WWE: Britain's Jack Gallagher on cruiserweights and Clash of Champions
Gallagher will be part of Raw's cruiserweight division
Saturday 24 September 2016 12:59, UK
The cruiserweight division has returned to WWE - and Manchester-born star Jack Gallagher will be part of it.
Sky Sports caught up with the 26-year-old, nicknamed The Gentleman due to his dapper dress sense and well-manicured moustache, to chat Raw's cruiserweight revival and what fans can expect from him.
Gallagher also looked ahead to Sunday's Clash of Champions bout between Cruiserweight Champion TJ Perkins and the veteran Brian Kendrick, which you can catch live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Sky Sports: How pleased are you about WWE recommitting to cruiserweight wrestling?
JACK GALLAGHER: As a cruiserweight wrestler I'm over the moon at their decision to revive the division. I think the WWE recognises that some of the most talented wrestlers on the planet are lighter-weight wrestlers, and by pairing us against similar-sized individuals there's potential for great competition.
Sky Sports: Do you think there is a misconception that the cruiserweight division is all about high-flying?
JG: I believe that you'd only have to watch one of my bouts to realise there's a lot more to cruiserweight wrestling than leaping to and fro. The main difference between ourselves and the heavyweight division is the pace we're able to maintain throughout our matches.
Sky Sports: What sort of competitor are you - and how close is your 'Gentleman' character to the real you?
JG: I'm somewhat dignified and slightly silly but always a gentleman. The character is really just me. I'm an avid tea drinker and have a selection of tweed suits, pocket squares, and umbrellas. I'm only missing a bowler hat, and I'm looking to remedy that.
Sky Sports: How do you keep your moustache so tidy?
JG: I comb it twice a day and use only the finest quality of wax with which to style it.
Sky Sports: What sort of experience was the Cruiserweight Classic for you?
JG: Wonderful. To have found myself on the biggest platform for a professional wrestler, not only representing myself, but Queen and Country, and to be greeted so warmly was an honour.
Sky Sports: What sort of response have you had on social media?
JG: Before the Cruiserweight Classic I had somewhere in the region of 3,000 Twitter followers. Currently I've around 11,000, and that number continues to grow. It seems to have been a 99 per cent positive response (estimate).
Sky Sports: Which cruiserweights/smaller wrestlers inspired you most growing up?
JG: Johnny Saint, Steve Grey, Vic Faulkner, Rollerball Rocco.
Sky Sports: Who do you rank as the best cruiserweight around today?
JG: TJ Perkins.
Sky Sports: What sort of match will we see between Perkins and Brian Kendrick at WWE Clash of Champions on Sunday night? How do they compare and contrast?
JG: I think both Mr Perkins and Mr Kendrick will show the WWE Universe that the new era of cruiserweights is more than a gymnastics display. With Mr Perkins you see someone who displays a very slick and sophisticated style that draws from many different sources. Whereas with Mr Kendrick you'll find a rougher, perhaps more straight to the point form of attack.
Sky Sports: Which of Raw's other cruiserweights should we pay particular attention to?
JG: Cedric Alexander has all the potential possible. He not only can seemingly do it all, but does it all very well.
Sky Sports: Just explain to us the life of an independent wrestler - is it a case of never knowing what's next?
JG: There's an amount of uncertainty being an independent wrestler. It's less a case of not knowing where the next job will be, and more the constant potential for cancellations.
Sky Sports: Is the British scene red-hot at the moment?
JG: I'd say it's getting there. As a scene, we've yet to spill over into the mainstream. However, if it continues to grow as it has been the last few years, I can see that happening.
Sky Sports: Who will be the next wrestler from these shores to make it big?
JG: Zack Gibson.
Watch Gallagher's match against El Ligero for the Newcastle-based promotion NORTH Wrestling here.
NORTH Wrestling's next show takes place at The Riverside in Newcastle on Saturday, November 5. Head to www.northwrestling.co.uk for news and ticket information.
WWE Clash of Champions booking details
Watch WWE Clash of Champions, live on Sky Sport Box Office from 1am on Monday morning.
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.
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.
