10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Dec 2)
2. Brian Kendrick Didn't Think WWE Wanted Him Post-CWC
Eyes were opened when Brian Kendrick defeated T.J Perkins to bag the WWE Cruiserweight Title at Hell In A Cell this past October. Perkins was the first titleholder, winning the Cruiserweight Classic tournament in September. For his part, Kendrick had been eliminated from the competition by Japanese star Kota Ibushi on the August 31 episode.
Following that loss, Kendrick resumed his duties at the WWE Performance Center and didn't hear from management about continuing his run as an active wrestler. Telling Sports Illustrated all about his feelings around this time, the veteran had no idea if he'd even wrestle on TV again, let alone become Cruiserweight Champion.
It was only after he'd been ousted from the Cruiserweight Classic by Ibushi that Kendrick was invited to join the pack of performers hitting the main roster and Monday Night Raw. For close to a full month before showing up on Raw, Kendrick had no clue if WWE even wanted him.
That's stunning to think, especially considering he went on to win the Cruiserweight Title and is now the division's top heel.