Cruiserweight Classic Episode 8 Review

Original Airdate: Wednesday, August 31st, 2016
Full Sail University
Winter Garden, Florida

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Gran Metalik vs. Akira Tozawa
These two get started on the mat going back and forth with submission moves. Metalik hits a stiff dropkick on Tozawa as he chased him to the ropes. Metalik then hits a suicide dive, which if I have a complaint with not only this tournament but also just wrestling in general, it's that there are way too many suicide dives. Metalik gets Tozawa in the figure four, but Tozawa gets to the ropes. Metalik goes for the handspring elbow, but Tozawa hits him in the back with a dropkick. Then Tozawa hits a suicide dive (see what I mean?). Tozawa hits another suicide dive, no joke. They are going back and forth with slaps to the chest and Tozawa gets the best of it. Metalik then hits a nice flurry of moves that ends with a standing shooting star press. He then hits a springboard elbow for a 2 count. Tozawa then nearly kicks Metalik's head off for a 2 count. Metalik regains control and hits an awesome springboard flip to the outside of the ring. Tozawa blocks the moonsault and almost gets the victory. Hurricanrana from the ropes gets about as close of a 3 count as you will ever see for Metalik. Metalik flips out of the German Suplex, but then Tozawa hits two after it and somehow Metalik gets out of it. Tozawa goes for another German, but Metalik hits his Metalik Driver for the victory. I didn't like that one quite as much as the crowd and announcers did, but it was still a good match.

Match Rating: ***1/2

Brian Kendrick vs. Kota Ibushi
Kendrick rolls out of the ring and tries to get Ibushi to follow. Ibushi hits a beautiful moonsault to the outside. I really need to see more Ibushi matches. Kendrick ties up Ibushi's foot in a guardrail to try and get a countout. Ibushi hits a springboard dropkick. Kendrick then gets to feel the big kicks by Ibushi. Kendrick then does a neckbreaker over the turnbuckle and is now in control. Ibushi fights back and hits a moonsault inside the ring this time. Sliced Bread #2 gets a close call. Ibushi then hits a Pele kick. Holy cow! Ibushi hits a German Suplex off the ropes. Crazy. Kendrick is able to get Ibushi into the Bully Choke, which honestly is a pretty lame submission move. Kendrick hits a Burning Hammer for a 2 count. Phoenix Splash by Ibushi, but Kendrick moves and gets him in the Bully Choke again. Ibushi hits Kendrick in the head with a kick and then hits the sitdown powerbomb for the victory. Kota is the man. Kendrick gets a standing ovation and embraces with Ibushi.

Match Rating: ***3/4

After the preview for next week, they go back to Kendrick in the ring and he is in tears. Daniel Bryan comes down and gives him a hug and raises his arm as the show goes off the air.

While this wasn't up to the quality of last week, but we did get two entertaining matches. Watching Kota Ibushi is truly a treat and I think the right two guys won on this episode. I'm really looking forward to these last two episodes, as for some reason I don't recall them as much as some of these others that I have reviewed.

Overall Rating: 71%