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Csonka’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review 8.10.16
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Csonka’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review 8.10.16
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Gran Metalik defeated Tajiri @ 10:54 via pin [***]
– Kota Ibushi defeated Cedric Alexander @ 14:50 via pin [****½]
– We get a slick video package, showing off the action from the first round.
– Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo welcome us to the show and put over the first round of the tournament.
– Next up we went to the control center, where Corey Graves put over the guys that made it to the sweet 16. This sends us to a video package for Gran Metalik vs. Tajiri.
Gran Metalik vs. Tajiri: The video package prior to the match put over the youth and speed of Gran Metalik against the experience of the veteran Tajiri. Mauro and Bryan put over that both men know the style of the other, because Metalik has worked in Japan and Tajiri has worked in CMLL; I love little additions like this. They worked a nice back and forth early, doing some counter wrestling and both men working for submissions and various cradles. They worked to the floor, where Metalik connected with a superkick. Tajiri out smarted Metalik, connecting with a kick and then took the heat, hitting a neck breaker for a near fall. Tajiri then tried to ground Metalik, working a head scissors. Metalik chopped at Tajiri, which only upset him so he kicked Metalik in the face. Metalik then send Tajiri to the floor with a springboard dropkick and the hit a ropewalk senton to the floor! Tajiri tried to battle back with kicks, Metalik hit a dragon screw leg whip in the ropes and hit a ropewalk elbow drop for a good near fall. Metalik picked up the pace with the springboard elbow, went for the driver, countered and Tajiri wiped him out with a kick. Tree of WHOA by Tajiri, basement dropkick connects and the cover got 2. Tajiri then countered Metalik coming off the ropes and planted him with a powerbomb for strong near fall. Metalik countered the buzz saw kick, Tajiri went for a submission but Metalik used kicks to escape. Tajiri again connected with a kick, missed another and Metalik hit the Metalik driver to pick up the win. Good match to open the show, with Tajiri working hard and Metalik getting to show off more of his offense. They played the veteran vs. younger star dynamic well, and the right guy won here.
– Corey Graves hypes the main event, and we get a video package for Kota Ibushi vs. Cedric Alexander.
Kota Ibushi vs. Cedric Alexander: There was a ton of hype when this match was set and then after the tapings, lets see if they can deliver on that. The crowd was hyped early as they worked some quick and really slick counter wrestling. Both guys looked to target the arm early, they traded arm drags and did some great counters as they started going for pinning combos. Alexander then slowed the pace, working the side headlock takedown. Ibushi escaped, and then ate elbows and uppercuts; this did not please him so he caved in Alexander’s chest with a kick. Ibushi then hit the springboard missile dropkick, sending Alexander to the floor. Ibushi then missed the moonsault t the floor, and Alexander hit a great dive. Alexander folded Ibushi in half with a lariat off the top for a near fall. Alexander took control, working chops and repeatedly going for the pin. Ibushi tried to battle back with kicks, but Alexander’s chops kept him in control, hitting Ibushi into the throat and face. Ibushi fought off the lumbar check and then hit a stiff looking dropkick for the double down. They traded strikes center ring, Ibushi then went high speed with strikes and hit a standing corkscrew moonsault for a good near fall. Ibushi hit an XPLODER, sending Alexander to the floor and then hit the top rope asai moonsault to the floor! The crowd is really into this as Ibushi rolled Alexander back in for a near fall. Alexander fought off the powerbomb and the hit a Michinoku driver, which got a near fall. Alexander looked devastated that he didn’t get the pin, they battled in the corner and Ibushi went for the top rope RANA, but Alexander landed on hid feet, but Ibushi landed the PELE. Alexander countered the powerbomb, enziguri in the corner and then a brainbuster for a GREAT near fall. Kick to the head by Alexander for another GREAT near fall as the crowd is going nuts. Alexander then went up top, missed the double stomp and Ibushi planted him with a German and then a kick to the head. Golden star powerbomb by Ibushi and that is all. Yeah, that was pretty amazing. They worked so well together; they got the crowd early and never lost them as they got more and more into the match with some amazing near falls. Gargano and Ciampa set the stage last week with the first great match of the classic, and these guys outdid them. Ibushi may have won, but the performance by Alexander is a star making one under the WWE umbrella. This was up there with some of the best G1 matches this year.
– Alexander was almost in tears at the loss as Ibushi celebrated. They then showed the crowd chanting thank you to him and also chanting “please sign Cedric.” Triple H then came out, mouthed “ok” and took him to the back.
– 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: 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
– They announced that next week we get…
* Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher
* Noam Dar vs. Ho Ho Lun
* The Brian Kendrick vs. Tony Nese
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
