WWE 205 Live Review - September 26, 2018

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Lio Rush def. Noam Dar

I'm glad Rush is finally being featured in front of a bigger audience on Raw with him serving as Bobby Lashley's "hype man" of sorts, but I also appreciate that he's still a mainstay on the 205 Live roster (for now) where he can show off his in-ring skills. This was a very nice match from him and Dar. They never went all out like I feel they could have, but it was an enjoyable outing with the right result.

The Brian Kendrick def. Local Athlete

Well, this didn't last long at all. It literally consisted of Kendrick kicking the dude in the face, locking in the Captain's Hook and forcing him to submit. Short, sweet, and straight to the point. I like it. Afterward, Drew Gulak and Gentleman Jack Gallagher took turns beating up the local athlete, with the commentators emphasizing how frustrated Gulak is coming off his loss to Cedric Alexander from last week and questioning what their next move will be.

Mustafa Ali vs. Hideo Itami Ended in a Double Count-out

This vicious side of Itami was what I loved most about his character in NXT and it's great he's bringing that to 205 Live, too. It works perfectly against the valiant and lovable babyface in Ali, which is why their chemistry is so strong together. This was another quality encounter from them, and although the action itself was entertaining, the story they told with Ali battling back against Itami was especially excellent. The double count-out finish was a bit flat, but I assume that was done to protect both guys while keeping the feud alive.

Overall Show

Taping 205 Live before SmackDown Live hasn't made too much of a difference so far, but it's better than people leaving after SmackDown ends, so it's a step in the right direction, nonetheless. As for this episode, it was a good piece of business from the Cruiserweight brand. The two advertised matches delivered and the Kendrick squash match was quick and effective. Next week, TJP will battle Kalisto and Akira Tozawa will take on Gallagher.