WWE 205 Live: Results, Grades and Analysis for April 17th

Credit: WWE.com

Mustafa Ali Vs Ariya Daivari

Result: Mustafa Ali Wins With a 450 Splash

Grade: C

As the match begins, we are shown Daivari talking about Ali now being at the back of the queue for the Cruiserweight title, and how he will have to earn his spot if he wants to challenge Alexander again. It’s a nice little set-up for the match, which is effectively just a reason to get some faces back on TV due to an announcement that came later in the show.

The two men have a solid back and forth bout, though,  one that never really picks up the tempo. Ali picks up the victory, which should give him some momentum going forward. Ali is destined to be the Cruiserweight champion in the very near future, and he has some momentum behind him, so keeping on TV is the most important thing right now.

Drake Maverick Announcement

Drake Maverick is up next in a recorded segment. Maverick says that Buddy Murphy failed to meet the 205 Live weight limit, and will have to lose 2 pounds before he can face Cedric Alexander for the Cruiserweight Title.  As a result of this, there will be a gauntlet match on next week’s show to decide the new number 1 contender for the Greatest Royal Rumble event.

This was quite a surprise, but I’m going to hazard a guess that it has something to do with visa/travel situations, as opposed to Murphy having done something to lose his shot. Murphy will likely get his match at Backlash now instead.

Credit: WWE.com

Jack Gallagher and Brian Kendrick Vs Local Talent

Result: Gallagher and Kendrick Win With the Captain’s Hook

Grade: D

While this match was, in theory, a squash match, the whole thing went for nearly 4 minutes, which was only a few minutes less than the opening match between Ali and Daivari. Gallagher and Kendrick are a great team, and they are clearly getting fans used to them before they bring in the tag team titles, but they should definitely be winning matches against jobbers much more convincingly than this.