Csonka’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review 9.07.16

Csonka’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review 9.07.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Nam Dar @ 15:57 via submission [***¾]
– TJ Perkins defeated Rich Swann @ 17:30 via submission [***¾]

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– 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 Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Nam Dar. Dar has been, in my opinion, completely unimpressive thus far. Hopefully he does better here.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Nam Dar: They grappled right away, with ZSJ gaining the early advantage. ZSJ controlled with the straightjacket, Dar would escape and ZSJ was not pleased with the break there. Dar pissed him off, but when ZSJ charged, Dar dropkicked the knee and tried to take control. ZSJ put up some resistance, but Dar started to work over the knee. Just as if it appeared that Dar had full control, ZSJ started to attack the arm, bending it in ways it shouldn’t go. Dar again went to the knee, taking back control and looking to set up the knee bar. No prolonged heat for Dar as ZSJ made a comeback and they traded pinning combos. ZSJ was slowed by the knee, allowing Dar to hit a series of strikes. ZSJ answered back with a half nelson suplex for the near fall. Don’t bridge with the injured knee man. Dar avoided the penalty kick, and hit a fisherman’s buster and then covered for 2. ZSJ fought off Dar with kicks as he looked to work the knee, finally shoved him away and then ZSJ hit the penalty kick for the near fall. ZSJ the worked the hanging Kimura, but Dar sent him to the apron and kicks out the knee and then sent ZSJ to the floor with a bicycle kick. Dar hit a suicide dive, and then hit the corner dropkick and got a near fall. ZSJ couldn’t apply the octopus, went for a hanging arm bar but Dar locked in the knee bar, but ZSJ countered into the arm bar. They traded counters and ZSJ got the prawn hold for a near fall. Dar counted the uppercut into the backslide for a god near fall. That’s such a cool looking counter. They traded strikes, and arm bar by ZSJ, Dar fought and managed to get the ropes. ZSJ heads up top, missed the knee drop and then misses a running kick as Dar kicks out the knee, head up top and hits the knee drop to the knee of ZSJ. Dar then rolls into the knee bar, kicking at ZSJ as he tries for the ropes. He pulls ZSJ back center ring. Gets the knee bar and they then roll to the floor. That had to suck. They teased the double countout, but both made it back in. Dar then attacked the arm of ZSJ, which was hurt when ZSJ fell to the floor. ZSJ then landed the running kick, Dar fired back with one and then ZSJ locked in a sick double arm bar with the legs and Dar had to submit. This was an overall very good match, with Dar needing a performance like this. The beginning was a bit oddly laid out, and the selling could have been a bit better, but this was enjoyable and easily Dar’s best performance in the CWC.

– We now get a video package for TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann.

TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann: The crowd is totally into Swann here, setting up a nice environment. Both men went for quick pins right away, Perkins then tried to work the arm but Swann did the repeated kip ups and that led to a series of countered and Perkins got the head scissors and dabbed. Swann worked the head scissors, but Perkins escaped with the headstand. He again dabbed towards Swann, who was not amused by this because he’s the one that likes to have fun. They broke into a fast paced and really well done counter sequence, leading to Swann dancing and dabbing right in Perkins’ face. I believe that Perkins just got served. They fired up, traded strikes and Perkins went for the knee bar but Swann made the ropes. Hey did an excellent job of being playful and then flipping the switch to serious. Perkins sent to the floor, Swann went for the moonsault and landed on his feet as Perkins moved, Swann pulled up and was favoring the knee. Perkins hit a springboard dropkick and then sent Swann back in, hitting the slingshot senton, but came up favoring the ribs, due to the rough landing on the apron when he did the dropkick. Perkins followed with a series of suplexes, and that got 2. Swann fought back and hit a great kick, he is still slowed by the knee and when he came off the ropes Perkins caught the leg and went on the attack. Perkins isolated the knee, keeping the pressure on and then working a version of the Indian death lock with the butterfly lock also applied. Swann escaped, hit a clothesline and neck breaker and then a cool kick, but is slow to follow. Swann with a limping run into the DDT for 2. Perkins countered a charge into a neck breaker and then hit the gut check for the near fall. Perkins set Swann up top, looked for a tiger suplex bur Swann fought him off, and sent Perkins to the floor. Swann was slow again to follow, Perkins back and ht the RANA off the ropes and Swann landed on the knee, trying to land on his feet, and he is down again selling the knee. Perkins up top and Swann somehow caught him with the head scissors and then a rolling thunder, he hit a cartwheel into a moonsault but the knee slowed him before he could cover. That was a bit much considering the knee work, but he keeps going back and selling the knee. Swann then followed with a short falcon arrow (HE DID THE DEAL) which also got a near fall. Swann looked for his standing 450, he slapped at the knee to try and get some life in it, but when he hopped for the 450 he stumbled and Perkins got the knee bar. Swann would make the ropes, but Perkins held on until 4 or so. He followed with kicks to the knee, but Swann got a desperation roll u for 2. Swann followed with a powerbomb into the jackknife cradle for 2 as his knee gave out. Commentary is doing a nice job of discussing that Swann is sing new moves because of the injury. They traded strikes, Perkins with a series of kicks but then ran into a hook kick by Swann. Swann drops as he looks to hit the ropes, allowing Perkins to get to his feet. Perkins hit the toss up kick and then locked in the knee bar, Swann struggled and finally had to tap. Perkins immediately embraced him post match, feeling bad that he had to destroy his friend’s knee. This was another very good match, Perkins is very good and keeps his focus when working the knee, but also knows how to mix things to keep it interesting. Swann did a very good job overall of selling the knee, and is so easy to root for as an underdog character. It lacked some energy (both in the ring and from the crowd) before they worked into the home stretch, but this was another strong outing in the tournament that was easy to enjoy.

– NEXT WEEK ON THE TWO HOUR LIVE FINALE:

* CWC Semifinal Match: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Gran Metalik
* CWC Semifinal Match: TJ Perkins vs. Kota Ibushi
* CWC Finals Match

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

Another strong showing from the Cruiserweight Classic, which remains a joy to watch with a combination of strong wrestling and a group of perfumers I truly enjoy watching. We had two very good matches, and while I personally would have loved to see Swann advance, Zack Sabre Jr. and TJ Perkins winning makes for a great final four with Gran Metalik and Kota Ibushi. I am really excited for next week’s live special.