205 Live – November 26, 2021: Training Ground

205 Live
Date: November 26, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

NXT is on its way to WarGames and that means we are on our way to a non-cruiserweight challenging for the Cruiserweight Title. I’m not sure why that should be a surprise, as Roderick Strong hasn’t defended the title in about two months, so the future isn’t exactly bright. At the same time, that has very little to do with this show so let’s get to it.

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

Valentina Feroz vs. Elektra Lopez

Legado del Fantasma is here with Lopez. Feroz tries to take her down to start and is blocked with straight power. A hard slap to the face sets up a slam spun into a Rock Bottom (which isn’t innovative Vic) and we hit the nerve hold. That’s broken up and Feroz kicks away at the leg, setting up a running hurricanrana. Lopez isn’t having that though and muscles her up into a sitout powerbomb for the pin at 3:50.

Rating: C-. It was little more than a squash, but this is the kind of a match that Lopez needs. There is no pressure on either of them and a grand total of almost no one, certainly no one that high up, is going to see it. Let her get in the ring and get some experience, which is what she needs more than anything else.

Erica Yan vs. Amari Miller

They fight over hammerlock control to start and that doesn’t get either of them anywhere. A hiptoss into an armdrag works a bit better for Yan and a cartwheel lets her pose at Miller a bit. Miller takes her down into a cradle for two and we hit the cobra clutch. That’s broken up and Yan grabs a suplex for two, meaning frustration is setting in. Miller is done with this and hits a knee, setting up a faceplant onto the knee for the pin at 4:35.

Rating: C-. Miller is still clearly a big prospect for the company but she also feels like someone who isn’t exactly comfortable in the ring. It feels like she is trying to figure out what to do next, which is something all young wrestlers go through. Much like Lopez, giving her time in the ring is the best thing for her at the moment and that’s what she was getting here.

We look back at Joe Gacy calling out the Cruiserweight Title for weight shaming. The match is set for WarGames.

Solo Sikoa vs. Andre Chase

Chase calls this a teachable moment because he is going to show that you win fights with your mind instead of your fists. Sikoa is fired up but Chase grabs an armbar to slow him down for at least a good six seconds. They fight over a wristlock until Sikoa hits him in the face to take over. A belly to belly sends Chase outside and it’s time for Sikoa to shout some more.

The Samoan drop is countered though and Chase hits a swinging neckbreaker. Chase slams him down and stomps away, while shouting GIVE ME AN INSERT LETTER HERE to spell out CHASE U. We hit the long form chinlock on Sikoa but he’s right back up with a legsweep into a backsplash. A spinwheel kick gets two on Chase but he sends Sikoa throat first into the ropes. That and a tornado DDT are enough for two on Sikoa, who plants Chase with a Samoan drop instead. The Superfly Splash finishes Chase at 8:29.

Rating: C. You could tell that Chase was carrying a good bit of this as Sikoa is another person lacking the experience. The Chase U stuff is a very minor league gimmick but it’s doing its job and seems to have found at least a bit of an audience. Keep stuff like that going and Chase should be able to stick around here for a pretty good while. Sikoa should be a star in the future, and, for the third match in a row, he is someone who needs the kind of ring time he can get around here.

Overall Rating: C. This was what 205 Live should be: a training show where the wrestlers can go out and have short matches to get them in the ring a bit. They can work up to some bigger things later on, but for now this is where they should be. It’s more or less the same concept of the old Florida house show circuit, which is something that could do them a lot of good but probably got cut due to budget issues.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.




NXT – November 30, 2021: Go And Climb The Ladder

NXT
Date: November 30, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett

It’s the go home show for WarGames and that means DOUBLE LADDER MATCHES!!! Yes we’ll be getting the third and fourth ladder matches in WWE in about five weeks, because there is no other way to determine control of WarGames. That stupid coin flip stuff is just too old fashioned you see. Let’s get to it.

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

The two women’s teams get in a fight on the way to the ring before the non-participants brawl to the back.

Kay Lee Ray vs. Dakota Kai

Ladder match and Ray rocks her with a superkick to start. They’re on the floor in a hurry with the ladder being pulled out and Kai getting superkicked again. Kai is back with a roll of the dice onto the steps for a breather. Another ladder is pulled out but Ray uses the distraction to cut her off. There’s a big suicide dive to send Kai into the announcers’ table and Ray drops her ribs first onto the ladder.

Back in and Kai sends her into the standing ladder, allowing her to choke away in the corner. Ray knocks her down again and goes up but gets kicked in the face. An Alberto double stomp to the apron rocks Ray again and we take a break. Back with Kai bending Ray’s leg around the rope, only to have Ray escape and KLR Bomb her onto the announcers’ table.

Back in and they climb the ladder with Kai taking Ray down for the big crash. Instead of grabbing the briefcase though, Kai hits another double stomp off the ladder for a scary crash. Ray is right back up and ties Kai in a Tree of Woe in the ladder. A superkick knocks Kai free so Ray can go up and win at 14:08.

Rating: B. These two beat the fire out of each other and it felt like the brutal match it needed to be. It felt like they were fighting for something valuable and it’s great to see Ray getting the chance to shine. Kai was more like her usual self here instead of being a few steps off, meaning the match was better as a result.

We recap Andre Chase and Cameron Grimes getting on each others’ nerves.

The Grizzled Young Veterans try to rob a locker but Ikemen Jiro distracts them. Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen come up to scare them off. The fact that WWE thinks the Veterans need some kind of wacky gimmick tells you a lot about where they are at the moment.

Cameron Grimes vs. Andre Chase

Chase goes after him to start but Grimes fights back without much effort. Grimes runs him over, misses something off the top, and hits the Cave In for the fast pin at 2:29.

Post match here is Duke Hudson with FUNNY PHOTOS of the haircuts Grimes could get after WarGames. Grimes goes after Chase to blow off some steam but one of his students makes the save. Grimes promises to shave Hudson.

Edris Enofe talks about making it out of a bad neighborhood and joining the Navy. Now he’s ready to prove himself again.

Team 2.0 is in the ring and don’t care who is going to be facing Johnny Gargano in the other ladder match. They’re all ready to fight but it’s Bron Breakker getting the spot in the ladder match. Breakker is ready but here is Gargano to interrupt. Gargano: “It’s the big bad booty nephew himself!” Gargano doesn’t think much of Breakker having his team out here and challenges him to leave them in the back. Breakker is down and promises pain. It continues to amaze me how out of place Tony D’Angelo feels around here.

Legado del Fantasma is ready to become #1 contenders.

MSK has reached their destination as they have made it to the Shaman’s house. After the GPS insults them, they knock on the door and are greeted by….someone we can’t see.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Kyle O’Reilly/Von Wagner

Wagner throws Mendoza around to start and puts him in the corner for some kicks from O’Reilly. Legado takes over on O’Reilly in the corner but O’Reilly sweeps Mendoza’s leg to get him down. It’s back to Wagner for a waistlock as Xyon Quinn comes out to stare and Elektra Lopez as we take a break.

Back with Wilde chinlocking O’Reilly as Quinn and Lopez have their staredown. Quinn beats up Santos Escobar as O’Reilly fights back up, only to get caught with a springboard flip dive. O’Reilly gets over for the hot tag to Wagner though and it’s time to clean house. Mendoza sends him into the corner and hits a springboard dropkick to put them both down. It’s back to O’Reilly, who is taken down as well, but Wagner gets slapped in the face on the apron. That draws him in to low bridge Wilde outside, leaving Mendoza to get caught with a clothesline/legsweep combination to give Wagner the pin at 12:20.

Rating: C. Well they didn’t make it a triple threat so well done for not going with the likely outcome. Wagner and O’Reilly continue to be that team that NXT seems to want to push no matter what, though I’m not sure I can see them getting the titles. Then again, Wagner turning on O’Reilly after the loss and beating him out of NXT wouldn’t surprise me either.

Imperium is ready but here are Wagner and O’Reilly to yell at them.

Tiffany Stratton is really rich and always has been.

Joe Gacy and Harland are in the ring with three other wrestlers (a smaller guy, a woman and a larger man). From this point forward, the Cruiserweight Title will not be bound by weight limits or gender biases. Gacy is here to prepare for his title shot against Roderick Strong at NXT….Conflict Resolution.

Joe Gacy vs. ???/???/???

Gacy runs the smaller guy over to start and kicks him in the face. A gutwrench powerbomb finishes for Gacy at 1:03. Worry not though as Gacy gives him a hug after the pin. The woman gets to try her luck as this seems to be elimination rules. Cue the Diamond Mine, with Malcolm Bivens offering to let Gacy face Roderick Strong (as I guess the match is a no contest). Gacy wants it to be one on one but Strong jumps him, allowing the larger guy to offer a distraction. That lets Gacy hit his handspring lariat to leave Strong laying. Ten points for anyone who can explain why we’re supposed to cheer for here.

Solo Sikoa is ready for Edris Enofe but Boa interrupts. Sikoa can’t understand him and leaves.

Solo Sikoa vs. Ednis Enofe

Sikoa shoves him around to start and grabs a swinging Rock Bottom for an early one. As Robert Stone is watching in the aisle, Enofe gets in a shot of his own and a standing moonsault gets two. Sikoa kicks him down and drops a backsplash for two, setting up a Superfly Splash for the pin at 4:18.

Rating: D+. It wasn’t a squash, but neither exactly seemed ready to lead things. This was a match between two young guys without much experience on this level and they need ring time. Normally that would be on some much smaller shows to get out there and see what works and what doesn’t, but that’s not the NXT way these days.

Post match Boa comes in and goes after Sikoa, who clears the ring.

Indi Hartwell gets a phone call and is told that Dexter Lumis has disappeared from the hospital. Why someone who appears to be Mei Ying is sleeping on a couch in the background isn’t clear.

Xyon Quinn isn’t worried about Santos Escobar. Elektra Lopez comes up and rubs her handover him, telling him good luck against Escobar next week.

Indi Hartwell/Persia Pirrota vs. Valentina Feroz/Yulisa Leon

Hartwell is all shaken up because of Dexter Lumis disappearing so Feroz and Leon double team her in a hurry. Pirrota tags herself in and wrecks both of them though, setting up a fireman’s carry spun into an X Factor for the pin at 1:49.

WarGames rundown.

We get a vignette from Draco Anthony, who says he’s what NXT needs. His actions speak louder than his words.

Bron Breakker vs. Johnny Gargano

Ladder match. Gargano grabs a headlock to start, earning himself a delayed vertical suplex. Breakker is sent outside for a slingshot dive but it’s too early to get the ladder. Breakker runs Gargano over and brings the ladder inside, only to have Gargano come back with the slingshot spear. The ladder is shoved into Breakker’s face and a dive sends him over the announcers’ table as we take a break.

Back with Breakker knocking him off the ladder but Gargano shoves the ladder over for the save. Breakker is back up to run the ladder over with a flying shoulder, followed by the overhead belly to belly to send Gargano flying. Another belly to belly has Gargano bouncing off of the ladder but he avoids the Breakker Bulldog. Gargano sends him face first into the ladder on the corner but Breakker picks up the ladder.

That earns him a few superkicks and Breakker is down in a heap. Gargano heads up so Breakker is right there to catch him with a super Frankensteiner. Breakker goes up but Gargano is there to meet him, including a briefcase shot to the head. That’s too early though as Breakker pulls him down and into the powerslam. Breakker goes up and grabs the briefcase for the win at 14:11.

Rating: B. Best ladder match I’ve seen in about an hour and a half. Breakker was his usual freak of nature self here as there is something to be said about someone who is just picking people up and moving them around because he can. Gargano did a lot of the work here, as he should have, and they had a good match as a result.

Post match, everyone in the men’s match runs in and the big brawl is on.

Overall Rating: B-. The two ladder matches were more than enough to make this a good show, though there were some problems in the middle. Above all else, this show continues to throw WAY too much at you in a single night with all kinds of characters being introduced. When you add in how few of them seem ready for this level, it can get even worse. The good thing is the top level stuff has gotten better and that’s enough to carry things.

Results
Kay Lee Ray b. Dakota Kai – Ray pulled down the briefcase
Cameron Grimes b. Andre Chase – Cave In
Von Wagner/Kyle O’Reilly b. Legado del Fantasma – Clothesline/legsweep combination to Mendoza
Joe Gacy vs. ???/???/??? went to a no contest when Diamond Mine interfered
Solo Sikoa b. Ednis Enofe – Superfly Splash
Indi Hartwell/Persia Pirrota b. Valentina Feroz/Yulisa Leon – Fireman’s carry faceplant to Feroz
Bron Breakker b. Johnny Gargano – Breakker pulled down the briefcase

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

 




205 Live – November 19, 2021: Soulless

205 Live
Date: November 19, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s the go home show for Survivor Series, which has nothing to do with anything going on with this show. Instead, we’ll be getting more of the NXT B lineup, plus a battle of the midcarders. That doesn’t sound too bad, so maybe they can make it work out well enough again. Let’s get to it.

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

Malik Blade vs. Edris Enofe

This is Enofe’s debut. They go technical to start with Blade snapmaring him down for an early two, sending us into a standoff. Enofe rolls him up for two and that’s good for another standoff as they seem to respect each other. An exchange of rollups give them two each and it’s another standoff. Blade goes more traditional with a headlock on the mat but Enofe gives him a headlock takeover of his own. Back up and Blade hits a dropkick for one and the armbar goes on. Some armdrags have Enofe down again and a missile dropkick sets up…a missed frog splash. Enofe hits a spinebuster and a standing moonsault for the pin at 6:07.

Rating: C-. So that’s the first we’ve seen of Enofe and he’s an athletic guy with a good look. Really that’s about all there is to say about him, as he’s someone who feels like a prospect they signed, taught a basic match and then threw him out there. Certainly not bad, but he feels like a bunch of modern NXT wrestlers and that’s not a great sign.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Amari Miller

Stratton, debuting as well, is billed as Daddy’s Little Rich Girl and the Buff Barbie Doll. Before the match, she lets us know how beautiful she is, meaning she is the opposite of all of us. Miller grabs a headlock to start and grinds away but Stratton, a gymnast, flips up without much trouble. Back up and Miller hits a spinwheel kick, with Nigel saying Miller is inspired by “WWE Legend Alicia Fox.” I’ll let that one sink in for a minute as Miller tries a rollup, only to be countered into a sunset flip, with Stratton bridging up for more leverage and the pin at 3:21.

Rating: D+. Stratton is a new name and much like Tony D’Angelo, feels straight out of central casting. She’s the kind of person you would see in roughly 573 mediocre high school movies. What else are you expecting from someone who wears pink, brought a bag to the ring, and bragged about how good looking she is? It’s just such a basic idea and that is going to give her a pretty firm ceiling, but WWE has decided she’s worth a look and that’s all that matters.

Video on Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter, the same one which aired on NXT.

Kayden Carter/Kacy Catanzaro vs. Yulisa Leon/Valentina Feroz

Carter and Catanzaro do have an energetic entrance. Yulisa and Carter roll around for a bit as commentary tries to figure out what kind of music Carter and Catanzaro like. Catanzaro comes in to take Yulisa down but it’s right back to Carter to kick her out of the corner. We’ll try Catanzaro again and she gets to flip Feroz around a bit, setting up a double kick to the face.

Feroz manages to get in a shot to Carter’s arm though and twists her down for a crash. A cross armbreaker doesn’t do much for Yulisa so she goes with a gutwrench suplex for two instead. Carter fights up and it’s back to Catanzaro in a hurry. A fall away slam gives Feroz two but Carter gets the blind tag, setting up the neckbreaker/450 (KC Squared) to finish Feroz at 7:42.

Rating: C-. This was just a step above a long squash for Carter and Catanzaro, which is what it should have been. Carter and Catanzaro seem to be rising up the ranks fairly quickly in NXT and it would be nice to see how far they can go. Feroz and Leon were fine in their roles here, though it wasn’t exactly a great match.

Overall Rating: D+. Over the last few months, NXT feels like it has lost its soul. Anything energetic, fun, engaging or anything else has been completely stripped away and you’re left with very basic wrestling, almost giving it a low level independent feeling. That’s what I got here too, with wrestlers that don’t seem to have much potential (Carter and Catanzaro have more than anyone and even then it’s not great) and characters who are either non-existent or one note. NXT, and 205 Live as a result, is rapidly becoming a wasteland and this show made it seem like that is exactly what WWE wants.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.




205 Live – November 12, 2021: The Most Entertaining This Show Has Been In Years

205 Live
Date: November 12, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Since this is basically NXT Main Event, I’m running out of ways to say nice things about it. The show is much better than what we had for so long before, but you can only have so many positive things to say about a show that usually features a lower card match, a squash and two midcarders. It’s still fun and short though so let’s get to it.

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

Andre Chase vs. Malik Blade

The fans are behind Malik (I think?) and seem happy when he takes Chase down in a hurry. Back up and Andre elbows him in the face as you can see the Chase University Student Section (complete with a flag). The chinlock keeps Blade down and some elbows to the head make it worse.

Now the fans are behind Malik but Chase wants a C-H-A-S-E, with a stomp between each letter. A neckbreaker gives Chase two and he kicks Blade in the face for daring to try a small package. The chinlock goes on again but Blade fights up with forearms and a dropkick. Blade’s high crossbody gets two but Chase hits him in the face and grabs a Downward Spiral for the pin at 6:03.

Rating: C+. This was a good example of a match that was only ok on its own but a hot crowd brought it up. The fans were split enough that the dueling chants were a lot more fun than most of what we saw from the match itself. I had fun with it and I would not have bet on that coming in, so call it a surprise.

Valentina Feroz vs. Indi Hartwell

Persia Pirotta is here with Hartwell. Feroz gets shouldered down to start and looks annoyed while Hartwell might not be taking this incredibly seriously. A hiptoss gives Hartwell two and she drops Feroz face first onto the top turnbuckle. Feroz snaps Hartwell’s arm across the top though and we hit the armbar.

Back up and Feroz avoids a kick in the corner and goes after Hartwell’s leg for a change. It’s right back to the arm though and an armbar has Hartwell in some trouble. That’s broken up as well so Hartwell comes back with the good arm. Feroz goes for the arm again but walks into a spinebuster (with Hartwell kissing the ring) for the pin at 4:52.

Rating: C. Not too bad here as they told a nice story of Hartwell not taking Feroz seriously and having to catch her with the spinebuster for the pin. Feroz looked like a threat here and that’s more than she has done so far. This was another match that I liked more than I would have bet on so they’re on a bit of a roll this week.

Draco Anthony vs. Roderick Strong

Non-title again and the rest of Diamond Mine is here to handle Strong’s introduction. This is Draco’s debut to make it more interesting. They trade arm control to start until Strong grinds away on a headlock. That’s broken up and a series of shoulders give Draco two, with Strong bailing to the floor. Back in and Strong stomps him down into the corner, setting up a backbreaker for his own two. The seated abdominal stretch has Draco fighting back up and a release suplex gets two on Strong. That’s enough for Strong, who hits a jumping knee for the pin at 4:47.

Rating: C. Draco got to shine a bit here, though there is only so much that you can do in a match that doesn’t even go five minutes. They treated him as someone who they wanted to get something out of though so maybe he has a future. I’m not sure what they have in mind for Strong though, as he never defends the title and there isn’t exactly a top challenger on the horizon at the moment.

The Diamond Mine poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Maybe it was the rather hot crowd but this was one of the most entertaining 205 Lives in a long time. All three matches were entertaining and some unproven stars got their chance to showcase themselves. That’s where 205 Live can be a good help for NXT, but only if they keep this up. Do this more often and they might have a use for this show after all.

 

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.




205 Live – November 5, 2021: The Biggest Match Around Here In Months

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

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

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

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

Roderick Strong vs. Ru Feng

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

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

Valentina Feroz vs. Erica Yan

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

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Ikemen Jiro/Kushida

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

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

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

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

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.




205 Live – October 22, 2021: I’m Looking Forward To It

205 Live
Date: October 22, 2021
Location: Capitol One Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s weird to be looking forward to this show but they have managed to make it happen. I have no idea what to expect from the show but the mere hint of effort and a purpose has turned this show into something with a bit of value for a change. What’s next? An actual big name showing up around here? Let’s get to it.

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

Amari Miller/Valentina Feroz vs. Katarina Cortez/Yulisa Leon

Leon is new. Feroz and Cortez go to the mat to start with Feroz’s takedown not having any effect. It’s off to Leon for a very spinning wristdrag and Cortez’s missile dropkick gets two. Feroz has to fight out of a chinlock and Miller comes in for the first time, only to get clotheslined down. Everything breaks down and Miller cravates Leon onto her knee for the pin at 3:48.

Rating: C-. Not much to see with this one but Miller getting a win is not exactly surprising. It is clear that they want to do something with her and she has to start somewhere. Feroz and Leon weren’t bad but this was about Cortez and Miller getting over, which worked well enough for this stage.

We see the Duke Hudson poker room from last week’s NXT.

Duke Hudson vs. Malik Blade

Hudson runs Blade over to start and then tosses him outside with straight power. Back in and Blade cranks on a headlock but Hudson counters a dive into an overhead belly to belly. Some slams put Blade down again and Hudson is looking rather cocky. Blade hits a dropkick into a running corner clothesline but Hudson sends him flying again. The more serious Hudson puts him down and finishes by….grabbing Blade by the back of the head and shoving him face first onto the mat at 5:31. Not driving him down mind you, but just shoving him.

Rating: C. The match was pretty good, including Blade being treated more seriously this time, but Hudson is going to need a MUCH better finisher. That felt like the kind of thing you do to embarrass your opponent and get a one count but it finished here. Hudson is already a bit hard to take seriously and that didn’t help things.

Post match, Hudson tosses him a poker chip.

Halloween Havoc rundown.

Jeet Rama vs. Xyon Quinn

Feeling out process to start with Quinn grabbing a headlock until Rama sends him into the corner. A front facelock suplex gives Rama two and the armbar goes on. Back up and a hard whip sends Rama into the corner to give Quinn a breather. The armbar goes right back on, though this time Quinn muscles him up for a World’s Strongest Slam. Quinn is back up to toss Rama around, setting up a running shoulder in the corner. The running forearm finishes Rama at 4:15.

Rating: C. Quinn has been treated as something of a big deal in recent weeks but this time it was more about Rama. I could see that going somewhere as Rama looks good enough in the ring to become a bit of a player. I’m not at all surprised that Quinn won though, as he could turn into one of the upcoming stars of NXT without much trouble.

Respect is shown post match.

Overall Rating: C. This was a bit of a downgrade, but it’s nice to see this as the pretty firm new format of the show. Above all else, it gives you something to look forward to and that is a nice change of pace after so many years of nothing from 205 Live. If this can become something like NXT’s Dark, WWE might be on to something for a change.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.




NXT – October 12, 2021: Stuff Happens

NXT
Date: October 12, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

It’s another big night this time around as we have Santos Escobar challenging Isaiah Scott for the North American Title. Given that Scott and company have been Drafted to SmackDown, there might not be the most drama on this one. Maybe they have a curve ball for us, but that might not be a good idea. Let’s get to it.

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

Earlier today, Legado del Fantasma jumped Hit Row and kidnapped everyone but Isaiah Scott.

Opening sequence.

Joe Gacy is in the ring and says that Tommaso Ciampa holding the NXT Title means untold unbalance. Tonight, Gacy will beat the walking example of toxic masculinity and championship privilege. He represents all of his Snowflakes and is ready to inject himself into the championship match at Halloween Havoc.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Joe Gacy

Non-title but if Gacy wins, he is added to the NXT Title match in two weeks. Ciampa knocks him around to start but Gacy hits a shoulder for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long but here is Harland (the man who looked at Gacy last week, better known as Parker Boudreaux) for a distraction.

Ciampa is back with a running knee in the corner and they head to the floor, with Gacy bouncing off of the announcers’ table. Back in and Ciampa hits him in the nose, only to get taken outside again. This time it’s a drop onto the apron to put Gacy in control as we take a break. Back with Ciampa running him over again but what looked to be White Noise is escaped. Instead they slug it out with Gacy getting the better of things, only to have Ciampa come back with the Fairy Tale Ending and the pin at 9:49.

Rating: C. The match was fine but what were you expecting here? I know NXT has gone a bit nuts but they aren’t going to put Gacy in a spot like that. Ciampa beating him up was nice to see, but it wasn’t like there was any real doubt about the winner. Now we sit back and wait for Bron Breakker to win the title and hopefully one day remember that he is a Steiner and really get into the new era of NXT.

Post match Harland jumps Ciampa and then chokes Gacy (Fans: “WHO ARE YOU???”), who rubs Harland’s face to get him to let go.

Here is Toxic Attraction for a chat. They want all the titles and they left last week very unsatisfied. They aren’t going to play by the rules and they get what they want. The three of them are getting their title shots at Halloween Havoc and leaving with all of the titles. Mandy Rose doesn’t care what color her hair is, because she is always the baddest b**** in the business. The fact that the team lost their first title shot and the fact that it’s Mandy Rose trying to sound tough makes this kind of hard to take seriously.

Someone is at a graveside and starts shoveling dirt, saying he will bury the past to start anew, apparently at Halloween Havoc.

Xyon Quin vs. Malik Blade

Toxic Attraction seems impressed by Quin during his entrance. Quin powers Blade around to start and whips him hard into the corner for two. Blade gets thrown around again and plants with a spinebuster. The running elbow to the face finishes for Quin at 2:48. The more I see of Quin, the more I like him.

Tommaso Ciampa is ready for Bron Breakker in two weeks, but here are the Grizzled Young Veterans. They are ready to see him lose, but here is Breakker to say he’s ready to fight right now. Breakker will have Ciampa’s back until Halloween Havoc because he wants Ciampa at his best. Worked for John Cena and Shawn Michaels in 2007.

Isaiah Scott says his friends are warriors and if Santos Escobar wanted to bring out the evil spirits in him, IT WORKED. He is taking this North American Title to Smackdown and there is nothing Escobar can do about it.

Ivy Nile vs. Valentina Feroz

The rest of the Diamond Mine is here with Nile, who is the first female champion of the Titan Games. Nile catches Feroz’s crossbody and muscles her up into a delayed vertical suplex. Some kicks in the corner have Feroz in trouble as Barrett says he is getting Glamazon vibes from Nile, which he means as a compliment. As Beth tries to get her head around that, Nile muscles her up into a torture rack and does a squat to make it even worse. Feroz (eventually) taps at 2:43. Nile is an athletic machine, but you can tell she is just doing power/athletic stuff rather than knowing how to string a lot of this together (fair enough).

Post match Malcolm Bivens praises the Diamond Mine, but here is Ikemen Jiro to cut Roderick Strong off. Julius Creed cuts him off but Jiro hits him in the face.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Julius Creed

Creed throws him around to start and scores with a powerslam to plant Jiro again. There’s another suplex to send Jiro flying again as this is a total squash so far. Jiro fights up and kicks him down, setting up a delayed splash off the top. A Lionsault to the floor drops Julius but he pulls Jiro out of the air and plants him down again. The basement clothesline finishes Jiro at 3:30.

Rating: C. This was just beneath a total squash and Creed looked impressive. His gear needs more than a few upgrades, but wins like this will get him noticed. The fans like Jiro, but I can’t imagine he goes much further beyond where he is not. There is nothing wrong with being a low level, less than serious guy, and that’s about all he’s going to be for a good while.

Post match the beatdown is on but here is Kushida to make the save. It doesn’t work and he is beaten down as well, but at least he tried.

Raquel Gonzalez talks about how great her title reign has been and is down to face Mandy Rose. Let’s just make it Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal.

It’s time for Lashing Out With Lash Legend. She liked the Draft, misses Hit Row, and didn’t have time for Tony D’Angelo.

Kyle O’Reilly/Von Wagner vs. Pete Dunne/Ridge Holland

Holland and Dunne didn’t get an entrance, but Lash Legend needed the time more. Wagner jumps Dunne to start and muscles him up for a vertical suplex. It’s off to O’Reilly, who kicks Dunne over to the corner a tag to Holland. That goes a bit better for the Brits, as some knees to the back have O’Reilly in trouble. An overhead belly to belly takes O’Reilly down again and Dunne gets in his own shots.

Holland uppercuts him down to set up an arm trap chinlock, followed by a hard clothesline. O’Reilly manages to knock Dunne away and brings Wagner back in to clean house, including sending Holland into the steps on the floor. We take a break and come back with Holland holding O’Reilly in a chinlock as the fans give him a YOU DON’T GO HERE chant. Dunne comes back in to work over O’Reilly as Holland takes Wagner down off the apron.

Everything breaks down and Wagner takes out both villains on the floor. O’Reilly brings Wagner back in off the hot tag to clean house, including a jumping knee and an Angle Slam. Dunne gets dropped by a running knee from O’Reilly and Wagner hits a double underhook spinning slam to finish Holland at 12:42.

Rating: C+. This is a good example of one of the biggest problems with NXT right now: we haven’t gotten an explanation of who Wagner is and now we likely won’t, because he is a regular around here. It’s more lazy writing from NXT and that is not something I’m used to seeing. The match was fine, but I have little reason to care because I have no connection to Wagner. I’m sure it won’t be a problem though, because it’s not like he is one of about half a dozen characters with that problem.

Andre Chase points out how Odyssey Jones should have had his foot over the rope instead of underneath it last week, but hit low ring awareness prevented it. One of the Chase University students asks if that was illegal and gets thrown out by Chase. Several F bombs ensue.

Tony D’Angelo is proud of his win last week but isn’t happy that he was bumped from Lashing Out With Lash Legend. It seems that D’Angelo has kidnapped Legend’s producer.

Grayson Waller vs. Duke Hudson

Waller talks about being a former Golden Gloves boxer and since he’s facing a poker player, he’s all in. Waller goes right after him but charges into a suplex, setting up a waistlock. The fans chant for “Dukie” as Waller makes a comeback, including snapping Hudson throat first across the ropes. A running Stunner gives Waller two but Hudson rolls him up with tights for the pin at 2:38.

Santos Escobar promises that Legado del Fantasma will stay in the back for tonight’s title match.

Imperium doesn’t like MSK and want the Tag Team Titles.

Indi Hartwell/Persia Pirotta vs. Sarray/Amari Miller

Commentary talks about the Queen’s Crown and Beth actually brings up the fan complaints about the matches being short. Sarray kicks Hartwell down to start so it’s off to Miller, who gets run over by Pirotta. Miller gets kicked into the corner, setting up a sitout F5. Hartwell drops Pretty Savage (rope walk elbow) for the pin at 2:26.

Post match Pirotta says she wants the Women’s Tag Team Titles, but here are Io Shirai and Zoey Stark to interrupt (WAY too fast, as the music hit maybe half a second after Pirotta mentioned the titles). Before they can agree that they don’t like each other, here is Toxic Attraction to say they want the titles too. The brawl is on with the champs clearing the ring.

Grayson Waller hits on a woman but Cameron Grimes interrupts. He’s impressed by how Waller did despite losing, but Waller says it’s just the accept. Waller shows Grimes a dating app and has Grimes’ attention.

Solo Sikoa: coming soon.

North American Title: Isaiah Scott vs. Santos Escobar

Escobar is challenging but gets jumped in the aisle as Scott gets going fast. Scott runs him over at ringside and hits the big running flip dive to take him out again. They get inside where Escobar has to block the JML Driver and knocks Scott back to the floor. There’s a suicide dive to send Scott over the announcers’ table and we take a break.

Back with Scott fighting out of a double arm crank and blasting Escobar with a clothesline. Scott’s rolling cutter is countered into a Downward Spiral to give Escobar two and a frog splash gets the same. Scott catches him on top though and a Death Valley Driver onto the apron plants Escobar again. The 450 hits knees though and Escobar rolls him up for a very near fall. Cue Legado del Fantasma for a distraction but Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes come in to take them out. Escobar gets dropped into the corner and the JML Driver gives Scott the pin to retain at 11:15.

Rating: B-. Scott is a heck of a star and the more I see of him, the more sure of that I am. There is something to him that makes you want to keep watching and in a way, it’s a shame that he is in Hit Row. Good main event here and the match of the night, though something seems up with a certain pair of interfering people.

Post match, Hayes jumps Scott and it’s time for another title match, via Breakout Tournament cash in.

North American Title: Carmelo Hayes vs. Isaiah Scott

Hayes is challenging and gets in a springboard clothesline for a close two. The top rope Fameasser gives Hayes the pin and the title at 1:14.

Celebrating ends the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This is a good example of a show where all of the problems are in the presentation. There are talented people and some of the wrestling is high quality, but the way the material is being presented is killing the show. Above all, there is WAY too much going on here. For two hours, this is a show that is just throwing stuff on the screen, hoping that it catches your attention, and then moving on. Nothing has a chance to develop, nothing has a chance to make an impact and nothing has a chance to stay in your mind, because it’s all about getting the next act out there.

It also doesn’t help that some of the stuff on here just isn’t good. Gacy is a way for some of the writers to poke fun at people they don’t like, Hudson is suddenly a poker guy, Grimes just kind of hangs out backstage looking for women, Toxic Attraction is supposed to be taken seriously, and Von Wagner just…kind of is. What “is” you might ask? Just is, period.

NXT took a long time to define itself and it turned into its own thing. Suddenly deciding that everything that once was is now gone and replacing a bunch of the wrestlers with new ones (Why? Just go with it.), while some (certainly not all) of them wrap up their stories is going to be really jarring. This show is NXT in name only and that is becoming more and more obvious every week. It might be good, but don’t expect me to just drop everything that I cared about and suddenly love a bunch of new gimmicks and characters who we are learning about on the fly. That’s insulting to the fans, but I doubt WWE really cares at this point.

Results
Tommaso Ciampa b. Joe Gacy – Fairy Tale Ending
Xyon Quin b. Malik Blade – Running elbow
Ivy Nile b. Valentina Feroz – Torture rack
Julius Creed b. Ikemen Jiro – Basement clothesline
Kyle O’Reilly/Von Wagner b. Pete Dunne/Ridge Holland – Double underhook spinning slam to Holland
Duke Hudson b. Grayson Waller – Rollup with tights
Indi Hartwell/Persia Pirotta b. Sarray/Amari Miller – Pretty Savage to Miller
Isaiah Scott b. Santos Escobar – JML Driver
Carmelo Hayes b. Isaiah Scott – Top rope Fameasser

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

 




205 Live – October 1, 2021: Featuring Guest Stars

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

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

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

Dante Chen vs. Malik Blade

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

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

Amari Miller vs. Valentina Feroz

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

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

Miller helps her up post match.

Ikemen Jiro/Trey Baxter vs. Imperium

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.




205 Live – September 17, 2021: What I Asked For…For Some Reason

205 Live
Date: September 17, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s time for the brand new look to the show and that might be a good thing. At the same time, what matters more is the fact that this show is morphing into the NXT supplemental show that it has needed to be for a long time now. I’m not sure what to expect from this show, and that’s a nice feeling after all these years. Let’s get to it.

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

Valentina Feroz vs. Amari Miller

Feroz grabs the armbar to start and Miller can’t quite forearm her way to freedom. Instead, Miller grabs her own armbar but Feroz flips her way to freedom. A kick to the head drops Feroz though and some knees to the face from the apron rock Feroz again. The chinlock doesn’t last long but a knee to the ribs cuts off a comeback attempt. Some wristdrags have Miller in trouble but she grabs a spinebuster. That’s fine with Feroz, who grabs a cross armbreaker from the mat for the tap at 5:56.

Rating: C. Feroz got my attention here as that finish came out of nowhere. That’s the kind of move that could get her somewhere and while I don’t know if that is a likelihood, at least she did something cool once. Miller seems like a developmental project but she was smooth enough in the ring to start.

Malik Blade vs. Boa

Blake is the nephew of NBA legend Daryl Dawkins and was trained by D-Von Dudley. Boa kicks him down to start but Blade is back up with some dropkicks. Some arm snaps across the ropes put Blade back in trouble though and Boa kicks away. Blade is back with forearms and a running corner clothesline into a high crossbody for two. Not that it matters as Boa grabs a layout reverse DDT for the pin at 3:21.

Rating: C-. Blade got in some offense so it wasn’t a full on squash. That being said, Boa still isn’t all that interesting and there isn’t much else to say about him. He does his stuff in the ring and looks passable enough, but I have yet to see anything actually interesting from him at any point.

Andre Chase vs. Trey Baxter

Chase takes him down and strikes his pose (it’s making an A with his fingers) before taking Baxter down into an armbar. The crucifix gives Chase two but Baxter is back up with a headscissors. Some kicks from the apron rock Chase, who drops Baxter ribs first across the top for two. Baxter runs into a boot in the corner to make it worse and a belly to back suplex sets up the waistlock. With that not working, Chase switches to a chinlock but Baxter fights up and drops him with a shot to the face.

A Lionsault gives Baxter two but Chase is back with a half crab. Make that an STF in the middle of the ring, sending Baxter crawling over to the rope for the break. Baxter sends him outside for the suicide dive but gets caught with a tiger driver for two back inside. Chase takes him up top but looks a little shaky, allowing Baxter to pull him down. A kick to the head sets up the 450 double stomp for the pin on Chase at 8:33.

Rating: C. This is the kind of stuff that doesn’t give me the most interest in 205 Live. Both guys are fine enough at what they do but it was just two guys having a match and little more. It got some extra time and was far from bad, but it’s the kind of match that is fine enough to open a show and little more. Totally watchable, and nothing I’ll remember in about five minutes.

Overall Rating: C-. I like the idea of an NXT supplemental show, but these people aren’t on NXT very often for a reason. The women’s match worked out well enough and the main event was fine, with Boa’s near squash in the middle. Just another forgettable show, which tends to be the case a lot more often than not around here.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.




205 Live – September 10, 2021: What’s A Weight Limit?

205 Live
Date: September 10, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

This is going to be the last show in the old school Capitol Wrestling Center as things will be upgraded next week due to NXT, assuming the taping schedule isn’t that far behind. 205 Live has been undergoing some changes as of late and we might even be in for some more non-crusierweight action. Let’s get to it.

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

Valentina Feroz vs. Katrina Cortez

They go with the grappling to start and throw each other down for an early standoff. Feroz grabs a headlock takeover as we hear about her loss against Kay Lee Ray. A rope walk headlock takeover keeps Cortez in trouble and it’s off to an armbar to change things up a bit. That’s broken up though and Cortez sends her to the apron for a kick to the back. A double arm crank goes on but Feroz is right back up with some judo throws. Cortez manages to grab a quick Boston crab but that’s broken up as well, with Feroz hitting another throw. A DDT finishes Cortez at 5:33.

Rating: C-. This was a shorter match than usual but it’s the kind of thing that 205 Live can be better served as in a big way. These are two potential upcoming stars on NXT so let them be on this show and get some exposure and experience. That isn’t a hard concept to understand but for some reason it took this long to make it happen.

Joe Gacy/Josh Briggs vs. Odyssey Jones/Trey Baxter

Baxter tries to go fast to start with Gacy and a dropkick sends Gacy into the corner. Briggs comes in to toss Baxter around but he brings in Jones for the battle of different sizes. A running shoulder drops Briggs and Jones grabs a bearhug. That’s broken up so Gacy comes in to try a double suplex, which just isn’t happening. The villains are sent outside with Baxter diving onto Gacy but getting kicked in the face by Briggs.

Back in and Briggs suplexes Baxter for two and Gacy grabs a chinlock. Baxter fights up and somehow manages a half nelson suplex but Gacy isn’t having any of this hot tag nonsense. Briggs sends him hard into the corner and we hit another rough chinlock. Gacy puts on a camel clutch but Baxter gets a leg out and jawbreaks his way to freedom. A roll over to the corner allows the hot tag to Jones to clean house. Jones gutbusters Briggs to the floor and there’s a double splash to Gacy. Briggs comes back in and gets caught by Jones’ kind of spinebuster for the pin at 11:17.

Rating: C. I was a bit surprised that Briggs and Gacy took the loss here as they have been pushed on 205 Live, but Jones (and maybe Baxter) are the future NXT stars so this makes sense. While I’m not much of a fan of the big/small wacky team deal, this feels like a one off idea instead of anything permanent. The star power was stronger here too so nice job.

Overall Rating: C. Totally watchable show, with the cruiserweights being a detail instead of the focal point. That’s what this show has needed to be for years now and it is very nice to see the change that should have taken place. The show itself was fine, but above all else it gave me some hope for some minor interest around here for a change.

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.