205 Live’s fresh faces keep on going!

Ari Sterling and Asher Hale faced the 205 Live OG before, but now they trade opponents! Will The Sauce still be hot against Daivari Dinero?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Asher Hale VS Tony Nese; Hale wins.
• Ari Sterling VS Ariya Daivari; Sterling wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Asher Hale VS Tony Nese!

The Saint gave Daivari Dinero a run for his money, but couldn’t handle The Sauce. Now Hale faces Nese to complete this unofficial round robin that’s going on. Will the new name in 205 Live see why this is the Premier Athlete’s show?

The bell rings and the two circle. They feel out the grapple, tie up with knuckle locks, and Hale rolls and wrenches as fans rally for him. Nese spins, breaks, and trips Hale up to get a toehold. Hale uses his other leg to go for an armbar, but Nese rolls and gets the ropebreak. Hale lets off clean and backs off to let Nese get up. They go again, tie up, Hale wrenches and waistlocks. Nese hooks a leg to get the switch and he slams Hale down. But Hale gets the arm and wrenches back! They go around, Hale spins Nese to a hammerlock then wristlocks to bring Nese down. Nese gets another ropebreak and Hale lets off. Nese goes out to calm down, then comes back to tie up.

Hale headlocks, they go around, Nese powers up but can’t power out. Hale grinds Nese down, but Nese pulls hair and fights up. The ref reprimands but Nese hits a back suplex! Hale goes to ropes, Nese kicks at him and pie faces him. Nese gives kicks, Hale gets mad and CHOPS back! Hale fires off forearms, KICKS, and facelocks! HALF HATCH SUPLEX! Cover, ONE, but Hale stays on Nese with a clinch and knees. Hale whips, Nese reverses and ROCKS Hale with a left! Nese gets Hale up to whip but Hale reverses and kitchen sink knees Nese down! Hale sits Nese up to KICK in the back, but Nese throat chops in return!

Nese brings Hale around to bulldog hotshot! Hale stays up but Nese gets in, only for Hale to fire off EuroUppers! Hale puts Nese in a corner for KICK after KICK! The ref counts, Hale lets off and brings Nese up. Hale whips, Nese reverses and CLOBBERS Hale! Cover, TWO! Hale is still in this but Nese throws clubbing crossface forearms! Nese hits a STANDING SPLASH, covers, TWO! Nese grows frustrated but he glares at Hale as he stomps him down. Hale sits up, Nese stomps him but Hale eggs Nese on. Nese hits Hale, Hale kicks back! Nese shoves but Hale sunset flips! Nese rolls through to basement back KICK! Cover, TWO! Hale survives but checks his teeth while fans rally up.

Nese seethes as he looms over Hale. Nese drags Hale over to a corner and digs his knee into Hale’s head. The ref counts, Nese lets off, and Nese goes to run but Hale anchors a foot! Nese gets free but Hale blocks a kick for a BUCKLE SHOT! Hale goes to the apron and KICKS Nese off the rope! Nese staggers all the way to the far side, Hale climbs up but Nese somersaults to SHORYUKEN! Hale wobbles up top, Nese drags him off but Hale shoves him! Hale clotheslines Nese and himself out of the ring! They take a nasty tumble and the ref starts a ring count. Nese gets up first and in the ring at 6. Hale follows and gets in at 8.

Hale slides up to Nese to kick him, but Nese SLAPS him! Nese gets Hale up to throw a heavy left but Hale gives a heavy fight! Nese CHOPS, Hale CHOPS! Hale fires off forearms over and over, but Nese throat chops again! Nese whips, Hale reverses but Nese slides under. Hale blocks the back kick this time to sweep the legs! Hale KCIKS Nese, whips him, but Nese reverses again. Hale rolls under to dodge and he dropkicks a leg out! Hale ENZIGURIS, then shoves Nese for a SNAP GERMAN SUPLEX! BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO!! Nese survives but Hale keeps his focus. Hale drags Nese up, reels him in, and goes to the corner, but no tornado DDT! Nese runs but into a roll up with bridge, TWO!

Nese throws Hale to the apron, but Hale shoulders into him! Hale slingshots up and sunset flips but Nese holds ropes to hold things off! Nese then KICKS Hale, and LIONSAULTS but FLOPS! Hale ROUNDHOUSES Nese, reel shim in, throw to the BULLY CHOKE!! Nese taps, Hale wins!!

Winner: Asher Hale, by submission

Even THE Brian Kendrick would be proud of that move, as Hale uses a powerful hold to take down a former Cruiserweight Champion! Will this lead The Saint to gold of his own?

Ari Sterling VS Ariya Daivari!

The Sauce lost to the power of the Premier Athlete, but he did rise up against Hale last week. Will Ari heat things back up against the Persian Lion?

The bell rings and Daivari circles with Ari. Fans are on The Sauce’s side but Daivari says time is wasting away. They circle, feel things out, and Ari’s height is helping him keep away. They go again, Daivari manages to get a leg and trip Ari up. Ari rolls Daivari into ropes then rolls him up, TWO! Ari ROCKS Daivari, CHOPS and ROCKS him again! Fans fire up as Ari whips Daivari to ropes, but Daivari holds ropes to evade the dropkick. Daivari dumps Ari to the apron then sweeps the legs! Ari tumbles to the floor, Daivari goes out and CHOP BLOCKS Ari at the announce desk! A ring count starts and fans boo but Daivari RAMS Ari into the barriers!

Daivari talks trash to the fans, drags Ari back up, and puts him in the ring at 7 of 10. Fans say, “You Still Suck!” as Daivari drops elbow after elbow on Ari’s bad leg. Daivari has a toehold and traps the leg, but Ari endures. Daivari shifts to have the leg, going for a Half Crab but Ari boots him away! Ari goes after Daivari in a corner, climbs up and rains down hands! Daivari stops it at 3 and trips Ari up! Ari hits buckles on the way down, and Daivari goes out to drag Ari into the post! Daivari SLAMS the leg into post and even steel steps! And then does it again! Ari clutches his leg but Daivari pulls Ari around to SLAM the leg again!

Daivari paces while soaking up the heat from the fans. Ari crawls, Daivari gets in and Ari throws hands. Daivari stomps Ari down, has the leg and steps through for a FIGURE FOUR! Daivari calls upon the powers of the Nature Boy, but Ari endures the hold! Ari drags himself around, tries to turn things over, but Daivari resists! They roll away from ropes and back to center! Ari grits his teeth while Daivari adds leverage. Ari’s shoulders are down, ONE as he sits back up! Ari reaches and throws hands on Daivari! Daivari falls back and the leg lock comes loose. Ari gets up, Daivari wants his leg and trips him again, but Ari EDDY GORDO KICKS! Ari gets moving, he manages to PELE Daivari down!

Fans rally, Ari gets his bad leg moving, and Daivari flounders up into forearms and elbows from Ari! Ari sweeps the legs, gets moving, and he SOMERSAULT AX KICKS Daivari down! Daivari crawls to a corner, fans rally up and Ari runs in, only for Daivari to elbow him away. Daivari goes up top but Ari runs to DRAGON STEINER! Cover, TWO! Daivari survives as perhaps Ari’s bad leg held him back. Ari stands and gives a thumbs down, and the fans fire up. Ari slowly climbs a corner but Daivari trips him up by clubbing the bad leg! Fans boo as Daivari YANKS Ari off the ropes! Daivari has the leg again, but Ari boots him off the figure four!

Daivari is outside, Ari gives him the MOON-SAUCE!! Direct hit at the ramp and fans fire up for “205! 205!” Ari puts Daivari back in, slowly returns, but Daivari dropkicks the bad leg out! Daivari gets that leg again, clamps on and turns Ari for the HALF CRAB! Ari endures, crawls his way to ropes, and fans fire up as he gets the ROPEBREAK! Daivari holds until 4, and he’s frustrated as he stands Ari up. Daivari CHOPS Ari, hoists him up top and CHOPS him again! Daivari crisscrosses the arms, but Ari blocks Iconoclasm with a body scissors! Ari gives elbows into Daivari’s chest, but Daivari CHOPS back!

Daivari climbs up, gets Ari up, but Ari fights back! Ari ROCKS Daivari and Daivari falls into the drop zone! Ari stands, and with one good leg, SPIRAL TAP!! Cover, Ari wins!!

Winner: Ari Sterling, by pinfall

Another big win for the new kid on the brand! He has purple and orange in his hair and on his gear, will Ari Sterling soon be the new face of 205 Live?

My Thoughts:

A pretty good episode here, though both matches this week weren’t quite as fired up as last week’s. And as I was watching this, I realized this is Tom Phillips’ last episode since this was probably recorded way before the news of his release broke. Next week, we’ll either get Vic Joseph back on this with Nigel McGuiness, or someone brand new will get a tryout as part of the episode.

Hale and Ari both winning over the 205 Live OG was a nice surprise, but it was great that they both busted out new finishers to keep everyone guessing. Hale using the Bully Choke/Captain’s Hook was probably more surprising, and makes me wonder what THE Brian Kendrick is up to right now. Ari has been known from his indie days to use the corkscrew senton, but it seemed rather wild that he used it while selling a bad leg. But it was good to see Ari has both a standing finisher and a top rope finisher, that versatility will go a long way for him.

My Score: 8.1/10