Tag: tj perkins

WWE CWC finals results: A winner is crowned

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Show starts with a highlights package narrated by Triple H looking at the final four participants.

Mauro and Bryan open the show, putting over the likes of Tiger Mask and Dynamite Kid, saying that again the cruiserweight are putting it all out there tonight. Bryan also mentions the New Japan Super J Cup tournaments of the 1990s. They go over the two semifinal matches tonight.
They show another video package where the four semifinalists talk about the significance of the tournament. Highlights are shown of all four men. All say they’re here to win.

Gran Metalik defeated Zack Sabre Jr. in the first semifinal

Very good match. Metalik is explosive but also showed off some great mat skills as well. Sabre did really well even though you’d think there would be a styles clash, but there wasn’t. The last few minutes were really great.

Gran Metalik wastes no time with a giant flying senton to the floor. Sabre catches him jumping off the apron with a kick, then kicks his arm. He focuses on Metalik’s neck, twisting his head with his feet and employing his mat-based grappling.

Metalik comes back with some fierce offense but Sabre catches him in a springboard and tries to go for a submission, but Metalik gets to the ropes. Metalik mounts his own offense, superkicking Sabre, hitting a standing shooting star press.

Sabre manages to get back in here with a guillotine choke but Metalik is able to transition to a Boston crab. Sabre cuts him off and hits a penalty kick for a near fall. Fans are getting into Sabre and not so much into Metalik at this point in the match.

Sabre Jr. locks in the octopus stretch. Metalik gets off his knees and gets to the ropes. Metalik cuts off Sabre, who gets crotched, then gives him a big hurricanrana off the top rope.

Metalik went for a dive but Sabre caught him in a triangle. Metalik escaped. Sabre charged out of the corner but walked right into the Metalik driver as Gran Metalik gets the win, advancing to the finals.
Metalik is awarded a medal by William Regal as he is interviewed, being asked about how he is preparing for the finals since he doesn’t know who his opponent is. Metalik gives a response in Spanish, but also thanks the fans.

Both TJ Perkins and Kota Ibushi are shown preparing for their match.
Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano are interviewed. When asked about his knee injury, Gargano says he’s 100% cleared and ready to rock and roll. Ciampa says no disrespect to Noam Dar or Cedric Alexander, but they only have one thing in mind – the Revival. They’re scared, that’s why they play the numbers game but they’re coming for the NXT tag team titles.

TJ Perkins defeated Kota Ibushi in the second semifinal match

Excellent match, about on par with the Alexander/Ibushi match from a few weeks ago. Just tremendous mat work and back and forth striking and wrestling. The last few minutes were insane.

They start off with some mat work early. TJP tries for a kneebar but Ibushi quickly escapes. Ibushi targets TJ Perkins with a dropkicks that sends him to the floor. Kota tries for the Golden triangle moonsault, but TJ kicks him and sends him reeling back to the floor.

After teasing a count out loss, Kota gets back in and soon after wipes out TJP with the Golden triangle moonsault. Ibushi went for a moonsault, but TJP manages to get the knees up and works on a leg submission, but not for long as Ibushi escapes.

Ibushi catches TJP on the apron with a series of kicks to the chest. He tries for the deadlift German suplex but Ibushi but TJP escapes. TJP went for something off the top rope but Kota cut him off with a big pele kick. Ibushi went for the last ride powerbomb, but TJP countered with a DDT and the dodon.

Ibushi again went for the pele kick but TJP sunk in the kneebar again.Ibushi escaped and they had a strikefest. Ibushi hit the last ride powerbomb but TJP kicked out in a big spot, since that’s been his finisher the entire time he’s been here. Fans started to chant “this is awesome”.

Ibushi went for the Phoenix splash but TJP dodged at the last minute. Ibushi came back with a ganso bomb but TJP still kicked out. Ibushi drilled him with a kick and went for the last ride powerbomb but TJP transitioned into the kneebar again. He added a crossface and after struggling, Ibushi tapped.
TJP gets the other medal. It’s he and Gran Metalik in the finals.  His goal has always been to win one, then win one more. Now he just has to win one more.

Noam Dar and Cedric Alexander talk about their match against DIY (the new tag name for Gargano and Ciampa). Dar says they just need to be on the same page for the 1-2-3. Cedric says they know they’re the best two cruisers around, and tonight they’re going to show that they are the best in the world.
Sasha Banks, Kalisto, Rich Swann, Jack Gallagher and Bayley were all shown in the crowd.

Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa defeat Cedric Alexander & Noam Dar

Crowd chanted “All these guys” as the match started. Both teams started out strong, with the highlight being Cedric wiping out Ciampa with a running senton to the floor. He looks like he’s lost even more weight since this tournament has started.

Dar is caught in the electric chair position as he’s wiped out by a Gargano superkick. When Cedric enters the right, Gargano gives him a spear through the middle rope. Cedric springs back with a giant Michinoku driver for a near fall. Great series of moves that wipes everyone out.

Action gets crazy as everyone goes 90 miles an hour. Alexander nearly got a near fall but a replay showed Ciampa just barely got his shoulder up. DIY isolate Dar and get the win with stereo superkicks
DIY motion they want the NXT tag titles after the match.

Mauro and Bryan bring in William Regal as he talks about his involvement in this tournament. He said Triple H picked him to find the best, and he exceeded their expectations. He mentions how he was trained by the likes of Rollerball Rocco and Marty Jones and saw Tiger Mask before he was Tiger Mask. He puts over the cruiserweights of the new millennium, saying they’re strikers, submission artists, grapplers and more. They bring in Corey Graves, who talks for a moment about Kota Ibushi and Brian Kendrick.

Before the main event starts, Triple H comes out and says tonight history will be made. Right now you see two of the best in the world. But we’re not looking for two – we’re looking for one, THE one. We are looking for the one will be known as the best in the world. We are looking for the one who will win the Cruiserweight Classic. But even more importantly than that, we are looking for the one who will be the new cruiserweight champion. Triple H reveals the new title and shakes both men’s hands as the match will now not only be for the trophy, but for the revitalized Cruiserweight championship…

TJ Perkins defeated Gran Metalik to become CWC Champion and the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion

Great match. Not as good as TJP/Ibushi but a really fun final match in a tournament full of fun matches. Dorada did some of his craziest stuff he has been known for in the past and TJP is probably the best all around guy that’s been signed for this division.

Fans are totally into Metalik early. The two do some good back and forth until TJP sinks in a Muta lock. Metalik gets to the ropes. TJP went to go for a springboard but Metalik dropkicks him face first on the apron then wipes him out with a tope suicida.

More fast paced back and forth until Dorada did a crazy flying hurricanrana, jumping off the ring, catching TJP on the apron and sending him out to the floor. Metalik followed with a crazy step up senton and landed flat on the floor as TJP really didn’t grab him. Ouch.

Metalik missed the standing shooting star press and TJP countered by sinking in a kneebar. Lots of back and forth action. TJP hit the dodon and sunk in the kneebar again. Dorada tried to get to the ropes but TJP dragged him back in. As Metalik tried to get to the ropes again, TJP tried to drag him back in but Metalik countered with a roll up for the near fall.

Metalik hit the Metalik Driver, but Metalik hurt the knee and took time to cover TJP, who kicked out. He made a comeback and tried to go to the top rope but Metalik cut him off and tried for the Metalik driver but TJP countered with the kneebar again. Metalik struggled and eventually submitted, making TJ Perkins the CWC champion and the new Cruiserweight champion.

Triple H put the new belt around Perkins as he went and shook hands with Metalik.

TJ says he wears a key around his keychain back to a place he couldn’t go back to, but now he is no longer is wearing it as it is a place he never has to go back to. During that time he searched for something like this, and means the world for him to inspire someone else. This is bigger than me, this is not one person. This is 32 people, all of them. Tonight, at the end of this, all of them are his heroes. This is for everyone.

Final Thoughts:

This was a great show, filled with crazy back and forth wrestling with some terrific spots and moments up and down the card. It capped off a great tournament, showcasing athletes who can go with a presentation designed to get them over to the best of their ability. This is probably the best special WWE has put on in ages, and one can only hope that next year they do it all over again.

WWE CWC results: Noam Dar vs. Zack Sabre Jr.; TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The penultimate episode of CWC starts off with new interviews from the first two quarterfinalists competing tonight. Zack Sabre Jr. says his journey so far has been difficult, but in a good way. This is round three, so the pressure is on. Dar says he really has to adapt to his opponents, and wants to make sure he makes an impression here. No surprise, he wants to win.

Noam Dar vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

This was a really good match. This is probably the best Dar we’ve seen in the tournament so far. Sabre excels in the style he’s developed and told a great story full of tremendous mat wrestling, selling, and technique.

Dar worked on the knee early. Sabre focused on one of Dar’s wrists, but Dar knocked Sabre down off the ropes with a kick to the bum leg. Dar lays in some offense, but poses for too long as Sabre catches him with a half nelson suplex. Dar manages to connect back with a big dropkick to the corner on Sabre’s shoulder.

Sabre jumped on Dar for a triangle, but Dar converted it into an ankle lock. There was some great mat wrestling here. Dar locks in another kneebar but Sabre rolls both of them to the floor. After a countout tease, they both make it to ring. Sabre takes him down and goes for something resembling the old Rings of Saturn, but clamping down on both arms, causing Dar to submit.

**********

Another video airs for the main event. TJ Perkins considers himself the best cruiserweight in the tournament as you have to have that confidence. He’s made it this far, and it has validated his ability. Swann is motivated to give people what they want — entertainment. The pressure is real, and when the pressure is on, that is when people get the best Rich Swann. He’s proven that dreams do come true, not matter what is put in your path.

**********

TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann

There were flashy moments, but a lot of this was selling based, which was good but made it similar in spots to the previous match. Still, both guys are flashier, and that made it a really good match. The in-ring work was top notch, and they both looked great out there.

They started off with some good back and forth mat wrestling, a bit more flashy than the previous match. Perkins got the better of it and dabbed in front of Swann, who didn’t like that one bit. When Swann came back with some offense, he did the same thing. Perkins came back with a big dropkick to Swann on the outside. Perkins is in control with some good looking submissions and matwork.

Swann makes a comeback, but Perkins cut him off with Ryusuke Taguchi’s dodon for a nearfall. Perkins tried for a tiger suplex off the middle rope, but Swann sent him to the floor. Perkins came back with a springboard hurricanrana as Swann landed on the injured leg Perkins was working on during the match. Swann came back with a springboard hurricanrana of his own, but when trying to gain some momentum, he got caught with a leglock by Perkins. He tried for another dodon but Swann countered with a roll up and even a Tiger Driver.

Perkins hit a pele kick and another leglock as Swann tried to struggle to the ropes, but it didn’t happen and tapped out as Perkins advances to the semifinals.

**********
A replay video aired of all the highlights from previous matches in the CWC. Next week will be a 2 hour live broadcast with Kota Ibushi facing TJ Perkins and Zack Sabre Jr. facing Gran Metallik in the semifinals of the tournament with the winners of those two matches squaring off in the finals later on in the show.

Don’t miss it, as if there has been any indication with this show so far, you’re probably in for a treat.

WWE Cruiserweight Classic results: Johnny Gargano vs. TJ Perkins

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Tonight’s episode start off with a recap of last week’s show, as well as highlights for tonight’s show. Round two concludes tonight, with the quarterfinals starting next week.

Rich Swann defeated Lince Dorado

Lince Dorado says he expected to be here because it’s all he’s ever dreamed about. He’s a hybrid luchador and will go toe-to-toe with anyone. He wants to showcase to the world what he can do, and that people should follow their dreams because they can come true.

They replay the video from a few weeks ago about Rich Swann, saying he grew up with a bad crowd but wrestling saved him, and people aren’t going to be expecting what he puts out there on the Cruiserweight Classic.

Good match, their styles complimented each other here and they had a good back and forth high flying match. I hope Dorado gets looks in other places as he’s pretty good. Dorado got big air wiping out Swann early with a springboard crossbody to the floor. Swann took him down and put him in a cool submission, kind of like a stretch muffler but Dorado’s neck was on Swann’s knee.

Dorado went for a German suplex but Swann got on his feet and rolled around, hitting a DDT. Swann hit a standing 450 but Dorado cradled him for a cool near fall. Dorado missed the shooting star press, which allowed Swann to hit a really cool looking phoenix splash for the win.

Swann will face the winner of the TJ Perkins vs. Johnny Gargano match later tonight in the next round.

They showed the closing moments of The Revival vs. Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa tag title match from NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II this past weekend, where Gargano was submitted after The Revival took out his knee.

Gargano was interviewed backstage, his knee was getting taped up as he talked about tonight’s match with Perkins. A lot of people expect him to win the tournament, and he doesn’t want to let anyone down. He’ll pour his heart out in the ring tonight and will reach one step closer to winning the CWC.

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Drew Gulak

Drew Gulak was told early in his wrestling career that he’d probably never make it, but he was determined. What makes him better is that he has a clear view of what you’re doing, and one move could put you out. He’s super confident.

Zack Sabre Jr.’s video is replayed as well, saying Harry Potter is not the only wizard from Great Britain, and he’s driven by his love of pro wrestling.

Gulak didn’t want to shake hands before the match.

Very good technical match. They worked a mat-based style since both are proficient in that area. Gulak broke out and tried to jump off the middle rope but Sabre caught him in an armbar. Gulak countered with a Gory special and worked on Sabre’s neck.

Gulak transitioned into a Boston crab but Sabre countered with a roll-up. Sabre got a kimura in but Gulak bodyslammed him, his foot hitting the rope upon landing. Big time palm strikes knocked Sabre loopy. Gulak tried the dragon sleeper, but Sabre somehow transitioned into a package pin and scored the win.

Gulak was reluctant to shake Sabre’s hand as he made his exit. Sabre will face Noam Dar in the next round.

TJ Perkins defeated Johnny Gargano

Another really good match. Out of everyone in the CWC, Gargano is probably the best overall worker not named Kota Ibushi. TJP has the charisma and work to make it very far. Some really good back and forth to start things off. Perkins caught Gargano in a leg scissors and even dabbed while doing it.

They went to the apron as Gargano knocked Perkins to the floor and did a running senton, his legs crashing on the bell table. Perkins made a comeback but Gargano took him to the top rope and looked like he was going for a powerbomb, but instead threw him face-first into the turnbuckle. That was a scary spot!

He lawn darted TJP into the other side of the ring but Perkins rolled through Gargano and targeted his injured leg with a leglock. Surprisingly, Gargano did end up tapping out, giving TJP the win. It’s funny that this was taped way before Takeover, but they still knew how to book Gargano’s loss. Kind of shows long-term booking can go a long way.

The quarterfinals are:

  • Akira Tozawa vs. Gran Metalik
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Noam Dar
  • Brian Kendrick vs. Kota Ibushi
  • Rich Swann vs. TJ Perkins

Really good episode this week. All three matches were strong. Not match of the year levels or anything like that, but all three were really fun TV matches.

WWE CWC results: Akira Tozawa vs. Kenneth Johnson; Tajiri returns

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo welcome us to the show. Ranallo puts over Bryan being the new GM of SmackDown. Bryan says it’s great, but the CWC is awesome. They throw it to Corey Graves who runs down the matches for tonight and the highlights from last week.

Tajiri (Japan) defeated Damian Slater (Australia)

Damian Slater is profiled before the match. He knows he’s an underdog but says he’ll come out the victor. He wants people to come in not knowing who he is. He’s not in it just to be involved, he wants to win this thing.

Tajiri looked good here. He did his typical spots, including the tarantula, and worked a pretty good technical style. At 46, Tajiri still looks good. Damian Slater did a cool dive to the outside and he didn’t look bad in this match either. Tajiri won with the buzzsaw kick.

Tajiri advances to the second round, facing Gran Metalik.

TJ Perkins (Philippines) defeated Da Mack (Germany)

TJ Perkins mentions how he started wrestling at 13 years old. He describes his in-ring style as versatile. There’s a lot of good wrestlers, but he likes to make it look easy. Da Mack calls himself the Urban German. He wants to be the Michael Jackson of pro wrestling and is heavily influenced by his style.

Da Mack came out to some fun music, kind of reminiscent of a Michael Jackson song. Perkins came across well as an established veteran, not only looking good in the ring but also showed great confidence.

Perkins sank in a Muta lock but Mack escaped and hit a corkscrew senton. Perkins got the win with a kneebar in another solid match.

Lince Dorado (Puerto Rico) defeated Mustafa Ali (Pakistan)

Mustafa Ali is introduced. He’s been wrestling for 13 years and considers himself the most well-rounded wrestler in the tournament. He says he can fly and wrestle better than anyone. He doesn’t see anyone on this list he can’t beat, it’s do or die for him.

Lince Dorado is next. He’s been wrestling for 10 years under this mask. Some of the setbacks he has suffered include him being injured, but being on the biggest stage shows his family where he belongs.

Ali worked over Dorado as a heel and looked pretty good. Dorado made a good comeback and laid out Ali with a big Asai moonsault, then followed it up with another moonsault off the top turnbuckle. There was a great near fall where Dorado hit a springboard reverse hurricanrana.

Ali came back with a Spanish fly for another near fall. Ali went for an inverted 450 splash but missed. Dorado capitalized with a shooting star press for the win. Really good match.

Akira Tozawa (Japan) defeated Kenneth Johnson (USA)

Tozawa says he’s very energetic in the ring and that it has long been his dream to be in WWE. “Tozawa? WWE? WOW!” he says. Johnson says he’s fought his whole life. He knows the heart and determination it takes to keep going. He wants to inspire and encourage others.

This was pretty solid. It was mostly a Tozawa match as he took control. Johnson looked fine but nothing out of this world. He didn’t look lost, but Tozawa looked better and threw some great suplexes. Tozawa looked on his game here. He won with a deadlift German suplex.

Next week: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tyson Dux, Drew Gulak vs. Harv Sihra, Anthony Bennett vs. Tony Nese, and Raul Mendoza vs. Brian Kendrick will continue the tournament.

Final Thoughts: I thought Ali vs. Dorado stood out as match of the show, just solid work from both guys and both came across as people to watch. Overall, the show was pretty fun and easy to watch. Presentation wise this is one of the best shows WWE is producing.