SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE 205 LIVE
AUGUST 1, 2017
CLEVELAND, OHIO AT QUICKEN LOANS ARENA
REPORT BY JOEY GALIZIA (@RamJan89), PWTORCH SPECIALIST
Announcers: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves
JG here.
Show opens with highlights of the Titus O’Neil conference call with his client Akira Tozawa from last month. Titus had gotten Akira another shot at the cruiserweight championship after his match at Great Balls of Fire with Neville ended in controversy. Since then Ariya Daivari has inserted himself into the feud by attacking both men, and even shocked the world when he got a fluke countout win against Neville last week. Tozawa meanwhile has been sporting an injured shoulder, but ensures Titus that it won’t stop him from victory. Tonight, he gets to put his money where his mouth is when he faces Daivari in a #1 contenders match.
“Hail the crown.” (I wouldn’t wish this song on my worst enemy.)
Vic Joseph and Corey Graves welcome us to another episode of 205. They hype the evening’s card including Gran Metalik versus Tony Nese, and the aforementioned Tozawa versus Daivari in the main event.
Brian Kendrick is out first. He tells the fans week after week he warns the WWE Universe about the clown that is Jack Gallagher, and tonight he will send him back to where he belongs…the circus. (Brian’s way more carny than Jack.)
Gallagher comes out next. Graves says that Jack is anything but a circus show. He’s a trained mixed-martial artist, submission expert, and strongman. Jack enters the ring and the two prepare to square-off.
(1) Jack Gallagher vs. Brian Kendrick
Jack opens up with some vicious fists and knocks Kendrick on his back. The ref needs to pull Jack away because he’s not relenting. He smashes Kendrick’s head off the turnbuckle and lays into him with stiff uppercuts. Again the ref separates them. Kendrick charges off the distraction but walks right into Jack’s signature headbutt. Joseph and Graves say they’ve never seen this type of aggression from Jack before.
Kendrick continues his assault. Referee tries to break it up a third-time but Jack won’t stop and the referee calls for the bell.
WINNER: Brian Kendrick by Disqualification in 2:00.
Jack destroys Kendrick, smashing him off multiple barricades, the ring post, and the LED board attached to the side of the ring. He grabs his trusty umbrella (WILLIAM!) to bash Kendrick but the Brian jumps the barricade and crawls to safety. Jack’s music plays and he poses to the crowd before he exits.
Cut to backstage where Rich Swann & Mustafa Ali are facing each other in WWE 2K17. They’re having a jolly ole time until T.J. Perkins comes in to talk to Swann. Rich wonders why T.J. continues to have a bad attitude. T.J. responds by saying he’s just issuing out a little friendly competition. Swann says that T.J. is just upset because he lost to him a few weeks ago. They agree to have a rematch next week. Segment ends with T.J. picking up a remote and challenging Swann to a game in 2K. (I bet he picks Cena THE MARK.)
Commercial for Summerslam hyping the fatal-4way for the Universal Championship. #myBODYisn’tREADY
Tony Nese’s music hits and he makes his way to ringside for the next matchup of the evening. He once again counts his abs. (The audience isn’t impressed.)
Clips of last week’s 205 when Nese teamed up with T.J. Perkins and defeated Swann and Cedric Alexander.
Nese grabs a microphone and says that there’s been a misunderstanding. He flexes and explains that everyone is envious of his chiseled physique and his “mind-blowing” athletic ability. He tells the WWE Universe to look at him, and to keep in mind that he looks like a winner, and that his opponent Gran Metalik covers his body because he’s ashamed.
Gran Metalik comes out. Vic Joseph reminds us that Metalik was in the finals of the Cruiserweight Classic. They show a pre-taped promo segment that Metalik cut. In it, he calls Tony a premier athlete that lacks heart, and the true spirit of a fighter. Tonight he will show him how a true cruiserweight battles. The entire promo is in Spanish w/subtitles. Graves says that he subtitled it just for Vic Joseph. Vic says thank you.
(2) Gran Metalik vs. Tony Nese
Tie-up. Nese pushes Metalik off and poses. (EVERYONE DRINK.) Tie-up again and Metalik locks on a headlock. He backflips over Nese and takes him down with several arm-drags. Nese goes for a kick but Metalik catches it and flips him over. He hits a dropkick in succession. Sending Nese to the outside.
Metalik goes for a suicide dive but Nese meets him on the apron with a stiff forearm. Tony builds up a head of steam but Metalik moves and then hits an Asai moonsault to Nese on the outside! (GORGEOUS.)
Nese catches Metalik in a gut-buster as they get back in the ring.
In control now, Nese works over Metalik’s midsection with multiple knees to the gut, and than a body-scissor. Metalik tries to mount a comeback but Nese just tosses him into the turnbuckle.
Nese attempts a superplex, but when he climbs up he poses. (EVERYONE DRINK.) Metalik takes advantage and slaps Nese off. Top rope crossbody from Metalik! Cover but only a two count. Metalik’s body is still hurt and the crossbody didn’t do him any favors.
Nese throws Metalik into the turnbuckle again but Metalik jumps to the second rope and hits a dropkick. He goes to the top rope and nails and elbow drop into Nese’s heart. Cover but only two.
Nese catches Metalik in a pump-handle situation but Metalik rolls through. He goes to the top again but this time Nese kicks out his leg. Metalik lands in the corner. Nese wins the match with his running knee.
WINNER: Tony Nese AT 7:02
After the match Nese just sits in the center of the ring…and poses. (EVERYYYYOONNNNNEEEEE DRRRRIIIIINNNNKKKKK). Graves compares Nese to the likes of Kyrie Irving or Lebron James. (Honestly Corey, you’re way off. Nese might be a Tony Kukoc at his best.)
Commercial for NXT, and one of the biggest current stars on the brand…Aleister Black.
When we return from break Dasha is backstage interviewing Neville. She asks who he would rather face. Neville says that Tozawa and Titus Worldwide have been a thorn in his side, and he thought that he finished their beef at Great Balls of Fire. Ariya Daivari meanwhile is a man that Neville didn’t even know existed until last week when he disrespected him. Neville says he doesn’t really care who wins, because eventually they will be forced to kneel to the king of the cruiserweights.
Ariya Daivari’s music hits and it’s time for our main event! Ariya enters with confidence sporting another $1500 shirt. (At least that’s what I would assume.)
He gets on the microphone and starts screaming in Iranian. “Tonight’s match has higher stakes than any of you could ever imagine.” Daivari again promises to honor the great Rasoul Khadem, and promises to fight for the pride of the country of Iran, and all Iranian wrestlers. He promises that at Summerslam he will become the next cruiserweight champion.
Akira Tozawa comes out next as AMPED as ever. He’s still wearing a bandage over his left shoulder. (Might as well have just painted a target on it.)
(3) Akira Tozawa vs. Ariya Daivari – #1 contender’s match
Tie-up. Daivari forces Tozawa into the turnbuckles but Akira slips out and lands the first strike. Tie-up again. Stalemate. Daivari tries to force Tozawa in the corner again. Again Tozawa escapes and lands a chop. Akira takes Ariya down with another chop, than a penalty kick & standing senton in succession. He goes up for his top rope senton but Daivari slides out of the ring. Tozawa builds up speed for a suicide dive but Ariya cuts him off with a running forearm. He targets the shoulder with stomps.
Tozawa gets back on his feet and catches Ariya with a frankensteiner. Ariya slides out of the ring again but Tozawa follows him out. Ariya takes that opportunity to throw Tozawa off the ring post and the barricade destroying his injured shoulder even further. Ariya runs back in the ring at the count of 6. Tozawa is still out of the ring! Runs back in right before the 10!
Daivari whips Tozawa into the turnbuckle and than screams in Iranian at the good people of Cleveland. (I’m sure they’re all loving that.) Neville is shown backstage watching this match on television. (Thank god they showed that, I would have assumed that Neville was off at a pub somewhere.)
Daivari continues to target Tozawa’s shoulder with more stomps, and than an armbar. Akira attempts a comeback but walks right into a Cobra-clutch crossface. Tozawa shifts his weight for a pin attempt but only gets a two count. Daivari locks the hold back in. Code breaker on the arm! A pin but another two.
Akira lands a few chops before Daivari pulls him down from the arm. He goes for the frog splash but Tozawa moves! He lays into Ariya with a spin-kick, a backdrop, and than a shining wizard. He climbs to the top rope again looking for his senton but Daivari knocks him off and Tozawa lands on his shoulder! Daivari with the frog splash! Two count! Daivari can’t believe it. He goes for his hammerlock-lariet but Akira counters and knocks him out of the ring. Suicide Dive by Akira and he NAILS HIM. He quickly throws him in for the top rope senton. He hits it! It’s over!
WINNER: Akira Tozawa at 13:09
Graves says that Tozawa joins Shinsuke Nakamura in representing Japan at Summerslam. Graves also says that Akira needs to rehab his shoulder if he expects to stand any chance against Neville. Tozawa celebrates with the crowd. Neville stares at the screen as the show goes off the air.
JG FINAL ANALYSIS: One of the more interesting 205’s in a while, and I don’t necessarily mean that as a compliment. Neville cut another aces promo that only adds to this fantastic run as champion of the purple brand, and Tozawa and Daivari delivered a solid main event that told a good story and had a clear winner. Some strange additions to the Swann/Perkins and Kendrick/Gallagher storylines that made me and the live audience a little uncertain of who we should root for, or why we should care. The good people of Cleveland tried to be as supportive as they could, but they were probably still knackered from the Shinsuke and Cena dream meeting to give 205 much of their attention. I don’t honestly blame them.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S REPORT: 7/25 WWE 205 LIVE REPORT: Neville vs. Daivari, TJP & Nese vs. Swan & Alexander, plus Gallagher, Kendrick, more
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