The King of the Cruiserweights finally has his crown. Neville defeated Rich Swann at the Royal Rumble to capture the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, the first title change at this show. After making his presence felt in the division in recent months, Neville made good on his claim to rule the cruiserweights.
Royal Rumble 2017 results: Neville defeats Rich Swann to win Cruiserweight title
The cruiserweight division has a new king.
After some short lockup sequences, Swann got an early advantage with a pair of dropkicks and a monstrous dive over the top ropes. They got back in the ring and Neville started taking over with stomps in the corner, hitting a huge dropkick off the top rope for a two-count.
Neville proceeded to dominate the middle part of the match, keeping Swann grounded to the mat with kicks, strikes, and various holds. Swann nearly recovered, but Neville threw him into the barricade several times to stop his momentum.
In one of the biggest moments of the match, Neville went up top for a dive, but Swann nailed him in the face with a heel kick. He then hit a hurricanrana and a spectacular Phoenix Splash off the top, sending both men crashing to the floor.
Back in the ring, Swann hit a roundhouse kick and a vicious clothesline, both of which got two-counts. Neville finally recovered enough to crotch Swann on the top rope. He then went to set up his superplex, a new finisher that put away many opponents before. Swann fought him off and threw a heel kick into the gut, but Neville came back with a superkick of his own. He went for a deadlift suplex, which Swann countered into another kick and nearfall. Neville only escaped the loss by grabbing the rope during the referee’s count.
Swann went back up top, but Neville raced up there to meet him and hit the superplex, which Swann miraculously kicked out of. Neville then slapped on the Rings of Saturn submission hold, and Swann tapped out. The cruiserweight division has a new champion in the vicious Neville.
See More:
