WWE Cruiserweight Champion TJ Perkins spoke with WWE.com about the Cruiserweight Classic and more. Here are the highlights.
Who were your influences in wrestling?
“I grew up on WWE. Eddie Guerrero is my everything. He’s my hero, as are Shawn Michaels and Tiger Mask. I tried to model myself after them. Lucha libre culture was part of my wrestling upbringing. I’m Filipino, so it wasn’t a part of my normal upbringing, but it’s what gave me my start. I get a lot of my technical and high-flying wrestling from that.”
What does the Cruiserweight Classic mean to you?
“I think about the Super J Cup, because it was one of my favorite things when I was younger and really enjoying wrestling as a fan. I thought it was amazing that they had all these global companies coming together and putting together these great talents — Jushin Liger, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko. The Cruiserweight Classic is the rebirth of that. It’s an opportunity for the best guys at this style of wrestling to have a platform to showcase what they do. It has been several generations since fans have been able to see this. It’s amazing because I think that’s a benchmark for the industry.”
What does the future hold for T.J. Perkins?
“A lot more flash. [Laughs] I try to take each moment at a time. I hold no expectations and try to stay in the moment. I used a Zen proverb after the Semifinals – that’s how I approach a lot of things – Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”
How are you feeling about walking into Monday Night Raw?
“Monday Night Raw is something that has been a part of my childhood, adolescence and now, my adulthood. To be a part of that, with such a great crew, great performers like Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins … I’m in very good company.”
You can read the entire interview here.
