205 Live opens with Akira Tozawa backstage. Tozawa is joined by Titus O’Neil, who tells him that he managed to get him into tonight’s main event against TJP! Titus tells an unsure Tozawa that he could be the next sports phenomenon, like Kobe Bryant, and starts singing “It’s raining Yen”.
Look who’s set for action on #205Live only on @WWENetwork… none other than @CedricAlexander! pic.twitter.com/NkZNBnH4q1
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) June 14, 2017
Cedric Alexander makes his way to the ring and we see highlight(s) of his match with Noam Dar last night.
Cedric Alexander Vs. Ariya Daivari
Alexander and Daivari trade holds for the first while of the match, leading to a stalemate between the two and they separate. Alexander grabs a headlock on Daivari, who then forces him to the corner and hits a stiff shoulder thrust. Daivari chops Cedric then whips him to the opposite corner but Alexander does a flip and a handstand headscissors for a two-count.
Alexander looks to springboard off of the top rope but Dairvari swipes his leg and he falls hard on the ropes. Daivari takes control, ramming knee’s into the back of Cedric and applying a sleeper. Daivari brings Cedric to his feet and hits a neckbreaker for a two-count.
Sometimes, it ain’t about being pretty. It’s about being EFFECTIVE! #205Live @AriyaDaivariWWE pic.twitter.com/jEhiER94uJ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 14, 2017
Cedric is whipped hard into the corner and he falls to his knees. Alexander climbs to his feet and unleashes some wicked chops before hitting the ropes, only to be blasted with a jumping knee from Daivari for a near-fall. Another sleeper from Ariya is broken when Cedric backs him into the corner, then rolls him forward. Cedric chops Daivari, then hits a hard back elbow.
Cedric hits the ropes with a handstand and rebounds with a kick to the head of Daivari. Cedric takes to the apron and lands a nice springboard lariat. Alicia Fox appears on the tron, as Noam Dar comes to the ring talking to her on FaceTime. Dar reaches the ring and Alexander blasts him with a dropkick, meanwhile Alicia is still blathering. Daivari looks to win with a roll-up but Cedric kicks out and hits the Lumbar Check for the three!
Winner: Cedric Alexander
After the match, Cedric picks-up the phone and Alicia is still shouting. He pretends that he can’t hear her and then hangs up, much to the delight of the fans in New Orleans.
What does @AustinAries have to say on #205Live? We’re about to find out LIVE on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/vV33wQAJ2A
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) June 14, 2017
Austin Aries makes his way to the ring to talk about his status. The fans chant his name before he speaks.
Aries says it’s great to be in New Orleans and it’s always a privilege to be in a WWE ring. Admittedly, he thought this moment would be different. His whole life he worked hard to be a Champion, which is why he was sure that after Extreme Rules he would stand here as the Cruiserweight Champion. He won’t make excuses or whine about it; when it counted he didn’t get the job done.
He says that’s OK because in life you fail and you get back up and move on. He says people have asked lots of questions, like if he’s injured. He clarifies that he has some niggling leg and neck injuries, so he isn’t cleared to compete. Tony Nese interrupts Aries.
Nese tells Aries that he knows what his future holds: he should climb out of the ring, climb the guard rail, and take a seat to watch a premiere athlete. He tells him to save whatever dignity he has left by fading quietly into the past, because the future is right in front of him.
“In my future, I don’t have time for you…OR your jokes!” – @TonyNese to @AustinAries #205Live pic.twitter.com/92gXl3QUvK
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) June 14, 2017
Aries reminds Nese that the last time the two of them were in the ring, he made him tap-out. Aries says Nese clearly works-out a lot because he looks great, but he’s been doing something different that made him grow a pair. Nese says he doesn’t have time for Aries, or his jokes. Nese removes his jacket and squares-up to Aries but out comes “Gentleman” Jack Gallagher.
Gallagher quotes Nese about not having time for jokes, and says that New Orleans is the exact place for having fun. Gallagher says that is Nese is the future of 205 Live, if Nese is here to replace Austin Aries, that makes Nese the biggest joke of all. Gallagher says that Nese is no Austin Aries.
Nese swings at Gallagher but he ducks, grabs William The III and whacks Nese in the gut, then over the back. Nese retreats while Aries pulls out a banana and Gallagher poses with his umbrella.
Looks like #WilliamIII might need some medical attention, and so will @TonyNese, for that matter! #205Live @GentlemanJackG pic.twitter.com/ADKCJSGlT2
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) June 14, 2017
Backstage we see TJP walking and he bumps into Rich Swann. Rich says that TJP looked great against Neville last week, and now they’re both looking for a new Champion. Swann says that last week both he and the WWE Universe started to believe in TJP again. Swann says he knows what it’s like to lose things and struggle in life but he lost his title and got a chip on his shoulder, changed his name, and took orders from Neville. Swann says that TJP acts like that but TJ Perkins would go out there tonight and show what he’s made of.
We see a vignette for Mustafa Ali and his amazing repertoire of moves. Ali says that there is no risk he isn’t willing to take. The vignette cuts out and a new one begins for Drew Gulak – like a political campaign video. Gulak says Ali is a show-off and we deserve better.
“Frankly, you deserve better than @MusafaAliWWE, and that’s where I come in.” – @DrewGulak #205Live pic.twitter.com/QjcMhEAdq2
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 14, 2017
Akira Tozawa Vs. TJP
TJP takes the back of Tozawa at the off-set and backs him into the corner. Rather than go for the dirty shot, Perkins backs off. Perkins looks for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but Tozawa lands on his feet and hits an arm-drag. They stand up and stare at each other, then touch fists.
TJP gets a headlock on Tozawa but he’s quickly thrown off and looks for a sunset flip roll-up but Tozawa rolls through and dropkicks him. Tozawa lands a senton and we see Titus watching backstage. Tozawa jumps off the top rope but TJP catches him with a dropkick in mid-air.
Who is the REAL @MegaTJP, you ask? @TozawaAkira is finding out the hard way right about now… #205Live pic.twitter.com/1ypEXFBFqB
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) June 14, 2017
TJP lands a body slam, then a senton from the apron for a near-fall. TJP puts Tozawa on the mat and stands on his face before applying a modified rear chin lock. Tozawa fights his way out but Perkins responds with a springboard forearm. TJP stomps on the arm of Tozawa and a random “CM Punk” chant fires-up. Perkins suplexes Tozawa, followed by a back body drop for a near-fall. Now a “Corey Graves” chant begins.
TJP applies a sleeper and grounds Tozawa. Eventually Akira fights to his feet and elbows TJP. Tozawa catches Perkins with a frankensteiner that sends him from the ring and Tozawa follows-up with a suicide dive. Tozawa dodges TJP back inside the ring, then hits a running knee. Tozawa takes to the top rope but TJP meets him up top and looks for a superplex.
Tozawa fights off the superplex and climbs down after Perkins. TJP catches Tozawa with a gutbuster for a near-fall. The two climb to their feet and trade stiff shots in the centre of the ring, which Tozawa wins with a hard shot to the jaw. Out of nowhere TJP catches Tozawa with the kneebar. Tozawa crawls for the bottom rope but Perkins drags him back and looks to apply the kneebar again but Tozawa rolls him up for a near-fall.
.@TitusONeilWWE MUST be liking what he’s seeing, as potential #TitusBrand recruit @TozawaAkira impresses against @megatjp on #205Live! pic.twitter.com/luG3pIDe2T
— WWE (@WWE) June 14, 2017
Perkins dodges two quick headkicks from Tozawa but gets caught with a snap back suplex. Tozawa chants with the audience before going to the top rope and landing his huge senton for the win!
Winner: Akira Tozawa
After the match we see Titus O’Neil backstage and he’s liking what he seen. Titus is singing when Neville walks in. Titus thinks Neville is here to join his services and starts singing again but Neville says he doesn’t care about the singing, he cares about the dribble he’s talking. Neville says he’s setting Tozawa up for failure and disappointment because Tozawa isn’t even close to the Neville level. Titus says what he just watched was Tozawa put a whooping on Neville’s former associate. The Titus Brand is all about the future and that man right there is the future of 205 Live!
That’s it for this week’s 205 Live! Let us know what you thought in the comments and I will see you all on Sunday night for Money in the Bank! Until then, safe travels.