The WWE Cruiserweight Classic will take place later this month and all 32 participants were revealed on Monday, June 13. The participants include current NXT stars, former WWE superstars and independent wrestlers from around the world.
The WWE announced the names of all 32 participants in their official website complete with profiles, pictures and videos. Some of the world famous stars in the tournament include Kota Ibushi from Japan, Ho Ho Lun from Hong Kong, Gran Metalik from Mexico and Tyson Dux from Canada.
They join wrestlers like Lince Dorado, Drew Gulak, T.J. Perkins, Noam Dar, Tony Nese, Jack Gallagher and Zack Sabre Jr. who have qualified in a series of qualifying matches. These matches happened in independent promotions such as Progress Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling in the United Kingdom, and Evolve and American Combat Wrestling in the United States.
Current NXT stars were also announced for the tournament. Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa and Rich Swann will take part in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic. Even former WWE superstars are also included in the tournament.
Brian Kendrick and Tajiri both worked for the WWE in the mid-2000s. Kendrick recently worked with the company as an NXT trainer while Tajiri will make his first WWE appearance since 2008 when he wrestled at the WrestleMania Revenge Tour in England and a WWE house show in Japan.
Akira Tozawa also joins Ibushi and Tajiri in representing Japan in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic. Lucha Libre is also well-represented besides CMLL's Gran Metalik with Alejandro Saez from Xplosion Nacional de Lucha Libre in Chile, Zumbi from Brazilian Wrestling Promotion and Mexican star Raul Mendoza.
Here are the other wrestlers participating in the 32-man tournament: Anthony Bennett, Ariya Daivari, Cedric Alexander, Clement Petiot, Da Mack, Damian Slater, Fabian Aichner, Gurv Sihra, Harv Sihra, Jason Lee, Kenneth Johnson and Sean Maluta.
It should be noted that Daivari and Maluta have ties with the WWE as the former is the brother of ex-superstar Shawn Daivari and the latter is part of the huge Anoa'i wrestling family. Maluta is the nephew of Afa of The Wild Samoans.
According to Wrestling Inc, the 32-man tournament will be shown exclusively on the WWE Network. There will be matches on June 23, July 14, August 27 and September 24.
Check out the video below for one of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic qualifying matches that happened in Evolve on May 7.