DREW GULAK (C) VS. ONEY LORCAN

To kick off the second hour off the Kickoff show for Summerslam 2019, Drew Gulak defends the WWE Cruiserweight Championship (version 2) that he won on the Stomping Grounds Kickoff show against the former Biff Busick. The – now – Oney Lorcan won a six-pack challenge on 6^th August edition of 205 Live to earn this shot. Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, and Aiden English are the commentary team for this match. Nigel McGuinness says this match will be the striking of Gulak against the grappling of Lorcan. Vic Joseph fluffs his line calling it the Cruiserweight Championship title, or maybe that's how they're differentiating it from 2002-2007 version. Both men get an entrance, which is a nice surprise to me.

DREW GULAK © VS. ONEY LORCAN

WWE Summerslam 2019 (11^th August 2019)

Drew Gulak charges with a dropkick in the corner as the bell rings and grabs a side headlock, beginning a series of chain wrestling with those stupidly early covers, he ducks under a chop and they go back to it. McGuinness says that's not Lorcan's smartest move, he should be going for strikes as Gulak gets a nearfall. Lorcan gets his shoulder off the mat but is back in the hammerlock, he gets back to his feet and forces Gulak into the corner for the release then chops his chest. Oney Lorcan follows immediately after an irish whip across the ring, instead of waiting like every other chump and clotheslines Gulak, Gulak reverses an irish whip the other way and hands Lorcan his receipt. Lorcan's knee hits the ropes on the way down from a scoop slam giving Gulak a nearfall. We go screen in screen because we need a commercial Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar later tonight. as Lorcan is put in an abdominal stretch and forced to the ground for a nearfall.

Oney Lorcan chops his way out of a high-angle ankle lock, with a bit more torque he could have scratched an itch on his ear with his own wrestling boot. Gulak gets a one count on the pin as we go back to full screen, then a chinlock because twisting people like pretzels is tiring work. Oney Lorcan escapes, going back to strikes as he catches his breath and hitting a running blockbuster for a nearfall. Drew Gulak escapes out of the ring, getting chopped against the guard rail and the 205 Live announce table. Lorcan brings it back in but is caught in the dragonsleeper on the mat with a bodyscissors, Gulak traps the arm nearest the ropes but Lorcan reaches out with his foot so Gulak breaks at 3. Gulak counters a half-and-half suplex attempt with the Cyclone Crash but that's countered also, Gulak elbows free and they each avoid a clothesline before colliding in the ring. They exchange strikes as they get to their feet and Gulak gains the advantage, Lorcan covers up on all fours as Gulak continues to slap the shit out of him, he bursts up but a slap across the back of the head puts a stop to that. Gulak goes back to beating Lorcan like a drum as McGuinness says Lorcan shouldn't give up his back that easily.

Drew Gulak goes back to the dragon sleeper/bodyscissors combination in the middle of the ring and McGuinness says “that's why” like someone being proven right in an argument by a Google search. Lorcan grabs the champion by the jaw which for some reason warrants a count for disqualification, Lorcan slaps Gulak and hits running european uppercuts but has to duck a clothesline before getting the hat-trick. Gulak grabs hold of the ring skirt as Lorcan drags him to the middle of the ring and gets a right hand to the throat, the Cyclone Crash ends it.

WINNER: DREW GULAK (STILL CHAMPION)

This was a short match but played off their history well. It did fall into the wrestler A does it, then wrestler B does it at times and for everything that was said about Lorcan's striking he didn't really seem that dominant with them, although they certainly looked and sounded like they hurt like hell. I would have liked the popping up from the barrage of slaps moment to have been milked for a few seconds longer too, but aside the minor gripes it was a perfectly serviceable match. [* ½] 3/10.

After the match Lorcan sells his throat as Gulak holds the belt up and we get a replay of the finish before going back to the Kickoff panel. For the second hour Jonathan Coachman and Charly Caruso are joined by Booker T and Jerry “The King” Lawler. Booker T looks pissed off as Lawler is introduced, not realising the camera's on him. The fans chant for Lawler and as Coach introduces Booker he asks which camera to address. Drake Maverick interrupts the panel looking for the 24/7 Champion R-Truth and as the camera pans out we see him hiding under the table eating popcorn with Carmella. They get up and R-Truth says they were there all night watching “NXT TakeOver: Toronto” before being corrected. Maverick returns with a referee and has a popcorn fight with R-Truth before chasing him around the table. Carmella trips Maverick and jumps on R-Truth's back as the chase is on. Well, King's laughing anyway.