 The Brian Kendrick def. Gentleman Jack Gallagher in a No Disqualification Match205 Live has been known for its No Disqualification/"I Quit" matches in the past, and while this wasn't as strong as Kendrick's outing against Akira Tozawa a few months back, it was still fun while it lasted. I was glad they made good use of the extreme environment and Gallagher getting busted open (even if it was unintentional) was a nice touch. I was fully expecting Gallagher to win, so Kendrick going over in decisive fashion was a pleasant surprise. I assume this isn't the last we've seen of them against each other. Rich Swann def. Ariya DaivariThis was slightly more entertaining than their match from two weeks ago, but to be completely honest, I'm a few minutes removed from watching it and I already forgot most of what happened. Swann is a great babyface, but Daivari just might be damaged goods by this point in being labeled as an enhancement talent, so it's hard to care about anything he's involved in. The real focus here was on TJP coming to Swann's aid, and although I initially thought that was meant to tease a babyface turn for TJP, it actually showed that he wasn't hurt after all.
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 WWE Champion Jinder Mahal and Rusev Attacked Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy OrtonIt blows my mind that it's been over three months since Jinder Mahal captured the WWE Championship and he continues to cut the same tired promo about Americans stereotyping him and seeing him as a national threat, or something like that. At this point, he isn't generating the type of heat he should be. The brawl that followed was pretty paint-by-numbers, but at least it helped set up the tag team main event for later in the night. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable def. The AscensionI assumed as soon as they made their entrance as a team with their own theme music that Benjamin wasn't turning on Gable so soon. I'm glad I was right about that because they make a hell of a tandem. Yes, both of them have untapped potential as singles stars, but I prefer them pairing up for now and adding new blood to the tag team division than floundering in the midcard. This was a fun showing from them and Benjamin hasn't lost a step in the ring.
 Dana Brooke def. Alicia FoxThese two had a handful of matches against each other on Main Event earlier this year and I thought we had seen the last of them in the ring together, but apparently not. It's almost comical how bad Brooke is at this point and how little she has improved during her time on the main roster. This match wasn't more than five minutes long, but it felt like it went on forever because of how atrocious it was. The crowd sitting on their hands for the entire contest didn't help matters, either. Mustafa Ali def. Ariya DaivariSimilar to Brooke and Fox, Ali and Daivari have had their fair share of matches against one another in the past, too, but at least they work well together. This was a nice little match for what it was, and although the audience hardly reacted to anything they did, Ali never ceases to amaze me with what he's capable of in the ring. Daivari can hold his own, but virtually nothing he does interests me and it's already been established that he's an enhancement talent.
 Raw General Manager Kurt Angle Interrupted Intercontinental Champion The MizIt's rare that Raw kicks off with Miz nowadays, so it was a breath of fresh air to see him in the opening segment with Angle, who wasn't wrong when he said the Intercontinental title has largely been forgotten about as of late. It's interesting that they would hold a title match with No Mercy less than one month away, but perhaps it will merely be an angle to set up a rematch or something else at the pay-per-view. By the way, it was wise to air the entrances of Big Show, The Hardy Boyz and Finn Balor before the commercial break to show that this wouldn't be your typical jobber-filled Battle Royal. Jeff Hardy Won a No. 1 Contender's Intercontinental Championship Battle RoyalWith so much star power involved, I was much more engaged in this Battle Royal than I usually am. It helped that several stories were told as well with seeds being planted for a potential Balor Club, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows eliminating Matt Hardy, and Bray Wyatt costing Finn Balor the contest (indicating their feud is not yet over). I thought for sure Jason Jordan had the match won, so Jeff Hardy emerging victorious was a pleasant surprise. I'm curious to see whether this means officials are testing the waters for Jeff as a singles competitor again.
 Candice LeRae def. Renee Michelle in a First Round MatchIt's rather well-known by this point, but LeRae is the real-life wife of NXT star Johnny Gargano, and she's an underdog in the ring much like he is. Michelle needs more experience before she can be considered good, but LeRae was able to carry her through a majority of the matchup and make it passable. Regardless of whether she wins the tournament or not, LeRae should end up with a WWE contract once it's over. Lacey Evans def. Taynara Conti in a First Round MatchEvans wasn't much more than a pretty face the few times we saw her on NXT TV earlier this year, but I love her backstory and how she's fighting for her family. It gave her an all-new purpose and allowed me (as well as the crowd) to root for her in this match. I believe Conti has already signed a developmental deal with NXT, so while she is a work in progress, she showed signs of being a skilled heel eventually. The in-ring work was better than expected, so that was a plus.
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