Tag: ever-rise

WWE 205 Live results: The Brian Kendrick returns

Posted on by Chick Fritts

The Brian Kendrick defeated Tehuti Miles

The Brian Kendrick was quick to disrespect Tehuti Miles following the bell. The returning Kendrick kicked the golden fanny pack of Miles to the mat before the two had even made contact. The pair exchanged brief words before entering a tie-up. Both men traded advantage but it was Miles who succeeded in landing a quartet of arm drags.

Miles took his time as he taunted Kendrick, an act which left Kendrick visibly unhappy. Kendrick landed a kick in retort before driving Miles into the corner. Miles was able to fight free and connect with a peppering of strikes, an Irish whip, and a dropkick. Miles tried for the pin but Kendrick kicked out. Miles took time again to taunt Kendrick, who he was seemingly far ahead of. This allowed Kendrick to roll an unfocused Miles up for a quick pinfall victory. 

Kendrick extended his hand to Miles, which Miles reluctantly shook.

This match was here to serve as a critical moment in the story of Miles, at least on the surface. His loss to the wiser Kendrick and the subsequent show of respect should be a catalyst for character development, especially considering his winless 205 Live record. 

The match itself was quick and to the point. Nothing was included that need not be and yet it did not feel as if it was missing anything. This was not meant to be a showcase of athletics but instead strictly a device of narrative, and at that, this match fully succeeded. 

Tony Nese defeated Liam Gray 

Liam Gray was immediately flattened by Tony Nese with a back elbow. Gray tried for separation, but was crushed at every turn by Nese. Nese stood over Gray, taunting him before launching him into the corner with a German Suplex. Nese hit a running knee on Gray before Nese then pinned Gray for the win.

Nese entirely pulverized this man. In fact, Gray was given no offense whatsoever. Nese’s intensity only furthered his gains from this slaughter. 

Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch defeated Chase Parker and Matt Martel (Ever-Rise)

Oney Lorcan and Matt Martel started this match, but it was Danny Burch who tagged in moments after the match started and secured a headlock on Martel. Martel was able to tag in Chase Parker, who was also grabbed by a Burch headlock. 

Martel was able to make a stealthy tag of which Burch was none the wiser. Burch tried chasing Parker, who he thought was legal, but was clubbed by Martel. Martel dropped a few elbows on Burch before Parker was tagged in again. Parker dropped a bigger elbow on Burch and tried for a pin that Burch kicked out from. 

Martel, now legal, hoisted Burch onto his shoulders but Burch was able to wiggle himself free and tag in Lorcan. Lorcan leveled both Parker and Martel with uppercuts. Burch and Lorcan’s attempts at tandem offense were then repeatedly interrupted by Parker at every turn. 

Parker, now legal, landed a diving neckbreaker with assistance from Martel. Lorcan barely kicked out from the pin attempt that followed. Parker and Lorcan struggled for a suplex from the apron but only by the aid of Martel was Parker able to come out ahead. The referee then proceeded to yell at both Martel and Parker for their disregard for the rules, allowing Lorcan to make a sly tag of his own. Martel was quickly thrown to the outside by Burch, leaving Parker alone with his fresh opponent. Burch quickly secured a crossface and forced Parker to tap out. 

It turns out that Ever-Rise is not a babyface pairing, in spite of their babyface-ish showing last week, in fact, they are as underhanded in tactic as ever. What purpose, if any, this match served other than reverting last week’s happenings is hard to say. 

WWE 205 Live results: Ariya Daivari vs. Jake Atlas

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde (with Santos Escobar) defeated Chase Parker and Matt Martel (Ever-Rise)

After Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde were in the ring, Ever-Rise made their entrance to a surprisingly warm welcome. While they seem to be heels still, the Chase Parker and Matt Martel pairing were welcomed with cheers; their hated opponents surely were the reason for this change in reaction (at least in the context of the match before its beginning).

Chants of “Ever-Rise” accompanied the opening moments of the matchup. Martel and Mendoza started the match with an unfamiliar energy. The two briefly traded holds. Martel grew more and more confident as he maintained a semblance of control. An elbow to Mendoza’s midsection allowed for the tag to Parker. 

Parker would go on to lose the advantage gained by his partner after venturing too far into Legado Del Fantasma territory. Wilde sneakily tagged into the match and planted an unexpecting Parker with a DDT. Wilde mocked the now dazed Parker. Wilde attacked Parker with a haughty ease. Only after a complete sequence of domination and a knee to act as punctuation did Wilde tag his partner back. The Legado Del Fantasma subjugation continued under Mendoza’s control. 

Parker was eventually able to float over an attack after a prolonged period of being grounded. A hot tag followed. Martel connected with many a move on both Wilde and Mendoza, shifting the match into the favor of Ever-Rise. This lead seamlessly into Ever-Rise’s set up for the double-team double-knee facebuster on Wilde only for Mendoza to pull Parker to the outside. Wilde was then able to hold Martel still long enough for Mendoza to land an enziguri, which was sufficient for the pin. 

After watching from bell to bell, it is safe to say that this match served as a babyface turn for Ever-Rise. Martel played babyface during the entirety of the contest. He had a babyface comeback, wore babyface facials, and, along with his partner, was cheered as a babyface. 

This match was fine, at best. It should be a building block for the future of Ever-Rise and a footnote in the case of Legado Del Fantasma superiority..  

Ariya Daivari defeated Jake Atlas

As the match began, Jake Atlas initiated an early tie-up. Ariya Daivari soon found himself pressed against the ropes from where he called for a referee break. Daivari pushed Atlas while the referee was trying to separate the two. A second tie-up saw Atlas take Daivari to the mat with a side headlock. Daivari resorted to pulling the hair of Atlas to break the side headlock. The break lasted mere seconds as Atlas secured the headlock again almost as soon as he had lost it. A sequence similar to this then played out again. 

Daivari was finally able to break the side headlock chain with a forearm to the back. Atlas tried to maintain his advantage, but a knee strike from Daivari furthered his lead. A dropkick from Daivari sent Atlas crashing to the outside from where Daivari drove Atlas into the barricade and the announcer’s table. A rope-assisted neck breaker allowed Daivari to cement his heat. Daivari worked Atlas on the mat. Daivari held the wrist of Atlas while kicking him in insolent fashion. 

Daivari’s cocksure offense would be his undoing. Atlas fought back from the kicks in a show of courage. Strikes a plenty found their way to Daivari from a desperate Atlas. A German suplex from Atlas led perfectly to an enziguri. Daivari kicked out from the pin attempt that followed. 

Atlas and Daivari were now on equal footing. Daivari landed a big boot, Atlas a punt in response. Atlas secured the head of Daivari and planted him with a DDT, Daivari kicked out. Atlas landed a springboard guillotine, and Daivari rolled out of the ring. Atlas connected with a suicide dive, Daivari whipped Atlas as soon as the two re-entered the ropes. Again they were on equal footing. 

Daivari tried to remove the turnbuckle pad, but it drew the attention of the referee. Atlas went for a rollup, but Daivari kicked out. Daivari then thumbed the eyes of Atlas. Daivari grabbed his now blinded opponent and connected with the hammerlock lariat. Daivari pinned Atlas for the win.  

This match was just not very interesting. Headlocks in the opening act and eye-gouging in the last is not a recipe for success, baring an extraordinary performance. Nothing ever felt the least bit at stake.

WWE 205 Live results: Legado del Fantasma debut

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Isaiah “Swerve” Scott defeated Matt Martel (with Chase Parker) 

Isaiah Scott and Matt Martel entered a collar-and-elbow tie-up immediately following the opening bell. Martel successfully used an arm drag which was celebrated by Chase Parker, who accompanied him to the ring. A second collar-and-elbow tie-up saw Martel transition into a headlock. From the headlock, Martel bounced from the ropes and delivered a shoulder tackle to Scott. Scott kipped up and used an arm drag of his own. Martel recovered in the corner with aid from Parker, he was taunted by Scott as this was happening. 

A third tie-up then began. Scott found himself backed into the corner where the referee forced a break. Martel taunted Scott. In what was the fourth tie-up, Scott pushed Martel to the ground and landed a few forearms. Scott pulled back and allowed Martel to return to his feet. 

Martel tried for an overhand right but was sidestepped by Scott. Scott rolled around before trapping the head of Martel between his feet for a head-scissor takedown. A frustrated Martel rose and chopped Scott. Scott chopped Martel back causing him to fall. Scott continued chopping Martel before advancing to a wider variety of strikes. 

Martel retreated to the corner from where he kicked the pursuing Scott. Scott was slapped by Martel, but was unphased. Scott connected with an uppercut that sent Martel to the mat. Scott climbed to the second rope but before he could jump was pulled down by Parker. 

The referee called for the disqualification as Ever-Rise attacked Scott. Scott was continually stomped by the pair before, out of all people, Tony Nese hit the ring for the rescue. Nese scared Martel and Parker away from Scott before asking the referee to turn this into a tag match. The referee agreed to the match’s making before the ring announcer concretized the match with an official announcement.

Isaiah “Swerve” Scott and Tony Nese defeated Ever-Rise (Matt Martel and Chase Parker) 

Nese and Scott, who were seemingly rivals this time last week, were now a team. Before the match could begin Nese and Scott were already in a spat, both men wanted to start the match. Scott demanded he starts regardless of his condition. Parker, who was starting the match for his team, immediately jumped Scott as soon as the bell sounded. Nese reached for the tag but Scott was already being dragged across the ring by Parker. Martel tagged in and began a team-based assault. Martel and Parker traded legality as they beat down the already attacked Scott. 

Parker as the legal man tried for a suplex, but was blocked by Scott. Scott connected with a standing suplex of his own. Scott was obviously damaged and considered tagging in Nese but instead turned his attention to Parker. Parker soon after landed a punch that forced Scott to step back towards his corner. Much to the dissatisfaction of Scott, Nese tagged himself into the match. 

Nese immediately took the offense to Parker. After gaining significant control of the match, Nese offered the tag to Scott. Scott begrudgingly accepted the tag and aided Nese in delivering a double standing suplex. Scott began to attack the left leg of Parker but was quite quickly kicked off. Parker ran and got the tag. Martel struck Scott before taking him to the ground. 

Martel kept the pressure on Scott before tagging into Parker once more. Parker landed an elbow drop and tried for the pin but Scott kicked out. Scott, now on the ground, was receiving calls for a tag from Nese. As Scott inched closer and closer for a tag Martel tried to disrupt the opposing team by attacking Nese. Nese cartwheeled over Martel and connected with a nice forearm. Nese returned to the apron just in time for the tag from Scott. 

Nese hit the ring with ferocity. A set of high impact strikes left Parker laid out. Martel hit the ring and was immediately thrown out by Nese. Nese then ran the length of the ring with Parker’s head in his control. Nese jumped the top rope to drag the throat of Parker against it while simultaneously landing on the recovering Martel. 

Nese climbed to the second rope and connected with a picture-perfect moonsault which he followed with a kicked from pin attempt. Martel hit the ring again, and this time he created a long enough break for Parker to grab Nese. Parker positioned Nese up and connected with a gory bomb. The pin attempt that followed was broken up by Scott. 

All four men were now in the ring. After a momentary staredown, a brawl ensued. Martel and Scott were soon on the outside of the ring. Parker tried to roll up Nese, but found himself on the receiving end of a spinning heel kick after Nese rolled through. 

Nese pulled Parker into the corner and connected with a running knee. Nese then called for Scott to tag in. Scott accepted the tag and ascended to the top rope from where he connected with a double foot stomp. Scott pinned Parker and secured the victory.

Nese and Scott shook hands following their win but Scott still seemed confused by his newfound ally.

This match was very solid in both of its phases. The cut short singles portion of the match played off a simple  “Anything you can do I can do better” theme before its end. Thankfully its quick ending was not actually the end as tag match that followed seamlessly its theme into one of the unlikely allies.   

The tag portion of the match was fast-paced and story-driven. While it was short from perfect it made every second count. 

While on the topic of this match, Nese’s involvement in the second phase is intriguing. While his motivations are unclear what is clear is he has some motivation. Finding them out is something to look forward to. 

Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza with Santos Escobar) defeated Leon Ruff and Liam Gray

As soon as the bell sounded, Joaquin Wilde laid Leon Ruff out with a clothesline. Ruff had his arm attacked in the moments that followed. After an atomic drop and a moonsault, Raul Mendoza tagged in. Mendoza picked Ruff apart as the match continued. Ruff lucked into a tag after being tossed in the general direction of his partner. Liam Gray was able to get in some sparse strikes before being hit with a clothesline. Gray took a flip bump. Wilde tagged in again and held Gray in position for a running kick. Wilde then pinned Gray for the win.

Legado del Fantasma stood tall in the center of the ring following their victory. 

A decisive squash. There is absolutely nothing in this match to complain about. It had a simple purpose that was easily achieved.

Two tag matches announced for WWE 205 Live

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Tonight’s episode of 205 Live will feature two tag team matches.

One of those is a six-man tag match. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott will team up with Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch against Tony Nese, Jack Gallagher & Tehuti Miles.

After Miles got a win against Burch the previous week, Lorcan defeated Miles on 205 Live last Friday. Like in his win against Burch, Miles tried to roll-up Lorcan while holding his tights for leverage. Burch alerted the referee about it, Miles started arguing with Burch, and Lorcan rolled up Miles to get the win.

Scott defeated Gallagher on 205 Live last week after turning an armbar attempt by Gallagher into a pin. Nese then attacked Scott after the match.

Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel) vs. EVOLVE’s Leon Ruff & Adrian Alanis will also air on 205 Live tonight. Ever-Rise previously lost to Lorcan & Burch on an episode of 205 Live last month.