The cruiserweight division has been plagued by much apathy and flippantness since the Cruiserweight Classic reintroduced the division to the WWE universe. The division has seen its fair share of highs and lows, but tonight they were looking for a high due to the fact that Neville was finally getting his shot at the title.
Fans have been clamoring for Neville to be a part of the cruiserweight division since the announcement of the CWC and all it took was a heel turn. Neville has proved himself to be a dominant member of the division after taking on the King of the Cruiserweights moniker, and adopting a more ruthless persona. Rich Swann might feel betrayed by Neville, but audiences are thoroughly entertained.
While Swann grooved himself to the ring, Neville stood patiently with a look of intensity. The two started slowly but the pace quickened with the two men bouncing off the ropes leaping over each other. Swann hit an impressive aerial move on Neville and kept up his offense on the outside.
Neville soon took advantage and hit Swann with a powerful looking body slam. Neville then scaled the turnbuckle and waited for Swann to get to his feet. Neville then hit Rich with a missile dropkick that sent him across the ring.
Neville maintained control and went for his cross face butterfly armbar, but Swann squirmed out of the hold. Swann crawled to the ropes but Neville grabbed him and hit a snap suplex.
Neville hit Swann with a forearm in the corner and drove an elbow into the top of the champion’s head. Neville grounded Rich Swann with a chinlock. Swann was able to rally enough energy to break the hold, but Neville dropped a knee into Swann and covered him for a quick one-count.
Swann started a comeback by chopping Neville off of him, but Neville went outside. When Swann joined him he was thrown into the barricade by Neville on both sides of the ring. Neville threw Swann back in the ring and climbed the turnbuckle. Neville went for another aerial move, but Swann hit him with a kick to the face.
Neville ended up outside and Swann hit him with a beautiful 450 twisting Phoenix Splash on the outside. Once Swann got Neville back in the ring, he turned up the intensity, mounted him, and began to unleash a series of punches to Neville’s head.
Neville hit Swann with a back elbow but Swann countered with a lariat and a tadpole splash for a two-count. Neville remained on the canvas as Rich Swann went upstairs. Neville got to Swann before he could execute anything and took his legs out from under him, thus racking him on the top turnbuckle.
Neville went to the top turnbuckle to join Swann and attempted a superplex, Swann pushed Nevile off, but instead he performed a beautiful flip and landed on his feet. Swann leaped over Neville and the two took it to the mat once more.
Swann hit Neville with a kick to the head, the champion went for a pin but Neville got his foot on the bottom rope. Swann dragged Neville to the middle of the ring and went to the top turnbuckle once more. Neville leaped up and hit Swann with a superplex for a close two-count.
Neville suddenly locked in his finishing submission hold and Swann had no choice but to tap.
Winner and NEW Cruiserweight Champion: Neville
