Tag: ari sterling

WWE 205 Live results: Kushida vs. Ari Sterling

Posted on by Chick Fritts

205 Live aired this week following another batch of cuts from WWE, leaving 205 Live’s already thin roster even slimmer. Two of the individuals cut (Leon Ruff and Ari Sterling) were featured on tonight’s episode. 

Why this show even exists, I couldn’t tell you. In the past, it was a kind of purgatory pretending to be NXT’s extra half-hour, where people toiled indefinitely, working out the duration of their contract. Now that Titan has moved away from talent hoarding, this is just thirty minutes of random guys who might or might not be under 205 pounds without any semblance of purpose. 

Leon Ruff defeated Grayson Waller 

Leon Ruff’s release was revealed less than an hour before this match aired. 

In his last match, Ruff was dominated for most of its duration. In the end, he powered through and pulled off an unexpected win. 

Waller used his size to gain an early advantage. Waller took his time, dropping Ruff with move after move. After minutes of domination, Waller sent Ruff to the outside, where the command continued. 

Ruff connected with a dive as Waller argued with the referee, but Waller regained momentum moments later. Ruff fought free again, only for Waller to dodge a dive before Ruff could connect with anything significant. 

Waller connected with his cutter for a convincing near fall. He then lifted Ruff for the Argentine backbreaker, but Ruff reversed, connecting with a surprise crucifix driver. Waller failed to kick out of the pin that followed, leaving Ruff with a surprise victory.

Kushida defeated Ari Sterling

Ari Sterling’s release was also revealed less than an hour before this match aired. Sterling is a highly talented athlete who had yet to wet his feet in WWE. 

In his last match, Sterling put on an athletic showcase as he is so prone to do. The match opened with both men on equal footing. Sterling sent Kushida outside, but Kushida dodged the moon sauce. Kushida connected with a dropkick to the knee, opening the limb up for further attack. 

Sterling avoided further punishment by gaining control with knee strikes. A flipping leg drop allowed Sterling to take Kushida to the mat. Kushida escaped the body scissors by reapplying pressure to the injured knee. 

With both men on the top rope, Sterling connected with a rana. Sterling missed a double foot stomp allowing Kushida to dropkick the once more. Kushida maintained his control and locked in the hoverboard lock, forcing Sterling to tap. 

While his time in Titan was short, I’m sure Alex Zayne will make it. He’s too talented not to.

WWE 205 Live results: Ari Sterling vs. Grayson Waller

Posted on by Chick Fritts

205 Live continues its stint in the Capital Wrestling Center, a definite change of scenery for the worse compared to the shows beginning to tour. 

Guru Raaj defeated Asher Hale

This match was fun. Nothing here was more than decent, but it was still a fine way to open the show. 

Raaj gained momentum early, showing off to those in attendance in every spare moment. Raaj’s offensive streak ended soon, however. Hale was forced into the ropes where he laid in wait for Raaj, punishing him with a nasty neckbreaker for approaching. Hale threw Raaj into the chainlink barricade surrounding the CWC before dragging him back into the ring and controlling his neck with a brutal neck crank; the DDT that followed resulted in a near fall.

Raaj reversed the match’s momentum by ramming his shoulders into a prone Hale; a running knee from Hale ended Raaj’s seemingly short-lived rally. In complete control, Hale lifted Raaj onto his back; Raaj rolled into a backslide, pinning Hale for a surprise finish.

Ari Sterling defeated Grayson Waller

This match was good. Tons of action centering around substantial limb work. With that being said, the majority of Sterling’s matches on 205 Live have featured limb targeting. However, this time was a little different, as the targeted limb wasn’t crucial to the entire moveset of Sterling, resulting in a logically sound match. All around, a worthwhile watch. 

Waller and Sterling opened with basic back and forth wrestling (collar-and-elbows, quick takedowns, etc.). The takedowns featured plenty of flips for the curious. Waller began targeting the arm of Sterling after interrupting a cartwheel by grabbing Sterling’s wrist. Waller stomped away at the wrist before trying for a cross arm breaker later in the match. A diving stomp to the wrist of Sterling was the precursor to the Fujiwara armbar. 

Sterling tried to rally, slapping into the chest of Waller with both his healthy and injured arm. Hale struck Sterling down before trying for a kimura. Sterling was able to fight free, sending Waller to the outside. Waller maintained his control on the outside, draping Sterling over the top rope, locking in an armbar the referee was forced to break. When back inside, Waller connected with his stunner for a near fall. 

Waller forced Sterling to fight free from another submission. This time Sterling was able to gain hold of the match. Sterling connected with some quick offence before Waller rolled to the outside for safety, where he was hit with moonsauce. Sterling hit a top rope rana and Baja ‘86 before pinning Waller.

Two debuts announced for this week’s WWE 205 Live

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Two debuts have been announced for this week’s episode of 205 Live.

Ahead of taking part in the NXT Breakout Tournament, Odyssey Jones and Josh Briggs will both be making their televised WWE debuts on 205 Live this Friday night. Jones is facing Grayson Waller on the episode, while Briggs is facing Asher Hale.

WWE wrote that, to preview Jones and Briggs being in the Breakout Tournament, 205 Live is forgoing its typical 205-pound weight limit for Friday’s episode.

Jones (real name Omari Palmer) is a former offensive lineman for Syracuse University. He signed with WWE and joined the Performance Center in February 2019. Jones made his in-ring debut at an NXT house show in November of that year.

Jones wrestled in a dark match prior to last week’s SmackDown.

Briggs (real name Joshua Bruns) formerly wrestled for EVOLVE and was the last-ever EVOLVE Champion.

Trey Baxter (formerly known as Blake Christian), Carmelo Hayes (Christian Casanova), Andre Chase (Harlem Bravado), Briggs, Ikemen Jiro (Jiro “Ikemen” Kuroshio), Joe Gacy, Jones, and Duke Hudson (Brendan Vink) make up the field for this year’s NXT Breakout Tournament. The winner will receive a shot at the NXT title of their choosing.

The Breakout Tournament will begin with Jiro vs. Hudson taking place on NXT next Tuesday.

WWE 205 Live results: Matty Wahlberg debuts

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Grayson Waller defeated Sunil Singh

The debuting Waller was fine in this match. It was a semi-layered squash but not complex enough to accurately read the former Survivor competitor. What was delivered was ok, but the match was limited.

Before the match’s start, commentary made clear Samir Singh, the other half of the Bollywood Boyz, was filming a movie in Bollywood. 

Waller gained an early advantage over Sunil. A triangle against the ropes left Sunil gasping for air. After controlling Sunil on the mat, Waller tried for a splash in the corner that Sunil avoided. Sunil capitalised, slamming Waller’s neck into the top rope before hitting two top rope axe handles. On the third, Waller caught Sunil with a superkick. A Seth Rollins style blackout/curb stomp from Waller left him with a pinfall victory. 

Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese defeated Asher Hale and Ari Sterling 

This was quite good. The odd couple dynamic provided some extra substance to an already exciting match. 

Nese and Hale struggled for grappling control in the opening moments, proving to be on near equal footing. Hale refused to tag in a willing Sterling. Hale then gained control over Nese’s arm. Moments later, Hale tagged Sterling in by slapping his chest instead of his extended hand. 

Sterling, now legal, gained an advantage over Daivari, which was interrupted when Sterling turned his attention to his estranged partner. Daivari and Nese then unloaded on Sterling in the corner in an attempt to steal momentum by any means. Sterling fought free before sending both of his opponents to the outside. In the team’s first tandem act, Hale lept from the apron to hit Daivari with a knee in the team’s first tandem act as Sterling delivered moonsauce to Nese; Hale refused to fist bump Sterling after the cooperative display. 

Hale tagged into the match and took Nese to the mat. Nese fought his way into the ropes, prompting a pull apart, which Daivari took full advantage of, delivering a swift kick to the head of Hale. Nese then hit the prone Hale with a springboard moonsault. Daivari and Nese traded tags, tearing down Hale with significant offence for the first time. 

A quick snap suplex allowed Hale to get the hot tag. Sterling connected with a flurry of strikes; a near fall followed after a kick. Hale then tagged himself in, kicking Nese into the ground. Hale forced Daivari to interfere to break up an armbar; this allowed Daivari and Nese to hit a double team uranage that Sterling was forced to break up. 

Hale managed to emerge from the chaos that followed the double-teaming with advantage. Hale tried for a superplex that Daivari stuffed as Sterling sneakily tagged in. Sterling used his stealth to land a surprise super rana by gliding over the back of Daivari. Hale tagged back into the match just as the illegal Nese hit Sterling with a superkick. Nese and Daivari lifted Hale and hit a double team facebuster cutter for the win. 

WWE 205 Live results: Jiro & Grey vs The Bollywood Boyz

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Ari Sterling defeated Asher Hale

This was a fine match. Sterling applied his selling inconsistently, which his standard moveset demands. Hale’s performance was quite good.

The match started with Sterling trying to match Hale’s grappling prowess, and unsurprisingly Hale gained the advantage. A kick to the back of the knee of Sterling worked to ground him for about two seconds. Sterling hit a rana, ignoring the leg he was limping on, before sending Hale to the outside. Sterling tried for moonsauce, but Hale avoided the attack. Hale slammed Sterling into the barricade to reassert his control. 

Back inside the ring, Hale hit Sterling’s knee with a dropkick. Hale, now laser-focused, lifted Sterling onto the ropes before hitting a figure four dragon screw, furthering the damage done to the limb. A bridging Indian deathlock forced Sterling into the ropes.

Sterling tried for a quick rollup, followed by another, then another. A pump knee strike from Sterling opened Hale up for a flipping facebuster, then covered Hale for the win.

Ikemen Jiro & August Grey defeated Sunil Singh and Samir Singh (The Bollywood Boyz)

This wasn’t anything special, but it wasn’t bad.

Grey and Samir engaged in some basic grappling to open the match. Sunil and Jiro tagged in soon after, allowing Jiro to connect with some compelling offence. After a Jiro springboard moonsault, Grey tagged back into the match but lost control almost immediately. 

Samir and Sunil took turns picking apart Grey, causing a call for rally from Jiro. Grey finally tagged out of the match after being dominated for minutes. Jiro unloaded with palm strikes, taking out both Singhs. A second moonsault left Jiro with a near fall.

Jiro missed a senton, causing both of his opponents to hit the ring. After Grey ran off Samir, Jiro connected with an incredible rana from the top rope. A knee strike to Sunil awarded Jiro a pinfall victory.

WWE 205 Live results: Tony Nese vs. Ari Sterling 

Posted on by Chick Fritts

I hate to repeat this for a second week in a row, but this was the best episode of 205 Live I’ve watched. Both matches delivered and then some. This show also had more character than a typical 205 Live episode. Compared to the rest of pandemic era 205 Live, this felt like a show with a purpose. 

Asher Hale defeated Ariya Daivari

This was an above-the-mark match and an all-around fun watch.

Continuing the streak, the man formerly known as Anthony Henry made his 205 Live debut. Asher Hale, as he is now known, delivered a strong performance in his debut.

Hale and Daivari had a simple exchange to open the match made up of basic grappling and groundwork. As the match continued, the opening grappling quickly dynamized as more exciting and impactful moves entered the fray. Daivari ended the back and forth by sending Hale to the outside and cutting him off before he could come back.

Daivari, now in control, locked in a sleeper hold; Hale struggled but eventually freed himself. Hale followed his escape with an impressive snapping power slam. A strike exchange followed. Hale emerged from the clash ahead, connecting with a suplex triad (two exploders and a northern lights).

Daivari kicked out of a DDT and interrupted a now frustrated Hale who had scaled to the top rope. Daivari threw Hale to the mat before climbing to the top himself and hitting the Persian splash; Hale kicked out. Daivari then pulled Hale into position for a hammerlock lariat, but Hale ducked the move, allowing him to slip into an O’Connor Roll pin. Daivari was unable to escape, leaving Hale victorious in his debut. 

All four members of Bolly-Rise discussed Ever-Rise Live, a Facebook show featuring, you guessed it, Ever-Rise. This was a short but lively segment that didn’t hurt the show in any way. 

Tony Nese defeated Ari Sterling 

This was a fantastic match. The pace was blisteringly quick when it needed to be and calm when necessary. Despite its glitzy outermost layer of paint, the match was filled with genuine dramatics—what a showing from both men. 

The match started with a ton of athletics; flips from both men filled the opening moments in a contest of pride. Nese ended the borderline ostentatious competition by connecting with some basic strikes. 

Sterling regained some control, which he used to connect with a senton. Nese rolled to the outside but stopped Sterling from leaping to the outside by grabbing his feet. The pair brawled outside for a moment before Nese re-entered the ring. Nese captured Sterling with the ring’s apron before connecting with a dropkick. A substantial period of Nese offense followed. 

Sterling connected with an enziguri to break up Nese’s control. He then tried for a sunset flip, but Nese met him with a firm boot to the jaw. Nese was allowed to slow the match for the first time in a while, locking in body scissors. Nese followed this by throwing Sterling into the corner and trying for a superplex. Sterling freed himself from the threat and connected with a head-scissor throw.

Nese rolled to the outside, allowing Nese to connect with a springboard Arabin moonsault to the outside. Nese caught Sterling upon re-entry enabling him to try for a 450, but Sterling rolled to safety. Sterling could not follow up, as Nese connected with a running knee and a sit-down back-to-belly driver.

Nese wasted time after the failed pin, which allowed Sterling to connect with a devastating powerbomb. Sterling climbed to the top rope but overshot whatever move he was going for. Nese caught Sterling with a German suplex into the corner, which he followed with a running knee. Nese pinned Sterling to end this great match.

WWE 205 Live results: Ikemen Jiro and Ari Sterling debut

Posted on by Chick Fritts

This was, without a doubt, the best episode of 205 Live I’ve watched. Both matches were tons of fun and had high-speed cruiserweight action. The debuts excite me to no end, as both of these men have all the potential in the world. If this is the future of the brand, it might have a reason to exist. 

Ari Sterling defeated Samir Singh (w/ Sunil Singh) 

Ari Sterling, formerly Alex Zayne, made his debut tonight. While Titan will tone down the fantastically insane moveset of Sterling ultimately, tonight he delivered an exciting match filled with athletics. Whether he is in Kingsport TN’s Civic auditorium or the WWE’s Capitol Wrestling Center, it’s hard to understate how exciting this man is.

Samir started the match with a headlock takedown, but Sterling proved capable moments later after escaping the hold. Sterling hit a few moves in quick succession before delivering a flipping springboard dive to the outside dubbed the “Moonsauce.” 

Samir sidestepped a dropkick before launching Sterling with a reasonably typical catapult; Sterling flew outside the ring. Once back inside the ring, Samir locked in a Boston crab. After Sterling freed himself from the crab, he connected with an up kick to reset the match.

Sterling rallied with some basic strikes followed by a front flip into a kick. Sterling then hit an awkward slam with a flip, a different move from his former finisher, for the win.

August Grey and Ikemen Jiro defeated Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese

In another debut, Ikemen Jiro, formerly Jiro Kuroshio of Wrestle-1, showcased his atypical persona in a superb match. The pacing was excellent, and the action was exciting, but Jiro’s presence shined through. 

The match began only after Jiro refused to remove his signature jacket; he would wrestle the match with the sports coat. Jiro got the best of Nese in the opening exchange and tagged in Grey, who immediately lost all the control Jiro gained in the opening moments. 

Daivari and Nese dominated Grey, leaving him desperate for a tag. After the tag came, Jiro took out both Nese and Daivari before showing off his jacket to the CWC; A solid strike to the back of the head stopped his fashion show. 

Daivari and Nese were back in control, this time with Jiro tag desperate. Jiro transformed a sleeper into a belly-to-back suplex, creating enough time for a hot tag. Grey connected with everything but the kitchen sink, taking out both of his opponents. After a failed pin following a crossbody, Grey tried to tag in Jiro, but he was nowhere to be found. 

Nese grabbed Grey’s leg, allowing Daivari to club Nese into the ground. Jiro hit the ring in time to save Grey from sure doom, causing a four-way brawl. Daivari and Nese, in the end, won out, lifting Grey into a double team move that Jiro was forced to break up. 

Jiro tagged into the match, connecting with everything in his arsenal. To punctuate his rally, Jiro hit Nese and Daivari with a moonsault. Jiro followed up with a beautiful senton and a pin that Daivari broke up. Grey hit Daivari with a dive to stop his interference, which Jiro followed with a dive of his own. Jiro then hit a “leg slash” to pick up a win.