This Sunday at WWE’s Royal Rumble event, the Cruiserweight Championship match will feature two of the best in the division. The cruiserweight division showed amazing potential in the Cruiserweight Classic tournament over the summer. However, after the tournament’s “honeymoon stage” ended, it began to lose some of its steam. The division kept spinning its wheels until the return of Neville. Upon returning, “The Man That Gravity Forgot” set fire to the entire cruiserweight division. In a move that no one expected, Neville brought his friendly babyface superhero persona to a screeching halt. He promptly turned 180 degrees and became the threatening heel figure that the cruiserweights needed. On the other hand, champion Rich Swann is the classic “happy to be here”, crowd-interacting babyface. So who will be champ by the end of Sunday?
Royal Rumble Preview: Cruiserweight Championship – Rich Swann (c) vs. Neville
Why Rich Swann Should Win
Rich Swann is a lot like a smaller version of what should’ve been with Apollo Crews. Despite being the typical babyface, Swann is a great performer. Loved by fans both young and old, Swann is absolutely electric in the ring. In an odd twist, his intoxicatingly happy personality actually works and isn’t horribly annoying. His in-ring work is great, and he always knows what he’s doing. His finishing move looks devastating (and gorgeously pretty to look at) and his championship run has been nice.
If WWE wants to add prestige to the Cruiserweight Championship, a long reign is in store for Rich Swann. He’s already the longest reigning Cruiserweight Champion, even though he’s only held the title for 60 days. For continuity’s sake, Swann should retain at the Rumble. Additionally, Swann is only 25 years old. Cementing him as a star now could pay massive dividends for WWE in the future.
Why Neville Deserves to Win
Neville has done his part in singlehandedly reviving the cruiserweight division. As an established star, shifting his goal to the Cruiserweight Championship was a brilliant idea on creative’s part. Neville came back to a vengeance when returned, and solidified himself as a downright nasty heel. His heel work has been great, and it’s exactly what the cruiserweights needed. A strong heel figure that will fearlessly attack everyone in the division. A recognizable face and name that fans already know to bring them over to 205 Live after the week’s SmackDown Live. Neville checks all the boxes and is a perfect recipe for the cruiserweight division’s revival.
In truth, a Neville heel run with the title around his waist only means good things for WWE. Provided he lasts longer than a couple months with the Cruiserweight Championship, Neville could cement the division; he could stabilize it completely. All face and no heel make the cruiserweight division a dull place. But by giving a babyface-heavy group something to work against, Neville could open the door for a lot of storylines.
Final Prediction
From both a booking and a kayfabe perspective, this one is tough to decide. From a kayfabe and in-match side, the two are evenly matched. Neville surpasses Swann in both size and age. But Swann is unpredictable, and always seems to have the ace up his sleeve. And when considering the booking side of things, both results could have positive outcomes. Establishing the young Swann as a babyface star could lock him in as the star of the division for years to come. Conversely, Neville will give nearly the entire division a goal to fight against.
This weekend at the Royal Rumble, Neville will capture the Cruiserweight Championship. It makes sense from a practical perspective, and this particular ending to the feud will pay off the most. Having a Cruiserweight Champion that isn’t a cardboard cut-out of a man with a smiling face will be incredibly refreshing. Neville will show that he’s a heel that’s there to stay. Neville will give the cruiserweights an evil figure to despise and attempt to overcome. Most importantly, Neville be the one to get the entire cruiserweight division and 205 Live to really kick into gear. And after that? Well, the fans, unlike gravity, will not forget about Adrian Neville.
