WWE Cruiserweight Classic 2016 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction for August 17

In the six short weeks since the first episode of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic premiered, it has become one of the company's most entertaining shows.

The mix of talent from all over the world combined with a different presentation than regular WWE shows has made it the most unique part of the weekly calendar.

The Superstars who do not sign with WWE after the tournament will go back to their home promotions with some mainstream hype, which will help indy wrestling gain more exposure in the process.

For those who do sign with the company, this is just the beginning. Some will end up on the main roster to help fill the cruiserweight division, but a few may have to put in some time with NXT first.

This week's show featured three great matches from six men who all put on impressive performances during the first round. Let's take a look at what happened on this week's Cruiserweight Classic.

Jack Gallagher vs. Akira Tozawa

This week's first match featured two men who made great first impressions during the opening round of the tournament—Jack Gallagher and Akira Tozawa.

Both men received warm welcomes from the WWE Universe, but it was clear Gallagher was the favorite after the impressive technical clinic he put on in the first round of the tournament.

The first few minutes definitely played into Gallagher's technical ability, but Tozawa kept up with him and showed off his own mat skills in the process.

At one point, Gallagher tied Tozawa up in a ball, which had the crowd in an uproar. Tozawa was a lot less amused, and he showed it by upping the intensity with some stiff strikes.

These two men put each other through the ringer, but only one could advance to the next round. Tozawa finished off a game Gentleman Jack with a beautiful German Suplex.

Grade: B+

Notes and Highlights

• Gallagher's trunks remind me of Fruit Stripe gum.
• Using a handstand to get out of a headlock was an innovative counter by Gallagher.
• I was surprised to see Tozawa advance over Gallagher. It would be shocking if Gallagher wasn't offered a deal with WWE to help anchor the new cruiserweight division.

Noam Dar vs. Hoho Lun

The second match of the evening saw Hong Kong's Hoho Lun battle Noam Dar—an Israeli wrestler representing his current home of Scotland.

Unlike the first match, they started with a fast pace and kept it going for the majority of the match, only slowing down for the occasional submission hold.

Dar fell into the role of the heel early on, so he showed his more aggressive side through stiff strikes and focused on Lun's left leg. As time went on, the crowd warmed to him and began chanting his name.

After enough damage had been done, the Scot finished off Lun with a kneebar submission. This wasn't quite as entertaining as the first bout, but it was a solid match from two formidable talents.

Grade: B

Notes and Highlights

• It's funny to hear Lun called the Godfather of Hong Kong wrestling when he is only 29 years old, but he has done a lot for the industry in China already.
• The WWE Universe's creativity is second to none. Chanting Dar's last name to the tune of "The Imperial March" from Star Wars was hilarious.
• The Michinoku Driver Lun delivered to Dar looked nasty. Dar basically landed right on the top of his head.

Tony Nese vs. Brian Kendrick

The main event of the evening paired together two men with completely different styles with the matchup of Brian Kendrick and Tony Nese.

Kendrick played the heel during his first-round match against Raul Mendoza, but the crowd still gave him a hero's welcome during his entrance for this one.

Kendrick tried to rush Nese after the bell, but he took a kick to the face and instantly gave Nese the upper hand. For the next few minutes, "The Premier Athlete" took the more experienced Kendrick to school.

They managed to mix just about every style of wrestling into one performance, and it made for a great main event. After an exciting exchange of counters, Kendrick picked up the win with the Bully Choke he used to defeat Mendoza.

Grade: A-

Notes and Highlights

• Bryan being biased and wanting Kendrick to win the tournament because of their history added to his commentary.
• Nese's athleticism is on par with guys such as Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn. He could be a great addition to the main roster, not just the cruiserweight division.
• Heels usually dominate most of any given match so the crowd can get behind the babyface, but Nese was in firm control for the majority of this contest.

What did you think of this week's episode of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic?

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