205 Live has a problem with its champions. It’s called the champions curse on some corners of wrestling internet. Cedric Alexander has been the champion since the titled was vacated by Enzo and the curse lives on. I don’t need to go into detail because if you know, then you know and if don’t know then its a non issue. Just know that with or without the champion, the guys of 205 Live show up to work and give you the best pure wrestling show on WWE.
Cold Open
The show starts with a video package on last weeks number one contender match. The match that Drew Gulak won.
HOLY SHIT!!!
Drew Gulak vs. Cedric Alexander is on the Summerslam card!!! This is great news for the purple brand, even if its on the pre-show. 205 is the forgotten family member of WWE and I’m glad they are getting some attention.
Kalisto vs. Tony Nese
Both men make their average entrances, but Nigel calls LHP the Loser House Party which is as funny as it is unoriginal.
It’s crazy to think that Kalisto is the most decorated Superstar on the brand. Being a former crusierweight champion AND a former United States champion, Kalisto is the wily veteran of the crusierweights.
The match is focusing on Nese’s power and Kalisto’s speed. The second Tony gets a hold of Kalisto, Nese tries to slow Kalisto down in every way he can. Nese works over the stomach of Kalisto by applying a bearhug type hold on the floor to drain the oxygen from Kalisto, thus making it harder to have speed be a factor for the masked luchador.
Kalisto fights back with repeated kicks to the face of Nese and follows it up with a springboard cross body for a near fall. Kalisto can’t keep the momentum up and Nese is able to hit a gutbuster on Kalisto to further damage Kalisto’s stomach.
Tony actually takes Kalisto down with a drop down! Usually its just a transition move but Kalisto gets tripped up by Nese. Nese goes for a high risk maneuver and ends up tweaking his knee which gave Kalisto enough space to hit a spikerana for a near fall. Both men have gotten very good, believable nearfalls.
Kalisto hits a Solida del Sol from basically out of nowhere for the pinfall. It was a nice match that wasn’t boring by any means and told a simple story. Nothing to complain about or praise much here.
Buddy Murphy shows up post match to bully Kalisto until Lince Dorado makes the save. This seems a bit to convenient and will probably lead to a tag match next week. I watched Lince and Metalik eat hot suckers and it was the first time I actually liked them as characters.
Contract Signing
Gulak and Alexander sit at a table with 205 GM Drake Maverick in between them. Drew attempts to sign the contract and before he can get two sentences out Cedric signs the contract. Drew said that Cedric is undefeated in 2018 and brings up that Cedric hasn’t done much before the title reign and currently during the title reign. Gulak says Cedric rarely defends the belt and is the Brock Lesnar of 205 Live.
Lio Rush vs. Ricky Martinez
Lio Rush is a heel. Lio Rush is great at his job because even though I understand he tries to make people not like him. I don’t like him. His facial expressions, voice, personality, music ability and social media ALL grind my gears. I really want SOMEONE to beat him. Lio cuts a promo as he walks to the ring. He basically cuts the promo about how bad Akira Tozawa is and not really much about Ricky Martinez.
This was a squash match that Lio dominated.
Akira Tozawa comes out and stares down Lio as Rush smuggly backs away and leaves the ring area.
Cedric Alexander vs. The Brian Kendrick
Before the match we saw Gulak talking to Kendrick. The announce team made mention that Brian must have gotten his “marching orders from Drew”. There is another ad for Summerslam’s cruiserweight match and nothing about the match being on the preshow has been said. Fingers crossed for main card.
The match starts at a slower pace with Cedric being in control for most of the opening minutes. Alexander is showing that he is focused and dominate. Drew Gulak makes his way down to the ring and distracts Cedric a bit.
Alexander goes for a dive and Brian crawls under the ring. That is the moment where the tide turns and Kendrick gains the upperhand. Brian pulls Cedric’s head into the ring apron and takes control of the match.
Drew isn’t just here for a distraction, he joins the commentary team for the rest of this match. Gulak states that he isn’t distracting Cedric, Alexander asked Gulak to watch the match, which he is.
As I sit here, I must make a case for Kendrick being the most decorated star of 205 Live. Like Kalisto, Kendrick is a former cruiserweight champion as well as (at the time) the longest reigning Smakdown tag champions with Paul London.
Cedric is able to counter a Sliced Bread attempt by Kendrick by throwing Kendrick over the top rope. Cedric is finally able to hit a dive and it looks like the match turns to Alexanders favor.
Alexander hits a flurry of strikes ending with a springboard clothesline for a two count. Kendrick counters the Lumbar Check by getting a backslide pin attempt. That seemed to be Kendrick’s last real chance at winning this match. Cedric is focused again and tries for a springboard DDT but it’s reversed into THE CAPTAIN’S HOOK!! Cedric makes it to the rope, but looks to be pretty damaged from the move.
The match breaks down with back and forth strikes and near falls with each move building to bigger things. Kendrick goes for another Sliced Bread and Cedric hits a Lumbar Check for the win.
Drew watches on with a smile, which isn’t explained but the implications are that Drew is starting to see weaknesses that he can capitalize on when facing Cedric Alexander at Summerslam.
Another quick hour that ends with Jack Gallagher attacking Cedric with a headbutt to probably set up next weeks main event.
Thank you for reading and supporting. Please follow Bodyslam.net on Twitter for your news and more. While you’re there you can give me a follow as well!
