By Anish Vishwakoti, ProWrestling.net Staffer, (@AVX_9001)
WWE 205 Live on WWE Network
Streamed live on November 29, 2019 from Birmingham, Alabama at Legacy Arena
The show started with a recap of the NXT Cruiserweight Title match from Survivor Series in which Lio Rush defeated Akira Tozawa and Kalisto to retain. We also saw a recap of the NXT Cruiserweight Title match between Rush and Tozawa on NXT, which Rush also won… The broadcast team was Tom Phillips and Aiden English…
1. Raul Mendoza vs. Ariya Daivari. The two locked up to start the match with Daivari keeping Mendoza in a rough headlock. Mendoza tried to force Daivari off but was met with a shoulder block to the ground and rammed his head into the corner before administering some chops to the chest of Mendoza.
Daivari then whipped Mendoza to the ropes and he used a smart rope leapfrog to charge Daivari to the ground before goading him to run at Mendoza and tossed him to the outside. When Daivari ran back in, Mendoza hit him with a head scissors takedown followed by a second from the top rope to the outside. Mendoza then hit a suicide dive on Daivari, staying in control.
Mendoza then brought Daivari back into the ring and smacked Daivari with a blistering chop to the chest before whipping him across the ring. Mendoza tried for a springboard maneuver, but got pushed off by Daivari, allowing him to take control of the match. Daivari used this time to elbow Mendoza on the ground and after an unsuccessful cover attempt, he grabbed a chin lock to wear Mendoza down.
Eventually, Daivari hit Mendoza with a backbreaker and went to the top rope to try for a splash, but Mendoza rolled out of the way. Mendoza used the fact that Daivari was stunned to rack him with forearms and a spin kick to the gut. Mendoza continued the offense with a clothesline and a springboard kick before managing to hit Daivari with a rope run Missile Dropkick to get a two count.
Mendoza went back to the top rope, but Daivari rolled out of the way and hit Mendoza with the uranage, but this only earned him a two count. Davari tried for a back suplex, but Mendoza flipped out and hit Daivari with a running kick followed by his swinging uranage to get another two count. Mendoza tried for a package suplex, but Daivari countered and hit a superkick.
Daivari tried to end the match with the Devil Lock Lariat, but Mendoza countered with a Superkick of his own. Mendoza tried once more for a Pumphandle slam, but Daivari countered one last time and hit the Devil Lock Lariat to get the pinfall victory.
Ariya Daivari defeated Raul Mendoza.
Anish’s Thoughts: A very good match that did not get the respect it deserved from the crowd. This wasn’t a barn burner by any means, it was just a smart match between two guys that made each other look strong. The commentators were pushing the idea through this match and by advertising the later match between Jack Gallagher and Angel Garza that this was about the 205 Live originals proving themselves against the oncoming wave of new cruiserweights, which is an interesting direction. I really liked that Daivari got a clean win and it put some stock into the skills of the wrestlers who have been on 205 Live for a while.
After the match we saw a backstage promo from Angel Garza saying that he would clip Gallagher’s wings tonight and said that he wanted Lio Rush to stop avoiding him and he wanted another title match.
2. Danny Burch vs. Greg Williams. Burch controlled a local talent Greg Williams with a headlock on the ground. He then hit Williams with a shoulder block followed by uppercuts to lay him on the floor. Burch was caught out by a Jawbreaker for a second, but Burch came back with a chokehold and a headbutt to knock Williams to the corner for a clothesline and a corner enziguri. Burch then hit a Hangman’s DDT to get the pinfall victory.
Danny Burch defeated Greg Williams by pinfall.
Anish’s Thoughts: Quick squash match, did its job. I guess we’re going to see more of Danny Burch going forward, no complaints from me!
We saw a backstage interview with Lio Rush from NXT two days ago in which Rush and Tozawa hugged it out in respect after the match. We also saw Angel Garza trying to get in Rush’s face but they were held back by referees.
3. Angel Garza vs. Jack Gallagher. Before they even locked up, Garza tried to take his trousers off, however Gallagher had none of it and took him down and wrenched a headlock. Garza got to the ropes to break it up and rolled to the outside to taunt the crowd. Gallagher managed to lock in the headlock after Garza powdered again but Garza kept getting to the ropes.
Garza acknowledged Gallagher’s skilled and asked to shake Gallagher’s hand, but it was a ruse for Garza to pop Gallagher with a right hand to the face. Gallagher was then whipped to the ropes but did his handstand and propped himself over Garza to wrap him up with a crucifix pin, but only got a two count.
Garza retaliated by propping a running Gallagher into the corner and hitting him with a running dropkick. Garza then took Gallagher and chopped him in the corner, although not before finally ripping his trousers off. Garza pummeled Gallagher with strikes on the top turnbuckle before placing him in Tree-of-Woe position and hitting a running knee to the ribs of Gallagher.
Garza hit Gallagher with a pop-up knee and got a two count from the pin attempt. Garza then hit a delayed rope rebound reverse suplex, but got another two count. Garza then locked in a Camel Clutch and a triangle arm lock, but Gallagher managed to escape and hit Garza with an up-kick to the face. Gallagher then rammed Garza’s back in the corner before hitting a hip toss and a flying cross body. Gallagher then propped Garza on the top rope and tried for a superplex, but Garza tried for a Sunset Flip which Gallagher countered with a headbutt.
Gallagher tried for a cross body but got caught with a dropkick in midair. Garza then wedged Gallagher between the top and middle rope and kneed him in the ribs once more. Garza then tried for the Wing Clipper, but Gallagher countered with a headbutt. Garza bounced off the ropes and landed a superkick. The two then struggled to their feet and exchanged strikes until eventually Gallagher forced Garza into the corner.
Gallagher tried for the running dropkick but Garza dodged and put Gallagher in position for the moonsault. Gallagher pushed him off and caught him between the ropes to hit a stomp. Gallagher followed up with the running dropkick to the opposite corner, but when he went for the pinfall, Garza got his foot to the bottom rope.
Gallagher then locked in a standing Guillotine on Garza, but Garza rammed him into the turnbuckle to break the hold. Gallagher tried for a dive, but got caught in a Wing Clipper by Garza who got the pinfall victory.
Angel Garza defeated Jack Gallagher.
After the match, Gallagher threw a temper tantrum, demolishing the commentators’ desk and admonishing the referee, even threatening him with a steel chair. Security was brought out to calm Gallagher down, but Gallagher assaulted them. The show ended with Gallagher headbutting Drake Maverick who came out to calm him down as well….
Anish’s Thoughts: Another fun match that I don’t think the crowd ever really got into. Two heels getting clean victories in the same show is a welcome sight on WWE television, I think this show brought credibility to Gallagher, Garza, Daivari, and Mendoza, all with clean finishes.
Overall this was a pretty good 205 Live show, it was well paced, and all the matches got the time they needed. It is strange to see Gallagher seemingly turn heel once more, I could see him feuding with Drake Maverick as we go forward, while Garza and Lio Rush continue their rivalry. A good show and I hope we see more of the same, hopefully with better crowds as we go forward.
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