Cruiserweight Classic Thread
- Thread starter Blade
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Hollywood Naitch
The current reigning and defending
Kota Ibushi is fantastic, that sit out last ride powerbomb was phenomenal.
I don't like Ho Ho Lun, I hope he goes out in the next round.
Grand Metalik seems pretty good.
I don't like Ho Ho Lun, I hope he goes out in the next round.
Grand Metalik seems pretty good.
The top rope Pele kick was heart-stopping. Also, fair play to Maluta for not getting completely overshadowed by Ibushi. That was the best superkick I've seen in years.
You watch your damn mouth!
Mantaur Rodeo Clown
X-Pac Rules
Having actually seen him live, Ho Ho Lun is much better than the showing we saw from him. Id say a combination of nerves and jet lag (he flew back to Hong Kong the next day for an indie show) got to him.
Even so, I don't think he's deserving at all of the shit he's getting.
Even so, I don't think he's deserving at all of the shit he's getting.
Mighty NorCal
SHALL WE BEGIN?
Yea, his match sucked.
The first match and the Cedric Alexander match were the best of the night , the latter of which wasn't particularly good either.
No matter, should be fun programming and I FUCKING LOVE the presentation of this. I want to take it out for a nice dinner and spa treatment.
The first match and the Cedric Alexander match were the best of the night , the latter of which wasn't particularly good either.
No matter, should be fun programming and I FUCKING LOVE the presentation of this. I want to take it out for a nice dinner and spa treatment.
OYDK
King Of The Ring
Not even just Lun's match, the way he was reacting to shit was just... odd. His selling was brutal. When I heard the way the team was praising him before the match, I expected a lot more. I was actually impressed with Daivari.
Alexander and Ibushi predictably stole the show. I was excited to see Cedric in the classic and his next round match with Ibushi should be a barn-burner (do people still say that?) Kind of wish he was able to get through one more round but oh well.
Alexander and Ibushi predictably stole the show. I was excited to see Cedric in the classic and his next round match with Ibushi should be a barn-burner (do people still say that?) Kind of wish he was able to get through one more round but oh well.
Hollywood Naitch
The current reigning and defending
Well put, my thoughts exactly. I enjoyed Daivari's heel persona.
Daivari and Maluta were the pleasant surprises for me, great showings by both guys even in losses.
How about the edit at the end of Dorada's match when his mask got pulled off. They jump cutted it during the actual match, but the replay showed a better look at him struggling to get it back over his face.
How about the edit at the end of Dorada's match when his mask got pulled off. They jump cutted it during the actual match, but the replay showed a better look at him struggling to get it back over his face.
Good Golly It's Ollie
Magical Girl
Those nice wide shiny purple turnbuckles. I really wanna sit on them. Just something about them looks weirdly comfy.
Also sponsors on the ring mat - it's just a matter of time, main roster! I actually like it to be fair; it adds a sense of legitimacy in a way that sponsors want their logos all over the ring.
I actually quite liked the Maluta guy. He'll be on main roster anyway before long with his lineage.
Also sponsors on the ring mat - it's just a matter of time, main roster! I actually like it to be fair; it adds a sense of legitimacy in a way that sponsors want their logos all over the ring.
I actually quite liked the Maluta guy. He'll be on main roster anyway before long with his lineage.
FlexAmerican Dynamite
WZCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Daivari should won his match easy. Easily got the best heel heat and Lun looked really bad.
NJPW and ROH really messed up not pushing Kota or Cedric respectively. They're getting NXT contracts for sure.
Presentation of this show is great, can't wait for the matches to be more than just squashes.
NJPW and ROH really messed up not pushing Kota or Cedric respectively. They're getting NXT contracts for sure.
Presentation of this show is great, can't wait for the matches to be more than just squashes.
Papa Pillman
I've got more Ho's than Jim Duggan
To a degree I think you're right about Cedric. I was always a big fan and felt ROH could've done more with him than they did, and he always seemed underappreciated by the fanbase and the powers that be in that company. But to be fair, they did try, especially with the Roddy feud. Cedric, to his own detriment, simply didn't work hard enough to keep in shape while with ROH(a criticism apparently held by many guys in the locker room that was revealed when Strong went as far as to even voice it publicly), and he also picked up a rep for concussing guys.
As for Ibushi, I'd love to hear an explanation for why you think that, because to me its flat wrong.
I thought New Japan pushed Ibushi far harder than they ever could've been expected to considering he was a freelancer who refused to sign an exclusive deal because he wouldn't give up working for DDT.
As a Junior he was consistently a top guy in the division, having held the IWGP junior title three times, the junior tag belts once, and also a best of the super juniors tournament victory. But even more importantly...
Despite his ongoing refusal to sign exclusively, they still moved him to heavyweight and gave him a massive push. In his first full year in the heavyweight division last year he semi main evented Wrestle Kingdom against Nakamura, he won the New Japan Cup(beating Naito and Goto on the final night to win), he main evented Invasion Attack against Styles for the IWGP title, and he finished in the middle of the pack in his first G1, beating Styles during the Tourney. That's far more success than even Shibata ever saw as a freelancer, as he never really came close to winning a major tourney, and never even sniffed a singles title until signing an exclusive deal for 2016.
Even with his talent, the case could be made that New Japan played with fire pushing Ibushi as hard as they did when he wasn't even under contract, and could've easily suffered any variance of major injury doing some ridiculous comedy stunt or dangerous weapons match while working DDT.
FlexAmerican Dynamite
WZCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Even after they turned him heel in ROH they did shit with him after the Moose feud.
Wasn't aware of Ibushi's status as a freelancer. I always saw it as more of a thing of they never put him over anyone went it counted. Such as the Nakamura or Styles matches. If he wouldn't sign exclusive I completely understand why they never put a major title on him.
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Only have NJ World now!
I liked the show very much! Wasn't keen on the CGI wrestlers jumping around but eh, minor gripe.
Is Ibushi really THAT hard of a striker? Yes the Nakamura matches emphasised this side of him but of all of Ibushi's talents I don't really think of his striking.
I liked how not all matches were long, and it felt like any move could end the matches, which is good!
Is Ibushi really THAT hard of a striker? Yes the Nakamura matches emphasised this side of him but of all of Ibushi's talents I don't really think of his striking.
I liked how not all matches were long, and it felt like any move could end the matches, which is good!
Fair play to Ali for taking some ridiculous bumps.
Also, Akira's pose on the top turnbuckle is badass. Has no one ever thought of that before? Johnson was pretty impressive. I enjoyed their match despite some slight moments of awkwardness, which were understandable given the language barrier and Johnson's relative lack of experience. But the stiff shots were sweet. And that lightning-fast German was sick.
Also, Akira's pose on the top turnbuckle is badass. Has no one ever thought of that before? Johnson was pretty impressive. I enjoyed their match despite some slight moments of awkwardness, which were understandable given the language barrier and Johnson's relative lack of experience. But the stiff shots were sweet. And that lightning-fast German was sick.
Having only seen the first show, Ibushi was the only one who really stood out to me. Every match followed a similar template and I began to lose patience somewhat. That said, I understand we're in the initial stages and all the round one losers need a chance to get their shit in.
OYDK
King Of The Ring
Since we're all using this thread...
Last night had a mix of some pretty good matches all things considered. Honestly, I don't remember much of Tajiri/Slater but I do remember that Slater was really green and that Tajiri did his best to try and help him through it. Still, it was a pretty generic match and I'm hoping Tajiri gets to pick it up in the second round. Also, no mist makes me sad.
TJP vs Da Mack was easily the best match of the night and the crowd was invested in both guys by the end of it. Perkins has to be a favorite in this thing, the guy is so smooth and he holds the crowd in the palm of his hand. Kind of cheesed that Perkins and Sabre are in different brackets... that would have been a fantastic semifinal match. Da Mack impressed me a lot. Guy can go in the ring and he's got some chareesma.
Ali/Dorado was a fun match to watch. Lots of crazy spots, especially the headscissors off the apron and the springboard reverse hurricanrana. Definitely wasn't expecting Ali to be impressive as he was, that reverse 450 was dirty.
And Tozawa/Johnson could have been better but I was ecstatic that one of these matches actually told a legitimate story. I was surprised by the amount of actual mat wrestling that took place in this match and, had the execution and pacing been a bit better, this could have been the best match of the night. Not very familiar with Tozawa as I don't watch much of Dragon Gate but he's pretty awesome. His heel work was great and Johnson was definitely the most likeable guy I've seen in the tournament thus far. Mauro and Bryan recapping his backstory was effective.
All in all, it was a good night. Right guys keep winning and some of these second round matches are looking to get crazy. I'm just hoping there are some upsets to come and everything doesn't remain too predictable.
Last night had a mix of some pretty good matches all things considered. Honestly, I don't remember much of Tajiri/Slater but I do remember that Slater was really green and that Tajiri did his best to try and help him through it. Still, it was a pretty generic match and I'm hoping Tajiri gets to pick it up in the second round. Also, no mist makes me sad.
TJP vs Da Mack was easily the best match of the night and the crowd was invested in both guys by the end of it. Perkins has to be a favorite in this thing, the guy is so smooth and he holds the crowd in the palm of his hand. Kind of cheesed that Perkins and Sabre are in different brackets... that would have been a fantastic semifinal match. Da Mack impressed me a lot. Guy can go in the ring and he's got some chareesma.
Ali/Dorado was a fun match to watch. Lots of crazy spots, especially the headscissors off the apron and the springboard reverse hurricanrana. Definitely wasn't expecting Ali to be impressive as he was, that reverse 450 was dirty.
And Tozawa/Johnson could have been better but I was ecstatic that one of these matches actually told a legitimate story. I was surprised by the amount of actual mat wrestling that took place in this match and, had the execution and pacing been a bit better, this could have been the best match of the night. Not very familiar with Tozawa as I don't watch much of Dragon Gate but he's pretty awesome. His heel work was great and Johnson was definitely the most likeable guy I've seen in the tournament thus far. Mauro and Bryan recapping his backstory was effective.
All in all, it was a good night. Right guys keep winning and some of these second round matches are looking to get crazy. I'm just hoping there are some upsets to come and everything doesn't remain too predictable.
Papa Pillman
I've got more Ho's than Jim Duggan
I'd be lying if I didn't say that seeing some of the VERY non-WWE spots that are allowed to happen in some of these matches makes me giddy.
You would never(like never, ever in the Y2J voice) see a spot like the one in the Johnson/Tozawa match where Johnson pop-up instant no-sold that Tozawa snap German directly into the double-clothesline to take them both down. Timed to the right moment in the right match, and that's a spot that's gonna pop the crowd like crazy while the wrestlers sell it, and it really worked in that match.
Small things like that add to the many factors that give this tournament a different feel than any other presentation of wrestling that WWE has ever produced prior, even in NXT.
You would never(like never, ever in the Y2J voice) see a spot like the one in the Johnson/Tozawa match where Johnson pop-up instant no-sold that Tozawa snap German directly into the double-clothesline to take them both down. Timed to the right moment in the right match, and that's a spot that's gonna pop the crowd like crazy while the wrestlers sell it, and it really worked in that match.
Small things like that add to the many factors that give this tournament a different feel than any other presentation of wrestling that WWE has ever produced prior, even in NXT.
Good Golly It's Ollie
Magical Girl
Johnson strikes me as the kind of talent they would sign and mold into a WWE name. I like the guy, for what we saw of him.
Tajjers is still frigging amazing. He doesn't really look that much older.
I'm currently on the edge of my seat anticipating ZSJ's match. So excited.
Tajjers is still frigging amazing. He doesn't really look that much older.
I'm currently on the edge of my seat anticipating ZSJ's match. So excited.
Hollywood Naitch
The current reigning and defending
Tony Nese is fantastic. What a physique, and that 450 splash was perfection. I fully expect WWE to snap him up on a deal
I've never been so let down by a hyped-up wrestler than I was by Sabre Jr.
Between his lack of charisma, Bryan creaming his pants on commentary at every single move, and his selling of that brainbuster, I hate him with a passion.
Bryan himself summed it up best. "These aren't moves that will explode the crowd, but you really appreciate them as a wrestler." Well then, good thing he's performing in front of an audience of wrestlers.
I hope Ibushi or Tozawa murder him.
Between his lack of charisma, Bryan creaming his pants on commentary at every single move, and his selling of that brainbuster, I hate him with a passion.
Bryan himself summed it up best. "These aren't moves that will explode the crowd, but you really appreciate them as a wrestler." Well then, good thing he's performing in front of an audience of wrestlers.
I hope Ibushi or Tozawa murder him.
OYDK
King Of The Ring
I knew this was going to be the consensus on Sabre. The guy is a technician, his style consists of mostly submission holds and strikes. No he's not the most flashy wrestler, but the guy is damn good in the ring and he didn't show anywhere close to his full arsenal or ability, which I'm guessing he's saving for later in the tourney.
As for charisma, I do disagree with that. Sabre is somebody that won't win you over in a night, much like Daniel Bryan, he's somebody that slowly builds a connection with the fans. Somebody that you learn to respect. His fan following is proof of his charisma in my books.
I actually loved the Sable match. The man's great with the details. The ending playing off the opening body scissor spot made me smile.
Also, what the fuck happenend to that Bennett kid? He was completely exhausted 3 minutes in and the ref even had to stop his match.
Also, what the fuck happenend to that Bennett kid? He was completely exhausted 3 minutes in and the ref even had to stop his match.
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