Brian Kendrick: Bio

Brian Kendrick: Bio

Few Superstars have more at stake in Raw’s Cruiserweight division than Brian Kendrick.

A gifted wrestler and high-flyer, Kendrick started working to make it in sports-entertainment when he enrolled in the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy in summer 1999 and toiled in the trenches, a process that pushed the technical dynamo to his last nerve and, potentially, last chance.

The smallest trainee at HBK's school but also among its most talented (Daniel Bryan was a fellow student), Kendrick traveled the world, competing in Mexico and Japan, where size isn't necessarily as important as it is in the States. After wrestling under a mask, coming up short against Kurt Angle and taking part in several demeaning stunts, like streaking through the arena delivering a singing telegram to The Undertaker, he joined WWE’s main roster in 2003 under the name Spanky after defeating Shannon Moore.

Feeling he needed a little more seasoning, he put his WWE dreams on hold to hone his skills. After spending a year and a half competing around the world, Kendrick returned to WWE in 2005 and teamed up with fellow HBK trainee Paul London. The duo dazzled the WWE Universe with their aerial acumen, quickly making their way into the WWE Tag Team Title picture. Kendrick & London defeated MNM for the titles at Judgment Day 2006 and held them for 331 days, a record that stands to this day.

Following a lengthy hiatus from WWE, Kendrick reentered the fold by training Eva Marie, competing in WWE NXT and, eventually, entering the Cruiserweight Classic in what he believed was his final chance to cement his legacy. Though Kendrick came up short, he was still signed to the Cruiserweight division on Raw and quickly proved himself a force to be reckoned with in the rebooted field. The lesson, as always: Experience wins out.