205 Live
Date: February 13, 2018
Location: Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, California
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness
The tournament continues this week with two more previously announced matches. This show has done a very good job of setting the tournament up and making me want to see it week to week. That’s a very positive sign for the show and if they keep this up, they might just fix the show. Let’s get to it.
The opening recap, narrated this time, looks back at last week’s tournament matches.
Quick preview of tonight’s matches.
Opening sequence.
Mark Andrews (he was in the UK Title tournament) is ready to stage dive and high five his way to Wrestlemania.
Cruiserweight Title Tournament First Round: Mark Andrews vs. Akira Tozawa
Andrews mixes things up with an Indian Deathlock of all things and Tozawa is screaming more than usual. Back up and a Shining Wizard knocks Andrews silly, followed by a heck of a suicide dive for two. Andrews is right back with a shotgun dropkick in the corner and a standing corkscrew moonsault for two of his own.
Tozawa drops him HARD on his head though and Andrews is staggered. He’s not staggered enough to get caught in a suplex as Tozawa is reversed into the Stundog Millionaire for two. Andrews scores with a super hurricanrana for two but the shooting star doesn’t connect. Instead it’s an Oklahoma roll to give Andrews the pin at 12:28.
Result: Mark Andrews b. Akira Tozawa – Oklahoma roll (12:28)
Jack Gallagher will be facing Mustafa Ali next week in the first round but Drake Maverick cuts him off. After recognizing the make and style of Gallagher’s suit (Drake: “I have two myself.”), he says Jack needs some better ring gear for his match next week.
Next week’s other first round match: Ariya Daivari vs. NXT call up Buddy Murphy.
Video on Buddy Murphy, an Australian and former NXT Tag Team Champion. He’s normally heavier than 205 but he’s been in special training to get under the weight limit. We also see the official weigh-in, where he weighed 204.4lbs.
Cruiserweight Title Tournament First Round: Drew Gulak vs. Tony Nese
The Zo Train collides. They’re rather serious to start until Nese throws him down and strikes the bicep pose. Drew wrestles him to the mat and cranks on a rather hard chinlock. Nese can’t shake off an arm hold as Drew is wrestling a much more technical style this time around. A HARD kick to the head blocks Nese’s half crab attempt but Tony is right back up with his own series of strikes for one.
Nese throws one one of the strangest holds I’ve seen in a long time as he ties Gulak’s legs up and uses one of his own legs to keep them in place. Tony’s other leg is wrapped around Drew’s neck in a half nelson. The hold doesn’t last long so they head outside with Gulak hitting a belly to back suplex on the floor.
Back in and Gulak DDT’s the knee as he continues to pick Tony apart piece by piece, including another arm hold. Nese finally runs him over to get a breather as Gulak has been smothering him so far. A headbutt to the chest gives Nese two but Gulak slugs right back at him to keep things even. Drew COMPLETELY changes his established style with a running dropkick (Vic: “HE LEFT HIS FEET!”) before grabbing Tony by the beard in a dastardly move.
We hit the guillotine choke on Nese but he drops Gulak on the apron for a breather. A Fosbury Flop takes Gulak down with Nese sticking the landing for good measure. Back in and Gulak gets planted with a pumphandle sitout powerslam, followed by an Alley Oop onto the top turnbuckle.
Gulak gets TOSSED into the corner but the running knee misses. They chop it out on the floor but Nese is sent face first onto the announcers’ table. For some reason Gulak snaps and sends Nese into the table over and over , followed by a HARD shot to the face back inside. Drew gives him a double powerbomb and screams a lot, followed by the dragon sleeper for the referee stoppage at 16:11.
Result: Drew Gulak b. Tony Nese via referee stoppage (16:11)
Gulak holds up the title to end the show.
Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:
http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6