source: WWE
This week’s 205 Live was taken up entirely by one gauntlet match for. #1 Contendership, while Johnny Gargano's title shot is cut short by his nemesis.
205 Live
source: WWE
Gauntlet Match
Mustafa Ali vs. TJP
Match One
Winner: Mustafa Ali
Highlights:
TJP hits Ali with a sunset flip
TJP gives Mustafa Ali an octopus stretch through the ropes
Ali escapes TJP’s submission and delivers a hurricanrana
Mustafa Ali jumps off the second rope and hits TJP with a tornado DDT
Ali delivers the 054 and gets the pin
source: WWE
Mustafa Ali vs. Drew Gulak
Match Two
Winner: Drew Gulak
Highlights:
Gulak attacks Ali’s injured knee from the previous match
Ali gives Gulak an enzuigiri
Drew works on Mustafa’s knee over the top rope
Ali tries to go for the 054, but his injured knee won’t let him
Gulak locks in the Gu-Lock for the victory
source: WWE
Drew Gulak vs. Tony Nese
Winner: Drew Gulak
Highlights:
Nese throws Gulak over the announce table
Gulak slaps Nese and Nese hits him with a hard elbow
Tony Nese hits Drew Gulak with a running knee to the head
Gulak traps Nese in the Gu-Lock and Nese taps out
source: WWE
Drew Gulak vs. Kalisto
Winner: Kalisto
Highlights:
Gulak rolls in and out of the ring, using the whole ten count several times
Drew dodges a suicide dive and sends Kalisto into the barricade
Kalisto hits Gulak with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors
Gulak fails to lock in the Gu-Lock
Kalisto delivers a Salida Del Sol for the three count
Opinion:
When Kalisto pulled off the victory, I was both surprised and disappointed. No one asked for Kalisto vs. Cedric Alexander, and, in my opinion, there are several guys who deserve a title opportunity more than Kalisto.
Both Mustafa Ali and Drew Gulak put on better matches (and even Tony Nese, too) and are capable of telling a story in the ring way better than Kalisto can. It doesn’t make sense to me to give the title opportunity to someone who has a hard time cutting a promo in general, when fans are behind Ali and Gulak way more.
Honestly, Buddy Murphy not making the weight requirement doesn’t even seem believable to me. They didn’t need to actually weigh him—no one would have noticed if the #1 contender was 206, 210, or even 215 lbs. An opportunity for Murphy was wasted, and it seems unfair to have him challenge for the Cruiserweight Championship and then just take it away from him.
NXT
source: WWE
Undisputed Era is dripping in gold
Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish come out to the ring, boasting about their tag team and North American Championship gold. Bobby Fish says that they’re always one step ahead. Roderick Strong says that he finally did something for himself by joining the Undisputed Era.
Strong lets his partners pat him on the back, and Kyle O’Reilly says that they can’t be stopped. Adam Cole tells the crowd that he’s about to beat Oney Lorcan for the North American title on his own, because he won the title on his own. The rest of the Undisputed Era retreats backstage.
Opinion:
It’s rare to see a faction where everyone is great on the mic. It felt good to hear them all talk and realize that all four men are indy stars, keeping their pre-WWE names and wearing so much gold. The Undisputed Era is one of the best WWE factions in a while and I always get excited watching them.
source: WWE
Adam Cole vs. Oney Lorcan
Winner: Adam Cole
Highlights:
Lorcan stretches Cole’s taped up midsection
Oney Lorcan drops Cole’s midsection on the top rope
The Undisputed Era come out, worried about their partner and bringing officials out
Roderick Strong pulls Lorcan out of the ring while the ref is distracted and suplexes him
Strong and O’Reilly send Cole back into the ring
Cole hits Lorcan with the Last Shot for the victory
The Undisputed Era attacks Lorcan and his partner Danny Burch
Opinion:
The Undisputed Era is easily my favorite thing in NXT right now. They kill it on the mic and in the ring and are unstoppable, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them.
source: WWE
Heavy Machinery vs. Tino Sabatelli and Riddick Moss
Winners: Heavy Machinery
Highlights:
Knight and Dozovic slam Moss and Sabatelli into one another and then stand on top of them
Sabatelli and Moss double team Dozovic
Dozovic sends a running Moss into Sabatelli on the apron
When Riddick Moss goes for the tag to Tino Sabatelli, Sabatelli drops from the apron and leaves
Heavy Machinery double team Moss for the win
After the match, Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic call out the War Raiders
Opinion:
I liked the way this was done. It’s been a while since a tag team dissolved the simplest way. Tino Sabatelli can hold it down in the ring and his looks alone can make people hate him—it’s time for him to utilize NXT to become a star.
source: WWE
Tommaso Ciampa spoils Johnny Gargano’s NXT Championship opportunity
As Gargano comes out to the ring, Tommaso Ciampa attacks him. He brings Gargano onto the announce table but Gargano retaliates, shoving him off as they engage in a brawl on the ramp and stage. Tommaso Ciampa hits Johnny Gargano in the head with a running knee and sends him through a table. Ciampa stands over Gargano on the stage as Candice LeRae and medics tend to Gargano.
He’s put on a stretcher and is taken into the ambulance, superstars watching as he passes them by. As Gargano is put in the ambulance, NXT Champion and Gargano’s supposed opponent for the night Aleister Black passes by him. Ciampa stands on top of the production truck and waves at Gargano as the ambulance leaves.
Black walks out to the ring and starts to call out Tommaso Ciampa, but is interrupted by sAnity. Eric Young talks about finding sanity in the chaos, and Black asks Young if he is looking for the NXT Championship. Young nods, and a match begins.
Opinion:
I knew giving away a championship match between Black and Gargano was a bad idea, and I’m glad they are continuing the Gargano-Ciampa storyline
source: WWE
Aleister Black vs. Eric Young
NXT Championship Match
Winner: Aleister Black
Highlights:
Black hits Young with several knee strikes
Alexander Wolfe distracts Black, allowing Young to gain advantage
Young traps Black in a chinlock
Eric Young hits Aleister with a Death Valley driver
Black hits the Black Mass on Young for the victory
Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe try to attack Aleister Black, but Black hits them both with Black Masses as well
Opinion:
I’m happy we got to see all three members of sAnity sent off on NXT TV. They haven’t been on NXT consistently in a while, so it was good to see them go before they move up to Smackdown Live. Young lost amicably to Black, and all three went out on their back without looking bad.