So Enzo Amore is still out sick with the flu (you apparently can't teach having a healthy and strong immune system) and while he's out, 205 Live is trying to up the star power... and still failing.
Their biggest play this week, starting from RAW, was to have Goldust inexplicably mingle with the cruiserweights. It's a good way to pretty much introduce the concept that the heavyweights can actually wrestle with the cruiserweights (provided they're not exactly doing anything important on RAW) but because it's Goldust, it's not really a good look despite his best intentions.
This is what happens when you build the division around a central storyline and feud but fail to advance the right up-and-coming talents. Had Kalisto not been shunted aside for a cup-of-coffee Cruiserweight Championship reign and faded out with a forgettable thread against Jack Gallagher and Brian Kendrick, he could've anchored the show in Enzo's absence.
Instead we're left with a still-raw Cedric Alexander who needs a Goldust to make him look good, while Drew Gulak is left to make Ariya Daivari seem relevant. It would've been great and noteworthy if Gulak and Daivari continued to push the tensions between them as members of the Zo Train, but Goldust playing with the cruiserweights was pushed front and center.
Because the title match between Alexander and Enzo had to be pushed back thanks to Enzo's flu, I would've appreciated Gulak and Daivari inserting some doubt into Cedric's chances next week. Or hell, even a Tony Nese appearance to throw off the Zo Train. Anything, really, that would've made this match more than just obvious filler while we wait for Enzo to get better, but the team refuses to be hardworking. We're done with the holidays, guys, it's time to get back to work.
205 Live 1/2/18 Grade: TJP being back (and winning) is a cause for celebration, but this episode was just so drab otherwise that I can't wait for everyone in the division to get back. Use them more already. B
Short stops
- They finally #BroughtTJPBack, and I have a feeling it's because the roster has been decimated by injury. The problem is both he and Tozawa have nothing going on right now, and without any sort of structure for the division these floating filler matches, while good, will just keep going on and on. That's why I made a fucking ladder ranking system.
- I am glad, however, that TJP doesn't seem to have lost a step.
- I do want to see a Tozawa losing streak angle but only if it means Titus Worldwide is gonna come back to 205 Live to interact with him.
- This back-and-forth feud between Hideo Itami and the scoundrels is really not doing him any favors. He needs to be pushed as a monster tweener. The Cruiserweight Asuka, if you will. Nobody is ready for Itami.
Photo from WWE
*****
Romeo Moran (@roiswar) is the Editor in Chief of Smark Henry, one of the three hosts of the Smark Gilas-Pilipinas Podcast, and is associated with Philippine Wrestling Revolution. He gets by in this hard knock life through working in publishing. Smark Henry was his and Stan Sy's original vision of a watering hole for local wrestling fans. He roots for the undersized guys who hit hard, but really hates Davey Richards with his entire soul. He likes taking your wrestling questions over on his Curiouscat account.
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