Huntington Center – Toledo, OH – Tuesday, February 12, 2019
We open with a video package highlighting the feud between Tony Nese and Noam Dar. Tonight, they square off in a No Disqualification Match! Also, Akira Tozawa and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy will sign the contract for their Elimination Chamber battle.
Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, and Aiden English are on commentary.
~MATCH #1~
Gentleman Jack Gallagher (w/ Drew Gulak) defeats Lince Dorado (w/ Gran Metalik & Kalisto). Gulak joins the commentators for this match. This is a very pronounced style clash, as Dorado tries to fly around and work a fast pace, while Gallagher works a slow pace with a mat-based approach. When Gallagher gets Dorado on the mat, he focuses on his back and wears him down. Dorado comes back and flies, and the momentum swings back and forth with plenty of near-falls. He tries a hurricanrana from the top rope but Gallagher rolls through into a sunset flip to get the pin. Good match, and Gallagher going over a Luchador makes sense for the story they’re telling with Humberto Carrillo.
Rating: ***
Backstage, Kayla Braxton reveals that Nese and Dar have been placed in separate locker rooms until their match tonight. Humberto Carrillo walks by and Braxton asks him what he thinks about Gulak and Gallagher’s recruitment efforts. He seems wary, but says that if two great wrestlers want to work with him, he should at least listen. That’s just sensible.
Elsewhere, Ariya Daivari is complaining about his past associations with Enzo Amore and Hideo Itami. He says he’s going it alone from now on.
In yet another backstage area, Maria and Mike Kanellis are talking about Mike’s recent losses. Maria says all the losses will only benefit them in the future.
~MATCH #2~
Tony Nese defeats Noam Dar in a No Disqualification Match. Dar attacks right away before Nese can even get in the ring. They brawl around ringside, and Nese fights back to take control. Back in the ring Nese uses a steel chair to his advantage, even being a little creative with it. Dar fights back and focuses on the left knee. Since Dar has used a Kneebar as a finisher, that makes perfect sense to me. Dar also attacks Nese’s arm, even using a chair during a Fujiwara Armbar. Both men execute a lot of chair-assisted offense, but the crowd just isn’t reacting at all. It’s annoying. The crowd really only wants to see someone go through a table, if their chants are anything to go by. When they go back to the floor, Dar traps Nese in an Armbar on the steel steps, but Nese powers up and drives Dar through the announce table! Great spot that finally woke up the crowd. Back in the ring Nese covers for two! Dar fights back and traps Nese in an Ankle Lock but Nese escapes by crawling to the floor. Nese abuses Dar with a chair and then crushes him with a Running Nese against the barricade. That better be it, and indeed it is. What a great win for Nese. That was a brutal match that built really well and made both guys look tough and determined. Best WWE match for either guy, probably.
Rating: ****¼
Now we move to hype the Cruiserweight Title match for Sunday with a video package. Back from that, General Manager Drake Maverick is with WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy and challenge Akira Tozawa. Murphy says he’s beyond Tozawa and the entire division, and that his opponent is history itself. Tozawa disagrees, reminding everyone that he beat Neville for the title once upon a time. Ugh, this match should rule.
JZ Says
Awesome episode of wrestling this week, with a great main event, a solid opener, and build towards match on the pay-per-view that I really, really want to see. Thanks 205 Live!
