Just like Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live, 205 Live now has to shift its focus towards WrestleMania. Fresh off of Fastlane, Neville is still the Cruiserweight Champion with no official #1 Contender. Austin Aries made his presence known on Raw this week when he attacked Neville, signaling his pursuit for the Cruiserweight Championship. However, tonight is the start of the race to the top of the totem pole.
Opening Segment
Instead of being at the commentary desk, Austin Aries has now transitioned to an in-ring competitor since his eye is fully healed. Before he competes in matches, he has one last interview, but it is with himself. Aries says he attacked Neville on Raw just because he could, and the best way to make a statement is to punch the toughest guy in the room. Aries says that he is no longer a journalist, and now he has arrived as an “in-ring expert.”
Of course, Neville makes an appearance. Aries challenges the King of the Cruiserweights to a fight, but Neville doesn’t believe that A-Double has “earned the right” to be in the same ring as him. Neville knows Superstars in the back that don’t like Aries, and if he wants a fight, there will be several Cruiserweights eagerly waiting for the opportunity.
Announcement
Since 205 Live airs right after SmackDown Live, the fallout of the main event featuring AJ Styles and Randy Orton was progressing backstage during the show. Mauro Ranallo revealed that Styles angrily confronted Shane McMahon following his #1 Contender’s Match loss, and the video is on WWE.com.
Noam Dar & Ariya Daivari (w/Alicia Fox) vs. Jack Gallagher & Rich Swann
Jack Gallagher stole the show with Neville at Fastlane when the two put on the best match of the night by far. Unfortunately for the Extraordinary Gentleman, Gallagher lost the match and is out of title contention. Rich Swann would also lose to Neville in a title match the next night on Raw, and now the former Cruiserweight Champion is in the same boat as his tag team partner. For Dar and Daivari, they have been struggling to gain traction in the division since the beginning.
Rich Swann makes the blind tag, then both Swann and Gallagher hit Dar and Daivari with their finishers, respectively. Swann gets the credit for the pinfall after hitting Noam Dar with a Phoenix Splash. Winners: Jack Gallagher & Rich Swann
After the match, chocolates are delivered to Alicia Fox, but it is still unclear whether or not Noam Dar was the one who ordered them.
Akira Tozawa vs. A Bryan Kendrick
On Raw, Akira Tozawa called out The Brian Kendrick, and the Man with a Plan said Tozawa would get his answer on 205 Live. It looks like that answer is in a match. While it is being advertised that Tozawa is “finally” getting his hands on Kendrick, but they competed recently, where Kendrick was victorious.
It seemed like Tozawa was going to get what he wanted, but The Brian Kendrick introduces a different “Bryan Kendrick,” so technically this is what he asked for.
The Stamina Monster hits “A Bryan Kendrick” with his patented snap German suplex, getting a quick victory. Winner: Akira Tozawa
Austin Aries vs. Tony Nese
Tony Nese is a great opponent for Aries in his 205 Live debut. The self-professed Greatest Man That Ever Lived is in pursuit of Neville and his Cruiserweight Championship, and Tony Nese is a very similar wrestler to the King of the Cruiserweights. Nese is also keen on putting on great matches, as seen recently with Jack Gallagher.
Aries almost injures his right knee from a slip on the ring apron, but he recovers and proceeds like it never happened. He also shows no signs of ring rust, aside from a suicide dive that did not quite hit the mark. Aries was as quick and explosive as ever, showing that can go tit-for-tat when he eventually faces Neville.
One slight mishap from Nese was all Aries needed to wind up and hit the discus elbow for his debut victory. Winner: Austin Aries
