IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: April 3, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jon Quasto, Aiden English

It’s the very final show before Wrestlemania and that means a grand total of nothing this time around as 205 Live has no presence on the show. All that matters here is having a few decent matches between people who aren’t going to be getting any time on any of the major shows. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Kushida vs. Danny Burch

They go technical to start with several switches out of some armbar attempts. Kushida takes it to the mat but Burch grabs the leg to get out. The fight over arm control sets up another standoff as things reset a bit. Kushida takes him down by the leg and cranks on the arm a bit, implying that it wasn’t very hard. Burch’s headlock works a bit better for him until Kushida reverses into a front facelock to continue the frustration.

Burch manages to send him to the apron but Kushida switches places and kicks him outside. Back in and Burch punches him out of the air for two and it’s time to stomp Kushida down. The chinlock goes on for a bit but Kushida knocks him outside for a running knee from the apron. The springboard DDT is broken up though and Kushida pulls him into a Crossface. Believe it or not, Kushida escapes that as well and dropkicks the knee out. The Sakuraba Lock finishes Burch at 10:06.

Rating: C. This was almost a long form cat and mouse game as Kushida never felt like he was in any real danger and kept pulling Burch back in every chance. It wasn’t a terrible match or anything and Burch was working hard, but he was overmatched here and it was a matter of time until Kushida finally caught him. Good story though.

Tyler Breeze vs. Jack Gallagher

Gallagher runs him over to start but walks into a dropkick for his efforts. Breeze’s headlock doesn’t work very well so he clotheslines Gallagher for two instead. Now the headlock on the mat works a bit better but Gallagher reverses into one of his own. Some right hands keep Breeze down and a few uppercuts put him in the corner. We hit the armbar for a bit but Breeze is back up with a sunset flip attempt.

Gallagher sits down on him for two (how he beat Breeze in the elimination match) but the Supermodel kick gets the same. Breeze heads up top but gets his arm pulled down onto the top rope. A few cranks on the arm make it worse and the Fujiwara armbar has Breeze crawling over to the rope. Back up and they slug it out until Breeze knees him to the floor. Back in and Gallagher hits a discus elbow for the fast pin at 10:00.

Rating: C-. Not as good as the first match but still decent enough. They’ve nailed the look to make Gallagher remind you of Conor McGregor and it’s one of the best transformations I can remember in a long time. That being said, he isn’t exactly in a place to move that far up the ladder. At least he has something that makes him stand out though and that’s more than a lot of the cruiserweights can say.

Overall Rating: C. I really don’t know what to say about these shows anymore. What we had was decent enough but there is no story in sight and the wrestling is only decent enough. It’s the first show that the company should be dropping but there is no indication that they are going to. The show has been stripped down to the bare basics and it’s just really not all that interesting. Not bad, but nothing I’ll remember by next week.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: March 13, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jon Quasto, Aiden English

And then everything changes. Instead of wrestling in front of a shrinking crowd after a show or a filing in crowd before a show, they’re wrestling in front of no one because this show is cursed. It’s actually a big show this time around with an elimination tag between Team NXT and Team 205 Live Originals. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Team NXT vs. Team 205 Live Originals

NXT – Isaiah Scott, Tyler Breeze, Danny Burch, Oney Lorcan, ???

205 Live – Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari, Brian Kendrick, Jack Gallagher, Mike Kanellis

The Singh Brothers are here with the 205 Live originals and NXT’s mystery partner is….Kushida. Nese takes Kushida down to start and strikes the pose but Kushida is right back up with a wristlock. That’s broken up so Kushida hits the handspring elbow, meaning it’s off to Kanellis vs. Burch. The latter works on the arm and hands it off to Lorcan for more of the same. Nese comes back in to forearm Lorcan in the face but it’s already back to Burch for some right hands.

Burch throws Nese outside but has to beat up the Singhs. The distraction doesn’t mean much as Burch grabs a Crossface on Nese, causing everything to break down. That leaves Nese and Burch in the ring so the distracted referee misses the Singhs coming in. Burch takes care of them but a camera shot to the face lets Nese get rid of Burch at 5:32.

Nese stomps away at Breeze on the way back in but refuses to tag Gallagher. He’ll tag Kanellis, who tags Nese right back in to stomp on Breeze as well. Gallagher tags himself in though and hammers away but Breeze is right back with a sunset flip. Gallagher counters that with a rollup for the elimination at 7:45 though and 205 Live is up 5-3. Lorcan comes in and gets kicked into the corner before it’s back to Nese….who is promptly half and half suplexed for the elimination at 8:58.

Kanellis is in next and gets chopped in the corner but superkicks Lorcan right back down. Hold on though as Nese pulls Gallagher off the apron, earning himself a headbutt. Gallagher headbutts Kanellis as well, sending him into a rollup from Lorcan for the pin at 10:34. We’re tied up again as Kendrick elbows Lorcan in the back of the neck. Daivari’s neckbreaker gets two and we hit the chinlock (you shouldn’t need that in an elimination tag. Lorcan fights up and it’s a double clothesline for the double knockdown.

Kendrick and Scott come in with the latter cleaning house but a Daivari distraction lets Kendrick knock him to the floor. It’s Daivari coming in legally for a change but he misses a charge into the corner, allowing Scott to roll him up for the elimination at 15:05. Kendrick comes back in and gets small packaged for the pin at 15:13.

That leaves us with Gallagher vs. Scott/Lorcan/Kushida, but Kendrick and Daivari beat Scott up before leaving. Kushida gets sent into the announcers’ table and Lorcan goes into the steps, leaving Gallagher to pound on Scott. Gallagher gets tossed to the floor but comes back in for a discus elbow to get rid of Lorcan at 17:30. A dive off the top takes Scott down and the running dropkick in the corner gets two on Kushida. Gallagher cranks on the arms but Kushida slips out and hits him in the face, allowing Scott to come back in. The House Call gets two and it’s Pop Culture into Kushida’s cross armbreaker for the win at 20:22.

Rating: C+. The thing that makes me happy here is how they built something up and then had a pretty good match. It wasn’t the best show in the world but what we got was good enough for a major match, at least by this show’s standards. I’m not sure if it is enough to go anywhere, at least not with Kendrick and Daivari as such big heels, but all in all, pretty good stuff.

Scott and Kushida show respect but stare each other down to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. These one idea shows are always weird. This one was good though as it’s an effort and some thought going into this show, and that’s what this show has been lacking for months. I could go for some more of this, though having the title mainly on NXT (or NXT UK at the moment) is making this show seem less and less important every week. Just try in some way though and maybe there can be a need for this thing. Given how the wrestling world is going at the minute, anything is better than nothing.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: December 25, 2019
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida/Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Tom Phillips, Beth Phoenix
Hosts: Pat McAfee, Cathy Kelly, Sam Roberts

It’s a Christmas night show because that’s something we needed this year. Last week’s show was a huge one with Rhea Ripley finally ending Shayna Baszler’s crazy long Women’s Title reign in a great moment. In addition to that, Johnny Gargano returned and annihilated Finn Balor to set up a huge match probably in the near future. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s big (and awesome) show.

The hosts welcome us to the show and do some bickering because that’s what WWE does.

From Full Sail.

Roderick Strong is issuing an open challenge for the North American Title.

North American Title: Roderick Strong vs. ???

Strong is defending against….Austin Theory, making his NXT TV debut. They go to the mat with Strong getting an early near fall and smiling a lot. Strong’s headlock doesn’t last long as Theory flips him over and even offers his cheek without much fear. The trash talk goes to Theory so Strong forearms him in the face and stomps away. Theory is back up with a nice dropkick for one and a hard whip puts Strong into the corner.

A standing moonsault connects for two and they head outside, with Strong hitting an Angle Slam into the post to start in on the back. That’s only good for nine so Strong stomps away again with the aggression starting to flow. Strong hits his own great dropkick and sends Theory outside, only to have Austin roll in….for a backbreaker to give Strong two.

Theory snaps off a snap suplex before rolling through the ropes for another dropkick. The fans are split as Theory kicks Strong away and hits a buckle bomb to rock Strong again. A fisherman’s buster onto the knee gets two on the champ but he’s right back with a superplex. Theory counters a backbreaker though and grabs a torture rack into a spinning powerbomb for his own two.

Strong takes him to the top for a backbreaker onto the buckle but Theory is out again. Theory is right back up with something like a fisherman’s buster onto the apron for a VERY close two and the shock is rather nice. They slug it out with Theory hitting a superkick (Mauro: “AUSTIN THEORY JUST JINGLED HIS BELLS!”) so Strong is right back with End of Heartache. The Stronghold finishes Theory at 16:46.

Rating: B. Theory looked like a potential star here and the fact that he is 22 years old puts him near the heights of Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate who should not be that good at that age. Strong was the right choice of an opponent for him too as he has a style that works with everyone, including Theory, and we got a rather awesome match out of the two of them. This was about Theory doing everything he could and Strong focusing on the back because that’s what he does to set up his finisher. Theory will be back.

Theory gets a standing ovation and we get a lot of replays.

The hosts chat a bit with McAfee shouting a lot.

From Brooklyn, after a Smackdown taping.

Isaiah Scott vs. Jack Gallagher

Scott starts working on the arm but Gallagher grabs a leg to get out. Now it’s Gallagher cranking on the arm and fingers (Beth: “Taking those phalanges to a place they’re not supposed to go!”) and then a chinlock to mix it up a bit. Scott is right back on the arm with something like a short armscissors and Gallagher can’t spin out of things. He finally flips away so Scott dropkicks him in the side of the head.

Scott sends him over the top for a face first drop onto the apron. Back in and we hit the chinlock as they’re certainly keeping things slow and mat based early on. Gallagher slams him away though and we take a break. Back with Scott’s arm a bit banged up but he uses the good arm for a heck of a discus lariat. The middle rope elbow to the back has Gallagher in more trouble and it’s time for some kicks to the chest against the ropes.

A rolling Downward Spiral gives Scott two more and a backbreaker gets him away from Gallagher cranking on the arm. Gallagher headbutts the heck out of him for two of his own and they’re both down. It’s back to Scott’s arm but Scott reverses into an arm hold of his own, only to have Gallagher reverse into a cross armbreaker attempt. Scott reverses that into a Pentagon style arm snap, albeit with his foot instead of pulling back. The House Call is good for the pin on Gallagher at 13:48.

Rating: C+. Scott is someone who has more starts and stops to his run in NXT than I can even imagine. He keeps coming and going without being able to really get very far. That becomes an issue, but the talent is there and he can do all kinds of things in the ring. It helps that the fans are with him and Gallagher is the same way, with the ability to have a good match against anyone.

The hosts talk about how important the Barclays Center has been for NXT.

Next week: the NXT Awards.

From Full Sail.

Candice LeRae vs. Taynara Conti

Conti can’t sneak in a kick to the ribs as LeRae knocks it away and hits a neckbreaker across the middle rope. A suicide dive connects and Candice adds a springboard crossbody to the floor for two. The chinlock goes on but Conti fights out in a hurry and hits a running knee as we take a break.

Back with Conti getting two off a tilt-a-whirl Boss Man Slam and then covering again for a bonus. Candice is so annoyed that she ties her hair back and slaps away, setting up a missile dropkick for her own two. The step up backsplash sets up the Lionsault to finish Conti at 7:55.

Rating: C-. LeRae is someone who can wrestle a fine enough match but she doesn’t exactly break through to the other side. I could see her getting a Cinderella run towards the title but I’m not sure if she will ever win the thing. Conti is fine as a midcard dragon to slay, though she needs to win a few matches to get her back to that status.

Arturo Ruas is coming.

Back to Brooklyn.

Dominick Dijakovic vs. Bronson Reed

They do the power lockup to start with Dijakovic getting the better of things off a headlock. Reed reverses into one of his own as he gets his turn to grind Dijakovic down for a change. An exchange of shoulders goes nowhere so Dijakovic tries and fails at a suplex attempt instead. Reed runs him over and sits on Dijakovic’s back as we take a break.

Back with Reed forearming him in the face and snapping off a German suplex. A running hip attack in the corner gives Reed two and there’s a suplex for the same. Dijakovic still can’t suplex him so he kicks and strikes away instead. Now the toss suplex connects for two on Reed and the Cyclone boot gets the same.

Just to show off, Dijakovic busts out a moonsault for another near fall and the fans are getting into these kickouts. The chokeslam is broken up with headbutts to the hand (that’s a new one) and Reed busts out a middle rope Thesz press for two more. Some headbutts to the head look to set up the splash but Dijakovic catches him on the middle rope with a chokebomb for the pin at 12:16.

Rating: C+. I can go for a good hoss fight like this and that’s what they did here. Reed has gotten to show off multiple times now and I’ve been having a good time watching him look so good. At the same time, Dijakovic is a monster and someone who should be pushed towards the main event in a hurry. He’s that good and NXT knows it.

Video on When Worlds Collide.

Video on Bianca Belair.

Bianca Belair vs. Shotzi Blackheart

Shotzi, recently signed, takes her into the corner to start and snapmares Belair down for blowing bubbles. Belair spins out though and drops a seated senton to take over. A sunset flip doesn’t work for Shotzi and Belair blows more bubbles. This one is broken up with a slap to the face and a springboard hurricanrana sends Belair into the ropes. A running reverse Cannonball against the ropes puts Belair on the floor but she counters a dive and drops Shotzi onto the apron.

Back from a break with Belair clotheslining her down and posing a lot on the cover. Shotzi gets caught with a running dropkick and we hit the cravate. That’s broken up and Shotzi hits a running faceplant to get a breather. There’s a kick to Belair’s head and a rolling faceplant gets two. Shotzi gets creative with a running tornado DDT onto the apron and Belair is rocked. Back in and a big boot misses though, allowing Belair to send her into the corner. The KOD finishes Blackheart at 10:15.

Rating: C. This was a way to showcase Shotzi and that worked out well enough. You knew she wasn’t going to beat a bigger star like Belair but at least she hit a bunch of nice stuff. It was designed as a get to know you match and for what it was, that worked out well enough. Shotzi is going to need some more work but she had a good first outing here so at least her first foot came off well.

The hosts discuss Shotzi and the women’s division.

Keith Lee/Lio Rush vs. Tony Nese/Damian Priest

What an odd pair of teams. Nese and Rush start things off but it’s off to Priest for the ridiculous visual on the staredown instead. Rush slaps him in the face for some reason but he gets in a kick to the chest as well. A blocked kick allows the tag to Lee though and now let’s have a staredown.

Priest makes it personal by pulling off Lee’s Santa hat and it’s time for them both to miss a lot of shots to the face in a far more fast paced exchange than should be legal for people their size. Lee hits a crossbody and smiles at Nese for trying to interfere. The chase is on outside with Nese being Pounced over the announcers’ table for a .6 Cole. Back from a break with Priest punching Rush out of the air to take over.

Nese comes in to kick Rush in the face and we hit the bodyscissors. A big kick to the head misses and Rush flips out of a belly to back suplex. The bottom rope springboard Stunner puts them both down though and it’s back to Lee to clean house. Lee’s running clothesline gets two on Priest but the Spirit Bomb doesn’t work. Nese knocks Lee down and gets two off a Lionsault but Rush comes back in for a springboard hurricanrana.

Rush strikes away and kicks Nese in the head but Priest chokeslams him onto the apron. Back in and….Lee, in the Santa hat, rises up next to Priest and throws him to the floor. Lee catches a diving Nese in the air so Priest tries a running flip dive….and Lee catches THAT, holds him up, and powerbombs him onto the apron. You know, because HE CAN DO THAT. The Limit Breaker into the Final Hour off of Lee’s shoulders finishes Nese at 13:25.

Rating: C+. The more I watch Lee, the more I’m convinced that he was built in a lab somewhere. The guy is a complete athletic freak with the power and athleticism being as impressive of a combination as you’re going to see. Throw in another rise into the camera and how can you not be impressed? Much like Dijakovic, he needs to be pushed up the card in a hurry, just because it’s hard to leave him out of the main event if he keeps this up.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show that you may not have needed to see but it was entertaining and flew by with no stories and little more than a bunch of showcase matches. There’s nothing here you really need to see, though Theory and Shotzi both had some valuable performances. We’ll be back to normal soon enough but for a one off special, this worked very well.

Results

Roderick Strong b. Austin Theory – Stronghold

Isaiah Scott b. Jack Gallagher – House Call

Candice LeRae b. Taynara Conti – Lionsault

Dominick Dijakovic b. Bronson Reed – Chokebomb

Bianca Belair b. Shotzi Blackheart – KOD

Keith Lee/Lio Rush b. Tony Nese/Damian Priest – Final Hour to Nese

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: December 27, 2019
Hosts: Aiden English, Tom Phillips

It’s another Best Of 2019 show this week and really, that’s the best thing that can happen to this show. Well outside of just giving up on it and moving the whole thing over to NXT, but since that doesn’t seem to be an option, I’ll take anything I can get out of it at this point. There is a lot of good stuff to pull from in the year so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

The hosts welcome us to the show and throw us into the first match, which is #4 on the countdown.

4. July 16.

Jack Gallagher vs. Chad Gable

Rematch from over a month ago where Gable won via countout (and maybe by accident). After a handshake, Gable takes him to the mat to start but Gallagher is right back up with a wristlock. An early chinlock doesn’t do much for Gable as Gallagher gets up again and spins back into the second wristlock early on. More spins keep Gable confused and some nitwitted fans call this boring.

We get the headlock takeover into the headscissors sequence a few times until Gallagher snaps off a good armdrag to make Gable’s eyebrows go up. Gallagher is right back on the arm but Gable jumps for an armdrag of his own into an armbar to put Gallagher down for a change. Another armbar from Gallagher is reversed with a British Bulldog deadlift and Gallagher bounces hard off the mat. One heck of a belly to belly gives Gable two more and it’s time to start in on Gallagher’s knee.

A hard dragon screw legwhip sets up a standing leglock and Gallagher is in trouble. His leg is fine enough for a dropkick and a rather British sneer. The delayed vertical suplex gets two on Gable and Gallagher busts out a Kimura of all things. Gable gets out so Gallagher sends him outside for a whip into the barricade. The suicide dive doesn’t work on Gable for some reason as Gallagher bounces off of him and gets suplexed on the floor, just like last time.

Gable doesn’t want it that way and throws Gallagher back inside, where it’s a small package to give Gallagher two. Gallagher is right back in trouble with an ankle lock into a grapevine (BUT THEY MADE JASON JORDAN KURT ANGLE’S SON BECAUSE IT WAS FUNNY!) but he manages a rope. The rolling Liger kick stuns Gallagher, who bounces back with a headbutt for two and they’re both down.

They slug it out with Gallagher getting the better of it (ignore the camera catching the tarped off side of the arena) but charging into a sitout Dominator for two more. Gable’s moonsault hits raised feet and Gallagher’s running corner dropkick gets two as Gable gets a foot on the rope. Gable goes up but Gallagher, with a big bruise on his upper thigh, tries a belly to back superplex. That’s reversed into a crossbody to crush Gallagher and it’s Rolling Chaos Theory to finish Gallagher at 16:10.

Rating: B+. Good grief HOW DID THEY NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WHAT GABLE??? The guy is in great shape, has more charisma than he knows what to do with and is an Olympic wrestler. Oh but WWE could make a joke about Angle’s taste in women so they went with that instead of something that makes sense. This was an outstanding match as they beat each other up with counter after counter and had the fans digging everything going on. This was a great match and Gable needs to be on the main roster right now (and getting pushed for a change). Gallagher was his usual awesome self too and the result was awesome.

Post match Gable lets Gallagher have the ring for a bow to end the show.

3. July 30

Drake Maverick vs. Mike Kanellis

Unsanctioned. Drake comes out to the 205 Live theme instead of his own song. Mike jumps him from behind during the entrances and Drake gets sent into the set. More whips send Drake into the barricade and Mike puts a sign in his face for a bonus. Since the bell hasn’t rung yet, Mike thinks that’s enough for a forfeit. Drake gets in and says ring the bell so Mike kicks him into the corner.

Mike shouts about following Drake’s rules for too long before sending him outside again. Another whip into the barricade takes Maverick down again and Mike does it a few more times for good measure. Drake gets sent face first onto the announcers’ table as Mike shouts about 205 being his brand. For a bonus, Drake gets put into a chair and superkicked out of it so Mike can be alone in the ring. A single right hand drops Maverick back inside and a huge clothesline….gets no cover as Kanellis takes Maverick’s belt off.

The whipping is on, followed by a sleeper to bring Maverick back to life (that hold has the worst success rate) and he sends a charging Kanellis to the floor. Another charge lets Kanellis catch Maverick though and it’s a swing into the barricade. Mike still won’t finish it though as he would rather go over and grab the Maria wanted posters off the announcers’ table. One of those goes into Maverick’s mouth but that fires Maverick up again. Maverick slugs and stomps away, setting up a running basement dropkick in the corner.

Now it’s Maverick whipping him with the belt and the suicide dive connects. A DDT onto the announcers’ table drops Kanellis again but the elbow drop from the barricade only hits table. Back in and Mike loads up his swinging neckbreaker but puts Drake on top instead. The super Razor’s Edge is countered into a super hurricanrana, setting up a Dudley Dog for the pin at 12:49.

Rating: C+. I wasn’t sure what to think of this one but the more I think about it, the more I like it. They weren’t hiding what was going to happen in the end but it was entertaining on the way there. Maverick shouldn’t be wrestling all the time because he’s small even by 205 Live standards, but using him sparingly is fine as he has a ton of charisma and can go well in the ring. It told a nice story, as Kanellis’ career continues to die more and more.

2. November 1

Lio Rush vs. Raul Mendoza

Non-title. Rush headlocks him down to start and the cockiness is on full display. A kick to the head misses and Tom refers to Raul as Luis Mendoza in a Mighty Ducks reference. What is with commentary being so off on Friday? English was a disaster on Smackdown and now this. Are they that worried about the Saudi situation?

Rush snaps off a hurricanrana to the floor and follows with a suicide dive to shot off. Back in and Rush shouts at the crowd and the silence is nearly deafening. It’s too early for the Final Hour though and Mendoza hits an enziguri to catch him on top. A suplex into a swinging neckbreaker gets two and a running dropkick is good for the same. We hit the chinlock as the fans start cheering for English.

Back up and Raul hits a hard clothesline for two more but Rush grabs a jawbreaker. That just earns him a running boot to the face to give Raul another two but Rush is smart enough to roll to the apron as Raul goes up top. They slug it out on the apron with the fans finally getting into something.

Rush knocks him to the floor though and hits the bottom rope moonsault, only to bang up the ribs even more. Back in and Rush hits some forearms, followed by a series of strikes for a near fall. Raul gets in a dropkick for two but Rush rolls into a half crab of all things. The rope is grabbed but Raul’s knee is done, allowing Rush to hit the springboard Stunner and the Final Hour for the pin at 14:36.

Rating: C+. Another technically fine match in front of a crowd that absolutely does not care. Rush is someone who can do a lot of things in the ring but his calling really seems to be as a loudmouthed guy hype man. It’s a lot more memorable than someone else with suicide dives and frog splashes. 205 Live is full of them and while Rush is impressive, it isn’t like he’s one of a kind.

1. December 11 (NXT)

Cruiserweight Title: Angel Garza vs. Lio Rush

Rush is defending and we get the Big Match Intros, as we certainly should for something like this. Rush jumps him before the bell though and it’s a brawl to start until Garza spears the champ through the ropes. A tackle into the steps has Garza down but he drops Rush face first onto the apron to take over. Garza can’t TAKE OFF HIS PANTS though as Rush tackles him down and starts the rapid movements. He gets caught in the corner though and a superkick gives Garza two more.

Garza sends him outside though and we take a break. Back with Rush getting in a shot to the face to put Garza on the floor as well. That means a moonsault to the floor as the pace slows a bit. A slingshot reverse suplex is reversed into a crossbody for two on Garza but he catches Rush with an enziguri on top. That means the super Spanish Fly for a very close two, followed by an exchange of superkicks for the double knockdown.

It’s Rush up first with a Wing Clipper of his own for a near fall of his own but Garza puts him in an electric chair. For some reason Garza drops him onto the ropes so Rush bounces right back with the Stunner. The Final Hour connects but Garza crawls to the floor…..AND RUSH TAKES OFF GARZA’S PANTS! Another Final Hour to the floor only hits knees though and the Wing Clipper gives Garza….two. In a smart move, Garza grabs the underhook again and pulls back for the tap and the title at 15:17.

Rating: B. This was an intense, back and forth match with Rush trying as hard as he could but ultimately being beaten by the better man. That being said though, it isn’t exactly an interesting feud and while Garza has been impressive, he just feels like the next guy to hold the title. It’s way better than whatever they would do on 205 Live, but the title still doesn’t serve much of a purpose other than filling in time on these now double length shows.

The hosts wrap things 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:

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: November 29, 2019
Location: Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Aiden English

We’re back after another week off, which continues to not be a good sign for the show’s future. Then again that would suggest that anyone gave this show any kind of thought, which doesn’t seem to be the case around here. It’s time to get ready for next week’s Cruiserweight Title match, which happens to be taking place on NXT. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at the triple threat match from the Survivor Series Kickoff Show, with Lio Rush retaining the Cruiserweight Title over Akira Tozawa and Kalisto, as well as Rush defeating Tozawa in a singles title match on NXT.

Opening sequence.

It’s three years to the day of the start of 205 Live. My goodness how has this thing lasted that long?

Raul Mendoza vs. Ariya Daivari

Daivari grabs a headlock to start and the fans are almost disturbing in their silence. A shoulder gives Daivari two and he tells someone to shut up. I have no idea who it was, but it can’t be that hard to figure out who is saying something in this situation. Mendoza springboards over him to set up a dropkick and even stops to talk some trash. A hurricanrana increases Daivari’s frustration and a top rope version makes it even worse.

Daivari bails to the floor so it’s the suicide dive to put him down again. Back in and Mendoza hits one of the loudest chops I can remember with Mendoza having to stop and shake his hand off a bit. Makes sense because that was a very hard one. Mendoza gets a bit too cocky though, allowing Daivari to shove him off the top. An elbow hits raised knee, which for some reason doesn’t hurt said knee, but Daivari grabs the chinlock a second later anyway.

That’s broken up as well but Mendoza gets sent hard into the corner to take him down again. The top rope splash misses though and they’re both down again. Mendoza makes his comeback with some clotheslines and hits a rope walk top rope dropkick. Daivari’s Rock Bottom gets two but Mendoza is back with a running kick to the chest. The hammerlock lariat misses and Mendoza kicks him in the face. Daivari has had it with him though and now it’s the hammerlock lariat to finish Mendoza at 9:58.

Rating: D+. This was a fine example of a match that was technically fine but MY GOODNESS what were they thinking putting this out there? How in the world was this supposed to be a good choice for a match to keep the fans interested? It’s an ice cold match (meaning there is no reason for these two to be fighting) between two guys with the combined charisma of a cardboard box. What were they expecting here?

Jack Gallagher has been losing lately but he’s here to show why he’s one of the best around. He needs this, and doesn’t know what he’s going to do if he loses.

Angel Garza doesn’t care what Gallagher needs. Tonight, Gallagher gets his wings clipped. Also, Garza wants a rematch with Lio Rush for the Cruiserweight Title.

Danny Burch vs. Greg Williams

Burch gives us a clean break to start so Williams shoves him down. That earns himself a headlock and a grab of the leg blocks Williams’ leapfrog for a face first crash. A slam makes it worse for Williams as it’s completely one sided so far. Williams scores with a jumping knee to the face so Burch headbutts him into the corner. A German suplex into a hard clothesline sets up a top rope hanging DDT to finish Williams at 3:30.

Rating: D+. Burch got to look good here and I’m not sure why it took him so long to get to NXT. He’s kind of the perfect choice for a show like this and adds a different style to freshen things up a bit. It’s fine for a quick squash too and Burch is someone who who could give us a little something else. It’s not like what they’re doing is working at the moment.

Akira Tozawa thanked Lio Rush after their match on Wednesday. Angel Garza came up and Rush had to be held back. The title is on the line again this week. This isn’t exactly an interesting feud but it’s an actual feud and that’s something.

Angel Garza vs. Jack Gallagher

Gallagher blocks a reach for the pants and grabs a headlock, which sends Garza bailing to the floor. That means the tease of a high five to a fan so Gallagher catches him with a headlock takeover back inside. Back up and Gallagher does his handstand stop sign deal in the corner, followed by a kneeling backdrop (that’s a knee one). Garza is fine enough to tie Gallagher’s legs up in the ropes though and it’s a double dropkick to the thighs.

That means GARZA CAN TAKE OFF HIS PANTS before telling the fans to callate. A running shot to the back gets two on Gallagher and one to the ribs is good for the same. Garza dropkicks him for two more and we hit the camel clutch. That’s broken up and Gallagher hits a running forearm, setting up a crossbody for his own two. They head up top with Garza blocking a superplex attempt and dropkicking Gallagher out of the air for another near fall.

The Gentleman’s headbutt rocks Garza but he scores with a superkick to put both guys down. Back up and Gallagher just unloads with forearms to the back to get the fans into things but the Gentleman’s dropkick is blocked. The Lionsault is broken up as well though and Garza gets caught in the ropes for a missile dropkick. Now the Gentleman’s Dropkick can get two more thanks to a foot on the rope. Gallagher slaps on a guillotine with a bodyscissors but Garza slips out and grabs the Wing Clipper for the pin at 12:42.

Rating: C. Best thing about the show by a mile and it’s still all not that interesting. Garza is a very charismatic guy but there is only so far you can go on this show. It really is staggering how much better and more important he seems on NXT, as he comes off like a small star there, while this is more just a thing that he is doing. That’s the case for everyone, and it’s true of Garza here too.

Post match Gallagher clears off the announcers’ table and throws a chair at the referee. Gallagher beats up security as well so Drake Maverick comes out to break it up. Drake suspends him and gets knocked down to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. And so ends another edition of 205 Live with little to get excited about, some passable wrestling and nothing more. I know I’m beating a dead horse with this but what else is there to say? This was basically forty five minutes to set up a title match on NXT and the angle at the end, which was hardly anything great. This is the best example of a show that comes and goes with nothing changing and it just never gets better.

Results

Ariya Daivari b. Raul Mendoza – Hammerlock lariat

Danny Burch b. Greg Williams – Top rope hanging DDT

Angel Garza b. Jack Gallagher – Wing Clipper

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: November 15, 2019
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Jon Quasto, Aiden English

I’m trying to keep my interest up in this show. I really am, but they are not exactly making it easy on me. Last week’s show featuring a match from Full Sail made it clear that things could go a lot better around here but for some reason we just can’t get that out of them on a regular basis. Tonight is likely to continue Angel Garza vs. Lio Rush, which feels like a far cry from Alexander, Murphy and Ali. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Rush successfully defending the title against Angel Garza, who blew Rush’s wife a kiss as a result.

Opening sequence.

Angel Garza vs. Jack Gallagher

Angel offers a handshake to start but pulls it away and grabs a rollup for two. That earns him a double stomp to the legs so Angel takes Gallagher down for a splash to the leg of his own. Garza pulls on the leg some more but spends too much time going after Gallagher’s hair, allowing Gallagher to reverse into a headlock. Back up and Gallagher’s very spinning headscissors is countered into a reverse powerbomb to put Gallagher in trouble.

Gallagher is sat on top for a running dropkick but hang on because GARZA HAS TO TAKE OFF HIS PANTS! It’s off to a seated abdominal stretch for a bit before Gallagher comes back with some suplexes. Garza sends him to the floor though and, after faking a dive, slaps Gallagher in the back. That makes Gallagher scream but also annoys him enough to start the comeback. The Gentleman’s Dropkick misses though and Garza grabs a rollup, plus trunks, for the pin at 6:37.

Rating: C. Just a quick match with Garza continuing to feel like a star and the regular 205 Live wrestlers feeling like tired acts that we have seen forever. Gallagher is awesome but he’s been around so long now that his talents are not having any real impact. That has been one of the biggest problems for 205 Live for months now and it isn’t going well in the slightest.

Post match Gallagher yells at English for saying bad things about him on commentary.

24/7 Title: Tim Gange vs. Samir Singh

Singh is defending. Before the match, the Singh Brothers brag about their long reign with the title (which now says Bollywood) and even sing us a song. They’re a team, so this is a handicap match.

24/7 Title: Tim Gange vs. Singh Brothers

The Brothers are defending. The Brothers double team him to start but Gange fights back and even gets to shake the ropes a bit. A superkick/Russian legsweep combination sets up the Bollywood Blast for the pin at 1:52. I’m reaching new levels of being sick of the Brothers.

On Wednesday, Lio Rush said he wasn’t happy with Angel Garza disrespecting his wife. It’s becoming personal and if Garza ever comes near his wife again, Rush is rearranging his face.

Lio Rush/Raul Mendoza vs. Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese

Mendoza goes straight after Nese but gets sent outside by Daivari. Rush enziguris Nese to the floor and hits the big suicide dive, allowing Rush and Mendoza to rule the ring. Back in and Rush stomps on Daivari’s arm before handing it off to Mendoza for an elbow. A splash gets two and it’s Rush grabbing a chinlock. Nese gets in a cheap shot though and Rush gets knocked outside.

Back in it’s Rush’s turn to get beaten up with Daivari and Nese taking turns putting the audience to sleep. Rush is back up with a suicide dive to take Daivari out on the floor and the hot tag brings Mendoza back in. Daivari makes a save but Mendoza is right back with a running kick to the face. Mendoza and Daivari head to the floor where Daivari drives him into the barricade because this show needs to keep going.

A double suplex puts Mendoza down and Nese teases knocking him off the apron. Daivari’s sleeper is broken up and Mendoza rolls over for the hot tag to Rush. Everything breaks down and Daivari superplexes Rush down. A lot of punching sets up Rush’s springboard Stunner for two and Mendoza’s spinning Rock Bottom to Daivari gets the same. Nese’s 450 misses and the Final Hour finishes him off at 13:26.

Rating: C-. The wrestling wasn’t too bad but my goodness I do not care about these people or anything that they are doing. That is the underlying problem here and it was certainly on display here. I’m not sure if we’re supposed to be going for NXT vs. 205 Live but if that’s the case, they’re even more delusional about the future of this place than I thought they were.

Overall Rating: D. The wrestling isn’t interesting, the characters aren’t interesting and the show isn’t interesting. I don’t know why I’m supposed to be interested in the Singh Brothers shouting BOLLY BOLLY BOLLY BOLLY BOLLY every single week or various low level NXT people showing up. This show is dying in a way that I didn’t think was possible and even though the shows have been a bit shorter as of late, they are feeling longer and longer almost every week. I would say fix this, but I don’t think that can be done without blowing the whole thing up. Again.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: November 1, 2019
Location: Keybank Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Aiden English

It’s time for the show that continues to exist for no adequately explained reason outside of the need for content. Lio Rush and the Cruiserweight Title were back last week to prop things up a bit but that wasn’t enough to hide the fact that the lack of star power/interest from the fans are killing this show. Maybe this week can be better. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Rush returning last week and Tony Nese setting himself up as the next challenger.

Opening sequence.

Isaiah Scott vs. Ariya Daivari

For those of you who didn’t get enough of it last week. Daivari jumps him before the bell and a short beatdown ensues on the floor. Back in and Daivari sends Scott hard into the corner as the referee is as ineffective as you would guess. More referees come out (three times nothing is still nothing) to check on Scott, who wants to start the match. The bell rings and Daivari charges into a jumping knee to the face but Daivari sends him back first into the apron.

They get back in with Scott eating an elbow but stomping away in the corner anyway. Daivari gets in a cheap shot though and we’re already in the chinlock, because Daivari needs one less than three minutes in. Daivari says he can do this all day and I don’t doubt him for a second. Scott fights up with a suplex and stomp to the back as the fans are already gone. An Iconoclasm is broken up and it’s a snap German suplex into the jumping Downward Spiral for two on Daivari.

Rating: C+. The action was better but my goodness Daivari is boring. The guy could give out free ice cream and money and he still wouldn’t be interesting. He’s every generic wealthy foreign heel that you can find and that is hardly enough to keep my attention these days. Scott continues to look like a star in the making but can we PLEASE get him a better opponent?

We look at the Singh Brothers trading the 24/7 Title with R-Truth at Crown Jewel.

Jack Gallagher vs. Ray Jazikoff

What a name. Gallagher takes him down by the arm and ties up three out of four limbs at the same time. Back up and Ray sends him into the corner, only to have Gallagher do his hand stand to get Ray to pause. The headbutt puts Ray outside and there’s a whip into the barricade. The Gentleman’s Dropkick against the barricade knocks Ray silly and the regular version finishes him off at 3:29.

Rating: C. Total squash here and Gallagher is showing a nice mix of heel and face stuff. He was extra aggressive here and yet still charming, which is a good place for him to be. That dropkick is awesome and looks like it would knock anyone silly. I’m not sure Gallagher is ever going to get above the midcard, but at least he’s got his stuff down cold.

Next week: NXT UK joins 205 Live.

Lio Rush vs. Raul Mendoza

Non-title. Rush headlocks him down to start and the cockiness is on full display. A kick to the head misses and Tom refers to Raul as Luis Mendoza in a Mighty Ducks reference. What is with commentary being so off on Friday? English was a disaster on Smackdown and now this. Are they that worried about the Saudi situation?

Rush snaps off a hurricanrana to the floor and follows with a suicide dive to shot off. Back in and Rush shouts at the crowd and the silence is nearly deafening. It’s too early for the Final Hour though and Mendoza hits an enziguri to catch him on top. A suplex into a swinging neckbreaker gets two and a running dropkick is good for the same. We hit the chinlock as the fans start cheering for English.

Back up and Raul hits a hard clothesline for two more but Rush grabs a jawbreaker. That just earns him a running boot to the face to give Raul another two but Rush is smart enough to roll to the apron as Raul goes up top. They slug it out on the apron with the fans finally getting into something.

Rush knocks him to the floor though and hits the bottom rope moonsault, only to bang up the ribs even more. Back in and Rush hits some forearms, followed by a series of strikes for a near fall. Raul gets in a dropkick for two but Rush rolls into a half crab of all things. The rope is grabbed but Raul’s knee is done, allowing Rush to hit the springboard Stunner and the Final Hour for the pin at 14:36.

Rating: C+. Another technically fine match in front of a crowd that absolutely does not care. Rush is someone who can do a lot of things in the ring but his calling really seems to be as a loudmouthed guy hype man. It’s a lot more memorable than someone else with suicide dives and frog splashes. 205 Live is full of them and while Rush is impressive, it isn’t like he’s one of a kind.

Post match Rush shows Mendoza respect. The camera on the other hand shows multiple sections of the arena that are at best 25% full. I know that has been the case forever but how long is WWE going to put up with those visuals?

Overall Rating: C. I know I bring it up almost every time but my goodness those crowd shots are so sad to see. The wrestlers are trying but they’re fighting a completely lost game. What amazes me more than anything else is how much WWE just accepts that the show is worthless and they don’t care about the crowds not being there. WWE never does something like that, but maybe it’s just that there is no way around the whole thing? Either way, it looks awful, even for a perfectly watchable show.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 17, 2019
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Dio Maddin, Vic Joseph, Aiden English

Things might be starting to wrap up around here as the show’s future isn’t clear due to Smackdown moving to Fridays. There is a chance that 205 Live continues there, but HHH has made it clear that the show is going to be more integrated into NXT, as it should have been all along. I’m not sure what to expect here, but we do need a new #1 contender. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Sunday’s Cruiserweight Title match with Drew Gulak retaining the title over Humberto Carrillo and Lince Dorado.

Opening sequence.

Lince Dorado vs. Ariya Daivari

Daivari talks trash to him to start, saying that he could have made Dorado champion. Dorado sends him outside for a pair of dives to start and there’s a running hurricanrana off the barricade to make it worse. Back in and Dorado has to bail out of the shooting star press but the knee is banged up to let Daivari take over.

The chinlock goes on but the knee is fine enough for a springboard spinning crossbody for two on Daivari. Dorado’s comeback is countered into a quickly broken sleeper so a springboard backflip kick to the head puts Daivari down. A high crossbody gives Dorado two but Daivari crotches him on top. The Iconoclasm gives Daivari his own two but Dorado is back up with a superkick.

Two Super Crazy style moonsaults connect until Daivari grabs a Rock Bottom for two more. The hammerlock lariat is countered and they trade some rollups for two each. Daivari gets the better of a slugout and puts him on top, which just seems like a bad idea. The superplex attempt is broken up and it’s the shooting star press to give Dorado the pin at 12:16.

Rating: C+. These two went back and forth and it was entertaining enough. Daivari has gotten that much better just because he isn’t talking all the time or being the standard rich heel. It seems that the story between these two is done as there is no reason for them to keep fighting, but that has never stopped things around here before.

We recap Tony Nese snapping on Oney Lorcan a few weeks back, setting up their match tonight.

Lorcan promises to hurt Nese worse tonight. Then he’s coming for the Cruiserweight Title again.

Jack Gallagher vs. Brian Kendrick

During the entrances, Kendrick says he’s been looking forward to showing Gallagher what respect looks like. Gallagher takes him to the mat for some early arm bending, until Kendrick winds up on top for two. Back up and Gallagher does his handstand in the corner to stop Kendrick again and they head outside with Kendrick being whipped into the barricade. Gallagher wants Tozawa gone….and there’s a kendo stick shot to the back to disqualify Kendrick at 3:05.

Rating: D+. Well that….kind of happened. I’d assume this sets up a No DQ rematch next week on what could be the last show, which makes sense as this story has been building up for a long time now. It’s a rather understated feud but it’s certainly there, so maybe we can get something out of it to wrap things up nicely.

Post match Kendrick beats on Gallagher with the stick and even chokes him with it. Tozawa breaks it u but Kendrick beats him down with the stick as well.

Humberto Carrillo says he’ll get another chance and win the Cruiserweight Title.

Oney Lorcan vs. Tony Nese

They go straight to the slugout on the mat until Lorcan forearms him in the back to take over. Right hands in the corner have Nese in more trouble and they head outside. Nese is fine enough to send him into the barricade, followed by a slam through the announcers’ table. After a dive to beat the count back in, Lorcan gets kicked in the face for two.

A hard whip into the corner gets the same and it’s a one armed delayed suplex to stay on the back. We hit the bodyscissors, followed by a shot to Lorcan’s throat. Nese misses a springboard though and Lorcan snaps off some chops. The running Blockbuster puts Nese on the floor and Lorcan sends him hard into the barricade.

That works so well that Lorcan does it again and throws Nese back in for a rather hard clothesline. The pumphandle slam and half and half are both countered, with Nese hitting a double stomp to the chest for two. Lorcan slips out of the sunset driver and a running uppercut puts Nese on the floor again. Hold on though as here’s Drew Gulak for a distraction, allowing Nese to roll Lorcan up and grab some trunks for the pin at 15:22.

Rating: C+. Nese and Gulak being back together isn’t the most thrilling story in the world, though they are at least suggesting that it’s a ruse by Nese to get closer to Gulak and get the title back. I’m not exactly waiting to see what is going on for Tony Nese and Lorcan losing again doesn’t instill me with confidence. Fine enough match, but there was a firm ceiling on the amount of interest.

Overall Rating: C. If 205 Live is coming to an end after this month, I really don’t think I’ll mind all that much. The show can be outstanding at times, but how often is it something like this, where it’s just a match that comes and goes with nothing all that great to the whole thing? It’s still an entertaining enough show, but it’s the kind of show that I wouldn’t miss most weeks. With so many other big things going on, a very minor league show with a hit and miss record isn’t the most interesting thing. I’ll watch it as long as it’s around, but they need to find something a little more thrilling than what they have right now.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 10, 2019
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Aiden English, Dio Maddin

We’re in the World’s Most Famous Arena for a show that may or may not be rather entertaining depending on how much effort they’re putting in this week. Last week saw a rather surprising addition to the upcoming Cruiserweight Title match with Lince Dorado joining the fray, meaning tonight is likely about fallout. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at Humberto Carrillo and Lince Dorado earning title shots. This was followed by Tony Nese rejoining forces with Drew Gulak, which is as tag team matchish as you can get.

Opening sequence.

Dio Maddin (from NXT) joins the commentary team, replacing Nigel McGuinness, who is heading to NXT full time and needs to drop a show.

Akira Tozawa/Brian Kendrick vs. Jack Gallagher/???

Gallagher comes in and takes Kendrick down so it’s a fast crawl over to Tozawa for the tag. A clothesline misses so Tozawa tries a quickly broken headlock. Tozawa bails to the floor, allowing Kendrick the chance to send Gallagher into the post and take over. Back in and it’s Tozawa dropping the backsplash for two before going after the banged up arm.

A glare from Tozawa accompanies the tag off to Kendrick and it’s a double Japanese armdrag to keep Gallagher in trouble. The assisted Sliced Bread is escaped though and Gallagher dives over for the hot tag to Kushida. A rolling DDT plants Kendrick and it’s off to an armbar with Tozawa making a save. Everything breaks down and Gallagher holds Tozawa for a running kick to the ribs.

Kendrick comes back in and grabs the Captain’s Hook on Kushida, which is broken up with a grab of the rope. Back up and Kendrick gets low bridged to the floor so Tozawa hits a cannonball off the steps to drive Gallagher into the barricade. Kushida turns Kendrick around though, meaning Tozawa’s running kick takes Kendrick down instead. A springboard flying armbar into the Hoverboard Lock makes Kendrick tap at 9:10.

Rating: C+. I’ve always liked Kushida so this was a nice treat. It gave the fans something to cheer about and the match was entertaining at the same time. I can’t imagine Kushida is going to be around permanently, but it wouldn’t exactly be a stretch to have one of the most successful junior heavyweight in New Japan history be moved straight up.

The Singh Brothers don’t think much of Kendrick and Tozawa because the Brothers deserve the worldwide adoration. Note: on their clapperboard, the director is listed as The Great Khali for a little Easter egg.

Mike Kanellis rants about having nothing to do, even after beating Tony Nese last week. Now Nese is in the main event while he is sitting around, waiting to do something to impress his wife. Cue Maria, to say that win last week meant nothing, just like all of his other victories. Maybe she doesn’t need to be here.

Humberto Carrillo/Lince Dorado vs. Drew Gulak/Tony Nese

Nese and Gulak jump them from behind and the fight is on. Ariya Daivari runs in to help the villains and the brawl is on in the ring. Gran Metalik comes out as well to even things up, followed by Carrillo saying let’s make it a six man.

Humberto Carrillo/Lince Dorado/Gran Metalik vs. Drew Gulak/Tony Nese/Ariya Daivari

Nese pulls Daivari to the floor to save him from Dorado early on, only to have Dorado dive onto all three of them. Back in and Dorado’s high crossbody gets two on Daivari and it’s the good guys starting in on the arm. Gulak drives Dorado back into the corner though and Nese comes in to take over. The chinlock doesn’t last long so Nese kicks him down for two. Gulak comes back in for the stomps and a double arm crank to keep Dorado down.

Dorado gets up easily enough and hands it off to Metalik for some bouncing off the ropes to armdrag Nese down. The fans get distracted and yell at someone in the crowd as Gulak takes over on Metalik instead. That includes the required ripping at the mask but since that isn’t happening outside of a finish, Daivari comes back in for another chinlock. It’s back to Gulak, who picks Metalik up and rocks him like a baby before powerslamming him down for two.

Nese’s bodyscissors continues the onslaught, followed by Daivari whipping him into the corner. Daivari stops to glare at Carrillo but the delay lets Metalik get in a reverse Sling Blade. The hot tag brings in Carrillo for the springboard spinning crossbody to Nese, followed by the big dive to the floor onto all three. Back in and a missile dropkick gets two on Gulak, setting off a stream of springboards. Gulak Michinoku Drivers Carrillo for two and we hit the chinlock.

Everything breaks down again and the villains all load up belly to back superplexes. They’re all broken up with back elbows to the face and it’s a trio of moonsaults, all of which hit raised boots. They’re fine enough to hit a superkick each, because a sequence like that looks natural. Gulak’s helicopter bomb gets two on Dorado as everything breaks down again. Everyone else is knocked outside and it’s another superkick to Gulak. Dorado’s shooting star press is good for the pin at 18:23.

Rating: C+. This one got some time and the match was better as a result. That being said, Dorado and Carrillo aren’t the most thrilling challengers. At the same time though, Gulak isn’t the most thrilling champion so it all balances out. It might be something that makes sense but watching them face off isn’t something I’m going to get excited about. The match was the kind of spot fest that we needed to see though and the kind of thing that is going to work every single time.

Overall Rating: B-. Totally watchable show here but it didn’t do much to shake the fact that the show isn’t all that interesting at the moment. I can understand why WWE is thinking about moving the show over to Full Sail and integrating it into NXT as it doesn’t quite need to stand alone and isn’t really capable of doing so anyway. There isn’t a really big star face and that is hurting the show a lot. Just merge them together already and let it be over.

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: August 20, 2019
Location: Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Aiden English

This is a special show as the whole evening is dedicated to one match. In this case that would be a ten man elimination tag, which has been built up all week on WWE.com. That’s a good thing though as the general lack of effort being put into the show doesn’t do it any favors, so having something like this is a good idea for a change. Let’s get to it.

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

Captain Drew Gulak goes over his picks and talks about how he isn’t worried tonight.

Captain Oney Lorcan doesn’t have any of his partners’ attributes but he knows how to fight. Gulak’s days as champion are numbered. Aren’t they always though? It might be a big number but it’s still a big number.

Opening sequence.

Team Gulak vs. Team Lorcan

Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari, Tony Nese, Mike Kanellis, Angel Garza

Oney Lorcan, Isaiah Scott, Jack Gallagher, Akira Tozawa, Humberto Carrillo

Garza and Carrillo are cousins. It’s a big staredown to start with Gulak sending his teammates into the others for a fight with the ring being cleared early on. Gallagher brings in matching umbrellas for four stereo Mary Poppins Drops. We finally settle down for the opening bell with Gulak having to escape Lorcan’s half and half suplex attempt. Scott comes in to work on Gulak’s arm but it’s quickly off to Garza (Nigel: “The most beautiful man in the world!”) to face Carrillo with the latter flipping around to take over.

Hang on though as it’s time for GARZA TO TAKE OFF HIS PANTS! Garza suckers him in with a handshake and it’s time to stomp away in the villainous corner. Gulak and Kanellis take turns stomping on Carrillo with Gulak slapping on a chinlock which doesn’t last too long. Carrillo is back up and brings in Tozawa to start cleaning house. After a flip dive from the apron puts Gulak down, Tozawa puts Kanellis in the Iron Octopus. Kanellis slips out though and sends Tozawa into Gallagher, setting up the spinning neckbreaker to get rid of Tozawa at 6:09. Gallagher is in immediately with the headbutt to get rid of Kanellis at 6:25.

Gallagher and Nese grapple on the mat for a bit until Gallagher starts hammering away in the corner. Daivari pulls Gallagher down by the arm though, sending Nese into a bit of a rant about how he doesn’t need the help. Gallagher puts Nese on the floor but Daivari’s low bridge breaks up a suicide dive (and nearly breaks an umbrella). The crash lets Nese hit the sunset driver to get rid of Gallagher at 8:39.

Scott comes in for an anklescissors on Nese and an Austin Aries middle rope elbow to Nese’s seated back. A cartwheel splash of all things gets two but Nese pulls him over to the corner for the tag off to Garza. The camel clutch goes on and we cut to the back where Tozawa and Gallagher are arguing with Brian Kendrick saying he didn’t do anything last week. Kendrick and Gallagher will fight next week.

Back to full screen with Nese holding Scott in a bodyscissors as they’re finding a smart way to set up next week while having one match. Scott is back up and backdrops Nese to the floor but Garza pulls the ring skirt and sends him into the steps. They have a lot of time here so it makes sense to keep Scott in trouble for a long time.

It’s back to Gulak for more arm cranking, followed by Garza’s abdominal stretch. You would think villains would get the hint at some point but, again, Scott escapes and hits a superkick. Nese comes in and sends him hard into the corner….right next to Lorcan. The running knee hits Scott in the corner but the legal Lorcan comes in for a failed half and half attempt. Nese and Lorcan chop it out as they are known to do but Lorcan slips out of the sunset driver. The half and half suplex finishes Nese at 18:30 and we’re tied at three each (Lorcan/Carrillo/Scott vs. Gulak/Daivari/Garza).

Lorcan wants Gulak but gets Garza instead, meaning it’s back to Carrillo (Nigel: “The lesser Garza.”) instead. Carrillo kicks him down and hits a fast standing moonsault for two and it’s already back to Scott for stereo basement superkicks (Nigel: “NO! NO! NOT TO THE FACE!!!”). Scott’s running jump kick to the back of the head rocks Garza and it’s the Alberto double stomp to Daivari in the corner. Scott’s top rope stomp gets two on Garza with Gulak diving in for a save. Scott and Gulak take turns pulling on each other’s hair with Scott going throat first onto the top rope. The Cyclone Crash eliminates Scott at 21:59.

The remaining five stare each other down but Daivari throws Garza at Carrillo to get is down to one on one. Carrillo gets cheap shotted into the corner and it’s Daivari grabbing a neckbreaker for two. The chinlock goes on and we go split screen to hear the Lucha House Party talk about pudding and Kalisto facing Daivari next week. Back to full screen and Daivari blasts Carrillo with a clothesline for two. Gulak’s chinlock is broken up with an armdrag and it’s a pair of stereo crossbodies with Garza for a double knockdown.

The hot tag finally brings in Lorcan (though it’s not “well over thirty minutes into the match” as Vic would have you believe) for a double running Blockbuster on Daivari and Garza, followed by the running flip dive to take out Gulak. Everyone winds up on the floor and Gulak chairs Lorcan in the ribs for the DQ at 29:23.

Gulak gets in another shot to Lorcan’s back against the post and then does it again in the ring. As Gulak poses in the ring, we go split screen for an NXT commercial. Back with Garza crotching Carrillo on top for two and not being able to believe the kickout. Carrillo and Garza slug it out from their knees until Carrillo gets up for the springboard spinning headbutt.

Lorcan is fine enough to come back in and chop away at Daivari and hit the running elbows in the corner. One too many charges lets Daivari get up a superkick but the top rope splash misses. The hammerlock lariat is countered into a rollup to get rid of Daivari at 32:59, leaving us with Lorcan/Carrillo vs. Garza. Carrillo is back in with a springboard spinning kick to the face for two on Garza. Things slow down for another slugout until Garza dropkicks him out of the air for his own two. A basement dropkick gets two more on Carrillo but Garza misses his moonsault. The Aztec Press finishes Garza for the final pin at 37:05.

Rating: B. This was very long and was given the time to go where it needed to, which is exactly the point. What mattered here was pushing Carrillo as another potential challenger to Gulak, who can only get so much out of another match with Lorcan. Couple that with the fresh blood of Scott and Garza (who may or may not be sticking around) and this was a rather efficient match/show.

Overall Rating: B+. This is what could help 205 Live get some attention as the wrestling has been good but there is only so much you can do by watching the same shows over and over. Mixing things up like this a little bit is a great way to change up the show and they even set up some stuff for next week. It’s a good show with the one big match being solid for a very long stretch. Well thought out show here with everything working all together.

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