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It was announced earlier today that Tony Nese would defend his Cruiserweight Championship against the #1 Contender, Ariya Daivari, at Money in the Bank. With two weeks left, we're sure to see the two stars brawl before we get to the pay-per-view.
Daivari had an opportunity tonight to build some steam heading into MITB with a one-on-one contest against Noam Dar. The Scottish Supernova has been hanging out with the NXT UK roster but returned to the Purple Brand hoping to jump right back into the title hunt. Prior to the match, Tony Nese joined commentary.
Tonight, however, the focus was on two upper card stars for the main event. Akira Tozawa and Mike Kanellis faced off in a No Disqualification Match, with both men hoping that a win tonight would propel them into a championship opportunity in the future. Maria Kanellis stated that a fair fight is exactly what her husband needed to prove to Drake Maverick what he was made of. The Brian Kendrick responded, saying that though he's barred from ringside, this type of matchup puts the odds in the former champion's favor.
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Ariya Daivari vs Noam Dar
Dar forced Daivari into the corner early. Daivari came out and was locked up in a wrist lock, but forced Dar into the mat and stomped him repeatedly.
Dar took the fight to the brawler, stunning him with a headbutt to the gut and a spinning backslide pinfall. Daivari kicked out but was too dizzy to get to his feet. Dar sent him into the ropes, and as Daivari bent down for a back body drop, Daivari countered with a running dropkick, sending him outside.
Daivari goaded Dar outside where he tossed him into the table, regaining control. Back inside he sent him spine first into the turnbuckle. Dar fought out, but a missed dive allowed Daivari to lock in the Million Dollar Dream. Dar fought out with an elbow to the face, but wasn't allowed to escape, with Daivari driving him into the mat via a reverse DDT.
Daivari went outside to stare down Nese. This gave Dar enough time to regain composure. He ducked a running body splash, then knocked Daivari off the top rope with a kick to the legs. Dar's combination set up for a running elbow strike in the corner and a northern lights suplex. Daivari kicked out.
Daivari avoided the Nova Roller, but got tripped up in the ropes. He went for the Hammerlock Lariat, only for Dar to counter into an ankle lock. Daivari escaped, missing another clothesline. Daivari avoided another Nova Roller only to be trapped in the ankle lock again.
Finally breaking the hold, Daivari stopped Dar in his tracks with a superkick and landed on top of him with a Frog Splash. Finally, the Hammerlock Lariat put Dar away.
Results: Ariya Daivari defeated Noam Dar via pinfall.
After the match, Nese startled Daivari, shocking the #1 contender when he turned around. The Cruiserweight Champion didn't attack him, only reminding him that he could have taken him out, but chose not to.
Oney Lorcan cut a backstage promo on his loss to Daivari two weeks ago. The Star Destroyer said it was a minor set back, but he continues to train, and nothing will stop him from winning the Cruiserweight Championship.
The Singh Brothers win
Last week, the Singh Brothers returned to 205 Live, failing in their first match on the brand in two years. Tonight, they hoped to start their winning streak, though their opponents weren't exactly top grade this time around.
The Singh Brothers vs David Kauffman & Kevin Lee
Samir Singh started off the match with Kauffman, beating him down quickly before taking him to the Singh's corner.
Sunil Singh tagged in for a double suplex, then connected with a pair of elbow drops. A spinning heel kick leveled Kauffman. He was tossed into his team's corner, and Lee tagged in. However, the Singh's didn't miss a beat. Samir Singh was tagged in, connecting with a backbreaker/diving elbow drop combination.
Results: The Singh Brothers defeated Kauffman & Lee via pinfall.
After the match, the Singh's challenged the Lucha House Party to a rematch.
Backstage, Mike and Maria Kanellis saw Drake Maverick on the way to the ring. Maria taunted Maverick, "thanking" him for doing what's right, keeping the match fair by keeping Kendrick away. Maverick said he was happy she agreed, and decided to bar her from ringside as well.
205 Live and NXT UK collide again next week
Next week, 205 Live and NXT UK will again collide. A Fatal-4-Way match will take place between Gentleman Jack Gallagher, Humberto Carrillo, Mark Andrews, and James Drake. We'll also see Ligero face off against
Backstage, Gallagher said he was happy to be a part of the match and representing 205 Live. Carrillo interrupted him and said he looked forward to beating him next week. They then shook hands as we moved to the main event.
Akira Tozawa vs Mike Kanellis
Tozawa rushed Kanellis, beating him down with fists and kicks before sending him outside with a clothesline. He took Kanellis up to the top of the ramp where he drove him head first into the screen. Back down near the ring, Tozawa locked in the Iron Octopus. Kanellis broke out, driving his opponent down with a sidewalk slam.
As he tried to recover, Kanellis brought out a table. After driving Tozawa into the ground again, Kanellis grabbed another table, setting them up side by side. A few chairs were tossed inside the ring as well. Back inside, Tozawa looked to begin building up steam, sending Kanellis outside with a hurricanrana. A superkick mid suicide dive, however, left him nearly unconscious.
Back inside the ring, the former champion kicked out at two. Kanellis continued the punishment, dropping him with a pair of suplexes. He set up the chairs and looked to suplex Tozawa onto them, but was countered. Instead, Kanellis found himself crashing into them thanks to a suplex from Tozawa.
Tozawa launched Kanellis outside and over the announce table, then grabbed a trash can. He stood his opponent up, placing the trash can over his head, then hammered him with a suicide dive. Back inside, a missile dropkick nearly gave Tozawa the win. Kanellis kicked out.
Tozawa went back out for the trash can, hoping to drop him through it with a German suplex. Kanellis avoided it and sent Tozawa through it instead with a Michinoku Driver. Tozawa kicked out, and both men made it back to their feet. They traded chops for a while, and Tozawa caught him with a fake to the head, then struck him with a jab. They traded superkicks and punches, leaving Tozawa to counter a kick from Kanellis for a snap German suplex.
Tozawa went up top, hoping to finish the bout. Before he could go for the Senton Splash, Kanellis knocked him off the top, sending him down onto the apron. They traded strikes again, and history repeated itself, with Tozawa countering into a German suplex, spiking him head first onto the apron. Kanellis was placed on the tables, and Tozawa looked for the Senton Splash. Kanellis quickly rolled off.
Tozawa followed after him but was rocked with a superkick. Kanellis went up top, quickly followed by Tozawa. The former Cruiserweight Champion was almost driven through the tables, but countered with a super hurricanrana. Both men crashed through the tables, but Tozawa got the better of the situation.
He brought Kanellis back inside and buried him under a pile of chairs before connecting with the Senton Splash for the win.
Results: Akira Tozawa defeated Mike Kanellis via pinfall.
