The Cruiserweight Division moves to Wednesdays, and the title is on the line! Will Drew Gulak end the Age of Alexander to bring about his #Better205Live?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• TJP VS Lince Dorado; TJP wins.
• WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Cedric Alexander VS Drew Gulak w/ Jack Gallagher & THE Brian Kendrick; Alexander wins and retains the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

PLAY BY PLAY

We have a Summerslam Rematch tonight!

The Age of Alexander endured stiff punishment from the Philly Fury, but managed to escape with victory. However, Drew Gulak felt he was far more worthy of the title that proves you’re the best Cruiserweight in the world. Gulak claimed Alexander was “lucky”, and demanded a rematch. Drake Maverick considered Gulak’s request, but wanted Gulak to earn his newest chance. The request was denied. This only brought about a quick and brutal #NoTitleNoPeace campaign from the Ungentlemanly Alliance!

Akira Tozawa and Colin Delaney were casualties in the protest, but Alexander would turn things around on Gulak, claiming Gulak was the coward in all of this. Tensions would run high but Gulak would find ways to get the best of the champion. In the end, Maverick would be left with little choice, and would give Gulak his rematch. Can the Cruiserweight Crusader conquer the Age of Alexander? Or will the champion remain undefeated in the year 2018?

TJP VS Lince Dorado!

The “Cruiser-Great” wants opportunities, simply because he’s himself. But just like everyone else, he’ll have to earn an opportunity. Will the FilAm Flash get what he deserves? Or will the Golden Lynx send him to the back of the line?

The bell rings and Lince tests TJP with a handspring. TJP runs into an arm-drag, and Lince starts up “Lucha! Lucha!” chants. They tie up again and TJP knees low. TJP puts on a headlock but Lince powers out. TJP runs Lince over with a shoulder, then runs again. They speed up and Lince arm-drags TJP down. Lince dropkicks TJP, too, then arm-drags him into an armlock. Lince wrenches on the lock as he “Lucha!” chants. TJP reverses with the side winding headscissors. TJP taunts but Lince kicks him! They speed up again and Lince throws TJP with a huricanrana. Tilt-o-whirl backbreaker, and then a whip. TJP goes Spider-Man and shoulders back in. Lince shoulders back but TJP grabs him for a hanging guillotine!

TJP lets go at 4, then climbs up top. He hits a flying crossbody and then throws fast hands. TJP walks to catch his breath, then drags Lince to a corner. TJP grinds his foot in, but backs off at 4. Fans boo and jeer but TJP just soaks it up. Lince chops and haymakers TJP back, then whips. TJP reverses but Lince ducks and springboards, only to get swatted down! Hammerlock and arm yank! TJP sits Lince up to dropkick him down, but fans rally up. TJP drags Lince and scoop slams, then goes out to slingshot senton back in. Cover, ONE, but TJP keeps his cool. Lince fights back with body shots, but TJP suplexes. That’s one amigo, and TJP shifts to a saido suplex for the second amigo. Cover, TWO! TJP keeps on Lince with an armlock. Fans rally up for Lince as he endures.

TJP tortures the wrist, then shifts to a hammerlock and chinlock. Lince stands up and fights out with his other arm. He gets free, but gets caught into a takedown. TJP goes after the legs, and puts Lince in the figure four trap and a butterfly lock. Fans rally up with “Lucha! Lucha!” and Lince feeds off the energy. Lince knees and uppercuts, then runs to kick TJP’s back drop. Lince whips but TJP springboards to forearm smash. TJP handsprings and soaks up the heat. Lince gets to a corner and TJP runs in, but Lince runs out to heel kick! Both men are down but fans rally again. Lince stands but TJP follows. TJP swings but misses, Lince chops TJP sharply! Lince climbs up and crossbodies. He runs in at the corner but TJP puts him on the top rope. Lince kicks TJP away, then hits a flying headscissor!

TJP bails out, but Lince DIVES! The tope suicida almost lives up to its n ame, but Lince is fine. He puts TJP in, climbs up top, SUPER Quebrada! Cover, TWO! Lince can’t believe it, but he still keeps on TJP. He drags him into a drop zone, climbs back up, but TJP trips him up! TJP climbs up to join Lince, but Lince hits back. TJP tumbles down and Lince adjusts, but TJP ducks under. Lince runs into the fireman’s carry but fights out. He blocks all the kicks to SUPERKICK TJP back! TJP sits down in a corner and Lince fires up with the “Lucha! Lucha!” Lince runs in for a big bronco buster! He’s not done there, he dragon sleeper and lifts, but TJP slips out! TJP goes after the mask! He UNMASKS Lince, rolls him up, TJP wins!

Winner: TJP, by pinfall

It seems TJP has no respect for lucha libre as he uses the mask to steal this victory. Sadly, a win is a win. Will TJP use every trick in the book to make himself a two-time Cruiser-Great Champion?

And to add insult to injury, TJP sees Lince’s matraca sitting on the steel steps, and steals it! Lince gives chase, but clearly TJP has no respect for other aspects of the culture.

Drake Maverick watches and is displeased.

The 205 Live GM moves on from this to meeting with Lio Rush. Did Maverick get Lio’s text? Yes, the one about him being unable to compete with Noam Dar tonight due to his manager commitments on Monday Night Raw. Sometimes being a high profile man is both a gift and a curse. Maverick understands, Lio was singing with Elias and doing jumping jacks with Kevin Owens. But as general manager to superstar manager, Maverick says Lio will compete on 205 Live.

Seriously? The Man of the Hour sees Maverick on Raw with the Authors of Pain. Maybe Maverick is just jealous of the 23 year old gold looking like money. Well Lio won’t be making money if he doesn’t compete. And he will compete, next week, against Dar. If not, “there will be consequences.” Lio grins and agrees to the match. He’ll see Maverick and Dar next week, but will he be getting the winner’s purse? Or the loser’s check?

Drake Maverick now meets with Mustafa Ali.

The Heart of 205 Live is hoping for good news. He understands that Maverick wants him to take it easy, and he got that great tune-up. Now he just needs Hideo Itami. Maverick stops Ali there. Maverick watched the tune-up match and compared it to Ali’s match with Itami. Ali falling is hard to forget. The GM has to make unpopular decisions for the sake of the division. But Ali swears he’s good to go! Maverick talked with the medical staff, and yes, Ali gets the green light! Ali VS Itami happens next week! Ali is very thankful, and promises that while Maverick won’t regret this, Itami soon will. Can the Beacon of Light get payback on the Innovator of the GTS?

WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Cedric Alexander VS Drew Gulak w/ Jack Gallagher & THE Brian Kendrick!

The Soul of 205 Live must now face the Brain of 205 Live as he defends his title in the rematch Gulak so expertly manipulated into happening. Can Alexander keep his undefeated-in-2018 streak going? Or will Gulak prove that when you step to him, you will tap out?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin! Alexander has the fans on his side while he circles with Gulak. Gulak is bothered by the chanting, but he grits his teeth as he continues to circle the champ. Kendrick swipes at Alexander, and Gulak goes for the GuLock! Alexander gets to the ropes quick, and Gulak lets him go. Kendrick and Gallagher play innocent, but Alexander circles with Gulak again. Alexander is keeping his eyes on Gallagher & Kendrick even as he ties up with Gulak. He puts Gulak in a corner as fans rally up, but then Gulak comes back out.

They go around, Gulak waistlocks, but Alexander standing switches. Gulak escapes and they circle again. Another tie up and Alexander gets a headlock. Alexander brings Gulak down to the mat, but Gulak powers out. Alexander runs him over with a shoulder, then puts Gulak back in the headlock. Gulak stands up and powers out again, but Alexander runs him over again. Cover, ONE, so it’s back to the headlock. Alexander grinds Gulak down more, but Gulak stands back up. Gulak puts Alexander in a corner, then whips him corner to corner. Alexander goes up and over, headlock takeover, but Gulak prevents a cover. They stand up again, and fans cheer for Alexander.

Gulak fights out and whips. Things speed up and Kendrick trips Alexander! Gulak pleads that things not disqualify the match, and the referee agrees. The referee EJECTS Gallagher & Kendrick! The Ungentle Men argue with it, but Alexander grins and laughs at their major mistake. Alexander then handsprings, headscissors and dropkicks Gulak down! Cover, ONE. Alexander keeps on Gulak with a chop, then another. Gulak walks to another corner but Alexander throws haymakers. Alexander bumps Gulak off buckles, then more buckles. He snapmares Gulak and dropkicks him in the head. Cover, ONE, but Alexander keeps his cool.

Alexander has the armlock, and fans still cheer him on. Gulak gets a ropebreak with his foot, so Alexander lets him go. Alexander comes back to wrench the arm, then kneels on it. Alexander “applauds” Gulak before stomping the arm! He wrenches the arm again, and traps it in a standing hammerlock, to fall back and tweak it! Gulak gets to ropes but Alexander is on him with a shoulder breaker. Alexander whips Gulak corner to corner, but Gulak reverses. Alexander slips out, forearms Gulak, but his step-in shot gets caught into an exploder!

Both men are down, but Gulak grits his teeth as he stands up. Gulak looms over Alexander, and stomps his stomach. He stomps more, then sits Alexander up to kick him. Gulak goes after Alexander’s arm now, but fans rally up for the champ. Alexander feeds off the energy and arm-drags, only for Gulak to arm-drag Alexander back down. Gulak grinds his knee into Alexander’s head and clamps onto Alexander’s shoulder. Alexander kcisk back with his legs but Gulak drops an elbow on the arm. Alexander chops back, but Gulak elbows him again. Gulak gives springboard stomps now, keeping Alexander down. Gulak drags Alexander up to then put him in a corner. He chops Alexander now, but Alexander boots back. Alexander runs but into a back elbow! Cover, ONE, but Gulak is right on Alexander with a chinlock.

Gulak grinds Alexander down, but fans rally up. Alexander works his way up, and jawbreakers! Gulak knees back but Alexander blocks the suplex. Alexander fights back and suplexes them both out, to land on his feet and suplex Gulak again! Both men are down but the fans are fired up. The referee checks on both men but they’re okay to continue. Alexander sits up first as the 10 count begins. Gulak follows as the count reaches 8. Both men enter at 9.5! Alexander grins, he’s actually enjoying this. They start brawling, and Alexander blocks to counter forearm. Alexander runs and runs Gulak over with lariats. He whips but Gulak reverses, only for Alexander to dropkick the legs out. Gulak hits buckles, but then Alexander kicks him back in from the outside! Alexander springboards for the clothesline! Cover, TWO! Alexander is shocked that Gulak survives.

Fans rally up and Alexander fires up. Alexander brings Gulak up, lifts, inside cradle! TWO, and handspring to Neuralizer! Gulak falls out of the ring, Alexander runs, and FLIES! Air Alexander hits! Alexander puts Gulak in, climbs back in, but ends up in a GuLOCK! Gulak has the body scissors but Alexander pops out to get the ropebreak. Gulak lets Alexander go, but the sleeper took a lot out of him. Fans rally as Gulak drags Alexander up for a big clothesline! Cover, TWO! Gulak drags Alexander back up, scoop slams him down, then says “For a better 205 Live, punk!” Another scoop slam, and Gulak is feeling good. Gulak drags Alexander up but Alexander slips out to shove. Alexander jumps over, sits down on the cover, TWO! Another clobbering clothesline! Cover, TWO!! Gulak was so close, but still so far from winning.

Fans continue to cheer Alexander while Buddy Murphy watches back stage. Gulak clubs Alexander out to the apron. He drags Alexander back up, and dragon sleepers on the ropes! Alexander fights out with uppercuts, then swing kicks. Gulak stays up, but Alexander sunset flips. Gulak rolls through but Alexander slips out of the bomb to Michinoku Driver! Cover, TWO!! Alexander is shocked that Gulak survives. Another 10 count begins, and Alexander drags himself to ropes. Gulak pursues at a crawl, but Alexander stands. Alexander chops Gulak, but Gulak eggs him on. Alexander chops him again, but Gulak wants more. They stand and Alexander gives another chop. Alexander says THIS is for 205 Live as he chops Gulak even harder.

Alexander whips corner to corner but Gulak tumbles to the apron. Gulak forearms Alexander back, then decides to go up top!? He never does this! But for the title, he hits a flying clothesline! Cover, TWO!! The title means this much to both men, that Gulak will do what he rejects. Gulak goes back to his real game as he slaps Alexander around. Alexander gets up but ends up in a GuLOCK! Alexander resists as fans rally for him. He rolls around and goes for ropes again, but Gulak drags him BACK in! Alexander gets back out of the body scissors, to then hoist Gualk up in the fireman’s carry, and Death Valley Drive Gulak into buckles! Both men are down but fans love it.

Alexander stirs as the 10 count passes 5. Gulak follows and gets to the opposite side. They both stare down from across the way, and run in for double boots! Alexander swings but Gulak SLAPS and SLAPS! Gulak wants another but gets an elbow! Alexander lifts, Lumbar Check!! Cover, Alexander wins!!

Winner: Cedric Alexander, by pinfall; still WWE Cruiserweight Champion

Still undefeated in 2018, still champion of 205 Live! Alexander proves he is worthy of being champion, but he won’t have long to rest. Super Show Down is on the horizon, and Buddy Murphy waits to be back home in Melbourne.

Backstage interview with Buddy Murphy.

Now we know it will be Alexander VS Murphy once again. What are Murphy’s thoughts of getting his rematch in his home turf? First, Murphy congratulates Alexander’s impressive victory and winning streak. But what will be more impressive is Alexander’s reign “crashing down upon my feet.” Alexander is the champ, but people watch 205 Live for Murphy. Melbourne’s own will become the next champion, and then all of 205 Live will be Murphy’s. Will the Age of Alexander survive its second encounter with the Cruiserweight Juggernaut? Or will Murphy’s Law crush the Soul of 205 Live?

My Thoughts:

A great episode for 205 Live, even though it’s not aired live anymore. It’s still recorded live after SmackDown and now the Mixed Match Challenge, which is not what I expected or hoped for. I was hoping they’d put this at Full Sail or a smaller venue arena, but perhaps that was too soon for this first week. Maybe next week, as we get two great grudge matches, we’ll have a properly energized audience. That aside, I did like TJP VS Lince, they were evenly matched. TJP gets some major Heel heat for pulling that mask all the way off Lince’s head. And it’s great for the members of Lucha House Party to be doing singles matches with other superstars. Murphy is busy with Super Show Down, so maybe the tag team action returns in October.

That Cruiserweight Championship match was PPV worthy, both men were so familiar with each other and even still Gulak found ways to come within moments of winning. I was hoping Gulak would surprise us by winning and then we get a slightly different take on Face VS Heel at Super Show Down. Now it looks that Murphy might lose as Alexander’s winning streak is likely to continue. That’s still pretty great, though, because not since Neville have we had a champion who for whatever reason could not be beat. And for those wondering why Alexander was wearing a Harley Quinn inspired costume, that’s because his wife, Ariel Monroe, was essentially a female Joker for her Mae Young Classic match. They make for a great couple, I can’t wait to see them team up.

My Score: 8.5/10