'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Premier Athlete faced an incredible challenge at WWE Stomping Grounds. Tony Nese, after capturing the Cruiserweight Championship, has made it his goal to find the best competition on 205 Live and prove that he deserves to be the top man on the Purple Brand.
On Sunday, however, he failed. Nese's title was pried from his hands by the Submission Specialist Drew Gulak, who defeated his longtime rival Akira Tozawa in the Triple Threat match.
Gulak opened 205 Live, stating that the Cruiserweights don't deserve his generosity, but his wrath. After stripping away all the goals that were holding him back, he's now the champion. Tonight, we'll find out his #1 contender when Nese and Tozawa face off in singles competition.
We kicked off the night with the Gentleman Jack Gallagher. After suffering a defeat at the hands of Chad Gable, he found himself being looked down upon by Mike Kanellis. Kanellis has been demanding more opportunities on 205 Live and has continued to grow frustrated over newer stars appearing on the show, and certain superstars "dropping the ball." The Power Couple and Gallagher agreed to a match last week, leading to the opening contest.
Gentleman Jack Gallagher vs Mike Kanellis w/ Maria Kanellis
Mike Kanellis was trapped by Gallagher in a double arm wrench but was able to turn it around and managed to take the Gentleman to the mat. Gallagher escaped by brushing the face of Kanellis with his feet. A turnbuckle assisted snapmare took Kanellis down, with Gallagher transitioning into a side headlock.
Kanellis got back to his feet, shaking Gallagher off him. Gallagher found himself in the corner, standing on his head. His unique defence caught Kanellis off guard, allowing him to leap over his opponent and connect with a dropkick.
Gallagher tried to send Kanellis into the barricade on the outside, but Maria ran in front of them, forcing Gallagher to stop. This allowed Kanellis to shove him into the ring post and catch a rebounding Gallagher with a suplex on the ground. Back inside, Kanellis locked in a rear chin lock.
Kanellis was forced to break the hold but stayed on top of Gallagher by sending him careening into the top turnbuckle. He placed him at the top, looking for a superplex. Gallagher managed to fight him off, knocking him down to the ground below. A dive was countered when Kanellis put his feet up, with Gallagher landing right on his chin. A Michinoku Driver nearly put him away, but he managed to kick out.
Gallagher traded right hands with Kanellis, getting the better end of the trade. However, as he ran off the ropes he was met by a superkick. The ref nearly counted three but noticed that Kanellis had the tights held. Thanks to the distraction, Gallagher planted a devastating headbutt on Kanellis, earning the victory.
Results: Jack Gallagher defeated Mike Kanellis via pinfall.
Following the match, Mike Kanellis was visibly upset. He told Maria to "go tell him" before revealing that he was done. Seemingly, it looks like he has quit 205 Live. Maria stood on the ramp confused and concerned before slowly making her way to the back.
Tony Nese cut a promo on his failure at Stomping Grounds. He said that he didn't have his eyes on the prize, and that's what cost him on Sunday. However, tonight, he finally gets to face Akira Tozawa one-on-one like he always wanted.
Nese looked at the camera and told Gulak that he never beat him for the belt, and he's coming back for it.
Akira Tozawa said he had a victory at Stomping Grounds, but let it slip through his hands. Tonight, he won't make that same mistake, and he'll move onto WWE Extreme Rules to become a 2-time Cruiserweight Champion.
Drake Maverick was seen on the phone backstage where he dug into Mike Kanellis\ for what he did after his match. He's tired of being blamed by the Power Couple for their failures, and what was done tonight was completely unprofessional.
Humberto Carrillo vs Rob Rollenbeck
Carrillo got in Rollenbeck's head with his incredible agility, escaping any offensive moves from his opponent and catching him with a rolling kick to the face. The springboard arm drag set Carrillo up for a pinfall, but Rollenbeck kicked out.
A handspring back elbow rocked Rollenbeck, as did a springboard headbutt to the chest. Yet again, Rollenbeck kicked out. On the apron, Carrillo slapped Rollenbeck across the face, following up with the missile dropkick. He finished off the match with the Rounding Moonsault.
Results: Humberto Carrillo defeated Rob Rollenbeck via pinfall.
We went back to a replay of last week's main event. Ariya Daivari lost the match to Oney Lorcan via DQ but stood triumphant after levelling him with a devastating Hammerlock Lariat.
Daivari was interviewed about his assault on Lorcan last week. He said that his intelligence allowed him to get one over on the Star Destroyer, who interrupted the interview with a chair to the back, beating down Daivari and screaming "How does it feel?"
The Lucha House Party revealed that they would be facing off against the Singh Brothers next week on 205 Live in a Tornado Tag Team match. Following the destruction of Penelope, they vowed to get revenge against the duo and finally put an end to their feud.
Tony Nese vs Akira Tozawa
Nese overpowered Tozawa early, bringing him down with a mat slam before launching him into the corner. Tozawa fought out, but Nese avoided a clothesline and connected with a kicking combination. Tozawa kicked out at one.
The Stamina Monster escaped a suplex, sending Nese rolling into the ropes with a hurricanrana. Tozawa looked for a suicide dive, only for Nese to move to the corner of the barricade. Tozawa managed to catch himself, and ran along the apron, leaping onto Nese with a rolling senton. Back inside, Tozawa went up top, where he was met by a rolling Pele kick.
Nese runs through Tozawa with a crossbody/forearm strike, then locked his opponent in with a pair of body scissors. Tozawa managed to fight out with a few elbows to the face and attempted at fireman's carry slam. A few elbows rocked Tozawa, allowing Nese to bring him back down to the mat.
Tozawa managed to finally drop Nese with the slam, following up with a running dropkick. Nese made it to the outside where he was shot over the announcer's desk like a pinball after Tozawa connected with a high impact suicide dive. Tozawa brought him back inside, where he landed a picture perfect missile dropkick.
Nese broke out of the pinfall only to be locked in the Iron Octopus stretch. He broke the grasp of the former champion, dropping him on his head with a brutal sidewalk slam. A kneeling facebuster followed by a back kick and a spinning heel kick rocked Tozawa.
Nese attempted the springboard moonsault but Nese rolled to the outside. Landing on his feet, Nese leapt onto him with the Fosbury Flop. The springboard moonsault inside the ring landed, with Nese's knees landing on top of Tozawa's ribs.
Both men made it back to their feet where they traded chops. Tozawa faked out Nese, allowing him to connect with his right jab. Nese shook it off relatively quickly, attempting a pumphandle slam. Tozawa escaped, dropping Nese with the spinning roundhouse kick. As he made it up top for the Senton Splash, he was met by a rolling open palm strike from Nese.
Tozawa fought out of a superplex attempt, pelting Nese's back with hammering blows. As he rolled through for the sunset flip powerbomb, Nese held onto the ropes. Nese brought him to the middle of the ring for a Back to Belly Piledriver, only for Tozawa to reverse, turning it into a Canadian Destroyer.
Nese broke out, and rolled away from the Senton Splash, saving his title opportunity at Extreme Rules. Tozawa rolled Nese through with a crucifix pin.
Nese broke out and launched Tozawa into the bottom turnbuckle with a deadlift powerbomb. Tozawa's leg hit the rope before the ref counted three.
With Tozawa in the corner, Nese attempted the Running Knese. Tozawa sprang to his feet, spiking him with a snap German suplex. Nese broke out and connected with a superkick, sending him into the corner with a German of his own. The Running Knese was avoided again, and Tozawa attempted another Iron Octopus. Nese countered, dropping Tozawa head first with the Back to Belly Piledriver for the win.
Results: Tony Nese defeated Akira Tozawa via pinfall.
WIth that win, Tony Nese pushes onto WWE Extreme Rules, where he'll face off against Drew Gulak for the Cruiserweight Championship.
