205live is better than ever before: Show Guide
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| Source: wwe.com |
205live is sending shockwaves through the business right now.
In the big sea of brands, not only competing against other wrestling products out there, but also against other brands inside the company.
While NXT feels the love of everyone, having the most stacked roster in the history of any wrestling brand ever and RAW & SmackDown have international tv-deals, 205live seems to be hiding on the Network. Let's not forget of NXTUK, which is also celebrating great episodes week to week, thanks to a great roster and the fantastic british fanbase.
In all of that 205live, seems like the weakest link. In addition to that the show has a relatively small roster with just 18 to 19 (if you count Drake Maverick) competitors. The show called by Aiden English, Vic Joseph and Nigel McGuiness had a tough time in the past but ever since Credric Alexander was champion, the show gets better and better week by week. Another obsticacle is a tired crowd in the arena, which just watched an episode of SmackDown LIVE and is waiting for the surprise dark match after 205live.
But 205live pushed threw. The talent of 205live, which also included the two SmackDown stars Buddy Murphy & Ali, aswell as the previously mentioned Credric Alexander. All them former Cruiserweight Champions, helping the brand to come alive.
Fast forward to July 2019 and 205live just celebrated it's best episode ever, culminating in an epic match between Chad Gable and Jack Gallagher.
When 205live began rise back to top quality, it was Triple H, who took over from Vince McMahon and started to produce the show. However in recent times it is said to be Adam Pearce, who has been trusted to control the show.
What storylines are making 205live a great show these days?
1. Drake Maverick vs. Mike Kanellis
This feud was a slow burner, but is now the top storyline on the brand. For months and months Mike Kanellis voiced his displeasure with Drake Maverick as the General Manager of 205live. This week Maverick finally snaped and attacked Kanellis. I am very much forward to this clash.
2. The Search for Drew Gulak's Next Challenger
Drew Gulak as Cruiserweight Champion is stroke of genius. Nobody could have been a better choice right now. Not only is he an incredible wrestler and promo, there are several great title feuds in the air for him.
First he got rid of his former best friend Tony Nese in two epic bouts at Stomping Grounds (a match that also involved Akira Tozawa) and Extreme Rules.
Gulak is having a history with Humberto Carillo, Jack Gallagher, The Brian Kendrick and Akira Tozawa. I can very much looking forward to all of this.
3. Bollywood Boyz are back
The Singh Brothers have found back their Bollywood roots in 205live, having had a feud with the Lucha House Party and now The Brian Kendrick and Akiri Tozawa. It is still unknown what the eventual goal to this feud is, but it is always great to see Kendrick and Tozawa in action.
Who is 205live?
Drake Maverick (General Manager)
Maverick has been in office as the GM as of January 2018 and his the first person to be appointed to the role after 205live previously has has no authority figure.
Usually the former WWE 24/7 champion explained the upcoming action at the beginning of the show and was also seen whenever wrestlers began struggeling with their win/loss record. While (Mustafa) Ali took Maverick's words to heart, TJP and Kanellis did not. While TJP is gone, Kanellis stayed and it has come to a bitter rivalry between the two.
Drew Gulak (Cruiserweight Champion)
Gulak is a 205live Original. He is a part of the roster since the show's inception in 2016.
Gukak, who managed to hang with every wrestler he ever faced and also change with the brand's demands, needed 3 years to finally capture the big one, but when he finally won it, it could not have happened at a better time. A new, more focused Gulak is ready to take on all challenges and it is awesome.
Ariyah Daivari
Also a 205live Original, the brother of WWE Producer Shawn Daivari, he was out for the majority of 2018 with an injury. After that he came back more focused and better than ever. His unique wrestling style quickly made him (alongside with Kendrick and Gulak) one of my favourite on the 205live roster. Daivari was involved in a brutal feud with Oney Lorcan recently and I hope the next storyline is right around the corner for him.
Akira Tozawa
Tozawa is another 205live Original and has had the most matches on the brand. Also he is a former Cruiserweight Champion. In addition Tozawa is also a regular in Cruiserweight Title Matches and The Brian Kendrick's best friend. As you can see, Tozawa is easily the backbone of the division. And what can I say? His history and matches are fantastic! Epic feuds against Neville, Drew Gulak, Daivari and Kendrick speak for themselves.
Gentlemen Jack Gallagher
Yet another 205live original, the man from the british isle started out as a babyface, before turning heel to become the Tag Team Partner of one Drew Gulak. Always on the cusp of becoming a 205live main eventer, something held him back. But ever since turning against Gulak and coming back to the good side, Gallagher seems to be unable to have a bad match. With epic matches on both NXT UK and 205live, he is surely a top contender for the Cruiserweight Title in the near future.
The Lucha House Party
Kalisto (former Cruiserweight Champion), Gran Metalik (Cruiserweight Classic Finalist, 205live Original) and Lince Dorado (205live Original) are the Lucha House Party.
They are also permitted to compete on RAW.
Usually they are used for Tag Team Matches. That is all there is to say unfortunatley. They started out as a great trio, but ever since they are allowed to compete on RAW, they lost a lot of their appeal.
But what I can say: Gran Metalik is one of the best pure wrestlers on the entire WWE roster.
Humberto Carrillo
Carrilo joined 205live in January of 2019. Immediatly seen by one Drew Gulak and his then partner Jack Gallagher, they tried to convince Carrillo to join their ranks. Carrillo constantly delivers in-ring and is currently build as the next top star. I seems like he will get his revenge on Gulak, who tired to beat up Carrillo, before Gallagher stopped him. I can see Carrillo vs. Gulak happening for SummerSlam.
Mark Andrews
Andrews is a rare guest on the show, but is listed as a 205live star. He usually competes on NXTUK, though.
Mike Kanellis
Apparently Kanellis is meeting the 205 pound weight limit. It is still a miracle (no pun intended) to me. Kanellis has not won many matches on the show and his matches has not been exaclty on the 205 level. However: That has changed. Kanellis feels like a new man ever since he signed a new deal with WWE. I am looking forward to what he and Maverick are being able to do and which role his wife Maria Kanellis plays in all of this.
Noam Dar
Dar as a 205live Original, but is currently focused on the NXTUK brand. Usually the fantastic Supernova 11 is brought in for fantastic heel work and wrestling action. I would love to see Dar being involved in a Cruiserweight storyline again.
Oney Lorcan
Lorcan is the one of the more recent additions to 205live, joining the show in March of 2019. First debuting as a heel, brutally attacking Cedric Alexander, it became clear that him working as a heel on 205live, but being part of a babyface tag team with Danny Burch on NXT would not work, so Lorcan turned babyface without a true explanation. After a vicious feud with Ariyah Daivari, which he won, he is currently waiting for another victim.
The Singh Brothers
The Singh Brothers are considered 205live Originals, but left the brand for over 2 years before returning this year. After an uneventful feud with the Lucha House Party, a new storyline involving Brian Kendrick and Akira Tozawa hopes to pump new life into their characters.
The Brian Kendrick
Also a 205live Original and the second ever Cruiserweight Champion aswell as a former WWE Tag Team Champion, Kendrick is (much like Tozawa) an essential part of the 205live brand. Kendrick started out as a heel and had several feuds against the likes of Neville, (Mustafa) Ali, Cedric Alexander, Jack Gallagher, Akira Tozawa and more. There is no bad Kendrick match. Atleast I have never seen one. His team with Tozawa seems odd for a new viewer, but his partnership with the japanese sensation is the longest running story in of the show. Dating back to 2016, where to first feuded. Wether is be as a heel or babyface, 205live would not be the same without him.
Tony Nese
Tony Nese is also a former Cruiserweight Champion and 205live Original. After having a tough time finding his footing on the brand, Nese tried to team with Gulak and also was part of the horrible Z-Train angle.
After 205live got a reset by Triple H it was Drake Maverick, who challenged Nese to less focus on his abs, but start winning matches. Nese took this to hard and got fought hard to finally earn a Cruiserweight Title shot. After partnering with then Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy in hopes for a better standing. When Nese won a tournament to crown a new No.1 Contender for the title, Murphy turned on his 'friend', which let to Nese winning the title at WrestleMania this year.
Chad Gable
He has just been added to the roster, but already made waves with great matches.
Especially against Jack Gallagher on this week's episode.
Who is your favourite on the WWE Network's 205live? Tweet me @Walu2go
