We recap and review this week’s Mixed Match Challenge, 205 Live, and NXT episodes!
Mixed Match Challenge
Sami Zayn and Becky Lynch vs. Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss
Winner: Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss
Becky and Alexa start out this match, and Becky gives Alexa a noogie as she screams? Now they are rolling around the ring. I'm not sure what is happening—both women seem winded already, and Alexa is seemingly the only one who can give Braun Strowman attitude. It’s great.
Fearfully, Zayn entered the ring, circling Strowman and exiting the ring. He tags in Becky after kicking Braun and running away, but then tags himself in before Lynch even gets in the ring. He’s briefly dominated before the women are tagged in, and Alexa takes control over Becky. The crowd sings happy birthday to Becky Lynch as she gains the advantage again. She tags in Sami, and Braun quickly floors him, despite his attempts to escape. Braun tags in Alexa, who gets on his shoulders and delivers a Twisted Bliss to Becky.
While this bout was more of a joke match (which some could’ve predicted based on how Sami and Becky have been interacting in past weeks), it was funny to see Braun be involved in something that isn’t super serious. Both of these teams worked well together and were fun to watch. I look forward to Strowman and Bliss working together in the next round.
205 Live
General Manager Announcement
Daniel Bryan comes out with a man named Drake Maverick, known to fans of independent wrestling and TNA as Rockstar Spud. He states that this Drake Maverick will give the fans the kind go action that everyone wants, and hands the microphone to Maverick. Drake Maverick announces that there will be a 16-man tournament that will culminate at Wrestlemania, and it starts now.
I think fans are confused, as they predicted the general manager to be a former cruiserweight star, former general manager, or legend. With fans already not having huge reactions to 205 Live each week, he didn’t get many cheers, whether this decision was a good one or not.
Upon doing research on Drake Maverick, I think this decision makes sense. Maverick has been in the wrestling business for over 16 years and has wrestled all over the world. Maverick has actually been signed with WWE since October 2017, and was laying low until his US work visa was renewed. This probably gave him some time to prepare to enter the WWE machine, and he was probably groomed to fit this purpose. While it isn’t what more casual fans (i.e., those who don’t follow independent promotions) would deem ideal or exciting, it allows for an entirely new character to be created.
Cedric Alexander vs. Gran Metalik
Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Round 1 Match
Winner: Cedric Alexander
Before the match begins, fans knew they were in for a treat as two high flyers go head to head. Cedric Alexander, 205 Live’s current frontrunner, went head to head with the runner up in the CWC, so we know that both men were capable of show stealing matches.
However, it seemed like this match didn’t reach its full potential. There were a couple good spots, such as Metalik’s brutal DDT and chops as well as his hurricanrana off the top rope. Alexander hit Metalik with a beautiful Spanish Fly and ended the match with his signature Lumbar Check.
Tyler Bate vs. TJP
Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Round 1 Match
Winner: TJP
Before the match, TJP meets up with Drake Maverick who seems to motivate him to stop whining and complaining break his losing streak. Bate gets an advantage early on in the match, countering TJP’s submission hold and standing as he puts him in a modified version of that hold.
Save for some exhibits of athleticism from 20 year old Bate, this match was mostly comprised of unique holds and rough kicks. TJP seems to have hurt Tyler’s knee, which makes things like lifting his opponent and flipping in the air more difficult. TJP targets the knee in another hold, but Bate escapes is and it visibly frustrates him. TJP pulls bate’s trunks in a roll up pin, getting him the victory.
It hurt my heart to hear silence as Tyler Bate came out to the ring. What’s the point in staying for 205 Live if you’re not even going to cheer when you get to see someone as talented as Tyler Bate (who rarely even competes in WWE). It seems like a huge step down for Bate to lose this match, as he just won NXT’s year end award for match of the year and he only appears for special event matches in WWE. Maybe this is the way WWE is slowly integrating more UK wrestlers, but it harms Bate’s credibility for him to lose to someone with a losing streak.
NXT
Nikki Cross vs. Lacey Evans
Winner: Nikki Cross
As soon as the match starts, Cross brutally and psychotically attacks Evans. Evans gets a brief advantage and goes for a pin, but is unsuccessful and Nikki kicks out, laughing. She pounds on Lacey and then on her chest before delivering a swinging fisherman’s neckbreaker, earning herself the victory. Cross tries to attack Evans and the referee holds her back
Nikki Cross is insane and it’s perfect. Her laughter, screaming, and out of control fighting style makes her look so crazy that she’s good. Hopefully, she will get another opportunity at the NXT Women’s Championship, because Cross as Champion would be beautiful chaos.
TM61 (Shane Thorne and Nick Miller) vs. the Ealy Brothers (Gabriel and Uriel Ealy)
Winners: TM61
In their first match in a year, Miller and Thorne return to NXT in amazing fashion. From the getgo, they display great teamwork as they utilize every second following the tag to use both of them to harm their opponent. When the referee looks away, the twin brothers switch positions (a la Bella Twin Magic), but it hardly phases TM61. Shane Thorne hits a cannonball and a leg lariat in the corner, and Nick Miller hits a moonsault off the top rope. They work together to finish off the Ealy Brothers.
This Australian tag team is hot off their return, and it’s good to have them back. They barely had a chance to make an impact in NXT their first time around, and while Thorne was injured, fans seemingly forgot about the team. Now, they’re back and better than ever, proving that the mighty don’t kneel.
Roderick Strong vs. Tyler Bate
WWE UK Championship #1 Contender Match
Winner: Roderick Strong
The match kicks off with back and forth, counter after counter. Roderick Strong takes control and wrestles like he has something to prove. He hits Bate with a couple hard kicks to the chest and face.
Strong stretches Bate across his back, and when Bate escapes, they exchange blows. Bate gets yanked off the middle rope and Roddy brutally drops him back first across his knee. Strong knees him in the head twice and slams him to the mat. He hits Bate with the End of Heartache and pulls off the victory.
This is the type of match fans expected Tyler Bate to have (compared to TJP on 205 Live), and I think the crowd has a lot to do with that. These fans recognize the talent of both men, and they actually get excited with every interesting move. With this match, fans are at the edge of their seats to see what’s coming next.
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