RIP 205: We Hardly Knew Ye

In a recent interview with Newsweek, Triple H said we would begin to see the 205 Live brand operate under the NXT umbrella. With NXT expanding to two hours every week, it makes sense for the developmental brand to increase its roster. We saw the first step during the debut episode on the USA Network (well, on the hour aired on WWE Network) when Lio Rush returned to defeat Oney Lorcan and become number-one contender for the Cruiserweight Championship.

As a result of the changes, many fans are speculating whether WWE will abort 205 Live altogether and abandon its promising cruiserweight division. If this truly is the final days of the purple brand, it’s a shame and quite possibly the end of many of your favorite wrestlers’ time in the spotlight. Of course, Buddy Murphy, Cedric Alexander and Ali have already found a home on the main roster, but there can’t be room for everybody.

Here are a few members of 205 Live who will be able to find a place on the NXT roster.

Umberto Carrillo, Drew Gulak and Tony Neese are immediately at the front of the pack. They’ll likely move away from the cruiserweight distinction for attempts at the other titles on the brand, especially with the recent rekindling of the friendship that got both Gulak and Neese their starts on 205 Live. Who better than them to carry the NXT Tag Team Titles into the new era? Lucha House Party can also join the tag team division and continue to propel Lince Dorado to main event stardom. The Singh Brothers will make a good jobber tag team on NXT as well.

Gentleman Jack Gallagher is a known commodity on NXT’s sister brand #NXTUK and will most likely move to a full-time roster there. But the path for the rest of the roster is not as clear. For the likes of Akira Tozawa, Ariya Daivari, Brian Kendrick and Mike Kanellis, 205 Live has been the best way for them to live out their childhood dreams of being WWE Superstars.

Kanellis had a brief run with the 24/7 Title, but I would expect someone of his caliber, who has just recently signed a five-year deal, to not be satisfied as a vignette guy and the occasional run-in on a PPV or pre-show in pursuit of R-Truth.

Tozawa may be able to carve out a bit of a niche for himself as a purveyor of Japanese Strong Style for the American audience. It’s a role that was started by now NJPW star KENTA, followed by current United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura and has been continued by Kushida in NXT.

At the moment, Kendrick and Daivari do not have clear paths back to having their talents displayed on TV through the new WWE paradigm. Would they fare better on the independent scene? Perhaps, but it’s not likely that Vince McMahon will let any more performers be scooped up by AEW at the onset of the Wednesday Night War. WWE has increasingly had a problem of oversaturation, and now it seems NXT will, too. McMahon would rather keep talent at home rather than let them leave and possibly thrive elsewhere. For good reason, as evidenced by PAC, Jon Moxley, Juice Robinson, Shawn Spears, Dustin Rhodes and Cody Rhodes.

Those men have proven that not succeeding in the WWE model doesn’t mean you won’t succeed in the overall landscape of pro wrestling. They’ve shown that sometimes it pays to bet on yourself. You have to do what’s best for your career.

What’s best for WWE? Well, exactly what it’s doing.