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We had another special edition of 205 Live this week. Last week we had qualifiers for the NXT Breakout Tournament.
This time around, two of the competitors would make their WWE debuts on the Purple brand.
Josh Briggs and Odyssey Jones are well above the 205 Live weight limit and looked to make a big impression tonight. Their opponents were Asher Hale and Grayson Waller, two cruiserweights that were well on their rise on the brand. Could they withstand superstars who were more than twice their size?
To quote Nigel McGuinness, "this isn't 205 Live. Welcome to 405 Live."
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Josh Briggs vs Asher Hale on 205 Live
205 Live striker Asher Hale had a huge mountain to climb, literally. Josh Briggs was a giant, but if he could beat him, Hale would prove himself a major contender going forward.
Hale was quickly tossed to the mat, but he was able to get to his feet quickly and take Briggs to the corner. Josh sent him away, but nearly got caught in an armbar. Hale failed the backslide, but nearly got Briggs with a small package. Briggs moved to the floor but was blindsided with a running knee on the apron.
Back in the ring, Josh pulled Hale over the ropes for a backbreaker. A massive boot nearly took Hale's head off. Briggs hammered Hale with a clubbing forearm to the back. It was enough to bring the 205 Live regular down to his knees. A standing sidewalk slam and body splash earned Briggs a near fall.
Hale continued to kick out but was clearly at a major disadvantage. A falling elbow flattened Hale into the mat. A series of elbows in the corner set up a devastating running boot, and Hale somehow kicked out.
A brief flurry saw Hale get in a few good shots, but Briggs' size 17 boot put a stop to anything Asher was going for. Hale avoided a kitchen sink and nearly got a schoolboy. He lit up Briggs with some lightning fast strikes. A dropkick to the knee and a step-up enzuigiri left Briggs rocked in the corner.
A dragon screw in the ropes left Josh in major trouble. A tornado DDT spiked Briggs, and Hale followed up with a crossface. As Briggs moved towards the rope, Hale released the crossface and locked in an ankle lock.
Briggs escaped but was dropped with a roundhouse to the jaw. At two-and-a-half, Briggs just barely kicked out. Hale moved up for the diving stomp, but no one was home. A JBL-Esque Clothesline from Hell off the ropes demolished Hale, giving Briggs a close victory heading into the NXT Breakout Tournament.
Results: Josh Briggs defeated Asher Hale via pinfall on 205 Live.
Grade: B+
In his 205 Live debut, and probably his only match on the Purple brand going forward, Josh Briggs impressed with a great showing against Asher Hale.
We saw footage of the newest acquisition for 205 Live, Grayson Waller. He said he wasn't upset about not being in the NXT Breakout Tournament. In fact, he would've been insulted. He'd already broken out as a guaranteed star on 205 Live, and he was going to prove what he could do against Odyssey Jones tonight.
Grayson Waller vs Odyssey Jones on 205 Live
Odyssey Jones, at 405 lbs, would be the biggest trail for Grayson Waller so far. Undefeated on 205 Live, he wouldn't want to fall to, essentially, a rookie. A series of strikes lit up Jones, but Waller was unable to bring Jones down with a headlock takedown.
Odyssey kept his base, bouncing Waller off the ropes for a big shoulder tackle. Another sent Waller through the ropes, out of the ring, and into the table. Waller regained his composure but failed to take down the big man with a double leg. A few big splashes in the corner left Waller in dire straits.
Waller avoided another body splash, sending Jones over the ropes. Jones caught the suicide dive, but Waller escaped his grip and sent him into the ring post. While between the ropes, Waller hit a flying elbow drop to the back of the head and was on the verge of a major upset on 205 Live.
Waller failed to get the tilt-a-whirl DDT but caught Jones in a guillotine. Jones deadlifted Waller out of the hold into a suplex. Waller rocked Jones with a series of cravate knee strikes and a rolling handspring stunner. A diving elbow drop earned Waller only a two-count.
Jones finally got back in the match, setting Waller up in the corner for a double ax handle. A Mark Henry-like World's Strongest Slam crushed Waller, ending his 205 Live undefeated streak.
Results: Odyssey Jones defeated Grayson Waller via pinfall on 205 Live.
Grade: B+
You have to imagine that both Odyssey Jones and Josh Briggs are favorites for the NXT Breakout Tournament.
