Tonight, 205 Live rings in the new year with a jam packed episode. WWE veteran, and former Cruiserweight and Tag Team Champion Tajiri makes his 205 Live debut. There are also three great matches, with Jack Gallagher facing Tony Nese, Noam Dar taking on Mustafa Ali, and the main event of Neville squaring off against TJ Perkins.
Tajiri vs. Sean Maluta
Tonight is Tajiri’s 205 Live debut, and return to regular WWE television. Tajiri has been competing since the 90s, from ECW to WWE. After a long hiatus from WWE, Tajiri returned in the Cruiserweight Classic, and teamed up with Akira Tozawa to take on #DIY for the NXT Tag Team Championships in Osaka, Japan. Sean Maluta does not have the veteran experience that Tajiri has, but he has had some world class training by being part of the Samoan Dynasty, seen in the first round of the Cruiserweight Classic where he put up a valiant effort in a loss to Kota Ibushi.
At 46 years old, it is amazing that Tajiri moves just as fast as he did years ago. After a handspring back elbow, Tajiri hits his patented Buzzsaw Kick to Maluta to win in his 205 Live debut. Winner: Tajiri
After the match, Brian Kendrick interrupts Tajiri’s celebration and congratulates the fellow veteran on his debut. Kendrick goes to give the Japanese Buzzsaw a handshake, but Tajiri knows better and surprises Kendrick by spraying green mist in his face.
Jack Gallagher vs. Tony Nese (w/Drew Gulak)
Last week, Jack Gallagher made history by defeating Ariya Daivari in the first Gentleman’s Duel in WWE history. While is doesn’t seem like Gallagher’s feud with Daivari is over, he faces a new opponent in The Premier Athlete, Tony Nese. The last time we saw Nese, he defeated Cedric Alexander.
Gallagher knocks Nese out of the ring, and while Gallagher’s attention is focused on the outside of the ring, Ariya Daivari rushes him from behind, hits a chop block, and assaults the extraordinary gentleman. Winner (via disqualification): Jack Gallagher
Noam Dar vs. Mustafa Ali
Noam Dar has been a prominent feature in the Cruiserweight Division as of late, being wrapped in a feud with Cedric Alexander in his quest to take Alicia Fox from him. Tonight, he faces the recently debuted Mustafa Ali, who picked up an impressive win last week with his incredible inverted 450 splash.
Ali stops Noam Dar in his track with a big boot to the jaw, and finishes the Scottish Supernova off with his inverted 450 splash. Winner: Mustafa Ali
After the match, Noam Dar says that Cedric Alexander is not man enough for Alicia Fox, and Fox is always welcome in Dar’s corner. When the Cruiserweight Division started, Noam Dar was just kind of thrown in there without a character. While his pursuit for Alicia Fox is not too entertaining, it certainly gives him a character and a reaction.
Announcement
In a video package where Cesaro hypes Akira Tozawa, it is announced that Tozawa will be making his 205 Live debut soon. The additions of Akira Tozawa and Tajiri in the Cruiserweight Division helps add a new style of wrestling division with strong style, Japanese influenced wrestling. Tozawa is one of the hardest hitting Superstars there is, and he executes one of the fastest German suplexes the WWE Universe has ever seen.
Neville vs. TJ Perkins
Last week, Neville defeated Rich Swann in a non-title match, then proceeded to attack Swann after the match. Neville’s path of destruction since Roadblock: End of the Line has included TJ Perkins, and since Swann is not medically cleared to compete, Perkins is standing up to the “bully” in an attempt to avenge his friend.
TJ Perkins almost takes out the self-professed King of the Cruiserweights, but Neville hits a vicious superplex on Perkins to continue his dominant win streak on his quest for the Cruiserweight Championship. It is amazing that Neville is the only Superstar who can use a superplex and actually finish a match. Winner: Neville
