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Csonka’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review 8.31.16

August 31, 2016 | Posted by Larry Csonka
9.5
The 411 Rating
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Csonka’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review 8.31.16  

Csonka’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review 8.31.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Gran Metalik defeated Akira Tozawa @ 16:06 via pin [****]
– Kota Ibushi defeated Brian Kendrick @ 13:57 via pin [****½]


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

– Bryan and Mauro welcome us to the show, and we then get a video package for Gran Metalik vs. Akira Tozawa.

Gran Metalik vs. Akira Tozawa: They worked some back and forth grappling to begin, with neither man able to get a clear advantage. Tozawa teased a clean break, but attacked and after both men hit arm drags, they both went for a dropkick and did the standoff. Dead even so far as they challenged each other to hit the ropes but they stalemated on the shoulder blocks. Metalik finally hit a dropkick, and then the missile dropkick to send Tozawa to the floor. The suicide dive followed, back in and Metalik with the high cross for the near fall. Metalik then worked an inverted figure four, keeping control and forcing Tozawa to struggle for the ropes. Metalik was rolling until he went for a back handspring elbow, and Tozawa cut him off and sent him to the floor. Tozawa hit a suicide dive and fired up and then hit another suicide dive. Back in, Tozawa took control with a slam and standing senton for the near fall. They then traded chops until Tozawa caught Metalik with a short right and covered for 2. Tozawa missed a corner charge and ran into a superkick, Metalik then hit the running shooting star press for a near fall. the back handspring elbow connected this time for Metalik and he covered for 2 again. Tozawa countered the Metalik driver, and then rolled into a shining wizard for a near fall. Tozawa hit the running bicycle kick and then the belly to back suplex for another good near fall. Tozawa was frustrated, charged and ate a superkick. Metalik then hit a run up the ropes dropkick and then the step up dive to the floor, and it was smooth as hell. Back in, Metalik slammed Tozawa down but ate boots on the moonsault attempt, allowing Tozawa to cover for 2. They fought up top; Metalik sent Tozawa to the apron and caught him with a kick, crutching Tozawa on the ropes. The RANA connected from Metalik and that got 2. They worked back and forth as Metalik countered a German, but then Tozawa caught him with the snap German into the dead lift German, but Metalik kicked out, great near fall as that finished both of Tozawa’s opponents so far. Metalik then countered the straightjacket German, and hit the Metalik driver to pick p the hard fought victory. That was an excellent match, constantly building the action and intensity through out and going home at just the right time. What I love about tournaments is that you see a guy like Tozawa use a move to win two straight matches, and then Metalik kicked out here, it meant something because the crowd bought it as the finish.

– Metalik moves on to face the winner of Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Nam Dar.

– We now get a video package for Kota Ibushi vs. Brian Kendrick.

Kota Ibushi vs. Brian Kendrick: Kendrick went to the floor right away and challenged Ibushi to follow him out, Ibushi refused. Kendrick back in the ring, where Ibushi worked him over with strikes and a kick and sent Kendrick to the floor. He then hit the big springboard moonsault to the floor. Kendrick tried to trap Ibushi’s foot in the barricade, it failed and as Kendrick was trying to recover in the ring Ibushi scored with a missile dropkick. Ibushi then laid in a series of kicks to the chest of Kendrick, which led then to the apron, where Kendrick hit a neck breaker over the buckle to send Ibushi to the floor. As Ibushi made his way back in, Kendrick kicked the ropes into his groin and then covered for two. Kendrick smartly worked the neck here, playing off of Ibushi’s injury history and also setting up for the Saka Otoshi, which has brought him two wins so far. Kendrick actually looked for the Saka Otoshi, but Ibushi floated over and hit the dropkick. He followed with the snap slam and lionsualt for a near fall. Kendrick countered the standing moonsault with the knees into a rollup got a near fall. Both men struggled to their feet; trading strikes center ring and Kendrick then scoring with sliced bread for a strong near fall. Kendrick pulled Ibushi to the corner and climbed up and worked a sleeper, trying to hang Ibushi, but Ibushi slid out and hit the desperation PELE kick to stop that. With Kendrick on the apron, Ibushi scored with the dead lift German suplex into the ring. Ibushi was too slow on the cover, and only got 2. Ibushi looked for the powerbomb, Kendrick then scored with the Saka Otoshi, but Ibushi got to his feet and escaped with elbows. Kendrick pulled Ibushi to the topes and KILLED Ibushi with a burning hammer for a great near fall! Kendrick then just clubbed away with strikes to the neck of Ibushi, Ibushi ten fought back and hit the jig n’tonic for the near fall. Ibushi then went up top, MISSED the phoenix splash and Kendrick got the Saka Otoshi one more time. Ibushi managed to escape, followed with the high kick and the sitout powerbomb to score the win. I have praised him previously, but I think one of the most under-appreciated things in this tournament has been the story and work of Kendrick. The veteran that had fallen out of the spotlight, getting one last chance and doing everything he can to move on against the stronger, faster and younger competitors. His work here on the neck was fantastic, they delivered excellent near falls and when you add in the commentary of Daniel Bryan (willing his friend to continue on and win), who was in tears as he praised his friend’s effort at the end of the match, made it all the better. The only thing better than excellent wrestling is excellent wrestling with an equally as good a story, and that was this.

– Ibushi moves on to face the winner of TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann.

– Kendrick got ”thank you Brian” chants, and he was in tears. Daniel Bryan then went to the ring, also in tears, to embrace his friend. Fucking hell all the feels man, what an excellent show.

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
Week Seven Winners: Rich Swann, Zack Sabre Jr., TJ Perkins
Week Eight Winners: Kota Ibushi, Gran Metalik

NEXT WEEK: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Nam Dar and TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

 photo fe36ffd0-0da4-4e3b-a2d3-b026b341dd87_zps41ef5d61.jpg
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

9.5
The final score: review Amazing
The 411
Yeah, if you watch this and don’t love it I honestly do not know what to tell you. This was my favorite hour of wrestling TV this year.
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