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Ladies and gents, tonight was a special episode of 205 Live. Tonight, the all-important Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, both the men's and women's tournaments, would take center stage tonight.
Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher found themselves thrust into the tournament after a horrific incident revolving around Karrion Kross and Ashante "Thee" Adonis on NXT. After a hellacious Fight Pit, could these two brawlers turn into a formidable tag team? We'd find out tonight.
205 Live kicked off with the second-ever Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic match. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell represented The Way as they looked to win the inaugural tournament. Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory were already eliminated, making these two the only ones capable of winning a Dusty Cup this year. Their opponents? Two of NXT's newcomers and some truly incredible talents in Gigi Dolan and Cora Jade.
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Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: The Way (Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell) vs Gigi Dolan and Cora Jade on 205 Live
Indi Hartwell and Cora Jade started things off, but Jade quickly tagged out when Hartwell overwhelmed her. Gigi Dolan hit Hartwell with some strong kicks, but Hartwell managed to tag in The Poison Pixie. Candice LeRae missed a legdrop and was taken to the corner for a Cora Jade tag.
A running knee knocked LeRae almost out cold. As Jade went to bounce off the ropes, she was stopped by Hartwell. LeRae took advantage of the distinction and battered Jade into the mat.
The Way took turns tearing down Jade, as they dominated on their 205 Live debut. After several minutes, Jade finally tagged out to Dolan, who lit up Hartwell with a strong flurry of kicks. A roundhouse to the jaw left Hartwell down on one knee, and a pump kick nearly took her head off.
A double suplex was blocked, and Hartwell sent Jade to the floor. Dolan was planted with a stalling vertical suplex before LeRae rolled in, but she didn't notice Jade was the legal competitor. Cora Jade almost got a serious upset on 205 Live tonight with a series of near falls, only for LeRae to kick out and send Indi Hartwell in to finish the job.
A belly-to-back driver spiked Jade, knocking her and Dolan out of the tournament and sending The Way onto the next round.
Results: The Way defeated Cora Jade and Gigi Dolan via pinfall on 205 Live.
Grade: B
Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari vs Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher on 205 Live
The 205 Live OGs were originally set to face Desmond Troy and Ashante "Thee" Adonis. After a serious beatdown from Karrion Kross on Wednesday, Adonis was forced to exit the tournament, leaving an opening. After gaining each other's respect during the Fight Pit, Tommaso Ciampa offered the opportunity to Timothy Thatcher to take Adonis and Troy's spot.
Thatcher made his 205 Live debut, and what would probably be his only match on this brand, starting the bout off with Ariya Daivari. Thatcher completely dominated Daivari, working over his arm and wrist. A modified bow and arrow stretched Daivari's body nearly to a breaking point.
Daivari broke away and managed to tag out. Tony Nese went for a roll-up while Thatcher was still focused on Daivari, but he quickly kicked out. The former Cruiserweight Champion severely struggled, and things didn't get any easier when Tommaso Ciampa stepped inside a 205 Live ring.
Ciampa trapped Nese in a front face lock in the middle of the mat, preventing Nese from kicking up his fast-paced offense. Nese managed to drive Ciampa into his corner, tagging in his partner. The Premier Athlete of 205 Live then hit a chop block, allowing Daivari Dinero to further target the knee by wrapping it around the ring post.
That leg was still severely damaged from the Fight Pit, and the 205 Live OGs knew it. A Figure-4 trapped Ciampa in the middle of the ring as Ariya Daivari did his best for a submission victory. Ciampa tried to drag himself to his corner, and nearly did so. Nese ran in and hit Thatcher, and when Thatcher tried to get in he accidentally distracted the referee. That let Nese bring Daivari, and Ciampa, back to his corner.
The OGs continued to work over the knee, but an enziguri from Ciampa stunned them long enough for the Thatch-as-Thatch-Can Instructor to take over. A series of suplexes and strikes left the cruiserweights battered, bruised, and struggling to figure out where they were.
Thatcher snatched Daivari up in a high heel hook, nearly snapping the tendon. Nese broke it up and hung Thatcher up on the top rope. The triangle moonsault, and Daivari's Persian Splash, earned the 205 Live OGs a near fall that was only broken by Ciampa.
Ciampa tagged back in and took the fight to both Nese and Daivari. Ciampa and Thatcher caught both men diving with a pair of leaping knee strikes. As Nese tried to get back in the ring, Ciampa caught him with Willow's Bell.
Results: Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher defeated Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari via pinfall on 205 Live.
Grade: A
Thatcher and Ciampa weren't fully "there" yet. As they stared at one another, there was still some animosity there. Still, this may be a true dark horse in the Dusty Cup.
