Tehuti Miles, aka Ashante “Thee” Adonis, is no longer with WWE.
He posted a statement to social media on Sunday revealing that his WWE chapter has closed.
Adonis wrote:
“After 6 unforgettable years under the WWE lights, the time has come for me to close that chapter. I’m filled with nothing but gratitude for every opportunity, the experiences, lessons, and incredible talent I’ve had the chance to work with. I’m truly excited to show the world what I can really do. Sometimes you gotta get off multiplayer and progress your story mode. I believe i’m the face of the future and the reason your girl stopped texting you back
This is a brand new beginning. I am becoming the best version of myself. You have only seen a glimpse of my true potential, and im just scratching the surface. I know that to some this can be a dark time, but stars can’t shine without darkness. – Thee Adonis Out For bookings, please contact me here: [email protected]”
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp later reported that Adonis’ WWE contract expired rather than him being released. It’s the second time he has left the company. As a member of Hit Row, he was released in late 2021 before returning the following year.
Prior to signing with WWE in 2019, Adonis wrestled for Maryland Championship Wrestling as well as Ring of Honor under the name Elijah King. He also served in the United States Army from 2008 to 2013, completing tours in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011. After leaving the Army, he attended the University of Maryland and made the school’s Division 1 football team as a walk-on running back.
Adonis’ last match was a loss to Ricky Saints on the June 24 edition of NXT.
After 6 unforgettable years under the WWE lights, the time has come for me to close that chapter. I'm filled with nothing but gratitude for every opportunity, the experiences, lessons, and incredible talent I've had the chance to work with.
As promised, members of the WWE NXT roster made themselves known during Sunday’s TNA Genesis pay-per-view including the reigning Tag Team Champions Fraxiom and Cora Jade.
Nathan Frazier & Axiom came out prior to The Hardys’ TNA Tag Team title defense against The Rascalz to take a closer look and then inadvertently got involved. After Trey Miguel dove outside at the Hardys and then accidentally hit the NXT Tag Team Champions by mistake, things got heated before security escorted Fraxiom to the back.
As a result, Fraxiom will now defend the titles against The Rascalz at this Thursday’s live edition of TNA Impact.
Following TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich’s successful title defense over Rosemary, Cora Jade made her own surprise appearance to confront Slamovich. Slamovich appeared in the crowd during last Tuesday’s NXT and teased defending the title against someone in NXT.
Ashante “Thee” Adonis came out during the pre-show with an open challenge that was answered by Jake Something who defeated Adonis in under four minutes.
Arianna Grace returned during the night to resume her role as the liaison between NXT and TNA.
.@WWENXT's Ashante “Thee” Adonis has arrived in the iMPACT Zone with an Open Challenge!
After the two sides worked together during the second half of 2024, WWE and TNA announced a formal partnership last week that will continue the talent exchange that could spill over to the main roster as well.
Cedric Alexander has officially joined the WWE NXT roster, and his tag team partner may be coming with him.
Alexander was introduced as the newest member of the NXT roster in a backstage segment on Tuesday’s WWE NXT episode as part of the ongoing storyline where Stevie Turner and Robert Stone vie for NXT GM Ava’s favor.
Turner set up a meeting between Ava and Alexander in storyline, and it was revealed that Alexander has officially been added to the brand. Stone then introduced Adonis and inserted himself and Adonis into Ava’s meeting with Alexander.
Alexander and Adonis had been part of the SmackDown brand and began teaming in dark matches at SmackDown tapings last December.
Vignettes presenting the pair as a tag team were produced and were posted to WWE’s digital media channels in February. The two never wrestled as a team on TV following the vignettes, instead working dark matches. Alexander had been used sporadically this year on the SmackDown brand as enhancement talent and as part of the WWE Speed show on X.
Both took part in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal on SmackDown in April, which was Adonis’s last televised match.
After Friday night’s SmackDown, WWE uploaded a video revealing that Cedric Alexander & Ashante “Thee” Adonis are the newest addition to the tag team division. Alexander & Adonis put the rest of the division on notice, mentioning The Judgment Day, Pretty Deadly, and The OC by name.
Adonis suggested “Rags and Riches” for their tag team name, joking that Alexander looked like a referee with the black and white shirt he was wearing.
Adonis: I just got our tag team name: Rags and Riches.
Alexander: Why I gotta be rags?
Adonis: I mean, look at you – you look like a referee.
Alexander: That’s…really?
Adonis: I’m just playing, I’m just playing. You know what, we gotta get you leveled up, though. I got you. Don’t even worry about it, I got you.
Alexander: That’s on you?
Adonis: That’s on me.
Alexander: Ok. Remember you said that.
Alexander is a one-time former tag team champion in WWE, holding the Raw Tag Team titles with Shelton Benjamin when they were in The Hurt Business together. Adonis formerly teamed with Top Dolla as part of Hit Row. Both Benjamin and Top Dolla were released by WWE last September.
Judgment Day’s Damian Priest & Finn Balor are the current Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. They’re defending their titles against Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate at Elimination Chamber later this month.
WWE is planning to bring back two members of the Hit Row group, according to a report.
PW Insider reports that AJ “Top Dolla” Francis and Ashonte “Thee” Adonis are planned to be at Friday’s SmackDown taping in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Top Dolla and Ashonte Adonis would be the latest WWE talent released by the former regime to be brought back by new executive vice president of talent relations Paul “Triple H” Levesque, joining Dakota Kai, Karrion Kross, Scarlett, and Dexter Lumis.
As part of the Hit Row stable, Top Dolla and Ashonte Adonis were drafted to SmackDown in the WWE Draft along with B-Fab and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott on October 1, 2021. B-Fab was released by the company on November 4, 2021, while Top Dolla, Adonis, and Scott were released on November 18, 2021.
Prior to their main roster call-up, Hit Row operated as a stable in NXT, debuting as a foursome in May 2021.
Scott has since signed with AEW and is one half of the company’s World Tag Team Champions, along with Keith Lee.
Next Friday’s edition of 205 Live will feature matches in both the men’s and women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournaments.
WWE has announced that Ashante “Thee” Adonis & Desmond Troy will face Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari in a men’s Dusty Classic first round match on 205 Live next Friday. There will also be women’s Dusty Classic action on 205 Live next Friday, though the match that will be taking place on the show has yet to be revealed.
Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez, Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, and Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon are the first four teams announced for the women’s Dusty Classic. It was stated on 205 Live tonight that the women’s Dusty Classic will begin on 205 Live next week, but a first round match between Storm & Martinez and Catanzaro & Carter has already been announced for next Wednesday’s NXT.
Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong, MSK, The Grizzled Young Veterans, Killian Dain & Drake Maverick, and Legado Del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde have advanced to the second round of the men’s Dusty Classic thus far.
Two men’s Dusty Classic first round matches have been announced for next Wednesday’s NXT. Kushida & Leon Ruff will face NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory, while Imperium’s Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner will face Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado.
The full bracket for the men’s Dusty Classic was revealed earlier this week. It’s a 16-team tournament where the winning team will receive the Dusty Cup and a shot at Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch’s NXT Tag Team titles.
After an opening lockup, Daivari gained the advantage. He taunted Adonis, immediately reversing control in Adonis’s favor. A spinebuster followed by a dropkick sent Daivari to the floor. A missed tackle into the corner left Adonis prone. Daivari slammed Adonis’s leg into the post, creating a target for the rest of the match.
Following a prolonged leg-targeting segment, Adonis finally pushed Daivari away. Adonis took advantage of this separation, connecting with some quick offense before hobbling to the top rope. A massive crossbody and a kip-up left Adonis ahead.
Adonis set up for a superkick to end the match, but failed in execution due to his injured leg. Daivari gained a quick takedown before locking in the figure-four leglock. Adonis struggled in the hold before flipping to apply the pressure to Daivari. Daivari freed himself and landed a uranage. Adonis ducked the hammerlock lariat attempt that followed and connected with the superkick. Adonis hooked the leg and pinned Daivari.
This was a decent match, most notable for its semi-consistent leg injury narrative.
Curt Stallion and August Grey defeated Sunil Singh and Samir Singh (The Bollywood Boyz)
Samir and Grey struggled for control in the opening moments of the match. Following tags from both teams, a double foot stomp left Sunil in deep water. Grey and Stallion then traded tags to further their control.
Grey found himself on the outside of the ring as he tried to follow Sunil. A massive lariat from Samir blindsided the distracted Grey. The Singhs then traded tags of their own, tearing down Grey in the process. This beatdown lasted forever. A Bollywood blast marked the end of the prolonged Grey beatdown, a pin breakup and a hot tag followed.
Stallion hit the ring with fury. A big boot, dropkick, and a DDT left a legal Grey in perfect position for a crossbody. Stallion hit a tope to Sunil and tagged back into the match, only for Samir to block the dive attempt that followed. Sunil pulled Grey to the outside as Samir tried for a quick pin. The match quickly fell out of the Singh’s favor as Stallion landed a pair of headbutts and Grey an unprettier. Grey then pinned Samir to pick up the win.
Playing into a crowd-based match so heavily without an audience to back you up is hard to pull off, to say the least. This match missed the mark in that way
Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari defeated The Bollywood Boyz (Sunil & Samir Singh)
Nese started the match by driving Sunil Singh into his corner. Daivari tagged in, but the momentum soon shifted in favor of the Singhs as Samir joined the fray. A Bollywood Boyz double suplex punctuated the Singh lead; Nese then provided a distraction, allowing for a Daivari-favored shift.
Daivari reigned in fists from the mount to further his advantage. Nese looked to further this lead after a tag, but instead planted Daivari with an accidental dropkick. Sunil tagged in and was free to land a ton of offense on the now distraught Nese. A double superkick sent Nese to the outside as Daivari re-entered as the legal man. Both Singhs then set Daivari up for and connected with the Bollywood Blast. Nese broke up the pin.
Nese dragged Sunil to the outside both to gain Samir’s attention while also buying time for Daivari. Davarii then caught a distracted Samir with an uranage. Daivari climbed to the top rope and hit the Persian splash for the win.
This match was quick, opting for a tried and true formula while not overstaying its welcome.
Curt Stallion, Ashante “Thee” Adonis & August Grey defeated Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde
A lockup ultimately favoring Ashante Adonis started the match. Raul Mendoza, the other legal starter, was hit with two arm drags, inciting Legado interference. Adonis single-handedly dispatched both Joaquin Wilde and Santos Escobar before they could touch a hair on Adonis.
A passionate Curt Stallion tagged into the match. With his sights set on flying, Stallion hit the ropes; a kick from Mendoza stopped Stallion mid flight. Legado Del Fantasma was now in complete control. Knees and chops left Stallion in a heap of his own person.
The cocksure nature of the Legado beatdown allowed Stallion to steal a quick tag, allowing August Grey to make up some previously lost ground. A powerbomb left Grey with a near fall on Wilde. Grey tried to maintain his control over Mendoza, but Escobar pulled the ropes causing Grey to crash to the mat.
Legado utterly dismantled their opponents for a significant amount of time before a devastated Grey eventually landed the hot tag, allowing Stallion to re-enter the fold. Stallion then took on both Mendoza and Wilde in a great show of heroics. After every move he landed, Stallion made eye contact with Escobar. Stallion even locked eyes with the Cruiserweight champion during a near fall.
Mendoza broke up a Stallion pin attempt causing all six men to hit the ring. Legado emerged from the exchange with a man advantage, but Grey from the outside tripped Mendoza, allowing Stallion to roll up Wilde for a surprise pin.
Following the match, Legado Del Fantasma attacked Stallion. Adonis and Grey ran them onto the apron, and a forearm from Stallion cemented the Legado retreat.
This match was great. Every second felt as if its inclusion was necessary, and everyone made their presence felt.
This week’s episode of 205 Live will include an in-ring appearance by NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar.
WWE has announced that Legado del Fantasma (Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) will face Curt Stallion, Ashante “Thee” Adonis & August Grey on 205 Live tonight. This is a rematch from a match that took place before NXT TakeOver: WarGames went on the air this past Sunday. That match was released online by WWE and featured Escobar pinning Grey to get the win.
Stallion became the number one contender to Escobar’s title by winning a fatal five-way match on 205 Live last month. WWE hasn’t announced when or where their title match will be taking place.
Stallion defeated Mendoza in a singles match on 205 Live two weeks ago but was beaten down by Wilde and Mendoza after. Escobar then came out to the stage to stare Stallion down.
On the final episode of NXT before TakeOver: WarGames, there was an angle where Stallion was supposed to team with Leon Ruff against Escobar & Mendoza but was attacked by Legado del Fantasma before the show. Ruff ended up teaming with Damian Priest and pinning Mendoza to get the win.
The Bollywood Boyz vs. Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari is also set for tonight’s 205 Live. The show airs on the WWE Network at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
Samir & Sunil Singh (The Bollywood Boyz) defeated Chase Parker and Matt Martel (Ever-Rise)
The Bollywood Boyz danced together following the opening bell. Ever-Rise tried to copy the dance, but the Singhs blindsided them mid-boogie. Sunil, left as the legal man, lost the advantage. Parker and Martel secured some tags in quick succession that allowed them to form a lead.
Bollywood Boyz regained control, with Sunil and Samir trading tags. They dropped both Parker and Martel with basic double-team maneuvers.
Samir grabbed the camera he had brought with him to the ring, mockingly filming Parker. Parker snatched the camera away and threatened to break it. Martel sneakily tagged in while Samir was distracted and clubbed him with a clothesline to the back. Trading tags and double-teaming furthered Ever-Rise’s control.
Samir was able to sidestep both members of Ever-Rise, leaving him clear to make a tag. Sunil lept into action with a double axe handle from the top rope and an atomic drop. Samir tagged in now that Sunil secured control, and the pair together delivered the Bollywood Blast. Chase Parker, however, broke up the pin.
The Singhs tried to follow up, but the referee forced Sunil to return to the apron. With the referee distracted, Ever-Rise was able to connect with their lifting double-knee face breaker. The referee then turned his attention to Parker, missing both the pin attempt and Sunil striking Martel with the camera; Samil rolled Martel over and pinned him following the blow.
Ariya Daivari walked through the ramp and berated the celebratory Bollywood Boyz before joining the announce team.
This match was quite uninteresting.
Ashante “Thee” Adonis defeated Tony Nese
Nese met Adonis with chops in the middle of the ring as the match began. Adonis tried to fight back, but following an athletic evasion sequence, Nese left the ring and joined Daivari on commentary. Adonis ran after Nese as the referee continued to count, but Nese caught Adonis.
Adonis reverses an Irish whip with a clothesline. He then unleashed a power-based offensive sequence that sent Nese crashing to the outside. Adonis taunted Daivari while smashing the head of Nese into the announcer’s table. Nese stumbled away from the table, throwing blows at an opponent ten feet away.
Adonis threw Nese back into the ring and flexed to the Capitol Wrestling Center’s screens. In an act of punishment, Nese threw the ring apron over Adonis and landed a dropkick. Nese landed a moonsault and near fall.
Nese took the match to the mat, but Adonis powered up, lifting Nese onto his shoulders. Adonis dropped Nese flat on his face. He then began to connect with big strike after big strike, eventually landing a suplex for punctuation.
Daivari left the announce booth and aided Nese in evading just as Adonis had victory in sight. Even so, Adonis connected with a DDT for a near fall. Daivari yelled into the ring, distracting Adonis just long enough for Nese to roll through and connect with a swift kick. Daivari then wrapped his hand with a chain and waited for his time to strike.
Adonis hit a massive clothesline on Nese as Daivari hit the ring. Adonis ducked the chain loaded fist and planted Daivari with a spinebuster. Adonis lined up a superkick to flatten Nese, pinning him to win the match.
This was an impressive outing from Adonis, the cruiserweight powerhouse persona is awesome. Nese also pulled out a solid performance, as he always does, to round out this match. One of the better 205 Live matches in recent memory.
205 Live’s 205th episode opened with a fantastic video package retelling the brand’s history with a special focus on individuals who have called the show home.
Curt Stallion defeated Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, and August Grey
Ashante “Thee” Adonis rolled out of the ring following the opening bell, allowing the now allied Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari to control the match’s opening. Curt Stallion and August Grey fought off the team, leaving themselves alone in the ring. Grey tried for a quick pin on Stallion before the two locked up.
Adonis managed to control the match by beating down Nese and Daivari in an impressive display; however, Daivari and Nese together proved to be too much. After sending Adonis to the mat, Nese and Daivari stared each other down for the first time. Grey dove onto the pair before they could engage. The match broke down into temporary chaos as the established lead broke down.
Daivari and Nese reclaimed the match from the fog. The pair dominated all three of their other opponents with little resistance. Both Stallion and Grey tried their hand in slowing Nese and Daivari, but it was an Adonis distraction that opened a window; Daivari slammed that window shut.
After prolonged offense from Nese with Daivari’s support, Adonis hopped in the ring. With Nese holding Grey down, Adonis was able to throw Daivari to the outside and catch Nese with a sleeper. Stallion hit the ring with furry and stole the momentum gained by Adonis. Stallion nearly won the match with a DDT, but Nese broke the pin. Nese, for his troubles, was hit with an air raid crash neckbreaker.
Grey hit a DDT of his own to trigger another five-way chaos-filled sequence. Grey, Adonis, and Daivari all scored near falls in quick succession. A dive-filled show of athletics followed. Nese set up for a running knee, but Grey met him with a superkick. Grey fell into a pin just in time for the Bollywood Boys to hit the ring. The two focused solely on Grey, pummeling him into the mat.
Adonis helped in ejecting the Bollywood Boys just as Ever-Rise hit the ring. Ever-Rise laid Adonis to rest. Stallion stood up to the attackers and gained control with help from Adonis and Grey. Dual dives from Stallion and Grey took out all four interfering wrestlers. Daivari snuck into the ring and hit Adonis with chain-wrapped knuckles.
Grey broke up Daivari’s pin attempt before Nese sent him to the outside. Stallion climbed to the top rope but was interrupted by Nese. The two struggled for control before a bloody Stallion hit Nese with a Spanish fly from the top. Stallion hooked Nese’s leg and gained the pinfall victory.
This was a high-quality match. Throughout its runtime, Stallion’s charisma stood out. By the final bell, Stallion’s triumph was hard-fought. This match should be nothing short of a launching pad for the new number one contender.
The participants are set for tonight’s fatal five-way number one contender’s match on 205 Live.
WWE has announced that Curt Stallion, August Grey, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, Tony Nese, and Ariya Daivari will face off in tonight’s fatal five-way match. The winner will get a future shot at Santos Escobar’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship, though WWE hasn’t announced when the title match will be taking place.
In the main event of last week’s 205 Live, Nese & Daivari defeated Grey & Stallion after Daivari used his chain as a weapon and struck Grey. Mansoor defeated Adonis on 205 Live last week.
Stallion and Grey (Anthony Greene) are former EVOLVE wrestlers who were announced as new WWE signees last month.
Tonight’s number one contender’s match is in celebration of this week’s 205 Live being the 205th episode of the show. The match was announced via a video that aired on 205 Live last week. Escobar cut a promo saying that he’s defeated everyone that has come his way so far and that will never change — but he welcomes the challenge. Escobar said he worked with NXT general manager William Regal to give multiple cruiserweights the chance of getting a shot at his title. Escobar warned the winner to watch their back at all times.
Escobar retained his title against Jake Atlas on this Wednesday’s episode of NXT.
Ashantee Adonis extended for a handshake following the opening bell; Mansoor swatted away the hand of Adonis. Adonis tried to verbally convince Mansoor that he was trustworthy, but instead was taken to the mat. Mansoor took control of Adonis’s arm, but Adonis overpowered his opponent. After tossing Mansoor to the mat, Adonis tried again at convincing Mansoor of his character, but Mansoor answered with another takedown attempt.
The two struggled for some time before a flapjack turned things around for Adonis. He tried to follow up further, but was interrupted on the top rope by Mansoor. Mansoor took his newfound match control to the outside of the ring. After some general outside offense, Mansoor rolled Adonis back into the ring and tried for a pin.
Mansoor used a front facelock to maintain control as Adonis tried to gain some footing. Adonis teased a pass out finish before landing a short-arm clothesline to end the prolonged facelock. Adonis connected with a few strikes and a dropkick before climbing back to the top rope. A high crossbody left Adonis with a near fall.
Both men tried for quick pins to end the match. Mansoor tried for sliced bread before, and Adonis slipped free. Mansoor lifted Adonis into position and landed his finishing one-handed electric chair driver to win the match.
The handshake Adonis wanted in the opening moments he received following the closing bell.
Brian Kendrick’s influence on both these men was the center point of its story. Both Adonis and Mansoor have been taken in under him, or so the story goes. Regardless this match was inoffensive.
Cruiserweight champion Santos Escobar announced a five-way match for next week’s 205 Live; the winner will go on to challenge him for the belt. The five competitors look to be Sunil Singh, Samir Singh, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, August Grey, Ariya Daivari, Tony Nese, The Brian Kendrick, Curt Stallion, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Chase Parker, and Matt Martel.
Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese defeated Curt Stallion and August Grey
Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari took quick control of August Grey as the match started. Curt Stallion stealthily tagged himself in and reset the match. Stallion took control of a tapped up arm attached to Daivari. Both Stallion and Grey then took turns torturing the arm with a variety of moves.
Daivari forced Stallion into his corner, which allowed Nese to get involved. Daivari leveled Stallion with a clothesline and began trading tags with Nese, each time furthering their lead. A failed suplex from Nese allowed a hot tag into Grey. Grey connected with moves on both Daivari and Nese before the numbers game proved to be too much. With Daivari maintaining the attention of Grey, Nese landed a running hotshot. Nese landed a moonsault and tagged Daivari back into the match.
Daivari and Nese traded tags. Grey struggled and struggled for a tag as he was slowly picked apart by both his opponents. Finally, a desperation suplex from Grey onto Nese allowed for a hot tag into Stallion. Stallion landed a massive kick on the now legal Daivari, which he followed with a DDT. Grey tagged in and landed a move of his own that Nese had to break up.
Grey soon found himself under attack from both Daivari and Nese. Grey overcame the numbers and sent Daivari to the outside. From nowhere, Stallion connected with a suicide dive on the prone Daivari. At the same time, Nese gained control of the happenings inside the ring and landed a reverse piledriver on Grey. Stallion broke up the pin. Daivari grabbed Stallion and threw him into the ring steps.
Back inside the ring, Grey was looking to get an upset. Nese sent Grey into the ropes where Daivari hit him with a golden chain. Nese rolled Grey up and stole the win.
At times, this match was by the numbers. But it also was a densely packed expression of athletics. The finish, however, was lame.
A six-man tag match has been added to the lineup for tonight’s episode of NXT.
WWE announced this morning that Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Jake Atlas & Ashante “Thee” Adonis will face Legado del Fantasma (NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde) on NXT tonight. The match was set up after Atlas and Adonis faced off on NXT last week.
Mendoza and Wilde distracted Adonis during his match against Atlas last week, which led to Atlas using an inside cradle to pin Adonis. Mendoza and Wilde went to attack Adonis after the match, but Atlas took Mendoza and Wilde out with a dive. Escobar then joined his Legado del Fantasma stablemates, but Scott came into the ring with steel chairs. Scott, Adonis, and Atlas stared down Legado del Fantasma until they backed off.
Escobar retained his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Scott at TakeOver 31 earlier this month. When Mendoza and Wilde got involved in the match, Adonis appeared and helped fight them off. Escobar got the win after sending Scott’s head into exposed steel on the bottom turnbuckle.
Breezango defending their NXT Tag Team titles against Undisputed Era’s Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish is also set for tonight’s NXT. Plus, Tommaso Ciampa, Kushida, and Velveteen Dream will face off in a triple threat match.
Ariya Daivari started the match with a quick set of jabs which triggered a Jake Atlas fury. Atlas unloaded passionate strikes on the ring’s inside before throwing Daivari to the floor below. Atlas threw Daivari into the barricade before reentering the ring.
Daivari reset the match with a punch to the throat. Daivari’s offense that followed did not match the energy shown by Atlas in the earliest moments but instead was prolonged and ground-based. Atlas’s attempt to regain control was stopped by a clever dropkick to a slumped over Atlas. Daivari then continued to slowly pick apart Atlas. Atlas tried for an elbow that Daivari avoided and punished with a DDT. Atlas tried for a crucifix pin that Daivari kicked from and punished with a clothesline.
Daivari threw Atlas into the corner, which Atlas bounced out of with a forearm. An Atlas back body drop, single-leg dropkick, and German suplex followed. After landing a pump kick on Daivari in the corner, Atlas tried for a big hook. Daivari ducked the punch and landed a neckbreaker, regaining his control. Daivari landed a top-rope splash and nearly scored the fall. Atlas was then hoisted into position for the hammerlock lariat which a quick elbow prevented. Atlas was then able to land a pump kick that sent Daivari to the outside. Atlas wasted no time, setting up for and connecting with a tope.
Without any warning, enter Tony Nese in full sprint. A Nese running knee then laid Atlas out, leaving him with a disqualification victory.
This match was very strong throughout. Atlas and Daivari both worked hard to make a simple match formula meaningful. The run-in was genuinely emotional due to the A-1 work that it extinguished all too soon.
Ashante “Thee” Adonis defeated The Brian Kendrick
Brian Kendrick was caught in the opening moments as Ashante Adonis landed a series of supercuts in the corner. Kendrick tried to lift Adonis for a suplex but instead found himself on the receiving end of an Adonis dropkick and back body drop. Adonis hit a clothesline that caused Kendrick to fall to the floor.
As Adonis tried to follow up it looked as if he accidentally was caught by a baggy ring skirt. Kendrick, without hesitation, took full advantage. After driving Adonis headfirst into the barricade Kendrick returned to the ring. Kendrick attempted to follow up his newfound lead with a kick but was caught by Adonis. A back and forth offensive struggle followed but it was Adonis who landed a crossbody and a DDT to nearly secure the win. A spinebuster left him even closer. Adonis declared it his time before being dropped with a ton of strong kicks.
Kendrick secured the captain’s hook. Adonis was able to roll onto Kendrick, nearly pinning him. Kendrick tried again for the hook but was kicked in the jaw for even trying. Adonis waited for Kendrick to rise and dropped him with a superkick. Adonis then hooked the leg and pinned Kendrick clean in the middle.
For the third time, Adonis and Kendrick shook hands in the ring’s middle following the conclusion.
This match was the best outing of this particular pairing. Adonis seemed as if he had something to prove, delivering a focused performance as the match’s standout. Likewise, Kendrick played the veteran role perfectly.
205 Live’s debut in the Capitol Wrestling Center took place inside of an NXT dressed ring – yellow ropes, NXT turnbuckle pads, etcetera. The ring skirt featured the typical 205 Live branding. Whether this is a decision worth looking into or an oversight is currently undeterminable.
The content of the 200th 205 Live episode was the best in the pandemic era. The matches were fun and dramatic. All in all, a great show.
