2 Ups And 4 Downs From WWE 205 Live (December 13 2016)

1. Noam Dar's Cruising

WWE Cruiserweight Classic Noam Dar Zack Sabre Jr
WWE.com

Noam Dar is one of the finest young British talents to have emerged from a white-hot scene in recent years. As engagingly brash as he is technically gifted, he overcame a shaky start in the CWC (thank you, Ho Ho Lun) and restored his confidence in an excellent losing effort opposite Zack Sabre Jr. That finish was, quietly, one of the most brutal to end a wrestling match.

None of that particularly matters to WWE, who have opted to mine the past and bestow upon Dar a PG variation of Dean Malenko’s infamously naff Double Ho Seven schtick.

Yes, Mr. Dar has googly eyes for the noticeably taller Alicia Fox, oozing up to her in backstage segments typical of RAW and SmackDown! The singular magic of the CWC has been diluted and homogenised into the overarching scripted archetype. Dar has installed himself as the third point of a love triangle also incorporating Fox and boyfriend Cedric Alexander. Since WWE’s treatment of women is often as retrograde as its treatment of muslims, be sure to expect Fox to expose the snake beneath and betray her current beau.

From legitimate athlete to soap opera supporting cast, Dar is the plight of the Cruiserweights, in microcosm.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!