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After showing off his vicious side in the first round, Brian Kendrick looks to continue his road to personal redemption in the Second Round of the CWC against Tony Nese. Who will advance? Find out Wednesday at 9/8 C, only on WWE Network!
Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher (Second Round Match)
The Second Round of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic continues this Wednesday on WWE Network and features a styles clash between Japan’s Akira Tozawa and Jack Gallagher of England. Full CWC coverage | Start WWE Network free trial
Gallagher is a throwback in every way. Employing the old-school British style of grappling, the “Extraordinary Gentleman” flustered Fabian Aichner of Germany before putting him away with a vicious running dropkick to earn his spot in the Second Round. Gallagher will likely need to incorporate more of his skill set, including his mixed martial arts experience, to progress further in the CWC. The Brit squares off with Tozawa, a graduate of the vaunted Dragon Gate dojo in Japan. Tozawa was one of the most highly touted competitors coming into the tournament, having faced the likes of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn before they joined WWE.
That renown gave him plenty of confidence heading into the tournament, but also may have led to him underestimating his First Round opponent, Kenneth Johnson. Tozawa quickly realized how serious the competition in the CWC would be and put the American away with a devastating German Suplex. Tozawa won’t be underestimating Gallagher when they get in the ring. But will Gallagher be able to overwhelm his hard-hitting opponent, or will Tozawa slam his way to the Quarterfinals?
Noam Dar vs. HoHo Lun (Second Round Match)
The next Second Round showdown features the youngest competitor in the field taking on the most determined. Though he recently turned 23, Noam Dar of Scotland is nearing a decade of experience in the ring. Growing up on the United Kingdom’s burgeoning independent scene, Dar picked up the intricacies of technical wrestling, which did him well in the CWC’s First Round, where he forced Gurv Sihra to tap out to a kneebar.
Dar’s opponent in this round is Hong Kong, China’s HoHo Lun. With no wrestling scene at all in his homeland, Lun traveled the world to learn the mat game, then returned to Hong Kong to start his own promotion. His never-say-die attitude was on display in the opening round of the CWC, where he fought off the ruthless efforts of Ariya Daivari to advance. This is a battle between two competitors with lots of heart. Who has the fortitude to move on in the summer’s biggest tournament?
Brian Kendrick vs. Tony Nese (Second Round Match)
The final match of the evening is a battle between two competitors who are willing to do anything to stay in the tournament. Tony Nese believes he should have been in WWE a long time ago. The self-proclaimed “Premier Athlete” isn’t wasting any time fawning over the opportunity to take part in the CWC, because he knows the tournament is his for the taking. Nese can fly with the best in the field, but also possesses the power of a heavyweight and can muscle around his opposition with ease.
He showed his hybrid style off in the First Round, putting Anthony Bennett down for the three-count with a picture-perfect 450 Splash. Standing across the ring from Nese is a man with a plan, Brian Kendrick. The “Post-Apocalyptic Scavenger” was a sentimental favorite after CWC: Bracketology, when Kendrick revealed that he saw the Classic as his last shot at personal redemption, after letting his previous chance at WWE glory slip through his fingers.
However, feelings toward Kendrick changed in the First Round, when he revealed just how far he was willing to go to achieve that goal. Kendrick wrestled ruthlessly against Mexico’s Raul Mendoza, bending the rules and using trickery to slide into the Second Round.
Will Tony Nese’s hybrid of aerial ability and raw power be the key to victory, or will Kendrick’s cruel and unusual style keep him in the CWC? Find out this Wednesday at 9/8 C, only on WWE Network!
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