Csonka’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review 8.17.16

Csonka’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review 8.17.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Akira Tozawa defeated Jack Gallagher @ 11:40 via pin [***¾]
– Noam Dar defeated Ho Ho Lun @ 7:05 via pin [**]
– The Brian Kendrick defeated Tony Nese @ 13:42 via submission [***¾]

---

– We get a video package, recapping the previous events of the tournament.

– Bryan and Mauro welcomes s to the show, and we then get a video package for Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher.

Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher: Oh man, I dig both of these guys. Normally I’d have a favorite but I’d be pleased with either man moving on. Really nice back and forth stuff to begin, with a great counter being Tozawa’s aggressiveness with the calm way Gallagher works his counters, almost playful while also being frustrating for Tozawa. Gallagher actually tied up Tozawa in a ball and mocked him. Gallagher was having a bunch of fun here before punting Tozawa in the ass. Gallagher connects really well with the crowd, and the work is great too. Tozawa got pissed and laid into Gallagher with strikes and a shining wizard. The contrast in styles here is really working well; Tozawa took control, hitting a senton for a near fall. He then lit up Gallagher with chops, but when the pacing picked up, Gallagher was able to out counter Tozawa and then started to work the leg and shows more aggression. Good focus on the leg work by Gallagher, and then double stomped the legs. Tozawa tried to fire back, was slowed but managed to hit a great running bicycle kick for a near fall. Gallagher countered into a heel hook, keeping the focus and constantly being able to counter the attacks of Tozawa. Gallagher actually backed off at one point as Tozawa collapsed to the mat on an Irish whip. Tozawa then fire dup but ate a head butt to the chest for a near fall. Gallagher went for a modified figure four but got rolled up for 2. German suplex by Tozawa, Gallagher then tried to counter the bridging German, but Tozawa hit it and got the bridge for the pin. That was a really good and fun match, only suffering a bit at the end as the leg work ended up not really mattering as Tozawa just hit his moves without any real difficulty. I would have loved to see an alternate finisher used there to really sell the work of the knee. But I really enjoyed the match, it felt different from everything else presented so far. I’d love to see both guys signed.

– We get a video package for Noam Dar vs. Ho Ho Lun.

Noam Dar vs. Ho Ho Lun: They worked a fast paced beginning, with Lun connecting with a basement dropkick for a near fall. Dar then fought back and attacked the leg of Lun, sending him to the floor. Dar then continued with the control, and again focused on the knee working a reverse Indian death lock. Lun got hope spots here, but Dar continued to control things, hitting a corner dropkick. It got a bit clunky here, with Lun almost fighting a bit too much as Dar worked the heat, it felt a bit awkward. Lun finally caught Dar with a kick as he charged in, and then followed with a dropkick off the second rope. He made his comeback, hitting the Michinoku driver for a near fall. The fisherman’s buster followed again for a near fall. Lun worked knees and kicks, and then got another near fall. The selling of he leg is becoming sketchy here, Dar then rolled into a knee bar and Lun tapped. This was an overall average and unspectacular match, not bad but it didn’t; have a great flow and stayed in second gear and never really threatened to kick it up a notch. I have heard great things about Dar, but have yet to be impressed.

– We get a video package for The Brian Kendrick vs. Tony Nese.

The Brian Kendrick vs. Tony Nese: I love frustrated and grizzled veteran Kendrick. Kendrick made the mistake of charging Nese, and ate a kick to the face. Nese was in control, and Kendrick bailed to the floor to try and recover. Nese refused to let that happen, followed and worked over Kendrick on the floor, connecting with a superkick. The opening there was really good, showing Kendrick making a rare mistake and then the younger, stronger and faster man taking control. Kendrick then dug into the bag of tricks, fish hooking Nese and also trapping his arm in the buckle pad to make a comeback. Nese’s speed again was a determining factor in taking control back and frustrating Kendrick. Kendrick actually pulled on Nese’s beard at one point, tied Nese in the ropes and taking control back. Kendrick went back to the arm work, tying it up in the ropes and then working an arm bar. Nese would escape, but then miss a lionsault, and Kendrick went back to the arm bar. Really smart stuff from Kendrick here, transitioning to a fujiwara arm bar to try and keep Nese down. Nese managed to fight back and sweep the legs, sending Kendrick to the floor. Nese then ht the Fosbury flop to wipe out Kendrick, and then back in put together a series of kicks to take Kendrick down. Kendrick tried to counter out of a suplex, but Nese hit a deadlift falcon arrow (HE DID THE DEAL) for a near fall. I wasn’t a big fan of that because Kendrick had been torturing the arm and Nese just did his move and didn’t sell there, when he had been selling it well. Kendrick knocked Nese off the ropes, went back to the arm bar but Nese rolled to his feet and then transitioned to the other arm and destroyed Kendrick with a sick one armed buckle bomb for a near fall. Kendrick then rolled into the Saka Otoshi, but Nese survived and countered into a Michinoku driver for a near fall. They traded strikes; head butts by Kendrick ad then a superkick and a leg lariat connected. Kendrick went up top, Nese cut him off and sent Kendrick to the mat. 450 MISSES by Nese, Kendrick then applies the Saka Otoshi again and Nese has to tap. The Brian Kendrick once again is able to survive, using his bag of tricks and outlasting the younger competitor. They are telling a great story with Kendrick, and he is more than holding his own, and is really surprising me with his performances. Nese looked great here, even though he lost,

– Week One Winners: Gran Metalik, Ho Ho Lun, Cedric Alexander, Kota Ibushi
– Week Two Winners: Tajiri, TJ Perkins, Lince Dorado, Akira Tozawa
– Week Three Winners: The Brian Kendrick, Drew Gulak, Zack Sabre Jr., Tony Nese
– Week Four Winners: Rich Swann, Noam Dar, Jack Gallagher, Johnny Gargano
– Week Five Winners: Gran Metalik, Kota Ibushi
– Week Six Winners: Akira Tozawa, Noam Dar, The Brian Kendrick

– Next Week…
* Rich Swann vs. Lince Dorado
* Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Drew Gulak
* T.J. Perkins vs. Johnny Gargano

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

This was another good episode of the series, with the opener and main event being very good matches, worked in completely different styles. They are well worth your time. The WWE Cruiserweight Classic continues to be a fun experiment, as well as a very easy and fun hour of TV each and every week.