WWE Cruiserweight Classic 2016: Who is Rich Swann?

With the first event in the upcoming WWE Global Cruiserweight Classic less than a week away we take a look at the ultra-athletic Rich Swann.

On June 23, the much anticipated WWE Cruiserweight Classic taping started.  With the list of 32 competitors now finalized it’s time to take a look at some of the promising superstars who are bound to make an impact in the tournament. NXT’s Rich Swann could easily be one of those guys.

At only 25 years old, Swann is already an 8 year veteran of the sport, in fact, he began training under Adam Flash and Darren Wyse at the ripe old age of 14.  At a diminutive 5’7′ and 165 pounds, Swann began shaping his arsenal around his incredible agility and speed, using a bevy of jumping kicks and aerial assaults.

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Swann, a Baltimore native, made his first real independent wrestling impact when he joined Combat Zone Wrestling in 2009.  One of his many trainers in the Philadelphia-based organization was Drew Gulak, one of the other participants in the GCC.  He spent 4 years in CZW with varying success but found plenty more in some of the other top indy promotions around the world.  He won 2 championships in Dragon Gate, 3 in Full Impact Pro, while also snatching up belts in Evolve, NWA Florida Underground, and Revolution Pro Wrestling.

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His 5 years in the aforementioned Dragon Gate, one of the best wrestling promotions in Japan, is where Swann really honed his craft.  In 5 years he wrestled over 200 matches (cagematch.net) with the company and worked with some of the best Japanese wrestlers around including CIMA, Naruki Doi, Akira Tozawa (also in the GCC), and Masaaki Mochizuki.  He’s also worked with numerous stars on the WWE roster.  The likes of Luke Harper, Austin Aries, Apollo Crews, and Christopher Girard have all been inside the squared circle with Swann.

As athletic and quick as Swann is, he also has what people like to call “The X-Factor”.  He is immensely charismatic and has the ability to pull in any crowd on any given night.  He also sports some of the most innovative counter moves seen in a very long time.  It’s no surprise that WWE signed him last Fall.  Although small, Swann has the potential to be a breakout star for the company.  If they decide to reinstall the WWE Cruiserwight division after this tournament, he could be a mainstay for years to come.

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Between NXT and the main roster, there are numerous superstars who are athletic high flyers, and Swann is already considered one of the best.  He’s still a bit raw on the microphone but he’s an entertaining kid that could easily improve in that area given some time and training.  Swann is one of the most talented workers the WWE has signed in the past few years and he has a very serious shot at winning the Cruiserweight Classic.  However, it won’t be easy as the field is about as gifted as it can possibly get.  One thing is for certain, though, between Swann and his 31 fellow competitors, expect classic after classic, and a yearning from the fans to bring the Cruisers back.