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Earlier today, WWE 205 General Manager Drake Maverick announced who the competitors of tonight's Gauntlet Match would be via Twitter. Drew Gulak, TJP, Tony Nese, Kalisto, and Mustafa Ali would all get their chance to take on Cedric Alexander for the Cruiserweight Championship at the Greatest Royal Rumble
Gauntlet Match: Mustafa Ali vs TJP
The show began with the return of Nigel McGuinness, who explained the rules of the Gauntlet match.
-Two men begin the match
-Another man enters when one is eliminated.
-Last man standing wins.
Mustafa Ali entered the ring first, with the odds stacked against him in regards to a possible WrestleMania rematch. TJP came out next. The two men circled each other before TJP forced Ali into the corner, dabbing as he let him go.
Ali grabbed the former Champion's wrist but was countered into a pinning attempt by TJP. Ali broke out, catching TJP with an arm drag/armbar combination. TJP tried to fight out, but Ali kept working the arm, forcing TJP to the ground.
TJP broke out, and the two men flew around each other, trading pin attempts. Ali caught TJP with a few dropkicks, forcing TJP out of the ring.
After the 5-count, Ali tried to chase him. TJP caught him in the ropes, poking him in the eye before locking him in a submission using the ropes. TJP let go before the ref's 5-count and caught Ali with a dropkick from the turnbuckle.
As TJP continued to work over Ali, Cedric Alexander was interviewed backstage, stating that Buddy Murphy blew his opportunity. The Champ went on to say that we're in the "Age of Alexander," and he's ready for competition.
TJP forced Ali into a handful of submissions leading into the Koji Clutch. However, the Soul of 205 Live broke out of the hold and caught TJP with a few stiff chops to the chest. TJP chased Ali around the ring, but Ali hit him with a running hurricanrana. He then chased Ali into the corner, but the latter rolled to the outside of the apron, kicking him in the face. Ali then rolled in for the facebuster on TJP, only getting a 2-count.
TJP managed to get to the top of the turnbuckle, but Ali caught him. He failed to connect with a top rope hurricanrana, and TJP hit a dropkick to Ali's knee. TJP then locked in the TJP Clutch, but Ali managed to get to the ropes.
TJP went for it again, but when Ali was able to fight out of it, he forced Ali into the corner to work on the knee. Ali forced him away, catching the former Champion with a flying tornado DDT.
Ali then hit TJP with the 054, picking up the first victory of the Gauntlet Match.
Result: Mustafa Ali eliminated TJP
Gauntlet Match: Mustafa Ali vs Drew Gulak
Drew Gulak came out next, smirking as he walked to the ring. Ali was barely able to stand after the damage to his knee. Gulak eyed his knee, asking Ali if he was okay.
Gulak cornered Ali in the corner, but Ali caught him with a roll up. However, Gulak broke out, then picked him up, slamming him into the ropes, with his right knee getting hung up in the ropes.
Gulak went after Ali but was stopped once he reached the outside with a kick to the face. Ali went to the top rope and hit Gulak with a flying cross body, which was countered into a single leg Boston crab. Ali broke out, only for Gulak to turn him inside out with a lariat.
Gulak began stomping on Ali's knee, then forced him to the ropes to apply more pressure.
Gulak then stretched Ali with a headlock/leglock combination, but Ali fought out of it before Gulak planted him with a flapjack. Gulak continued to attack Ali's right knee, repeatedly elbowing and kicking it.
Ali tried to fight out again, hitting Gulak with stiff elbows. When Ali pushed Gulak into the ropes, he went for a snap hurricanrana but was caught, with Gulak forcing him into another single leg Boston crab.
Ali escaped, catching Gulak with an enziguri. Ali's speed allowed him to get some offence in, but Gulak countered his rolling facebuster, slamming him to the mat with a powerbomb followed by another single leg Boston crab.
Gulak grabbed Ali's right arm, forcing him into a modified bow and arrow, but Ali got his arm free and worked his way towards the ropes again. Gulak slammed Ali's head into the turnbuckle before putting him up top, taunting him all the way.
Ali caught Gulak with a stiff slap to the ear, before slamming him into the bottom turnbuckle. He put the submission specialist in a modified single leg Boston crab before Gulak rolled out of the ring. Gulak wasn't safe, however, as Ali hit him with a flying cross body to the outside.
Ali threw Gulak back in, but as he went through the ropes, Gulak took out his knee again. Gulak went to lock in the GuLock, but Ali countered, managing to hit him with a tornado DDT. Ali went for the 054, but his knee gave out, stopping him from ascending the ropes.
When he got to the top, Gulak tossed him off, and he landed face first on the steel steps. Gulak rolled him back into the ring, locking him into the GuLock. Gulak picks up the submission victory, eliminating Ali from the match.
Result: Drew Gulak eliminated Mustafa Ali
Gauntlet Match: Drew Gulak vs Tony Nese
Nese came out and immediately hit the ring, not bothering to hit the camera with his catchphrase. Nese stomped Gulak repeatedly, beating down his former best friend.
Nese slung Gulak into the turnbuckles, forcefully dominating him before forcing him outside. However, Nese caught Gulak with a Fosbury Flop before he could catch his breath.
Nese threw around the ring, tossing him into different corners of the barricade. Nese caught Gulak with a few stiff chops before throwing him over the announcer's desk. Nese rolled in and out of the ring before the ref's 10-count, then threw Gulak into the bottom of the table, laying Gulak out.
Nese repeatedly stomped Gulak's head before finally throwing him into the ring. Nese taunted Gulak, but the latter caught him with a punch to the gut. He couldn't escape, however, as the Premier Athlete hit him with a running forearm. Gulak managed to get to his feet, and he and Nese traded counters before Nese caught him with a strong forearm on the chin outside the ring.
Nese continued to dominate Gulak, taunting him some more. Nese hit Gulak with the Running Nese. Instead of going for the pin, however, Nese pulled down his knee brace and went for another Running Nese. Gulak escaped, however, locking Nese into the GuLock. Nese, after a dominant performance, tapped out.
Result: Drew Gulak eliminated Tony Nese
Nese repeatedly slammed his fists on the mat, screaming out of frustration. The crowd then chanted "You Tapped Out" as the Premier Athlete went to the back.
Gauntlet Match: Drew Gulak vs Kalisto
Kalisto got to the ring quickly, but Gulak escaped the ring to take a breather. Kalisto taunted Gulak before getting a "Lucha" chant going.Gulak continued to wait outside to regain some stamina and catch his breath.
Kalisto's frustration built as Gulak continued to fake him out. Gulak finally went in for an attack, but Kalisto dodged, hitting him with a dropkick before chasing him outside with a series of kicks. Kalisto went for a suicide dive, but Gulak sidestepped the former Champion, throwing him into the ground and barricade.
Gulak rolled into the ring, awaiting Kalisto. Kalisto got in before the ref could get to the 10-count, but Gulak stomped him out, attempting the GuLock. Kalisto fought out, only for Gulak to hit him with a suplex, garnering a 2-count.
Gulak hit Kalisto with repeated forearms before locking in a rear chin lock. Kalisto tried fought out, and Kalisto's speed got the better of Gulak. Kalisto hit Gulak with a superkick in the corner, but before he could hit a tornado DDT, he threw Kalisto onto the ropes. Gulak then locked in the GuLock but had to adjust. Kalisto countered, throwing him into the turnbuckle.
Gulak stumbled back into Kalisto, who hit Gulak with the Salida Del Sol, picking up the win and the victory.
Results: Kalisto eliminated Drew Gulak to win the Gauntlet Match
The rest of Lucha House party came to celebrate with Kalisto. Cedric came out to applaud him as 205 Live ended with Cedric holding his title high.
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