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The Cruiserweight Classic, formerly Global Cruiserweight Series, was a professional wrestling tournament held by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) with all participants billed at a weight of 205 lbs. or less. Tournament qualifying matches took place in various promotions of the independent circuit, including well known promotions such as Revolution Pro Wrestling, PROGRESS Wrestling, and Evolve. Many cruiserweight wrestlers from around the world had the chance to qualify for the 32-man tournament, which took place over four dates: June 23, July 14, August 26, and September 14, 2016.

Announced competitors[]

NXT competitors Rich Swann, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano along with international standouts Zack Sabre Jr., Noam Dar, Ho Ho Lun and Akira Tozawa were announced for the Cruiserweight Classic, which begins with qualifying matches. Another athlete indicated his participation on April 2 when Lince Dorado announced at an independent show in Orlando, Florida, that he will compete in the series. On April 24 at Progress Wrestling Chapter 29, after Sabre Jr., Jack Gallagher also won his qualifying match, while on May 7 at Evolve 61, TJ Perkins and Drew Gulak also joined the series. On June 11 at Evolve 63, Tony Nese defeated Johnny Gargano, Drew Gulak, T.J. Perkins and Lince Dorado and qualified for the tournament. Two days later, WWE officially announced all 32 wrestlers taking part in the tournament. Originally, Brazilian wrestler Zumbi was scheduled to compete in the Cruiserweight Classic, however, he had issues with his visa that WWE could not clear in time, leading to him being replaced by Mustafa Ali.

Qualifying matches[]

Progress Wrestling Chapter 29 - April 24 (Electric Ballroom - Camden Town, London)
  • Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Flash Morgan Webster in a Cruiserweight Classic British Qualifying Match
  • Jack Gallagher defeated Pete Dunne in a Cruiserweight Classic British Qualifying Match
Revolution Pro Wrestling's Live at the Cockpit 8 - May 1 (Cockpit Theatre - Marylebone, London)
  • Noam Dar defeated Josh Bodom in a Cruiserweight Classic British Qualifying Match
Evolve 61 - May 7 (La Boom - Woodside, Queens, New York)
  • T.J. Perkins (w/Stokely Hathaway) defeated Fred Yehi in a Cruiserweight Classic US Qualifying Match
  • Drew Gulak defeated Tracy Williams in a Cruiserweight Classic US Qualifying Match
American Combat Wrestling The Tradition Continues! - May 28 (All Sports Arena - New Port Richey, Florida)
  • Lince Dorado defeated Romeo Quevedo in a Cruiserweight Classic US Qualifying Match

Event[]

Cruiserweight Flashpoint[]

Evolve presented the WWE Cruiserweight Classic Flashpoint, a prelude to the tournament, on June 11th in Orlando, Florida at the Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex, where Johnny Gargano, Drew Gulak, T.J. Perkins, Lince Dorado, and Tony Nese, competed in an elimination match.

Evolve 63, WWE Cruiserweight Classic Flashpoint - June 11 (Downtown Recreation Complex - Orlando, Florida)

Participants[]

Broadcast team[]

Ring name Real name Notes
Mike Rome


Austin Romero


Ring announcer
Mauro Ranallo, Mauro Ranallo


Mauro Ranallo


Lead commentator
Daniel Bryan, Daniel Bryan


Bryan Danielson


Color commentator

Results[]

Tournament bracket[]

Round of 32
(Taped June 23)
  Round of 16
Taped July 14
  Quarter-finals
Taped August 26
  Semi-finals
Live on September 14
  Final
Live on September 14
                                   
July 20 –                        
United States Kenneth Johnson Pin
August 17 –
Japan Akira Tozawa 09:46  
Japan Akira Tozawa Pin
August 3 –
  England Jack Gallagher 11:38  
England Jack Gallagher Pin
  August 31 -
Italy Fabian Aichner 06:45  
Japan Akira Tozawa Pin
July 20 –
  Mexico Gran Metalik 15:49  
Japan Yoshihiro Tajiri Pin
August 10 –  
Australia Damien Slater 05:28  
Japan Yoshihiro Tajiri Pin
July 13 –
  Mexico Gran Metalik 10:53  
Chile Alejandro Saez Pin
  September 14 –
Mexico Gran Metalik 04:04  
Mexico Gran Metalik Pin
July 27 –
  England Zack Sabre Jr. 13:13  
India Harv Sihra Sub
August 24 –  
United States Drew Gulak 05:18  
United States Drew Gulak Pin
July 27 –
  England Zack Sabre Jr. 08:27  
England Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
  September 7 -
Canada Tyson Dux 08:28  
England Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
August 3 –
  Scotland Israel Noam Dar  
Scotland Israel Noam Dar Sub
August 17 –  
India Gurv Sihra 05:26  
Scotland Israel Noam Dar Sub
July 13 –
  Hong Kong Ho Ho Lun 07:02  
Iran Ariya Daivari Pin
  September 14 –
Hong Kong Ho Ho Lun 05:03  
Mexico Gran Metalik Sub
July 27 –
  Philippines T.J. Perkins 17:47
Mexico Raul Mendoza Sub
August 17 –  
United States Brian Kendrick 07:35  
United States Brian Kendrick Sub
July 27 –
  United States Tony Nese 13:42  
United States Anthony Bennett Pin
  August 31 -
United States Tony Nese 06:34  
United States Brian Kendrick Pin
July 13 –
  Japan Kota Ibushi 13:58  
Japan Kota Ibushi Pin
August 10 –  
American Samoa Sean Maluta 09:40  
Japan Kota Ibushi Pin
July 13 –
  United States Cedric Alexander 15:00  
United States Cedric Alexander Pin
  September 14 –
France Clement Petiot 05:58  
Japan Kota Ibushi Sub
July 20 –
  Philippines T.J. Perkins 14:52  
Philippines T.J. Perkins Sub
August 24 –  
Germany Da Mack 06:32  
Philippines T.J. Perkins Sub
August 3 –
  United States Johnny Gargano 12:18   Third place
United States Johnny Gargano Pin
  September 7 -  
United States Tommaso Ciampa 10:47  
Philippines T.J. Perkins Sub    
July 20 –
  United States Rich Swann      
Pakistan Mustafa Ali Pin
August 24 –  
Puerto Rico Lince Dorado 05:55  
Puerto Rico Lince Dorado Pin
August 3 –
  United States Rich Swann 08:14  
United States Rich Swann Pin
 
Hong Kong Jason Lee 03:47  

* – Denotes number of overtime periods.


See also[]

External links[]

WWE Cruiserweight Classic 2016 episodes

Bracketology7/137/207/278/38/108/178/248/319/79/14

WWE Cruiserweight Classic 2016 contestants

Akira TozawaHo Ho LunJack GallagherJohnny GarganoLince DoradoNoam DarRich SwannTommaso CiampaZack Sabre Jr.

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