It’s total Cruiserweight-mania in WWE right now. The WWE Cruiserweight Classic is in full swing, and SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan is hinting at the return of a Cruiserweight title. With the brand-split rosters already drafted, it leaves many people wondering just who is going to walk out of the CWC with a shiny new WWE contract.
Occasional NXT performer Johnny Gargano has already confirmed his departure from WWE partner Evolve, and that he’ll be moving on from the independent scene in September after matches in AIW and Chikara:
I'm ready. #ThankYou pic.twitter.com/C84ygJuw0W
— Not Shawn Michaels (@JohnnyGargano) July 21, 2016
Our sources indicate that we could see a whole crop of new cruiserweights accompanying Gargano after September. Cedric Alexander, Akira Tozawa, Jack Gallagher, Noam Dar, Lince Dorado, and Gargano’s NXT tag partner Tomasso Ciampa are said to have accepted offers that would see them hit the ring for WWE beginning in October. Sources in the building at the most recent taping said that there were at least five signings prior to the start of the show, but did not want to put the names on record.
These could have included U.K. technician Zack Sabre, Jr, though word is he’ll be delayed until early 2017. Kota Ibushi stands to walk away with the biggest contract financially, but if he does indeed accept he could show up fully signed by October as well.
There is, of course, the chance that some of these could be delayed or nixed. Visa issues have been a concern, as well as one top prospect supposedly nervous about making the transition to the American mainstream. One or two others will be doing guest training sessions at the Performance Center, but have still not been offered anything concrete beyond that.
Are these the names you thought would leave the tournament with contracts? Or were you hoping to see someone else instead? Let us know in the comments below!
