By Anish Vishwakoti, ProWrestling.net Staffer, (@AVX_9001)
WWE 205 Live on WWE Network
Aired live on May 21, 2019 from Providence, Rhode Island at Dunkin’ Donuts Center
The show started with a Sparknotes version of the WWE Cruiserweight Title match at Money In The Bank between Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari. With that highlight reel, we got right into the show as the broadcast team of Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, and Aiden English announced the Fatal 5-way main event between Akira Tozawa, Ariya Daivari, The Brian Kendrick, Oney Lorcan and Mike Kanellis.
The Singh Brothers then made their way to the ring to cut a promo. They said it was Bollywood time, in reaction to Lucha Time, derided the Lucha House Party by talking about how Lars Sullivan destroyed them. They asked the referee to give them a forfeit victory, but Drake Maverick came out there and gave them new opponents in Humberto Carrillo and Jack Gallagher.
1. The Singh Brothers vs. Humberto Carrillo and Jack Gallagher. Carrillo and Sunil started in the ring, with Sunil knocking Carrillo down with a shoulder block and dancing in celebration. Carrillo retaliated with one of his own and used a cartwheel to transition to an enziguiri. Carrillo tagged in Gallagher and he grabbed a wristlock before being whipped into the turnbuckle and then catching Sunil in a leg knot and sitting on him.
Carrillo tagged in and he and Gallagher whipped Sunil about, however Samir was able to distract Carrillo and got the tag. The Singh bros then tagged in and out while keeping Carrillo isolated from Gallagher. Samir knocked down the luchador with a dropkick and tagged his brother in to jump in with an axe handle. Sunil danced in the ring for a bit, allowing Carrillo to get a roll up, but Sunil kicked out at two.
They tagged in and out for a bit, before Carrillo was able to swoop out of the way and tag in Gallagher. The Englishman was able to find some momentum and hit Samir with a delayed vertical suplex and then a Boston Crab. Samir crawled to the ring while in the crab and tagged in his brother. The Singhs weren’t able to double team Gallagher however as Carrillo interfered.
The Singhs knocked Carrillo out and managed to hit Gallagher with a wheel kick, but only got a two count. While trying for a big double team maneuver, Gallagher tagged in Carrillo who was able to catch Samir with an Aztec Press Moonsault and get he pinfall victory.
Humberto Carrillo and Jack Gallagher defeated the Singh Brothers.
Anish’s Thoughts: Fun match, I liked the story of the two former rivals Gallagher and Carrillo coming together and forming some sort of alliance. The Singhs were entertaining enough as over the top cowardly heels and I think they could be useful in getting people over and working good matches with some heat in the future. The announcers made a lot of references to random Indian cultural tidbits like T-Series (like Indian Vevo) and random Bollywood actors. It felt like someone who Googled ‘Indian pop culture’ and regurgitated whatever popped up on the front page. It was standard WWE fare to be honest, much like how WWE feel the need to make reference to anything going on in pop culture, but as an Indian it was pretty cringy and confusing. Considering WWE is really looking to expand globally, you’d think they would do an inkling of research. Regardless, the match was good so I can’t fault any of the wrestlers.
We saw promos from Mike Kanellis and Oney Lorcan before break and we went right into the match. We also saw one last promo from Ariya Daivari right before he entered the ring, saying that his loss was a fluke and that he shouldn’t be in this match.
2. Ariya Daivari vs. The Brian Kendrick vs. Oney Lorcan vs. Mike Kanellis vs. Akira Tozawa. As Fatal 5-Ways go, Kanellis exited the ring immediately to let the others fight it out. Tozawa and Kendrick teamed up to hit Lorcan and Daivari with some quick suplexes to fight it out by themselves.
Before they could start however, Kanellis rushed them and he and Daivari formed their own alliance, hitting each of the faces with Suplexes one by one, until Lorcan chopped them to retaliate and knocked Daivari out of the ring. Daivari countered however and threw the chasing Lorcan into the barricade after hitting a forearm.
Daivari and Tozawa went at it in the ring next, with Tozawa knocking Daivari down and heading to the top rope. Lorcan knocked him off however and Daivari knocked him down. The Brian Kendrick then entered and locked the captain’s hook in on Daivari. Not for long however as Lorcan broke it up, only for him to be locked up next. After Lorcan broke out he got hit by a Daivari superkick, allowing Kanellis to come in and try for a cover, only getting two.
Kanellis and Lorcan then went at it furiously with chops while everyone else was on the outside. Lorcan tried for a big running chop on Kanellis but got hit by a Spinebuster. Lorcan kicked out at two however and as Kanellis taunted him, Lorcan got fired up and rammed him with a clothesline. Everyone tried to rush the ring but Lorcan warded them off and eventually hit Kendrick and then Kanellis with big half and half Suplexes. Tozawa then entered and forced Lorcan to the outside with everyone else and hit them with a dive.
Tozawa rolled Daivari in the ring who tried for the Devil-Lock Suplex, but Tozawa reversed it into a German Suplex. Kanellis and Kendrick then interrupted, knocking the two down and eventually leading to Kendrick on the turnbuckle. Lorcan and Tozawa help them out with a Tower of Doom spot with Daivari hitting a Splash to follow and covering, only getting a two count.
With everyone down, Tozawa rushed to toss all but Kanellis out of the ring and locked in an Octopus Stretch. Maria distracted the ref, forcing Tozawa to break the hold and letting Mike roll him up, Daivari broke it up however. Tozawa and Daivari then did battle with Tozawa hitting him with a Shining Wizard. Tozawa and Daivari then battled to the top rope where Daivari got racked with a Super Front Suplex, although Kanellis jumped in to fight Tozawa.
Tozawa got the better of it, hitting Kanellis with a German on the hardest part of the ring. Tozawa then did battle with Daivari again, catching Daivari with a Lariat and then the Super Senton. The Brian Kendrick broke the cover up, leaving the two friends to fight it out. Kendrick extended his hand, but Tozawa smacked him in the face. Kendrick managed to recover and hit Tozawa with a cross body. The two got to their feet slowly, with Kendrick managing to hit Sliced Bread No. 2. Everyone consecutively hit their finishers next culminating with Daivari catching Lorcan with the Devil Lock clothesline. However, in the chaos, Tozawa was able to recover and roll up Daivari to steal the victory.
Akira Tozawa won the Fatal Five-Way.
Anish’s Thoughts: Now this was a really well put together match. I don’t often say this about multi-man matches, but everyone was in the right place at the right time, it was easy to follow, and there was a great set of stories all interacting there. There wasn’t one massive spot to get the crowd super explosive, however it was a very smooth match from start to finish with everyone playing their role and having their moment to shine.
I loved Kanellis and Daivari’s craftiness, while Lorcan tried to force his way through to a victory. While Tozawa and Kendrick looked to one up each other as friends, it took Tozawa taking a leaf out of the heels book and sneaking up on Daivari to get the victory. The match didn’t have me on the edge of my seat per se, but it was definitely fun to watch. Overall, this was a solid show. The opening tag didn’t blow me away, but that main event was pleasing enough that it was a good watch and I’m interested to see what happens moving forward.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and guest Conrad Thompson discussing Starrcast II, Undertaker pulling out of the event, hosting AEW rallies and his friendship with Tony Khan, thoughts on how WWE podcasts could work, and more.
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