The Cruiserweight Championship will be defended on next Tuesday’s episode of 205 Live.
Last night’s show closed with the announcement that Drew Gulak will be challenging for Cedric Alexander’s title next week. The match was set up after Gulak & Jack Gallagher defeated Alexander & Akira Tozawa, with Gulak submitting Tozawa with the Gu-Lock.
Alexander vs. Gulak is a rematch from the SummerSlam pre-show. Alexander retained his title at that pay-per-view by reversing a cradle after a series of pinning attempts. Their storyline has continued since, with Gulak wanting another shot at the title.
Buddy Murphy has also been in the title picture and will challenge for the Cruiserweight Championship in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia at WWE Super Show-Down on October 6.
Lio Rush vs. Noam Dar has also been confirmed for 205 Live next week. The show (along with SmackDown and the season two premiere of Mixed Match Challenge) is taking place at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Lio Rush will be making his main roster debut next week.
After two weeks of hype videos, WWE announced last night that Rush will be wrestling on 205 Live for the first time next Tuesday. The 23-year-old Rush’s character has been presented as arrogant in the pre-debut videos, mentioning that he was disrespected by not being included in the Cruiserweight Classic or the Cruiserweight Championship tournament that culminated at WrestleMania 34.
Rush joined WWE in 2017 and had been wrestling in NXT since, including losing a couple of matches on television. He was involved in some controversy last October for tweeting “I guess these are the things that happen when you’re not TRULY ready for @WWEAsuka” after Emma was released, referencing the program Emma had with Asuka right before that.
The Lucha House Party (Kalisto, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado) vs. Drew Gulak, Brian Kendrick & Jack Gallagher in an elimination tag team match has also been announced for next week’s 205 Live. The show — and next week’s SmackDown — is taking place at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California.
A vignette aired tonight promoting his impending arrival to the brand. Sporting a cocky attitude and demeanor, Rush called himself a living legend and a 23-year-old piece of gold. He said it would only be a matter of time before 205 Live felt the Rush.
Before signing with the WWE, Rush worked for a number of promotions including PWG, EVOLVE, Combat Zone Wrestling and Ring of Honor, where he won their Top Prospect tournament in 2016. He signed with WWE back in July of 2017.
Rush worked live events and made a couple of television appearances before taken off the road for a short time in the fall due to an incident where he mocked Emma’s release from the company. That publicly drew ire from Rush’s peers in WWE and NXT and was kept off television until January. Since losing to Lars Sullivan in a squash, Rush hasn’t appeared on NXT television.
In recent months, Rush has been working NXT house shows with Babatunde, a 6’10 former football player, as his bodyguard.
– Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner came out for a promo, but Lars Sullivan attacked and hit Aichner with three Freak Accident slams while Barthel ran away.
– TM61 defeated Brennan Williams & Christopher Dijak
– Adrian Jaoude & Cezar Bononi defeated Big Boa & Rocky
Sullivan came back out to wreak havoc. He challenged Cole to put his North American Championship on the line against him, likely at a future house show.
After receiving significant blowback on Twitter for a joke he made about Emma being released by WWE this morning, Lio Rush tried to clarify his comments and apologized to fans who thought they were inappropriate.
Rush first referenced Emma losing to Asuka in Asuka’s first two main roster matches at TLC and Raw last week. In a tweet that has since been deleted, he wrote: “I guess these are the things that happen when you’re not TRULY ready for @WWEAsuka.”
In response to the blowback, Rush issued a statement on Twitter (with paragraph breaks added by us) just a few hours after the original post:
“At the end of the day, there’s a certain level of respect within professional wrestlers in the sports & ENTERTAINMENT industry that is noted within peers. With that being said, Emma I respect you and everything you’ve done for our business. It saddens me that the ‘controversial tweet’ got completely blown out of proportion and looked at in a very insensitive way.
As a family man with a 4 year [old] son and expecting another, I would never laugh or mock the fact of someone loosing there job because of how it can affect self person and there families. Whatever the situation may be regarding the release, You’re an amazing performer and respected athlete by yours truly and I’m sure you will excel beyond [expectations].
To my fans who may have seen this as inappropriate as well as Emma’s fans, I apologize and I love you ALL regardless of the responses. On Behalf of myself and the WWE Goodluck!”
While Jack Gallagher, Dash Wilder, and others weren’t as accepting of Rush’s apology, Scott Armstrong (who works as a producer for WWE) called Rush a class act and wrote that rookie mistakes are made to be learned from.
Lio Rush arrived in NXT at tonight’s television tapings.
Rush made his in-ring debut against Velveteen Dream, who was formerly his tag team partner in their pre-WWE days. Rush got a standing ovation shortly into the match, but he lost when Velveteen Dream hit a hop-up elbow drop.
The match was a result of Rush being attacked by Velveteen Dream earlier in the night when making his first appearance in NXT. That attack stopped Rush from facing Aleister Black, and Velveteen Dream continued his storyline with Black by taunting him after defeating Rush.
WWE announced Rush’s signing as he reported to the Performance Center in August. He finished up his indie dates shortly before that, including having his final matches for EVOLVE, CZW, and MCW. Rush previously left Ring of Honor in April.
Another former ROH wrestler made their in-ring debut at tonight’s tapings as well, with Adam Cole having his first NXT match against Eric Young. Shane Thorne also returned to action as he teamed with Nick Miller against Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler in a dark match.
As expected, WWE has officially confirmed that Lio Rush has signed with the company.
The news was announced in an article on their website this afternoon, with it calling Rush a “22-year-old prodigy.” It was also stated that he reported to the Performance Center today.
That Rush would be going to WWE has been known for a while. He last wrestled for Ring of Honor in April, then spent more time on the indies until heading to WWE. He finished up with CZW, EVOLVE, and MCW Pro Wrestling earlier this month.
Rush started with MCW in Maryland in 2014, with NXT’s Velveteen Dream (Patrick Clark) as his tag team partner.
Now that WWE has confirmed Rush’s signing and Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Bobby Fish have appeared on TV, Donovan Dijak should be the next former-ROH wrestler that WWE announces has officially signed with them.
Dave Meltzer reported last month that Dijak was bound for WWE once he finished his commitments on the indies.
– Coast to Coast defeated The Carnies with stereo coast to coast dropkicks.
– The Briscoes defeated The Tempura Boyz when Mark hit the froggy bow on Yo.
– The Rebellion (Kenny King & Caprice Coleman) defeated Jay White & Chris Sabin (w/ Alex Shelley) after interference by Shane Taylor.
Rhett Titus was out in a wheelchair here with his right knee in a brace and wrapped up. Shane Taylor has joined the Rebellion.
– The Young Bucks defeated War Machine in an incredible ROH World Tag Team Championship match.
This was easily the best match on the show with both teams giving it their all. The Bucks won after hitting multiple superkicks like they did to the Briscoes at Final Battle.
– Cody Rhodes defeated Dalton Castle with the Cross Rhodes.
Cody came out dressed as one of Castle’s Boys, which later led to that Boy coming out dressed as Cody. Adam Cole and Hangman Page distracted Castle by holding the other Boy hostage and them attacking Castle after the match. Jay Lethal and Bobby Fish came out to make the save which led to the next match.
– Jay Lethal & Bobby Fish defeated Adam Cole & Hangman Page in a falls count anywhere match
This went all over the building, which has an upstairs balcony, and was complete insanity at times. Lethal and Fish won with Lethal hitting Lethal Injections on both Cole and Page.
– Kelly Klein defeated Scarlett Bordeaux in a Women of Honor match
Both worked hard in this match and Klein has gotten much better over the last couple of years.
– Punishment Martinez defeated David Starr, Jonathan Gresham, Will Ferrara, Shane Taylor, and Beer City Bruiser in a six-man mayhem match
– Lio Rush defeated ROH World Television Champion Marty Scurll in a non-title two-out-of-three falls proving ground match
The win gives Rush a shot at the TV title at ROH’s 15th Anniversary pay-per-view on March 10th. This was easily the second best match of the night.
– ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Kingdom defeated Jay Briscoe, Cheeseburger & Chris Sabin to retain their titles
The fans voted on who would challenge for the titles. Fun match to end the show with everyone in the new Kingdom showing some ability.
Veda wins with a back suplex while Mary is seated on top rope. Good enough match to warm up.
Kelly Klein and BJ Whitmer come out. Klein gives Mary a Michinoku-driver like move and BJ harasses the ring announcer to announce Klein as ‘the only woman that matters’ in Women of Honor.
Jay Briscoe comes out and tells the crowd the ROH officials are concerned about his health and he is not supposed to wrestle tonight. Roderick Strong comes out to tell him it is better that way and Jay should take the night off. Of course, Jay doesn’t accept that reasonable offer, so the main event is still on.
– Caprice Coleman vs ACH
Good match. Caprice yelled out ‘Buddy Landel!’ and proceeded to do a Landel-style elbow off the ropes. Maybe a dozen people in the audience got it. ACH won with the 360 splash.
– Stevie Richards vs Mark Briscoe
OK match. Mark with a DVD like move and then FroggyBo off the top for the pin.
– Beer City Bruiser (w/ Silas Young) vs Cheezburger
What you’d expect. BCB wins with his finisher. Silas mocks Cheeseburger and expresses his disgust for the crown and ACH and CB. Silas picks CB up over his shoulders, but ACH makes the save.
– ANX vs Motor City Machine Guns
Fun match. Good team spots. Heat on Alex Shelley. Finish breaks down and MCMG do a double team buster move on Rhett ( I think) for the pin. MCMG are pretty over.
– Adam Page vs. ROH Champion Jay Lethal
Big pop for Bullet Club, and a good pop for Lethal. Crowd somewhat favored Lethal during the match. Back and forth action. Lots of leg selling by Jay. Page ripped off his knee brace at one point. Big pop for a Young Bucks run in. Superkicks on Lethal, but he kicks out. Another attempt and Lethal ducks and Page gets it. Then Lethal diverts one Buck’s superkick into the other Buck. Follows with a Lethal Injection on both a Buck and Page at the same time. Good for the pin. Really good match.
– Intermission had BJ Whitmer babbling. Crowd wouldn’t let him talk at all. “We want wrestling” chant.
– Dalton Castle (w/The Boys) vs Kamaitachi
Solid match. Fun spots w/ Castle and the Boys. Crowd into it. Castle w/ a bridging suplex for the win.
– Lio Rush vs Adam Cole
The rest of the Bullet Club came out w/ Cole. He then sent them off saying he didn’t need them. Really good match. Near falls and hope spots had me believing Rush would win it, especially after he finally hit a frog splash. But Cole caught him with the knee brain buster for a pin. Afterwards, he shook Lio’s hand and called hm the future of ROH. Then he hugged Lio … but it was just a cover for a Superkick party. Bucks were out and nailed Rush and then all 3 did. MCMG ran them off. Best match on the card.
– War Machine vs. ROH Tag Champions The Addiction (Daniels/Kazarian) in a no DQ title match
Early part was just WM mauling The Addiction with hairs and trash cans. Then they got Hanson taped outside to the corner and Rowe taped inside by his legs to bottom rope. Lots of offense on Rowe, but couldn’t pin him since feet on ropes! Daniels cut him loose and they tried to pin. Rowe kicks out. Powers up and frees Hanson. More brawling. They hit finisher on Kazrian, but Daniels saved. Then War Machine decided to get the tables.
Before they can, two big guys (Shane Taylor and Keith Lee) run in and demolish WM with power bomb moves. The Addiction recover and give Hanson a double suplex with a belly landing on the table for the pin.
– Jay Briscoe vs Rodrick Strong
Lots of heat on Strong. Back and forth match. Ref bump and Jay got visual pin. Revived ref and hit the Jay Driller, but only got 2. A short exchange and Strong hit his suplex into front codebreaker like finish for a surprise victory. Solid match.
