20 Most Unbelievable WWE Moments From 2016
15. The Cruiserweight Classic (CWC)
In the summer of 2016, WWE presented the Cruiserweight Classic (CWC) on the WWE Network, a groundbreaking tournament taking place in Orlando, Florida.
What made the four-day event so special was that it was the first time in decades that WWE focused a tournament on a majority of non-contracted talent. The company even partnered with several independent promotions, such as Revolution Pro and EVOLVE, allowing them to present qualifying matches on their shows.
In the past, the only time talents would appear on WWE television, especially with the level of focus and presentation given to the CWC, was if they were signed, sealed, and delivered exclusively to WWE. With WWE obviously changing their stance on independent wrestling over the past couple years, the Cruiserweight Classic was highly anticipated and it delivered on all fronts, including the commentary provided by Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo.
The 32-man tournament featured superstars from all over the globe, weighing 205 lbs. or less, and the eventual winner, TJ Perkins, became the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion. Since then, WWE has been able to sign many of the CWC's competitors, such as Jack Gallagher, Rich Swann, and Gran Metalik to full-time WWE contracts, making the entire concept of the CWC an unbelievable moment in 2016.