The Other Two Hours – 205 Live and NXT Recap – Week of April 24-28, 2017

205 Live is in Des Moines, Iowa, same as Smackdown.  I didn’t realize there were people in Iowa, much less an arena.  The King is scheduled to take on Jack Gallagher, but first, let’s get into this thing with a little dancing….

• Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa vs Noam Dar and The Brian Kendrick – Feels random, but I’ll accept any continuity of two storylines simultaneously.  Swann and Tozawa put on a show before the bell even rang, and then they just kept the momentum going when the match was official.  Swann hit what I can only really describe as a Front Flip Famouser, which was awesome.  The heel team here worked pretty well together, utilizing numerous heel tactics when the referee was distracted.  This was really a well worked match all around.  Tozawa and Swann pick up the win on a Shining Wizard (basically a Kinshasa) and the pinfall over Dar.  Lesson #4:  Always choose (a partner) wisely.
• YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!  (For those of you who read these often, you know that means this match features Mustafa Ali).  Mustafa Ali vs Tony Nese – Drew Gulak is on commentary after another picket session against high flying (you know, the thing that makes Cruiserweights incredibly exciting to watch).  Just absolutely fantastic work by both of these guys here.  Again, 205 Live is really just great wrestling for 95% of the show each week, and now that there’s no Alicia Fox, we may get closer to that 100% mark.  Gulak on commentary was a hair of a distraction from the action, but not in a bad way.  He worked well opposite the (AMAZING) commentary team of Corey Graves and Tom Phillips.  After a moonsault crossbody, Gulak became angry with Mustafa.  Gulak had enough and saved Tony Nese from a top rope attack, leading to a Tony Nese victory via DQ.  Mustafa took back to the top rope with Gulak’s back turned and ate a rolling cannonball from the top.  I can see this match getting tossed into the preshow for Payback, as that card seems oddly light as it is.
• Gentleman Jack Gallagher vs The King of the Cruiserweights Neville – I think Neville has been lifting with Tony Nese, he’s even bigger than I remember.  If he weren’t a hobbit, he’d never qualify for 205 Live.  I won’t lie to you, I wasn’t incredibly excited about this match going in because it’s not something you haven’t already seen a number of times, I was quickly proven wrong.  This match felt fresh.  Gallagher displayed strength, technique and talent greater than he’s shown in any match up.  Neville seemed to rake the eyes at one point and started his rage assault, ending the match as Neville locks in the Rings of Saturn and picks up the submission victory.  When the show appeared to be over, Neville ran back down the ramp and continued beating Jack Gallagher, attempting to lock the Rings of Saturn back in on him on the ramp.  This drew the save from A Double, who hit the discuss forearm and then locked in the Last Chancery.  Aries stood tall to close out the show.  I’m really excited for this match, yet again.

Please start watching 205 Live.  These guys are beating the living shit out of each other every week, putting on some absolutely incredibly matches, it’s just great.  Viewership should be astounding for something this good, but it isn’t.  If you’ve abstained (because you are insane) from subscribing to the Network, just get the free month and watch a few episodes of 205 Live, or add it to your Hulu queue.  It’s awesome.

I don’t like the new NXT Theme Song, so here’s the old one to get you primed for my recap:

 Tonight’s NXT features a United Kingdom Championship defense, as Jack Gallagher, fresh off the brutal match last night on 205 Live, will attempt to dislodge the belt from Tyler Bate.

The show kicks off with Nikki Cross emerging from the crowd and climbing creepily into the ring.  She finds the ring announcer on the outside and asks Ruby Riot to come out and play.  She obliges.

• Ruby Riot vs Nikki Cross – This wasn’t an actual match, they just sort of beat on each other before the security and WWE Officials (including Drake and the guy that looks like Drake) came out to separate them.  This is a fun little feud to keep them occupied while the rest of the women’s roster seems fairly occupied.
• Bobby Roode (with the new Belt finally over his shoulder) cuts a promo in the back about Hideo Itami.  He said he’s more than willing to battle Itami, but if he wants a title shot, he’s got to earn it.
• Andrade “Cien” Almas vs Drew McIntyre – Seriously, this McIntrye just looks like a Vince McMahon guy.  He’s going to do big things, and I see him having a title match by NXT TakeOver New Orleans.  I wonder about Almas, apparently his antics and partying have gotten to the point where they’re becoming something of a discussion on the commentary desk.  Almas carried the first few minutes of the match, but the newcomer got the win over Cien who is apparently their new Enhancement Talent with Tye Dillinger finally getting the call to the show.  McIntyre via pinfall
• William Regal announces that Ruby Riot and Nikki Cross will actually be a sanctioned match later tonight, so expect a duplication of the section header soon.
• Promo video for Roderick Strong about wanting to be a champion but having trouble letting people in.  It was sort of an odd build.  I guess this will be a recurring segment as it was called “Who is Roderick Strong? Part One”.  Uh…this was a pretty messed up segment.  His dad was shot when he was a kid, but he loves his mom, and she attends a lot of his shows.  I don’t know how to feel about the promo, but now I want her to get to see him win a title.
• Kona Reeves vs Aleister Black – I got a preview of this match at the house show a few weeks ago here in Atlanta.  Kona Reeves is a damn good heel character when he’s given a platform, but I feel like they’re going to protect the hell out of him for a while.  And yes, I still think he’s Braun Strowman’s little brother.  Aleister Black wins a quick one via pinfall.
• Ruby Riot vs Nikki Cross – This one wasn’t so much a match either as it was just a brawl around the ramp and stage area.  They were broken up by officials and security and again just separated.
• William Regal in the backstage area with Asuka (also with the new belt), as he announced that next week there would be a battle royal to determine the new Number One Contender for the NXT Women’s Championship.
• Jack Gallagher vs Tyler Bate for the United Kingdom Championship – In only a second defense of the title since the competition last summer, the Gentleman Jack Gallagher would do his best to bring the belt back stateside, but would fall.  Pretty decent match.  I really can’t wait for them to finally kick off the United Kingdom show, mostly so this can become The Other Three Hours.  Tyler Driver for the win.  Bate retains.