As previously noted, Jim Ross will be one of the announcers for the upcoming women’s tournament that will be taped on July 13 and 14th. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Lita is being considered to join J.R. on the commentating booth.
While the show is being taped in July, there is no official announcement yet on when WWE plans to air the shows on the WWE Network. We will keep you updated.
As seen on WWE programming lately, WWE has been doing a lot of multi-person matches. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that “booking is slow” and that’s the reason the viewers are being stuck with these types of matches.
While WWE has things planned out for the upcoming SummerSlam pay-per-view event, the company doesn’t have many creative ideas for storylines until then. These multi-person matches are essentially being done as a way to fill up time.
Taz opens today’s show speaking about last night’s episode of Smackdown Live.
He says that he liked last night’s show, but he has a few criticisms as well. He says that Nakamura should have came out to the ring first in the opening segment of the night. Having Nakamura do his full entrance while all the other performers were standing in the ring felt incredibly long and awkward to Taz.
He understands that WWE wanted Nakamura to come out last because they’re building him as the biggest star. However, having him come out last put heels like Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler in a bad situation, because Taz expected those guys to just attack Nakamura while he was finishing his entrance in the middle of the ring.
Taz also points out that it was strange for Shane McMahon (a babyface authority figure) to give Kevin Owens (a heel) his way, after Owens complained about not being an entrant in the Money in the Bank ladder match. If Shane was a heel authority figure that would have made sense, but heels are supposed to complain, and it’s strange when babyfaces succumb to heel demands.
Taz says A.J. Styles should win the Money in the Bank ladder match in his opinion, because Styles is a top babyface who can surprise the Champion at any moment and have a terrific match. Styles is also good on the mic and can back up his briefcase win with believable promos.
While speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Sean “X-Pac” Walman revealed that Val Venis almost became one of the members of D-Generation X if former WWE creative writer Vince Russo had his way. Waltman revealed that the members of the group were totally against the idea, so it never happened.
“Russo wanted to put Val Venis in DX, but we said no. We stuck to our guns because he wasn’t right for DX.
Also during the interview, Waltman compared The Bullet Club, which is led by Kenny Omega, and how it operates very similar to how the Wolpac did in WCW.
“We all had our role, we were all very happy in that role, and no one wanted the other’s role,” said Waltman. “They’re the same way. Why tinker with the recipe when it is just right?”
Russo welcomes Shawn Hernandez to the show.
Russo says he doesn’t understand what happened with Hernandez during his most recent run with TNA, but there’s no denying that LAX is not the same without Hernandez. Hernandez informs that there was a contract situation between Lucha Underground and TNA that has left him in a world of trouble and legal problems. Unfortunately, he’s not at liberty to discuss any of the details at this moment.
Russo says that there’s no doubt in his mind that Dixie Carter had a crush on Hernandez during their time working together in TNA. Hernandez says that in 2007 and 2008 Carter started to communicate and converse with him more regularly, but in 2009 after he broke his neck things got really strange.
Carter flew him to Nashville and had $2000 worth of clothes laid out for him to try on. She told Hernandez that they were going to do a photoshoot and the photos would be utilized for an upcoming push when he returned from injury. Hernandez tried on all the different clothes and took the pictures, but those shots were never used on TNA programming. Russo laughs and says there’s no doubt Carter had an obsession with Hernandez.
Coming out of Monday’s episode of RAW, Dave Meltzer mentioned on Wrestling Observer Radio that the company is setting up a mix tag match that feature Alicia Fox and Noam Dar vs. Sasha Banks and a male partner.
Meltzer indicated that Banks’ partner will probably be Cedric Alexander, as Alexander has history with Noam Dar and Alicia Fox prior to his injury. With Alexander scheduled to return from injury on this week’s episode of 205 Live, it’s very possible that they set up the match as early as tonight.
In regards to the RAW Women’s Championship, Banks isn’t expected to be put back in the title picture anytime soon. Right now they are doing a program between Alexa Bliss and Bayley.
We start off and Brian Kendrick talks about Akira Tozawa. He mentions how Tozawa made a name for himself in Japan over the last ten years. He still has a lot to learn to be a success in the US. He wanted Tozawa to be his student but Tozawa said no. Tozawa disrespected him so he had to teach Tozawa a lesson. He taught him lesson after lesson until Tozawa thought he could teach him a lesson. There is only one thing to do and that is to settle things in the ring. When he was ready to put him away but he would not go away. Brian says he is the man with the plan and the master. He is here to teach Tozawa one more lesson. Was what he did to Tozawa the right thing? Now he cannot think of a better way to end this than to have a street fight. He will teach Tozawa the final lesson.
We are in Toledo, Ohio and your announcers are Tom Phillips and Corey Graves.
Tom and Corey talk about the Street Fight and Corey says Kendrick has the advantage.
Rich Swann versus Ariya Daivari
Daivari yells at Swann about his shirt from last week and Daivari pushes Swann but Swann with a drop kick. Daivari goes to the floor and Swann with a baseball slide. They return to the ring and Daivari begs for mercy. Swann avoids going into the turnbuckles. Swann flips over Daivari and hits a drop kick that sends Daivari to the floor. Swann goes for a pescado but Daivari moves. Swann is sent shoulder first into the apron.
They return to teh ring and Daivari works on the shoulder. Daivari with a snap mare and knee drop to the injured arm. Daivari with a top wrist lock. Swann with a forearm but Daivari with a Harley Race knee for a near fall. Daivari with a forearm to the back and he puts the arm over the top rope and drops it on the rope. Daivari with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot and Daivari with a double knee arm breaker for a near fall. Daivari with a Cobra Clutch. Daivari with a neck breaker for a near fall.
Swann with a forearm and Daivari with a punch that is blocked by Swann. Swann with punches and a clothesline followed by a kick to the midsection and a flip leg drop to the back of the head. Swann with a back heel kick for a near fall. Swann goes up top and hits the Phoenix Splash for the three count.
Winner: Rich Swann
After the match, Noam Dar pushes Swann off the turnbuckles while he celebrates his victory.
We see Brian Kendrick getting ready for his match against Akira Tozawa.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at the feud between Austin Aries and Neville.
Neville is appearing via satellite and so is Austin Aries in similarly designed rooms. Corey mentions that they will be in a Submission Match and he asks about how this will be the biggest challenge for Neville. Neville says this is an asinine question. From the second he set foot in this division, he has beaten everyone, including the great Austin Aries . . . twice. He wants to know who Corey has been talking to.
Austin says if you want to talk about pretenders. You said you defeated him twice. Austin says that he beat Neville the last time they were in the ring.
Neville tells Austin to calm down. He says Austin has had multiple opportunities to take his crown and satisfy your foolish ambition.
Austin says he has earned this opportunity. He mentions that Neville put his finger in his eye to help him win at Wrestlemania. At Payback, he has him locked in the Last Chancery again and you grabbed the referee to get intentionally disqualified.
Neville says this is slander.
Aries says this is not slander beacuse this is the truth. Do you think you are the first person to put roadblocks in front of him? Are you the first person to try to knock him down? Are the you the first person to get someone to do his dirty work to stop him? This is nothing new to him. Everyone knows that you have been scraping by by the skin of your teeth and you cannot do it a third time. He will take his hobbled leg and he will take his anger from these missed opportunity and he will inflict pain on you. Austin says he has a catalog of submission holds and he will finish off Neville with the Last Chancery and he will make Neville tap out.
Neville says that Aries is hoping his knee will regain its strength. Whatever you want to tell yourself, you are not ready to step into the ring with the King of the Cruiserweights. Neville tells Aries to walk away now because he will not be held responsible for what happens at Extreme Rules.
We go to commercial.
Cedric Alexander versus Johnny Moon
Alexander blocks a kick and he hits a back elbow. Moon goes to the floor and Alexander follows and he punches Moon. They return to the ring and Alexander with a springboard clothesline. Alexander hits the Lumbar Check for the three count.
Winner: Cedric Alexander
We take a look at Drew Gulak’s campaign against flying on 205 Live. We see Gulak’s attack on Mustafa Ali last week.
Drew Gulak has a statement. He says he believes in a better 205 Live. He represents the traditions laid down by the greatest superstars, the cruiserweights. He does not think of showboats, people who take advantage of what they do in the ring for a little applause. Mustafa Ali is what he is campaigning against. If he wanted to see that, he would go to Cirque du Soleil.
Akira Tozawa walks in the back as we go to commercial.
Brian Kendrick versus Akira Tozawa in a Street Fight
The bell rings and Kendrick goes under the ring but Tozawa with a suicide dive head butt. Tozawa is sent into the announce table by Kendrick. Tozawa hip tosses Kendrick onto and over the announce table. Tozawa sends Kendrick back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Tozawa with a snap mare and kick to the chest followed by a back senton for a near fall. Tozawa with a chop and then he connects with more chops. Kendrick with a kick and then he gets Kendrick to flinch so Tozawa with a jab to Kendrick. Tozawa goes over the top rope when Kendrick moves and both men are down on the floor.
Kendrick and Tozwa go under the ring and both pull out a table. Kendrick with a forearm and Tozawa fires back. Tozawa sends Kendrick back into the ring and Kendrick with a knee. Tozawa with a rana. Tozawa with a running forearm to knock Kendrick off the apron. Tozawa goes for a suicide dive head butt, but Kendrick throws his jacket at Tozawa to stop him. Kendrick with forearms and then he suplexes Tozawa to the floor.
Kendrick sends Tozawa back into the ring and Kendrick goes under the ring and he finds the purple duct tape they use for the ropes and Tozawa stops him. Kendrick with a boot to the head. Kendrick wraps the tape around the arms and then around Tozawa’s mouth as he applies the Captain’s Hook. Tozawa gets to the ropes to allow him to get back to his feet. Kendrick goes for Sliced Bread #2 but Tozawa sends Kendrick to the floor. Tozawa removes the tape from around his mouth.
Kendrick goes up the ramp and Tozawa with a running boot to the head. Tozawa with a double sledge to the back as they go to the stage. Tozawa Irish whips Kendrick into the LED board but Kendrick stops short and Kendrick sends Tozawa into the LED board. Kendrick with a knee to the midsection as they return to ringside. Kendrick sends Tozawa into the ring steps. Kendrick gets the duct tape again and he tries to tape Tozawa to the ring post. Kendrick gets his belt and he whips Tozawa with it. The referee helps to get the tape off as Kendrick pulls the table closer to Tozawa.
Kendrick sets up the table but Tozawa with a forearm and then he whips Kendrick with the belt. They go into the ring. Tozawa continues to whip Kendrick and then Tozawa goes up top but misses a double stomp when Kendrick moves. Kendrick with the Captain’s Hook but Tozawa gets to his feet and they both go to the floor as the hold is released. Kendrick sends Tozawa into the announce table. Tozawa with forearms as they fight by the ring steps. Kendrick sets for a Tiger Driver onto the steps but Tozawa escapes. Kendrick tries for a suplex off the stairs and Tozawa with a gourdbuster onto the floor.
Tozawa with a back heel kick and he misses a round kick. Tozawa with a Saito suplex and Kendrick is not moving. Kendrick gets to his knees and he crawls towards the table. Tozawa with a DDT onto the steps. Tozawa puts Kendrick on the table and Tozawa goes up top and he goes for a back senton and hits it as they go through the table. Tozawa carries Kendrick into the ring and Tozawa gets the three count.
Winner: Akira Tozawa
After the match, officials check on Kendrick.
Continue to refresh this page for updates…
