WWE Cruiserweight Classic – August 10th, 2016

Howdy!

Welcome to week 5 of the Cruiserweight Classic! Tonight, Round 2 BEGINS! Let’s watch some wrestling, shall we?

On this week’s episode, we’ve got Tajiri/Gran Metalik & Cedric Alexander/Kota Ibushi to kick off Round 2! Also, I’ll be dropping in some Top 5 lists based on the first round in the recap, thanks to seeing some neat responses in last week’s daily thread; chime in with your own in the comments! Plus, as we’re entering the second round, the BOD Bracket Challenge is live, so we’ll have scores at the end.

My personal hopes for round 2 is that now that we’ve done the ‘getting to know you’ matches, that we’ll have some longer and more story rich matches; most of the first round was basically exhibitions with a few notable exceptions. Here’s hoping that now these guys can really cut loose out there.

“It began with 32.” Video package to recap the first round airs; we see the round 2 competitors as the voiceover tells us that for these 16 remaining men, the journey has just begun.

White and Purple ninja anarchy! Opening video! Mauro and Daniel Bryan welcome us to the show. Mauro asks Bryan what the best moment of the opening round of the tournament was; after a few examples, he picks Gargano/Ciampa as his favorite part. What a coincidence there, Daniel!

Rick’s CWC Top 5 Matches, round 1:
1. Johnny Gargano vs Tomasso Ciampa
2. Brian Kendrick vs Raul Mendoza
3. Kota Ibushi vs Sean Maluta
4. Jack Gallagher vs Fabian Aichner
5. Mustafa Ali vs Lince Dorado

The announcers throw it to the tournament center with Corey Graves, who’s wearing a shirt that I believe came from a bedspread my grandmother once owned. Tonight, Graves says, we’re going to kick off round two with a match that will set the world on fire: The Golden Star, Kota Ibushi, will take on Cedric Alexander. But first, the Pride of Mexico, Gran Metalik will take on the Japanese Buzzsaw, Tajiri, and that kicks us to the video package. Highlights of Metalik first, beating Alejandro Saez in the first round to get here. Over to Tajiri, who notes that his career of 23 years is older than some of the guys in the tournament! Highlights of Tajiri defeating Damian Slater in the first round are shown as Tajiri tells us that before he retires, he wants to achieve something great.

Tajiri vs Gran Metalik – Round 2

Handshake is accepted. Go-behinds by Tajiri, Metalik stops that with a side headlock. Tajiri escapes that back to the go-behind, Metalik recounters and takes him over with the side headlock this time. Tajiri goes to a legscissors and Metalik escapes to give us a stalemate. Tajiri goes for the headlock this time, Gran shoots him off and Tajiri bowls him over with a shoulder. Armdrag is countered by Tajiri into one of his own, then Metalik turns a wheelbarrow by Tajiri into an armdrag. They each get another one and go through a pinfall sequence and we have another standoff. That whole sequence was so smooth, just nice chain wrestling. Headlock by Tajiri but Gran gets the headscissors this time, as each of them shows that they know the counters and how to escape. Tajiri lifts Metalik up to break and ties up the legs with his own, but Metalik counters that to an armbar. Tajiri rolls that through into a front facelock, so Metalik covers for one. Tajiri goes for a seated Octopus, Metalik rolls out into an anklelock as the chess game continues. Tajiri rolls over and fights for a crucifix, which is reversed to one for Metalik, which is reversed again by Tajiri to another crucifix for two. Armdrag by Metalik, then another one as he torques on the arm. Tajiri stands him up and chops him against the ropes, but gets caught coming off with a headscissors takeover by Gran. Tajiri goes to the floor and Metalik tries a baseball slide, Tajiri ducks to avoid it. Metalik ducks a shot from Tajiri and gets a superkick on the floor. He rolls Tajiri into the ring, but Tajiri rolls all the way to the other side of the ring and out to the floor again. He catches Metalik coming in, tripping him, then delivering a kick to a seated Gran. Tajiri drops a knee and gets a reverse neckbreaker for two, then hits the chinlock. Bryan and Ranallo are right with it, noting that Tajiri crossfaced Metalik on the pinfall attempt to mess with his neck for later moves. Your weekly note that the commentators rule the earth, folks. Metalik fights out, but Tajiri gets a sleeper to slow down Metalik again. He transitions that to a headscissors and rolls over, rubbing Metalik’s face on the mat. Gran makes the ropes, so Tajiri just stands up and kicks him in the face! Damn. Metalik gets back to his feet and slaps Tajiri across the chest, but gets kicked in the head for that insolence. Crowd chants for Tajiri as he chokes Metalik in the corner with his boot. Metalik fights back with forearms, but gets leveled with one from Tajiri and alley-ooped to the apron. Metalik gets a kick from there, and springboards in with a dropkick to send Tajiri to the floor. Metalik goes up and walks a few steps along the top rope, somersault plancha to Tajiri! Gran tosses Tajiri back in, but gets kicked in the head when he approaches a prone Tajiri and sent to the apron. Tajiri tries for a kick, but Metalik catches it on the outside and gets a dragon-screw legwhip on the apron, snapping the leg on the second rope. Metalik goes up and walks the top rope again, getting some IMPOSSIBLE air as he drops an elbow on Tajiri! 1,2, NO! Irish whip by Metalik is reversed by Tajiri, but Gran springs off the second rope with an elbow for two. Metalik goes for the Driver, but Tajiri gets out and goes behind, elbows from Metalik, standing switch and now Tajiri fires back elbows, then a back kick to the head outta nowhere! Tajiri hangs Metalik in the tree of woe and hits the baseball slide dropkick. That gets two. Tajiri with a kick, but he runs into a big boot from Metalik in the corner. Gran tries to come off the second rope, but Tajiri turns it into a powerbomb! 1,2, NO! Tajiri goes for the Buzzsaw kick, Metalik ducks it, Tajiri gets a sunset flip now into a submission hold that I am admittedly not familiar with. Metalik manages to kick Tajiri in the face enough to break it, but he stands up right into the Buzzsaw kick from Tajiri! He lies in wait to hit another, but that proves to be his undoing, as Metalik ducks it and gets the Driver to finish the match. (Gran Metalik over Tajiri, pinfall, 10:54)

WORTH WATCHING? What a great way to kick off the second round. Tajiri looked a little slow but kept up pretty well, especially in that chain sequence in the beginning. Metalik hit a few big moves and he’s one to keep an eye on as I say YES, this one is worth watching. Criticisms are that it was mildly slow in spots, as they were working out a few things with a second or two that was too long in-between certain moves, but that’s a minor criticism at best. I’ll miss Tajiri in this tournament, but still; after 23 years, the man can still go.

Metalik gets his arm raised but clutches his head after the match. Tajiri gives him the handshake and raises his arm; Metalik will face off against the winner of Jack Gallagher and Akira Towzawa. Up next, the announcers tell us that we’ll see Alexander/Ibushi!

Rick’s CWC top 5 guys who lost in the first round that should be signed:
1. Fabian Aichner
2. Raul Mendoza
3. Mustafa Ali
4. Tyson Dux
5. Sean Maluta

Promo for Summerslam.

Back to Graves, who tells us that it’s main event time, as Cedric Alexander tries to conquer the tournament favorite, Kota Ibushi!

Video package airs now, with Cedric saying that it still hasn’t set in that he’s up here yet; as usual, I once again bemoan the fact that Ring of Honor had the guy for literally YEARS and seemingly couldn’t figure out that he was as talented as he is. I hope he wins to shock everyone, frankly. Ibushi up next, as they repeat Bryan’s line about him being one of the best professional wrestlers in the world, regardless of weight class.

There’s more than 20 minutes left in the show; this could be awesome.

Kota Ibushi vs Cedric Alexander – Round 2

Bryan opines that Cedric losing weight for the tournament was the best thing that could have happened for him, as he looks more explosive out there. Handshake is accepted; ring the bell!

Cedric starts with an armwringer into a hammerlock and a snapmare, with Ibushi countering into an armwringer of his own. Cedric reverses that and takes Ibushi to the mat, cranking on the arm. Kota back up now, and he escapes and gets a side headlock takeover. Cedric rolls Kota over for one as the crowd is torn, dueling chants for both guys. Mauro drops in that Cedric has faced off against both Tomasso and Kevin Owens in the past; if you look up Owens’ last appearance in Ring of Honor on Youtube, during his speech he made special mention of Cedric as the future of the company. Cedric shoots Ibushi off but gets knocked down by a shoulder from Kota as the crowd chants for ‘both these guys!’ They chain a few go-behinds looking for control and it’s Cedric with the armbar to end that. Ibushi rolls through after Cedric cranks a bit, with Kota now getting control of the arm and snapping it across his shoulder, then wrenching it out. Ibushi elbows the arm and keeps control, but Cedric finally escapes it with a single-leg takedown. Off the ropes and they trade armdrags, then do a beautiful reversal sequence that ends with Alexander getting a reverse headscissors to take Kota over. Cedric dropkick is swatted away by Kota, but Ibushi misses a kick and Cedric rolls him up for two. Ibushi pays him back with a rollup for two of his own, and we have another standoff. Cedric with a side headlock, Kota tries to shoot him off, but Alexander hangs on and takes him over. Ibushi rolls him over for two as Bryan goes into the mechanics of the side headlock, talking about grinding your wrist against the cheek of the opponent, and as usual I’m amazed at how Bryan can take a move I’ve seen in wrestling for years and make it sound INTERESTING just by treating it like a big deal. Ibushi tries to fight out, but Cedric hangs on again, really trying his hardest to keep Ibushi grounded. Ibushi finally manages to throw Cedric off, but Alexander knocks him down with a shoulder in response. Cedric off the ropes and he goes for a waistlock on Kota, standing switch and a NASTY back elbow by Cedric puts a stop to that. European uppercut by Cedric, but Kota has had ENOUGH of this shit and just levels Alexander with a front kick. Cedric alley-oops a charging Ibushi to the apron, but gets caught with a slap across the chest by Kota. Springboard dropkick by Ibushi sends Alexander to the floor. Ibushi springs to the second buckle and goes for a moonsault to Cedric on the floor, Alexander moves! Cedric back in and he runs the ropes, and it’s time for our Mauro Ranallo call of the week:

“TOPE CON HILO! Are you kidding me, this is what the Cruiserweight Classic is all about!”

Cedric springs back in with a huge flying clothesline on Ibushi! 1,2, NO! Chop by Cedric. Again! He covers for two. Jumping stomp by Cedric gets two. Forearms by Ibushi as he’s fighting back! Spinning back kick by Ibushi! He goes for another one, but Cedric catches the leg and delivers a slap to the chest, then covers for two. Closer examination shows that Daniel Bryan was correct, as that one hit Kota in the jaw. Lumbar Check attempt by Alexander, Kota floats over, Cedric breaks it with a back elbow. Cedric comes off the ropes and runs right into an Ibushi dropkick! Back up, they slug it out with elbows in the middle of the ring, and Ibushi goes nuts on him, nailing Cedric with a kick to the chest to put him down. Ibushi goes for the big kick again, Cedric ducks, so Ibushi nails a STANDING CORKSCREW MOONSAULT to Cedric! WOW. 1,2, NO! His rotation and landing was SO smooth and crisp there, I’m in awe. Kota charges Cedric in the corner, but Alexander gets the boots up. Cedric runs at Kota with a clothesline, but Ibushi catches him with an exploder, and Cedric rolls to the outside. Kota runs to the corner, leaps to the top rope, and this time hits a GORGEOUS Moonsault to Alexander! The layout by Ibushi there was incredible. Crowd wants “Fight Forever”, but Ranallo points out that it’s a 20 minute time limit, and we’re already over 10. Ibushi rolls Cedric in and covers for two. Kota looks for the powerbomb to finish, but Alexander goes through the legs and shoves Ibushi off the ropes. Michinoku Driver from Cedric! 1,2, NO! I’m not at all ashamed to admit they had me for a brief second there. Cedric charges at Kota, who moves, but Cedric hits him with a back elbow and goes up. Ibushi slaps him in the chest on the top and goes up. Kota looks for the top rope ‘rana, but Cedric shoves him off, does a somersault off the ropes and lands on his feet; that may not have been how they drew that one up. Regardless, Cedric hits Kota with a nice running forearm and Kota fires back with a Pele kick. Powerbomb attempt #2, but Cedric goes over the top this time, sending Ibushi to the corner and following him in with a running enzuigiri! Cedric loads Kota up, brainbuster! 1,2, NO! Jesus CHRIST. Spinning back kick to the head by Cedric! 1,2, NO! Cedric’s facial expressions are amazing here, as he just can’t believe that he hasn’t put Ibushi away yet. Crowd is on their feet at this point, with every near fall sending them into a frenzy. Cedric goes up and comes down with a double foot stomp, but Ibushi moves. Cedric ducks a kick from Kota, but Ibushi goes behind and gets a snap German suplex! Then a kick to the head of Cedric, who’s looking loopy now. Ibushi says that’s it, and indeed it is, as the Golden Star Powerbomb finishes off Alexander with less than 5 minutes to go. (Kota Ibushi over Cedric Alexander, pinfall, 15:02)

WORTH WATCHING? What, are you KIDDING me? This was easily the best match of the tournament thus far, narrowly edging out Ciampa/Gargano and touching ****+. YES, this match was worth my $9.99 this month by itself. Letting the match build to the big moves and kickouts and the inherent drama that such a structure gives to a match is nuts when done well, and this was done WELL. If there was any doubt before, Alexander surely earned himself a job after this match. His disbelief at not being able to put Kota away was told very well, with Ibushi looking like even more of a star when presented with a real challenge for the first time in the tournament.

Rick’s Top 5 ‘Holy SHIT’ moves of the tournament, Round 1:
1. Lince Dorado’s springboard reverse ‘rana on Mustafa Ali
2. Raul Mendoza’s coast to coast dropkick on Brian Kendrick
3. Mustafa Ali’s jumping top rope Spanish Fly on Lince Dorado
4. Rich Swann’s standing 450 splash on Jason Lee
5. Tomasso Ciampa’s Project Ciampa on Johnny Gargano
6. Gran Metalik’s Fisherman’s Driver on Alejandro Saez (Honorable mention because I LOVE that move and couldn’t leave it out)

Post-match, the crowd gives both guys a well-deserved standing ovation. Highlights are shown as I’m amazed still by how fast Ibushi is in the ring while still being so agile. It’s unreal. Ibushi moves on to face the winner of Brian Kendrick and Tony Nese.

We get a preview for next week’ s episode, with Akira Towzawa/Jack Gallagher, Noam Dar/HoHo Lun, and Brian Kendrick/Tony Nese. We’re seemingly done for the week, but we go back to ringside, as the crowd chants ‘Thank You!’ at Cedric Alexander, then switching to ‘Please sign Cedric’ as Alexander looks genuinely touched. Cedric looks to leave, but HHH comes out and the crowd goes nuts; HHH shakes Cedric’s hand, then gives a thumbs up to the crowd before we go off the air. He should have brought a contract with him just to send the crowd into a further frenzy. That was awesome, and a really nice touch to end this week.

FINAL THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: We have a new winner! Last week’s episode was great, no doubt, but this was just fantastic stuff from top to bottom all the way through and easily the best episode of the tournament so far. Thumbs WAY up, with more than half the episode spent in the ring this week, both on great matches.

THE BOD BRACKET CHALLENGE: Well, I only got three brackets, but fuck it. I said I’m doing it, and I’m doing it regardless. It’s the second round, so we’ll start the scoring at 3 points, with it doubling each round thereafter. Your board looks like this:

Ioan Morris: 2 for 2 this week, for 6 points
Cultstatus: 2 for 2 this week, for 6 points
Ripner Cabbit: 2 for 2 this week, for 6 points

Cult mentioned that he was unspoiled on the first round, and let me tell you, he did a pretty good job on it if he was.

Let the trashtalking begin.

As always, thanks for reading this thing I wrote,
Rick Poehling
@MrSoze on Twitter

Top 5 Reasons that Jack Gallagher is awesome:
1. The moustache
2. The rainbow trunks
3. The black socks
4. The accent
5. The entrance music