2/12 WWE 205 Live Report: Championship contract signing, Tony Nese vs. Noam Dar, Gallagher vs. Dorado, and more

WWE 205 LIVE
FEBRUARY 12, 2019 ON WWE NETWORK
TOLEDO, OH
REPORT BY ZACK HEYDORN, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Announcers: Vic Joseph, Aiden English, and Nigel McGuiness

-The show began with a detailed recap video that highlighted the full feud between Tony Nese and Noam Dar.

Heydorn’s Analysis: Excellent video. It was able to simultaneously pump up the feud for fans that have seen it played out while also providing cliff notes of the story for viewers that haven’t. Well done.

-After the video, the show open ran and the announce team welcomed the audience to the program. After they did, Joseph and English hyped Elimination Chamber on Sunday before plugging tonight’s main event no DQ match between Noam Dar and Tony Nese. From there, the Lucha House Party’s music hit and Lince Dorado walked to the ring for his match.

(1) LINCE DORADO w/ Kalisto & Gran Metalik vs. JACK GALLAGHER w/ Drew Gulak

Dorado got a decent 205 Live level reaction that mainly consisted of lucha chants. Once Dorado got to the ring, he stood with his partners and addressed the audience. He played to being in Toledo, OH and then welcomed the crowd to 205 Live. They talked about the cold weather before saying that the party was in the crowd. As they said this, the audience started another lucha chant. From there, Dorado talked about the events of Monday Night Raw and said that they weren’t able to  finish their duet with Elias. To cover for that, Dorado said that Gran Metalik would sing. As he was about to get going, Jack Gallagher interuppted and walked to the ring with Drew Gulak. Because he stopped the singing, Gallagher got a nice negative reaction.

Heydorn’s Analysis: I like the attempt at storyline consistency across brands. Just an awful attempt overall though. Kalisto got destroyed by a guitar thanks to Elias. How does Lucha House Party not mention that while mentioning that segment on Monday night. Kalisto no sold it just like the Raw announcers did. Shockingly bad stuff here, folks.

Once Gallagher got down to the ring, the bell rang, and Drew Gulak joined the announce team for commentary. From there, the match started and Gulak made his pick to win between Akira Tozawa and Buddy Murphy on Sunday at Elimination Chamber. They the broke down Sunday’s match before getting into the action at hand. In the ring, Gallagher took over momentum early with a hard takedown. He then attempted his manipulation submission holds, but Dorado countered them with his high flying action including a basement dropkick. After that, Dorado covered, but Gallagher kicked out at two. Eventually, Gallagher got his momentum back and grounded Dorado with a headlock. The audience cheered for Dorado and he responded by countering the headlock into a spinning sidewalk slam. He then went for the pin, but Gallagher kicked out at two. From there, Dorado picked up his speed again, but Gallagher countered by lifting Dorado to his shoulders and rolling him back down to the mat. He tried for his submissions again, but Dorado countered and baseball kicked him to the outside of the ring. While Gallagher was on the outside, he was consoled by Gulak. In response, Dorado rolled out of the ring and brought Gallagher back inside. After he did, Dorado climbed to the top rope for a move, but Gallagher countered it. From there, Gallagher worked Dorado’s back with vicious strikes before turning those strikes to the chin of Lince. Gallagher then went back to the back and connected with a back-breaker. From there, Gallagher made the cover, but Dorado kicked out at two. Out of the pin, Gallagher locked in a stretch submission before pummeling Dorado again with knee strikes. After, Gallagher covered again, but Dorado kicked out at two.

Heydorn’s Analysis: Slow start here. The audience reaction just isn’t there and can you blame them? They just watched an hour plus gauntlet match on SmackDown that featured bigger stars. This gets a better reaction if taped at a different point during the night.

Gallagher’s momentum continued until Dorado hip tossed him over the top rope. With Gallagher down, Dorado launched himself off of the top rope all the way down onto Gallagher on the floor. Once Dorado was able to get Gallagher back into the ring, he covered, but Gallagher kicked out.

Heydorn’s Analysis: Crazy spot, but one that worked as it sparked the audience’s attention. He’ll be hurting though as he pretty much missed Gallagher on the way down.

Out of the pin, Dorado worked to hit Gallagher with his trio of shooting star presses. He connected with two, but Gallagher countered the third as Gulak laughed on commentary. In the end, Gallagher countered Dorado’s top rope hurricanrana into a roll up pin for the 1,2,3 victory.

WINNER: Gallagher via pinfall

Heydorn’s Analysis: It took a while to get rolling, but featured a nice style contrast between Gallagher and Dorado. Most importantly though, commentary by Gulak and the regular team sold that contrast nicely. In addition, they wove that contrast of style into the larger story arch between Gulak and Humberto Carrillo. Outside of the nonsensical LHP promo to start, this worked, and set a good direction moving forward with Gulak working to “woo” Carrillo with his ground based offense.

-After the match, Gulak and Gallagher celebrated as the announce team wondered if Gulak ended up sending a message to Carrillo because of this victory.

-The announce team tossed the broadcast to Kayla Braxton in the backstage area. She discussed the measures Drake Maverick took to ensure that Tony Nese and Noam Dar don’t tear each other to pieces before their main event match. As she finished up, Humberto Carrillo walked out of the locker room. Braxton then interviewed him and he said that he was proud of his high flying style and his lucha libre heritage. At the  same time, he said he’s flattered at the attention Gulak gave him and that if top wrestlers want to train him, he needs to at least listen. Carrillo then walked out of the shot.

Heydorn’s Analysis: A nice, small, next chapter in the story. Carrillo elaborated on his point well and came off as a confident babyface in doing so. Within the story being told, that is a fine line to walk. He needs to maintain his confidence and babyface attempt to get better with Gulak’s training, but not come off as a dope who doesn’t see what Gulak is trying to pull like the audience does.

-A recorded promo aired from Ariya Daivari. He talked about his history in the business and said that he didn’t come to 205 Live to be a mouthpiece for Hideo Itami or a “wannabe wrestler.” He said that in this business you get two things, miles and money. He said he has both of those things, but wants the cruiserweight championship as well.

Heydorn’s Analysis: Interesting promo. It framed Daivari well, but the production within it kept flipping from color to black and white. It looked cool, but didn’t help the promo out in any impactful way other than that.

-After the promo, a commercial aired for NXT TV and the Elimination Chamber event on the WWE Network. (c)

-Out of the commercial break, a recorded promo aired from Mike and Maria Kanellis. He talked about his journey to the WWE and said he didn’t work hard for 13 years to get there and then lose three matches in a row. Maria then jumped in and told Mike that it wasn’t about the losses, but about the process. She said every time they lose, they learn something. She said every place they’ve worked, they’ve been successful. She said that legends are made in “the” match and when that match comes everyone will know the name Mike Kanellis.

Heydorn’s Analysis: So they are losers and they don’t care that they lose? Thanks for clearing that up, guys. It’s what we figured anyway, but now its official I guess. Why should anyone want to watch this act now? Eye roll.

-When that promo ended, Noam Dar made his way to the ring. He got a very tempered reaction. Nese walked out next and briskly walked to the ring. He ditched his entire entrance and as he climbed in, Noam Dar crushed him with a knee to the back. Dar then rolled Nese back into the ring and the bell rang for the match to begin.

(2) NOAM DAR vs. TONY NESE – No Disqualification Match

With Nese reeling because of the knee, Dar took control of the match out of the gate. He beat Nese up around the ringside area and used the steel steps to help him. Dar then dropped Nese on the ring barrier before leaping off of the steel steps and crushing Nese with a clothesline. After, the audience chanted quietly for Noam Dar and Dar continued his assault on Nese.

Heydorn’s Analysis: Smart start. Both men have been frothing at the mouth to get to each other. Standard entrances and a tie up to start things off wouldn’t made good storyline sense. This start did. 

Ala, Randy Orton, Dar bent Nese’s fingers around the ring tighteners. Eventually, Nese stole Dar’s momentum back and took his turn using the ringside area to destroy his opponent. From there, Nese rolled Dar back into the ring and pulled a steel chair out from under it. Nese then used the chair and followed the shot with a springboard moonsault onto Dar who was placed on the chair. After, Nese jammed the chair into Dar’s midsection as the audience chanted “we want tables.” In response, Nese yelled “I don’t care what you want” back at them. After the audience interaction, Nese scooped Dar up for a body slam with the chair and then hit the move in tandem with the weapon. Out of that move, Nese taunted Dar and then connected with a spinning back kick. Eventually, Nese whipped Dar into the ropes and attempted a running cross body, but Dar countered by ducking which sent Nese down to the mat. From there, Dar got some momentum back and hit Nese with a corkscrew takedown. After, Nese climbed to the top rope for a move, but Dar connected with a step up enziguri. He followed that move with an overhead suplex into the ring post before covering, but Nese kicked out at two. Out of the pin attempt, Dar rolled out of the ring with Nese and found a table underneath the ring. The audience popped big for the table.

Heydorn’s Analysis: Is the table over more than both Dar and Nese?

Before Dar could get the table setup, Nese clocked him with a kick. In response, Dar connected with a back suplex on Nese who crashed into a handful of steel chairs that Dar tossed out en route to the table. From there, Dar rolled Nese back into the ring for a cover, but Nese kicked out at two. Out of the pin, Dar worked over Nese’s knee and slammed it into the chair that was in the ring. After, he locked in a single leg crab submission on the injured knee. Nese countered the hold into a pump handle driver onto the chair and covered, but Dar kicked out. In the end, Dar locked in an inverted arm bar on Nese. Nese broke the hold after slamming him onto the steel steps. While Dar was on the steps, he locked in the hold again. Nese countered again by slamming Dar through the announce table. After, Nese rolled Dar into the ring for a cover, but Dar kicked out at two. Then, the two exchanged submission holds before Nese kicked Dar through the ring barrier with a knee to the chest. Nese then covered Dar in the ring for the 1,2,3 win.

WINNER: Nese via pinfall

Heydorn’s Analysis: Really good match that held the audience’s attention throughout. They lived up to the intensity of the feud within the no DQ rules, but did so in a psychologically smart way. The finish is a bit curious. Dar was the babyface in all this and withstood a multitude of heelish antics from Nese. And Nese wins cleanly? Something tells me this isn’t the end of the story. If it is, Noam Dar is not anywhere close to a good spot on this brand. 

-After the match, the announce team recapped and showed footage that detailed how Akira Tozawa got his cruiserweight championship match at Elimination Chamber.

-When the recap video ended, the show cut backstage to Drake Maverick for the official Elimination Chamber championship contract signing. Maverick was with both Buddy Murphy and Akira Tozawa. He addressed both men and built them ahead of the signing. From there, Maverick had Tozawa sign the contract. After he did, Murphy addressed him and offered him a chance at a selfie with the champion. Murphy said Tozawa could use his phone and said that that would be as close as he’d get to his championship. Maverick calmed the situation down and Murphy told him he wouldn’t do anything stupid. He then simply said that he was only pointing out the obvious. From there, Murphy recapped his championship victory at the Royal Rumble. He then told Tozawa that his ultimate competition isn’t with him or anyone else on 205 Live, but history itself as he becomes the greatest cruiserweight champion ever. Murphy then signed the contract. In response to Murphy’s words, Tozawa said that he has beaten the King Of The Cruiserweights before. Tozawa then smiled and said “see you Sunday” before walking off as the show faded to black.

Heydorn’s Analysis: Like usual cruiserweight championship matches, this one has a sports-like build and feel. With limited time to tell any kind of story, this was a valiant attempt to hype the match in an impactful way.

NOW CHECK OUT HEYDORN’S PREVIOUS REPORT: 1/22 WWE 205 Live Report: Final Royal Rumble hype, triple threat main event, Carrillo vs. Metalik, and more