WWE 205 Live
Episode 58
#205Live
Original Air Date: January 2 2018
Event Date: January 2, 2018 (aired live)
City: Orlando, FL
Venue: Amway Center
Commentary: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Video
Last night on RAW, Drew Gulak announced that Enzo Amore was sick and couldn’t defend his title against Cedric Alexander. That led to Gulak and Daivari teaming up in a match against Alexander and Goldust.
Intro Video
“Hail to the Crown” by CFO$ featuring From Ashes to New
Match 1
Akira Tozawa vs TJP
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: TJP wins via pinfall after a Detonation Kick
Time: 9:55
Match Thoughts
Good match. It was a very welcome sight to see TJP return to the ring, and he looked good tonight. Tozawa put up a very good fight, but TJP was efficient and brutal. He wasn’t averse to taking shortcuts, and he did so a few times. This wasn’t all one-sided though. Tozawa has some nice strings of offense, but the crowd wasn’t behind him very much (they were kind of dead for this match, actually) and that seemed to drain some of his fight.
Backstage
Goldust tells Cedric Alexander that when a friend of his needs help, he sees the whole thing through. Goldust will support Alexander in his quest for gold.
Ring Area
Jack Gallagher heads to the ring. He says that last week we all found out that Hideo Itami isn’t in 205 Live to compete, he’s here to main and destroy. He shows footage of The Brian Kendrick getting his nose and orbital bone broken by Itami’s GTS. The footage inspires Gallagher. It inspires him to make Itami suffer.
Itami heads to the ring for a match, but Gallagher attacks him before the opening bell. Itami fights back, but Gallagher uses his umbrella to put Itami down. Inside the umbrella is a pipe which Gallagher uses to further beat on Itami. Eventually some referees rush to the ring and Gallagher backs away up the ramp.
Backstage
Dasha Fuentes welcomes Ariya Daivari and Drew Gulak. Gulak says they suffered an injustice last night and weren’t prepared to face Goldust. Daivari says they meant to challenge anyone on the 205 Live roster, not anyone on any roster. Goldust walks up and gets in Gulak’s face. When Gulak does the same thing to Goldust, Goldust gags on Gulak’s breath.
Match 2
Ariya Daivari & Drew Gulak vs Cedric Alexander & Goldust
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Cedric Alexander pins Drew Gulak after a Lumbar Check
Time: 11:54
Match Thoughts
Good match. I like the team of Goldust and Cedric Alexander, though I wouldn’t necessarily think it’s fair for Goldust to compete on 205 Live every week. His presence on the show is very welcome though. The action in this was good and made sense. Goldust, being the biggest and most experienced wrestler in the match, was able to take on his opponents without too much trouble. That made it necessary for Alexander to be the one to get beat up throughout the match. Even so, Alexander came back with some good offense late in the match which led to a nice finish.
Show Impressions
This was an alright show to start 2018 for 205 Live. I liked the matches, and the thing with Itami and Gallagher was fine. Not a great show, but it was good. The crowd did hurt this show a little though. They were dead throughout most of the night.
Match of the Night
Akira Tozawa vs TJP
Despite the spectacle of the main event, I enjoyed the return of TJP more. Since he was returning, it was never really a question of who would win the match, but it was still very entertaining.