205 Live Results: January 9th, 2018

The first 205 Live of 2019 filled out two of the three spots in the Fatal-4-Way match at WWE Royal Rumble. Buddy Murphy's Cruiserweight Championship run could very well be in jeopardy, as he'll have to defend it against three of the best stars on the Purple Brand at once.

Last week, Akira Tozawa defeated his longtime enemy Drew Gulak in a hard-hitting battle to advance to the Fatal-4-Way, and Kalisto pulled out an upset victory against Lio Rush who, prior to that night, had only one loss on his record. That loss? It was against one of the competitors in tonight's qualifying matchup, the Soul of 205 Live Cedric Alexander.

A former Cruiserweight Champion, Alexander looked to earn one more opportunity at the title he lost at WWE Super Show-Down all the way back in October. However, he'd have to go through the deadliest striker on 205 Live in Hideo Itami.

Itami had something to prove tonight, and after returning last month and forming an alliance with Ariya Daivari, an even more aggressive competitor lay in wait for Alexander.

Who would join Kalisto, Tozawa, and Buddy Murphy at WWE Royal Rumble? Would Murphy have to defend his title against three former Cruiserweight Champions, or would Hideo Itami finally earn another opportunity at the coveted title?

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Noam Dar vs Tony Nese

When Noam Dar returned to 205 Live in late 2018, he was on a roll early but wound up suffering a few losses thanks to distraction. One of those losses was against Tony Nese, who, thanks to Buddy Murphy, picked up a huge victory over the Scottish Supernova. Tonight, Dar looked for retribution.

The two men locked up and Dar seemed to have the upper hand early, able to outmaneuver Nese. A shoulder tackle would drop Dar, but he baited Nese in, tripping him up and attacking the shin. Nese got back up and continued to try to overpower Dar, but struggled to get going, as his opponent tripped him up whenever he began to build momentum.

Dar spun Nese repeatedly in the back to back double underhook position, sending the Premier Athlete outside. Dar went after him, but as they got inside the ring, Nese caught him with a handful of knees to the jaw, and finally took over from there.

A vicious running forearm smash nearly put away Dar, who kicked out of a pin attempt at two. Nese kept Dar in the middle of the ring with body scissors. Eventually, Dar fought out and went after Nese's arm with a shoulder breaker. It didn't stun Nese for long, as he dropped Dar with a striking combination finished up with another knee to the jaw. Dar kicked out at two.

Nese sent Dar into the corner and followed up with a powerful clothesline, then held him down with a neck crank. Nese attempted the same corner/running clothesline spot, but Dar dropped and Nese flew into the turnbuckle. Nese attempted to go to the top, but Dar took his legs out from under him and followed up with a combination of his own.

A northern lights suplex nearly put Nese away. Dar locked in a guillotine on Nese with a body scissors, but Nese fought out with pure brute strength, making it to the ropes. A strong right from Nese dropped Dar, and he followed up by hanging up him on the top rope and connecting with his springboard moonsault.

Dar got away eventually, but as he went up, a rolling uppercut from Nese dazed him. Nese attempted to send Dar into the turnbuckle with a German suplex, but the Scottish Supernova fought out, connecting with several kicks to the forehead. Dar went for a Nova Roller, but Nese caught him with another running forearm.

Nese avoided another attack from Dar, only to get caught with another guillotine. Nese powered out again, this time sending him over with a northern lights suplex. Bridging, he only got a two-count. Dar came back at Nese with a penalty kick, but the Premier Athlete took Dar up into a Michinoku Driver.

Instead of going for the pin, Nese wanted to go for the Running Nese. Dar was playing possum, apparently, which allowed him to roll Nese up for the victory.

Results: Noam Dar defeated Tony Nese via pinfall.

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The Brian Kendrick was backstage, reading a message from Akira Tozawa, who said he was over in Japan honing his craft. Kendrick said that he's still trying to repay Tozawa after screwing him over for years on 205 Live, and he'll do whatever he can to make sure that Tozawa is Cruiserweight Champion again.

Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher met with GM Drake Maverick and gave him binders full of suggestions for stars who would be perfect for 205 Live. Maverick thanked them, then threw them away when they left. Mike & Maria Kanellis came back to complain about how long they've been off of 205 Live. It's been five weeks since he last wrestled.

Maverick apologized, but the Kanellis's argued with him over the newcomers that Maverick promised would be jumping to 205 Live this year.

Lio Rush petitioned for his right to be in the Fatal-4-Way at the Royal Rumble after he was "cheated" out of his opportunity by the Lucha House Party. Rush said that he's not going to sulk, but LHP will definitely feel the Rush.

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Cedric Alexander vs Hideo Itami w/Ariya Daivari

Cedric Alexander was extremely confident as this match began, forcing Itami into the ropes early. Back in the middle, they locked up, with Alexander and Itami attempting to lock each other down.

Backstage, Buddy Murphy was looking on, scouting out the competition. Alexander locked in a hammerlock on Itami, then hit an arm breaker. Itami attempted to bring Alexander down with an armbar, but Alexander fought out and delivered a nasty chop.

A trade of strikes between almost anyone and Itami usually spells doom for the opponent, but Alexander has been known to go toe-to-toe with the punishing striker.

A few kicks seemed to leave Alexander hurt, but he sent Itami to the mat with head scissors followed by a dropkick. Alexander stumbled a bit, as the kicks he took earlier seemed to really affect him. The Soul of 205 stayed on top of Itami, though, continuing to catch him with some impressive kicks.

Itami distracted the referee, though, allowing Ariya Daivari to take him out with a clothesline. From here, Itami took over, sending Alexander into the barricade. Back inside, Itami pelted Alexander's lower back with some brutal kicks. Itami then forced him into the corner, where he punished Alexander with more kicks to the chest.

On the ropes, Alexander stunned Itami with a boot and fought back with a pair of clotheslines. Itami countered another attempt, setting him up in the middle ropes and crashing into him with a diving leg drop.

Itami picked up his opponent and doubled him over with a knee to the gut. Alexander would get back to his feet, though, attacking the legs of Itami with a dropkick to his knees. Alexander connected with the springboard flatliner, but Itami kicked out.

Alexander attempted the Lumbar Check, but Itami escaped. He wasn't safe for long, as an uppercut rocked him. Alexander went for the Neuralizer, only for Itami to connect with a dropkick to his chest as he was moving off of the ropes. Dropped by a fisherman suplex, Alexander kicked out.

Itami went for the GTS'18 but Alexander fought out. A flying fist off the top rope again nearly put Alexander away, but he kicked out at two. Itami picked up Alexander, attempting to lock in his arms for a maneuver. Alexander fought out, and the two men traded blows. This time around, Alexander won the trade, but as he went for the Neuralizer again, he was caught. He fought away from Itami and finally hit the Neuralizer for a two-count.

As they stood up, Itami held onto the ropes, preventing a Lumbar Check. The veteran managed to escape as Daivari pulled him out of the ring, only for Alexander to take them both out with a flying rolling senton. Alexander rolled Itami back inside. However, Daivari distracted him, allowing Itami to counter the springboard Clothesline with a tough right hand.

A Falcon Arrow from the apron to the outside seemed to put Alexander away. All Itami had to do was make it back inside the ring, and he'd be added to the Fatal-4-Way. As he rolled back inside, he waited for Alexander to roll in, then connected with the basement dropkick. Alexander avoided another GTS'18, only to be hit with another basement dropkick.

Itami finally connected with the GTS'18 for the victory.

Results: Hideo Itami defeated Cedric Alexander via pinfall.

Itami has been locked into the Fatal-4-Way match. Along with Akira Tozawa and Kalisto, Itami will attempt to tear that Cruiserweight Championship away from the Juggernaut Buddy Murphy.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton asked who Murphy considered his biggest threat. Murphy said that Itami might be the deadliest striker on 205 Live, but he's hungry for competition. Murphy said he's the greatest cruiserweight of all time, and issued an open challenge to anyone who meets the 205 weight limit.