We kick things off with a video package reviewing the history between Mustafa Ali and Drew Gulak, which boils down to Ali’s high-flying style vs. Gulak’s ground game.
2-Out-Of-3-Falls Match
Drew Gulak Vs. Mustafa Ali
Gulak keeps things on the ground early on, but Ali is able to counter his way into control. Ali with an early pinning combination that lands the first fall!
1-0 Mustafa Ali
Just. Like. THAT! @MustafaAliWWE picks up the FIRST FALL in this #2OutOf3FallsMatch! #205Live @DrewGulak @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/Ns3sYTvyKh
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) July 19, 2017
It pretty much came out of nowhere and Gulak is really mad that he was bested at his own game. He’s tears off the top of the announcer table in anger before getting back into the ring
Gulak switches up strikes as he tries to slow Ali down. Toss to the corner, Ali with a back handspring counter and pops Gulak. Ali to the apron, elbow to Gulak, flips in, and he rolls Gulak up for another pin and two-count. Gulak recovers, lands some elbows, works on Ali enough to go for a pin, only gets a two-count. Reverse headlock by Gulak, Ali grounded in the corner as Gulak taunts him and shouts at him.
Ali seems to get pumped up by the taunt and goes to work on Gulak. Ali tossed into the corner, counter-kick, cutter, and Gulak goes to the outside. Ali with a kick to Gulak, both men on the outside, Ali tossed into the timekeeper area. He jumps the barricade and hits a hurricanrana to put Gulak down. Action goes back into the ring, Ali attempts to go up to the top and Gulak yanks him down to the mat. Gulak locks in a dragon sleeper for a tap!
And with a #DragonSleeper…
1- @MustafaAliWWE
1- @DrewGulak
Who will score the tie-breaking fall?!? #205Live #2OutOf3FallsMatch pic.twitter.com/RwMuheSG3p— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017
1-1 Tied
We are down to the final fall, Ali with an inside cradle pin early on, but just a two count. Gulak goes right into more rest hold. Ali attempts to climb up the ropes and Gulak with another counter into a pin for two. Inverted Hurricanrana by Ali! Both men seem to be nearly out of gas. Gulak to the outside, Ali up to the top rope, and he hits a front flip on Gulak to the floor! Probably got the biggest pop out of the crow, who has been really quite for most of this match. Ali tosses his opponent back into the ring. Ali with a splash that gets reversed into a pin, 2! Ali goes for a tornado DDT, suplex by Gulak right into the corner.
WOW! #205Live @MustafaAliWWE @DrewGulak @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/xwLC22DtIO
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 19, 2017
Gulak tries to use brute force, but keeps getting countered. Ali lands a big move off the top and only gets a two-count. Crowd reacts to the kick-out, thought it could have been over. Gulak gets rolled up, submission by Gulak, Ali rolls out of it. Gulak it trying to figure out how to end this and climbs nervously to the top rope, knees are shaking as he looks to the crowd. He looks around and decides not to go for it, but Ali hits a big counter to send him crashing down to the mat. Inverted 450 by Ali and that wins it!
Winner: Mustafa Ali
We see a video from earlier today when Apollo Crews urges Akira Tozawa not to wrestle tonight but he isn’t interested. Check out the clip below:
What is @TozawaAkira‘s mentality heading into his rematch against @AriyaDaivariWWE tonight on #205Live? @ApolloCrews just found out! pic.twitter.com/osCpN23MdC
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017
We see The Brian Kendrick making his way to the ring. Kendrick is facing a guy called Devin Bennett but before the match gets started Kendrick talks to Bennett about Jack Gallagher and how people should fight the right way, his way. Not like Gallagher, who have goofy gimmicks and are like “Clowns.” He thinks Bennett should just quit right now, “Do you think you can beat me?” and Bennett says “Yes, I can.”
The Brian Kendrick vs. Devin Bennett
Match gets started and Kendrick instantly beats down Bennett, “Are you a fighter or a clown?” Kendrick yells at his opponent over and over. Bennett finally gets in a strike, which enrages Kendrick who hits a big kick and locks in the Captain’s Hook for the win.
Winner: The Brian Kendrick
#WizardOfOdd @mrbriankendrick isn’t happy to learn that his opponent on #205Live is from @GentlemanJackG‘s hometown of Manchester, England! pic.twitter.com/7YoY10Hrun
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017
After the match we get a recap of last week’s Cedric Alexander vs. Noam Dar in an “I Quit” match. Cedric won after he put Dar’s arm between a chair and stomped continuously on it until Dar quit – not exactly a babyface move. After the match Noam Dar broke-up with Alicia Fox with some harsh words.
Backstage, Dasha Fuentes is with TJP. We see a recap of TJP and Rich Swann having back-to-back matches with some poor soul. TJP was able to win his match quicker than Swann. TJP says Swann can’t stand coming in second to him, first the CWC, and now that match. TJP says Rich is his friend and he does want to make it up to him, so next week, TJP is going to arrange some real competition. He’ll pick a partner, Swann will pick a partner and they will have a tag match.
It’s main event time and Daivari out first, he gets on the mic and promotes his home country of Iran and an Iranian Gold Medal Freestyle Wrestler from the 50s. Tozawa out next with his shoulder taped up.
Will history repeat itself TONIGHT? @AriyaDaivariWWE dedicates his match to Iranian wrestler Emam-Ali Habibi! #205Live pic.twitter.com/Bc7w28iUN5
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) July 19, 2017
Akira Tozawa Vs. Ariya Daivari
Daivari immediately focuses on the shoulder, but has no luck as Tozawa lays him out several times. Daivari goes for a splash in the counter but misses. Daivari is on the apron and yanks Tozawa’s arm on the ropes and now Daivari has some momentum as goes to work on Tozawa’s shoulder.
Multiple moves crank on the bad shoulder as Tozawa yells in agony. He finally gets Daivari down and gets back into the ring. It’s not long before Daivari is back on the floor and Tozawa hits a big suicide dive! Probably not the smartest move as he’s now in a lot of pain as the referee begins his 10-count on both men.
INCOMING!!!!!!@WWENetwork @WWE205Live @TozawaAkira @AriyaDaivariWWE #205Live pic.twitter.com/TUJUj8n04x
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 19, 2017
Action moves back into the ring, Tozawa with a quick pin, 2-count. Shining Wizard by Tozawa lands flush, another pin, another two. The crowd gets the “Ah!” chant going as he gets caught by Daivari who continues to focus on the shoulder. Daivari to the top and lands a frog splash on Tozawa’s back.
He goes for the pin, only a two-count, despite trying to hold the tights. Tozawa goes for a roll-up and his own handful of trunks to get the 1-2-3! Daivari is not happy and after the match throws Tozawa into the ring post. Tozawa is in a lot of pain on the outside and we’re out!
Winner: Akira Tozawa
After the match Daivari attacks Tozawa and throws him into the ring post as the show ends. Strange to have Tozawa as the number one contender but he’s in more of a feud with Daivari than he is Neville. Anyways, let me know if I’m wrong!
That’s it for this week’s 205 Live! Let us know what you thought of the show in the comments and on our Ringside Talk app. Remember to come back on Sunday night for WWE Battleground. Until next time, safe travels!