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"I kind of approach this as I'm just a huge fan. I started out that way and I will be that way my whole life. I kind of do what I think I'm going to dig and that I'm going to like and that's the way I approach it. There's this talent that I like and I'd like to go and see what they can do. So, I push for going to see what I can do with that. I think it's important for everything to always grow and become bigger. I've looked for a long time at that population of talent in that under 205 lb. category, the Cruiserweight category and thought, 'Man, there's a lot of really talented performers' and I don't mean guys that can just do flips. Really talented performers that have characters and can speak are really good. They are underutilized to me and they don't have the platform to show what they can do. I feel like that's a miss. Not intentionally a miss, but just something that we've left sitting on the table, and I don't want to leave stuff sitting there on the table." - Paul "Triple H" Levesque, PWInsider interview, February 2016.
So, it has finally arrived.
The WWE Cruiserweight Classic, with all the promise of bringing the long-lamented Cruiserweight style back to a massive scale through WWE's endless platforms, debuts tonight. While the tournament was announced this past February, it was something that WWE has been slowly working at bringing to fruition, with talks about reviving the Cruiserweight division going as far back as 2011.
WWE has done a very good job of assembling 32 competitors for the tournament, some of which even I hadn't heard from - it's a nice mix of grapplers inspired by old school European grappling, aerial artists who can push the envelope, well rounded wrestlers who are looking for that first break, veterans who fell by the wayside for one reason or another and international names who just a few years ago, one never would have dreamed would be seen in a WWE ring. It's a nice mix of talents and it feels different and fresh.
The promotional hype for this thing has been about spotlighting the sport and athletic competition within the world of professional wrestling. The Bracketology special was as far removed from WWE sports-entertainment spectacle hype as one could imagine. With Mauro Ranallo and Daniel Bryan calling the action, you know we are going to have announcers focused on the purity of the game and the art that can be created inside the squared circle.
WWE has promised us something different, even from NXT, in how it's going to be presented. In many ways, with no real babyfaces or heels and the entire premise being built on finding out who is the best in the world, the CWC echoes the formulative days of Ring of Honor. We are in uncharted territory as WWE begins to build a new brand with elements of the New Japan Super J Cup, the ECWA Super 8 and a sports-oriented presentation derived from the old days of the National Wrestling Alliance and the combat sports might of UFC. How will it go? We'll find out together very soon whether WWE can deliver on their promise.
The opening video package showing some of the great Cruiser talents from years past like Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Rey Mysterio and how they were able to overcome their size with their accomplishments (showing Daniel Bryan winning at Wrestlemania 30), voiced over by Triple H, really set the stage for the show and came off really well.
I also really like the Mortal Kombat-inspired graphics, showcasing the competitors charging at each other.
Gran Metalik (Mexico) versus Alejandro Saez (Chile)
The videos featuring Metallik and Saez talking about their opportunities came off like the type of interviews you'd see on UFC or New Japan on AXS TV. Very straight forward conversation from athletes about their career. Mauro Ranallo and Daniel Bryan did a great job early painting the picture of what lucha was and how Saez put wrestling on the map in Chile. Bryan's enthusiasm for what he was calling made me really happy for him, as he sounded like he was thrilled to be around pro wrestling again.
Interesting to see them have the referee mic'd like a boxing or UFC fight and to see them upholding, well, the Code of Honor.
Metallik and Saez had a very fun opening bout. Metallik was obviously the more spectacular of the two but given that Saez was basically self-taught, that makes sense. Metallik's springboard tope con hilo to the outside was awesome. Saez had some really nice facial expressions. His standing shooting star off the apron was good as well. Metallik gets the win but Saez did a nice job of establishing himself with his work as well. They even gave him a storyline out with the idea that he cut so much weight to make the tournament and how he might have been off his game due to that.
Match Number Two: Ho Ho Lun (China) versus Ariya Daivari (Iran)
The announcers again did a nice job of breaking down the background of each competitor. Daivari showed that he was all business and didn't care about pomp and circumstance when he refused the pre-bout handshake. There was more of a conversational feel to the announcing, as opposed to most wrestling TV where you feel like you are being yelled at or being hit over the head with promotional hype.
Of the two, Daivari was far more versatile then Lun. Lun seemed a little green and perhaps overwhelmed by the opportunity. That said, he had a likable quality to him. Lun had a nice dropkick. Crazy to hear Ranallo talk about how he was inspired by Mitsuharu Misawa. Lun getting the win seemed like an upset to me as it was obvious that Daivari looked stronger in the ring. OK match.
Clement Petiot (France) versus Cedric Alexander (United States)
Petoit looked to be in awesome shape and looks like a wrestler should look in my mind. Alexander came off well in his pre-match promo noting that as a son of Charlotte, he wants to be seen one day in the same vein as Ric Flair is seen there. The announcers noted that Alexander's pastor told him he would never make in wrestling. Geez, nice guy!
While the first two matches showcased some high flying stuff, there was some really good back and forth wrestling early. Alexander and Petoit both looked really good early. Petoit showed some really good placement in the ring and was a nice, aggressive heel. Alexander has always done a great job selling (no doubt thanks to the training of George South!) and this was no exception as he did a nice job getting the crowd behind his comeback. Petoit was awesome and I expect we are going to see him getting a lot more independent work based on his showing there. Alexander nailed a nice looking springboard clothesline and some great charging forearms in the corner. They had some really nice near falls and counters late in the bout. Alexander got the win with his backbreaker. Easily the best match thus far in the broadcast. FUN!
Sean Maluta (American Samoa) versus Kota Ibushi (Japan)
They painted Ibushi as this really likable competitor who wanted to make the fans happy by having great performances. Mulata's family pedigree was shown as WWE had him discuss his background as part of the Wild Samoan dynasty. The announcers did a great job of putting over how dangerous and hard-hitting Ibushi's kicks were, so when he finally unleashed them, the audience knew they were a vicious weapon.
Mulata looked solid in the ring but early on came off as pretty young in terms of experience in the ring. As the match went on though, things seemed to click for Mulata and he nailed some good offensive maneuvers. He shocked Ibushi with a Codebreaker and then scared the hell out of me with a flip over the ropes and almost getting caught up. He made the complete rotation but for a second, it appeared he was going down in a dangerous way. Mulata actually got a lot more offense than you would have expected going in. This built up Ibushi cleaning house with strikes and kicks. Ibushi looked awesome with his Pele Kick that wiped Mulata off the top, following that up with his leaping moonsault off the buckles to the outside. Mulata nailed a sweet looking savate kick but finally was defeated with a sitdown powerbomb. It was a nice introduction to Ibushi and Mulata gained some credibility hanging with the international star as well.
It will be Alexander vs. Ibushi in the second round. Great stuff.
They ran down the matches for next week and closed out with highlights of the hour.
It was all about the wrestling. There was no shtick or promos in the ring, it was about putting the spotlight on what was going on in the ring. Alexander vs. Petoit was, in my opinion, the best match on the broadcast but the entire hour is worth going out of your way to watch. This is a nice alternative to what WWE produces, even NXT, and was a great first step. I can't wait to see where they go with this.
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