Once the CWC concludes, we will begin to know just how the WWE plans on using our friends under 205; this makes it hard to let go of the CWC since once it’s finished, the style will probably change when the Cruiserweights debut on the main roster. It’s no lie that Vincent Kennedy McMahon isn’t a fan of the small guys, just look at how Kaientai had been represented, attempting to chop Val Venis’ manhood clean off. Or when Psychosis, Juvi, and Super Crazy were made out to be custodians riding lawn mowers to the ring. There hasn’t been to many times in the past depicting the Cruiserweights in a good light, third times a charm, right?
With all the negatives that pop into your mind, we should look at some of the changes made in the WWE over the last few years. A lanky guy named CM Punk became the longest reigning champion since the late, great, “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Also, guys like Sami Zayn, Finn Balor, AJ Styles and Kevin Owens are getting decent pushes on their respective brands, when years prior they would be relegated to mid card at best. Would I put my money on a guy like Anthony Bennett making waves in the WWE in the future? Probably not. But guys like Kota Ibushi, Fabian Aichner, and Tony Ness could fit right into the main roster on looks alone, not to mention their talent.
Guys like Jack Gallagher and Zack Sabre Jr. utilize a slow, phycological, mat-based, technical style that could wow the toughest of critics. Plus, when a guy like Gallagher has as much charisma, charm, and athletic ability you can’t help but believe that if he ever gets a chance on the main roster, he’ll be able to make it work regardless of what’s given to him. I also believe that Rich Swann falls into the same charismatic category. He even has a heart-wrenching backstory to get the fans behind him before he even steps foot into a ring, then they see him dance!
For years, the WWE machine has been looking for the flagship Latino star that they could market to one of the biggest demographic in the United States. We’ve seen two incarnations of Sin Cara who have failed, and Kalisto has officially become a walking punchline since discovering “Lucha Stuff.” The CWC does have what I believe to be the answer to all this. Gran Metalik, formally known as Mascara Dorada. He has a look, ability, and style to be the WWE’s first Latino success story since the departure of Rey Mysterio.
If you look on social media, fans are frothing at the mouth for Tommaso Ciampa’s proposed debut match for the Cruiserweights involving himself, tag team partner Johnny Gargano, Kota Ibushi, and Cedrick Alexander. After watching Ibushi and Alexander’s second round match and seeing the heartfelt ending to the show, it doesn’t seem far from reality given the clinic that Ciampa and Gargano held during their highly touted first round match-up.
Not all is lost, maybe the Cruiserweights will be booked separately from the rest of the RAW roster? I know, I’m getting carried away, but with the talent down in NXT and the core CWC roster, it’s no doubt an exciting time to be a wrestling fan in 2016.