Tag: cruiserweight championship

Lio Rush wins Cruiserweight title from Drew Gulak on NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new Cruiserweight Champion was crowned on this week’s episode of NXT.

In the opening match of the show, Lio Rush defeated Drew Gulak to win the Cruiserweight title. Rush pinned Gulak after hitting a frog splash, a springboard stunner (springboarding off the bottom rope), and another frog splash.

There was then a post-match angle where NXT general manager William Regal was putting the Cruiserweight title on Rush but was stopped by Gulak. Gulak gave the title to Rush and shook his hand.

Rush returned to WWE television on the September 18 episode of NXT. He became the number one contender to the Cruiserweight title by defeating Oney Lorcan.

The Cruiserweight title is now known as the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.

Dave Meltzer reported in Monday’s Daily Update that a new episode of 205 Live is schedule to stream on the WWE Network after SmackDown this Friday. Despite WWE announcing the show’s move to Fridays and two matches being announced, there wasn’t a new 205 Live episode last week.

Cruiserweight title match added to WWE TLC

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A Cruiserweight Championship match has been added to the card for Sunday’s TLC pay-per-view.

WWE has announced that Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy will defend his title against Cedric Alexander at TLC on Sunday. The PPV is taking place at the SAP Center in San Jose, California.

Alexander was announced as Murphy’s next challenger on last week’s episode of 205 Live. On the November 28 episode of the show, Alexander teamed with Mustafa Ali and pinned Murphy during a match where Murphy teamed with Tony Nese.

Murphy vs. Noam Dar in a non-title match and Alexander vs. Nese are set for this week’s 205 Live.

Murphy won the Cruiserweight title from Alexander at Super Show-Down in Melbourne, Australia this October. Murphy then retained the title against Ali at Survivor Series last month.

Here’s the updated card for TLC:

  • WWE Champion Daniel Bryan defending against AJ Styles
  • Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins defending against Dean Ambrose
  • If Braun Strowman is able to wrestle at the PPV: Strowman vs. Baron Corbin in a tables, ladders, and chairs match (Strowman will challenge for Brock Lesnar’s Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble if he defeats Corbin. If Corbin wins, he’ll become the permanent general manager of Raw. Corbin will lose all of his GM power if Strowman wins)
  • Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey defending against Nia Jax
  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defending against Charlotte Flair and Asuka in a triple threat tables, ladders, and chairs match
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus defending against The Usos and The New Day in a triple threat match
  • Natalya vs. Ruby Riott in a tables match
  • Finn Balor vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Elias vs. Bobby Lashley
  • WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy defending against Cedric Alexander
  • The finals of Mixed Match Challenge season two

Bracket set for WWE Cruiserweight title tournament

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With the final first round matches taking place on 205 Live last night, WWE finally revealed the bracket for the Cruiserweight Championship tournament.

The bracket effectively follows the order that the matches were done on television. On the left side of it, Cedric Alexander will take on TJP and Roderick Strong will face Kalisto. Both of those matches are scheduled for next week. The winners will be matched up in one of the semifinals.

The right side of the bracket has Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy and Drew Gulak vs. Mark Andrews. Those matches will take place on the March 6th episode of 205 Live and will decide the other semifinal.

Murphy, a former NXT Tag Team Champion who hadn’t been on television in over a year until being announced for the tournament, made his 205 Live debut last night by defeating Ariya Daivari in a first round match. Ali also moved on to the quarterfinals by beating Jack Gallagher.

The new Cruiserweight Champion will be crowned in the tournament finals at WrestleMania in New Orleans on April 8th.

General manager for WWE 205 Live to be announced next week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The status of the Cruiserweight Championship should become clearer next week when WWE announces a general manager for 205 Live.

WWE handled Enzo Amore’s release by having Daniel Bryan begin tonight’s episode by announcing that Amore had “abdicated” the Cruiserweight title and would no longer be part of 205 Live. Bryan praised the cruiserweight division and then made the announcement that the new GM will be named next week, and their first decision will be addressing the title situation.

With the Cruiserweight title no longer on the line at the pay-per-view, Sunday’s Royal Rumble card is officially down a match. Cedric Alexander had originally been scheduled to challenge for the title.

Here’s the updated card for the PPV:

  • Men’s Royal Rumble match
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match
  • Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defending against Braun Strowman and Kane in a triple threat match
  • WWE Champion AJ Styles defending against Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn in a handicap match
  • Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan defending against Cesaro & Sheamus
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos defending against Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin in a two-out-of-three falls match

WWE to address Cruiserweight title status, 205 Live GM tonight

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Following Enzo Amore’s release, what’s next for the Cruiserweight Championship will be announced at the beginning of tonight’s episode of 205 Live.

WWE revealed that Daniel Bryan will kick off the show by addressing the situation with the title. Cedric Alexander had been scheduled to challenge Amore for the championship at the Royal Rumble on Sunday before Amore was suspended and later released.

It also appears that there will be a general manager named for 205 Live, with WWE’s announcement noting that Bryan will also address rumors of a potential GM.

SmackDown, Mixed Match Challenge, and 205 Live will all take place at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC tonight. On the final SmackDown before the Royal Rumble, Bobby Roode & The New Day will team against Jinder Mahal, Rusev & Aiden English in a six-man tag match, Naomi will take on Liv Morgan, and Jey Uso faces Chad Gable.