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At Royal Rumble, Buddy Murphy managed to, not only survive, but absolutely demolished his competition. While Akira Tozawa, Kalisto, and Hideo Itami all gave the Juggernaut a run for his money, he was clearly operating at a higher level than the rest of the competitors, and successfully defended the Cruiserweight Championship in his toughest challenge yet.
Tonight's episode of 205 Live would feature two matchups that could decide Murphy's next challenger. First, Mike Kanellis would finally get his shot at a top 205 Live star, as he faced off against Kalisto. A win over the former champion would surely reward him a title shot in the future.
Finally, in the main event, Akira Tozawa and Hideo Itami competed in a hard-hitting fight, hoping to also get one more shot at the Cruiserweight Championship. The last time these two men met in a one-on-one match, Itami defeated his former tag team partner. Tonight would give Tozawa a shot at redemption.
Kalisto w/Lucha House Party vs Mike Kanellis w/Maria Kanellis
Kanellis started off quick, driving Kalisto into the corner with repeated shoulder thrusts. Kalisto then traded shots with Kanellis, eventually being sent outside by a tilt-a-whirl headscissors, followed by a slingshot plancha to the outside.
Kanellis managed to get back into the bout after a hard toss into the turnbuckle, then took Kalisto down with multiple clotheslines, followed by a dropkick that sent Kalisto crashing to the outside. Kanellis whipped the former champion into the barricade.
Kanellis managed to use the environment to his advantage, really dishing out some serious damage. Kalisto even attempted a springboard off the barricade, but his legs were cut out from under him, landing him face first across the wall.
Back in the ring, Kalisto made it to his feet after a kick to Kanellis' face. He made his way to the apron, sending his opponent away with an enziguri, following up with a springboard senton. Kalisto rolled him into the middle with the schoolboy roll-up enziguri kick and drove him head first into the mat with the running spike hurricanrana.
Kalisto went for the Salida del Sol but was countered by Kanellis. Kalisto escaped and hit Kanellis on the outside with a rope assisted dropkick. However, Kanellis avoided a suicide dive and guided Kalisto head first into the barricade. Back inside the ring, an inside cradle nearly stole the victory for Kalisto.
Kanellis broke out but was stunned by a superkick followed by a tilt-a-whirl DDT. Kanellis kicked out again, but could not get away from the former champion. He climbed up top, only to be met by an enziguri. Kalisto went for the top rope Spanish Fly, only for Kanellis to stop him, driving him down to the mat with a uranage side slam.
After Kalisto kicked out, Kanellis dropped him with two suplexes and took him down with a backpack stunner. He would've won, had Kalisto not put his leg on the ropes. Furious, Kanellis stomped Kalisto repeatedly. He picked him up over his shoulder, but Kalisto rolled out, pinning Kanellis.
Results: Kalisto defeated Mike Kanellis via pinfall.
Maria Kanellis, who had been working commentary throughout the match, seemed furious as she went to comfort her husband. What does this latest loss in Mike Kanellis's WWE career mean for the couple?
A pre-taped promo played of Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher, who looked to mentor 205 Live's latest acquisition, Humberto Carrillo. Gulak and Gallagher wanted to help keep him grounded and offered to be in his corner in his next match.
Ariya Daivari and Hideo Itami also cut a promo, with Daivari claiming that multi-man matches are all luck. Daivari said that Itami planned on sending a message to WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy through a brutal beatdown of Akira Tozawa.
Video played of a parking lot brawl between Tony Nese and Noam Dar. Last week, Nese told 205 Live GM Drake Maverick that if he didn't get a rematch against the Scottish Supernova, there would be serious repercussions. For his actions, Maverick was indefinitely suspended. Buddy Murphy walked around the corner, and said on Sunday, he did what he always does. No matter who faced him next, he'll knock them down, because you can't stop the unstoppable.
Akira Tozawa w/The Brian Kendrick vs Hideo Itami w/Ariya Daivari
Itami delayed the match by sitting in the turnbuckle between the ropes. Eventually, he emerged from the corner and dropped Tozawa with a shoulder block. Both men threw out their signature strikes, avoiding each other. Tozawa finally caught Itami with a dropkick, followed by a kick to the back.
Tozawa dropped his weight on Itami with the running senton and went for the pin. Itami kicked out, then fought to his feet. Itami struck Tozawa with a jab, forcing the former Cruiserweight Champion to hit two knife edge chops and the delayed jab. Tozawa managed to stay on top of Itami with his strikes, catching Itami with his quick feet.
An attempt for the top rope Diving Senton left Tozawa rolling to the outside after Itami put his knees up. Daivari seemingly hit him while the ref was distracted, but the cameras didn't catch it. Back inside, Itami lit up Tozawa's chest with heavy kicks to the chest.
Tozawa managed to stun Itami and make it to the apron, where he caught Itami with a hard right jab. He went for a shoulder tackle through the ropes, but Itami dodged, kicking him in the head and connecting with a diving knee strike. Tozawa kicked out.
Itami kept Tozawa in the middle, locking him down with a headlock. Itami dropped Tozawa with three consecutive neck breakers, followed by a pin attempt. Tozawa kicked out at two. Tozawa fought back to his feet but was sent flying across the ring with a knee to the gut, turning him inside out.
Back on the ground, Itami put Tozawa in another headlock. Kendrick attempted to pump up the crowd with his "HA!" chant. Tozawa broke out of the headlock and locked Itami in the Octopus stretch. Itami broke out quickly, spinning him out into a side slam. Tozawa managed to counter a big kick with a hurricanrana, following up with the shining wizard.
A missile dropkick from Tozawa forced Itami to retreat to the outside, but he couldn't escape and was met with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Itami kicked out at two. Itami made it to the corner, and draped Tozawa over the top with a guillotine, then climbed up top to hit a diving clothesline. Tozawa kicked out.
Back to their feet, Tozawa blocked the spinning back fist and went for the belly to back suplex. Itami blocked it, forcing Tozawa into the corner. Tozawa countered a running attack with a boot, followed by a hurricanrana into the turnbuckle and a running dropkick.
With Itami left on the mat, Tozawa looked to go for the Diving Senton. A distraction from Daivari allowed Itami to recover, bringing him down and sending him head over heels with a spinning clothesline. Tozawa kicked out and kicked out after a falcon arrow.
Itami set up for the GTS '18. Tozawa escaped and connected with a spinning roundhouse kick. Another distraction from Daivari, who knocked out Kendrick, seemingly left Tozawa open for an attack. He avoided the shotgun dropkick, though, as Itami wiped out Daivari.
A deadly fast snap German Suplex dropped Itami on his head, and Tozawa finished the bout with the Diving Senton for the victory.
Results: Akira Tozawa defeated Hideo Itami via pinfall.
Tozawa and The Brian Kendrick celebrated as they went up the ramp. Ariya Daivari picked up Hideo Itami but shocked the crowd by turning on him with a short arm clothesline.
205 Live ended with Ariya Daivari leaving his former mentor out cold on the mat.
