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Mike Kanellis has yet to pick up a victory on 205 Live since October. Along with Maria, the couple hoped that 2019 would be their year. Kanellis had an interesting opportunity tonight. If he was able to defeat Cedric Alexander, it would certainly prove that not only did he deserve to be here, but he deserved to be a part of the upcoming tournament.
Alexander was a clear favorite in said tournament. The Soul of 205 had a stellar 2018 and looked to get back on track at WrestleMania. This was a must-win match for both men tonight.
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Mike Kanellis w/Maria vs Cedric Alexander
Kanellis wrestled Alexander down to the mat early. Alexander muscled out, bringing him into the corner. Alexander fought out but was pulled off by the referee. They locked up again, and Kanellis trapped Alexander in a headlock. Alexander tried to shoot him off into the ropes, but Kanellis's grip was too strong, and he brought the former champion to the mat.
Alexander finally broke out, bringing a rebounding Kanellis down with an arm drag. Kanellis broke away from an armbar, chopping away at Alexander's chest. Alexander sent him into the corner with a standing dropkick. Several chops left Kanellis's chest beat red.
Alexander attempted a pin, only for his opponent to kick out at one. He sent Kanellis into the opposite corner, running after him. Kanellis sent him over the rope, then caught him right on the jaw with a right hand as he went for a springboard clothesline. Kanellis brought him into the middle of the ring, repeatedly elbowing him in the shoulder and neck while he was seated.
Kanellis screamed that he was the best of the world while working over Alexander, rocking Alexander with a running boot to the jaw. Kanellis choked Alexander out in the ropes, then jaw-jacked with the crowd. Back inside, Alexander connected with several European uppercuts. Another right hand, though, left Alexander in a daze, and he was sent face first into the turnbuckle. He kicked out at two.
Kanellis left Alexander gasping for air with a rear chin lock. A jawbreaker sent Kanellis away. Alexander stunned Kanellis with a boxing combination followed by a kick to the knee and a dropkick to the back of his head. Building momentum, he leveled Kanellis with a duo of clotheslines and a spinning back elbow. Alexander connected with the Neuralizer, leaving Kanellis seemingly unconscious in the corner.
Alexander went for a springboard clothesline, but his knee buckled before he could make the leap. As the ref looked him over, Kanellis repeatedly kicked his knee. Alexander countered a leglock with a roll-up. Kanellis kicked out and was met with a superkick, though Alexander fell back down from the pain. Alexander attempted to put Kanellis away with the Lumbar Check, but his knee wouldn't allow him to pick up the weight.
Alexander went for a second Neuralizer only to be countered by a superkick to the back. Kanellis slammed him in the middle of the ring with a Michinoku Driver. Alexander kicked out. Both men traded strikes until Kanellis sent Alexander into the corner. Kanellis brought Alexander down to the mat with the backpack stunner, but he kicked out again, frustrating Kanellis.
Alexander rolled him up. Kanellis escaped but Alexander avoided another kick, rolling him up again. Several pinfall attempts later, and Kanellis continued to kick out. Even after a Michinoku Driver from Alexander, it wasn't enough to put him away.
Out on the apron, Alexander was hung up on the corner. Kanellis attempted a suplex to the outside, only for Alexander to land on the apron. Both men dropped each other with a big boot, sending Kanellis crashing to the outside and Alexander laying on the apron. Alexander was first to his feet. As he went to pick up Kanellis, he was dropped on his back with a Double-A spinebuster on the steel ramp.
Kanellis was hoping for the count-out victory. Alexander, miraculously, got back inside before the ref hit ten. Kanellis put Alexander in the Boston Crab, but after nearly half a minute in the hold, Alexander reached the ropes. Alexander dumped Kanellis to the outside where he brought him down with a dive to the outside. He went attempted to get back in the ring, but Maria prevented it, allowing her husband to recover. A rolling cutter nearly put him away, but he kicked out right as the ref's hand hit the mat.
Alexander would eventually send Kanellis packing with the Lumbar Check.
Results: Cedric Alexander defeated Mike Kanellis via pinfall.
Kanellis rolled out to the ground and crawled over to the ramp as a frustrated Maria.
Backstage, Drake Maverick revealed the first four competitors to take part in the tournament, which begins next week. Kalisto, Tony Nese, The Brian Kendrick, and Drew Gulak were the first four chosen by the General Manager. Next week we'll kick off the tournament with two first-round matches.
Kalisto vs Tony Nese
The Brian Kendrick vs Drew Gulak
