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Drake Maverick reiterated the announcements from last week's episode of 205 Live. Buddy Murphy will defend the Cruiserweight Championship in a Fatal-4-Way match at WWE Royal Rumble. The three competitors challenging him will be decided in three singles matches over the course of the next few weeks.
Lio Rush would face off against Kalisto tonight. The Man of the Hour has had an incredible run on 205 Live since his debut last summer. A championship opportunity could mean big things for Rush if he can get past the former Cruiserweight Champion Kalisto.
Drew Gulak would get one more chance to put away Akira Tozawa. In the final 205 Live match of 2018, Tozawa and The Brian Kendrick defeated Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher in a street fight, continuing to build Tozawa as one of the best superstars on the brand. Gulak could get revenge tonight, and maybe one more submission victory away from his dream.
Kalisto vs Lio Rush
Kalisto was able to match Lio Rush's speed early on in the match, even forcing Rush out of the ring to avoid a handspring tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Buddy Murphy and Tony Nese were shown watching the match in the back, impressed with Kalisto's ability.
Rush ran back in and slapped Kalisto across the face, angering the luchador. Kalisto chased Rush and even avoided the M.O.T.H.'s cheap shot, countering with the schoolboy rolling enziguri. Rush finally got the upper hand when he slung Kalisto into the ropes. Kalisto hung on as he went over, allowing Rush to send him crashing to the ground with a kick to the back of the head.
Rush followed up with a bullet fast suicide dive, leveling Kalisto. Rush then brought him back inside and continued to wear him down. Kalisto fought out of a headlock into a small package, only for Rush to break out and take him back down with a brutal clothesline.
Rush kept Kalisto face-down in the middle of the mat, hammering him with fists while tearing at his mask. After the referee got into it, Rush tossed him out and gloated in front of the crowd. Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado helped Kalisto get back inside, and the former Lucha Dragon began to build up some steam, only for Rush to crack him with a running forearm smash, halting his momentum yet again.
Rush brought Kalisto back to the middle of the ring and again tore at his mask. Kalisto fought out and avoided an attack in the corner, dropping Rush to the outside with an enziguri followed by a springboard senton to the outside.
Kalisto brought Rush back inside, but a roundhouse kick from Rush stunned him. Another kick to the head left him on his back near the corner.
Rush went for the Final Hour, but Kalisto stopped him with two boots to the jaw. Both stars ended up at the top of the turnbuckle, and after a good back and forth exchange, Kalisto brought Rush to the mat with a moonsault powerslam. Rush, somehow, managed to kick out.
Kalisto signaled for the Salida del Sol, but Rush countered, dropping him with the spinning Unprettier facebuster. Kalisto broke out of the pin, frustrating the 23-year-old piece of gold. Rush reigned down a flurry of punches onto Kalisto's face, but the former champ came back with a series of kicks. Rush stopped the running hurricanrana driver with a boot, but Kalisto got him back with a roundhouse kick.
Kalisto then went for the Salida del Sol again, but his opponent countered, sending him crashing to the ground outside. Kalisto made it back inside, barely beating the 10-count. Lio Rush went for the Final Hour but was distracted by the Lucha House Party's noisemakers. Rush attempted to force Lince Dorado into an altercation, but Gran Metalik cooled him off, allowing Kalisto to catch Rush with the Salida del Sol for the win.
Results: Kalisto defeated Lio Rush via pinfall.
Backstage, Buddy Murphy and Tony Nese were shown barely paying attention to the match, clearly not worried with the first of three challengers.
The commentary team went over the street fight tag team match from two weeks ago, highlighting the impressive teamwork from The Brian Kendrick and Akira Tozawa. Backstage, Drew Gulak was asked if he was considered an underdog against Akira Tozawa, considering the former champion has had his number for years now.
Gulak said that he's an expert submission specialist, and his style is best utilized in a match that follows rules and guidelines. Gulak promised to tap out Akira Tozawa.
Drew Gulak addressed the WWE Universe, claiming that the 205 Live roster will be adding more faces over the next year. Maverick finished his announcement by saying the current superstars better be prepared for fierce competition.
Drew Gulak vs Akira Tozawa
Murphy and Nese continued to look on from the back and the oldest rivalry on 205 Live added another chapter. Gulak quickly brought Tozawa to the mat with a headlock and countered Tozawa's headscissors headlock with his own, one-upping him. Back on their feet, they locked up, with both men fighting for control.
Gulak attempted to rip Tozawa's ear off, forcing him into the corner. Tozawa fought out with a few headbutts and right hands, stunning Gulak with a right jab. A body slam and a running senton splash forced Gulak to retreat to the outside, where Tozawa followed. Gulak attempted to bait Tozawa into a suplex on the floor, but the latter blocked it.
Gulak ran back inside the ring, and when Tozawa tried to drag him out again, Gulak shoved him into the barricade, finally getting full control of the bout. With that and a slam to the outside, Tozawa's back became the weak spot that Gulak would target for the next few minutes.
A surfboard stretch was Gulak's first choice, followed by another body slam when Tozawa broke out. Tozawa kicked out at two, only to be locked into another submission move, this time with a rear chin lock.
Tozawa managed to escape again and attempted to hit Gulak with the spinning roundhouse kick. Gulak countered into a powerbomb attempt. Tozawa countered back, forcing Gulak outside. The Submission Specialist got back inside the ring but was met with a hurricanrana followed by the spinning roundhouse kick. Gulak kicked out at two.
Tozawa took to the skies for the Senton Splash, but Gulak rolled onto the apron. Tozawa came down and goaded Gulak into attacking him, hanging him up on the ropes where he finally hit the Senton Splash. However, the damaged back prevented Tozawa from going for the pin. He then attempted to take Gulak out with the Shining Wizard, but Gulak countered with a powerbomb into the turnbuckle.
Gulak almost locked in the Gu-lock, but Tozawa avoided it. Gulak blocked another spinning roundhouse, turning Tozawa inside out with a clothesline. Another brutal powerbomb from Gulak nearly put Tozawa away, but he managed to kick out.
The two rivals began trading shots, and it looked like Gulak was stunned after a few running forearm smashes. A big boot stunned Tozawa, but he landed his own boot to stun Gulak once again. Tozawa went for the Octopus Stretch, but Gulak countered it into an over the shoulder single leg Boston Crab.
Tozawa made it to the ropes, but the damage hindered his movement. After another back and forth between him and Gulak, he went up top for the Senton Splash. A stumble at the top, due to the leg injury, allowed Gulak to capitalize, turning the Senton into the Gu-Lock. Tozawa rolled to the side of the ring, breaking the hold. Both he and Gulak found themselves on their backs on the outside.
Tozawa and Gulak traded some stiff strikes again on the outside, but Tozawa won out again, and a suicide dive left Gulak gasping for air. Tozawa attempted the Senton Splash one more time but was crotched by Gulak.
Gulak went up and went for a superplex, but was blocked by Tozawa. A headbutt sent him crashing to the mat below, allowing Tozawa to finally connect with the Senton Splash.
Results: Akira Tozawa defeated Drew Gulak via pinfall.
Akira Tozawa and Kalisto have been added to the Fatal-4-Way at WWE Royal Rumble. Next week, we'll find out who will be the final participant when Cedric Alexander reignites his rivalry with Hideo Itami.
