The Brian Kendrick def. Ashante “Thee” Adonis
Prior to The Most Exciting Hour on Television, Ashante “Thee” Adonis stated his desire for a fresh start, specifically in a singles bout against a 205 Live veteran who could push him to be his best.
He partially got what he wanted.
Rather than a new opponent, Adonis was once again tasked with the challenge of trying to solve wily former Cruiserweight Champion The Brian Kendrick, who defeated Adonis two weeks ago and offered him some advice after their match: “Drop the ego, and you’ll be a star.”
Unfortunately for Adonis, he hasn’t yet seemed to heed Kendrick’s message, as he once again took time to trash talk his foe.
After narrowly kicking out of a roll-up, Adonis nearly secured the three-count with a picture-perfect DDT, but he yet again took his foot off the gas with some trash talk and went with a laxed cover, allowing Kendrick to recover and snare his foe in the Captain’s Hook, forcing a tapout for the win.
After the match, Kendrick shook hands with Adonis, told him he was “a star in the making” and offered to share his advice whenever Adonis needs it.
Ever-Rise def. Andrew Lockhart & Erik Lockhart
After being pummeled by Legado del Fantasma one week ago in an uncomfortable scene that saw NXT Champion Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza go so far as to put duct tape over their eyes and mouths, Chase Parker & Matt Martel undoubtedly wanted to get a piece of their attackers.
Unfortunately, they came up short in a Twitter poll, wherein the WWE Universe selected Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch to face Legado del Fantasma rather than Ever-Rise, and the frustrated tandem continued to stake their claim that they have been victims of conspiracies on the purple brand.
The good news for Parker & Martel? They got to display an eye-opening new mean streak and unleash their rage on Andrew & Erik Lockhart, who stood no chance.
Parker and Martel pounced on their opponents immediately at the sound of the opening bell, and they quickly scored the victory with a unique double-team facebreaker combination.
Joaquin Wilde & Raul Mendoza def. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch
The winners of a Twitter poll of the WWE Universe and the victims of a savage beatdown at the hands of Legado del Fantasma one week ago, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch marched into the WWE Thunderdome even more amped to trade haymakers than usual. If that was possible.
Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza, whose swagger has grown by leaps and bounds since they aligned with NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, kept Burch isolated in the early goings, but the tough-as-nails competitor eventually broke free and tagged Lorcan.
After finally getting into the match, a frenzied Lorcan laid waste to each of his opponents, taking down Mendoza with a back body drop, turning Wilde’s chest red with knife-edge chops, tattooing Mendoza with a back elbow and nearly sending Wilde through the canvas with a blockbuster.
After Burch blasted Wilde with a German Suplex and a clothesline, however, Escobar hopped onto the apron to argue with the ref, drawing Ever-Rise to the ring to confront the NXT Cruiserweight Champion. But as Ever-Rise attacked Escobar at ringside, Wilde pounced with a rollup of Burch and a handful of tights to claim the 1-2-3.
If recent weeks are any indication, Escobar may have hit the nail on the head when claimed that 205 Live is his empire.