BRM Reviews the 11/21/2018 205 Live

[Big Red Machine]

BUDDY MURPHY PROMO- He brags about beating Mustafa Ali to retain the title at Survivor Series.

NAOM DAR vs. TONY NESE (w/Buddy Murphy)- 6.75/10
Dar cut an inset promo plugging his time in NXT UK and then saying he would seize on this opportunity to defeat Tony Nese. Nigel McGuinness name-dropped Volk Han on commentary. The story of the match was Dar’s speed and technique against Nese’s strength. Nese won after Murphy distracted Dar. Murphy gave Dar an unnecessary shot after the match.

MUSTAFA ALI PROMO- very good
He is going to embrace tonight’s loss and use the shame and disappointment he feels right now as a motivator to never stay down again so he never has to feel this way again.

DRAKE MAVERICK WARNS THE REFEREE TO BE ON SPECIAL LOOKOUT FOR SHENANIGANS IN TONIGHT’S MAIN EVENT- This was a response to Maria’s promo from last week.

DRAKE MAVERICK & CEDRIC ALEXANDER BACKSTAGE- fine
Maverick congratulates Cedric getting back to his winning ways with last week’s win over Lio Rush, then books Cedric & Ali vs. Nese & Murphy for next week.

KAYLA BRAXTON INTERVIEWS DREW GULAK & JACK GALLAGHER- I think Gulak referred to himself and Gallagher as “the Submission Commission.” That is an excellent terrible stable name.

BRIAN KENDRICK & AKIRA TOZAWA vs. TWO JOBBERS- squash
After the match, Tozawa got Kendrick to do his “HAH!” chant and they hugged, so they’re on the same page now.

DASHA FUENTES INTERVIEWS BUDDY MURPHY & TONY NESE- I loved the veiled shot at unnecessary tag teams titles that people are supposedly clamoring for. Murphy noted that he has beaten each of next week’s opponents in singles matches so obviously he and Nese will kick their asses in tag team competition.

WWE SHOP COMMERCIAL- Did everyone else get an ad that seemed to almost exclusively for Alexa Bliss! merch, or has the WWE Network begun using targeted advertising.

GRAN METALIK vs. TJP- 7.75/10
Lucha House Party came out with Metalik and the Kanellises came out with TJP… and TJP and Mike were wearing the masks TJP has stolen from Lucha House Party over the past couple of weeks. This caused a pre-match fracas that ended when Drake Maverick ordered everyone but the two competitors to the back. Metalik won a GREAT match cleanly. I have no idea why they felt the need to touch the piñata before the finish.

POST-MATCH SEGMENT- fine
Lucha House Party came out to celebrate with Gran Metalik. Maria Kanellis showed up on the stage causing a commotion and screaming hysterically. This was all to cause to distraction so that Mike Kanellis could come out of the crowd and attack Lucha House Party from behind with a steel chair.

This was a good episode of 205 Live. I’ve got really high hopes for next week’s main event, so hopefully it delivers.