Aleister Black set out to annihilate Johnny Gargano during their Steel Cage Match, but he instead wound up on the wrong end of an unthinkable blast from the past courtesy of Gargano and NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa.
Hideo Itami defeated Noam Dar. (205 Live)
WWE 205 Live kicked off with an unexpected appearance from Hideo Itami and Ariya Daivari. The duo entered the ring, and Daivari addressed the WWE Universe, demanding they show Itami the respect he deserves. The Persian Lion praised the Japanese legend and declared the episode of WWE 205 Live was cancelled until Itami got real competition. This prompted WWE 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick to take control of the situation, threatening to suspend Itami and Daivari. Noam Dar then made his way to the arena hoping to challenge Itami, and Maverick obliged.
Not intimidated by Itami, The Scottish Supernova was ready for a fight and employed a take-no-prisoners offense that was enough to force Itami from the ring.
As The Scottish Supernova prepared to apply some of his technical expertise, Itami found an opening to unleash a series of hard-hitting strikes and kicks before taking down Dar with a flying leg drop. As the Japanese Superstar continued to methodically brutalize Dar, The Scottish Supernova outwitted Itami by avoiding a dropkick and kicking him off the top rope in an act of desperation.
Dar scored a handful of near-falls before preparing to devastate Itami’s knee with a high-risk move, but Daivari diverted The Scottish Supernova’s attention away from Itami long enough for the Japanese Superstar to avoid Dar’s move and counter with a series of high-impact blows. With Dar dazed, Itami executed his basement dropkick and falling knee strike to earn the win. (Via WWE.com)
Not intimidated by Itami, The Scottish Supernova was ready for a fight and employed a take-no-prisoners offense that was enough to force Itami from the ring.
As The Scottish Supernova prepared to apply some of his technical expertise, Itami found an opening to unleash a series of hard-hitting strikes and kicks before taking down Dar with a flying leg drop. As the Japanese Superstar continued to methodically brutalize Dar, The Scottish Supernova outwitted Itami by avoiding a dropkick and kicking him off the top rope in an act of desperation.
Dar scored a handful of near-falls before preparing to devastate Itami’s knee with a high-risk move, but Daivari diverted The Scottish Supernova’s attention away from Itami long enough for the Japanese Superstar to avoid Dar’s move and counter with a series of high-impact blows. With Dar dazed, Itami executed his basement dropkick and falling knee strike to earn the win. (Via WWE.com)
Lio Rush defeated Local competitor. (205 Live)
Making his return to in-ring action following a loss to Cedric Alexander last month that snapped his 205 Live undefeated streak, Lio Rush first addressed the WWE Universe and his opponent. Acknowledging that he usually has a few words before a match, The Man of the Hour instead skipped the trash talk and attacked his opponent.
With the match underway, Rush suddenly found himself on defense after absorbing a series of blows. However, the incredibly agile Rush quickly turned the tables with a bulldog on the outside of the ring before executing the Final Hour. Cleary irate from his opponent’s offensive flurry, The Man of the Hour unleashed his aggression with multiple punishing strikes followed by a second Final Hour before securing the pinfall victory. (Via WWE.com)
With the match underway, Rush suddenly found himself on defense after absorbing a series of blows. However, the incredibly agile Rush quickly turned the tables with a bulldog on the outside of the ring before executing the Final Hour. Cleary irate from his opponent’s offensive flurry, The Man of the Hour unleashed his aggression with multiple punishing strikes followed by a second Final Hour before securing the pinfall victory. (Via WWE.com)
The Brian Kendrick & Akira Tozawa defeated Gentleman Jack Gallagher & Drew Gulak. (Tag Team Street Fight) (205 Live)
When Drew Gulak & Gentleman Jack Gallagher turned their backs on The Brian Kendrick and laid him out in a savage attack several weeks ago, The Man with a Plan was left with no option but to join forces with his longtime rival, Akira Tozawa. With the animosity between the two duos reaching a fever pitch, a tag team Street Fight was only appropriate.
Gulak and Gallagher weren’t dressed in traditional ring gear, as they instead opted to keep their suits on and prepare to deliver an all-business beatdown. However, their opponents came ready for action with Tozawa sporting his typical ring gear and Kendrick revealing a clean-shave, new jacket and new gear reminiscent of his early days in WWE.
Tozawa and Kendrick charged down the entrance ramp, meeting their opponents halfway, and the all-out brawl commenced. Kendrick and Tozawa showed no mercy for their opponents early in the match, as their Street Fight experience – including against each other – played to their advantage. Tozawa and Kendrick immediately brought a table into the equation, but Gulak and Gallagher – the self-proclaimed Submission Commission – fended off their opponents before returning the table back underneath the ring and taunting the WWE Universe by saying there would be no tables.
With numerous weapons such as garbage cans, chairs and even a broom in play, Gulak and Gallagher brutalized their opponents with anything that wasn’t nailed down. Showing no mercy in and out of the ring, The Submission Commission took pleasure in dishing out punishment, finding whatever was available – such as a mop and bucket – to increase the savagery.
Kendrick and Tozawa battled back, and the chaos continued to intensify when Gulak battered The Stamina Monster with a microphone. Tozawa retaliated by leveling The Philadelphia Stretcher with a punch before decimating Gallagher inside the ring and tossing a steel chair at both. Tozawa and Kendrick then tied Gulak to the ring post with a bungie cord, unleashing a series of chops until Gallagher made the save with a garbage can.
Gallagher took down Tozawa with a jaw-dropping kick, and as Gulak pushed The Stamina Monster forward in an office chair, The Submission Commission returned to the ring, trying to force their opponents into tapping out. As Gulak placed Kendrick on the top rope, Tozawa came to the rescue before launching himself at a retreating Gulak and being countered with a garbage can.
Gulak was also taken out by his own desperation move, leaving Gallagher to go after Kendrick. As the British Superstar ascended the ropes to deal with The Man with a Plan, Kendrick countered and nailed his nemesis with an explosive Sliced Bread No. 2 from the top to win the match. (Via WWE.com)
Gulak and Gallagher weren’t dressed in traditional ring gear, as they instead opted to keep their suits on and prepare to deliver an all-business beatdown. However, their opponents came ready for action with Tozawa sporting his typical ring gear and Kendrick revealing a clean-shave, new jacket and new gear reminiscent of his early days in WWE.
Tozawa and Kendrick charged down the entrance ramp, meeting their opponents halfway, and the all-out brawl commenced. Kendrick and Tozawa showed no mercy for their opponents early in the match, as their Street Fight experience – including against each other – played to their advantage. Tozawa and Kendrick immediately brought a table into the equation, but Gulak and Gallagher – the self-proclaimed Submission Commission – fended off their opponents before returning the table back underneath the ring and taunting the WWE Universe by saying there would be no tables.
With numerous weapons such as garbage cans, chairs and even a broom in play, Gulak and Gallagher brutalized their opponents with anything that wasn’t nailed down. Showing no mercy in and out of the ring, The Submission Commission took pleasure in dishing out punishment, finding whatever was available – such as a mop and bucket – to increase the savagery.
Kendrick and Tozawa battled back, and the chaos continued to intensify when Gulak battered The Stamina Monster with a microphone. Tozawa retaliated by leveling The Philadelphia Stretcher with a punch before decimating Gallagher inside the ring and tossing a steel chair at both. Tozawa and Kendrick then tied Gulak to the ring post with a bungie cord, unleashing a series of chops until Gallagher made the save with a garbage can.
Gallagher took down Tozawa with a jaw-dropping kick, and as Gulak pushed The Stamina Monster forward in an office chair, The Submission Commission returned to the ring, trying to force their opponents into tapping out. As Gulak placed Kendrick on the top rope, Tozawa came to the rescue before launching himself at a retreating Gulak and being countered with a garbage can.
Gulak was also taken out by his own desperation move, leaving Gallagher to go after Kendrick. As the British Superstar ascended the ropes to deal with The Man with a Plan, Kendrick countered and nailed his nemesis with an explosive Sliced Bread No. 2 from the top to win the match. (Via WWE.com)
Io Shirai & Dakota Kai defeated Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke.
NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler’s ruthless approach to the ring clearly rubbed off on her Four Horsewomen allies Marina Shafir & Jessamyn Duke, as the debuting duo methodically tore into Dakota Kai after an illegal kick behind the referee’s back gave them the advantage. The gutsy Captain of Team Kick absorbed Shafir & Duke’s punishment for several minutes, but she still had the wherewithal to stun Duke with a heel kick and tag Io Shirai into action for the first time on NXT TV.
The fresh Genius of the Sky quickly lived up to her moniker, blasting Shafir with the tiger feint kick and a mesmerizing springboard dropkick. Duke briefly diverted Shirai’s attention as she set up for her signature top-rope moonsault, but a powerful boot by an intervening Kai sent Duke plummeting off the ring apron. With no more distractions to worry about, Shirai resumed her flight plan and crashed onto Shafir with a textbook moonsault to pick up the win. (Via WWE.com)
The fresh Genius of the Sky quickly lived up to her moniker, blasting Shafir with the tiger feint kick and a mesmerizing springboard dropkick. Duke briefly diverted Shirai’s attention as she set up for her signature top-rope moonsault, but a powerful boot by an intervening Kai sent Duke plummeting off the ring apron. With no more distractions to worry about, Shirai resumed her flight plan and crashed onto Shafir with a textbook moonsault to pick up the win. (Via WWE.com)
Dominik Dijakovic defeated Aaron Mackey.
Aaron Mackey’s night started going terribly wrong about three seconds into his match against new NXT Superstar Dominik Dijakovic. That’s when Dijakovic blocked Mackey’s opening salvo and took over.
The 6-foot-7, 270-pound Dijakovic showed what all the hype was about, ravaging Mackey with strikes, throwing him across the ring like Raggedy Andy and bludgeoning the areas where vital organs are kept. The frighteningly determined Dijakovic then gave Mackey and the NXT Universe something to feast their eyes on as he spun Mackey overhead and smashed his knee squarely into his opponent’s face. The ensuing three-count was not in question.
The 6-foot-7, 270-pound Dijakovic showed what all the hype was about, ravaging Mackey with strikes, throwing him across the ring like Raggedy Andy and bludgeoning the areas where vital organs are kept. The frighteningly determined Dijakovic then gave Mackey and the NXT Universe something to feast their eyes on as he spun Mackey overhead and smashed his knee squarely into his opponent’s face. The ensuing three-count was not in question.
Heavy Machinery defeated Blake Howell & Danny D’Accardo.
In what might be considered a warmup for their NXT Tag Team Title Match next week against champions Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly, Heavy Machinery absolutely dominated the team of Blake Howell & Danny D’Accardo.
The Big Bulls of NXT were well on their way to victory when the entire Undisputed ERA came out to the stage to get a closer look at Otis Dozovic & Tucker Knight. Undisputed ERA’s scouting expedition, however, seemed to put even more pep in Heavy Machinery’s step. Dozovic & Knight combined to hit not one, but three Compactors on their opponents. The final blow was the most devastating of all, with Dozovic & Knight squashing bothHowell & D’Accardo in a seismic two-for-one. Although they’ll never admit it, Heavy Machinery’s buffet of brutality may have sown doubt in the minds of Strong & O’Reilly ahead of next Wednesday’s big title match. (Via WWE.com)
The Big Bulls of NXT were well on their way to victory when the entire Undisputed ERA came out to the stage to get a closer look at Otis Dozovic & Tucker Knight. Undisputed ERA’s scouting expedition, however, seemed to put even more pep in Heavy Machinery’s step. Dozovic & Knight combined to hit not one, but three Compactors on their opponents. The final blow was the most devastating of all, with Dozovic & Knight squashing bothHowell & D’Accardo in a seismic two-for-one. Although they’ll never admit it, Heavy Machinery’s buffet of brutality may have sown doubt in the minds of Strong & O’Reilly ahead of next Wednesday’s big title match. (Via WWE.com)
Johnny Gargano defeated Aleister Black. (Steel Cage Match)
Locked inside a steel cage with an enraged rival who pledged to annihilate him, Johnny Gargano not only survived his barbaric fight with Aleister Black, but he emerged victorious, although he certainly didn’t do it by himself. Ironically, and shockingly, it was an assist from his former #DIY teammate and best friend, NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, that set the table for Gargano’s monumental defeat of The Dutch Destroyer.
Before The Blackheart inserted himself into the match that was his brainchild, Black and Gargano battered each other relentlessly, taking full advantage of their surroundings. The deep-seated ill will between the two even caused both Superstars to occasionally lose sight of victory. After landing a series of powerful strikes, Black was on the verge of climbing out of the cage, but he instead returned to inflict more punishment on the man who ambushed him months ago. Similarly, Gargano had a clear path out the door later in the match, but rather than go for the W, he told Black that he’d “absolve” him of his “sins.” The move backfired, and Black floored Gargano with Black Mass.
Still, Gargano was the first to his feet. He began scaling the steel wall, but by the time he got over the top, Black was crawling toward the door. Black was almost out, too, until Ciampa, who is set to defend the title against the former champion at TakeOver: Phoenix, viciously slammed the door on Black’s skull. Gargano returned to the ring, and after a tense moment of the former best friends eying each other warily, Ciampa signaled for the double-team move that won #DIY so many matches, and Gargano reciprocated. Gargano and Ciampa then met in the middle — Gargano drilling Black with a superkick and Ciampa thrashing him with a leaping knee — giving Gargano all he needed to pin The Dutch Destroyer. As Ciampa exited, Gargano, seemingly in complete disbelief, sat cross-legged next to Black.
It was a surreal scene that begs more questions than it does provide answers. Are Gargano and Ciampa once again on the same page, or did Ciampa simply manipulate Gargano? Just as importantly, how will The Dutch Destroyer respond? (Via WWE.com)
Before The Blackheart inserted himself into the match that was his brainchild, Black and Gargano battered each other relentlessly, taking full advantage of their surroundings. The deep-seated ill will between the two even caused both Superstars to occasionally lose sight of victory. After landing a series of powerful strikes, Black was on the verge of climbing out of the cage, but he instead returned to inflict more punishment on the man who ambushed him months ago. Similarly, Gargano had a clear path out the door later in the match, but rather than go for the W, he told Black that he’d “absolve” him of his “sins.” The move backfired, and Black floored Gargano with Black Mass.
Still, Gargano was the first to his feet. He began scaling the steel wall, but by the time he got over the top, Black was crawling toward the door. Black was almost out, too, until Ciampa, who is set to defend the title against the former champion at TakeOver: Phoenix, viciously slammed the door on Black’s skull. Gargano returned to the ring, and after a tense moment of the former best friends eying each other warily, Ciampa signaled for the double-team move that won #DIY so many matches, and Gargano reciprocated. Gargano and Ciampa then met in the middle — Gargano drilling Black with a superkick and Ciampa thrashing him with a leaping knee — giving Gargano all he needed to pin The Dutch Destroyer. As Ciampa exited, Gargano, seemingly in complete disbelief, sat cross-legged next to Black.
It was a surreal scene that begs more questions than it does provide answers. Are Gargano and Ciampa once again on the same page, or did Ciampa simply manipulate Gargano? Just as importantly, how will The Dutch Destroyer respond? (Via WWE.com)