Cruiserweights are the future. WWE seem to have decided on this mentality and judging by the response from The Cruiserweight Classic, why not?
Excitement filled the entire show and captivated the crowd at Full Sail University, all of the matches of the opening episodes delivered and have only raised the expectation on the tournament that will surely continue to deliver.
Metalik the victor
The opening match set the tone, it featured a slow methodical build up with Alejandro Saez quickly dominating his opponent Gran Metalik early on.
Saez one of the largest performers in the tournament used this to his advantage, however, it could not contain the high flying Lucha Libra performer who quickly stole the oxygen from the lungs of the audience following a spring-ward (middle-rope) front-flip outside of the ring.
As the audience tried to recover from their shock, Metalik continued to deliver with his balance to walk across the ropes and take the high-risk maneuver making him one of the most exciting performers already.
Despite a jaw-dropping shooting star press from the edge of the ring to the outside from Saez, it would be Metalik who picked up the victory as he delivered a hellacious finisher a fireman's carry into a fisherman's driver.
Ho Ho holds on
Ariya Daivari refused to shake the hand of his opponent Ho Ho Lun and he may have regretted that decision as the performer from China dished a number of fierce kicks to the man from Iran.
The bigger and heavier Daivari was on top for a large portion of the match as he looked to truly punish Lun at every opportunity but he would refuse to stay down.
Ho Ho quickly became a crowd favorite while the man from Iran adopted the heel persona that his brother was famous for, however after missing with a frog-splash, Lun took advantage and delivered a German suplex with a bridge to pick up the victory.
Alexander the great
The American Cedric Alexander was quickly adopted by the crowd as the favorite against Frenchman Clement Petiot who was the dominator and looked to inflict his technical skill against the former Ring of Honor man.
The training from Lance Storm looked to be paying off as a series of knees and kicks to the head seemed to reduce Alexander to a dizzy pulp but he eventually recovered thanks to his quick movement as he radiated in the crowd's passion.
Following a flying clothesline, Alexander was able to deliver a suplex into the back-breaker in a gruesome maneuver to pick up the win and advance into the second round.
Ibushi slays the Samoan
Kota Ibushi walked into The Cruiserweight Classic as one of the favorites to win the entire tournament, and he sure delivered the belief that he is one of the best performers in the world.
A number of stiff kicks failed to keep the Samoan Sean Maluta down, as the big man dished out his own brand of pain but the resilient man from Japan continued to fight back.
It looked as if Maluta was about to win following a vicious kick to the face of Ibushi but he kicked out at two, as he went for the final nail in the coffin, Ibushi delivered a Last ride powerbomb to put the Samoan down once and for all.
What's Next?
The four men who advanced in the opening episode will meet again further down the road as they hope to progress and become one step closer to the final.
Gran Metalik will square off against Ho Ho Lun in what should be a very interesting match pitting a strong style performer against a Lucha star.
Meanwhile, Cedric Alexander will face off against Kota Ibushi, both men entered the tournament with high expectations and have so far delivered, they also entered as favorites but one of them will have to go home as they will meet further down the road.