WWE 205 Live: Preview for March 7

Recapping Cruiserweight action from Fastlane, RAW and previewing this week’s 205 Live.

WWE looks to continue an action packed week in the Cruiserweight division with this week’s 205 Live. We saw the Cruiserweights arguably steal the show at Fastlane and a return last night on RAW.

Fastlane kicked off the PPV with a Cruiserweight tag team match on the Kickoff Show. We saw two of the current 205 Live feuds intertwined for this one as Akira Tozawa and Rich Swann took on The Brian Kendrick and Noam Dar. In a match that was a pretty solid opener, we saw the babyfaces Tozawa and Swann pick up the victory following a Phoenix Splash from Swann.

This was just the beginning for the Cruiserweights as Neville was set to defend the WWE Cruiserweight Championship against “Gentleman” Jack Gallagher later on.

Fastlane was, top to bottom, a very head scratching PPV on the road to WrestleMania. However, Neville and Gallagher were the big bright spot in a night that gave us more questions than answers. These two men stole the show in what, in my opinion, was the match of the night. Gallagher showed that while he has been booked like a comedy act he should never be taken lightly. Neville was his usual excellent self in this new role as “King of the Cruiserweights”. This match was a real throwback to the CWC as both men worked more stiff than what we’re used to seeing. Recently, Neville had been using a variety of moves to retain and win matches but used the Red Arrow to put away Gallagher. This was the ultimate hat tip to Gallagher as it makes him look a level above the rest of the division that it took Neville’s best shot to put him out.

Then, we had RAW. In the fallout from WWE Fastlane, former champion Rich Swann cashed in on his rematch for this week’s episode of RAW. 

Much like the match the night before this match was worked in a much more stiff fashion and was really a hidden gem in a loaded episode of RAW. Neville would retain with his submission move which finally has a name, “The Rings of Saturn”. The real story happened after the match when Austin Aries left commentary to interview Neville.

Aries would ask a few questions but things started getting interesting when Neville said that there was no longer any competition and no one is at his level. Aries began to neg the champions with some help from the Chicago crowd. When Aries asked “No one?” Neville threatened Aries and told him to get out of the ring and go work commentary or he would re-break Aries’ orbital bone. Aries responded by saying he’s just doing his job and that he has one more questions. It turned out to be more of a statement and it was quite a statement.

With Aries finally cleared to return to action he and Neville look to be on a collision course to a match at WrestleMania. Neville has done his part in carrying this division since winning the title at the Royal Rumble but this feud with Aries takes it to the next level.

The final bit of Cruiserweight action took place when Akira Tozawa defeated Ariya Davari in relatively quick fashion. After the match Akira got on the mic and called out The Brian Kendrick. Kendrick would come out and give Tozawa another lesson from the ramp.

As for tonight episode of 205 Live, no matches were announced on Monday night but a segment was. Austin Aries will make his 205 Live “debut” as a wrestler when he delivers a message to Neville. 205 Live has been on the rise for the better part of 2 month and it will only continue to rise with Neville and Aries at the top of the division.

Next: RAW Review

205 Live can be seen on the WWE Network following SmackDown Live at 10pm ET.