205 Live opens up with a look at the rivalry between Neville and Aries as they face off at WWE Payback.
Oh, HE can handle this! @GottaGetSwann is ready for tag team action on an ALL-NEW #205Live, LIVE NOW on @WWENetwork!@WWE205Live pic.twitter.com/rI0yujz7in
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) April 26, 2017
Rich Swann & Akira Tozawa Vs. Brian Kendrick & Noam Dar
Kendrick threw his jacket at Tozawa so the heels could take cheap shots on their opponents before the match starts, but they fight back and hit stereo dropkicks to send them flying from the ring. Tozawa does a suicide dive as Swanna hits a tope con hiloto take them down.
They all roll back into the ring as the match officially gets underway. Swann hits a leaping leg drop on Darr and is in control until Darr takes a cheap shot. The heels keep Swann isolated, Kendrick knocking Tozawa off the apron every time they got close to making the tag. After several minutes of quick tags and double team moves, Swann hit a huge spinning heel kick and made the tag to his partner.
Tozawa clears the ring, knocks Kendrick to the floor, and then goes to work on Darr with a flurry of kicks. Kendrick goes to the apron, trying to cause a distraction, but Darr ended-up accidentally took out his own partner, then turned around into the Shining Wizard for the 1-2-3!
Winners: Rich Swann & Akira Tozawa
Tozawa’s fourth lesson for Kendrick is to always pick your partner wisely…
Backstage, Cruiserweight Champion Neville was standing by for an interview. He said that Jack Gallagher doesn’t belong in the same ring as him. He said that nobody except for maybe TJ Perkins is on his level, and everyone is going to be forced to bend a knee to the king.
Mustafa Ali makes his entrance as a recap from last week showed Drew Gulak costing Ali his match. Instead of logically making a match between he and Gulak, however, Tony Nese was out next as Ali’s opponent. Drew Gulak’s music hit as the match was about to begin, and he made his way out with his “No Fly Zone” sign and megaphone. He tried to get the crowd to chant along with him, but he was met with crickets.
Say it with @DrewGulak now…#ImNotLyingNoHighFlying! #ImNotLyingNoHighFlying! #205Live pic.twitter.com/MwZ8nClKxq
— WWE (@WWE) April 26, 2017
Mustafa Ali vs. Tony Nese
As the match starts, Nese shows off his biceps. Ali takes him down flying all over the ring, doing several backflips and mocks his opponent while showing off his own, much smaller biceps. Nese takes him to the ground and starts stomping him in the corner, throwing right hands and elbows.
Ali tried for a flip off the top rope but Nese caught him out of the air into a stalling suplex, and threw him hard into the ropes instead. Gulak is on commentary talking about how he wants to “rebrand” 205 Live into something more respectable. Ali hits a springboard bulldog to get himself back into the match. Nese dodges a kick in the corner, but runs into a variation on Whisper in the Wind off the top rope.
.@MustafaAliWWE is FLYING in a NO FLY ZONE, and @DrewGulak is NOT happy about it! #205Live @TonyNese pic.twitter.com/jKd5AvbuYU
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) April 26, 2017
Ali hits an enzuigiri from the apron and rolls through the ropes for a neckbreaker. Nese takes a breather on the floor, and Ali runs the apron and vaults over the ropes to take him out. He looks to finish off the match, but Drew Gulak pulls Nese from the ring to “save” him, causing a DQ finish.
Winner Via DQ: Tony Nese
Gulak congratulates Nese on his win after the match, and acts like he accomplished something. Ali climbed to the top rope and hit a swanton bomb all the way to the floor to take out Gulak. Ali stands tall in the ring as Gulak retreats up the ramp.
We see Austin Aries talking to Jack Gallagher about tonight’s main event, it seems Aries has indeed found his own T.J Perkins!
.@AustinAries might be on the A-Double Level, but is he on the NEVILLE LEVEL? We’ll find out SUNDAY at #WWEPayback! @WWENeville #205Live pic.twitter.com/fkmMK8NQET
— WWE (@WWE) April 26, 2017
Jack Gallagher Vs. Neville
Neville gets frustrated that he can’t get his hands on the faster Gentlemen Jack. He steals his umbrella and throws it up the entrance ramp, but turns around into a suicide dive. The champ takes control with a cheap shot, and starts stomping away at Gallagher, stalking him around the ring.
He throws him into the corner and puts the boots to him, choking him in the ropes until the referee forces him to stop. Jack tries to get to his feet but Neville just kicks him in the head and goes into a side headlock to slow things down. The beatdown continues for several minutes, including a stiff dropkick to the back of the head, right back into the side headlock.
Taunt @GentlemanJackG and he’ll come back HEAD-BUTTING! @WWE205Live @WWENeville #205Live pic.twitter.com/TWPxQxmpGf
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) April 26, 2017
Gallagher rolls up the champ out of nowhere and almost steals a victory, which just makes him more angry and continues the beatdown. Jack mans up and hits him with a brutal headbutt for two-and-a-half. They go back and forth with big moves and nearfalls, with pinning combos, neither being able to pick up the win. Neville goes for the Red Arrow, but Gallagher crotches him on the ropes and tries for a superplex; Neville knocks him down and hits him with a running boot. He locks in the Rings of Saturn and Gallagher taps almost immediately.
Winner: Neville
Neville keeps his submission locked in after the match until the referee threatens to reverse the decision. He walks up the ramp celebrating his victory with the Cruiserweight Championship, but sees the referee trying to help Gallagher and attacks him from behind.
He stomps away at Jack on the ramp until Austin Aries runs out the two immediately start to brawl. Aries locks him in the Last Chancery until officials run out and separate them. The show ends with Neville down on the ramp and Aries staring him down from the ring.
Could THIS be the scene at #WWEPayback? @WWENeville will defend his throne and #CruiserweightTitle THIS SUNDAY! @AustinAries pic.twitter.com/EXfFWdYCrh
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) April 26, 2017
What did you think of tonight’s show? Let us know in the comments and I will see you back here on Sunday for Payback! Until then, safe travels!