By Anish Vishwakoti, ProWrestling.net Staffer, (@AVX_9001)
WWE 205 Live on WWE Network
Aired live on May 28, 2019 from Tulsa, Oklahoma at BOK Center
The show started with a backstage segment featuring Jack Gallagher and Humberto Carrillo reveling in their victory from last week before Gallagher challenged Carrillo to a singles match. Carrillo accepted and said he would beat Gallagher again… The broadcast team was Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, and Aiden English…
1. The Brian Kendrick vs. Mike Kanellis (w/Maria Kanellis). The match started off with Kendrick rushing Kanellis and hitting him with punches and forearms. Kendrick quickly locked in the Captain’s Hook, but Kanellis rolled out. Kendrick followed him outside and slammed his head on the announce table. Kanellis countered however and used some space to backdrop Kendrick into the barricade.
Kanellis rolled Kendrick in and rained punches on him. Kanellis then hit his opponent with a Suplex and a cover, but only got a two count. Great selling by Kendrick to show that he was rattled. Kanellis grabbed a chin lock and even when Kendrick tried to elbow him to build space, countered with a Spinebuster. Kanellis then knocked Kendrick into the corner and chopped him. He set Kendrick up for a Superplex, but Kendrick was able to push him off.
Kendrick leapfrogged Kanellis and tried for a dropkick. Kanellis countered but, Kendrick snapped back with a snapmare and locked in the Captain’s Hook again. Kanellis got to the ropes and rolled to the stairs. Unique move when Kendrick followed him there and suplexed him from the stairs to the floor. He then rolled Kanellis into the ring and covered, only got a two count so Kendrick attempted Sliced Bread No.2. Kanellis rolled out, but Kendrick locked in the Captain’s Hook again.
Kanellis lifted Kendrick up and hit a Fireman’s Carry slam to knock Kendrick off. The two got to their feet and exchanged chops and superkicks, ending the sequence with a clothesline by Kanellis. Maria urged her husband on from ringside, pushing him to rush Kendrick, who countered and hit Sliced Bread. Kanellis rolled out of the ring however, buying himself enough time to kick out. Kanellis then managed to slam Kendrick with another Fireman’s Carry and hit Kendrick with a reverse Cross Rhodes type maneuver to get the pinfall victory.
Mike Kanellis defeated The Brian Kendrick by pinfall.
Anish’s Thoughts: This was a pretty solid match. It didn’t blow me out of the water, but Kendrick really showed off his selling ability. He’s one of those guys who always shows up on 205 and enhances the show in every match. Kanellis getting the win is good and maybe the start of a solid foundation, but I’ve said this so many times that I don’t believe myself anymore and will only buy that WWE have a plan for him when I see it.
After the match we saw Tony Nese and Akira Tozawa backstage with Nese saying that he won’t wait for Maverick to name a number one contender and that he wants to defend against Tozawa soon. Maverick agreed and set the match for an upcoming show…
We also saw a promo backstage by Ariya Daivari from the trainer’s room. He was complaining about being hurt by Oney Lorcan and that because Lorcan gave him six stitches, he would be responsible for Lorcan’s stitches…
2. Noam Dar vs. Mike Karma. Noam Dar faces a very interesting Yoga themed local talent. Dar dominated the match, starting off by throwing Karma out of the ring twice. Although he has been face in recent outings, Dar was playing the heel here, I think WWE decided that they need more heels on 205 and made Dar switch, with this match signaling that. Karma retaliated against Dar’s taunting with some strikes, but the Scottish Supernova quickly countered with a sweeping kick and the Nova Roller running kick to get the pinfall victory.
Noam Dar defeated Mike Karma by pinfall.
Anish’s Thoughts: Simple squash match. Dar is heel now for seemingly no reason. Sure, this was fine.
Dar cut a promo after the match calling Karma an ‘Oklahoma Dafty’ and said that he was only having some struggles because of jet lag due to flying back and forth between NXT UK and 205 Live in the States and that he was back.
After the match we saw a backstage segment with GM Drake Maverick talking about the Cruiserweight title picture, but was distracted when R-Truth was spotted in the hallway and Maverick ran after him in pursuit of the dollar store Hardcore title (a/k/a the WWE 24/7 Championship)…
We also saw a promo by Oney Lorcan responding Ariya Daivari, saying that he would give Daivari a second set of stitches for his efforts…
3. Jack Gallagher vs. Humberto Carrillo. Gallagher and Carrillo locked up with Carrillo arm dragging Gallagher to the ground. Gallagher countered using his technique and used a leg hammerlock to press on Carrillo’s arm. Went for a cover, but Carrillo kicked out at one. Carrillo locked in a toe hold, but no issue for Gallagher who promptly countered that and the follow up headlock from Carrillo.
Carrillo then tried a wristlock, but Gallagher whipped out and forced a running exchange, ending in another arm drag by Carrillo. Gallagher wiggled out and when Carrillo whipped him to the ropes he nullified with a headstand. Carrillo frustrated taunted with a headstand of his own, but Gallagher was unfazed and shook the ropes to force Carrillo to fall.
Carrillo changed tactics, trying some quick running maneuvers to catch Gallagher, but the Englishman had the young Luchador rattled and managed to come out on top, forcing Carrillo out of the ring and into the barricade. He then rolled Carrillo into the ring to be met with some stomps and locked in a double arm lock. Gallagher wore Carrillo down before transitioning to a crossface and some strikes with a suplex intertwined to keep it varied.
Carrillo eventually muscled out and even after getting smacked by a standing dropkick, managed to goad Gallagher into striking. Catching Gallagher off guard hi caught him with a Moonsault and after a corner clothesline and a Snapmare standing Moonsault combo, managed to hit Gallagher with a Springboard kick but only got a two count.
Carrillo went to the top rope but Gallagher chased him there and hit a Super-Back-Plex. Carrillo managed to roll out of the ring however and when Gallagher chased him, trying for a dropkick, Carrillo ducked and forced Gallagher to crash. The two both then battled on the apron with Carrillo winning out with a wrecking ball dropkick and a very impressive handspring Spanish Fly cover. Only got a two count and tried for a moonsault, but Gallagher countered with the feet up and hit a running corner dropkick followed by a Suicide dive.
Gallagher chased him back into the ring and tried for a top rope maneuver, but Carrillo countered with a small package. Gallagher kicked out and as the two battled to their feet, the crowd yelled ‘This is Awesome.” Gallagher tried for a delayed vertical suplex to finish Carrillo off, but the Luchador countered into a DDT and followed up with a moonsault to get the pinfall victory.
Humberto Carrillo defeated Jack Gallagher by pinfall.
Anish’s Thoughts: This was a cracking match. Both men put it all out there and paid off this chapter of the story between Carrillo and Gallagher for now. I commend WWE for giving these guys the time to put on a great match and tell this story that had been built up. Carrillo tried to use the lessons that Gallagher and Gulak had been teaching him to start the match, but resorted to being himself and used his Lucha Libre skills to surpass Gallagher. I’ll give WWE credit where it’s due, they have made Carrillo a very credible contender on 205 Live and as much of a fan favorite as can be on the show right now.
On the other hand I will counter with the fact that they have used this formula of rivals turned respected allies a countless number of times between different wrestlers over the course of 205 Live. Hell, Gallagher’s been through it with Kendrick, Gulak and Carrillo by himself. So while this story was fun and led to a good match and some good character development, I think anyone who watches 205 regularly would have seen this coming a mile away. This is the sort of thing that stops 205 Live from being truly great and leaves it on the fringes of an average to good wrestling show, even if it features consistently great matches. Story is everything in wrestling, and 205 despite the action, needs some new stories.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and guest Gursinder Singh (a/k/a Tony Gill), who explains why he asked for his release from Impact Wrestling. He also discusses his background, being trained by Lance Storm, being in the Desi Hit Squad, his future, and more.
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