Boy am I excited for this one! WWE output at the moment has been excellent in my opinion across the board, but 205 Live has been my ice cream for weeks now. It's a sweet dish and very, very tasty.
MUSTAFA ALI v HIDEO ITAMI PROMO PACKAGE
We kick things off with a package for the falls count anywhere match between Mustafa Ali and Hideo Itami. These two have clicked big time, with Hideo Itami looking at his best level since his WWE arrival.
When Itami first attacked Ali he says it was business, it was Ali who made it personal. Ali says the first time they met in the ring he wasn't 100% and it showed. He was not allowed to compete for weeks after. The worst thing for Ali was sitting at home and watching Itami brutalising his opponents to taunt him.
The rematch happened last month and Itami says that Ali made a mistake by getting back in the ring with him. That match finished with a MENTAL 450 splash from Ali onto Itami who was lying on the ring apron and led to a double count out.
Ali claims that beating Itami isn't just important... it's necessary because he wants Itami to respect HIM. Man, I am hyped.
LINCE DORADO (w/ LUCHA HOUSE PARTY) v MIKE KANELLIS (w/ MARIA KANELLIS)
We recap why this match is taking place. Lince Dorado was about to beat Lio Rush two weeks ago when Maria Kanellis appeared on the ramp causing a distraction and her husband Mike attacked from behind, announcing their arrival with a statement of intent.
Nigel McGuinness states that everywhere Mike Kanellis has been (ROH, Impact and WWE) he has been told he didn't belong. That is interesting and a home truth that gives him a chip on his shoulder now he is in 205 Live.
- Dorado floors Kanellis with a straight right to begin!
- He follows up with lighting speed hitting a hurricanrana and a dropkick.
- Kanellis jumps out of the way from Dorado's springboard stunner and into the loving arms of his wife.
- Kanellis takes over with his brawling style of kicks and strikes.
- TJP is shown watching backstage - he has been trying to unmask Lucha House Party for weeks.
- Dorado clotheslines Kanellis over the top rope and runs the ropes for a dive but Maria hops on the apron!
- Whilst distracted, Dorado doesn't see Kanellis who hits him for six with a straight right.
- Kanellis continues on top, whilst getting Maria to ask Dorado if the pain hurts... what a douche.
- Mike grounds Dorado with submissions as the Lucha Party try and hype the crowd for a comeback.
- Hurricanrana for 2 by Lince Dorado!
- BIG superkick from Kanellis!
- Super rana off the top rope by Dorado!
- Spinebuster for 2 by Kanellis!
- SPRINGBOARD STUNNER!
- Shooting star press! Kanellis gets his leg on the rope!
- The Lucha Party try to cheerlead but Dorado hand waves them.
- Kanellis pushes both Metalik and Dorado to the ground!
- Hurricanrana off the apron onto the floor by Dorado!
- Dorado throws Kanellis into the ring, then looks behind him to check on his stable.
- Kanellis pings the top rope into the eyes of Dorado.
- CROSS RHODES!
- KANELLIS WINS!
- Mike and Maria kiss and smirk on the ramp, basking in their victory whilst the Luchas console Dorado in the ring.
- For the first half of this match, I felt that this was pretty standard stuff and was worried about Kanellis in this division, but the closing half was excellent in my opinion. Kanellis can hang with this roster, Maria is a huge part of his act and it's something new for the brand. The losing streak for the Luchas continues, have we seen the first signs of Dorado becoming tired of the trio?
DRAKE MAVERICK SPEAKS
He thanks the WWE Universe for being with them for 100 shows and says that tonight's show exemplifies what this brand was supposed to be about - the best cruiserweight wrestling in the world. Take our main event tonight, for example!
Next week, we hit the ground running on the road to another 100 episodes. New WWE Cruiserweight champion Buddy Murphy is in need of a #1 contender. so there will be a match to see who will receive the next opportunity at the title.
- Drake is really great in this role. He is the perfect ambassador for the brand, he genuinely believes what he is saying and hands down he is spot on when he says these past few months have shown what this show was always meant to be. It is unmissable these days!
BRIAN KENDRICK SPEAKS
Drew Gulak - did you really think it was going to be that easy to get rid of me? Better wrestlers than you have tried in the past - and I'm still here. And Jack, what was it you said? That I needed to show no mercy? Well next week, that is what you shall receive! Brian Kendrick faces Jack Gallagher next week!
A short and simple promo from Kendrick here which hypes next week's match and was delivered with intensity.
LIO RUSH SPEAKS
We get a recap of last week's excellent main event where Tony Nese ended up winning a fatal five way after rolling up Cedric Alexander who had just hit Lio Rush with his lumbar check finisher.
Lio says that we need to get one thing straight. Multi man matches are won by luck and he doesn't want to hear that he lost last week because he wasn't pinned. The records clearly show that in one on one competition, the man of the hour Lio Rush is still undefeated!
- Even in defeat, Lio finds a way to spin it into a success. What a man.
BUDDY MURPHY & TONY NESE SPEAK
The pair are asked... what is your reaction to hearing the news that Drake Maverick will be making a number 1 contenders match for next week?
Murphy responds that Drake has the chance to show what type of GM he will be - if he has any integrity, that match will include my man, Tony Nese.
Tony says he will beat whoever Drake has lined up for him because with either him or Buddy as champion, the title picture starts and ends with them. Buddy Murphy kind of rolls his eyes to the interviewer and they leave.
- I am enjoying this training partner respect between the two, but as Percy Watson questions on commentary - how long will this last until a championship match gets between them?
MUSTAFA ALI v HIDEO ITAMI (FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE)
- 'I'm gonna show you respect right now' says Ali.
- Tie up! This is always a bit of a trigger for some where a lock up starts a big feud blow off match and for me I see it as a little jarring too. However, the sentence Ali says makes sense to start with a tie up.
- Back fist and a punt out of the ring endured by Ali. RESPECT ME demands Itami.
- Head scissors to the outside by Ali, followed by a crossbody down to the floor for 1!
- Itami has his head slammed into the ring steps.
- Ali attempts to springboard to the top rope but gets his legs kicked from under him. He falls to the floor smashing his face on the apron!
- STIFF kick to the ribs by Itami!
- Itami slows the pace with strikes and submissions.
- Superkick to the jaw and then the back of the head by Ali!! Both are down!
- Roll through facebuster by Ali for 2!
- Itami swipes the legs of Itami who is on the ring barrier. He takes a nasty fall there!
- Ali hits a springboard clothesline off the barrier!
- Itami gets thrown over the commentary table!
- Ali tries for a powerbomb through the table but it gets reversed and Itami lays in a single leg crab with his foot on the back of Ali's neck!
- Big boot from Itami sends Ali off the table and into the side of a commentary chair sending their notes of paper flying! That looked cool - but painful!
- Hideo tosses Ali into the crowd but eats a superkick for 2!
- Lariat sends Ali inside out on the ramp!
- CROSSBODY OFF THE TOP ROPE TO THE OUTSIDE ONTO ITAMI WHO WAS STOOD ON THE STEPS! Hideo kicks out.
- Hideo struggles to move the ring steps into the middle of the outside of the ring, but manages it (I like this as it makes you realise how bloody strong the others are).
- Itami attempts to kill Ali by smashing him between the two parts of the steps but Ali moves out of the way.
- Ali uses the angled ring step to pull off a tornado DDT!!!
- Ali sets Itami on the table outside the ring and climbs the top rope
- 'I always respected you'
- 450 SPLASH OFF THE TOP ROPE THROUGH THE TABLE ON THE OUTSIDE!
- ALI WINS!
- That match was great. Not at the level of the Murphy v Ali NO DQ match, but still very good. A quiet crowd hurt the overall match here, a better atmosphere would have amped this up. The finish was unbelievable and I liked the touch of 'I always respected you' before Ali got his redemption - and now he has surely earned Itami's respect.
DRAKE MAVERICK INTERVIEW
Drake requested an interview after the main event and he gets one. After watching that match, it is clear the match for next week has to Mustafa Ali against Tony Nese for the right to be the #1 contender for the WWE Cruiserweight championship. SICK!
This was another great show from 205 Live. The fact people don't seem to be catching on and watching it is on them, this show couldn't do any more for the target audience in order to get them watching. It is unfortunate that after a few weeks where the crowd has been hot for these shows that this was a return to the old largely disinterested quiet days, but in terms of production and in-ring quality, this was another home run.
Next week we get Gallagher v Kendrick and the HUGE #1 contenders match between Ali and Nese. That promises to be a great bout and offers plenty of intrigue in terms of story. Will Murphy get involved? Will the training partner agreement last? Here's to next week!
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