By Jon
COMMENTATORS: Vic Joseph & Nigel McGuinness
Tag team action main events this week on 205 Live as Curt Stallion teams with August Grey (formerly Anthony Greene) to face off against Ariya Daivari & Tony Nese. Also on the show Ashante “Thee” Adonis takes on Mansoor, hoping to avenge a loss he incurred back in September, and NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar acknowledges the brand’s existence.
LINEUP
- Mansoor vs. Ashante Thee Adonis (**1/4)
- Curt Stallion & August Grey vs. Ariya Daivari & Tony Nese (**3/4)
*****
Mansoor vs. Ashante “Thee” Adonis
Adonis was last seen on 205 Live finally getting his win over Brian Kendrick, while Mansoor himself has been on a bit of a win streak over the past few weeks. These two met back in September with Mansoor picking up the win, so Adonis is looking to even things out.
Adonis offers a handshake, Mansoor shoves him and says he doesn’t like or respect him. Jeez. Adonis backs Mansoor in the corner and backs off, saying he’s a changed man. Mansoor shoves him again, bringing Adonis to the mat by controlling the wrist. Adonis counters out with a hip toss, shoving match breaks out, Adonis rolls through with a front facelock. Mansoor flips out of a suplex, Adonis ducks a clothesline, Mansoor dodges a dropkick and goes for a DDT, Adonis counters with a flapjack and connects with a crossbody from the middle buckle. Adonis to the top, Mansoor sweeps the legs and sends him crashing to the apron, then sends him to the floor with a baseball slide. Snapmare, pair of fistdrops for the 1…2…Adonis kicks out. Mansoor grabs a front facelock, cinching it in and bringing Adonis to the mat when he tries to escape. Adonis escapes, short-arm clothesline and both are down. Adonis mounts the comeback, dropkick and high crossbody for the 1…2…Mansoor shifts his weight for the 1…2…Adonis kicks out. Adonis with an inside cradle for the 1…2…Mansoor kicks out and dodges Adonis in the corner. Adonis blocks Sliced Bread #2, Mansoor picks him up and drives him to the mat with what looked like a death valley driver from an electric chair position for the 1…2…3.
Mansoor defeated Ashante Thee Adonis via pinfall (8:06)
- Good match here, Mansoor showing off a little more aggression than usual and working the match in a heel-like fashion, not believing Adonis’ change of heart for a second. I’m guessing Adonis was a REAL JERK back in September. (**1/4)
Mansoor finally relents and shakes hands with Adonis after the match.
-TWITTER VID: Curt Stallion and August Grey have some words for their opponents tonight, Ariya Daivari & Tony Nese. Stallion is glad to have Grey by his side, bringing up the fact they teamed before coming to WWE. Grey says they are hungry like the wolf and the future of 205 Live.
-I’m watching the Hulu version this week for sh*ts and giggles and they spent a whole lot of time on RAW happenings but I skipped them because I’m not a masochist.
-VIDEO: NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar has worked with NXT General Manager William Regal to set up a fatal five way match for next week’s 205th episode of 205 Live; the winner will get a title shot against him. Escobar wishes whoever competes good luck, and tells whoever wins to watch his back at all times.
- AWESOME. Finally giving the people of 205 Live something to fight for. I would have gone with a Cruiserweight Title defense to celebrate the 205th episode personally but this is cool too, I’m just relieved they’re throwing the brand a bone for once.
Curt “Lone Star” Stallion & August Grey vs. Ariya Daivari & “The Premier Athlete” Tony Nese
Stallion has had his issues with both Daivari & Nese over the past month, stemming from his debut and almost victory over Daivari. Since then Stallion has come up short against Nese in singles action but last week managed to defeat Daivari, and now we’ve got tag team action to continue the feud. Grey debuted the same night as Stallion, falling to Daivari before Stallion got his shot, and hasn’t been seen on the show since. He has been making NXT appearances though, which is cool.
Grey and Stallion are in control at the start, working the taped-up arm of Daivari. Daivari catches Stallion with a knee and chop, Stallion rolls through a sunset flip and connects with a dropkick for a two-count. Stallion gets distracted by Nese, gets leveled by Daivari. Nese and Daivari work Stallion over, quick tagging and alternating between strikes and trash talk. Stallion counters a suplex with an inside cradle for the 1…2…Nese kicks out, Stallion tags in Grey. Grey connects with a neckbreaker on Nese followed by a top rope (literally) crossbody. Daivari distracts Grey, Nese drops him throat-first across the top rope followed by a springboard moonsault for a two-count. Daivari drives Grey into the commentary table, rolls him in for the 1…2…Grey kicks out. Daivari tries again, same result. Nese slows it down with a reverse chinlock. Grey escapes, Nese pulls him down by the hair to stop a tag. Daivari tags in, chinlock of his own, knee buried in the spine. Grey leaps for a tag, Daivari takes him down with a drop toehold and pulls him to his corner, tagging in Nese who wraps Grey in a bodyscissors. Grey catches Nese with a back suplex, Nese landing on his face.
Daivari tags in but SO DOES STALLION. Release German, corner kick, dropkick, pull-up DDT for the 1…2…Daivari kicks out. Grey tags in, hits some sort of move (I don’t know what it is, sorry) for the 1…2…Nese breaks it up. Nese superkicks Stallion and gets the tag, Grey escapes a double suplex combo and connects with a whole lot of strikes. Grey tosses Daivari out to the floor, Stallion adds an exclamation with a tope suicida. Stallion breaks up a pinfall attempt, Daivari pulls him out and throws him into the steel steps. Grey with an O’Connor Roll for the 1…2…Nese kicks him into Daivari, who belts him with a chain-wrapped fist, and Nese rolls him up for the 1…2…3.
Ariya Daivari & Tony Nese defeated Curt Stallion & August Grey via pinfall (12:56)
- Damn good main event, Stallion & Grey looking great even in defeat. Daivari and Nese had to cheat their way to it, but a win is a win is a win. Joseph & McGuinness referring to Daivari & Nese as wily veterans makes me feel really old and I hate it. (**3/4)
*****
FINAL THOUGHTS: Helluva main event as Stallion (and I guess Grey now) continue to get some shine even in losing, and we even got an appearance by Santos Escobar to give next week’s show an extra incentive to celebrate the 205th episode. Cool beans. Easy watch.
