After 267 episodes, the era of WWE 205 Live has come to an abrupt end.
First reported by PWInsider, the first episode of a new program called NXT Level Up will be taped Tuesday prior to NXT’s Vengeance Day that will air on Syfy.
The one-hour show will replace 205 Live starting this Friday, inheriting their 10 PM Eastern time slot on Peacock/WWE Network.
WWE recently filed a trademark for the Level Up name.
Introduced after the 2016 Cruiserweight Classic, 205 Live began airing WWE Network on November 29 of that year with a focus on cruiserweights. Paul Levesque took over creative in January 2018 and the show became the exclusive home for cruiserweights instead of them also appearing on Raw.
The show bounced between Tuesday and Wednesday nights during its run before eventually finding a home on Fridays in October 2019. It eventually became more integrated with NXT and the 205-pound weight limit was dropped as well.
Trick and Jiro opened the match with showy chain wrestling. A whip into the ropes ended the opening sequence and left Williams in a strong position. Trick used a straightjacket choke to keep Jiro on the ground for some time; Jiro flipped out of the hold, initiating a rally filled with jacket punches. Out of left field, Trick caught Jiro in the corner before landing a swinging neckbreaker. Trick then pinned Jiro for an abrupt end to this match.
Lash Legend defeated Erica Yan
This was pretty bad. The in-ring was either uninteresting or awkward.
Legend ended Yan’s early attempt at wrestling by using her strength advantage. A sit-down slam and an elbow drop left Legend with a near fall. After Legend held her on the mat for a while, Yan eventually began a rally, landing a crossbody to gain a lead late in the match. Legend caught Yan before she could follow up in a back-to-back stretch. Yan submitted.
Joe Gacy defeated Xyon Quinn
The match was unremarkable, but hey, what can you expect?
Joe Gacy cut a promo calling 205 Live exclusionary. According to Gacy, now that 205 Live no longer discriminates based on weight, everyone has the opportunity to “level up”, including his opponent Xyon Quinn.
This Gacy fellow is weird, but it’s nice that there is some kind of narrative on this show.
Quinn and Gacy opened the match with a playful exchange, but as things escalated, Quinn established control. Gacy fought into the match with a backdrop which he followed with some neck-focused groundwork. Gacy avoided Quinn’s attempts at offence for a while, but Quinn eventually caught him with a headbutt followed by multiple Irish whips. Quinn tried to follow up, but Harland at ringside grabbed Gacy, helping him overpower Quinn. Gacy then hit a handspring lariat to close the match.
Jenson has decided to wrestle in blue jeans, along with a giant belt buckle and cowboy boots, just in case there was any illusion of subtlety in his character. This was a cute little match with a cute little finish.
After a chain wrestling sequence, Bodhi landed an arm drag, opening Jensen up to a handful of standing splashes. Jensen reversed momentum with an arm drag of his own before landing some strikes. Jensen locked in a choke that acted as a catalyst to Bodhi’s comeback. Bodhi landed a bunch of strikes and tackles. Bodhi was setting up for a final blow, but Jensen caught him with a knee to end the match.
Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter defeated Fallon Henley and Lash Legend
This was a pretty by-the-book tag match.
The match began with Legend throwing Catanzaro across the ring. Carter tried helping Catanzaro in overwhelming Legend, but was unsuccessful as Legend soon was in complete control.
Henley was able to maintain her team’s lead for a while, but eventually, Catanzaro got the hot tag. Legend tagged in, but was unable to stop Catanzaro’s momentum. Carter held Legend in place as Catanzaro landed a nice splash, leading to the pinfall victory.
Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs were dancing outside of the ring after the finish.
Kushida defeated Damon Kemp
I liked this quite a bit for what it was. Simple and to the point as both men pulled off a nice, focused match.
Kemp opened the match by shooting on Kushida, resulting in an early toss. Kemp didn’t follow up, allowing Kushida to start the ground game following a quick transition. Kushida paid close attention to Kemp’s arm, but eventually Kemp used his strength to regain control.
A German suplex from Kemp was followed with hesitation due to his damaged arm. Kushida was able to take the lead back quickly and maintained it by working on Kemp’s arm again. Kushida fought out of a fireman’s carry and transitioned into an armbar resulting in the submission.
This wasn’t anything special—just a brief, inconsequential heavyweight outing.
Kemp tried early for a takedown, with little success. Briggs landed a boot, multiple grounded strikes, and a splash before Kemp started to rally. A shoulder tackle left Kemp in control for the first time. Kemp tried to follow up by whipping Briggs into the corner, but Briggs bounced out, delivering a lariat. Briggs then pinned Kemp to close the opening match.
Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon defeated Amari Miller and Lash Legend
Not that this was great or anything, but there was effort put into this, so that’s something.
Feroz opened the match by landing kicks to the legs of Legend before tagging in Leon, who immediately lost control. Legend could not follow up. however, as Miller demanded a tag. She gained the lead, grounding her opponent before Legend tagged back into the match.
Legend regained the lead before tagging Miller back in, and the Miller/Legend pair worked in a successful tandem for the first time, isolating Feroz. This lasted until Legend refused to tag in, allowing Feroz to score a hot tag. Legend eventually tagged back into the match after it was clear Miller needed out.
Legend gained control over Leon, prompting Miller to tag herself back into the match, leading to a quibble between Miller and Legend. Leon then trapped Miller in a quick pin.
Joe Gacy defeated Draco Anthony
This match opened with a lot of back and forth before a distraction from Harland allowed Gacy to score a backdrop. Gacy controlled the match on the ground for some time.
After Anthony fought to his feet, he found great offensive success. Before he could finish Gacy, however, Gacy looked at him in a weird manner. This must have freaked out Anthony; he seemed flabbergasted. Gacy landed a lariat, leading to the pin.
This week’s show was taped at the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida, with Vic Joseph & Nigel McGuinness as commentators.
Xyon Quinn defeated Oney Lorcan
The fans were behind Quinn from the start. He’s got the look and charisma that a lot of recruits have lacked. Lorcan controlled the match early on by utilizing his ground and pound offense. However, after escaping a headlock, Quinn bounced back with an inverted atomic drop and brutal lariat. He then finished Lorcan off with a forearm for the win.
Ikemen Jiro defeated Malik Blade
In a pre-match promo, Jiro explained that he’s not like most strong style Japanese wrestlers. Rather, he’s a style strong Japanese wrestler.
“Ikemen” chants poured in from the crowd at the beginning of the match. After taking his attention off Jiro, Blade landed a beautiful dropkick followed by a sweet Performance Center armdrag to kick off the action.
Unfortunately for Blade, his offense didn’t last long. Jiro worked Blade’s left arm and shoulder and hit a running senton for a near fall. Blade worked out of an armbar attempt which resulted in a crossbody from the top rope for a two count. Jiro escaped a fireman’s carry followed by the Ikemen Slash for the pinfall.
Ember Moon defeated Cora Jade
This was a good TV match that didn’t overstay its welcome.
This started with back and forth mat wrestling with both women displaying their grappling skills. Moon locked on what looked to be a modified neck crank with an armbar that Jade struggled to escape.
After exchanging offense, Jade hit a running knee for a near fall. Moon landed multiple kicks to Jade’s head which commentary emphasized was Moon’s new vicious side.
Moon was about to win by countout, but at the count of eight, she pulled Jade back into the ring. She hit a power bomb, setting up the Eclipse for the win.
Final Thoughts:
I’m not sure if it was just my broadcast feed, but the commentary team’s cut in and out throughout the show.
Unfortunately, since the launch of AEW Rampage, 205 Live has fallen even deeper into obscurity. No matter how easy of a watch the show may be, it will always be an uphill battle for the talent on the show to get any traction.
This show is the definition of filler content that you can easily skip on most weeks. If WWE would make even a few minor changes, like more 205 Live branding around the Capitol Wrestling Center, it would easily help improve the optics. WWE has never seemed to care about the brand and it doesn’t look like that will be changing anytime soon.
I was unfamiliar with both of these women before tonight’s show. I wanted nothing more than to love this match, but it was bad — sloppy beyond belief and horribly unstructured in the closing moments.
This match opened with Feroz gaining control via headlock. Feroz used it to move Cortez across the ring, delivering a rope-assisted bulldog before transitioning into arm control.
Once Cortez freed herself from control on the ground, she began connecting with significant offense. Feroz almost stopped it with two quick arm drags. She tried following up by climbing onto Cortez’s shoulders, but I’m not sure what her goal was.
Cortez tried flipping Feroz around, presumably into a more traditional powerbomb position, but dropped Feroz on her head in the process. Cortez then lifted Feroz again, this time by her legs. Cortez was unable to get Feroz off the mat, so Cortez contorted her into a Boston crab.
Feroz kicked free from the Boston crab, connecting with two armdrags and a DDT before getting the pin.
Trey Baxter and Odyssey Jones defeated Joe Gacy and Josh Briggs
This match was fun. The open and close was action packed and while the extended heat segment at Baxter’s expense was long, it was filled with excellent selling.
Baxter opened with quick offense against Gacy and forced him to tag in Briggs. Briggs dropped Baxter who then tagged in Jones. After a two-way scuffle, Jones emerged with control.
Briggs and Gacy failed to take out the lone Jones. Gacy and Jones retreated to the outside and Baxter responded with a beautiful dive onto Gacy. Briggs flattened Baxter as soon as he was standing with a big boot. Back in the ring, Briggs dominated Baxter before tagging Gacy back in, who continued brutalizing Baxter.
Baxter fought and fought for a hot tag which soon turned into the bulk of the match. After a splash/senton combination, Gacy turned to taunt Jones, finally giving Baxter space to score a tag. Jones unloaded on Gacy and Briggs, hitting an STO to close the match.
This show was fine and I loved the opening match, but compared to what this was airing against on TNT, this felt like the minor leagues.
Ikeman Jiro defeated Andre Chase
I loved this match as both men filled its short runtime with exciting offense used in ways I have never seen.
Following Jiro’s typical back and forth opening, Chase gained the advantage with a kick to the midsection. Jiro seemingly stopped Chase with a kick of his own, but Chase blocked the follow-up dive by pulling Jiro into the apron in an entertaining spot. This led to Chase controlling the offense.
Jiro eventually stopped Chase’s control with a front flip. Jiro worked Chase into the corner and connected with a beautiful moonsault for a near fall.
Jiro’s offense was short-lived. Chase used Jiro’s hair to slam him into the mat and lock in the STF. Jiro fought to a standing position, sending Chase to the outside. Jiro tried for a dive but paused as Chase wanted to pull him in the apron once more. Jiro kicked him away and hit a moonsault, followed by a senton back inside the ring. Chase kicked out of a convincing near fall.
Jiro tried for an Ikeman slash, but Chase avoided it. After a few rollup attempts from Jiro, Chase landed a tiger driver for a convincing near fall of his own.
Chase pulled Jiro to the corner where he unsuccesfully tried to tie Jiro’s hair on the top turnbuckle. As Chase became aware of what was happening, Jiro hit the Ikeman slash and got the pin.
Joe Gacy defeated Grayson Waller
This was decent with fun moments of intensity, but it wasn’t overly memorable.
As the match got underway, Gacy took Waller to the mat. As the two men returned to their feet, Gacy connected with multiple power moves, punctuated by a judo throw that left Gacy with ground control once more. Waller freed himself from a headlock, triggering an extended striking battle.
Waller emerged from the strike trading with the advantage, taking Gacy to the mat soon after. Waller hoisted the heavier Gacy onto his shoulders which allowed Gacy to fight free. However, Waller didn’t let Gacy follow up as he connected with a leg sweep and elbow drop immediately afterward.
As Waller looked to close the match, Gacy sidestepped him to connect with a beautifully brutal handspring lariat. Gacy then pinned Waller for the win.
Not live from the WWE Performance Center, this week’s WWE 205 Live featured Jake Atlas taking on Ari Sterling while Asher Hale took on Guru Raaj in a rematch.
Asher Hale defeated Guru Raaj
This was a rematch from last week when Raaj got the win following a backslide pin, extending Hale’s losing streak to five straight.
The early portion featured a lot of chain wrestling and ground work. Hale (the former Anthony Henry) locked in an Indian deathlock with a reverse bridge/chinlock that almost got Raaj to tap.
Raaj later fired up after eating some Hale kicks, hitting a barrage of shoulderblocks in the corner. A running bulldog got a two count and another backslide almost did Hale until he rolled through and hit a big kick, a Crossroads, and a modified brainbuster got Hale the victory.
While a perfectly fine wrestling match, at best, this could be described as bland with neither guy standing out.
Jake Atlas defeated Ari Sterling
This was another competitive match, but unlike Hale vs. Raaj, the best moments were saved for the last minute.
Atlas hit a nice looking kick in the early going as Sterling jumped into the ring from the outside. However, Atlas kept working a reverse bear hug to keep Sterling grounded which was frustrating on the entertainment scale.
Things finally got going late as Sterling hit a flatliner that got two, followed by a big Atlas jumping knee and a fallaway slam that got two. Sterling later hit a running frankensteiner while Atlas was sitting on the top rope which was impressive to say the least.
The end came when Sterling (the former Alex Zayne) missed a 450 splash (standing, no less) and Atlas gave him a German suplex just short of the turnbuckles. Atlas then hit a cool-looking cartwheel DDT off the top rope to get the pin and his third straight win.
Final Thoughts:
I’m not a regular 205 Live watcher, but to me, if you’re giving cruiserweights a 30-minute show on a Friday night at the end of a busy wrestling week, let’s make it buzzworthy. Three of the four were studs on the indie scene, but the WWE style just grinds everything to a standstill.
While everyone worked hard, neither match is worth going out of your way to watch.
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.
The show opened with highlights from Wednesday’s NXT Cruiserweight title match between Lio Rush and Akira Tozawa.
Tom Phillips and Aiden English then welcomed us to the third anniversary of the 205 Live brand. What a time to be alive.
**********
ARYIYA DAIVARI DEFEATED RAUL MENDOZA
Daivari used a side headlock and hit some chops. Mendoza hit a cartwheel, a leapfrog, then sent Daivari outside, which led to nothing. Back inside, Mendoza hit a tijeras, then a springboard tijeras. Mendoza hit a suicide dive.
Mendoza tried another springboard attack, but Daivari shoved him off the ropes to the floor. Daivari sent Mendoza into the steps, then tossed him back inside. He hit an elbow drop for a near fall, then worked a chinlock.
Mendoza broke free of the chinlock, only to be hip tossed into the buckle. Daivari tried a top rope splash but missed. They exchanged strikes. Mendoza connected with a disaster kick, then a springboard missile dropkick for a near fall.
Daivari dodged a pump kick, then hit a uranage for a two count. Mendoza answered with another disaster kick, then hit a modified black hole slam. Daivari blocked another pump kick and hit a superkick.
The finish saw Mendoza hit two kicks. He tried a uranage, but Daivari blocked, then hit a hammerlock lariat for the pin.
This featured some good action, but if I were putting these matches together I would have suggested picking up the pace. The crowd was dead.
**********
Jack Gallagher cut a selfie promo backstage. He said it’s no secret that he’s been unlucky lately, but he’s here tonight to remind Angel Garza and himself that he’s great. He said if he loses, he doesn’t know what he’ll do.
Garza then cut a promo. He said he doesn’t care what happens to Jack, and that he wants to beat Jack again, “Because everybody knows what Garza gets, what Garza wants.” He said after he’s done with Jack, he wants Lio Rush to stop avoiding him and give him a rematch.
Both promos were actually quite good, but Garza’s verbiage was slightly off.
**********
DANNY BURCH DEFEATED GREG WILLIAMS
This was a squash. Williams was the perfect jobber and took a heck of a beating.
They locked up. Williams hit a slap to the face. Burch answered with a big right hand, then used a headlock takeover. Burch hit a shoulder block. Williams tried a leapfrog, but Burch turned it into a flapjack.
Burch hit a couple of European uppercuts, then a vertical suplex. Williams got a brief spurt of offense with a jaw breaker and some strikes, but Burch responded with a headbutt, a German suplex, then hit the Hangman’s DDT, a draping DDT from the top rope, for the pin.
**********
Tom and Aiden threw to a WWE.com video from Wednesday showing a pull-apart between Lio Rush and Angel Garza.
**********
ANGEL GARZA DEFEATED JACK GALLAGHER
This was good. Garza is super green but also super charismatic. Gallagher is good enough to carry a great match by himself, and worked to that end here.
Gallagher used a headlock takeover. Garza forced a rope break. Frustrated, Garza rolled outside. They repeated this spot twice. Garza offered a handshake. Gallagher refused. Garza punched Gallagher in the face.
Gallagher used a second rope handstand. Gallagher used a crucifix for a two count. Gallagher tried a monkey flip out of the corner, but Garza blocked. Garza hit an enziguri, then took his pants off.
Garza sat Gallagher on the top rope and hit some strikes. He tied Gallagher to the tree of woe, then hit a running knee for a two count. Garza hit a pop-up kick to the chest for another near fall. Garza hit a slingshot suplex, then hit a kick for a near fall. Garza applied a camel clutch, then transitioned to a chinlock.
Gallagher hit an up-kick, beginning a mini-comeback. He hit an Irish whip, a hip toss, then a crossbody for a two count. They traded strikes on the top rope. Garza teased a sunset bomb. Galagher tried a flying attack, but came off the top right into a dropkick.
Garza hit a knee to the ribs for a two count. Garza teased a double underhook suplex. Gallagher blocked, then hit a Gentleman’s Headbutt. Garza responded with a superkick, into a double down.
They traded strikes. Gallagher sold as though he snapped, hitting a flurry. He tried a Gentleman’s Dropkick, but Garza blocked. Garza tried a springboard moonsault, but Gallagher kicked him, catching Garza up in the ropes.
Gallagher hit a missile dropkick with Garza draped in the ropes, then hit a Gentleman’s Dropkick. Gallagher covered, but Garza got a foot on the bottom rope.
Gallagher used a guillotine choke. Garza forced a break by backing Gallagher into the corner. Garza then hit the Wing Clipper for the pin.
After the match, Gallagher took apart the announce table. He threw water at the ref, then threw two chairs at the ref. Two security guards ran down, but Gallagher snapped on them. He sent one into the barricade, then hit a series of strikes on the other.
Drake Maverick and three referees ran down. Maverick threatened to suspend Gallagher. Gallagher gave him a Gentleman’s Headbutt, then walked up the ramp, closing the show.
Austin Aries defeated TJP, but a leg injury made him prime game for Neville, who assaulted him until Jack Gallagher made the save.
Gran Metalik actually had a match on 205 Live, but he lost to Noam Dar. Speaking of, Dar tried to play Rich Swann’s own game by having a box with white powder delivered to him, but Swann instead managed to get Ariya Daivari to open it instead.
Brian Kendrick, after teaching Akira Tozawa his final lesson last week, will teach him again next week in a street fight.
Show Recap —
Dasha Fuentes started the show off by interviewing Austin Aries. She asked him about TJP tonight. Aries called him a lapdog for Neville, and said that title shot TJP thinks he’s going to get? Not going to happen. He brought up his injured knee, but injured knee or not, he claimed TJP will never be on the A Double level.
Noam Dar defeated Gran Metalik
Aside from a botched hurricanrana, Metalik looked good early on offense. Alicia Fox distracted Metalik, which allowed Dar to blindside him for heat. Metalik came back with a big springboard elbow. Metalik went to walk around the middle rope when Dar cut him off with a kick to the leg, then followed with a knee strike for the win. This was a good, competitive match.
It was announced that next week Brian Kendrick would face Akira Tozawa in a street fight. Fuentes interviewed Kendrick, who went over the rules of a street fight, and said a crafty mind like his could spell trouble for Tozawa. He wasn’t planning on Tozawa being so stubborn. This final lesson (as opposed to last week’s final lesson) might be the end of Tozawa’s 205 Live dreams.
A Cedric Alexander video package aired. He returns next week.
Mustafa Ali was coming out for a match against Tony Nese when Drew Gulak attacked him from behind, throwing him into the barricade. He threw Ali into the ring post hard, making a nasty sound.
Gulak threw Ali into the ring and told Nese to do the running knee in the corner — he obliged. Both posed in the ring, Gulak lifting up his No Fly Zone sign as Ali was left a complete mess.
Rich Swann was interviewed by Fuentes. She said Dar has claimed that Swann will get what he deserves for trying to break he and Alicia Fox up. Swann offered a rebuttal, but was suddenly interrupted by a guy with a package for a Richard T. Swann. Swann said that’s not him, you’re looking for the guy over there.
That guy over there happened to be Ariya Daivari, who was looking at himself in a mirror. Daivari accepted the gift, thinking it contained some fancy Persian glasses, but soon realized they weren’t, so he left them be as he exited.
Jack Gallagher came in and looked at the gift, but Daivari came back and told him to get lost. He opened the package, and soon enough white powder flew right into his face. He wasn’t too happy about that one.
Austin Aries defeated TJP
TJP spent the early part of the match working on Aries’ busted leg. TJP went to dab while working on a submission, allowing Aries to mount a comeback. He went for a suicide dive and landed it, but tweaked his leg in the process.
Aries went for something off the top rope, but TJP blocked it, clipped his leg, and took him down with the kneebar. TJP grabbed the ropes for leverage, which the referee saw and forced him to let go. TJP had him on his shoulders for the Detonation Kick, but Aries countered with a small package into the Last Chancery, making TJP quickly submit in a solid bout.
Neville blindsided Aries after the match, slamming his bad knee into the post and applying a heel hook. Gallagher ran in with his umbrella and struck Neville with it, sending Neville to the outside to close out the show.
Final Thoughts —
This was a good show. Both matches were pretty solid, and the angles in between were fine, though I thought we were done with the Kendrick/Tozawa stuff. But I guess that’ll be next week…or whenever WWE decides to end it.
Metalik should probably be on 205 more. He and Ali are the kind of guys they need to build around if they want to promote an exciting product. Building up stories is nice, but it can only go so far if you have guys that size that are merely okay.
