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Tonight began the road to WrestleMania for the cruiserweights and Buddy Murphy, the reigning Cruiserweight Champion. Murphy's challenger on the Grandest Stage of Them All will be decided in an eight-man tournament tonight.
The opener will feature Murphy's partner Tony Nese taking on Kalisto. The Premier Athlete has a lot to prove, wanting to show that he's not just Murphy's sidekick. A win over the former Cruiserweight Champion would be a great first step in proving that. However, Kalisto wanted to show the WWE Universe that the Lucha House Party isn't just about having a good time, as he looks to become a 2-time Cruiserweight Champion.
The main event would feature former friends Drew Gulak and The Brian Kendrick. Both men are looking for firsts in their career. Gulak wants to carry the gold that has evaded him for the past few years, the Cruiserweight Championship, while Kendrick, a highly decorated competitor, is still looking for his first WrestleMania moment.
Kalisto vs Tony Nese
Nese, like most of his matches, quickly overpowered Kalisto as the two locked up. Nese brought him into the corner before the ref broke it up. Back in the middle, Nese brought Kalisto down with a mat slam. Kalisto worked back to his feet, targetting Nese's wrist. Nese broke away and dropped Kalisto with an arm drag, locking him down with an arm wrench.
Backstage, Buddy Murphy looked on at two of his possible contenders. Kalisto made it back to his feet again, chopping Nese and sending him across the ring with a top rope arm drag. Nese regained composure and landed on his feet after a monkey flip counter from Kalisto.
Both men avoided each other's shots for a while before the former champion finally connected with a spinning back kick to the head. Nese rolled out and was met with a hanging dropkick followed by a suicide dive. Back inside, he nearly pinned Nese with a springboard crossbody splash. Nese kicked out at two.
Kalisto sent Nese out again and feigned another dive, bringing Nese in. Several counters later, Kalisto connected with a running back elbow, stunning Nese on the outside. Kalisto ran at Nese again but was sent over the steel steps with a back body drop. Back inside the ring, Kalisto kicked out and rolled outside the ring. Nese got aggressive here, sending Kalisto into the barricade spine first.
Held on the wall, Nese repeatedly chopped his opponent's chest. Kalisto attempted to break out of the corner with a hurricanrana, but Nese caught him. driving him into the barricade head first. Nese rolled him inside and went for the pin. Kalisto kicked out and was instantly caught in a waist lock.
Kalisto eventually escaped, managing to create some separation between himself and Nese. He sent him into the corner with a head scissor takedown, followed by an enziguri in the corner. Kalisto went up top and dropped down onto a standing Nese with a seated senton. Nese made it back to his feet only to be planted by a tilt-a-whirl DDT. A basement hurricanrana drove him head first into the canvas again, but he kicked out at two.
Kalisto went in for the Salida del Sol but was caught by Nese who dropped him on top of the turnbuckle. Nese set Kalisto up for a big top rope maneuver. Kalisto shook him off but caught a rolling uppercut from Nese for his trouble. The Premier Athlete went for a top rope back suplex. Kalisto attempted to counter into the Salida del Sol, but Nese reversed into a spider German Suplex, dropping Nese on his head while hanging onto the ropes with his feet.
Nese, still on the top, went for the 450 splash, but Kalisto rolled out of the way. He went for a 450 of his own and connected. Nese barely put his foot on the rope in time, forcing the ref to break the pin. Nese blocked another Salida del Sol attempt, bringing Kalisto into the corner for a running forearm smash. Nese went for the Running Nese only for Kalisto to avoid it, rolling him up for the schoolboy enziguri.
Nese continued to fight out of the Salida del Sol and sent Kalisto into the corner with a huge monkey flip. Nese picked him up and attempted to hit the pump handle driver. Kalisto countered, rolling him up. Nese escaped, rolling Kalisto up but opting to pick him up, German suplexing him into the corner before knocking him out with the Running Nese.
Results: Tony Nese defeated Kalisto via pinfall.
Backstage, Buddy Murphy was seen applauding Nese, happy to see his friend advance in the tournament. Could Murphy see Nese as his only real competition in the division?
Later on, we saw Jack Gallagher going over footage with Humberto Carrillo. Gallagher explained that while there's nothing inherently wrong with the high-risk maneuvers he used last week, similar damage could be dealt with a well-applied wrist-lock. They then went out to watch Drew Gulak's tournament bout against The Brian Kendrick.
After going over the replay from last week's main event, Mike and Maria Kanellis decided to confront General Manager Drake Maverick. The couple tried to argue the controversial finish of the match. Maverick said that, though he lost against Cedric Alexander, he proved a lot in taking the former champion to his absolute limit. Next week, he'll have a match to prove himself. No word on if it was for the tournament, though.
Drew Gulak vs The Brian Kendrick
Gulak and Kendrick worked to take each other to the mat. Kendrick nearly locked in a full nelson, but Gulak brought him onto the mat, breaking out. They seemed to be an even match early on. Locking up again, Gulak brought Kendrick down to the mat, torquing his body with some unique submission wrestling.
Kendrick escaped and backed into the corner as a confident Gulak smiled on. Gulak escaped a pin attempt, twisting Kendrick's left ankle. Kendrick escaped the hold, getting back to his feet again. Kendrick attempted a clothesline, but Gulak countered in a German suplex. After a kick out at two, Gulak stretched him out with an arm/leg lock.
Kendrick broke out and attempted a crucifix pin, but Gulak again managed to counter, nearly locking in a cloverleaf. Kendrick rolled away, breaking the hold at the ropes. Kendrick repeatedly chopped Gulak, and the Submission Specialist responded with a stiff lariat, sending Kendrick crashing to the mat.
Kendrick escaped an attack in a corner, sending Gulak head over heels with an arm drag, following up with an armbar. Gulak prevented Kendrick from getting the full extension and managed to counter, working on his wrist again.
Gulak prevented a comeback from Kendrick. The Man with the Plan attempted a bulldog but was sent across the ring by Gulak instead. Gulak went for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Kendrick countered into a roll-up. When Gulak broke out, he was met with a crescent moon kick.
A back body drop planted Gulak firmly in the middle of the ring. Kendrick went for a pinfall and Gulak kicked out at two. Gulak went for a back suplex but Kendrick countered with a crossbody. Breaking out, a cross-legged German nearly earned Gulak a victory. Kendrick kicked out.
Kendrick dropped Gulak on his head with a dragon suplex. Gulak had enough energy to get up for an immediate clothesline, but afterwards, both men were left laying on the mat. Gulak managed to get back to his feet first and beat down Kendrick on the apron. Back inside, Kendrick almost caught Gulak with the Sliced Bread No. 2. Gulak escaped but was locked in the Captain's Hook instead.
Gulak fought to get to the ropes. Kendrick kicked off the ropes, sending them back to the middle of the ring. Gulak escaped by raking Kendrick's face and planting him with a powerbomb.
Kendrick fought off Gulak with a boot and went for another Sliced Bread No. 2. Gulak shoved him off and managed to latch in the Gu-Lock. He fought, but would eventually pass out to the submission hold.
Results: Drew Gulak defeated The Brian Kendrick via submission.
Gulak advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament along with Tony Nese. In last year's Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, the two men put on a devastating and brutal match, which saw Gulak come out on top. If they tangle up again, Nese will want some revenge.
As far as next week's tournament matches, Humberto Carrillo will be in action as he takes on NXT's Oney Lorcan. Akira Tozawa will also face off against Cedric Alexander.
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