2 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE 205 Live (Jan 10)

1. Diminished Returns

Olive Branch Jack Gallagher
WWE.com

On last week’s edition of 205 Live, the debut of Akira Tozawa was astutely teased by a commendation from a man just one notch below Kenny Omega in the internet darling department - Cesaro.

The implication was clear - Tozawa must be awesome because someone more awesome is telling us he’s awesome. This week, WWE attempted to repeat the formula to less-than-stellar effect. There was a heart-in-mouth moment just as the footage rolled. “I hope Rich Swann is used to being a target,” warned Corey Graves on commentary. “Because a new superstar, and a potential game-changer, is taking aim at the cruiserweight division.”

Cut to: Kalisto. For a moment, it appeared as though the man was set to be rescued from SmackDown! obscurity to find his rightful home. Alas, it was not to be. Kalisto was there, in Cesaro’s absence, to put him over. While it was a job to which the man is accustomed - he does little else - it was a good job the interview was pre-recorded. There was little scope for a repeat of the most botched promo of 2016.

Another diminished return saw Jack Gallagher and Ariya Daivari take forever and a day to announce their forthcoming “I Forfeit” match, the name of which, while very creative, was not worth the effort of a flat and heat-free segment.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!