Csonka’s WWE 205 Live Review 2.13.18

Csonka’s WWE 205 Live Review 2.13.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Cruiserweight Title Tournament Match: Mark Andrews defeated Akira Tozawa @ 12:41 via pin [***½]
– Cruiserweight Title Tournament Match: Drew Gulak defeated Tony Nese @ 16:17 via referee stoppage [***¾]

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– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– TJP, Cedric Alexander, Kalisto, & Roderick Strong have all advanced so far.

– My article on the rebooted 205 Live is at this link.

– Dash interviews Andrews pre-match. He’s excited about this chance tonight, and looks forward to the opportunity to make it to WrestleMania.

Akira Tozawa vs. Mark Andrews: Andrews was a semifinalist in the UK Title tournament. They work some basic back and forth to begin. Andrews grounds the action, and starts to work the leg of Tozawa. Good control by Andrews early on, but Tozawa gets to his feet and counters into working the arm. Andrews quickly cuts him off, working a version of the octopus. The sunset flip follows for 2. He then works arm drags, and hits a basement dropkick for 2. Tozawa fires back with chops, and then the jab, dropping Andrews. Tozawa then lays the boots to him. He follows with the running kick and senton, covering for 2. Tozawa now grounds things, working the arm. Andrews fights out to his feet, lays in rights, and then uppercuts. The 619 follows and then a springboard high cross follows for 2. Andrews again grounds things, working an Indian death lock variation. He transitions back to the octopus, but Tozawa escapes. He hits a RANA, and shining wizard. Tozawa heads up top, but Andrews rolls to the floor and Tozawa wipes him out with a suicide dive and back in, covers for 2. Tozawa back up top, but Andrews cuts him off, hits knee strikes, the northern lights and a standing corkscrew splash, covering for 2. Tozawa hits a superkick and snap Saito suplex, covering for 2. Tozawa follows with rights, but Andrews cuts him off and lays in kicks, and then hits stundog millionaire for a good near fall. They work up top, and Andrews hits a RANA off the top for another good near fall. Andrews up top and the shooting star press misses, he rolls through and as Tozawa looks for a roll up, Andrews counters and scores the pin. Mark Andrews defeated Akira Tozawa @ 12:41 via pin [***½] This was a very good match, that started slowly, but worked into a very well done back and forth match. They had good near falls, and actually had the crowd involved, which has proven to be difficult after Smackdown and MMC. The Andrews win was another pleasant surprise, similar to the Strong win last week, and again, freshens things up. This was a lot of fun.

– Jack Gallagher vs. Mustafa Ali is set for next week. Drake Maverick appears and tells Gallagher he better have proper ring gear next week, and to sort himself out.

– Buddy Murphy vs. Ariya Daivari is also set for next week. We get a video on Murphy.

Drew Gulak vs. Tony Nese: Nese refuses the handshake and they lock up, but Nese shoves Gulak down and poses. Gulak gets a takedown, and grounds things with a side headlock. Nese counters out and looks to work the knee. Gulak counters out, but Nese looks for a single leg crab, but Gulak connects with up kicks and a running forearm. Nese avoids the lariat and follows with kicks, covering for 2. Nese lays the boots to Gulak, and then grounds Gulak, locking in a wacky looking submission. He then rolls into a sunset flip for 2 and tosses Gulak. To the floor they go, they trade strikes and Gulak hits a belly to back suplex on the floor. Gulak rolls back in and Nese struggles to his feet, but makes it back in. Gulak continues to control, attacking the leg, and then covering for 2. Nese manages to cut off Gulak, and they trade rights. Nese hits the running kick and dropkick. The running back elbow and lariat follow, and the cover gets 2. Gulak counters out of the pump handle driver, but Nese slams him to the mat. Nese follows with a gut buster, covering for 2. Gulak fires back with a head butt and then a dropkick. He follows with a belly to back suplex, folding up Nese and covering for 2. Nese fires back with strikes, lays the boots to Gulak, but Gulak grabs the beard and slaps the shit out of him repeatedly. The electric chair drop and bridge gets 2 for Gulak. The hanging guillotine follows, but Nese powers up and takes Gulak to the apron. Nese trips him to the floor and follows with the Sasuke special! Back in and the 450 MISSES! Gulak looks for the dragon sleeper, but Nese hits the pump handle Michinoku driver for a good near fall. Gulak follows with head butts, but Nese slams Gulak to he corer alley opp style, and then hits a buckle bomb! Nese looks for the running knee strike, but Gulak bails to the floor. Nese follows and slaps Gulak around. Back in they go, but Gulak slams Nese to the announce table from the apron. Gulak again slams him to the announce table and again! The ref tries to break it up, and Gulak rolls Nese back in. Gulak then turns Nese inside out with a lariat. The powerbomb follows, and then another! Gulak locks in the dragon sleeper, and Nese is out as the ref stops the match. Drew Gulak defeated Tony Nese @ 16:17 via referee stoppage [***¾] This was a VERY good match, worked in a completely different style and tone of the previous match. I loved the new aggressive Gulak, almost pulling a Bob Backlund “snap routine” here to really pull of the new character he’s working. Nese was also a really great babyface here, looking great, and the booking and his performance here was the best he’s looked so far, and the performance here will likely do more for him than anything else they’ve done with him in the company so far. This was so very good.

– Advancing so far are TJP, Cedric Alexander, Kalisto, Roderick Strong, Mark Andrews, & Drew Gulak

– Next week we get…

* Jack Gallagher vs. Mustafa Ali
* Buddy Murphy vs. Ariya Daivari

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.8

The final score: review Good

The 411

The rebooted 205 Live once again delivers, giving us a focused show, announcing the next tournament matches, and also giving us two very good and different matches. 205 Live has really developed into must-see TV in a short amount of time. This was a very good show.