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It was the first 205 Live of 2021, and the Purple Brand delivered with both matches. In the main event, Santos Escobar's No.1 Contender joined Ever-Rise in a six-man tag team match against The Bollywood Boyz and 205 Live OG Ariya Daivari. Stallion recently returned after being injured by Legado Del Fantasma a few months back.
Could he continue to build steam towards his future NXT Cruiserweight Championship match? Could he work well with Ever-Rise of all people? Oddly enough, yes. Like a well-oiled machine. You'll have to read on to find out just how well, though.
Jake Atlas has been on a role on NXT lately, and he took on the only undefeated Superstar on 205 Live in 2020, Mansoor. Both of these men are two of the most exciting cruiserweights in WWE, and they kicked off the first 205 Live of 2021, giving us what was sure to be an epic clash.
Mansoor vs Jake Atlas on 205 Live
Mansoor took Jake Atlas to the mat early, looking to keep the quick-paced offense of his opponent from building up. Atlas managed to escape a side headlock, avoiding a clothesline with a handspring and bringing Mansoor down with an arm drag.
Both men traded arm drags, with Mansoor getting the better of Jake Atlas. 205 Live's Undefeated Superstar focused on Atlas' knee, hitting a knee breaker and locking in a modified heel hook, again trying to limit Atlas' phenomenal air game.
Mansoor was sent to the apron but leaped back in for a springboard sunset flip into a single leg Boston Crab. Atlas finally broke away and dropped Mansoor with a neck breaker. Keeping the pace slow, though, possibly making sure he doesn't stress his freshly damaged leg, opted to hold Mansoor down on the mat with a cravate.
An elbow to the back of the head seemed to wake up Mansoor, who pelted Atlas with a few kicks. However, Atlas caught a double foot shove, turning Mansoor into the ropes for an elbow strike to the back of the head. Atlas has been on the hunt for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship and was proving on 205 Live that he was more than deserving of a title shot.
Mansoor's double foot kick connected, but he missed a clothesline. However, As Atlas dodged it, he landed on his left knee which immediately gave in. Mansoor followed with a chop block and a spinebuster. The Scorpion Deathlock was synched in right in the middle of the ring. Somehow, Atlas was able to get to the ropes.
Atlas caught Mansoor with a Regal Cutter. Not able to get the pinfall, he spiked Mansoor with the brainbuster. As Atlas moved to the top rope, though, he was yanked off by Mansoor who tied up Atlas's weakened leg to lock in a beautiful figure-4 pinfall.
Results: Mansoor defeated Jake Atlas via pinfall on 205 Live.
Grade: A
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205 Live returned with some highlights from NXT where Legado Del Fantasma fell to Lucha House Party. At NXT New Years Evil, Santos Escobar will have to put his Cruiserweight Championship up against the King of the Ropes, Gran Metalik.
One of Escobar's other contenders, Curt Stallion, was set to team with Ever-Rise on 205 Live tonight. The true No.1 contender has been ducked and dodged by Legado Del Fantasma and injured by the group before he could get his shot at the gold. Tonight, he wanted to send a message to Escobar.
Ever-Rise and Curt Stallion vs Ariya Daivari and The Bollywood Boyz on 205 Live
Curt Stallion was turned inside out by the 205 Live OG Ariya Daivari with a kitchen sink knee to the gut. A throat chop set up for a back suplex. Stallion stunned Daivari with a dropkick, leading to Samir Singh tagging in.
Matt Martel was in next and took out both Singh Brothers as Sunil tagged in with a double clothesline. A backbreaker/knee tremble combo from Ever-Rise nearly took Sunil out. Chase Parker tagged Stallion in, who really worked well with Martel and Parker. The three men moved in and out of the match, hitting a series of tag team maneuvers.
Martel again tagged in but was forced into his opponent's corner. Samir tagged in just as Sunil was dropped with an inverted atomic drop. For the first time in this match, The Bollywood Boyz was actually in control. Sunil tagged in, even though Daivari reached for it first.
The Singhs completely avoided the 205 Live Veteran, which could hinder their success later. A diving bulldog from Samir planted Martel. However, Martel was able to get back in the match by sending Samir's chest first into the top turnbuckle. Samir hooked Martel's leg, though, which kept him from getting the tag while bringing Sunil back in the match.
Daivari demanded to be tagged and had to hit a back slap tag to make it happen. Matt Martel countered a neck breaker, and both men ran into one another with a pair of clotheslines. Curt Stallion and Samir were the legal men next, and The Lonestar of 205 Live lit up Samir with his own unique combination.
The double foot trapped DDT spiked Samir for a near fall. Matt Martel and Chase Parker tagged in, dishing out their own unique brand of pain on Singh. Martel even allowed Stallion to take part in their Ever-Rise patented leg trip/elbow drop combo.
Stallion looked to finish things off, but Daivari took the bullet for Singh. Daivari was tired of the games The Singhs have been playing in the 205 Live main event, though, and attempted to leave. As The Bollywood Boyz and Daivari bickered on the floor, Ever-Rise yanked the ropes down for a Fosbury Flop from Stallion.
Back in the ring, Samir Singh was caught by Ever-Rise's double flapjack on the ropes. Stallion followed up with the running headbutt for the win.
Results: Curt Stallion and Ever-Rise defeated The Bollywood Boyz and Ariya Daivari via pinfall on 205 Live.
Grade: A-
