Nerdly » ‘WWE 205 Live’ Review (July 3rd 2018)

05th Jul2018

‘WWE 205 Live’ Review (July 3rd 2018)

by Nathan Favel

Welcome to this week’s 205 Live review. I’m Nathan Favel and this week we have a great main event to look at, as well as all sorts of exciting moments of action. Let’s get to it!

Match #1: Noam Dar beat TJP

The following is courtesy of WWE.com:

For weeks, inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion TJP has felt disrespected by WWE 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick, believing that he wasn’t receiving high-level opportunities. Furthermore, The Duke of Dab doesn’t believe that his recent opponents have been up to his standard. Still looking for a respectable opponent to complement his in-ring ability, TJP was shocked when his mystery adversary was revealed to be the returning Noam Dar. Sidelined for months with a knee injury, The Scottish Supernova re-emerged during the U.K. Championship Special looking better than ever.

Of course, before the contest, The Cruisergreat was disappointed that the match was not the main event, nor for the Cruiserweight Championship. After TJP completed his tirade, Dar made his way to the ring and immediately got in his opponent’s face. TJP charged forward, but Dar was ready, taking down The Fil-Am Flash with remarkable speed and executing a running knee strike for a quick and impressive victory.

My Take: This was over much too quick for my taste, but it was an exciting way to re-introduce Noam Dar. Hopefully, Dar will not be caught in a cockamamie romance angle this time and will get the chance to show what he can do as a wrestler. Also, TJP still has a job. Yippee-Ki-Yi-Yay, mother-@!$&%#.

Match #2: Akira Tozawa beat Jaysin Strife

The following is courtesy of WWE.com:

Looking to continue building on his recent momentum and winning ways, Akira Tozawa battled Jaysin Strife. However, before the contest got underway, Lio Rush made his way to the ring to observe the action. As the opening bell sounded, Tozawa wasted little time launching his offense, putting his fast and hard-hitting ability on display. As The Stamina Monster took control of the contest, he was distracted by Rush’s presence, and that allowed Strife to briefly turn the tables. Tozawa recovered, though, rolling away from a high-risk maneuver and unleashing a flurry of strikes before hitting his patented Senton for the win.

As Tozawa celebrated his victory, Rush addressed the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion while standing atop the announce table. At first, Rush praised Tozawa’s ability, but he soon questioned what the Japanese Superstar has done since his one championship reign. Rush told Tozawa he should be ashamed for sitting around and waiting for opportunities. The Man of the Hour then laid down a challenge to Tozawa whenever he’s ready.

My Take: This was a good match that made Akira Tozawa look like an important part of the division. Akira had been a huge star for Dragon Gate before arriving in the WWE, but there have been too few opportunities to look like the star he is since arriving here. The action was brief but solid, with nice back-and-forth exchanges of strikes and holds to make it all worth a viewing.

Match #3: Main Event – Mustafa Ali beat Buddy Murphy in a No Disqualification Match

The following is courtesy of WWE.com:

After their rubber match was interrupted by Hideo Itami last month, Buddy Murphy and Mustafa Ali looked to finally settle the score in their intense rivalry in a No Disqualification Match. As soon as Murphy made his way to the ring apron, Ali attacked, taking down Murphy and immediately flattening him with a high-risk move to the outside. Ali tossed Murphy into the barricade before they made their way back into the ring. The Juggernaut of WWE 205 Live countered, striking back and eventually grabbing Ali by the hair and tossing him to the arena floor from the barricade. Murphy then showed off his ruthlessness by suplexing Ali into the steel ramp before moving back into the ring and applying excruciating pressure to Ali’s back and neck.

In control of the bout, Murphy moved the ring steps onto the apron and tried to throw his opponent face-first into the steel. Ali countered and slammed Murphy into the announce table, and as he prepared to use the table to his advantage, Murphy – back inside the ring – dropkicked the steel steps into Ali’s shoulder. The Australian Superstar immediately followed with a jaw-dropping leap off the steps to the outside, taking out Ali.

Murphy continued to show his aggression, setting up the steel steps in the corner and throwing Ali into them twice. Refusing to quit, Ali again battled back, driving Murphy into the steel steps following an incredible hurricanrana. Seizing the opportunity to strike, Ali attempted the 054, but he was stopped with a kick to the jaw and powerbombed twice by Murphy.

Murphy prepared a high-risk move with Ali laid out on the steps. The Heart of WWE 205 Live countered and adjusted the steps upright to execute a – believe it or not – superplex off the top of the steps. Once again on the outside Murphy launched Ali into the announce table, and he prepared another high-risk move from the barricade, but he was met with a Spanish Fly onto the table instead. Back inside the ring, Murphy hit Ali with a running knee strike that caused The Heart of WWE 205 Live to get caught in the ropes. Murphy executed four knee strikes, but Ali still refused to quit after being dragged to the center of the ring.

Frustrated, Murphy again prepared to use the steel steps – even trying to just drop them on top of Ali – but the Chicago native avoided Murphy’s strikes. Countering Murphy’s charge with a kick, Ali quickly capitalized and took Murphy down with an incredible tornado DDT off the steps to finally secure a hard-fought and well-earned pinfall victory.

My Take: This was the best match on the show and, probably, the best WWE match on television this week. These two guys treated this fight like it was a big time event. Triple H’s love of this division is really starting to come through with matches like this. As far as action goes, every-thing but the kitchen sink is about what you can expect from this bout, and that ain’t bad. Go forth and watch this grueling, exhausting, exhilarating fight for the right to be victorious… and to tell me how many times I said the word this in this review of the match…this,this,this,this,this.