WWE Cruiserweight Classic 2016 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights

Welcome to Week No. 1 of Bleacher Report's coverage of the first WWE Cruiserweight Classic tournament on the WWE Network.

This tourney is the brainchild of Triple H, and it is a massive departure from WWE's usual way of doing business.

Instead of having a bunch of existing Superstars fill the bracket, management went to other promotions to find a group of 16 wrestlers under the 205-pound weight limit.

Not only do these men get a big boost in exposure, but the promotions they usually work for will also benefit by attracting fans who might not usually seek out indy wrestling.

Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo will be calling the action every week as we watch Superstars from around the globe fight to be the first winner of what could become a yearly event.

The first week featured four great matches from eight talented wrestlers. Let's take a look at each bout from the first round of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic.

Gran Metalik vs. Alejandro Saez

The tournament's first match saw Mexico's Gran Metalik go up against Chile's Alejandro Saez. Both men used their agility and quickness to make this a fast-paced contest.

Saez quickly fell into the role of a heel, and the crowd picked up on it and started giving him heat within the first two minutes of the match.

Metalik had a few great high-flying spots, but Saez was just as impressive with moves like a shooting star press from the apron to the floor.

This match will bring back memories of the WCW cruiserweight division for many people. Both men did a great job kicking off what should be a fun tournament.

Gran Metalik picked up the win with a modified Michinoku driver to move on to the next round.

Grade: B+

Notes and Highlights

• Both men had generic entrance music. You have to wonder if they use these songs in their normal promotions or if WWE had to make new music for them.
• The ref asking them to shake hands before the match gave it a Ring of Honor feel.
• Daniel Bryan was pretty good as a commentator. His deep love and respect for the sport shone through in the way he called the match.

Ariya Daivari vs. Hoho Lun

If you thought it was going to be all moonsaults and hurricanranas in this tournament, this match proved you completely wrong.

Ariya Daivari is former WWE Superstar Shawn Daivari's brother, so this bout could be his way into the company his brother used to make himself famous.

Daivari represented Iran, while Hoho Lun carried the flag for China. To make sure people knew he was the bad guy in this contest, Daivari refused to shake Lun's hand before the opening bell.

The Iranian kept the pace slow while he was in control, but whenever Lun could squeeze in some offense, it was usually quick strikes and takedowns.

This was a more methodical and technical fight than the previous match, but it was no less entertaining, and the clear division between heel and babyface helped get the crowd into the right rhythm.

After several near-falls, Lun picked up the win with a German suplex/pinning combination. If this bout was any indication, Lun is going to be a lot of fun to watch in this tournament.

Grade: B+

Notes and Highlights

• Daivari did a great job establishing himself as the heel from the moment he walked through the curtain. He had the body language and facial expressions down.
• The great thing about the WWE Universe is how a guy like Hoho Lun can come into the company with no previous exposure in the United States and the fans will chant his name before the match even gets going.
• Hearing the ref's pre-match instructions through a mic gave this show a different feel.

Clement Petiot vs. Cedric Alexander

France's Clement Petiot took on the first American in the tournament when he battled Ring of Honor's Cedric Alexander.

This was a major clash of styles. Alexander likes to take to the skies, while Petiot uses his power to keep things more grounded.

Petiot made sure he was the clear heel in this match, so the crowd instantly began encouraging Alexander every time he was taken down.

This was another good bout, but the two previous matches were a little more fun to watch for some reason. It's hard to pinpoint why, but both competitors should still be proud of the show they put on.

After nearly being taken out with a discus clothesline, Alexander hit a unique backbreaker to get the pin and advance to the next round.

Grade: B

Notes and Highlights

• Despite his penchant for flying, Alexander is still one of the tournament's heavier competitors 200 pounds, and that's after dropping 25 pounds to make weight.
• Thank god Jerry Lawler wasn't calling these matches. He would have said gesundheit every time someone correctly pronounced Petiot's name.
• After seeing how good he is, it's surprising to find out Alexander has never held a title in Ring of Honor.

Kota Ibushi vs. Sean Maluta

WWE didn't waste any time putting one of the favorites to win the whole tournament in the first episode as New Japan star Kota Ibushi battled Sean Maluta.

Maluta is a member of the Anoa'i family, so there is already a lot of pressure on him to follow in the footsteps of his many relatives who have made an impact in the wrestling business.

These two were given a little more time than the first three matches, so they were able to pace themselves in the first half before building up to some quicker action.

As a whole, this was easily the best match of the night, and the credit goes to both men, not just the more famous Ibushi.

After an impressive display of counters, Ibushi secured the victory with a massive powerbomb. Maluta showed grace in defeat by embracing his opponent and raising his hand after the match.

Grade: A

Notes and Highlights

• You know it's going to be fun when the fans are chanting someone's name before the bell rings.
• Maluta deserves credit for selling Ibushi's kicks like he was getting hit with a baseball bat.
• It would be shocking if Ibushi wasn't offered a WWE deal after the tourney is over.
• Maluta botched a flip over the top rope at one point, but he recovered nicely.

What did you think of the first episode of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic?

Thanks for reading and follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor.