Mitchell’s WWE 205 Live Report! (8/22/17)
See how the Cruiserweight Division was changed by Summerslam!

All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik VS Tony Nese & Drew Gulak; Alexander & Metalik win.
- Gentlemen’s Duel: Jack Gallagher VS THE Brian Kendrick; no contest.
- WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Neville VS Akira Tozawa; Neville wins and retains the Cruiserweight Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
The King Reigns Again!
Though The King of the Cruiserweights was DETHRONED on Monday Night Raw before Summerslam, it was at the biggest event of the summer that he took back his “crown” to again be the Champion of the Cruiserweight Division. However, Titus Worldwide informed Neville personally that tonight, The Stamina Monster will get his rematch. Can the King keep his crown and stay upon the throne after only two days?
Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik VS Tony Nese & Drew Gulak!

The Premier Athlete asked for this rematch given that he and the Philly Fury failed to defeat the Carolina Kid and King of the Ropes last week. Will their #PremierPolitics break even tonight? Nese asks “Where Brooklyn at?” Certainly not the gym! We start with Alexander and Nese, the two circle and tie up, Nese pushes Alexander away to flex. They go again, Alexander gets arm control, Nese rolls and reverses, Alexander uses agility to reverse that and trip Nese up. They speed up, waistlock but Alexander bucks Nese off, backflip headscissors and dropkick, Nese gets to ropes to regroup. Alexander flexes to give Nese a taste of his own self-confidence, Nese tags Gulak. Gulak kicks and chops Alexander, headlock takeover, but Alexander gets up and gives a stiff forearm. Tag to Metalik, double whip, double hip toss. Low dropkick from Alexander, cover, TWO. Metalik gives a sharp open hand chop, Gulak reverses the whip then gets clear of the handspring, Metalik runs back in, handspring wheelbarrow arm drag! Gulak is thrown and gets to a corner, Metalik runs in but Gulak evades, Metalik runs along the rope to give a missile dropkick! TWO, and GUlak fires off shots. Metalik is down, Gulak tags Nese, they double whip but Metalik is ready. He dares them to come at him, he dumps Gulak out, then he jumps over Nese to top rope springboard asai!

Metalik takes Nese down, the fans are fired up. A ring count begins, Metalik gets up and brings Nese in, but Gulak distracts Metalik just enough so that Nese can get up and run Metalik over with a back elbow. TWO, Nese stomps Metalik to vent his frustration. The Premier Athlete poses and embraces the heat before putting Metalik in a Tree of Woe. Alexander saves Metalik from Full Contact Cardio, and distracts Nese for the roll up, TWO. Nese stomps on Metalik, puts him in a corner for a shoulder, then a cheap shot for Alexander before a forearm for Metalik. Nese goes up, drags Metalik up to join him, Metalik resists and dumps Nese down. Metalik on the post itself, jump and flying crossbody! Direct hit, Metalik and Nese now crawl for their corners. Tag to Gulak, tag to Alexander, Alexander rallies! Blocked kick, stiff back elbow! Gulak staggers, Alexander runs in, shoulder and swing kick! Alexander takes aim at the dazed Gulak, springboard clothesline!

TWO, but Alexander isn’t frustrated. He takes the elbow pads off, but Gulak boots back. Gulak runs Alexander over with a lariat, Metalik calls for a tag. Alexander is dazed, Gulak grabs him, but Alexander powers him to ropes. Metalik tags in as whip to Gulak, back kick to alley oop dropkick! Metalik positions Gulak, climbs up, tightrope splash!

Nese breaks the pin. He counts the abs, but Alexander handspring enziguris him down! Nese and Gulak regroup outside, Alexander tags in, Alexander and Metalik speed up, they both FLY!

Double direct hits! Everyone is down, a ring count begins, Alexander gets in with Gulak. Small package counter, TWO, Lumbar Check!

Alexander and Metalik win yet again! These two are on a roll, will they find their way to title contention?

Titus Worldwide has a peptalk backstage.
Summerslam was a setback, but Tozawa has to put that behind him. Tozawa is ready to take back that title. Titus likes the confidence, Luke Cage & Iron Fist, the Defenders. The Powah of Tozawa will win that title back for Titus Worldwide! Two claps and a Ric Flair, *clap clap* “WOO~!” Can this confidence carry Tozawa to a win and a second title reign?
Gentlemen’s Duel: Jack Gallagher VS THE Brian Kendrick!

The Extraordinary Gentleman took the fight so hard to the Man with a Plan that he became the Man with Paranoia. However, Kendrick got the brilliant idea of taking the fight to Gallagher the way Gallagher would fight, which brings us to this match tonight. Gallagher has been “mocked, assaulted, parodied, pushed, pulled, prodded, poked, been called a clown, been called a joke, disrespected, besmirched, and have been told I’ll never make it to the top.” Perhaps Kendrick is right to some degree. Perhaps Gallagher was too much of a gentleman. But now Gallagher can show Kendrick he’s a fighter. But Kendrick tells “Jackie Boy” via the titantron that “this is pathetic.” Gallagher is pathetic. Acting all tough, but just look how he surrounds himself with “toys”. You’re still a clown to Kendrick. And if Gallagher expects Kendrick to “play” with him, sorry. But don’t worry, here’s a suitable opponent: a real clown.

Kendrick is either mocking Gallagher more or cowardly hiding from him, Gallagher is in no mood for laughs. Especially after the clown squirts his flower on Gallagher.

Not only that, but the “stupid idiot” clown takes off his glove to SLAP Gallagher! Gallagher’s response? An Extraordinary Headbutt!

Gallagher stomps out “Sprinkles” before turning to the kendo stick. No not good enough. The lead pipe? No, still not it. William III? No, he can’t do that to his old friend. So Gallagher clears the table and drags the clown over. Kendrick appears and attacks, using William III!

Kendrick assaults Gallagher again, as he has before. Kendrick looks ready to fight, as he powerbombs Gallagher through the table!

Referees come to check on Gallagher and back Kendrick off, Kendrick tells the downed Gallagher that they both got to beat up a clown. Gallagher thinks he belongs, Kendrick will give him a chance to prove it. Next week, they’ll have a No Disqualifications Match. Kendrick won’t have to fight fair in that kind of match, does Gallagher stand a chance?
Rich Swann finds TJP backstage playing video games.
Swann wants to be sure TJP isn’t playing games with their friendship. TJP was too injured to face his “friend” Rich Swann last week, but not too injured to distract him during that match. TJP says the knee injury came in the win against Swann the week before, and claims he just wanted to see Swann win with his own eyes. TJP didn’t know they’d play theme music or that Swann would let his guard down and then blow it. That’s how it is, huh? TJP knows Swann is upset and “salty” over losing, TJP gets that. But this competition is going too far. TJP is injured, he couldn’t compete if he wanted to. Swann needs to focus on himself and Ariya Daivari, that’s a W Swann can get back. Maybe then, Swann can work out “whatever this is.” Swann will do just that. And then when TJP is healed, they can have their tiebreaker. TJP should focus on recovering, so he can lose. How much more can this “friendship” endure?
WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Neville VS Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil!

The third time in eight days this title has been defended, who will be holding up the belt when the dust settles? Neville jaws with the fans at the bell, then turns his attention to Tozawa. They circle, tie up, waistlock from Neville but Tozawa gets the standing switch, Neville powers Tozawa backwards to the ropes, clean break. They circle again, tie up, Neville wrenches Tozawa’s noted recovered arm, they go back and forth on the wrenching, but Tozawa gets Neville to the ropes. They break, but Tozawa gives Neville a swift chop just to test the King. Tozawa is confident as he dares Neville to come at him. “HAH! HAH! HAH!” but Neville gets the headlock takeover, he tells the fans to shut up as Tozawa works to get out. Fans rally, Tozawa powers out, Neville shoulders him down, Tozawa kicks out quick but is put in a cravat. Tozawa endures the wrenching, snapmare and knee drop, Tozawa kicks out quickly again. “You are a wanker!” the fans troll Neville with, Neville puts Tozawa in a corner and keeps him in there just to annoy Tozawa. Tozawa reverses the corner-to-corner whip, but Neville backflips out of that, roll up to Shining- no, Neville catches that leg, and sets it down gently, to spin back kick! Tozawa catches that, grins and puts Neville’s foot down. The fans applaud the stalemate, Neville powers Tozawa to a corner. Neville misses his chop, Tozawa gives him one back. Tozawa gives another, then another, then fast forearms. The ref backs Tozawa down, Tozawa comes back for more. Neville kicks back, then chops back. Neville whips but is reversed, sunset flip rolled through, Penalty Kick! Neville gets out of the ring, “HAH! HAH! HAH!” Tozawa speeds up, but Neville denies the launch by getting out of the way. Neville hops up to the apron on the adjacent side, Tozawa grabs him and drags him up by his beard! Shoulder breaker hotshot from Neville to Tozawa, Neville gets some time to recover. Neville reenters, Tozawa’s arm is bothering him, Neville stomps Tozawa even though Brooklyn keeps calling him a wanker. Neville yanks on that bad arm, Fujiwara armbar, but Tozawa endures. Titus coaches Tozawa back into this, even as Neville mocks the rallying. Hammerlock kept on with Neville’s leg, he falls back for the snap. Tozawa does not give in. Neville lets the fans call him what they want, he gives another hammerlock snap. Tozawa won’t give up, Neville gives a third snap, then keeps on it deeply with his arms. It becomes a hammerlock crossface, Tozawa fights back, Neville knee drops, TWO. Neville takes his time with Tozawa now as Tozawa crawls to ropes. Neville stomps Tozawa, Titus comes around to try and keep Tozawa in this. Neville drags Tozawa up, arm wrench and lift, sunset flip! TWO! Stiff right from Tozawa, followed by more, he gets running but Neville dropkicks Tozawa down and out. Neville climbs up, moonsault to the outside!

Neville topples Tozawa down and lands on his feet! Tozawa clutches that bad arm, the referee checks on him. Neville wants at Tozawa but the referee keeps him back. The fans call Neville a wanker more, Tozawa says he’s okay to compete, Neville throws that bad arm against the LED board! Titus is coaching Tozawa despite being worried for him, Neville lets Tozawa be vulnerable to the ring count. Tozawa won’t give up, he climbs up with one arm and beats the count. Neville takes that bad arm and drags Tozawa out, he throws Tozawa right into barriers! Neville embraces the fans’ boos and jeers as he drags Tozawa up again. Back into the ring, Neville climbs up top again and watches Tozawa like a hawk. Tozawa gets up and dropkicks ropes to trip Neville up! Neville rolls all the way out, Tozawa fires himself up “HAH! HAH! HAH!” Tozawa runs, boots Neville off the apron, then runs again for the Tozawa Torpedo!

Direct hit, and Tozawa’s fired up! “HAH! HAH! HAH!” as Tozawa resets the ring count. Neville gets up, Tozawa runs again, but Neville intercepts the dive by dumping Tozawa to the apron. Together on the apron, Tozawa boots Neville right in the jaw! Then, cannonball!

Tozawa gets Neville in, cover, TWO! Titus thought Tozawa had it, and Tozawa himself is feeling the wear of this match. “HAH! HAH! HAH!” from the fans get Tozawa up, but Neville goes after that arm. Tozawa slips out of the hold, kicks, swings and slips under, Saido Suplex! TWO! Tozawa isn’t frustrated, he sees Neville in place and goes up top. Neville trips Tozawa up now, Tozawa falling on the buckles. Tozawa and Neville slowly stir, Neville climbs his way up. Neville prepares it, but Tozawa resists it. Tozawa gives body shots “HAH! HAH! HAH!” Neville gives forearms right back to stop Tozawa, then… Meteor Superplex!

But Tozawa makes it a cradle pin! TWO! Lariat! Tozawa and Neville are both down, the fans are fired up. “HAH! HAH! HAH!” rallies Tozawa up slowly, but Neville also rises. They head for each other, Tozawa grabs Neville, fireman’s carry facebuster from Neville! Tozawa is dazed, Neville gets running, shotgun kick! TWO! Neville is frustrated and upset from Tozawa’s durability. The fans rally again, “HAH! HAH! HAH!” and Neville encourages it as he scrapes his shoes on Tozawa. Tozawa fights back weakly, not much left in him. Until a stiff right sits Neville right down! Tozawa isn’t going to let it end there, he gets running but runs into Neville’s forearm. Roll up, TWO! Tozawa boots Neville in a corner! Then another kick, swing, slip but Neville gets Rings of Saturn! Tozawa turns that to a pin! TWO, rolling, crucifix from Neville! TWO! Rolling Roundhouse!

Neville in position, Tozawa goes up! “HAH! HAH! HAH!” Dropzone Super Senton misses!! Neville crawls over, Rings of Saturn!

Tozawa taps, Neville wins and retains! The King still reigns, how long will it be before someone else dethrones him?

Neville takes to the mic, and gives his sympathy to those who thought Tozawa would triumphantly win again. Tozawa’s reign was a pathetic six days, and a footnote to history. History books will read “STILL your WWE Cruiserweight Champion, Conquering Ruler of All and King of the Cruiserweights-” Wait a minute! Is that a certain Certified G?!

It is! Enzo Amore is on 205 Live! The Certified G and bonafide stud asks “How you doin’?!” He gets in the ring with Neville, and says 205 Live became the Realest Show in the Room. Mic drop, and Neville is both confused and upset. He leaves, not taking Enzo seriously for a moment. Enzo picks the mic back up and tells the King he’s S A W F T! Enzo dances and jives, but Neville is still champion, what is in store for the future of the Cruiserweight Division?
My Thoughts:
A hot and invested post-Summerslam crowd is definitely good for a late night 205 Live. The tag match was another great showing of every man’s style, Metalik and Alexander flying around is definitely good for the Division. However, 205 Live did immediately something bad for the Division by having Kendrick rescind his challenge for a Gentlemen’s Duel just to keep up the “Gallagher is a clown” shtick. It was obviously a ploy so Kendrick could ambush Gallagher, I would’ve much rather seen them actually have the match tonight to settle this, but it seems that’ll just happen next week. TJP and Swann are still able to propel their story, too, as TJP spins everything into it being Swann who has the sore-loser grudge. Swann did perfect in reminding TJP that injuries aren’t forever and that they’ll have to settle up when he’s back, I wonder what other excuses TJP will have to avoid taking a loss.
The main event was great once again, Neville-Tozawa 4 was up there with the last couple of matches, and I really couldn’t be sure who was going to win. In the end, Neville won, and I wondered if someone was going to come out. When that someone turned out to be Enzo Amore, I didn’t know what to think. Tozawa won that belt off of Neville for only a week based on skill and guts, I can’t be sure if Enzo’s going to win it on only guts. This might all be happening because Cass is legitimately injured and won’t be around for months, but it is another way to get more crossover of Raw and Cruiserweights. Enzo’s still insanely over, based on that reaction from Brooklyn, putting him and Neville together as two top Cruiserweight talkers can get the Division more attention, we’ll just have to wait and see how matches go…
My Score: 7.9/10
