Dynamic, groundbreaking and amazing; just three of the hundreds of words used to describe The Cruiserweight Classic that has only just begun.
After an incredible opening show that featured the likes of Kota Ibushi, Cedric Alexander, Gran Metalik and Ho Ho Lun progressing, the tournament continues to deliver with a number of high-profile performers in tonight's episode.
Tajiri
A respected veteran of the industry and one of the oldest performers within the tournament, but also one of the most well-known as he performed in WWE from 2001 – 2005 achieving single's success as well as tag-team also.
Taijiri will be representing Japan in the competition and despite his age his experience may provide him with the edge over any of his opponents, having already accomplished so much during his 23-year wrestling career.
His list of accomplishments includes:
Extreme Championship Wrestling
ECW World Television Championship
ECW World Tag Team Championship – w/ Mikey Whipwreck
World Wrestling Federation/ World Wrestling Entertainment
United States Championship
Light Heavyweight Championship
Cruiserweight Championship
WWE Tag-team Championship– w/ Eddie Guerrero
World Tag-team Championship– w/ William Regal
In 2002 he was rated number 23 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500.
Damian Slater
Just like many others within the competition the 29-year-old Australian performers is somewhat of an unknown quantity within the competition who will be hoping that he can win the CWC and catapult him onto the worldwide wrestling scene.
He is an experienced performer and has performed for many promotions within his home country including Wrestle Rampage, MCW, Warzone Wrestling, WrestleClash, PWA, EPW and Zero 1 Australia.
His list of accomplishments includes:
Warzone Wrestling
Warzone Heavyweight Championship
Wrestle Rampage
WR Australian National Championship
In 2011 he was ranked number 381 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI.
TJ Perkins
Another well-known name within the wrestling world but not with WWE which lasted for less than a year in 2009, as he has been able to forge a successful career within other promotions such as Ring of Honor and Total Nonstop Action.
Having wrestled since 1998 he started out very young and is still just 31-year-old with many years left within the squared circle, he will be hoping to add the Cruiserweight Classic to his growing list of accomplishments.
His list of accomplishments includes:
All Pro Wrestling
APW Worldwide Internet Championship
Empire Wrestling Federation
EWF Tag-team Championship
Match One Wrestling
NWA Heritage Championship
TNA X Division Championship
TNA X Division Championship Tournament
Da Mack
Despite having one of the coolest names in the entire tournament, the German performer is unfortunately one of the lesser known talents within the tournament but still possesses a great deal of ability he will be hoping to showcase in the competition.
He has trained under the Swiss Superman Cesaro, and despite only debuting in the industry in 2008 he is fast becoming a big name amongst the European Independent Scene with his Michael Jackson gimmick increasingly popular.
His list of accomplishments includes:
Westside Xtreme Wrestling
Tag Team Championship
wXw Shotgun Championship
Nordic Championship Wrestling
International NCW Cruiserweight Championship
Mustafa Ali
The Cruiserweight Classic has seen a lot of ‘firsts’ accomplished and Mustafa Ali is one of them as the performer will become the first from Pakistan to perform in the WWE.
At just 30-years-old he has plenty of time left to cement a wrestling legacy for himself and he has already laid the foundation with his current list of accomplishments which are:
Jersey All Pro Wrestling
JAPA Light Heavyweight Championship
Proving Ground Pro
PGP Franchise Championship
Freelance Wrestling
FW Championship (current)
Dreamwave Wrestling
Dreamwave World Championship (current)
Lince Dorado
An exciting performer that all those planning to watch the competition should play close attention to, as the nine-year veteran is up there with the very best in terms of ability and he will hope to use that to his advantage.
Dorado is a nine-year veteran of the industry and has worked under the likes of Chris Hero and Lucha Libre legendary performers El Pantera and Skayde, he fits the typical stature of the cruiserweight and will be a formidable opponent for whoever he faces.
His list of accomplishments includes:
Chikara
King of Trios (2008) w/ El Pantera & Incognito
Force One Pro Wrestling
Force One Pro Wrestling Heritage Championship
NWA Florida Underground
NWA Florida Flash Championship
Riot Pro Wrestling
RPW Tag-team Championship (current) w/ Aaron Epic
Southern Championship Wrestling
SCW Florida Cruiserweight Championship
SCW Florida Heavyweight Championship
In 2010 he was ranked number 239 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500.
Akira Tozawa
A superstar in every sense of the word and a wrestler to coincide, he was the third-ever graduate of Japan’s world renowned Dragon Gate dojo, he is one of the most exciting imports in the competition and could potentially steal the show every time he steps inside the squared circle.
He has battled with current WWE performers Kevin Owens, Dean Ambrose and Sami Zayn and despite being just 30-years-old he has dominated the roster of the Japanese Promotion Dragon Gate picking up nearly every title within the company.
His list of accomplishments includes:
Anarchy Championship Wrestling
ACW A-30 Young Gun Championship
Dragon Gate
Open the Brave Gate Championship
Open the Owaari Gate Championship
Open the Twin Gate Championship– w/ BxB Hulk (2 times) and Shingo Takagi (1 time)
In 2012 he was named number 124 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500.
Kenneth Johnson
Johnson is once again apart of the little known group of performers but can he step out of the shadows and become the dark horse of the tournament?
He has performed within Ring of Honor and has crossed paths with the likes of Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins and Cesaro; his family have a history within the wrestling world as his father worked alongside The Undertaker and The Ultimate Warrior.
He is still yet to leave his mark within the industry and has not been able to grab any championships at his young age but could he use the tournament as a platform of his future success?