WWE 205 Live
Episode 34
#205Live
Original Air Date: July 18, 2017
Event Date: July 18, 2017 (aired live)
City: Birmingham, AL
Venue: Legacy Arena
Commentary: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Video
Drew Gulak’s campaign to rid 205 Live of high flying (i.e. Mustafa Ali) reaches a turning point tonight.
Intro Video
“Hail to the Crown” by CFO$ featuring From Ashes to New
Match 1
2 out of 3 Falls Match
Mustafa Ali vs Drew Gulak
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Mustafa Ali wins 2 falls to 1
Fall 1: Mustafa Ali pins Drew Gulak with a hammerlock pin (1:53)
Fall 2: Drew Gulak submits Mustafa Ali with a dragon sleeper (7:54)
Fall 3: Mustafa Ali pins Drew Gulak after an inverted 450 splash (16:52)
Time: 16:52
Match Thoughts
Great match. I have to wonder why this wasn’t the main event tonight. The first two falls in this match were good, but the final fall got very good. Both men hit some huge moves and kept kicking out of what could have easily been good finishes. I kind of hope this feud is over, because that was a great finish to it.
Backstage
Earlier today, Apollo Crews asked Akira Tozawa how his shoulder is. Tozawa says he’s fine. Crews doesn’t buy it, and he explains that Titus was just looking out for his safety when he stopped Tozawa’s match against Daivari on RAW. Tozawa still seems upset, but he at least hears what Crews is saying.
Ring Area
The Brian Kendrick heads to the ring for a match against Devin Bennett. Bennett happens to be from Manchester, which causes Kendrick to get on the mic so he can talk about Jack Gallagher. Kendrick says Gallagher is considered a clown in America. He also suggests that Bennett should walk away rather than face Kendrick in the ring, and Jack Gallagher should do the same.
Match 2
The Brian Kendrick vs Devin Bennett
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Result: The Brian Kendrick wins via submission with the Captain’s Hook
Time: 1:46
Match Thoughts
This was a squash, but it was an alright part of Kendrick’s ongoing feud with Gallagher.
Video
Last week on 205 Live, Cedric Alexander made Noam Dar say “I quit,” and Noam Dar quit his relationship with Alicia Fox.
Backstage
Dasha Fuentes welcomes TJP. TJP says Rich Swann can’t stand being second to him. TJP does feel bad for showing up Swann last week though, so to make it up to Swann he’s arranged for a tag match next week.
Ring Area
Ariya Daivari heads to the ring. He says that there is no place better to wrestle than in his home country of Iran. He gives an example of a great Iranian wrestler, Emam-Ali Habibi who defeated a Japanese man for his first gold medal. Tonight, Daivari starts his journey to becoming the next great Iranian champion by defeating Akira Tozawa.
Match 3
Ariya Daivari vs Akira Tozawa
(referee: Charles Robinson)
Result: Akira Tozawa wins via pinfall with a roll-up
Time: 8:21
Match Thoughts
Good match. Daivari was selling his shoulder injury throughout the match, and Daivari went after his shoulder almost exclusively (much like he did in the RAW match). With no one to stop the match, Tozawa had to persevere, which he did.
Ring Area
After the match, Daivari runs Tozawa shoulder-first into the ring post.
Show Impressions
This was a good show, but the 2 out of 3 falls match should have been the main event. I like the Tozawa story, but there was no reason for it to end the show. Besides that minor complaint, this episode was very nice.
Match of the Night
Mustafa Ali vs Drew Gulak
Again, 205 Live delivers a very satisfying match to conclude a feud. They’re getting really good at that.