Cruiserweight will be in action at Clash of Champions on Sunday
Thursday 22 September 2016 12:10, UK
Cruiserweight Championship contender Brian Kendrick says he never gave up hope of re-joining WWE following his release from the company seven years ago.
Kendrick enjoyed ample success in WWE between 2005 and 2009, including holding the Tag Team Titles with Paul London for 331 days, the second-longest reign of all time.
The 37-year-old returned to the independent circuit thereafter but wrestled Finn Balor on episode of NXT in February 2015 and this summer reached the quarter-finals of the inaugural Cruiserweight Classic.
Kendrick's return to Raw's newly-established cruiserweight division was confirmed earlier this week, with his victory on Monday night securing him a showdown against Cruiserweight Champion TJ Perkins at Sunday's Clash of Champions pay-per-view.
"I was always striving to get back in the WWE, though I wouldn't have told other people to put money on it!" said Kendrick during a sit-down interview with Michael Cole for WWE.com.
"It is the grandest stage with the greatest wrestlers in the world and everything about it is top notch - I don't know if they [WWE] believed in me but I believed in me."
Kendrick was approached by WWE to serve as a trainer at the company's Performance Center in Orlando and even started coaching Smackdown star Eva Marie.
But he says he was too focused on continuing his in-ring career to take up the offer.
As much as training top athletes and helping these young minds get better is a dream job and a fantastic opportunity, I kept repeating that I was a wrestler and that I needed to wrestle.
"I think a lot of it had to do with me running a school out in California and because of my relationship with Mr [William] Regal, who trained me.
"As much as training top athletes and helping these young minds get better is a dream job and a fantastic opportunity, I kept repeating that I was a wrestler and that I needed to wrestle."
Kendrick never won the Cruiserweight Title during his previous stints in WWE but could do so on Sunday night having beaten Cedric Alexander, Gran Metalik and Rich Swann in a No 1 contender's Fatal Four-Way on Raw.
And the Virginian is not enamoured by his opponent, Perkins, who knocked off Metalik in the final of the Cruiserweight Classic to become the red brand's current cruiserweight king.
"I keep hearing this 'Cinderella Story' business that TJ Perkins was homeless - but so were half the guys in the locker room," added Kendrick. "Do you think he sacrificed anything more than I have?
"He has been doing this for 18 years - but so have I. I have been around the world - I have been a champion in Japan, I have been a champion in WWE.
"Hearing the name TJ Perkins disgusts me and at Clash of Champions the only name they will be mentioning is Brian Kendrick - the world is going to look at Brian Kendrick the way Brian Kendrick looks at Brian Kendrick."
Watch Kendrick challenge Perkins for the Cruiserweight Title at WWE Clash of Champions, live on Sky Sport Box Office from 1am on Sunday night.
The show is priced £14.95 for UK customers and €21.95 for viewers in the Republic of Ireland, while you will also be able to follow our live blog of the event on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app.
WWE Clash of Champions booking details
PHONE: UK viewers can call 03442 410 888 to book WWE Clash of Champions, while customers in the Republic of Ireland should call 0818 220 225. (There is a £2 / €2 booking fee for all orders placed over the phone).
ONLINE: Visit this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/
REMOTE
Sky+: Press the box office button on your remote, then click the sports tab followed by WWE Clash of Champions.
Sky Q: Press Home on your Sky Q remote, select TV guide, then Box Office and the WWE Clash of Champions. Enter your TV Pin if prompted. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).
Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
