On Monday’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that former WWE wrestler Tony Nese has signed with AEW.
Nese made his on-screen debut during Saturday’s Dynamite in Orlando, Florida, as he was shown sitting in the crowd twice watching the action and referred to as “one of the hottest free agents in wrestling.”
Nese made his in-ring debut during Dark’s Sunday doubleheader of tapings at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. He wrestled twice Sunday, but neither of his matches are scheduled for tonight’s show. It’s expected that AEW won’t officially announce the deal until one or both of those matches air.
The 36-year-old was released in June as part of a mass amount of cuts by WWE. Nese spent five years on the company’s main roster, but was mainly seen on 205 Live or NXT the past few years. He held the Cruiserweight title for nearly three months in 2019.
His signing is the latest for AEW as they recently locked down both Daniel Garcia and Lee Moriarty to full-time deals. It’s unknown if this is also a full-time deal.
Tony Nese made an appearance on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.
Nese was shown during the opening match, where Bryan Danielson defeated Dustin Rhodes to advance in the World Title Eliminator tournament. Nese was then shown again during the second tournament match, when Eddie Kingston defeated Lance Archer to advance. Both times the announcers put over that Nese was one of the hottest free agents in the industry.
After being released from WWE in June, Nese resurfaced on the independents in September, wrestling for Daily Wrestling, Create a Pro, WrestlePro, and Championship Wrestling from Atlanta.
Nese had been a part of WWE’s cruiserweight division since 2016 as one of the original members of the 205 Live roster. He won the Cruiserweight Championship at WrestleMania 35, holding it until that June, when he dropped it to Drew Gulak. Nese continued to wrestle on the brand until he was released on June 25, with his final match airing on June 15 where he lost to Ikemen Jiro.
The rumored WWE releases coming Friday turned out to be accurate as the company continued their recent paredown of the roster, focusing on both NXT and 205 Live talents.
The final list as of Friday night: Fandango, Tyler Breeze, Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari, August Grey, Ever-Rise (Chase Parker and Matt Martel), Curt Stallion, the Bollywood Boyz (Sunil and Samir Singh), Arturo Ruas, Marina Shafir, Killian Dain, and Tino Sabbatelli.
The majority of the releases were first reported by Fightful or PWInsider.
The 39-year-old Fandango (Curtis Hussey) had been with the company since 2006 when he signed a developmental deal and started with Deep South Wrestling. Wrestling as Johnny Curtis, he won the fourth season of NXT with R-Truth as his mentor but was only up on the main roster for a short period of time.
He developed the Fandango character and was called up to the main roster in 2013, eventually forming Breezango with Tyler Breeze in 2016. They eventually found their way back to NXT in 2019 and won the Tag Team titles — his only gold in WWE over his 14-year run. He thanked Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and Paul Levesque in a tweet.
Breeze had been in the system since 2010 and spent five years in FCW/NXT before being called up to the main roster, paired with Summer Rae in a feud with Dolph Ziggler. The 33-year-old had opened a Florida-based wrestling school with Shawn Spears in 2019.
The 35-year-old Nese started with WWE in 2016 as part of the cruiserweight division and held the Cruiserweight title in 2018-19. He was a 205 Live fixture with some NXT appearances sprinkled in. He did appear once on SmackDown in 2020, losing to Matt Riddle.
Similar to Nese, the 32-year-old Daivari was also a 205 Live and cruiserweight division fixture since starting in 2016. He never held a title during his five years. His brother, Shawn, was recently rehired in a producer role. He tweeted it was time to put sports entertainment behind him and get back to professional wrestling.
Parker and Martel (Jeff Parker and Matt Lee) signed in 2019. They had also been working in both NXT and 205 Live. After nearly two months off, they returned on this week’s NXT in a losing effort to Hit Row (Ashante Adonis and Top Dolla).
Grey (Anthony Greene) signed with WWE in August 2020 and also worked both 205 Live and NXT. In a bit of irony, he will be on Friday’s 205 Live in a match with Grayson Waller while the aforementioned Daivari will face Ikemen Jiro. Grey joked on Twitter that his match is now a loser-leaves-town affair.
Stallion was signed in October 2020 and also was featured on 205 Live. He had recently been cleared to return to action following a wrist injury.
The Singh brothers (Gurvinder Sihra and Harvinder Sihra) started in 2016 and were paired up with then-WWE Champion Jinder Mahal on the main roster in 2017. After nearly two years, they were back on 205 Live. They did each hold the 24/7 title in 2019.
A freestyle wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace, Ruas (Adrian Jaoude) signed in 2015 and was in NXT for nearly his entire run, save an appearance on Raw Underground last year. He has been on the sidelines with an injured bicep and hasn’t been in action since last November.
Shafir, a friend of Ronda Rousey and part of the Four Horsewomen group, signed in 2018 along with Jessamyn Duke. Similar to Ruas, she was in NXT for nearly the duration of her run but made her own Raw Underground appearance. She is married to current NXT roster member Roderick Strong.
Ther 36-year-old Dain (Damian Mackie) signed in 2016 and was part of the Sanity faction that started in NXT and eventually called up to the main roster. After the group was disbanded, he returned to NXT in 2019. He tweeted a lengthy thank you and “see you in 90 days.”
Sabbatelli (Sabatino Piscitelli) was the final name reported Friday, released in his second stint with WWE. Signed in 2014, he was best known for teaming with Riddick Moss in NXT. He was cut in April 2020, re-signed in October but didn’t actually wrestle after he returned. In the between time, he worked one match on AEW Dark.
Since last week I’ve done light research on Grayson Waller (FKA Matty Wahlberg), and he has considerable talent. His back catalogue is impressive, as was this match. This match was considerably better than the average 205 Live outing.
The first screenless 205 Live match in the Capitol Wrestling Center began with an exciting back and forth ground exchange. After backing Waller into the ropes, Hale offered Waller his guard, which Waller responded with a boot. A quick kick to the head sent Hale to the outside, where Waller slammed him to the floor.
As soon as the pair re-entered the ring, Hale sent Waller back to the outside and hit a running knee. Hale wasn’t able to follow up as Waller interrupted a top rope dive. Waller connected with significant and uncontested offence while scoring multiple near falls, but Waller allowed Hale back into the match when he paused to taunt him.
Hale rallied, connecting with a barrage of strikes. Waller slid to the outside and tried for his stunner but slipped into a deep sleeper. Waller escaped the hold by falling to the outside; this allowed him to try for a second stunner, and this time it connected. A curb stomp from Waller followed, leading to the pin.
Waller extended his hand to Hale following his victory but shook his own hand, leaving Hale visibly upset.
Ikemen Jiro defeated Tony Nese
While this wasn’t a Dragon Gate/Wrestle-1 war of alumni, such as some might have expected, it was convivial through and through. Jiro seems incapable of having a match that doesn’t leave you grinning.
The opening “feeling out process” ended after Nese pulled Jiro’s hair, slamming him to the mat. Jiro popped up and flaunted his flower-adorned jacket. Jiro connected with light offence before Nese used referee-created separation to land with a throat punch. Jiro rolled to the floor, and Nese followed, battering against the announce table.
Before Nese returned to the ring, he put on his hoodie, mocking Jiro’s signature appearance. Nese lifted Jiro for a backbreaker, but Jiro escaped, pulling Nese’s jacket over his face. Jiro took advantage of a now blind Nese by connecting with strikes galore. Jiro hit a beautiful senton bomb for a near fall.
Nese landed a head kick as Jiro was perched on the top turnbuckle. Jiro tried for a rollup as he descended, but Nese caught him with a second head kick. Nese set up for the running knee, but Jiro rolled to the outside.
Once back between the ropes, Jiro hit four thunderous kicks in quick succession (the sound clearly not from a boot meeting flesh). The fourth kick was the Ikemen Slash, and it led to the Jiro pinfall.
Jiro has wrestled on 205 Live twice previously, teaming with August Grey in tag matches. Jiro & Grey have defeated Nese & Ariya Daivari and The Bollywood Boyz. Jiro & Grey also teamed together on NXT last week, losing to The Grizzled Young Veterans.
Jiro (formerly known as Jiro “Ikemen” Kuroshio) was part of the group of wrestlers that joined the WWE Performance Center last December. AJPW, DDT, and Wrestle-1 are among the promotions that he’s wrestled for during his career.
Hale (Anthony Henry) and Waller (formerly known as Matty Wahlberg) both joined the WWE Performance Center earlier this year. Hale made his WWE debut on NXT last month and has wrestled on 205 Live four times. Waller made his 205 Live debut by defeating Sunil Singh last week. Singh suffered a dislocated shoulder while facing Waller but still finished the match.
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.
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.
Jake Atlas and August Grey defeated Sunil Singh and Samir Singh (The Bollywood Boyz)
This was a stereotypically forgettable 205 Live match; I’m not even sure why it exists.
Sunil started the match by taking Grey to the mat via headlock. After Grey escaped, both Samir and Atlas tagged in. Atlas kicked free from a rollup attempt so forcefully that Samir found himself outside the ring, leaving Atlas in control. Grey maintained this momentum following another tag.
A hot tag allowed Sunil to gain control—a spinning heel kick led to a Singh favored near fall, and a neck breaker followed by an elbow drop led to another.
Atlas stopped a double team maneuver, allowing Atlas to tag Grey into the match. Atlas hit his distracted opponent with a devastating superkick that Grey followed with a crossbody. Grey was successful in the pin that followed.
Chase Parker and Matt Martel (Ever-Rise) defeated Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese
This was a compelling match. formatively unique. Matt Martel played both a victim in need of rescue and conquering hoss in a convincing fashion. Nese and Daivari delivered as always.
The opening exchange saw Nese connect with a quick elbow which he used to take full advantage of the match; Nese and Daivari traded tags, picking apart Martel. After a minutes-long, utterly one-sided beatdown, Martel finally created some separation after a moment of distraction provided by Parker. Nese prevented the tag, restarting the destruction of Martel.
Parker broke up a tag following a Nese moonsault. Nese paid his attention to Parker, allowing Martel to tag into the match for the first time. Parker connected with a barrage of offense, punctuated by a Gory bomb. After Nese kicked out, Parker tried tagging out; Martel was understandably still regaining consciousness outside the ring. Martel tagged in once he could, only to fall victim to a Nese/Daivari double team once more.
Martel managed to sidestep Nese and tag in Parker again. Following an Ever-Rise double team maneuver, Martel tagged in once more, hitting a powerbomb before nearly submitting Nese with a crab; Daivari hit Martel with a superkick to break up the hold. Martel ducked the Daivari hammerlock lariat before hitting Nese with a double stun gun with help from Parker. Nese was pinned, leaving Ever-Rise with a win.
This was a breezy match. It had a simple structure and a fine execution—nothing exceptional, but not bad.
Atlas started the match by securing the arm of Adonis and taking him to the mat. Atlas’s control was short-lived, and Adonis connected with a heavy clothesline after escaping. Adonis then took the match completely into his favor, stuffing a cartwheel DDT attempt before slamming Atlas into the CWC chain link barricade and ring steps. Adonis turned his attention to Atlas’s arm.
Atlas escaped an armbar before connecting with multiple kicks, uppercuts, and a suplex. He then climbed to the top rope but was met by Adonis, who threw Atlas to the mat and delivered a crossbody of his own.
After a failed Adonis pin attempt, Atlas delivered a quick knee dazing Adonis. Atlas then tried for another cartwheel DDT, and this time it connected, allowing Atlas to pin Adonis for the win.
August Grey defeated Tony Nese
The new story on 205 Live: August Grey hates count outs. Again this was fine. It was awkward at times, and this finish was kind of silly, but this wasn’t an awful match or anything approaching that.
Grey gained an early headlock which he used to set the pace of the match. He took Nese to the ground multiple times, all the while maintaining control of the head. Nese eventually broke the hold by dropping Grey on his back.
Nese hoisted Grey into position for a pump handle, but Grey wiggled free. Grey hit Nese before climbing to the top, only for Nese to cut him off. After slamming Grey to the mat, Nese connected with a gutbuster and a suplex. Nese then successfully hit the pump handle for a near fall.
Grey stuffed Nese’s running hotshot with his boot; this allowed Grey to slam Nese into the ropes. Grey followed up with a dive, destroying Nese—the referee’s count climbed to 9 before Grey broke the count, just as he did for Mansoor last week. Grey rolled Nese into the ring before Ariya Daivari gained his attention. Nese tried for a rollup that Grey reversed into a pin of his own for the win.
This was one of my favorite 205 Live matches to date. It flew by despite its long runtime. There were highs and lows, all of which worked well.
Grey controlled Mansoor’s head and neck moments into the match. Mansoor tried for some pins but continually fell into Grey’s headlock. A rollup attempt from Mansoor finally provided him with a moment to capitalize; a moonsault left Mansoor ahead for the first time.
A clothesline resulted in a near fall for Mansoor. His offense continued, both on the ground with some basic holds and standing with some nice strikes.
While standing, Mansoor tried for multiple haymakers that Grey ducked. In fact, Mansoor’s strikes were so out of his control that he went flying to the outside. Grey connected with a dive and a crossbody in quick succession.
A fast scramble for control broke out. A German suplex from Mansoor ended the exchange. However, Mansoor was too slow in his follow-up as Grey connected with a boot and a springboard Russian leg sweep.
Mansoor landed on his feet following a toss. He then failed a moonsault overshooting Grey but landing on his feet. Grey caught Mansoor with a superkick and a devastating slam for a convincing near fall. Grey was quick to follow up with an unprettier, but Mansoor rolled outside the ring before Grey could pin him.
The referee’s count climbed to 9, with Mansoor lifeless and Mansoor’s winning streak all but over, but the ever honorable Grey rolled to the outside, breaking the count. For some reason, the fans booed. Grey rolled Mansoor into the ring and was immediately caught in an inside cradle, leaving Mansoor with a win and his streak intact.
Chase Parker and Sunil Singh [Bolly-Rise] (with Matt Martel and Samir Singh) defeated Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese
Other than this being Bolly-Rise’s first victory, there’s nothing special about this one. It had its fun moments and wasn’t bad by any means, but this was mediocre compared to the match that took place prior.
Nese gained an early lead over Sunil, but a quick arm drag left Sunil in control. Parker and Sunil then traded tags, working the arms of Nese. Bolly-Rise seemingly had Nese’s number until a distraction from Daivari allowed Nese to catch Sunil with a clubbing blow.
Daivari tagged in and reasserted his team’s dominance. Nese and Daivari traded tags, slowly picking apart Sunil. After some time, Sunil escaped from a choke and succeeded in a hot tag. Parker took out both Daivari and Nese before hitting the latter with a Gory Bomb. Sunil tagged in and hit an elbow drop; Daivari broke up the pin.
After some chicanery, Nese was left alone in the ring with a distracted Sunil. Nese hit a running hotshot and moonsault before tagging in Daivari, who then hit the Persian splash; Parker broke up the pin.
More trickery ensued, allowing Samir Singh to slide a chain to Daivari. The referee got onto Daivari, providing the perfect distraction for Sunil. Sunil rolled Daivari up for the upset victory that finally got Bolly-Rise into the win column.
In the opening stretch, Adonis gained a few moments of control. Daivari would respond with some light offence before a dropkick from Adonis provided an opening to scale to the top rope. At the top, Daivari laid out Adonis, sending him crashing back to the mat.
After the fall, Daivari and Adonis traded strikes; Adonis emerged from the exchange victorious. A sidestep subverted Daivari’s attempt at saving his momentum. A crossbody and a near fall from Adonis followed.
Adonis tried again for a move, but this time overshot Daivari. Adonis sold his leg upon landing, prompting Daivari to rush in; Adonis stopped the rush with a sudden spinebuster. However, Adonis was unable to follow up as a quick dropkick to the injured leg left Daivari back in control.
Daivari then hit the hammerlock lariat but intentionally interrupted his own pin that would have granted him a win. Daivari then taunted his all but defeated opponent before slowly climbing to the top rope from where he lept, delivering the Persian splash. Daivari laid into the pin lackadaisically, giving Adonis enough breathing room to not only escape but transform it into a pin of his own, a pin that Daivari was unable to break.
This was fine. Nothing spectacular, but focused enough to deliver an entertaining watch.
Jake Atlas defeated Tony Nese
Nese and Atlas proved to be on equal footing in the opening moments. After trading holds and reversals, Atlas took Nese to the mat with an arm drag and controlled said arm for some time. Nese eventually found the ropes, and the break gave him space and the correct timing to connect with a running hotshot.
Nese dragged Atlas to the outside before repeatedly driving him into the apron of the ring. Back inside the ropes, Nese stomped on Atlas’s body before taking him to the mat with body scissors. As Atlas struggled to free himself from Nese’s control, Nese connected with a suplex. The momentary spacing created by the manoeuvre seemed to allow Atlas back into the match, but Nese stopped any momentum Atlas was gaining with a devastating roundhouse kick.
Nese hoisted Atlas into the torture rack. Atlas not only escaped the submission but quickly turned it into a brainbuster; A standing moonsault and a near fall punctuated the Atlas rally that followed.
Atlas tried for a sunset flip, but Nese blocked it. Nese connected with a swift kick to the temple and a springboard moonsault resulting in another Nese near fall. Nese then insulted Atlas, triggering a melee which turned into a counter exchange. Atlas connected with a lariat and a cartwheel DDT before pinning Nese.
This was quite good. Atlas is a part of a rare breed of true babyfaces, and Nese his perfect heel complement.
Mansoor and Ashante “Thee” Adonis defeated Samir Singh and Chase Parker
Bolly-Rise made their in-ring return, this time with the pairing of Samir Singh and Chase Parker.
Singh and Mansoor started the match in typical fashion. After some light offense favoring Mansoor, Parker and Adonis subbed in. Adonis and Parker traded some light offense of their own before Adonis was lured into the Bolly-Rise corner, allowing Singh to steal control. Parker and Singh traded tags, picking apart Adonis in the process.
Adonis fought for and eventually succeeded in tagging in Mansoor. Mansoor connected with multiple atomic drops on both of his opponents, but Parker and Singh proved to be too much in tandem. Singh landed an elbow drop for a near fall.
Parker and Singh set up for a double team maneuver before being interrupted by Adonis; this allowed Mansoor to connect with a falcon arrow. After a brief four-man brawl, Adonis hit a superkick and Singh and pinned him.
Mansoor remains undefeated as Bolly-Rises continues to be winless. This was an inoffensive match. Nothing special about it, but it wasn’t bad.
Jake Atlas defeated Tony Nese
Immediately following the opening bell, the music of Ariya Daivari played and out walked Daivari. Nese took advantage of this distraction, clubbing Atlas. Nese maintained his newfound control with a variety of strikes.
Time after time, Atlas gained some separation, only to lose it. Atlas finally fought Nese to the floor and connected with a moonsault. Back in the ring, Atlas connected with a lariat, which resulted in a near fall.
Nese stopped Atlas from following up by grabbing his hair. Nese used his fist full of locks to deliver a running hotshot followed by a moonsault. Atlas kicked out of the pin attempt that followed.
Atlas fought free from a suplex to buy separation. Atlas landed big move after big move before trying for pins resulting in near falls; this prompted Daivari to toss his chain into the ring behind the referee’s back. Before Nese could act, August Grey ran out from the back and grabbed the chain. In the chaos, Atlas rolled Nese up for the win.
There isn’t a lot to say about this match. Even with the interference, it felt by the numbers. Again, not bad per se, just plain.
The first round of the men’s Dusty Classic will conclude with Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher facing Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari on Friday’s 205 Live episode. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell will also face Gigi Dolin (Priscilla Kelly) & Cora Jade (Elayna Black) in a women’s Dusty Classic first round match on the show.
Ciampa & Thatcher teaming together in the men’s Dusty Classic was set up after Thatcher defeated Ciampa in their Fight Pit match in the main event of this week’s NXT. Ciampa & Thatcher are replacing Ashante “Thee” Adonis & Desmond Troy in the tournament. There was an angle where Adonis & Troy were taken out of the Dusty Classic after Adonis lost to Karrion Kross on NXT. Kross also put Troy in the Kross Jacket after the match.
The Ciampa & Thatcher vs Nese & Daivari match will decide who advances to face Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong in the men’s Dusty Classic quarterfinals.
Cole & Strong, Kushida & Leon Ruff, and The Grizzled Young Veterans have advanced to the quarterfinals from the left side of the men’s Dusty Classic bracket. MSK, Drake Maverick & Killian Dain, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado, and Legado Del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde have advanced from the right side of the bracket.
Along with Zoey Stark (Lacey Ryan), Dolin & Jade are both new WWE signees. Stark is teaming with Marina Shafir against Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon in the first round of the women’s Dusty Classic. The team that wins that match will advance to face either LeRae & Hartwell or Dolin & Jade in the semifinals of the tournament.
The women’s Dusty Classic kicked off with Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter upsetting Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez on this week’s NXT. Catanzaro & Carter will face either Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez or Aliyah & Jessi Kamea in the semifinals.
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.
WWE has announced which two matches will be taking place on the first 205 Live episode of 2021.
Mansoor vs. Jake Atlas is set for tonight’s New Year’s Day edition of 205 Live. Curt Stallion & Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel) vs. Ariya Daivari & The Bollywood Boyz (Sunil & Samir Singh) is also set for tonight’s show.
Mansoor is undefeated on 205 Live. He defeated Raul Mendoza on last week’s show.
Atlas was most recently in action when he lost to Isaiah “Swerve” Scott on NXT last week. That was a rematch after Atlas had won their previous meeting. Scott refused a handshake after that match and then used a headbutt to help him get the win in their rematch.
Stallion became the number one contender to Santos Escobar’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship by winning a fatal five-way match on 205 Live in November. Stallion has yet to get his title shot. Escobar is defending the Cruiserweight title against Gran Metalik on NXT New Year’s Evil next Wednesday.
Ever-Rise and The Bollywood Boyz have recently been feuding with each other. Parker defeated Samir Singh in a singles match on 205 Live last week.
205 Live airs on the WWE Network at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Fridays.
