Back in February, WWE announced the inaugural Global Cruiserweight Series, a 10-week tournament featuring talented sub-205-lbs. wrestlers from around the world. They followed that up with the announcement that qualifying matches for the Series would take place at independent promotions EVOLVE and PROGRESS, and during Thursday’s NXT Takeover: Dallas media conference call, Triple H announced the first seven participants.
If you recognize these names, get ready to be excited.
Rich Swann
Zack Sabre Jr.
Tommaso Ciampa
Noam Dar
Johnny Gargano
Ho Ho Lun
Akira Tozawa
Regular NXT viewers will recognize Swann, Gargano and Ciampa as semi-regulars on WWE programming. Arguably the biggest name here is Zack Sabre Jr., an extremely popular British wrestler who has made a name for himself in PROGRESS, PWG and around the world. Noam Dar is a UK mainstay who briefly appeared on TNA’s British Boot Camp. Akira Tozawa is 1/3 of the current Dragon Gate Open the Triangle Gate Champions and one of the most charismatic in-ring performers around. And if you’ve never seen Hong Kong’s Ho Ho Lun, watch his ring entrance and get ready.
WWE will reportedly tape the entire Global Cruiserweight Series at Full Sail the week of June 20th over a five day period. The tournament debuts on WWE Network on July 13th.
