mask and runs off to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a pretty lifeless show as there was little to get excited over, mainly due to the Cruiserweight Title match being set for Saturday. That’s a constant problem in WWE and something that keeps happening no matter what. The show wasn’t bad, but it’s nothing that you need to see. Hopefully Saturday’s match is and things get better as we move forward.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 11, 2018
Location: Cajundome, Lafayette, Louisiana
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Vic Joseph

We continue to build towards the Cruiserweight Title match between Champion Cedric Alexander and Buddy Murphy, though there’s also Drew Gulak running around, which could mean a few things. There’s a chance we’ll see another title match between now and the Australia show and that might be a little more interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening card rundown.

Opening sequence.

There are still a lot of empty seats but it’s a far better situation than last week.

Buddy Murphy vs. Gran Metalik

They trade some very early and non-near falls to start and we have a standoff. Metalik knocks him to the floor but Murphy ducks the baseball slide and punches him in the face. That goes nowhere and Metalik hits a moonsault off the top to take Murphy down again. Back in and Murphy sends him face first into the post to set up the chinlock.

That doesn’t do much so Murphy puts him on the top, earning himself a sunset bomb for a big crash as Murphy is in trouble. A reverse Sling Blade (more of a bulldog than a clothesline) sets up a springboard back elbow for two but the Metalik Driver isn’t happening. Murphy crotches him on top and hits a double powerbomb for two of his own.

An exchange of kicks to the face sets up the Metalik Driver for two and they’re both in trouble. Metalik tweaks his knee on a backflip though and Murphy knees him in the head. Wouldn’t it make more sense to knee him in the knee? Either way it sets up Murphy’s Law for the pin at 10:45.

Rating: C. I’m pretty much over watching any combination of Murphy/Tony Nese fighting with the Lucha House Party but who else is Murphy supposed to beat up before he gets his title shot in Melbourne? The match was perfectly watchable but they were stuck underneath a firm ceiling and that was obvious here.

Post match Murphy says that’s one step closer to the title at Super Show-Down.

Mustafa Ali has been medically cleared to return to the ring.

We look back at Ali’s medical issues, which have put him somewhat at odds with Drake Maverick.

Cedric Alexander comes in to see Ali. After pleasantries are exchanged, Alexander mentions that he’s teaming with Akira Tozawa tonight. Tozawa is rather intimidating.

Mustafa Ali vs. Michael Thompson

Before the match, here’s Hideo Itami to interrupt and speak some Japanese to Ali. Actually he missed Ali and hopes that he’s feeling better. Ali chops away to start and hits the rolling X Factor. Looking up at Itami doesn’t matter much as it’s the tornado DDT into the 054 for the pin at 1:45. Well Ali is back.

Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher come in to see Maverick before their main event tag match tonight. Other than a threat of having the AOP destroy them if they talk about the AOP again, there’s nothing to see here.

Noam Dar makes fun of how Lio Rush talks.

Rush tells Dar to keep his name out of his mouth.

Rush vs. Dar next week.

Cedric Alexander/Akira Tozawa vs. Drew Gulak/Jack Gallagher

Gulak and Alexander start things off but the threat of an early Lumbar Check sends Gulak into the corner. Gallagher comes in and starts on Alexander’s wrist but Tozawa comes in to fire off some chops. We settle down to Tozawa getting something like an Octopus Hold on Gulak until Gallagher comes in for a double slam to take over.

An uppercut stops Tozawa’s comeback cold and Gallagher is smart enough to draw Cedric in, allowing more clubberin. A kick to the ribs allows the hot tag off to Alexander a few seconds later though, setting up the Neuralizer for two on Gallagher. Everything breaks down and Gulak gets kicked to the floor, leaving Gallagher to hit the running corner dropkick for two on Alexander.

Gulak is back in for a running clothesline/leg kick combination for the same near fall. Cedric avoids a double suplex though and Tozawa tags himself in to clean house with the kicks. The top rope backsplash misses though and Gallagher’s headbutt sets up the Gulock for the tap at 12:32.

Post match Maverick says Gulak gets his title shot next week.

Overall Rating: C. This show really does go by the strength of its Cruiserweight Title matches. Therefore, this week’s show wasn’t all that great, mainly due to there not being much of note. The end of the show announcement did help though and that’s going to make next week’s show a little more interesting. There’s a chance that they’ll have Gulak take the title via cheating as a transitional champion to Murphy, which could keep Cedric strong for later. Or they’ll just have Gulak lose again because the Australia show is more important than the week to week show. You never can tell around here.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: August 28, 2018
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re still on the way towards….whenever the next Cruiserweight Title match is going to be as Drew Gulak seems ready to get another shot at Cedric Alexander. Last week’s main event saw Lucha House Party defeat Buddy Murphy and Tony Nese, but we could still get a thing or two more out of the feud, especially since Kalisto got involved at the end. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick gives us the recap/preview.

Opening sequence.

Brian Kendrick vs. Akira Tozawa

Before the match, Kendrick and Brian Gallagher rip on Toronto a bit for being a secondary Commonwealth city. In addition to that, Tozawa doesn’t know his place and needs to learn to keep his mouth shut. Tonight, Tozawa is taking the beating that he deserves. Kendrick bails to the floor to start so Tozawa dives onto both he and Gallagher. Back in and the hard kick to the chest sets up the screaming backsplash as Kendrick is in big trouble early on. Gallagher offers a distraction though and Kendrick knocks Tozawa out to the floor.

They head back inside with Kendrick nailing a butterfly suplex and slapping on a chinlock. The Captain’s Hook doesn’t work and Tozawa snaps off a hurricanrana. It’s too early for the top rope backsplash so Tozawa goes with the suicide headbutt instead. Back in and the extra aggressive Tozawa wraps the leg around the post before a Saito suplex knocks Kendrick silly. Three straight corner dropkicks to the knee set up a missile dropkick and the top rope backsplash finishes Kendrick at 6:15.

Rating: C-. This was just a step below a squash win for Tozawa, who needed something like this to get him back to normal after the losses to Lio Rush. Kendrick is fine for someone to put Tozawa over as he’s going to stay relevant due to his past success. In other words, a perfectly fine bit of booking.

We look back at Buddy Murphy costing Kalisto a match against Buddy Murphy. Last week, Kalisto made up for it by costing Murphy the fall in the tornado tag.

Murphy and Nese are ready to get rid of Kalisto and the Lucha House Party.

Hideo Itami vs. Michael Blaise

Before the match, Itami talks about feeling bad over Mustafa Ali. He should have hurt Ali even worse a few weeks ago. Itami hammers away in the corner as Vic name drops Hulk Hogan being at his debut press conference. Some kicks put Blaise down and some shots to the back have him in even more trouble. A Falcon Arrow gets two as Itami pulls him up. That GTS thing gets the same but Itami would rather hit the running corner dropkicks. Before he can hit the third, here’s Ali to interrupt. That’s enough for Itami, who bails into the crowd for the no contest at 3:50ish because countouts don’t exist when they’re not scripted.

Rating: D. Just a squash with an angle finish here and there’s nothing wrong with that. Itami still needs more than RESPECT ME and maybe some different gear would help. He’s a very small, skinny guy and that doesn’t exactly make him intimidating. They’re still looking for the right formula for him and I’m not sure how much longer that search can go on.

We recap Drew Gulak wanting a rematch with Cedric Alexander but running off when Alexander showed up.

Alexander says Gulak was a hypocrite last week but next week, he’ll be waiting in the middle of the ring for Gulak to come finish things.

Buddy Murphy vs. Kalisto

Tony Nese, Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik are at ringside. Murphy wastes no time in throwing Kalisto down and the fans are behind him here. Back up and Kalisto does the pose but makes the mistake of trying a test of strength. Of course he’s powered down with ease so it’s time for some nipups. Kalisto finally gets smart by walking the ropes, setting up a hurricanrana to take Murphy down for the first time. Nese blocks a dive though and the noisemakers are already out.

The rescheduled dive takes the two of them out instead so everyone tries to come inside. The distraction lets Murphy hit Kalisto in the back to take over as things settle back down. Back in and another hurricanrana is countered so Kalisto tries a suicide dive….which is caught and reversed into a suplex. Well ok then. Another skirmish on the floor gets the House Party ejected while Nese is allowed to stay.

Murphy takes him back inside but misses a kick to the back. Kalisto slaps on a sleeper but Murphy powers out again, this time hitting Kalisto in the face for two. Nese tries a grab of the ankle and that’s enough to get him tossed as well. Things settle down and it’s Kalisto hitting a springboard seated senton and kicking away, followed by the reverse hurricanrana. The hurricanrana driver has both guys down and the referee has a quick chat with them. Murphy blocks the Salida Del Sol but gets his head kicked off to give Kalisto two.

They head to the apron and Kalisto gets launched hard into the announcers’ table for the loud crash. Murphy would rather send him into the barricade over and over than go for a pin but he’s smart enough to break the count. Kalisto tries a springboard (minus the spring) off the barricade, only to get kneed out of the air.

Now Murphy is willing to take the countout but Kalisto taunts him right back out. A monkey flip puts Murphy in the timekeeper’s area for nine but Kalisto catches him with another hurricanrana driver for another two. Murphy hits a helicopter bomb for two and we have a rare 205 chant. Murphy’s Law is reversed but Murphy knees him in the head again, followed by Murphy’s Law for the pin at 16:45.

Rating: B. They could have had a better match had it not been for all the shenanigans with the seconds but what we did get was quite good. Murphy continues to be someone way too good for this show, though the same thing is true of Kalisto. But they don’t weigh enough (allegedly in Murphy’s case) so they’re stuck here instead. Such is life in WWE, though the match was rather awesome.

Overall Rating: C+. The main event saved what was a pretty much otherwise lame show and there’s nothing wrong with that. Gulak and Alexander not being around isn’t the best idea in the world as the show is little more than a good standalone night, but you can only do those shows so often if the series is supposed to mean something. Good main event, but they’ve done better.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/07/23/new-book-kbs-complete-2003-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: August 21, 2018
Location: Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Mauro Ranallo

I’m not sure what to expect from this show. Sure there was a big time Cruiserweight Title match on Sunday, but it’s not like that meant much for the post-Wrestlemania show. Cedric Alexander is still Cruiserweight Champion and now he needs a new challenger. That might not be established tonight, but we will have a tornado tag team match between Lucha House Party and Buddy Murphy/Tony Nese. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick recaps the title match and hypes up tonight’s matches. That’s a rather nice way to open the show, even if it’s just a way to kill time while the shows change over.

Opening sequence.

TJP vs. Noam Dar

Rapper Wale is on commentary for celebrity reasons. TJP has a slightly different version of his theme. Before the match, TJP says he can’t wait to get back to Los Angeles. He brings up Dar’s knee issues and his kneebar finisher so tonight is close your eyes time. Or you could just leave, as one more empty seat in a sea of them won’t matter that much. Wale brings up Dar’s relationship with Alicia Fox, which ended last April. This guy is going to be on commentary all night isn’t he?

Dar drives TJP into the corner as Wale can’t get the initials in the right order. Hang on a second though as TJP bails to the floor and grabs a mic so he can introduce Wale. TJP dabs at him (Wale: “Nobody dabs anymore!”) and gets dropkicked by Dar, leaving Wale to call him PJ. Dude, it’s THREE LETTERS. TJP gets sent into a variety of things and a snapmare sends him into the ropes. Dar slugs away as Wale talks about hosting the New Day vs. Usos rap battle from last July. A running dropkick sends TJP outside as Nigel can’t pronounce Wale’s name (it’s Wah-Lay).

Back in and a quick DDT gives TJP two as Wale talks to his rap friends. We hit a Tequila Sunrise on Dar to work on the knee for all of two seconds. Another leglock allows TJP to point at Wale and then a curb stomp keeps Dar down. Dar stops a slingshot hilo with a raised knee, which is a bad idea when your knee has been worked over for a few minutes. Wale has moved to intentionally misspelling TJP’s name. It doesn’t make it any funnier, but at least it’s a change of pace.

A right hand to the face gets Dar out of trouble and a release northern lights suplex gets two. TJP pulls him down into the kneebar though but Dar is too close to the ropes, as is almost always the case with the first kneebar attempt. Back up and Dar kicks him in the leg, followed by the Nova Roller for the pin at 9:03.

Rating: C+. I like TJP far more than Dar but it seems that WWE wants to push Dar a bit harder at the moment. The running kick is better than another frog splash or 450 so at least it’s a little change of pace. TJP is still one of the best guys on the roster with the leg stuff, but I get why they would rather have him making people look good instead of pushing him.

That’s it for Wale, thank goodness.

Clip of Sunday’s title match.

Earlier today, Drew Gulak was in the empty arena and said Cedric got lucky on Sunday. If Cedric cares about his legacy, he’ll give Gulak a rematch.

Drake Maverick isn’t so sure because Gulak needs to earn a rematch. Request denied at the moment.

Akira Tozawa vs. Colin Delaney

Or not as Gulak, Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher run in and beat up both guys.

Gulak accuses Cedric of running scared and wants an answer to the challenge right now. Cue Cedric to say that if he’s the scared one, why does Gulak have Thing #1 and Thing #2 out there? Maverick comes out to hold Cedric back as Gulak goes full Green Eggs and Ham. Gulak wants to know what the Age of Alexander is. Whatever it is, is absolutely sucks. The fans want a fight and Cedric finally gets through the referees to chase Gulak off.

Lucha House Party vs. Tony Nese/Buddy Murphy

Tornado rules with Lince Dorado/Gran Metalik for the House Party. Lince starts fast with a high crossbody to take them both down, followed by a launch into a double dropkick. The running flip dives are broken up so the House Party settles for the hard chops on the floor instead. Stereo backdrops over the top set up stereo top rope Asai moonsaults as Dorado and Metalik are moving as one so far. Things settle down with the fights splitting off, including Murphy slamming Dorado’s head into the ramp.

Dorado dropkicks both of them off the apron but the big running flip drive is caught in midair, setting up a powerbomb against the barricade. Back in and Nese starts in on Dorado’s injured thumb but Murphy can’t get the case off. Metalik gets up and walks the rope for a dropkick on Nese, only to have Murphy powerbomb him down. A pumphandle slam/running neckbreaker (more like a running shove to the back of the head) keeps Metalik in trouble and Dorado gets sent into the post.

It’s not much of a posting as he’s back in with a double missile dropkick just a few seconds later as the back and forth continues. Murphy hits Nese by mistake and a hurricanrana gives Dorado two as everyone is down. Dorado tries a double springboard moonsault press but only Nese goes down, which drags Murphy down with him in what might have been a botch. A running tornado DDT has some more luck on Murphy with a near fall but Nese crotches Dorado on the top.

Metalik breaks up the double superplex and actually doesn’t set up a Tower of Doom. I’m as shocked as you are. Nese gets knocked down and the shooting star gets two, leaving everyone down. Murphy and Dorado head up top but Nese is right there with a German superplex, though he ties himself in the Tree of Woe, allowing Metalik to walk the ropes for a dropkick.

Murphy is still up top though and hits a top rope Meteora to put Metalik down, meaning another four way knockdown. The House Party is up first with the superkicks and some alternating moonsaults get two on Nese with Murphy diving in for a save. Even Nigel is impressed by the House Party here so you know this is good. Nese German suplexes Metalik into the corner but the running knee is blocked.

Dorado misses a dive off the apron so Metalik walks the ropes for a hurricanrana to pull Nese off the top and into Murphy for a crazy looking crash, causing Metalik to lose his mask (Kalisto is right there to cover his face like a good buddy). Murphy shoves Kalisto against the announcers’ table so Kalisto trips him down (the first time he’s gotten involved), setting up a Code Red to give Metalik the pin at 17:20.

Rating: A-. I had heard some high praise for this match coming in and they more than lived up to the hype. The House Party has lost a lot over the last few months so giving them a big win is a good idea, while also showing how much better they are as a team. This was a wild and fun brawl and that’s the kind of match that these guys needed. Just a lot of fun with the match getting the time to reach that other level that this show doesn’t reach often enough.

Overall Rating: B+. Sometimes you need to have things just go nuts and put on an entertaining show. The Cruiserweight Title stuff was good too, though I need a little better reason to see a rematch than “I want a rematch and you’re a coward”. Still though, if it means Gulak gets the title one day, everything will be fine. Throw in Wale leaving after about fifteen minutes and the show became a combination of a lot of fun and a relief at the same time. Check out that main event.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/07/23/new-book-kbs-complete-2003-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: August 7, 2018
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

It’s kind of a weird feeling to have a big time title match coming up around here. Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander will be defending against Drew Gulak at Summerslam and that makes for some interesting times. The rest of the show might not be as impressive, but Alexander vs. Gulak should be more than fine. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick narrates the preview for tonight’s show, even running down the card in order. You mean half of it isn’t going to be made as we go?

Opening sequence.

Lucha House Party vs. Tony Nese/Buddy Murphy

Kalisto and Lince Dorado (with a bad thumb) for the House Party here, allowing Nigel to take even more shots at the team. Murphy knees Lince in the face to start but it’s off to Kalisto in a hurry. This goes a bit better with a kick to the head and the hurricanrana driver getting two on Murphy. Nese comes in and pulls Kalisto to the floor for a ram into the apron though and the bad guys take over again.

Murphy throws Kalisto off his shoulder and face first onto the mat with Nese adding a moonsault for two. We hit the chinlock for a few moments until Kalisto rolls over to the apron and gets in a kick to the head. Nese is fast enough to get over and break up the tag though, allowing Murphy to grab a bridging German suplex for two more.

The hot tag connects a few seconds later (that’s quite the WWE trope as well) and it’s a dropsault for two on Nese. Kalisto comes back in for a Falcon Arrow with Murphy diving over for the save. Dorado is fine enough for a double Golden Rewind and the stereo flip dives to the floor have Nese and Murphy in trouble. Nese escapes the Salida Del Sol and Murphy trips Kalisto, allowing a rollup with tights to give Nese the pin at 10:39.

Rating: C. Nese continues to be not great while the House Party is a perfectly fine midcard act around here. They’re more or less the gatekeepers for the upper half of the card and that’s a good place to be in. Murphy is someone who should be moving back towards the main event scene, or on the main roster in a Mojo Rawley kind of character. But why do that when you can let him languish around here?

Mustafa Ali is fine after a quick trip to the hospital. He slowed down a bit and now he’s good for tonight’s main event. Drake Maverick says he has nothing to prove but Ali tells him to worry about Hideo Itami.

Hideo Itami thinks Ali should have showed him more respect.

Video on Noam Dar, who is back from his injury, which he considered a wake up call. TJP has messed with him and that’s not cool with Dar.

Noam Dar vs. Sean Maluta

Maluta was in the Cruiserweight Classic and has been on NXT since. Dar tries a waistlock to start and gives Maluta a clean break when he grabs the rope. A kick to the knee takes Dar down though and you can see the grimacing on his face. That just earns Maluta some strikes to the face as TJP is watching from the back. The running kick to the head (the Nova Roller) gives Dar the pin at 2:24.

Video on Jack Gallagher, Drew Gulak and Brian Kendrick beating down Cedric Alexander last week.

Alexander doesn’t think much of Gulak needing the help and would be glad to beat up Gallagher next week.

Gulak accepts the challenge for Gallagher because it’s time to teach people like Alexander that wrestling is what matters around here. He does NOT need help beating Alexander because Gulak can make Cedric tap out.

Mustafa Ali vs. Hideo Itami

Feeling out process to start with Itami barely avoiding a kick to the face but getting taken down instead. A spinning kick to the face puts Itami on the floor instead and Ali follows with a big flip dive. Ali comes up holding his back and a high crossbody seems to bang it up even worse. The delay lets Itami take over and, of course, shout RESPECT ME. They head outside again with Ali’s chops being no match for Itami’s kicks to the chest.

Itami dropkicks him HARD into the post and Ali’s back is hurt even worse. Ali is almost dead so Itami throws him back in for two. Itami demands respect (GOOD GRIEF SAY SOMETHING ELSE ALREADY!) and knees him in the ribs. A comeback consisting of a chop and a crucifix is cut off when Ali tries the rolling X Factor and takes a crazy hard kick to the head. Great selling there too as Ali looked like he got hit by a bus. Ali is fine enough for some more kicks to the head and now the rolling X Factor is good for two.

An exchange of strikes to the head puts both guys down for a well earned breather. Back up and Ali’s spinning tornado DDT is countered into a Falcon Arrow and Itami can’t believe the kickout. Ali somehow gets up and comes off the middle rope with a sunset flip but keeps rolling into a sitout powerbomb for his own big near fall. Itami’s weird spin into the kick to the head is blocked twice so he belly to bellies Ali back first into the corner for two, despite Ali looking rather un-alive.

A crazed Itami misses a dropkick to drive Ali head first into the steps and Ali gets up for a tornado DDT from the middle rope to the floor. Back in and Ali loads up the 054 but can’t stand up, allowing Itami to kick him down into the Tree of Woe. Itami hits some running dropkicks on the defenseless Ali for the academic pin at 16:33.

Rating: B. This was a great mixture of storytelling and action with Ali’s body giving out on him after spending months leaving it all in the ring every single night. It worked for Shawn Michaels in 1995 and it can work here too. What we got here was more great stuff from Ali, who knows how to play the underdog and hang in there against anyone no matter what is thrown at him. I had a lot more fun with this match than I was expecting, especially considering the amount of RESPECT ME’s from Itami.

Ali collapses as he tries to leave the ring. The referee is asking him questions like what year it is, which Ali has trouble answering. Drake Maverick wants medics out here and holds Ali’s

Overall Rating: B. The story at the end was good stuff and capped off a solid show with a very entertaining main event. The show has needed the other big story to go with the title picture and that’s what they have now. I can’t believe it but 205 Live is becoming a rather fun show that I want to watch week to week. Given where they were just a few months ago, that’s rather impressive.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/07/23/new-book-kbs-complete-2003-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: July 10, 2018
Location: SNHU Arena, Manchester, New Hampshire
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

It’s time for a title match because this is the only place to air such a thing rather than this Sunday at the pay per view. This week champion Cedric Alexander defends against Hideo Itami, who has gone on a rampage through the show and would be a good choice to take the title. That being said, Drew Gulak is also lurking and would make a lot of sense to win the belt from Cedric. It’s nice to have options so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of Itami’s rise to the top of the division, eventually causing Cedric Alexander to want a title defense against him. That’s a great way to set up a title match and something we don’t get enough of anymore.

Opening sequence.

Kalisto vs. Tony Nese

Nese is flanked by Buddy Murphy to cancel out the Lucha House Party. Kalisto’s early flips just annoy Nese, who drives him into the corner with raw power. A whip into the corner is countered with a walk on the hands, much to Nese’s frustration. With Kalisto being a bit too fast, Nese slows him down a kick to the ribs, setting up a bodyscissors.

Kalisto fights back up and kicks Nese down again. A springboard crossbody gets two and it’s time to dance. Salida Del Sol is countered into a powerbomb into the corner but Nese misses a charge to put both guys down. The rest of the House Party starts playing their noisemakers and Murphy, being a human, gets annoyed and yells at them. Nese and Kalisto go out as well and the fight is on for the DQ at 6:12.

Rating: D+. This set up Lucha House Party’s next feud, which is still completely out of whack with three faces against two heels, but Kalisto is the only member worth anything and none of them are a match for Murphy. In other words it’s similar to what just happened with Drew Gulak and company but even more lopsided in the House Party’s favor.

Post match the brawl stays on and the House Party uses its numbers game to clear the villains out. That felt so wrong to write.

Drake Maverick welcomes Noam Dar back to the roster but TJP interrupts them. TJP thinks things are way worse around here since Dar left so trash talk ensues. Maverick makes the rematch for next week.

Video on Hideo Itami’s rise to being #1 contender.

Lio Rush vs. Colin Delaney

I didn’t recognize Delaney, who has gotten a haircut and grown a beard since his WWE run (which to be fair was about ten years ago). He’s also put on some much needed size. Akira Tozawa comes out to watch just like Rush did last week. After the bell, Rush goes outside and sets up a chair for Tozawa like a nice gentleman. Back in and Colin gets two off a rollup so Rush speeds things way up and kicks Delaney down. With Delaney on the apron, Rush does a Tajiri handspring to knock him outside as the destruction continues. The frog splash ends Delaney at 1:22. Rush is looking awesome so far.

Post match Tozawa congratulates Rush but asks what he’s done around here. Rush isn’t happy and a fight is teased but Maverick comes out to say the match is on next week.

Video on last week’s great Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy match.

Drew Gulak, Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher are going to be watching the main event closely. Gulak is holding the camera and has some advice for the fans: Heed this selfie. Sage words man.

Cruiserweight Title: Hideo Itami vs. Cedric Alexander

Itami is challenging. They fight over a lockup to start and Itami just misses a big kick to the face. Alexander gets all fired up and drives Hideo into the corner for a clean break. Alexander wants Itami to show him something so Itami kicks him in the chest. Well he did ask. The hard kicks give Itami two more as the pace slows down. That means a COME ON and a RESPECT ME, followed by a bodyscissors to keep Alexander in trouble.

Back up and another knee to the ribs gets another two on the champ. More lame shouting and a neckbreaker are good for two so we hit the chinlock to continue Itami’s hard hitting style. Cedric fights up (yes fighting out of a chinlock) and a springboard Downward Spiral puts Itami on the floor. The big flip dive sets up the Neuralizer for two more but Itami is right back up with his top rope clothesline.

Itami kicks him even more and blasts him in the face with a right hand. That’s enough frustration and it’s time to take off a turnbuckle pad. Before Itami can use that though, he has to break up a springboard to send Alexander outside. A running dropkick drives Alexander head first into the steps but only gets two back inside. Not that it matters as Alexander hits a Lumbar Check for the fast pin at 15:42.

Rating: B-. And that’s pretty much it for Itami’s chances of meaning anything in WWE. This would have been about as good of a chance as he was going to have of becoming something that mattered and he just loses. The RESPECT ME deal doesn’t work and he’s not exactly destroying people with his offense. The match was good but there’s no spark or fire to Itami, and certainly no reason to get interested in him. Now the bigger problem: the same thing is true of Alexander.

Overall Rating: B. It’s a good show which set some stuff up for the future, but the biggest thing is Alexander holding the title. There are several good options to go after the title and Alexander isn’t exactly doing much with it. He just shows up every few weeks for a defense and then goes back to doing nothing of note. It’s a weird place to be as he’s talented in the ring but not exactly charismatic. Move on from him and the show could get a nice boost. It’s still good though, which is a far cry from where we were just a few months back.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/05/25/new-book-nxt-the-full-sail-years-from-dallas-to-new-orleans/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: July 3, 2018
Location: Century Link Center, Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

Things are starting to look up around here as the characters and stories are getting better. Tonight we have what should be the big ending to a pretty solid rivalry as Mustafa Ali faces Buddy Murphy in a No DQ match. Ali is one of the best things about this show and Murphy looks better every week so this should be good. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick’s opening recap looks back at Cedric Alexander challenging Hideo Itami and a fight nearly breaking out as a result. The match is on for next week. TJP’s recent issues with Maverick get a look as well.

Here’s TJP for a match against an opponent of Maverick’s choosing. As TJP puts it, hasn’t that been the case for every one of TJP’s recent opponents? He’s not happy to not be in the main event in this dump of a town because fun and excitement come to Nebraska to die. So get the opponent out here.

TJP vs. Noam Dar

This is Dar’s first match on 205 Live in several months after a bad knee injury. TJP’s look of “well dang it” when Dar comes out is great. Dar explodes with some strikes, kicks him in the leg and hits the running kick to the head to pin TJP in 29 seconds. Well that certainly worked.

We look back at Ali beating Murphy four months ago in the Cruiserweight Title tournament by taking out Murphy’s arm. Ali tried to do the same thing two months later but Murphy got more aggressive and won the rematch.

Murphy is ready to send Ali to the hospital before getting his title shot.

TJP leaves without talking about what just happened.

Akira Tozawa vs. Jaysin Strife

Hang on though as Lio Rush comes out to watch. Tozawa chops away to start and decks Strike in the jaw with a right hand. There’s a backsplash but Strife does manage a jumping knee to the face. Tozawa has had it with him though and his a Shining Wizard, followed by the top rope backsplash for the pin on Strife at 2:07.

Rush seems impressed and gets on the announcers’ table to praise Tozawa. He should be ashamed though because there’s a difference between Tozawa and Rush. See, Rush doesn’t wait for anything because he’s just too good to wait.

Ali is ready to run straight at danger tonight.

Alexander is ready to take out the next challenge to his legacy.

Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy

No DQ and Ali punches him off the apron before the bell, setting up a big dive to the floor. They get inside for the bell and Murphy kicks him in the head before taking it right back outside. Ali punches his way out of the announcers’ area and sends Murphy face first into the steps. A crossbody off the barricade takes Murphy down in the crowd as they’re going very hard in the opening minutes.

Back to ringside with Ali trying to walk the barricade but getting pulled down by the hair for a crash onto the ramp. A suplex onto the ramp has Ali’s back in even more trouble and it’s off to a chinlock with a knee in the back. Thankfully a rope grab means nothing here so Murphy goes with a hard kick to the back to keep Ali in trouble again. Murphy: “I could do this all day.” Or all night, as the show doesn’t take place during the day. A rather nice back body drop and a forearm to the spine continue the targeting with a good variety.

Murphy ducks his head though and gets kicked in the face to finally give Ali a breather. There’s a dropkick to put Murphy in the corner and the rolling X Factor gets two. They head outside again with Ali eating some announcers’ table so Murphy sends the steps inside with the edge on the apron. As Ali gets up, Murphy baseball slides them into his face and follows with a big springboard flip dive, which actually impresses the crowd.

Back in and the steps are set up in the corner with Ali being tossed into them for a nasty looking crash, back first of course. Since Ali won’t give up, he sends Murphy into the steps with a hurricanrana. Murphy isn’t done though and snaps off a powerbomb into a sitout powerbomb for a heck of a near fall. They’re beating the heck out of each other here and it’s awesome. Murphy, rather frustrated now, goes up but gets crotched, leaving Ali to ram the steps into his head. Fans: “NO MORE STAIRS!” Oh good grief. Let me guess: they would prefer tables.

With Murphy still on the top, Ali stands the steps up and stands on top of them for an extra high superplex and a BIG crash. Ali knocks him outside but gets flapjacked onto the announcers’ table, drawing another meek WE WANT TABLES chant. Murphy climbs onto the barricade but Ali gets up, jumps onto the table and then onto the barricade for a C4 onto the announcers’ table, which doesn’t break. Freaking OW MAN!

Back in and Ali gets his arms tied in the ropes, leaving Murphy to hit three straight running knees to the head. Somehow Ali isn’t dead and looks up at Murphy with a shake of his head. Another knee to the head gets two, leaving Murphy completely flabbergasted. Murphy grabs the steps again but charges into a boot, allowing Ali to run up the steps and hit his pop up tornado DDT for the pin and the title at 22:47.

Rating: A. That’s pretty easily the best 205 Live match ever as they absolutely did not stop the entire time with Ali fighting through the back injury with the pure heart that defines him like no one else. Ali surviving the biggest, hardest hitting guy on the roster for over twenty minutes and even managing to beat him was incredible stuff and one of the best matches I’ve ever seen this show have. One day Ali is going to (or at least certainly should) win the Cruiserweight Title and it’s going to be one of the biggest reactions this show has ever seen. Make time to see this match as it’s absolutely amazing.

A lot of replays take us out.

Overall Rating: A+. I’m not sure what else you could ask for on a fifty minute show. You had a hot angle at the beginning, a squash to start a new feud and an instant classic for the main event. I loved this show and couldn’t stop watching the main event. 205 Live has rapidly become a treat to watch and this was the best episode they’ve ever done. Check this show out and keep watching it.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/05/25/new-book-nxt-the-full-sail-years-from-dallas-to-new-orleans/

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

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