FanPost

WWE 205 Live recap & reactions (June 6, 2017): Wrestlers Attack; the Crowd Reacts

WWE.com

To their credit, WWE seem to be trying their level best to heat up the is-it-in-trouble-is-it-not? Purple brand, first with linking Sasha Banks to Rich Swann, and now a main event title shot.

To whit, we start the show with a video package on TJP’s journey to the match. This is a tricksie match up emotion wise. TJP’s talent is undeniable but his persona either grates, or is simply ignored. At the very least, hopes were high for a decent in-ring encounter. Did they deliver? Oooooo boy…

But until then, there was plenty of action to unfold.

Noam Dar vs. Cedric Alexander

Mentionables

Noam Dar comes out to cut a promo about Cedric Alexander. We’re finally bringing him back into the story, are we? Took them long enough.

"WHERE’S ALICIA FOX!" screams someone from the crowd, many times, as Dar takes to the microphone. This same assumingly young person goes on to provide director’s commentary as the speech goes on. It is equal parts amusing and annoying.

On cue, here comes Cedric to interrupt Dar’s usual spiel about his Foxy love, who is mysteriously at home recovering.

The bell rings, and we’re away.

Alexander has returned with a pleasing new aggression to match his showy display, as exhibited by his mighty slap to Dar outside the ring.

As such, Alexander controls the first minutes of the match with fast-paced hard-hitting moves, before Dar counters an attempted top rope assault, leading to Dar working over the arm and delivering sharp forearms.

Alexander counters about a minute later, again with some sharp-sounding hits and elbows. The SLAPs! and WHACKs! get the crowd into it, and sell the animosity between the two combatants.

To whit, Alexander’s springboard jumping kicks looks like it lands HARD against Dar’s face.

There’s a good crowd reaction for Alexander as his ascends the top rope for his gliding flying elbow, which leads to a close 2-count (which the crowd count along to).

Dar counters with a leg shot. An exchange of pins, then Alexander’s headstand is countered with a vicious kick from Dar. Near fall.

Alexander runs into a mighty knee, complete with SLAP sound that echoes through the arena.

But then a Lumbar check "from outta nowhere!" seals the win (for mine, very Reignsy when he counters Seth Rollins’ Turnbuckle powerbomb into an immediate Superman punch).

Cedric Alexander def. Noam Dar with an "out of nowhere!" Lumbar check

After the match Alexander screams at Dar, "I’m done with this! I’ve moved on!" A new feud brewing for both men, perhaps? That would be nice. These two are great together - and after Alexander being on the shelf for so long this provided a fresh match up - but I’d be happy to see them glide onto to other opponents.

Thoughts

Finally, a proper match for the returning Alexander. A hard-hitting exchange that told a story, and may seal the end of this chapter.

I love Dar’s intelligent in-ring heeling; immediately scuttling to the ropes to break a hold (which is smart, if anything); attacking the legs for a counter (again, smart); and often yelling in frustration throughout the match. He’s a true showman, and embodies his character so very well.

Alexander is looking good; the swish moves are still there, but it comes with a new aggression and purpose.

A solid opener.

Interview - TJP

TJP takes the piss out of his own sob story. Says it’s about him now, not the crowd. Digs at Neville for crossing him.

Mustafa Ali vs. Louie Valle

Mentionables

Commentary tells the story about Ali’s loss streak to Gulak and needing to get back on track with a win. Methinks Mr Valle - devoid of entrance music and graphic - may just be the gentleman to assist in this manner.

Amazingly, we have an almost Japenese-style crowd; deathly silent to start; popping for Ali’s flips and appeals. I like this.

There is a sharp exchange of shots between the two men. This usually gets a crowd going. Instead, it’s Ali’s outside the ropes enziguri into rolling neckbreaker that pops.

Ali’s up for the Inverted 450 splash, but lo and behold, here’s that pesky Gulak to ruin the party; complete with placard and megaphone. Valle goes for the cheeky rollup; Ali reverses for the pinfall victory.

Commentary sells the fact that, perhaps, Ali is starting to ground his offence more. Gulak confirms this, saying he’s proud of Ali for the finish.

Gulak keeps going with his rhetoric, until Ali shuts him down with an over the top rope tope (and a damn fine one too… Lands right on Gulak’s noggin) much to the mirth and delight of the crowd.

Mustafa Ali def. Louie Valle via a reverse roll up

Thoughts

I like this crowd. Cheers for Ali’s moves; boos for Gulak’s interruption. Creative must be rubbing their hands with glee at this.

And I really enjoy that the "jobber" status for 205 means that, yes, they are losing, but not without putting up a bit of a fight.

They’ve added an extra wrinkle to the story; might Ali finally get the best of Gulak by using his own ground offense against him? We shall see.

Promo video for Rich Swann

Hey! He’s loves dancing! And having fun! But he also has a tragic past.

Interesting choice of package promo at this stage, as Swann has had plenty of showcasing. The focus on his parents suggest they’re prepping him to be Neville’s next opponent. I’m down with that.

Backstage segment - Rick Swann, Akira Tozawa and… Umm… Titus O’Neill?!?

We join Swann and Tozawa joking in Japanese. I like that. O’Neill clumsily pretends he knows what they’re talking about, before dismissing Swann so he can sweet talk Tozawa into becoming a part of the highly lucrative Titus Brand.

"Turning HA! HA! HA! into CHA! CHA! CHA!, as in cha-ching!" Tozawa looks suitably bemused.

I appreciate this ongoing ‘older wrestlers trying to co-opt’ Tozawa, and Tozawa giving literally no fucks. First Kendrick; now Titus. Jury’s out on this one - Tozawa deserves to be at the top - but a Tozawa/Apollo feud could be interesting. I just don’t want it to last for ten matches please.

Main event time!

TJP vs. Neville for the Cruiserweight Title

Many Mentionables, So Straight Into Thoughts

There were three things that were almost dead certs leading into this match:

1 - Neville would emerge the victor

2 - The lack of clear face/heel alignment made it difficult to truly root for anyone (although we all love Neville, of course)

3 - Both men would put on a damn fine match

And boy howdy did they. The fast-paced, aggressively competitive nature of this long match make the inevitability of the outcome, and the absence of face/heel alignment, a moot point. This was one of 205 Live’s best main events in a long time (the fatal 4-way being the last best, from memory).

TJP’s intro by the ring announcer lead to some fight night boxing weigh-in argy bargy. Pleasing heat early, and instantly created a big fight feel for a match that was set only a day previous.

Love him or hate him (and many are in the latter camp) TJP is an incredible athlete, and his prowess lifts with the quality of his competition. And is doesn’t come much higher than Neville right now.

All these months on, Neville’s anger has not waned, nor become boring. This is mainly because he transfers it to the ring; hitting familiar moves with added bite; walloping his opponent with focused brutality.

But it’s not just that. Whereas heavier-set destroyers like Brock or Braun will simply steamroll through opponents, Neville can make his opponents look fantastic with his A-grade selling.

Just look at the way the man flips and owns the impact of TJP’s corkscrew leg flip, and following dropkick to the knee. It’s Ziggler in his prime without quite going over the top so as to become cartoonish.

And let’s not ignore TJP’s part in this regard. He avoided Neville’s Red Arrow just in the nick of time, greatly increasing the drama and tension of the bout.

Pleasingly, the crowd were eating it up.

That Kid Near The Microphone was at it again, shouting "Neville! You suck!" multiple times. The crowd bellowed in unison "One fall!" when the championship match was announced as such at the beginning. And some distinctively young voices in the crowd even started chanting "T-J-P!" as the match wore on. It all added to the ambience.

Both men brought the fight. The pace - particularly at the beginning and toward the end - was lightning, and the rolling back and forth reversal-on-reversal finish was spot on.

Overall

This was one of the best, most enjoyable Two-Oh-Fives in a long while. Each bout held its own in the ring and pushed forward (if not ended, in Alexander and Dar’s case) their respective stories in a meaningful way.

Dar remains one of the division’s best character performers through and through. Alexander hasn’t lost a step but has found a new aggression/purpose. And the LUMBAR CHECK OUTTA NOWHERE is a very handy beast in have in his canon.

TJP reminds us yes, he’s a bit of a douche, but a damn fine competitor. And Neville remains on another level, putting in one of his best performances since his return.

My only comment in this regard is that, yes, I know Neville is their top guy to be splashed around Raw and their PPVs - and I hope when he eventually drops the belt loooooooong in the future, we see him move on to face bigger guys on the main roster (especially after he cut that magnificent promo on being a cruiserweight in the land of giants during his Sports Illustrated Q&A spot) - but he needs to be featured wrestling more on the purple brand in the meantime. It is always a better show when he is in-ring.

The fact that the crowd were eating everything up - entering an almost Japanese-style crowd at times of silent respect following by joyful cheering - is a solid testament to the fine show put on by all involved. I bet WWE brass are wishing they could bottle this audience for all their shows. I know I wish I could.

Kudos and backslaps to one and all, and here’s to another… (LUMBAR CHECK OUTTA NOWHERE! AND ALLAN’S DOWN! HE’S DONE FOR!)

Grade - A

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Cageside Seats readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cageside Seats editors or staff.