Heading into this past Wednesday’s edition of Cruiserweight Classic, WWE COO Triple H dubbed the impending Second Round clash between Cedric Alexander and Kota Ibushi “the match everyone has been talking about,” setting the bar high for the two world-class competitors seeking to stay alive in the tournament.
CWC News, Results, Videos and more
Alexander and Ibushi’s incredible battle exceeded any and all hype. The back-and-forth struggle between these world-class grapplers had fans tuned into WWE Network around the world on the edge of their seats, as the underdog American seemed to be on the verge of eliminating “The Golden Star,” a favorite to win the CWC. In the end, Ibushi weathered everything Alexander threw at him, planting his opponent into the canvas with a Golden Star Powerbomb to stave off an upset and stay alive in the tournament.
However, Alexander put in the performance of a lifetime, which did not go unnoticed by WWE fans at Full Sail University, who cheered so much and so long for the Charlotte native that he came back out from the locker room to acknowledge them. It was noticed by The Game, who emerged to give Alexander his endorsement to a roar of approval from the WWE Universe.
Ibushi and Alexander have also been the center of attention on social media, where fans, fellow CWC competitors, Superstars and a certain General Manager — who’s getting ready to launch a Cruiserweight Division on Monday nights — have been raving about the epic match.
Is it possible to watch the reaction @CedricAlexander got at the @WWE_CWC and not get teary eyed? So happy for this man.
— Prince Mustafa Ali (@PrinceAliTruth) August 11, 2016
That was awesome! Congrats @CedricAlexander @ibushi_kota #CWC
— Peyton Royce (@WWEPeytonRoyce) August 11, 2016
That @CedricAlexander @ibushi_kota match was nothing short of incredible! @WWENetwork @mauroranallo @WWEDanielBryan pic.twitter.com/FxGDMKIzsz
— Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) August 11, 2016
If you haven’t seen the match the world is talking about, start your free trial of WWE Network today and catch up on the Cruiserweight Classic on demand. New episodes of CWC premiere Wednesdays at 9/8 C, immediately following NXT.
Start WWE Network free trial | Watch Ibushi vs. Alexander on demand