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OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Tony Nese VS Mark Andrews; Andrews wins.
• Fatal 4 Way: TJP VS Akira Tozawa VS Kalisto VS Buddy Murphy; Murphy wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

205 Live GM Drake Maverick gives four superstars a major opportunity.

Tonight’s Fatal 4 Way is not a direct #1 Contender’s match, but it will give the FilAm Flash, the Stamina Monster, the Lucha Dragon and the Best Kept Secret a chance to win over as many fans as they can. Akira Tozawa declares that he’ll “fire” the others, while Kalisto promises to show the others how #LuchaHouseParty gets down. TJP knows it’s anything goes, and he has the right mix of submissions, strikes and speed to be a human Rubik’s Cube. Buddy Murphy admits he didn’t win the tournament, but he won’t stop until he wins the title, and will run over anyone in his way. Who will back up their words with a win?

Drake Maverick joins commentary.

The man formerly known as Rockstar Spud reminds us all that the Fatal 4 Way isn’t about impressing him, but impressing all of the WWE Universe, especially the fans live in the arena. “The best Cruiserweight competition in the world” is right here, and Maverick wants the world to know it.

Tony Nese VS Mark Andrews!

Neither the Premier Athlete or the High-Fiving, Stage-Diving Welshman are going to Wrestlemania to fight for the title, and that’s because of the Philly Fury, Drew Gulak. Gulak brutalized both of them during the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, so they both want payback. Therefore, Maverick states that this match will determine who gets their shot at revenge first!

The bell rings, Andrews and Nese circle and tie up. Nese gets the waistlock and slam, then flexes at Andrews. They circle again, Andrews slips around to a waistlock and headlock takedown, but Nese keeps it from being a cover. Nese headscissors Andrews, squeezing tight. Andrews bridges and turns to headstand, but Nese uses that to short-driver Andrews’ head into the mat. Nese keeps on Andrews with a headlock, grinding him down. Andrews powers out but Nese runs him over! Nese runs, things speed up, and nese blocks the hip toss, but Andrews lands on his feet through the snapmare. They speed up again, Andrews arm-drags Nese into an armlock! Drew Gulak watches from backstage as Nese works his way up to his feet.

Nese lifts Andrews and puts him into a corner, and instead of honoring the break, he rams in a shoulder. He whips Andrews corner to corner, but Andrews reverses, only to run into Nese’s back elbow. Andrews runs in but Nese jumps back and over! Nese uses a handspring to dodge the lariat, then mule kicks and knee lifts and roundhouses Andrews, but Andrews jumps over the sweep to arm-drag Nese. Andrews tries another, but Nese blocks with power, so Andrews goes around and arm-drags the other way. They keep moving, Nese sunset flips but Andrews back flips to a dropkick. Cover, ONE, but Andrews keeps his cool.

Nese goes to a corner, and Andrews runs in, but Nese catches him and puts him on the top rope. The referee calls for a break, Nese backs off only to rush in, but Andrews boots him back to then throw him with a flying headscissors! Nese rolls out of the ring, Andrews builds speed, but Nese intercepts with a big back elbow! Cover, TWO, but Nese keeps on Andrews with a stomp. He grinds his knee into Andrews in a corner, but backs off at 4. Andrews tries to fight back but Nese keeps on him. Nese whips Andrews corner to corner hard, and taunts him to get up. He drags Andrews to a cover, TWO. Nese puts Andrews in the bodyscissors and squeezes him again.

Andrews works to pry his way out as fans rally. He pushes back to a cover, TWO, and Nese keeps on the squeeze. Andrews pushes back again, TWO, and Andrews is free. Nese pushes him away, then runs to kitchen sink knee Andrews down! Cover, TWO, but Nese returns to the squeeze with a rear bearhug. Andrew endures the squeeze, and elbows Nese in the head and neck. The fans rally and Andrews stands up to elbow more, but Nese throws him into a corner. Nese runs back in but into Andrew’s elbow. Nese staggers, then runs into another elbow from Andrews. Andrews sticks out a boot but Nese catches it, so Andrews enziguris Nese instead! Nese leans on the ropes and Andrews runs at him for a take on the 619, followed up with a slingshot into a wheelbarrow, and then the bulldog!

Nese ends up in a corner again, Andrews runs in for double knees. Andrews whips Nese corner to corner but Nese reverses. Andrews goes up, quebrada blocked, but Andrews uses the swing to hit a DDT! Cover, TWO! Nese rolls out of the ring again, and Andrews gets to the corner for the Moonsault!

Down goes Nese! The fans applaud as Andrews fires up. He puts Nese back in the ring, then climbs up high, but Nese trips him up. Andrews ends up sideways, Nese hits him with the top shelf kick to fireman’s carry and gutbuster! Cover, TWO, and Nese can’t believe it. He stomps in frustration, covers, TWO. Nese keeps going, whips Andrews into a big lariat, and cover, TWO. The frustration boils up in Nese as he brings Andrews up. Andrews fights back with right hands and chops, but Nese puts him on the apron. Nese kicks and sweeps the legs, Andrews hits the apron before hitting the floor. Nese builds speed, slides out and rocks Andrews with a roaring left elbow! Fans applaud as Nese looks around with wild eyes.

Nese drags Andrews up leans him against the apron to give him a sharp chop. They go back in the ring, Nese taking his time. He slingshots and triangle moonsaults, but misses as Andrews rolls out of the way! Nese still gets up first, but Andrews unleashes a loud overhand chop! Andrews chops more, then dodges to unleash a flurry of chops and clubbing forearms! Nese shoves Andrews away for another rocking left! Nese runs, but into the enziguri! Andrews goes to run but Nese uses tights to reel him in, TWO but Nese deadlifts Andrews with one arm, only for Andrews to counter with a victory roll! Then double stomps, aka Stomp 182! Cover, TWO, and Andrews is shocked while Maverick likes what he sees.

The two men are down, but Nese heads for ropes. Andrews stands up first and walks over to Nese. He whips but Nese slips under for the pumphandle lift, but Andrews counters the slam with Stun-Dog Millionaire!

Andrews keeps going, as he climbs up to the top rope. He takes aim, and Shooting Star!

Cover, Andrews wins!

Winner: Andrews, by pinfall

#Mandrews wins, and Maverick is very impressed. Gulak is still watching, so he knows he’ll have to face the human rocket rockstar again in the near future. Andrews walks over to Maverick at the announce desk and confirms he wants his match. Maverick shakes his hand, the deal is made! Maverick promises that next week will have the rematch of Andrews VS Gulak, “he deserves it, lads.” Will Andrews get high-flying revenge on the gritty grappler?

Backstage interview with Drew Gulak.

What are his thoughts on having a rematch with Mark Andrews? Well it’s Mark Andrews. “He’s a tremendous high-flyer”, but why is he on 205 Live? Gulak admits he may have “hurt his feelings” when he held onto the hold too long, but that was a statement to Mark Andrews. And as a statement to all of 205 Live, Gulak declares himself “the best submission specialist in the WWE.” It isn’t about defeat, but about giving up, and if someone steps to Gulak, “you will tap out.” Gulak is ready to make Andrews suffer the same fate he did during the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, but how much will he make Andrews just plain suffer?

Drake Maverick has an exclusive interview with the Wrestlemania Cruiserweight Championship contenders.

The GM of 205 Live sits with Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali, two friends who find themselves fighting for the same title. Not only that, but this will be the first Wrestlemania match for both men. Alexander can’t believe that only one year ago, they were both watching Wrestlemania 33 in a skybox. Ali agrees, this is wild as they are competing for the title as friends. Both men are Cruiserweight Classic and 205 Live originals, and therefore have similar journeys to this point. Did they ever think it’d lead her? Alexander did, but to think it’s this soon and against Mustafa Ali. They’ll compete for the top prize in 205 Live in front of 70 thousand at least. Friends, family, and Alexander’s daughter, Alexander wants to win and make them proud.

Wait, what was that last part? Making them proud with a win? That usually doesn’t happen, though. What’s Ali getting at? It’s just that, Alexander has had chances, but they’ve never gone his way. He isn’t being disrespectful, but the “beautiful story” of the last few months always ends short. Ali has his own story, his own daughter to make proud of him. That 70,000 will have their loved ones and their haters, and Ali and Alexander will tear the house down. But Ali says, “the story ends with this Cruiserweight Championship high over my head.” So Alexander should ask himself, what is he willing to do to change that?

Alexander is actually glad Ali feels that way, and admits he really felt that coming from the heart. But what he’s willing to do is risk his body, his livelihood, to become champion. He’ll even “stomp out the heart of 205 Live”. Ali leans in close, and says that’s exactly what Alexander will have to do to stop him. They shake hands, still friends in this moment. But will that all be torn up and stomped out once the bell rings?

Fatal 4 Way: TJP VS Akira Tozawa VS Kalisto VS Buddy Murphy!

These four men, though they fell short of the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Finals and a Wrestlemania match, can still win themselves a chance at the title. But not with just a win, but with something that strongly impresses both Drake Maverick and the WWE Universe. What will it take for the “Cruiser-Great”, Mr. High Tension, the King of Flight and the Daredevil from Down Under to not only win, but win over the fans?

The bell rings, and “AH! AH!” echoes out from the crowd. Kalisto goes right at Tozawa, very different from when these two were the “calmer heads” in the tense stand-off last week. Murphy goes over and throws Kalisto off Tozawa, then when Tozawa rushes him, Murphy just tosses Tozawa back into the corner. Kalisto throws Murphy out and grapples with Tozawa again while TJP watches. Kalisto whips Tozawa at TJP but Tozawa ducks TJP’s clothesline, then Kalisto ducks TJP’s chop to dropkick Tozawa right out of the ring. TJP tries to take advantage, but Kalisto already springboard sentons onto Tozawa!

Kalisto takes out Tozawa, and TJP finds himself alone in the ring. TJP takes it easy, but Murphy returns and drags TJP up by his hair! TJP turns around to catch Murphy in the twisting headscissors takedown, but Murphy pops right out. Murphy gets the headlock, TJP powers out but Murphy speeds up to headscissor TJP out. TJP tumbles to the floor and Murphy builds speed, but Kalisto returns to springboard corkscrew into him! Murphy slips out of the ring but Tozawa slips back in, and he rolls Kalisto up. Kalisto rolls through but Tozawa sweeps the legs and hits the screaming back senton. Cover, ONE, and Murphy returns to go after Tozawa.

Murphy scoops, Tozawa slips out, but TJP clobbers Tozawa, and wants Murphy to wait a moment. TJP wants Murphy to understand he helped Murphy with Tozawa. TJP throws Tozawa out to make it more clear. Then he wants to work together with Murphy on Kalisto. He offers a handshake, but Murphy doesn’t trust it, so TJP drags Kalisto up in suplex position. Murphy’s no stranger to being in a team, and accepts the favor from TJP, only for TJP to club Murphy in the back mid-suplex. TJP kicks Murphy and Kalisto down, then stomps a mudhole into Murphy. TJP climbs up to get the high ground as he grinds a foot into Murphy’s head and chest. The inaugural (New Era) Cruiserweight Champion embraces the heat before bumping Murphy off a post.

Murphy tumbles down to the ground while TJP drop toeholds Tozawa into the deathlock. TJP dabs, but Kalisto runs in! But TJP is able to catch Kalisto into an Abdominal Stretch, and TJP holds two holds at once!

The fans rally for Kalisto and Tozawa as they endure. Kalisto fights out, but TJP still has Tozawa. TJP wants him to wait, but Kalisto takes advantage of this 2-for-1 as he chops TJP down, which adds torque to Tozawa’s legs. Kalisto brings TJP up again, to chop him down and bend Tozawa’s legs again. The “Lucha! Lucha!” chant begins as TJP stands up again, Kalisto chops him at third time for a third 2-for-1! He wants a fourth, but TJP reverses him into a Northern Lights and bridge, for a pin on Kalisto and torque on Tozawa!

TWO, and TJP lets go of both. The fans applaud even as TJP scrapes Kalisto out of the ring. However, Murphy returns, and TJP wants him to calm down. Murphy doesn’t, he just rallies with clotheslines and a hip toss neckbreaker. Murphy runs and runs TJP over with a calf kick! The fans fire up with Murphy as he clotheslines TJP out. Kalisto returns, Murphy throws him out. Murphy throws Kalisto into barriers, then goes to Tozawa and bumps him off the announce desk. Murphy goes after TJP with a right hand then a bump off the apron, and gives Kalisto a stiff right forearm. He throws Tozawa into barriers then elbows TJP away, but then runs into a double hip toss from Tozawa and Kalisto that sends him into barriers!

Tozawa and Kalisto argue, they don’t like working together. But then TJP comes over and they double mule kick him. Kalisto puts TJP in the ring but Tozawa keeps Kalisto from entering the ring. Kalisto returns the favor, but TJP gets Kalisto with a clothesline. TJP drags Kalisto around by the legs but Tozawa returns. TJP kicks him low, and lifts Tozawa into the Gory Stretch, while still getting Kalisto into the Mexican surfboard!

Tozawa pops out and sunset flips, but TJP rolls through to get the Cloverleaf! Murphy returns and boots TJP right down. Kalisto springboards and kicks Murphy down, then speeds up for the tilt-o-whirl satellite DDT! Tozawa stands up and watches Kalisto, to rock him with the windmill enziguri! All four men are down but the fans are loving it! The fans duel, “Lucha! Lucha!” “AH! AH!”, but TJP is the first one to stand up. TJP gets to a corner, though he flounders back down. The others stir and crawl, and Tozawa hears the “AH! AH!” He stands up and goes after TJP with a stiff forearm. Tozawa whips TJP corner to corner but TJP uses that to swing out and wrecking ball dropkick Murphy down. Tozawa boots TJP off the apron, then builds speed to DIVE!

The Tozawa Torpedo takes out TJP! But then Kalisto takes aim and springboards to wipe them both out!

Wait, Murphy is stirring. He gets up, builds speed, and even Murphy FLIES!

Murphy wipes all three opponents out, but even himself as he tumbles to the ramp. The referee checks on all four men, and they all seem fit to continue. Murphy drags Kalisto up and into the ring, then heads for the top rope. He takes aim, but Tozawa trips him up! Murphy tumbles down again, and Tozawa climbs up as fans shout “AH! AH!” Tozawa takes aim, but Kalisto trips him up. Kalisto climbs up to join Tozawa, clubbing him as he prepares the superplex, but TJP comes in to add on. Kalisto fights TJP off, but TJP yanks him off the ropes. TJP puts Kalisto in the surfboard, but Tozawa adjusts on the top rope. Murphy returns, and goes for a cover, but Tozawa jumps!!

Tozawa’s SUPER SENTON crashes through the triple decker of opponents! He covers Murphy, TWO!! Somehow Murphy survives, and all four men are down, but the fans declare “This is Awesome!” Everyone slowly stirs, but Tozawa is the first to stand up. He chops Murphy, then again, then again. Tozawa fires up, fakes the chop to get the jab! Murphy staggers, but Tozawa brings him up again, only for Murphy to fire back his own strike fest, ending in the big knee lift. Tozawa falls into a corner, Kalisto runs at Murphy. Murphy back suplexes him but Kalisto slips out, only for TJP to catch him in a waistlock. Kalisto kicks Murphy to kickstart the Salida Del Sol on TJP! But then Tozawa Penalty Kicks Kalisto away from the cover! Tozawa covers, but Kalisto barely breaks it in time!

Kalisto and Tozawa glare at each other while the fans repeat, “This is Awesome!” They argue, “What’re you doing?” and then they brawl! Murphy comes in and clotheslines Tozawa out, then dumps Kalisto out onto him. TJP brings Murphy down into the Kneebar! TJP grapevines, Murphy endures but can’t get to ropes. Murphy flails and reaches, Tozawa and Kalisto stand up and hesitate as they look at each other and what’s going on. They both drag TJP off his hold, and start throwing hands on him. Murphy gets up, and slinghots over for a corkscrew! TJP avoids the hit but Murphy still wipes out Tozawa and Kalisto. Murphy gets back in the ring, but right into the fireman’s carry! He slips out, waistlock and lift but TJP victory rolls, TWO! TJP springboards, but into the pumphandle and MURPHY’S LAW!

Murphy wins!!

Winner: Murphy, by pinfall

The Best Kept Secret defeats three former Cruiserweight Champions! Not because he was bigger, not because he was stronger, but because he was hungrier. Tozawa and Kalisto glare at each other, as if to put blame on the other, but that doesn’t take away from the Aussie Action Hero’s heroic performance. Murphy may not officially be a #1 contender, but a win of this level has to earn him some major points with Drake Maverick and the fans. Will Murphy make the full move up from NXT to become the Cruiserweight Division’s Best Kept Secret?

My Thoughts:

What an incredible night for 205 Live, even with only two matches on the card. Nese VS Andrews was a great opener, their contrast of styles and personalities was a good parallel for setting up another Andrews VS Gulak match. Andrews having crossover work with the Cruiserweight Division is good for him individually while WWE works things out with the UK Division. In the miraculous possibility WWE opens up all the men’s divisions to such crossover, Andrews can position himself perfectly as a dual Cruiserweight-UK superstar. However, there’s a chance Gulak will go over again to keep himself strong as a 205 Live original. The exclusive face-to-face of Alexander & Ali was good, though the delivery of the lines could’ve been better. But the message was clear, Ali and Alexander are both ready to go above and beyond, and maybe even Heel, if it means becoming champion.

Speaking of above and beyond, I knew the Fatal 4 would be good, but I didn’t think it’d be amazing. There was great story as Kalisto and Tozawa flip a switch and get much more personal. There was great innovation, especially in connection to TJP with his simultaneous holds and all that. Creativity was off the charts, especially spot of the week, Tozawa crashing through a floating surfboard pin. Naturally, Tozawa and Kalisto cancel each other out as they and their teams have a story towards the coming Cruiserweight Tag Division. What surprised me was that Murphy won, when I expected it to be TJP. TJP is Heel, Alexander and Ali are both Faces, and WWE’s usual formula is Face VS Heel. Murphy winning as an apparent Face either means WWE is loosening up on that formula, or someone is turning Heel. Either way, way to go, Murphy.

My Score: 8.5/10