November 21, 2017
From the Toyota Center in Houston, TX
Your hosts are Vic Joseph and Nigel McGuinness
We see a clip from earlier today where Enzo gathers the ‘Zo Train, sans Drew Gulak, around his Thanksgiving dinner table. He tells them about using his power to get matches against the guys they faced on RAW. Enzo is pissed about how they looked last night and says if they make him look good then they might get an early Christmas gift, which is a recommendation for a Cruiserweight Title shot. Enzo asks where Gulak is then the Gobbledy Gooker comes in and dances around to reveal himself as Gulak. He gives a thumbs up and says “How are you doing” before referring to himself as the “Gobbledy Gulaker.” Enzo is shaking his head while Gulak thought he wanted him to loosen up. Gulak made his bit funny as they established the theme of the show, which is the ‘Zo Train vs. Everyone.
Tonight, we will see Mustafa Ali vs. Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari & Noam Dar vs. Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann, and Akira Tozawa vs. Drew Gulak in a street fight.
Gulak comes out for the match, dressed in jeans and cutoff sleeves. He even sports a bandana tied around his leg. The crowd chants “power point” but he yells at them for chanting. Gulak says he is a proud member of the ‘Zo Train and “Enzo Adjacent” so tonight he will be from the streets and will do whatever it takes to end Tozawa’s insufferable chanting. The crowd does Tozawa’s chant as Gulak says he will show his loyalty to Enzo as we see his hands are taped up with “power” written on one and “point” on the other. Gulak is about to show us his power point presentation but is interrupted by Tozawa.
Street Fight: Drew Gulak vs. Akira Tozawa
Gulak ducks outside, upset over the chanting, then returns and chops down Tozawa. Gulak tries a sunset flip but Tozawa rolls through and hits a basement dropkick then chops away. He drops Gulak in the corner then tries a tope but Gulak caught him then hits a suplex on the ramp. Gulak mocks Tozawa while hammering away then rolls him back inside. The crowd starts a “no chants” chant as Gulak takes his sign and rams it into Tozawa’s ribs for a two count. Gulak tosses a few chairs inside and uses them to attack Tozawa. Gulak yells at Tozawa to give up as he leans his sign in the corner. Tozawa blocks a slam then sends Gulak into his sign with a Saito suplex as the handle splinters but does not completely break. Tozawa rolls outside as we get a tables chant so he pulls one out from underneath the ring. Tozawa tries to set it up but Gulak boots him down. Gulak suplexes Tozawa into the corner for a two count then sets up the table after Tozawa rolled outside. Gulak heads out but Tozawa reverses an Irish whip and sends Gulak over the announcers table. Tozawa stands up on the table and flies off with a senton as both men are down. Tozawa rolls Gulak inside then heads underneath the ring for a kendo stick and a trashcan. He brings them inside and puts the can over Gulak’s head then hits it repeatedly with the kendo sitck. He places Gulak on the table with the can still on his head and hits the senton for the win (11:04) ***.
Thoughts: Tozawa gets the win as I presume this feud is now over. It was slow at times but the crowd was into it and Gulak even got some chants. I liked the finish and it was a fun match overall.
Nigel tells us that one of the most feared strikers in the world is coming to 205 Live as we see a video package on Hideo Itami. He will be coming soon.
The ‘Zo Train is backstage. Nese does not care about Itami and reminds Enzo that 205 Live is ‘Zo Town. Enzo tells Nese he better worry about staying on the ‘Zo Train. Swann, Alexander, and Ali make fun off them all in the lamest way possible and promise to embarrass them again. They leave and Enzo tells the others to protect his brand like their livelihood depends on it then we go to break.
Mustafa Ali vs. Tony Nese
Nese stops the match so we can all appreciate and be thankful for his physique. They start the match going back-and-forth then Ali mocks Nese’s pose. Nese runs over Ali then stomps away. Ali fights back and flies out with a dive. He tries for something off of the barricade but Nese cuts him off then kicks him in the air and onto his shoulders before dropping him on the announcers table. Back inside, Nese covers for two then uses a chinlock. He rams Ali into the corner but misses a charge then Ali fights back. Ali starts to run wild and hits a rolling X Factor for a two count. They trade strikes and have a reversal sequence that ends with Ali hitting a tornado DDT for two. Ali heads up top but Nese pulls himself underneath the bottom turnbuckle. Nese then cuts off Ali and hits a running knee smash in the corner for the win (7:08) **3/4.
Thoughts: Good back-and-forth action. I was a bit shocked Nese got the win since Ali has been getting a bit of a push but someone from the ‘Zo Train needed to win a match tonight.
Backstage, Enzo is happy how Nese represented the ‘Zo Train. Dar & Daivari then talk about how they are going to destroy Alexander & Swann tonight. Enzo then says they will not be an embarrassment like some people as Gulak is in the Gobbledy Gulaker costume all depressed asking to go to the bathroom but Enzo says he is on timeout. Enzo then leaves to accompany Dar & Daivari to the ring.
Noam Dar & Ariya Daivari w/ Enzo Amore vs. Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann
Dar and Daivari trade standing holds to start. Daivari cheap shots Alexander in the corner but Alexander ducks a clothesline and hits a headscissors and a dropkick. Swann tags and hits a rolling frog splash for two while Enzo slaps hands with a kid in the front row. Alexander and Dar are in now as Dar blocks a satellite headscissors with a kick to the chest. The ‘Zo Train cut off the ring then knock Swann off of the apron so Alexander cannot make the tag. Alexander gets beat down in the corner then Daivari works a chinlock. Alexander escapes and fights off both men before making the tag. Swann runs wild but Dar distracts the ref and Enzo yanks him down. Daivari hits the Persian Lion but that only gets two as Enzo yells at him to get the job done so he wants Dar to tag into the match. Swann almost puts Dar away with a small package. Enzo distracts the ref after Swann hit a roundhouse kick but Alexander yanks Enzo down and grabs him by the neck. Alexander takes down Daivari but Dar hits Alexander with a baseball slide. Dar goes after Swann but eats a roundhouse kick then is put away with the Phoenix Splash (8:07) **1/2. After the match, Enzo and Daivari attack Swann. Ali & Tozawa come out to help but are blindsided by Nese & Gulak as the ‘Zo Train destroy Alexander & Swann to end the show and get a mix of cheers and boos. Enzo then heads up top and and splashes both men as Enzo & The ‘Zo Train dancing as that gets more boos. Enzo then ends the show by asking Alexander & Swann “how you doin’.”
Thoughts: The match itself was fine but the real news was the end with the ‘Zo Train standing tall and showing that they are a force.
Final Thoughts: The purpose of the show was to establish the ‘Zo Train vs. the other babyfaces on 205 Live as the main focus going forward. Also, Itami will be on the show at some point and they have to name a challenger to the Cruiserweight Championship soon. I thought this was a solid show.