At the Royal Rumble event two nights ago, the Cruiserweight Division shifted quite a bit. Neville, the self-professed King of the Cruiserweights, captured the Cruiserweight Championship from Rich Swann, earning the crown to live up to his name. Tonight on 205 Live, we continue the Road to WrestleMania in the era of Neville.
Tony Nese vs. Lince Dorado
Lince Dorado has all the talent to become a future Cruiserweight Champion, but he is still trying to find his footing on 205 Live. The Golden Lynx puts on an impressive and entertaining performance every time he steps between the ropes, but he has a hard time picking up victories.
Tony Nese, on the other hand, had a slow start in his WWE career, but recently, Nese has been picking up victories in just about every match he has been in. Last night on Monday Night Raw, Nese picked up his second win over Mustafa Ali.
Lince Dorado looks for a Super Hurricanrana, but Tony Nese grabs Dorado’s mask, then drops him to the ring canvas. The Premier Athlete takes advantage to hit his patented running knee (or as Austin Aries calls it, “The Running Nese”) to pick up another dominant victory. Winner: Tony Nese
Nese doesn’t take too much time celebrating, and instead he decides to attack Lince Dorado even further. Lince Dorado gets German suplexed into the bottom turnbuckle, and TJ Perkins (who suffered the same fate last week) rushes the ring. Perkins hits Nese with the Detonation Kick, and sends the Premier Athlete retreating.
Announcements
There is an interview with the former Cruiserweight Champion, Rich Swann, who reveals that he hurt his ankle on Raw when he fought Neville. When he is back to 100%, Swann is gunning right for the title. It is uncertain how long Swann will be out for, but he is walking around with a boot on hit left foot.
After months of anticipation, we finally get a video package for a soon to be debuting 205 Live Superstar. We have the debut of Akira Tozawa later tonight, but now WWE is finally promoting the eventual debut of Gran Metalik. Metalik was one of the most impressive competitors in the Cruiserweight Classic, losing to TJ Perkins in the finals. Metalik would then make his main roster debut on Monday Night Raw, although he has not been seen since.
Akira Tozawa vs. Aaron Solow
While Aaron Solow might not be a familiar name to most, he was named one of the alternates in the Cruiserweight Classic, so he has all the tools it takes to compete with the 205 Live roster. Unfortunately for Solow, Akira Tozawa is the focus of this match.
Tozawa is making his long-awaited debut tonight, after getting video package praise by Sami Zayn, Cesaro, and Apollo Crews. He has an insane agility to him, resulting in fast moves, and lethal strikes. To scout the new competition, Brian Kendrick watches at the announce table.
Solow attempts a clothesline, but Tozawa ducks and hits a snap German suplex faster than you can say “Mama Mia.” Winner: Akira Tozawa
Neville & Noam Dar vs. Cedric Alexander & Jack Gallagher
While Neville may be the Cruiserweight Champion, Jack Gallagher is the only member of the Cruiserweight Division that competed in the Royal Rumble match. With his umbrella, William III, by his side, Gallagher was one of the most entertaining parts of the Rumble match, until he got eliminated by Mark Henry. The Extraordinary Gentleman is taking Rich Swann’s place in this tag match (because of Swann’s ankle/foot injury), and it gives us the first time we’re seeing Neville and Gallagher square off.
Noam Dar crawls to the corner to tag Neville, but the King of the Cruiserweights drops off the ring apron and walks to the back. Apparently, Dar screwed up too much for Neville to help him out, turning this into a handicap match. Cedric Alexander takes advantage of this immediately to hit the Lumbar Check on the Scottish Supernova. Winners: Cedric Alexander & Jack Gallagher
