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WWE 205 LIVE TV REPORT
NOVEMBER 29, 2019
BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
REPORT BY MICHAEL TAYLOR, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Aiden English, Tom Phillips
– The show opened with a video package highlighting the triple threat match for the NXT Cruiserweight title between Akira Tozawa, Kalisto, and champion Lio Rush. Rush was shown winning the match and another package began. This time, the Cruiserweight title match between Tozawa and Rush on NXT was shown. Rush was victorious a second time and the package cut to the 205 Live intro video. The camera panned the crowd before landing on the announcers. English and Phillips talked about the third anniversary of 205 Live. They ran down the card for the evening. Raul Mendoza made his ring entrance to no crowd reaction. Ariya Daivari’s entrance followed and he was met with the same reaction.
(Taylor’s Analysis: Running down the card is a good production choice and 205 Live should always open this way. It gives the show a sports-like, organized feel.)
(1) RAUL MENDOZA vs. ARIYA DAIVARI
The bell rang and Daivari quickly cinched in a headlock. Mendoza broke the hold but Daivari forced him into the corner and chopped him. The pace quickened and Mendoza dodged a charging Daivari which sent him to the outside. Mendoza hit a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Mendoza chopped Daivari in the corner. The strike echoed in the building. Mendoza attempted a top rope dive by Daivari knocked him to the floor. After slamming Mendoza into the ring steps, Daivari scored a two count before returning to a headlock. Mendoza broke the hold and charged at Daivari, but Daivari hip-tossed him into the turnbuckles. From there, Daivari attempted cross-body from the top rope but missed. Both men returned to their feet and traded strikes. Mendoza rallied and hit a springboard kick followed by a missile dropkick for a two count. Mendoza scaled the top rope and missed a dive. Daivari hit a uranage for a two count. The pace quickened until Daivari hit a hammerlock lariat for the win.
WINNER: Ariya Daivari via pinfall
(Taylor’s Analysis: Mendoza should have won this match and should be treated as one of 205 Live’s stars. Daivari gained nothing from this win. He has been on the 205 Live roster for too long without achieving anything. He could be valuable as a lower to mid-card level heel on a different show.)
-A pre-taped interview with Jack Gallagher aired. Gallagher said he needed to win tonight against Angel Garza, or he didn’t know what he was going to do next. A response from Garza aired. Garza said he didn’t care what Gallagher wanted and then called out Lio Rush for avoiding him.
-A commercial for Starrcade aired, followed by a commercial for WWE Shop.
-The show returned with tweets from 205 Live wrestlers celebrating the third anniversary of 205 Live. Danny Burch made his ring entrance with his opponent already in the ring.
(2) DANNY BURCH vs. GREG WILLIAMS
The bell rang, and they locked up. Williams broke free and shoved Burch. Burch responded with an elbow and cinched in a headlock. On commentary, English said Dusty Rhodes called Burch one of the most intense athletes he had ever seen. Burch hit a suplex followed by a power slam. Williams created separation with strikes, but Burch responded with a headbutt. From there, Burch hit a hangman DDT for the win.
WINNER: Danny Burch via pinfall
(Taylor’s Analysis: Burch is believable in the ring and should continue this winning streak. A vicious, heel Burch against an undersized Lio Rush for the Cruiserweight title could be a great program. The mention of Dusty Rhodes was an interesting decision given the current Wednesday night ratings battle between WWE and AEW. It made Burch seem even more legitimate and I’m glad English brought it up.)
-A commercial for TLC aired, followed by a preview for Monday Night Raw.
-The show returned, and Tom Phillips threw to an interview with Lio Rush after his title defense against Tozawa. Tozawa quickly interrupted the interview and the two embraced and congratulated each other. Angel Garza entered and several officials stepped in to stop the confrontation. Back in the arena, Garza made his ring entrance followed by Jack Gallagher.
(3) ANGEL GARZA vs. “GENTLEMAN” JACK GALLAGHER
-The bell rang, and Garza attempted to strip off his tights. Gallagher quickly wrestled Garza to the mat and aggressively cinched in a headlock. Garza made it to the bottom rope and the referee broke the hold. After returning to his feet, Garza extended a handshake to Gallagher but slapped him. Gallagher created separation and taunted Garza from the corner. The pace quickened and Garza hit a dropkick in the corner. With Gallagher down, Garza stripped off his tights and played to the crowd. The crowd did not respond at all. From there, Garza propped Gallagher in the corner and hit a running kick. Garza threw Gallagher into the air and hit another kick for a two count. After, Garza hit a suplex and a basement dropkick for a two count. With Gallagher on the mat, Garza cinched in a camel clutch followed by a modified chin lock. Gallagher created separation and hit a running cross-body for a two count. From there, Gallagher propped Garza on the top rope and they traded strikes. Gallagher attempted a dive, but Garza countered with a dropkick for a two count. With both men back on their feet, Gallagher hit a gentleman’s headbutt and Garza responded with a superkick. They traded strikes until Gallagher hit a dropkick from the top rope followed by a gentleman’s dropkick in the corner. Garza broke up the pinfall attempt by putting his foot on the bottom rope. Garza caught a charging Gallagher and hit the wing-clipper for the win.
WINNER: Angel Garza via pinfall
-After the match, Gallagher aggressively destroyed the commentary desk and threw chairs at the referee. He attacked ringside security. He threw a security guard in the ring and attacked him. 205 Live general manager ran down and stopped Gallagher. Gallagher struck Maverick and walked to the back as the show ended.
(Taylor’s Analysis: This was a good match with a lot of hard-hitting offense and tight mat work. However, Garza constantly going to the bottom rope, to remind the audience of the controversial ending of his match with Rush, came off as too clever and planned. Gallagher showed great intensity during and after the match and I am intrigued to see where he goes from here.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: This episode focused primarily on wrestling and character development, which is a big improvement over the last few weeks. The dead crowds continue to be a weekly problem, but the show is easier to watch without lame comedy segments and corny characters.
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