The Cruiserweight Division is starting to kick it into high gear, and this week’s episode of 205 Live can help push that even further. Austin Aries is the #1 Contender for Neville’s Cruiserweight Championship and tonight, he battles TJ Perkins. Perkins recently had a change of attitude after Neville convinced him that he is the only Superstar that respects him. On top of that, we have been getting great performances from the likes of Gentleman Jack Gallagher, Mustafa Ali, and Brian Kendrick among others.
Akira Tozawa vs. Tony Nese
For months, Brian Kendrick has been “teaching” Akira Tozawa lessons on a weekly basis. However, Tozawa has taken Kendrick’s lessons and turned them against Kendrick over the past couple weeks. Tozawa’s first lesson to Kendrick was about psychological supremacy when he faked an injury, while he rung the ring bell to distract Kendrick in his match last week. Brian Kendrick is at ringside for this match, presumably to screw over Tozawa.
It seems like Tony Nese has been gone for weeks, and while it is nice to see him back in action, he fails to pick up the win. Brian Kendrick tries to get involved, and it just distracts Nese long enough for Akira Tozawa to steal the roll-up victory. After the match, Nese clubs Kendrick from behind out of frustration, which leads to Tozawa’s third lesson: always have eyes in the back of your head. Winner: Akira Tozawa
In-ring Segment
Over the past several weeks, Alicia Fox (Noam Dar’s girlfriend) has been receiving romantic gifts. Noam Dar took credit for every gift that she received, but it turned out that Rich Swann seemed to be the one sending gifts. Swann comes down to the ring to ask if Fox has thought things over, and the former Cruiserweight Champion is interrupted by Noam Dar. Dar threatens to beat Swann up if he keeps talking about his girlfriend that way, and Alicia Fox joins them in the ring to settle things.
Fox reveals that she was using Noam Dar the whole time, and she breaks up with the Scottish Supernova. She turns to Rich Swann in an attempted kiss, but Swann stops her. He reveals that he sent her those gifts so that she would end her relationship and show her “true colors.” This was Swann’s way of avenging Cedric Alexander, who was Fox’s first boyfriend on 205 Live. According to Swann, Fox broke his heart, but it was Alexander who ended the relationship.
Mustafa Ali vs. Ariya Daivari
Ariya Daivari has been fairly directionless ever since his feud with Jack Gallagher, but a video from earlier in the day shows a new luxurious side to Daivari. He showed up to the arena in a very expensive car with new clothing and a new rich, snobby attitude. Mustafa Ali has been regularly featured and has impressed the WWE universe with his speed, mobility, and agility. Drew Gulak, who is known for more of a technical, beat-em-up kind of wrestling style, has voiced his opinions on Ali’s style of wrestling. Gulak wants to remove the high-risk moves that make 205 Live an unsafe work environment.
Mustafa Ali has Ariya Daivari perfectly in position for the inverted 450 splash, but Drew Gulak appears with on the entrance ramp with a megaphone and a sign in protest, chanting “I am not lying; no high flying!” This distracts Ali long enough for Daivari to take advantage, hitting a brutal hammerlock clothesline for an important victory. Winner: Ariya Daivari
Austin Aries vs. TJ Perkins
The last time Austin Aries faced TJ Perkins, it was the Perkins of old. Since then, Perkins had a change of attitude and has turned into a jerk that aligned himself with Neville. Aries faces Neville at Payback in less than two weeks for the Cruiserweight Championship, so dispelling of Perkins could increase his chances of a title victory.
Perkins attempts the Detonation Kick, but Aries counters out of it and picks up the pinfall after the Discus Five-arm. After the match, Neville rushes the ring to attack Aries, but the challenger locks in the Last Chancery. Perkins comes back into the ring to help Neville escape the submission, then they work together to leave Aries laid out in the middle of the ring. Winner: Austin Aries
