WWE Cruiserweight Classic Live Finale Discussion Thread: September 14, 2016

[Smart Marx]

Tonight: Tag team partners collide in final CWC first-round match

NXT tag team partners Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa put their friendship to the ultimate test in the final first-round match of the Cruiserweight Classic, tonight at 9/8 C, only on WWE Network!

Rich Swann vs. Jason Lee (First-Round Match)

The first round of the Cruiserweight Classic wraps up this Wednesday at 9/8 C, only on WWE Network, with four huge matches to determine the final participants in the second round of the tournament. One of those battles features Rich Swann of the United States taking on Hong Kong, China’s Jason Lee.

Full Cruiserweight Classic coverage | Start WWE Network free trial

The Hong Kong native makes no bones about idolizing movie icon Bruce Lee, and has adapted martial arts into his in-ring style. He was seen practicing his nunchaku skills around the WWE Performance Center leading up to the tournament, making many of the other participants unsettled. While he won’t be able to use them once the bell rings, have Lee’s mind games given him an upper hand?

His opponent, Swann, doesn’t seem to be fazed by anything, though. The Baltimore native is always ready to bust a move, turning the squared circle into his own personal dance floor. And when it comes time to get down, Swann can fly with the best of them. Before signing with WWE in 2015, Swann was widely known as one of the best highfliers on the independent scene, possessing a leaping ability that few can match.

Can Lee be like water and flow into the second round, or will Rich Swann keep on boogieing in the CWC?

Noam Dar vs. Gurv Sihra (First-Round Match)

Scottish standout Noam Dar begins his journey in the Cruiserweight Classic this week, taking on Gurv Sihra of India.

The youngest competitor in the CWC and the first Israeli-born competitor to step into a WWE ring, Dar has a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Can the 22-year-old live up to the lofty expectations he’s set for himself and start the tournament off on the right foot?

Gurv Sihra is under plenty of pressure, himself. His brother, Harv, was eliminated last week by Drew Gulak. The Bollywood Boyz’s hopes of staying alive in the Cruiserweight Classic rests solely on “The Golden Lion.” Will Gurv be able to counter the supreme technical skill of Dar and keep his dreams of CWC glory alive?

Jack Gallagher vs. Fabian Aichner (First-Round Match)

This first round showdown features two competitors that are polar opposites of each other: England’s Jack Gallagher and Italy’s Fabian Aichner.

An “Extraordinary Gentleman,” Gallagher is a top-notch grappler, having studied the art at the infamous Snake Pit in Wigan and sat under the learning tree of catch wrestling master Billy Robinson. It’s safe to say that if Gallagher gets a hold of his opponents, they’re in danger. In addition to his in-ring exploits, Gallagher is also an undefeated amateur mixed martial artist, making him one of the most well-rounded competitors in the tournament.

But for everything that Gallagher has in terms of skill, Aichner can match it in pure power. At 203 pounds, Aichner is the second-heaviest competitor in the field of 32. With a chiseled physique, Aichner can muscle his opposition around the ring with ease. But Aichner isn’t all power. He can fly high with the tournament’s best, and possesses a Frog Splash that can end a match in an instant.

What will be the key to the second round in this battle? Pure wrestling ability or unbridled intensity?

Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa (First-Round Match)

The final match of the Cruiserweight Classic’s first round is, perhaps, the most talked-about battle since the brackets were revealed, featuring tag team partners Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa squaring off for the last spot in the second round.

The best friends have been making waves in NXT since their arrival last fall, but more so in recent months. A hot streak capped off with a victory over reigning NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival has Gargano & Ciampa in the mix for a title opportunity. But could this chance for singles glory throw a wrench in their tag team dreams?

Gargano has said that he knows he and Ciampa are competitors and will leave everything they have in the ring. Ciampa, a hard-hitting striker, says that while he is not going into the battle to injure Gargano, he’s not going to hold back, because he doesn’t want to lose.

Will Gargano or Ciampa walk out with a spot in the next round? Will their friendship survive this huge showdown? Find out this Wednesday at 9/8 C, only on WWE Network!

Who's watching the rest of the first round CWC match-ups tonight? Discuss it here!

 

[Smart Marx]

Tonight: Ibushi and Alexander clash in Second Round showdown

The WWE Cruiserweight Classic's Second Round kicks off tonight on WWE Network, with Gran Metalik taking on Tajiri and Kota Ibushi squaring off with Cedric Alexander.

Gran Metalik vs. Tajiri (Second Round Match)

The Second Round of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic kicks off tonight at 9/8 C on WWE Network with a huge battle for a spot in the Quarterfinals between Mexico’s Gran Metalik and The Japanese Buzzsaw, Tajiri.

Metalik earned his way into the Second Round with a victory over Chile’s Alejandro Saez in the opening match of the tournament. The masked marvel dazzled with his ability to dart across the ropes and show off some of his most devastating dives, though he secured his spot in the Second Round with a brutal fisherman buster.

The masked Mexican will need everything in his arsenal to turn back the challenge of Tajiri. The former Cruiserweight Champion showed he hadn’t lost a step in his 10 years away from WWE, defeating Damian Slater in impressive fashion when he clobbered the Australian with his trademark Buzzsaw Kick to advance in the tournament. Tajiri will no doubt look to keep Metalik grounded and unleash his punishing strikes.

What will be needed to advance to the Quarterfinals? Metalik’s all-out aerial assault, or Tajiri’s martial arts mastery?

Kota Ibushi vs. Cedric Alexander (Second Round Match)

The next Second Round showdown features two of the most impressive First-Round competitors locking horns, as Kota Ibushi of Japan takes on the United States’ Cedric Alexander.

Ibushi entered as one of the favorites to win the tournament. He showed why in his First-Round match with Sean Maluta, dizzying the Samoan with unforgiving kicks before putting him away with a Last Ride Powerbomb. Having taken on the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles and Finn Bálor, this high-pressure situation is second nature for “The Gloden Star,” and he should be ready to rise to the occasion.

Standing in between Ibushi and the Quarterfinals is Cedric Alexander. The Charlotte, N.C. native is one of the most popular wrestlers in the CWC, and he backed up his reputation with an impressive performance in the First Round. Facing a tough challenge in Clement Petiot of France, Alexander used a mix of high-flying, hard-hitting offense to put the Frenchman away and earn his spot in the sweet sixteen.

Can Ibushi continue on his expected path to the CWC Finals, or will Alexander prove that he can hang with the best in the world? Find out when the Second Round of the Cruiserweight Classic begins, tonight at 9/8 C, only on WWE Network!

 

[Deezy]

Ibushi vs Alexander and Tajiri......should be a good show.

 

[Smart Marx]

Ibushi vs Alexander and Tajiri......should be a good show.

Tajiri is entertaining as always.

 

[Jimmy King]

Cedric Alexander and Kota Ibushi killed it out there last night. As did Tajiri and Gran Metalik. Seriously, I hope Cedric gets signed. By the looks of the end of the show it may seem like it.

 

[FalconPunch]

Man, Cedric was entertaining. So many people on this show look like they don't belong (won't name names) they look like school teachers and goofs, dorks, whatever you want to call it. "Pretty" wrestling techniques aren't going to make money, create interest or appeal to a mass audience. But Cedric, man, awesome.

 

[Sabretooth]

I just convinced my dad into letting me get the network for a month. Time to see what this CWC is all about.

 

[Deezy]

Man, Cedric was entertaining. So many people on this show look like they don't belong (won't name names) they look like school teachers and goofs, dorks, whatever you want to call it. "Pretty" wrestling techniques aren't going to make money, create interest or appeal to a mass audience. But Cedric, man, awesome.

All Chinese dudes, Bollywood boys, and that skinny English guy.

Tyson Dux is the only guy I approve of who's not Japanese.

 

[FalconPunch]

I just convinced my dad into letting me get the network for a month. Time to see what this CWC is all about.

Why do I not believe this.

 

[Sabretooth]

Why do I not believe this.

Ok

 

[Smart Marx]

CWC preview, Aug. 17, 2016: Kendrick's road to redemption runs through Nese

After showing off his vicious side in the first round, Brian Kendrick looks to continue his road to personal redemption in the Second Round of the CWC against Tony Nese. Who will advance? Find out tonight at 9/8 C, only on WWE Network!

Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher (Second Round Match)

The Second Round of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic continues tonight on WWE Network and features a styles clash between Japan’s Akira Tozawa and Jack Gallagher of England.

Full CWC coverage | Start WWE Network free trial

Gallagher is a throwback in every way. Employing the old-school British style of grappling, the “Extraordinary Gentleman” flustered Fabian Aichner of Germany before putting him away with a vicious running dropkick to earn his spot in the Second Round. Gallagher will likely need to incorporate more of his skill set, including his mixed martial arts experience, to progress further in the CWC.

The Brit squares off with Tozawa, a graduate of the vaunted Dragon Gate dojo in Japan. Tozawa was one of the most highly touted competitors coming into the tournament, having faced the likes of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn before they joined WWE. That renown gave him plenty of confidence heading into the tournament, but also may have led to him underestimating his First Round opponent, Kenneth Johnson. Tozawa quickly realized how serious the competition in the CWC would be and put the American away with a devastating German Suplex.

Tozawa won’t be underestimating Gallagher when they get in the ring. But will Gallagher be able to overwhelm his hard-hitting opponent, or will Tozawa slam his way to the Quarterfinals?

Noam Dar vs. HoHo Lun (Second Round Match)

The next Second Round showdown features the youngest competitor in the field taking on the most determined.

Though he recently turned 23, Noam Dar of Scotland is nearing a decade of experience in the ring. Growing up on the United Kingdom’s burgeoning independent scene, Dar picked up the intricacies of technical wrestling, which did him well in the CWC’s First Round, where he forced Gurv Sihra to tap out to a kneebar.

Dar’s opponent in this round is Hong Kong, China’s HoHo Lun. With no wrestling scene at all in his homeland, Lun traveled the world to learn the mat game, then returned to Hong Kong to start his own promotion. His never-say-die attitude was on display in the opening round of the CWC, where he fought off the ruthless efforts of Ariya Daivari to advance.

This is a battle between two competitors with lots of heart. Who has the fortitude to move on in the summer’s biggest tournament?

Brian Kendrick vs. Tony Nese (Second Round Match)

The final match of the evening is a battle between two competitors who are willing to do anything to stay in the tournament.

Tony Nese believes he should have been in WWE a long time ago. The self-proclaimed “Premier Athlete” isn’t wasting any time fawning over the opportunity to take part in the CWC, because he knows the tournament is his for the taking. Nese can fly with the best in the field, but also possesses the power of a heavyweight and can muscle around his opposition with ease. He showed his hybrid style off in the First Round, putting Anthony Bennett down for the three-count with a picture-perfect 450 Splash.

Standing across the ring from Nese is a man with a plan, Brian Kendrick. The “Post-Apocalyptic Scavenger” was a sentimental favorite after CWC: Bracketology, when Kendrick revealed that he saw the Classic as his last shot at personal redemption, after letting his previous chance at WWE glory slip through his fingers. However, feelings toward Kendrick changed in the First Round, when he revealed just how far he was willing to go to achieve that goal. Kendrick wrestled ruthlessly against Mexico’s Raul Mendoza, bending the rules and using trickery to slide into the Second Round.

Will Tony Nese’s hybrid of aerial ability and raw power be the key to victory, or will Kendrick’s cruel and unusual style keep him in the CWC? Find out tonight at 9/8 C, only on WWE Network!

 

[Sabretooth]

Are we gonna have a discussion?

 

[Smart Marx]

Are we gonna have a discussion?

I made this thread and post the previews so people who do watch it can discuss it while they watch.

Same goes for NXT. Any comments you have about the shows can be posted in these threads.

 

[Apoho Creed]

Gallagher/Tozawa had one of the best matches easily in this Cruiserweight classic, and I got loads of chuckles when Gallagher put Tozawa in that crazy submission and he didn't know what to do. He was like hey..hey.. lol. That match could of went either way, but Gallagher to me will be signed he's too talented and charismatic not to sign. The HoHo Lun/Dar match was a snooze fest to me, don't see Dar going past his next opponent. Kendrick/Nese was a good match too, and this old Dog Kendrick WILL NOT DIE! You're going to need a veteran presence in the Cruiserweight division on Raw who better to push the other guys than THE..BRIAN KENDRICK!

 

[Deezy]

Daniel Bryans cheerleading is JR on Dr Death level of slurping.

Hes gonna run in during the Ibushi match.