205 Live opens with a recap of Tozawa losing the Cruiserweight Championship to Neville at SummerSlam. We come to the arena and Tony Nese is out for some tag team action!
Stand by for a visual anatomy lesson from The #PremierAthlete @TonyNese as he heads into action! #205Live pic.twitter.com/CMuam2A9Jn
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 23, 2017
Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik Vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak
Quick start, Cedric gets the better of Nese, then does Nese’s taunt. Gulak tagged in and lands some heavy strikes before getting dropped, Metalik tagged in, double team moves, pin, one-count. Metalik starts walking the ropes, nice dropkick into a pin, two-count.
Metalik has been getting over pretty well with the fans recently, it’s hard to deny how entertaining he is. Metalik dumps Gulak outside, Nese charges, slides under his legs, Metalik with a moonsault that instantly takes out Nese on the floor. Action back in the ring, Nese finally able to ground Metalik and lock him in the tree of woe, Cedric runs over and unhooks Metalik. Cheap shot by Nese on Cedric, who was on the apron. Metalik climbs up and stands on the ringpost, huge crossbody hits.
There is NOTHING quite like seeing @WWEGranMetalik in his element on #205Live! @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/OjYXW2AP6A
— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2017
In comes Cedric, hits Gulak with a big elbow, Cedric hopes to the apron, springboard clothesline on Gulak, pin, two. Gulak counters Cedric with an elbow, follows that up with a clothesline. Metalik tagged in heads right to the top rope, walks the rope, another splash, pin, Nese breaks it up, then proceeds to count his abs again before Cedric drops him. Dual dives over the top rope to the outside by Cedric and Metalik. Action back in the ring, lumbar check on Gulak, 1-2-3.
Winners: Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik
We go backstage to see Akira Tozawa and Titus O’Neil. O’Neil is worried about the big match tonight but Tozawa tells him to calm down, that he is ready. They get fired up by chanting and dancing.
Jack Gallagher is out for the Gentleman’s Duel, with a table covered in odd weapons. Jack gets on the mic and says he’s been told in every way that he’ll never make it to the top, but he’ll just have to get physical to show Kendrick what kind of a fighter he is. Kendrick shows up on the big screen and says Jack is just a clown with all of his toys all around there. Kendrick says he’s a fighter, not a clown and has found Jack a suitable replacement.
Okay, so…. not exactly the opponent that @GentlemanJackG was expecting. @mrbriankendrick‘s mind games are in full swing! #205Live pic.twitter.com/PSoyWdhHi3
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 23, 2017
Out comes a clown, who does a few tricks on the ramp before coming into the ring and does Jack’s taunt, then sprays him in the face with some water form his flower. Crowd chants “stupid idiot” as Jack gets slapped in the face by the clown’s glove. Jack headbutts him in the face and decides on which weapon he’s going to use to take out the clown. He ends up clearing off the table and goes to powerbomb him. Out from the crowd comes Kendrick as he hammers Jack with an umbrella. Kendrick then powerbombs Jack through the table to a very mild reaction. Kendrick gets on the mic and offers an opportunity to Jack so he can prove he belongs on 205 Live. Kendricks says next week, No DQ match.
Backstage, TJP is playing PS4, still wearing a knee brace. Swann comes in and wants to talk, TJP says he injured his knee when he beat Swann two weeks ago. TJP says he came out last week to see Swann win his match, he didn’t know his music would be played and cause a distraction. TJP thinks Swann is ‘salty’ for losing against him. TJP feels like this competition has been taken too far and Swann should focus on Daivari to potentially get that loss back. Swann likes it and says once TJP heals up, he’ll want another match with him. Seems like they are in agreement.
ALL HAIL The #KingOfTheCruiserweights, #Cruiserweight Champion @WWENeville! #205Live pic.twitter.com/0md7VgpiJB
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) August 23, 2017
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
(C) Neville Vs. Akira Tozawa
The two start the match with a series of holds and submissions with rope breaks. Neville tells the crowd to shut up after they start up the “Ah!” chants but it didn’t get a reaction. Neville works the neck, Tozawa with a kick, Neville catches it, sets it down and goes for a spinning kick, which Tozawa then catches and sets down. Pushing the story that both wrestlers know each other so well. Tozawa finally lands a nice penalty kick to Neville’s chest, who rolls outside, Tozawa goes for a dive, but Neville moves away. Neville begins working Tozawa’s once injured shoulder.
Neville with a redirection, hits a nice dropkick sending Tozawa to the floor. Neville with a moonsault to the floor, landing on his feet. Tozawa’s shoulder is really bothering him now, Neville throws it into the side of the ring as he jumps back in the ring. Tozawa almost gets counted out, but makes it back in. Neville takes him right back outside and throws him hard into the barricade.
Proof that NOTHING will stop @TozawaAkira from giving this #Cruiserweight Title Match everything he’s got! @WWENeville #205Live pic.twitter.com/43GrnFAIzo
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 23, 2017
Action back in the ring, Neville climbs to the top, Tozawa with a dropkick to bring Neville down. Neville now on the apron, big kick, Neville to the floor, suicide dive by Tozawa. Both get back in the ring, Tozawa with a number of kicks, suplex, pin, two-count. The challenger goes up top, but Neville was able to rise up long enough to seat Tozawa on the top rope. Neville heads up and goes for a superplex, Tozawa hooks the legs for a pin! Only a two, both Superstars are down. Neville doing everything he can to put his opponent down, but he won’t stay down.
The #KingOfTheCruiserweights stalks his prey… @TozawaAkira @WWENeville #205Live pic.twitter.com/u20WGigv52
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) August 23, 2017
Tozawa looks to be out of it, weak strikes, suddenly big headbutt that drops the champion, but no pin. Multiple kicks by Tozawa, Rings of Saturn submission locked in by Neville, countered, Neville rolls up and Tozawa kicks out. Spinning kick by the challenger, he heads up to the top with a senton splash, misses, Rings of Saturn again and Tozawa taps out this time!
Winner: Neville
What a great match, the best those two have had for sure. After the match Neville regroups and grabs a microphone. Neville says that Tozawa’s title reign was a pitiful 6 days and the history books will remember him only as a footnote. He is the King and the division is his. Well out comes a familiar face…
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!?! #205Live @real1 @WWENeville pic.twitter.com/MwOlOsXGOz
— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2017
Enzo gets a big reaction as he dances his way to the ring. Enzo gets inside and stands across from Neville, the fans sing his name. Enzo introduces himself and says 205 Live is now the realest show in the room, then drops the mic. Neville laughs at him and leaves. Enzo picks up the mic and says that Neville is S.A.W.F.T and that’s the show.
What did you think of 205 Live? Excited and shocked by Enzo’s debut? Let us know and I will see you back here next Monday night for more Raw! Until then, safe travels!