Cruiserweight Classic 2

July 20, 2016 – Winter Park, Florida

Tajiri def. Damian Slater {First Round Match}
Tajiri took this one in 5:28 with the Buzzsaw Kick, after a competent but uninspiring match. I don’t think fans were so nostalgic for Tajiri that putting him over anyone was really necessary, especially with someone like Mustafa Ali jobbing later in this episode. **½ 

TJ Perkins def. Da Mack {First Round Match}
Mack apparently was Marcel Barthel’s tag team partner in wXw, and I’m kind of surprised he didn’t get signed because he’s solid in the ring and could have made a fun addition to NXT UK. Perkins won in 6:31 with an inverted figure four. Had Perkins sold a bit more this would have been a real strong bop, but as it is, it was still a fun hang between two guys who move so damn quickly. ***¼ 

Lince Dorado def. Mustafa Ali {First Round Match}
There was a sizable amount of indy silliness in this match, like awkwardness early on and a finish that was dive after dive without any real connective tissue or selling. That said, they got the crowd invested in the match, and that’s not nothing. It also started to feel like a ‘90s WCW cruiserweight match, and nostalgia is fun. Dorado won in 5:56 with a Shooting Star Press. **¾ 

Akira Tozawa def. Kenneth Johnson {First Round Match}
There was nothing wrong with this match technically, but after an interesting start it was really quite boring until the final minute during which Tozawa finally sped things up. He won with the German suplex in 9:45. I’m hoping Tozawa’s other matches in the tournament are more fun. **¾