WWE 205 Live Review - February 20, 2018

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Buddy Murphy def. Ariya Daivari in a WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament First Round Match

I'm digging Murphy's new look and props to him for getting in amazing shape, but that terrible theme music needs to go pronto. That said, he had a hell of a performance here. I don't know how wise it was to debut him against the extremely dull Daivari, but it did allow him to pick up a nice win and advance in the tournament. Plus, this turned into a pretty good match down the stretch with Murphy proving to people just how talented he truly is.

Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik def. Local Athletes

Dorado and Metalik may have been bumped from the tourney already, but their alliance with Kalisto is certainly for the best. They finally seem to have a sense of direction, and with 205 Live now under new management, they shouldn't be lost in the shuffle anymore. This squash matchup gave them the chance to showcase their skills and build momentum, so it served its purpose.

Mustafa Ali def. Gentleman Jack Gallagher in a WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament First Round Match

This would have been a fairly average match not too long ago on 205 Live, but I loved the story they told here with Gallagher acting aggressive and targeting Ali's injured arm throughout. You could feel the intensity, and when Ali battled back toward the end, it made for a fantastic finish. Gallagher is still a heel, but his new tights are a nice change of pace. Here's hoping The Brian Kendrick is back soon so they can be reunited.

Overall Show

Although this edition of 205 Live arguably wasn't as must-see as the last few episodes, it was still a solid show on the whole. Murphy has arrived on 205 Live and he should be an excellent asset to the roster, Ali is going further in the tournament, and Dorado and Metalik are back on track with a win. Next week, we'll be getting Cedric Alexander vs. TJP as well as Roderick Strong vs. Kalisto as the quarterfinals of the tournament kick off.