| T. J. Perkins | |
|---|---|
 TJP in 2018 | |
| Birth name | Theodore James Perkins[1] |
| Born | (1984-09-03)September 3, 1984 (age 40)[2] Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.[3] |
| Spouse | Aria Blake (m. 2023) |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | John Johnson[4] Havana Pitbull III[4] Manik[5][6] Pinoy Boy[4][7] Puma[4][7] Suicide Sydistiko[8] T.J. Perkins TJP[9] |
| Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2] |
| Billed weight | 167 lb (76 kg)[10][2] |
| Billed from | Los Angeles, California[11] Philippines[12] Parts Unknown[6] |
| Trained by | Kevin Quinn[7] Christopher Daniels[7] NJPW Dojo[7] Antonio Inoki[7] Negro Casas[7] |
| Debut | August 1998[7] |
Theodore James Perkins[1] (born September 3, 1984),[2] better known by thering nameT. J. Perkins (or simplyTJP), is an Americanprofessional wrestler. He is primarily working forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a formerIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and is the leader of theUnited Empire stable. He is best known for his tenures inWWE andTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Perkins began hisprofessional wrestling career in 1998. In 2001, he went to the NJPW Dojo, where he became the youngest wrestler to perform in a NJPW ring. Since then, Perkins worked in various U.S. promotions, such asRing of Honor (ROH),Major League Wrestling (MLW), TNA Wrestling, and WWE, as well as Japanese promotions, like NJPW andDragon Gate. In 2013, Perkins signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and worked as Manik, a masked character originally based on theSuicide gimmick. During his time in TNA, he would win theTNA X Division Championship. He also joinedThe Revolution stable. In 2016, he left TNA and participated in theCruiserweight Classic tournament produced by WWE, which he won and was crowned theinauguralWWE Cruiserweight Champion. Perkins would work for WWE until his release in February 2019. He then returned to Impact Wrestling, as well as working in other companies on the side. In 2020, he won the Impact X Division Championship for asecond time. He also returned to NJPW again and began making regular appearances, later becoming theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (withFrancesco Akira).
Theodore James Perkins was born on September 3, 1984, inKansas City, Missouri.[3][2][1] He is ofFilipino descent through his mother, who comes fromManila,Philippines, and learned Filipino culture growing up with his family inRiverside, California.[13] He attended St. Thomas the Apostle School and Poly High School in Riverside, California,[1] and at the age of eighteen, began training inboxing,mixed martial arts, andcatch wrestling.
Perkins first began his training at the age of 13, at a locallucha libre school in his hometown ofLos Angeles, California.[1] Perkins debuted in August 1998, under a mask as promoters felt he looked too young to be wrestling.[7][14] Initially, he wrestled under thering name T.J. Perkins, utilizing "Pinoy Boy" as a nickname.[14] In order to attend shows, he had to be absent from school most Fridays.[1] He wrestled on independent cards in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico during his first two years.
In 2001, Perkins began training atNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)'s Inoki Dojo in Los Angeles along withRicky Reyes,Rocky Romero, andBryan Danielson. They all made their debut in NJPW on the sameKorakuen Hall card in October 2002, with Perkins debuting as the maskless "Pinoy Boy" T.J. Perkins. At the age of 18 in 2003, following his third tour with NJPW, he was given thegimmick (character) of Puma, a masked character with similarities toTiger Mask, and he began teaming withTiger Mask IV.[14] Perkins stated the character was created due to perceived similarities between himself and the original Tiger Mask,Satoru Sayama, and the idea was that he would be the American version of Tiger Mask.[1][14]
In 2003, Perkins spent time in Mexico with Rocky Romero and Bobby Quance, where the trio trained with and wrestled forConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.[14] In January 2004, the masked Puma wrestled on twoMajor League Wrestling television tapings, teaming with Bobby Quance in a loss toThe Stampede Bulldogs (Harry Smith andTJ Wilson). The following night, Puma lost a four-way match featuringJack Evans, Chasyn Rance and MLW Junior Heavyweight Champion Sonjay Dutt.[15] In December 2004, Puma won theAll Pro Wrestling(APW) Worldwide Internet Championship by defeating J.J. Perez. He held the championship until July 2005, when he lost it to Perez.[16]
In January 2005, Perkins as Puma debuted inFull Impact Pro (FIP) by defeating Azrieal.[17] AtUnfinished Business, Puma was attacked by Azrieal and his allyCM Punk, and at the following show Puma lost a singles match to Punk.[17] On February 12, Puma won afour-way match against Azrieal, Jerrelle Clark, and Eddie Vegas.[17] Four years later, he returned to FIP as T.J. Perkins, in a loss to Davey Richards on March 28, 2009.[18] He developed a winning streak, defeatingJay Bradley, Nigel McGuinness, andSal Rinauro.[18] In November 2009, Perkins entered the2009Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, defeatingArik Cannon and Shane Hollister en route to the semi-finals, where he lost to Richards.[18] In April 2010 atSouthern Stampede, he returned to FIP using the ring name TJP, where he participated in a battle royal before he defeated Chasyn Rance.
Puma wrestled in the2005 edition of theEast Coast Wrestling Association'aSuper 8 tournament and made it to the final by defeating Eric Matlock and J.J. Perez, before losing to Petey Williams.[19] He also competed inExtreme Canadian Championship Wrestling'sPacific Cup in 2005, where he facedAaron Idol and Bryan Danielson in a three-way match in the final, which was won by Idol.[20]
In August 2005, Perkins debuted in UWA Hardcore Wrestling as Puma, in a loss to Ricky Reyes. In May 2006, Puma defeatedM-Dogg 20 to win the UWA Canadian Championship. He successfully defended the championship against Petey Williams the following month, before losing the championship to M-Dogg 20 in July. In October, Puma participated in UWA's Grand Prix Tournament, where he defeatedKazuchika Okada and Dan Paysan en route to the final, where he lost to Sonjay Dutt. He continued wrestling for UWA throughout 2007, competing against wrestlers includingÚltimo Dragón and Daisuke Hanaoka.
Perkins debuted in theEmpire Wrestling Federation (EWF) on September 22, 2005, atChaos, teaming with Dan Kobrick to defeat Big Ugly and Vinnie Massaro. On December 23, at EWF'sHoliday Fear Perkins challenged EWF Cruiserweight Champion Joey Harder in a Triple Threat Championship match, which also involved Rocky Romero and was won by the defending champion Harder.[21] Perkins continued to challenge Harder for the Cruiserweight Championship. In a match on February 12, 2006, Harder defeated Perkins by submission. On September 8, Perkins faced EWF World Champion Bino Gambino, defeating him by countout. When the match was restarted, they wrestled to a draw.[21] On November 21, Perkins again failed to win the EWF Cruiserweight Championship, when he was defeated by new championRyan Taylor.[21] In November 2006, Perkins entered the EWF's Inland Title Series Tournament. His first match against Harder ended in a draw, before he defeated Hook Bomberry in the second round and Jason King in the third round. He faced Harder in the final on January 5, 2007, but lost via submission.[22] On June 27, 2008, atKnockdown Dragout 2, the team of Perkins and Liger Rivera (collectively known as Famous For Fearless) challenged La Ola Del Mal for the EWF Tag Team Championship, and were successful.[23]
In 2006, Puma wrestled as part ofMTV's inaugural television taping for theWrestling Society X (WSX) promotion, participating in a battle royal but being eliminated byVampiro and competing in dark matches againstAltar Boy Luke andHuman Tornado.[14][24] In a 2009 interview, Perkins stated he asked to be released from his contract with WSX, calling the promotion "terrible".[14] Over the next two years, Perkins competed for several differentNational Wrestling Alliance promotions, and on June 1, 2008, at Mach One Wrestling's debut show, he won a battle royal to become theNWA Heritage Champion.[25][26]
He began working forDragon Gate USA andEvolve in 2010 as TJP. On Evolve's first show he facedMunenori Sawa in a losing effort, before defeating Kyle O'Reilly atEvolve 3.[27][28] In Dragon Gate USA, he defeatedGran Akuma at theDGUSA Fearless pay-per-view.[29] In March 2010, Perkins made his debut forWestside Xtreme Wrestling at their debut show in the United States, losing toZack Sabre Jr. He also travelled toGermany to wrestle for the promotion in July 2010.[30]
Perkins first began competing in theSouthern California promotionPro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) in 2003 as "Pinoy Boy" T.J. Perkins, appearing atAre You Adequately Prepared To Rock?! where he pinnedVito Thomaselli andAn Inch Longer Than Average where he was on the losing end of asix-man tag team match.[31][32] After changing his ring name to Puma in December 2003, he entered the Tango and Cash Invitational Tournament to determine the inauguralPWG World Tag Team Champions withSamoa Joe as his partner.[33] The pair made it to the second round before being eliminated.[34][35] Throughout the remainder of 2004, Puma competed regularly in singles matches, defeating competitors including Ricky Reyes,Tony Kozina,Brad Bradley, andThe UK Kid.[36][37][38][39] In the first half of the following year, he competed sporadically in PWG, mainly inelimination matches.[40][41]
In July 2005, he changed his ring name to TJ Perkins, and defeatedDavey Richards andHardkore Kidd in successive singles matches, but Perkins andAlex Shelley subsequently lost a tag team match to the duo.[42][43][44] Perkins went on to lose a singles match to Shelley atAfter School Special.[45] Perkins finished out the year in tag team matches with various partners, and began 2006 the same way.[46][47][48][49][50] He transitioned back into singles competition atBeyond The Thunderdome in March 2006, defeating Mr. Excitement, before embarking on a losing streak that lasted until June, when he defeatedExcalibur.[51][52][53] His losing streak included a loss to Rocky Romero in singles competition and alongside him in a tag team match.[54][55] The duo faced off again atSelf-Titled in October, which Perkins won, but he lost a rematch that same month.[56][57] He later developed afeud with Bino Gambino, facing him in several six-man tag team matches in early 2007.[58][59] In May, Perkins defeated Gambino in a singles match, before they returned to being on opposite sides in tag team matches in mid-2007.[60][61][62]
In January 2008 Perkins formed a regular tag team with Hook Bomberry, and the pairing competed in theDynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament round robin qualifier series. AtPearl Habra the team defeatedThe Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson), but lost their next match toLos Luchas (Phoenix Star and Zokre) at¡Dia de los Dangerous!.[63][64] AtScared Straight they defeatedScorpio Sky and Ronin bydisqualification, and later in the night Perkins and Bomberry interrupted the match between the Young Bucks and Los Luchas, causing ano contest.[65] This led to a four-way elimination tag team match taking place at1.21 Gigawatts, which was won by Los Luchas.[66] After the qualifier series Perkins and Bomberry got one last chance to enter the DDT4, facing Scorpio Sky and Ronin once again atIt's a Gift.... and a Curse, in a losing effort.[67] Perkins went on to defeat Charles Mercury andMikey Nicholls and Mark Davis and Ash Riot in tag team matches, before Perkins returned to singles competition.[68][69] In November, Perkins participated in PWG'sBattle of Los Angeles for the first time. He defeatedChuck Taylor in the first round, but was eliminated from the tournament after losing to Bryan Danielson in the second.[70][71] In January and February 2009, Perkins lost singles matches to bothAustin Aries andB-Boy.[72][73] After moving to Florida in early 2009, Perkins stopped appearing for PWG.[73]
Following a hiatus lasting longer than eighteen months, Perkins returned to PWG atThe Perils of Rock N' Roll Decadence in September 2011, losing toEddie Edwards.[74] He competed regularly for the promotion in 2012 with mixed results.[75][76] In September, he entered the2012 Battle of Los Angeles, defeatingJoey Ryan in the first round before losing toSami Callihan in the quarter-finals.[77][78]
Perkins debuted inRing of Honor (ROH) in December 2003, using the name Puma, and lost to Josh Daniels. Puma returned to ROH in February 2005, losing toHomicide andJames Gibson in successive singles matches. His next appearances were in August 2005, where he was on the losing end of a tag team match alongsideJimmy Rave and a singles match against Ricky Reyes.[79] In his next appearance at ROH'sFifth Year Festival: Philly show in February 2007, saw Perkins compete under his real name and lose toNigel McGuinness.[1][79] Further losses followed in October 2007, before he gained his first victory in ROH by defeatingKyle O'Reilly atTag Title Classic II in December 2010.[79] Perkins faced off against Colt Cabana at theFinal Battle 2010 internetpay-per-view on December 18, 2010, in which he lost.[80]
In January 2011, Perkins appeared for ROH at theirWrestleReunion showShowdown in the Sun II, where he lost to Davey Richards.[81] In March, he lost toChris Hero andEl Generico, before ROH announced that Perkins had signed a contract with the promotion on October 6.[79][82] He accrued further losses toJay Briscoe,Jay Lethal, andMike Bennett in November and December.[79] At theFinal Battle 2011 pay-per-view, Perkins lost toMichael Elgin.[83] In March 2012 he appeared at the pay-per-view10th Anniversary Show, suffering a tag team loss.[84] As part of theChikara vs. ROH rivalry, Perkins wrestled atShowdown in the Sun, defeatingFire Ant.[85] AtUnity, Fire Ant and his allies fromThe Colony defeated Perkins, Jay Lethal, andAdam Cole in a six-man tag team match. In April, Perkins began a feud withMike Mondo, defeating him in a singles match before teaming with theAll Night Express ofKenny King andRhett Titus to defeat Mondo and The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) atBorder Wars.[79][86] On September 9, 2012, Perkins was released from his ROH contract. He asked for his release, as he felt his ROH contract was restricting other opportunities for him.[1]
Perkins has also made appearances as Puma withTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling, debuting in 2004, when he worked as a jobber in severalTNA Xplosion tapings. He was also the first man eliminated in the2004 Super X-Cup. He participated in a 20-man X-Division gauntletbattle royal atVictory Road, but he was the first man eliminated.[87] Two years later, he returned to TNA as a representative of Japan in an International X-Division Showcase match atDestination X, facingPetey Williams,Chris Sabin, andSonjay Dutt. The match was ultimately won by Sabin.[88] He also competed in an Xscape match at the following month'sLockdown.[89] Puma was later a member ofTeam Mexico in the2006 World X-Cup, alongsideIncognito,Magno andShocker. In that tournament, he lost a second round match to Team USA captain Chris Sabin. Puma was the last man eliminated in the third round gauntlet match, by Team Canada captain Petey Williams. Team Mexico finished third, with four points.[90] In July 2007, Perkins returned to TNA as Puma, wrestling in a 10-man Ultimate X Gauntlet atVictory Road, but was the first man eliminated.[91] He returned at the2008 Victory Road pay-per-view, representing Team Japan in an elimination match, where he was the second one eliminated.[92]
On September 22, 2009, Perkins, under his Puma gimmick, returned to TNA to wrestle in adark match, in which he was defeated byColt Cabana.[93] Perkins worked two more dark matches under the ring name T.J. Perkins during the January 10–12, 2011, tapings ofTNA Impact! losing toShannon Moore andEl Generico. In September 2012, Perkins competed as Puma againstZema Ion in a dark match main event of a September taping ofImpact!. On January 12, 2013, Perkins, as Puma, took part in the tapings of TNA'sOne Night Only:X-Travaganza special, wrestling in a seven-manXscape match, which was won byChristian York.[94][95]
On May 23, 2013, Perkins wrestled on an episode ofImpact Wrestling asSuicide, defeating Petey Williams andJoey Ryan.[96][97] The win earned him an X Division Championship match against Kenny King and Chris Sabin atSlammiversary XI in an Ultimate X match, which was won by Sabin.[98] On the June 27 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Perkins was revealed as the man behind the mask of Suicide as part of a storyline where he had been attacked and the Suicide costume and mask stolen and utilized by Austin Aries to win the X Division Championship.[99]
On June 29, at the tapings of the July 4 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Perkins began using the ring name "Manik", while retaining a modified version of the Suicide costume and mask.[5][6] He participated in a three-way match for the X Division Championship against Sabin and Aries, which Sabin won to regain the championship; Manik was removed from the match after being attacked by theAces & Eights.[100] After Sabinvacated the championship, Manik entered the tournament to determine the new champion, and advanced to the final by defeatingChavo Guerrero Jr. and Kenny King.[101] On July 18, at the tapings of the July 25 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Manik won the vacant X Division Championship by defeatingGreg Marasciuolo and Sonjay Dutt in a three-way Ultimate X match.[102] Including a successful defense against Chris Sabin on the September 26 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Manik held the championship untilBound for Glory on October 20, when he lost it to Sabin in a five-way Ultimate X match.[103][104] Following a hiatus lasting several months, Manik returned to the promotion at2014 Lockdown losing toTigre Uno in asteel cage match.[105] AtSlammiversary, he participated in a Ladder match for the TNA X Division Championship, but lost the match.
On the September 3, 2014, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Manik was kidnapped byJames Storm andSanada; the following week, Storm was shown initiating Manik into a new faction, later called "The Revolution", and the trio later attackedSamoa Joe andHomicide, turningheel in the process.[106] AtBound for Glory, Manik wrestled againstMinoru Tanaka but lost the match. AtSlammiversary, Manik wrestled in a three-way match for the TNA X Division Championship, in a losing effort.
On the September 23, 2015, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Manik quit The Revolution and took his mask off, turningface in the process. AtBound for Glory, he participated in an Ultimate X match for theTNA X Division Championship, in a losing effort. During October and November, Manik participated inTNA World Title Series where he defeatedMandrews andDJ Z with the exception ofTigre Uno to gain 6 points, however on the November 25 episode ofImpact Wrestling, he unexpectedly ended third of his block when he was pinned by DJ Z before Uno could pin him in the three-way match, thus failing to advance the round of 16. On January 12, 2016, Perkins stated that TNA had given him notice that his contract was not being renewed.[107]
In late May and early June 2011, Perkins, under the ring name TJP, took part in NJPW'sBest of the Super Juniors tournament. After winning three of his eight matches in the round robin stage of the tournament, TJP finished seventh out of the nine wrestlers in his block and did not advance to the semifinals.[108]
Prior to signing toWWE in 2016, Perkins competed in multiple tryouts for the promotion in 2009.[1] Perkins appeared on the October 19, 2009, episode ofRaw; he was scheduled to faceThe Miz but was replaced byMarty Jannetty before the match as a part of the storyline.[109] The following day Perkins, under the name J.T. Quinn, appeared onECW in a match againstSheamus. The match resulted in a disqualification afterShelton Benjamin attacked Sheamus.[110] He also wrestled atFlorida Championship Wrestling, WWE'sdevelopmental territory multiple times that year.[1]
On May 7, 2016, Perkins defeatedFred Yehi at Evolve 61 to qualify for WWE'sCruiserweight Classic tournament. In the tournament he defeatedDa Mack in the first round,[111]Johnny Gargano in the second round,[112]Rich Swann in the quarter-finals,[113]Kota Ibushi in the semifinals andGran Metalik in the finals to win the tournament and become the inauguralWWE Cruiserweight Champion.[114] His entrance paid homage to theNintendo Entertainment System.[115] Perkins retained the title againstBrian Kendrick atClash of Champions,[116] but lost the title in a rematch atHell in a Cell after Kendrick faked a knee injury. AtRoadblock: End of the Line, Perkins failed to regain the title in a triple threat match against Kendrick and new champion, Rich Swann.
Beginning with an attack onAustin Aries on the April 10, 2017, episode ofRaw, Perkins formed an alliance with Neville and turnedheel, shortening his ring name to "TJP". The alliance ended when Neville attacked TJP on the June 5 episode ofRaw. TJP failed to win the Cruiserweight Championship the following night on205 Live and then took a hiatus in order to rehab his knee. TJP returned on the January 2, 2018, episode of205 Live. AtRoyal Rumble, he teamed with Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher in a losing effort against Gran Metalik, Kalisto and Lince Dorado. On the January 30 episode of205 Live, TJP defeatedTyler Bate in the first round of theWWE Cruiserweight Championship tournament. He would go on to face eventual winner Cedric Alexander in the quarterfinals on the February 27 episode in a losing effort. TJP appeared again on September 4, challenging Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander in a non-title losing effort. TJP then began feuding with the Lucha House Party, consisting of Kalisto, Metalik and Dorado, forming an alliance withMike andMaria Kanellis. In February 2019, TJP took part in theWorlds Collide tournament, but was eliminated byDominik Dijakovic in the first round. On the February 19 episode of205 Live, TJP was defeated byHumberto Carrillo in what would be his final WWE match. On February 22, 2019, Perkins was released from his WWE contract.[117]
On May 3, 2019, Perkins returned to the ring following his release from WWE. In his first match back, he competed forEmpire Wrestling Federation inCovina, California.[118] A few days later he would wrestling forSami Callihan's promotion, The Wrestling Revolver in a triple-threat withRich Swann andAce Austin.[119] Following that he would wrestle for various promotions includingAAW Wrestling, PCW Ultra and Defy Wrestling.[120] On October 12, 2019, Perkins wrestled for thePhilippine Wrestling Revolution against former PWR ChampionJake de Leon in PWR: Homecoming. Perkins won the match after he countered De Leon's submission move into a pinfall win.[121] On November 16, 2019, Perkins appeared atAmazing Red's promotionHouse of Glory for their "No Limit" event and defeated Mantequilla to win the HOG Crown Jewel Championship.
TJP returned toImpact Wrestling on the June 21, 2019, episode ofImpact, defeatingAce Austin.[122] TJP made an unannounced appearance atSlammiversary XVII, where he competed in a four-way match, which was won byWillie Mack.[123][124] In September, he forged an alliance withFallah Bahh and they began feuding withMichael Elgin. On the March 31, 2020, special episode ofImpact, TJP returned asManik, teaming with Suicide as his two former personas joined to pick up a victory.[125] On theAugust 18 special episode ofImpact, TJP would fail to win theImpact X Division Championship afterRohit Raju pinned the championChris Bey.[126] He would then fail to win the championship from Raju atBound for Glory in a Scramble match and on the November 10 episode ofImpact.[127][128]
AtFinal Resolution, TJP revived his Manik persona and defeated Raju to win the Impact X Division Championship, using a loophole through a clause that said TJP could not compete for the title as long as Raju was champion.[129] Raju and Chris Bey would attempt to prove that TJP was in fact Manik but all attempts failed. He retained atHard To Kill despite attempts to unmask him (which he thwarted by simply wearing face paint).[130] TJP lost the title to Ace Austin atSacrifice, ending his reign at 92 days.[131][132] He was released by Impact in November 2021, clarifying he had never been signed to the promotion.[133]
In late July it was announced that Perkins would be wrestling duringNew Japan Pro-Wrestling'sSuper J-Cup tournament that would take place during August.[134] He would reach the second round of the tournament after defeatingClark Connors, before being eliminated byEl Phantasmo.[135] After the tournament, TJP began teaming with Connors regularly. He would then be booked for theFighting Spirit Unleashed tour that took place in September. In October, TJP would team with Connors in theSuper Junior Tag League tournament, where they lost all but one match, therefore finishing the tournament with 2 points and failing to advance to the finals.[136] Perkins would be booked for the New Beginning in USA tour in January and February.[137] In June, TJP took part in secret TV tapings at NJPW's Los Angeles Dojo for a new show named Lion's Break Collision where he teamed withKarl Fredericks to defeatJeff Cobb andRocky Romero. Perkins once again teamed with Connors in the Tag Team Turbulence tournament, however they lost to eventual winnersThe Good Brothers, in the first round.[138]
On September 26, TJP joined up withWill Ospreay and joined theUnited Empire, turning his back on Connors and beginning a feud between the two. The feud ended when Connors defeated TJP.[139] On May 1, 2022, TJP was announced to be competing in theBest of the Super Juniors.[140] He competed in the B-block, ending with a record of 4 wins and 5 losses, resulting in 8 points, therefore failing to advance to the finals. On the finals day, TJP and United Empire stablemateFrancesco Akira defeated theIWGP Junior Tag Team ChampionsMaster Wato andRyusuke Taguchi in a non-title match.[141] On June 20, Perkins and Akira would win the titles.[142]
TJP failed to win more championships, as he was unsuccessful againstStong Openweight ChampionFred Rosser.[143] Back in Japan, TJP and Akira defended the championships against Wato and Taguchi atBurning Spirit.[144] The duo, now going under the nameCatch 2/2, defended the titles once more againstLos Ingobernables de Japon (Bushi andTitán).[145] In November, the team entered theSuper Junior Tag League, although they failed to make it to the final, finishing with 12 points.[146] AtWrestle Kingdom 17, the duo defeated tournament winnersLio Rush andYoh.[147]
TJP and Akira continued to defend the titles into the new year, defeating Douki andYoshinobu Kanemaru atThe New Beginning in Sapporo in February.[148] In April, the duo lost the titles to Jet Setters (Kushida andKevin Knight), ending their reign at 311 days. The following month, TJP entered theBest of the Super Juniors 30 tournament, competing in the A Block.[149] TJP finished his campaign with a total of 10 points, failing to advance to the semi-finals.[150] On June 4 atDominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, Catch 2/2 regained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships in a rematch against Jet Setters. After the match, the duo was confronted by Clark Connors who berated the duo from the entrance ramp, only for the duo to be attacked from behind by United Empire stablemateDan Moloney, who defected toBullet Club alongside Connors.[151] Moloney and Connors received their title shot on July 4 on night 1 ofNJPW Independence Day, defeating Catch 2/2 to win the titles, ending TJP and Akira's second reign at 30 days.[152]
In August atMultiverse United 2, Catch 2/2 defeatedTMDK (Kosei Fujita andRobbie Eagles).[153] In October atRoyal Quest III, TJP teamed with United Empire stablemates,Henare andJeff Cobb in a losing effort toEddie Kingston,Hiroshi Tanahashi and Michael Oku.[154] Later that month, TJP teamed with Akira once again in the annualSuper Junior Tag League, where the duo finished joint top of the block with 12 points, thus advancing to the tournament finals.[155] In the finals, Catch 2/2 defeatedHouse of Torture, to win their first Super Junior Tag League tournament, thus earning an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship rematch against Connors and Moloney atWrestle Kingdom 18.[156] Ahead of the match at Wrestle Kingdom, the two teams faced off in NJPW's first evercoffin match, which was won by Bullet Club, after they locked TJP in the coffin.[157] TJP remained out of NJPW programming including being absent at the Wrestle Kingdom 18 press conference. On January 4, 2024 at Wrestle Kingdom 18, TJP returned alongside Akira, wearing a monstrous mask with red eyes and using mist, in reference to theAswang, which are evil creatures in Filipino folklore. Ultimately at the event, TJP and Akira defeated Bullet Club's Connors and Moloney, to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships for a third time,[158] only to lose it back to them a month later.
On March 12, 2024, TJP claimed himself as leader the NJPW branch of United Empire due to Ospreay leaving NJPW, but would be pushed back byGreat-O-Khan due to the stable losing. On April 22 however, after defeatingJust 5 Guys in agauntlet match, the remaining members fully accepted TJP as the new leader of United Empire.
In December 2019,MLW announced that TJP would be returning for the company for the first time since 2004, as a part of theOpera Cuptournament on December 5, 2019. His return match was in the opening round of the Opera Cup againstBrian Pillman Jr. in a losing effort.[159] TJP returned to MLW, the following year for theOpera Cup, in which he lost toRichard Holliday in the opening round on the November 25 episode ofFusion. During 2021 he got an opportunity at the MLW World Tag Team Championships with Bu Ku Dao but failed to win them. In November, in his third participation in the Opera Cup, he reached the final, however, losing to Davey Richards. In 2022 he will also challenge the MLW world middleweight champion,Myron Reed, among others. In 2024, he appeared in the Opera Cup tournament again, as an "injury" alternate forDavey Boy Smith Jr. He won a quarterfinals match against"Filthy" Tom Lawlor only to lose a semifinals match toKENTA.
In October 2021 he returns toCMLL for the first time since 2008, fighting in some tag team matches among others with hisUnited Empire partner,Jeff Cobb. In November he gets a match forVolador Jr.'sNWA World Historic Welterweight Championship. TJP will return to CMLL in August 2023 to participate in theCMLL International Gran Prix in Team International.
Perkins is a fan ofKobe Bryant. After his death in 2020, Perkins began using a new finisher named theMamba Splash in honor of him.
During the Speaking Out Movement in 2020, Perkins came out with his own allegations of being sexually abused by older female wrestlers at age fifteen.[160]
Perkins is married to fellow professional wrestler Aria Blake. The couple welcomed their first child on August 26, 2021, a boy named James Theodore.[161]
In 2023, Perkins' wife announced on her social media that the couple are expecting another child. They welcomed another son, Noah Nikolas, in December of the same year.
As TJP, he made hisvideo game debut as a playable character inWWE 2K18 and also appears inWWE 2K19.[162][163]
Sydistiko is TJP (TJ Perkins) aka Puma
TJ Perkins won an Over The Top Rope Battle Royal to become the new NWA Heritage Champion
Links to related articles | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
