205 Live opens with the Cruiserweight Champion, Neville, being interviewed backstage. Charly asks Neville what he has to say in response to Austin Aries’ special news report last night. Neville says Aries made a crucial error last night when he disrespected the Cruiserweight Championship. He says Aries’ actions and the fans reactions, made him realise he will forever be an outcast. He says everyone wants his reign to end at WrestleMania but nobody seems to have considered what 205 Live would be like without the King. Well, tonight that’s what will happen.
Rich Swann Vs. Ariya Daivari
After a quick handshake, Swann and Ariya lock-up. Daivari slams Swann to the mat and taunts him. Rich ties-up Daivari with his arm behind his back.
Daivari barges Swann to the mat, and they perform a series of leap-frog’s and drop-down’s, only for Swann to hit a nice dropkick. Daivari rolls from the ring and Swann chases him but gets picked-up and essentially Spinebustered onto the announce table. Daivari picks Swann off the ground and shoves him into the ring post, before unleashing some right hands on a slumped Swann,
Back inside the ring, Daivari takes control and beats Swann around the ring. Daivari applies a side headlock and grounds the high-flying Rich Swann. Daivari lifts Rich and hip-tosses him into the turnbuckle. Daivari takes to the top rope and jumps off for a Frog Splash but Swann rolls out of the way. The two trade blows, only for Swann to land a series of nice kicks on Daivari, followed by a modified Michinoku Driver for a near fall.
Daivari whips Swann into the corner, where the referee stands, Swann stops himself to save the referee and Ariya applies a cobra clutch and then a neckbreaker. Daivari goes for the Frog Splash again and it connects for a near fall! Daivari takes to the top rope again but this time Swann catches him with a hurricanrana, then lands a Phoenix Splash for the win!
Winner: Rich Swann
A Phoenix Splash seals the deal as @GottaGetSwann picks up the win against @AriyaDaivari411! #205Live @WWENetwork @WWE205Live pic.twitter.com/WhpTnIDA4d
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) March 29, 2017
We go backstage to Alicia Fox with Charly Caruso. Alicia is asked about Dar’s condition after getting injured on Raw last night. Alicia says Noam will be cleared to compete soon, and then Rich Swann joins her. He says he doesn’t know what Noam Dar’s problem is but he was looking forward to their match and he wishes him a speedy recovery. Just then a delivery guy appears and gives Alicia a package; perfume. Swann says someone must really care about Alicia, who sprays it all over herself, then, when Rich leaves, she sprays it in her mouth.
Mustafa Ali is backstage with Drew Gulak. Drew says he was thinking about Ali’s match with Neville last week. He says Mustafa’s ability can put 205 Live on the map but is it the right road to be on? Mustafa says the fans love the moves, so he will continue them. Gulak goes on a rant about how 205 Live should be more concerned about traditional, wholesome wrestling, as opposed to fan-pleasing moves. He turns around and Mustafa Ali is gone, and he’s walking out to the ring.
Mustafa Ali Vs. Brandon Scott
The bell rings and Ali schools Scott with some fancy amateur wrestling moves and a handspring hip toss. Ali is whipped into the ropes and he comes back with a hurricanrana.
Ali lands a enziguiri on Scott and we see Drew Gulak watching on the monitor backstage. Scott pulls Ali into the ropes, neck first, then unleashes a series of kicks. Scott hits Ali with a clothesline that flips him inside out. Scott takes to the top rope and looks for Jerry Lawler punch but Ali rolls away.
Mustafa slaps Scott in the chest, then lands a forearm to the jaw. Ali dodges Scott with a forward-roll, then springboard’s off of the ropes with a moonsault onto Brandon. Ali with a close-quarters dropkick, then a big headkick from the apron. Ali with the forward-roll neckbreaker, followed by the inverted 450 splash for the victory!
Winner: Mustafa Ali
A thing of BEAUTY! @MustafaAliWWE pulls off an IMPRESSIVE #Inverted450Splash on #205Live! pic.twitter.com/u2Zs4oYtl4
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) March 29, 2017
We take a look at the exciting rivalry between Neville and Austin Aries. Later tonight, Neville will address the WWE Universe in regards to 205 Live without a King.
Akira Tozawa is out next for the match he’s been waiting many weeks for.
Akira Tozawa Vs. The Brian Kendrick
The bell rings and Tozawa runs across the ring and hits Kendrick with a big boot to the face. Kendrick rolls from the ring and Tozawa leaps out after him with a suicide dive.
Tozawa rolls Kendrick back inside and lands a giant senton from the top rope. Tozawa kicks Kendrick, then fakes a big kick for a back hand punch. Kendrick again leaves the ring and this time yanks Tozawa’s head down onto the top rope. Kendrick tries to capitalise, sliding back inside and immediately applying the Captain’s Hook. Tozawa slides out and looks for the Snap German Suplex but Kendrick leaves the ring again.
LOOK AT THAT HEIGHT! @TozawaAkira SOARS in one-on-one action against @mrbriankendrick! #205Live @WWENetwork @WWE205Live pic.twitter.com/wCN5Hkd6MX
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) March 29, 2017
Once again, Tozawa comes through the ropes like a spear into the heart of Kendrick. Tozawa lifts Kendrick up and runs at him but Kendrick catches him with a drop toe hold onto the steel ramp. Just as the referee counts to 9, Tozawa makes it back into the ring. Kendrick kicks Tozawa as he’s down, trying to ground the buzzsaw. Tozawa rolls under the bottom rope and Kendrick suplexes him back into the ring.
Kendrick looks for the Captain’s Hook again and they struggle for a minute until Kendrick applies a modified version, using a chicken wing. Tozawa manages to reach the bottom rope. Kendrick lifts Tozawa up and lands a back body drop for a two-count. Kendrick sits on the back on Tozawa and clobbers his face with forearms. Brian applies another modified version of the Captain’s Hook and Tozawa writhes in pain.
Tozawa fights out. Kendrick looks for a suplex but Tozawa lands on hits feet and catches him with a hurricanrana. Tozawa then lands a shining wizard for a near-fall. Tozawa with a big boot in the corner, then a gut kick. Kendrick reverses Tozawa and quickly hits him with Slice Bread No. 2 but Tozawa kicks out! Kendrick looks shocked but grabs his bearings and applies the Captain’s Hook. Tozawa crawls to the bottom rope, spitting out his mouth guard in the process.
Kendrick and Tozawa fight on the top rope until Tozawa gets knocked off, only to then kick Kendrick off. Kendrick hangs in the corner and removes the turnbuckle cover. Tozawa runs at Kendrick and misses, hitting the exposed turnbuckle. Kendrick with the roll-up and the win!
Winner: The Brian Kendrick
After the match, Brian Kendrick grabs a mic and says that was lesson #9: anything and everything can be used as a weapon.
.@AustinAries aims to dethrone THE KING in the #WrestleMania #Kickoff, STREAMING LIVE on @WWENetwork! #205Live @WWENeville pic.twitter.com/AVfeBZbhMk
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) March 29, 2017
The King of the Cruiserweight’s makes his way to the ring. Neville says here we are; a week out from WrestleMania. He says he feels reflective on his life and career. He says he hasn’t had an easy road, he’s had to overcome many hurdles. He’s been ridiculed and demeaned and he’s picked himself back up again and again.
Like last year, he broke his ankle just before his first WrestleMania and he watched as the world kept rotating and nobody cared. Then he arrived here in 205 Live and he has carried the division on his back since then. He says there wouldn’t even be a Cruiserweight Championship match at WrestleMania were it not for him. He says the fans would rather cheer for a clown like Austin Aries.
Aries says the fans have chosen Aries as the man to overthrow the King but they should be careful what they wish for. He shows us a video of what 205 Live would be like without Neville, which is a static black screen. He says that’s right, the show would be nothing without him. He is 205 Live.
“Without me, there is NO #205Live!” @WWENeville shows off a blank screen to prove his point on @WWE205Live. @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/t158YAzhIt
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) March 29, 2017
Neville says WrestleMania is not about the fans, Austin Aries, or 205 Live, it’s about him and having his long overdue moment in the sun. Austin Aries comes out, shaking his head. Aries says this is the difference between the two of them, Neville points fingers and runs everyone down, to feed his ego. Whereas he gives credit where it’s due; without him 205 Live would still exist but with him it’s twice as great. He says Neville is amazing but he’s that much better. He says he has jokes for days, he uses his wit and sharp-tongue to add light to life. Without it he would walk around as miserable as Neville.
Aries says the two of them aren’t different in that they’ve constantly had to prove people wrong. They had to outwork everyone else, take everything they’ve got, and because of that they have a big ego and an even bigger chip on their shoulder. And on top of all of that, no matter where they are on the card, they come down to the ring and tear the house down because they believe they are the main event. He says they will do just that at WrestleMania this Sunday.
Aries says Neville can keep calling him a joke if he wants but Neville does know who he is and what he can do. He says he will take Neville’s belt, and then Neville clobbers him. Neville kicks Aries around, then slams him to the mat before grabbing his belt and leaving. Neville stops himself and comes back into the ring. Aries whacks Neville with the microphone, then applies Last Chancery but Neville quickly escapes and retreats. They stare at each other as 205 Live goes off the air!
NO FEAR! Will @AustinAries be standing tall THIS SUNDAY at The #UltimateThrillRide? #WrestleMania #205Live @WWENeville pic.twitter.com/35SOzVBeTu
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) March 29, 2017
What did you think of tonight’s show? Do you think Neville and Aries will steal the show on Sunday? Let us know in the comments and be sure to come back here pretty much every day this week for all of our insane WrestleMania coverage, which you can find on the free Ringside News app!