WWE Cruiserweight Classic 2016 Review: Results, Analysis, and Grades for August 31

Akira Tozawa vs Gran Metalik

Result: Gran Metalik defeats Akira Tozawa by pinfall.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

A highlight package retraces the journey so far for these 2 combatants before Tazawa and then Metalik enter Full Sail.  A handshake starts things and here we go.  This should be good.  Some grappling and reversals start things off, Tozawa seems to want to ground the high flyer. The action picks up and the two exchange beautiful arm drags before drawing stale with dropkicks.

Metalik gets the upper hand early scoring with a dropkick, a roundhouse kick, and then another dropkick, this one of the springboard variety.  A running dive to the outside and this is right up Metalik’s alley.  Another springboard for Metalik, this time a cross body and Tozawa is hurting.  Metalik locks in a tight figure four on the knee Akira hurt last week but he escapes to the ropes.  A vicious kick gets Metalik a 2 count.

Metalik goes for a handspring elbow but is caught in the back with a beautifully timed dropkick.  Now is its time for Tozawa to fly to the outside and reciprocates the middle rope plancha and then does it again.  A jumping senton gets Tozawa 2 and they then trade vicious chops.  The sequence ends with Tozawa dropping his foe with a right hand.

Tozawa whips the crowd into a frenzy only to get countered with a rope-walk, springboard dropkick and then a running Shooting Star Press for a 2 count.

A springboard back elbow gets another 2 for Metalik and he goes for the Metalik Driver but Tozawa counters and after a roll through delivers a stiff running kick.  Another running kick and a Saito suplex gets Tozawa a close 2.  Tozawa riles up the crowd again only to run into a savate kick and yet another springboard dropkick.  It’s back to the outside now as Metalik uses a flip over plancha that gets a huge pop, especially from Mauro Ranallo.

Metalik looks to finish with a moonsault but Tozawa’s gets his feet up.  Tozawa works a superplex but Metalik counters with a highlight reel top rope hurricanrana as Tozawa stands on the middle rope.  A 2 and 3 quarters count brings the crowd to its feet and they stay there as Tozawa lands a lightning fast German suplex and then a stalling one for another near 3 count.  Tozawa goes for the package German suplex but his opponent counters with the Metalik Driver for the 1-2-3.

The match receives a standing ovation and the two embrace in the center of the ring.  Great display of sportsmanship.

Tim’s Note:  Upset alert!  Tozawa has been  highly regarded as a front-runner in the CWC and to see him go down in the quarterfinals was a bit shocking.  But if he were going to lose to anyone, Metalik is a terrific option.  All 3 of his tournament matches have been outstanding so far and the guy clearly has the goods.

Hopefully, this isn’t the last of Tozawa in the WWE.  The Full Sail crowd seemed firmly invested in him and his popularity may be too much to ignore .