IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: July 17, 2018
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph, Percy Watson

We’re continuing into the weird place for this show as we don’t have a #1 contender and it could be several weeks before we go anywhere with that search. There are other good things going on, but this place makes some strange decisions at times. If Drew Gulak isn’t winning the title soon though, I don’t know what to tell them. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Cedric Alexander surviving Hideo Itami to retain the title. As it turns out, Alexander wants to know who his next contender is immediately so ignore everything I’ve said so far.

Opening sequence.

TJP vs. Noam Dar

Before the match, TJP complains that he didn’t have time to prepare for his first match to Dar. Oh and he should get the title shot instead of jerking the curtain. TJP tries to charge him in the corner and gets kicked in the knee. The running kick to the face is ducked as TJP heads outside so Dar goes outside to kick him there as well.

Some mat wrestling goes to TJP as Dar has to get to the ropes at the last possible second to avoid a Fujiwara armbar. The slingshot hilo gets two on Dar and it’s off to a double arm crank which looks like the Rings of Saturn’s half uncle twice removed. A backslide gives Dar two but TJP reverses into a Fujiwara armbar.

Another armbar is countered into a small package to give Dar two and he smacks TJP in the face a few times. TJP can’t hit a TKO so Dar kicks him out to the floor instead. That’s fine with TJP, who kicks Dar’s knee out to take over again. A chop block sets up the kneebar to make Dar tap at 10:36.

Rating: C+. I’m glad they went this way with the idea of TJP just getting caught last time instead of being against the better man. Dar has never done much for me so I’m glad they don’t seem to be going with a huge push. TJP is an entertaining guy and the kneebar is becoming a top finisher so let him go with what he can do. Or put him on the main roster like he’s been threatening to do for months now.

Video on Alexander vs. Itami from last week.

Video on Mustafa Ali.

Drew Gulak vs. Danny Garcia

A clothesline and the Gulock are good for the win at 29 seconds.

Gulak wants a title shot and says Garcia reminds him of Cedric Alexander because Cedric will tap too.

Video on Kalisto vs. Tony Nese from last week with Buddy Murphy interfering and wrecking the Lucha House Party.

Murphy and Nese want a match with the House Party next week.

Lio Rush vs. Akira Tozawa

Tozawa has to fight out of an early headlock and things speed up, which is just fine for Rush. A hurricanrana puts Tozawa down and it’s time to lay on the top rope. Back up and Tozawa kicks him in the face, followed by a backsplash. Rush is fine enough to kick Tozawa to the floor but there’s no dive because that’s a little too faceish. Some shots to the face set up some elbow drops and we hit the chinlock. Thankfully Rush spins around so he’s looking at the camera because otherwise he might be out of a job.

Some chops have Rush begging off but it’s a little goldbricking so he can smack Tozawa in the face. You don’t do that to him though as he pops Rush in the face and hits the big suicide headbutt. A missile dropkick gives Tozawa two so Rush hits him again, meaning it’s time to take out the mouthpiece. Tozawa takes too long going up top though and the backsplash is broken up, allowing Rush to hit the frog splash for the pin at 9:00.

Rating: B-. Rush is an interesting case as his movement is almost hard to believe at times but he’s such a small guy that a lot of his offense doesn’t look great. The frog splash does look good but really, that’s one of the few moves he could use that has much of an impact. I like what he’s doing so far, though 205 Live is certainly his ceiling around here.

In the back, Alexander asks Drake Maverick who he’ll be facing for the title. Therefore, next week it’s Ali vs. TJP vs. Itami vs. Gulak for the title shot.

Overall Rating: C+. They’re moving the stories forward here with the possibility of Alexander’s reign ending being a real chance. The guy is trying and his matches are good but there’s no fire or sense of urgency to his stuff, which makes for some less than inspiring moments. Hopefully things pick up around here, possibly even with Drew Gulak. As strange as that sounds, it would certainly fit.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

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

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

TJP vs. Noam Dar

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

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

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

TJP leaves without talking about what just happened.

Akira Tozawa vs. Jaysin Strife

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

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

Ali is ready to run straight at danger tonight.

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

Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A lot of replays take us out.

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: June 19, 2018
Location: Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Percy Watson

It’s grudge match night around here as we have a triple threat match between Buddy Murphy, Mustafa Ali and Hideo Itami. Two weeks ago Itami attacked both men during their match and now they want to take him apart. That should make for a fun match and barring anything ridiculous, should set up Itami as the next challenger to Cedric Alexander’s Cruiserweight Title. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video recaps Itami’s attack and how we got to tonight’s triple threat.

Opening sequence.

Drew Gulak vs. Lince Dorado

So I guess we’re not done with this feud. Jack Gallagher is in England for the UK Championship Tournament so it’s just Brian Kendrick in Gulak’s corner. The Gulak pinata is back and it’s now called Penelope. They fight over arm control to start and there are a low of people disguised as empty seats. Gulak takes him to the mat with a test of strength but Dorado fights up into a sunset flip for two. A middle rope anklescissors sets up a moonsault press for another near fall as Gulak can’t get anything going early on.

Frustrated by being flipped around over and over, Gulak hits him in the face to take over but a rollup sends Dorado through the ropes in a crash. Back in and Gulak goes for the mask, yelling at the referee that he wants to see who it is. As usual that’s too far for a luchador so he’s right back up with some dropkicks. The Golden Rewind gets two but Kendrick offers a distraction so the Gulock can get the submission at 8:02.

Rating: C. They’ve done a good job of setting Gulak as a monster around here and that’s one of the best things that can be done. It’s also interesting that the Lucha House Party can win on their own but seemingly has no chance against Gulak. It makes him look that much more impressive, which is all that matters in the entire feud. In other words the team is good but Gulak is better, meaning everyone wins.

Drake Maverick tells the referee to be careful in the main event tonight when Itami comes in. He wants respect but Maverick tells him that it works both ways.

Here’s TJP, with a mic, for a match. He’s not happy with Maverick because he’s not getting to be in the main event every week. Instead, he’s out here with some guy who doesn’t even get to mention his name. After some more insults, the guy punches TJP in the face, earning himself a kneebar for a rather hard sell job. No match of course.

Lio Rush has officially been signed and will debut next week.

Next week: Gulak/Gallagher/Kendrick vs. Lucha House Party in an elimination match.

Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy vs. Hideo Itami

They all circle to start until Murphy and Ali glare Itami to the floor. It’s Murphy going out after him so Ali hits a big flip dive onto both of them. Back in and Murphy starts punching them both to take over with raw size and power. Ali is back up to send Murphy outside but Itami cuts off the dive with a knee to the ribs. That’s enough to set up an early chinlock, meaning Itami can demand more RESPECT.

Itami lets it go and kicks Murphy off the apron before kicking Ali in the back so he won’t feel left out. It’s Murphy coming back in though and that means a kick to his back as well. Murphy kicks Itami right back and they trade them again, followed by some head to head growling. Itami gets the better of it and does the RESPECT ME thing again, because that’s half of his character. Ali comes back in and gets his head taken off with a clothesline, followed by a German suplex for two.

Murphy sends Ali into Itami, knocking him off the apron and setting up a sleeper on Ali. In other words, we’re firmly in the two in, one out formula that dominates these matches. With that going nowhere Itami comes in with a sleeper on Murphy, which is broken up in short order. Ali tries the rolling X Factor on Murphy but gets thrown into the air, only to come down with the X Factor on Itami instead (cool spot). A tornado DDT gets two on Murphy and everyone is down due to head trauma/exhaustion.

Ali is up first but the 054 is broken up with a hard crotching. They tease the Tower of Doom but (thankfully) go with Murphy kicking Ali in the face and then loading Itami up for a powerbomb, which is spun down into a DDT for two more. Ali gets up first and superkicks Murphy down but dives into Itami’s kick to the face for another triple knockdown.

Murphy powerbombs Itami but gets kicked down on top of him, setting up a 450 onto both of them at once. Ali can only get two on Itami with Murphy making a save. That’s enough for Murphy and Ali to head outside with Ali hitting a C4 off the announcers’ table for the really painful landing. Back in and a hesitation dropkick gives Itami two on Ali, so it’s time to pull off a turnbuckle pad. Another running dropkick into the exposed buckle is finally enough for Itami to pin Ali at 15:53.

Rating: B+. This was much, much better than I was expecting with all three working very hard to put on a heck of a performance. They played up the idea of Ali as the heart, Murphy as the muscle and Itami as the ruthless one who will hit you so hard that you can’t get up. The match was a lot of fun and had all three looking great. Itami needs to be the next challenger, especially after getting a win like this one.

Overall Rating: B. As tired as I am of seeing Gulak N Pals vs. Lucha House Party, that main event was great and TJP is getting better and better every week. They’ve got some stuff going on here but it’s becoming more and more clear that Alexander needs to lose the title in a hurry. He’s just not the charismatic star of the show, which leaves him on pretty equal footing with everyone else. That needs to be fixed, and then things might be able to start picking up. I mean, they won’t because it’s 205 Live, but at least it’s a possibility.

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

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

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

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

205 Live
Date: June 5, 2018
Location: American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
Commentators: Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s a fresh start around here as Cedric Alexander has dispatched Buddy Murphy to retain the Cruiserweight Title. Therefore we need a new #1 contender and that could be almost anyone on this show, though Mustafa Ali is another likely candidate. Other than that…well there will probably be some matches that don’t seem to be leading anywhere. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick narrates a recap of last week’s title match and previews tonight’s show.

Opening sequence.

Lince Dorado vs. Brian Kendrick

Kendrick has Drew Gulak with him but no Jack Gallagher. It’s an aggressive start for Kendrick who takes him into the corner and hammers away to start but gets kicked out to the floor. The lucha noisemakers don’t distract Kendrick very well as he sidesteps a baseball slide and hits one of his own to take over again.

Back in and a side slam gets two as Drew reads the history of lucha libre from his Lucha and You brochure. Kendrick stomps and chokes in the corner as Gulak admits that he was trained in lucha libre, which shows him how terrible it is. We hit the chinlock until Dorado is back up with a spinwheel kick. A high crossbody gets two and a suicide dive takes Kendrick down again. Gulak yells at Dorado but he’s right back in with the Golden Rewind for the pin at 7:35.

Rating: C-. I’d assume this is setting up some big showdown between Gulak and Lucha House Party but hasn’t he beaten all of them already? Dorado is the weakest of the trio and he was perfectly watchable here. It’s a good idea to let him win here as it helps build him up later on when Gulak gets another win over him.

Post match Gulak runs in and beats Dorado down until Lucha House Party runs him off.

Clips of last week’s title match. Fair enough, as it was awesome.

Mustafa Ali, who is looking more jacked than usual, is ready to beat Buddy Murphy tonight and get back into the title hunt. He’s got the heart of a champion.

TJP vs. Bryan Keith

Keith is in what would be described as a cowboy outfit without the hat. TJP takes him down and grabs a mic to compliment Keith’s boots and mispronounce the town. He keeps talking as he stomps on Keith, asking for better competition. Some threats to go to Raw or Smackdown set up a modified Sharpshooter with TJP threatening to go there soon before cranking back for the tap at 2:12. Very entertaining squash with a different twist on the idea.

A very cocky Lio Rush is coming soon. Really it’s not like he was going to work anywhere else but on 205 Live but that’s not the best thing in the world after his big controversy down in NXT.

Next week: Lucha House Party vs. Gulak/Gallagher/Kendrick. Makes the most sense.

Tony Nese speaks for Buddy Murphy for some reason, saying that Murphy will beat Alexander next time. Murphy says you can’t stop the unstoppable.

Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy

Murphy goes straight with the power by driving Mustafa into the corner and no selling some chops. A dropkick works a bit better for Ali and there’s a big corkscrew dive to the floor. Back in and Murphy catches him on top so it’s a fireman’s carry into a gutbuster onto the turnbuckle for a big crash and a near fall.

Ali spins around him into a crucifix for two anyway but Murphy is right back with some backbreakers. An inverted hurricanrana (and a good one) gets Ali out of trouble and a superkick has Murphy tied up in the ropes. Ali gets two off a splash but bangs up his own ribs in the process. Murphy is smart enough to strike away at the ribs, only to charge into a boot in the corner.

The rolling X Factor is broken up and it’s time to head to the apron. This time it’s Murphy messing up and running knee first into the post to give Murphy a target of his own. The fans deem this awesome and it’s out to the floor again, this time with Murphy being sent up to the apron, only to jump back down with an INSANE tornado DDT to the floor. With Murphy trying to remember what planet he’s on, here’s Hideo Itami to break up the 054 for the DQ at 12:12.

Rating: B. It’s not as good as Murphy’s match from last week but it was still a good effort with that tornado DDT looking outstanding. Sometimes that one big spot is all you need but here you got a heck of a match to surround it. Neither of them taking a fall is the right ending and it can help set up Itami as the next challenger down the line. Good, hard hitting main event here.

Itami lays Ali out again to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Another completely acceptable but not great show here, which is a lot better than things used to be around here. It also helps that we’re getting a really strong match on every show and some of the stories are starting to come together. They still need the ace of the show and Cedric isn’t going to be that guy, but I don’t think anyone else they have at the moment is either. Still though, solid effort this week.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: May 22, 2018
Location: DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re back stateside now and that means we need to get ready for next week’s title match with Cedric Alexander defending against Buddy Murphy. Tonight though we’ll be seeing a battle of the strikers as Hideo Itami faces Akira Tozawa in a battle over their issues during tag team matches of late. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at Itami vs. Tozawa with Itami saying he didn’t like their time together. Why did Itami need a partner in the first place?

Opening sequence.

Drew Gulak vs. Gran Metalik

Before the match, Gulak says he’s taking down another member of Lucha House Party. They can flip and dive all they want but if they step to him, they’ll tap out. Hang on though as here are Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher for commentary. Kendrick even has some drawings for the other commentators in this FIVE MAN BOOTH. Egads is that necessary?

They trade chops to the chest to start and a dropkick puts Gulak down on the floor. Back in and a middle rope springboard dropkick gets two but Gulak crotches him on top. The Tree of Woe stomping is on with Metalik in trouble. It’s off to a neck crank with Gulak’s leg behind Metalik’s neck and pulling on the leg and arm (kind of hard to describe) before going to a regular armbar.

Gallagher thinks Lucha House Party is strange because they wear masks and Watson has no response. He also loved “Grand Metallica’s first album but thought they went too commercial after that.” Kendrick: “Ciclope and Puss in Boots are also very good.” You know he’s a fan if he can get in a Ciclope reference. Metalik gets sent to the apron and jumps over a charging Gulak but lands on the ropes for a perfectly timed Asai moonsault to drop Gulak as he hits the floor.

Back in and Gulak turns him inside out with a clothesline for two. Some chops put Gulak down in the corner so Metalik walks the ropes for a half Coast to Coast and a near fall. That’s not quite as impressive when you have someone like Killian Dain doing the full Coast to Coast in NXT. Then again that’s making you wonder why this division exists and that’s just going to make your head cave in. The Gulock makes Metalik tap at 8:13.

Rating: C+. Gulak is getting better and better every week but they need to go somewhere with him other than just having him run through people week after week. The win over Metalik is the only way they could have gone here and I could see a six man coming in the next few weeks, but Gulak should be in the title hunt instead of messing with these guys.

Video on Buddy Murphy.

TJP vs. Christopher Guy

Guy is in yellow trunks, blue kneepads and red boots for a very bright look. TJP takes him down with a drop toehold and stops for some dabbing. A snap of the arm has Guy writhing in pain as TJP smirks down at the pain. Rolling suplexes into the slingshot hilo have Guy in more trouble but he escapes the Detonation Kick. Not that it matters as TJP takes him down by the leg into a curb stomp, followed by the Detonation Kick for the pin at 2:31.

Post match TJP says he’s the best in the world and carried this division on his back. He wants better competition.

Earlier today, Cedric Alexander sat down to talk about the title match. He’s used to the pressure and is ready to defend in front of his friends and family. There’s a lot of great talent around here but Cedric is above all of them, including Murphy.

Akira Tozawa vs. Hideo Itami

Before the match, Tozawa says he didn’t like Itami either. If Itami wasn’t happy with him as a partner, he really won’t like him as an opponent. They kick each other in the face at the bell and stop for some Tozawa grunting/shouting. A chop exchange means more shouting with Tozawa getting the better of it (both halves actually). We’re already in the chinlock as there are even more empty seats here than in the run of the mill 205 Live taping.

Back up and Itami is done playing around, meaning it’s time to kick Tozawa really hard. Demands of respect don’t get Itami as far but a neckbreaker gets him one. Itami takes him outside for a kick to the chest for two back inside and we hit a chinlock (just evening the score you see). Itami: “RESPECT ME!” Dude get a new line. It hasn’t worked in the last year. Another kick to the ribs has Tozawa in a lot more trouble and a DDT gets two.

Back to the chinlock as the announcers want Itami to switch gears. I wouldn’t mind if he switched offense. Tozawa fights back so Itami bails to the floor, only to take a running flip dive from the apron. Nigel: “You see what Tozawa is doing. No rear chinlocks from him!” Save for the one he used before that is. Back in and the tornado neck snap sets up Itami’s top rope clothesline for two more.

Tozawa kicks him in the head and goes up top but gets crotched. That means a top rope Falcon Arrow for two on Tozawa, who almost looks surprised that he kicked out. Itami gets sent outside for a suicide dive but the top rope backsplash misses (Nigel: “X marks the spot and Tozawa landed at Z!”.). Some running dropkicks set up the cravate into the knee to the face to end Tozawa at 15:17.

Rating: B. That’s one of the best Itami matches in WWE as the violence and kicking are better for him than trying to be a good guy who can’t talk. Tozawa is still good for the high flying and crowd support, though I miss him running around and firing everyone. Itami is starting to put it together, but stop with the RESPECT stuff. It didn’t work in NXT and it’s not working here.

Overall Rating: B-. They’re doing a better job here of making people outside of the title picture more important but it still has a long way to go. The lack of people in the seats is a really bad sign and not something that is going to be solved overnight. 205 Live has that bad reputation and it’s not getting any better being left to die at the end of a taping with so many fans already leaving. Good show here, but the big problems are still glaring.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/03/23/new-paperback-kbs-grab-bag/

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: May 15, 2018
Location: 02 Arena, London, England
Attendance: Vic Joseph, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness

Since we’re over in a foreign country, it makes sense to have some guest stars. As you might guess (or know if you watched last week’s show), that would be a bunch of the United Kingdom wrestlers, many of whom are likely going to be in the upcoming United Kingdom Championship Tournament. This could make for a fun night, especially if it’s done right. Let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show if you need a recap.

Drake Maverick narrates the opening video, which tells us about the guest stars and the two matches we’ll be seeing tonight.

Opening sequence.

We get some bios for some of the names that we’ll be seeing tonight. That’s a really good idea as while they’re not much, it at least puts a name with a face and lets you know a little something about these people. Their heights, weights, styles and finishing moves, among other information, is all given.

Tyler Bate vs. TJP vs. Kenny Williams vs. Kalisto

One fall to a finish. Bate and TJP nearly get into a fight before the bell over issues when Bate was here last time. Kalisto wastes no time in going for a rollup on a distracted Bate with Williams making the save. At least someone is on the ball. TJP pulls Bate to the floor and sends him into the barricade before heading back inside to get headscissored by Kalisto. A takedown sets up a quick Boston crab on Kalisto with TJP grabbing Kalisto’s arms to pull him off the mat.

Williams comes in and dropkicks TJP before diving out to take out Kalisto. That allows Bate to come back in for some right hands to TJP in the corner as the pace stays slower than you might expect for a match like this. We hit the airplane spin and Bate spins back the other way to unwind, taking out Williams and Kalisto at the same time. I love that spot.

The dizzy Bate gets sent outside and TJP spins through the ropes before going after Kenny’s leg. Bate’s save attempt earns him an armbar while TJP has Williams’ leg barred as well. We’ll throw in a front facelock on Kalisto at the same time for a rather ridiculous looking spot. The hold is broken up and it’s Kalisto kicking away until Williams crotches him on top. That means the required Tower of Doom spot but it’s Williams up first with some kicks through the ropes.

Bate adds a no hands dive over the top to take Williams and TJP down, followed by a flip dive from Kalisto to put everyone down again. Back in and Williams tornado DDTs Kalisto for two with TJP making the save. A double clothesline puts Bate and TJP down as Kalisto and Williams fight to the floor. The Detonation Kick is blocked and Bate’s rebound clothesline sets up the Tyler Driver 97 for the pin on TJP at 10:33.

Rating: B-. This took some time to get going but wound up being fun at the end. Williams didn’t get much of a chance to shine but did well enough. Bate winning is the right call as he’s a big enough name and the fans were going to love seeing him do his thing. If nothing else it gives us another mustache pose and that alone is worth it.

We look at Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander, which is set for two weeks from tonight. This focuses on Murphy, who certainly has more charisma than Alexander. I know Cedric was the sentimental pick to win the title but he’s reminding me more of the bad days of Bob Backlund without as high a level of skill.

Next week: Akira Tozawa vs. Hideo Itami.

Cedric is in the back when his partners for tonight, Flash Morgan Webster and Mustafa Ali, come in to talk strategy for the main event. Webster is a bit over the top, to put it mildly, with a helmet, what appears to be pajamas with an ascot and mirror sunglasses.

Here’s Drake Maverick to do commentary on the main event.

Joseph Conners, Drew Gulak and James Drake are ready for the six man.

Cedric Alexander/Mustafa Ali/Flash Morgan Webster vs. Joseph Conners/Drew Gulak/James Drake

Alexander and Conners get things going with Joseph taking him into the corner and hammering away with elbows to the head. Cedric’s dropkick gets him out of trouble to a very limited reaction, which isn’t the most surprising thing in the world. Webster comes in to stay on the arm and a running armdrag sends it off to Drake. That lasts all of ten seconds and it’s Gulak coming in for the first time. A hurricanrana has Gulak in trouble as well so let’s try Conners again.

Ali gets two off a spinwheel kick as the silence from the crowd is almost eerie. Gulak organizes a huddle, which he calls a team building exercise. We settle down to Drake vs. Ali and the team building seems to work with Ali getting stomped down without much effort. The latest hot tag brings in Webster, who is quickly kicked down but Gulak ignores his partners’ requests for tags. Drake comes in for the chinlock on Webster (with a bloody mouth) but gets sent into the corner.

That’s enough for the hot tag to Ali as things speed up (with the crowd not getting up to join them). The rolling X Factor hits Conners and a super hurricanrana sends Conners into Drake for two. Alexander comes back in and it’s time for a parade of secondary finishers to put everyone down. Gulak charges into a boot (with the camera AGAIN showing that it doesn’t make contact, which is a major problem as of late) and Morgan hits a double dive. The Neuralizer is countered into an ankle lock but Cedric rolls Gulak into the corner. Ali is back in with the tornado DDT, setting up the 054 for the pin on Gulak at 12:40.

Rating: B. Webster caught my eye before the match and looked good during the match itself. The rest of the match was your usual 205 Live stuff: an above average match that didn’t show off any kind of interest because it’s just people doing moves to each other. Either way, it’s still more than good enough and for a stand alone show, this was a fine main event.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a show with one idea and they did it very well. The matches didn’t last too long and they didn’t try to do anything more than mixing the 205 Live guys with the UK wrestlers which is all it needed to be. Both matches were entertaining and I had fun watching what felt short. They also announced a title match in a few weeks until they get back to America to set things up. Good show here, even if it means nothing whatsoever.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/03/23/new-paperback-kbs-grab-bag/

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

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IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: April 24, 2018
Location: KFC Yum Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We’re three days away from the Greatest Royal Rumble and we still don’t have a #1 contender for the Cruiserweight Title. That’s why we’re having a gauntlet match tonight with five men facing off for the right to face Cedric Alexander in Saudi Arabia. There’s a good chance this is going to be the entire show so let’s get to it.

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

The opening video explains the gauntlet match and introduces the competitors, all of whom get in a quick statement.

Opening sequence.

Gauntlet Match

Mustafa Ali and TJP start things off. TJP takes him up to the ropes and gets in some dabbing, earning himself a crank on the arm. The armbar goes on and there’s not much TJP can do early on. They hit the pinfall reversal sequence for some not very near falls until Ali dropkicks him in the back of the head. A kick to the head sends TJP outside and we’ll take a little breather.

With the breathing out of the way, TJP gets in a few shots to the head to take over back inside. We go split screen to hear Cedric Alexander say he’ll defend the title in Saudi Arabia and then make his own statement against Buddy Murphy. Back to full screen with Ali fighting out of a double arm crank but getting dropped with a Russian legsweep. TJP grabs Naomi’s reverse Rings of Saturn hold for a few seconds before Ali chops the heck out of him.

Ali gets in a kick to the head and the rolling X Factor (with TJP’s face not hitting the mat) gets two. The double chickenwing gutbuster is reversed into a rollup for two on TJP but he shoves Ali off the top. A missile dropkick to the knee (cool) sets up the kneebar, sending Ali bailing to the ropes. Back up and a tornado DDT on one leg drops TJP, setting up the 054 to send Ali on 9:53.

Drew Gulak is in third and you should be able to see the tap out from here. Ali is limping around and Gulak couldn’t be happier. A quick rollup gets two on Gulak but he slams the knee into the ropes to really take over. Ali does manages a drop toehold on the floor for a break, followed by a high crossbody back inside. Gulak rolls through into a leglock but Ali kicks him away in short order.

After an inset promo for Friday’s show, we come back to Gulak cranking on the knee even more. Ali tries a hurricanrana but gets pulled into a half crab. That’s reversed as well and an enziguri puts Gulak down again. There’s a kick to the head (and a shot of several empty seats in the lower arena) but Gulak is right back with the half crab. He even cranks back on the arm for a bonus but lets go, this time allowing Ali to make the ropes AGAIN. Ali likes the ropes so much that Gulak sets him on top of them, only to have Ali pull Gulak into a half crab in the ropes.

For some reason Ali decides that it’s a good idea to try a high crossbody to the floor, furthering the damage to the knee. Gulak chop blocks him down but Ali is right back with the tornado DDT. The 054 takes too long though, allowing Gulak to shove him off the top and into the steps. Ali is DONE so Gulak throws him back inside for the Gulock and the elimination at 22:41 total.

Tony Nese is in fourth and doesn’t even waste time counting his abs, meaning you know he’s serious. Nese pounds away and drags Gulak away from the ropes to keep up the stomping. Gulak gets knocked outside and sent into the barricade, followed by a toss over the announcers’ table.

They head inside again with Nese running him over and Nese yells at Gulak for saying they’re on different levels. There’s the running knee in the corner but Nese looks at the corner instead of covering. Nese lowers the knee pad but takes too much time, allowing Gulak to grab the Gulock for the tap at 30:34. That’s about it for Nese meaning anything as he got caught in a clean submission after beating the heck out of Gulak for a good while. Nese is crushed as Kalisto comes in last.

Gulak is chilling on the announcers’ table as Kalisto stands in the ring doing the LUCHA dance. Nigel isn’t exactly thrilled with this strategy and the stalling keeps going for well over another minute. Gulak finally gets in and is promptly dropkicked back to the floor. This time Kalisto follows so he can LUCHA dance right in front of him. Back up and Gulak sidesteps a suicide dive to send Kalisto hard into the barricade.

With Kalisto down, Tony Nese…has nothing to say. A snap suplex gives Gulak two and it’s off to a chinlock. Kalisto gets in a superkick but a tornado DDT is countered (maybe because it would be the third of the match). The Gulock goes on but Kalisto sends him into the buckle (again, countering the third attempt). Kalisto grabs the Salida Del Sol for the pin at 39:18.

Rating: B. I can go for this idea of having one match through the entirety of a show. It makes things feel more important and like a big deal, which is what you want for something like this. On top of that, the falls took about ten minutes each, which fits a lot better. Kalisto vs. Alexander should be fun and that’s all the match needs to be as Cedric can get a big win.

Lucha House Party celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. What else can I really say when the show is literally one match long? They did a good job with making Kalisto into a quick title contender, which makes sense given that he’s the most decorated name on the roster. That being said, the show is starting to lose steam after the tournament. There’s a good chance that the place is going to turn into a show that you can skip most weeks, which isn’t a good sign for the future. Good stuff this week, but I’m worried about where things are going.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/03/23/new-paperback-kbs-grab-bag/

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 27, 2018
Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

There are two shows left to get through before Wrestlemania and that means we need to finish the build to the Cruiserweight Title match. As for tonight though, we have a four way match to find a new top contender. Drake Maverick didn’t officially call it a #1 contenders match but that seems to be the case. It’s almost like this show has a plan now and is actually follow through. Let’s get to it.

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

The preview looks at tonight’s four way with comments from all four entrants. As usual, this is a great way to throw you into things and get you ready for the show. Why can’t WWE understand that?

Opening sequence.

Mark Andrews vs. Tony Nese

Nese throws him down and we hit the bicep pose. They hit the mat and Andrews tries a headstand to get out of a headscissors. For once though, Nese picks him up and drops him down like a piledriver while sitting down. That’s a new one and rather smart. Andrews’ neck is fine enough to armdrag Nese into an armbar but Nese nips up to avoid a clothesline. That always looks cool.

More armdrags have Nese in trouble (I mean, as much trouble as an armdrag can cause) but a hurricanrana sends him to the floor. Back in and the flip dive is cut off with an elbow and it’s Nese taking over for a change. We hit a bodyscissors to work on Andrews’ ribs and a running knee makes them even worse. Back up and a Rey Mysterio sitout bulldog plants Nese and a tornado DDT does it again for two. Andrews sends him outside and hits a moonsault to the floor in a good looking landing.

Nese goes back to the power with a hard running clothesline and a heck of a forearm. A double springboard Lionsault only hits mat though (Nese shouldn’t go with the flying) and they trade the hard/rapid fire shots to the face. A double stomp to the ribs rocks Nese again and Andrews is stunned at the kickout. Back up and Nese tries a slam but gets countered into the Stundog Millionaire. The shooting star press gives Andrews the pin at 11:14.

Rating: C+. Andrews certainly isn’t the biggest or best guy in the world to watch but I have a good time with his matches. There’s something about him that makes the matches all the more entertaining and the shooting star press works well for him. Nese isn’t much more than a low level heel but at least the physique makes him seem like a bigger deal. You have to have people like that on the roster, just for stuff like this if nothing else.

Post match Andrews tells Maverick that he wants Gulak. The match is made for next week.

Gulak wants to know why Andrews is on 205 Live. The win over Mark, and keeping the dragon sleeper on longer than he needed to, was a lesson. Drew is the best submission specialist in WWE. If you step to him, you will tap out.

Earlier today, Maverick oversaw a face to face interview between Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali. They agree that they’re friends and it’s an honor and a privilege to face off in their first Wrestlemania. Their friends and family will be there and Cedric can’t wait to be a real champion for his daughter.

Ali brings up Cedric’s failures in the title matches before but Cedric can never finish his story. He’s writing his own story too and his also ends with his daughter calling him a champion. Cedric is ready to stomp out Ali’s heart, which Ali says is exactly what he’ll have to do. They’re teasing both of them turning and that makes for an interesting match.

TJP vs. Kalisto vs. Buddy Murphy vs. Akira Tozawa

One fall to a finish and the winner probably gets a title shot at some point in the future. Kalisto takes Tozawa into the corner while the other two just watch. Tozawa gets sent outside for a falling flip splash and Buddy is tossed as well, leaving TJP to casually chill in the ring. Murphy comes back in and will have none of the headscissors into the dab. Back in and Kalisto breaks up Murphy’s dive but here’s Tozawa to kick him down for two.

TJP offers Buddy a handshake and turns on him almost just as fast. I mean, did you expect anything else? Just to show off, TJP puts Tozawa in an Indian Deathlock while putting Kalisto in an abdominal stretch at the same time. Kalisto fights out and chops TJP down, hurting Tozawa’s leg even more. The hold stays on while TJP gets two off a northern lights suplex to Kalisto.

Tozawa finally gets a breather and it’s Murphy coming back in for a neckbreaker on TJP. Buddy cleans house but TJP takes him down this time. Another convoluted spot sees TJP put Tozawa in a Gory Stretch and Kalisto in a Rocking Horse at the same time. That goes nowhere so it’s just a Texas Cloverleaf on Tozawa. Kalisto runs in for the save but gets taken down as well, putting all four down at once. This time it’s Tozawa coming in and cleaning house with a series of kicks.

We unleash the dives until Tozawa loads up the top rope backsplash. That’s broken up as well but Kalisto gets sent down to the mat in a crash. In a crazy spot, TJP puts Kalisto in a surfboard, Murphy covers TJP, and Tozawa comes off the top with the backsplash to crush Kalisto. I know it’s contrived but dang that looked cool. Tozawa’s Shining Wizard gets two on TJP with Kalisto breaking it up. TJP grabs a kneebar but Buddy makes the save and hits a big twisting dive onto Tozawa and Kalisto. Back in and Murphy’s Law ends TJP at 13:17.

Rating: B. This was a heck of a cruiserweight showcase match with Murphy looking especially strong. The announcers made sure to go out of their way to talk about Murphy beating three former Cruiserweight Champions. They’re treating this as a big deal and creating a new star in Murphy is a good idea.

Overall Rating: B-. The sitdown interview wasn’t the best stuff but it’s a good idea to create some tension between the two of them. The main event was much better with the four of them beating each other up with some crazy spots. As has been the case for about two months now, they’re doing exactly what they need to do and getting things accomplished. That’s more than 205 Live did for well over a year and now things are picking up. Well done all around and a good show.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/03/23/new-paperback-kbs-grab-bag/

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 20, 2018
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time to find out who else is going to Wrestlemania tonight as Mustafa Ali and Drew Gulak meet in the second semifinal match of the Cruiserweight Title tournament. The winner gets to meed Cedric Alexander for the title in New Orleans, meaning the pressure should be high. Let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show in case you need a recap.

The opening recap looks at Alexander winning last week and previews tonight’s match.

Opening sequence.

Hideo Itami vs. Lince Dorado

Fallout from Itami being a little too aggressive against Dorado’s buddy Gran Metalik last week. Itami wastes no time in taking Dorado into the corner for some hard shots to the mask. Dorado sends him outside and that means Itami needs to slow down a bit. Back in and a hurricanrana into a dropkick has Itami in trouble and Dorado stays at it with a quick dive.

Itami sends him back first into the apron to take over again though and a hard slap makes things even worse. That’s enough to wake Dorado up and he scores with a spinwheel kick to the face. The handspring is telegraphed though and Itami takes him down with a clothesline for two instead. Dorado kicks him in the jaw and it’s out to the floor again. This time though, Gran Metalik shoves Itami into the apron and that’s a DQ at 6:15.

Rating: C. Perfectly fine while it lasted but this is setting up something down the line instead of being a blowoff or conclusion here. Itami is better as a heel and the last few weeks have been an improvement over his very lackluster run so far. They’re getting something here with the tag feud and a third man to help Itami and Tozawa would make things more interesting.

Video on Drew Gulak, who really does want to change things for the better around here. Drake Maverick called him a goof and that was enough to snap Gulak back to reality. He’s been hyper aggressive in the tournament and that makes him all the more dangerous.

Cedric Alexander says last week was great but it means nothing if he doesn’t win the Cruiserweight Championship. Very true and sound logic.

TJP doesn’t care if Cedric Alexander, Santa Claus or Kermit the Frog wins at Wrestlemania. He’s next in line for a title shot.

TJP vs. Kenneth Johnson

Johnson was in the Cruiserweight Classic. TJP takes him down twice in short order and there’s a jumping back elbow to the jaw. A belly to back suplex sets up the slingshot hilo as we’re firmly in squash territory here. Johnson gets in a running Cannonball to a standing TJP but the knee gets taken out in short order. The Detonation Kick into the kneebar makes Johnson tap at 2:41. Just a squash.

TJP takes his sweet time in letting go.

Mustafa Ali wants to use his status as a force for change. When you hear the name Mustafa Ali, the knee jerk reaction is to boo him but that’s not the case with someone like him.

Drake Maverick is ticked off over the DQ finish earlier. We’re almost to the end of the tournament and the new champion needs challengers. Therefore, next week it’s Tozawa vs. Kalisto vs. TJP vs. Buddy Murphy and the winner will get a Cruiserweight Title shot. Drake: “There you go. Just turned a positive into a negative. That’s what I do.”

Cruiserweight Title Tournament Semifinals: Drew Gulak vs. Mustafa Ali

The empty seats opposite the camera are horribly noticeable. Gulak’s wristlock doesn’t get him very far as Ali reverses into one of his own to take over. An exchange of shoulders goes nowhere as Nigel defines a bully. Drew grabs a flapjack followed by a chinlock for a bit, only to have Ali come back with a dropkick. A hard clothesline to the back of the head gives Gulak two and a spinning electric chair gets the same.

With the wrestling not working, Drew stomps away at the head as the aggression coming out for the first time. Ali slaps away and hits a great sounding spinwheel kick to the jaw. The rolling X-Factor gets two and Ali stomps him out to the floor, showing him some aggression of his own. It seems to get to Ali though and his moral conundrum allows Gulak to send him into the buckle. That screwed over Roddy Piper in 1992 and it did the same to Ali.

Drew can’t get the dragon sleeper so Ali slaps on a Koji Clutch of all things. With the hold broken, Drew bails to the floor, setting up a big flip dive with Ali landing on Drew’s shoulder in a crash. The 054 is broken up as Ali is sent to the floor, with his FACE landing on the apron. Thankfully without bleeding, Ali gets up and avoids a charge to send Gulak over the announcers’ table. A big dive drops Gulak again and it’s time to load up the announcers’ table.

Ali takes too much time though and gets backdropped off the table for a crash. Drew breaks the count though and sends Ali HARD into the post (one of the nastiest looking postings I’ve ever seen), followed by a toss into the timekeeper’s area. Of course that’s only good for a nine because the trope of diving back in before ten is strong in this company. Back in and Ali manages a tornado DDT to counter the dragon sleeper and the 054 sends Ali to Wrestlemania at 15:11.

Rating: B. The ending was a bit sudden here and Gulak’s aggression being gone took away a lot of the good things this match could do. That being said, they’ve got something with Ali going a step further each time to become champion as he loses a little bit more of what got him here in the first place. I really hope it’s not setting up a heel turn, but there’s a story there. Good match, but not as good as some of the tournament matches.

Post match Ali says WE are going to Wrestlemania (I hope I can find something to wear). It doesn’t matter what your name is, where you’re from or what color your skin is. All that matters is what’s in your heart.

Overall Rating: B+. They have something very, very special with this tournament final and I have no idea who wins the thing. That’s one of the hardest things to pull off in wrestling and they’ve done it to perfection here. The rest of the show was completely fine, but this was all about setting up the finals and they did it perfectly. I’m very impressed.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/03/23/new-paperback-kbs-grab-bag/

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: February 27, 2018
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for another round of the tournament as we’re in the final eight. This tournament has completely reinvigorated the show and actually made it fun to watch. That wasn’t the case for over a year but better late than never. Tonight we’ll have half of the semifinals set so let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show.

And the show featuring this week’s quarterfinalists.

And the other show featuring this week’s quarterfinalists.

We open with a recap of last week’s first round matches. These quick recaps are really effective, especially since they don’t take up a bunch of time.

Opening sequence.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament Quarterfinals: TJP vs. Cedric Alexander

Both say they’re going to Wrestlemania and winning the title. The fans are behind the hometown boy in TJP as they hit the mat for a wrestling sequence. Back up and a flip off goes to Alexander, who counters TJP’s hurricanrana into a powerbomb for two. Back up and a headscissors takes Cedric down, meaning we can hit the dab. Cedric starts working on the arm with his feet on TJP’s face but a whip into the corner allows TJP to get in a boot to the head. A dropkick sends TJP outside but he’s back in fast enough to block the big flip dive.

Now it’s TJP’s turn to start in on the arm, sending Alexander straight to the ropes. Some kneedrops and a chinlock with an arm trap keep TJP in control. That’s not enough for him though as he grapevines the legs in a standing Indian deathlock but steps on Cedric’s head for a nice change of pace. The slingshot hilo bangs the ribs up a little bit more and it’s back to the chinlock. A good looking jumping back elbow to the jaw gets two on Cedric and it’s off to an abdominal stretch/octopus hold hybrid.

Cedric reverses a belly to back suplex into a crossbody and chills in the corner (where a turnbuckle pad is upside down). The Neuralizer gives Cedric two and the springboard Downward Spiral is good for the same. The Lumbar Check is reversed into the double chickenwing gutbuster to put Cedric down again. TJP dropkicks the knee out but Cedric kicks him in the….I think top of the head to knock TJP outside. Now the slingshot dive connects, only to bang up Cedric’s knee even more.

Back in and the knee gets hurt again and there’s the kneebar. Cedric’s crawl to the ropes is enough for the break so TJP settles for a rollup with trunks for two instead. A double clothesline gives us a double knockdown. It’s TJP up first with the springboard forearm (no nipup due to exhaustion though) and the kneebar goes on again. Cedric rolls halfway around the ring for the break this time and it’s time for a strike off. TJP gets the better of it and tries the Detonation Kick but Cedric slips out and grabs the Lumbar Check to advance at 17:30.

Rating: B. They did a good job here with the more complete wrestler in TJP breaking Cedric down but Alexander just wasn’t going to be denied and had to hit his big move for the win. I didn’t buy the idea of Cedric tapping but there was a reason to believe that TJP, who is the master of these tournaments, could pin him instead. Good storytelling here and I was digging the match.

Drake Maverick talks about how important cruiserweights can be, especially with someone pointing them in the right direction. The last few weeks have been his vision for 205 Live.

Last week, Mustafa Ali was in the fight of his life but he looked at the Wrestlemania sign and kept going. Next week he faces the bigger and stronger Buddy Murphy, but Buddy isn’t strong enough to break him.

Buddy says if Mustafa thought he was in a fight last week, he has no idea what he’s in for next week.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Kalisto vs. Roderick Strong

The winner gets Cedric in the semifinals. Roderick hammerlocks him to start and a wristlock puts Kalisto on the mat. Back up and a headscissors takes Strong down as Cedric is watching backstage. A backbreaker out of nowhere gives Roderick one but he gets hurricanranaed to the floor. Kalisto snaps off a big dive and dropkicks Strong underneath the ropes for good measure.

Strong is fast enough to send him into the apron though and a release suplex drops Kalisto on the announcers’ table as things get a lot more intense in a hurry. That actually draws the first 205 Live chant that I’ve heard in at least a year, so maybe there’s something to this new style. Back in and Strong stomps away but Kalisto is up at one. Another backbreaker gets another two and Strong, apparently a heel, mocks the Lucha Dance.

Strong tries a modified Gory Special but Kalisto armdrags his way out and hits the basement hurricanrana. Kalisto comes back with the usual and another basement hurricanrana gets two. The Salida Del Sol is broken up though and Strong grabs an Angle Slam for two of his own. A double underhook powerbomb is countered into a rollup to give Kalisto two and both guys are down again.

Kalisto catches Strong on top and stands up there with him, allowing Strong to pick him up for what looked like a slam. Instead Kalisto held on and rolled through to drop Strong though in a really unique looking spot (even Nigel said he had no idea what it was) for two. Strong finally knees him in the head though and another backbreaker sets up End of Heartache to end Kalisto at 11:42.

Rating: B-. Strong’s mid-match heel turn was a little weird but he’s one of those guys who can wrestle as a face or a heel just as well and Cedric needs a heel to face anyway. Beating Kalisto makes Strong look even better and now we should be in for a good match two weeks from now. Kalisto is going to be fine of course and it’s not like a loss here hurts him all that much. Good, but not as good as the opener.

Overall Rating: B+. Now that’s more like it. Just like this week’s Mixed Match Challenge (the other main roster tournament), things got a lot better once they got past the last first round matches. We’re into the matches between big names now and that makes for some very fun shows. This was about 45 minutes long and felt like half of that, which is some high praise for a WWE show anymore.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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

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