By the end of 2015, it appeared ROH had no plans on ever utilizing him the right way, so he made the smart decision to leave the promotion when his contract expired this past spring. It didn't take long for rumors to run rampant that he was headed for WWE, and by mid-June, it was officially announced that he was set to take part in the upcoming Cruiserweight Classic on the WWE Network along with 31 of the very best the business has to offer.
Alexander entered the competition as just another name with a bit of buzz when he debuted during the weigh-ins in early July.
But when he took on Clement Petiot in a first round match on the show’s season premiere, he turned heads with his performance. He had that “star” aura about him when he made his entrance, and with a win in his first ever WWE match, it was evident he was bound for big things in the tournament.
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His next match came on the Aug. 10 episode, facing off against fellow fan favorite Kota Ibushi in a second round match. Fans had a hunch, going in, that they were capable of contesting a great match, but no one knew they would have the kind of classic they ultimately produced.