There is a NEW Cruiserweight Champion, and he is the Premier Athlete! Who will Tony Nese’s first challenger be in this post-Wrestlemania phase?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Jack Gallagher w/ Drew Gulak VS Humberto Carrillo; Carrillo wins, by disqualification.
• WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Tony Nese VS Buddy Murphy; Nese wins and retains the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

PLAY BY PLAY

WrestleMania saw a NEW Cruiserweight Champion rise up!

The Premier Athlete was raring for a revenge victory over the Australian Juggernaut. Tony Nese knew Buddy Murphy’s confidence as the “best Cruiserweight of all time” would be his downfall, but in the end, it was Nese’s own combination of strength, speed and resilience that stopped the unstoppable. 15 years in professional wrestling finally pays off, and Nese now reigns over 205 Live! But how long will this dream come true truly last?

Jack Gallagher w/ Drew Gulak VS Humberto Carrillo!

Gentleman Jack has the Philly Fury by his side as he takes on their young protege! The Submission Commission wasn’t happy that Ultimo Ninja didn’t listen to them in their Six Man Tag against Lucha House Party, but Carrillo wasn’t happy they wouldn’t let him do things his way. Is this the partnership breaking down already? Or just a competitive way to settle their differences?

Gulak joins commentary to give a reluctant congratulation to Tony Nese while plugging his performance at Wrestlemania Axxess’ Worlds Collide events, as will be seen on the WWE Network in the coming weeks. But that aside, Gulak applauds Gallagher as he circles with Carrillo. They tie up and Gallagher wristlocks. Carrillo reverses but Gallagher gives it back. Gallagher brings Carrillo to the mat but Carrillo nips up to wrench Gallagher down. Carrillo armlocks Gallagher but Gallagher gets a leg takedown. Gallagher wrenches the leg in a standing toehold, then steps on Carrillo for a cover. ONE as Carrillo gets a shoulder up. Gallagher trees again, ONE. Gallagher tries again, but Carrillo monkey flips him off. Carrillo rolls but Gallagher gives the monkey flip, only for Carrillo to land on his feet.

Brooklyn applauds and things speed up. Carrillo shows off his agility and fans applaud more. Gulak insists he isn’t trying to change Carrillo, he just wants to mold him into his style. Carrillo chops Gallagher and goes acrobatic but Gallagher yanks him off for a snake eyes on ropes! Cover, TWO! Gallagher wrenches Carrillo’s neck with a chinbar and drives an elbow into Carrillo’s face. Fans rally up as Carrillo endures an armlock, but Gallagher scrapes Carrillo’s face. Gallagher drags Carrillo up but Carrillo throws hands and kicks! Gallagher hits Carrillo back and to a corner. The referee counts but Gallagher throws hands until 4. Fans cheer even as Gallagher stomps Carrillo.

Carrillo kicks and haymakers back but Gallagher grabs a leg. Gallagher trips Carrillo for leg hooks and stomps! Carrillo clutches the knees, Gallagher covers, TWO! Gallagher covers again, TWO! He tries a third, TWO! Gallagher grabs a leg and fans duel as Carrillo endures. Carrillo fights his way up and throws hands again! Carrillo runs but Gallagher dropkicks him down! Cover, TWO! Gallagher keeps on Carrillo with a rain of rights and Gulak cheers him on. Fans cheer for Gallagher and he waves to them before dropping an elbow. Gallagher drags Carrillo up but Carrillo blocks the suplex. Carrillo cradle counters, TWO!! Gallagher runs Carrillo over, covers, TWO! Gallagher drags Carrillo up for a neck wrench then another face scrape.

The referee reprimands Gallagher but Gallagher just grimaces as he stalks Carrillo. Gallagher puts Carrillo in an armlock but fans rally up. Carrillo fights his way up and throws hands. Gallagher knees low then suplexes, but Carillo lands on his feet to throw more haymakers. Gallagher rocks Carrillo with a forearm! He whips but Carrillo ddodges in the corner. Gallagher lands on his feet and puts Carrillo on the apron but gets a rocking right! Carrillo climbs and leaps for a big crossbody! He bounces off but dropkicks Gallagher all the way out. Fans fire up as Carrillo builds speed to FLY! Direct hit takes Gallagher down! Gulak grows further upset that Carrillo doesn’t stay safe and sound with feet on the ground.

Carrillo puts Gallagher in but Gulak distracts with his “advice.” Carrillo just brushes him off and climbs up again. He hits Gallagher away then leaps again for a missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Gallagher survives but Carrillo keeps on him. Gulak can barely watch as Carrillo pushes and kicks Gallagher. Carrillo runs but Gallagher goes sideways for a forearm. Gallagher runs but into kicks from Carrillo! Gallagher goes down and Carrillo handsprings for a Japanese arm-drag! Carrillo hurries up top as Gulak continues to “advise” him. Gulak has had enough, and he SHOVES Carrillo!

Winner: Humberto Carrillo, by disqualification

Gulak glares at Carrillo as he steps into the ring. He drags Carrillo up to slap and stomp Carrillo around! He even rains down rights! Gulak tells Carrillo he needs to learn a lesson and listen to him. Gulak then clobbers Carrillo with a clothesline! But Gallagher stops Gulak from hitting Carrillo more? And he headbutts Gulak, too!? Is this Gallagher choosing young Ultimo Ninja over his fellow Cruiserweight crusader?

Buddy Murphy speaks.

“Tony, I asked for a challenge, and you gave me that challenge.” Nese managed to stop the unstoppable. But Murphy vows to show he’s still the greatest of all time! And he’ll do it by taking that title back.

But Tony Nese has a response.

“Wrestlemania was the greatest day of my life.” He achieved a childhood dream, in his hometown and in front of family and friends. Nese dreamed of this for 15 years, so Murphy can say whatever he wants, but he’s never taking this from Nese. Nese is proud to be a fighting champion, and for the second time in a row, he will stop the unstoppable. We’ll see which man backs up his word, because that Wrestlemania Rematch is next!

Drake Maverick meets with Oney Lorcan.

As they discussed, Lorcan is ready to rise in the Cruiserweight Division. But then Cedric Alexander surprises both of them. Maverick explains he was meeting with Lorcan, but Alexander understands that. This meeting has to be about the rematch between Alexander and Lorcan, so instead of having two meetings, Alexander decided to join this one. Yes, the rematch is coming next week. Alexander goes to leave but Lorcan wants to tell him why he came back. Alexander doesn’t care, but Lorcan says he should. Lorcan notes how Alexander talked about Lorcan one day being the top of this Division, after Alexander leaves. Well the saying is “You’ve got to beat the man to be the man.” And that’s what Lorcan vows to do. Alexander dares him to try it. Who will be the man on 205 Live after next week?

WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Tony Nese VS Buddy Murphy!

The Body Guys are no longer friends, and the Juggernaut is no longer champion! But will he get back on track by becoming a two-time champion? Or will the Premier Athlete become the first man to stop Murphy twice?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and this Wrestlemania Rematch begins!

Murphy and Nese circle as fans duel. Nese and Murphy tie up and go around, but then break and back off. Murphy and Nese make sure the other hears the fans cheering for them, then they circle and tie up again. Murphy puts Nese in a corner but Nese powers his way out. Nese ends up in another corner but he turns it around on Murphy. The ref counts and Nese gives a clean break. But Murphy shoves him so Nese shoves back. Murphy puts on a headlock but Nese powers out. Murphy runs him over and covers, ONE, but it’s right back to the headlock. Fans hoop and holler while dueling. Nese back suplexes but Murphy lands on his feet to headlock again. Nese powers out and things speed up, Nese elbows Murphy down! Cover, ONE! Fans applaud as Nese taunts the “unstoppable”.

They circle and tie up again, and Murphy puts Nese in a corner. Nese turns it but Murphy turns it back, and they end up in the opposite corner. The ref wants them to break but Nese shoves Murphy back into the corner. Nese lets up but Murphy rocks him with a right! Murphy whips but Nese elbows from the corner. Nese hops up and flips but Murphy gets under. Murphy swings but Nese goes Matrix to mule kick, knee lift and sweep! Cover, TWO! Nese keeps his cool as he brings Murphy up. He bumps Murphy on buckles then more buckles. Nese fires up with Brooklyn as he counter punches, but then he runs into a boot. Murphy goes up and over but his knee gives out! Murphy clutches the leg as he gets to a corner. Nese thinks he’s faking because Murphy’s done this to others.

The referee keeps Nese back while he checks on Murphy on the outside. Nese isn’t sure what to make of it as Murphy sits on the apron. Fans rally up to try and will Murphy back into this. Murphy slides back in, and attacks Nese from behind! He throws him into the post! Murphy was faking after all! The referee reprimands Murphy but fans applaud the cleverness. Murphy pursues and throws Nese into barriers! Then he puts Nese in for a cover, TWO! Nese rolls out so Murphy scrapes him out. Murphy drags Nese up and throws him into barriers by the timekeeper’s area! Murphy drags Nese up again, and tosses him over the announce desk! Fans duel as Nese and Murphy are right in front of them while the ring count climbs. The count passes 5 but Murphy puts Nese in at 8 to keep this match going.

Murphy aims from a corner and runs out, knee trigger! Cover, TWO! Murphy grows annoyed but fans rally for tough Tony Nese. Murphy drags Nese up and running suplexes! Cover, TWO! Nese crawls and rolls to ropes but Murphy pursues. Murphy drags Nese up to a corner for buckle bumps. Murphy stomps a mudhole and throws hands but Nese grits his teeth. Fans duel as Murphy brings Nese up, but Nese rocks him with a left! Nese and Murphy stagger but Nese bobs ‘n’ weaves with Murphy. Murphy staggers but tosses Nese out. Murphy then builds speed to FLY! Direct hit wipes Nese out, and Murphy gets Nese up and in. Murphy hurries to a corner and the top rope, Meteora! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer Nese’s resilience because “This is Awesome!”

Murphy wraps Nese up in a chinlock and leans on Nese. Nese endures the squeeze and the weight, and gets a second wind as fans rally up. Murphy becomes a backpack but Nese uses that strength to power Murphy to the buckles. Nese is free but Murphy boots him back. Murphy hops up and brings Nese in, tornado hotshot! Murphy climbs up again but Nese SHORYUKENS Murphy all the way down! Fans lose their minds over Murphy’s crash landing. The ring count returns and reaches 5 before Murphy gets on the apron again. Murphy anchors Nese’s legs but Nese drops a leg drop! Nese builds speed and FLIES on his own now! A direct hit takes Murphy out and Nese picks Murphy up. Fans chant for “205! 205!” but then Nese reconsiders, and throws Murphy into the barriers! And into more barriers!

Nese refreshes the count and fires up with Brooklyn. Murphy runs into the ring but Nese grabs him. Murphy shoves Nese back but Nese sends Murphy into the desk. And then over it! That’s for earlier! Nese rains down lefts for himself while fans duel. Nese finally puts Murphy into the ring then climbs up top. Murphy intercepts but Nese shoves him away. But Murphy’s right back! Nese fights out, PELE! Nese hops up, SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO!! Murphy lives but Nese keeps his cool. Nese goes to Murphy but Murphy puts him on the apron. Murphy elbows Nese then drags him back up. But Nese trips Murphy up and roundhouses him! Murphy hangs from the ropes, Nese triangle moonsaults! Cover, TWO!! Murphy survives again and Nese grows frustrated.

Fans know “This is Wrestling!” but this is also far from over. Nese drags Murphy up and whips him, but Murphy holds the ropes. Nese rocks Murphy with a mule kick then whips again, but Murphy reverses. But Nese slides under and pump handle drivers! Cover, TWO!! Murphy survives yet again but Nese just keeps on him. Nese stands Murphy up and puts him on the top rope. Nese climbs to join him, but Murphy slips out and tucks Nese in, SUPERKICK! Then sit-out powerbomb! Cover, TWO!! Now Nese survives but Murphy is too sore to be frustrated. Fans are still fired up as Murphy stalks Nese to a corner. Murphy brings Nese up with double wristlocks, but Nese blocks the Juggernaut Knee! Murphy slaps Nese but Nese SLAPS Murphy! Then he snap suplexes Murphy into the corner! Nese runs side to side but into a waistlock!

Murphy has Nese on the apron fast, and wants a German Suplex! Nese fights him off but Murphy boots him back. Murphy boots again, then gets space, for a LEAPING knee trigger! Both men fall to the floor but the fans fire up more. Murphy stands first and drags Nese’s dead weight around. Murphy then eyes the desk, and fans like where he’s going with this. Commentary anticipates this as Murphy drags Nese over. Murphy prepares a bomb but Nese is just out. The referee checks but Nese is somehow okay to continue. The count is at 5 as Murphy lifts Nese again. Murphy has to refresh the count before it hits 10, but then he turns around into a back drop onto the desk!! Fans lose their minds again as both men are down on the outside. The referee checks on them, they’re both somehow okay to continue.

The ring count returns, and reaches 5 as Murphy crawls. Nese is in at 6, Murphy is in at 9.5!! Fans cheer as this match continues! Nese and Murphy crawl and then brawl. They trade hands as they stand, Murphy fires off a strike fest! Nese dodges the knee to SUPERKICK! Murphy clobbers him with a clothesline! Murphy Canadian racks to the AK-DDT! Cover, TWO?! Nese survives and shocks Murphy but fans reach a fever pitch. Murphy drags Nese up again for the pump handle. Murphy lifts and htis Murphy’s Law!! Cover, TWO!?! Nese survives Murphy’s best move?! Fans are loving “205! 205!” as Murphy drags Nese up. Juggernaut Knee, and another! And then, suplex, but Nese slips out for a REVERSE-RANA! Nese flounders, runs side to side, Premier Knee! But then a LEAPING one!! Cover, Nese wins!!

Winner: Tony Nese, by pinfall; still WWE Cruiserweight Champion

This WrestleMania Rematch was worthy of Mania itself! Nese endures and Nese overcomes to again be victorious! Brooklyn gives the champion a standing ovation as he raises the title again. Will Nese’s reign prove to be the unstoppable one?

My Thoughts:

Hot damn this was a great episode! There were quite a bit of surprises this episode, too. I didn’t think Carrillo was going to face Gallagher or Gulak so soon, but with Superstar Shake-Up coming, perhaps they wanted to get things out of the way now. Carrillo wins, which is good, but now Gallagher is a Face? I wonder if this means during the Shake-Up, someone of the three is moved from Raw (since 205 Live is considered an extension because of Stephanie greedily wanting the Cruiserweights) to SmackDown. If it’s Carrillo, that’s fine, he can freshen things up a touch. If not, then his match with Gulak can go as I expect it to. And perhaps Gallagher goes Face simply because he’ll be doing more things on NXT UK as a Face.

It’s good to have the reminder that Lorcan VS Alexander is coming, and I’m thinking neither is being sent to SmackDown in the Shake-Up. Lorcan VS Alexander needs to happen for the sheer stiffness it will bring next week.  I’m thinking Lorcan finds a way so that he can be a Heel in line for the title. And speaking of, that title rematch was amazing. That’s not just kayfabe when I say it was worthy of being their Mania match. Their Mania match was good and all, but this was simply incredible. The international mix of fans in that crowd was really behind the entire thing from start to finish, because they know how great both guys are. Naturally Nese wins because who knows, maybe Murphy gets a “call-up” to Raw to join fiancee Alexa Bliss (at least last I knew they were still engaged).

My Score: 8.6/10