It’s a come full circle moment for Paul London as he returns to Major League Wrestling for the first time in 21 years at Summer of the Beasts ‘24. The live event streaming worldwide on the company’s YouTube will see the revolutionary veteran square off with emerging talent BRG. London remembers stepping foot in an MLW ring at a similar career stage as his upcoming opponent in 2003. 

“I remember that I was really excited about working with Jerry Lynn like I always am,” London reminisced. “I’m always happy to see him. He is probably the most lovable person in wrestling or one of them at least. I know [Christopher] Daniels was there as well. I think I was most excited about the caliber of talent that Court [Bauer] amassed. I was freshly 22 or 23. It was pretty cool.” 

The now-44-year-old calls the experience of returning to the promotion after so much time surreal. “The fact it has been more than 20 years,” London added. “I really am old.”

London had one hell of a run since his first appearance in MLW. He went on to Ring of Honor followed by multiple years in WWE before his release in 2008. From there, he continued entertaining crowds around the world and made a stop back on regular television in the form of Lucha Underground. London is excited about facing BRG.  

“It’s an exciting opportunity, especially for him. I got to see what he is all about. He has a lot of talent but a big mouth,” London concluded. “He has long hair. I’m sure it’s his natural hair color. I’m curious which Ryan Gosling is actually his favorite. I’m a curious guy. I also think about other famous people Mark Paul Gosselaar. Maybe he and I will have something in common after I give him a wrestling lesson.” 

After all this time London has enjoyed the journey. He remains grateful that people still responding to him after all this time.

“I don’t want people to respond for some nostalgia nonsense though,” he said. “I want them to respond because they didn’t have a choice. That’s always the challenge for me is how can I either not become stale and give the audience something else. It’s intimidating. New York City is a place I’ve always had a lot of good matches there. The one-year anniversary of Ring of Honor we had there. I had a lot of good moments and friends there… have a lot on my plate and none of it is soft food.” 

Returning to Wrestling Full-Time

Working in various places throughout the year is something London has always enjoyed. However, he doesn’t rule out signing a contract with another major company.

“I think about it every now and then,” he said. “Sure, if the money is right, but there are other things to consider. I think at this stage of where I’m at so much has to do with if I like this. Am I into this? Is this creative? Am I in a position where I feel I’m going to look stupid or this is bad? It’s very similar to acting where if you get handed a terrible script. What is the point? Then it doesn’t matter what the movie is. I have to like what I’m doing. 

“There are projects that don’t pan out. That’s fine. I’m not saying I haven’t taken jobs because of a payday either. It can be a crippling decision-maker if that’s what you base your value on. To me, to sign a contract with a wrestling company would be a matter of who is on the roster, who is in the office, what kind of responsibilities they are looking for in me, and traveling. Will I go to a place where I’ll get devoured by mosquitos? Those kinds of things.”

Giving Back

London enjoys guiding the next generation along. It’s something he aims to do in this current aspect of his career. 

“If I can help someone preserve their body or avoid mistakes I made,” he said. “If I can help someone avoid that stuff, I’m happy to do that. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the lightbulb go off. I like to help those who do want this for the right reasons.”

His Former Partner Brian Kendrick

In this world of reunions, one we shouldn’t expect any time soon is London to get back into a tag team with Brian Kendrick. The dynamic duo of high flyers turned heads with a strong run in WWE, evening winning the tag team titles. 

“No. We don’t talk,” London answered on the potential of a reunion. “He is doing his own thing and I’m doing mine. It has been mentioned in the past, but I’m just not interested at all. I’m not saying it will never happen. If some money mark wants to come in and say, I’ll give you $50,000 for this one match.” I’m interested now. That’s not going to happen. Who knows? As of now, there is no interest in my book. I wish him well though. I hope he is a happy man.” 

The State of Pro Wrestling

Given how ahead of their time the popular team was, Kendrick and London certainly would have made waves together in 2024. However, London doesn’t live in this line of thinking. 

“Anyone can be a wrestler now. The standards and integrity have been lost in the wrestling business. That really bothers me,” London said. “I like seeing what creative people do with wrestling now. The athleticism is there and better than it has ever been. It’s outstanding and spectacular, but I don’t buy in the way I used to. I don’t feel the way I used to. We’re all marks at the end of the day. There are varying degrees of mark-ism. We all want to be led along a great story. I want to believe. Wrestling is overly planned, choreographed, and overly produced. It takes a lot of the soul out of the wrestlers.

“I don’t know. Trust your talent and see what happens. There is something thrilling and exciting about not knowing what will happen. That’s as real as it gets. I do love wrestling. I really love it. Thank god for YouTube because I get to watch all these things.” 

Despite his hot takes, London still genuinely enjoys what he does for a living. He even has some favorites that happen to be under the MLW umbrella. 

“I’m a big Matt Riddle fan. I met him in Germany years ago before he went up to Stamford,” London recalled. “We got along. He is a real dude and I really like the guy. Then I watch his work and i reminds me a lot of Kevin Von Erich. It’s not because of being barefoot. He has a really organic way of how he moves. He was a fighter so he gets it. I’m excited to see his match with Matthew Justice, who I know is a wild one.

There are so many guys I think highly of. TJP is another one. He is an encyclopedia of wrestling holds and moves and combinations. There are so many that impress me.” 

There is another London that also admires and will be in action at the big show – and he happens to wear a mask. 

“Buying generic toys meant to be The Rock or someone has been fun for me,” London explained. “I recently bought this crapy little ring with luchadors in it and I think it was like $3. One of the figures is Mistico. I was like, ‘Should I bring that? Should I have him take a picture with it?’ I know it’s weird, but I’m such a fan. I love wrestling.” 

MLW Summer of the Beasts ‘24 airs live at 7:30 p.m. ET on YouTube. 

Former WWE Superstar Brian Kendrick is seemingly back with WWE as a producer for the promotion.

Kendrick first joined WWE in 2002 and has made several returns, the most recent being in 2016 as part of the Cruiserweight Classic.

In January of the year, Kendrick asked for his release from the promotion, which was granted on February 1.

Survivor Series WarGames

Kendrick didn’t appear on-screen at last weekend’s WWE Survivor Series WarGames event, but he did have a role backstage.

Fightful Select reports that Kendrick worked alongside Jason Jordan to produce the SmackDown Women’s Championship match between Ronda Rousey and Shotzi.

Prior to his departure from WWE earlier this year, Kendrick had spent close to a year as a backstage producer for the WWE NXT brand.

After being attacked by Harland, Kendrick ‘resigned’ from his backstage role in order to face the now-AEW star, but the match didn’t take place due to Kendrick’s departure.

Controversy

The same day as his departure from WWE, it was announced that Kendrick would be making his AEW debut on the February 2, episode, in a match against Jon Moxley.

Hours after the announcement, the match was canceled due to controversial comments made by the former Cruiserweight Champion in the past.

Kendrick’s controversial claims include stating that the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting was staged, and said in 2011 that the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center was faked with the use of holograms.

Kendrick had also claimed that the number of people killed during the Holocaust had been exaggerated and that gas chambers were used to delouse Jewish victims, rather than kill them.

Kendrick later apologized for the comments and has worked with Holocaust memorial groups to learn more and try and make amends.

Brian Kendrick was slated to make his debut for AEW on Wednesday night during Dynamite from Chicago. Instead, he was pulled from the show after some controversial statements he made in the past came to light.

Kendrick had previously asked for his release from WWE and was granted his request. He was then booked to face Jon Moxley this week on Dynamite until just hours before the show.

A video circulated on Twitter Wednesday of Kendrick making some reprehensible anti-semitic statements during a 2011 interview.

“We’ve been made aware of abhorrent & offensive comments made in the past by Brian Kendrick,” AEW President Tony Khan stated. “There’s no room in AEW for the views expressed by Brian. We think it’s best for all that Brian be pulled from tonight’s card as we gather more info. We’ll announce a replacement bout ASAP.”

Moxley ended up facing Wheeler Yuta in the opening match of AEW Dynamite. The two had a fantastic match, and after the bout, Moxley and Bryan Danielson had a face to face where Bryan pitched an idea for the pair to team.

As all this was going on, Kendrick took to his Twitter page to apologize for his comments from a decade ago.

“I apologize for all the hurt and embarassment I have caused with my words. These are not my beliefs and never were beliefs of mine, and I crossed the line,” Kendrick said in his first statement.

He then posted a second which read, “I spread the most vile comments without thinking of the damage it would cause. I will live with this regret for the rest of my life. I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused.”

• AEW Dynamite Results (2/2): CM Punk vs. MJF, Bryan Danielson Makes An Offer To Jon Moxley

Kendrick’s comments consisted of a minimization of the Holocaust, some wild claims that the Rothschild and Rockefeller families were “interbreeding,” claims of a link between Zionists and the Illuminati, some strange conspiracy theory ideas about Jewish medics and a 2010 Haitian earthquake, and more.

You can read an article by Culture Crossfire from 2013 which covers some of this.

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.

Brian Kendrick will not be appearing on the Feb. 2 episode of AEW Dynamite.

Kendrick requested his WWE release and had his wish granted. Wrestling fans rallied behind Kendrick and rejoiced after it was announced that he’d be making his AEW debut against Jon Moxley.

Oh how quickly things can change.

Past Comments Resurface

Twitter user Dan Pierce brought attention to a 2011 interview where Brian Kendrick expressed antisemitic views. David Bixenspan unearthed a lengthier version of the video and it has done Kendrick no favors.

AEW boss Tony Khan caught wind of the interview and has pulled Kendrick from Dynamite.

“We’ve been made aware of abhorrent & offensive comments made in the past by Brian Kendrick. There’s no room in AEW for the views expressed by Brian. We think it’s best for all that Brian be pulled from tonight’s card as we gather more info. We’ll announce a replacement bout ASAP.”

The former WWE star claimed that the Rothschilds and Rockefellers were “interbreeding.” He also said that there was a link between Zionists and the Illuminati.

Near the end of the video, Kendrick suggested that “Jewish medics” were flown out to Haiti in response to the 2010 earthquake in order to remove bodies and eyeballs. In the interview, he also revealed he attended a lecture set up by a British conspiracy theorist known for having antisemitic views. 

There’s a lot more to unpack in the video, which you can watch here. An article by Culture Crossfire from 2013 also covers more of Kendrick’s conspiracy theories.

Former WWE Cruiserweight champion Brian Kendrick will debut for All Elite Wrestling on Wednesday’s edition of AEW Dynamite.

Kendrick requested his release from WWE in December, as first reported by PWInsider. Over a month later, AEW’s latest match announcement shows that Kendrick is in fact gone from WWE.

Brian Kendrick is jumping right into the deep end of AEW. He’ll battle former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley when AEW returns to Chicago, IL.

Kendrick was last seen in action for WWE on the 205 Live brand in 2020. Aside from those bouts, he did work a few Saudi Arabia battle royal matches. He hasn’t wrestled on WWE Raw or Smackdown since December 2017, but did briefly appear on NXT 2.0 for a storyline with Harland that was supposed to lead to a match, but never happened. 

Behind the scenes, Kendrick had been serving as a producer with the company. He has yet to publicly comment on his departure from WWE. 

WWE superstar Mustafa Ali still wants out of the company.

Ali posted on Twitter this morning that he refused to be in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. He also shared that he’s adamant about wanting to leave the WWE. Ali had requested his release on January 16th. However, the WWE refused to honor his wishes.

“No, I would not like to be in rumble. I would like my release,” wrote Ali.

Mustafa Ali Relationship with WWE

Ali’s Twitter post reconfirms that he and the WWE aren’t on good terms. The company has yet to share if he will participate in the Royal Rumble. While he isn’t on good terms with the company, both fans and wrestlers continue to show their support for Ali. A fan shared that the WWE on FOX’s Twitter account blocked her for voicing support for him, and Ali decided to block WWE on Fox. Based on Ali’s social media posts, it’s unclear if the company will be able to convince him to compete tonight.

WWE Refusing Releases

Ali isn’t the only talent that wants to leave the company. PWInsider Mike Johnson reported that Brian Kendrick requested his release several weeks ago and hasn’t appeared at NXT tapings. However, the WWE hasn’t allowed him to go either. It’s unclear why the WWE refuses to grant Kendrick or Ali their releases.

The WWE faced criticism from fans last year for releasing talent. The company released over 80 wrestlers, claiming that the decision was due to budget cuts. However, they also praised themselves for having a successful year financially. With both Ali and Kendrick requesting their release, WWE fans wonder why they are hesitant to allow them to leave.

Brian Kendrick, who has been working backstage in a producer’s role for NXT and 205 Live, has reportedly asked for his WWE release. According to PWInsider, Kendrick asked for his release 6 weeks ago but remains with the company as of this writing.

“We can confirm that Brian Kendrick, who had most recently been working as a producer on WWE NXT and 205 Live, requested a release from the company weeks ago and has not been to any TV tapings in Orlando in some time,” wrote Mike Johnson. 

“We are told Kendrick has been waiting for a release ‘at least’ six weeks.”

– PWInsider on Brian Kendrick’s status with WWE

Brian Kendrick finds himself in a similar situation as Mustafa Ali. Mustafa Ali publicly requested his WWE release earlier this month. WWE has yet to grant that release, prompting fans on social media to use the hashtag, #FreeAli.

He was with WWE from 2005 to 2009. During that run, he won tag team gold along with Paul London twice. He’d return to WWE in 2014 as a trainer but then got back in the ring for the 2016 Cruiserweight Classic and 205 Live.

Kendrick is also a former WWE Cruiserweight Champion. He and former tag team partner Paul London won Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Tag Team of the Year award in 2007.

The WWE Performance Center YouTube channel released a new video that looks at Brian Kendrick’s work for the company outside the ring. During it, it was revealed that Kendrick has retired as an in-ring performer for WWE. 

Kendrick has been working as a Producer for the 205 Live brand in recent months. He started out his pro wrestling career by being trained by Shawn Michaels and Rudy Boy Gonzalez and got his start by going by the name, Spanky. He signed a WWE developmental deal where he went to work for Memphis Championship Wrestling. It didn’t work out at the time so he was released and then became a top star in Ring of Honor in addition to his work in Japan’s ZERO-ONE.   

Kendrick had several stints with WWE over the years. He most notably had a run with Paul London as the WWE Tag Team Champions and Ezekiel Jackson as his partner. He also spent time in TNA Wrestling. When WWE did the Cruiserweight Classic in 2016, he returned to be part of the revived division.

He’s helped train various wrestlers including Eva Marie at his school in California. His last match came on the October 28th edition of 205 Live where he worked a tag team bout. 

Two matches have been revealed for WWE 205 Live.

WWE sent out a video on their official Twitter account of 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick announcing two big matches for Tuesday’s episode of the show in Corpus Christi, TX at the American Bank Center on the WWE Network.

Those matches are Brian Kendrick taking on Lince Dorado in a singles match as well as Musta Ali versus Buddy Murphy, who just lost to WWE Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander on last week’s episode.  

“EXCLUSIVE: Per @WWEMaverick, tomorrow on #205Live we will witness two HUGE matchups in the form of @mrbriankendrick vs. @LuchadorLD and @MustafaAliWWE vs. @WWE_Murphy!”

EXCLUSIVE: Per @WWEMaverick, tomorrow on #205Live we will witness two HUGE matchups in the form of @mrbriankendrick vs. @LuchadorLD and @MustafaAliWWE vs. @WWE_Murphy! pic.twitter.com/LBoG4hzE6l

— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2018

What are your thoughts on these matches being announced for this show by the sports entertainment company? Sound off in the comment section below.

– On last night’s episode of Monday Night RAW, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor went one-on-one in an amazing match, while Intercontinental Champion The Miz sat in on commentary. Miz will defend his title against both Balor and Rollins in a Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 34 this weekend.

After Rollins and Balor’s amazing match in Atlanta last night, 2018 WWE Hall Of Fame inductee Bubba Ray Dudley took to Twitter to comment on the bout:

The #RAW and #SDLive before ‘Mania are probably the most “nerve wracking” shows of the year because no-one wants to get hurt before the big one.

Great job Finn and Seth…Strong match.@BustedOpenRadio

— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) April 3, 2018

– PWInsider is reporting that former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Brian Kendrick was backstage at last night’s episode of RAW. Notable injured names that weren’t backstage include Jason Jordan and Big Cass.

– On RAW this past Monday Hideo Itami hit a GTS on Brian Kendrick that caused the former Cruiserweight Champion to suffer a broken nose and orbital bone. WWE sent out a Tweet to update fans on Kendrick’s status, and Itami responded by issuing out a ‘get well soon’ Tweet to Kendrick:

BREAKING: @mrbriankendrick sustained a broken nose and broken orbital bone at the hands of @HideoItami's #GTS. pic.twitter.com/OiyzVHcHj4

— WWE (@WWE) December 26, 2017

Get well soon #respect https://t.co/7IG4wzIr8Z

— KENTA aka Lil’K (@KENTAG2S) December 27, 2017

– WWE posted a clip of Asuka commenting on her undefeated streak and the upcoming all-female Royal Rumble match next month. Asuka said she’s still undefeated and that’s not going to change at the Rumble:

After another victory at #WWEHartford, @WWEAsuka marches forward towards the Women’s #RoyalRumble. pic.twitter.com/UDgCy5iItQ

— WWE (@WWE) December 29, 2017

– WWE held a live event from Madison Square Garden last night, and after his match against Kane, Braun Strowman celebrated in the ring by using Hulk Hogan’s mannerisms. Check out a photo here:

– Hideo Itami has used the GTS as his finishing maneuver for quite some time on WWE TV, however, after a recent incident in his match with Brian Kendrick on RAW this past Monday, there’s speculation the company could be banning the move. On 205 Live last night Itami defeated Jack Gallagher using a new finisher – Neville’s Rings Of Saturn.

This feeds the speculation that WWE could be shelving the move. With Itami now using the Rings Of Saturn there’s also speculation that Neville won’t be coming back to the company. We’ll keep you updated.

Cruiserweight competitor Brian Kendrick will be out of action for approximately two months with a broken nose and broken orbital bone.

The injury occurred on Monday’s RAW when Hideo Itami delivered a brutal Go To Sleep on the former Cruiserweight champion. The knee shattered several bones in Kendrick’s face.

WWE.com has provided an update on Kendrick’s condition, noting that the nose break is “minimal” and the orbital bone fracture thankfully will not require surgery.

205 Live
April 11th 2017
Boston, MA

1. The Brian Kendrick vs. Mustafa Ali

Kendrick lost to Tozawa last week, and finally got taught a lesson himself. This week he is taking on the surging Mustafa Ali, who has set himself apart from others in the cruiserweight mid-card as of late. Kendrick locked Ali in the Captain’s Hook and the bell rang. Kendrick let go of the hold but Ali didn’t tap. Turns out Tozawa rang the bell on the outside.
Ali then turned the tables on Kendrick and hit the inverted 450 splash.
Tozawa then told Kendrick this was lesson #2: looks can be deceiving (he was dressed as the ring bell guy). For the second week in a row Tozawa beats Kendrick at his own game.
Winner: Mustafa Ali

2. Rich Swann vs. Johnny Ocean

The newcomer Ocean got in a little bit of offence, though this was still a showcase match for Swann. He hits a roundhouse kick and the phoenix splash for the win.
Swann gets on the mic after the match and again takes credit for the gifts given to Alicia Fox. This brought out Noam Dar who went back and forth with Swann. This brought out Alicia Fox who snapped a solid Billy Madison reference when she mentioned she has noticed “you looking at me Swann!”. Fox had another gift in her hand that Dar tried to take credit for, but this gift turned out to shoot white powered all over Fox.
Winner: Rich Swann

3. TJ Perkins vs. Gentleman Jack Gallagher

This was Perkins first match since embracing a new heel-ish attitude. The winner of the inaugural cruiserweight classic has grown frustrated in recent weeks as he continues to fall farther out of title contention. Perkins through Gallagher head first into the ring post, leading to a solid Fight Club movie reference by Corey Graves when he said “I am Jack’s complete state of unconsciousness”. After that Perkins hit the Detonation kick for the mild upset victory.
After the match Neville came to ringside and raised the hand of Perkins in an act that solidified TJP’s heel turn.
Winner: TJ Perkins

205 Live
February 28th 2017
Xcel Energy Center
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Lince Dorado vs. Noam Dar w/Alicia Fox
Dar needed a win here as he lost clean to Togawa on Raw, which seems to happen frequently for him. During this match someone delivered flowers to Alicia Fox, but it was unclear who sent them. Fox seemed to really enjoy receiving them however, and at one point even ate a couple of them.
Noam Dar wins clean with a running kick. After the match Dar said that he sent the flowers to Fox, but he may not have been telling the truth about that…

Winner: Noam Dar

Austin Aries interviews Akira Tozawa
Aries conducted an in-ring interview with Tozawa. He asked him why he turned down Brian Kendrick’s offer of mentorship, to which Tozawa basically just said he wanted to be his own man. Kendrick came out, insulted people from Minnesota and promised more lessons for Tozawa. 

Tony Nese, Ariya Davairi, Drew Gulak vs. Mustapha Ali, Cedric Alexander and TJ Perkins
Nese pinned Perkins to pick up the win for the bad guy cruiserweights. Not saying much for Perkins that he was chosen to take the pin here.

Winners: Nese, Davairi, Gulak (Nese pinned Perkins)

Neville “State of 205 Live Address”
Neville claimed that the cruiserweight division was irrelevant before him but that the fans still don’t give him respect. Gallagher enters and says Neville believes the ring belongs to him when it actually belongs to the WWE universe. Their disagreement came to fisticuffs.
Gallagher challenges Neville for the cruiserweight championship Sunday at Fastlane.

WWE has announced the battle royal participants for tonight’s SmackDown – John Cena, Dean Ambrose, AJ Styles, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, Kalisto, Apollo Crews, The Miz, Luke Harper and Mojo Rawley. The winner will face WWE Champion Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania.

Tonight’s SmackDown will also feature Nikki Bella vs. Natalya in a Falls Count Anywhere Match and Naomi defending the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Alexa Bliss, if Naomi is cleared to wrestle.

Below is a promo for tonight’s battle royal:

Don't miss a #BattleRoyal to determine the #WWEChampionship #1Contender TOMORROW NIGHT on #SDLive at 8/7c on @USA_Network! pic.twitter.com/J7HYo043ho

— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2017

– It’s believed that Neville vs. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann will be announced for the Royal Rumble after Neville picked up a win over TJ Perkins on 205 Live last night. Video from that match can be seen above. Neville has already defeated Swann in a non-title match.

– Last night’s 205 Live also saw Tajiri make his debut. After defeating Sean Maluta, Tajiri was confronted by Brian Kendrick, who wanted to welcome him back to the company. Tajiri hit Kendrick with green mist and left him laying in the ring. Below is video from that match and Kendrick’s backstage reaction:

– WWE taped Curtis Axel vs. Goldust and Lince Dorado vs. Tony Nese last night in Columbus for this week’s Main Event episode.

– The main event of tonight’s 205 Live episode will see Brian Kendrick team with Neville to take on Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann and TJ Perkins. The match was made after Kendrick and Neville beat down the two babyfaces on RAW last night.

Don't miss @WWENeville & @MrBrianKendrick taking on @GottaGetSwann & @MegaTJP LIVE on @WWE205Live tomorrow on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/GAoqp8Pec1

— WWE (@WWE) December 20, 2016

– As reported earlier, WWE revealed new RAW Tag Team Championships with a red background last night. Below is video of Cesaro and Sheamus being photographed with the new-look titles backstage:

Big Cass vs Rusev

Breakdown: The build to this match has mainly focused on Enzo Amore and Rusev. Enzo got suckered into meeting Lana at a hotel and Rusev beat the hell out of him. Big Cass now has his chance avenge his friend Enzo in a match against Rusev.

Prediction: This is a tough match to predict. Enzo and Cass haven’t really been in the Tag Team Championship seen at all recently. I wouldn’t be surprised if the WWE wants to start a singles push for Big Cass. I think Enzo and Cass are a solid tag team but once you get past the entrance, they have the same match every time. Enzo gets destroyed and then Big Cass gets tagged in and takes care of business. In a perfect world, Rusev wins this match but Big Cass has a good showing.

Winner: Rusev

Sami Zayn vs Braun Strowman (10 Minute Time Limit)

Breakdown: Sami Zayn has been obsessed with Strowman the past few weeks and Braun simply couldn’t care less. The two Superstars had a match a couple of weeks ago and Raw GM Mick Foley put a stop to it because Zayn couldn’t defend himself. Zayn demanded a rematch and finally Foley caved in and gave it to him this Sunday at Roadblock. Foley also put a 10 minute time limit on the match.

Prediction: I cannot come up with a scenario in which it would make sense for Sami Zayn to win this match. Obviously, Sami Zayn has been underutilized on Raw since the brand split. However, Raw has spent far too much time building up Braun Strowman for him to lose a relatively meaningless match against Sami Zayn. I think Sami Zayn will last the 10 minutes and that will piss Strowman off. The match will conclude with Strowman beating down Zayn after the 10 minute mark was reached. Foley may come out to try to put a stop to it and maybe Strowman will attack him as well. I think this would be a good way to show that Sami Zayn never quits and that Braun Strowman is an uncontrollable monster that the Raw locker room should fear.

 Raw Tag Team Championship Match: New Day (c) vs Sheamus & Cesaro

Breakdown: This match was announced at Tribute to the Troops on Wednesday. Sheamus and Cesaro defeated Golden Truth, Gallows & Anderson and The Shining Stars in a Fatal 4-Way match to become the #1 contenders. The New Day are now the longest reigning Tag Team Champions in WWE history.

Prediction: A lot of people seem to believe that the New Day’s title reign is coming to an end. Sheamus and Cesaro got off to a rocky start when it came to crowd reactions but they have overcome that. They now work well as a tag team and are pretty much the only team on Raw that is ready to take the titles from the New Day. I think that will happen in due time. However, I do not think that will happen at Roadblock.

Winners & Still Tag Team Champions: New Day

Cruiserweight Championship Match: Rich Swann (c) vs The Brian Kendrick vs TJ Perkins

Breakdown: TJ Perkins lost the Cruiserweight title to Kendrick and then Kendrick lost it to Swann. On 205 Live, TJ Perkins submitted Rich Swann in the middle of the ring. On Monday Night Raw, Kendrick defeated Perkins easily. Perkins and Swann are friends but they seem ready to turn on each other. Kendrick’s strategy has been to play mind games with both Swann and Perkins.

Prediction:  This is one of those matches that could go a million different ways. I don’t like the idea of Kendrick getting the title back so quickly. He really doesn’t need it. I think that the WWE has been dropping some subtle hints that Perkins is gearing up for a heel turn. His interactions with Swann backstage have been bizarre. I think Rich Swann is going to retain his title but Perkins is going to attack him after the match. Brian Kendrick may even join in on the attack or simply smile and cheer Perkins on.

Winner & Still Cruiserweight Champion: Rich Swann

Seth Rollins vs Chris Jericho

Breakdown: Rollins and Jericho have been battling for awhile now. Rollins was mainly focused on Kevin Owens but Jericho kept getting involved in their matches. Rollins hit a Pedigree on Jericho on top of a car a couple of weeks ago on Raw. Seth wants to defeat Jericho, take the Universal Championship from Kevin Owens and then fight Triple H. Jericho has a lot on his mind but mainly his beloved list and his broken friendship with Kevin Owens.

Prediction: The only way Jericho can win this match is by some sort of outside interference. I do not believe that Triple H will be showing up at WWE Roadblock but you never know. I think it is more likely that this match is earlier in the show and Kevin Owens tries to help Jericho out. Owens is desperate to fix his friendship with Jericho. If he can accomplish that, maybe Jericho will show up later in the night in Owens’ title defense against Roman Reigns. Even if Owens interferes, I think Rollins overcomes it and still wins the match.

Winner: Seth Rollins

Iron Man Match For The Raw Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks (c) vs Charlotte

Breakdown: Sasha Banks and Charlotte have essentially been trading the Raw Women’s Championship back and forth since the brand split. Sasha Bansk won the title back on Raw recently and celebrated with Ric Flair in the ring. The following week, Charlotte pretended to apologize to her father for embarrassing him back in May on Raw. Charlotte once again talked down to Ric Flair and then beat up Sasha Banks in front of him. Ric Flair stood there helplessly as his daughter beatdown Banks.

Prediction: Charlotte is undefeated at PPVs and I wouldn’t be surprised if that continues. I think this match will be excellent and will showcase how talented both Sasha Banks and Charlotte are. However, I think the ending will involve Ric Flair helping out his daughter Charlotte. I don’t think the WWE is bringing back Ric Flair as an on-screen character for him to be in the corner of Sasha Banks. Thus, the Raw Women’s Championship will once again change hands and Charlotte will leave Pittsburgh with the title.

Winner & New Raw Women’s Champion: Charlotte

Universal Championship Match: Kevin Owens (c) vs Roman Reigns

Breakdown: Roman Reigns has gotten the upper hand on Owens recently. Roman Reigns both want the Universal Championship. Reigns gets his shot on Sunday and Rollins battles Owens’ former best friend Chris Jericho. Reigns has already defeated Kevin Owens clean recently and that victory gave him the oppurtunity at the Universal Championship.

Prediction: Much like the Jericho and Rollins match, the only way Owens can win this match is by someone interfering. Owens has been booked as a paper champion his whole title reign. He has relied on Chris Jericho to help him retain his Universal Championship. If Jericho or Triple H does not interfere, there is no way Kevin Owens is going to defeat Roman Reigns at Roadblock. Roman Reigns is currently the United States Champion and that is the only thing preventing me from picking him this Sunday. I think the person that is going to take the Universal Championship from Owens will be Seth Rollins. I think Owens retains by getting himself disqualified, running out of the arena or outside interference.

Winner & Still Universal Champion: Kevin Owens

What do you think will happen this Sunday at WWE Roadblock: End of the Line? Let us know in the comments below.

WWE has announced a Triple Threat for the Cruiserweight Championship with Rich Swann defending against Brian Kendrick and TJ Perkins. The match will take place at Sunday’s Roadblock: End of the Line PPV.

The card going into RAW looks like this:

– WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens defends against WWE US Champion Roman Reigns

– RAW Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends against Charlotte in an Iron Man Match

– Rich Swann defends the WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Brian Kendrick and TJ Perkins

– Seth Rollins takes on Chris Jericho

Below is video of Charly Caruso announcing the Triple Threat:

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/808428132483022848

– Rich Swann will defend his WWE Cruiserweight Championship against former champion Brian Kendrick in the main event of this week’s WWE 205 Live from Houston.

– You may have noticed WWE World Champion AJ Styles suffering a back-side wardrobe malfunction at TLC on Sunday night. Styles took to Twitter tonight and addressed the slip, noting that his “gear and butt cheek were sliced” by a steel chair.

It was not a malfunction. My gear and butt cheek were sliced by a bent up chair. https://t.co/g4TPaMjeeD

— AJ Styles (@AJStylesOrg) December 6, 2016

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNqGgvhDo6p/

Last night was the debut episode of 205 Live on the WWE Network. 205 Live is a show dedicated to Cruiserweight wrestling. The debut episode introduced the WWE Universe to new Superstars like the Bollywood Boyz and Jack Gallagher. It also featured a Cruiserweight Championship match with Brian Kendrick defending his title against Rich Swann. It was a decent show and if you are a wrestling fan, a good wrestling show is few and far between nowadays. Rich Swann wound up capturing the Cruiserweight Championship last night and we will see how that story progresses on Monday Night Raw.

The vast majority of people that tune into Monday Night Raw every week didn’t watch 205 Live last night. These are the people that do not visit websites like this or tune into every single show every week.  The WWE is putting out so much content right now that is almost impossible to keep up, unless you are an absolute diehard wrestling fan. Monday Night Raw is three hours and with the edition of 205 Live, Smackdown is essentially three hours now. That is six hours of wrestling in two days and then the next night there is NXT. If you are a fan of other promotions, Lucha Underground also airs on Wednesday nights and then TNA Impact is on the following night. Even if you are strictly a fan of WWE programming, the brand split has introduced more PPVs and there is just a ton of content to sift through. Talking Smack was a popular show that aired immediately after Smackdown. It has now been pushed back an hour to account for 205 Live.

There is so much WWE programming that 205 Live may get lost in the shuffle. The success of 205 Live depends on Monday Night Raw. Since the debut of the Cruiserweight division, it has been an afterthought. Every Cruiserweight match has been short and there has been virtually no character development for any of the Cruiserweights featured on the show every Monday. It has been a bunch of random six-man tag matches and Brian Kendrick battling with TJ Perkins.

In order for 205 Live to last, the WWE needs to build up the Cruiserweight division on Raw. They need to explain who these people are and give the general audience a reason to care. Last night, Rich Swann had an excellent vignette that aired before his title match with Brian Kendrick. Swann also delivered an emotional speech after his victory and dedicated the match to his late mother. The WWE needs to show that vignette and that promo again on Raw. If Swann just comes out to the ring with the Cruiserweight Championship and starts dancing around the ring, 75% of the crowd will not care. Last night, the crowd actually got into a couple of matches on 205 Live. The Cruiserweight matches on Raw almost never generate a response. If they do, it is usually a “boring” chant. There are people that are simply not a fan of Cruiserweight wrestling and I understand that. However, Monday Night Raw is a three hour program and they need to devote some more time to the Cruiserweights in order for the division and 205 Live to be successful.

• WWE Smackdown & 205 Live Reaction (11/29)

Rich Swann got his first taste of WWE gold by defeating Brian Kendrick for the Cruiserweight Championship in the main event of tonight’s 205 Live premiere on the WWE Network.

• Check Out Our WWE 205 Live Premiere Reaction

Man new Wwe cruiserweight champion! #onlythebeginning #thankyou #205live

— Rich Swann (@GottaGetSwann) November 30, 2016

https://twitter.com/FightOwensFight/status/803811891378319360

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNa77hmBSuF/

WWE Smackdown (11/29)

This week’s episode of Smackdown kicked off with Renee Young in the ring. Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch joined her in the ring for a contract signing for their Smackdown Women’s Championship match this Sunday at WWE TLC. Alexa Bliss told Renee Young to get out of the ring. Bliss also scolded Renee for her fashion choices. Becky Lynch then compared Alexa to her four year old cousin. Bliss continued to insult Becky Lynch and they both signed the contract. After they both signed it, they brawled in the ring. Lynch hit the Becksplex on Alexa Bliss. Alexa then fought back and shoved Becky through a table off of the turnbuckle.

Reaction: I thought this promo was really good. Becky Lynch can be a bit of adventure on the microphone but tonight she did a good job. Alexa Bliss is excellent on the microphone and her facial expressions are hilarious. I find this feud to be much more interesting than the one between Charlotte and Sasha Banks on Raw.

.@AlexaBliss_WWE blocks @BeckyLynchWWE's #Bexploder, and sends the Champ crashing through the table! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/gbOh4XYeVU

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Dolph Ziggler & Kalisto vs Baron Corbin & The Miz

Corbin dominated the match early and threw Ziggler out of the ring. The Miz was then tagged in and he immediately grabbed a ladder from under the ring. Ziggler got up and connected with a DDT on The Miz outside the ring. Ziggler then hit Corbin with a Superkick. Back in the ring, Ziggler tagged in Kalisto. The Miz hit Kalisto with a boot to the face and dove outside the ring onto Ziggler. Miz then launched Ziggler into the barricade surroinding the ring.

Kalisto then dove onto Corbin outside the ring. Ziggler hit a Superkick on The Miz as he was lying on the ring apron. Maryse shoved the ladder into Ziggler’s face. Kalisto landed the Salida del Sol on The Miz in the ring. Before the referee could count to three, Baron Corbin nailed Kalisto in the back with a chair. The referee then disqualified The Miz and Baron Corbin.

Winners via DQ: Dolph Ziggler & Kalisto

Reaction: This was a quick match but it served a purpose. Ziggler will be facing The Miz in a ladder match for the IC Title on Sunday. Corbin will be squaring off with Kalisto in a chairs match at TLC. Both the ladder and a chair came into play during this match. I like it when things make sense, don’t you?

.@BaronCorbinWWE, you can't do that until Sunday at #WWETLC! @HEELZiggler & @KalistoWWE win by DQ! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/IDPvwvv19j

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

American Alpha were interviewed backstage about their match tonight versus Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. Gable and Jordan stated that they will prove again tonight why they are the best team in the WWE.

Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton and Luke Harper were then shown backstage. Orton interrupted Wyatt and questioned Luke Harper. Orton asked Harper if he was going to do what needs to be done tonight against Kane. Harper looked aggravated and Wyatt instructed Harper to go send Kane back to hell. There is obviously some friction between Harper and Orton. I do not believe that Harper is completely sold on Orton joining the Wyatt Family.

"Harper … go send @KaneWWE back to HELL!" – @WWEBrayWyatt #SDLive #WyattFamily pic.twitter.com/GLnJn5MvrR

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Carmella came down to the ring for a match but that never happened. Carmella gave a special message to John Cena. Carmella apologized for what she will do to his girlfriend, Nikki Bella at TLC. Carmella claimed that she was going to rearranged Nikki’s “Bella twins” and her face as well. Nikki Bella came sprinting from backstage and attacked Carmella. The referee seperated them and that allowed Carmella to haul off and slap Nikki in the face. Nikki then got up and continued the assault on Carmella.

"@JohnCena, I want to publicly apologize for what I'm going to do to your girlfriend [at #WWETLC]." – @CarmellaWWE #SDLive pic.twitter.com/lNqKBBw8PB

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Ambrose Asylum w/ Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose introduced James Ellsworth as his first guest on the Ambrose Asylum. An “Ellsworth!” chant broke out amongst the crowd. Ambrose poked fun at Ellsworth’s old wrestling boots. Ellsworth thanked Ambrose for helping him become an official WWE Superstar. Ellsworth stated that if Ambrose ever needed anything he would do it. Ambrose asked Ellsworth to wash his car, do his laundry and pick him up a six-pack and some candy for later.

Ambrose asked Ellsworth who he will be rooting for this Sunday at TLC. Ellsworth stated that it would be an honor to wrestle Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Championship. AJ Styles interrupted the party and stood on the announce table. Styles poked fun at Ellsworth and called him a dummy. Ambrose stated that Styles had then lost to a dummy three times.

Styles got in the ring and claimed that he was tired of Ambrose making him out to be a joke. Styles demanded respect and claimed that he was going to beat the hell out of Ambrose at TLC. Styles dared Ellsworth to show up during his match againt Ambrose at TLC. Ambrose claimed that Styles was weak mentally. Ambrose stated that this Sunday the fun and games were over. Ambrose went on to state that he will recapture the WWE World Championship at TLC.

Styles pushed Ellsworth into Ambrose who fell into a ladder. AJ then whipped Ellsworth into a table and smashed Dean Ambrose with the steel steps. Styles returned to the ring and beatdown Ellsworth. Styles hit Ellsworth with a ladder and then tossed him out of the ring. Ellsworth’s feet got caught up in the bottom rope and Styles hit him with a steel chair. AJ then hit the Styles Clash on Ellsworth off of the steps onto the floor outside the ring.

Reaction: Finally, Styles got the upper hand on Ellsworth and Ambrose. I find Ellsworth to be very entertaining but I’m not really interested in seeing him in the WWE World Championship picture. Having said that, this was a very good promo. There has only been one match in the first hour and fifteen minutes of tonight’s Smackdown. Usually that would annoy me but tonight’s promos have all ended in brawls.

"@AJStylesOrg has just delivered the MOTHER OF ALL #StylesClashes to @RealEllsworth!" – @MauroRanallo#SDLive #WWETLC pic.twitter.com/KKihIY7zO4

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Luke Harper vs Kane

Kane and Harper tied up to begin the match. Kane shoved Harper down and Harper got back up and they locked up again. Harper bounced off of the ropes and hit a couple of shoulder blocks but Kane was not phased. Kane then leveled Harper. Luke Harper got back up and hit Kane with a series of uppercuts. Kane once again shrugged them off and came right back at Harper. Smackdown went to a commercial break with Luke Harper outside the ring with a shocked look on his face.

When Smackdown returned, Harper was in control of the match and had a Chinlock applied to Kane in the center of the ring. Kane battled out of the Chinlock and hit a Jawbreaker. Kane went for a Chokeslam but Harper blocked it and kicked Kane in the head. Harper went for a pinfall but Kane kicked out at two. Kane fought back and connected with a DDT on Harper. Kane followed it up with a Sidewalk Slam and went for a pin but Harper kicked out. Harper battled back and hit Kane with a Dropkick to the ribs. Kane was affected and hunched over in the corner. Harper leaped on him twice and connected with a couple of shots to the ribs. Harper then then climbed to the second turnbuckle and hit Kane with a couple of punches.

Kane fought out of the corner by hitting a Powerbomb on Harper. Kane once again went for the Chokeslam but Harper grabbed the rope. Harper connected with a Sidewalk Slam of his own but Kane kicked out once again. Kane slammed Harper to the mat and climbed to the top rope. Kane went for a Clothesline off of the top rope but Harper ducked it and drilled Kane with a Superkick. Kane once again powered out of the pinfall at two. Harper then climbed to the top rope but Kane got up and punched him in the face. Kane then joined Harper on the turnbuckle and connected with a massive Superplex to Harper.

Both men slowly got back to their feet and began to trade punches. Kane blocked a punch by Harper and grabbed his throat. Kane then connected with a Chokeslam and picked up the victory.

Winner: Kane

Reaction: When you think of Kane versus Luke Harper it doesn’t sound like it would be a good match. This match was actually quite good. The announcers made a comment after the match that Bray Wyatt will not be happy with Luke Harper following this loss to Kane. I’m intrigued with the Wyatt Family storyline right now. It appears that Harper may be on his way out and Orton will be replacing him. I’m curious if this will wind up with Orton turning his back on Bray after he has already destroyed the Wyatt Family from the inside. I do not really know where they are going with this and that is a good thing. Luke Harper has always been one of the more underrated Superstars on the roster. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the Intercontinental Championship picture and having a single’s run of his own. Harper can work well with almost any male Superstar on the Smackdown roster. I think if you put him up against someone like Baron Corbin they would put on some very physical and entertaining matches.

#CHOKESLAM by @KaneWWE!!! ONE TWO THREE!! #SDLive @LukeHarperWWE pic.twitter.com/46nPuNNTqZ

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Smackdown Tag Team #1 Contenders Match: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt vs American Alpha

Randy Orton and Jason Jordan started out the match. Jordan went on the offensive to start things off. The WWE cut to Slater and Rhyno watching the match from backstage. This was humorous because the television screen they were watching was black for a second and essentially Slater and Rhyno were staring at nothing.

Bray Wyatt entered the match and Jordan went to jump onto him but Wyatt ducked and Jordan went flying into the ropes. Bray tagged in Orton and he continued the assault on Jordan. Gable tagged himself in and immediately connected with a Crossbody off the top rope on Orton. Gable climbed to the top rope again but Wyatt knocked him to the outside of the ring and Smackdown went to a commercial break.

When Smackdown returned, Wyatt and Gable were in the ring. Wyatt hit Gable with a DDT on the ring apron. Wyatt then went for a pin but Gable kicked out at two. Orton then entered the match and applied a Chinlock to Gable. Orton hit a Powerslam on Gable and once again went for a pinfall but it was unsuccessful. Orton tagged in Wyatt and Gable connected with a Dropkick then sent Bray to the mat. Gable tried to tag in Jordan but Bray got up and punched Jordan off of the ring apron.

Bray mounted Gable on the mat and punched him in the face several times. Orton was tagged back in and propped Gable up on the top rope. Orton connected with a Superplex on Gable. Jason Jordan and Bray Wyatt were then tagged in. Jordan leveled Wyatt with an overhead Belly to Belly Suplex. Chad Gable hit Orton with a Cannonball off of the ring apron. Back in the ring, Jordan hit a German Suplex on Bray Wyatt.

The lights then went out and Luke Harper was ringside. Bray went for the Sister Abigail but Gable prevented it. American Alpha then went for the Grand Amplitude but Orton hit Gable with an RKO out of nowhere. Jordan went to hit Bray with a Spear but Harper pulled Bray out of the way. Wyatt then hit the Sister Abigail on Jordan for the victory. Wyatt and Orton will now face Slater and Rhyno at TLC this Sunday. Slater and Rhyno were interviewed backstage but AJ Styles interrupted. Styles stated that nobody cared about the Tag Team titles. Ambrose then appeared out of nowhere and attacked Styles and Smackdown went off the air.

Reaction: This was a very solid match to close out a good episode of Smackdown. It appears that Harper and Orton are back to getting along for now. Tonight’s episode was promo-heavy but they all were effective. TLC is shaping up to be an exciting show and I cannot wait to watch it on Sunday.

Winners & #1 Contenders For The Smackdown Tag Team Championships: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt

#SisterAbigail!! The #WyattFamily is going to #WWETLC to face @HeathSlaterOMRB and @Rhyno313!! #1Contender pic.twitter.com/telCi0c0T9

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

205 Live (11/29)

Austin Aries and Corey Graves joined Mauro Ranallo on commentary. All of the Superstars on 205 Live were on the entrance ramp and they were introduced to the WWE Universe. A vignette for the Bollywood Boyz was then shown.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803797913251917824

Bollywood Boyz vs Drew Gulak & Tony Nese

Harv and Gurv Sihra started out the match on the offensive. Tony Nese was laid out by both of them but was able battle back and tag in Gulak. For the next few minutes, Gulak dominated the match. Nese was tagged back in and he continued the assault on the Bollywood Boyz. Gulak got back into the match and maintained control of the match.

Nese got back in the match and he applied a Chinlock to one of the Bollywood Boyz. Harv battled out of the Chinlock and connected with a Neckbreaker. Harv tagged in Gurv and he hut Gulak with several chops and a kick to the face. The Bollywood Boyz hit a double Superkick on Drew Gulak for the pinfall victory.

Winners: The Bollywood Boyz

Reaction: Not the best way to start off the debut episode of 205 Live. There were some cool spots in this match but overall it was very clunky.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803800282756878338

TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick had a confrontation. Perkins stated that he is still owed a rematch and that he wants Kendrick to retain the Cruiserweight Championship tonight. Perkins wants Kendrick to keep the belt so he can get his rematch and take the title away from him.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803801771600580608

Ariya Daivari vs Jack Gallagher

Gallagher started out this match extremely cocky and applied a few submission holds to Daivari while posing for the crowd. Daivari battled back and but Gallagher escaped his Headlock. Gallagher did a handstand on the top turnbuckle and then took Daivari down. Gallagher then tied Daivari up in a knot in the center of the ring and taunted him from the corner. Gallagher then hit him with a running kick and Daivari escaped the knot.

Daivari connected with a Neckbreaker on Gallagher and slapped him in the face a couple of times. Daivari applied a Chinlock but Gallagher fought out of it and connected with a couple of Dropkicks. Gallagher then headbutted Daivari and hit him with a Dropkick in the corner for the victory.

Winner: Jack Gallagher

Reaction: This match was bizarre and entertaining. Jack Gallagher may look ridiculous but he is fun to watch. The main positive to take from this match is that Gallagher was able to get the crowd into it. That is something that has escaped the Cruiserweight division when it is featured on Monday Night Raw.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803803266274369537

Cruiserweight Championship Match: Brian Kendrick (c) vs Rich Swann

Kendrick started off the match in control. Swann battled back and hit a Dropkick. Kendrick kicked out of a pinfall and Swann applied a Chinlock. Kendrick reversed the Chinlock into a German Suplex. Kendrick attacked Swann in the corner but Swann fought back and connected with several chops to the chest of Kendrick.

Swann landed a Tiger Bomb on Kendrick and Kendrick rolled out of the ring. Swann followed him out of the ring and hit a Summersault Clothesline off of the barricade. The action returned to the ring and Kendrick connected with another German Suplex. Kendrick then hit a Neckbreaker and Swann’s head hit the top turnbuckle. Swann then fell out of the ring and to the floor.

Swann was able to get back in the ring before the referee counted him out. Kendrick immediately hit him with a Suplex. Kendrick went for the Captain’s Hook but Swann blocked it. Swann then connected with a Michinoku Driver on Kendrick. Swann followed it up with a kick to the face of Kendrick. Swann went for the Standing 450 but Kendrick got his knees up and then locked in the Captain’s Hook.

Swann was able to reach the bottom rope and the crowd cheered him on. Both men were on the top turnbuckle and Kendrick bit Swann’s wrist and hit Sliced Bread. Swann kicked out and the crowd started to chant “this is awesome!”. Swannt connected with three spinning heel kicks in a row and pinned Kendrick for the victory.

After the match, Swann thanked his mother that has passed away and dedicated the match to her. Kendrick was also interviewed on the entrance ramp. Kendrick blamed the loss on TJ Perkins for playing mind games with him earlier in the night. Kendrick also stated that the WWE Universe should not get used to Swann as the Cruiserweight Champion. Kendrick vowed to get his title back and walked away.

Winner & New Cruiserweight Champion: Rich Swann

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803809979639558144

Reaction: 205 Live started off slow but picked up momentum and wound up being a pretty decent show. I thought the match between Kendrick and Swann was very good. I hope that the Cruiserweight division gets some more time on Monday Night Raw as a result of this show but I doubt that will be the case. Overall, both Smackdown and 205 Live were good shows tonight.

What did you think of this week’s episodes of Smackdown and 205 Live? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

– Both Vince McMahon and Triple H tweeted to promote tonight’s 205 Live premiere on the WWE Network:

.@WWE continues to revolutionize sports-entertainment. @WWE205Live premieres tonight on @WWENetwork. pic.twitter.com/T1coyAL8wC

— Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) November 29, 2016

A show of their own, an opportunity to show the world. Tonight LIVE on @WWENetwork after #SDLive…the premiere of #205Live! pic.twitter.com/MWHFo5TeK4

— Triple H (@TripleH) November 29, 2016

– Below are more 205 Lve hype videos for tonight with Cruiserweight Champion Brian Kendrick and Tony Nese. Kendrick knocks the new cruiserweights for playing video games, saying they’re always in a hurry to get back to the hotel and play. Kendrick says they don’t appreciate the work that his generation put in and that’s why he has an advantage.

"Being champion on the inaugural episode of #205Live, it's a dream come true…" – @WWE #Cruiserweight Champion @mrbriankendrick @WWE205Live pic.twitter.com/gXjdp3vKSL

— WWE (@WWE) November 29, 2016

Nese says his loss in the WWE CWC was a fluke and he won’t lose like that again in 205 Live. He admits that he makes mistakes but says he capitalizes and gets better.

"I've made mistakes…but I know that #205Live, I'm just going to be the best guy out there!" – @TonyNese looks ahead to TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/O9TUSfLMIq

— WWE (@WWE) November 29, 2016