6 Ups And 7 Downs From Last Night's WWE Raw (Sept 26)

4. TJ Perkins & Brian Kendrick

WWE are doing a great job with the Cruiserweight Title feud. Yes, there's no defence for the company's complete omission of TJ Perkins from last week's Raw, but that's in the past now. At Clash, Perkins was given a brief pre-match promo, the best/worst entrance theme you'll hear all year, and enough time to work a quality match with Brian Kendrick. He was invisible last week, but he's well and truly on the map now.

The match, of course, concluded with a TJP victory followed by a Brian Kendrick headbutt, showing that their issues were far from over. Last night saw further development, with Kendrick interrupting Perkins' interview with Tom Phillips to build heat between the duo, and set-up a title rematch for next week's Raw.

It's simple, logical storytelling, and exactly what WWE need to do to get the division over. While it'd be great to see more of this from top to bottom in the division, Perkins and Kendrick's divisional roles are already well-established, and Clash proved their ability to work a fun match together. Moreover, TJP's match with Tony Nese was one of Raw's biggest highlights tonight. While the Cruiserweight division's lower reaches are in-danger of getting lost in the shuffle, WWE are doing right by its two spotlight talents.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.