WWE Cruiserweight Classic 2016: Winners, Grades, Reaction for September 7

This was the final week of quarterfinal matches for the Cruiserweight Classic, and the realization that this tournament will soon be coming to an end is starting to sink in.

WWE has something special on its hands with this concept. Not only have we seen some great matches every week during this tourney, but the show has a totally different feel from anything else WWE puts on.

This isn't about rivalries, storylines or heels vs. babyfaces. The Cruiserweight Classic is all about showcasing the best possible talent from around the globe on a bigger stage than they may normally have to show off their skills.

The last several weeks has given a new generation of WWE fans a greater appreciation for what the guys in this weight class are capable of, and older fans were brought back to the early days of WCW Nitro when the division was stealing the show every week.

Next week will see the final four competitors battle it out in the semifinals, with the winners facing each other in the main event for the chance to be known as the winner of the first Cruiserweight Classic.

But that's next week. For now, let's take a look at everything that happened on Wednesday's show.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Noam Dar

The first match of the night featured two men who rely more on technical ability than anything else, Zack Sabre Jr. and Noam Dar.

The bout started with a lot of takedowns, counters and submission attempts, but once Dar landed the first real strike, the pace picked up. Dar focused on punishing the leg to set up for his kneebar finisher, while Sabre took the opposite approach and attacked Dar's arm.

Both men displayed great skill, but for some reason, this bout wasn't as exciting as some of the previous matches both men put on in earlier rounds.

Still, it was a clinic of technical wrestling put on by two men with bright futures in this business. After one of the most impressive counters into a submission we have seen in this tournament, Sabre picked up the win to move on to the semifinals.

Grade: A-

Notes and Highlights

• Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo made sure everyone knew Sabre and Dar were longtime friends and rivals, which gave this match a little more depth.
• Both men sold their injuries well, but Dar was slightly more believable with his facial expressions and screams of pain.
• Sabre may have legitimately hurt his elbow when both men rolled under the bottom rope to the floor. Hopefully it's nothing serious.
• This tournament has proven you don't need a heel and a babyface to have a great match. We have seen more good sportsmanship between wrestlers during this tourney than we have on the main roster in a long time.

Rich Swann vs. TJ Perkins

The second match of the night, and the last of the quarterfinals, saw TJ Perkins take on the perpetual party machine, Rich Swann.

The crowd was chanting for Swann before they even locked up, but within a minute or two, half the fans started cheering for Perkins out of respect for his skill.

The pace of the match played to both men' strengths. There would be a quick sequence of strikes and counters followed by a slower period of submissions and chain wrestling.

Swann and Perkins have both had better bouts in this tournament, but this one was still a lot of fun. Despite his best efforts, Swann was forced to tap out to a kneebar submission.

As soon as the bell rang, Perkins released the hold and made sure his friend was alright, echoing what was said in the first slide about the level of sportsmanship being shown in this tournament.

Grade: A-

Notes and Highlights

• If Swann's entrance doesn't put you in a good mood, there's something wrong with you. His energy is infectious.
• Is Perkins' gimmick supposed to be intentionally annoying? He's an outstanding wrestler, but something about the way he carries himself makes it easy to dislike him.
• If Ranallo has one fault as an announcer, it's trying too hard to insert pop culture references into his commentary.
• Swann sold his knee injury so well, I thought he might actually be hurt at one point.

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

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