After defeating Danny Burch last week, Tehuti Miles will face off with Burch’s tag team partner on 205 Live tonight.
WWE has announced that Miles vs. Oney Lorcan will air on tonight’s 205 Live episode. Last week’s match against Burch was the first time Miles has gotten a win on WWE television.
Miles pinned Burch last week with a schoolboy while holding onto his tights.
Miles, who joined the WWE Performance Center in August 2019, has made appearances on NXT, Raw, and 205 Live in recent months. He’s a United States Army veteran, was on the University of Maryland Terrapins football team, and debuted on the Maryland independent wrestling scene before signing with WWE.
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Jack Gallagher is also set for tonight’s 205 Live. Scott defeated Tony Nese on NXT this week despite a distraction by Gallagher. Gallagher went after Scott after the match, but Scott rolled out of the ring.
Gallagher defeated Scott during the interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament last month after Nese attacked Scott during his entrance.
In addition to the two matches, an encore of El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Drake Maverick in the interim Cruiserweight title tournament finals from this week’s NXT will also be shown on 205 Live tonight. Fantasma defeated Maverick and became interim champion, but Maverick was offered an NXT contract by Triple H after the match.
Main Event returned with members of the Performance Center to make up the crowd, which made for a much better show. Bianca Belair and Ruby Riott had a fine opener as Belair remains undefeated since being called up to the main roster. Shelton Benjamin and Akira Tozawa worked beautifully together and had an excellent six-minute match in the main event.
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Bianca Belair defeated Ruby Riott (5:45)
This was a rematch for Belair and Riott, who faced off two weeks ago on Main Event. Belair is now 4-0 since joining the Raw roster and ought to be given some TV time as there is simply no doubt that she is ready. She dominated Riott here and has a varied moveset that makes her an exciting prospect.
At the finish, Riott grabbed a near fall and went up to the top rope, but Belair caught her and hit a modified Glam Slam on to the top turnbuckle. After news that emerged this weekend, that move may no longer be allowed.
Belair then hit the KOD for the win. This was good, but not quite as good as their last outing a couple of weeks back on Main Event. Belair is such a huge talent and should be rubbing shoulders with the top talent on Raw or SmackDown.
Shelton Benjamin defeated Akira Tozawa (6:06)
Jim Ross noted on Grilling JR with Conrad Thompson this week that Shelton Benjamin was the “finest pure athlete” that he ever signed when he was head of talent relations. For sure, watching him on Main Event over the last few months has been a pleasure.
Benjamin and Tozawa worked so well together here. Tozawa is fantastic at selling and, with Benjamin in tow, knows exactly when to speed up or slow down to build the tension. They went back and forth and produced such a wonderfully paced match here.
In the last minutes, Benjamin locked on the Angle Lock and it looked every bit that Tozawa would tap. Instead, he rolled through and snatched a near fall before super kicking Benjamin. He climbed up top, selling his ankle so that Benjamin had time to get to his feet.
Benjamin climbed up and launched Tozawa off the top rope with a belly-to-belly suplex and then finished him with his old finisher, the Paydirt.
Final Thoughts —
A good show, but there’s an argument that all four of these performers should be being used more. Admittedly, Belair probably has plenty of time to get to where she needs to be. Benjamin, however, is being cruelly underused at this stage in his career – he has so much more to give.
On the latest edition of his podcast, Jerry Lawler addressed his recent “Ramen noodle moonsault” comment while doing commentary on WWE Raw.
On the April 13th edition of the show, Lawler was calling an Akira Tozawa-Austin Theory match with Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton when he referred to a Tozawa senton as a “Ramen noodle moonsault“. The comment was later edited out of the Hulu edition of the show.
At the 53 minute mark, Lawler asked his co-host if he could address the elephant in the room about the comment and why being racist was “the furthest thing from his mind.”
He said he was doing commentary in 2016 with Mauro Ranallo and given Ranallo’s history with Japanese wrestling, he heard him call a move something that he figured was made up because he had never heard of it before. He said he later made up some names of what he thought would be funny moves to go back at Ranallo at when he called a move.
“I would say something like, “There’s the Ramen Noodle moonsault” and he would say, “Oh, King! You know there’s no such thing!” and we would just go on. I was doing it just to play devil’s advocate with Mauro. If I were still doing commentary with Michael Cole or JR, we had the chemistry to where each one of those guys would have known that I was almost making a fool out of myself by claiming like I was acting like I knew what this unbelievable looking move was.
“Then either Cole or JR would have said ‘”Oh, King! You know better than that!” With Byron and Tom, we don’t have that chemistry yet. We have only been working together for a short time so when I said that, they didn’t even acknowledge it so it kind of went out and they just kept talking and I kept talking. I didn’t think anything about it either.”
Lawler and his co-host then intimated that the intent was that the joke was supposed to be on him for being behind the times.
“That’s where me, Bobby Heenan, Jesse Ventura…all of the heel commentators do that sort of stuff and the joke is on yourself that the people out there say, “Look at that idiot. He doesn’t even know what he’s talking about and he thinks he does.’ That’s where the joke was.”
Lawler did not apologize for the comment and remains on the commentary team for Raw.
This was a a fun show all around this week. It began with Shelton Benjamin submitting Curt Hawkins, as he continues to experiment with a new, devastating submission hold. Akira Tozawa then beat Eric Young in a strong outing in what was their first ever match together.
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Shelton Benjamin defeated Curt Hawkins (w/ Zack Ryder) (4:35)
Benjamin debuted a new cross armbar type submission hold last week in defeating No Way Jose. Byron Saxton and Mickie James don’t know what to call it yet, but it’s clear that with it, Benjamin is looking like a much more fearful entity.
There was a point when Hawkins was on this show almost every week during his 0-269 losing streak. Although it’s been a while, it was good to see him again here. He and Zack Ryder always go down well with a live crowd and there was a fun energy to this match.
They did a spot where Ryder tried to distract Benjamin on the outside, but he was wise to it and ignored him, rolling back in to subsequently post Hawkins. They gave Hawkins hope with a series of clotheslines, but it all came down to the submission spot.
For the submission, Benjamin had Hawkins facedown this week vs. last week where Jose tapped on his back. Hawkins played the pain up way better here, teasing that he might make it to the ropes before having no choice but to tap.
This match was good and exactly what it should have been. Performers with this kind of in-ring experience always make this show easy and fun to watch.
Akira Tozawa defeated Eric Young (6:17)
This was Tozawa and Young’s first match together on WWE television which made it all the more impressive. They worked really well together, told a good story, and did some fairly intricate stuff that would have fallen flat in less experienced hands.
In one spot, Tozawa teased a dive, but Young had it scouted, so Tozawa jumped the top rope and went for a running punt kick. Young ducked under and swept Tozawa’s legs, forcing him to land on the apron. Young then followed it up with a swinging neckbreaker to the mat. They also did a seriously complicated exchange before the finish that ended with Tozawa launching himself like a lawn dart at Young on the outside. The crowd really appreciated the work throughout here.
Young did a beautiful top rope elbow drop and Tozawa tried an octopus submission hold, but it all ended when Tozawa threw Young off the top rope and landed a senton bomb for the win.
Final Thoughts:
For any casual fan, this is a really easy show to watch right now. Two fun matches were sandwiched between the best bits from Raw and SmackDown from this week (Cena’s return, Goldberg and Reigns, plus Orton and Beth Phoenix) as well as some fantastic WrestleMania and Elimination Chamber video packages.
In 51 minutes, there’s not much to hate about Main Event.
The Big Takeaway: Four men, who through no fault of their own will struggle to get anywhere near WWE’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view, had two decent matches. Cedric Alexander saw off Eric Young in a back-and-forth opener and Shelton Benjamin did likewise against Akira Tozawa at the end of the show.
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Cedric Alexander defeated Eric Young (5:29)
Well, if either of these men was to enter the Royal Rumble this weekend, it would be their first Rumble outing, but as things stand that may be unlikely.
Apart from the odd Raw appearance Young’s last six months has almost entirely been here on Main Event. Similarly, Alexander has found himself at the back of a shuffled deck, last notching up a win back in November that was also against Young.
After a good back-and-forth match, they traded near falls in the last few moments. Eventually,Young got Alexander up into a fireman’s carry position, but he fought out and hit the Neuralyzer kick on Young for the win.
Shelton Benjamin defeated Akira Tozawa (6:53)
If Shelton Benjamin were to be given a Royal Rumble entrance next week, it would take him to 10 career Rumble appearances.
Tozawa has been used as enhancement talent on Raw of late, losing to the likes of Drew McIntyre, Aleister Black, and AJ Styles. He also lost to Santa Claus on the Christmas edition of Raw, so maybe 2020 will bring better things.
In a similar vein to the opener, they went back and forth here. At the finish, Benjamin pulled Tozawa off the top turnbuckle with an arm drag and then connected with a step-up enzuigiri, followed by Paydirt for the win.
Benjamin doesn’t pick up too many wins these days and seems a little rudderless since he stopped tagging with Chad Gable. He’s a guy they could be doing a lot more with, but the same is true for many of the talent who work Main Event each week.
Two title matches and the brands fallout from TakeOver: WarGames and Survivor Series are set for tonight’s NXT.
NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish will defend their titles against Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic. The match comes after Team Ciampa (Tommaso Ciampa, Lee, Dijakovic & Kevin Owens) defeated The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, O’Reilly & Fish) in Saturday’s WarGames main event.
Lio Rush retained his Cruiserweight Championship in a triple threat match against SmackDown’s Kalisto and Raw’s Akira Tozawa on the Survivor Series pre-show. Tozawa wasn’t pinned in that match, and he’ll challenge for Rush’s title tonight.
Rush’s win was one of NXT’s four brand vs. brand vs. brand victories at Survivor Series. NXT won the night, with Shayna Baszler also defeating Bayley and Becky Lynch, Strong defeating Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles, and Team NXT winning the women’s elimination tag match.
Rhea Ripley got the win for her team both at WarGames and Survivor Series. Dakota Kai turned heel and attacked Tegan Nox during the WarGames match, and WWE is teasing whether or not Kai will explain her actions tonight.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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On the eve of American Thanksgiving let us be thankful for another night of live pro wrestling.
The show opened with hip hop artist Josiah Williams leading a slew of the NXT roster to the ring with a live rap song. The crowd got involved with call and response as video highlights from TakeOver: War Games were mixed in with the live performance at Full Sail.
Undisputed Era interrupted the concert to scold and malign everyone celebrating. They were not responsible for success, the credit instead goes to Undisputed Era according to NXT Champion Adam Cole. Those celebrating were claiming “we are NXT”, when Cole claimed Undisputed Era is the reason for NXT’s success.
Tommaso Ciampa stopped Cole’s speech. Ciampa was flanked by Keith Lee, Matt Riddle and Dominik Dijakovic. Ciampa cut a promo where he announced that Lee & Dijakovic would be challenging Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Ciampa then addressed to the NXT Championship as he called it by his pet name.
“Goldie, I told you that you had to wait because daddy was going to war,” Ciampa said. “Well, war’s over, and daddy won.”
Ciampa went on to say no one in Undisputed Era is standing in his way. Ciampa continued issuing a warning to Cole before Finn Balor entered the scene. Balor walked past Undisputed Era and said to Ciampa, “It looks like I’m standing in your way.”
Ciampa then challenged Balor to a match tonight, and Balor accepted the challenge. The match is apparently on for later tonight.
Keith Lee then gave Ciampa a vote of confidence before ordering Fish & O’Reilly into the ring for their match because it was “basking season” on NXT.
Cut to a shot of the announcers where Beth Phoenix welcomed viewers to the show. She announced that Mauro Ranallo was not there, but they were looking forward to seeing him next week . He was replaced on commentary by Tom Phillips to join Phoenix alongside Nigel McGuninness.
Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly) defeated Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic to retain their titles
Strong as a replacement pinned Dijakovic to retain the titles. Bobby Fish started the match, but he was soon replaced by Strong.
Lee press slammed Fish over the ropes outside of the ring on to O’Reilly before a commercial break. Roderick Strong during the break replaced Fish. Strong was wearing street clothes such as jeans and shoes.
Fish was taken out of the match for “medical reasons”, and Strong was allowed to replace him because of the Freebird rule. That was the explanation for Fish leaving the match. Nigel on coommentary speculated on a possible knee injury.
The match continued while they figured everything out. Before long Dijakovic was suplexing Lee on top of Strong & O’Reilly. Strong a moment later targeted Dijakovic’s knee.
Strong was working the knee was the show went to another commercial break. This time no split screen. The show returned from break with Undisputed Era still working the leg.
Lee eventually cleaned house after a hot tag. He smashed O’Reilly & Strong with splashes and strikes. They tried to double-team him, but Lee tossed them over his shoulder. Lee teased a dive, and Strong clipped his leg. O’Reilly then delivered a flying knee off the apron.
Lee was weakened, but he soon tagged out. Dijakovic ran wild. He went for a chokeslam, but O’Reilly caught him in a triangle. Dijakovic powered out with a deadlift powerbomb while also grabbing Strong for a chokeslam at the same time. This popped the crowd and led to a close near fall.
Dijakovic went for his finisher, but O’Reilly escaped. Lee was again chop blocked at ringside, and Dijakovic made a save with a flip dive to the outside. Dijakovic with a double chokeslam in the ring as Cole tried to run-in. Lee met him with a pounce that sent Cole flying into planted fans sitting at ringside.
Dijakovic was distracted by the run-in, and he fell victim to the high low. Strong covered him to score the pinfall.
Cathy Kelley interviewed Candice LeRae about the actions of Dakota Kai. LeRae was upset that Kai turned on Tegan Nox — who is like a sister to LeRae. So LeRae issued a warning to Kai ahead of their match later on.
Mansoor defeated Shane Thorne
Mansoor pinned Thorne after a slingshot neckbreaker in the finish of a short match.
Mansoor with the shine early on, but Thorne caught him on an attempted tope. Thorne then suplexed Mansoor on the floor.
Thorne worked over Mansoor, and he also dashed some a hope spot. Mansoor still made a comeback as he this time connected with the tope. Mansoor followed with a slingshot neckbreaker to score the pinfall.
Candice LeRae defeated Dakota Kai via disqualification
Kai hit LeRae with a knee brace for the DQ. Kai before the match had carried Nox’s knee brace with her to ring like a trophy.
LeRae started strong in the match and she flew through the ropes with a tope. LeRae with a step-up senton for a two count.
Kai cut off LeRae and posted her. Kai was waylaying LeRae with kicks to the face as the show cut to commercial. Kai missed a charge after the break, and LeRae started a comeback.
As LeRae was firing up, Kai cuaght her with a sit-out powerbomb for two. LeRae went to suplex Kai on the apron, and they both crashed to the floor for a bad landing. There was another awkard spot when LeRae leapt off the top for a tornado DDT.
A double down led into them teasing a sunset bomb. Kai went to use Nox’s knee brace, but for some reason she was unable to do so. LeRae just powerbombed her instead for a near fall.
LeRae missed a springboard quebrada, and Kai hit her finisher. LeRae still kicked out at two and a half. LeRae moments later executed La Mistica and turned that into the Gargano Escape.
Kai rolled out of the ring where she retrieved the knee brace she brought to the ring. LeRae was going for a tope when Kai hit her with the brace for the DQ.
Kai continued to attack LeRae after the match. She sent her smashing into the ring steps and the barricade. Kai grabbed a chair and looked to use it when Rhea Ripley ran down to make a save.
Tommaso Ciampa — during a backstage interview with Cathy Kelley — cut a promo on Finn Balor.
A great vignette hyped Cameron Grimes.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush defeated Akira Tozawa to retain his title
Rush pinned Tozawa after two frog splashes in a hard-hitting match.
There was some fast paced exchanges to a stalemate at the start. They continued to grapple until Tozawa struck with a senton on the apron before a commercial break.
Rush somehow recovered, and he was back in control after the break. Not for long as Tozawa answered back with a somersault senton off the apron. Tozawa followed with a missile dropkick for a near fall.
There was some cool video game reversals, which led to a double down where they both kicked each other. The fight spilled onto the apron.
Tozawa gave Rush a German suplex to the floor. They teased a double count-out, but both leapt back in the ring to break the count.
There may have been a mishap when Tozawa ate a kick. His mouth guard fell out of his mouth, his knees buckled and he briefly went down to the mat. Rush went for a his springboard cutter, but no one was home. The referee checked on Tozawa, but let the match go.
Tozawa fired up for get a two count with bridging German suplex. Rush got his knees up on an attempted senton by Tozawa.
Rush executed two frog splashes before covering Tozawa for the pinfall.
Finn Balor cut a promo on Ciampa during a backstage interview with Cathy Kelley.
Xia Lee defeated Vanessa Borne
Lee pinned Borne in short match that was the backdrop for a larger story. The backstory heading into the match was Borne wanted revenege for a kayfabe injury suffered by her tag partner Aliyah at the hands of Lee.
The match was just getting underway when NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler and the Horsewomen walked on stage. Lee landed a spin kick and pinned Borne.
Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir rushed into the ring to attack Lee. She was fighting with off when Baszler struck. Lee was simply outnumbered. The Horsewomen held Lee so Baszler could deliver a kick.
Baszler then cut a promo saying everybody was taking credit for NXT’s success over the weekend, but no one had a better weekend than her. Baszler put over how she defeated both Smackdown Champion Bayley and Raw Champion Backy Lynch in the same match.
The crowd heckled Baszler with chants for Rhea Ripley. Interrupting Baszler’s speech, Ripley then made her way to the ring. Baszler and the Horsewomen powdered.
Ripley said she had something to tell Baszler face-to-face, so Baszler went back to the ring to confront Ripley.
Ripley congratulated Baszler, but reminded Baszler that Ripley beat her. Next time she beat her, Ripley vowed the match would be for the title.
Baszler answered back saying she will tap and nap like the rest of them. Ripley asked, “Then why don’t you do it now?”
Baszler walked away as Ripley said of Baszler stepped into the ring that Ripley would drop her.
Announced for next week on NXT is Damian Priest vs. Killian Dain.
Finn Balor defeated Tommaso Ciampa
Balor pinned Ciampa after interference by Adam Cole.
This was billed as the first match between the two. The match was back-and-forth during much of the early portion. That is until Ciampa catapulted Balor into a ring post before a commercial break. The split screen was also back for the main event.
Balor cut off Ciampa during the break, and Ciampa made a comeback when the commercials were done. Balor crashed into the barricade when Ciampa knocked him off the apron with a knee strike. Another knee strike by Ciampa netted him a near fall.
Balor answered back with a sling blade. He sent Ciampa out of the ring, a shotgun dropkick also sent Ciampa into the barricade.
Ciampa delivered an Air Raid Crash on the floor. Balor teased getting counted out, but he made it back into the ring. Project Ciampa led to a near fall, but Balor kicked out at the last second.
Balor with a double stomp and a shotgun dropkick set up Balor climbing the turnbuckles. Ciampa thwarted him to deliver an avalanche Air Raid Crash. Balor still managed to kick out.
Cole ran in to cause a distraction, and Balor with a schoolboy got two. Cole had dropped his championship belt into the ring when he had jumped on the apron. Balor went to use it — but to no avail as Ciampa countered with a roll-up.
Balor executed a reverse DDT on the belt, but was not DQ’d because the belt being in the ring was apparently ruled accidental. Ciampa kicked out on a cover.
Cole then interfered as he hit Ciampa with a kick, and Balor hooked him to deliver the 1916. Balor covered Ciampa for the pin as Cole looked on with a smirk.
Posing over a prone Ciampa after the match, Cole clutched his championship and flashed the Undisputed Era hand sign. Balor displayed the finger guns as Cole went to pat him on the back. Balor suddenly dropped Cole with a Pele kick out of nowhere. Balor stood alone as the show faded to black.
Two title matches have been made official for this week’s post-Survivor Series edition of NXT.
WWE has announced that NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) will defend their titles against Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic on tomorrow’s show. Akira Tozawa will also challenge for Lio Rush’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship tomorrow night.
Team Ciampa (Tommaso Ciampa, Lee, Dijakovic & Kevin Owens) defeated The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, O’Reilly & Fish) in the men’s WarGames match at NXT TakeOver on Saturday. Lee and Ciampa also represented NXT in the men’s elimination tag match at Survivor Series, with Roman Reigns last eliminating Lee to get the win for Team SmackDown.
Rush retained his Cruiserweight title in a triple threat match against SmackDown’s Kalisto and Raw’s Tozawa on the Survivor Series pre-show. He pinned Kalisto to win the match.
Rush’s win was one of the four brand vs. brand vs. brand matches that NXT won at Survivor Series. They won the night at the PPV, with SmackDown getting victories in two matches and Raw winning one.
The Cruiserweight Championship will be on the line on tonight’s Survivor Series pre-show.
Ahead of tonight’s pay-per-view, WWE announced that NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush will defend his title against wrestlers from Raw and SmackDown in a triple threat match on the pre-show. It will be Rush vs. Raw’s Akira Tozawa vs. SmackDown’s Kalisto.
Tozawa and Kalisto were both on the 205 Live roster prior to last month’s WWE Draft.
Rush has recently been feuding with Angel Garza. Rush retained his title against Garza on NXT two weeks ago, but Garza had his foot on the rope while he was being pinned. Garza also taunted Rush’s wife during that match.
Garza defeated Isaiah “Swerve” Scott on last night’s NXT TakeOver: WarGames pre-show. WWE posted video of an angle after the match where Rush attacked Garza as he was heading backstage.
The pre-show will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern time, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. Eastern. Shawn Michaels will also appear on the pre-show and reveal NXT’s team for tonight’s men’s triple threat elimination tag match.
Live from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA, it’s EVOLVE’s 10th anniversary show live on WWE Network.
An EVOLVE history package airs with Cesaro, Tony Nese, Ricochet, and Daniel Bryan talking about their pasts. Bryan says that he came up with the name to show how the industry has evolved, while Drew McIntyre credits it for crafting him into who he is today.
Lenny Leonard talks mid-ring about the roster in the ring right now being the future and Josh Briggs grabs the mic and says he’s taking his opportunity. He wants to start things off with Anthony Greene, who gets some great heat with Brandi Lauren and her bedazzled fanny pack.
Josh Briggs pinned Anthony Greene
Josh misses a shoulder charge, but lands a modified backbreaker out of the corner. Greene lands a running rana before eating a backbreaker throw for 2. Brandi grabs the foot and Greene kicks the rope into Josh’s crotch to get an edge. Greene goes for a tope, but gets caught and chokeslammed on the apron. Greene winds up sending Briggs onto the apron several times and clubs the chest. Greene gets 2 off a nice crossbody. Leonard talks about Greene spending four years from his first tryout to get his contract with the company. Greene stomps away at the leg in the corner before Brandi cheapshots him.
Brandi is outraged at the “Retro sucks” chant, which seems to fire up Briggs for an X plex. Briggs avoids a lariat and lands his own Taker-esque flying lariat with a flip. He charges into a superkick, but winds up trapping him in the corner for a yakuza kick. Briggs lands a series of backbreakers, including an X plex variant for 2. Briggs spins out of a half crab and boots him. Shoulder-mounted Michinoku driver hits and gets 2 for Briggs. Briggs gets slammed hard and locked in a half crab until he gets to the rope.
Greene misses a 450 and gets thrown into the corner, but lands an enziguri and schoolboys him into the buckle. Briggs wants a super iconoclasm, but Brandi grabs the foot and gets ejected. Greene gets a super victory roll after they just wait up top forever, but it only gets 2. Superkick series hits Briggs, but Briggs comes back with Go to Hell and an M6 powerbomb to win it. Lenny Leonard talks about the history of The Unwanted, with Eddie Kingston cutting an intense promo about years of getting paid in hot dogs, that they’re not going to let AR Fox and his buddy beat them on the Network.
Stephen Wolf won a four-way freestyle match over Sean Maluta, Curt Stallion and Harlem Brovado
Stallion eats a buzzsaw kick from Maluta after a quick failed double team. Wolf lands a slick springboard crossbody before Bravado sends him down. Wolf overshoots on a dive and lands on his feet, and thankfully doesn’t seem to blow his knees out. Stallion lands a Fosbury flop on the pile. Stallion lands a deadlift German on Maluta for 2. Bravado lands a combo DDT/flatliner for 2. Maluta eats a jawbreaker before a double-down off of each man wanting a crossbody and meeting in the middle. Stallion and Wolf seemingly hit stereo kicks in the corner, but the camera misses Wolf. Stereo covers get a 2 count.
A Stallion/Wolf chant breaks out, so they elbow and forearm each other. Wolf gets a rolling elbow, but Brovado yakuza kicks him. Wolf lands a 619 feint into a nice lariat on Maluta. Bravado lands a pop-up death valley driver on Wolf for 2. Maluta lands a Magnum codebreaker onto Stallion. Nasty standing blue thunder bomb hits for Wolf, but Bravado prevents him from going off the top. Wolf lands a shooting star press on Brovado after Brovado hits the Angels Wings and wins it in 10 minutes. Anthony Henry gets a highlight video showing off his MMA training and talking about all of his experience.
Arturo Ruas pinned Anthony Henry
Lenny talks about Henry winning in MMA by both an armbar and a triangle. Henry goes for an armbar, but Ruas slips out. Henry wants another armbar, but eats a Rampage bomb before eating some quick punches for 2. Ruas lands a series of kicks in the corner and wants a delayed German, but it gets turned into a victory roll and a double stomp. Henry goes for muay thai knees, but Ruas avoids them, but can’t avoid a backdrop driver. Henry wants another armbar, but gets stacked up for 2.
Ruas rolls out and eats a flying knee off the apron. Henry wants a double stomp off the top, but rolls through it and eats a series of knees and a sliding kick for 2. Henry gets an RNC, but gets tossed into the corner before letting go to kick the leg out. Ruas lands a snap German for 2. Henry lands a Jon Jones-style kick to the knee and then buzzsaw kicks him down.
Henry goes up top, but Ruas tries to take him down only to eat a mushroom stomp to the back. Henry sends him down and lands a double stomp off the top for 2 before getting an ankle lock. Ruas gets a kneebar before they just slap the tar out of each other. They go at it with wild strikes for a while before Ruas lands a high kick for a flash knockout and a pin at around 13 minutes.
Lenny Leonard talks about the issues between Shotzi Blackheart and Brandi Lauren before we get a recap video of their brawl at EVOLVE 128. Both of them have been in Impact before, with Shotzi coming off like a star thanks to her unique appearance with green hair, while Brandi worked as Ava Storie there briefly and looked good.
Brandi Lauren pinned Shotzi Blackheart
Natalia Markova jumps Shotzi at the bell before landing a spinning X factor. Markova lands a corner spin kick before Shotzi chops away at her and lands a 619 alongside a missile dropkick. Markova tries to run, but Brandi tries to throw her back in before they eat a dive. Shotzi comes up bloody after this. Brandi goes to hit her with a chair before Shotzi ends that, but Shotzi eats a baseball slide dropkick into the chair to an “ECW” chant.
Brandi sets up a chair bridge and posts Shotzi. Shotzi recovers and sends Brandi through a chair on the floor. Shotzi goes for a rana off the apron before eating an apron bomb that gets 2. Shotzi lands a corner knee and mid-ring knee before a rolling elbow and an enziguri sends Brandi into the buckle. A cannonball sends Brandi to the floor. Shotzi goes for a sliced bread off the apron, but Brandi blocks it. Shotzi sends her into a chair. Greene comes to save Brandi and she goes to dive on him, but misses and goes through the chair bridge.
Greene throws Shotzi into the ring for 2. Greene hands Brnadi a kendo stick before Curt Stallion comes down to send Grene to the back. A series of kendo stick shots end it and Brandi Lauren wins it at the 13 minute mark. So she gets the win, but it took two others to win it – and Shotzi leaves with a “Shotzi” chant. Colby Corino walks down with Sean Maluta, while Babatunde gets his own chant and Lenny talks about him facing off with Strowman at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
Babatunde pinned Colby Corino (w/Sean Maluta)
Colby slaps him and then gets a chant alerting him that he may have made a large mistake. Babatunde tosses him around as Colby plays the role of his dad in his enhancement match against Balls Mahoney on ECW PPV in ’98. Babatunde tosses Colby on the apron and then chops his chest from the floor – now that’s impressive. Colby hits a sliding knee and a swanton for 2. Colby goes for a splash, but eats a choke bomb into the corner. Corner avalanche leads to a big running elbow and a charging frog splash for the win.
AR Fox and Leon Ruff defeated Eddie Kingston and Joe Gacy to win the EVOLVE tag team titles
Eddie Kingston comes down and asks Colby if he’s okay as he struggles to breathe. Eddie puts over his boys and says he’s the Unwanted King and they’re the EVOLVE tag champs. Eddie says that they’re gonna take out Babatunde and do to him what they did to the Street Profits. AR Fox and Leon Ruff come down and brawl to start off the match. Fox hits a springboard flip dive into the guys on the floor and bonks his head on the barricade.
Fox and Ruff land a billion things in a row to Gacy before a German gets 2. Fox accidentally hits a springboard cutter to Ruff before eating a Lethal Injection from Gacy. The Unwanted land a front and back elbow for 2. Kingston hits a super powerslam for 2. Kingston lands a nasty chop to the chest before superplexing Ruff into a Gacy powerbomb for 2! Fox lands Lo Mein Pain for 2! Gacy lands a big lariat for 2. Gacy grabs a table, but Ruff lands a Ruff Ride onto Gacy before Fox landa a 450 on Kingston to win. This was a crazy 10 minute sprint, but it was a lot of fun. The faces and their entourage dance after the win.
A Drew Gulak EVOLVE history video airs showcasing what Catch Point was in the company and then Riddle talks about his philosophy about the group. Matt Riddle is shown accepting Drew’s open challenge and then they tell the story about Gulak’s own words biting him with Riddle now being a rival. Riddle comes out as the King of Bros, which is a pleasant mild surprise and has Curt Stallion with him. Riddle fist bumps everyone and just comes off as the coolest dude ever. A slew of guys in Catch Point gear and tracksuits run down and Gulak comes off as a real star with his own squad to come through.
Matt Riddle pinned Drew Gulak
Gulak and Riddle exchange some quick matwork. Riddle shoves him into the corner before a clean break. Riddle gets a hammerlock, but Gulak tries to turn it into the Goluck, but Riddle evades. Riddle backs him into a corner for some kicks to the stomach and then a flying knee before a broton gets 2. Riddle wants a Bromission, but Gulak cradles him for 2. Gulak gets a cravat and he demands that the ref ask him if he wants to quit. Gulak chops the back and gets a headscissors that Riddle handstands out of.
Gulak avoids the penalty kick that Riddle throws. Drew catches the foot and gets a powerbomb and stacks him for 2 before locking on a half crab. Riddle lands a V trigger for 2. Gulak sets him up and gets 2 off a belly to back superplex. Drew goes for a single leg before eating a series of kicks to the back and then a PK lands for 2. Riddle gets the Gulock on Gulak before he escapes that, but then eats a triangle before getting to the rope to escape. Gods Last Gift hits and gets 2 for Riddle.
Riddle lands a deadlift German off the apron to a “zowie wowie!” chant. Riddle goes off the top, but lands right in the Gulock! Riddle escapes and lands the Bro Derek tombstone slam to win in about 15 minutes.
Drew grabs the mic and says that Catch Point was founded on teamwork, opportunity, and respect and he stands here as the WWE Cruiserweight Champion in the middle of an EVOLVE ring, and he respects Riddle. They hug and display the Catch Point pose and Gulak tells Stallion that he hopes he’s up for the test.
A JD Drake vs. Austin Theory video package airs. JD Drake says that he looks like he should be driving the ring truck instead of being the WWN Champion. Austin Theory says that he’ll take JD Drake’s title and go onto Takeover before then main eventing WrestleMania. Drake says he’s lost a marriage and nearly lost his kids over the business. He’s a struggling man who battled addiction, depression, and suicide and he fights for them. Bryan Idol comes down and says nothing to a chant letting him know that the fans would like him to remain quiet. He coughs while the fans chant “Corbin” as the new boring chant.
The lights go out and Paul Heyman returns to the ECW Arena for the first time in 19 years! He gets a thank you chant and thanks the fans and says he’s back home. Heyman says that he doesn’t do conventions and he doesn’t do guest appearances. He wasn’t invited to be here- he asked to be here. Heyman yells back at a heckler and gets a chant to mess him up. Heyman says that he’s here to see the future because he doesn’t want to be the old guy who watches black and white film – he wants to watch the show and learn more about today than he ever has and he wants to announce the next match because in five years, people will say this was the match where the industry evolved. That alone puts over both men in this match in a big way. Heyman shakes the hand of the guys and says that they have pyro and even Raw doesn’t have pyro! Heyman gives them their introductions and JD Drake unveils the largest pair of trunks in human history hiked up higher than Nikolai Volkoff ever did.
Austin Theory defeated JD Drake to unify the EVOLVE and WWN titles
Theory jabs him and each man goes for their finish early, but avoid it and Theory lands a dropkick before Drake responds with one of his own that sends him outside. Drake goes for a tope before eating a forearm. They fight on the floor and Drake chops the tar out of him and turns his chest red three minutes in. Drake wants a piledriver on the ramp, but eats a backdrop. Drake chops him, but eats a PK in the rope. Theory gets 2 off a snap suplex. Drake fights out of the corner with more chops.
He tells Theory to hit him harder than life has, so Theory gives it a go and doesn’t succeed. Drake lands a desperation lariat. Rolling thunder dropkick by Theory lands and sends Drake into the corner. Drake pops him onto the apron from the floor and slugs him. JD lands a tope and a corner chop. A slam leads to a Vader bomb for 2. Drake goes up, but gets clubbed and then sends Theory down with a super leg lariat. Theory lands a blockbuster for 2.
Theory goes for Ataxia, but Drake just shoves him into the corner to nix that. He puts him up top and overhand chops him. Theory lands a spinning torture rack powerbomb for 2.9! Drake lands a stunner and Theory takes two stunner bumps! Cannonball and a Drillbit hit for 2.9! A Drake moonsault gets 2! They fight on their knees with Theory landing forearms and Drake landing overhand chops. Standing, they land more forearms and chops before Theory goes for Ataxia, that Drake flips out of and misses the moonsault before eating a trio of superkicks and Ataxia wins it to unify the WWN and EVOLVE Championships.
NXT Champion Adam Cole pinned Akira Tozawa to retain
Cole dominates him into the corner before cheering himself on and bowing. Tozawa grinds away with a long headlock before Cole escapes and shoulderblocks him down. Tozawa gets the Iron Octopus before Cole escapes that. Tozawa goes up, but gets tripped up. Cole snapmares him and knees the back a few times and grinds away with his own chinlock. They exchange a variety of forearm strikes and Tozawa gets the fireman’s carry facebuster.
Cole goes outside and eats a somersault senton off the apron. They go back and forth on German attempts before Cole lands a backstabber. Cole hits an ushigoroshi for 2. More forearm strikes land for each man before Tozawa wins that war and wants a shining wizard, but eats a yakuza kick. Both men land big boots and both go down. Cole goes for a superplex but gets shoves off. Tozawa dives off into a superkick and a brainbuster to the knee gets 2. Cole grabs the belt to hit Tozawa, but Johnny Gargano comes down and distracts Cole for a schoolboy and a 2 count. Tozawa misses one tornado kick, but lands a second. He wants the senton, but Cole gets the knees up and lands the Panama Sunrise and the Last Shot to end it.
Johnny stares a whole through Cole and wants a fight. Cole bails and says Johnny’s on his time and leaves to an ADAM COLE BAY-BAY! Johnny checks on Tozawa and asks for a round of applause for Tozawa. Johnny says that he’s been around EVOLVE for 10 years and beyond that telling him he’s getting old, wrestling in 2019 is pretty cool and it’s due to the fans. Johnny and Tozawa ask if the fans enjoyed the show, to a giant Yes! chant and one guy’s giant YOOOOWWWW, which Johnny was surprised by, so he asks for another and the fan obliges. Johnny says he loves the fans and EVOLVE. Tozawa takes a bow while Johnny slaps hands with the fans and autographs some signs.
Akira Tozawa and Drew Gulak will both be challenging for the Cruiserweight Championship at Stomping Grounds.
After last week’s number one contender’s match ended without a definitive winner, WWE announced on tonight’s 205 Live that Tony Nese will defend the Cruiserweight title against Tozawa and Gulak in a triple threat match at Stomping Grounds on Sunday.
Tozawa, Gulak, Humberto Carrillo, and Oney Lorcan faced off in a number one contender’s match on 205 Live last week. It ended with Gulak and Tozawa pinning each other at the same time, setting up the triple threat match for Stomping Grounds.
Gulak hit a superplex on Tozawa at the end of the number one contender’s match. They both went for a cradle on the mat and simultaneously pinned each other.
The Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington is hosting Stomping Grounds on Sunday. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:
Universal Champion Seth Rollins defending against Baron Corbin (special guest referee to be announced)
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston defending against Dolph Ziggler in a steel cage match
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defending against Lacey Evans
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley defending against Alexa Bliss
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
United States Champion Samoa Joe defending against Ricochet
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan & Rowan defending against Heavy Machinery (Tucker & Otis)
The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Tony Nese defending against Akira Tozawa and Drew Gulak in a triple threat match
WWE has confirmed three matches for Sunday’s WrestleMania 35 pre-show.
On last night’s SmackDown, it was announced that both the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal will be part of the pre-show. It was also announced on 205 Live that Buddy Murphy’s Cruiserweight Championship defense against Tony Nese will be on the pre-show.
The kickoff show for WrestleMania 34 last year also featured the battle royals and a Cruiserweight title match.
Sunday’s two-hour pre-show will begin on the WWE Network at 5 p.m. Eastern time. The second hour will also air on the USA Network starting at 6 p.m. Eastern.
Here are the entrants that have been announced for the battle royals:
The Cruiserweight Championship will be on the line on Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pre-show.
WWE confirmed today that Buddy Murphy’s Cruiserweight title defense against Akira Tozawa will air on the Elimination Chamber pre-show. Murphy vs. Tozawa was announced earlier this month after Tozawa defeated Cedric Alexander, Humberto Carrillo, and Lio Rush in a number one contender’s fatal four-way elimination match on 205 Live.
Murphy also defended his title on the Royal Rumble and TLC pre-shows. He defeated Mustafa Ali on the Survivor Series main card prior to that.
Here’s the card for Elimination Chamber:
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan defending against AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, Kofi Kingston, Samoa Joe, and Randy Orton in an Elimination Chamber match
Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. Nia Jax & Tamina vs. Peyton Royce & Billie Kay vs. Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan vs. Naomi & Carmella in an Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles
Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey defending against Ruby Riott
Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush defending against Finn Balor in a handicap match (Balor can win the title by pinning either Lashley or Rush)
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Shane McMahon & The Miz defending against The Usos
Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin in a no DQ match
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy defending against Akira Tozawa (pre-show)
The Cruiserweight Championship will be on the line at this month’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.
Akira Tozawa defeated Cedric Alexander, Humberto Carrillo, and Lio Rush in a number one contender’s fatal four-way elimination match in the main event of Tuesday’s episode of 205 Live. Tozawa will challenge for Buddy Murphy’s Cruiserweight Championship at Elimination Chamber.
Tozawa last eliminated Alexander to win the number one contender’s match. Murphy then cut a promo on the video screen where he said Tozawa was on his path to going on to WrestleMania and cementing his legacy as the greatest cruiserweight of all time.
Murphy retained the title against Hideo Itami, Kalisto, and Tozawa in a fatal four-way match on last month’s Royal Rumble pre-show.
Elimination Chamber is taking place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on February 17. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan defending against AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, Mustafa Ali, and Samoa Joe in an Elimination Chamber match
Nia Jax & Tamina vs. Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs. Peyton Royce & Billie Kay vs. Naomi & Carmella in an Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Shane McMahon & The Miz defending against The Usos
Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy defending against Akira Tozawa
WWE has confirmed two title matches for Sunday’s Royal Rumble pre-show.
On SmackDown’s go-home show for the PPV, it was announced that Rusev’s United States Championship defense against Shinsuke Nakamura will be airing on the Royal Rumble pre-show. Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy will also defend his title against Kalisto, Akira Tozawa, and Hideo Itami in a fatal four-way match on the pre-show.
Both matches had already been announced for the Royal Rumble before being confirmed for the kickoff show.
The two-hour pre-show will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. The panel for the first hour will be Jonathan Coachman, Beth Phoenix, Booker T, and Jerry Lawler, with Shawn Michaels and David Otunga replacing Booker T and Lawler in the second hour. There will also be another panel with JBL and Charly Caruso.
Sunday’s PPV is taking place at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Here’s the updated card:
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defending against Finn Balor
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan defending against AJ Styles
Men’s Royal Rumble match
Women’s Royal Rumble match
Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey defending against Sasha Banks
SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka defending against Becky Lynch
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus defending against The Miz & Shane McMahon
United States Champion Rusev defending against Shinsuke Nakamura (pre-show)
Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy defending against Kalisto, Akira Tozawa, and Hideo Itami in a fatal four-way match (pre-show)
On 205 Live’s go-home show for the Royal Rumble, all three of Buddy Murphy’s next challengers will be taking part in a triple threat match.
Kalisto vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Hideo Itami has been announced for next week’s episode of 205 Live. Those three wrestlers will be challenging for Murphy’s Cruiserweight Championship in a fatal four-way match at the Royal Rumble.
Kalisto, Tozawa, and Itami all won qualifying matches over the last couple of weeks to set up the title match for the pay-per-view. Kalisto defeated Lio Rush to qualify, Tozawa defeated Drew Gulak, and Itami defeated Cedric Alexander.
205 Live moved back to airing live on Tuesday’s after SmackDown this week. The show featured Murphy issuing a non-title open challenge, with Murphy defeating the debuting Humberto Carrillo. Carrillo was formerly known as Ultimo Ninja before signing with WWE. He had been wrestling in NXT before joining 205 Live.
Next Tuesday’s SmackDown and 205 Live are taking place at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
