T.J. Perkins had the new WWE cruiserweight title belt around his waist, the massive Cruiserweight Classic trophy behind him and the confetti about to rain down on him.
In his moment of triumph, something more simple represented a wrestling journey that began with his pro debut at age 14 and included him being homeless for a time in his 20s.
Perkins thought of the key that he has worn around his neck.
“I’m not a terribly sentimental guy, but I kept a lot of old stuff from that time in my life,” Perkins said. “I have my food stamps card from when I was homeless. I also have the key to the first place where I got evicted from.
“There were many places where I got evicted from, but I still had that first key. It was a simple reminder for years of the places I couldn’t go back to. The further away it’s gotten, the more motivating it became to me because I didn’t have to go back there. I didn’t really think about it until I was in the ring after the match. That was the first thing in my mind: I don’t have to stay at that key.”
In the week since Perkins won the Cruiserweight Classic in a live broadcast on the WWE Network, WWE’s new cruiserweight division debuted on RAW. Brian Kendrick won a four-way No. 1 contenders match and will face Perkins on Sunday at Clash of Champions, the first RAW brand pay-per-view (8 p.m. ET with 7 p.m. pre-show).
Perkins has worked around the world – New Japan, Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerilla, TNA and throughout Mexico and the independent organizations in the United States.
Now he comes to the WWE as the standard bearer for a new division. WWE retired the cruiserweight title in 2007 before Triple H helped bring it back with a new weight limit of 205 pounds.
Perkins spoke to For The Win about the return of the cruiserweights, his career, Triple H, working with and without a mask and more.
What has the last week been like for you?
I keep checking for the title to make sure it does, in fact, exist and everything did happen and that I won’t wake up and it will all be a dream. Everything has been great. I’ve been very busy. It’s been great in terms of the spectacle that happens in the ring along with being an ambassador and speaking and reaching people.
When you were first approached with the concept of the CWC, what were your expectations?
Personally, I never really have expectations because I don’t like there to be a level where the bar is set, generally speaking. It prevents you from reaching well beyond what you expected and great circumstances that you think you can’t reach. I try to keep an open mind and that’s’ what I did with this.
It came at a time when I was a free agent. It had been a long time since I had the freedom to do what I wanted where I wanted. I had a lot of opportunities on the table to return to Japan or return to Mexico and domestically as well.
This was an opportunity that was just that — an opportunity. I don’t think the administration had any idea how far this could go and how well it could go. I felt like this was like a time to better myself. I stuck with it with no expectations and it’s all happened so fast. Before I knew, here we are.
As they were putting the title belt on you, it looked like Triple H whispered something in your ear. Are you willing to share what he told you?
He told me that a lot of people believe in me and that I fulfilled this and had success for a reason – because of who I am and what I do. That’s a big deal when it comes from somebody who is one of the most accomplished superstars of all time. He’s seen everybody and has such an incredible eye for talent. For someone who’s done what he’s done and seen what he’s seen to say that to me and believe in me is big.
The perception, right or wrong, has been that WWE has always been a “big man’s” company and you had to be a certain physical stature to succeed. Do you think the success of the CWC and what’s ahead with RAW can change that narrative?
I’ve thought about that and that was everybody’s goal, especially the 32 guys in the tournament. I’ve tried to find inspiration for carrying the touch and how to present the other guys, the division and moving forward and I’ve found it looking back toward people who were already in the company and doing similar things.
Perhaps that narrative is skewed by the fans a little bit more than out trying to usher in a new generation. Yes, there is sort of a revolution or a renaissance, but historically the company has given opportunity to guys on the same stature who have killed it with home runs. We had Eddie Guerrero as the world champion; Chris Jericho and everything he’s done and still does; Shawn Michaels, at the time he came along, he basically would have been a cruiserweight; someone like the Dynamite Kid back in the ‘80s; and even as recently as Daniel Bryan. They more or less would have been cruiserweights had they not concentrated on the heavyweight division.
The framework has always been around with openings for these opportunities. It would be disrespectful to say this is the first time. Others came before, but we’re proud to continue what they’ve done.
You have worked successfully under a mask as Manik in TNA and the independents and elsewhere. What is the difference in you under a mask as a performer and you as T.J. Perkins?
I tend to approach things pretty scientifically. Mechanically, I like to break things down to a science and that even includes captivating an audience. When I like at it that way, it’s much simpler. With or without a mask, I’m just looking to light up a room.
For me, I’ve never been one to worry about a legacy. I didn’t care if people walked away thinking TJ Perkins was really great. I like pursuing the character. I think that it’s probably the way Johnny Depp looks at movies. He probably doesn’t care much about whether he wins an Oscar, but he wants the chance to play 12 different characters in a year. He loves what he does on that level.
In that way, now that I’ve taken the stage as myself, I want to explore my range with other characters and see how my experience has shaped me in terms of my personality and who I am and how I express myself.
The people who follow wrestling closely know you’ve been doing this for a long time and have had success everywhere. But there are people who identify wrestling as only the WWE and were not familiar with you before the CWC. So, how did you toggle between working with those two audiences?
I think the key is you don’t. You let everybody take it how they will and form their opinions. As long as people are enjoying what they are seeing and taking inspiration from me, it really doesn’t matter what they know of me. Diehard fans who have watched know my resume and there are fans who don’t know the things I’ve accomplished and where I’ve been.
A lot of guys don’t have the resume I have. Some people think I don’t have the resume (to be in this position). But that not really up to me to decide. It’s cool with me as long as people are engaged and watching and being entertained. I’m here to entertain, help bring change and help usher the cruiserweights in.
I would hope to know my confidence is not unfounded. I wouldn’t feel this way just for the sake of it being me. I feel confident because I’ve been more places than pretty much anybody else. I’ve been through a lot, both good and bad. When you see the world the way I have and done so much, you can’t not know how to handle some things. Wisdom has played a big role in how I’ve been able to succeed.
Predictions for Clash of Champions
Here is a quick look at the card:
• WWE Universal title: Kevin Owens retains against Seth Rollins.
• United States title: Rusev retains against Roman Reigns.
• Cruiserweight title: TJ Perkins retains against Brian Kendrick.
• Women’s title: Sasha Banks regains the title by beating Charlotte and Bayley.
• WWE tag team titles: Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows win the titles against The New Day.
• Sami Zayn defeats Chris Jericho in a match that could steal the show.
• Cesaro defeats Sheamus in the decisive seventh match to win the series.
• Nia Jax defeats Alycia Fox on the kickoff show.
Around the ring
Former NXT talent Bull Dempsey – now working as Bull James – make his Ring of Honor debut as a surprise entrant in the Honor Rumble main event in Lockport, N.Y. James was among the final four in the match. … AJ Styles will defend the WWE championship against Dean Ambrose on SmackDown Live on Wednesday, a rare televised world title bout. Styles, Ambrose and John Cena are scheduled for a triple threat match for the title at the No Mercy pay-per-view on Oct. 9 … Former Divas champion AJ Lee’s book — “Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules” – is scheduled to be released in April. In a blog post on her website, she outlined what she hopes fans will get from reading. I’ve always told myself that the adversity in my life happened for a reason. Someday I would be able to tell my story, and if that could help even one person, then the chaos had been worth it. … TNA continues to build a strong card for next weekend’s Bound for Glory, an event that features the Hall of Fame induction of Gail Kim (More with Gail next week).
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