By Jon
COMMENTATORS: Vic Joseph & Nigel McGuiness
VIEWING METHOD: WWE Network
205 Live this week features the possible final match between Curt Stallion and Ariya Daivari as well as a surprising continuation of The Bollywood Boyz/Ever-Rise feud-ish.
CHAMPION
- NXT CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION: Santos Escobar
LINEUP
- The Bollywood Boyz vs. Ever-Rise (*3/4)
- Curt Stallion vs. Ariya Daivari (***)
*****
–Bollywood Boyz make their entrance, Nigel dances along for their camera and sings them a new theme to the tune of “Demolition” while Joseph looks like he’d rather be anyone else on planet earth. Easily going to be the highlight of this show.
The Bollywood Boyz (Samir & Sunil Singh) vs. Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel)
These two teams first met two weeks ago, with the Bollywood Boyz eking out the win thanks to their video camera. I think both teams are supposed to be heels, but Matt Martel is MUCH more hateable than anyone else in the ring so Ever-Rise is the more heel. Heel heel heel heel. I use cool wrestling terms.
Bell rings and the action quickly moves to the floor, Ever-Rise gaining the upper hand. Parker slows it down with an armbar on Sunil, Martel talking trash as he does. Sunil spins until he gets the tag, Samir tripping Parker from the floor after being knocked from the apron. Now it’s time for the Boyz to dish out some punishment, taking turns to stomp Parker down in their corner and delivering a double suplex. Sunil grinds Parker down with a rear chinlock, Parker gets to his feet but Sunil powers him back down. Martel tries to get some support with a clap but Ever-Rise is just as hated, if not more. Sunil escapes the hold, connects with a spinning heel kick for the 1…2…Parker kicks out. Parker dodges a flying Samir, who hits Sunil with a flying elbowdrop. Samir grabs a sleeperhold, Parker squashes him in the corner and Martel gets the, uh, hot tag I guess? Martel sends Samir chest-first into the corner and follows up with a dropkick, Parker tags back in and connects with a forearm in the corner followed by an elbowdrop. Martel tags back in, double snake eyes (The French Connection) for the 1…2…3.
Ever-Rise defeated The Bollywood Boyz via pinfall (5:59)
- Ever-Rise evens up their series with The Bollywood Boyz, but more shocking than that EVER-RISE HAS A FINISHER APPARENTLY. Good on ‘em. Match was fine as far as tag team contests go, but like two weeks ago both teams are heels so it’s not like I was rooting for anything more than someone to punch Matt Martel in his big mouth. (*3/4)
-TWO DAYS AGO: Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, & Raul Mendoza) ruin Curt Stallion’s intended NXT debut with an attack before the show.
Curt Stallion vs. Ariya Daivari
Daivari’s attempt to stop the influx of new 205 Live talent has been met with failure in recent weeks, losing to both Ashante Thee Adonis & August Grey. Now it’s Curt Stallion’s turn to finally get his revenge and put an end to the rivalry that began back in October. Stallion is showing NO effects from the Legado attack that caused his NXT debut to be cancelled. Right on.
Stallion and Daivari trade wristlocks to start, Daivari brings Stallion to the mat with a snapmare followed by a headbutt to the left shoulder.. Daivari peppers Stallion with rights in the corner, Stallion ducks a chop and hits a few of his own. Daivari bails to the floor, Stallion makes him regret it with a headbutt and a toss into the plexiglass/barricade. Stallion rolls through a sunset flip and connects with a double stomp. Daivari rolls back to the floor and dodges a tope suicida, Stallion launching himself into the barricade. Oh damn. Stallion JUST beats the count, Daivari stomps him repeatedly and connects with a neckbreaker over the middle rope for the 1…2…Stallion kicks out. Daivari sends Stallion chest-first into the corner followed by an inverted DDT for the 1…2…Stallion kicks out again. Stallion catches Daivari with a kick and a series of rights, Daivari kicks back and hits a hangman’s neckbreaker for the 1…2…Stallion still won’t quit. Daivari locks in a Camel Clutch, Stallion escapes and they trade forearms and chops. Stallion ducks a clothesline, both men crash into each other with crossbody attempts and crumple to the canvas. Stallion sends Daivari into the corner, big boot, trip, knee to the face, corner dropkick, pull-up DDT for the 1…2…Daivari kicks out. Stallion tries again, Daivari kicks out again.
Stallion heads to the top, Daivari shakes the ropes and sends him crashing to the mat. Stallion counters the Hammerlock Lariat with a roll-up for the 1…2…Daivari kicks out and hits a urinage for the 1…2…Stallion kicks out! Daivari blocks an O’ Connor Roll and connects with a superkick, Stallion connects with a backdrop into an Air Raid Crash followed by a top rope splash for the 1…2…Daivari kicks out again! Daivari blocks a suplex and drops Stallion over the top rope followed by a dropkick to the floor. Daivari immediately rolls Stallion in but MISSES the Persian Splash and Stallion connects with a running headbutt for the 1…2…3!
Curt Stallion defeated Ariya Daivari via pinfall (12:09)
- Damn good match, Stallion finally got his clean win over Daivari to put this whole rivalry to bed. I dug it a lot, was a little disappointed that Stallion showed no wear and tear from the attack two days prior, but props to Joseph and McGuinness for trying to find ways to incorporate it anyway. I wonder if Stallion is now NXT-bound on a more permanent basis, at least to feud with Escobar and company for a little while. Daivari sure isn’t, that’s for sure. (***)
Stallion celebrates his win as a dejected Daivari watches from the stage. Kinda hard to take you seriously as a big bad of 205 Live if you lose all the time, dude.
*****
FINAL THOUGHTS: Stallion/Daivari is great, Bollywood Boyz/Ever-Rise is fine but the fact it has a decisive Ever-Rise victory is cool enough to still be alright with it. I don’t know, it’s 205 Live. I wonder who gets the Stallion treatment next.
