10 Classic WWE Matches (That Nobody Remembers As Classics)
3. Kota Ibushi Vs. The Brian Kendrick - Cruiserweight Classic Quarter Final
The eclectic Cruiserweight Classic was a WWE rarity in that it was antithetical to anything the company had ever produced and yet, arguably the best - richest might be the better word - match of the tournament was driven by a trademark WWE narrative device.
Kendrick entered the Classic as a veteran underdog with one last shot at stardom. It imbued his every match with emotion and suspense. Kendrick immediately attempted to draw Ibushi, very much the hottest free agent he was billed as, out of the ring. It was desperate. Ibushi in retaliation underlined his superiority when he delivered a stiff kick and his stunning Golden Triangle moonsault. Kendrick, as commentator Maura Ranallo suggested, couldn’t go hold for hold for Ibushi - so he trapped his leg in the guardrail in an attempt to count him out. Kendrick intensified his nefarious tactics when he dropped Ibushi with an inventive turnbuckle-assisted neckbreaker. A shocking acknowledgement of Ibushi’s homeland was made when Kendrick, in one last jump scare, dropped Ibushi with Kenta Kobashi’s banned Burning Hammer.
It didn’t put him away. Kendrick’s classic story was over. The Hammer was an outlawed move in a match which otherwise was vintage WWE fare - a tantalising promise of tournament architect Triple H’s new vision for the company, tainted and perhaps forgotten by the stench of 205 Live.