We have a NEW WWE Cruiserweight Champion!

After WWE Stomping Grounds, it is now Drew Gulak who reigns atop the Cruiserweight Division! But will a golden Gulak make all of 205 Live submit to him?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Jack Gallagher VS Mike Kanellis w/ Maria; Gallagher wins.
• Humberto Carrillo VS Rob Rollenbeck; Carrillo wins.
• WWE Cruiserweight Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Tony Nese VS Akira Tozawa; Nese wins and faces Drew Gulak for the title at Extreme Rules.

PLAY BY PLAY

At Stomping Grounds, three of the best Cruiserweight superstars did battle.

The Premier Athlete, Tony Nese defended his title against both the Stamina Monster and the Philly Stretcher, but that was too much for even him. However, Nese did not fall, it was Akira Tozawa who could not survive Drew Gulak’s new non-submission attack! And now Gulak reigns supreme!

The NEW Cruiserweight Champion speaks!

“The time for community is over. Because the pillars of the Cruiserweight Division, and what they were founded on, are weak.” Gulak gave up his crusade to save 205 Live to focus on himself. “This place, it doesn’t deserve my generosity. It deserves my wrath.” We already saw a sample of it at Stomping Grounds. And after stripping away what held Gulak back, we must call him champion. Tonight, Mr. Nese and Mr. Tozawa can fight. Whoever walks away the winner will be put down for good at Extreme Rules! Who moves on to take the cruel Cruiserweight Crusader to the extreme?

Jack Gallagher VS Mike Kanellis w/ Maria!

The Extraordinary Gentleman and the Opportunist of Love want at that Cruiserweight Championship as much as anyone, but Mike also says Gallagher is dead weight dragging down the entire division. Gallagher is too much of a gentleman to point out all the times Mike messed up, but actions also speak louder than words. Whose actions speak the loudest as the summer heats up?

The bell rings and Gallagher slowly circles with Mike. They slowly approach but Mike backs off. Mike and Gallagher circle again and tie up with a test of strength. Gallagher pries one hand free and stands on it, to turn Mike around to a stretch! Mike endures as Gallagher digs his head into the back. Mike uses his power to turn it around, but Gallagher works on turning it back. Gallagher flips but Mike is on him with feet in the shoulders. Mike pulls back on both arms but Gallagher endures. Gallagher reaches back with his legs, and starts pedaling Mike’s chin! Mike lets go and fans cheer for Gallagher. Gallagher baits Mike in and table tops him to a cover, TWO!

Gallagher gets a headlock and climbs the ropes for a big takedown! Maria is annoyed as Gallagher makes it a cover, ONE! Gallagher tries again, TWO! Mike stands up and powers Gallagher to a corner. The ref calls for a break but Mike whips Gallagher to a corner. Gallagher hits the headstand! Fans cheer as he keeps Mike back with his feet. Mike grows annoyed, but then Gallagher goes up and over to dropkick Mike out! Gallagher builds speed and slides, but Mike gets under. Gallagher grabs Mike and heads for barriers, but Maria stands in his way! Mike shoves Gallagher into a post! Then suplexes him to the ground! Maria cheers her husband on while Mike leaves Gallagher to the mercy of the count. The ring count climbs to 5 before Gallagher stirs. Deja vu to last week with Chad Gable!

Gallagher drags himself up at 7, and in at 8! Mike stomps Gallagher out! And rains down rights! Mike is furious but fans boo and jeer. Mike puts Gallagher on the ropes and rakes the eyes. The ref reprimands him but he snapmares Gallagher into a chinlock. Gallagher endures, even as Mike digs his knee in. Maria likes what she sees, but fans give Gallagher strength. Gallagher fights out with elbows, then runs, only for Mike to follow and LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Mike keeps his cool as he stalks Gallagher to a corner. Mike whips Gallagher corner to corner hard! Gallagher hits buckles and hits the mat, but Mike drags him up and to the top rope. Mike CHOPS Gallagher, then climbs up to join him. Mike hooks a leg but Gallagher fights back.

Gallagher throws right hands and wobbles Mike, the last one sends him down. Gallagher stands and leaps, but into boots! Mike is up fast, fireman’s carry, Samoan Driver! Cover, TWO!! Gallagher lives and Maria is furious for her husband! Mike smirks because he’s at least getting a fight out of Gallagher. Mike stands Gallagher up to CHOP away, but then Gallagher ducks to throw hands! The brawl is on as they hit each other back and forth. Gallagher gets an edge and backs Mike down! Mike reverses the whip but Gallagher dodges, to get a SUPERKICK! Mike rolls Gallagher, hand full of tights, but the ref sees it! The ref abandons the count and Mike is furious. “Are you trying to screw me?!” No, this is calling the match fair and square. Mike drags Gallagher up, but gets the Gentleman’s Headbutt! Cover, Gallagher wins!

Winner: Jack Gallagher, by pinfall

Maria is in shock. Mike had this, but his anger got the better of him! Is Mike going to drop back down the Cruiserweight ranks now? Is Gallagher moving on up?

But Mike is so fed up, he wants Maria to tell Drake Maverick the bad news. “I’m done!” And he leaves through the crowd! Is Mike dropping out of 205 Live?!

The Cruiserweight contenders speak.

Tony Nese starts, “I could sit here and make a bunch of excuses. But that’s not me.” Nese was fully aware of how the Triple Threat could go, and at the end of the day, he lost the Cruiserweight title. “But I didn’t work so damn hard for someone else to determine my future!” And tonight, Nese takes back control. He will finally gets the 1v1 match he wanted, with the man he respects in Akira Tozawa. The same man Gulak beat to take that Cruiserweight title. As for Gulak, him holding that title, he needs to remember he never beat Nese for it. And Nese vows to take it back.

Akira Tozawa takes his turn, saying, “Stomping Grounds, I had a victory within my grasp. And it slipped.” Tozawa won’t let this opportunity slip through his hands. After he beats Nese tonight, Tozawa goes to Extreme Rules to become a two-time Cruiserweight Champion. Who takes the other past their limits to take Gulak to the extreme?

Drake Maverick tries to call Mike Kanellis.

But it goes straight to voice mail. Is this how it’s going to be? All Mr. & Mrs. Kanellis ever want is opportunities handed to them, but then they squander the opportunities given and blame him! “This is completely unacceptable and completely unprofessional!” Maverick hangs up, but are the Kanellises going to leave him hanging?

Humberto Carrillo VS Rob Rollenbeck!

Ultimo Ninja returns to action with his own hopes of heading for the Cruiserweight Championship. Can he rebound from recent stumbles as the summer heats up?

The bell rings and Carrillo circles with Rob. They tie up and Carrillo wrenches to a wristlock. Rob slips through to wrench back, but Carrillo handsprings to reverse back. Rob elbows free then whips, but Carrillo goes up and over. Carrillo rolls back and shows off his agility! Rob shrugs that off but Carrillo rolls under. Carrillo misses the roundhouse but hits the enziguri! Carrillo drags Rob up and whips, but Rob reverses, only for Carrillo to dodge and springboard for a big arm-drag! Then he dropkicks Rob down and snapmares to a cover, TWO!

Carrillo keeps his cool and drags Rob up. Rob hits back with a big knee! Rob whips but Carrillo holds ropes, so Rob throws forearms. He whips but Carrillo handsprings to back elbow Rob down! Carrillo keeps his eyes on Rob as he gets up, and ducks to springboard for a flying headbutt! Cover, TWO! Carrillo comes closer to a win but he still needs to get it done. Carrillo whips Rob to a corner but Rob puts him on the apron. Rob punches but Carrillo counter punches him back! Carrillo climbs for a missile dropkick! Carrillo puts Rob in a drop zone, hops up, and flips for a splash! Cover, Carrillo wins!

Winner: Humberto Carrillo, by pinfall

There’s no rust on Carrillo! His stock is rising, but will he be in position for a title match after Extreme Rules?

Backstage interview with Ariya Daivari.

The Persian Lion took some lethal liberties dealing with Oney Lorcan last week, attacking with a chair and then clobbering Lorcan on the stage. What drove him to do that? What drove him? Stop trying to stir the pot. Daivari explains it like this: he has expensive taste in fashion, but when it comes to fighting, things are much simpler. Lorcan gave Daivari six stitches in his ear, and cost him being #1 contender to the Cruiserweight title! There’s a misconception that Lorcan is tough, but he’s not. Daivari is tough, and smarter, too. Yet he doesn’t see Lorcan’s chair shot coming! “How does it feel!?” Lorcan rains down rights as he keeps shouting that at Daivari. Referees pull him off but he still gets in his stomps and punches! How will it feel for Daivari when he and The Fury of 205 Live face off in the ring again?

The Lucha House Party speak.

Lince Dorado wonders if they took the Singh Brothers too easy last week. Or was it they didn’t expect them to stoop lower than scum!? Kalisto says he’s tired of Samir & Sunil playing around with fire. What they did to Penelope Pinata cannot be forgiven! But Lince says he talked to Maverick, and he grants them a tag team rematch! And this time, their way! Lucha House Rules! That’s some breaking news! The tornado returns to 205 Live! Will it be #LuchaTime once again?

WWE Cruiserweight Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Tony Nese VS Akira Tozawa!

If the Premiere Athlete had his way, this would’ve been the match we got at Stomping Grounds, nothing more and nothing less. But now he gets to prove he can take the Stamina Monster down on his own and earn a rematch for the title. Will Nese take back his future with his own hands?

The bell rings and Nese circles with Tozawa. They tie up and Tozawa waistlocks. Nese standing switches and slams Tozawa to the mat. Tozawa gets up and pries his way out to a wristlock. Nese powers Tozawa to a corner, then whips Tozawa corner to corner. Tozawa reverses but Nese stops himself to elbow Tozawa away. Nese jumps up to moonsault but Tozawa gets under. Tozawa runs but Nese goes Matrix to mule kick and knee lift. Nese kicks then powers Tozawa to a cover, ONE! Tozawa gets to a corner but Nese is on him with stomps. Nese drags Tozawa up for knees and a suplex. Tozawa slips out to shove and huricanrana Nese down!

Nese bails out to the apron but Tozawa kicks him all the way off. Tozawa then builds speed but Nese gets clear. So Tozawa goes to the apron for the CANNONBALL! Both men are down but fans cheer! The ref checks on them and both men are okay to continue. Tozawa drags himself up and fans cheer. Tozawa brings Nese back to the ring and slowly heads for the top rope. Fans “AH! AH!” but Nese rolls and leaps to PELE! Nese drags Tozawa down to cover, TWO! Nese keeps cool as Tozawa rolls away. He stomps Tozawa then drags him into a chinlock for crossface forearms. Nese drags Tozawa up again but Tozawa fights with body shots. Nese whips and blasts Tozawa with an elbow! Cover, ONE! Tozawa toughs it out but Nese drags him into the body scissors and puts the squeeze on Tozawa’s ribs.

Tozawa works against the hold, prying at Nese’s feet. He elbows Nese off him, then fireman’s carries! Fans rally as Tozawa powers up, but Nese fights out with elbows. Tozawa falls and Nese covers, TWO! Nese has the rear bearhug right away! Tozawa endures, and works his way over, but Nese drags him away from ropes. Tozawa elbows Nese again, and fans chant “AH! AH!” Nese knees low and runs, into a BOOT! Tozawa fireman’s carries again! Fans cheer to give him the strength for the toss! Tozawa keeps moving, sliding shotgun dropkick! Nese bails out and Tozawa builds speed, to DIVE! The Tozawa Torpedo sends Nese over the announce desk!

Nese stirs but Tozawa is laser focused, even as the ring count climbs. Tozawa drags Nese back to the ring and puts him in. He climbs up top again, and leaps for the missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Nese still lives and Tozawa grows frustrated. Nese drags himself to the ropes and fans “AH! AH!” for Tozawa. Tozawa reels Nese in but Nese blocks the lift. Nese elbows out of the waistlock, but swings and misses. Tozawa tilt-o-whirls to the Iron Octopus! Tozawa pulls hard but Nese powers up and out for a sidewalk slam! But Tozawa lands a bit more on his head! The referee checks, but Tozawa is somehow able to continue. Nese drags himself to ropes while fans rally up.

Tozawa stands, but Nese throws a haymaker. And then another! Nese ducks the chop to jam Tozawa with a knee. Nese runs to boot and then windmill kick Tozawa down! Tozawa staggers to a corner while Nese kips up to hit a back elbow! Nese keeps moving but Tozawa sends him to the apron! But Nese kicks back! Tozawa is down and Nese goes to the corner, triangle lionsault! But Tozawa bails out! Nese keeps moving and FLIES! Direct hit takes Tozawa down! Nese puts Tozawa in, and triangle lionsaults to hit! Cover, TWO!! Tozawa survives and Nese can’t believe it! Fans rally up as Nese heads for Tozawa. Nese stands Tozawa up for a chop, but Tozawa comes back with a CHOP! Nese CHOPS, but Tozawa CHOPS back!

They go back and forth, CHOP after CHOP! Tozawa fires off more and more, then fires up, to fake Nese out to the JAB! Tozawa runs but into Nese’s forearm! Nese whips but Tozawa reverses, only for Nese to slip under. Nese pump handles, but Tozawa slips out to hit the rolling roundhouse! Cover, TWO! Tozawa doesn’t stop, he drags Nese to the drop zone and heads up top. But SHORYUKEN from Nese! Nese climbs up to join Tozawa, but Tozawa resists. Tozawa throws body shots and fans “AH! AH!” with each one. Tozawa clubs away on Nese’s back over and over, then adjusts. Sunset flip but Nese holds on! Nese fights Tozawa off, rolls back, and lifts Tozawa in the Alabama position. Tozawa grabs for ropes, but can’t, so he makes it a DESTROYER! Cover, TWO!? Nese survives?!

But Tozawa keeps moving, back to a drop zone and top rope. Tozawa leaps, SUPER SENTON FLOPS! Both men are down but Portland says “This is Awesome!” Nese and Tozawa stir, and Nese is up first. Tozawa hears the “AH! AH!” echoing in the distance, but Nese lifts him in the Alabama position. Tozawa sunset filps and lets Nese go, to get a Crucifix Driver! Cover, TWO! Nese rolls Tozawa, TWO to a deadlift! Buckle bomb! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Tozawa survives and Nese is shocked! Nese grits his teeth as Tozawa sits up in the corner. Nese runs side to side, but into a German Suplex! Bridging cover, TWO!

Tozawa refuses to stop, but he runs into a SUPERKICK! German Suplex into buckles! Nese brings the knee pad down, goes side to side, but still misses. Tozawa kicks, swings, slides under, and slips around the clothesline to sunset flip, but Nese counters with the Dude Buster!! Cover, Nese wins!!

Winner: Tony Nese, by pinfall; NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

The Premier Athlete brought everything he had, and he proved he could beat the Stamina Monster! And he shows the utmost respect to Tozawa by helping him up and hugging it out. But now he heads for Extreme Rules in the Philly Stretcher’s hometown! Can Nese bring it all again to take it all back?

My Thoughts:

Another really good 205 Live! I’m a little surprised there wasn’t more reference to Drake Maverick getting obsessed and even depressed over the WWE 24/7 Championship, but I do appreciate furthering this build of disgruntled Kanellis and aggravated Maverick. I still feel like this heads for something that determines if Maverick stays 205 Live GM or gets replaced. Gallagher VS Mike was a good match, too, so something has to give that puts Mike up higher in the division. Carrillo faces a jobber but even the jobber makes it look good, so Carrillo’s win is better than just a squash. He’ll probably also start a real rise in the ranks after Extreme Rules. That Lorcan chair shot legit surprised me, it was just so outta nowhere. I can’t wait for Lorcan VS Daivari round three.

These tag feuds are starting to lose their luster. The matches are always great, and the tornado tag of Lucha House Party VS Singh Brothers definitely will be another great one, but what’s the point without Cruiserweight tag titles? Meanwhile, Gulak, Nese and Tozawa all had great promos tonight. Nese VS Tozawa tonight was a great main event! This is definitely the way the match would’ve gone, kayfabe and reality, if it was just Nese VS Tozawa at Stomping Grounds. But with the history of Nese and Gulak, it just makes sense for them to have another match. Chances are this will be another kickoff show match like the Stomping Grounds title match was. A shame, since Gulak and Nese with plenty of time and maybe even a No Disqualification stipulation would be incredible. But Extreme Rules has been nerfed so much these days, another real shame.

My Score: 8.4/10