This week’s episode of 205 Live has two objectives: get fans excited in Extreme Rules Pay-Per-View Cruiserweight matches and keep them interested in the rest of the division to tune in next week. Noam Dar and Rich Swann square off before competing at Extreme Rules, Cedric Alexander continues to build momentum, and Mustafa Ali tries to get revenge on Drew Gulak.
Opening Segment
The show kicks off with a pretty lengthy video package highlighting the Cruiserweight Championship feud between Austin Aries and Neville. They show how Neville has only defeated Aries by cheating and how Aries made the King of the Cruiserweights tap out last week to the Last Chancery.
Noam Dar (w/Alicia Fox) vs. Rich Swann (w/Sasha Banks)
Before the match starts, Noam Dar and Alicia Fooooooooooox talk about how their relationship is nothing but true love while Sasha Banks and Rich Swann (who are just friends) are just “hokes and jokes.” Fox goes on about how they are going to win their Mixed Tag Team Match at Extreme Rules when Swann and Banks interrupt. Banks calls the couple a “hot mess” before exchanging a war of words with Dar’s “fluffy button.”
Just one night prior on Monday Night Raw, Swann and Dar competed against each other and Swann came out the victor. If Dar fails to pick up the victory here, he and Fox are going to lose a ton of steam heading into Extreme Rules.
While the referee checks on Noam Dar, Alicia Fox trips up Rich Swann at the apron. Sasha Banks starts attacking Fox and she ends up “snatching” some of Fox’s hair extensions off of her head. While Banks and Fox fight, Noam Dar dodges an attack from Rich Swann and finishes him off with the running soccer kick. Winner: Noam Dar
Cedric Alexander vs. Corey Hollis
Corey Hollis has been featured a couple times on NXT as an enhancement talent. There is a chance that he could get his first win here, but that is very slim. His opponent is Cedric Alexander, who returned from injury a few weeks ago. Ring rust has apparently had no effect on Alexander, who is moving as well as, if not better than, before. Alexander has won a couple squash matches since returning, and this looks to be another one.
Hollis gets some offense in, but Alexander turns things around quickly. After a springboard clothesline, Alexander takes Hollis to the Alexander School of Chiropractic Medicine by laying him out with the Lumbar Check. Winner: Cedric Alexander
Mustafa Ali vs. Drew Gulak
Two weeks ago, Mustafa Ali was scheduled to take on Tony Nese for the third consecutive week. Before Ali could make it to the ring, however, Drew Gulak assaulted him from behind. Gulak has been campaigning for months to try and remove high-flying and high-risk moves from 205 Live. His first target for change has been Mustafa Ali, who has refused to change his style that has been victorious and entertaining.
Ali attacks Gulak before the match starts, but the advantage doesn’t lead to victory. Ali hits Gulak with a cross body, but Gulak rolls backward into a pin and catches Ali off guard for the three count. After the win, Gulak tells interviewer Dasha Fuentes how he didn’t need any showboating or high-flying to pick up the win. Winner: Drew Gulak
In-ring Segment
Austin Aries makes his way to the ring to brag about how he made Neville tap out while also promoting his new book. After watching the Cruiserweight Champion tap out several times, Neville himself comes out to insult Aries. The King of the Cruiserweights threatens to inflict insufferable agony on A Double while being drowned out by “You tapped out” chants.
While Neville is talking at Aries, TJP sneaks up from behind and attacks the #1 Contender. TJP and Neville put a classic Evolution-style beatdown on Aries, and Neville hits Aries in the knee. In what could be a preview of their Submission Match at Extreme Rules, Neville locks in the Rings of Saturn submission while TJP stomps on Aries.
