Tonight’s episode of 205 Live opens up with a graphic in memory of the late great “Mean” Gene Okerlund.

205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick then wishes us a happy 2019 and preps us for The First 205 Live of the year in a prerecorded message. Maverick hypes up the evenings two Fatal Four Way Qualifying Matchups. Kalisto takes on Lio Rush, while Akira Tozawa faces Drew Gulak.

We then get The 205 Live Intro Video.

Vic Joseph, Percy Watson & Nigel McGuinness then welcome us to the most exciting hour on television. The Lucha House Party is on their way to the ring to support Kalisto in his Qualifying Match against Lio Rush. The Man Of The Hour is out next.

Kalisto vs. Lio Rush (Royal Rumble WWE Cruiserweight Title Fatal 4 Way Qualifying Match): Kalisto gets the crowd to do Lucha chants before the action begins. Rush attempts a kick but Kalisto catches it. Each man shows off his athleticism and speed with multiple dodges and counters. Rush slaps Kalisto, which pisses the luchador off. He chases Rush around the ring, eventually catching him and rolling him up in the ring for an early cover. Rush escapes and tosses Kalisto to the outside. Suicide dive through the bottom rope from Rush. He throws him back in the ring immediately and starts wearing him down with fists. Kalisto lands an open-palmed chop, but Rush responds with a snap-suplex to stay in control. Rush wears Kalisto down in the center of the ring with a neck-crank. Kalisto escapes the hold and rolls Rush up again. Another kickout. Big boot from Rush knocks Kalisto to his back. Rush continues to target Kalisto’s head and neck, tossing him to the outside right in front of Lince Dorado & Gran Metalik. They cheer their fellow luchador to get back in the ring. Kalisto does and attempts a comeback, but Rush cuts him off with a flying elbow. Rush locks in a modified cobra-clutch, but Kalisto gets to his feet and finally mounts some offense, landing a combination followed by a kick to Rush’s head that sends him to ringside. Springboard dive attack from Kalisto. Back in the ring, Rush lands a series of roundhouse kicks. Rush climbs for the frog splash, but Kalisto kicks out Rush’s leg, dropping him on his crotch. Kalisto climbs for a superplex. Rush blocks it and nearly knocks Kalisto off. Kalisto lands another kick. He picks up Rush for a fallaway slam from the top. Kalisto backflips holding Rush and slamming him hard to the mat. The cover and Rush kicks out. Kalisto goes for the Salida del sol, but Rush counters with a swinging neck spike and nearly wins the match. Both men trade blows in the center. Springboard spinning shoulder block from Kalisto. Rush fires back with a pump-kick. He picks up Kalisto in a fireman’s carry and drops Kalisto over the top. The referee counts and Kalisto gets in right at 9. Rush is livid. He quickly climbs for the final hour frog splash. Lince Dorado & Gran Metalik distract him with their party spinners. Rush jumps off the top and kicks the spinner out of Dorado’s hand. Rush then dropkicks Dorado into Metalik. Dorado nearly costs Kalisto the match by charging into the ring, but Metalik grabs his friends leg so Kalisto doesn’t get disqualified. Rush keeps taunting The Lucha House Party. Kalisto with a Salida Del Sol and that will do it. Winner & Qualifies For The WWE Cruiserweight Title Fatal Four Way Match At Royal Rumble: Kalisto

After the match, Kalisto celebrates with Lince Dorado & Gran Metalik.

We head backstage where we see WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy & Tony Nese watching and enjoying beverages.

We then get a flashback of the brutal Tag Team Match between The Brian Kendrick & Akira Tozawa against Drew Gulak & Gentleman Jack Gallagher. Tozawa & Kendrick would win after a sliced bread from the top rope.

Drew Gulak & Gentleman Jack Gallagher are backstage talking strategy when an interviewer rolls up. Gulak says that there are many words he would describe himself with – submission specialist, leader and above all, realist. Gulak then says that last week only proved that Akira Tozawa & The Brian Kendrick are low rent brawlers and he is by no means an underdog. Gulak then says that tonight is a wrestling match with rules, which puts Tozawa at an utter disadvantage and when he steps up, he will tap out.

Elsewhere backstage, Akira Tozawa is sparring with The Brian Kendrick, preparing for the main event, which is coming up next.

We then get a house ad for The Royal Rumble PPV Event.

Back from the commercial break and 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick addresses The WWE Universe once again. He talks about how a new year means new opportunities and he has no intention of resting on his laurels. Maverick then says that he has been scouring the globe for new talent. Maverick then says that that means that we can expect new faces and fierce competition and 205 Live will remain the premier destination for the best cruiserweight wrestling in the world.

Drew Gulak is on his way to the ring. (Gentleman Jack Gallagher is not with him.) Akira Tozawa is out next. (No The Brian Kendrick either.) Backstage, WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy is watching with Tony Nese. Commentary confirms that 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick barred each man’s partner from ringside.

Drew Gulak vs. Akira Tozawa (Royal Rumble WWE Cruiserweight Title Fatal 4 Way Qualifying Match): Tie-up. Tozawa locks in a headscissor, but Gulak smoothly transitions into one of his own. They break the hold and stare down. Second tie-up. Gulak snags on a headlock, but Tozawa reciprocates and falls to the mat to increase the pressure. Gulak gets back to his feet and overpowers the smaller Tozawa, bouncing off the ropes and landing a shoulder bump. Gulak with a sunset-flip pin but Tozawa gets right to his feet and goes for a penalty kick. Gulak dodges. Another stare-down. Instead of a tie-up, Gulak rakes the eyes and pushes Tozawa into the corner, unloading fists and kicks upon him. Tozawa fires back with a big powerslam and a standing screaming senton. Gulak rolls to the outside, baiting Tozawa to chase him. Gulak catches him with a suplex attempt, but Tozawa blocks it. Gulak tries to climb back into the ring but Tozawa grabs his feet. Gulak pushes Tozawa hard into the barricade. Gulak now has the advantage. He slams Tozawa onto the arena floor before tossing him back into the ring. Gulak methodically targets Tozawa’s back, wearing him down with submissions and stretches. Another big powerslam from Gulak, who transitions immediately into a camel-clutch. Tozawa gets to his feet, landing a series of strikes. Gulak catches him in a powerbomb attempt. He goes to drop him over the rope but Tozawa frankensteiners him over. Suicide dive attempt from Tozawa, but Gulak runs into the ring before he can go over. Tozawa surprises Gulak with another frankensteiner. Cover, but Gulak escapes. Tozawa knocks Gulak down again. He climbs for the top rope senton, but Gulak rolls to the apron. They trade strikes. Gulak gets caught in the ropes. Tozawa lands the top rope senton on Gulak, but he can’t go for the cover because of the damage to his back. Both men are down. Tozawa goes for a shining wizard, but Gulak catches Tozawa again and powerbombs him into the turnbuckle. He goes for the Gu-lock, but Tozawa rolls him up. Two count. Standing lariat from Gulak nearly decapitates Tozawa. Pinfall attempt and Tozawa escapes. Tozawa dodges an attack. Middle rope sunset-flip but Gulak rolls through. Powerbomb from Gulak. Tozawa kicks out again. Both men trade blows in the center of the ring. Tozawa wins the exchange with two running elbows. He goes for a third but Gulak lands a big boot. Tozawa hits his own big boot. He comes off the ropes and locks Gulak in an octopus stretch. Gulak turns it into the Brock-Lock. Tozawa is in a lot of pain, but eventually gets to the ropes. Gulak lands a combination on Tozawa. Tozawa fires back and hits a big backdrop. He climbs for the senton. Gulak catches him in the Gu-Lock. He is right in the center. Tozawa rolls to the outside, breaking the hold. Tozawa and Gulak lay into each other on the outside. They try and get back in the ring, but Tozawa boots Gulak off the apron. Suicide dive lands from Tozawa. He throws Gulak back in and climbs for the senton. Gulak pushes his leg and crotch drops Tozawa. Gulak with a big slap. He climbs for a superplex attempt. Tozawa blocks it. Gulak climbs to the top rope. Headbutt from Tozawa. Gulak lands right in the finisher zone. Tozawa lands the senton and that will do it. Winner & Qualifies For The WWE Cruiserweight Title Fatal Four Way Match At Royal Rumble: Akira Tozawa

After the match, The Brian Kendrick joins his pal to celebrate.

Commentary informs us that the final qualifier is Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami, which will be on next week’s show.

We head backstage where Cedric Alexander cuts a promo about how he doesn’t scare easily and Itami doesn’t intimidate him. Alexander says that he doesn’t care who Itami is or what he has done, because their match will end the same way their last one did, with Cedric’s hand raised.

Ariya Daivari then speaks for Hideo Itami, saying that it is commendable that Cedric picked himself up after his buddy Mustafa Ali for SmackDown, but this isn’t the same Itami he fought last year. Daivari then says that Itami has some words in Japanese for Alexander and Daivari says Cedric wants his title back, but all he is going to get is a lesson in respect. 205 Live goes off the air.