Tonight features the semifinals, and the finals, or the inaugural Cruiserweight Classic. Starting earlier this summer, this tournament took 32 of the best Cruiserweight wrestlers around the world and gave the world some of the best wrestling this year has seen. We have seen the likes of WWE veterans like Tajiri and Brian Kendrick, two Chinese competitors in Jason Lee and Hoho Lun, and a myriad of other competitors and wrestling styles. However, tonight comes down to four competitors: Gran Metalik, Kota Ibushi, TJ Perkins, and Zack Sabre Jr.. The winners of the semifinals matches will compete in their second match of the night, where they face each other to become the first-ever Cruiserweight Classic Champion.
Gran Metalik (Mexico) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (England)
It is safe to say that this match is going to be amazing, because there hasn’t been one match in this tournament that has been less than great. These two have defeated some stiff competition to get to this spot, including Tajiri, Noam Dar, Drew Gulak, and Akira Tozawa.
Zack Sabre Jr. counters a springboard splash into a triangle choke, but Gran Metalik is able to escape. Sabre tries to put Metalik away after the choke was released, but Sabre is countered into a Metalik Driver, placing Gran Metalik in the finals of the tournament. If he doesn’t win the whole sha-bang, at least he has a nice medal. Winner: Gran Metalik | Eliminated: Zack Sabre Jr.
TJ Perkins (Philippines) vs. Kota Ibushi (Japan)
Kota Ibushi has been the favorite to win this tournament since before it started, and he has lived up to the expectations. He has has great matches with Brian Kendrick and Sean Maluta, as well as an arguable “Match of the Year” candidate against Cedric Alexander in the second round.
TJ Perkins is not to be overlooked, however. In fact, both Sasha Banks and Bayley have chosen him to win the entire tournament. Throughout the tournament, Perkins has defeated Germany’s Da Mack, and two NXT stars in Johnny Gargano and Rich Swann. Perkins used a kneebar to win all of those matches, and looks to use it against the kick-heavy arsenal of Ibushi.
TJ Perkins keeps countering Ibushi’s attempts at the Golden Star Bomb, and his strategy play out to get perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament when he makes Ibushi tap out with a modified kneebar. The finals are set: Gran Metalik vs. TJ Perkins. Winner (via submission): TJ Perkins | Eliminated: Kota Ibushi
Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa vs. Noam Dar & Cedric Alexander
While Gran Metalik and TJ Perkins rest up for the tournament finals, there is still great Cruiserweight action to be had. Cedric Alexander and Noam Dar had incredible performances of their own right in the tournament, but lost to Kota Ibushi and Zack Sabre Jr., respectively. Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano (known as DIY) are going to Monday Night Raw as part of the Cruiserweight division, but they are still focused on winning the NXT Tag Team Championships from The Revival.
After launching Noam Dar face first into the second turnbuckle, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano hit him with simultaneous head strikes to get the win. Winners: Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa
TJ Perkins vs. Gran Metalik – Cruiserweight Classic Finals (WWE Cruiserweight Championship)
There is not much more to be said that has not already been said about TJ Perkins and Gran Metalik. Both of these competitors have been through war getting to this last tournament match and look to do it one last time before heading to Monday Night Raw. Since they have already competed tonight, things might not be as fast paced, but it will undoubtedly blow the roof off of Full Sail University.
Before the match starts, Triple H comes down to the ring for a huge announcement. The winner of this match will not only win the Cruiserweight Classic, but they will also go to Raw this Monday as the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
Gran Metalik tries to hit the Metalik Driver from the second turnbuckle, but TJ Perkins counters into the kneebar. Once he crosses Metalik’s legs, the luchador has no chance but to tap out. Cruiserweight Classic Winner, and NEW WWE Cruiserweight Champion: TJ Perkins
