Cruiserweight Classic

The Cruiserweight Classic, formerly the Global Cruiserweight Series, was a professional wrestling tournament and WWE Network event produced by WWE. All participants were billed at a weight of 205 lbs or less to determine the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion[lower-alpha 1] for WWE's revived cruiserweight division. The tournament consisted of various matches that had predetermined results. Tournament qualifying matches took place in various promotions of the independent circuit, including well-known promotions such as Revolution Pro Wrestling, Progress Wrestling, and Evolve. Many cruiserweight wrestlers from around the world were given the chance to qualify for the 32-man tournament, which took place over four dates: June 23, July 13, August 26, and September 14, 2016. The winner was T. J. Perkins.

Cruiserweight Classic
Promotional poster for the live finale featuring the Cruiserweight Classic trophy
PromotionWWE
Date
  • June 23, 2016
  • July 14, 2016
  • August 26, 2016
  • September 14, 2016
CityWinter Park, Florida
VenueFull Sail University
WWE Network event chronology
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Clash of Champions

Background

In 2016, WWE announced that they would be holding a 32-man professional wrestling tournament and WWE Network event wherein all participants were billed at a weight of 205 lbs or less, referred to as cruiserweights. The event was originally titled the Global Cruiserweight Series before being renamed as the Cruiserweight Classic. Tournament qualifying matches took place in various promotions of the independent circuit, including well known promotions such as Revolution Pro Wrestling, Progress Wrestling, and Evolve. Many cruiserweight wrestlers from around the world were given the chance to qualify for the 32-man single-elimination tournament, which took place over four dates: June 23, July 13, August 26, and September 14.[1][2] During the finale, it was announced that the winner of the tournament would become the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion for WWE's revived cruiserweight division, which would compete on the Raw brand.[3] The tournament consisted of various matches that had predetermined results.[4][5]

Announced competitors

NXT competitors Rich Swann, Tommaso Ciampa, and Johnny Gargano along with international standouts Zack Sabre Jr., Noam Dar, Ho Ho Lun, and Akira Tozawa were announced for the Cruiserweight Classic. At an independent show in Orlando, Florida on April 2, Lince Dorado joined the series. On April 24 at Progress Wrestling Chapter 29, Sabre Jr., Jack Gallagher also won a qualifying match, while on May 7 at Evolve 61, T. J. Perkins and Drew Gulak also joined the series. On June 11 at Evolve 63, Tony Nese defeated Johnny Gargano, Drew Gulak, T. J. Perkins and Lince Dorado and qualified for the tournament. Two days later, WWE officially revealed all 32 wrestlers taking part in the tournament.[6] Originally, Brazilian wrestler Zumbi was scheduled to compete in the Cruiserweight Classic. However, he had issues with his visa that WWE could not clear in time, and was replaced by Mustafa Ali.[7]

Qualifying matches
Progress Wrestling Chapter 29 - April 24 (Electric Ballroom - Camden Town, London)[8]
No.ResultsStipulations
1Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Flash Morgan WebsterCruiserweight Classic British Qualifying Match
2Jack Gallagher defeated Pete DunneCruiserweight Classic British Qualifying Match
Revolution Pro Wrestling Live at the Cockpit 8 - May 1 (Cockpit Theatre - Marylebone, London) [9]
No.ResultsStipulations
1Noam Dar defeated Josh BodomCruiserweight Classic British Qualifying Match
Evolve 61 - May 7 (La Boom - Woodside, Queens, New York)[10]
No.ResultsStipulations
1T. J. Perkins (with Stokely Hathaway) defeated Fred YehiCruiserweight Classic US Qualifying Match
2Drew Gulak defeated Tracy Williams[11]Cruiserweight Classic US Qualifying Match
American Combat Wrestling The Tradition Continues! - May 28 (All Sports Arena - New Port Richey, Florida)[12]
No.ResultsStipulations
1Lince Dorado defeated Romeo QuevedoCruiserweight Classic US Qualifying Match
Evolve 63 - June 11 (Downtown Recreation Complex - Orlando, Florida)[13]
No.ResultsStipulations
1Tony Nese defeated Drew Gulak, Johnny Gargano, Lince Dorado and T. J. Perkins (with Stokely Hathaway)WWE Cruiserweight Classic Flashpoint Elimination Match
Since Nese won, he qualified for the Cruiserweight Classic

Participants
Wrestler Weight (in pounds)
Akira Tozawa 156
Alejandro Saez 205
Anthony Bennett 147
Ariya Daivari 180
The Brian Kendrick 157
Cedric Alexander 200
Clément Petiot 199
Da Mack 160
Damian Slater 193
Drew Gulak 193
Fabian Aichner 203
Gran Metalik 175
Gurv Sihra 159
Harv Sihra 144
Ho Ho Lun 155
Jack Gallagher 167
Jason Lee 154
Johnny Gargano 170
Kenneth Johnson 156
Kota Ibushi 189
Lince Dorado 168
Mustafa Ali[Note 1] 182
Noam Dar 178
Raul Mendoza 178
Rich Swann 165
Sean Maluta 191
T. J. Perkins 167
Tajiri 189
Tommaso Ciampa 195
Tony Nese 196
Tyson Dux 193
Zack Sabre Jr. 181
  1. This competitor is a replacement for another participant who was taken out of the tournament

Alternates

In the event an official participant had suffered an injury or did not make the 205 lbs weight limit, they would have been replaced by one of the following participants:

Wrestler Weight (in pounds)
Aaron Solow 182
Jesse Sorensen 184
Jesus Yurnet 182
Kai Katana 197
Vandal Ortagun 155

Replaced

These participants were taken out of the tournament for a specific reason and therefore were replaced by another competitor.

Wrestler Weight (in pounds)
(max. 205)		 Progression in the tournament Reason Replacing wrestler
Zumbi 167 Replaced before the official start of the tournament Visa issues[7] Mustafa Ali

Broadcast team
Ring name Real name Notes
Mike Rome Austin Romero Ring announcer
Mauro Ranallo Mauro Ranallo Lead commentator[14]
Daniel Bryan Bryan Danielson Color commentator[14]

Results

Tournament bracket

The following time limits were in place:

  • Round one: 20 minutes
  • Round two: 20 minutes
  • Quarterfinals: 30 minutes
  • Semifinals: 30 minutes
  • Final: Unlimited
 
Round of 32
Taped June 23		Round of 16
Taped July 14		Quarterfinals
Taped August 26		Semifinals
Live on September 14		Final
Live on September 14
 
                  
 
July 20 –
 
 
Kenneth Johnson09:46[15]
 
August 17 –
 
Akira TozawaPin
 
Akira TozawaPin
 
August 3 –
 
Jack Gallagher11:38[16]
 
Jack GallagherPin
 
August 31 -
 
 Fabian Aichner06:45[17]
 
Akira TozawaPin
 
July 20 –
 
Gran Metalik15:49[18]
 
TajiriPin
 
August 10 –
 
Damian Slater05:28[15]
 
TajiriPin
 
July 13 –
 
Gran Metalik10:53[19]
 
Alejandro SaezPin
 
September 14 –
 
Gran Metalik04:04[20]
 
Gran MetalikPin
 
July 27 –
 
Zack Sabre Jr.13:13[3]
 
Harv SihraSub
 
August 24 –
 
Drew Gulak05:18[21]
 
Drew GulakPin
 
July 27 –
 
Zack Sabre Jr.08:27[22]
 
Zack Sabre Jr.Sub
 
September 7 -
 
Tyson Dux08:28[21]
 
Zack Sabre Jr.Sub
 
August 3 –
 
Noam Dar15:46[23]
 
Noam DarSub
 
August 17 –
 
Gurv Sihra05:26[17]
 
Noam DarSub
 
July 13 –
 
Ho Ho Lun07:02[16]
 
Ariya DaivariPin
 
September 14 –
 
Ho Ho Lun05:03[20]
 
Gran MetalikSub
 
July 27 –
 
T. J. Perkins 17:47[3]
 
Raul MendozaSub
 
August 17 –
 
Brian Kendrick07:35[21]
 
Brian KendrickSub
 
July 27 –
 
Tony Nese13:42[16]
 
Anthony BennettPin
 
August 31 -
 
Tony Nese06:34[21]
 
Brian KendrickPin
 
July 13 –
 
Kota Ibushi13:58[18]
 
Kota IbushiPin
 
August 10 –
 
Sean Maluta09:40[20]
 
Kota IbushiPin
 
July 13 –
 
Cedric Alexander15:00[19]
 
Cedric AlexanderPin
 
September 14 –
 
Clément Petiot05:58[20]
 
Kota Ibushi Sub
 
July 20 –
 
T. J. Perkins14:52[3]
 
T. J. PerkinsSub
 
August 24 –
 
Da Mack06:32[15]
 
T. J. PerkinsSub
 
August 3 -
 
Johnny Gargano12:18[22]
 
Johnny GarganoPin
 
September 7 -
 
Tommaso Ciampa10:47[17]
 
T. J. PerkinsSub
 
- July 20
 
Rich Swann17:03[23]
 
Mustafa Ali Pin
 
August 24 –
 
Lince Dorado05:55[15]
 
Lince DoradoPin
 
August 3 –
 
Rich Swann08:14[22]
 
Rich Swann Pin
 
 
Jason Lee03:47[17]
 

Finale
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes[3]
1DThe Bollywood Boyz (Gurv and Harv Sihra) defeated Ariya Daivari and Sean MalutaTag team match05:15
2Gran Metalik defeated Zack Sabre Jr.Cruiserweight Classic tournament semi-final match13:13
3T. J. Perkins defeated Kota Ibushi by submissionCruiserweight Classic tournament semi-final match14:52
4#DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) defeated Cedric Alexander and Noam DarTag team match09:49
5T. J. Perkins defeated Gran Metalik by submissionCruiserweight Classic tournament final match for the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Championship17:47
D – this was a dark match

Aftermath

Before the final match between T. J. Perkins and Gran Metalik started, Triple H revealed that the winner of the tournament would be crowned the first WWE Cruiserweight Champion. Also, T. J. Perkins, Gran Metalik, Akira Tozawa, Jack Gallagher, Brian Kendrick, Cedric Alexander, Noam Dar, Lince Dorado, Tony Nese, Mustafa Ali, Drew Gulak, Tajiri, Ariya Daivari, Rich Swann and The Bollywood Boyz signed contracts with WWE. On July 15, Pro Wrestling Torch reported that Kota Ibushi had signed an NXT contract with WWE.[24] In an interview published July 25, Ibushi admitted he had been offered a contract, but denied having signed it.[25] After the tournament, Pro Wrestling Torch went back on their earlier report and stated that Ibushi had not agreed to a WWE contract beyond the tournament, which was a factor in him losing the semifinal match.[26]

See also

Note
  1. Despite having the same name, this is a new championship with its own separate lineage from the previous WWE Cruiserweight Championship that was originally established in World Championship Wrestling and acquired by the WWE (at the time WWF) in 2001 and retired in 2007.

References
  1. "WWE Network adds Global Cruiserweight Series to robust 2016 programming slate". wwe.com. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  2. "WWE Cruiserweight Classic tickets available starting Friday, May 20". www.wwe.com. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
  3. Caldwell, James (2016-09-14). "9/14 WWE Cruiserweight Tourney Finals – CALDWELL'S Live Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  4. Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  5. "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on November 22, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  6. Caldwell, James (2016-06-13). "All 32 wrestlers announced for WWE's cruiserweight tournament". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
  7. Caldwell, James (2016-06-25). "Triple H – WWE to hold future editions of Cruiserweight tournament, why did one wrestler miss inaugural tourney?". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  8. "Who qualified for Cruiserweight Classic at PROGRESS?". www.wwe.com. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  9. "Who qualified for Cruiserweight Classic at RevPro?". www.wwe.com. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  10. "Who qualified for Cruiserweight Classic at EVOLVE?". www.wwe.com. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  11. "Drew Gulak vs. Tracy Williams - Cruiserweight Classic qualifying match". WWE. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  12. "WWE Announces New Cruiserweight Classic Qualifying Match". www.411mania.com. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  13. "WWE Cruiserweight Flashpoint - A Prelude To The Tournament". www.dgusa.tv. Retrieved 2016-05-20.
  14. Melok, Bobby. "Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo to host WWE Cruiserweight Classic". WWE. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  15. Caldwell, James (2016-07-20). "7/20 WWE Cruiserweight Results – Caldwell's Week 2 Report on Akira Tozawa, Tajiri, TJP, excellent Dorado vs. Ali match". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  16. Caldwell, James (2016-08-17). "8/17 WWE Cruiserweight Results – Caldwell's Report on stellar Kendrick vs. Nese and Gallagher vs. Tozawa Sweet 16 matches". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
  17. Caldwell, James (2016-08-03). "8/3 WWE Cruiserweight Tournament Results – Caldwell's Report on Week 4 to conclude First Round, including Gargano vs. Ciampa". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  18. Caldwell, James (2016-08-31). "8/31 WWE Cruiserweight Tournament Week 8 – Caldwell's Report on Ibushi vs. Kendrick, Tozawa vs. Metalik Elite 8 matches". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  19. Caldwell, James (2016-08-10). "8/10 WWE Cruiserweight Tournament Results – Caldwell's Report on Ibushi vs. Alexander classic, Tajiri vs. Metalik in Sweet 16". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  20. Caldwell, James (2016-07-13). "7/13 WWE Cruiserweight Results – Caldwell's Week 1 Report on Ibushi, Cedric Alexander, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-07-14.
  21. Caldwell, James (2016-07-27). "7/27 WWE Cruiserweight Results – Caldwell's Week 3 Report on Zack Sabre, Brian Kendrick, more in action". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  22. Caldwell, James (2016-08-24). "8/24 WWE Cruiserweight Tournament Week 7 – Caldwell's Report on Gargano vs. TJP, Sabre vs. Gulak, Swann vs. Dorado to finish Sweet 16". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  23. Caldwell, James (2016-09-07). "9/7 WWE Cruiserweight Tournament – Caldwell's Report on Sabre vs. Dar, Swann vs. Perkins to conclude Elite 8 Round". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  24. Caldwell, James; Radican, Sean (2016-07-15). "PWTorch Report – Ibushi & Metalik agree to deals with WWE, several other Cruiserweight tourney stars on WWE's radar". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  25. プロレスの原点は3歳で犯した万引き？WWE入団の噂は本当？女性ファンがショックを受けた、飯伏幸太の“トンデモ”半生【インタビュー】. DDNavi (in Japanese). 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  26. Caldwell, James; Radican, Sean (2016-09-15). "Inside the WWE Cruiserweight Finals – why the match results occurred in the Final Four & Championship match". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
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