WWE 205 Live
April 17, 2020
WWE Performance Center
Orlando, Florida
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Transcription by Josh Lopez
Tom Phillips: Hello everyone and welcome to 205 Live here on the WWE Network. I’m Tom Phillips. A lot is happening at 205 pounds and under. Of course, right now on NXT, we’re in midst of the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament. That is with the current NXT Cruiserweight Champion, Jordan Devlin, unable to compete here in America. So we’re in midst of finding out who is the next person to ascend to the throne of the cruiserweight division. But while we’re at it, we’re taking some time to look at some of the pioneers, some greats of the cruiserweight division here at WWE. And you can’t begin that conversation without mentioning, THE Brian Kendrick. Tonight we’re gonna take a look a match that inspired Brian Kendrick to get into sports entertainment and plus one of his favorite matches that he’s performed in here in WWE. Now, here’s the man with the plan.
THE Brian Kendrick: Hello there, this is THE Brian Kendrick, pioneer of 205 Live and I was asked, Brian, what was the match that made you fall in love with professional wrestling? That match was the main event of WrestleMania VI. Go over to a friend’s house. Go play some board games. I knock on the door. They say, come on in. I say, ok, let’s play. They say, hold on a second, we’re watching a VHS and it was the main event. It was Ultimate Warrior running down to face The Immortal Hulk Hogan for the World Heavyweight Championship. WrestleMania VI. That was the moment I decided gee whiz, that’s what I want to do with my life. I want to be The Ultimate Warrior. Ultimate Warrior vs The Immortal Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI. Bon appetit, bozo
First Match: Hulk Hogan (c) vs. The Ultimate Warrior (c) For The WWF World Heavyweight Championship/WWF Intercontinental Championship. April, 1, 1990 – The Ultimate Challenge – WrestleMania VI
Big standoff after the bell rings. Quick shoving contest. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Warrior sends Hogan to the corner. Strong lockup. Hogan displays his strength. Hogan flexes his muscles. Hogan points at Warrior. Test Of Strength. Warrior has the leverage advantage. Hogan turns the tables on Warrior. Warrior is fighting to get back on his feet. Hogan with an arm takedown. Hogan follows that with an elbow drop for a two count. Hogan and Warrior are running the ropes. Hogan drops down on the canvas. Hogan bodyslams Warrior. It had zero effect on Warrior. Warrior drops down on the canvas. Warrior bodyslams Hogan. Warrior clotheslines Hogan over the top rope. Hogan is favoring his left knee. Warrior is putting the boots to Hogan on the outside.
Hogan has a discussion with the referee. Warrior tells Hogan to bring it. Warrior rolls Hogan back into the ring. Warrior targets the injured knee of Hogan. Eye Rake Exchange. Warrior backs Hogan into the ropes. The referee calls for a clean break. Warrior with a straight right hand. The referee admonishes Warrior. Hogan is throwing haymakers at Warrior. Hogan levels Warrior with a Body Avalanche. Hogan transitions into a Corner Mount. Hogan bodyslams Warrior. Hogan follows that with two elbow drops for a two count. Hogan applies a front face lock. Hogan with an inside cradle for a two count. Hogan applies a rear chin lock. Hogan with a knee lift. Hogan is mauling Warrior in the corner. Hogan whips Warrior across the ring. Hogan with a Running Clothesline. Hogan hooks the outside leg for a two count. Hogan with a BackBreaker for a two count. Hogan goes back to the rear chin lock. Hogan repeatedly drives his knee into Warrior’s back. Hogan with The Belly to Back Suplex for a two count.
Hogan relying too much on the rear chin lock. Warrior with heavy bodyshots. Hogan drops down on the canvas. Both men are knocked down after a double clothesline. Warrior is shaking the ropes. Hogan with rapid fire axe handle strikes. Warrior HeadButts Hogan. Warrior with a straight right hand. Warrior with Three Running Clotheslines. Warrior is fired up. Warrior blasts Hogan with a knife edge chop. Warrior repeatedly whips Hogan into the turnbuckles. Warrior with a Vertical Suplex for a two count. Warrior applies The Bear Hug. Hogan refuses to quit. Hogan finally breaks the grip. Warrior inadvertently knocks down the referee. Warrior with Two Flying Double Axe Handle Strikes. Warrior is running in place. Hogan sends Warrior face first into the canvas.
Hogan is displaying his frustration. Warrior with a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Thumb to eye by Hogan. Hogan rolls Warrior over for a two count. Hogan tees off on Warrior. Hogan with a running elbow smash over the top rope. Hogan and Warrior are trading back and forth shots on the outside. Warrior HeadButts Hogan. Warrior sends Hogan face first into the steel ring post. Warrior with a running clothesline. Warrior hits The Gorilla Press. Warrior connects with The Big Splash for a two count. Hogan starts hulking up. Hogan points at Warrior. Hogan with a series of haymakers. Hogan drops Warrior with The Big Boot. Hogan goes for The Leg Drop, but Warrior ducks out of the way. Warrior plants Hogan with The Big Splash to pickup the victory.
Winner: New WWF World Heavyweight Champion, Still WWF Intercontinental Champion, The Ultimate Warrior via Pinfall
THE Brian Kendrick: Hello there, THE Brian Kendrick again, I was asked what match that you competed in were you the proudest of and that’s a tricky question because i’ve been in the ring with a lot of legends, a lot of success, a lot of great contests. A lot of times I really enjoyed. It’s hard to decide. I’m awful proud of the title run that Paul London and I had as a tag team. I’m awful proud of my 205 Live Cruiserweight Championship Reign. But there’s one match that’s really special to me because after the match is the first time that I realized that it might all be done for me.
It was The Cruiserweight Classic match against Kota Ibushi. I wrestled Raul Mendoza. I was successful. I wrestled Tony Nese. I was successful. But if I would’ve lost then I would’ve been done. This is my fourth time around with the WWE. So, this is most likely it for me and I lost to Kota Ibushi and after that match I had to look myself in the mirror and realize that might be it for me. As luck would have it, here I am, but that match was really special to me because it kind of put everything all into perspective for me. I poured my heart out and I lost. Isn’t that just life? I hope you enjoy it.
Second Match: THE Brian Kendrick (USA) vs. Kota Ibushi (Japan) in a Quarterfinal Match in the Cruiserweight Classic Tournament
Kendrick and Ibushi shakes hands before the bell rings. Kendrick shoves Ibushi and then proceeds to rolls out of the ring. Ibushi fires up with a series of forearms to the Kendrick. Ibushi with a clubbing blow to the back of Kendrick. Standing switch and Ibushi drops Kendrick with a big boot. Ibushi with a Feint Moonsault to Kendrick. Ibushi rolls Kendrick back into the ring. Kendricks drives Ibushi ribs into the steel barricade at ringside. Kendrick gets Ibushi boot trapped in the barricade. Ibushi gets out and drops Kendrick with a springboard dropkick. Ibushi with a collection of forearms. Ibushi lands three consecutive roundhouse kicks to the chest of Kendrick. Ibushi with a big right hand to Kendrick. Kendrick whips Ibushi neck first into the top turnbuckle.
Ibushi drives his shoulder to the midsection of Kendrick. Kendrick with a running boot to the gut of Ibushi for a two count. Kendrick gets Ibushi trapped in the Cravate. Ibushi goes for a bodyslam, but Kendrick counters with a cravate takeover. Kendrick with a back elbow to Ibushi. Ibush responds with a dropkick that sends Kendrick into the corner. Kendrick with a boot to the face of Ibushi. Ibushi plants Kendrick with a powerslam. Ibushi follows that up with a springboard moonsault. Ibushi with a spinning heel kick to the gut of Kendrick. Ibushi goes for a standing moonsault, but Kendrick gets his knees up in the air for a two count. Kendrick SuperKicks Ibushi. Kendrick and Ibushi engage in a series of back and forth forearms. Kendrick drops Ibushi with The Slice Bread #2 for a two count. Kendrick with a rear naked choke to Ibushi on the top rope.
Ibushi with a Pele Kick that sends Kendrick crashing to the outside. Ibushi plants Kendrick with a german suplex from the second rope for a two count. Ibushi slaps Kendrick in the back. Kendrick gets Ibushi in the Bully Choke. Kendrick sends Ibushi into the ropes. Kendrick plants Ibushi with the Burning Hammer for a two count. Ibushi with a roundhouse kick to Kendrick. Kendrick goes for a victory roll, but Ibushi counters with a modified sitout powerbomb for a two count. Ibushi goes for the Phoenix Splash, but Kendrick ducks out of the way and gets Ibushi trapped in the Bully Choke. Ibushi with a enziguri to Kendrick. Ibushi plants Kendrick with the Golden Star PowerBomb to pickup the victory.
Winner: Kota Ibushi via Pinfall
Tom Phillips: There’s a reason why Brian Kendrick is one of the most respected veterans in all of sports entertainment and as you’ve seen throughout tonight, there is a reason that he was the Cruiserweight Champion when this show first came on the air. Thank you to THE Brian Kendrick for showing us some of the moments that helped make him and a moment that he made for the entire WWE Universe. Thank you for joining us tonight on 205 Live. I’m Tom Phillips and we’ll see you next week here on the WWE Network.
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