Mitchell’s WWE 205 Live Report! (8/8/17)
The Outlandish One and the FilAm Flash have another “friendly” rematch in the main event!

All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Tony Nese VS Cedric Alexander; Nese wins.
- Noam Dar VS ???; Dar wins.
- Rich Swann VS TJP; TJP wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
TJP and Rich Swann have had a rivalry against each other for years, but it’s always been friendly.
TJP won against Swann in the Cruiserweight Classic, Swann beat TJP on an episode of 205 Live, and yet it’s TJP pushing the issue with tag matches and time challenges. Now to get past this, the friendly rivals will go 1v1 once more. Will they stay friendly after tonight?
Tony Nese VS Cedric Alexander!

The Premier Athlete and the Carolina Kid met in the ring as part of the “friendly rivalry” between TJP and Rich Swann, now we see who is the better 1v1. Cedric and Nese circle and tie up, Nese pushes Cedric aside to flex. Fans jeer the showy Nese, Nese and Cedric circle again and tie-up. Arm wrench to wristlock from Nese, Cedric rolls and flips to trip Nese. Things speed up, Cedric goes under Nese, Nese blocks the hip toss and rolls Cedric but Cedric pushes Nese away and rolls backward before rolling under Nese’s clothesline, backflip headscissors throws Nese and a dropkick drops him down. Alexander kip-up and flexes his own guns, then he side-steps and tosses Nese out of the ring before speeding up and… fakes Nese out before hitting an Asai moonsault!

Alexander topples Nese over, then he drags Nese up and gives him a nice loud chop. Things go back into the ring, Nese gets to a corner for safety. Alexander rushes in but is hung up on the top rope in a bad way. Nese takes a moment to catch his breath, then seeing Alexander is in position, gives Alexander a top shelf kick to pop him into the fireman’s carry, gutbuster on the knee, TWO. Nese stomps on Alexander, covers again, TWO. Nese is scowling as he rocks Alexander with a left hand, then Nese puts Alexander in a tree of woe. Nese drives his knees into Alexander’s stomach as fans duel, #FullContactCardio from Nese. Nese shows off the abs before stomping on Alexander again. Alexander gets to his feet and gives a stiff right, Nese gives him another stiff left in return. Nese flexes, fans jeer, Alexander cradles, TWO, Nese runs Alexander over with a back elbow, TWO. More stomps from Nese to Alexander, body scissors wrapped on to squeeze the air out of Alexander. Nese even open hand chops Alexander across the chest. Fans rally as Alexander fights his way out with back elbows. Nese grabs Alexander, Alexander hits back with a forearm. Alexander’s kick is blocked, Nese swings it away, enziguri on the turn-around! Nese is down, Alexander fires up and rallies. Running shoulder into the corner then a sharp swing kick sends Nese out of the corner. Alexander takes aim from the corner, springboard clothesline!

Alexander hits it, covers, TWO! Alexander is surprised by that, but he gets up and goes after Nese. Chop against the ropes, Alexander whips but Nese slides under, pumphandle driver! TWO, Nese is the one frustrated. Nese grabs Alexander, trash talks that he’s better, Alexander gives a stiff forearm to rock Nese back. Alexander boots out of the corner, Nese dodges Alexander, throws a kick but Alexander blocks and gives that stiff back elbow. Alexander runs, handspring but Nese catches him in a waistlock. Alexander denies the German Suplex but Nese rolls Alexander, Alexander reverses, TWO, another roll up, with tights, Nese steals a win! Nese laughs, having pulled one over on Alexander. Nese also says this is the difference between a great athlete, and a Premier Athlete. To be fair, though, Alexander is in much better shape than these Toronto “shlubs”, but compared to Nese, everyone else is just second best. More flexing from Nese, is his combination of brains and brawn enough to climb the ranks?

Backstage interview with THE Brian Kendrick.
The Man with a Plan had a match with Extraordinary Gentleman, Jack Gallagher. After weeks of mocking the “clown”, Gallagher took the fight to Kendrick and got disqualified! Gallagher kept up the assault anyway, Kendrick ending up running away through the crowd. Kendrick’s response is that he’s vindicated: Gallagher doesn’t have what it takes to win a fight, so he gets disqualified “like a coward would.” So if the “bozos of social media” want to say Gallagher showed a meanstreak, doesn’t matter. Kendrick got the win, that’s what matters. Time to move on. Gallagher doesn’t think so! He attacks out of nowhere!

Gallagher kicks and punches away at Kendrick, using Kendrick’s own jacket to hold him back. Kendrick slips out of that jacket and runs away! Gallagher is left scowling as he throws Kendrick’s jacket down. When will Gallagher get to prove to Kendrick he is no clown, he IS a fighter?

Noam Dar VS ???

The now single Scottish Supernova is confident as ever, especially after dumping the crazy and clingy Alicis Fox. He recognizes his opponent, Mark Thomas, the guy “still chasing the dream.” Dar can’t relate to a guy like Thomas. Dar is 24 years old and already in the WWE. Thomas’ boots are probably older than him. This is a tune-up for Dar, but this is Thomas’ big moment! Good luck, mate, all the best. Dar taunts the fans as he takes off his jacket, the bell rings, Toronto is now on Thomas’ side. Dar doesn’t want him getting heated, it’s nothing personal, how about a handshake? Thomas does give Dar a right hand, to the face!

More haymakers on Dar, the ref has him back off, Thomas whips Dar and Dar slides out of the ring. Dar walks it off, gets back in, Thomas slips on a facelock but Dar arm wrenches his way out to then sweep the legs! Dar poses as the fans boo and jeer, Dar clobbers Thomas and throws down fast left hands. The Supernova is high on himself as he puts Thomas in the corner and unleashes stiff lefts, rights and stomps. Dar backs off, Thomas gets up and fights back, but a stiff left European Uppercut floors him. Dar has pinkies out and takes aim, Nova Rolla enziguri!

Dar wins, confidence overflowing. Can the youngest member of the WWE roster make his way to the top?

Corey Graves holds an exclusive in-ring interview with Akira Tozawa.

The Stamina Monster is a member of Titus Worldwide and also the #1 contender to the Cruiserweight Championship, and very popular in Toronto as they let out “HAH! HAH! HAH!” for him to hear. Corey congratulates Tozawa for getting through a “long and winding” path. With the grudge with Persian Lion and a hurt shoulder behind him, Summerslam looks to be his biggest moment yet. However, to ruin this moment, the current champion, Neville, appears!

The King of the Cruiserweights wants this to stop right now. He’s known Corey a long time, but what is he doing to Neville’s show? You want to interview the challenger? Really? With the champion sitting backstage with nothing to do? This is his show, he is the King, Corey should interview him. He goes into the ring, the fans cheering for his “Neville Level”, and continues to say that Corey is trying to hype up this match. Neville is all the hype they need, for he is 205 Live, and “this” is no competition. As Neville continues on, Tozawa simply stands up, puts his chair aside and takes off his jacket and tie. Neville notices the “HAH! HAH! HAH!” starting, turns around to look at Tozawa, and Tozawa tells Neville “I have a question for you.” Oh, a question? Neville was here to save the WWE Universe from Tozawa’s “pathetic attempts at English.” But if Tozawa insists, ask away. “Neville, how are you gonna feel after I beat you for your title at Summerslam?” Neville laughs, the fans “HAH! HAH! HAH!” Neville “wonders” how he’ll feel. Neville goes to swing on Tozawa, Tozawa gets him first with an enziguri!

Tozawa finishes clearing the ring of props as he goes top rope, Neville scurries away. Tozawa gets down from the corner as Neville rushes the ring, Tozawa kicks Neville back out of the ring! Tozawa is looking confident as ever as he picks up the title belt, can he be the man to finally dethrone the King?

Rich Swann VS TJP!

As stated at the start of the show, this rivalry has been treading territory between friendly and heated, will this newest rematch settle things between these former Cruiserweight Champions? The bell rings, the two circle and tie up. Waistlock from TJP, he slams Swann down, Swann gets a headlock and holds tight as TJP tries to power out. Roll up counter, quick kick out but Swann holds the headlock. TJP lifts Swann, Swann uses that to hit a takedown, TJP keeps his shoulders up. Another roll but Swann rolls through, TJP powers out and Swann ends up in a corner, but Swann goes up and over TJP, TJP shoulders Swann down. TJP speeds up, handsprings over and checks his hair. Things speed up again, Swann goes under and front flips over, TJP ducks the dropkick but Swann slips out, TJP and Swann both kick but also block, the two hop and spin to the ropes.

The ref steadies them, they ropebreak, fans applaud the exchange. TJP and Swann reset, tying up again. TJP powers Swann to a corner, no break, EuroUpper instead. Snapmare from TJP, Swann gets up and snapmares TJP but Swann gives TJP a stiff kick across the back. Swann stalks TJP, drags him up, whips TJP but TJP goes Spider-Man to spin to the apron and slip underneath, Swann still clotheslines TJP out of the ring. Swann runs to a corner, hops over and up, Phoenix Senton!

Swann topples TJP over and the fans applaud as a ten count begins. Swann takes his time as he gets TJP up and in, covers, TWO. Swann keeps close to TJP, dragging TJP up into the double underhook, but TJP powers Swann to a corner. Swann holds on and spins TJP down into a hammerlock takedown. TJP gets up and back elbows, gets running, Swann follows but ends up in a flapjack toss to the mat! TJP grabs Swann, standard suplex. TJP spins around and picks Swann up, back suplex. TJP covers, TWO. The fans are on Swann’s side, TJP picks Swann up and wrenches the arm before whipping to a corner hard. Swann sits down from the impact, TJP rolls him into position, slingshot senton. Cover, TWO, TJP is getting a touch frustrated with his friend. TJP grabs Swann in a toehold, laces those legs together, Bow & Arrow stretch.

Swann bends back, TJP keeps this from being a pin with his own core strength. Fans rally for Swann, Swann pops out into a cover, quick kick out from TJP who whips Swann, Swann kicks TJP’s back drop away. TJP ducks a punch to springboard ax handle Swann down, cover, TWO. TJP puts a hammerlock on Swann, Swann keeps it from being a pin, so TJP torques on the lock harder. Fans rally for Swann, Swann gets up, he backflips out of the hold but is whipped to a corner, back elbow knocks TJP back, Swann goes for another Phoenix senton inside but misses! TJP jumps for a flying splash, he misses, and both men are down. Both men get up slow, Swann blocks a kick and starts rallying. Back kick leads to jumping leg drop! TJP scrambles to a corner, Swann takes aim but TJP boots him away. TJP hops up to the top rope, Swann stuns him with an uppercut, No Hands Huricanrana!

TJP is sent flying, Swann covers, TWO. Swann is feeling the frustration but he won’t be deterred. He drags TJP up, double underhook, TJP resists and lifts Swann up, Swann sunset flips, TJP gets the Kneebar! Swann scrambles and crawls, reaching for ropes. Swann pops out, Swann Song kick!

Swann then gets to a corner, TJP rolls, cartwheel moonsault! TWO! Swann is still surprised, but he keeps going by putting TJP in position. Swann climbs up, Phoenix Splash FLOP! Swann misses big, TJP gets Swann in the rear double underhook, but Swann rolls through! TWO! Swann goes for another heel kick but TJP ducks, fireman’s carry but Swann slips out, Swann boots TJP and hops onto his shoulders. That’s not a good spot, though, TJP dumps Swann backwards onto buckles!

Swann stunned, TJP gets him up, Detonation Kick!

TJP wins and celebrates in a not-so-friendly manner. TJP jumps onto the post, points to himself, the winner, and then dabs at Toronto. When TJP sees Swann come to, he even dabs on Swann!

TJP continues to rub it in that he won again. Swann goes to leave so TJP follows him to keep talking the whole way. Even backstage, TJP catches up to Swann to ask “what’s up with you?” You a sore loser? It’s not that he lost, it’s how TJP is supposed to be a friend, and yet he rubs it in when he wins. It’s just good friendly joking. Swann knows TJP. Oh yeah, he’s starting to know the real TJP. Is the decade long friendship starting to break apart?
My Thoughts:
205 Live, much like Raw, has things both good and bad to talk about. Again, Nese has a great match where he and his opponent get to show their styles. He and Alexander can make a program out of this, given their confrontation during the tag team match before and this here tonight, I wouldn’t mind if it also became a #1 contender’s match from it as these two have yet to go after the Cruiserweight Champion. Alexander makes for a really good Face to Neville’s Heel while Nese would make a really good Heel to Tozawa’s Face. And again I say, give us a Kendrick-Gallagher No Disqualification type match, these two have proven themselves capable of physicality and going at each other with such physicality would make for some good buzz to get Cruiserweights noticed. Which, oddly enough, a squash match like what Dar did to Mark Thomas is the opposite. Granted, it is the WWE’s way of doing things: when you want to build someone up (usually a Heel) but there’s nothing or no one established, feed them a jobber. However, as the general WWE Universe’s interest in 205 Live is tenuous at best, don’t do that for Cruiserweights. Dar should be doing what Nese is doing: showing his stuff against guys we know from the CWC. Otherwise, what does the WWE even have Gran Metalik or Lince Dorado for?
What worked was the interview-not-interview segment with Tozawa and Neville, Tozawa getting to give the Heel some comeuppance to build some Face points and momentum as we draw closer to Summerslam, as everyone likes trash talk and quick scrimmages. I expect the go-home (Raw and/or 205 Live) has Neville turn the tables, just so he doesn’t look like a complete punk of a champion, but also to indicate that — in a hard fought, CWC tier match — Tozawa will win and be the hero that slays the Heel King of the Cruiserweights. The main event was also good, as the saga of Rich Swann and TJ Perkins continues to unfold. In their third 1v1 match, including the CWC, these two do really well in showing off skills and story elements. Fans were into it for the most part (they called “boring” at rest holds, but rest holds are boring so it’s okay), and Swann and TJP gave them things to like. Fittingly, TJP wins to be a sore winner, and there is natural progression in the story. It seems this could take two more rematches to really give us a blow-off, as the next match can go Swann’s way and TJP shows he is a sore loser with a brutal attack after the match, and then the last one is the blow-off to settle it once and for all. Swann and TJP, along with other CWC talent, need to be given leeway to shine and do what fans what the Cruiserweights to do, so with these two pushing each other like this, there is still hope for 205 Live.
My Score: 7.5/10
