CWC: The Cruiserweight Classic Review – The Finals

If you did not know, I attended the finals live at Full Sail University. The show was absolutely incredible from start to finish. Going into the finals, I didn’t really have a chosen one. I thought in my mind Kota Ibushi vs Zack Sabre Jr. was going to main event with Sabre taking the win, but boy was I wrong. My choice to win, since I thought that match was going to take place was Kota, but as the night went on I knew plans changed so my heart chose a winner for me.

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CWC Tournament Semi-Final Match
Gran Metalik vs Zack Sabre Jr.
Off the bat this match was action packed. We had just taken our seats after the entrances and as soon as the match started, we had to stand back up because Metalik went in on Sabre. To say the least we were standing ad sitting a lot during the show. The crowd was split, the side I sat on was basically for Metalik, the side to the left were all for ZSJ. Zack had to ground Metalik if he wanted to win. He did submission after submission. After we chanted Lucha Libre/Technical, Metalik pulled out a submission move from his arsenal. Watching what Sabre can do to an arm live is even harder to watch. I would like to state that the superkick is my favorite wrestling move, and when Metalik did the superkick out of nowhere to Zack I freaked out way too much. After Zack had the upper hand for a bit, the two men went back and forth for a bit. The two men exchanged some slaps and blows while on the floor. Sabre did a beautiful penalty kick to Metalik, but couldn’t put him away. Metalik did a great hurricanrana to Sabre from the ropes into the ring. Both men gave it everything they had, but when Sabre went to do a move Metalik picked Sabre up and was able to put him into the Metalik driver picking up the win. I didn’t pick a winner for this match because I thought Sabre would be put into the finals.
Match rating: 5/5

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CWC Tournament Semi-Final Match
Kota Ibushi vs TJ Perkins
I was behind both these men, but when we were chanting Ibushi/TJ Perkins I couldn’t help, but to cheer for TJP. TJ was very much in control in the beginning of the match. TJ began to focus his attention on Kota’s leg to soften him up for the knee bar. Ibushi tried to do a moonsault before, but didn’t connect, he tried once more and this time got to pull it off. Such a beautiful move to see live. Kota began to unless his kicks on TJ and man those kicks were hard. Counter after counter are great to see. TJ did a wrecking ball dropkick and when he went to the top rope Kota met him with a pele kick. Perkins got Kota into the knee bar once more, but Kota got out. Both men went back and forth before Ibushi gave him the last ride, but Perkins has the wherewithal to kick out. Being there for the ending of this match was just indescribable. I was 100% shocked, even more with this win than Gran Metalik winning. TJ got Kota into the knee bar and went after his neck as well, thus forcing Ibushi to tap. I was in awe. Watching it back it makes me tear up and smile.
Match rating: 6/5 just way too good

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Noam Dar and Cedric Alexander vs Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano
Can I just say I was so happy to see Noam live. This was a fun bonus match for us and I couldn’t be happier with the chosen participants. There were so many amazing wrestlers in the ring that we had to chant, “all these guys”. The handspring basement kick was beautiful. The action was fast and furious in this match. The sequence I loved the most was when Noam was on the apron and Gargano kicked him in the face, and then got superkicked. Then Gargano speared Cedric through the ropes. These guys knew this was their farewell match before heading to raw so they gave it their all which was just phenomenal to watch live. So many moves to call in this match. Sadly Gargano delivered a stunning superkick to Noam and then another superkick was delivered between him and Tommaso while adding a knee. They picked up the win, but this match was a great addition.
Match rating: 5/5

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Cruiserweight Championship & CWC Tournament Finals
Gran Metalik vs TJ Perkins
Watching this over and seeing Triple H announce whoever wins the match will become the new Crusierweight champion gave me chills throughout my whole body. My family was for Metalik in this match, but my heart was for TJ. His story is just an amazing one, especially for those who aspire to become wrestlers. The match started off technical since both men were in matches beforehand. They call Metalik king of the ropes, and he does not disapoint as he performed a suicide dive and a springboard senton bomb onto Perkins. TJ tried to ground Metalik so he wouldn’t fly, but that didn’t last long as he did three devastating flying moves back to back. TJ focused on Metalik’s leg with the knee bar, then kicks to the knee, which Metalik answered with a vicious slap to the chest. Both men delivered blows, then the pace quickened as Metalik hit Perkins with a superkick and then TJ answered with a hit to Metalik’s knee. Metalik went to the top to do a moonsault where TJ met him with his two legs in the air, he caught him with a lung blower and then straight into the knee bar again. The crowd was mainly behind Metalik chanting, do not tap. Metalik hit him with the Metalik driver but couldn’t cover right away because of his knee. Metalik then went on a slap fest on Perkins. Both men were at the top of the turnbuckle where Metalik wanted to deliver a Metalik driver but Perkins somehow countered it into the knee bar gaining him the win. My heart was so full of joy when it happened and watching it back now. Being the big wrestling fan I am, when real life stories mix with wrestling, it tugs at my heart strings and this is one of those moments where I love professional wrestling.
Match rating: 5/5 absolutely stellar

Overall thoughts on the whole tournament:
TJ winning this was not only unexpected, going into the final 8 I though Ibushi vs Sabre was going to be the finals, but I would like to thank Triple H for giving us unpredictability. The tournament was great from start to finish. These men put it all on the line for the sake of wrestling. Triple H bringing in the title last minute was such a great thing to do. There are so many matches from here that are match of the year candidates. Going into this I didn’t know anybody, truly I didn’t. I heard of Zack Sabre Jr. and maybe Kota Ibushi briefly. But leaving this I have fallen in love with wrestling all over again and have people I can look up to and be proud I can call myself their fan; guys like Noam Dar, TJ Perkins, Kota Ibushi, Cedric Alexendar, Rich Swann, just to name a few. I’m happy for all the men that laced up their boots and put on a show for us. Once these men head to raw I know tides are going to change. They’re going to be a huge part of the new era and I cannot wait. Thanks to all the men in the tournament for putting on fantastic matches and gave me such an emotional roller coaster. This is why I love professional wrestling.