WWE 205 Live results: Brian Kendrick gets a rematch for the title

Austin Aries was back this week along with Mauro Ranallo and Corey Graves.

Alicia Fox wished Cedric Alexander luck before his match. Graves said his sources said they were now “a thing.”

Noam Dar defeated Cedric Alexander

Okay match. Dar worked a lot of the match but just lacks in offense. Competent WWE style, but nothing more than that. Cedric showed some great athleticism early. Dar played heel, snapping Cedric’s neck on the ropes and getting the heat. Well, if there was any heat here tonight. Dar worked in holds, focusing on the left arm. Cedric came back with a forearm and back elbow. Alexander went for a handspring but Dar kicked him and sunk in a fujiwara armbar. Even after taking to the middle, Cedric countered with a roll up. Cedric floated over after Dar ducked a springboard but Dar posted him then pinned Cedric with a running knee strike.

One of the interviewers after the match asks him how he feels coming off the win. Dar says he’s 23 and just signed a big fat money contract, how do you think I feel? He dedicates this to Cedric’s new girlfriend, Alicia Fox to boos.

Mustafa Ali vignette. Hailing from Pakistan, he says he doesn’t even say anything and people boo him when he come to the ring. He can do it all, there’s never any pressure when it comes to his as he knows what he is capable of. You’re looking at the king, King Ali.

Rich Swann was backstage when TJ Perkins walked in, wishing him luck. Swann says it’s better to be lucky than be good.

Ariya Davari defeated Jack Gallagher

This was fine, but felt a lot like their last couple of matches save for the finish. Gallagher did his unique style, which did get a reaction, but Davari cut him off and started working on a knee, wrapping it around the ring post. Gallagher came back with a big headbutt. Gallagher worked on Davari’s arm but Davari raked the eyes and hit a roaring elbow, then followed with the frog splash for the win.

We get a look at Lince Dorado, who will be coming soon “to the Network.” I thought he debuted weeks ago on Raw? And was on NXT in recent weeks?

TJ Perkins came out to do commentary for the main event.

Tom Phillips backstage asks if Swann’s consant wins means the same outcome tonight. Kendrick talks about the stress of becoming the face of the brand, but now he’s focused and will earn back his championship. When he regains the title tonight, he’ll dedicate the win to himself.

WWE Cruiserweight title: Rich Swann defeated Brian Kendrick to retain the title

I thought this was a pretty good main event. Crowd was lacking, but the work was good and they had a different match than they had last week.

Kendrick controlled early, but Swann took him to the outside. Kendrick cut him off and hit the sliced bread on the outside, using the barricade for leverage. Kendrick hit the dragon suplex and locked in the Captain’s Hook but Swann made it to the ropes. Swann fired back with a springboard senton on the outside, catching Bryan and back in the ring followed with a tiger bomb and a modified Michinoku driver. He went for another tiger bomb but Kendrick countered with a hurricanrana and an enziguri. He tries for the Captain’s Hook again but Swann grabs the wrist of Kendrick, preventing him.

Kendrick finally got it in as Swann writhed in the middle. He tried to roll up Kendrick, but he floated back over. Swann made it to the ropes. Swann threw him to the outside but Kendrick caught him with a knee and tried for the Sliced Bread but Swann posted him. Kendrick laid out Swann and went to grab him on the outside, but Swann inadvertently shoved him into TJ Perkins on the outside. Kendrick stared down TJP, but as he got back in the ring Swann hit a spinning superkick to retain the title.

After the match, Kendrick lunged after TJ Perkins as they got into a brawl. Swann came in to help, but in the process TJP accidentally superkicked Swann. Kendrick got the upper hand and laid out Perkins as the referees broke up the brawl, ending the show. Seems like this is to set up a triple threat match for Roadblock, colon, End of the Line.

Final Thoughts:

I thought the show had a pretty good main event, but the rest of the show was lackluster. It felt like Raw, watching these guys have the standard WWE match with 50/50 booking that gets nobody anywhere. It didn’t feel like they were doing anything different than what the main roster is doing right now, and that is a detriment.

The likes of Rey Mysterio Jr. and Eddie Guerrero did not get over because they had heels work them over with rest holds as a tired crowd sat on their hands. They told compelling stories and worked a style different than anyone else in WCW, and that is what got them over. If the cruiserweights of today are destined to do exactly the opposite of what got them over in CWC, there isn’t much of a point to this show other than just another hour program to fill content. Maybe that’s all it is.