After the incredible Cruiserweight Classic, which showcased cruiserweight talent from all around the world on the WWE Network, a good portion of the participants would be signed to Monday Night Raw. While this was promising at giving incredible talent more exposure, it would almost feel lifeless and put together at the last second. 205 Live seems to be the potential solution to this problem, by giving the Cruiserweight Division an hour-long show of their own on the WWE Network to help build new stars if there is not time on Monday Night Raw.
While we don’t know what the entire show will consist of, but it will be headlined by Rich Swann challenging “The” Brian Kendrick for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
In a surprising start of events, Austin Aries joins Mauro Ranallo and Corey Graves on commentary. This will be the case until he is cleared to compete after his eye injury, and has his eyes on the Cruiserweight Championship.
Before the show gets underway, we are introduced to the roster that will be featured on 205 Live. The wrestlers include: Rich Swann, TJ Perkins, Jack Gallagher, Hoho Lun, The Bollywood Boyz (Harv & Gurv Sihra), Noam Dar, Tony Nese, Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari, Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado, Akira Tozawa, Mustafa Ali, Gran Metalik, & Brian Kendrick
The Bollywood Boyz vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak
The Bollywood Boyz have not found a ton of success in the early chapter of their WWE careers, but this could change with 205 Live. Harv and Gurv Sihra competed separately in the Cruiserweight Classic, and both lost in the first round. They would then go on to compete in the second annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but also lost in the first round of that tournament against the eventual winners, The Authors of Pain.
Drew Gulak and Tony Nese are probably more familiar to the casual WWE audience. They have consistently been featured on Monday Night Raw, and have been quite a successful duo since they teamed up together. Out of all of the men in this match, Drew Gulak advanced the furthest in the Cruiserweight Classic.
The Bollywood Boyz show that they shine the brightest in tag team competition, and finish off Drew Gulak with a double superkick to give Harv and Gurv Sihra their first wins in WWE. Winners: The Bollywood Boyz
Ariya Daivari vs. Jack Gallagher
Ariya Daivari is another member in the Cruiserweight Division who has been regularly featured on Monday Night Raw, but it has been primarily in losing fashion. During his losses he still has managed to impress, with an impactful, ground and pound offense.
Jack Gallagher, on the other hand, has not been seen since the Cruiserweight Classic, and he is more focused on mat technique and tying his opponents into knots. He had great matches this summer, most notably against Akira Tozawa.
After a vicious headbutt to Daivari, Jack Gallagher finishes the match with a full speed running dropkick into the corner a la Daniel Bryan. Winner: Jack Gallagher
Brian Kendrick (c) vs. Rich Swann – WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Over the past couple of months, Rich Swann has gotten two victories over Brian Kendrick. After Kendrick won the Cruiserweight Championship from TJ Perkins, Rich Swann came into question as being in the Cruiserweight Championship title picture. To make sure there was a true #1 Contender, former champion TJ Perkins, Noam Dar, and Rich Swann competed in a triple threat match and the winner, Swann, would end up being placed in the championship match tonight.
Kendrick is definitely not the most athletic member of the Cruiserweight Division, but his use of intellect and mind games has kept him ahead for over the past month. Swann is going to have to use his incredible athleticism and agility to get the better of Kendrick.
Rich Swann hits not one, not two, but three high impact spinning heel kicks on Brian Kendrick to pick up the win and the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Winner, and NEW WWE Cruiserweight Champion: Rich Swann
