By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE 205 Live on the WWE Network
Aired live on June 11, 2019 from Sacramento, California at Golden 1 Center
Drake Maverick welcomed viewers to the show and admitted he’s been distracted by his pursuit of the WWE 24/7 Title, but he said he takes his responsibilities very seriously. He announced a four-way match between Akira Tozawa vs. Oney Lorcan vs. Humberto Carrillo vs. Drew Gulak in a four-way as the television main event with the winner earning the right to challenge Tony Nese for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship at Stomping Grounds…
The 205 Live opening aired… The broadcast team of Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, and Aiden English checked in and hyped the four-way…
1. Jack Gallagher vs. Chad Gable. The broadcast team acted surprised to see Gable appearing on 205 Live. McGuinness asked how his arrival helps 205 Live. He said they don’t need more talent, they need to resolve issues with the talent they have. English expressed the opposing view. Joseph wondered if the wild card rule was in effect.
Gallagher and Gable shook hands prior to the match. Gallagher ran Gable into the ring steps and then returned to the ring. Gable struggled to return to beat the count at nine. Gallagher manipulated Gable’s fingers. Gable had a bloody mouth. Gable performed a backslide for a two count, but Gallagher got up and performed a headbutt to Gable’s body. Gallagher performed a delayed vertical suplex while McGuinness noted that Gallagher was looking straight up at Gable’s feet, which he said is a way of maintaining balance.
Gable rallied and performed a pair of belly to belly suplexes, then a dragon suplex for a near fall. Joseph pointed out a scrape on the mid-back of Gallagher (he had another on his leg). Gable applied an ankle lock, but Gallagher countered into an armbar. Gable broke it and performed a double underhook powerbomb for a near fall. Gallagher sold knee pain. Gallagher dropped Gable on the top rope, then gave him a lariat clothesline. Gable caught Gallagher going for a suicide dive and gave him a release German suplex on the floor. Gable returned to the ring. Gallagher got up, but fell back down and was counted out…
Chad Gable defeated Jack Gallagher via count-out.
Powell’s POV: A very good match that topped everything that aired on Raw or Smackdown this week. It was good to see Gable, but I’m not sure what to make of his long term status on 205 Live. After all, he appeared on Smackdown and took notes while Apollo Crews was confronted by Zelina Vega earlier in the night.
Backstage, Mike Kanellis and Maria Kanellis approached Drake Maverick and complained that Mike wasn’t included in the No. 1 contenders match. Mike said he begged Maverick to bring him the best, but he brought in Gable and gave him to Gallagher. Mike asked what Gallagher has done to deserve it. Maverick fired up and asked what Mike has done to deserve it. He said he sees their social media posts about their status and asked why he should reward their behavior. Maria said they need a full-time general manager and told him to worry about his own status…
Powell’s POV: I like Maverick in the 205 Live general manager position and I’m not big on heel authority figures, but Maria is one hell of a talker and she’d be very good in that role if they are thinking about shaking things up even on a temporary basis.
Footage aired of Drew Gulak attacking Noam Dar before his match last week and targeting his injured knee…
A Dar promo aired. He said 205 Live doesn’t care about providing a safe work environment. He said it would never happen in NXT UK. He said he needs more rehab and if he can’t be protected then he’s going to ask to be reassigned to NXT UK permanently…
2. Sunil Singh and Samir Singh vs. Dos Locales. The broadcast team hyped The Singhs vs. Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik for next week’s 205 Live. Dos Locales were a pair of masked enhancement wrestlers. McGuinness had some comically long individual names for Dos Locales and the broadcast team had fun with those names throughout the match. In the end, the Singhs performed the Bollywood Blast (Sunil held an opponent over his knee while Samir performed a top rope elbow drop) and Samir scored the pin…
The Singh Brothers defeated Dos Locales.
Powell’s POV: A quick win for the Singhs heading into their latest match with two of the Lucha House Party members next week. The broadcast team had fun with it, and Nigel’s long names for Dos Locales was a fun bit.
Sarah Schreiber interviewed WWE Cruiserweight Champion Tony Nese about facing the winner of the four-way match at Stomping Grounds. Nese congratulated Maverick on finally making a decision. Nese recalled saying many times that he wanted to test himself against Tozawa. Nese mentioned the strengths of his other potential opponents. He said he doesn’t think he’s ever seen Drew Gulak so dangerous. Nese said he’s ready for anyone and he’s tired of sitting on the sidelines and waiting to defend his championship…
3. Akira Tozawa vs. Oney Lorcan vs. Humberto Carrillo vs. Drew Gulak in a four-way to a shot at the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Nese and Lorcan seemed to be working together early on. It was portrayed as something that developed rather than a plan that they came up with. It didn’t last long. Lorcan went for a half and half suplex on Gulak, but Gulak avoided it and threw Lorcan to ringside.
Tozawa and Carrillo had a nice exchange and then teamed up for a superkick on Gulak. Tozawa blasted Carrillo with a superkick. Tozawa went up top, but Lorcan crotched him on the top rope. Lorcan performed a half and half suplex on Carrillo and dumped him onto Gulak. Lorcan covered Gulak, but Tozawa leapt off the top rope onto Lorcan’s back to break the hold.
All four wrestlers fought on the ring apron. Carrillo superkicked Tozawa, then caught him with a forearm. Meanwhile, Gulak knocked Lorcan to the floor, and then Carrillo performed a missile dropkick on Gulak to knock him off the apron. Tozawa performed a cannonball off the step on Gulak, then Carrillo performed a flip dive onto Lorcan. A “205” chant broke out and was followed by a “this is awesome” chant.
In the ring, Carrillo put Tozawa down with a kick and then performed rolling arm drag for a two count. Lorcan returned and performed a Blockbuster on Carrillo and Tozawa. Lorcan and Gulak squared off and traded strikes. Lorcan ran the ropes and ended up diving onto Carrillo and Tozawa.
Ariya Daivari showed up at ringside and hit Lorcan with a chair. Joseph quickly pointed out that there were no disqualifications in the four-way match. Daivari backed up the ramp with the chair. In the ring, Carrillio tossed Gulak to ringside. Tozawa caught Carrillo with a kick. Nese was shown watching on a backstage monitor. Tozawa went up top, but Carrillo caught him with a kick. Carrillo went to the top rope with Tozawa, but Gulak shoved Carrillo to the floor.
Gulak set up for a superplex on Tozawa, who fought back with punches. Gulak cut him off with a headbutt. Gulak performed a superplex. Tozawa hooked Gulak’s legs on the mat and the referee counted three.
Drew Gulak and Akira Tozawa fought to a double pin in a four-way over Humberto Carrillo and Oney Lorcan.
Gulak and Tozawa both claimed victory afterward. Two referees spoke at ringside. Drake Maverick came out and spoke with the referees. One referee raised the arm of Gulak, then the second referee raised the arm of Tozawa. Maverick stood between the wrestlers and the referees as the show went off the air…
Powell’s POV: A terrific match and an obvious setup for a Triple Threat match between Nese, Gulak, and Tozawa at the pay-per-view, though nothing was officially announced. All four wrestlers did a terrific job and the crowd went from being very quiet early to getting completely invested in the match. I wrote that the Gable vs. Gallagher match was better than anything on Raw or Smackdown this week, and this four-way was even better. In fact, I never thought I’d write it, but this edition of 205 Live was a hell of a lot more fun than Raw or Smackdown. Go out of your way to see this episode. I will have more to say in my members’ audio review later this morning.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and Glenn “Disco Inferno” Gilbertti, who discusses how being a good heel doesn’t stop outside the ring, a trait that big name wrestlers have in common, his male chauvinist persona, why he didn’t work for WWE after the WCW sale, and more.
205 Live is ALWAYS a hell of a lot more fun than Raw and SmackDown