4 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE 205 Live (Dec 27)

Ups...

4. Commentary Is Gathering Pace

The commentary on 205 Live, specifically Austin Aries’ contributions, has been criticised within these write-ups in weeks gone by - but the three-man team was a welcome improvement last night.

While Aries is still a little too preoccupied with putting himself over - as the self-styled Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, that in fairness is probably his right - his sense of humour is slowly becoming more palatable as he develops hilarious chemistry with Corey Graves. When John Yurnet’s groin gave out in his match with Mustafa Ali, Aries suggested that it was made out of wood. “Maybe he’s a pirate?” he posited. Graves’ straight-laced response (“Potentially…”) was brilliant. It was as if he was giving serious consideration to a patently absurd notion.

Mauro Ranallo continued to bury puroresu-shaped Easter eggs in his commentary, by referencing the 1612 sword duel which inspired the longest and oddest match New Japan Pro Wrestling ever produced - the weird-but-not-wonderful rest hold exhibition that was Antonio Inoki and Masa Saito’s two hour-plus Ganryujima Island Death Match.

And, while Aries did bury one of the performers on commentary, it was funny enough to excuse it. “Don’t forget,” remarked Graves in the opener, “Alicia Fox is a celebrated in-ring competitor herself. She’s got some veteran knowledge to lend her boyfriend.” “Hahaha - that was a good one, Corey,” Aries deadpanned in response.