By Anish Vishwakoti, ProWrestling.net Staffer, (@AVX_9001)
WWE 205 Live on WWE Network
Streamed live on September 10, 2019 from New York, New York at Madison Square Garden
The show opened up with a highlight reel of the last couple of weeks, leading to Lince Dorado’s insertion into the WWE Cruiserweight Title match at Clash of Champions, as well as Tony Nese’s realignment with Drew Gulak… The broadcast team of Vic Joseph and Aiden English were joined by NXT wrestler Dio Maddin on commentary. Maddin replaced Nigel McGuinness, though it wasn’t explained whether he would be permanent or temporary…
Before the opening match, Jack Gallagher came out and apologized to Brian Kendrick for missing a few weeks of action. He then revealed that his tag team partner, making his 205 Live debut in MSG, was none other than New Japan Pro Wrestling legend KUSHIDA. How strange wrestling is…
1. Akira Tozawa and Brian Kendrick vs. Jack Gallagher and KUSHIDA. Kendrick and the debuting KUSHIDA started the match off in the ring together. Kendrick used his strength to try and facelock KUSHIDA to the ground, but the Japanese superstar used some slick reversals and his speed to get out of it and ended up with an armbar attempt on Kendrick.
KUSHIDA used the trapped arm of Kendrick to bring him over to the corner and he tagged in Gallagher. Kendrick managed to tag in Tozawa and he got into it with Gallagher. Tozawa tried for a headlock, but Gallagher cartwheeled out and he exchanged a couple of pinning combos with Tozawa, before Kendrick made the blind tag and blindsided the Englishman.
Kendrick and Tozawa double teamed Gallagher with a toss and Senton combo, but Gallagher would not stay down for three. Kendrick followed up with a standing suplex, and then with another double hip toss, continuing to isolate him from KUSHIDA. Gallagher was able to flip out of a double suplex attempt and tagged KUSHIDA in.
KUSHIDA rushed Tozawa and Kendrick, hitting them with a hip toss and a handspring elbow before trying for the armbar again. Tozawa blocked the armbar attempt on Kendrick, so KUSHIDA and Gallagher dealt with him with a wheelbarrow soccer kick combo to Tozawa. KUSHIDA was almost then caught in a backslide by KUSHIDA, with Kendrick then attempting the captain’s hook, however KUSHIDA rolled out and goaded Kendrick out of the ring.
KUSHIDA tried to tag in Gallagher, but Kendrick yanked him off the rope and stopped the tag. Tozawa and Kendrick then tried to corner KUSHIDA in the ring, but KUSHIDA was able to force Tozawa and Kendrick into each other’s way, isolating Kendrick and getting the victory using the Hoverboard Lock.
Jack Gallagher and KUSHIDA defeated Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher.
Anish’s Thoughts: So if you told me this morning or really anytime in my life that KUSHIDA and The Undertaker would appear within two hours of each other at MSG, I would tell you that you’re crazy. Yet here we are. KUSHIDA made his first appearance outside of NXT, and it was on 205 Live. While I’m sure many would have wanted to see KUSHIDA head to the main roster, I think it makes sense for him to dip his toes in 205 for a long or a short while. Either way, I am not complaining with KUSHIDA on 205 Live. And it was a great match overall. All four men really worked together well to do what they needed to do and that was showcase KUSHIDA. Job done. As far as a random unexpected debut in an opening tag match goes, that was a great one. Maybe KUSHIDA’s debut could have been more impactful, but overall it was fun.
After the match we saw a vague Bollywood promo by the Singh Brothers, as well as Mike Kanellis arguing with wife Maria backstage as she questioned his manhood (both segments seem to be weekly constants on 205 Live)…
Humberto Carrillo and Lince Dorado were scheduled to face Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese, but they were jumped by their opponents as they made their way to the ring. As they brawled, Gran Metalik came through to even the odds, and the match was changed to a six-man tag…
2. Humberto Carrillo, Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik vs. Ariya Daivari, Tony Nese and Drew Gulak. The match started with Daivari and Dorado brawling and Daivari taking a powder, followed by Dorado hitting all the heels with a springboard dive. Dorado then rolled Daivari into the ring and tagged in Metalik and Carrillo quickly, each hitting Daivari with an arm stomp.
The three luchadors continued to use control the match until Gulak tagged in and turned the tables. The heels tagged in and out quickly, with Nese using a chin lock to wear down Dorado at one point, and while Dorado struggled, Nese was able to keep him in the wrong corner and kept the pressure on.
The heels wailed on Dorado in the corner, distracting the referee to get some chokes in as well. The crowd started chanting for a baby at some point, something was going on in the crowd, and while this was happening, Metalik got the hot tag and rushed Nese who was the legal man. Metalik did well to try and get the crowd to focus on the match once more.
Metalik couldn’t keep the momentum however as Nese caught him with a flying forearm on the outside, allowing the heels to get control back. Gulak then tagged in and tried to rip off Metalik’s mask. Gulak then tagged in Daivari who went for a cover, but Metalik kicked out. All the while, the crowd kept chanting for some baby in the crowd, so Gulak tagged himself in and to appease the crowd, got in the ring and rocked Metaik like a baby to satiate the rowdy New York crowd.
Nese then tagged in and tried to use a body scissors to ground Metalik, followed by Daivari getting in and stomping Metalik. Daivari took too much time to taunt the crowd however, allowing Metalik to hit a slingblade and get the tag to Carrillo.
Carrillo cleared house and tossed all of his opponents to the outside before hitting them all with a moonsault. Carrillo then got in the ring and hit Gulak with a kick and a moonsault to him before trying for a pinfall. Nese blocked the pinfall however, allowing Gulak to hit Carrillo with a scoop slam, although this only got a two count.
Gulak hit Carrillo with a double suplex along with Daivari, allowing Nese to hit a 450 splash and get the cover, but Carrillo kicked out. All six men then got into the ring and pairs of them went to three of the turnbuckles. All three luchadors tried to his tandem moonsaults, but the heels got their feet up simultaneously, leaving everybody down.
As they all got to their feet, the Luchadors cleared house and launched the Nese and Daivari out of the ring, allowing Metalik and Carrillo to hit them with dives to the outside. Meanwhile in the ring, Dorado was able to reverse a torture rack attempt from Gulak and hit a shooting star press, to get the pinfall victory.
Lince Dorado, Humberto Carrillo, and Gran Metalik defeated Drew Gulak, Tony Nese, and Ariya Daivari.
Anish’s Thoughts: This whole match was marred by the crowd being extremely distracting. I have no clue what was going on in MSG with a baby that was so exciting that a previously hot crowd completely stopped paying attention. Props to Gulak for doing his best to try and get the crowd back into the match, because aside from the reacting, this was a solid match that had a clear storyline.
It was all bout strengthening Lince Dorado to make him seem like a credible threat to the WWE Cruiserweight Championship at Clash of Champions. While I don’t see Gulak losing the title, both Carrillo and Dorado look strong, which is good. Overall, a really fun show with an unexpected debut from KUSHIDA that made it feel a little special. I wish the crowd was better, which is crazy to say about MSG.
I was there last night! Really lucked out with some front row seats too! While I can’t speak for everybody – A 2 on 1 handicap match with The Fiend & B-Team was promised. During a commercial break around 9:35ish The announcer said it was to be the “main event”. I had thought for a moment Smackdown? but we still had the Semi-Final KOTR match left, and then I assumed it was for right after Smackdown ended or 205 Live. I felt bad and uncomfortable for the boys up there. Tried to be as animated as I could for them but the crowd simply ran with the guy holding up his baby.