There is only one Cruiserweight Division match at WrestleMania in five days, which is when the Cruiserweight Championship is being defended at the Grandest Stage of Them All for the first time in over a decade. 205 Live isn’t slacking on matches for tonight, however. Advertised for tonight’s episode includes Rich Swann taking on Noam Dar, as well as Brian Kendrick facing Akira Tozawa.
Opening Segment
Neville is being interviewed to start this episode of 205 Live. He is immediately asked about Austin Aries’ antics from last night when Aries interviewed The New Day regarding the Cruiserweight Championship match. The hosts of WrestleMania predicted that Aries will dethrone the King of the Cruiserweights this Sunday.
Of course, Neville dismisses this prediction and believes that he will win this Sunday. Due to the “disrespect” he has received as Cruiserweight Champion, he is going to show the WWE Universe what it is like to have 205 Live without its “king.”
Rich Swann vs. Ariya Daivari
As mentioned above, Rich Swann was supposed to face Noam Dar tonight. Swann has clearly been sending gifts to Alicia Fox, Noam Dar’s girlfriend, without Dar’s consent. The Scottish Supernova was understandably annoyed with this and challenged Swann to a match for tonight. However, Dar suffered an injury from his match last night on Raw against Austin Aries, so the former Cruiserweight Champion takes on Ariya Daivari.
Daivari hits an impactful frog splash onto Rich Swann, but Swann manages to get his shoulder up at 2.9. This would shift the tide in Swann’s favor, ending the match with an always impressive Phoenix Splash. Winner: Rich Swann
Interview
Although she is not in the division, Alicia Fox is being interviewed about Noam Dar’s condition. Fox doesn’t give any specifics, but she says he will be back in the ring “soon enough.” She is interrupted by Rich Swann (who calls her “baby girl”), who tells Fox to give Dar his best wishes.
Backstage Segment
Drew Gulak approaches Mustafa Ali in the locker room and asks Ali to change his in-ring style to create a safer 205 Live. Gulak starts giving an impassioned speech about how wrestling should not just be about pleasing the crowd and should be safe, but Ali just walks away while Gulak is distracted.
Mustafa Ali vs. Brandon Scott
If Drew Gulak gets his wish, perhaps Brandon Scott can get the huge upset victory. Scott does not do flips or high-risk dives, but instead just focuses on hurting Mustafa Ali. Ali clearly does not listen to Gulak’s proposal because he continues to be as agile and high-flying as possible.
Ali gets his mouth busted open by Brandon Scott, but that does not stop him from getting Brandon Scott in position for his patented inverted 450 Splash. Winner: Mustafa Ali
Brian Kendrick vs. Akira Tozawa
Akira Tozawa has been wanting this match with Brian Kendrick for several weeks. This all started a couple months ago when Brian Kendrick offered to mentor the relatively new member of the Cruiserweight Division, Akira Tozawa. Tozawa refused his mentorship but instead decided to create his own path in WWE.
Kendrick didn’t like that Tozawa refused his help, so he has been teaching Tozawa “lessons” throughout the past several weeks. He tied Tozawa up under the ring, had Tozawa face a different “Bryan Kendrick,” and Kendrick even disguised himself as a security guard to attack the Stamina Monster from behind.
Tozawa tries to hit a German suplex on Brian Kendrick from the top rope, but while Kendrick prevents the suplex, he dislodges the turnbuckle padding. Tozawa doesn’t realize this, then he ends up running into the exposed steel. Kendrick then rolls him up for the not so clean victory. Winner: Brian Kendrick
Tonight’s lesson: Anything and everything can be used as a weapon.
In-ring Segment
Neville makes his way down to the ring to show the WWE Universe what 205 Live would be without him. When the Titantron goes to play the footage, there is nothing there. He starts ranting about how Sunday is about his long overdue WrestleMania moment when he is immediately interrupted by the challenger, Austin Aries.
Aries recognizes that Neville is a great competitor, but he also notes that they are more similar than some might think. Neville has none of what Aries has to say, and starts assaulting his WrestleMania opponent during the promo. Aries decks the King with a microphone, locks in the Last Chancery, and Neville barely escapes.
