The Cruiserweight Classic tournament was a breath of fresh air as it featured various independent wrestlers from multiple countries who delivered high paced action and some excellent matches. Due to the brand split and CWC’s success, WWE decided to include a Cruiserweight Division on its flagship show, Monday Night Raw.
Initially, the Cruiserweights were given small to average length slots on Raw as creative found it difficult to accommodate their segments alongside the main roster programs. Since the duration provided to the Cruiserweights on Monday nights was inadequate to develop characters and storylines, WWE decided to give the division its own show called 205 Live.
205 Live was announced as an exclusive show for the Cruiserweights that took place after the tapings of Smackdown Live in the same arena. Though CWC managed to garner more viewers than the critically acclaimed NXT, 205 Live failed to generate ratings from the very first episode itself.
Some matches produced by 205 Live were better than the main brands' bouts but they still failed to excite the masses about their product.
205 Live helped establish independent wrestlers like Rich Swann, Jack Gallagher, Akira Tozawa, TJ Perkins, Cedric Alexander, Mustafa Ali and Noam Dar in regular WWE programming and provided much-needed story and character development.
Though 205 Live is filled with talented Superstars, it has not been able to gather viewers and keep the audiences in their seats after the Smackdown episodes, resulting in half-empty arenas during their tapings.
The introduction of Neville to the division saved it from a premature death. He has been outstanding on the microphone and one of the most intriguing characters on the program. His involvement rejuvenated interest amongst fans and provided more depth to the 205 roster.
On Raw after Fastlane, Austin Aries announced that he intended to pursue the Cruiserweight belt after punching Neville in the face. Since Aries’ and Neville’s introduction to the 205 roster, crowds have become more vocal during the division’s matches and are also taking note of the other wrestlers in the division.
Such reactions from fans have signalled that all hope is not lost and 205 Live still has the potential to reach or even surpass the success of the Cruiserweight Classic. Since the involvement of the newcomers to the division has played a huge role in taking 205 Live to the next level, we have prepared a list of wrestlers that WWE can add to the existing Cruiserweight division to elevate it even further.
#1 Hideo Itami
Formerly known as Kenta, Hideo Itami signed with WWE’s developmental territory NXT in July of 2014. He put on top notch performances consistently before getting laid off for more than a year with a shoulder injury. Before the injury, Itami took part in various matches with top talents in NXT but never got an opportunity to compete for the Championship.
Itami returned to television in August of 2016, where he defeated Sean Maluta and entered a program with Austin Aries. He was supposed to take part in Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with Kota Ibushi but he found himself on the shelf once again with a neck injury.
Since then we haven’t seen Itami but various reports have confirmed that he is fit to make his in-ring comeback. Itami recently appeared at an NXT event where he delivered a GTS to Riddick Moss
Hideo looks ready to make his main roster debut as he has spent almost three years in the Performance Center. The Japanese sensation could be a valuable addition to 205 Live as his in-ring prowess is top grade and his charisma is very unique.
Though he gets a babyface reaction from the crowd, his move set seems a bit cocky and his personality seems smooth enough to make him the top heel of the Cruiserweight division. He could be a top name to challenge for the title and he can also lead some sort of Japanese invasion faction with Tozawa and Tajiri.
Hideo Itami is my top pick from this lot to become an active member of 205 Live
2 #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa)
The initial advertisements of the Cruiserweight division featured Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa but they didn’t make it to the final roster. Instead, Gargano and Ciampa formed a tag team on NXT and challenged the Revival for the NXT Tag Titles.
They became Champions at NXT Takeover: Toronto via double submission and since then have become the faces of the tag team division in the yellow brand.
The current Cruiserweight division has 18 members and only one title to compete for. There is a scope of adding tag titles in the division to make 205 Live more solid as new titles will give birth to more storylines and better utilisation of all the available talent.
To lead a tag team division within the Cruiserweight division, look no further than Gargano and Ciampa.
Gargano and Ciampa are gifted singles competitors as well and don’t necessarily require a tag team division to establish themselves on the main roster. Here’s a clip from their thrilling Cruiserweight Classic encounter.
#3 Xavier Woods
Xavier Woods currently weighs 205-lbs which makes him eligible for 205 Live. Currently, Woods is a part of the New Day with Big E and Kofi Kingston and if you’re a regular viewer, you know that their act has been stale for a while now.
I don’t see Woods entering the Cruiserweight division in near future as New Day merchandise sales are going good and they are also on the verge of launching New Day Pops.
Xavier was irrelevant prior to the formation of the New Day. He struggled to make an impact on the main roster as a singles competitor but he could surely become a valuable commodity to the Cruiserweight division by using his diverse moves and promos.
New Day has to disband someday and if it does, Xavier will slip into the Cruiserweight division with ease. He has the mic skills and charisma that can help him to become a convincing heel or a top babyface of the division.
He can also form a tag team with TJ Perkins, given that they both love video games. Xavier can fit into almost any role that WWE would ask of him.
#4 Kalisto
Let’s be honest, Kalisto has been one of the most meaningless members of the SmackDown LIVE roster. SmackDown has done an efficient job of utilising all the members of the roster and yet they couldn’t find anything interesting for Kalisto.
Many people were taken by surprise when Kalisto was drafted to SmackDown as he was expected to be the face of the returning Cruiserweight division on Raw.
I believe that it is just a matter of time before Kalisto finds himself in the purple-roped ring as he possesses a distinctive variety of moves which is second to none. His high-flyer wrestling style and masked look remind the fans of the former world champion, Rey Mysterio who was a Cruiserweight Champion himself in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Kalisto has put up great matches with Alberto Del Rio and Baron Corbin in the past and is capable of repeating those performances if presented with right opportunities. 205 Live would be a perfect platform for Kalisto to regain his lost vigour and fulfil his potential.
#5 Rey Mysterio
There were reports before Royal Rumble that Mysterio would be a free agent sometime in 2017. If that is the case, then WWE should definitely bring back the Ultimate Underdog to lead 205 Live.
Also read: 5 Former WWE Cruiserweights: Where are they now?
Rey Mysterio is a former World and Cruiserweight Champion who was an integral part of the Cruiserweight divisions of WCW and WWE. He is loved amongst fans and would bring in much-required star power to the current Cruiserweight division.
Rey Mysterio is 42 years old and in great shape. During Rey’s final years in WWE, he suffered numerous injuries which led many to question his fitness. A retirement was speculated after Rey chose to break out of his WWE deal but he successfully resuscitated his career at Lucha Underground.
After his success on the independent circuit, there have been many rumours of WWE looking forward to re-signing the Master of 619 to place him at the helm of 205 Live.
Rey Mysterio would be a big acquisition for 205 Live, as the current members on the roster have never been World Champion in the WWE. Many credit Rey as the pioneer of the modern high-flying wrestling style and it would be interesting to see him compete against the current crop of high flyers at WWE.
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