IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: May 14, 2019
Location: 02 Arena, London, England
Commentators: Aiden English, Byron Saxton, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the go home show for Money in the Bank, meaning it’s time for the final push towards Tony Nese defending against Ariya Daivari. Tonight is a special show though as we have NXT vs. the UK with some guest stars from NXT UK filling in some of the spots. That could be interesting, but you never know around here. Let’s get to it.

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

General Manager Drake Maverick introduces the show and runs down the two matches.

Opening sequence.

Jack Gallagher vs. Humberto Carrillo vs. James Drake vs. Mark Andrews

Drake bails straight to the floor so it’s a triple headlock from the other three, even though there are only two headlocks included. A standoff sets up a series of dropkicks for some near falls with Drake’s attempt to steal one not going well. Drake gets caught back inside with Andrews chopping away and doing the slide on his knees to send Drake right back to the floor. That leaves Carrillo to hit his really high springboard spinning crossbody on Gallagher.

Drake pulls Andrews to the floor for a reverse powerbomb onto the apron as the pace picks up. Back in and Drake kicks Carrillo in the face to put him down in the corner. With the other two on the floor, a snap suplex gets two on Carrillo and Drake even has the time for a chinlock. Gallagher gets back on the apron for an exchange of forearms with Drake but a hard one puts him on the floor again. Carrillo sends Drake outside as well for the big flip dive to leave the ring empty.

Andrews grabs a running hurricanrana off the apron to Carrillo, followed by a spinning DDT to plant Drake on the floor. With everyone else down, Gallagher busts out William the umbrella for the Mary Poppins dive off the top. Just to show off some more, Gallagher grabs a very delayed vertical suplex on Andrews to the delight of his home country crowd. Drake catches Gallagher on top but takes too long going up, allowing Andrews to snap off a top rope hurricanrana.

Gallagher gets in a headbutt, followed by Carrillo hitting Twisted Bliss for two with Gallagher and Andrews making a save. Stundog Millionaire hits Carrillo and the moonsault kick to the head takes both Carrillo and Gallagher down. Gallagher is back up with a headbutt to Andrews, but knocks himself silly, allowing Carrillo to grab a rollup pin at 9:48.

Rating: B. It was cool to see Gallagher this fired up and inspired again. I know his character would suggest that he is fairly one note but there is some charisma inside there and it can come out at times. Carrillo getting a big win is nice, though Drake or Andrews winning wouldn’t have made a bit of sense.

Post match Carrillo and Gallagher shake hands.

Ariya Daivari, in a tanning bed, thinks Tony Nese is intimidated by him. Now Nese is flying eight hours for a match he doesn’t need to be in. Daivari will be fresh and massaged for Money in the Bank and have no problem beating a tired champion.

Nese is wrestling tonight because it’s right rather than smart. Yeah he could be in a tanning bed or training, but he’s a champion and got there by working hard.

Video on Ligero. It’s rather strange hearing him talk.

Lucha House Party accepts the Singh Brothers’ challenge to a rematch for next week.

Tony Nese vs. Ligero

Non-title. They battle over arm control to start with Ligero flipping around quite a bit, earning a drive into the corner from Nese. Ligero ties himself up in a ball on the mat and rolls Nese up as he comes near, setting up a long pinfall reversal sequence. That’s good for a handshake, plus one for the referee for keeping up with them. You don’t see that one every day.

Nese gets two off a rollup, followed by Ligero snapping off a hurricanrana for the same. Back up and Nese moonsaults over him before ducking a clothesline with a nipup. A kick to the ribs sends Ligero to the floor but he catches Nese with a pump kick. The running dive is cut off by an elbow to the face to give Nese two more though and it’s off to the waistlock.

Ligero uses a rollup to block the running knee in the corner so Nese goes back to the bodyscissors. This time Ligero fights up with a tilt-a-whirl into a crossbody but it bangs up the ribs again. With the wrestling not working so well, Nese goes with the shots to the face, including a spinwheel kick for two. The springboard moonsault misses so Ligero nails a springboard splash, which only hurts his ribs again.

Nese bails to the floor and you just don’t do that against a luchador, meaning it’s a big flip dive to take him down again. Back in and a super hurricanrana drops Ligero again, followed by the 450….for two. Nese’s stunned face gets superkicked but C4L is countered into a powerbomb into the corner. The running knee finishes Ligero at 14:20.

Rating: B. The lack of drama didn’t help things here as you can only do so much to convince people that the champ is going to lose five days before the title match. Ligero looked good here though and could easily hang on a show like this full time. Nese is rapidly settling in but he needs a far more interesting challenger than Daivari to make the title reign feel more important.

Post match Nese raises Ligero’s hand but Daivari runs in to beat both of them down. They’re trying so hard to make this work but there’s a limit to what can be done given the circumstances.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a one off show with two rather good matches and that made for one of the best shows they’ve had in a long time. The title angle still isn’t working but it certainly isn’t for a lack of trying, which I can always respect. It’s one of the best shows they’ve had, even if it means nothing in the long term.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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: April 30, 2019
Location: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Aiden English, David Otunga

We’re actually on the road to Ariya Daivari vs. Tony Nese, which is the kind of thing you always hear about but never think you’ll actually see. Other than that we have the continuing issues between Drew Gulak and Humberto Carrillo, plus Mike Kanellis vs. Akira Tozawa. Hopefully the execution is better than it sounds. Let’s get to it.

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

Tony Nese handles our opening recap/preview and is ready to face Drew Gulak in a non-title match tonight.

Gulak says his plans for a better 205 Live can continue with a win tonight.

Opening sequence.

Yes we now have a FOUR MAN BOOTH on this show. Three is too many and we’re approaching having the same amount of people in the booth as wrestle on the show.

Lucha House Party vs. Singh Brothers

Before the match, the Singhs talk about being back to fix the division and dance a lot. They’ve been around the world for the last two years taking on World Champions and they’re the only undefeated team around here. Lince and Sumir dance at each other to start and it’s already time to work on Sumir’s arm. The announcers debate Bollywood movies as Sunil comes in and gets chopped in the corner.

A Sumir distraction lets Sunil get in a knee to the back to take over and a double suplex gets two on Dorado. Hang on though as we need to stop for more dancing. Something close to a dancing Demolition Decapitator gets no count as Dorado’s arm is underneath the rope so it’s off to the chinlock (with Sumir turning around to look at the camera in that never natural looking style).

Sunil comes back in for a chinlock of his own until more dancing is required. Back up and the Golden Rewind is enough to set up the hot tag to Gran Metalik. The rope walk dropkick into the reverse Sling Blade gets two and it’s Dorado coming back in off a blind tag. The Brothers aren’t fooled though and hit him with a double superkick but Metalik is right back in to take over. A rope walk elbow sets up the shooting star press to finish Sumir at 9:36.

Rating: C+. Nice formula match here and while the Singh Brothers aren’t great with Mahal, they’re right at home here. This is the place they should have been a long time ago as their run with Mahal was only known for them taking ridiculous bumps. They can be great cannon fodder here, but giving them a push as a team isn’t the worst idea in the world.

Humberto Carrillo comes in to see Drake Maverick, who suggests that Humberto steer clear of Drew Gulak. Jack Gallagher comes in and says he’ll be medically cleared in two weeks, when they happen to be in London. He offers a handshake to Carrillo in a rather polite challenge for a match at some point in the future.

Brian Kendrick comes out for a match but here’s Mike Kanellis to jump him from behind. Akira Tozawa runs in for the save and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of this in the future.

Ariya Daivari talks about being undefeated this year, which has put him in line for a Cruiserweight Title shot. Tonight, he’s going to enjoy seeing Gulak stretch Nese.

Next week: Tozawa vs. Kanellis in a no disqualification match.

Drew Gulak vs. Tony Nese

Non-title. Nese takes him down by the arm to start but Gulak pulls him down into a pinfall reversal sequence for a few near falls. Back up and Nese starts firing off the strikes for two more, sending Gulak bailing outside for a breather. That means the big Fosbury Flop to drop Gulak for two back inside as it’s almost all Nese in the early going. They get back inside where Drew can start pulling on the arm but a knee to the face gets the champ out of trouble.

It’s too early for the running knee in the corner though so Gulak takes him outside for a slam onto the apron to bang up the back. A backbreaker gives Gulak two as it’s time to start picking Nese apart piece by piece. Gulak’s hammerlock is broken up though and Nese sets him on top for a running palm strike.

There’s a jumping hurricanrana to bring Gulak back down and they’re both in need of a breather with Nese favoring his knee. Nese scores with a spinwheel kick into a Lionsault for two, meaning frustration has begun. The Gulock is broken up and they fall to the floor for a double knockdown. Nese sends him into various things and hits a suplex to make it even worse. Back in and the pumphandle driver gives Nese two so he heads up.

Gulak catches him up there though, setting up a super gutbuster (Perhaps a tribute to the recently gone Dean Malenko?) for two more. A slugout goes to the champ but the 450 only hits mat. Now the Gulock can go on full but Nese manages to slip his head out. A hard running clothesline gives Gulak two more and it’s time for another Gulak. This one never even goes on as Nese pops up with a superkick into a German suplex into the corner. The running knee gives Nese the pin at 17:21.

Rating: B. This was a very strong back and forth match with Nese looking like the star the show wants him to be. However, the lack of energy and sizzle was very showing as the fans just did not care. That’s a big part of the problem with the show in general: there is nothing to get overly excited about and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon.

Overall Rating: B. Another quality but uninspiring show, which is looking like the standard operating procedure around here these days. You can’t expect much from these less than interesting stars but they’re having some awesome matches week to week. Just find someone that gets the fans’ attention and the show can get that much better.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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: April 9, 2019
Location: Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Aiden English, Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We’re past Wrestlemania and in this case that means we have a new Cruiserweight Champion in Tony Nese. I’m not sure how long he’s going to hold the title but you can imagine that Buddy Murphy is going to be coming for it, at least while he’s still on this show. Other than that it’s hard to say what we’ll be getting here, as 205 Live doesn’t always treat this show as anything special. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at Nese winning the title and a look back at everything he’s gone through to get here. Well done.

Opening sequence.

Tonight: Murphy gets his rematch.

Jack Gallagher vs. Humberto Carrillo

Drew Gulak joins commentary. Gallagher’s wristlock is countered into an armbar so Gallagher switches over to an ankle hold instead. They go into the exchange of monkey flips with Carrillo landing on his feet for a big smile. A neck snap across the top rope puts Carrillo down and Gallagher sends him head first into the corner for a bonus. Carrillo reverses a suplex into a small package for two but Gallagher knocks him right back down with ease.

Jack misses the running corner dropkick though and gets high crossbodied down. There’s a dropkick to send Gallagher outside for a running flip dive (Gulak: “Kid don’t learn.”). Back in and Carrillo hits a missile dropkick to the back of Gallagher’s head, followed by a handspring armdrag to pull Gallagher off the mat (that’s a new one). Carrillo heads up again but this time Gulak shoves him down for the DQ at 8:12.

Rating: C. Carrillo’s offense continues to look great, but at the same time you can only do this same high flying vs. evil mat wrestling story so many times before the impact goes away. It feels like something we’ve seen way too many times now. At least the match we got was good enough while it lasted, even if it’s designed to keep the story going.

Post match Gulak stays on Carrillo but Gallagher knocks Drew down for the save.

Murphy says he’s getting the title back tonight.

Nese says no he isn’t.

Oney Lorcan is in Drake Maverick’s office when Cedric Alexander interrupts. Cedric says the rematch better be next week and Drake confirms that it is. That’s fine with Lorcan, because Cedric told him that Oney was the future of the division. Next week, he’s getting rid of Alexander.

Cruiserweight Title: Buddy Murphy vs. Tony Nese

Nese is defending after winning the title two days earlier. They take turns shoving each other around until Murphy goes with a headlock for the most basic of advantages. That goes nowhere so Nese shoves him down and gets two off a knee lift. Another toss into the corner has Buddy holding his knee so the referee holds Nese back. And yes, it is in fact goldbricking as Nese gets sent into the post to put him in trouble.

Murphy throws him over the announcers’ table and a knee to the head gets two on the champ. After a suplex gets two, Nese fights back with left hands but gets backdropped out to the floor. One heck of a running flip dive takes Nese down again and it’s off to the chinlock. Nese drives him into the corner for the save and knocks Murphy off the top into the barricade for a heck of a crash. That means a running flip dive from Nese and some more trips into the barricade.

Back in and a super hurricanrana gives the champ two and the springboard moonsault with Murphy in the ropes is good for the same. A sitout pumphandle powerslam gets a third two but Murphy is right back with a superkick to catch Nese in the corner. That means a heck of a sitout powerbomb but the knee is countered into a suplex to send Murphy into the corner this time. They fight to the apron with Murphy hitting his own knee to the face, leaving Nese mostly dead.

Murphy goes for a powerbomb but has to break the count, allowing Nese to backdrop him onto the announcers’ table (which contains a pancake). That’s still not enough for a countout as Murphy slides back in and hits a powerbomb faceplant for two more. Murphy’s Law gets the same and Murphy is stunned, as he should be. A pair of knees to Nese’s face just fires him up enough to hit a reverse hurricanrana, setting up a pair of running knees to finish Murphy at 20:03.

Rating: B. This felt like the epic match that they were going for but more importantly, it feels like Murphy’s goodbye to the show. There is no reason for him to stick around here and with the Superstar Shakeup coming next week, it would make all the sense in the world to move him up here. Nese looked good here and can have these longer form matches, though I have no idea how they think he has the character stuff to back them up.

A bunch of replays wrap us up.

Overall Rating: B+. It wasn’t quite some blow away episode but the main event felt big and important, which is more than they usually offer most weeks. There will likely be some changes in next week’s Shakeup, mainly in the form of Murphy, though I wonder if anyone is going to be sent here, either from NXT or the main shows. They’re doing well at the moment though and that’s a nice way to wrap up the week.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

I guess it’ll do.

For the life of me I don’t get this one. I mean I get the story with Nese being a hometown guy and Murphy’s former training partner, but Nese getting a title shot at Wrestlemania is as absurd as you can get. Outside of another Cedric Alexander match, I can’t think of a weaker option than Nese in this spot. Murphy has been awesome as champion and should be on the main shows but he’s stuck here trying to give some credibility to 205 Live.

I’ll take Nese winning for the hometown moment, but my goodness if that’s the case have Murphy moving up to the main roster immediately. He’s WAY too good for this show anymore and Nese….well he’s Nese and I don’t know what else to say about him. This isn’t going to be interesting and the fans are likely to be getting food or taking one last walk before the show, because it doesn’t get much less interesting than this one.

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: April 2, 2019
Location: Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Aiden English

It’s the go home show for Wrestlemania so I think you know what to expect. That would be a segment on the Cruiserweight Title match and a bunch of other stuff that feels like business as usual because only two people from this show get to make Wrestlemania. In other words, the show should be fine. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick gives us the regular preview/recap.

Opening sequence.

Kalisto vs. Oney Lorcan

Lorcan wastes no time blasting Kalisto in the back of the head but Kalisto is fine enough to get a rollup. A few more shots send Oney outside for a baseball slide and a crossbody gets two back inside. Lorcan gets physical and sends Kalisto hard into the barricade while asking if Cedric Alexander saw that. He’s even smart enough to break up the count before driving Kalisto back first into the apron.

A quick comeback bid is cut off by another shot to the mask as it’s almost all Lorcan so far. The waistlock goes on and we cut to the back where a ticked off Buddy Murphy is….walking! Back to the ring where Lorcan gets two off a clothesline to the back of the head and slapping on a bodyscissors. That’s switched into a chinlock as the slow pace continues. Kalisto fights up and nails a kick, only to flip into and out of the half and half suplex.

The hurricanrana driver gets Kalisto out of trouble but Lorcan knocks him to the apron again. Kalisto is fine enough for a Salida Del Sol on the apron for easily his biggest offense of the match but he can’t get Lorcan back in immediately. Instead Lorcan catches him on top but the super half and half is broken up. That means an elbow to knock him off the top but the 450 hits Lorcan’s raised knees. Now the half and half connects for the pin on Kalisto at 12:32.

Rating: C. Lorcan brings a different kind of intensity to the show and that’s something that has been lacking (at least on someone with potential) around here. He could be a star down the line and pinning Kalisto clean is a good star. The good thing is that Kalisto is basically bulletproof around here so the loss isn’t going to hurt him at all.

Cedric Alexander comes in to Maverick’s office where the boss tells him that he’s lost a few times recently. That means Alexander needs some time off, which is why he didn’t get to face Lorcan here. Cedric isn’t happy but agrees to have the match later.

Tony Nese isn’t worried about the pressure of Wrestlemania because Murphy is already cracking. Murphy went to the Performance Center because he didn’t think Nese would be there…but here’s Murphy to jump Nese from behind. The fight breaks out and they go through a curtain, bringing them into the arena. Referees and agents break it up after Nese gets the best of it, including the running knee to the head. That lets us have some high quality sign pointing, which hasn’t been around very often this year.

Mike Kanellis vs. Akira Tozawa

Maria Kanellis and Brian Kendrick are the seconds. Technical sequence to start with Tozawa taking him down by the leg to send Kanellis bailing to the rope. The Black Widow sends Kanellis straight to the ropes again and it’s time for Tozawa stomping away in the corner. A discus clothesline finally gives Mike a breather and he stomps away as well. The chinlock goes on and Kanellis gets two off three straight vertical suplexes.

Another chinlock doesn’t last long so Kanellis grabs a powerbomb for two. Maria demands aggressiveness and apparently that means a double arm crank. Since it’s a pretty simple hold, Tozawa is up with a hurricanrana into the corner. A fireman’s carry faceplant into a basement dropkick to the face gives for two on Mike. Kanellis is right back with a spinebuster for two of his own but the Black Widow cuts him off all over again.

They fall outside and Kanellis neckbreakers him off the apron for a near knockout. Kendrick tries to check on his buddy and gets knocked down, allowing Tozawa to snap off a super hurricanrana for two back inside. They trade kicks to the face and it’s a double knockdown to make Maria nervous. Tozawa tries a sunset flip but Maria grabs the hands for two before getting caught. The break is enough for Tozawa to finish the flip for the pin at 15:50.

Rating: C+. I’d assume a third match between the two for the trilogy match, which doesn’t sound like the worst idea. Mike and Maria have gotten a little better in recent weeks but they still have a lot of ground to make up after being unused for so long. Tozawa losing in the end will be fine, assuming that’s what actually happens.

Another video on Nese vs. Murphy wraps us up. And yes, it’s officially on the Kickoff Show.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked the show well enough, even if Nese is as uninteresting of a challenger for a title match as you can have. They’re setting some things up for after Wrestlemania in a smart move, but there’s only so much you can do with fifty minutes and a single match of note to build towards. The show still needs some fresh blood, but at least Lorcan is there to help solve a bit of the problem.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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 19, 2019
Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Aiden English

The tournament concludes tonight and we’re going to have a new Wrestlemania match set. This wee will see Cedric Alexander vs. Tony Nese for the right to challenge Buddy Murphy for the Cruiserweight Title in a match that totally won’t be on the Kickoff Show. Other than that, Mike Kanellis is running out of chances to prove himself worthy of being on the 205 Live roster. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick recaps the tournament before tonight’s final.

Opening sequence.

Here are the Kanellises for a chat before Mike’s (now with no hair) match. Maria says he’s the greatest wrestler in the world and better than the best. Mike is about to prove everyone wrong, including whoever his opponent is.

Mike Kanellis vs. Akira Tozawa

Tozawa is a mystery opponent. Mike grabs the arm and is immediately driven into a rope for the break. An aggressive fight over a lockup gives us a standoff as the announcers talk about whether Maria is a benefit or a problem. Tozawa misses a kick to the head so he settles for one to the chest into a backsplash for two. Back up and Kanellis nails a superkick for a delayed one, followed by a suplex into a chinlock. Tozawa slips out and hits a Shining Wizard into a missile dropkick for two. The Octopus stretch has Maria pacing and screaming but a side slam gets Mike out of trouble.

A spinebuster gives Mike two of his own and a super Samoan driver is good for the same (that’s a big move for only a near fall). Mike grabs his head and screams a lot but Maria tells him to calm down and put Tozawa in his place. Tozawa nails a spinning kick to the face and goes up but Maria offers a distraction. That’s enough for Mike to roll over and the raised knees block the top rope backsplash. Mike Rolls the Dice for the pin at 9:28.

Rating: C-. This is the kind of Mike Kanellis that could have gone somewhere years ago (though he needs a much better finisher) but it’s a little late. Maybe this is the story that could get him somewhere for the first time, though I don’t exactly have high expectations. The haircut helps a bit, but I’m really not seeing it in him more often than not.

Mike and Maria celebrate quite a bit.

Cedric Alexander says he’s confident because he punched his ticket to winning a tournament like this last year. Tony Nese and Buddy Murphy come in with Tony saying he and Cedric have won and lost against each other before. Cedric says that’s true but he’s won the title before and never had to be a sidekick to be close to the title.

Murphy doesn’t mind and talks about all the times he’s beaten Cedric, which he’ll do again at Wrestlemania. That gets a laugh from Cedric, who says there’s a chance Tony will win. What a great statement from a good guy. “Yeah well I might not win!” That’ll teach him. Nese says he knows he’ll be champion one day, with Murphy looking a little nervous.

#1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Cedric Alexander vs. Tony Nese

The winner faces Murphy at Wrestlemania. Nese takes him down by the arm to start and armdrags him into an armbar to keep control. Alexander can’t quite headscissor his way out as they have a lot of time here. A sunset flip gives Nese two and Alexander bails to the ropes, which you don’t see from him very often. We get a quick standoff with Nese going right back to the arm.

Back up and Alexander goes with the speed, including a flip over Nese, but a leg lariat gives Nese two more. We’re in the armbar again though this one doesn’t last as long as Alexander snaps off a dropkick. A chinlock slows Nese down a bit (you don’t hear that one too often) but he’s right back up with a trip, only to miss a Lionsault. The fans are loudly behind Cedric here (mainly because Nese is a tweener at best, and that’s a major stretch) so Nese kicks him in the head twice to calm them down.

With Cedric trying to go a bit too fast, Nese takes the knee out and Alexander is down on the floor. Back in and Nese gets two off a jumping legdrop before going to another chinlock. Cedric throws that off as well and nails a pair of dropkicks for a breather. The Neuralizer knocks Nese silly and the springboard Downward Spiral gets two. Nese blocks the Lumbar Check and a sitout pumphandle powerslam gives him two of his own.

Cedric gets caught in the ropes and a double springboard moonsault knocks him out of them for another near fall. The running knee misses in the corner and Cedric goes up, only to take a running shot to the face. Tony loads up a superplex to the floor but Alexander hits him back for a double knockdown to avoid a bad case of crashing. They both dive back in at nine and it’s a slugout with neither being able to get the better of it. Both try superkicks but get their legs intertwined for a different kind of visual.

Alexander’s second superkick connects for two and he loads up a superplex, which is broken up in a hurry. Nese sends him outside for the Fosbury Flop and it’s the 450 for….two. That one surprised me a bit. Alexander’s Spanish Fly gets two more and so does the Lumbar Check. That’s a very rare kickout as I only remember one or two people kicking out of that. A second attempt is countered and Nese knees him in the head. The running knee in the corner sends Nese to Wrestlemania at 22:21.

Rating: B+. The time helped this a lot and it was the kind of match that should have closed a tournament like this. Nese winning isn’t the most thrilling result in the world and having him as the hometown boy at Wrestlemania is only going to get him so far. It’s a very good match and Nese looked good, but there’s a reason that Nese has been in the spot he’s been in for so long. It might make sense on paper, but I’m not sure how well this is going to work in reality.

Post match Alexander is stunned but shakes Nese’s hand. Cedric leaves and Buddy Murphy comes out and hugs Nese before kneeing him in the face. Murphy poses over him to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. They managed to nail two stories in this one show and that’s better than you usually get around here. The problem here is obvious though: Kanellis, Nese and Alexander, the three people this show focused on, aren’t very interesting. We’ve seen Nese and Alexander for a long time now and there isn’t anything about them to draw interest. Kanellis is slightly better because he has Maria and is a bit fresher, but none of them are anyone I would go out of my way to see. Murphy on the other hand comes off as a star and I really, really hope he gets to the main roster soon, as he’s more than outgrown this place.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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 12, 2019
Location: Nutter Center, Dayton, Ohio
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Aiden English

The tournament season continues around here with the final four of the Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender tournament. In this case, there aren’t exactly a ton of great options but that’s the case with a lot of the title scene at the moment. Cedric Alexander is probably the favorite to win the whole thing, as tends to be the case, but bigger surprises have happened before. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with Drew Gulak for a change. He loves tournament semifinals because it’s where you separate the men from the boys. In other words, it’s the round where Tony Nese collapses under the pressure. Drew owns him and tonight will be no different.

Nese knows that Gulak is different than anyone else on the roster because Gulak will dissect every mistake that Nese makes. His focus is his best asset and Gulak knows nothing about him.

Oney Lorcan says this is all business and he had no ill will towards Humberto Carrillo. Now Cedric Alexander is the man to beat and that’s what Lorcan is going to do tonight when he breaks Alexander.

Cedric Alexander knows that Lorcan is an amazing talent and sees him as the future of the division. It’s not his time though because Cedric is still here and he’s going back to Wrestlemania.

Opening sequence.

Buddy Murphy joins us from Australia to talk about who could win the tournament.

#1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Oney Lorcan vs. Cedric Alexander

The fans seem behind Cedric, which may be due to not knowing much about Lorcan. Cedric spins out of a wristlock as English wonders if it’s better to get to the title and fall or never get there at all. Uh, winning the title? A headlock takes Cedric down for a bit, though he rolls Lorcan up for some one counts. Back up and Lorcan chops Cedric so hard that he looks ready to scream but he comes back with his own chops.

It’s way too early for the Lumbar Check so Lorcan gets two off a strong clothesline. We hit a waistlock on Alexander, followed by an abdominal stretch to stay on the logical target. Some headbutts get Alexander out but he’s right back in the hold about two seconds later. The real comeback is on with some elbows to the face and the Neuralizer actually staggers Lorcan.

There’s the springboard Downward Spiral for good measure with Lorcan’s head bouncing off the mat for two. Lorcan is fine enough to get his own two off a running Blockbuster as the frustration is setting in. Maybe you should hit more than one move? The half and half suplex gets two and now it’s ok to be frustrated.

Cedric is back up with a Michinoku Driver for two of his own, plus the big shocked face. The real frustration sets in and Cedric stomps away, only to get caught on top for a half and half superplex for two more, all but guaranteeing that Lorcan isn’t winning. Lorcan blasts him in the face a few more times, only to take the Lumbar Check for the pin at 15:13.

Rating: B. Standard Cedric performance here: rather high quality but nothing that we haven’t seen in the last year plus of Cedric’s run in 205 Live. He doesn’t have much in the way of charisma and that’s making it harder and harder to get invested in the same stuff that we’ve seen him do over and over. He’s still better than most, but this can only go on for so long and we’re reaching that point.

We look back at Mike Kanellis’ no contest last week when he could have had an easy win.

The Kanellises rant to Drake Maverick for putting him in an easy match when he deserves competition. Drake agrees and gives him a match next week with an unnamed opponent. The losing isn’t going to last much longer though, because this place is for winners. There’s so much wrong with that logic I’m just going to move on.

Ariya Daivari isn’t pleased with being left out of the tournament and says the leash is coming off soon. Good. Maybe he’ll run away and not come back.

#1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Tony Nese vs. Drew Gulak

The rather confident Gulak grabs a headlock to start but gets elbowed in the face. Nese tries a rather unnecessary moonsault and has to bail to the floor to avoid the Gulock. Back in and Nese goes after a wristlock and then a headlock as they seem to have a lot of time here. They head outside with Nese kicking him in the ribs and hitting a rather quiet chop. He should have gone harder as Gulak is fine enough to drop him throat first across the top as the build towards the Gulock continues.

Said build continues with a neck crank before Gulak ties up the legs and hits him in the back of the head a few times for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Gulak takes him down again, albeit now more annoyed at Nese for fighting back. Nese manages a whip into the corner but since it’s just a whip, Gulak grabs a t-bone suplex to put Nese right back in trouble.

The chinlock goes on again so Nese fights up with some kicks to the face, including a dropkick for two. The split legged moonsault is good (well, the little that actually hit) for the same, drawing some rather weak applause. Gulak goes aerial with a very rare dropkick, which does a nice job of showing how desperate he is here. Back to back powerbombs gives Gulak two but Nese is right back up with a super hurricanrana.

The 450 misses and they’re both down as the fans are trying to get into this. Neither finisher connects so Gulak goes with a snappy sunset flip for two. Nese rolls through another Gulock attempt and German suplexes Gulak into the corner. The running knee misses and Gulak clotheslines the heck out of him for two. Now the Gulock goes on but Nese gets his foot on the rope and flips backwards for the quick pin at 17:08.

Rating: B+. So I’m supposed to cheer for Nese now? This was certainly a feel good moment but Nese has teased face turns before and none of them have exactly been interesting. Having Nese overcome Gulak doesn’t make him interesting and possibly seeing Nese vs. his training partner at Wrestlemania isn’t thrilling either. I mean it’s something, but it’s not something interesting and that’s a rather questionable choice.

Gulak is stunned to end the show.

Overall Rating: A. Two very good to great matches and a Maria cameo. What more could you ask for in a fifty minute show? The tournament was excellent last year and the sequel has been another treat with the wrestling being more than good. The problem is who we’re getting to see, as Nese vs. Alexander is far from the most thrilling selection. I’m sure the matches will be good, but a more interesting final would be nice.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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 26, 2019
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
Commentators: Aiden English, Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s tournament time again and that’s not the biggest surprise in the world. WWE certainly loves to run these things over and over again and that’s the case for the second years in a row with the Cruiserweight Title match at Wrestlemania being decided by a tournament. Right now we only know half of the field but that is being cut in half again tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at tonight’s two tournament matches.

Opening sequence.

#1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Kalisto vs. Tony Nese

Nese starts in with the trash talk before taking Kalisto down with a waistlock. An armbar keeps Kalisto in trouble until he nips up, avoids a moonsault, and kicks Nese in the head. That means the suicide dive but Nese kicks him in the ribs to take over again. Apparently Kalisto doesn’t have quite the same abdominal development. Nese sends him to the apron so Kalisto backflips down to the floor with Nese cartwheeling off the same apron to keep things even. A backdrop over the steps drops Kalisto again as Nese is mostly dominating so far.

The back is sent into the barricade for two and we hit the waistlock. Kalisto gets up again and snaps off a headscissors, setting up a nice top rope seated senton. A slow motion LUCHA chant is cut off with a hot shot into the corner so Nese puts him on top for a release German superplex. Nese’s 450 misses but Kalisto’s connects for two more as Nese gets a boot on the rope in a good false finish. The Salida Del Sol is countered so Kalisto settles for the rolling kick to the head.

A superkick knocks Nese down but he tries a monkey flip into the corner for a nice counter. Kalisto lands in the near vicinity of the corner so it didn’t quite work but they tried. Nese’s pumphandle driver is countered into a hurricanrana for two as they keep countering each other. A wheelbarrow suplex sends Kalisto near the corner again, though this time he’s nice enough to pull himself into position for the running knee to send Tony to the next round at 14:22.

Rating: B. I still don’t feel the spark from Nese but he’s taken it to another level over the last few months, which has been a very nice change of pace. Giving him a clean pin over Kalisto is a big win and while he won’t win the tournament, he could make enough of a run to upgrade his status.

Jack Gallagher and Humberto Carrillo go over film with Gallagher suggesting a wristlock instead of a flip. Carrillo can learn more by watching Drew Gulak tonight.

We look at Mike Kanellis possibly getting cheated out of a win against Cedric Alexander last week.

Drake isn’t changing the decision but tells Mike that he can have a match next week. Mike and Maria seem to think it’s a tournament match, but that’s not what Maverick said. You can picture the explosion coming from here.

#1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Drew Gulak vs. Brian Kendrick

The announcers start talking about how Kendrick’s goal is to have a match at Wrestlemania after watching eight from the locker room. Feeling out process to start as Kendrick is actually able to hang with Gulak in a technical match early on. Gulak takes him down by the leg while also trapping the arm but gets reversed into a knuckle lock on the mat with Kendrick getting some near falls. Back up and Gulak ducks a clothesline to hit a hard German suplex into a modified bow and arrow hold.

Something close to a Texas Cloverleaf keeps Kendrick in trouble and Gulak clotheslines him hard for two. Kendrick actually armdrags him into a cross armbreaker for a change of pace but can’t get it anywhere near on full. That’s broken up, as is Kendrick’s bulldog attempt as Gulak shoves him off for a crash. A backdrop seems to have Gulak favoring his wrist so Kendrick grabs a headlock to let them call some spots.

Gulak mixes things up by trapping the leg on a German suplex for two more, only to walk into a dragon suplex. Since neither guy is going to stay down long, Gulak snaps off a clothesline for the double knockdown. Both finishers are countered so Kendrick rolls into the Captain’s Hook and even flips it back into the middle. Gulak actually fishhooks the jaw for the escape and gets two off a hard powerbomb. Kendrick says bring it on and kicks him in the face….but gets pulled down into the Gulock for the knockout at 13:46.

Rating: B. This was the technical back and forth match for a rather different flavor than the previous one. I was expecting Kendrick to win here with the Wrestlemania dream story ala his run in the Cruiserweight Classic but what we got here was fine. Gulak is someone who can have a good match with anyone and that’s going to be the case when he makes at least the semifinals.

Next week in the other first round matches: Humberto Carrillo vs. Oney Lorcan and Cedric Alexander vs. Akira Tozawa, meaning no Kanellis.

Overall Rating: B+. As tends to be the case around here, things go better with an emphasis on wrestling instead of storytelling. They don’t have very good characters so going with what happens bell to bell is the right move. We got a very good show here with two strong matches to help set up the tournament. There are going to be a few weeks either between the tournament matches or between the finals and Wrestlemania so they have some time to build things up. They’re off to a great start though, just as they were last year at this time. Really solid show here with good wrestling in both matches.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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 12, 2019
Location: Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio
Commentators: Aiden English, Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re actually coming up on a fresh title match for a change as Akira Tozawa is the new #1 contender to Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy, with his title shot coming on Sunday. As for tonight, we have a grudge match as Noam Dar gets to face Tony Nese in a No DQ match. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at Dar beating Nese last month and the ensuing brawl, which set up tonight’s match. It’s more appropriate here than Maverick talking.

Opening sequence.

Here’s the Lucha House Party for a chat. Gran Metalik asks where they are and Kalisto says they’re in Toledo, where it’s snowing. They’re upset that they didn’t get to finish their duet with Elias so they’ll settle for taking Jack Gallagher’s mustache and giving it to Penelope. Metalik is ready to sing but Gallagher cuts them off.

Jack Gallagher vs. Lince Dorado

Drew Gulak sits in on commentary and actually picks Tozawa to win the title on Sunday. You don’t get a definitive pick like that very often. Gallagher takes him down by the wrist to start so Dorado fights up and bounces off the ropes to send Gallagher flying instead. Gulak and English affirm that Humberto Carrillo is in fact a handsome man as Dorado hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker into a splash for two.

Gallagher is right back with a throat first drop across the top rope (thumbs up from Gulak) as we’re now talking about Carrillo’s taste in music. Dorado sends him outside and teases a big dive but Gallagher heads over for a handshake with Gulak. Back in and Gallagher takes Dorado down again and forearms him in the mask before cranking on both arms. It’s off to an abdominal stretch, which is quickly countered into a toss outside for a heck of a springboard dive.

A spinwheel kick to the head has English asking what would happen if Carrillo joined the Lucha House Party. Dorado hits a bottom and middle rope moonsault (Gulak: “I don’t understand this.”) before going up to the top, allowing Gallagher to get the knees up this time (Gulak: “THANK YOU!”). Gallagher hits a powerbomb but tries another, earning himself a monkey flip for the counter. So much for learning from your opponent’s mistake. The Golden Rewind gets two and Dorado takes him to the corner, only to get sunset flipped down to give Gallagher a very fast pin at 10:12.

Rating: C. Obsessive commentary about Carrillo aside, this was a nice match with Gallagher having to deal with the flipping power of Dorado. We’ve already seen Gulak vs. the Lucha House Party and while I don’t need to see something similar again, at least it’s something that you can almost guarantee to be watchable.

Gallagher jumps into Gulak’s arms to celebrate. Gulak: “See this Humberto Carrillo? YOU COULD BE A PART OF THIS!” Sweet goodness I haven’t heard this kind of praise since a Stephanie McMahon match.

Carrillo is willing to listen to Gallagher and Gulak.

Ariya Daivari is tired of dealing with failures on this show. He came here to serve himself and he already has the money and the miles. Next up is the Cruiserweight Title.

Mike Kanellis has worked sixteen years to get here and he’s not here to lose a match to Kalisto and Brian Kendrick. Maria says the losses are part of the process and it’s going to pay off. They’ve been successful everywhere and legends are made by THE match. I can go for more of these talk to the camera promos, especially when someone isn’t holding their own camera.

Noam Dar vs. Tony Nese

No DQ and Dar starts fast with a suicide dive before the bell. An early northern lights suplex gets two as Dar is extra fired up. Dar whips him into the steps before using said steps as a launchpad for a clothesline. He’s not done yet as he puts Nese’s fingers inside the hook that attaches the buckle to the post and bends them back. Nese is tired of getting beaten up and sends Dar into the post to take over.

Back in and Nese bridges him between a chair and the ropes for a springboard moonsault to start in on the ribs. A slam onto the chair makes things worse but Dar gets in a dragon screw legwhip for a breather. Dar’s t-bone suplex into the corner gets one and it’s time for some chairs, with a table as a bonus. A backdrop puts Nese onto the pile of chairs on the floor, drawing what sounds like a NIGEL chant. Well it’s not like either of these two have the strongest personalities.

Back in and Dar rams the knee into a chair but Nese goes for the pinkie for the save. I guess he’s been watching his Pete Dunne matches. The pumphandle driver onto the chair gives Nese two but Dar is back up. Dar gets smart by blocking a left hand with the chair, which he then wraps around Nese’s shoulder. The chair is used in a Fujiwara armbar but Nese turns it over for the break.

They head outside again with Dar getting knocked down, allowing Nese to pull the steps over with one arm. Nese hits him in the jaw before dropping Dar back first into the steps. Dar gets a triangle on the good arm but Nese lifts him up for a powerbomb through the announcers’ table, which is only good for two back inside. Shame too as that was easily the best thing so far.

The running knee hits the buckle and Dar hits a top rope double stomp onto the leg. An ankle lock with a grapevine goes on and since there are no rope breaks, Nese crawls underneath the ropes for the break. Nese’s chair to the knee rocks Dar and the running knee to the head drives him through the barricade for the next big crash. Dar is DONE so Nese throws him back inside for the pin at 19:10.

Rating: B-. This got a lot better once they started brawling but they could have cut off about five minutes to really make it better. They did something very good by having Nese win so definitively, as he could be moved up as a nice choice for a one off title match. I’m not sure where Dar goes, but he’ll be fine almost anywhere he winds up at this point.

We look at Akira Tozawa becoming #1 contender last week.

Tozawa, Buddy Murphy and Drake Maverick are in the back for the contract signing. Tozawa signs, so Buddy pulls out his phone and tells Tozawa to take a picture of himself with the title, because it’s as close as he’s going to get to it on Sunday. Murphy isn’t losing so he signs the contract. Tozawa actually brings up Neville (not by name) and says he took the title from him, just like he’ll do from Murphy. The staredown ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The main event had some very good spots but the title match stuff at the end felt entirely tacked on. What we got wasn’t bad though and I’m curious to see where they’re going after Sunday. It’s usually the complete opposite and it’s cool to see them doing something different for a change.

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: January 9, 2019
Location: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph, Percy Watson

It’s time to find out who gets the final spot in the four way at the Royal Rumble. This week we have Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami with the winner moving on to the title match. That’s about all there is of note this week, which should be about all you need. It’s probably too early to have any of the new faces show up but you never know. 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 qualifying matches and a preview of this week’s qualifying match.

Opening sequence.

Noam Dar vs. Tony Nese

Before the match, Nese says he’s tired of Dar’s complaining and will win because he’s the better man. You can’t get much more to the point than that. A headlock takeover puts Nese down until he reverses into a headscissors. Dar starts in on the arm but Nese drives him into the corner. A moonsault goes sailing over Dar, who trips Nese straight down. Back up and Dar loads up a backslide, which gets two after he spins Nese around several times. Nese gets serious with a running elbow to the face and it’s off to the bodyscissors.

Some forearms to the face keep Dar in trouble and we hit the neck crank. Dar finally goes with the speed by ducking a running shoulder A running forearm in the corner sets up a northern lights suplex for two but Dar can’t follow up. With the covers not working, Dar slaps on a guillotine until Nese drives him into the corner for the break.

The double springboard moonsault gives Nese two but Dar blocks a suplex and fires off kicks to the head. Nese misses some kicks of his own and it’s another guillotine choke. That’s reversed with another suplex for two more but Dar just starts slugging away, which isn’t his nature. It’s so unnatural for him that Nese catches him with a pumphandle powerslam. There’s no follow up though as Nese would rather try the running knee, allowing Dar to roll him up for the pin at 12:39.

Rating: C+. Nese was doing his best here and that made for a pretty good match. I’m not wild on either of them but at least we got an energetic and long match with Dar, who has a bigger future, getting the win. If Murphy retains the title at the Rumble, Dar wouldn’t be a bad choice for a next challenger. Giving him a win like this helps that process and maybe WWE thinks the same.

Akira Tozawa isn’t here tonight so Brian Kendrick is reading a letter from him. Tozawa is competing in Japan to get ready for the Rumble and won’t let this opportunity slip by. The HAH’s are included but Kendrick doesn’t read them all. Kendrick isn’t sure why they’re friends, but he’s going to help Tozawa win the title.

Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher come in to see Drake Maverick and offer him a list of potential people to hire for the show. Maverick promises to read their suggestions and drops them on the floor after they leave. Mike and Maria Kanellis come in, wanting to know why Mike hasn’t wrestled in five weeks. Maria doesn’t like that much time being wasted and thinks they just haven’t been fighting the right way. Why is Maverick bringing in all these new people when he doesn’t have time for who he already has? Fair point actually. Anyway, they better be ready to fight like her.

Lio Rush thinks Kalisto only beat him because of the Lucha House Party. Therefore, the trio is going to feel the Rush. How many people can those three tick off while still being faces?

Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami

The winner is the fourth person in the Rumble four way and Itami has Ariya Daivari in his corner. They’re rather slow to start with no contact until nearly a minute in. Alexander’s takedown attempt doesn’t get him very far so he chops Itami down instead. It’s not the best idea to get into a strike off with Itami, who kicks away at the chest to take over. Alexander takes him down again but comes up holding his chest, which isn’t something you see injured very often.

The way too early Lumbar Check attempt sends Itami bailing to the floor with Cedric going after him, only to have Daivari get in a quick clothesline. Alexander gets sent into the barricade and it’s time for more kicks back inside. Some kicks to the chest keep Alexander in trouble and another set of them cut off his comeback bid. The chinlock goes on for a bit with Alexander fighting up and hitting a few dropkicks. The springboard flatliner gets two but Itami blocks a Neuralizer with a kick of his own.

A top rope clothesline gives Itami two and he’s getting annoyed at Alexander kicking out again. Alexander scores with the Neuralizer for two of his own and now it’s Itami in trouble. He’s fine enough to grab the rope to block the Lumbar Check and head outside, so Cedric dives onto both villains.

Another Daivari distraction lets Itami punch Cedric in the face to break up a springboard and a Falcon Arrow off the apron drops him HARD on the floor. Cool spot with a sick landing. That’s only good for a nine and you can hear the fans being into the near count out. Back in and Cedric gets a very close two off a rollup but it’s that spinning knee to the face to finish Alexander at 17:05.

Rating: B. Itami is still hit or miss in the ring but Cedric being one of the most consistent performers on the show is exactly the kind of thing to keep him straight. He still needs a MUCH better finisher though as I’m not even always sure what it’s supposed to do half the time. Cedric is going to be fine despite the loss as there’s a great value in being the consistent performer on the show.

Buddy Murphy is pleased with the result but wants competition before the Rumble. Therefore, next week is an open challenge for a non-title match. I don’t see that ending well.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show about setting up the Rumble title match and that’s a fine place to go. The opener seemed to be setting things up for the future, which is a perfect way to use the other half of the show. That open challenge could be a great way to bring in some of the fresh talent, which could mean multiple people. Good show here, which is almost always the case anymore.

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

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

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

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