The 5th of February edition of 205 Live was kicked off with a promo package for the main event to find a new challenger for Buddy Murphy’s 205 Live title, the package also included a little bit of promotion for Kendrick vs Kanellis. Speaking about Kendrick vs Kanellis, let’s get right into our first match for the episode.
Brian Kendrick vs Mike Kanellis
The first match of the evening sees Mike Kanellis take on Brian Kendrick. The match was kicked off with some great grappling between the two before Kendrick turned the tables on Kanellis with a vicious forearm. Whilst Kendrick is in control on the outside of the ring, Maria provides the distraction to get her husband back in the match. Kanellis whips Kendrick into the ring post but Kendrick reverses and looks for the sliced bread no. 2 before getting hit with a falling back suplex outside the ring… ouch! Kendrick then gets tossed into the ring post before getting suplexed inside the ring for a 2 count. Kanellis has control of the match for the next minute or two before Kendrick manages to slip out of the ring, drag Kanellis out with him and whip him into the ring post. With the tides turned, Kendrick attempts to build some momentum before getting shut down with a huge lariat by Kanellis. Kanellis attempts another suplex but Kendrick escapes and locks in the captain’s hook but Kanellis manages to crawl to the ropes. Kendrick follows it up with a superkick, then a sliced bread no.2 but Kanellis escapes and hits a superkick of his own, followed up by a falcon arrow for a near fall. Kanellis then hits a spinebuster, gets a near fall and proceeds to boot Kendrick in the face a few times before looking for the rolling cutter. Kanellis looks on the verge of a win but Kendrick escapes the rolling cutter, finally connects with the sliced bread no.2 and picks up the win over Kanellis. A great match between these two and an excellent combination between grappling, brawling and some hard-hitting and power moves. I loved the seamless transitions between the different styles within this match and the continued story line that Kendrick struggled to hit the sliced bread no.2. 8.75/10.
Backstage segments… yay!
Lio Rush, Akira Tozawa, Humberto Carrillo and Cedric Alexander all propose why they should be the ones who take on Buddy Murphy. Nothing that interesting, anyways, let’s get into the action… oh. More backstage segments. Gallagher and Gulak proceed to mumble some gibberish and Noam Dar is medically cleared and wants to take on Tony Nese. Drake Maverick announces Tony Nese vs Noam Dar in a no disqualifications match next week. Stay tuned for my review on that match next week. Anyways, now we can get into the main event.
Lio Rush vs Akira Tozawa vs Humberto Carrillo vs Cedric Alexander – Elimination Fatal Four Way
This match was very fast paced, excellent action through out and a showcase of some of 205 Live’s best talent. This match is much faster than the last but I’ll try and keep up with the action and give an overview of the eliminations throughout. Rush connects with a cyclone kick on Tozawa and scales to the top rope, he goes for a dive on Alexander but gets caught with a lumbar check. 1, 2, 3. Rush is eliminated first to the surprise of the fans and definitely myself. With Carrillo down, Tozawa and Alexander both try to make it to the top rope but with Alexander distracted, Carrillo wipes him out, falling hard on the top turnbuckle and proceeding to tumble to the outside. Tozawa then manages to strike Carrillo down and connect with the top rope senton. 1, 2, 3. Carrillo is gone and both newcomers of 205 Live are eliminated as two former Cruiserweight Champions in Tozawa and Alexander are left standing. After some action between the two, Tozawa connects with a stinging jab on Alexander, Alexander elbows Tozawa and Tozawa recovers to connect with a brutal snap-German with a bridge… 1, 2, kickout! Alexander survives. Both men find themselves fighting on the apron when out of nowhere, Alexander connects with a spine-breaking STO on the apron, brutal! Tozawa is tossed in the ring where Alexander manages to hit a beautiful snap Michinoku driver for the near fall. Alexander follows it up with an attempted lumbar check but Tozawa escapes, Alexander tries again but Tozawa manages to re-position himself and hit a reverse hurricanrana. Tozawa scales to the top rope and connects with a top-rope senton. 1, 2, 3. Tozawa is your winner. Superb main event. 205 delivers again. Pure brilliance throughout the match and I’m happy that WWE is letting Carrillo develop instead of pushing him too hard. Tozawa winning is definitely the right call on this one. 8.5/10.
Great show as always by 205 Live. Make sure to tune in next week for another review.
Thanks for reading,
Cody.
