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

We’re fully back to normal here and that may be rather hit or miss depending on your tastes. I’m not exactly thrilled to see some of the 205 Live people again but that has been the case for a long time now. As usual, they need some kind of a way to pick up the pace around here but I have no reason to believe that is going to take place anytime soon. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Mansoor/Ashante Adonis vs. Samir Singh/Chase Parker

It worked so well last week you see. Singh headlocks Mansoor down to start but gets reversed into a headscissors. The first gear holds continue with an exchange of armbars until Mansoor sends him into the corner for the tag off to Parker. Adonis comes in for an armbar of his own and then grabs a headlock.

It’s back to Singh to stomp away and a double suplex gets two on Adonis. We hit the alternating chinlocks but Adonis is up in a hurry with the tag off to Mansoor to clean house. That’s cut off in a hurry and the Bollyrise Blast gets two as Adonis makes the save. Mansoor’s Falcon Arrow gets two on Singh as everything breaks down. The Long Kiss Goodnight finishes Singh at 7:41.

Rating: C-. This felt like I was watching a Lethal Lottery match and I’m almost worried to see where we go next with the Boyz and Ever Rise. I do appreciate the opponents being different from last week but it’s not the most interesting story. Then again, I’m not sure who else there is to put out there.

Post match, Mansoor and Adonis do the Bollywood dance.

We look back at August Grey beating Jake Atlas last week and then getting jumped by Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari (that’s like a merit badge around here).

Jake Atlas vs. Tony Nese

The bell rings and here’s Ariya Daivari to join commentary. Nese slams Atlas down to start and stomps away in the corner but Atlas snaps off a hurricanrana. A running elbow cuts that off in a hurry but Atlas is right back with a neckbreaker. Nese isn’t having any of that and kicks him in the face and hits a hard whip into the corner.

A suplex gives Nese two and we hit the bodyscissors. Atlas fights up and hits a hard clothesline but gets pulled into a waistlock. Some kicks put Nese down and the standing moonsault connects for no cover. Atlas plants him with a brainbuster for two so Daivari throws in the chain. The referee does his job for once so here’s August Grey for another distraction, allowing Atlas to grab a rollup pin at 9:59.

Rating: C. As I’ve been saying for a long time now, this is what we get around here. We’re setting up yet another old vs. new/us vs. them tag match and I can’t bring myself to care about the idea again. I understand that they are stuck with what they have available but DANG is there no one other idea they can run out there?

Overall Rating: C-. Another show that felt like it could have been from any point in the last three plus years. That is becoming a bigger and bigger problem around here as just seeing some of these names facing each other in very similar stories isn’t the most thrilling stuff. Then again this isn’t the most thrilling show and it isn’t on the wrestlers, but that doesn’t make it much better. The usual completely acceptable but forgettable show here.

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205 Live
Date: December 25, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We’re almost done with the year and that means one more 205 Live to wrap things up. Last week’s show focused on a rather energetic tag match and Mansoor, making me wonder what we are going to be seeing this week. Odds are we are going to be seeing a bit more of the same though, because Santa Claus doesn’t come to 205 Live. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Samir Singh vs. Chase Parker

Nigel: “Tis the season to be Bolly!” Sunil Singh and Matt Martel are here too. Samir knocks him to the apron to start and chokes with the boot. A kick to the face puts Parker on the floor, where Ever-Rise takes Sunil out. That earns Parker a suplex on the floor, followed by one on the mat back inside for two.

Samir hits a top rope elbow to the face and a backbreaker keeps Parker down. A sleeper goes on until Parker sends him chest first into the buckle for the break. Samir is knocked outside so Sunil, who doesn’t look like him and is in different gear, tries to switch places with him. The referee, not being a numskull, doesn’t allow it, leaving Parker to hit Sweet Taste for the pin at 6:11.

Rating: C-. It’s hard to believe that Ever-Rise is starting to get some momentum but what matters here is the fact that they are getting some wins. No this isn’t going to mean anything beyond 205 Live, but they are getting a little credibility, which is going to mean more when someone beats them again. That’s fundamental wrestling, even if the Boyz had to look like morons for their failed switch attempt.

Curt Stallion talks about earning the Cruiserweight Title shot and Santos Escobar is running from him. Escobar is stealing time from him right now, but Stallion always collects his debts. He’ll see Escobar soon. Very basic stuff here, but Stallion sold it and it wasn’t the usual cliches.

Mansoor vs. Raul Mendoza

No seconds for Mendoza for a change. Mansoor takes him down by the leg to start and then does it again to prove his point. Back up and Mendoza takes him down as well, meaning it’s time for the pose. Some armdrags send Mendoza to the floor though and Nigel is rather pleased. Mendoza manages to send him back first into the apron though and there’s a slingshot hilo to stay on said back.

The chinlock with a knee in the back doesn’t do much good but Mendoza pulls him off the apron for a big crash. Mendoza stomps away in the corner and a dropkick is good for two. A second dropkick sets up the chinlock but Mansoor fights up and avoids a charge into the post (with Mendoza flying out to the floor). An atomic drop into a spinebuster puts Mendoza down and Mansoor adds a suicide dive to the floor.

Back in and the Sands of Time is countered into a rollup to give Mendoza two. Mansoor flips over him though and grabs a Texas Cloverleaf/Scorpion Deathlock hybrid, with Mendoza going straight to the ropes. A swinging suplex drops Mansoor again but Mendoza has to bail out of a phoenix splash. The landing bangs up his knee and Mansoor’s slingshot neckbreaker is good for the pin at 12:30.

Rating: C+. The Mansoor pretty goodness continues as he is one of the more entertaining wrestlers going on this show today. I’m still not sure why he isn’t working more regularly but it wouldn’t shock me to see him winning the Cruiserweight Title at the next Saudi Arabia show. For now though, he’s almost a special attraction around here and that’s a rather nice surprise.

Overall Rating: C. They basically had a run of the mill show here, because there was no reason to do anything out of the ordinary. Yeah it’s Christmas, but how many people watch 205 Live in the first place? Mansoor is becoming one of the better things about the show so it’s pretty nice to see him around here. It has been awhile since this show has had someone like that so if it keeps up, good for him and them.

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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IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: July 17, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

I’m cautiously optimistic about this show as they have started treating it as something a little more important than filler. That being said, you can only expect so much out of a show supplementing the division that is usually filler for the developmental show. Last week’s show was pretty good though so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tehuti Miles vs. Mansoor

Rematch from last week. Miles throws his jacket at Mansoor to start and stomps away in the corner, followed by a heck of a whip into the corner. Mansoor comes back with a backdrop for two and a suplex with a floatover gets two. The chinlock goes on but Miles fights up and dropkicks him to the floor.

Some whips into various things have Mansoor in more trouble and they head back inside. Miles gets two off a neckbreaker and we hit the bodyscissors. A flapjack gives Miles two more but he misses a dropkick and gets caught with the slingshot neckbreaker. The electric chair Death Valley Driver finishes Miles at 7:22.

Rating: C-. Mansoor continues to improve while Miles continues to be someone who should feel like a breakout star but just never comes off as one. What we got here was fine enough, but it wasn’t exactly a match that I needed to see twice in a row. The wrestling wasn’t much, but I could go for more Mansoor.

We see the Legado del Fantasma segment from NXT, with the trio talking about wanting to bring back the real lucha libre.

We look at Isaiah Scott and Tony Nese joining forces to take out Ever Rise.

Tony Nese vs. Chase Parker

Matt Martel is here with Parker. Nese throws him down with ease and strikes the double bicep pose to play to his strengths. Some takedowns into an STF and then a reverse Figure Four with his legs (best way I can put it) have Nese even more in control. Martel’s distraction attempt doesn’t work as Parker gets taken down by some legsweeps and kicks to the chest.

The second distraction causes Nese to go outside after Martel, allowing Parker to get in a shot from behind. A bulldog gets two and we hit the armbar. Another bulldog attempt doesn’t work though and Nese is back with the Lionsault for two. Martel tries to interfere again but Nese shrugs it off and kicks Parker in the face for the pin at 6:53.

Rating: C-. Why yes, Ever Rise does lose again, as they always do. They’re adequate in the ring but they’re a couple of losers who I don’t recall ever winning a match outside of a quick squash. That’s not exactly worthy of a feud anywhere, including here on this show. Nese feels like he could beat them on his own, let alone with a partner.

Post match Ever Rise beats Nese down but Isaiah Scott runs in for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. Well they do have stories again, but egads they aren’t exactly thrilling. The wrestling is fine enough but when you go from Scott facing Johnny Gargano and teasing a match against Santos Escobar, it’s a little dull to see him against Ever Rise. Again though, the show is only 27 minutes long so how annoying can it be?

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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IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: June 19, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Corey Graves

We’re in for a somewhat historic moment here with what is going to probably be Jack Gallagher’s final WWE appearance. I don’t know if anyone is going to notice that he is gone but it is something that does at least show WWE is willing to cut people over the SpeakOut situation. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Oney Lorcan vs. Chase Parker

Matt Martel is in Parker’s corner. Parker takes him down to start and slaps Lorcan in the back of the head. That earns Parker a headlock and a toss into the corner with Lorcan saying bring it on. Some chops out of the corner have Parker in trouble but a Martel distraction lets Parker jump him from behind. Lorcan’s arm is wrapped around the rope and the armbar goes on, followed by the armbar. That’s broken up in a hurry and Parker dives into an atomic drop. The Blockbuster finishes Parker at 5:03.

Rating: C-. This didn’t have time to go anywhere but at least Lorcan got a win. I’m not sure what the appeal is of Ever Rise but at least they put the brakes on them a bit here. Lorcan and Burch are a solid team who can be swapped up or down the card as necessary. They’re above Ever Rise though and that was on display here. Well at least half of it was.

Post match Ever Rise jumps Lorcan and Burch, but here are Malcolm Bivens and Indus Sher to beat down Lorcan and Burch instead.

Video on Santos Escobar and company.

We go back to NXT where the trio took out Drake Maverick.

Jake Atlas vs. Jack Gallagher

Atlas works on the arm to start but Gallagher kicks him in the ribs to slip out. A cartwheel gets Atlas away though and he gives Gallagher a little bow and there’s an armdrag to annoy Gallagher again. Gallagher is right back to the arm though and the cockiness goes up in a hurry. Some shoulders and strikes in the corner put Atlas down and we hit the double arm crank.

Gallagher’s dropkick to the back gets two but he can’t get a cross armbreaker. The abdominal stretch works a bit better until Atlas suplexes his way to freedom. Atlas grabs a jumping neckbreaker for two but Gallagher is back with a guillotine. A rope is grabbed, as is a snap German suplex on Gallagher, followed by the Rainbow DDT for the pin at 8:37.

Rating: C. And that’s the last you’ll ever see or hear of Gallagher in WWE. It was a good thing to see Gallagher lose on the way out and Atlas is someone who can go somewhere in the division. Now do something with him instead of letting him languish in one nothing match after another around here.

Overall Rating: C. It seems that they have finally figured out that having something, even a tiny something, around here is better than just having matches for the sake of having them. While I have no interest in seeing Indus Sher or Ever Rise, it’s better than nothing and I’ll take that over what we were getting. They’re trying to give me a reason to care so at least it’s a step up.

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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IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: September 4, 2019
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Beth Phoenix

We’re running out of hour long shows around here with just two weeks to go before the big move to USA. Since NXT likes to cover a lot of things, we’re getting one more NXT Title match out of the old format as Adam Cole defends against Breakout Tournament winner Jordan Myles. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a quick recap of the Breakout Tournament and Myles challenging Cole.

Opening sequence.

Breezango vs. Matt Martel/Chase Parker

Breezango has the full on Fashion Police gear and entrance here and Martel/Parker are better known as 3.0. Martel takes Fandango over to the corner for the tag to Parker but a hip swivel gets Fandango out of a sunset flip attempt. Breeze comes in for a snap suplex as we hear about Nigel possibly getting a fashion ticket. Breeze has a rest over the corner, where he nods to a question of “YOU THINK YOU’RE FUNNY???”

It’s back to Martel, who sends Breeze hard into the corner to set up an armbar. That doesn’t last long and it’s quickly off to Fandango for the chopping. Everything breaks down and the Fashion Faux Pas (Backstabber/slingshot elbow combination) finishes Martel at 4:06.

Rating: C-. Just a step above a squash for Breezango here and that’s what they need. They haven’t been in the ring together all that long since Fandango’s return so some ring time to get the chemistry back is a good idea. 3.0 is a fine team so adding them to the division is going to make things a bit better as well. That’s one of the great things about NXT: they can restock the shelves very easily.

Myles arrives with Keith Lee and says he’s a bit nervous. Lee says he’s got this.

We cut to the other part of the parking lot where Io Shirai is attacking Candice LeRae with a kendo stick. She’s been listed as banged up lately so that might be a way to let her have some time off.

Cameron Grimes is annoyed at not winning the Breakout Tournament. All he wanted was to come in and go straight to the top but now he’s at the very bottom. His goal is to get back to the top and be the champion. He said a lot of those lines several times and it made him sound desperate, which is a good way to go.

Velveteen Dream vs. Kona Reeves

Non-title and Dream seems extra into his entrance this week. They run the ropes to start with Reeves leapfrogging him a few times before turning into a dropkick. Reeves gets in his own kick to the face and knocks Dream down into the ropes. That’s it for Dream getting beaten up though as he punches away and hits a top rope ax handle. Back to back superkicks set up the Dream Valley Driver for the pin at 4:00.

Rating: D+. Thank goodness Reeves seems locked into the jobber to the stars role as the push was not working in any sense. He’s one of the few truly failed experiments around here and thankfully NXT picked up on that in a hurry. Dream continues to be one of the best things about this place as you can feel the charisma no matter what he does.

Post match here’s Roderick Strong on the screen to say Dream told him to get his attention. The camera pans back….and Dream’s couch is on fire.

We look back at Rhea Ripley returning last week and coming after Shayna Baszler and the Women’s Title. They meet next week but there is no word on it being a title match.

Taynara Conti vs. Bianca Belair

Conti goes straight at her to start but a cross armbreaker is countered with a deadlift. Belair runs her over with a shoulder but gets sent face first into the middle buckle. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a bicycle kick for two on Belair. Some hard knees make it even worse for Belair and she gets pulled to the floor with something like a triangle choke over the ropes. Conti’s dive is caught in a fall away slam though and it’s a handspring moonsault for no cover. The KOD finishes Conti at 5:40.

Rating: C+. Conti was as aggressive as she has ever been in this one and it made for a rather entertaining short match. Belair needed to go away for a little bit and then reestablish herself and her athleticism is always impressive. I liked this a lot more than I was expecting to and this worked quite well.

Johnny Gargano is back next week.

William Regal announced a triple threat match for the #1 contendership to the Women’s Title on September 18 with Bianca Belair vs. Io Shirai vs. Mia Yim.

NXT Title: Jordan Myles vs. Adam Cole

Cole is defending and headlocks Myles down to start with that cocky grin on his face. It works so well that Cole does it again but Myles reverses this one into a hammerlock. Back up and Myles hits a big dropkick, meaning it’s time to head outside. That means a whip into the barricade and Cole takes over back inside.

Another whip sends Myles throat first into the middle rope and it’s off to the figure four neck lock. Back up and Cole yells at how Myles doesn’t belong in the same ring as him. They slug it out with Myles getting the better of it and knocking Cole outside. A German suplex gives Myles two back inside but Cole’s Backstabber gets the same.

Cole grabs a Figure Four until Myles makes the rope, so it’s the brainbuster onto the knee for two. That leaves Cole befuddled so Myles sends him outside for the PK from the apron. One heck of a frog splash gets two on Cole but the Midnight Star hits knees. The Last Shot misses and Myles rolls him up for two so Cole superkicks him in the head a few times. Now the Last Shot can retain the title at 14:38.

Rating: B. This was a weird match as I don’t think the point was to tease a new champion and they never really came close. The point of this felt more like proving that Myles could hang at this level and he did that well enough. They weren’t about to change the title so soon before the NXT move but this accomplished a lot in a good match.

Myles gets the big hero’s sendoff to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. These shows are starting to feel like one off editions as we’re just beyond a holding pattern with the USA move coming so soon. That’s not the worst thing in the world though as even an average NXT is better than most shows and they’re still setting stuff up. The main event accomplished a goal and they’ve set up Dream vs. Strong. Another good show this week as the era ends next time.

Results

Breezango b. Chase Parker/Matt Martel – Fashion Faux Pas to Martel

Velveteen Dream b. Kona Reeves – Dream Valley Driver

Bianca Belair b. Taynara Conti – KOD

Adam Cole b. Jordan Myles – Last Shot

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