WWE Cruiserweight Classic: Top 10 Moments from Entire Tournament

The Cruiserweight Classic was one of the best things WWE has done in years, and it's not just because it featured mostly non-WWE talents.

The tournament felt important from the moment it began, and the way that it was presented differently than any other WWE program made it feel even more unique.

The sets weren't nearly as flashy as what we see every week on Raw or SmackDown. Even the ring looked completely different thanks to the wider turnbuckles and simple design.

All 32 competitors deserved to be there, but there were definitely some people who stood out more than others. Many of them were unknown to the casual fans who don't keep up with the indy scene, but you can bet people will remember guys like Cedric Alexander, Kota Ibushi and Zack Sabre Jr.

This slideshow will look back through the tournament and list the top 10 moments from the Cruiserweight Classic.

10. A 2nd Chance for 4 Men

The finale of the Cruiserweight Classic needed a fourth match to give the two men who would compete in the finals a chance to rest, so WWE added a tag team match with four men who were previously eliminated.

NXT's Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano battled Cedric Alexander and Noam Dar. All four of these Superstars will be part of the cruiserweight division, so this was a great way to showcase their talents before next week's Raw.

There wasn't much in the way of a story in this match, but everyone worked hard to make it fun nonetheless. Anyone who saw this bout knows exactly why these wrestlers were selected for this tournament.

Gargano and Ciampa may have gotten the win, but each wrestler involved could leave with his head held high, knowing he put on a great show.

9. Rich Swann Dances into Our Hearts

This tournament featured dozens of incredible talents, but few were as fun to watch as Rich Swann. Not only is he great in the ring, but he is a natural entertainer.

His first two matches were on the short side, but in his bout with T.J. Perkins in the quarterfinals, he had over 17 minutes to show the world he was more than just a guy with good dance moves.

Even in defeat, Swann came away from this match with the admiration of everyone in the arena. If he can stay healthy, he has a bright future ahead of him.

Swann is set to join the cruiserweight division when it launches on Raw next Monday, but he has also been competing in NXT recently, so hopefully he'll pull double duty, and we'll get to see him on both shows going forward.

8. The World Meets Gentleman Jack

Out of all the Superstars who didn't make it past the second round of the tournament, nobody made a bigger impression than Jack Gallagher.

His unorthodox look and technical wrestling style make it impossible not to take notice, and once you start paying attention, you realize he is one of the most talented grapplers to come along in quite some time.

Gallagher's arsenal of submissions rivals the best, but it's also his ability to sell his opponent's offense so well that makes him a great wrestler.

Many people saw it as an upset when Akira Tozawa defeated Gallagher in the second round. Luckily for all of us, Gallagher is another Superstar whom WWE was wise enough to sign for the cruiserweight division on Raw.

7. Genuine Surprises

WWE programming is often labeled as predictable, and rightfully so, but the final episode of the Cruiserweight Classic showed us that management still has the ability to surprise us every now and then.

When this tournament began, two names everyone talked about as possible winners were Zack Sabre Jr. and Kota Ibushi. Both men have reputations for being incredibly talented, and both lived up to the hype in every match they wrestled.

However, WWE pulled the rug out from under us by having both men lose in the semifinals to Gran Metalik and T.J. Perkins respectively.

Metalik would have been the safe bet heading into the finals, but Perkins was the guy who left with both the trophy and the new Cruiserweight Championship. 

6. Tajiri Proves He's Still Got It

WWE decided to bring in two veterans to add some credibility and familiarity to the tournament, and one of them was "The Japanese Buzzsaw," Yoshihiro Tajiri.

Tajiri hadn't been seen in a WWE ring since 2008, but he kept active the past eight years by competing heavily in Japan and running his own promotion called Smash.

Both of his CWC bouts were great, but his match against Gran Metalik was the one in which he really stood out as one of the most underrated technicians in WWE history.

Most fans probably remember him for his comedy work in his tag team with William Regal, but he is capable of stealing the show against just about anybody.

It would be a shame if this was the last time we saw Tajiri in a WWE ring, but if it is, he went out like a champ.

5. Triple H Introduces the Cruiserweight Championship

Going into this tournament, we knew the winner would receive a trophy, but we didn't know until the final episode that he would also be crowned the new cruiserweight champion.

As the final match was about to start, Triple H's music hit, and he came out to show Perkins and Metalik the prize they would be fighting to win.

The new belt has a unique look, breaking the recent trend of identical titles like the WWE World Championship, Universal Championship and both Women's Championships.

Triple H was the mastermind behind this whole tournament, so it was only fitting for him to be there when the new champion was crowned.

4. Best Friends Fight for Glory

The Cruiserweight Classic featured dozens of great matches, but no other first-round bout had as much emotion as Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa.

The tag team partners put on a Match of the Year candidate, and the moment they shared in the ring after it was over made it even more memorable.

Both men are going to be part of the cruiserweight division moving forward, but hopefully they are still given a chance to perform as a tag team, because they are one of the best duos WWE has right now. Each has his own style, but their chemistry makes them just as good as opponents as they are partners.

Out of all the great matches from the first round, Gargano and Ciampa's is the one people are still talking about.

3. Please Sign Cedric

Of all the people who didn't make it past their second match, Cedric Alexander may have been the wrestler who gained the most fans during his run.

His match with Ibushi was as good as anything else we have seen during the entire tournament, but it was what happened after which made it so special.

As Alexander was making his way to the back, the crowd began to chant, "Please sign Cedric" over and over. The emotion got to him, and he cried while taking in the love he was getting from the fans.

To make it even sweeter, Triple H came out from his spot at the Gorilla position to signal to the crowd that he heard them and planned on doing exactly what they wanted.

Alexander will also be part of the cruiserweight division, so we will get to see more of what this young man is capable of every Monday night.

2. Everyone Loves Brian Kendrick

Picking the best match from the tournament would be hard, but picking the moment with the most real emotion is easy.

Following Brian Kendrick's loss to Ibushi in the quarterfinals, Daniel Bryan left his spot at the commentary table and embraced his friend in the middle of the ring.

Throughout the entire tournament, Bryan spoke about how he and Kendrick broke into the business together at Shawn Michael's wrestling school and how they had their first match against each other.

As Kendrick was being interviewed backstage, Bryan joined his friend again for a hug and to shed more tears. The former WWE champion spoke about how proud he was of his best friend while failing to hold back his own tears.

Kendrick spoke candidly about how he had made mistakes in the past and that he knows this might be his last shot at stardom. Kendrick will add his veteran knowledge to the cruiserweight division, so the younger generation will be able to benefit from his years of experience.

1. The Grand Finale

The conclusion to the Cruiserweight Classic was somewhat bittersweet. The tournament has been nothing short of amazing, but it's a little sad knowing there won't be a new episode to look forward to next week.

Even the worst match from the CWC was better than some of what we see every week on Raw or SmackDown, and the way it all ended set the bar high for the division when it launches on Raw next week.

The reveal of the new Cruiserweight Championship was a great surprise, and seeing T.J. Perkins crowned champion after wrestling two incredible matches was a fitting end.

This is a guy who has been wrestling since before he could drive, and to see all his hard work pay off in such a big way was an inspiring moment he and his fans will never forget.

Perkins couldn't help but cry as Triple H put the belt around his waist, and the promo he delivered at the end where he said this tournament was about more than just him was as classy as it gets.

What was your favorite moment from the entire 10-week tournament? 

Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor.