SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE 205 LIVE TV REPORT
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
BUFFALO, N.Y.
REPORT BY MICHAEL TAYLOR, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Aiden English, Tom Philips
-The show opened with a video package recapping the non-title match between Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush and Oney Lorcan. After Rush’s win, Tony Nese was shown inviting Rush to watch his match against Raul Mendoza. The video package ended with Mendoza rolling Nese up from behind after a distraction from Rush for the win. The 205 Intro video played and then the camera panned the crowd. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott made his ring entrance with Ariya Daivari already in the ring. The ring announcer for the evening was Kayla Braxton. The announcers did not draw attention to Greg Hamilton’s absence, and Braxton was never shown on-screen.
(1) ISAIAH “SWERVE” SCOTT vs. ARIYA DAIVARI
-Daivari attacked Scott from behind before the match officially started, knocking him out of the ring. He threw Scott into each side of the barricade before throwing him back in the ring. Several referees came out to the ring to stop the attack and asked Scott if he could continue. The referees gave Scott time to compose himself before he consented to the match starting. The bell rang and Daivari tried to attack Scott in the corner, but Scott knocked him to the outside. After the two briefly fought outside Daivari took control back in the ring. The announcers talked about the NXT invasion throughout Smackdown. English said the whole audience was still buzzing from seeing the NXT roster take control of the Smackdown ring. Daivari cinched in a headlock and taunted the crowd. Scott broke the hold and hit a suplex and both men slowly tried to return to their feet. The pace quickened and Scott hit an uppercut from the second rope. Scott hit a snap German suplex followed by a flat liner for a two count. With Daivari propped on the second rope, Scott hit a DDT for a two count. Daivari countered with a slam from the second rope for a two count. Both men traded chops before hitting a double clothesline in the middle of the ring. Daivari returned to his feet first and trash-talked Scott who responded with a slap. Scott then hit a double stomp from the ring apron which sent Daivari to the floor. With Daivari back in the ring, Scott scaled the top rope. Daivari countered the offense attempt with a suplex from the top. From there, Daivari missed a dive and then Scott quickly hit a running kick to the head for the win.
WINNER: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott via pinfall
(Taylor’s Analysis: If he continues to develop, Daivari has the potential to be a solid, mid-card heel. He came off looking vicious with the pre-match beatdown on Scott. It’s hard to tell if Scott is connecting with the audience because the post-Smackdown crowds have been so dead for all his matches thus far. Daivari’s loud taunts to Scott during the match could be heard echoing off the arena walls, which is evidence of a very empty building. The announcers kept referring to Scott as an “NXT superstar” which was odd given that the two brands are now combined.)
-A commercial for WWE Shop aired.
-The show returned with the announcers at ringside who threw to footage of Crown Jewel. R Truth was shown beating Sunil Singh for 24/7 title only to lose it to Samir Singh later the same night. Tweets from the Singh Brothers were shown before Jack Gallagher made his ring entrance with Ray Jazikoff already in the ring.
(2) JACK GALLAGHER vs. RAY JAZIKOFF
-The match began with both men shaking hands. They traded holds until Gallagher took control with an armbar. Jazikoff broke the hold and the pace quickened. Gallagher hit a gentleman’s headbutt which sent Jazikoff to the outside of the ring. From there, Gallagher attacked Jazikoff on the outside and hit a running gentleman’s dropkick. With both men back in the ring, Gallagher hit a running kick for the win.
WINNER: Jack Gallagher via pinfall
(Taylor’s Analysis: This may have been filler due to a limited roster, but giving Gallagher a squash win was a positive. He could be one of the show’s stars if he’s booked to consistently look this strong.)
-A commercial for WrestleMania 36 aired.
-The show returned with Aiden English announcing that next week’s 205 Live would emanate from Manchester, England. English said that 205 Live general manager Drake Maverick made an invitation to the NXT UK roster to appear on the show. Raul Mendoza then made his ring entrance.
(3) LIO RUSH (Cruiserweight Champion) vs. RAUL MENDOZA – Non-title match
– The bell rang and the two locked up. The pace quickened and both men countered each other until Mendoza rolled Rush up for a two count. Rush sent Mendoza to the outside and hit a head scissors takedown. Rush then hit a suicide dive before throwing Mendoza back in the ring. From there, Rush taunted Mendoza and played to the crowd before hitting a suplex for a two count. With Mendoza on the mat, Rush scaled the top rope. Mendoza hit a jumping kick knocking Rush to the mat. Mendoza hit a running neck breaker for a two count.
(Taylor’s Analysis: At this point in the match, Phillips told the audience to remember that “in WWE, a win against the champion could lead a title shot later on”. This was completely stupid to point out. Firstly, it makes no sense that a wrestler should have to beat the champion to get a title shot. If you have beaten the champion, shouldn’t you be the champion? Secondly, while this, unfortunately, does take place often in WWE, there is no established rule that states what Phillips was talking about. WWE needs to book their champions in non-title matches far less frequently. Doing so would make titles feel much more important and valued.)
-After the pinfall attempt, Mendoza chopped Rush in the corner before hitting a dropkick for a two count. A small, but audible, section of the crowd started a brief “Aiden English!” chant which the announcers acknowledged. Mendoza cinched in a modified headlock, but Rush returned to his feet and hit a jawbreaker. The pace quickened before Mendoza hit a running kick for a two count. Mendoza hit a snap suplex and scaled the top rope. Rush rolled to the ring apron where both men traded blows on the apron. After knocking Mendoza to the floor, Rush hit a springboard moonsault. With both men back in the ring Rush rallied and the pace quickened. Rush hit a spinning kick for a two count. From there, Mendoza countered offense from Rush and hit a missile dropkick from the top rope. Mendoza then hit a spinning slam for a two count. With both men back on their feet, Rush countered a suplex attempt and cinched in a one-legged Boston crab. After creating separation, Mendoza threw Rush into the ropes, but Rush countered with a springboard stunner from the bottom rope. With Mendoza on the mat, Rush hit the final hour for the win.
WINNER: Lio Rush via pinfall
-After the match, Rush extended his hand to Mendoza and the two bumped fists. The show ended as Rush celebrated the win.
(Taylor’s Analysis: This offense throughout the match was hard-hitting, but the lack of any real, established stakes made it feel forgettable at the conclusion. It’s good to see Rush winning, but his reign doesn’t feel special because he is competing in non-title matches so frequently.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: The entire pace of this show felt much slower and drawn out than previous weeks. This leads me to believe that the original plans for the evening were affected by the delays in Saudi Arabia. The main event is worth watching, but nothing of consequence took place. The merging of NXT and 205 Live feels barely thought out at this point. WWE needs to establish how this will take place or they risk further disinterest from what remains of the 205 Live audience.
“Firstly, it makes no sense that a wrestler should have to beat the champion to get a title shot. If you have beaten the champion, shouldn’t you be the champion?”
Remember when wrestlers got title shots simply by being successful in working their way up the ladder, or by viciously attacking the champ and starting a feud?
Nah. That would require long term thinking and actual good booking.
Nowadays, they just give away the match for free, and then expect you to still be all excited for a second version of a match you’ve already seen and which usually is cold because the program just started one or two weeks earlier because of a fluke win.