SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE 205 LIVE
JUNE 5, 2018 ON WWE NETWORK
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
REPORT BY ZACK HEYDORN, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, and Percy Watson
-The show began with a video featuring 205 Live General Manager, Drake Maverick. He recapped last week’s WWE Cruiserweight Championship main event and said that that kind of match is why 205 Live is the most exciting hour of television. From there, Maverick said he’s always looking to the future and proceeded to run down tonight’s matches including Lince Dorado vs. The Brian Kendrick and Buddy Murphy vs. Mustafa Ali.
Heydorn’s Analysis: Surprising way to start the show, but not the smartest way. I was fully expecting a massive video package fully detailing last week’s title match. Maverick mentioned it in this opening, but not as prominently as it should have been given how good it was. Plus, because Maverick is so good at getting the brand over, I understand wanting to use him for a video package like this. That said, he came off very announcer-esque and lacked some of the credibility that has made him so fresh. He should be selling the product via his role as GM, not as a voice over announcer like Michael Cole.
-From there, the show open ran and Vic, Nigel, and Percy welcomed the audience to the program. Like Maverick, they too hyped tonight’s main event between Murphy and Ali.
(1) LINCE DORADO vs. THE BRIAN KENDRICK
Dorado hit the ring first and was accompanied by his Lucha House Party friends. They got a small pop as usual and were followed by Kendrick who got an equally small response. On an interesting note, Kendrick walked to the ring with Drew Gulak instead of his usual partner, Jack Gallagher.
Heydorn’s Analysis: Interesting that Gulak is accompanying Kendrick without Gallagher. My initial instinct is to not read too much into Gallagher absence, but more into Gulak’s association with those two. Their gimmicks line up well this minute due to the fact that they both have heat with Lucha House Party. That said, it still feels like a last second throw together for those three. All three deserve a bit better, especially Gulak who has significantly turned his character around in the last six months.
As Kendrick walked to the ring, the announce team questioned why Gulak was with Kendrick as Gulak joined them on commentary. The match began with Kendrick assaulting Dorado out of the gate in a bit of an early attack before the bell rang. He connected with a flurry of strikes on Dorado in the corner before Dorado retaliated with his own. On commentary, Gulak said that last week’s title match was amazing and that he was truly the rightful man to get a shot next. Back in the match, both men were brawling on the outside of the ring and Lince Dorado connected with an impressive hurricanrana off the ring apron and to the floor. Eventually, Kendrick got the momentum back by utilizing the ring steps. He taunted the crowd by doing fake lucha chants before throwing Dorado back into the ring. As this happened, Gulak talked through why he disliked the Lucha House Party. He called their gimmick a marketing effort.
Heydorn’s Analysis: Gulak came off a bit too comedic here. He’s been clicking on all cylinders as a bad ass submission artist and on commentary he seemed to go back to his PowerPoint days in terms of his attitude and demeanor. That gimmick never has and never will get over as well as serious Drew Gulak.
With both men back in the ring, Kendrick maintained his momentum by executing a vicious shoulder submission on Dorado. After, he connected with a side walk slam and then attempted a cover for a two count. Immediatley after the pin attempt, Kendrick mounted Dorado and assaulted him with more strikes. From there, Kendrick picked Dorado apart with targeted knee strikes. After, Kendrick lifted Dorado over his head for an overhead suplex and followed it again with a pin attempt. Just like before, Dorado kicked out at two. Out of the pin, Kendrick kept up the pressure as the crowd cheered for Dorado to make a comeback. On commentary, Drew Gulak continued to detail why he hated the Lucha House Party. Finally, Dorado battled his way to freedom by connecting with a hurricanrana in the ring. He then crawled to the corner and blocked a splash before connecting with a third hurricanrana. He followed it with a two count pin attempt. After, he climbed to the top rope and hit a top rope splash on Kendrick before covering again for a two count pin. Right after Kendrick kicked out, he rolled out of the ring and Dorado hit him with a suicide dive. When Dorado rolled out of the ring to bring Kendrick back in, he was distracted by Gulak which gave Kendrick the opportunity to come to and shove Dorado into the steel steps. From there, Kendrick rolled Dorado back into the ring and Dorado took the opportunity to get to his feet and hit the ropes. In doing so, Dorado connected with the springboard stunner and then covered Kendrick for the 1,2,3 victory.
WINNER: Dorado at 7:35
-After the match, Drew Gulak left the announcer area and attacked Kalisto and Gran Metalik at ringside. He then attacked Lince Dorado in the ring before pulling Kendrick out and scurrying away.
Heydorn’s Analysis: Not a great match, but a match that was a means to an end. Certainly, there’s a six-man tag match brewing down the road. Dorado and Kendrick didn’t mesh well stylistically which caused the entire thing to feel choppy and disorganized. For this feud to continue on and stay hot, it needs to have a serious perception to it. Gulak on commentary didn’t provide that, but he did provide it by getting physical at the end.
-When they left, the broadcast cut to the announce team and they put over last week’s title match between Cedric Alexander and Buddy Murphy. They then cued a recap video of the Murphy and Alexander feud which included highlights from last week’s match.
-After the video, Mustafa Ali cut a promo backstage in his locker room. He said that watching Cedric Alexander’s performance last week made him hungry. He said he wants to prove that he can hang with the best and that he deserves opportunity. He then called Buddy Murphy a force of nature, but then asked if Murphy had enough heart. He finished by saying that in his match tonight he not only would come out a winner but he’s prove that he has the heart of a champion.
Heydorn’s Analysis: As usual, this was great work from Ali. He’s a smooth talker that knows his character and knows how to portray that character well with his delivery. He’s excellent at conveying confidence and an underdog attitude simultaneously. Being able to finesse those emotions allows for that deeper connection with the audience.
-A commercial aired for Money In The Bank on the WWE Network and next week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.
(2) TJP vs. RYAN KEITH
Out of the commercial break, TJP was announced and walked to the ring to a small reaction from the crowd. Keith was already waiting for him in the ring. The match began with TJP shaking Keith’s hand and then slamming him to the mat with a clothesline. Immediatley after it, TJP walked out of the ring and picked up a microphone. He ran down the audience and spoke to Keith and belittled him as he beat him up. He asked if Keith was the type of competition that the first cruiserweight champion deserves. From there, he addressed Drake Maverick and asked if another GM on a different brand would utilize him differently. He then put Keith in a submission and said that the opportunity to see him on a new brand may be available soon. The finish saw TJP call for tap out time and as he made the call he wrenched Keith’s legs in the hold which caused him to tap out right away.
WINNER: TJP at 2:09 via submission
Heydorn’s Analysis: This story with TJP is the most intriguing story outside of the championship picture on this brand. TJP looks engaged and confident in the role he’s playing and the role is helping him shine up his best qualities for the audience to see. Like Mustafa Ali is as a babyface, TJP is clicking on all cylinders as a heel and could find himself in the title picture if he keeps it up.
-After the match, Nigel teased that their may be interest for TJP outside of 205 Live. From there, Vic Joseph pointed to Drake Maverick’s search for the best cruiserweight talent in the world and then cued up a video for 205 Live’s newest member, Lio Rush. In the video, Rush called himself a 22 year old piece of gold and the best cruiserweight in the world. The video didn’t highlight a specific date for his debut, but just said coming soon.
Heydorn’s Analysis: Great add for 205 Live. Based on the video Rush will coming in as a heel and has a plethora of babyfaces to work with including the Lucha House Party, Mustafa Ali, and Cedric Alexander.
-A commercial aired for Camp WWE and Total Bellas.
-After the commercial, the six man tag match between Lucha House Party and Gulak/Kendrick/Gallagher was announced by Drake Maverick.
(3) MUSTAFA ALI vs. BUDDY MURPHY
Ali came out first and got the response of the night. It was still tempered, but larger than everyone else. Before Murphy’s entrance, he was interviewed backstage alongside Tony Nese. Nese answered the first question for him and said that Murphy took Alexander to the limit. Murphy then called himself the juggernaut of the division and said he’d prove it against Mustafa Ali.
Heydorn’s Analysis: Why is Tony Nese booked as the lackey of EVERY top heel. First it was Enzo and now its Murphy. He doesn’t add a single bit to Murphy’s character or his story. Get him out of the way.
Murphy made his entrance next and the crowd response was quiet. The match began with Murphy connecting with an array of shoulder tackles on Ali. Out of those, he tossed Ali into the corner, but Ali countered further damage by chopping Murphy in the chest. From there, Ali dodged some strikes and connected with a dropkick to the jaw. This caused Murphy to roll out of the ring and Ali capitalized by hitting a corkscrew splash over the top rope. Right after connecting with it, Ali rolled Murphy back into the ring and hit him with a top rope splash. Ali then covered, but Murphy kicked out at two. Out of the pin, Ali climbed to the top rope, but Murphy followed. After exchanging strikes up there, Murphy lifted Ali high into the air and jumped off while spiking Ali’s chest on the ring post. This hurt Murphy a bit too, but he was able to make a cover for a two count.
Heydorn’s Analysis: Yikes. That almost looked like a botch, but after further review on the replay, it went down as planned. Big spot that will certainly leave some bruises on Ali.
Out of the pin, Murphy kept control of the match until Ali countered with a roll up pin attempt. Murphy kicked out at one and then demolished Ali with a clothesline. From there, Murphy continued to work the ribs of Ali by dropping his with various slams that targeted his chest. Murphy covered a few times for two counts before locking in an arm submission. Eventually, Ali escaped the hold with a inverted hurricanrana. This left both men down on the mat. They both struggled to get to their feet, but once they did Ali took the upper hand with stiff kicks to Murphy’s body. From there, Ali draped Murphy on the ropes and then jumped off the top rope for a frog splash. After, Ali covered, but Murphy kicked out at two.
Heydorn’s Analysis: The match has been very crisp and well put together, but the crowd isn’t fully invested yet. They’re a bit airy and don’t seem to fully be paying attention. These guys need something big to hook them for good.
Out of the pin, both men exchanged strikes in the middle of the ring that culminated with a wonderful spot that ened with Ali hitting a tremendous spinning heel kick on Murphy. From there, Ali attempted his rolling facebuster, but it was countered by a Murphy knee to the face. Murphy then covered, but Ali kicked out at two. Out of the pin, Murphy looked surprised that he didn’t win while stalking Ali like prey.
Heydorn’s Analysis: Ali is selling like a million bucks and its having a direct correlation with how well the match is getting over now. Just shows how connected fans are with the guy.
When the stalking ended, Murphy bent over to pick Ali up, but Ali countered with a kick to the face. Then, Ali hit his rolling X-Factor facebuster on the apron and followed that with a two count cover. Out of the pin attempt, Ali climbed to the second rope for a tornado DDT, but Murphy countered with a kick to the face and a powerbomb. After that, Murphy covered for a two count as the fans chanted “this is awesome.” Out of the pin, Murphy grabbed Ali’s face and yelled that he was next in line. This prompted Ali to fight back and push Murphy out of the ring. From there, Ali slammed him on the apron. Ali looked to capitalize on that move, but Murphy slingshotted him onto the ring post. This allowed Ali to jump off and connect with his tornado DDT onto Murphy who was still on the floor.
Heydorn’s Analysis: Now they have everyone. Wonderful tornado DDT spot that got a “holy s**t” chant from the crowd. We all can thank Mustafa Ali’s selling for this match getting to where it needed to be. I was thinking a big move would hook everyone, but it was Ali and his expressions that allowed the crowd to be manipulated in his favor. This big spot was great, but Ali’s work ahead of it made it seem even greater.
After that impressive show of offense, Ali tossed Murphy back into the ring and climbed back to the top rope to his his 054. Before he could jump off, Ali was attacked by Hideo Itami which prompted an immediate no contest.
WINNER: No contest at 12:14
-After the match, Itami continued to beat up Ali and even delivered his running knee attack on Murphy as he yelled “respect me.”
Heydorn’s Analysis: Well, Itami certainly got some heat for ruining this match. In situations like this, the heat could easily fall back on the promotion, but I don’t believe that was the case here. My one gripe is that Itami beat up Murphy in addition to Ali. To me, that muddies up an otherwise clean story. Now, instead of Hideo Itami and Ali having a program together, Buddy Murphy is the outlier heel involved that needs to share time with a heel Itami. It’s counter productive for both of those characters.
-The show went off the air with Itami arrogantly celebrating as officials checked on Ali and Murphy.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Very newsworthy show in terms of storyline progression. They put the finishing touches on the Lucha House Party/Gulak program and that match is set for next week. In addition, they furthered stories with TJP, Mustafa Ali, Buddy Murphy, Hideo Itami, Cedric Alexander, and introduced Lio Rush. Toss in a nice main event match and you get a good day at the office for 205 Live.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S REPORT: 5/29 WWE 205 Live Report: Alexander vs. Murphy for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, tag team action with Lucha House Party, and more
205 Live and NXT were the best WWE shows this week.