2016-08-10-WWE-CWC] Kota Ibushi vs Cedric Alexander

[Superstar Sleeze]

Kota Ibushi vs Cedric Alexander - WWE CWC 8/10/16

Crusierweight Classic along with Mae Young Classic and NXT UK Tournament were most brilliant use of the Network and really put over the idea of the WWE Super Indy. The CWC launched Ciampa and Gargano but the actual Cruiserweight Title was DOA. I think weight limits have a place in wrestling only in the hands of the most deft Booker. Anyways it looks like this is most heralded match of the tournament and it is only 15 minutes THANK GOD! 2016 is not kind with short classics. 
 

This is closest I have felt to watching 90s workrate wrestling since I have watched 90s workrate wrestling. lol. The high spots are high but they let them breathe. They don’t wrestle in fast forward. They sprinkle in hard hitting strikes. This would have been right at home in ECW or WCW. Ibushi in WWE seems weird. Could they not come to terms with a contract with him? He was clearly the one they wanted. I have always like Cedric Alexander and wish he got a better shake in WWE but this match got him a contract. 
 

They do some nice Stampede style chaining to start and a good tumbling pass to whet the audience appetite. The side headlock work is well-done. I love a good back elbow in a baby face vs babyface match to say NOW IT IS ON! Ibushi scores with a thunderous kick but it is too early to go for a dive and crashes and burns which allows Cedric to hit the first dive of the match. Terrific psychology. Alexander hits a springboard clothesline for two. Ibushi fires back with a dropkick to the head which feels like an emphatic transition and gets that dive to hit. They lose me a bit with Alexander pop up  driver transition. You can argue the reason Alexander could land on his feet was because Ibushi didnt get the Frankensteiner right but that also looked bad. I didn’t care for the Brainbuster and head kick back to back near falls because Ibushi looked toast and next thing you know he rolls out the way and Kick -> Powerbomb win.

Offensive execution was great and I liked the efficiency of the match but needed an editor down the stretch. A very good 90s workrate match in 2016 *** 3/4