The purple ‘n’ orange features fresh faces from the black ‘n’ gold!

Even though this is 205 Live, tonight is a special occasion! NXT brings a win-and-you’re-in start to the 2021 Breakout Tournament!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NXT Breakout Tournament Qualifier: Guru Raaj VS Andre Chase; Chase wins and advances to the tournament’s first round.
• NXT Breakout Tournament Qualifier: Desmond Troy VS Joe Gacy; Gacy wins and advances to the tournament’s first round.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Breakout Tournament is back!

“In 2019, the NXT Breakout Tournament introduced the world to a new generation of superstars.” Cameron Grimes, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Dexter Lumis, Joaquin Wilde, Angel Garza and Bronson Reed are just some of the names that got their first opportunity, and have made names for themselves ever since. This tournament returns in two weeks! Who will we see become future stars before our very eyes?

NXT Breakout Tournament Qualifier: Guru Raaj VS Andre Chase!

It was a over five months ago already, but Guru Raaj had his first taste of the WWE at the Superstar Spectacle! He is back to break through to the next level, but is he ready? Or will he not like #TheAnswer to that question?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and fans already rally for Raaj as he wrenches to a wristlock. Chase grimaces, rolls and wrenches through to an elbow breaker! Chase wrenches and YANKS the arm, but Raaj rolls and rolls and wrenches through! Raaj wrangles Chase down and fans fire up. Chase fights up, hooks a leg and uses a chinbar but Raaj wrenches the wrist again. Raaj keeps Chase down with a knee on Chase’s head, but Chase fights up and gets a headlock. Raaj powers out but Chase runs him over! Chase taunts Raaj, things speed up but Raaj hurdles to hip toss! And then headlock takeover!

Chase moves around, pushes against Raaj with forearms, and gets to his feet. Fans rally, Chase powers up but can’t power out as Raaj holds tight! Raaj grins as he grinds the hold, but Chase fights up. Chase tries again but still Raaj holds on tight! Raaj grinds Chase down, Chase fights up, and Chase stomps a foot! Chase whips Raaj to CLOBBER him with a back elbow! Chase soaks up the heat from the CWC, and he ROCKS Raaj with a EuroUpper! And then CHOP! Raaj CHOPS back, Chase throws a haymaker, but Raaj fires off CHOP after CHOP! Raaj ROCKS Chase with a right hand, and has him in a corner. Raaj whips corner to corner and RAMS into him!

Fans fire up with Raaj as he slingshots and monkey flips! Chase goes flying across the ring, and then Raaj rolls him, TWO! Chase tries to get a leg but Raaj spins him to a backslide! TWO, Raaj gets around to waistlock but Chase switches. Raaj switches back but Chase runs and HOTSHOTS Raaj on the ropes! The ref checks on Raaj as he sputters but Chase rains down rights! Chase says, “I’m the Answer!” Chase drags Raaj up, brings him around, and fans jeer, “You Suck!” Chase snarls as he CHOPS Raaj off his feet! Cover, ONE?! Raaj has grit and it annoys Chase, but Chase drags Raaj up. Raaj throws body shots, CHOPS and then whips.

Chase reverses and ROCKS Raaj with a body shot! Then a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Raaj is still in this but Chase brings him back up. Raaj throws more body shots but Chase knees low. Chase reels Raaj in but Raaj cradle counters! TWO, and Chase CLOBBERS Raaj again! Cover, TWO! Chase wraps on but Raaj resists the hold. Chase throws elbows then puts on a cobra clutch! Raaj endures, fights up, and fans rally behind him. Chase holds on as Raaj rolls, and Chase keeps on the cobra clutch! Raaj pries at the hold but Chase thrashes him! Chase leans on Raaj but fans rally up. Raaj gets up, throws knees but Chase ripcords to elbow him down!

Chase gives toying kicks, gets Raaj again for another back elbow, and then gives more toying kicks. “This is MY tournament!” But Raaj BACK DROPS Chase away! Fans fire up with Raaj while Chase staggers. Raaj rallies with big haymakers, then he whips Chase to ropes. Chase reverses but Raaj hits a LEAPING LARIAT! Chase gets to a corner, Raaj roars and runs in to RAM his shoulder in again and again! Raaj headlocks for a BULLDOG! And SHOTGUN basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Chase is just as determined, but Raaj won’t let up! Raaj powers up and KICKS away on Chase’s legs! Raaj lights him up, Naomi would be proud!

Chase swings at Raaj, Raaj dodges, but Chase ROLLING ELBOWS! Raaj ends up in a corner, Chase goes to the apron to KICK Raaj back in! SLINGSHOT STUNNER! Chase reels Raaj in to fisherman and BUSTER! Cover, Chase wins!

Winner: Andre Chase, by pinfall (qualifies for the Breakout Tournament)

The Answer said he should’ve just been the #1 seed from the start, but he might’ve just proven that here! Will Chase break out in his tournament and then be in the chase for the title?

NXT Breakout Tournament Qualifier: Desmond Troy VS Joe Gacy!

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen #DesTroy in the ring, but he’s finally back and ready to break out! Will he be right back on track in NXT? Or will the debuting “Chainsaw Psycho” cut him down to make a major impact?

The bell rings and Gacy circles with Troy. They tie up, go around and fans rally for “205! 205!” already. Gacy powers Troy to a corner but lets off to circle again. They tie up, Troy waistlocks and tosses Gacy! Gacy gets to ropes, Troy waits on him, and fans rally up and duel. Gacy gets up, Troy puts Gacy on ropes, but Troy lets off. Gacy gets around, arm-drags but Troy leaps over to roll up! TWO, and Troy trips Gacy right up to float to a cording hold! Gacy gets up, arm-drags free again, and headlocks. Troy powers out, things speed up as Troy hurdles then CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Troy is fired up and so are the fans but Gacy gets frustrated.

Gacy shoves Troy, Troy shoves back. Gacy throws forearms and CHOPS but Troy tackles him! Troy gets the arm again, Gacy fights up, and fans rally. Gacy gets to his feet, Troy wrenches through to a wristlock, but Gacy gets around to waistlock. Troy slips through that but Gacy wrenches. Troy arm-drags now, runs, and runs Gacy over! Things speed up again, and Gacy ROCKS Troy with that forearm! Gacy gets Troy for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Gacy keeps on Troy, going after the arm for a mounted armlock. Troy endures, fans rally and Gacy cranks the hold. Troy fights but Gacy stays on top with the shoulder clamp.

Fans rally, Troy fights his way up and CLUBS Gacy. Gacy cranks the arm, Troy CLUBS free and throws Gacy with a fireman’s carry takeover. Gacy ROCKS then BOOTS Troy down! Troy gets to a corner, Gacy runs in to back elbow and clothesline! And clothesline! And clothesline! Gacy backs up to get speed for another clothesline! Gacy gets Troy up for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Gacy is back on the armlock but fans rally up as Troy endures. Fans duel, Gacy grinds his forearm into Troy’s shoulder and neck, living up to the chainsaw nickname. Troy works on an escape, powers up, but Gacy wrangles him back down! Gacy shifts to give a crossface forearm, then has a chinbar neck wrench!

Troy endures again and starts fighting up to his feet again. Roll up, TWO! Gacy hurries but Troy clinches him. Gacy rams Troy to a corner and CHOPS him! Gacy whips corner to corner and runs in to forearm smash! Gacy goes back the other way for another forearm smash! Gacy wants the hat trick but Troy drops and Gacy hits buckles! Troy hobbles up but fires up and runs, to FLYING CLOTHESLINE! Clinch to OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Gacy staggers into another! Troy kips up and brings the straps down! Troy goes corner to corner to SPLASH, then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!! Gacy escapes but Troy just snarls as he gets back up.

Troy gets Gacy up by his hair and beard, but Gacy HEADBUTTS! Troy falls to the apron then staggers to the ramp. Gacy gets up and hurries over but Troy shoulders into him. Troy slingshots to GUT WRENCH SLAM! Gacy is a big guy so that ain’t easy, but Troy does it again! Troy gut wrenches a third time for a GUTBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Gacy survives and Troy grimaces. Troy catches his breath, wipes some blood from his lip, and CLUBS Gacy on the back. Fans rally up as Troy stands Gacy up for forearms! Gacy CHOPS, Troy CLUBS, Gacy CLUBS and ROCKS Troy! Troy forearms back and we have a brawl! Gacy blocks to HEADBUTT again, then he catches Troy for an URENAGE!

Troy gets up, Gacy handsprings to LARIAT!! Cover, Gacy wins!!

Winner: Joe Gacy, by pinfall (qualifies for the Breakout Tournament)

DesTroy could not destroy Gacy, and now “Psycho Joe” is moving on! Could Gacy be the one to break out and take over NXT?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode for 205 Live, even though it wasn’t really about Cruiserweights. I like that we got to see Guru Raaj and Desmond Troy again, but for that reason, it also makes sense the newest signees to NXT advanced to the tournament. Chase VS Raaj was good stuff, and Chase is so obviously a Heel. He could probably use better gear and better hair, but he’s fairly agile for being tall and lanky. Troy VS Gacy was great, and while Troy got to show his technique and strength, Gacy got to show his toughness and uncanny agility. Gacy’s handspring lariat is pretty wild, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gacy is a finalist, even with more entries left to be revealed.

My Score: 8.3/10