By Anish Vishwakoti, ProWrestling.net Staffer, (@AVX_9001)
WWE 205 Live on WWE Network
Streamed live on November 1, 2019 from Buffalo, New York at Keybank Center
The show started with a recap of Lio Rush’s start on 205 Live as well as Tony Nese’s challenge to him and subsequent loss to Raoul Mendoza…. The broadcast team was Tom Phillips and Aiden English…
Isaiah Scott made his entrance, but he was ambushed by Daivari before their match.
1. Isaiah ‘Swerve’ Scott vs. Ariya Daivari. After Scott had recovered from Daivari’s beatdown on him, the match started as Scott still wanted to compete. Scott started the match with a kick to catch the rushing Daivari. Scott couldn’t capitalize as Daivari took a roll to the outside and swept Scott off the apron as he chased. Daivari then rolled back into the ring and chopped Scott in the corner.
Scott fought back and stomped Daivari into the opposite corner. Scott tried to whip him but Daivari reversed with a throat thrust and then locked in an arm lock on the ground to slow the match down. Daivari took the time to taunt in between arm locks, eventually allowing Scott to fight out when Daivari tried for a suplex. Scott reversed into one of his own and got some space for himself.
Scott used a leg sweep to take Daivari down. Daivari propped a running Scott onto the top turnbuckle and tried for a Goriconoclasm, but Scott reversed and hit a flying kick. Scott continued the offense and hit a German Suplex followed by a Flatliner. This couldn’t get the pinfall and Scott hit a DDT onto Daivari from Shattered Dreams position but still didn’t get the pinfall.
Scott tried for another top rope maneuver, but Daivari rolled out, propped Scott on the top rope and hit a Goriconoclasm, but this got a two-count. Scott and Daivari exchanged roll-up attempted until eventually Daivari hit a uranage. This only got the two count and the two slugged their way to their feet and then went right back down on a double clothesline.
Scott and Daivari did battle on the apron until Daivari got knocked on his butt and Scott stomped him to the ground. Scott then rolled him in and tried for a dive, but Daivari met him on the top rope and hit a Belly to Belly Suplex. Daivari then went up top but got distracted by the crowd, prompting him to hit the mat and allowing Scott to hit the running kick to get the pinfall victory.
Isaiah ‘Swerve’ Scott defeated Ariya Daivari.
Anish’s Thoughts: A really great match with a clear heel-face dynamic that made it easy to root for Scott. The pre-match ambush may have seemed like overkill, but I think that helped the crowd root for Scott, who is still relatively new to 205 Live. Scott and Daivari both worked hard and had some fast and fun exchanges, all to build up Scott in the victory. A really fun opener tonight and I don’t think this rivalry is done yet.
2. Jack Gallagher vs. Ray Jazikoff. Gallagher took on Jazikoff who was a local talent tonight. The two shook hands before locking up and Gallagher used his skill to wriggle out of a wristlock and keep Jazikoff in an arm wrench on the ground. Gallagher and Jazikoff exchanged holds, but Gallagher was in control the whole time, event taking the time to taunt Jazikoff with a corner handstand.
Jazikoff had a little bit of success with a couple of strikes, but Gallagher worked back with a headbutt and a diving toss to the barricade on the outside. Gallagher followed up with a running dropkick to Jazikoff on the outside before rolling him back into the ring. Gallagher ended the match with a second running dropkick to get the pinfall victory.
Jack Gallagher defeated Ray Jazikoff.
Anish’s Thoughts: A quick and painless squash match from Gallagher. We’re definitely seeing more frequent squash matches on 205 and I don’t mind them, as long as matches like tonight’s opener get the time they deserve.
3. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush vs. Raul Mendoza in a non-title match. The match started with the two competitors circling each other and locking up head on. Rush used his speed to whip Mendoza about and keep Mendoza guessing. The two had a quick exchange of pin attempts, ending in a stalemate. Rush responded by tripping Mendoza and taking him outside, hitting him with a swift suicide dive.
Rush then brought Mendoza back into the ring and chopped and stomped him in the corner. Rush hit a standing suplex and went for a cover but only got a two count. Rush tried to use this time to go to the top rope, but Mendoza kicked him off and hit a spinning suplex to stun Rush. Mendoza then chopped Rush in the corner and whipped him around the ring. Mendoza got a two-count off a snapmare plus dropkick combo and used this time to wrench a chin lock on Rush.
With Rush struggling for air, he tried to build space but Mendoza brought him back into the chin lock with a Lariat. Rush reversed out of this with an arm drag and a Jawbreaker. He tried to catch Mendoza off guard with his speed but was met with a running kick to the face. Mendoza only got a two count from this and his frustration seemed to be visibly building.
Mendoza then hit a snap suplex and forced Rush to the apron. He and Rush slugged it out on the apron, eventually ending with Mendoza getting hit with a handspring kick and a moonsault combo to the outside. Rush and Mendoza got back into the ring with Rush hitting Mendoza with quick clotheslines and a handspring elbow. Rush followed up with a kick to the face and went for the cover but only got a two count.
Rush and Mendoza stood face to face, and went at each other. Mendoza was able to kick Rush in the corner and followed up with a top rope dropkick. And a swinging Flatliner. Rush kicked out of both of these moves but seemed out. Mendoza then went for a suplex but Rush reversed into a single leg Boston Crab. Mendoza kicked him off and Rush managed to hit Mendoza with a springboard Stunner followed by the Final Hour splash to get the pinfall victory.
Lio Rush defeated Raoul Mendoza in a non-title match.
Anish’s Thoughts: This was a great match with both men bringing their all. I don’t see this program going any further than today but if they do meet again in the future I’m sure this will be fun. Rush and Mendoza had a title building match here, the sort of match that a face champion should be having to make them and their title run seem important.
Overall this was a great show with two well worked matches that moved the cruiserweight title picture forward. Scott looks like a credible contender and Rush looks like a strong champion. No complaints from me, even about the squash match, as the main and opener had enough time to get into the swing of things, and I’m hopeful for more of the same in the future from 205 Live.
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