WWE 205 Live: Analyzing What's Gone Right, What Needs to Improve After 2 Shows

WWE 205 Live is a couple of weeks old, and it's fair to say we've seen both good and bad in its inaugural tapings.

The cruiserweight division needed something more than just a couple of matches with little direction on Raw, and for the most part, 205 Live has filled that slot.

But there are still a few tweaks that can be made if the show is to become a must-see part of WWE's weekly schedule in a way similar to NXT.

Here's what's gone right for the show so far and what perhaps needs a tweak.

What's Gone Right: Storytelling

One major criticism of the cruiserweight division when limited to its brief time on Raw was that there were precious few opportunities to actually learn about the wrestlers themselves.

While the action in the ring on Raw was great and different to what most of the main roster could offer, fans were given no real insight into the personalities of the cruiserweight stars.

"

205 Live was pretty good. Giving the cruiserweight's more time was definitely needed.

— dangerously? (@mrdangerously) November 30, 2016"

Thankfully, 205 Live has moved toward correcting that. On the first episode of the show, there was a detailed vignette dedicated to Rich Swann, which subsequently aired on Raw the following week.

In it, Swann's rough personal background was explained, and it instantly allowed fans to build a much more significant rapport with a guy who, up until that point, was just a cruiserweight who danced his way down to the ring. The timing of its airing on the night he won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship cannot have been a coincidence. 

The likes of Jack Gallagher, Noam Dar and many more have also been profiled in closer depth. Suddenly, the cruiserweights don't just feel like filler. They feel like legitimate parts of WWE after a rocky few months.

What's Gone Right: A-Plus Commentary Team

One of the major perks of the Cruiserweight Classic was that it was called by the excellent Mauro Ranallo. When it became possible that the cruiserweight division could earn a trade to SmackDown this year, the prospect of Ranallo calling the shots was one of the biggest positives behind the move.

And even though the division stayed put on Raw, fans are at least given an hour of Ranallo calling the action every week, which is a huge positive.

Ranallo's passion for wrestling is infectious, and he's the best commentator WWE has. Interestingly, WWE paired him up with Corey Graves, who is probably the best part of the Raw announce team.

Graves' knowledge and experience—as someone who's only recently stepped away from the ring—bounces off Ranallo excellently. Throw in Austin Aries, who is almost replicating the role CM Punk had a few years ago when he provided commentary while injured, and you have a great trio at ringside every week.

What Needs to Improve: The Timing of the Recording

So far, there have been some great positives for 205 Live. However, one major negative is that the crowds seem to be largely dead when the show is recorded.

Perhaps that is brought on by the fact that the one-hour show is recorded straight after SmackDown.

Most weeks, SmackDown is captivating and often features a main event with plenty of talking points. It's difficult for cruiserweights who, up until now, have been largely in the background to follow big names like AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose and even Daniel Bryan.

So why not flip it around and tape 205 Live before SmackDown? Sure, there would probably be people filtering in during the broadcast, but it would at least generate more crowd noise and interest.

It's just a minor tweak, but it's one that could reap big rewards.

What Needs to Improve: More Surprises

It may only be two episodes old, but 205 Live would generate more interest if WWE planned some twists.

It was great to see Rich Swann win and defend the Cruiserweight Championship in the two episodes thus far, but in the coming weeks, dramatic swerves in the main event will see more people want to tune in to 205 Live.

Here's an example: When Swann drops the belt to a heel—or even if he retains it for a few weeks—why not have one of the main roster's forgotten men come out and attack Swann?

Neville has been anonymous for the last few months but would be an ideal fit for the cruiserweight division moving forward.

That kind of swerve, throwing in a face plenty of people know, would be great for the prestige and interest in the show.