WWE Cruiserweight Division Thread - Includes Raw & 205 Live *Spoilers*

johnnysmack

Watched the bracketology earlier and Graves is brilliant.

Graves: "Next match up is between Tomasso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano...I hope they both lose"

WinnyThePoo

Enjoyed the bracketology. Didn't realize tj Perkins was manik from tna.

seandotcomm

Well that was a great show. Love how they're experimenting with new camera angles and stuff for it. And the wider turnbuckle pads to allow for better ariel moves. Was some great spots throughout. Lookin forward to next week

Angron

Lord TSC wrote: »

I know he won't go too far but I hope Kendrick gets a good run. His story about "this is my last chance" and the teary eyes hit me hard. Maybe cause I loved him years ago, but it's a genuine story and I hope they use it a bit.

I'm a little disappointed Paul London wasn't in it too. Would have been nice to see him and Kendrick face each other like Gargano and Ciampa.

Lord TSC

Angron wrote: »

I'm a little disappointed Paul London wasn't in it too. Would have been nice to see him and Kendrick face each other like Gargano and Ciampa.

From what I know, London really, really hated his time in WWE and has massive dislike of HHH. While,I loved him in the tag team with Kendrick, he strikes me as a lunatic whenever I have seen his shoots and I'd say bridges have been burned with regards him and WWE.

Angron

Oh yeah, I absolutely understand why he wouldn't be there, it just would have been a nice little reminiscence.

citytillidie

Just watching it, nice to have time limits again and making sure the ref is filmed checking the wrestlers before the fights like a real fight, it is those touches the main shows are missing

LeeJM

Well that went well. Really was a nice change to have a show feel totally different than Raw. The real sports presentation was very welcome. Mauro and Bryan were ok, but only ok. Hopefully they will improve as the tournament progresses.

The matches were fun for the most part. Metalik is somebody I expect will be signed soon, he looked good without doing too much. Hoho Lun is bad, like really bad. You just know hes there solely because of where he is from. Cedric Alexander and Petoit put on a damn good match. Petoit is a solid hand but defo isnt ready for WWE yet. Cedric though is a star in the making. My god is he ready!

Kota Ibushi vs Sean Maluta was great. Maluta shocked the hell out of me. He is raw but you can see the potential is there. Send him to Gabe for a year and then get him into the PC and he could really go places. Kota is just fantastic. Them strikes though! And the Last Ride looked vicious.

All in all a solid start to the CWC. Looking forward to next week now and seeing Tajiri return

CastorTroy

Ibushi did something we really don't see too often and kinda distracts me when done wrong. When he moved out of the way of the frog splash, he moved after Maluta had left the turnbuckle or just as he was leaving. Usually we see guys moving and then wonder why the guy on the turnbuckle still jumped.

Liked the "Shooting Star Press" shout from both commentators at the same time. Saez was really selling, though maybe a bit too much at times. Metalik accidentally lost his mask as well.

gerrybbadd

Liked the presentation. Love the fact that Mauro is commentating, name dropping the likes of Chris Hero and Kazuchika Okada. It's nice to see NJPW and other organisations getting mentioned.

Ibushi is fantastic. If nobody has seen it, go out of your way to see him at Wrestle Kingdom 9 vs Nakamura.

Also, ever hear the saying "He'd have a good match with a broom"? Ibushi has had some really class matches vs a dummy. Like a blow up doll. Look it up!

CastorTroy

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Also, ever hear the saying "He'd have a good match with a broom"? Ibushi has had some really class matches vs a dummy. Like a blow up doll. Look it up!

Just watched. He was lucky. A lot of close falls, especially after all those Canadian Destroyers.

Adiboo

Thought Bryan and Mauro were fantastic on commentary.

Bounty Hunter

Adiboo wrote: »

Thought Bryan and Mauro were fantastic on commentary.

It's the contrast to what you normally hear that has me loving them. Everything said was relevant for 1 but more importantly it was said with the purpose of putting over the guys competing.

How the presentation of the product was so different is the kinda thing they need to do with Smackdown to differentiate the shows. Time limits, ref checks, commentary calling moves instead of telling jokes etc

Infact the presentation of this plus Bracketology had me very interested in all the matches even though I honestly would not have known all of the competitors before the thing.

Bounty Hunter

He was a favorite before but the fact that

Kota Ibushi

has now signed with the WWE should even make him more of one for this.

DM_7

Did he get an indy or exclusive deal?

Bounty Hunter

DM_7 wrote: »

Did he get an indy or exclusive deal?

PW torch who broke the story only say "NXT level deals" but from what Ibushi had to say recently (for example he apparently will work for the IGF promotion in Japan later this year) I would not be surprised if at least initially he is allowed to take some outside dates. He was also saying he had unfinished business in Japan iirc also but still it's a done deal and there are now soo many more great matches to look forward to once he is done with the CWC.

jaykhunter

Could be just posturing for a better deal; given how strongly Ibushi is pushed I hope he sticks around! I've complete faith in NXT but am worried about roster call-ups. The post-mania batch have been a bust (Corbin, Uhaa, Vaudevillains) Enzo & Cass have done the best out of 'em all, Bullet Club immediately started jobbing to the Usos... I'd hate to see Bálor, Joe and Nakamura squandered. My hopes are SKY HIGH for them

johnnyryan89

jaykhunter wrote: »

Could be just posturing for a better deal; given how strongly Ibushi is pushed I hope he sticks around! I've complete faith in NXT but am worried about roster call-ups. The post-mania batch have been a bust (Corbin, Uhaa, Vaudevillains) Enzo & Cass have done the best out of 'em all, Bullet Club immediately started jobbing to the Usos... I'd hate to see Bálor, Joe and Nakamura squandered. My hopes are SKY HIGH for them

Balor and Joe should be alright. Finn will probably go into the club and make them the dominant faction and Joe can be booked the same way as Rusev was before he jobbed to Cena.

As for Nakamura I think he's better off staying in NXT for the time being and having some top class matches every now and then as creative will probably have him ruined by this time next year. Bring him up next year after the club turn on either Styles or Balor and have him side with whoever against the club.

Pentecost

Seems to be a lot of talk that Nia Jax is taking one of the six spots. Meh, not a big fan of hers really. I expect the picks from NXT will be Balor, American Alpha, Bayley, Jax, Tye Dillinger (been down there for years now it's either call him up or let him go)..and possibly some other lesser known big lad that I can't predict right now.

I can't see them moving Joe or Nakamura up just yet they need them in NXT for another while.

SureYWouldntYa

Pentecost wrote: »

Seems to be a lot of talk that Nia Jax is taking one of the six spots. Meh, not a big fan of hers really. I expect the picks from NXT will be Balor, American Alpha, Bayley, Jax, Tye Dillinger (been down there for years now it's either call him up or let him go)..and possibly some other lesser known big lad that I can't predict right now.

I can't see them moving Joe or Nakamura up just yet they need them in NXT for another while.

Nia Jax is just going to fill the Tamina role if/when she gets called up

jaykhunter

Nia needs to be in NXT. She's green as grass and has absolutely no presence. The way she carries herself, she comes across as a large Bella rather than another Awesome Kong. So of course she's getting called up and main divas storyline push!

Bounty Hunter

jaykhunter wrote: »

Nia needs to be in NXT. She's green as grass and has absolutely no presence. The way she carries herself, she comes across as a large Bella rather than another Awesome Kong. So of course she's getting called up and main divas storyline push!

Completely agree and would also find it odd (in the very least in a Kayfabe sense) if Jax & Bayley both got called up but the NXT womens champion who beat both of them at recent takeovers didn't.

However maybe their will be a thing about the NXT champs not being eligible becuase they will have to be in NXT to defend their belts which would explain her and Joe not being picked.

jaykhunter

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

they will have to be in NXT to defend their belts which would explain her and Joe not being picked.

That's a great out, I hope they use it. No sense in bringing up all the big guns. I am worried that they're already moving past the WM callups for new NXT talent; maybe it's to make way for CWC talent being signed I wish Vince loved indy talent like Aitch does!

sky88

jaykhunter wrote: »

That's a great out, I hope they use it. No sense in bringing up all the big guns. I am worried that they're already moving past the WM callups for new NXT talent; maybe it's to make way for CWC talent being signed I wish Vince loved indy talent like Aitch does!

I think trips just realises that a lot of the fanbase left is mainly hardcore fans and knows that he can tapp into that market.

Bounty Hunter

jaykhunter wrote: »

That's a great out, I hope they use it. No sense in bringing up all the big guns. I am worried that they're already moving past the WM callups for new NXT talent; maybe it's to make way for CWC talent being signed I wish Vince loved indy talent like Aitch does!

Well Gran Metallic & Kota Ibushi are now signed and you would have to imagine they would be trying to sign Sabre who would probably be the biggest get after Ibushi of all the CWC talent. Add in some talent like Bobby Roode and the fact that Hideo Itami is only just back (and that some of the CWC talent were already signed like iirc Cedric Alexander) and people like Athena might be ready to get promoted to being NXT tv talent and NXT might be doing alright even if it loses the likes of Balor, Nakamura etc especially if they keep Asuka & Joe for now.

Blue_Dabadee

What does everyone think of CWC so far?

No really stand out matches or MOTY candidates so far imo.

Loughc

Blue_Dabadee wrote: »

What does everyone think of CWC so far?

No really stand out matches or MOTY candidates so far imo.

Ah it's only been round one matches so far so I imagine they're just establishing the top stars for the next round.

johnnysmack

Jack Gallagher has suddenly become one of my favourite wrestlers after seeing the first round match against Fabian aichman. Hope he does well for the rest of it!

A Rogue Hobo

Cedric vs Kota was incredible

cian68

When Ibushi did his moonsault off the top to the outside I realised that if I was a commentator a lot of my calls would just be 'aaahhhh what the fu*k!!'

Bounty Hunter

A Rogue Hobo wrote: »

Cedric vs Kota was incredible

Was about to post that. That match and the Ciampa/Gargano match from last weeks episode were two of the best matches i've seen in some time.
Gotta love the CWC.

Gotta think they will sign almost everyone they can and if they don't end up in the CW division on Raw they will be in NXT. Liked the please sign Cedric chant at the end and HHHs appearance which I felt wass almost a "yeah he's got a deal lads don't worry" moment

Strangely Jack Sabre didn't do much for me in rd1 but it could be a personal thing as if im honest I don't really like his look. Dunno if it's the gear he wears or what.

Bounty Hunter

Jack Gallagher with another great showing this week. He has really impressed me in the CWC and I really hope that

despite his 2nd round loss to Kozawa

he is signed up. Interesting that he has also had and won 2 MMA bouts in the past year

CastorTroy

Have only started watching it, but wonder how many parents were taking note of that move Jack did to keep their kids wrapped up on the floor if they misbehave. That was an excellent move. Was wondering if it actually worked. He's a fun wrestler to watch. Never heard of him before.

And just read that Ibushi turned down WWE's fulltime contract offer, though may still make appearances

sky88

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

Jack Gallagher with another great showing this week. He has really impressed me in the CWC and I really hope that

despite his 2nd round loss to Kozawa

he is signed up. Interesting that he has also had and won 2 MMA bouts in the past year

Really impressed by Jack in his two matches never seen him before but i hope he is signed up too.

Bounty Hunter

CastorTroy wrote: »

Have only started watching it, but wonder how many parents were taking note of that move Jack did to keep their kids wrapped up on the floor if they misbehave. That was an excellent move. Was wondering if it actually worked. He's a fun wrestler to watch. Never heard of him before.

And just read that Ibushi turned down WWE's fulltime contract offer, though may still make appearances

Yeah I read he signed a deal but not a full time deal which is why I am guessing (only a guess so no spoiler tags) that he will get to the final but lose and in doing so really put over the winner strong before they head to Raw to head up the new division. Beating Ibushi in a great match would be huge for any of the other talent in this competition.

sky88

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

Yeah I read he signed a deal but not a full time deal which is why I am guessing (only a guess so no spoiler tags) that he will get to the final but lose and in doing so really put over the winner strong before they head to Raw to head up the new division. Beating Ibushi in a great match would be huge for any of the other talent in this competition.

it would make sense to have rich swann win it as the only nxt talent unless one of the others are already signed and starting immediately

Bounty Hunter

sky88 wrote: »

it would make sense to have rich swann win it as the only nxt talent unless one of the others are already signed and starting immediately

I believe a few of them are already signed, Gran Metalik for example and of course Ciampa has been in the WWE for a while (will be fighting on Saturday's takeover.

tbh I would not be surprised if the WWE sign up most people and even if they are not used straight away in the CW division they will go to developmental. Jack Sabre and Kozawa have big names so maybe would be the only ones outside of Ibushi that I'd actually not be too surprised if they didn't take any deal offered. Although that is assuming the WWE don't low ball em (the CWC competitors) financially.

TJ Perkins for example is someone I would not be surprised at all to see signed, ditto Cedric Alexander.

CastorTroy

Akira Tozawa is actually really entertaining. He looks so serious but seeing him this week and of course being tied up by Jack, I enjoyed watching him.

Wonder what the future holds for Brian. Is he still with WWE? I know he was training Eva Marie.

Out of next week's competitors, I think Zack Sabre jr is the most unexciting to look at. The others have more character and as someone who hasn't seen him on the indies, Zack hasn't blown me away.

LeeJM

Im a fan of ZSJ style anyway but after seeing him at OTT last month he has just gone even higher in my list of best in the world right now. Initally i backed him to win but im not so sure anymore but i still think he is a star that WWE would be crazy not to utilize.

DM_7

Zack's malnourished appearance (compared to alot of wrestlers signed up) is distracting though.

Based on the promo's Kendrick is sure to be on RAW for the Cruiserweight division.

johnnysmack

Looking at the quarter finals and pretty disappointed that most of the guys I like have already been eliminated.

Zach sabre junior seems to be dividing opinion here a small bit too. Hate him myself after seeing his first few matches. Gutted they picked him to go further that jack Gallagher. He'll probably win the thing now the bastard!

sky88

Ibushi vs kendrick was amazing match just below ibushi vs cedric for me.

Love the bit at the end with daniel bryan and kendrick was great that there was a payoff for bryans bias since the tournament started.

has to be ibushi to win it now hes been phenomenal since it began.

Cianan2

Thought the Kendrick and Ibushi match was sensational, loved that the commentary really sold Ibushi's previous neck problems and especially as he was hit with the burning hammer, it really added to it for me!

I feel like little things like that, when the commentators react to certain moves is great (like Graves with Rollins hitting the small package driver the other week). They've all really stepped up their game lately!

Bounty Hunter

Really really hope they can get Ibushi tied down to a full time deal. The guy has it all! Just drive a dump truck of money up to his house and make sure he knows you will push him to the moon in the non curiserweight title scene if thats what it takes.

Yeah im not sold on JSJ either. I know he is super talented but as much as I don't like that I am saying this his look is lacking and particularily in his first 2 matches I really haven't found myself all that entertained especially when compared to what I saw in Ciampa vs Gargano, and Ibushi vs either Cedric Alexander or Brian Kendrick for example.

I'd say The Brian will keep a job in the WWE be it as a trainer or in the CW division. Perhaps it's just to do with his WWE run before but he can def tell a story for the audience and D.Bryan loving him works too. I mean logically (not that that matters) if they didn't want him in the CW division on Raw Bryan would no doubt be interested in giving him a contract on SD. Him & Heath Slater could team up after Rhyno goes off to be a politician maybe.

CastorTroy

Yeah, while I know they have the CWC guys appearing on NXT every now and again, I would like to see some payoff on the tv shows as well. Like you said, Brayn as GM could bring in Kendrick.
I know I saw it advertised, but when is the division expected to start on Raw? I know the 19th is the first Raw after the CWC final

Bounty Hunter

CastorTroy wrote: »

Yeah, while I know they have the CWC guys appearing on NXT every now and again, I would like to see some payoff on the tv shows as well. Like you said, Brayn as GM could bring in Kendrick.
I know I saw it advertised, but when is the division expected to start on Raw? I know the 19th is the first Raw after the CWC final

I believe that was the Raw advertised as when the CW Division would debut

johnnyryan89

I know the winner of CWC classic gets a trophy but are they also crowned the new cruiserweight champion too or they gonna hold a different tournament or some multi guy match at clash of champions.

LeeJM

Its not been confirmed yet but the smart money seems to be that the CWC winner is made Cruiser Champ on the 14th and then debuts on Raw on the 19th.

Clegg

Really don't know if Ibushi will sign with WWE. They'll throw a boat load of money at him so that may entice him, but he has said before that his body can't handle the constant grind of the Japan/Indy circuit. And there's nothing more grindy than the WWE house show run. Plus he's an 'eccentric' guy who'd likes nothing more than to wrestle guys dressed up as Godzilla.

The CWC has just reinforced for me that Ibushi is one of the best wrestlers in the world. There have been some breakout performances from Cedric Alexander, Kendrick showing he can still go, Tozawa, Metallik and Gallagher catching the eye, but the standout performer has been Ibushi.

beakerjoe

Ibushi v Kendrick was a great match indeed but it wasnt match of the show for me, Gran Metalik vs Tozowa was just an epic. Both need to be signed up for the main roster.