WWE Cruiserweight Classic Review - August 10, 2016

Kota Ibushi blasts Cedric Alexander.

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

​Gran Metalik def. Tajiri in a Second Round Match

It was assumed coming in that Tajiri would be utilized as a stepping stone for the younger talent, so I was glad he made it to the second round before putting over a fresh face. The best part is that he can still very much go in the ring, so this was a fun match in the opening slot and they made great use of the time they were allotted. Metalik impressed me in the first round, but following his performance here, I will definitely keep an eye out for him in the rest of the tournament.


​Kota Ibushi def. Cedric Alexander in a Second Round Match

Before I begin breaking down this match, I want to shout out the illustrious John Napolitano for his high recommendation of the match and watching along with me, as it was every bit as excellent as he hyped it up to be on the phone. I was completely unaware that these two would be meeting in the second round, and as established as Ibushi is, I truly think this was a defining match/moment in the career of Cedric Alexander. As I've said in the past, Alexander is an amazing athlete, and this match was pure proof of that as he pulled everything out his arsenal and then some in an attempt to put Ibushi away. Their in-ring chemistry was off the charts and there never seemed to be a dull moment. Had this match had more backstory (i.e. a month-long build), I would certainly say it was the best bout of 2016 to date in WWE because these two freakin' killed in and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Not to mention that the ending with Triple H coming out from behind the curtain to endorse Alexander was simply phenomenal. Beautiful stuff from start to finish.

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Overall Show

Well, I think it's safe to say we just found the greatest edition of the Cruiserweight Classic thus far and it isn't even close. All I can is good luck to the rest of the competitors in the tournament because they will surely have their work cut out for them. Metalik vs. Tajiri was very well-wrestled and highly enjoyable while the instant classic between Ibushi and Alexander speaks for itself. In other words, if you consider yourself a real wrestling fan, watch this episode! Such an entertaining hour of wrestling.