What’s up wrestling fans? I hope you liked my two part column the past few weeks about my fantasy Survivor Series buildup. As I mentioned last week in the column, this week I would be discussing the Cruiser Weight division in the WWE, as well as the division spanning all the way back to WCW’s golden days. Also, before I forget, next week my column will be on a Sunday as opposed to a Thursday as it’s known to be on. Finally, a thank you to everybody with best wishes on my Magazine venture. It’s on sale now too, if you wish to get more information, click here. So without further ado, I shall begin on this rant only to be known as…my Elite View…
Evolution of the Cruiser Weight Division
There once was a day when a man under 250lbs was used for the role as Jobber, but those times have since changed, and changed they have for the good. If you were to build a time machine, pop Rey Mysterio or Billy Kidman into it, and send them back to the year 1985, you would never see these guys get the respect they deserve. The reason for this, as like life itself, is due to evolution. I compare pro wrestling to the history of man. In the early years of man, it was the survival of the big man, the small & weak were destroyed and it was the era of gigantic proportions. Over the centuries, mankind evolved to it’s current state, no longer the survival of the fit, but rather survival of the talented & intelligence.
What does this have to do with the Cruiser Weight division, you may ask? Simple, the Cruiser Weight division is just like modern mankind at its greatest. Instead of being used as the jobbing team each week, the Cruiser Weights are given a spotlight, a platform, and most importantly respect for what they do. If you don’t believe me, just look at the major fact in this case, they have their very own division. Yes, I grant you that maybe the division itself isn’t being pushed or thought of for its full potential, however there has been a change made in this “sport” we’ve all come to love.
Over the years we’ve seen the Cruiser Weight division begin in the golden era of World Championship Wrestling, from the greats like Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Ultimo Dragon, Psicosis, Juventud Guerrera and more. It evolved from the division set to the side, to a mainstream attraction people craved for. In my opinion, WCW wouldn’t have been what it was if it weren’t for the Cruiser Weight division, and that’s a fact. Eric Bischoff had a “strange” plan, an unorthodox idea, that being to put Mexican Luchadores & the smaller guys on Nitro in the opening matches and primarily in action for Hour One of the Three hours each week on Nitro. People would flip through the channels, and they’d get to choose if they want to watch two of the smallest guys flying around doing the unthinkable on WCW, or should they watch the WWF on TV showing Psycho Sid powerbombing Joe Lothario’s son backstage? If you ask me, the answer is simple, I’m going to watch the non-stop action of the little guys flying through the air like the laws of gravity ceased to exist.
Professional wrestling is like the evolution of mankind. It started in the land of the big man, the survival of the fit, and it evolved to the survival of the smart & quick witted man. In pro wrestling’s case, the big man still exists and gets the majority of spotlight, but the Cruiser Weights play as the smart & quick witted men with the quick wit being metaphoric of their skill in being speedy. We witnessed something historic this past June on WWE Smackdown, that being the show headlined by a 20+ minute main event of Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio for the Cruiser Weight Championship. Perhaps thus far for the Cruiser Weight division’s history in the WWE, that feat was the greatest of all time. I will say this in closing, I think the WWE is using this division as and old timed storyline, you take your time and build it just right, and then & only then at the right time, you unleash it to it’s fullest potential. The division hasn’t been seen giving its props by many, but great things come to those who are patient…
My Closing View
So my closing view goes as follows. The Cruiser Weight division is picking up its steam, and it’s picking up momentum to it’s fullest in years. The division certainly had the talent on its roster; however it takes more than a roster to build the division into greatness. Now we’re seeing the addition to characters breaking from their molds, the addition of storylines within the division, and credible champions such as Tajiri, Rey Mysterio, and Matt Hardy. Think about it, the Cruiser Weight division has been given a chance, and still continues on that chance. It’s just slowly being built up for us, so with that one moment & golden time, it will be blown up and explode into excitement like never before. In famous words of a classic song, “We’ve only just begun…” Until next week wrestling fans, my name is Wade Needham and I’ve got two words for ya: BE COOL!
