NXT
Date: May 24, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

We are less than two weeks away from In Your House and the show has already started to come together. There are still a few matches to be set up for the card but at least we already have the main event set. Unfortunately that match is another Joe Gacy title shot against Bron Breakker. Let’s get to it.

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

Tony D’Angelo and company want to get their hands on Legado del Fantasma again.

Stacks/Two Dimes vs. Malik Blade/Edris Enofe

Stacks elbows Enofe down to start but a dropkick gets him out of trouble. That’s not enough for a real comeback though as Stacks takes Enofe down again and grabs a seated abdominal stretch. We cut to Legado watching in the back, but now they’re heading to the ring. Enofe fights up and knocks Two Dimes over enough to make the tag to Blade, meaning house can be cleared. A high crossbody gives Blade two but the goons take him down in a hurry. Cue Legado as Stacks and Two Dimes hit stereo right hands for the pin at 6:08.

Rating: C. Pretty meh opener here and that’s not like NXT. Then again it might have something to do with D’Angelo’s boys not exactly being interesting as they are little more than muscle guys (who aren’t that muscular). Blade and Enofe losing again is annoying too, as they seem like a team who could work well as the new pretty boy team.

Post match Legado comes to the ring and the fight is on.

Wes Lee, with his ribs taped up, isn’t regretting challenging Sanga and he’ll prove himself tonight.

Sanga vs. Wes Lee

The much bigger Sanga headbutts him down and hits a splash to the back. The slow beating begins with Sanga staying on the ribs. Lee manages to kick him to the floor though and a slingshot stomp….doesn’t actually put Sanga down. Instead Lee tries a running dropkick into the steps, only to have Sanga chop him down again. Back in and Lee comes off the top but gets knocked away, allowing Sanga to hit a chokeslam for the pin at 3:09.

Rating: C. Quick match here as Lee loses again, though I guess it’s better than sitting in catering. Sanga is the latest monster, but in this case he wasn’t exactly a mean one. This was more about Sanga beating up Lee to get rid of him, which isn’t quite the same thing as mauling various people like a giant eats villagers.

Post match Xyon Quinn goes after Lee, but Sanga makes the save. Great. Another big/little man team, though Sanga is better than he was as Grayson Waller’s bodyguard.

Cora Jade gives Roxanne Perez a pep talk about her match with Lash Legend tonight. They also don’t like Elektra Lopez and Jade implies interference. Of all the segments NXT has had, this might have sounded the most fake.

Bron Breakker is told Joe Gacy is looking for him. He goes in the locker room and finds a picture of….I think Rick Steiner and his kids (including Breakker). Breakker says it is from twenty years ago.

Alba Fyre vs. Elektra Lopez

Cora Jade is here. Fyre takes her into the corner to start and hits a running clothesline for two. Back up and Fyre misses an elbow in the corner, allowing Fyre to hit a superkick. Lopez takes her down by the arm though and gets a breather. That’s not enough for Fyre though as she kicks Lopez in the face and hits a Swanton for the pin at 2:53.

Post match Jade laughs at Lopez so she knocks the popcorn out of Jade’s hand.

Damon Kemp tells the Creeds that their match is off because Roderick Strong her hurt his ankle. The Creeds aren’t cool with that but Kemp says he’s just following orders and relaying information.

Due to an injury to Nikkita Lyons, Fallon Henley is in the finals of the Breakout Tournament. Tiffany Stratton pops in and mocks Henley for getting the bye. That’s too far, and the new semifinals match is on.

Women’s Breakout Tournament Semifinals: Roxanne Perez vs. Lash Legend

No entrance for Legend. Perez goes for a waistlock to start but Legend powers her up without much trouble. That means it’s time for Perez to be thrown around but she manages to take Legend down and hammer away. Some running elbows in the corner look to set up a Russian legsweep but Legend sweeps the leg to take her down. A powerbomb is countered into Pop Rox to give Perez the pin at 3:20.

Rating: C+. I’m very happy to have been wrong about this one as I would have bet on Legend vs. Lyons in the finals. This is a nice surprise, as Perez has all kinds of potential and can hang with a lot of people in the ring from here. Legend is a very long term project and while there are pieces there, she isn’t ready for that kind of success just yet.

Toxic Attraction doesn’t like Indi Hartwell but Katana Chance and Kayden Carter jump them, with Mandy Rose escaping.

Mandy Rose vs. Indi Hartwell

Non-title. Rose takes her down to start and gets an early two, meaning the trash talk can be on. That takes a bit too long though and Hartwell knocks her to the floor as we take a break. Back with Hartwell slugging away but her back gives out on a fireman’s carry attempt. Something like a spinebuster gives Hartwell two but here are Katrina Chance/Kayden Carder/Toxic Attraction for the fight. They get in the ring and the distraction lets Rose hit the running knee for the pin at 9:15.

Rating: C-. Hartwell has fallen a long way and it wouldn’t shock me to see her out of the company sooner rather than later. She wasn’t all that interesting as part of the Way but at least she had some charm with Dexter Lumis. Now she’s just another person on the roster and that isn’t a great place to be.

Post match Wendy Choo runs out to jump Rose with a bag full of various types of balls. BECAUSE IT’S FUNNY YOU SEE!

Bron Breakker is shown a clip of one of his high school football games. His dad was supposed to be there, but he was in Japan instead.

Pretty Deadly is ready for the Creeds.

Women’s Breakout Tournament Semifinals: Fallon Henley vs. Tiffany Stratton

Stratton takes her down to start and hits a few elbows. A slingshot Swanton gives Stratton two and it’s time to start cranking on the leg, complete with Stratton bridging back and blowing a kiss. With that broken up, Henley headbutts her into the corner but Henley’s knee gives out. A slingshot dropkick in the corner connects and a slingshot corkscrew Vader Bomb finishes for Stratton at 4:56.

Rating: C. Stratton really does feel like a potential star and I can see pushing her forward here. Henley is fitting in perfectly well as the charming country girl and she’ll be fine if she can have even a passable match on her personality alone. This worked for a quick one off match and I could see both of them being something better in the future.

Katana Chance and Kayden Carter want the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Wendy Choo comes in and wants the Women’s Title.

Video on Von Wagner.

Thea Hail is graduating from high school tomorrow and she’s glad to be living her dream in NXT. Next week, she decides between college and NXT.

Duke Hudson comes up to Bron Breakker and insists he didn’t do any of the things to him tonight. Hudson says he has nothing to lose, but Breakker grabs him by the throat. Hudson says someone was right about Breakker being predictable.

Von Wagner vs. Ikemen Jiro

Jiro charges in and strikes away before the opening bell. The match actually happens and Wagner knocks him out of the air to slow things down. Jiro uses the jacket punches and scores with an enziguri to the floor, setting up a middle rope DDT for two. That’s enough for Wagner, who hits his Death Valley Driver neckbreaker for the pin at 4:16.

Rating: D. Well at least Jiro grabbed his jacket despite being so angry and thirsty for revenge. The match was just a squash but I still don’t see it with either of these two. Wagner is a big guy who can do basic big guy stuff while Jiro can be funny at times (and certainly has charisma). That’s not quite enough to make me all that interested though.

Post match Wagner goes after Jiro again but Josh Briggs makes the save. Sophia Cromwell won’t let Wagner go after Briggs.

Tony D’Angelo and company want Legado del Fantasma at In Your House.

Von Wagner is ready to erupt but Sophia Cromwell says he’ll get his revenge when he has the chance.

Toxic Attraction is down for the title matches at In Your House.

Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams are at the barbershop and are ready for In Your House. He needs his title back so here is Cameron Grimes to mock him. Hayes says Grimes is a title holder instead of a champion like him. There is someone from NXT UK (meaning Nathan Frazer) who people are saying is faster and better than Hayes (which has Hayes’ eyes shifting). That’s why Grimes is facing Frazer next week.

In Your House rundown.

We get a promo from an unseen woman talking about the high life and how status is only bad thing to those who can’t achieve it. She is from Italy and her name is Giovanni Vici.

Bron Breakker vs. Duke Hudson

Non-title and Joe Gacy, with the minions, is on the balcony. A quick Frankensteiner puts Hudson in early trouble but he chokes on the ropes to slow Breakker down. They go to the floor where Hudson hits a clothesline, followed by an overhead suplex back inside. Hudson even throws in some barking, which is enough for Breakker to take him down as we go to a break.

Back with Hudson sending him into the steps, setting up a failed Steiner Recliner attempt. Instead Breakker slips out but can’t get his own version. With Joe Gacy and the minions watching at ringside, Breakker fights up but the minions get on the apron. The minions try to get in as Hudson picks up a chair. Breakker takes that away and swings at Gacy but turns around and hits Hudson for the DQ at 10:59.

Rating: C. Gacy vs. Breakker is a fine example of a feud that makes all the sense in the world on paper but isn’t interesting. I have no desire to see Breakker beat Gacy up again and I have even less desire to see Gacy win the title. It’s a feud that should have been wrapped up weeks ago but here we go again, because much like WWE, NXT can’t help itself with these rematches.

Post match Gacy mocks Breakker for the DQ, because it’s in his nature.

Overall Rating: C-. I couldn’t get myself into this show and it wasn’t their best work. I do like the tournament final being Perez vs. Stratton as I would have bet on Legend and/or Lyons being in there, so at least they’re throwing in a surprise. As for the rest of the show, they are making In Your House look ok, though that Gacy vs. Breakker match is dragging it way down, much like NXT cranking up the Wendy Choo “comedy” again. Not their best this week, though it did have some nice moments.

Results
Stacks/Two Dimes b. Malik Blade/Edris Enofe – Double punch to Blade
Sanga b. Wes Lee – Chokeslam
Alba Fyre b. Elektra Lopez – Swanton
Roxanne Perez b. Lash Legend – Pop Rox
Mandy Rose b. Indi Hartwell – Running knee
Tiffany Stratton b. Fallon Henley – Corkscrew Vader Bomb
Von Wagner b. Ikemen Jiro – Fireman’s carry neckbreaker
Duke Hudson b. Bron Breakker via DQ when Breakker used a chair

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NXT
Date: April 12, 2022
Location: Capitol Sports Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

It’s another huge week around here as we have a series of title matches. This includes a guaranteed new champion as the vacant Tag Team Titles are on the line in a gauntlet match. Other than that, there are two title matches as the North American and Women’s Titles are on the line as well. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at Bron Breakker retaining the NXT Title over Gunther to send him to Smackdown, only to have Joe Gacy and Harland kidnap Breakker’s father Rick Steiner. Because of course they did.

North American Title: Cameron Grimes vs. Solo Sikoa

Grimes is defending and misses a running kick to the face to start. Sikoa’s waistlock is countered into an armbar and Sikoa can’t do much to get out of it. The hold is finally broken up so they shake hands, though Grimes says Sikoa’s Bloodline can kiss his grits. An enziguri knocks Sikoa to the floor and the apron flip dive takes us to a break.

Back with Grimes hitting a bridging German suplex for two but the Cave In misses. Sikoa hits the running Umaga Attack in the corner for two and it’s time to slug it out. Grimes’ flipping powerslam gets two but Sikoa knocks him down again. The Superfly Splash is broken up by an invading Trick Williams, allowing Grimes (not sure if he saw Williams) to hit the Cave In to retain at 13:11.

Rating: C+. The ending should tell you where some stories are going, though Grimes retaining is a good sign. He finally won something and now setting up his title reign with a win gives me some hope. Grimes will have to beat Hayes in a regular match at some point so they might as well get there now.

Post match Williams and Carmelo Hayes beat Grimes down.

We go over the gauntlet match but Grayson Waller/Sanga interrupt so Waller can brag about how easy of a win it is going to be.

Video on Pretty Deadly attacking the Creed Brothers again last week. The Creeds demand revenge.

The Creeds draw their numbers and seem happy.

Here is Bron Breakker for a chat and he isn’t happy with what Joe Gacy and Harland did to Rick Steiner. Gacy pops up on screen and says they beat up Steiner but then let him go, which started teaching them about Breakker himself. They still have Rick’s Hall of Fame ring, which they throw in a fire, leaving Breakker stunned/silent. Throw the feud in with it if you can.

We look at Toxic Attraction winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles back last week.

Toxic Attraction brags about their win, with Mandy Rose promising to beat Dakota Kai tonight because the team is that good.

Von Wagner destroys Jacket Time in the back. That should take care of his match with Kushida

An angry Bron Breakker gets in his car and leaves.

Here are Robert Stone and Von Wagner to say Jacket Time is done. Hold on though as here is Ikemen Jiro to go after Wagner on his own.

Von Wagner vs. Ikemen Jiro

Jiro is banged up but slugs away on Wagner anyway. Wagner runs him over but Jiro is back up with the jacket punches. That’s too much for Wagner, who hits him in the face and hits the Death Valley Driver for the pin at 2:57.

Post match the attractive yet still unnamed woman tells Wagner to do more, which sees Jiro tossed from the ring and into the crowd.

Nikkita Lyons is ready to step up around here but Lash Legend kicks her in the face.

Video on Pretty Deadly, who dominated the United Kingdom and can do it here too. They started with the Creed Brothers and it’s time to win the Tag Team Titles.

Pretty Deadly draw their numbers and dance off.

Women’s Title: Dakota Kai vs. Mandy Rose

Rose is defending and has the rest of Toxic Attraction with her. Kai goes straight at her to start but gets taken down, allowing Rose to pose. A crucifix gives Kai two and she hits a dropkick. Kai kicks Rose to the floor and there’s a big dive to take out the team. We take a break and come back with Rose working on a bodyscissors before choking in the corner.

The chinlock goes on but Kai fights out and hits a Russian legsweep for two. Rose misses a pump kick but manages a spinebuster for two of her own. Kai keeps up the pace with a small package for a knee fall, setting up the Kairopractor. Toxic Attraction offers a needed distraction though, allowing Rose to hit the running knee to retain at 10:48.

Rating: C. NXT has somehow managed to turn Rose into a dragon that needs to be slayed, though I don’t need it to be anytime soon. Rose is starting to feel like a major player as champion and that could work for a pretty long while longer. Beating Kai might not be some huge game changer, but it is another win under Rose’s belt before someone takes the title from her.

Post match Wendy Choo pops up to spray Toxic Attraction with water guns. Barrett: “How old is Wendy Choo?” Better question is how old is whoever wrote this.

Joe Gacy doesn’t like social media and the court of public opinion. He is the only one who can carry NXT because Bron Breakker is too emotional. Now he is going to control Breakker’s life and tear it all down, but he’ll keep one thing. He pulls the Hall of Fame ring out of the fire and puts it on, because Gacy is a full on cult guy these days.

Tony D’Angelo comes up to Legado del Fantasma and offers an envelope to Santos Escobar as a peace offering. Escobar takes the envelope and puts it back in D’Angelo’s pocket.

Here is Cora Jade for a chat. Wrestlemania weekend was big to her but the best part was having her parents in the second row (Jade: “Working on front row guys.”). She held her own at Stand & Deliver but now she NEEDS to win the Women’s Title. When she was eight years old, she promised to be a champion and now she is going to work hard to be the best ever. Cue Natalya to interrupt and Jade is stunned.

Jade goes all fangirl as Natalya is happy to be back in the building. Jade talks about being ten years old and talking to Natalya on Twitter after a show in Indiana. Natalya remembers the night and knows she pointed to the right girl after that show. She dubs Jade as the future of the women’s division….but the future is bleak. Natalya slaps her in the face and puts on the Sharpshooter, making Jade tap. Having Jade act like she is a five year old meeting Santa Claus and then getting beaten up isn’t a good idea, though Natalya putting someone in NXT over is.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen are fired up for the gauntlet match, with Fallon Henley yelling at them to go do it.

Nathan Frazer is coming.

Draco Anthony vs. Xyon Quinn

Anthony drives him into the corner to start but Quinn reverses for some shoulders to the ribs. Back up and Anthony blocks the Siva Tao, earning himself the running right hand to the face. Another punch knocks Anthony sillier and a third finishes at 2:56. Basically a squash.

Natalya comes in to see the women’s roster and, after accepting a challenge from Tatum Paxley, tells them that they’re all on notice. Noted.

Persia Pirotta and Indi Hartwell decide that Dexter Lumis and Duke Hudson should team up, though the guys aren’t into it. I knew it. I knew it. I KNEW IT! They have to take the stupidest story they have and turn it into something even worse because they can’t let ANYTHING ever go.

Tag Team Titles: Gauntlet Match

The titles are vacant coming in and there are five teams entered. The Creed Brothers are in at #1 and Legado del Fantasma are in at #2. They start fast with Wilde hitting a big dive to the floor to drop both Creeds and the fans are behind Legado. We settle down to Mendoza hitting some running clotheslines on Julius, setting up a springboard flip dive to give Wilde two. Julius gets up for the tag though and everything breaks down with Legado getting caught in stereo ankle locks.

Those are broken up and Julius is sent face first into the middle buckle. There’s a springboard missile dropkick to the back, setting up a 450 to give Wilde two. Brutus pulls Mendoza to the floor, leaving Julius to hit an Angle Slam. An assisted spinebuster sets up the basement lariat to give the Creeds the pin at 4:33.

Josh Briggs/Brooks Jensen (with Fallon Henley) are in at #3, though Henley and Elektra Lopez get in a shoving match during the entrances. The teams actually involved get in a brawl as we take a break. Back with Briggs and Jensen in control and taking apart the announcers’ table. The double powerbomb sends Brutus through the table, leaving Julius to get punched in the face.

Brutus is back up (because powerbombs through tables are shrugged off) but gets knocked down again, leaving Julius to get sitout powerbombed for two. A top rope knee/Dominator (or close enough) combination gets two more with Brutus making the save. Julius brings Brutus back in, though Briggs and Jensen bring him over the top. The high/low is broken up though and Julius’ sliding lariat is good for the pin at 13:23 (total).

Grayson Waller (still banged up) and Sanga are in at #4. Sanga gets an easy cover for two on Julius, who slips out of a chokeslam and starts swinging away. Waller comes in to dance a bit and we take a break. Back again with Brutus finally throwing Waller down and making the tag off to Julius for a breather. Brutus starts cleaning house, including a suplex on Sanga. It’s back to Julius for the basement lariat to finish Sanga at 19:49.

Pretty Deadly is in at #5 to complete the field and now I get to try to figure out their new names, because of course they have new names. Deadly starts dropping knees and Julius gets caught in the wrong corner. Some right hands set up a failed suplex attempt but it’s Wilson coming back in for a double suplex.

Julius fights out of the corner and brings Brutus back in, only to get caught in the corner with a running elbow. A gutbuster drops Brutus and Julius is sent hard into the steps. Everything breaks down and a double headbutt puts Brutus and Wilson down. Prince gets in a cheap shot on Brutus though and Spilt Milk (Hart Attack with a running neckbreaker instead of a clothesline) gives Deadly the titles at 27:55.

Rating: C+. This is one of those formulas that WWE loves in gauntlet matches, as the Creeds basically beat most of the existing tag division before the new team beats them in the end. It was a very long match, but the Creeds surviving so much was getting to be a lot by the end. You can only have them take so much before it’s hurting the teams they’re beating and that took place here. At the same time, Pretty Deadly are fine choices for champions and I’m glad to see them getting their shot on the main NXT rather than just the UK version. It worked over there and it can over here too.

The Creeds are spent to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event helped this a lot and the three title matches felt like big deals, though the prospect of Bron Breakker vs. Joe Gacy for any length of time doesn’t do much for me. I do like some of the new stars coming in, as one of the best things about the old days of NXT was the rapid turnover of talent. You need to bring in new people and if that means taking away some of the longer running NXT UK stars, so be it. I liked this show for the most part and the ending makes me even more interesting going forward, so call it a success this week.

Results
Cameron Grimes b. Solo Sikoa – Cave In
Von Wagner b. Ikemen Jiro – Death Valley Driver
Xyon Quinn b. Draco Anthony – Running punch
Mandy Rose b. Dakota Kai – Running knee
Pretty Deadly won a gauntlet match last eliminating Creed Brothers

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205 Live
Date: February 11, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back to this show and last week actually gave me a bit of hope. There are a lot of NXT stars who have nothing going on at the moment so give some more of them some time instead of these lower level prospects. I know they need ring time, but if you are going for the entertaining, get some better stars out here. Let’s get to it.

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

Ikemen Jiro vs. Trick Williams

Kushida and Carmelo Hayes are here too. Williams spins out of a wristlock to start but Jiro takes him down, meaning it’s time for some showboating. A cravate has Jiro in some more trouble and a dropkick to the back of the head makes it even worse. The crossarm choke goes on but Jiro slips through the legs and flips him over for the escape. Jiro runs him over and hits a double springboard moonsault for two but Williams drops him face first onto the top. A running neckbreaker finishes Jiro at 5:13.

Rating: C-. This was mostly a Williams squash and that is quite the surprise. Williams almost never gets in the ring and he beat a popular star here. The key word there is star, as Jiro might not be a big name, but he is a bigger deal than some of the people who are usually around here. I’ll take what I can get and somehow, Jiro is that kind of a positive right now.

Erica Yan vs. Lash Legend

The fans are split here as Yan can’t manage to take her down early. Legend powers her up and forearms Yan out to the floor instead, setting up a running splash in the corner back inside. An elbow gives Legend two (Nigel: “Really lashing out.”) and we hit the chinlock. Yan fights up and strikes away but dives into that over the back torture rack for the tap at 3:21.

Rating: D+. Another case where there wasn’t much to see here as legend is only going to be able to do a few things in the ring. That makes the short time a lot better, but Legend still has a long way to go. The problem is WWE seems to want to push her a lot sooner than that, so we could be seeing a good bit more of Legend in the time being.

Black History Month video on Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Xyon Quin vs. Joe Gacy

Harland is here with Gacy, who talks about how the idea of 205 Live is exclusionary. More change is coming, because this show is open to everyone who wants to level up. I’m glad he pointed that out three months after the change was made. The bell rings and Gacy wants a hug but gets has to settle for grabbing a headlock instead.

Quin powers out and grabs a wristlock, earning himself a right hand to the face. A suplex gives Quin one but Gacy hits a belly to back version for the same. Gacy grabs a neck crank for a bit before having to escape a Samoan drop. Some forearms to the back put Quin down and a DDT is good for two. We hit the neck crank again with Quin fighting up again, only to get distracted by Harland. Gacy’s handspring clothesline finishes at 6:00.

Rating: C. There’s another win for Gacy, who continues to stick around over and over. I can go with one of the few more over the top personalities getting somewhere, though I also could have gone with Quin winning instead. He’s more interesting and stands out a bit more, but does losing on 205 Live really matter anyway?

Overall Rating: C-. This was the right formula, with more wrestlers who need some exposure and a few wrestlers who need experience. The show is only going to get so far with thirty minutes a week and about five of those being spent on videos, but at least they’re increasing the star power around here a bit. Not their best show, but they had a better idea here.

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205 Live
Date: January 7, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back to the NXT version of Main Event, which seems to have dropped any indication of a new name. That is something that seemed imminent but now nothing seems to actually be taking place. Hopefully they get to the switch already, because there isn’t much of a point to this show otherwise. Let’s get to it.

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

Malik Blade vs. Draco Anthony

They fight over some basic grappling to start until Anthony shoulders him down. A headlock takeover keeps Blade in early trouble until he is right back with a dropkick. Anthony slams him out of the corner though and an overhead belly to belly gets two on Blade. The Boston crab stays on Blade’s back for a fairly long while but he finally manages to fight out. Some shots to the face put Anthony in trouble for a change and there’s a running clothesline in the corner. Blade hits his own suplex and a missile dropkick finally gives him a win at 6:04.

Rating: C. Blade is turning into the feel good story around here and that is kind of nice to see. NXT is designed to build up new stars and letting him win something to move forward, even a tiny step, is the right way to go. Anthony is not exactly off to a great start but NXT has shown that it doesn’t care about wins and losses, so it doesn’t make much of a difference.

Erica Yan vs. Nikkita Lyons

Yan takes her down with an armbar to start and then switches to a wristlock to keep up the theme. With that not working, it’s time to work on the leg for a change, only to have Lyons reverse into a headlock. A catapult sets up a half crab, which Lyons lets go in rather quickly. The double arm crank goes on but Yan fights up and strikes away. There’s a jackknife rollup to give Yan two but Lyons kicks her down without much trouble. A DDT finishes for Lyons at 5:25.

Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one as much as neither exactly felt like a polished star. They didn’t exactly get past second gear, but there is only so much that you can do in a match that doesn’t even make it five and a half minutes. Both of these two need more ring time though, and that is what they were getting here.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Ru Feng

Jiro cartwheels to start and avoids a kick from Feng. After coming out of the ropes, Jiro misses a kick of his own but pulls Feng down by the arm instead. An armbar has Feng in trouble and Jiro flips over to make it worse. Feng can’t flip his way to freedom and we get a JACKET TIME chant.

Back up and Feng kicks him down, setting up the chinlock. That actually needs a rope break for the escape so Feng knocks him down and grabs the chinlock again. Jiro fights up again and hits a spinwheel kick, followed by the jacket punches. A springboard moonsault sets up the Ikemen Slash to finish Feng at 6:43.

Rating: C. This is your latest proof that WWE has already stopped caring even remotely about 205 Live, as we aren’t even getting midcard names in the main event anymore. The main event featured half of a comedy tag team against one of the regular jobbers. If that’s all they can do with this show, why am I supposed to want to watch it?

Overall Rating: C-. I can’t believe I actually thought they might do something with this show. All you’re getting here is a set of dark matches that happened to have a camera turned on. Why bother changing the name at this point? It’s beyond obvious that this show exists because of some kind of distribution deal (which is fine, as WWE not wanting to make money would be ridiculous) but any mild hope of it getting better has gone out the window in nearly record time. Another nothing week here, with some ok at best wrestling to fill in 29 minutes.

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205 Live
Date: November 5, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

This has rapidly become a show that actually offers something and I’m still not sure how to feel about that. It’s very nice to have 205 Live actually matter for a change, as there is only so much you can do with two hours of NXT. Let the wrestlers get in the ring somehow and see what they can do with some extra time. Let’s get to it.

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

I find it interesting that the graphic saying “Orlando, Florida” is on and off in less than two seconds. Where else are we supposed to think this is from?

Roderick Strong vs. Ru Feng

Non-title and the rest of Diamond Mine is here too. Feng shoves him into the corner to start and cranks on the wrist with Strong not being able to do much to escape. Some chops up against the ropes have Feng in trouble though and Strong stomps away near the ropes. Feng fights out of an abdominal stretch and grabs a powerslam for two. That’s enough for Strong, who hits the jumping knee for the pin at 4:55.

Rating: C-. I’m still not sure what Strong is doing at the moment as the Cruiserweight Champion’s biggest feud is against someone who weighs about 400lbs. There’s nothing wrong with keeping Strong out here on some nothing show against a pretty low level opponent, but it would be nice if he had someone more impressive coming after the title. Then again, it’s hard to imagine NXT doing anything that makes these days.

Valentina Feroz vs. Erica Yan

This is Yan’s debut and she gets taken down for an early armbar attempt. That’s broken up in a hurry, as is Yan’s headlock. Feroz pulls her down into a double arm crank and then kicks Yan forward for two. Back up and Yan hits a few running shoulders but gets pulled into something like a Koji Clutch for the tap at 2:59.

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Ikemen Jiro/Kushida

Jiro and Drake trade arm control to start and it’s Kushida coming in with an ax handle to the shoulder. Jiro hits one of his own and it’s Drake in trouble early. Gibson comes in but can’t get a hiptoss. Instead, Jiro clotheslines him down but Drake comes in off a blind tag for the cheap shot. Gibson is right back in with a chinlock, setting up a top rope ax handle to the back.

The chinlock goes right back on but Jiro manages a suplex to get himself out of trouble. Drake tries to cut off the tag but winds up pulling off Jiro’s jacket instead, allowing the hot tag to Kushida. Everything breaks down and Jiro gets his jacket back, setting up a double basement dropkick. Cue the Diamond Mine though and the distraction lets the Veterans hit Ticket To Mayhem for the pin on Jiro at 10:28.

Rating: C. This was a match with some time and even had some storyline advancement at the end to make things that much better. It’s not the kind of a match that you get from this show and I could go for something like this in the future. Above all else, it’s nice to have something feel like it matters (even slightly) for a change and that’s a good thing.

Overall Rating: C-. Better main event aside, it was another show that is only going to get so far. You can’t expect much out of a show that barely breaks half an hour and spends a bit of time on two matches without a ton of drama. That being said, it felt like one of the bigger editions of 205 Live in a long time, assuming you ignore how ridiculous the name is these days.

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205 Live
Date: October 1, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Things have actually changed around here a bit and that is a great thing to see. 205 Live has long since lost any appeal that it had so having some lower level NXT people getting some attention is a good thing. The show still doesn’t mean anything, but now it means something with some slightly more important people. Let’s get to it.

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

Dante Chen vs. Malik Blade

Feeling out process to start with Chen snapping off a hiptoss and grabbing an armbar. Some armdrags set up the armbar sequel but Blade is back up with a heck of a dropkick. Blade grabs his own armbar and Chen can’t even suplex his way to freedom. Chen fights up and hits a pump kick to the face, followed by a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. The guillotine drop finishes Blade at 4:38.

Rating: C-. This was a glorified squash for Chen, but it doesn’t help that he is still just the wrestler from Singapore. That is almost all WWE mentions about him and I’m going to need more than that to get interested in him. Both guys are ok in the ring and Blade could be worth having around elsewhere, but Chen is going to need some more to make me care about whatever he’s doing.

Amari Miller vs. Valentina Feroz

Miller seems rather happy to be here. Feroz grabs a headlock to start and takes Miller down out of the corner. That gives us an early standoff until Feroz charges into an armdrag into an armbar. Feroz reverses into an armbar of her own but gets dropped face first out of the corner for the escape. Miller’s reverse chinlock doesn’t last long so they go into a quick pinfall reversal sequence. That’s enough for Miller, who grabs a headlock driver onto the knee to finish Feroz at 3:32.

Rating: C-. Another match that just kind of happened here. You get the feeling that WWE sees something in Miller but she feels like a rather long term prospect. She looks like a pure rookie and it is going to take a lot of time to turn that into something. Given that it’s WWE, she’s probably a champion in a year.

Miller helps her up post match.

Ikemen Jiro/Trey Baxter vs. Imperium

This would be your NXT midcard guest stars match. Barthel and Baxter get things going with Barthel working over the wrist. A flipping hammerlock on the mat keeps Baxter down until he grabs a crucifix. Barthel isn’t having that though and hits a kick to the chest to put Baxter in trouble again. Aichner comes in to stay on the arm but Baxter sweeps the legs and stomps on the back.

It’s off to Jiro for some jacket shots to the face and a Tarantula, with Baxter getting in a shot of his own. That’s too far for Imperium, who come back in for a double clothesline to take over again. Barthel suplexes Baxter into the corner and then slams him legs first into the ropes. There’s another kick to the chest for another two on Baxter and we hit the chinlock.

Back up and a clothesline out of the corner drops Baxter, which has McGuinness rather pleased. Baxter finally jawbreaks his way to freedom though and the hot tag brings in Jiro. The pace picks up and the double springboard moonsault gets two on Barthel. Jiro and Baxter both hit dives to the floor but Aichner is back in with a brainbuster to Baxter. The Imperium Bomb finishes Baxter at 11:16.

Rating: C. This was straight out of the 1980s as you had two guys who might be able to hang with the established team for a few minutes before ultimately getting destroyed. That’s what happened here and it was the best thing on the show. I know these older formulas might not be the most popular, but they still work if you give them the chance.

Overall Rating: C-. Not the most thrilling show, but things have changed enough that this is the new norm. I’ll take that over what we had been getting for years so it is time to start getting used to this. I can go for this formula going forward, though a name change might be in store. Granted that is assuming that anyone in WWE remembers that this show exists, so 205 Live is here to stay.

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205 Live
Date: September 24, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

The new (again) 205 Live continues as they have been running three matches a week, plus often dropping the weight limit. Throw in some women’s matches and this show is actually looking like something different for a change. I’m not saying that is going to lead to a good show, but at least it isn’t all the same. Let’s get to it.

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

Xyon Quin vs. Oney Lorcan

That’s some star power for around here. Lorcan takes him into the corner to start as the fans seem to be behind Quin. Some chops and a ram into the corner don’t do much to Quin, who is right back with a spinning elbow. Lorcan kicks the leg out though and starts hammering away and another shot to the knee gets two. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Quin powers up and strikes Lorcan into the corner, setting up a running shoulder to the ribs. One heck of a ripcord forearm knocks Lorcan silly for the pin at 3:17.

Rating: C. It was short but to the point as Quin looks like a monster and someone who could run over a lot of people in a hurry. Lorcan is actually a win that means something as he has won a few things in NXT over the years. They might have a little something with Quin, or at least the pieces to go somewhere with him.

Video on Ikemen Jiro and his wardrobe (from NXT).

Ikemen Jiro vs. Malik Blade

The fans seem to like Jiro but he gets shouldered down to start. A dropkick sets up some armdrags but Jiro snaps the arm across the top. Jiro cranks back on the arm a few times and a running flip splash gets two. We go creative as Jiro grabs the arm and springboards into a moonsault to take Malik to the mat. Malik fights out of the armbar though and spinwheel kicks Jiro down, setting up a high crossbody for two. Jiro goes right back to the arm though and finishes with the Ikemen Slash at 5:27.

Rating: C-. Jiro working on the arm worked and it seems like NXT wants to push him as well. I can go with the snazzy jackets, but I’m not sure how far something that is a little bit sillier like this is going to go. Jiro is fine enough in the ring, though there would seem to be a ceiling over just how far he can rise.

Cora Jade vs. Ember Moon

There’s your even bigger star power as this show becomes even more NXT Main Event. Moon headlock takeovers her down and grinds on the head as the fans are quite behind Ember. Jade reverses into a hammerlock as the chants are a bit more split. Back up and things reset a bit until Jade snaps off a springboard hurricanrana.

A standing armbar has Moon in more trouble but it seems to make her mad more than anything else as the comeback is on. Moon ties her into the Tree of Woe for some kicks to the back and Jade is sent shoulder first into the post. That’s almost enough for a countout but Moon doesn’t want it that way. Instead she throws Jade back inside for a powerbomb and the Eclipse finishes Jade at 6:58.

Rating: C. Moon is a much bigger deal than most of the people you see on the show and that’s a good thing. NXT has all of these people just sitting around doing almost nothing every week so send them out there for a quick match and maybe draw some eyes to this show. It wasn’t a great match or anything, but the Eclipse is always worth seeing.

Overall Rating: C. This is already WAY better than 205 Live, as you can only get so far with the same wrestlers over and over and we had reached that point about three years ago. There isn’t anything in the way of storylines around here, but sometimes you need to mix things up a bit. This feels more like taking a different course and that’s ok in this case. Let us see some more of the up and coming/underused talent, which has been needed for a long time now.

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205 Live
Date: August 27, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

I think we can officially call this the new 205 Live, which is still not live and now has little to do with 205. Since it’s WWE though and it’s all about branding, expect them to keep the name because of the great history and pride associated with the low level, often forgotten former cruiserweight show. Let’s get to it.

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

Grayson Waller vs. Andre Chase

Drake Maverick joins commentary as Chase works on the arm to start. Maverick can’t pick out any potential breakout stars around here, which might be due to no one knowing who is actually on the roster. Waller fights up and sends him outside but stops to yell at Maverick, allowing Chase to get in a shot from behind. A high crossbody gives Waller two but Chase is back with a belly to back for his own near fall.

Some shoulders to Waller’s banged up ribs keep him in trouble until he cuts off a shoulder with a knee to the face. A heck of a discus forearm gives Waller two but Chase pulls him into a quick STF. The rope gets Waller out of trouble so Chase tiger drivers him for two more. Waller is back up with his running Stunner though and the middle rope elbow connects. The step over stomp finishes Chase at 8:40.

Rating: C. I continue to like Waller, though I can’t imagine he winds up going anywhere on the main roster. That leave shim stuck around here, which might not be the most thrilling career path but it is better than getting squashed on NXT. At least they are doing something with him, and that is more than a lot of the cruiserweights can say.

We actually get a preview for next week. I wouldn’t get used to that.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Trey Baxter

Respect is shown and they go technical to start. Baxter shoulders him down and smiles so Jiro grabs an armdrag into a hiptoss. Jiro hits him in the face for two and we’re off to an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and Baxter takes it into the corner for a running chop. Jiro gets sent outside for the big dive and Baxter stomps away back inside.

The chinlock doesn’t last long and Jiro grabs a Samoan driver for no cover. Some forearms and jacket strikes rock Baxter, setting up the springboard anklescissors to the floor. A superkick rocks Baxter on the floor and the Swanton gets two back inside. The Ikemen Slash misses though and Baxter (busted open) hits a springboard 450…which Jiro reverses into a small package for the pin at 8:29.

Rating: C+. I’m a bit surprised by the result as Baxter seems to be a bigger prospect than Jiro. That being said, Jiro has been pushed more in recent weeks and it does make some sense to keep him strong in a match like this one. They kept up the energy too and it was a good match as a result.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a pretty good show overall, which might have something to do with it only lasting about twenty five minutes. The show still means absolutely nothing and probably doesn’t need to exist, but at least they are having some fairly consistently good action. Just keep mixing it up a bit and give us a break from the same cycle and it gets much better.o the corner for a running chop. Jiro gets sent outside for the big dive and Baxter stomps away back inside.

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NXT
Date: August 31, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

The changes continue around here as we are marching towards the new version of NXT. I still have no idea what that means and I’m not sure I want to. Then again it might be for the best, as NXT has not exactly been at its most thrilling for a long time now. There are a few matches set in advance this week so let’s get to it.

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

Mandy Rose vs. Sarray

Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne are here with Rose. Mandy takes her down to start and rubs her face in the mat, setting up some pushups on Sarray’s back. Sarray is back up with a dropkick and a kind of nasty looking fisherman’s suplex for two. A top rope twisting splash misses for Sarray and we hit the quickly broken chinlock.

Rose grabs a fall away slam into a nip up and it’s off to something like an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up as well and Sarray starts the striking. The running dropkick sets up the running dropkick in the ropes to send Mandy outside. Jayne and Dolin immediately cover her face up and get her to the back for the countout at 7:39.

Rating: C. This was completely acceptable as Mandy is doing a much more old school heel thing in the ring. There is no point in trying to have her be some kind of a moves person and thankfully NXT gets that. Let her go out there, be the heel she can be so easily and use some old school tactics to get heat. It works well for her, and in a place where everything is about going a hundred miles an hour, it makes her stand out that much more.

Tommaso Ciampa is ready to hurt Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland. He isn’t going to cry over spilled milk and a motivated Ciampa is a scary Ciampa.

Duke Hudson vs. Kyle O’Reilly

O’Reilly’s ribs are heavily taped so Hudson goes after the obvious target in a hurry. A heel hook is blocked and Hudson blasts him with a right hand to the ribs. O’Reilly can’t grab an abdominal stretch and it’s a hiptoss to take him down. Hudson even mocks the air guitar, which is a bit better than Hogan’s. A fireman’s carry gutbuster drops O’Reilly and we take a break.

Back with Hudson staying on the ribs and cutting off an O’Reilly comeback attempt. O’Reilly gets smart by kicking at the legs before spinning into a guillotine choke to put Hudson in trouble. It’s broken up with straight power, so O’Reilly grabs a hanging dragon screw legwhip. The top rope knee to Hudson’s knee sets up the heel hook for the tap at 11:52.

Rating: B-. They had a good, back and forth match here but the key was to not have things get too complicated. Hudson is still very much a work in progress so it was a smart move to let him get in there with someone who can walk him through a match. O’Reilly gets a come from behind win, Hudson gets his feet wet against better competition and we move on after a good use of both guys.

We look at Dexter Lumis and Indi Hartwell’s engagement.

Beth Phoenix is VERY excited about the wedding but Wade Barrett throws away his In-Dex shirt.

Here is the very banged up and limping Ilja Dragunov to talk about how he went through a war with Walter. He survived against the Ring General and is ready for whatever comes at him. The fans don’t want him to go and wants to know who is willing to come after the title. Long live the Czar.

Kay Lee Ray says the NXT women’s division needs a boost and that is why William Regal…..and the interviewer cuts her off to ask about various women in NXT. Ray isn’t worried about Io Shirai or Ember Moon and she is coming to take over the division.

Carmelo Hayes is considering his options for the title match but Elektra Lopez comes in to say the North American Title is for Santos Escobar. Cue Legado del Fantasma to seemingly offer some threats.

Imperium vs. Grayson Waller/Drake Maverick

Before the match, Maverick looks worried but Waller says Imperium is just annoyed at having to carry Walter’s bags. Waller is taken into the corner to start and it’s time to hammer away. Barthel adds some loud kicks to the chest but Waller gets over to Maverick for the hot tag. Maverick loads up what looks to be a charge but Waller tags himself back in, leaving Maverick to be knocked outside. Maverick is sent into the lighting rig and Waller is kicked in the face. The Imperial Bomb finishes Waller at 3:04.

Rating: C-. More of the same from Imperium, meaning they had a competent squash which wasn’t going to hold my interest. These two are not exactly inspiring but do have all of the technical stuff down. It’s kind of a Dean Malenko vibe, but without the occasional big spots to spice it up a bit.

Indi Hartwell asks Johnny Gargano to give Dexter Lumis a chance. Lumis is standing near Gargano and gets to go to the ring with him.

Pete Dunne, Ridge Holland, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are ready to hurt Tommaso Ciampa.

Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne have attacked Sarray.

Johnny Gargano vs. LA Knight

Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis are here with Gargano. The fans are behind Gargano, Lumis and Hartwell here as Gargano and Knight fight for control on the mat. It’s too early for the Gargano Escape so Knight starts in on the arm and then elbows him in the face. Gargano sends him outside though and hits a suicide dive. Knight runs him over again though and, after some mocking of Lumis and Hartwell, drops Gargano to send us to a break.

Back with Knight missing a knee drop, allowing Gargano to hit a middle rope Downward Spiral. The slingshot spear drops Knight again but he’s back up with a pop up powerslam dropped backwards instead of forwards. Gargano doesn’t mind as he tries the Gargano Escape, which is quickly escaped. The One Final Beat is countered as well but Gargano lands on Lumis, who then moves him away from a charging Drake. Back in and Gargano reaches for Lumis, but walks into the BFT for the pin at 14:02.

Rating: C+. This was much more about the interactions and the character stuff with Gargano, as the fans’ reactions are getting interesting. Gargano is still popular, but all he has to do is give Lumis and Hartwell a sideways glare and fans can’t stand him all over again. The wedding actually has me curious and I would not have bet on that just a few weeks ago so nice job on setting things up.

Lumis knows he screwed up.

MSK goes in to see William Regal and wants Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch to have a Tag Team Title shot. Burch and Lorcan were stripped of the titles so Regal makes the match for next week.

Next week: Mei Ying’s in-ring debut.

Raquel Gonzalez vs. Jessi Kamea

Non-title and Robert Stone and Frankie Monet are here too. Kamea slips out of a suplex to start and manages to snap the leg over the top rope. A missed basement spinwheel kick lets Gonzalez dropkick her into the corner, setting up a powerbomb hot shot. The Chingona Bomb finishes Kamea at 2:42.

Ember Moon doesn’t like what Kay Lee Ray said and would be glad to face her next week.

We get a sitdown interview with Samoa Joe, who knows what it means to be champion. He hasn’t had time to rest because he has been in Las Vegas scouting NXT talent. Then he took a red eye flight back here because he needed to win the NXT Title. The precedent had to be set and now it is time to defend his title. If anyone wants something, come try and take it from him.

Roderick Strong vs. Ikemen Jiro

The Creed Brothers are now part of the Diamond Mine. Jiro is accepting an open challenge on Kushida’s behalf because Kushida is his hero. Strong starts strong by kicking Jiro down and sending him outside. A hiptoss sends Jiro into the steps and we hit the chinlock back inside. The seated abdominal stretch keeps Jiro in trouble but he fights up for some shots to the face. The slingshot springboard moonsault gives Jiro two but Strong knees him in the face. Back to back End of Heartaches finishes for Strong at 5:02.

Rating: C-. Total squash here and there is nothing wrong with that. Strong is in a holding pattern until Kushida gets back from whatever is wrong with him. Until then, just keep building Strong up and making him feel like the ultimate challenger. They can do a lot of work on the way to the title match and that seems to be the case.

Zoey Stark and Io Shirai are ready to defend their Tag Team Titles against Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro. The champs aren’t really friends outside of the ring and it is going to catch up with them. Stark and Shirai don’t have much of a rebuttal.

Cameron Grimes, looking like his old self again, talks about how great it is to receive the Million Dollar Legacy. Cue the Grizzled Young Veterans to say that Grimes is the champion with a fake title, just like the one they have. Maybe next week he can be Universal Champion once he hits WWEshop.com. Grimes is impressed by the replica belt…and drops it on Zack Gibson’s foot. He throws in some money on his way to the moon.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ridge Holland

Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch and Pete Dunne are with Holland while Ciampa is alone. Ciampa headlocks him down but gets caught in a northern lights suplex. Not that it matters as Ciampa is back up with a running knee in the corner. Holland is taken outside for a ram into the barricade and a posting. A running knee to the face lets Ciampa pat himself on the back but Holland goes for the knee to send us to a break.

Back with Holland grabbing a chinlock to keep Ciampa in trouble. Ciampa fights up with a clothesline and a jumping knee to the face. More corner clotheslines look to set up the Fairy Tale Ending but Holland reverses into an Alabama Slam to drop Ciampa hard. After a check from the referee, Ciampa fights up with some shots to the face to knock Holland down against the ropes. An Air Raid Crash drops Holland again but he headbutts Ciampa out to the floor. Holland powerslams him into the barricade but Ciampa is back with some knees to the face. Willow’s Bell is good for the pin on Holland at 12:05.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure what it is but there is something about this feud that is making it hard for me to care. What you’re getting is mostly good stuff and I can go for seeing more of Ciampa, but it feels more like a way to get us towards WarGames rather than a match or feud that I want to see. Good match, though I didn’t really get inspired by what I was seeing.

Post match the beatdown is on but MSK comes out for the save.

Overall Rating: C+. The biggest problem with NXT right now is the lack of a top story. What is the main angle going on in NXT right now? Samoa Joe doesn’t have a challenger. The Way is waiting around to get to the wedding. Ciampa vs. Holland N Pals feels like an upper midcard feud at most. What on here feels like a top level story? I know it will change, but that has been seriously lacking from NXT.

The NXT Title hasn’t felt important in months, Raquel Gonzalez vs. Frankie Monet still seems like it’s a few weeks away at most and the North American Champion is part of a faction war. What does that leave? Io Shirai/Zoey Stark and MSK? There just isn’t much going on right now that feels must see and nothing is standing above the rest. That’s a problem and until it is fixed, NXT isn’t going to feel all that important.

Results
Sarray b. Mandy Rose via countout
Kyle O’Reilly b. Duke Hudson – Heel hook
Imperium b. Grayson Waller/Drake Maverick – Imperial Bomb to Waller
LA Knight b. Johnny Gargano – BFT
Raquel Gonzalez b. Jessi Kamea – Chingona Bomb
Roderick Strong b. Ikemen Jiro – End of Heartache
Tommaso Ciampa b. Ridge Holland – Willow’s Bell

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205 Live
Date: August 20, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

I think we can officially that we are now in the new 205 Live, which has nothing to do with weighing 205lbs and isn’t live. That could mean a few things and most of them seem to be positive. What matters here is putting on a show that is entertaining while not overstaying its welcome, which may or may not work. Let’s get to it.

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

The show is in such a state of flux that it has lost its opening sequence.

Andre Chase vs. Ikemen Jiro

Chase sends him down to start and wants Jiro to bring it. That earns Jiro a hiptoss but he snaps off an armdrag to even things up a bit. Another hiptoss is countered into another armdrag (Jiro is learning) to send Chase outside but he ties Jiro into the ring skirt to set up the beating. Back in and a neckbreaker gives Chase two and he pulls Jiro off the middle rope to cut off the comeback.

The crossface chickenwing keeps Jiro down for a bit but he’s back up with a running flip clothesline. A kick to the head sets up the slingshot springboard moonsault for two but Chase pulls him into the STF (how he predicted to win). Chase switches into a Crossface attempt but Jiro sends him outside to escape without much effort. Back in and Jiro hits a Swanton for two but Chase’s tiger driver gets the same. A splash misses in the corner though and the Ikemen Slash finishes Jiro at 9:56.

Rating: C. I’m running out of ways to say that 205 Live matches are completely competent and little more than that. Jiro is getting a little somewhere around here, but that is only going to get him so far when he is losing in squash matches on NXT. Chase is fine for a low level heel and I’m not sure how much further he is going than that.

Joe Gacy vs. Grayson Waller

Waller tries some grappling to start but gets shoved away without much trouble. A headlock slows Gacy down for a bit but he’s back up with a hiptoss into some slams. Gacy’s headlock sends Waller outside for a breather but he comes back in to get ripped apart with some chops.

Waller changes things up by kicking him in the face and slapping on a front facelock. Commentary starts talking about NXT UK as Waller sends him into the corner to drop Gacy again. The bodyscissors goes on but Gacy blocks a sleeper. Back up and Gacy hits a swinging slam for two. A pump kick sets up a handspring lariat to finish Waller at 9:01.

Rating: C+. Gacy might not be great in almost any way, but he stands out so much on this show just because he’s different. That’s what you need on a show like this after so much time being spent on the same nothing matches. What we got here was a nice change of pace and it was actually pretty good even without the size differences.

Overall Rating: C. The match wasn’t much but it was the kind of show that gives me some hope as we move forward around here. Again, just the idea of dropping the weight limit and letting the show be more of NXT’s version of Main Event makes a lot more sense and that is what it felt like here. The switch isn’t complete or anything yet, but it seems that we are heading in a rather welcome direction.

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